The Night Ship is the fourth novel by New York Times bestselling author Jess Kidd, published in 2022.
Jess Kidd writes historical fiction with a mysterious element to them. Her previous books were shortlisted for multiple awards and the Night Ship was featured on BBC’s Between the Covers show.
The Night Ship is based upon the 17th century real-life story of The Batavia, a flagship of the Dutch East India Company. The Batavia set sail on her maiden voyage to her namesake, the capital of the Dutch East Indies, in 1628. The ship was wrecked near Beacon Island, off the western coast of Australia.
Those who survived the wreckage, soon realised they were still very much in danger. The tale of the Batavia is one of mutiny, murder and betrayal.
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Plot
In 1628, a motherless young girl named Mayken steps aboard The Batavia with her nursemaid. This journey should lead Mayken to her father, a man she knows very little about. Mayken is fascinated by the ship, especially the goings on below deck. She is resourceful and curious and soon finds out secrets about both her fellow passengers and the workers aboard the ship. Tensions start to fray and the fate of the ship and all on board are put in jeopardy.
Three hundred years later in 1989, Gil, mourning the death of his mother, is sent to stay with his grandfather, a man he has never met. His grandfather lives on a tiny, remote fishing island off the coast of Western Australia, known only for its reefs and shipwrecks. Gil struggles to find his place on the island and his behaviour starts to catch the attention of the wrong people.
The Night Ship Book Review
The Night Ship was such a gripping read. It was beautifully written and had me enthralled from the start.
Both Gil and Mayken’s stories run alongside each other, in completely different timelines. Though there were 300 years separating the two stories, I did enjoy the parallels between the two characters and their situations. They were both grieving their mothers and thrust into new environments, having to contend with real-life villains and mythical monsters.
I loved both characters equally, despite their differing personalities. Mayken was precocious and made friends easily, while Gil was quiet, and preferred his own company. However, they were both resilient and brave and I found them to be captivating main characters.
I rooted for Gil, and my heart ached for this boy who struggled to fit in. For me though, Mayken’s story had the biggest impact. The sections about The Batavia were so atmospheric and the claustrophobic tension was palpable. The heat, rats and disease compounded an already unsettled atmosphere and I could sense the mutiny unfolding. However, the brutality of the scenes after the shipwreck was both shocking and heartbreaking in equal measure.
The story was quite a slow burner, with the main events taking part in the final 30% of the book. I didn’t object to this though as it allowed time to really get to know the characters, and care about what happened to them.
I did expect a stronger connection between the two children. It felt like it was leading towards a big revelation that never came. However, I did appreciate how both characters were facing their own monsters, only to discover the real danger was the people around them.
Overall I really enjoyed this book. It’s an epic historical novel that highlights the extremes of human nature; the kindness and compassion shown by some, contrasted against the brutality and cruelty of others. It makes it even more shocking when you remember these were real events.
It was a haunting tale and the author expertly weaved the facts into the story to make it a gripping and fascinating retelling. I can see why it was selected as Between the Covers book club pick.
What books are like The Night Ship?
You may also enjoy these novels that are also set in the 17th century:
Has Jess Kidd written any other novels?
Jess Kidd has written several other novels, including:
- The Hoarder
- Himself
- Things in Jars