Dee's Reviews > Swan Light

This novel, provided as part of free Amazon's First Reads program, was really more of a 2.5-star read, but I'm bumping it up because it's the author's debut, and I know from first-hand experience how hard that is. I definitely think she has potential as an author!

The setting is the best part of this novel - on the Newfoundland coast. I would've liked a little more that grounded it specifically there - instead it felt fairly generically coastal, but an enjoyable place to spend some reading time nonetheless.

I also liked the treasure diving set-up. I read a nonfiction book some years ago (Shadow Divers) and find this life fascinating.

My biggest fault with the novel is that there are way, way, way too many characters. The novel is told in two timelines (1912 and 2014) and both timelines have many characters. It's difficult to keep them straight. I gave up really trying to figure out all the connections and just went with it.

There's also a lot going on here. There's the search for a shipwreck connected to the Titanic. The search for a lighthouse that seemingly fell into the ocean. A missing deed to a property in New York. Missing stolen(?) money. And more.

Writing a novel is hard, so I get it. You have to learn on the job, and I commend Phoebe Row on her freshman outing. I suspect her writing and plotting will get stronger, and I will be sure to keep an eye on her!