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Fated Winds and Promising Seas
'An absolute bear-hug of a book!' SANGU MANDANNA, on TIL DEATH DO US BARD
When a promise is made, a fate is woven.
Imprisoned for a crime he cannot remember committing, Lucky is more comfortable with the four walls of his cell than the world outside. That is until he's ripped free from his prison and swept out into the ocean. . . and rescued by The Dreamer.
But The Dreamer is no ordinary vessel, with its crew of outcasts and heretics who possess the ability to manipulate water. Lucky is taken under the protective wing of a sailor named Gabriel, but when he recognises Gabriel from his past, Lucky suspects it may not be a simple accident that threw them together.
To understand their connection and prove Lucky's innocence, they must navigate treacherous waters, avoid giant Leviathan, and outwit those seeking to arrest them. But some memories hide secrets that could destroy all that they love. And with the tides of fortune ever-changing, the quest for freedom is just the beginning.
Fated Winds and Promising Seas is a queer fantasy, perfect for fans of Legends and Lattes and Nettle and Bone. The brilliant follow up standalone novel from Rose Black! This time, when adventure calls, let love take the helm.
THEMES AND TROPES! Mental health rep, MM romance, found family, magical ships, safe and cared for, sharing the same room, gay romance novel, happily ever after!
READER REVIEWS FOR TIL DEATH DO US BARD:
'THIS IS EVERYTHING!' ***** READER REVIEW
'Joyous, uplifting, heart warming' ***** READER REVIEW
'The romance, the adventure, the cast of characters. Every time I think about this book it puts a smile on my face' ****** READER REVIEW
'This book felt like a cozy game of D&D with a side of romance and I loved every minute of it!' ****** READER REVIEW
'I highly recommend this to anyone who likes cozy fantasy, D&D and/or Our Flag Means Death!' ****** READER REVIEW
'Sometimes you just find a book where you see the cover, find it intriguing, read the synopsis, find that even more intriguing and then you read the book and it's everything you wanted' ****** READER REVIEW
When a promise is made, a fate is woven.
Imprisoned for a crime he cannot remember committing, Lucky is more comfortable with the four walls of his cell than the world outside. That is until he's ripped free from his prison and swept out into the ocean. . . and rescued by The Dreamer.
But The Dreamer is no ordinary vessel, with its crew of outcasts and heretics who possess the ability to manipulate water. Lucky is taken under the protective wing of a sailor named Gabriel, but when he recognises Gabriel from his past, Lucky suspects it may not be a simple accident that threw them together.
To understand their connection and prove Lucky's innocence, they must navigate treacherous waters, avoid giant Leviathan, and outwit those seeking to arrest them. But some memories hide secrets that could destroy all that they love. And with the tides of fortune ever-changing, the quest for freedom is just the beginning.
Fated Winds and Promising Seas is a queer fantasy, perfect for fans of Legends and Lattes and Nettle and Bone. The brilliant follow up standalone novel from Rose Black! This time, when adventure calls, let love take the helm.
THEMES AND TROPES! Mental health rep, MM romance, found family, magical ships, safe and cared for, sharing the same room, gay romance novel, happily ever after!
READER REVIEWS FOR TIL DEATH DO US BARD:
'THIS IS EVERYTHING!' ***** READER REVIEW
'Joyous, uplifting, heart warming' ***** READER REVIEW
'The romance, the adventure, the cast of characters. Every time I think about this book it puts a smile on my face' ****** READER REVIEW
'This book felt like a cozy game of D&D with a side of romance and I loved every minute of it!' ****** READER REVIEW
'I highly recommend this to anyone who likes cozy fantasy, D&D and/or Our Flag Means Death!' ****** READER REVIEW
'Sometimes you just find a book where you see the cover, find it intriguing, read the synopsis, find that even more intriguing and then you read the book and it's everything you wanted' ****** READER REVIEW
352 pages, Hardcover
First published November 19, 2024
17 people are currently reading
614 people want to read
About the author
Rose Black
2 books76 followersRose Black is a combination of anxiety and dyslexia in a hoodie, bi, genderqueer, a professional computer wrangler, and mother to the world’s wiggliest child. They're lucky enough to live in the historic city of Bath and is capable of eating their weight in sushi.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 90 reviews
August 26, 2024
Look at me, trying once again for a cozy fantasy story with great romance and nautical themes that I can finally fall in love with!
Spoiler alert: I did not fall in love with it. And I so so wanted to. I've read Black's previous novel and did enjoy some aspects of it, so I held hope for the author to blow me away next time. Sadly, Fated Winds and Promising Seas does get the exact same rating of two stars.
Once again, there is so much potential here. A deeply traumatised protagonist with a mysterious tragic past who's been held in a prison for the last ten or so years because he might have killed his own mother? I'm listening, I'm intrigued. Our protagonist, Lucky, escaping the prison because a giant leviathan attacks it and inadvertendly forces him to deal with his agoraphobia all while he's getting picked up by a crew of seafarers that include a very pretty guy and his two moms, one of them the captain of the ship? GO ON, I'm seated! Multiple mysteries surrounding aggressive leviathans, a religious cult, a murder and the maybe fated relationship between Lucky and said pretty guy? ALRIGHT! All the good stuff is here, but the execution is just so very lacking.
The writing is alright, though Black relies very heavily on dialogue and tends to get repetitive with it. The plot is honestly a bit convoluted and fragmented, and that isn't helped by the very barebones world building. What is there, the idea of fate and promises and a religion based on interpreting threads to know the future, is interesting. It just wasn't coherently told in a way that engaged me, and I was honestly left a little confused here and there as to how certain things in this world are supposed to work.
But my main issue are, once again, the characters. I'm a character driven reader in general, yes. But a novel like this that is heavy on the romance and the found family trope just doesn't work if the characters don't work. For me, they don't. Lucky starts out incredibly interesting, but then Black decides to throw these interesting bits to the wayside. The way he deals with his trauma and his mental illness is incredibly superficial, and his personality changes rather abruptly in the second part of the novel after there's been a small time jump. The other characters do react to that so it's clearly an active choice, but it took away a lot from his development. His love interest, Gabe, goes from protector to protected very quickly too. I did feel for Gabe and his trauma but once again didn't feel like it was explored deeply enough. Their whole dynamic changes and it doesn't feel organic, earned. I actually like the idea in theory but I didn't think it was well executed here.
Their romance was pretty instalovey and I admit I'm not the biggest fan of the fated lovers trope, but my main gripe is simply that I didn't feel the chemistry. I might have preferred them as friends, even. I enjoyed the rest of the crew, but didn't really feel the Found Family vibes at all. At some point Lucky talks about how he's finally found a home with these people and once again, this was told to us instead of showing us how this relationship develops.
I'm clearly in the minority here so take my review with a grain of salt. Maybe it's just a case of a book not fitting this particular reader. For me, it was just a meh reading experience but it absolutely does have great ideas.
Many thanks to Hodder & Stoughton and Netgalley for the arc!
Spoiler alert: I did not fall in love with it. And I so so wanted to. I've read Black's previous novel and did enjoy some aspects of it, so I held hope for the author to blow me away next time. Sadly, Fated Winds and Promising Seas does get the exact same rating of two stars.
Once again, there is so much potential here. A deeply traumatised protagonist with a mysterious tragic past who's been held in a prison for the last ten or so years because he might have killed his own mother? I'm listening, I'm intrigued. Our protagonist, Lucky, escaping the prison because a giant leviathan attacks it and inadvertendly forces him to deal with his agoraphobia all while he's getting picked up by a crew of seafarers that include a very pretty guy and his two moms, one of them the captain of the ship? GO ON, I'm seated! Multiple mysteries surrounding aggressive leviathans, a religious cult, a murder and the maybe fated relationship between Lucky and said pretty guy? ALRIGHT! All the good stuff is here, but the execution is just so very lacking.
The writing is alright, though Black relies very heavily on dialogue and tends to get repetitive with it. The plot is honestly a bit convoluted and fragmented, and that isn't helped by the very barebones world building. What is there, the idea of fate and promises and a religion based on interpreting threads to know the future, is interesting. It just wasn't coherently told in a way that engaged me, and I was honestly left a little confused here and there as to how certain things in this world are supposed to work.
But my main issue are, once again, the characters. I'm a character driven reader in general, yes. But a novel like this that is heavy on the romance and the found family trope just doesn't work if the characters don't work. For me, they don't. Lucky starts out incredibly interesting, but then Black decides to throw these interesting bits to the wayside. The way he deals with his trauma and his mental illness is incredibly superficial, and his personality changes rather abruptly in the second part of the novel after there's been a small time jump. The other characters do react to that so it's clearly an active choice, but it took away a lot from his development. His love interest, Gabe, goes from protector to protected very quickly too. I did feel for Gabe and his trauma but once again didn't feel like it was explored deeply enough. Their whole dynamic changes and it doesn't feel organic, earned. I actually like the idea in theory but I didn't think it was well executed here.
Their romance was pretty instalovey and I admit I'm not the biggest fan of the fated lovers trope, but my main gripe is simply that I didn't feel the chemistry. I might have preferred them as friends, even. I enjoyed the rest of the crew, but didn't really feel the Found Family vibes at all. At some point Lucky talks about how he's finally found a home with these people and once again, this was told to us instead of showing us how this relationship develops.
I'm clearly in the minority here so take my review with a grain of salt. Maybe it's just a case of a book not fitting this particular reader. For me, it was just a meh reading experience but it absolutely does have great ideas.
Many thanks to Hodder & Stoughton and Netgalley for the arc!
January 8, 2025
Review originally on JamReads
Fated Winds and Promising Seas is a queer dark fantasy novel, written by Rose Black, and published by Hodderscape. A story that heavily features themes such as healing from trauma, found family, neurodivergence, and queer romance, in a bittersweet setting with characters that you will totally want to hug and assure that things will improve.
After 10 years imprisoned for a crime he doesn't remember committing, Lucky takes the chance of escaping when a leviathan attacks his prison; thrown into the sea, he's rescued by the Dreamer, a ship of leviathan chasers, and taken as part of his crew, quickly befriending Gabriel, a young man with his own set of problems. However, Lucky is still being chased by a murderous church, and fate will soon prove to not be so easy to avoid, taking Lucky into a tortuous path that will be accompanied by learning much about himself and his past.
The story is told divided into three parts entirely from Lucky's perspective, our main character. A person that is deeply hurt, struggling with possibly agoraphobia after 10 years imprisoned; a voice that is reflexive and that slowly gets into his freedom. Gabriel will form a great pair with Lucky, as both have their own set of struggles that are hurting them, but if something is constant in this story is how they support each other, even in those parts that are less obvious; a support that makes a friendship evolve into a romance.
The rest of the cast is less developed, as clearly Black intends to focus on the duo, but still we can get those hints of the found family in the motley crew that are part of the Dreamer, while the church plays a nice role as the antagonists to our ship and, in extension, to the culture and religion they come from.
Despite this is a novel focused on the characters, and especially, on how trauma can be healed through enough support, there are still hints of a rich world; not we only have the nautical theme, but we can also see glimpses of an organised religion in a setting that could be inspired by the Caribbean Seas.
The pacing is relatively slow, in line with what you would expect from a cozy novel (even if calling this novel cozy is a bit of a stretch), letting space to reflection and introspection.
Fated Winds and Promising Seas is a bittersweet novel, an excellent piece that manages to build a compelling story about people who are trying to heal, and how they support each other. A dark but cozy story, and which definitely shows Black's ability to create fantastic tales with a focus on the characters.
Fated Winds and Promising Seas is a queer dark fantasy novel, written by Rose Black, and published by Hodderscape. A story that heavily features themes such as healing from trauma, found family, neurodivergence, and queer romance, in a bittersweet setting with characters that you will totally want to hug and assure that things will improve.
After 10 years imprisoned for a crime he doesn't remember committing, Lucky takes the chance of escaping when a leviathan attacks his prison; thrown into the sea, he's rescued by the Dreamer, a ship of leviathan chasers, and taken as part of his crew, quickly befriending Gabriel, a young man with his own set of problems. However, Lucky is still being chased by a murderous church, and fate will soon prove to not be so easy to avoid, taking Lucky into a tortuous path that will be accompanied by learning much about himself and his past.
The story is told divided into three parts entirely from Lucky's perspective, our main character. A person that is deeply hurt, struggling with possibly agoraphobia after 10 years imprisoned; a voice that is reflexive and that slowly gets into his freedom. Gabriel will form a great pair with Lucky, as both have their own set of struggles that are hurting them, but if something is constant in this story is how they support each other, even in those parts that are less obvious; a support that makes a friendship evolve into a romance.
The rest of the cast is less developed, as clearly Black intends to focus on the duo, but still we can get those hints of the found family in the motley crew that are part of the Dreamer, while the church plays a nice role as the antagonists to our ship and, in extension, to the culture and religion they come from.
Despite this is a novel focused on the characters, and especially, on how trauma can be healed through enough support, there are still hints of a rich world; not we only have the nautical theme, but we can also see glimpses of an organised religion in a setting that could be inspired by the Caribbean Seas.
The pacing is relatively slow, in line with what you would expect from a cozy novel (even if calling this novel cozy is a bit of a stretch), letting space to reflection and introspection.
Fated Winds and Promising Seas is a bittersweet novel, an excellent piece that manages to build a compelling story about people who are trying to heal, and how they support each other. A dark but cozy story, and which definitely shows Black's ability to create fantastic tales with a focus on the characters.
July 22, 2025
Me last year: Not to be dramatic but if this isn't the cosy queer pirate adventure I need this year (and didn't get when expected, COUGH RUNNING CLOSE TO THE WIND COUGH), I will literally perish.
Me now: WELL. WE HAD A GOOD RUN. SO LONG.
That was so fucking stupid and I'm so mad at myself for finishing it. But let's be real, I read the first 100 pages and skimmed the rest, at best. I was interested enough in the few key mysteries that I wanted to see them resolved, but couldn't fathom spending another 200+ pages actually reading the stupid words on these stupid pages, so I went for a bit of a compromise. Whatever, I'm counting it.
At least in Running Close to the Wind I felt like Alexandra Rowland wrote exactly the book they wanted to write and made a bold choice in veering away from their usual style but it just wasn't the style for me, this was simply a book with a compelling concept and world but TERRIBLE execution. The first 50 pages I was really vibing with, but it was stark downhill from there. The dialogue was wooden as hell, the plot twists towards the end were EXTREMELY DUMB, and the cosy found family vibe was way too saccharine. Okay, I'm being harsh, this probably wasn't quite that bad, I'm just channelling my frustration and disappointment, because I really wanted to like this book!! I wanted this to be adult, this felt extremely YA (I guess the MCs were in their 20s, but they felt like children, and Gabriel's parents hanging around and treating them as such surely didn't help). The second part was TEDIOUS AS HELL, just endless "wah wah I deserve this, I'm bad, I deserve this". The villain was cookie cutter cliché and couldn't shut up about how he was evil and mean mwahahahaa. The romance was meh, but honestly I was so checked out by the time that became relevant that that could also be on me. The pacing was also very odd, this book was CRAMMED with plot to the point of absolute chaos, especially for only being just above 300 pages, but the breakneck speed didn't make it any more engaging somehow.
I am giving it a two for the first 50 pages, which were good, and for checking off a reading challenge prompt that I feared would prove very difficult to fulfil, but other than that fuck this book. Instead of reading this book, do yourself a favour and read The Kingdoms by Natasha Pulley, which this book constantly reminded me of except for the fact that The Kingdoms is better in every conceivable way, so that only annoyed me more.
2025, we are not off to a great start!!!
Me now: WELL. WE HAD A GOOD RUN. SO LONG.
That was so fucking stupid and I'm so mad at myself for finishing it. But let's be real, I read the first 100 pages and skimmed the rest, at best. I was interested enough in the few key mysteries that I wanted to see them resolved, but couldn't fathom spending another 200+ pages actually reading the stupid words on these stupid pages, so I went for a bit of a compromise. Whatever, I'm counting it.
At least in Running Close to the Wind I felt like Alexandra Rowland wrote exactly the book they wanted to write and made a bold choice in veering away from their usual style but it just wasn't the style for me, this was simply a book with a compelling concept and world but TERRIBLE execution. The first 50 pages I was really vibing with, but it was stark downhill from there. The dialogue was wooden as hell, the plot twists towards the end were EXTREMELY DUMB, and the cosy found family vibe was way too saccharine. Okay, I'm being harsh, this probably wasn't quite that bad, I'm just channelling my frustration and disappointment, because I really wanted to like this book!! I wanted this to be adult, this felt extremely YA (I guess the MCs were in their 20s, but they felt like children, and Gabriel's parents hanging around and treating them as such surely didn't help). The second part was TEDIOUS AS HELL, just endless "wah wah I deserve this, I'm bad, I deserve this". The villain was cookie cutter cliché and couldn't shut up about how he was evil and mean mwahahahaa. The romance was meh, but honestly I was so checked out by the time that became relevant that that could also be on me. The pacing was also very odd, this book was CRAMMED with plot to the point of absolute chaos, especially for only being just above 300 pages, but the breakneck speed didn't make it any more engaging somehow.
I am giving it a two for the first 50 pages, which were good, and for checking off a reading challenge prompt that I feared would prove very difficult to fulfil, but other than that fuck this book. Instead of reading this book, do yourself a favour and read The Kingdoms by Natasha Pulley, which this book constantly reminded me of except for the fact that The Kingdoms is better in every conceivable way, so that only annoyed me more.
2025, we are not off to a great start!!!
February 22, 2025
* Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC. All opinions are my own.
-
I really wanted to love this one but honestly, I was quite bored the whole way through! It had such a promising synopsis and one that I thought I’d throw myself into - I mean gay, sea-faring adventure… what’s not to like? However, the execution of this novel just didn’t hit. Don’t get me wrong, the representation in this novel was still fantastic but the plot was so unengaging and completely repetitive.
I was also quite shocked when I learned this was an adult novel, as the writing style and character dialogue really felt like two teenagers were talking rather than adults in their 20s. The protagonist was also quite moany and whilst it is, in part, understandable, it became so repetitive that it was almost unbearable. I would also have to say there were quite a lot of plot points going into the second half it felt like a scramble to finish them all, especially after the first 100 pages which I quite liked.
I know I’m likely in the minority of readers with my opinions on this book, but unfortunately, it just wasn’t for me. The ideas Black had with this story were excellent, it just needed more fine-tuning.
TW: death of a parent, violence, murder, mental illness
-
I really wanted to love this one but honestly, I was quite bored the whole way through! It had such a promising synopsis and one that I thought I’d throw myself into - I mean gay, sea-faring adventure… what’s not to like? However, the execution of this novel just didn’t hit. Don’t get me wrong, the representation in this novel was still fantastic but the plot was so unengaging and completely repetitive.
I was also quite shocked when I learned this was an adult novel, as the writing style and character dialogue really felt like two teenagers were talking rather than adults in their 20s. The protagonist was also quite moany and whilst it is, in part, understandable, it became so repetitive that it was almost unbearable. I would also have to say there were quite a lot of plot points going into the second half it felt like a scramble to finish them all, especially after the first 100 pages which I quite liked.
I know I’m likely in the minority of readers with my opinions on this book, but unfortunately, it just wasn’t for me. The ideas Black had with this story were excellent, it just needed more fine-tuning.
TW: death of a parent, violence, murder, mental illness
November 19, 2024
HAPPY PUBLICATION DAY
Thanks NetGalley for the arc, all thought are mine.
Well. This was a rollercoaster. If you want a fast paced book about pirate, fate and love I have very good news for you.
I’ve read the author debut last year and I highly enjoyed it, but this one might be better.
Fated winds and promising seas, is at its core a storm. Let me explain: there is no quiet time here, we don’t have the time to breathe and everything is fast approaching. Including giant sea serpent, also called leviathan.
The characters are so freaking precious, I need everyone to know that Lucky and Gabe are the softest couple ever. They literally went through hell, and yet they’re doing their best to be kind. Maybe we should all learn from them.
Anyway, I loved reading their tale, i couldn’t put it down and I’m so glad I’ve picked it up. And I can’t wait to buy the book itself because LOOK AT THIS COVER. Stunning.
If you like pirates, traumatised characters, fucked up church and worse deities, maybe this is the book for you.
Thanks NetGalley for the arc, all thought are mine.
Well. This was a rollercoaster. If you want a fast paced book about pirate, fate and love I have very good news for you.
I’ve read the author debut last year and I highly enjoyed it, but this one might be better.
Fated winds and promising seas, is at its core a storm. Let me explain: there is no quiet time here, we don’t have the time to breathe and everything is fast approaching. Including giant sea serpent, also called leviathan.
The characters are so freaking precious, I need everyone to know that Lucky and Gabe are the softest couple ever. They literally went through hell, and yet they’re doing their best to be kind. Maybe we should all learn from them.
Anyway, I loved reading their tale, i couldn’t put it down and I’m so glad I’ve picked it up. And I can’t wait to buy the book itself because LOOK AT THIS COVER. Stunning.
If you like pirates, traumatised characters, fucked up church and worse deities, maybe this is the book for you.
September 10, 2024
I would like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read and honestly review an advanced reader’s copy of this book.
This rollercoaster of a book was such an easy and engaging read. I read this in two sittings, and was fully pulled in by the main character; Lucky.
Lucky has been a prisoner all his life, and he doesn’t really remember anything before that. That is, until a Leviathan attacks the castle he is being held in, and he manages to escape.
We follow Lucky as he gets picked up by a ship of found-family Leviathan trackers, as he gets tracked down by the Church over and over again, and he tries to unravel the mystery of his mother’s murder.
The story was a little fragmented at times, but I absolutely loved the characters. I think the characters and their relationships were the heart and backbone of this story, and I definitely am going to pick up the other books by this author!
This rollercoaster of a book was such an easy and engaging read. I read this in two sittings, and was fully pulled in by the main character; Lucky.
Lucky has been a prisoner all his life, and he doesn’t really remember anything before that. That is, until a Leviathan attacks the castle he is being held in, and he manages to escape.
We follow Lucky as he gets picked up by a ship of found-family Leviathan trackers, as he gets tracked down by the Church over and over again, and he tries to unravel the mystery of his mother’s murder.
The story was a little fragmented at times, but I absolutely loved the characters. I think the characters and their relationships were the heart and backbone of this story, and I definitely am going to pick up the other books by this author!
November 24, 2024
3 stars
Fated Winds and Promising Seas is a fantasy romance novel about adventure and found family. The story follows Lucky, a guy imprisoned for a crime he can’t recall committing, whose life takes a turn when he is freed during an attack. He is rescued a magical ship crewed by outcasts with unique abilities. Lucky's journey entwines with Gabriel, a sailor with connections to his forgotten past, as they navigate the mysteries of this fantasy world, confront trauma, and challenge ideas of fate and identity.
The story includes a romance between Lucky and Gabriel, who share a healing sort of relationship. It also emphasizes themes of mental health, self-discovery, and freedom. I did notice though that the pacing was a bit off around the halfway mark, especially as Lucky struggled emotionally, and the world building could’ve been more thought-out. But if you enjoy a cozy, heartfelt story, this could be a great read!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC.
Fated Winds and Promising Seas is a fantasy romance novel about adventure and found family. The story follows Lucky, a guy imprisoned for a crime he can’t recall committing, whose life takes a turn when he is freed during an attack. He is rescued a magical ship crewed by outcasts with unique abilities. Lucky's journey entwines with Gabriel, a sailor with connections to his forgotten past, as they navigate the mysteries of this fantasy world, confront trauma, and challenge ideas of fate and identity.
The story includes a romance between Lucky and Gabriel, who share a healing sort of relationship. It also emphasizes themes of mental health, self-discovery, and freedom. I did notice though that the pacing was a bit off around the halfway mark, especially as Lucky struggled emotionally, and the world building could’ve been more thought-out. But if you enjoy a cozy, heartfelt story, this could be a great read!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC.
September 10, 2024
ARC supplied by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Lucky is super traumatized from his past. Gabriel is sweet, kind, and soft with him. Later that switches. Their relationship is very sweet.
I was hoping for a comfort cozy read and though there are some elements of that, overall I didn’t love it. It was interesting to have these darker themes to the story, I didn’t expect that from this but it did become a bit repetitive. Lucky is a bit too self deprecating that I found it annoying after a while and then that changes pretty suddenly and no real development for dealing with that trauma.
I felt that I liked elements of the story, but I wanted more information about the world. I found the plot convoluted and felt like parts were just randomly added in as the writing went along with no real direction in advance. The writing was fine, definitely a character driven dialogue heavy book. It just didn’t grab me and hold on to me like some other “cozy” reads have.
Not a bad book though, the found family trope was sweet, overall it just didn’t work for me.
Lucky is super traumatized from his past. Gabriel is sweet, kind, and soft with him. Later that switches. Their relationship is very sweet.
I was hoping for a comfort cozy read and though there are some elements of that, overall I didn’t love it. It was interesting to have these darker themes to the story, I didn’t expect that from this but it did become a bit repetitive. Lucky is a bit too self deprecating that I found it annoying after a while and then that changes pretty suddenly and no real development for dealing with that trauma.
I felt that I liked elements of the story, but I wanted more information about the world. I found the plot convoluted and felt like parts were just randomly added in as the writing went along with no real direction in advance. The writing was fine, definitely a character driven dialogue heavy book. It just didn’t grab me and hold on to me like some other “cozy” reads have.
Not a bad book though, the found family trope was sweet, overall it just didn’t work for me.
January 27, 2025
i had the honor of beta reading Fated Winds and Promising Seas and oh my god i adore Rose's writing, i adore Lucky and Gabriel, i love everything about this book. i can't wait to reread it in it's fully finished form!
August 17, 2024
i read the first draft of this and was immediately obsessed so just imagine how insane i'll be when i get to hold the final version in my hands
March 18, 2025
Fated Winds and Promising Seas is a standalone queer swashbuckling fantasy by Rose Black. After 10 years of imprisonment for a crime he didn’t commit, Lucky takes his chance to escape when a leviathan attacks his castle prison. Thrown into the sea, he is picked up by a ship of leviathan chasers and is taken in by its motley crew that includes Gabriel, a young man who befriends him. But the threads of fate won’t let him go so easily as a murderous church cult chases after him and a series of disasters are harming those around him.
Told in three parts entirely from Lucky’s perspective, I loved the intimacy and melancholia of the first part as he first navigates through his freedom after 10 years of isolated incarceration since he was 14. I always love a contemplative and intrapersonal tone in storytelling even if it is slow and relatively uneventful. As Lucky struggles with agoraphobia and the aftereffects of trauma, he is supported by Gabriel who has issues of his own. Their relationship felt honest and authentic in their development from friendship to romance.
While the book has some cozy elements, I would never consider this book a cozy read. It is a relatively dark book full of trauma and sadness. The found family, romance, and hopeful ending does help soften it, but it is never an easy breezy read despite its short length.
One thing that bothered me about the book though is that there seems to be some leaps taken in the storytelling where the turns taken don’t quite make sense given the given information. Same goes for the timing. I think a bit more work on worldbuilding and setting up would have gone a long way.
I liked Fated Winds and Promising Seas (and its whole vibe), but it is not without its issues.
*Thank you to Hodder & Stoughton for the eARC via NetGalley
Told in three parts entirely from Lucky’s perspective, I loved the intimacy and melancholia of the first part as he first navigates through his freedom after 10 years of isolated incarceration since he was 14. I always love a contemplative and intrapersonal tone in storytelling even if it is slow and relatively uneventful. As Lucky struggles with agoraphobia and the aftereffects of trauma, he is supported by Gabriel who has issues of his own. Their relationship felt honest and authentic in their development from friendship to romance.
While the book has some cozy elements, I would never consider this book a cozy read. It is a relatively dark book full of trauma and sadness. The found family, romance, and hopeful ending does help soften it, but it is never an easy breezy read despite its short length.
One thing that bothered me about the book though is that there seems to be some leaps taken in the storytelling where the turns taken don’t quite make sense given the given information. Same goes for the timing. I think a bit more work on worldbuilding and setting up would have gone a long way.
I liked Fated Winds and Promising Seas (and its whole vibe), but it is not without its issues.
*Thank you to Hodder & Stoughton for the eARC via NetGalley
March 7, 2025
I’ll be honest, this one was a bit hard for me to get through. I loved the premise and I loved the characters, but my interest throughout just kept dropping (and that could largely be due to the fact I am a mood reader and perhaps just picked this one up at the wrong time.)
Thank you so much NetGalley for the eARC!
Thank you so much NetGalley for the eARC!
June 3, 2025
DNF at 45%.
Thank you to Netgalley and Hodderscape for the opportunity to read and review this book. Unfortunately, this book was not one for me. I did not care for most of the characters in this book and quickly became annoyed by the main character. I think this is the second book I have read by this author that has just been almost a chore to read.
I will not be reviewing this book on my social media and would not recommend. I had to DNF because I was honestly dreading continuing with it each time i was supposed to start reading again, Tiresome and frustrating.
October 4, 2024
I received an eARC via NetGalley.
Having loved the cosy nature of Til Death Do Is Bard, and how much it felt like DnD style fantasy, I was was so excited to read Rose Black's newest book. Unfortunately, I've ended up with pretty mixed feelings.
On the positives, I did read this is just two days. I also thought the concepts of the world, story, and characters were all really intriguing and full of potential.
However, I felt it was a little lacking in moments. For one the numerous time jumps meant chunks of relationship development and character development happened off-page which felt jarring at times. Lucky's characterisation also developed a bit jarringly at the start, like with how suddenly he started speaking in full sentences after being seemingly mute/non-verbal when in prison. Then there was his whole Beater personality change that largely happened off-page and didn't even last very long (which kinda made that feel inconsequential since they probably could've gone to the augury from a different starting point, like on the Dreamer). There was also Sienna and Gabriel's vibe which was solid hatred and then just revealed as Sienna liking Gabriel despite being previously described as just wanting to be a woman doing her own thing like the Leviathans??
I also felt the ending was rushed. For one, the white-haired woman was pushed as fake for so long I felt like that was just going to be it (in an unsatisfying way) and then she comes back and all the drama was just because two boys promised to live in a castle together when they were 14. And then all they had to do was threaten her statue and the castle promise was forgiven and Gabriel got his memories back - and the only price was Lucky/Rob also getting his memories back? At first with the crushing weight of his trauma it seemed like a fair trade but he got over it immediately. Honestly so much trauma in this was gotten over incredibly quickly.
Also how old are Lucky/Rob and Gabriel? Because they felt so young with how Gabriel's mothers treated him and how Lucky had such little life experience due to prison. And just the way they acted felt like teen/YA characters but they've got to be older than that, right? Because they have beards and are referred to as men and were 14 years old making promises years before the events of the book. But they felt so jarringly young.
I wanted to love this book and I did enjoy reading it but, as I think about it, I'm mostly caught by things that just felt off to me (hence how rambly this review got). I would recommend it though, see what you think of it yourself. At the very least, it's a fun fantasy.
Having loved the cosy nature of Til Death Do Is Bard, and how much it felt like DnD style fantasy, I was was so excited to read Rose Black's newest book. Unfortunately, I've ended up with pretty mixed feelings.
On the positives, I did read this is just two days. I also thought the concepts of the world, story, and characters were all really intriguing and full of potential.
However, I felt it was a little lacking in moments. For one the numerous time jumps meant chunks of relationship development and character development happened off-page which felt jarring at times. Lucky's characterisation also developed a bit jarringly at the start, like with how suddenly he started speaking in full sentences after being seemingly mute/non-verbal when in prison. Then there was his whole Beater personality change that largely happened off-page and didn't even last very long (which kinda made that feel inconsequential since they probably could've gone to the augury from a different starting point, like on the Dreamer). There was also Sienna and Gabriel's vibe which was solid hatred and then just revealed as Sienna liking Gabriel despite being previously described as just wanting to be a woman doing her own thing like the Leviathans??
I also felt the ending was rushed. For one, the white-haired woman was pushed as fake for so long I felt like that was just going to be it (in an unsatisfying way) and then she comes back and all the drama was just because two boys promised to live in a castle together when they were 14. And then all they had to do was threaten her statue and the castle promise was forgiven and Gabriel got his memories back - and the only price was Lucky/Rob also getting his memories back? At first with the crushing weight of his trauma it seemed like a fair trade but he got over it immediately. Honestly so much trauma in this was gotten over incredibly quickly.
Also how old are Lucky/Rob and Gabriel? Because they felt so young with how Gabriel's mothers treated him and how Lucky had such little life experience due to prison. And just the way they acted felt like teen/YA characters but they've got to be older than that, right? Because they have beards and are referred to as men and were 14 years old making promises years before the events of the book. But they felt so jarringly young.
I wanted to love this book and I did enjoy reading it but, as I think about it, I'm mostly caught by things that just felt off to me (hence how rambly this review got). I would recommend it though, see what you think of it yourself. At the very least, it's a fun fantasy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 10, 2024
I’ve had my eye on this one for ages now as I’m fanatical about anything with queer pirates and I was lucky enough to have been sent an early finished copy by the lovely folks at Hodderscape!
This book was a mix of found family, healing, magic, escapism and good old fashioned fighting against oppression! After being accused of murdering his own mother at aged 14 (something he cannot remember doing) Lucky was imprisoned and has spent years in prison. Now an adult, a freak event gives him a chance to escape and he finds himself on a ship full of misfits and magically enhanced people who can control water.
What follows is a story of healing - understandably Lucky had been damaged from spending his formative years in a cell and it takes time for him to warm up to the crew of The Dreamer. But he is helped by beautiful, smart Gabe… a man who has his own demons to fight and who Lucky thinks he has met somewhere before.
Between them and the crew, they have to fight the all-oppressing control of the church, whilst helping to control leviathans; huge creatures in the sea which pose risks to merchant ships. Lucky and Gabe’s healing is at the forefront, as well as the mystery of who Lucky really is and why he cannot remember his childhood.
I really did want to love this one; the reason that it only gets 3 stars from me is twofold… firstly, the worldbuilding felt rocky to me. A lot of things felt were never really fully explained, such as the existence of the leviathans and the reason for Lucky’s mother’s death - we got some brief deus ex machina style explanations for some key points near the end, but they didn’t really feel particularly fleshed out? The second is that the pacing of this book felt really off… there is a point in the middle where Lucky spends time away from the ship in what should have been a gruelling ordeal, but it was over in a couple of pages. Plus, one of my biggest bugbears, is when an author jumps from location to location with no real explanation of how the characters really got there, and that felt like it happened a lot here. I had to keep checking back to see where the characters were supposed to be geographically!
That being said, it was a solid read and a lot of fun - anyone who enjoys fantasy on the high seas is likely to enjoy it a lot!
Read Fated Winds and Promising Seas for:
✨ Queer normative fantasy world
✨ Mystery and magic on the high seas
✨ Slow burn romance
✨ Touch-averse MC
✨ Agoraphobic MC
✨ Memory loss (think 50 first dates)
✨ Healing after trauma
✨ Found family
Thank you to Hodderscape for the early finished review copy of this book! It’s available on the 19th November 2024 💕
This book was a mix of found family, healing, magic, escapism and good old fashioned fighting against oppression! After being accused of murdering his own mother at aged 14 (something he cannot remember doing) Lucky was imprisoned and has spent years in prison. Now an adult, a freak event gives him a chance to escape and he finds himself on a ship full of misfits and magically enhanced people who can control water.
What follows is a story of healing - understandably Lucky had been damaged from spending his formative years in a cell and it takes time for him to warm up to the crew of The Dreamer. But he is helped by beautiful, smart Gabe… a man who has his own demons to fight and who Lucky thinks he has met somewhere before.
Between them and the crew, they have to fight the all-oppressing control of the church, whilst helping to control leviathans; huge creatures in the sea which pose risks to merchant ships. Lucky and Gabe’s healing is at the forefront, as well as the mystery of who Lucky really is and why he cannot remember his childhood.
I really did want to love this one; the reason that it only gets 3 stars from me is twofold… firstly, the worldbuilding felt rocky to me. A lot of things felt were never really fully explained, such as the existence of the leviathans and the reason for Lucky’s mother’s death - we got some brief deus ex machina style explanations for some key points near the end, but they didn’t really feel particularly fleshed out? The second is that the pacing of this book felt really off… there is a point in the middle where Lucky spends time away from the ship in what should have been a gruelling ordeal, but it was over in a couple of pages. Plus, one of my biggest bugbears, is when an author jumps from location to location with no real explanation of how the characters really got there, and that felt like it happened a lot here. I had to keep checking back to see where the characters were supposed to be geographically!
That being said, it was a solid read and a lot of fun - anyone who enjoys fantasy on the high seas is likely to enjoy it a lot!
Read Fated Winds and Promising Seas for:
✨ Queer normative fantasy world
✨ Mystery and magic on the high seas
✨ Slow burn romance
✨ Touch-averse MC
✨ Agoraphobic MC
✨ Memory loss (think 50 first dates)
✨ Healing after trauma
✨ Found family
Thank you to Hodderscape for the early finished review copy of this book! It’s available on the 19th November 2024 💕
September 4, 2024
I've received this book as an ARC from Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review, thank you!
This one was difficult. I wasn't sure what to expect, but the beginning sucked me in and through the first part I was enjoying the book a lot. Unfortunately, the second part came and it all fell apart. I'm not too fond of the drastic steps characters make to protect others for the sake of their safety and while it made sense here, it went on for far too long. I usually care most about characters and their relationships in books and here that wasn't satisfying. While Lucky was a good character, the rest of them kinda fell flat, especially Gabe who had very little going on and seemed to be there just to play certain roles. Their relationship was insta-lovey and I overall hate the soulmates kinda trope.
The plot and worldbuilding. While worldbuilding had a lot of potential, it wasn't explored enough. We only find out most of the important stuff 70% into the book, before that it's just throwing around terms with not much backstory behind them. I loved the idea of an evil church and having to make a promise to obtain magic but we barely get any background for that.
When it comes to the plot, it was all over the place. The first part was fine and I was having a good time but then it goes more ambitious fantasy book way and it becomes really convoluted and slightly repetitive. About 80% in I had this thought that I have never checked if this isn't a part of a series and that really bummed me out but no, it's a standalone and it ends right after we finally get this expansion in the worldbuilding that changes the perspective on the story. The last 10% was also really messy and didn't explain much. I liked the idea but I wish it played a bigger part.
I don't know if it's the issue of the arc or my kindle but I also had an issue with how it was edited. Some sentences would break in the middle of the line and start from the new one, there were paragraph breaks but only in some places, some words were stuck together. It took me out of reading sometimes.
All in all, while there are things I liked about the book, there were a lot of convoluted plot points and not enough background. That being said, it's not a bad book and I can already see a ton of people loving it so it may just be an "it's not for me" case. I hope it finds its audience and people who love it.
This one was difficult. I wasn't sure what to expect, but the beginning sucked me in and through the first part I was enjoying the book a lot. Unfortunately, the second part came and it all fell apart. I'm not too fond of the drastic steps characters make to protect others for the sake of their safety and while it made sense here, it went on for far too long. I usually care most about characters and their relationships in books and here that wasn't satisfying. While Lucky was a good character, the rest of them kinda fell flat, especially Gabe who had very little going on and seemed to be there just to play certain roles. Their relationship was insta-lovey and I overall hate the soulmates kinda trope.
The plot and worldbuilding. While worldbuilding had a lot of potential, it wasn't explored enough. We only find out most of the important stuff 70% into the book, before that it's just throwing around terms with not much backstory behind them. I loved the idea of an evil church and having to make a promise to obtain magic but we barely get any background for that.
When it comes to the plot, it was all over the place. The first part was fine and I was having a good time but then it goes more ambitious fantasy book way and it becomes really convoluted and slightly repetitive. About 80% in I had this thought that I have never checked if this isn't a part of a series and that really bummed me out but no, it's a standalone and it ends right after we finally get this expansion in the worldbuilding that changes the perspective on the story. The last 10% was also really messy and didn't explain much. I liked the idea but I wish it played a bigger part.
I don't know if it's the issue of the arc or my kindle but I also had an issue with how it was edited. Some sentences would break in the middle of the line and start from the new one, there were paragraph breaks but only in some places, some words were stuck together. It took me out of reading sometimes.
All in all, while there are things I liked about the book, there were a lot of convoluted plot points and not enough background. That being said, it's not a bad book and I can already see a ton of people loving it so it may just be an "it's not for me" case. I hope it finds its audience and people who love it.
November 7, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC!
I completely forgot the synopsis by the time I got around to reading this, so I basically went into this book completely blind, with only the cover to go off on. This was COMPLETELY different from what I expected. I was expecting a cute/whimsical adventure romance and instead I got TRAUMA and ANGST.
Part 1 (the first ~30%) was alright; we meet Lucky, who is deeply traumatised and gradually forming bonds and healing, but part 2 was a huge switch in tone that I did not anticipate or like. This is probably intentional on the author's part, but it was very jarring and took the story in a different direction than what I had expected thus far.
I loved the plot as a whole, but I have a huge gripe with the pacing. The pacing is breakneck fast. Which is a shame, because the plot was so interesting, there's so many different elements involving the conflict between the different religions and the mystery of Lucky's past and how everything ties together, but aside from part 1, the characters don't get to just breathe or linger before getting thrown into another situation. Everything was so fast, I honestly thingk this book could have benefitted with another ~50 or so pages to let the characters just bond or hang out a little in between stuff.
Speaking of the characters bonding, there was not nearly enough of that. Apparently the synopsis promises a found family, and I guess there is one, but I don't think Lucky really bonded with the crew, other than Gabriel and Poe I guess. He does talk to the other crew members but they don't even read as friends, more like, I don't know, reluctant co-workers or something. Some of their dialogue is also kind of awkward too, like they are attempting banter and falling flat.
I do appreciate the romance between Lucky and Gabriel, but I feel like it happened way too quickly. Maybe if their romance started later on, about 50% into the book? As it is, I don't think they had enough build-up. I like their dynamic, and I appreciate how much emphasis was placed on communicating consent, but other than that, I feel like their relationship could have been better developed.
TBH, I would change absolutely nothing about this plot, which was exciting, cohesive and well-developed, but the execution overall leaves something to be desired.
I completely forgot the synopsis by the time I got around to reading this, so I basically went into this book completely blind, with only the cover to go off on. This was COMPLETELY different from what I expected. I was expecting a cute/whimsical adventure romance and instead I got TRAUMA and ANGST.
Part 1 (the first ~30%) was alright; we meet Lucky, who is deeply traumatised and gradually forming bonds and healing, but part 2 was a huge switch in tone that I did not anticipate or like. This is probably intentional on the author's part, but it was very jarring and took the story in a different direction than what I had expected thus far.
I loved the plot as a whole, but I have a huge gripe with the pacing. The pacing is breakneck fast. Which is a shame, because the plot was so interesting, there's so many different elements involving the conflict between the different religions and the mystery of Lucky's past and how everything ties together, but aside from part 1, the characters don't get to just breathe or linger before getting thrown into another situation. Everything was so fast, I honestly thingk this book could have benefitted with another ~50 or so pages to let the characters just bond or hang out a little in between stuff.
Speaking of the characters bonding, there was not nearly enough of that. Apparently the synopsis promises a found family, and I guess there is one, but I don't think Lucky really bonded with the crew, other than Gabriel and Poe I guess. He does talk to the other crew members but they don't even read as friends, more like, I don't know, reluctant co-workers or something. Some of their dialogue is also kind of awkward too, like they are attempting banter and falling flat.
I do appreciate the romance between Lucky and Gabriel, but I feel like it happened way too quickly. Maybe if their romance started later on, about 50% into the book? As it is, I don't think they had enough build-up. I like their dynamic, and I appreciate how much emphasis was placed on communicating consent, but other than that, I feel like their relationship could have been better developed.
TBH, I would change absolutely nothing about this plot, which was exciting, cohesive and well-developed, but the execution overall leaves something to be desired.
April 14, 2025
⚓️🌊 𝒲𝒽𝑒𝓇𝑒 𝐹𝒶𝓉𝑒 𝑀𝑒𝑒𝓉𝓈 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒮𝑒𝒶 🌊⚓️
Imprisoned for a crime he can't remember, Lucky is more comfortable behind bars than in the world beyond. But when he’s ripped from his cell and cast into the ocean, fate delivers him to The Dreamer, a magical ship crewed by outcasts who can manipulate water. Under the wing of a sailor named Gabriel, Lucky begins to unravel his murky past and question whether their meeting was mere chance.
To prove his innocence and uncover the truth, Lucky must brave treacherous seas, face off against Leviathans, and outwit those hunting him. But memories have teeth, and the secrets they carry could destroy everything.
The concept behind Fated Winds and Promising Seas had me instantly intrigued, a magical ship, a mysterious past, elemental magic, and a found family of outcasts? Sign me up. But while the premise held so much potential, the execution didn’t quite deliver the immersive, emotional journey I was hoping for.
The pacing felt strange, fast in some places, yet dragging in others. I found it hard to stay fully engaged, and at times I caught myself skimming through chapters. The romance developed far too quickly for my taste, without enough buildup or depth to make me feel truly invested in their connection.
One of the biggest missed opportunities for me was the worldbuilding. So much of the story takes place aboard The Dreamer, yet I was left with almost no sense of what life on the ship was like. The setting could have been such a rich and magical backdrop, but it remained frustratingly vague. The magic system, too, had so much potential, but we only got the barest glimpse into how it worked or what it meant for the characters.
The writing leaned heavily on dialogue, which sometimes made the story feel more like a script than a novel. And while I appreciated the themes it tried to explore, healing, identity, and found family, I struggled to connect with the characters or feel invested in their journeys.
In the end, this book just didn’t hit the way I hoped it would. The idea was there, the setup was promising, but the heart of the story felt underdeveloped.
If you’re looking for a cozy, queer fantasy with mental health rep, elemental magic, and a soft MM romance, this might still be worth checking out. But personally, I was hoping for something a bit more sweeping and emotionally impactful.
📅 Fated Winds and Promising Seas was released on November 19, 2024.
Special thanks to NetGalley, Rose Black, and Hodder & Stoughton | Hodderscape for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Imprisoned for a crime he can't remember, Lucky is more comfortable behind bars than in the world beyond. But when he’s ripped from his cell and cast into the ocean, fate delivers him to The Dreamer, a magical ship crewed by outcasts who can manipulate water. Under the wing of a sailor named Gabriel, Lucky begins to unravel his murky past and question whether their meeting was mere chance.
To prove his innocence and uncover the truth, Lucky must brave treacherous seas, face off against Leviathans, and outwit those hunting him. But memories have teeth, and the secrets they carry could destroy everything.
A voyage of promise that never quite finds its course.
The concept behind Fated Winds and Promising Seas had me instantly intrigued, a magical ship, a mysterious past, elemental magic, and a found family of outcasts? Sign me up. But while the premise held so much potential, the execution didn’t quite deliver the immersive, emotional journey I was hoping for.
The pacing felt strange, fast in some places, yet dragging in others. I found it hard to stay fully engaged, and at times I caught myself skimming through chapters. The romance developed far too quickly for my taste, without enough buildup or depth to make me feel truly invested in their connection.
One of the biggest missed opportunities for me was the worldbuilding. So much of the story takes place aboard The Dreamer, yet I was left with almost no sense of what life on the ship was like. The setting could have been such a rich and magical backdrop, but it remained frustratingly vague. The magic system, too, had so much potential, but we only got the barest glimpse into how it worked or what it meant for the characters.
The writing leaned heavily on dialogue, which sometimes made the story feel more like a script than a novel. And while I appreciated the themes it tried to explore, healing, identity, and found family, I struggled to connect with the characters or feel invested in their journeys.
In the end, this book just didn’t hit the way I hoped it would. The idea was there, the setup was promising, but the heart of the story felt underdeveloped.
If you’re looking for a cozy, queer fantasy with mental health rep, elemental magic, and a soft MM romance, this might still be worth checking out. But personally, I was hoping for something a bit more sweeping and emotionally impactful.
📅 Fated Winds and Promising Seas was released on November 19, 2024.
Special thanks to NetGalley, Rose Black, and Hodder & Stoughton | Hodderscape for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 22, 2024
Fated Winds and Promising Seas is a fast-paced adventurous epic by Rose Black that follows our main character Lucky in his journey to finding himself. Convicted for the murder of his mother, we follow Lucky along in the strange world of the novel as he experiences everything for the first time. With a dash of mystery, a hearty dose of romance, and a warming tale of identity, Black's novel feels like a warm hug on a cold day.
The story starts surprisingly quickly as it kicks off with a shocking bang. That is much of what happens in the book, everything is fast and rushed and paced at a level you have to catch up to at all times. It feels like there is no time to sit in the moment and bask in the small wins that Lucky experiences or the moments that make up the heart of the book. Even the worldbuilding fell flat at times because of all the potential that was thrown in but not utilized -- especially for the aspect of religion in the book.
But even through this, the book was still an enjoyable read with enough mystery to keep you flipping to the next page. The characters were inviting and felt welcoming in a sense. This applies to the character of Gabe especially who is caring and empathetic and guides Lucky out of the four walls of his cell and into the wide world beyond. The romance that blooms between these two characters is heartwarming and charming especially in the face of the struggles that they have to face during the course of the story.
I would say that the strong point of Black's novel is the ever-present theme of choosing who you want to be and not letting your past or your destiny define you. Lucky's journey toward finding out who he is outside of who people want him to be is definitely this novel's anchor and it did well in settling itself within the story.
Overall, I would say that 'Fated Winds and Promising Seas' is a cozy and adventurous romp that is good for rainy days when you are cuddled up with your favorite fuzzy blanket and drink of choice. It emits the feeling of comfort and warmth within its pages, and it is something that I consider striking.
Thank you to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the E-ARC!
The story starts surprisingly quickly as it kicks off with a shocking bang. That is much of what happens in the book, everything is fast and rushed and paced at a level you have to catch up to at all times. It feels like there is no time to sit in the moment and bask in the small wins that Lucky experiences or the moments that make up the heart of the book. Even the worldbuilding fell flat at times because of all the potential that was thrown in but not utilized -- especially for the aspect of religion in the book.
But even through this, the book was still an enjoyable read with enough mystery to keep you flipping to the next page. The characters were inviting and felt welcoming in a sense. This applies to the character of Gabe especially who is caring and empathetic and guides Lucky out of the four walls of his cell and into the wide world beyond. The romance that blooms between these two characters is heartwarming and charming especially in the face of the struggles that they have to face during the course of the story.
I would say that the strong point of Black's novel is the ever-present theme of choosing who you want to be and not letting your past or your destiny define you. Lucky's journey toward finding out who he is outside of who people want him to be is definitely this novel's anchor and it did well in settling itself within the story.
Overall, I would say that 'Fated Winds and Promising Seas' is a cozy and adventurous romp that is good for rainy days when you are cuddled up with your favorite fuzzy blanket and drink of choice. It emits the feeling of comfort and warmth within its pages, and it is something that I consider striking.
Thank you to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the E-ARC!
November 6, 2024
First of all, thank you to Hodderscape, Rose Black and Netgalley for giving me an e-arc to review! 💙
In Fated Winds and Promising Seas, we see someone who was a prisoner for most of his life (and was falsely accused!) ripped out of it, and thrown out into the world. He ends up coming to terms with his own freedom and choices over his own future, as well as finding love and family in a group of people who have all had to give up something to have the ability to control water.
The book is genuinely gripping, and I enjoyed it so much I felt like I had to read it slowly to properly enjoy it (which is always a good thing in my eyes!).
A lot of the book was very much bittersweet, as essentially every choice had some consequences laid out and often times it meant something had to be given up to help others. This led to it being pretty emotional at times.
Both sides of the main relationship are pretty traumatised by their upbringing but while one side was locked up, the other was taken in by the Dreamers and allowed to flourish.
As much as I loved Fated Winds and Promising Seas, I would not call it a flawless book. Most of my criticisms are minor at best, and may be seen as nitpicky.
At the start, Lucky and Gabriel seem to fall in love almost immediately. As you progress through the book it does get more understandable given their history, but I think it could have maybe been further into the book that they fall for each other.
At times, I felt as though the prose was not descriptive enough for some of the settings and as such, I found myself a little lost trying to picture the scene. This is most likely a personal issue and will not affect my review.
I do think that the ending was unfortunately a little rushed, I would have liked to have seen how it would have played out if Lucky and Gabriel were in the castle longer and in a bit more detail.
Despite my criticisms, I very much enjoyed the book as a whole. I feel like while I was harsh it overall did not massively hinder my opinion of the book.
In Fated Winds and Promising Seas, we see someone who was a prisoner for most of his life (and was falsely accused!) ripped out of it, and thrown out into the world. He ends up coming to terms with his own freedom and choices over his own future, as well as finding love and family in a group of people who have all had to give up something to have the ability to control water.
The book is genuinely gripping, and I enjoyed it so much I felt like I had to read it slowly to properly enjoy it (which is always a good thing in my eyes!).
A lot of the book was very much bittersweet, as essentially every choice had some consequences laid out and often times it meant something had to be given up to help others. This led to it being pretty emotional at times.
Both sides of the main relationship are pretty traumatised by their upbringing but while one side was locked up, the other was taken in by the Dreamers and allowed to flourish.
As much as I loved Fated Winds and Promising Seas, I would not call it a flawless book. Most of my criticisms are minor at best, and may be seen as nitpicky.
At the start, Lucky and Gabriel seem to fall in love almost immediately. As you progress through the book it does get more understandable given their history, but I think it could have maybe been further into the book that they fall for each other.
At times, I felt as though the prose was not descriptive enough for some of the settings and as such, I found myself a little lost trying to picture the scene. This is most likely a personal issue and will not affect my review.
I do think that the ending was unfortunately a little rushed, I would have liked to have seen how it would have played out if Lucky and Gabriel were in the castle longer and in a bit more detail.
Despite my criticisms, I very much enjoyed the book as a whole. I feel like while I was harsh it overall did not massively hinder my opinion of the book.
November 14, 2024
ARC review; thanks to NetGalley, Hodder & Stoughton, and Hodderscape for the access to this ebook.
This is my second book by Rose Black and I enjoyed Til Death Do Us Bard when I read it even if a few things about the execution didn't work for me. This time, I had a similar experience, except I liked this one a little less. So it feels like a 2.5 to 2.75-star book for me.
The main difference between the two books is the coziness. Til Death Do Us Bard is, indeed, cozy. It felt like a side quest in a game, so it was engaging enough, and I liked the characters and their relationship.
Fated Winds and Promising Seas isn't cozy. At least I don't think that a story where the characters go through so much trauma and pain could be considered cozy, and I think that's something readers should know beforehand. The description also says this provides mental health rep, and it does, but it also explores those mental health issues at kind of a surface level.
It didn't feel to me that the characters had a proper healing journey. Things happened to them and while they did help each other, and I think the relationship between the MMCs is sweet, they change kind of drastically from one part of the book to the other, and we don't really see the process.
I liked a lot of aspects of the story; the characters were likable, the setting was cool, the romance and found family aspects were lovely, and the premise was interesting. But the execution fell short for me, especially when it comes to depth and worldbuilding (the foundations are there, it was just a little surface-level and I think the ideas were cool enough to explore a little more). The writing was also a bit repetitive around certain issues.
The words "wasted potential" feel a little harsh, but they did cross my mind at some points of the story, so I have to mention that. Overall, it wasn't a great book but it also wasn't awful. I see a lot of people enjoying this more than I did, so it's one of those books that you just have to check out for yourself if anything about it calls to you.
This is my second book by Rose Black and I enjoyed Til Death Do Us Bard when I read it even if a few things about the execution didn't work for me. This time, I had a similar experience, except I liked this one a little less. So it feels like a 2.5 to 2.75-star book for me.
The main difference between the two books is the coziness. Til Death Do Us Bard is, indeed, cozy. It felt like a side quest in a game, so it was engaging enough, and I liked the characters and their relationship.
Fated Winds and Promising Seas isn't cozy. At least I don't think that a story where the characters go through so much trauma and pain could be considered cozy, and I think that's something readers should know beforehand. The description also says this provides mental health rep, and it does, but it also explores those mental health issues at kind of a surface level.
It didn't feel to me that the characters had a proper healing journey. Things happened to them and while they did help each other, and I think the relationship between the MMCs is sweet, they change kind of drastically from one part of the book to the other, and we don't really see the process.
I liked a lot of aspects of the story; the characters were likable, the setting was cool, the romance and found family aspects were lovely, and the premise was interesting. But the execution fell short for me, especially when it comes to depth and worldbuilding (the foundations are there, it was just a little surface-level and I think the ideas were cool enough to explore a little more). The writing was also a bit repetitive around certain issues.
The words "wasted potential" feel a little harsh, but they did cross my mind at some points of the story, so I have to mention that. Overall, it wasn't a great book but it also wasn't awful. I see a lot of people enjoying this more than I did, so it's one of those books that you just have to check out for yourself if anything about it calls to you.
October 23, 2024
"...I've thought I don't belong so many times. I've felt like I should just die. But... but why should I? Even if I'm wrong, even if there's something broken about me, don't I deserve a chance?"
Fated Winds and Promising Seas (how beautiful is this title? And the cover too) tells about Lucky, whose fate is a rollercoaster ride and his promise takes him to unexpected persons and places. Ever since he escapes from a leviathan-attacked prison, he meets all kinds of people—his soulmate, his chosen family, his enemies, himself. And so his adventure begins.
I was taken aback at how fast-paced it was from the beginning. The action-packed scenes were enthralling, but they were also so jumpy that I needed to flip the previous page just to make sure I didn't miss something, and it wasn't there. The story was often driven by dialogue, so the characters tend to explicitly express their intentions and feelings, and it left very little room for immersive description. It was pretty much go-go-go (A blinding flash. Lucky covered his eyes. Silence. (pg. 302)) that other things like Lucky's mental health, skill development, and romance between him and Gabriel ran rapidly too.
Perhaps I would have more enjoyed it if it was a fanfiction from a fandom I'm familiar with. I feel there are more backstory from Lucky, Gabriel, Sienna and Yale's dynamics than what's already given. Lucky and Gabriel feel like an OTP, Sienna is their tsundere friend, and Yale is their ultimate rival. But that's just me, and I in no way mean it bad because I love fanfiction and this book is definitely professional-looking. But I missed the slow moments to get to know them better, to root for Lucky and Gabriel better, to explore the nautical-themed world better. It puts me on a backseat of a race car while what I want is a sleigh.
2.5 stars rounded up. E-ARC is provided by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
October 27, 2024
Fated Winds and Promising Seas
★★☆☆☆ 2 stars
The story promised a blend of magic, adventure, and love on the high seas. However, despite its intriguing premise, the execution falls short in several key areas.
The writing style, particularly the narrative approach, didn’t resonate with me. The storytelling felt somewhat detached and lacking warmth. The premise for the world-building was really interesting, but I would have loved a little bit more development. Regarding the plot, the storyline followed a too linear progression, in which each event was a direct consequence or follow up of the one before. This made the book predictable and lacking tension.
The characters presented the biggest issue, though. I found it difficult to visualize them, struggling to form a complete picture of them. The characterization was inconsistent throughout the story. Lucky, initially portrayed as deeply traumatized, underwent drastic changes within just two chapters, to then shift again a few more chapters later. Gabriel, the love interest, also lacked a stable personality. Their relationship dynamics changed with the plot, often in ways that didn't align with their established characterization. The side characters were superficially written—I could barely remember their names while reading. Moreover, the interactions between characters often didn't make sense, and the dialogues felt forced and awkward at times.
In conclusion, while the book had potential, it ultimately falls short due to disengaging writing style, too linear plot and inconsistent characterization. The lack of depth in both main and side characters makes it difficult for readers to form connections or invest in their journeys.
Thanking NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
★★☆☆☆ 2 stars
The story promised a blend of magic, adventure, and love on the high seas. However, despite its intriguing premise, the execution falls short in several key areas.
The writing style, particularly the narrative approach, didn’t resonate with me. The storytelling felt somewhat detached and lacking warmth. The premise for the world-building was really interesting, but I would have loved a little bit more development. Regarding the plot, the storyline followed a too linear progression, in which each event was a direct consequence or follow up of the one before. This made the book predictable and lacking tension.
The characters presented the biggest issue, though. I found it difficult to visualize them, struggling to form a complete picture of them. The characterization was inconsistent throughout the story. Lucky, initially portrayed as deeply traumatized, underwent drastic changes within just two chapters, to then shift again a few more chapters later. Gabriel, the love interest, also lacked a stable personality. Their relationship dynamics changed with the plot, often in ways that didn't align with their established characterization. The side characters were superficially written—I could barely remember their names while reading. Moreover, the interactions between characters often didn't make sense, and the dialogues felt forced and awkward at times.
In conclusion, while the book had potential, it ultimately falls short due to disengaging writing style, too linear plot and inconsistent characterization. The lack of depth in both main and side characters makes it difficult for readers to form connections or invest in their journeys.
Thanking NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
September 8, 2025
Things I really liked: The magic system, the description of the water dancers, Fate and the Tapestry and Church that enforce it, and the Promise and the power that gives against fate (but also it is an obligation with chains of it's own). I liked the characters, the description of the crew of the Dreamer, the sea monsters, and the overall pirate/monster hunters/outcasts vibe the crew had. I liked how the queer the book was and how well the novels overall themes tie in with that queerness. (Identity as prisons, what it means to forge your own paths, found families, institutions/churches as brutal enforcers/prisons, etc)
Things that didn't quite work: I found this book strangely paced and plotted. A repeated pattern through out the book was a conflict would arise for the protagonists, and instead of giving time for this conflict to be explored through out the course of the novel the characters would resolve the conflict in a few chapters and a new conflict would arise for them to solve, which also happened in a few chapters and this would happen over and over till the novel ended. This left a feeling of smaller mini character arcs, an almost episodic feel that didn't quite work with the structure of the novel as a stand alone coherent piece of fiction.
The thing is there are a lot of really interesting ideas for plots in this, but so much is going on at once that I'm not sure any of them are fully fleshed out to their best ability. Instead of one great idea we get several good but incomplete ones.
This novel was darker then I perhaps expected (I wouldn't call it cozy for sure, there's a lot of trauma being unpacked). I think the these themes are well explored, but I would for sure look up trigger warnings if someone is expecting something lighter from the cover or plot description.
Overall there is a lot here that is interesting, but also a lot that feels it could have been done better if there was more focus and tighter plotter/pacing.
Things that didn't quite work: I found this book strangely paced and plotted. A repeated pattern through out the book was a conflict would arise for the protagonists, and instead of giving time for this conflict to be explored through out the course of the novel the characters would resolve the conflict in a few chapters and a new conflict would arise for them to solve, which also happened in a few chapters and this would happen over and over till the novel ended. This left a feeling of smaller mini character arcs, an almost episodic feel that didn't quite work with the structure of the novel as a stand alone coherent piece of fiction.
The thing is there are a lot of really interesting ideas for plots in this, but so much is going on at once that I'm not sure any of them are fully fleshed out to their best ability. Instead of one great idea we get several good but incomplete ones.
This novel was darker then I perhaps expected (I wouldn't call it cozy for sure, there's a lot of trauma being unpacked). I think the these themes are well explored, but I would for sure look up trigger warnings if someone is expecting something lighter from the cover or plot description.
Overall there is a lot here that is interesting, but also a lot that feels it could have been done better if there was more focus and tighter plotter/pacing.
August 21, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the eARC
Delightful page-turner of a book ! Somewhat darker than 'Til Death do us Bard' but still rather cosy and comforting. If the beginning of the book is rather on the quiet and tranquil side action-wise (once the character is out of prison), it then proceed to quicker rhythm, shifting between various kinds of actions.
The Dreamer's crew is the perfect image of the found family, supportive, protective, full of banter and love despite their differences and challenges. Gabriel relationship with his mothers and Lucky's relationship with Poe are very touching.
Lucky's character development is well thought, touching and sometimes maddening. He is lost, a bit broken, and his search for stability sometimes leads him toward dangerous waters. His relationship with Gabriel is tender and soft, but not without struggles as the story advances, as Fate and Promises work against or with them. Seeing Lucky learn more about himself, find the strength to trust other and the world is a beautiful adventure. I would have enjoyed to have Gabriel's POV from time to time, but I understand it wasn't absolutely necessary, that the story needed to be told from Lucky's sole POV.
I must say I sometimes felt that the story lacked a bit of transition as it shifted, but it didn't trouble my reading, I still wanted to read more, to keep going to the next chapter, to see where the story was going and what was going on. The worldbuilding is great, serving the story with just enough balance between mystery and knowledge to keep being intresting. The way the author played with Fate and Promises was refreshing, yet still easy to follow.
All in all, a great and fun read ! I encourage everyone seeking a sea faring adventure with love and sea creatures to read this !
Delightful page-turner of a book ! Somewhat darker than 'Til Death do us Bard' but still rather cosy and comforting. If the beginning of the book is rather on the quiet and tranquil side action-wise (once the character is out of prison), it then proceed to quicker rhythm, shifting between various kinds of actions.
The Dreamer's crew is the perfect image of the found family, supportive, protective, full of banter and love despite their differences and challenges. Gabriel relationship with his mothers and Lucky's relationship with Poe are very touching.
Lucky's character development is well thought, touching and sometimes maddening. He is lost, a bit broken, and his search for stability sometimes leads him toward dangerous waters. His relationship with Gabriel is tender and soft, but not without struggles as the story advances, as Fate and Promises work against or with them. Seeing Lucky learn more about himself, find the strength to trust other and the world is a beautiful adventure. I would have enjoyed to have Gabriel's POV from time to time, but I understand it wasn't absolutely necessary, that the story needed to be told from Lucky's sole POV.
I must say I sometimes felt that the story lacked a bit of transition as it shifted, but it didn't trouble my reading, I still wanted to read more, to keep going to the next chapter, to see where the story was going and what was going on. The worldbuilding is great, serving the story with just enough balance between mystery and knowledge to keep being intresting. The way the author played with Fate and Promises was refreshing, yet still easy to follow.
All in all, a great and fun read ! I encourage everyone seeking a sea faring adventure with love and sea creatures to read this !
November 23, 2024
“𝘐 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘪𝘵’𝘴 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘥. 𝘕𝘰𝘵 𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘥, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘶𝘱 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘪𝘵.”
Thank you to NetGalley for this early copy to read and review!
I read Til Death Do Us Bard earlier this year, which was why I was excited to see this one pop up on NetGalley. I have been loving the kind of silly, adventurous, emotional beats in stories that feel akin to DND. ‘Bard’ was a story I found fit the bill pretty well. Fated Winds and Promising Seas was good, though didn’t quite live up to what I was expecting after Bard.
This book gives an aura of cozy fantasy with found family and some deep seated trauma in our characters. I’d say we got this in spades, with varying degrees of success in execution.
It’s hard to go wrong with found family and I think it was sweet here. The relationship between Lucky and Gabriel was sweet. They care for each other and you see them develop and help each other grow. Parts of this felt rushed, like a lot of it was fast moving or the character changed or developed quicker than you’d expect. This didn’t hamper my enjoyment too much. Once again, I love a traumatized sad boy. And I got two?? Thank you. The story is very much about finding yourself and choosing who you want to be. You don’t have to let your past dictate who you’ve become. Lucky spends a good chunk of the story healing himself and then in turn helping those around him.
It’s definitely more of a character driven story with vague worldbuilding that has the potential to be very cool. I think leviathans are always a really interesting creature to throw into a story. Even if we don’t know where they came from, they’re awesome to see on paper. I’m definitely going to be on the lookout for monster books in this vein.
⭐️ Tropes ⭐️
(Vague spoilers)
-found family
-monster hunting
-pirate adjacent
-deep trauma
-queer normative
-cozy-esque fantasy
-slow burn
-hurt/comfort
Thank you to NetGalley for this early copy to read and review!
I read Til Death Do Us Bard earlier this year, which was why I was excited to see this one pop up on NetGalley. I have been loving the kind of silly, adventurous, emotional beats in stories that feel akin to DND. ‘Bard’ was a story I found fit the bill pretty well. Fated Winds and Promising Seas was good, though didn’t quite live up to what I was expecting after Bard.
This book gives an aura of cozy fantasy with found family and some deep seated trauma in our characters. I’d say we got this in spades, with varying degrees of success in execution.
It’s hard to go wrong with found family and I think it was sweet here. The relationship between Lucky and Gabriel was sweet. They care for each other and you see them develop and help each other grow. Parts of this felt rushed, like a lot of it was fast moving or the character changed or developed quicker than you’d expect. This didn’t hamper my enjoyment too much. Once again, I love a traumatized sad boy. And I got two?? Thank you. The story is very much about finding yourself and choosing who you want to be. You don’t have to let your past dictate who you’ve become. Lucky spends a good chunk of the story healing himself and then in turn helping those around him.
It’s definitely more of a character driven story with vague worldbuilding that has the potential to be very cool. I think leviathans are always a really interesting creature to throw into a story. Even if we don’t know where they came from, they’re awesome to see on paper. I’m definitely going to be on the lookout for monster books in this vein.
⭐️ Tropes ⭐️
(Vague spoilers)
-found family
-monster hunting
-pirate adjacent
-deep trauma
-queer normative
-cozy-esque fantasy
-slow burn
-hurt/comfort
October 16, 2024
Big thanks to the publisher for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
A very sweet love story (romantic love, but also friendships and chosen family and self love) mixed with a seafaring adventure, some beautiful mental health rep, and even some commentary about religion, and how we treat wild animals. A bit of everything. The main character has a complete change of personality around the 30% mark; that part was a bit clumsy and almost lost me. Fortunately, I hung on and he quickly reverts back to his true self and the story picks up at a better pace after that. I've seen it described as a cosy fantasy but I'm not sure I agree with cosy. It is sweet, yes, but it's not super low stakes and the characters go through really tough times. Abuse and how one can overcome it is a theme throughout a lot of the book. I think I saw somewhere that someone described the book as a warm hug, and the author said it was more like holding your loved one's hand during a rollercoaster. That's an apt description. It was pretty eventful, and I'd suggest checking the content warnings at the beginning of the book, but yes, through it all is one of the sweetest love stories I've read recently. I do wish the supporting characters had been more developed, and I would especially have loved to know more about Gabriel's mothers and Sienna. I also wish the magic system had been explained and used more in depth. But overall, I loved this and read it super quickly because I couldn't put it down. If you want a heartwarming queer love story with protagonists who are learning to navigate their trauma, found family, good mental health rep and a medium stakes adventure, I would 100% recommend this!
A very sweet love story (romantic love, but also friendships and chosen family and self love) mixed with a seafaring adventure, some beautiful mental health rep, and even some commentary about religion, and how we treat wild animals. A bit of everything. The main character has a complete change of personality around the 30% mark; that part was a bit clumsy and almost lost me. Fortunately, I hung on and he quickly reverts back to his true self and the story picks up at a better pace after that. I've seen it described as a cosy fantasy but I'm not sure I agree with cosy. It is sweet, yes, but it's not super low stakes and the characters go through really tough times. Abuse and how one can overcome it is a theme throughout a lot of the book. I think I saw somewhere that someone described the book as a warm hug, and the author said it was more like holding your loved one's hand during a rollercoaster. That's an apt description. It was pretty eventful, and I'd suggest checking the content warnings at the beginning of the book, but yes, through it all is one of the sweetest love stories I've read recently. I do wish the supporting characters had been more developed, and I would especially have loved to know more about Gabriel's mothers and Sienna. I also wish the magic system had been explained and used more in depth. But overall, I loved this and read it super quickly because I couldn't put it down. If you want a heartwarming queer love story with protagonists who are learning to navigate their trauma, found family, good mental health rep and a medium stakes adventure, I would 100% recommend this!
November 8, 2024
I received an eARC from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. It has not affected my opinions.
FATED WINDS AND PROMISING SEAS is a high seas tale of promises and fate and fighting to find your own way.
I'm not quite sure I'd call this a cosy fantasy. For one, the stakes are pretty high (religious persecution as a religious order tries to force the world into compliance). For another, the themes and character experiences are quite dark at times.
Lucky and Gabriel have suffered a lot of abuse in their lifetime and have a lot of PTSD to contend with. These topics are given the space they deserve, so it's not a light and breezy fantasy romp with low stakes. Of course, everyone's cosy fantasy definitions vary, so the focus on two people helping each other through life might make it fit the sub-genre for someone else.
It is a very tender relationship all about respecting boundaries and not rushing, giving people the chance to make the moves they are comfortable with. I really liked that neither character pushed the other to take things faster romantically. It's very respectful and a nice change of pace.
This is set in the same world as 'TIL DEATH DO US BARD but reads as a complete standalone. I only realised it was the same world once I spotted that the married captain and first mate had the same names as a very minor couple in the first book. The stories also take part in very different parts of the world with a different focus altogether so you can read them in any order.
FATED WINDS AND PROMISING SEAS is a high seas tale of promises and fate and fighting to find your own way.
I'm not quite sure I'd call this a cosy fantasy. For one, the stakes are pretty high (religious persecution as a religious order tries to force the world into compliance). For another, the themes and character experiences are quite dark at times.
Lucky and Gabriel have suffered a lot of abuse in their lifetime and have a lot of PTSD to contend with. These topics are given the space they deserve, so it's not a light and breezy fantasy romp with low stakes. Of course, everyone's cosy fantasy definitions vary, so the focus on two people helping each other through life might make it fit the sub-genre for someone else.
It is a very tender relationship all about respecting boundaries and not rushing, giving people the chance to make the moves they are comfortable with. I really liked that neither character pushed the other to take things faster romantically. It's very respectful and a nice change of pace.
This is set in the same world as 'TIL DEATH DO US BARD but reads as a complete standalone. I only realised it was the same world once I spotted that the married captain and first mate had the same names as a very minor couple in the first book. The stories also take part in very different parts of the world with a different focus altogether so you can read them in any order.
November 17, 2024
3.5 stars
Part romance, part magical adventure, Fated Winds and Promising Seas has a big story to tell - what happens when a world dictated by the tapestry of Fate suddenly is faced with branching paths? Lucky, an escaped/rescued prisoner is about to find out as he embarks on a journey filled with leviathans, self discovery, and danger...
I mostly enjoyed this book, as it was packed full of excitement, charming characters, and hidden secrets. It felt like the next big reveal was always waiting on the next page which meant the story never felt stale and was really fast paced. Unfortunately, this also meant it was hard to always feel connected as it goes through so many events that there never was a lot of time to just let it all sink in.
My favourite moments were on board the Dreamer - I loved seeing Lucky slowly learn how to live again and to understand that the world wasn't just suffering and cruelty. I loved all the little bonding moments between him and Poe, Gabriel, and even Sienna. The romance itself was a bit thin, but the friendships were so lovely. I wish there were more slower sections like this as this is really where the story shined most for me.
The ending felt rushed, and again I felt like I didn't have time to process the heartbreaking situation Gabriel and Lucky were in. That being said, I liked how things came together - it made sense and I appreciated the continuity from all the facts we learned throughout the book.
Overall a fun read. If you like fast paced stories filled to the brim with action and new twists, this is a romantic fantasy adventure to check outm
Part romance, part magical adventure, Fated Winds and Promising Seas has a big story to tell - what happens when a world dictated by the tapestry of Fate suddenly is faced with branching paths? Lucky, an escaped/rescued prisoner is about to find out as he embarks on a journey filled with leviathans, self discovery, and danger...
I mostly enjoyed this book, as it was packed full of excitement, charming characters, and hidden secrets. It felt like the next big reveal was always waiting on the next page which meant the story never felt stale and was really fast paced. Unfortunately, this also meant it was hard to always feel connected as it goes through so many events that there never was a lot of time to just let it all sink in.
My favourite moments were on board the Dreamer - I loved seeing Lucky slowly learn how to live again and to understand that the world wasn't just suffering and cruelty. I loved all the little bonding moments between him and Poe, Gabriel, and even Sienna. The romance itself was a bit thin, but the friendships were so lovely. I wish there were more slower sections like this as this is really where the story shined most for me.
The ending felt rushed, and again I felt like I didn't have time to process the heartbreaking situation Gabriel and Lucky were in. That being said, I liked how things came together - it made sense and I appreciated the continuity from all the facts we learned throughout the book.
Overall a fun read. If you like fast paced stories filled to the brim with action and new twists, this is a romantic fantasy adventure to check outm
April 10, 2025
This book had some amazing concepts - fate as a religious doctrine used to control, the concept of free will and human choices, ancient gods, and cool sea monsters - but the execution was terrible. The plot had no structure, and was just a meandering series of events. The world-building was barely explained. The characters had promise too - a misfit band on a pirate ship - but all fell flat. We were constantly told how much they all cared for each other, but this was never shown, which lead to very cringey proclamations of love that the reader never felt.
I think the worst part of this was the tone. The plot was incredibly traumatic - multiple horrible things happened to Lucky in particular, but also Gabriel, with barely any real respite. Huge chunks of time passed jarringly, and every chapter introduced a new random form of suffering. In contrast, the main couple acted like what I can only describe as "soft bois". They were jarringly sweet and soft and sad and gentle with no tangible flaws that impacted the plot and no conflicts that lasted. They seemed to get over their traumas in a couple of chapters. I was shocked to find out Lucky was 24, because he read like a teenager. As for Gabriel, I endured 300 pages of characters telling me how wonderful he is despite him being horrifically boring.
I did enjoy the big finale reveal, but it happened way too late in the book. The villain was super interesting, but didn't haunt the narrative enough.
I'm disappointed to make this review because despite some flaws, I really enjoyed Till Death Do Us Bard. I'll still give this author a chance in future - let's hope this was just an unfortunate fluke.
I think the worst part of this was the tone. The plot was incredibly traumatic - multiple horrible things happened to Lucky in particular, but also Gabriel, with barely any real respite. Huge chunks of time passed jarringly, and every chapter introduced a new random form of suffering. In contrast, the main couple acted like what I can only describe as "soft bois". They were jarringly sweet and soft and sad and gentle with no tangible flaws that impacted the plot and no conflicts that lasted. They seemed to get over their traumas in a couple of chapters. I was shocked to find out Lucky was 24, because he read like a teenager. As for Gabriel, I endured 300 pages of characters telling me how wonderful he is despite him being horrifically boring.
I did enjoy the big finale reveal, but it happened way too late in the book. The villain was super interesting, but didn't haunt the narrative enough.
I'm disappointed to make this review because despite some flaws, I really enjoyed Till Death Do Us Bard. I'll still give this author a chance in future - let's hope this was just an unfortunate fluke.
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