Reviews with content warning for Domestic abuse - A Sweet Sting of Salt

The book reads like a fairy tale especially towards the end.
I didn't feel the romantic connection between the main characters but liked the insight into the life of a midwife in the 19s

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passivemoon's review against another edition

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emotional medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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kappafrog's review

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dark emotional hopeful mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I absolutely LOVED this book. Wow.

I've always wanted to write a historical queer

selkie

story myself, so I was really intrigued to learn about this book when it came out. I liked Sutherland's approach to a historical novel. It wasn't bogged down in overly precious "old-timey" language, but drew you very directly into the world instead. The book had really good pacing too. I was a little intimidated to start such a long book, but it didn't feel long when I was reading it. I liked that the story was told entirely from Jean's perspective. She was a great character to spend time with, and I really felt for her.

The part that made me cry was when she and Jo were reunited and things became so settled and peaceful between them. I could really feel how that had been weighing on her so much, wondering if she had ruined Jo's life, and I felt relief with her when Jo turned out all right, and also when Jo said that her life wasn't Jean's sole responsibility.

I adored Muirin! I'm a Gaelic speaker and was impressed that Sutherland got the genitive right on ròin. I would have liked to see more Gaelic in the book, but at least its presence was always there and not something that was treated as an afterthought. I also appreciated the inclusion of the Native characters. I'm not sure why Sutherland only named the Mikmaq in the acknowledgements and just used "Native" throughout the book, but I appreciated this as a more realistic spectrum of the types of people in 19th century Nova Scotia than some books would try to portray.

Of course, I absolutely loved the romance between Jean and Muirin. My heart ached for both of them, and I really felt the sense of frustration Jean had with having so few options for helping a woman in a bad situation in this place and time. The writing style of the book is not overly flowery, but I really appreciated the way Sutherland wrote her characters, making them feel very much like real people, and there were also some beautiful passages about the natural world of their surroundings. Sutherland was also very effective at creating a sense of dread with the escalating actions of the antagonist.

My only real plot qualm came late in the book:

It was a misstep to have Laurie's lover also be a selkie. It was way too much of a coincidence and made the world feel small. Really, the two queer people who are adopted family to each other both find selkie lovers?

Other than that though, I really enjoyed the plot of this book and thought it made sense how things progressed.

What a wonderful book! I highly recommend it. It totally absorbed me while I was reading it. I'm looking forward to seeing what else this author has in store!

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liamliayaum's review against another edition

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dark mysterious slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

Rambled on far too long. Jean was terribly obsessive and there was a hill of repetition. Lots of descriptions of nature back in the day.

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sapphic_alpaca's review

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slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Loveable characters? It's complicated

3.0

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marym2215's review

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emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

In the midst of a howling storm, Jean, a solitary midwife, is awoken by a piercing cry that she could have sworn came from her dreams. But when the cries persist, she is compelled to brave the cold and discovers a young woman in labor at the edge of the water by her house. Muirin is soaked, scared, and can barely communicate with Jean. With no idea who the woman actually is, Jean suspects she might be the mysterious new bride of her neighbor up the hill, Tobias. Jean, typically resolved to keep out of others’ affairs, finds herself increasingly drawn into the lives of Muirin and Tobias, driven both by concern and a deepening affection for Muirin. As her involvement deepens, she uncovers disturbing secrets that pose dire risks to herself, Muirin, and the newborn. Faced with harrowing truths, Jean must navigate her treacherous emotional and ethical situations to save herself and the lives of those she has come to hold dear. This gripping tale weaves tension and emotion into a compelling narrative that explores the meaning of human connection and love.

I absolutely loved this book. This captivating debut seamlessly blended folklore, fantasy, and a tender love story centered around selkies, something I knew nothing about going into the book. Set against the windswept shores of Nova Scotia, the atmospheric backdrop enhanced the story’s mystery, romance, and gothic allure. I just wanted to be there with them! The palpable angst and deeply tender romance between Muirin and Jean had me swooning throughout the majority of the book. It was so easy to root for them as their characters leapt off the page, especially Jean’s strong will, drive, and resilience. While the pacing was a bit slower than my normal read, I was still swept away by the story, setting, and character development. I also really loved the author’s note at the end of the book. Whether you know anything about selkie folklore or not, I would highly recommend this book if you are looking to read a love story amidst a backdrop of mystery and gothic vibes. I am definitely looking forward to Sutherland’s future novels!

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an electronic ARC of A Sweet Sting of Salt in return for my honest review.

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kaiyakaiyo's review

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

I really liked this! I’ve always found selkies to be a fascinating yet disturbing concept; this book takes that concept and fleshes it out in such a romantic, compelling way.

Jean was funny, determined, stubborn, foolhardy- I love love loved her commitment to safe births and the general wellbeing of the women in her town, even if they didn’t always pay her the same respect. midwifery is possibly the most impressive set of skills in the world

Muirin was lovely. Downtrodden, but never defeated, and always looking to carve out her piece of happiness regardless of Tobias or anyone else.

The romance was sweet and paced just right. I definitely want to buy this in print!

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