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Saltswept
Not yet published
Expected 26 Feb 26'Deep, sumptuous, and astonishingly beautiful' Hannah Kaner
A ragtag crew. A perilous quest. First, they need a boat. Next, they need to learn how to sail it.
A pirate faces the gallows drop. A farmer is given a terrible ultimatum to save her daughter. An acolyte ascends to priestesshood . . . only to find that a blessing really can be a curse. These unlikely bedfellows band together with an inscrutable pickpocket and a talking ottercat in pursuit of the most hopeless of to sail into the Maelstrom - a raging whirlpool from which no one has ever escaped - and the mysterious treasure hidden within it.
The quest will test their fragile allegiance to its limits, but there is more at stake here than getting the magic of the world is in peril, and the barrier between life and death has never been so thin. And in the Bastion, the seat of power in Paranish, the queen has an unquenchable thirst that threatens the world and everyone in it.
Can there be honour amongst thieves? Without it, they might never see another sunrise.
Lush and lyrical, Saltswept is a vibrant debut - the first book in an epic fantasy duology based on Southeast Asian mythology. Perfect for fans of The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi, The Bone Ships, and Godkiller.
A ragtag crew. A perilous quest. First, they need a boat. Next, they need to learn how to sail it.
A pirate faces the gallows drop. A farmer is given a terrible ultimatum to save her daughter. An acolyte ascends to priestesshood . . . only to find that a blessing really can be a curse. These unlikely bedfellows band together with an inscrutable pickpocket and a talking ottercat in pursuit of the most hopeless of to sail into the Maelstrom - a raging whirlpool from which no one has ever escaped - and the mysterious treasure hidden within it.
The quest will test their fragile allegiance to its limits, but there is more at stake here than getting the magic of the world is in peril, and the barrier between life and death has never been so thin. And in the Bastion, the seat of power in Paranish, the queen has an unquenchable thirst that threatens the world and everyone in it.
Can there be honour amongst thieves? Without it, they might never see another sunrise.
Lush and lyrical, Saltswept is a vibrant debut - the first book in an epic fantasy duology based on Southeast Asian mythology. Perfect for fans of The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi, The Bone Ships, and Godkiller.
400 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication February 26, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. - Freya, arc & monthly book box pick reviewer (athenafreyag on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/athenafreyag/ )
Initial thoughts: Southeast Asian mythology x queer characters x found family on a quest sounded intriguing.
What I liked 🤩: I liked how the author handled gender and LGBTQIA representation. So many main characters are queer, and it was so lovely!!
I also liked the Southeast Asian mythology woven in this story.
What I didn’t like 🙃: The pov-chapter structure didn't work well here. The first 30% was challenging. There are many POVs and especially in the beginning when everything and everyone are new, it was hard to keep up. The chapters are fast-paced and it felt like we met everyone in these chapters, and yet, I couldn't retain much about them. It would have been better if we stayed with each character more. We didn't need to start hopping from one mc to the next. It would have helped with the pacing, too. The quest became a quest around 40%...
Also, if the pov wasn't clearly listed in the chapter heading, I would have no idea whose head we were in because the writing was the same. I just couldn't discern each character's voice. I think it would have been better if it was written in third person.
In the beginning, there was sexual violence with no content warning, which shouldn't have happened...
Overall: I love the idea of this but the editorial choices hindered me from enjoying this book, which is killing me because this has queer Asian characters and Southeast mythology 😭
SE info: This is the Illumicrate February pick, and I will skip it.
Initial thoughts: Southeast Asian mythology x queer characters x found family on a quest sounded intriguing.
What I liked 🤩: I liked how the author handled gender and LGBTQIA representation. So many main characters are queer, and it was so lovely!!
I also liked the Southeast Asian mythology woven in this story.
What I didn’t like 🙃: The pov-chapter structure didn't work well here. The first 30% was challenging. There are many POVs and especially in the beginning when everything and everyone are new, it was hard to keep up. The chapters are fast-paced and it felt like we met everyone in these chapters, and yet, I couldn't retain much about them. It would have been better if we stayed with each character more. We didn't need to start hopping from one mc to the next. It would have helped with the pacing, too. The quest became a quest around 40%...
Also, if the pov wasn't clearly listed in the chapter heading, I would have no idea whose head we were in because the writing was the same. I just couldn't discern each character's voice. I think it would have been better if it was written in third person.
In the beginning, there was sexual violence with no content warning, which shouldn't have happened...
Overall: I love the idea of this but the editorial choices hindered me from enjoying this book, which is killing me because this has queer Asian characters and Southeast mythology 😭
SE info: This is the Illumicrate February pick, and I will skip it.
December 23, 2025
Thank you to Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for the ARC.
This was a DNF at 28%.
I’m so disappointed because I really wanted an epic queer fantasy to fall in love with. I love books set on ships in the ocean. I really loved the summary and how these characters were going to go on a quest. I think the marketing is very different to the actual content of the book. From the summary I was expecting this to be fun and exciting, as it’s described in a very fun way. The whole talking ottercat, unlikely bedfellows etc.
However, this is completely different to the actual book itself. I got myself to 28% and I do wish I’d DNFed earlier.
This is told from first person multi-POV. I think you can do multi POV in first person if each POV is very distinct, but each POV all feels the same. I actually struggled to work out the gender of the characters at first because of this. I couldn’t differentiate between the characters other than the setting. All of them had the same voice.
I also think the ARC should’ve come with appropriate trigger warnings. There is an instance of sexual violence from a POV character against their partner in bed, to the point where their partner believes they are going to die. It comes out of nowhere. From reading the summary to suddenly getting an instance where a POV character is assaulting their partner in bed is like night and day.
Maybe if the summary wasn’t quite so cute, it wouldn’t have felt like it came out of nowhere. But it did, and it really took me by surprise. I’ve read triggering content before with no issues, but this didn’t fit the tone of the book.
I DNFed this book and I am sad about that because I really wanted to love this one.
This was a DNF at 28%.
I’m so disappointed because I really wanted an epic queer fantasy to fall in love with. I love books set on ships in the ocean. I really loved the summary and how these characters were going to go on a quest. I think the marketing is very different to the actual content of the book. From the summary I was expecting this to be fun and exciting, as it’s described in a very fun way. The whole talking ottercat, unlikely bedfellows etc.
However, this is completely different to the actual book itself. I got myself to 28% and I do wish I’d DNFed earlier.
This is told from first person multi-POV. I think you can do multi POV in first person if each POV is very distinct, but each POV all feels the same. I actually struggled to work out the gender of the characters at first because of this. I couldn’t differentiate between the characters other than the setting. All of them had the same voice.
I also think the ARC should’ve come with appropriate trigger warnings. There is an instance of sexual violence from a POV character against their partner in bed, to the point where their partner believes they are going to die. It comes out of nowhere. From reading the summary to suddenly getting an instance where a POV character is assaulting their partner in bed is like night and day.
Maybe if the summary wasn’t quite so cute, it wouldn’t have felt like it came out of nowhere. But it did, and it really took me by surprise. I’ve read triggering content before with no issues, but this didn’t fit the tone of the book.
I DNFed this book and I am sad about that because I really wanted to love this one.
December 4, 2025
Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the eARC!
This was such a beautiful story. Saltswept is the first instalment in a duology, and also the authors debut which is…insane, because it reads like it should be on the NYT Bestsellers.
If you’re looking for one or more of the following: Beautifully layered world-building with rich and vibrant imagery, a story rooted in mythology, a ragtag crew that you can really cheer for, found family or lyrical prose, I think you will adore this one.
This was such a beautiful story. Saltswept is the first instalment in a duology, and also the authors debut which is…insane, because it reads like it should be on the NYT Bestsellers.
If you’re looking for one or more of the following: Beautifully layered world-building with rich and vibrant imagery, a story rooted in mythology, a ragtag crew that you can really cheer for, found family or lyrical prose, I think you will adore this one.
January 24, 2026
In this sea-quest adventure, we follow 3 POVs - Finlyr, Ris and Hanan. Finlyr is a roguish pirate, Ris is a former sailor whose husband was lost at sea and has been left to raise their young, gifted child alone, and Hanan is a gifted priestess who has been raised in the Temple of Aistra (as a result of an edict which requires all gifted children to be given to the Temple). With the land inexplicably struggling and Ris consequently unable to make ends meet, she finds herself agreeing to undertake a perilous mission at the Queen’s behest. And as someone trying to avoid scrutiny from the Queen’s enforcers for past crimes, Finlyr gets roped into joining Ris on her quest. On a different path, and with the Queen shortly due to give birth and requiring a new priestess, Hanan is working hard to stand out from the crowd of acolytes in the hope that she’ll be selected.
Despite many names being thrown at us from the start, the short chapters and straightforward writing style made this an easy book to read, and one which has good LGBTQ+ representation. My main issue with this book is that a lot of elements (be that world building, plot development or character relationships) happened almost out of nowhere and/or were glossed over fairly quickly, which was a shame, as I thought there were lots of really interesting concepts. I also never fully connected with any of the characters and I often found, particularly with Ris and Finlyr, that the POVs were written so similarly that it sometimes took a moment to work out whose head we were in. For these reasons, I unfortunately don’t see myself picking up the sequel.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-ARC of this book.
Despite many names being thrown at us from the start, the short chapters and straightforward writing style made this an easy book to read, and one which has good LGBTQ+ representation. My main issue with this book is that a lot of elements (be that world building, plot development or character relationships) happened almost out of nowhere and/or were glossed over fairly quickly, which was a shame, as I thought there were lots of really interesting concepts. I also never fully connected with any of the characters and I often found, particularly with Ris and Finlyr, that the POVs were written so similarly that it sometimes took a moment to work out whose head we were in. For these reasons, I unfortunately don’t see myself picking up the sequel.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-ARC of this book.
February 14, 2026
Saltswept is an epic fantasy adventure with Southeast Asian mythology. I absolutely adored the talking Otter 🦦, who was absolutely the best character! This book follows multiple points of view so it took me a while to get into the story and to understand who everyone was. But give it time as the story really develops after the half way point. The cast are overall great, they really are a ragtag crew. Some of the points of view were more appealing to me than others and I couldn’t wait to get back to their chapters.
Overall I liked how the author represented a variety of genders and sexualities. I think this is a darker read than suggested from the blurb so do check trigger warnings. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this advanced reader copy. This is a voluntary review of my own thoughts.
Overall I liked how the author represented a variety of genders and sexualities. I think this is a darker read than suggested from the blurb so do check trigger warnings. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this advanced reader copy. This is a voluntary review of my own thoughts.
January 30, 2026
This was marketed as a swashbuckling adventure tale but was more of a dark fantasy. I was really into the world and the different POV’s, although at first I was very confused with who was who and where they were as the chapters were so short. It got better and better the more I read and I loved how everyone came together to fight for the same goal of freedom.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 23, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc of Saltswept. I'm afraid I'm DNFing it on page 124/at the 33% mark.
Wow, this book is different to what I'd expected from the marketing. I really wanted to love it, because an epic multi-POV fantasy with tons of LGBTQ+ rep and Southeast Asian mythology sounds amazing. It's exactly the kind of thing I enjoy in a book!
To give the book its due, the queer rep really is incredible. At least three major characters (and two POV characters) are LGBTQ+, and there are multiple ways to communicate gender. And, the magic system is fascinating!
However, I had two major issues with it, one to do with how triggering content is handled and one to do with how the multiple POVs are managed/structured. I also had some minor issues, like plot points being solved through unbelievably convenient coincidences.
Issue #1: Poor handling of multiple POVs
I love a good multi-POV book with five or six different characters and storylines. But, if they're not done well, they can throw the pacing off, become confusing, and make it harder to connect with the characters.
My favourite multi-POV books use the POV that's most impactful at each point in time. That's not what Saltswept does.
For the first ~85 pages of the book, Saltswept rotates POVs each chapter, going char A - B - C - and repeat. At the beginning of the novel, all characters are also in different places in the world, so in the first few chapters, you get introduced to a lot of names and places, and a lot of things happen, but very little is explained. In fact, 1/4 of the way in, and some very basic things are still unexplained. I know info-dumping is boring, but Saltswept does the opposite.
This rigid A-B-C-repeat structure also messes with the pacing. Some characters have a lot going on in their story arc, so in the space of 4 of their chapters (and they're short chapters!), they (minor spoilers) It's a lot. It feels rushed. (Also, do they have any other response than trying to throw a punch?)
But then other POV characters don't have as much going on in their arc at this point, so we get a whole chapter of them packing a bag while talking about the same things they talked about in the last chapter. It could have been condensed into a single sentence at the start of a different chapter.
Also, since the book is in first-person POV, it's really hard to actually remember the names of the different POV characters. I didn't feel like there was a strong difference in voice between the POVs, either.
Issue #2: Extremely triggering content that came out of the blue
I often read books with triggering content, but I struggle when it's not appropriately signalled. That was my problem with Saltswept.
For an epic fantasy, this book is described in a really cutesy way: a "ragtag crew" of "unlikely bedfellows" with a "talking ottercat" that needs to learn how to sail a boat and go on a quest. I was expecting something bordering on cosy. I did not expect one of the members of this ragtag crew, and one of three first-person POV characters, to be an abuser.
The intimate partner violence really did come out of the blue. This POV character suddenly, and completely unprovoked, It's triggering, and it's particularly triggering because of how unexpected it was.
I really think this should have been signalled better in the book's description. Had it been, I probably would have continued reading Saltswept because I'd have trusted the book more. There are many ways that this theme could be handled well, and it may turn out that Saltswept does in fact handle this well. But marketing the book as something cutesy means I don't have have enough faith in it to continue reading.
Wow, this book is different to what I'd expected from the marketing. I really wanted to love it, because an epic multi-POV fantasy with tons of LGBTQ+ rep and Southeast Asian mythology sounds amazing. It's exactly the kind of thing I enjoy in a book!
To give the book its due, the queer rep really is incredible. At least three major characters (and two POV characters) are LGBTQ+, and there are multiple ways to communicate gender. And, the magic system is fascinating!
However, I had two major issues with it, one to do with how triggering content is handled and one to do with how the multiple POVs are managed/structured. I also had some minor issues, like plot points being solved through unbelievably convenient coincidences.
Issue #1: Poor handling of multiple POVs
I love a good multi-POV book with five or six different characters and storylines. But, if they're not done well, they can throw the pacing off, become confusing, and make it harder to connect with the characters.
My favourite multi-POV books use the POV that's most impactful at each point in time. That's not what Saltswept does.
For the first ~85 pages of the book, Saltswept rotates POVs each chapter, going char A - B - C - and repeat. At the beginning of the novel, all characters are also in different places in the world, so in the first few chapters, you get introduced to a lot of names and places, and a lot of things happen, but very little is explained. In fact, 1/4 of the way in, and some very basic things are still unexplained. I know info-dumping is boring, but Saltswept does the opposite.
This rigid A-B-C-repeat structure also messes with the pacing. Some characters have a lot going on in their story arc, so in the space of 4 of their chapters (and they're short chapters!), they (minor spoilers) It's a lot. It feels rushed. (Also, do they have any other response than trying to throw a punch?)
But then other POV characters don't have as much going on in their arc at this point, so we get a whole chapter of them packing a bag while talking about the same things they talked about in the last chapter. It could have been condensed into a single sentence at the start of a different chapter.
Also, since the book is in first-person POV, it's really hard to actually remember the names of the different POV characters. I didn't feel like there was a strong difference in voice between the POVs, either.
Issue #2: Extremely triggering content that came out of the blue
I often read books with triggering content, but I struggle when it's not appropriately signalled. That was my problem with Saltswept.
For an epic fantasy, this book is described in a really cutesy way: a "ragtag crew" of "unlikely bedfellows" with a "talking ottercat" that needs to learn how to sail a boat and go on a quest. I was expecting something bordering on cosy. I did not expect one of the members of this ragtag crew, and one of three first-person POV characters, to be an abuser.
The intimate partner violence really did come out of the blue. This POV character suddenly, and completely unprovoked, It's triggering, and it's particularly triggering because of how unexpected it was.
I really think this should have been signalled better in the book's description. Had it been, I probably would have continued reading Saltswept because I'd have trusted the book more. There are many ways that this theme could be handled well, and it may turn out that Saltswept does in fact handle this well. But marketing the book as something cutesy means I don't have have enough faith in it to continue reading.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Saltswept follows several characters - a pirate, a farmer, an acolyte, a pickpocket and a talking ottercat as they go on a quest to find the treasure hidden within the depths of a raging whirlpool.
I'd like to begin by saying that I DNF'd this book around 20% in. I don't have a lot of good things to say about this book other than there is clear LQBTQ+ representation which is very positive. The rest, however, wasn't.
The multiple POV's throughout the 30% I read were confusing. I had no idea what was going on, I feel like some very extreme things happend in each of the characters POV's but because the chapters were so quick, I didn't get to fully grasp what had happened which led to me going back and re-reading areas and pulling me even further out of a story I wasn't fully in. The first characters POV - for example - just suddenly a graphic scene out of nowhere and then in the next it's talking about making sure they don't get a hard on because they're about to be hanged... it was just very random considering the description of this book and the cover both make it look quite atmospheric, beautiful, awe-inspiring and then it's vaguely gritty with no warning. It just didn't sit right with me and instantly put me off the book.
Likewise, the characters - despite being multiple POV - felt like the same character over and over again but in a different body, playing a different part. None of them were unique, more than half the time I wasn't sure where they were going with their narrative and I disliked all of them. I didn't really connect with anyone other than Hanan's story and even that was at a push.
Overall, I am unsure if this would be a book I'd recommend to any reader due to how chaotic it felt for me reading it. I am sure some would love it, but it wasn't one for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for allowing me to read this book in exchange for a review.
I'd like to begin by saying that I DNF'd this book around 20% in. I don't have a lot of good things to say about this book other than there is clear LQBTQ+ representation which is very positive. The rest, however, wasn't.
The multiple POV's throughout the 30% I read were confusing. I had no idea what was going on, I feel like some very extreme things happend in each of the characters POV's but because the chapters were so quick, I didn't get to fully grasp what had happened which led to me going back and re-reading areas and pulling me even further out of a story I wasn't fully in. The first characters POV - for example - just suddenly a graphic scene out of nowhere and then in the next it's talking about making sure they don't get a hard on because they're about to be hanged... it was just very random considering the description of this book and the cover both make it look quite atmospheric, beautiful, awe-inspiring and then it's vaguely gritty with no warning. It just didn't sit right with me and instantly put me off the book.
Likewise, the characters - despite being multiple POV - felt like the same character over and over again but in a different body, playing a different part. None of them were unique, more than half the time I wasn't sure where they were going with their narrative and I disliked all of them. I didn't really connect with anyone other than Hanan's story and even that was at a push.
Overall, I am unsure if this would be a book I'd recommend to any reader due to how chaotic it felt for me reading it. I am sure some would love it, but it wasn't one for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for allowing me to read this book in exchange for a review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Paranish has finally reopened its borders and returners and visitors alike are thronging into Umasa for the birth of the princess. But not all is as it seems.
Finlyr Pane has returned to Paranish - and finds himself barely escaping the gallows. Ris' daughter Biba has powerful magic she can no longer hide - and in an attempt to avoid the Temple, Ris sets out on the perilous quest of retrieving the treasure from the Lahon Maelstrom. Hanan achieves her wildest dreams - only to find out that the Bastion holds dark secrets.
Saltswept is a quest adventure on the high seas, but it's also a dark fantasy that dips into necromancy, which leads to... zombie sailors. A content warning here: the book may look and feel rather YA, but it does contain several sex scenes. It is also categorised as Adult, but it's hard to tell from the blurb and/or cover (though don't ask me what would make a distinction).
The narrative switches between Finlyr, Ris, and Hanan's POVs in first person. I personally think that if you have more than two viewpoint characters, you really should be writing in third person. As it is, it flows well enough despite having to keep tracking down whose first person POV I'm in. (But would've been easier, just saying.) Finlyr and Ris' POVs intertwine quite a bit, and they switch off rather seamlessly since they join forces early on in the book. It's Hanan's POV that often feels jarring, like it's not quite connected to the rest of the story. That storyline is important because it gives us insight into what the stakes are, and what's going on with the Temple and the Bastion, but since the two don't actually intersect until near the end, it feels a little like you're also reading a side quest of some sort.
Overall, Saltswept was an highly enjoyable read and I'm looking forward to book 2!
Note: I received a digital ARC from the Hodder & Stoughton via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Finlyr Pane has returned to Paranish - and finds himself barely escaping the gallows. Ris' daughter Biba has powerful magic she can no longer hide - and in an attempt to avoid the Temple, Ris sets out on the perilous quest of retrieving the treasure from the Lahon Maelstrom. Hanan achieves her wildest dreams - only to find out that the Bastion holds dark secrets.
Saltswept is a quest adventure on the high seas, but it's also a dark fantasy that dips into necromancy, which leads to... zombie sailors. A content warning here: the book may look and feel rather YA, but it does contain several sex scenes. It is also categorised as Adult, but it's hard to tell from the blurb and/or cover (though don't ask me what would make a distinction).
The narrative switches between Finlyr, Ris, and Hanan's POVs in first person. I personally think that if you have more than two viewpoint characters, you really should be writing in third person. As it is, it flows well enough despite having to keep tracking down whose first person POV I'm in. (But would've been easier, just saying.) Finlyr and Ris' POVs intertwine quite a bit, and they switch off rather seamlessly since they join forces early on in the book. It's Hanan's POV that often feels jarring, like it's not quite connected to the rest of the story. That storyline is important because it gives us insight into what the stakes are, and what's going on with the Temple and the Bastion, but since the two don't actually intersect until near the end, it feels a little like you're also reading a side quest of some sort.
Overall, Saltswept was an highly enjoyable read and I'm looking forward to book 2!
Note: I received a digital ARC from the Hodder & Stoughton via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the ARC
Saltswept is a nautical adventure featuring pirates, magic, mythical beasts, and politics.
The story follows the POV of three different characters: Finlyr the pirate; Ris, a farmer (and former sailor) raising her daughter, a child gifted with magic, alone; and Hanan, a Priestess at the Temple of Aistra, where all gifted children are taken to be raised, by order of the Queen.
In trying to protect her daughter from being taken to the temple, Ris is given a mission to undertake a quest for the queen: to recover a magical item for her from the centre of the Maelstrom, for which she’ll need a boat and a crew. While Ris and Finlyr’s stories are closely woven together, Hanan sits apart, her narrative focusing on the Temple of Aistra and the Queen. All POVs are written in first person; although I didn’t have trouble following the different stories, at times it was hard to distinguish who was speaking. If you’re not used to reading multi-POV books, this might take a bit of getting used to.
This was an ambitious story for a debut novel, and while the plot itself was interesting and kept me reading, the world-building wasn’t as in-depth as I like, and the character development was stilted. The book would have benefited from being longer, giving us more time to get to know the characters and the world.
This book is also a lot darker than the cover and description would indicate, so do check out the trigger warnings before picking it up.
Saltswept would be good for someone looking for a plot-heavy maritime adventure who likes mixing found-family vibes with dark undertones and who likes multi-POV novels.
Saltswept is a nautical adventure featuring pirates, magic, mythical beasts, and politics.
The story follows the POV of three different characters: Finlyr the pirate; Ris, a farmer (and former sailor) raising her daughter, a child gifted with magic, alone; and Hanan, a Priestess at the Temple of Aistra, where all gifted children are taken to be raised, by order of the Queen.
In trying to protect her daughter from being taken to the temple, Ris is given a mission to undertake a quest for the queen: to recover a magical item for her from the centre of the Maelstrom, for which she’ll need a boat and a crew. While Ris and Finlyr’s stories are closely woven together, Hanan sits apart, her narrative focusing on the Temple of Aistra and the Queen. All POVs are written in first person; although I didn’t have trouble following the different stories, at times it was hard to distinguish who was speaking. If you’re not used to reading multi-POV books, this might take a bit of getting used to.
This was an ambitious story for a debut novel, and while the plot itself was interesting and kept me reading, the world-building wasn’t as in-depth as I like, and the character development was stilted. The book would have benefited from being longer, giving us more time to get to know the characters and the world.
This book is also a lot darker than the cover and description would indicate, so do check out the trigger warnings before picking it up.
Saltswept would be good for someone looking for a plot-heavy maritime adventure who likes mixing found-family vibes with dark undertones and who likes multi-POV novels.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
4.5 stars, rounded up! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Saltswept was a lot of fun! It gave me real pirates of the Caribbean vibes with an undead pirate crew, a kraken and a giant bird that can turn people into stone.
This is a book that is really hard to place into a genre because it has a cosy premise but the stakes are really high and there are some dark moments. The adventure at the core of the story is really gripping and the ending left me desperate to know what happens next.
There are multiple POVs in this book and I felt invested in them all but identified most with Ris. I think Katalina Watt perfectly captured her fear of having a child with a forbidden gift as well as her anger and heartbreak over Larkin. It was so refreshing to see a tough and capable mum in a fantasy book.
I loved the talking otter-cat Sini but I would have liked to see more of them. I also felt that part 4 rushed to. Its conclusion a little, especially as this section was action packed.
It wasn’t something that ruined my enjoyment of the book but there were moments in this that I would have appreciated a trigger warning for. One of the POV characters brutally assaults their partner and I there are some horrific animal re-deaths in the beginning that whilst I realise were essential to the plot I would have liked to be able to prepare for.
Overall though, Saltswept is a great fun swashbuckling adventure that gets bonus points for Fetch the dog and the best description of a book hangover I have ever read.
I also loved that the kids became so fond of the undead crew that they named them.
Thank you to Hodderscape and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.
Saltswept was a lot of fun! It gave me real pirates of the Caribbean vibes with an undead pirate crew, a kraken and a giant bird that can turn people into stone.
This is a book that is really hard to place into a genre because it has a cosy premise but the stakes are really high and there are some dark moments. The adventure at the core of the story is really gripping and the ending left me desperate to know what happens next.
There are multiple POVs in this book and I felt invested in them all but identified most with Ris. I think Katalina Watt perfectly captured her fear of having a child with a forbidden gift as well as her anger and heartbreak over Larkin. It was so refreshing to see a tough and capable mum in a fantasy book.
I loved the talking otter-cat Sini but I would have liked to see more of them. I also felt that part 4 rushed to. Its conclusion a little, especially as this section was action packed.
It wasn’t something that ruined my enjoyment of the book but there were moments in this that I would have appreciated a trigger warning for. One of the POV characters brutally assaults their partner and I there are some horrific animal re-deaths in the beginning that whilst I realise were essential to the plot I would have liked to be able to prepare for.
Overall though, Saltswept is a great fun swashbuckling adventure that gets bonus points for Fetch the dog and the best description of a book hangover I have ever read.
I also loved that the kids became so fond of the undead crew that they named them.
Thank you to Hodderscape and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.
January 1, 2026
Thank you Netgalley and Hodderscape for the early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
(3.5 rounded up to 4)
I struggled to get into this book, and I think it might have been the writing style that didn’t agree with me? The pacing is quite fast so it’s hard to keep track of people or remember who they are. Plus I found myself having to check chapter headings to remind myself who I was in the perspective of a number of times.
Basically I couldn’t quite sink in to the story as much as I usually love to do, which was a shame.
Plus I didn’t find myself aching to dive back in to the book when I put it down, which for me is a bad sign. And I’d forget what book I was reading and what was happening in it too…
But aside from the above, I did love the plot, the world building, and the characters. Plus a talking otter-cat is absolutely adorable and I’d love to know more about his origins/backstory!
The magic system felt really organic and easy to visualise, possibly easier than I found the actual physical surroundings to visualise, and I enjoyed the flow of life forces aspect to it.
The evil character was also evil for an understandable reason, just a “that’s how they’re made” type, which can work really well if their sheer existence disrupts life around them.
So generally I’d say this was a good fantasy novel with a unique plot and world, that was just executed kind of confusingly and wasn’t super for me. I’m not sure I’ll pick up the second book, maybe if it’s on sale I’ll give it a shot to know how this all ends - because I am very intrigued!
(3.5 rounded up to 4)
I struggled to get into this book, and I think it might have been the writing style that didn’t agree with me? The pacing is quite fast so it’s hard to keep track of people or remember who they are. Plus I found myself having to check chapter headings to remind myself who I was in the perspective of a number of times.
Basically I couldn’t quite sink in to the story as much as I usually love to do, which was a shame.
Plus I didn’t find myself aching to dive back in to the book when I put it down, which for me is a bad sign. And I’d forget what book I was reading and what was happening in it too…
But aside from the above, I did love the plot, the world building, and the characters. Plus a talking otter-cat is absolutely adorable and I’d love to know more about his origins/backstory!
The magic system felt really organic and easy to visualise, possibly easier than I found the actual physical surroundings to visualise, and I enjoyed the flow of life forces aspect to it.
The evil character was also evil for an understandable reason, just a “that’s how they’re made” type, which can work really well if their sheer existence disrupts life around them.
So generally I’d say this was a good fantasy novel with a unique plot and world, that was just executed kind of confusingly and wasn’t super for me. I’m not sure I’ll pick up the second book, maybe if it’s on sale I’ll give it a shot to know how this all ends - because I am very intrigued!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Closer to 3.5 stars. I really enjoyed the premise of this story, the overarching pirate plot, and the ship. This book is tough for me to rate - there were some parts that I really enjoyed (undead pirate ship crew - felt like something out of Pirates of the Caribbean) but other parts that didn't work quite as well for me.
The book has 3 POVs, but all use the first person. This was fine early on when they were all in separate places doing separate things, but as the book went on and the plot lines converged, it became harder to tell who's POV we were in. I think it would've benefited from being in third person, or with some more distinct personalities displayed in the POVs.
As the book went on, I found myself enjoying one of the POVs less than the other 2, which is not uncommon for me in multi-POV stories. I also felt the ending was a bit rushed - part 4 in general felt really compressed, and would've benefited from some expansion / better pacing.
Things that did work for me - I really enjoyed some of the side characters and side plots, the found family aspect, and the magic system. Excellent LGBTQ representation / normalisation! The chapters were short and helped the book move quickly.
As mentioned in other reviews, there should be a trigger warning for sexual assault (although the scene was shorter than I expected, I can see how it would be very upsetting to others).
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
The book has 3 POVs, but all use the first person. This was fine early on when they were all in separate places doing separate things, but as the book went on and the plot lines converged, it became harder to tell who's POV we were in. I think it would've benefited from being in third person, or with some more distinct personalities displayed in the POVs.
As the book went on, I found myself enjoying one of the POVs less than the other 2, which is not uncommon for me in multi-POV stories. I also felt the ending was a bit rushed - part 4 in general felt really compressed, and would've benefited from some expansion / better pacing.
Things that did work for me - I really enjoyed some of the side characters and side plots, the found family aspect, and the magic system. Excellent LGBTQ representation / normalisation! The chapters were short and helped the book move quickly.
As mentioned in other reviews, there should be a trigger warning for sexual assault (although the scene was shorter than I expected, I can see how it would be very upsetting to others).
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
In Saltswept, we follow a condemned pirate, a desperate mother trying to save her magically gifted daughter, and a young priestess experimenting with her powers. Their paths converge when they join forces with an elusive pickpocket and a talking ottercat to sail into the Maelstrom, a deadly whirlpool said to hold a legendary treasure.
I loved the Southeast Asian–inspired setting and the nautical atmosphere of the book. The premise itself is appealing, as aa ragtag crew battle high seas peril and political intrigue. The magical elements, particularly around death and the veil between worlds, add an extra layer of darkness beneath the swashbuckling surface.
That said, I struggled with this way the story is told. The multiple first-person POVs sometimes make it difficult to distinguish between voices and made events feel disjointed. Although the worldbuilding is imaginative, it occasionally gave the impression of stepping into an already established universe and I actually went to check if there was a previous instalment in this universe that I had missed. The latter third of the book is stronger as the threads draw together, so I'm hoping the sequel will build on that momentum and deliver a more cohesive continuation of the story.
A recommended read for fans of The Bone Ships by R.J. Barker, Godkiller by Hannah Kaner, and darker maritime fantasy.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hodderscape for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I loved the Southeast Asian–inspired setting and the nautical atmosphere of the book. The premise itself is appealing, as aa ragtag crew battle high seas peril and political intrigue. The magical elements, particularly around death and the veil between worlds, add an extra layer of darkness beneath the swashbuckling surface.
That said, I struggled with this way the story is told. The multiple first-person POVs sometimes make it difficult to distinguish between voices and made events feel disjointed. Although the worldbuilding is imaginative, it occasionally gave the impression of stepping into an already established universe and I actually went to check if there was a previous instalment in this universe that I had missed. The latter third of the book is stronger as the threads draw together, so I'm hoping the sequel will build on that momentum and deliver a more cohesive continuation of the story.
A recommended read for fans of The Bone Ships by R.J. Barker, Godkiller by Hannah Kaner, and darker maritime fantasy.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hodderscape for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
January 24, 2026
I read an eARC of this book on NetGalley so thank you to the author and the publisher.
This is a beautiful fantasy, heavily inspired by the sea. There’s magic, there’s sailing, maelstroms and other magnificent nautical challenges. The book follows three points of view and each of these picks up their own side characters who form part of their tales. There’s clear parallels between the three and growing connections.
With the three points of view, I did find that about a quarter of the way through the book, I latched on to one in particular and was less engaged with the other two. I found this part of the story really interesting. But it felt like the motivations and narrative lost clarity a little on the other two. They’re necessary for how they connect later and to add richness and background to the story. I did feel like I was rushing those parts though to get back to the other point of view. The book changes point of view extremely rapidly and frequently so I might have benefited from the other two POVs having slightly longer chapters to make them feel more engaging.
That aside, the story involving the queen was absolutely shocking and riveting. The way this built up was excellently done, with a growing malice and horror as our character starts to learn more and is engulfed in a worrying and dangerous situation.
Lots of wonderful fantastical elements to this book. I loved the influence of the sea throughout and how it shaped so much of the story.
This is a beautiful fantasy, heavily inspired by the sea. There’s magic, there’s sailing, maelstroms and other magnificent nautical challenges. The book follows three points of view and each of these picks up their own side characters who form part of their tales. There’s clear parallels between the three and growing connections.
With the three points of view, I did find that about a quarter of the way through the book, I latched on to one in particular and was less engaged with the other two. I found this part of the story really interesting. But it felt like the motivations and narrative lost clarity a little on the other two. They’re necessary for how they connect later and to add richness and background to the story. I did feel like I was rushing those parts though to get back to the other point of view. The book changes point of view extremely rapidly and frequently so I might have benefited from the other two POVs having slightly longer chapters to make them feel more engaging.
That aside, the story involving the queen was absolutely shocking and riveting. The way this built up was excellently done, with a growing malice and horror as our character starts to learn more and is engulfed in a worrying and dangerous situation.
Lots of wonderful fantastical elements to this book. I loved the influence of the sea throughout and how it shaped so much of the story.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Unexpectedly dark fantasy, maybe not getting the marketing it'll need to find its audience.
I was all on board for the ARC of this, based on the colourful cover artwork, cosy blurb-words like 'ragtag crew', 'talking ottercat', 'unlikely bedfellows' and an Amina al-Sirafi comp. Insofar as a good chunk of this is set on a boat, and there are various takes on parents/guardians protecting children I guess I can see it, but much more like "if Amina was written by Joe Abercrombie". I would tag this 'grimdark', 'adult' and 'unlikeable MCs' -- and emphasise the very different reading mood.
I'm not a big grimdark fan, but thought this worked well with that vibe in mind. There's a pacy plot, a big world with history and consequences, and vivid prose throughout. What didn't work for me were the three MC first-person POVs. Cuing the reader as to who's narrating is a subtle but important writing art, and here, without the character name at the top of each chapter, I'd've been completely lost. Hope this is handled more carefully in the second book.
If you're a grimdark enjoyer looking for something a bit different, I think this may really hit the spot for you! Otherwise, hang on for The Tapestry of Fate coming out in May '26.
This review is based upon a complimentary advance reading copy provided by the publisher.
I was all on board for the ARC of this, based on the colourful cover artwork, cosy blurb-words like 'ragtag crew', 'talking ottercat', 'unlikely bedfellows' and an Amina al-Sirafi comp. Insofar as a good chunk of this is set on a boat, and there are various takes on parents/guardians protecting children I guess I can see it, but much more like "if Amina was written by Joe Abercrombie". I would tag this 'grimdark', 'adult' and 'unlikeable MCs' -- and emphasise the very different reading mood.
I'm not a big grimdark fan, but thought this worked well with that vibe in mind. There's a pacy plot, a big world with history and consequences, and vivid prose throughout. What didn't work for me were the three MC first-person POVs. Cuing the reader as to who's narrating is a subtle but important writing art, and here, without the character name at the top of each chapter, I'd've been completely lost. Hope this is handled more carefully in the second book.
If you're a grimdark enjoyer looking for something a bit different, I think this may really hit the spot for you! Otherwise, hang on for The Tapestry of Fate coming out in May '26.
This review is based upon a complimentary advance reading copy provided by the publisher.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a free ARC of Saltswept by Katalina Watt in exchange for an honest review.
2.5 stars
Slight spoilers
I found the multiple points of view difficult to engage with at the beginning of the novel. Many of the characters blended together for me, which made it challenging to distinguish their individual voices. I also often struggled to identify the characters’ genders, and while this may have been an intentional authorial choice, it added to the initial confusion rather than enhancing the reading experience.
At times, the book felt uncertain about what it wanted to be in terms of genre, tone, and themes. There were moments of whimsical, almost cosy fantasy including a cute, talking otter-cat. At other times, quite abruptly the tone was changed by much darker content, including spoiler: non-consensual asphyxiation involving a main character’s love interest. These tonal shifts were jarring and made the narrative feel uneven, as though it hadn’t fully settled on its audience or approach.
That said, the book did pick up in the latter sections. I became more invested as the story progressed, particularly in some characters more than others, and I did enjoy the magic elements and worldbuilding once they were given more space to develop.
Overall, Saltswept was a mixed read for me. While the ending was stronger than the beginning, I’m unsure whether I’m invested enough to continue with book two.
2.5 stars
Slight spoilers
I found the multiple points of view difficult to engage with at the beginning of the novel. Many of the characters blended together for me, which made it challenging to distinguish their individual voices. I also often struggled to identify the characters’ genders, and while this may have been an intentional authorial choice, it added to the initial confusion rather than enhancing the reading experience.
At times, the book felt uncertain about what it wanted to be in terms of genre, tone, and themes. There were moments of whimsical, almost cosy fantasy including a cute, talking otter-cat. At other times, quite abruptly the tone was changed by much darker content, including spoiler: non-consensual asphyxiation involving a main character’s love interest. These tonal shifts were jarring and made the narrative feel uneven, as though it hadn’t fully settled on its audience or approach.
That said, the book did pick up in the latter sections. I became more invested as the story progressed, particularly in some characters more than others, and I did enjoy the magic elements and worldbuilding once they were given more space to develop.
Overall, Saltswept was a mixed read for me. While the ending was stronger than the beginning, I’m unsure whether I’m invested enough to continue with book two.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.75 rounded up
This book has a lot going for it but would definitely benefit from another round of editing which will hopefully be sorted out before print.
I did enjoy the story but it did take some time getting started as the main quest didn’t start until 40% in, but it only really felt truly started by the 70% mark. I do appreciate books with extensive world building and generally don’t mind if it takes a book a good 30% to get going, but I wouldn’t necessarily say it was world building that filled up the first half of the book.
The series is set to be a duology and I definitely want to see this story come to fruition and plan to stick with the series. I particularly liked the magic system which is explored mainly through one the main characters, Hanan. This book has a 3 POV, Finlyr, a pirate about to meet his end at the end of a noose, Ris, a widowed farmer doing all she can to protect her gifted child, Biba, and Hanan, a priestess in training, sent to aid the Queen and the soon to be born Princess.
While it wasn’t perfect, there was still a lot to enjoy from this book and for a debut I think it’s a solid story and will be purchasing a copy upon release.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hodderscape for the opportunity to read this title.
This book has a lot going for it but would definitely benefit from another round of editing which will hopefully be sorted out before print.
I did enjoy the story but it did take some time getting started as the main quest didn’t start until 40% in, but it only really felt truly started by the 70% mark. I do appreciate books with extensive world building and generally don’t mind if it takes a book a good 30% to get going, but I wouldn’t necessarily say it was world building that filled up the first half of the book.
The series is set to be a duology and I definitely want to see this story come to fruition and plan to stick with the series. I particularly liked the magic system which is explored mainly through one the main characters, Hanan. This book has a 3 POV, Finlyr, a pirate about to meet his end at the end of a noose, Ris, a widowed farmer doing all she can to protect her gifted child, Biba, and Hanan, a priestess in training, sent to aid the Queen and the soon to be born Princess.
While it wasn’t perfect, there was still a lot to enjoy from this book and for a debut I think it’s a solid story and will be purchasing a copy upon release.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hodderscape for the opportunity to read this title.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.5 stars
This is a book I am really struggling to review. I really enjoyed the beginning of this book. The characters and perspectives were interesting. So many queer people and a world that allows for gender exploration. The magic too was cool and I found learning more about it intriguing.
However, this book is at times difficult to follow, knowing who is talking and what is happening. I think a lot of this would have been clearer if 3rd person was used instead of 1st person. I felt for a lot of the later half of the book that I had more a vague understanding of what was happening. The obfuscating language typical of the start of books never really grows clearer and the motivations don't really evolve, thus I started losing interest around 50-60% through the book. The end felt a bit chaotic and because I didn't really get the underlying motivations for things, many of the events didn't have impact. There was a disconnect.
Also, as several reviews have mentioned, I really hope this book gets published with a content warning page, particularly as several of the acts are committed by the MC themselves not others.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.
This is a book I am really struggling to review. I really enjoyed the beginning of this book. The characters and perspectives were interesting. So many queer people and a world that allows for gender exploration. The magic too was cool and I found learning more about it intriguing.
However, this book is at times difficult to follow, knowing who is talking and what is happening. I think a lot of this would have been clearer if 3rd person was used instead of 1st person. I felt for a lot of the later half of the book that I had more a vague understanding of what was happening. The obfuscating language typical of the start of books never really grows clearer and the motivations don't really evolve, thus I started losing interest around 50-60% through the book. The end felt a bit chaotic and because I didn't really get the underlying motivations for things, many of the events didn't have impact. There was a disconnect.
Also, as several reviews have mentioned, I really hope this book gets published with a content warning page, particularly as several of the acts are committed by the MC themselves not others.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.
dnf
February 8, 2026My thanks to Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for a free DRC of "Saltswept" by Katalina Watt.
This Epic Fantasy adventure debut was one of my most anticipated releases of 2026.
I managed to read only up to 20% due some problematic content, sexual assault.
I hope the finished product will have a list of trigger warnings at the beginning. The issue was that the SA was not addressed.
But I decided to continue as there could have been a portail of darkness within someone...
Now here it is where we have a character that is compared to the MC from "The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi" and I got angry that a neglecting abusive mother is compared to a caring one...
As a reader I don't realy need likable main characters, but here all three points of view had nothing to make me care for them. One is constantly thinking about sex even in life or deat situation, one is a rapist and one is a negletive abusive mother.
No promise of a great adventure can make me even remotely want to read about these characters.
So dissapointed.
This Epic Fantasy adventure debut was one of my most anticipated releases of 2026.
I managed to read only up to 20% due some problematic content, sexual assault.
I hope the finished product will have a list of trigger warnings at the beginning. The issue was that the SA was not addressed.
But I decided to continue as there could have been a portail of darkness within someone...
Now here it is where we have a character that is compared to the MC from "The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi" and I got angry that a neglecting abusive mother is compared to a caring one...
As a reader I don't realy need likable main characters, but here all three points of view had nothing to make me care for them. One is constantly thinking about sex even in life or deat situation, one is a rapist and one is a negletive abusive mother.
No promise of a great adventure can make me even remotely want to read about these characters.
So dissapointed.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.
2.75 stars.
Firstly: the LGBTQ+ rep in this book is fantastic and seeing a queer normative world with such inclusive language used was refreshing. The world setting is also brilliant and lush, and I wanted even more of an exploration of it.
Now, the issues I had: confusing multi-POV chapters without distinct voices made the reading experience much harder than it should have been - and this is coming from someone who usually loves a multi-POV book. It has to work though. And it just doesn't here! Another issue was a lack of content warnings for some pretty intense behaviour quite early on in the book. I would hope that the finished copy would include warnings for this content as it could be extremely triggering for survivors of intimate partner violence and/or SA.
Overall I came away from this disappointed as I had such high hopes for a fun, quirky, queer-normative adventure fantasy. It felt as if it could have done without a few more rounds of heavy handed editing. Gorgeous cover though!
2.75 stars.
Firstly: the LGBTQ+ rep in this book is fantastic and seeing a queer normative world with such inclusive language used was refreshing. The world setting is also brilliant and lush, and I wanted even more of an exploration of it.
Now, the issues I had: confusing multi-POV chapters without distinct voices made the reading experience much harder than it should have been - and this is coming from someone who usually loves a multi-POV book. It has to work though. And it just doesn't here! Another issue was a lack of content warnings for some pretty intense behaviour quite early on in the book. I would hope that the finished copy would include warnings for this content as it could be extremely triggering for survivors of intimate partner violence and/or SA.
Overall I came away from this disappointed as I had such high hopes for a fun, quirky, queer-normative adventure fantasy. It felt as if it could have done without a few more rounds of heavy handed editing. Gorgeous cover though!
January 6, 2026
Thank you to Hodderscape for sending me an ARC copy of Saltswept to review. I am unfortunately going to have to DNF at the 20% mark.
The DNF is for two reasons.
1. The multiple first person POVs is not executed well, and with such short chapters in the first 100ish pages it makes it very difficult to remember who is who, and the importance of each person/place we are introduced to. This could also be a me problem, I mostly enjoy third person writing however I was not convinced that I would enjoy the remainder of the book because of this.
2. This is probably the more important reason, but within the first 50 pages there is a scene with sexual assault which we are given no warning or context for. It comes out of left field with no real explanation. It was very uncomfortable scene especially for so early in a book.
Such a shame as I was so intrigued by the premise for this book and the fact that it’s queer representation is so well done.
The DNF is for two reasons.
1. The multiple first person POVs is not executed well, and with such short chapters in the first 100ish pages it makes it very difficult to remember who is who, and the importance of each person/place we are introduced to. This could also be a me problem, I mostly enjoy third person writing however I was not convinced that I would enjoy the remainder of the book because of this.
2. This is probably the more important reason, but within the first 50 pages there is a scene with sexual assault which we are given no warning or context for. It comes out of left field with no real explanation. It was very uncomfortable scene especially for so early in a book.
Such a shame as I was so intrigued by the premise for this book and the fact that it’s queer representation is so well done.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
An enjoyable fantasy adventure featuring found family, magic, pirates and a talking ottercat. The story is told from the point of view of three of the main characters. It is told in the first person and it was often difficult to remember which 'I' was the focus of the chapter. I found this mildly irritating. The chapters are short and this made the story feel fast paced even though the quest doesn't kick off until a significant way through the book. I enjoyed most of the book but I found that towards the end of the book, it became less engaging.
Overall, the book has some negatives but I did enjoy it, it was an entertaining read and it will be interesting to read the second book and see how the story develops.
3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars.
I received a free review copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for my honest and unedited review.
Overall, the book has some negatives but I did enjoy it, it was an entertaining read and it will be interesting to read the second book and see how the story develops.
3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars.
I received a free review copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for my honest and unedited review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Saltswept is an atmospheric novel with a striking cover and an intriguing premise that initially promised a great deal. While the world-building and concept show clear ambition, I found the opening portion of the book slow to take hold, and by around the 40% mark, I hadn’t formed a strong connection to the characters or their outcomes.
The large cast and multiple points of view made it difficult for me to stay oriented and emotionally invested, and ultimately I decided not to continue. That said, the novel’s tone and scope suggest it will resonate more strongly with readers who enjoy layered narratives and ensemble storytelling. Although it wasn’t the right fit for me, Saltswept clearly has potential and a distinct identity that will appeal to its intended audience.
Thanks to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton | Hodderscape for this ARC . This is my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
more like a 3.5
Saltswept allows us to get to know each of our ragtag crew. We can see their disasters, their mistakes, and their fears spread across the page. At the beginning, like with a lot of multiple character books, it's a bit difficult to keep everyone apart in our mind. The length of the chapters at the beginning also means we are flitting a lot between them. When we finally get a bit more of a handle, what we find is a story about adventure, but also which almost pulls them together. The characters are orbiting each other and as they are pulled together, it unfolds the larger story. It's a slower start than I expected.
more like a 3.5
Saltswept allows us to get to know each of our ragtag crew. We can see their disasters, their mistakes, and their fears spread across the page. At the beginning, like with a lot of multiple character books, it's a bit difficult to keep everyone apart in our mind. The length of the chapters at the beginning also means we are flitting a lot between them. When we finally get a bit more of a handle, what we find is a story about adventure, but also which almost pulls them together. The characters are orbiting each other and as they are pulled together, it unfolds the larger story. It's a slower start than I expected.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
With intricate, fascinating world-building and three varied but engaging pov characters, Saltswept was a whole experience. I was hooked from the first chapter, which zipped along, immersing me in the fantastical world. Finlyr was a great introduction to the story and I loved his cavalier attitude. Ris won my heart instantly, her situation with her daughter was so fraught, it made me feel so much for her. And Hanan was fascinating. The Tree of Life filled me with both awe and horror.
The book has fantastic queer rep and a fun story that kept me absorbed throughout. The tone gets pretty dark at times, but that only made the story more emotionally involving. Saltswept is a great novel that blends genres and will leave you feeling satisfied and eager for the next book in the series.
The book has fantastic queer rep and a fun story that kept me absorbed throughout. The tone gets pretty dark at times, but that only made the story more emotionally involving. Saltswept is a great novel that blends genres and will leave you feeling satisfied and eager for the next book in the series.
December 6, 2025
An unlikely trio consisting of a priestess, a pirate, and a farmer desperate to save her daughter team up - accompanied by a small beast and a petty thief - sailing the Saltswept on a quest to retrieve a mysterious treasure located in a perilous whirlpool.
Their motives go for beyond personal gain, because there is far more at stake here. And failure is just not an option. But can success be?
This is a swashbuckling adventure with a ragtag crew of misfits, who will soon have you cheering for them. Intensely original, it gets 3.5 stars.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
Their motives go for beyond personal gain, because there is far more at stake here. And failure is just not an option. But can success be?
This is a swashbuckling adventure with a ragtag crew of misfits, who will soon have you cheering for them. Intensely original, it gets 3.5 stars.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.5 stars
I think especially for a debut this is a solid book and story. The main characters - Hannan a priestess at the Bastion, Ris a single parent trying to do her best for her daughter in a world that is dangerous for people with magic and Larkin the ex pirate. I think this duology has a lot of potential and while some parts of it felt a bit muddled in place (e.g. the cave scenes - if you know, you know) it has the bones of a fun story. The addition of the ottercat as well was a nice touch.
thank you Netgalley for the ARC!
I think especially for a debut this is a solid book and story. The main characters - Hannan a priestess at the Bastion, Ris a single parent trying to do her best for her daughter in a world that is dangerous for people with magic and Larkin the ex pirate. I think this duology has a lot of potential and while some parts of it felt a bit muddled in place (e.g. the cave scenes - if you know, you know) it has the bones of a fun story. The addition of the ottercat as well was a nice touch.
thank you Netgalley for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.
I really WANTED to like this more than I did - I actually loved the first 200 pages or so, but the wheels came off for me towards the end and I finished it feeling a little bit disappointed. I usually love a good found family romp, but I think the opacity of the plot left me confused at times - what actually are the royal family, why are they doing all the horrible things etc. Maybe this will be explored further in the second book and if so, great, but there were so many unresolved things at the end that I just couldn't get past.
I really WANTED to like this more than I did - I actually loved the first 200 pages or so, but the wheels came off for me towards the end and I finished it feeling a little bit disappointed. I usually love a good found family romp, but I think the opacity of the plot left me confused at times - what actually are the royal family, why are they doing all the horrible things etc. Maybe this will be explored further in the second book and if so, great, but there were so many unresolved things at the end that I just couldn't get past.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy. I will start off with the positives, I like the misfit crew vibe and the queer representation was also really good. I also want an otter cat. However, I have two major issues with this book. First, that it was really difficult to separate the characters in particular once they were in the same place, as there was very little in the writing style to distinguish them. Second, the world building was very hit and miss. I wanted so much more detail about this world, as an example why the antagonists were acting in the way they did.
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