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kaitlyng's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Kidnapping, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Torture, Fire/Fire injury, and War
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Self harm, Slavery, Vomit, Death of parent, and Alcohol
erins_bookshelf_'s review against another edition
fast-paced
3.5
This was fun! There was pirates and magic and princes and stuff and I loved it :)
The pacing was just a little off (a bit too fast) in my opinion and the ending felt a bit rushed, but other than that it was a fun read
The pacing was just a little off (a bit too fast) in my opinion and the ending felt a bit rushed, but other than that it was a fun read
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Death, Self harm, and Vomit
Minor: Torture
lvjysunday's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
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
3.75
This book is a perfect read for when you're not in the mood for long fantasy series, deep and complex characters and relationships, but instead you just want to read something easy and fun. The characters were loveable, and i especially enjoyed the healthy relationship Tal had with his siblings and family, and the way they all trusted and cared for one another.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping
Moderate: Torture
Minor: Vomit, Death of parent, and War
nevermoregothic's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Kidnapping
Moderate: Torture and Murder
Minor: Death, Misogyny, Vomit, Trafficking, Death of parent, and War
literarypenguin's review
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This was such a lighthearted and quick little read! The story centers on a prince on his coming-of-age tour who meets a strange young merman. This meeting changes the prince's life forever and also throws him into situations where he thinks of what kind of man he wants to be in this world. It features an adorable romance between a prince and a merman, which I thought was adorable and so tender. There was one really sweet moment between the two that was just perfect! I loved how this book showed not just romantic love but love for your family, how your friends can become like your family, and love for yourself and who you are born to be. The book was very fast-paced and I do wish that it would have focused on some things a bit more than it did. Like politics and world-building. Other than that it was an enjoyable read and I highly recommend it for a lovely m/m romance!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture and Kidnapping
Moderate: Blood and Vomit
Minor: Death of parent
iamkiaraayleen's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Torture and Vomit
Minor: Death of parent, Abandonment, and War
thesupermassive's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Torture, Vomit, Kidnapping, and Injury/Injury detail
matheo's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Vomit
deerlordxx's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Vomit
kingrosereads's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Cute mid-ish YA historical high fantasy romance that’s queeeer and nautical-ly (?).
I was looking for a cute gay pirate story and this book popped up, and though pirates aren’t the subject of the book, I still enjoyed it. It’s definitely YA and could’ve spent a little more time on world building considering politics was a major plot point in this book.
It’s a little cheesy and absolutely adorable. I loved how natural it was to have queer characters and women in power in a historical setting. Too often I hear “oh well it’s not realistic to of POC/queer/women in [insert role that isn’t oppressed]” (it’s literally a fantasy), and I’ve definitely seen books where it felt like the author was trying to hard to fit these characters in the narrative (but maybe that’s just cause they’re not used to incorporating minority characters??). Anyway, I loved this book. It made my heart all gooey over Tal and Athlen. It was just so nice to see a queer teenage love story where there wasn’t any animosity over the queerness. It made me sad for those who couldn’t have it, but also happy because more and more teens are able to experience young love like everyone else.
The story follows fourth child, Prince Tal, going on his coming-of-age tour with his older brother Garrett. Tal is the last mage but his magic is a secret because his ancestor laid waste to the continent and they’re still rebuilding international relationships. Tal and Garrett come upon a burning ship where they find a teen boy, Athlen, chained below deck. Before they’re able to get answers from him, he jobs off their ship and is presumed dead. Days later, Tal runs into Athlen in a market and is shocked to see him alive.
Tal meets Athlen’s friend, Dara, and Tal’s given a rude awakening on the struggles of his people. He enlists his brother to help give out supplies and medicine to the people in town. When Tal meets Athlen again, he demands answers. Athlen takes him to a secret cove where he lives and reveals he’s a merman. Tal is in awe that there’s another magical being, who happens to be the last of his kind, just like him.
Tal is then kidnapped and tortured by pirates which reveals a politically motivated assassination plot. Then Tal is rescued and nursed back to health by Athlen and Dara. Together Athlen and Tal must overcome a sea witch’s bargain, betrayal, war, and assassination attempts all while falling in love.
As I’ve said, world building could’ve been given more attention and a little more development of characters like Dara and the siblings and even Shay would’ve been nice. I do like the familial bones between Tal and his siblings. And I love the relationship between Tal and Athlen despite it developing rather fast.
Overall, I think it’s a good book. I was thoroughly entertained. And yeah, it’s definitely more for 13-16 year old probably, but it doesn’t mean it doesn’t hold its own.
I was looking for a cute gay pirate story and this book popped up, and though pirates aren’t the subject of the book, I still enjoyed it. It’s definitely YA and could’ve spent a little more time on world building considering politics was a major plot point in this book.
It’s a little cheesy and absolutely adorable. I loved how natural it was to have queer characters and women in power in a historical setting. Too often I hear “oh well it’s not realistic to of POC/queer/women in [insert role that isn’t oppressed]” (it’s literally a fantasy), and I’ve definitely seen books where it felt like the author was trying to hard to fit these characters in the narrative (but maybe that’s just cause they’re not used to incorporating minority characters??). Anyway, I loved this book. It made my heart all gooey over Tal and Athlen. It was just so nice to see a queer teenage love story where there wasn’t any animosity over the queerness. It made me sad for those who couldn’t have it, but also happy because more and more teens are able to experience young love like everyone else.
The story follows fourth child, Prince Tal, going on his coming-of-age tour with his older brother Garrett. Tal is the last mage but his magic is a secret because his ancestor laid waste to the continent and they’re still rebuilding international relationships. Tal and Garrett come upon a burning ship where they find a teen boy, Athlen, chained below deck. Before they’re able to get answers from him, he jobs off their ship and is presumed dead. Days later, Tal runs into Athlen in a market and is shocked to see him alive.
Tal meets Athlen’s friend, Dara, and Tal’s given a rude awakening on the struggles of his people. He enlists his brother to help give out supplies and medicine to the people in town. When Tal meets Athlen again, he demands answers. Athlen takes him to a secret cove where he lives and reveals he’s a merman. Tal is in awe that there’s another magical being, who happens to be the last of his kind, just like him.
Tal is then kidnapped and tortured by pirates which reveals a politically motivated assassination plot. Then Tal is rescued and nursed back to health by Athlen and Dara. Together Athlen and Tal must overcome a sea witch’s bargain, betrayal, war, and assassination attempts all while falling in love.
As I’ve said, world building could’ve been given more attention and a little more development of characters like Dara and the siblings and even Shay would’ve been nice. I do like the familial bones between Tal and his siblings. And I love the relationship between Tal and Athlen despite it developing rather fast.
Overall, I think it’s a good book. I was thoroughly entertained. And yeah, it’s definitely more for 13-16 year old probably, but it doesn’t mean it doesn’t hold its own.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Gore, Torture, Blood, Vomit, and Kidnapping