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The Woman in the Seal Skin
Malie grew up hearing tales of selkies; shape-shifting women who shed their sealskins to seduce fisherman on the Orkney shores. That's the story of how her parents met and it must be true because one day her mother slipped into the sea and was never seen again.
Raised by her father, Malie has always done what she's been told, and now she's married and expecting her first baby. Life on land is predictable and safe, and her future is all mapped out for her. But just like the seals in the sea, there's a wildness in Malie's soul - one that cannot be tamed and deeply yearns for the sea.
Dealing with themes of motherhood, grief, violence and female oppression, The Woman In the Seal Skin is a wonderfully haunting and atmospheric tale of a woman living in a cloistered community on a wild Scottish island, who one day meets her wildness within.
Raised by her father, Malie has always done what she's been told, and now she's married and expecting her first baby. Life on land is predictable and safe, and her future is all mapped out for her. But just like the seals in the sea, there's a wildness in Malie's soul - one that cannot be tamed and deeply yearns for the sea.
Dealing with themes of motherhood, grief, violence and female oppression, The Woman In the Seal Skin is a wonderfully haunting and atmospheric tale of a woman living in a cloistered community on a wild Scottish island, who one day meets her wildness within.
382 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 31, 2026
About the author
Lauren Keegan
4 books84 followersLauren Keegan is a psychologist and author of All The Bees In The Hollows (Affirm Press) which was voted Best Debut Fiction in the 2025 Indie Book Awards and longlisted in the ARA Historical Novel Prize 2025.
The Woman in the Seal Skin is her second novel.
The Woman in the Seal Skin is her second novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
April 10, 2026
⭐️5 Stars⭐️
Atmospheric and beautifully written, The Woman in the Seal Skin by Lauren Keegan captivated me completely, it’s such an immersive and mesmerising read and I couldn’t put it down.
The story is set in the 1600’s on a remote wild Scottish Island. I loved the folklore elements of the Selkies and Finnman and the mystery throughout the story. The characters are incredible and enchanting.
Life on the island is isolated and dependent on the weather the ocean and nature. Malie is navigating a harsh life on the island where her father dominates. Malie’s mother a selkie left her when she was young taken by the sea and Malie was raised by her father and is now married to Johne. Like her own mother Malie also yearns for the ocean, she has the sea in her soul.
I loved the connection to nature, the sea and the seals. The book also explores impending motherhood, grief, violence, untamed instincts and female oppression.
Highly recommended, this book gave me everything it’s both bewitching and tragic and I didn’t want it to end. What a gorgeous book cover too!
A perfect read for fans of Where The Crawdads Sing.
Publication Date 31 March 2026
Publisher Affirm Press
Thank you so much Simon & Schuster Australia & Affirm Press for a copy of the book.
Atmospheric and beautifully written, The Woman in the Seal Skin by Lauren Keegan captivated me completely, it’s such an immersive and mesmerising read and I couldn’t put it down.
The story is set in the 1600’s on a remote wild Scottish Island. I loved the folklore elements of the Selkies and Finnman and the mystery throughout the story. The characters are incredible and enchanting.
Life on the island is isolated and dependent on the weather the ocean and nature. Malie is navigating a harsh life on the island where her father dominates. Malie’s mother a selkie left her when she was young taken by the sea and Malie was raised by her father and is now married to Johne. Like her own mother Malie also yearns for the ocean, she has the sea in her soul.
I loved the connection to nature, the sea and the seals. The book also explores impending motherhood, grief, violence, untamed instincts and female oppression.
Highly recommended, this book gave me everything it’s both bewitching and tragic and I didn’t want it to end. What a gorgeous book cover too!
A perfect read for fans of Where The Crawdads Sing.
Publication Date 31 March 2026
Publisher Affirm Press
Thank you so much Simon & Schuster Australia & Affirm Press for a copy of the book.
April 13, 2026
Orkney is made up of approximately 70 islands and is located off the north coast of Scotland. It's an isolated part of the world and with an average yearly temperature of 8 degrees celsius I can only imagine how inhospitable it must have been in the 17th century. The Woman in the Seal Skin by Lauren Keegan is set in Orkney in 1695 and is a dual narrative told by our main character Malie and her friend Henrye.
Malie's father is a fisherman and after her mother slipped into the sea and was never seen again, he raised Malie and her brothers alone. Brought up listening to tales of selkies, Malie has always been told her mother was a shape-shifting woman who shed her seal skin to seduce her father.
"Selkies slip from their seal skins and seduce lonely fishermen, but a Finnman takes the form of man and seduces lonely wives. Men, women and the sea, all at their mercy." Page 46
Living on the coast, Malie has an affinity with the sea and now that she's married and expecting her first child, she finds it difficult to resist the pull of the water. With little to no female agency in a male dominated family, Malie is also in an oppressive marriage with few real friends to confide in or lean on.
"My elder brothers circle us like a shiver of sharks." Page 295
The weather is harsh, the living conditions are rough and Malie's life feels stifled and unendurable at times. In fact the harsh environment and desperate conditions reminded me of The Mercies by Kiran Millwood Hargrave, set in Norway in 1617.
I read this atmospheric book while on a cruise and being on the ocean certainly enhanced my reading experience. Admittedly, the temperature was warm and humid and I wasn't suffering any of the deprivations Malie was facing on a daily basis, but the author was still able to make me feel cold, hungry and fearful just the same.
"While there was once only fear bubbling beneath my skin, there is something else rising to the surface. Something fierce and uncontrollable. Something wild. Something that simmered in my mother's body too. I believe it's rage." Page 150
The Woman in the Seal Skin by Australian author Lauren Keegan is an historical fiction novel set in Scotland about nature, folklore, motherhood, loss, resilience and domestic violence and will appeal to fans of Hannah Kent and Kiran Millwood Hargrave.
* Copy courtesy of Simon & Schuster *
Malie's father is a fisherman and after her mother slipped into the sea and was never seen again, he raised Malie and her brothers alone. Brought up listening to tales of selkies, Malie has always been told her mother was a shape-shifting woman who shed her seal skin to seduce her father.
"Selkies slip from their seal skins and seduce lonely fishermen, but a Finnman takes the form of man and seduces lonely wives. Men, women and the sea, all at their mercy." Page 46
Living on the coast, Malie has an affinity with the sea and now that she's married and expecting her first child, she finds it difficult to resist the pull of the water. With little to no female agency in a male dominated family, Malie is also in an oppressive marriage with few real friends to confide in or lean on.
"My elder brothers circle us like a shiver of sharks." Page 295
The weather is harsh, the living conditions are rough and Malie's life feels stifled and unendurable at times. In fact the harsh environment and desperate conditions reminded me of The Mercies by Kiran Millwood Hargrave, set in Norway in 1617.
I read this atmospheric book while on a cruise and being on the ocean certainly enhanced my reading experience. Admittedly, the temperature was warm and humid and I wasn't suffering any of the deprivations Malie was facing on a daily basis, but the author was still able to make me feel cold, hungry and fearful just the same.
"While there was once only fear bubbling beneath my skin, there is something else rising to the surface. Something fierce and uncontrollable. Something wild. Something that simmered in my mother's body too. I believe it's rage." Page 150
The Woman in the Seal Skin by Australian author Lauren Keegan is an historical fiction novel set in Scotland about nature, folklore, motherhood, loss, resilience and domestic violence and will appeal to fans of Hannah Kent and Kiran Millwood Hargrave.
* Copy courtesy of Simon & Schuster *
May 9, 2026
An historical novel set in the 1690s in a small fishing village in the Orkneys. Malie is the central character, the only daughter in a family of fishermen, married to another fisherman and her father has told her stories all her life about her mother, saying she was a selkie and returned to the sea. Both her husband and father are brutal men and even when she discovers she is pregnant her husband can still take his temper out on her. As her pregnancy proceeds Malie eventually discovers the truth about her mother. This is a well written and atmospheric story with some violent episodes that are hard to read but much of the time I found it difficult to put the book down.
April 15, 2026
I could taste the salt on my skin! So atmospheric, so engrossing, so well done! Love Malie, Bessie and Henrye so much, you could feel how hard, isolated, insular and cold this Scottish island is..as well as how beautiful and wild. This was an incredible read, and has given me an enormous amount to think about, not just about motherhood and ‘keep(ing) something for yourself’ but fatherhood too, female rage and domestic violence…all wrapped up in a story about selkies and seals. Out now
May 19, 2026
WOW. What an absolutely stunning novel. I absolutely LOVED it.
The Woman in the Seal Skin was beautifully written, and gorgeously atmospheric.
It was full of mystery, family drama, secrets, lies, betrayal, and folklore.
I was hooked immediately, I just couldn't put it down.
I loved everything about it, from the rough and beautiful island setting, to the folklore stories, the mystery surrounding the main family, and all the lovable characters: Malie, Bessie, Henrye, James, Adame, Elinor, and Kûna.
This is the first book I've read from Lauren Keegan, and I'm definitely keen to read many more from this exceptionally talented author.
I very highly recommend.
5 stars from me. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
For fans of Adrienne Young, Emilia Hart, and Andrea Catalano.
Thanks to Netgalley, Simon & Schuster Australia, and Lauren Keegan.
The Woman in the Seal Skin was beautifully written, and gorgeously atmospheric.
It was full of mystery, family drama, secrets, lies, betrayal, and folklore.
I was hooked immediately, I just couldn't put it down.
I loved everything about it, from the rough and beautiful island setting, to the folklore stories, the mystery surrounding the main family, and all the lovable characters: Malie, Bessie, Henrye, James, Adame, Elinor, and Kûna.
This is the first book I've read from Lauren Keegan, and I'm definitely keen to read many more from this exceptionally talented author.
I very highly recommend.
5 stars from me. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
For fans of Adrienne Young, Emilia Hart, and Andrea Catalano.
Thanks to Netgalley, Simon & Schuster Australia, and Lauren Keegan.
June 9, 2026
This book is so beautifully written. It is so emotionally evocative throughout the whole book. The book highlights found family and acceptance through them but it also has the dark matter of growing up in a domestic violence household and how that affects later relationships.
I was hooked from the start and ended up finishing this is one day.
I was hooked from the start and ended up finishing this is one day.
June 20, 2026
I've always been drawn to the ocean, have had a lifelong love of seals, and if I'm being completely honest, I've spent years wishing I could be a selkie.
So The Woman in the Seal Skin felt like it was written for a little part of my soul.
Lauren Keegan has created a story that is both breathtakingly beautiful and quietly devastating. It's a story of loss, lies, love and grief, but also of identity, belonging, and the pull of the sea that never really lets you go. I found myself completely immersed in its world, and thinking about the characters long after I'd finished the final page.
Malie, in particular, captured my heart. Her connection with the seal was so profound that I couldn't let the story end with the book - I had to commission a piece of artwork on my skin to commemorate them both. That's the kind of lasting impact this novel has.
If you've ever felt the call of the ocean, believed there was something magical just beneath the surface, or carried grief that changes who you are, this book will stay with you.
An unforgettable read that I know I'll return to time and again.
So The Woman in the Seal Skin felt like it was written for a little part of my soul.
Lauren Keegan has created a story that is both breathtakingly beautiful and quietly devastating. It's a story of loss, lies, love and grief, but also of identity, belonging, and the pull of the sea that never really lets you go. I found myself completely immersed in its world, and thinking about the characters long after I'd finished the final page.
Malie, in particular, captured my heart. Her connection with the seal was so profound that I couldn't let the story end with the book - I had to commission a piece of artwork on my skin to commemorate them both. That's the kind of lasting impact this novel has.
If you've ever felt the call of the ocean, believed there was something magical just beneath the surface, or carried grief that changes who you are, this book will stay with you.
An unforgettable read that I know I'll return to time and again.
April 1, 2026
Selkies. Finfolk. Tradition and folklore. The wilderness of a remote Scottish island and the lives of the people who call it home.
Couple these with secrets, mysterious deaths and lies and you get The Woman in the Seal Skin.
Malie was raised by her father following the 'disappearance' of her mother in the sea. The stories told are that Nava returned to her seal self and left the island, and her children. Malie has always believed this growing up and now, as a mother to be herself, she spends her days on the edges of the seal colony hoping for a glimpse of her mother.
What she never factored was an abusive husband, a treacherous father and a best friend burdened with secrets.
A wonderful story that borders on folktale itself. You will feel the wind whipping and the chill of the salty ocean. You will hear the seals and worry at the lack of fish. Trusts will be made and broken. Lauren Keegan has followed up All The Bees in the Hollow with an equally engaging and lesson ladened historical narrative.
4.5/5.0
Couple these with secrets, mysterious deaths and lies and you get The Woman in the Seal Skin.
Malie was raised by her father following the 'disappearance' of her mother in the sea. The stories told are that Nava returned to her seal self and left the island, and her children. Malie has always believed this growing up and now, as a mother to be herself, she spends her days on the edges of the seal colony hoping for a glimpse of her mother.
What she never factored was an abusive husband, a treacherous father and a best friend burdened with secrets.
A wonderful story that borders on folktale itself. You will feel the wind whipping and the chill of the salty ocean. You will hear the seals and worry at the lack of fish. Trusts will be made and broken. Lauren Keegan has followed up All The Bees in the Hollow with an equally engaging and lesson ladened historical narrative.
4.5/5.0
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February 6, 2026Coming 31st March 2026...
April 27, 2026
3/5⭐️
Scotland sits pretty high on my list of favourite places and having spent time on the Orkney Islands, I could almost feel the wind and salt spray coming off the pages here. That stark, exposed landscape, the kind that feels both beautiful and quietly threatening, was captured incredibly well. The bleakness feels authentic and I thought the atmosphere was one of the strongest parts of the story.
I’ve always had a fascination for selkie mythology. Ever since watching ‘The Secret of Roan Inish’ as a kid (if you know you know), those stories have had this haunting, in between quality. That’s probably why I found myself wishing this leaned a little further into that magical realism. There are moments where the folklore really pushes to the forefront and I kept waiting for it to fully emerge.
Also, the pacing didn’t always work for me. The middle section in particular felt a bit slow and at times slightly flat. Still, the character work kept me invested. Henrye and Bessie especially stood out, there’s something very compelling about their presence and the way they are written that adds a lot of depth to the narrative.
Overall, this is one that really shines in its sense of place. I just couldn’t help but wish it had taken a slightly bolder step into the world of selkies.
Scotland sits pretty high on my list of favourite places and having spent time on the Orkney Islands, I could almost feel the wind and salt spray coming off the pages here. That stark, exposed landscape, the kind that feels both beautiful and quietly threatening, was captured incredibly well. The bleakness feels authentic and I thought the atmosphere was one of the strongest parts of the story.
I’ve always had a fascination for selkie mythology. Ever since watching ‘The Secret of Roan Inish’ as a kid (if you know you know), those stories have had this haunting, in between quality. That’s probably why I found myself wishing this leaned a little further into that magical realism. There are moments where the folklore really pushes to the forefront and I kept waiting for it to fully emerge.
Also, the pacing didn’t always work for me. The middle section in particular felt a bit slow and at times slightly flat. Still, the character work kept me invested. Henrye and Bessie especially stood out, there’s something very compelling about their presence and the way they are written that adds a lot of depth to the narrative.
Overall, this is one that really shines in its sense of place. I just couldn’t help but wish it had taken a slightly bolder step into the world of selkies.
November 17, 2025
A beautifully atmospheric read, one that transports you straight to the wild shores of its Scottish island setting. I really loved the way this unfolded, the way Lauren Keegan mixes folklore with family secrets. The characters feel full and have a real poignancy to them, and the island in many ways feels like a character of its own.
May 10, 2026
Lauren's writing is a soft balm frayed edges. Leading you into a story that seems to be one thing, and yet it is so many things.
Selkies and mermaids bring to mind a glorious swashbuckling pirate themed story, but TWITSS delivers a beautifully crafted story of love, loss, grief, fear, and stoicism.
Malie is still grieving her mother's loss and the death of her best friend.
The sea took them both.
Malie is now married and pregnant, fearing for her unborn child, drawn to the sea again in a way that both frightens and enlivens her.
Watching her favourite seal, feeling the love of it like a mother's love she will never again know.
But the men in her life don't like it when she goes near the sea.
They don't like it when she thinks for herself.
Using everything available to her on the island to survive is frought with danger, the care from an old friend whom the islanders see as a witch, the husband and son of her best friend who care for Malie deeply, and the strength of a mother who left her behind.
But at what cost does Malie secure the safety of her unborn child and when will the sea devour her soul?
This book is hauntingly beautiful in its wildness and fear. The everpresent fog of uncertainty and not knowing where this story will go lends a deep yearning from Malie straight to your own heart.
Books like this aren't fluffy and happy, they are deep and unsettling, and that is the true beauty of a story delivered so well. Your heart soars and plummets in the moments of harsh reality.
Selkies and mermaids bring to mind a glorious swashbuckling pirate themed story, but TWITSS delivers a beautifully crafted story of love, loss, grief, fear, and stoicism.
Malie is still grieving her mother's loss and the death of her best friend.
The sea took them both.
Malie is now married and pregnant, fearing for her unborn child, drawn to the sea again in a way that both frightens and enlivens her.
Watching her favourite seal, feeling the love of it like a mother's love she will never again know.
But the men in her life don't like it when she goes near the sea.
They don't like it when she thinks for herself.
Using everything available to her on the island to survive is frought with danger, the care from an old friend whom the islanders see as a witch, the husband and son of her best friend who care for Malie deeply, and the strength of a mother who left her behind.
But at what cost does Malie secure the safety of her unborn child and when will the sea devour her soul?
This book is hauntingly beautiful in its wildness and fear. The everpresent fog of uncertainty and not knowing where this story will go lends a deep yearning from Malie straight to your own heart.
Books like this aren't fluffy and happy, they are deep and unsettling, and that is the true beauty of a story delivered so well. Your heart soars and plummets in the moments of harsh reality.
Read
June 3, 2026Lauren Keegan has crafted a brooding, atmospheric tale imbued with exquisite prose, focusing on female autonomy, grief, motherhood and domestic violence.
Malie lives an insular life on an isolated Scottish island with few friends, a husband who has turned abusive and strained relationships with her father and brothers.
Haunted by the disappearance of her mother, believed by all to be a selkie, and the death of her best friend, life holds little joy. The sea has taken so much, yet she cannot help being drawn to it.
Soon after Malie discovers she is finally with child, her husband returns gravely injured from a fishing trip and life slowly begins to change. Malie feels a wildness growing within her, a desire for forbidden freedom.
The descriptions of the harsh, rugged landscape, Malie's connection to the seals along the shoreline and her yearning for the sea are beautiful and balance the heavy themes that are present in this character driven tale of finding 'home' and embracing the wildness within.
Perfect for fans of Hannah Kent and Holly Ringland and lovers of ambient historical fiction.
Malie lives an insular life on an isolated Scottish island with few friends, a husband who has turned abusive and strained relationships with her father and brothers.
Haunted by the disappearance of her mother, believed by all to be a selkie, and the death of her best friend, life holds little joy. The sea has taken so much, yet she cannot help being drawn to it.
Soon after Malie discovers she is finally with child, her husband returns gravely injured from a fishing trip and life slowly begins to change. Malie feels a wildness growing within her, a desire for forbidden freedom.
The descriptions of the harsh, rugged landscape, Malie's connection to the seals along the shoreline and her yearning for the sea are beautiful and balance the heavy themes that are present in this character driven tale of finding 'home' and embracing the wildness within.
Perfect for fans of Hannah Kent and Holly Ringland and lovers of ambient historical fiction.
March 12, 2026
The Woman in the Seal Skin is the latest novel from Australian author Lauren Keegan. Set in 1695 on the rugged Orkney Islands of Scotland, the story draws on selkie mythology and the mysterious “finnman” sightings recorded during this era.
This is a haunting and beautifully atmospheric story of women living within tightly bound island communities — where survival, faith and tradition shape every part of life. At the heart of the novel is Malie, a young woman raised on tales of selkies — seal-women who shed their skins to walk on land.
Now married and expecting her first child, Malie’s life appears settled and predictable. Yet beneath the surface is a restless longing — a pull toward the wild sea and the freedom it represents. ()
Blending folklore, history and the raw beauty of the northern seas, The Woman in the Seal Skin explores themes of motherhood, grief, female oppression and the quiet, untamed instincts that live within us all.
If you enjoy atmospheric historical fiction woven with folklore and mystery, this is one to keep firmly on your TBR.
This is a haunting and beautifully atmospheric story of women living within tightly bound island communities — where survival, faith and tradition shape every part of life. At the heart of the novel is Malie, a young woman raised on tales of selkies — seal-women who shed their skins to walk on land.
Now married and expecting her first child, Malie’s life appears settled and predictable. Yet beneath the surface is a restless longing — a pull toward the wild sea and the freedom it represents. ()
Blending folklore, history and the raw beauty of the northern seas, The Woman in the Seal Skin explores themes of motherhood, grief, female oppression and the quiet, untamed instincts that live within us all.
If you enjoy atmospheric historical fiction woven with folklore and mystery, this is one to keep firmly on your TBR.
April 19, 2026
4.5 stars
Wonderful historical folklore fiction
So. So. Atmospheric. Great for fans of upon a starlit tide!
You will be immediately drawn in to this Scottish stormy coastal setting, with a mythical folklore story.
Family secrets, feminine rage, family violence.
The writing for this one is so descriptive and immersive, but allows space for the plot to flow through and symbolic undercurrents to trickle.
A really symbolic read that will sit with me for a while.
Thank you so much to Simon and Schuster for my ARC copy.
Wonderful historical folklore fiction
So. So. Atmospheric. Great for fans of upon a starlit tide!
You will be immediately drawn in to this Scottish stormy coastal setting, with a mythical folklore story.
Family secrets, feminine rage, family violence.
The writing for this one is so descriptive and immersive, but allows space for the plot to flow through and symbolic undercurrents to trickle.
A really symbolic read that will sit with me for a while.
Thank you so much to Simon and Schuster for my ARC copy.
June 8, 2026
I loved the premise of this book and wanted to love it as a whole but it fell a little flat for me. The symbology and parallels of Malie and the seals were beautiful, but ultimately became repetitive. It seemed that there were entire paragraphs that had been copied and pasted into multiple chapters with the wording changed just enough to be different but still the same.
The book also contains a (much needed) trigger warning for domestic violence, so I found it disappointing that there isn’t also a trigger warning for animal cruelty.
Overall, I’m glad I read it thought it could definitely have had some sections trimmed.
The book also contains a (much needed) trigger warning for domestic violence, so I found it disappointing that there isn’t also a trigger warning for animal cruelty.
Overall, I’m glad I read it thought it could definitely have had some sections trimmed.
March 27, 2026
This book is truly one of the most atmospheric and captivating books I have read in such a long time.
Set in the 1600s on a small Scottish island where people live and breathe stories of the Selkies.
I loved the folklore that swirled through our storyline, I loved the wild seaside setting. Our FMC Malie was just the epitome of resilience and determination, and the Seals...I love it so much and honestly, if I could go into the sea and become a Selkie, I would.
I just adored this story so much, and it had me captivated from page one.
What to expect:
1600s Setting
Small Scottish Island
Folklore - Selkies and Finnman
Pregnancy
Abuse
Grief
Thank you so much to Simon & Schuster and Lauren Keegan for my ARC copy.
Set in the 1600s on a small Scottish island where people live and breathe stories of the Selkies.
I loved the folklore that swirled through our storyline, I loved the wild seaside setting. Our FMC Malie was just the epitome of resilience and determination, and the Seals...I love it so much and honestly, if I could go into the sea and become a Selkie, I would.
I just adored this story so much, and it had me captivated from page one.
What to expect:
1600s Setting
Small Scottish Island
Folklore - Selkies and Finnman
Pregnancy
Abuse
Grief
Thank you so much to Simon & Schuster and Lauren Keegan for my ARC copy.
June 20, 2026
I adored this beautifully crated, atmospheric and powerful tale, set in the Orkneys in the 1690’s.
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#ReadingTheWorld
#ReadTheWorld Scotland 🏴
May 23, 2026
The story is set in the Orkney Islands in Scotland in the year 1695, during the cold time of the Little Ice Age.
The book mixes history and selkie myths. I liked how it slowly shows Malie’s sadness, fear, and her wish to be free. People expected her to obey the men around her and live a quiet life, but inside, she wanted freedom.
Bessie is one of the most interesting characters. She is strong, independent, and not afraid to speak her mind. The men in the community see her as a threat because she does not follow their rules. She does not behave the way women were expected to, and that makes people afraid of her.
I also liked the twist in the story because it made me question what was real and what was myth. Overall, it is a powerful story about grief, freedom, motherhood, and the wildness inside women.
The book mixes history and selkie myths. I liked how it slowly shows Malie’s sadness, fear, and her wish to be free. People expected her to obey the men around her and live a quiet life, but inside, she wanted freedom.
Bessie is one of the most interesting characters. She is strong, independent, and not afraid to speak her mind. The men in the community see her as a threat because she does not follow their rules. She does not behave the way women were expected to, and that makes people afraid of her.
I also liked the twist in the story because it made me question what was real and what was myth. Overall, it is a powerful story about grief, freedom, motherhood, and the wildness inside women.
June 12, 2026
I'm halfway through this book, but despite reviews saying it picks up in the later half, I don't think I'm motivated enough to finish.
This book - written by Aussie Lauren Keegan - feels a bit culturally-appropriated, a lot repetitive, with a good dose of distrust in the reader. There were times I physically rolled my eyes because the main character Malie reiterates a plot point that almost felt like they belonged in some odd Scottish folklore example of Socratic reasoning - 'My mother was a selkie. Selkies long for the sea. I am my mother's daughter. Therefore I too long for the sea'. This would be fine if it only occurred in the first chapter or two, but over one hundred pages in, I'm tired of being hand held as a reader and am bored of the repetition. There is something to be said for 'show don't tell'.
When I started the book, I found the representation of Scotland a little on-the-nose particularly as the author is not Scottish. Most names are anglo with an 'e' added to the end (Henrye, Johne), and there are a lot of 'och don't anger the peedie bairn' type sentences. I did get used to this as I got through more of the book, but it toes the line between atmospheric and appropriative.
If you need something to scratch your Outlander itch, but want something saccharine but heavy (as the main theme of the book is family violence), then give this a go. Otherwise maybe give it a pass, or work on suspending your disbelief while you read it.
This book - written by Aussie Lauren Keegan - feels a bit culturally-appropriated, a lot repetitive, with a good dose of distrust in the reader. There were times I physically rolled my eyes because the main character Malie reiterates a plot point that almost felt like they belonged in some odd Scottish folklore example of Socratic reasoning - 'My mother was a selkie. Selkies long for the sea. I am my mother's daughter. Therefore I too long for the sea'. This would be fine if it only occurred in the first chapter or two, but over one hundred pages in, I'm tired of being hand held as a reader and am bored of the repetition. There is something to be said for 'show don't tell'.
When I started the book, I found the representation of Scotland a little on-the-nose particularly as the author is not Scottish. Most names are anglo with an 'e' added to the end (Henrye, Johne), and there are a lot of 'och don't anger the peedie bairn' type sentences. I did get used to this as I got through more of the book, but it toes the line between atmospheric and appropriative.
If you need something to scratch your Outlander itch, but want something saccharine but heavy (as the main theme of the book is family violence), then give this a go. Otherwise maybe give it a pass, or work on suspending your disbelief while you read it.
March 31, 2026
The Woman in the Sealskin by Lauren Keegan is a richly atmospheric work of historical fiction set in 17th century Orkney.
We follow Malie, a young wife living on a harsh, windswept island where survival depends on fishing, fragile crops, and the occasional visiting trader. Life is already precarious, and it becomes even more so as storms worsen, food grows scarce, and tensions within the community begin to surface.
Malie has grown up in the shadow of absence and myth. Her mother disappeared when she was young, and her father has always claimed she was a selkie who returned to the sea after finding her sealskin. Malie feels a quiet but persistent connection to the seals around the island, particularly one that seems to have connection to her and her mother.
Now pregnant, and trapped in a marriage to a controlling and abusive husband, Malie must find a way to endure. Her world is shaped by fear, silence, and the authority of men like her father and the brutal MacDuffie family, who dominate the island. Her few sources of comfort come from her gentle younger brother Adame, the quietly defiant Bessie who holds onto the old ways, and Henrye, a widower still grieving the loss of his wife Beatrice, who was once Malie’s closest friend.
The setting is where this novel truly shines. Keegan brings the Orkney Islands vividly to life, from the unforgiving weather to the rhythms of daily survival, and there is a strong undercurrent of folklore woven through the narrative that adds an almost dreamlike quality.
However, while the atmosphere is beautifully realised, the pacing in the final third didn’t quite work for me. The story becomes increasingly internal, spending a lot of time in Malie’s thoughts, and I found myself wanting more forward momentum. There are revelations towards the end, but they did not land with the emotional impact I had hoped for.
For me, the novel would have benefited from a slightly tighter focus on plot and character development to balance the lyrical and immersive prose. As it stands, I felt carried along by the story, only to be left somewhat adrift by the conclusion.
That said, this is an evocative and thoughtful read, particularly for those who enjoy historical fiction steeped in folklore and atmosphere.
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (rounded up to 4)
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions in this review are my own.
We follow Malie, a young wife living on a harsh, windswept island where survival depends on fishing, fragile crops, and the occasional visiting trader. Life is already precarious, and it becomes even more so as storms worsen, food grows scarce, and tensions within the community begin to surface.
Malie has grown up in the shadow of absence and myth. Her mother disappeared when she was young, and her father has always claimed she was a selkie who returned to the sea after finding her sealskin. Malie feels a quiet but persistent connection to the seals around the island, particularly one that seems to have connection to her and her mother.
Now pregnant, and trapped in a marriage to a controlling and abusive husband, Malie must find a way to endure. Her world is shaped by fear, silence, and the authority of men like her father and the brutal MacDuffie family, who dominate the island. Her few sources of comfort come from her gentle younger brother Adame, the quietly defiant Bessie who holds onto the old ways, and Henrye, a widower still grieving the loss of his wife Beatrice, who was once Malie’s closest friend.
The setting is where this novel truly shines. Keegan brings the Orkney Islands vividly to life, from the unforgiving weather to the rhythms of daily survival, and there is a strong undercurrent of folklore woven through the narrative that adds an almost dreamlike quality.
However, while the atmosphere is beautifully realised, the pacing in the final third didn’t quite work for me. The story becomes increasingly internal, spending a lot of time in Malie’s thoughts, and I found myself wanting more forward momentum. There are revelations towards the end, but they did not land with the emotional impact I had hoped for.
For me, the novel would have benefited from a slightly tighter focus on plot and character development to balance the lyrical and immersive prose. As it stands, I felt carried along by the story, only to be left somewhat adrift by the conclusion.
That said, this is an evocative and thoughtful read, particularly for those who enjoy historical fiction steeped in folklore and atmosphere.
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (rounded up to 4)
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions in this review are my own.
May 17, 2026
TW: Domestic Violence
3.5 stars. A conflicting read. I really wanted to like this book more than I ended up doing. It had all the makings of a great story for me, wild ocean, windswept remote islands, selkies, living close with nature, the old ways...I also chose to read the book over a few wild, nights of heavy rain and wild winds. I stoked up my open fire and got cosy with cups of tea and really savoured the descriptions of the island and the ocean. Despite these positives I found that the middle section of the book was flat and heavy going. The main character Maile became frustratingly flawed to me and the DV permeating the tale heavy, oppressive and bleak. The final section of the book contained a few plot twists and was well crafted.
In the end I realised that I had not bonded with the characters which to me is one of the ways I measure my enjoyment of a book. I enjoyed the descriptions of the island and natural world but even there I felt something strangely missing...a kind of distance that I couldn't quite fathom until reading the Acknowledgements. The author says, "The sea doesn't call to me, but writing does." Then it dawned on me that I could feel that through the book. The authors love of writing was apparent and she is an accomplished writer. However, I did not feel that real longing and love for the sea that I know in my bones. I felt a description of it without the depth or spirit that is somehow there in other authors works that share this longing. In saying this though I felt that her understanding and communication of the violence of domestic abuse could not be faulted. As a fellow Psych it's something that I am also sadly acquainted with and the authors conveyance of the dread, terror and weight of it was darkly accurate.
What would have made it 4/5 stars for me would have been a much deeper dive into selkie mythology and a development of that aspect of the story. Concurrently more emphasis on the wise woman/witch aspects and deeper into the old ways and culture of the islands. Perhaps I could have bonded more with the character of Maile is this was developed (my favourite character was Bessie). The men were not much chop except for dear Henrye. Of course this is simply personal taste and plenty have enjoyed the novel as is.
3.5 stars. A conflicting read. I really wanted to like this book more than I ended up doing. It had all the makings of a great story for me, wild ocean, windswept remote islands, selkies, living close with nature, the old ways...I also chose to read the book over a few wild, nights of heavy rain and wild winds. I stoked up my open fire and got cosy with cups of tea and really savoured the descriptions of the island and the ocean. Despite these positives I found that the middle section of the book was flat and heavy going. The main character Maile became frustratingly flawed to me and the DV permeating the tale heavy, oppressive and bleak. The final section of the book contained a few plot twists and was well crafted.
In the end I realised that I had not bonded with the characters which to me is one of the ways I measure my enjoyment of a book. I enjoyed the descriptions of the island and natural world but even there I felt something strangely missing...a kind of distance that I couldn't quite fathom until reading the Acknowledgements. The author says, "The sea doesn't call to me, but writing does." Then it dawned on me that I could feel that through the book. The authors love of writing was apparent and she is an accomplished writer. However, I did not feel that real longing and love for the sea that I know in my bones. I felt a description of it without the depth or spirit that is somehow there in other authors works that share this longing. In saying this though I felt that her understanding and communication of the violence of domestic abuse could not be faulted. As a fellow Psych it's something that I am also sadly acquainted with and the authors conveyance of the dread, terror and weight of it was darkly accurate.
What would have made it 4/5 stars for me would have been a much deeper dive into selkie mythology and a development of that aspect of the story. Concurrently more emphasis on the wise woman/witch aspects and deeper into the old ways and culture of the islands. Perhaps I could have bonded more with the character of Maile is this was developed (my favourite character was Bessie). The men were not much chop except for dear Henrye. Of course this is simply personal taste and plenty have enjoyed the novel as is.
May 5, 2026
In Lauren Keegan's The Woman in the Seal Skin, the Orkney landscape of 1695 serves as a visceral backdrop for a story about the reclamation of the female soul. Keegan weaves together both history and lore into Malie’s journey.
Selkie Mythology and Symbolism
In the novel, the selkie is not just a fairy tale but a metaphor for the repressed female psyche. The "skin" represents the authentic self—wild, fluid, and intuitive. For Malie, the myth provides a vocabulary for her grief and the "wildness" that the patriarchal structures of 17th-century Scotland seek to tame.
Shapeshifting Identity: Women in the story use the lore to navigate oppression. By identifying with the selkie, they mentally "escape" the claustrophobia of domesticity.
Modern Application: The selkie teaches us the importance of keeping our "skins" safe. In daily life, this means protecting our core identity from being "stolen" by societal expectations or toxic relationships. It encourages a return to nature to heal from personal trauma.
The Orkney Fishing Industry (1695)
Life in the Orkney shores was a gruelling partnership with a violent sea.
Respective Duties: Men were the primary hunters of herring and cod, often using sixareens (six-oared boats). Women’s work was equally vital but land-based: they gutted fish with incredible speed, salted them for preservation, and repaired nets.
Trade Routes: Orkney was a maritime hub. While local trade with mainland Scotland was constant, the "North Sea" culture meant frequent contact with Norway (timber trade) and the Hanseatic League merchants. Expeditions toward Greenland were rarer but occurred for whaling, often under harrowing conditions.
Europe's Little Ice Age
The "Little Ice Age" (approx. 1300–1850) reached a brutal peak during the late 17th century. In 1695, Scotland suffered through "The Seven Ill Years." Severe frosts and failed harvests led to widespread famine.
In the novel, this climatic shift heightens the atmosphere of dread. The encroaching ice represents the "cold" constraints of Malie’s life, making her yearning for the deep, insulating waters of the sea a literal and figurative quest for survival.
Selkie Mythology and Symbolism
In the novel, the selkie is not just a fairy tale but a metaphor for the repressed female psyche. The "skin" represents the authentic self—wild, fluid, and intuitive. For Malie, the myth provides a vocabulary for her grief and the "wildness" that the patriarchal structures of 17th-century Scotland seek to tame.
Shapeshifting Identity: Women in the story use the lore to navigate oppression. By identifying with the selkie, they mentally "escape" the claustrophobia of domesticity.
Modern Application: The selkie teaches us the importance of keeping our "skins" safe. In daily life, this means protecting our core identity from being "stolen" by societal expectations or toxic relationships. It encourages a return to nature to heal from personal trauma.
The Orkney Fishing Industry (1695)
Life in the Orkney shores was a gruelling partnership with a violent sea.
Respective Duties: Men were the primary hunters of herring and cod, often using sixareens (six-oared boats). Women’s work was equally vital but land-based: they gutted fish with incredible speed, salted them for preservation, and repaired nets.
Trade Routes: Orkney was a maritime hub. While local trade with mainland Scotland was constant, the "North Sea" culture meant frequent contact with Norway (timber trade) and the Hanseatic League merchants. Expeditions toward Greenland were rarer but occurred for whaling, often under harrowing conditions.
Europe's Little Ice Age
The "Little Ice Age" (approx. 1300–1850) reached a brutal peak during the late 17th century. In 1695, Scotland suffered through "The Seven Ill Years." Severe frosts and failed harvests led to widespread famine.
In the novel, this climatic shift heightens the atmosphere of dread. The encroaching ice represents the "cold" constraints of Malie’s life, making her yearning for the deep, insulating waters of the sea a literal and figurative quest for survival.
Review of advance copy received from Author
The Woman in the Seal Skin (set in Orkney in 1695), weaves together folklore, superstitions and even some old wives tales to create an atmospheric and evocative historical retelling of the selkie myth.
The way that life on the island is depicted, the isolation, the dependence on the weather and the sea, is vivid and rich in texture. We feel the cold water and the harsh storms, almost taste the salt on our skin.
Narrated from two POVs, the voices of Malie and Henrye are clear and distinct, each using splices of historically accurate vocabulary and reflecting the Scottish dialect, which adds another layer of immersion to this story.
I was amazed at the different types of research that would have been necessary to write this novel. From the types of birds nesting in the area + the shape of their eggs, gaining an intimate knowledge of seals + their behaviour + mating patterns, to the mini ice age, 17th century shipping and trade, fishing nets + how people fished back then, how they made their own clothes (from flax, grown on the island), and what they ate.
The novel delves into a variety of themes including;
• The symbolic nature of shedding a skin and what this means for seals and women;
• Motherhood/Abandonment;
• An undercurrent of domestic violence;
• Female rage
But what stood out for me the most is Lauren’s prose. There are many beautiful, haunting, textural descriptions, similes and metaphors throughout the book, which I absolutely loved. Here’s one of my favs:
“Henrye’s own mother died in childbirth and his father, though he lived a good life, was taken four winters ago. Whatever disease took hold had pecked away at him like a seabird feasting on a whale carcass. By the time he passed, there was little more of him to bury than bones.”
The Woman in the Seal Skin is out on the 31st of March. It’s a 5 star read, so go out and grab your copy!
The way that life on the island is depicted, the isolation, the dependence on the weather and the sea, is vivid and rich in texture. We feel the cold water and the harsh storms, almost taste the salt on our skin.
Narrated from two POVs, the voices of Malie and Henrye are clear and distinct, each using splices of historically accurate vocabulary and reflecting the Scottish dialect, which adds another layer of immersion to this story.
I was amazed at the different types of research that would have been necessary to write this novel. From the types of birds nesting in the area + the shape of their eggs, gaining an intimate knowledge of seals + their behaviour + mating patterns, to the mini ice age, 17th century shipping and trade, fishing nets + how people fished back then, how they made their own clothes (from flax, grown on the island), and what they ate.
The novel delves into a variety of themes including;
• The symbolic nature of shedding a skin and what this means for seals and women;
• Motherhood/Abandonment;
• An undercurrent of domestic violence;
• Female rage
But what stood out for me the most is Lauren’s prose. There are many beautiful, haunting, textural descriptions, similes and metaphors throughout the book, which I absolutely loved. Here’s one of my favs:
“Henrye’s own mother died in childbirth and his father, though he lived a good life, was taken four winters ago. Whatever disease took hold had pecked away at him like a seabird feasting on a whale carcass. By the time he passed, there was little more of him to bury than bones.”
The Woman in the Seal Skin is out on the 31st of March. It’s a 5 star read, so go out and grab your copy!
April 21, 2026
This story transported me across the seas and back through the centuries. Malie’s story of an insular life on an isolated island, used (and abused) by the men in her life but not truly seen by any of them, has left me with many thoughts to ponder and concepts to process. Who are we if we are not seen or valued? What is our worth? Malie’s journey makes me examine my own place in my family, in society and indeed how I view my worth.
The Woman in the Seal Skin addresses generational trauma, deciding whether to continue the old patterns or fight against the wrongs suffered by or indeed inflicted by our parents. Taking chances they missed to rewrite the folklore.
Another fascinating concept explored in the book that left me with plenty of food for thought was the insidious and corrosive nature of lies and secrets, undermining relationships until they are nothing but a facade. Sometimes you don’t know your foundation has rotted away until you try to take a confident step and find the ground beneath has disappeared.
Sharing Malie’s journey through confusion and lies to clarity and self worth was empowering as it leads us to examine our own lives, our role as mothers vs individuals, the concept of keeping something for ourselves without guilt and knowing when we need to answer the call from our “home”, whether it’s the sea as it was for Malie, writing as it is for the author or whatever it is that calls to you.
This books gives you permission to answer that call without guilt. If you don’t answer that call, what you have to offer your loved one’s is not the entirety of who you are, is it.
A beautiful read that I will recommend over and over.
Thank you Lauren for inviting us into Malie’s world.
The Woman in the Seal Skin addresses generational trauma, deciding whether to continue the old patterns or fight against the wrongs suffered by or indeed inflicted by our parents. Taking chances they missed to rewrite the folklore.
Another fascinating concept explored in the book that left me with plenty of food for thought was the insidious and corrosive nature of lies and secrets, undermining relationships until they are nothing but a facade. Sometimes you don’t know your foundation has rotted away until you try to take a confident step and find the ground beneath has disappeared.
Sharing Malie’s journey through confusion and lies to clarity and self worth was empowering as it leads us to examine our own lives, our role as mothers vs individuals, the concept of keeping something for ourselves without guilt and knowing when we need to answer the call from our “home”, whether it’s the sea as it was for Malie, writing as it is for the author or whatever it is that calls to you.
This books gives you permission to answer that call without guilt. If you don’t answer that call, what you have to offer your loved one’s is not the entirety of who you are, is it.
A beautiful read that I will recommend over and over.
Thank you Lauren for inviting us into Malie’s world.
April 8, 2026
'Mother said the ocean tells a story; it moulds to the shape of the person in it. It remembers.'
Malie was forced to grow up quickly the day her mother vanished. Her father claimed she had slipped back into her seal skin, returning to the sea she came from so many years before. Malie just knows that the speckled seal, the one with the soulful eyes that find hers year after year, can only be her mother returning to visit. As storms grow more frequent and violent, the island’s isolation begins to feel claustrophobic. Desperation takes hold, and long-buried truths so carefully woven within folklore begin to unravel, ‘Is my mind tricking me? Making me see what I want to see? What I have longed for’?
Set on the remote Orkney Islands in the late 17th century, The Woman in the Seal Skin is a moody and atmospheric novel that lingers.
Keegan weaves folklore and mystery with confidence, creating a story that feels both otherworldly and grounded. The ever-present sea is haunting, unpredictable, and almost sentient, shaping the lives of those bound to it. There’s a richness to the writing that captures isolation, longing, and the tension between freedom and constraint, particularly for the women at its centre.
Although I found myself wanting the narrative to move forward sooner, it is worth the wait in the end.
An evocative and thoughtfully layered novel which is less about folklore itself, and more about identity, belonging, and the pull of where (and who) we call home.
'In truth, home is holographic… When you focus with soul-eyes, you will see home in many, many places.'
Malie was forced to grow up quickly the day her mother vanished. Her father claimed she had slipped back into her seal skin, returning to the sea she came from so many years before. Malie just knows that the speckled seal, the one with the soulful eyes that find hers year after year, can only be her mother returning to visit. As storms grow more frequent and violent, the island’s isolation begins to feel claustrophobic. Desperation takes hold, and long-buried truths so carefully woven within folklore begin to unravel, ‘Is my mind tricking me? Making me see what I want to see? What I have longed for’?
Set on the remote Orkney Islands in the late 17th century, The Woman in the Seal Skin is a moody and atmospheric novel that lingers.
Keegan weaves folklore and mystery with confidence, creating a story that feels both otherworldly and grounded. The ever-present sea is haunting, unpredictable, and almost sentient, shaping the lives of those bound to it. There’s a richness to the writing that captures isolation, longing, and the tension between freedom and constraint, particularly for the women at its centre.
Although I found myself wanting the narrative to move forward sooner, it is worth the wait in the end.
An evocative and thoughtfully layered novel which is less about folklore itself, and more about identity, belonging, and the pull of where (and who) we call home.
'In truth, home is holographic… When you focus with soul-eyes, you will see home in many, many places.'
March 2, 2026
Easy to get lost in and finish in a weekend
Perfect for fans of His and Hers, Where the Crawdads Sing and The Frozen River
The Woman in the Selkie Skin takes place in what feels like a remote, temperamental island where the community is at it’s whim, full of superstitions and fuelled by folk stories.
It is here where Malie and her brothers grew up with tales of the selkies; being told the story of how their mother found her pelt and left them to return to the sea once the call became too loud to ignore.
Now, with the island’s resources dwindling and expecting a baby of her own, Malie’s life begins to turn upside down as she unravels the truths entwined with the myths she has believed her whole life, and starts walking the same path with similar decisions her mother used to make. Suddenly, their small island seems even smaller, and being on land is almost suffocating. If only she could slip into a seal pelt, swim away to freedom and join her mother.
The Woman in the Seal Skin beautifully explores the stories we tell; to spare our loved ones and ourselves, as well as the lengths some will go to in order to protect those stories, and how sometimes a family is what you make it.
Perfect for fans of His and Hers, Where the Crawdads Sing and The Frozen River
The Woman in the Selkie Skin takes place in what feels like a remote, temperamental island where the community is at it’s whim, full of superstitions and fuelled by folk stories.
It is here where Malie and her brothers grew up with tales of the selkies; being told the story of how their mother found her pelt and left them to return to the sea once the call became too loud to ignore.
Now, with the island’s resources dwindling and expecting a baby of her own, Malie’s life begins to turn upside down as she unravels the truths entwined with the myths she has believed her whole life, and starts walking the same path with similar decisions her mother used to make. Suddenly, their small island seems even smaller, and being on land is almost suffocating. If only she could slip into a seal pelt, swim away to freedom and join her mother.
The Woman in the Seal Skin beautifully explores the stories we tell; to spare our loved ones and ourselves, as well as the lengths some will go to in order to protect those stories, and how sometimes a family is what you make it.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
A massive thanks to simon & schuster and affirm press for the ARC of this stunning book in exchange for an honest review!
Atmospheric and insular, this historical fiction set in a rural Scottish island, invoked an oppressive sense of surroundings that only accentuated the loneliness of its protagonist.
Set in the 1600s, this book explored historical events of which I had no former knowledge of, as well as delving into the Selkie mythology of the time. Reminiscent of Burial Rites by Hannah Kent, the story explored a woman oppressed and misunderstood by her time. The weight of impending motherhood and a longing for a deeper connection to nature were explored beautifully, as Malie navigates the harsh world she lives in and the weight of her family’s burdens. There were a few repeated sentiments throughout, although the short nature of the book didn’t make it too much of a personal qualm.
A gloomy, female-centered historical fiction, where the harsh natural world is no contest for the vindictiveness of man.
Atmospheric and insular, this historical fiction set in a rural Scottish island, invoked an oppressive sense of surroundings that only accentuated the loneliness of its protagonist.
Set in the 1600s, this book explored historical events of which I had no former knowledge of, as well as delving into the Selkie mythology of the time. Reminiscent of Burial Rites by Hannah Kent, the story explored a woman oppressed and misunderstood by her time. The weight of impending motherhood and a longing for a deeper connection to nature were explored beautifully, as Malie navigates the harsh world she lives in and the weight of her family’s burdens. There were a few repeated sentiments throughout, although the short nature of the book didn’t make it too much of a personal qualm.
A gloomy, female-centered historical fiction, where the harsh natural world is no contest for the vindictiveness of man.
February 27, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This book was beautiful.
The Woman in the Seal Skin is heavy on the folklore, and is set on a tiny Scottish settlement where the elements are brutal and life is hard. Malie grew up surrounded by the tales of the Selkie, women who shed their seal skins to walk amongst humans and seduce fisherman (her mother being one of them). Her father dominates the island, her brothers at his whim. After a fishing accident at sea, her life descends into a furious struggle between her husband’s will and her desire for freedom.
I don’t normally enjoy historical fiction, but this book drew me in and kept me engaged. Lauren Keegan has a real way with words, crafting a whimsical story with deep characters and fabulous world building.
An easy 5 stars, and one that you should add to your TBR. This one is released on March 31st. Thanks to @simonschusterau and @netgalley for the ARC
This book was beautiful.
The Woman in the Seal Skin is heavy on the folklore, and is set on a tiny Scottish settlement where the elements are brutal and life is hard. Malie grew up surrounded by the tales of the Selkie, women who shed their seal skins to walk amongst humans and seduce fisherman (her mother being one of them). Her father dominates the island, her brothers at his whim. After a fishing accident at sea, her life descends into a furious struggle between her husband’s will and her desire for freedom.
I don’t normally enjoy historical fiction, but this book drew me in and kept me engaged. Lauren Keegan has a real way with words, crafting a whimsical story with deep characters and fabulous world building.
An easy 5 stars, and one that you should add to your TBR. This one is released on March 31st. Thanks to @simonschusterau and @netgalley for the ARC
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A massive thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
This is a fascinating book on Selkie mythology, a topic I didn't know anything about... until reading this book over the weekend.
Malie grew up under the thumb of her father and brothers. Her mother left when she and her brothers were young. She became a surrogate mother to her younger brother since then. Now an adult, she is now married to John and expecting their first child. Like her mother, she yearns for the ocean and there is no stopping her wildness.
It is a great book that discusses motherhood and combining grief, oppression of women, and violence into a story that will make you want to cry and cheer for our leading lady. It also teaches a lesson about how horrible people can be in any given situation.
One of the great things about this book is that it explains a lot about how the culture works and the way Lauren has written it doesn't leave the reader confused.
I cannot wait to read Lauren's future books.
This is a fascinating book on Selkie mythology, a topic I didn't know anything about... until reading this book over the weekend.
Malie grew up under the thumb of her father and brothers. Her mother left when she and her brothers were young. She became a surrogate mother to her younger brother since then. Now an adult, she is now married to John and expecting their first child. Like her mother, she yearns for the ocean and there is no stopping her wildness.
It is a great book that discusses motherhood and combining grief, oppression of women, and violence into a story that will make you want to cry and cheer for our leading lady. It also teaches a lesson about how horrible people can be in any given situation.
One of the great things about this book is that it explains a lot about how the culture works and the way Lauren has written it doesn't leave the reader confused.
I cannot wait to read Lauren's future books.
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