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Tide Bound Duology #1
Tide Bound
Kiojah’s dreamed of her future as a duchess her entire life. When her sister passes away and an impending debt endangers her family's legacy and estate, she's willing to do whatever it takes to preserve it. Including marrying Ario, the foreign prince of Nevaron, and her sister’s betrothed.
A romantic at heart, Kiojah embraces the challenges of her arranged marriage until Ario shatters her illusions. He had no desire to marry, not her sister, and especially not her. He makes swift arrangements for a mission at sea, with no intention of taking her along. Despite his disapproval, Kiojah holds on to her romantic notions and forsakes her newfound comforts to follow him.
Ario and Kiojah embark on a journey which reveals the enchanting yet harsh realities of the world outside of her privilege. Kiojah must decide how far she’ll go for the love she yearns for. Will she defy her reputation and obligations or succumb to her past?
A romantic at heart, Kiojah embraces the challenges of her arranged marriage until Ario shatters her illusions. He had no desire to marry, not her sister, and especially not her. He makes swift arrangements for a mission at sea, with no intention of taking her along. Despite his disapproval, Kiojah holds on to her romantic notions and forsakes her newfound comforts to follow him.
Ario and Kiojah embark on a journey which reveals the enchanting yet harsh realities of the world outside of her privilege. Kiojah must decide how far she’ll go for the love she yearns for. Will she defy her reputation and obligations or succumb to her past?
601 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 30, 2024
20 people are currently reading
248 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
November 19, 2024
I may be a little biased, cause I wrote it 🙂↕️ But if Goodreads is letting me review my own book, consider it done.
May 15, 2025
My favourite shelf is going to have to make space for this chunky book. I've met Lauren several times because we've sold at book fairs together. Tide Bound isn't the type of book I would've picked up if I hadn't met Lauren, and that's such a mistake because this is one of my favourite books of the year so far.
How do I even explain my feelings?
1: The writing is fantastic. It's so skilled. This book is well-crafted with impeccable pacing and a great sentence flow. It was easy to read because it was so polished and good.
2: The characters absolutely stole my heart. Oh my. I can't get enough of Kio and Ario. I would read about them forever.
3: The world is delightful. This is such a smooth fantasy book. Everything feels just right. There's no info-dumping, but we also know everything we need to know and the world is explored enough to answer our questions.
If you love fantasy, pick this one up. It's 600 pages of tension and fun.
How do I even explain my feelings?
1: The writing is fantastic. It's so skilled. This book is well-crafted with impeccable pacing and a great sentence flow. It was easy to read because it was so polished and good.
2: The characters absolutely stole my heart. Oh my. I can't get enough of Kio and Ario. I would read about them forever.
3: The world is delightful. This is such a smooth fantasy book. Everything feels just right. There's no info-dumping, but we also know everything we need to know and the world is explored enough to answer our questions.
If you love fantasy, pick this one up. It's 600 pages of tension and fun.
September 17, 2024
4.5⭐️
Wow! So incredibly impressive that this is a debut novel from Lauren! I absolutely love so many aspects of this book. From the sea adventures and mysteries, to watching Ario and Kiojah slowly find their love for each other and figure out how to incorporate themselves into each other’s lives this book was incredible.
I loved so many of the characters in this book and the unique world that Lauren was able to create.
Would absolutely recommend to everyone!
Wow! So incredibly impressive that this is a debut novel from Lauren! I absolutely love so many aspects of this book. From the sea adventures and mysteries, to watching Ario and Kiojah slowly find their love for each other and figure out how to incorporate themselves into each other’s lives this book was incredible.
I loved so many of the characters in this book and the unique world that Lauren was able to create.
Would absolutely recommend to everyone!
September 16, 2024
A debut novel like this?!? Talk about coming out the gate STRONG!!
This follows the tale of Kiojah, a princess that has lost both her mother and older sister and is now burdened with a lot more responsibility as well as an arranged marriage to help uphold her kingdom and country from falling to pieces. She marries Ario, a prince she only knew from limited visits as a child and resents from the start as someone not meant for her. It follows their story as they embark across the sea for answers to the safety of Ario’s kingdom and fumble for answers to their own marriage as well.
What a wonderful read. I adore the characters that have been built in the world of Tide Bound as well as the casual inclusion of non-binary Nox right from the beginning (a sea witch that’s my gender?!? OMG). I love the super slow burn of the romance and bond Kio and Ario have as well as Kiojah learning to grow into herself and be brave despite all life has taken from her. WOW. I really did not expect much coming into this besides being excited to read Lauren’s debut novel and she BLEW me out of the water (haha). Wholeheartedly couldn’t recommend this read more.
This follows the tale of Kiojah, a princess that has lost both her mother and older sister and is now burdened with a lot more responsibility as well as an arranged marriage to help uphold her kingdom and country from falling to pieces. She marries Ario, a prince she only knew from limited visits as a child and resents from the start as someone not meant for her. It follows their story as they embark across the sea for answers to the safety of Ario’s kingdom and fumble for answers to their own marriage as well.
What a wonderful read. I adore the characters that have been built in the world of Tide Bound as well as the casual inclusion of non-binary Nox right from the beginning (a sea witch that’s my gender?!? OMG). I love the super slow burn of the romance and bond Kio and Ario have as well as Kiojah learning to grow into herself and be brave despite all life has taken from her. WOW. I really did not expect much coming into this besides being excited to read Lauren’s debut novel and she BLEW me out of the water (haha). Wholeheartedly couldn’t recommend this read more.
October 31, 2024
It's mind-boggling to me that this is a debut book because it was written so well! I'm also shocked at how long it actually was, as it didn't feel like that long when reading it, so if you're worried about the length, don't be!
Kiojah's sister was arranged to marry Prince Ario of their neighbouring kingdom, Nevaron, until her untimely death from the plague. A few months later, due to her kingdom's monetary woes, Kiojah agrees to marry Prince Ario for her father, the Duke, and the Queen of her country. She doesn't want this, and upon meeting Ario, it's pretty obvious he has no interest in being married, either. Ario would much rather be sailing the seas with his crew than dealing with a wife, and Kiojah would rather he stay and build a home with her.
Despite this, she goes with him to deliver something to the home of her Queen, whereupon they discover something that leads to a whole adventure. The world building was pretty solid in this, and I got a good sense of the characters, nations and non-human people as well. The descriptions were well-written, and I enjoyed the character interactions. Kiojah is a spoiled character, and in the beginning, you get frustrated with her because she acts a little snooty and above everyone. She also has no knowledge of anything outside of the Dukedom she grew up in, as it was of no interest to her.
Thankfully, she learns from this and realises her faults. Her relationship with Ario is rocky, and it sees-saws between them both despite their obvious attraction. Ario, on the other hand, is also a little spiky, but you get the sense that he's not a bad person as his crew loves him. Someone bad couldn't have a crew that loyal! He has no qualms about pointing out Kiojah's faults and is pretty self-aware of his own, to be honest. Obviously, their relationship slowly grows, and you get a true sense of them growing closer to each other.
An interesting thing about this is that there's no instalove, nor do they even truly love each other by the end. They like each other a lot, but they both acknowledge that they've not had time to grow to love each other. It's possibly the healthiest relationship I've seen in a fantasy book, even though this takes place over multiple weeks! They're both mature about it and acknowledge that they won't fall in love immediately, but you root for them so much.
The side characters were great, and you really got the sense that they've all known Ario for a long time. They were also welcoming to Kiojah and helped her find her sea feet, while being protective of both her and Ario. Nox was a great character, and I found their magic very intriguing. If you want to know what mystery would look like as a person, it would be Nox.
The plot was engaging and enjoyable, and I was speeding through it despite its length. Honestly, I think this should be the next TikTok, darling, as it ticks many boxes. Given how things ended, I hope there will be a sequel, but if not, then this can work perfectly well as a standalone, and I'm looking forward to seeing where the author goes next!
Kiojah's sister was arranged to marry Prince Ario of their neighbouring kingdom, Nevaron, until her untimely death from the plague. A few months later, due to her kingdom's monetary woes, Kiojah agrees to marry Prince Ario for her father, the Duke, and the Queen of her country. She doesn't want this, and upon meeting Ario, it's pretty obvious he has no interest in being married, either. Ario would much rather be sailing the seas with his crew than dealing with a wife, and Kiojah would rather he stay and build a home with her.
Despite this, she goes with him to deliver something to the home of her Queen, whereupon they discover something that leads to a whole adventure. The world building was pretty solid in this, and I got a good sense of the characters, nations and non-human people as well. The descriptions were well-written, and I enjoyed the character interactions. Kiojah is a spoiled character, and in the beginning, you get frustrated with her because she acts a little snooty and above everyone. She also has no knowledge of anything outside of the Dukedom she grew up in, as it was of no interest to her.
Thankfully, she learns from this and realises her faults. Her relationship with Ario is rocky, and it sees-saws between them both despite their obvious attraction. Ario, on the other hand, is also a little spiky, but you get the sense that he's not a bad person as his crew loves him. Someone bad couldn't have a crew that loyal! He has no qualms about pointing out Kiojah's faults and is pretty self-aware of his own, to be honest. Obviously, their relationship slowly grows, and you get a true sense of them growing closer to each other.
An interesting thing about this is that there's no instalove, nor do they even truly love each other by the end. They like each other a lot, but they both acknowledge that they've not had time to grow to love each other. It's possibly the healthiest relationship I've seen in a fantasy book, even though this takes place over multiple weeks! They're both mature about it and acknowledge that they won't fall in love immediately, but you root for them so much.
The side characters were great, and you really got the sense that they've all known Ario for a long time. They were also welcoming to Kiojah and helped her find her sea feet, while being protective of both her and Ario. Nox was a great character, and I found their magic very intriguing. If you want to know what mystery would look like as a person, it would be Nox.
The plot was engaging and enjoyable, and I was speeding through it despite its length. Honestly, I think this should be the next TikTok, darling, as it ticks many boxes. Given how things ended, I hope there will be a sequel, but if not, then this can work perfectly well as a standalone, and I'm looking forward to seeing where the author goes next!
September 28, 2024
I haven’t read many seafaring adventures, but since I enjoyed shows like One Piece and Outer Banks, I thought I’d love this book too. Overall, I can say I liked it, though it’s a hefty read with events happening back to back. At times, it felt a bit stretched. I personally loved the sea adventures and all the unique species, their powers, and the other magical elements. I was expecting more romance, but that wasn’t really the focus of the story.
I’m not a big fan of politics, so I didn’t enjoy those parts as much, and I really didn’t like Ario’s family, no matter what their reasons were. But what I loved most was how Ario and Kiojah always had each other’s backs. The author’s writing was also a highlight for me—easy to follow and vivid enough that I could picture everything happening.
So, if you enjoy seafaring adventures mixed with politics and war, you should definitely give this one a try!
I’m not a big fan of politics, so I didn’t enjoy those parts as much, and I really didn’t like Ario’s family, no matter what their reasons were. But what I loved most was how Ario and Kiojah always had each other’s backs. The author’s writing was also a highlight for me—easy to follow and vivid enough that I could picture everything happening.
So, if you enjoy seafaring adventures mixed with politics and war, you should definitely give this one a try!
September 30, 2024
✨BOOK REVIEW: Tide Bound by Lauren O’Brien ✨
🌊👑This stunning debut with captivating world-building and a plot that grips you from the first page. Featuring a mix of royalty, pirates, mermaids, and sea witches, Tide Bound takes readers on an exciting voyage filled with magic, adventure, and romance. 🌊👑
🏴☠️🌊After such significant losses in her life, how far she’ll go for the love she craves. As they face the dangers of the sea, Kiojah is surrounded by a found family. The ship was home to a diverse mix of people and creatures, but together they were a family. They stick together through thick and thin no matter the storms they faced.🌊🏴☠️
Together, they will learn to navigate true family drama and rise up to protect one another, as well as their land.
4.5⭐️/5 Rounded up because the plot and character development.
🌊👑This stunning debut with captivating world-building and a plot that grips you from the first page. Featuring a mix of royalty, pirates, mermaids, and sea witches, Tide Bound takes readers on an exciting voyage filled with magic, adventure, and romance. 🌊👑
🏴☠️🌊After such significant losses in her life, how far she’ll go for the love she craves. As they face the dangers of the sea, Kiojah is surrounded by a found family. The ship was home to a diverse mix of people and creatures, but together they were a family. They stick together through thick and thin no matter the storms they faced.🌊🏴☠️
Together, they will learn to navigate true family drama and rise up to protect one another, as well as their land.
4.5⭐️/5 Rounded up because the plot and character development.
March 27, 2025
Very well written book!!!! Can’t wait for the next one
September 30, 2024
A debut novel such as this is a rare find. Lauren has started her writing career off impressively withTide Bound. This book is the mystic adventure novel many people look for yet so rarely find. The picture she is able to paint in your head as you read is matched only by a few. Her descriptive writing let me imagine her world in detail but also left room for my own imagination. I loved when she included tiny details that could be missed by anyone not reading between the lines, especially between Kiojah & her father. I also really loved the character development, especially of Kiojah, Ario, and their relationship. This book really has it all for those who love mystery, adventure, and romance. There have been very few adventure love stories that had me hooked in the very first chapter. Every chapter I read I was met with new characters and scenarios that were expertly built on top of one another. My favourite part actually made me cry horrendously. Lauren's conveyance of heartache was so relatable for me it was almost empathetic, which was so healing in a way. She did not have to pretend to convey any feeling. She got it down realistically. This was expertly created. I am so beyond blessed and proud to have witnessed this project from the very start, and even prior to.
If you're looking for a book that makes you excited, happy, in love, morose and relieved, this is your book.
So proud of you, Laur. It takes alot of guts to let others in on the very art you create.
If you're looking for a book that makes you excited, happy, in love, morose and relieved, this is your book.
So proud of you, Laur. It takes alot of guts to let others in on the very art you create.
November 13, 2024
I have been SO keen to read the published copy of this book since I beta read for the author earlier in the year, and the new and improved version definitely doesn’t disappoint. This is a solid series opener to what looks to be an excellent sea-faring adventure.
Tide Bound follows Kiojah, daughter of a duke who must marry her sister’s betrothed after her untimely death. Having also lost her mother, Kiojah is desperate to be loved and is determined to make a life out of her new marriage, but she is confronted by the fact her new husband, a prince of a neighbouring kingdom, has a deep love of the sea and will be sailing with his crew instead of building a life with her. So, she goes with him.
What follows is an engrossing tale of merfolk, pirates, warring kingdoms, portal magic, enchanted objects, sea witches, and a lovable cast of characters. Kiojah has a great character arc, starting off quite bratty and spoilt but evolving into a strong young lady who isn’t afraid to chase her dreams. I especially loved Arynn, the leader of a pirate faction who is shifty af, never quite revealing whose side she’s on.
And can we take a moment to show some love for Grell 🙌🏻 easily my favourite being in the book, with his unwavering loyalty and his slimy kelpie mane 😍 I love him and require some character art, stat!
If you love a sea-faring adventure with fantastical oceanic creatures and a slow burn for the ages, you’ll love this book.
Tide Bound follows Kiojah, daughter of a duke who must marry her sister’s betrothed after her untimely death. Having also lost her mother, Kiojah is desperate to be loved and is determined to make a life out of her new marriage, but she is confronted by the fact her new husband, a prince of a neighbouring kingdom, has a deep love of the sea and will be sailing with his crew instead of building a life with her. So, she goes with him.
What follows is an engrossing tale of merfolk, pirates, warring kingdoms, portal magic, enchanted objects, sea witches, and a lovable cast of characters. Kiojah has a great character arc, starting off quite bratty and spoilt but evolving into a strong young lady who isn’t afraid to chase her dreams. I especially loved Arynn, the leader of a pirate faction who is shifty af, never quite revealing whose side she’s on.
And can we take a moment to show some love for Grell 🙌🏻 easily my favourite being in the book, with his unwavering loyalty and his slimy kelpie mane 😍 I love him and require some character art, stat!
If you love a sea-faring adventure with fantastical oceanic creatures and a slow burn for the ages, you’ll love this book.
September 30, 2024
“I knew I deserved more than a mediocre love who came and went as he pleased. Who only bought me material objects and declared it as generosity. I was born for soul-crushing devotion. I want my partner to feel the same way, to denounce our religions and worship each other like gods.”
The first thing I want to talk about is the absolutely amazing growth we see in both Kiojah and Ario, both independently and as a team. Kiojah is grieving the loss of her mom and sister and is thrown into an arranged marriage to top it off.
Next, the world building. Lauren’s descriptions allowed me to visualize every aspect of this story as I read it, making it much easier to feel like I was a part of it.
While on a sea adventure with Ario and his crew, Kiojah finds not only herself but family as well. Every one of the crew members has amazing qualities and added so much depth to the story.
The angst and banter between Kiojah and Ario had me laughing and crying. Tide Bound is more character driven than romance driven and the slow burn really tied together the growth between our two MC.
Overall, I loved this story and the world I got to adventure through while doing so. I laughed and cried while navigating the seas with Ario and his crew and watching Ario and Kiojah learn to accept what’s growing between them.
If you like these tropes, grab this book—
🌊 arranged marriage
🌊 forced proximity
🌊 royalty
🌊 pirates, witches, merfolk
🌊 enemies to lovers
🌊 slow burn
🌊 character growth
The first thing I want to talk about is the absolutely amazing growth we see in both Kiojah and Ario, both independently and as a team. Kiojah is grieving the loss of her mom and sister and is thrown into an arranged marriage to top it off.
Next, the world building. Lauren’s descriptions allowed me to visualize every aspect of this story as I read it, making it much easier to feel like I was a part of it.
While on a sea adventure with Ario and his crew, Kiojah finds not only herself but family as well. Every one of the crew members has amazing qualities and added so much depth to the story.
The angst and banter between Kiojah and Ario had me laughing and crying. Tide Bound is more character driven than romance driven and the slow burn really tied together the growth between our two MC.
Overall, I loved this story and the world I got to adventure through while doing so. I laughed and cried while navigating the seas with Ario and his crew and watching Ario and Kiojah learn to accept what’s growing between them.
If you like these tropes, grab this book—
🌊 arranged marriage
🌊 forced proximity
🌊 royalty
🌊 pirates, witches, merfolk
🌊 enemies to lovers
🌊 slow burn
🌊 character growth
September 24, 2024
“𝙸𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚊 𝚏𝚎𝚊𝚝 𝚝𝚘 𝚛𝚎𝚖𝚊𝚒𝚗 𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚍 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚞𝚗𝚍𝚎𝚛𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚗𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚍𝚎𝚜𝚙𝚒𝚝𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚊𝚍𝚗𝚎𝚜𝚜 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚕𝚘𝚜𝚜 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚑𝚘𝚛𝚛𝚘𝚛𝚜 𝙸 𝚑𝚊𝚍 𝚎𝚡𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚌𝚎𝚍.”
𝓣𝓲𝓭𝓮𝓫𝓸𝓾𝓷𝓭, by Lauren O’Brien is an incredible and epic nautical adventure with pirates, merfolk, and magical sea witches.
I had the great honour of beta reading this for Lauren, and loved it then. Now reading it, it has developed so much, for the better. This was an incredible read, with loveable and relatable characters. Each character was so well written that I fell in love with the crew and Kiojah’s new found family! The adventure in this novel was detailed so well, I could imagine every aspect and felt like I was in the story. You can tell Lauren put so much effort and love into this story. I loved Kiojah’s growth throughout the novel, but also really appreciated how she stayed true to herself, not changing everything about herself because of her experiences.
If you are looking for an amazing DEBUT nautical adventure that is full of secrets, love, and discovering oneself… this book is for you!
𝓣𝓲𝓭𝓮𝓫𝓸𝓾𝓷𝓭, by Lauren O’Brien is an incredible and epic nautical adventure with pirates, merfolk, and magical sea witches.
I had the great honour of beta reading this for Lauren, and loved it then. Now reading it, it has developed so much, for the better. This was an incredible read, with loveable and relatable characters. Each character was so well written that I fell in love with the crew and Kiojah’s new found family! The adventure in this novel was detailed so well, I could imagine every aspect and felt like I was in the story. You can tell Lauren put so much effort and love into this story. I loved Kiojah’s growth throughout the novel, but also really appreciated how she stayed true to herself, not changing everything about herself because of her experiences.
If you are looking for an amazing DEBUT nautical adventure that is full of secrets, love, and discovering oneself… this book is for you!
September 30, 2024
What an amazing debut story!!!
This had me wishing I was near the ocean so that I could join our characters' journey for adventure and love.
Alas.... I am land locked and sadly in a desert.
I was swept away with the tide of the author's descriptive writing and felt the raw emotions of our main characters.
Forced to marry, but wanting love worth fighting for... what a great adventure.
This had me wishing I was near the ocean so that I could join our characters' journey for adventure and love.
Alas.... I am land locked and sadly in a desert.
I was swept away with the tide of the author's descriptive writing and felt the raw emotions of our main characters.
Forced to marry, but wanting love worth fighting for... what a great adventure.
September 23, 2024
Excellent debut! The world building was unique, intricate, and thorough. I absolutely adored the fiery nature of the FMC, Kiojah, coupled with her loyalty to her family and kingdom. The angst in the relationship between the FMC and the MMC keeps the reader vested in the slow burn of their story. The bulk of the book takes place on a ship and the forced proximity dynamics allows for a fantastic found family aspect. Additionally, the groundwork for the worlds' magic system is laid in this book, however it is clear that there is still a lot we (and Kiojah) don't understand and I am really intrigued to learn more about the magic (and the journey of the characters) in future stories.
Highlights:
✨Enemies to Lovers
✨Arranged Marriage
✨Forced Proximity
✨Mythical Creatures
✨Political Intrigue
Favorite Quote: "We are all monsters in another's eyes"
Thank you to the author for this advanced copy. My opinions are my own.
Highlights:
✨Enemies to Lovers
✨Arranged Marriage
✨Forced Proximity
✨Mythical Creatures
✨Political Intrigue
Favorite Quote: "We are all monsters in another's eyes"
Thank you to the author for this advanced copy. My opinions are my own.
September 30, 2024
Wow! As a debut author Lauren is coming out strong!
Tide Bound was such a great read! It was interesting throughout! The characters were fun and the storyline was awesome! I loved the setting and the the tropes are right up my alley. The writing was that of a seasoned author and kept me entertained the whole time.
I do wish there was more romance between the two main characters, but the ending wrapped up well and DID leave it slightly open ended … Hoping for a continuation!
Tide Bound was such a great read! It was interesting throughout! The characters were fun and the storyline was awesome! I loved the setting and the the tropes are right up my alley. The writing was that of a seasoned author and kept me entertained the whole time.
I do wish there was more romance between the two main characters, but the ending wrapped up well and DID leave it slightly open ended … Hoping for a continuation!
January 4, 2025
YES YES YES
This book gave me an addiction for tropes I didn’t know I needed. I can’t wait to read the sequel, whether it’s about these same characters or the fmc/mmc change. I love fantasy books set on the ocean and this one was *chefs kiss*. I loved the main character and felt she was so realistic.
This book gave me an addiction for tropes I didn’t know I needed. I can’t wait to read the sequel, whether it’s about these same characters or the fmc/mmc change. I love fantasy books set on the ocean and this one was *chefs kiss*. I loved the main character and felt she was so realistic.
September 30, 2024
Okay, starting with the biggest thing for me-- this made me cry. And I mean ugly cry, actual sobbing. Lauren did an absolutely phenomenal job creating an amazing, beautiful world with some insanely relatable characters. I literally felt bonded to them, and I feel like that's rare to feel so immersed that you're like one of the family among the characters. There is so much personal growth between Kio and Ario both as individuals and together and it unfolds so seamlessly. This is a debut novel, guys-- a debut and Lauren absolutely blew it out of the water (pun 1000% intended😂) and I'm dying for book 2 already! I've also had some discussions with my cat about being more like Tidbit. This seafaring romantasy has something for everyone: pirates, childhood enemies to lovers, merfolk, adventure, arranged marriage, magic, and so much more! 5⭐️, standing ovation, tears-- SPECTACULAR!!! This is a must read!
September 19, 2024
Royalty, Pirates, Merfolk, Witches- this one really has it all
“I knew I deserved more than a mediocre love who came and went as he pleased. Who only bought me material objects and declared it as generosity. I was born for soul-crushing devotion. I want my partner to feel the same way, to denounce our religions and worship each other like gods.”
This quote will live rent free in my mind forever.
If you’re looking for an adventure on the high seas that focuses on the MC and her growth as a person, this is it.
“I knew I deserved more than a mediocre love who came and went as he pleased. Who only bought me material objects and declared it as generosity. I was born for soul-crushing devotion. I want my partner to feel the same way, to denounce our religions and worship each other like gods.”
This quote will live rent free in my mind forever.
If you’re looking for an adventure on the high seas that focuses on the MC and her growth as a person, this is it.
July 23, 2025
TideBound by Mrs.O'Brien is a perfect story for readers that love endless summers with seafaring action-packed adventures,pirates,merfolk,and an incredible diverse cast of characters.
The author Mrs.O'Brien's world building is well-executed with it's stunning attention to detail,and vivid imagery. I truly felt like I was transported into this fantasy world,and from start to finish I was enchanted by Mrs.O'Brien's beautiful storytelling.
The main character Kiojah is strong,caring,brave,and loyal. She had to deal with a lot in her life,but never let it keep her from protecting her family,and her friends.
The arranged marriage trope is skillfully applied in the story when the author uses it to show the personal growth between Kiojah,and her husband Ario.
I absolutely loved the Pirates of the Caribbean vibes whenever the main characters were sailing the seas,and just living in the moment. The found family trope in the story was written perfectly,and I enjoyed seeing how supportive the characters were with each other.
Here are some of my favorite tropes readers can expect to find in TideBound:
1.Found family
2.Arranged marriage
3.Pirates,merfolk,sea creatures,and witches.
4.Court intrigue
5. Enemies to lovers
6.Friends to lovers
7.Diverse cast of characters
8. Slow burn romance
TideBound's release date is September 30th 2024,and I highly recommend adding this seafaring action-packed romantasy to your tbr.🌊💙⚔️
The author Mrs.O'Brien's world building is well-executed with it's stunning attention to detail,and vivid imagery. I truly felt like I was transported into this fantasy world,and from start to finish I was enchanted by Mrs.O'Brien's beautiful storytelling.
The main character Kiojah is strong,caring,brave,and loyal. She had to deal with a lot in her life,but never let it keep her from protecting her family,and her friends.
The arranged marriage trope is skillfully applied in the story when the author uses it to show the personal growth between Kiojah,and her husband Ario.
I absolutely loved the Pirates of the Caribbean vibes whenever the main characters were sailing the seas,and just living in the moment. The found family trope in the story was written perfectly,and I enjoyed seeing how supportive the characters were with each other.
Here are some of my favorite tropes readers can expect to find in TideBound:
1.Found family
2.Arranged marriage
3.Pirates,merfolk,sea creatures,and witches.
4.Court intrigue
5. Enemies to lovers
6.Friends to lovers
7.Diverse cast of characters
8. Slow burn romance
TideBound's release date is September 30th 2024,and I highly recommend adding this seafaring action-packed romantasy to your tbr.🌊💙⚔️
October 23, 2024
Going into this book I was a little hesitant as I’ve never been one to be super into pirates / mermaids / the sea. But man Lauren’s debut novel was nothing short of amazing. The slow burn could have been a little quicker but I was EATING UP that tension. Loved that the LI wasn’t a dark shadow boy like usual. Also loved the nonbinary representation with Nox. I’m really intrigued about the world and am so excited for the next book. My only gripe is that I wish the book was a little longer for some more character development of the side characters as well as more cute and casual moments with them at sea. Overall I really had a fun time reading this and I can’t wait to see what else Lauren comes out with!
September 22, 2024
"Tide Bound" is a stunning debut that blends royalty, pirates, merfolk, and magic into a captivating seafaring adventure. 🦈
It follows Kiojah, a princess navigating grief and loss. To save what family she has left, she agrees to an arranged marriage with Ario, a prince she barely knows. As they sail the seas together, they face danger, discover love, and grow both individually and as a couple. With relatable characters, rich world-building, a cozy found family, and a heartfelt slow-burn romance, this book is perfect for fans of high-seas adventures and magical tales.
It follows Kiojah, a princess navigating grief and loss. To save what family she has left, she agrees to an arranged marriage with Ario, a prince she barely knows. As they sail the seas together, they face danger, discover love, and grow both individually and as a couple. With relatable characters, rich world-building, a cozy found family, and a heartfelt slow-burn romance, this book is perfect for fans of high-seas adventures and magical tales.
August 15, 2025
Ok ok so I absolutely adored this book. In all honesty, it’s not a book I would typically pick for myself, but I am still so glad I decided to read it. I learned about it at a book convention and am so glad that I found it!
It has lovable characters and a compelling story line mixed into a book that truly has something for everyone. An excellent combination of adventure and action, romance and soulful emotions, a touch of mystery and careful calculation, all coming together in a royal sea faring fantasy adventure without feeling overwhelmed or overly ambitious.
The world building was slow and meticulous in the best way. I wasn’t overloaded with information in any abrupt way (which I can’t stand). I was very much learning about the world and the magic and all the different creatures in tandem with the main character, Kiojah, which helped immerse me even further into the book. I loved it.
The characters are well varied in their personalities, while still having common goals, creating a beautiful found family. It was easy to relate to at least one or more members of the cast, and to enjoy them all regardless of if I related to them or not. My favourites were Cadre and Nox (they have my whole heart), but I loved them all.
And one of my favourite features is how well the author played to the “show don’t tell” rule for the personalities of Kiojah(FMC) and Ario(MMC). She was able to show off different aspects of their personalities without out right stating them, allowing me to discover them for myself. It also let me see how it affected their relationship, and how they would adapt to fit with each other, and solve the conflicts that one might of expect from an arranged marriage in their own way, whilst simultaneously dealing with the chaos that surrounds them. All that with still staying true to their own values, and not fully compromising what was important to them.
It was an exciting and enjoyable read from start to finish that sent me through a plethora of emotions. I am so excited for the sequel and whatever else she has coming our way in the future. I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys adventure and romance, but as I previously stated, there is something for everyone.
A super fun summer read, but a great read in general so I would very much recommend getting a copy and allowing yourself to get totally immersed in the wonderful world of Tide Bound
It has lovable characters and a compelling story line mixed into a book that truly has something for everyone. An excellent combination of adventure and action, romance and soulful emotions, a touch of mystery and careful calculation, all coming together in a royal sea faring fantasy adventure without feeling overwhelmed or overly ambitious.
The world building was slow and meticulous in the best way. I wasn’t overloaded with information in any abrupt way (which I can’t stand). I was very much learning about the world and the magic and all the different creatures in tandem with the main character, Kiojah, which helped immerse me even further into the book. I loved it.
The characters are well varied in their personalities, while still having common goals, creating a beautiful found family. It was easy to relate to at least one or more members of the cast, and to enjoy them all regardless of if I related to them or not. My favourites were Cadre and Nox (they have my whole heart), but I loved them all.
And one of my favourite features is how well the author played to the “show don’t tell” rule for the personalities of Kiojah(FMC) and Ario(MMC). She was able to show off different aspects of their personalities without out right stating them, allowing me to discover them for myself. It also let me see how it affected their relationship, and how they would adapt to fit with each other, and solve the conflicts that one might of expect from an arranged marriage in their own way, whilst simultaneously dealing with the chaos that surrounds them. All that with still staying true to their own values, and not fully compromising what was important to them.
It was an exciting and enjoyable read from start to finish that sent me through a plethora of emotions. I am so excited for the sequel and whatever else she has coming our way in the future. I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys adventure and romance, but as I previously stated, there is something for everyone.
A super fun summer read, but a great read in general so I would very much recommend getting a copy and allowing yourself to get totally immersed in the wonderful world of Tide Bound
August 17, 2025
Tide Bound is an unexpected adventure I didn’t know I needed until now.
What begins as a seemingly classic fantasy tale of arranged royal marriages to secure alliances transforms into a romance I deeply hoped for, yet one that unfolded differently than expected. While Kiojah and Ario have known each other since childhood, there’s little initial warmth between them, they’re more often at odds than aligned.
Bound by marriage amidst secrets and shifting alliances, neither of them could have predicted the journey that lay ahead.
Kiojah’s youth, hopefulness, and longing for a joyful future shape how she steps into her role. Following Ario onto a seafaring adventure, she grows quickly, not only in navigating life at sea and leading a crew, but also in discovering the meaning of friendship, love, and the responsibility of protecting her people.
Ario, determined to escape the duties of a Prince, finds himself drawn back into the responsibilities he tried to leave behind. Along the way, he wrestles with his feelings toward Kiojah, torn between his desire for freedom and the unexpected bond with his wife, someone he is both connected to and learning how to honour.
Together, they experience emotional highs and lows, gradually learning about one another and what partnership truly means. The slow burn in this story is one of the most patient and agonising I’ve read, their relationship progresses, but not in the ways many romances typically do. Instead, it unfolds in a way that feels raw and immersive, pulling you into their journey rather than rushing to a neat resolution. The found family in Ario's crew members is also unexpected, but one I loved reading about. Their dedication and loyalty isn't just to Ario, but also earned by Kiojah.
By the end, I found myself grieving after an action-packed and heart-wrenching moment, yet also holding onto hope that Kiojah and Ario will face what comes next together.
In many ways, this makes the story more grounded, especially as the characters begin from a place of discord rather than affection. Still, it’s impossible not to cheer for them, hoping their relationship finds its way. I can’t wait to see what lies ahead for Kiojah and Ario.
What begins as a seemingly classic fantasy tale of arranged royal marriages to secure alliances transforms into a romance I deeply hoped for, yet one that unfolded differently than expected. While Kiojah and Ario have known each other since childhood, there’s little initial warmth between them, they’re more often at odds than aligned.
Bound by marriage amidst secrets and shifting alliances, neither of them could have predicted the journey that lay ahead.
Kiojah’s youth, hopefulness, and longing for a joyful future shape how she steps into her role. Following Ario onto a seafaring adventure, she grows quickly, not only in navigating life at sea and leading a crew, but also in discovering the meaning of friendship, love, and the responsibility of protecting her people.
Ario, determined to escape the duties of a Prince, finds himself drawn back into the responsibilities he tried to leave behind. Along the way, he wrestles with his feelings toward Kiojah, torn between his desire for freedom and the unexpected bond with his wife, someone he is both connected to and learning how to honour.
Together, they experience emotional highs and lows, gradually learning about one another and what partnership truly means. The slow burn in this story is one of the most patient and agonising I’ve read, their relationship progresses, but not in the ways many romances typically do. Instead, it unfolds in a way that feels raw and immersive, pulling you into their journey rather than rushing to a neat resolution. The found family in Ario's crew members is also unexpected, but one I loved reading about. Their dedication and loyalty isn't just to Ario, but also earned by Kiojah.
By the end, I found myself grieving after an action-packed and heart-wrenching moment, yet also holding onto hope that Kiojah and Ario will face what comes next together.
In many ways, this makes the story more grounded, especially as the characters begin from a place of discord rather than affection. Still, it’s impossible not to cheer for them, hoping their relationship finds its way. I can’t wait to see what lies ahead for Kiojah and Ario.
February 19, 2025
I found Lauren O’Brien by chance on Threads while seeking out indie authors to read, and she introduced me to this novel. I’m so glad she did. Wow!
If Tide Bound is Lauren O’Brien’s debut novel, I can’t wait to read her future books. They are bound to be phenomenal! From the very first chapter, I was captivated and found myself deeply invested in Kiojah and Ario’s journey, staying up until 4 a.m. because I couldn’t put it down.
Kiojah, the romantic and privileged daughter of a Duke, had dreams of a serene married life as a Duchess. Ario, an audacious and arrogant prince, was betrothed to Kiojah's sister in an arranged marriage, but longed for the freedom of the sea with his crew. When her sister dies, Kiojah is forced to marry Ario, despite their mutual dislike for each other. In an effort to hide her father’s financial ruin and navigate their tumultuous relationship, Kiojah joins Ario on a perilous voyage at sea filled with magic, danger, and intrigue.
What makes Tide Bound so captivating is its portrayal of two flawed characters trying to navigate their forced union while struggling with preconceived notions and their evolving feelings for one another. Their frequent clashes, driven by anger and fear, gradually give way to a deeper understanding and unexpected affection as their adventure progresses.
The writing is both beautiful and dynamic, with excellent pacing, impressive world-building, and compelling characters. The crew of Ario’s ship, the Tide Breaker, each bring their own charm and depth, with members like Nox, Cadre, and Taerun playing pivotal roles in helping Kiojah find her place amongst the crew and earn her keep aboard the ship.
Tide Bound is a masterfully crafted tale of love, duty, and self-discovery that resonated with me from the first page until the last.
I recommend reading this book if you love romance, intrigue, adventure, magic, slow burn, and forced proximity. Tide Bound is truly a wonderful, captivating read!
If Tide Bound is Lauren O’Brien’s debut novel, I can’t wait to read her future books. They are bound to be phenomenal! From the very first chapter, I was captivated and found myself deeply invested in Kiojah and Ario’s journey, staying up until 4 a.m. because I couldn’t put it down.
Kiojah, the romantic and privileged daughter of a Duke, had dreams of a serene married life as a Duchess. Ario, an audacious and arrogant prince, was betrothed to Kiojah's sister in an arranged marriage, but longed for the freedom of the sea with his crew. When her sister dies, Kiojah is forced to marry Ario, despite their mutual dislike for each other. In an effort to hide her father’s financial ruin and navigate their tumultuous relationship, Kiojah joins Ario on a perilous voyage at sea filled with magic, danger, and intrigue.
What makes Tide Bound so captivating is its portrayal of two flawed characters trying to navigate their forced union while struggling with preconceived notions and their evolving feelings for one another. Their frequent clashes, driven by anger and fear, gradually give way to a deeper understanding and unexpected affection as their adventure progresses.
The writing is both beautiful and dynamic, with excellent pacing, impressive world-building, and compelling characters. The crew of Ario’s ship, the Tide Breaker, each bring their own charm and depth, with members like Nox, Cadre, and Taerun playing pivotal roles in helping Kiojah find her place amongst the crew and earn her keep aboard the ship.
Tide Bound is a masterfully crafted tale of love, duty, and self-discovery that resonated with me from the first page until the last.
I recommend reading this book if you love romance, intrigue, adventure, magic, slow burn, and forced proximity. Tide Bound is truly a wonderful, captivating read!
October 12, 2024
✔️Arranged Marriage/Marriage of Convenience
✔️Seafaring adventure
✔️Political Intrigue
✔️Magical Word-building
✔️Slow burn romance
“What happened to that curious, outgoing girl?”
I’m on my way to finding her, I thought.
Kiojah is grappling with the recent loss of her sister and the weight of duty to save her duchy and kingdom. She’s pushed into marrying her sister’s betrothed, the adventurous Prince Ario. All she really wants is a simple life filled with security and fairytale romance, but this marriage is nothing like she imagined. Determined to carve out her own future, she joins Ario on a voyage to investigate mysterious disappearances at sea.
The world-building here is intriguing and well-crafted. The creatures, action, and adventure really stand out, showing great potential for a compelling story. However, I struggled to connect with Kio. At first, she felt naive and desperate for a life she fantasized about. It wasn’t until about halfway through that she found her grit and started to mature, becoming more relatable. Once she began channeling her stubbornness into pursuing excitement and letting romance develop naturally, the story really picked up. By then, I was getting some light KN Elizabeth Swann vibes and had to finish the book.
The MMC, Ario, felt much more relatable throughout the story. He’s a flawed character, but his background and history explain his behavior and misgivings more clearly.
Overall good 3-star read due to the captivating story and action packed chapters.
Thank you to the author for this eARC!
✔️Seafaring adventure
✔️Political Intrigue
✔️Magical Word-building
✔️Slow burn romance
“What happened to that curious, outgoing girl?”
I’m on my way to finding her, I thought.
Kiojah is grappling with the recent loss of her sister and the weight of duty to save her duchy and kingdom. She’s pushed into marrying her sister’s betrothed, the adventurous Prince Ario. All she really wants is a simple life filled with security and fairytale romance, but this marriage is nothing like she imagined. Determined to carve out her own future, she joins Ario on a voyage to investigate mysterious disappearances at sea.
The world-building here is intriguing and well-crafted. The creatures, action, and adventure really stand out, showing great potential for a compelling story. However, I struggled to connect with Kio. At first, she felt naive and desperate for a life she fantasized about. It wasn’t until about halfway through that she found her grit and started to mature, becoming more relatable. Once she began channeling her stubbornness into pursuing excitement and letting romance develop naturally, the story really picked up. By then, I was getting some light KN Elizabeth Swann vibes and had to finish the book.
The MMC, Ario, felt much more relatable throughout the story. He’s a flawed character, but his background and history explain his behavior and misgivings more clearly.
Overall good 3-star read due to the captivating story and action packed chapters.
Thank you to the author for this eARC!
January 9, 2025
My third book of the year was actually written by an old internet friend, Lauren, and is her debut!! I am so excited for her and so excited to review this! As I said at the beginning of the year, I am going to do my best to stick to my pros/cons review style, and I like to start with cons.
Cons:
- Honestly, I struggle with fantasy as a whole. It's never been my favourite genre and I often find I'm slogging through fantasy books and I easily confuse myself with all the little details. That's not really specific to this story but just my own opinion of the genre as a whole.
- I kind of struggled to connect with Ario as a male lead. I would have loved some insight into his thoughts because I really wanted to like him more, because I really liked the FMC.
Pros:
- The side characters in this story are absolutely one of my favourite parts. I LOVE well-developed side characters with varying personalities and I felt like this book had that in spades. I left wanting to hear more about certain characters, particularly Arynn and Heston! The fact that I was openly crying about side characters was so special to me.
- Awesome world-building and really interesting background politics (this is definitely one of the things I like most about romantasy!)
- I think Kiojah is a very unique FMC and I really loved her as a hopeless romantic myself. I liked that she wasn't just some immediate badass right out of the gate, she was super realistic.
Definitely a really strong debut from Lauren and I can't wait to read the sequel! I highly recommend supporting a new indie author!
Cons:
- Honestly, I struggle with fantasy as a whole. It's never been my favourite genre and I often find I'm slogging through fantasy books and I easily confuse myself with all the little details. That's not really specific to this story but just my own opinion of the genre as a whole.
- I kind of struggled to connect with Ario as a male lead. I would have loved some insight into his thoughts because I really wanted to like him more, because I really liked the FMC.
Pros:
- The side characters in this story are absolutely one of my favourite parts. I LOVE well-developed side characters with varying personalities and I felt like this book had that in spades. I left wanting to hear more about certain characters, particularly Arynn and Heston! The fact that I was openly crying about side characters was so special to me.
- Awesome world-building and really interesting background politics (this is definitely one of the things I like most about romantasy!)
- I think Kiojah is a very unique FMC and I really loved her as a hopeless romantic myself. I liked that she wasn't just some immediate badass right out of the gate, she was super realistic.
Definitely a really strong debut from Lauren and I can't wait to read the sequel! I highly recommend supporting a new indie author!
December 4, 2024
What a beautiful book! A fantasy nautical romance isn’t the type of genre I would usually find myself drawn towards, but with an incredible cast, fascinating and engaging worldbuilding, and an intriguing mystery about a ghost ship, how could I help falling in love with this story?
Kiojah begins the book with a very limited idea of the world and her role in it. I loved watching as she discovered and embraced her agency while navigating her relationship with Ario (whose snark and smugness won me over early), developing friendships with the other members of the crew (I could write a whole review about Tidbit alone, but I loved them all) and seeing her learn about her own world alongside us.
The worldbuilding was beautifully fleshed out - the diversity in merfolk species and the cultural connotations of each, glimpses of their architecture and magic, the entrenched history they have with the land nations. Now that we have all of these foundations, I’m excited to see where the sequel will take us and what else there is that we haven’t explored yet!
Finally, this book explores the depths of grief and vulnerability with such delicacy and precision. They add not only a layer to the cast, but inform the connections made between them and appear regularly as an underlying through-line to the story as a whole.
I would definitely recommend Tide Bound to anyone who would like a read that’s both extremely fun and will also gut you like a fish!
Kiojah begins the book with a very limited idea of the world and her role in it. I loved watching as she discovered and embraced her agency while navigating her relationship with Ario (whose snark and smugness won me over early), developing friendships with the other members of the crew (I could write a whole review about Tidbit alone, but I loved them all) and seeing her learn about her own world alongside us.
The worldbuilding was beautifully fleshed out - the diversity in merfolk species and the cultural connotations of each, glimpses of their architecture and magic, the entrenched history they have with the land nations. Now that we have all of these foundations, I’m excited to see where the sequel will take us and what else there is that we haven’t explored yet!
Finally, this book explores the depths of grief and vulnerability with such delicacy and precision. They add not only a layer to the cast, but inform the connections made between them and appear regularly as an underlying through-line to the story as a whole.
I would definitely recommend Tide Bound to anyone who would like a read that’s both extremely fun and will also gut you like a fish!
August 8, 2025
2.75 ⭐️
I'm really struggling to rate this one. I want to give it 3 stars, but I just can't quite justify it so 2.75 it is.
I think this is the shortest a 600-page book has ever felt. It's incredibly fast-paced with a lot of action packed in. I liked the world the author built with the different water-based creatures, pirates and royals.
I really liked the MMC. Ario just wants to be on his ship with his found family. Let that boy be. The FMC grew on me towards the end and I appreciate the effort she went to trying to bond with the crew.
I did like them together. Their dynamic at the beginning was a tad childish, but they are in fact quite young. We got some really good scenes of hurt-comfort too. I do wish the transition from dislike to more was a bit smoother. I feel like it was quite a sudden change and then they would fight again.
The writing did feel a bit clunky at times. We jumped from events quickly, and it sometimes felt like things were being rushed. I know this is a duology of two 600-page books and I do wonder if maybe a trilogy may have been better. We fit a lot in here and for me personally, my favourite parts of ship based books are actually the in-between moments with the crew. We are told of things, but we dont get to see them.
That being said, I found the book compelling enough to read it in under 3 hours (like i said shortest 600 pages ever) and I am interested to see how the sequel goes.
I'm really struggling to rate this one. I want to give it 3 stars, but I just can't quite justify it so 2.75 it is.
I think this is the shortest a 600-page book has ever felt. It's incredibly fast-paced with a lot of action packed in. I liked the world the author built with the different water-based creatures, pirates and royals.
I really liked the MMC. Ario just wants to be on his ship with his found family. Let that boy be. The FMC grew on me towards the end and I appreciate the effort she went to trying to bond with the crew.
I did like them together. Their dynamic at the beginning was a tad childish, but they are in fact quite young. We got some really good scenes of hurt-comfort too. I do wish the transition from dislike to more was a bit smoother. I feel like it was quite a sudden change and then they would fight again.
The writing did feel a bit clunky at times. We jumped from events quickly, and it sometimes felt like things were being rushed. I know this is a duology of two 600-page books and I do wonder if maybe a trilogy may have been better. We fit a lot in here and for me personally, my favourite parts of ship based books are actually the in-between moments with the crew. We are told of things, but we dont get to see them.
That being said, I found the book compelling enough to read it in under 3 hours (like i said shortest 600 pages ever) and I am interested to see how the sequel goes.
August 10, 2025
This is book one in the Tide Bound duology. This first book is a thick one and I loved it. In this first book we are introduced to Princess Kiojah. In the beginning you just want to shake her because she is so pretentious. Yes, she came from a privelaged lifestyle but she acts like she is so far above her station and everyone else is less than.
However, when she loses her sister to the plague, life changes. Her sister was set to marry Prince Ario in a neighboring kingdom. Now, Kiojah's region is in financial struggles. Duty bound and wanting to save the region, she decides to marry Ario and that is where the fun begins.
I love that Ario could care less about Kiojah and her high society attitude. He doesnt want a wife and boy does he challenge her. This only makes Kiojah more determined to make him be the husband she wants him to be. So instead of sitting on the sidelines, she decides to join him at sea. Together, and through some information they discover, an adventure begins.
This was a great read. It has excellent character development and world building. It sets the perfect stage for book 2, Tide Keeper.
However, when she loses her sister to the plague, life changes. Her sister was set to marry Prince Ario in a neighboring kingdom. Now, Kiojah's region is in financial struggles. Duty bound and wanting to save the region, she decides to marry Ario and that is where the fun begins.
I love that Ario could care less about Kiojah and her high society attitude. He doesnt want a wife and boy does he challenge her. This only makes Kiojah more determined to make him be the husband she wants him to be. So instead of sitting on the sidelines, she decides to join him at sea. Together, and through some information they discover, an adventure begins.
This was a great read. It has excellent character development and world building. It sets the perfect stage for book 2, Tide Keeper.
August 12, 2025
This book grabbed me from page one and took me on an adventure. I absolutely am loving everything sea faring, and this was no different. The ship battles, the pirates, the backstabbing, the found family. I absolutely loved it!!
I feel like the characters also grow in this story as well; Kiojah definitely has the most character growth from a princess who doesn't know much of the world to a stronger willed woman who has the courage to go after what she wants. I also loved seeing Ario see Kiojah in a different light and coming into realization of his thoughts and feelings for her.
The side characters bring a lot of depth to the story and you desperately want more of them! I could read a whole book about them and their sea adventures.
As I'm reading, I definitely don't know who the real enemies are because there is so much backstabbing and past issues that come to light from so many characters that you find yourself wondering if their anger is justified.
I hope the momentum of this story continues into book 2 and I am looking forward to seeing how the relationship between Ario and Kiojah grows.
I feel like the characters also grow in this story as well; Kiojah definitely has the most character growth from a princess who doesn't know much of the world to a stronger willed woman who has the courage to go after what she wants. I also loved seeing Ario see Kiojah in a different light and coming into realization of his thoughts and feelings for her.
The side characters bring a lot of depth to the story and you desperately want more of them! I could read a whole book about them and their sea adventures.
As I'm reading, I definitely don't know who the real enemies are because there is so much backstabbing and past issues that come to light from so many characters that you find yourself wondering if their anger is justified.
I hope the momentum of this story continues into book 2 and I am looking forward to seeing how the relationship between Ario and Kiojah grows.
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