Sargasso

 
This is described in the promotional blurbs as a Gothic novel with shades of Daphne Du Maurier’s famous “Rebecca” that featured the house called Manderley. In this case, the house is Sargasso, built on the coast of Victoria by Hannah’s architect father.

Hannah, an only and lonely child, grows up at Sargasso from the age of seven. After her father dies, she goes away to a new life in Melbourne, returning when she inherits the house as an adult. She is undecided what to do with the place; renovate and sell, or stay. When her mysterious childhood companion, Flint, reappears as an adult her life gets complicated and she breaks up with her boyfriend Tristan.

The novel has tandem chapters, “Now” and “Then”, so we experience Hannah’s innocent childhood years with Flint as well as the increasingly dark present with them as adults. The reader knows that Flint is other-worldly but who is he, what does he want? Although we have hints, these questions are never really answered. There’s a slow build-up to the predictable final resolution that is less than satisfying.

It might depend on one’s reading preferences and/or sympathy for individuals suffering through an alternate reality whether they find this novel an enjoyable experience. Angry and controlling male characters in women’s fiction have little attraction for me, so I failed to grasp any real understanding of Hannah’s besotted behaviour - and even more so if it was all in her imagination. Other readers will no doubt feel quite different from me. 
 
Three stars.

Booktopia

Amazon.com.au

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