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3.84 AVERAGE
3.84 AVERAGE
It had some interesting ideas but overall I couldn't get into it. The explanations in the book are awkward and often uncessary. Spells out every piece of information over and over, yet does not provide an immersive experience. The characters are largely flat and unlikeable.
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
I'm giving it 4 stars mostly cause the end really redeemed it, and because I am excited to read the next book.
Let me go through what I did not enjoy first: Emory. Most INSUFFERABLE FMC I've read in a LONG time, good Lord. While I usually am a sucker for the MC who thinks they got no powers only to then be revealed as being the most powerful of all (hello Midoriya), god she was sooooo annoying about it. A downer, selfish protagonist, with barely any redeeming qualities. It was painfully obvious from the beginning thatKieran was going to betray her, and she decided to ignore it for...? Approval? I'm not sure; he was quite the boring character too. Would've love for the main character to be Romie instead, and for the story to follow the two siblings.
I also did not really enjoy the pacing. The book only really picks up in the second half, which is a shame because the concept is truly brilliant imo.
On what I liked, the magic system. While the wordbuilding is... questionable? Once can choose to ignore it just fine, and I believe the easy to understand but interesting magic system is distraction enough. I did wish we had a chance to deep dive a bit more into the 14 (FOURTEEN) different types of magic, but I'm holding hope for the next books.
Baz, as well as his storyline, was the saving grace of this book. I truly enjoyed reading from his POV, and I much preferred the characters he surrounded himself with (Kae, Vera, Kai). While an academic cult seemed interesting on paper, whenever scenes on the Selenic Order came up I always just ended up looking forward for Baz's chapter to come, along with his storyline focused on the mysterious institute and Eclipse-born people.
On this note, I loved his and Kai's... friendship. Not even in a fujoshi way, I NEED THEM TO GET TOGETHER. If not cause they are perfect for each other, solely cause I do not understand his obsession with Emory and I do not think they should be together. They will be, I know it. I just don't want them to.
Also, there were some pretty good plot-twists, that actually had my jaw drop, so good job on that.
Overall, was it an extraordinary read? No. But it has the potential for sure, and I will definitely tune in for the following books.
Let me go through what I did not enjoy first: Emory. Most INSUFFERABLE FMC I've read in a LONG time, good Lord. While I usually am a sucker for the MC who thinks they got no powers only to then be revealed as being the most powerful of all (hello Midoriya), god she was sooooo annoying about it. A downer, selfish protagonist, with barely any redeeming qualities. It was painfully obvious from the beginning that
I also did not really enjoy the pacing. The book only really picks up in the second half, which is a shame because the concept is truly brilliant imo.
On what I liked, the magic system. While the wordbuilding is... questionable? Once can choose to ignore it just fine, and I believe the easy to understand but interesting magic system is distraction enough. I did wish we had a chance to deep dive a bit more into the 14 (FOURTEEN) different types of magic, but I'm holding hope for the next books.
Baz, as well as his storyline, was the saving grace of this book. I truly enjoyed reading from his POV, and I much preferred the characters he surrounded himself with (Kae, Vera, Kai). While an academic cult seemed interesting on paper, whenever scenes on the Selenic Order came up I always just ended up looking forward for Baz's chapter to come, along with his storyline focused on the mysterious institute and Eclipse-born people.
On this note, I loved his and Kai's... friendship. Not even in a fujoshi way, I NEED THEM TO GET TOGETHER. If not cause they are perfect for each other, solely cause I do not understand his obsession with Emory and I do not think they should be together. They will be, I know it. I just don't want them to.
Also, there were some pretty good plot-twists, that actually had my jaw drop, so good job on that.
Overall, was it an extraordinary read? No. But it has the potential for sure, and I will definitely tune in for the following books.
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Set in a world where magical abilities are determined by moon phases and tidal alignments, the plot revolves around the mystical Aldryn College for Lunar Magics.
Emory, a student of House New Moon, returns to the school after she survived an ill-fated ritual in the Dovermere sea caves that claimed the lives of several classmates – including that of her best friend, Romie. Previously a mediocre healer, Emory now gains increasingly powerful abilities that might lead to a fatal loss of control… She seeks help from Romie's brother Baz, an Eclipse-born with equally volatile magic, to control her new abilities and uncover the truth behind the ritual.
The narrative deepens as supposedly drowned students start reappearing, only to die again under mysterious circumstances. Emory is drawn into a world of dark powers and hidden secrets.
My opinion:
The novel offers a unique blend of dark academia and fantasy; the lunar-based magic system is engaging and innovative, contributing to the narrative's unique appeal. Pascale Lacelle builds her world with a meticulous eye for detail and a sense for deliberate, yet effective pacing.
Emory's quest to unravel the truth and master her powers is fraught with danger. Secret societies, betrayal, and deception: The plot unfolds in twists and turns, adding layer after layer of intrigue and atmospheric suspense. Baz's skillfully executed character-arc, on the other hand, delves into questions of prejudice and privilege. The characters are well-developed, showing complex motivations, emotional depth, and personal growth throughout the story.
The writing is mesmerizing, richly detailed and immersive. Compelling imagery captures the secretive atmosphere of Aldryn College and the dark mysteries of its lore. All in all, «Curious Tides» was a very satisfying, original read. It requires patient, attentive reading to fully appreciate its depth and complexity, but in my eyes, it's worth the effort.
Emory, a student of House New Moon, returns to the school after she survived an ill-fated ritual in the Dovermere sea caves that claimed the lives of several classmates – including that of her best friend, Romie. Previously a mediocre healer, Emory now gains increasingly powerful abilities that might lead to a fatal loss of control… She seeks help from Romie's brother Baz, an Eclipse-born with equally volatile magic, to control her new abilities and uncover the truth behind the ritual.
The narrative deepens as supposedly drowned students start reappearing, only to die again under mysterious circumstances. Emory is drawn into a world of dark powers and hidden secrets.
My opinion:
The novel offers a unique blend of dark academia and fantasy; the lunar-based magic system is engaging and innovative, contributing to the narrative's unique appeal. Pascale Lacelle builds her world with a meticulous eye for detail and a sense for deliberate, yet effective pacing.
Emory's quest to unravel the truth and master her powers is fraught with danger. Secret societies, betrayal, and deception: The plot unfolds in twists and turns, adding layer after layer of intrigue and atmospheric suspense. Baz's skillfully executed character-arc, on the other hand, delves into questions of prejudice and privilege. The characters are well-developed, showing complex motivations, emotional depth, and personal growth throughout the story.
The writing is mesmerizing, richly detailed and immersive. Compelling imagery captures the secretive atmosphere of Aldryn College and the dark mysteries of its lore. All in all, «Curious Tides» was a very satisfying, original read. It requires patient, attentive reading to fully appreciate its depth and complexity, but in my eyes, it's worth the effort.
Ce tome est une lecture intense et addictive même si y a trop de longueurs. J’ai adoré voir l’évolution d’Emory et Baz, leur relation pleine de tension et d’émotions fortes. L’intrigue est bien menée, avec des personnages profonds et complexes. La plume est fluide, ce qui rend le récit captivant malgré sa densité. Hâte de lire la suite pour découvrir comment leur histoire va évoluer, surtout après un final qui donne vraiment envie de continuer !
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
1.5 Stars
Emory is one of the most unbearable FMCs I’ve come across in a long time (after Feyre in ACOSF of course lmao). From the start, this was incredibly slow and on the boring side and I had to push myself to finish it because I just did not care for this FMC. Baz on the other hand, I adored and I wish more of the story was from his perspective because for me, he was the saving grace in this book. When Emory’s other love interest is introduced it’s insufferably obvious that he is hiding something from her and is going to betray her, yet she ignores all these red flags for some reason and thus, the “romance” in this book sucked. This book felt way longer than it needed to be and I had to rewind so many times because I was so bored by this book that I had a hard time following it. I don’t care to continue this duology and I can’t believe I actually spent 17 hours I’ll never get back listening to this book because I kept thinking it’d get better. This one was definitely not for me, the premise was so promising but the execution was lacking and I didn’t really get the dark academia vibes I was hoping for. Unfortunately, I really didn’t enjoy this book but at least it’s off my TBR shelf now lol…
Emory is one of the most unbearable FMCs I’ve come across in a long time (after Feyre in ACOSF of course lmao). From the start, this was incredibly slow and on the boring side and I had to push myself to finish it because I just did not care for this FMC. Baz on the other hand, I adored and I wish more of the story was from his perspective because for me, he was the saving grace in this book. When Emory’s other love interest is introduced it’s insufferably obvious that he is hiding something from her and is going to betray her, yet she ignores all these red flags for some reason and thus, the “romance” in this book sucked. This book felt way longer than it needed to be and I had to rewind so many times because I was so bored by this book that I had a hard time following it. I don’t care to continue this duology and I can’t believe I actually spent 17 hours I’ll never get back listening to this book because I kept thinking it’d get better. This one was definitely not for me, the premise was so promising but the execution was lacking and I didn’t really get the dark academia vibes I was hoping for. Unfortunately, I really didn’t enjoy this book but at least it’s off my TBR shelf now lol…
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated