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secondhandpages's review against another edition
5.0
This book was excellent! From the sapphic/enby romance to the adventure and action! I enjoyed every moment reading this book. Flora is a very well flushed out character who made me like her from the get go. Evelyn, while just as flushed and layered, was a bit harder to grow to like. Her attitude towards some things really bothered me. I absolutely adored that she was as precocious as she was though!
The Mermaid, The Witch and The Sea follow two girls as they attempt to navigate the pirate world: one by choice and one by force. Add in a sentient sea, a mermaid with a lust for drinking blood, and a witch who only looks out for herself - this was a wild ride! The character arcs for each was well worth the build up, and the ending blew me away.
The novel had good commentary on colonialism, imperialism, and misogyny, as well as excellent representation and diverse characters.
One of the things I really loved about the book was the mermaid origins. I also loved how the mermaid changed and became something grotesque out of the sea but when in the sea water was as stunning as we picture a mermaid to be.
There was so much about this novel that I could talk about for ages, so instead I'll just say - read it, listen to it, devour it 5 stars read for this enthralling, magical stand alone!
The Mermaid, The Witch and The Sea follow two girls as they attempt to navigate the pirate world: one by choice and one by force. Add in a sentient sea, a mermaid with a lust for drinking blood, and a witch who only looks out for herself - this was a wild ride! The character arcs for each was well worth the build up, and the ending blew me away.
The novel had good commentary on colonialism, imperialism, and misogyny, as well as excellent representation and diverse characters.
One of the things I really loved about the book was the mermaid origins. I also loved how the mermaid changed and became something grotesque out of the sea but when in the sea water was as stunning as we picture a mermaid to be.
There was so much about this novel that I could talk about for ages, so instead I'll just say - read it, listen to it, devour it 5 stars read for this enthralling, magical stand alone!
clara_ward's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
annineamundsen's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars.
This was a beautiful story and I really enjoyed it. It's harsh and sad at times, but it shows the power of doing the right thing. It's very well written, with a poetic fairytale influence that I really liked. I love how everything Evelyn does is to spite her parents/her society. Truly relatable.
Main characters are wlw and there are a couple of non-binary characters. It's also got pirates, mermaids and witches - what more could you want from a story??
This was a beautiful story and I really enjoyed it. It's harsh and sad at times, but it shows the power of doing the right thing. It's very well written, with a poetic fairytale influence that I really liked. I love how everything Evelyn does is to spite her parents/her society. Truly relatable.
Main characters are wlw and there are a couple of non-binary characters. It's also got pirates, mermaids and witches - what more could you want from a story??
sammyhastakenashitty's review against another edition
5.0
It was a little hard to get in the story, but once I was in the story, it was really good. I really loved the story and the characters.
riverstrongblood's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I cannot begin to express how thoroughly I enjoyed this book. Somebody else on this app wrote that they wished there were more witches and mermaids and "less of all the other stuff" but let me just say that this books is PACKED with fantasy and pirates and witches and mermaids. A person who simply can't care for the depth of the diversity and intersectionality in this book doesn't deserve the magnitude and life breathed into its pages.
I'm not one for spoilers in book reviews but I have never regarded a book more highly than this. And I am so appreciative for authors who are writing queer and ethnically diverse books. It's rare. A breath of fresh air against the bland, white, straight canopy that fantasy has been for so long.
I'm not one for spoilers in book reviews but I have never regarded a book more highly than this. And I am so appreciative for authors who are writing queer and ethnically diverse books. It's rare. A breath of fresh air against the bland, white, straight canopy that fantasy has been for so long.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Lesbophobia, Outing, Abandonment, Alcohol, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, and Cannibalism
tildee's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
ellie_cripps's review against another edition
2.0
Was disappointed by this one, picked it up because it sounded so fun, but was in the end filled with unlikeable characters making selfish choices.
that_geeky_girl's review against another edition
4.0
A well balanced tale threaded with magic and pirates. TW for some gruesome stuff that comes with pirates in a book though
siriuslynotstr8's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25