Review: A Thrilling, Inspired, Genre-Bending Story
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 05 29, 2014
It was obvious that King has done her fair share of reading popular fiction, but while it certainly honed her skills, it didn't impact her style to the point where I felt like i was reading any of a dozen other authors that have utilized similarly strong, independent women in a "revisiting the past" role. Selkie was an enchantingly honest character, and although I was anticipating a few of the "revelations" about her life as she explored her past (both good and bad), I didn't feel led around by the nose, if that makes sense. The narrative flowed at an even pace, allowing the reader to make discoveries right along with the characters. I found King's ability to paint a scene particularly impressive, and the settings of the events in the novel were basically a character in their own right.The premise is a bit strange, and initially, I found it a bit weak and weird as the impetus for the start of this whole journey/story, but once I accepted the premise as strong enough to motivate Selkie, I abandoned by uncertainty and just went with it. I'm glad I did, as the story presented a rather compelling look into the forces that drive people to do what they do, which should hold an attraction for any number of readers. It wasn't simply a narrative; a healthy dose of reflection and self-aware musing makes this more than your average novel. King clearly has her finger on the pulse of human nature, particularly the power of pain, aspirations, and memories to force our hand and move us forward in life.