Song of the Selkie
A Novel
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Pub Date Sep 15 2026 | Archive Date Oct 15 2026
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Description
Some Secrets Only the Sea Can Fathom
In the Scottish folktale of the Selkie, a seal woman climbs out of the sea by dark to strip off her outer layers and dance on the shore. Overcome by her beauty, a man hides her skin so she will be forced to stay on land with him. But the Selkie woman is gripped by a powerful longing, spending her days with her face turned towards the sea.
In Song of the Selkie, each of the three McFarland sisters follows suit, journeying from her “captive” self back to her wild more authentic nature. The youngest sister, Frances, has eschewed the life of the body in pursuit of status as a professor in an Ivy League college in America. On the brink of securing tenure, she goes back to Scotland where she is forced to confront a part of herself that has all this time been in a death slumber. By contrast, her sister Lala, the “sexy one,” moves from man to man, in an endless quest for the creative person she always thought she could be. And the oldest sister, Eddie, bides her time among the fishermen she serves in the local pub, drawn by some inexplicable force back to the small island of Roansay from which their dead mother hailed.
When the three sisters converge in their childhood home on the pagan festival of Hogmanay, all manner of demons from the past are set to let loose.
Available Editions
| EDITION | Other Format |
| ISBN | 9798897400263 |
| PRICE | $20.00 (USD) |
| PAGES | 256 |
Available on NetGalley
Average rating from 19 members
Featured Reviews
Holly R, Reviewer
A solid five star plus review and one of the best books I've read all year. An engaging novel, very creative in nature and so beautifully expressed in positively brilliant prose that I found it difficult to put it down at any given hour. The characters were so believable, so perfectly fleshed out that I wanted to drag them from the pages and give them a good talking to. The Scottish settings were so atmospherically described that it was as if I were there. A complex novel of three sisters, so very different in their natures, each struggling to discover their true identities and fulfill themselves by living their most authentic lives beyond both the strictures of society and their own upbringing. A beautiful book on so many levels. I look forward to reading a good deal more from this author.
This is a beautiful book. The myth of the selkie is woven throughout this novel about three sisters, but this is really the story of Frances, a Scottish woman trying to find her home in America. The novel covers years as Frances travels from America to Scotland and back again, with immersive details and a compelling voice. I was swept into Frances's story, adored this character, her sisters, and this author's storytelling style.
Song of the Selkie is an absolutely breathtaking read!
From the very first page, I was completely swept away by the magical, atmospheric writing and the rich, deeply immersive lore. The author weaves traditional folklore into the narrative beautifully, creating a world that feels both hauntingly timeless and utterly enchanting.
The pacing kept me completely hooked, and the magical elements were masterfully executed. If you love stories rooted in deep mythology, vivid world-building, and a spellbinding atmosphere, this is an absolute must-read. I cannot recommend it highly enough!Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy
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