The Gracekeepers: A Novel

This is a magical story. I listened to the audio book and I really think the person reading it really helped with the magical feeling. The story tells of a flooded world, where few islands remain, and those who inhabit the land are landlockers. Everyone else lives on boats and are known as damplings. North is a dampling she works as the bear-girl on a circus boat known as The Excalibur. Callanish is a Gracekeeper. She arranges mourning ceremonies for people with loved ones who have died. I really enjoyed all of the characters, especially those from the circus.

*I received this advance reader's edition from the publishers.

The Gracekeepersis beautifully written--the gauzy, dream-like style reminiscent ofThe Night Circus. And while the story is enchanting, just likeThe Night Circus,these types of books are just not for me. I find the vaporous style and varying points of view distracting; I need something--or someone--more tangible to ground me in the tale.

That being said, the author has done a remarkable job of creating a unique world. The book focuses mainly on two women, North, a circus performer and Callanish, a gracekeeper, or undertaker, both caught in the lonely water-logged apocalyptic world that is divided between "landlockers" and "damplings." The Gracekeeperswill not fail to spark imaginations, giving shape to unseen and unknown things deep in the sea.