Sophie Moss’s debut novel The Selkie Spell transports you to Ireland to follow American Tara
Moore as she goes to Seal Island to regroup and develop a plan to evade her
troubled past. This mystical romance starts slowly, but charms you with the
misty island and the tight-knit community that believes Tara is the descendant
of a selkie – a legendary creature who lives as a seal but transforms to a
human on land. The darker themes found in fairy tales are revisited as you are
introduced to Tara’s foe and the legend of Seal Island’s selkie as she finds
love and friends to help set her free.
While I am usually immediately drawn into
stories of old legends and fairy tales set in modern day, I did have trouble
connecting with the main character at first. Eventually this connection did
develop as Tara made her own connections with the islanders and more about her
past was disclosed. Some experiences, for example her tumultuous relationship
with her husband, were portrayed in a rather cold manner but the more
fantastical elements really brought the magic of the selkie, and the story, to
life.
Positively, I could not stop reading without
wondering what happens next. As Tara’s past caught up with her I was swept up
in the story to the point where I almost missed my bus stop. As the tale ended
I found myself smiling in satisfaction and fondly picturing the shores of Seal
Island.
Sophie Moss should be proud of her first book
and I look forward to seeing her storytelling develop further in the last two
books of the Seal Island Trilogy. You can find both The Selkie Spell and The Selkie Enchantress on Amazon.
Barnes and Noble carries only book two.
Review by SarahLearn more about the Calamus team on our website.
