A Sweet Sting of Salt is a queer retelling of The Selkie Wife. Midwife Jean is shocked when she finds an unknown pregnant woman on her doorstep. Muirin can’t communicate, but some things are universal. Jean eventually pieces together that she is married to Tobias, a solitary fisherman. As Muirin and Jean grow closer, Jean’s suspicions about Tobias begin to grow. Yet she can’t understand why Muirin won’t leave Tobias. As Tobias grows more paranoid, can Jean keep Muirin and her baby safe? 

I love queer stories and stories about selkies! A Sweet Sting of Salt is an excellent retelling. The romance between Muirin and Jean is slowburn, yet comes to a simmering heat. I love how in this retelling, Jean is loved for who she is by her found family. While she still faces discrimination from some in the town and from Tobias, Jean manages to find love and acceptance in a time where that was scarce for queer people. The lore about selkies was beautifully done and I only wish that more time could have been devoted to them! A Sweet Sting of Salt is a gripping small-town story with a twist. This is the perfect book to curl up with and become swept away by. I will definitely look forward to what Rose Sutherland writes next! 

Thank you to Rose Sutherland, Dell, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.