Ahoy there mateys! I received this fantasy eARC from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. So here be me honest musings . . . .
Title: the legend of charlie fish
Author: Josh Rountree
Publisher: Tachyon Publications
Publication Date: Available Now!!! (paperback/e-book)
ISBN: 978-161696394
Source: Edelweiss
If ye be reading this book for answers about Charlie Fish, then ye might be disappointed. What ye get instead is a story about found family and a harrowingly look into the immensely deadly Galveston hurricane of 1900. Throw in a bit of magic. The actual plot is nothing really like the blurb. It is really Nellie’s story and a bit about her brother Hank and a bit about a man named Floyd. It is also a snapshot into Galveston, Texas which was one of the major ports of the era and one of the largest cities in the state. There was a lot of tension in this one both about the storm and a set of charlatans making trouble. But on the other hand, the main characters were lovely and well-drawn. I was engrossed in this tale. This is a short read (192 pgs) with a bittersweet ending. Recommended for those who like quirky characters and historical details. Arrr!
Goodreads’ website has this to say about the book:
As an unlikely found-family flees toward Galveston, a psychic young girl bonds with Charlie Fish, an enigmatic gill-man. Meanwhile, they are pursued by bounty hunters determined to profit from the spectacle of Charlie. But the Great Storm—the worst natural disaster in U.S. history—is on its way. Josh Rountree’s strikingly original debut novel ranges effortlessly between the Gothic, pulp, literary, Western, and comedic. With his vivid imagery, evocative storytelling, and uncanny wit, Rountree enters the fine tradition of Texan storytellers, wading into True Grit by way of The Shape of Water.
As always, Floyd Betts rides into town alone. He arrives for his father’s funeral, but he is returning to Galveston, Texas, with two orphaned siblings he has rescued. Nellie, who is descended from a long line of witches, has visions from other people’s minds. Hank, her impulsive younger brother, just wants to break out his outsized revolver.
Along the way home, Floyd, Nellie, and Jim encounter a dubious traveling salesman, Professor Finn, and his henchman, Kentucky Jim. They are struggling to capture a fish-man in order to put him on cruel display. When Nellie taps into the peril of the gentle Charlie Fish, Floyd’s makeshift family expands to include the lost, two-legged amphibian.
With the circus charlatans in pursuit, ominous winds are picking up from an impending hurricane. Meanwhile, all Charlie Fish wants is to return to his home at sea.
To visit the author’s website go to:
Josh Rountree – Author
To buy the novel go to:
the legend of charlie fish – Book
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