Item: A Sweet Sting of Salt
Rating: 4.00
Author: quirkycat

by Rose Sutherland

A young woman uncovers a dark secret about her neighbor and his mysterious new wife. Now she’ll have to fight to keep herself—and the woman she loves—safe.

“A modern sapphic updating of the selkie wife folk tale that’s already scoring with readers”—Parade (A Best Romance and Best LGBTQI+ Book of the Year So Far)

“Lush, atmospheric, and threaded with multiple kinds of magic.”—Paste

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, drenched to the bone in the bitter cold and able to speak barely a word of English.

Although Jean is the only midwife for miles around, she’s at a loss for who this woman is or where she’s from; Jean can only assume that 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 multiply. 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 that 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?

Book Summary:

Jean has spent the last few years working hard to change her reputation in the small town she calls home. As one of the few midwives around, there's no denying there's a need for her. Yet there's always that lingering fear the town will turn on her.

One night, while staying in her isolated house, she hears a strange cry. What – or rather, who – she finds will change Jean's life as she knows it. She knows this is something she should walk away from, but she just can't do it.

My Review:

Oh wow. A Sweet Sting of Saltis so compellingly and beautifully written. If you like a rich blend of historical fantasy, romance, and local lore, this is the book for you. Also, it's a must read if you love selkies or the original tale (The Selkie Wife).

This book will make you feel SO MUCH. It's complex, dark, and hopeful all in one. And yes, Jean is one of those characters you want to bundle up and protect (sometimes from herself – she's one of those characters that doesn't always think her decisions through).

There's no denying that A Sweet Sting of Salt is a slow build. As such, the pacing is on the slower side. I can easily see readers loving or hating that, so keep that in mind when deciding if you want to pick it up. Personally, I enjoyed the way the story slowly ramped up.

I would urge an ounce of caution before diving into A Sweet Sting of Salt – check out a list of trigger warnings (either mine or a more comprehensive list) if you're at all worried.

Highlights:
Historical Fiction
Selkies
LGBT – F/F
Retelling

Trigger Warnings:
Homophobia
Containment
Animal Death

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A Sweet Sting of Salt

by Rose Sutherland

Reviewed by Quirky Cat on Jul 5, 2024

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