What do you think?
Rate this book
Shattered Sky Saga #2
Tides of Memory
The cost of survival isn’t just power—it’s becoming someone else to wield it.
Brida has always known the world to be cruel—but she never expected to be dragged into its darkest corners. Abducted by one of the people she trusted most, she’s thrust into the heart of the Court of Whispers, where secrets are currency and she has none.
Surrounded by cryptic allies and shadowed truths, Brida is desperate to uncover why she was taken—and what he knows about her mother’s past. But the deeper she digs, the more the world around her begins to fracture. The truths she finds threaten everything she thought she understood—about her family, her power, and herself.
And when the game turns deadly, Brida will have to decide who to become in a place where even your name can be a lie.
Brida has always known the world to be cruel—but she never expected to be dragged into its darkest corners. Abducted by one of the people she trusted most, she’s thrust into the heart of the Court of Whispers, where secrets are currency and she has none.
Surrounded by cryptic allies and shadowed truths, Brida is desperate to uncover why she was taken—and what he knows about her mother’s past. But the deeper she digs, the more the world around her begins to fracture. The truths she finds threaten everything she thought she understood—about her family, her power, and herself.
And when the game turns deadly, Brida will have to decide who to become in a place where even your name can be a lie.
508 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 14, 2026
About the author
Laura A. Blake
4 books148 followersHi! I’m Laura A. Blake, a fantasy romance author currently publishing my debut series,
The Shattered Sky Saga.
Though I’ve always been passionate about storytelling, my journey has taken me down many different paths. Along the way, I earned an MA in religion and classical history, became a teacher, and started a small business. After finally discovering the road that led me to writing, I’m thrilled to now share my worlds and stories with you.
Originally from Montreal, Canada, I now live in rural Maryland in a 200-year-old farmhouse with my husband, toddler, and five wild rescue cats. When I’m not reading or writing—or chasing a toddler or cat to see what they’ve gotten into—you can find me baking, exploring new restaurants and cafés, or searching for the next great bookstore.
If you want to connect, you can find her here:
Discord: https://discord.gg/Jt4wUpPD
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurablakea...
Website: www.laurablakeauthor.com
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lauraablakeau...
The Shattered Sky Saga.
Though I’ve always been passionate about storytelling, my journey has taken me down many different paths. Along the way, I earned an MA in religion and classical history, became a teacher, and started a small business. After finally discovering the road that led me to writing, I’m thrilled to now share my worlds and stories with you.
Originally from Montreal, Canada, I now live in rural Maryland in a 200-year-old farmhouse with my husband, toddler, and five wild rescue cats. When I’m not reading or writing—or chasing a toddler or cat to see what they’ve gotten into—you can find me baking, exploring new restaurants and cafés, or searching for the next great bookstore.
If you want to connect, you can find her here:
Discord: https://discord.gg/Jt4wUpPD
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurablakea...
Website: www.laurablakeauthor.com
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lauraablakeau...
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
This review was originally published on Before We Go Blog
4.5 stars (rounded up)
Holy smokes, Tides of Memory was not the sequel I was expecting it to be, but it is exactly the sequel this story needed to come into its own, and I am just in utter awe of what Laura A. Blake pulled off here. It’s got so much lore, so much drama, so much heartache, so many emotions, and all the wild twists and turns, and I was truly revelling in the chaos of it all. To me, Tides of Memory is to The Shattered Sky Saga what Heir of Fire is to the Throne of Glass series, and I absolutely love it for that.
“Chaos was coming, and I had a chance to do something. I was a piece on the board, but unlike my past, where I had failed to be the master of my fate, I now was one of the players.”
Now, as with my review of book 1, I am going to have to start off with a disclaimer because Laura is a dear friend and I read the manuscript in its raw, early stages. Does that make me too biased? Maybe, but I want to unapologetically gush anyway because I truly do love this series and I think it deserves all the hype it can get. Do with that what you will, I guess.
Anyway, Blake already chose violence by ending book 1 with that diabolical cliffhanger, but then she chose even more violence by making us experience it all over again at the start of Tides of Memory. Except this time we’re seeing it through Kadian’s eyes, because yes babyyy, we are going multi-POV! Like, there’s no denying that Brida was a compelling protagonist in The Forgotten Dawn, but I have to admit she maybe became my least favorite perspective here because Kadian and Lil just absolutely stole the show. They were already my favorite side characters, but getting to spend so much time in their heads made them feel so much more real and raw as we saw all the sides they kept hidden from Brida, whether they meant to or not.
“We are woven into the fabric of time, the threads of past, present, and future. And what are those threads if not people? Lives woven together?”
I think it is so damn impressive how Blake made the three first-person POVs so distinct and equally compelling, with each of them having such a strong voice, personality, and (tragic?) backstory. My poor chaotic Kadian, bless his heart, is stuck in Azmeer getting sucked into political schemes while having to hide that he is one of the very few people who actually remembers what happened at the wedding, meanwhile Lil and Dainan are in mystery land trying to survive while being haunted by their pasts, and then there’s Brida being held captive at the Court of Whispers and getting drugged out of her mind, so hello feverdream vibes.
I just adored how Blake expanded the scope of the story with these new perspectives, and the way that the lush, descriptive prose just made each and every new setting come to life was such an immersive experience for me. Though, the switch to multi-POV does mean the original found family vibes are a bit absent in Tides of Memory since everyone is scattered around the world (or worlds?!), and if you are here for the romances, I am so sorry to inform you that they become even more of a simmering slow burn. I have to admit that I wasn’t feeling the feels in the same way as in book 1, but we did get divine levels of yearning, so I truly can’t even complain about the delicious torture.
“I am the foundation upon which the world collapses, and yet they have forsaken my memory. My name is a silent whisper on the wind, sounds lost to time so long ago. I was once the Primal of nights, the bringer of endings. I am a Dusk forever yearning for Dawn.”
Moreover, I think Blake did such a phenomenal job giving us new characters and relationships to get invested in, and especially the budding, reluctant friendship between Kadian and my fiery babe Iona really captured my heart, and now I need a whole book just about her (please?). Also, while I was initially a bit disappointed that my broody babe Dainan didn’t get his own POV, I actually really enjoyed seeing him in a different light through Lil’s eyes because their platonic grumpy/sunshine banter was everything I didn’t know I needed.
Now, The Forgotten Dawn already was not the most fast-paced book, but in Tides of Memory the action takes even more of a backseat without ever becoming boring. It’s a book of introspection and reflection and internal spiralling, and I really appreciated how that mental health journey looked so different for each character. The exploration of anxiety, trauma, and the exhaustion of constantly putting on a happy mask when you are crumbling inside all really resonated so deeply with me, and especially the arc of my (maybe not so?) sunshine girl Lil really moved me in ways I was not ready for.
“You must remember, it is when one embraces the shadows that one can live in the light.”
But don’t worry, as much as Tides of Memory is a book of reflection, it’s also a book of wild revelations. Like, if you were annoyed that book one raised so many questions, get ready for the tidal wave of answers that starts at the halfway mark when everything turns to absolute chaos. Sure, I was maybe a bit frustrated that it had to take so painfully long for everyone to stop so damn being cryptic and holding back critical information all the time, but holy hell the pay-off was so worth it.
And the best thing is that at no point did any of the revelations feel like clunky, boring infodumps to me, because the way Blake has woven the history and lore of the Primals into the actual journey of the characters is nothing short of masterful. The tiniest seeds of foreshadowing that were planted all the way back in book 1 come to bloom so beautifully here, and while I was maybe a bit too overwhelmed to keep track of everything that was revealed, all the emotional beats and wild twists are still burned into my memory (yes, pun very much intended). It’s just so wild to me how the story goes so hard on the epic divine stuff while staying so deeply human, but that is exactly why I love it so much.
“You’ll come to see we all have roles to play. Some we’re born to, others have been unwillingly thrust upon us, but they remain ours. It’s what we do with those roles that can change the world.”
Tides of Memory truly shattered all my expectations, and it has taken The Shattered Sky Saga to a whole new level that I didn’t even know was a possibility. I truly could not stop myself from devouring this book in just two days, and now I am just reeling from that ending because even if it wasn’t as rude or diabolical as the ending of book 1, those final few pages still left me screaming. This is truly epic romantic fantasy at its best, don’t miss out.
Thank you to Laura A. Blake for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. Tides of Memory is scheduled for release on 14 May 2026.
4.5 stars (rounded up)
Holy smokes, Tides of Memory was not the sequel I was expecting it to be, but it is exactly the sequel this story needed to come into its own, and I am just in utter awe of what Laura A. Blake pulled off here. It’s got so much lore, so much drama, so much heartache, so many emotions, and all the wild twists and turns, and I was truly revelling in the chaos of it all. To me, Tides of Memory is to The Shattered Sky Saga what Heir of Fire is to the Throne of Glass series, and I absolutely love it for that.
“Chaos was coming, and I had a chance to do something. I was a piece on the board, but unlike my past, where I had failed to be the master of my fate, I now was one of the players.”
Now, as with my review of book 1, I am going to have to start off with a disclaimer because Laura is a dear friend and I read the manuscript in its raw, early stages. Does that make me too biased? Maybe, but I want to unapologetically gush anyway because I truly do love this series and I think it deserves all the hype it can get. Do with that what you will, I guess.
Anyway, Blake already chose violence by ending book 1 with that diabolical cliffhanger, but then she chose even more violence by making us experience it all over again at the start of Tides of Memory. Except this time we’re seeing it through Kadian’s eyes, because yes babyyy, we are going multi-POV! Like, there’s no denying that Brida was a compelling protagonist in The Forgotten Dawn, but I have to admit she maybe became my least favorite perspective here because Kadian and Lil just absolutely stole the show. They were already my favorite side characters, but getting to spend so much time in their heads made them feel so much more real and raw as we saw all the sides they kept hidden from Brida, whether they meant to or not.
“We are woven into the fabric of time, the threads of past, present, and future. And what are those threads if not people? Lives woven together?”
I think it is so damn impressive how Blake made the three first-person POVs so distinct and equally compelling, with each of them having such a strong voice, personality, and (tragic?) backstory. My poor chaotic Kadian, bless his heart, is stuck in Azmeer getting sucked into political schemes while having to hide that he is one of the very few people who actually remembers what happened at the wedding, meanwhile Lil and Dainan are in mystery land trying to survive while being haunted by their pasts, and then there’s Brida being held captive at the Court of Whispers and getting drugged out of her mind, so hello feverdream vibes.
I just adored how Blake expanded the scope of the story with these new perspectives, and the way that the lush, descriptive prose just made each and every new setting come to life was such an immersive experience for me. Though, the switch to multi-POV does mean the original found family vibes are a bit absent in Tides of Memory since everyone is scattered around the world (or worlds?!), and if you are here for the romances, I am so sorry to inform you that they become even more of a simmering slow burn. I have to admit that I wasn’t feeling the feels in the same way as in book 1, but we did get divine levels of yearning, so I truly can’t even complain about the delicious torture.
“I am the foundation upon which the world collapses, and yet they have forsaken my memory. My name is a silent whisper on the wind, sounds lost to time so long ago. I was once the Primal of nights, the bringer of endings. I am a Dusk forever yearning for Dawn.”
Moreover, I think Blake did such a phenomenal job giving us new characters and relationships to get invested in, and especially the budding, reluctant friendship between Kadian and my fiery babe Iona really captured my heart, and now I need a whole book just about her (please?). Also, while I was initially a bit disappointed that my broody babe Dainan didn’t get his own POV, I actually really enjoyed seeing him in a different light through Lil’s eyes because their platonic grumpy/sunshine banter was everything I didn’t know I needed.
Now, The Forgotten Dawn already was not the most fast-paced book, but in Tides of Memory the action takes even more of a backseat without ever becoming boring. It’s a book of introspection and reflection and internal spiralling, and I really appreciated how that mental health journey looked so different for each character. The exploration of anxiety, trauma, and the exhaustion of constantly putting on a happy mask when you are crumbling inside all really resonated so deeply with me, and especially the arc of my (maybe not so?) sunshine girl Lil really moved me in ways I was not ready for.
“You must remember, it is when one embraces the shadows that one can live in the light.”
But don’t worry, as much as Tides of Memory is a book of reflection, it’s also a book of wild revelations. Like, if you were annoyed that book one raised so many questions, get ready for the tidal wave of answers that starts at the halfway mark when everything turns to absolute chaos. Sure, I was maybe a bit frustrated that it had to take so painfully long for everyone to stop so damn being cryptic and holding back critical information all the time, but holy hell the pay-off was so worth it.
And the best thing is that at no point did any of the revelations feel like clunky, boring infodumps to me, because the way Blake has woven the history and lore of the Primals into the actual journey of the characters is nothing short of masterful. The tiniest seeds of foreshadowing that were planted all the way back in book 1 come to bloom so beautifully here, and while I was maybe a bit too overwhelmed to keep track of everything that was revealed, all the emotional beats and wild twists are still burned into my memory (yes, pun very much intended). It’s just so wild to me how the story goes so hard on the epic divine stuff while staying so deeply human, but that is exactly why I love it so much.
“You’ll come to see we all have roles to play. Some we’re born to, others have been unwillingly thrust upon us, but they remain ours. It’s what we do with those roles that can change the world.”
Tides of Memory truly shattered all my expectations, and it has taken The Shattered Sky Saga to a whole new level that I didn’t even know was a possibility. I truly could not stop myself from devouring this book in just two days, and now I am just reeling from that ending because even if it wasn’t as rude or diabolical as the ending of book 1, those final few pages still left me screaming. This is truly epic romantic fantasy at its best, don’t miss out.
Thank you to Laura A. Blake for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. Tides of Memory is scheduled for release on 14 May 2026.
Read
March 27, 2026Dear reader,
Thank you for continuing your journey through this world. If you loved Brida in The Forgotten Dawn, I hope she shone for you in this book—and that you enjoyed the addition of our new POVs.
This story was written during a period of transition in my life. Trauma shapes the mind, and its imprint lingers throughout these pages.
Memory can be a curse, but it can also be a gift.
I hope you enjoy Tides of Memory—that it offers you a moment of respite from an otherwise exhausting world, and perhaps helps you forget your troubles, if only for a little while.
Until next time, I can’t wait for you to see what happens next.
All my gratitude,
LAB
Thank you for continuing your journey through this world. If you loved Brida in The Forgotten Dawn, I hope she shone for you in this book—and that you enjoyed the addition of our new POVs.
This story was written during a period of transition in my life. Trauma shapes the mind, and its imprint lingers throughout these pages.
Memory can be a curse, but it can also be a gift.
I hope you enjoy Tides of Memory—that it offers you a moment of respite from an otherwise exhausting world, and perhaps helps you forget your troubles, if only for a little while.
Until next time, I can’t wait for you to see what happens next.
All my gratitude,
LAB
November 4, 2025
I am fortunate enough to be a beta reader for book 2, and h my god. This is just as unputdownable as book 1. There is SO much going, and it continues perfectly from book 1. I won't say much to avoid spoilers, but you don't want to miss this. Drafts 1 and 2 were great, and I can't wait to read the final version :)
May 9, 2026
Thank you to the author for this advanced copy. I loved book 1 so I was expecting to feel the same about this one. Unfortunately, it fell short for me. The writing was great and the exploration of mental health and trauma was well done, but I just could not get into it. It dragged the entire way through. This felt like a completely different series than book 1. I also don’t like when characters are separated for long periods of time, and in this, the MCs didn’t reunite until almost the end. Lil’s POVs were heartbreaking and I loved the moment when Brida and Dainan were finally on page together, but it just wasn’t enough for me.
May 10, 2026
*Thank you to Laura Blake for this gifted ARC in exchange for an honest and authentic review - All opinions are my own.*
Rounded up from 2.5⭐️
This second book has a very different vibe than the first one. What I loved about the courts, political intrigue, challenges, and found family of the first book was missing from this one.
I am not a huge fan of a second book when every character is separated or groups apart. But the added elements of all the lore and reincarnation type plot is not my favourite element.
I enjoyed Lil’s story the most out of everyone in this book, but would have liked less lore and more plot development. I felt like by the end we still haven’t had much happen and I felt a bit lost and confused.
Rounded up from 2.5⭐️
This second book has a very different vibe than the first one. What I loved about the courts, political intrigue, challenges, and found family of the first book was missing from this one.
I am not a huge fan of a second book when every character is separated or groups apart. But the added elements of all the lore and reincarnation type plot is not my favourite element.
I enjoyed Lil’s story the most out of everyone in this book, but would have liked less lore and more plot development. I felt like by the end we still haven’t had much happen and I felt a bit lost and confused.
Did Not Finish
May 24, 2026Softly DNFing at this moment. I am struggling with getting back into this world even after doing my reread of the first world which I loved. Maybe right now is not the time…
June 29, 2026
Boring not gonna bother reading the third book. Characters were really flat and the romance was so fake
July 11, 2026
4.5⭐️
I felt lost for a lot of the book but it pulled together nicely at the end to make me excited for book 3
I felt lost for a lot of the book but it pulled together nicely at the end to make me excited for book 3
June 16, 2026
⭐⭐⭐
I went into Tides of Memory hoping to get some answers after the first book, but somehow I finished this one even more confused than before!
While I really enjoyed getting new perspectives, having three POVs felt a little chaotic for me at times. Kadian was by far my favourite character, and honestly, I would have happily read an entire book from his perspective alone.
That said, Laura is incredibly clever at what she does. Do I know what’s going to happen next? Absolutely not. The mystery and unpredictability of the story keep me hooked, even when I’m desperately searching for answers. I loved the primal concept and the children that came with it, and I also really enjoyed the reincarnation elements woven throughout the story.
Overall, I did enjoy this book I just wish we’d been given a few more answers along the way. Despite my confusion, I’ll definitely be continuing the series because I need to know if Brida and Dainan are endgame! And I have a feeling Lil is going to completely rip our hearts out before this story is over.
As always, Laura Blake’s writing is well executed, engaging, and incredibly easy to read, which makes even the most confusing moments enjoyable to get through.
I went into Tides of Memory hoping to get some answers after the first book, but somehow I finished this one even more confused than before!
While I really enjoyed getting new perspectives, having three POVs felt a little chaotic for me at times. Kadian was by far my favourite character, and honestly, I would have happily read an entire book from his perspective alone.
That said, Laura is incredibly clever at what she does. Do I know what’s going to happen next? Absolutely not. The mystery and unpredictability of the story keep me hooked, even when I’m desperately searching for answers. I loved the primal concept and the children that came with it, and I also really enjoyed the reincarnation elements woven throughout the story.
Overall, I did enjoy this book I just wish we’d been given a few more answers along the way. Despite my confusion, I’ll definitely be continuing the series because I need to know if Brida and Dainan are endgame! And I have a feeling Lil is going to completely rip our hearts out before this story is over.
As always, Laura Blake’s writing is well executed, engaging, and incredibly easy to read, which makes even the most confusing moments enjoyable to get through.
Review of advance copy received from Author
A beautifully immersive sequel that deepens everything I loved about book one.
I went into this already invested after the first book, but wow... it really expands the story in all the best ways. Also, I highlighted so many quotes while reading that I had to sneak a few into this review as they’re just too good not to share!
...and a small but important appreciation moment for Imelda and her famed cheeseboard! 😂
Things I loved
🌊 The multiple POVs that open up the story and let you fully explore the side characters and their individual journeys
🌿 The emotional depth and introspection, especially around grief, past trauma, and being thrust into situations beyond their control
✨ The lyrical, descriptive writing that makes every setting feel rich, immersive, and almost dreamlike
🧩 The way all the different character arcs slowly weave together into something bigger and more meaningful
❤️ The quiet character moments that feel just as impactful as the larger plot developments
🌅 The slower, more deliberate pacing that lets you really sink into the story and makes the payoff feel earned
“You’ll come to see we all have roles to play. Some we’re born to, others have been unwillingly thrust upon us, but they remain ours. It’s what we do with those roles that can change the world.”
The multiple POVs were such a highlight for me, letting me get inside more characters’ heads and see how all their individual journeys fit into the bigger picture. The side characters don’t just exist in the background either - they all have their own arcs, and I loved watching how all those threads slowly start to connect.
“Every day is a new day. Each Dawn rises anew. It is the individual decisions we make along the way that change the world."
This book leans even more into introspection, and I really appreciated that. You sit with the characters as they process everything they’ve been through, navigate past trauma, and cope with being thrust into situations out of their control. It made me feel even more connected to them. It’s one of those stories where the quieter, emotional moments hit just as hard as the bigger plot developments.
"fragility in spirit can be a sign of fortitude. A symbol that you’re willing to bend or break for those you love. And that is anything but weakness.... That's strength."
And the writing… still beautiful. The lyrical style makes everything feel so vivid and immersive, like you’re properly inside the world rather than just reading about it. The settings are so beautifully described, I kept wanting to pause just to take it all in. It has that slightly dreamlike quality that really pulls you in and makes everything feel just a bit more magical.
"Time is both a beautiful and cruel gift. Time is a thief, and the provider of joy. An assassin in the night, and the long burning flame of lovers.”
The pacing is, again, quite measured, but in a way that feels intentional. It gives you time to really settle into the world and the characters, even if it means things move a little more slowly in places. But when everything starts to come together, the payoff starts to land, and it feels earned rather than rushed. This series really is a journey, and I’m very happy to be along for the ride!
"I am the story I choose to write. And what a story it will be."
Overall, this was such a strong follow up that builds beautifully on book one. It’s immersive, emotional, and full of depth, with writing that pulls you in and characters that are very easy to get attached to. I finished it feeling a bit soft, a bit thoughtful, and very ready to continue this adventure!
I went into this already invested after the first book, but wow... it really expands the story in all the best ways. Also, I highlighted so many quotes while reading that I had to sneak a few into this review as they’re just too good not to share!
...and a small but important appreciation moment for Imelda and her famed cheeseboard! 😂
Things I loved
🌊 The multiple POVs that open up the story and let you fully explore the side characters and their individual journeys
🌿 The emotional depth and introspection, especially around grief, past trauma, and being thrust into situations beyond their control
✨ The lyrical, descriptive writing that makes every setting feel rich, immersive, and almost dreamlike
🧩 The way all the different character arcs slowly weave together into something bigger and more meaningful
❤️ The quiet character moments that feel just as impactful as the larger plot developments
🌅 The slower, more deliberate pacing that lets you really sink into the story and makes the payoff feel earned
“You’ll come to see we all have roles to play. Some we’re born to, others have been unwillingly thrust upon us, but they remain ours. It’s what we do with those roles that can change the world.”
The multiple POVs were such a highlight for me, letting me get inside more characters’ heads and see how all their individual journeys fit into the bigger picture. The side characters don’t just exist in the background either - they all have their own arcs, and I loved watching how all those threads slowly start to connect.
“Every day is a new day. Each Dawn rises anew. It is the individual decisions we make along the way that change the world."
This book leans even more into introspection, and I really appreciated that. You sit with the characters as they process everything they’ve been through, navigate past trauma, and cope with being thrust into situations out of their control. It made me feel even more connected to them. It’s one of those stories where the quieter, emotional moments hit just as hard as the bigger plot developments.
"fragility in spirit can be a sign of fortitude. A symbol that you’re willing to bend or break for those you love. And that is anything but weakness.... That's strength."
And the writing… still beautiful. The lyrical style makes everything feel so vivid and immersive, like you’re properly inside the world rather than just reading about it. The settings are so beautifully described, I kept wanting to pause just to take it all in. It has that slightly dreamlike quality that really pulls you in and makes everything feel just a bit more magical.
"Time is both a beautiful and cruel gift. Time is a thief, and the provider of joy. An assassin in the night, and the long burning flame of lovers.”
The pacing is, again, quite measured, but in a way that feels intentional. It gives you time to really settle into the world and the characters, even if it means things move a little more slowly in places. But when everything starts to come together, the payoff starts to land, and it feels earned rather than rushed. This series really is a journey, and I’m very happy to be along for the ride!
"I am the story I choose to write. And what a story it will be."
Overall, this was such a strong follow up that builds beautifully on book one. It’s immersive, emotional, and full of depth, with writing that pulls you in and characters that are very easy to get attached to. I finished it feeling a bit soft, a bit thoughtful, and very ready to continue this adventure!
Review of advance copy received from Indie Reviewers
4.5⭐️
Tides of Memory was a strong continuation that balances multiple character arcs while steadily building tension toward a gripping final act. One of the most helpful features early on was the revision style recap for each major character, which made it easy to jump back into the story and remember key events from the previous book.
The story unfolds through multiple points of view, with chapters shifting between major characters and their individual journeys. Each storyline felt substantial enough to stand on its own, almost like stepping into a different novel each time, yet the transitions were seamless and the timelines progressed in parallel without feeling disjointed. While the pacing was slightly slower than the previous book due to this structure, it allowed for deeper character development and richer world building.
The suspense was one of the standout elements. Small snippets of clues were layered throughout the narrative, making it thrilling to try and piece everything together. The mystery unfolded gradually, and I could not work out the main theory for a long time. Around the 80 percent mark, the intensity ramped up significantly and the book became impossible to put down. The plot kept building, hints began converging, and several major twists landed that I genuinely did not see coming. The tension carried through until around 90 percent, where there was finally a sense of relief as key pieces fell into place.
The writing itself was vivid and immersive, with strong imagery and seamless storytelling. Despite juggling multiple perspectives, which is not typically my favourite style, the narrative remained easy to follow and well structured.
While there is a romantic thread underlying the story, it remains subtle and there is no spice, making the focus firmly on the fantasy and plot driven elements. I would recommend this to readers who enjoy fantasy and high fantasy, particularly those who like layered mysteries, multiple character arcs, and steadily escalating stakes.
The ending was satisfying and resolved the main events of this book, while still leaving the door open for the continuation of the series. It does end on a cliffhanger, with lingering questions surrounding the development of some major characters, which builds anticipation for what comes next.
Rating 4.5⭐️
A well written, suspenseful continuation with strong twists, vivid storytelling, and multiple character journeys that ultimately come together in a compelling way.
Tides of Memory was a strong continuation that balances multiple character arcs while steadily building tension toward a gripping final act. One of the most helpful features early on was the revision style recap for each major character, which made it easy to jump back into the story and remember key events from the previous book.
The story unfolds through multiple points of view, with chapters shifting between major characters and their individual journeys. Each storyline felt substantial enough to stand on its own, almost like stepping into a different novel each time, yet the transitions were seamless and the timelines progressed in parallel without feeling disjointed. While the pacing was slightly slower than the previous book due to this structure, it allowed for deeper character development and richer world building.
The suspense was one of the standout elements. Small snippets of clues were layered throughout the narrative, making it thrilling to try and piece everything together. The mystery unfolded gradually, and I could not work out the main theory for a long time. Around the 80 percent mark, the intensity ramped up significantly and the book became impossible to put down. The plot kept building, hints began converging, and several major twists landed that I genuinely did not see coming. The tension carried through until around 90 percent, where there was finally a sense of relief as key pieces fell into place.
The writing itself was vivid and immersive, with strong imagery and seamless storytelling. Despite juggling multiple perspectives, which is not typically my favourite style, the narrative remained easy to follow and well structured.
While there is a romantic thread underlying the story, it remains subtle and there is no spice, making the focus firmly on the fantasy and plot driven elements. I would recommend this to readers who enjoy fantasy and high fantasy, particularly those who like layered mysteries, multiple character arcs, and steadily escalating stakes.
The ending was satisfying and resolved the main events of this book, while still leaving the door open for the continuation of the series. It does end on a cliffhanger, with lingering questions surrounding the development of some major characters, which builds anticipation for what comes next.
Rating 4.5⭐️
A well written, suspenseful continuation with strong twists, vivid storytelling, and multiple character journeys that ultimately come together in a compelling way.
May 25, 2026
Book two in The Shattered Sky Saga, Tides Of Memory, is everything I was hoping it would be ! Often times book two in a series can kind of drop off a bit. Sometimes it isn't as good as book one. I can say with certainty that this is not the case with Tides Of Memory! We pretty much get thrown in right where we left off in book one. It felt like coming home to my favorite characters the way I missed Dainan and Kadian and Lil.
We start off with all these questions as a result of the ending of book one. Friends and family are separated from each other. They've gone through some major losses. Some people have memories missing. You can really feel a war is looming. The author has a great way of making you feel the impending doom. She integrated a few more POVs in this book which really helped get the feel of what is happening in each characters story arc. I absolutely devoured all of the Kadian and Lil chapters especially. Theres all these little bits of pieces of information about whats going on and I really enjoyed how the author walked us through putting the pieces together to complete the puzzle.
This book really delves into the lore with the Gods and the history of their world. It was very satisfying in the way that we get plenty of answers. How those answers were revealed was done so well. I definitely had some guesses of where things were going and I was right about a few but I was still shocked by many of the revelations! There were plenty of moments that had my mouth gaping, had me giggling, shocked, squeeling, even crying. We get beautiful beginnings, and sad endings. An epic adventure that spans realms. Overall I feel like SO much happened. I was taken on quite the ride, and enjoyed every second of it ! Brida grows so much throughout this book. Theres so much character development going on with all the main characters. I really enjoyed getting to know Iona more too. I was actually surprised with how much fun Kadians chapters were. I think I anticipated them the most! Theres a lot more worldbuilding and much more history revealed. Definitely takes a little bit of brain power. I wouldnt classify this is an easy romantasy or a quick read. More like an Epic fantasy romance. And that ending, as usual, has me needing book 3 like I need air!!
Big thanks to Laura A Blake & team for the advanced readers copy. This is my honest review !
We start off with all these questions as a result of the ending of book one. Friends and family are separated from each other. They've gone through some major losses. Some people have memories missing. You can really feel a war is looming. The author has a great way of making you feel the impending doom. She integrated a few more POVs in this book which really helped get the feel of what is happening in each characters story arc. I absolutely devoured all of the Kadian and Lil chapters especially. Theres all these little bits of pieces of information about whats going on and I really enjoyed how the author walked us through putting the pieces together to complete the puzzle.
This book really delves into the lore with the Gods and the history of their world. It was very satisfying in the way that we get plenty of answers. How those answers were revealed was done so well. I definitely had some guesses of where things were going and I was right about a few but I was still shocked by many of the revelations! There were plenty of moments that had my mouth gaping, had me giggling, shocked, squeeling, even crying. We get beautiful beginnings, and sad endings. An epic adventure that spans realms. Overall I feel like SO much happened. I was taken on quite the ride, and enjoyed every second of it ! Brida grows so much throughout this book. Theres so much character development going on with all the main characters. I really enjoyed getting to know Iona more too. I was actually surprised with how much fun Kadians chapters were. I think I anticipated them the most! Theres a lot more worldbuilding and much more history revealed. Definitely takes a little bit of brain power. I wouldnt classify this is an easy romantasy or a quick read. More like an Epic fantasy romance. And that ending, as usual, has me needing book 3 like I need air!!
Big thanks to Laura A Blake & team for the advanced readers copy. This is my honest review !
Review of advance copy received from Author
The world building, magic system and lore in this book is absolutely phenomenal!
The author is risky and instead of doing the expected she takes us to another realm outside of Eldara. The descriptions of the places we visited felt mystical and poetic. 🌍
The multiple POV stole the show for me. We read alot from Kaiden and Lil and new characters are introduced with previous ones fleshed out which added so much dimension to the relationships from TFD you can't help but fall in love with them. We don't get a Dainan POV so I'm hoping that comes in book 3! I want to know what happened when he walked through the door 😭
Dainan and Brida don't spend much time together in this book as the story seems to be centred around solving the mysteries from TFD and although there is a strong undercurrent of romance, I would say that the fantasy takes a leading role in this installment of the series. Honestly, I think it was needed given the depth of the magic-system and mystery. The romance we do experience in TOM is epic! ❤️
There is a portion of the book between 20-40% of the way through where the scenes feel a little repetitive. That said, it really helped to build tension and reflecting on it after finishing the book, I think it balanced out the pace of all the excitement, drama and adventure really well.
I don't want to give anything away by saying too much but this book was enthralling! I had to know what happened next so couldn't put it down. I was hooked. Its one of the most complex stories I've had the pleasure of reading and I found myself taking notes to aid me in my 'conspiracy theories' 😂🔎 The writing was excellent and I loved the darker, edgier, more magical aspects of this second installment of the series ✨️
The author is risky and instead of doing the expected she takes us to another realm outside of Eldara. The descriptions of the places we visited felt mystical and poetic. 🌍
The multiple POV stole the show for me. We read alot from Kaiden and Lil and new characters are introduced with previous ones fleshed out which added so much dimension to the relationships from TFD you can't help but fall in love with them. We don't get a Dainan POV so I'm hoping that comes in book 3! I want to know what happened when he walked through the door 😭
Dainan and Brida don't spend much time together in this book as the story seems to be centred around solving the mysteries from TFD and although there is a strong undercurrent of romance, I would say that the fantasy takes a leading role in this installment of the series. Honestly, I think it was needed given the depth of the magic-system and mystery. The romance we do experience in TOM is epic! ❤️
There is a portion of the book between 20-40% of the way through where the scenes feel a little repetitive. That said, it really helped to build tension and reflecting on it after finishing the book, I think it balanced out the pace of all the excitement, drama and adventure really well.
I don't want to give anything away by saying too much but this book was enthralling! I had to know what happened next so couldn't put it down. I was hooked. Its one of the most complex stories I've had the pleasure of reading and I found myself taking notes to aid me in my 'conspiracy theories' 😂🔎 The writing was excellent and I loved the darker, edgier, more magical aspects of this second installment of the series ✨️
June 16, 2026
Thank you Laura A. Blake for an advanced copy of Tides of Memory in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
"There could not be another, for you are my balance, my love, my equal. But where I am darkness, you will bring light. From the moment I saw you, I knew. My soul was yours."
I want to start off by saying I adored the first book in this series, The Forgotten Dawn. I loved being brought into a beautiful new world full of charming characters and mystery surrounding an academic setting. Tides of Memory didn't hold that spark like the first book did. With that being said, I did enjoy SOME of the time we got to spend with different characters. Multiple POVs are not my favorite because I feel I have a harder time staying with the flow of the book and connecting to the characters. I was so sad to see how much time Dainan and Brida spent apart, I was hoping I would see them together on page more but hopefully in the next book. I am glad however that Brida and her father got to be together! I really loved Iona in this book probably more than anyone, although I have a sneaky suspicion those feelings will change in the coming books again but that is just my little theory. I felt like some of Kadian's disdain for her was a little over the top and repetitive. In this book I felt there was a lot of lore and information dumped on us, and with the characters being split up so much I felt like I couldn't keep up with who was talking to who, in what realm or court, or the lineage of Chaos, Dawn and Dusk and their descendants. The courts still intrigue me and I am hoping to see more of the elements and magic everyone can use. I am still looking forward to the rest of this series. I really would like to see how the whole story comes together.
"There could not be another, for you are my balance, my love, my equal. But where I am darkness, you will bring light. From the moment I saw you, I knew. My soul was yours."
I want to start off by saying I adored the first book in this series, The Forgotten Dawn. I loved being brought into a beautiful new world full of charming characters and mystery surrounding an academic setting. Tides of Memory didn't hold that spark like the first book did. With that being said, I did enjoy SOME of the time we got to spend with different characters. Multiple POVs are not my favorite because I feel I have a harder time staying with the flow of the book and connecting to the characters. I was so sad to see how much time Dainan and Brida spent apart, I was hoping I would see them together on page more but hopefully in the next book. I am glad however that Brida and her father got to be together! I really loved Iona in this book probably more than anyone, although I have a sneaky suspicion those feelings will change in the coming books again but that is just my little theory. I felt like some of Kadian's disdain for her was a little over the top and repetitive. In this book I felt there was a lot of lore and information dumped on us, and with the characters being split up so much I felt like I couldn't keep up with who was talking to who, in what realm or court, or the lineage of Chaos, Dawn and Dusk and their descendants. The courts still intrigue me and I am hoping to see more of the elements and magic everyone can use. I am still looking forward to the rest of this series. I really would like to see how the whole story comes together.
June 8, 2026
Tides of Memory 🌊✨
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/ 5 ⭐️’s
I love this series and can’t wait to continue! This book was full of all the information and lore let me tell you 👀 it was spilling out of the book, I was trying to catch it! Very much needed info from what has happened in the 1st book and I’m sure to what leads to the next one!
I was really missing Brida and Dainan not going to lie I wish they weren’t separated for sooo long I know they were missing eachother 😩🥺 I get why they had to be seperated but once they finally reunited they set my book on fire with their connection and compassion I just love them! 😩❤️ side note I was also wanting more of Dainans POV so I’m hoping we get more of him in the next book!
THE YEARNING still had me even though they were all separated! 🔥
I really enjoyed having Lil and Karina POV’s though! I also need more of them, I can’t wait for them to reunite! Pleasssseee🥺 Kaiden and Iona! Their new friendship I LOVED! I love Iona that girl I know has also been through it and she deserves a friend and love! She helped Kadian so much throughout the book, she was secretly a sweetie and of course she a baddie!
Reading Lils POV’s made me emotional and feel for her and her trauma. I know she is strong but my poor girl needs her Kadian.
I’m intrigued on a lot of the new characters as well that go introduced and am excited to find out more about them! I can’t wait to get my hands on the next book of course with the way it ends!! Alsoooo the snipped of the next book!!! AHHHH! 👀 I can’t wait! You did a great job Laura Blake! 🫶🏻
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/ 5 ⭐️’s
I love this series and can’t wait to continue! This book was full of all the information and lore let me tell you 👀 it was spilling out of the book, I was trying to catch it! Very much needed info from what has happened in the 1st book and I’m sure to what leads to the next one!
I was really missing Brida and Dainan not going to lie I wish they weren’t separated for sooo long I know they were missing eachother 😩🥺 I get why they had to be seperated but once they finally reunited they set my book on fire with their connection and compassion I just love them! 😩❤️ side note I was also wanting more of Dainans POV so I’m hoping we get more of him in the next book!
THE YEARNING still had me even though they were all separated! 🔥
I really enjoyed having Lil and Karina POV’s though! I also need more of them, I can’t wait for them to reunite! Pleasssseee🥺 Kaiden and Iona! Their new friendship I LOVED! I love Iona that girl I know has also been through it and she deserves a friend and love! She helped Kadian so much throughout the book, she was secretly a sweetie and of course she a baddie!
Reading Lils POV’s made me emotional and feel for her and her trauma. I know she is strong but my poor girl needs her Kadian.
I’m intrigued on a lot of the new characters as well that go introduced and am excited to find out more about them! I can’t wait to get my hands on the next book of course with the way it ends!! Alsoooo the snipped of the next book!!! AHHHH! 👀 I can’t wait! You did a great job Laura Blake! 🫶🏻
May 16, 2026
3.75 ⭐️
There is a large amount of character growth, mental health themes, immersive world building, and expansion of the lore that takes place in this book. It’s very complex to describe but it simultaneously felt like there was a lot happening but also not much happening as far as plot development. Tides of Memory instead prepares the characters and the readers for what is to come next. It is a book you have to sit back and look at as a whole after reading, which is why I waited to leave my review.
Tides of Memory starts off with a much slower pace than my typical reads, so I did find myself pushing to get through the first half at times. After the 50% mark the pace starts to pick up a little bit. I do feel like we could have there sooner, for Brida especially it felt like her time in the Court of Whispers was longer than I liked, but that is my personal opinion and only because I’m not one for slower pacing usually.
While the overall vibe was very different from book 1, I believe Tides of Memory served us well as a bridge to book 3 (as many second books in a series do) where the stakes will be much higher, and we’ll experience more high stakes and plot expansion. I am very eager to see how all the new lore we’ve learned will be applied to the storyline as the series continues.
Thank you Laura A. Blake for the e-ARC of Tides of Memory (including the sneak peek of book 3 at the end!!). I look forward to reading more of your work!
There is a large amount of character growth, mental health themes, immersive world building, and expansion of the lore that takes place in this book. It’s very complex to describe but it simultaneously felt like there was a lot happening but also not much happening as far as plot development. Tides of Memory instead prepares the characters and the readers for what is to come next. It is a book you have to sit back and look at as a whole after reading, which is why I waited to leave my review.
Tides of Memory starts off with a much slower pace than my typical reads, so I did find myself pushing to get through the first half at times. After the 50% mark the pace starts to pick up a little bit. I do feel like we could have there sooner, for Brida especially it felt like her time in the Court of Whispers was longer than I liked, but that is my personal opinion and only because I’m not one for slower pacing usually.
While the overall vibe was very different from book 1, I believe Tides of Memory served us well as a bridge to book 3 (as many second books in a series do) where the stakes will be much higher, and we’ll experience more high stakes and plot expansion. I am very eager to see how all the new lore we’ve learned will be applied to the storyline as the series continues.
Thank you Laura A. Blake for the e-ARC of Tides of Memory (including the sneak peek of book 3 at the end!!). I look forward to reading more of your work!
May 16, 2026
I’m not sure where to begin. This book felt so dense, yet not at the same time. I had a hard time getting into this book because the first 50% was so slow. There was clearly a lot of build up, but about 85% of this book was just build up. The story doesn’t really progress much overall, and we’re swimming in secrets for most of it. While I do think that has precedent, it felt almost suffocating in this, because I just wanted something to happen or move forward. A lot of pieces felt confusing too, and we’re getting so many inner monologues in this that it was also confusing to parse through. Our characters don’t really accomplish much in this book, and the climaxes I thought we were going to get either were so drawn out that when they happened it seemed small, or they were hardly given any notice. All of the characters in this book end up separated from one another and are in a dire situation and have no idea what is going on or how to get back to everyone. It made me yearn to see everyone together again, but it’s clear that’s not what was meant to be. I think the purpose of this book was to shed light on things and prepare us for the impending doom and war that will be book three, but I wish this hadn’t been so dense with confusing quests and secrets that got way too drawn out. There were a few good humorous moments in this, and one moment that made me cry, but other than those, I had to keep putting this book down and take a break before coming back to read more.
May 21, 2026
After the way The Forgotten Dawn ended, I was so excited to pick this one up and dive back into this world!
Tides of Memory picks up right where book one left off, and this time we get multiple POVs as the main group of characters is pulled in different directions. I really liked this choice because it lets you get to know the other characters better and see what each of them is going through on their individual journeys. Even though they're separated, all the separate storylines remain interconnected in a way that fits together seamlessly without ever becoming confusing.
There’s a lot more emotional depth in this installment because of the events at the end of book one, and Laura writes these moments in a way that makes you feel completely immersed in the characters and their struggles as they battle the world, other people, and sometimes even themselves.
I also loved the expansion of the already incredible world-building introduced in the first book. You learn more about the history of the world and the characters, and everything is connected in such an incredibly creative way.
If you're looking for a story with a lot of spice, you won’t really find that here. But honestly, with everything else happening in the story, I didn’t miss it at all. There’s still romance between several characters, but instead of overtaking the plot like it does in many books, it enhances the story and makes it even stronger.
This book reveals so much about both the world and the characters, and there were several twists I genuinely didn’t see coming—especially the one at the end. I've loved this series so far and can’t wait to see what happens next!
Tides of Memory picks up right where book one left off, and this time we get multiple POVs as the main group of characters is pulled in different directions. I really liked this choice because it lets you get to know the other characters better and see what each of them is going through on their individual journeys. Even though they're separated, all the separate storylines remain interconnected in a way that fits together seamlessly without ever becoming confusing.
There’s a lot more emotional depth in this installment because of the events at the end of book one, and Laura writes these moments in a way that makes you feel completely immersed in the characters and their struggles as they battle the world, other people, and sometimes even themselves.
I also loved the expansion of the already incredible world-building introduced in the first book. You learn more about the history of the world and the characters, and everything is connected in such an incredibly creative way.
If you're looking for a story with a lot of spice, you won’t really find that here. But honestly, with everything else happening in the story, I didn’t miss it at all. There’s still romance between several characters, but instead of overtaking the plot like it does in many books, it enhances the story and makes it even stronger.
This book reveals so much about both the world and the characters, and there were several twists I genuinely didn’t see coming—especially the one at the end. I've loved this series so far and can’t wait to see what happens next!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you to Laura for sending me an eARC of this book, I was sooooo excited to dive into it as I absolutely loved the first one.
I will say going into this I thought it was a duology, (I’m sure I saw it as a 2/2, but I’ve had this recently for another series as well🫠) so I was expecting things to end not ramp up and I was hella confused for a bit of it. This book was definitely the info dump book. There was so much to learn and I still don’t fully understand what has happened to Kaiden, I think I might need to re-read some of his chapters.
I did miss Dainan not being in it that much, I did feel his lack of presence and was constantly wondering what was he up to while we were diving into all the other POVs. Ugh, and Alver?? How did the author manage to make me tear up about his death twice! Can’t believe we had to go through it again! I wish they were able to save him 💔
I am glad it wasn’t Marsh who was an absolute asshat and that Brida turned into this sassy determined FMC, she needed that growth. I was hoping for a Brida and Lil reunion, but alas, I’ll have to wait until the next book!
Overall, pretty good but there was a lot of information to take in and I missed certain characters.
3.75 stars
I will say going into this I thought it was a duology, (I’m sure I saw it as a 2/2, but I’ve had this recently for another series as well🫠) so I was expecting things to end not ramp up and I was hella confused for a bit of it. This book was definitely the info dump book. There was so much to learn and I still don’t fully understand what has happened to Kaiden, I think I might need to re-read some of his chapters.
I did miss Dainan not being in it that much, I did feel his lack of presence and was constantly wondering what was he up to while we were diving into all the other POVs. Ugh, and Alver?? How did the author manage to make me tear up about his death twice! Can’t believe we had to go through it again! I wish they were able to save him 💔
I am glad it wasn’t Marsh who was an absolute asshat and that Brida turned into this sassy determined FMC, she needed that growth. I was hoping for a Brida and Lil reunion, but alas, I’ll have to wait until the next book!
Overall, pretty good but there was a lot of information to take in and I missed certain characters.
3.75 stars
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thanks to the author for sending me an ARC of this book to review.
4.5 ⭐️'s
This definitely was a great sequel to The Forgotten Dawn. I really loved how this time we got multiple-POV and I do feel this was needed given Brida's circumstances. The writing style and pacing was a big improvement from the first book and it definitely captivated me a lot more, I was strapped in wondering what was coming next. My head is still spinning with so many revelations.
Some of the character development was amazing and finally knowing more of the characters in depth was necessary. I loved Dainan in the first book but he was amazing in this. Knowing more about Kaidan was definitely useful. Seeing Brida go full bada-- was amazing. And Lil's story is just tragic. There's so many more characters I was intrigued to learn about.
There was a lot of information being thrown at us in this book that was slightly overwhelming. And usually I hate info dumps and long stretches of information, but this was done in an engaging way that was very much appreciated.
Things are coming together in a massive way and it does make me nervous for what is going to happen next. I need the next book.
4.5 ⭐️'s
This definitely was a great sequel to The Forgotten Dawn. I really loved how this time we got multiple-POV and I do feel this was needed given Brida's circumstances. The writing style and pacing was a big improvement from the first book and it definitely captivated me a lot more, I was strapped in wondering what was coming next. My head is still spinning with so many revelations.
Some of the character development was amazing and finally knowing more of the characters in depth was necessary. I loved Dainan in the first book but he was amazing in this. Knowing more about Kaidan was definitely useful. Seeing Brida go full bada-- was amazing. And Lil's story is just tragic. There's so many more characters I was intrigued to learn about.
There was a lot of information being thrown at us in this book that was slightly overwhelming. And usually I hate info dumps and long stretches of information, but this was done in an engaging way that was very much appreciated.
Things are coming together in a massive way and it does make me nervous for what is going to happen next. I need the next book.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Tides of Memory is Book 2 in The Shattered Sky Saga and an epic fantasy romance with immersive worldbuilding, high stakes, secrets, and betrayals. I loved book 2 as much as I loved book 1. There are more POV’s in book 2, which I enjoy, and it gives the story more depth and extra layers. The beginning was a little slow and I had no idea where it was going to go, but then it picks up and all starts to make sense. It reads quite different from book 1 and a little darker, but I enjoyed it all the same. There is a lot of lore, emotional depth, plot twists, and the introduction to new characters. There is a lot to think about throughout this book and it had my mind reeling on the possibilities. It answers questions left from book 1, but then makes you ask more questions by the end of book 2. Overall, this is an amazing read left on another cliffhanger and I can’t wait for the next book.
If you love epic fantasy romance, elemental magic, rich world-building, fae courts, meddling gods, new worlds, slow burn, political intrigue, and multi POV (in book 2) I definitely recommend checking out this series!
Thank you to the author for a gifted copy. I am voluntarily leaving a review, and all thoughts are my own.
If you love epic fantasy romance, elemental magic, rich world-building, fae courts, meddling gods, new worlds, slow burn, political intrigue, and multi POV (in book 2) I definitely recommend checking out this series!
Thank you to the author for a gifted copy. I am voluntarily leaving a review, and all thoughts are my own.
June 18, 2026
Rating: 5/5 Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Tides of Memory is an absolutely epic second installment to The Shattered Sky Saga! If you loved book one, this one will completely hook you. Laura A. Blake expands the world beautifully by introducing multiple POVs in this sequel, adding incredible depth and extra layers to the narrative.
While the story starts a bit slow—leaving you wondering exactly where the plot is heading—it quickly picks up speed as everything masterfully clicks into place. It definitely has a different, slightly darker tone than book one, but I enjoyed every single second of it. This installment is packed with rich lore, deep emotional stakes, mind-reeling plot twists, and fantastic new characters. It brilliantly answers the lingering questions from the first book while leaving you with a whole new set of mysteries by the end.
Overall, it's a phenomenal read that leaves you on another massive cliffhanger. I am officially desperate for book three!
Highly recommended if you love:
🌌 Epic fantasy romance & rich world-building
🌲 Fae courts & elemental magic
🏛️ Political intrigue & meddling gods
🔥 Delicious slow burns
🎭 Multi-POV storytelling
Tides of Memory is an absolutely epic second installment to The Shattered Sky Saga! If you loved book one, this one will completely hook you. Laura A. Blake expands the world beautifully by introducing multiple POVs in this sequel, adding incredible depth and extra layers to the narrative.
While the story starts a bit slow—leaving you wondering exactly where the plot is heading—it quickly picks up speed as everything masterfully clicks into place. It definitely has a different, slightly darker tone than book one, but I enjoyed every single second of it. This installment is packed with rich lore, deep emotional stakes, mind-reeling plot twists, and fantastic new characters. It brilliantly answers the lingering questions from the first book while leaving you with a whole new set of mysteries by the end.
Overall, it's a phenomenal read that leaves you on another massive cliffhanger. I am officially desperate for book three!
Highly recommended if you love:
🌌 Epic fantasy romance & rich world-building
🌲 Fae courts & elemental magic
🏛️ Political intrigue & meddling gods
🔥 Delicious slow burns
🎭 Multi-POV storytelling
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Autor
4.5/5 🌟 Thank you Laura for this advance copy!
"Time is a thief, and the provider of joy. An assassin in the night, and the long burning flame of lovers."
Tides of Memory was an amazing sequel. It was darker than The Forgotten Dawn, with some delicate topics. There's kidnapping, trauma, secrets, lies and deception, political intrigue and a fake King. It had really nice pacing and we get to know more about this and other worlds!
I really enjoyed the multiple POVs, and I particularly loved Kadian's. He's so sweet and lovable, lost and hopeless.. you can't help but love him! 💙
This story was so different, not only because we get multiple POVs but also because we see different parts of the Realm. Each character has their own struggles and agendas. So many questions got answered, but we formed new ones... and now we have to wait for book 3 to unravel them 👀
Check out these amazing Tropes:
- Fae, Humans, Gods & Goddesses
- Academy Setting
- Unique Magic System
- Court & Political Deception
- Arranged Marriage
- Secrets & Betrayal
- Found Family
- Mental Health Rep
"Time is a thief, and the provider of joy. An assassin in the night, and the long burning flame of lovers."
Tides of Memory was an amazing sequel. It was darker than The Forgotten Dawn, with some delicate topics. There's kidnapping, trauma, secrets, lies and deception, political intrigue and a fake King. It had really nice pacing and we get to know more about this and other worlds!
I really enjoyed the multiple POVs, and I particularly loved Kadian's. He's so sweet and lovable, lost and hopeless.. you can't help but love him! 💙
This story was so different, not only because we get multiple POVs but also because we see different parts of the Realm. Each character has their own struggles and agendas. So many questions got answered, but we formed new ones... and now we have to wait for book 3 to unravel them 👀
Check out these amazing Tropes:
- Fae, Humans, Gods & Goddesses
- Academy Setting
- Unique Magic System
- Court & Political Deception
- Arranged Marriage
- Secrets & Betrayal
- Found Family
- Mental Health Rep
June 2, 2026
4⭐
Let me start by saying that Laura gave us a little recap of book 1. Can we normalize this pls? It is just SO helpful to get a quick summary of what happened. Very useful when you can’t reread the previous books in a series. So thank you for your thoughtfulness, Laura.
Tides of Memory starts right off where we left things in The Forgotten Dawn and I appreciate that. There are no time gaps whatsoever. We do switch POV tho! And it makes a lot of sense to do so since we’ll be following Brida, Lily and Kaiden on their journey.
There are so many mysterious things going on. I was often thinking “what the fuck is happening” and it kinda made me keep on reading. It was mysterious without becoming too vague. The worldbuilding is also very rich and I often marveled at the descriptions.
I really think this book was made to prepare us for book 3. And I say that with the most love in mind because this book does NOT suffer from the second book “disease”. It was very entertaining and intriguing.
There’s a big change coming and we couldn’t just jump right into it. I feel like we needed a little sightseeing (without being a complete detour, fyi) before arriving at the main event, just like the characters. There’s some major soul searching in the most literal way ever 👀
The last part of the book was like finding the box of pandora and opening it. Allll the puzzle pieces started falling together and let’s just say I’m very excited to see what will come. Oh and the plots twist!! I think my neighbours heard my “What?!”
I do still have questions as to what some events have to do with anything but I think I can put some of the remaining puzzle pieces together with what I know after finishing the book.
"𝒯𝒽𝑒𝓇𝑒 𝒸𝑜𝓊𝓁𝒹 𝓃𝑜𝓉 𝒷𝑒 𝒶𝓃𝑜𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓇, 𝒻𝑜𝓇 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝒶𝓇𝑒 𝓂𝓎 𝒷𝒶𝓁𝒶𝓃𝒸𝑒, 𝓂𝓎 𝓁𝑜𝓋𝑒, 𝓂𝓎 𝑒𝓆𝓊𝒶𝓁. 𝐵𝓊𝓉 𝓌𝒽𝑒𝓇𝑒 𝐼 𝒶𝓂 𝒹𝒶𝓇𝓀𝓃𝑒𝓈𝓈, 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓌𝒾𝓁𝓁 𝒷𝓇𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝓁𝒾𝑔𝒽𝓉. 𝐹𝓇𝑜𝓂 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓂𝑜𝓂𝑒𝓃𝓉 𝐼 𝓈𝒶𝓌 𝓎𝑜𝓊, 𝐼 𝓀𝓃𝑒𝓌. 𝑀𝓎 𝓈𝑜𝓊𝓁 𝓌𝒶𝓈 𝓎𝑜𝓊𝓇𝓈."
I would’ve liked to see the friends get together more because most of the book is spent separately but there’s a reason for everything. I’m sure they’ll stick together in book 3! (please?)
Add to your tbr if you love:
❤️ slow burn
🧚 Fae courts
🔥 elemental magic
⚡️ meddling Gods
🗺️ new worlds
⚔️politics
🗣️multi POV
Let me start by saying that Laura gave us a little recap of book 1. Can we normalize this pls? It is just SO helpful to get a quick summary of what happened. Very useful when you can’t reread the previous books in a series. So thank you for your thoughtfulness, Laura.
Tides of Memory starts right off where we left things in The Forgotten Dawn and I appreciate that. There are no time gaps whatsoever. We do switch POV tho! And it makes a lot of sense to do so since we’ll be following Brida, Lily and Kaiden on their journey.
There are so many mysterious things going on. I was often thinking “what the fuck is happening” and it kinda made me keep on reading. It was mysterious without becoming too vague. The worldbuilding is also very rich and I often marveled at the descriptions.
I really think this book was made to prepare us for book 3. And I say that with the most love in mind because this book does NOT suffer from the second book “disease”. It was very entertaining and intriguing.
There’s a big change coming and we couldn’t just jump right into it. I feel like we needed a little sightseeing (without being a complete detour, fyi) before arriving at the main event, just like the characters. There’s some major soul searching in the most literal way ever 👀
The last part of the book was like finding the box of pandora and opening it. Allll the puzzle pieces started falling together and let’s just say I’m very excited to see what will come. Oh and the plots twist!! I think my neighbours heard my “What?!”
I do still have questions as to what some events have to do with anything but I think I can put some of the remaining puzzle pieces together with what I know after finishing the book.
"𝒯𝒽𝑒𝓇𝑒 𝒸𝑜𝓊𝓁𝒹 𝓃𝑜𝓉 𝒷𝑒 𝒶𝓃𝑜𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓇, 𝒻𝑜𝓇 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝒶𝓇𝑒 𝓂𝓎 𝒷𝒶𝓁𝒶𝓃𝒸𝑒, 𝓂𝓎 𝓁𝑜𝓋𝑒, 𝓂𝓎 𝑒𝓆𝓊𝒶𝓁. 𝐵𝓊𝓉 𝓌𝒽𝑒𝓇𝑒 𝐼 𝒶𝓂 𝒹𝒶𝓇𝓀𝓃𝑒𝓈𝓈, 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓌𝒾𝓁𝓁 𝒷𝓇𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝓁𝒾𝑔𝒽𝓉. 𝐹𝓇𝑜𝓂 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓂𝑜𝓂𝑒𝓃𝓉 𝐼 𝓈𝒶𝓌 𝓎𝑜𝓊, 𝐼 𝓀𝓃𝑒𝓌. 𝑀𝓎 𝓈𝑜𝓊𝓁 𝓌𝒶𝓈 𝓎𝑜𝓊𝓇𝓈."
I would’ve liked to see the friends get together more because most of the book is spent separately but there’s a reason for everything. I’m sure they’ll stick together in book 3! (please?)
Add to your tbr if you love:
❤️ slow burn
🧚 Fae courts
🔥 elemental magic
⚡️ meddling Gods
🗺️ new worlds
⚔️politics
🗣️multi POV
June 5, 2026
3.3 ⭐️
Unfortunately I felt that this book lost a lot of the momentum, that had been built up in book one.
With three POVs and three storylines, every time the story became intriguing, it shifted, and with the momentum lost, so was my interest.
Even though the three stories were different, they were also somehow filled with the same content: cryptic secrets that at times were quite tiresome - especially when the story kept shifting.
In the end of the book - nothing had really happened?
There weren’t really any plot or real character development.
I can feel that the author loves her characters, because a lot of punches were pulled.
The style of this book were a lot different than book one, and the things I loved about the first book were missing in this one. In the end the slow-burn felt snuffed out and I stopped caring about Brida and Danian, even though I was quite invested in book one.
I hope this book is more of build up to something great in the next.
Unfortunately I felt that this book lost a lot of the momentum, that had been built up in book one.
With three POVs and three storylines, every time the story became intriguing, it shifted, and with the momentum lost, so was my interest.
Even though the three stories were different, they were also somehow filled with the same content: cryptic secrets that at times were quite tiresome - especially when the story kept shifting.
In the end of the book - nothing had really happened?
There weren’t really any plot or real character development.
I can feel that the author loves her characters, because a lot of punches were pulled.
The style of this book were a lot different than book one, and the things I loved about the first book were missing in this one. In the end the slow-burn felt snuffed out and I stopped caring about Brida and Danian, even though I was quite invested in book one.
I hope this book is more of build up to something great in the next.
June 19, 2026
This was like a 3.75-4 star read for me which sucks because I loved the first book. It seriously doesn’t take me this long to finish a fantasy book, but the beginning just dragged for me so I wasn’t invested to finish. It took a while for me to get into the story but when I did I flew through the rest of the book.
The multiple POVs were okay, but sometimes I wanted to skip a few of them because I didn’t care that much about the character. I wish there were more Dainan chapters because I cared more about his insight. For example, him and Lil each have to go through a different door for their journey. We only got Lil’s chapters on what she experienced, but nothing from Dainan.
I agree with others when they say this book felt completely different from the first one. The characters were all scattered in different kingdoms, facing different trials, and each having different revelations. We didn’t each really see the main villain much in this book. It was more of an informational story with a history lesson.
The multiple POVs were okay, but sometimes I wanted to skip a few of them because I didn’t care that much about the character. I wish there were more Dainan chapters because I cared more about his insight. For example, him and Lil each have to go through a different door for their journey. We only got Lil’s chapters on what she experienced, but nothing from Dainan.
I agree with others when they say this book felt completely different from the first one. The characters were all scattered in different kingdoms, facing different trials, and each having different revelations. We didn’t each really see the main villain much in this book. It was more of an informational story with a history lesson.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you to the author for providing me with an Arc of this book! I was super excited to dive into Book 2 of this series and it did not disappoint.
This books delves into different points of view as now the characters are all in different places. I very much enjoyed hetting Kaldian and Lil's perspectives along with Brida's. You go on a different journey with each character as they navigate after the events of tge first book. It was a bit slow going at first but once things begin to progress, it really keeps you on your toes. Iona was a surprise character growth for me considering the first book. The world building in this book is great and it has expanded even further.
Book 2 leaves you in three different places with each otge characters and all are heading towards an ultimate goal which will hopefully bring them back together in the next book. I am now eagerly awaiting the next book in this saga.
This books delves into different points of view as now the characters are all in different places. I very much enjoyed hetting Kaldian and Lil's perspectives along with Brida's. You go on a different journey with each character as they navigate after the events of tge first book. It was a bit slow going at first but once things begin to progress, it really keeps you on your toes. Iona was a surprise character growth for me considering the first book. The world building in this book is great and it has expanded even further.
Book 2 leaves you in three different places with each otge characters and all are heading towards an ultimate goal which will hopefully bring them back together in the next book. I am now eagerly awaiting the next book in this saga.
April 25, 2026
Tides of Memory picks up where we left in The Forgotten Dawn. The friends are separated and have to do everything to get back to their loved ones and to get behind the conspiracy that's going on in Azmeer. Little do they know, it's harder than it seems!
Rounded up from 2.5 stars.
I feel like Laura A. Blake's writing and I might be fundamentally incompatible. The writing very much relies on the characters' introspection while not much is happening on the outside. Also, a stylistic device is that the characters (and therefore the reader) have no idea what's going on and are perpetually... lost. That's just something I personally can't stand at all. At c. 60% came a part that I liked much better, but then it went back to the previous style. Overall, I still have no idea what's going on.
Thank you very much Laura A. Blake for providing me with a free ARC in exchange for a honest review.
Rounded up from 2.5 stars.
I feel like Laura A. Blake's writing and I might be fundamentally incompatible. The writing very much relies on the characters' introspection while not much is happening on the outside. Also, a stylistic device is that the characters (and therefore the reader) have no idea what's going on and are perpetually... lost. That's just something I personally can't stand at all. At c. 60% came a part that I liked much better, but then it went back to the previous style. Overall, I still have no idea what's going on.
Thank you very much Laura A. Blake for providing me with a free ARC in exchange for a honest review.
May 15, 2026
I love where this book took us. The themes of water and memory were woven through so many aspects and even though the gang was split up there was cohesion. I would recommend you read The Forgotten Dawn again if it’s been a while because there were times I felt lost and I know that’s because I’d forgotten things. I missed having everyone together but the multiple POVs kept me invested in each storyline. This was very much a world and character building book. The lore is *dropped* in this book and the stakes become more clear. There were some twists I’d been hoping for, some that I did not see coming at all. Layers (sometimes very surprising layers) were added to characters. I raged, I cried, I cheered and I can’t wait for the next book!
Thank you Laura Blake for the opportunity to read an advanced copy, all opinions are my own.
Thank you Laura Blake for the opportunity to read an advanced copy, all opinions are my own.
May 17, 2026
Fantasy
A book full of mystery but not much romance. It held me & was captivating. The book following 3 main characters in seperate stories & each chapter bounces between them, which added to pace & excitement. Although sometimes things took too long, like when they were lost in their own personal prisons. So many things left hanging still. Romance, where was it? Only at the end & even then it was lacking. The previous book was too long ago that I don't recall how Brida & Danian left the relationship. But book 1 was much more about the romance. This was mystery after mystery, full of gods & stories. I liked the friendships of Oz & Ioana & kadian. Lots of time spent detailing the beginning of time & the gods. Not enough real time happening. And so much of a cliffhanger.
A book full of mystery but not much romance. It held me & was captivating. The book following 3 main characters in seperate stories & each chapter bounces between them, which added to pace & excitement. Although sometimes things took too long, like when they were lost in their own personal prisons. So many things left hanging still. Romance, where was it? Only at the end & even then it was lacking. The previous book was too long ago that I don't recall how Brida & Danian left the relationship. But book 1 was much more about the romance. This was mystery after mystery, full of gods & stories. I liked the friendships of Oz & Ioana & kadian. Lots of time spent detailing the beginning of time & the gods. Not enough real time happening. And so much of a cliffhanger.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews