The Skin

The Skin is the debut book by J.E. Hannaford and is the first book in the Black Hind???s Wake Trilogy.

It is the tale of Selkie. A mythological being that is trapped on land. She is trapped after her and her sister have been swimming in their natural form of a seal. As they lounge on an island they are unwittingly trapped, and as a way of saving her sister, who is pregnant, she swaps her skin (which is the natural seal skin, which is taken off to give them human form) with her sister in order to save her from the wretched humans that inhabit the world.

She is then sold into servitude by her capturer who now holds her skin hostage to make sure that Selkie complies.

Whilst in the service of a thoroughly reprehensible collector, she is unexpectedly saved from her cruel life by Sal, a mysterious individual that owns a pleasure barge, and at first seems as nefarious as her owner.

From there story revolves around Selkie???s story to free herself from captivity, find her missing skin as well as finding her place in the world.

I found The Skin to be utterly mesmerising from beginning to end. I was thoroughly enthralled with how J.E. Hannaford manages to interweave folklore with dystopian fiction and fantasy.

The characters in the book are complex, as is their nature. Whilst Selkie is finding her purpose following her being cruelly ripped away from the life she had before, we follow her as she has to live with the fact that she may never get back the life she once had and also having to live with the human inhabitants of the world that they destroyed. I would be hard pressed to determine which is my favourite character in the book as they are so well realised and burn into your consciousness with their clarity.

One of the things that stood out for me was J.E. Hannaford???s world building. For me I found it distinctly indistinct it its clarity, and whilst you are given hints that this is a world that has been wracked by an unknown catastrophe, you are not entirely sure until the very end the full details. Which I have to say I loved as it adds to the puzzle of the story.

I also enjoyed the fact that J.E. Hannaford not only shows the effects of the damage that humankind has done ecologically, but that it has had an effect sociologically as well, as the human race has reverted to a kind of medieval feudalism, despite having quite modern technology.

She also raises some interesting questions on the role of zoos in biodiversity conservation, especially in the light of the fact that the human race is a destructive force towards nature and a harbinger of disaster in its treatment of nature and the ecology of the planet.

J.E. Hannaford skillfully interweaves folklore into the tale, and I must admit that it is the first time that I have seen a Selkie used as a main character, which brings some originality to the story. However, not only are there Selkies, she incorporates a whole host of creatures from both folklore and mythology, highlighting the connection between these creatures and the natural world.

I listened to this on audio and loved Emily Mounts narration of the story as she really brought the story to life.

The Skin is an excellent read and I could see anyone that likes folklore, nautical fantasy and dystopian fiction enjoying this one.

Selkie and her dear friend sought to dance upon the shores, never expecting humans to find them. As they began to celebrate new life and her friend’s oncoming marriage, a human male stole her skin. Enslaving her for wealth. Georgie upon arrival in a new city witnesses a woman beaten and belittled by her employer. But as she asks the woman to leave, she vehemently refuses. Georgie makes it a goal to free the woman, no matter the costs. Lady Gina aids a gentleman Sal in rescuing creatures of old from collections. Returning them to their homes, or taking them wherever they feel safest. And together the three women create a powerful narrative of hope, friendship, and freedom.

The Skin may at first confuse readers. The three main characters share such similarities that when listening to the audiobook I had a difficult time as the narrator switched between them. Now, the chapter headings are tied to the characters so there is a preview of which point of view you will be experiencing. And stick with it, when the connections between storylines form you’ll be glad you continued.

Each woman is strong in their own way. Enslaved among the humans, Selkie does all she can to protect herself, hiding in plain sight and avoiding notice. While she may appear docile, her mind is constantly turning, looking for her chance of escape. Georgie has a fierce determination to save another who is trapped. Knowing what it is like to be unable to leave a bad situation, she is determined to save the abused woman. Lady Gina travels across the world with her Black Hind crew, saving old ones from captivity. Her nautical adventures bring high risks both from those they infiltrate, to those they save. Not all old ones are willing to board a ship with humans. At the core of it, each woman fights for freedom, whether it be their own or the freedom of others.

And while the characters were a delight to read, the level of detail given to the world was just as fascinating. J.E. Hannaford builds a nautical world of myth and magic. One that has been ravaged by the advancement of humans, threatening nature and the magic of old. Readers will feel the emotional impact of the devastation wrought on the lands and their fabled protectors. And soon you’ll be ushering each character on as their part to play in the betterment of the world unfolds.

While The Skin is a tale of found family and nautical adventures, it’s also so much more. It’s a book for those who enjoy witnessing characters discover their inner strength and ability to help others while enduring hardships and heartbreak. This is one book I could not put down.