rubywednesday's Reviews > When the Sea Is Rising Red

If I was going to be completely rational about this book and base my review on content alone, it would probably be get four stars.
But because I was absolutely fascinated and entranced by it, I'm giving it five stars and all the love in the world.

It's a strange, haunting little book - more fantasy than supernatural. There are vampires in it, but it's not exclusively a vampire book. The world (which I must point out is wonderfully constructed) feels very old-fashioned but very natural and relatable.

The tone is dreamy and atmospheric. The sea and the storms and the mist are as alive as any character and I think anyone who's experienced living close to the water could really empathise. If you've never been close like that, Cat Hellisen has depicted it so well. In this way it reminded me a little of Nova Ren Suma's Imaginary Girls or even Lindqvist's Harbour....with giving so much power to a body of water, but for me it was a lot more engaging than them.

At the beginning of this book, Cat Hellisen throws the reader into this fantasy world. The dialect, the magic, the rules, the society are all new and different and she doesn't waste time with unnecessary explanations or the kind of self-indulgent glossaries certain writers are so fond of (I'm looking at you, Karen Marie Moning)
She shows the reader the world and trusts them to understand it and this continues throughout the plot. She trusts and expects the reader to figure out the plot and the characters and it makes for an exciting, effective reading experience.

Felcita Pelim is a member of the upper class in Pelimberg. Her family's position is constantly crumbling and they hold on to status on a historical basis rather than true power and influence. The port-town they live in is, too, struggling as the vampire families gain power, the working classes grow restless, scriv (a drug that allows them access to the magic only ruling houses are allowed to wield) is in short supply and horrors of the sea threaten to destroy them all.

In her class, the women are subservient and after the suicide of her only friend, she runs away rather than be married off to some stranger. She's met Jannick, the vampire who intrigues and repulses her, but in order to hide her identity she winds up with a bunch of other misfits on Whelk Street, led by the charismatic Dash.

*slight spoilers from here*

Dash is a fascinating character. He's present before we ever meet him. He's commands power and respect but also looks after all the kids in the house. He's, in many ways, the typical charming, bad boy but he's got a purpose and sense of vulnerability that sets him apart. He's not, we soon learn, the kind of Byronic hero that's changed by the affection of a pretty girl. He's too complex for that.

Jannick is different. He's a vampire but as a male, he's basically powerless within his class. He's stoic and it takes more time to warm to him.

On Whelk Street, Felicita becomes part of Dash's little family and adjusts to the working class way of life. She learns a lot of truths about her family and the realities of the world. She falls for Dash's charms but soon learns he plans to bring Pelimberg to it's knees and her magic, along with the threats from the sea are how it's going to happen.

The setting, which reminded me of reading about the East End of London in Victorian times was just so vibrant. The tea-shop and the poets and Nalla and Lils were all a joy to read. Granted, the plot progression was rather slow while we got to experience this, but it brought so much fun to the story.

Nala and Lilya were a wonderful couple and I really liked how their relatinship was so naturally weaved into the story. There was never a reaction from F(now know as Firell) or shock at them being together and I really appreciated this.

I also really liked how F's falling for Dash was written. He was clearly a cad all along, albeit a likeable one, but you totally get swept along with her. The reader realises the truth of the situation before she does and it's all very poignant.

The drug use, also, is very well executed. The upper-class are all hooked on scriv but this is totally acceptable. The vampire's consumption of blood and the poor people's use of poisonink and very much frowned upon and the hypocrisy is stark and thought provoking.

The climax is exciting and messy. Nothing works out like people plan or people want it to. As thrilling as the fantasy aspect is, this is where the characters really get to shine. F becomes stronger. Dash shows his most personal self and Jannick becomes a lot more human.

The stars of this book are Dash and Jannick. I always wanted to see more of them. They haunt every page they're not featured on. They are far more complex and interesting than Felicita. Their bond, relationship, was hardly seen at all but made a massive impact. I felt for Felicita, as I would any girl who gets taken in by a smooth-talker, but my heart BROKE for Dash and Jannick. I was never sure of Dash's feelings for Felicita, if he liked her or saw her as a tool for his war. We know of the depth of feeling between him and Jannick, regardless of it's origin or if they really wanted to feel that way and it was all very very sad.

Felicita is largely passive throughout the story. She doesn't even really have her own name for most of it. She has moments of strength, with Dash and her brother, as it climaxes but she hasn't undergone the growth you would expect of a main character. Rather, the journey she takes with the Whelk Streeters and Jannick leave her with the tools to become the person she needs to be and we hope that when she leaves Pelimberg she will flourish.

I don't know why this book intrigued me as much as it did. I've read it twice in two days, picking it up and starting it again as soon as I was done. The second time showed me even more how skillfully Cat Hellisen wove this story and I cannot wait to see more from her. I'd love to see more in this world but whatever she writes, I will be trying it.

Highly recommended.