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Critique for
"Sea Witch"
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A really, really FANTASTIC read - and I have
already devoured the first part posted on your website - I can sense more
sea ventures ahead!!! Can't wait for Spring 2007! Once again, I have
been completely captivated and entertained. Thank you for such a brilliant
story and such wonderful, colourful characters!
Tanya
Wow! What a fantastic ride!
Lady, you are totally zeroed in on my story bone! What a great slab of
words! What is the matter with the publishers in London? If the manuscript
of SEA WITCH had crossed my desk, I would be
throwing bags of gold your way. I want to sign on with Captain Acorne!
When is the next one coming out? The future is yours! It's got to
be! Ps one complaint--the story wasn't long enough.
Nathan
The review be posted! Yarrr!!!
Thanks for the opportunity to review Sea Witch - I
enjoyed it very much!
Bilgemunky
(Read Bilgemunky's full review here.
H)
Your strengths are in developing characters. I
LOVED to hate the horrible Dutchman. I expect I'll have to hate him
throughout the next book too, eh? He provides such anxiety for us
readers!! [And for Jesamiah too, I know!]. I find Jes to be such a complex
person - no doubt your conversations with him are QUITE interesting! I
think he's better looking than Johnny Depp, and I like him a lot more than
Jack Sparrow [who I think is too "Disney" to be a 'real' man like Jes -
even though he IS cute!].
{Snip. Discussion and praise of a plot twist removed...}
I am also imagining Tiola's name is pronounced
"Tyo - la" ..yes? Once I envisioned it that way and not "Tee - o - la"
then it was easier to sort of make it sound like Cornish and not French.
(actually its teeo-la, 'Tee' with the 'o' very short. H)
What I liked best about the whole book
was your description - battles weren't boring, the love scenes weren't
cheesy and I felt as though I could sail a boat myself after reading how
they run aloft to furl the sails!
You have written a book that is
compelling and which stays with me - truly! I'll be driving around in my
car randomly thinking of something I need to do and a scene will pop into
my head. I couldn't put the book down, didn't want to finish and now that
I have I want the next one! Keep writing! Tethys will only wait so long
between snacks.... :)
Connie
This story is close to your heart? I like the.... Wow, I can't think of
the right words.... Ambiguity, I guess, I get to feel toward Jesamiah- you
know what he is, a pirate, but you kinda like him anyway. He has more
layers than his inspiration [Jack Sparrow] and makes a more complex
character in some ways.
It's rather bitter-sweet in a way - I'm
not done yet and I'm at the point of teetering between hoping this all
turns out like a romantic fantasy that ends " Happily ever after " and the
one more likely to leave a mark. Keep that sense of having this story
re-call memories of love lost. I felt their pain of a broken heart
and each did what would be true to their own nature. Such a mix of
realism and romanticism is an unusual recipe. It's compelling because of
the enthusiasm and magic of discovering another time and place infused in
this story. Thanks!
Dianna
I finished reading the book today, and I loved
it! Very well done, though if I may be so bold, there were three things
which stood out to me.
1) was concerning the word sh*t. Maybe it was because
we had already discussed whether to use the word or not [on a Pirate
message board. H]but it stuck out for some reason. Maybe he
could've said it in Spanish?
2) is the style you used in this book,
but I don't remember from your King Arthur novels, was sentence structure.
It is unique in this book. Doesn't take away from it, and I liked it, but
I did have to re-read a couple of the sentences to understand them fully.
I believe you mentioned the font somewhere as well, which was nice to see
different from other books printed in something closer to the worn out
Times New Roman.Otherwise, it neither added to nor took away. But a nice
change.
3) something which I doubt you had any control over, but
maybe, was the overall construction of the book physically. The paperback
is nice, a nice size, easy for me to stow in a pack and carry with me but
the binding is not very strong. In all other ways, it was great! I didn't
go in for the love scene parts too much, but I chalked that up to me being
a guy, so of course I just want to get to the next part about the ships,
or the tricks pulled or the fighting. I eagerly look forward to the next
instalment!
Jeremy
I finished reading Sea Witch ! I want more Jes!! Helen, I loved
it! Can't wait for the next one. How long does it take to write a book
anyway?
Scally
I have fallen completely, madly in love with Jesamiah Acorne! I'm not
finished with the book as yet but so far I love it! Thanks so much
Helen! Jesamiah is one of the liveliest and endearing characters I've seen
come along in a very long time! Congratulations!
Kelly
Oh, Helen, tell Jesamiah he is such a flirt and I mean that in a good
way! He is so cute! (Tell him cute is a wonderful thing from a woman's
point of view). I love the interaction between him and Tiola once he gets
his strength back. They are so wonderful together and he is SUCH a
charmer!
Susan
Well done on a vivid, fast moving romp that
leaves your readers looking for next years diary so that we can see how
long to wait for the next instalment. Quite how Jesamiah can possibly be
up for more than you have already put him through though is a bit beyond
me. Only one complaint, I really felt that the despatch of his dastardly
brother should have been much, much nastier! But hey that's just
me!
Jane
It's a jolly good
read!
Carla
(Read
Carla's full review here.
H)
FINISHED IT......WOOHOOO. Helen....fantastic
ending mate....but I want MORE... MORE.... MORE... What poor
Jesamiah went through by his brother ...wow...Jesamiah didn't have the
time to give him his due....but now I know the "blue ribbons" have at
least three uses... Well done Jesamiah...Tiola was awesome...loved the
supernatural aspect of her life and loves...wow. The crew...is just right.
A good mixture of men who are loyal to the ship and the Captain....well
done. Loved the connection between Tiola and the "Sea Witch" too....well
written Helen. Gonna have to read it a few more times now....waiting for
the sequel....sigh....
Applelady
I
SO loved Sea Witch , honestly, one of the best reads
ever - I even enjoyed it more than Frenchman's Creek (perhaps because
there was more sailing detail?)
Jester
I like the book it was cool
Jade
Sea Witch is a exciting adventure mixing piracy romance and magic
it’s the best book I have read all summer. It’s a real page-turner captain
jesamiha acorne is a fantastic character I could actually imagine I was on
mermaid sailing the high seas with him. Tiola well what can I say about
her the little witch (get it) she’s the best.
Robert (aged 12)
I am half-way through your book and it is
brilliant...
(Later) I have now finished Sea
Witch - honestly could not
wait to read it in bed, sadly now finished the ending
did not disappoint and waiting for following up.
Lorna (Manager, The Epping
Bookshop)
What I liked most about Jesamiah is that he is a
blend of vulnerability and libertine. He can be induced to be gentle but
he isn't really that gentle. He can be when he chooses. He makes no excuses for what he is. This makes him
endearingly vile!
Jacksbiscuit
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Critique for
"Pirate Code"
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Helen!! I wanted you to know I am DELIBERATELY reading PIRATE
CODE as slow as humanly possible, but
I am finding it extremely difficult. I just don't want the book to
be over, because... well... it will KILL me till I get your next
instalment!!
I am totally enthralled by your
books, the characters are great, the story has so many twists! and Poor
Jes!! I just wanna grab him up and give 'im a big ole hug! Poor
blighter...he's so love struck. I have to say you have made me laugh out
loud at his expense...so many times, people at work think I am nuts! I
can't wait to see the next book!!
Peg
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