I had doubts about this one, but it turns out I didn’t need to worry. Rise of the Sea Witch by Stacey Rourke details the fall (or rise, depending on how you want to look at it) of mermaid Princess Vanessa of Atlantica, eldest daughter of King Poseidon. She could have had an idyllic life. But circumstances conspire to strip the young princess of everything and set her on a destructive path. Her mother is brutally killed and her father shuns her in favour of her younger brother, Triton. Nonetheless, Vanessa strives to prove herself worthy of the crown – and her father’s love. Her towering ambition is no match for Atlantica’s vicious politics though. And when Triton is crowned king, and he too turns against her, Vanessa’s descent into madness is complete.
Rarely are we given the opportunity to appreciate a villain’s backstory. So, this story is a gem. It’s not for the faint-hearted though. Several times I had to put the book down because I couldn’t bear Vanessa’s trauma. It’s compelling though. It was never down for long.
4 stars