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A review by aj_1984
Curious Tides by Pascale Lacelle
4.0
This book was nothing short of enchanting and intriguing, encompassing everything I could ever want in a dark academia. The intricacy of the school, the different moon houses, the academic halls, the magic system and how everything is based off the phases of the moon and the tides to go with it was amazingly imagined and deliciously complex. The basis of the magic in the moon was incredibly original--I've never seen or read anything like it. It also awakened the inner witch in me (although there are no actual witches in this book, not in that concept, anyway).
For me, this was not an easy, walk in the park read to chase a bubbly, sunshine feel. This book was a dark maze to plunge into and is perfect for a reader eager to dive into an in-depth mystery. While I do agree with some of the other reviews, the first few parts were on the slower side, with lots of information to digest. At first, the plot seemed to focus on specific details and topics I couldn't fathom how they would relate to the matter at hand. But if you start this book and feel this way, please push forward. Turns out, everything that made the first half slow was a set up to make the plot twists punch later on, the plot came full circle and it was worth the wait. Had Lacelle not taken the time to really put the details into that first half, the second half would not have blossomed as beautifully.
I felt like the characters had absolutely fantastic arcs. Emory was well written, her flaws evident but for some reason (at least not for me) annoying in any way. Everyone can relate to the fear of being mediocre, the need to be seen and the wish to be the hero in a story, just once. Baz, I could connect with his lonely soul, yearning for more but fear ever more powerful. Watching their stories unfold was satisfying, but despite the POV swapping between the two of them alone, I found myself falling in love with the other characters too. Romie was alluringly written, beautiful and magnetic and somehow fully fleshed out despite the fact her character is pretty much completely built up from Emory's memories and flashbacks. I have never felt such connection with a side character who was introduced and written this way and the way Lacelle does it is so artful, it has left me in absolute awe. Kai was another wonderfully written side character I didn't know I would love, his entire concept is alluring and I almost wish we could have a full book on him only.
There is a romance, but not an easy one. It is heavily written, as hidden in this maze of a plot as the other twists (true, it is somewhat predictable due to how obvious which two POVs are used, but stay tuned, the Lacelle takes you for a ride despite the predictability).
Overall, this book was riveting despite the pacing and I can't wait to finish this duology to see where all the characters end up.
For me, this was not an easy, walk in the park read to chase a bubbly, sunshine feel. This book was a dark maze to plunge into and is perfect for a reader eager to dive into an in-depth mystery. While I do agree with some of the other reviews, the first few parts were on the slower side, with lots of information to digest. At first, the plot seemed to focus on specific details and topics I couldn't fathom how they would relate to the matter at hand. But if you start this book and feel this way, please push forward. Turns out, everything that made the first half slow was a set up to make the plot twists punch later on, the plot came full circle and it was worth the wait. Had Lacelle not taken the time to really put the details into that first half, the second half would not have blossomed as beautifully.
I felt like the characters had absolutely fantastic arcs. Emory was well written, her flaws evident but for some reason (at least not for me) annoying in any way. Everyone can relate to the fear of being mediocre, the need to be seen and the wish to be the hero in a story, just once. Baz, I could connect with his lonely soul, yearning for more but fear ever more powerful. Watching their stories unfold was satisfying, but despite the POV swapping between the two of them alone, I found myself falling in love with the other characters too. Romie was alluringly written, beautiful and magnetic and somehow fully fleshed out despite the fact her character is pretty much completely built up from Emory's memories and flashbacks. I have never felt such connection with a side character who was introduced and written this way and the way Lacelle does it is so artful, it has left me in absolute awe. Kai was another wonderfully written side character I didn't know I would love, his entire concept is alluring and I almost wish we could have a full book on him only.
There is a romance, but not an easy one. It is heavily written, as hidden in this maze of a plot as the other twists (true, it is somewhat predictable due to how obvious which two POVs are used, but stay tuned, the Lacelle takes you for a ride despite the predictability).
Overall, this book was riveting despite the pacing and I can't wait to finish this duology to see where all the characters end up.