A Sweet Sting of Salt

A Novel

By: Rose Sutherland

Narrated by: Aven Shore

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

AN ELLE BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR

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?

great narration

Aven does a terrific job as the voice for this book!!! Deserves so much love!!!

Decent

I typically dislike only one narrator but she did a good job with the males voices for the most part. The voices I think did well with each person in the story.
The storyline was interesting and generally a cute read. I loved the Fox tidbits and the suspense was OK.

Atmospheric in the Best of Ways—not to miss!

What an achingly beautiful story! More than a retelling, this book hits all the sweet spots that are promised, with a setting that is as much a character as the brave women in its center. And the audio sings, allowing the imagination to run wild.

Meet midwife Jean, who’s had some heartache on the Nova Scotia shores. One night she saves a woman on the seashore about to give birth, a woman who has a strange language, and an even stranger relationship with her brooding and nervous husband. And with that, a retelling is born. A retelling that sees the other side of the selkie wife story, while it shows the many ways life unfolds. An inclusive story that is as believable as it is beautiful. Honestly, I’m reminded of the feelings I had after reading Miller’s The Song of Achilles. Can’t wait for the author’s next offering. Well done.

Wow.

I picked this book on a whim and I was completely blown away. Lush, exciting, romantic. And the reader did such an amazing job.

Will be listening to this again.

Simply a Delight

Ms. Sutherland does a masterful job of building tension without the reader crossing over into utter dread. The perfect bit of escapism to give one strength to face these trying times. I don't know how to praise Aven Shore's narration highly enough. She captivates the ear as well as the story captures the heart.