What do you think?
Rate this book
October Daye #5.1
In Sea-Salt Tears
It was 1972, and a teenage girl named Elizabeth Ryan thought that her world was coming to an end. Elizabeth was the daughter of two Selkies, you see, and she had just been passed up for a skin. But then a mysterious cousin who calls herself Annie appears, and Elizabeth finds other things to think about...
It can be easy to forget that worlds don't wait for heroes before they begin. It can be easy to forget that things happened before the lights came up and the story started. This is one of those things that happened: this is one of those tales that slipped through the cracks. It is the story of a girl named Elizabeth, and a girl named Annie, and what they were to one another, in the sight and sounding of the sea.
Maybe it isn't fair. But fairy tales never really are.
It can be easy to forget that worlds don't wait for heroes before they begin. It can be easy to forget that things happened before the lights came up and the story started. This is one of those things that happened: this is one of those tales that slipped through the cracks. It is the story of a girl named Elizabeth, and a girl named Annie, and what they were to one another, in the sight and sounding of the sea.
Maybe it isn't fair. But fairy tales never really are.
22 pages, ebook
First published August 23, 2012
9 people are currently reading
2782 people want to read
About the author
Seanan McGuire
507 books17.1k followersHi! I'm Seanan McGuire, author of the Toby Daye series (Rosemary and Rue, A Local Habitation, An Artificial Night, Late Eclipses), as well as a lot of other things. I'm also Mira Grant (www.miragrant.com), author of Feed and Deadline.
Born and raised in Northern California, I fear weather and am remarkably laid-back about rattlesnakes. I watch too many horror movies, read too many comic books, and share my house with two monsters in feline form, Lilly and Alice (Siamese and Maine Coon).
I do not check this inbox. Please don't send me messages through Goodreads; they won't be answered. I don't want to have to delete this account. :(
Born and raised in Northern California, I fear weather and am remarkably laid-back about rattlesnakes. I watch too many horror movies, read too many comic books, and share my house with two monsters in feline form, Lilly and Alice (Siamese and Maine Coon).
I do not check this inbox. Please don't send me messages through Goodreads; they won't be answered. I don't want to have to delete this account. :(
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 225 reviews
January 31, 2018
I would have gladly read a full-length novel about those two. <3
September 6, 2017
In Sea-Salt Tears is a free short story that can be downloaded from Seanan McGuire's website, events actually occur before the first book but one of the main characters isn't introduced until One Salt Sea so I'd recommend waiting until after you read that book before you start this so you can avoid spoilers later on.
If you've already read One Salt Sea then you'll already be familiar with the connection between the Luidaeg and the selkies and why they aren't on the best of terms, what you won't be familiar with is the personal history between Elizabeth and Annie and how that added a whole extra layer of complicated between them.
Seanan McGuire always manages to pack a punch in her short stories, I don't know how she does it but she always makes me care about her characters no matter how short a time we spend with them and I was totally invested in Annie and Elizabeth's relationship even though I knew going in that it didn't all end in sunshine and rainbows. This was a really sweet romance, one that developed between two lonely and desperate girls who were both looking for friendship and someone to turn to when their lives weren't going to plan. It was heartbreaking to see it all fall apart and that is made even worse when you think about the huge debt between the selkies and the Luidaeg, a debt that large is going to be impossible to pay but a promise is a promise and something is going to have to change soon.
If you've already read One Salt Sea then you'll already be familiar with the connection between the Luidaeg and the selkies and why they aren't on the best of terms, what you won't be familiar with is the personal history between Elizabeth and Annie and how that added a whole extra layer of complicated between them.
Seanan McGuire always manages to pack a punch in her short stories, I don't know how she does it but she always makes me care about her characters no matter how short a time we spend with them and I was totally invested in Annie and Elizabeth's relationship even though I knew going in that it didn't all end in sunshine and rainbows. This was a really sweet romance, one that developed between two lonely and desperate girls who were both looking for friendship and someone to turn to when their lives weren't going to plan. It was heartbreaking to see it all fall apart and that is made even worse when you think about the huge debt between the selkies and the Luidaeg, a debt that large is going to be impossible to pay but a promise is a promise and something is going to have to change soon.
April 14, 2016
In Sea-Salt Tears or how to break your heart in 22 pages or less.
I love the Sea Witch…I mean she is cantankerous, snarky, snarly and pretty powerful. In One Salt Sea we get a glimpse into her past and why she has a love hate relationship with the Selkies. That story in itself was enough to squeeze my heart quite a bit. But then to read how the Sea Witch fell in love and later lost that love was tear inducing.
Oh the betrayal of the Roane and what that in itself must have done to her. But then to go through this….no wonder the Luidaeg is pretty lonely and would befriend Toby.
This a great accompaniment to the October Daye series and gives some great insight into a section of life of the Luidaeg and how being the Sea Witch has come with some devastating costs at times.
Note: This is a F/F love story and there is totally a fade to black sex scene but if that is a deal breaker for you, well avoid it I guess. But you will be missing out since this is an extremely emotional and beautiful fairytale.
We know that we must, never, never, upon pain of misery beyond measure, trust the sea witch, or take her bargains, or risk her anger. These are the things every Selkie-child knows.
But they never tell us that the sea-witch can be kind, when she wants to. They never tell us that she cries at night like a lost child, or that the ocean lovers her, or that she is lonely, or that she’s alone.
They never tell us not to love her.
I love the Sea Witch…I mean she is cantankerous, snarky, snarly and pretty powerful. In One Salt Sea we get a glimpse into her past and why she has a love hate relationship with the Selkies. That story in itself was enough to squeeze my heart quite a bit. But then to read how the Sea Witch fell in love and later lost that love was tear inducing.
Oh the betrayal of the Roane and what that in itself must have done to her. But then to go through this….no wonder the Luidaeg is pretty lonely and would befriend Toby.
This a great accompaniment to the October Daye series and gives some great insight into a section of life of the Luidaeg and how being the Sea Witch has come with some devastating costs at times.
Note: This is a F/F love story and there is totally a fade to black sex scene but if that is a deal breaker for you, well avoid it I guess. But you will be missing out since this is an extremely emotional and beautiful fairytale.
April 14, 2015
It was nice to read another Luidaeg short story. Poor Annie. It was nice to know what the sea witch looked like without the glamour. Hope to read more stories about the Luidaeg (Annie).
April 21, 2020
Best thing in this series so far. Though maybe I'm biased because I love the sea witch.
December 14, 2022
Hugo-nominated novelette about a selkie, a sea-witch, and a doomed love affair. Award-worthy. High marks! http://www.seananmcguire.com/gallerie...
March 27, 2014
I was just saying that Luidaeg is my favourite character and I read this fabulous novella - about Luidaeg!!
One Salt Sea is the last book where Luidaeg and Elizabeth, Liz, seem to have some sort of secret between them, the answer to what that is lies between these pages...
I loved this book and it caught me with a lump in my throat, I found myself loving Luidaeg more and more throughout the books but this novella cements it all - she is fab!
One Salt Sea is the last book where Luidaeg and Elizabeth, Liz, seem to have some sort of secret between them, the answer to what that is lies between these pages...
I loved this book and it caught me with a lump in my throat, I found myself loving Luidaeg more and more throughout the books but this novella cements it all - she is fab!
February 27, 2015
Beautiful, lyrical, heartbreaking. Not my cup of tea really, due to melancholic tone. But I can appreciate story well done and gorgeous prose.
April 14, 2016
*** 5 ***
A buddy read for all Toby Daye Fanatics at BB&B!!!
Seanan McGuire - October Daye 04.5 - In Sea-Salt Tears
How can anyone who has read the series so far, not be absolutely blown away by this beautiful, heartbreaking romance, which adds even more layers to a character already rich with debt and personality, history and current worthy actions.... I am talking about my favorite character in the series, the one and only, the Luidaeg, The Legendary Sea Witch!!!
"We know that we must never, never, upon pain of misery beyond measure, trust the sea-witch, or take her bargains, or risk her anger. These are the things every Selkie-child knows. But they never tell us that the sea-witch can be kind, when she wants to. They never tell us that she cries at night like a lost child, or that the ocean loves her, or that she’s lonely, or that she’s alone. They never tell us not to love her....
Oooo, you evil, determined to make my heart bleed, ridiculously talented and poetic author, Seanan McGuire!!!! How could you do this to us??? We love her already, how could we not? We all suspected the numerous betrayals and pain that she has suffered through millennia upon millennia, we all new her power, strength, magic and perseverance... We all understood that underneath the gruff exterior is a heart of gold... All this we were prepared for, and I was foolish enough to think, that you are going to expound on these multitude of qualities... The qualities which make her the Legendary Sea Witch... But no, you decided to go for the jugular, for the one thing we were all least prepared for - you exposed the Luidaeg's core of humanity and sensual vulnerability... ! We were doomed from the beginning - doomed to fall irreversibly in love with her, doomed to irretrievably surrender our hearts to this creature, whose capacity to love has not been extinguished by the wounds carved into her being by all of those, who should have loved and cherished her instead... YOU doomed us to hurt for her, while utterly deprived of the ability to reach out to her and help her heal...
THANK YOU!
"My years with Annie were like pearls: each of them was different, beautiful, and flawed in a way that made it all the more special to me. To the both of us. Perfection is boring, that’s what Annie used to tell me; perfection is the refuge of small minds, simple stories, and people who don’t have anything more interesting to strive for...."
I feel bad for Liz, because she made a mistake, she chose wrong, and she is well aware of her misstep, there to live with for many more years to come... Both her and the Luidaeg are poorer for the loss of what they had... This very short, only 22 pages story, is the love letter of the author to the Sea Witch. She has crafted it sooooo beautifully, that anything I say would pale in comparison. However, I know one thing - I am grateful for the creation of such a character and I WILL ALWAYS CHERISH HER as one of the pearls in the sea of Urban Fantasy!!!
These are the things every Selkie-child knows: that the sea does not love us, that we are finite and flawed, and that we must never, never trust the sea-witch. I know all these things to be true. Because I made the greatest mistake of all, a mistake that may well be unique in all our world: I loved her, and she loved me. I broke her heart. I proved that we are still no better than we were. Even after all these generations, we are still betraying her. Now the moon never beams without bringing me dreams of my beautiful Annabel Lee…and I suppose, in its way, that’s no more than I deserve...."
A buddy read for all Toby Daye Fanatics at BB&B!!!
Seanan McGuire - October Daye 04.5 - In Sea-Salt Tears
How can anyone who has read the series so far, not be absolutely blown away by this beautiful, heartbreaking romance, which adds even more layers to a character already rich with debt and personality, history and current worthy actions.... I am talking about my favorite character in the series, the one and only, the Luidaeg, The Legendary Sea Witch!!!
"We know that we must never, never, upon pain of misery beyond measure, trust the sea-witch, or take her bargains, or risk her anger. These are the things every Selkie-child knows. But they never tell us that the sea-witch can be kind, when she wants to. They never tell us that she cries at night like a lost child, or that the ocean loves her, or that she’s lonely, or that she’s alone. They never tell us not to love her....
Oooo, you evil, determined to make my heart bleed, ridiculously talented and poetic author, Seanan McGuire!!!! How could you do this to us??? We love her already, how could we not? We all suspected the numerous betrayals and pain that she has suffered through millennia upon millennia, we all new her power, strength, magic and perseverance... We all understood that underneath the gruff exterior is a heart of gold... All this we were prepared for, and I was foolish enough to think, that you are going to expound on these multitude of qualities... The qualities which make her the Legendary Sea Witch... But no, you decided to go for the jugular, for the one thing we were all least prepared for - you exposed the Luidaeg's core of humanity and sensual vulnerability... ! We were doomed from the beginning - doomed to fall irreversibly in love with her, doomed to irretrievably surrender our hearts to this creature, whose capacity to love has not been extinguished by the wounds carved into her being by all of those, who should have loved and cherished her instead... YOU doomed us to hurt for her, while utterly deprived of the ability to reach out to her and help her heal...
THANK YOU!
"My years with Annie were like pearls: each of them was different, beautiful, and flawed in a way that made it all the more special to me. To the both of us. Perfection is boring, that’s what Annie used to tell me; perfection is the refuge of small minds, simple stories, and people who don’t have anything more interesting to strive for...."
I feel bad for Liz, because she made a mistake, she chose wrong, and she is well aware of her misstep, there to live with for many more years to come... Both her and the Luidaeg are poorer for the loss of what they had... This very short, only 22 pages story, is the love letter of the author to the Sea Witch. She has crafted it sooooo beautifully, that anything I say would pale in comparison. However, I know one thing - I am grateful for the creation of such a character and I WILL ALWAYS CHERISH HER as one of the pearls in the sea of Urban Fantasy!!!
These are the things every Selkie-child knows: that the sea does not love us, that we are finite and flawed, and that we must never, never trust the sea-witch. I know all these things to be true. Because I made the greatest mistake of all, a mistake that may well be unique in all our world: I loved her, and she loved me. I broke her heart. I proved that we are still no better than we were. Even after all these generations, we are still betraying her. Now the moon never beams without bringing me dreams of my beautiful Annabel Lee…and I suppose, in its way, that’s no more than I deserve...."
July 30, 2013
Seanan McGuire is killing it with the Hugo nominations this year. Not only is her alter ego up for a novel nomination, but she has two nominations in the same category. While I wasn’t impressed by “Rat-Catcher”, “In Sea-Salt Tears” left me with a more favourable feeling. It’s predictable and a little trite, but at the same time it has a strong emotional core. It probes ideas about personal and cultural identity within the bounds of a fantasy setting, which is exactly how speculative fiction should play out.
Liz is a selkie, waiting for her skin. With such a limited number, acquiring a skin is a rite of passage all young selkies crave. While she waits, for what seems like an interminable period, she forms a lasting friendship with a Roane girl who always arrives to observe the passing on of a skin. This girl, Annie, captivates and fascinates Liz; for the first time, Liz sees an alternative to simply waiting to be able to join her brothers and sisters in the sea. She and Annie see each other irregularly as Annie passes through town. Eventually, they move in together. But then Liz gets that fateful call, the one she thought she had been waiting for. And she has to make a choice.
This is a tragedy, and not just for obvious reasons. (I admit I made the connections regarding Annie’s identity pretty early on, but McGuire handles the reveal in a way that is fulfilling and rewarding, especially if you were paying attention to the foreshadowing.) Liz has a shot at happiness, a happiness that is genuine and not built upon the perpetuation of generations of tragedy. But she is struggling against who she is, against what seems to be a hereditary need to don one of those slippery skins and frolic in the sea. The revelation that there is a dark side to the selkie secret makes the choice all the more tragic and difficult.
A lot of stories are made by the hero or heroine's rejection of temptation, by their ability to overcome adversity and triumph despite the odds. Like many tragedies, “In Sea-Salt Tears” is about the protagonist losing. This story is powerful because of the choices that Liz makes, the triumph of cowardice over love. She is unable to break a centuries-long cycle; she is just another generation of junkie.
This is probably my favourite nominee in the novelette category and the one I’d like to see win this year.
Liz is a selkie, waiting for her skin. With such a limited number, acquiring a skin is a rite of passage all young selkies crave. While she waits, for what seems like an interminable period, she forms a lasting friendship with a Roane girl who always arrives to observe the passing on of a skin. This girl, Annie, captivates and fascinates Liz; for the first time, Liz sees an alternative to simply waiting to be able to join her brothers and sisters in the sea. She and Annie see each other irregularly as Annie passes through town. Eventually, they move in together. But then Liz gets that fateful call, the one she thought she had been waiting for. And she has to make a choice.
This is a tragedy, and not just for obvious reasons. (I admit I made the connections regarding Annie’s identity pretty early on, but McGuire handles the reveal in a way that is fulfilling and rewarding, especially if you were paying attention to the foreshadowing.) Liz has a shot at happiness, a happiness that is genuine and not built upon the perpetuation of generations of tragedy. But she is struggling against who she is, against what seems to be a hereditary need to don one of those slippery skins and frolic in the sea. The revelation that there is a dark side to the selkie secret makes the choice all the more tragic and difficult.
A lot of stories are made by the hero or heroine's rejection of temptation, by their ability to overcome adversity and triumph despite the odds. Like many tragedies, “In Sea-Salt Tears” is about the protagonist losing. This story is powerful because of the choices that Liz makes, the triumph of cowardice over love. She is unable to break a centuries-long cycle; she is just another generation of junkie.
This is probably my favourite nominee in the novelette category and the one I’d like to see win this year.
March 26, 2013
Review from 1st read, August/September 2012. 2nd read, March 2013.
Firstly, for anyone who hasn't seen this about: the ebook is available through Seanan's website, seananmcguire.com. It's free to download and is not available in print form at this point.
Secondly, for Toby readers who have never heard Seanan's music, I suggest you try to find the song "In This Sea", from her album "Stars Fall Home" (now sadly out of print). It ties in perfectly to this, its companion story. I read this a while after learning and loving the song, and the references in the song hit me like a 2 by 4 when I read the novella. A nice 2 by 4 though.
"In Sea-Salt Tears" is a beautiful, sometimes breathtaking 20-page novella about Elizabeth and Annie, both characters any reader of Seanan McGuire's Toby Daye series will have met by other (and the same) names by the end of "One Salt Sea".
It's possible to read and love this before you know who they are. It gives more nuance and depth when you read it after. It's a lovely romance between two women who are what they are, what they must be, and what they choose to be - even if that means losing other parts of their lives. I definitely recommend it. Have tissues nearby if you're an emotional type, and even if you're not; you might cry a bit. I did, and I would not consider myself an overly emotional type of person. Seanan just knows how to get to me. And I'm glad she does!
July 30, 2020
Heartbreaking. Absolutely heartbreaking.
March 29, 2020
Well that was painful...
It is a short story about a Selkie who falls in love with the mysterious Annie who is none other than .
It ends in heartbreak and added another layer of betrayal on the already overburdened .
Previous book reviews:
✦ One Salt Sea (October Daye #5) ~ ★★★★★ (04/02/2013)
✦ Through This House (October Daye #4.1) ~ ★★★ (01/02/2016)
✦ Late Eclipses (October Daye #4) ~ ★★★★ (03/02/2013)
✦ An Artificial Night (October Daye #3) ~ ★★★★ (02/02/2013)
✦ A Local Habitation (October Daye #2) ~ ★★★★ (02/02/2013)
✦ Rosemary and Rue (October Daye #1) ~ ★★★★ (30/01/2013)
It is a short story about a Selkie who falls in love with the mysterious Annie who is none other than .
It ends in heartbreak and added another layer of betrayal on the already overburdened .
Previous book reviews:
✦ One Salt Sea (October Daye #5) ~ ★★★★★ (04/02/2013)
✦ Through This House (October Daye #4.1) ~ ★★★ (01/02/2016)
✦ Late Eclipses (October Daye #4) ~ ★★★★ (03/02/2013)
✦ An Artificial Night (October Daye #3) ~ ★★★★ (02/02/2013)
✦ A Local Habitation (October Daye #2) ~ ★★★★ (02/02/2013)
✦ Rosemary and Rue (October Daye #1) ~ ★★★★ (30/01/2013)
August 16, 2022
It's 1972 and this story takes place well before
Rosemary and Rue
, 1, which ensures that "In Sea-Salt Tears" is 0.5 chronologically in the October Daye urban fantasy series.
My Take
A tale of love and regret...of remorse of all kinds.
This is a split from the October Daye series and still features the Luidaeg as a side character even though it’s all about her. It’s a poignant tale that confirms betrayal by loved ones as the greatest perfidy of all.
Bittersweet with ache and love, with a dip into the life of the Selkies. Their bargain for their lives. (For more on Selkies, Roane, and the Luidaeg, read One Salt Sea , 5).
I’m with Tempe. Considering the limitations of the skins and what Liz’s mother reveals to Liz, why do they bring their children up to believe this is the be-all-and-end-all of life? As for what we do learn about Liz’s mother, why even give her daughter that choice?
Although, that last line...it does make sense of her mother’s ultimate choice.
The Story
It begins in 1972 with a bonfire of pain as those not chosen seek solace among themselves. Where Liz meets Annie and a friendship of years grows into so much more.
It’s a moment of decision. Of second best. Of truths.
The Characters
Liz Ryan, Mathias, Colin, and Tempe are those we meet around the fire. Daisy is the first to receive her skin in this story.
Annabel Lee is a Roane who must hold to tradition.
Diva is Liz’s daughter. The four Selkie clans in the area are the Ryans (Liz has just become their head), Chases (Isla Chase is their head), O’Connells (Joan O’Connell is their head), and Anthonys (Claude Anthony is their head).
The Cover
The cover is a sea and sky of bright blues in the dawn hours as a lone woman walks the water's edge on the beach.
The title is sadly accurate, the beginning and end are what this story is about. It’s the central word that pinpoints most specifically whose tears will fall...on both sides, it will be “In Sea-Salt Tears”.
My Take
A tale of love and regret...of remorse of all kinds.
This is a split from the October Daye series and still features the Luidaeg as a side character even though it’s all about her. It’s a poignant tale that confirms betrayal by loved ones as the greatest perfidy of all.
Bittersweet with ache and love, with a dip into the life of the Selkies. Their bargain for their lives. (For more on Selkies, Roane, and the Luidaeg, read One Salt Sea , 5).
This was so poetic...Oh, Annie’s tale about her parents is so sad
”Then her mouth found its way between my legs, and ah, I didn’t care what happened next. The tide was coming in, and I was coming with it.”
I’m with Tempe. Considering the limitations of the skins and what Liz’s mother reveals to Liz, why do they bring their children up to believe this is the be-all-and-end-all of life? As for what we do learn about Liz’s mother, why even give her daughter that choice?
Although, that last line...it does make sense of her mother’s ultimate choice.
The Story
It begins in 1972 with a bonfire of pain as those not chosen seek solace among themselves. Where Liz meets Annie and a friendship of years grows into so much more.
It’s a moment of decision. Of second best. Of truths.
The Characters
Liz Ryan, Mathias, Colin, and Tempe are those we meet around the fire. Daisy is the first to receive her skin in this story.
Annabel Lee is a Roane who must hold to tradition.
Diva is Liz’s daughter. The four Selkie clans in the area are the Ryans (Liz has just become their head), Chases (Isla Chase is their head), O’Connells (Joan O’Connell is their head), and Anthonys (Claude Anthony is their head).
The Cover
The cover is a sea and sky of bright blues in the dawn hours as a lone woman walks the water's edge on the beach.
The title is sadly accurate, the beginning and end are what this story is about. It’s the central word that pinpoints most specifically whose tears will fall...on both sides, it will be “In Sea-Salt Tears”.
July 11, 2013
Nominated for the novelette category for the 2013 Hugo.
I really liked this story of Elizabeth, the girl born to two selkies, who is impatiently waiting her turn to transform. A lovely romance between her and a sea-witch, and heartbreaking circumstances.
The author recommends reading One Salt Sea first, and I eventually will probably read the October Daye books, especially if they are more like this.
This might be my vote to win this category. I'm torn between McGuire and the Cadigan (but not the other McGuire!)
I really liked this story of Elizabeth, the girl born to two selkies, who is impatiently waiting her turn to transform. A lovely romance between her and a sea-witch, and heartbreaking circumstances.
The author recommends reading One Salt Sea first, and I eventually will probably read the October Daye books, especially if they are more like this.
This might be my vote to win this category. I'm torn between McGuire and the Cadigan (but not the other McGuire!)
August 28, 2016
Wow. This story is really good. It's designed to be read after One Salt Sea and it tells the story of Elizabeth the Selkie's relationship with the Luidaeg. You get the gist of their history in the novel, but I really felt the heartbreak reading their history here. This was no short affair. They loved each other for years --and when Elizabeth decided to claim a skin, it's so very sad.
I would definitely recommend reading this one. It gave me many feels. You can find it free on the author's website. (24 pages)
I would definitely recommend reading this one. It gave me many feels. You can find it free on the author's website. (24 pages)
September 28, 2018
How have I never read this before??? I'm trying to read all the Toby shorts in the right order as I do my re-read of the main series and this one was so good. Both cute and sad, it follows one of the selkie women from the main series and the Luidaeg in sheds some more light on their relationship. The whole thing made me so happy because I thought they might have been a couple at some point due to an off-handed comment in the books so I'm so glad that Seanan decided to expand on that! Definitely a great addition to the Toby-verse.
September 27, 2012
These are the things every Selkie-child knows: that the sea does not love us, that we are finite and flawed, and that we must never, never trust the sea-witch.
This brief story sheds light on the relationship between The Luidaeg and Elizabeth, the Selkie clan leader we met at the end of One Salt Sea. It's a must read for all Toby Daye fans especially after reading One Salt Sea.
August 27, 2012
Exceptionally good short story, but certainly not a fluffy, feel-good kind of thing. It gives us a lot of insight into the Luidaeg and the history of the selkies but it isn't written as a history, it's a romance. A 24 page bitter sweet romance.
October 13, 2012
Holy shit, this made me cry. The Luidaeg is probably my favourite character in the October Daye books, and this was just lovely. LOVELY. More of this, please.
January 17, 2025
In Sea-Salt Tears was a nice addition to the series with some backstory on the Luidaeg.
1972: Elizabeth Ryan has just been passed up for a Selkie skin and it feels like her world is ending. But when a mysterious cousin called Annie appears, Elizabeth is able to take her mind off of things for a little while. Elizabeth and Annie come together time and time again over the years and their love was the thing of fairy tales. But in the world of Faerie, fairy tales aren't always kind or fair.
In the fifth book in the series, One Salt Sea, we find out the Luidaeg's connection to the Selkies and why she dislikes them so much. We also meet an older Elizabeth Ryan and learn a bit about her connection with Annie, aka the Luidaeg. I was incredibly curious about the pair after reading that book so I was happy to see the author created a short story delving into their relationship. Annie and Elizabeth were really good together and it was interesting getting to see the Luidaeg so different from who she is in the main books. Eventually their relationship ends after a choice Elizabeth makes and it was really heartbreaking to watch. This story also included Connor which was a neat surprise as I wasn't expecting him to pop up.
Overall In Sea-Salt Tears was an enjoyable read and I would highly recommend it for fans of the main books.
1972: Elizabeth Ryan has just been passed up for a Selkie skin and it feels like her world is ending. But when a mysterious cousin called Annie appears, Elizabeth is able to take her mind off of things for a little while. Elizabeth and Annie come together time and time again over the years and their love was the thing of fairy tales. But in the world of Faerie, fairy tales aren't always kind or fair.
In the fifth book in the series, One Salt Sea, we find out the Luidaeg's connection to the Selkies and why she dislikes them so much. We also meet an older Elizabeth Ryan and learn a bit about her connection with Annie, aka the Luidaeg. I was incredibly curious about the pair after reading that book so I was happy to see the author created a short story delving into their relationship. Annie and Elizabeth were really good together and it was interesting getting to see the Luidaeg so different from who she is in the main books. Eventually their relationship ends after a choice Elizabeth makes and it was really heartbreaking to watch. This story also included Connor which was a neat surprise as I wasn't expecting him to pop up.
Overall In Sea-Salt Tears was an enjoyable read and I would highly recommend it for fans of the main books.
August 8, 2018
3 Stars... This is a short story that is free on the author's website... It depicts the onset and developing relationship between Annie and Elizabeth and provides some insight into the Selkie/Roane history... We are briefly introduced to these characters in "One Salt Sea" revealing the true identity of Annie and the role she partakes in the Selkie family... Well written and interesting short read:)
September 22, 2019
In Toby Daye series Seanan McGuire has mastered the art of making me cry in just a few pages, a couple of words, and lots of emotion will equal me shedding tears in a bittersweet feeling I can't explain throughly
February 6, 2024
I am SHOOK. Absolutely beautiful and heartbreaking story.
February 14, 2017
They never tell us that the sea-witch can be kind, when she wants to. They never tell us that she cries at night like a lost child, or that the ocean loves her, or that she's lonely, or that she's alone.How can someone put this many emotions in 24 pages??
The Luidaeg (or as she is known here - Annie) is one of my absolutely favorite characters of October Daye series. To have a short story about her and her past is just amazing.
Usually, when I pick up a short story from some UF world, I expect to like it or to be entertained by it, but I never expect to love it so much I'd give it full five stars. I mean, it's only twenty pages long. It can't possibly that good. Turns out, it can.
In Sea Salt Tears made me feel so many emotions. Love, desperation, but mostly sadness. I was sad for Liz and her choice and my heart broke for the Luidaeg. When I first read about the sea witch in Rosemary and Rue I never would have guessed she has so many layers.
Origin story of Selkies and Roane is tragic. Story of Annie and Liz is, in a way, even more tragic. Mostly because the Luidaeg chose to forgive Selkies and move on. But it wasn't meant to be.
If I read this short story before reading the first few novels in October Daye series, it would have left me heartbroken. Now, it leaves me hopeful. Because even though Liz and Annie's story didn't end well, I know that the Luidaeg is not alone anymore. She has Toby as a friend and she has Quentin, who, for some reason, likes her like no other kid. In the end, all is not lost for Annie.
November 17, 2017
In Sea-Salt Tears is a free short story available on Seanan McGuire's website. It features the Luidaeg and her relationship with a Selkie (who has not gotten a skin) over a period of years.
It is a bittersweet story that further develops the Luidaeg's character. She is likely still suffering from heartbreak in the Toby timeline, which occurs later on than in this short story. It doesn't contain any spoilers regarding Toby and friends. It does provide some more explanation about the Selkies, which were described in book five, One Salt Sea.
A worthwhile read and made me like the Luidaeg more.
It is a bittersweet story that further develops the Luidaeg's character. She is likely still suffering from heartbreak in the Toby timeline, which occurs later on than in this short story. It doesn't contain any spoilers regarding Toby and friends. It does provide some more explanation about the Selkies, which were described in book five, One Salt Sea.
A worthwhile read and made me like the Luidaeg more.
February 4, 2016
This poignant, tragic love story really sticks to you. The world of the Northern California Selkies is so beautifully wrought that the writing is invisible, and you don't need to have read any of the related novels. I likely will now though.
January 24, 2013
Wow! This is the story everyone who was blown away by the confrontation between the Luidaeg and the head of the selkie clan at the end of One Salt Sea wants to read - it's the backstory between these two characters, and very generously it's available for free on Seanan McGuire's website. Don't read this before One Salt Sea, but do be sure to read it afterward. Given the bitter, tormented relationship exposed there, it's no surprise that this story is full of heartbreak. The Luidaeg has always been one of my favorite characters in this series and this story deepens that for me, and whets my appetite even more for the next installment of the tale of the sea-witch and the selkies.
September 17, 2019
Oh do I wish this was a full length novel. I've always loved the sea witch and this brief glimpse into her past is both heart-breaking and touching. Despite the shortness of this piece, I truly came to care for the characters here, not just Annie, who I already know and love. I don't normally do romance, but I would give money to read more of this heart-felt yet melancholy story of love, loss and betrayal. McGuire truly captures the longing of the selkies and the difficulty of the choices they make as well as the hopeless longing of those not given the choice, left to watch from the sidelines. This is a beautiful piece and proves that McGuire can master the short story as well as the full length novel.
December 22, 2025
This short story really gut punched me in the feelings. The Ludieag is one of my favorite characters in the October Daye series and I was eager to get more of her. This story really moved me. I'm a sucker for a tragic love story. Liz is so tragic, and I did not envy the position she eventually ended up being in. I definitely look forward to seeing more of her in the future. I hope to get to the Tybalt stories next. I'm glad McGuire writes short stories about the side characters because they're all so rich and interesting, it makes the world feel more lived in.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 225 reviews