Review - - The Sea Witch

The Sea Witch

by Eva Leigh

Salt & Sorcery - Book 1

Publisher: Canary Street Press

Release Date: August 26, 2025

Reviewed by PJ

 

Condemned as a witch, sentenced to die, Alys Tanner uses her innate magical power to flee Puritanical New England. Stealing a ship, Alys becomes captain of The Sea Witch, leading its all-female, sorcery-wielding pirate crew. But the colonial British navy is in hot pursuit. The navy fights for a choke hold on the Caribbean and will destroy anything they cannot control, especially witches.

When Ben Priestley, a headstrong naval navigator, is inadvertently captured by the lady pirates, dangerous truths are revealed. A quest that could turn the tides against the navy’s might ignites a reluctant partnership between the by-the-books prisoner and the fierce witch pirate captain. While they brave backstabbing pirates, perilous tropical islands and monster-filled seas, Alys and Ben’s mistrust grows into unexpected desire as they battle an enemy that will stop at nothing to rule the waves.

PJ's Thoughts:

Lady pirates sailing the Caribbean? Yes, please. Lady pirates who are also witches? Oh, heck yes! 

This book was everything I didn't know I needed: lady witch pirates, high-seas adventure, magical realism, forced proximity, slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers romance, and twists I never saw coming. The characters drew me in from the get-go, immersing me in their cut-throat world of piracy. If that wasn't enough, Leigh also added in witches, mages, and super-powered sea creatures bound to England's naval ships and bent on destruction. Fantastical? Yes. And yet, Leigh makes it all seem plausible and real. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough while at the same time wanting to slow down and absorb every minute detail. I read the entire book in one day, staying awake way past my bedtime and relishing every impeccably presented detail. 

The characters were multi-layered, nuanced, and fully developed. I loved the evolution of Alys and Ben, both individually and as an eventual couple. But I also enjoyed the relationships among the all-women crew on Alys's ship. While not the lead couple, they are intrinsically important to the overall story and I appreciated the time and care devoted to their individual characters and stories. I'm hopeful that we will continue to learn more about them as the series continues. 

The relationship between Alys and Ben was not easy, as one would expect between a pirate witch captain and her upright British naval navigator captive. I loved that she held the power but also appreciated the eventual ebb and flow of that dynamic as their characters and relationship grew. Their interactions felt authentic and their slowly changing opinions, organic. I was fully immersed in their quest, in their relationship, in their chaotic world. I was pulling so hard for their improbable happy ending. And, yes, I actually gasped when I reached the end of the book. Cliffhanger!

I don't know when book two of this trilogy is scheduled to be released but what I do know is that I'll be hitting that preorder button the second it becomes available. I am fully involved in these characters now and I cannot wait to discover what Eva Leigh has planned for the next phase of their journey. In the meantime, I'll be rereading The Sea Witch, probably more than once. It's just that immersive. It's just that good. 

Review - - Wind Raven

Wind Raven
Agents of the Crown
By Regan Walker
Publisher:  Boroughs Publishing Group
Release Date:  March 10, 2014





1817

At her father's insistence, Tara McConnell, a freedom loving American, has spent the past year living with her aunt in London and learning to be a lady - her English mother's dying wish.  But while Tara has mastered the manners and secured the admiration of the young lords of London, her heart longs for home. And, as a girl who grew up aboard her father's ships, her feet itch to return to the sea.  She's been tethered to land too long.  When a letter from one of her brothers arrives, telling her that her father is seriously ill, she refuses to wait any longer. Her aunt agrees to let her leave but only if a maid accompanies her and only if she sails to Baltimore aboard the Wind Raven, a ship captained by the son of one of her aunt's friends. When the maid falls ill on the way to the docks, Tara sends her back and boards the ship alone, unaware that her trip to Baltimore has just taken a decidedly dangerous turn.

The last thing Captain Nick Powell needs is a woman aboard his ship.  Not only are they bad luck and a distraction to his crew but Nick has a secret agenda on this particular voyage - a detour to the tropics to complete a very dangerous task for the Prince Regent.  He'd hustle her right off his ship if not for the note she carries from her aunt, claiming friendship with his mother.  He dare not incite his French mother's temper and with her out of the country there is no way to verify the note.  He has no choice but to let the woman sail with them but he doesn't have to be happy about it.

Tara and Nick are at odds from the get-go, with the sunny and immensely likable Tara determined to use her well-honed skills to work with the ship's crew and brooding Nick equally determined to keep her off the deck and out of their way.  Their stubbornness is well matched, as is their unwanted attraction.  With a long sail ahead of them, sparks are sure to fly but while Nick is more than happy to "scratch their itch," his heart is under lock and key.  Or so he thinks.  By the time they reach Bermuda, feelings have started to become entangled within the desire but a deadly pirate will put those new-found emotions to the test.  While Tara knows her heart well, Nick's heart still bears the scars of an earlier betrayal. Will he continue to paint Tara with the same brush as the woman who broke his heart or will he awaken to the truth before she's lost to him forever?

Once again, Regan Walker has expertly woven together interesting historical facts with an intriguing and fast-paced story that kept me reading way past my bedtime and still thinking about the characters long after I turned the final page.  Her characters, from the intrepid Tara to the brooding Nick to the villainous but strangely sympathetic pirate, Cofresi fairly leap from the page.  Richly drawn secondary characters complete the picture along with detailed descriptions that convinced me I could feel the deck of the ship rolling under my feet, the warmth of the tropical sun on my face and the sweet island breezes flowing gently through my hair. Whether she's writing a romantic love scene, a breath-stealing pirate raid or an anger-induced confrontation between Tara's American brothers and her English lover (men unaware they have a contentious history until they finally come face to face), Walker never fails to engage my interest and place me squarely in the center of the action.

I love a good sea-faring, pirate romance and Wind Raven certainly fills the bill.  I highly recommend this book.

~PJ

Review -- The Rogue Pirate's Bride

The Rogue Pirate’s Bride
The Sons of the Revolution, Book 3
By Shana Galen
Release Date: February 7, 2012
Publisher: Sourcebooks

In the end, he supposed it was he who learned a lesson, not to judge by appearances. An annoying boy could turn out to be a beautiful woman – a beautiful woman intent on killing him. And what was he going to do about that?


Raeven Russell is a woman on a mission. She is hell bend on confronting the man who killed her fiancé during a battle on the seas. Raeven is the only child of a British Admiral and since her mother’s death just days after Raeven’s birth, Raeven’s lifestyle has revolved around the ship and the sea. While most little girls are taught sewing and etiquette skills, Raeven’s skill set includes sword fighting, military strategic maneuvers and management of a crew. She is not your average English rose.

Rumors have swirled around Captain Bastien Cutlass for years. Some say he is a pirate. Others say he a disposed aristocrat who lost his family in the French Revolution. But Raeven calls him a murderer. A perfect opportunity for confrontation arises when both are in the same port. So Raeven disguises herself as a sailor and tracks Bastien down in a seaside tavern. While conducting business, Bastien is shocked when a boy pulls a blade and informs Bastien that he is there to kill Bastien. Seeing the boy as merely a child, Bastien doesn’t take the bait and instead tries to calm the situation. This only inflames Raeven and she directly challenges Bastien to a sword match only to find out that her skills, though impressive for a woman, are not on the level of this man. As Bastien takes Raeven’s sword as the prize for the challenge, Raeven’s hat falls off and he discovers he has just battled with a beautiful woman. Bastien is not sure what he is going to do with this woman, but one thing he does know … whatever he decides to do, it is going to happen on his ship.

I-I’m not going to take off my clothes.”

Since she didn’t appear likely to take it, he set her wine on the desk. “No? Then why are you here? And don’t tell me it’s simply to retrieve your sword.”

She clamped her mouth closed.

“You could have had another sword made.”

She cocked her head to the side. “Why do you think I’m here then?”

He shrugged, drank some wine. “Me.” He looked pointedly at the large berth.

She laughed. “Oh, really? You have a rather high opinion of yourself.”

He sat down behind the desk, lifted his glass to examine the red wine in the candlelight. “You went to a lot of trouble to see me again. Perhaps my arrogance isn’t entirely misplaced.”

As Raeven and Bastien are forced to spend more time together on the seas, similarities come to light. Bastien learns that Raeven lost her mother at a very early age and understands the lost of family. Raeven discovers that just like her, Bastien is looking for the captain of a ship who killed his mentor several years ago. She also discovers Bastien lost his family during the terror of the French Revolution. While Raeven has always had a physical reaction to Bastien, these discoveries begin to soften her heart towards him. As the layers of their lives are slowly revealed and the truth surrounding Raeven’s fiance’s death is brought to the surface, emotions of love begin to ripple through their relationship. But when happily ever after is close at hand, the opportunity for revenge finally appears and shocking family secrets are revealed. This could change everything. Will Bastien and Raeven choose revenge or each other?

I truly enjoyed reading this book. Both Bastien and Raeven are very strong, independent characters, but are so very likable. I was immediately cheering them on. I love that Raeven stands up for everything she believes in and is not afraid to tell Bastien exactly what she thinks. The chemistry between the two is smokin’ hot, but as always, the emotion connection is what gets me every time and that is what had me turning the pages as fast as I could.

If you are looking for a book that is not your normal English historical romance, then this is the book for you. Ms. Galen takes you on a whirlwind adventure on the high seas and exotic locales. Filled with humor, betrayal, intrigue, revenge and definite chemistry, this novel is one to be enjoyed by all.

This novel is the 3rd book in The Sons of the Revolution series. While I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book as a stand alone, I would recommend reading the series. I’m already tracking down copies of The Making of a Duchess and The Making of a Gentleman and I can't wait to read them.

~ Buffie


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