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A Sweet Sting of Salt
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Fantasy (2024)Once a young woman uncovers a dark secret about her neighbor and his mysterious new wife, she’ll have to fight to keep herself—and the woman she loves—safe in this stunning queer reimagining of the classic folktale The Selkie Wife.
When a sharp cry wakes Jean in the middle of the night during a terrible tempest, she’s convinced it must have been a dream. But when the cry comes again, Jean ventures outside and is shocked by what she discovers—a young woman in labor, already drenched to the bone in the freezing cold and barely able to speak a word of English.
Although Jean is the only midwife in the village and for miles around, she’s at a loss as to who this woman is or where she’s from; Jean can only assume she must be the new wife of the neighbor up the road, Tobias. And when Tobias does indeed arrive at her cabin in search of his wife, Muirin, Jean’s questions continue to grow. Why has he kept his wife’s pregnancy a secret? And why does Muirin’s open demeanor change completely the moment she’s in his presence?
Though Jean learned long ago that she should stay out of other people’s business, her growing concern—and growing feelings—for Muirin mean she can’t simply set her worries aside. But when the answers she finds are more harrowing than she ever could have imagined, she fears she may have endangered herself, Muirin, and the baby. Will she be able to put things right and save the woman she loves before it’s too late, or will someone have to pay for Jean’s actions with their life?
When a sharp cry wakes Jean in the middle of the night during a terrible tempest, she’s convinced it must have been a dream. But when the cry comes again, Jean ventures outside and is shocked by what she discovers—a young woman in labor, already drenched to the bone in the freezing cold and barely able to speak a word of English.
Although Jean is the only midwife in the village and for miles around, she’s at a loss as to who this woman is or where she’s from; Jean can only assume she must be the new wife of the neighbor up the road, Tobias. And when Tobias does indeed arrive at her cabin in search of his wife, Muirin, Jean’s questions continue to grow. Why has he kept his wife’s pregnancy a secret? And why does Muirin’s open demeanor change completely the moment she’s in his presence?
Though Jean learned long ago that she should stay out of other people’s business, her growing concern—and growing feelings—for Muirin mean she can’t simply set her worries aside. But when the answers she finds are more harrowing than she ever could have imagined, she fears she may have endangered herself, Muirin, and the baby. Will she be able to put things right and save the woman she loves before it’s too late, or will someone have to pay for Jean’s actions with their life?
352 pages, Paperback
First published April 9, 2024
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June 6, 2024
never let your husband stop you from finding your wife
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June 10, 2025
A Sweet Sting of Salt is a retelling of the Selkie Wife. Jean Langille is the main character and the village midwife. She lives on a more secluded rocky outcrop of the island, away from prying eyes and wagging mouths belonging to the voracious gossip mill in town, and that’s just how she likes it. She has accepted her lot as the town pariah because of social disgrace directly linked to the true nature of her friendship with Josephine Keddy, her childhood best friend and first love. She is content with the peaceful, purposeful life she has cut out for herself until one tempestuous night, a scream slices through the howling wind and roaring waves of a wrathful sea. Jean is summoned into the storm to investigate, discovering a strange, ethereal woman locked in the throes of childbirth, seemingly from the sea herself. By morning, Jean has safely delivered a new baby and logically concluded this dark and mysterious woman, who only speaks a growling, wild sounding language, must be the new wife of Tobias Silber, a sailor who lives sort of close by. Jean sets off to fetch Tobias to demand why his wife, Muirin, would be in such a way in the middle of the night and why he hadn’t bothered to bring her earlier to be evaluated. Once back at Jean’s cabin with Tobias in tow, she immediately starts to pick up on an unnerving energy between husband and wife. The woman is noticeably silent and reserved in her husband’s presence, and her haunted eyes communicate to Jean what her words cannot---there is a monstrous truth prowling just below the surface of normality. Ostensibly Jean inserts herself into their lives as a concerned neighbor and experienced midwife to monitor and manage Muirin’s condition and the baby’s progress, but she’s really trying to sniff out the secrets Tobias is so clearly trying to keep. Despite an initial language barrier, Jean starts to fall for Muirin the more time she gets to spend with her. She once again finds herself in a situation where all she loves most dearly could be painfully sliced from her grasp, but this time Jean is steeled for the impending battle to salvage her friendship, her home, and their freedom.
I really did not know what I was getting myself into when I started this book! I was delighted to find a reimagining of Celtic folklore, salted with queer love stories and historical pearls to find along the way. There were moments in the book where I was honestly mad at Jean for risking it all to steal a few desperate moments with Muirin. The suspense in these moments had me sitting on pins and needles, knowing fatal discovery and disaster were potentially just seconds away! This book is propulsive and horrifying in equal measure, but I love that the women in this story are tenacious, resourceful, and determined to thwart the patriarchy by any means necessary. This tale has lessons that echo into the present day. With woman’s rights regressing in the most recent years, these valuable lessons are needed more than ever. Men who hide behind patriarchal social constructs and refuse accountability in the continued oppression and transgression against their female counterparts, beware the women who dare to want more than what’s assigned and challenge what they’re told. There will come a time where they just might dare to take back what has been wrongfully purloined…Powerful and unanticipated thoughts to be left with from this book! I very much recommend this book to anyone in the mood for historical fantasy. Since this book has a touch of the supernatural and surprising contemporary relevance, be prepared to ruminate on this story for a while!
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine for the ARC and the opportunity to share what I think! All opinions are my own. Publication date was in April!
I really did not know what I was getting myself into when I started this book! I was delighted to find a reimagining of Celtic folklore, salted with queer love stories and historical pearls to find along the way. There were moments in the book where I was honestly mad at Jean for risking it all to steal a few desperate moments with Muirin. The suspense in these moments had me sitting on pins and needles, knowing fatal discovery and disaster were potentially just seconds away! This book is propulsive and horrifying in equal measure, but I love that the women in this story are tenacious, resourceful, and determined to thwart the patriarchy by any means necessary. This tale has lessons that echo into the present day. With woman’s rights regressing in the most recent years, these valuable lessons are needed more than ever. Men who hide behind patriarchal social constructs and refuse accountability in the continued oppression and transgression against their female counterparts, beware the women who dare to want more than what’s assigned and challenge what they’re told. There will come a time where they just might dare to take back what has been wrongfully purloined…Powerful and unanticipated thoughts to be left with from this book! I very much recommend this book to anyone in the mood for historical fantasy. Since this book has a touch of the supernatural and surprising contemporary relevance, be prepared to ruminate on this story for a while!
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine for the ARC and the opportunity to share what I think! All opinions are my own. Publication date was in April!
April 17, 2024
This was a lovely debut of folklore and fantasy and a love story I was not expecting. I don’t think there are enough stories about selkies so I was excited when I realized that was what this one was about. It’s such an interesting part of folklore and I thought this story did justice to what I know of that folklore while making a story of the author’s own. I’m impressed this was a debut and I am excited to think what else this author will come up with. Jean is surprised one night when a stranger who speaks a strange language is running by clearly pregnant and in labor and heading for the water in a very dangerous fashion. Being a midwife Jean gets her inside and helps her with the birth of her son. When her husband comes Jean fears something is wrong with Muirin and convinces her husband to let her stay for the week. I loved this sapphic retelling of the selkie folklore and while the sapphic story may not be historically accurate I loved it anyway. This book was excellent and I devoured it in a day. I’m only disappointed I left this one my TBR for as long as I did.
April 9, 2024
An absolutely gorgeous tale of sapphic yearning laced with a slow-building sense of Gothic dread. Sutherland’s captivating debut is an intensely beautiful experience you won’t soon forget.
That’s the blurb, but it’s not even the half of my feelings about A SWEET STING OF SALT. If I could give it ten stars, I would! I could go on and on. Filled with achingly beautiful prose and based on the Celtic legend of the selkie wife, this novel is a feat of artistic mastery. Muirin’s love for Jean is both tender and fierce, and Jean is the kind of strong, resilient heroine you can’t help but root for. I adored both of them. And the setting! The wind-tossed shores of Nova Scotia are the perfect location for a tale replete with mystery, romance, and gothic intrigue.
When you read it, please make sure you check out the author’s note. The ghost ship and the history behind it were particularly fascinating.
Note: the heat level in this book is not spicy in the usual sense of the word, but trust me—the spice is there. My god, the yearning. Think “Darcy’s hand clench” levels of purloined passion and hidden desire. It’s perfection.
That’s the blurb, but it’s not even the half of my feelings about A SWEET STING OF SALT. If I could give it ten stars, I would! I could go on and on. Filled with achingly beautiful prose and based on the Celtic legend of the selkie wife, this novel is a feat of artistic mastery. Muirin’s love for Jean is both tender and fierce, and Jean is the kind of strong, resilient heroine you can’t help but root for. I adored both of them. And the setting! The wind-tossed shores of Nova Scotia are the perfect location for a tale replete with mystery, romance, and gothic intrigue.
When you read it, please make sure you check out the author’s note. The ghost ship and the history behind it were particularly fascinating.
Note: the heat level in this book is not spicy in the usual sense of the word, but trust me—the spice is there. My god, the yearning. Think “Darcy’s hand clench” levels of purloined passion and hidden desire. It’s perfection.
December 19, 2023
I went into this book not knowing the folktale and I’m so glad I didn’t look it up first. I couldn’t read fast enough needing to know what happened and hoping it had a HEA, especially being sapphic historical fiction. It was the perfect rainy day read, from the character building to all of the fine details and more. Not high on the steam level, but also not nonexistent by any means. The yearning alone covered it. Truly no idea how this is a debut.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
January 17, 2024
an is the only midwife in town, so when she wakes in the middle of the night to the cries of labor she is surprised and shocked to discover a woman she doesn’t know, and one who’s barely able to speak English.
Tobias comes looking for his wife, Muirin. Jean has many questions but learned long ago to stay out of other people’s business. As Jean gets to know Muirin, her feelings for her grow. When Jean starts to think Muirin is in danger, she wonders if she can save her and the baby before it is too late?
I went into this book thinking it would be something different, but then I ended up loving how it worked out! I’ve read just a handful of books on selkie’s and the folklore associated with them so was really excited when I realized that’s what this one was about. I was even more excited that this was a sapphic love story.
This book had so much angst and I loved it. The love between Muirin and Jean was wonderful, it was so heartfelt and tender. I loved it. Jean was an amazing character. She was so strong and fought for what she wanted in life even when it was hard. This book wasn’t spicy, but it was full of love and had heat. I did find this one to be on the slow side and I do wish that the pacing was a little faster. The author’s note on this one was fantastic. I always enjoy reading the author’s notes because to me they add extra layers to the story and make it that much better, and that was the case here.
Thank you so much to Random House Publishing Group, Ballantine, Dell and Netgalley @Netgalley for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
Tobias comes looking for his wife, Muirin. Jean has many questions but learned long ago to stay out of other people’s business. As Jean gets to know Muirin, her feelings for her grow. When Jean starts to think Muirin is in danger, she wonders if she can save her and the baby before it is too late?
I went into this book thinking it would be something different, but then I ended up loving how it worked out! I’ve read just a handful of books on selkie’s and the folklore associated with them so was really excited when I realized that’s what this one was about. I was even more excited that this was a sapphic love story.
This book had so much angst and I loved it. The love between Muirin and Jean was wonderful, it was so heartfelt and tender. I loved it. Jean was an amazing character. She was so strong and fought for what she wanted in life even when it was hard. This book wasn’t spicy, but it was full of love and had heat. I did find this one to be on the slow side and I do wish that the pacing was a little faster. The author’s note on this one was fantastic. I always enjoy reading the author’s notes because to me they add extra layers to the story and make it that much better, and that was the case here.
Thank you so much to Random House Publishing Group, Ballantine, Dell and Netgalley @Netgalley for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
May 23, 2024
This is a story of Jean Langille, a young woman living alone on the coast of Nova Scotia, Canada. As the village midwife, she is trusted and highly respected by her people in regards to her work. However, she has suffered loss in her life, and there are whispers and rumours about the type of woman she is, which isolate her from having any ties to the community. Therefore, when a very heavily pregnant Muirin appears not far from her house, distressed and in labour, Jean not only delivers her baby, but is happy to build a friendship with the woman. Muirin is mysterious and converses in Gaelic, a language foreign to Jean, as well as minimal broken English. Still, Jean quickly learns that Muirin has a secret about who she is and whom she is married to.
-
While the first 20% of the book was interesting, I grew extremely bored not long afterwards. I have to say that it was beautifully written, but because there was very little dialogue, the majority of the book was focused on describing the weather, the different states of snow, seagulls, and Jean’s two goats, and vixen. I was expecting a lot of magic and folklore, just based on the synopsis of the book. The selkie content was almost non-existent, save for the last few chapters of the book. The rest of it was about Jean’s yearning (see: obsession of) for Muirin and the need to rescue her.
If scenery is your thing, and you enjoy a slow-paced book with sapphic romance, you may like this story. Unfortunately, I did not feel connected to this book nor its characters. In addition, I anticipated the ending from the very beginning, so there was no element of surprise, no climax, and a somewhat confusing epilogue. I do appreciate that the author highlighted the stories from both the queer and Mi’kmaq communities in 19th century Nova Scotia, Canada.
It’s a 2.5 ⭐️ from me.
Huge thanks to Netgalley, Rose Sutherland and the publishers for the ARC.
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While the first 20% of the book was interesting, I grew extremely bored not long afterwards. I have to say that it was beautifully written, but because there was very little dialogue, the majority of the book was focused on describing the weather, the different states of snow, seagulls, and Jean’s two goats, and vixen. I was expecting a lot of magic and folklore, just based on the synopsis of the book. The selkie content was almost non-existent, save for the last few chapters of the book. The rest of it was about Jean’s yearning (see: obsession of) for Muirin and the need to rescue her.
If scenery is your thing, and you enjoy a slow-paced book with sapphic romance, you may like this story. Unfortunately, I did not feel connected to this book nor its characters. In addition, I anticipated the ending from the very beginning, so there was no element of surprise, no climax, and a somewhat confusing epilogue. I do appreciate that the author highlighted the stories from both the queer and Mi’kmaq communities in 19th century Nova Scotia, Canada.
It’s a 2.5 ⭐️ from me.
Huge thanks to Netgalley, Rose Sutherland and the publishers for the ARC.
July 14, 2024
I couldn’t tell you why, but I am obsessed with sapphic selkie stories. So it’s not surprise that A Sweet Sting of Salt was one of my most anticipated releases of the year.
This is such an immersive story. It’s a Nova Scotia gothic, and I could feel the spray of waves crashing against rocks as I read it. Sutherland describes this seaside town in loving detail, even as the main character has a less rosy view of it.
By the end of A Sweet Sting of Salt, I was reminded of Carmen Maria Machado’s “The Husband Stitch.” “The Girl With the Green Ribbon” and “The Selkie Wife” share a similar premise, a women’s horror story: the idea of sacrificing everything for your husband/children and it not being enough. Women are so often expected to be completely subsumed by the role of wife and mother until there’s nothing left that’s just theirs. These feminist retellings make that message shine through, and they show that a truly loving and equitable relationship means being able to keep something for yourself.
While I didn’t like knowing the reveal hundreds of pages before the main character did, that was a pretty minor complaint. A Sweet Sting of Salt was an immersive read perfect for fans of queer retellings, folklore, gothics, and seaside settings.
Full review at the Lesbrary.
This is such an immersive story. It’s a Nova Scotia gothic, and I could feel the spray of waves crashing against rocks as I read it. Sutherland describes this seaside town in loving detail, even as the main character has a less rosy view of it.
By the end of A Sweet Sting of Salt, I was reminded of Carmen Maria Machado’s “The Husband Stitch.” “The Girl With the Green Ribbon” and “The Selkie Wife” share a similar premise, a women’s horror story: the idea of sacrificing everything for your husband/children and it not being enough. Women are so often expected to be completely subsumed by the role of wife and mother until there’s nothing left that’s just theirs. These feminist retellings make that message shine through, and they show that a truly loving and equitable relationship means being able to keep something for yourself.
While I didn’t like knowing the reveal hundreds of pages before the main character did, that was a pretty minor complaint. A Sweet Sting of Salt was an immersive read perfect for fans of queer retellings, folklore, gothics, and seaside settings.
Full review at the Lesbrary.
April 11, 2024
OKAY, THIS WAS ALMOST WRITTEN SPECIFICALLY FOR ME!!!
i've loved selkie and mermaid tales since i was little. queering, and (esp, sapphic-ing) fairytales is one thing that GETS ME GOING, and this was sooooo good. i got very scared in the middle back half that maybe this was going to end up a tragic story (as many selkie stories are wont to do) but thank FUCK i was worried for nothing. i'm so happy that i own this copy (and a signed one at that!!, this was my pick for my aardvark book of the month pick) because it is absolutely one i will come back to, and this is absolutely an author i'm going to keep an eye out for.
i love jean. and i love muirin. and i love selkies. and i love queer ppl<3
i've loved selkie and mermaid tales since i was little. queering, and (esp, sapphic-ing) fairytales is one thing that GETS ME GOING, and this was sooooo good. i got very scared in the middle back half that maybe this was going to end up a tragic story (as many selkie stories are wont to do) but thank FUCK i was worried for nothing. i'm so happy that i own this copy (and a signed one at that!!, this was my pick for my aardvark book of the month pick) because it is absolutely one i will come back to, and this is absolutely an author i'm going to keep an eye out for.
i love jean. and i love muirin. and i love selkies. and i love queer ppl<3
May 9, 2024
This is genuinely one the best novels I’ve read in a long time!! Everything from the folklore to the sapphic yearning to the spiralling antagonist was written in such a captivating way I couldn’t put it down. Jean felt like a real person, and following along as she unravelled the mystery of Muiren while they fell in love was a delight. Muiren herself is one of my new favourite fictional characters. If you like sapphic romance, suspense, fantasy, and immersive writing, I highly recommend A Sweet Sting of Salt 🦭
*please check trigger warnings before reading*
*please check trigger warnings before reading*
June 4, 2025
I loved this sapphic selkie story! The writing is lovely and I adored the inclusiveness of the characters. I cheered on the heroine, Jean, as she grew in confidence and strength—and Muirin was perfectly written. This is a richly written, gorgeous book. I highly recommend!
August 15, 2023
wow, wow, wow, what a stunning debut novel!
jean is a midwife in a coastal town. when she and her mentor meet muirin and her baby, jean takes a liking to her, a dangerous one for the late 1800s. muirin's husband doesn't want her to speak, and so he decides not to teach his gaelic speaking wife any english. jean slowly teaches muirin and they build a bond like no other. as jean's attraction grows, muirin's husband grows more vicious, angry, and jealous. there are already rumors about jean's sexuality, but muirin is more important to her than the perception the townspeople have of jean.
this novel is atmospheric, beautiful, and moving. i cannot believe that this is a debut novel; it's perfect. i loved this book. i read it in one sitting, completely obsessed. sutherland is an author to watch; i cannot wait to read her next novel. five stars, hands down!
thank you so much to netgalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review!
jean is a midwife in a coastal town. when she and her mentor meet muirin and her baby, jean takes a liking to her, a dangerous one for the late 1800s. muirin's husband doesn't want her to speak, and so he decides not to teach his gaelic speaking wife any english. jean slowly teaches muirin and they build a bond like no other. as jean's attraction grows, muirin's husband grows more vicious, angry, and jealous. there are already rumors about jean's sexuality, but muirin is more important to her than the perception the townspeople have of jean.
this novel is atmospheric, beautiful, and moving. i cannot believe that this is a debut novel; it's perfect. i loved this book. i read it in one sitting, completely obsessed. sutherland is an author to watch; i cannot wait to read her next novel. five stars, hands down!
thank you so much to netgalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review!
May 6, 2024
how on earth can you make a selkie story retelling boring?!
July 21, 2025
4 Stars
A Sweet Sting of Salt by Rose Sutherland is a sapphic historical fiction novel based in the early 1800’s. The great thing about the story is the author’s talent of building tension and sustaining it throughout the story. The threat doesn’t even have to be in the scene or in the same room as the main character, just the perception of the threat was enough to make me question if I’m even correct with my assumption?
Another amazing factor in the book is the language barrier and how the author showed the progression of communication. I was just so amazed by how authentic the brokenness of the speech pattern that made total sense. It sounded so natural and realistic for a non-English speaker to speak that way.
Another noteworthy aspect of the book was the setting and surroundings . Most of the story happened during autumn/winter and the author painted the picture of Jean‘s house and the surrounding forest. It was just magical. It wasn’t just winter - cold, cold, cold but there was nuance to the weather that makes the reader feel one with the scenery.
Suffice to say, I enjoyed this book very much . The author successfully transported me to Nova Scotia 1800s and was privy to the life and inner workings of a red headed midwife who lived by the sea.
A Sweet Sting of Salt by Rose Sutherland is a sapphic historical fiction novel based in the early 1800’s. The great thing about the story is the author’s talent of building tension and sustaining it throughout the story. The threat doesn’t even have to be in the scene or in the same room as the main character, just the perception of the threat was enough to make me question if I’m even correct with my assumption?
Another amazing factor in the book is the language barrier and how the author showed the progression of communication. I was just so amazed by how authentic the brokenness of the speech pattern that made total sense. It sounded so natural and realistic for a non-English speaker to speak that way.
Another noteworthy aspect of the book was the setting and surroundings . Most of the story happened during autumn/winter and the author painted the picture of Jean‘s house and the surrounding forest. It was just magical. It wasn’t just winter - cold, cold, cold but there was nuance to the weather that makes the reader feel one with the scenery.
Suffice to say, I enjoyed this book very much . The author successfully transported me to Nova Scotia 1800s and was privy to the life and inner workings of a red headed midwife who lived by the sea.
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May 28, 2024
I really enjoyed this sapphic retelling of "The Selkie Wife," moreso than I thought I would.
Most of my hesitation was the cover. I hate this cover. I hate the fingers. They are so weird. They give me the ick and I just can't place it. Also, it's a lot of boobies for a book that is...not at all really boobylicious?
I was going to skip it, but my friend read it and said YOU MUST READ THIS. Our bookish tastes are very similar, so, here we are!
I adored Jean. She's the only midwife for miles, and she's carved a place for herself on her island, despite a scandal in her teens with the daughter of a very prominent family. Because of her position as midwife, she has both more and less freedom of regular women—she's something of a necessary outcast, needed because of her skills but held at arm's length due to the rumors from her youth, her position as a woman living alone, and her possibly witchy abilities.
When she meets Muirin, she's determined to help her, and immediately spots something wrong with Muirin's relationship with her husband, Tobias. It's classic domestic abuse patterns, but in an italic font—because the really weird shit with Muirin is ALL THERE but Jean never once considers the possibilities because 1) she lives in the real world and 2) it's just a story and it's outlandish and 3) why search for the wildest option when a simpler answer is literally right there in front of you and it happens all the time?
The terror with Tobias is chilling. There's a lot of stalking in the book. A lot of menace. A lot of him terrorizing Jean and his possession—and how I love books where the man's possession is NOT romanticized, but shown as the horror that it is.
The romance between Jean and Muirin is sweet, and feels one-sided at first until Muirin learns enough English to correct Jean on the matter, and then it's just a sweet romance fraught with danger from an overly possessive and awful man who stole Muirin away from her family.
Most of my hesitation was the cover. I hate this cover. I hate the fingers. They are so weird. They give me the ick and I just can't place it. Also, it's a lot of boobies for a book that is...not at all really boobylicious?
I was going to skip it, but my friend read it and said YOU MUST READ THIS. Our bookish tastes are very similar, so, here we are!
I adored Jean. She's the only midwife for miles, and she's carved a place for herself on her island, despite a scandal in her teens with the daughter of a very prominent family. Because of her position as midwife, she has both more and less freedom of regular women—she's something of a necessary outcast, needed because of her skills but held at arm's length due to the rumors from her youth, her position as a woman living alone, and her possibly witchy abilities.
When she meets Muirin, she's determined to help her, and immediately spots something wrong with Muirin's relationship with her husband, Tobias. It's classic domestic abuse patterns, but in an italic font—because the really weird shit with Muirin is ALL THERE but Jean never once considers the possibilities because 1) she lives in the real world and 2) it's just a story and it's outlandish and 3) why search for the wildest option when a simpler answer is literally right there in front of you and it happens all the time?
The terror with Tobias is chilling. There's a lot of stalking in the book. A lot of menace. A lot of him terrorizing Jean and his possession—and how I love books where the man's possession is NOT romanticized, but shown as the horror that it is.
The romance between Jean and Muirin is sweet, and feels one-sided at first until Muirin learns enough English to correct Jean on the matter, and then it's just a sweet romance fraught with danger from an overly possessive and awful man who stole Muirin away from her family.
June 2, 2024
"When she was alone she was quiet, and watched the water in the place where the rivers make the current circle. I imagined maybe it was me she was looking for."
ೃ࿔⊹ ࣪ ﹏𓊝﹏⊹ ࣪ ˖𓏲 ๋࣭ ࣪ ˖🎐
a sweet sting of salt is a lovely sapphic retelling of the selkie wife. this is a stunning debut—yet a debut nonetheless: there are some scenes that i genuinely felt were formulated just for me (aka The One Where They Have A Snowball Fight And Jean Describes How The Snow Sparkled On Muirin's Eyelashes), and others that dragged the plot with the heavy repetition. pacing issues aside, there is so much to adore about this story.
╰› i found myself sinking into this book and its serenity countless times; sutherland's writing is so transportive. each description of jean's cottage along the coast made me feel like i was standing at the water taking a photograph, noting each minute detail of the henhouse and the woods and the smoke curling from the chimney.
★ jean and muirin hold such a special place
in my heart now. jean was kind of stupid as
hell but i, too, would probably be captivated
by muirin's big wet eyes and enchanting
affinity towards baking bread.
August 27, 2023
I’m partially Norwegian and love learning about Scandinavian folklore. I had never heard of a Selkie before and was delighted to come across this book. This was such a good book! The author does a great job of immersing you in the story from go. The characters are well developed and I love the LGBT+ representation. When I envision what life must have been like in these times, in my mind folks aren’t quite so accommodating - but books like this give me hope that I could be wrong. The love story is a slow burn and well worth the wait. I could definitely had more of those two! I would love to read more from this author and definitely more in this vein of reimagined folk lore. Such a great premise!
April 10, 2024
4.5 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2024/04/05/...
Sometimes, the best stories are the ones that catch you off guard. A Sweet Sting of Salt by Rose Sutherland wasn’t initially on my radar, but as soon as I found out about its premise, I knew I had to read it. Inspired by the classic legend of the Selkie Wife, this novel is a historical fiction retelling that combines a captivating blend of Celtic folklore, sapphic romance, and just a tiny dab of the fantastical.
The story opens in a small, Nova Scotian town in the early 1800s. It is a community of mostly farmers and fishermen, and our protagonist Jean is the only midwife for miles around. One stormy night, while getting ready for bed in her lonely seaside cottage, she hears a cry from outside and is shocked to see a pregnant young woman—clearly in labor—stumbling along the shore. After hustling the drenched woman indoors, Jean realizes she is speaking in a foreign tongue, hampering their ability to communicate. Despite this, Jean manages to get the woman to trust her, helping deliver her baby safely.
Gradually, Jean begins to piece together the mystery of the strange woman’s appearance. She finds out her name is Muirin, and that she must be the new wife of Tobias, who lives on the land next to Jean’s. Indeed, when Jean heads out the next morning to seek out her neighbor, she finds Tobias frantically searching for Muirin. When the couple are reunited, Tobias seemed relieved and overjoyed at the birth of his son, but Jean notices that Muirin’s behavior becomes guarded and closed off in the presence of her supposedly loving husband. Driven by a fierce protectiveness, Jean sets out to uncover Muirin’s secret past in order to keep her new friend and her baby safe.
At its core, A Sweet Sting of Salt is a heartwarming tale of unexpected love and connection. Jean is the main pillar of this novel, a fantastic protagonist on whom everything significant and amazing about this story is built. Harboring a secret herself, Jean is an ostracized member of her community because of a forbidden relationship she shared with a childhood friend which ended in disaster and heartbreak. Becoming a respected midwife was the second chance she cannot afford to lose, yet she would readily put aside her own needs for those whom she has given her loyalty and devotion.
The plot itself is evenly paced, and while the relationship between Jean and Muirin takes center stage, it is nevertheless handled subtly in a way that never overshadows the other elements in the book. The slow-burn romance is beautifully written with genuine emotional depth, allowing the characters’ bond to develop organically, making it all the more believable.
Finally, the wild and windswept shores of Nova Scotia lend a perfect vibe and Gothic atmosphere to the setting of this novel. In the author’s afterword, Sutherland writes about the very real places that inspired her, and this deep connection to her home can be experienced in the vivid descriptions of the that bring Jean and Muirin’s tale to life.
All told, A Sweet Sting of Salt is a delightful surprise and an impressive debut by Rose Sutherland. For fans of fiction inspired by classic folklore or readers looking for a unique historical novel with a touch of magic, look no further.
Sometimes, the best stories are the ones that catch you off guard. A Sweet Sting of Salt by Rose Sutherland wasn’t initially on my radar, but as soon as I found out about its premise, I knew I had to read it. Inspired by the classic legend of the Selkie Wife, this novel is a historical fiction retelling that combines a captivating blend of Celtic folklore, sapphic romance, and just a tiny dab of the fantastical.
The story opens in a small, Nova Scotian town in the early 1800s. It is a community of mostly farmers and fishermen, and our protagonist Jean is the only midwife for miles around. One stormy night, while getting ready for bed in her lonely seaside cottage, she hears a cry from outside and is shocked to see a pregnant young woman—clearly in labor—stumbling along the shore. After hustling the drenched woman indoors, Jean realizes she is speaking in a foreign tongue, hampering their ability to communicate. Despite this, Jean manages to get the woman to trust her, helping deliver her baby safely.
Gradually, Jean begins to piece together the mystery of the strange woman’s appearance. She finds out her name is Muirin, and that she must be the new wife of Tobias, who lives on the land next to Jean’s. Indeed, when Jean heads out the next morning to seek out her neighbor, she finds Tobias frantically searching for Muirin. When the couple are reunited, Tobias seemed relieved and overjoyed at the birth of his son, but Jean notices that Muirin’s behavior becomes guarded and closed off in the presence of her supposedly loving husband. Driven by a fierce protectiveness, Jean sets out to uncover Muirin’s secret past in order to keep her new friend and her baby safe.
At its core, A Sweet Sting of Salt is a heartwarming tale of unexpected love and connection. Jean is the main pillar of this novel, a fantastic protagonist on whom everything significant and amazing about this story is built. Harboring a secret herself, Jean is an ostracized member of her community because of a forbidden relationship she shared with a childhood friend which ended in disaster and heartbreak. Becoming a respected midwife was the second chance she cannot afford to lose, yet she would readily put aside her own needs for those whom she has given her loyalty and devotion.
The plot itself is evenly paced, and while the relationship between Jean and Muirin takes center stage, it is nevertheless handled subtly in a way that never overshadows the other elements in the book. The slow-burn romance is beautifully written with genuine emotional depth, allowing the characters’ bond to develop organically, making it all the more believable.
Finally, the wild and windswept shores of Nova Scotia lend a perfect vibe and Gothic atmosphere to the setting of this novel. In the author’s afterword, Sutherland writes about the very real places that inspired her, and this deep connection to her home can be experienced in the vivid descriptions of the that bring Jean and Muirin’s tale to life.
All told, A Sweet Sting of Salt is a delightful surprise and an impressive debut by Rose Sutherland. For fans of fiction inspired by classic folklore or readers looking for a unique historical novel with a touch of magic, look no further.
May 7, 2024
A Sweet Sting of Salt is a sapphic retelling of the Selkie Wife that leans toward being historical fiction with a bit of a speculative element. I'll be up front and say that I often find historical fiction boring, and that did somewhat affect my experience with this book.
The scenes that were focused on the relationship between Jean and Muiren, Muiren's controlling and abusive husband, and the secret Muiren is keeping I loved. A lot of the rest of it I found to be pretty slow and often dry. I think if this had been shorter- more like 200-250 pages, I probably would have loved it. That said, I imagine fans of historical fiction may love this. Jean is a midwife in a small fishing village in Nova Scotia, living on the outskirts of town. One night, she hears someone crying outside her house and finds a pregnant woman in labor, headed towards the sea. She helps her, births the baby, and discovers that she is the wife of her closest neighbor- Tobias. The woman who speaks Gaelic and very little English and her husband is a hard and controlling man who is very possessive and keeps her locked up in the house.
My heart broke for Jean and her past, but I loved where this book ended up. I just wish it had been a shorter story, more focused on that central relationship. I received a copy of this book for review via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.
The scenes that were focused on the relationship between Jean and Muiren, Muiren's controlling and abusive husband, and the secret Muiren is keeping I loved. A lot of the rest of it I found to be pretty slow and often dry. I think if this had been shorter- more like 200-250 pages, I probably would have loved it. That said, I imagine fans of historical fiction may love this. Jean is a midwife in a small fishing village in Nova Scotia, living on the outskirts of town. One night, she hears someone crying outside her house and finds a pregnant woman in labor, headed towards the sea. She helps her, births the baby, and discovers that she is the wife of her closest neighbor- Tobias. The woman who speaks Gaelic and very little English and her husband is a hard and controlling man who is very possessive and keeps her locked up in the house.
My heart broke for Jean and her past, but I loved where this book ended up. I just wish it had been a shorter story, more focused on that central relationship. I received a copy of this book for review via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.
April 26, 2024
Having an interest in Selkie folkore made me want to read this book. Rose Sutherland is a new author for me.
Description:
Once a young woman uncovers a dark secret about her neighbor and his mysterious new wife, she’ll have to fight to keep herself—and the woman she loves—safe in this stunning queer reimagining of the classic folktale The Selkie Wife.
When a sharp cry wakes Jean in the middle of the night during a terrible tempest, she’s convinced it must have been a dream. But when the cry comes again, Jean ventures outside and is shocked by what she discovers—a young woman in labor, already drenched to the bone in the freezing cold and barely able to speak a word of English.
Although Jean is the only midwife in the village and for miles around, she’s at a loss as to who this woman is or where she’s from; Jean can only assume she must be the new wife of the neighbor up the road, Tobias. And when Tobias does indeed arrive at her cabin in search of his wife, Muirin, Jean’s questions continue to grow. Why has he kept his wife’s pregnancy a secret? And why does Muirin’s open demeanor change completely the moment she’s in his presence?
Though Jean learned long ago that she should stay out of other people’s business, her growing concern—and growing feelings—for Muirin mean she can’t simply set her worries aside. But when the answers she finds are more harrowing than she ever could have imagined, she fears she may have endangered herself, Muirin, and the baby. Will she be able to put things right and save the woman she loves before it’s too late, or will someone have to pay for Jean’s actions with their life?
My Thoughts:
This is a queer retelling of the story The Selkie Wife. Sutherland has created virbrant characters and the story is captivating. Very sad in places. The love story is fraught with obstacles and makes for an interesting read. I found Muirin fascinating - where did she come from? How could she possibly handle the language barrier being so isolated? Was her husband a bad man or just struggling to make his marriage work? I loved the ending!
Thanks to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine through Netgalley for an advance copy.
Description:
Once a young woman uncovers a dark secret about her neighbor and his mysterious new wife, she’ll have to fight to keep herself—and the woman she loves—safe in this stunning queer reimagining of the classic folktale The Selkie Wife.
When a sharp cry wakes Jean in the middle of the night during a terrible tempest, she’s convinced it must have been a dream. But when the cry comes again, Jean ventures outside and is shocked by what she discovers—a young woman in labor, already drenched to the bone in the freezing cold and barely able to speak a word of English.
Although Jean is the only midwife in the village and for miles around, she’s at a loss as to who this woman is or where she’s from; Jean can only assume she must be the new wife of the neighbor up the road, Tobias. And when Tobias does indeed arrive at her cabin in search of his wife, Muirin, Jean’s questions continue to grow. Why has he kept his wife’s pregnancy a secret? And why does Muirin’s open demeanor change completely the moment she’s in his presence?
Though Jean learned long ago that she should stay out of other people’s business, her growing concern—and growing feelings—for Muirin mean she can’t simply set her worries aside. But when the answers she finds are more harrowing than she ever could have imagined, she fears she may have endangered herself, Muirin, and the baby. Will she be able to put things right and save the woman she loves before it’s too late, or will someone have to pay for Jean’s actions with their life?
My Thoughts:
This is a queer retelling of the story The Selkie Wife. Sutherland has created virbrant characters and the story is captivating. Very sad in places. The love story is fraught with obstacles and makes for an interesting read. I found Muirin fascinating - where did she come from? How could she possibly handle the language barrier being so isolated? Was her husband a bad man or just struggling to make his marriage work? I loved the ending!
Thanks to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine through Netgalley for an advance copy.
November 4, 2024
slow-moving sapphic selkie historical fiction, except there's no real selkie action until the last few chapters.
every summer i try to have an end of season beach book, usually mermaid themed, to finish out the warm days with. i'm glad i didn't end up getting to this book until late september, because it's not a sunny beach book! it's a wintry cold seaside tale, best enjoyed under a blanket with a mug of tea.
i loved the deep-rooted sense of place and the winter-steady narrative pace. the plot moves as slowly as a northern winter, but the old-school writing is evocative and beautiful, and consistently historical. the language is a treat, with gems like "jean had felt lower than a snake's belly" and it's lovely to follow jean around in her highly independent 1800s life, minding her chickens and goats and living for herself. she's the classic lonely lesbian, burned by a youthful love gone homophobic, resigned to a life live safely alone.
that's until midwife jean meets her neighbor, celtic muirin, and unexpectedly delivers her baby. after recovering from this event and sending muirin back home to her husband, jean is both drawn to her and concerned about her odd marriage. it's wild how the terror enforced by a controlling husband is powerful enough to turn him into a villain. absolutely menacing.
the yearning grows gradually, along with the dread.
the highlight of the book for me is the cozy cabin companionship between jean and muirin. playing in the snow, cold nose pressed against flushed cheek, long tangled skirts. snuggling by the fire, baking biscuits, caring for one another and the home - sapphic domestic bliss! it's dreamy!
i love reading historical fiction that includes multiple forms of lgbt+ representation. jean and her adopted brother laurie are both in gay relationships, quietly accepted by their trusted love ones. the book deals with judgmental small towns, homophobia, misogyny, spousal abuse, and a systemic failure to protect the vulnerable.
and, ultimately, a red fox and a seal in love. i spent this whole book waiting for the selkie content! it doesn't disappoint, and the lore is superb, but i wanted more selkie vibes throughout. nevertheless, it's a love story worth reading.
every summer i try to have an end of season beach book, usually mermaid themed, to finish out the warm days with. i'm glad i didn't end up getting to this book until late september, because it's not a sunny beach book! it's a wintry cold seaside tale, best enjoyed under a blanket with a mug of tea.
i loved the deep-rooted sense of place and the winter-steady narrative pace. the plot moves as slowly as a northern winter, but the old-school writing is evocative and beautiful, and consistently historical. the language is a treat, with gems like "jean had felt lower than a snake's belly" and it's lovely to follow jean around in her highly independent 1800s life, minding her chickens and goats and living for herself. she's the classic lonely lesbian, burned by a youthful love gone homophobic, resigned to a life live safely alone.
that's until midwife jean meets her neighbor, celtic muirin, and unexpectedly delivers her baby. after recovering from this event and sending muirin back home to her husband, jean is both drawn to her and concerned about her odd marriage. it's wild how the terror enforced by a controlling husband is powerful enough to turn him into a villain. absolutely menacing.
the yearning grows gradually, along with the dread.
the highlight of the book for me is the cozy cabin companionship between jean and muirin. playing in the snow, cold nose pressed against flushed cheek, long tangled skirts. snuggling by the fire, baking biscuits, caring for one another and the home - sapphic domestic bliss! it's dreamy!
i love reading historical fiction that includes multiple forms of lgbt+ representation. jean and her adopted brother laurie are both in gay relationships, quietly accepted by their trusted love ones. the book deals with judgmental small towns, homophobia, misogyny, spousal abuse, and a systemic failure to protect the vulnerable.
and, ultimately, a red fox and a seal in love. i spent this whole book waiting for the selkie content! it doesn't disappoint, and the lore is superb, but i wanted more selkie vibes throughout. nevertheless, it's a love story worth reading.
It hadn't been easy at first, when Jean's heart still took to pounding in her chest whenever Muirin was gone for more than an hour, but over and over again she returned whole and happy, and so Jean learned what the fishermen's wives knew: How to look to the horizon and wish for fine weather, a calm and gentle sea. To let Muirin go and hope she would be held safe by the waves, and wonder how soon she would return. Jean couldn't have asked her to do anything else. She held her love in an open hand.
March 21, 2024
When you want to read something that feels like ivy by Taylor Swift but in book form, this is for you. Such an atmospheric story that I couldn’t put down! I’ve read a few different reimaginings of The Selkie Wife, but this one is far and away my favorite so far!
It’s Nova Scotia in 1832…the sea is the lifeblood of Jean’s village. Although she’s a skilled midwife, Jean feels like an outsider - ever since ugly stories started circulating about her relationship with another girl. Apart from house calls, she keeps to herself in her isolated cottage outside town.
But one night a mysterious young woman in labor turns up on the shore in front of Jean’s house. She can’t speak a word of English, but some things transcend language - Jean saves her and her newborn baby boy, only to discover that this mystery woman is the wife of her nearest neighbor. Why does her husband’s arrival seem to strike fear in Muirin’s heart? Why does she suddenly become so quiet and withdrawn when he’s around? As Jean and Muirin’s friendship grows deeper, Jean can’t quite manage to set aside her concerns. Not when she suspects that something next door is horribly wrong…
I really loved the wild Nova Scotia setting…the woods and sea lend the perfect Gothic backdrop to Jean and Muirin’s story. Rose, the author, has deep roots there and you can feel it in every description she writes. Queer relationships in a historical setting can also be really challenging to write in a way that feels authentic to the time period, but Rose nailed it - especially considering this is her debut novel.
Thanks to Rose, Netgalley and Dell for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts!
It’s Nova Scotia in 1832…the sea is the lifeblood of Jean’s village. Although she’s a skilled midwife, Jean feels like an outsider - ever since ugly stories started circulating about her relationship with another girl. Apart from house calls, she keeps to herself in her isolated cottage outside town.
But one night a mysterious young woman in labor turns up on the shore in front of Jean’s house. She can’t speak a word of English, but some things transcend language - Jean saves her and her newborn baby boy, only to discover that this mystery woman is the wife of her nearest neighbor. Why does her husband’s arrival seem to strike fear in Muirin’s heart? Why does she suddenly become so quiet and withdrawn when he’s around? As Jean and Muirin’s friendship grows deeper, Jean can’t quite manage to set aside her concerns. Not when she suspects that something next door is horribly wrong…
I really loved the wild Nova Scotia setting…the woods and sea lend the perfect Gothic backdrop to Jean and Muirin’s story. Rose, the author, has deep roots there and you can feel it in every description she writes. Queer relationships in a historical setting can also be really challenging to write in a way that feels authentic to the time period, but Rose nailed it - especially considering this is her debut novel.
Thanks to Rose, Netgalley and Dell for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts!
October 2, 2024
Hey publishers, just because a book has a Singular magical element that could be cut out of the book by just cutting out a couple sentences and it would barely effect the plot At All, doesn't mean you should advertise and categorize it as fantasy. It definitely sets false expectations,,,,
this one was honestly pretty boring and i'm a little bitter about it oops.
this one was honestly pretty boring and i'm a little bitter about it oops.
November 27, 2024
I've been in the mood for another beautifully written, queer historical fiction novel with a unique setting and A Sweet Sting of Salt delivered perfectly! It's slow-paced, with a lot of descriptions of the MCs' every day lives by the sea, but I really enjoyed it. I felt like I was there on the desolate Novia Scotia coast along with MC Jean, shivering in the cold and running through the woods, and of course, sitting warm and toasty by the fire while she tends to her love interest Muirin. Of course the twist is very obvious, but the journey matters more than the destination.
Their romance was so sweet and well-done. A brilliant slow burn that had me rooting for them from the start. There's so much gentle yearning, desire, and true friendship at the base of it. The ending was SO satisfying and I'm so happy they could live happily ever after together, considering the time period (1830s). MC Jean is a lesbian who has been shunned by the town due to her sexuality, but she is also the best midwife around, and so she's been slowly welcomed back due to her skills. I just loved that she was a woman who lived in isolation after all the suffering she's been through, but then she learned to open herself up again to other people -- and that she learned other people could be trusted too. The selkie myth was like the cherry on top of the cake -- a nice magical realism twist, but not the main point, I think. More than anything, it's about two women finding comfort in each other and following their hearts despite what society says, despite abusive men, and despite what's easy. Highly recommended if you want a cozy autumn/winter read.
Their romance was so sweet and well-done. A brilliant slow burn that had me rooting for them from the start. There's so much gentle yearning, desire, and true friendship at the base of it. The ending was SO satisfying and I'm so happy they could live happily ever after together, considering the time period (1830s). MC Jean is a lesbian who has been shunned by the town due to her sexuality, but she is also the best midwife around, and so she's been slowly welcomed back due to her skills. I just loved that she was a woman who lived in isolation after all the suffering she's been through, but then she learned to open herself up again to other people -- and that she learned other people could be trusted too. The selkie myth was like the cherry on top of the cake -- a nice magical realism twist, but not the main point, I think. More than anything, it's about two women finding comfort in each other and following their hearts despite what society says, despite abusive men, and despite what's easy. Highly recommended if you want a cozy autumn/winter read.
January 12, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me an ARC of this book for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
I loved the sweet slow burn between Muirin and Jean. The chemistry was SO GOOD and I was cheering them on the entire way! There was also some incredible side characters (looking at you, Anneke and Laurie) that I grew to love almost as much as Muirin and Jean themselves.
Not only were the characters and their relationships fantastic, the writing was lovely too! I was able to very clearly visualize the setting, and the little historical tidbits helped me do this wonderfully. I hope Rosie Sutherland continues her writing career because this debut novel was fantastic and I would 100% read more from her.
Publication date: April 9, 2024
I loved the sweet slow burn between Muirin and Jean. The chemistry was SO GOOD and I was cheering them on the entire way! There was also some incredible side characters (looking at you, Anneke and Laurie) that I grew to love almost as much as Muirin and Jean themselves.
Not only were the characters and their relationships fantastic, the writing was lovely too! I was able to very clearly visualize the setting, and the little historical tidbits helped me do this wonderfully. I hope Rosie Sutherland continues her writing career because this debut novel was fantastic and I would 100% read more from her.
Publication date: April 9, 2024
September 18, 2023
This was an ARC I was greatly looking forward to, especially as autumn weather begins. From skimming the synopsis, the set up felt reminiscent of a dark, cozy, atmospheric historical fiction retelling of the short story “The Selkie Wife.” Selkie mythology isn’t something I’m familiar with, so I flew through half of this rather blind—until I took it upon myself to research into selkies, which quickly laid out the plot trajectory of this novel for me. Unfortunately, that plot predictability did steal some of the wind out of the novel’s sails, but that didn’t stop me from enjoying Rose Sutherland’s writing.
I was pleasantly surprised by the novel’s writing style. It was atmospheric, wistful, and lonely, while supporting a classical tone. It felt akin to the modernization of classical novel style (such as, Jane Austen, Emily Brontë) and that helped to welcome a reader into the darker tones of the story. However, the writing did veer too much into introspection and wasn't as well balanced with moments of dialogue or action. Most chapters opened with pages of sitting in Jean’s head as she mused (mostly about Muirin) and provided summaries of how she was passing her days. While that built up the sense of Jean’s loneliness and isolation, it was a taxing reading experience to face paragraphs of text with no dialogue to break it up.
The plot was character-driven, which normally isn’t my cup of tea. At times, I did struggle with the plot knowing it was coming from a character-focused place; other moments, I was enraptured by it and wanted to keep pushing through the novel’s pages. Overall, the plot was slower-paced and inconsistent with its moments of action. I found the middle 50-80% repetitive, with Tobias and Jean playing cat-and-mouse, while Jean obsessed about Muirin. While Tobias’s looming threat got the pulse racing, this was a place where the plot began to drag a bit. It was circular in how a new Tobias threat would reveal itself, Jean would send herself into a spiral about Muirin worries, and it would begin all over again. I wish more subplots had injected themselves here to keep the plot moving a little faster.
With how clever and brave Jean was, I was surprised that she didn’t figure out Muirin’s truth sooner. If we had more set-up or world-building woven in of the town discussing Selkie lore, Jean could’ve had the opportunity to put the pieces together. Instead, we had Laurie being cagey about the truth and few chances for Jean to put the truth together herself. Despite knowing how this plot was going to break down—with Muirin being exposed as a selkie—it still felt a touch out of left-field. The clues were there, certainly, but Jean was actively overlooking these pieces. Having that mythology undertow would’ve strengthened the plot in a way it needed.
With how lonely Jean was portrayed, there was a sizeable cast of characters that each brought something to the page. Laurie was likely my favorite minor character, despite his development becoming underutilized. He was Jean’s foil, and I would have loved to see more parallels between their journeys earlier on in this plot. As for Jean, she had a strong character voice in the beginning, but it petered out in the second half when she began obsessing over Muirin and their relationship. (Speaking of relationships, I wish that had a little more development! We went from attraction to “I-love-yous" quickly.) I truly wanted a bit more development for Jean, as she felt static and one-dimensional toward the end.
Overall, I found this to be a solid debut. Personally, I’m not a huge fan of character-driven plots because I prefer the external plots to place a little more pressure on the characters. While the pacing was inconsistent at times, I did enjoy the hauntingly beautiful Nova Scotia inspired town Sutherland allowed the reader to explore through Jean’s experiences.
TW: pregnancy and childbirth, parent death (off-page), suicide, sexual assault, animal death (on-page), murder (on-page)
Thank you to Ballentine and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book.
*~*~*~*~*
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I was pleasantly surprised by the novel’s writing style. It was atmospheric, wistful, and lonely, while supporting a classical tone. It felt akin to the modernization of classical novel style (such as, Jane Austen, Emily Brontë) and that helped to welcome a reader into the darker tones of the story. However, the writing did veer too much into introspection and wasn't as well balanced with moments of dialogue or action. Most chapters opened with pages of sitting in Jean’s head as she mused (mostly about Muirin) and provided summaries of how she was passing her days. While that built up the sense of Jean’s loneliness and isolation, it was a taxing reading experience to face paragraphs of text with no dialogue to break it up.
The plot was character-driven, which normally isn’t my cup of tea. At times, I did struggle with the plot knowing it was coming from a character-focused place; other moments, I was enraptured by it and wanted to keep pushing through the novel’s pages. Overall, the plot was slower-paced and inconsistent with its moments of action. I found the middle 50-80% repetitive, with Tobias and Jean playing cat-and-mouse, while Jean obsessed about Muirin. While Tobias’s looming threat got the pulse racing, this was a place where the plot began to drag a bit. It was circular in how a new Tobias threat would reveal itself, Jean would send herself into a spiral about Muirin worries, and it would begin all over again. I wish more subplots had injected themselves here to keep the plot moving a little faster.
With how clever and brave Jean was, I was surprised that she didn’t figure out Muirin’s truth sooner. If we had more set-up or world-building woven in of the town discussing Selkie lore, Jean could’ve had the opportunity to put the pieces together. Instead, we had Laurie being cagey about the truth and few chances for Jean to put the truth together herself. Despite knowing how this plot was going to break down—with Muirin being exposed as a selkie—it still felt a touch out of left-field. The clues were there, certainly, but Jean was actively overlooking these pieces. Having that mythology undertow would’ve strengthened the plot in a way it needed.
With how lonely Jean was portrayed, there was a sizeable cast of characters that each brought something to the page. Laurie was likely my favorite minor character, despite his development becoming underutilized. He was Jean’s foil, and I would have loved to see more parallels between their journeys earlier on in this plot. As for Jean, she had a strong character voice in the beginning, but it petered out in the second half when she began obsessing over Muirin and their relationship. (Speaking of relationships, I wish that had a little more development! We went from attraction to “I-love-yous" quickly.) I truly wanted a bit more development for Jean, as she felt static and one-dimensional toward the end.
Overall, I found this to be a solid debut. Personally, I’m not a huge fan of character-driven plots because I prefer the external plots to place a little more pressure on the characters. While the pacing was inconsistent at times, I did enjoy the hauntingly beautiful Nova Scotia inspired town Sutherland allowed the reader to explore through Jean’s experiences.
TW: pregnancy and childbirth, parent death (off-page), suicide, sexual assault, animal death (on-page), murder (on-page)
Thank you to Ballentine and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book.
*~*~*~*~*
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September 10, 2024
✩ 4.5 𝓼𝓽𝓪𝓻𝓼
April 17, 2024
A Sweet Sting of Salt is a lesbian retelling of the story of the selkie wife. In case you need a refresher, selkies are creatures who can shift between seal and human forms. The wife bit comes from the legend that if a man can find a female selkie in human form and take possession of her seal skin, she'll be unable to transform, and he can marry her. So, from a life shifting between forms to enjoy sea and land, the selkie becomes a prisoner of a man as long as he can keep her seal skin hidden from her. Probably not a good way to begin a happy marriage.
Rose Sutherland's retelling of the selkie wife, focuses on, Jean, a village midwife, but also an outcast because she once fell in love with another woman; Muirin, a mysterious woman who Jean finds in the snow in the dark of night in advanced labor; and Tobias, who appears after the birth and claims both Muirin and the child as his. You can figure out the plot from that bit of summary.
What a summary won't reveal is the wonderful world-building that Sutherland does and the intensity of her characters. A Sweet Sting of Salt is capital-g Gothic in all the best ways. Endless snow storms, animals who seem to be a bit more than animals, menace, and silences.
If you're a reader of Gothic fiction or a reader of queer fiction, you'll take great pleasure in A Sweet Sting of Salt. You'll struggle with the bad (and good) choices you know the characters will make. And you'll explore a folk tale both dark and light. Most of all, you'll ache for Jean and Muirin and will regret every moment you'll have to spend away from them if real life is unkind enough to interrupt your reading.
I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via NetGalley; the opinions are my own.
Rose Sutherland's retelling of the selkie wife, focuses on, Jean, a village midwife, but also an outcast because she once fell in love with another woman; Muirin, a mysterious woman who Jean finds in the snow in the dark of night in advanced labor; and Tobias, who appears after the birth and claims both Muirin and the child as his. You can figure out the plot from that bit of summary.
What a summary won't reveal is the wonderful world-building that Sutherland does and the intensity of her characters. A Sweet Sting of Salt is capital-g Gothic in all the best ways. Endless snow storms, animals who seem to be a bit more than animals, menace, and silences.
If you're a reader of Gothic fiction or a reader of queer fiction, you'll take great pleasure in A Sweet Sting of Salt. You'll struggle with the bad (and good) choices you know the characters will make. And you'll explore a folk tale both dark and light. Most of all, you'll ache for Jean and Muirin and will regret every moment you'll have to spend away from them if real life is unkind enough to interrupt your reading.
I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via NetGalley; the opinions are my own.
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