In a drowned world, there are the landlockers – living on the few bits of land remaining – and the damplings, surviving completely at sea. They meet, from time to time, in tidal zones. Callanish is a Gracekeeper – she buries the dead under the water and tends the birds who sing them to their final rest. North is a dampling circus performer – who sails the world sea with her bear and the rest of her company, trading their sweat for whatever the landlockers will share with them. The book unpicks culture and class; it is a gorgeous read which will haunt you.