The main character in The Salt Grows Heavy is a mermaid, but she’s no Ariel, lest you think this is one of those magical mermaid stories. The cover pretty much sums it up: this is a dark and gorey tale, and the mermaid eats people. If body horror isn’t your thing, this might not work for you. But Cassandra Khaw’s flawless, evocative writing is worth the price of admission, in my opinion.
The mermaid’s tale is a sad one. She was claimed by a prince and dragged from the sea to become his wife. He cut out her tongue so she couldn’t speak and then made her eat it. But when her daughters are born, they attack and eat the prince, releasing the mermaid from her prison. And this is where our story starts. With the kingdom in shambles, the mermaid and her friend the plague doctor decide to leave together, not with a destination in mind, but rather to get as far from the kingdom as possible.
