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Sea Witch by Sarah Henning is definitely a book to add to your TBR this summer. I’m not normally a big fan of mermaids, but when I heard that there was a book about Ursula’s origin story, I had to check it out. Sea Witch did not disappoint me, and I enjoyed the main character’s rise to evil. There is also some beautiful writing in this book, and I would definitely recommend it.
Series: Sea Witch #1
Author: Sarah Henning
Also by this author: It's All in How You Fall
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Genres: Fantasy, Retelling, Young Adult Fiction
Publication Date: July 31, 2018
Rating:
Series Rating:
Everyone knows what happens in the end.
A mermaid, a prince, a true love’s kiss.
But before that young siren’s tale, there were three friends.
One feared, one royal, and one already dead.~~~~~~~~~~
Ever since her best friend, Anna, drowned, Evie has been an outcast in her small fishing town. A freak. A curse. A witch.
A girl with an uncanny resemblance to Anna appears offshore and, though the girl denies it, Evie is convinced that her best friend actually survived. That her own magic wasn’t so powerless after all. And, as the two girls catch the eyes—and hearts—of two charming princes, Evie believes that she might finally have a chance at her own happily ever after.
But her new friend has secrets of her own. She can’t stay in Havnestad, or on two legs, unless Evie finds a way to help her. Now Evie will do anything to save her friend’s humanity, along with her prince’s heart—harnessing the power of her magic, her ocean, and her love until she discovers, too late, the truth of her bargain.
The rise of Hans Christian Andersen’s iconic villainess is a heart-wrenching story of friendship, betrayal, and a girl pushed beyond her limits—to become a monster.
❃ I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. ❃
Review: Sea Witch by Sarah Henning
This book is a fairy tale retelling of The Little Mermaid, but it focuses on the villain’s origin story. I love a good villain, and I was excited to pick this one up and get into Evie’s head. There are certain elements that are familiar from the original story, but there are also many fresh ideas, which is exactly what I like to see in fantasy retellings. I enjoyed the theme of friendship throughout the book, and it is nice to see the villain live a pretty normal life. There are some interesting twists in the story, although I did find them a bit predictable, but overall, this book captivated my interest.
❀ A Likeable Villain
I enjoyed Evie’s narration in the book. She is a witch, and witches are burned in her society, so she must hide her abilities. Evie actually seems pretty normal throughout the story, which is what I was hoping for, and I found myself sympathizing with her since she is from a lower class. As I was reading, I was hooked wondering what would push her over the edge and turn her evil. I won’t spoil anything, but I will say that by the end of the book, it makes sense why she becomes a villain.
❀ Descriptive and Vivid
One thing that stood out to me while I was reading was the writing style. The book is written in a very descriptive manner, and everything seems so vivid. The world is also developed, and I found the Denmark setting so unique. The aspects such as cultural traditions and festivals really made the story believable. The literary style of the book surprised me, and I would say it captures the essence of the original Hans Christian Andersen tale very well.
❀ A Villain Origin Story
Sea Witch by Sarah Henning is a villain origin story of the renowned sea witch, Ursula. I enjoyed the main character’s seemingly normal lifestyle and the descriptive writing style. If you are a fan of The Little Mermaid, I would definitely recommend this original take on the story.
About Sarah Henning
Sarah Henning is a recovering journalist who has worked for the Palm Beach Post, Kansas City Star and Associated Press, among others. While in South Florida, Sarah lived and worked through five hurricanes, which gave her an extreme respect for the ocean. When not writing, she runs ultramarathons, hits the playground with her two kids and hangs out with her husband Justin, who doubles as her long-suffering IT department. Sarah lives in Lawrence, Kansas, which, despite being extremely far from the beach, happens to be pretty cool.
About The Candid Cover
Olivia ❀ Canadian YA book blogger, Starbucks lover, & professional bibliophile.