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Daughters of the Mire (Pre-order)
Original price was: RM 65.00.RM 52.00Current price is: RM 52.00.
Author: Shareen Ho
Daughters of the Mire is a haunting gothic tale set in Willow’s Mire, where the Turner sisters are shrouded in whispers of miracles and monstrosities. As rumours blur truth and myth, the real story emerges through hidden diaries, letters, and fragments of the past, uncovering a chilling legacy of secrets, loss, and lives claimed by the mire. Bound by blood yet divided by what they conceal, the sisters are trapped in a history that refuses to stay buried, pulling them inexorably toward a dark and inescapable truth.
492 pages.
Goodreads link
Wai Lu Yin –
How does writing on paper carry emotion between a writer and a reader, when so much is left unsaid?
“Daughter of The Mire”, the debut novel by Shareen Ho, unfolds through diary entries and letters written by the Turner twins, Sarah and Amelia. Through these past fragments, we follow their traumatic and hopeful upbringing across different phases of life in Willow’s Mire.
Trigger warnings: sexual abuse, sexual assault, domestic violence, child neglect, psychological trauma, mental health struggles, and suicidal ideation.
Moving between the sisters’ accounts, I often had to put the book down just to breathe. What Sarah and Amelia endure is difficult to read and painful to imagine.
The novel moves at a slow pace, and it takes time to fully grasp their circumstances. This comes from the density and detail in their writing. Every action and thought is carefully laid out, revealing the imperfect realities of love, sisterhood, motherhood, and family. After their parents’ death, the twins are left to survive in the slums, shaped by grief, vulnerability, and the limits imposed on them by society.
The story also examines how tragedy shapes people into what others might call “monsters.” Their choices are constrained, their paths narrow, raising a lingering question: are we living for ourselves, or for others?
Silence appears in many forms. The twins do not always tell each other about the abuse they suffer. Sometimes it feels like protection, a way to shield one another from further pain. Other times, it becomes a quiet form of support, where understanding exists without words. There are also moments when they remain silent about their own mental struggles, allowing that weight to build internally.
Writing then becomes an extension of that silence. The diaries and letters hold what cannot be spoken aloud. They act as controlled releases of emotion, shaped and contained on paper. As a reader, you take in what is written while sensing what is withheld.
The only downside for me is that the novel can feel overly long and dense, which may not appeal to everyone.
Still, it is clear that this story draws from deeply personal and difficult ground for Shareen Ho. Her intention is to offer a sense of solidarity to survivors, shaped by the experiences of people around her and the emotional weight of the subject matter. Some scenes feel especially heavy, as if they were difficult to write, carrying the kind of truth that is not easily put into words.
If you choose to pick up this book, it requires patience. Take your time with it. Pause when needed. Sit with the words written by Amelia and Sarah, particularly if they echo the experiences of someone you know.
As Shareen wrote in her author’s note, “Because we can change things. And we can be better for each other. So let’s keep talking, keep listening, and keep standing together, because that’s how change begins.”
Carmelita Dionysius –
At the heart of this novel are sisters Amelia and Sarah Turner. Both carry the weight of the same traumatic childhood marked by instability, abuse, and early homelessness. Through their letters and diary entries, we become privy to their different worlds, watching their lives unfold through recollections of fleeting happiness and moments of vulnerability.
The painful similarity? Each sister endures formative encounters with men who harm and manipulate them. While these relationships deepen their suffering, they also become defining forces that shape how the sisters learn to survive and assert themselves.
I thoroughly enjoyed the novel’s compelling structural choice. The story, both past and present, unfolds through letters, diary entries, newspaper clippings, and more!
Tip: pay attention to the surrounding articles in the newspaper XD
The prose is lyrical and atmospheric, reinforcing the gothic mood throughout. It would be exciting to see this distinctive voice developed further in future works.
I appreciate receiving the ARC from Penwings Publishing to members of Eat Books Club. Thank you!
Zati Hanani –
Set in the eerie landscape of Willow’s Mire, the story follows twin sisters whose lives begin in warmth and stability before being shattered by tragedy, forcing them into a harsh and uncertain world at a young age. What unfolds is a deeply layered narrative of survival, separation, and the invisible ties that continue to bind them even when they choose different paths.
I enjoy that the author chose to use diaries, letters, and reports to deliver her story. This structure adds to the suspense, drawing readers into a mystery where nothing feels entirely certain but at the same time not leaving out too much details. Towards the ending, the story intensifies, revealing a dark legacy shaped by secrets, loss, and the inescapable pull of the past.
One of the most striking aspects of the book is its exploration of gender-based violence, not just through the lens of victimhood, but also by examining the complexity of perpetrators. It challenges readers to question their assumptions, constantly asking: who is the real monster here? This moral ambiguity gives the story emotional weight and depth, making it more than just a gothic thriller.
The pacing is compelling, maintaining a steady tension that keeps readers hooked without feeling rushed. The writing style is immersive and evocative, perfectly capturing the bleak beauty of the mire and the psychological turmoil of the characters.
Overall, Daughters of the Mire is a gripping and thought-provoking read. It’s an excellent choice for fans of mystery and thriller, but also highly accessible for those new to the genre. With its blend of suspense, emotional depth, and gothic atmosphere, it’s a story that invites readers to lose themselves in its shadows and question what they find there.
Ella –
Shareen brought to life the brutality of DV/SA through a gothic tale of two sisters navigating their own unfortunate journeys (UNFORTUNATELY having men in their orbit), and you can’t help but empathise with their experiences as women in the patriarchal system. I enjoyed the writing style and the use of letters as a storytelling device to propel the story forward, but found that a lot of it was repetitive and could be concised in the way that leaves readers with more room to make our own connections.
while some scenes were graphic and visceral, i wouldve liked for more suspense/high stakes elements throughout the story- are the narrators reliable? is this what really happened? who did this? these parts fell a little flat for me (i wanna be at the edge of my seat!) as i felt like the answers were already there, but may just be my personal preference. appreciated the newspaper cuttings graphics and hospital reports though, so fun!
a true (tragic) reflection of society, of victims and monsters, injustice and the consequences of one’s actions. thank you to Penwings Publishing for this ARC and congrats Shareen on this powerful debut!
CJ –
Shareen brought me into the Mire – started with an eerie setting that felt almost supernatural like, but the real monsters are not supernatural but within us instead….
Honestly not an easy book to read through, as the story brings us through the lives of two twin sisters, orphaned at a young age, fighting for survival on the streets. While both of them carved their own path to eventually find their own homes, the journey is filled with hardships, abuse, questionable decisions amongst the cruel reality thrown at them. Like anything that could go wrong…went wrong….FRFR….It’s a book where you will need breaks reading through it as the imagery portrayed is so visceral and gruesome – you will wonder how the twins braved through it all.
I loved the fact that it is structured as an epistolary novel – which incorporates diary entries, letters, newspaper clippings, hospital records to tell the story. It makes readers like us feel like we are the ones piecing together a mystery with the evidences like detectives haha its a really fun and refreshing change to the usual chronological book chapters
Also, I loved how the book brought out the complex relationship dynamics of sibling relationships, whereby its a whole mix of dependency, fear of losing each other, envy/ jealously and also sibling love!! Both the sisters characters are so distinctive and rich in their own ways – Amelia more of a leader, always taking charge and planning ahead while Sarah is more free spirited and just take actions intuitively, more focused in the moment. Both of them endured horrific hardships in their life and their different approaches to what life throws at them really makes me think: does nurture > nature really play such a big role in our lives?
Overall, I enjoyed the book (esp the ending) much more than I expected! but definitely not a lighthearted read, gotta be mentally prepped for the darker societal themes explored – consider yourself warned!
Also, thanks Penwings Publishing & EBC for the advanced reader copy <3
Michele –
The brutal reality of victimhood is one thing, but remaining unaware as you become your own abuser, victimising yourself, is truly tragic. Getting to know Amelia and Sara, the daughters of the Mire, proved both fascinating and painful.
Shareen brilliantly employs epistolary writing in her debut, offering an intimate window into her main characters’ minds. I loved how brutally honest it was, with no attempt to sugarcoat anything.
Where I felt room for improvement was in pacing, world-building, and the development of characters beyond Sarah and Amelia. That said, for a debut novel, this is a strong start.
Thank you to @eatbooksclub and @penwingspublishing for the opportunity to join this ARC discussion!
Karisse Hannah –
TW: sexual abuse, child abuse, incest, graphic violence, animal abuse
This book is definitely not for the lighthearted. In Shareen Ho’s debut novel, we unpack the horrific stories these two sisters live through, and it was a difficult journey to sit through and witness, to say the least. There were many instances where I wish I could have reach out through the pages and done something to prevent an awful event, but all I could do was sit through and watch it unfold.
Daughters of the Mire tells its story through the sisters’ diary entries, letters, and newspaper clippings. It starts off a little slow, but it covers a wide array of topics surrounding abuse – particularly sexual abuse. It also contains graphic scenes of violence and gore, which was hard to stomach at times – even harder when you think about how the characters have to live through it all.
One of the things I particularly enjoyed were the dynamics between the two sisters. It’s not a typical sibling relationship, considering that most of their bond towards each other seems to come from shared trauma and dependency towards each other. It was an interesting topic to explore, especially in the setting this story was based on.
Thanks to Penwings and Eat Books Club for giving me the opportunity to have an advanced reader copy! I thoroughly enjoyed the journey through the mire.