Terri Farley

I was really looking forward to reading this book: the description was intriguing, and who doesn't like a good selkie-related tale? Well, I definitely won't be reading it again, and I'm very glad I stuck with reading a library copy rather than buying it.

Gwen Cooke has only recently gotten her driver's license, and has over-protective parents... who just deposited her at the beach to spend a whole summer living by herself in a cottage, nominally supervised by her slightly ditsy grandmother, show more who has a broken leg and manages a bed & breakfast a distance up the beach. The same beach where Gwen may or may not have been molested as a seven year-old.

Okay: so suspend reality there, and get ready to keep suspending it, because with all the rest of the plot holes, you're going to need some serious reality suspension to make it through to the end of the book.

The character development is basically non-existent, and many of the characters are stock, and poorly done, at that. Gwen's supposed best friends make few appearances, and are unappealing when they do. Her mother never enters the story at all. Gwen's love interest, Jesse, the selkie, is well-known to the townsfolk, but can only see Gwen for a few days every seven years. The psychologist whom Gwen is terrified of meeting again is never actually met, and the much pierced and made-up girl from the street fair never materializes into much of a threat, romantic or otherwise. Even obnoxious and ultimately shark-eaten Zack is a fairly cardboard bully whose supposed fascination with Gwen is doubtful.

Overall, this just wasn't my cup of tea, but as it has received several very positive ratings, I may be missing something. show less

This is the first time I ever hear of selkies. As per Wikipedia - Selkies (also known as silkies or selchies) are mythological creatures that are found in Faroese, Icelandic, Irish, and Scottish folklore. Selkies are able to become human by taking off their seal skins, and can return to seal form by putting it back on.

In Seven Tears Into the Sea, Ms. Farley tells the tale of a selkie boy and his lady love. What I most enjoyed about this story was the writing - it flows with a lyrical quality show more making the story sometimes feel sad and other worldly, yet there were times that were light and funny. Her characters are realistically portrayed although there is a paranormal element. The descriptions of the beach, the town, and the bed and breakfast where Gwen is helping out at during the summer, really give it a relaxed feel but at the same time there are so many moments where it feels whimsical - almost like a modern day fairytale.

The story is told through Gwen's perspective so you only get to see and feel what she does. I wish we would have learned a little bit more of Jesse - this would be my only complaint. But I was still pleased with the story as told through Gwen's eyes. The relationship that forms between them is sigh worthy and even tear inducing (on my part).

All in all, this was a lovely story. Ms. Farley masterfully uses the selkie myths and interweaves them into this story - making it a poignant yet mesmerizing read. I found it to be a very refreshing, unique and the perfect summer read. show less

Reviewed by D. M. Nigro for TeensReadToo.com

Welcome to 'Moku Lio Hihiu', better known as Wild Horse Island. THE SHINING STALLION is Book 2 of Terri Farley's PHANTOM STALLION, WILD HORSE ISLAND series, and right away readers will join main character Darby Carter as she challenges her brand new filly Hoku in a nose-to-nose standoff. Darby has just moved in with her newfound grandfather, Jonah, at Iolani Ranch, his Hawaiian home, but between an error she makes handling one of the horses - and a show more clash with stylish older cousin Megan -things aren't going as well as she'd hoped. And then there's the alarming nighttime visit from a fiery black stallion that only Darby has seen. Is he the deadly 'Shining Stallion', a chilling island legend? Can Darby stop him from hurting anything - or anyone - else? Mystical tales from Hawaii's past and a magic bracelet charm enter the mix. Not to mention an all-too-modern crime, the theft of priceless Hawaiian artifacts.

The many methods and responsibilities involved in caring for horses blend nicely with the stallion mystery, making this an ideal book for serious young riding enthusiasts. But all readers will appreciate the exotic Hawaiian setting and spunky heroine as she struggles to win her place among the people and animals of Wild Horse Island. (Note: While THE SHINING STALLION succeeds as a stand-alone story, beginning with Book One might give a fuller picture of Darby's friends and family, especially her absent parents and enigmatic grandfather, Jonah. But the 'Darby's Diary/Dictionary' postcript does offer basic personal facts plus helpful Hawaiian terms and lore.)

Ms. Farley has a refined, classic writing style and flawless good taste. She avoids current slang and references to cell phones or other technology, giving her work a refreshing, timeless quality that still feels contemporary. The dramatic, satisfying final chapters retain enough mystery to carry Darby into her next adventure. No doubt her fans will be waiting. show less

I have received this book seven or eight years ago as a birthday present, but never read it until now. It was better executed than I had feared it would be, creating an interesting world without establishing the feeling in my mind that it would only become another "girl-horse"-story. Though, it still wasn't well-written enough to deserve more than three stars, and my reason to only give two of them was due to the plot. We knew from the very beginning the horse would disappear at some point, show more but it was only in the final chapter that this plot point finally appeared. So, the plot summary on the book's back just gave a summary of everything except for the last five or ten pages, which is something I was very disappointed about.

If someone likes stories about horses and teenage girls, I'd recommend it to them, though. show less