"She held her love in an open hand."

A Sweet Sting of Salt is lovely debut novel that is a queer retelling of a classic folktale. I knew the story of The Selkie Wife already, but that didn't lessen the tension and fear that Sutherland's writing often invoked. The romance was well written and believable, the main character and the love interest likable. The plot did get a little bit draggy near the end, and the climax was somewhat predictable, but overall, the writing is lovely and the world well built with a beautiful and well deserved ending.

A Sweet Sting of Salt by Rose Sutherland is a captivating addition to the fantasy genre that immerses readers in a richly imagined world filled with magic, adventure, and intrigue. From the very first page, the book draws you into a meticulously crafted universe where every detail—from the landscapes to the lore—is brought to life with vivid, engaging prose.

The story follows Jean when she hears a sharp cry in the middle of the night, which unfolds with a compelling blend of action, mystery, and character development. Rose Sutherland excels at creating multi-dimensional characters whose growth and relationships drive the narrative forward. With the Celtic folklore it adds so some fresh concepts to keep the story alive even after you've finished.

Sadly, this one didn't land as well as I thought it would. The book spent a lot of time describing the setting and backstory of Jean, so it took away from the plot for me. The major conflict also felt very inconsequential as it could resolved fairly quickly. The language barrier between Jean and Muirin also felt very insta-lovey to me as I didn't necessarily buy their connection.

The lore was interesting enough and I wish the author would have spent more time detailing the selkie lore and not have expected them to know all the information.

A Sweet Sting of Salt was a really interesting and engaging read. I appreciated the character exploration and would read more from Sutherland.

This book lacks a compelling plot, in my opinion. It's too slow paced for me, but I see a lot of people loving it and I appreciate many of the elements in this. It just didn't work for me.

Rose Sutherland's "A Sweet Sting of Salt" invites readers into a hauntingly beautiful narrative set against the evocative backdrop of Nova Scotia's rugged shores. At its heart, the novel reimagines the classic folktale of The Selkie Wife through a lens of queer romance and magical realism.

The story unfolds in Barquer's Bay, where Jean, the sole midwife, discovers a mysterious young woman in labor during a tempestuous night. Unable to speak English, the woman, Muirin, is shrouded in secrets that unravel with each passing chapter. Jean's growing concern for Muirin intertwines with her deepening feelings, sparking a journey of self-discovery and forbidden love.

Sutherland's prose is as lyrical as the sea's lullaby, painting vivid scenes that immerse readers in the rugged beauty and eerie mystique of coastal Nova Scotia. The characters are nuanced and deeply human, each grappling with desires and burdens that transcend the ordinary. Muirin's enigmatic nature contrasts poignantly with Jean's steadfast determination, creating a magnetic tension that drives the narrative forward.

As the layers of mystery unravel, themes of identity, sacrifice, and the transformative power of love come to the forefront. Sutherland deftly explores these themes against a backdrop of folklore and the natural world, weaving together a narrative that is both captivating and introspective.

"A Sweet Sting of Salt" is a testament to Sutherland's storytelling prowess, blending folklore with a contemporary queer narrative that feels timeless yet fresh. It's a novel that resonates long after the final page, leaving readers enchanted by its poignant portrayal of love and the enduring search for belonging in a world fraught with secrets and magic.

3.5 stars This was a good retelling of the Selkie Wife story but I had a rough time getting into the story at first. As the plot moved forward it got better, but I did think that some characters were introduced into the story too late to flesh them out, and became unnecessary.

Sutherland retells the folktale, “The Selkie Wife,” in this moving novel of two women and their potential love for each other. Sutherland exposes the violence and cruelty inherent in this folk tradition of a mythic creature captured by a man and forced to be his wife. The plot keeps the reader on edge, driven by gradually revealed heroes and villains with complex motives. Sutherland brings to life nineteenth century Nova Scotia. She immerses her reader in the daily routines of Jean, the town’s midwife, as she tends goats and chickens on her small coastal homestead, and as she navigates the vicious gossip that forces her to hold herself separate from others except when her services are needed. The angry mother of the girl Jean loved in a way forbidden by the community has made it her job to marginalize Jean. Then one wet night, Jean finds her mysterious neighbor outside, seeking something Jean doesn’t understand, but also heavily pregnant and very much in need of Jean’s midwifery. More trouble comes with the introduction of the woman’s husband and escalates with deadly consequences. Jean has allies in town who will help if only Jean will let them.

Sutherland creates vivid language to express both physical descriptions and inner emotions. For example, a cold dawn leaves “the grass silver tipped and furred with frost.” At a reminder of Jean’s first love, “The memory opened up a hollow between Jean’s shoulders, where her spine ought to be, as empty and cold as the hours after midnight.” When she’s neglected someone, “Jean’s skin shrunk, prickling with guilt.”

The novel is a striking, beautifully written love story set in a world of finely portrayed details.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an early copy of this book, but I actually listened to the audiobook via my local library. I thought the narrator did a wonderful job telling this story. I requested it so long ago, so I didn’t really remember the summary before starting. Historical fiction isn’t a genre I pick up that often but I ended up enjoying this one. I think that’s because maybe it’s more of a retelling, but either way, I would definitely recommend this one. It was more of a slow and character focused story than one with a more focused plot.

Loved this twist of the folktale of The Selkie Wife. This gave very gothic vibes and just a good overall plot. I really enjoyed the relationship between Jean and Muirin and watching it grow and become quite magical.

Jean is a midwife who has been left to feel as an out cast from the village she lives in because of the loss of her family and a romantic relationship with her best friend. She lives isolated but has the magic touch when it comes to seeing mother and child through labor. One night she is caught off guard with a cry out side and finds a woman giving birth in the middle of a storm. She brings her in and discovers they don’t speak the same language.

They begin a friendship and Jean discovers some troubling realizations about Muirin and her husband and works on freeing Muirin from the cage she has found herself trapped in.

thank you to netgalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review! i liked this, twas a good palette cleanser! great setting and atmosphere. oh to be living on the sea in your own little cottage! this took me sooo long to get into, super slow pacing honestly until the end, and i COMPLETELY spoiled it for myself by looking up the selkie bride. i think if you don’t know what that folklore is this book would feel more mysterious and fun! or if you do know and really love the myth then it would also be fun. the authors note was really good and added great depth to the story. overall super impressive debut, good characters, and just a touch of magic!

Loved this book! I struggle to find books set in a similar setting that hold my attention, but thought this was well written and made me want more. Thank you for the ARC!! I loved this book and thought the characters and story were well written. I will be recommending this to others.

The story moved a bit too slowly for me to stay intrigued. The writing was grammatically well written.

3.5

Was a slow and predictable story. Despite that it was still a very cute read and could be heart wrenching when it needs to be. I truly didn’t know much about this folktale and was intrigued about finding out.

I really enjoyed this slow-paced hybrid-genre novel. My only complaint is that it's not sure what it wants to be. It doesn't really feel "historical" - it could fit pretty much anywhere in history, albeit with some updates to transportation - and the fantastical elements are relatively minor to the story, only hinted at throughout about 90% of the book. That being said, I loved the characters and the development of the main romance. Solid 4 stars.

Thank you to Random House for the earc. Unfortunately I am not able to connect to this book. The pacing is slow, and too much focus on the surroundings for me.

a beautifully queer retelling of the selkie wife🦭🌊🪻

this book was a wonderful, magical love story! even though it’s obvious to the reader what Muirin truly is early on, it didn’t take away from the story and even provided more depth to her character. Jean was so fierce when it came to defending her, and without spoiling it too much, I was very happy with her acceptance and the overall ending to the story.

I was pleasantly surprised because I never expect sapphic period dramas to have happy endings

Thanks NetGalley and Dell for this arc 🐚🌙

I enjoyed this thoroughly and will be looking out for this author in the future. I had a good feeling where the story would go but I enjoyed every page of it. Please write more.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC in exchange for an honest reviews. All opinions are my own.

This is a wonderful retelling of a Scottish folktale with a sapphic twist.

It was hard for me to get into this book, it’s a little slow. But the writing is beautiful and I enjoyed it overall! Would recommend to people who enjoy a slow paced story.