LoveReading4Kids Says
LoveReading4Kids Says
April 2024 Book of the Month
Kelda is a fiercely protective big sister, she loves and defends her little sister, Isla, passionately and unquestioningly. But times and their community are changing, and protecting Isla may not be possible for much longer. For the sisters are silvermen, a secret species of near-humans who live on Britain’s waterways, breathe through their skin underwater and keep strictly to themselves. When it is revealed that Isla cannot breathe water, she is decried as an abomination to silvermen lore and blamed for a sickness poisoning the rivers.
With incredible world building and intricate plotting this is an exceptional fantasy novel. A timely environmental message of protecting our waterways runs alongside the richly imagined adventure, creating an atmospheric novel that feels both modern and classic. Extracts from natural history books about the history and traditions of silvermen are woven throughout the book, adding an impressive depth and breadth to the folklore created. On more than one occasion I really did find myself wondering if maybe, just maybe, silvermen really do live amongst us!
As immersive a read as the cold waterways it describes, this is a rich fantasy that sweeps the reader along - not to be missed.
Amy McKay
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About
On Silver Tides Synopsis
Kelda has always protected her little sister Isla from danger on the rivers, and from the suspicions of their community. For Isla cannot breathe underwater – and so her very existence is forbidden by silvermen’s Lore. Now the rivers of England are growing sick: monstrous creatures are awakening and a fierce torrent of blame falls upon Kelda’s family.
When betrayal comes, the sisters escape on a desperate journey upstream. Joining forces with a mysterious boy, Kelda discovers the darkest depths of her kind’s secret history. But to save both her sister and the very life of Britain’s waterways, Kelda will have to make a sacrifice – one that will change her life forever.
Cover art by Thy Bui
About This Edition
| ISBN: |
9781839133589 |
| Publication date: |
1st February 2024 |
| Author: |
Sylvia Bishop |
| Publisher: |
Andersen Press Ltd |
| Format: |
Paperback |
| Pagination: |
320 pages |
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Press Reviews
Sylvia Bishop Press Reviews
'This book is a gift of rare imagination and luminous writing. I haven’t read something so original and immersive in a long time. On Silver Tides is a classic in the making and I loved every word' - Katya Balen
'On Silver Tides is a beautifully constructed book about the love of family and the importance of embracing what we don't understand. I was with Kelda through every triumph and betrayal, every hurt and heartbreak. Bishop's writing transforms Britain into a magical network of rivers, channels and lochs that will fill you with wonder' - Ann Sei Lin
'I loved this book so much. It feels to me like a contemporary classic: thoughtful, literary, with clear and gorgeous prose, yet urgent and relevant. It touches painlessly and obliquely on our own troubled relationship with the environment, but above all it’s a great story with vivid, complex and lovable characters. The world-building reminded me of Susanna Clarke in its rich and playful inventiveness. I absolutely loved it and can’t wait to read more by Sylvia Bishop!' - Alice Winn
'Sylvia Bishop has a written a whole new world in On Silver Tides, with its own myths and history. It's a watery Twilight, or a freshwater version of Helen Dunmore's Ingo books. The kind of storytelling that stops your breath and weaves knots around your heart. Exquisite, and hard to leave behind' - Nicola Penfold
'Spellbinding storytelling brilliance – I absolutely loved it' - Katharine Orton
‘This is a gorgeous book full of heart, drama and beauty. I loved the way Sylvia Bishop wove threads of old folklore into her vivid and original fantasy Britain. It is one of those rare books I’ll want to read again and again’ - Anna Kemp
‘A richly imaginative story with home and heart flowing in its veins. I loved the world-building and the lore Sylvia has created, and the themes of acceptance and environment are more important now than they have ever been’ - Dan Smith
Author
About Sylvia Bishop
Sylvia Bishop is the author of several books for young readers, and her work has been translated into seventeen languages. She lives in Bristol, England. When not writing, she can be found reading, performing comedy and - when she gets the chance - swimming in rivers.
More About Sylvia Bishop
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A Note From the Author:
"On Silver Tides was inspired by my own love of swimming in rivers, but as I began the research it quickly became clear that there was a long-standing cultural obsession with rivers to draw on, encoded in some very creepy British mythology. There’s also a rich scientific literature from decades of concern for our rivers’ health. Once all of this started flowing into the story, it really took on a life of its own.
Britain seen through its rivers is a different place. Kelda and the silvermen are fantastical, but their home is real. I hope readers will be inspired to discover this secret world hidden in plain sight within our familiar geography. I love that this book starts with a map, like all good fantasy – but it’s a map of home, seen from a slightly different perspective!
I wrote much of this book over lockdown, and all of it in the shadow of our many environmental crises, so it quickly evolved into a story dealing with collective fear and uncertainty. In particular, it explores how times of shared crisis play out personally in the plans, beliefs, dreams and fears of different types of people – the pragmatists, the zealots, the anxiously-unsure – and of course the scapegoats. Ultimately, I hope it is a reminder that uncertainty necessarily includes hope.
The silvermen feel real to me now, and the world inside this book is very special to me. I’m ridiculously excited for readers to join me there." - Sylvia Bishop
