Review: Enchanting, compelling, and wonderfully described world-- a great first novel!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 08 11, 2012
I was given this book by the author in exchange for an honest review. I give this book 4.5 stars.The Lure of Shapinsay by Krista Holle was an unexpected find. This story is about Kait, a headstrong girl, who falls in love with the wrong man... or in this case, a selkie--a seal that can turn into a man, and is gloriously handsome. She doesn't believe that he can really be in love with her as well. The rest is a love story that has unexpected twists and the story ends the only way it can.By the time I received this book, I was inundated with requests, but I was intrigued by the premise, so accepted this novel to review. And boy, am I glad I did! This is mostly a love story between two young people, who are from very different worlds and everything seems to be working against them. Usually, I can't stand people who speak in dialect in books because it makes it hard to read, but somehow Holle does a great job balancing clarity of what is said with keeping in line with where the characters are. I loved the description of the land, the selkies, and the characters. My favorite character I have to say was Tipper, who was an unexpected gift in the last half of the book. At times, I felt that the love story was almost too much-- Kait seemed to be almost too desperate in her love for this man-- a far cry from the independent, fierce woman that she used to be. But the ending to all of this was absolutely perfect and made up for any of my misgivings.Overall, a wonderful and unique first novel that I blazed through in a day!