The Water Witch, Jessica Thorne

Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews

Genre: Romance, General Fiction, Sci-fi and fantasy

I loved Jessica's The Bookbinder's Daughter, so when I saw this I had to read it. Its a very different style of story though, another five star for me but I enjoyed it for hugely alternate reasons. The romance here is very to the fore, where the BBD it was much more muted backstory.
I used to read a lot of Susanna Kearsley and Barbara Erskine stories way back and this reminds me very much of that style, the past present connections, fantasy and reality weaving into one. It has some great characters, not least my favourite Unpleasant People, I love a story with some good nasties in ;-)
It takes a while for everything to begin to mesh, t first I was unsure what was going to happen, but I loved the way the story unfolded, releasing tiny clues, little bits of info that later become very important.
I wasn't sure about Ari at first, she feels lost, drifting almost, but when she meets Raphael its as if they have a visible connection. Her brother is a typical rush in, all in person, the excavation and adventure is all to him. Though he finally finds that actually there are more important things. I loved that. Raphael is a confusing person, dogged by this family curse, busy with the family business, and its problems, and concerned for his aged but adored Meme.
There's lots going on here, a magical mix of real and fantasy, done in a very believable way, with an fab romance running through.


Stars: Five again, but a very different five to The BBD. Fantastic escapist read.

ARC supplied by Netgalley and publishers

This book was so magical and enchanting. I loved it and didn't want it to end.
I was swept away with the turn of each page. So fascinating that I could not put it down. Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!!!!

“Call it what you will, the groac’h, the mari-morgen, the water witch… If you cannot believe her, at least humour her. She has the sight, and the knowing, your great-aunt. The Walkers can help because they’re touched by loss as well.”

My thanks to Bookouture for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘The Water Witch’ by Jessica Thorne.

I found this an enchanting romantic fantasy. Within it Thorne blends myth and legend with a contemporary love story.

Dr. Ariadne Walker is grieving the death of her fiancé Simon. Two years ago he drowned in the stormy Atlantic Ocean doing what he loved: searching for the lost underwater city of Ys. Local legend states that it was destroyed centuries ago when the princess of Ys became a water witch, cursing the name of the man who betrayed her. Yet Ari isn’t the kind to believe such fanciful tales.

Before his death Simon sent Ari a letter ending their relationship. She remains haunted by it though has told no one. Now she has returned to Brittany where her brother, Jason, is continuing with the search for the lost city.

On the beach she encounters the dishy Rafael in unusual circumstances. He is the great-nephew of Madame du Lac, whose foundation is funding Jason’s explorations. She believes that the legends are true and that their ancestor had been cursed by the water witch. As a result she feels that Rafael’s life is in danger.

The secret to breaking the curse is said to lie hidden in the lost city. When Ari finds a cryptic map and a golden mask of a woman’s face amongst Simon’s things, she is intrigued. Ari is herself an expert on marine archeology, which is how she initially met Simon. After his death she had turned her back on academia, though now with the urging of Madame du Lac, Jason, and Rafael she joins the team. The race for answers is on….

I appreciated that Thorne didn’t seek to rationalise the mythic and paranormal elements of her tale. Of course, there is Ari’s scepticism that provides a counterpoint to those characters who are more open to the unexplained.

I felt that the romantic elements of the novel were handled well, being part of the narrative yet not overwhelming other aspects. That Ari is coming to terms with her loss as well as struggling to understand Simon’s final communication is not brushed aside even with Rafael on the scene.

Overall, I was very impressed by ‘The Water Witch’. I had previously enjoyed one of Jessica Thorne’s YA fantasy titles and was pleased that she had moved into writing for an older readership while continuing to capture the mythic and fantastical with skill and confidence. It was a memorable tale and I certainly plan on reading more of her work.

4.5 stars rounded up to 5.

This would make such an epic film!

A beautifully written story of folklore and legend with a sprinkling of magic. An absolute page turner of a read, that started off a little slowly but soon picked up pace as Thorne took us on a treasure hunt like no other.

It has a great cast of characters, and the imagery is spot on, it allowed me to visually transport myself to Ys, revelling in all of its glory and magnificence.

A highly immersive and entertaining read which I would recommend to lovers of anything witchy.

Many thanks to Bookouture for my tour spot.

Rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Water Witch is a wonderful mix of mystery and legend with a dash of fantasy. Both the legend and hint of fantasy just made me even more involved in the story. I couldn’t wait to see if the lost city of Ys would be discovered. Then add a curse into the mix and you get a very intriguing premise.

The author carefully crafted a story that held a mystery that captured my attention. I was kept on my toes wondering how all the pieces were going to fall into place. The characters were also an important part of that puzzle. I couldn’t help but like Ari, she was determined but her past also made her vulnerable. I was rooting for her to find peace and happiness.

It is safe to say that The Water Witch was a very easy story to be pulled into especially seeing the connection between Rafael and Ari unfold. For me there was a winning combination of a lost city, legends and romance. All of which came together to create a magical and adventure filled story.

This was my first book to read by this author and I really liked it. I will be reading more by her. I enjoyed her writing and how she weaves together the legends and folklore that surrounded Brittany, France and the search for the lost city of Ys.

Adriane Walker, still grieving over the loss of her fiancée, Simon, is called by her brother to come see what he has found and to help in the search for the lost city of the Ys. Her fiancée dedicated his life to finding the Ys and died trying to find it, leaving Adriane broken and betrayed. Adriane does not want to help but keeps being pulled into the mystery surrounding the search for the Ys and the du Lac curse. With help from Rafael du Lac, she unravels the mystery surrounding the lost city of the Ys and discovers herself at the same time. The whole journey helps Ari come to terms with what happens with Simon and who she is. There is romance but I felt that was secondary to the mystery and legend of the Water Witch and the Ys.

This books has it all - mystery, folklore, adventure, heartbreak, betrayal, and love and the adventure was a nail biting journey to go on with these characters.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and Jessica Thorne for this Book in exchange for my honest review.

I enjoyed this beautifully written, quietly magical story of grief and love. The theme of fidelity underpins the whole novel, with the water witch of the title possessing a magical mask that kills her unfaithful lovers. I loved that Thorne named the family that betrayed the water witch du Lac, bringing to mind one of myths great adulterers, Lancelot du Lac.

Ariadne, of course, helped Theseus solve the riddle of the labyrinth (before he abandoned her on an island), and Jason sought the Golden Fleece. Appropriate names for a woman who must break a curse, and her brother who seeks mythological treasure.

I wasn’t familiar with the legend of the lost city of Ys before reading this book, but I love that the author used a real Breton myth to build the foundation of her novel. Her love for the region is obvious in the beautiful descriptions of the area and the warm way she depicts the people. I was particular drawn to the Celtic connection between the Irish siblings and their Breton friends.

I loved the magical elements of the plot and how well they tied into the theme. Ariadne’s grief and hurt are easy to understand and emphasize with.

The archeological aspects are no less interesting. There is something about finding lost cities and making myth fact that is just as magical as water witches and magic masks.

Overall this is a charming, immersive, emotional book. Be prepared to start planning a trip to Brittany after reading it.

Thank you to the author and Bookouture for providing me with an ARC. I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

This book is a treasure hunt story filled to the brim with legends and history, in a contemporary setting. I particularly enjoyed the Breton legends and was fascinated with the history of the Breton names, and was hooked almost right away.

The characters are well-fleshed-out, they are believable, filled with flaws but still worthy of the reader’s emotional attachment, and I followed them with pleasure on their thrilling quest and witnessed very moving moments.

I was a little disappointed to have guessed almost right away the connection between the witch and a certain character, but it was still enjoyable to pick up the clues along the way. I wish we had seen more of Nico and Jason and felt like their secondary story could have been developed more.
I greatly enjoyed that, although the main characters fall into the dreaded miscommunication trope, it doesn’t last too long and I was willing to forgive that.

The attention to details and credibility of the description is really nice, and you almost feel as though you are in Sainte Sirène yourself while reading this book. If you don’t like books with a lot of description, I felt it was rather nicely balanced considering the genre of the book. It actually almost felt like reading a French book, between the writing style and the setting.

Thank you to the publisher Bookouture and to NetGalley for the digital ARC, it has not affected my honest review.

The Water Witch is a romantic fantasy set in Brittany, France which follows the life of Ariadne "Ari" Walker in the aftermath of her fiance's drowning while diving for the lost mystical city of Ys. Convinced by her brother to come to France and continue the search, Ari soon discovers that the stories Simon told her about Ys might be more than just local legends. At the same time, Rafael du Lac- a successful CEO and descendant of an ancient family- is waiting for the day when he will drown like every other man in the family before him. After meeting Rafael, and finding a mask apparently matching the local legends of the Water Witch in Simon's things, Ari begins to believe that the city of Ys might be real. As time runs out on Rafael's life, they rush to find Ys and end the curse for good.

This was a well written and incredibly detailed romantic fantasy with a wonderful focus on the search for Ys. Rafael and Ari are strong characters on their own, but I did feel like the romance moved too quickly for a woman who was mourning her lost love. However, the storytelling and side characters (especially Ari's brother and Rafael's great aunt) made up for this quick love. I do wish there'd been more of a focus on Ari's life before Simon, and what drew her into archaeology, but that's a minor issue. The highlight for me was the setting, which is gorgeously described throughout the entire book. Ys might not be real, but Jessia Thorne made it feel as if it is.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Water Witch follows Ari Walker in search of what really happened to her fiance, Simon, who supposedly drowned while searching for the lost underwater city of Ys. When she arrives in Brittany, she meets Rafe, who swears by local legends of the water witch, as his own ancestor was cursed by her. In order to break the curse, and to find out what really happened to Simon, she and Rafe set out on an adventure to find the lost city.

I loved the worldbuilding. Every time the author wrote about the water witch, about the underwater city, you could see that she had gone to painstaking trouble to create an eerie, whimsical atmosphere that definitely jumped off the page. I would say that this worldbuilding/subplots was the most compelling part of the story. I also enjoyed Rafe's character, as someone whom the local legends affected directly, and who was conjoined to this new world that Ari entered. If I'm being honest, I didn't find the plot all that compelling or suspenseful in the end. And while I appreciate the reasons for the slow burn romance (obviously both parties are contending with a LOT), I felt like maybe if that had been ramped up, I could've remained engaged.

The Water Witch was an enjoyable read, but it was not a personal favorite. This is primarily because the book is described as romantic fantasy yet those were subplots.

To me, it was more focused on finding the Lost City of Ys, therefore, it would be more accurate to describe it as a book about archeology or treasure hunting with romance and fantasy subplots.

What I liked the most is that Ari, the female MC, is an academic.

Things I struggled with:
-How quickly the attraction between the two main characters, Ari and Rafael, developed because Ari was so still so impacted by the death of Simon, her fiancé. Ultimately, it didn't feel genuine to me. (Side note: For those looking for steamy romance, this is not your book; the only intimate scene is fade-to-black.)

-Characters' emotions and harrowing scenarios were underdeveloped. Many big things happened in the book yet nothing was emotionally wrenching.

-Very little time is spent in Ys and/or interacting with The Water Witch which is a huge bummer! Especially after a really gripping prologue about both.

[Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture, for the advanced reading copy! My opinion is truthful and my own.]

The Water Witch
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Mourning the death of her fiancé, Ariadne (Ari) Walker is hesitant to assist her brother, a treasure hunter, continue his search for the mythical city of Ys.

But what started as a simple diving adventure turns into more as legend and intrigue have Ari not only looking into the lost city of Ys, but racing against the clock to stop the curse of The Water Witch.

This was the first book I’ve read by Jessica Thorne and I was pleasantly surprised with how much I loved it! Fools Gold meets The Mummy, I was hooked on the mystery that Jessica expertly researched and took the time to weave into the legend of Ys.

The book itself wasn’t necessarily a quick read for me, and I did feel that it started to drag towards the middle but I pushed through and found myself flipping through the last pages, reading as quickly as possible to find out what happened!

The romantic angle didn’t play as large of a role in the book as I expected but I didn’t need it to feel connected to the story or the characters!

Definitely worth the read!

The synopsis of this book sounded very interesting to me. A lost city and a witch?! Secrets and curses. Folklore. Ari’s fiancé has gone missing, presumed dead. She meets Raphael who tells her all of the legends are true. That his family and he are cursed. She goes looking for a way to break this curse. I really enjoyed the story building in this book. There were several twists and turns I didn’t see coming. The romance in the book was a bit more than I expected but I really enjoyed it as well.

*thank you to NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

This was boring and a bit campy at the end. I was 65% of the way through when I feel like it finally picked up but then the whole climax was campy predictable and weird. Not the best thing I’ve read.

A new Author to me and I am hooked.

This was an excellent book from start to finish. If you love a book with Paranormal aspects, suspense, romance and a few twists and turns then The Water Witch by Jessica Thorne is a must read for you.

The main characters Ariadne Walker is an archeological researcher and for a time she lived with her Fiance Simon Pouillain at Saint Sirene but the offer of her dream job was too good to not take so she left. Tragedy occurs and when Ari's brother Jason lures her back to help look for the lost Undewater City of Ys Ari finds herself involved not only in murder but intrigue, add into the mix jealousy and greed and you have got yourself a book that is nearly impossible to put down until the last page.

Absolutely loved this book.

Thanks to Netgalley, Bookouture and Jessica Thorne for the opportunity to read and give an honest review.

A gripping story about love, betrayal and the fragility of the heart.

Dr Ariadne Walker is heartbroken. Mourning the death of her fiancé Ari is a mess when her brother, a treasure hunter, calls for her expertise. He's in Brittany and has found proof the mythical city of Ys exists and needs a credible archaeologist to prove its realness.

But when Ari gets there she gets far more than she bargains for, all the while dealing with her traitorous, traumatised heart and a mystery that has spanned generations.
I am writing this about 5 mins after finishing this book because I am a mess. This is a gorgeous love story with mythical magic at its heart. Ariadne and her brother Jason are some of the most bullhead characters I have come across in quite some time and both annoyed me in equal (well maybe Ari annoyed me more) measure. Rafael Du Lac is a gorgeously written character who is just as traumatised as Ari is but for different reasons. He's so interesting, gentle and understanding that he had me melting at every chapter. He's my new book boyfriend.

The writing was detailed and fast paced in such a way that I didn't feel that i was being rushed along so that we could get to the next big event. I loved that I never felt the need to skip whole paragraphs just to find out what happened next, it was super satisfying. And on top of that there were mysteries and clues peppered throughout which made me feel great when I figured it out 😁

I also really appreciated how atmospheric this story was, I definitely dreamt I was on the cliffs in Brittany at some point this week and was thoroughly confused when I woke up somewhere totally different 😂

When Ariadne Walker is summoned by her brother Jason to help with his archaeological excavations, her first impulse is to refuse. She promised herself never to return to the site in Brittany, where her fiancé Simon died in his search of the mythical drowned city of Ys. Ari’s curiosity and attachment to her brother prevailed, and soon she finds herself facing the raging ocean, her overwhelming grief and a legend of the Water Witch— the betrayed daughter of the King of Ys, who drowned cursing her deceiving lover and his kin.⁠
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Jessica Thorne’s novel grips the reader’s interest from the first lines. As the book starts with the drowning of Ys, we understand that the stories are something more than folklore. They seep into Ari’s life, making it impossible to differentiate between reality and the supernatural. The legend of Ys becomes a crucial element of the plot, propelling the action forward. The main characters, Ariadne and Rafael, try to remain in their mundane lives, but they cannot resist the pull of the irrational.⁠
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I found The Water Witch to be an exciting read. I recommend it to those who enjoy novels where reality blends with folklore or the supernatural.

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!

The water witch is real.’


Amazing, full of tall tales, folklore, local legends, magic, and a curse! Plus, that beginning!!!!! The Water Witch bewitched me from page one, and I didn't want to stop reading. I wanted, no needed, to know if the whispers and talk of the villagers about the water witch and the lost city of Ys were real.

Imagine searching for something. Something you believe to be out there (or under there). You spend all your time and resources searching for it, following you intuition, and found cluse. That is what Ariadne (Ari) Walker’s fiancé Simon did. He drowned in Brittany, France searching for the lost city Ys. He was a true believer.

Now Simon is gone, leaving Ari betrayed, heartbroken and full of grief. She has returned to Brittany where she meets Raphael who informs her that the legends are real and that his family has been cursed - that he himself, is cursed.

When Ari finds a map and the mask of a woman's face, she can't stop looking, she needs to find the truth! She needs to know how to break the curse!

This book was full of so many elements that I enjoy in books. It's part mystery, part romance, part legend, involves a curse, talk of a witch, etc. So juicy and fun! I enjoyed how the author built the story. She intricately wove parts of the past into the present as things unfolded. The search for clues was ladened with tension. Would the diving crew find clues? And if so, what would those clues hold? The central mystery concerning the lost city and the witch, was intriguing. I just had to know more!

There is more, so much more. There are twists, turns and revelations! The mystery is the main star in the book with the romance being a supporting player. What a supporting player it is! There are many forms of love in this book - love of home, love of family, love of friends and being in love.


This was my first book by Jessica Thorne, and I look forward to reading more of her books in the future!

#TheWaterWitch #NetGalley

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

What a amazing story of searching for the lost city of Atlantis-or Is as it is called in this book.

Brother-sister team Ariadne and Jason are searching for evidence of the lost city….and also what happened to Ariadne’s fiancé, Simon.

Their benefactor’s family has been cursed from the time legend says that the city fell-a curse that cuts short the life of every male in the family. Desperate to save his son (and hopefully himself in the process), he is heavily involved with Ari and Jason’s explorations.

But then….they see Simon. But is it him or part of the ancient curse? Will they find the city? And who exactly is this Water Witch? Great story for lovers of myths and legends.