Book Review: A Sweet Sting of Salt by Rose Sutherland

I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.

A Sweet Sting of Salt by Rose Sutherland

Mogsy’s Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Genre: Historical Fiction, Fantasy

Series: Stand Alone

Publisher: Dell (April 9, 2024)

Length: 352 pages

Author Information: Website

Sometimes, the best stories are the ones that catch you off guard. A Sweet Sting of Salt by Rose Sutherland wasn’t initially on my radar, but as soon as I found out about its premise, I knew I had to read it. Inspired by the classic legend of the Selkie Wife, this novel is a historical fiction retelling that combines a captivating blend of Celtic folklore, sapphic romance, and just a tiny dab of the fantastical.

The story opens in a small, Nova Scotian town in the early 1800s. It is a community of mostly farmers and fishermen, and our protagonist Jean is the only midwife for miles around. One stormy night, while getting ready for bed in her lonely seaside cottage, she hears a cry from outside and is shocked to see a pregnant young woman—clearly in labor—stumbling along the shore. After hustling the drenched woman indoors, Jean realizes she is speaking in a foreign tongue, hampering their ability to communicate. Despite this, Jean manages to get the woman to trust her, helping deliver her baby safely.

Gradually, Jean begins to piece together the mystery of the strange woman’s appearance. She finds out her name is Muirin, and that she must be the new wife of Tobias, who lives on the land next to Jean’s. Indeed, when Jean heads out the next morning to seek out her neighbor, she finds Tobias frantically searching for Muirin. When the couple are reunited, Tobias seemed relieved and overjoyed at the birth of his son, but Jean notices that Muirin’s behavior becomes guarded and closed off in the presence of her supposedly loving husband. Driven by a fierce protectiveness, Jean sets out to uncover Muirin’s secret past in order to keep her new friend and her baby safe.

At its core, A Sweet Sting of Salt is a heartwarming tale of unexpected love and connection. Jean is the main pillar of this novel, a fantastic protagonist on whom everything significant and amazing about this story is built. Harboring a secret herself, Jean is an ostracized member of her community because of a forbidden relationship she shared with a childhood friend which ended in disaster and heartbreak. Becoming a respected midwife was the second chance she cannot afford to lose, yet she would readily put aside her own needs for those whom she has given her loyalty and devotion.

The plot itself is evenly paced, and while the relationship between Jean and Muirin takes center stage, it is nevertheless handled subtly in a way that never overshadows the other elements in the book. The slow-burn romance is beautifully written with genuine emotional depth, allowing the characters’ bond to develop organically, making it all the more believable.

Finally, the wild and windswept shores of Nova Scotia lend a perfect vibe and Gothic atmosphere to the setting of this novel. In the author’s afterword, Sutherland writes about the very real places that inspired her, and this deep connection to her home can be experienced in the vivid descriptions of the that bring Jean and Muirin’s tale to life.

All told, A Sweet Sting of Salt is a delightful surprise and an impressive debut by Rose Sutherland. For fans of fiction inspired by classic folklore or readers looking for a unique historical novel with a touch of magic, look no further.