Overview

In Storm Pegs, Jenni Fagan brings us to a decaying Scottish coastal town battered by weather, poverty, and neglect. The novel follows several characters living on the edge, including young people trying to survive violence, addiction, and limited choices. When a brutal crime shakes the community, long simmering tensions surface, exposing how tightly fear, loyalty, and desperation are bound together.

Writing & Voice

We found Fagan’s writing raw, rhythmic, and intensely vivid. Her language captures the harshness of the setting without losing sight of moments of beauty and care. The voice feels urgent and close, pulling us into lives shaped by threat and resilience, and refusing to look away from discomfort.

Characters

The characters feel bruised and alive, each carrying private damage. Young women and girls are at the centre of the story, navigating danger while trying to hold onto friendship and hope. Adults often appear compromised or broken, creating a world where safety is fragile and trust is hard won.

Themes

Storm Pegs explores violence, misogyny, and survival within neglected communities. It looks at how systems fail the vulnerable, and how silence allows harm to continue. We were struck by the novel’s refusal to soften reality, while still insisting on the importance of connection and care.

What Worked

• A fierce sense of place shaped by sea, weather, and decay.
• Unflinching honesty in its portrayal of violence and fear.
• Strong focus on female experience in hostile environments.

Minor Quibbles

• The intensity may be distressing for some readers.
• Its fragmented structure can feel challenging at times.

Final Thoughts

Storm Pegs is a powerful and unsettling novel that confronts violence and neglect while refusing to give up on human connection.

Rating: ★★★★☆ / 5