Ratings5
Average rating4.5
When a young woman in 19th century Nova Scotia uncovers a magical secret about her neighbour, she’ll have to fight to keep the truth—and the woman she loves—safe in this stunning queer reimagining of the classic folktale The Selkie Wife. When a sharp cry wakes Jean, the sole midwife in Barquer’s Bay, Nova Scotia, in the middle of the night, she’s convinced it must have been a dream. But when the cry comes again, Jean ventures outside during a terrible tempest and is shocked by what she discovers—a young woman in labour, barely able to speak a word of English. Jean can only assume she must be Muirin, the new wife of her neighbour up the road, but when the baby arrives, Jean is only left with more questions. Why is the baby so unusual? And why is Muirin's husband so fearful of his wife and newborn son spending time by the sea? Though Jean learned long ago that she should stay out of other people’s business, her growing concern—and growing feelings—for Muirin mean she can’t simply set her worries aside. But when the answers she finds are more surprising than she ever could have imagined, and the truth about Muirin's mysterious behaviour reveals her marriage may not be all it seems, will Jean be able to set things right and save the woman she loves before it's too late?
Reviews with the most likes.
Beautiful and atmospheric, this book really pulls you into the world. Jean is a badass, fierce woman who fiercely protects those around her. I appreciated the way her loneliness was explored - it was there, but it didn't make her “broken”. I love the found family in Anneke and Laurie. These two are key players in raising Jean to be the woman she is!
It's a refreshing folklore retelling, in that the author used her unsettled feelings after reading the story as a jumping off point. She used the story as a way to explore love and freedom.
A slow-burn, feminist retelling, setting by/with the sea, and sapphic love. Rose Sutherland came and answered all my wishes with this beautiful book. The mystery and romance that follows Muirin was deliciously done and their evolving relationship was the best part of the book. Add in magic and selkies and my gosh, this was perhaps my favorite read of 2024 so far. Crazy because it's only spring and I've already read some great books this year. I like where this is going.