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Sea of Souls Saga #1
Sea of Souls
Dark be the water, and darker still the creatures that lurk within.
Free-spirited Isla Blackwood has never accepted the chains of her nobility. Instead, she sails the open waters, searching for belonging on the waves.
But when a family tragedy calls Isla home, she realises she can no longer escape the duty she’s been running from. Bloodthirsty mist wraiths plague the island’s coasts, and when they strike at Blackwood Estate, Isla faces losing everything she once walked away from.
Her only hope is to join forces with Eimhir, a salt-blooded stranger searching for a pelt the Admiralty stole from her family years ago. The magical heirloom might be the key to stopping the wraiths, but to reclaim it, Isla and Eimhir must face the horror of the mists—and the island’s ruthless Grand Admiral.
Caught between a promise to the family she abandoned and her friendship with a woman feared as a monster, Isla soon realises the open seas aren’t the only treacherous waters she’ll need to navigate.
As enemies close in, she must decide where her loyalties lie if she wants to save what’s left of her family—or find the belonging she’s been searching for.
Sea of Souls is a vivid, atmospheric dark fantasy steeped in Scottish folklore, ancient magic, and monsters that feel all too familiar. Perfect for fans of Rachel Gillig and Ava Reid.
Free-spirited Isla Blackwood has never accepted the chains of her nobility. Instead, she sails the open waters, searching for belonging on the waves.
But when a family tragedy calls Isla home, she realises she can no longer escape the duty she’s been running from. Bloodthirsty mist wraiths plague the island’s coasts, and when they strike at Blackwood Estate, Isla faces losing everything she once walked away from.
Her only hope is to join forces with Eimhir, a salt-blooded stranger searching for a pelt the Admiralty stole from her family years ago. The magical heirloom might be the key to stopping the wraiths, but to reclaim it, Isla and Eimhir must face the horror of the mists—and the island’s ruthless Grand Admiral.
Caught between a promise to the family she abandoned and her friendship with a woman feared as a monster, Isla soon realises the open seas aren’t the only treacherous waters she’ll need to navigate.
As enemies close in, she must decide where her loyalties lie if she wants to save what’s left of her family—or find the belonging she’s been searching for.
Sea of Souls is a vivid, atmospheric dark fantasy steeped in Scottish folklore, ancient magic, and monsters that feel all too familiar. Perfect for fans of Rachel Gillig and Ava Reid.
382 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 2, 2023
47 people are currently reading
998 people want to read
About the author
N.C. Scrimgeour
8 books124 followersN. C. Scrimgeour is a science fiction and fantasy author whose books focus on character-driven stories in vibrant worlds, from folklore fantasy to space opera.
After completing her Masters in English Literature, she went on to work in journalism and marketing and communications while pursuing her passion in writing.
When she’s not working on her books, she enjoys playing story-driven RPGs, watching and reading all things science fiction and fantasy, and getting outdoors with the dog for a good walk!
After completing her Masters in English Literature, she went on to work in journalism and marketing and communications while pursuing her passion in writing.
When she’s not working on her books, she enjoys playing story-driven RPGs, watching and reading all things science fiction and fantasy, and getting outdoors with the dog for a good walk!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 90 reviews
February 7, 2025
This review was originally published on Grimdark Magazine
4.5 stars
It took me just about one page of reading Sea of Souls to sink right into N.C. Scrimgeour’s soul-stirring storytelling, and by the end of the first chapter I realised that I had struck pure gold with this book. Drenched in Scottish folklore and mythology, this dark, emotional and mystical high seas fantasy adventure will strike you with equal parts awe and terror.
“The lapping of the waves on the sand filled her ears like a promise. The sea still called her; maybe it always would. But there was no running now. No ignoring what she had to do.”
If there is one thing I adore in my stories, it’s wayward women bucking against society’s expectations and trying to find their own place in the world. So, colour me not surprised when I immediately fell head over heels in love with Isla Blackwood. After spending the last seven years at sea searching for her calling, she is reluctantly drawn back to the Blackwood Estate by a mysterious letter from her dying mother. But upon arrival she finds more tragedy than she ever could have imagined, and soon she is plunged straight into a foolishly dangerous quest of survival, secrets, ancient magic and deadly promises together with her impetuous brother, their brooding swordmaster, and an exiled selkie.
Now, I am usually the type of reader who prefers a deliciously slow-burn start to my stories, but Scrimgeour proved to me that a skilled storyteller doesn’t need a slow start to establish world building, characters and stakes of the highest quality. The level of immersion that Sea of Souls offers is quite simply astonishing, and it’s almost like the visceral, atmospheric and emotionally evocative storytelling made my brain forget that I have aphantasia. Every single setting and character just came to life so vividly in my mind, which turned out to be both a good and a bad thing, considering the fact that zero punches are pulled in this gut-wrenching and horrifying tale.
“My people know better than most how the tides provide for us as much as they punish us. There is a balance to the sea, one which must be kept. That is the nature of the auld ways and the promise I made you. I cannot regret keeping to it.”
For me, there truly isn’t a single aspect of Sea of Souls that stands out as my favourite, because Scrimgeour has done such an incredible job of balancing and interweaving all the external and internal conflicts. I loved digging into Isla’s inner turmoil and her struggle with her identity; I loved all the deliciously complex interpersonal relationships, be they familial, antagonistic, romantic (DARCE!! swoon), or something altogether more complicated in between it all; I loved the dark mystical magic of this world, not just from the shape-shifting selkies and their tragic role in this tale, but also of the sentinels with their ancient magic and bonds of blood; and most of all, I loved that this is a story with a beating heart and a bleeding soul that explores humanity, generational trauma, grief, sacrifice, family, and love in all its devastating beauty.
“And there lies the truth too terrible to admit: the men are the monsters, and the monsters men. This violence belongs to all of us. It will continue as long as we let it.”
There simply wasn’t a single lull in the pacing for me, and the addictive air of mystery and looming sense of dread had me in a chokehold the entire way through. A few revelations and betrayals near the end were maybe not as shocking or surprising to me as they seemed to be for the characters themselves, but that didn’t take away from any of the heavy emotional impact and sheer brilliance of this story.
And the way that Scrimgeour brought home all the core themes with that boldly bittersweet ending just hurt oh so good and made me want to dive into the sequel immediately. If you like that type of atmospheric and folkloric storytelling in the vein of Shauna Lawless’ Gael Song series, Katherine Arden’s Winternight Trilogy or Rebecca Ross’ Elements of Cadence duology and you don’t mind a splash of slow-burn romance in your dark fantasy, then Sea of Souls is an absolute must read; it more than earned my seal of approval.
4.5 stars
It took me just about one page of reading Sea of Souls to sink right into N.C. Scrimgeour’s soul-stirring storytelling, and by the end of the first chapter I realised that I had struck pure gold with this book. Drenched in Scottish folklore and mythology, this dark, emotional and mystical high seas fantasy adventure will strike you with equal parts awe and terror.
“The lapping of the waves on the sand filled her ears like a promise. The sea still called her; maybe it always would. But there was no running now. No ignoring what she had to do.”
If there is one thing I adore in my stories, it’s wayward women bucking against society’s expectations and trying to find their own place in the world. So, colour me not surprised when I immediately fell head over heels in love with Isla Blackwood. After spending the last seven years at sea searching for her calling, she is reluctantly drawn back to the Blackwood Estate by a mysterious letter from her dying mother. But upon arrival she finds more tragedy than she ever could have imagined, and soon she is plunged straight into a foolishly dangerous quest of survival, secrets, ancient magic and deadly promises together with her impetuous brother, their brooding swordmaster, and an exiled selkie.
Now, I am usually the type of reader who prefers a deliciously slow-burn start to my stories, but Scrimgeour proved to me that a skilled storyteller doesn’t need a slow start to establish world building, characters and stakes of the highest quality. The level of immersion that Sea of Souls offers is quite simply astonishing, and it’s almost like the visceral, atmospheric and emotionally evocative storytelling made my brain forget that I have aphantasia. Every single setting and character just came to life so vividly in my mind, which turned out to be both a good and a bad thing, considering the fact that zero punches are pulled in this gut-wrenching and horrifying tale.
“My people know better than most how the tides provide for us as much as they punish us. There is a balance to the sea, one which must be kept. That is the nature of the auld ways and the promise I made you. I cannot regret keeping to it.”
For me, there truly isn’t a single aspect of Sea of Souls that stands out as my favourite, because Scrimgeour has done such an incredible job of balancing and interweaving all the external and internal conflicts. I loved digging into Isla’s inner turmoil and her struggle with her identity; I loved all the deliciously complex interpersonal relationships, be they familial, antagonistic, romantic (DARCE!! swoon), or something altogether more complicated in between it all; I loved the dark mystical magic of this world, not just from the shape-shifting selkies and their tragic role in this tale, but also of the sentinels with their ancient magic and bonds of blood; and most of all, I loved that this is a story with a beating heart and a bleeding soul that explores humanity, generational trauma, grief, sacrifice, family, and love in all its devastating beauty.
“And there lies the truth too terrible to admit: the men are the monsters, and the monsters men. This violence belongs to all of us. It will continue as long as we let it.”
There simply wasn’t a single lull in the pacing for me, and the addictive air of mystery and looming sense of dread had me in a chokehold the entire way through. A few revelations and betrayals near the end were maybe not as shocking or surprising to me as they seemed to be for the characters themselves, but that didn’t take away from any of the heavy emotional impact and sheer brilliance of this story.
And the way that Scrimgeour brought home all the core themes with that boldly bittersweet ending just hurt oh so good and made me want to dive into the sequel immediately. If you like that type of atmospheric and folkloric storytelling in the vein of Shauna Lawless’ Gael Song series, Katherine Arden’s Winternight Trilogy or Rebecca Ross’ Elements of Cadence duology and you don’t mind a splash of slow-burn romance in your dark fantasy, then Sea of Souls is an absolute must read; it more than earned my seal of approval.
September 11, 2023
* You can find my full video review here: https://youtu.be/3BNYlfs6MA0 *
Sea of Souls is a dark fantasy steeped in Scottish folklore with selkies taking centre stage. The worldbuilding was really well done and I think it was the perfect combination of folklore and fantasy. I never felt like I was reading a historical fantasy, instead we have a new world that contains various elements inspired by Scottish folklore, and I love how that allows the author to remove the shackles of what may be possible, and to make these creatures seem real.
In water, the selkies take the form of seals, but on land, they can shed their pelts and appear as humans. Humans hunt selkies for these pelts, and you get to see all the ramifications of that—and it’s not only the retaliation, where selkie raiders attack human ships and settlements, but there’s also a deeper, personal side to it for the selkies themselves.
I really liked this aspect, and how it drove parts of the story. I loved the way everything tied together, with the selkies and kelpies and then the mysterious gun-anam as well. I thought it made for some really interesting worldbuilding that had that right level of fantastical and believable. Everything seemed to fit, and there was nothing that felt too far-fetched for the world that has been created here.
The characters were likeable and well-written. The main two are Isla Blackwood, who has spent the previous seven years away from home, looking within herself for a place to belong, and Eimhir, an exiled selkie searching for a lost pelt. Although these two should be mortal enemies, circumstance forces them to work together, and there’s a constant theme of distrust—most notably among those around both Isla and Eimhir.
I really liked that the range of characters gives you some different perspectives on the world, and especially in the way the two groups (human and selkie) see each other, and how that influences their actions. That distrust between certain characters inevitably leads to opportunities for betrayal, which I think was all very well-handled.
The story flowed very nicely, I think it was really well paced between build up and action, and then a bit of breathing space before the intensity hits again. There were some nice little twists and turns that I just think worked really well for the overall scope of the story. If you look for them, you can see the little markers subtly dropped throughout the story , so when the twists come, even if they’re a surprise, they make sense and they work to expand a character’s story arc, rather than just acting to shock.
Overall, this led to a really enjoyable reading experience, and I definitely recommend Sea of Souls for anyone looking for a slightly darker fantasy book that gives something just a little bit different.
Sea of Souls is a dark fantasy steeped in Scottish folklore with selkies taking centre stage. The worldbuilding was really well done and I think it was the perfect combination of folklore and fantasy. I never felt like I was reading a historical fantasy, instead we have a new world that contains various elements inspired by Scottish folklore, and I love how that allows the author to remove the shackles of what may be possible, and to make these creatures seem real.
In water, the selkies take the form of seals, but on land, they can shed their pelts and appear as humans. Humans hunt selkies for these pelts, and you get to see all the ramifications of that—and it’s not only the retaliation, where selkie raiders attack human ships and settlements, but there’s also a deeper, personal side to it for the selkies themselves.
I really liked this aspect, and how it drove parts of the story. I loved the way everything tied together, with the selkies and kelpies and then the mysterious gun-anam as well. I thought it made for some really interesting worldbuilding that had that right level of fantastical and believable. Everything seemed to fit, and there was nothing that felt too far-fetched for the world that has been created here.
The characters were likeable and well-written. The main two are Isla Blackwood, who has spent the previous seven years away from home, looking within herself for a place to belong, and Eimhir, an exiled selkie searching for a lost pelt. Although these two should be mortal enemies, circumstance forces them to work together, and there’s a constant theme of distrust—most notably among those around both Isla and Eimhir.
I really liked that the range of characters gives you some different perspectives on the world, and especially in the way the two groups (human and selkie) see each other, and how that influences their actions. That distrust between certain characters inevitably leads to opportunities for betrayal, which I think was all very well-handled.
The story flowed very nicely, I think it was really well paced between build up and action, and then a bit of breathing space before the intensity hits again. There were some nice little twists and turns that I just think worked really well for the overall scope of the story. If you look for them, you can see the little markers subtly dropped throughout the story , so when the twists come, even if they’re a surprise, they make sense and they work to expand a character’s story arc, rather than just acting to shock.
Overall, this led to a really enjoyable reading experience, and I definitely recommend Sea of Souls for anyone looking for a slightly darker fantasy book that gives something just a little bit different.
August 5, 2023
Review originally on JamReads
Sea of Souls is the first book in the eponymous dark fantasy series, inspired by Scottish folklore, written by N.C. Scrimgeour. A beautifully written book, which packs so much emotional damage and with an outstanding world-building, all based around Scotland and the selkie myth, but taking some of the stories and giving them a new meaning. Before diving more into the book, having a map and a pronunciation guide at the start of the book is a nice detail, especially when the story starts becoming complex.
Isla Blackwood is returning to the house she fled from seven years ago, as she never felt in place during her time in Blackwood State, after receiving a letter from her mother, confessing she's dying and that needs to tell her a secret about her origins. Sadly, Isla arrives too late, having to deal not only with the grief of losing her mother, but also dealing with the uncertainty of not knowing the secret that might have reconciled her with her origins.
During the night, Blackwood State gets attacked by their ancestral enemies, selkies, killing her father, and forcing Isla to run away in the company of her younger brother and a swordmaster; they decide to travel to the capital in order to seek aid. But appearances are not always what they seem, and they end in the company of two selkies that need their help; those selkies are trying to create harmony between selkies and humans, and Isla is a necessary piece of their plan.
The conflict between selkies and humans is portrayed in a different style than how it has been usually treated in fantasy. Both sides, selkies and humans, are inflicting damage to the other: humans are hunting selkies for their pelts, but selkies attack the coast, raiding and pirating. Pelts acquire more importance, because they also keep the memories and powers of the ancestors; the two selkies that have joined Isla's group are looking to recover a pelt from the human Governor.
With this premise, we have a single POV story, following Isla at any moment, creating a story that is full of emotional moments; Scrimgeour manages to create several memorable moments during the narration. We can see how she grows from feeling grief and the weight of responsibilities over a place she never felt as a home, to having a new sense to her life.
Placing is in an excellent slot, being not exactly fast, but reaching a sweet spot that allows us to enjoy the careful crafted prose, giving weight to descriptions, enhancing the atmosphere and the sensation of being in a land inspired by Scotland.
Sea of Souls is an amazing novel, a dark fantasy story that will directly punch you in the feelings; N.C. Scrimgeour showing that her skills writing science-fiction also apply to fantasy. If you are looking for a fantasy inspired by Scotland, that feels like being there, seriously, read Sea of Souls.
Sea of Souls is the first book in the eponymous dark fantasy series, inspired by Scottish folklore, written by N.C. Scrimgeour. A beautifully written book, which packs so much emotional damage and with an outstanding world-building, all based around Scotland and the selkie myth, but taking some of the stories and giving them a new meaning. Before diving more into the book, having a map and a pronunciation guide at the start of the book is a nice detail, especially when the story starts becoming complex.
Isla Blackwood is returning to the house she fled from seven years ago, as she never felt in place during her time in Blackwood State, after receiving a letter from her mother, confessing she's dying and that needs to tell her a secret about her origins. Sadly, Isla arrives too late, having to deal not only with the grief of losing her mother, but also dealing with the uncertainty of not knowing the secret that might have reconciled her with her origins.
During the night, Blackwood State gets attacked by their ancestral enemies, selkies, killing her father, and forcing Isla to run away in the company of her younger brother and a swordmaster; they decide to travel to the capital in order to seek aid. But appearances are not always what they seem, and they end in the company of two selkies that need their help; those selkies are trying to create harmony between selkies and humans, and Isla is a necessary piece of their plan.
The conflict between selkies and humans is portrayed in a different style than how it has been usually treated in fantasy. Both sides, selkies and humans, are inflicting damage to the other: humans are hunting selkies for their pelts, but selkies attack the coast, raiding and pirating. Pelts acquire more importance, because they also keep the memories and powers of the ancestors; the two selkies that have joined Isla's group are looking to recover a pelt from the human Governor.
With this premise, we have a single POV story, following Isla at any moment, creating a story that is full of emotional moments; Scrimgeour manages to create several memorable moments during the narration. We can see how she grows from feeling grief and the weight of responsibilities over a place she never felt as a home, to having a new sense to her life.
Placing is in an excellent slot, being not exactly fast, but reaching a sweet spot that allows us to enjoy the careful crafted prose, giving weight to descriptions, enhancing the atmosphere and the sensation of being in a land inspired by Scotland.
Sea of Souls is an amazing novel, a dark fantasy story that will directly punch you in the feelings; N.C. Scrimgeour showing that her skills writing science-fiction also apply to fantasy. If you are looking for a fantasy inspired by Scotland, that feels like being there, seriously, read Sea of Souls.
December 22, 2023
I accepted a paperback copy of this book from the author in consideration of a review. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and are subjective to myself as a reader.
N.C. Scrimgeour has once again created a world that I did not want to leave.
Reading the events of the last chapter, knowing the end was fast approaching, my heart rate continued to accelerate - REALLY, THE AUTHOR WAS NOT GOING TO LEAVE THINGS LIKE THIS, RIGHT? My gosh, I was so sad. A little mad. And so very eager for the next book in this series.
PRO TIP: Read the pronunciation guide and glossary at the front of the book first.
The author takes the mythology surrounding the selkie - a creature that takes the form of a seal in water but can shed its pelt to resemble a human on land - and crafts a unique spin to it that will terrify and awe you at the same time. (Okay, it terrified ME. I'm one of those people who won't get in water that they can't see to the bottom of, lol.) The lore that surrounds selkies say that they can be friendly and helpful to humans, or vengeful and dangerous. SEA OF SOULS delves into this dual nature, exploring the consequences/outcomes of each.
This tale was steeped in magic, and not just of the selkies. There are also sentinels - people who share the same auld blood as the selkies. Sentinels' lives belong to the sea. They bind themselves to their ship captain through blood and possess a dangerous kind of magic. I was fascinated to learn of this magic, how it worked, what was this binding to a captain really meant. It doesn't sound like a very appealing life, almost one of slavery. As in most things, perspective is key.
As in previous books by N.C. Scrimgeour, the characters she created in SEA OF SOULS are ones that I will think about often. After I finished reading this one last night, I had to go pour my heart out to my husband in hopes of diminishing the ache of having to say goodbye to my favorites. My heart just broke right in half at the end. I don't want you to get the wrong idea - I enjoyed the ending, it just hurt. A lot.
This author has such a gift for creating worlds, magic systems, and characters. Her writing style is descriptive and beautiful without being exaggerated or overdone. I loved the ebb and flow of the pacing, much like the sea where our tale unfolds.
I would recommend this book to readers who enjoyed books such as THE CHILDREN OF GODS AND FIGHTING MEN by Shauna Lawless, The Winternight Trilogy by Katherine Arden or THRICE by Andrew D. Meredith.
You can find this review along with other reviews spanning multiple genres at The Nerdy Narrative or if you prefer video format, I do have a BookTube Channel
A heartfelt thanks to my Patrons on Patreon for their support towards my enthusiasm for reading and reviewing!
Special thanks to my highest level Patrons: Ev, Sharon, Andrew, Star, Amanda L., Kate, Gail, Amanda F., Lourdes, Tara, John, Ann, Chad K., Ashley E., & Jennifer M.
N.C. Scrimgeour has once again created a world that I did not want to leave.
Reading the events of the last chapter, knowing the end was fast approaching, my heart rate continued to accelerate - REALLY, THE AUTHOR WAS NOT GOING TO LEAVE THINGS LIKE THIS, RIGHT? My gosh, I was so sad. A little mad. And so very eager for the next book in this series.
PRO TIP: Read the pronunciation guide and glossary at the front of the book first.
"Where violence spilled over, the soulless followed."
The author takes the mythology surrounding the selkie - a creature that takes the form of a seal in water but can shed its pelt to resemble a human on land - and crafts a unique spin to it that will terrify and awe you at the same time. (Okay, it terrified ME. I'm one of those people who won't get in water that they can't see to the bottom of, lol.) The lore that surrounds selkies say that they can be friendly and helpful to humans, or vengeful and dangerous. SEA OF SOULS delves into this dual nature, exploring the consequences/outcomes of each.
This tale was steeped in magic, and not just of the selkies. There are also sentinels - people who share the same auld blood as the selkies. Sentinels' lives belong to the sea. They bind themselves to their ship captain through blood and possess a dangerous kind of magic. I was fascinated to learn of this magic, how it worked, what was this binding to a captain really meant. It doesn't sound like a very appealing life, almost one of slavery. As in most things, perspective is key.
As in previous books by N.C. Scrimgeour, the characters she created in SEA OF SOULS are ones that I will think about often. After I finished reading this one last night, I had to go pour my heart out to my husband in hopes of diminishing the ache of having to say goodbye to my favorites. My heart just broke right in half at the end. I don't want you to get the wrong idea - I enjoyed the ending, it just hurt. A lot.
This author has such a gift for creating worlds, magic systems, and characters. Her writing style is descriptive and beautiful without being exaggerated or overdone. I loved the ebb and flow of the pacing, much like the sea where our tale unfolds.
I would recommend this book to readers who enjoyed books such as THE CHILDREN OF GODS AND FIGHTING MEN by Shauna Lawless, The Winternight Trilogy by Katherine Arden or THRICE by Andrew D. Meredith.
You can find this review along with other reviews spanning multiple genres at The Nerdy Narrative or if you prefer video format, I do have a BookTube Channel
A heartfelt thanks to my Patrons on Patreon for their support towards my enthusiasm for reading and reviewing!
Special thanks to my highest level Patrons: Ev, Sharon, Andrew, Star, Amanda L., Kate, Gail, Amanda F., Lourdes, Tara, John, Ann, Chad K., Ashley E., & Jennifer M.
August 2, 2023
Still thinking about it. Bumped up to 5 stars.
———
4.5. Fantastic book. I’m going to sit on my rating for a few days as I think I may end up rating this higher.
Review to come on my channel.
———
4.5. Fantastic book. I’m going to sit on my rating for a few days as I think I may end up rating this higher.
Review to come on my channel.
December 21, 2023
Excellent!
The seas play host to the the most vicious of conflict. Atrocities carried out by selkie & human alike. Now this calamity has arrived on the shores of home.
Fantastic pacing & prose. You can feel the ocean spray & hear the waves. Great action & full of heart.
The seas play host to the the most vicious of conflict. Atrocities carried out by selkie & human alike. Now this calamity has arrived on the shores of home.
Fantastic pacing & prose. You can feel the ocean spray & hear the waves. Great action & full of heart.
July 24, 2023
Isla was made for wilder waters. She knew it; she felt it bone deep. If she didn't find them, she feared she would only drown in a lie.
Thank you to @EscapistBookCo and @scrimscribes for sending me a physical arc in exchange for a review!
Isla left her estate to find her calling and returns seven years later to her mother’s death, a lonely younger brother, and an estranged father.
A selkie raid sees her people dead, and she escapes with only her brother and Darce, her father’s overbearing sword master she’s used to running away from. She soon learns there’s more to fear than mere selkies. Because of greedy exploits, the soulless hunt humans for robbing them of their pelts, and their souls.
Monsters were easy to kill when they looked like monsters, when they acted like monsters. What happened when they didn't?
Isla starts off a navigator and is presented as quite weak and insufficient in a fight, reliant on both her brother and father’s bodyguard to protect her. Thankfully, the author doesn’t suddenly power her up and get her to be a trained warrior surpassing everyone within mere days. She continues with what she has at the start - a gun, Darce, her wits, and a heart full of empathy and longing for something more.
This brought up moral dilemmas about who’s a monster? What makes us one? Our appearance or our acts? Our identities or our labelling?
”If it was not you, it was still your people," Eimhir said pointedly, “Wasn't that what you said before?"
Overall, a captivating seafaring YA fantasy with a heartwarming, slow burn romance (albeit obvious), sibling bonds, monstrous sea creatures, and a hidden treasure to recover from the most feared man.
Bookstagram
Thank you to @EscapistBookCo and @scrimscribes for sending me a physical arc in exchange for a review!
Isla left her estate to find her calling and returns seven years later to her mother’s death, a lonely younger brother, and an estranged father.
A selkie raid sees her people dead, and she escapes with only her brother and Darce, her father’s overbearing sword master she’s used to running away from. She soon learns there’s more to fear than mere selkies. Because of greedy exploits, the soulless hunt humans for robbing them of their pelts, and their souls.
Monsters were easy to kill when they looked like monsters, when they acted like monsters. What happened when they didn't?
Isla starts off a navigator and is presented as quite weak and insufficient in a fight, reliant on both her brother and father’s bodyguard to protect her. Thankfully, the author doesn’t suddenly power her up and get her to be a trained warrior surpassing everyone within mere days. She continues with what she has at the start - a gun, Darce, her wits, and a heart full of empathy and longing for something more.
This brought up moral dilemmas about who’s a monster? What makes us one? Our appearance or our acts? Our identities or our labelling?
”If it was not you, it was still your people," Eimhir said pointedly, “Wasn't that what you said before?"
Overall, a captivating seafaring YA fantasy with a heartwarming, slow burn romance (albeit obvious), sibling bonds, monstrous sea creatures, and a hidden treasure to recover from the most feared man.
Bookstagram
August 8, 2025
This book is an accomplished work of art.
Gorgeous prose and a vivid, fully fleshed world.
The characters are well realized and feel very, albeit I have some qualms regarding Isla especially, since she's the protagonist of the story and our narrator, the final feeling is that our dear writer made a great job.
The story is set in a Scottish inspired world and the plot revolves about unlikely allies and preventing doom from claiming everyone.
I had some issues with the middle of the story, as it felt meandering in stretches, but the beginning and especially the end were superbly executed.
Book two is coming out soon and I'll be waiting for it!
This review is available on Grimoire Ink Reviews
Gorgeous prose and a vivid, fully fleshed world.
The characters are well realized and feel very, albeit I have some qualms regarding Isla especially, since she's the protagonist of the story and our narrator, the final feeling is that our dear writer made a great job.
The story is set in a Scottish inspired world and the plot revolves about unlikely allies and preventing doom from claiming everyone.
I had some issues with the middle of the story, as it felt meandering in stretches, but the beginning and especially the end were superbly executed.
Book two is coming out soon and I'll be waiting for it!
This review is available on Grimoire Ink Reviews
November 14, 2023
BOOK SALE! .99 in the US Amazon Oct 27, 2023
This really was a good book! Such a fun, high adventure with blood magic and selkies. I loved the name Isla for this story. Pronounced EYE-lah. The "s" is silent. Think of... island! haha! Yea, it was a perfect name.
I can't wait till the next book which is called Mist of Memory. Coming out next year.
Read
August 4, 2023Feels strange to be saying this for the fifth time, but… IT’S RELEASE DAY!! And what a special one it is. Sea of Souls began as an idea in the mind of a fledgling writer seven years ago, and today it’s heading out to readers as a better book than I could have ever imagined back then.
I always wanted to write a story that drew on Scottish folklore and mythology to create a fantasy version of my home, and that’s exactly what I’ve done with Sea of Souls. In this book, you’ll find a world inspired by the landscapes of Scotland, from rugged coasts, wild forests and barren heaths to grey cities, sleepy fishing villages and untouched islands. There are also creatures from myths and legends, from kelpies to cù-sìth, and of course the stars of the story, the shapeshifting selkies.
The selkie myth is a tragic and poignant one: a magical creature comes ashore only to have their pelt stolen, leaving them unable to return to the water. In Sea of Souls, I wanted to explore the possibilities and consequences of what it might mean for a person to lose such an integral part of themselves, and out of that came a story centred around love, loss and belonging.
If you like stories focused on flawed characters and conflicting loyalties, Sea of Souls might be the book for you. You’ll find a fraught sibling relationship against the backdrop of hidden family secrets. An uneasy friendship forming across old wounds. Questions around what family truly is and where we belong in the world. (Conversely, if you’re here for gunpowder and cutlasses and *really* bad weather, you’ll find plenty of that too!)
And now, the tropes…
🌍 Scottish-inspired setting
🌊 Selkie folklore and mythology
⚓️High seas adventure
⛈️ Stormy seas and rugged landscapes
💔 Family secrets and a sibling rivalry
✨ Ancient magic and vengeful spirits
⚔️ Gunpowder and cutlasses
💙 A dash of slow-burn romance
Looking for more Sea of Souls content? On my website, you’ll find maps, a pronunciation guide (you’ll need it!) and a Sea of Souls-themed Spotify playlist.
Plus, if you sign up to my author newsletter, you'll receive a short story prequel for free!
I always wanted to write a story that drew on Scottish folklore and mythology to create a fantasy version of my home, and that’s exactly what I’ve done with Sea of Souls. In this book, you’ll find a world inspired by the landscapes of Scotland, from rugged coasts, wild forests and barren heaths to grey cities, sleepy fishing villages and untouched islands. There are also creatures from myths and legends, from kelpies to cù-sìth, and of course the stars of the story, the shapeshifting selkies.
The selkie myth is a tragic and poignant one: a magical creature comes ashore only to have their pelt stolen, leaving them unable to return to the water. In Sea of Souls, I wanted to explore the possibilities and consequences of what it might mean for a person to lose such an integral part of themselves, and out of that came a story centred around love, loss and belonging.
If you like stories focused on flawed characters and conflicting loyalties, Sea of Souls might be the book for you. You’ll find a fraught sibling relationship against the backdrop of hidden family secrets. An uneasy friendship forming across old wounds. Questions around what family truly is and where we belong in the world. (Conversely, if you’re here for gunpowder and cutlasses and *really* bad weather, you’ll find plenty of that too!)
And now, the tropes…
🌍 Scottish-inspired setting
🌊 Selkie folklore and mythology
⚓️High seas adventure
⛈️ Stormy seas and rugged landscapes
💔 Family secrets and a sibling rivalry
✨ Ancient magic and vengeful spirits
⚔️ Gunpowder and cutlasses
💙 A dash of slow-burn romance
Looking for more Sea of Souls content? On my website, you’ll find maps, a pronunciation guide (you’ll need it!) and a Sea of Souls-themed Spotify playlist.
Plus, if you sign up to my author newsletter, you'll receive a short story prequel for free!
October 8, 2024
This is a perfect dark and salty read, full of sea creatures and painful twists. It reminded me a lot of Song of the Sea. This is the first of N.C.Scrimgeour's books I've read, but it won't be the last. The nautically tied magic system was really cool. I did struggle to embrace the Darce and Isla romance mostly because he kept calling her wolf cub when she was a fully grown adult and asked him to stop, but I came around to it in the end. I loved that I totally called she was part selkie l, but I would have liked to have seen more of the Admiral earlier in the story. If he had seen her at the ball, I feel like he would have recognized her resemblance to Mara. The sibling dynamic was great and I can't wait to see where the story goes next. 4.5 rounded up.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 11, 2024
Sea of Souls by NC Scrimgeour is a dark fantasy that is filled with Scottish elements which I was eager to dive right into.
Firstly, the world-building here was brilliant. Scrimgeour has placed some obvious Scottish roots here, looking at you Gallowgate, but it really fits with the world that has been made. This book reminded me a lot of historical fantasy with some slight magic roots, and this made the world feel more real.
I was particularly interested in the creatures that were made from Scottish myth and legend. Selkies, shapeshifting creatures that can change from seal-like to humans when they shed their pelts, are hunted and there is a great distain between selkies and humans. This is a war but something that is deeper than what we see at the surface, and this makes for a unique story. This was relatable to me because you don't see many Scottish creatures in fantasy so seeing kelpies and selkies was something that really elevated the experience.
The characters were well-written and easy to read. We have Isla Blackwood who has spent years at sea returning home and Eimhir, a selkie exile searching for her lost pelt, banding together as enemies on a journey of discovery. This was an interesting dynamic between "creature" and human that had me guessing intentions throughout.
The story itself was intense and felt like it didn't stop. There were some particularly obvious twists but some that I was surprised with. Each step along the way was filled with action, excitement, and something unique that makes this a great read.
Sea of Souls was a brilliant experience and I'll be looking out for more news on the rest of the series.
Firstly, the world-building here was brilliant. Scrimgeour has placed some obvious Scottish roots here, looking at you Gallowgate, but it really fits with the world that has been made. This book reminded me a lot of historical fantasy with some slight magic roots, and this made the world feel more real.
I was particularly interested in the creatures that were made from Scottish myth and legend. Selkies, shapeshifting creatures that can change from seal-like to humans when they shed their pelts, are hunted and there is a great distain between selkies and humans. This is a war but something that is deeper than what we see at the surface, and this makes for a unique story. This was relatable to me because you don't see many Scottish creatures in fantasy so seeing kelpies and selkies was something that really elevated the experience.
The characters were well-written and easy to read. We have Isla Blackwood who has spent years at sea returning home and Eimhir, a selkie exile searching for her lost pelt, banding together as enemies on a journey of discovery. This was an interesting dynamic between "creature" and human that had me guessing intentions throughout.
The story itself was intense and felt like it didn't stop. There were some particularly obvious twists but some that I was surprised with. Each step along the way was filled with action, excitement, and something unique that makes this a great read.
Sea of Souls was a brilliant experience and I'll be looking out for more news on the rest of the series.
October 8, 2024
Many people read fantasy as a form of escapism and if that’s you, Sea of Souls could be just what you’re looking for.
N. C. Scrimgeour excels in making you live and breathe the setting of a stormy, Scottish inspired fantasy alive with selkies, wraiths, bonds of blood and an amazing giant razorbill (sea bird) called Shearwing!
This immersion in the setting is one of the biggest takeaways having finished the book and has stood out really strongly to me when reflecting on what I thought. You can really picture the events transpiring which is the mark of a great storyteller.
And this is important – being a fantasy storyteller is different than simply writing a book. It takes a special skill to weave a tapestry of words together that evokes feelings of adventure, mystery, wonder and magic in the reader. And here, you can practically feel the spray of the sea and the dread of dark, foreboding ocean depths.
The characters that fill this world are well written and layered with motivations, desires, regrets, and passions. They’re real and they’re memorable.
After a really fast start, the pace eases to allow us to grow affection for these characters and to build their relationships with one another. Although a contrast to the fast paced start (and latter third of the book) this character building is crucial to make us feel the poignancy of their decisions. It makes the emotional parts of the book have more weight and ultimately therefore become more meaningful to us as the reader.
The protagonist, Isla, is a very conflicted character unable to really place herself in the world. She has a burning passion to do what she sees as just and her heart being in the right place helps make her someone you want to side with, despite her flaws. The fact she is self aware and thinks about the impacts of her decisions also adds to her depth as a main character. We see her receive a letter from her dying mother at the beginning of the book and attempts by her to solve the mystery contained within. I really liked this aspect of the story as it adds to the overall intrigue in Isla’s journey and makes you wonder how it will all come together. I won’t spoil anything but I really appreciated how this was revealed and enjoyed how it played out afterwards, towards the end of the book.
Experiencing the formidable Admiralty after their ominous presence through the first half of the book was a nice payoff and they work really well as adversaries, led by the Grand Admiral Alasdair Cunningham. They have a lot of similarities to the European naval empires of the 17th and 18th centuries, where conquest and dominance was usually prioritised over morality.
The strength of the book is solidified by the care put into the side characters and the impact they have. Isla finds herself with an unlikely travel companion and friend, a selkie called Eimhir and through their journey we see that there are two sides to every story and we see how the enemy interpret events – the selkies have experienced horror against their own people in turn. No character is perfect and as in reality, there are varying shades of grey. Isla is in conflict with her brother Lachlan for much of the book and we can certainly empathise with him even when he is completely at odds with Isla.
There is a romantic subplot here that is really important to the overall story but I can confidently say that if you’re someone who can take it or leave it like me, it shouldn’t influence your enjoyment as it isn’t overbearing.
Dark elements are ever-present. When a selkie loses their pelt, they essentially lose their soul and the memories of their ancestors. Losing their pelt is also a slow death and a really traumatising experience for the selkie and their tribe. Yet despite the stakes being high and there being darkness around each corner, I couldn’t help but get that same wrapped in a blanket feeling when finishing this book, that’s hard to describe. The seas are dangerous but I can’t help but feel the author recognises there is something calming about them too and this draw of the sea is something Isla feels and transcended to me as the reader too.
N. C. Scrimgeour has written a thoroughly enjoyable story that I would highly recommend, especially to people who’d love to read a Scottish-inspired, nautically themed dark fantasy with strong women, creatures of the deep and exciting adventures!
Thankyou to the author for an eARC of Sea of Souls in exchange for my honest review.
N. C. Scrimgeour excels in making you live and breathe the setting of a stormy, Scottish inspired fantasy alive with selkies, wraiths, bonds of blood and an amazing giant razorbill (sea bird) called Shearwing!
This immersion in the setting is one of the biggest takeaways having finished the book and has stood out really strongly to me when reflecting on what I thought. You can really picture the events transpiring which is the mark of a great storyteller.
And this is important – being a fantasy storyteller is different than simply writing a book. It takes a special skill to weave a tapestry of words together that evokes feelings of adventure, mystery, wonder and magic in the reader. And here, you can practically feel the spray of the sea and the dread of dark, foreboding ocean depths.
The characters that fill this world are well written and layered with motivations, desires, regrets, and passions. They’re real and they’re memorable.
After a really fast start, the pace eases to allow us to grow affection for these characters and to build their relationships with one another. Although a contrast to the fast paced start (and latter third of the book) this character building is crucial to make us feel the poignancy of their decisions. It makes the emotional parts of the book have more weight and ultimately therefore become more meaningful to us as the reader.
The protagonist, Isla, is a very conflicted character unable to really place herself in the world. She has a burning passion to do what she sees as just and her heart being in the right place helps make her someone you want to side with, despite her flaws. The fact she is self aware and thinks about the impacts of her decisions also adds to her depth as a main character. We see her receive a letter from her dying mother at the beginning of the book and attempts by her to solve the mystery contained within. I really liked this aspect of the story as it adds to the overall intrigue in Isla’s journey and makes you wonder how it will all come together. I won’t spoil anything but I really appreciated how this was revealed and enjoyed how it played out afterwards, towards the end of the book.
Experiencing the formidable Admiralty after their ominous presence through the first half of the book was a nice payoff and they work really well as adversaries, led by the Grand Admiral Alasdair Cunningham. They have a lot of similarities to the European naval empires of the 17th and 18th centuries, where conquest and dominance was usually prioritised over morality.
The strength of the book is solidified by the care put into the side characters and the impact they have. Isla finds herself with an unlikely travel companion and friend, a selkie called Eimhir and through their journey we see that there are two sides to every story and we see how the enemy interpret events – the selkies have experienced horror against their own people in turn. No character is perfect and as in reality, there are varying shades of grey. Isla is in conflict with her brother Lachlan for much of the book and we can certainly empathise with him even when he is completely at odds with Isla.
There is a romantic subplot here that is really important to the overall story but I can confidently say that if you’re someone who can take it or leave it like me, it shouldn’t influence your enjoyment as it isn’t overbearing.
Dark elements are ever-present. When a selkie loses their pelt, they essentially lose their soul and the memories of their ancestors. Losing their pelt is also a slow death and a really traumatising experience for the selkie and their tribe. Yet despite the stakes being high and there being darkness around each corner, I couldn’t help but get that same wrapped in a blanket feeling when finishing this book, that’s hard to describe. The seas are dangerous but I can’t help but feel the author recognises there is something calming about them too and this draw of the sea is something Isla feels and transcended to me as the reader too.
N. C. Scrimgeour has written a thoroughly enjoyable story that I would highly recommend, especially to people who’d love to read a Scottish-inspired, nautically themed dark fantasy with strong women, creatures of the deep and exciting adventures!
Thankyou to the author for an eARC of Sea of Souls in exchange for my honest review.
July 10, 2025
"Home," Darce repeated. "Are you sure that means the same to you as it does to him?"
If you're looking for a book that combines the swashbuckling 'confessing feelings in the middle of a sword fight on a ship' of POTC, with the dark gothic atmosphere (and MMC) of Gillig's One Dark Window... you've found your next read. Swap out the tarot cards and the Black Pearl for some Scottish folklore and selkies, and it's Scrimgeour's Sea of Souls. With strong worldbuilding, effortlessly evocative prose, and a beating heart of what it means to belong, I would strongly recommend this romantic fantasy.
Bonus points for the depth of the relationship with her brother, and the difficulties of how to choose between your blood family and your own soul.
February 4, 2025
This review was originally posted on SFF Insiders.
Fantasy books that incorporate regional folklore are something that always find a way to pull me in, and when that folklore is from a place I consider my second home, then just hook it to my goddamn veins. With Sea of Souls, N. C. Scrimgeour has created a beautiful dark fantasy world steeped in Scottish folklore and brimming with heart and thrills. The stage has been set for the beginning of this new saga, and if the first entry is anything to go off of, this series will rise just as high as the folk tales that inspired it.
It has been seven years since Isla Blackwood has been home, preferring to eschew the confines of her family’s noble roots for a life on the open waters. But, after receiving a letter of her mother’s failing health, she returns home, only for the Blackwood Estate to be set upon by vengeful selkie raiders, leaving her to escape with her brother who she long since abandoned and a swordmaster toward whom she draws ire. But reclaiming her home will not be so simple. After encountering an exiled selkie in search of her lost pelt, Isla realizes that this pelt may just be the key to stopping the raids and saving her home—even if it means choosing between her flesh and blood and a selkie who is meant to be her sworn enemy.
Right from the beginning, Sea of Souls triumphs with its atmosphere. It’s dark and dreary, the storms as evocative as the characters themselves. If I closed my eyes, I could picture every scene as though they were part of the islands off the coast of Scotland. The dreich feeling permeates through the book and fits the story perfectly, leaving me in a constant sense of wariness that something is soon to pop out from the corner.
This is further lifted by the eclectic cast of characters. Isla is a fascinating and strong lead, perfectly developed and with a character arc that left me engaged throughout. I love what Scrimgeour did with the twist on a common trope, of a character rejecting their nobility in favor of a life of adventure instead, and the clash of cultures when they inevitably are forced to return. It’s a simple setup, but the execution from that point in seeing where it diverges from the well-trodden path is a treat.
It helps that the supporting cast is just as well-developed, and Isla’s conflicting relationships with her brother Lachlan, swordmaster Darce, and selkie companion Eimhir is the emotional core of the story and helps carry the plot along. Themes of familial duty versus a sense of belonging take center stage here, and Isla’s navigation of these conflicting threads made for an enriching and powerful narrative. Her interactions with Eimhir in particular are done extremely well, as it not only gives the reader a grand view into the foreign world of the selkies—and the wraithlike gun-anam to whom they’re related—and the source of their conflict with humans, but it is also an opportunity for Isla to overcome the prejudices she holds from a lifetime of conflict with the selkies. And yet, the more she uncovers about the world of the selkies, the more it pulls her away from the life she once had with Lachlan and Darce, and all that remains of her family. There’s no lack of character-driven moments in this one, and it all helps maintain a constant state of tension that urges you to say, “Okay, just one more chapter” for hours on end.
Any flaws that Sea of Souls has are quite negligible. There is a bit of mystery carried throughout the book stemming from Isla’s summons home, when her mother has something to share with her in person but passes away before Isla is able to make it home. One other character is aware of what this may be, but it’s deliberately kept away from the reader to maintain that sense of mystery, brushed off as “I’ll tell you when you’re ready.” The payoff is well-worth it, though it may present a minor plot hole with another character in order to keep that mystery going. Overall, though, it did little to diminish my enjoyment of the book, and it was more a minor annoyance than anything structurally wrong with the book.
If you’ve been looking for something rich in Scottish folklore, then Sea of Souls is the perfect book for you. N. C. Scrimgeour has created a beautifully dark world, and I’m eager to see where the next tale will take us.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m gonna go book a flight to the Isle of Skye and shout at the sea until a selkie tells me to shut up.
Fantasy books that incorporate regional folklore are something that always find a way to pull me in, and when that folklore is from a place I consider my second home, then just hook it to my goddamn veins. With Sea of Souls, N. C. Scrimgeour has created a beautiful dark fantasy world steeped in Scottish folklore and brimming with heart and thrills. The stage has been set for the beginning of this new saga, and if the first entry is anything to go off of, this series will rise just as high as the folk tales that inspired it.
It has been seven years since Isla Blackwood has been home, preferring to eschew the confines of her family’s noble roots for a life on the open waters. But, after receiving a letter of her mother’s failing health, she returns home, only for the Blackwood Estate to be set upon by vengeful selkie raiders, leaving her to escape with her brother who she long since abandoned and a swordmaster toward whom she draws ire. But reclaiming her home will not be so simple. After encountering an exiled selkie in search of her lost pelt, Isla realizes that this pelt may just be the key to stopping the raids and saving her home—even if it means choosing between her flesh and blood and a selkie who is meant to be her sworn enemy.
Right from the beginning, Sea of Souls triumphs with its atmosphere. It’s dark and dreary, the storms as evocative as the characters themselves. If I closed my eyes, I could picture every scene as though they were part of the islands off the coast of Scotland. The dreich feeling permeates through the book and fits the story perfectly, leaving me in a constant sense of wariness that something is soon to pop out from the corner.
This is further lifted by the eclectic cast of characters. Isla is a fascinating and strong lead, perfectly developed and with a character arc that left me engaged throughout. I love what Scrimgeour did with the twist on a common trope, of a character rejecting their nobility in favor of a life of adventure instead, and the clash of cultures when they inevitably are forced to return. It’s a simple setup, but the execution from that point in seeing where it diverges from the well-trodden path is a treat.
It helps that the supporting cast is just as well-developed, and Isla’s conflicting relationships with her brother Lachlan, swordmaster Darce, and selkie companion Eimhir is the emotional core of the story and helps carry the plot along. Themes of familial duty versus a sense of belonging take center stage here, and Isla’s navigation of these conflicting threads made for an enriching and powerful narrative. Her interactions with Eimhir in particular are done extremely well, as it not only gives the reader a grand view into the foreign world of the selkies—and the wraithlike gun-anam to whom they’re related—and the source of their conflict with humans, but it is also an opportunity for Isla to overcome the prejudices she holds from a lifetime of conflict with the selkies. And yet, the more she uncovers about the world of the selkies, the more it pulls her away from the life she once had with Lachlan and Darce, and all that remains of her family. There’s no lack of character-driven moments in this one, and it all helps maintain a constant state of tension that urges you to say, “Okay, just one more chapter” for hours on end.
Any flaws that Sea of Souls has are quite negligible. There is a bit of mystery carried throughout the book stemming from Isla’s summons home, when her mother has something to share with her in person but passes away before Isla is able to make it home. One other character is aware of what this may be, but it’s deliberately kept away from the reader to maintain that sense of mystery, brushed off as “I’ll tell you when you’re ready.” The payoff is well-worth it, though it may present a minor plot hole with another character in order to keep that mystery going. Overall, though, it did little to diminish my enjoyment of the book, and it was more a minor annoyance than anything structurally wrong with the book.
If you’ve been looking for something rich in Scottish folklore, then Sea of Souls is the perfect book for you. N. C. Scrimgeour has created a beautifully dark world, and I’m eager to see where the next tale will take us.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m gonna go book a flight to the Isle of Skye and shout at the sea until a selkie tells me to shut up.
August 1, 2023
This book reminded me of Pirates of Caribbean movie with it's dark setting and stormy weather. Scrimgeour completely transported me in to this world with her evocative writing. Her complex characters and mythical creatures from Scottish folklore captivated my attention throughout the book.
However, I wish it's multi pov instead of single pov. That's my only gripe with the book.
Full video review to come in my channel soon.
However, I wish it's multi pov instead of single pov. That's my only gripe with the book.
Full video review to come in my channel soon.
January 20, 2025
* I won a copy from the author's giveaway. That in no way affects my opinion.
This book was one of the most innovative, theme heavy, discussion worthy, under hyped books I read last year.
Not only do we have some fascinating characters, wonderful world building, a unique fantasy setting based upon Scottish folklore (with Selkies!!!!!!!!!!!!!), we also have a new take on this particular theme . I think it was handled magnificently, through characters who are believable and flawed and who don't simply "overcome"a lifetime of thoughts and indoctrination. Even when our eyes are opened to reality we're not going to adjust in the drop of a hat and having different characters deal with that uniquely was impeccable.
With a strong plot, characters, world and themes I was completely sold. The writing is immersive without being flowery and it set a specific tone that I really appreciated.
This book was one of the most innovative, theme heavy, discussion worthy, under hyped books I read last year.
Not only do we have some fascinating characters, wonderful world building, a unique fantasy setting based upon Scottish folklore (with Selkies!!!!!!!!!!!!!), we also have a new take on this particular theme . I think it was handled magnificently, through characters who are believable and flawed and who don't simply "overcome"a lifetime of thoughts and indoctrination. Even when our eyes are opened to reality we're not going to adjust in the drop of a hat and having different characters deal with that uniquely was impeccable.
With a strong plot, characters, world and themes I was completely sold. The writing is immersive without being flowery and it set a specific tone that I really appreciated.
January 25, 2025
Sea of Souls Saga 01 Sea of Souls by N.C. Scrimgeour
adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense
Medium-paced
Plot or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters are a main focus? Yes
4.25 Stars
Okay. First, I read A Serpent's Wake, which is the prequel to this book.
It actually sets the stage of who Isla Blackwood is (or at least what she thought). She's a person searching for answers and a place that she can call her home. She believes the sea is where it is.
In that short story, you see her succeed on a ship, and the adventure she was on.
At the beginning of this book, you see what happens...and calls her back "home", to her ancestral "home", which she fled when she was young.
This is a world at the brink of war. Not a war that the human's are aware of, but one that is still coming.
The events that occur that set off this story are brutal and disorienting (at least to me).
We are introduced to her mother, her father, her brother, and the master of arms.
The above characters will motivate her for this entire story...and go to places that I had not even thought was possible. I am entranced to how the author was able to "pull the rug" out from under me, but still allow me to land on my feet...and continue to root for the main character.
She set the stage so beautifully, and allowed the worldbuilding to fill the gaps.
Being of Scottish ancestry, and having been told stories with selkies throughout my life, but now seeing it in this perspective is really interesting.
The Brollachan, in my mind reminded me of the Night King from Game of Thrones, but in the shape of a rider on a sea version of a horse...made of the wisps of the sea. Scary!
...and the Gun-anam. Yikes! So, that's what's happening. Okay. Makes it even more scary, than first thought.
Marie and I watched the movie Ondine (2009) with Colin Farrell and were swept away with that story, too.
I still have questions (which is good), since I'm about to pickup the eArc that the author so graciously sent to me for a fair and honest review. Once I post this...I will then be able to pick it up.
adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense
Medium-paced
Plot or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters are a main focus? Yes
4.25 Stars
Okay. First, I read A Serpent's Wake, which is the prequel to this book.
It actually sets the stage of who Isla Blackwood is (or at least what she thought). She's a person searching for answers and a place that she can call her home. She believes the sea is where it is.
In that short story, you see her succeed on a ship, and the adventure she was on.
At the beginning of this book, you see what happens...and calls her back "home", to her ancestral "home", which she fled when she was young.
This is a world at the brink of war. Not a war that the human's are aware of, but one that is still coming.
The events that occur that set off this story are brutal and disorienting (at least to me).
We are introduced to her mother, her father, her brother, and the master of arms.
The above characters will motivate her for this entire story...and go to places that I had not even thought was possible. I am entranced to how the author was able to "pull the rug" out from under me, but still allow me to land on my feet...and continue to root for the main character.
She set the stage so beautifully, and allowed the worldbuilding to fill the gaps.
Being of Scottish ancestry, and having been told stories with selkies throughout my life, but now seeing it in this perspective is really interesting.
The Brollachan, in my mind reminded me of the Night King from Game of Thrones, but in the shape of a rider on a sea version of a horse...made of the wisps of the sea. Scary!
...and the Gun-anam. Yikes! So, that's what's happening. Okay. Makes it even more scary, than first thought.
Marie and I watched the movie Ondine (2009) with Colin Farrell and were swept away with that story, too.
I still have questions (which is good), since I'm about to pickup the eArc that the author so graciously sent to me for a fair and honest review. Once I post this...I will then be able to pick it up.
May 4, 2025
"Isla felt the change in the ship the moment they hit Beira’s Passage. There was something different about the roll of the deck, the way the hull bucked and swayed. These were more than choppy waters; the waves were hungry for timber and said, throwing themselves high into the wind like rising walls."
This was a buddy read for me in João F. Silva’s discord and I had a great time with this one. I had the hardcover and it contains a bonus prequel short story that introduces the character and world. I really enjoyed that too. It immediately made me realize I should read more nautical fantasies. This one has selkies and giant sea serpents and you might guess wrong which one is the scarier one. I also don’t think I’ve read a fantasy book featuring selkies before so that was a nice twist.
“It was not in a selkie’s nature to show mercy.”
Speaking of ships, I love the way Scrimgeour writes about the ships and the seas. I was caught in a storm in the pacific ocean off the coast of Alaska last year and I was terrified but I never had the words to describe it. Scrimgeour describes how a ship behaves and feels in a storm perfectly. Her writing of atmosphere also deserves special mention. It complements the horror vibes and ominous tones of this book very well. When Isla is running in the dark for her life at Blackwood estate, I’m there and when she is struggling to stand on a rocking ship caught in a storm, I’m there and when she is held at gunpoint in an underground cave, I’m there. The writing was so strong and so vivid that I was transported to the scene every time. And I am properly spooked about selkies now too.
Her character work is very strong too. Coming into the story after having read the prequel, I was already sold on Isla but even if I hadn’t read the prequel before, it wouldn’t have taken long for me to be invested in her journey. All the characters are written very well, everyone has their own backstory and motivations for the way they behave. The relationship between the siblings was also written super realistically that me and João were joking it doesn’t look like the author is writing fiction there. I think it is the mark of great writing when the author is able to elicit strong emotions, especially when it is hate. I guarantee that there is a certain character that will leave all readers seething with their behavior. One other thing that warrants mention is how well handled the internal conflict within Isla is with the external conflict driving her journey. Similar to The Last Ranger by J.D.L Rossell, the destruction of the ingrained bias theme is realized superbly and realistically.
“Dark be the water, and darker still the creatures that lurk within.”
Overall, I really enjoyed this one and it has a very different flavor to it compared to the usual epic fantasies. It does fall into some tiny pitfalls of the first book syndrome and I feel it could have focused on the plot a bit more but it’s still a very strong outing. I’ve already bought a physical copy of book 2 and can’t wait to start it.
This was a buddy read for me in João F. Silva’s discord and I had a great time with this one. I had the hardcover and it contains a bonus prequel short story that introduces the character and world. I really enjoyed that too. It immediately made me realize I should read more nautical fantasies. This one has selkies and giant sea serpents and you might guess wrong which one is the scarier one. I also don’t think I’ve read a fantasy book featuring selkies before so that was a nice twist.
“It was not in a selkie’s nature to show mercy.”
Speaking of ships, I love the way Scrimgeour writes about the ships and the seas. I was caught in a storm in the pacific ocean off the coast of Alaska last year and I was terrified but I never had the words to describe it. Scrimgeour describes how a ship behaves and feels in a storm perfectly. Her writing of atmosphere also deserves special mention. It complements the horror vibes and ominous tones of this book very well. When Isla is running in the dark for her life at Blackwood estate, I’m there and when she is struggling to stand on a rocking ship caught in a storm, I’m there and when she is held at gunpoint in an underground cave, I’m there. The writing was so strong and so vivid that I was transported to the scene every time. And I am properly spooked about selkies now too.
Her character work is very strong too. Coming into the story after having read the prequel, I was already sold on Isla but even if I hadn’t read the prequel before, it wouldn’t have taken long for me to be invested in her journey. All the characters are written very well, everyone has their own backstory and motivations for the way they behave. The relationship between the siblings was also written super realistically that me and João were joking it doesn’t look like the author is writing fiction there. I think it is the mark of great writing when the author is able to elicit strong emotions, especially when it is hate. I guarantee that there is a certain character that will leave all readers seething with their behavior. One other thing that warrants mention is how well handled the internal conflict within Isla is with the external conflict driving her journey. Similar to The Last Ranger by J.D.L Rossell, the destruction of the ingrained bias theme is realized superbly and realistically.
“Dark be the water, and darker still the creatures that lurk within.”
Overall, I really enjoyed this one and it has a very different flavor to it compared to the usual epic fantasies. It does fall into some tiny pitfalls of the first book syndrome and I feel it could have focused on the plot a bit more but it’s still a very strong outing. I’ve already bought a physical copy of book 2 and can’t wait to start it.
November 15, 2024
I am gobsmacked by how much I love this story. After just reading the prologue, I knew I would enjoy this. There is so much great tumultuous atmosphere here. The unpredictable stormy seas reflect the dark nature of the people. Who are the true monsters?
The plot turns and weaves just like the grey waters of the book. Although things are lauded to, there are events I did not see coming. Everything that happens is brought together by the end. Just superb storytelling!
Wonderful Scottish folklore elements are sprinkled throughout the telling. We have selkies and kelpies. I want more kelpies! The cù sith or supernatural hounds are hinted at as well and maybe we will see more of them.
And a special mention of Shearwing, the razorbill bird. I just love animal companions. And he is a gem!
The plot turns and weaves just like the grey waters of the book. Although things are lauded to, there are events I did not see coming. Everything that happens is brought together by the end. Just superb storytelling!
Wonderful Scottish folklore elements are sprinkled throughout the telling. We have selkies and kelpies. I want more kelpies! The cù sith or supernatural hounds are hinted at as well and maybe we will see more of them.
And a special mention of Shearwing, the razorbill bird. I just love animal companions. And he is a gem!
June 20, 2025
Loved! Pirates, big ships, sea creatures, the sea…I’m in. Especially since I’ve been on a cruise ship for three days…hovering over the sea with all sorts of new magical creatures to think about..it was perfect.
January 16, 2024
Talk about getting sucked into a book and struggling to come out for a breath. Sea of Souls drags you down underneath the waves of intrigue and they won’t let you come up for air until the last page is turned.
Set in a world steeped in Scottish mythology, the main conflict centers around the selkies, bloodthirsty monsters that can shift between an aquatic form and human form. But are they just bloodthirsty monsters, or is there more to the story? I was endlessly fascinated by these creatures as my knowledge of selkies and their mainstream counterpart, mermaids, is very limited. Like, The Little Mermaid and The Lighthouse limited.
Scrimgeour weaves a tight web of twists and turns fueled by fantastic characters and believable conflicts. Unpredictable and fast-paced, Sea of Souls will keep you on the edge of your seat until the final shocking reveal, setting up what should be a very exciting sequel.
Sea of Souls is a dark fantasy, with lots of bloody violence, betrayal, prejudice and redemption. No matter how dark things get, Scrimgeour never loses sight of the hope that drives the narrative. Hope for a better future for human-kind and selkie alike. With a dash of romance and some sly humor, Sea of Souls has everything you could want in an epic fantasy.
With likable leads, memorable side-characters and terrifying villains, Scrimgeour has crafted an incredible story of love, hate, moving on and growing up. Sea of Souls pulls no punches and will rip your heart out before assuring you things will get better.
Set in a world steeped in Scottish mythology, the main conflict centers around the selkies, bloodthirsty monsters that can shift between an aquatic form and human form. But are they just bloodthirsty monsters, or is there more to the story? I was endlessly fascinated by these creatures as my knowledge of selkies and their mainstream counterpart, mermaids, is very limited. Like, The Little Mermaid and The Lighthouse limited.
Scrimgeour weaves a tight web of twists and turns fueled by fantastic characters and believable conflicts. Unpredictable and fast-paced, Sea of Souls will keep you on the edge of your seat until the final shocking reveal, setting up what should be a very exciting sequel.
Sea of Souls is a dark fantasy, with lots of bloody violence, betrayal, prejudice and redemption. No matter how dark things get, Scrimgeour never loses sight of the hope that drives the narrative. Hope for a better future for human-kind and selkie alike. With a dash of romance and some sly humor, Sea of Souls has everything you could want in an epic fantasy.
With likable leads, memorable side-characters and terrifying villains, Scrimgeour has crafted an incredible story of love, hate, moving on and growing up. Sea of Souls pulls no punches and will rip your heart out before assuring you things will get better.
February 7, 2025
This fantasy story feels unique and well paced. We follow Isla Blackwood, in search of the truth about herself, who willingly turns from her brother to rescue a dying selkie. As Isla learns about the plight of the selkies who are hunted by people for their pelts, she makes sacrifices to right the wrongs inflicted on them.
Isla has been at sea, as a sailor, for years and returns home because she received a letter from her mother telling she will reveal a secret. But when she returns home, her mother has passed away. Shortly after, selkies come ashore and kill most everyone in Caolaig, including her father. Many of the people have their backs flayed. Isla escapes with her brother Lachlan and the swordmaster, Darce. They barely slip past wraiths who threaten them too.
The group runs into Emhir and Finlay, two selkies who explain that selkies attacked because humans have stolen selkie pelts. The pelts are handed down within families and without a pelt, a selkie will die. Isla feels sympathy so agrees to try and help. Lachlan on the other hand, harbours a growing hatred for the selkies. Darce worries for the Blackwood's safety.
Lachlan goes to his friend, Nathair Quinn, who takes the humans and selkies in. But as things progress, it's clear Quinn agrees with the Admiral, that selkies are worthless. The Admiral has collected (and sold) pelts. Isla finds herself growing closer to Emhir; sadly, Emhir's pelt is taken. Emhir and Isla try to discover where the stolen pelts are taken, breaking into the Admiral's study where a secret map is hidden. The selkies come ashore again and attack until they are beaten back. In this second incursion, Lachlan is badly hurt and loses a leg. Then he and Quinn work to stop Isla in her quest. Isla also seeks out her uncle Muir to get more information. After her initial visit (during which Muir refuses to tell the secret) Muir disappears but leaves Isla his compass.
Isla, with Darce in tow, boards Captain Nishi's ship, who helped them previously, and sets sail for the secret island. Emhir at this point is near death. They encounter a terrible storm . They make it to the island, where Isla and Emhir search for the pelts, her own and her aunt's. Lachlan later appears on the Admiral's ship, and is torn between stopping Isla and helping her.
The pair are met by the Admiral, who confesses he loved Emhir's aunt, Mara. . Isla discovers her mother was actually a selkie and that she is able to transform into a selkie as well. But despite his claims of love, the Admiral is a threat so Isla shoots him. Emhir tells Isla she must leave Darce for now, and seek her own people.
Isla falls for Darce a bit too quickly in my mind. And Isla's sudden transformation, while exciting, seems odd given that she's been at sea for years and hadn't noticed her other side. But Isla is a great character: fierce, bold, and desiring to be loyal to family. The selkie and wraith folklore is well told and woven into the story seamlessly. I'm not a big fan of romance but that element isn't too heavy. The prose is strong as well as the pacing.
Isla has been at sea, as a sailor, for years and returns home because she received a letter from her mother telling she will reveal a secret. But when she returns home, her mother has passed away. Shortly after, selkies come ashore and kill most everyone in Caolaig, including her father. Many of the people have their backs flayed. Isla escapes with her brother Lachlan and the swordmaster, Darce. They barely slip past wraiths who threaten them too.
The group runs into Emhir and Finlay, two selkies who explain that selkies attacked because humans have stolen selkie pelts. The pelts are handed down within families and without a pelt, a selkie will die. Isla feels sympathy so agrees to try and help. Lachlan on the other hand, harbours a growing hatred for the selkies. Darce worries for the Blackwood's safety.
Lachlan goes to his friend, Nathair Quinn, who takes the humans and selkies in. But as things progress, it's clear Quinn agrees with the Admiral, that selkies are worthless. The Admiral has collected (and sold) pelts. Isla finds herself growing closer to Emhir; sadly, Emhir's pelt is taken. Emhir and Isla try to discover where the stolen pelts are taken, breaking into the Admiral's study where a secret map is hidden. The selkies come ashore again and attack until they are beaten back. In this second incursion, Lachlan is badly hurt and loses a leg. Then he and Quinn work to stop Isla in her quest. Isla also seeks out her uncle Muir to get more information. After her initial visit (during which Muir refuses to tell the secret) Muir disappears but leaves Isla his compass.
Isla, with Darce in tow, boards Captain Nishi's ship, who helped them previously, and sets sail for the secret island. Emhir at this point is near death. They encounter a terrible storm . They make it to the island, where Isla and Emhir search for the pelts, her own and her aunt's. Lachlan later appears on the Admiral's ship, and is torn between stopping Isla and helping her.
The pair are met by the Admiral, who confesses he loved Emhir's aunt, Mara. . Isla discovers her mother was actually a selkie and that she is able to transform into a selkie as well. But despite his claims of love, the Admiral is a threat so Isla shoots him. Emhir tells Isla she must leave Darce for now, and seek her own people.
Isla falls for Darce a bit too quickly in my mind. And Isla's sudden transformation, while exciting, seems odd given that she's been at sea for years and hadn't noticed her other side. But Isla is a great character: fierce, bold, and desiring to be loyal to family. The selkie and wraith folklore is well told and woven into the story seamlessly. I'm not a big fan of romance but that element isn't too heavy. The prose is strong as well as the pacing.
August 16, 2023
THANK YOU @booksirens AND @scrimscribes FOR ALLOWING ME TO BE ON THIS JOURNEY WITH YOU! 💚 i received this book as an ARC, and am leaving this honest review voluntarily 🥰
captivating and vibrant right from the start, Sea of Souls follows the story of Isla, a mid twenties woman who spent the last 7 years on the sea and who lost the race to get home to her terminally ill family member in time to learn about a gift Isla possesses…
this novel is a true page turner! it’s fast paced and full of action right away, and it stays there the entire time. there isn’t a single dull moment. i thoroughly enjoyed Scrimgeour’s take on Scottish mythical sea creatures/monsters and the way she wrote the selkies, kelpies, wraiths and more. i’m a huge mythology fan and it was all just completely fantastic.
Sea of Souls is both a moving and an action packed book with fully fledged, loveable characters, and a killer story line. it’s about not always trusting what you’ve been told, keeping your kith and kin close but your enemies closer, admitting you were wrong and actively changing your views and actions, and understanding generational actions can hurt.
i love this book so deeply, and i would feel so honoured to read more of Scrimegeour’s work. i can’t wait to grab a physical copy of this- it’s going to look so gorgeous on my bookshelf!
this book is for you if you like:
• stories that take place on the ocean and nearby shipping towns
• scottish mythology
• morally grey characters
• switching sides to protect “the enemy”
• messy families
• characters realising their powers and breaking generational chains
• high fantasy, sensationally written fights and major world building
• a plot twist so big you’d never see it coming
captivating and vibrant right from the start, Sea of Souls follows the story of Isla, a mid twenties woman who spent the last 7 years on the sea and who lost the race to get home to her terminally ill family member in time to learn about a gift Isla possesses…
this novel is a true page turner! it’s fast paced and full of action right away, and it stays there the entire time. there isn’t a single dull moment. i thoroughly enjoyed Scrimgeour’s take on Scottish mythical sea creatures/monsters and the way she wrote the selkies, kelpies, wraiths and more. i’m a huge mythology fan and it was all just completely fantastic.
Sea of Souls is both a moving and an action packed book with fully fledged, loveable characters, and a killer story line. it’s about not always trusting what you’ve been told, keeping your kith and kin close but your enemies closer, admitting you were wrong and actively changing your views and actions, and understanding generational actions can hurt.
i love this book so deeply, and i would feel so honoured to read more of Scrimegeour’s work. i can’t wait to grab a physical copy of this- it’s going to look so gorgeous on my bookshelf!
this book is for you if you like:
• stories that take place on the ocean and nearby shipping towns
• scottish mythology
• morally grey characters
• switching sides to protect “the enemy”
• messy families
• characters realising their powers and breaking generational chains
• high fantasy, sensationally written fights and major world building
• a plot twist so big you’d never see it coming
March 2, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️,5
Primo volume della Sea of Souls Saga
E’ un dark fantasy con sfumature mitologiche
Isola, la protagonista , non ha ben chiaro quale sia il suo scopo, cos’è quella cosa che le manca per sentirsi completa.
Una lettera da parte della madre da inizio ad un’avventura stravolgente, piena di scelte e sofferenze.
Dovrà decidere tra famiglia ed amicizia… quelle sarà la sua decisione? Per scoprirlo dovete leggere il libro!
Di questo libro ho amato l’attenzione ai minimi dettagli! Niente viene dato al caso.
La caratterizzazione dei personaggi è ben fatta, non rimangono statici per tutto il libro, ma hanno dei cambiamenti molto importanti ai fini della trama.
La storia è un mix perfetto di polt twist, avventura e mistero!
Ringrazio tanto N. C Scrimgeour per la possibilità di leggere questo libro!
Lo consiglio tantissimo a tutti gli amanti delle avventure come me!
First volume of the Sea of Souls Saga
It's a dark fantasy with mythological nuances
For Isla, the protagonist, is not very clear what her purpose is, what is that thing she lacks to feel complete.
A letter from the mother starting a mind-blowing adventure, full of choices and suffering.
She will have to decide between family and friendship... what will be her decision? To find out you have to read the book!
I loved the attention to the smallest detail of this book!
The characterization of the characters is well done, they do not remain static throughout the book, but they have very important changes for the purposes of the plot.
The story is a perfect mix of polt twist, adventure and mystery!
Thank you very much N. C Scrimgeour for the opportunity to read this book!
I highly recommend it to all adventure lovers like me!
Primo volume della Sea of Souls Saga
E’ un dark fantasy con sfumature mitologiche
Isola, la protagonista , non ha ben chiaro quale sia il suo scopo, cos’è quella cosa che le manca per sentirsi completa.
Una lettera da parte della madre da inizio ad un’avventura stravolgente, piena di scelte e sofferenze.
Dovrà decidere tra famiglia ed amicizia… quelle sarà la sua decisione? Per scoprirlo dovete leggere il libro!
Di questo libro ho amato l’attenzione ai minimi dettagli! Niente viene dato al caso.
La caratterizzazione dei personaggi è ben fatta, non rimangono statici per tutto il libro, ma hanno dei cambiamenti molto importanti ai fini della trama.
La storia è un mix perfetto di polt twist, avventura e mistero!
Ringrazio tanto N. C Scrimgeour per la possibilità di leggere questo libro!
Lo consiglio tantissimo a tutti gli amanti delle avventure come me!
First volume of the Sea of Souls Saga
It's a dark fantasy with mythological nuances
For Isla, the protagonist, is not very clear what her purpose is, what is that thing she lacks to feel complete.
A letter from the mother starting a mind-blowing adventure, full of choices and suffering.
She will have to decide between family and friendship... what will be her decision? To find out you have to read the book!
I loved the attention to the smallest detail of this book!
The characterization of the characters is well done, they do not remain static throughout the book, but they have very important changes for the purposes of the plot.
The story is a perfect mix of polt twist, adventure and mystery!
Thank you very much N. C Scrimgeour for the opportunity to read this book!
I highly recommend it to all adventure lovers like me!
August 4, 2023
Sea of Souls is the first book in the Sea of Souls saga, and this is one dark fantasy novel that you’re not going to want to miss out on reading.
Isla Blackwood is returning home after seven years being at sea looking for some sense of belonging. The thing that has drawn her home? A letter from her dying mother revealing that she has a secret to reveal, if Isla can return home in time. Unfortunately, the tides are not kind to her, and what she returns home to is chaos and ruin. Now, she will embark on a journey to restore what once was, and to find the answers that she’s missing.
Sea of Souls is a page-turner of a novel. Packed with twists, drama, heartbreak, and loss this book knows exactly how to keep you engaged in what you’re reading. Isla has a tough journey ahead of her, but thankfully she’s not alone. What lies ahead will test the relationships that she is in – but the truth is worth finding. Go ahead and grab a couple tissues, too. There are going to be some scenes and situations that bring a tear to your eye, so best be prepared.
This book will leave you with questions, but I know that answers will be coming with the next book in this series. We just have to wait for when that time comes. I know that I’ll be looking forward to it all.
5 out of 5 stars
Isla Blackwood is returning home after seven years being at sea looking for some sense of belonging. The thing that has drawn her home? A letter from her dying mother revealing that she has a secret to reveal, if Isla can return home in time. Unfortunately, the tides are not kind to her, and what she returns home to is chaos and ruin. Now, she will embark on a journey to restore what once was, and to find the answers that she’s missing.
Sea of Souls is a page-turner of a novel. Packed with twists, drama, heartbreak, and loss this book knows exactly how to keep you engaged in what you’re reading. Isla has a tough journey ahead of her, but thankfully she’s not alone. What lies ahead will test the relationships that she is in – but the truth is worth finding. Go ahead and grab a couple tissues, too. There are going to be some scenes and situations that bring a tear to your eye, so best be prepared.
This book will leave you with questions, but I know that answers will be coming with the next book in this series. We just have to wait for when that time comes. I know that I’ll be looking forward to it all.
5 out of 5 stars
August 2, 2023
Sea of Souls is a tale inspired by Scottish folklore, partially set at sea. As someone who loves nautical adventures in books, I was so excited to receive a review copy of this book.
And I absolutely loved it.
It’s one of those books that hooked me straight away. I couldn’t put this down and read it in a couple of sittings.
The relationships between the characters were so well written. The slow burn between Isla and Darce was really good, and I was left actually wanting the characters to end up together instead of rolling my eyes when it inevitably happened. I loved the growing trust between Isla and Eimhir and the friendship they develop gradually, over the course of the book.
But I think what I loved the most was the sibling relationship between Isla and Lachlan. They had a strained relationship to begin with and only grew further apart. As someone with a younger brother, the bickering and the arguments and the desire to protect one another was written so realistically.
The worldbuilding was vivid and super immersive. The scenes at sea were particularly interesting, especially as the terminology used was that of someone who knew more than me about ships and sailing. It added another layer of believability to Isla’s story.
Some of the twists and turns took me completely by surprise. There were some truly heart pounding moments and I cannot wait for the second instalment.
Thank you to @scrimscribes and @escapistbookco for sending me a physical copy in exchange for an honest review.
And I absolutely loved it.
It’s one of those books that hooked me straight away. I couldn’t put this down and read it in a couple of sittings.
The relationships between the characters were so well written. The slow burn between Isla and Darce was really good, and I was left actually wanting the characters to end up together instead of rolling my eyes when it inevitably happened. I loved the growing trust between Isla and Eimhir and the friendship they develop gradually, over the course of the book.
But I think what I loved the most was the sibling relationship between Isla and Lachlan. They had a strained relationship to begin with and only grew further apart. As someone with a younger brother, the bickering and the arguments and the desire to protect one another was written so realistically.
The worldbuilding was vivid and super immersive. The scenes at sea were particularly interesting, especially as the terminology used was that of someone who knew more than me about ships and sailing. It added another layer of believability to Isla’s story.
Some of the twists and turns took me completely by surprise. There were some truly heart pounding moments and I cannot wait for the second instalment.
Thank you to @scrimscribes and @escapistbookco for sending me a physical copy in exchange for an honest review.
August 24, 2023
An engaging tale about selkies and and the draw of the sea, mixed with plenty of scottish myth and folklore.
Isla escaped the chains of the land and fled to the sea, only a letter from her mother calls her home. But for Isla, returning home only emphasises how out of place she feels. Fleeing the horrors of an attack on land, she joins forces with a selkie to try and stop the vicious cycle of killing between himans and selkies alike.
Isla is a wonderful character, and the dour Darce a suitable foil, though I did get frustrated with him always trying to dominate her. Her brother, Lachlan, I feel is going to be her weak point. Guilt from leaving him, drives many of her decisions, but the politics, twists and sweeping betrayals keep you hooked. And that ending! Nooo! That was not at all how I thought it would end!
If you love scottish folklore and adventure on the high seas, then this is the book for you!
I recieved an ARC, and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
Isla escaped the chains of the land and fled to the sea, only a letter from her mother calls her home. But for Isla, returning home only emphasises how out of place she feels. Fleeing the horrors of an attack on land, she joins forces with a selkie to try and stop the vicious cycle of killing between himans and selkies alike.
Isla is a wonderful character, and the dour Darce a suitable foil, though I did get frustrated with him always trying to dominate her. Her brother, Lachlan, I feel is going to be her weak point. Guilt from leaving him, drives many of her decisions, but the politics, twists and sweeping betrayals keep you hooked. And that ending! Nooo! That was not at all how I thought it would end!
If you love scottish folklore and adventure on the high seas, then this is the book for you!
I recieved an ARC, and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
February 24, 2025
After 7 years away from home, Isla Blackwood receives a letter from her mother who has fallen ill, asking her to return home not only to see her but to also tell her something she could not send her. Isla has always felt lost and believes whatever her mother needs to tell her will be the answer she feels she’s always been looking for.
Follow Isla on her journey in this captivating story of sea adventures. There are twists and turns you would never expect! Scottish folklore, unlikely allies, magic, dark fantasy are just a few things in this book that make it truly special.
Follow Isla on her journey in this captivating story of sea adventures. There are twists and turns you would never expect! Scottish folklore, unlikely allies, magic, dark fantasy are just a few things in this book that make it truly special.
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