** I received an ARC for an honest review **
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Description
The Fortunate Isles collects fourteen tales of salt-crusted weirdness from the rugged, cold-clime harbour village of Barradoon…
Barradoon: the limit of worldly navigation; stronghold of sea-myths and ancient forces; a place of simmering tension and ruthless vengeance meted out by human and inhuman alike.
These densely wrought, boundlessly inventive stories form, in their totality, a singularly strange mosaic novel of sorts – ever twisting and writhing like a storm-charged ocean. Yet they are never out of the meticulous control of Lisa Hannett’s masterly storytelling.
Summary
I had the pleasure of reading The Fortunate Isles by Australia-Canadian author of dark speculative fiction Lisa L. Hannett.
Review
The Fortunate Isles is a series of short stories that capture the essence of the liminal world where sea meets shore. A series of dark tales of selkies, mermfolk, harpies, changelings, witches and Tricksters.
Some of my favourite stories were:
- A Tanglesmithed Tale
- Out at the Shillingate Isles
- The Honey Stomach
- Another Mouth
- A Right Pretty Mate
- Gutted
- Ebbtide
Hannett writes with such vibrancy and passion that each tale is uniquely crafted and the characters are borne from the communities and sea and roughness of a life dependent on a tide that ebbs and flows.
Conclusion
Highly recommended read for fans of Kate Forsyth’s fairy tale collections, Kim Wilkins and Angela Slatter in their dark, gothic fantasy worlds. Hannett offers a spellbinding collection. A must read!
** This is my personal opinion and does not reflect any judging decisions **
Leanbh Pearson 