Souls Of The Sea - Kelly Ladell

Allada, a small coastal village in Africa. It's the 1700's and Irisa relishes in her affinity with the sea and the herbs and plants she collects for medicines to heal the sick. When her family and friends are threatened, she allows the village wise-woman, Fugra to help her control her God Gift - a darkness of trapped souls that she can call forth to rid the world of those that mean them harm. Together Irisa and her friends face; domestic abuse,slavery,female genital mutilation (FGM), rape and misogyny. However their strength and comradeship ensure they continue to fight for a life that they have a say in. They are brought to one of the first tobacco plantations in Virginia, where they are confronted by the scale of slavery and the saviour of friendship. Irisa is sent to trade with the indigenous Algonquins and to help save their Chieftess using her God Gift, Through this they discover similarities in their love of magic in nature, communing with the sea and their ancestors. Irisa then has to make a choice, does she leave for a life with her slave owner in Europe or fight for a simple but free life with the Algonquins whilst also saving the Governors' wife and daughter.