i really wanted to love this book and i pushed myself to read it but sadly i will not be finishing it.

If you love badass, powerful women, stunningly descriptive and period-appropriate writing, stories of pirates and magic, and slow-burn romance, this book is for you.

The writing paints a gorgeous picture of the setting and beautifully demonstrates the various relationships between characters in the story. The adventure and determination of the women gave Throne of Glass vibes, while there were also elements reminiscent of Pirate Romantasy stories and the Salem Witch Trials that all just worked.

The romance was enemies-to-lovers, slow-burn and tense and it was presented in a way that felt authentic to the story. The character growth throughout the book was highly satisfying, as it showcased the struggle between sticking to the beliefs you were taught and accepting that the system is broken and things need to change.

Overall, this was a wonderful story of feminine rage, magic, adventure and absolute revolt against a broken system. While I usually avoid pirate romance (no hate - my experience with the genre has just been stale with redundant retellings and stereotypes), I'm so glad I picked up this book, and I will definitely be continuing the story.

I received an advanced copy of this book via Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving this review. All thoughts & opinions are my own.

This book was exactly what I’ve been craving with a pirate adventure - feminist-forward with an all-female crew of witches. Complete with familiars, sea monsters, and an abundance of morally gray characters. I enjoyed that the novel felt low stakes (until the end). This enabled me to enjoy it for exactly what it was: a treasure hunt with a romance (in this case, the treasure being a failsafe). The female crew is strong, independent, has a strong moral compass, and fights against toxic misogyny every chance they get. The ending is a cliffhanger - and I will say, I didn’t see it coming and it frustrated me immensely. Thank you for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (3.5/5)

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of The Sea Witch by Eva Leigh, which releases on August 26, 2025.

This book was… fiiiiine. Not bad, not amazing—just one of those reads where you see what it’s trying to do, and it almost gets there.

We follow Alys, a fierce witch and pirate captain of the Sea Witch, an all-female crew made up of women from different countries and walks of life (definitely the highlight of the book for me). Then there’s Ben, a royal navy sailor who ends up aboard this badass ship. Together, they’re trying to save the seas—and maybe fall in love along the way.

My biggest struggle was the tone. For most of the book, the writing felt very YA, but the romance scenes were open-door and used super adult language (think cock and cunt) which felt jarringly mismatched. It gave me tonal whiplash—like it couldn’t decide if it wanted to be YA, new adult, or adult romantasy.

Still, it had its moments. I loved the concept and the all-female pirate crew was honestly such a vibe. But the execution just didn’t fully hook me the way I’d hoped.

If you're into feminist pirate romances with a dash of magic and don’t mind a slightly uneven tone, it might be worth giving this one a shot.

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for an arc of this novel. All opinions are honest and my own.

I’ve read and enjoyed some of Eva Leigh’s historical romances before, and I was excited to dive into her new pirate romantasy venture.

Leigh is obviously an expert in her craft, building an immersive world filled with fully developed characters and detailed settings that help the reader fully envision themselves in the story.

I especially loved the witchy elements in here.

However, the romance didn’t stand out to me, and as someone who is primarily a romance reader this made it a very slow read. I just couldn’t envision the characters together.

This is the first book in a series and ends on a cliffhanger, and I’m not sure I’m invested enough to read book 2.

PUB DATE: August 26, 2025

SUGGESTED SNACK PAIRING: hasty pudding

“ ‘Josephine made hasty pudding.
We're always happy on hasty pudding days.’ With that, Jane left the cabin. The unmistakable sound of a key turning in a lock followed.
He sat at the table and ate. The porridge was flavorful and well-cooked, made with ground maize cooked in milk, and studded with dried fruit and a swirl of honey.”

TRIGGERS: religious bigotry, sexism, animal injury, murder, enslavement, sexual content

A world where magic is only good as long as a man is wielding it. Alys Tanner, a witch sentenced to death, uses her powers to flee her homeland of 18th century Massachusetts. She steals a ship and leads its sorcery-wielding all female crew pirate crew to the Caribbean. The British navy is in pursuit, fighting pirates for control over the Caribbean, and destroying everything they can’t control. When Ben Preistly, a navel navigator, is captured by the pirates, dangerous truths are discovered. A daring quest that can undue the navy’s power makes for a reluctant partnership between the pirate captain and the navy man.

The premise was promising and what caught my attention. Overall it’s pretty good pirate adventure story. The two MCs had a great dynamic but the emotional attachment fell short. The side characters were okay, you could feel the camaraderie of the crew, how much they trust and depend on each other, they were there but they felt absent.

I was mildly entertained the whole book if a little confused about the magic aspect of it. The magic system felt a bit wonky and all over the place. The stakes were high but they didn’t feel high. The characters always got out a little scuffed, but not worse for wear. The action scenes were done well, but every conflict was wrapped up in a neat little bow, it just kinda felt like mmmm yeah that happened…. anyway on to the next. It all felt a bit cluttered. I could see what people would like about it, but didn’t quite stick the landing for me. Also?? That cliffhanger!!!!????? man…..

I ABSOLUTELY loved this book!! I can not wait to continue this series!! What an incredible adventure and this is PERFECT as a summer read!

I mean, it has EVERYTHING! And all female witch turned pirate witch crew??? Dude, such a fun book. I need this on my shelf!!!

In a small town in 18th century Massachusetts, Alys Tanner finds herself in a terrible predicament - either hang for being a witch, or try to get herself and her friends out before it's too late. She and her friends decide to use the skills they've learned in their fishing town to steal a merchant ship and escape the persecution that's haunted them their entire lives. After a year at sea, learning to pirate with an all female witch crew, Alys finds herself dragged into the task of finding a fail-safe to rid the British Navy of its control over powerful sea creatures. Accidentally dragged along with her, though, is naval officer Benjamin Priestly.

I really truly loved this book. I love that Eva Leigh has made her way into the romantasy genre, and she's done it really well. This book is an excellent combination of historical romance and fantasy. The world building is sufficient for the first book in a series and the magic is developed in a really interesting way. I love the depth of each character we've met, and I found myself tearing up as I read about how Alys and her crew have overcome their pasts and the expectations placed on them.

I'm really glad this is a series, so we get more of Alys and Ben, but I'd LIKE TO HAVE THE NEXT BOOK RIGHT NOW.

There is open door spice, I'd put it at 3.5/5. Overall I give this book 4.5/5 stars.

I was able to read an ARC of The Sea Witch by Eva Leigh, thanks to NetGalley & Harlequin.

The writing was engaging & filled with action. Those who love a slow-burn romance, feminine rage, & bad ass witches will enjoy this book. I was NOT expecting the ending! Looking forward to the next in the series.

Be ready to be whisked away to a realm full of swashbuckling magic!! Our FMC is full of bravery, swagger, and magic like one has yet to see on the sea. From the first word to the last be prepared to be sucked into a tale that will have you pining for the MMC, holding your breath for each adventure and longing for more!!

If you like pirates, magic, slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romance and fast-paced epic adventures, The Sea Witch is the book for you. I was so deeply invested in this story and while I tore through the pages at an alarming pace, a part of me also never wanted it to end.

First of all, Captain Alys Tanner is a badass FMC and I apologize for my vulgarity, but I simply cannot conjure up another word to accurately describe her. We meet Alys when she is a widow living in a colonial town in Massachussetts mourning the death of her sister at the hands of an angry, witch-hating mob. Alys discovers that she is to meet the same fate and hatches a plan to escape alongside the other women doomed to death. They gather under the cover of night to commandeer a ship and sail off to the Caribbean where it is rumored that witches are not hunted. Fast forward a year and Alys is now Captain Alys Tanner of The Sea Witch, a force to be reckoned with upon the sea with it's all-women crew of pirates and witches. Enter Sailing Master Ben Priestley. He is aboard the Royal Navy ship, the Jupiter, as it docks on an island where a gathering of notorious pirates is taking place. He spots Alys fleeing after the battle ensues and gives chase until he finds himself standing aboard her ship. He's immediately captured and thrown in the brig, and thus begins an epic story of love, friendship, magic, prejudice, battles and grand treasure-hunting adventure.

I know that this book isn't expected to release until August, but I am eagerly awaiting the release of book two because I already miss these characters immensely. I loved each and every one of Alys' crew members, their familiars and even the monsters and villains in this story. The writing was skillful and entertaining and the characters were well-developed and fascinating. The magic system is a bit all over the place, but I had a lot of fun imagining all of these incredible women using their power and supporting one another. I could honestly go on and on about this book, as it may be my favorite read of the year so far; easily a five-star read for me and I'm so excited to read more from this author as soon as possible!

I honestly couldn’t get into this book. I had started it and put back down so many times. I did push through it and finish it though. Thank you for the opportunity to read it.

First 50% is great if you like historical romance! In a lot of ways, it feels very much like the mass market paperbacks of ye olde times and the only thing missing is the MMC being portrayed in a ripped naval uniform with glistening pecs and hair blowing in a phantom wind on the cover.

The second 50% is much more romantasy and swashbuckling adventure! I enjoyed the later half much more, though it did feel at times like we jumped from one conflict straight into another. In a way, the first half was too boring and the second half was too eventful.

Re: romantasy… if you prefer a coherent magic system, then I regret to inform you that you may want to look elsewhere. None of the magic of this book makes sense, especially not in the historic context in which it’s portrayed. We get witches being burned and hung for being witches (it’s giving early 1700s/colonial Puritanism!) but also the British navy has mages on staff and men with magic go to university? So which is it? Is magic bad or do we just hate women (also on brand for the time period but doesn’t make sense here). Additionally, the women can make magic do anything at all (I’m a bee! I’m a rat! I’m the waves battering the shore!) but only for a short period and then they have to hug to get it back? It was a little strange.

The story ends on a sea werewolf cliffhanger but I’m not sure whether I’m invested enough to continue reading. Probably not.

Thank you to HarperCollins and the author for the chance to read an ARC in exchange for review!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this E-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Pirates of the Caribbean meets Agatha All Along (but only slightly). I thought this was a good light read. There were some overt expressions of oppression and the treatment of witches, even in the magical sphere, but in terms of worldbuilding, that was really it. There were a few plot holes and some scenes that left me thinking what was even happening, but overall it was a light read that I breezed through.

3/5.

In a world where magic can only be held by men, where women are hanged for the same practices, comes a tale of a witch who escapes prosecution to become a pirate. In less than a year Alys has rescued and created her own female fleet of pirates aboard her ship. She captures an enemy named Ben who works for the Navy, the very group searching out and murdering witches. After a few pirate adventures they begin to trust each other in this enemy-to-lover tale.

All around a refreshing read! Eva builds strong female characters who are intelligent, strong, and resilient. I look forward to reading Salt & Sorcery #2! Thank you Harper Collins for this ARC.

Pirate Fantasy!!! I have been wanting to read one for so long, so I was very happy to be able to read this and I had a fun time! The Sea Witch follows Alys, the captain of a ship of all women, many of whom are also witches, and the naval officer they take prisoner Ben, as they uncover secrets and form an unlikely alliance.

The plot is what kept me the most interested here, it feels very reminiscent of the Pirates of the Caribbean, but with even more whimsy and more romance. Although the plot calls for high stakes (and it is there in multiple moments), I felt like the stakes could have been amped up even more. Most of our characters felt a little too impenetrable, and it made the stakes feel a little wonky when everything else was so high.

Alys is a strong female character who is always admirable, from beginning to end. Her character arc is small, because she’s already so sure of who she is, but her growth mainly comes through in her relationship with Ben, the navigator apart of the Royal Navy. I loved the dynamic between them, Ben is a by-the-rules navigator who ends up prisoner on Alys’ ship, and their growing bond and mysteries about himself too lead to great tension throughout this novel. The supporting characters in this novel stood out a lot too! You can feel the camaraderie between the female pirates, and the evilness of the antagonists they encounter, they reflect off one another very well. I do wish we could have gotten more scenes between Ben and the other crew on Alys’ ship to further his alignment with them, but his moments were Alys were nice to read. He had the most growth out of any character here.

My only issue regarding the world these characters operate in was that I never had a full grasp of the magic. What are its limitations besides the witches just losing energy from performing spells? It was like they could do anything with their magic, which to me makes it feel like anything is truly possible for them to do and get out of a situation with ease because there’s nothing concrete to understand the magic system here. I liked the aspect of how men with magic were treated vs. women, and that does explain some of this, but it still felt a little silly that they could just do almost anything they could think of without there being some more of a limitation than what was presented.

While the writing has some moments of clunkiness, I was entertained the whole way through, and the cliffhanger???? I will be wanting to read the next book!

Thank you to NetGalley & Harlequin Trade Publishing/Canary Street Press for the ARC! Book comes out Aug. 26, 2025!

This one cackles in the face of the patriarchy and then sails away with your heart. We’ve got pirate witches, a fierce all-female crew, and a stolen ship with serious attitude—need I say more?

The main girl? Obsessed. She’s clever, commanding, and totally hex-worthy. And the broody navy boy she captures? A delicious mix of uptight and unhinged once the sparks start flying. Watching those two banter their way into a reluctant alliance (and eventually more)? Yes please.

There’s tropical danger, magical duels, salty sea beasts, and enough “DOWN WITH THE SYSTEM” energy to keep me flipping pages like my life depended on it. A few moments felt a little slow, and I wanted more heat earlier on—but once it hits? It hits.

Basically, it’s feminist, fun, and full of chaos. If you’re into witches causing trouble on the high seas and romance that sneaks up on you mid-battle, this one delivers the goods.

Witches saving themselves and taking back their power by stealing a brigantine and sailing off into the Caribbean Seas to become feared pirates. Then add in epic sea monsters, an intriguing prisoner, and sprinkle with spice. What fun!

I feel like this book is going to be loved by many readers who are into romantasy books who also love pirates and magic. That being said, I did like this book but I didn't love it. The beginning drew me right in but I had a hard time staying engaged and I don't know if that was down to the story telling or something else but I was struggling to pick it up. In the end I ended up enjoying this story but I'm not sure if it's a series I would continue. The main character is a strong, capable, empowering woman and I loved that this book focused on her and her strengths. I liked Ben as well and I feel like he added a lot to the story and who doesn't like a little spicy time? Also, he is a quick learner :) I didn't really feel like the side characters played a prominent role in this novel and whether that is by design or not, I'm not sure. I'm going to have to sit with this book and I may read it again when the next book comes out if I'm in a more seafaring/piratey mood.

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing | Canary Street Press for access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Harlequin Trade Publishing for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

This seafaring adventure is very pro-women. I enjoyed the story overall, but definitely felt like it dragged, especially in the middle portion. The last 20% went by quickly, as there was a lot of action and story development (set up for book #2).

I appreciated all the social commentary on the subjugation of women and people of color, the lack of autonomy, etc. The author makes it abundantly clear that most social issues are not so clear cut (ex: pirating is wrong, everyone always has a choice). I was a little disappointed in the light insta-love; the author relies heavily on the fact that the two MCs are bound together because of their dreams. It was a clever use of that mechanism - and that the FMC doesn't know magic very well.

Overall this is a promising start to the series. Hopefully the pace picks up in following books.