orcasrule's review against another edition
4.0
Once again I really enjoyed this book - and I pretty much stand by everything in my original review. This is a fantastic cute little read but definitely had more potential to be longer and have the points of conflict be a little bit more suspenseful. Due to its short length every time a conflict is introduced it is immediately resolved in the next chapter which takes away from the emotional impact.
But definitely a fantastic read, I'd really love a high quality fxf romance fantasy like this one!
____________________________________________________________
This was exactly as cute as I had hoped it would be! When I read the synopsis I was INSTANTLY intrigued because who doesn't love a modern queer fairytale! However, I was super nervous because the only other queer fantasy/romance I've read us 'Of Fire of Stars' which got hella hype but was super disappointing. So I wasn't sure what to expect with this one since I hadn't heard much about it and because my only other experience with this genre was so mediocre.
BUT THIS WAS SO MUCH BETTER THEN THAT BOOK AND IT WAS THE PERFECT CUTE LIL FANTASTICAL ROMANCE! The author did a great job of blending the mythology and fantasy aspects with the contemporary aspects!
I loved that our main character was a bisexual Asian boy because not only is good bi rep hella rare but Asian queer rep is even rarer! Plus this was a really fluffy and happy, while there was certainly tension and drama it wasn't a gut-wrenching tragic 'kill your gays' kind of book. So that's always fantastic because we deserve happy queer literature and fairytales.
I also found the whole Selkie storyline was so interesting to me because I'd never really heard of them before, I mean I'd heard the name but I had no idea what they were. So this was a really refreshing and original take on a Little Mermaid esque story.
I want to be clear though, this isn't a Little Mermaid retelling (I have zero idea if it even inspired the author in any way), the only real similarity is that it's a love story between someone from the sea and someone from the land, and they have a very limited time together. This story is wholly original and doesn't feel at all like a quick sell out attempt to queer up a fairytale.
The author has done a truly fantastic job, and I would definitely recommend this book to any fans of queer contemporary or fairytales!
There was a great plot twist in the second half that I didn't expect and it really helped amp up the pressure, taking this book from a cute fluffy love story to a fantasy with some real stakes!
My only criticism is that it would have been great if it was longer. I don't at all feel like it was too short in a way that makes it undeveloped but I just loved the world and characters so much that I would have liked more content to enjoy!
Also, the ending was really great.
This book also did something really great for me, as I mentioned earlier my only other experience with queer fantasy was really disappointing which as made me kind of hesitant to delve deeper into the genre. But this book has given me hope, so I'll definitely be checking out more books in this genre.
I would also definitely check out other/future books from this author!
But definitely a fantastic read, I'd really love a high quality fxf romance fantasy like this one!
____________________________________________________________
This was exactly as cute as I had hoped it would be! When I read the synopsis I was INSTANTLY intrigued because who doesn't love a modern queer fairytale! However, I was super nervous because the only other queer fantasy/romance I've read us 'Of Fire of Stars' which got hella hype but was super disappointing. So I wasn't sure what to expect with this one since I hadn't heard much about it and because my only other experience with this genre was so mediocre.
BUT THIS WAS SO MUCH BETTER THEN THAT BOOK AND IT WAS THE PERFECT CUTE LIL FANTASTICAL ROMANCE! The author did a great job of blending the mythology and fantasy aspects with the contemporary aspects!
I loved that our main character was a bisexual Asian boy because not only is good bi rep hella rare but Asian queer rep is even rarer! Plus this was a really fluffy and happy, while there was certainly tension and drama it wasn't a gut-wrenching tragic 'kill your gays' kind of book. So that's always fantastic because we deserve happy queer literature and fairytales.
I also found the whole Selkie storyline was so interesting to me because I'd never really heard of them before, I mean I'd heard the name but I had no idea what they were. So this was a really refreshing and original take on a Little Mermaid esque story.
I want to be clear though, this isn't a Little Mermaid retelling (I have zero idea if it even inspired the author in any way), the only real similarity is that it's a love story between someone from the sea and someone from the land, and they have a very limited time together. This story is wholly original and doesn't feel at all like a quick sell out attempt to queer up a fairytale.
The author has done a truly fantastic job, and I would definitely recommend this book to any fans of queer contemporary or fairytales!
There was a great plot twist in the second half that I didn't expect and it really helped amp up the pressure, taking this book from a cute fluffy love story to a fantasy with some real stakes!
My only criticism is that it would have been great if it was longer. I don't at all feel like it was too short in a way that makes it undeveloped but I just loved the world and characters so much that I would have liked more content to enjoy!
Also, the ending was really great.
This book also did something really great for me, as I mentioned earlier my only other experience with queer fantasy was really disappointing which as made me kind of hesitant to delve deeper into the genre. But this book has given me hope, so I'll definitely be checking out more books in this genre.
I would also definitely check out other/future books from this author!
mayflower_ng's review against another edition
4.0
Ugh so charming and sweet. Books with supportive parents >>
canonicallychaotic's review against another edition
5.0
reread 03/2021 - god i still love this book with my whole heart.
When CS Lewis said some day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again, he was talking about me. That I would be old enough to read fairytales again.
Seven Tears at High Tide is a fairytale. And I loved every second of it. It’s the first fairytale I’ve ever been able to really see myself in; where the main character is Asian-American (like me) and bisexual (also like me). And both of these are just facts! Kevin is a bisexual As-Am kid! There’s no part of the story where he grapples with feeling like someone who is an “other” for either of those identities. I have no problems with stories where characters try to figure out their identity, but I need stories that exist alongside them where these are things that just are. And make it a fairytale! Make the fairytale center around an As-Am boy who falls in love with another boy! Show people that kids like Kevin can be the star of a fairytale, too.
In being a fairytale, the book can be predictable at times. More than once (more than twice, even) there were small hints dropped and I was able to read them and think “oh so this is going to come up again in a significant way,” only to find myself proved right. I didn’t have a problem with this, personally. It’s to no discredit of the author if I, a woman in her twenties, am able to catch the foreshadowing of the novel. It didn’t make the story any less beautiful or any less fun to read. I was still at the edge of my seat, excited and afraid to see how all the pieces would fall at the end.
Seven Tears at High Tide is CB Lee’s debut, and I always try to read debut novels with that awareness. This is an author who is sharing work for the first time, and that will be different from a seasoned author. It was a beautiful debut that may just make it onto my favorites list, and I look forward to reading more of her work (Sidekick Squad is on my tbr but I might be waiting for the series to finish first.)
kevin is aware of the twinkling constellations and the gentle blue calm of the ocean undulating behind them, but out of all of them, morgan is the most beautiful.
When CS Lewis said some day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again, he was talking about me. That I would be old enough to read fairytales again.
Seven Tears at High Tide is a fairytale. And I loved every second of it. It’s the first fairytale I’ve ever been able to really see myself in; where the main character is Asian-American (like me) and bisexual (also like me). And both of these are just facts! Kevin is a bisexual As-Am kid! There’s no part of the story where he grapples with feeling like someone who is an “other” for either of those identities. I have no problems with stories where characters try to figure out their identity, but I need stories that exist alongside them where these are things that just are. And make it a fairytale! Make the fairytale center around an As-Am boy who falls in love with another boy! Show people that kids like Kevin can be the star of a fairytale, too.
In being a fairytale, the book can be predictable at times. More than once (more than twice, even) there were small hints dropped and I was able to read them and think “oh so this is going to come up again in a significant way,” only to find myself proved right. I didn’t have a problem with this, personally. It’s to no discredit of the author if I, a woman in her twenties, am able to catch the foreshadowing of the novel. It didn’t make the story any less beautiful or any less fun to read. I was still at the edge of my seat, excited and afraid to see how all the pieces would fall at the end.
Seven Tears at High Tide is CB Lee’s debut, and I always try to read debut novels with that awareness. This is an author who is sharing work for the first time, and that will be different from a seasoned author. It was a beautiful debut that may just make it onto my favorites list, and I look forward to reading more of her work (Sidekick Squad is on my tbr but I might be waiting for the series to finish first.)
mai0357's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.25
just_a_black_boy's review against another edition
4.0
The story was somewhat predictable and easy but so well executed. I just wanted to keep reading and learning more about how these two boys tell in love. Can't wait to re read some time soon
aspring's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
very very sweet <3
heatherbookely's review against another edition
4.0
Cute m/m story based on the folklore of selkies. Admittedly, I don't know a lot about selkies; some of the rules of selkie-ness seemed a little off to me, but again, I don't know the folklore so I figured I wasn't the one to judge that aspect of it. The main character, Kevin, is Asian-American and bisexual, and the love interest, Morgan, is half human, half selkie. The story is exactly what you think it will be: Kevin makes a wish because he's sad and lonely and he was seeing this guy who was a complete asshole, and the sea grants his wish via Morgan. They spend the summer together and there's a lot of teaching and learning and cuddling and being adorable, and if you're looking for a cute m/m read, pick this up.
willaway's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
frecklesandstories's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
ALRIGHT SO. I wanna start this off by saying the size of this book surprised me. Bro why are you so tall. Anyway. Seven Tears at High Tide is wonderful, and really I wouldn't expect anything else. It's got everything you need, including but not limited to
-Danger & adventure
-Selkies
-A certain "I can show you the world" energy
-Actually good stepmothers
-Bi Asian American MC
-Cool rock collection
-Half Selkie MC
It just ain't that complicated. It's good, it's fun and you should read it
-Danger & adventure
-Selkies
-A certain "I can show you the world" energy
-Actually good stepmothers
-Bi Asian American MC
-Cool rock collection
-Half Selkie MC
It just ain't that complicated. It's good, it's fun and you should read it