"Sea Witch" is a fantasy novel written by author Sarah Henning. The book was published in 2018 and is the first installment in the "Sea Witch" series. Set in the kingdom of Havnestad, the story revolves around the infamous Sea Witch from Hans Christian Andersen's "The Little Mermaid." Henning's novel offers a fresh perspective on the Sea Witch character, diving deep into her backstory and motivations. The narrative follows the lives of four friends—Evie, Annemette, Nik, and Iker—whose lives intertwine amidst political unrest and dark magic. Evie, the main protagonist, is haunted by the past and harbors secrets of her own.
Psychologist and fairy-tale analyst Bruno Bettelheim once ran the original Hansel and Gretel story through the Freud-o-tron and concluded it was intended to aid children in overcoming their oral fixations. Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters has learned no such lesson in restraint, indulging fully in its own childish fixations on brainless action and mindless violence. While this might give you an initial sugar rush, eventually you’ll be stuffed so full you can’t help but get a stomachache. C?
Hollywood s current obsession with rebooting fairy tales has only been going on for a short while, compared with the decade-plus of superhero movies flying in and out of theaters. Hansel Gretel Witch Hunters has learned no such lesson in restraint, indulging fully in its own childish fixations on brainless action and mindless violence.
Evie, the main protagonist, is haunted by the past and harbors secrets of her own. She is desperate to escape her binding fate as the Sea Witch and will go to great lengths to reclaim her lost power. Annemette, on the other hand, is a mermaid who yearns to experience life on land and dreams of love.
Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters
Hollywood’s current obsession with rebooting fairy tales has only been going on for a short while, compared with the decade-plus of superhero movies flying in and out of theaters. But it’s already starting to feel very once upon a time. The latest refurbished bit of folklore is Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters, an intermittently fun, but overexcited and predictable mish-mash that posits the two Grimm children as having grown up into a pair of leather-clad, automatic crossbow-wielding, witch-slaying siblings. The movie has been sitting on the shelf for a while, and like, say, a house of candy you might find in the woods, it’s gotten a bit stale.
Jeremy Renner tries not to think about his two Oscar nominations as he grimaces and smirks his way through a by-the-storybook plot about his and his sister’s (Gemma Arterton) efforts to thwart a grand witch (Famke Janssen) intent on stealing twelve children for an important black Sabbath sacrifice. Despite the fact that the film is produced by Will Ferrell and Adam McKay, the tone is more cute than clever, and willful anachronisms pop up all over the place like cell phones on the Titanic. It’s pretty easy to tell early on where the plot’s trail of breadcrumbs is leading — surprise, Hansel and Gretel’s parents weren’t what they seemed! — but Norwegian director Tommy Wirkola keeps things moving with enough energy to gloss over the script’s laziness. Wirkola, who helmed the Nazis-on-ice horror comedy Dead Snow, is also fond of cartoonish gore: witches are drawn and quartered and sliced into chunks, and a number of heads explode wetly like overripe tomatoes. This is presumably meant to take advantage of the film’s 3-D, although the extra dimension is filled with so much splintered timber, fractured crossbeams, and flying branches that it feels like someone has pointed the angry end of a woodchipper at your face for most of the movie.
Psychologist and fairy-tale analyst Bruno Bettelheim once ran the original Hansel and Gretel story through the Freud-o-tron and concluded it was intended to aid children in overcoming their oral fixations. Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters has learned no such lesson in restraint, indulging fully in its own childish fixations on brainless action and mindless violence. While this might give you an initial sugar rush, eventually you’ll be stuffed so full you can’t help but get a stomachache. C?
Jeremy Renner tries not to think about his two Oscar nominations as he grimaces and smirks his way through a by-the-storybook plot about his and his sister’s (Gemma Arterton) efforts to thwart a grand witch (Famke Janssen) intent on stealing twelve children for an important black Sabbath sacrifice. Despite the fact that the film is produced by Will Ferrell and Adam McKay, the tone is more cute than clever, and willful anachronisms pop up all over the place like cell phones on the Titanic. It’s pretty easy to tell early on where the plot’s trail of breadcrumbs is leading — surprise, Hansel and Gretel’s parents weren’t what they seemed! — but Norwegian director Tommy Wirkola keeps things moving with enough energy to gloss over the script’s laziness. Wirkola, who helmed the Nazis-on-ice horror comedy Dead Snow, is also fond of cartoonish gore: witches are drawn and quartered and sliced into chunks, and a number of heads explode wetly like overripe tomatoes. This is presumably meant to take advantage of the film’s 3-D, although the extra dimension is filled with so much splintered timber, fractured crossbeams, and flying branches that it feels like someone has pointed the angry end of a woodchipper at your face for most of the movie.
Nik, a prince, bears a striking resemblance to someone from Evie's past, sparking memories and unraveling mysteries. Meanwhile, Iker, a childhood friend of the group, is thrust into a web of deceit and treachery as he tries to protect his loved ones. Henning expertly weaves in elements of romance, magic, and suspense as the characters navigate their personal journeys. The book explores themes of identity, sacrifice, and the consequences of one's actions. It also poses thought-provoking questions about the nature of power and the complexity of human emotions. The author's writing style captivates readers, drawing them into the enchanting world of Havnestad. The vivid descriptions and atmospheric settings paint a vivid picture of the kingdom, its underwater realms, and the dangers lurking beneath the surface. "Sea Witch" is a captivating tale that breathes new life into a classic story. With its intriguing characters, rich world-building, and unexpected twists, the book keeps readers hooked until the final page. It is a must-read for fans of fairy tales, fantasy, and retellings. Overall, "Sea Witch" offers a fresh and compelling take on the Sea Witch character, providing a fascinating origin story that will leave readers eagerly anticipating the next installment in the series..
Reviews for "The Sea Witch Book: a Classic in the Fantasy Genre"
1. John - 1 star - I was really disappointed with "Sea Witch". The story lacked originality and seemed to be a mash-up of other popular fantasy novels. The characters were one-dimensional and I found it hard to connect with any of them. The pacing was also off, with the plot dragging in some parts and rushing through others. Overall, I felt like this book didn't live up to the hype and I wouldn't recommend it to others.
2. Emily - 2 stars - Unfortunately, "Sea Witch" fell flat for me. The writing style was uninspiring and the dialogue felt forced and unnatural. The world-building was weak, leaving me with little understanding of the magic system and how it worked. Additionally, the romance was poorly developed and the love triangle felt cliché. I wanted to like this book, but it just didn't capture my interest or attention.
3. Sarah - 2 stars - I had high hopes for "Sea Witch" based on the concept, but the execution left much to be desired. The plot was predictable and lacked depth, with very little surprises or twists. The character development was also lacking, as I found it difficult to care about any of the protagonists. The pacing was inconsistent, making it hard to stay invested in the story. Unfortunately, this book didn't live up to its potential and I wouldn't recommend it to others.
4. David - 1 star - "Sea Witch" was a major letdown. The narrative was confusing and hard to follow, with scenes jumping from one perspective to another without clear transitions. The writing was mediocre at best, lacking descriptive language and failing to evoke any emotion. The lack of originality was also apparent, as the story felt like a rehash of other popular young adult fantasy novels. Overall, I was highly disappointed with this book and do not understand the positive reviews it has received.