Author: Chrissy Moss
Rating: 4/5 stars
Synopsis:
Her forbidden secret will make her powerful… and hunted.
In
Marizza's world, magic is evil. Since her youth, her mother told her
witches were wicked creatures who deserved imprisonment. The tyrannical
acolytes sacrificed all users of magic to the almighty kraken. It was
the life she knew, until one fateful day changed everything.
When
young Marizza is attacked by the town bully, she defends herself with
magical abilities she didn't even know she had. After the acolytes come
looking for the next witch to sacrifice, Marizza is left with no choice
but to flee. She must journey across the Sea of Tears, where she'll make
a choice that could transform the lives of everyone she loves.
I received a free ebook copy of this book from the publishers via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
My Thoughts:
I chose to give Witch’s Sacrifice a try because of its water-y theme. I don’t think I ever read a book with mermen and a kraken in it, but you gotta start somewhere, right? Well, this was definitely a good place to start…
I loved this fantasy world I got invited to. There is
nothing pretty or rosy about it, because witches are hunted and sacrificed to
the Kraken, yet there is magic and magical creatures that make it exciting.
Frankly, I was surprised how dark this book was at times. I expected something lighter, but I was satisfied with what I got. There is a lot of tragedy in there, pain and loss, but love and hope too, that somehow gets the edge off the sad parts.
The protagonist, Marizza, is a likable character; she is a
young witch who gets saved from the Kraken by Little Mother, an old and wise woman,
also a witch. The old lady later offers her an apprenticeship and the girl
accepts, because she is eager to learn… Up until the point when Artiro, the
young merman appears on the island where the two witches live.
The young love in this book is as naïve – and so as
realistic – as it comes. They are ready to give up everything for each other,
they are careless and reckless. Eventually they pay the price for their
foolishness, but something comes out of their love, that can mark the end of
the evil acolytes’ rule over the Sea of Tears.
Marizza and Artiro don’t steal the story completely
though. We follow Little Mother a lot, we see how she helps young witches all
over the islands and we meet Brother Hawk too, who happens to be my favourite
character in the story. He is a man with a curse: half hawk, half man, who has
to follow the will of the acolytes, the will of the Kraken. He is a bitter and
tortured soul, but there is hope for him yet… I was glad he got involved with
Little Mother’s business.
The story is neatly framed with two fighting scenes;
the end is both an end and a new beginning, it sets the purpose of the sequel
pretty well.
I got charmed by Witch’s Sacrifice, I won’t lie.
It was a joy to go back to this book whenever I had time to read, as it
made me forget everything else completely. I am ready for more.
