fromjuliereads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
funny
hopeful
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Wow. This book really surprised me. It has so many fantastic elements, good characters, a good story. I really like the world, set up, premise for the story - how could I not? It's essentially leading to a quest, one of my favourite things! This is very much a set up for that. We get to know the characters and for them to all connect, learn the power players and lay of the world.
I read this so quickly. It's enticing and I really like the characters! Aoife is difficult to like at first but she grew on me. Declan is a great character as a pirate. There was one scene with him that I disliked though - the author says he is based on Dean from Supernatural, and while I see that in most of his character, Dean would never... To make a point in one scene, Declan basically forces himself onto Aoife, pushing her under him on a bed with no warning. It felt icky to me and I get it was him acting and making a point, it felt like a bit much.
I will say though that I liked the panic attack rep in this! I actually teared up at a few lines because it felt so real and true what the characters were saying about panic attacks.
Anyways. It ended at an interesting point and I'm curious to see how the next book goes!
I read this so quickly. It's enticing and I really like the characters! Aoife is difficult to like at first but she grew on me. Declan is a great character as a pirate. There was one scene with him that I disliked though - the author says he is based on Dean from Supernatural, and while I see that in most of his character, Dean would never...
I will say though that I liked the panic attack rep in this! I actually teared up at a few lines because it felt so real and true what the characters were saying about panic attacks.
Anyways. It ended at an interesting point and I'm curious to see how the next book goes!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol, Blood, Death, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Confinement, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Murder, Toxic relationship, and Emotional abuse
Death of sistermaddie_rae_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.0
This books is told mostly from the POV of Declan, pirate captain of the Siren’s Song, and Aoife, heir to the council of Cregah. When Aoife discovers her life is a lie, she trusts the only person she can think of: a pirate.
Fun, fresh premise with a mix of folklores including magical objects and fae. The characters aren’t perfect and having to work through their traumas has made them both endearing to each other and to us as the readers.
This ends on a cliffhanger, so have book 2 ready to read! Book 3 is set to come out 2023.
Fun, fresh premise with a mix of folklores including magical objects and fae. The characters aren’t perfect and having to work through their traumas has made them both endearing to each other and to us as the readers.
This ends on a cliffhanger, so have book 2 ready to read! Book 3 is set to come out 2023.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death of parent and Murder
One bed, forced proximityaspoonfuloflanguage's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
She was too stunned to speak.
I’ve been searching for a book to break my years-long reading slump. When I was a kid I could devour a series in a weekend. As an adult I still loved to read but it didn’t contain that same spark. Reading felt empty, almost as if I had lost a part of myself.
Earlier this year I became determined to get back into reading. I missed exploring different lands & allowing myself to be passionate about something I loved. About good storytelling, the art of writing, and exploring emotions through the lens of literature. While I had to dig to find my niche, I ended up stumbling across indie books, which led me here. I’m not going to write a synopsis, as you can find one easily on Google. But I… can I just?.. Vanessa is a genius not only with words, but at crafting a story.
Each chapter was told from the perspective of one of the three main characters, which would have normally put me off. However, she shifted perspectives seamlessly in a way that gave so much depth & dimension to the story while weaving a thread of intrigue throughout.
She lets you inside everyone’s head, but only to a certain extent. Its like showing all the cards but keeping a poker face because there’s a trick card tucked up the sleeve. Each character had their own secrets, doubts, agendas, pieces of the puzzle that’s guarded closely until, like a loose thread on clothing, gets tugged on by the right person at the right time.
It unravels slowly, gets tangled, cut, freed once more, tied to another thread, yanked, and all at once it comes undone. The hidden card flutters to the ground for all to see. As for the reader? We’re the first to know the hints but the last to discover the reveal. It’s infuriating and I love her for it.
But when that card is finally revealed? When she fully lets you into the character? It’s an experience. I literally blinked and the book was over, and I’m mad about it because I have to wait for book 2!
But I’m also so glad about it because you know what? I found my joy for reading again.
I’ve been searching for a book to break my years-long reading slump. When I was a kid I could devour a series in a weekend. As an adult I still loved to read but it didn’t contain that same spark. Reading felt empty, almost as if I had lost a part of myself.
Earlier this year I became determined to get back into reading. I missed exploring different lands & allowing myself to be passionate about something I loved. About good storytelling, the art of writing, and exploring emotions through the lens of literature. While I had to dig to find my niche, I ended up stumbling across indie books, which led me here. I’m not going to write a synopsis, as you can find one easily on Google. But I… can I just?.. Vanessa is a genius not only with words, but at crafting a story.
Each chapter was told from the perspective of one of the three main characters, which would have normally put me off. However, she shifted perspectives seamlessly in a way that gave so much depth & dimension to the story while weaving a thread of intrigue throughout.
She lets you inside everyone’s head, but only to a certain extent. Its like showing all the cards but keeping a poker face because there’s a trick card tucked up the sleeve. Each character had their own secrets, doubts, agendas, pieces of the puzzle that’s guarded closely until, like a loose thread on clothing, gets tugged on by the right person at the right time.
It unravels slowly, gets tangled, cut, freed once more, tied to another thread, yanked, and all at once it comes undone. The hidden card flutters to the ground for all to see. As for the reader? We’re the first to know the hints but the last to discover the reveal. It’s infuriating and I love her for it.
But when that card is finally revealed? When she fully lets you into the character? It’s an experience. I literally blinked and the book was over, and I’m mad about it because I have to wait for book 2!
But I’m also so glad about it because you know what? I found my joy for reading again.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders and Murder
Minor: Kidnapping
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