What do you think?
Rate this book
Tempest, Take Me Home
Eli has made their career and built their reputation as a treasure hunter and captain of Tempest. Now, they have the chance to secure their status as a legend on the seas…but they’re going to need help to get this job done.
Max lives a calm, orderly routine, using his magic to provide maps for his clients and securing a name for himself as the best in the business. The only excitement Max gets is when Eli and Tempest come home to visit…but the proposal Eli brings home this time is an opportunity Max has never imagined.
Tempest and crew have been recruited to track down and recover pieces of myth, priceless items said to have come to the world directly from the gods. If they pull it off, the ship will receive gold and acclaim the likes of which none of them has ever imagined…but they aren’t the only ship on the seas after this prize. When a rival crew finds out that Max is Eli’s secret weapon, the risk to the magical cartographer is higher than any of them bargained for.
Eli and Max have been best friends since they were kids and in love for longer than either of them can remember. They’ve seen one another through a lot, but now, they’ll need to hold onto the foundation they’ve built between them if they’re going to ride out the storms ahead.
Max lives a calm, orderly routine, using his magic to provide maps for his clients and securing a name for himself as the best in the business. The only excitement Max gets is when Eli and Tempest come home to visit…but the proposal Eli brings home this time is an opportunity Max has never imagined.
Tempest and crew have been recruited to track down and recover pieces of myth, priceless items said to have come to the world directly from the gods. If they pull it off, the ship will receive gold and acclaim the likes of which none of them has ever imagined…but they aren’t the only ship on the seas after this prize. When a rival crew finds out that Max is Eli’s secret weapon, the risk to the magical cartographer is higher than any of them bargained for.
Eli and Max have been best friends since they were kids and in love for longer than either of them can remember. They’ve seen one another through a lot, but now, they’ll need to hold onto the foundation they’ve built between them if they’re going to ride out the storms ahead.
- GenresFantasy
321 pages, Paperback
Published March 15, 2025
4 people are currently reading
86 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
March 26, 2025
Whimsical cozy queer pirate romantasy. Exactly what I needed.
February 13, 2025
*** I received an ARC copy from the author in exchange for an honest review***
3.5 stars
When the major gripe you have with a book is that it should have been twice as long, that's got to indicate the author did something right. Tempest, Take Me Home is a little slow to get started, but by the end I was invested in the action and left wanting more.
The characters:
Where this book shines is in its character relationships. As a queer person in a poly relationship with a disabled partner, I found the character conflict refreshingly realistic and adult. It's nice to see the aspects of my life that are rarely represented in fiction tackled so effectively on the page. For example, the conflict between Max and Eli over Eli's over-protectiveness certainly mirrors conflicts I've had with my partner. It's nice to see disabled representation written by a disabled person, as this book refuses to infantilise Max while still showing his day-to-day accessibility concerns. It firmly states that it's up to Eli to trust Max to know his own limits instead of treating Max as in need of saving. The book also refrains from straying into teen-drama territory, presenting an established poly relationship with realistic issues but no petty drama.
The main issue I have with the characters is that we don't get more time with them. Knight presents a crew of varied and interesting people that I'd love to learn more about. However, with the book being so short, I agree with their decision to flesh out the main two characters rather than trying to cram in backstories for every crew member. Hopefully this will be explored further in the sequel. Another thing I wish we got more of was a look into Max and Eli growing up together, perhaps in the form of flashbacks. I found the pieces we got very compelling and they could be a whole book on their own. Again, I'm holding out for a (longer) sequel.
The plot:
Lord of the Rings this is not. Worldbuilding is barely existent - we're plonked into a very basic DnD-style universe with the usual fare: elves, orcs, dwarves. I can't say I didn't roll my eyes a little. The cast is sent on a quest to fetch eight elements of the gods, which are barely explained and only function as a device to get the plot moving. You may be thinking (as I was), "eight? With this wordcount? How are they gonna do that?" I suspected they might collect four and then leave the rest for a future book, but no, they got all eight. How? By rushing it severely. I understand that the author mainly wanted to focus on the character relationships, but I wish we had gotten some more unique or at least more in-depth worldbuilding and that more time was spent on collecting the elements of the gods, since they were supposedly so important.
One of the good points of the book was that since the author spent time and care in fleshing out the relationship of the main two characters, when one was in danger, there was a sense of real tension and I was compelled to keep reading to find out what happened. I appreciate this.
The sex:
There are about four sex scenes. If you're into that, great. If you're not, you can pretty much skip them without worrying you've missed anything plot-wise. Since this area is so subjective, I'll withhold opinion on it.
Conclusion:
I went into this book thinking it probably wouldn't be for me, but I was pleasantly surprised by its good-quality disability representation and realistic queer adult relationships. I would definitely read another book in this series in the future and I hope the author continues to write. Thanks for the ARC!
3.5 stars
When the major gripe you have with a book is that it should have been twice as long, that's got to indicate the author did something right. Tempest, Take Me Home is a little slow to get started, but by the end I was invested in the action and left wanting more.
The characters:
Where this book shines is in its character relationships. As a queer person in a poly relationship with a disabled partner, I found the character conflict refreshingly realistic and adult. It's nice to see the aspects of my life that are rarely represented in fiction tackled so effectively on the page. For example, the conflict between Max and Eli over Eli's over-protectiveness certainly mirrors conflicts I've had with my partner. It's nice to see disabled representation written by a disabled person, as this book refuses to infantilise Max while still showing his day-to-day accessibility concerns. It firmly states that it's up to Eli to trust Max to know his own limits instead of treating Max as in need of saving. The book also refrains from straying into teen-drama territory, presenting an established poly relationship with realistic issues but no petty drama.
The main issue I have with the characters is that we don't get more time with them. Knight presents a crew of varied and interesting people that I'd love to learn more about. However, with the book being so short, I agree with their decision to flesh out the main two characters rather than trying to cram in backstories for every crew member. Hopefully this will be explored further in the sequel. Another thing I wish we got more of was a look into Max and Eli growing up together, perhaps in the form of flashbacks. I found the pieces we got very compelling and they could be a whole book on their own. Again, I'm holding out for a (longer) sequel.
The plot:
Lord of the Rings this is not. Worldbuilding is barely existent - we're plonked into a very basic DnD-style universe with the usual fare: elves, orcs, dwarves. I can't say I didn't roll my eyes a little. The cast is sent on a quest to fetch eight elements of the gods, which are barely explained and only function as a device to get the plot moving. You may be thinking (as I was), "eight? With this wordcount? How are they gonna do that?" I suspected they might collect four and then leave the rest for a future book, but no, they got all eight. How? By rushing it severely. I understand that the author mainly wanted to focus on the character relationships, but I wish we had gotten some more unique or at least more in-depth worldbuilding and that more time was spent on collecting the elements of the gods, since they were supposedly so important.
One of the good points of the book was that since the author spent time and care in fleshing out the relationship of the main two characters, when one was in danger, there was a sense of real tension and I was compelled to keep reading to find out what happened. I appreciate this.
The sex:
There are about four sex scenes. If you're into that, great. If you're not, you can pretty much skip them without worrying you've missed anything plot-wise. Since this area is so subjective, I'll withhold opinion on it.
Conclusion:
I went into this book thinking it probably wouldn't be for me, but I was pleasantly surprised by its good-quality disability representation and realistic queer adult relationships. I would definitely read another book in this series in the future and I hope the author continues to write. Thanks for the ARC!
March 16, 2025
***| received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review***
I love this book! It's so rare that I get to see myself in a main character but this time I get to see myself in two. The book is set in a fantasy world but at the heart of everything, it's about two people in love. Two people who would do anything for the other. Their love was beautiful to read about in a world where people think disabled people don't have love lives or barely lives at all.
The disabled character wasn't a person who was sad and hated his life until he found love, he was already in love and was shown to be fully capable of taking care of himself. He had interests and a personality instead of being another stereotype.
The supporting characters all had distinct voices and I would have loved to hear more about their backgrounds, hopefully in a sequel! In fact, I lovingly demand a sequel because I need to see more relationships blossoming.
Thank you Charlie for writing this book that many disabled and queer people will be able to see themselves in. This book will always mean a lot to me and I'm sure other people will tell you the same for years to come.
I love this book! It's so rare that I get to see myself in a main character but this time I get to see myself in two. The book is set in a fantasy world but at the heart of everything, it's about two people in love. Two people who would do anything for the other. Their love was beautiful to read about in a world where people think disabled people don't have love lives or barely lives at all.
The disabled character wasn't a person who was sad and hated his life until he found love, he was already in love and was shown to be fully capable of taking care of himself. He had interests and a personality instead of being another stereotype.
The supporting characters all had distinct voices and I would have loved to hear more about their backgrounds, hopefully in a sequel! In fact, I lovingly demand a sequel because I need to see more relationships blossoming.
Thank you Charlie for writing this book that many disabled and queer people will be able to see themselves in. This book will always mean a lot to me and I'm sure other people will tell you the same for years to come.
July 6, 2025
Eli is a treasure hunter (Not a pirate! Stop calling them that!) and they rock a killer beard while looking fantastic in a miniskirt. Their longtime partner Max has magic that lets him make maps for his beloved to use in finding their treasures. For as long as Eli has captained Tempest, they’ve been leaving Max safely at home, but that changes when they find themselves racing to collect a group of legendary relics.
Max joins the crew so he can draw maps as they go rather than making the ship return to homeport between finds. The crew accepts him with a lot of enthusiasm, more than happy to quickly refit the ship to accommodate Max’s wheelchair. Especially thrilled to have Max aboard is Eli’s orcish boyfriend, Tevin, who’s been increasing his flirtatiousness with Max on recent visits and who is very much not alone in his interest in taking that further.
The characters are what make this book shine, but the plot works as well. It starts a tad slow, which is odd to say as it leads with Eli stealing something from a griffin. But I didn’t know who Eli was yet, so it was a bit “Standard Indiana Jones Opening” for me and that lacked urgency. But the next sequence of scenes introduced the POV characters and I soon had a strong motive to read more. Namely, the narrators were both Very Interesting People. By the midway point, I felt invested enough when the plot pace picked up to be sucked into marathon reading mode.
If there’s an area to cite for improvement, it would be the worldbuilding. The world was a little too generic D&D for my tastes. At one point, I remember reading something like ‘the city Max lived in’ and wasn’t sure if it had ever actually been named. Its sole character trait appeared to be that Eli thought it was safer than the unnamed hinkier ports we also see. The setting felt irrelevant, and not much like a real place. And that’s disappointing when the characters are as vibrant as they are, because I suspect Knight has the skill to write a location I would have felt like I’d visited. Also, it's a little bit odd that a book staring a cartographer had so little regard for the actual world it was in.
Cozy/Intense Scale: 3-4/5
A medium paced read with some high anxiety sections later in the narrative.
Spice Level: 4/5?
Four chapters of thirty-six are comprised mostly of explicit sex. I’m not allosexual enough to tell you if the descriptions therein are ‘good’ or not. Sorry… Since once the chapter became clearly sex that lasted until the end of the chapter, those who would prefer to avoid or merely skim these scenes easily can.
Representation:
This book features a nonbinary narrator with ADHD and an anxiety disorder, a trans-masc narrator who is physically disabled and in a wheelchair in most scenes, several polyamorous characters, and several characters who experience same-sex attraction. There are enough explicitly queer characters here for it to feel like a safe assumption the characters we don’t know for sure are LGBTQ+ probably are.
Advisories:
Explicit consensual sex, moderate violence, panic attacks, ableism, kidnapping, involuntary confinement, abuse of a disabled character, child neglect in a backstory, transphobia, dysphoria, alcohol use
Max joins the crew so he can draw maps as they go rather than making the ship return to homeport between finds. The crew accepts him with a lot of enthusiasm, more than happy to quickly refit the ship to accommodate Max’s wheelchair. Especially thrilled to have Max aboard is Eli’s orcish boyfriend, Tevin, who’s been increasing his flirtatiousness with Max on recent visits and who is very much not alone in his interest in taking that further.
The characters are what make this book shine, but the plot works as well. It starts a tad slow, which is odd to say as it leads with Eli stealing something from a griffin. But I didn’t know who Eli was yet, so it was a bit “Standard Indiana Jones Opening” for me and that lacked urgency. But the next sequence of scenes introduced the POV characters and I soon had a strong motive to read more. Namely, the narrators were both Very Interesting People. By the midway point, I felt invested enough when the plot pace picked up to be sucked into marathon reading mode.
If there’s an area to cite for improvement, it would be the worldbuilding. The world was a little too generic D&D for my tastes. At one point, I remember reading something like ‘the city Max lived in’ and wasn’t sure if it had ever actually been named. Its sole character trait appeared to be that Eli thought it was safer than the unnamed hinkier ports we also see. The setting felt irrelevant, and not much like a real place. And that’s disappointing when the characters are as vibrant as they are, because I suspect Knight has the skill to write a location I would have felt like I’d visited. Also, it's a little bit odd that a book staring a cartographer had so little regard for the actual world it was in.
Cozy/Intense Scale: 3-4/5
A medium paced read with some high anxiety sections later in the narrative.
Spice Level: 4/5?
Four chapters of thirty-six are comprised mostly of explicit sex. I’m not allosexual enough to tell you if the descriptions therein are ‘good’ or not. Sorry… Since once the chapter became clearly sex that lasted until the end of the chapter, those who would prefer to avoid or merely skim these scenes easily can.
Representation:
This book features a nonbinary narrator with ADHD and an anxiety disorder, a trans-masc narrator who is physically disabled and in a wheelchair in most scenes, several polyamorous characters, and several characters who experience same-sex attraction. There are enough explicitly queer characters here for it to feel like a safe assumption the characters we don’t know for sure are LGBTQ+ probably are.
Advisories:
Explicit consensual sex, moderate violence, panic attacks, ableism, kidnapping, involuntary confinement, abuse of a disabled character, child neglect in a backstory, transphobia, dysphoria, alcohol use
February 19, 2025
Opening thoughts: I always thought I was going to die a romantasy hater, turns out I just needed to read romantasies written by queer writers! What really drew me in to this book was the mention of magical cartography. I absolutely LOVE when maps and magic collide, so I was hooked from the start.
Worldbuilding: The worldbuilding is fairly light in this book. Not absent by any means, there was certainly enough to keep the fantasy junky within me happy, but I did find myself wishing we got a little more information about the gods of the world and a peak at different types of magic. I also wish that we had spent just a little more time with the hunt for the elements, but this book certainly puts the character relationships first (which I'm not complaining about, more details in the next sections) which means some things world building wise got left out. Knight absolutely delivered on the map magic and I loved the descriptions we get of Max working on the maps.
Emotions: I found myself laughing out loud on more than one occasion while reading. Jak and Eli's constant jabs at each other are the perfect tension breakers sprinkled throughout. I think on average this book just gave me the warm and fuzzies. There were a few heart wrenching moments to be sure, but I'd definitely plop this book in the cozy category.
Ingenuity: Can we just talk for a second about the disability rep in this book?! The care Eli takes when moving around and with Max to not cause any extra pain, the care the crew takes to make Tempest accessible for Max in his wheelchair and crutches, and so many other big and small moments in this book put so much focus on Max as a disabled character and how that affects his daily life. It was such a refreshing view of disability in a fantasy setting.
Relationships: This is where Tempest Take Me Home shines the most. Eli and Max's relationship felt SO real and the struggles that they face throughout the book really shines because of that. They're also just incredibly cute together and then you throw Tevin in the mix and cuteness exceeds capacity. I also loved the unique relationship Eli has with each crew member and that Max develops with them. I really appreciated some of the small moments early on that we get to establish the relationship dynamics of the crew.
Descriptions: We get a few key descriptors of each character that paints a pretty good picture of who's who and I never felt lost trying to remember who each character was. Knight does a great job with the sensory descriptions and the whole book felt very atmospheric.
Engagement: This was a really enjoyable and easy read. It was one of those books that I could easily pick up in between classes or read a few pages/chapters. The pacing was great and ramped up at just the right moment (right about where I couldn't put the book down haha).
Final thoughts: I know I just said it but this really was such a fun read. If you're looking for a cozy romantasy set on a treasure hunting ship with a queer as heck cast then I'd definitely recommend picking this one up when it's released in March. I'm looking forward to see what else Knight writes in the future!
Worldbuilding: The worldbuilding is fairly light in this book. Not absent by any means, there was certainly enough to keep the fantasy junky within me happy, but I did find myself wishing we got a little more information about the gods of the world and a peak at different types of magic. I also wish that we had spent just a little more time with the hunt for the elements, but this book certainly puts the character relationships first (which I'm not complaining about, more details in the next sections) which means some things world building wise got left out. Knight absolutely delivered on the map magic and I loved the descriptions we get of Max working on the maps.
Emotions: I found myself laughing out loud on more than one occasion while reading. Jak and Eli's constant jabs at each other are the perfect tension breakers sprinkled throughout. I think on average this book just gave me the warm and fuzzies. There were a few heart wrenching moments to be sure, but I'd definitely plop this book in the cozy category.
Ingenuity: Can we just talk for a second about the disability rep in this book?! The care Eli takes when moving around and with Max to not cause any extra pain, the care the crew takes to make Tempest accessible for Max in his wheelchair and crutches, and so many other big and small moments in this book put so much focus on Max as a disabled character and how that affects his daily life. It was such a refreshing view of disability in a fantasy setting.
Relationships: This is where Tempest Take Me Home shines the most. Eli and Max's relationship felt SO real and the struggles that they face throughout the book really shines because of that. They're also just incredibly cute together and then you throw Tevin in the mix and cuteness exceeds capacity. I also loved the unique relationship Eli has with each crew member and that Max develops with them. I really appreciated some of the small moments early on that we get to establish the relationship dynamics of the crew.
Descriptions: We get a few key descriptors of each character that paints a pretty good picture of who's who and I never felt lost trying to remember who each character was. Knight does a great job with the sensory descriptions and the whole book felt very atmospheric.
Engagement: This was a really enjoyable and easy read. It was one of those books that I could easily pick up in between classes or read a few pages/chapters. The pacing was great and ramped up at just the right moment (right about where I couldn't put the book down haha).
Final thoughts: I know I just said it but this really was such a fun read. If you're looking for a cozy romantasy set on a treasure hunting ship with a queer as heck cast then I'd definitely recommend picking this one up when it's released in March. I'm looking forward to see what else Knight writes in the future!
March 11, 2025
*Thank you to the author for an Advanced Readers Copy*
Tempest, Take Me Home feels like a whimsical pirate fantasy, and I LOVED it.
I loved all the characters, and loved that it was dual POV. Eli and Max are everything, and they deserve the world (and Tevin). The side characters get enough backstory to understand who they are, but I loved that the main focus was on Eli, Max, and Tevin! We understand Eli and Max the most, but because Tevin is also part of the relationship equation, we learn more about him than other side characters.
Eli and Max grew up together, and I loved that aspect of it. They both are trans (Eli is nonbinary, Max is a trans man), and they understand each other deeper than other characters. It shows through that they do, and I love that (being a trans man myself). I love how Eli knows what Max likes and doesn't like regarding his wheelchair, and how the wheelchair is an extension of Max. These two characters know everything about one another, and I adored it.
The worldbuilding in this is minimal, but I liked that so much. Because this is a pirate romantasy, I think it makes sense there isn't too much worldbuilding, and rather the focus is on the characters and the hunt they are on.
I loved the magic system. Cartography magic is something I don't think I've ever read about, and this was such a nice fresh take on magic!
Overall, this trans pirate romantasy is SO good, and you should pick it up!
Rep:
- nonbinary MC
- disabled trans man MC
- polyamory (nonbinary MC x trans man MC x cis man side character)
- and so much more!
Tempest, Take Me Home feels like a whimsical pirate fantasy, and I LOVED it.
I loved all the characters, and loved that it was dual POV. Eli and Max are everything, and they deserve the world (and Tevin). The side characters get enough backstory to understand who they are, but I loved that the main focus was on Eli, Max, and Tevin! We understand Eli and Max the most, but because Tevin is also part of the relationship equation, we learn more about him than other side characters.
Eli and Max grew up together, and I loved that aspect of it. They both are trans (Eli is nonbinary, Max is a trans man), and they understand each other deeper than other characters. It shows through that they do, and I love that (being a trans man myself). I love how Eli knows what Max likes and doesn't like regarding his wheelchair, and how the wheelchair is an extension of Max. These two characters know everything about one another, and I adored it.
The worldbuilding in this is minimal, but I liked that so much. Because this is a pirate romantasy, I think it makes sense there isn't too much worldbuilding, and rather the focus is on the characters and the hunt they are on.
I loved the magic system. Cartography magic is something I don't think I've ever read about, and this was such a nice fresh take on magic!
Overall, this trans pirate romantasy is SO good, and you should pick it up!
Rep:
- nonbinary MC
- disabled trans man MC
- polyamory (nonbinary MC x trans man MC x cis man side character)
- and so much more!
September 15, 2025
CW/TW:
Tempest, Take Me Home is a queer romantasy primarily set aboard a treasure hunting - not pirate - ship. We follow Eli (nonbinary) and Max (trans man) in alternating POVs as they race to find some artifacts from the gods.
While the book was good, I wish it was a bit longer. The worldbuilding was lighter than I would have liked, bordering on nonexistent, so it was kind of hard to feel very immersed. However, I think the characters were great - Tevin is my favorite, with Yen close behind! I would have loved to see more about how some of them met, but I'm hoping that future books (if there will be any) give more of the stuff I feel was lacking here.
Tempest, Take Me Home is a queer romantasy primarily set aboard a treasure hunting - not pirate - ship. We follow Eli (nonbinary) and Max (trans man) in alternating POVs as they race to find some artifacts from the gods.
While the book was good, I wish it was a bit longer. The worldbuilding was lighter than I would have liked, bordering on nonexistent, so it was kind of hard to feel very immersed. However, I think the characters were great - Tevin is my favorite, with Yen close behind! I would have loved to see more about how some of them met, but I'm hoping that future books (if there will be any) give more of the stuff I feel was lacking here.
February 21, 2025
Looking for a high-seas adventure with strong romantic relationships, disability representation, and queer representation? Look no further because this one will check all those boxes and more. (The diverse cast isn't simply limited to human diversity)
One area this book really shines is through the character relationships (I haven't read many books with characters in polyamorous relationships, but this book made me want to read more) and the honest and authentic portrayal of those with disabilities without making it feel forced or like the disabled characters are a burden. Also, loved the unique aspect of cartography magic.
One area this book really shines is through the character relationships (I haven't read many books with characters in polyamorous relationships, but this book made me want to read more) and the honest and authentic portrayal of those with disabilities without making it feel forced or like the disabled characters are a burden. Also, loved the unique aspect of cartography magic.
June 1, 2025
I fell in love with this book from the very first chapter and my only regret is that I didn’t have enough money for a paperback. That mistake will soon be rectified. It’s beautiful. It touches on a lot of important things. Anxiety. Managing anxiety while respecting the automony of a disabled partner and understanding they know their bodies best. Not touching a wheelchair without permission. Consulting multiple partners on a decision that affects everybody involved. Apologizing. Forgiveness. The ending made me cry, which any good book does. so grateful to the person who shared this on 4thewords.
March 13, 2025
This was truly such an amazing book. It had a perfect balance of focusing on the characters and their love as well as what was happening in the story itself. I absolutely fell in love with these characters. Each one is so unique and important. Above all else I needed this story of queer love right now, both within our main characters and in the family and home they created. I encourage everyone to read this book, especially if you need something warm and full of hope.
August 13, 2025
I loved this quick, cozy read. Tempest's crew is filled with characters who all understand the meaning of found family. Queer joy and disabled strength echo through the book naturally. Love is shown beautifully in all its forms, both within friendships and with partners and lovers. By the end, you'll be eager to rejoin the crew and set sail on the next adventure.
April 11, 2025
This book is amazing! I love all of the characters. Max and Eli have a long history, and I really enjoyed seeing pieces of it throughout the book. I loved the depth of the characters and the world the author created. I loved the adventures they have. Everything about this books is great. Read it!!!
June 28, 2025
This was a lovely read, full of found family, adventure, and just enough spice. I've followed the author on their journey to get this book published, and it was well worth the wait.
dnf
January 11, 2026DNF 30%
Just not for me.
Just not for me.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews