The Sea Witch's Son

The Villains of Wolf Hollow #1

by Jade Everhart

Welcome to Wolf Hollow. Home to the most ruthless criminals of our time and the last place my stepfather should have brought me.
He said it was for work. I said it was an early grave.
My soon-to-be classmates are the heirs to a black throne. The children who have been raised in a town that has no rules, no laws and no heroes.
They are wealthy, powerful and violent. The kind of monsters that sneak into your bedroom at night and leave blood behind.
Marlin Seaborn is the most twisted one of them all. Captain of the swim team. Analytical genius. Master manipulator.
He’s a shark dressed in designer suits and he’s just found himself a new prize.
Me.

Genres: Dark

482 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 7, 2025

About the author

Jade Everhart writes heart-warming romances with flawed characters and laugh-out-loud banter. When she's not using her own terrible meet-cutes as inspiration for her next novel, Jade spends her time listening to loud music and tearing up dance floors from the prairies of Southern Alberta to the glistening beaches of Miami.
Jade loves to hear from her readers - connect with her on Instagram @authorjade_everhart.

Reviews

[Chasing Silhouettes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omgosh! What a little deviant Marlin was! It was fascinating to read the inner workings of his budding mastermind as a child. Utterly wicked! He was like the darkside of Young Sheldon (Big Bang Theory) meets Dexter from the cartoon Dexter's Laboratory. And Calista, conniving and vengeful even at such a young age. They were the perfect ruthless pair (plus Gus, of course, who brought the muscle).

When they get older, they grow into their villainous manifestations, eliciting, into mind, a much darker version of Cruel Intensions (late 90s film) and/or After (film series).

Then enters the seemingly unsuspecting, yet cautious, Melody... the fresh new catch and challenge to surface in Wolf Hollow. Like shark bait that tempts them into a dangerously spicy game and catalyzes into being a menacingly deadly rivalry. Their interactions are volatile, heated, smoldering.

But in the town they're in, treachery lay await in every shadow. If they're not careful, they'll get caught up and tangled in each other's games. "To sacrifice is to survive." (pg 14)

There is an intriguing littering of reimagined fairytale pieces woven throughout this darkly disturbing, tormenting, and salacious story. It is riveting and diabolical. Everything a story based around villains should be, and then some... and it even made me tear up. Definitely not a storybook for children... or even for some adults, for that matter! (Check the triggers!) If you liked Hooked by Emily McIntire, you may enjoy this too!

eARC review.

[Nikki · Rating 5 out of 5]

“My little saint, there are no good men in Wolf Hollow.” A wide, breathtaking smile splits his face, “And I’m the worst of them all.”

AHHHH!! Ok. Babes. We all know my love for a DARK fairytale retelling especially anything to do with The Little Mermaid. This is THE ONEEEE!! These characters have almost NO redeeming qualities and I’m completely obsessed with all of them. MARLIN SEABORN ?!?! He’s giving Manacled but humorous.
I’m so excited to read every single instalment of this new Wolf Hollow series.
HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!

[modernbooklore ⚡️ olivia · Rating 5 out of 5]

“You see, little saint, it is not the decisions we make that define who we are. It is the decisions that are taken from us. The ones that were never theirs to take.”
—
Rating: 5 ✨
Smut: 🌶️🌶️ .5
—
Jade Everhart did not come to PLAY when she sat down to write a dark romance after writing a sports romance series 😩

The Sea Witch’s Son is our introduction to the Villains of Wolf Hollow series and wow, it did not disappoint.
The atmosphere is eerie and perfect for the likes of all our favourite Disney villains and their offspring.

So let’s get into it: When Melody St. James arrives in Wolf Hollow, she instantly catches Marlin Seaborn’s eye. Being the walking red flag that he is, Marlin stalks his little saint until she’s admitting that she’s his.
There’s nothing quite like a man obsessed. But make him an unhinged psychopath as well and I am SAT. Pair him up with a fiercely independent, fiery FMC and I am easily binging for hours. Which is exactly what I did. I can’t say much about Melody without feeling like I’m giving things away but 🥵 her character is FANTASTICALLY written.
Their love story wasn’t cheesy or fluffy. It was full of angst, tension and all the actual elements that make a dark romance, dark.

On that note, one of my favourite parts of dark romances is the redemption arc. Or at least, the point where we come to understand the morally grey character. You don’t necessarily justify their actions, but it’s that bone deep heartache you feel for a fictional character, when you understand why they are the way they are. Jade Everhart made Marlin’s arc so believable that I cried when we learned his villain origin story. I’m not talking watery eyes, I’m talking full blown tears streaming down my face. Especially following the event that caused him to offer up the fragmented parts of his soul.

So all that to say: This book was fantastic. Whenever I thought I had it all figured out, Jade would throw in another plot twist that had my jaw dropping to the ground.
The pacing, secondary characters, setting and trauma bonding were also all perfectly executed. And the Disney easter eggs?! I’m not even a huge Disney fan but even I squealed over how seamlessly scattered they were throughout the book. Add in the fact that Jade’s writing in this book is deliciously witty and it was a no brainer to slam on the five-star rating the second I finished this read.

Overall, if you love dark romances that have amazing plots and characters and aren’t just about rough smut and characters doing bad things, you’re going to LOVE this one

And if you love:
🌊 Villain origin story
🌊 Disney retellings / reimaginings
🌊 A FMC who is just as morally grey as the MMC
🌊 Athlete villain
🌊 Look at her & 💀

Then this one is for you♥️

[Zoe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spicy, gritty, and menacing!

The Sea Witch’s Son is a twisty, sultry tale that takes you on a journey into the life of Melody St. James, a young woman who, after returning to her late mother’s hometown of Wolf Hollow, finds her life turned upside down after she meets the intense and dangerous Marlin Seaborn, the son of the sea witch who is not only broody and seductive but driven by an obsessive need for power, control, and manipulating using one’s fears.

The writing is fervid and intense. The characters are secretive, consumed, and tormented. And the plot is a salacious, ominous mix of twists, turns, temptation, desire, deception, mystique, introspection, sizzling chemistry, palpable attraction, violence, depravity, love, and romance.

Overall, The Son Witch’s Son is a tension-filled, dramatic, darkly sexy thrill ride by Everhart that is a creative, contemporary mix of Disney Easter Eggs and a villain origin story that does a brilliant job of reminding you that sometimes the line between good and evil is often very blurry and happy-ever-after endings are not always simple nor sweet.

[Jenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW

There are so many things I want to say about this book but the most important is that

YOU NEED TO READ THIS!!!!

Holy ever living f--- ! I cannot get over this. I had the biggest book hangover after finishing this that I struggled to pick up another book for a solid 24 hours (which is a long time without reading for me).

Jade really delivered with this one. She gave us a possessive cruel villain who I love with my whole heart! JFC he was the perfect villain.

Okay, let's get into it.

Marlin Seaborn is the son of the Sea Witch, Ursula, and the most feared man in Wolf Hollow. He is cruel, manipulative, dangerous and thrives off of other's fear which he uses to inflict pain and torture. He has one of the sharpest minds which makes him good at what he does. When he discovers a newcomer to town, she becomes his newest project.

Melody, the daughter of Arielle, moves to Wolf Hollow with her stepdad, Erik, after the passing of her mother. This is only a temporary situation as they figure out the next step in their lives. Melody is determined to keep her head down and just survive. However, her plan goes out the window on the first day of college when Marlin sets his sights on her.

Ahhhhhhh! Seriously, you need to read this. If you're a fan of disney villains and dark romance retellings, this is for you. This seris focuses on the offspring of the villains but the villain cameos are amazing!

This is a dark romance. There are no heroes, and the villains win. They are cruel and manipulative and I love everything about them.

Looking forward to the next one !

(I know this review was a bit all over the place but that's how I felt reading this one! There were so many twists and turns and every chapter I had no idea what was going to happen)

Note: Check CW before reading if you are not an avid dark romance reader. There is content that can be triggering. If you are a reader who lives by the darker, the better, go in blind.

🌶🌶.5

Tropes/themes
✨dark disney retelling
✨unhinged MMC
✨villain origin story
✨stalker romance
✨criminal town
✨captain of the swim team
✨she falls first, he falls harder
✨touch her and 💀
✨unlawful interrogations
✨i hate how much i want you
✨bondage/air play
✨you belong to me

[Mara · Rating 5 out of 5]

The genre, characters, plot, and world of this series is such a change of pace from Everhart’s previous Taber Tigers series, and boy did she deliver! The plot is full of twists and turns that will leave you guessing the whole way through. The writing is incredibly skilled, and the mind games that go on in this book will leave you in shock by the time you reach the final pages. I can’t wait to see how Everhart will continue the series and how she’ll follow up this incredible novel!

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️’s

Morally grey mmc AND fmc?! This book was so unique, fun and well written!!! Romance is the plot but there are side storylines/mysteries that keep you interested. The FMC was smart, bold, and capable. The MMC was my favorite kind of stoic sociopath (i was laughing at his inner monologue being so indifferent when the fmc was hurt). Wish I could read this again for the first time!!


There were some parts that felt a little confusing to me and unclear like SPOILER!!!!!! *is he a ghost, did he for real die twice or not I’m so confused* SPOILER

[Dani 💚 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jade Everhart said goodbye to sports romance and dove headfirst into the dark side—and The Sea Witch’s Son is everything.

Wolf Hollow is eerie, twisted, and crawling with the kids of infamous villains. Enter Marlin Seaborn. When he sets his sights on Melody St. James, it’s chaos in the best way. This man is the definition of a walking red flag—but make him a dangerously smart, unhinged, possessive psychopath with a tragic backstory and suddenly I’m all in. He stalks her, obsesses over her, and when she finally gives in? Fireworks. Chaos. And I loved every second.

Melody is no pushover either. She's fiery, independent, and honestly? She holds her own. And I lived for it, it’s very rare in a dark romance that the heroine can back up her talk but man Melody did. She does not mess around.

This not a soft or sweet romance. It's messy, twisted, and so full of tension. No hearts and flowers here, just pain, passion, and that delicious slow descent into obsession.

This book is messy, intense, and full of jaw-dropping plot twists. No fluff, just delicious tension, villain origin pain, and Disney easter eggs that had me squealing. I’m still recovering.

Can’t wait to see where Jade takes us next in this wild, wicked little world.

[Dominique · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a good dark romance and fairytale retelling!
I am obsessed with all of the characters!
Marlin is cruel, manipulative, possessive, and I am obsessed with him!
Melody is the new girl in town and Marlin’s newest obsession. She was his perfect match. I love that she was able to keep up with Marlin and wasn’t afraid of him and stood up to him. They had the best banter.
The fact that Marlin called Melody little saint, love it!
Even though Marlin is the most feared man in Wolf Hollow he has a soft spot for Melody, but it does take him a while to admit it to himself. But was so sweet with Melody in his own way especially when he helped her start singing again.
There were so many twists and I ate it up! I read this book in pretty much one sitting, I couldn’t put it down!
I cannot wait for the next book I need to read Calista’s story!!

This is dark and I recommend checking trigger warnings before reading!

Rating ⭐️: 5/5
Spice 🌶️: 2.5/5
Dual POV

🖤 Dark romance
🫧 Little Mermaid retelling
🖤 Possessive/ obsessed MMC
🫧 Villain origin story
🖤 Touch her & 💀

Thank you so much to Jade Everhart for the arc!

[nerdy.bibliomaniac · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky to be provided an ARC copy of this book by the author, all opinions are my own.

Fairytale retellings are some of my favourite books to read, make it a villain origin dark romance and sign me the heck up! Which I did in this case…

This is my first book I have read of Jade Everhart’s and what an amazing introduction that was. To say I am obsessed is an understatement.

The world that Jade built for this first book of her new series is dark and twisty but also easy to wrap your head around. It’s clever, engrossing and the perfect backdrop.

Enter the MCs you have Marlin, the smartest guy in town with a penchant for nice suits and psychological warfare. Then you have Melody, moving back to the town her mother grew up in and with a plan. Get her stepfather into a seat of power and show no mercy on who is taken out as a result. Naturally the chemistry between these two is immediate and does not disappoint.

Still fanning myself, cannot wait for the next one…just fantastic.

[Unsavory Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Look….I’m an old millennial. I grew up on the Disney sequels. The director to VHS where you met Melody, Ariel’s daughter and all of the Disney’s main character kids. This book is my childhood direct to VHS but in book form and made for my adult brain in book form.

Right….so we have Melody falling in love with Ursula’s son. It’s gritty, it’s violent and it’s done in a way that made my old millennial heart happy.

Gaston’s son here hanging out with the bunch. Erik Prince is our Melody’s stepdad and he couldn’t be a better stepdad.
Not to give all the cameos away or all the spoilers but this was a delightful dark romance book. I loved it.

The love story is there and it’s not pretty, it’s dark. I don’t like Melody, but I do. She’s not the sweetest daughter of our little mermaid. She’s jagged and it’s amazing. So if you’re *cough* in your late 30s and want to revisit your childhood in a dark but adult way read it. I loved it and plan on reading every sequel and placing them on my Disney shelf.

[Sabrina | thebookishspot · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨ARC Review✨


5⭐ for The Sea Witch's Son by Jade Everhart


I initially signed up for this arc because my bestie Olivia recommended this author to me, and since I trust her opinion implicitly, I decided to sign up to read this story and boy am I glad I did! 


This book is AMAZING. It's dark and delicious and I ate it up and left no crumbs behind. The Disney easter eggs were abundant and so well done, I loved seeing them sprinkled throughout the story, and I especially loved that it's all about the villains! 


The little mermaid's daughter and the sea witch's son fall in love except they're BOTH morally grey?! Yes please!! The twists in the story had me gasping in shock, and some scenes were disgusting, dare I say disturbing, but so captivating at the same time I didn't want to stop reading. 


I will be requiring a physical trophy for my shelves of this fantastic read, and I will be going back to read Jade Everhart's previous series as well! 


Check trigger warnings before venturing into this one, but if you like your romances dark, then you'll be pleased with this one. 


Thank you to Jade Everhart for a copy in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.

[Jamie Byers · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so freaking twisty. You never know which way it will twist first. This is the first book of Jade Everharts that I have read. She did such an amazing job bringing all the villains to life. You can match the characters to whom they embody easily. I wish I could go back and read it again for the first time.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Did I a read the whole day? Yes
Was it the best day ever? Also yes

This book is unforgettable. Amazing character building and plot twists like i have never seen before. I can’t recommend this book enough! I can’t wait for the next one!

[Christine Stipanov · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS IS A MUST READ! I seriously could not put this book down. Months later, and I am still thinking of the characters and the plot twists. I'm still obsessed with Marlin even if I shouldn’t be lol!

[Abby Murray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Things I’ve learned: I might be a little afraid of dark romance

this book was wild, I must say. Excitingly, I did kind of guess who was guilty while reading and I love when that happens. ALSO, casually interconnecting the series is so evil genius (I love it).

This book is very gory and very smutty, it was so so much darker than I anticipated tbh. but it was good!! I will not be venturing any further into the dark romance genre tho, I am indeed a scaredy cat okay?

you can just tell how much Jade’s writing has gotten better since her first series and I love that so much! It was such a treat to read this book for her!!!

I also apologize for my lack of Disney knowledge, I caught on but I did struggle (my own fault). Anywho, Marlin is so morally grey and spooky and complements Melody very will. It was fun reading their spicy lil romance unfold in this book!!

check the content warnings before reading!

[Kreela · Rating 5 out of 5]

The mind pitted against the heart. I wonder, what bet should I place on each part?”
“To whom are we speaking of?”
“Anyone. Everyone.”

At the heart of the story (ha ha) is an exquisitely unique kind of characters. I loved the character reminiscent of the Cheshire Cat as a 70-year-old spindly and spry man. When I first started reading it, I thought the title odd because I was reading a typical college academy romance, right? Not hardly. These people are all supervillains. The banter centers around torture and humiliation, and I guilt-laughed a lot. Melody arrived at the academy as a typical young girl with her step-father, and I was totally fooled in thinking she was normal. That her father was normal. I won’t give away the twists, but Melody is true to her name: a singer at heart who lost her singing voice upon her mother’s death.

I spent a few minutes just trying to figure out the sources of inspiration for each character. For instance, Gus was a strongman (dumb jock) for most of the book. But he forced himself upon others, which made him a criminal. I say this as a warning; expect torture, rape, and other bad deeds before the HEA.

Marlin was Melody’s other half. He also lost a parent and reinvented himself. He was a mastermind at drug distribution and other deeds, but let Gus and Calista, the organizer, beat and bully their ‘employees’. His mind was centered around order and precision, and the heart was just another item to manipulate until Melody came along. But when the two started, boy was it steamy, with multiple acts in different positions which required super heroic bouts of stamina 😂!

The Banter:
Here is an example:
“My eyes narrow, “If he’s dead, I will make sure you wake up tomorrow with five less toes and no thumbs.”
⁃ He grimaces, “Can you make sure it’s my left foot? The right one is a lot cuter.””*

Normally I prefer a moral, heroic main character who succeeds against the odds, and a darker romance means more of a reward at the HEA ending, but I just loved all the banter, back-alley dealing, generational feuds, and characters. Loved it.

People to Remember:
⁃ Marlin=kingpin? Mastermind
⁃ Melody
⁃ Gus=strongman
⁃ Finley=power of persuasion
⁃ Calista=Cruella de Vil
⁃ Eric=Melody’s Stepfather and her version of the knuckle-cracker.

In Short:
⁃ 50/50 Plot and Romance
⁃ Quirky and clever characters and writing
⁃ Cheshire cat
⁃ Superhero villain vibe
⁃ Pet name : little saint
⁃ Inspired writing

[Joanne Love · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wolf Hollow is the town of villains, and Jade Everhart is giving us their stories. The Sea Witch’s Son is a very dark romance - please check the trigger warnings before you read it!

I’m a massive fan of Once Upon a Time and I feel like this is a dark version of that - as you meet the characters, you are working out who they are and who they are related to, which builds the world beautifully. This is also a story about sports and college - we’re meeting the kids of the Disney/fairy tale villains here and they love the swim team! You could be mistaken for believing that this is quite a misogynistic world as our story begins - there are very few women in the town of Wolf Hollow. But those that survive it, dominate it. Calista, The Dragon, The Sea Witch and even Melody are these women and you will come to love them!

This is the story of Melody, the daughter of Arielle, and Marlin, the son of Ursela - you should be able to see where this is going!

You will come to adore Marlin, at least I did! His intelligence and strength of will make him a formidable character. Don’t be fooled into thinking there are nice people in this book - we are in the world of the villains after all. But there are varying shades of morally grey that create nuance that I enjoyed immensely. We don’t meet any heroes - but black, broken pieces that fit together.

I think this is a brilliant start to a series and it is clever. It weaves together the well know elements of the Disney/Fairy tale characters bringing a fresh take to them. I am eager to hear about more of the characters so will definitely be waiting for new books in this series to come out.

[Maria | Words_within_the_pages · Rating 4 out of 5]

My rating: 3.75
My spice rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

> I would like to preface this to say that I am not a dark romance girly. So that is the reason for the rating, everything else I loved about the book! <

Ariel’s daughter meets the sea witch’s son in a dark romance little mermaid retelling? Sign me upppp 😈

This book is the first in the Villain’s of Wolf Hollow series and follows Melody (the new saint in town😉) and Marlin (wolf hollows most notorious sinner) in a dual pov dark romance.

This one’s a dark one so please check your trigger warnings… Jade I do blame you for the spider nightmares I had 😂 but it was worth it. This definitely has much darker themes in it and you are rooting for the villains.

Marlin, my beautiful crazy man… I love you. Let me tell you, even though Marlin may be on the crazier side, and idk what it says about me, but I’d take Melody’s spot any day. There was no lack of spice and let me tell you it was HOT 🥵

I loved the tragic back stories of all of the characters and how you see how their past made them the villains they are today. The plot was perfect and I loved the banter between Marlin and Melody.

I loved the elements of the little mermaid retelling! I also love how it showed the evilness all of all the villains are and how you root for some of them and hate the others. The ending was a rollercoaster of emotions, I was rooting for a villain and then hating on another and then the epilogue?? EXCUSE ME?!

Definitely read this one if you want a dark romance retelling!

Thank you to Jade Everhart for this arc!
~~~~~~~

[Kate (bookish.kate_) · Rating 5 out of 5]

😈 𝕿𝖍𝖊 𝕾𝖊𝖆 𝖂𝖎𝖙𝖈𝖍'𝖘 𝕾𝖔𝖓 𝖇𝖞 𝕵𝖆𝖉𝖊 𝕰𝖛𝖊𝖗𝖍𝖆𝖗𝖙 😈

Pub Date: April 7, 2025
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🔥🔥🔥🔥

"𝕸𝖞 𝖑𝖎𝖙𝖙𝖑𝖊 𝖘𝖆𝖎𝖓𝖙, 𝖙𝖍𝖊𝖗𝖊 𝖆𝖗𝖊 𝖓𝖔 𝖌𝖔𝖔𝖉 𝖒𝖊𝖓 𝖎𝖓 𝖂𝖔𝖑𝖋 𝕳𝖔𝖑𝖑𝖔𝖜."

"𝕴 𝖍𝖆𝖛𝖊 𝖆 𝖈𝖔𝖑𝖑𝖆𝖗 𝖙𝖍𝖆𝖙 𝖜𝖔𝖚𝖑𝖉 𝖒𝖆𝖙𝖈𝖍 𝖞𝖔𝖚𝖗 𝖘𝖐𝖎𝖓 𝖙𝖔𝖓𝖊 𝖕𝖊𝖗𝖋𝖊𝖈𝖙𝖑𝖞. 𝕵𝖚𝖘𝖙 𝖘𝖆𝖞 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖜𝖔𝖗𝖉 𝖆𝖓𝖉 𝕴'𝖑𝖑 𝖙𝖗𝖊𝖆𝖙 𝖞𝖔𝖚 𝖑𝖎𝖐𝖊 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖌𝖔𝖔𝖉 𝖌𝖎𝖗𝖑 𝖞𝖔𝖚 𝖆𝖗𝖊."

"𝕺𝖕𝖊𝖓 𝖙𝖍𝖔𝖘𝖊 𝖋𝖚𝖈𝖐𝖎𝖓𝖌 𝖑𝖎𝖕𝖘 𝖆𝖓𝖉 𝖙𝖊𝖑𝖑 𝖒𝖊 𝖍𝖔𝖜 𝖒𝖚𝖈𝖍 𝖞𝖔𝖚 𝖍𝖆𝖙𝖊 𝖒𝖊. 𝕿𝖊𝖑𝖑 𝖒𝖊 𝖊𝖛𝖊𝖗𝖞𝖙𝖍𝖎𝖓𝖌 𝖞𝖔𝖚 𝖍𝖆𝖙𝖊 𝖆𝖇𝖔𝖚𝖙 𝖒𝖊. 𝕰𝖛𝖊𝖗𝖞. 𝕱𝖚𝖈𝖐𝖎𝖓𝖌. 𝕿𝖍𝖎𝖓𝖌."

😈 Traumatic Backstories
🖤 Enemies To Lovers
😈 Dark Romance
🖤 Dark Fairytale Retelling
😈 Touch Her/Look At Her/Talk To Her and 💀
🖤 Disney Villains
😈 Morally Pitch Black
🖤 Academic Setting
😈 Possessive/Obsessed
🖤 Criminal Town
😈 Unhinged Characters
🖤 Canadian Author

What an amazing readlong, although once I started I couldn't put it down. Thank you @mrsxtremistsbookshelf for hosting and a huge shoutout to @authorjade_everhart for this banger of a book that I haven't been able to stop thinking about since I finished.

This book has such a damn choke hold on me. TSWS is a dark academia romance with disney villains and their kids. I can not express how absolutely well done everything is. My interest was piqued throughout the whole book.

I have lost track with how many groups on Facebook I have posted this book in and how many of my friends I have peer pressured into reading. @mrsxtremistsbookshelf thank you my friend for telling me about this book! One minute I was reading it and the next I was finished. Just gobbled it right up! Did I finish the book or did it finish me?

AAANNNND the characters, omg. They were raw. They were haunting. They were brutal. They were all consuming. They were dark. They were absolutely delicious. 🥵 Calista could cut me and I would thank her. #mommy🧎🏻‍♀️🥴

[Ana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a review copy and these are my thoughts:

This was a great start to Everhart’s new Disney retelling dark romance series. I’m very picky with dark romance and this was probably the darkest one I’ve read to date. I was hook from the very beginning - I’m a slow reader and I read all 480 pages in 3 days! Everhart’s writing is captivating, creating an eerie and dangerous atmosphere and the pace she sets keeps the reader on their toes. Every character is scarred and you never know when their fears are going to be used against them.

The characters are unhinged and violent. Pair this with dry humour and you get some laughs between all the gore and calculated actions. One thing that these characters don’t lack is passion - in the way they love and in their violent behaviours.

Melody and Marlin are an explosive duo. Their chemistry is intense. Marlin is narcissistic and possessive and Melody’s innocent looks can be deceiving. Their journey from love-hate to being “inevitable”, is a rough and tough one.
The spice is hot and aggressive but the cold hearted and dangerous Marlin has his tender moments (even villains have a heart it seems).

Filled with twists and turns, TSWS will have you on the edge of your seat until the very end.

*Spice: 3/5🌶️

**Please check the TWs before picking up this book - there is gore, violence, assault, crude language, etc.

[miniessona · Rating 5 out of 5]

☆ ARC REVIEW ☆


🌊 I AM SO SO PROUD OF JADE! The Sea Witch's Son is a must read dark romance/dark retelling book and if you haven't read it, please go check it out! I loved it!

🌊 I've read the Taber Tiger series by Jade, but The Sea Witch's Son is completely different and it is my most favorite read by Jade now! A few chapters in and I couldn't keep the book down, devoured it in two days. It was different, beautiful, dark, captivating with an interesting plot, amazing characters and a very good amount of spice!

🌊 I loved how the plot was based on Disney Villains and their children, a whole criminal town of them. I loved the chemistry between Melody and Marlin, the way they couldn't resist each other, the dark aesthetics like I could really picture the town, their house, everything! I don't really read stalker romance that much but I love how this one didn't really made me uncomfortable!

🌊 Honestly, I want more and more dark romance books by Jade now! I'm gonna say it again, I AM REALLY PROUD OF JADE.THE SEA WITCH'S SON DESERVES TO BE HYPED! If you want to start reading some dark romance or you are just looking for something different to read, please do check it out but make sure you check the trigger warnings first!

[Spellbinding.Enchantress · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨ Book Review ✨

The Sea Witch’s Son by @authorjade_everhart

Girl, you did NOT disappoint!!! All the 80’s/90’s Disney loving readers love you right now!! By taking the well-known Disney characters that we all grew up with and making them entirely your own, made this read feel so nostalgic. Completed with clever Easter eggs that fans will absolutely love as well.

Jade delivers a story that’s equal parts heart, humor, and jaw-dropping twists. The Sea Witch’s Son isn’t about waves or water, it’s grounded in something even more powerful: new beginnings, unexpected friendships, and learning when to stay silent, speak truth, or bend the rules just enough to survive. And just when you think you’ve figured it all out… that ending will leave you stunned.

When Melody and her Step-Dad, Erik Prince move back to the town where her mother, Ariel, grew up, it was all part of the plan. Attending a college known for the criminals and harsh realities, Melody does whatever it takes to survive. However, what she didn’t take into consideration was Marlin, the well-known mastermind behind head games, being a leader and being feared by everyone.

Smart, sharp, and full of soul, this book is a must-read. 💫

Spice level 🌶️🌶️
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Meghan · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5

Oh, I am going to enjoy Wolf Hollow. This town has the villains children finding a "happily" ever after. Jade starts off with one of my favorite villains son- Marlin Seaborn, whose mommy is Ursula.
& the love of his life 🤭- Melody St. James. She moves to town with her step father Erik, after her mother passed away. Very few females are in college..so Melody garners a lot of attention, from men and woman- Marlin won't let anyone else have her.

Marlin is such a red flag and I just laughed at his antics. He taunted her from the beginning, and she gave him doses right back. Neither of them made their lives easier and their love came in a different form. I really wondered if he would snap and say forget it towards the end. Melody managed to break through Marlins tough exterior and when she needed his strength, he showed up.

I loved all the side characters and this little world to show the other side of the Disney characters.

[Kim Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨ • ✨ Book Review ✨ • ✨
The Sea Witch’s Son by Jade Everheart

Rating: 4.5  ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice: 3 🌶️🌶️🌶️


I absolutely devoured this book.

This was such a great Dark Romance and Fairytale retelling!
You took all these Disney Villains and added even more wickedness, creating a story that you should be proud of!
The portrayal of all the characters, along with the little Easter eggs throughout the book, kept me on my toes. The twists and turns in the book were truly captivating!

Melody and Marlins’ relationship, initially forced and morally ambiguous, blossomed into a dark yet caring partnership. I was captivated by the character development of both characters and the way their relationship was portrayed in the book.

The entirety of the storyline had me wanting and needing more, and I can not wait till book two!

Please do check the trigger warnings if you want to read this Book!

[Megan Butchard · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is SO MUCH DARKER than the first Jade Everhart book I read, and I loved it! Check the triggers because some dark things happen on page and if you skipped the trigger warnings then it might surprise you.

Ok so think Disney's Descendants but less musical and more super dark college romance. This little mermaid x sea witch retelling/reimagining was so creative! There were little easter eggs sprinkled throughout the story and I loved trying to piece together who was who's kid.

Melody is definitely seen as the weak new girl in town but I love that see doesn't hold back with Marlin and how everyone underestimates her. Marlin is his own kind of messed up and when we got to his trauma flashback I was in tears for that little boy.

I also laughed a lot at the witty banter between the MC's and the snarky comments being made.

I'm looking forward to the next book in the series because who doesn't love a tatted up bad boy.

[Alina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once I started, I couldn’t put this book down! It’s was capitative, twisted and dark story. Every character played important role in the plot. And not gonna lie I get attached to a few side characters, so I already waiting for their books in the future. The writing is beautiful and suits this story perfectly, a few strong quotes become my favorite. I liked how specific and detailed was origin of villains backgrounds and how the characters that we all now & love played in different font. Trauma and its consequences shown in different light or should I say shadow in this book. Several chapters gone through hell, and came back more twisted, stronger and angrier versions of themselves. Even though this story is heavy there’s still was some funny and light moments that stole a few smile from me.
The plot twists, especially those towards the end really got me! I was gasping and trying to think what could happen next. Epilogue was like a cherry on top and set a great tone for the second book in this series.

[Jenise · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️


I have read Jade’s sports romance series and was so excited to get a first read on this new dark romance series. She impresses me with her ability to write such a fun sports romance to a dark romance on Disney villain retelling.

Melody st James in the new girl in town, coming back to the place her mother came from. She had a plan, just needed to stay alive while doing it. She didn’t expect Marlin.

Marlin Seaborn, the sea witch’s son. The one everyone in Wolf Hallow is most scared of, but Melody can’t seem to stay away from him.

Marlin is dark and smart. Melody is kind, but Marlin knows she’s not. These two were dark and haunting but at the same time, so perfect. I loved all the pull and dark banter between these two. This book has lots of twists and turns, some I didn’t see coming. The spice was dark, but the undertone of these two.. was so much more and I loved it!

I am excited for this series! I loved seeing all the villains throughout the story but Calista, this queen is so much and her story is what I need!

[Habiba · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you know me, you know I’m not a dark romance girlie. But I had to give it another shot for my girl Jade Everhart’s new book, and it’s safe to say that I am UNWELL. Jade really said, “Welcome to Wolf Hollow, babe. Good luck surviving,” and I just nodded and let it happen🧍🏽‍♀️

Before I go any more in depth, I want you to imagine a twisted Disney fairytale but make it morally gray, emotionally wrecked, and a tad bit unhinged🤗

Marlin Seaborn is an actual menace. Sassy, psychotic, and somehow the softest when it comes to Melody. Like sir??? You’re a villain. ACT like it. (But also pls never stop😁🫶🏼)

Melody?? A mastermind. I love an FMC who knows how to play the game and how to play it better than anyone else🤓

Also. The PAIN?? The TRAUMA?? I stared at the wall for a full five minutes thinking about what these two have been through💔

If you’ve read her other series, the crossover moment?? Had me jumping up and down. I live for a cute little multiverse🤩

If you like your romance twisted and your characters emotionally waterlogged (get it? lol), this one’s for you😏😚

Thank you to the author for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion💜💜

[Janessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW, this book is incredible! So dark, twisted and mysterious. It kept me guessing and when I thought I had maybe figured it out, but boy did I have it wrong. The FMC, Melody, will keep you guessing, she is so conniving and an all around badass. Marlin, the MMC, has met his match! Wolf Hollow is home to the most ruthless, power hungry criminals. This is a truly dark fairytale retelling and I cannot recommend it enough! Be sure to read the trigger warnings but if you are anything like me...”
"you had me at trigger warnings” then by all means dive in!