Scan barcode
sherywerbelo's review against another edition
3.0
I really liked the premise of this story, a girl fighting to save her family and enact her revenge. Magic and lore, it had all the components of a good story. In fact, the story was great, I just didn't enjoy the way the story was told. The speed of the story was inconsistent, sometimes fast, sometimes slow, lots of details and just skimming through. My hope that the next book will provide a more consistent speed and better story telling. The characters were great, hopefully we'll learn more about them in the next book.
snowcookies's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
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? No
4.0
wynterwonderland's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Murder, Death of parent, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Gore, Blood, War, Child death, and Torture
Moderate: Animal death and Confinement
shelle333's review against another edition
3.0
This was a 3.5 star read for me. The setup was totally right up my alley: seafaring adventures, Norse mythology, mermaids...but I just didn't love this as much as the first one. It's so much more interesting, imo, to follow the perspective of a mermaid than a viking. I also felt like maybe the story was a bit rushed? Usually I expect fantasy revenge stories to have a bit more of an epic feel.
I guess my main issue was with the protagonist. I wanted to love the story so much, but I just couldn't connect with Ragna. I know she's supposed to be selfish and harder to root for, but I just couldn't deal with the way she treated others. I usually love morally grey characters, but she just struck me as really immature for no real reason.
I'll definitely reread the first one, though, and I'm eager to pick up future books by this author!
I guess my main issue was with the protagonist. I wanted to love the story so much, but I just couldn't connect with Ragna. I know she's supposed to be selfish and harder to root for, but I just couldn't deal with the way she treated others. I usually love morally grey characters, but she just struck me as really immature for no real reason.
I'll definitely reread the first one, though, and I'm eager to pick up future books by this author!
choirqueer's review against another edition
5.0
What an absolute treasure this series was. I was FURIOUS when I reached the end, assuming it was the 2nd book in a trilogy, and went to look up when the 3rd book would come out and found it is in fact a duology. Like the first book, this one is a queer feminist reimagining of a well-known folk story, Peter Pan, with Norse mythology and pirate lore woven in. It felt like a story the author really enjoyed writing, and I certainly really enjoyed reading it!
cw: the author thoughtfully included content warnings which include: kidnapping, murder of child, beating with belt, torture, animal death, battle injuries, human-eating monster, graphic execution (I would have described this scene as "revenge/torture leading to death of an antagonist character"), abuse & imprisonment of children. At the back of the book, these content warnings can be found with specific chapter numbers.
cw: the author thoughtfully included content warnings which include: kidnapping, murder of child, beating with belt, torture, animal death, battle injuries, human-eating monster, graphic execution (I would have described this scene as "revenge/torture leading to death of an antagonist character"), abuse & imprisonment of children. At the back of the book, these content warnings can be found with specific chapter numbers.
sapphicsolace's review against another edition
3.0
Review on my blog • Twitter • Instagram
Rep: sapphic mc, f/f romance
I received an arc from the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review
The Navigator's Touch is the sequel to The Seafarer's Kiss, following a pirate with the element of Norse mythology. I read The Seafarer's Kiss last year and I liked it enough, though it wasn't my favourite.
So, pirate books and me tend to not get along. I don't know what it is about them but I have trouble enjoying them, and I didn't know this was a pirate book going in.
I would say that this book was only okay for me. The plot was interesting but I wasn't on the edge of my seat.
I kind of don't get why this book exists. It feels like a companion because it's from someone else's point of view, but it also feels like a sequel. But it doesn't really work as either. The previous book ended in a way that there could be more story to tell but it doesn't feel like the story you would've expected. The story of this almost felt out of place.
I did like Ragna as a character and it was cool to see more of her and her backstory. But I didn't really love this, and nothing happened for the most part. It was only okay.
rbritt515's review against another edition
4.0
The sequel to The Seafarer’s Kiss is a fun, quick read. The story picks up with Ragna on the ship she commandeered after defeating the man who ransacked her village, losing her hand in the process. Now she and the mermaid Ersel, blessed by Loki with a changing form, set off to retake her home. But Ragna’s anger and thirst for vengeance do not endear her to the crew, who she distrusts and resents, nor to Ersel who she begins to take for granted. Running low on supplies, Ragna is forced to postpone her plans for revenge to resupply at a nearby village and ask their leader for help in retaking her home. But if she’s to have any hope, she’s going to have to find some way to gain her crew’s trust (and learn to trust them in return) and possibly make a deal with Loki in the process—the one thing Ersel made her swear to never do.
I enjoyed this book—not quite as much as The Seafarer’s Kiss, but still a fun, quick, and imaginative read. It was fun to see many of the gaps in Ragna’s story filled in and see things from her perspective. Especially since she had a lot of growing to do in this book. I also liked the high seas adventure aspect of this book and the even deeper exploration of Norse Mythology. And as always, these covers are just to die for.
I was a bit disappointed that the story didn’t seem to track more with the Captain Hook / Peter Pan legend until the very end. I really enjoyed the aspect of fairy tale retelling mixed with Norse mythology in the first book because it was just so unusual and interesting. This book still had the Norse mythology—which was great—but only very tenuous connections to fairy tales / retellings until the end, save for Ragna’s hook and her captaincy. I would’ve loved to see that aspect more fully woven throughout the story. Of course, the book left us on a bit of a cliff hanger so it’s entirely possible (and, frankly, likely I think) that there is going to be another book that delves more deeply into the Peter Pan / Captain Hook myth.
Overall a good, light read. Not as much a retelling as The Seafarer’s Kiss, but still a fun, Norse-inspired, LGBTQ adventure story. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4
**Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review**
I enjoyed this book—not quite as much as The Seafarer’s Kiss, but still a fun, quick, and imaginative read. It was fun to see many of the gaps in Ragna’s story filled in and see things from her perspective. Especially since she had a lot of growing to do in this book. I also liked the high seas adventure aspect of this book and the even deeper exploration of Norse Mythology. And as always, these covers are just to die for.
I was a bit disappointed that the story didn’t seem to track more with the Captain Hook / Peter Pan legend until the very end. I really enjoyed the aspect of fairy tale retelling mixed with Norse mythology in the first book because it was just so unusual and interesting. This book still had the Norse mythology—which was great—but only very tenuous connections to fairy tales / retellings until the end, save for Ragna’s hook and her captaincy. I would’ve loved to see that aspect more fully woven throughout the story. Of course, the book left us on a bit of a cliff hanger so it’s entirely possible (and, frankly, likely I think) that there is going to be another book that delves more deeply into the Peter Pan / Captain Hook myth.
Overall a good, light read. Not as much a retelling as The Seafarer’s Kiss, but still a fun, Norse-inspired, LGBTQ adventure story. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4
**Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review**
rynflynn12's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
samantha_randolph's review against another edition
4.0
I adored The Seafarer's Kiss (book 1 in the duology) and was so excited to read book 2. With shield-maidens, an f/f romance, and all sorts of mythological sea creatures, this is one of the most unique spins on The Little Mermaid I've read. Book 2 also extends into a little bit of Peter Pan retelling as well.
The Navigator's Touch resumes where book 1 left off but with Ragna as the central character this time. She is out to get revenge on the people who killed her family, and Ersel is there to help. We meet several new characters as Ragna tries to form a crew to help her in her mission. What I enjoyed most was Ragna's drive and dedication. It's a bit of a double edged sword (something Ersel especially learns) but her motivation is clear. She holds so much grief and anger in her, and it will take a lot for her to feel any peace.
Julia Ember is so skilled at crafting queer, fantastical stories, and this duology is the perfect example of that.
The Navigator's Touch resumes where book 1 left off but with Ragna as the central character this time. She is out to get revenge on the people who killed her family, and Ersel is there to help. We meet several new characters as Ragna tries to form a crew to help her in her mission. What I enjoyed most was Ragna's drive and dedication. It's a bit of a double edged sword (something Ersel especially learns) but her motivation is clear. She holds so much grief and anger in her, and it will take a lot for her to feel any peace.
Julia Ember is so skilled at crafting queer, fantastical stories, and this duology is the perfect example of that.
majasbookishcorner's review against another edition
5.0
This was such a great read! I read The Seafarer’s Kiss, which is the first book in the Duology at the beginning of this year and totally loved it, so I had high expectations for The Navigator’s Touch, and it definitely did not disappoint!
The second book is about Ragna the shield-maiden who is on a journey seeking revenge for her murdered family. With the help of the magical maps on her skin she is sailing together with Ersel the mermaid and a disloyal crew across the Northern Sea, searching for new allies in order to recapture her village from the invaders.
Overall I really enjoyed the story, the pacing was even better then in the first novel and I loved learning more about Ragna’s past, as well as the elements of Norse Mythology.
Even though Ragna wasn’t the most likeable character at the beginning, by the end of the novel I did grow fond of her, and her character development through the novel was done very well. I also enjoyed the f/f romance between her and Ersel and overall the book included some great queer representation. 🌈
I would definitely recommend this duology, especially if you like reading stories that include mermaids, shielmaidens and Norse Mythology🧜🏻♀️🐙🐚🗡⚓️
Also the writing was amazing in both of the books and I can’t wait to see what Julia Ember writes next ☺️
The second book is about Ragna the shield-maiden who is on a journey seeking revenge for her murdered family. With the help of the magical maps on her skin she is sailing together with Ersel the mermaid and a disloyal crew across the Northern Sea, searching for new allies in order to recapture her village from the invaders.
Overall I really enjoyed the story, the pacing was even better then in the first novel and I loved learning more about Ragna’s past, as well as the elements of Norse Mythology.
Even though Ragna wasn’t the most likeable character at the beginning, by the end of the novel I did grow fond of her, and her character development through the novel was done very well. I also enjoyed the f/f romance between her and Ersel and overall the book included some great queer representation. 🌈
I would definitely recommend this duology, especially if you like reading stories that include mermaids, shielmaidens and Norse Mythology🧜🏻♀️🐙🐚🗡⚓️
Also the writing was amazing in both of the books and I can’t wait to see what Julia Ember writes next ☺️