Effra and her little brother Fleet are larkers, finding treasures of all sorts in the mud and silt of the river where they make their home.
Effra’s been lonely since the death of her beloved Boppa and determined to look after Fleet, but she’s not prepared for the danger presented by the terrifying Rivermun, a cruel and malevolent river dweller, determined not only to exact revenge on those who’ve restrained him – Effra’s family included – but to take control of the whole river.
When he threatens Fleet, Effra has no choice but to stand up to him, though that brings her into contact with other equally terrifying inhabitants of the river.
One extra thing you should know about Effra, apart from the fact that she is brave, resourcefuland generous, she and her fellow larkers have developed gills and can breathe underwater.
The world Becca Rogers has created is wonderfully well described, its setting and its myths and history, and the characters leap off the watery pages. This is an original and thoroughly absorbing page-turner with a memorable protagonist and some unforgettable scenes.
An original, middle grade fantasy debut awash with adventure. A determined heroine and a sinister villain clash to reveal river lore in a watery world of fantastical creatures and colossal challenges.
In a time and place which might be now, people with gills, outcast Larkers, live in secret communities.
They have houseboats along the river. Concealing their gills from land lubbers, they scour the mudbanks, trade their finds and live off their wits. Thirteen-year-old Effra has been supporting her brother, Fleet, alone since their beloved grandfather died six months ago.
When merciless Rivermun, a larker gone bad, threatens Fleet, Effra's quests begins. Rivermun asks for the impossible - he wants to overpower Mother River, to possess the river serpent's pearl and for age-old debts to be settled. Effra must bargain with the imposing Mother River, dive into the underwater parts of the city, venture deep into the Rat Queen's lair and confront the terrible river serpent to save not only Fleet, but everything the Larkers stand for. Luckily, she is not alone. She befriends a sentient sewer rat and a landlubber girl called Bow, who will help her in her quest.
'A beautifully written story, brimming with river magic, where ancient lore flows through every page. Thrilling, heartfelt, and luminous. Effra’s journey carries the reader on a tide of friendship, courage, and wonder.' - Vashti Hardy
‘A stunning debut, vividly imagined and beautifully written with deliciously unexpected twists along the way.' - Jasbinder Bilan
'The worldbuilding here is so seamless it’s almost unnoticeable ' - School Reading List
Author
About Becca Rogers
Becca Rogers grew up in rural Devon, an avid reader in a house full of folk music and books. After an English literature degree, she spent many years in London - a fundraising manager by day, writer by night. Now back in Devon, Becca lives by a tidal estuary, where she likes to mudlark, with her husband, two children and her dog, Luna. The Girl with Gills is her debut novel.
