The Brides of Rollrock IslandOn remote Rollrock Island, men go to sea to make their livings—and to catch their wives. The witch Misskaella knows the way of drawing a girl from the heart of a seal, of luring the beauty out of the beast. And for a price a man may buy himself a lovely sea-wife. He may have and hold and keep her. And he will tell himself that he is her master. But from his first look into those wide, questioning, liquid eyes, he will be just as transformed as she. He will be equally ensnared. And the witch will have her true payment. Margo Lanagan weaves an extraordinary tale of desire, despair, and transformation. With devastatingly beautiful prose, she reveals characters capable of unspeakable cruelty, but also unspoken love. |
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Page 5
... heart up whole, that clear liquor went to an orange curd; we were all brought up on that, spooned and spooned into us, and some lads never lost the taste. I quite liked it myself, but only when I was ailing. It was bah food, and a ~5~
... heart up whole, that clear liquor went to an orange curd; we were all brought up on that, spooned and spooned into us, and some lads never lost the taste. I quite liked it myself, but only when I was ailing. It was bah food, and a ~5~
Page 13
... never seen her so fixed on anything— Strange, Mam said. Was anyone else about, at Crescent Corner? There was a pause full of worry at Mam's loud voice, then, 'Twas just us six, Bee's voice came timidly. Just us six, and a thousand seals ...
... never seen her so fixed on anything— Strange, Mam said. Was anyone else about, at Crescent Corner? There was a pause full of worry at Mam's loud voice, then, 'Twas just us six, Bee's voice came timidly. Just us six, and a thousand seals ...
Page 16
... never noticed me before. “She harks back, I tell you,” said Nanny. “It is in her mouth and nose, and just in the general set of her. There's no denying it. She'll be hard to marry—that's if any men are left on Rollrock, after this rash ...
... never noticed me before. “She harks back, I tell you,” said Nanny. “It is in her mouth and nose, and just in the general set of her. There's no denying it. She'll be hard to marry—that's if any men are left on Rollrock, after this rash ...
Page 17
Margo Lanagan. never breed late. Nor Prout women. They turn, you know, in their autumns, and then you get miscast faces like this, and who knows what behind them?" “Oh, Mam.” Aunt Baxter laughed even higher than before. “Here is Froman ...
Margo Lanagan. never breed late. Nor Prout women. They turn, you know, in their autumns, and then you get miscast faces like this, and who knows what behind them?" “Oh, Mam.” Aunt Baxter laughed even higher than before. “Here is Froman ...
Page 19
... never happens anymore." “There's nothing keeping you here, Billy," said Bee crisply. "Go and kick footer if you're so bored of us." “Plenty say it never happened at all, girls coming out of seals," said Lorel. "Well, how could it?” said ...
... never happens anymore." “There's nothing keeping you here, Billy," said Bee crisply. "Go and kick footer if you're so bored of us." “Plenty say it never happened at all, girls coming out of seals," said Lorel. "Well, how could it?” said ...
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