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I Am the Sea
1870. Apprentice lighthouseman James Meakes joins two others at the remote offshore rock of Ripshaw Reef - replacement for a keeper whose death there remains unexplained.Meakes' suspicions grow as he accustoms himself to his new vertical world. He finds clues, obscure messages and signs that a fourth occupant may be sharing the space, slipping unseen between staircases.
With winter approaching, the keepers become isolated utterly from shore. Sea and wind rage against the tower. Danger is part of the life. Death is not uncommon. And yet as the storm builds, the elements pale against a threat more wild and terrifying than any of them could have imagined.
With winter approaching, the keepers become isolated utterly from shore. Sea and wind rage against the tower. Danger is part of the life. Death is not uncommon. And yet as the storm builds, the elements pale against a threat more wild and terrifying than any of them could have imagined.
270 pages, ebook
Published August 17, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
August 17, 2021
Matt Stanley’s “I Am the Sea” is a dark, gothic literary fiction novel, set out in a classic literature style. Lyrical and typically character driven and described with intangible details, we see the human condition when it is isolated and withdrawn from normal social interaction. Conveying philosophical questions and moral beliefs, the author has written a story that could quite easily have truly been written over a hundred years ago.
-1870. Apprentice lighthouse man James Meakes joins two others at the remote offshore rock of Ripshaw Reef - replacement for a keeper whose death there remains unexplained. Meakes' suspicions grow as he accustoms himself to his new vertical world. He finds clues, obscure messages and signs that a fourth occupant may be sharing the space, slipping unseen between staircases -
Without doubt “I Am the Sea” had an intriguing premise and along with an evocative front cover this drew me to the book instantly. At times unsettling and definitely creepy, the atmospheric quality was on the mark and the characters perfectly portrayed.
I liked how the story developed and the denouement played out. Although the wordy narrative is the nature of this genre, I personally found it a bit too wordy and sometimes lost its way with some unnecessary ramblings.
I would recommend “I Am the Sea’ but to ‘literary fiction’ readers only, who should find this book very satisfying.
-1870. Apprentice lighthouse man James Meakes joins two others at the remote offshore rock of Ripshaw Reef - replacement for a keeper whose death there remains unexplained. Meakes' suspicions grow as he accustoms himself to his new vertical world. He finds clues, obscure messages and signs that a fourth occupant may be sharing the space, slipping unseen between staircases -
Without doubt “I Am the Sea” had an intriguing premise and along with an evocative front cover this drew me to the book instantly. At times unsettling and definitely creepy, the atmospheric quality was on the mark and the characters perfectly portrayed.
I liked how the story developed and the denouement played out. Although the wordy narrative is the nature of this genre, I personally found it a bit too wordy and sometimes lost its way with some unnecessary ramblings.
I would recommend “I Am the Sea’ but to ‘literary fiction’ readers only, who should find this book very satisfying.
November 5, 2021
A lighthouse build on a piece of rock is the only secure element in the middle of a harsh sea. She is a breathing creature pounding at the door, at the windows and at every piece of mortar, banging again and again; nature defying man's build.
Inside, the keepers hold on to vast rules and rituals to ensure that man will win.
Just as the storm is raging outside, the same applies in the keepers' mind: a tempest is gathering momentum and and a combination of raging elements propels our protagonist in a downward fall, losing touch with reality and crafting its own to be able to cope with his own history.
This whole tale is being told in beautiful prose and takes the reader into the peculiar lives of 19th century lighthouse keepers. The minute detail of the workings of such a feat of construction was very intriguing and the language used is reminiscent of Edgar Allan Poe. I would recommend to read this gothic tale during a stormy weekend, feet up and a nicely filled snifter within reach.
This is the second book that I've read this year that has a lighthouse as a setting. However, it is completely different from The Lamplighters by Emma Stonex. It is another era, another focus and a completely different style, yet both are perfect!
A sincere thanks to Legend Press, NetGalley and the author for an advance copy in exchange of an honest review.
Inside, the keepers hold on to vast rules and rituals to ensure that man will win.
Just as the storm is raging outside, the same applies in the keepers' mind: a tempest is gathering momentum and and a combination of raging elements propels our protagonist in a downward fall, losing touch with reality and crafting its own to be able to cope with his own history.
This whole tale is being told in beautiful prose and takes the reader into the peculiar lives of 19th century lighthouse keepers. The minute detail of the workings of such a feat of construction was very intriguing and the language used is reminiscent of Edgar Allan Poe. I would recommend to read this gothic tale during a stormy weekend, feet up and a nicely filled snifter within reach.
This is the second book that I've read this year that has a lighthouse as a setting. However, it is completely different from The Lamplighters by Emma Stonex. It is another era, another focus and a completely different style, yet both are perfect!
A sincere thanks to Legend Press, NetGalley and the author for an advance copy in exchange of an honest review.
December 9, 2021
I Am The Sea is a gothic, psychological mystery set in 1870 about a young lighthouse keeper who arrives at Ripshaw Reef Lighthouse for a 6 month trainee placement where all is not as it seems. Beautifully descriptive the reader feels the isolation experienced by the protagonist. A sinister, compelling and well written tale but a little over technical in parts. Overall 3.5 stars. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy.
August 15, 2021
I am the Sea is a captivating gothic psychological suspense standalone rich in atmosphere and the joys of sinister storytelling. 1870. James Meakes is a young trainee lighthouse keeper who has been called upon to travel to Ripsaw Reef Lighthouse to temporarily replace one of its keepers, Spencer, who had passed away in rather suspicious circumstances. There was no notion, as yet, of how he died – only that Principle Bartholomew and Assistant Keeper Adamson, who made up the trio overseeing the lighthouse, were seen lashing him to the bars on the day they signalled for aid. Situated barely twenty miles offshore, James finds the place eerie, and despite it being within seeing distance of land, it was more inaccessible than a mountain peak or an oasis in a desert. He had heard plenty of stories about the treacherous waters around it often making it completely isolated and a perilous location in which to both live and work.
The raging storms produce a feeling of being severed from the rest of the world and have been known to last for weeks at a time in the past in the case of extreme, long-lasting stormy weather. Not only had Spencer's death been enigmatic but he had suffered a truly gruesome fate; his corpse was affixed to the railings where gulls had pecked away at his decomposing flesh. Out here among the furious eddies, between the twenty-fathom abyss and the limitless sky, man had built this adamantine tower of granite – totally solid for its first thirty-five feet of interlocking, double-dovetailed, masonry. Beyond the raging seas and gale-force winds, James is introduced to the two other keepers. Principle Bartholomew looked like an elderly clergyman with his white mutton-chop whiskers and his pale, ascetic countenance. Mr Adamson was shorter and more muscular, resembling a coal-heaver rather than an officer of the Commission.
His uniform seemed not to fit him. James senses something is off from the very beginning as the pair appear lost in bizarre experiments and both seemingly have unsettling pasts, but so did pretty much everyone who has ever worked at Ripsaw. They almost didn't acknowledge his presence but knowing other keepers had both died and disappeared in mysterious manners James must keep his wits about him at all times. Soon strange writings begin to appear on the walls which seem to indicate a fourth individual is lurking in the shadows, but James's attention has long since turned to surviving his land-sea ordeal, especially after the concern he has felt recently over the fate of his predecessors which now seem to be much more dark and twisted than what they were once portrayed to be.
This is a captivating, sinister and claustrophobic thriller buoyed by the writer's imagination and the unpredictability of both the sea and human beings. I was riveted by the refreshing originality and the strange goings-on and Ripsaw's vast secrets unravel with every passing page. It's palpably tense, ripe in sinister atmosphere and woven with chilling storytelling which keeps you guessing as the twists, turns and misdirection come at you thick and fast. It's wonderfully descriptive and the only aspect I found lacking was that at times it was too verbose making the writing slightly stilted. Intense, haunting and deliciously dark, it gives a feeling of insanity setting in after a while of being stranded on the small island which is when James's first-person narrative oversteps the line between reality and fantasy, sanity and madness taking it to a whole new level. For fans of Ian McGuire, Andrew Michael Hurley, Jennifer McMahon and Edgar Allan Poe. Highly recommended.
The raging storms produce a feeling of being severed from the rest of the world and have been known to last for weeks at a time in the past in the case of extreme, long-lasting stormy weather. Not only had Spencer's death been enigmatic but he had suffered a truly gruesome fate; his corpse was affixed to the railings where gulls had pecked away at his decomposing flesh. Out here among the furious eddies, between the twenty-fathom abyss and the limitless sky, man had built this adamantine tower of granite – totally solid for its first thirty-five feet of interlocking, double-dovetailed, masonry. Beyond the raging seas and gale-force winds, James is introduced to the two other keepers. Principle Bartholomew looked like an elderly clergyman with his white mutton-chop whiskers and his pale, ascetic countenance. Mr Adamson was shorter and more muscular, resembling a coal-heaver rather than an officer of the Commission.
His uniform seemed not to fit him. James senses something is off from the very beginning as the pair appear lost in bizarre experiments and both seemingly have unsettling pasts, but so did pretty much everyone who has ever worked at Ripsaw. They almost didn't acknowledge his presence but knowing other keepers had both died and disappeared in mysterious manners James must keep his wits about him at all times. Soon strange writings begin to appear on the walls which seem to indicate a fourth individual is lurking in the shadows, but James's attention has long since turned to surviving his land-sea ordeal, especially after the concern he has felt recently over the fate of his predecessors which now seem to be much more dark and twisted than what they were once portrayed to be.
This is a captivating, sinister and claustrophobic thriller buoyed by the writer's imagination and the unpredictability of both the sea and human beings. I was riveted by the refreshing originality and the strange goings-on and Ripsaw's vast secrets unravel with every passing page. It's palpably tense, ripe in sinister atmosphere and woven with chilling storytelling which keeps you guessing as the twists, turns and misdirection come at you thick and fast. It's wonderfully descriptive and the only aspect I found lacking was that at times it was too verbose making the writing slightly stilted. Intense, haunting and deliciously dark, it gives a feeling of insanity setting in after a while of being stranded on the small island which is when James's first-person narrative oversteps the line between reality and fantasy, sanity and madness taking it to a whole new level. For fans of Ian McGuire, Andrew Michael Hurley, Jennifer McMahon and Edgar Allan Poe. Highly recommended.
September 9, 2021
“I will grant you that it may be perilous but this is why we are here. We impose efficiency and order upon the deep”
James is a newly appointed apprentice at the Ripsaw Reef Lighthouse, located on a rock 20 miles off the coast in the middle of the raging sea and often isolated for entire weeks. The novel opens with a gruesome sight: the corpse of the previous assistant deceased in mysterious circumstances, tied to the railings in a white shroud and half eaten by gulls. At the lighthouse, haunted by the sinister sounds of the lighthouse mechanisms, of the howling winds and waves breaking against the wall, we meet a bizarre keeper absorbed in strange experiments and a morose assistant with a dark past. Soon mysterious writings appear on walls, a fourth person seem to lurk in the shadows and one corpse emerges at the reef … this is only the start of a gripping, atmospheric psychological thriller. As James investigates, the author gradually lets us in on the secrets of the lighthouse and engages us in a chilling, unnerving game of cat and mouse that kept me on my toes till the last page.
This fine piece of lighthouse gothic is superbly crafted. In James (the first-person narrator) the author recreates the voice of an educated nineteenth-century young man – at times I actually felt as if I was reading Poe. James is well versed in letters (the assistant mocks him by calling him poet), and often draws on his vast knowledge of literature – ventriloquizing Homer, Defoe, Shakespeare, Coleridge – to find imagery and metaphors that describe nature, feelings and situations. The result is stunning, rendering James’ reasoning and ratiocinations, at times crystal clear and at times convoluted, and the paranoia reigning at the lighthouse. The sea is majestic and elemental, rendered with painterly precision and memorable strokes. The literary quotes, often very recognizable, are part of an intriguing game of appropriation and intertextuality, and I actually had fun identifying the sources and the echoes.
We learn that the lighthouse, with its strict routine and rules, is a pale attempt to bring order onto the primordial chaos of the stormy sea, but in this stunning piece of psychological fiction it holds the mirror to what lurks beneath reason. A hypnotic literary thriller, a subtle piece of postmodern fiction and, above all, a testament to the affective, transformative power of literature.
4.5
My thanks to Legend Press and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
James is a newly appointed apprentice at the Ripsaw Reef Lighthouse, located on a rock 20 miles off the coast in the middle of the raging sea and often isolated for entire weeks. The novel opens with a gruesome sight: the corpse of the previous assistant deceased in mysterious circumstances, tied to the railings in a white shroud and half eaten by gulls. At the lighthouse, haunted by the sinister sounds of the lighthouse mechanisms, of the howling winds and waves breaking against the wall, we meet a bizarre keeper absorbed in strange experiments and a morose assistant with a dark past. Soon mysterious writings appear on walls, a fourth person seem to lurk in the shadows and one corpse emerges at the reef … this is only the start of a gripping, atmospheric psychological thriller. As James investigates, the author gradually lets us in on the secrets of the lighthouse and engages us in a chilling, unnerving game of cat and mouse that kept me on my toes till the last page.
This fine piece of lighthouse gothic is superbly crafted. In James (the first-person narrator) the author recreates the voice of an educated nineteenth-century young man – at times I actually felt as if I was reading Poe. James is well versed in letters (the assistant mocks him by calling him poet), and often draws on his vast knowledge of literature – ventriloquizing Homer, Defoe, Shakespeare, Coleridge – to find imagery and metaphors that describe nature, feelings and situations. The result is stunning, rendering James’ reasoning and ratiocinations, at times crystal clear and at times convoluted, and the paranoia reigning at the lighthouse. The sea is majestic and elemental, rendered with painterly precision and memorable strokes. The literary quotes, often very recognizable, are part of an intriguing game of appropriation and intertextuality, and I actually had fun identifying the sources and the echoes.
We learn that the lighthouse, with its strict routine and rules, is a pale attempt to bring order onto the primordial chaos of the stormy sea, but in this stunning piece of psychological fiction it holds the mirror to what lurks beneath reason. A hypnotic literary thriller, a subtle piece of postmodern fiction and, above all, a testament to the affective, transformative power of literature.
4.5
My thanks to Legend Press and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
December 5, 2021
Phew, what a crazy ride this book was! If you have had any ill-conceived romantic notions about the life of a lighthouse keeper, then this book will soon set you straight. It started innocently enough: young James Meakes arrives at the remote Ripsaw Reef Lighthouse to commence his six months term as trainee lighthouse keeper under the supervision of Principle Bartholomew and Assistant Keeper Adamson. On the same day, the body of another lighthouse keeper, Spencer, is taken away from the island for autopsy, as he has passed away in suspicious circumstances, a fact that will come to haunt James during his traineeship. Straight away, we learn of James’ fascination with the lighthouse and life within it, which he shares freely with the reader. I can never resist books about lighthouses, so was most intrigued to hear details of its construction and workings, as well as the regimented lives and power structure of the men living in its confines.
It soon becomes obvious that all is not well in the lighthouse. Assistant keeper Adamson never exchanges a civil word with the head keeper, and also gives James a hard time, playing multiple pranks on him as he is starting out in his apprenticeship. James becomes convinced that Adamson has a dark past and that he may pose a danger to him, especially once he discovers eerie writings on walls and in hidden cupboards, as well as a message in a bottle warning him of danger. Did the unlucky assistant keeper Spencer write these as a warning prior to his death? And whilst James is able to district himself with the strict routine of his work, things start going wrong when an inspector arrives from the mainland and upsets the delicate balance ...
Stanley sure knows how to set a scene. Whilst the lighthouse initially presented a fascinating and interesting backdrop of fine engineering and workmanship, it soon took on a sinister countenance as the weather closed in and young James began to suspect that all was not well in its confines. The claustrophobia slowly increased until it had dispelled the last vestiges of any romantic or cosy notions I may ever have entertained about life in a lighthouse. But like the birds attracted to its beacon and crashing against its solid walls to their certain death, I was equally compelled to read on, even as the atmosphere became decidedly sinister and eerie. Stanley’s writing, which initially progressed in an orderly, almost scientific fashion reflecting young James’ fascination with his new home and detailed descriptions of the lighthouse, became more frantic and disjointed as James becomes fearful for his own life.
I am impressed by the way the author pledges the lighthouse itself as a character in the story, from solid foundation to dangerous foe, as if it had turned against the men manning it. Such a deliciously claustrophobic atmosphere is something I always seek out but not often find in novels, and it was masterfully crafted here. From early on, in the back of my mind, a suspicion was growing, ultimately consuming me throughout the reading experience. And despite several misdirections and my hope to be proven wrong, I found that in the end my worst fears were confirmed in an action packed finale so dramatic and horrific that it will probably stay in my mind forever, whenever I lay eyes on a lighthouse. Some imagery would befit a Hitchcock movie, such as the scores of birds committing suicide by throwing themselves against the lighthouse windows attracted by the light. Others are a stark contrast in their beauty, such as the aurora borealis as glimpsed from the top of the tower. And some are made from your worst nightmares, not to be described here because I am not about to spoil the experience for you by giving too much away.
All in all, I AM THE SEA is one of those dark, claustrophobic and highly atmospheric books that comes around only rarely. Written in the first person, it will make you question everything, from the reliability of the narrator to the unravelling of the mind as the isolation takes its toll. And whilst the fascinating facts about the engineering of the lighthouse and the regimen controlling the lives of its keepers was most interesting, the lighthouse and the surrounding hostile sea soon became an evil force that made me shiver. Or was the evil within its walls? Culminating in an action packed, violent and vicious finale, this is a book that should be on your must-read list if you love an eerie, claustrophobic setting and characters who all have something to hide. Cleverly crafted, this book really got under my skin and its images will haunt me for some time to come. Highly recommended.
Thank you to Netgalley and Legend Press for the free electronic copy of this novel and for giving me the opportunity to provide an honest review.
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It soon becomes obvious that all is not well in the lighthouse. Assistant keeper Adamson never exchanges a civil word with the head keeper, and also gives James a hard time, playing multiple pranks on him as he is starting out in his apprenticeship. James becomes convinced that Adamson has a dark past and that he may pose a danger to him, especially once he discovers eerie writings on walls and in hidden cupboards, as well as a message in a bottle warning him of danger. Did the unlucky assistant keeper Spencer write these as a warning prior to his death? And whilst James is able to district himself with the strict routine of his work, things start going wrong when an inspector arrives from the mainland and upsets the delicate balance ...
Stanley sure knows how to set a scene. Whilst the lighthouse initially presented a fascinating and interesting backdrop of fine engineering and workmanship, it soon took on a sinister countenance as the weather closed in and young James began to suspect that all was not well in its confines. The claustrophobia slowly increased until it had dispelled the last vestiges of any romantic or cosy notions I may ever have entertained about life in a lighthouse. But like the birds attracted to its beacon and crashing against its solid walls to their certain death, I was equally compelled to read on, even as the atmosphere became decidedly sinister and eerie. Stanley’s writing, which initially progressed in an orderly, almost scientific fashion reflecting young James’ fascination with his new home and detailed descriptions of the lighthouse, became more frantic and disjointed as James becomes fearful for his own life.
I am impressed by the way the author pledges the lighthouse itself as a character in the story, from solid foundation to dangerous foe, as if it had turned against the men manning it. Such a deliciously claustrophobic atmosphere is something I always seek out but not often find in novels, and it was masterfully crafted here. From early on, in the back of my mind, a suspicion was growing, ultimately consuming me throughout the reading experience. And despite several misdirections and my hope to be proven wrong, I found that in the end my worst fears were confirmed in an action packed finale so dramatic and horrific that it will probably stay in my mind forever, whenever I lay eyes on a lighthouse. Some imagery would befit a Hitchcock movie, such as the scores of birds committing suicide by throwing themselves against the lighthouse windows attracted by the light. Others are a stark contrast in their beauty, such as the aurora borealis as glimpsed from the top of the tower. And some are made from your worst nightmares, not to be described here because I am not about to spoil the experience for you by giving too much away.
All in all, I AM THE SEA is one of those dark, claustrophobic and highly atmospheric books that comes around only rarely. Written in the first person, it will make you question everything, from the reliability of the narrator to the unravelling of the mind as the isolation takes its toll. And whilst the fascinating facts about the engineering of the lighthouse and the regimen controlling the lives of its keepers was most interesting, the lighthouse and the surrounding hostile sea soon became an evil force that made me shiver. Or was the evil within its walls? Culminating in an action packed, violent and vicious finale, this is a book that should be on your must-read list if you love an eerie, claustrophobic setting and characters who all have something to hide. Cleverly crafted, this book really got under my skin and its images will haunt me for some time to come. Highly recommended.
Thank you to Netgalley and Legend Press for the free electronic copy of this novel and for giving me the opportunity to provide an honest review.
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December 17, 2021
My thanks to Matt Stanley, Legend Press and Netgalley. This isn't such a difficult book to rate, but a review? Maddening! It's verbose. Why use a $5.00 word, when a $1.00 word will do? Big words are incredibly annoying. If you read often then you know the meaning of these words, but it does take longer to get through! I nearly quit. Then I noticed that only one character was "wordy" and sometimes wouldn't even shut up. Nice. A pattern! I very quickly figured out what was going on, and still hung on until the end. I should have hit it and quit it! This story was about 75 pages too long. The descriptions of the Lighthouse were fantastic. It's just that it's easily figured out, very early on. Yet, it keeps going and going. Just to finally make me mad and onery? That ending? Who the hell you kidding?
Update:I still think about this book. Yes, it is wordy, but I still can't stop thinking about it!
It's not even the main character that I think about, but the others. So, gah! Yes, I'm upping my review to 3 1/2 stars. Yes, a full star and a half! It just has been a constant presence. For that alone, it deserves more.
I can't round up, so I must round down. Still, it's a solid 3 1/2 stars.
Update:I still think about this book. Yes, it is wordy, but I still can't stop thinking about it!
It's not even the main character that I think about, but the others. So, gah! Yes, I'm upping my review to 3 1/2 stars. Yes, a full star and a half! It just has been a constant presence. For that alone, it deserves more.
I can't round up, so I must round down. Still, it's a solid 3 1/2 stars.
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July 19, 2021I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Let it be known that I HATE DNF'ing ARCs. Hate it. The part of me that was raised by Catholic people is just racked by guilt every time. That said, I'm DNF'ing this.
I was intrigued by the description of the plot, thinking that an isolated lighthouse would be an enjoyable, creepy setting. Unfortunately, the prose of this was over the top to the point where I might even call it purple. The language kept pulling me out of the story and just made it impossible to trudge onward.
Anyone want to DM me and let me know what happens? I am still curious about the plot.
Let it be known that I HATE DNF'ing ARCs. Hate it. The part of me that was raised by Catholic people is just racked by guilt every time. That said, I'm DNF'ing this.
I was intrigued by the description of the plot, thinking that an isolated lighthouse would be an enjoyable, creepy setting. Unfortunately, the prose of this was over the top to the point where I might even call it purple. The language kept pulling me out of the story and just made it impossible to trudge onward.
Anyone want to DM me and let me know what happens? I am still curious about the plot.
August 21, 2021
The premise and concept of this book initially really intrigued me. Three men secluded in a lighthouse with an unusually high number of accidents, disappearances, and deaths and how they dealt with this isolation – a great gothic and spooky mystery! Matt was able to illustrate this well.
Although I understood that the descriptive writing style was a part of the narrator’s character (James Meakes) and often showed his state of mind, certain descriptive sections regarding philosophy or literature were quite wordy (just don’t think this was for me) and I sometimes struggled with the quite technical terminology regarding the lighthouse itself which lost my attention and concentration on the book.
Although there is some suspense and the lighthouse is shrouded in mystery for a good portion of the book, I wasn’t pulled into the story and wished it had been more thrilling in that aspect. I do like that over time we uncover more about James Meakes and the minor characters to a degree. It is very much character-driven and I too felt the lighthouse and weather also became characters of sorts which I think was my favourite thing I took from the novel.
Thanks to NetGalley and Legend Press for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review.
Although I understood that the descriptive writing style was a part of the narrator’s character (James Meakes) and often showed his state of mind, certain descriptive sections regarding philosophy or literature were quite wordy (just don’t think this was for me) and I sometimes struggled with the quite technical terminology regarding the lighthouse itself which lost my attention and concentration on the book.
Although there is some suspense and the lighthouse is shrouded in mystery for a good portion of the book, I wasn’t pulled into the story and wished it had been more thrilling in that aspect. I do like that over time we uncover more about James Meakes and the minor characters to a degree. It is very much character-driven and I too felt the lighthouse and weather also became characters of sorts which I think was my favourite thing I took from the novel.
Thanks to NetGalley and Legend Press for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review.
October 7, 2021
James Meakes is sent to Ricksaw Reef. He is a young trainee lighthouse keeper & this is his first posting. He is to replace another crewman who has died. From the start James finds it difficult to adjust to. The principal keeper is devoted to his work but not sociable. The second in command & James's room mate is a rude bully & resents having to teach him. When the weather is bad the lighthouse seems as isolated as the moon. The noises & shadows unsettle James & makes him wonder if they are alone.
This is a wonderful setting & the author creates a spooky but believable atmosphere of menace, However Matt Stanley seems incapable of using one word when he can usually use five- three of which are obscure! As the book continues these become even more scattered. I can see that the author intended to reflect James's state of mind but it is not a pleasure to read. I did get to the end but was left with the conclusion that the best thing about this book was its cover- it really is beautiful! Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book.
This is a wonderful setting & the author creates a spooky but believable atmosphere of menace, However Matt Stanley seems incapable of using one word when he can usually use five- three of which are obscure! As the book continues these become even more scattered. I can see that the author intended to reflect James's state of mind but it is not a pleasure to read. I did get to the end but was left with the conclusion that the best thing about this book was its cover- it really is beautiful! Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book.
November 6, 2021
A tale of isolation and mystery that will keep you on the edge of your seat, and madness, until the end.
July 26, 2021
This is the epitome of Lighthouse Gothic…so atmospheric! Many readers will guess what’s happening with the narrator, but the story plays out so compellingly that those who abandon this book truly miss out on a chilling ride. I don’t typically read other reviews, unless I suspect some undue criticism. In this case, some readers missed the point of the narrative style, complaining that the book is verbose, when that is (cleverly done) a key element to the main character’s psyche
July 23, 2021
This is a deliciously dark story. It uses the Lighthouse and sea to great effect to create the perfect claustrophobic and intense atmosphere. The writing and the descriptions are beautiful and along with the location create the perfect eerie thriller.
July 20, 2021
Jam packed full of atmosphere and tension.
So much so you can almost feel the sea spray,and feel yourself slipping slightly into insanity as you are cooped up on the lighthouse with those strangers,all of whom don't seem quite right.
A cracking read that tops my list of recent lighthouse reads (and there's been a few recently).
The always wondering who is telling the truth is a great way to go,and this was done so well.
So much so you can almost feel the sea spray,and feel yourself slipping slightly into insanity as you are cooped up on the lighthouse with those strangers,all of whom don't seem quite right.
A cracking read that tops my list of recent lighthouse reads (and there's been a few recently).
The always wondering who is telling the truth is a great way to go,and this was done so well.
September 1, 2021
Brilliant story, very well told. But like others have said, I did find it a little verbose.
July 28, 2021
Thanks to NetGalley and Legend Press for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review.
Ever since I received my advanced copy of this book, I’ve been seeing it everywhere which has only whetted my appetite. There’s been mixed review of it, ranging from one star to five, so I went in with an open mind. And I have to say I’m somewhat disappointed.
Lighthouses have always fascinated me, but there is a dark, creepy quality to them that I felt Matt did manage to depict very well.
There is an awful lot of description in this, which isn’t a problem in and of itself, but there is a case of telling the reader what is going on rather than showing them. There is so much description that you end up thinking whether you need to remember it all for later on in the book. I found where one word could be used to describe things, there are half a dozen. Again, not a spectacular issue, but it does then feel a bit too wordy and rambling.
I don’t like to give up on a book, especially when it has been gifted to me, and I did try to persevere with this, but after about a third, I just couldn’t continue. It just wasn’t grabbing me unfortunately, and I just didn’t have the interest to see how it ended. Not for me sadly.
May 21, 2021
This book was one on it's own. Beautifully written and descriptive I really felt I was on the lighthouse and could feel the storm raging. It is incomparable to any thing I have ever read.
August 16, 2021
Full review now up on the blog: https://www.thewritinggreyhound.co.uk...
I found this book incredibly difficult to review. It's one of those books that I think will stick with me, yet even after reading it, I'm not entirely sure if I liked it. It's certainly unique.
Its prose is lyrical - almost whimsical - and adds a deliciously decadent air to the book. Rich with description and free-flowing words, this is the fine wine of the literary world. That being said, it doesn't make it easy to read. It's very classical in its approach, yet at times, it does feel as though you're wading through treacle in search of the plot.
The entire book is set within the confines of the lighthouse's walls. This unusual setting makes the perfect backdrop to a twisty, Gothic novel, complete with a gloomy atmosphere and foreboding weather. It's intensely character-driven - even with a limited cast - and in fact, the lighthouse and the weather outside almost become characters in their own rights.
Moving between the mundane and the extra-ordinary, I Am the Sea poses philosophical questions in one breath while quoting famous novels in the next. The narrative thread darts around like the inside of the narrator's mind; often rambling, yet always finding its way in the end.
This book is excellently paced, rising to the big reveal and a thrilling conclusion. I correctly guessed the twist about halfway through, yet luckily this didn't detract from my enjoyment as the story panned out. It's tense, suspenseful, and gripping.
Uniquely unsettling, I Am the Sea is an intriguing literary fiction novel with a rich, Gothic atmosphere.
I found this book incredibly difficult to review. It's one of those books that I think will stick with me, yet even after reading it, I'm not entirely sure if I liked it. It's certainly unique.
Its prose is lyrical - almost whimsical - and adds a deliciously decadent air to the book. Rich with description and free-flowing words, this is the fine wine of the literary world. That being said, it doesn't make it easy to read. It's very classical in its approach, yet at times, it does feel as though you're wading through treacle in search of the plot.
The entire book is set within the confines of the lighthouse's walls. This unusual setting makes the perfect backdrop to a twisty, Gothic novel, complete with a gloomy atmosphere and foreboding weather. It's intensely character-driven - even with a limited cast - and in fact, the lighthouse and the weather outside almost become characters in their own rights.
Moving between the mundane and the extra-ordinary, I Am the Sea poses philosophical questions in one breath while quoting famous novels in the next. The narrative thread darts around like the inside of the narrator's mind; often rambling, yet always finding its way in the end.
This book is excellently paced, rising to the big reveal and a thrilling conclusion. I correctly guessed the twist about halfway through, yet luckily this didn't detract from my enjoyment as the story panned out. It's tense, suspenseful, and gripping.
Uniquely unsettling, I Am the Sea is an intriguing literary fiction novel with a rich, Gothic atmosphere.
August 19, 2021
General Impressions
I never thought I would catch myself reading, much less like a male-only, 1870's murder mystery set in a lighthouse but here I am!
"I am the Sea" is told through James's eyes, as he records his thoughts and his day to day life in an isolated lighthouse, famous for the number of employees who either disappear or are found dead. As the days go on, and James becomes more and more unsettled by all the questions he has about the previous occupants of the lighthouse, he starts suspecting that someone else might be living with them, with plans to harm the surviving men.
If you like plot twists, unreliable narrators and diaries, you might enjoy this. I will even go on a limb and consider this borderline dark academia. Although the story is not set in an old university but in a creepy isolated lighthouse, the main character is an apprentice who spends all the time he is not working, reading, thinking about or quoting all manner of books and poems he knows, to stave off the boredom and a growing sense of fear over his future.
Conclusions
Along with that mystery and sense of dread, this book is also rich in details about literature and science, that last one pertaining particularly to the technological advances of the time and the machinery inside the lighthouse. Matt Stanley truly knew how to immerse his reader not only inside the lighthouse keeper's life but in XIX century England's criminal and health systems.
"I am the Sea" was very easy to fall into and refused to give me back until the very end.
Thank you to Legend Press for sending me this copy.
Rating: 4/5
I never thought I would catch myself reading, much less like a male-only, 1870's murder mystery set in a lighthouse but here I am!
"I am the Sea" is told through James's eyes, as he records his thoughts and his day to day life in an isolated lighthouse, famous for the number of employees who either disappear or are found dead. As the days go on, and James becomes more and more unsettled by all the questions he has about the previous occupants of the lighthouse, he starts suspecting that someone else might be living with them, with plans to harm the surviving men.
If you like plot twists, unreliable narrators and diaries, you might enjoy this. I will even go on a limb and consider this borderline dark academia. Although the story is not set in an old university but in a creepy isolated lighthouse, the main character is an apprentice who spends all the time he is not working, reading, thinking about or quoting all manner of books and poems he knows, to stave off the boredom and a growing sense of fear over his future.
Conclusions
Along with that mystery and sense of dread, this book is also rich in details about literature and science, that last one pertaining particularly to the technological advances of the time and the machinery inside the lighthouse. Matt Stanley truly knew how to immerse his reader not only inside the lighthouse keeper's life but in XIX century England's criminal and health systems.
"I am the Sea" was very easy to fall into and refused to give me back until the very end.
Thank you to Legend Press for sending me this copy.
Rating: 4/5
August 22, 2021
5 Stars from me
I have to start with the cover. The colour is beautiful and the design itself grew in meaning the further I read into the story. But, unless of course it was just my copy, or my imagination, the cover feels slightly as though it has been near the sea...
The story follows apprentice lighthouseman James Meakes who, in 1870, joins two other lighthouse keepers on an offshore rock.
Immediately it becomes apparent that not all is well between the two existing keepers - their relations seem fractured and cold amid endless rules and regulations which must be steadfastly observed.
It is easy to feel sympathy for Meakes who was orphaned at a young age and lived with his uncle in a house for 'eccentrics and those of a nervous disposition' he has witnessed much in his short life.
Matt Stanley cleverly creates a world like no other within the confines of the lighthouse and found myself gently drawn into the story and the inevitable madness that descends upon its inhabitants.
The contrast presented by the opulent splendour of the Commissioner's room and the richness of the library jar somewhat against the brutal, uncomforting and frugal living areas allowed for the lighthousemen themselves.
My favourite room was of course the library and all its literary inhabitants - the thought of being in the other rooms (let alone the relentless, pointless toil of the cleaning) would, I am sure, have sent me swiftly into madness.
This is a story as dark as it is beautiful and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I have to start with the cover. The colour is beautiful and the design itself grew in meaning the further I read into the story. But, unless of course it was just my copy, or my imagination, the cover feels slightly as though it has been near the sea...
The story follows apprentice lighthouseman James Meakes who, in 1870, joins two other lighthouse keepers on an offshore rock.
Immediately it becomes apparent that not all is well between the two existing keepers - their relations seem fractured and cold amid endless rules and regulations which must be steadfastly observed.
It is easy to feel sympathy for Meakes who was orphaned at a young age and lived with his uncle in a house for 'eccentrics and those of a nervous disposition' he has witnessed much in his short life.
Matt Stanley cleverly creates a world like no other within the confines of the lighthouse and found myself gently drawn into the story and the inevitable madness that descends upon its inhabitants.
The contrast presented by the opulent splendour of the Commissioner's room and the richness of the library jar somewhat against the brutal, uncomforting and frugal living areas allowed for the lighthousemen themselves.
My favourite room was of course the library and all its literary inhabitants - the thought of being in the other rooms (let alone the relentless, pointless toil of the cleaning) would, I am sure, have sent me swiftly into madness.
This is a story as dark as it is beautiful and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
September 9, 2021
This is a wonderfully atmospheric read which is haunting and chilling throughout. Stanley creates a vivid landscape of these 3 keepers being completely cut off from the rest of the world, locked in this vertical bleak and isolating tower, with nothing but each other for company, which is not saying much when the individuals who decide to be keepers seem to be odd, secretive and introspective characters. It’s a claustrophobic and disorientating read, made all the more disturbing with ghostly sightings and unexpected twists and turns that made my heart go cold. There’s definitely elements in this book that border on gothic vibes and horror (but I do get scared easily 😅).
Like the characters themselves the reader soon starts questioning what is real or mere hallucinations, and if Meakes is actually a reliable trustworthy character. Pieces of the puzzle slowly fall into place as you read and I couldn’t put it down.
Only one aspect of this book I struggled with was the extensive complex vocabulary used. I would say I have a good grasp of the English language but there were a lot of words I didn’t know in this book!
Overall I really enjoyed this unsettling novel. This reminds me of The Lamplighters by Emma Stonex yet I found this narrative to be original and engaging.
Like the characters themselves the reader soon starts questioning what is real or mere hallucinations, and if Meakes is actually a reliable trustworthy character. Pieces of the puzzle slowly fall into place as you read and I couldn’t put it down.
Only one aspect of this book I struggled with was the extensive complex vocabulary used. I would say I have a good grasp of the English language but there were a lot of words I didn’t know in this book!
Overall I really enjoyed this unsettling novel. This reminds me of The Lamplighters by Emma Stonex yet I found this narrative to be original and engaging.
August 17, 2021
This is a rollicking good read - a mystery, thriller, a ghost story and a whodunnit. The meticulous details of daily life in a Victorian lighthouse are described brilliantly. It is set in Victorian times, but in the story there are not any references to time or place. I researched the lighthouse as it seemed so real, but of course, it was fictional! The depiction of the environment, the sea and the weather are masterful.
‘I am the Sea’ tells the story of James Meakes, a new lighthouse keeper who joins two others at the lighthouse on Ripsaw Reef, twenty miles off the coast. The third keeper had died in mysterious circumstances. We don’t know why James wants to join a remote lighthouse, or why he makes vague references to his uncle, Mr. Fowler with whom he lived previously.
When the story begins, there are unexplained circumstances, cryptic writing and things that are strange but explainable (for example, threatening shadows), but it gradually becomes more gothic and extraordinary. The book develops into a tale of horror and gore and things that go bump in the night!
‘I am the Sea’ tells the story of James Meakes, a new lighthouse keeper who joins two others at the lighthouse on Ripsaw Reef, twenty miles off the coast. The third keeper had died in mysterious circumstances. We don’t know why James wants to join a remote lighthouse, or why he makes vague references to his uncle, Mr. Fowler with whom he lived previously.
When the story begins, there are unexplained circumstances, cryptic writing and things that are strange but explainable (for example, threatening shadows), but it gradually becomes more gothic and extraordinary. The book develops into a tale of horror and gore and things that go bump in the night!
August 21, 2021
This is easily one of the best books I've read this year. Mr. Stanley writes in a gothic horror, Henry Jamesian style appropriate to both his timeframe and physical setting that is done so well and so artfully that it's a pleasure to savor every word. He is a master of creating atmosphere and mood, particularly the ever-increasing tension among the primary characters. But that's not all he does -- he succeeds in depicting the unraveling of the first-person narrator in a way that is utterly astounding. Slowly he peels back the layers, one by one, until virtual Armageddon has and continues to unfold before you. I read this book at the same time as The Rules of Civility by Amor Towles, and I am the Sea squarely stood side by side with it in terms of complexity, depth, and its author's beautiful command of the English language. Sorry for all the superlatives, but this book really is that good.
PS Thank you Legend Press for my ARC.
PS Thank you Legend Press for my ARC.
January 26, 2022
A very engaging account of a lighthouse-keeper. I came out expecting a lot of mystery and perhaps a little bit of horror from reading the blurb and the book did not disappoint. The setting of the lighthouse is described brilliantly and I could feel the claustrophobic atmosphere creeping up on me in the second half. The only thing I didn't like was how the narrator's past was addressed - I think there could have been more articulate ways of doing it. However, I'm looking forward to reading more by Matt Stanley - his writing really captivated me (so much so that this was the only book among the four I was reading that I could finish!)
December 9, 2021
I bought this on a whim, and I'm so glad I did. With references to Winstanley's death in 1703 as a result of The Great British Storm, this is a suspenseful and original historical thriller. My only qualm was the start moved slowly, and alongside the beautifully descriptive prose are peppered words I'd ever heard of - and I'm an author and publishing director - which was distracting and annoying. Despite having guessed who the murderer was, why he killed, and how the book would end, I thoroughly enjoyed the journey there.
April 12, 2022
A new lighthouse keeper has arrived and as Meakes adjusts to the order of the lighthouse keeper, mysterious things start to occur.
July 31, 2022
Loved this. The cover was splendid too, and added to the mystery of this gothic style novel, set in a remote lighthouse. It keeps the reader guessing all along, and was beautifully written. I would love to read more from this author.
Thanks to the publisher for a review copy.
Thanks to the publisher for a review copy.
October 27, 2021
This a a brooding and unsettling story, made all the more claustrophobic through the setting of a lighthouse. Great storytelling throughout.
September 4, 2021
"Perhaps you don't understand...A lighthouse is a very particular environment"
What is it about lighthouses that capture the imagination so much? They seem to be the perfect setting for spooky goings-on in particular. With the nights drawing in and Autumn approaching, this is the perfect gothic ghost story to tingle your spine.
I Am The Sea is set in 1870 and apprentice lighthouseman James Meakes joins two others at the remote offshore rock of Ripsaw Reef. James is a replacement for a keeper whose just died there and whose death is unexplained.
Many weird and strange things start happening on the lighthouse. With the men so far from safety, danger lurks all the time. And as well as battling the elements, they battle each other as paranoia sets in.
This book is original and kept me on my toes. The feeling of uneasyness builds throughout the book and the story kept me guessing right up until the end. A very spooky book indeed.
Thank you to the author and publisher for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
What is it about lighthouses that capture the imagination so much? They seem to be the perfect setting for spooky goings-on in particular. With the nights drawing in and Autumn approaching, this is the perfect gothic ghost story to tingle your spine.
I Am The Sea is set in 1870 and apprentice lighthouseman James Meakes joins two others at the remote offshore rock of Ripsaw Reef. James is a replacement for a keeper whose just died there and whose death is unexplained.
Many weird and strange things start happening on the lighthouse. With the men so far from safety, danger lurks all the time. And as well as battling the elements, they battle each other as paranoia sets in.
This book is original and kept me on my toes. The feeling of uneasyness builds throughout the book and the story kept me guessing right up until the end. A very spooky book indeed.
Thank you to the author and publisher for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
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