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isnt_it_pretty's review
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Kidnapping, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Animal death, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Death of parent, Infidelity, Lesbophobia, Medical content, Outing, Homophobia, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Violence, Rape, and Suicide
ivi_reads_books's review
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
The book reads like a fairy tale especially towards the end.
I didn't feel the romantic connection between the main characters but liked the insight into the life of a midwife in the 19s
I didn't feel the romantic connection between the main characters but liked the insight into the life of a midwife in the 19s
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy
Moderate: Lesbophobia, Suicidal thoughts, and Kidnapping
Minor: Violence, Confinement, Blood, Outing, Grief, Domestic abuse, Sexual violence, Emotional abuse, and Stalking
kimzeyk's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I was annoyed through the whole book because the synopsis includes a spoiler - like, The Spoiler. I would have figured it out because it’s a folk legend, but since it’s in the synopsis, I assumed it would be revealed early on and the story would be about them dealing with it, but nope, it’s a typical Wow, this person is a mythical creature, surprise! I also found the romance to be extremely under-developed, and the ending a little too convenient and predictable.
The writing was ok, I really wish authors (and editors!) would do more to understand how English learners actually talk. Fine if you want to show that the native language uses a different word order, but someone who still puts the subject at the end of the sentence could not use sophisticated verb tenses like “Should not have come, you .” It made me think of Yoda the whole time.
I appreciated the effort to use an LGBTQ perspective, but that also felt unrealistic - a lot of time is devoted to the MC’s ostracism due to a previous lesbian relationship, but by the end of the book, nobody bats an eye?
The writing was ok, I really wish authors (and editors!) would do more to understand how English learners actually talk. Fine if you want to show that the native language uses a different word order, but someone who still puts the subject at the end of the sentence could not use sophisticated verb tenses like “Should not have come, you .” It made me think of Yoda the whole time.
I appreciated the effort to use an LGBTQ perspective, but that also felt unrealistic - a lot of time is devoted to the MC’s ostracism due to a previous lesbian relationship, but by the end of the book, nobody bats an eye?
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Pregnancy, and Kidnapping
Minor: Rape
kappafrog's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I absolutely LOVED this book. Wow.
I've always wanted to write a historical queerselkie story myself, so I was really intrigued to learn about this book when it came out. I liked Sutherland's approach to a historical novel. It wasn't bogged down in overly precious "old-timey" language, but drew you very directly into the world instead. The book had really good pacing too. I was a little intimidated to start such a long book, but it didn't feel long when I was reading it. I liked that the story was told entirely from Jean's perspective. She was a great character to spend time with, and I really felt for her. The part that made me cry was when she and Jo were reunited and things became so settled and peaceful between them. I could really feel how that had been weighing on her so much, wondering if she had ruined Jo's life, and I felt relief with her when Jo turned out all right, and also when Jo said that her life wasn't Jean's sole responsibility.
I adored Muirin! I'm a Gaelic speaker and was impressed that Sutherland got the genitive right on ròin. I would have liked to see more Gaelic in the book, but at least its presence was always there and not something that was treated as an afterthought. I also appreciated the inclusion of the Native characters. I'm not sure why Sutherland only named the Mikmaq in the acknowledgements and just used "Native" throughout the book, but I appreciated this as a more realistic spectrum of the types of people in 19th century Nova Scotia than some books would try to portray.
Of course, I absolutely loved the romance between Jean and Muirin. My heart ached for both of them, and I really felt the sense of frustration Jean had with having so few options for helping a woman in a bad situation in this place and time. The writing style of the book is not overly flowery, but I really appreciated the way Sutherland wrote her characters, making them feel very much like real people, and there were also some beautiful passages about the natural world of their surroundings. Sutherland was also very effective at creating a sense of dread with the escalating actions of the antagonist.
My only real plot qualm came late in the book:It was a misstep to have Laurie's lover also be a selkie. It was way too much of a coincidence and made the world feel small. Really, the two queer people who are adopted family to each other both find selkie lovers? Other than that though, I really enjoyed the plot of this book and thought it made sense how things progressed.
What a wonderful book! I highly recommend it. It totally absorbed me while I was reading it. I'm looking forward to seeing what else this author has in store!
I've always wanted to write a historical queer
I adored Muirin! I'm a Gaelic speaker and was impressed that Sutherland got the genitive right on ròin. I would have liked to see more Gaelic in the book, but at least its presence was always there and not something that was treated as an afterthought. I also appreciated the inclusion of the Native characters. I'm not sure why Sutherland only named the Mikmaq in the acknowledgements and just used "Native" throughout the book, but I appreciated this as a more realistic spectrum of the types of people in 19th century Nova Scotia than some books would try to portray.
Of course, I absolutely loved the romance between Jean and Muirin. My heart ached for both of them, and I really felt the sense of frustration Jean had with having so few options for helping a woman in a bad situation in this place and time. The writing style of the book is not overly flowery, but I really appreciated the way Sutherland wrote her characters, making them feel very much like real people, and there were also some beautiful passages about the natural world of their surroundings. Sutherland was also very effective at creating a sense of dread with the escalating actions of the antagonist.
My only real plot qualm came late in the book:
What a wonderful book! I highly recommend it. It totally absorbed me while I was reading it. I'm looking forward to seeing what else this author has in store!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Lesbophobia, Murder, Outing, Stalking, Death of parent, Confinement, Pregnancy, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Domestic abuse, Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Biphobia, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Suicide, Medical content, Hate crime, Misogyny, Sexism, Gun violence, Rape, Sexual content, Blood, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Excrement, Miscarriage, Alcohol, and Colonisation
caseythereader's review
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Fire/Fire injury, Infidelity, Kidnapping, Cursing, Animal death, Blood, Death, Murder, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Lesbophobia
Minor: Rape and Homophobia
alreads13's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed this queer folktale retelling! The story follows Jean, the town midwife, after a strange encounter with a pregnant woman in the night. She is drawn to this mysterious woman, Muirin, especially after seeing how she shrinks from her new husband, Tobias. Sensing something is wrong, she stops at nothing to help Muirin, and discovers something otherworldly in the process.
The word that comes to mind when I think of this book is “quaint”, in the best way possible. We follow Jean during her day to day life, tending to her patients, working on her farm and walking around her bucolic town. The setting really comes alive in this story and it’s a beautiful world to spend time in.
While the pace of this book is slow to medium, the tense action scenes were really gripping and I couldn’t stop reading. I didn’t realize I was holding my breath until certain parts were over and I couldn’t put it down until I knew what happened.
Also queer representation! Some passages were brimming with queer joy and queer people just living their lives. Thankful for it in this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Animal cruelty, Pregnancy, Stalking, Kidnapping, Lesbophobia, and Outing
Moderate: Confinement, Gaslighting, and Homophobia
Minor: Death of parent
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