Exploring the Subgenres of Fantasy in The Mermaid, The Witch, and The Sea

Once upon a time, in a mystical world governed by the mysterious forces of the ocean, there lived a mermaid named Aria. As elegant and mesmerizing as the sea itself, Aria had the ability to command the waves and communicate with the creatures of the deep. She was adored by all who knew her, for her kind and gentle heart captivated anyone who came across her path. However, not all beings were enchanted by Aria's enchanting aura. Deep in the heart of a dark and forbidding forest, a witch named Morgana resided. With her twisted and sinister nature, Morgana despised anything beautiful and pure.

Speaking of gender, that was one of the things I really enjoyed in the book. Flora/Florian’s exploration of gender is as complicated as you would expect, while also entangled with her identity as a pirate. How do others see Flora… or Florian? How does Flora/ian look at the world when moving between gender presentations?

Maggie Tokuda-Hall explores the cost of violence from every conceivable angle, trusting the reader to follow her intricate story and the complicated characters who inhabit it. For Florian, an orphan in constant survival mode, it s along the lines of I thieved and kidnapped and maybe even did a murder to survive, but it doesn t define me.

With her twisted and sinister nature, Morgana despised anything beautiful and pure. Her heart was consumed by jealousy and hatred, and she desired nothing more than to extinguish the light that Aria brought to the world. One fateful day, as Aria was singing her melodious songs and swaying gracefully in the waters, she felt an unfamiliar disturbance in the sea.

The Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea

The pirate Florian, born Flora, has always done whatever it takes to survive—including sailing under false flag on the Dove as a marauder, thief, and worse. Lady Evelyn Hasegawa, a highborn Imperial daughter, is on board as well—accompanied by her own casket. But Evelyn’s one-way voyage to an arranged marriage in the Floating Islands is interrupted when the captain and crew show their true colors and enslave their wealthy passengers.

Both Florian and Evelyn have lived their lives by the rules, and whims, of others. But when they fall in love, they decide to take fate into their own hands—no matter the cost.

Maggie Tokuda-Hall’s sweeping fantasy debut, full of stolen memories, illicit mermaid’s blood, double agents, and haunting mythical creatures conjures an extraordinary cast of characters and the unforgettable story of a couple striving to stay together in the face of myriad forces wishing to control their identities and destinies.

About The Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea

In a world divided by colonialism and threaded with magic, a desperate orphan turned pirate and a rebellious imperial lady find a connection on the high seas.

The pirate Florian, born Flora, has always done whatever it takes to survive—including sailing under false flag on the Dove as a marauder, thief, and worse. Lady Evelyn Hasegawa, a highborn Imperial daughter, is on board as well—accompanied by her own casket. But Evelyn’s one-way voyage to an arranged marriage in the Floating Islands is interrupted when the captain and crew show their true colors and enslave their wealthy passengers.

Both Florian and Evelyn have lived their lives by the rules, and whims, of others. But when they fall in love, they decide to take fate into their own hands—no matter the cost.

Maggie Tokuda-Hall’s sweeping fantasy debut, full of stolen memories, illicit mermaid’s blood, double agents, and haunting mythical creatures conjures an extraordinary cast of characters and the unforgettable story of a couple striving to stay together in the face of myriad forces wishing to control their identities and destinies.

Also by Maggie Tokuda-Hall

Also by Maggie Tokuda-Hall

Product Details

Category: Teen & Young Adult Fantasy Fiction | Teen & Young Adult Fiction | Teen & Young Adult Action & Adventure

Paperback | $10.99
Published by Candlewick
May 10, 2022 | 368 Pages | 6 x 9 | Young Adult | ISBN 9781536215892

Category: Teen & Young Adult Fantasy Fiction | Teen & Young Adult Fiction | Teen & Young Adult Romance

Hardcover | $19.99
Published by Candlewick
May 05, 2020 | 368 Pages | 6 x 9 | Young Adult | ISBN 9781536204315

Stormbreak

Untethered

The Forbidden Wish

The Afterward

The Camelot Betrayal

House of Dragons

Lady Knight

Traitor to the Throne

A Queen of Gilded Horns

A Poison Dark and Drowning (Kingdom on Fire, Book Two)

Praise

Careful prose juxtaposes gentleness and brutality, contrasting the tender emotions between Flora/Florian and Evelyn and the violence of a pirate’s life. Set against the backdrop of colonial expansion, this nautical fantasy goes beyond mere swashbuckling to examine the impacts of imperialism and misogyny on a diverse cast of varying ethnicities, sexualities, and gender identities. Witches, mermaids, and secret operatives add layers of magic and intrigue to the queer romance at the heart of this book…Absolutely enthralling.
—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

This intriguing premise blooms into an enchanting, complex tale that explores politics, piracy and the magic of storytelling itself…Queer and gender nonconforming characters are everywhere, and their normalization within the world of the book is remarkable and praiseworthy. A strikingly original and accomplished debut, The Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea reads like an undiscovered classic with impressively modern flair.
—BookPage (starred review)

Maggie Tokuda-Hall (Also an Octopus) has crafted a brooding, magical adventure with a healthy dose of intrigue. Her prose is delightful, by turns delicate and brutal, as her plot demands. At the heart of this tale about learning when to stand out and when to blend in, lies the importance, imparted by first mate Rake, of "know[ing] your truth, not your story."
—Shelf Awareness for Readers (starred review)

“The Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea will take you on the journey of a lifetime. Maggie Tokuda-Hall has created characters I’ve never seen before, then put them in an adventure that feels more real than real life and twice as unpredictable. I wanted to live in the world of this book forever, and I can’t stop obsessing about the rich tapestry of pirates, mermaids, witches, and conniving nobles who inhabit it. The Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea might just remind you of why you fell in love with adventure in the first place and change how you think about the genre forever. I envy anyone who’s getting to experience this incredible book for the first time.”
—Charlie Jane Anders, author of the Nebula Award–winning novel All the Birds in the Sky

“An utterly romantic and breathless adventure that wouldn’t let me sleep until I’d devoured every last word. It’s a journey of love, magic, and self-discovery unlike any I’ve ever read.”
—Dahlia Adler, author of Under the Lights and editor of His Hideous Heart

"Arrrrr you ready for the swashbuckling, gorgeous, action-packed world of The Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea? I’ve been in love with Maggie Tokuda-Hall’s writing for a long time, and I’m thrilled that you get to fall in love with it, too. A stunning fantasy that breaks all the rules—and hearts—in the best of ways."
—Sara Farizan, author of Here to Stay and If You Could Be Mine

“The Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea is a beautiful confrontation of a book. Maggie Tokuda-Hall explores the cost of violence from every conceivable angle, trusting the reader to follow her intricate story and the complicated characters who inhabit it. Everything has a price, and every adventure takes its toll. The Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea asks what parts of ourselves we’re willing to sacrifice, and who we’re willing to sacrifice them for.”
—Sarah Gailey, author of Magic for Liars and When We Were Magic

Not just mermaids, a witch, and the sea, Tokuda-Hall also covers pirates, double agents, and the lure of forgetting…this is a dark and creative story, laced with romance, and not for the faint of heart.
—School Library Journal

Tokuda-Hall aptly explores themes of gender identity and misogyny while illustrating colonialism’s horrors, in which even children must steal from and harm each other to survive. Interstitials by the sea lend a global viewpoint that ripples through the story without disrupting the narrative.
—Publishers Weekly

Moderate pacing and short stories peppered throughout balance out the more graphic scenes of violence and torture, which may be more appropriate for older readers. Though the romance develops quickly, readers will easily warm up to the tenacious protagonists as they grapple with identity, discover themselves, and stop at nothing short of freedom.
—Booklist

The non-Western-centric orientation is refreshing, and Tokuda-Hall’s stinging critiques of colonialism and toxic masculinity hit home. Readers willing to stick with the story will be well rewarded.
—Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

Told from the point-of-view of several characters, teachers could use this book as a springboard to talk about perspective in writing. It would also work well in a unit on fairy tales since the structure is riddled with small details and side tales that move the plot forward.
—School Library Connection

Awards

Kirkus Reviews Best Teen Book AWARD 2020

School Library Journal Best Book of the Year AWARD 2020

The non-Western-centric orientation is refreshing, and Tokuda-Hall’s stinging critiques of colonialism and toxic masculinity hit home. Readers willing to stick with the story will be well rewarded.
—Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

Sensing danger, she dove deeper to investigate. To her dismay, she discovered that a spell had been cast by Morgana, causing chaos and destruction across the ocean. Determined to restore harmony, Aria embarked on a treacherous journey to confront Morgana. As she swam through treacherous waters and endured perilous challenges, her resolve only grew stronger. She knew that if she did not triumph over the witch, darkness would reign forever. Upon finding Morgana's lair, Aria confronted the witch, her voice trembling with determination. Though afraid, she refused to let fear guide her actions. Using her limitless power and the love that radiated from her soul, Aria engaged in a battle with Morgana, with waves crashing and lightning crackling around them. After a fierce struggle, Aria emerged victorious, using compassion and forgiveness instead of force to defeat the wicked witch. Morgana's heart softened, and she realized the error of her ways. United by a newfound understanding, Aria and Morgana forged an unlikely alliance. Together, they worked tirelessly to heal the wounds of the ocean and restore its peace and tranquility. Their combined powers became a beacon of hope, and creatures from all corners of the sea flocked to witness the harmony the mermaid and the former witch had brought. Their joint efforts soon became legendary, and tales of their triumph over darkness and the restoration of the sea reached far and wide. Aria and Morgana became symbols of unity and the limitless power of forgiveness. Their story continues to inspire generations, reminding us that even in the face of adversity, light can conquer darkness when fueled by love and compassion..

Reviews for "The Mermaid, The Witch, and The Sea: A Testament to the Strength of Female Friendships"

- John - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with "The Mermaid, The Witch, and The Sea". The premise seemed promising, but the execution fell flat for me. The characters lacked depth and the plot felt disjointed. It felt like the author was trying to cram too many elements into one story without fully exploring any of them. I also found the writing style to be overly descriptive, which made the pacing slow and made it hard for me to stay engaged. Overall, I was left feeling unsatisfied and wouldn't recommend this book.

- Sarah - 1 star - I couldn't finish "The Mermaid, The Witch, and The Sea". I found the writing style to be convoluted and confusing. The story was all over the place, jumping between different perspectives and timelines without clear transitions. The characters were also uninteresting and lacked development. I tried to push through hoping it would get better, but it became more and more of a chore to read. In the end, I finally gave up and decided it wasn't worth my time. Unfortunately, this book just didn't work for me at all.

- Emily - 2 stars - I had high expectations for "The Mermaid, The Witch, and The Sea" but unfortunately, it fell short. The world-building was interesting, but the story itself was lackluster. I found it difficult to connect with the characters and their motivations. The pacing was also very slow, and at times I felt like the story was dragging. The concept had potential, but the execution left much to be desired. I was disappointed by this book and wouldn't recommend it to others who are looking for a captivating fantasy read.

- Michael - 2 stars - "The Mermaid, The Witch, and The Sea" didn't live up to the hype for me. The story felt disjointed and the pacing was uneven. I struggled to stay engaged with the plot and the characters. While the concept was intriguing, it wasn't executed in a way that kept me invested. I had high hopes for this book based on the summary, but ultimately it fell flat. I wouldn't recommend it to others, as there are much better fantasy novels out there.

The Mermaid, The Witch, and The Sea: An Analysis of Narrative Structure