It was a cold and stormy night, with thunder rumbling in the distance and dark clouds covering the moon. The wind howled through the trees, creating an eerie sound that sent shivers down my spine. In the midst of this ominous darkness, a mysterious figure emerged - a witch. Dressed in long, flowing black robes, the witch seemed to blend in with the darkness, making her presence even more unnerving. Her face was hidden behind a hood, casting a shadow that added to the air of mystery and dread. Her eyes glowed a piercing green, like emeralds shining in the night, as she scanned the surroundings.
"I'm being serious, why aren't there any other light sources except from the ones you lit?" You asked again
In that, this book might be worth a read if you enjoy quick and wistful retellings it is ominous, feels-inducing, and a nicely conclusive standalone , but perhaps not if you have too many books on your TBR. In that, this book might be worth a read if you enjoy quick and wistful retellings it is ominous, feels-inducing, and a nicely conclusive standalone , but perhaps not if you have too many books on your TBR.
Her eyes glowed a piercing green, like emeralds shining in the night, as she scanned the surroundings. As she walked closer, her steps were silent, almost as if she was floating above the ground. It was as though she was one with the darkness, moving gracefully and effortlessly through the night.
Sea Witch by Sarah Henning: Pensive, melancholy, ominous // Book Review
Evie, Anna, and Prince Nik are childhood friends, but Anna tragically drowns in an accident, and Evie is still haunted by her death years later. However, when Anna suddenly returns from the dead, Evie is determined to protect her friend’s life and happiness at whatever cost.
***Genre: Retelling, Fantasy, Magical realism, Historical fiction
***Thank you to Edelweiss for sending an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions stated here are solely my own and have not been influenced in any way.
My thoughts:
Alas, I am once again at a standstill with another conflicted review. I must disclaim that while I personally did not regret my decision to read this book, it is still one that makes me hesitant to recommend as a fully satisfying retelling.
But first off, the positives. The overarching premise of the book is quite compelling on the whole. The author’s tone, pacing, and flow merges nicely to create a cohesive outlet for the story to forge ahead, and the atmospheric story-telling presents an ominous sense of dread and impending doom that immersed me in the narrative right away.
Furthermore, characters are surprisingly self-aware and level-headed. Too often it is with romantic conflicts in YA that I tend to emerge irritable and peeved, yet the initial setup of platonic relationships, natural banter, and likable protagonists prevented any unnecessary drama from occurring, and I was relatively absorbed in their plights.
On top of this, though I was aware going in that this was a Little Mermaid retelling from the perspective of the sea witch, it was still dismaying to see the outcome of this story regardless. The author spins a tragic and poignant tale to reel in the feels, and it left me feeling somber, melancholy, and contemplative for hours after finishing it.
In other words, this book delivered a tonally satisfying narrative.
Unfortunately, there are a few missteps here that prevent this book from being a fully satisfying retelling, one of which is plot/suspense. Characters are in constant state of flashback and rumination, and while I personally did not object to this, characters tended to slip back into the same circle of musings that rendered their concerns repetitive and meandering, and I felt the author was flogging a dead horse by the end.
Furthermore, there is a lack of progression at crucial moments in the story. As much effort the author puts into reflecting the arguably obsessive inner turmoil of these characters (particularly Evie), she fails to deliver a diverse range of emotions, whether it be shock, betrayal, or sadness: emotions are touched only in passing, and that made character developments appear more rash and reactionary than they actually were.
Lastly, although I greatly enjoyed the atmospheric nature of this book, it felt rather unbalanced due to its lack of substantial dialogue or action to ground the reader in the present. The action was disproportionate to the lengthy introspection of these characters, so it was difficult to find myself grounded in the present as the author constantly either dredged up the past or foreshadowed the imminent future.
Bottom line, this book ultimately feels like a solid first draft or a complex middle-grade novel. It is focused, reflective, and atmospheric, yet because the author strikes only minimal plot developments and emotions to get her story across, I came out of this book feeling satisfied, but not satisfied if that makes any sense.
“It did not do make waves.”
Recommended? If you have time to kill.
To be clear, is this a book that the masses will enjoy? Arguably yes, arguably no. This book appealed to me as I enjoy nihilistic morals and self-aware characters, but it did objectively feel repetitive as the same suspense was re-tread one time too many.
In that, this book might be worth a read if you enjoy quick and wistful retellings (it is ominous, feels-inducing, and a nicely conclusive standalone), but perhaps not if you have too many books on your TBR. Recommended for fans of Heartless by Marissa Meyer.
Final thoughts: Simplistic, but atmospheric
As much as I felt this book lacked meat, I think it would’ve made for a 5-star read had it been twice its length. It offered a nice sense of atmosphere and complexity that immersed you in these characters, yet the context (plot, action, dialogue) was bypassed so lightly that it read more like a simplistic fable than a full retelling.
But because this book enveloped me in a nice sense of melancholy, I give it 3 stars. There’s an atmospheric consistency that despite the lack of meat, the characters are likable and the sense of finality will leave you satisfied: this book has its flaws, but it is surprisingly quiet and pensive for YA, and I can respect that.
The witch sighed then said,"Because my ignorant pet, I must keep my lair a secret." The witch then turned around and proceeded down deeper into the cave. The cave then opened up into a cavern, and torches lit up the walls on every corner. You and the witch then approached a large metal cage that looked like it could be the frame of a two story house, and the witch told you to get inside. You got into the cage, and the witch locked the door behind you, and you suddenly noticed you needed to go to the bathroom badly.
Her long, bony fingers stretched out, as if reaching for something or someone, with each step she took. The air grew colder as the witch grew closer, a chill that seemed to penetrate to the very core of my being. Fear gripped me tightly, and I could feel my heart pounding in my chest. I tried to run, to escape the clutches of this ominous darkness, but it felt as if a force was holding me back, preventing me from fleeing. Suddenly, the witch stopped and turned her gaze directly towards me. Her eyes bore into mine, and I could feel a surge of power and darkness emanating from her. It was as if she had the ability to control the shadows themselves, to bend them to her will. Hatred and malice seemed to radiate from her very soul, as she laughed a bone-chilling cackle that echoed through the night. I stood frozen in fear, unable to tear my eyes away from her horrifying gaze. The witch raised her arms and began chanting in a language unknown to me, words that sent shivers down my spine and seemed to awaken ancient forces. The ground beneath me shook, and the storm intensified, lightning illuminating the sky with a blinding light. Just as it seemed that all hope was lost, a sudden burst of light erupted from within me. A surge of courage and determination flooded my veins, dispelling the fear that had gripped me. With newfound strength, I broke free from the witch's hold and ran as fast as I could, away from the clutches of the ominous darkness. The memory of that encounter will forever haunt me, a reminder of the terrifying power that darkness can hold. But it also serves as a reminder of the strength and resilience that lies within us, ready to fight against even the most daunting of adversaries..
Reviews for "The Ominous Darkness Witch's Seductive Spells: A Journey into Temptation"
1. Sarah - ★☆☆☆☆
I was really excited to read "Ominous Darkness Witch" after hearing so many positive reviews, but I was sorely disappointed. The plot was incredibly slow, and I felt like nothing much happened throughout the entire book. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked depth, making it hard for me to connect with them. Additionally, the writing style felt amateurish and lackluster. Overall, I found "Ominous Darkness Witch" to be a tedious and unenjoyable read.
2. Mark - ★★☆☆☆
While "Ominous Darkness Witch" had an interesting premise, it ultimately fell flat for me. The pacing was all over the place, with long periods of nothing happening, followed by rushed and confusing action sequences. The dialogue felt forced and unnatural, making it difficult to feel any emotional investment in the story or characters. The author also failed to create a believable world, with inconsistent rules and a lack of clear explanations. While there were some intriguing moments, they were overshadowed by the book's overall lack of coherence and execution.
3. Emily - ★★☆☆☆
I tried my best to enjoy "Ominous Darkness Witch", but it just didn't work for me. The writing was overly descriptive and dragged on, making it hard to stay engaged in the story. The characters lacked depth and development, leaving me feeling indifferent towards their fates. Additionally, the plot felt predictable and cliché, with no real surprises or unique twists. Overall, I found "Ominous Darkness Witch" to be a forgettable and underwhelming read that failed to capture my interest.