SARAH STREET is a YA fantasy author whose books include A Curse of Salt and its prequel A Sea of Wolves which is a sapphic enemies-to-lovers romantasy.
We asked Sarah what her desert island reads are and what inspired the fantasy elements in A Sea of Wolves.
What are you reading now?
I’m currently about to finish The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller. And yes, I have the tissues ready.
If you were stranded on a desert island and you could only have five books– what would they be?
This is such a difficult question, but probably:
- Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor
- The Darkness Outside Us by Eliot Schrefer
- Cleat Cute by Meryl Wilsner
- Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
- This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone
Where is your favourite place to read?
Somewhere in the sunshine by some water, or on a train travelling anywhere.
Do you read one book at a time or multiple?
I usually have two or three going at once; they tend to pile up when I’m not reading fast enough.
Do you use a bookmark or fold the corners of pages?
Bookmarks whenever I can! But I’m definitely guilty of the occasional dog-ear.
What can you tell us about your novel A Sea of Wolves?
A Sea of Wolves is a prequel, set 50 years before my first book, A Curse of Salt, though each can be read separately. It follows a young woodcutter on a quest to save her town from pirates, however she soon finds herself entangled in a dangerous mystery and in the arms of a ruthless pirate, Golde. It’s very much an enemies-to-lovers sapphic romance and a swashbuckling adventure inspired by Little Red Riding Hood.
What inspired the fantasy elements in your novel?
My love for the ocean made me want to paint it as something ancient and magical, so that is the root of a lot of the fantasy elements in this book. The age-old curse that plagues the crew is thanks to A Curse of Salt being a Beauty and the Beast retelling, but A Sea of Wolves itself is sprinkled with magic, from the powers of a spiteful sea god to an irritatingly cryptic seer.
What can fans of A Curse of Salt look forward to seeing a return of?
From what I can gather, the most anticipated part of this book is going to be the return of certain old characters. Aron seems to be a particular favourite, but the book also features Golde as a main character and gives some more glimpses into the Heartless King’s backstory.
What book character would you be, and why?
If I could choose, I’d be Claire from Outlander. Not for the romance – I just really admire how resourceful, smart and resilient she is. Plus, I want to live in Scotland and wear an 18th Century wardrobe.
If you could meet one author (living or dead) – who would it be and why?
I’m a huge Austen fan, and I would be so fascinated to meet her, not just to tell her how resounding her impact on the world has been, but to explore the depths of her understanding of people and society. I think her characters and stories are truly timeless.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sarah Street is a YA fantasy author, born and raised on Gadigal land in Sydney, Australia. She has a BA in English and Criminology and spends her days amid a hoard of books, playing Hozier songs to her houseplants and deciding what great body of water to write about next.
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