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16th out of 304 books
—
481 voters
Seven Tears Into the Sea
by
Terri Farley
Beckon the sea,
I'll come to thee....
Shed seven tears,
perchance seven years....
At the age of ten, Gwen Cooke had a strange encounter with a boy with dark, slightly tilted eyes. He came to her on the beach, whispered strange words in her ear, and then disappeared. Shortly thereafter, her family moved away from their seaside home and Gwen never saw the boy again.
Now sev
...morePaperback, 279 pages
Published
April 2005
by Simon Pulse
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Er. Okay. Let me tell you first that I am not the most cheerful person at the moment – and yes, I am blaming the electrical engineering and mechanics exams I am studying for right now. And this book infuriated me for some reason. I really don’t know why I made myself read up until page 230 here when it was pretty clear that I wouldn’t enjoy this novel – and as I don’t have much time to read right now anyway, I certainly shouldn’t waste it on books I don’t like. But well, I can only blame myself....more
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Read #1
Started on March 8, 2009
Finished on March 25, 2009
I'm a little torn because, while I really liked the actual story, I found myself unable to connect to the characters themselves. That being said, there really should be more YA novels out there that focus on folklore of the sea. I love stories about anything to do with the sea. I got used to the prose after a while. It definitely added to the atmosphere. The ending is sad, but was slightly ruined for me because it seemed rushed.
Started on March 8, 2009
Finished on March 25, 2009
I'm a little torn because, while I really liked the actual story, I found myself unable to connect to the characters themselves. That being said, there really should be more YA novels out there that focus on folklore of the sea. I love stories about anything to do with the sea. I got used to the prose after a while. It definitely added to the atmosphere. The ending is sad, but was slightly ruined for me because it seemed rushed.
I'm still not entirely sure how to feel about this one.
If anything, it was interesting. I really liked the folklore that kind of sprung from the sea atmosphere. There definitely isn't much of that in popular literature of today. So, the fact that the main male character of this story was a mythical selkie only made it that much more interesting. The book itself was a quick read.
Gwen Cooke was sleepwalking at the age of ten when she came upon a boy whom she thought was drowning. Alas, this boy d...more
If anything, it was interesting. I really liked the folklore that kind of sprung from the sea atmosphere. There definitely isn't much of that in popular literature of today. So, the fact that the main male character of this story was a mythical selkie only made it that much more interesting. The book itself was a quick read.
Gwen Cooke was sleepwalking at the age of ten when she came upon a boy whom she thought was drowning. Alas, this boy d...more
I thought this book would be really stupid, which is why I put off reading it for so long. Most YA I read these days is disappointing, and this whole paranormal romance trend? Don't even get me started. So it's rare that I read a YA paranormal romance that is actually. . . really good.
I think one of the main reasons is because this book (gasp) came out before Twilight, before paranormal romance became a "thing" and YA writers were churning out cheap "magical" romances by the dozen. So this book...more
I think one of the main reasons is because this book (gasp) came out before Twilight, before paranormal romance became a "thing" and YA writers were churning out cheap "magical" romances by the dozen. So this book...more
In Seven Tears into the Sea Terri Farley takes a mainstay of Celtic lore and transplants it to the present day in coastal northern California. Selkie legends, in which seals shed their skins and come to shore in human form, have been the inspiration for many works; Johns Sayles’s film "The Secret of Roan Inish" is probably the most prominent of these in recent years.
Farley’s novel begins with ten-year-old Gwen Cook, who lives with her parents in a cottage near the sea, encountering a young man l...more
Farley’s novel begins with ten-year-old Gwen Cook, who lives with her parents in a cottage near the sea, encountering a young man l...more
This book was a quick read, but I could tell you what was going to happen by the first 100 pages. Maybe it's because it's a young-adult book, but I was just kind of really hoping that it wouldn't end up being magical, and instead be demented. I like the young adult books that are more realistic, because fantasy and supernatural ones are just ones that I'm like, saw this coming, she's going to do this, it's going to be like this, we all grow in the end and everyone leaves happy. Lies and bs, but...more
Seven Tears into the Sea
by Terri Farley
Genre: Fantasy / Paranormal Romance / Young Adult
Gwen Cooke was 10 years old when chronic sleepwalking led her onto a midnight beach and into a world of Celtic magic, mystery and danger. Was her encounter with a boy with dark, slightly tilted eyes a dream? Were the words he whispered before vanishing, a spell? In the wake of gossip over what really happened to Gwen, her family moved away from their seaside home and Gwen never saw the boy again. Now sevente...more
by Terri Farley
Genre: Fantasy / Paranormal Romance / Young Adult
Gwen Cooke was 10 years old when chronic sleepwalking led her onto a midnight beach and into a world of Celtic magic, mystery and danger. Was her encounter with a boy with dark, slightly tilted eyes a dream? Were the words he whispered before vanishing, a spell? In the wake of gossip over what really happened to Gwen, her family moved away from their seaside home and Gwen never saw the boy again. Now sevente...more
This book is something I would recommend to any and all young women who enjoy the fantastical. It's the perfect kind of adventure, parentless but with supervisors, romantic but adventurous, and full of old legend and mystery. speaking for myself, and probably many others, this is the kind of adventure you dream of having when you stay with a relative during the summer. The character archetypes are well done and it got me very interested in the Celtic legends at reference.
I couldn't put it down a...more
I couldn't put it down a...more
Jun 27, 2011
Caroline
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Anyone interested in folklore romance, and all selkie fans
Terri Farley tackles a scarcely-written-about Celtic legend in this sweet teen romance. And, much to my delight, she does a very good job.
Again, my own bias slips in. I was raised on selkies, ever since the fabulous children's book "The Seal Mother" was read to me at bedtime. As someone who is absolutely obsessed with the story, I intend to read every book about selkies out there. Most, however, are cheesy romance novels that I know I'm not going to take too seriously. "Seven Tears into the Sea"...more
Again, my own bias slips in. I was raised on selkies, ever since the fabulous children's book "The Seal Mother" was read to me at bedtime. As someone who is absolutely obsessed with the story, I intend to read every book about selkies out there. Most, however, are cheesy romance novels that I know I'm not going to take too seriously. "Seven Tears into the Sea"...more
This book was a total page turner, and is very hard to put down. It has the perfect combination of mystery, fantasy, and romance. The descriptive writing that Farley uses takes you away to the beautiful beach of Mirage Point actually giving you the feeling that you are standing at the cove experiencing the cool misty breeze off the ocean. Farley does an excellent job with her character development and it is very easy to experience the emotions that Gwen is feeling. And when Jesse comes into the...more
LynnMarie’s Review
Seven Tears into the Sea was a cute Young Adult romance. The title intrigued me, as did the cover art. There was a unique paranormal element…no vamps or werewolves in this one. The mythology wound itself throughout the chapters, which left me wanting to know more.
Gwen spends the summer at her grandmother’s bed and breakfast to help out. She’s seventeen and still remembered the mysterious day when she was ten years old. A boy saved her from drowning and whispered words that she...more
Seven Tears into the Sea was a cute Young Adult romance. The title intrigued me, as did the cover art. There was a unique paranormal element…no vamps or werewolves in this one. The mythology wound itself throughout the chapters, which left me wanting to know more.
Gwen spends the summer at her grandmother’s bed and breakfast to help out. She’s seventeen and still remembered the mysterious day when she was ten years old. A boy saved her from drowning and whispered words that she...more
Seven Tears in the Sea
When Gwen Cooke was ten, she was rescued from drowning by a strangely handsome young man, who whispered a rhyme into her ear, telling her to call for him with her tears in seven years time. The people in town believed she’d been molested. Her parents soon moved her away to a larger city and she never visited, until now. Gwen is acutely aware that it’s been seven years, but she’s headed back to the little town to help her grandmother (who was recently injured) with her bed a...more
When Gwen Cooke was ten, she was rescued from drowning by a strangely handsome young man, who whispered a rhyme into her ear, telling her to call for him with her tears in seven years time. The people in town believed she’d been molested. Her parents soon moved her away to a larger city and she never visited, until now. Gwen is acutely aware that it’s been seven years, but she’s headed back to the little town to help her grandmother (who was recently injured) with her bed a...more
Let me just get this first part out of the way - the setting of this novel is original and divine. No cliched high school drama, no. The beaches and ocean and just about everything else is decribed with a certain flair that made me truly want to be there. Now then.
The first half or so of Seven Tears into the Sea is a little slow; not bad, per se, but I found myself waiting for the plot to go on its merry way. Thankfully, it did: and I was quite impressed. The writing and language is actually goo...more
The first half or so of Seven Tears into the Sea is a little slow; not bad, per se, but I found myself waiting for the plot to go on its merry way. Thankfully, it did: and I was quite impressed. The writing and language is actually goo...more
I finished this book a couple of years ago; however I still have it and I'll pull it out an go through it again to give you a good review. What I can tell you is that Gwen has a harrowing experience by the ocean when she's 10 she sees a boy swimming in the stormie ocean she feels inexplicably drawn to him but her parents are more concerned that it will happen again and they move away. 7 years later is where the story begins; with a mysterious boy, a grandmother who understands more than she migh...more
*OBS antes de empezar*
Nunca tuve la costumbre de dejar un libro, por malo que sea. Me gusta la idea (absurda tal vez) de que llegaré al punto de poder encontrar el quid sustancial de la historia o que podré encontrar el significado "oculto" a mis novatos ojos. Suelo decir: "Algo tiene que haber, sólo que no logro encontrarlo aún" y que si alguien lo escribió y se dignó en publicarlo… Pues por algo habrá sido.
Bien, con Seven tears into the Sea fué exactamente lo que pasó.
Allá por la segunda o ter...more
Nunca tuve la costumbre de dejar un libro, por malo que sea. Me gusta la idea (absurda tal vez) de que llegaré al punto de poder encontrar el quid sustancial de la historia o que podré encontrar el significado "oculto" a mis novatos ojos. Suelo decir: "Algo tiene que haber, sólo que no logro encontrarlo aún" y que si alguien lo escribió y se dignó en publicarlo… Pues por algo habrá sido.
Bien, con Seven tears into the Sea fué exactamente lo que pasó.
Allá por la segunda o ter...more
It was an amazing book. A first it was weird and stalkerish but then you were like Woah!. That was really good. This is the one of the only books that ever made me cry. Sorry for the stupid review it was my first.
I loved this book! once i got into it i couldnt stop reading!
I find the writing and plot beautiful
(yes, im a nerd like that :D)
I find the writing and plot beautiful
(yes, im a nerd like that :D)
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
Spoilers Ahead.
I really liked this book, as you can tell by my four star rating of 'I really liked it'.
I read a review of this book, and the person felt that the story was slow. For me, that was one of the reasons why I liked this book so much. Even though it is a fantasy novel, the day-to-day going-ons of Gwen made the story more realistic. She wasn't off doing wild things all the time, as some heroines are, but there was still enough 'wildness' to keep the book intriguing.
About halfway thro...more
I really liked this book, as you can tell by my four star rating of 'I really liked it'.
I read a review of this book, and the person felt that the story was slow. For me, that was one of the reasons why I liked this book so much. Even though it is a fantasy novel, the day-to-day going-ons of Gwen made the story more realistic. She wasn't off doing wild things all the time, as some heroines are, but there was still enough 'wildness' to keep the book intriguing.
About halfway thro...more
This isn't the genre I usually read, though, that being said, I enjoyed it. I've read a good number of old folklore tales that were kind of along the same line as this, so I had a good idea of what this book would entail.
The main thing that grabbed me was the title. It's very eye-catching and mystical. As for the book, I thought the characters were wonderfuly enjoyable to read. I mean, in some books, there's those characters that you just so hate, and you can hardly read them, but this book wa...more
The main thing that grabbed me was the title. It's very eye-catching and mystical. As for the book, I thought the characters were wonderfuly enjoyable to read. I mean, in some books, there's those characters that you just so hate, and you can hardly read them, but this book wa...more
I enjoyed every page of this book and often had to slow myself down to avoid tearing through it too quickly. It's romantic, hopeful, inspiring, and just a little bit sad in some parts. It's also refreshing to see a young adult novel about a girl who can take care of herself, and although she does feel incomplete when her lover isn't around, does not rely on him for her very existence in the feminist-enraging way that popular YA heroines seem to do nowadays. Farley definitely has the Young Adult...more
Started off strong and then just went off into a million directions. I loved the setting! Would have loved it more if it would have been in Maine. I had no idea what a Selkie was before I read this book and still really have no idea what they are. This book would have benefited with 100 or so more pages.
What was the point of Zack? What was the point of her writing the flower signs? what was the point of her friends? what was the point of the flower descriptions that came out of no where on top...more
What was the point of Zack? What was the point of her writing the flower signs? what was the point of her friends? what was the point of the flower descriptions that came out of no where on top...more
Seven Tears into the Sea ia a beautiful story and the writing is concise and clear but the story feels unfinished to me. SO many questions left unanswered that bothered me.
The story is about Gwen, who at the age of ten, while sleep-walking on the beach almost drowns and is saved by a selkie or did she imagine it?
The confusing thing about it is that sometimes the author refers to the person who saved her as a man and sometimes a boy so I was never sure. When she is seventeen, she returns to the c...more
The story is about Gwen, who at the age of ten, while sleep-walking on the beach almost drowns and is saved by a selkie or did she imagine it?
The confusing thing about it is that sometimes the author refers to the person who saved her as a man and sometimes a boy so I was never sure. When she is seventeen, she returns to the c...more
Seven Tears into the Sea is a great story where the fiction is supported by a Celtic myth. I enjoyed the story and liked all of the characters immediately. The narrative by the main character was captivating, and I became interested in her story from the first chapter. This book would have earned five stars if it wasn’t for its ending that left me with a few pertinent questions, which I won’t post as they would be spoilers.
Seven Tears into the Sea is about a young girl named Gwen who almost drow...more
Seven Tears into the Sea is about a young girl named Gwen who almost drow...more
I really enjoyed this book - Gwennie and Jesse were great characters and I love the seaside setting and selchie mythology.
However... spoiler ahead...
I was disspointed in the ending. I had no idea that the story would end on such a bitter note. The answer to the riddle of the "seven years " seemed to wrench a perfectly good ending into a depressing and not very hopeful one. If this were a series, where we'd find out later on what happens to Gwen and Jesse, then I'd be okay with it. Geh. I need to...more
However... spoiler ahead...
I was disspointed in the ending. I had no idea that the story would end on such a bitter note. The answer to the riddle of the "seven years " seemed to wrench a perfectly good ending into a depressing and not very hopeful one. If this were a series, where we'd find out later on what happens to Gwen and Jesse, then I'd be okay with it. Geh. I need to...more
Coming into this book I actually thought it was about mermaids however it didn't take me long to realize that this book is actually about Selkies.
For those who don't know, Selkies are mythical water creatures that look like a seal or sea lion. They are able to take human form by removing their seal skin however the call of the sea is strong and they rarely stay on land for long unless they cannot find their skin. In most myths it is a female selkie who comes ashore and because they are so beauti...more
For those who don't know, Selkies are mythical water creatures that look like a seal or sea lion. They are able to take human form by removing their seal skin however the call of the sea is strong and they rarely stay on land for long unless they cannot find their skin. In most myths it is a female selkie who comes ashore and because they are so beauti...more
By this point, you know my penchant for books that rely or retell traditional folklore, that do it right and that, to top it off, are interesting. You might have also notice my Selkie-love.
On all of those accounts, Seven Tears into the Sea simply excels.
The approach to the Selkie legend is probably one of the most loyal to the original Celtic tale that I’ve read to date, and that alone gave the story some serious points.
The storyline is not too complex, as it focuses mostly on the romance aspect...more
On all of those accounts, Seven Tears into the Sea simply excels.
The approach to the Selkie legend is probably one of the most loyal to the original Celtic tale that I’ve read to date, and that alone gave the story some serious points.
The storyline is not too complex, as it focuses mostly on the romance aspect...more
Sep 23, 2011
Melinda
rated it
2 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
those who like animals better than people
I don't think this review is going to contain spoilers, because it is all very obvious from the beginning, but if you are a slow-to-catch-on type then skip this review. I kept telling myself I was too busy to read at my normal pace, when I realized that it was actually what I was reading that had me plodding through. So now I'm fininshed and ...
Meh.
This is the story of a very beautiful girl who has never had a boyfriend, suddenly uprooted from familiar surroundings to a fantasy lifestyle when...more
Meh.
This is the story of a very beautiful girl who has never had a boyfriend, suddenly uprooted from familiar surroundings to a fantasy lifestyle when...more
Something about this book totally had me stuck on it. I honestly couldn't tell you why I enjoyed this book so much. Even when I wasn't reading it, I was thinking about the story, and the characters in it.
Jesse, was weird. He was socially awkward, and his comments always made me laugh. But I instantly liked him. And not because he was described at attractive, and irristiable to women. No, I would have liked him if the author said he was ugly. Gwen's reactions to jesse's comments were actually bel...more
Jesse, was weird. He was socially awkward, and his comments always made me laugh. But I instantly liked him. And not because he was described at attractive, and irristiable to women. No, I would have liked him if the author said he was ugly. Gwen's reactions to jesse's comments were actually bel...more
Well, this stinks...
I didn't have high expectations. The beginning was good, but then the middle was making my head throb because of how irritated I got by the same events happening over and over again.
I found the author didn't have a clue what to say leading up to the good parts of the story. And there were REALLY good parts...just not good enough to ignore the vapidity that took over the entire middle of the book.
Still, I'll recommend this. It deserves a read. Your never know who might like i...more
I didn't have high expectations. The beginning was good, but then the middle was making my head throb because of how irritated I got by the same events happening over and over again.
I found the author didn't have a clue what to say leading up to the good parts of the story. And there were REALLY good parts...just not good enough to ignore the vapidity that took over the entire middle of the book.
Still, I'll recommend this. It deserves a read. Your never know who might like i...more
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kelpies and mermen and nixes and selkies | 3 | 5 | Apr 17, 2013 01:02pm | |
| Selkie rules | 7 | 35 | Mar 02, 2012 09:47am |
Terri Farley lives in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains with her journalist husband, two children and pets, but still longs for the California beaches where she grew up. She's worked as a waitress, journalist and teacher and now writes full-time, most often barefoot, with a cat on her lap.
More about Terri Farley...
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“It never seemed fair that just when you're old enough to do anything you want, you can't. You have to start working, so there's no time. And if there is time, you're not working, so there's no money.”
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