THE SELKIE'S DAUGHTER

A girl comes of age and reconciles with her selkie blood in Brennan’s debut novel.

Brigit lives with a secret: Webbing grows between her fingers, and no matter how often her cousin Alys cuts it away, it grows back. Her village on the coast of Nova Scotia may be under a selkie “bane” that’s affecting everyone’s catch—possibly as retribution for the killing of baby seals. Rumors also swirl about the origins of her mother, who, as Brigit says, “has no ties on land.” Brigit befriends new arrival Peter, an orphan who hails “from away”—in this case, Manitoba, where his family were homesteaders. Peter, who’s arrived with new priest Father Angus, his uncle, learns about Brigit’s life and community, revealing details about them to readers at the same time. This historical fantasy is loosely inspired by the Celtic legends Brigit adores, including the love story of Oisín (son of the warrior Finn MacCool) and Neve (daughter of the sea god). Brigit narrates events in the first person as her sense of self-identity develops through family tragedy, community hardship, and her increasing awareness of her heritage. Everything culminates in Brigit’s dramatic quest to get the Great Selkie to lift the bane. The tale’s strength lies in its writing: well-drawn characters, a strong sense of place, vivid images of the natural world, and evocative fantastical elements. All characters are cued white.

An immersive reading experience threaded through with Celtic lore.