*Note: I was given this book in exchange for a honest review. This blog post reflects my full opinion and was not persuaded to change by any monetary exchange.*
Book Type: YA novel
Author: Susan Sowerby
Pages: 201
Part I: Review
Summary(goodreads.com):
Finn rolled out the map across the table. Blood from the gash above his eye mingled with tears and dripped onto the Hebrides. He thought, that's it. I've got to get away, as far away as possible. Retreating to a tiny croft with no electricity, and the bellowing of thunder and lightning bouncing off the bleak hillside, he must learn to fend for himself. Fear rises when a shadowy apparition appears at his door. In a lightning flash, he
sees a silhouette, naked, with dripping dreadlocks to the knees. The teeth are pointed like a kitten's and it shows no reaction to the cold. Are we the only race living in the Hebrides? Finn discovers there's more to reality than what he's been taught!
My Review:
With the brisk wind blowing off clifftops, a song travels over to the wanderer’s ears. Is it the song of the selkies or another kind of folk? Susan Sowerby, author of Saltwater in the Soul created a truly magical depiction of the Scottish coast that was believable and made past-down legends come to life! Part I of this blog post contains a review. Part II is an exclusive interview with the author, who explained her character inspiration, selkie legends, and future plans for Fin.
Saltwater in the Soul was an intriguing tale that spun the selkie story in a new light. The setting, characterization, and main theme were fantastic! There were some elements, however, that were a little too dark or morbid.
The Magic of the Sea:
A boy of 16 years sits alone in a fisherman’s croft while a storm rages outside, pelting rain against the aging frame. Fin senses a visitor, but we only get enough characterization to leave us wondering, who invaded his home in the middle of the night? The first chapter was really intriguing and instantly hooked me in!
Following this chapter, the reader feels as if they are on the beautiful Scottish coast with Fin. One of my favorite descriptive setting details is located on the first page of Chapter 9:
Far out on the horizon, waves were thrown up as they always are when they break over the Torrin Rocks, but this time they belched so high they looked like enraged sea monsters rearing and falling in fierce battle (Sowerby 70).
Sowerby tangled together fantasy elements while reflecting on nature throughout the entire plot, making me feel that no matter where Fin was, I was experiencing the coast alongside him.
The primary main characters- Fin, Torquil, and Bridget- each have relatable qualities that makes this book great for every reader. Fin represents the teenage years of curiosity, wonder, and defiance. My favorite was Bridget. She is recognized later as a true beauty, but hides behind her glasses for reasons the readers learn later on. Torquil reminded me of Collin Farrell in Ondine; a salty old fisherman with charm. Lastly, the plot also had intriguing details about the merfolk. They have huge wide eyes, sinewy tails, dreadlocks styled in different ways to reflect their status, and seductive qualities that always lure humans. For reference, here is a picture of Sowerby’s previous cover with one of the merfolk:
The only aspect about the merfolk that confused me was sometimes Fin referred to them as selkies with seal features, while other times they had more of a fish appearance, so I wasn’t too sure if the main focus was selkies or merfolk.
Even with its great qualities, there were one or two aspects that darkened the overall theme:
When The Sea Turns Rough:
When the novel begins, Fin mentions that he ran away to live in a croft. I wasn’t sure how a sixteen-year old managed to do this. Was the croft in his family? Did he pay for it? There were times where the plot slowed down a bit and I was waiting for more interaction with the merfolk.
Through a series of discoveries, Fin also discovers some of his heritage lies in the sea and tries to transform into one of the merfolk. The transformation scenes were very strange, involving potion work, smelly salves, and sharkskin bandages to form a tail. Fin also must activate his gills in order for them to work. Unfortunately, this process doesn’t go well, and the reversal process was depressing and rather gruesome. While I wasn’t expecting fairies and magic, I think the book would’ve benefited from not making the transformation drag out so much.
I also did notice some editing errors, including the character’s names having an occasional typo or incorrect verb tense, so some revision is needed.
Final Thoughts:
What I enjoyed most about this book is that Sowerby included some common YA themes/tropes, such as romance, the wild ocean, and friendship, but there is a deeper theme presented. The author explores how the ocean is an instinctual part of our human development, both culturally, and psychologically. Even with some of its strange qualities, I enjoyed Fin’s journey!
I give this book 3.5 stars.
Part II: Interview with the Author
Introductory Info:
Favorite Genres/Book Titles/ Authors:
I like fantasies that shine light on realities where factual accounts have difficulty penetrating.
Childrens books: Pinochio, Secret Garden, The Way of the Whirlwind.
Adult books: To Kill a Mochingbird, The Kin of Atta, Sati, Terry Pratchett books and many more.
Do you draw inspiration from any authors?
A small writing group of dedicated authors. Tania Park, Jodie Howe and Ted Witham have triggered the most inspiration and indeed, set me up to write ‘Saltwater.’
Thank you for stopping by, Susan Sowerby! To start, how long have you been writing?
I’m mostly known for my mermaid sculptures, but writing has been travelling steadily along with me since I first put pencil to paper.
When did you first decide to write Saltwater in the Soul?
I think it is as the Irish say - a story floats around and settles on someone who will tell it. I decided to resolve a ten-minute writing group exercise into a short story and it became a trilogy, so authors beware. Start to unwind a ball of string and you might never reach the end!
Does the book focus on selkies, merfolk, or a combination of both legends?
A combination. In my stories they tend to be interchangeable because those creatures aren’t quite as crystallized and solid as humans. I stayed in the Hebrides a long time ago when the legend of the grey seals was still strong. Recently, a friend went there and could find no one who remembered them. I hope the oral chain is not broken.
Fin, the main character, struggles between keeping his humanity and exploring his heritage. Did anyone inspire his character?
I guess he is a mixture of my three sons with something ‘other’ thrown in as well. (the eyes on the cover belong to one of my sons.) As humans, we often explore our heritage to find out where we belong, but for Fin, his turns out to be startling and different.
Torquil was another favorite of mine! I pictured him as Collin Farrell in the selkie movie Ondine. Tell me more about him.
Torquil’s strength holds Fin steady through a rough journey. He is also half seaborn and has all the same sea-drawn tendencies, but unlike Fin, he does not have the option of transformation because he was conceived on land.
I connected with Bridget the most because she loves the ocean, has a nerdy style, and is a big sweetheart. Did anyone in your life inspire her creation?
There is some of my friend Pauline in Bridget. She has the kind of steadfast love that ignores all difficulty and silliness in another. Also, when I lived in the Findhorn Community, I did experience a few people, who like Bridget, have the Sight.
Compared to most mermaid/selkies novels, Fin’s transformation scene was pretty dark and seemed painful. What made you decide this literary choice compared to a more fae-like transformation?
The difficult part for Fin is his struggle to let go of the human world. His denied feelings for Bridget make the task worse. In real life, it would be great if we could transform ourselves in a fairy flash, but any change usually involves at least some struggle, pain and growth, which finally leads to new life. I like to infuse my fantasies with reality.
When did you first learn of the selkie legend?
When I was eighteen, I wrote and illustrated a children’s story called ‘Elmo and the Seals.’ I showed it to a Scottish friend and she said it was as if I’d actually lived on the rugged west coast of Scotland. She then related legends of the Selkies which I found so familiar they gave me goose bumps.
What’s in store for the characters in the next book? (don’t post any spoilers!)
The Pearls of Arcadia
Bridget and Fin are separated by an unsavory but elite conclave of humans. Fin is confronted by the enormity of a task that could affect the seaborn, the humans and the whole planet.
Share any final thoughts with the readers :)
Here is the true inspiration the behind The Saltwater trilogy: Part of a channeling from a seer while we were on the Isle of Iona.
‘Fingal’s Cave rises out of the sea, so it has to do with the subconscious in humans, the rhythms and tides of the body - your endocrine system, your breath, your heartbeat, lymph and organs. All these have a frequency or keynote. In the coming age, people will learn to vibrate diseased organs back into harmony by using the correct keynote sounds. They will think cutting into the body with instruments very barbaric. We call this music of the Underworld and it greatly assists the healing of the physical body. It is maintained and augmented by what you call mermaids, subtle entities not of your dimension.
Music of the spheres will also become available to the masses. In your future, this pertains to the opening of the human mind. Through sound and the use of colored laser patterns, a staircase of perception can be built. Everyone witnessing these performances will see and experience something different according to his or her development.’
Learn more about Susan through her social media:
Social Media links:
Instagram: saltymermaid1