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Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea
Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea | Maggie Tokuda-Hall
46 posts | 30 read | 60 to read
In a world divided by colonialism and threaded with magic, a desperate orphan turned pirate and a rebellious imperial lady find a connection on the high seas. The pirate Florian, born Flora, has always done whatever it takes to survive--including sailing under false flag on the Dove as a marauder, thief, and worse. Lady Evelyn Hasegawa, a highborn Imperial daughter, is on board as well--accompanied by her own casket. But Evelyn's one-way voyage to an arranged marriage in the Floating Islands is interrupted when the captain and crew show their true colors and enslave their wealthy passengers. Both Florian and Evelyn have lived their lives by the rules, and whims, of others. But when they fall in love, they decide to take fate into their own hands--no matter the cost. Maggie Tokuda-Hall's sweeping fantasy debut, full of stolen memories, illicit mermaid's blood, double agents, and haunting mythical creatures conjures an extraordinary cast of characters and the unforgettable story of a couple striving to stay together in the face of myriad forces wishing to control their identities and destinies.
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review
shortsarahrose
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Pickpick

Another winner from the #AuldLangSpine list of @peanutnine
A gripping fantasy adventure tale with pirates, mermaids, and witches that also tackles issues of colonialism and gender identity. I thought the middle section dragged a bit, but the thrilling final section more than made up for it. I absolutely loved both Flora and Evelyn. Also! A sequel is coming out in September!

TW: torture, slavery, abuse

peanutnine Glad you liked it! I didn't know about the sequel - exciting!! ☺️ 11mo
shortsarahrose @peanutnine it sounds like both Genevieve and Alfie are main characters in the sequel - title is The Siren, The Song, and The Spy 11mo
35 likes1 stack add2 comments
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shortsarahrose
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“‘Yes, of course, man, you can still hunt your quarry of choice. When I return with reports of your good behavior, the Emperor will surely legalize the hunt of mermaids, and you‘ll do so on an Imperial stipend. So long as you deliver us your Supreme.‘”

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shortsarahrose
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“And still, the queen‘s heart beat.”

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shortsarahrose
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“Then he handed the pistol back to Flora.”

dabbe Don't know if THAT'S a good idea! 🤣😊🤗 11mo
23 likes1 comment
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shortsarahrose
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“‘Hear me, Evelyn. Wives are replaceable. You are replaceable. And if you ever fail to remember that, it will be your undoing.‘”

willaful 😳 11mo
31 likes2 comments
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kera_11
Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea | Maggie Tokuda-Hall
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I generally enjoyed this but it wasn‘t amazing. Pacing is not great & based on the title I expected more witches & mermaids. Evelyn is sold to a man she‘s never met for marriage by her parents but inadvertently ends up on a pirate ship, where gender fluid, Flora/Florian, is tasked w/ guarding her. When their insta-love for each other kicks in, they have to fight their way back to each other & protect the others they care about. Love the cover tho

7 likes2 stack adds
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shortsarahrose
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“But even as she tried to lose herself in the softness of Keiko, of her mouth and her legs and her neck and her cheek, Evelyn couldn‘t help but wonder if her parents‘ choice to deprive her of her most beloved lady‘s maid was not just frugal but calculated.”

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shortsarahrose
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“And Florian, who still had Mr. Lam‘s blood on his sleeve, smiled into the darkness.”

Starting another from @peanutnine #AuldLangSpine list. Only read the prologue, but it really sets the atmosphere! 🏴‍☠️ 🔪

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CaitlinR
Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea | Maggie Tokuda-Hall
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Mehso-so

Although I generally enjoyed this novel, the title signals one of its flaws: mermaids and the sea are major components of this story, but witches put in a tangential appearance, one that lends little to the story. Florian/Flora and her brother are taken on a members of the pirate crew of the Dove who traffic in people and in mermaids (for their blood) Lady Evelyn has been sold to a husband she‘s never met. Their lives become the stuff of legend.

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Nalbuque
Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea | Maggie Tokuda-Hall
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Mehso-so

SO MUCH potential! I‘m giving it a so-so bc despite keeping me interested the whole way, some of this book was plain bad (it felt way too rushed, prob shoulda been a series; references felt a bit butchered, altho I admit I‘m not 100% familiar with the cultures this was supposedly based on; the writing was not great; etc)
It‘s just frustrating bc this coulda been great! Bonus points for diversity of characters but I def wish this was better :(

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Kar2b
Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea | Maggie Tokuda-Hall
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Thank you so much, Jenna, for this fun Slice of Summer package. My apologies that I I didn‘t post on July 1… being my birthday, it completely slipped my mind. Then I was caught up in holiday weekend festivities. At any rate, I love everything!! #sliceofsummerswap

lirahlu I'm so glad! Also Happy belated Birthday!! 2y
Catsandbooks That mug is so cute! Happy belated birthday and have a great summer! ☀️ 2y
20 likes2 comments
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TLuvs
Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea | Maggie Tokuda-Hall
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If your on Insta or YouTube, my friend @TheBrightSideGirl is hosting her upcoming #mermaidmerathonreads ! These are my TBR picks, what's yours? #beachread #summervibes

CrowCAH What a fun theme to revolve a discussion around! 🧜‍♀️ 2y
TLuvs @CrowCAH Right! It can be any book themed from the sea, on a boat, about pirates, etc... She does it each summer and we get to see some books we normally wouldn't. 2y
8 likes2 stack adds2 comments
review
Lunakay
Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea | Maggie Tokuda-Hall
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Pickpick

I was hooked from the very start: A pirate girl, who tries to survive as a boy, another girl sent off to be wed and their unlikely love and friendship caught somewhere in between.
The world-building is quite original and just the right amount to make the story work. It's full of intriguing characters to love and hate! And the Sea!
It's told from different perspectives, I think two of them would have sufficed, it just doesn't add much.

🐚🐚🐚🐚/5

10 likes1 stack add
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Lunakay
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Somehow my outfit matches my book today😆
Just one of those things😄

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Johanna414
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Last day of winter break before school starts again, so I'm treating myself to breakfast out at my favorite coffee shop

DanaManiac Looks like a cozy place! Enjoy!! 2y
40 likes1 comment
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Sharv_Sona
Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea | Maggie Tokuda-Hall
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Pickpick

This book was great! This was recommended to me by @Lovelylottereader and so I thank you! I also blame you for me emotional pain now. 🖤 getting back to point, I would recommend this book to people love a good pirate love story! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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Sharv_Sona
Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea | Maggie Tokuda-Hall

“Love does not come in terms of convenience. Or any kind of sense.”

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Sharv_Sona
Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea | Maggie Tokuda-Hall

“It doesn‘t do to pretend this life isn‘t what it is.”

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Sharv_Sona
Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea | Maggie Tokuda-Hall

“You think the world of men is so complicated? It isn't. You're all the same. Weak, and small, and eager to push your own failure off on others while pretending I couldn't possibly understand the great forces at work that forced your hand. Half a woman's life is spent pretending she doesn't notice just how stupid and prone to failure you all are!“

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Sharv_Sona
Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea | Maggie Tokuda-Hall

“Know your truth, not your story.”

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Sharv_Sona
Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea | Maggie Tokuda-Hall
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CrowCAH
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#Haunted #WitchyWednesday

This book came highly recommended.
The cover art is beautiful! 😍

Eggs What a beautiful cover!! 2y
69 likes1 stack add1 comment
review
Lovelylottereader
Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea | Maggie Tokuda-Hall
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Pickpick

This might be my new favorite book! I loved it so much, I loved the characters, the storytelling, the perspectives, the action scenes and much more. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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Lovelylottereader
Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea | Maggie Tokuda-Hall

"Love does not work in terms of convenience. Or any kind of sense."

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Lovelylottereader
Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea | Maggie Tokuda-Hall

"We don't just read to imagine
better lives. We read to be introduced to all kinds of lives. Any kind. Not just for ourselves, but for everyone around us. To understand others better. It's escape, and it's also a way to become more connected to everyone around you. There's power in that, you know. In understanding.
It's like magic."

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Lovelylottereader
Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea | Maggie Tokuda-Hall

“There‘s freedom in stories, you know. We read them and we become something else. We imagine different lives, and while we turn the pages, we live them. To escape the lot we‘ve been given.”

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Lovelylottereader
Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea | Maggie Tokuda-Hall

“Know your truth, not your story.”

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Kazzie
Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea | Maggie Tokuda-Hall
Pickpick

Exciting, pacey fairytale. Loved the non traditional gender roles

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Leelee.reads
Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea | Maggie Tokuda-Hall
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Pickpick

Pirates, mermaids, magic, and high-seas romantic adventure! Quick and fun read. :)

20 likes4 stack adds
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SkeletonKey
Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea | Maggie Tokuda-Hall
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Finished with work today and now I‘ve got a good, long holiday break. Starting this one now.

Kenyazero Looks like a fun read! 3y
SkeletonKey @Kenyazero - Hope so! 3y
38 likes1 stack add2 comments
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broughtyoubooks
This post contains spoilers
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Pickpick

I had this saved and vaguely remembered it had been suggested for gender queerness, which was nice, present but not necessarily central. I feel like The Witch part could have been it's own book, but it was well written to have so much happen in a stand alone.
Would like to think that the story would have ended the same, had Flora been born Florian.

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Bookish_Gal
Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea | Maggie Tokuda-Hall
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Pickpick

This was a sweet powerful book about the magic of stories and love. Flora finding herself, how who she believes she is differs from the truth. You need the truth of yourself. Then you have sweet Evelyn. How all she wants to do is the right thing. Rake is such a complicated character. Loved all theses twists and turns of who is actually who is disguise.

6 likes1 stack add
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Bookish_Gal
Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea | Maggie Tokuda-Hall
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1/2 way thoughts. Such a nice quiet, calm story so far. We‘ve met the mermaid, now we‘ve met the witch. Little confused on the main goal of the book. I get that the pirates want to be free of the Imperials colonization, but there‘s not much else mentioned. Yet. There is also a new perspective and view on Rake.
I still enjoy Flora and Evelyns different views on life. It really alters the route of the story of the Pirate Supreme

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Bookish_Gal
Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea | Maggie Tokuda-Hall
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First impressions are good and fair. We have Evelyn, the imperial sent across the ocean to marry a man she has never met. And Flora, who is marauding as a man upon a pirate ship with her brother that Evelyn boards
I really like the diversity of these two young ladies. Such different ways of life and perspectives. There‘s so much going on to be said already

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AbigailJaneBlog
Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea | Maggie Tokuda-Hall
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Pickpick

I liked it. The end went by a bit fast for me, and a few unfinished ends, but overall I enjoyed the fantasy world, 4 stars!

Read my full review at: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/51710973-the-mermaid-the-witch-and-the-sea

#netgalley #currentread #honestreview

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rachelsbrittain
Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea | Maggie Tokuda-Hall
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Pickpick

A queer Pirates of the Caribbean by way of A Princess Bride. Lady Evelyn Hasegawa boards the Dove with a coffin full of all her belongings after being betrothed to a man she's never met. She doesn't realize the Dove is a front for a pirate ship. Nor that the boy Florain charged to watch her is actually Flora in disguise. They fall in love but a vengeful sea and cruel reality almost tear them apart for good. But the mermaids are on their side.

50 likes4 stack adds
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rachelsbrittain
Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea | Maggie Tokuda-Hall
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"She wanted to take Evelyn in her arms and kiss her the way a pirate ought to be kissed."

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rachelsbrittain
Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea | Maggie Tokuda-Hall
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On the agenda for this evening

Skyrimir I‘m reading We Ride Upon Sticks right now and loving it! 4y
rachelsbrittain @Skyrimir I'm having a bit of a hard time getting into it to be honest-- worth sticking with? 4y
Skyrimir @rachelsbrittain after reading a bit more it‘s definitely slow going. I keep waiting for something to happen. I‘ll still finish it, but if you aren‘t feeling it now I don‘t think it would change. I‘m about at page 100. (edited) 4y
rachelsbrittain @Skyrimir okay good to know. That's what I've been struggling with too--just waiting for something to happen. I may give it a bit more time, but I'm so bummer because I really wanted to love it based on the premise 4y
55 likes1 stack add4 comments
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Branwen
Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea | Maggie Tokuda-Hall
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Pickpick

"There's freedom in stories. We imagine different lives, and while we turn the pages, we get to live them. We don't just read to imagine better lives. We read to be introduced to all kinds of lives. Not just for ourselves, but for everyone around us. To understand others better. It's a way to become more connected to everyone around you. There's power in that. In understanding. It's like magic."

This book was SO GOOD! A sweet LGBT fairytale! ??

MissAimz_55 You had me at lgbt fairytale 4y
Branwen @MissAimz_55 Yes! It will make you so happy! 😍💕📚 4y
51 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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Branwen
Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea | Maggie Tokuda-Hall
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It's warm enough to have all the windows and balcony door open tonight, so I'm enjoying the cool breeze along with my tea, popcorn, and book! 😀💕📚🍿☕ Happy Friday night, littens!

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Branwen
Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea | Maggie Tokuda-Hall
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My boyfriend surprised me with this one today! I had not heard of this before but after doing some research I am MEGA excited to start it! Pirates! Mermaids! Witches! LGBTQ Romance! What more could you ask for?! 😍💕📚🏳️‍🌈

BookmarkTavern Wow! What a gorgeous cover! ❤️ 4y
JoScho That sounds amazing and the cover is so beautiful 🖤 4y
Branwen @ozma.of.oz Right?! I can't get over how gorgeous it is! 😍 4y
Branwen @JoScho I agree! I'm so excited about it! A good cover is totally worth fawning over! 😍 4y
49 likes6 stack adds4 comments
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okthislooksbad
Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea | Maggie Tokuda-Hall
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Pickpick

This was a wild adventure from start to finish and I adored it. The world-building was really neat, you can tell it's based on the actual real world but it just /works/, and the rep was just.. *chef's kiss*. If, however, you're allergic to slightly insta-lovey romance plots, this might set off some sneezing. Maybe. But do give it a try anyway!

20 likes1 stack add
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LibrarianRyan
Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea | Maggie Tokuda-Hall
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This is on my TBR. I love the cover and I am excited to read the story.

May 4, 2020
#CoverLove #YAedition

rubyslippersreads 😍😍😍 4y
Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick Oh this is beautiful! 4y
robinb Gorgeous! 4y
50 likes5 stack adds3 comments
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okthislooksbad
Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea | Maggie Tokuda-Hall
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Kiwi really is loving the entire “my human is always available“-thing. Bless her furry heart ♥ (also I was a bit spooked by how gruesome the first chapter of this book was. most unexpected. am loving the world-building so far, though!)

Megabooks Henry is loving it too!! 4y
30 likes1 comment
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sakeriver
Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea | Maggie Tokuda-Hall
Pickpick

I enjoyed this book quite a lot. In form and structure it‘s a lot like the romantic adventures I loved as a teen in the 90s, but more inclusive than what was available back then, centering a queer romance between two POC. I also particularly enjoyed the way magic is constructed in this story—that is, storytelling *as* magic. As someone whose young life was so deep in books, that felt right to me.

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funnypages
Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea | Maggie Tokuda-Hall
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Pickpick

I don‘t think I‘ve ever read anything like this before. The author has taken what should have been a standard fantasy/romance and turned it into a non-binary magical adventure love story. Exceptional. The book comes out in May. Watch for it. (6)