On 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.
Industry Reviews
Publishers Weekly Best of Children's Books 2012 Kirkus Reviews Best of Teen's Books 2012
Tor.com, September 1, 2012:
"I've not been more moved by a book in years...It's a wistful book, but wondrous. It will break your heart, and remake it."
Starred Review, Booklist, June 1, 2012:
"A haunting, masterfully crafted novel that, as one should by now expect from Lanagan, isn't a bit like anything else."
Starred Review, Kirkus Reviews, July 15, 2012:
"Bracing, powerful, resonant. . . . Earthy, vigorous characters and prose ground the narrative in the world we know, yet its themes are deep as the sea."
Starred Review, Publishers Weekly, July 2, 2012:
"Powerful. . . . A beautifully written story featuring a thoroughly realized setting and cast."
Starred Review, The Horn Book, September/October 2012:
"Lanagan's world is busily, passionately alive. Seal, human, sea, sky, and the rocks themselves animate this powerful story, a blend of folk tale and pungent, sharply observed--or invented--regionality."
Starred Review, The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, September 2012:
"Like Lanagan's previous Tender Morsels, this eerie, evocative story breathes mesmerizing life into familiar fairy-tale constructs as it explores issues of power, agency, culpability, freedom, and love within a deceptively quiet atmosphere of intimate horror."
School Library Journal, September 2012:
"Lanagan's writing is undeniably gorgeous. Her phrases and pacing almost demand that readers stop and admire their beauty...A natural audience would be readers who enjoyed the literary qualities of Christina Meldrum's Madapple, Franny Billingsley's Chime, and E. Annie Proulx's The Shipping News."
"I am in thrall to Margo Lanagan's voice. This is a marvelous book, full of magic and cunning." â Kelly Link, award-winning author of Stranger Things Happen, and founder of Small Beer Press
"Margo Lanagan's writing is dangerously beautiful; it knows how to dance, and it knows how to fight." â Mal Peet, winner of the Carnegie Medal for Tamar
"A brilliantly written and fascinating novel from the weird but wonderful mind of Margo Lanagan." â Garth Nix, bestselling author of the Old Kingdom Chronicles
"Breathtaking. Margo Lanagan raises the bar with every story she tells." â Melina Marchetta, winner of the Printz Award for Jellicoe Road Publishers Weekly Best of Children's Books 2012
Kirkus Reviews Best of Teen's Books 2012
Tor.com, September 1, 2012:
"I've not been more moved by a book in years...It s a wistful book, but wondrous. It will break your heart, and remake it.
Starred Review, Booklist, June 1, 2012:
"A haunting, masterfully crafted novel that, as one should by now expect from Lanagan, isn t a bit like anything else."
Starred Review, Kirkus Reviews, July 15, 2012:
"Bracing, powerful, resonant. . . . Earthy, vigorous characters and prose ground the narrative in the world we know, yet its themes are deep as the sea."
Starred Review, "Publishers Weekly," July 2, 2012:
"Powerful. . . . A beautifully written story featuring a thoroughly realized setting and cast."
Starred Review, The Horn Book, September/October 2012:
"Lanagan s world is busily, passionately alive. Seal, human, sea, sky, and the rocks themselves animate this powerful story, a blend of folk tale and pungent, sharply observed or invented regionality."
Starred Review, The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, September 2012:
"Like Lanagan s previous" Tender Morsels," this eerie, evocative story breathes mesmerizing life into familiar fairy-tale constructs as it explores issues of power, agency, culpability, freedom, and love within a deceptively quiet atmosphere of intimate horror."
School Library Journal, September 2012:
"Lanagan s writing is undeniably gorgeous. Her phrases and pacing almost demand that readers stop and admire their beauty...A natural audience would be readers who enjoyed the literary qualities of Christina Meldrum s "Madapple," Franny Billingsley s "Chime," and E. Annie Proulx s "The Shipping News.""
"I am in thrall to Margo Lanagan's voice. This is a marvelous book, full of magic and cunning." Kelly Link, award-winning author of "Stranger Things Happen," and founder of Small Beer Press
"Margo Lanagan's writing is dangerously beautiful; it knows how to dance, and it knows how to fight." Mal Peet, winner of the Carnegie Medal for "Tamar"
"A brilliantly written and fascinating novel from the weird but wonderful mind of Margo Lanagan." Garth Nix, bestselling author of the Old Kingdom Chronicles
"Breathtaking. Margo Lanagan raises the bar with every story she tells." Melina Marchetta, winner of the Printz Award for "JellicoeRoad"" Tor.com, September 1, 2012:
"I've not been more moved by a book in years...It's a wistful book, but wondrous. It will break your heart, and remake it."
Starred Review, Booklist, June 1, 2012:
"A haunting, masterfully crafted novel that, as one should by now expect from Lanagan, isn't a bit like anything else."
Starred Review, Kirkus Reviews, July 15, 2012:
"Bracing, powerful, resonant. . . . Earthy, vigorous characters and prose ground the narrative in the world we know, yet its themes are deep as the sea."
Starred Review, "Publishers Weekly," July 2, 2012:
"Powerful. . . . A beautifully written story featuring a thoroughly realized setting and cast."
Starred Review, The Horn Book, September/October 2012:
"Lanagan's world is busily, passionately alive. Seal, human, sea, sky, and the rocks themselves animate this powerful story, a blend of folk tale and pungent, sharply observed--or invented--regionality."
Starred Review, The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, September 2012:
"Like Lanagan's previous" Tender Morsels," this eerie, evocative story breathes mesmerizing life into familiar fairy-tale constructs as it explores issues of power, agency, culpability, freedom, and love within a deceptively quiet atmosphere of intimate horror."
School Library Journal, September 2012:
"Lanagan's writing is undeniably gorgeous. Her phrases and pacing almost demand that readers stop and admire their beauty...A natural audience would be readers who enjoyed the literary qualities of Christina Meldrum's "Madapple," Franny Billingsley's "Chime," and E. Annie Proulx's "The Shipping News.""
"I am in thrall to Margo Lanagan's voice. This is a marvelous book, full of magic and cunning." â Kelly Link, award-winning author of "Stranger Things Happen," and founder of Small Beer Press
"Margo Lanagan's writing is dangerously beautiful; it knows how to dance, and it knows how to fight." â Ma Starred Review, Booklist, June 1, 2012:
"A haunting, masterfully crafted novel that, as one should by now expect from Lanagan, isn't a bit like anything else."
Starred Review, Kirkus Reviews, July 15, 2012:
"Bracing, powerful, resonant. . . . Earthy, vigorous characters and prose ground the narrative in the world we know, yet its themes are deep as the sea."
Starred Review, "Publishers Weekly," July 2, 2012:
"Powerful. . . . A beautifully written story featuring a thoroughly realized setting and cast."
Starred Review, The Horn Book, September/October 2012:
"Lanagan's world is busily, passionately alive. Seal, human, sea, sky, and the rocks themselves animate this powerful story, a blend of folk tale and pungent, sharply observed--or invented--regionality."
Starred Review, The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, September 2012:
"Like Lanagan's previous" Tender Morsels," this eerie, evocative story breathes mesmerizing life into familiar fairy-tale constructs as it explores issues of power, agency, culpability, freedom, and love within a deceptively quiet atmosphere of intimate horror."
School Library Journal, September 2012:
"Lanagan's writing is undeniably gorgeous. Her phrases and pacing almost demand that readers stop and admire their beauty...A natural audience would be readers who enjoyed the literary qualities of Christina Meldrum's "Madapple," Franny Billingsley's "Chime," and E. Annie Proulx's "The Shipping News.""
"I am in thrall to Margo Lanagan's voice. This is a marvelous book, full of magic and cunning." â Kelly Link, award-winning author of "Stranger Things Happen," and founder of Small Beer Press
"Margo Lanagan's writing is dangerously beautiful; it knows how to dance, and it knows how to fight." â Mal Peet, winner of the Carnegie Medal for "Tamar"
"A brilliantly written and fascinating novel from the weird but wonderful mind of Margo Lanagan." â G Starred Review, "Booklist", June 1, 2012:
"A haunting, masterfully crafted novel that, as one should by now expect from Lanagan, isn't a bit like anything else."
Starred Review, "Kirkus Reviews", July 15, 2012:
"Bracing, powerful, resonant. . . . Earthy, vigorous characters and prose ground the narrative in the world we know, yet its themes are deep as the sea."
Starred Review, "Publishers Weekly", July 2, 2012:
"Powerful. . . . A beautifully written story featuring a thoroughly realized setting and cast."
Starred Review, "The Horn Book", September/October 2012:
"Lanagan's world is busily, passionately alive. Seal, human, sea, sky, and the rocks themselves animate this powerful story, a blend of folk tale and pungent, sharply observed--or invented--regionality."
"I am in thrall to Margo Lanagan's voice. This is a marvelous book, full of magic and cunning." â Kelly Link, award-winning author of "Stranger Things Happen", and founder of Small Beer Press
"Margo Lanagan's writing is dangerously beautiful; it knows how to dance, and it knows how to fight." â Mal Peet, winner of the Carnegie Medal for "Tamar"
"A brilliantly written and fascinating novel from the weird but wonderful mind of Margo Lanagan." â Garth Nix, bestselling author of the Old Kingdom Chronicles
"Breathtaking. Margo Lanagan raises the bar with every story she tells." â Melina Marchetta, winner of the Printz Award for "Jellicoe Road"
"Australian Bookseller and Publisher"
"Margo Lanagan's writing is hauntingly beautiful, darkly atmospheric and as enchanting as a seal-woman fresh from her skin." Starred Review, The Horn Book, September/October, 2012:
..".Lanagan's world is busily, passionately alive."
Starred Review, "Booklist," June 1, 2012:
"Though this is a more reflective affair than some of Lanagan's feistier works, her writing is as sumptuous as ever: a fine mist of lyrical elegance and sharp anguish that offers vast spaces to get lost in... A haunting, masterfully crafted novel that, as one should by now expect from Lanagan, isn't a bit like anything else."
Starred Review, "Kirkus Reviews," July 15, 2012:
"Bracing, powerful, resonant. . . . Earthy, vigorous characters and prose ground the narrative in the world we know, yet its themes are deep as the sea."
Starred Review, "Publishers Weekly," July 2, 2012:
"Powerful. . . . A beautifully written story featuring a thoroughly realized setting and cast."
Starred Review, "The Horn Book," September/October 2012:
"Lanagan's world is busily, passionately alive. Seal, human, sea, sky, and the rocks themselves animate this powerful story, a blend of folk tale and pungent, sharply observed--or invented--regionality."
"I am in thrall to Margo Lanagan's voice. This is a marvelous book, full of magic and cunning." â Kelly Link, award-winning author of "Stranger Things Happen," and founder of Small Beer Press
"Margo Lanagan's writing is dangerously beautiful; it knows how to dance, and it knows how to fight." â Mal Peet, winner of the Carnegie Medal for "Tamar"
"A brilliantly written and fascinating novel from the weird but wonderful mind of Margo Lanagan." â Garth Nix, bestselling author of the Old Kingdom Chronicles
"Breathtaking. Margo Lanagan raises the bar with every story she tells." â Melina Marchetta, winner of the Printz Award for "Jellicoe Road"
"Australian Bookseller and Publisher"
"Margo Lanagan's writing is hauntingly beautiful, darkly atmospheric and as enchanting as a seal-woman fresh from he Starred Review, Booklist, June 1, 2012:
"Though this is a more reflective affair than some of Lanagan's feistier works, her writing is as sumptuous as ever: a fine mist of lyrical elegance and sharp anguish that offers vast spaces to get lost in... A haunting, masterfully crafted novel that, as one should by now expect from Lanagan, isn't a bit like anything else."
Starred Review, Kirkus Reviews, July 15, 2012:
"Bracing, powerful, resonant. . . . Earthy, vigorous characters and prose ground the narrative in the world we know, yet its themes are deep as the sea."
Starred Review, Publishers Weekly, July 2, 2012:
"Powerful. . . . A beautifully written story featuring a thoroughly realized setting and cast." --Publishers Weekly, Starred
"I am in thrall to Margo Lanagan's voice. This is a marvelous book, full of magic and cunning." â Kelly Link, award-winning author of "Stranger Things Happen", and founder of Small Beer Press
"Margo Lanagan's writing is dangerously beautiful; it knows how to dance, and it knows how to fight." â Mal Peet, winner of the Carnegie Medal for "Tamar"
"A brilliantly written and fascinating novel from the weird but wonderful mind of Margo Lanagan." â Garth Nix, bestselling author of the Old Kingdom Chronicles
"Breathtaking. Margo Lanagan raises the bar with every story she tells." â Melina Marchetta, winner of the Printz Award for "Jellicoe Road"
"Australian Bookseller and Publisher"
"Margo Lanagan's writing is hauntingly beautiful, darkly atmospheric and as enchanting as a seal-woman fresh from her skin."
