There is nothing better to me than picking up a retelling of stories I’ve loved since childhood. When I saw that this was a retelling of The Selkie Wife but with a sapphic twist, I had to have it in hand. I binged this story in three hours, whisked away into a story of love, resilience, and the bonds forged by fate and circumstance. I was enchanted by the atmospheric setting of this story, and for a brief moment in my mind, I was in 19th century Nova Scotia. I highly encourage you to add this story to your shelves or TBR list, because it’s not one to miss.
A Sweet Sting of Salt centres around Jean, the village midwife, who discovers a young woman actively in labour during a terrible tempest late one night. The young woman is unable to speak English, and although Jean is at a loss of who she could be, surmises that it’s likely the new bride of her neighbour up the road, Tobias. When Tobias comes knocking for his wife Muirin, more questions arise about her pregnancy and why Muirin’s entire personality changes in his presence. Jean’s growing concern and feelings for Muirin start to outweigh the thoughts of her own safety. When the answers are more harrowing than even Jean could have imagined, she’ll have to figure out how to set things to rights before Muirin, the baby, and Jean end up paying the ultimate price.
When I opened this book, I was unsure of what to expect. I pulled into a world that was full of sharp edges, a world that didn’t seem to care for softness. As I went through this book, I saw Jean struggle with the idea of feeling out of place and not fitting in with the traditional ideas of womanhood, based on the perception of others. She’s hardened herself in a way that prevents her from getting too close to others, save her mentor and mentor’s son. Her exploration of this throughout the book is fascinating, because there’s a lot of heartbreak within that, romantically, and in the memories that she has of her mother. At the same time, Muirin is the soul that seems to be calling out to hers. Jean is inexplicably drawn to her, and while the care is that of friendship to start, it becomes something more. It’s a slow burn that turns into a roaring blaze, and I think other readers will love the way the romance is written in this book.
Outside of Jean’s relationship with Muirin, I loved the chosen family aspect of this book. Jean’s mentor acts like a second mother, unafraid to give her opinion, and her son is very much the same. There’s a bit of a parallel story happening at the same time that I found very heartwarming because there are two relationships readers get to root for, plus an angsty reunion as well. I don’t feel like there are loose ends to this story, and I love stories that offer closure for characters.
Beside the beautiful romance, the atmospheric setting made me feel like I was stepping back in time. From Jean’s cabin, the beach, and even the village, Sutherland set a scene that felt like I was watching a film, rather than reading this as a book. I think readers will truly love finding the beauty of the crisp winter written in this book, as well as in the ocean. .Although this book does take place along a coast, it’s not warm lush tropics, but the dark and frigid waters of Nova Scotia. I must have a book type, because I am always drawn to stories with these types of settings, and they’re always some of my favourites. I need to create a shelf of them when I get some time this summer.
What I loved most about this book is the way that Sutherland deftly wove in the story of the selkie wife and made it into something that I found to be uniquely refreshing. There was a bit of hesitance when I originally picked this up out of fear that this wouldn’t end the way that I was hoping, a lot of selkie retellings are bittersweet. Without spoiling any of the story, I think the way this ended was perfect for the story in the way that it was set up and flowed.
I highly encourage you to pick up this book, if not for yourself, then to gift to a friend. It’s a story perfect for a rainy day, or even if you want to be transported to a colder climate in the middle of summer. This is a story I’d pick up again, just to be reminded that strength is more than physical, and that love can persevere without having to be tied down.
A Sweet Sting of Salt is available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore.
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Synopsis | Goodreads
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?
