Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.07 AVERAGE
4.07 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Loved this book. The prose was beautifully written, the descriptions
perfect. the way the story unfolded
also perfect. The juxtaposition between Tasmania and the Faroe Islands wonderfully and evocatively described. The inter weaving of the northern fairy tales and indigenous spirituality hit a perfect spot. The relationships between the women in this story were so powerful and beautifully told - all varied. all valid and very relatable. mother/daughter; sisters; heritage; mythology. how so many factors make us who we are
perfect. the way the story unfolded
also perfect. The juxtaposition between Tasmania and the Faroe Islands wonderfully and evocatively described. The inter weaving of the northern fairy tales and indigenous spirituality hit a perfect spot. The relationships between the women in this story were so powerful and beautifully told - all varied. all valid and very relatable. mother/daughter; sisters; heritage; mythology. how so many factors make us who we are
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Esther is struggling to cope with the loss of her sister, Aura. In hopes of finding clarity and understanding about who her sister truly was, she leaves Tasmania for Copenhagen, and later, the Faroe Islands. Along the way, she meets some fascinating, significant people who gently shift how she sees herself (and her sister) in the world.
I love Esther. She’s strong-willed, curious, and deeply emotional. Following her story echoed so many themes and feelings I’ve navigated in my own life, and I was frantically rooting for her the whole way through. What I particularly loved is that she’s not a “perfect person”; she’s real, raw, and just trying to figure her sh*% out.
Holly Ringland has clearly done exceptional research on place, folklore, and storytelling to make this novel as immersive as it is. The mythology of the selkies and other lore is woven beautifully through the narrative and adds such depth and texture. I also really appreciated that the story wasn’t centred around a love interest (which is big for me to say because I live for those kinds of books) instead, it’s Esther’s journey, with a few side quests along the way. The only thing I disliked was having to force myself to stop reading because I didn’t want it to end.
This is a story about connection—between women, between sisters, between generations. It’s about finding power, facing grief, and having the courage to be vulnerable. If you’re looking for something a little outside the usual fantasy and romance, but still rooted in a strong female lead, this is for you.
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Wow! So much to unpack in this book. It took me so long to read because I was savouring and thinking as I went. I highlighted so many passages.
This book was about Esther's journey to find out what happened to her sister, Aura. She travels the same path that her sister traveled as she goes through the formal she left behind when she disappeared.
This book celebrates community, family, the strength of women, and the skins that we wear and shed as we grow.
Highly recommend!
This book was about Esther's journey to find out what happened to her sister, Aura. She travels the same path that her sister traveled as she goes through the formal she left behind when she disappeared.
This book celebrates community, family, the strength of women, and the skins that we wear and shed as we grow.
Highly recommend!
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A story filled with the power of women tied together by the sea and the magic of folklore and ancestors. I loved the settings in this book and the gentle force of Holly Ringlands writing style. A beautifully sad but hopeful book.
Like a selkie shedding its skin, 'The Seven Skins of Esther Wilding' strips down to the hurt of losing someone you love…and not knowing why.
When Aura Wilding disappeared into the sea, she held her secrets close. Her younger sister Esther is left with only Aura’s diary, a collection of seven enigmatic lines of poetry telling her undisclosed story. Empty of answers and in need of healing, Esther travels first to Copenhagen, and then to the Faroe Islands, to discover why Aura’s year abroad ended with discarded clothes on a Tasmanian beach.
Amidst tears and arguments and clandestine kisses, 'The Seven Skins of Esther Wilding' exhibits the power of personal storytelling through art. The novel is broken into seven sections, each beginning with a line of Aura’s poetry. Characters reflect on Scandinavian mythology and folklore - the very idea of shedding one’s skin come from the legend of seal-people (selkies). Even Esther’s mother is a tattoo artist, etching designs on the scars of women to provide closure and healing from trauma.
Tender, compassionate and deeply nuanced, 'The Seven Skins of Esther Wilding' shows what’s beneath the veneer of “I’m ok”. It’s funny, sad and thoroughly well-researched - a joyful, triumphant, refreshing read.
When Aura Wilding disappeared into the sea, she held her secrets close. Her younger sister Esther is left with only Aura’s diary, a collection of seven enigmatic lines of poetry telling her undisclosed story. Empty of answers and in need of healing, Esther travels first to Copenhagen, and then to the Faroe Islands, to discover why Aura’s year abroad ended with discarded clothes on a Tasmanian beach.
Amidst tears and arguments and clandestine kisses, 'The Seven Skins of Esther Wilding' exhibits the power of personal storytelling through art. The novel is broken into seven sections, each beginning with a line of Aura’s poetry. Characters reflect on Scandinavian mythology and folklore - the very idea of shedding one’s skin come from the legend of seal-people (selkies). Even Esther’s mother is a tattoo artist, etching designs on the scars of women to provide closure and healing from trauma.
Tender, compassionate and deeply nuanced, 'The Seven Skins of Esther Wilding' shows what’s beneath the veneer of “I’m ok”. It’s funny, sad and thoroughly well-researched - a joyful, triumphant, refreshing read.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A beautiful story about sisterly love, loss and a new way of living.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape, Suicide
emotional
hopeful
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
DNF’d at 248 pages. The main character Esther is super unlikeable and makes awful choices that I just can’t relate to. I found myself incredibly bored by how long it was taking for anything to happen and decided to peek at reviews here to decide if I wanted to keep going. Read some spoilers and NOPE I’m over it. There were seeds of a much better story in here but it was in need of a major overhaul. Anyway, glad I saved myself an additional 300 pages of suffering.
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Miscarriage, Self harm, Suicide, Grief