After her seal pelt is stolen, Quinn—a selkie—endures seven years of captivity, forced marriage, and motherhood before reclaiming her freedom and seeking refuge with lighthouse keepers, where she must confront her trauma and learn to trust again. Exploring themes of autonomy, found family, and the struggle to reclaim one’s identity, the story offers a nuanced retelling of selkie folklore through a lens of female agency and healing.

Reader Review Summary

Set in historical Scotland, the novel follows Quinn, a selkie—a mythological creature who can transform from seal to human—whose life is upended when a human man, Owen, steals her pelt, thereby trapping her in human form. Forced into marriage and motherhood, Quinn spends seven years isolated from her selkie herd and the sea, enduring abuse and alienation in a small village. When her eldest daughter discovers and returns her pelt, Quinn seizes the opportunity to escape, but is injured by Owen and finds herself taking refuge on an island with three lighthouse keepers. The narrative alternates between Quinn’s past and present, exploring her struggle to reclaim her autonomy, navigate her trauma, and decide whether to trust humans again. The story incorporates elements of Scottish and Celtic folklore, including kelpies and the Bean-Nighe, and features themes of found family, freedom, and the complexities of motherhood and identity.

Readers praised the book’s evocative prose, atmospheric setting, and the emotional depth of Quinn’s journey. Many highlighted the nuanced exploration of trauma, agency, and the parallels to women’s historical experiences of forced roles and lack of autonomy. The found family dynamic between Quinn and the lighthouse keepers was frequently cited as a strong point, with several reviews noting the slow, authentic development of these relationships. The inclusion of lesser-known folklore, such as kelpies and the Washerwoman, and the focus on the selkie’s perspective rather than the traditional male-centric retelling, were also appreciated. The sapphic romance subplot between Quinn and Maisie was positively received by some readers, and the book’s handling of themes like healing, trust, and self-discovery resonated with many.

Criticisms centered on several aspects, including the pacing—some readers found the first section slow or the overall narrative lacking in plot momentum. The handling of historical details and anachronisms, such as modern language in a late-19th-century Scottish setting, drew negative attention from a few reviewers. The resolution of Quinn’s relationship with her children was a recurring point of contention; some readers felt her decision to leave them behind was insufficiently justified or emotionally unsatisfying, and wished for more closure or follow-up regarding their fates. A few readers found the characters underdeveloped or struggled to connect with them, and some felt the romantic subplot was unnecessary or underexplored. There were also comments about the book’s minimal use of fantasy elements and a desire for a more conclusive ending.

The book is categorized as adult fantasy, mythology, and historical fiction, with elements of Greek and Scottish folklore, and includes content warnings for domestic violence, sexual assault, and bullying. It is written in third person and features LGBTQIA+ representation. The narrative is character-driven, focusing on Quinn’s internal struggles and growth rather than action-heavy plot, and alternates between past and present timelines. The average reader rating is 3.95 out of 5, based on 61 ratings and 38 full reviews. The book is scheduled for publication on August 12, 2025, and is the author’s follow-up to her previous work, Medusa, which several reviewers referenced for comparison.