What do you think?
Rate this book
Salt & Sorcery #1
The Sea Witch
From a world where women are forbidden to use magic and the only freedom is found on the Caribbean high seas comes a swashbuckling romantasy from USA TODAY bestselling author Eva Leigh.
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.
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.
438 pages, Paperback
First published August 26, 2025
110 people are currently reading
27689 people want to read
About the author
Eva Leigh
27 books1,452 followersEva Leigh is a USA Today bestselling romance author. A graduate of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, her books have been featured by the New York Times, NPR, Oprah Daily, the Washington Post, Entertainment Weekly, Library Journal, Kirkus, Booklist, Self, Paste Magazine, and many more. Her work has also been translated into numerous languages. She lives on the Central California coast with her husband and cats. Visit her on the web at evaleighauthor.com.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 269 reviews
June 4, 2025
Thank you NetGalley and Canary Street Press for the opportunity to read and review the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
This was a unique twist on pirate romantasy. Welcome to the Caribbean! Yes I totally thought of Jack Sparrow just then. I thought of him frequently throughout this book.
An all female group of witch pirates led by a woman named Alys flee Puritanical New England to escape a death sentence. The British navy won’t give up so easy. They will destroy anything they can’t control. Including witches. After a year at sea, the witches end up capturing Ben, a navigational officer after he finds his way onto their ship. This of course leads to a slow burn, enemies to lovers romance. It was a nice change up seeing Alys as the sexually experienced one teaching Ben instead of the other way around. And he was definitely a fast learner. This was written so well and it does end on a cliffhanger but I’m excited to see how this series will progress.
This was a unique twist on pirate romantasy. Welcome to the Caribbean! Yes I totally thought of Jack Sparrow just then. I thought of him frequently throughout this book.
An all female group of witch pirates led by a woman named Alys flee Puritanical New England to escape a death sentence. The British navy won’t give up so easy. They will destroy anything they can’t control. Including witches. After a year at sea, the witches end up capturing Ben, a navigational officer after he finds his way onto their ship. This of course leads to a slow burn, enemies to lovers romance. It was a nice change up seeing Alys as the sexually experienced one teaching Ben instead of the other way around. And he was definitely a fast learner. This was written so well and it does end on a cliffhanger but I’m excited to see how this series will progress.
April 23, 2025
I really adored this book and what all it stands for! This is a pirate romantacy book that is full of passion, magic and female empowerment! This story takes us on an exciting adventure at sea! It is an enemies to lovers romance, has mythical creatures in it and includes battles with the British navy. It is bold, daring and full of action! This book was far from boring and kept me engaged throughout the entire time I was reading it. It is well written, thought provoking, fascinating and easy to read!
“The Sea Witch” revolves around the female main character named Alys, who is both a witch and a captain of an all female crew. Even though this is a world where females are not allowed to use their magic, they go against it! As the story unfolds, we see themes of resistance and oppression and the power of magic! This book left me feeling satisfied! I highly recommend it to anyone that is interested in reading a pirate romantic fantasy book! I give this book a 3 out of 5 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley, author Eva Leigh and Harlequin Trade Publishing | Canary Street Press for this digital advanced reader’s copy in exchange for my honest review!
This book is expected to be published on August 26, 2025!
“The Sea Witch” revolves around the female main character named Alys, who is both a witch and a captain of an all female crew. Even though this is a world where females are not allowed to use their magic, they go against it! As the story unfolds, we see themes of resistance and oppression and the power of magic! This book left me feeling satisfied! I highly recommend it to anyone that is interested in reading a pirate romantic fantasy book! I give this book a 3 out of 5 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley, author Eva Leigh and Harlequin Trade Publishing | Canary Street Press for this digital advanced reader’s copy in exchange for my honest review!
This book is expected to be published on August 26, 2025!
August 20, 2025
In a world where women are forbidden from using magic, the only place to truly be free is on the open sea and The Sea Witch takes full advantage of that premise. This swashbuckling romantasy throws you onto a pirate ship crewed entirely by witches, led by the fierce and powerful Alys. She’s the captain, the witch, and completely in control especially when she takes Ben, an enemy Navy sailor, prisoner.
The dynamic between them is everything. This is a slow burn enemies-to-lovers romance with plenty of tension, spice, and power shifts that stay firmly in Alys’s favor. I loved how she’s the strong one throughout, even in the intimate moments. The story also weaves in strong themes of feminine rage and rebellion, with a clear “burn it all down” energy that totally worked for me.
Of course, no pirate tale is complete without a treasure hunt, and this one delivers set against the lush backdrop of the Caribbean, with sparkling waters, island sunsets, and just the right amount of danger. It’s a wild, magical, and empowering adventure, perfect for summer reading. Thanks to Canary Street Press and HTP books for the gifted ARC. Thanks to Harlequin audio for the ALC. the narration was done well but I do wish it was duet instead of a single narrator. For a single narrator it was well done.
The dynamic between them is everything. This is a slow burn enemies-to-lovers romance with plenty of tension, spice, and power shifts that stay firmly in Alys’s favor. I loved how she’s the strong one throughout, even in the intimate moments. The story also weaves in strong themes of feminine rage and rebellion, with a clear “burn it all down” energy that totally worked for me.
Of course, no pirate tale is complete without a treasure hunt, and this one delivers set against the lush backdrop of the Caribbean, with sparkling waters, island sunsets, and just the right amount of danger. It’s a wild, magical, and empowering adventure, perfect for summer reading. Thanks to Canary Street Press and HTP books for the gifted ARC. Thanks to Harlequin audio for the ALC. the narration was done well but I do wish it was duet instead of a single narrator. For a single narrator it was well done.
September 3, 2025
2.5 ⭐️
I went into The Sea Witch really excited. Witches, pirates, magic on the high seas? That’s absolutely my kind of setup. Unfortunately, the execution didn’t work for me the way I hoped.
This story carried a lot of political weight, and while I don’t mind politics in fantasy (in fact, I usually love when it’s woven in well), here it felt flat and heavy-handed. Instead of letting the world-building and characters naturally show the struggles of women, witches, and oppressed groups, the narrative often spelled things out in a way that reminded me more of reading a history textbook than being immersed in a fantasy adventure.
Another piece that took me out of the story was the setting. Having it placed directly in the Caribbean, with real-world geography and colonial references, made it feel more like an urban or alternate history fantasy than a true escapist pirate rom-fantasy. Personally, I wish the author had built a fully imagined world with unique names and places. It would have made the magic and pirate elements shine brighter.
And then there’s the romance. For me, it was written in the same flat, spelled-out way. Instead of letting readers pick up on subtle glances, tension, or inference, the feelings were just laid out word for word. I never really got the chance to feel the romance building or form my own interpretation of the connection—it was simply told to me. Whether that was a side effect of the third-person POV or just the style, it didn’t give me the spark I look for in a rom-fantasy.
That said, I did appreciate the themes Eva Leigh wanted to tackle: the reality of sailing being a man’s world, the exclusion of women and witches, and the inclusion of Africans in the story of enslavement and resistance. These are important topics, but the way they were presented sometimes pulled me out of the narrative instead of drawing me deeper into it.
On the audio side, I do want to highlight the narrator. She did a great job keeping the pace of the book and carried the energy throughout, which made the listening experience smoother even when the story itself dragged.
Overall, I wanted this book to sweep me away, but instead it anchored me in issues that felt a little too much like the present day. If you enjoy direct social commentary in your fantasy, this might work better for you. For me, I prefer when politics and romance are layered in more subtly, letting me live in the story first and think critically through the characters’ experiences rather than being told outright what to take away.
A huge thank you to NetGalley for an ARC/ALC of this book as well as Harlequin Trade Publishing and Harlequin Audio!
I went into The Sea Witch really excited. Witches, pirates, magic on the high seas? That’s absolutely my kind of setup. Unfortunately, the execution didn’t work for me the way I hoped.
This story carried a lot of political weight, and while I don’t mind politics in fantasy (in fact, I usually love when it’s woven in well), here it felt flat and heavy-handed. Instead of letting the world-building and characters naturally show the struggles of women, witches, and oppressed groups, the narrative often spelled things out in a way that reminded me more of reading a history textbook than being immersed in a fantasy adventure.
Another piece that took me out of the story was the setting. Having it placed directly in the Caribbean, with real-world geography and colonial references, made it feel more like an urban or alternate history fantasy than a true escapist pirate rom-fantasy. Personally, I wish the author had built a fully imagined world with unique names and places. It would have made the magic and pirate elements shine brighter.
And then there’s the romance. For me, it was written in the same flat, spelled-out way. Instead of letting readers pick up on subtle glances, tension, or inference, the feelings were just laid out word for word. I never really got the chance to feel the romance building or form my own interpretation of the connection—it was simply told to me. Whether that was a side effect of the third-person POV or just the style, it didn’t give me the spark I look for in a rom-fantasy.
That said, I did appreciate the themes Eva Leigh wanted to tackle: the reality of sailing being a man’s world, the exclusion of women and witches, and the inclusion of Africans in the story of enslavement and resistance. These are important topics, but the way they were presented sometimes pulled me out of the narrative instead of drawing me deeper into it.
On the audio side, I do want to highlight the narrator. She did a great job keeping the pace of the book and carried the energy throughout, which made the listening experience smoother even when the story itself dragged.
Overall, I wanted this book to sweep me away, but instead it anchored me in issues that felt a little too much like the present day. If you enjoy direct social commentary in your fantasy, this might work better for you. For me, I prefer when politics and romance are layered in more subtly, letting me live in the story first and think critically through the characters’ experiences rather than being told outright what to take away.
A huge thank you to NetGalley for an ARC/ALC of this book as well as Harlequin Trade Publishing and Harlequin Audio!
June 30, 2025
I loved reading this book!
Romantasy can be very hit or miss for me - I often worry that the plot is sacrificed to move along the romance. That is not the case in this book!
The Sea Witch is filled with action, magic, swashbuckling, and female empowerment - not to mention a love story that will warm your heart (and potentially make you blush). If love on the high seas featuring a pirate witch and a member of the navy sounds like your kind of book, then let me tell you, The Sea Witch is the love story for you. I can't wait to continue this series.
*I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Romantasy can be very hit or miss for me - I often worry that the plot is sacrificed to move along the romance. That is not the case in this book!
The Sea Witch is filled with action, magic, swashbuckling, and female empowerment - not to mention a love story that will warm your heart (and potentially make you blush). If love on the high seas featuring a pirate witch and a member of the navy sounds like your kind of book, then let me tell you, The Sea Witch is the love story for you. I can't wait to continue this series.
*I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Want to read
May 20, 2025Is this year of historical romance author to fantasy romance author pipeline or what???
August 10, 2025
Thank you canary street press and NetGalley for the gifted arc! I was absolutely STUNNED by how much I absolutely adored this book. It was so different than anything I’ve ever read, and it was truly a breath of fresh air in the romantasy genre. This book has it all!! A swoon-worthy romance, a found family to die for, feminine rage in spades, a badass FMC, and an interesting play on our own world with a touch of historical.
Alys might be one of my favorite FMCs ever. This book begins with her and a group of women escaping puritanical Massachusetts in the 1700’s before they’re to be tried for witchcraft. She’s such a complex character with so many layers. Her absolute rage at the societal standards of women pushed her to become the badass captain of the only all-female pirate crew in the Caribbean.
And Ben!! He had so much growth throughout this book. They definitely started as ENEMIES, but by the end of the book, he is a man that is absolutely obsessed with his woman. Top-tier book boyfriend. I love him.
I need the next book immediately after that cliffhanger!! I also need everyone else to read this because it was genuinely so, so, so good and exactly the type of story I’ve been searching for
Alys might be one of my favorite FMCs ever. This book begins with her and a group of women escaping puritanical Massachusetts in the 1700’s before they’re to be tried for witchcraft. She’s such a complex character with so many layers. Her absolute rage at the societal standards of women pushed her to become the badass captain of the only all-female pirate crew in the Caribbean.
And Ben!! He had so much growth throughout this book. They definitely started as ENEMIES, but by the end of the book, he is a man that is absolutely obsessed with his woman. Top-tier book boyfriend. I love him.
I need the next book immediately after that cliffhanger!! I also need everyone else to read this because it was genuinely so, so, so good and exactly the type of story I’ve been searching for
August 1, 2025
4.75 ✨
I received this as an advanced review copy & I’m so thankful to Harlequin Trade & Eva Leigh because this book was phenomenal.
The ONLY reason it’s not a 5 star is because the first 20% was really slow in my opinion, and took time for me to get invested. However, once I hit that 20% I did not want to put it down.
The feminine rage in this book is ICONIC.
“An ignorant witch is no match for an educated mage.”
[redacted] drew himself up, his sword ready.
“Underestimating women send you straight to hell”
Who doesn’t love a man that also has rage for the females in the world? YES PLEASE.
You have Ben, forever loyal to the British Navy on his quest to find the pirates that murdered his father. His journey from beginning to end, watching him find himself outside the confines of who he “should” be, was amazing. I have so much love for him.
Alys is just a bad bitch, she’s ride or die, someone you definitely want in your corner. As a witch who, along with her sisters escaped the hunt for witches in Salem, she found piracy. She found freedom. Alys will protect her crew with her life without a second thought. I also, have so much love for her and her strength. Seeing her let her walls down and let someone in, allowing herself feelings filled me with so much happiness.
The last 10% had my heart rate through the roof. I guarantee if I look at my oura ring, it’ll say I was stressed during that time period. Because I was. There is quite a bit of action throughout the book, but the last 10% was a nail biter.
This book does end on a very depressing cliffhanger that had me in tears, so yeah, I need the next book. Immediately. Thank you.
I received this as an advanced review copy & I’m so thankful to Harlequin Trade & Eva Leigh because this book was phenomenal.
The ONLY reason it’s not a 5 star is because the first 20% was really slow in my opinion, and took time for me to get invested. However, once I hit that 20% I did not want to put it down.
The feminine rage in this book is ICONIC.
“An ignorant witch is no match for an educated mage.”
[redacted] drew himself up, his sword ready.
“Underestimating women send you straight to hell”
Who doesn’t love a man that also has rage for the females in the world? YES PLEASE.
You have Ben, forever loyal to the British Navy on his quest to find the pirates that murdered his father. His journey from beginning to end, watching him find himself outside the confines of who he “should” be, was amazing. I have so much love for him.
Alys is just a bad bitch, she’s ride or die, someone you definitely want in your corner. As a witch who, along with her sisters escaped the hunt for witches in Salem, she found piracy. She found freedom. Alys will protect her crew with her life without a second thought. I also, have so much love for her and her strength. Seeing her let her walls down and let someone in, allowing herself feelings filled me with so much happiness.
The last 10% had my heart rate through the roof. I guarantee if I look at my oura ring, it’ll say I was stressed during that time period. Because I was. There is quite a bit of action throughout the book, but the last 10% was a nail biter.
This book does end on a very depressing cliffhanger that had me in tears, so yeah, I need the next book. Immediately. Thank you.
August 17, 2025
Many thanks to Harlequin & The Hive for the preview. All opinions are my own.
This was a fun witchy pirate book. I absolutely pictured Ben as Norrington from Pirates of the Caribbean the whole time. This has tons of action, magic, high stakes, a quest, swashbuckling, and a slow burn enemies to lovers romance that becomes scorching.
I loved the found family of the pirate crew, and how they specifically tried to help women and enslaved people. There’s tons to love here, and I think people new to romantasy will especially enjoy it if they’re coming from a historical romance background.
I will say, I did try to start with the audio, but I was NOT vibing with the narrator. She didn’t do a good job of differentiating between characters and voices. I switched to the ebook and flew through the book after that.
I’m entertained and engaged enough to want to continue the series to see where we go next!
This was a fun witchy pirate book. I absolutely pictured Ben as Norrington from Pirates of the Caribbean the whole time. This has tons of action, magic, high stakes, a quest, swashbuckling, and a slow burn enemies to lovers romance that becomes scorching.
I loved the found family of the pirate crew, and how they specifically tried to help women and enslaved people. There’s tons to love here, and I think people new to romantasy will especially enjoy it if they’re coming from a historical romance background.
I will say, I did try to start with the audio, but I was NOT vibing with the narrator. She didn’t do a good job of differentiating between characters and voices. I switched to the ebook and flew through the book after that.
I’m entertained and engaged enough to want to continue the series to see where we go next!
August 17, 2025
Eva Leigh is a go-to author for me in historical romance. She writes dynamic characters, intriguing plots, and excellent spicy scenes. So when I saw she had a historical romantasy coming out, set in the early 18th century, I immediately DM’d her to join the street team for the book. I NEEDED to get my hands on an early copy. Huge thanks to Eva Leigh and Canary Street Press for the complimentary early copy of The Sea Witch.
Alys Tanner escapes 1719 Puritan Massachusetts, just minutes ahead of a mob ready to hang her and her friends for witchcraft. Together, the women commandeer a ship and set sail for the Caribbean. A year later, Alys is captain of The Sea Witch, a pirate ship crewed entirely by women—many of them witches.
When a pirate wake erupts into chaos, Alys crosses paths with British naval navigator Ben Priestley. He makes the mistake of following her back to The Sea Witch, where he’s promptly taken captive. Alys and her crew are searching for a magical safeguard to stop the navy’s newest project: enslaving sea creatures powerful enough to destroy ships in one blow. Ben’s navigational skills could be invaluable, but he’s a loyal navy man through and through. Yet, as he begins to see Alys’s perspective, he realizes the villains may not be who he thought—and perhaps he’s been serving the wrong side all along.
I absolutely loved this book. It struck the perfect balance of history, romance, and magic, keeping me completely engaged from start to finish. I’ve long adored Eva Leigh’s historical romances, and I was thrilled to see that her style translates beautifully to romantasy.
Alys comes from Norham, Massachusetts, a fictional Puritanical town where women are forced into submission and forbidden to practice magic. Men with magical gifts are sent to school; women are executed. Both Alys and her sister are born with magic, but when her sister refuses to hide her gifts, she’s executed by a mob—shortly before Alys and her friends are driven out of town. Watching Alys and her crew build a new life aboard The Sea Witch was one of my favorite elements of the book. Their ship becomes a kind of utopia for women, magical and non-magical alike—a place where they can own their identities and shape their futures.
Ben, by contrast, begins the novel as a loyal officer of the British navy. With a father murdered by pirates, he has devoted his life to service and justice. For years, he’s gathered intelligence to hunt down pirates, never questioning the navy’s mission—or his own worldview. He’s barely spent time with women, never considered what life is like for witches, and certainly never doubted the righteousness of the crown. But exposure to Alys, her crew, and their reality cracks open his perspective, forcing him to confront how narrow his world has been.
Everything about this book worked for me. The romance was layered and compelling—two characters who should be enemies but can’t resist each other, with magic complicating things from their very first encounter. The fantasy elements felt organic within the historical setting, and the danger to women like Alys rang true: less from the law and more from their communities. Eva Leigh also infused the story with vivid detail, from ship life to early modern fashion, which grounded the magic in a rich sense of history.
I loved this book. It’s easily making my best of the year list, and I can’t wait for book two in the series. Five stars!
Alys Tanner escapes 1719 Puritan Massachusetts, just minutes ahead of a mob ready to hang her and her friends for witchcraft. Together, the women commandeer a ship and set sail for the Caribbean. A year later, Alys is captain of The Sea Witch, a pirate ship crewed entirely by women—many of them witches.
When a pirate wake erupts into chaos, Alys crosses paths with British naval navigator Ben Priestley. He makes the mistake of following her back to The Sea Witch, where he’s promptly taken captive. Alys and her crew are searching for a magical safeguard to stop the navy’s newest project: enslaving sea creatures powerful enough to destroy ships in one blow. Ben’s navigational skills could be invaluable, but he’s a loyal navy man through and through. Yet, as he begins to see Alys’s perspective, he realizes the villains may not be who he thought—and perhaps he’s been serving the wrong side all along.
I absolutely loved this book. It struck the perfect balance of history, romance, and magic, keeping me completely engaged from start to finish. I’ve long adored Eva Leigh’s historical romances, and I was thrilled to see that her style translates beautifully to romantasy.
Alys comes from Norham, Massachusetts, a fictional Puritanical town where women are forced into submission and forbidden to practice magic. Men with magical gifts are sent to school; women are executed. Both Alys and her sister are born with magic, but when her sister refuses to hide her gifts, she’s executed by a mob—shortly before Alys and her friends are driven out of town. Watching Alys and her crew build a new life aboard The Sea Witch was one of my favorite elements of the book. Their ship becomes a kind of utopia for women, magical and non-magical alike—a place where they can own their identities and shape their futures.
Ben, by contrast, begins the novel as a loyal officer of the British navy. With a father murdered by pirates, he has devoted his life to service and justice. For years, he’s gathered intelligence to hunt down pirates, never questioning the navy’s mission—or his own worldview. He’s barely spent time with women, never considered what life is like for witches, and certainly never doubted the righteousness of the crown. But exposure to Alys, her crew, and their reality cracks open his perspective, forcing him to confront how narrow his world has been.
Everything about this book worked for me. The romance was layered and compelling—two characters who should be enemies but can’t resist each other, with magic complicating things from their very first encounter. The fantasy elements felt organic within the historical setting, and the danger to women like Alys rang true: less from the law and more from their communities. Eva Leigh also infused the story with vivid detail, from ship life to early modern fashion, which grounded the magic in a rich sense of history.
I loved this book. It’s easily making my best of the year list, and I can’t wait for book two in the series. Five stars!
August 26, 2025
Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for letting me listen to the audio of this book! When I heard the premise of it following an all female pirate crew of witches I was instantly sold. Throw in that it’s based on Pirates of the Caribbean and you have yourselves an amazing story.
This is an enemies to lovers between the caption of The Sea Witch and a navy officer hunting down and killing pirates. They form an uneasy alliance while fighting different sea monsters and perils of the sea. I love books with strong females and there were plenty of them here.
The book does end on a cliffhanger so be prepared. But please check this book out cause it’s amazing and deserves all the love!!
This is an enemies to lovers between the caption of The Sea Witch and a navy officer hunting down and killing pirates. They form an uneasy alliance while fighting different sea monsters and perils of the sea. I love books with strong females and there were plenty of them here.
The book does end on a cliffhanger so be prepared. But please check this book out cause it’s amazing and deserves all the love!!
August 11, 2025
This book was so much fun and im so glad to see it’s the first in a series as I would definitely be interested to read more!
If you enjoy the fantasy genre with the edition to pirates, witches, sea monsters and slow burn romance.
I loved the high stakes adventure it was so different to Any typical fantasy genre!
Be prepared for a cliff hanger that will leave you dying for more 😆
Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing for the gifted netgalley copy!
If you enjoy the fantasy genre with the edition to pirates, witches, sea monsters and slow burn romance.
I loved the high stakes adventure it was so different to Any typical fantasy genre!
Be prepared for a cliff hanger that will leave you dying for more 😆
Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing for the gifted netgalley copy!
June 7, 2025
I got a sneak peek at this August 2025 romantasy, and when I say it was a swashbuckling good time? Just WOW! A group of Massachusetts witches fleeing persecution in the 18th century steal a ship and set out to be…pirates! The magical worldbuilding is fantastic, the feminist adventures are rollicking, and the romance is a sizzling slow burn. What more could you ask for? Pre-order now!
August 6, 2025
I am not a super big romantasy gal, but I *am* a loyal b!tch. If you're one of my favorite authors, ESPECIALLY one of my favorite historical romance authors, I will read anything you write in any genre. So believe me when I tell you Eva Leigh was born to write witch pirates and sea monsters. I cannot even begin to tell you how much I enjoyed this book.
The Sea Witch is like if the Pirates of the Caribbean had the witchy girl gang vibes of The Craft and they fought against the colonization of sea monsters and the military industrial complex for the sake of women's rights (and wrongs) rolled up into a novel made for those of us who couldn't stop reading about the Salem Witch Trials as wee angry feminist youths. I hope this makes sense because I am not giving you my summary of the plot and just asking you to implicitly trust me when I say you're going to have a very good time reading this book. The "world" is very easy to pick up, the characters are diverse and fun, Ben is an absolute snack, and I hope he can fight because Alys is a woman after my own heart.
But don't you dare come at me when you turn the page to the next chapter and it says "Acknowledgments" because I forgot about cliffhangers existing in most multi-volume romantasy stories too. We can be insufferable until the next installment is released together.
5 bajillion stars!
Thank you to @htpbooks @readmirabooks and @evaleighauthor for a copy of this eARC via NetGalley. All opinions are honest and my own.
The Sea Witch is like if the Pirates of the Caribbean had the witchy girl gang vibes of The Craft and they fought against the colonization of sea monsters and the military industrial complex for the sake of women's rights (and wrongs) rolled up into a novel made for those of us who couldn't stop reading about the Salem Witch Trials as wee angry feminist youths. I hope this makes sense because I am not giving you my summary of the plot and just asking you to implicitly trust me when I say you're going to have a very good time reading this book. The "world" is very easy to pick up, the characters are diverse and fun, Ben is an absolute snack, and I hope he can fight because Alys is a woman after my own heart.
But don't you dare come at me when you turn the page to the next chapter and it says "Acknowledgments" because I forgot about cliffhangers existing in most multi-volume romantasy stories too. We can be insufferable until the next installment is released together.
5 bajillion stars!
Thank you to @htpbooks @readmirabooks and @evaleighauthor for a copy of this eARC via NetGalley. All opinions are honest and my own.
July 26, 2025
Heat Index: 6.5/10
—pirates but make it witches
—captain heroine, captive hero
—he's inexperienced... but eager to learn!
—RELEASE THE KRAKEN LEVIATHAN
The Basics:
After fleeing a death sentence for witchcraft, Alys Tanner takes control of the ship The Sea Witch and starts an all-female crew full of fellow witches. After taking British navy navigator Ben Priestley captive, Alys realizes he could be the key to finding a fail-safe that could turn the tides in her crew's struggle against the navy. But that's going to mean working with Ben—and perhaps, growing much closer to him than she'd like.
The Review:
I think a lot of historical romance readers were surprised (and excited) when they heard Eva Leigh was making the move to fantasy romance. But there's the thing: While this is most definitely a fantasy romance, and I think it will please romantasy readers across the board, there's a lot of the historical romance left here (complimentary). It especially harkens back to, yes, the old pirate historicals of yesteryear—but with quite a few updates.
There's no domineering hero and shrinking violet here. Alys isn't what I would call a "boss babe". Though she captains her ship, she leans away from heavy authority with her fellow women—men, she's tougher with. And she has to be, what with rampant misogyny and all. But there's a degree of human self-questioning and a capacity for making mistakes that keeps Alys from being this untouchable girlboss. She's strong without lacking softness in total, and it keeps her from slipping into caricature—which so easily happens with fantasy romance heroines especially.
Ben isn't a submissive hero, but he is reserved, a bit less experienced in the ways of the world than Alys, and quite clearly into being bossed around a little. He defies her because he's at her mercy (and has his own personal agenda); but he's also open to learning in many ways, and he's smart enough to know what's up. By giving him an adversarial edge, Leigh keeps him out of golden retriever territory—but he also isn't out to dominate Alys and put her in "little girl" territory. He respects her, even when she's his enemy, and that respect slips into admiration, and from there...
He's a difficult needle to thread, right? Because while this world is very much one of fantasy—mages are woven into the military landscape, casting spells on weapons as witch pirates use their own to escape detection, among many other things—it's also firmly ours. I.... have mixed feelings about this, to be honest. Leigh doesn't dip heavily into the goings-on of the British royal navy, but they do explicitly want control of the Caribbean, and Alys and her crew oppose this. Partially because pirates and they oppose or die in general, and partially because of ideological differences, right? The Sea Witch is mentioned to liberate enslaved people (and the crew is diverse), and we briefly see a little of this on the page. But Ben's also a British guy who grew up in the Caribbean. So...
I really can't speak on the effectiveness of how it's handled here—and if you're going to put your magical world in this framework, you do have to address it. So I kind of do wonder why the framework is there at all? I think there's an effort to make sure we know where Alys and her crew stand, of course (and Ben is supportive), as well as an awareness of the risk of Alys coming off as a white savior. Again, I can't speak to the effectiveness.
A big focus point of the book, unsurprisingly, is a critique of the misogyny of the world in which they live. It can be a bit on the nose, but I appreciated that there wasn't a straight up, one to one, "Ben is a man and I have been ruled by men, and therefore the ultimate girl power is ruling Ben" perspective from Alys. There's nuance to that relationship, and while I feel like it did progress kind of quickly, there's a clear drive for real equality and camaraderie between them.
Regarding the world—the magic is a bit more modern, a bit less traditional witchcraft, and I think it added to the sense of adventure in the book. There's a sense of Howl's Moving Castle (the movie) to it all, at least in my mind—sky-walking, murmured enchantments, fireballs. it's all a lot of fun, and it fits into the real sense of swashbuckling and adventure, which is one of the best aspects of the book. There really is a classic romp to all of it!
The Sex:
Eva Leigh continues to write a great sex scene! There are several full scenes in this one, and a setup early on predicates that Ben and Alys must work together to really fuel that magic. If you get what I'm saying.
One of the best parts of the book? How open Ben was to listening to and learning from Alys in bed. He's not a virgin, but he is inexperienced, and I mean—he picks up a thing or two. By no means would I call their scenes femdom; he's just down to listen. What a concept!
The Conclusion:
This is a fun, exciting read—and it does end on quite the cliffhanger. I'm eager to see what happens to Alys and Ben next!
Thanks to Canary Street Press and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
—pirates but make it witches
—captain heroine, captive hero
—he's inexperienced... but eager to learn!
—RELEASE THE KRAKEN LEVIATHAN
The Basics:
After fleeing a death sentence for witchcraft, Alys Tanner takes control of the ship The Sea Witch and starts an all-female crew full of fellow witches. After taking British navy navigator Ben Priestley captive, Alys realizes he could be the key to finding a fail-safe that could turn the tides in her crew's struggle against the navy. But that's going to mean working with Ben—and perhaps, growing much closer to him than she'd like.
The Review:
I think a lot of historical romance readers were surprised (and excited) when they heard Eva Leigh was making the move to fantasy romance. But there's the thing: While this is most definitely a fantasy romance, and I think it will please romantasy readers across the board, there's a lot of the historical romance left here (complimentary). It especially harkens back to, yes, the old pirate historicals of yesteryear—but with quite a few updates.
There's no domineering hero and shrinking violet here. Alys isn't what I would call a "boss babe". Though she captains her ship, she leans away from heavy authority with her fellow women—men, she's tougher with. And she has to be, what with rampant misogyny and all. But there's a degree of human self-questioning and a capacity for making mistakes that keeps Alys from being this untouchable girlboss. She's strong without lacking softness in total, and it keeps her from slipping into caricature—which so easily happens with fantasy romance heroines especially.
Ben isn't a submissive hero, but he is reserved, a bit less experienced in the ways of the world than Alys, and quite clearly into being bossed around a little. He defies her because he's at her mercy (and has his own personal agenda); but he's also open to learning in many ways, and he's smart enough to know what's up. By giving him an adversarial edge, Leigh keeps him out of golden retriever territory—but he also isn't out to dominate Alys and put her in "little girl" territory. He respects her, even when she's his enemy, and that respect slips into admiration, and from there...
He's a difficult needle to thread, right? Because while this world is very much one of fantasy—mages are woven into the military landscape, casting spells on weapons as witch pirates use their own to escape detection, among many other things—it's also firmly ours. I.... have mixed feelings about this, to be honest. Leigh doesn't dip heavily into the goings-on of the British royal navy, but they do explicitly want control of the Caribbean, and Alys and her crew oppose this. Partially because pirates and they oppose or die in general, and partially because of ideological differences, right? The Sea Witch is mentioned to liberate enslaved people (and the crew is diverse), and we briefly see a little of this on the page. But Ben's also a British guy who grew up in the Caribbean. So...
I really can't speak on the effectiveness of how it's handled here—and if you're going to put your magical world in this framework, you do have to address it. So I kind of do wonder why the framework is there at all? I think there's an effort to make sure we know where Alys and her crew stand, of course (and Ben is supportive), as well as an awareness of the risk of Alys coming off as a white savior. Again, I can't speak to the effectiveness.
A big focus point of the book, unsurprisingly, is a critique of the misogyny of the world in which they live. It can be a bit on the nose, but I appreciated that there wasn't a straight up, one to one, "Ben is a man and I have been ruled by men, and therefore the ultimate girl power is ruling Ben" perspective from Alys. There's nuance to that relationship, and while I feel like it did progress kind of quickly, there's a clear drive for real equality and camaraderie between them.
Regarding the world—the magic is a bit more modern, a bit less traditional witchcraft, and I think it added to the sense of adventure in the book. There's a sense of Howl's Moving Castle (the movie) to it all, at least in my mind—sky-walking, murmured enchantments, fireballs. it's all a lot of fun, and it fits into the real sense of swashbuckling and adventure, which is one of the best aspects of the book. There really is a classic romp to all of it!
The Sex:
Eva Leigh continues to write a great sex scene! There are several full scenes in this one, and a setup early on predicates that Ben and Alys must work together to really fuel that magic. If you get what I'm saying.
One of the best parts of the book? How open Ben was to listening to and learning from Alys in bed. He's not a virgin, but he is inexperienced, and I mean—he picks up a thing or two. By no means would I call their scenes femdom; he's just down to listen. What a concept!
The Conclusion:
This is a fun, exciting read—and it does end on quite the cliffhanger. I'm eager to see what happens to Alys and Ben next!
Thanks to Canary Street Press and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
August 27, 2025
Wow! Women Pirates vs The Navy! And, the women win??
This was incredible!
Alys Tanner is a woman…and a witch… and in order for her to do anything or get any respect, she must leave her home. So, she goes out and steals a ship… and names it The Sea Witch.
This becomes an ALL WOMAN’s Ship that also includes Magicks, as the woman are witches! 😮😮
But, times are tough and the seas are rough!
Can the women prevail? Can they fight through harsh difficulties in order to come out on top?
One of the battles includes a Navy ship… and they capture the head of it… Ben.
But something strange happens as time goes on…. And Ben and Alys start to form a bond. 😮
Enemies to lovers? Good vs evil? Men vs women? Navy vs witches? Is everything as it truly appears??
So, as it starts out, I was really not a big fan of this one! BUT, as time went on, I began to get invested in the characters… and then, I couldn’t put it down! 😫
4 big, brash, pirate-y 🌟🌟🌟🌟 for me!
#TheSeaWitch (Book #1) by @EvaLeigh and narrated nicely by @ChanteMcCormick.
** THIS WAS RELEASED TODAY, 8.26.25, SO LOOK FOR IT ON SHELVES NOW!! **
Thanks so much to #NetGalley and #HarperAudio for an ARC of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
You can find my reviews on: Goodreads,
Insta @BookReviews_with_emsr and/or
My Facebook Book Club: Book Reviews With Elaine
Thanks so much for reading! And if you ‘liked’ my review, please share with your friends, & click ‘LIKE’ below… And, let me know YOUR thoughts if you read it!! 📚⭐️
This was incredible!
Alys Tanner is a woman…and a witch… and in order for her to do anything or get any respect, she must leave her home. So, she goes out and steals a ship… and names it The Sea Witch.
This becomes an ALL WOMAN’s Ship that also includes Magicks, as the woman are witches! 😮😮
But, times are tough and the seas are rough!
Can the women prevail? Can they fight through harsh difficulties in order to come out on top?
One of the battles includes a Navy ship… and they capture the head of it… Ben.
But something strange happens as time goes on…. And Ben and Alys start to form a bond. 😮
Enemies to lovers? Good vs evil? Men vs women? Navy vs witches? Is everything as it truly appears??
So, as it starts out, I was really not a big fan of this one! BUT, as time went on, I began to get invested in the characters… and then, I couldn’t put it down! 😫
4 big, brash, pirate-y 🌟🌟🌟🌟 for me!
#TheSeaWitch (Book #1) by @EvaLeigh and narrated nicely by @ChanteMcCormick.
** THIS WAS RELEASED TODAY, 8.26.25, SO LOOK FOR IT ON SHELVES NOW!! **
Thanks so much to #NetGalley and #HarperAudio for an ARC of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
You can find my reviews on: Goodreads,
Insta @BookReviews_with_emsr and/or
My Facebook Book Club: Book Reviews With Elaine
Thanks so much for reading! And if you ‘liked’ my review, please share with your friends, & click ‘LIKE’ below… And, let me know YOUR thoughts if you read it!! 📚⭐️
June 27, 2025
This is an ARC review. I want to thank Eva Leigh and Harlequin Trade Publishing for allowing me the chance to read this book ahead of release day! Although I had a hard time getting into this storyline (which very well could be because it’s in 3rd person) I pushed through and happily can say it got better as the plot went on.
Alys Tanner and Benjamin Priestley are not two you’d see together as Alys is a known witch who leads a ship of witches. It seemed as though once Alys dream walked into their dreams they were immediately tied and everything changed. Ben being held captive on a ship with some powerful strong and dominant crew of witches truly was a gem. These women do not depend on men and are a great portrayal of strong independent women.
Although I am a HUGE fan of women empowerment, it was hard to follow until about halfway through. I did not connect with the magical system as I wished that I did but thoroughly enjoyed the 2nd half of the book.
Alys Tanner and Benjamin Priestley are not two you’d see together as Alys is a known witch who leads a ship of witches. It seemed as though once Alys dream walked into their dreams they were immediately tied and everything changed. Ben being held captive on a ship with some powerful strong and dominant crew of witches truly was a gem. These women do not depend on men and are a great portrayal of strong independent women.
Although I am a HUGE fan of women empowerment, it was hard to follow until about halfway through. I did not connect with the magical system as I wished that I did but thoroughly enjoyed the 2nd half of the book.
Read
August 26, 2025Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy
The Sea Witch by Eva Leigh is a third person dual-POV historical fantasy romance set on the high seas in the Caribbean during the seventeenth century. Alys becomes the captain of the Sea Witch after fleeing Puritanical New England when she’s accused of witchcraft. On a ship with other witches, she’s able to live a life full of freedom like she never could have imagined. When Ben, a navigator, is captured by the Sea Witch, he and Alys realize that they have unintentionally communicated through their dreams and that their connection could grow into something much more.
I was not expecting how action-packed this would be. There are a lot of fight scenes and sea monsters and battles between witches and mages on top of swordfights. A lot of fantasy romances tend to be very focused on the interior of the lead and action takes a bit of a backseat, so this was a very welcome change and exactly what I wanted from the premise. It’s kind of like if Pirates of the Caribbean had a different magic system and flipped the gender and positions a little bit.
Alys and Ben’s relationship is not a slowburn, but it’s not instalove either. They are attracted to each other pretty quickly and do share a bed, but not a lot happens for a bit and the first spicy scene comes at roughly the fifty percent mark, which felt about right given their characters. Both of them have experience with partners, but in different ways. Alys was married back in New England but, for all intents and purposes, is now divorced and she has taken on several lovers since. Ben has never been married or even been in a romantic relationship, but he has had one night stands over the years. If anything, this means Alys has more experience than Ben and he doesn’t judge her for it though many of his time might have.
The magic system and the monsters exist in a very different manner to Pirates of the Caribbean. They are integrated within the world more firmly and everyone seems to know magic exists in some capacity, though maybe not to the fullest extent. There’s dragons and krakens and I cannot see how the world opens up in the next book.
I would recommend this to fans of Pirates of the Caribbean who want a fantasy romance series not a standalone and readers of historical romance who want an action-packed fantasy twist
The Sea Witch by Eva Leigh is a third person dual-POV historical fantasy romance set on the high seas in the Caribbean during the seventeenth century. Alys becomes the captain of the Sea Witch after fleeing Puritanical New England when she’s accused of witchcraft. On a ship with other witches, she’s able to live a life full of freedom like she never could have imagined. When Ben, a navigator, is captured by the Sea Witch, he and Alys realize that they have unintentionally communicated through their dreams and that their connection could grow into something much more.
I was not expecting how action-packed this would be. There are a lot of fight scenes and sea monsters and battles between witches and mages on top of swordfights. A lot of fantasy romances tend to be very focused on the interior of the lead and action takes a bit of a backseat, so this was a very welcome change and exactly what I wanted from the premise. It’s kind of like if Pirates of the Caribbean had a different magic system and flipped the gender and positions a little bit.
Alys and Ben’s relationship is not a slowburn, but it’s not instalove either. They are attracted to each other pretty quickly and do share a bed, but not a lot happens for a bit and the first spicy scene comes at roughly the fifty percent mark, which felt about right given their characters. Both of them have experience with partners, but in different ways. Alys was married back in New England but, for all intents and purposes, is now divorced and she has taken on several lovers since. Ben has never been married or even been in a romantic relationship, but he has had one night stands over the years. If anything, this means Alys has more experience than Ben and he doesn’t judge her for it though many of his time might have.
The magic system and the monsters exist in a very different manner to Pirates of the Caribbean. They are integrated within the world more firmly and everyone seems to know magic exists in some capacity, though maybe not to the fullest extent. There’s dragons and krakens and I cannot see how the world opens up in the next book.
I would recommend this to fans of Pirates of the Caribbean who want a fantasy romance series not a standalone and readers of historical romance who want an action-packed fantasy twist
August 17, 2025
1720, Caribbean.
Alys Tanner lives in an 18th century world where magic is acceptable, but only when used by men. Her Puritan New England views her magic as unnatural and dangerous, and when she's accused of murdering her husband, she flees from Cape Ann to the Caribbean to captain a pirate ship with other witches. They capture a British naval officer, a ship's navigator named Benjamin Priestly, who may hold the secrets to a powerful treasure. What Alys finds though, is a man unaware of his own power, connected to her through their shared dreamwalking. Their obvious attraction to one another and hatred for everything the other stands for get in the way of the tenuous alliance they'll need to stay alive on the high seas.
The Sea Witch has a lot going on, which makes for a fun read if you just hang for the ride. It's a historical romance dressed up as a pirate adventure with some fantasy and myth, which is exactly what I expected and wanted. The magic system is loose, which works for the style of plot, but may not appeal to readers looking for something tighter: Alys and her witch crew are still exploring the limits of their power, so sometimes they just try something and it works. What I loved about their power is the need for balancing, that they must form bonds to share the magic to ease the burden of its overwhelming strength. For a ship full of witches told that they don't belong, they've forged their own home with one another.
I will never not love a starchy captain, and I was in this for Alys and Ben's romance. Eva Leigh always brings the heat, and once Alys and Ben can get past their opposing views and realize that they can help one another, the book takes a steamy turn. That said, *this is the first book* and the romantic arc is not fully resolved!! Romance readers beware, this has a cliffhanger, not even an HFN.
There is a lot of action in the Sea Witch, giving it more of a cinematic feel than a romance with internal monologues. Along with its cliffhanger, that works for the fantasy elements and the assumed longer arc of the romance and plot. Every time a new mythical creature appeared on page, I laughed a little, because the adventure and action just doesn't let up. Pirate lovers, this one is for you.
Thank you to Harlequin Trade/Canary Street Press for an eARC. The Sea Witch is out 8/26/25.
Alys Tanner lives in an 18th century world where magic is acceptable, but only when used by men. Her Puritan New England views her magic as unnatural and dangerous, and when she's accused of murdering her husband, she flees from Cape Ann to the Caribbean to captain a pirate ship with other witches. They capture a British naval officer, a ship's navigator named Benjamin Priestly, who may hold the secrets to a powerful treasure. What Alys finds though, is a man unaware of his own power, connected to her through their shared dreamwalking. Their obvious attraction to one another and hatred for everything the other stands for get in the way of the tenuous alliance they'll need to stay alive on the high seas.
The Sea Witch has a lot going on, which makes for a fun read if you just hang for the ride. It's a historical romance dressed up as a pirate adventure with some fantasy and myth, which is exactly what I expected and wanted. The magic system is loose, which works for the style of plot, but may not appeal to readers looking for something tighter: Alys and her witch crew are still exploring the limits of their power, so sometimes they just try something and it works. What I loved about their power is the need for balancing, that they must form bonds to share the magic to ease the burden of its overwhelming strength. For a ship full of witches told that they don't belong, they've forged their own home with one another.
I will never not love a starchy captain, and I was in this for Alys and Ben's romance. Eva Leigh always brings the heat, and once Alys and Ben can get past their opposing views and realize that they can help one another, the book takes a steamy turn. That said, *this is the first book* and the romantic arc is not fully resolved!! Romance readers beware, this has a cliffhanger, not even an HFN.
There is a lot of action in the Sea Witch, giving it more of a cinematic feel than a romance with internal monologues. Along with its cliffhanger, that works for the fantasy elements and the assumed longer arc of the romance and plot. Every time a new mythical creature appeared on page, I laughed a little, because the adventure and action just doesn't let up. Pirate lovers, this one is for you.
Thank you to Harlequin Trade/Canary Street Press for an eARC. The Sea Witch is out 8/26/25.
July 26, 2025
Thank you NetGalley and HTP for this free ARC. All thoughts are my own.
Set in a world where women are forbidden from using magic but men are applauded and trained, The Sea Witch is a unique take on freedom in a world meant to lock you up. The sea is their last refuge and being a Pirate is the only way to guarantee that they have control over their magic and their lives. This pirate filled romantasy covers hard topics in bodily autonomy, the enslavement of creatures and revenge for a murder.
Alys, our FMC, is the captain of the all female crew. She runs her ship differently than others in that every woman aboard has a say not only in their own lives but in the lives of the crew as a whole. Mutiny is a word these women do not understand as they love and respect Alys in all ways. After only a year of escaping her old life and the dangers that hunted her, she has more control of her magic but still has a long way to go. I loved watching her character growth, especially when it comes to her magic. She doesn't suddenly have everything figured out. She struggles and adapts, having many moments of pushing herself too far and having to adjust to non-magical means. She is powerful, but not overpowered and it makes me love her that much more.
Ben, our MMC, is a member of the Royal Navy who hates everything that pirates stand for. He is trying to discover the identity of the pirate rumored to have a hand in his fathers death. After a chance encounter with Alys, he finds himself aboard her ship and taken prisoner. He has information that she needs, information to find an object to stop the enslavement of sea-creatures. A pirate story wouldn't be complete without a treasure hunt. He is prim and proper and finds himself at odds with the women on board who go against traditional feminine values he was raised around.
The chemistry between Alys and Ben is just ... everything. It's a slow burn filled with tension, spice and a dynamic that keeps Alys firmly on top. She is the stronger of the two, even with those more intimate moments, and having her be the more experienced partner was a nice change.
I really enjoyed this story and can not wait for book two, especially after the cliffhanger!
Set in a world where women are forbidden from using magic but men are applauded and trained, The Sea Witch is a unique take on freedom in a world meant to lock you up. The sea is their last refuge and being a Pirate is the only way to guarantee that they have control over their magic and their lives. This pirate filled romantasy covers hard topics in bodily autonomy, the enslavement of creatures and revenge for a murder.
Alys, our FMC, is the captain of the all female crew. She runs her ship differently than others in that every woman aboard has a say not only in their own lives but in the lives of the crew as a whole. Mutiny is a word these women do not understand as they love and respect Alys in all ways. After only a year of escaping her old life and the dangers that hunted her, she has more control of her magic but still has a long way to go. I loved watching her character growth, especially when it comes to her magic. She doesn't suddenly have everything figured out. She struggles and adapts, having many moments of pushing herself too far and having to adjust to non-magical means. She is powerful, but not overpowered and it makes me love her that much more.
Ben, our MMC, is a member of the Royal Navy who hates everything that pirates stand for. He is trying to discover the identity of the pirate rumored to have a hand in his fathers death. After a chance encounter with Alys, he finds himself aboard her ship and taken prisoner. He has information that she needs, information to find an object to stop the enslavement of sea-creatures. A pirate story wouldn't be complete without a treasure hunt. He is prim and proper and finds himself at odds with the women on board who go against traditional feminine values he was raised around.
The chemistry between Alys and Ben is just ... everything. It's a slow burn filled with tension, spice and a dynamic that keeps Alys firmly on top. She is the stronger of the two, even with those more intimate moments, and having her be the more experienced partner was a nice change.
I really enjoyed this story and can not wait for book two, especially after the cliffhanger!
August 27, 2025
Thank you to Netgalley and Canary Street Press for the ARC of this fun, easy read.
The Sea Witch by Eva Leigh is a compelling pirate fantasy with a cast full of nautical characters and high stakes sea-faring hijinks.
Alys has been accused of witchcraft, and the Puritan men of her Massachusetts settlement are in pursuit. Luckily for her, she is a witch, and uses her powers to escape her upbringing for a life on the sea. Once in the Caribbean, the only option for women is piracy. When a funeral full of swashbucklers is set upon by the royal navy, Alys flees with a secret.
I loved Alys as a character, she was strong-willed, foul mouthed and cocksure. Exactly what I wanted a pirate witch to be. The other witches were also great, the sisterhood strong between them. The magic system was very interesting as well and I loved how the witches and the mages used their power differently because of their schooling, or lack of. The storyline was stressful at points, and definitely made me emotional. The ending was a surprise to me, but I’m hoping for a great second installment to this series.
The Sea Witch by Eva Leigh is a compelling pirate fantasy with a cast full of nautical characters and high stakes sea-faring hijinks.
Alys has been accused of witchcraft, and the Puritan men of her Massachusetts settlement are in pursuit. Luckily for her, she is a witch, and uses her powers to escape her upbringing for a life on the sea. Once in the Caribbean, the only option for women is piracy. When a funeral full of swashbucklers is set upon by the royal navy, Alys flees with a secret.
I loved Alys as a character, she was strong-willed, foul mouthed and cocksure. Exactly what I wanted a pirate witch to be. The other witches were also great, the sisterhood strong between them. The magic system was very interesting as well and I loved how the witches and the mages used their power differently because of their schooling, or lack of. The storyline was stressful at points, and definitely made me emotional. The ending was a surprise to me, but I’m hoping for a great second installment to this series.
August 22, 2025
Pirates, witches, evil sea creatures and feminine rage come together is this seafaring story of a pirate witch who is seeking the answers to the sea beasts that haunt them and the navel officer looking for his father murder.
This is an enemies to lovers tale where Alys, the pirate witch captain, takes Ben, a navel Sailing Master captive to gain information about the sea beasts that are entrapped to the royal navy. The setting is the 1700’s Caribbean and Alys and her fellow female crew members are on the run from being persecuted for being witches in Massachusetts.
As a fellow New Englander, I love when stories take place where I grew up, picturing the Salem witch trials as my inti backdrop for the book.
I enjoyed the slow burn progression of Alys and Ben’s relationship but also really enjoyed reading about the dynamic on the all female pirate ship.
I was lucky enough to not only read this great book but I tandem listened to the audiobook as well! That narrator did a GREAT job adding emotional and charisma to the story. If you’re an audiobook reader then you’ll love this one!
Thank you netgalley HTP Books and HTP Audio for the early editions of this book!!
This is an enemies to lovers tale where Alys, the pirate witch captain, takes Ben, a navel Sailing Master captive to gain information about the sea beasts that are entrapped to the royal navy. The setting is the 1700’s Caribbean and Alys and her fellow female crew members are on the run from being persecuted for being witches in Massachusetts.
As a fellow New Englander, I love when stories take place where I grew up, picturing the Salem witch trials as my inti backdrop for the book.
I enjoyed the slow burn progression of Alys and Ben’s relationship but also really enjoyed reading about the dynamic on the all female pirate ship.
I was lucky enough to not only read this great book but I tandem listened to the audiobook as well! That narrator did a GREAT job adding emotional and charisma to the story. If you’re an audiobook reader then you’ll love this one!
Thank you netgalley HTP Books and HTP Audio for the early editions of this book!!
August 23, 2025
I was pretty much in when I saw Eva Leigh's name on a pirate witch romantasy.
I loved Alys and Ben. They're both alone while surrounded by people and thriving on the idea of having freedom. Together they have animosity and interest and it slowly morphs into respect and chemistry for days. There's a pretty big cast of characters here, but the ladies are lovely and fun to go on this journey with.
Plot wise, it's a bit of a slow go, but the world building is intriguing. I didn't realize this wasn't a standalone, so I went in not at all expecting the ending...and holy shit what an ending.
Overall, this was fun and I can't even wait for the next book to see how it all plays out.
**Huge thanks to the publisher for providing the arc free of charge**
I loved Alys and Ben. They're both alone while surrounded by people and thriving on the idea of having freedom. Together they have animosity and interest and it slowly morphs into respect and chemistry for days. There's a pretty big cast of characters here, but the ladies are lovely and fun to go on this journey with.
Plot wise, it's a bit of a slow go, but the world building is intriguing. I didn't realize this wasn't a standalone, so I went in not at all expecting the ending...and holy shit what an ending.
Overall, this was fun and I can't even wait for the next book to see how it all plays out.
**Huge thanks to the publisher for providing the arc free of charge**
July 15, 2025
Witch pirates? WITCH PIRATES??
This was a fun, easy, and pretty quick read!
We have women living in a world where they aren’t allowed to use their magic, and they said MAKE ME STOP THEN. This was very empowering and fun.
I do still stand by not being a big fan of third person story telling but I still enjoyed this book!
Thank you to NetGalley, for providing me with an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. All thoughts are my own and are in no way influenced by early access to this title.
This title will be released August 26, 2025!
This was a fun, easy, and pretty quick read!
We have women living in a world where they aren’t allowed to use their magic, and they said MAKE ME STOP THEN. This was very empowering and fun.
I do still stand by not being a big fan of third person story telling but I still enjoyed this book!
Thank you to NetGalley, for providing me with an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. All thoughts are my own and are in no way influenced by early access to this title.
This title will be released August 26, 2025!
August 26, 2025
Honestly this one is so hard for me to rate because I truly think it's a unique story but ultimately it just wasn't for me. The concept of pirate witches seemed ridiculous to me but somehow she made it work. The plot was solid, the characters were interesting enough, but.. I don't know, this just couldn't hold my attention. That said I think others may like it so I'll give it 3 stars and move on with my life.
Thank you to Netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for allowing me to read this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to Netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for allowing me to read this novel in exchange for an honest review.
August 27, 2025
3.5⭐️ This was so slow to start, and the writing was clunky, especially in the spicy scenes. I made a few questionable faces while listening. Luckily, it picked up in the last 20%, so I gave the stars a little more. The idea was great to have witches faced with execution banding together to be pirates. The use of magic at sea was fun. Leave it to men to ruin everything again. Will I continue the series? Probably not.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ALC.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ALC.
dnf
August 24, 2025dnf @ 24%
why are authors so scared to let anything be a true slow burn? the need for instant gratification is ruining everything.
i was willing to overlook the logistics of raiding ~100 ships in her first year as a pirate (despite having no experience), i was willing to overlook the second-in-command being like “i’m worried about your keeping our super hot prisoner in your bedroom instead of the brig” IN FRONT OF BEN, i was even willing to overlook alys announcing “most nights i sleep nude” (isn’t that impractical for a pirate captain?), but i draw the line at this weird dream bond happening in chapter 5 of the first book in a duology.
also alys seems like a terrible captain and i hope stasia replaces her at some point.
why are authors so scared to let anything be a true slow burn? the need for instant gratification is ruining everything.
i was willing to overlook the logistics of raiding ~100 ships in her first year as a pirate (despite having no experience), i was willing to overlook the second-in-command being like “i’m worried about your keeping our super hot prisoner in your bedroom instead of the brig” IN FRONT OF BEN, i was even willing to overlook alys announcing “most nights i sleep nude” (isn’t that impractical for a pirate captain?), but i draw the line at this weird dream bond happening in chapter 5 of the first book in a duology.
also alys seems like a terrible captain and i hope stasia replaces her at some point.
June 7, 2025
Thank you Netgalley for the arc copy! I really enjoyed this book. It started off a little slow but the second Ben chased Alys back to the Sea Witch, it picked right up. (Him telling her she rowed them both back to the ship was probably my favorite part btw). It's a solid enemies to lovers troupe, though they were both attracted to each other from the start, they weren't able to trust each other until much later and when they finally did get together, it was so satisfying. It ends on one hell of a cliffhanger and I will absolutely be buying Sea Witch for myself and every book that follows it. I can't wait to find out what happens next.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 24, 2025
I think this book made me fall in love with pirates and sea tales again. The Sea Witch combines (in my opinion) Black Sails & Salem Witches in the most astounding story I’ve read in a while. At the helm, we have Alys, a secret witch who flees persecution in her hometown with several other secret witches to the sea for freedom. In their retreat, they become the first women lead pirate crew of the Sea Witch. Their magic is self taught and their freedom is self earned and fought for. This book is feminine rage against the patriarchy done appetizingly well.
Enter Ben, a navigator for the navy who is seeking the truth of his father’s murder, blaming pirates, caught in the foray of war of naval forces versus pirates. He crosses Alys’s path and our story ensues from here. There is forced proximity, pirate lore, slow burn, enemies to lovers, a well established magic system, secrets, and action and adventure tossed together to make this book such a great summer read. If you enjoyed the Ever King, I know you’ll enjoy The Sea Witch just as much.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for allowing access to this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
#NetGalley #TheSeaWitch
Enter Ben, a navigator for the navy who is seeking the truth of his father’s murder, blaming pirates, caught in the foray of war of naval forces versus pirates. He crosses Alys’s path and our story ensues from here. There is forced proximity, pirate lore, slow burn, enemies to lovers, a well established magic system, secrets, and action and adventure tossed together to make this book such a great summer read. If you enjoyed the Ever King, I know you’ll enjoy The Sea Witch just as much.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for allowing access to this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
#NetGalley #TheSeaWitch
September 4, 2025
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.
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.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 269 reviews