Plot:
Rollrock Island has always had stories about the magic way to extract beautiful women from seals to marry them. When Misskaela actually makes that magic her own and starts to fulfilling the wishes of the Island's men - for a price, of course - it has many unintended consequences for the entire island.

It has been many years that I read Tender Morsels, Lanagan's only other novel for adult, but the magic atmosphere of that fairy tale retelling still stuck with me. It was also the reason why I waited so long to read this book - I was afraid that it couldn't live up to my memory of Tender Morsels. But I need not have worried: The Brides of Rollrock Island (or Sea Hearts, depending on which edition you find) is a wonderful, feminist tale with its very own incredibly engaging mood.

Read more on my blog: https://kalafudra.com/2023/12/08/the-brides-of-rollrock-island-margo-lanagan/ ( )

The review can be found here:

https://nordie.wordpress.com/2017/08/14/book-review-the-brides-of-rollrock-islan...

https://tamaranth.blogspot.com/2022/10/2022130-brides-of-rollrock-island-margo.h... ( )

When she was little she knew she was different, she just didn't understand how she was different. There were those in town who would whisper as she passed, others with courage would openly scorn her but most would simply turn away as though she were never there. That is till one day when the world opened up to her, her secrets were exposed and she performed magic; she called forth a maiden from the sea.

When he was younger he had never noticed the obvious, how all the mams on the island were the same graceful glossy haired beauties. All the mams that is but his own. His father had gone to the mainland to fetch a bride and had hopes he would do the same. But can a bride from the mainland, however beautiful, ever compare to a bride brought from the sea?

Being so young he didn't notice how unhappy his mam was, how unhappy all the mams were. They were born from the sea and living on land and, no matter how much they loved their families, it was breaking their hearts. But the mams could not return to the sea without their seal skins and the dads had those secretly locked away. But even if he could find a way to set his mam free would he really be willing to let her go?

Sea Hearts is a magically dark fairytale of one island and the generations of people who call it home. As one girl grows from awkward child, to misunderstood maiden to vengeful witch, her actions have consequences that span lifetimes. Amongst a witch's revenge, a lover's betrayal, a heart trapped between two worlds, a father's loss and an islands maddening desire remains a heartbreaking love. A hauntingly beautiful and eerie tale that is in every way a tragedy, but may still yet hold some hope. ( )

Full review is on my blog, but the "too long, didn't read" version is this: I liked it a lot. And I respect it even more. But the the things that make it so awesome and brilliant are also the things that make me uneasy and a bit grossed out, so I can't love it. Not quite yet at any rate. ( )

3.5 stars. Well-written and well-told. Weird and, yes, haunting. Disturbing and yet sweet. And satisfying in the end. I’m probably going to be thinking about it for a while. And I might think it deserves a higher rating for all that, but I nonetheless found myself struggling to stay hooked when I wasn’t reading it, and it felt like it took me forever to get through it, and for that, I think, it loses that bit O’ star. I do recommend, though, for that patient reader who’s looking to “get away.” ( )

I find myself disliking this book less for its language and more for its message, or weak lack thereof and the fact that I hate every charactet except for the ones who have no voice. This is a book of victims in whoch only the true victims, the seal wives, have no voice. I'd consider it a social commentary except that it's so weakly written I can't even award it that credential. If you are the slightest bit a feminist or in need of any atrong characterization at alm look elsewhere. If you want a watery folklore that leaves your stomach sour, go for it. ( )

Didn't like it. I'd read a few reviews that gave away a major plot point that didn't happen for quite a while, so I was just waiting for it to happen. I found Eloise Oxer’s voice annoying.

The pace was quite slow, and I thought the story was building towards something, but it never quite seemed to get there. ( )

‘’Rollrock is a lonely island of cliffs and storms, blunt fishermen and their fierce wives. Life is hard for the families who must wring a poor living from the stormy seas. But Rollrock is also a place of magic.’’

When I read (and adored) Kirsty Logan’s The Gloaming, my dear friend Marina recommended Margo Lanagan’s The Brides of Rollrock Island because she knows how much I love myths, islands and selkies. I can honestly say (one more time) that Marina knows me frighteningly well. If you love island communities, the Scottish landscape, myths and tales, witches, weird births, seals and selkies or if you just need to read a quality tale, then you need this book in your life.

In an island that definitely resembles the Scottish Hebrides, a community is torn asunder by Misskaella’s abilities to turn seals into beautiful, alluring, seemingly docile young women. Families and relationships are turned upside down. This is Misskaella’s way of exacting revenge for years of contempt and abuse, even from her own mother. She demonstrates the evil, the hypocrisy and ruthlessness of men, their willingness to put everything at risk because of an itch.

‘’The north road swung up over the cliff almost gaily, and we walked it up into the teeth of the wind, and it battered our hair and flapped our coat-collars. The sea on our left tossed moon-twinkles about, rushed and smashed at the cliffs, drummed in the road underfoot.’’

Lanagan makes excellent use of the fairytales of the sea and the legends of the islands, focusing on the beloved myth of the selkie women. However, she develops the famous story and takes it one step further, in a brilliant twist of the ages-old legend. Furthermore, she brings the children of the selkie wives out of obscurity and gives them the chance to express their feelings of belonging to two worlds that are so close and so far away. Where do they belong? What is it that makes an island community so harsh and unforgiving? What happens when the laws of nature and its balance are violated because of men’s desires and endless ego?

Lanagan’s writing is excellent. She depicts the language of the islanders and the younger members of the community faithfully and vividly, the dialogue is flowing and natural. There are many beautiful descriptions of the island at night, the community of the seals, the fishing villages, the harsh domestic life as a responsibility of the resilient mams. There were quite a few moments that reminded me of Logan’s The Gloaming and this is the highest compliment for Lanagan’s beautiful novel.

The jewel of the story is Misskaella, a heroine that will stay with you. She is such an interesting character, so fierce and proud. The way she copes with her awful family and the heathens that surround her with their notions of propriety and their superstitions. I believe every thinking girl will find herself connected to her. She is the Witch, the ‘’Other’’, the one who doesn’t comply, the one who rebels.
The Brides of Rollrock Island is a novel rich in beautiful imagery, themes that require our attention as it happens in every well-written tale and a main character that you will love.

‘’Complain? It’s only noise.’’

* Marina, I can’t thank you enough for this gem! Hvala ti! (If I didn’t get that right, someone will find himself in trouble…) *

My reviews can also be found on https://theopinionatedreaderblog.wordpress.com ( )

I love stories of mermaids and selkies. While this book nevers uses the word selkie, that is exactly what these seal-wives are. Beautiful women who long to return to the sea, but cannot because their sealskins are hidden away to keep them enslaved.

The story is told by a series of narrators starting with the son of a seal wife, moving to the witch who calls them forward, and includes both men besotted by these enchanting creatures and human women affected by choices the men of the island make. Some of the reviews say the book is too confusing, but I had no problem keeping up. This book is more sophisticated than the YA fiction available when I was in high school. I had a hard time putting this down and look forward to other books by Margo Lanagan. ( )

Beautiful narration of an outstanding novel - I hardly know how to talk about it! So very good ( )

3.5*

"On remote Rollrock Island, the sea-witch Misskaella discovers she can draw a girl from the heart of a seal. So, for a price, any man might buy himself a bride; an irresistibly enchanting sea-wife. But what cost will be borne by the people of Rollrock - the men, the women, the children - once Misskaella sets her heart on doing such a thing?"

I've always been fascinated with the legend of Selkies, ever since seeing the movie The Secret of Roan Inish which is based on the book [b:Secret of the Ron Mor Skerry|2295426|Secret of the Ron Mor Skerry|Rosalie K. Fry|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1459864579s/2295426.jpg|672792] by Rosalie Fry.

During a reading challenge around Australian Authors I had an opportunity to indulge that interest with Margo Lanagan's Sea Hearts, winner of the 2013 Children's Book Council of Australia's Book of the Year for Older Children.

Sea Hearts is a tale of desire, revenge, loyalty, heartache, loss and weakness with some magic thrown in. All the makings for a great tale.

The prose was beautifully written, though no doubt would be a struggle for younger readers. Even as an adult it took some time to move with the rhythm and flow of the book. It is thought provoking and lyrical and best for kept for when you have time to immerse yourself with intent, rather than a quick, lazy read.

The story is written from the view point of several characters (none from that of a sea-wife) but from their husbands, children and the central character, the witch Misskaella. While I normally do not enjoy a lit of shifting perspectives (as popular as it is becoming these days) this did bring interesting perspectives on the consequences of bringing forth women from the seals.

The book never really addresses the wrong or right of these actions, only urges you to consider the consequences from all angles, showing that the world is never made up of black and whites, just many shades of grey.

There are so many words to describe this book. Dark, Melancholy, Moody, Heartbreaking.

I gave Sea Hearts 3.5* because, although it was a beautiful book, it was at times difficult to read, certainly in the beginning and I felt that ultimately the end was just lacking "something". Its hard to describe what that something is... you know it when you read it.. It leaves you breathless with a sense of disbelief of what you have just read.





( )

When I first started reading this book, I was unsure of whether I would like it or not. The first few chapters are a little unclear and not as nicely structured as I would have liked. However, the story soon picks up, and begins to flow beautifully. The story is told from the perspectives of multiple characters, and how they are all affected by these beautiful seal-women. Calling them mermaids would be a misnomer since they really aren't like the legends - and they come from seals. Each of the perspectives had a unique voice and helped to really flesh out the story. The more you read the story, the more you feel drawn to it, and the more twisted it becomes. Let me make this clear: this is not a happy or funny story with tons of action. It is poignant, and sad, and beautiful, and dark. If that's what you are looking for, then this story will work for you. Once I got through the first few chapters, I absolutely loved this novel. I'm giving this a 4.5/5 stars but I would cautiously recommend this to other fantasy lovers.

For more reviews, visit: www.veereading.wordpress.com ( )

A very interesting and heart-breaking tale about an island the affect of selkies (although, they are never referred to as selkies but rather mermaids). ( )

Bored before page 50. Could not finish. ( )

2 stars for the audiobook & 2.5 stars for the book itself

Inspired by the folklore of Orkney & the Sheltland Islands about selkie folk (seals that become transformed to human shape). It seems a bit of a strange choice of topic for an Australian author but that is besides the point.

About the audio edition, narrated by Eloise Oxer and Paul English -- I don't know why it was but both narrators had sibilant S sounds that caused a screechy effect on all my listening devices which was extremely irritating. That is probably the studio's fault rather than the narrators but it did cause me to knock off a half star.

The book itself was told in a series of first person narratives. I felt that Misskaella Prout's character (which was pivotal to the whole plot) flip-flopped depending on the author's whim which bothered me. She starts off as a girl, not ordinary because of her powers, but not a 'witch'. Though Lanagan struggled to make her appear to be growing more bitter as she aged to make the 'revenge' idea more plausible, I didn't buy it. So when she appears to have become vengeful and malicious later on, it as if the author has said "Okay, now she is a witch not a person." For example, why should she set out to seduce Dominic Mallett? ( )

https://shawjonathan.wordpress.com/2016/03/16/margo-lanagans-sea-hearts/ ( )

"On remote Rollrock Island, men make their living--and fetch their wives--from the sea." Six voices from three generations tell the haunting tale of the island's tragic history. ( )

The author has taken the myth of the selkie and expanded into a full tale. On Rollrock Island the mams are selkies that have had their seal skins hidden by their husbands. The book goes through several narrators as it tells the story of how the current set of seal mams was brought from the ocean.

There is not a single spare word in this books beautiful narrative. The language is just incredible and haunting, which sets a mood that makes you feel almost anxious reading it. The mams and their sadness and Miskealla and her anger and desire to get revenge on everyone are just beautifully expressed and felt. The different narrators allow the reader to experience the issue from so many different angles, and I thought was an interesting way to let the time lapse.

I admit that I thought there was no place for this tale to end but in sadness, however there is a hopefulness in the ending (even though I believe that the cycle is set up to repeat itself as it has happened once before.) ( )

The author has taken the myth of the selkie and expanded into a full tale. On Rollrock Island the mams are selkies that have had their seal skins hidden by their husbands. The book goes through several narrators as it tells the story of how the current set of seal mams was brought from the ocean.

There is not a single spare word in this books beautiful narrative. The language is just incredible and haunting, which sets a mood that makes you feel almost anxious reading it. The mams and their sadness and Miskealla and her anger and desire to get revenge on everyone are just beautifully expressed and felt. The different narrators allow the reader to experience the issue from so many different angles, and I thought was an interesting way to let the time lapse.

I admit that I thought there was no place for this tale to end but in sadness, however there is a hopefulness in the ending (even though I believe that the cycle is set up to repeat itself as it has happened once before.) ( )

The author has taken the myth of the selkie and expanded into a full tale. On Rollrock Island the mams are selkies that have had their seal skins hidden by their husbands. The book goes through several narrators as it tells the story of how the current set of seal mams was brought from the ocean.

There is not a single spare word in this books beautiful narrative. The language is just incredible and haunting, which sets a mood that makes you feel almost anxious reading it. The mams and their sadness and Miskealla and her anger and desire to get revenge on everyone are just beautifully expressed and felt. The different narrators allow the reader to experience the issue from so many different angles, and I thought was an interesting way to let the time lapse.

I admit that I thought there was no place for this tale to end but in sadness, however there is a hopefulness in the ending (even though I believe that the cycle is set up to repeat itself as it has happened once before.) ( )

The author has taken the myth of the selkie and expanded into a full tale. On Rollrock Island the mams are selkies that have had their seal skins hidden by their husbands. The book goes through several narrators as it tells the story of how the current set of seal mams was brought from the ocean.

There is not a single spare word in this books beautiful narrative. The language is just incredible and haunting, which sets a mood that makes you feel almost anxious reading it. The mams and their sadness and Miskealla and her anger and desire to get revenge on everyone are just beautifully expressed and felt. The different narrators allow the reader to experience the issue from so many different angles, and I thought was an interesting way to let the time lapse.

I admit that I thought there was no place for this tale to end but in sadness, however there is a hopefulness in the ending (even though I believe that the cycle is set up to repeat itself as it has happened once before.) ( )

This is a sad, haunting, achingly lovely novel. On a lonely, rocky, windswept isle that might be off the coast of either Ireland or England, a bitter and heartsore witch conjures beautiful, gentle sea-wives out of seals to enchant the men away from the native women. The story spans a generation as the witch's slow revenge works its way through its tragic course, sometimes surprising even her. Each character is fully formed and their stories are richly told in wonderful, muscular, earthy language. Utterly brilliant. ( )

It all begins with Misskaella, a dissatisfied, unattractive young girl who discovers that she has an inexplicable affinity for the seals that bask on the rocks around Rollrock Island. First, she learns how to suppress this connection -- but later in her life, she learns how to exploit it. Misskaella can bring wives from the sea to the men of Rollrock: gentle, docile, sensual wives, more attractive and biddable than any land maiden. But, as Misskaella knows, the magic comes at a terrible price. . . .

I'm always a little intimidated by Margo Lanagan, for some reason. When I get past that and actually read her stuff, I find it intelligent and compelling. She does an excellent job with subtle emotion and atmosphere. This is the sort of book that sticks with the reader for days after the cover has been closed. ( )

I found myself getting a bit bored with this one - also, the font wasn't my preferred font, so it fucked up my eyes a little bit and the enjoyment factor went down. With my shitty eyes that are in need of new prescription glasses, the font now has to be exactly right. :/ It's a pain.

Also, did I mention that this book is signed? I met the author last year at my city's first writer's festival, and she was super nice! :D ( )