JANUARY 1607. THE SEVERN VALLEY. THE GREATEST FLOOD IN LIVING MEMORY.
Habren has never quite forgiven herself. Her father only sings bawdy carols for farthings these days, none of the sweet songs he used to sing their mother, and perhaps it’s no wonder her sisters Syble and Margret have put many leagues between themselves and their old home. But then Syble summons her to Gloucester, and if Habren can keep on the right side of their pin merchant master, perhaps it’s the chance she needs to make up for the past.
Then the river rises. In a single January morning, the Severn floods the vale and upends every life in it. And somewhere down that swollen estuary is Ambrose, the man Habren loves.
With Syble and new friend Raynould beside her, Habren sets out for Bristol to find him, through a city the flood has torn apart. And as they search, secrets they have kept close to their hearts begin, one by one, to surface.
What did I think?
Wow! What a magnificent piece of historical fiction! A Calamity of Waters is a breathtaking novel that completely blew me away. I haven't read any of Chloe Turner's books before now but I have added some of her previous novels to my wishlist on the strength of this wonderful novel.
It is inspired by a real event: the flooding of the Severn Valley in 1607 and it is brought to life through the eyes of teenager Habren who follows her older sister Syble into work at a pin manufactory. The sisters don't have the best of relationships and my heart was aching for them both as they try to find their way in an unfair and dangerous 17th century world.
It's part coming of age and part historical fiction and I loved every second of it. Children really had to grow up fast in the olden days and with such high mortality rates they often had no parental figures to guide them.
The river Severn plays a huge part in the novel, naturally as it's about the famous flood, but it is also part of Habren's life as she was named after it and the river feels like a character in its own right. As humans we may try to control the elements but it's a stark reminder of the strength of water and the power of nature.
Chloe Turner's writing is exquisite as she vividly brings the story to life and creates incredibly well developed characters who virtually pop out of the page, although I tried to stuff the odious Alderman Taylor back in!
Immersive, compelling and unforgettable, A Calamity of Waters is an absolute must-read for fans of historical fiction and it's one I will be recommending for a very long time. Absolutely brilliant!
I received a gifted ARC from Hannah Hargrave PR to read and review and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
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