Sea Witch

Sea Witch is a reimagining of The Little Mermaid that takes place in a 19th century Danish fishing village. The story follows Evie, a young witch who struggles with her magical abilities while keeping them hidden from her small coastal community. The narrative alternates between past and present, exploring the friendship between Evie and Anna, a nobleman's daughter who drowned years ago. When a mysterious girl arrives in the village bearing an uncanny resemblance to Anna, Evie becomes entangled in dangerous magic and long-buried secrets. Magic, romance, and Danish folklore combine in this origin story of the sea witch character from the classic fairytale. The book incorporates themes of friendship, sacrifice, and the price of power while examining how loss can shape a person's choices and destiny.

Readers describe Sea Witch as a slower-paced origin story focused on character development rather than action. The book sits at 3.7/5 on Goodreads (24,000+ ratings) and 4.3/5 on Amazon (500+ ratings). Readers praised: - The Danish coastal setting and folklore elements - Complex female friendships - The villain's psychological development - Historical details and atmosphere - Creative spin on The Little Mermaid story Common criticisms: - Pacing too slow for the first 60% - Romance felt underdeveloped - Marketing mislead readers to expect more action/magic - Present-tense narration felt jarring As one reviewer noted: "This is more historical fiction with fantasy elements than a true fantasy novel." Multiple readers mentioned expecting a darker tone based on the cover and description. Readers who enjoyed the book tended to appreciate character-driven stories and fairy tale retellings, while those seeking fast-paced fantasy found it disappointing.

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🌊 "Sea Witch" is inspired by the origin story of the sea witch from Hans Christian Andersen's "The Little Mermaid," but sets the tale in 19th century Denmark among real-world witch hunts and superstitions. 🧜‍♀️ Author Sarah Henning was a competitive swimmer for 15 years, which helped inform her vivid descriptions of underwater scenes and swimming in the novel. ⚓ The book explores themes of social class division through the friendship between a poor fisherman's daughter and a nobleman's son, reflecting the rigid social structures of 19th century Danish society. 🌊 Many of the maritime superstitions featured in the book are based on actual Danish folklore, including beliefs about witches controlling the weather and seas. 🐋 Henning spent extensive time researching Danish fishing villages and customs from the 1800s to create an authentic historical backdrop for her fantasy story.