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Becoming Leidah
An utterly gripping love story set in nineteenth-century Norway, about a woman rescued from the sea, the fisherman who marries her, their tiny and unusually gifted daughter, and the shapeshifter who follows their every move, perfect for fans of Alice Hoffman, Yangsze Choo, Eowyn Ivey, and Neil Gaiman.The sky opens up... I hear them laugh. They don’t feel the sadness in the air. They don’t feel the danger coming, riding in on the wind. In the hinterlands of old Norway, Leidah Pietersdatter is born blue-skinned, with webbed hands and feet. Upon every turn of season, her mother, Maeva, worries as her daughter’s peculiarities blossom—inside the root of the tiny child, a strange power is taking hold. Maeva tries to hide the girl from the suspicious townsfolk of the austere village of Ørken, just as she conceals her own magical ancestry from her daughter. And Maeva’s adoring husband, Pieter, wants nothing more than for his new family to be accepted by all. But unlike Pieter, who is blinded by love, Maeva is aware that the villagers, who profess a rigid faith to the new God and claim to have abandoned the old ways, are watching for any sign of transgression—and are eager to pounce and punish. Following both mother and daughter from the shadows and through time, an inquisitive shapeshifter waits for the Fates to spin their web, and for Maeva to finally reclaim who she once was. And as Maeva’s elusive past begins to beckon, she realizes that she must help her daughter navigate and control her own singular birthright if the child is to survive the human world. But the protective love Pieter has for his family is threatening the secure life they have slowly built and increasingly becoming a tragic obstacle. Witnessing this, Maeva comes to a drastic she must make Leidah promise to keep a secret from Pieter—a perilous one that may eventually free them all.
335 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 13, 2021
78 people are currently reading
16601 people want to read
About the author
Michelle Grierson
1 book67 followersMichelle has been an Arts educator for over 30 years in mainstream and special education classrooms. Her experience and interests include modern dance, dance theatre, fiction writing, expressive arts therapy, painting and mixed media art making. Her debut novel, Becoming Leidah, was released in April 2021, Simon & Schuster Canada. Translations published by Vorto Palabra, Croatia, and Eksmo, Russia. You can contact her through instagram @michellegrierson11 or through her website:
www.michellegrierson.com
www.michellegrierson.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 155 reviews
May 17, 2021
[See also: reviews by Shima, Sarah-Hope, ...]
[+Got questions? See Goodreads group started by Joanna: Becoming Leidah Discussion.]
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While reading Becoming Leidah, I wondered: What am I ‘becoming’ as I read?
How many dimensions of literary delight exist? I think I experienced all here: surprise after surprise – micro to macro – subtle yet electrifying.
Riding the author’s imagination at times felt like I was flying the most ecstatic parts of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons. When we enter the mind of the child – an extraordinary child – it’s like I’m experiencing childhood again – at a far more fabulous level than I ever knew.
Not just a fantasy, it’s very grounded in reality. Magical realism with an emphasis on both magical and real.
At it’s core it’s a family drama. A love triangle – trapezoid? – with a kid at the centre.
It brought me somewhere more nuanced, more mature – an integration that made magic more real. It invited self-reflection, and brought my life into greater perspective.
I saw Becoming Leidah on a list of historical fiction. Fair enough. It certainly presents a deeply-researched time and place, and adds layers beyond factual or even speculative histories, so although it is not about famous people or events, it is historical and it is fiction. I’d also call it a mythical folktale, and, as mentioned, a family drama. Perhaps like all family dramas, beneath the surface, it’s a mystery. The mystery is not only to discover what happened / what’s really happening in this story – it’s a mystery into humanity’s greatest mysteries.
The book jumps between time periods and narrators, and although I have read books where that bothered me, here I loved weaving the story together. Still, I can imagine some readers finding it a challenge. Unreliable narrators and intentionally undeclared travel between worlds can make it seem like the story is inconsistent, when it’s actually just more layered than you might assume.
Reading the jacket description, I wondered if it would present a stereotype of religion or men. Turned out I was the one doing the stereotyping. (I came to identify with both husband and wife.)
The ending is highly poetic, and ambiguous – which might not work for people who want a clear ending / definitive closure. It’s not a cliffhanger – it is complete in itself – and yet, I would love to read a follow-up book – I want to explore where these characters go after growing to this point. Perhaps that exploration is up to me.
I used to wonder to what extent / in what ways it would be true to say “With imagination, anyone can be rich.” Well, I’ve never been richer.
[+Got questions? See Goodreads group started by Joanna: Becoming Leidah Discussion.]
--------------------------------------
While reading Becoming Leidah, I wondered: What am I ‘becoming’ as I read?
How many dimensions of literary delight exist? I think I experienced all here: surprise after surprise – micro to macro – subtle yet electrifying.
Riding the author’s imagination at times felt like I was flying the most ecstatic parts of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons. When we enter the mind of the child – an extraordinary child – it’s like I’m experiencing childhood again – at a far more fabulous level than I ever knew.
Not just a fantasy, it’s very grounded in reality. Magical realism with an emphasis on both magical and real.
At it’s core it’s a family drama. A love triangle – trapezoid? – with a kid at the centre.
It brought me somewhere more nuanced, more mature – an integration that made magic more real. It invited self-reflection, and brought my life into greater perspective.
I saw Becoming Leidah on a list of historical fiction. Fair enough. It certainly presents a deeply-researched time and place, and adds layers beyond factual or even speculative histories, so although it is not about famous people or events, it is historical and it is fiction. I’d also call it a mythical folktale, and, as mentioned, a family drama. Perhaps like all family dramas, beneath the surface, it’s a mystery. The mystery is not only to discover what happened / what’s really happening in this story – it’s a mystery into humanity’s greatest mysteries.
The book jumps between time periods and narrators, and although I have read books where that bothered me, here I loved weaving the story together. Still, I can imagine some readers finding it a challenge. Unreliable narrators and intentionally undeclared travel between worlds can make it seem like the story is inconsistent, when it’s actually just more layered than you might assume.
Reading the jacket description, I wondered if it would present a stereotype of religion or men. Turned out I was the one doing the stereotyping. (I came to identify with both husband and wife.)
The ending is highly poetic, and ambiguous – which might not work for people who want a clear ending / definitive closure. It’s not a cliffhanger – it is complete in itself – and yet, I would love to read a follow-up book – I want to explore where these characters go after growing to this point. Perhaps that exploration is up to me.
I used to wonder to what extent / in what ways it would be true to say “With imagination, anyone can be rich.” Well, I’ve never been richer.
April 19, 2021
Michelle Grierson's Becoming Leidah is one of those titles that does something so new and so unexpected that it almost leaves the reader open-mouthed and astounded. The setting may be familiar for readers of historical fiction: a small, isolated fishing village in 19th Century Norway where Christianity and the "old ways" both overlap and conflict. But Grierson does something remarkable with that setting.
The book jumps back and forth in time with multiple chapters titled "What Was" and another set of chapters titled "What Is." The "What Was" chapters show readers how a fisherman came to be married to a woman not completely human. The "What Is" chapters are presented in the voice of that couple's daughter, Leidah: an unusually small girl with blue, webbed hands and feet. Several chapters are narrated by Odhinn (Odin), one of the Gods of Norse mythology, who in Becoming Leidah takes on different animal forms as the book progresses. Over time, the reader assembles the entire story, myth and "reality," with frequent glimpses into individual characters that significantly change the way they're perceived.
Grierson's prose voice is lyrical and varied. Becoming Ledah is the kind of book a reader slows down for because compelling as the plot is, the language demands to be savored. One could read the novel in a few hours, but I expect most readers will choose to stretch it out over a longer time. Whether or not one is interested in Norse mythology Grierson's particular, magical version of that mythology is something that stays with the reader after the book is completed: a sort of half-world teetering between the struggles of everyday life and the unfathomable. This is a book to buy now and to read more than once.
I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via EdelweissPlus. The opinions are my own.
The book jumps back and forth in time with multiple chapters titled "What Was" and another set of chapters titled "What Is." The "What Was" chapters show readers how a fisherman came to be married to a woman not completely human. The "What Is" chapters are presented in the voice of that couple's daughter, Leidah: an unusually small girl with blue, webbed hands and feet. Several chapters are narrated by Odhinn (Odin), one of the Gods of Norse mythology, who in Becoming Leidah takes on different animal forms as the book progresses. Over time, the reader assembles the entire story, myth and "reality," with frequent glimpses into individual characters that significantly change the way they're perceived.
Grierson's prose voice is lyrical and varied. Becoming Ledah is the kind of book a reader slows down for because compelling as the plot is, the language demands to be savored. One could read the novel in a few hours, but I expect most readers will choose to stretch it out over a longer time. Whether or not one is interested in Norse mythology Grierson's particular, magical version of that mythology is something that stays with the reader after the book is completed: a sort of half-world teetering between the struggles of everyday life and the unfathomable. This is a book to buy now and to read more than once.
I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via EdelweissPlus. The opinions are my own.
April 7, 2021
Becoming Leidah by Michelle Grierson
A stunning debut that has left me reeling! For lovers of magical realism/lyrical prose/folklore/historical fiction/Norse mythology or any of the above ...get excited!
Set in old Norway, this story is told in alternating time lines - What Is and What Was. Maeva, rescued by a shipwrecked fisherman is now married to her rescuer and has a daughter born with peculiar physical attributes. The town is quick to judge any “otherness” and Maeva keeps her daughter close to keep her safe. As her daughter Leidah grows, her unusual appearance is harder to keep quiet, as are her unique abilities. Maeve is struggling as she feels the pull of her true home.
This story was WILD. Weird, wonderful, a slow-moving entrancing story that had me wrapped up like one of the Three Sisters’ webs. The beautiful imagery, the atmospheric beckoning of the sea, the mystery of Maeva and the picture that slowly emerges of her identity.. it’s magnificent.
My caution is prepare to be confused. Really lean into the mythical storytelling at work, the back and forth narrators and timelines. It felt like standing close to a painting, where you are only seeing the textures and blobs, but as the story unfolds you are stepping back, getting a wider view; by the end you (mostly) are seeing the painting in its entirety. There’s a few images evoked that were just so intense and spectacular that I won’t soon forget this novel. I can’t say I truly understood the whole plot. I would love a physical copy to re-read as perhaps now that I know where the story is going I can better appreciate the journey.
For me, this was a genre bending delight. Some parts were a tad repetitive, I had a whole lot of unanswered questions throughout, and I didn’t quite understand Maeva’s relationship to Leidah for the first half of the book. Given how much I enjoyed the experience though, this feels like nitpicking.
I recommend this, but not unless you’re up for an experience as I described. I think this one will have two camps - those who LOVE it, and those who aren’t a fan of the style. It’s obvious where I stand 😂
A fantastic debut! This publishes April 13, 2021! Thank you to Netgalley and to Simon & Schuster Canada for free access to an e-arc of this novel. All opinions are my own.
A stunning debut that has left me reeling! For lovers of magical realism/lyrical prose/folklore/historical fiction/Norse mythology or any of the above ...get excited!
Set in old Norway, this story is told in alternating time lines - What Is and What Was. Maeva, rescued by a shipwrecked fisherman is now married to her rescuer and has a daughter born with peculiar physical attributes. The town is quick to judge any “otherness” and Maeva keeps her daughter close to keep her safe. As her daughter Leidah grows, her unusual appearance is harder to keep quiet, as are her unique abilities. Maeve is struggling as she feels the pull of her true home.
This story was WILD. Weird, wonderful, a slow-moving entrancing story that had me wrapped up like one of the Three Sisters’ webs. The beautiful imagery, the atmospheric beckoning of the sea, the mystery of Maeva and the picture that slowly emerges of her identity.. it’s magnificent.
My caution is prepare to be confused. Really lean into the mythical storytelling at work, the back and forth narrators and timelines. It felt like standing close to a painting, where you are only seeing the textures and blobs, but as the story unfolds you are stepping back, getting a wider view; by the end you (mostly) are seeing the painting in its entirety. There’s a few images evoked that were just so intense and spectacular that I won’t soon forget this novel. I can’t say I truly understood the whole plot. I would love a physical copy to re-read as perhaps now that I know where the story is going I can better appreciate the journey.
For me, this was a genre bending delight. Some parts were a tad repetitive, I had a whole lot of unanswered questions throughout, and I didn’t quite understand Maeva’s relationship to Leidah for the first half of the book. Given how much I enjoyed the experience though, this feels like nitpicking.
I recommend this, but not unless you’re up for an experience as I described. I think this one will have two camps - those who LOVE it, and those who aren’t a fan of the style. It’s obvious where I stand 😂
A fantastic debut! This publishes April 13, 2021! Thank you to Netgalley and to Simon & Schuster Canada for free access to an e-arc of this novel. All opinions are my own.
May 13, 2021
It took me two days to finish this book, but I would have read it in a sitting if I had more than early mornings and late late nights scraps of time.
It's funny because it's not the kind of story you'd associate with being un-put-downable (Not a real word!). It is a quiet novel in some ways. The story of a fisherman, his beautiful wife and their daughter, born with blue limbs and webbing between her fingers and toes.
Except there is also a lost god, a watchful ghost, a spiteful witch and a terrible act of violence in the family's past that reverberates through time.
This is the story of how wild things might be contained for a while, but they will never be truly tamed.
Truth might be hidden, but never lost.
Someone might steal from you your very soul and being for a while, but never forever.
Don't read this book when you want:
- 100% clarity, and a plot where you can just sit back and relax.
- A book that feels traditional, familiar and easy.
- A book to make you laugh, or amuse you.
- A book that doesn't contain any triggers.
- A love story, or uncomplicated relationships.
Read this book when you want:
- A book that doesn't hold your hand and explain things, but lets you be a quiet observer, putting puzzle pieces together.
- A book that weaves a quiet mythical retelling and a domestic thriller together, for real.
- A book that feels like a breath of fresh air.
- Complex characters.
- To remember that no matter what, you too, can eventually be free.
It's funny because it's not the kind of story you'd associate with being un-put-downable (Not a real word!). It is a quiet novel in some ways. The story of a fisherman, his beautiful wife and their daughter, born with blue limbs and webbing between her fingers and toes.
Except there is also a lost god, a watchful ghost, a spiteful witch and a terrible act of violence in the family's past that reverberates through time.
This is the story of how wild things might be contained for a while, but they will never be truly tamed.
Truth might be hidden, but never lost.
Someone might steal from you your very soul and being for a while, but never forever.
Don't read this book when you want:
- 100% clarity, and a plot where you can just sit back and relax.
- A book that feels traditional, familiar and easy.
- A book to make you laugh, or amuse you.
- A book that doesn't contain any triggers.
- A love story, or uncomplicated relationships.
Read this book when you want:
- A book that doesn't hold your hand and explain things, but lets you be a quiet observer, putting puzzle pieces together.
- A book that weaves a quiet mythical retelling and a domestic thriller together, for real.
- A book that feels like a breath of fresh air.
- Complex characters.
- To remember that no matter what, you too, can eventually be free.
April 26, 2021
Becoming Leidah is for the wanderers, the women, the faeries, and the witches. It is an epic and harrowing journey home, a song over the bones, reminding us of the awe and wildness where humanity meets the mystical. This book is an ode to love, birth, rebirth, death, and the relentless ebbs and flows of life, pulling us back and forth and forward all at once. It is a true culmination of the myths and stories we hold onto, weave for ourselves, and are subject to as women throughout the ages. I recommend this book to anyone who has looked up at the trees in the forest and wondered about what was inside; who has swum the depths of the sea admiring the otherworldliness of shells and creatures; or who has felt the curious pang of learning that your mother was a person with another life before you came into their world.
Michelle Grierson is an impeccable writer and fearsome storyteller, and anyone who picks up her book will be reminded of the wild things, the yearnings of the heart, and the echo of the gods in the wind and the water.
PS. I will never walk on wooden floorboards the same ;)
Michelle Grierson is an impeccable writer and fearsome storyteller, and anyone who picks up her book will be reminded of the wild things, the yearnings of the heart, and the echo of the gods in the wind and the water.
PS. I will never walk on wooden floorboards the same ;)
April 30, 2021
Took me a long time to read as the writing was so beautiful and made me feel such deep emotions.
May 17, 2021
Update -- I created a Goodreads Group to discuss this book. First I just created a "Discussion Topic", but Goodreads only allows one comment per person on a "Discussion Topic". A "Group" allows actual discussions.
Any questions / comments / analyses? Let's discuss:
Becoming Leidah Discussion.
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4.5 stars, maybe 5. In some ways a classic tale of separated lovers, but with radical twists, including revisioning Norse mythology.
The review by Jonathan says everything I want to say - for now.
Not only did I love reading this story, I feel it has changed me.
I saw there's a 1-star review! That made me curious. I found the person has rated 7 books - a year ago one book got 5-stars; last week on the same day 6 books were given 1 star. Accident?
Any questions / comments / analyses? Let's discuss:
Becoming Leidah Discussion.
-----------
4.5 stars, maybe 5. In some ways a classic tale of separated lovers, but with radical twists, including revisioning Norse mythology.
The review by Jonathan says everything I want to say - for now.
Not only did I love reading this story, I feel it has changed me.
I saw there's a 1-star review! That made me curious. I found the person has rated 7 books - a year ago one book got 5-stars; last week on the same day 6 books were given 1 star. Accident?
April 24, 2021
Was not expecting this to be a one-sitting read; but that's what it was. I simply could not put this down and the story gripped me immediately and would not let go. I certainly hope this debut author's work gets a lot more attention because this re-imagining of an old selkie tale was expertly done. Normally I'm not a fan of stories that are told by alternating between what's "present" for the story and a series of flashbacks, but Michelle Grierson really made it work to her advantage by building the suspense in the story.
This story is rich with the dark and brooding atmosphere embodied in the clichéd "it was a dark and stormy night" and you'll probably find yourself wanting to wrap up in a blanket to keep warm; regardless of the season.
Each of her characters felt rich and fully-developed, and even the "villains" while absolutely horrible, were at least given a chance for you to see their side and at least believe in what was motivating them to behave so badly.
Leidah was an absolute, precious gem and the love she held for both of her parents, even as their secrets were tearing them apart, was just heart-breaking.
Even more heart-breaking? There aren't more Michelle Grierson books for me to read. Yet.
This story is rich with the dark and brooding atmosphere embodied in the clichéd "it was a dark and stormy night" and you'll probably find yourself wanting to wrap up in a blanket to keep warm; regardless of the season.
Each of her characters felt rich and fully-developed, and even the "villains" while absolutely horrible, were at least given a chance for you to see their side and at least believe in what was motivating them to behave so badly.
Leidah was an absolute, precious gem and the love she held for both of her parents, even as their secrets were tearing them apart, was just heart-breaking.
Even more heart-breaking? There aren't more Michelle Grierson books for me to read. Yet.
June 5, 2021
Just right off the bat, TW for in this book. There is no trigger warning for it which is understandable as it is an Adult Fiction book, but still wanted to put it out there for anybody who might need it.
Okay, so I loved this book so much. Selkie folklore is some of my favorite and I rarely come across any Adult Fantasy/Magical Realism novels that use selkies as a source of inspiration. This is set in Norway and blends the selkie folklore of that region with Norse mythology which I never knew I needed, but I loved it. Grierson has such lyrical and beautiful prose and that added to the narrative just worked really well for me. I loved the multiple perspectives we got from the characters which could have easily gone wrong in the way of GRRM but Grierson handles the multiple perspectives and the alternate chronological narratives deftly. Never once did I feel overwhelmed or confused by the narratives which, I think in the hands of a less attentive writer would have happened.
I love LOVE Maeva, like I would die for her. Her narrative and story line are just beautiful and tragic. But so much of it works even when you're crying and unsure of her future. And then Leidah, I just love this girl. Grierson wrote from this 8 year old girl's perspective and never once did it come across as too precocious or even too child-like like most writers who attempt to write from a child's perspective. Leidah's curiosity and big heart just made my heart swell. All of the characters felt really well-developed and real which I think is important especially in a novel that is using folklore and mythology as a foundation.
I recommend this book SO MUCH. There is so much about it that I loved on top of the fact that it uses selkies.
Okay, so I loved this book so much. Selkie folklore is some of my favorite and I rarely come across any Adult Fantasy/Magical Realism novels that use selkies as a source of inspiration. This is set in Norway and blends the selkie folklore of that region with Norse mythology which I never knew I needed, but I loved it. Grierson has such lyrical and beautiful prose and that added to the narrative just worked really well for me. I loved the multiple perspectives we got from the characters which could have easily gone wrong in the way of GRRM but Grierson handles the multiple perspectives and the alternate chronological narratives deftly. Never once did I feel overwhelmed or confused by the narratives which, I think in the hands of a less attentive writer would have happened.
I love LOVE Maeva, like I would die for her. Her narrative and story line are just beautiful and tragic. But so much of it works even when you're crying and unsure of her future. And then Leidah, I just love this girl. Grierson wrote from this 8 year old girl's perspective and never once did it come across as too precocious or even too child-like like most writers who attempt to write from a child's perspective. Leidah's curiosity and big heart just made my heart swell. All of the characters felt really well-developed and real which I think is important especially in a novel that is using folklore and mythology as a foundation.
I recommend this book SO MUCH. There is so much about it that I loved on top of the fact that it uses selkies.
April 1, 2021
With its lyrical, poetical verse and haunting, ethereal atmosphere, Becoming Leidah, is going to appeal to the reader who enjoys a story with slow, purposeful pacing and a good dose of weird. Never quite knowing exactly what is happening in this strange little story about a magical girl with webbed, blue appendages and her mother who is flaking patches of skin and collecting it to sew into a quilt … was a bit overwhelming at times, but I truly loved the beautiful writing on display here that kept me eagerly flipping pages. The book beats with a pulse of quiet urgency as you, the reader, are desperate to figure out the mystery of what is happening and how all things will connect - which they do, but in a somewhat open ended way.
Combining historical fiction, magical realism, and Norse mythology this is a truly unique reading experience that defies classification. For those who aren’t put off by the unconventional, this is a fascinating and exquisitely singular read that had me riveted from the first page.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster for my advance copy to review!
Combining historical fiction, magical realism, and Norse mythology this is a truly unique reading experience that defies classification. For those who aren’t put off by the unconventional, this is a fascinating and exquisitely singular read that had me riveted from the first page.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster for my advance copy to review!
October 1, 2023
“This love? It’s nothing. It will toss you about, take what it wants, then throw you back like an undertow. Wait until you become a mother. That is love. With more ferocity than any man or storm or sea.”
Becoming Leidah is the debut novel of Canadian author Michelle Griersen, set in the 19th century in Ørken, a fishing village in Norway. The story is an ethereal mix of magical realism, historical fiction, witches, selkies, shapeshifters and Nordic and Celtic mythology.
Fisherman Pieter is shipwrecked and finds and rescues the beautiful, mysterious titan-haired Maeva. Despite her otherness and constant longing to return to the sea, Pieter falls deeply and possessively in love with Maeva and wishes to protect her and their blue-skinned, web-fingered daughter Leidah from the harshness and suspiciousness of the villagers. Most of their neighbours have given up the old ways in favour of Christianity and hold a deep antipathy towards anything that appears different or magical, and are quick to turn on both Maeva and local midwife and healer Helgar Tormundsdatter. There is also an overarching story which blends the legend of the Fates, the Three Sisters weaving together the past, present and future, with the story of shape-shifting Norse God Odhinn.
I found this an intriguing story which shifted between the past and present and between different viewpoints, including the innocent wondering voice of 8 year-old Leidah. I enjoyed the way the story built in layers, with the magical nature of things becoming more clear with time, and Pieter and Maeva’s relationship not being what it first appeared. I wasn’t completely sold on the ending which suddenly shifted to become far less grounded and more fantastical than the rest of the story to that point. I also felt there were several loose ends not entirely tied up. The interest Hans showed in Maeva and Leidah seemed to building up to something but went nowhere. The whole scene with the cage wasn’t entirely explained. Overall this was a great story and I would be keen to read another by this author.
Becoming Leidah is the debut novel of Canadian author Michelle Griersen, set in the 19th century in Ørken, a fishing village in Norway. The story is an ethereal mix of magical realism, historical fiction, witches, selkies, shapeshifters and Nordic and Celtic mythology.
Fisherman Pieter is shipwrecked and finds and rescues the beautiful, mysterious titan-haired Maeva. Despite her otherness and constant longing to return to the sea, Pieter falls deeply and possessively in love with Maeva and wishes to protect her and their blue-skinned, web-fingered daughter Leidah from the harshness and suspiciousness of the villagers. Most of their neighbours have given up the old ways in favour of Christianity and hold a deep antipathy towards anything that appears different or magical, and are quick to turn on both Maeva and local midwife and healer Helgar Tormundsdatter. There is also an overarching story which blends the legend of the Fates, the Three Sisters weaving together the past, present and future, with the story of shape-shifting Norse God Odhinn.
I found this an intriguing story which shifted between the past and present and between different viewpoints, including the innocent wondering voice of 8 year-old Leidah. I enjoyed the way the story built in layers, with the magical nature of things becoming more clear with time, and Pieter and Maeva’s relationship not being what it first appeared. I wasn’t completely sold on the ending which suddenly shifted to become far less grounded and more fantastical than the rest of the story to that point. I also felt there were several loose ends not entirely tied up. The interest Hans showed in Maeva and Leidah seemed to building up to something but went nowhere. The whole scene with the cage wasn’t entirely explained. Overall this was a great story and I would be keen to read another by this author.
May 3, 2021
Grierson, I am convinced, is MAGIC at magical realism. The story is beautifully constructed, from the layers to the prose, and the way she uses reality in which to base magic off of is extraordinary. Lovely book.
April 22, 2021
Very beautiful and intriguing, but it also left me confused.
April 4, 2021
Thank you Simon and Schuster Canada for the copy of this book.
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Read if you like: magical realism and lyrical writing
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This book is about a young woman who is rescued and brought to a small fishing village in Norway during the 19th century. Maeva is not what she seems though, and when she marries the fisherman who rescued her, she gives birth to a daughter, but her daughter does not seem to be entirely human.
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The writing was absolutely beautiful and I loved the description of the plot and the incorporation of the Norse Gods. The book was fast-paced and kept me intrigued through the entire book. I also really liked the past and present narratives, showing us glimpses of what happened when Maeva first came to the village, and then when her daughter is eight years old and what is happening to her.
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CW: death during childbirth, violence against women.
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Read if you like: magical realism and lyrical writing
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This book is about a young woman who is rescued and brought to a small fishing village in Norway during the 19th century. Maeva is not what she seems though, and when she marries the fisherman who rescued her, she gives birth to a daughter, but her daughter does not seem to be entirely human.
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The writing was absolutely beautiful and I loved the description of the plot and the incorporation of the Norse Gods. The book was fast-paced and kept me intrigued through the entire book. I also really liked the past and present narratives, showing us glimpses of what happened when Maeva first came to the village, and then when her daughter is eight years old and what is happening to her.
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CW: death during childbirth, violence against women.
April 21, 2021
It has happened again.
I am lying on my back, flatter than bread. My mother's bare feet slap against my skin, across my belly, my chest. She digs her heels in, at my throat that isn't there. I can see her head turning towards her bedroom. Snores crawl under the closed door. The door to my room is open, but she can't see my bed from where she stands, can't see that my bed is empty. She nods to herself: everything is at it should be. Her foot grinds into my chin. The door to the sewing room closes behind her.
I struggle to sit up. I wiggle my hips and jiggle my legs. It is no use. I am stuck, pressed flat into the grain of wood under me.
But it's not under me. It is me.
I have become the floor.
Leidah is a shapeshifter in old Norway, born with webbed hands and feet, who must learn to control her ability to move between the Nine Worlds. If you've ever dabbled in the world of Norse or Celtic mythology, you'll most likely be familiar with the tale of the fisherman's wife. Becoming Leidah is such a bizarre, and original retelling of the tale. The writing is compelling and peculiar, with a large dose of strangeness. You're probably noticing a pattern in the adjectives I use to describe this novel. Yes, it definitely leans towards the weird side, but I don't mean this in a bad way. That's actually the charm of it!
I think the best way to describe this novel is to compare it to an abstract painting. Abstract paintings use vague shapes, colors, and forms to evoke an emotion from the viewer, but it's not quite clear how it should be interpreted. Becoming Leidah gives you glimpses of scenes and thoughts, never fully showing you the entire picture. The story is told in a way that makes time seem to fold in on itself, with alternating timelines and points of view. You'll have to prepare to be confused, but the quietly thrilling way it presents question after question will subtly urge you to continue reading. The answers are elusive, and you may not ever get the answers you're looking for, but you'll still feel satisfied because the journey itself was rewarding.
Overall, I would have preferred to have a less ambiguous ending, and clearer answers, but in a story that derives its allure to the visionary, abstraction has its own beauty. This is such an impressive debut novel from Michelle Grierson, who has already developed a unique style of magic realism. Looking forward to her future books!
Rating: 4/5! Wonderful storytelling.
I am lying on my back, flatter than bread. My mother's bare feet slap against my skin, across my belly, my chest. She digs her heels in, at my throat that isn't there. I can see her head turning towards her bedroom. Snores crawl under the closed door. The door to my room is open, but she can't see my bed from where she stands, can't see that my bed is empty. She nods to herself: everything is at it should be. Her foot grinds into my chin. The door to the sewing room closes behind her.
I struggle to sit up. I wiggle my hips and jiggle my legs. It is no use. I am stuck, pressed flat into the grain of wood under me.
But it's not under me. It is me.
I have become the floor.
Leidah is a shapeshifter in old Norway, born with webbed hands and feet, who must learn to control her ability to move between the Nine Worlds. If you've ever dabbled in the world of Norse or Celtic mythology, you'll most likely be familiar with the tale of the fisherman's wife. Becoming Leidah is such a bizarre, and original retelling of the tale. The writing is compelling and peculiar, with a large dose of strangeness. You're probably noticing a pattern in the adjectives I use to describe this novel. Yes, it definitely leans towards the weird side, but I don't mean this in a bad way. That's actually the charm of it!
I think the best way to describe this novel is to compare it to an abstract painting. Abstract paintings use vague shapes, colors, and forms to evoke an emotion from the viewer, but it's not quite clear how it should be interpreted. Becoming Leidah gives you glimpses of scenes and thoughts, never fully showing you the entire picture. The story is told in a way that makes time seem to fold in on itself, with alternating timelines and points of view. You'll have to prepare to be confused, but the quietly thrilling way it presents question after question will subtly urge you to continue reading. The answers are elusive, and you may not ever get the answers you're looking for, but you'll still feel satisfied because the journey itself was rewarding.
Overall, I would have preferred to have a less ambiguous ending, and clearer answers, but in a story that derives its allure to the visionary, abstraction has its own beauty. This is such an impressive debut novel from Michelle Grierson, who has already developed a unique style of magic realism. Looking forward to her future books!
Rating: 4/5! Wonderful storytelling.
April 21, 2021
This was interesting, it explored a part of Norse mythology that I’m not very familiar with. The storytelling was quite ambiguous, or at least the ending was. I really enjoyed the writing, setting, atmosphere, and Maeva and Leidah; they were the only characters I cared about here. Plot wise, I felt like quite a big portion was spent going in circles, but it did move forward at the latter part of the book. Nevertheless, reading this book was a unique and good experience.
I'd recommend to those who like historical fantasy and magical realism!
I'd recommend to those who like historical fantasy and magical realism!
November 29, 2020
A supernatural love story encapsulates a small family as deep as the sea and as cold as ice in this debut story by Michelle Grierson.
It follows Leidah, a girl born with blue skin and webbed fingers and toes who awakens to an ancestral magic that has her Mother guarding a tragic secret. Maeva, the mother, is hiding a mystery about her past that will have devastating implications for her entranced husband. Fate weaves a delicate web that is heartbreaking and unavoidable for the family, who must embrace their ancestry, as the present and future are dependent upon their secrets coming to light.
This was a beguiling tale about how love and loss can help someone to embrace who they are by remembering who they were, who they are, and who they are to become. It featured Norse mythology and some witchy elements that tied nicely together. It was part fable and part magical realism which read like an old forgotten legend. The writing was atmospheric and made me feel as though I was living on the edge of a wintry forest in Norway.
Overall I felt the book was a little disjointed because I didn’t feel the story about the fates tied in with Leidah’s story that well. The elusive nature of Maeva for most of the book made it difficult for me as a reader to understand how it connected to the shapeshifter character. It seemed as though I was reading two different stories that were very loosely intertwined in some evasive way. That may have been the intention by the author, but I would have preferred if the connections between the characters were clearer earlier on.
Not the easiest story to grasp, but original and suspenseful nonetheless. I look forward to reading more by the author.
It follows Leidah, a girl born with blue skin and webbed fingers and toes who awakens to an ancestral magic that has her Mother guarding a tragic secret. Maeva, the mother, is hiding a mystery about her past that will have devastating implications for her entranced husband. Fate weaves a delicate web that is heartbreaking and unavoidable for the family, who must embrace their ancestry, as the present and future are dependent upon their secrets coming to light.
This was a beguiling tale about how love and loss can help someone to embrace who they are by remembering who they were, who they are, and who they are to become. It featured Norse mythology and some witchy elements that tied nicely together. It was part fable and part magical realism which read like an old forgotten legend. The writing was atmospheric and made me feel as though I was living on the edge of a wintry forest in Norway.
Overall I felt the book was a little disjointed because I didn’t feel the story about the fates tied in with Leidah’s story that well. The elusive nature of Maeva for most of the book made it difficult for me as a reader to understand how it connected to the shapeshifter character. It seemed as though I was reading two different stories that were very loosely intertwined in some evasive way. That may have been the intention by the author, but I would have preferred if the connections between the characters were clearer earlier on.
Not the easiest story to grasp, but original and suspenseful nonetheless. I look forward to reading more by the author.
July 6, 2021
This was a solid three stars for me primarily for the reason that I have no idea how I felt about this book? By the end, it had me feeling a lot of strong feelings that I could not define, but every time I put it down, I kind of just sat there for a second, unsure if I was loving this book or hating it or somewhere in between. I will say that I initially found Grierson's writing style somewhat jerky/stilted because of the stylistic use of sentence fragments, but that grew on me by the end. That is the only thing I am really sure about. I think I liked the world-building, and I know I liked Leidah as a character, but other than that, this was a weird reading experience for me, which makes it impossible for me to write any sort of coherent or helpful review
June 10, 2022
Magical. Ethereal. Lyrical. Provocative. Primitive. Just like a good myth :)
June 25, 2024
Jedna od knjiga koje sam ove godine odabrala za čitanje na moru slojevita je priča ispunjena mitologijom i magijom.
Naslovna Leidah ime je neobične djevojčice koja je rođena s modrom kožom i plivaćom kožicom među prstima. Leidah odrasta u malom bogobojaznom norveškom selu, koje se toliko trudi biti pravovjerno da sumnjičavo promatra sve i svakoga iole drugačijeg od običnog. A Leidah je, unatoč svom očevom trudu da ju takvom prikaže, sve samo ne obična.
Leidin otac Pieter Leidinu je majku Maevu pronašao neposredno nakon brodoloma, i onako kako on to vidi, njih su dvoje jedno drugo spasili i zaljubili se. Istina je, ipak, ponešto drugačija, a seže duboko u norvešku mitologiju, među stare bogove, sudbinu, pa i samo tkanje vremena.
Ispričana kroz vremenske skokove podijeljene na ono 'što jest' i ono 'što bješe', priča o Leidi govori nam ne samo o njenoj preobrazbi iz modre djevojčice u ono što je oduvijek trebala postati, već i o preobrazbi mirnog bogobojaznog čovjeka u svojevrsnog tamničara vlastite žene i kćeri, koliko god on sebi vlastite postupke opravdavao ljubavlju; preobrazbi jednog neuhvatljivog magičnog ženskog bića u majku koja čini sve kako bi zaštitila kćer; te preobrazbi čitavog sela iz 'krivovjernog' u uskogrudno, bogobojazno i 'pravovjerno' mjesto, u kojem drugačiji završe na vješalima samo zato što se nekome ne sviđa to što su drugačiji.
Baš poput samog mora, ova je priča također duboka i puna mijena, njeni valovi teku kroz vrijeme, čineći ga nestalnim i nelinearnim, a ono magijsko i ono realistično prelijeva se jedno iz drugog i obrnuto u beskrajnim vrtlozima. Jezik je priče također takav, pričajući ju baš onako kako joj pristaje. U nekim bih pričama na količinu aorista koja je ovdje prisutna razdraženo uzdahnula, no ovdje se baš dobro uklapa.
Kako je ova priča utemeljena, između ostalog, na norveškoj mitologiji, tako norveških riječi i izraza u njoj ima poprilično. Voljela bih da su te riječi i izrazi prevedeni u fusnotama, pa da ne budu samo hrpa slova preko kojih se preleti, već da imaju i značenje (za koje ne moram prekidati čitanje da bih ga proguglala). Igrom slučaja, tu mi je u pomoć uskočio Duolingo. Naime, par godina učim švedski i danski putem te aplikacije, koji su dosta slični jedan drugom - a, kako je ispalo, i norveškom - zbog čega sam gotovo sve uspjela razumjeti. Pa, hvala Duolingu! :)
Leidina priča i preobrazba jako mi se svidjela, bilo ju je baš lijepo čitati. Neke sam likove, poput Pietera, mrzila, nekima se divila, neke prepoznala, neke upoznala. Poput svih priča magijskog realizma, i ova je ostala pomalo otvorena, nejasna na rubovima. No snažna je to priča, sa snažnim ženama u centru, koje uspiju postati ono što su oduvijek trebale biti i osloboditi se unatoč svijetu koji ih se svim silama trudi sputati. Neobična priča o neobičnoj djevojčici - za neobične, magične čitalačke trenutke.
Naslovna Leidah ime je neobične djevojčice koja je rođena s modrom kožom i plivaćom kožicom među prstima. Leidah odrasta u malom bogobojaznom norveškom selu, koje se toliko trudi biti pravovjerno da sumnjičavo promatra sve i svakoga iole drugačijeg od običnog. A Leidah je, unatoč svom očevom trudu da ju takvom prikaže, sve samo ne obična.
Leidin otac Pieter Leidinu je majku Maevu pronašao neposredno nakon brodoloma, i onako kako on to vidi, njih su dvoje jedno drugo spasili i zaljubili se. Istina je, ipak, ponešto drugačija, a seže duboko u norvešku mitologiju, među stare bogove, sudbinu, pa i samo tkanje vremena.
Ispričana kroz vremenske skokove podijeljene na ono 'što jest' i ono 'što bješe', priča o Leidi govori nam ne samo o njenoj preobrazbi iz modre djevojčice u ono što je oduvijek trebala postati, već i o preobrazbi mirnog bogobojaznog čovjeka u svojevrsnog tamničara vlastite žene i kćeri, koliko god on sebi vlastite postupke opravdavao ljubavlju; preobrazbi jednog neuhvatljivog magičnog ženskog bića u majku koja čini sve kako bi zaštitila kćer; te preobrazbi čitavog sela iz 'krivovjernog' u uskogrudno, bogobojazno i 'pravovjerno' mjesto, u kojem drugačiji završe na vješalima samo zato što se nekome ne sviđa to što su drugačiji.
Baš poput samog mora, ova je priča također duboka i puna mijena, njeni valovi teku kroz vrijeme, čineći ga nestalnim i nelinearnim, a ono magijsko i ono realistično prelijeva se jedno iz drugog i obrnuto u beskrajnim vrtlozima. Jezik je priče također takav, pričajući ju baš onako kako joj pristaje. U nekim bih pričama na količinu aorista koja je ovdje prisutna razdraženo uzdahnula, no ovdje se baš dobro uklapa.
Kako je ova priča utemeljena, između ostalog, na norveškoj mitologiji, tako norveških riječi i izraza u njoj ima poprilično. Voljela bih da su te riječi i izrazi prevedeni u fusnotama, pa da ne budu samo hrpa slova preko kojih se preleti, već da imaju i značenje (za koje ne moram prekidati čitanje da bih ga proguglala). Igrom slučaja, tu mi je u pomoć uskočio Duolingo. Naime, par godina učim švedski i danski putem te aplikacije, koji su dosta slični jedan drugom - a, kako je ispalo, i norveškom - zbog čega sam gotovo sve uspjela razumjeti. Pa, hvala Duolingu! :)
Leidina priča i preobrazba jako mi se svidjela, bilo ju je baš lijepo čitati. Neke sam likove, poput Pietera, mrzila, nekima se divila, neke prepoznala, neke upoznala. Poput svih priča magijskog realizma, i ova je ostala pomalo otvorena, nejasna na rubovima. No snažna je to priča, sa snažnim ženama u centru, koje uspiju postati ono što su oduvijek trebale biti i osloboditi se unatoč svijetu koji ih se svim silama trudi sputati. Neobična priča o neobičnoj djevojčici - za neobične, magične čitalačke trenutke.
April 16, 2021
_________________
Please excuse any grammatical errors, or typos. I have done my best, but in reality I am just reader. and will leave the writing to all the incredible authors out there.
This book was received from the Author, and Publisher, in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.
This is a non spoiler review, because you as reader need to read this book. Also, I feel sometimes I have in the past gave away to much of the plot line. This has diminished the pleasure for would be readers.
__________________
This book was received from the Author, and Publisher, in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.
.
Set during the times when men were leaving behind the old ways of their forefathers, and embracing the new faith of a singular God.
Becoming Leidah by Michelle Grierson is an absorbing historical fiction that is weaved with magical realism and infused with Norse folklore.
.
A highly compulsive read, with multi POV’s narration and stunning lyrical prose.
When a young woman is rescued from the sea and brought to small fishing village in Norway during the 19th century. Maeve marries the fisherman who rescued her and by and by they have a child. The takes weaves seamlessly back and forth from the beginning of Maeve’s new life and details of experience when she is first brought to the village. And that of her strange eight year old daughter, and all the pertains to her struggles as she is growing older.
..
I loved the way the plot unfolded. along with beautiful writing. I was completely invested in the storyline and read this book way past my bedtime and into the wee hour of dawn. An engaging brilliantly written book.
Please excuse any grammatical errors, or typos. I have done my best, but in reality I am just reader. and will leave the writing to all the incredible authors out there.
This book was received from the Author, and Publisher, in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.
This is a non spoiler review, because you as reader need to read this book. Also, I feel sometimes I have in the past gave away to much of the plot line. This has diminished the pleasure for would be readers.
__________________
This book was received from the Author, and Publisher, in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.
.
Set during the times when men were leaving behind the old ways of their forefathers, and embracing the new faith of a singular God.
Becoming Leidah by Michelle Grierson is an absorbing historical fiction that is weaved with magical realism and infused with Norse folklore.
.
A highly compulsive read, with multi POV’s narration and stunning lyrical prose.
When a young woman is rescued from the sea and brought to small fishing village in Norway during the 19th century. Maeve marries the fisherman who rescued her and by and by they have a child. The takes weaves seamlessly back and forth from the beginning of Maeve’s new life and details of experience when she is first brought to the village. And that of her strange eight year old daughter, and all the pertains to her struggles as she is growing older.
..
I loved the way the plot unfolded. along with beautiful writing. I was completely invested in the storyline and read this book way past my bedtime and into the wee hour of dawn. An engaging brilliantly written book.
August 12, 2021
via my blog: https://bookstalkerblog.wordpress.com/
𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒃𝒆𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒔𝒎𝒂𝒍𝒍: 𝑰 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒉𝒊𝒅𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒊𝒏 𝒔𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕, 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒃𝒆𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒔𝒆𝒆𝒏.
𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒔𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒃𝒆𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒔𝒎𝒂𝒍𝒍: 𝑰 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒉𝒊𝒅𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒊𝒏 𝒔𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒃𝒆𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒔𝒆𝒆𝒏.
An otherworldly, magical tale full of folklore, Norse mythology, love, loyalty and motherhood. In the village of Ørken, 19th Century Norway- a uniquely special child is born, or ‘wished into being’ (as her Pappa lovingly tells her) but why must she be so small, hidden away from the townsfolk? Stay small, hide who you are- women have been doing this for eternity. In this way, she may well be just like her mother, Maeva. Leidah suffers for her deformity, – her blue skin, the webbed hands and feet her mother trims causing her immense pain, wishing she wasn’t ‘special’. She resents her mother for this. She doesn’t know why she is thusly marked and her Pappa only tells her that it is God’s gift of specialness. If only her mother agreed, wasn’t shamed by her, didn’t long for her child to be ordinary, safe. Hiding her away (it’s been seven years since her birth) is only making the people far more suspicious but Maeva “Mor” (mother) knows how dangerous others can be. With superstitions alive and well, such “specialness” can be seen as an omen, a curse, the mark of the devil. Maeva is different too, an odd fish the townsfolk, people born and bred to work the sea, watch with distrust. From the beginning, Pieter Aldestaed claimed Maeva as his own when he discovered her upon the rocks, loves her with endless devotion and passion, teaching her his language, making Maeva his wife. His claim to her disturbs the villagers, this stranger in their midst. Helgar, an old midwife, knows all too well what happens when one walks with pagan beliefs alongside Christian people, how fast you will be shunned or worse. She delivers Leidah, sensing Maeva is no ordinary woman and worries about the child’s ‘mark’. Born to any other, she may stand a chance, but not born to this strange woman. With her birth, all of her focus is centered around Leidah but over the years, the past begins calling, Maeva longs for her sisters and regrets her recklessness, her failure to heed her mother’s own warning about weak love and how much she was giving up. She begins to witness her child’s gifts, it’s only a matter of time before her magical lineage rises to the surface. Maeva feels anything but magical, how did she get her, like any other, ordinary, human wife?
Leidah is as inquisitive and curious as any child, but lives in the dark about her mother’s true origins, and her own. Pieter isn’t any wiser. He has his version of their love story, and Maeva has her own. He begs the question, can we will things to be, imposing our own desire upon others? He wants his vision of their family to be the only version, ignoring the threats the ‘Godly’ villagers pose. The old ways stink of sin, are not welcome, and Maeva represents the very thing they abhor. Her child can’t pretend to be average, and can’t live a life chained to one place. Maeva is running out of time to secure Leidah’s future and the truth could destroy Peiter, Leidah’s dear Pappa. She must make a choice if they are to escape a disaster.
The townsfolk aren’t the only one’s watching the family of three. A witch has darkened their path, and her evil knows no bonds, hellbent on revenge, scheming to avenge her own blackened heart. There is another, a shadow who is hungry for Maeva, tormented by betrayal. Mystical beings, predators, animals, selkies, a shapeshifter… this tale is a sea full of magic. It is a testament of the purest love, between mother and child, at great sacrifice to the self. It is about the madness of desire, of adapting to other’s expectations, demands- the greatest cost to your soul. A story wrapped up in the skin we shed. It is a tale of refusing to surrender oneself fully, no matter the pain it will cause. Let the knots of fate unravel, in the human world and beyond, as “The Sisters of Fate” cackle and calculate. Let Leidah become, at last!
I was lucky to receive an advanced reader’s copy, but I had injuries and illnesses and somehow was remiss in posting my review. It’s such a beautifully written book! Grierson has put an original twist on old tales. Never too late to bring it to attention.
If you love magical realism- this is for you.
Published April 13th, 2021
Simon & Schuster
𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒃𝒆𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒔𝒎𝒂𝒍𝒍: 𝑰 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒉𝒊𝒅𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒊𝒏 𝒔𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕, 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒃𝒆𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒔𝒆𝒆𝒏.
𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒔𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒃𝒆𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒔𝒎𝒂𝒍𝒍: 𝑰 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒉𝒊𝒅𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒊𝒏 𝒔𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒃𝒆𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒔𝒆𝒆𝒏.
An otherworldly, magical tale full of folklore, Norse mythology, love, loyalty and motherhood. In the village of Ørken, 19th Century Norway- a uniquely special child is born, or ‘wished into being’ (as her Pappa lovingly tells her) but why must she be so small, hidden away from the townsfolk? Stay small, hide who you are- women have been doing this for eternity. In this way, she may well be just like her mother, Maeva. Leidah suffers for her deformity, – her blue skin, the webbed hands and feet her mother trims causing her immense pain, wishing she wasn’t ‘special’. She resents her mother for this. She doesn’t know why she is thusly marked and her Pappa only tells her that it is God’s gift of specialness. If only her mother agreed, wasn’t shamed by her, didn’t long for her child to be ordinary, safe. Hiding her away (it’s been seven years since her birth) is only making the people far more suspicious but Maeva “Mor” (mother) knows how dangerous others can be. With superstitions alive and well, such “specialness” can be seen as an omen, a curse, the mark of the devil. Maeva is different too, an odd fish the townsfolk, people born and bred to work the sea, watch with distrust. From the beginning, Pieter Aldestaed claimed Maeva as his own when he discovered her upon the rocks, loves her with endless devotion and passion, teaching her his language, making Maeva his wife. His claim to her disturbs the villagers, this stranger in their midst. Helgar, an old midwife, knows all too well what happens when one walks with pagan beliefs alongside Christian people, how fast you will be shunned or worse. She delivers Leidah, sensing Maeva is no ordinary woman and worries about the child’s ‘mark’. Born to any other, she may stand a chance, but not born to this strange woman. With her birth, all of her focus is centered around Leidah but over the years, the past begins calling, Maeva longs for her sisters and regrets her recklessness, her failure to heed her mother’s own warning about weak love and how much she was giving up. She begins to witness her child’s gifts, it’s only a matter of time before her magical lineage rises to the surface. Maeva feels anything but magical, how did she get her, like any other, ordinary, human wife?
Leidah is as inquisitive and curious as any child, but lives in the dark about her mother’s true origins, and her own. Pieter isn’t any wiser. He has his version of their love story, and Maeva has her own. He begs the question, can we will things to be, imposing our own desire upon others? He wants his vision of their family to be the only version, ignoring the threats the ‘Godly’ villagers pose. The old ways stink of sin, are not welcome, and Maeva represents the very thing they abhor. Her child can’t pretend to be average, and can’t live a life chained to one place. Maeva is running out of time to secure Leidah’s future and the truth could destroy Peiter, Leidah’s dear Pappa. She must make a choice if they are to escape a disaster.
The townsfolk aren’t the only one’s watching the family of three. A witch has darkened their path, and her evil knows no bonds, hellbent on revenge, scheming to avenge her own blackened heart. There is another, a shadow who is hungry for Maeva, tormented by betrayal. Mystical beings, predators, animals, selkies, a shapeshifter… this tale is a sea full of magic. It is a testament of the purest love, between mother and child, at great sacrifice to the self. It is about the madness of desire, of adapting to other’s expectations, demands- the greatest cost to your soul. A story wrapped up in the skin we shed. It is a tale of refusing to surrender oneself fully, no matter the pain it will cause. Let the knots of fate unravel, in the human world and beyond, as “The Sisters of Fate” cackle and calculate. Let Leidah become, at last!
I was lucky to receive an advanced reader’s copy, but I had injuries and illnesses and somehow was remiss in posting my review. It’s such a beautifully written book! Grierson has put an original twist on old tales. Never too late to bring it to attention.
If you love magical realism- this is for you.
Published April 13th, 2021
Simon & Schuster
May 2, 2021
A very moving, magical, and powerful story about the bond between mother and daughter, at the center of a transition between the “old world” and the new. I loved the way the story weaved through time between “what was” and “what is”. Beautiful imagery, and an interesting take on Norse mythology.
May 19, 2021
The story format was a bit confusing to follow along with at times, but the effort was well worth it in the end. A unique style for a unique story!
November 21, 2021
A story of wonder and wilderness, birth, rebirth, death and love. It ebbs and flows in all directions, letting the reader piece out the puzzle. The otherworldliness of this book is just phenomenon, truly a literary delight. This book is truly a must read.
October 4, 2022
Whoa, this was unexpected! And a debut novel at that; kudos to the author 😊
May 26, 2021
I enjoyed reading this so so much. It’s weird, it’s confusing at times and some answers are left unanswered and I really could care less. I couldn’t put it down and I have a serious week spot for folklore and mythology and fairytales and this has all three. I almost dropped a star for leaving some things so unsure, but honestly, those few open questions didn’t disrupt my enjoyment one bit.
This is weird at times, like the old ways of mythology type of weird, so creative and I marveled at the old way of story telling. It was fitting since this story is a story of mythology, a story of Odin and the 3 witches of what was, what is and what will be.
“These sisters were older than any god, and bowed down to neither man nor beast. They controlled all that was, all that is, and all that ever will be. They carved the destiny of everything into the bark and leaves of the tree, pouring sacred water down its trunk and into its roots.”
This all being said, most of the time it felt like magical realism. This story starts in the water, fisherman finding a girl. You think he rescues her (this beginning was the most confusing, I wasn’t quite sure what was happening), but he steals something and you don’t know what, a jacket perhaps? A cloak? You know she desperately wants it back but why? She needs it before she goes back. Why is he keeping it from her? Why is she so adamant to get it? Is there treasure? A key? And back to where?
This story doesn’t tell you anything, it tells the story as they go through their future life, unsure how they got there, and because of the three witches, because time for them is never a straight path to the feature, the present is sometimes the past, the past sometimes the future; this story follows suit, giving you 4 different timelines to figure out what the heck is going on, who is she, what is she, where did she come from, and why is her daughter blue?
I loved it. If you really enjoy Norse mythology tales, you will enjoy this just as much.
This is weird at times, like the old ways of mythology type of weird, so creative and I marveled at the old way of story telling. It was fitting since this story is a story of mythology, a story of Odin and the 3 witches of what was, what is and what will be.
“These sisters were older than any god, and bowed down to neither man nor beast. They controlled all that was, all that is, and all that ever will be. They carved the destiny of everything into the bark and leaves of the tree, pouring sacred water down its trunk and into its roots.”
This all being said, most of the time it felt like magical realism. This story starts in the water, fisherman finding a girl. You think he rescues her (this beginning was the most confusing, I wasn’t quite sure what was happening), but he steals something and you don’t know what, a jacket perhaps? A cloak? You know she desperately wants it back but why? She needs it before she goes back. Why is he keeping it from her? Why is she so adamant to get it? Is there treasure? A key? And back to where?
This story doesn’t tell you anything, it tells the story as they go through their future life, unsure how they got there, and because of the three witches, because time for them is never a straight path to the feature, the present is sometimes the past, the past sometimes the future; this story follows suit, giving you 4 different timelines to figure out what the heck is going on, who is she, what is she, where did she come from, and why is her daughter blue?
I loved it. If you really enjoy Norse mythology tales, you will enjoy this just as much.
May 14, 2021
Spoiler ahead.
I really hoped Leidah to become something. She did. But the reason behind it and how could she able to do that, unexplained. The only characters attracted to me in this book are Helgar(old midwife) and Leidah. Too bad that the age of Leidah till the end of the book is just eight. So most of the time, the story was being told from the eight years old girl's point of view. I do understand that because of the three sisters, the story was being told in three different formats: "what was", "what is" and so on. But that format cripples the pace of the story telling. Eg. The pace build up in "what is" chapters were routinely suspended by "what was" chapters. No climax as well as no plot twists.
The character, Heilda, a jealous witch, was being introduce half way around the book and not engaging enough. She's a villain, yeah. The gift she gave to Leidha as a birthday present slip out of the story unexplained again.
I want to give four stars because of the Norse Mythology being introduced. Three sisters weaving Time is very very interesting. Actually I was waiting how those three sisters relate to Maeva and who Maeva really is. A nymph? One of the sisters? The answer is none. No where to be found in the story. Even the ending doesn't seem like what become of Leidah. I kept my hopes up this to be like the book, "Circe" but it failed me. But I have to admit I really love the first chapters devoted to the birth of Leidah which was simply mesmerizing.
I really hoped Leidah to become something. She did. But the reason behind it and how could she able to do that, unexplained. The only characters attracted to me in this book are Helgar(old midwife) and Leidah. Too bad that the age of Leidah till the end of the book is just eight. So most of the time, the story was being told from the eight years old girl's point of view. I do understand that because of the three sisters, the story was being told in three different formats: "what was", "what is" and so on. But that format cripples the pace of the story telling. Eg. The pace build up in "what is" chapters were routinely suspended by "what was" chapters. No climax as well as no plot twists.
The character, Heilda, a jealous witch, was being introduce half way around the book and not engaging enough. She's a villain, yeah. The gift she gave to Leidha as a birthday present slip out of the story unexplained again.
I want to give four stars because of the Norse Mythology being introduced. Three sisters weaving Time is very very interesting. Actually I was waiting how those three sisters relate to Maeva and who Maeva really is. A nymph? One of the sisters? The answer is none. No where to be found in the story. Even the ending doesn't seem like what become of Leidah. I kept my hopes up this to be like the book, "Circe" but it failed me. But I have to admit I really love the first chapters devoted to the birth of Leidah which was simply mesmerizing.
August 5, 2021
I think readers will absolutely love or hate this book. It is a fantasy story of a girl born from magic, whose mother wishes to return to where she comes from, and the clashes and pressures of being in another world. Set in Norway, the book is beautifully written and tells the story of unrequited and impossible love, along with wider issues of the unknown, mystical and imagining of other worlds. Leidah is at the center of this story and the innocent who is different, shunned without knowing why, and the struggle of her parents to both tie her to them and set themselves free, sometimes selfishly. It's quite beautiful.
April 30, 2021
Extraña, mágica y melancólica. Una novela diferente a cualquier otra que haya leído antes. El mar juega un rol central en la historia, lo cual me parece apropiado, porque la pluma de Michelle Grierson te envuelve como agua. Esta es su primera novela, definitivamente estaré pendiente de la próxima que escriba.
(Puntos extras por toda la mitología nórdica).
(Puntos extras por toda la mitología nórdica).
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