Heart-warming

Gripping . . . with a touch of Frances Hardinge's bizarre brilliance

Unputdownable . . . Murray has an extraordinary imagination

Energetic and inventive . . . and with some startling surprises, this is also touching about friendship, siblings, loss and courage

Struan Murray . . . effortlessly joins the ranks of the most skilled world-creators . . . Unpredictable, filled with plot twists and shades of moral grey, Orphans of the Tide is both gripping and original.

A beautifully written fantasy adventure with prose that is both muscular and musical, and outstanding world building.

Orphans of the Tide is singularly brilliant. So inventive, and weird, and beautiful, with just the right amount of bite and darkness. I predict big things!

I loved it! Dark and thrilling. Great characters to root for. Perilous plot. Extraordinary, vivid world building . . . brilliant!

The most original opening I've read in years and a plot twist that turns brilliantly

This is a terrific debut of strange myths and dark secrets, fierce loyalties and ruthless villains, told against the thrilling backdrop of a half submerged city.

Compellingly inventive and unpredictable, kept me guessing right till the end.

Absolutely cracking! Great characters, with quite the nastiest villain I've met in a long while.

Outstanding and immersive . . . I devoured this in one go

An imaginative journey to a stunning fantasy world, full of twists and heart . . . an absolute corker . . . filled with swashbuckling adventure . . . an enthralling fantasy that moves through dark and grisly scenes of grave peril to positively touching moments of profound friendship. An incredibly imaginative narrative that fills its reader with wonder and thrills while also not being afraid to share quieter moments of real heart.

There is a touch of Phillip Pullman about the world that Murray creates, and Murray matches Pullman lyrical prose [...] The comparison, however, should not take away from Murray's originality [...] the characters themselves, led by the plucky Ellie, anchor Orphans of the Tide in an urgent, human reality.

The energetic steampunk vibe overlies a thoughtful fable about compassion and justice