The Woman from the Waves
Chapters (59)
- THE WOMAN FROM THE WAVES
- Copyright
- CONTENTS
- Dedication
- PRONUNCIATION GUIDE
- GLOSSARY
- PROLOGUE
- THE SURFACE
- CHAPTER ONE
- CHAPTER TWO
- CHAPTER THREE
- CHAPTER FOUR
- CHAPTER FIVE
- CHAPTER SIX
- CHAPTER SEVEN
- CHAPTER EIGHT
- THE SHORE
- CHAPTER NINE
- CHAPTER TEN
- CHAPTER ELEVEN
- CHAPTER TWELVE
- CHAPTER THIRTEEN
- CHAPTER FOURTEEN
- CHAPTER FIFTEEN
- CHAPTER SIXTEEN
- CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
- CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
- CHAPTER NINETEEN
- CHAPTER TWENTY
- CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
- CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
- CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
- CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
- CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
- CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
- CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
- THE STORM
- CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
- CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
- CHAPTER THIRTY
- CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
- CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
- CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
- CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
- CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
- CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
- CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
- CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
- CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
- CHAPTER FORTY
- CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
- CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
- CHAPTER FORTY-THREE
- CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
- CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE
- EPILOGUE
- ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
- ALSO BY ROSLYN SINCLAIR
- ABOUT THE AUTHOR
THE WOMAN FROM THE WAVES
ROSLYN SINCLAIR
Copyright
Copyright © 2025 by Roslyn Sinclair
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
All names, characters, and incidents portrayed in this story are the author’s invention. Any resemblance to persons living or dead is coincidental. When the names of real locations or events are used, they are used fictitiously.
Cover illustration by Syd Mills
Cover design by Fay Lane
Edited by Carrie Byrd and Kelly Cozy
CONTENTS
Pronunciation Guide
Glossary
Prologue
I. The Surface
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
II. The Shore
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
III. The Storm
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Epilogue
Acknowledgments
Also by Roslyn Sinclair
About the Author
Dedication
To Carrie: the light of my life, the love of my days, and the most human angel I know.
PRONUNCIATION GUIDE
Hæra: HIGH-rah
Each-uisge: ech-OOSH-gah
Beathag: BAY-ahk
Ætlaquoy: EYE-tla-kwhy
GLOSSARY
Ætlaquoy
Ætla is Old Norse for “fated,” and “quoy” is Old Norse for a farm livestock enclosure. Due to Orkney’s location and history, its place names are more likely to have Old Norse linguistic roots than Scottish Gaelic ones.
Each-uisge
Many cultures have legends about dangerous water spirits that take on different forms. Most famous from Scottish lore are kelpies, water spirits that can take either horse or human form and live in freshwater rivers or lochs.
In contrast, the lesser-known Each-uisge are ocean dwellers and known to be more vicious. In legend, they usually take on the form of a handsome man or beautiful woman to lure humans to their deaths. Often they appear as ordinary horses, enticing a human to ride them—which never ends well for their prey.
I have taken considerable liberties with the legends of the Each-uisge, developing culture, history, and even biology for them well beyond their traditional folklore. It was my hope to preserve their aura of mystery and danger, as well as the predatory ruthlessness that drives them.
Jorsay
From Old Norse, loosely “Horse Island.” The Isle of Jorsay is my own invention and not a real Orcadian island.
Trow
A mischievous creature from Orkney and Shetland lore, dwelling underground in ancient mounds. They have a human-like appearance but are far smaller, and they usually appear old and wizened, with gray skin. If trows’ mounds are disturbed by humans, they are known to take revenge. They are also known for entering unlocked houses at night and even stealing the occasional baby from its cradle. Keep your bolts fastened!
Witches