The Brides of Rollrock Island

by Margo Lanagan

Rollrock is an isolated, windswept island; a wild and salty landscape where fishermen and their families must wring a living from the stormy seas. But Rollrock is also a place of eerie magic, and of powerful desire.

Down on the beach, the outcast witch of Rollrock casts her spells, and draws mysterious girls from the sea. These are girls with long, pale limbs and faces of haunting innocence - the most enchantingly beautiful creatures the fishermen of Rollrock have ever seen.

The island is envied, and many a man is lured to Rollrock with the promise of a sea wife. But the arrival of these women is the ruin of countless families - and to the despair of the men of Rollrock, magic always has its price. The brides do not belong on land. One day, the sea will claim them back.

• ISBN10: 1849921121
• ISBN13: 9781849921121
• Publish Date: 4 April 2013 (first published 1 January 2012)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: GB
• Imprint: David Fickling Books
• Format: Paperback (B-Format (198x129 mm))
• Pages: 320
• Language: English

Reviews

[nannah]

I have to go back and check if this book really was classified as YA, because it really reads more like an adult fairy tale.

At first glance, The Brides of Rollrock Island is about a sea-witch, Misskaella, who enacts her revenge on the residents of Rollrock Island because of the bullying she endured while growing up. She conjures up sea-wives (selkies) to enchant the men, driving every woman off the island--and earning a mighty sum in the process.

But again, that's just at first glance. The book goes into different character's PoVs, all telling the same story through different perspectives. With each new perspective, protagonists become villains, villains to characters you root for, and you see the fairytale more richly and clearly. It's hauntingly beautiful and expertly written.

The prose is so gorgeous and flowing you just keep reading on and on. It sucks you in, even if it's not a very action-packed novel. It's definitely not for everyone, but it's a transporting, powerful book, and one that'll probably stick with me for a while.