Home › review › #BookReview: The Ferryman and the Sea Witch by Diana Wallace Peach @Dwallacepeach

#BookReview: The Ferryman and the Sea Witch by Diana Wallace Peach @Dwallacepeach

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Hi everyone! Today, I have a book review for an author whose books I love. Diana Wallace Peach is one of my go-to writers and well worth a read >>>

58287850. sy475 About the Book:

 The merrow rule the sea. Slender creatures, fair of face, with silver scales and the graceful tails of angelfish. Caught in a Brid Clarion net, the daughter of the sea witch perishes in the sunlit air. Her fingers dangle above the swells.
The queen of the sea bares her sharp teeth and, in a fury of wind and waves, cleanses the brine of ships and men. But she spares a boy for his single act of kindness. Callum becomes the Ferryman, and until Brid Clarion pays its debt with royal blood, only his sails may cross the Deep.

Two warring nations, separated by the merrow’s trench, trade infant hostages in a commitment to peace. Now, the time has come for the heirs to return home. The Ferryman alone can undertake the exchange.

Yet, animosities are far from assuaged. While Brid Clarion’s islands bask in prosperity, Haf Killick, a floating city of derelict ships, rots and rusts and sinks into the reefs. Its ruler has other designs.

And the sea witch crafts dark bargains with all sides.

Callum is caught in the breach, with a long-held bargain of his own which, once discovered, will shatter this life.

 

My Review:

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

‘The hemp net hung from the boom above the waves. Within its lattice of pinched knots, the slender merrow baked in the heated air. She had ceased her struggle while the sun tilted up and shadows pooled on the deck.’

This opening line leads right into the action and sets up the whole premise of the story. We meet Callum, our hero who pays for showing kindness and holds a fragile truce within his hands. This fantasy world is excellently written and comes alive along with the characters. Greed and political maneuverings abound, and Callum has to tread carefully between the two main powers, separated by The Deep, which only he and his vessel may cross. Each crossing requires a human sacrifice to pay back the debt of the death of one of the Sea Witche’s daughters, and each loss of life weighs heavily upon Callum’s shoulders.

Here are some lines I loved …

‘Callum froze with the crew and officers, silent, waiting, the seconds unspooling like a weaver’s thread.’

And …

‘Ignorance doesn’t change the truth.’

And …

‘From her vantage point, the crescent shoreline resembled a broken bowl spilling its contents into the sea.’

 

I have enjoyed every book of this writer that I’ve read, and The Ferryman and the Sea Witch is no exception. I give this book a solid 5 stars and would highly recommend this read.

 

***

NOTE ON RATINGS: I consider a 3-star rating a positive review. Picky about which books I give 5 stars to, I reserve this highest rating for the stories I find stunning and which moved me.

5 STARS: IT WAS AMAZING! I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN! — Highly Recommended.
4 STARS: I WOULD PULL AN ALL-NIGHTER — Go read this book.
3 STARS: IT WAS GOOD! — An okay read. Didn’t love it. Didn’t hate it.
2 STARS: I MAY HAVE LIKED A FEW THINGS —Lacking in some areas: writing, characterisation, and/or problematic plot lines.
1 STAR: NOT MY CUP OF TEA —Lots of issues with this book.

I’d love to hear what you think of this review. Thanks for stopping by 🙂

 

For anyone interested, here are the Amazon links …

UK … https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B08R8XRTB2/

US … https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08R8XRTB2/

 

42 Comments on “#BookReview: The Ferryman and the Sea Witch by Diana Wallace Peach @Dwallacepeach”

  2. I can’t wait to read this one. It’s sitting patiently (or, maybe, not so patiently) waiting on my kindle. I absolutely love Diana’s storytelling and coupled with her brilliant writing, you can’t lose. She’s a master at her craft. Thanks for sharing this one, Harmony. (Love the quotes you chose.)

    • There were so many good quotes! Glad you liked the review, and I’m sure you’ll enjoy this book. Thanks, Sarah 🙂

  3. Thank you so much for the wonderful review, Harmony. I’m smiling so hard my cheeks hurt! I’ve been on the road most of the day and this was such a joy to see pop up in my email. Thank you for reading and for taking the time to jot down your thoughts. Hugs!

  4. Excellent review of The Ferryman and the Witch, Harmony. I agree with your insight and quotes. I also loved the book and read it almost in one sitting, only had one chapter to finish the next day so that I could write the review right away. Congratulations to Diana on this wonderful review. 🙂

  6. I totally agree with your review of this book, Harmony! And Diana is a true wordsmith, as is evident from the phrases you chose to share. Congrats to Diana and thank you for sharing your thoughts. I loved the twists the story took. I highly recommend this book!