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Thalassic #6
Prologue
The end is only the beginning.
All he wants is to bring Bird back.
But Sargo is tied up in the fight against Zenith, and his new Exiters comrades seem to think he’s some kind of hero. Sargo’s not a leader—has never been a leader. Harebrained schemes and risky escape plans are Bird and Johnny’s department.
Should he set off into the Land of the Dead, ignoring Johnny’s pleas to let Bird go, and ignoring the call to join the revolution?
Or will he rise to the challenge and lead humanity into a brave new world?
All he wants is to bring Bird back.
But Sargo is tied up in the fight against Zenith, and his new Exiters comrades seem to think he’s some kind of hero. Sargo’s not a leader—has never been a leader. Harebrained schemes and risky escape plans are Bird and Johnny’s department.
Should he set off into the Land of the Dead, ignoring Johnny’s pleas to let Bird go, and ignoring the call to join the revolution?
Or will he rise to the challenge and lead humanity into a brave new world?
416 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 17, 2025
12 people are currently reading
302 people want to read
About the author
Liz Shipton
29 books591 followersHi! I'm Liz. I'm a writer and off-grid liveaboard sailor. I gallivant about the high seas with my partner and my dog, turning my adventures into speculative fiction.
While I explore the world, my books explore themes adjacent to mental health, the loneliness epidemic, addiction, tech creep, climate change, and the looming collapse of society (but, like...in a fun way.)
When I'm not penning novels about the impending apocalypse, I make money tearing other writers' manuscripts to shreds. Others call this pastime 'editing', and if you're interested, I can do it for you.
On the rare occasion I'm not working, you can find me swimming, complaining about the weather, telling my dog I love her for the bazillionth time today, or watching Taskmaster.
While I explore the world, my books explore themes adjacent to mental health, the loneliness epidemic, addiction, tech creep, climate change, and the looming collapse of society (but, like...in a fun way.)
When I'm not penning novels about the impending apocalypse, I make money tearing other writers' manuscripts to shreds. Others call this pastime 'editing', and if you're interested, I can do it for you.
On the rare occasion I'm not working, you can find me swimming, complaining about the weather, telling my dog I love her for the bazillionth time today, or watching Taskmaster.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
February 26, 2025
This continues Paz's story, and though it starts out with him in a bad place, he comes around to being the person I loved from the beginning of this series.
And once again, the exploration and adventure take over. I loved this addition to the series. There are two more little books about folks of this series. I can't wait to fill in the missing pieces, Liz Shipton, author, supplies us.
I can't wait to get started on what's next.
By the way, did I mention these are all on Kindle Unlimited? Enjoy!
And once again, the exploration and adventure take over. I loved this addition to the series. There are two more little books about folks of this series. I can't wait to fill in the missing pieces, Liz Shipton, author, supplies us.
I can't wait to get started on what's next.
By the way, did I mention these are all on Kindle Unlimited? Enjoy!
February 21, 2025
LOVED THIS SO MUCH!!
This series is sooo underrated i can't even begin to describe so. If you are a fan of dystopian stories READ THIS SERIES!! Liz has woven an incredible tale of many people, cultures, demographics and sexularities into a series that has my heart. Don't walk, run to read this book and all the others in this series.
This series is sooo underrated i can't even begin to describe so. If you are a fan of dystopian stories READ THIS SERIES!! Liz has woven an incredible tale of many people, cultures, demographics and sexularities into a series that has my heart. Don't walk, run to read this book and all the others in this series.
May 19, 2025
This is basically a combined review for books 1-6.
I wasn't super sure what the Thalassic series is about or how I'd feel about it, as I hate being on boats. I've followed the author, Liz Shipton, on social media for probably close to a year at this point. Her sense of humor is right up my alley so I figured the least I could do was give her books a chance.
I'm so, so glad that I did. This is a beautiful, well written series with so much depth and nuance. I wouldn't call it romantasy, its more dystopian sci-fi, but that made it more intriguing because it was so different to what I've been ready lately.
The characters are phenomenal and well developed. Shipton doesn't shy away from heavy issues like addiction or racism. She handles them with so much grace and kindness. My ex husband and several loved ones are addicts. I've watched them struggle, but obviously I can never truly understand what they're going through. Its important to me to see addiction and its affects handled with respect. Its not a topic I seek out, so admittedly I wasn't sure how I would feel about it being so important to both the plot and the arcs of several characters, but these portrayals blew me out of the water.
Even outside of addiction, all of the characters fuck up. They make mistakes, sometimes ones with absolutely devastating consequences, but they are still treated with dignity and respect in the writing (even when the character may not deserve, and does not get, respect in universe for how their choices hurt others). It was all so... human. These characters and their journey are such a beautiful example of the shades of gray that surround literally everything in life.
The relationships, from family to friends to romance, are so raw and real. There's so much depth, variation, and growth to all of the different ones we see in the series. Even when problems are brushed aside or ignored by characters, they bubble up and explode in very realistic (and sometimes painfully accurate) ways. These aren't books to read for the more typical "super devoted everything works out magically" kind of romance. Don't get me wrong, I love those kind of stories. But the Thalassic series is so much more. Its messy and painful, people fight, people stop talking, but people also love fiercely in their own ways. Its beautiful.
As a complete and utter turf rat in every sense of the word, the sailing aspect was surpringly easy for me to understand. I know for a fact I didn't catch all of the nuance of every action, but its written in a way that makes it very easy to grasp the important parts of what's happening and why. Plus, the idea of stepping on a boat makes me just a little bit less terrified now! (Would that actually hold up if I saw a boat on the water in real life? I'll be honest, I'm not entirely sure.)
This is a series about redemption and about love, about struggle, about hope, about family and belonging and finding a way to live a meaningful life. Its also a super fun adventure with pirates and a climate crisis and interdimemsional travel and overthrowing the government to save the world and the multiverse and a boat and a dog. I fully understand what Shipton means when she says its so hard to explain to readers! Its like nothing I've ever read before, and its like the good parts of every story I've ever enjoyed.
I cannot wait to devour the prequels!!!
I wasn't super sure what the Thalassic series is about or how I'd feel about it, as I hate being on boats. I've followed the author, Liz Shipton, on social media for probably close to a year at this point. Her sense of humor is right up my alley so I figured the least I could do was give her books a chance.
I'm so, so glad that I did. This is a beautiful, well written series with so much depth and nuance. I wouldn't call it romantasy, its more dystopian sci-fi, but that made it more intriguing because it was so different to what I've been ready lately.
The characters are phenomenal and well developed. Shipton doesn't shy away from heavy issues like addiction or racism. She handles them with so much grace and kindness. My ex husband and several loved ones are addicts. I've watched them struggle, but obviously I can never truly understand what they're going through. Its important to me to see addiction and its affects handled with respect. Its not a topic I seek out, so admittedly I wasn't sure how I would feel about it being so important to both the plot and the arcs of several characters, but these portrayals blew me out of the water.
Even outside of addiction, all of the characters fuck up. They make mistakes, sometimes ones with absolutely devastating consequences, but they are still treated with dignity and respect in the writing (even when the character may not deserve, and does not get, respect in universe for how their choices hurt others). It was all so... human. These characters and their journey are such a beautiful example of the shades of gray that surround literally everything in life.
The relationships, from family to friends to romance, are so raw and real. There's so much depth, variation, and growth to all of the different ones we see in the series. Even when problems are brushed aside or ignored by characters, they bubble up and explode in very realistic (and sometimes painfully accurate) ways. These aren't books to read for the more typical "super devoted everything works out magically" kind of romance. Don't get me wrong, I love those kind of stories. But the Thalassic series is so much more. Its messy and painful, people fight, people stop talking, but people also love fiercely in their own ways. Its beautiful.
As a complete and utter turf rat in every sense of the word, the sailing aspect was surpringly easy for me to understand. I know for a fact I didn't catch all of the nuance of every action, but its written in a way that makes it very easy to grasp the important parts of what's happening and why. Plus, the idea of stepping on a boat makes me just a little bit less terrified now! (Would that actually hold up if I saw a boat on the water in real life? I'll be honest, I'm not entirely sure.)
This is a series about redemption and about love, about struggle, about hope, about family and belonging and finding a way to live a meaningful life. Its also a super fun adventure with pirates and a climate crisis and interdimemsional travel and overthrowing the government to save the world and the multiverse and a boat and a dog. I fully understand what Shipton means when she says its so hard to explain to readers! Its like nothing I've ever read before, and its like the good parts of every story I've ever enjoyed.
I cannot wait to devour the prequels!!!
June 17, 2025
The previous book ended with Sargo Paz determined to get Bird back, and "Prologue" starts that journey immediately - well, as soon as he manages to snap out of it and stop being depressed on Savage's ship, where some of the Exiters, pirates and Bird's mums are. And Johnny, of course.
I enjoyed reading Sargo's point of view in this last chapter of his story, and seeing his character change followed by grief. He makes some uncharacteristic choices as the last resort, and the drugs from the previous book continue to appear here. Between his attraction for Bird and the one for Johnny, he's getting less confused as to what he wants, and forms a vague plan to help the Exiters find the Parallel that Bird had once mentioned.
I loved the description of The Land of the Dead and Sargo's adventures there, although the ending was predictable - even one of the characters said they had all seen it coming apart from Paz. However it was still worth it seeing him figure it all out.
This book also contains a very descriptive MLM scene, again taking the heat up a notch from the threesome scene in the previous book, which makes me wonder if the next book (Savage's prequel) goes back to milder sex scenes or keep getting hotter!
I found some of the pacing a bit off at times, with scenes from The Land of the Dead taking much longer than the fighting scenes / the resolution between the Exiters and Zenith took. This could be partly because Sargo wasn't a soldier, but nonetheless the story is wrapped up nicely, ending the 6 books properly.
Overall 4/5 stars, a good ending for the series with great character arcs, and I'm sure I'll read the next two at some point soon.
I enjoyed reading Sargo's point of view in this last chapter of his story, and seeing his character change followed by grief. He makes some uncharacteristic choices as the last resort, and the drugs from the previous book continue to appear here. Between his attraction for Bird and the one for Johnny, he's getting less confused as to what he wants, and forms a vague plan to help the Exiters find the Parallel that Bird had once mentioned.
I loved the description of The Land of the Dead and Sargo's adventures there, although the ending was predictable - even one of the characters said they had all seen it coming apart from Paz. However it was still worth it seeing him figure it all out.
This book also contains a very descriptive MLM scene, again taking the heat up a notch from the threesome scene in the previous book, which makes me wonder if the next book (Savage's prequel) goes back to milder sex scenes or keep getting hotter!
I found some of the pacing a bit off at times, with scenes from The Land of the Dead taking much longer than the fighting scenes / the resolution between the Exiters and Zenith took. This could be partly because Sargo wasn't a soldier, but nonetheless the story is wrapped up nicely, ending the 6 books properly.
Overall 4/5 stars, a good ending for the series with great character arcs, and I'm sure I'll read the next two at some point soon.
October 27, 2025
I miss Bird's POV. yes the writing has gotten better, by Liz's own admission, but my love for Sargo has declined. I do like this world and I love that it is dystopian, but it would've benefitted from a professional editing. maybe one day when Liz is the super famous author she deserves to be, we'll get that cut down version! wouldn't that be a treat.
on to the final books, which are the prequels/early years.
on to the final books, which are the prequels/early years.
February 14, 2025
Liz Shipton destroys me emotionally
Sobbing as I type this because this is such a beautiful story and it was so hard to read sometimes but in the best way. Everyone who enjoys dystopian type worlds and stories should read this series and I will forever love it.
Sobbing as I type this because this is such a beautiful story and it was so hard to read sometimes but in the best way. Everyone who enjoys dystopian type worlds and stories should read this series and I will forever love it.
March 9, 2025
I loved this series!
August 5, 2025
This book was the perfect end to this series. I may read the prequels at some point, but for now I am satisfied with how this ended.
Action packed, exciting and heartbreaking in equal measures.
Action packed, exciting and heartbreaking in equal measures.
October 30, 2025
This is my second time reading this series, about a year apart. I was curious if it would live up to my memory and it most certainly did.
"Everything feels so different now. It feels perfectly normal to be boarding a strange Reckoner ship in a sketchy anchorage far from home, with the girl who put me in prison, the guy who reminded me I was bi, and a person who recently crashed an airship in another dimension."
If that doesn't just sum up the craziness that this 6 books encompasses I don't know what does. I guarantee anyone cracking open Salt would never predict what direction this story is going.
The first time I finished Prologue I definitely ugly cried. I was able to keep myself together this time around but the ending is still so perfect.
The things to love:
♥️ Found family, to the max. Quite a hodge podge of characters coming together and caring about each other
♥️ Every one of those side characters is fully fleshed out, with their own distinct personality. I can't envision anyone going, "wait, is High Life the one that smokes haar on the KingFisher?"
♥️ The character development. So many characters go through so much, and it's not always good. But they change. As the story goes on, they become more individual and more fleshed out
♥️ The scifi. It's fantastical and asks so many, "what if?" questions that I love to see in my scifi
♥️ It ends exactly where it should. There's no dragging out, or leaving too many questions unanswered
"Maybe it is just the familiarity. There's comfort in the place you know, even if it's too small. There's safety in saying nothing, even when you know you should speak."
I wish my love for this series was enough to get it the readers it deserves. But hopefully Liz just keeps writing so I can keep reading it
"Everything feels so different now. It feels perfectly normal to be boarding a strange Reckoner ship in a sketchy anchorage far from home, with the girl who put me in prison, the guy who reminded me I was bi, and a person who recently crashed an airship in another dimension."
If that doesn't just sum up the craziness that this 6 books encompasses I don't know what does. I guarantee anyone cracking open Salt would never predict what direction this story is going.
The first time I finished Prologue I definitely ugly cried. I was able to keep myself together this time around but the ending is still so perfect.
The things to love:
♥️ Found family, to the max. Quite a hodge podge of characters coming together and caring about each other
♥️ Every one of those side characters is fully fleshed out, with their own distinct personality. I can't envision anyone going, "wait, is High Life the one that smokes haar on the KingFisher?"
♥️ The character development. So many characters go through so much, and it's not always good. But they change. As the story goes on, they become more individual and more fleshed out
♥️ The scifi. It's fantastical and asks so many, "what if?" questions that I love to see in my scifi
♥️ It ends exactly where it should. There's no dragging out, or leaving too many questions unanswered
"Maybe it is just the familiarity. There's comfort in the place you know, even if it's too small. There's safety in saying nothing, even when you know you should speak."
I wish my love for this series was enough to get it the readers it deserves. But hopefully Liz just keeps writing so I can keep reading it
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews