Selkie

A mythological tale that you don’t hear often- we follow Quinn, who’s a Selkie, who on one daring night with her friends sheds her pelt and turns into a human, and her pelt is stolen. You can feel Quinn’s rage against her husband and distrust of humans throughout this book. It’s beautifully written, although a bit sad at times, and tells a realistic story of learning how to trust and finding your family. I was teary-eyed at the end

More Selkie books please! I like Selkie lore and this one is from the author of Medusa which I really enjoyed (so good!). This wasn't as good o ONLY because it was a little rushed in the end and I didn't want it to end! From the start I if course was angry for Quinn, I saw red when she was held against her will. I understood her feelings towards those adults around her. It made me sad. Reading her journey was so so good though. This didn't end like I thought it might, I'm sad about that but also happy with how it ended for some of the characters. Not happy for others. It was a quick read. I started it yesterday. Finished it today.Thank you NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for this egalley. I was not obligated to leave a review. All opinions are my ownDescriptionFrom the author of Medusa comes a beautiful and emotional story featuring a selkie: a mythological creature who can turn from a seal into a human.Seven years ago, Quinn finally dared to transform from a seal into a human and took her first steps on land. As a selkie, she is both a daughter of land and sea. But when a human stole her pelt, he stole her freedom as well, forcing Quinn to become his wife and bear his children. As legend tells, capturing a selkie will bring you luck, and she became a coveted prize.Constrained to a life that was no longer her own, Quinn longed for nothing more than to find her pelt and seize her freedom. Then one day, her eldest daughter hands Quinn her pelt and without a second thought, Quinn snatches it and escapes to the sea. But she's no longer used to swimming and doesn't know where her herd has gone. And after an almost disastrous encounter with her former husband, leaving her severely injured, Quinn doesn't have the strength to go searching.Instead, she finds herself taking shelter on a nearby island with a lighthouse and three lighthouse keepers. Quinn doesn't trust humans anymore and wants to stay hidden from the keepers. But she can't survive on her own. Can she learn to trust these humans and shed her hatred of all humankind? Or will she give into her fears and accept the monstrous fate that others have bestowed upon her?

This is the first selkie folklore novel I've read and I thoroughly enjoyed it! Quinn's journey of finding herself, connecting to her heritage, and fighting for her found family is compelling and tragic at times.While I thoroughly enjoyed the enchanting atmosphere and the exploration of selkie lore, I found myself wishing the romantic elements played a more significant role in the overall story.Overall, I definitely would recommend this to anyone who enjoys folklore-inspired fantasy.Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Grand Central Publishing for the eARC of Selkie!

This was such a great read. I love a good fairytale, and I’ve always been fascinated by selkies. This one did not disappoint. Quinn is a young selkie who just wants to know what it is like to have legs. She doesn’t plan on staying human, she just wants to have a quick run on the beach with her friends. Quinn and her friends enjoy their brief stint as humans, and then put their pelts back on, so they can return to the ocean. There is just one problem. Quinn’s pelt is missing. A human from the local village crept up on Quinn and her friends and stole her pelt. Now she is compelled to stay with him, as he holds her pelt. Seven long years pass, Quinn is forced to marry Owen, the man who holds her pelt, and have his children. One day, while playing hide and seek her children find her pelt and bring it to her. Quinn sees the chance to escape and takes it. However freedom isn’t everything she expected it to be. This story really felt like a coming of age story, but for a new adult instead of a teenager. Quinn’s journey really focuses on what it means to be human, what family means, and how our connections to others shape who we are. I also really liked the commentary on the domestic lives of women in the 19th century, and how so much of what women endured was seen as socially acceptable. There is a love story, and there is no spice whatsoever. I would still consider this an adult book however, just because of the age of the characters and the themes involved. I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys fairytales/myths, stories with found family, character driven stories, and characters who take a journey of self discovery.

Y’all. This glow up though! I read Medusa from Netgalley a while back and enjoyed it, although the ending was obvious (downside to myth retellings) and the plot was a smidge slow for me.This one.This one.I was not prepared to like this one as much as I did. The plot? Interesting and follows the lore pretty well. The characters? Interesting, mysterious, and pleasantly surprising. The writing? Descriptive, flowing, easy to follow, fits the mood for the book (this is the real challenge), and paints a picture. I can find no fault in this book.Sapphic romance. Sort of women’s fiction-y. Go get this when it comes out. 🥹