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Sea Witch Chronicles #1
Sea Witch
The time: the golden age of piracy - 1716
The Place: the Pirate Round - from South Africa to the Islands of the Caribbean.
Escaping the bullying of his elder brother, from the age of fifteen Jesamiah Acorne has been a pirate, with only two loves - his ship and his freedom. But his life is to change when he and his crew unsuccessfully attack a merchant ship off the coast of South Africa. He is to meet Tiola Oldstagh, an insignificant girl or so he thinks - until she rescues him from a vicious attack, and almost certain death, by pirate hunters. And then he discovers what she really is; a healer and a midwife - and a white witch. Her name, an anagram of "all that is good." Jesamiah and Tiola become lovers, despite her guardian, Jenna Pendeen's disapproval, but Stefan van Overstratten a Cape Town Dutchman, also wants Tiola as his wife, and Jesamiah's half brother Phillipe Mereno, is determined to seek revenge for a stolen ship and the insult of being cuckolded. When the call of the sea and an opportunity to commandeer a beautiful ship - Sea Witch - is put in Jesamiah's path, he must make a choice between his life as a pirate or his love for Tiola; he wants both - but Mereno and Von Overstratten want him dead. In trouble, imprisoned in the darkness and stench that is the lowest part of his brother's ship, can Tiola with her Craft, and the aid of Roux, Jesamiah's quartermaster and the rest of his loyal crew, save her pirate? And can she keep Jesamiah safe from another who wants him for herself? From the elemental being that is Tethys, Goddess of the Sea? A charismatic pirate rogue and a white witch - what better combination for a story of romance and high-sea fantasy adventure?
The Place: the Pirate Round - from South Africa to the Islands of the Caribbean.
Escaping the bullying of his elder brother, from the age of fifteen Jesamiah Acorne has been a pirate, with only two loves - his ship and his freedom. But his life is to change when he and his crew unsuccessfully attack a merchant ship off the coast of South Africa. He is to meet Tiola Oldstagh, an insignificant girl or so he thinks - until she rescues him from a vicious attack, and almost certain death, by pirate hunters. And then he discovers what she really is; a healer and a midwife - and a white witch. Her name, an anagram of "all that is good." Jesamiah and Tiola become lovers, despite her guardian, Jenna Pendeen's disapproval, but Stefan van Overstratten a Cape Town Dutchman, also wants Tiola as his wife, and Jesamiah's half brother Phillipe Mereno, is determined to seek revenge for a stolen ship and the insult of being cuckolded. When the call of the sea and an opportunity to commandeer a beautiful ship - Sea Witch - is put in Jesamiah's path, he must make a choice between his life as a pirate or his love for Tiola; he wants both - but Mereno and Von Overstratten want him dead. In trouble, imprisoned in the darkness and stench that is the lowest part of his brother's ship, can Tiola with her Craft, and the aid of Roux, Jesamiah's quartermaster and the rest of his loyal crew, save her pirate? And can she keep Jesamiah safe from another who wants him for herself? From the elemental being that is Tethys, Goddess of the Sea? A charismatic pirate rogue and a white witch - what better combination for a story of romance and high-sea fantasy adventure?
411 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2006
26 people are currently reading
1085 people want to read
About the author
Helen Hollick
59 books526 followersI escaped London in January 2013 to live in North Devon - but was born in Walthamstow, North East London in 1953 I began writing at the age of 13. Desperately wanting a pony of my own, but not being able to afford one, I invented an imaginary pony instead, writing stories about our adventures together at every spare opportunity. In the seventies I turned to science fiction - this was the age of Dr. Who, Star Trek and Star Wars. I still have an unfinished adventure about a bit of a rogue who travelled space with his family, making an honest(ish) living and getting into all sorts of scrapes. Perhaps one day I might finish it.
I had wanted to become a journalist when leaving secondary school, but my careers advice was not helpful. "Don't be silly," I was told, "you can't type." (I still can't, I use four fingers.) Instead, I worked in a Chingford library where I stayed for 13 years although I was not very happy there - I did not realise it, but I wanted to write. The one advantage of the library, however, was the access to books, and it was there that I came across the Roman historical novels of Rosemary Sutcliff, the Arthurian trilogy by Mary Stewart, and the historian Geoffrey Ashe. I was hooked on Roman Britain - and King Arthur!
Reading everything I could, I eventually became frustrated that novels were not how I personally felt about the matter of Arthur and Gwenhwyfar (Guinevere).
By this time, I was married with a young daughter. I had time on my hands and so I started writing my idea of Arthurian Britain . I deliberately decided not to include Merlin and Lancelot, there was to be no magic or Medieval myth. My book was to be a "what might have really happened" historical novel, not a fantasy, and most certainly not a romance! What I didn't know, when I started, was that my one book was to grow into enough words to make a complete trilogy.
I found an agent who placed me with William Heinemann - I was accepted for publication just after my 40th birthday. The best birthday present I have ever had.
I had previously had a smaller success with a children's personal safety book (stranger danger) called "Come and Tell Me," a little story that I had written for my daughter when she was 3. I wanted to tell her how to keep safe in a clear and simple manner - with a message that could be easily remembered. "Always come and tell me before you go anywhere with anyone" fitted nicely. I was immensely proud when my little story was taken up as an official safety book by the British Home Office to be used nationally by the police and schools. An updated and revised version of "Come and Tell Me" was re-published by Happy Cat Books but is now out of print.
I followed on with two Saxon period novels A Hollow Crown and Harold the King - both are about the people and events that led to the Battle of Hastings in 1066 - from the English point of view.
(these titles are published as The Forever Queen and I Am The Chosen King in the US)
When Heinemann did not re-print my backlist I took my books to a small UK independent publisher with their even smaller mainstream imprint, adding my historical adventure series the Sea Witch Voyages to my list.
Unfortunately Discovered Authors / Callio Press, were not as organised as they should have been and the company closed in the spring of 2011. Not wanting my books to fall out of print in the UK I took them to an indie company - SilverWood Books of Bristol UK - and with their technical assistance "self published"
I am also with Sourcebooks Inc in the US, with Artemis Yayinlari in Turkey, Sadwolf in Germany at Catnip Edizioni in Italy.
I was delighted to make the USA Today bestseller list in 2011 with The Forever Queen (US title of A Hollow Crown)
I have published two non-fiction books: Pirates Truth and Tales with Amberley Press and Smugglers : Fact and Fiction with Pen & Sword.
I also run an historical fiction review blog, Discovering Diamonds, with a dedicated and enthusia
I had wanted to become a journalist when leaving secondary school, but my careers advice was not helpful. "Don't be silly," I was told, "you can't type." (I still can't, I use four fingers.) Instead, I worked in a Chingford library where I stayed for 13 years although I was not very happy there - I did not realise it, but I wanted to write. The one advantage of the library, however, was the access to books, and it was there that I came across the Roman historical novels of Rosemary Sutcliff, the Arthurian trilogy by Mary Stewart, and the historian Geoffrey Ashe. I was hooked on Roman Britain - and King Arthur!
Reading everything I could, I eventually became frustrated that novels were not how I personally felt about the matter of Arthur and Gwenhwyfar (Guinevere).
By this time, I was married with a young daughter. I had time on my hands and so I started writing my idea of Arthurian Britain . I deliberately decided not to include Merlin and Lancelot, there was to be no magic or Medieval myth. My book was to be a "what might have really happened" historical novel, not a fantasy, and most certainly not a romance! What I didn't know, when I started, was that my one book was to grow into enough words to make a complete trilogy.
I found an agent who placed me with William Heinemann - I was accepted for publication just after my 40th birthday. The best birthday present I have ever had.
I had previously had a smaller success with a children's personal safety book (stranger danger) called "Come and Tell Me," a little story that I had written for my daughter when she was 3. I wanted to tell her how to keep safe in a clear and simple manner - with a message that could be easily remembered. "Always come and tell me before you go anywhere with anyone" fitted nicely. I was immensely proud when my little story was taken up as an official safety book by the British Home Office to be used nationally by the police and schools. An updated and revised version of "Come and Tell Me" was re-published by Happy Cat Books but is now out of print.
I followed on with two Saxon period novels A Hollow Crown and Harold the King - both are about the people and events that led to the Battle of Hastings in 1066 - from the English point of view.
(these titles are published as The Forever Queen and I Am The Chosen King in the US)
When Heinemann did not re-print my backlist I took my books to a small UK independent publisher with their even smaller mainstream imprint, adding my historical adventure series the Sea Witch Voyages to my list.
Unfortunately Discovered Authors / Callio Press, were not as organised as they should have been and the company closed in the spring of 2011. Not wanting my books to fall out of print in the UK I took them to an indie company - SilverWood Books of Bristol UK - and with their technical assistance "self published"
I am also with Sourcebooks Inc in the US, with Artemis Yayinlari in Turkey, Sadwolf in Germany at Catnip Edizioni in Italy.
I was delighted to make the USA Today bestseller list in 2011 with The Forever Queen (US title of A Hollow Crown)
I have published two non-fiction books: Pirates Truth and Tales with Amberley Press and Smugglers : Fact and Fiction with Pen & Sword.
I also run an historical fiction review blog, Discovering Diamonds, with a dedicated and enthusia
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews
April 28, 2017
I really enjoyed this fine book by Helen Hollick. Her earlier novels have always been firm favourites of mine so I was intrigued to find this change over to a series of novels set in the early 18th century, about the world of sailing ships, the lifestyle of pirates and the charismatic and romantic character of Jesamiah Acorne, captain of the "Sea Witch" - "the man with the black hair and blue ribbons"
Tiola is the young girl with mysterious powers whom he falls in love with. This book is full of both the romance and the reality of the life of pirates, there is excitement, the tenderness of true love, the skullduggery of the villains of the piece and an absorbing background life story of Jesamiah himself plus a dash of mythology added to the mix. What I found in addition to a fabulous novel with a twisting and turning plot that gripped me throughout - was the wonderful way Helen writes about the ships of the time, the men who sailed in them and their way of life and most of all her gift of imagery as she brings the ways of the sea and its power to life. I felt as if I was actually there myself, sensing in every way its changing moods. Loved it and looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
Tiola is the young girl with mysterious powers whom he falls in love with. This book is full of both the romance and the reality of the life of pirates, there is excitement, the tenderness of true love, the skullduggery of the villains of the piece and an absorbing background life story of Jesamiah himself plus a dash of mythology added to the mix. What I found in addition to a fabulous novel with a twisting and turning plot that gripped me throughout - was the wonderful way Helen writes about the ships of the time, the men who sailed in them and their way of life and most of all her gift of imagery as she brings the ways of the sea and its power to life. I felt as if I was actually there myself, sensing in every way its changing moods. Loved it and looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
August 11, 2014
It’s hard not to enjoy a good pirate yarn and Helen Hollick makes it especially easy with Sea Witch. Pirate lore and a large dose of magic from the sea witch of the title (and mystical appearances from Tethys, spirit of the oceans) put this series squarely in the fantastical range, so be sure you enjoy a leap onto the wild side before you pick up this book.
Once you’ve established that, this is a page-turning, entertaining read. Hollick builds in the details of pirate life both on ship and in port with a precision and depth that can only come from good historical research, but you won’t have time to notice this sturdy framework as her plot twists and surprises.
We get to know a three-dimensional young woman named Tiola just as she is cut adrift from her family and known world when her mother is suspected of being a witch and hanged for the murder of her husband. The irony, as Tiola points out, is that she is the witch, not her mother—a white witch with very handy medical skills that she eventually turns into a steady if modest income in her new surroundings. Through Tiola we watch the limitations on 18th century women—choose a loveless marriage to a rich man or try to make it alone in a world that assumes you can’t—with the piquant sauce of knowing that Tiola isn’t the helpless lass she appears to be.
The hero, Jesamiah Acorne, has a similar origin tale in the sense that he also as teenager was thrown out to make his life without family or financial support—despite his upper class start. Generally speaking, men of the 18th century had an easier time making a living than women, but then Jesamiah doesn’t have any otherworldly powers, so Tiola may not have to fight as hard as he does. What he does exploit are his natural talents for strategy, reckless courage and his dead father’s connections to the pirate world. By the time his path crosses Tiola’s (that he can remember, anyway), he is an accomplished pirate captain, perpetually in trouble, but as free as can be. Well, mostly. Prison and pirating do seem to collide at times.
These parallel stories of young people making it alone and turning themselves into the adults of their choice give this spicy tale a pleasing resonance that goes beyond “just a good story.” That they face such daunting enemies keeps the excitement high throughout. Their love story is charming and full of humor as well as sexual allure.
Nothing happens quite how you expect in this book, which is certainly how I like my books, unpredictable and fun.
Once you’ve established that, this is a page-turning, entertaining read. Hollick builds in the details of pirate life both on ship and in port with a precision and depth that can only come from good historical research, but you won’t have time to notice this sturdy framework as her plot twists and surprises.
We get to know a three-dimensional young woman named Tiola just as she is cut adrift from her family and known world when her mother is suspected of being a witch and hanged for the murder of her husband. The irony, as Tiola points out, is that she is the witch, not her mother—a white witch with very handy medical skills that she eventually turns into a steady if modest income in her new surroundings. Through Tiola we watch the limitations on 18th century women—choose a loveless marriage to a rich man or try to make it alone in a world that assumes you can’t—with the piquant sauce of knowing that Tiola isn’t the helpless lass she appears to be.
The hero, Jesamiah Acorne, has a similar origin tale in the sense that he also as teenager was thrown out to make his life without family or financial support—despite his upper class start. Generally speaking, men of the 18th century had an easier time making a living than women, but then Jesamiah doesn’t have any otherworldly powers, so Tiola may not have to fight as hard as he does. What he does exploit are his natural talents for strategy, reckless courage and his dead father’s connections to the pirate world. By the time his path crosses Tiola’s (that he can remember, anyway), he is an accomplished pirate captain, perpetually in trouble, but as free as can be. Well, mostly. Prison and pirating do seem to collide at times.
These parallel stories of young people making it alone and turning themselves into the adults of their choice give this spicy tale a pleasing resonance that goes beyond “just a good story.” That they face such daunting enemies keeps the excitement high throughout. Their love story is charming and full of humor as well as sexual allure.
Nothing happens quite how you expect in this book, which is certainly how I like my books, unpredictable and fun.
January 28, 2018
I have to confess that if I hadn’t received the prequel to this series, I likely wouldn’t have read this, even though I’ve read all of Helen’s other books and loved them. I had never really been too interested in pirates beyond generally romanticizing them like everyone else, and enjoying the Pirates of the Caribbean at Disneyland. It’s not generally the time period I’m into. But she sent me the prequel to review and I LOVED it, and then she sent me this as a gift for some help I gave on her website, and now I want to read the whole series.
In this first book of the Jesamiah Acorne series, readers are introduced to Jesamiah, obviously, and learn a little of his history. We get to know about life on the sea and I, at least, learned a whole lot of cool things about ships. And some truly delightful expressions and vocabulary. I am well equipped for the next International Talk Like a Pirate Day! This book was chock full of action and adventure, a ton of humor, and plenty of romance. I loved Tiola and her strength, I loved Rue and his wit, and I adore Jes for his bravery and his vulnerability. These are not characters on a page, they are people who breathe and feel and love and suffer and I tell the truth when I say I am going to run right out and pick up the rest of the series. I never thought I’d fall in love with a historical series that wasn’t medieval, Renaissance, or Victorian, but I did. I read this in one sitting and I can’t wait to jump into the next book.
My favorite scene in the whole book (and there were many awesome scene to choose from) was when Jes helped Tiola deliver a baby.
And another scene even had a line that I added to my commonplace book, which doesn’t happen often.
Helen’s personal site: http://www.helenhollick.net/
DDRevs: https://discoveringdiamonds.blogspot....
In this first book of the Jesamiah Acorne series, readers are introduced to Jesamiah, obviously, and learn a little of his history. We get to know about life on the sea and I, at least, learned a whole lot of cool things about ships. And some truly delightful expressions and vocabulary. I am well equipped for the next International Talk Like a Pirate Day! This book was chock full of action and adventure, a ton of humor, and plenty of romance. I loved Tiola and her strength, I loved Rue and his wit, and I adore Jes for his bravery and his vulnerability. These are not characters on a page, they are people who breathe and feel and love and suffer and I tell the truth when I say I am going to run right out and pick up the rest of the series. I never thought I’d fall in love with a historical series that wasn’t medieval, Renaissance, or Victorian, but I did. I read this in one sitting and I can’t wait to jump into the next book.
My favorite scene in the whole book (and there were many awesome scene to choose from) was when Jes helped Tiola deliver a baby.
And another scene even had a line that I added to my commonplace book, which doesn’t happen often.
Helen’s personal site: http://www.helenhollick.net/
DDRevs: https://discoveringdiamonds.blogspot....
February 5, 2018
Well, this was an interesting read! Interesting because it certaily was not on my radar and I only chose it because I "have to" read a historical adventure title for my upcoming Readers' Advisory meeting. This title was on the list that our chair provided of alternate historical adventure titles and it was one of few that sounded even vaguely interesting to me- but even then I was not expecting very much. ::Opens mouth, inserts foot:: I liked this much more than I expected to. The plot was very well-paced, not fast and not slow (which may disqualify it as adventure...but we'll see what the group has to say about that) and rather enjoyable. I liked that the story was told from alternating perspectives. I really liked both of the main characters almost instantly and all the other character were very well written. There is a little bit of romance, you know there has to be if I picked it up, but I would not qualify it as a Romance-with-a-capital-R at all. It was a very important part of the story, and a part I really enjoyed, but doesn't qualify it as something I would reccomend to romance fans. I am not really sure who I would reccomend it to, honestly. Historical fiction fans, probably. I'll be looking for some insight into that and hopefully I can update this review after the meeting. As for whether or not I will be continuing the series...I don't know. This took me a while to read and had a somewhat satisfying conclusion, no edge-of-your-seat gimmicky cliffhanger. If I find myself wanting to visit the characters again, which I can defintely envision happening, then I probably will.
December 8, 2009
I read this book (and the two following after it) to write reviews for the magazine No Quarter Given, although I skipped this book in my review because the magazine had covered it before (still gotta read these series in order, though!). This is the first book in a current trilogy (soon to be quartet) of supernatural/fantasy -- and yet well-researched historical -- pirate tales taking place around the tale end of the Golden Age of Piracy. (There are cameos from Henry Jennings, Calico Jack, and a very-familiar villain in the third book.) They tell the stories of Captain Jesamiah Acorne -- who compares favorably in some ways (and not at all in others) to one Cap'n Jack Sparrow -- and Acorne's true love, Tiola Oldstagh, who has two striking abilities: one, she is a white witch, and two, she is capable of being a sympathetic, strong, humanly-flawed, realistic female character in a story of romance. The latter is definitely rarer than the former, at least in the literary world.
There's some rip-roaring sailing and piracy, intrigue-rich plots, and plenty of character development -- not to mention well-researched nautical narrative and historically accurate times and places. (Hollick does take some license with some events, but this _is_ historical FICTION, and she readily explains what she's done in the afterwards.) It's also got something for just about everybody -- piracy, sailing, romance, fantasy, mystery, history ... plenty of plot twists, some fine spots of humor, and _real_ characterization. Definitely a worthwhile series to try.
There's some rip-roaring sailing and piracy, intrigue-rich plots, and plenty of character development -- not to mention well-researched nautical narrative and historically accurate times and places. (Hollick does take some license with some events, but this _is_ historical FICTION, and she readily explains what she's done in the afterwards.) It's also got something for just about everybody -- piracy, sailing, romance, fantasy, mystery, history ... plenty of plot twists, some fine spots of humor, and _real_ characterization. Definitely a worthwhile series to try.
July 24, 2011
Pirates, oh yes, pirates. This book introduces us to Jesamiah who became a pirate when he was young, because he half-brother was a total ass (trust me, an ass, but then we also learn why during the book. In the end I even understood his madness).
Jesamiah does have standards, no rapes so that makes me like this pirate. Since pirates in the end were not very nice people. But he is a good man and when he falls in love he becomes an ever better man. Even if he loves the sea way too much.
The heroine of this book is Tiola, a white witch who escaped England so no one would find out what she is. A pirate is bad, but a witch is worse. She is really sweet and wants to help everyone from puppies to a certain wounded pirate. I am sure her witch powers will come back and bite her in the behind one day but for now I admire her strength. As for the love story, she knows they are meant to be from the moment she sees him.
This book is all about Jesamiah being out to sea, loosing ships, getting new ships and taking over other ships. He loves what he does. But after these two fall in love the book becomes more. Someone else wants her and he has power to see it happen. Then there is Jesamiah's evil brother too, oh and do not forget everyone else who do not like pirates (that is a lot of people.)
This book has a lot of adventure and romance and truth be told I have not read that many pirate novels. Ok sure harlequin ones but they are always so pretty while this one is real. Life is hard, especially for a pirate.
Conclusion:
A good historical fiction book with lot to offer. Hollick knows her history and there is also a list of words at the end for those of us who has no idea what anything on a ship is called.
Jesamiah does have standards, no rapes so that makes me like this pirate. Since pirates in the end were not very nice people. But he is a good man and when he falls in love he becomes an ever better man. Even if he loves the sea way too much.
The heroine of this book is Tiola, a white witch who escaped England so no one would find out what she is. A pirate is bad, but a witch is worse. She is really sweet and wants to help everyone from puppies to a certain wounded pirate. I am sure her witch powers will come back and bite her in the behind one day but for now I admire her strength. As for the love story, she knows they are meant to be from the moment she sees him.
This book is all about Jesamiah being out to sea, loosing ships, getting new ships and taking over other ships. He loves what he does. But after these two fall in love the book becomes more. Someone else wants her and he has power to see it happen. Then there is Jesamiah's evil brother too, oh and do not forget everyone else who do not like pirates (that is a lot of people.)
This book has a lot of adventure and romance and truth be told I have not read that many pirate novels. Ok sure harlequin ones but they are always so pretty while this one is real. Life is hard, especially for a pirate.
Conclusion:
A good historical fiction book with lot to offer. Hollick knows her history and there is also a list of words at the end for those of us who has no idea what anything on a ship is called.
July 19, 2011
The story of "Sea Witch" is rooted in the 'golden age' of piracy - around 1716 - and the action extends from the infamous 'horn of Africa' to the beaches of the well known pirate haunts in the Caribbean. If you can, for a moment, consider what Johnny Depp would be like if he was 100 per cent more charismatic you would have an idea of how good the main protagonist of the series, Captain Jesamiah Acorn, is. His command of the sailing vessel "Sea Witch" give series it's name. The main female character, Tiola Oldstaugh is a white witch and healer who saves Jesamiah from a murderous attack perpetrated by a band of pirate hunters. Ms. Hollick used an anagram of "all that is good" to fashion Tiola's name. Brilliant ! I think that Tethys - the soul of the seas who is portrayed as a living entity - (which I'm sure some seafarers would swear is true!) is one of my favorite elements of the series. Tethys has sworn that the handsome, invincible Captain Acorn will be hers. Tiola's task is to use the forces of her will and her love to prevent the sea from laying claim to her proud pirate, Jesamiah.
In 'Sea Witch' volume we are also introduced to the characters of Philippe Moreno, Jesamiah's bullying, vindictive, grasping brother and Stefan Van Overstreet, the wealthy and domineering Cape Town Dutchman who also wants Tiola as his wife - for all the wrong reasons. These main characters set the stage for what becomes a love story, a history of the pirate culture and a thoroughly engrossing story that you simply will not want to put down. I would advise that you have the entire series in your hands because as soon as one book ends you will feel the need to begin reading the next.
In 'Sea Witch' volume we are also introduced to the characters of Philippe Moreno, Jesamiah's bullying, vindictive, grasping brother and Stefan Van Overstreet, the wealthy and domineering Cape Town Dutchman who also wants Tiola as his wife - for all the wrong reasons. These main characters set the stage for what becomes a love story, a history of the pirate culture and a thoroughly engrossing story that you simply will not want to put down. I would advise that you have the entire series in your hands because as soon as one book ends you will feel the need to begin reading the next.
July 13, 2011
To me, the only good pirate has ever been a dead pirate, but Helen Hollick has changed my mind. Jesamiah Acorne is cast off his father’s plantation at a young age, forced to make his way in the world. He takes to the sea, coming to win a ship of his own, the SEA WITCH. Beloved of the white witch Tiola and the sea goddess Tethys, Jesamiah sails into danger with every tide. With romance and swash-buckling joy, Helen Hollick leads us into a world where the oceans are full of magic and where the stars always lead us home. From Cape Town to Port Royal, to the wilds of the pirate port on Madagascar, Helen Hollick takes us on a journey of the senses, a romantic adventure of true love that on the last page leaves us hungering for more. It’s a good thing for me that the SEA WITCH is only the first in this series, and that more installments are already written.
July 16, 2011
Yo-ho-ho and a bottle of rum! Sea Witch is a ripping good tale starring an irresistible pirate hero, Jesamiah Acorne and his true love, the white witch, Tiola Oldstagh set during the golden age of piracy, 1716. It is a genre defying novel; part historical fiction, part adventure novel, part romance, and part fantasy, for all together a very gripping and enticing read.
For the rest of my review, please check out my blog at:
http://lauragerold.blogspot.com/2011/...
For the rest of my review, please check out my blog at:
http://lauragerold.blogspot.com/2011/...
May 21, 2012
Shame on mainstream publishers for rejecting a book of this quality!!!!
I have to admit, I am not generally a fan of nautical adventures. I have never particularly desired to read, for example, Patrick O’Brian’s Master and Commander or Julian Stockwin’s Kydd adventures series (but did, come to think of it, enjoy Robert Louis Stevenson’s Kidnapped, hmm…), so I was a rather skeptical of my ability to become engrossed in Sea Witch. However, knowing the author is a writer of enjoyable historical fiction, I was open to giving this a try.
In all honesty, I have to say this is the best Indie book I’ve read to date. In fact, this is one of the best novels I have read in a very long time.
Sea Witch is set in the golden age of piracy, 1716, in the “pirate round” from Africa to the Caribbean. This is the story of Jesamiah Acorne, who is forced to leave his home by an abusive half-brother and fend for himself at age 15. He becomes a pirate, one of the few options open to men in this circumstance, and this is the story of his first adventure: a tale of revenge, love, and struggle, all entwined with his passion for the sea. There are four books so far in this series, I believe, and you can find all of Helen Hollick’s books on her website: Helen Hollick’s website
Everything that an avid reader and reviewer looks for in a novel is here: strong character development, multidimensional portrayal (one of the biggest strengths of the book), a superbly plotted story with excellent tempo and a tight narrative, gripping and fluid language, vivid description, and tension and release at just the right moments.
This is a pirate adventure with wide appeal; there is something for everyone. I have been skittish about nautical adventures because to me, the subject seems geared toward masculine tastes (and having not read many, I could be completely wrong about that!). Here, we have a pirate who is internally tormented and struggling with a sense of vulnerability; a character who may appeal to a more emotional sensibility. On the other hand, our hero is not “soft”; he is a hardened pirate through-and-through, who takes pride in his work and is very good at it. He is a complex man, fighting his past, making the most of his present circumstances, and trying to avoid terrible possibilities that lurk in the future. He gets into scrapes and makes quite human mistakes: a multidimensional rogue of sorts.
A deeply moving, but not overly sentimental, love story is also well done in Sea Witch. Tiola Oldstagh herself has been injured deeply and is the one woman who could possibly break down Jesamiah’s tough barrier. The two must exercise extraordinary patience and faith during times of great despair, and we don’t know until the conclusion if they will make it—the punches keep on coming at the end, one after the other after the other, and I couldn’t sleep until I turned the final page.
The details of the ship’s workings, the descriptions of the crew’s behavior and pirate culture throughout the book are impressive. The author has a tight grasp on nautical details (the parts of a ship, sailors’ language, the lifestyle—as far as a novice such as I can tell) and a way of writing about them that makes this book an entertaining education on top of all else.
My favorite aspect of the story, and one of the reasons, I’ve heard, that this book was rejected by mainstream publishers, is the mystical, supernatural element. The subtle, overarching theme is the epic battle for Jesamiah’s body and soul between the living, immortal “soul of the sea, spirit of the waves” Tethys and Tiola, the young healer, Jesamiah’s soul mate, who turns out to be a “White Witch,” who uses her power of “The Craft” only for good. This epic battle is a powerful element of the story. It adds a depth and a spiritual texture that is beautiful and convincing, even carrying over to the terrifying aspects of Tethys herself. There is much veneration of nature, of beauty, and of the unknowable in this theme. Let yourself float off into this element of the story, without judgment or skepticism, and your enjoyment of the book will only increase.
I appreciated the short length of the chapters—I find that short, effective chapters don’t challenge my concentration and do allow me time to digest what I’ve read. The language flows beautifully, with at least one literary reference that brought a smile to my face:
(In his first meeting with a man who would eventually come to play an important role in his future, Jesamiah is listening to Captain Woodes Rogers blathering on…)
"My good friend DeFoe, back in England, so his prattling letters mention, cannot wait to meet Selkirk here. He intends to write his experiences down as an adventure story. Says he’ll call it Robinson Crusoe to protect the innocent involved in the tale. Absurd, eh? Haha!" (p. 45)
How interesting to read the opinion of a rather self-indulgent traveler of the sea about a future classic of literature when it was just a thought in the author’s mind! This is the kind of intelligent detail you will find in this novel.
The author has included a map, an illustration of a square-rigged ship with parts identified, as well as a glossary of seafaring terms at the back of the book, so readers can follow along with the “sailor-speak” (which, gratefully, does not interfere with the reading flow).
My criticisms are miniscule compared with the overall quality of this book: more than a few typos and missing words; perhaps the dependent clause-technique was overused a bit too much for the comfort of my editorially trained ear; and a cover that is a little dark for my personal taste, but does describe the atmosphere of the book. Overall, the publication is professionally laid out and pleasing to look at.
Shame on mainstream publishers for rejecting a book of this quality. Historical fiction with an infusion of fantasy is not an uncommon or unpleasant combination in a novel! I think Sea Witch would sell quite well if it were to be aggressively marketed. This is the work of a professional, experienced author, not a novice.
I absolutely loved Sea Witch and highly recommend it whether you are a fan of pirating/seafaring adventures or not—and I will be reading the next book in the series as soon as I can get my hands on it!
October 15, 2019
A fine mixture of historical fiction and fantasy, with a touch of a thriller. I raced through this book, but didn't want it to end. The love story at the heart of the novel is at times heart-rending - perhaps because the flawed, but entirely charming Jesamiah Acorne is such a captivating protagonist. Secondary characters feel like real people (many of them are). The sequences set at sea also show the author's considerable knowledge of sailing ships and navigation. All in all a thoroughly good read. Recommended for anyone who enjoys an unpredictable, well-written story set in the past.
(Please note: Ms Hollick and I are both published by Penmore Press. I bought this ebook on Amazon: I was not asked to asked to read it by either the author or publisher. My review is personal and entirely genuine.)
(Please note: Ms Hollick and I are both published by Penmore Press. I bought this ebook on Amazon: I was not asked to asked to read it by either the author or publisher. My review is personal and entirely genuine.)
July 18, 2011
originally posted at http://longandshortreviews.blogspot.c...
He’s too wild and she’s too young, but Tiola knows the day will come when they will be one. Her ageless self that has been since time immemorial knows their souls have touched before and are meant to be together.
Jesamiah Acorne, a pirate wild and free, learned his trade from the best. He loves the danger, challenge, and adrenaline rush of the Chase. In his early twenties, he is already wealthy, but something other than pursuit of wealth drives him. Viciously abused by his older half-brother Phillipe before he was fifteen, he watched his inheritance burn and wept in total defeat with no one to protect him. Then a hand of comfort and protection touched him and the inner sense of a voice came, saying “fight him”.
Jesamiah, like a phoenix rising from the ashes, sets forth to roam the seas during the early eighteen century, robbing richly laden trade ships and loving every minute of it. The big trade ship “Cristina Griselle” eludes him but as she sails away, Jesamiah sees Tiola on the ship’s deck. The hair prickles on his neck.
Tethys, soul of the sea and spirit of the waves, wants the beautiful, dark-eyed pirate with the blue ribbons in his dark hair. She whispers to him and does not take kindly to the child-woman witch with her White Craft that lures him and challenges Tethys’ timeless supremacy.
Stefan von Overstratten, a rich, pompous Dutch merchant in Cape Town, Africa, sets his sights on Tiola for a wife. Even though she works as a midwife and healer in the squalid part of Cape Town, Stefan is attracted to her beauty and knows she is from “quality” folks in Cornwall, England, well-educated, and quite adequate for bearing his children.
Stefan is furious when Tiola drags the pirate out of the filthy alleys and brings him to her rooms to tend him as he heals from near-fatal wounds. The ensuing conflicts, filled with greed, social class snobbery, daring exploits, humor, mayhem, and a touch of magic drive the plot along at a fever pitch. From Africa to the Caribbean, through storms, earthquake, and times of tranquility, Jesamiah plies his trade and meets the conflicts head on.
Sea Witch is an armchair adventure of a life time with a swashbuckling, driven pirate and a White Craft child-woman witch, both of them very aware that death stalks them and will get them if they let their guards down.
Helen Hollick’s description of the pristine beauty of Cape Town at a distance along with the description of the squalid, brutal conditions in the alleys creates vivid pictures for the reader. Her meticulous description of the ships and ocean brings this adventure a strong sense of place. However, the most compelling of all are the characters with their deep fears, desires, needs, loyalties, and loves that propel the action through hate, blood, brutality, and misery to finally sail into tranquil waters that promise destinies will be fulfilled—in time.
Sea Witch, the first of a pirate trilogy about Captain Jesamiah Acorne, is set firmly in a historical time that Helen Hollick brings to life in the mind and imagination of the reader. This breathtaking, magical love story with the wild adventures is masterfully written and is an incredible vicarious journey for the reader.
He’s too wild and she’s too young, but Tiola knows the day will come when they will be one. Her ageless self that has been since time immemorial knows their souls have touched before and are meant to be together.
Jesamiah Acorne, a pirate wild and free, learned his trade from the best. He loves the danger, challenge, and adrenaline rush of the Chase. In his early twenties, he is already wealthy, but something other than pursuit of wealth drives him. Viciously abused by his older half-brother Phillipe before he was fifteen, he watched his inheritance burn and wept in total defeat with no one to protect him. Then a hand of comfort and protection touched him and the inner sense of a voice came, saying “fight him”.
Jesamiah, like a phoenix rising from the ashes, sets forth to roam the seas during the early eighteen century, robbing richly laden trade ships and loving every minute of it. The big trade ship “Cristina Griselle” eludes him but as she sails away, Jesamiah sees Tiola on the ship’s deck. The hair prickles on his neck.
Tethys, soul of the sea and spirit of the waves, wants the beautiful, dark-eyed pirate with the blue ribbons in his dark hair. She whispers to him and does not take kindly to the child-woman witch with her White Craft that lures him and challenges Tethys’ timeless supremacy.
Stefan von Overstratten, a rich, pompous Dutch merchant in Cape Town, Africa, sets his sights on Tiola for a wife. Even though she works as a midwife and healer in the squalid part of Cape Town, Stefan is attracted to her beauty and knows she is from “quality” folks in Cornwall, England, well-educated, and quite adequate for bearing his children.
Stefan is furious when Tiola drags the pirate out of the filthy alleys and brings him to her rooms to tend him as he heals from near-fatal wounds. The ensuing conflicts, filled with greed, social class snobbery, daring exploits, humor, mayhem, and a touch of magic drive the plot along at a fever pitch. From Africa to the Caribbean, through storms, earthquake, and times of tranquility, Jesamiah plies his trade and meets the conflicts head on.
Sea Witch is an armchair adventure of a life time with a swashbuckling, driven pirate and a White Craft child-woman witch, both of them very aware that death stalks them and will get them if they let their guards down.
Helen Hollick’s description of the pristine beauty of Cape Town at a distance along with the description of the squalid, brutal conditions in the alleys creates vivid pictures for the reader. Her meticulous description of the ships and ocean brings this adventure a strong sense of place. However, the most compelling of all are the characters with their deep fears, desires, needs, loyalties, and loves that propel the action through hate, blood, brutality, and misery to finally sail into tranquil waters that promise destinies will be fulfilled—in time.
Sea Witch, the first of a pirate trilogy about Captain Jesamiah Acorne, is set firmly in a historical time that Helen Hollick brings to life in the mind and imagination of the reader. This breathtaking, magical love story with the wild adventures is masterfully written and is an incredible vicarious journey for the reader.
February 19, 2015
Helen Hollick is a "serious" Historical Fiction writer of some note in receipt of high critical praise for the "Pendragon's Banner" trilogy, a largely historic take on the Arthurian legend, and her epic "Saxon" series ("The Lost Kingdom" - UK, known as "1066" in the US).
In Sea Witch, the first book of Hollick's Sea Witch Series now running to four novels, one suspects Hollick unbuttoned her historical stays and let loose a story combining Historical and Pirate Fantasy which is packed with thrills, action, danger, and lusty adventure with a plot -- oh joy -- that rips along like a Chesapeake Schooner under full sail on a riptide, almost from start to finish with hardly a pause on the way.
In pirate Captain Jesamiah Acorne, Hollick has created a great hero, a handsome principled scoundrel that women readers will swoon over, men will admire and pirates will want to follow. The companion for the journey is Acorne's fellow traveller, white witch and the love of his life, Tiola Oldstagh, a name which is an anagram “All that is good!" but who can say "my luvver" in an accent sufficient to make red-blooded men hope that the description does not extend to virginal saintliness.
Throughout the book Tiola's metaphysical rival for Jesemiah is the Sea Goddess Tethys, who seeks to claim Jesemiah for her own and the deep, culminating in a titanic and immortal struggle between the two as the book reaches its conclusion.
But for the most part the books slips along as a clever blend of adjusted history and adventure alongside which the witchcraft sits lightly in the plot. Hollick's world may not be entirely of her own imaginative creation but it is all the better for that, and the historic references to real lives and real events add to the credibility of the story -- as indeed does the geographical stage on which events are set.
Hollick's pirates, or at least her pirate hero, may be physically cleaner, better dressed and somewhat more principled than the historic version, but the book has the more than ring of authenticity about it. Many of the background events which shape the plot against which the book is drawn actually took place and many of the characters we meet on the way were alive at the time and participated in outlined events. Similarly the book is rich in nautical detail and the author has drawn on the maritime expertise of others to add to the lustre, both of a ship under sail and at battle stations.
Against this background Hollick sets an adventure-rich love story which ever more tightens the bindings between Jesamiah and Tiola the more that adversity and circumstance seeks to tear them apart.
This is everything a good nautical adventure should be with tension a plenty, a great sense of scene and detail, some stark and painful moments but also some romance on the way.
Pirate Books were once of of the great sub-genres of nautical fiction but lazy writing and a resort to cliché meant that they became lost to pastiche aimed solely at children and teenagers.
In this series one hopes that Hollick might have claimed the genre back for serious adult readers who will appreciate some tender lust, the odd strong curse and don't faint if blood and death results from the wielding of a cutlass.
Highly recommended.
In Sea Witch, the first book of Hollick's Sea Witch Series now running to four novels, one suspects Hollick unbuttoned her historical stays and let loose a story combining Historical and Pirate Fantasy which is packed with thrills, action, danger, and lusty adventure with a plot -- oh joy -- that rips along like a Chesapeake Schooner under full sail on a riptide, almost from start to finish with hardly a pause on the way.
In pirate Captain Jesamiah Acorne, Hollick has created a great hero, a handsome principled scoundrel that women readers will swoon over, men will admire and pirates will want to follow. The companion for the journey is Acorne's fellow traveller, white witch and the love of his life, Tiola Oldstagh, a name which is an anagram “All that is good!" but who can say "my luvver" in an accent sufficient to make red-blooded men hope that the description does not extend to virginal saintliness.
Throughout the book Tiola's metaphysical rival for Jesemiah is the Sea Goddess Tethys, who seeks to claim Jesemiah for her own and the deep, culminating in a titanic and immortal struggle between the two as the book reaches its conclusion.
But for the most part the books slips along as a clever blend of adjusted history and adventure alongside which the witchcraft sits lightly in the plot. Hollick's world may not be entirely of her own imaginative creation but it is all the better for that, and the historic references to real lives and real events add to the credibility of the story -- as indeed does the geographical stage on which events are set.
Hollick's pirates, or at least her pirate hero, may be physically cleaner, better dressed and somewhat more principled than the historic version, but the book has the more than ring of authenticity about it. Many of the background events which shape the plot against which the book is drawn actually took place and many of the characters we meet on the way were alive at the time and participated in outlined events. Similarly the book is rich in nautical detail and the author has drawn on the maritime expertise of others to add to the lustre, both of a ship under sail and at battle stations.
Against this background Hollick sets an adventure-rich love story which ever more tightens the bindings between Jesamiah and Tiola the more that adversity and circumstance seeks to tear them apart.
This is everything a good nautical adventure should be with tension a plenty, a great sense of scene and detail, some stark and painful moments but also some romance on the way.
Pirate Books were once of of the great sub-genres of nautical fiction but lazy writing and a resort to cliché meant that they became lost to pastiche aimed solely at children and teenagers.
In this series one hopes that Hollick might have claimed the genre back for serious adult readers who will appreciate some tender lust, the odd strong curse and don't faint if blood and death results from the wielding of a cutlass.
Highly recommended.
August 8, 2011
Helen Hollick's novels about Jesamiah Acorne have long been on my radar, self-published or no. The reason for this is that I read all of the historical novels that she wrote and released through a traditional publisher when I was younger - her trilogy about King Arthur, and books about Harold the King. Helen has struggled to get to a point where she was even able to release the Jesamiah books, and eventually decided to self-publish.
And you know what? It is absolutely criminal that her books won't be read by a wider audience. I equate her writing to that of Diana Gabaldon - a slight supernatural bent on what is an historical love story. Jesamiah and Tiola are easily the equal of Clare and Jamie. Sometimes I can see absolutely why people are releasing self-published books - it is the only way that their work will see print. Helen should be snapped up by a traditional publisher!
The reason for this? The quality of the prose, the fabulously strong characters and the sense of absolute fun that imbues the entire text. Helen was clearly having an absolute blast with her lovable rogue of a pirate.
Helen's prose is an absolute joy to read. It flows incredibly well, with some beautiful word choices. It is warm and wise. I loved it in her first novel and I love it now. She certainly bears comparison with Sharon Penman when considering the manner in which she writes.
Anyone who enjoyed the first Pirates of the Caribbean film - and fell a little bit in love with Captain Jack Sparrow - will adore Jesamiah Acorne. He is honourable (as far as it goes), incredibly masculine and has a good heart. Seriously, I go weak at the knees at the thought of him *grins* He is well-matched by Tioma, who is clever and capable. The secondary cast are also written effectively on the whole, although a couple suffered from lack of page time and ended up feeling a bit two dimensional.
The one problem I could foresee with reader's enjoyment of Sea Witch is whether you buy into the white witch aspect of the story. Those going into this expecting a simple pirate yarn/historical adventure will be slightly missold. There is magic - of a sort - and an immortal foe that hovers in the background. The Craft takes centre stage on a couple of occasions. I enjoyed it and feel that there is a market for adding supernatural aspects to historical events, but other people might struggle to suspend their disbelief.
In terms of the self-published aspect: I found some sentences where additional commas wouldn't have gone amiss. There were odd words missing here and there, although the context made it easy to see what should have been present. Honestly, it wasn't much worse than some of the traditionally published books I have read.
This is a high quality work that I would firmly encourage people to pick up. Happily, this is the first in a series of three books (so far) - even more happily, I have the other two waiting for me. I can't wait to meet Jesamiah again!
And you know what? It is absolutely criminal that her books won't be read by a wider audience. I equate her writing to that of Diana Gabaldon - a slight supernatural bent on what is an historical love story. Jesamiah and Tiola are easily the equal of Clare and Jamie. Sometimes I can see absolutely why people are releasing self-published books - it is the only way that their work will see print. Helen should be snapped up by a traditional publisher!
The reason for this? The quality of the prose, the fabulously strong characters and the sense of absolute fun that imbues the entire text. Helen was clearly having an absolute blast with her lovable rogue of a pirate.
Helen's prose is an absolute joy to read. It flows incredibly well, with some beautiful word choices. It is warm and wise. I loved it in her first novel and I love it now. She certainly bears comparison with Sharon Penman when considering the manner in which she writes.
Anyone who enjoyed the first Pirates of the Caribbean film - and fell a little bit in love with Captain Jack Sparrow - will adore Jesamiah Acorne. He is honourable (as far as it goes), incredibly masculine and has a good heart. Seriously, I go weak at the knees at the thought of him *grins* He is well-matched by Tioma, who is clever and capable. The secondary cast are also written effectively on the whole, although a couple suffered from lack of page time and ended up feeling a bit two dimensional.
The one problem I could foresee with reader's enjoyment of Sea Witch is whether you buy into the white witch aspect of the story. Those going into this expecting a simple pirate yarn/historical adventure will be slightly missold. There is magic - of a sort - and an immortal foe that hovers in the background. The Craft takes centre stage on a couple of occasions. I enjoyed it and feel that there is a market for adding supernatural aspects to historical events, but other people might struggle to suspend their disbelief.
In terms of the self-published aspect: I found some sentences where additional commas wouldn't have gone amiss. There were odd words missing here and there, although the context made it easy to see what should have been present. Honestly, it wasn't much worse than some of the traditionally published books I have read.
This is a high quality work that I would firmly encourage people to pick up. Happily, this is the first in a series of three books (so far) - even more happily, I have the other two waiting for me. I can't wait to meet Jesamiah again!
February 1, 2015
Sea Witch is a swashbuckler historical fiction tale set in the 1700's around Captain Jesamiah Acorne. He's a notorious pirate who sails the seas around the Caribbean, Southern US states and across to Cape Town in South Africa.
This is a time of Dutch East Indian trade-boats, Spanish galleons laden with Mexican treasure, English traders and privateers. Ships took months to cross the oceans, explorers where sailing around the world and opportunities to become rich were often at the mercy of the sea.
Beneath the seas lives Tethys a spiritual being from the beginning of the world, she sees all, knows all about the oceans, she can whip up a storm and take down a ship at will claiming the lives of all those aboard. Disturbed from above by the annoying sounds of cannon fire Tethys investigates and becomes aware of a man with a golden acorn hanging from his ear, she understands the connection to an ancient tree and likes what she sees. There is also another being with a gift who nudges at the outer periphery of her existence.
Tiola Oldstagh is travelling from England to Cape Town with her guardian, when they are attacked by pirates. Unsuccessful this time Tiola gets her first glimpse of a man who destiny will bring to her again. At just fifteen Tiola is wise beyond her years with her skills in the use of "craft" she'll go to great lengths to be with the one her soul desires.
It's been years since I read any pirate adventures and this one did not disappoint, it brought all the atmosphere of the great wooden ships, creaking into the rolling oceans, sails flapping in the winds. Dangers of the open seas and the realistic harbour-side towns which sprang up to meet the needs of the ocean going sailors. I look forward to reading the next adventure for Captain Jesamiah Acorne
This is a time of Dutch East Indian trade-boats, Spanish galleons laden with Mexican treasure, English traders and privateers. Ships took months to cross the oceans, explorers where sailing around the world and opportunities to become rich were often at the mercy of the sea.
Beneath the seas lives Tethys a spiritual being from the beginning of the world, she sees all, knows all about the oceans, she can whip up a storm and take down a ship at will claiming the lives of all those aboard. Disturbed from above by the annoying sounds of cannon fire Tethys investigates and becomes aware of a man with a golden acorn hanging from his ear, she understands the connection to an ancient tree and likes what she sees. There is also another being with a gift who nudges at the outer periphery of her existence.
Tiola Oldstagh is travelling from England to Cape Town with her guardian, when they are attacked by pirates. Unsuccessful this time Tiola gets her first glimpse of a man who destiny will bring to her again. At just fifteen Tiola is wise beyond her years with her skills in the use of "craft" she'll go to great lengths to be with the one her soul desires.
It's been years since I read any pirate adventures and this one did not disappoint, it brought all the atmosphere of the great wooden ships, creaking into the rolling oceans, sails flapping in the winds. Dangers of the open seas and the realistic harbour-side towns which sprang up to meet the needs of the ocean going sailors. I look forward to reading the next adventure for Captain Jesamiah Acorne
December 28, 2013
Wow, what a rollicking read - exciting, romantic, so vividly written that I felt like a stowaway on each of the many ships commandeered by the charming pirate hero Jesamiah Acorne (or Oakwood or whatever other pseudonym he takes to save his own skin along the way).
Helen Hollick has added lots of extra depth to this jolly romp - and I'm not talking fathoms here. Firstly, by weaving in the interesting tale of the girl after whom the eponymous ship is named - the Cornish maid with hidden powers of traditional white witchcraft, working sometimes with and sometimes against the mythical magical powers that dwell beneath the waves.
Both hero and heroine also have an interesting back-story of being ill-treated as children which has shaped their modern characters - and their willingness to fight for what is right in their moral code, rather than obeying the law. The story includes the most lucid, simple explanation of how bullies are made that I have ever read, and these truths, still very much relevant in the 21st century, make this much more than a simple Pirates of the Caribbean style tale.
I was very impressed with the attention to historical detail and the alluring descriptions of the sea and its sailing ships throughout.
The author confesses that she has taken a few liberties with history to make her story neat and tidy, but I think these are entirely justified for the sake of such a compelling tale. I've already downloaded the sequel to this book and am hopeful that I'll find it as gripping and satisfying as Sea Witch.
Helen Hollick has added lots of extra depth to this jolly romp - and I'm not talking fathoms here. Firstly, by weaving in the interesting tale of the girl after whom the eponymous ship is named - the Cornish maid with hidden powers of traditional white witchcraft, working sometimes with and sometimes against the mythical magical powers that dwell beneath the waves.
Both hero and heroine also have an interesting back-story of being ill-treated as children which has shaped their modern characters - and their willingness to fight for what is right in their moral code, rather than obeying the law. The story includes the most lucid, simple explanation of how bullies are made that I have ever read, and these truths, still very much relevant in the 21st century, make this much more than a simple Pirates of the Caribbean style tale.
I was very impressed with the attention to historical detail and the alluring descriptions of the sea and its sailing ships throughout.
The author confesses that she has taken a few liberties with history to make her story neat and tidy, but I think these are entirely justified for the sake of such a compelling tale. I've already downloaded the sequel to this book and am hopeful that I'll find it as gripping and satisfying as Sea Witch.
September 14, 2011
3.5 stars
Sea Witch wasn’t a book I expected to enjoy at all, but I did. While it did have its problems, Hollick’s blend of historical details, polished writing and an emotionally compelling plot, coupled with likeable characters made this book a fun, easily enjoyable escape from reality. The fact that Sea Witch seems to play with several different genres will make it incredibly accessible to a broad spectrum of potential readers. This is a self-published book that gives self-publishing a good name.
Read my full review here:
http://bookwormblues.blogspot.com/201...
Sea Witch wasn’t a book I expected to enjoy at all, but I did. While it did have its problems, Hollick’s blend of historical details, polished writing and an emotionally compelling plot, coupled with likeable characters made this book a fun, easily enjoyable escape from reality. The fact that Sea Witch seems to play with several different genres will make it incredibly accessible to a broad spectrum of potential readers. This is a self-published book that gives self-publishing a good name.
Read my full review here:
http://bookwormblues.blogspot.com/201...
August 25, 2011
This perspective of a pirates life swell written. Not one moment of wishing the story to end. If there really is a white witch the likes of this heroine is snider ought. How weird would that be to have access to knowledge of all time in your head? This 16 year old is certainly adult forger age. Can't imagine any girl today this savvy. Love struck, soul mate what a binding thread, so lucky to know they were meant for each other. This was a good yarn and historical piece worth the rime to read evnif it means the loss of sleep.
February 24, 2016
Super Swashbuckling fun! I loved it. It runs along the lines of a Jack Sparrow character, but Jes, is so much better than Jack. Be warned, this is an adult book. There is language (duh! Pirates) And sex (duh! Pirates)... but on the whole completely entertaining and well worth the read. I would recommend every book by this author, she has a great way of keeping you entertained and informed at the same time.
April 10, 2016
A joyful combination of history, fantasy and romance. I probably wouldn't have picked this up had I not known the author but it turned out to be a guilty pleasure - Jesamiah Acorne is irresistible, partly because his piratical tendencies pale into insignificance beside the awfulness of the real bad guys.
October 16, 2010
What a fun read! Ms. Hollick knows her history, and blends fantasy in seamlessly. Jesamiah Acorne is a likeable hero, and the book is filled with magic and witches and evil bad guys. Highly recommended.
July 10, 2011
Wonderful start to a trilogy of pirates, sailing and the intertwining stories of Captain Acorne and Tiola.
The rich details and supernatural element make this an entertaining read all the way to the last page.
The rich details and supernatural element make this an entertaining read all the way to the last page.
February 4, 2015
Super entertaining and, especially toward the end, very hard to put down. I really enjoyed visiting places not normally seen in historical fiction (the Caribbean, Virginia, Cape Town) and loved the mingling of historical fiction and fantasy. Looking forward to reading the next books in the series.
February 11, 2013
I thought this book was a fun romp - and quite a change for me, more lighthearted than anything I've read in a while - so I flew through it. I have already started the sequel, and suspect it will be more of the same, a very good thing indeed.
December 15, 2009
My review is at historicnavalfiction.com
Read
November 24, 2009A rollicking swashbuckler on the high seas, part romance, part pirate adventure, part historical and part fantasy.
Review: http://www.carlanayland.org/reviews/s...
Review: http://www.carlanayland.org/reviews/s...
July 29, 2011
3.5/5
July 16, 2015
Pirates, pirates, and more pirates!
April 6, 2023
OK Folks, buckle your swashes, leave the parrot and the peg leg behind, and get down to some serious pirating. Sea Witch is beautifully poised between historical fiction and adventure, with great characters and lots of action and intrigue. Jesamiah Acorne, an 18th Century seafarer, isn’t the normal grizzled pirate figure, but the kind of pirate that one would much prefer to meet: handsome and young and rather dashing. He’s also quite believable : he makes mistakes, he regrets things sometimes, but he’s always full of ideas. At the start of the story it seems that his pirate credentials have been somewhat hobbled – he has agreed to give up piracy as part of an amnesty. But piracy is in his blood, and when his choices seem limited it doesn’t seem hard to go back to old ways – which he does so well. He has a beautiful partner and a beautiful ship – they are both, in a way, sea witches, and both of them are magical in different ways. He isn’t always sure which of them he loves more, and out of this various conflicts arise.
There’s lots of lusting and whoring in the book, which will endear it to some readers, though I have to admit that none of it was to my taste. No doubt the attitudes and behaviour of the time are accurately conveyed here, and I appreciated the unflinching depictions of the lives of prostitutes. However, I felt pretty queasy at the celebratory tone with which our hero’s whoring was covered. (Ask a sex worker: I have it on good authority that they really don’t enjoy it or find it satisfying, even when the customer is young and handsome).
The plot is intricate and well worked out, and touches on recognisable places and figures, with historical details carefully researched but never heavy handed – despite being nicely anchored in history, the adventure is firmly fiction and the fantasy components are delicious – the empathic and magical connection between Jesamiah and the mysterious Tiola were my favorite passages of the book, and I loved the relationship between them. The conclusion leaves some questions open – not a cliffhanger exactly (I really don’t like it when a book ends on a cliff-hanger, makes me feel very cheated) but enough unrevealed that one is tempted to go further through the series. Masterfully done.
There’s lots of lusting and whoring in the book, which will endear it to some readers, though I have to admit that none of it was to my taste. No doubt the attitudes and behaviour of the time are accurately conveyed here, and I appreciated the unflinching depictions of the lives of prostitutes. However, I felt pretty queasy at the celebratory tone with which our hero’s whoring was covered. (Ask a sex worker: I have it on good authority that they really don’t enjoy it or find it satisfying, even when the customer is young and handsome).
The plot is intricate and well worked out, and touches on recognisable places and figures, with historical details carefully researched but never heavy handed – despite being nicely anchored in history, the adventure is firmly fiction and the fantasy components are delicious – the empathic and magical connection between Jesamiah and the mysterious Tiola were my favorite passages of the book, and I loved the relationship between them. The conclusion leaves some questions open – not a cliffhanger exactly (I really don’t like it when a book ends on a cliff-hanger, makes me feel very cheated) but enough unrevealed that one is tempted to go further through the series. Masterfully done.
November 12, 2025
I'm disappointed with this book - I read it because it had good reviews and I'm always on the look out for a good pirate story. This was well written and had all the ingredients for a really good pirate yarn but I could not get past the idea that the heroine was a child. It's supposed to be a great love story of two souls joined by fate but there's no escaping the fact that Tiola is 15 yrs old when two adult men set their sights on her. I realise in real history young women as young as 12 were given to marry adult men but this is not a real history it's a fantasy and I feel it would be best if we didn't romanticise a relationship of this kind. It is the day after her 16th birthday when the first sexual encounter occurs in the book but it still feels inappropriate. there are other aspects of the book where the female representation alarms me and I was surprised it was written by a female author. To get Jenna the older maid on side Jessimah decides that the best course of action is to pinch her bum and kiss her, which is interpreted as laddish, cheeky fun but actually is not really appropriate. In my own personal experience having your bum pinched by strangers is not fun. There's also a scene where Tiola asks Jessimah, if he has participated in a sexually violent act towards women while he's a pirate, he answers no but he did as a teen because he didn't really understand it was wrong. That's the end of that discussion, it's accepted no further discussion about it and they continue on with their relationship without giving that another thought. Again, I felt really uncomfortable how lightly this was considered. Jessimah, who I think would be a great pirate character if it weren't for these issues, at one point tells his 16 year old girlfriend - who is now the unwilling wife of another man, a funny story about leaving a brothel with his trousers down, which they had a laugh about! It's really easy to fall into the old tropes of the way women were treated and written about by men, let's not romantise those behaviours for other young women. This would have been a fantastic story in my view if the main female character had been an adult, she could still have been a young woman, could still have been made to seem innocent or naive so to be underestimated and hide her witch lineage but whilst being able to make adult choices. I don't understand how the other reviews can gloss over that.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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