Review: Rise of the Sea Witch

Rise of the Sea Witch

By: Stacey Rourke

Synopsis:

Details of the sea witch’s banishment have been exaggerated. The body count that preempted it was not. Once an illustrious princess, her hands and tentacles were stained with the blood of thousands. No one could comprehend how the hooks of madness dragged her down from her life of privilege. 

Born Princess Vanessa of Atlantica, the ambitious young royal was one of two children born to the great King Poseidon. She and her brother, Triton, were groomed from birth to rule. Yet only one would ascend that coveted throne.

 While carefree Triton flits through his training with a cavalier demeanor and beguiling charm, Vanessa’s hunger for her father’s acceptance drives her to push herself to the limits of magic, and combat to become a leader worthy of her people. When war against the humans ravages their once regal kingdom, political sides are chosen. 

Factions from the seven seas challenge the existing leadership, pitting Vanessa against her brother in a vicious battle for the crown. Traitors are exposed, dark family secrets revealed, and a once strong sibling bond is strained to its breaking point. 

Only when the ink black waters from the ultimate betrayal rescind, will the truth be known of how the villainous sea witch rose with one name on her vengeful lips--Triton.

Review:

I’ve heard such great things about Stacey that when the opportunity arose for me to read and review the Rise of the Sea Witch, I didn’t hesitate.

I have stated before how much I love fairy tale retellings/reworkings, but I don’t remember me talking about how my all-time favorite retellings are for the villains. I love seeing their side of the story.

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Stacey chose one of my favorite villains to retell and that was Ursula. Ursula is one of the biggest and baddest villains in Disney history. She’s got dark magic, a BOOMING voice, huge personality, and not to mention tentacles!

Rise of the Sea Witch shows Ursula’s side completely. From childhood, when she was just little Vanessa, to Crazy Octopus Witch. Through Stacey’s fantastic imagery I got to live in Vanessa’s life. I got to see all the wrongs done to her from start to finish.

She really had no choice. Everyone breaks at some point.

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The book doesn’t miss a beat with matching perfectly to the Disney movie we all know and love, The Little Mermaid. Stacey connects the two so well that you can actually pin point the exact moments that things in the book would be happening in the movie. She even includes the songs sung. It’s amazing. Like a puzzle piece you didn’t have any idea about until now.

Stacey didn’t just do this story justice, she turned it into an intertwining web of a masterpiece. And THAT’S why I love fairy tale retellings so much. When they are done right, it’s like seeing into another world. You think you completely understand what happened from what you already know, only to be ripped apart by the ENTIRE story and maybe… create a villain out of the previous heroes you thought you knew.

This novel was absolute perfection! It's official Release is Monday, but is already available in paperback form and FREE on KU! So CLICK HERE to order, and in the meantime… why not relax with the Sea Witch’s cocktail? After all, it IS the weekend.

Author Bio:

RONE Award Winner for Best YA Paranormal Work of 2012 for Embrace, a Gryphon Series Novel
Young Adult and Teen Reader voted Author of the Year 2012
Turning Pages Magazine Winner for Best YA book of 2013 & Best Teen Book of 2013 
Readers' Favorite Silver Medal Winner for Crane 2015

Stacey Rourke is the author of the award winning YA Gryphon Series, the chillingly suspenseful Legends Saga, and the romantic comedy Reel Romance Series. She lives in Michigan with her husband, two beautiful daughters, and two giant dogs. She loves to travel, has an unhealthy shoe addiction, and considers herself blessed to make a career out of talking to the imaginary people that live in her head. 

Visit her at www.staceyrourke.com
Facebook at www.facebook.com/staceyrourkeauthor
or on Twitter or instagram at Rourkewrites.

-Courtney Moctezuma