Guard your secrets — and your heart — fiercely.

USA Today bestselling romance author, Eva Leigh (The Good Girl’s Guide to Rakes), sets sail on her latest Salt and Sorcery series with this intrepid first installment, The Sea Witch. Historical fiction backdrops of Puritan New England and the seas of the Caribbean during the Golden Age of Piracy set the stage for adventure, romance, and magic. Leigh weaves a spellbinding tale that calls out to the playful adventurer in any reader. A taste of escapism with a lot of promise!

In The Sea Witch, where magic is forbidden and women are subjugated, the only path to freedom is one that takes to the seas, beyond the reach of the law:

“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.”

In The Sea Witch, I hoped for a swashbuckling adventure told from a sharp, feminist perspective. Which is exactly what Eva Leigh delivered. This novel understands both the tradition and the tightrope walked by historical fiction and adds refreshing modernity to dreamy visuals of bodices and breeches for a satisfying read that many creed of reader will enjoy.

From the first chapter, the crew of The Sea Witch (the name of a ship, for clarity going forward) is formidable and brave, hardened without being made hard-hearted. A cast of characters that you want to root for and would follow into any battle. Alys, our intrepid Captain and badass female-lead, has a relatable vulnerability that keeps her grounded, despite a seemingly limitless well of powers and abilities at her disposal. In Ben, our well-regulated love interest, he acts as a warm foil to Alys’ rough edges but I hope to see more of his inner depths revealed throughout the rest of the series.

As a romance, The Sea Witch checks all the boxes. The growing affection and mutual respect between Alys and Ben feels organic and their moments of intimacy are almost a respite from the chaos unfolding in the world around them. If anything, I wish there was more time in The Sea Witch to more fully explore them.

Fantasy takes center stage in The Sea Witch, to the point that historical guide points like piracy, the slave trade in the Caribbean, and the witch trials of New England feel like intrusions into a much more fantastical world. This is a case of taking the sweet with the sour and, despite some reservations, it’s a taste I’m happy to acquire.

Historical fiction purists run the risk of being disappointed by The Sea Witch. The historical references I’ve mentioned so far really only serve as anchors to space and place, a means of settling the reader comfortably into a world that is about to explode beyond its confines. From there the immense magical scale of sea monsters enchanted to due the bidding of evil men, mysterious occult practices, and magical powers that can call forth storms and bind lovers across the plane of dreams lifts the narrative out of any semblance of realism.

And that’s not a negative, as far as I’m concerned. What it allows for is a remarkable diversity of characters and the sort of improbabilities that become the intrigue that makes The Sea Witch impossible to put down. This first-installment is very nearly too vast for what Leigh endeavors to do. So much happens and, yet, we’ve barely scratched the surface of Alys and Ben’s story.

Nevertheless, it’s an enchantment and an ensnaring one, at that.

Spice, Triggers, and Tropes [Warning: This section contains spoilers]

As mentioned previously, The Sea Witch understands the tried and true formula of historical romance. Favorite tropes like forced proximity and the good ole “only one bed at the inn” inject this enemies to lovers romance with all the delicious beats that fans of romantasy and historical romance expect. The Sea Witch is classified as erotica and offers up a classic selection of love scenes that prioritize intimacy and discovery over particularly novel material.

In short: The spice may be more mild and adherent to the fundamentals. But the classics, done well, are always satisfying.

This being a high-stakes adventure on the high seas, a fair bit of peril and stakes are involved. Once again, I can’t help but settle back on the idea that The Sea Witch evokes a sort of youthful whimsy for playing pirates. We sail beyond the edges of the map, to a world of monsters and treachery, but with a sense of safety.

Even so, readers should be advised of the following content warnings:
- Mild descriptions of violence, battle, and injuries
- Murder
- Domestic violence and emotional abuse
- Animal cruelty (not graphic)

Final Thoughts:

Reading The Sea Witch is like charting a course toward the vast, unknown horizon. This first installment in the Salt and Sorcery series is charged with immersing readers in a complex history that is only expanding with each revelation. The map has been rolled out for us, the promise of treasure awaits, and, from there, it is up to fate and fair winds. There’s a dissatisfaction that comes with reaching the last page of The Sea Witch — and that’s that we have to wait for the second installment!

Thank you so much to the team at Harlequin Trade Publishing for the review copy!

The Sea Witch is available wherever books are sold!

I received this book as an ARC from netgalley! Thank you to Netgalley, the publishers and Eva Leigh for the chance to read it!

I love that this is a fantasy-ish book set in the real world. That magic and normal life are melded together. I also love the way the women are taking back their power. Living the way they want to live despite death looming.... that the witches are CHOOSING to live out loud because they know they're going to be hunted no matter what. It's amazing.

ALSO, I'm obsessed with Ben and Alys. I can't wait to see where this series goes.

This book was pirates of the Caribbean coded with a mix of magic, witches and so much feminine rage. I enjoyed the FMCs character growth and how the MMC fell for her. All of the female pirate witches were fierce and a good found family. The ENDING WAS A RIDDDEE AND now I need the next book because that CANNOT be how it ends!

I read this book partially on my kindle and as an audiobook. I enjoyed the audiobook and thought the narrator did a good. It was single narration which isn’t my favorite but it didn’t take away from my overall experience with the book.

Okay, so I'm going to need the sequel to this NOW.

The Sea Witch is a story of women daring to escape from the shackles of the men who have smothered them and their power. Led by Alys, the ship The Sea Witch becomes something of a safe haven to those outcast by cruel circumstance and the men who enable it. When a legendary pirate dies, Alys goes to hear the reading of the late pirate's final words, which reveal that he was actually working with the Royal Navy to enslave dangerous sea creatures to do their bidding, fighting their enemies and taking the seas for themselves. But the dead pirate's letter does tell one last tale: that there is a failsafe he engineered, hidden, to free the creatures from their yoke. When the Royal Navy breaks up the makeshift wake, Alys flees with knowledge of that failsafe... only to be actively pursued by a navigator and sailing master of the Royal Navy's flagship. Once captured, however, Alys realizes her captive has secrets and desires of his own... that she can leverage to find the failsafe. But Ben certainly won't go down without a fight.

This book was absolutely beautiful. The writing is stunning, and paints a gorgeous picture, a war looming set against a deadly Caribbean backdrop. Even the side characters are well fleshed out, and have their own stories that, even if only briefly glimpsed, offer an even broader look at the expansive world Leigh has woven. The women crewing The Sea Witch helm the story and its message: women deserve agency and freedom, and to be freed from the shackles of historic patriarchal and moralistic standards. Even with the focus on Alys and Ben, it's clear we've only seen a fraction of what these women have experienced and what they can accomplish.

And speaking of Alys and Ben? I LOVE them. They're both intelligent and strong, and are excellent verbal sparring partners. Their relationship builds in a way that does not feel contrived, even if spurred on by magic. They still are very much themselves, even when they find each other and question their long-held beliefs as a result. The need for learning more about both of their pasts, but especially Ben's, is going to be more than adequate fuel to keep me sated until the second book comes out. Or at least, rereading the book will have to do.

Overall, if you're into pirates, feminine rage, magic on the high seas, and historical intrigue... strap in. It's going to be a bumpy ride, but it's so very worth it.

So many thanks to NetGalley and Canary Street Press for providing me with a digital ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!!

🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️

Rating: 5 stars

Review posted to StoryGraph: July 12, 2025 (https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/57b40d82-8c68-4d4c-b067-685c29550355)
Review posted to Instagram: August 1, 2025 (https://www.instagram.com/p/DM066AXxtCG/)

This was fine I guess. When I requested it on Netgalley it feel under Erotica on top of it being Romantasy which is a genre I usually enjoy but too be honest the spicy was pretty vanilla. Also with this being about Lady Pirates I thought it would be more diverse in terms of sexuality. The biggest fantasy is there is a ship full of women and there isn't at least one sapphic relationship?

Alys, was an interesting character and I enjoyed her as Captain and honestly her relationship with Ben was cute, loved the yearning and knife at throat vibes. But I feel like tonally the book struggled with pacing. When there was action it was engaging and I loved the Pirates of the Caribbean vibes. But then it kind of drops and gets boring.

A the end of the day though, If there is a sequel I will check it out. I also thing the ALC would have benefited with a dual narration as well as POV's probably labelled because there were times I would get lost trying to remember which prospective I was listening to.

Woooooooow this book was so good!!!! The magic system was so cool, and the FMC is amazing! Absolutely loved her, and the MMC. I flew through, read it in less than 48 hours, and I’m already dying for book 2! That ending… 👀

Thank you NetGalley and Canary Street Press for the opportunity to read this eARC.

Very Jack Sparrow but in female form vibes pirate Romantasy featuring an all female witch pirate group lead fearlessly by Ally’s, who run from Puritan New England in order to avoid a sentence of death. Is that is…..no freaking way!

Upon the capture of navigational officer Ben, a slow-burn enemies to lovers storyline begins where he is the innocent partner.

Well written, ending on a WTH cliffhanger…pick this one up for a Romantasy change of pace from the cookie cutter stamp currently out there.

Thank you to NetGalley and The Hive/Canary Street Press for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

What an amazing book with such an incredibly well thought out storyline! Gotta say, I've never read a pirate romantasy before, but I'm incredibly glad that this one was my first as wow - it truly was incredible. I was captivated early on and I loved all of the battles with the British Navy, the introduction of all of the mythical creatures, and the STRONG female empowerment vibes.

Alys is a witch, and also a captain of a badass all female crew - they are fighting against a world that doesn't allow women to use their magic. The themes of oppression and resistance and just the all out power of their magic was just truly incredible.

The slow-burn, enemies to lovers romance was done well - and I actually really loved how it didn't take over the entire book - the romance was romance, and it was a wonderful addition - but it was just that, an addition to the amazing story. I also truly loved how Alys was the one teaching him all of the sexual things ;) He was a fast learner though!!

This book does end on a cliffhanger - and even expecting it, I did have to admit I got angry as I just want more right now! This is one hell of an impressive start to a new series and I can't wait to see how it all plays out.

This book was an engaging and enjoyable read from start to finish. The writing style was clear and easy to follow, making it accessible while still drawing you into the story. The characters were well-developed and had enough depth to keep me invested in their journeys. The pacing was steady, balancing slower, thoughtful moments with more exciting, action-driven scenes. While there were a few predictable parts, the overall storyline was still compelling and kept me turning the pages. Whether you’re new to this genre or a longtime fan, this book is definitely worth picking up.

The Sea Witch is not your mama’s fairytale. This is a seething, sensual reimagining of The Little Mermaid. Except here, the sea witch is the hero, and the mermaid has her own agenda. Desire is as much a weapon as vulnerability.

The world building is perfectly atmospheric. Think: gothic coastal town, meets sultry cabaret dreamscape. Leigh blends fantasy and historical romance with a fresh twist that leans more toward emotional trauma and power dynamics than sweet courtship. Every scene oozes tension, the kind that claws at you long after the page turns.

What really surprised me was the complexity of the characters. The “sea witch” is a deeply wounded, morally gray figure who is equal parts dangerous and tragic. Watching him and the heroine circle each other, while each harbors their own secrets, trying not to drown in their growing obsession…it was addictive. And the spice? Hot without feeling gratuitous. It walks the razor’s edge between pleasure and pain with surprising emotional depth.

This was such a good take on a pirate romantasy! We finally have a women pirate who is a baddie. She also is the experienced one in the bedroom department and that is so hard to come by these days. I love the switch up on all fronts!

This is a slow burn enemies-to-lovers romance with plenty of tension spice and feminine rage! I loved Eva Leighs writing style and was captivated from the beginning to end.

Alys Tanner is not only wanted for witchcraft but also now piracy as she leads her all female coven crew on The Sea Witch. When a chance to stop the Colonial British Navy for good presents itself Alys begins a journey of adventure and desire to see who will rule the seas. And while kidnapping British Naval navigator Ben Priestley was not in her original plans she now finds herself not only drawn to the leveraged knowledge her prisoner holds but also the very man himself.

Female pirates who are also witches set in 18th century Puritanical New England may be my new favorite type of angsty swashbuckling adventure to consume. As someone who loves both witchy tales and pirate adventures I eagerly flipped page after page in this opposites attract historical fiction meets sea driven fantasy tale. The action scenes highlighted aspects I’ve come to love in these style books with mythical creatures, curses, magic, revenge, and exciting battles. The romantic dynamic between Alys and Ben surprised me with a refreshing twist that I could not get enough of. With the FMC being more dominant, fierce and strongly independent (and also more experienced) of the two, and the MMC serving more of a reserved heroic energy who was willing to follow her lead (and eager to learn) with all her commands and desires. Needless to say the spice had magic fueled heat that was just too good to put down. I will warn that this does end on a bit of a cliffhanger so just prepare for the pull that will be your need for the sequel. If your looking for a book with witchy historical fiction magic, mythical monsters, opposites attract spice, strong female characters, and of course pirate filled levels of adventures then you need to pick up this book

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

When I picked this book up, I was so intrigued by the premise of this book. When I started it was giving big Pirates of the Caribbean vibes but with spice. Sign me up!

As I read, I lost a bit of interest in the story and felt like it was slow moving to get to a point where I felt connected to the plot and the story. It felt like a struggle to get through, but it may be more of a me problem. I hope this book finds its audience!

The Sea Witch by Eva Leigh
⭐️⭐️⭐️
I have very mixed feelings about this book. I think a physical copy or audiobook would have been better for me. It took me a long time to get into the story. I loved the FMC and pirate ship parts, but the story took me almost halfway through. If I had easily DNFed, I would have never finished this.

I did enjoy this, but because it took me so long to get into, I will just give it 3 stars for now. I think I might read another version of this book in the future, though, and see if it makes a difference since I loved some parts so much.

Recommended to pirate romantasy witchy readers.

Thank you Canary Street Press for providing this book for review consideration via @netgalley. All opinions are my own.

#netgalley #bookreview #theseawitch

So many wonderful tropes and archetypal characters, wrapped up in a feminist, anti-colonial story for our times as only Eva Leigh can. Thank goodness our pirate queen, Alys Tanner, eschews the "take no prisoners" philosophy and DOES in fact take a prisoner, in the form of buttoned up, by-the-books, British Navy navigator, Ben Priestley. Throw in a delightful assortment of crew members, a creepy sect of magicians, and several enslaved sea monsters forced into use as 18th century weapons of mass destruction, and you have a book that careens along the high seas right into its cliff hanger of an ending. I genuinely cannot wait to read the next book in this duology.

Oh, and shout out to the cover designer. It's gorgeous!

Look at this point I *know* the cliffhanger is coming but I still can't handle it. All women pirates of the Caribbean, but make them witches- sign me up. Really fun book looking forward to the next instalment. Thank you to netGalley for the ARC!

Top Pick! - 4.5 Stars

A gripping fantasy world that I never wanted to leave!

Eva Leigh writes lush worlds with the perfect balance of female empowerment and males who are supportive and not threatened by strong women. I’ve always enjoyed her historical romance stories, but The Sea Witch goes above and beyond. It’s Pirates of the Caribbean, but better. How better? If Jack Sparrow were an intelligent female with magical ability and the desire to be free, but still do the right thing… that’s Alys Tanner.

Now, at first, I thought, based on the titles, this book would be about a female witch pirate who was captured. Never in a hundred years did I expect it to be about Alys Tanner, the captain of a ship called The Sea Witch, and her magically inclined crew on an adventure through the seas to locate clues that would help them free sea-faring leviathans from British Naval enslavement. Add in a relentless, broody, and sexy naval sailing master, who charts the seas, who is intent on bringing Alys to heel, and things get better.

Leigh is once again inspiring me, as I love books that combine plenty of action with romance and a deep-seated plot that still leaves me with questions when I reach the end. The pacing is on point, the stakes are constantly raised, and the setting is lush and vibrant. The magic system was probably one of the aspects that captivated me, aside from the underlying story. Women exist in a world where they are persecuted for using magic, whereas men are professionally trained and celebrated. The witches of Alys Tanner’s crew discover their power through natural means, tying their development to learned experiences and imagination. I love this idea of where magic merely exists, and by embracing it, calling to it, a person can harness its power.

The romance itself is a slow burn that quickly becomes incendiary. Alys and Ben both come from similar yet different worlds. Tortured by their pasts and desperate to forge their own futures. As their paths intertwine, the developing relationship only enriches the story itself and adds a new layer of conflict for both characters.

Overall, I have only one thing left to say – when will Book Two be available? This is all I care about at this point. I need more of this story, of the Sea Witch, the crew, and its captain. If you’re looking for a romantasy with a unique world, a magical system that kicks ass, female empowerment on a grand scale, and plenty of action balanced with romance, this one is for you.

~ Landra

3.5 stars

While this story veers from the historical romance I’ve read by this author, the strong female characters remain. In fact, I’d say the themes of strength, fortitude, and resistance from the female characters are even stronger in this book than in her others. That’s what it’s all about. Some are witches, some are not. All were oppressed and fought back. Now they are all on one ship together. Not just going around being pirates; that’s actually secondary to what they do. First and foremost, they help others who are oppressed. Furthermore, they never turn their backs on the slave trade and do all in their power to take it down.

Until I read this book, I never really understood the difference between Romantasy and Fantasy Romance. To be honest, I didn’t dig into it since I don’t read a ton of fantasy. Yet many (not all) of the fantasy I’ve read has an HFN for the main couple and a different couple is the focus in the following books, with the overarching story of the fantasy world still moving along. It was my own fault, I made that assumption just because I had read some of this author’s Historical Romance books. Warning to all Romance readers, this book ends on a cliffhanger. And I was not happy about that. Again, my own fault. But now I know the difference between Romantasy and Fantasy Romance. That may or may not help since it seems nobody labels books correctly anyway. (I’ve been burned too many times by the label Romantic Comedy!)

You may gather from the above paragraph that it took way too long for the romance part of this book to take off for me. At the very least, there was definite yearning from both Alys and Ben, so that helped. And the world-building was great. I loved how the author wove our true history of witches, pirates, the slave trade, and the Caribbean into the fantasy world with leviathans and krakens and magical powers. There was also a scavenger hunt of sorts, where the Sea Witch pirates were following clues left by a now deceased pirate to find a way to stop the Royal Navy and their arsenal of sea creatures.

Alys and Ben forge a unique bond early on in the story, and I greatly enjoyed that aspect of their relationship. Both have secrets, but mostly Ben. Alys’s secrets aren’t secret to those she trusts, whereas Ben hasn’t faced his childhood and his relationship to his dad himself, so his secrets run deep. Which turns out to be a problem in the long run.

When it comes to all of the positive representation, I adore this book. There are strong women who are fighting the patriarchy while finding their freedom. Alys is so self-assured when it comes to what she wants in and out of the bedroom. She doesn’t hesitate to direct Ben they finally give in to their passion. She also learns to cede control once in a while. Again, both in and out of the bedroom.

I may have been disappointed with the pacing of the book and the cliffhanger, but had I gone into the story knowing these things ahead of time, I don’t think it would have been an issue. Going into the next book of the series, I’ll be more prepared.

This one was a mixed bag for me, but I do think there’s a lot here that other readers will enjoy. A pirate crew of witchy women with strong themes of female empowerment sounded like such a fun premise, and I really liked the idea of blending seafaring adventure with romance.

Where it didn’t quite land for me was the balance of genres. It leaned more toward historical romance than fantasy, and I think I went in expecting more magic and high-stakes drama. The FMC and MMC had interesting moments, but I found myself wanting more development for the rest of the cast.

Even so, the concept is creative, and I can see readers who love historical romance with a sprinkle of magic really enjoying this one. For me, it wasn’t the right fit right now, but I still think it has an audience that will connect with it more deeply.

A really solid pirate romantasy that’s filled with everything I enjoy about Leigh’s historicals, although I’m so intrigued by the mystery surrounding Ben’s origins and how that’s going to come into play in future books. And ALYS, pirate queen of my heart, I’ll swear fealty to you forever. (Also, is Luca getting his own romance at some point, because I would like to humbly request THAT book if so.)

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this edition from the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.