I really enjoyed this book. It was different than anything else I've read recently. I couldn't put it down! I will keep an eye out for this author's future work!

I love stories that blend old-world legends with new-world settings, so I was thrilled to read the description of the recently-released The Selkie’s Daughter, by Linda Crotta Brennan:

"A richly imagined fantasy set in Nova Scotia where a young girl—part selkie, part human—must save her family...
Brigit knows all the old songs and legends of Neve, the daughter of the sea god; of the warrior Finn MacCool; and of people who are not quite human. But Brigit knows the truth. It’s evident in the webbing between her fingers– webbing that must be cut. She’s the daughter of a selkie. A truth she must keep secret from everyone.
But someone in her village is killing young seals. Angering the king of the selkie clan, who vows revenge. A curse that will bring storm, sickness, and death. To protect those she loves, Brigit must find a way to Sule Skerrie, the land of selkies, to confront the Great Selkie and protect the young seals from harm.
Like sitting by a warm fireplace, The Selkie’s Daughter is an imaginative fantasy, steeped in Celtic mythology and rich with detail. Perfect for fans of mermaids and Studio Ghibli-esque stories."

A few things I especially loved:

—the setting.
I suppose L. M. Montgomery got me hooked on stories set in Eastern Canada. I also have ancestors from this part of the world, so it holds a special pull for me. Linda Crotta Brennan did a brilliant job of bringing the Nova Scotia coast to life, vividly and intriguingly.

—the characters.
Oh, Brigit was wonderful! Heroic and bold when she needed to be, but also quiet, compassionate, and conflicted. The secondary characters are complex and conflicted as well; Alys and Margaret, Brigit’s aunt and cousin are both caring and kind to Brigit while turning a blind eye to the evil in their immediate family. I loved Peter, the newcomer to the village and Brigit’s faithful friend, as well as his uncle Agnus, the village’s Catholic priest. In a time when books are saturated with Catholic priests turning out to be the bad guys, I was touched to see Father Agnus was a priest like the ones I know: balanced, generous, and possessed of a hearty sense of humor.

—the pacing.
I expected a slow story, to be honest. And while I won’t say that The Selkie’s Daughter was fast-paced and adventure-packed, its perfectly drawn out drama and tension left me wanting to turn page after page. I couldn’t wait to find out what would happen next!

All in all, this was a story I will heartily recommend and can’t wait to share with my children.

Not many of the few villagers about like the fact Brigit's mother is a selkie – one of those seal women turned into human form and loving one of us human males. They certainly don't appreciate the sacrifice it meant to her. And so she has a human-like young son, and a daughter, Brigit, who we see at the start of this having her webbed hands trimmed down to human form. When a new boy around reminds Brigit of just some of the lore that abounds in her world here in Nova Scotia, they form a friendship. But that only shows the first in a step-chain of calamities, as some of the humans are doing something else the Great Selkie finds most disagreeable. This time its not forsaking one's own kind and dallying with the humans, to him this is much worse...

This was actually quite the concise, nifty novel, full of Gaelic-tinged verse and sentiment yet wearing it very lightly. Again, not too much is made of the specific coastal region we're witnessing, but it's there. And while some of the plotting may be a touch too obvious, for the under-twelve age range this is a distinctive piece. It talks of social ostracism, the chance of a cursed community, home, heritage and where one is destined to be – and does it all in the gently fantastical way the mythical characters allow. It's no world-beater, but I was glad for the chance to enjoy it – four stars feels about right.

In this charming fiction novel, Brennan brings the myths of the selkies to Nova Scotia, Canada, where Brigit lives with her fisherman father, rambunctious little brother, and former selkie mother (who gave up the sea and her sealskin for love). As a daughter, however, Brigit inherited some of her mother’s gifts, leaving her with a love of the wild, dangerous sea and webbed fingers (which are cut away every so often). The village, however, knows the myths of the selkies and tends to blame them (with pointed glares at Brigit and her mother) when things go wrong. When things inevitably do go wrong, Brigit, along with the new priest’s nephew Peter and her cousin Margaret, are the ones who have to figure out how to fix things with the Great Selkie and stop the antagonists. Brennan’s characters are incredibly well-written, and her use of selkie mythology is particularly enjoyable given how she shifts locations (from the British Isles to Canada) and adapts the mythology to expand to half-selkie Brigit. The background characters and setting of a Nova Scotia village add to the novel’s stakes with their mistrust of Brigit and the selkies, but Brennan handles it well and in a way that adds to the stakes and atmosphere of the novel.

Linda Crotta Brennan tells a wondrous tale of Brigit, a teenage girl in a nineteenth century fishing village in Nova Scotia. She hides the fact that she is The Selkie's Daughter (hard from Holiday House) and has to have the webbing between her fingers cut regularly. Then the fish stop coming because one family has decided to kill seal pups, some of whom were selkie children. Then her father is lost trying to fish risky waters. To save him, Brigit must reveal herself to her friends and somehow rescue her father and embrace her heritage.Very satisfying tale for all ages.

Thank you to the NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC to review voluntarily.

I was unable to finish this book. The storyline was more on the young adult side than I was expecting and the characters being so young made it hard for me to relate to them at all. I wasn’t hooked or intrigued by anything in the first couple of chapters and I felt like I was waiting for something to bring me into the story.

Thank you Holiday House and NetGalley for the digital ARC.

It's been a minute since my last Middle Grade read, and since I don't really follow the trend of this genre, I'm not sure if there's such thing as lower/upper MG like in YA. But if there is, this one leans more to upper MG due to its more complex theme and content (the book literally opens with Brigit getting her webbed hand CUT). I think it'll help to include some trigger/content warning too.

The Nova Scotia setting is stunning. It's rich with myths and history and folksongs. There is no indication when the story is set, but I assume it's not in recent days. The language does feel very MG with a bunch of exclamation points, but it doesn't lessen the beauty especially when it comes to descriptive paragraphs. Like other reviewers, I'm not familiar with selkies and I wish it would be explained more detailed. A little googling helps, though.

As for the characters, Brigit's character arc is something that readers can relate too, no matter the age. Margaret is a sweet kid; I'm glad Brigit has softened to her because she deserves better. At first, I thought there will be some romance going on between Brigit and Peter, but then I remembered this is MG and I'm glad because their friendship plus Margaret is more heartwarming.

Maybe after this I'll read more MG books. And maybe it would be more enjoyable if I understand about selkies before diving into it. I think contemporary fantasy lovers and upper Middle Grade readers who don't mind that things being told as is and 'not holding back' just because it's targeted for younger people would definitely like this one.

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me the chance to read and review this arc.

I rated The Selkie’s Daughter 5/5 stars.

while I am not the target audience for this book, I love Selkie’s and their lore, so when I read the description of this book, I knew I had to read it. This book is truly a sweet story about a girl who is half Selkie and half human, trying to find her place in the world. It was rich and beautiful, and I greatly appreciated the authentic Celtic references. Brigit’s adventure was heartfelt and fun, and I really enjoyed reading this. I wish this book was longer, because I never wanted to leave this story.


I’m so glad I took a chance on this read, and I will definitely be picking up a physical copy to add to my young readers shelf.

A beautiful tale inspired by myths and legends with a modern twist.

In this story, we follow a young girl on her journey of self-discovery, as she must navigate her relationships with her family and peers, as well as explore her deep connection with the seas.

The novel is beautifully written throughout. Some repetitions do occur (especially adjectives related to the appearance of the characters), but they do not prevent the enjoyment of the book. Overall, this novel will definitely be appreciated by middle-grade readers with an interest for the ocean and its mythical creatures.

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. This is my honest opinion.

Water related themes always capture my attention. New to me author Ms. Brennan weaves a tale of sorrow, loss, and new beginnings. I don't believe I have ever read a happy tale about selkies. Because their lives are always threatened and humans are horrible. This tale is about Brigit and her life in small fishing village in Nova Scotia.

Personally, if I knew that Selkies would bless us if we were good to them, I'd make sure the entire town understands this and keeps it as an open understood secret. Then again, I am completely enamoured of selkies. Ms. Brennan stays close to true to the selkie mythos with how to keep a selkie on land. The nice twist in this one, is that Brigit's mother loves her father and wants to stay with them. Still, the rules to switch between land and water are harsh and unforgiving. I don't like it.

Brigit's tale is a slight coming of age story as she grows up a bit through loss and hardship. I feel for her because she is in two worlds and yet not accepted in either. She needs to hid her uniqueness that makes her so amazing. It breaks my heart what she needs to do to keep the villagers from turning into a raving mob. I did like the priest in this story as he sticks up for her. That was unexpected and lovely.

There are a few traumatic scenes in this story and I felt it made the book richer and more meaningful. Whilst Brigit is a young lass, the concepts in this story may be a bit much for children and young teens in this day and age. Still, I would encourage them to read this book and learn about hatred, pettiness, and animal cruelty. I reiterate - humans are horrible. But there are a few redeeming ones. This melancholy fantasy is recommended for readers who enjoy character growth tales with a touch of magic.

This was a beautiful story about a young girl's search for her identity. I love books set in Canada and the imagery in this was stunning. It really envoked the feeling of a small fishing town.

The mythology of selkies is not something that I have come across often in literature and this book provides a great introduction to it.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this lovely book!

This is a beautifully written coming-of-age story about a half-selkie trying to figure out what her place is amidst various disasters that are befalling her village and also the selkies. I love selkie lore but have read far too little of it but this book is a charming addition to what I have read.

This is an emotional story and the ending is bittersweet but marvelously well done. The cover is also beautiful and fits the novel very well.

I really enjoyed this one. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an e-arc of this in exchange for an honest review.

Nova Scotia Selkies

The publisher has done an unusually good job of summarizing Linda Crotta Brennan's The Selkie's Daughter, so I won't bother. Read the publisher's blurb, if you haven't done so already!

What you will perhaps not realize from the blurb is how well this book evokes Nova Scotia and the Celtic legends on which it is based. Each chapter begins with a verse of song about Neve, Finn MacCool, and the selkies. These verses are so well chosen -- when I read them, I hear them as song

I am human upon dry land.
I swim as selkie on the sea.
And when I’m far and far frae land,
My home it is in Sule Skerrie.

Sule Skerry is a real place. However, you could not get there from Nova Scotia in a few hours in a small boat, as The Selkie's Daughter implies -- it's on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean.

The Nova Scotia of The Selkie's Daughter is vivid. It's a hard land -- this past Nova Scotia. I assume that children in Nova Scotia now have cell phones and modern schools and, like all Canadians, are covered by Health Insurance. Even the selkies!

It's a beautiful story of past time and old stories that you won't find in Grimm's Fairy Tales or even, as far as I know, a Walt Disney film.

I thank NetGalley and Holiday House for an advance reader copy of The Selkie's Daughter. This review expresses my honest opinion. Release date 2-Jan-2024.

identity and finding where you fit in is such a hard thing to write without coming off as corny but the author did it so perfectly. such a beautiful story and i loved the mix of mythology and fantasy <3

3.75 stars
This was a really fun, easy to read story. I loved the development of Brigit throughout the story, and how she learned to accept all aspects of herself by the end of the book. The story was well-written, and heart-wrenching at times, but has such a great message for its middle school audience. The importance of family and friends is highlighted, as well as respect for the natural world. It was fast-paced and action packed, whilst still giving enough character interactions to feel a connection with them - especially Brigit and Peter.
I really liked the Celtic mythology aspects to it, but I would have loved to have seen more of the selkies and their world.
I will say that I think the books needs another pass through by an editor for formatting. There are odd spacings and hyphens, and sometimes speech by different characters are on separate lines. Also, the chapter titles were odd, with each chapter being titled 'm *number*C'.
Overall, a fun and enjoyable read.

3.7 Stars
One Liner: A fast-paced read

Brigit is half-selkie, half-human. Her mother is a selkie. Everyone in the little village suspects it. Naturally, Brigit has to deal with bullies at school. However, that seems to be the least of her concerns.
Someone in the village is killing young seals, though they know it’s forbidden. The selkie folk are furious and vow revenge. Brigit and her family are stuck in the middle. She had to find a way to save the young seals, expose the criminals, and face the Great Selkie. But can she succeed?
The story comes in Brigit’s first-person POV.

My Thoughts:
I knew I had to read this when I saw the title. I recently wrote a short story with a half-selkie girl as the protagonist. I also wrote another story with the Celtic Brigit (goddess) as the main lead. Seeing the book seemed like the universe sending me a message (yet to figure out what it is).
The book is short, just 200+ pages, and a quick read. Set in Nova Scotia (a Canadian province in the Atlantic), the story takes place over a few days, giving us a glimpse into the lives of locals and Brigit’s family.
The starting is solid, even if it could be painful/ scary for young readers. There isn’t much character development, and most of them are surface level. Yet, Margaret and Peter stand out.
I love how each chapter starts with a verse about traditional Celtic personalities (and sometimes selkies). They help create the mood and the atmosphere. In fact, the atmosphere is spot-on and much better than the characterization. I could visualize every scene and become a part of the landscape.
The book deals with various themes like family, friendship, community, bullying, greed, sacrifice, choices, etc. None of it is in detail, so it doesn’t overwhelm the readers. However, the contents are darkish and may not suit all young readers (check the trigger warnings at the end).
The fantasy elements are woven into the plot and are present just as much as required. It is seamless and uses the selkie mythology well. That said, I wouldn’t have minded if it was more prominent.
The climax is also fast-paced, which adds to the tension. However, it is over too soon. We see only a glimpse of Brigit’s bravery.
This could easily be a bigger book with more detailing and an in-depth character arc. Of course, that might make it suitable for adult readers. The premise calls for some intense darkness and drama.

To summarize, The Selkie's Daughter is a good attempt at introducing mythical creatures to young readers. It’s an engaging read and should keep them hooked.
Thank you, NetGalley and Holiday House, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

This review was made possible via an ARC through NetGalley.

The Selkie’s Daughter by Linda Crotta Brennan is a historical fantasy Middle Grade featuring Celtic folklore in Nova Scotia. Brigit is the daughter of Neve, a selkie, and a fisherman. Her village distrusts her due to the webbing on her hands, a sign of her selkie heritage, which her younger brother does not share. Brigit’s two friends are her cousin, Margaret, and Peter, a new boy in town who is the nephew of the local priest and loves science.

Seal pups are being killed, leading the selkie leader, Neve’s father and Brigit’s grandfather, curses their town, leading to a plague and storms that make it harder to fish, further dooming the town. Brigit’s father goes fishing and he’s stranded far from home. Brigit, Margaret and Peter take a boat to try to find him and Brigit embraces both parts of herself.

The Selkie’s Daughter is a story of grief, embracing being between two worlds, and friendship between children with different viewpoints. The book does feature a priest and several references to Christianity, Catholicism specifically, I believe as well as pieces of folk songs about Sive and Tír na nÓg, two important stories in Celtic folklore. The folk songs and broader representation of selkies are a great way to introduce younger readers to Celtic stories.

This book launched straight into the action from the first visceral scene. It told us so much about the main character and her interactions with her family and the outside world. It was sadder that I thought it would be in parts but very much worth the time spent in its pages.

This was such a great middle great novel! I don’t read them often because I find them so hit and miss but the premise sounded so good I just had to take the chance and I’m glad I did.

This gave me big The Thorns Remain vibes, but for children.

I loved Brigit, our main character. She’s half-selkie and half-human and she’s such a fierce, brave, lively character. I loved her journey towards self love and acceptance and not worrying as much about what the villagers think, and I loved that doing that allowed her to open her heart to them more and realise that not everyone is against their family.

I loved her friendships with both Margaret and Peter, too. Margaret in particular just captured my heart. She was Brigit’s biggest champion and it made me feel all warm and fuzzy every time.

I would have loved to spend more time with the selkie’s, though. I feel like we barely scratched the surface of their lives and history and what it means to be kin.

The plot is quite simple, but this story is magical and full of gorgeous Celtic mythology. Such a cosy read and definitely one to add to your tbr.

The cover was what drew me in and I’m so glad I got to read this, it had a great fantasy element to it and was everything that I hoped for. I enjoyed getting to know Brigit and her world. It had a great style to it and the characters worked in this universe. Linda Crotta Brennan has a great writing style and glad I was able to read this.