Wicca, also known as Pagan Witchcraft, is a contemporary religious movement stemming from ancient pre-Christian traditions. It is a modern-day pagan religious movement that practices witchcraft, nature worship, and reverence for the divine. The word "Wicca" means "wise one" or "witch" in Old English, and it is believed to have been derived from the Proto-Indo-European root "weik," meaning "to bend or twist." Wiccans follow a nature-based spiritual path that honors the inherent sacredness of the Earth and all living beings. They revere both masculine and feminine aspects of divinity and emphasize the importance of balance and harmony. Wicca draws inspiration from various ancient religious practices, folklore, and cultural traditions, but it is not a reconstruction of any specific historical pagan religion.
But magic isn’t kind, and her new friend harbors secrets of her own. She can’t stay in Havnestad—or on two legs—without Evie’s help. And when Evie reaches deep into the power of her magic to save her friend’s humanity—and her prince’s heart—she discovers, too late, what she’s bargained away.
It felt like so much of this story happened in the last 4 chapters, and they flew by so fast that there was little time to appreciate what we had been waiting for. From plays like Wicked to stories like the Sea Witch , it s often the villains of classic stories that authors will choose to write about -- and I love it.
Wicca draws inspiration from various ancient religious practices, folklore, and cultural traditions, but it is not a reconstruction of any specific historical pagan religion. Instead, Wicca combines elements of ancient wisdom with modern beliefs and practices. Wiccans typically celebrate eight seasonal festivals known as Sabbats, which mark the solstices, equinoxes, and points in between.
Sea witch sarah henningn
Genre: YA/Fantasy
Standalone/Series: Standalone
How I got this book: ARC from HarperCollins UK, Children's via NetGalley
Everyone knows what happens in the end.
A mermaid, a prince, a true love’s kiss.
But before that young siren’s tale, there were three friends.
One feared, one royal, and one already dead.
Ever since her best friend, Anna, drowned, Evie has been an outcast in her small fishing town. A freak. A curse. A witch.
A girl with an uncanny resemblance to Anna appears offshore and, though the girl denies it, Evie is convinced that her best friend actually survived. That her own magic wasn’t so powerless after all. And, as the two girls catch the eyes—and hearts—of two charming princes, Evie believes that she might finally have a chance at her own happily ever after.
But her new friend has secrets of her own. She can’t stay in Havnestad, or on two legs, unless Evie finds a way to help her. Now Evie will do anything to save her friend’s humanity, along with her prince’s heart—harnessing the power of her magic, her ocean, and her love until she discovers, too late, the truth of her bargain.
The rise of Hans Christian Andersen’s iconic villainess is a heart-wrenching story of friendship, betrayal, and a girl pushed beyond her limits—to become a monster.
I spotted this book on NetGalley and was drawn to it for two reasons:
1.) The cover is gorgeous! It's a little superficial to judge a book by its cover, I know (yet we all do it!), but it really drew me in. I loved the creepy, mysterious vibe to it and had high hopes for a dark story.
2.) From the synopsis, it's obvious that this story is connected to The Little Mermaid and I've really enjoyed a lot of the fairytale retellings that have been released year!
On that note, as you can probably gather from the cover and the synopsis, this story isn't so much a retelling as an Ursula origin story, which I was more than on-board with! I love a good villain story!
My thoughts on this book are a little mixed, so please bear with me as I'm still processing!
The opening chapter was interesting but a little confusing and I wasn't entirely sure I'd be able to get into this book. However, I soon found myself flying through chapters, the pace really picked up and I became heavily invested and intrigued to find out what would happen next.
It was definitely an interesting start to the story. I was invested in the characters, most particularly Evie, her story of hardship and life as an outcast made her character much stronger.
I also really liked Tante Hansa and Annemette; the latter really comes into her own as we near the end of the book and Tante Hansa's no-nonsense approach to life made me an instant fan of hers, especially with this particular quote,
"Don't grant all the prince's requests, darling girl. Men are always asking for more than they should."
Sadly, I wasn't too keen on the other characters. Iker was predictable from the start and Evie's obsession with him never made sense to me.
Nik is a marginally better character but the 'romance' aspect of this book really threw me off. It felt a bit messy and wishy-washy in places, leading up to a 'surprise' reveal at the end that was quite strange and didn't really make sense to me.
Sadly, just over halfway through the book, whilst I didn't at all lose interest or get bored, I did become more and more frustrated with Evie. She's so naive and at times almost oblivious to what's immediately in front of her and I just found some of the storyline a bit repetitive as she goes back and forth over how she's treated by everyone, her attraction to Iker, and her guilt.
I did push past this and kept reading, which I'm really glad I did because things got decidedly better when a certain 'truth' is finally revealed, which does take the story to a much darker place, and I did enjoy this a lot more.
The epilogue was probably my favourite chapter, although I ultimately felt sad that what I'd hoped at the beginning would be an empowering female novel, ended on a bit of a sour note for me.
Overall, whilst I did enjoy the premise of the story and the backstory it provided, I just felt that the main character lacked a little punch.
Recommended for fans of To Kill A Kingdom, The Language of Thorns and fairytale retellings in general.
There is a new trend in the YA scene – mermaids – and I am obsessed. Who does not love mermaids? They are beautiful, power, magical women who are often deadly and get to spend their days frolicking in the sea. Sign me up! An influx of books with mermaid premises have surfaced (sorry for the terrible pun!) over the last two years – Sea Witch by Sarah Henning being a front runner that garnered a lot of attention. While it debuted in July 2018 and I am a little behind in reading, I recently was ready to dive in (I promise, I will stop).
These celebrations often involve ceremonies, rituals, and spells to honor the changing seasons and to connect with the natural world. Wiccans also work with magic, which they see as a natural, creative, and transformative force that can be used for various purposes, such as healing, empowerment, and manifesting desires. Wicca has no central religious authority, and beliefs and practices can vary among different individuals and groups. However, some core principles commonly shared by Wiccans include the belief in an immanent divine presence, the practice of ethical behavior and personal responsibility, and the recognition of the interconnectedness of all things. Wicca has gained popularity in recent decades, with many individuals drawn to its emphasis on spirituality, personal growth, and connection to nature. Overall, Wicca is a diverse and ever-evolving religious movement that encompasses a wide range of beliefs, practices, and traditions centered around the worship of nature and the exploration of personal spiritual truths..
Reviews for "The Expansion of Wicca: Exploring Contemporary Beliefs and Practices"
1. Jessica - 2 stars
I was disappointed with the Wicca definition and meaning provided in this book. The author seems to have a biased perspective, focusing too much on the negative aspects of this religion. The information is poorly organized and lacks depth. I was hoping for a comprehensive and objective overview of Wicca, but this book fell short of my expectations.
2. Daniel - 1 star
This book completely missed the mark when it comes to defining Wicca. The author's lack of understanding about the principles and practices of this religion is evident throughout the text. I found the information to be vague, oversimplified, and at times, downright incorrect. It was a waste of my time and money.
3. Emily - 2 stars
As someone who was curious about Wicca, I was excited to delve into this book. However, I was left feeling unsatisfied. The definition and meaning presented were shallow and superficial, leaving out important aspects of this spiritual tradition. The author's tone came across as dismissive and judgmental, which was off-putting. I would not recommend this book to anyone looking for an informative and unbiased exploration of Wicca.
4. Thomas - 1 star
The Wicca definition and meaning provided in this book is filled with misinformation and stereotypes. It is clear that the author has a prejudice against this religion, distorting the truth to fit their biased narrative. I was expecting an objective and insightful read, but instead, I was met with ignorance and misconceptions. I would strongly advise against wasting your time on this book if you are seeking accurate information about Wicca.