You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.77 AVERAGE
3.77 AVERAGE
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
fast-paced
Loveable characters:
No
As beautiful as the cover and illustrations are, I’m sad to say the actual story didn’t match it for me.
This book was sitting at around a 3 star for me but then the ending really confused and disappointed me.
Let’s start with the writing. I found that a lot of this book is written in a very matter of fact style. “This happened, then this happened, and then this character did this” kind of vibes. It does give it the feel of an old school fairy tale but also made it very difficult for me to connect emotionally to anything that was happening.
My biggest criticism of this book is its muddled messaging. I truly don’t know what the point of this book was. And especially when you have characters doing truly abhorrent things and the way the story lines wrap up… it all made me very uncomfortable and genuinely baffled at what the author wants us to take away from this story.
This one sadly really didn’t work for me.
Spoiler thoughts:
How can you have this generational mistreatment of these Selkie men being trapped and stripped of their skin, identity, and memory by these women, only to turn around and give them all a happy ending?? By forcing in some “men always leave so we have to trap them” kind of message?! These women are forgiven even though they showed no signs of remorse or stopping? Also the way Seals are engrained within the culture of this town and these Selkies are unwittingly eating and wearing their own kind, sick. These women knew exactly what they were forcing these men to do and still we are supposed to empathise with them and be happy they get a happy ending??? Like no sorry, can’t get on board with that.
This book was sitting at around a 3 star for me but then the ending really confused and disappointed me.
Let’s start with the writing. I found that a lot of this book is written in a very matter of fact style. “This happened, then this happened, and then this character did this” kind of vibes. It does give it the feel of an old school fairy tale but also made it very difficult for me to connect emotionally to anything that was happening.
My biggest criticism of this book is its muddled messaging. I truly don’t know what the point of this book was. And especially when you have characters doing truly abhorrent things and the way the story lines wrap up… it all made me very uncomfortable and genuinely baffled at what the author wants us to take away from this story.
This one sadly really didn’t work for me.
Spoiler thoughts:
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Confinement, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, Gaslighting
I loved this even more than A Pocketful of Crows. WOW.
I hope very much there will be more of these fairy tales.
I hope very much there will be more of these fairy tales.
A story of the Selkie and the Folk. Really evocative. The illustrations are haunting and ethereal.
This is a really beautiful book - beautifully written, beautiful story, beautifully illustrated and beautifully bound. Loved it!
Quote:
“The ocean has many voices. It sings in the voice of the pilot whale; the voice of the dolphin; the waves on the beach. It sings in the voice of a thousand birds; it cries in the wind that howls through the rocks upon the distant skerries.”
“The ocean has many voices. It sings in the voice of the pilot whale; the voice of the dolphin; the waves on the beach. It sings in the voice of a thousand birds; it cries in the wind that howls through the rocks upon the distant skerries.”
