From a young marine biologist, sailor and artist, here is a beguiling and beautiful book about our human relationship with the sea and the creatures who inhabit it.

Elegant, enthralling... There are plenty of books about the sea, but few, if any, have the lyrical, almost visceral intensity of this one... Stowe's shimmering prose - and her exquisite line drawings - make us feel the majesty of the sea and its creatures. It also reveals their terrifying vulnerability

Above all a sensuous book, more felt than described, more described than explained, more painted than penned: part memoir, part journal and - with each chapter named for a creature the author encountered either in real life or in dreams - part natural mystery tour

A haunting evocation of [the sea's] power and beauty, and an exploration of its wildlife... [Stowe's] prose is beautiful, conjuring the storybook setting of her upbringing, the salt spray of the sea and the wonder of travelling alongside whales and sea birds while also imparting scientific knowledge

A briny love story... Stowe wistfully explores the mysteries of water as she navigates the sometimes turbulent, often rousing flow of her life

Stirring... Fascinating... Unforgettable... Stowe immerses readers in the sights, sounds, and rhythms of the ocean in her spellbinding debut

Exquisite in its intelligence and boundless in the fetch of its wave

The shelves are awash with sea books. But Stowe is different. She doesn't just watch and describe the sea; she's part of it. It surges inside her and crashes out onto the page. The book's drenched with salt water. It fizzes, clicks, booms and screams. Tremendous

Inspiring... Hannah Stowe recounts her lifelong love affair with the sea and illuminates the complexities of our relationship with ocean ecosystems... An urgent call to address the damage we're doing to the oceans, and a siren song to the beauty and power of the sea

Let Hannah's captivating prose transport you on a journey across the waves, feeling the wind and salt on your skin, and always watching out for the tantalising glimpse of a whale. You will be enthralled by her personal story, invigorated by her energy and determination, and persuaded to think deeply about the ocean, its living treasures and the human troubles they face

This is [Stowe's] personal, poetic and heartfelt story, sharing the lessons the sea has taught her

A gem of a book - a must-read for anyone interested in the sea or marine life, and highly recommended for those who enjoy top-notch memoirs. Stowe's exquisite prose makes this a book to be savored

This is Stowe's love letter to the sea

Beautifully evocative, Stowe's memoir captures the emotional and physical pull of open waters in a visceral and compelling way. A book that can be read on many levels- memoir, a natural history guide, a call to care-with it's strength in the intersection of all. If you love oceans, women explorers and artists, or just a book to challenge your mind and soul, this one is for you

Not only do readers get to spend time sailing the North Sea, North Atlantic, Mediterranean, Celtic Sea, and the Caribbean in this memoir, but they are led by the rhythmic prose of a deeply invested and poetic marine biologist. Great for people who love marine animals too!

Hannah Stowe graduated with a BSc Hons in Marine Biology and Coastal Ecology from Plymouth University, and is currently studying for an MSc in Marine Conservation. She is also an artist and yoga teacher. She currently lives in Dresden.