This was a treasure hunting paranormal adventure set in France. I enjoyed the story very much I love folklore tales and I liked the mystery running through as well. I found the characters interesting and we'll written, Ari the female main character spent a lot of the book dealing with grief and sadness but she found her strength in the end and I liked her.
I felt the romance took a back seat to the adventure and I would have like more. Although it took me a few chapters to get into the the story once I did I thoroughly enjoyed it. Thanks to netgally and the publisher for an arc of this book.

I enjoyed this book right up to the last two chapters and then it fell apart for me in tangled ball of confusion.

The author did a great job of sucking me into the story with vivid descriptions of the setting, the wild Breton coastline, the long lost city and the haunting tales of a mythical long lost kingdom. There was a very creepy element which was well done. The curse that haunts the male of the Du Lac family was well laid out and Rafael's reaction compelling and believable.

The romance was meh, with Ari mourning her dead fiancé at while at the same time she's falling for Raphael, but I went along with it. It was only at the end when things got a bit too confusing for me. Still, I really enjoyed reading it, maybe others will have an easier time understanding what happened.

Well worth reading.

Thank you Netgalley and publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This fantasy adventure romance novel based on the lost city of Ys is a rare gem by Jessica Thorn. It starts with a very broken Dr Ariande Walker (Ari) journeying back to France at her brother’s urgent request. Ari reluctance to be in the same place her former lover lost his life searching for the same artifacts that her brother is currently looking for.
After a heated argument with her brother, Ari walks along the cliff top where she sees a body floating in the sea.
I enjoyed the shifting narrative, and the female characters are well-rounded, however, I did feel that the romance between Rafael and Ari was forced. The novel starts with Ari completely broken-hearted over her lost love, to the point that she has been in stasis for years, only to completely fall for Rafael in a few weeks.
I really enjoyed this standalone novel, I found myself looking at online maps searching for the local landmarks, and looking up the original tale of the lost city of Ys. Jessica Thorn has really brought this Folk tail to life. This is a perfect summer read, and I would recommend it to anyone that wants a little adventure.

First, I would like to say that this leans more towards an adventure than fantasy. It gave me National Treasure vibes. I really enjoyed the atmosphere in the last 25% of the book and felt like it really picked up from there. There was a lot of description, almost too much at once and it made me lose interest in the setting of geography. The love interest was a little fast but it was even acknowledged in the book which I appreciate. I just wasn’t vested in the love interest as much as I wanted to be. The last 25% is where I had the most fun and could not put it down from there! I would’ve enjoyed the twist in this book more had it been would was originally thought. However, I enjoyed that there was a slight twist. Thank you very much to NetGalley for this ARC!

This was marketed as a romance fantasy but I feel like the romance felt a bit short. It was definitely a fantasy adventure though! I liked the world building and the story kept me engaged but due to some of the hold ups and memories the FMC still had for a past relationship, it made it hard to really connect with the growing relationship throughout the novel. Also the MMC in the last chapter felt very out of character for me. All in all it was an enjoyable adventure that kept me engaged while reading.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

Fantasy and Sci-Fi author Jessica Thorne brings us a stunning France-based, folkloric tale with her new novel The Water Witch, which will be published on August 5th, 2022.

Prior to reading this, I didn't have any set expectations. I have never read any of Thorne's other novels (though I hope to now), and I had no knowledge of her writing style. This book absolutely shocked me with how much I loved it. To start off, I was immediately captivated by the language Thorne incorporated. There are so many quotes I could share, and believe me when I tell you I highlighted and marked all my favorites while I was reading. However, I'll choose to share this one that caught my eye in Chapter 1 that captures the beauty and essence of Sainte Siréne: "Bright overhead, darkening as it swept towards the far western horizon, where it deepened to indigo and blended with the endless sea." The scenery in this novel is stunning and the detail used to describe the colors and other intricate details is exquisite.

I found the characters in this novel to be quite interesting, and their development was so well written. Ariadne is a character I instantly loved. Her passion for studying and intelligence is personally quite relatable and her loyalty to her family (blood or not) is admirable. I truly enjoyed reading about how she worked through her grief of losing Simon, and how this subsequently led to her growth as an individual and as a partner in a relationship. I found Rafael to be quite mysterious and handsome, and the history of the Du Lac family of course drew me in. I loved the detailing of the legend of Dahut and the Mac'htiern, and how it applied to the Walker, Du Lac, and Poullain families. Jason and Nico were good supporting characters, as they added exactly what was needed at the perfect times. I can't go into too much detail about Laure without including spoilers, but suffice it to say that I disliked her from the beginning and my opinion never changed.

All around, I just adored this book. I hope that this novel reaches the hands of fantasy lovers everywhere because this story deserves to be read.

I had really high hopes for this book because I really love romantic fantasy books but it kind of missed the mark for me a little.

Let me start by saying that I love the characters. Dr. Ari Walker is such a strong character (I love a woman in STEM) and I really enjoyed seeing her interactions with her brother and Rafael. I also really enjoyed Rafael and his great aunt’s relationship. That really added a special little element for me. I also loved the scenes within the book where they are diving and looking for Ys, they did the best at keeping my attention.

Now don’t get me wrong, I love the idea of this legend of a lost city (I grew up obsessed with Atlantis) and a curse that comes along with it but this felt more like a treasure hunting expedition than a fantasy novel. I also think the romance missed the mark for me a little because it didn’t feel very authentic to me. Ari spends most of the book still mourning the loss of Simon so it felt a little off when she started showing feelings for someone else.

I think it would be better for this book to be marketed as an adventure book with a romance subplot.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookoutre for providing me an arc of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This book was a little outside what I normally read, but it quickly became enthralling. Somehow, despite the book being written for the world at large, it feels a bit like it is talking directly, and only, to you. That's likely partly an effect of the shifting narrative and vulnerability of the protagonists, and partly because it's a story of treasure and magic. While I've not been to Brittany, I've walked parts of the coast of France, and the writing was truly evocative.

Worth a Saturday lie-in to finish this book, because it was difficult indeed to put down. The only detraction was the somewhat convoluted ending. Still, 4.5*, and I'd read another book by this author.

This novel was a type of story that I don't usually go for. I was positively surprised by how much I enjoyed it!

I liked the characters and their development throughout the story. I also liked the side characters, I did think some could be a bit more developed.

As for the story itself, it was very intriguing! The myths and legends, the hunt for this lost city... Very catching. I did feel as though it got quite slow at some point. and other "life" aspects of the characters that weren't necessary to the story nor extremely interesting to read.

As for the romance, it was really in the background. We got a little kiss here, and some thoughts towards the other person there but in the end, I didn't feel it between the two characters.

I think it could've been interesting to have more doubts about Gwen and Laure, and see more of Rafael's mother and his son.

As for Ari, the grieving of her lover was really interesting and felt realistic.

Overall a great story and great characters! I would recommend :)

★★★

I was super excited for The Water Witch as I was in the mood for a short romantasy and then there it was the perfect book but unfortunately The Water Witch didn’t hit the spot for me. It started off strong and promising but unfortunately it ended up falling flat for me.
There were a few things I didn’t like about the book, for example I felt at times it would focus on either the romance element or the fantasy element, then ignoring the other, like the scenes would either be romantic based or fantasy based with no middle ground. Another thing I disliked was how for a lot of the book it felt the plot was forgotten about and had not much happening, so like in the middle of the book there was nothing and then suddenly it was like the plot was remembered and then it all happened suddenly and then it was over too fast, it felt like the books resolution was over too fast leading to me being disappointed. Whilst I liked that it was short I felt it could’ve been a little longer, it could’ve even included some more scenes from the past from a few certain main characters. Whilst I wish this was where the things I disliked about the book ends there is more. One of those things being how it barely focused on or showed the side characters so when everything was going down and danger approached I didn’t care too much for them or their fates because they were there and that was it, there wasn’t much to make you care about them. The main romance in the book also felt too insta love-y for me and didn’t grip my attention like I thought it would, it just felt rushed at times and didn’t particularly have me rooting too much for it. My first issue with the book though was the disconnect between the prologue and the rest of the book, the story starts in Ys, we see what happens and it sets up the rest of the story but then you read the first few chapters and feel as if the prologue and what you’re reading then are 2 completely different books, whilst it feels less like it later on the feeling was still there for me until the end (which I admittedly found disappointing (like many other aspects of the book)).
Whilst I didn’t love love the book but it was good enough for me not to rate it any lower but it’s not something I’d recommend to any of my friends anytime soon.

Thank you Netgalley, Jessica Throne and Bookouture for providing me with this eARC.

I finished this book so quickly! It was such a fun, quick read! It felt like the perfect beach/summer read. This story is a fantastical, treasure hunt with a splash of romance. I have really been on the hunt for new takes on fantasy

Ari Walker is an archeologist who is struggling to cope with the sudden death of her fiancé Simon. She finds her self back in place where he lost his life, unravelling the mysteries he left her and struggling to understand the local lore. Sainte Sirène is a small village on the Atlantic Ocean that is haunted by legends of the water witch, the lost city of Ys and the mysterious deaths of the men that live there. Ari finds herself working with Rafael de Luc, who believes in the curse on his family and needs her help to find the lost city of Y's.

I loved all the Breton and French history that were incorporated into the story. It really helped to paint a picture and context to this beautiful town. I really didn't know anything about Breton history, but now I am really intrigued and would be interested in reading more about it.

This book was a lot more mystery/treasure hunt than it was fantasy or romance. If I could change one thing, it would be to either add a little more romance or a little more fantasy. Overall, I really liked this book and would recommend it to anyone who is looking for a fun and mysterious summer read!

When does the search for a hidden city fall into obsession? And what if that obsession takes the very person you love most? How do you react? For archeologist Ariadne Walker, these are personal questions without an answer. When her fiance dies while searching for the lost city of Y, Ari runs as far as she can from any hint of the life they had. But when she returns to help complete his life's work, she finds herself in the middle of a mystery, murder, and something that is beginning to look like reality more than a myth. Add in a potential new love, the return of the old love, a witch, a beautiful location, and an intriguing storyline, and you have all the perfect pieces for a great read. The Water Witch by Jessica Thorne does not disappoint. Both magical and mysterious, this was a book worth reading.

This is the first book I have read about Brittany and I was not aware of the different cultures in that French region. The legends and mystery of this story had me hooked, I could not put it down. The book is written in English, but also contains French and Breton, they do translate or discuss the meanings so as a non-French reader, I never felt lost. The supernatural elements surprised me in a good way and kept my nose to the page. Good romance with a slow burn. I will say that I had an idea of how the book would end and I was right about it which is why I did not give it 5 stars. #TheWaterWitch #NetGalley

I have to say, it took me a long time to finish this book. It just didn't capture me and that's just fine! Sometimes a book just isn't your cup of tea, but it could be someone else's! If you like French folklore, treasure hunts, and the paranormal- then you will enjoy reading this book. It is a well-written fantasy mystery with well developed characters. It just wasn't what I expected, so I feel my expectations may have exceeded what I was given. Overall, it was an okay read and I would recommend readers to give a try :)

The Water Witch
Jessica Thorne

This book gave me some serious Atlantis meets Lady and the Tramp vibes. The Water Witch had a bit of all the things that I enjoy. There was some treasure hunting, mystery, and romance all rolled into one literary package.
**SPOILERS BELOW**

The book focuses mostly on Ari, who lost her fiance when he died searching for the lost city of Ys. She gets entangled in going to complete her ex fiance's work even though she would prefer to avoid it all together. She meets her brother, who has been working on the project as well, and aids his treasure hunting. You follow Ari while she deals with grief as well as finding herself and new love with a local who knew her fiance. All the characters are well built and the story kept me intrigued. I read this book in 2 days. This was the first book I read by Jessica Thorne but I definitely found it beautiful.

Just another average romantic fantasy read from an author I didn’t know. That’s what I first thought before starting The Water Witch. Well, I was wrong! This is my first read from Jessica Thorne and it turns out to be incredibly amazing. I never wanted it to end but I also couldn’t wait for what happens next.

Well-paced, strong and engaging characters, beautiful setting with enough mystery to add to the charm… This book is a perfect combination of ancient and modern world. Ariadne, Rafael and Simon is the best tour guide trio ever.

Thanks to the publisher, I’ve got my ARC copy through #NetGalley. #TheWaterWitch will be out on 5th August, 2022.

I feel like I’m in the minority reviewing this book compared to some other reviews I have seen regarding this book. I really went into this thinking I would love the concept - anything ocean/lost at sea related or with this scenery really has me attached but this book just wasn’t it.
Don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t bad, it just wasn’t good. I also think it’s one of those books I will tuck away and never blink an eye at again.
The major issue? It was slower than my grandmas driving. I honestly kept expecting something to happen but nothing did and when it did, I didn’t care because it took four decades of no build up to get there.
I also didn’t vibe with the relationships - romantic or friendly. It felt forced and when there was a semblance of something, it was bogged down by cringe.
I also think more development needed to happen. More character development, more holes needed sewing with the plot line and setting and more romance build up.
I will say, the redeemable thing of this book was I quite liked the writing and I can see potential in future books for this author.

<i>I received this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.</i>

What a beautiful, atmospheric historical romance/mystery! I used to read a lot of Susanna Kearsley novels, and The Water Witch reminded me of them a lot. The story of the lost city of Y's and the "treasure hunt" to find it was very fast paced and suitably dark. I liked Ari, the main character, a lot - I feel like I rarely read books like this with mature, rational women in their mid 30s. My only real complaint is that the romance felt like kind of an insta-love situation, which I don't love. I felt like there was so much emphasis placed on Ari still pining for her lost love that it didn't make sense for her to automatically fall for Rafael.

I received this book as an ARC in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are my own.

Devoured this in just two days. It’s fast-paced, utterly enchanting and unputdownable. The Water Witch is a book that has many elements inside, and the fusion is working perfectly. The book explores themes of treasure hunt to find a lost city with many spices as cursed family stories, folklore, romance, and historical mystery.

First of all, hands down, for the melancholy French coastal setting and also the folklore/mythology part! It’s beautifully described, and they have many historical landmarks with magical-sounding names. The best part about the folklore part is: most of them inspired by real folklore. Such as Ankou, the servant of death, is a Breton, Cornish, Welsh and Norman French folklore. Some place mentioned such as Ile Tristan is also real.

The story told from 2 POVs, Ariadne (Ari) and Rafael. I love Ariadne the most. She is smart, sassy, and works in details. Every scene when Ari immersed with her work and investigation was fascinating to read. Like Jason (Ari’s brother) said about her: “She follow the breadcrumbs left in place names and stories.” It's not that I didn't love Rafael, but there are times when his personality can be contradicted. Yet, I can’t lie that I enjoy their chemistry and their character development.

Although I enjoyed Ari and Rafael's chemistry, I'm not a fan of the romantic part. Ari is mostly in her sad state, grieving for the dead fiancée. Often their relationship feels stagnant, I can't see whether their romance will go well or not. But then, at some point, suddenly it escalated quickly. Another downside, at least for me, is the identity of The Witch herself can be guessed easily from the start. In other words, a less revealing surprise. Some description of Rafael’s family tree was also quite difficult to understand.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and highly recommended if you like reading folklore/mythology, treasure hunt, and French coastal waves.

A legend of a lost city, a cursed princess, and the servant of death… cheery! Also, a dead fiancé AND romance? All set on a French beach… sounds… fun? And a little creepy. Let’s find out!

Read if you like: folklore/mythology, mystery, love lost and love found, treasure hunts, French seaside vibes, melancholy feels, slow burn, fade-to-black romance, dual POV, smart and sassy leading ladies, and dark and broody love interests.
A great read if you like historical mystery and want to try out the paranormal genre.

Ariadne Walker is back in Brittany, France even though she said she would never return to the place her fiancé died. Her life was left crumbling in the wake of his diving accident. But her brother can’t let the quest for the legendary lost city of Ys die with his friend. And he needs Ari’s academic presence to credit his findings and win financial backing. Are they truly on the brink of a huge discovery? But before they can continue, they first have to persuade the du Lac family fund their exploration. But the du Lac’s are more than financially connected to the region. The legend and curse are tied to their familial history and Rafael has secrets of his own.

A big thanks to NetGalley, Bookoture, and Jessica Thorne for an eARC of The Water Witch.

This book was unique and interesting. I was pulled in by the mythology and mystery. The costal setting was a fun bonus. I really liked the characters and the dual narrative POV. The blurb didn’t give us a lot about Rafael so I was excited when he started getting chapters regularly. The chemistry and banter were great and I thoroughly enjoyed the depth of even their brief connection and mutual understanding of their histories. Truly lovely character development.

The prologue was great and provided a solid foothold into the lore. After that, it was a bit slow to start because as Ari was reminiscing it felt like more like a guided tour or an overly enthused friend’s geographical info dump of the area and I was wishing for a map. But it quickly picked up when our two main characters meet, quite dramatically, and realize how they will affect undoubtedly each other’s lives.

What bumped it down from 5 to 4 stars, besides the overemployment of geography, was just the general feel of melancholy. I don’t really do sad… not sad books, or movies, or songs; and Ari is really sad. Her grief has been weighing her down for years. And Rafael has his family legacy, and crazy family to contend with so he’s not having a party either. They both want more from life but can’t see a way out of the paths they have created. The hunt for truth among lore and their chemistry balanced everything out for a very enjoyable read that I could see myself revisiting in the future.