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harleyrae's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this! That magic system is super interesting, though I would like a bit more explanation in how they acquire the magic. Otherwise I had a fun time reading this!
dejalu's review against another edition
3.0
I’m always happy with a unique (even just to me) premise and this one had that. I also enjoyed that I didn’t forsee some of the twists. I did, however, find some if it repetitive and in some parts rushed. Some of the magic was a bit gruesome but not enough that I had to skip over it.
I’m not sure if a sequel is in the works but this book was left in such a way that I’d be interested in checking one out if it comes to fruition.
I’m not sure if a sequel is in the works but this book was left in such a way that I’d be interested in checking one out if it comes to fruition.
quinzelle's review against another edition
2.0
I started this book at the beginning of February 2024. I wanted to like this book. I wanted to like this book a LOT because it hit all of my fantasy buttons. Pirates, mermaids, queer rep. But the writing was hard to get through and I DNF'd the book at Chapter 20. The worldbuilding and magic system is unparalleled. It has one of the best magic systems I've seen in fantasy and I've read a lot of fantasy. The worldbuilding was intricate to the point where I wanted to eat the ginnada Amora talks about in early chapters.
That being said, the writing of the book and the pacing of the book is so hard to get through. I'm chalking it up to it being Grace's first official release since I've heard that her other series, Belladonna, is really good. She's most likely finding her footing and her voice as an author. If you can get through that, I'm absolutely sure that the book will be rewarding for you, but I just couldn't get through it and I wanted to simply move on.
That being said, the writing of the book and the pacing of the book is so hard to get through. I'm chalking it up to it being Grace's first official release since I've heard that her other series, Belladonna, is really good. She's most likely finding her footing and her voice as an author. If you can get through that, I'm absolutely sure that the book will be rewarding for you, but I just couldn't get through it and I wanted to simply move on.
brendalovesbooks's review against another edition
5.0
This fell apart a bit at the end, but I really loved most of the story. I've found recently that I love books where the ocean plays a big part.
janecassar's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
sanne6je's review against another edition
4.0
I fairly enjoyed this book. The story is exciting and you don’t really know what’s going to happen. That being said, it did feel badly executed at some points, rushed. Sometimes it felt like I either didn’t pay enough attention or something was quickly brushed over. I would however recommend this book since the story was quite good.
serenity043's review against another edition
2.0
Interesting magic system but all in all I thought the characters were lacking in depth, very little character growth. Not sure if I will read the next book.
bookishlass's review against another edition
3.75
Content warnings: blood, violence, death, death of a parent, torture, sexual content, sexual assault
rosska22's review against another edition
3.0
I received this book in my monthly Owlcrate subscription.
I have mixed emotions about this book, largely hinging on the fact that it felt a little familiar. If you've read enough YA fantasy series, I suppose after a while they're all going to start to feel the same. By chapter five, I had already figured out all of the "surprising" plot twists, and so nothing in the book shocked or 'wow'-ed me. However. The saving grace was the fact that Adalyn Grace wrote characters that were just interesting enough to keep me hanging on. Characters that I expected to dislike were given just enough character growth that I never wanted to toss any of them off the side of a pirate ship.
I liked Amora's journey, and I appreciated that she was forced into a little bit of introspection and began to question the world around her for the first time in her life. She wasn't a simpering, puffy pink princess like some eventual YA heroines, and she wasn't that terrible stereotypical "I'm not like other princesses!" character either. She managed to settle nicely into the middle ground - feminine, strong, occasionally damnably stubborn, and truly good-hearted.
Bastian is the reason that I didn't put this book down. Though I had followed the threads and figured out his story long before Amora did, I wanted to see him reach his goals and see his inevitable confrontation with his past. I had hoped for a little more information on the time after he left his island and before he met Amora, but perhaps this bit of his background can achieve a little more screentime in the sequel. He's handsome, smart, strong, has a mysterious backstory, and a ship. What more could you ask from a YA love interest?
I will probably purchase the sequel, and I will probably read it. I might even enjoy it.
For a book that purports to be about princesses, pirates, magic, and mermaids, there are hilariously few instances of princesses, pirates and mermaids. One each!
The world was well-developed, and I was always interested to see people use their varying magics.
If you really like the comfortable YA fantasy setting, this is the book for you. If you're looking to be dazzled by stunning plot twists, this is probably not your book.
I have mixed emotions about this book, largely hinging on the fact that it felt a little familiar. If you've read enough YA fantasy series, I suppose after a while they're all going to start to feel the same. By chapter five, I had already figured out all of the "surprising" plot twists, and so nothing in the book shocked or 'wow'-ed me. However. The saving grace was the fact that Adalyn Grace wrote characters that were just interesting enough to keep me hanging on. Characters that I expected to dislike were given just enough character growth that I never wanted to toss any of them off the side of a pirate ship.
I liked Amora's journey, and I appreciated that she was forced into a little bit of introspection and began to question the world around her for the first time in her life. She wasn't a simpering, puffy pink princess like some eventual YA heroines, and she wasn't that terrible stereotypical "I'm not like other princesses!" character either. She managed to settle nicely into the middle ground - feminine, strong, occasionally damnably stubborn, and truly good-hearted.
Bastian is the reason that I didn't put this book down. Though I had followed the threads and figured out his story long before Amora did, I wanted to see him reach his goals and see his inevitable confrontation with his past. I had hoped for a little more information on the time after he left his island and before he met Amora, but perhaps this bit of his background can achieve a little more screentime in the sequel. He's handsome, smart, strong, has a mysterious backstory, and a ship. What more could you ask from a YA love interest?
I will probably purchase the sequel, and I will probably read it. I might even enjoy it.
For a book that purports to be about princesses, pirates, magic, and mermaids, there are hilariously few instances of princesses, pirates and mermaids. One each!
The world was well-developed, and I was always interested to see people use their varying magics.
If you really like the comfortable YA fantasy setting, this is the book for you. If you're looking to be dazzled by stunning plot twists, this is probably not your book.