The Hollow Sea

A stunningly evoked literary debut, interwoven with folklore and legendThe story goes that, many years ago, the North Atlantic archipelago of St Hia housed a monster. Her name was Thordis, and when she was unable to conceive, her husband sought a child elsewhere - driving Thordis to a terrible act. Today, these remote islands are dangerous, many have been lost to the Hollow Sea. But to one visitor, it's a haven.After years trying to become a mother, Scottie has made the decision to leave her life behind. When she arrives, the St Hians warn her against asking questions about Thordis - but Scottie can't resist the story that became legend.Can Scottie unravel Thordis's story, and therefore change her own?

A bold, magical story about the letting go of long-held hope and building a different future -- Jo Browning Wroe, Sunday Times bestselling author of A Terrible Kindness
Deftly structured and set against a wild, myth-inspired backdrop, the novel explores grief and violence, freedom and redemption. It's a majestic work of the imagination, with writing that shimmers before the reader, underpinned by a howling, fearless story. I loved it and woke up thinking about it -- Rosie Andrews, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Leviathan
An atmospheric tale shot through with folklore. Annie Kirby's writing shimmers as she weaves together the threads of Scottie's forgotten past and her journey to face a future where she won't be the mother she always hoped to be. Beautiful & hopeful -- Kate Sawyer, Costa-shortlised author of The Stranding
A beautifully written, heart-rending atmospheric novel of finding what makes one whole -- Melissa Fu, author of Peach Blossom Spring
This mesmerising tale has just the right amount of folklore to be magical Good Housekeeping
An incredibly beautiful story, shot through with shimmering myth, sorrow and hope -- Polly Crosby, author of The Illustrated Child
One of those rare novels that combines a page-turning story with language to savour. A beguiling and beautiful tale about motherhood, nature and art, The Hollow Sea celebrates the many different ways we might create and nurture. -- Emma Sweeney, author of Owl Song at Dawn
A thoughtful, beautiful gem of a story and I loved it -- Rebecca F. John, Costa-shortlisted author of The Haunting of Henry Twist
A stunning debut, part myth and part touching story of infertility and motherhood. I was swept away on a stormy sea and didn't want it to end. Delicious storytelling -- Julie Owen Moylan, author of That Green Eyed Girl
A poetic tale Prima
In The Hollow Sea, Annie Kirby has taken the external societal shaming and internal lived reality of involuntarily childless women and transformed them into an extraordinarily lyrical story. This book insinuated itself into my soul like a poem; whilst taking my mind on a mythical, allegorical adventure that lingers in my subconscious like a painting. Whether you are a parent or non-parent, this extraordinary novel will drench you in beauty. I adored it. -- Jody Day, author of Living the Life Unexpected and founder of Gateway Women
A real beauty. A magical story of one woman's infertility combined with a mythical sea world. Beautiful -- Laura Price, author of Single Bald Female
Beautifully written with a hint of mythology and well-drawn characters, this is a captivating story of love and loss that will stay with you Candis
An absolutely beautiful story of love, loss, family and motherhood. Told in interweaving strands, it follows the story of Scottie whose mysterious past haunts her, and whose own struggles to become a mother is slowly destroying her . . . I read this book in just two sittings, the lyrical prose pulled me in and held me captivated, and my heart wept and sang in equal measure. Truly stunning -- Louise Morrish, author of Operation Moonlight
Annie Kirby writes so beautifully about place, I felt I was there with her on the islands, watching the waves. I love how she weaves together myth and reality, and found her portrayal of Scottie and Jasminder's thwarted attempts to have children very moving -- Sarah Butler, author of Before The Fire
The Hollow Sea elegantly interweaves the stories of two women haunted by hope and loss. Eloquent and moving, with a touch of folklore, this is a beautiful, hopeful tale -- Elizabeth Lee, author of Cunning Women
Heart-wrenching, haunting, and ultimately hopeful too. Extraordinary. Beautiful, thought-provoking and woven through with folklore and myth, an utterly absorbing read that will touch your heart. Magnificent. Unforgettable. -- Liz Hyder, author of The Gifts
Fiercely original . . . a really powerful, provocative and original debut -- Natasha Solomons, author of I, Mona Lisa
An exquisitely-crafted novel about heritage, folklore and the persistent roar of unfulfilled dreams. When I finished it, I felt like I'd emerged from the sea, dripping with salt and tangled in kelp. Dizzyingly brilliant -- Lizzie Pook, author of Moonlight and the Pearler's Daughter
A Coast 'Book of the Month' -
Incredibly atmospheric and multifaceted Culturefly