Lochbound

A Novel

Rebecca Templeton

A glitteringly dark reimagining of The Little Mermaid set in eighteenth-century Scotland—this enchanting and gothic historical fantasy will hypnotize fans of Outlander and Spellbound.

There is no happily-ever-after when you are the monster. . . .

Kilmara, Scotland. 1725. For fifty years, Iris has accepted the curse that blighted her life. By night, she is a heartbroken woman, destined to walk the misty shores of Kilmara without growing older. By day, she is Moireach, a terrifying monster imprisoned in the murky depths of Loch Moine.

When bodies begin appearing on the shore, the villagers are convinced Moireach is responsible. So a hunter—the rugged, ruthless Henry Carver—is summoned to slay the monster of the loch.

Iris must break her curse before she is killed for crimes she cannot believe she has committed. But as Kilmara's hunt for the monster becomes ever more fevered, she and Henry are drawn together in a dangerous game of impossible attraction.

And when a figure from Iris's past suddenly reappears, she must choose what—or who—she is willing to sacrifice to win her freedom.

Rebecca Templeton has had a love of books from a very early age and had lofty childhood aspirations of being a writer, though she ended up joining the legal profession instead. When her husband encouraged her to start writing again, she rediscovered her creative outlet and hasn't looked back since. When not writing or working, Rebecca can usually be found crocheting giant blankets, baking, or watching Gilmore Girls. She is also owned by a couple of very energetic children.

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Endorsements & Reviews

"Rebecca Templeton delivers a dark fairytale that beautifully evokes the wilds of the Scottish landscape and the nature of monstrosity in her twisty reimagining of The Little Mermaid." Jennifer Saint, author of Ariadne

"An enthralling tale of magic, myth and mystery, where nothing can be taken at face value and in which the complexities of the human heart are laid bare, as true love battles to conquer all. I thoroughly enjoyed losing myself within the magical pages of this inspired debut." Anita Frank, author of The Good Liars

"Brilliantly atmospheric and richly imagined, this is a unique and refreshing take on The Little Mermaid that will whisk you away to eighteenth century Scotland and make you wonder what may be hiding beneath still waters. . . ." Ellis Hunter, author of Blood Bound 

"Lochbound is a compelling dark fairy tale for grown-ups. Templeton turns the Little Mermaid myth on its head, and uses it to examine the monstrous behaviour humans are capable of in the name of love."
Laura Shepperson, author of The Heroines

"A beautiful story filled with lore and longing and a unique twist on the mermaid tale and wonderfully embedded in its Scottish setting."
Sunyi Dean, author of The Book Eaters

"Gorgeously dark with twists that kept me gripped until the end." Heather Darwent, author of The Things We Do to Our Friends