A review by scottie_reads
The Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea, by Maggie Tokuda-Hall
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea by Maggie Tokuda-Hall tells the nautical tale of the pirate Florian and the noble born Evelyn. The story is part romance, part magic, and part adventure.
The beginning set up was a little slow, but the time spent building the world and the characters pays off. I found myself become very invested in what happened to Florian and Evelyn. Once the story got going there were times that I had to put the book down and scoot back into my seat.
Maggie Tokuda-Hall tackles some very interesting themes. I love how she is able to tie in little details and make them become so meaningful.
"We don't read to just imagine better lives. We read to be introduced to all kinds of lives... It's an escape, and it's also a way to become more connected to everyone around you. There's power in that, you know. in understanding. It's like magic" (45).
It's no coincidence that when Florian meets the Witch, Xenobia, that they find magic is created through taking and giving stories. Xenobia instructs Florian "Powerful things, stories. if you care to listen to them" (181). The stories we tell about ourselves and about others have power and become our truth.
As a side note, I'd love to hear what people think. Does Evelyn's mother, Lady Hasegawa, actually hate her daughter or does that tie into the stories people tell themselves about others? If Lady Hasegawa hated Evelyn so much, how was it that what she taught her daughter was the exact things Evelyn needed to know to survive? Looking at you floor plans of the 900th emperor's palace.
The more time I've spent reflecting on the book to write my review the more I appreciate my experience reading it. I'm happy to give it a 4 star reading recommendation.
The beginning set up was a little slow, but the time spent building the world and the characters pays off. I found myself become very invested in what happened to Florian and Evelyn. Once the story got going there were times that I had to put the book down and scoot back into my seat.
Maggie Tokuda-Hall tackles some very interesting themes. I love how she is able to tie in little details and make them become so meaningful.
Spoiler
One of my favorite themes that runs throughout the book is the power of stories. Reading is one of the first things that starts to pull Florian and Evelyn together."We don't read to just imagine better lives. We read to be introduced to all kinds of lives... It's an escape, and it's also a way to become more connected to everyone around you. There's power in that, you know. in understanding. It's like magic" (45).
It's no coincidence that when Florian meets the Witch, Xenobia, that they find magic is created through taking and giving stories. Xenobia instructs Florian "Powerful things, stories. if you care to listen to them" (181). The stories we tell about ourselves and about others have power and become our truth.
As a side note, I'd love to hear what people think. Does Evelyn's mother, Lady Hasegawa, actually hate her daughter or does that tie into the stories people tell themselves about others? If Lady Hasegawa hated Evelyn so much, how was it that what she taught her daughter was the exact things Evelyn needed to know to survive? Looking at you floor plans of the 900th emperor's palace.
The more time I've spent reflecting on the book to write my review the more I appreciate my experience reading it. I'm happy to give it a 4 star reading recommendation.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture and Death
Moderate: Rape, Physical abuse, and Colonisation
Minor: Vomit and Xenophobia