Pirates of the Caribbean meets a grown up Treasure Island in this fun break from “run of the mill” Romantasy. I enjoyed how this blended some of the lore of witch trials with a survival story for our FMC, Alys. I’d never thought to wonder about the women that got away and how they’d live their new lives and what retribution they might seek. That Alys and her crew of women didn’t let vengeance blind them and still stood up for those that could not themselves was a great touch.

I really enjoyed the journey this story takes you on. Between the riddles and the exotic locales, it was nice to just fall into the story. The slow burn and tension were well done but I liked that the story could have stood on its own without any of the romance. It just felt very well thought out and the breadcrumbs for the twists toward the end were VERY well placed. All in all, I’d definitely recommend this to anyone wanting to add a Black Sails style story to their repertoire!

Thank you to the team at Harlequin for the opportunity to read this as an eARC via NetGalley!

Having been new to the pirate fantasy world, I really had no idea what to expect but let me tell you, the journey The Sea Witch took me on was amazing! The concept of this book was really refreshing. To have a FMC who is a witch pirate captaining an all female crew who are all also badass feminists empowering each other while the MMC was the one being less experienced (not only with how the real world works but also sexually) taking his ques from her was quite unique. Not only do you get some pretty creative world building with magic and monsters but there's also really powerful and heavy hitting topics discussed throughout the book. Slavery, corruption in the government, and abuse among others all of which are talked about in a way that you as a reader really understand what those characters felt going through these situations.

I will admit, the first half of the book was a little bit slower for me saved only by the building tension you get between Alys and Ben. The second half is really where the plot takes off and all the little bits and pieces of this quest you've been taken along on are brought together. Some clever twists and turns made my jaw drop and immediately want more of the story so I cannot wait for more of this series to come out!

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing and Eva Leigh for granting me the experience of reading this as a digital ARC early!

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Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!
This book has an interesting plot, I just had trouble getting into it. I think it’s just a matter of writing style, so I’m sure others would enjoy this book, it just wasn’t for me.
I also think if the magic system was better explained it would help, I just did not feel anything towards the characters. Again, just a matter of writing style for me personally, the story itself is interesting and the historical concept was really good.

I really enjoyed reading this book! The author did a fabulous job with keeping the story interesting and flowing. I never really liked books that drag on but this book never did! The characters were very unique and I really enjoyed there journey. I will be recommending this book to everyone I know!

I did not know that I was missing a historical, pirate laden romantasy novel, but as soon as I started reading 'The Sea Witch' I couldn't believe it took me this long to realize how good pirate romance novels are. Eva Leigh delivers a swashbuckling, female-leading cast of diverse characters who crew the eponymous Sea Witch on the Caribbean waters. All the members of Alys' crew have had reasons to fear and hate men, as the novel is set during the 1700s and women have less rights than the family pet. Add magical abilities and men of the time were quick to destroy any woman who challenged them. It's this backstory that makes the women of the Sea Witch uneasy when they find themselves captors of Benjamin Priestley, a naval navigator whose life work before this moment comprised of helping the British Navy hunt down and destroy pirate ships. Unfortunately, Alys finds herself in need of Ben's experience with the Caribbean seas as they hunt the answer to a riddle that could help remove the British Navy's biggest asset: a leviathan that is tethered to their man o' war, The Jupiter, by magic. Will Alys and her crew learn to trust Ben during his time on the ship? Will Ben stay true to the Navy, or will he find sympathy to Alys and her cause? 'The Sea Witch' takes us on an adventure full of romance, high-stakes hijinks through the islands of the Caribbean, and the joy of watching women come into their power and exercise it without apology during a time when women were categorically oppressed.

The Sea Witch is being billed as the first book in the 'Salt and Sorcery' series and I'm excited to see the pirate-niche of romantasy getting recognition with these books. I'll be looking forward to an announcement of what comes next from Eva Leigh.

Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Press/Canary Street Publishing, and Eva Leigh for allowing me to read an eARC of this novel.

If you are missing Pirates of the Caribbean, and you love feminine rage/power, then you need to read The Sea Witch when it releases. The Sea Witch had so many fun elements that were off the ~ currently beaten ~ path. I feel like every book I read now has a lost princess or dragons or fae lords. While I could not be more obsessed with all of those things, sometimes I want something a little different, and The Sea Witch absolutely delivered. Pirates. Witches. Romance. Hot British naval officers. *fans self* I truly enjoyed this journey, and I’m so upset that I need to wait for the next book! Very solid 4 out of 5 for me.
There were so many things to love about this book, but my absolute favorite was the role reversal for our main characters. Like many other books I love, our FMC, Alys, is strong and fierce. She wasn’t made that way by a man though, but in spite of men. She acts like a true, and typically male, pirate by guarding her heart and only bedding men when her ship arrives in a port. She is sexually experienced, more so than her male counterpart, and she has a confidence that radiates off the page. She is a truly unique FMC, and I really enjoyed reading her story. I really appreciated her backstory and the fact that she lifts other women up and gives them confidence and a path to freedom. Alys reminds me of so many of my favorite morally gray MMCs, and I’m not mad about it.
But Ben. Sweet, gentle (okay, maybe not so gentle), Ben. He gives major Commodore Norrington vibes, and I mean that in the best way. Think Commodore Norrington in the third Pirates of the Caribbean movie. His backstory made me so invested in his character, and he’s a man with blue eyes and is British. Raw, next question. I didn’t love that he wasn’t as experienced with women at first, but I loved how that affected the power dynamic between him and Alys. It was so cool to see that switch-up. We still have so much more to learn about him, and that cliffhanger was just disrespectful.
While the romance was lovely, the spic was a little bit off for me. It felt like I was watching a porno. She claims to have “arrived” 4-5+ times from a man who is inexperienced? It’s just not realistic to me and felt like an oversell. There were really steamy moments, but that just took me out of the romance a bit. Of course, if you’re a female that has that ability, let me know your secrets.
I also felt that the side characters were a little lackluster. I wish that we had the chance to learn more about their backstories and what their experiences before the ship were. They all felt a little flat - like we barely scratched the surface. It could have been really cool to have Ben get the chance to hear more about their stories to convey that to us as the readers. However it could have been done, I just wish I was able to become more attached to them.
With all of that said, the plot was plotting. The opening - a mysterious letter being read at a funeral that sends Alys on a mission - was such a good hook. It had me invested and needing to know what came next. The story kept going at a really nice pace, and I didn’t want to put it down. I had to know the ending. Again, that cliffhanger was absolutely rude, and now I have to wait goodness knows how long to find out what happens next.
While this wasn’t my typical type of read, I’m so glad I picked this up, and I’m very thankful to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing and Canary Street Press to have allowed me to read this as an ARC. Now I’m off to rewatch the Pirates of the Caribbean series to quench my thirst for more pirate stories.

The Sea Witch follows a pirate ship of scorned women (and witches, duh) as they hunt down a treasure in a scavenger-hunt like manner. Along the way, they capture Navy Navigator, Ben. Ben slowly integrates into their crew and into Alys' (The captain and FMC) life.

This book just did not land for me. I loved the pirate setting and historical romance, but it just felt cluttered and hard to focus. Alys and Ben's relationship literally seemed written, instead of having layers of depth to build on. They magically (and accidentally) connect through dream walking, but no real emotional connection or development was established other than the fact that they find each other attractive and go on these missions together. The crew itself does tend to grow on you, but some of those interactions just felt very one dimensional- like they were only happening for the purpose of validating a later plot point, rather than being genuine character development (ex: The dreamwalking convo in the beginning). The magic system is not totally defined, although it is super cool. I like the premise of women leading women and claiming an identity outside of societal bounds. I think Alys' character was trying really hard to be a kick*ss, hardcore woman who is also a softy?? But it all just felt too staged for me. The story had strong potential, but the execution just wasn't there.

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

This was such a fun surprise! It’s my first time reading a pirate romantasy, and I honestly didn’t expect to love it as much as I did. I felt totally swept up in the world—like I was actually out at sea with the crew.

The main character was such a badass—she’s a witch and a pirate captain, leading an all-women, all-witch crew (which I loved). The dreamwalking aspect was really cool too, and I just wish we got to see a bit more of that connection as the story went on.

The pacing felt great, and the whole thing was super immersive without being overwhelming. It just flowed so well.

Thank you Net Galley for providing me with an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own.

This book gave me exactly what I would expect from Eva Leigh and then some. It contains all of the feminism woven into historical romance that I want and love from her stories. The magic system and community oriented way that the female characters practiced was a joy to read about, and it was fun to watch the MMC come apart at the seams to sew himself back up as something new.
I should put a slight spoiler tag that this ends on a brutal cliffhanger which has left me reeling. I absolutely cannot wait for the next book in this series to come out.

This was my first ever pirate romantasy and I really enjoyed it!
What to expect:
• witches, pirates, mages, sea creatures
• badass FMC & all female crewship
• enemies to lovers
• searching for treasure

I do wish there had been more dreamwalking - it connects our 2 main characters in the beginning but we only read about it happening twice. I absolutely loved the power and fierce-ness of the woman aboard the Sea Witch. They're truly a force to be reckoned with. The ending was gut wrenching and I wasn't expecting it, can't wait to see what happens next! Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.

An adventure at sea with an enemies-to-lovers that blooms on ship. It was such a great read with everything from action to romance. I love that the pirate was a women and a witch instead of it being a man. A ship full of only women until Ben follows the captain onto her ship. I can not believe this ending, it was a surprise and left me wanting to know what happens with them next.

I received this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was an engaging read! I enjoyed the plot and would read it again.

This book had me at witch pirates but kept me with solid characters and an even better plot. I definitely recommend this book to fans of Pirates of the Caribbean, fans of V.E. Schwab, or anyone who loves badass women being badass.

Our FMC Alys is very Anne Bonny coded. She’s strong, she’s independent, and she doesn’t need a man. But not if our mmc Ben, who’s giving Commodore Norrington (iykyk), can help it!

I thought the plot was very interesting and moved at a good pace. The hunt for the failsafe was the perfect way to keep them moving along. I also appreciated the inner struggles of both of our main characters. I liked that typical gender roles were a little subverted with Alys being the one to draw Ben out of his shell and teach him that he didn’t have to conform to society’s expectations. She was also the one who was more experienced sexually, which was refreshing to read in a romantasy. Alternatively, Ben was the one who showed Alys it was okay to admit/show love and vulnerability. The relationship between Alys and Ben also had some queer undertones, even though they are both presumably cishet (but pirates and witches are queer coded so).

I caught some subtle nods to Pirates of the Caribbean throughout the story, which I very much appreciated. As with any romantasy, I think the magic system and world building could have been established a little better during the exposition, but the plot was honestly really really solid. Everyone add this to your tbr and read it in August!

This was a fun read! This was a pirate romantasy book that was all about female empowerment. I found it to be very immersive and I love that the banter matched the time period. Can’t wait to read book 2!

Honestly, what’s not to love? I’m a huge fan of pirate books and add in witches! Fantastic. Alys is such a badass leader of her crew and I loved her immediately.
Ben was DREAMY and perfect and I love love love him so much! Reading their love story and them adventuring was a blast. Can’t wait for more!

Holy cliffhanger Batman! Wasn't expecting that ending but I had the best time getting there. Some seriously good spice, a literal boatload of feminism and a hero you can't help but love. Highly recommend for anyone who likes witches, pirates, or pirate witches and just wants to have a great time in a new world.

This was a very fun romantasy with pirates that would be perfect for Sea of Ruin fans. While some things weren’t to my taste and I wish there was a cliffhanger warning, I still enjoyed.

A wonderful read!
This novel drew me in from the very first page and kept me hooked until the end. The characters were vibrant and relatable, the writing was engaging, and the story had just the right balance of heart and humor. Highly recommend!
Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

The Sea Witch by Eva Leigh is a steamy, feminist retelling of The Little Mermaid that totally surprised me in the best way. This isn’t the Disney version—it’s darker, bolder, and packed with sharp wit, magical intrigue, and sizzling chemistry.

Margot, the sea witch, is such a standout. She’s powerful, clever, and unapologetically herself—definitely not your typical villain. Prince Alaric is layered too, and their dynamic is full of tension and slow-burning heat. Leigh dives deep into themes like freedom, sacrifice, and identity, all while keeping the romance front and center.

Some of the pacing lagged a bit for me, especially when the story shifted gears from politics to passion, but overall I really enjoyed the ride. If you like fairy tale retellings with teeth (and spice!), I highly recommend this one.

I love Eva Leigh. I love romantasy and pirates and everything that this is. But this felt a little cluttered and was difficult to get into. I love a strong female lead, but Alys was hard to like at times. I appreciate the opportunity to try it out and support her!