Ashes on the Waves

by Mary Lindsey

Reviewed by

Elizabeth Mosolovich

            Said to be the son of a demon, Liam McGregor grows up an outcast on the isolated, old-fashioned island of Dochas, Maine, where the scanty number of inhabitants still fear and honor the sea gods of their Celtic ancestors – sea gods and demons who are alive and well in the waters off the shore.

            One-armed from birth and despised by the whole town except Francine, a kindly older woman who runs a supply store, Liam believes himself to be a demon as well and resigns himself to a life of misery on Dochas forever. That is, until wealthy, beautiful Annabel Leighton is exiled by her parents to the small island where her family has a mansion. Anna has been to Dochas before, when she was a child, and then she and Liam played together, and he has loved her ever since. And while at first the socialite celebrity is horrified at being cut off from the outside world, she eventually learns she can be herself around Liam, and begins to fall in love with in return.

            This love, however, becomes the subject of a debate between the kind Bean Sidhes and the malicious Nir Fa Ghorm sea spirits that dwell in the waters of Dochas. While the Bean Sidhes adore Liam and Anna's relationship, the Nir Fa Ghorm moxk it, saying that human love cannot last. The two sides decide to make a bet about whether the couple's love will last through 30 days of trials, with the winner having to leave Dochas forever. Thus begins a slew of tragedy for Liam and Anna which leads to a bittersweet ending quite befitting a story based on Edgar Allen Poe's poem, "Annabel Lee."

            The beginning of the book is kind of like a long prologue, which at first seems weird, but witnessing Anna and Liam's relationship develop and grow is a lovely and essential part of the plot. The romance is sweet, the mystery of Liam's birth and the town's attitude toward him is intriguing, and the creatures of Celtic myth add a spectacular flavor to the tale. But, like I said, the ending is bittersweet, so, though I recommend the book, I also warn you to read at your risk.

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