Sea Witch Rising brings the world and Evie back from Sea Witch. Following a new story that revolves around one of two sisters and I really enjoyed it.Sea Witch Rising (Sea Witch #2)
Author: Sarah Henning
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Release Date: August 6th 2019
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult, Retellings
“The Little Mermaid” takes a twisted turn in this thrilling sequel to villainess origin story Sea Witch, as the forces of land and sea clash in an epic battle for freedom, redemption, and true love.
Runa will not let her twin sister die. Alia traded her voice to the Sea Witch for a shot at happiness with a prince who doesn’t love her. And his rejection will literally kill her—unless Runa intervenes.
Under the sea, Evie craves her own freedom—but liberation from her role as Sea Witch will require an exchange she may not be willing to make. With their hearts’ desires at odds, what will Runa and Evie be willing to sacrifice to save their worlds?
Told from alternating perspectives, this epic fairy tale retelling is a romantic and heart-wrenching story about the complications of sisterhood, the uncompromising nature of magic, and the cost of redemption.
I have never thought of Evie as Ursla, or even the Sea Witch from the Hans Christian Anderson version. Evie is her own person and I’ve had a fondness for her since reading The Sea Witch. I was really sad at the end of that book and really wanted her to catch a break in this one.
The first half of the story actually reminds me of the Hans Christian Anderson original The Little Mermaid. Only with a kinder prince, despite him still referring to her has his little foundling. I do not like that at all. When I was a kid I used to watch something called Faerie Tale Theatre and they have a version of The Little Mermaid. Which closely follows the original. I just remember this dress with these awful puffy sleeves. Anyway, it reminded me of that. Although even though the story of The Little Mermaid is unfolding another story is also flowing around it. That of Evie and Runa. Who are our main POV’s. I really liked both characters. Something more complex between both the sea and the land kingdoms.
I really loved Runa. She’s such a fighter and it was fun to follow along with her story. She starts out fighting for her sister but sea there is a greater cause and plunges full into it. I like how her relationship develops with Evie as well. She starts to see that what she was taught and what the true story is are two different things. She also has a little side love that is sweet but not overpowering to her story.
As far as world building is concerned, it’s very similar to the first book. We are seeing the same places that we did before. I like the little nod to the cottage. I’m not sure what exact time and place it has happening. Being the U-boats kind of threw me off. I know we are fifty years from Evie’s story and the Prince is Nik’s grandson. I think in my mind I just keep putting it in fairy tale land for some reason.
I really like Sarah Hennings writing style. It has a lot of descriptions and a little more lyrical. It was also fast paced and the story being the two parts like it is also keeps it interesting.
I really liked Sea Witch Rising. Probably more than I did Sea Witch. Only because I hated Anna so much and really liked Evie. Ha ha. Evie still makes me sad because of how things turned out for her in the first book but I really liked Runa and I was glad that she took a stil little sad but different track.
Sarah Henning is a recovering journalist who has worked for the Palm Beach Post, Kansas City Star and Associated Press, among others. While in South Florida, Sarah lived and worked through five hurricanes, which gave her an extreme respect for the ocean. When not writing, she runs ultramarathons, hits the playground with her two kids and hangs out with her husband Justin, who doubles as her long-suffering IT department. Sarah lives in Lawrence, Kansas, which, despite being extremely far from the beach, happens to be pretty cool.
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