A copy of this was provided free of charge from the publisher in return for an honest review.
Almost Llewhellin has had an unusual upbringing on the coast of Wales, being brought up by his sister Perfection. He travels all over the coast and local area, playing in the graveyards, exploring the sea caves and he is intrinsically linked to the landscape where he lives. Rather than other children to play with he knows mermaids and mermen, morticians and his own family’s undead. It feels to him like time has stopped, he is stood watching things as they drift on by. Even moving away has no effect, Pembrokeshire has its roots deep inside his soul and he returns once again.
I dreamed of pearls, full fathom five;
I sang of gales, the tang of salt
Almost as a character feels like he is not fully of this world, but rather he inhabits somewhere in between this world and the next as he mixes with mermaids and converses with the dead. This is a strange book in lots of ways, very surreal at times, blended with fantasy, a dash of folklore with hints of The Graveyard Book. It is a lyrical book and I really enjoyed the poetic elements, but personally struggled to engage with the characters at times.
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