Book description
Rollrock is an isolated, windswept island; a wild and salty landscape where fishermen and their families must wring a living from the stormy seas. But Rollrock is also a place of eerie magic, and of powerful desire.
Down on the beach, the outcast witch of Rollrock casts her spells, and…
Why read it?
2 authors picked The Brides of Rollrock Island as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?
This young adult novel knocked me out.
It takes place on a small, rocky island, but its themes are huge: revenge; desire; love; jealousy; power; bondage, and transformation. It’s a multi-generational tale that traces an infinitesimally slow-bending arc toward compassion, catharsis, and the restoration of order.
There is a witch who can summon beautiful women out of their bodies as seals; there are the seal-women, themselves, and the men who love them; there are the children, part-selkie, part human.
I loved that, though much evil is done, none of the principal characters are purely evil or good. The prose itself…
From Susan's list on fantastical water creatures.
I adored this book’s eerie, atmospheric vibes, which center around selkie legends—beautiful half-seal, half-human women who live in the sea. The story is told over several generations of Rollrock residents and is such a deliciously dark exploration of human motivation, loneliness, and what can happen when we avoid reality in favor of our own wild, magical fantasies. (Spoiler alert: magic always has a cost!)
This book is a slow burner and can be a bit confusing at first (lots of pesky POV jumps). However, it comes together beautifully and is well worth the effort for any lover of Celtic mythology…
From Julie's list on magical realism with a dark Celtic twist.
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