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The Magpie and the Wolf Duology #1
Soulgazer
Every legend has a beginning.
With their freedom on the line, a young woman and a rakish pirate take their fate into their own hands as they attempt to find a lost mythical isle with the power to save their entire world.
Saoirse yearns to be powerless. Cursed from childhood with a volatile magic, she's managed to imprison it within, living under constant terror that one day it will break free. And it does, changing everything.
Horrified at her loss of control, Saoirse’s parents offer her hand to the cold and ruthless Stone King. Knowing she'll never survive such a cruel man, Saoirse realizes there is only one path forward…she must break her curse.
On the eve of her wedding, Saoirse seeks out the legendary Wolf of the Wild—Faolan, a feral, silver-tongued pirate. He swears to help rid her of the deadly magic, if she’ll use it to locate a lost mythical isle first. Crafted by the slaughtered gods, it’s the only land that could absorb her power.
But Saoirse knows better than to trust a pirate’s word. With the wrath of her disgraced father and scorned betrothed chasing them, Saoirse adds one last condition to protect if Faolan wants her on his ship, he'll have to marry her first.
"A tale rife with longing, extraordinary tenderness and delicious tension. A glorious escape for the heart and imagination."—Roshani Chokshi, New York Times bestselling author of Last Tale of the Flower Bride
With their freedom on the line, a young woman and a rakish pirate take their fate into their own hands as they attempt to find a lost mythical isle with the power to save their entire world.
Saoirse yearns to be powerless. Cursed from childhood with a volatile magic, she's managed to imprison it within, living under constant terror that one day it will break free. And it does, changing everything.
Horrified at her loss of control, Saoirse’s parents offer her hand to the cold and ruthless Stone King. Knowing she'll never survive such a cruel man, Saoirse realizes there is only one path forward…she must break her curse.
On the eve of her wedding, Saoirse seeks out the legendary Wolf of the Wild—Faolan, a feral, silver-tongued pirate. He swears to help rid her of the deadly magic, if she’ll use it to locate a lost mythical isle first. Crafted by the slaughtered gods, it’s the only land that could absorb her power.
But Saoirse knows better than to trust a pirate’s word. With the wrath of her disgraced father and scorned betrothed chasing them, Saoirse adds one last condition to protect if Faolan wants her on his ship, he'll have to marry her first.
"A tale rife with longing, extraordinary tenderness and delicious tension. A glorious escape for the heart and imagination."—Roshani Chokshi, New York Times bestselling author of Last Tale of the Flower Bride
476 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 8, 2025
154 people are currently reading
15373 people want to read
About the author
Maggie Rapier
4 books190 followersBorn in the South with a healthy streak of wanderlust, Maggie is an incurable romantic who loves nothing more than wordplay and witchcraft—except, perhaps, her sourdough starter. When she’s not marketing French antiques or writing about moody girls and sexy pirates, you can find her wandering in the woods with her partner, and a basket in hand.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 524 reviews
September 14, 2025
✩ 3.25 stars ✩
What to Expect:
➼ Slow Burn
➼ Found Family
➼ Pirate x Princess
➼ Marriage of Convenience
➼ “Who did this to you?”
➼ One Bed
➼ Forced Proximity
➼ Irish Mythology
➼ First Person POV
I’ve been struggling with how to review this, and I think it’s because it really felt like a stand alone to me. I was fully expecting to have closure and answers at the end of this book and got a cliffhanger instead. I did know it was duology, but I felt like they accomplished all of their goals in this book, so it just didn’t feel like one. The plot twist at the end seems to lead them into a completely separate adventure. I’m sure this could still be a great read, I just feel a little detached from the storyline at this point.
The MC’s come to a mutually beneficial agreement which leads them into a fake dating relationship. She was treated very poorly by her family (her father in particular) so I really loved how caring and aware he was of her in contrast. He is a renowned pirate, but he was really very gentle and protective towards her and seemed to really understand her insecurities. This was a very so burn and at times I wanted to speed things up a bit, but again, I might not have been in such a hurry if I had’t kept thinking this was a standalone.
The inclusion of Norse Mythology paired with the pirate aspects did make this a very interesting read. I’ll admit that I was a little confused by the magic system and the FMC’s role in everything at times, but I think some of the pieces aren’t meant to fully come together until book two. I do also feel like it’s important to mention that this is a debut novel! Overall, this was very well written and I’m definitely impressed by this author. I believe we have a title for book two but not a release date, so hopefully we won’t have to wait long!
✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼
Pre-read: I forgot to use up my Spotify listening time! Oops! I’m going to listen to as much as I can of this one before it renews in like 10 hours. 🙃
≪ ◦ ❖ ◦ ≫
Connect with me on Instagram
What to Expect:
➼ Slow Burn
➼ Found Family
➼ Pirate x Princess
➼ Marriage of Convenience
➼ “Who did this to you?”
➼ One Bed
➼ Forced Proximity
➼ Irish Mythology
➼ First Person POV
I’ve been struggling with how to review this, and I think it’s because it really felt like a stand alone to me. I was fully expecting to have closure and answers at the end of this book and got a cliffhanger instead. I did know it was duology, but I felt like they accomplished all of their goals in this book, so it just didn’t feel like one. The plot twist at the end seems to lead them into a completely separate adventure. I’m sure this could still be a great read, I just feel a little detached from the storyline at this point.
The MC’s come to a mutually beneficial agreement which leads them into a fake dating relationship. She was treated very poorly by her family (her father in particular) so I really loved how caring and aware he was of her in contrast. He is a renowned pirate, but he was really very gentle and protective towards her and seemed to really understand her insecurities. This was a very so burn and at times I wanted to speed things up a bit, but again, I might not have been in such a hurry if I had’t kept thinking this was a standalone.
The inclusion of Norse Mythology paired with the pirate aspects did make this a very interesting read. I’ll admit that I was a little confused by the magic system and the FMC’s role in everything at times, but I think some of the pieces aren’t meant to fully come together until book two. I do also feel like it’s important to mention that this is a debut novel! Overall, this was very well written and I’m definitely impressed by this author. I believe we have a title for book two but not a release date, so hopefully we won’t have to wait long!
✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼
Pre-read: I forgot to use up my Spotify listening time! Oops! I’m going to listen to as much as I can of this one before it renews in like 10 hours. 🙃
≪ ◦ ❖ ◦ ≫
Connect with me on Instagram
November 23, 2025
This what I mean when I say I want to read a romantasy!
The perfect blend of romantic and non-romantic plot, high stakes, high tension, and a swoony love interest!
A cursed lonely girl escapes an arranged marriage to a horrid king by entering into a marriage of convenience with a rakish pirate and heading off to the high seas on a quest to find a missing island.
What’s to love…
- epic romance
- sweet sweet tension
- adventure & action-packed
- lyrical prose and beautiful writing that transports you without being bogged down by pointless descriptions!
- found family
- world building that felt natural (NO info dumping)
- A QUEST!!!!!!! (my favorite!)
- a really cool world!
- This was easy to binge and didn’t feel like (nearly) 500 pages at all!
What I didn’t love…
- There were a few times where the lyrical prose got away from itself and muddled the narrative - but it was minimal and easily managed!
- The last 25% felt a little tight/rushed - I would have gladly read another 20-40 pages and had this section stretched out a bit more!
🌶️ - Ch - 24, 28, 50. This is an adult book, although I would say that the sexy scenes are mild enough for teens. They are what I call “peeked door” - the sex is happening, you’re in the room but it’s ambiguous at best.
4.5⭐️| IG | TikTok |
Thank you NetGalley and Berkley for the eARC. All opinions are my own.
The perfect blend of romantic and non-romantic plot, high stakes, high tension, and a swoony love interest!
A cursed lonely girl escapes an arranged marriage to a horrid king by entering into a marriage of convenience with a rakish pirate and heading off to the high seas on a quest to find a missing island.
What’s to love…
- epic romance
- sweet sweet tension
- adventure & action-packed
- lyrical prose and beautiful writing that transports you without being bogged down by pointless descriptions!
- found family
- world building that felt natural (NO info dumping)
- A QUEST!!!!!!! (my favorite!)
- a really cool world!
- This was easy to binge and didn’t feel like (nearly) 500 pages at all!
What I didn’t love…
- There were a few times where the lyrical prose got away from itself and muddled the narrative - but it was minimal and easily managed!
- The last 25% felt a little tight/rushed - I would have gladly read another 20-40 pages and had this section stretched out a bit more!
🌶️ - Ch - 24, 28, 50. This is an adult book, although I would say that the sexy scenes are mild enough for teens. They are what I call “peeked door” - the sex is happening, you’re in the room but it’s ambiguous at best.
4.5⭐️| IG | TikTok |
Thank you NetGalley and Berkley for the eARC. All opinions are my own.
July 6, 2025
“I want the legend who haunted my dreams as a girl, and the man who haunts my days as a woman. It’s unfair, the way he’s tattooed himself on my heart so it sings just one name, over and over again.”
I love pirate and seafaring stories, but this was a miss on almost all fronts. my main issue was the characters, they had a very odd dynamic that i wasn’t a fan of. the fmc Saoirse is naive and doesn’t have any control over her magic (i still don’t even know exactly what her magic is) and the mmc Faolan is this “legendary” pirate who was a bit too pushy for my liking. i don’t know why he has that reputation cause he barely does anything the whole book, his crew is more suitable than he is.
it also bothered me that Saoirse had such an infatuation with him and the whole idea of him from the start, it lead to some awkward situations that she should’ve seen coming but somehow never managed to ask the right questions at any point. Faolan was not a strong leader and fell victim to a lot of things he should’ve been able to prevent. the plot played out very predictably, exactly what i thought would happen did. the romance was off putting and i was just annoyed the whole entire time.
↛ many thanks to NetGalley, the author and Berkley Publishing for the arc, all opinions are my own.
I love pirate and seafaring stories, but this was a miss on almost all fronts. my main issue was the characters, they had a very odd dynamic that i wasn’t a fan of. the fmc Saoirse is naive and doesn’t have any control over her magic (i still don’t even know exactly what her magic is) and the mmc Faolan is this “legendary” pirate who was a bit too pushy for my liking. i don’t know why he has that reputation cause he barely does anything the whole book, his crew is more suitable than he is.
it also bothered me that Saoirse had such an infatuation with him and the whole idea of him from the start, it lead to some awkward situations that she should’ve seen coming but somehow never managed to ask the right questions at any point. Faolan was not a strong leader and fell victim to a lot of things he should’ve been able to prevent. the plot played out very predictably, exactly what i thought would happen did. the romance was off putting and i was just annoyed the whole entire time.
↛ many thanks to NetGalley, the author and Berkley Publishing for the arc, all opinions are my own.
July 7, 2025
4.5!!
i enjoyed this SO MUCH!!!!!!!! it was so good, the pacing was great, and related soooo much so saorise. she did indeed have big feelings😭😭 i love when the fmc is truly soft. my heart broke for her so many times; she deserves everything🥹 and faolan took such good care of her. he was also HOT and so sweet and such a fun character and calls her "love" and that coming from a rugged pirate will always have me on my knees😩🧎🏻♀️his story was devastating and i just want to hold him (and some more things!!)
the adventures were so fun and obviously if you're a fan of pirates, this is going to be so good for you. i loved the irish mythology and names, thought the writing was really beautiful and unique (but bring back fantasy books written in past tense PLEASE) and will always eat up a found family trope🤝🤝 and this was such a good slow burn had a hot virgin moment that i ate upppop😩😩 the setting was stunning and it was just soooo atmospheric and beautiful. some books i read and some books i see like a movie and this one played like a movie in my head. genuinely everything was described so well!
i did feel confused by the magic system and it still doesn't make sense to me (as if i remember any of it) but there were some beautiful scenes that displayed the whimsical magic and employed some of the mythology. i loved the scavenger hunt-ish take on it.
i'm interested to see what book 2 will entail given the ending. but im also glad that it ended in a way that if i don't read book 2, im not missing out on a happy ending.
thank you berkley and ace books for the arc copy!💖💖💖
i enjoyed this SO MUCH!!!!!!!! it was so good, the pacing was great, and related soooo much so saorise. she did indeed have big feelings😭😭 i love when the fmc is truly soft. my heart broke for her so many times; she deserves everything🥹 and faolan took such good care of her. he was also HOT and so sweet and such a fun character and calls her "love" and that coming from a rugged pirate will always have me on my knees😩🧎🏻♀️his story was devastating and i just want to hold him (and some more things!!)
the adventures were so fun and obviously if you're a fan of pirates, this is going to be so good for you. i loved the irish mythology and names, thought the writing was really beautiful and unique (but bring back fantasy books written in past tense PLEASE) and will always eat up a found family trope🤝🤝 and this was such a good slow burn had a hot virgin moment that i ate upppop😩😩 the setting was stunning and it was just soooo atmospheric and beautiful. some books i read and some books i see like a movie and this one played like a movie in my head. genuinely everything was described so well!
i did feel confused by the magic system and it still doesn't make sense to me (as if i remember any of it) but there were some beautiful scenes that displayed the whimsical magic and employed some of the mythology. i loved the scavenger hunt-ish take on it.
i'm interested to see what book 2 will entail given the ending. but im also glad that it ended in a way that if i don't read book 2, im not missing out on a happy ending.
thank you berkley and ace books for the arc copy!💖💖💖
March 10, 2025
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the arc. all opinions are my own.
i really really wanted to like this (that cover? stunning!! & the description sounds so good) but i just didn’t. :/
for me, the characters fell flat. the MMC kind of just seemed like a caricature of a flirty pirate and i never felt connected to him. the romance was okay - i just did not care. definitely a case of telling rather than showing.
although the concept of the magic system was really interesting, i do think there needed to be more world building. also - a lot of scenes had no context or description. things would just start happening and it would take me a minute to orient myself to the scene.
all that being said, this is decently well written (especially in comparison to a lot of popular romantasy books currently published/being published) & i really liked the overall idea/bones of the story.
i really really wanted to like this (that cover? stunning!! & the description sounds so good) but i just didn’t. :/
for me, the characters fell flat. the MMC kind of just seemed like a caricature of a flirty pirate and i never felt connected to him. the romance was okay - i just did not care. definitely a case of telling rather than showing.
although the concept of the magic system was really interesting, i do think there needed to be more world building. also - a lot of scenes had no context or description. things would just start happening and it would take me a minute to orient myself to the scene.
all that being said, this is decently well written (especially in comparison to a lot of popular romantasy books currently published/being published) & i really liked the overall idea/bones of the story.
December 7, 2025
4.5 stars— i’m confused at all the mixed reviews and low ratings because this was a fantastic start of a fantasy duology? like, irish pirates and soul magic? what more could those who did not enjoy this ask for…?
as for the reviews saying they “didn’t understand the plot” — again, not that hard? our fmc saorise is “cursed” due to touching a soul stone as a child and is locked away until her political marriage, wherein she meets the “wolf” pirate captain faolan; they strike a bargain: she helps him find a mythical island and he marries her to secure her freedom.
sometimes i think when a book doesn’t contain spice (there was more slow burn yearning and coy behavior than smut), people turn their nose up to it.
i also listened to the audio, and i wish this was a duet!! it would have added a lil extra kick to the storytelling.
——
mixed reviews on this one but my libby hold is expiring so alas i must dive in… but i saw the author discussing this book on social so im intrigued!!
as for the reviews saying they “didn’t understand the plot” — again, not that hard? our fmc saorise is “cursed” due to touching a soul stone as a child and is locked away until her political marriage, wherein she meets the “wolf” pirate captain faolan; they strike a bargain: she helps him find a mythical island and he marries her to secure her freedom.
sometimes i think when a book doesn’t contain spice (there was more slow burn yearning and coy behavior than smut), people turn their nose up to it.
i also listened to the audio, and i wish this was a duet!! it would have added a lil extra kick to the storytelling.
——
mixed reviews on this one but my libby hold is expiring so alas i must dive in… but i saw the author discussing this book on social so im intrigued!!
August 30, 2025
3.5
love the romance, but the plot was really confusing
love the romance, but the plot was really confusing
August 7, 2025
ATE
Honestly a very, very solid book. LOVED the dynamics between the two leads and the banter was peak. Somehow Saoirse's innocence didn't bother me like it can--- it feel genuine instead of forced.
While I loved the characters and their interactions, I sometimes felt that I lost the plot.
Read this if you want: piratey vibes, marriage of convenience, difficult family relationships, and lots of found family.
I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for my personal views about the book.
Honestly a very, very solid book. LOVED the dynamics between the two leads and the banter was peak. Somehow Saoirse's innocence didn't bother me like it can--- it feel genuine instead of forced.
While I loved the characters and their interactions, I sometimes felt that I lost the plot.
Read this if you want: piratey vibes, marriage of convenience, difficult family relationships, and lots of found family.
I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for my personal views about the book.
Want to read
January 17, 2025i wish i could explain the grip this cover has on me
February 16, 2025
I was captivated by this one! I will admit I was a little lost at times so I may need to reread to fully grasp everything (esp magic wise) but I also LOVED the writing style. And our FMC?! She was everything! The personal journey she went on was inspiring and honest in so many ways. Plus the romance?! SWOON.
I was invested in the adventure (although the timing of things felt TIGHT) and I loved all the characters. I will happily read more by this author and I do hope we get more about these characters in the future, because that ending?!
Thank you so much for Penguin Publishing for my ARC, I appreciate it SO MUCH!!
4.25/5⭐️
I was invested in the adventure (although the timing of things felt TIGHT) and I loved all the characters. I will happily read more by this author and I do hope we get more about these characters in the future, because that ending?!
Thank you so much for Penguin Publishing for my ARC, I appreciate it SO MUCH!!
4.25/5⭐️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 13, 2025
I had to sleep on my thoughts, and it pains me to say this but I didn't enjoy hardly anything about this.
This has all the markers of a story that I should enjoy with pirates and magic, but everything about it felt so...surface level. In addition, the elements actually in the story were so underdeveloped that I ended up with way more questions than answers and the longer it went on, the more questions I had.
The characters all were sort of giving too stupid to function, and the romance didn't make a shred of sense. Everything happening in this was dragged out for what felt like no reason because every answer they need is so clearly obvious, but you have to watch the characters running around with intentional blindfolds on for almost 500 pages before they acknowledge what you figured out in chapter 10/55.
The worst part though is that I just straight up didn't care about any of these characters or anything that happened to them. By the halfway point, I felt like I was reading just to read.
IDK! The more I think about it the less I like it which is really unfortunate because I feel like the premise is so good but the world building was severely lacking, the romance was unbelievable in a bad way, the main characters both acted like immature idiots the entire story, and the side characters are attempting to give found family but you don't really get enough background about anyone to make any of this worth the 500 pages.
I was starting to skim at the end because I was getting increasingly frustrated because this gave me way more questions than answers and even the characters themselves seemed to be confused at wtf was going on for most of it. This just needed....more. It didn't feel deep but I could tell the book wanted me to take away that this was some deep journey about finding yourself and finding romance but I didn't buy any of it.
I didn't mean to rant in this review, because I've read worse, but this just wasn't good 😭. I'd be willing to read the sequel to see if these issues get cleared up but this felt to me like it needed another round of editing to flesh out the bones of the world and the magic....which are the entire point of this story.
I received an arc from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Berkley, Ace, and Netgalley!
This has all the markers of a story that I should enjoy with pirates and magic, but everything about it felt so...surface level. In addition, the elements actually in the story were so underdeveloped that I ended up with way more questions than answers and the longer it went on, the more questions I had.
The characters all were sort of giving too stupid to function, and the romance didn't make a shred of sense. Everything happening in this was dragged out for what felt like no reason because every answer they need is so clearly obvious, but you have to watch the characters running around with intentional blindfolds on for almost 500 pages before they acknowledge what you figured out in chapter 10/55.
The worst part though is that I just straight up didn't care about any of these characters or anything that happened to them. By the halfway point, I felt like I was reading just to read.
IDK! The more I think about it the less I like it which is really unfortunate because I feel like the premise is so good but the world building was severely lacking, the romance was unbelievable in a bad way, the main characters both acted like immature idiots the entire story, and the side characters are attempting to give found family but you don't really get enough background about anyone to make any of this worth the 500 pages.
I was starting to skim at the end because I was getting increasingly frustrated because this gave me way more questions than answers and even the characters themselves seemed to be confused at wtf was going on for most of it. This just needed....more. It didn't feel deep but I could tell the book wanted me to take away that this was some deep journey about finding yourself and finding romance but I didn't buy any of it.
I didn't mean to rant in this review, because I've read worse, but this just wasn't good 😭. I'd be willing to read the sequel to see if these issues get cleared up but this felt to me like it needed another round of editing to flesh out the bones of the world and the magic....which are the entire point of this story.
I received an arc from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Berkley, Ace, and Netgalley!
June 22, 2025
Look at me reading a romantasy! This was definitely a change from my usual contemporary romance reads, but I saw this cover and absolutely had to try it. It’s stunning!
Saoirse is the only person she's known to survive touching a soulstone. Locked away her entire life and moments away from being forced into marriage, she escapes with Faolan, a pirate with his own agenda. He promises her freedom if she’ll help him find the mythical Isle of Lost Souls. And that’s where the adventure really begins!
Saoirse had this quiet strength at the beginning that I really enjoyed seeing evolve throughout the story. She’s not a badass in the typical sense. She starts off quite meek and naive, but you can really feel her fierce determination. And Faolan completely gives Killian Jones from Once Upon a Time energy! He's cheeky, incredibly protective, and just rogue enough to keep things interesting. I loved their chemistry, especially how he respected Saoirse’s pace when it came to their romantic tension.
I will say, though, this book throws you straight into the deep end. And I was SO confused at first. Between the flowery writing, the concept of soulstones, and the backstory surrounding the curse (really, the entire magical setup), I initially had no clue what was going on. But little by little, the story pieces itself together, and once I wrapped my head around everything, I was swept away by the Irish influences, seafaring adventures, and eerie, dark ocean aesthetic!
(heat level: 3 open-door scenes, mild details)
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Saoirse is the only person she's known to survive touching a soulstone. Locked away her entire life and moments away from being forced into marriage, she escapes with Faolan, a pirate with his own agenda. He promises her freedom if she’ll help him find the mythical Isle of Lost Souls. And that’s where the adventure really begins!
Saoirse had this quiet strength at the beginning that I really enjoyed seeing evolve throughout the story. She’s not a badass in the typical sense. She starts off quite meek and naive, but you can really feel her fierce determination. And Faolan completely gives Killian Jones from Once Upon a Time energy! He's cheeky, incredibly protective, and just rogue enough to keep things interesting. I loved their chemistry, especially how he respected Saoirse’s pace when it came to their romantic tension.
I will say, though, this book throws you straight into the deep end. And I was SO confused at first. Between the flowery writing, the concept of soulstones, and the backstory surrounding the curse (really, the entire magical setup), I initially had no clue what was going on. But little by little, the story pieces itself together, and once I wrapped my head around everything, I was swept away by the Irish influences, seafaring adventures, and eerie, dark ocean aesthetic!
(heat level: 3 open-door scenes, mild details)
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
June 17, 2025
All you need to know is: Sinbad x Pirates of the Caribbean x marriage of convenience x angst x a mmc that is actually humorous and NOT grumpy x perfect in every way possible me need more😫🙏
May 2, 2025
3.75/5 -- I'm generally a fan of Nordic fantasy - so I knew I would like this! However, while I really enjoyed the imagery and style of storytelling, I did NOT like our heroine in Soulgazer. She as a whole struck me as a simpering fool, and I would like to have reached through the pages and smacked her a time or two.
Beyond that though - this was an incredibly fun read and I found myself looking forward to what twists and turns would be uncovered!
Follow me on Instagram for honest reviews, bookish freebies & giveaways! 🦋 || Southern Lady Reads YouTube channel coming soon!!
Beyond that though - this was an incredibly fun read and I found myself looking forward to what twists and turns would be uncovered!
Follow me on Instagram for honest reviews, bookish freebies & giveaways! 🦋 || Southern Lady Reads YouTube channel coming soon!!
July 8, 2025
I have found a sea-faring novel I enjoyed!!! sound the alarms.
saoirse has been sequestered away in a cabin her whole life because she’s cursed. when her father, a king of one of the isles, sets her up to marry a horrible man for an alliance, she really has no choice but to run away into the arms of the legendary pirate, faolan. saoirse promises to help faolan find the missing isle of lost souls in exchange for protection, which comes in the way of a marriage!!!! pirates and marriage of convenience… who knew yet it works so well!!
this book had me by the throat and I read it entirely in one sitting. faolan is a rakish pirate whose reputation precedes him. saoirse is fighting for her freedom in every sense of the word. but things aren’t what they seem and given her curse tends to end up with people dead, the stakes are higher than ever when their marriage stops feeling so fake.
the stakes were high, the magic system was intriguing, the political systems and found family all hit so hard for me and I truly had a great time with this one!! I am waiting with bated breath for book 2!!
thank you so much Berkley romance and ace publishing for the gifted copies!!
saoirse has been sequestered away in a cabin her whole life because she’s cursed. when her father, a king of one of the isles, sets her up to marry a horrible man for an alliance, she really has no choice but to run away into the arms of the legendary pirate, faolan. saoirse promises to help faolan find the missing isle of lost souls in exchange for protection, which comes in the way of a marriage!!!! pirates and marriage of convenience… who knew yet it works so well!!
this book had me by the throat and I read it entirely in one sitting. faolan is a rakish pirate whose reputation precedes him. saoirse is fighting for her freedom in every sense of the word. but things aren’t what they seem and given her curse tends to end up with people dead, the stakes are higher than ever when their marriage stops feeling so fake.
the stakes were high, the magic system was intriguing, the political systems and found family all hit so hard for me and I truly had a great time with this one!! I am waiting with bated breath for book 2!!
thank you so much Berkley romance and ace publishing for the gifted copies!!
September 18, 2025
**𝑨𝑹𝑪 𝑹𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘** 𝑺𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒈𝒂𝒛𝒆𝒓 𝒃𝒚 𝑴𝒂𝒈𝒈𝒊𝒆 𝑹𝒂𝒑𝒊𝒆𝒓
Release Date: July 8, 2025
4.5⭐️3🌶
Saoirse touches a Fate Stone by accident at the age of five, and from then on she has been curse to see and hear spirits as well as have knowledge of the future that she does know how it appears.
When Saoirse comes of marriable age, her father takes her to the clan gathering with plans to marry her off to Stone King for a price. Her father hasn't treated her like a daughter since she killed her eldest brother accidentally with her powers when she was five.
However, she has no plans to be married off to a cruel king and be locked under his mountain fortress. She see's her way out when the legendary Wolf of the Wild—Faolan, a feral, silver-tongued pirate makes it known that he is looking for the prophesied girl with eyes like the ocean. It is said that only she can a lost mythical isle with her powers.
She's unsure how she will find this mythical isle for the Wolf, but she's willing to try in order to get away from her planned marriage to the Stone King.
So, Saoirse embarks on an adventure across the high seas with her betrothed that is her betrothed in name only to find a lost island with her powers she doesn't know how to use.
This book was so intriguing and checked all the boxes for a pirate adventure and arranged marriage with forced proximity. I cannot wait for the next one!
Themes/Tropes:
🍁Viking Pirate MMC
🍁Shadow Daddy
🍁Arranged Marriage
🍁Forced Proximity
🍁Fake dating
🍁Powers locked away
🍁Viking Princess
🍁Forced Proximity
🍁Cursed by the gods
🍁Finding a curse for the curse
TW:
✨Imprisonment/Isolation
✨Unfeeling/uncaring parents
✨Violence
✨Murder
✨Spicy content
Release Date: July 8, 2025
4.5⭐️3🌶
Saoirse touches a Fate Stone by accident at the age of five, and from then on she has been curse to see and hear spirits as well as have knowledge of the future that she does know how it appears.
When Saoirse comes of marriable age, her father takes her to the clan gathering with plans to marry her off to Stone King for a price. Her father hasn't treated her like a daughter since she killed her eldest brother accidentally with her powers when she was five.
However, she has no plans to be married off to a cruel king and be locked under his mountain fortress. She see's her way out when the legendary Wolf of the Wild—Faolan, a feral, silver-tongued pirate makes it known that he is looking for the prophesied girl with eyes like the ocean. It is said that only she can a lost mythical isle with her powers.
She's unsure how she will find this mythical isle for the Wolf, but she's willing to try in order to get away from her planned marriage to the Stone King.
So, Saoirse embarks on an adventure across the high seas with her betrothed that is her betrothed in name only to find a lost island with her powers she doesn't know how to use.
This book was so intriguing and checked all the boxes for a pirate adventure and arranged marriage with forced proximity. I cannot wait for the next one!
Themes/Tropes:
🍁Viking Pirate MMC
🍁Shadow Daddy
🍁Arranged Marriage
🍁Forced Proximity
🍁Fake dating
🍁Powers locked away
🍁Viking Princess
🍁Forced Proximity
🍁Cursed by the gods
🍁Finding a curse for the curse
TW:
✨Imprisonment/Isolation
✨Unfeeling/uncaring parents
✨Violence
✨Murder
✨Spicy content
July 19, 2025
* 4.5⭐️2🌶️
* Debut. Part 1 of a duology.
* The story follows Saoirse, a young woman who has been cursed with volatile magic since childhood. She's spent her life trying to suppress this power, living in constant fear of it breaking free. When her magic finally erupts, her parents offer her hand in marriage to the ruthless Stone King. Desperate to escape this fate and break her curse, Saoirse seeks out Faolan, the legendary Wolf of the Wild, a feral pirate.
* Read this if you like: marriage of convenience, pirates, magic, mythical islands, found family, such a pining love
* Debut. Part 1 of a duology.
* The story follows Saoirse, a young woman who has been cursed with volatile magic since childhood. She's spent her life trying to suppress this power, living in constant fear of it breaking free. When her magic finally erupts, her parents offer her hand in marriage to the ruthless Stone King. Desperate to escape this fate and break her curse, Saoirse seeks out Faolan, the legendary Wolf of the Wild, a feral pirate.
* Read this if you like: marriage of convenience, pirates, magic, mythical islands, found family, such a pining love
February 19, 2025
I was super excited to start reading Soulgazer - pirates, fantasy, marriage of convenience and found family all sounded right up my alley, but unfortunately I couldn't fully get into it.
Firstly, the world building is a slightly overwhelming info dump and never made a lot of sense to me. I did not get the ceremony/ritual at the beginning, which was supposed to be pretty important. The writing was lyrical and beautiful, but sometimes to the point where it was hard to understand what was happening in certain scenes.
The story picked up after Saoirse married Faolan (a pirate) to escape the marriage her father forced on her to a cruel man. They board a ship with the goal of finding a solution to Saoirse's deadly curse, which sets off a long quest. At several points the magic system and the purpose of the island had me confused, but at least the vibes were good and the banter between Saoirse and Faolan was witty and sharp. The found family aspect is also well done.
For me, the biggest issue I had was that the writing obscured certain scenes and made it hard to grasp what was happening. In a lot of places there simply wasn't enough context to make sense of the plot, and there were a few plot holes as well. The writing is undeniably strong but the book just needed more clarity and context.
Thanks so much to Berkley and NetGalley for this ARC!
Firstly, the world building is a slightly overwhelming info dump and never made a lot of sense to me. I did not get the ceremony/ritual at the beginning, which was supposed to be pretty important. The writing was lyrical and beautiful, but sometimes to the point where it was hard to understand what was happening in certain scenes.
The story picked up after Saoirse married Faolan (a pirate) to escape the marriage her father forced on her to a cruel man. They board a ship with the goal of finding a solution to Saoirse's deadly curse, which sets off a long quest. At several points the magic system and the purpose of the island had me confused, but at least the vibes were good and the banter between Saoirse and Faolan was witty and sharp. The found family aspect is also well done.
For me, the biggest issue I had was that the writing obscured certain scenes and made it hard to grasp what was happening. In a lot of places there simply wasn't enough context to make sense of the plot, and there were a few plot holes as well. The writing is undeniably strong but the book just needed more clarity and context.
Thanks so much to Berkley and NetGalley for this ARC!
June 22, 2025
This book had good bones to start off and kept me curious until about 30%.
I liked some of the dialogue and the world had a very unique premise.
The romance had a good tension in the beginning.
THOUGHTS:
The world building was atrocious. After pushing through 480 pages, I still have no fecking clue what's happening, and my questions are overwhelming.
The characters were underdeveloped and confusing. Folan isn't a pirate. He's a 21st century pixie, in a cosplay costume. Saoirse was on a repetitious cycle of "I want him" (weird ass vision from nowhere) "I hate him" and repeat. The writing didn't persuade me to love the characters. I simply endured.
The pace was like watching a caterpillar crawl. Through mud.
The romance was incomplete with zero depth. I have no idea why they love each other. Truly no one knows. There was a scene that needed logistical help, and I didn't believe their feelings were genuine or deep.
"Good girl." was used in 4 separate scenes and I wanted to stab my kindle each time.
OVERALL: If you love the popular romantacy and don't mind being confused or you simply aren't concerned with proper world building, then you might like this.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you NetGalley.
I liked some of the dialogue and the world had a very unique premise.
The romance had a good tension in the beginning.
THOUGHTS:
The world building was atrocious. After pushing through 480 pages, I still have no fecking clue what's happening, and my questions are overwhelming.
The characters were underdeveloped and confusing. Folan isn't a pirate. He's a 21st century pixie, in a cosplay costume. Saoirse was on a repetitious cycle of "I want him" (weird ass vision from nowhere) "I hate him" and repeat. The writing didn't persuade me to love the characters. I simply endured.
The pace was like watching a caterpillar crawl. Through mud.
The romance was incomplete with zero depth. I have no idea why they love each other. Truly no one knows. There was a scene that needed logistical help, and I didn't believe their feelings were genuine or deep.
"Good girl." was used in 4 separate scenes and I wanted to stab my kindle each time.
OVERALL: If you love the popular romantacy and don't mind being confused or you simply aren't concerned with proper world building, then you might like this.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you NetGalley.
July 28, 2025
....I need a sexy pirate right fecking now!!! Maggie Rapier, you have done the one thing not many authors have done before, make me wish for a book boyfriend I hadn't already dreamed up. I had a feeling Soulgazer was going to be a good book, but nothing could of prepared me for the absolute tidal wave of emotions this book made me feel.
Soulgazer is a book that from the very first chapter had me questioning things, intentions, and wanting more. When I tell you I couldn't put this book down....I read 68% in one day and I set my alarm early so I could get up and read. I found myself being drawn in for Saoirse, but quickly stayed for the incredible magic, the found family in the crew of the unnamed ship made of starlight, and my favorite, the pirate with a dirty mouth and hands full of rings. The way Faolan treasures and respects Saoirse from the very start made my heart swoon. When he pulls her from her shell and coaxes her magic from her soul- nothing could compare to watching our FMC bloom. Not only that but his SMART MOUTH?! GIRLLLLLLLL! I was texting my friends "I need this man right now." Don't even get me started on his "don't touch my wife" comment. That should be enough to convince you to pick this up (though it is only a small drop in a very large bucket of why you should.)
If I had to choose a top 5 book for this year: this would absolutely be one of those picks. The worldbuilding is something like I've never read. The high-stakes jumping from island to island had me on the edge of my seat. Saoirse on the journey to find herself and foster positive relationships with her new crew had me EMOTIONAL. The female centered storyline made me want to weep for my maternal side. For too long our mothers, grandmothers, and great grandmothers have been punished for storytelling and little pieces of magic. For Saoirse to reclaim that part of her past it just healed a little part of me. It was so beautiful and tragic and it just made me want to shout from the rooftops how much I love this story.
If you are looking for a magical, nautical romantasy with sassy pirates and characters you fall in love with from the very first sentence, Soulgazer should be your next read.
On another note: I'm seeing this is a duology...and having mixed thoughts (in the best way) because I love Saoirse and Faolan and want them to be happy...but also want to never stop Maggie Rapier's writing???
Thank you to Berkley Publishing, Maggie Rapier, and Netgalley for the e-arc of this book!
Soulgazer is a book that from the very first chapter had me questioning things, intentions, and wanting more. When I tell you I couldn't put this book down....I read 68% in one day and I set my alarm early so I could get up and read. I found myself being drawn in for Saoirse, but quickly stayed for the incredible magic, the found family in the crew of the unnamed ship made of starlight, and my favorite, the pirate with a dirty mouth and hands full of rings. The way Faolan treasures and respects Saoirse from the very start made my heart swoon. When he pulls her from her shell and coaxes her magic from her soul- nothing could compare to watching our FMC bloom. Not only that but his SMART MOUTH?! GIRLLLLLLLL! I was texting my friends "I need this man right now." Don't even get me started on his "don't touch my wife" comment. That should be enough to convince you to pick this up (though it is only a small drop in a very large bucket of why you should.)
If I had to choose a top 5 book for this year: this would absolutely be one of those picks. The worldbuilding is something like I've never read. The high-stakes jumping from island to island had me on the edge of my seat. Saoirse on the journey to find herself and foster positive relationships with her new crew had me EMOTIONAL. The female centered storyline made me want to weep for my maternal side. For too long our mothers, grandmothers, and great grandmothers have been punished for storytelling and little pieces of magic. For Saoirse to reclaim that part of her past it just healed a little part of me. It was so beautiful and tragic and it just made me want to shout from the rooftops how much I love this story.
If you are looking for a magical, nautical romantasy with sassy pirates and characters you fall in love with from the very first sentence, Soulgazer should be your next read.
On another note: I'm seeing this is a duology...and having mixed thoughts (in the best way) because I love Saoirse and Faolan and want them to be happy...but also want to never stop Maggie Rapier's writing???
Thank you to Berkley Publishing, Maggie Rapier, and Netgalley for the e-arc of this book!
May 13, 2025
3.5
if outlander, the shepherd king duology and pirates of the caribbean had a baby it would be this book.
first off, let me just say the writing in this is phenomenal! so poetic and compelling and i’m really looking forward to following along this author’s journey.
the premise & magic system of this world is unique to the romantasy scene which i think will give readers a fresh experience as they read this book. i’d recommend for those who gravitate to the softer fmcs whose strength can still be found even in their quietness (these are my personal favorite fmcs to read about!)
the character development felt a bit rushed/glanced over where i was wish we could have lingered more. i love the fmc but would have loved to see her open up & communicate more with those around her, especially with the mmc. and speaking of our pirate, he rly shined in this book! like jack sparrow and will turner rolled into one 🫠
the pacing felt a little off at times, giving the sensation of being randomly dropped into a scene with no context as to how we got to X location or became a part of Y conversation.
one last thing to mention the author’s note:
powerful, resonating, and necessary!!! for those that grew up in the clutches of purity culture and confined by religious oppression, this book was written FOR YOU! i loved how clear that messaging was from the very beginning and loved seeing confirmation of this in the note at the end. reclamation of womanhood is something i will always appreciate in stories and this author does a fantastic job of that 👏🏻
thank you so much to berkley romance for the gifted arc in exchange for my honest thoughts 💌
if outlander, the shepherd king duology and pirates of the caribbean had a baby it would be this book.
first off, let me just say the writing in this is phenomenal! so poetic and compelling and i’m really looking forward to following along this author’s journey.
the premise & magic system of this world is unique to the romantasy scene which i think will give readers a fresh experience as they read this book. i’d recommend for those who gravitate to the softer fmcs whose strength can still be found even in their quietness (these are my personal favorite fmcs to read about!)
the character development felt a bit rushed/glanced over where i was wish we could have lingered more. i love the fmc but would have loved to see her open up & communicate more with those around her, especially with the mmc. and speaking of our pirate, he rly shined in this book! like jack sparrow and will turner rolled into one 🫠
the pacing felt a little off at times, giving the sensation of being randomly dropped into a scene with no context as to how we got to X location or became a part of Y conversation.
one last thing to mention the author’s note:
powerful, resonating, and necessary!!! for those that grew up in the clutches of purity culture and confined by religious oppression, this book was written FOR YOU! i loved how clear that messaging was from the very beginning and loved seeing confirmation of this in the note at the end. reclamation of womanhood is something i will always appreciate in stories and this author does a fantastic job of that 👏🏻
thank you so much to berkley romance for the gifted arc in exchange for my honest thoughts 💌
June 22, 2025
what even happened in this book?
simply put, this was a beautiful word salad. i really like what the author was trying to do here, but unfortunately it went over my head. without solid world building and a confusing magic system, i was completely lost. from the beginning i felt liked i was dumped into a story and i was expecting for things to become clearer as i read, but they never did. that’s not to say i didn’t enjoy some parts (the worship scene), but it wasn’t enough for me to connect to this story. the romance lacked chemistry and felt more like convenience especially since the fmc was starving for attention and affection. it just felt like she clung to the first person to show her these. the author has a lot of potential and i’d definitely try her out again in the future. but this particular duology just wasn’t for me.
content: vague open door
simply put, this was a beautiful word salad. i really like what the author was trying to do here, but unfortunately it went over my head. without solid world building and a confusing magic system, i was completely lost. from the beginning i felt liked i was dumped into a story and i was expecting for things to become clearer as i read, but they never did. that’s not to say i didn’t enjoy some parts (the worship scene), but it wasn’t enough for me to connect to this story. the romance lacked chemistry and felt more like convenience especially since the fmc was starving for attention and affection. it just felt like she clung to the first person to show her these. the author has a lot of potential and i’d definitely try her out again in the future. but this particular duology just wasn’t for me.
content: vague open door
August 6, 2025
4.75 ⭐️
I love when a fantasy novel features a soft girl juxtaposed with a wild untamed man. Saoirse & Faolan my lovely wolves I adore you two so much.
The vibes and aesthetic of Soulgazer is just so beautiful - the dark sea, beautiful backdrops of the islands, and the magic system was so intriguing and fun.
Maggie’s writing is so beautiful and lyrical too. I really felt her heart when reading this, especially after I read the author’s note.
The high stakes plot mixed with the found family, yearning, and the “touch my wife” moment?! Swoon. Absolutely will be tuned into book 2.
P.S the entire time I read this I had the Pirates of Caribbean theme song playing in my head lol
Thank you Ace Publishing for the gifted copy! #berkleypartner
I love when a fantasy novel features a soft girl juxtaposed with a wild untamed man. Saoirse & Faolan my lovely wolves I adore you two so much.
The vibes and aesthetic of Soulgazer is just so beautiful - the dark sea, beautiful backdrops of the islands, and the magic system was so intriguing and fun.
Maggie’s writing is so beautiful and lyrical too. I really felt her heart when reading this, especially after I read the author’s note.
The high stakes plot mixed with the found family, yearning, and the “touch my wife” moment?! Swoon. Absolutely will be tuned into book 2.
P.S the entire time I read this I had the Pirates of Caribbean theme song playing in my head lol
Thank you Ace Publishing for the gifted copy! #berkleypartner
Read
September 11, 2025dnf 50% it was just so slowwww 🙁
August 15, 2025
“they don’t tell stories about safe lives, saoirse.”
is it just me, or does every romantasy copy and paste the same MMC? he’s always tall and dark-haired, broody and rakish (but with a secret heart of gold, of course).
saoirse will do anything to escape her arranged marriage to a cruel king, including offering up her volatile suppressed magic to a legendary pirate captain in exchange for his protection. their deal is simple: she will guide him and his crew to a mythical island, and he will marry her to ensure her safety from her controlling father and would-be fiancé.
i was lured in with promises of celtic pirates and a marriage of convenience, and while soulgazer technically delivered on those things, it was not for me.
it’s fine for what it is, i guess? but “what it is” is a generic romantasy. i found the characters and their world to be underdeveloped, relying too heavily on tropes—a sheltered young woman, a pirate who felt very jack sparrow meets that dude from outlander, a vaguely celtic-inspired fantasy world—but objectively fine. the development of the romance was a little perfunctory for my preferences and lacked the tension i was hoping for from a book featuring a marriage of convenience, but i didn’t mind it. i would have enjoyed the story more if the fantasy elements and world-building had been fleshed out further.
and i’m sorry, but the mood ring eyes were ridiculous.
arc provided by netgalley and berkley publishing group in exchange for an honest review.
rating: 2.5/5.0 stars
“let me make a legend of you.”
August 26, 2025
⭐️ 4/5 ⭐️
What a fecking bloody ride.
This is such a mood read. Will they end up together? Do they actually love each other? Finally a rare, actual slow burn romance. The longing, the pining, JUST STARE AT HIS LIPS!!! There were so many times I wanted to scream and shout because WHY. I was literally punching the air.
"My wife..."
Faolan, I knew you were a softie. I was scared of finishing this one because I was worried of how it would end. There were so many betrayals on both sides and I didn't want ME to be broken hearted. The twist in the end was a chef's kiss. I love Saorise, she may be a huge crybaby but her gut and bravery is so insipiring. I listened to the audiobook and I cannot stop fecking swearing like them.
What a fecking bloody ride.
This is such a mood read. Will they end up together? Do they actually love each other? Finally a rare, actual slow burn romance. The longing, the pining, JUST STARE AT HIS LIPS!!! There were so many times I wanted to scream and shout because WHY. I was literally punching the air.
"My wife..."
Faolan, I knew you were a softie. I was scared of finishing this one because I was worried of how it would end. There were so many betrayals on both sides and I didn't want ME to be broken hearted. The twist in the end was a chef's kiss. I love Saorise, she may be a huge crybaby but her gut and bravery is so insipiring. I listened to the audiobook and I cannot stop fecking swearing like them.
October 9, 2024
The tension???? You will be kicking your feet and GIGGLING! Get ready to meet your new book boyfriend.
September 24, 2025
3.5 🌟
"Aye, there is beauty in its savagery— and awe when the waters go as still as glass.
But there is danger in loving the sea.
Danger in loving me.
A soulgazer." (Ch 30)
Romantasy with a curse of a sort. A stolen bride and a fake marriage. Forbidden love, one bed, and pirates(ish). The beginning is eloquently written, lots of descriptive visuals.
It's almost as if they go on a treasure/scavenger hunt, and in a way, it is. It's an adventure, a quest, one that could very well lead in disaster or several. Perhaps even death.
Saoirse is full of self-deprecation, wishing she weren't who she was. It was a struggle for her as she was denied the normalcy of family and of being. So when Faolan showed up, he gave her hope, however false it might turn out to be. Theirs was a complicated relationship, but come hell or high-water, they were in it together.
"—I know that I’m going to tear through his world like an arrow through flesh, and he will bear those scars for the rest of his days. I will steal his rest, and he will rob me of mine." (Ch 3)
Some parts were a little confusing. Like little time-lapses or gaps that come out of nowhere. Leaving me to wonder, huh, what just happened? Where am I... scratching my head, lost.
Overall, it was nothing heady, just a little sweet laced with bitter.
"Breathe in the crowd’s violent swell of hope. Breathe out the beautiful lie. It does not exist." (Ch 1)
eARC courtesy of NetGalley | ACE / Berkley / Penguin Random House
"Aye, there is beauty in its savagery— and awe when the waters go as still as glass.
But there is danger in loving the sea.
Danger in loving me.
A soulgazer." (Ch 30)
Romantasy with a curse of a sort. A stolen bride and a fake marriage. Forbidden love, one bed, and pirates(ish). The beginning is eloquently written, lots of descriptive visuals.
It's almost as if they go on a treasure/scavenger hunt, and in a way, it is. It's an adventure, a quest, one that could very well lead in disaster or several. Perhaps even death.
Saoirse is full of self-deprecation, wishing she weren't who she was. It was a struggle for her as she was denied the normalcy of family and of being. So when Faolan showed up, he gave her hope, however false it might turn out to be. Theirs was a complicated relationship, but come hell or high-water, they were in it together.
"—I know that I’m going to tear through his world like an arrow through flesh, and he will bear those scars for the rest of his days. I will steal his rest, and he will rob me of mine." (Ch 3)
Some parts were a little confusing. Like little time-lapses or gaps that come out of nowhere. Leaving me to wonder, huh, what just happened? Where am I... scratching my head, lost.
Overall, it was nothing heady, just a little sweet laced with bitter.
"Breathe in the crowd’s violent swell of hope. Breathe out the beautiful lie. It does not exist." (Ch 1)
eARC courtesy of NetGalley | ACE / Berkley / Penguin Random House
September 1, 2025
The plot and worldbuilding were very weak, with an ill-defined magic system, settings that lacked descriptive details, and legends and histories that were very poorly explained.
I read fantasy to be transported to a new and fascinating world or setting, surrounded by interesting characters who'll draw me into their story. Unfortunately, this book failed to convince me that I was sailing with a group of pirates. This book also failed to convey the importance of breaking Saoirse's curse and finding the elusive Isle of Souls.
While I liked the FMC (innocent and naive 19-year-old Saoirse and her ever-changing eyes) and MMC (overly confident 26-year-old Faolan), they felt severely underdeveloped. The author attempts to create complex and nuanced characters but fails to do so effectively because the stories of their trauma were spoonfed to the readers in an overly simplistic manner.
Also, being a captain of a ship and talking like a pirate doesn't actually make you a pirate... As far as I can tell, Faolan is not a pirate (despite everyone calling him as such). I believe Faolan is actually a privateer since he's employed by the queen of his island... Because of this fact, he and his crew are basically full of themselves and are not as badass as they think they are.
With that being said, given that this is the first book of a duology, I'll give this series the benefit of the doubt and assume that all my issues noted above would be resolved and expanded upon in the next book. But overall, it feels like the worldbuilding and characters needed to be fleshed out more.
*Thank you, Ace Publishing, for sending me a free copy of the physical and digital ebook for review consideration. All opinions are my own.*
*** #16 of my 2025 Popsugar Reading Challenge - A book set in or around a body of water ***
I read fantasy to be transported to a new and fascinating world or setting, surrounded by interesting characters who'll draw me into their story. Unfortunately, this book failed to convince me that I was sailing with a group of pirates. This book also failed to convey the importance of breaking Saoirse's curse and finding the elusive Isle of Souls.
While I liked the FMC (innocent and naive 19-year-old Saoirse and her ever-changing eyes) and MMC (overly confident 26-year-old Faolan), they felt severely underdeveloped. The author attempts to create complex and nuanced characters but fails to do so effectively because the stories of their trauma were spoonfed to the readers in an overly simplistic manner.
Also, being a captain of a ship and talking like a pirate doesn't actually make you a pirate... As far as I can tell, Faolan is not a pirate (despite everyone calling him as such). I believe Faolan is actually a privateer since he's employed by the queen of his island... Because of this fact, he and his crew are basically full of themselves and are not as badass as they think they are.
With that being said, given that this is the first book of a duology, I'll give this series the benefit of the doubt and assume that all my issues noted above would be resolved and expanded upon in the next book. But overall, it feels like the worldbuilding and characters needed to be fleshed out more.
*Thank you, Ace Publishing, for sending me a free copy of the physical and digital ebook for review consideration. All opinions are my own.*
*** #16 of my 2025 Popsugar Reading Challenge - A book set in or around a body of water ***
March 15, 2025
What a lovely debut. I was immediately drawn in by the cover, and I’m so glad it prompted me to pick up this book.
Soulgazer is peak romantasy, with equal attention to character and atmosphere as plot. If you have a weak spot for pirates, you’ll especially like this one. I’m a sucker for marriages of convenience, but I appreciated that it was still a slow burn. I kept wanting to push them together, but of course, the payoff is worth it in the end.
I truly appreciate that Saoirse is a soft heroine—not a skilled physical fighter, and more sad than angry. It’s a refreshing change from other stories I’ve read. Her not having the typical slender, muscled body type was also welcome. All in all, I loved Rapier’s writing style, which is balanced and beautiful.
It’s rare I find a book where I can rate the sexual content as “moderate” rather than graphic or minor. The characters’ physical relationship was important to their story, and we weren’t completely shut out of it. But the scenes aren’t vulgar or extremely descriptive. I’d let a high schooler read it.
There were a few scenes I felt like I was missing some context, and I’d have to go back and reread to see what I’d missed, but then was still confused so I just plundered on. This was mainly during the quests—I found myself not exactly knowing what they were seeking and why. I’m sure I’d understand more on a reread.
I was so glad to see that the author plans to continue this as a series. It’s a fascinating world and lovable, interesting characters who deserve more page time. I will definitely continue reading.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC.
Soulgazer is peak romantasy, with equal attention to character and atmosphere as plot. If you have a weak spot for pirates, you’ll especially like this one. I’m a sucker for marriages of convenience, but I appreciated that it was still a slow burn. I kept wanting to push them together, but of course, the payoff is worth it in the end.
I truly appreciate that Saoirse is a soft heroine—not a skilled physical fighter, and more sad than angry. It’s a refreshing change from other stories I’ve read. Her not having the typical slender, muscled body type was also welcome. All in all, I loved Rapier’s writing style, which is balanced and beautiful.
It’s rare I find a book where I can rate the sexual content as “moderate” rather than graphic or minor. The characters’ physical relationship was important to their story, and we weren’t completely shut out of it. But the scenes aren’t vulgar or extremely descriptive. I’d let a high schooler read it.
There were a few scenes I felt like I was missing some context, and I’d have to go back and reread to see what I’d missed, but then was still confused so I just plundered on. This was mainly during the quests—I found myself not exactly knowing what they were seeking and why. I’m sure I’d understand more on a reread.
I was so glad to see that the author plans to continue this as a series. It’s a fascinating world and lovable, interesting characters who deserve more page time. I will definitely continue reading.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC.
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