Sea Witch
Over the years, many have wondered how the sea witch from the famous fairy tale The Little Mermaid came to be. Sarah Henning’s Sea Witch takes readers back to before the classic story and brings us Evelyn, a clever young witch who only wants to help those she loves. But her good intentions don’t turn out as planned.
Henning not only created a believable and original origin story for the sea witch, she also created the land Evelyn and her friends Prince Nik and Anna grew up in – one that is the perfect blend of fantasy and history. It’s clear Henning did some research as to what life would have been like in Scandinavian countries, but she never specified if her story took place in Denmark or Sweden or other places nearby. The traditions and architecture, the reliance on sea life for survival – all of it was written in a way that added a great deal to Evelyn’s story.
To deviant from the story for a moment: the cover design is simply gorgeous. I love the twisty tentacles, the mischievous glint in the witch’s eyes, and the impression that she is looking at you from below as you stare at her from perhaps a dock or a ship. The cover of a book is the first thing to draw me in and this one certainly did!
One of my favourite parts of this story is how Henning doesn’t only make this an origin story for the sea witch, but also for the very first little mermaid who wanted to come to land. Not for love, like in Hans Christen Anderson’s version, but for a much more sinister purpose. Without giving away too much, Henning does an amazing job twisting this story and completely changing everything I thought I knew about this fairy tale.
My only complaint is with the romance. I thoroughly enjoyed what was there, but I found the confession at the end by Evelyn to a certain someone (who I shall not name; it would give too much away) unbelievable. She spent the majority of time in the arms of another man, and at the end I was supposed to believe she loved another but had chosen to ignore her feelings for years? Perhaps it is believable to some, seeing as she is only sixteen in the book, but it wasn’t what I expected.
Overall, Sarah Henning’s Sea Witch was a spectacular story and I am expecting great things for the sequel. I pray she won’t disappoint!
Sea Witch Rating: ★★★★
Henning not only created a believable and original origin story for the sea witch, she also created the land Evelyn and her friends Prince Nik and Anna grew up in – one that is the perfect blend of fantasy and history. It’s clear Henning did some research as to what life would have been like in Scandinavian countries, but she never specified if her story took place in Denmark or Sweden or other places nearby. The traditions and architecture, the reliance on sea life for survival – all of it was written in a way that added a great deal to Evelyn’s story.
To deviant from the story for a moment: the cover design is simply gorgeous. I love the twisty tentacles, the mischievous glint in the witch’s eyes, and the impression that she is looking at you from below as you stare at her from perhaps a dock or a ship. The cover of a book is the first thing to draw me in and this one certainly did!
One of my favourite parts of this story is how Henning doesn’t only make this an origin story for the sea witch, but also for the very first little mermaid who wanted to come to land. Not for love, like in Hans Christen Anderson’s version, but for a much more sinister purpose. Without giving away too much, Henning does an amazing job twisting this story and completely changing everything I thought I knew about this fairy tale.
My only complaint is with the romance. I thoroughly enjoyed what was there, but I found the confession at the end by Evelyn to a certain someone (who I shall not name; it would give too much away) unbelievable. She spent the majority of time in the arms of another man, and at the end I was supposed to believe she loved another but had chosen to ignore her feelings for years? Perhaps it is believable to some, seeing as she is only sixteen in the book, but it wasn’t what I expected.
Overall, Sarah Henning’s Sea Witch was a spectacular story and I am expecting great things for the sequel. I pray she won’t disappoint!
Sea Witch Rating: ★★★★