Magic of the Seal is slow and hypnotic as a day sitting on the rocks watching the ocean breathe its way onto the shore and exhale back out again. Melanie Godfrey writes about the Outer Hebrides in a way that makes me feel homesick for a place I've never been.
I was impressed by how she combined environmentalism, myth, legend, and magic, resulting in a beautiful narrative that showed a deep affection for these beings. I especially loved the story about Elizabeth; the seal pup she took in and rehabilitated.
Magic of the Seal is brilliantly written and well researched. It provides the reader with history, forgotten or half forgotten tales from our Celtic heritage, and magic that is powerful and organic. As we wander with her through villages that are renown for Selchie lore, we are invited to ponder the magic of the seal, learn how to decipher their messages, and how to connect with them spiritually. It's a lovely book and one that I will treasure.
~review by Patricia Snodgrass
Author: Melanie Godfrey
Moon Books, 2024
p. 150 p. $5.99
