Tidespeaker

Tidespeaker #1

by Sadie Turner

A girl with the power to command the tides has her life changed when she secures a job serving a wealthy noble family—only to learn upon arrival that the last person to fill her post mysteriously died, and her new employers are hiding dark secrets—in this haunting and lush debut fantasy.

Corith Fraine is a Floodmouth—her words can control water. Yet for those born with her rare elemental ability, paths forward are few, and Corith is one of the lucky ones. She has spent most of her life in a prestigious magic institution, training to one day achieve the highest possible honor for a member of her kind: the chance to serve one of the hundred noble houses.

When Corith learns she’s secured a post working for House Shearwater, a reclusive noble family living on a wave-battered island, she thinks her hard work has paid off. Until she discovers that their previous Floodmouth—Corith’s closest friend—mysteriously died in their service. And Corith is her replacement.

To learn the truth of her best friend’s accident, Corith must unravel the dark conspiracies at the heart of Bower Island. Yet doing so will require contending with the island’s deadly tides and her enigmatic new employers—including the family’s brooding youngest son, Llir, who she finds herself equally drawn to and repelled by. With her loyalties pushed to breaking point, these treacherous waters may well pull Corith under…

"A lush and atmospheric fantasy that readers will devour. Set on an isolated island with elemental magic and a tension-filled slow burn romance, TIDESPEAKER drew me into its current and refused to let go. A spectacular debut from an exciting new voice." - New York Times bestselling author Rachel Griffin

"Awash with intrigue and characters with morals as grey as its mist-shrouded isle, Turner’s masterful debut delivers evocative prose, explorations of injustice and violence, and an exquisite slow-burn romance. Corith is the deeply relatable autistic heroine I needed as a teen." - Leanne Schwartz, author of To a Darker Shore and A Prayer for Vengeance

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Mystery, Young Adult Fantasy, Romantasy, Romance, Audiobook

384 pages, Hardcover

First published January 6, 2026

About the author

Sadie Turner grew up in the Welsh Borders and now lives in Hampshire, not far from the former home of one of her biggest inspirations: Jane Austen. She is a copywriter, mother of two, and author of gloomy, romantic, neurodiverse YA Fantasy. When she can find the time, she loves reading, cooking, and classic CRPGs, and is rarely seen without a cup of tea on hand.

Reviews

[jenny reads a lot]

Soft dnf @30%

The world is really interesting and the mystery is cool but overall I’m a little bored. Also I was promised romance and it’s 30% and there hasn’t been any romance.

[Maven_Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tidespeaker by Sadie Turner is a hauntingly atmospheric YA fantasy about Corith Fraine, a young woman whose rare magic gives her power over water and whose life changes when she earns a coveted position serving the mysterious House Shearwater, only to discover her closest friend, who previously held that post, died under suspicious circumstances and that the island estate harbors dark secrets.

As Corith navigates a world in which Orha (magical people like her) are bound to serve nobility in varying degrees of privilege and exploitation, she must learn to master her elemental skills, untangle the mysteries around her friend’s fate, and decide where her loyalties truly lie even as dangerous tides and fragile alliances swirl around her. The narrative blends elemental magic, political intrigue, and a slow‑burn connection with the brooding youngest Shearwater son, Llir, into a richly imagined, wave‑laced backdrop.

Opening Tidespeaker felt like stepping onto a salt‑sprayed shore where every whisper of wind and crash of water carries both beauty and danger, and I was immediately pulled into Corith’s pursuit of truth and agency in a world that treats her kind as both rare and expendable. What I found most affecting was how Corith’s grief for her lost friend and her growing tension between duty and self‑determination made her journey feel deeply personal even amid broader political currents.

The vivid elemental magic, rooted in her bond with water, and the isolated, mist‑shrouded setting of Bower Island gave the story a tactile, evocative layer that made me feel the weight of each discovery and each secret uncovered. The romance with Llir unfolds with a slow, simmering tension that added emotional depth without overpowering the mystery at the story’s core, making their connection feel layered and thoughtfully developed. While Tidespeaker opens a larger duology and some plot strands are clearly designed to widen in the next book, the sense of place, the stakes of power and inequality, and Corith’s own growth stayed with me long after finishing.

My rating: 3 out of 5 stars. I’m giving this book 3 stars because it crafted a beautifully immersive setting and gave me a heroine whose courage and doubt felt sincerely human, even though the larger world building and a few structural pacing choices left me wanting an even deeper dive into certain facets of the world. Overall, Tidespeaker is a compelling start to a duology that will appeal to readers who love elemental magic, atmospheric intrigue, and character‑driven quests for truth.

[Valleri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tidespeaker is a young adult novel that's a twisty mystery with lots of atmosphere, and some romance.

The story follows Corith Fraine, a "Floodmouth" with the rare elemental ability to control water with her words. Upon her graduation at the age of 18, She secures a position serving the reclusive noble House Shearwater on an isolated, wave-battered tidal island. When Corith discovers that her best friend, who previously held Corith's position, has mysteriously drowned, Corith vows to uncover the truth behind her friend's death. To do so, Corith must navigate dark conspiracies and secrets.

The world building in Tidespeaker was impressive!

Thank you, #DelacortePress, for providing this book for review and consideration via #NetGalley. All opinions are my own. Tidespeaker has an expected publication date of January 6, 2026.

#SadieTurner #YoungAdult #MysticalSupernatural #Fantasy

[Chasing Silhouettes · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 🌟

“Sometimes the sands, they can change their shape, and that makes the water swirl in differently...." (Ch 39)

YA Dark Fantasy Romance | Mystery | Slow-burn | Morally Grey | Political Intrigue

The magic caster types have unique names - floodmouth, sparkmouth, mudmouth, and gustmouth. At first I was like what the heck is a floodmouth, where's the glossary?... but then it dawned on me quickly (duh) that each were referring to an element — flood = water, spark = fire, mud = earth, gust = air/wind. And mouth because the spells cast are spoken.

Corith struggled to find a connection with her medium, her element, especially the wide ocean. She struggled with anxiety, with the sense that she couldn't do what she was supposed to be good at. Her emotions were overwhelming and debilitating to her craft and her confidence next to none. Yet she needed to call upon her gifts in order to survive her new position... they gave her little choice. She was in a foreign place with strange tides and stranger people who would just as soon see her drown.

'And it seemed like a particularly cruel twist of fate that I was heading to the same place my friend had disappeared....' (Ch 2)

However, she had another motive for sticking around. She needed to investigate the mysterious death of her closest friend. The mention of her friend was taboo, and she had to tread carefully. She had to play a dangerous cloak and dagger game. The more she dug into it, the more perilous the waters she tread within. And the cloudier it became to where she didn't know which end was up and in what direction she should go.

'I wondered what it must feel like— to be ready to die for an idea . Something that seemed so impossible, so utterly unachievable.' (Ch 12)

If you read and liked The Weaver Bride by Lydia Gregovic, you might like this one. It's predominantly more fantasy mystery than romantasy, and also non-spicy. The romance was more like a faint tingle for the majority of the book. It eventually evolved to a very slow and brief spark about 3/4 of the way in. It's open-ended, though, so who knows...

'.... between us. A private knowledge— an understanding— and it made my skin fizzle with a strange, awkward intimacy.' (Ch 29)

eARC courtesy of NetGalley | Delacorte Press/ Ramdom House Children's Books

[Bookphenomena (Micky) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Headlines:
Elemental control
Servitude
Rebellion

Tidespeaker was a gripping concept from the off. Corith, the protagonist, was a 'floodmouth', one who could supposedly control water and the sea. What was curious about Corith was that she seemed rather inept at her talent. I kept waiting for her to improve; I think there's more there to explore about that and it might turn up in the sequel.

The Orha (those with elemental control) were basically servants without rights for rich, powerful families across the lands. Corith was put on placement with one such family and much of the book was an unfurling of this odd, slightly sympathetic but arrogant group of people. One sibling wanted to dress Corith up, another wanted to be her friend and the two brothers either ignored her or gave curious looks. I really wanted to get to know Llir more than I did.

There was a low-level romantic undertone and this felt appropriate, the romance didn't overtake the story and it was incredibly slow-burning. I'm interested what will happen with these two characters as things were left rather shaky.

The rebellion themes of the story were super intruiging and I can only guess that much of the sequel will follow that direction.

Tidespeaker had some really great twists in the last quarter and I found it rather unputdownable. This was a great duology debut and I'll definitely be reading on. Highly recommended.

Thank you Rock The Boat for the early copy.

[Christine Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the concept of elemental powers so of course a book called tidespeakers about a girl who can control water would be the perfect read!

Perfect for fans of Avatar the last airbender of course but with all the political intrigue of game of thrones, this novel really packs a punch.

We follow Corith, a floodmouth who graduates and take the spot of her supposedly dead best friend. She now has to solve the mystery of her friends disappearance and the mysteries of the family she lives with.

This books has a lot of politics and characters and no much world building for that. I wish we learned more about which element is which name and why they were branded like that. It felt like we were kinda just dumped into this world without any introduction.

The ending was a little winded but I like where it ended up? Seems like there will be a book 2 but honestly I'm satisfied at the end of this one (I also got secondhand embarrassment at the end there for corith) so I don't think I will keep reading but may take a peak LOL

Also let's take a moment to just appreciate that cover and the title of this book cause holy moly wow

Oh and Llir(from the planet Omicron Persei 8) is one of the characters names and now u must think of it every time u read it too. Your welcome!

[Alyssa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

This was a fast paced book and had pretty good world building. So much happened, it was very action packed!

This book started off really strong. I was hooked by the characters and the setting. As it went on it started to go down hill. Not that it was bad, but I just wasn’t as interested.

If you’re going into this expecting a romance, look elsewhere. There was no chemistry at all between the two main characters.

I honestly wish we had more romance in this book, I was looking forward to it. When we did start to get into the romance it was about 70% of the way through the book and it was pretty dang close to instalove. There was no build of it at all. And honestly I wouldn’t really even say it was a valid romance.

It focused too much on the politics.

I wish we saw a little more of Corith using her powers. I thought it was a really cool magic system, and I know she was still learning but still. We barely saw her perform magic.

If things were really cleaned up it would have been an enjoyable read! It was a super quick read, so at least there is that.

Corith had a really strong start as a character, but she was kind of naive, which was frustrating to read.

I could guess a lot of the plot points, which is fine, but it was pretty predictable.

I’d be curious to read the next book to see where things go, but I also would be fine if I just read this one.

[Cait | GoodeyReads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you Get Underlined for the gifted copy.

WELLLLLLL.

BLOG || INSTAGRAM || TIKTOK

I don’t know quite what to do with this book because I was interested, and then I got bored, and then it kind of picked back up again? But I’m trying to write this review only a day after finishing it and I can barely remember anything so the sticking power for this book is unfortunately low.

Some of my confusion is surrounding the fact that I don’t know if this is a standalone or not. I don’t think so? Purely based off of the ending but I’m not 100% sure. I think that frame of reference would have helped because I spent half the book wondering how it was going to wrap up the new things that kept being revealed as it went on.

I did really like the FMC, Corith. The anxiety and turmoil is relatable. Her decision making skills are a bit iffy but that’s okay. There was an attempt at a romantic plot line, without enough leverage for me to be on board. It was one of those, toss it out completely or add in a bit more to make sense, situations.

Maybe I’ll read book two? I’ll keep going with the audiobook route at least.

OH. I did love the gothic watery atmosphere. It was very haunting.

Overall audience notes:
- YA Fantasy
- Language: low
- Romance: kisses
- Violence: mild
- Content warnings: physical altercations, near death experiences, loss of life.

[Chelsea · Rating 4 out of 5]

So, I think that the summary does this book a disservice. Based on it, I went into this book thinking we were getting a mystery and maybe some forbidden romance. However, Corith is neither happy about her position nor informed of her predecessor's death after she arrives at her position. She also never really thinks about Llir in hardly any capacity until like 60% of the way through the book.

Now, if you like political fantasy and elemental magic, then you should still give this a try. I loved the world-building. We have very interesting dynamics and classes between the people who do have magic and the ones who don't. There is a bit of subterfuge here, but it's less about Corith's friend and more about the politics.

The last 20-25% of the book gripped me and I couldn't put it down... But, again, the summary lied to me. Please disregard it.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing the E-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Ali]

dnf @ 40 pages

she did not wow me and the writing style is not my favvvvv

from the reviews, the book synopsis is not as erin a. craig-y meets rachel griffin as much as i thought it'd be so im dnf-ing soz

[Chelsea]

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy

Tidespeaker by Sadie Turner is a first person-POV YA Gothic fantasy mystery with an espionage twist. Corith is a Floodmouth, meaning she can control the tides. When Corith agrees to take up the post with one of the one hundred wealthy families, she learns that her best friend not only held the post, but died under mysterious circumstances. She'll do what she can to learn what happened to her friend, but there are a lot more secrets hiding behind closed doors than she had planned on.

I would say that the Gothic aspects are a lot more related to aesthetics rather than themes or prose, as many of the current Gothics seem to be. It is a fantasy mystery that is more for fantasy readers rather than mystery readers as it is missing some of the genre markers, but the elements are still present as Corith tries to learn what exactly happened. The book does play into a lot of YA tropes and expectations with ball scenes, a romance subplot, and young women disrupting the status quo rather than upholding it.

There's also a rebellion subplot going on there Corith becomes part of when she starts to work with the Cage. The Cage is linked largely to classism and wants to bring down the royal family that employs rare magic users, such as Floodmouths and Sparkmouths. I know that the oppressed mage trope is one that many people have been discussing for years and whether or not it's actually useful because people with magic should be more powerful than people without and so on and so forth, but I think it works here and it works well in YA fantasy because sometimes young people need to believe that those without power can change things and magic as an allegory is one way to do that.

I would recommend this to fans of YA fantasy who want a mystery element and readers of Gothic fantasy looking for a neurodivergent lead

[Brooke · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to RandomHouse Children's Books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this title to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
Nothing pains me more than a book with a fabulous premise and high potential that does not hit the mark. Not only is the world in this book interesting, but there was so much room for fabulous character growth and development. Alas, this did not happen for me.
I was initially drawn to the book because of the gorgeous cover (yes, I do often choose books by their cover). And then the blurb was just so intriguing: a world where a girl has the power to command the tides? Sign me up! I had it on my list for potential request and then it popped up as read now, so I took my chance.
First I need to address the characters. While interesting, they just didn't spark anything for me. I didn't really care about them or who they where. In all honesty, I was often confused by who was who and had to keep flipping back pages to remind myself. The main character, Corith, was someone I initially figured I could grow to love. She had potential to become a badass heroine for me but she just fell short. She came across as more whiny than anything else and when I really needed her to step up and become the strong woman she could have been. I also would liked to see more about her relationship with her best friend, Zennia. The author tells you how close they were but you never really see it because she's out of the picture during the most important time in the book, the beginning. Flashbacks or something would have really been a great way to build this relationship for me so I was invested in it.
The world has such a great concept. But the way it's presented is slow, boring, and not explained clearly enough to be easily understood. I really struggled to understand it and the politics surrounding the world. And I don't get the sense of what it is truly like. Cold, maybe wet, but overall I needed more of the world building to get me invested in why the story was so important in the first place. I needed more of the magic, more of how it worked, more of why it was necessary in the world being presented.
The story started out strong for me but lost it's momentum by about 25% and I had to push to get through. I feel like the book could have used a bit more polishing and would have been a bit stronger had this been the case. I won't be moving on to the second book in this duology.

[Rianna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tidespeaker carries you to a storm-lashed island where power is measured in tides and carefully chosen words. We follow Corith, a water-Orha (those gifted with the rare ability to command an element by speaking to it) and after her best friend goes missing on her assignment, Corith gets assigned as her replacement to serve a noble house steeped in secrets. It’s moody, it’s tense, and the premise alone had me bracing myself for something spectacular.

The magic system was easily one of the highlights for me. I adore elemental magic, and the idea of the elements responding to spoken commands is such a compelling concept. I just wish it had been explored more deeply. Especially the academy. We get these glimpses in the beginning of the story about where Orha are trained to wield their elemental abilities, and I desperately wanted more time there. More lessons, more rules, more consequences. It felt like standing at the gates of something fascinating… only to be ushered out too soon.

I read this book very quickly because it’s written in a super accessible way, but despite that, I struggled to really connect with the characters. Emotionally, they never quite clicked for me, which made it harder to stay invested when the stakes rose. I just found myself not caring about anyone or anything that was happening to them. There’s also a romantic subplot that starts to surface around the 70% mark, but it left me completely cold. It didn’t add anything for me and felt more like an obligation than an organic development.

Overall, Tidespeaker had so much potential. The setting is atmospheric, the magic intriguing, and the ideas are solid. Unfortunately, it didn’t fully deliver for me, and I walked away feeling a bit wistful about what it could have been rather than satisfied with what it was…

[Kayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 out of 5

To say Tidespeaker by Sadie Turner took me by surprise would be an understandment. I chose this book because the cover and title had caught my interest but I didn’t hold much hope it would be better than a 3 star read. While I’m not exactly the target audience being in my late 30’s, I still enjoyed it and would like to continue reading the series. Other than the excessive use of commas that could be a bit distracting, this was a really fun YA fantasy. Fans of Avatar: The Last Airbender and Korra would be instant fans as it has similar magic systems. Not a fan of some of the terminology, there are the four main elements; each user able to speak with them whether asking for help, angering, or pleasing to get what they need from the fire/air/earth/water, although unpredictable at times.

The main character, Corith, has strong characterization development with room to grow as the series continues. I look forward to see how she shapes out as the story goes on. Reading the author’s note about being neurodivergent, and being ND myself, it was nice to read about a fantasy MC with some quirks that were written that way on purpose and not as some cutesy trait. A lot of young readers will appreciate that, too.

Overall, I really enjoyed my time with this story and its world. I’ll certainly be keeping an eye on the series in the future. It will be interesting to see what will happen to this book once it is released as I think it could be the next YA fantasy to take the world by storm. It was well-written, fun plot with an interesting magic and political system with memorable characters that deserves recognition in the genre.

Thank you Netgalley, the author, and publisher for a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Marissa Pekurny · Rating 4 out of 5]

corith is the fmc and she has a rare gift of being able to control water, shes known as a floodmouth. this book was a wild ride and had so many twists i never saw any of them coming. zennia was coriths bff and is pivotal in how corith acts throughout the book. i enjoyed the story and how everything worked out, theres not much romance so hopefully you don't go into this book hoping for that. it follows corith and how she works through her emotions to be able to control the water. she meets quite a bit of people along the way and llir and emment are probably my faves of the shearwaters. the ending was wild and for sure did not see that coming. looking forward to the next book to see how this story is going to play out! thank you for the early copy, definitely recommend reading!

[Lady Cordelia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley for the arc! I have to be honest the first few minutes of the book I started to worry I was not going to enjoy this book and that it wasn’t for me but knew I needed to give it a chance. I’m so glad that I did! I really enjoyed the atmosphere and the bit of mystery surrounding the family and what they might be hiding. This book had me hooked and kept me fully immersed even when I was reading on my kindle while on the treadmill..I found my walk flying by which is saying something for me lol.

[Clémence · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked the concept of this book but the execution lost me a little bit. You can feel that it's the first one in a series as it's quite slow, and really sets up the entire universe for a while. I couldn't help but think of other YA books I've read while reading this one, which was unfortunate.

Overall, this was an okay read, but it was more forgettable than anything else as far as I'm concerned. It has some good elements but I couldn't help but feel that it was missing a spark. My actually rating would probably be 2.5 stars.

[Sydney Arthur · Rating 3 out of 5]

this book just had me very confused. the world-building was just not very clear. I feel like I did not understand what was going on, what the setting was, the way of the world, etc. There was not a lot of direct explanation and most was giving indirectly through conversations and things overheard; while I think it is okay to use that technique, I do still wish there was a few paragraphs with direct explanations.

The characters were also just kind of meh. They were likable, but I did not feel attached to them.

It wasn't a bad book, I still enjoyed reading it, but I don't know that I will continue reading the series.

Thank you Sadie Turner, Delacorte Press, and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC!!

[Lovely Loveday]

Tidespeaker by Sadie Turner felt like being pulled under by a story that was both gentle and powerful. I was immediately drawn into the atmosphere, and the connection between the characters unfolded in a way that felt natural and deeply emotional. The writing made me slow down and really sit with the quieter moments, which only made the story hit harder. I found myself thinking about the characters even when I wasn’t reading.

[Lora · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tidespeaker pulled me in right away with how beautifully descriptive the world is... I could picture every shoreline, shadow, and secret path. The plot had just enough twists and turns to keep me hooked, and I especially loved all the sneaking around the main character Corith has to do. It’s written in a way that makes you feel like you’re right there with her, trying not to get caught.

It’s honestly hard to talk about this book without accidentally spoiling something. The elemental magic, especially Corith’s ability to control water, gave me Shadow and Bone vibes. I really hope the author writes more either in this world or about Corith herself. And if we do get more Corith… I’m crossing my fingers she meets up with a certain someone.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sadie Turner for allowing me a chance to read this ARC.

[Megan Gross · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 A fun ya read. I wish there had been more development shown between the characters though.

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an early copy of this book! Below is an honest review.

DNFed at 50%. I don't think there is anything wrong with this book, but I definitely found myself thinking of other things to do while reading it. Nothing quite gripped me about the characters, though the world felt a little interesting.

[Chelsea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sadie Turner’s “Tidespeaker” is a YA fantasy with an elemental magic system, atmospheric mystery, neurodivergent FMC, and slow burn romance with yearning.
I really enjoyed the world and its magic system — and oftentimes wanted to know more. “Tidespeaker” is the first half of a duology, but the world feels large enough that spinoffs could be explored in this universe — whether in the current or an earlier timeline. I’m looking forward to the conclusion of this series!
Thank you NetGalley, and Random House Children's Books | Delacorte Press for the eARC. “Tidespeaker” is expected to publish January 6, 2026.

[Jordan Coley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read a few books this year with elemental magic systems, but this one is super unique. I love that Corinth is called a “floodmouth” and it’s her words rather than her hands that control the water.

The air of musters, the conspiracies, and the secrets that come with this book are nothing short of perfect. And the emotion… OMG. There were enough jaw dropping moments to have my jaw hurting.

[Dreamer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great duology opener, full of elemental magic and political posturing. Perfect for Fantasy readers of all ages! Looking forward to finding out what happens next!

#Tidespeaker #NetGalley – I voluntarily read a Review Copy of this book. All opinions stated are solely my own and no one else’s. Read more reviews! http://dreamerjbookreviews.blogspot.com

[Mindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

First, let me begin by giving my thanks to NetGalley, Delacorte Press, and Random House Children's Books for the opportunity to review the ARC!

Now, let me begin with the world of Tidespeaker. I am fascinated by any world that involves avatar (airbender)-like beings who can command or persuade the elements. This one is made even better by it not being easily performed. It is possible that other elements are easier to manage (fire or wind, perhaps), but the main character Corith struggles with being a Floodmouth over moving bodies of water. It makes the magic system more realistic this way. I also "enjoy" how the Orha (beings with the elemental ability) fit into the socioeconomic hierarchy of the kingdom. They're technically slaves to the government. They get taken at a young age to train at a school, then assigned to a job. They're not allowed to travel without a host or without laconite to bind their powers. They get forced to do jobs nobody wants them to do, even if they're stationed with the political elite households. All of which happens because their kind supposedly used to be in charge and used their powers for evil.

In many ways, this is a tale as old as time. We've seen this kind of storyline and world with books involving djinn/genie, and a whole host of other otherworldly beings. I do enjoy the concept of Orha quite a lot, however, as they appear to be just like humans. They simply have the power to command/persuade an element. That's it. So somebody with a human parent and an Orha parent is absolutely possible (which can cause issues for the political elite, as you might imagine).

We must also consider the environment this story predominantly takes place within. That is, on an island just off the coast. The island is home for the Shearwaters - Corith's first assignment. They're one of the Hundred (the political elite) and their home is where Corith's best friend had been assigned previous to Corith's arrival. This island is well isolated due to the flow and intensity of the tides. For half the month, every month, the tides are too strong and wild to readily tame. They are a force to reckon with and have been known to kill innocents. And the Shearwater castle? Well, it's full of mysteries. Corith feels as though each of the four siblings and their father are all hiding secrets. Perhaps secrets pertaining to the status of her best friend. The mysteries and the raging water give way to an intriguing atmosphere.

For the characters, I absolutely love them. The four siblings were unique from one another, each seemingly with their own secret. Their father is a different kind of force to reckon with - as he's the leader of the Shearwater family - and he constantly gives Corith cause to worry she may be booted out before she can solve The Mystery of her friend's disappearance (and possible death). I also enjoy the other Orha assigned to the Shearwaters. One seems tied to one of the brothers, another rather tied to a sister, and the third seems to be tied to doing the most chores around the place. I mean, there's more to the Orha than that, but these entanglements lead to Corith getting to know them at different speeds. There are other characters in this book as well who add to the pacing and depth of the mysteries. And honestly, there are a few sections where their actions and intentions seemed rather obvious, but I was still a little surprised as to how the plot manifested.

Yes, the pacing might not be for everyone. It flows much like the tide. There are times where it's more intense and you feel like you're drowning in the depth of everything. And then there are others where it ebbs, giving you a sense of clarity. Then there are other moments where it's like a riptide - pulling you away before you even realize where the time's gone. Yes, it's that atmospheric. The grand plot, after all, is nothing particularly new. (There's a rebel group and various factions within the Hundred - all with varying views on how the Orha should be treated.) I still very much enjoyed the journey and found myself surprised by how it all happened. Most of all, I am surprised by Corith.

You see, Corith really is a coward and a bit of a traitor in this book. (I mean, she's predominantly a coward. The traitor bit just happens as a result of some other motivations of hers.) She runs away or opts out of scary stuff. To tend with the tides, she has to come to terms with her own insecurities and fears... And then she eventually has to admit that cowardice to others, for it's her life's choices that ultimately lead to the bigger issues of the book.

Now that the book is over, I am still left wondering how things will develop between her and the male love interest. And what choices will he make going forward? I want to know how things will turn around for them.

So in case you didn't catch it: let me be clear that this book is not for everyone. If you love atmospheric novels, Avatar: The Last Airbender (but lowkey enslaved), a slowburn romance, and a lot of mystery - then this is absolutely for you.

[Nicole Austin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Delacorte Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

“Tidespeaker” by Sadie Turner is a moody, atmospheric YA fantasy that immerses you in a storm-lashed world where power is measured in tides, spoken commands, and carefully guarded secrets. With elemental magic at its core and a mystery that drives the plot, Turner delivers a compelling start to a duology that will especially appeal to fans of water-based magic and political intrigue.

The story follows Corith Fraine, a young Orha gifted with the rare ability to speak to and command water. After graduating from her training, Corith is assigned to serve House Shearwater on the remote and mist-shrouded Bower Island, and she takes the place of her best friend who previously held the position and is presumed dead under suspicious circumstances. As Corith settles into the role, she quickly realizes that both the island and the noble family she serves are steeped in secrets, and that Orha like herself are viewed as both valuable and expendable.

One of the story’s greatest strengths is its atmosphere. From the salt-sprayed shores to the looming isolation of the island estate, the setting feels vivid and tactile, lending weight to every revelation. The elemental magic system where users speak to their elements, coaxing or angering them into action is intriguing and evocative. I wished the magic system was explored more deeply, particularly Corith’s training and the rules and consequences of using magic. Despite her powerful gift, Corith spends surprisingly little time actively wielding it on the page.

Corith herself is a thoughtfully written protagonist, shaped by grief, uncertainty, and a growing desire for autonomy in a rigidly stratified world. Her internal struggle between duty and self-determination gives the story emotional grounding, and her characterization leaves clear room for growth in future installments. Her naivety was a bit frustrating at times, and I also struggled to fully connect with her emotionally, especially as the plot grew more politically dense.

The story leans heavily into political maneuvering and social hierarchy, sometimes at the expense of world-building clarity. You are quickly introduced to multiple factions, titles, and elemental terms with minimal explanation, creating a steep learning curve early on. While the book is fast-paced and easy to read, this “dropped-in” approach left me wishing for a stronger foundation before the stakes escalated.

A romantic subplot involving Llir, the brooding youngest son of House Shearwater, emerges later in the story. I appreciated the slow, subtle tension it added without overtaking the mystery. However, those seeking a romance-forward fantasy may find this aspect lacking since it takes awhile for this aspect to both appear and develop.

By the end, “Tidespeaker” leaves several threads open, clearly positioning itself as the first half of a larger story. While some plot points are predictable and the pacing wavers toward the conclusion, the story’s strengths with its haunting setting, intriguing magic, and thematic focus on power, inequality, and agency linger after the final page.

Overall, “Tidespeaker” is an atmospheric, idea-rich YA fantasy with a strong premise and an evocative world. Those who enjoy elemental magic, political intrigue, and character-driven mysteries will likely find it a rewarding read, and I am definitely curious to see how Corith’s story deepens in the next installment.

[Heidi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Being a Floodmouth gives Corith the ability to speak to and control water. When she is given a job at a family's house, she learns the previous Floodmouth, Corith's best friend, died and the family are keeping some dark secrets.

Attempting to learn the truth of what happened to her friend, Corith joins a rebel group and is determined to comply with their orders in order to gain information on Zennia, her deceased friend. However, things are moving fast and Corith's loyalties are being pulled in different directions. Will the truth come out? And who can Corith truly trust?

A fantasy book with the main character being able to control water? I'm in! When I read the description, I was excited to learn more about this unique ability and more about the world Corith lives in.

The premise of the story is unique and exciting to read about. I loved it when the author allowed the reader to see what was going on inside Corith's mind as she attempted and learned to control the ocean, which isn't easy. I appreciated the idea that the ocean is a being that needs to be treated with respect, and the fact that Corith was told to build a relationship with the ocean was great! On the other hand, I did wish there was more ocean-Corith building relationship as this only happened a few times. I also got the impression that Corith wasn't actually a very strong Floodmouth to begin with, for better or for worse.

Speaking of Corith, I could not get a read on her. There were moments I thought she was a great storyteller to follow and other times, I just wanted her to stop talking/sharing her thoughts. I felt as if she was digging herself deeper into something she really had no idea about, and risking multiple people's lives for potentially no reason. And unfortunately, I also felt that she didn't really progress much as a character. She seemed at best two-dimensional, and someone I didn't particularly care much about. Her interactions with Llir were okay for a bit, but since the "romance" was almost non-existent, I don't believe this should be considered a romantasy. I'm not convinced they have a solid enough of a foundation that they would go any further than a kiss or two.

The plot was also subpar. Though there were a few moments of excitement, most of the story felt disjointed and a bit bland. The stakes that were set up for Corith fell flat, and as mentioned before, I don't believe the dangerous choices she made really matched what she was seeking for (more answers of what happened to her friend). The politics that also came into play also seemed flat. Part of the issue is the amount of characters included here. I kept getting confused and couldn't remember who was who. This constant confusion didn't help in plot enjoyment.

Themes of loyalty, honesty, deception, doing what's right, bravery, and others can be found within the pages of "Tidespeaker".

Content warning: There is talk about being drunk, murder, and slight torture are included.

Overall, I had high hopes for this book, but there were several different areas where aspects of the story could have been improved. I give "Tidespeaker" 3 out of 5 stars. I would recommend this read to those who enjoy young adult fantasy, with very little romance, and who are not bothered with the inclusion of many characters.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher (Random House Children's Books | Delacorte Press), and the author for giving me the opportunity to read "Tidespeaker". All opinions are my own.

[Eileen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although this was a slowly developing story and I'm not normally a fan of political intrigue, I ended up really liking it and am very much looking forward to the second book and conclusion to this story.

I thought the author did a great job of showing me what the world was like for the Orha, the small population of folks who have the power to control/commune with one form of the elementals. Sparkmouths work with fire, Floodmouths work with water, Mudmouths work with the earth, and Gustmouths work with the wind. I'm not sure if there are others, but you could figure out their power both from their name and context.

Corith, the main character, is a Floodmouth, and while she has been training at school for most of her life, it is quickly clear that the Orha have very little power in this world. The majority of the power lies with the Hundred, who are the wealthiest and most powerful families in this world and have the greatest say in what happens with the Orha. After her graduation, she is sent to work for the Shearwaters, one of the hundred, and is quickly drawn into family politics, both within the Shearwater family as well as with other powerful families, each trying to gain a seat on the governing council. Normally, I am not a fan of politics and war, but I really enjoyed Sadie Turner's writing, and I liked how she slowly unfolded the bigger picture both for Corith and for us.

There is some romance, but for those of you who are looking for a YA romance, this is not exactly that. Yes, there is a connection (and it's oddly both insta and slow building), but nothing really happens until late in the book and then we're interrupted by all the action stuff. I didn't mind because I didn't read this for the romance--I read it for what sounded like an intriguing premise of a world where some folks (the ones with the fewest rights) have the ability to commune with elemental energy, but they are also highly feared and highly controlled. There are folks who believe it should not be this way, both from the Orha and otherwise, and some who fight to change the laws, while others go for more violent ways. I liked the balance of action, mystery, politics, and a dash of romance, and the author's writing style worked well for me.

The other thing I like is that although it's never explicitly stated, Corith is very much likely to be on the spectrum. With the exception of her best (and only) friend, she's very hard to read, she has trouble interacting socially with others, and she tends to be awkward with most people, both strangers and friends alike.

I look forward to finding out how everything turns out in the second book and hope we won't have to wait too long before it comes out!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. This book is due to be published on January 6, 2026.

[Sails and Scales · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had a lot of things I like (political intrigue, elemental magic, an absolutely gorgeous cover), but it didn’t live up to everything I’d hoped. The ideas are atmospheric and beautiful, but the execution left something to be desired. It has such good concepts of politics, characters, and magic, but it never had that oomph needed to make it sing.

The book has a lot of politics, with discussions of government seats and how people with elemental abilities are treated. I liked that the political situation was both distanced but also thoroughly important to the decisions that Corinth makes. Like with real-life politics, what happens on a national stage affects her personally. She has deeply personal reasons for caring and also is aware of what her future might be under different rulers. As the political machinations of her world are revealed, we get to know Corinth and her motivations much better.

I was very intrigued by the magic system, but I was often left frustrated about how it really worked. It’s clear that she has some struggles managing her emotions enough to contain it, but… what does it actually do? She’s supposed to do certain chores, but… how? I never felt like I had a good grasp on what she did, and what the other magic users in the book did was even more unclear.

The romance was similarly lacking. The relationship between them never fully develops. It goes from a glance here and there and wondering why she cares if he’s with other women to kissing. There aren’t sweet moments between them or a nice rise in tension other than she feels different about him. We don’t get to know him at all, so there’s no chemistry or development between them. If you read this, don’t expect a romantasy so much as a mystery. I’m not sure that the book description sets readers up for the right expectations in that way.

The other characters I wanted to love but never was given enough to care about them. I was aching to get to know the other Orha and for her to develop a “found family” with them, but it doesn’t happen. Even when she’s later in the book trying to help certain characters, it’s hard to see why because she doesn’t seem to care about any of them and they read like cardboard cutouts. Again, there are great elements here, but there’s no delivery.

Overall, I felt like I didn’t get to know the characters, magic system, or politics as well as I wanted to and, frankly, needed to for the book to stand out for me. I wanted to feel more of the stakes and the character’s feelings, The potential here was huge, but it didn’t pay off in the way I hoped. It was still a fun book, but I left wanting so much more. I hope that the author can take all the great beginnings of things here and transform them into something more vibrant in the next book.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.