Flowers for the Sea

This was a short but captivating novella none the less. Iraxi is brave , confident (at least on the outside) and pregnant with someone/something that may be more powerful then she could imagine. Her and others reside in a arc that it quickly going to hell. With resources as they are they won't last very long. To make matters worse they're not alone in this world. Monsters are about and will devour them if given the chance. I read this in one sitting and was surprised that I felt full. Normally when I read something so short I feel unsatisfied, like something was missing. Not the case with this one-I would love to read more about this world but the story did its job and gave me sustenance! A more specific review will be provided closer to publication, I definitely want to express my thoughts on THAT ending. 5 out of 5!

I don’t want to say much about the story since it is quite short, and I think doing so would veer dangerously toward spoiler territory, so we’ll just focus on the writing. In just over 100 pages, Rocklyn manages to create a surprisingly complex small-scale society, well-developed characters, and a rich, engrossing story. Iraxi is wonderful. She is a complicated woman who is by turns vulnerable, tough, and combative. Even before the story gets going it is abundantly clear that she is nobody to fuck with.

Flowers for the Sea was my first foray into Rocklyn’s work, but it most definitely won’t be the last. I have The Night Sun already queued up on my Kindle, so I’m going to be hitting that soon. They’ve got a real talent for evocative prose, tension building, and satisfying storytelling. This novella is absolutely gorgeous.

Flowers for the Sea is a beautifully written bit of fiction. It will stay with you long after you turn the final page. It is a beautiful, dark debut novella from an author whose work I have to imagine will be absolutely flying off the shelves.

I loved this book. It was a short and beautiful read. It puts me in the mind of Octavia Butler and Nnedi Okorafor’s work. They’re not at all alike, but the feeling I get from all of these authors are the same, and I don’t get it often. I can’t wait to read more from this author. This is my first time reading her work, and it’s been a pleasure. #FlowersForTheSea #NetGalley

This was a phenomenal read. It had all the qualities I want in a dystopian sci-fi, but with real emotion and this grotesque kind of beauty. Reminiscent of Rosemary’s Baby but with twists all its own. My only criticism is I wish there was more.

Brilliantly written and terrifying. It's not my cup of tea, but it was still an excellent book and I will absolutely recommend it to readers.

Rocklyn has captured the dark and oppressive atmosphere of a doomed book at sea at times I felt like I too was on the boat, held captive by the demands of those around me. To call this ‘Rosemary’s Baby by way of Octavia Butler’ is no exaggeration, and I believe it has the lasting power of both. Iraxi, who has always been an outcast, is now the only hope of a group of refugees trapped at sea, as the only one who has been able to carry a pregnancy to term --a pregnancy she doesn’t want, and is sure will be the end of all of them. Steeped with rage, this book will keep you hypnotized as you’re lured into its depths.