Orphans of the Tide
Struan Murray, Manuel Sumberac
Subjects
- Fantasy Worlds - awesome adventures of magic and mystery
- Action Adventures - chills, thrills and plenty of spills
- Friends & Family - tears and laughter, and happy ever after
Winner of the Branford Boase Award 2021, a breathtaking fantasy adventure for fans of His Dark Materials that The Times calls 'Unputdownable'. The City was built on a sharp mountain that jutted improbably from the sea, and the sea kept trying to claim it back. That grey morning, once the tide had retreated, a whale was found on a rooftop. When a mysterious boy washes in with the tide, the citizens believe he's the Enemy - the god who drowned the world - come again to cause untold chaos. Only Ellie, a fearless young inventor living in a workshop crammed with curiosities, believes he's innocent. But the Enemy can take possession of any human body and the ruthless Inquisition are determined to destroy it forever. To save the boy, Ellie must prove who he really is - even if that means revealing her own dangerous secret . . . 'Unputdownable' - The Times 'Enthralling' - The Daily Express 'Sumptuously atmospheric . . . tirelessly inventive' - The Daily Telegraph 'Gripping' - The Guardian 'Energetic and inventive' - Sunday Times 'Gripping and original' - The Observer 'Singularly brilliant' - Kiran Millwood Hargrave, author of The Girl of Ink and Stars and The Mercies 'Compellingly inventive and unpredictable' - Piers Torday, author of The Last Wild 'A terrific debut of strange myths and dark secrets' - The Bookseller (Editor's Choice)
Reviews
Good plot, really enjoyed the pace of this book and it kept me hooked. Ended up reading majority of this within a day! Will definitely be reading the next one.
Chloe Willett
It was an unusual fantasy /adventure story which developed the characters well as it went along culminating with an extremely exciting ending! I was racing through the pages in the final chapters! Highly recommended.
Kathode
This fiction book was recommended to me by the class teacher. A great, gripping read. A tale about Ellie Lancaster who on a grey morning discovered a huge whale swollen after death. Ellie wants to cut the whale open to discover what's inside but the others want it left. Eventually, the whale is cut open to discover a boy inside. The villagers think he is evil, but Ellie strives to find out the truth. Highly recommended.
dking09
A very cleverly written imaginative story of good and evil, based in an imaginary island city, much of which is drowned under water. Rich in characters and description the clever illustrations by Manuel Sumberac add to the overall darkness and mystery of the story. Although a bit too dark for my liking I enjoyed the many twists and turns that led to the unexpected ending.
SarahC39
Star Reviewer
This was a good read overall. The found the concept intriguing, and loved the main character. However, it could've done wth a little more world-building - I think this was originally written as a YA and was trimmed down to MG length, and the result is it's not as immersive and absorbing as it could've been. I did love the twist, though. Not sure I'll seek out the sequel.
SianHaines
Outstanding book. Dark and mysterious. Great adventure story for those who like Harry Potter style and level books. Great series. For a confident reader age 8 to 11.
Ninja2002
Loved this story. Original and very engaging. I would recommend fully
Cavecookie
Amazing!! I swallowed this in several large gulps and am looking forward to reading the next! It’s a twisty turny adventure that is well worth a read!
collissimon
Excellent read. A fun story for children, rooted in love between friends and family, as well as fantasy, mystery and hope. The character that most excited me was Finn, because he represented something within the main character, Ellie, that all young people could stand to learn. (No spoilers!) Even though I could easily predict the plot after reading halfway through the story, I was still so invested in the characters and the world that had been created, that I didn't want to stop reading!
misscjmhayles
A fantastically written world- absolutely didn't see the twist coming. Full of surprises. Really enjoyed this one!
Absolutely loved this book. Loved the characterization and the detail in which the City is described. Wow. I’ve been hesitant to start the second book because I was anxious that I’d be disappointed; unfortunately, it happens too often. Reviews look very promising though...
Library Lassie
This fiction book was great for KS2+. It was a compelling read about a mysterious city in the middle of the ocean where the people live in fear of the 'Enemy' which takes its form within a human 'vessel'. When Seth is washed up alive inside a whale, an orphan, Ellie, saves him but then has to fight to stop him being killed by the inquisitors who believe he is the 'Enemy'. This book was full of exciting twists and had characters that the reader can easily relate to. As an adult, I enjoyed it and would highly recommend it to my KS2 children.
Rawl011
This is a beautifully written piece of fiction and the opening pages certainly grab the reader's attention! The plot reveal was perfectly judged as is the setting of the story. Ellie is an endearing character joined by a cast of wonderfully written support characters. The story builds to a climax with a promise of more to come in Shipwreck Island. I would strongly recommend this.
NiamhSav
Wow, what an adventure this book takes you on. I found this book original, engrossing and thoroughly enjoyable. I was hooked right from the beginning, when a young boy was found washed up inside a whale. Then there was a major plot twist which I just was not expecting. This book has a very clever plot. There are some great characters in the book, but I think my favourite has to be the rather odd, Seth- part boy, part sea god. This book is one of the best children's books I have read, it is simply awesome.
Polwarth
I thoroughly enjoyed the twists and turns and the whole adventure that Ellie the main character went through. I was recommended this book by a colleague and then read it with my 10 year old daughter who was so keen she read chapters ahead of me. I'm looking forward to reading the sequel.
kirsty85
A very different book from what I would normally pick up, but I really enjoyed it. It was fast-paced, clever and very emotive! I didn't see it coming that Ellie would be the vessel! I am looking forward to reading the sequel.
shazzalr
I loved this story! Action-packed, brave and original. I was gripped from the dramatic end to the first chapter. Looking forward to reading the sequel.
edawkins
Orphans of the Tide tells the story of Ellie. It is a story of friendship, loss, love and bravery. In the quest to save Seth from the Inquisitors (and death), we learn about the partially submerged city that is their home - it is here we discover little gems that hint at secrets hidden beneath the city. Through the diary of Hestermeyer, we learn more about the Enemy and witness time running out for the friends. A fantastic read and I’ll definitely be buying the next book in the series.
Asti
A fantasy novel novel with two gripping central characters - Ellie and the boy washed up on the shore that the authorities are convinced is "The Enemy". The book covers their quest to identify and defest the real Enemy. Like all the best fantasy novels, it has a feeling that it is just part of a much wider universe. I was surprised to read the review which found it predictable. Speaking for myself, there was one plot twist which left me completely breathless because I didn't see it coming at all and yet it made perfect sense. It's set up a for a sequel which I am very much looking forward to reading.
markygoodrich
One of the best fantasy fictions I have read all year. Aimed at younger teenagers, this dystopian piece is imaginative, enthralling and gripping throughout with a couple of shocking revelations. As I was reading this I could picture it being turned into a movie: a cross between Waterworld and The Golden Compass.
Miss.Shaikh