Up From the Sea by Amanda Dykes

This is a stand alone novella and prequel to a novel I'll be reviewing in a couple of weeks. The year in 1925 in Maine. Savannah is living with her aunt and uncle as her parents have died. Her uncle is managing her forested land until she comes of age. The land holds a mystery based on a map her mother drew in childhood. Savannah meets Alastair, a local woodsman just a few years older than she. The two form a friendship. At Savannah's urging, they set off to find the mystery in the forest.

The novella starts with a prologue, recounting an event in the forest 150 years earlier. It takes a while for that event to be connected to the current story. When that finally happened about half way through, I began to enjoy the story and its allusions to actual historical events.

Reading this novella is a good way to be introduced to a new author at no cost. It contains a good story and an author note at the end explains some of the historical facts behind the fiction. I look forward to reading Dykes debut full length novel, Whose Waves These Are, releasing April 30.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

Amanda Dykes is a former English teacher. She is the author of two previous novellas, Bespoke: A Tiny Christmas Tale and one in The Message in a Bottle Romance Collection. You can find out more at www.amandadykes.com.

Bethany House, about 90 pages.