Mudgets, also known as mascits, are fictional creatures that have become popular in various forms of media. These tiny, magical beings are typically depicted as miniature versions of humans or animals, possessing unique traits and abilities. Mascits are often portrayed as mischievous and playful, bringing joy and laughter to their surroundings. They have the ability to perform magical feats, such as granting wishes or creating illusions. In literature and film, mudgets have been featured in fantasy stories, where they assist the protagonist on their quest or provide comedic relief. They are often described as having a childlike innocence and curiosity, which adds to their charm.
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.
They are often described as having a childlike innocence and curiosity, which adds to their charm. These creatures have also gained popularity in the world of collectibles and merchandise. Mudget figurines and plush toys have become sought-after items for fans of the genre, further solidifying their place in popular culture.
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).
While mudgets may be fictional, their popularity and appeal are very real. Their whimsical nature and magical abilities have captured the imaginations of many, making them a beloved addition to various forms of entertainment..
Reviews for "Mudgets in Science and Technology: Contributions and Discoveries"
1. Jane - 1/5 stars
I really did not enjoy "Mudgets bs mascits" at all. The story was confusing and hard to follow, with scenes jumping around without any clear explanation. The characters were also poorly developed and lacked depth, making it hard to connect with them. Overall, I found the whole experience of watching this film to be a complete waste of time.
2. Tom - 2/5 stars
"Mudgets bs mascits" had potential, but it failed to deliver. The plot had some interesting ideas but seemed disjointed and poorly executed. The acting was subpar, with the majority of the cast giving lackluster performances. Additionally, the special effects were unimpressive and did not enhance the story in any way. I was left feeling disappointed and unsatisfied after watching this film.
3. Michelle - 2/5 stars
I had high hopes for "Mudgets bs mascits", but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. The pacing was slow, and the story dragged on without any real payoff. The dialogue was also quite weak, lacking the wit or depth to engage the audience. While the cinematography was decent, it couldn't make up for the overall lackluster experience. I wouldn't recommend this film to others unless they are fans of the genre and have nothing better to watch.