The premise was very intruiging, but I felt that it wasnt executed to its best ability. I would have been interested in reading more about the villagers and any potential mistrust in Salka/the Fair Folk

I cannot tell if ARC the document provided was correctly edited or formatted. This comment is based on the fact that there were multiple sections where the character is titled as Salka but switches almost within a sentence to be someone else like Owain or Angharad. This really did distract me from the story itself as I found myself questioning my reading ability.

Salka by Francesca Simon is a beautifully haunting retelling of the Welsh Lady of the Lake myth, infused with passion, tragedy, and themes that resonate far beyond its folkloric origins.

Salka, the mysterious faerie woman of Llyn y Fan Fach, falls for Owain, a shepherd who is fated to love her in return. But their union comes with a dire condition—should Owain strike her three times, she must return to the lake forever. As village gossip turns to fear and prejudice, Owain begins to long for a wife who is less strange, less otherworldly, less herself. The first blow is struck not by his hand but by his doubts, and their fate is set in motion.

Simon’s debut adult novel brings this age-old legend to vivid life, weaving multiple perspectives into a rich, emotionally charged narrative. The setting of Bannau Brycheiniog is beautifully rendered, immersing the reader in a landscape steeped in myth. The expansion of the tale through a broader cast of characters adds depth, though at times some figures could have been developed further.

A poignant and lyrical reimagining, Salka is a tragic love story that feels both timeless and urgently relevant, exploring the weight of expectations, the cruelty of conformity, and the painful cost of being truly seen. A must-read for those who enjoy folklore retellings with a deeply human heart.

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I don't know much about Welsh legend or folklore so this was such an interesting read and I loved it I couldn't put it down. The writing was beautiful and the story was enchanting, I can't wait to read more by the author

Salka: Lady of the Lake by Francesca Simon is a magical reimagining of an ancient Welsh myth. Enchanted by her ethereal presence, Salka bewilders a quiet lakeside community and embarks on a passionate, yet tumultuous, bond with a humble shepherd. With lyrical prose and shimmering mythic elements, Simon crafts a spellbinding tale that celebrates the mystique of individuality and love.

This was a really interesting retelling of the Lady of the Lake folktale, set by Llyn y Fan Fach in Bannau Brycheiniog which brought the original story to life. Simon added a wife variety of characters to expand this tale which I thought worked well, and this has made me wish that there were more retellings of Welsh myths! I just felt that this read as being a little bit unfinished, I think some of the characters needed a smidge more development.

For me, as a Welsh person currently residing outside Wales, reading this was like coming home. I grew up on tales of the Mabinogion and the particular tale that Simon has adapted here, which I knew as the Lady of Llyn-y-Fan-Fach. It’s a lyrical retelling, told from multiple perspectives (and indeed the author explains at the end that it was inspired by first adapting the legend to an opera, so the different voices would be perfect for that). Owain and Salka are fully-realised characters, and it was lovely to see Welsh included throughout the book, particularly as it’s published by an English-language publisher (Faber). The ending is distinct from the usual one, and certainly gives food for thought! On the strength of this I hope that Simon writes further for adults in future.

First ⭐️⭐️⭐️ for the year, this short novella by Francesca Simon, which tells the story of Salka, a water faerie and her shepherd husband.

This was ok. The story was good, if predictable. The writing came across as metered which I quite enjoyed, super rhythmic and flowing.

A nice quick read if you like Welsh myth. Thanks @netgalley and @faberbooks.