Overview

The Ninth Child is set in Scotland in the 1850s, as industry begins to reshape the land. Isabel Aird follows her husband, a minister turned engineer, to the Trossachs where he is helping build a reservoir. Isolated from familiar life and grieving the loss of her children, Isabel becomes drawn into the local landscape and its stories. She encounters the ghost of Robert Kirk, a real historical figure tied to folklore and fairy belief, and finds herself caught between faith, reason, and something older that refuses to stay buried.

Voice & Atmosphere

We found the atmosphere one of the book’s greatest strengths. Sally Magnusson writes with care and clarity, bringing together the physical labour of industrial change and the quiet power of myth. The novel moves between diary entries, ghostly reflection, and working voices from the site, which creates a layered sense of place. The landscape feels alive, shaping thought and belief as much as the characters do.

Characters

Isabel is thoughtful, curious, and constrained by the expectations placed on her as a Victorian wife. Her inner life is rich, and her questions about belief and loss feel deeply human. Robert Kirk is both gentle and unsettling, a presence caught between worlds. The wider cast, from engineers to labourers, shows how progress brings both opportunity and quiet harm.

Themes

This novel explores grief, faith, and the tension between science and belief. It asks what is lost when land is reshaped and stories are dismissed as superstition. Magnusson looks closely at how women carry loss, how faith changes under pressure, and how folklore continues to shape understanding even in an age of progress.

What Worked

• Strong sense of place rooted in Scottish landscape and history.
• A thoughtful blend of historical detail and folklore.
• A sensitive portrayal of women’s interior lives.

Minor Quibbles

• The mythic sections slow the pace at times.
• The spiritual elements remain open ended rather than clearly resolved.

Final Thoughts

We found The Ninth Child to be a reflective and beautifully grounded novel that gives space to grief, belief, and the quiet power of place.

Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)