Snake Ropes

Strange and dark, whimsical and beguiling, the debut novel by Jess Richards reveals the author's vivid imagination and gift for storytelling. And what an unusual story this is. Set on an unnamed island which could be Britain or elsewhere, in the present or the past, Snake Ropes conjures an alternative universe of voices and shadows, myths and fantasies, where sinister forces try to restrict the lives of two young women.

But these women are not going to give in without a fight. Mary is determined to find out what happened to her beloved younger brother, who she fears has been stolen by the mysterious 'tall men' who come to the island to trade. Haunted by the voice of her dead mother and her own repressed memories, she will search every inch of the island until she gets him back. Meanwhile, Morgan is fighting for control over her life. Kept locked in the family home by her disturbed mother, she is a caged animal plotting to break free of her mundane life, until a piece of luck allows her to do just that. As Mary and Morgan's lives come together, they are each able to help the other be free.

Beautifully paced and written with a distinct voice, Snake Ropes is a story of sisterhood, love and determination that builds to an emotional conclusion.