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!

"Selkie" by Nataly is a captivating and enchanting fantasy novel that weaves together elements of folklore, romance, and adventure. The story follows Mara, a young woman who discovers she is descended from a race of mythical beings known as selkies, who can transform between human and seal form.

Grinder's writing is lyrical and evocative, creating a vivid and immersive world filled with magic and wonder. The plot is well-paced, with plenty of twists and turns to keep readers engaged. Mara is a relatable and sympathetic protagonist, and her journey of self-discovery is both inspiring and heartwarming.

As Mara embraces her selkie heritage, she becomes entangled in a conflict between the human and selkie worlds, as well as a passionate romance with a mysterious selkie warrior. Their relationship is tender and complex, adding depth and emotional resonance to the story.

One of the strengths of "Selkie" is its exploration of themes such as identity, belonging, and the power of love to bridge divides. Grinder delves into the challenges of living between two worlds and the importance of embracing one's true nature.

Overall, "Selkie" is a delightful and enchanting read that will appeal to fans of authors like Juliet Marillier and Naomi Novik. It's a beautifully written tale of magic, romance, and self-discovery that will leave you spellbound.

This is the first selkie folklore novel I've read and I thoroughly enjoyed it! Quinn's journey of finding herself, connecting to her heritage, and fighting for her found family is compelling and tragic at times.

While I thoroughly enjoyed the enchanting atmosphere and the exploration of selkie lore, I found myself wishing the romantic elements played a more significant role in the overall story.

Overall, I definitely would recommend this to anyone who enjoys folklore-inspired fantasy.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Grand Central Publishing for the eARC of Selkie!

True Rating: 4.5

Thank you to Netgalley and Grand Central Publishing for a free copy of this book. All thoughts listed below are my own.

After reading Medusa, I was super excited to get this widget and couldn't wait to dive in. Selkie's are a lesser known part of mythology and seeing them be explored was intriguing. Nataly seems to have cornered a market on mythological retelling and honestly I am here for it. Nataly has a wonderful way of taking villains and showing that they are often truly a victim of being in a man's world, Selkie is not an exception.

Quinn, our FMC and Selkie in question, has her seal pelt stolen from her by a man who believes that she will bring him luck and fortune. She is forced to become his wife and have his children, but his pride prevents him from letting her go despite the misfortune she has actually brought. Seven years of being forced to remain on land, her eldest daughter finds and returns her pelt. Quinn escapes, but after an unfortunate encounter with her husband, she is wounded and forced to take shelter on an island with a lighthouse and its three keepers, after she is unable to find her Selkie herd.

During this time, we get to experience flashbacks into her life before her pelt is returned to her. We get to witness her, in some ways self inflicted, isolation from the human village she is forced to live in. Ambiguous, but yet very clear, references to her SA at the hands of her forced husband, births she had to do alone as no one would help her, and watching her children bear the brunt of the oddness of her mother. Quinn's anger and frustration, along with the fear of her husband, are so pronounced I found myself feeling them along with her every time they were on the page. She is the victim here, despite the world portraying her as the villain. Quinn is a very complicated character. She is written with a dual nature in this story that I absolutely adore, because its so realistic. She has moments of being selfish and moments of being selfless, which we all do. Ultimately, its up for you as the reader to decide which she is.

She has to navigate her own experiences with humans when it comes to the three lighthouse keepers. She has seven years of selfishness and hatred under her belt from living in the village, yet these three keepers are challenging everything she knows. This growth that Quinn shows during these few weeks/months of living on the island is some of the best development I've read in a while. There are a few twists that are revealed while on this island, some obvious and some that I did not see coming. Quinn is a very

There is one part of the book that stands out to me that I can not get over, in a good way. The author wove in a few other myths into this story, in the form of Kelpies and Bean-Nighe. There is a chapter that focuses on the myth of the Washerwomen (or Bean-Nighe) and I could not devour this section more! The depth of this side character was so jaw dropping, and I want to explore this myth/character. Nataly, please make this your next book! This character stole the show for me in the best way possible and I want more!

The ending of the book is very vague. It ends happily, don't get me wrong, but as far as a true conclusion, it doesn't really give that. And to be honest, normally that bothers me but in this book it works so well. It's up to you what happens after, with Quinn and her found family. I see myself reading this book again!

Quinn is a selkie, the mythological shape-shifters of Celtic lore.
Quinn and several other young selkies from her herd decide to try to transform into humans and take their first steps on land. At the end of their evening, Quinn's pelt is stolen by a human, trapping her on land. Quinn wants nothing more than to find her pelt and seize her freedom.
Seven years and three children later, Quinn finally gets her chance to escape. Her eldest daughter finds and returns Quinn's pelt. But Quinn no longer knows where her herd is and doesn't have the strength to keep swimming. She takes refuge on an island. When she meets one of the lighthouse keepers, she must decide whether she can trust these humans.

Selkies have always been one of my favorite mythological creatures so I HAD to read this, and I was not disappointed! Its a story of a selkie who falls prey to the greed of a human and must fight to regain her freedom. The sapphic themes made it 10x better and the ambiguous ending felt fitting for the overall story.

I really enjoyed her Medusa story so I knew I had to give Selkie a go. I think this one might be my favorite. I do love a good Selkies myth and this one did not disappoint. I will be buying a copy when the book is released! Grab this book if you love Selkie ( or mermaid) lore and a good myth / lore story.

More Selkie books please! I like Selkie lore and this one is from the author of Medusa which I really enjoyed (so good!). This wasn't as good o ONLY because it was a little rushed in the end and I didn't want it to end! From the start I if course was angry for Quinn, I saw red when she was held against her will. I understood her feelings towards those adults around her. It made me sad. Reading her journey was so so good though. This didn't end like I thought it might, I'm sad about that but also happy with how it ended for some of the characters. Not happy for others. It was a quick read. I started it yesterday. Finished it today.
Thank you NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for this egalley. I was not obligated to leave a review. All opinions are my own

Description
From the author of Medusa comes a beautiful and emotional story featuring a selkie: a mythological creature who can turn from a seal into a human.

Seven years ago, Quinn finally dared to transform from a seal into a human and took her first steps on land. As a selkie, she is both a daughter of land and sea. But when a human stole her pelt, he stole her freedom as well, forcing Quinn to become his wife and bear his children. As legend tells, capturing a selkie will bring you luck, and she became a coveted prize.

Constrained to a life that was no longer her own, Quinn longed for nothing more than to find her pelt and seize her freedom. Then one day, her eldest daughter hands Quinn her pelt and without a second thought, Quinn snatches it and escapes to the sea. But she's no longer used to swimming and doesn't know where her herd has gone. And after an almost disastrous encounter with her former husband, leaving her severely injured, Quinn doesn't have the strength to go searching.

Instead, she finds herself taking shelter on a nearby island with a lighthouse and three lighthouse keepers. Quinn doesn't trust humans anymore and wants to stay hidden from the keepers. But she can't survive on her own. Can she learn to trust these humans and shed her hatred of all humankind? Or will she give into her fears and accept the monstrous fate that others have bestowed upon her?

This book is a masterpiece that weaves together fantasy and raw emotion with such grace. Quinn’s journey is not just about reclaiming her freedom, but also about healing and rediscovering her strength. The way the author paints her struggles and growth, both in the realm of the sea and in her interactions with others, is deeply moving. Anyone who is a fan of emotional depth, mythic tales, and stories of personal transformation, this book will capture your heart and stay with you long after you turn the last page. It’s hauntingly beautiful, full of magic, and utterly unforgettable.

I love this space of mythological retelling that Nataly Gruender is occupying. She’s quite deft at providing a point of view that shows how female (perceived antagonists) are often victims and not aggressors as opposed to the classic portrayal of villain or temptress.

Quinn, the Selkie this book is about, has her pelt stolen by a man who forces her to become his wife and bear his children. After years of searching, it is Quinn’s children that actually find her pelt and her eldest daughter returns it to her, thus freeing Quinn and allowing her to return to the sea. Quinn’s husband tries to recapture her and wounds her which leads to Quinn’s involvement with 3 lighthouse staff members. It all works out in the end (I suppose) as Quinn is able to form her own found family.

I enjoyed this book and will probably read it again at some point, but I’m not sure that I connected with any of the characters and cannot decide if Quinn is selfless or selfish (but perhaps that is part of her dual nature).

Thanks to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the opportunity to read this book!

Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for this advanced copy <3

This is the story of Quinn, a selkie -- mythical creatures of Celtic/Nordic origins that are able to shift from seal to human, allowing them to live both on land and in the water -- who gets trapped on land by a man (<i>typical</i>) who wants to use her for his own gain. Her forces her into marriage and motherhood and keeps her from returning to her herd.

After years of searching for the pelt that will allow her to return to the sea, she finally discovers it and takes off for the water. As she escapes, her husband chases her down and subsequently injures her, forcing her to take refuge on an island inhabited only by three lighthouse keepers. Because she is deeply distrustful of humans, Quinn is hesitant to accept their help, but due to her injury she soon realizes she has no choice and is soon taken in.

With her vengeful husband on her tail and her true identity emerging, Quinn's feelings for one of the keepers starts to bubble to the surface, and she must decide if she should stay or return to the sea.

I found this book very readable/bingeable and enjoyed learning about selkies, as I feel like so few fantasy books focus on that specific mythos. Quinn and Maisie's *friendship* was lovely to watch evolve, and seeing these men show Quinn that not all people (especially men) are bad was beautiful.

While overall I liked this book, it felt like it was lacking somehow, but I can't quite put my finger on it. Maybe I felt a little disconnected from the characters or I didn't totally buy what the author was selling re how selkies transform/shift. Or maybe I just have a milelong TBR I'm impatient to get to?

Did I love it? No. But would I recommend it? Yes. Still fun and different from what we usually see with these kinds of stories.

Overall, I gave this book 3.5/5 stars, rounded up.