If you’re ready to enter the witchy season, but want a bit of mythology sprinkled in, you’re going to want to pick up the Witches of Orkney series! The Mermaid Queen is the fourth instalment in the series and it’s a versatile read, full of adventure, and a darker fantasy for anyone who’s not ready to pick up an in-depth fantasy novel that will bog you down in detail for hours. I found myself loving Hugo, Abigail, and Calla. The lines of good and bad are blurred here, and there’s a lot of character growth happening for a book that’s just under 250 pages. The infusion of mythology is also wonderfully done and is an inventive and unique way to tell a story.
Hugo and Abigail have managed to help restore the power balance back to Orkney after their defeat of the alchemist Vertulious. Unfortunately, that came at a steep cost. The mermaid queen, Capricorn, has unleashed the Midgard serpent Jormungand. Her aim is to become the goddess of the sea over Aegir and she’ll use the serpent to achieve her goals. Abigail finds her power isn’t enough and reaches into the darkness within her again, but that darkness may just alter her path and fate forever.
When I started this book, I wasn’t sure why I thought it was going to be a happy go-lucky fantasy with a super positive moral. Boy was I glad to be wrong. Whilst there’s a lot of positive messages in this story, it is approached in a more adult way than I was expecting it to be. For one, death and dying is approached in a very direct way with no beating around the bush and using euphemisms to hide what’s happening. Moreover, Abigail is dealing with a variety of issues, both physically and mentally. She’s facing immense pressure by her coven and being singled out for her differences, but she’s got an impressive amount of self-doubt and has a stronger sense of responsibility to those that she loves.
Abigail’s turmoil with her darkness is expounded upon in this book, and really keeps you on the edge of your seat for what she’s ultimately going to choose. The way she teeters in certain moments really elevated this story for me as the path between good and evil isn’t always as clear as we think.
The story includes Abigail, Hugo, Calla, and Endera’s perspectives. While the main focus is on Abigail, I do feel like we get a well-rounded story with the inclusion of more than one voice. We get to see Hugo’s worry for Abigail while he’s keeping secrets of his own. It’s precious to see how he doesn’t let his friendship take second place though. Calla is the same, but there seems to be more tension between her and Abigail in this book. There’s a bit more of a focus on Calla’s abilities and skills in this book, and it was fascinating to see her tackle them in contrast to how Abigail tackles her issues.
I felt like the story moved along really well and without any lulls in the story. There’s a great combination of character driven plot, but infused with a healthy dose of Norse mythology. The incorporation of the pantheon of Norse gods, and how they’re imagined into the world was great too. I won’t spoil it, but I think others will love it just as much as I did.
One of the things that I didn’t realise after reading the Witches of Orkney is that it’s a prequel to the Legend of Orkney series. That didn’t hinder my enjoyment of the book, but I do wish I’d read Legend of Orkney before I started this series. This book is anyone wanting a lighter fantasy with more ‘adult’ themes and map loving readers will love the really pretty map. When I first picked it up, I thought it was a graphic novel as it does include some illustrations within as well, so if you’re into that (which I definitely am), add it to your TBR! It’s adventurous and thrilling, and after the ending, I want to know what’s going to happen to the witch coven as well as Abigail, Calla, and Hugo!
The Mermaid Queen is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of October 12th 2021.
Will you be picking up The Mermaid Queen? Tell us in the comments below!
Synopsis | Goodreads
Abigail and Hugo have just helped restore the balance of power in Orkney by defeating the powerful alchemist Vertulious when Abigail discovers that Capricorn, the mermaid queen she trusted to help them, has unleashed the powerful Midgard Serpent named Jormungand―who, years ago, encircled the world of mankind and held it captive until Odin banished it to an underwater prison. Capricorn is determined to force Odin to make her goddess of the seas over Aegir, and she’s ready to use the massive serpent to bend him to her will―threatening all of Orkney. Abigail and Hugo must embark on an adventure across the seas to Odin’s island sanctuary to find a way to stop Capricorn and return Jormungand to his watery cell. But when Abigail finds that her powers are not enough, she has to tap into her dark magic again and again. As she is drawn further down this path, a dark presence makes itself known to her―one that may alter her path forever.
