Title: The Water Witch by Jessica Thorne
Publisher: Bookouture
Date Published: 5th August 2022
Genre: Fantasy/Romance
Description:
Sitting side by side on the clifftop, he turns to her solemnly and says, 'The water witch is real.' She rolls her eyes and grins, teasing him. 'Sure. A psycho mermaid. Got it.' But now he's gone forever… will she find the truth beneath the waves?
Brittany, France. Ariadne Walker's fiancé Simon drowned in the stormy Atlantic Ocean doing what he loved: searching for the lost underwater city of Ys. Local legend says it was destroyed centuries ago when the princess of Ys became a water witch, cursing the name of the man who betrayed her.
Ari never believed these tall tales. And the letter Simon sent before he died finishing their relationship is a devastating secret she'll take to the grave. But arriving in Brittany, Ari encounters a man emerging from the sea in a rocky cove, saltwater dripping from his dark hair. Rafael swears the legends are true: and his ancestor was cursed by the water witch. Now, his own life is in terrible danger. And the secret to breaking the curse lies hidden in the lost city.
When Ari finds a strange engraved mask on the sea bed, and a cryptic map amongst Simon's things, she has no choice but to believe Rafael's plea. Can they follow the trail and save Rafael's life? Poring over the map by candlelight, the flickering flames only add to the heat between them… but will Ari's fragile heart soon be shattered all over again? And will they ever find Ys and break the curse – or will the water witch demand another sacrifice?
An absolutely addictive romantic fantasy read filled with passion and mystery, that will sweep you away to the wild coast of northern France. Inspired by real myths and legends from this magical place, The Water Witch is perfect for fans of Luanne G. Smith, River of Shadows and Jennifer L. Armentrout.
You can buy your copy here:
https://geni.us/B0B51V9MXCsocial
Review:
I received an ARC copy of The Water Witch from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
I read Jessica Thorne's Hollow King books and enjoyed them, so when I saw the blurb for The Water Witch I knew I had to read it.
Ari lost her fiance Simon several years earlier, looking for the place he was obsessed with, the missing underwater city of Ys. Her brother calls her back to Saint Sirene, convinced that he might have found proof of the city's existence, but he needs her help. Once there she meets Rafael Du Lac. The water witch has cursed all the men of his family to die young and he's desperate to end it. Together, they set out to find Ys and break the curse once and for all.
The Water Witch is an action-packed romance with an air of mystery and a dash of the fantastical.
There's great description and some vivid imagery that draws you into the story and gives you a genuine sense of place.
The mythology and folklore of Brittany is weaved expertly through the book. From the missing city of Ys, the power hungry princess who later becomes the water witch, along with a guest appearance from the servant of death, I just loved every minute of it!
Ari and Rafael are great characters. Their banter and chemistry was fun to read. Ari is still deeply scarred by Simon's death, even quitting a career she loves because it reminds her too much of him. Rafael is headstrong, used to getting what he wants by throwing money at it. The romance between them was nicely done, slow burn and didn't feel too rushed.
I wasn't the biggest fan of the ending, but it made sense once I put the book down and thought about it.
If you love romance with a sprinkle of adventure and splash of fantasy, then I'd highly recommend The Water Witch to you!
About the author:
Jessica Thorne saw Star Wars at an impressionable age and life was never the same. She's loved fantasy, romance and science fiction ever since and spends her time looking for adventure – in the pages of her books.
Sometimes she is Ruth Frances Long and won the European Science Fiction Society Spirit of Dedication Award for Best Author of Children's Science Fiction and Fantasy, 2015.
Author social media
Website: http://www.rflong.com/jessicathorne/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JessThorneBooks/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessthornebooks
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jessthornebooks
Email sign up: https://www.bookouture.com/jessica-thorne
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