Sapphic Selkies and Revenge: A Sweet Sting of Salt

Last Updated on August 15, 2024

No spoilers (I think)! I placed a hold on this book through the Libby app many weeks ago on a whim, and I’m so glad I did! This queer friends-to-lovers historical fiction slash mythology retelling was precious and suspenseful with a very satisfying end.

Overview

Our protagonist, Jean Langille, is a queer midwife of a small Nova Scotian town in the early 1800s. (A lot to unpack there, I know.) Content to mind her own business, both professionally and personally, she keeps her distance from the rest of the town.

Or at least, she tries to.

“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.“

Goodreads Description

A Sweet Sting of Salt follows Jean’s journey of uncovering who this mysterious woman is…and more importantly, why her husband Tobias seems so content to hide her from the rest of the town!

But first, a necessary definition for those who have no idea what a selkie is…

What are selkies?

Selkies are magical beings that can turn into seals by donning their pelt in the ocean (and vice versa). This mythical being is an integral part of Irish and Scottish mythology (and according to this book, apparently really cute). If you are interested in reading the original story, check out Wilderness Ireland‘s detailing of the classic legend.

My Thoughts

I thought it was super cute and well done! The romance between Jean and Muirin developed at a plausible pace–I hate when an author rushes in, that’s not my speed.

You don’t see many people talk about the friends-to-lovers trope. (Everyone seems to pine after enemies-to-lovers.)

This book was a great example of it! It was very wholesome, and I often found myself smiling while reading. Their relationship steadily blossomed along with the mystery, creating a tapestry of intrigue that kept me turning those pages.

It’s worth noting: this is not small praise. It takes a lot for me to become emotionally invested in characters, so this is well-earned!

The portrayal of the selkies and other wildlife throughout the book felt organic like they were characters just as much as the people. I loved that.

I also really appreciated the undercurrent conversations had about postpartum depression. I’ve never stopped to think about midwifery…and especially not what it would have looked like over 200 years ago. The protagonist questioning Muirin’s mental health added another (very suspenseful) layer to the story!

“It happens, sometimes. Always, always, check back in with your mothers after. Not just once, but several times. To see that they’re coping, that everything is as it ought to be.”

page 53, a sweet sting of salt

Lastly, like most retellings, the diverse representation in this book was phenomenal. History books often whitewash and erase the “unorthodox” (aka. anyone brown, queer, or disabled) players from stories. This retelling did not.

Even though it’s fiction, you can tell that the author did some homework. It’s hard to be mad with that!

Speaking of the author, one of my favorite quotes from the whole thing is surprisingly from the author’s note:

“Like most storytellers, I’ve been known to take liberties with facts for the sake of a good yarn. Sometimes, I just plain get things wrong. Do remember, this is also a book where a woman turns into a seal.“

page 327, a sweet sting of salt

Who It’s For

It should go without saying, but if you are at all interested in selkies, mythology, or mystery this is right up your alley!

If you are looking for something sweet but suspenseful to read for Pride Month, this book is perfect!

Also, if you want to read some historical fiction that isn’t set in Regency Era Britain, or World War II, this is a nice palette cleanser. I may have to write a post about that later because seriously, I cannot escape the hoop skirts!

And lastly, if you’re writing a niche mythology retelling yourself, you may want to add this to your TBR list for inspiration. As they say, you have to read to write.

Don’t feel like committing to 350+ pages? Read my post on 5 Interesting Greco-Roman Mythical Creatures to include in your next novel.

And make sure to check out my Goodreads shelf to see my reviews before they hit the site. (Psst! It’s to the right of the text if you’re on your laptop, and below this post on mobile.)

Happy Reading!