This was very lyrical, with plenty of symbolic imagery woven into the writing referring to spirituality, birth and rebirth, female bodies and so on. This is a shorter story, so perfect for people who enjoy fast-paced reading. I wish I could have read more, which is always telling of a good read.

I wish this had been longer! It’s a relatively short read but it packs a punch, the writing is evocative and intimate. The bleak lives of the women on board the Astraea, a mix of young and old, emit a ebbing contrast of strength and hopelessness, changing like the waves that rock the ship. The story explores themes of life, death, womanhood, and spirituality. Our narrator, Maginn, is a questioning young woman who finds herself out of place amongst her fellow ‘prisoners’, looking for solace in anyone who shows her a moment of kindness. She matures through the story and has a quiet intelligence that is really compelling. I finished the book wanting more! I wanted to know more about these women, why they were on the ship, where they were going, what was going to happen to them. These unanswered questions add to the overall bleakness and oppressive atmosphere that the story evokes. Really recommend. Thanks to the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

What a worthy book to win the inaugural Weatherglass Novella prize!! Krumink’s writing shows what is possible in a well-crafted novella: her characters have such a presence that it feels as though you have been acquainted with them for years as opposed to a matter of pages. Finely balanced between terror and tenderness, the women in this book demonstrate the camaraderie and care that they are capable of providing for each other in the face of the brutality inflicted upon them by the male crew. This teetering balance is what makes the novella so compelling and heart-breaking, and what ensures that two particular scenes will stay seared in my mind for a long time to come. Thank you to Weatherglass for the review copy :)