Book Review: Sea Witch by Sarah Henning

Title: Sea Witch
Author: Sarah Henning
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Release Date: July 31st, 2018
Pages: 368
Format: eARC
Source: Net Galley
Age Group: Young Adult
Genre: Retelling

       

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. 

 

Even though I knew how the Sea Witch would end I still read this book as if I was expecting a different ending.

Sea Witch is Sarah Henning’s debut novel and I must say she wrote quite a mermazing story; from start to finish the reader will be captured in all the twist and turns the author throws your way. In all honesty I had to stop and take a few breaks because of the things that happened, I’m still shocked and sad but happy because this was a story I needed and it was absolutely perfect.

There is not anything I didn’t love about this book; what I loved the most was the characters who came to life on the pages especially Evie. She was someone fierce and loyal and courageous and although at times I wanted her to stop being so selfless I understood her journey and would probably make a lot of the same choices she did, including kissing a prince. (Fun fact my grandmother had a dream I married a prince so it could happen)

The writing was so effortlessly beautiful, I love getting lost in this world and I also wouldn’t mind getting a prequel novel about the lives of certain other characters that had me super intrigued.

Sea Witch was a splash-tacular read and if you're looking for a summer read filled with adventure, some romance, sacrifices, and heartbreak this is the book for you.