Spirits of the Vasty Deep

In this slow-burning, introspective fantasy from Snuggly publisher Stableford (The Mirror of Dionysus), eccentric writer Simon Cannick becomes involved in the mysterious doings of an unusually long-lived family after he inherits a cottage in the small Welsh town of St. Madoc. Simon just wants a quiet place to work on his increasingly esoteric material. However, he quickly catches the interest of the Murdens, an insular clan whose matriarch claims to be well over two centuries old, and soon discovers an unexpected connection to them. As he investigates the family’s supposed ties to ancient, mythical sea creatures, Simon begins to suspect his arrival in St. Madoc was no coincidence and that he has a specific role to play in a millennia-old plan. Stableford draws deep on small-town sensibilities and English folklore to craft a gradually unfolding tale that’s atmospheric, ambiguous, and subtle. He takes a while to reveal the true nature of the supernatural aspect of the story and its ultimate direction, and the focus on character interaction and storytelling makes for a cerebral experience that may leave some readers wishing for a bit more dynamism. (Mar.)