Member Review
Review by
Sara B, Reviewer
The Water Witch by Jessica Thorne
Thank you Netgallery UK for the audiobook version for an unbiased review.
This was an interesting premise to me. The whole story revolves around myths and legends, with a romantic element.
We start with Ari, who is asked by her brother Jason, to return to a Northern France coastal town where he and others are trying to prove that something existed. Ari is reluctant, as she lost her fiancé to a swimming accident there. But her specialities mean she is the best person for the job. So despite having doubts, Ari returns.
We then meet Rafael, who Ari mistakenly believes is a body, rather than him floating in the sea.
Gradually, we begin to hear more about the supposed curse of the men of the town, and Rafael firmly believes his family is cursed, and he will be next.
Despite still loving Simon, Ari and Rafael begin to have an undeniable attraction develop between them.
Ari, who doesn't believe in these myths, decides to leave once again.
However before long, Ari is drawn back and we see the story unfold.
This is a story that took a while to really find its feet for me. But once it did, the story really did pick up pace and more importantly, maintain it. As it developed, despite the slow start, I realised a lot of what allowed it to then get going was because it had a firm foundation laid out for us.
There is a great blending of the fantasy v reality aspect that go on. Myths v Facts. I'm not always sold on contemporary fantasy, but this one really worked for me.
There were some witty moments in the book, some lovely descriptive elements. Part mystery, part romance, part fantasy, part myths. Sometimes these things don't work but here I felt they blended seamlessly, and that has a lot to do with how the author brings us these wonderful evocative descriptions and moments.
There were a couple of twist and turns, some I absolutely saw coming, others I thought I saw but wasn't entirely sure. If I had one complaint, I would have preferred just a little more depth of detail on one character (I can't really say who without potential spoilers). Just to say at the end, I felt we learnt some of what and who they were, but I wished there had been a little more depth there. It was overall a minor niggle though. Others might not find it a problem at all.
Because of the slower start, I couldn't justify the full 5/5, but it is a solid 4/5 stars for me.
If you enjoy these kind of books, I would happily recommend this is given a try.
The audiobook was narrated well and I had no qualms on choice of narrator.
Thank you Netgallery UK for the audiobook version for an unbiased review.
This was an interesting premise to me. The whole story revolves around myths and legends, with a romantic element.
We start with Ari, who is asked by her brother Jason, to return to a Northern France coastal town where he and others are trying to prove that something existed. Ari is reluctant, as she lost her fiancé to a swimming accident there. But her specialities mean she is the best person for the job. So despite having doubts, Ari returns.
We then meet Rafael, who Ari mistakenly believes is a body, rather than him floating in the sea.
Gradually, we begin to hear more about the supposed curse of the men of the town, and Rafael firmly believes his family is cursed, and he will be next.
Despite still loving Simon, Ari and Rafael begin to have an undeniable attraction develop between them.
Ari, who doesn't believe in these myths, decides to leave once again.
However before long, Ari is drawn back and we see the story unfold.
This is a story that took a while to really find its feet for me. But once it did, the story really did pick up pace and more importantly, maintain it. As it developed, despite the slow start, I realised a lot of what allowed it to then get going was because it had a firm foundation laid out for us.
There is a great blending of the fantasy v reality aspect that go on. Myths v Facts. I'm not always sold on contemporary fantasy, but this one really worked for me.
There were some witty moments in the book, some lovely descriptive elements. Part mystery, part romance, part fantasy, part myths. Sometimes these things don't work but here I felt they blended seamlessly, and that has a lot to do with how the author brings us these wonderful evocative descriptions and moments.
There were a couple of twist and turns, some I absolutely saw coming, others I thought I saw but wasn't entirely sure. If I had one complaint, I would have preferred just a little more depth of detail on one character (I can't really say who without potential spoilers). Just to say at the end, I felt we learnt some of what and who they were, but I wished there had been a little more depth there. It was overall a minor niggle though. Others might not find it a problem at all.
Because of the slower start, I couldn't justify the full 5/5, but it is a solid 4/5 stars for me.
If you enjoy these kind of books, I would happily recommend this is given a try.
The audiobook was narrated well and I had no qualms on choice of narrator.
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