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Tidespeaker #1
Tidespeaker
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 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 the breaking point, these treacherous waters may well pull Corith under…
* This audiobook edition includes a downloadable PDF of the illustrated map from the book.
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 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 the breaking point, these treacherous waters may well pull Corith under…
* This audiobook edition includes a downloadable PDF of the illustrated map from the book.
Audible Audio
First published January 6, 2026
34 people are currently reading
10935 people want to read
About the author
Sadie Turner
1 book70 followersSadie 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 157 reviews
tried-it
December 29, 2025Soft 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.
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.
January 8, 2026
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
“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
December 17, 2025
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.
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.
January 18, 2026
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
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
January 7, 2026
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.
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.
January 5, 2026
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.
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.
January 1, 2026
The world building here was easy to follow, and the slow drip of information kept me curious. I ended up finishing this within 24 hours. This is firmly a YA fantasy, approach it as such (it’s not a romance!!)
The characters are distinct and everybody's got a secret. Who can she trust? We see our FMC trying to figure it all out while struggling with her own confidence, choices, and self worth when it comes to her job. Is she doing the right thing? Can she control her emotions/the water when it counts?
I applaud the author for choosing not to wrap things up for one of the couples at the end. There is real dramatic tension here, and I can't wait to see what happens!
Thanks to Netgalley & Delacorte for the ARC!
The characters are distinct and everybody's got a secret. Who can she trust? We see our FMC trying to figure it all out while struggling with her own confidence, choices, and self worth when it comes to her job. Is she doing the right thing? Can she control her emotions/the water when it counts?
I applaud the author for choosing not to wrap things up for one of the couples at the end. There is real dramatic tension here, and I can't wait to see what happens!
Thanks to Netgalley & Delacorte for the ARC!
November 18, 2025
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!
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!
December 19, 2025
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.
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.
January 3, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for this free eARC in exchange for an honest review.
What an end-of-the-year find! I'm so glad to have stumbled upon this!!
The pros: You know that joke about how Avatar: The Last Airbender, when described on paper, sounds kind of boring, but then it's execution is just utterly phenomenal? That's kind of how I felt about Tidespeaker. Elemental magic, people with magic being oppressed, shy girl spying on a noble family, underground rebellions, it's stuff we've heard before - but it feels so original in this. I love the magic system, it's very simple and straightforward but it's understandable why people have difficulty with it in-universe, it's easy to see how it's useful and why the ruling caste feels the need to keep them oppressed. I also love how it ties into the themes of neurodivergency - masking is basically required for magic to work, and it takes a lot out of the Orha! I also think that political themes are a staple of fantasy but are often underwhelming. Not here. It feels very realistic for the setting and related real-world time period, and it is always relevant. I think it was interwoven masterfully. I also just really love all the characters!! I was so conflicted on how to feel about the Shearwater family, the rest of the set are all so unique and I loved slowly learning more about them, and Corith is absolutely wonderful. I love her motivations, I love her hesitations, I love that she's smart but can have occasional lapses in judgement, I love seeing her grow!! I'm so glad this is a duology (according to the author's website) because while I can see the story we're being told ending here, I am so excited to learn more and see how this continues to develop.
The cons: I am not the biggest fan of first person, and while I didn't mind Corith's voice, I did find myself wondering what benefit we had from first person over, like, a close third. But that's personal taste, lol. I think my only real qualm was that there's a point where Corith is pining over Llir before they've really had any meaningful development in their relationship? I don't hate them together, I think there's a lot of potential there, but I don't really see what Corith likes about him other than that he's pretty. I wish I had a better grasp of what they like about one another (I can make some assumptions on Llir's part, as he's not our POV character, but I feel like I shouldn't be wondering this with Corith).
I definitely plan on continuing the series!
What an end-of-the-year find! I'm so glad to have stumbled upon this!!
The pros: You know that joke about how Avatar: The Last Airbender, when described on paper, sounds kind of boring, but then it's execution is just utterly phenomenal? That's kind of how I felt about Tidespeaker. Elemental magic, people with magic being oppressed, shy girl spying on a noble family, underground rebellions, it's stuff we've heard before - but it feels so original in this. I love the magic system, it's very simple and straightforward but it's understandable why people have difficulty with it in-universe, it's easy to see how it's useful and why the ruling caste feels the need to keep them oppressed. I also love how it ties into the themes of neurodivergency - masking is basically required for magic to work, and it takes a lot out of the Orha! I also think that political themes are a staple of fantasy but are often underwhelming. Not here. It feels very realistic for the setting and related real-world time period, and it is always relevant. I think it was interwoven masterfully. I also just really love all the characters!! I was so conflicted on how to feel about the Shearwater family, the rest of the set are all so unique and I loved slowly learning more about them, and Corith is absolutely wonderful. I love her motivations, I love her hesitations, I love that she's smart but can have occasional lapses in judgement, I love seeing her grow!! I'm so glad this is a duology (according to the author's website) because while I can see the story we're being told ending here, I am so excited to learn more and see how this continues to develop.
The cons: I am not the biggest fan of first person, and while I didn't mind Corith's voice, I did find myself wondering what benefit we had from first person over, like, a close third. But that's personal taste, lol. I think my only real qualm was that there's a point where Corith is pining over Llir before they've really had any meaningful development in their relationship? I don't hate them together, I think there's a lot of potential there, but I don't really see what Corith likes about him other than that he's pretty. I wish I had a better grasp of what they like about one another (I can make some assumptions on Llir's part, as he's not our POV character, but I feel like I shouldn't be wondering this with Corith).
I definitely plan on continuing the series!
November 16, 2025
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.
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.
January 11, 2026
Thank you Get Underlined for the gifted copy.
WELLLLLLL.
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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.
WELLLLLLL.
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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.
did-not-finish
January 9, 2026dnf @ 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
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
December 10, 2025
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.
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.
November 13, 2025
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.
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.
March 3, 2026
Tidespeaker feels like it had a lot of promise, but just failed to actually nail down quite what could have made it a good story or what it wanted to be.
The premise was interesting, a country where elementalists are strictly controlled and can only use their abilities with permission and while working. An opposing nation mentioned where the opposite was occuring. A rebellion brewing in the darkness. It all sounds great. But Tidespeaker just never manages to fully delve into any of those aspects in a gripping enough way, and weak character building drags it down further.
And this book is FILLED with weak character building. Other than our FMC, everyone felt so hollow and surface level. You get shown one or two things about them, and then that's just it. Nothing is explored with any great depth other than Coriths anxiety and internal self doubt.
I just didn't connect with Cortith at all though, despite her being someone I typically would have enjoyed in a FMC, aka someone with insecurities and anxiety and who feels a bit removed from people. Except there didn't really feel like there was any particular reason for all the self doubt, or the anxiety and she just came across as so foolish at times it was annoying to read.
This also markets itself as having a romance, and I just want to ask....where? Other than our FMC, Corith, thinking Llir looks attractive and them kissing once, there was literally nothing there. It was an absoloutely unnessesary plot point that annoyed me everytime Corith thought about his cheekbones or how the shadows played across his collar bone or she felt jealous...for some reason.
The plot points in the book also just felt a bit disjointed. It was like the author couldn't decide whether she wanted to commit to a political intrigue story, or a story about trying to find out the truth behind a potential murder, and then mashed them together, but it didn't quite work, because it felt like Corith was suspicious about her friends death for no real reason, like yes, she was best of her class...but that doesn't mean ANYTHING in the real world. Corith even thinks to herself about how the sea is nothing like the school environment or anything she's seen before, so her friend failing shouldn't have been something she questioned.
Overall, I think Tidespeaker was a book that was interesting in some aspects, but mostly failed for me across the board and left me wanting a lot more.
The premise was interesting, a country where elementalists are strictly controlled and can only use their abilities with permission and while working. An opposing nation mentioned where the opposite was occuring. A rebellion brewing in the darkness. It all sounds great. But Tidespeaker just never manages to fully delve into any of those aspects in a gripping enough way, and weak character building drags it down further.
And this book is FILLED with weak character building. Other than our FMC, everyone felt so hollow and surface level. You get shown one or two things about them, and then that's just it. Nothing is explored with any great depth other than Coriths anxiety and internal self doubt.
I just didn't connect with Cortith at all though, despite her being someone I typically would have enjoyed in a FMC, aka someone with insecurities and anxiety and who feels a bit removed from people. Except there didn't really feel like there was any particular reason for all the self doubt, or the anxiety and she just came across as so foolish at times it was annoying to read.
This also markets itself as having a romance, and I just want to ask....where? Other than our FMC, Corith, thinking Llir looks attractive and them kissing once, there was literally nothing there. It was an absoloutely unnessesary plot point that annoyed me everytime Corith thought about his cheekbones or how the shadows played across his collar bone or she felt jealous...for some reason.
The plot points in the book also just felt a bit disjointed. It was like the author couldn't decide whether she wanted to commit to a political intrigue story, or a story about trying to find out the truth behind a potential murder, and then mashed them together, but it didn't quite work, because it felt like Corith was suspicious about her friends death for no real reason, like yes, she was best of her class...but that doesn't mean ANYTHING in the real world. Corith even thinks to herself about how the sea is nothing like the school environment or anything she's seen before, so her friend failing shouldn't have been something she questioned.
Overall, I think Tidespeaker was a book that was interesting in some aspects, but mostly failed for me across the board and left me wanting a lot more.
January 24, 2026
A political fantasy that makes the reader question the ideals of the elite class while also giving us a magic system that relies on one’s ability to control their emotions.
First and foremost, this is NOT a romantasy. There is a sliver of romance in the story but it is the slowest of slow burns. I’m talking hand flex at 67% in slow!! 🙌 It’s also a duology so there is no romantic HEA in this singular book.
Now, I really enjoyed this book for what it was: a political fantasy à la Downton Abbey meets elemental magic. Our FMC is a “servant” in an elite household and uses her water speaking powers to do her daily tasks. She is trying to uncover the mystery behind her friend’s disappearance while questioning where her own loyalties lie. Because at the end of the day, even as a servant, she realizes that not everyone in the household is a bad person, including the mysterious brother who makes her heart squirm.
The magic system is straightforward: each person with magical ability controls one of the four elements through speech. To do so, they must not let any emotion (good or bad) cloud their judgment. It’s unique in the sense that we have some intense moments where our MC needs to remain calm to help, instead of relying on rage.
I do think there could have been some improvement here as the book was a bit slow and steady. The writing however was delightfully good! I’m very impressed that this is a debut!
I’m also very sad that I don’t think this book will get much traction in today’s book world. Readers now are so reliant on a romance pulling the plot together… here we see the exact opposite of that. The romance is ultimately a background plot. It’s sweet and it makes sense - if your friend was missing and/or dead, you wouldn’t be throwing yourself into bed with a potential enemy immediately. 🤷♀️
I would only recommend this book to readers who are ready for a steadily paced political fantasy that does not rely on romance to move the plot forward. I hope you all enjoy this story!
(Also, as a side note, while the plot is ongoing, I don’t think I will continue the series. It was a bit too slow for my taste and I know I’ll forget everything in a week. I wish this would have been a standalone but the overarching economic / social divide is still a major plot issue for book two.)
First and foremost, this is NOT a romantasy. There is a sliver of romance in the story but it is the slowest of slow burns. I’m talking hand flex at 67% in slow!! 🙌 It’s also a duology so there is no romantic HEA in this singular book.
Now, I really enjoyed this book for what it was: a political fantasy à la Downton Abbey meets elemental magic. Our FMC is a “servant” in an elite household and uses her water speaking powers to do her daily tasks. She is trying to uncover the mystery behind her friend’s disappearance while questioning where her own loyalties lie. Because at the end of the day, even as a servant, she realizes that not everyone in the household is a bad person, including the mysterious brother who makes her heart squirm.
The magic system is straightforward: each person with magical ability controls one of the four elements through speech. To do so, they must not let any emotion (good or bad) cloud their judgment. It’s unique in the sense that we have some intense moments where our MC needs to remain calm to help, instead of relying on rage.
I do think there could have been some improvement here as the book was a bit slow and steady. The writing however was delightfully good! I’m very impressed that this is a debut!
I’m also very sad that I don’t think this book will get much traction in today’s book world. Readers now are so reliant on a romance pulling the plot together… here we see the exact opposite of that. The romance is ultimately a background plot. It’s sweet and it makes sense - if your friend was missing and/or dead, you wouldn’t be throwing yourself into bed with a potential enemy immediately. 🤷♀️
I would only recommend this book to readers who are ready for a steadily paced political fantasy that does not rely on romance to move the plot forward. I hope you all enjoy this story!
(Also, as a side note, while the plot is ongoing, I don’t think I will continue the series. It was a bit too slow for my taste and I know I’ll forget everything in a week. I wish this would have been a standalone but the overarching economic / social divide is still a major plot issue for book two.)
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December 21, 2025Thank 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
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
December 17, 2025
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…
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…
February 5, 2026
3.5 ⭐️
i really liked the concept behind this book. elemental magic is so interesting and the orha have such cool titles for their elemental powers (floodmouths, mudmouths, gustmouths, and sparkmouths). also hello, the name orha is pretty sick.
corith was a unique character and i loved seeing the portrayal of autism in a fantasy setting. it’s not very common and sadie turner did a really beautiful job of writing it in corith’s actions and thought process. i also thought her inner turmoil about joining the cage vs defending the shearwaters and her burgeoning friendships with them was pretty interesting.
i also enjoyed the mystery element of what happened to zennia. this was honestly what drew me in the most - i really needed to know what happened to her! i wish this part had been more fleshed out, particularly with the emphasis of the secrecy on the island. i just think this section could have been a little stronger.
while, as i said before, this had a great premise, i think the delivery fell a bit short. certain scenes dragged on and i felt like i was forcing myself to get through them to get back to the main plot. i also think some plot elements could have been better developed. i also wish we would have gotten just a little bit more romance. that is of course not the central storyline here, but i believe it would have added a little more oomph to the overall plot.
overall interesting and a cute read! not deeply impactful but i enjoyed my time with the story.
i really liked the concept behind this book. elemental magic is so interesting and the orha have such cool titles for their elemental powers (floodmouths, mudmouths, gustmouths, and sparkmouths). also hello, the name orha is pretty sick.
corith was a unique character and i loved seeing the portrayal of autism in a fantasy setting. it’s not very common and sadie turner did a really beautiful job of writing it in corith’s actions and thought process. i also thought her inner turmoil about joining the cage vs defending the shearwaters and her burgeoning friendships with them was pretty interesting.
i also enjoyed the mystery element of what happened to zennia. this was honestly what drew me in the most - i really needed to know what happened to her! i wish this part had been more fleshed out, particularly with the emphasis of the secrecy on the island. i just think this section could have been a little stronger.
while, as i said before, this had a great premise, i think the delivery fell a bit short. certain scenes dragged on and i felt like i was forcing myself to get through them to get back to the main plot. i also think some plot elements could have been better developed. i also wish we would have gotten just a little bit more romance. that is of course not the central storyline here, but i believe it would have added a little more oomph to the overall plot.
overall interesting and a cute read! not deeply impactful but i enjoyed my time with the story.
January 12, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Delacorte Press for the eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Tidespeaker had me hooked from the start with its moody island setting, dangerous tides, secretive noble families, and a water-based magic system that actually comes with rules and consequences. Turner builds a vividly atmospheric world that feels both immersive and quietly brutal, with the kind of political and social tension that keeps you on edge.
Corith Fraine is a Floodmouth, someone whose spoken words can command water. While that power sounds incredible, it comes with constant pressure and emotional strain. When she’s sent to a remote island to serve a powerful noble house, it should be a dream assignment—until she discovers that the last Floodmouth, her closest friend, died under mysterious circumstances. From there, the story settles into a deliciously claustrophobic mystery where even the setting feels like it’s working against her.
What I loved most was Corith herself. Her anxiety, self-doubt, and emotional vulnerability feel painfully real, and the magic system reflects that in such an effective way. Her power depends on confidence and emotional balance, which makes every moment of fear or hesitation genuinely dangerous.
The pacing builds steadily, with tension simmering before giving way to some great twists and a very strong ending that sets up the rest of the series nicely. I did wish for a bit more showing rather than telling at times, especially with the magic, but the foundation is solid and full of potential.
Overall, Tidespeaker is an immersive, emotionally grounded debut that left me excited to see where this world — and Corith — go next.
#DelacortePress #NetGalley.
Tidespeaker had me hooked from the start with its moody island setting, dangerous tides, secretive noble families, and a water-based magic system that actually comes with rules and consequences. Turner builds a vividly atmospheric world that feels both immersive and quietly brutal, with the kind of political and social tension that keeps you on edge.
Corith Fraine is a Floodmouth, someone whose spoken words can command water. While that power sounds incredible, it comes with constant pressure and emotional strain. When she’s sent to a remote island to serve a powerful noble house, it should be a dream assignment—until she discovers that the last Floodmouth, her closest friend, died under mysterious circumstances. From there, the story settles into a deliciously claustrophobic mystery where even the setting feels like it’s working against her.
What I loved most was Corith herself. Her anxiety, self-doubt, and emotional vulnerability feel painfully real, and the magic system reflects that in such an effective way. Her power depends on confidence and emotional balance, which makes every moment of fear or hesitation genuinely dangerous.
The pacing builds steadily, with tension simmering before giving way to some great twists and a very strong ending that sets up the rest of the series nicely. I did wish for a bit more showing rather than telling at times, especially with the magic, but the foundation is solid and full of potential.
Overall, Tidespeaker is an immersive, emotionally grounded debut that left me excited to see where this world — and Corith — go next.
#DelacortePress #NetGalley.
January 11, 2026
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!
January 11, 2026
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.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
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.
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.
January 7, 2026
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!!
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!!
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January 12, 2026Tidespeaker 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.
November 19, 2025
3.5 A fun ya read. I wish there had been more development shown between the characters though.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 13, 2025
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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
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.
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.
December 10, 2025
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.
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.
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