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3.82 AVERAGE
3.82 AVERAGE
Finally after like 2 years I've finished this book! I didn't remember anything about the plot going into it but wow! I loved it so much :,) I mean I love any story where queerness prevails and defeats evil especially when that evil is colonialism! But this was really really well done. I loved that the magic witches and the Sea had were all about stories and memories and forgetting and remembering and writing a new story.
So so good! Would def recommend to a friend!
So so good! Would def recommend to a friend!
"The mermaid, the witch and the sea" is a queer pirate story with magical elements. Sounds like my kind of book, doesn't it. And I have to say, while reading, I did enjoy the book a lot. It is only after finishing that I realised ,I didn't care much for any of the characters and i had almost already forgotten the story a few hours later.
Flora (also: Florian) is a psailor on a pirate ship that kidnaps people and sells them into slavery. On one journey, one of those people is the Imperial Lady Evelyn, who is being shipped off to marry a stranger. Amidst cruelty, betrayals and some fantastical elements like mermaids and witches, the two fall in love - but they have to be smart and quick if they want to survive in this world.
The tone is set pretty early on: Dark af. So don't expect a cute little sapphic story. This is not it. There is on page torture, mutilation and murder and mention of rape. Because these pirates are not the fun kind. They are the kind that kills and tortures children and sells women into slavery. There are some magical elements, with the sea as a conscious, motherly being at the centre (such a cool idea), mermaids and witches, that practice magic by telling stories (again, super cool). The queer (and POC) representaion in this book is great, with numerous sapphic pairings, a genderfluid main character and, my personal favourite, a nonbinary pirate supreme.
Unfortunately, even though I loved the general idea and set-up, I feel like the execution lacked something. Maybe just time, since some parts seemed a bit rushed, maybe just a little more depth. Let's start with the characters. I was ready to love them with all my heart, but whenever they got into danger, I found myself incredibly untouched. I didn't really care if anything happend to them. Maybe because they were all generally not very good people. Maybe because they just didn't get developed enough. The romance as well happend way to quick and I didn't quite buy it when they were suddenly obsesed with each other, when the reader had only seen maybe 4 or 5 interactions.
The story itself was fine, but towards the end it felt like the author just wanted to finish it. There was so much build up for a kinda diappointing ending.
All in all, a typical three stars book for me. I enjoyed it and I can see how people would love it, but it didn't really touch me in any way, nor did anything stick with me in particular. I liked the queerness, but feel like the relationships lacked depth, I like pirates, but hated the ones in the book and I liked the magic, but was disappointed by how little it mattered in the end.
Flora (also: Florian) is a psailor on a pirate ship that kidnaps people and sells them into slavery. On one journey, one of those people is the Imperial Lady Evelyn, who is being shipped off to marry a stranger. Amidst cruelty, betrayals and some fantastical elements like mermaids and witches, the two fall in love - but they have to be smart and quick if they want to survive in this world.
The tone is set pretty early on: Dark af. So don't expect a cute little sapphic story. This is not it. There is on page torture, mutilation and murder and mention of rape. Because these pirates are not the fun kind. They are the kind that kills and tortures children and sells women into slavery. There are some magical elements, with the sea as a conscious, motherly being at the centre (such a cool idea), mermaids and witches, that practice magic by telling stories (again, super cool). The queer (and POC) representaion in this book is great, with numerous sapphic pairings, a genderfluid main character and, my personal favourite, a nonbinary pirate supreme.
Unfortunately, even though I loved the general idea and set-up, I feel like the execution lacked something. Maybe just time, since some parts seemed a bit rushed, maybe just a little more depth. Let's start with the characters. I was ready to love them with all my heart, but whenever they got into danger, I found myself incredibly untouched. I didn't really care if anything happend to them. Maybe because they were all generally not very good people. Maybe because they just didn't get developed enough. The romance as well happend way to quick and I didn't quite buy it when they were suddenly obsesed with each other, when the reader had only seen maybe 4 or 5 interactions.
The story itself was fine, but towards the end it felt like the author just wanted to finish it. There was so much build up for a kinda diappointing ending.
All in all, a typical three stars book for me. I enjoyed it and I can see how people would love it, but it didn't really touch me in any way, nor did anything stick with me in particular. I liked the queerness, but feel like the relationships lacked depth, I like pirates, but hated the ones in the book and I liked the magic, but was disappointed by how little it mattered in the end.
adventurous
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
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:
Complicated
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
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
A wonderful and enjoyable read from start to finish. The two main characters felt full of life and I especially loved Flora’s inner growth journey (chapter 35 was peak for me, the realizations and the writing were superb). Great ending too. I really enjoyed how everything rounded out and how the title and the sections of the book all came together.
Click here if you wish to know if the wlw couple end up happy/together:yes!!!
Click here if you wish to know if the wlw couple end up happy/together:
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, Colonisation
Moderate: Alcoholism, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Torture, Grief, Lesbophobia, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Rape, Sexual assault
I was pleasantly surprised by this book. It set up really interesting world building and the story felt like it was doing more than servicing the romance. There are some really cool concepts that I'd love to see explored more!
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
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
An interesting story that felt like a fable at times and a bit gritty at other times. Some magical elements but not high fantasy or heavy on the magic use. It seemed a bit rushed in its telling and I would've liked to go a bit more in depth in certain sections. Had interesting elements and world building. Overall would recommend it to others. Good queer representation in general. Would've liked a different ending as it felt a bit forced and untrue to the MC.
adventurous
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No