The Transcendent Tide by Doug Johnstone #TheTranscedentTide @doug_johnstone @OrendaBooks‪ @dougjohnstone.bsky.social‬ @orendabooks.bsky.social‬ #BookReview

 

It’s been eighteen months since the Enceladons escaped the clutches of an American military determined to exterminate the peaceful alien creatures.

Lennox and Vonnie have been lying low in the Scottish Highlands, Ava has been caring for her young daughter Chloe, and Heather is adjusting to her new life with Sandy and the other Enceladons in the Arctic Ocean, off the coast of Greenland. But fate is about to bring them together again for one last battle.

When Lennox and Vonnie are visited by Karl Jensen, a Norwegian billionaire intent on making contact with the Encedalons again, they are wary of subjecting the aliens to further dangers. But when word arrives that Ava’s daughter has suffered an attack and might die without urgent help, they reluctantly make the trip to Greenland, where they enlist the vital help of local woman Niviaq. 

It's not long before they’re drawn into a complex web of lies, deceit and death. What is Karl’s company really up to? Why are sea creatures attacking boats? Why is Sandy acting so strangely, and why are polar bears getting involved? 

Profound, ambitious and immensely moving, The Transcendent Tide is the epic conclusion to the Encedalons Trilogy – a final showdown between the best and worst of humanity, the animal kingdom and the Encedalons. The future of life on earth will be changed forever, but not everyone will survive to see it…

The Transcendent Tide by Doug Johnstone was published on 14 August 2025 by Orenda Books and is the third and final instalment in the Encedalons Trilogy. My thanks to the publisher who sent my copy for review as part of this Blog Tour 

It's really sad to come to end of a series of stories that I and many other readers have devoured and enjoyed so much. I'll be honest and admit that I've struggled to review all three of the books; Johnstone's writing is wonderful, his characters are incredible and his plotting is first class. However, there is so much more to these stories, so much written 'between the lines'. We can learn, we can recognise, we can feel every single emotion as we follow the human characters and their Enceladon mates through their journey. 

Johnstone is known for his Scottish settings in his novels, in The Transcendent Tide he takes his readers to Greenland. The sense of place is superbly done, so much so that at one time I really believed that I was reading a translated novel!  

It is eighteen months after the events of the previous book; The Collapsing Wave, and at first glance, things appear steady and peaceful for our characters. Ava is living quietly with young daughter Chloe whilst Vonnie and Lennox are up in the Highlands creating a home. Heather and Sandy are in Greenland, Heather being closer to Sandy than ever before. 

However, illness hits young Chloe and the group travel to Greenland, to the Enceladons in the hope that they can cure her.

And so, we stumble upon greed and power. We witness the evil that men can, and often do. We also see the power of love and of respect and empathy.  You are going to meet some loathsome characters who will do some horrific things, you are also going to meet some of the most loyal and understanding creatures too. Johnstone perfectly balances the good and the evil and totally mirrors exactly what is happening in our world in the present day. 

Quite simply, this series has been about being different to the norm. It has been about the power of the friendship group and also the destructive nature of those who hate. 

Doug Johnstone is, in my view, one of the greatest writers of our time. His ability to weave current social issues into entertaining, unique and impeccably written stories is second to none.  I am so sad that the series has ended but the ending is perfect. 

Doug Johnstone is the author of 18 previous novels, most recently Living Is a Problem (2024) and The Collapsing Wave (2024). 

The Big Chill (2020) was longlisted for Theakston Crime Novel of the Year, and Black Hearts was shortlisted for the same award. 

Three of his books, A Dark Matter (2020), Breakers (2019) and The Jump (2015), have been shortlisted for the McIlvanney Prize for Scottish Crime Novel of the Year. 

He’s taught creative writing and been writer in residence at various institutions over the last decade, and has been an arts journalist for over twenty years. 

Doug is a songwriter and musician with six albums and three EPs released, and he plays drums for the Fun Lovin’ Crime Writers. 

He’s also co-founder of the Scotland Writers Football Club, and has a PhD in nuclear physics. 

He lives in Edinburgh.

www.dougjohnstone.com

X @doug_johnstone

Instagram @writerdougj

Blue Sky @dougjohnstone.bsky.social