Rise of the Sea Witch
Stacey Rourke
Publication date: June 19th 2017
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult
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, darkfamily 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.
MY THOUGHTS
I
need to start out by saying that I've never watched Disney's "Little
Mermaid" so while the book is a retelling it was somewhat more original
to me. However, I can appreciate the hard work Rourke out into fleshing
out the origins of this popular tale and it's one I thoroughly enjoyed
and which will be counted among my favorites for some time to come.
Princess Vanessa (who eventually morphs into the Ursula people either love or hate) has spent her whole life wanting to be named as father Poseidon's successor to the land of Atlantica. Her mother died when she was fairly young and try as she might, Nessa has never been able to obtain the love and respect from her father. She feels like an outsider in her own family all except for her brother Triton. Their relationship is like many other siblings where they jab at each other from time to time but ultimately love each other and would do anything which is possible for each other. Throughout the course of the book Nessa makes attempt after attempt to do the right thing in the kingdom and is basically let down by everyone around her. This leads to her transformation into Ursula the sea witch and all I can say is I can't really blame her.
Rourke weaves a thrilling tale within a beautiful setting. The vivid descriptions of Atlantica and its inhabitants are an added bonus to the tale of love, loyalty and deception told on the pages. For any clue on what you might be in store for, just look at the lovely cover! The story is told from Nessa's POV and let me add that girl has lots of spunk and a beautifully snarky attitude. My favorite characters in the whole book though were Nessa's pet zebra sharks, Flotteson and Jetteson. These vicious creatures were the perfect loyal companion to Nessa and stand beside her through thick and thin. Heck, Rourke even made me feel sorry for the Kraken (of course I tend to love anything with tentacles anyway).
If you like books about villains or mermaid tales, this one definitely has to go on your TRB. I received this book from XPresso book tours in exchange for an honest review.
Princess Vanessa (who eventually morphs into the Ursula people either love or hate) has spent her whole life wanting to be named as father Poseidon's successor to the land of Atlantica. Her mother died when she was fairly young and try as she might, Nessa has never been able to obtain the love and respect from her father. She feels like an outsider in her own family all except for her brother Triton. Their relationship is like many other siblings where they jab at each other from time to time but ultimately love each other and would do anything which is possible for each other. Throughout the course of the book Nessa makes attempt after attempt to do the right thing in the kingdom and is basically let down by everyone around her. This leads to her transformation into Ursula the sea witch and all I can say is I can't really blame her.
Rourke weaves a thrilling tale within a beautiful setting. The vivid descriptions of Atlantica and its inhabitants are an added bonus to the tale of love, loyalty and deception told on the pages. For any clue on what you might be in store for, just look at the lovely cover! The story is told from Nessa's POV and let me add that girl has lots of spunk and a beautifully snarky attitude. My favorite characters in the whole book though were Nessa's pet zebra sharks, Flotteson and Jetteson. These vicious creatures were the perfect loyal companion to Nessa and stand beside her through thick and thin. Heck, Rourke even made me feel sorry for the Kraken (of course I tend to love anything with tentacles anyway).
If you like books about villains or mermaid tales, this one definitely has to go on your TRB. I received this book from XPresso book tours in exchange for an honest review.
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 2012Turning 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 totravel, has an unhealthy shoe addiction, and considers herself blessed to make a careerout of talking to the imaginary people that live in her head.
Pretty cover. I must be one of the few people never to watch The Little Mermaid!
ReplyDeleteYou and me both then so at least we're not alone!
DeleteThis is whew. Intense, to say the least. What a beautiful, complicated, messy and painful picture of their family this draws
ReplyDeleteIt is an intense read regarding the family matter but I really enjoyed Nessa's snarky attitude and there were some funny lines thrown in.
DeleteI love Disney's The Little Mermaid. It's one of my absolute favorites.
ReplyDeleteYou should check this out then and see of you like it as well.
DeleteGreat review, Barb! This sounds like a compelling and very well written read! I love it when you can just picture and feel the setting of the story. It makes it so atmospheric.
ReplyDeleteI'm really glad I fell in love with this cover and requested it. It was completely enjoyable and now I want to check out more of Rourke's work.
DeleteI soooo much want to read this! I love stories like this and added it to my TBR. Have my fingers, toes, and everything else crossed!
ReplyDeletesherry @ fundinmental
Hope you love it!
DeleteAmazing cover! And sounds like a great book too! I've seen the Little Mermaid but it's been ages, and this sounds like a really good retelling of Ursula's/ Vanessa's perspective.
ReplyDeleteThe zebra sharks sound pretty great too!
Yes, I LOVE LOVE LOVE the zebra sharks.
DeleteI've got this on my list. Loved your review and can't wait to read it too. I'll probably be trying to picture her the whole time. LOL
ReplyDeleteI hope you love it Laura!
DeleteHowever did you miss on out Disney's The Little Mermaid? You've made me want to read this one so I entered the Giveaway. Thanks for hosting!
ReplyDeleteNo little kids in the home and I really only try to catch Disney films with animals (primarily dogs - bet you never could have guessed!)
DeleteI'm not sure this book would be for me because even though I do love mermaids I'm not a big fan of retellings the cover is awesome though!
ReplyDeleteI think you might like it if only for the fact that it was rather dark and all about the villain and how she came to be.
DeleteVillain origin stories can be so interesting. And I like the sound of the sibling relationship, and the zebra sharks LOL. And there's even a kraken? Sounds great!
ReplyDeleteYep, lots of awesome and scary sea things.
DeleteThe Little Mermaid is such an enchanting little movie. I mean, if you don't think about it too closely. There are some questionable things about it that I never noticed as a kid, but it's still quite good. Sounds like an interesting take on the tale.
ReplyDeleteIsn't that the case with most Disney films - if you look too hard, you'll always find something questionable.
DeleteI can't believe that you haven't seen The Little Mermaid. I have probably seen it enough for the both of us :) This does sound rather interesting.
ReplyDeleteI am not huge on Disney films - unless there are dogs!
Delete