SOLVED. YA Fantasy book, read around 2005-2012 on Apple Books; story about a witch girl who is joined by her protector, Joshen, and they sail across the sea to rescue captured witches who were turned into trees trying to fight off an evil witch. [s]

[Bec]

I remember so much about this book and yet can’t find it! I read it as a preteen on Apple Books (it was free at the time), but deleted it or it was removed from my device somehow?

Starts off with her mother leaving to fight a battle with some evil witch and when she doesn’t return the girl (Bridgette? maybe a B name?) goes off to search for her. She then meets a guy, Joshen, who works at a stable and he becomes her protector. They travel by boat to find someone to train her, end up crashing their boat/barely surviving when they reach this protected island. Turns out to be a safe haven for witches/creatures and they are nursed back to health. Here, the girl also trains and learns potions.

Then some witch allies bring them across the sea to the other continent where the source of the evil is (basically all of the seasons are messed up because of the evil faction of witches). The girl turns into a seal at some point to figure out where they are, is attacked, but is healed and eventually they reach the land. People help to hide them and transport them to the main capital where the evil witch has taken over.

They fight using plants with their army, but it somehow ends up with only her and Joshen alone before reaching the main stronghold. (At this point they hook up). Then she leaves to battle the evil witch on her own. I seem to remember the "goddesses" or first witches aided her in the fight. After all this is over, she finds out the trees in the garden are all the lost witches and turns them back by opening up the fruit on the trees.

Thanks for the help, comment if more details are needed!

[Mai]

From the reviews this book that came up in a search sounds just like your description!
Witch Song by Amber Argyle
It's the first book of the Witch Song Series and it was published in 2011.

[Bec]

Mai wrote: "From the reviews this book that came up in a search sounds just like your description!
Witch Song by Amber Argyle
It's the first book of the Witch Song Series and i..."

Oh my goodness, yes! That's it, thank you so much :)