At the start of this book I wasn't sure I would like it, but once I got into the story I found it interesting and gripping. I enjoyed following Mayken's journey in The Night Ship, and also Gil's story many years later. I particularly liked Gil's friendship with his tortoise, Enkidu, despite Enkidu's sad fate, but he clearly gave him something to call his own as he had very little else. His grandfather clearly didn't want him but he did seem to soften towards Gil as the story progressed. I am not a fan of beasties and mythical creatures but apart from that but they did fit in well with the story. My one disappointment was the ending of the book, I felt that I didn't really know what happened to Mayken I assume that she was killed after playing on her whistle but there were survivors who were rescued and I was hoping that she would be one of them. It was not made clear even in the epilogue