Selkie is a hauntingly beautiful tale. The way Nataly Gruender weaves the selkie legend with Quinn’s struggles to trust—and heal—after betrayal is utterly compelling. The isolated island, the mysterious lighthouse keepers, and Quinn’s fierce spirit made me root for her every step of the way.

Really loved Selkie by Nataly Gruender. This poignant story covers the plight of Quinn, a selkie who is trapped in human form and her desire for freedom. Gruender does a great job of bringing the selkie myth alive.

was excited to read this new release from Nataly Gruender, as I enjoy reading about Selkies and other Celtic mythology. The setting of this book was well-written, and Gruender did a lovely job creating an evocative and compelling setting for this story.
Sadly, the story itself fell flat in many ways. The characters lacked depth and complexity, and I found it unbelievable that Quinn would abandon her children to a cruel community and father in order to run away with a group of people that she only knew for a few weeks at most.
The overall themes of found family and freedom were enjoyable, but not executed well in the grand scheme of the story. Thank you so much to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the opportunity to read this book early!

I recently read Medusa by this author, and immediately went to look into her other books and turns out it was her debut but another one was coming out. Seeing it wasn't out yet, I rushed over to NetGalley to see if it was there, and it was. So, thank you to the publisher, the author and NetGalley for allowing me an ARC to read. All thoughts are my own.

I really enjoyed this. I was filled with so much rage at certain points, but given what was happening that made sense.

One of my favourite tropes is found family, and that trope was so well done within this book. I really loved seeing the relationships develop and the characters begin to get closer.

Overall really happy with the ending, though it felt a bit quick. That was likely me though because I just didn't want it to be over.

A really great book, and I will be following this author closely to keep any eye on any new releases.

I received a free advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley.

When I saw an arc for [book:Medusa|203164248], not that long ago, I was going through a Greek myth retelling phase. And, if we're being real here, I'm always going through that phase. Anyway, I loved it and so Selkie was an automatic request for me. I'm not particularly familiar with the selkie myth, either, so I was excited to have this be a preliminary exposure to it.

Once again, the prose is beautiful and stunning and so incredibly poetic. I really felt like Gruender was able to take me and wrap me up in sea salt breezes and crashing waves and sunlight and storms at the turn of each page. Her strength, though, is in her ability to take these women we have often viewed as villains and show why they may, in fact, have been the victims. I just... I just have loved both of her books so much.

The only weakness that I felt like Selkie may have had (especially stacked up against Medusa) is that there wasn't much plot. Now that I've finished the book, I can see that it's because the story is fully encapsulated in the characters and in Quinn as she tries to figure herself out and redefine many different aspects of her life. Knowing this makes it all come together neatly, but while I was reading the book I started to get a little impatient as I wondered what the plot was and when it would start. There's not really a way, per se, to be told in advance of starting a book that the character is the plot, but I kind of wish I had known that earlier on to get myself more fully submerged.

I know some readers felt like the storyline with the children was unsatisfying and should have had a stronger sense of closure, but I really didn't feel that way. Perhaps it's because I'm not a mother? I'm not sure. But I felt fine with how that was resolved.

Overall, I really loved the mood and feel of the book and setting. Gruender's books will continue to be an automatic read for me.

I quite enjoyed this there was some slow parts, but the themes of identity and self-liberation are powerful, and readers who enjoy slow, introspective fantasy rooted in folklore will find moments to appreciate. It’s a thoughtful read, even if it doesn’t fully deliver on its emotional or narrative potential.

Gruender’s writing is gorgeous. It’s not just a story about a mythical creature; it’s about identity, longing, and the push-pull between freedom and belonging.

The main character, Quinn, is written with such quiet intensity. You really feel her inner conflict—caught between land and sea, love and self. The emotional stakes are high, but never overdone. I especially appreciated how the story didn’t shy away from the loneliness and grief that often come with transformation (physical or otherwise).

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

Oh man, this hurt the whole way through—in mostly a good way though. I appreciated Quinn. She is a very complicated character, and the circumstances of her kidnapping are horrifying. I'm glad she found a second family with the keepers, and that bittersweet ending helped heal my heart a bit, but... I feel so badly for her children.

This was a dark, touching story, with a dash of hopefulness in the end, despite that... I think something was missing. Maybe if I knew what ended up happening to her children, I would feel differently, but from what we've seen? Honestly, it breaks my heart, and I would have preferred to see them one last time, perhaps sometime in the future, since this book alternates between the past and the present. I don't know, I just think they were stuck in the crossfire of their parents and I couldn't help but think of them the whole time. It broke my heart.

Thank you, NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing, for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

3.25/5

3.5 stars rounded up to 4

I love anything and everything relating to mythology, so I was very excited to pick this up. However, I am feeling conflicted with this story, because there were a number of scenes I loved and a few I was craving more of. Starting off with the good, I thought the found family was beaaaautiful and and SO SO well-done! I truly felt the connections and depth between each of these characters.

I also really enjoyed the inner thoughts of Quinn and the overall theme of women being forced into roles they did not choose/want. I think that is a very important topic that not too many books really delve into. You really get an insight into Quinn and her inner turmoil between choosing to go back to the sea where she is meant to be, but having to leave her children behind to do so. The romance that occurred between Quinn and Maisie was a sweet, unexpected surprise that I really enjoy. I did wish we got more of that, and I also felt that the pacing was a tad on the slower side between the 25-40% mark. Overall, a quick read that you'll enjoy if you like Scottish folklore and found family.

Selkie—I loved the lore and reading a story from the POV of a selkie was very interesting. Often, we get the human perspective of a woman who abandons her children the moment she finds her pelt never hearing from the perspective of the demonized selkie. The author did a great job of describing the conflicted feelings and emotions of Quinn the selkie woman trapped on land when her pelt was stolen and forced to espouse Owen, her captor.

I read this book in two days, it was a good read— but the ending let me down. I won’t use spoilers here, but I find some of the choices didn’t quite make sense in regards to the children. The statement “some women just aren’t made to be mothers” cannot distract the reader from the fact that she did feel both maternal and responsible for the way her children were received by the community… and her abandoning them to the monster who both caged her, forced himself on her, and then tried to kill her when she escaped? Well… that seems like a stretch in light of the choices she might have made based on the way the story ended. Her journey to self discovery and freedom left me wondering more in sadness about how her children fared than being joyful with her for overcoming… and to be fair- it’s a selkie story. I completely expected her children to be abandoned. I just wish it felt less selfish in the end (or at the very least make it apparent she never cared for them at all).

I would like to thank Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

As someone who loves mythology and folktales from all cultures, I was quite interested in the idea of a book that follows selkies (seals that can turn into humans). This book was quick and easy to read as you get sucked up into the world of our main character, Quinn. I found the characters to be well written and they all had fascinating backstories that added to their complexity. The relationships between the characters were heartwarming and authentic. This would be a great pick for anyone who loves a found family story. My one problem with the book was that I did think the first section was a bit boring. However, once it picks up, it was hard to put the book down. I would recommend to fans of folklore, found families, and stories about women breaking free from societal norms.

Where have I been all my life? This Scottish folklore grabbed me by the ankles and pulled me under. Nataly wrote this book so beautifully and I will forever think of selkies and this book, whenever I see seals.

I loved almost everything about this book. I love all the behavior and emotions that were presented. How one little ruthless decision can lead to such an impact on not just you, but everyone surrounding you. The lighthouse being the beacon for not just the FMC but the keepers also in finding their way. I love the message behind the story that just because the majority of people may be cruel, not everyone is. There are people out there who are kind and worth the fight.

Going further into the book, I do wish that instead of focusing on a domestic relationship, this story would have been 10x better if it focused on friendship and not romance. I didn't feel like the need for romance was necessary given that Quin and Maisie had such a short time together. I did not like how Quin (FMC) was willing to leave her kids behind, too. She didn't even think to turn them into selkies as she did with the keepers. Her children were struggling, and she just left them even though her son was just like her. Why would she even think her captor was gonna take care of them when he was constantly trying to locate her and trap her again? Who knows.

Thank you Netgalley and Grand Central Publishing for giving me this eARC!

Nataly Gruender's Selkie plunges readers into the heart-wrenching tale of Quinn, a selkie whose freedom is stolen with her pelt, forcing her into a life she never chose. Seven years after being trapped on land as a human wife and mother, Quinn's eldest daughter returns her pelt, igniting a desperate escape back to the sea. But freedom isn't easily reclaimed. Injured and disoriented, Quinn finds herself stranded on an island with three lighthouse keepers—humans she's learned to distrust and even despise.

Gruender masterfully explores themes of captivity, freedom, and the arduous journey of healing. Quinn's struggle to adapt to her true form after so long on land is palpable, as is her deep-seated fear and anger towards humankind. The question of whether she can ever trust again, or if she's destined to embrace a monstrous fate, drives the narrative forward with compelling urgency.

This isn't just a fantasy story; it's a poignant exploration of trauma and the slow, difficult path to recovery. If you're looking for a mythical tale with emotional depth and a powerful protagonist, Selkie is a captivating read

Thank you NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for an ARC of this novel.

Selkie follows Quinn, a bold Selkie (mythological seal who can shed her pelt and assume her human form). Quinn becomes stranded as a human when she first sheds her pelt for a brief taste of life on land and a man steals her pelt and holds Quinn captive as his wife. Folk lore claims that stealing a selkie’s pelt will bring you luck and fortune, but for Quinn, it brings 7 long years of heartache and a lonely life separated from the sea she longs for.
One day Quinn’s eldest daughter finds her pelt and selflessly hands it back to Quinn, who takes to the sea.

This was a beautiful tale of this mythical creature meeting the human world, and left me torn on how I felt about Quinn. At times she seems cold and unattached as a mother, but in peeling back the layers of what it means to be a Selkie, forever bonded with her herd and the sea, and longed for not for her heart but for her pelt and what she can do for others, my understanding of her complexity heightened and I yearned for Quinn to find happiness in a new way.

This was my first book by Nataly Gruender, but it won’t be my last. She brought the lore of selkies to life in a beautiful tale of hardship, companionship, and love.

I loved Medusa and Selkie is right there in my opinion.

Quinn is a Selkie, half human, half seal. For a long time she has been curious about what happens on land, but she is warned against getting close.

But seven years ago, she did it. Transformed herself into a human girl. And a man steals her skin and basically enslaves her in his home to have children. She is miserable and she is shunned. Because once you steal a selkie’s skin, she is powerless to change back.

For years she has suffered but when one of her children brings her the skin, she goes. Now injured and afraid, she has to learn to trust another woman, a human, and maybe find a new life, with love and acceptance.

I loved this one.

NetGalley/ Grand Central Publishing August 12, 2025

I received this ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Y’all. This glow up though! I read Medusa from Netgalley a while back and enjoyed it, although the ending was obvious (downside to myth retellings) and the plot was a smidge slow for me.

This one.

This one.

I was not prepared to like this one as much as I did. The plot? Interesting and follows the lore pretty well. Tragic and empowering all at once. The characters? Interesting, mysterious, and pleasantly surprising. And the character development. Just… 👌🏻. Imperfections in every character, giving this book a relatability I haven’t had in a while. The writing? Descriptive, flowing, easy to follow, fits the mood for the book (this is the real challenge), and paints a picture. I can find no fault in this book.

Sapphic romance. Sort of women’s fiction-y. Go get this when it comes out. 🥹

Thank you NetGalley! A heartfelt story of Quinn, a young Selkie. Hearing the stories from her mother, Quinn wanted to risk the danger and try to walk on 2 legs as a human. With some of her fellow herd mates, they tempt fate but Quinn’s pelt is stolen and she now is imprisonment in her human form by her soon to be husband, Owen. After 7 Years, she escapes after her pelt is returned. Quinn finds herself in trouble and 3 lighthouse keepers offer her shelter but her past is coming after her and others have secrets of their own as well. A look into the intricacies of wanting what we think we are missing out on and what we really want.

This was such a lovely story. Following the story of a young selkie who is turned, not by choice, into a woman, the parallels for women throughout history really rang close to home. I loved the mythology, character development, and beautiful painting of the scenery in this story. It felt so cozy at times, but also being able to feel the cold and windy loneliness felt by the main character as well. I highly recommend this to someone who has enjoyed mythological books for more well-known story genres.

I highly recommend this book to people who have enjoyed Madeline Miller's well-crafted works.

I loved this book. I’ve always been fascinated by selkies and this book did not hold back on the emotions of a seal trapped on land in a life she didn’t want.

It’s also a hard look at women forced into motherhood they didn’t want. Quite timely and very relevant right now.

Bonus points for the surprising queer stories.

Can’t wait to go back and read Medusa!