I really liked this one! Normally I'm not a fan of books that are slower paced, but it actually worked incredibly in this one. The slow pace allowed for the atmosphere to really thrive. It was the perfect mix of melancholy and loneliness, the perfect read for a winter's day. I also really loved the characters. Although we didn't get to know much about Muirin herself, she was super fun to read about. The same goes for Jean.

If you're looking for the next atmospheric read to blow you away, this one is perfect for you!

Thanks to Netgalley for providing a free copy in exchange for a review!

"She held her love in an open hand."

It is too often that the things we love most we attempt to grip steadfastly leaving little room for movement in any direction. This book? It reminds you that it is easy to lose oneself to the idea of love, to force and mould it into a shape only recognizable by you. In doing so, you have trapped not only your heart, but another's too and that snare only grows more unbearable over time.

Love should be like grains of sand. If you grasp a handful tightly, sand slips out of all the crevices no matter how large your hands or how strong your grip. If you grab a handful of sand, turn your hand over and open it, many more grains remain with you.

The leading ladies are both beautiful in their own right. A midwife beholden to gossip and a trapped Selkie cuffed to her lore and master, create quite the stir in a small sea town. As the story unfolds there are moments where you'll close your eyes and hope for the best, you'll laugh and sigh, and you'll feel passion and anguish in equal measure, but that ending? What a beautiful story.

Intelligent writing from the first chapter that only grows more mellifluous until the final word.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Random House Ballantine for providing me a copy of this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I have adored selkies and their folklore since I was quite young, so when I heard there was a cottage-core, lesbian selkie novel I was over the moon and so excited to read it. I went in with high hopes, and for the most part, those hopes were met.

As the slow-burn love story unfolds through the pages while Jean is also working tirelessly to figure out what is so strange about her lady-love’s husband, you can really feel yourself getting sucked into their world. I didn’t want to put the book down, especially towards the end of it.

The writing was strong and flowed well, but occasionally there would be a word or phrase that felt very out of place for the 1832 setting, and would take me out of the flow of the story. Perhaps a bit more care could have been taken to stay consistent with the language of the time— in order to really keep the reader in that setting— but these instances were few and far between, and did little to diminish my enjoyment of the novel.

Many of the historical aspects of the novel also felt a bit glossed over, or at least not very fleshed out. I understand of course that this is a work of fiction, and that with selkies involved there must be some amount of fantasy and suspension of disbelief. But, if you’re going to start with a real historical event as a focal point for the story, you should continue to have that strong historical backing in the rest of your writing.

This final comment is one that I debated including at all, only because I’m not sure of it’s validity. But, I’m going to include it anyway just in case others feel the same as me (or, if they don’t). It is mentioned many times throughout the novel that Muirin, the love interest and wife of the sketchy man, is of a darker complexion. Jean is light skinned and red-headed. With Jean having to do much in their relationship to essentially rescue Muirin from her abusive husband (because Muirin can’t rescue herself for fear of his retaliation), there’s and element of “white savior” to the story that I was not totally comfortable with. There were also some comments made about the Native people of their island that just felt… strange to me, in a way I can’t quite put my finger on. Again, these are not things I’m certain on, just little things that felt a bit strange to me.

In general, I really enjoyed the book, and there were only a few small things that I had an issue with— but I don’t think these are dealbreaker issues by any means. It’s ultimately a beautiful story of queer love and defeating the patriarchy— with some truly incredible metaphors mixed in.

Rose Sutherland's novel, "A Sweet Sting of Salt," initially unfolds at a leisurely pace, gradually drawing readers into an unexpected and captivating narrative. While diverging from the familiar, the story takes a surprising turn that ultimately enchants its audience. I honestly was not expecting how great this book turned out.

The tale centers around Jean, the village's sole midwife, whose life is forever altered when she stumbles upon a mysterious woman in labor. As the plot unravels, Jean's curiosity deepens, and her connection with the woman, Muirin, grows stronger. The story deftly interweaves elements of intrigue, mystery, and suspense, keeping readers engaged as they follow the characters' journeys.

Sutherland's narrative prowess shines as she introduces unexpected layers to the plot, including a shifter/shape-changer element that adds an exciting twist to the story. Muirin's secrets and Tobias's hidden motivations contribute to the intricate web of relationships that Jean must navigate.

The emotional depth of the characters is a highlight of the novel, especially Jean's growing affection for Muirin. Jean's determination to uncover the truth and protect her newfound love showcases the novel's themes of courage, self-discovery, and sacrifice.

The author masterfully explores themes of love, secrecy, and the consequences of one's actions, creating a compelling narrative that resonates with readers. The intricate portrayal of the characters' internal struggles and the complexities of their relationships makes "A Sweet Sting of Salt" a memorable and moving read.

Rose Sutherland's "A Sweet Sting of Salt" may begin at a gentle pace, but it swiftly evolves into a captivating tale of love, mystery, and transformation. The unexpected twists, well-crafted characters, and skillful narrative combine to create an engaging story that lingers in the reader's mind long after the final page.

A Sweet Sting of Salt was delightfully atmospheric and a balm for the heatwave California is currently going through. I wanted it to be winter so I could wear sweaters and drink hot beverages.

As someone who feels quite lonely, I identified quite a lot with Jean. Sometimes it hurts to see yourself reflected back at you, and this was no exception. However, it brought me great joy to see her find people (eye emoji) who welcomed her and brought her into their fold.

I did find some paragraphs to be quite wordy and I got lost a bit in their mire. (Although, perhaps, I should not be talking.) It took some getting used to, but I flew through this within a morning, so it really didn't set me back once I found the rhythm of it.

I recommend for a fun, historical fantasy read!

This book enchanted me from the opening pages. The characters and the setting are so finely wrought, the mythological elements woven in flawlessly, and the relationship between Jean and Muirin was a delight from start to finish. I couldn't put it down!

3/5 ⭐️

Jean is a midwife living at the edge of the sea in a small village In the middle of the night, a sharp cry wakes her. Jean discovers a women in labor. A women she has never seen before. Being the only midwife in the village, she knows everyone. Except this mysterious stranger in labor. Jean isn’t one to meddle in other people’s business, but something feels off and Jean is determined to figure it out.

This story unravels in a beautiful, unexpected way. The author, Rose Sutherland really draws you in and you start to lose yourself in the village. Which is what you want for a good story! This isn’t the typical book I would be drawn to so I was surprised that I enjoyed it.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Wow. I loved this story. Jean was a force of nature even if she didn’t believe in herself at first. Muirin was such a mystery, Tobias is a character I truly wanted to throttle on more than one occasion. Now Laurie is a best friend I think everyone should have in their lives.

The character development was great. The scenes were so well drawn that I was right there and could see this book play out in my mind. I loved it and couldn’t wait to find out what would happen next.

I would highly recommend this book.

Thank you NetGalley for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

A mysterious and sweet novel that I enjoyed thoroughly from start to end! It left me guessing and turning the pages for more which I always love. The world building and plot was written very clear and well too, a great book all around.

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this e-ARC. This was my first ARC from Netgalley, and I'm absolutely blown away!

I went into the story mostly blind, but I loved the cover, and it was marked as historical fiction. It is historical fiction, but there is fantasy, mystery, suspense, and even a love story, with feminist and LGTBQ+ themes all seamlessly blended. The story begins when a mysterious woman in labor is discovered outside during a raging storm by Jean, who happens to be the midwife of a small isolated town. Jean helps the woman give birth despite their language barrier. She later discovers the woman is the wife of her nearest neighbor in a very remote area. I loved Jean's character. Even though the women can't initially communicate, Jean senses something is off and is determined to figure out what.

The author spins a luscious and atmospheric retelling of the Gaelic folktale, The Selkie Wife, as the story unfolds. I am a sucker for folklore, but I wasn't familiar with this story, not that you'd have to be. It's a fascinating tale, and I definitely want to read the original. From what I now know, I'm pretty sure I will still prefer Sutherland's version, though.

Congratulations to the author for creating such an enchanting and beautifully written debut. I will definitely read anything she writes.

Jean is the town's trusted midwife, but even as the town embraces her for her talents she feels that she must keep her to avoid a repeat of the harmful rumors that were once spreading about her. She lives outside of town, mostly secluded. So one night when she hears a woman yelling in the distance and finds her pregnant, wet, in the cold, and about to give birth she takes her in to shelter and deliver her baby. From there we follow Jean as she navigates her new relationship with Muirin while having to keep an eye on Muirin's suspicious yet well-meaning husband and their relationship.

This was a really fun read! I loved the writing style and the love stories were well developed. Jean was a great protagonist. A strong, loving, and daring woman who has had to deal with the undeserved reaction to what her heart wants. Muirin is also a great character. She is loving and sweet.

I recommend this story to anyone looking for a love story. It isn't the typical romance book, but I loved that about it. There are also offers fantasy, some mystery, and historical fiction to keep the book moving and build a full world.

I really loved this book. The premise had me at a sapphic, feminist flip of the fisherman’s selkie wife folk tale, and this charming, cozy historical fantasy slow burn romance did not disappoint.

Jean, a midwife, lives alone on a farm with goats, chickens and a friendly fox for company. She is mostly happy, but lonely, still pining for her first love who got away at a time when it was dangerous to dream of such happiness - a woman named Jo, her childhood friend, married off to a Frenchman after her overbearing mother discovered their affair.

One stormy night, a desperate pregnant woman, the new, mysterious wife of Jean’s gruff fisherman neighbor Tobias, ends up in her yard, wildly searching for the sea. Jean assists her with the birth of a dark-eyed boy with webbed fingers, and when Tobias comes for them, she suspects that something is deeply wrong with their marriage. Muirin, who can’t speak English, stays with Jean till she and the baby recover, and the spark of attraction grows between them until it can’t be ignored.

I loved the chemistry between Muirin and Jean, the difference between their relationship and the one Tobias stole from Muirin. Their love story sweetly builds into choosing the life for yourself that you want against all odds and accepting people for who they are, strange quirks, magic and all.

The tension between Tobias and Jean wasn’t as predictable as I feared; I felt Jean was almost a little too naive at times for living by herself, but the abusive husband arc didn’t go the way I expected; it had layers of complexity. This was a story of secrets behind closed doors and deceitful appearances, about the mystery, danger and freedom of water and the sea.

A lovely sapphic historical romance with entrancing nods to folklore and village life. I found myself enchanted by this soft, mesmerizing book.

Thank you to the publisher for granting my wish and to Netgalley for the advance review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC. I was not familiar with the tale of the Selkie Wife, and like the author, was disturbed at the thought after finding the tale on Google. This book keeps you interested to learn the truth and keeps the suspense throughout.

This book is honestly not the genre I normally read but the cover is so pretty. And of course I'm a sucker for a cute cover. And the book was really good. Like I said not my usual genre but I enjoyed this book a lot. I will happily suggest this book to others.

Folklore, mystery, love, queer characters. This is a fantastic reimagining of folktale of The Selkie Wife. What would we change about that classic story if we could? Rose Sutherland has given us the update that we knew we needed in her debut novel. We follow the story of Jean, a midwife in early 1800’s Nova Scotia as she forms a bond with her mysterious neighbor’s wife. Jean discovers Muirin laboring in the middle of the night while trying to make her way to the sea.

This story is gorgeous. From the setting to the relationship built between Jean and Muirin, the prose is lovely. The supporting characters of Anneke and Laurie only add to the deep love and relationships in this book.

Be aware that there is suspense, reference to past traumas, and two instances of violence towards wild/farm animals. I would consider these depictions mild compared to a lot of books, so don’t let that deter you if you don’t feel extreme sensitivity towards those topics.

Skilled young midwife Jean is drawn out of her remote cabin into a strong storm by a cry from her yard. There, she finds her nearest neighbor’s wife, alone in the wet and cold, about to give birth. In spite of the linguistic barrier, more of new mother Muirin’s secrets soon come to light, and questions about her situation rapidly become serious concerns. Jean will need all her courage, intelligence, and determination if she is to help the woman she loves escape the escalating danger that now threatens them both.

Author Rose Sutherland sets her absorbing and suspenseful retelling of The Selkie Wife in early 1830s small-town Nova Scotia. She richly evokes the coastal area’s natural world of forests, marshes, streams, ponds, and, of course, the sea. The townsfolk are a rich mix of fishers, farmers, tradespeople, and their families from the diverse Western European nationalities who have settled there. Even the secondary characters woven into Jean’s life are well fleshed out, and have stories that are intriguing in their own right. Her mentor Anneke, best friend Laurie, and childhood love Jo spring immediately to mind, but all are drawn with a depth that makes them worthy of the reader’s emotional investment.

Bottom line: The Sweet Sting of Salt is a multi-layered, sometimes beautiful, often intense, always well-written novel, with characters I cared about and a plot that gripped my attention from beginning to end. Would recommend, both for individual readers, and as an addition to public library general/historical adult fiction collections.

I have never been familiar with Gaelic fairy tales, so the concept of selkies was new to me. This was a really great introduction into their folklore. I really enjoyed the book and the main character, Jean. She has such gumption and a fierce loyalty to herself and what she thinks is right and it’s endearing. Muirin was a wonderfully developed charter and even with the language barrier hindering the communication what was said was meaningful. Also I loved Laurie and Anneke - they were such well developed side characters.

A Sweet Sting of Salt by Rose Sutherland

A retelling of the folk tale The Selkie Wife.

A quick 3-minute reference if you, like me, did not know the tale.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fE11rw0s8w

I definitely think it would have helped to know the folktale prior to reading the novel because I must have skipped over that bold type when reading the synopsis and didn’t realize until nearly the end that this was fantasy and after further review a retelling.

Selkie’s are seals who when upon land can shed their skins and become beautiful naked women dancing in the moonlight. In The Selkie Wife, one of these Selkie’s skins is stolen by a fisherman and he takes her as his wife.

There are all kinds of problems I can see right away - um kidnapping, r*pe, etc. Rose Sutherland, in her author’s note, felt the same way and A Sweet Sting of Salt takes on new life in this queer historical fiction romance novel.

Like I said above, I missed the part before I started that expressed this was a retelling and fantasy - I went into it thinking it was a historical fiction/romance novel - so when the curtain came down at nearly the end of the book I kind of went OH this is where we are going. I don’t know if there were other hints throughout the book that I missed that told me that Muirin wasn’t just other she was OTHER, magical even - but a bit more or at least one other at least semi-obvious clue in the text would have been nice before the end. Something that made you feel and know you are in a fantasy.

Regardless of that, A Sweet Sting of Salt, is a worthy read. Our heroine, Jean, is real and fleshed out and even though you know she is putting herself in danger you can’t but agree - as the reader we feel her sense of helplessness and her strength to fight for what is right regardless of the consequences.

The novel ends satisfying and the author’s note brings it home. She says how in the original tale she got the sense that she was supposed to feel sorry for the fisherman because his wife had to return to the sea - but that isn’t love as Jean shows us in the end. Love must be freely given and accepted without force or obligation.

What an enchanting story!!

I hadn't read any kind of Celtic mythology that was like this, so I'm so happy that I was given the chance to read this early!! It was absolutely captivating, the writing was beautiful, and I loved Jean's character. Although I do feel like it was slightly predictable and I didn't necsarily feel a crazy amount of tension towards the later half of the story, I still think it was really well done. Personally, I was more into the relationships between the characters, especially that of Jean and Muirin. It was so well written and beautifully done. So even though I wasn't overly surprised by where the story headed, especially the darker moments/climax, I still enjoyed it and I can't wait to see what else Rose Sutherland writes. Very few people can write stories on mythology in a way that feels refreshing, yet loyal to the original tale, and I think Sutherland did a wonderful job at it!

Giving this one a 3.5/4!! I can see a lot of people liking this, especially ones that love any kind of take on mythology. It felt very whimsical and entrancing!! Definitely keeping my eye on Sutherland's stories in the future!

As always, thank you for the chance to read and review this early!!

A huge thank you to the publisher (and Netgalley) for the privilege to read this novel.

One of the biggest things that interested me growing up was always the folklore that has been passed down to me by my family (granted it is different from this novel, but it ultimately gave me the "feels" and nostalgia). One of the best things about the novel for me was the descriptive language the author used, there were parts of the story where I actually forgot I was just reading the book (I literally felt like I had a movie going on in my head, if that makes sense?

This book didn't take me that long to read, because I couldn't put it down. I needed to know how it unfolded. This was the first work that I have read from this author and was quite pleasantly please (I tend to stick to certain genres/authors). Overall, the ending wrapped up the story really nicely, and was a great happier ending than what I have been used to with other authors.

Thank you again to the publisher (& Netalley ) for the opportunity to read this novel. I look forward to seeing what is next!