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. ( )