‘Listen to the sea spirits …’
Sea Flames: Sea Faerie Tales, is a faerie tale collection by Joanne McFall. It consists of autonomous tales set near the sea, with prominent influences of folklore. Magic, mystery, and mythical creatures are only some of the features promised by each tale.
Humans and spirits work together to ensure the peace and prosperity of their homes, ultimately overcoming even the most challenging of obstacles. Young children embark on dangerous journeys alone but are unbeknownst to them looked after and protected. Marginalised individuals and communities overcome their challenges despite their outsider status, and emerge victorious and empowered.
Help is provided to those who ask it with a pure heart, and balance is ultimately restored. Most suitable for a lighter-hearted reader, school-aged readers or simply fans and collectors of the faery tale genre, Sea Flames: Sea Faerie Tales world-building makes for an incredible reading experience. Besides the folklore format, other historical links to Ireland can be found throughout. The king in ‘A Velvet Nest’ exploits his land and subjects alike, never giving anything back, reminding the reader instantly of many historical instances of oppression and mistreatment of one people group toward another.
In ‘A Sea of Gold’, toxic liquids begin striking a village’s farming, and in ‘Spring I’, superstition and suspicion result in an innocent older man becoming the scapegoat for the blight that struck the community’s crops. Anyone interested in such aspects of sea history would deeply enjoy the incorporation of these elements throughout the tales.
Though the reading experience may be enhanced by possessing any level of prior knowledge of Irish folklore as well as history, the tales stand independently, testaments to Joanne McFall’s writing style. Creative usage of personification, presentation of the sea as such an integral factor in human society, seamless dialogue, and an emphasis on the importance of family and craft, make for a unique perspective on faerie tales and legends. Overall, this collection is a must-have in Irish / British writing and an important addition to the faerie tale genre. At Amazon.com under books, or try this link: https://amzn.eu/d/075iiaF2
Sea Flames: Sea Faerie Tales; by Joanne McFall
