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Beyond the Tides #2
A Flame Among the Seas
A kingdom risen. A goddess reborn. A world burning red.
Esmyra now knows the truth of her magic, but it’s cost her everything. Draevyn shattered her heart, and she’s sworn to make him pay. But when her hunt uncovers ancient lies, she finds herself entangled in a battle far greater than vengeance.
The truths revealed will unravel everything Esmyra thought she knew about him, herself, and the goddesses risen from the waves. Meanwhile, powers older than any empire stir, enemies wear masks of loyalty, and her own heart betrays her with its unrelenting pull toward the one man she’s vowed to hate.
With her crew caught in the crossfire and Syrena tightening her grip, Esmyra must learn who to trust—and who to destroy—before the tide drags her under. Because every choice carves her fate, and one misstep could strip her of everything she has left…including her soul.
Esmyra now knows the truth of her magic, but it’s cost her everything. Draevyn shattered her heart, and she’s sworn to make him pay. But when her hunt uncovers ancient lies, she finds herself entangled in a battle far greater than vengeance.
The truths revealed will unravel everything Esmyra thought she knew about him, herself, and the goddesses risen from the waves. Meanwhile, powers older than any empire stir, enemies wear masks of loyalty, and her own heart betrays her with its unrelenting pull toward the one man she’s vowed to hate.
With her crew caught in the crossfire and Syrena tightening her grip, Esmyra must learn who to trust—and who to destroy—before the tide drags her under. Because every choice carves her fate, and one misstep could strip her of everything she has left…including her soul.
582 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 11, 2026
About the author
Emilia Jae
6 books485 followersEmilia is an author of dark, epic, and romantic fantasy stories, and has been in love with disassociating through fantasy realms her entire life. She was born and raised in scenic New England, and when she isn't cuddled up with a good book, or writing her own, you can find her playing with her dog, or being the chaotic human that she is with her loved ones. Emilia is a Pisces and INFJ.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 514 reviews
June 5, 2026
2.5 🌟 unfortunately this didn’t land for me as well as i’d hoped. it’s definitely not a bad book and i did enjoy parts of it but i had a very mixed journey with this one, which ultimately effected my own personal enjoyment levels & rating. the start of this book was heavy on ‘miscommunication’ - it’s not a typical miscommunication trope but that’s the only way i can describe it spoiler free, and it honestly it got to the point where being so agitated and frustrated began to ware on me. at one point i really started to question if i could keep reading this dynamic, but eventually something happened that helped lift some of this, but after that i honestly found myself feeling slightly disjointed. i think the mixture of me loathing the main villain (which obviously means the villain is done well), but also most of the other characters aggravating me at the same time, just became tedious. ultimately this disconnected me from the story early on. so by the time i was free from the shackles of my annoyance, i wasn’t invested enough anymore & my care factor plummeted :(
i was really excited for esmi’s vengeance era. but it just didn’t work for me that well. i tried my hardest to understand her perspective and take into account she doesn’t have all the information that the reader does, but it was too much frustration happening for me at once. it can be tough to fully immerse yourself in someone seeking revenge built off them believing someone they shouldn’t. especially because i gave it grace in book 1, and at times it felt like ‘okay this badass woman just decided to stop using her critical thinking skills that i know she has?!’
she did end up showing a lot of development and growth as the story progressed. i guess i just wanted her feel a deep connection to her pain & burn the world with her but i didn’t get those feelings. that being said, i do think she’s a good fmc and i don’t dislike her character at all.
drae was saying and doing all the right things here, but i also felt a disconnect from him and the romance in this book. i can’t exactly pinpoint why. perhaps the fact i got pulled out of the story for a good chunk at the start, so i didn’t feel too much depth for their love. i do really like his character- he’s actually the only one who didn’t piss me off, but i just lost a bit of spark along the way. you know when the lines the mmc is delivering aren’t hitting as they should. again, likeable character and definitely giving all the right things - it all comes down to me loosing my connection.
atlas can fuck off. genuinely started to wonder if he was a illusion in book 1 and book 2 was in fact his first day alive because his stupidity took me out. he was so mad, about what?! it made NO sense. i hated being in his pov because i cannot stand his victim complex and his new shitty personality. screw him & his contradictory man child behaviour. did he end up coming around? yes. but, you’re not forgiven because you annoyed me beyond redemption buddy. unfortunately us virgos are a tough crowd when you start behaving like an utter fool.
i will say, from the 60% mark things felt a lot better with the main characters/side characters & it was very action packed. the ending, albeit predictable was definitely a brutal cliffhanger - sadly it didn’t hit me emotionally though. i reckon book 3 has potential to be as good as book 1, if not better, it’s just a shame this book made me so incredibly frustrated for too long & i ended up loosing my emotional connection.
overall, i still enjoyed the overarching plot and the world the author has created, i just felt disconnected on and off for a lot of this book. it is definitely a personal thing, as a lot of what ended up not working for me could be something that doesn’t brother other readers at all!!
i definitely didn’t hate it or anything so i think i’ll let a friend do the honours of letting me know if book 3 could be more of a win for me! i’m sure a lot of people who adored book 1 will continue to adore this instalment and feel a deep pull towards the characters and how the plot progresses!! it will definitely keep people on their toes & as mentioned, it is a personal thing why it didn’t land that way for me.
thank you so much for an arc copy emilia - i’m sorry this didn’t fully work for me!!! 🤍
—————
after how everything played out in book 1, i HAVE to dive into this! thank you to emilia for the e-arc!! past laura clearly knew she’d need it by applying before reading book 1 LOL, but yay for me it was a win & now i don’t have to wait!!!
i was really excited for esmi’s vengeance era. but it just didn’t work for me that well. i tried my hardest to understand her perspective and take into account she doesn’t have all the information that the reader does, but it was too much frustration happening for me at once. it can be tough to fully immerse yourself in someone seeking revenge built off them believing someone they shouldn’t. especially because i gave it grace in book 1, and at times it felt like ‘okay this badass woman just decided to stop using her critical thinking skills that i know she has?!’
she did end up showing a lot of development and growth as the story progressed. i guess i just wanted her feel a deep connection to her pain & burn the world with her but i didn’t get those feelings. that being said, i do think she’s a good fmc and i don’t dislike her character at all.
drae was saying and doing all the right things here, but i also felt a disconnect from him and the romance in this book. i can’t exactly pinpoint why. perhaps the fact i got pulled out of the story for a good chunk at the start, so i didn’t feel too much depth for their love. i do really like his character- he’s actually the only one who didn’t piss me off, but i just lost a bit of spark along the way. you know when the lines the mmc is delivering aren’t hitting as they should. again, likeable character and definitely giving all the right things - it all comes down to me loosing my connection.
atlas can fuck off. genuinely started to wonder if he was a illusion in book 1 and book 2 was in fact his first day alive because his stupidity took me out. he was so mad, about what?! it made NO sense. i hated being in his pov because i cannot stand his victim complex and his new shitty personality. screw him & his contradictory man child behaviour. did he end up coming around? yes. but, you’re not forgiven because you annoyed me beyond redemption buddy. unfortunately us virgos are a tough crowd when you start behaving like an utter fool.
i will say, from the 60% mark things felt a lot better with the main characters/side characters & it was very action packed. the ending, albeit predictable was definitely a brutal cliffhanger - sadly it didn’t hit me emotionally though. i reckon book 3 has potential to be as good as book 1, if not better, it’s just a shame this book made me so incredibly frustrated for too long & i ended up loosing my emotional connection.
overall, i still enjoyed the overarching plot and the world the author has created, i just felt disconnected on and off for a lot of this book. it is definitely a personal thing, as a lot of what ended up not working for me could be something that doesn’t brother other readers at all!!
i definitely didn’t hate it or anything so i think i’ll let a friend do the honours of letting me know if book 3 could be more of a win for me! i’m sure a lot of people who adored book 1 will continue to adore this instalment and feel a deep pull towards the characters and how the plot progresses!! it will definitely keep people on their toes & as mentioned, it is a personal thing why it didn’t land that way for me.
thank you so much for an arc copy emilia - i’m sorry this didn’t fully work for me!!! 🤍
—————
after how everything played out in book 1, i HAVE to dive into this! thank you to emilia for the e-arc!! past laura clearly knew she’d need it by applying before reading book 1 LOL, but yay for me it was a win & now i don’t have to wait!!!
August 6, 2026
"I would've burned the world to keep you safe. I still would. And I almost did."
Thoughts
I enjoyed this book! The plot was engaging for most of the book, although there were moments when it was chaotic. There were several surprises in the book that kept me on the edge of my seat. I loved the setting, the underwater world and the ships were a great aspect of the book. The pacing was nearly perfect, but a bit slow in the middle. I enjoyed learning more about the world and the history of the gods. The magic continued to fascinate me and it was interesting learning about new types of magic in the book including shadow magic and bond magic (bonding two people together). The writing was descriptive, immersive and concise. I felt that I was living in the world with the characters experiencing every moment and emotion that the characters went through. I enjoyed that the book was told from perspectives of several characters and it was intriguing o see how each character experienced the same event in different ways. The ending was action-packed and heartbreaking. I'm excited to read the next book!
It's you. It's always been you. Since the moment I laid eyes on you in that tavern in this godforsaken place. You, Esmyra Blackwood are all I want. All I need and crave. Every waking moment of my days."
Characters
In the beginning I had mixed feeling about Esmi, she didn't listen to Drae and made assumptions about him that weren't true. She was also mean and made poor decisions. In the middle and end of the book, I liked Esmi more she was brave, resilient, strong, and finally realized the mistakes that she made. I loved Drae, he was such a simp for Esmi it was adorable, he was brave, loyal, strong, and sweet to Esmi. I loved that he never gave up on Esmi, even when she wouldn't talk to him. The yearning from this man was unbelievable, I was blushing so much! I had mixed thoughts about Atlas, I didn't like how he treated Drae in the beginning and middle of the book, but I do understand his reasoning. I liked Atlas more in the end of the book and his interactions with Drae were great. I enjoyed most of the side characters including Jak, Sam and Esmi's crew. The interactions between Esmi and Drae with the side characters were so heartwarming.
Romance
I loved the slow-burn aspect of the romance. The chemistry between Esmi and Drae was excellent, I could feel their deep connection. I was not a fan of the miscommunication and not listening to each other in the beginning. I loved that Drae loved Esmi for who she was and didn't try to change her. He treated her like a goddess which I loved. The romantic scenes were amazing, I adored that they talked about their feelings too and weren't just physical with each other. I can't wait to see how their romance evolves in the next book!
Thoughts
I enjoyed this book! The plot was engaging for most of the book, although there were moments when it was chaotic. There were several surprises in the book that kept me on the edge of my seat. I loved the setting, the underwater world and the ships were a great aspect of the book. The pacing was nearly perfect, but a bit slow in the middle. I enjoyed learning more about the world and the history of the gods. The magic continued to fascinate me and it was interesting learning about new types of magic in the book including shadow magic and bond magic (bonding two people together). The writing was descriptive, immersive and concise. I felt that I was living in the world with the characters experiencing every moment and emotion that the characters went through. I enjoyed that the book was told from perspectives of several characters and it was intriguing o see how each character experienced the same event in different ways. The ending was action-packed and heartbreaking. I'm excited to read the next book!
It's you. It's always been you. Since the moment I laid eyes on you in that tavern in this godforsaken place. You, Esmyra Blackwood are all I want. All I need and crave. Every waking moment of my days."
Characters
In the beginning I had mixed feeling about Esmi, she didn't listen to Drae and made assumptions about him that weren't true. She was also mean and made poor decisions. In the middle and end of the book, I liked Esmi more she was brave, resilient, strong, and finally realized the mistakes that she made. I loved Drae, he was such a simp for Esmi it was adorable, he was brave, loyal, strong, and sweet to Esmi. I loved that he never gave up on Esmi, even when she wouldn't talk to him. The yearning from this man was unbelievable, I was blushing so much! I had mixed thoughts about Atlas, I didn't like how he treated Drae in the beginning and middle of the book, but I do understand his reasoning. I liked Atlas more in the end of the book and his interactions with Drae were great. I enjoyed most of the side characters including Jak, Sam and Esmi's crew. The interactions between Esmi and Drae with the side characters were so heartwarming.
Romance
I loved the slow-burn aspect of the romance. The chemistry between Esmi and Drae was excellent, I could feel their deep connection. I was not a fan of the miscommunication and not listening to each other in the beginning. I loved that Drae loved Esmi for who she was and didn't try to change her. He treated her like a goddess which I loved. The romantic scenes were amazing, I adored that they talked about their feelings too and weren't just physical with each other. I can't wait to see how their romance evolves in the next book!
Review of advance copy received from Author
PURE CINEMAAAA
(stream of conscious chaotic review coming)
this book was a literal movie playing in my mind while reading. action packed from beginning to end and everything i could’ve hoped for in a highly anticipated sequel! i was a woman possessed and couldn’t put this book down if you had PAID me.
not an ounce of second book syndrome found here. Flame starts off with a bang and picks up right where Wraith ends. if you thought Esmyra was a powerful character in book one BOYYYYY just wait. the character arcs were amazing, and possibly not in the way you’d predict. Esmyra especially is challenged and forced to encounter the deepest parts of herself, and truly she’s a character that just feels so real it’s like you as the reader know her personally.
one of my favorite things about book featuring pirate crews is the found family, and Flame delivered on that front too 🥹 Jak is one of my favorite side characters quite literally ever, and i love how the fmc’s relationships aren’t limited to romantic.
ALL IN ALL THIS BOOK IS A MASTERPIECE if you haven’t read wraith, DO SO IMMEDIATELY.
(stream of conscious chaotic review coming)
this book was a literal movie playing in my mind while reading. action packed from beginning to end and everything i could’ve hoped for in a highly anticipated sequel! i was a woman possessed and couldn’t put this book down if you had PAID me.
not an ounce of second book syndrome found here. Flame starts off with a bang and picks up right where Wraith ends. if you thought Esmyra was a powerful character in book one BOYYYYY just wait. the character arcs were amazing, and possibly not in the way you’d predict. Esmyra especially is challenged and forced to encounter the deepest parts of herself, and truly she’s a character that just feels so real it’s like you as the reader know her personally.
one of my favorite things about book featuring pirate crews is the found family, and Flame delivered on that front too 🥹 Jak is one of my favorite side characters quite literally ever, and i love how the fmc’s relationships aren’t limited to romantic.
ALL IN ALL THIS BOOK IS A MASTERPIECE if you haven’t read wraith, DO SO IMMEDIATELY.
August 20, 2026
5⭐️!!!!!!!! ONE OF MY FAV SERIES OF ALL TIME & THIS BOOK DID N O T DISAPPOINT.
“𝓐𝓶 𝓘 𝓼𝓽𝓲𝓵𝓵 𝔂𝓸𝓾𝓻 𝓭𝓪𝓶𝓷𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓸𝓷?” “𝓨𝓸𝓾’𝓻𝓮 𝓶𝔂 𝓮𝓿𝓮𝓻𝔂𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓰."
THAT ENDING???????!??!??!!!!!??!?! INSANE. Kaelypso's tits fr (i mean, we won't be able to say it anymore because......)
I had to stare at the wall after seeing "end of book two", WHAT THE HELL EMILIAAAAAA. I buckled up for the last 100 pages but got RUDELY FLUNG OUT OF MY SEAT LMAOOOO this girl here is the middle child, and does NOT suffer from middle child syndrome at all.
i genuinely have no clue how Emilia does it, but her writing style is always so immaculate & immersive. I can never get enough on how she's able to evoke so much emotion, while plunging you into a visual masterpiece.
Love Wraith & this book so much to the point I put this on pause after reading the first 450 pages on release day LMAOOOO because I just KNEW I would be suffering from a pitch-black void after finishing it. And now I'm in said void.
“You die on me now, and I’ll follow you straight into the abyss to drag your ass back.”
the plot's depth, action, emotions, character development sky rockets from book one, and my heart was literally beating so quick in many instances, ripped out of my chest & stuffed back into my ribs, and rise & repeat. I was at the EDGE of my seat the whole time omfg. NONE OF THEM WERE ABLE TO CATCH A BREAK THROUGHOUT MAN
"I am the sea. I am the storm. I am the depths. And I am the fucking monster within.”
this book was female rage personified, and picks up right from wraith's ending. I WAS HOOKED. we got to experience Esmyra's villain arc & wrath and Drae's desperation to drag Esmi back from the depths of hell.
“Let them call me a monster. If she was a monster for protecting her own, then so be it.”
"If they wanted to label Esmyra a monster, then they may as well place the title next to Draevyn’s name alongside hers. For the Phoenix had been reborn from the ashes they made.
And he was coming for every single fucking one of them.”
from flinching every time called her a monster to this? HER DEVELOPMENT WAS CRAZY. and then we have this lil puppy who ALSO FOLLOWS ALONG ITS SO CUTE (ok not really, his villain rage era held true this book too)
“I would’ve burned the world to keep you safe. I still would. And I almost did.”
Esmi is literally my favourite FMC alongside Dianna - I see so much of myself in her! seeing how she still has her strong & fierce persona even after everything, while keeping her vulnerable parts intact, makes me love her so much more. Down to the fact that I hate it when someone tells me what to do, her using humor to cope with dire situations/hide her emotions, SHE'S ME.
"She never knew she could feel this whole, this complete. And yet, in his arms, she did. In his arms, she was home.”
i was SICK TO MY STOMACH for what she's been through & went through throughout this book. I was cheering her on so much; she’s so badass & passionate and I loved every second of watching her new powers develop. But omg. Watching her soften & find her peace… watching her allow herself to be loved and embrace it, was quite literally EVERYTHIG to me.
“Careful, kneeling before a goddess is a sign of worship.”
“I’ve worshipped you since the moment we locked eyes, Esmyra. And I’d kneel to you a thousand times over. You’re the only thing in this cursed world worth bending to.”
i loved every second of her rage & heartbreak, alongside her newfound powers; there's just something so real & raw that shone through her vengeance. Peeling back her layers as we progressed - that fear of letting people in again, keeping relationships at arm's length, jot knowing who to trust anymore - Emilia captured so many emotions PERFECTLY. Watching Esmyra slowly realize she is worthy of love and finding her peace, mistakes and all, genuinely made my heart SQUEEZE.
"Maybe home wasn't a place at all. Maybe home was just the people you love and would do anything for."
I was cheering her on so so much, she's literally everything I am, but so much more at the same time. I felt my own hurting heart & soul healing alongside Esmi, and learning that not everyone is out to get you!!! And the beauty of pure, unwavering love that transcends realms, was just beautiful to witness.
“A phoenix is nothing without his flames. And you, Esmyra, are mine.” 😭❤️
Don't even get me started on DRAEVYN MF ROWE. I WOULD GO FERAL FOR THIS MAN. Nobody yearns like him (except Samkiel), NOBODY.
Every single time he opens his mouth, I BLUSH? ME? FOR A MAN? Only Draevyn & Samkiel are able to make me swoon this much, and that's saying a lot.
"You have all of me. The light, the darkness, and all the shattered pieces in between If fate destroys us, then so be it. I can't give my heart to anyone else. It's yours, and it always will be."
A fire daddy who will fight beyond his last breath for his Wildfire; plus he's such a torutred soul. I just love him SO MUCH. The way that he grovels, begs to get walked like a dog by Esmi, grounds Esmi & is always there to pull her back from losing herself to her rage... I'm so WEAK FOR HIM.
“The realm had given up on her, making her feel alone and trapped. And he vowed to shield her from those who labeled her a monster, ensuring she’d never feel the sting of loneliness again. Draevyn would protect her for as long as his lungs breathed air.”
I love how both of them would literally B U R N the world for each other. He even waged a war with his only surviving family member, all because he hurt Esmyra 😭 I also love how we got to see the inner turmoil between betraying Atlas, his crown, and standing by his Wildfire.
My heart is TWISTED for Drae & how much heaviness he had to endure, and will be in book 3. my babies deserve to be happy, leave them alone!!!!!!!!!
“Draevyn didn’t understand why she was running in the first place, but he chased after her regardless. He would always chase his Wildfire. He would follow his goddess to the ends of their world and beyond if that’s what it took."
Besides the main characters, I love how we also got developments with the villains, they got crazier & sicker, and the new character POVs (ugh except Syrena's) were absolutely necessary to plump the plot & emotional ties to the side characters.
I genuinely felt STRONG DISLIKE towards Atlas, but I also felt his struggle & understood the reasons why he acted out - something only superb writing is able to evoke. I'm just glad that he eventually came to his senses & "redeemed" himself but IM STILL WATCHING HIM.
"My fucking goddess.” "That's my girl."
I just know with every fibre of my being that book 3 will be so emotional, knowing that it's the final (cries) & with the AUDACITY of the ending of this book........... EMILIA YOU'RE ACTUALLY BEING CRUEL. I'm genuinely scared for what's to come.
I needed book 3 like yesterday, HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO WAIT TILL 2027 FJSLJLKSJLGJJLSJGLGS *HIGH PITCHED SCREAMING* I'll be crashing out every single day till it's in my hands AAAAAAAAA
I had over 300+ highlights on my Kindle, and these are barely scratching the surface of my favourite quotes. I LOVEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE UGH SO SO GOOD.
Favourite Quotes:
♡ "There's no world I choose to live in that doesn't have you in it."
♡ “You’re my compass," “I go where you go. It doesn’t matter if it’s to the depths or straight into battle. There’s no world I choose to live in that doesn’t have you in it. And I intend to fight until my last breath.”
♡ "Living without her wasn’t an option, and he would never forgive himself if he didn’t try everything possible to save her."
♡ “Don’t make me choose, Atlas. Don’t make me choose between you and her.”
♡ “It’s you. It’s always been you. Since the moment I laid eyes on you in that tavern in this godsforsaken place.
You, Esmyra Blackwood, are all I want. All I need and crave. Every waking and sleeping moment of my days.
I told you before, those talons of yours sank into me, and they refuse to let me go. And I don’t want them to,”
♡ “He’d spent his life resenting it, this divine brand that set him apart from the rest of the world. It had cost him more than it had ever given.
Until her.
Because without it, Draevyn and Esmyra never would’ve crossed paths. Without it, he never would’ve known the way she laughed, or the way her gaze cut through him like moonlight on open water. Without it, he never would’ve fallen in love."
♡ “I thought maybe I’d get a chance to explain everything before you carved out my heart.” “But even if I didn’t, I would welcome death by your hands. The world has taken so much from you, Esmyra. All I want is for you to take whatever you can back.”
♡ "“You know there’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you. And this is no exception.”
Draevyn would’ve taken her place in an instant if fate allowed it, but if he couldn’t do that, then he’d do the next best thing.
He would bleed for her.”
♡ “The realm thought she was a monster, but they hadn’t seen what he would do in her honor. Whatever darkness lived in her, Draevyn would meet it with his own.
Esmyra deserved vengeance, and he would deliver it. If she wanted screams, he would wring them out of every throat. If she wanted blood, he would paint her seas red.”
♡ “Because anyone who laid a hand on her, anyone who even thought of hurting the Phoenix’s Wildfire again, would learn that her fury may be blistering flames…but his was a fucking inferno.”
♡ "Esmyra was fierce and untamed as every strike of her blade and every squeeze of the trigger became a declaration that she was nobody to fuck with. Even without using her magic, she was dangerous.
Absolutely fucking lethal. And gods, did he love her for it.”
♡ “I never had children, but if I had a daughter…” “I’d only hope she’d be as fierce as you, Esmyra Blackwood.”
♡ “It wouldn’t matter who they were at this point. If they were an enemy of her, then they were an enemy of him. If they threatened his Wildfire, their end would come at the hands of the Phoenix’s flames.”
♡ "He was done playing the courtly games, and if the realm dared challenge him or get in the way of him finding Esmyra, then they would meet the Phoenix.”
♡ "There is no one more worthy than you, Esmyra Blackwood.”
♡ “Maybe I just like the sight of you on your knees before me,”
“Oh, love,” “You have no idea how willing I am to oblige.” “I’ve told you before, and I will say it until the end of time: you’re the only being in this cursed world worth bending to.”
“It appears you’re also worth kneeling for, Draevyn Rowe.”
♡ “If I had to go through it all again I would. Because every second of that torment was worth it if it meant finding you. In this lifetime or the next, I’d endure it all. Without hesitation.”
♡ “I love you for who you are. Not for what you were born into, or for the power you possess. But for you. For the woman who’s survived storms I can’t imagine and loves with fearless loyalty. And no gods, curses, or kingdoms will get in the way of that.”
♡ “Esmyra had never craved anyone the way she did him. And if she survived this, she would never again let him go. Draevyn was the flames of her wildfire, and she would bring hell upon the fates if they ever tried to tear them apart again.”
♡ “I love you, Draevyn Rowe. Somewhere along the way, my black heart stopped being mine. It’s yours. It’s been yours even longer than I’ve realized." “You have all of me. The light, the darkness, and all the shattered pieces in between. If fate destroys us, then so be it. I can’t give my heart to anyone else. It’s yours, and it always will be.”
♡ “Because loving you isn’t about what I get back. It’s about you.”
Love.
“What I feel for you…this deep, relentless, almost agonizing love…has nothing to do with the gods who walked our world a thousand years ago.”
♡ “Not all treasure is made of gold.”
♡ “You’re so pretty when you’re angry,” he said with a grin. “And you’re not going anywhere.”
♡ "Draevyn was wrath incarnate — he was the phoenix."
♡ “You want to have a little more fun then? Fine,” “It seems you still need to let off a little steam. And, while I prefer another way to make that happen, who am I to deny a goddess what she wants?"
♡ “But do you know what I felt watching you do it?”
“Pride,” “Because for once, they didn’t win. You did. The wicked men of this world who sit on these polished thrones think they can take and take and take, and you took it back like the fucking goddess you are.”
♡ “And still, I’m convinced you only took back a sliver of what you’re owed,” he said. “And I would lose everything a thousand times over if it meant seeing you claim it.”
“𝓐𝓶 𝓘 𝓼𝓽𝓲𝓵𝓵 𝔂𝓸𝓾𝓻 𝓭𝓪𝓶𝓷𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓸𝓷?” “𝓨𝓸𝓾’𝓻𝓮 𝓶𝔂 𝓮𝓿𝓮𝓻𝔂𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓰."
THAT ENDING???????!??!??!!!!!??!?! INSANE. Kaelypso's tits fr (i mean, we won't be able to say it anymore because......)
I had to stare at the wall after seeing "end of book two", WHAT THE HELL EMILIAAAAAA. I buckled up for the last 100 pages but got RUDELY FLUNG OUT OF MY SEAT LMAOOOO this girl here is the middle child, and does NOT suffer from middle child syndrome at all.
i genuinely have no clue how Emilia does it, but her writing style is always so immaculate & immersive. I can never get enough on how she's able to evoke so much emotion, while plunging you into a visual masterpiece.
Love Wraith & this book so much to the point I put this on pause after reading the first 450 pages on release day LMAOOOO because I just KNEW I would be suffering from a pitch-black void after finishing it. And now I'm in said void.
“You die on me now, and I’ll follow you straight into the abyss to drag your ass back.”
the plot's depth, action, emotions, character development sky rockets from book one, and my heart was literally beating so quick in many instances, ripped out of my chest & stuffed back into my ribs, and rise & repeat. I was at the EDGE of my seat the whole time omfg. NONE OF THEM WERE ABLE TO CATCH A BREAK THROUGHOUT MAN
"I am the sea. I am the storm. I am the depths. And I am the fucking monster within.”
this book was female rage personified, and picks up right from wraith's ending. I WAS HOOKED. we got to experience Esmyra's villain arc & wrath and Drae's desperation to drag Esmi back from the depths of hell.
“Let them call me a monster. If she was a monster for protecting her own, then so be it.”
"If they wanted to label Esmyra a monster, then they may as well place the title next to Draevyn’s name alongside hers. For the Phoenix had been reborn from the ashes they made.
And he was coming for every single fucking one of them.”
from flinching every time called her a monster to this? HER DEVELOPMENT WAS CRAZY. and then we have this lil puppy who ALSO FOLLOWS ALONG ITS SO CUTE (ok not really, his villain rage era held true this book too)
“I would’ve burned the world to keep you safe. I still would. And I almost did.”
Esmi is literally my favourite FMC alongside Dianna - I see so much of myself in her! seeing how she still has her strong & fierce persona even after everything, while keeping her vulnerable parts intact, makes me love her so much more. Down to the fact that I hate it when someone tells me what to do, her using humor to cope with dire situations/hide her emotions, SHE'S ME.
"She never knew she could feel this whole, this complete. And yet, in his arms, she did. In his arms, she was home.”
i was SICK TO MY STOMACH for what she's been through & went through throughout this book. I was cheering her on so much; she’s so badass & passionate and I loved every second of watching her new powers develop. But omg. Watching her soften & find her peace… watching her allow herself to be loved and embrace it, was quite literally EVERYTHIG to me.
“Careful, kneeling before a goddess is a sign of worship.”
“I’ve worshipped you since the moment we locked eyes, Esmyra. And I’d kneel to you a thousand times over. You’re the only thing in this cursed world worth bending to.”
i loved every second of her rage & heartbreak, alongside her newfound powers; there's just something so real & raw that shone through her vengeance. Peeling back her layers as we progressed - that fear of letting people in again, keeping relationships at arm's length, jot knowing who to trust anymore - Emilia captured so many emotions PERFECTLY. Watching Esmyra slowly realize she is worthy of love and finding her peace, mistakes and all, genuinely made my heart SQUEEZE.
"Maybe home wasn't a place at all. Maybe home was just the people you love and would do anything for."
I was cheering her on so so much, she's literally everything I am, but so much more at the same time. I felt my own hurting heart & soul healing alongside Esmi, and learning that not everyone is out to get you!!! And the beauty of pure, unwavering love that transcends realms, was just beautiful to witness.
“A phoenix is nothing without his flames. And you, Esmyra, are mine.” 😭❤️
Don't even get me started on DRAEVYN MF ROWE. I WOULD GO FERAL FOR THIS MAN. Nobody yearns like him (except Samkiel), NOBODY.
Every single time he opens his mouth, I BLUSH? ME? FOR A MAN? Only Draevyn & Samkiel are able to make me swoon this much, and that's saying a lot.
"You have all of me. The light, the darkness, and all the shattered pieces in between If fate destroys us, then so be it. I can't give my heart to anyone else. It's yours, and it always will be."
A fire daddy who will fight beyond his last breath for his Wildfire; plus he's such a torutred soul. I just love him SO MUCH. The way that he grovels, begs to get walked like a dog by Esmi, grounds Esmi & is always there to pull her back from losing herself to her rage... I'm so WEAK FOR HIM.
“The realm had given up on her, making her feel alone and trapped. And he vowed to shield her from those who labeled her a monster, ensuring she’d never feel the sting of loneliness again. Draevyn would protect her for as long as his lungs breathed air.”
I love how both of them would literally B U R N the world for each other. He even waged a war with his only surviving family member, all because he hurt Esmyra 😭 I also love how we got to see the inner turmoil between betraying Atlas, his crown, and standing by his Wildfire.
My heart is TWISTED for Drae & how much heaviness he had to endure, and will be in book 3. my babies deserve to be happy, leave them alone!!!!!!!!!
“Draevyn didn’t understand why she was running in the first place, but he chased after her regardless. He would always chase his Wildfire. He would follow his goddess to the ends of their world and beyond if that’s what it took."
Besides the main characters, I love how we also got developments with the villains, they got crazier & sicker, and the new character POVs (ugh except Syrena's) were absolutely necessary to plump the plot & emotional ties to the side characters.
I genuinely felt STRONG DISLIKE towards Atlas, but I also felt his struggle & understood the reasons why he acted out - something only superb writing is able to evoke. I'm just glad that he eventually came to his senses & "redeemed" himself but IM STILL WATCHING HIM.
"My fucking goddess.” "That's my girl."
I just know with every fibre of my being that book 3 will be so emotional, knowing that it's the final (cries) & with the AUDACITY of the ending of this book........... EMILIA YOU'RE ACTUALLY BEING CRUEL. I'm genuinely scared for what's to come.
I needed book 3 like yesterday, HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO WAIT TILL 2027 FJSLJLKSJLGJJLSJGLGS *HIGH PITCHED SCREAMING* I'll be crashing out every single day till it's in my hands AAAAAAAAA
I had over 300+ highlights on my Kindle, and these are barely scratching the surface of my favourite quotes. I LOVEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE UGH SO SO GOOD.
Favourite Quotes:
♡ "There's no world I choose to live in that doesn't have you in it."
♡ “You’re my compass," “I go where you go. It doesn’t matter if it’s to the depths or straight into battle. There’s no world I choose to live in that doesn’t have you in it. And I intend to fight until my last breath.”
♡ "Living without her wasn’t an option, and he would never forgive himself if he didn’t try everything possible to save her."
♡ “Don’t make me choose, Atlas. Don’t make me choose between you and her.”
♡ “It’s you. It’s always been you. Since the moment I laid eyes on you in that tavern in this godsforsaken place.
You, Esmyra Blackwood, are all I want. All I need and crave. Every waking and sleeping moment of my days.
I told you before, those talons of yours sank into me, and they refuse to let me go. And I don’t want them to,”
♡ “He’d spent his life resenting it, this divine brand that set him apart from the rest of the world. It had cost him more than it had ever given.
Until her.
Because without it, Draevyn and Esmyra never would’ve crossed paths. Without it, he never would’ve known the way she laughed, or the way her gaze cut through him like moonlight on open water. Without it, he never would’ve fallen in love."
♡ “I thought maybe I’d get a chance to explain everything before you carved out my heart.” “But even if I didn’t, I would welcome death by your hands. The world has taken so much from you, Esmyra. All I want is for you to take whatever you can back.”
♡ "“You know there’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you. And this is no exception.”
Draevyn would’ve taken her place in an instant if fate allowed it, but if he couldn’t do that, then he’d do the next best thing.
He would bleed for her.”
♡ “The realm thought she was a monster, but they hadn’t seen what he would do in her honor. Whatever darkness lived in her, Draevyn would meet it with his own.
Esmyra deserved vengeance, and he would deliver it. If she wanted screams, he would wring them out of every throat. If she wanted blood, he would paint her seas red.”
♡ “Because anyone who laid a hand on her, anyone who even thought of hurting the Phoenix’s Wildfire again, would learn that her fury may be blistering flames…but his was a fucking inferno.”
♡ "Esmyra was fierce and untamed as every strike of her blade and every squeeze of the trigger became a declaration that she was nobody to fuck with. Even without using her magic, she was dangerous.
Absolutely fucking lethal. And gods, did he love her for it.”
♡ “I never had children, but if I had a daughter…” “I’d only hope she’d be as fierce as you, Esmyra Blackwood.”
♡ “It wouldn’t matter who they were at this point. If they were an enemy of her, then they were an enemy of him. If they threatened his Wildfire, their end would come at the hands of the Phoenix’s flames.”
♡ "He was done playing the courtly games, and if the realm dared challenge him or get in the way of him finding Esmyra, then they would meet the Phoenix.”
♡ "There is no one more worthy than you, Esmyra Blackwood.”
♡ “Maybe I just like the sight of you on your knees before me,”
“Oh, love,” “You have no idea how willing I am to oblige.” “I’ve told you before, and I will say it until the end of time: you’re the only being in this cursed world worth bending to.”
“It appears you’re also worth kneeling for, Draevyn Rowe.”
♡ “If I had to go through it all again I would. Because every second of that torment was worth it if it meant finding you. In this lifetime or the next, I’d endure it all. Without hesitation.”
♡ “I love you for who you are. Not for what you were born into, or for the power you possess. But for you. For the woman who’s survived storms I can’t imagine and loves with fearless loyalty. And no gods, curses, or kingdoms will get in the way of that.”
♡ “Esmyra had never craved anyone the way she did him. And if she survived this, she would never again let him go. Draevyn was the flames of her wildfire, and she would bring hell upon the fates if they ever tried to tear them apart again.”
♡ “I love you, Draevyn Rowe. Somewhere along the way, my black heart stopped being mine. It’s yours. It’s been yours even longer than I’ve realized." “You have all of me. The light, the darkness, and all the shattered pieces in between. If fate destroys us, then so be it. I can’t give my heart to anyone else. It’s yours, and it always will be.”
♡ “Because loving you isn’t about what I get back. It’s about you.”
Love.
“What I feel for you…this deep, relentless, almost agonizing love…has nothing to do with the gods who walked our world a thousand years ago.”
♡ “Not all treasure is made of gold.”
♡ “You’re so pretty when you’re angry,” he said with a grin. “And you’re not going anywhere.”
♡ "Draevyn was wrath incarnate — he was the phoenix."
♡ “You want to have a little more fun then? Fine,” “It seems you still need to let off a little steam. And, while I prefer another way to make that happen, who am I to deny a goddess what she wants?"
♡ “But do you know what I felt watching you do it?”
“Pride,” “Because for once, they didn’t win. You did. The wicked men of this world who sit on these polished thrones think they can take and take and take, and you took it back like the fucking goddess you are.”
♡ “And still, I’m convinced you only took back a sliver of what you’re owed,” he said. “And I would lose everything a thousand times over if it meant seeing you claim it.”
June 29, 2026
3.5⭐️!
Unfortunately this book didn’t work for me, but that doesn’t mean I can’t tell that the author is clearly talented. I actually enjoyed the writing and how descriptive everything was. I don’t hate this book and I can most definitely see why others would enjoy it. For me I felt the most disconnect with the love story. I don’t really care for Drae and I just feel like they don’t have that much chemistry. That being said, the second half of the book is much better than the first! I actually ended up enjoying it quite a bit. It got much more fast paced and we saw more of the side characters. The found family trope in this was lovely!
Thank you to emilia for gifting me this e-arc🧜♀️
Unfortunately this book didn’t work for me, but that doesn’t mean I can’t tell that the author is clearly talented. I actually enjoyed the writing and how descriptive everything was. I don’t hate this book and I can most definitely see why others would enjoy it. For me I felt the most disconnect with the love story. I don’t really care for Drae and I just feel like they don’t have that much chemistry. That being said, the second half of the book is much better than the first! I actually ended up enjoying it quite a bit. It got much more fast paced and we saw more of the side characters. The found family trope in this was lovely!
Thank you to emilia for gifting me this e-arc🧜♀️
May 24, 2026
”there is no one more worthy than you, esmyra blackwood.”
kaelypso’s tits!!!!
that ending was insane wtf what do you mean that was the last line?!
this book was so fast paced it was such a fun, addictive read.
the character development in this book was so good, esmyra is even more of a badass in this one but we also get to see a more vulnerable side to her which i loved.
draevyn rowe…what a man. such a lover boy who will BURN for his woman.
im obsessed with the found family. some of the moments between them made me cry 🥹
“maybe home wasn’t a place at all. maybe home was just the people you love and would do anything for.”
thank you so much emilia for the arc!! i need book 3 in my hands asap.
kaelypso’s tits!!!!
that ending was insane wtf what do you mean that was the last line?!
this book was so fast paced it was such a fun, addictive read.
the character development in this book was so good, esmyra is even more of a badass in this one but we also get to see a more vulnerable side to her which i loved.
draevyn rowe…what a man. such a lover boy who will BURN for his woman.
im obsessed with the found family. some of the moments between them made me cry 🥹
“maybe home wasn’t a place at all. maybe home was just the people you love and would do anything for.”
thank you so much emilia for the arc!! i need book 3 in my hands asap.
July 22, 2026
Wow, this book was nothing short of EPIC.
Wraith was one of my favorite books last summer and book 2 delivered everything I had hoped for and MORE. This book immediately hooks you with its immersive writing, action packed plot, and a cast of morally grey characters that will steal your heart.
First off, I have to mention the way Emilia wrote this with such vivid detail. The story unfolds in your mind like you’re watching a movie, and the plotline in this book is a nonstop adventure that will have you engrossed from beginning to end.
One thing I loved about book 2 was the variety of POVs and how much character depth each one provides. These characters are all shades of gray, each one guided by their own moral compass, and it was so interesting to experience the story from all sides. I also loved the emphasis on found family in this book and the way it influences Esmyra’s character arc. I can’t wait to see more of these side characters in book 3!
Everything else in this book was immaculate - the pacing, the world building, the romance, the plot development. And it all culminates with the most climactic ending that will leave you desperate for more😭
Overall, this book was the perfect sequel to Wraith and it deserves no less than 5⭐️ PLEASE GO READ IT!
Thank you so much to the author for an eARC🫶🏼
Wraith was one of my favorite books last summer and book 2 delivered everything I had hoped for and MORE. This book immediately hooks you with its immersive writing, action packed plot, and a cast of morally grey characters that will steal your heart.
First off, I have to mention the way Emilia wrote this with such vivid detail. The story unfolds in your mind like you’re watching a movie, and the plotline in this book is a nonstop adventure that will have you engrossed from beginning to end.
One thing I loved about book 2 was the variety of POVs and how much character depth each one provides. These characters are all shades of gray, each one guided by their own moral compass, and it was so interesting to experience the story from all sides. I also loved the emphasis on found family in this book and the way it influences Esmyra’s character arc. I can’t wait to see more of these side characters in book 3!
Everything else in this book was immaculate - the pacing, the world building, the romance, the plot development. And it all culminates with the most climactic ending that will leave you desperate for more😭
Overall, this book was the perfect sequel to Wraith and it deserves no less than 5⭐️ PLEASE GO READ IT!
Thank you so much to the author for an eARC🫶🏼
June 4, 2026
“i’ve worshipped you since the moment we locked eyes, esmyra. and i’d kneel to you a thousand times over.”
—
this was the perfect sequel to one of my favorite reads of last year! this series scratches the pirate/summer itch i’ve desired so perfectly. it was fast-paced, high stakes, and packed with action. i had to take breaks because i was so stressed. like, can we chill???
esmyra’s villain era. her female rage. i support her rights and her WRONGS. she’s such a strong fmc after everything she’s been through over the past thousand years. her trust issues were so valid after what felt like the most heartbreaking betrayal. the thing that really showed her strength was her refusal to second-guess her instincts and her determination to uncover the truth no matter what.
draevyn is a top-tier book boyfriend. he LITERALLY burns for her. he would yearn to the ends of the earth for her. the scene with the pain… you know which one. i sobbed for him because of how deeply he loves her. his mouth and nicknames for her are also everything.
“𝒚𝒐𝒖’𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒐𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒄𝒖𝒓𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒉 𝒃𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐.”
the character progression was done so well. we see villains become even crazier, others battle with moral struggles, and some learn that softness isn’t a weakness. all of these dynamics tie into the found family aspect, and it was so special to see.
the ending was absolutely diabolical because wtf??? how am i supposed to wait for answers??? send help.
thank you so much emilia and her team for this e-arc! it’s an honor to be a part of the sea wraiths! ♥︎
“𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒐𝒇 𝒎𝒆. 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒍𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕, 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒅𝒂𝒓𝒌𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝒑𝒊𝒆𝒄𝒆𝒔 𝒊𝒏 𝒃𝒆𝒕𝒘𝒆𝒆𝒏. 𝒊𝒇 𝒇𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒅𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒚𝒔 𝒖𝒔, 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒔𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝒊𝒕. 𝒊 𝒄𝒂𝒏’𝒕 𝒈𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒎𝒚 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒂𝒏𝒚𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒆𝒍𝒔𝒆. 𝒊𝒕’𝒔 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒔, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒊𝒕 𝒂𝒍𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒃𝒆.”
—
this was the perfect sequel to one of my favorite reads of last year! this series scratches the pirate/summer itch i’ve desired so perfectly. it was fast-paced, high stakes, and packed with action. i had to take breaks because i was so stressed. like, can we chill???
esmyra’s villain era. her female rage. i support her rights and her WRONGS. she’s such a strong fmc after everything she’s been through over the past thousand years. her trust issues were so valid after what felt like the most heartbreaking betrayal. the thing that really showed her strength was her refusal to second-guess her instincts and her determination to uncover the truth no matter what.
draevyn is a top-tier book boyfriend. he LITERALLY burns for her. he would yearn to the ends of the earth for her. the scene with the pain… you know which one. i sobbed for him because of how deeply he loves her. his mouth and nicknames for her are also everything.
“𝒚𝒐𝒖’𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒐𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒄𝒖𝒓𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒉 𝒃𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐.”
the character progression was done so well. we see villains become even crazier, others battle with moral struggles, and some learn that softness isn’t a weakness. all of these dynamics tie into the found family aspect, and it was so special to see.
the ending was absolutely diabolical because wtf??? how am i supposed to wait for answers??? send help.
thank you so much emilia and her team for this e-arc! it’s an honor to be a part of the sea wraiths! ♥︎
“𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒐𝒇 𝒎𝒆. 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒍𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕, 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒅𝒂𝒓𝒌𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝒑𝒊𝒆𝒄𝒆𝒔 𝒊𝒏 𝒃𝒆𝒕𝒘𝒆𝒆𝒏. 𝒊𝒇 𝒇𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒅𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒚𝒔 𝒖𝒔, 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒔𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝒊𝒕. 𝒊 𝒄𝒂𝒏’𝒕 𝒈𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒎𝒚 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒂𝒏𝒚𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒆𝒍𝒔𝒆. 𝒊𝒕’𝒔 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒔, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒊𝒕 𝒂𝒍𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒃𝒆.”
July 10, 2026
**𝔄ℜℭ ℜ𝔢𝔳𝔦𝔢𝔴** 𝔄 𝔉𝔩𝔞𝔪𝔢 𝔄𝔪𝔬𝔫𝔤 𝔱𝔥𝔢 𝔖𝔢𝔞𝔰 𝔟𝔶 𝔈𝔪𝔦𝔩𝔦𝔞 𝔍𝔞𝔢 (𝔅𝔢𝔶𝔬𝔫𝔡 𝔱𝔥𝔢 𝔗𝔦𝔡𝔢𝔰 #2)
Release Day: June 11, 2026
4⭐️3🌶
This book has some deliciously morally grey characters bordering on morally black. Esmyra is on a path to revenge for her father, and she doesn't care who gets in her way.
Minor Spoilers Ahead:
At the end of the first book, Esmyra and Syrena are twin sisters that are the reincarnated sea goddess and together they were able to awaken the ancient goddesses powers and raise their Sunken Kingdom of Maerinys from the depths of the ocean. With a new magic, Exmyra was able to see the execution of her father by the Tyrant King of Rymelle while her allie/lover Draevyn apparently stands by.
Draevyn was tricked by Syrena in Maerinys, she transformed into Esmyra and then forced herself on him right before the real Esmyra walked in and saw them together as Syrena and Draevyn. Then Syrena flipped the story and said that he forced himself on her.
Draevyn was cast out of Maerinys before he was able to explain himself to Exmyra, and when he arrived home his Tyrant father executed Exmyra's father right in front of him without warning. That is the beginning of Draevyn breaking away from his Tyrant father and his brother Atlas.
There are so many overly powerful characters in this series, and all of them are hell bent on their own agendas. I've been on the edge of my seat to see who comes out on top (literally), and if the truth is ever revealed about who is betraying who.
Highly recommend this series for all fans of Danielle L. Jensen's Bridge Kingdom series.
Themes/Tropes:
🍁Pirates of the Caribbean Vibes
🍁Little Mermaid Vibes
🍁Siren with the power to control all humans with her voice
🍁Evil King
🍁Lost Kingdom
🍁Lost Atlantis Vibes
🍁Lost Princess
TW:
✨Violence
✨Murder
✨Kidnapping
✨Indifferent parents
✨Drowning
✨Imprisonment
Release Day: June 11, 2026
4⭐️3🌶
This book has some deliciously morally grey characters bordering on morally black. Esmyra is on a path to revenge for her father, and she doesn't care who gets in her way.
Minor Spoilers Ahead:
At the end of the first book, Esmyra and Syrena are twin sisters that are the reincarnated sea goddess and together they were able to awaken the ancient goddesses powers and raise their Sunken Kingdom of Maerinys from the depths of the ocean. With a new magic, Exmyra was able to see the execution of her father by the Tyrant King of Rymelle while her allie/lover Draevyn apparently stands by.
Draevyn was tricked by Syrena in Maerinys, she transformed into Esmyra and then forced herself on him right before the real Esmyra walked in and saw them together as Syrena and Draevyn. Then Syrena flipped the story and said that he forced himself on her.
Draevyn was cast out of Maerinys before he was able to explain himself to Exmyra, and when he arrived home his Tyrant father executed Exmyra's father right in front of him without warning. That is the beginning of Draevyn breaking away from his Tyrant father and his brother Atlas.
There are so many overly powerful characters in this series, and all of them are hell bent on their own agendas. I've been on the edge of my seat to see who comes out on top (literally), and if the truth is ever revealed about who is betraying who.
Highly recommend this series for all fans of Danielle L. Jensen's Bridge Kingdom series.
Themes/Tropes:
🍁Pirates of the Caribbean Vibes
🍁Little Mermaid Vibes
🍁Siren with the power to control all humans with her voice
🍁Evil King
🍁Lost Kingdom
🍁Lost Atlantis Vibes
🍁Lost Princess
TW:
✨Violence
✨Murder
✨Kidnapping
✨Indifferent parents
✨Drowning
✨Imprisonment
May 26, 2026
“Careful. Kneeling before a goddess is a sign of worship.”
“I’ve worshipped you since the moment we locked eyes, Esmyra. And I’d kneel to you a thousand times over.”
SCREAMING!!!!!
My godddd this is how you write a second book. From the very beginning it was fast paced, action packed, emotional and impossible to put down.
I LOVED the villain era Esmyra stepped into. After everything this poor girl has been through she deserved to finally snap a little. The heartbreak in this book was actually insane. The yearning? The devotion? The sacrifices? UGH. It was everything!!! I also loved the found family aspect so much. The loyalty between these characters made every moment hit even harder and the character development was so well done. There were a couple POVs I could have done without at times but I understand why they were important to the overall story.
Esmyra, MY GIRL. She has officially earned a spot on my favorite FMC list. Strong, fierce, resilient and still fighting even after everything thrown at her. Watching her struggle but continue pushing forward was honestly so powerful and I love her for that.
And Draevyn Rowe… THIS MAN. He knows exactly what he wants and will burn the world down to get it. The devotion this man has for Esmyra???? Absolutely feral behavior. He went through hell and back without hesitation and I ate up every second of it. The banter between him and Esmyra was top tier.
I have SO much more to say but I refuse to spoil anything. Just know this book was an easy 10/10 and now I’m left emotionally destroyed waiting for book three.
Thank you SO MUCH Emilia for sending me this ARC. I’m SO grateful!!!
“I’ve worshipped you since the moment we locked eyes, Esmyra. And I’d kneel to you a thousand times over.”
SCREAMING!!!!!
My godddd this is how you write a second book. From the very beginning it was fast paced, action packed, emotional and impossible to put down.
I LOVED the villain era Esmyra stepped into. After everything this poor girl has been through she deserved to finally snap a little. The heartbreak in this book was actually insane. The yearning? The devotion? The sacrifices? UGH. It was everything!!! I also loved the found family aspect so much. The loyalty between these characters made every moment hit even harder and the character development was so well done. There were a couple POVs I could have done without at times but I understand why they were important to the overall story.
Esmyra, MY GIRL. She has officially earned a spot on my favorite FMC list. Strong, fierce, resilient and still fighting even after everything thrown at her. Watching her struggle but continue pushing forward was honestly so powerful and I love her for that.
And Draevyn Rowe… THIS MAN. He knows exactly what he wants and will burn the world down to get it. The devotion this man has for Esmyra???? Absolutely feral behavior. He went through hell and back without hesitation and I ate up every second of it. The banter between him and Esmyra was top tier.
I have SO much more to say but I refuse to spoil anything. Just know this book was an easy 10/10 and now I’m left emotionally destroyed waiting for book three.
Thank you SO MUCH Emilia for sending me this ARC. I’m SO grateful!!!
June 13, 2026
OMG!! This book was so freaking good! I was on the edge of my seat and every twist and turn in the plot was unexpected. Esmyra is the ultimate FMC- fully into her feminine rage in this book, absolutely fierce and powerful - and absolutely UNHINGED and it’s incredible to read! I do also like that she is on a bit of a quest to figure out where she belongs and who she is. Draevyn is the best kind of book boyfriend too, he is absolutely devoted to Esmyra and will literally burn the world for her. He is devoted, loyal, says exactly how he feels without holding back, and the chemistry he has with Esmyra is palpable!
There are so many things about this book that I loved, but above all things this was just so riddled with action and adventure, and kept me in my feels throughout the whole thing. I am so freaking depressed that I now have to wait until 2027 to continue this story because it absolutely leaves you HANGING on that cliff!
I’m just stunned and super stoked to read the next book! Get this on your TBR straight away!
There are so many things about this book that I loved, but above all things this was just so riddled with action and adventure, and kept me in my feels throughout the whole thing. I am so freaking depressed that I now have to wait until 2027 to continue this story because it absolutely leaves you HANGING on that cliff!
I’m just stunned and super stoked to read the next book! Get this on your TBR straight away!
May 27, 2026
I genuinely don’t think I’ve ever read a more perfect sequel. I have no idea how Emilia does it, but her writing is unbelievably addictive and immersive: you don’t just read the story, you live it alongside the characters. This was one of my most anticipated reads of the year, and somehow it still exceeded every expectation I had.
Esmyra might honestly go down as one of my favorite FMCs of all time, and that is saying a lot. I adored her revenge arc, her rage, her heartbreak, supporting her rights and her wrongs every step of the way. She’s such a layered, complex character: a girl who lost everything and wants the world to feel even a fraction of her pain. There’s something so raw and real about her. I found myself connecting to her on a deeper level than just loving a fictional character. This book made me recognize parts of myself in her that I hadn’t fully acknowledged before. That fear of letting people in, keeping relationships surface-level because trusting the wrong people once left you drowning… Emilia captured that feeling perfectly. Watching Esmyra slowly realize she is worthy of love and acceptance, flaws and all, genuinely hit me hard.
“Careful, kneeling before a goddess is a sign of worship.” “I’ve worshipped you since the moment we locked eyes, Esmyra. And I’d kneel to you a thousand times over. You’re the only thing in this cursed world worth bending to.”
And don’t even get me started on Draevyn because he has officially secured a spot in my top ten book husbands. He is so baby girl. The way he grovels for Esmyra, begs for even a second of her attention, and supports her no matter how messy things get? UGH. That man is the living embodiment of “I’ll follow you to the depths of hell and never look back.” He never judges her, never tries to dim her rage, and loves her through every mistake she makes. I’m obsessed with him.
“I would’ve burned the world to keep you safe. I still would. And I almost did.”
This may not have been a full six-star read for me purely because some of the additional POVs occasionally pulled me out of the story, but I completely understand why they were necessary. They added so much depth, tension, and understanding to the overall narrative, and I can absolutely appreciate that. Also, Emilia truly knows how to write a villain because I have never wanted to physically jump into a book and fight someone more in my life.
And that ENDING??? Actually cruel. The audacity of making me wait an entire year to find out how this disaster gets resolved should be illegal. I will absolutely be spiraling until book three is in my hands.
Huge ty to Emilia for sending me an e-arc and allowing me to be a part of the arc team. I’m so thankful 🤍
Esmyra might honestly go down as one of my favorite FMCs of all time, and that is saying a lot. I adored her revenge arc, her rage, her heartbreak, supporting her rights and her wrongs every step of the way. She’s such a layered, complex character: a girl who lost everything and wants the world to feel even a fraction of her pain. There’s something so raw and real about her. I found myself connecting to her on a deeper level than just loving a fictional character. This book made me recognize parts of myself in her that I hadn’t fully acknowledged before. That fear of letting people in, keeping relationships surface-level because trusting the wrong people once left you drowning… Emilia captured that feeling perfectly. Watching Esmyra slowly realize she is worthy of love and acceptance, flaws and all, genuinely hit me hard.
“Careful, kneeling before a goddess is a sign of worship.” “I’ve worshipped you since the moment we locked eyes, Esmyra. And I’d kneel to you a thousand times over. You’re the only thing in this cursed world worth bending to.”
And don’t even get me started on Draevyn because he has officially secured a spot in my top ten book husbands. He is so baby girl. The way he grovels for Esmyra, begs for even a second of her attention, and supports her no matter how messy things get? UGH. That man is the living embodiment of “I’ll follow you to the depths of hell and never look back.” He never judges her, never tries to dim her rage, and loves her through every mistake she makes. I’m obsessed with him.
“I would’ve burned the world to keep you safe. I still would. And I almost did.”
This may not have been a full six-star read for me purely because some of the additional POVs occasionally pulled me out of the story, but I completely understand why they were necessary. They added so much depth, tension, and understanding to the overall narrative, and I can absolutely appreciate that. Also, Emilia truly knows how to write a villain because I have never wanted to physically jump into a book and fight someone more in my life.
And that ENDING??? Actually cruel. The audacity of making me wait an entire year to find out how this disaster gets resolved should be illegal. I will absolutely be spiraling until book three is in my hands.
Huge ty to Emilia for sending me an e-arc and allowing me to be a part of the arc team. I’m so thankful 🤍
July 12, 2026
THIS IS HOW YOU FUCKING DO A SEQUEL!🔥
HOWEVER THAT ENDING?! SHOULD BE CONSIDERED TREASON. I AM FUCKING VEXED.
But how I devoured this book. Emilia Jae’s writing is SO immersive and gripping, I again kept losing track of time while reading.
I’d love to see this series on the big screen, it’s perfect for it I swear. The adventure, quests, the romance, the world, the plot 🤌🏽🔥
Dare I say my favorite pirate/siren books I’ve read so far? I do.
Now, per my updates here while reading these you know Esmyra and I had our differences in book 1 but she completely won me over in book 2, she just had such an amazing character arc, her growth and journey was incredible. All her past impulsive transgressions have been put behind her and my earth sign soul. I literally love her so much now. We had our enemies to lovers trope 😏🖤
Her villain era? IMMACULATE BADASSERY. It was exquisite. She literally had such a delicious villainous attitude, it’s when this baddie won me over. A LETHAL GODDESS QUEEN.
The palace scene with the king had me cackling out loud alongside Esmyra because THE UNMITIGATED GALL OF THAT FOOL OF MAN and her going “Oh, you sad, putrid little man” ESMYRA NO MAMES HAHAHA
Then hitting Drae with a “Oh, I’m sorry, baby. Perhaps you don’t recognize me.” FUCK YES BITCH!
But her inner war and turmoil at coming to terms she was deceived and lied to again, and thinking there was no way she could come back from it and what she did after…and her journey to accepting Drae’s love and just love in general…MY HEART!
“Please don’t do this! I can take it.” “I know you can. But I won’t let you.”
Book 2 Esmyra owns a piece of my heart. I LOVE HER.🩵
THE RE-ENCOUNTER?! FUCKING IMMACULATE. LITERALLY EVERYTHING I WANTED. NOT RUSHED, NOT CHEESY, STILL ANGSTY, STILL UNTRUSTING, THE PUSH AND PULL 🤌🏽✨
AND DRAEVYN ‘I WON’T RISK HER’ MF ROWE, THE MAN THAT YOU ARE! The level of loyalty, yearning and devotion from this man was EVERYTHING. I’m sorry but saying “Touch her and you’ll fucking burn” mid enemies to reluctant allies transition right from book 1 should tell you what you need. But in book 2 he really took it to a whole other level. The pain scene (ifykyk)?! A MAN.
“And his love for you? Worlds will burn before he lets anything happen to you.”
The way he was always rooting for her even when she was hell bent on revenge and refusing to take matters into his own hands and would even be willing sacrifice for her to settle the score because he couldn't stand for anything more to being taken from her. 🥲
“You’re my compass. I go where you go. It doesn’t matter if it’s to the depths or straight into battle. There’s no world I choose to live in that doesn’t have you in it. And I intend to fight until my last breath.”
LET THAT SINK TF IN.
Speaking of sinking, someone sink that ho. WHEN I CATCH HER!
Anyways…
Also love Atlas and Elowynne, I want more of them.
And I have theories about certain things unfolding but honestly after that ending it’s all fucking fair game BECAUSE NOW WHAT?!
I WILL BE PERISHING FOR BOOK 3.
HOWEVER THAT ENDING?! SHOULD BE CONSIDERED TREASON. I AM FUCKING VEXED.
But how I devoured this book. Emilia Jae’s writing is SO immersive and gripping, I again kept losing track of time while reading.
I’d love to see this series on the big screen, it’s perfect for it I swear. The adventure, quests, the romance, the world, the plot 🤌🏽🔥
Dare I say my favorite pirate/siren books I’ve read so far? I do.
Now, per my updates here while reading these you know Esmyra and I had our differences in book 1 but she completely won me over in book 2, she just had such an amazing character arc, her growth and journey was incredible. All her past impulsive transgressions have been put behind her and my earth sign soul. I literally love her so much now. We had our enemies to lovers trope 😏🖤
Her villain era? IMMACULATE BADASSERY. It was exquisite. She literally had such a delicious villainous attitude, it’s when this baddie won me over. A LETHAL GODDESS QUEEN.
The palace scene with the king had me cackling out loud alongside Esmyra because THE UNMITIGATED GALL OF THAT FOOL OF MAN and her going “Oh, you sad, putrid little man” ESMYRA NO MAMES HAHAHA
Then hitting Drae with a “Oh, I’m sorry, baby. Perhaps you don’t recognize me.” FUCK YES BITCH!
But her inner war and turmoil at coming to terms she was deceived and lied to again, and thinking there was no way she could come back from it and what she did after…and her journey to accepting Drae’s love and just love in general…MY HEART!
“Please don’t do this! I can take it.” “I know you can. But I won’t let you.”
Book 2 Esmyra owns a piece of my heart. I LOVE HER.🩵
THE RE-ENCOUNTER?! FUCKING IMMACULATE. LITERALLY EVERYTHING I WANTED. NOT RUSHED, NOT CHEESY, STILL ANGSTY, STILL UNTRUSTING, THE PUSH AND PULL 🤌🏽✨
AND DRAEVYN ‘I WON’T RISK HER’ MF ROWE, THE MAN THAT YOU ARE! The level of loyalty, yearning and devotion from this man was EVERYTHING. I’m sorry but saying “Touch her and you’ll fucking burn” mid enemies to reluctant allies transition right from book 1 should tell you what you need. But in book 2 he really took it to a whole other level. The pain scene (ifykyk)?! A MAN.
“And his love for you? Worlds will burn before he lets anything happen to you.”
The way he was always rooting for her even when she was hell bent on revenge and refusing to take matters into his own hands and would even be willing sacrifice for her to settle the score because he couldn't stand for anything more to being taken from her. 🥲
“You’re my compass. I go where you go. It doesn’t matter if it’s to the depths or straight into battle. There’s no world I choose to live in that doesn’t have you in it. And I intend to fight until my last breath.”
LET THAT SINK TF IN.
Speaking of sinking, someone sink that ho. WHEN I CATCH HER!
Anyways…
Also love Atlas and Elowynne, I want more of them.
And I have theories about certain things unfolding but honestly after that ending it’s all fucking fair game BECAUSE NOW WHAT?!
I WILL BE PERISHING FOR BOOK 3.
June 6, 2026
4.5⭐️ This book was chaotic, messy, and action-packed right from the beginning.. and somehow it only kept getting crazier. The powers, the tension, the magic, and the nonstop action made it so hard to stop reading!
Esmyra’s growth is so clear in this book.. stronger, fiercer, and fully stepping into her power.. even more satisfying than the last. My girl is deep in her villain era and I got exactly what I was hoping for since book 1.
“𝑶𝒏𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒔𝒆 𝒅𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒎𝒆𝒏 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒈𝒏𝒊𝒛𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒆𝒂 𝒅𝒐𝒆𝒔𝒏’𝒕 𝒃𝒆𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒎𝒚 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍. 𝑰 𝒂𝒎 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒆𝒂. 𝑰 𝒂𝒎 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒎. 𝑰 𝒂𝒎 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒅𝒆𝒑𝒕𝒉𝒔. 𝑨𝒏𝒅 𝑰 𝒂𝒎 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒇*ς𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏.”
And Drae… if I already loved him in the first book, I came to love him even more here. Those moments, those spoken words.. ugh.🫠
“𝑰’𝒗𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒑𝒑𝒆𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒘𝒆 𝒍𝒐𝒄𝒌𝒆𝒅 𝒆𝒚𝒆𝒔, 𝑬𝒔𝒎𝒚𝒓𝒂. 𝑨𝒏𝒅 𝑰’𝒅 𝒌𝒏𝒆𝒆𝒍 𝒕𝒐 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒂 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒔𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓.”
And that alley and rooftop scenes?? Without giving too much away, I loved every second of it!!🫠 The tension, the banters, the way those scenes were written!! I was giggling and grinning like an idiot the entire time.
The push and pull between the characters, the danger, the emotional moments, and all the intense scenes had me in a chokehold the whole time.. Every chapter felt like something was happening.
Also… Jenli?? What a fun addition. I absolutely loved her energy and really hope we get more of her in the next book.
And the battles! The rivalries, the magic, the tension, the sheer intensity of it all!! Every scene kept me on the edge of my seat. I was completely locked in from start to finish.
That ending though… now how am I supposed to wait for Book 3??😔
**Thank you to the author for this ARC.
Esmyra’s growth is so clear in this book.. stronger, fiercer, and fully stepping into her power.. even more satisfying than the last. My girl is deep in her villain era and I got exactly what I was hoping for since book 1.
“𝑶𝒏𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒔𝒆 𝒅𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒎𝒆𝒏 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒈𝒏𝒊𝒛𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒆𝒂 𝒅𝒐𝒆𝒔𝒏’𝒕 𝒃𝒆𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒎𝒚 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍. 𝑰 𝒂𝒎 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒆𝒂. 𝑰 𝒂𝒎 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒎. 𝑰 𝒂𝒎 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒅𝒆𝒑𝒕𝒉𝒔. 𝑨𝒏𝒅 𝑰 𝒂𝒎 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒇*ς𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏.”
And Drae… if I already loved him in the first book, I came to love him even more here. Those moments, those spoken words.. ugh.🫠
“𝑰’𝒗𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒑𝒑𝒆𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒘𝒆 𝒍𝒐𝒄𝒌𝒆𝒅 𝒆𝒚𝒆𝒔, 𝑬𝒔𝒎𝒚𝒓𝒂. 𝑨𝒏𝒅 𝑰’𝒅 𝒌𝒏𝒆𝒆𝒍 𝒕𝒐 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒂 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒔𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓.”
And that alley and rooftop scenes?? Without giving too much away, I loved every second of it!!🫠 The tension, the banters, the way those scenes were written!! I was giggling and grinning like an idiot the entire time.
The push and pull between the characters, the danger, the emotional moments, and all the intense scenes had me in a chokehold the whole time.. Every chapter felt like something was happening.
Also… Jenli?? What a fun addition. I absolutely loved her energy and really hope we get more of her in the next book.
And the battles! The rivalries, the magic, the tension, the sheer intensity of it all!! Every scene kept me on the edge of my seat. I was completely locked in from start to finish.
That ending though… now how am I supposed to wait for Book 3??😔
**Thank you to the author for this ARC.
May 19, 2026
this book was everything I wanted in a sequel oh my GOSH.
a wraith beneath the tides was one of my favorite books last year so the bar was high for book two but oh my god did Emilia deliver.
Esmyra’s RAGE in A Flame Among the Seas is so loud that it leaps off the page. I felt like I needed to shake a torch in the sky and scream with her. It was so incredibly well done AND she was still smart about it. It can be so frustrating when MCs are so blinded by rage that they do dumb shit but Esmyra was so genuinely smart that it was refreshing. Were there still moments of confusion? Of course but girlfriend didn’t just blindly trust which was AMAZING.
The entire book was so immersive that I truly felt like I was watching a movie and I cannot believe I’m never going to read this book for the first time again. Thank you so much to Emilia for the eARC!!
a wraith beneath the tides was one of my favorite books last year so the bar was high for book two but oh my god did Emilia deliver.
Esmyra’s RAGE in A Flame Among the Seas is so loud that it leaps off the page. I felt like I needed to shake a torch in the sky and scream with her. It was so incredibly well done AND she was still smart about it. It can be so frustrating when MCs are so blinded by rage that they do dumb shit but Esmyra was so genuinely smart that it was refreshing. Were there still moments of confusion? Of course but girlfriend didn’t just blindly trust which was AMAZING.
The entire book was so immersive that I truly felt like I was watching a movie and I cannot believe I’m never going to read this book for the first time again. Thank you so much to Emilia for the eARC!!
June 6, 2026
5⭐️ “I am the sea.” I am the storm. I am the depths. And I am the fucking monster within.”
Hey so Emilia Jae?? WHAT THE FUCK??? count ur days because that was the most FOUL ending ever. I’m so upset. I’m staring at a wall. I’m distraught.
GOD! Guys I didn’t think we could get better than book 1 but here we are. This was PURE CINEMA PERFECTION. Every single thing about this book was perfect. I’m in awe. I’m obsessed with this world. These characters. This story. Emilia’s writing. like WOW. Esmyra is an absolute force to be reckoned with. Her revenge is so palpable in this book you can TASTE IT! She’s so strong and this book absolutely solidifies her as one of my new favorite fmcs! Draevyn. OMG DRAEVYN. OUR ABSOLUTE SIMP PIRATE BBY DRAEVYN😭😭 He is goals and worships the ground esmyra walks on. as he should. They are everything god i love them so much😭😭😭 The plot thickens in this one and it is NON STOP from page one. All gas no breaks. Complete deep dive into this story and there’s no coming out for air. And I loved every second of it.
That ending was so foul yall must prepare yourselves. Thank you SO MUCH to emilia for the advanced copy im so thankful. Please read this. Please read Wraith. Please pick up these books. Her writing is so good.
Hey so Emilia Jae?? WHAT THE FUCK??? count ur days because that was the most FOUL ending ever. I’m so upset. I’m staring at a wall. I’m distraught.
GOD! Guys I didn’t think we could get better than book 1 but here we are. This was PURE CINEMA PERFECTION. Every single thing about this book was perfect. I’m in awe. I’m obsessed with this world. These characters. This story. Emilia’s writing. like WOW. Esmyra is an absolute force to be reckoned with. Her revenge is so palpable in this book you can TASTE IT! She’s so strong and this book absolutely solidifies her as one of my new favorite fmcs! Draevyn. OMG DRAEVYN. OUR ABSOLUTE SIMP PIRATE BBY DRAEVYN😭😭 He is goals and worships the ground esmyra walks on. as he should. They are everything god i love them so much😭😭😭 The plot thickens in this one and it is NON STOP from page one. All gas no breaks. Complete deep dive into this story and there’s no coming out for air. And I loved every second of it.
That ending was so foul yall must prepare yourselves. Thank you SO MUCH to emilia for the advanced copy im so thankful. Please read this. Please read Wraith. Please pick up these books. Her writing is so good.
July 13, 2026
i’m so nervous for the next book 😭 i received an arc but didn’t get to read it until now 🫡
June 3, 2026
What an absolutely fantastic sequel!! We immediately pick up exactly where we left on in WRAITH, and jump right in to the next adventure. Emilia graciously provided a recap in the beginning for those that need a refresher😉
I adored WRAITH but this goes above and beyond. Esmyra’s villain era was perfection. I LOVE how confident and badass she is. I aspire to be like her. What really makes her stand out is that she isn’t overly cocky. She knows her limits, and herself, so well. It’s refreshing to read an fmc like this.
Draevyn mf Rowe. He was sexy in WRAITH, but here?? Blew me AWAY. He meshes so perfectly with esmyra it’s insane. He doesn’t get in her way, and he’s so content to just watch her be a badass and I love that for him. A man head over heels obsessed with his woman is going to hit every time. Their romance was steamy, but it was also so sweet. It was lovely to get to see that side of these characters.
The plot was engaging and the pacing was excellent. I was locked in from the get go. We also got to explore more of this world and had some things begin to come together. I really enjoyed that aspect of the story. The action sequences were written so well too. I could vividly see what was happening in my brain. No notes.
Emilia also does such a good job of fleshing out her side characters. Love them or hate them, they’re such nuanced characters. I can’t wait to see where we go with them in the next book. Our villains are the same way. While they’re horrible, we get to really understand their motivations and that was so appreciated on my part.
The ending was NUTS. Actually diabolical. I turned the page and saw “acknowledgments” and was baffled. I need the next book in my hands ASAP.
I want to give a HUGE thank you to Emilia Jae and her team for both this e-arc and the opportunity to be on the street team for this series!! Beyond grateful.
I adored WRAITH but this goes above and beyond. Esmyra’s villain era was perfection. I LOVE how confident and badass she is. I aspire to be like her. What really makes her stand out is that she isn’t overly cocky. She knows her limits, and herself, so well. It’s refreshing to read an fmc like this.
Draevyn mf Rowe. He was sexy in WRAITH, but here?? Blew me AWAY. He meshes so perfectly with esmyra it’s insane. He doesn’t get in her way, and he’s so content to just watch her be a badass and I love that for him. A man head over heels obsessed with his woman is going to hit every time. Their romance was steamy, but it was also so sweet. It was lovely to get to see that side of these characters.
The plot was engaging and the pacing was excellent. I was locked in from the get go. We also got to explore more of this world and had some things begin to come together. I really enjoyed that aspect of the story. The action sequences were written so well too. I could vividly see what was happening in my brain. No notes.
Emilia also does such a good job of fleshing out her side characters. Love them or hate them, they’re such nuanced characters. I can’t wait to see where we go with them in the next book. Our villains are the same way. While they’re horrible, we get to really understand their motivations and that was so appreciated on my part.
The ending was NUTS. Actually diabolical. I turned the page and saw “acknowledgments” and was baffled. I need the next book in my hands ASAP.
I want to give a HUGE thank you to Emilia Jae and her team for both this e-arc and the opportunity to be on the street team for this series!! Beyond grateful.
June 11, 2026
➡️ Follow This Link For My Bookstagram!
🫶🏽 Vibes:
✨ Goddess reborn
🏴☠️ Pirate romantasy
🧜♀️ Sirens & sea monsters
⚔️ Older FMC
🔥 Fire-wielding MMC
💔 Betrayal & revenge
👯 Sisters & family bonds
🪄 Ancient magic & curses
😤 Feminine rage
⭐ Star-crossed lovers
First, thank you so much to Emilia Jae for the ARC copy of this book. I finished it just in the nick of time for release day!
I have really mixed feelings about this one because there were parts I genuinely enjoyed and parts that never fully clicked for me.
The story drops us right back into the action where the first book left off. Esmyra now knows the truth about her magic, but that knowledge has cost her everything. She’s determined to make Draevyn pay for what happened, but the deeper she digs, the more she uncovers ancient lies, goddess lore, curses, hidden loyalties, and a much bigger conflict than simple revenge.
One thing I will absolutely give this book is the pacing. Even though it’s a pretty hefty fantasy, I flew through it. There was always something happening, whether it was battles, political maneuvering, sea monsters, magic, or uncovering more about the goddesses and Esmyra’s place in all of it.
My biggest struggle was honestly the romance.
The miscommunication from the first book carries on for what felt like forever, and by the time it was finally resolved, I felt disconnected from Esmyra and Draevyn as a couple. Once they got together, Draevyn spent a lot of time professing his love for her, but I never fully bought into the relationship. I heard it, but I didn’t really feel it.
I also had a hard time connecting with Esmyra herself at times. This book really leans into her anger, her vengeance, and what almost feels like her villain era. I understood what the story was trying to do, but I think the third-person POV created a little distance for me. I kept wishing I could be inside her head more because I didn’t always understand her motivations the way I wanted to. I think if this had been written in first person, I might have connected with her character a lot more.
That being said, there were still a lot of things I enjoyed. I loved the mythology surrounding the goddesses, the sister relationships, the curses, and the expanding magic system. And can we talk about the villain for a second? Because I HATE her. Truly. Every time she showed up on the page I was ready to fight. Which means she was written incredibly well.
I also kept waiting for that vengeance arc to really pay off, and by the end I was honestly left frustrated. Not because it was poorly done, but because I wanted certain people to get what was coming to them and the book said, “Not today.”
Overall, I think this is one of those situations where I can recognize a lot of things that worked, but some of the character and romance elements just didn’t land for me personally. If you loved the first book, I think you’ll still find a lot to enjoy here. Unfortunately, this one just didn’t hit me quite the same way I was hoping it would.
🫶🏽 Vibes:
✨ Goddess reborn
🏴☠️ Pirate romantasy
🧜♀️ Sirens & sea monsters
⚔️ Older FMC
🔥 Fire-wielding MMC
💔 Betrayal & revenge
👯 Sisters & family bonds
🪄 Ancient magic & curses
😤 Feminine rage
⭐ Star-crossed lovers
First, thank you so much to Emilia Jae for the ARC copy of this book. I finished it just in the nick of time for release day!
I have really mixed feelings about this one because there were parts I genuinely enjoyed and parts that never fully clicked for me.
The story drops us right back into the action where the first book left off. Esmyra now knows the truth about her magic, but that knowledge has cost her everything. She’s determined to make Draevyn pay for what happened, but the deeper she digs, the more she uncovers ancient lies, goddess lore, curses, hidden loyalties, and a much bigger conflict than simple revenge.
One thing I will absolutely give this book is the pacing. Even though it’s a pretty hefty fantasy, I flew through it. There was always something happening, whether it was battles, political maneuvering, sea monsters, magic, or uncovering more about the goddesses and Esmyra’s place in all of it.
My biggest struggle was honestly the romance.
The miscommunication from the first book carries on for what felt like forever, and by the time it was finally resolved, I felt disconnected from Esmyra and Draevyn as a couple. Once they got together, Draevyn spent a lot of time professing his love for her, but I never fully bought into the relationship. I heard it, but I didn’t really feel it.
I also had a hard time connecting with Esmyra herself at times. This book really leans into her anger, her vengeance, and what almost feels like her villain era. I understood what the story was trying to do, but I think the third-person POV created a little distance for me. I kept wishing I could be inside her head more because I didn’t always understand her motivations the way I wanted to. I think if this had been written in first person, I might have connected with her character a lot more.
That being said, there were still a lot of things I enjoyed. I loved the mythology surrounding the goddesses, the sister relationships, the curses, and the expanding magic system. And can we talk about the villain for a second? Because I HATE her. Truly. Every time she showed up on the page I was ready to fight. Which means she was written incredibly well.
I also kept waiting for that vengeance arc to really pay off, and by the end I was honestly left frustrated. Not because it was poorly done, but because I wanted certain people to get what was coming to them and the book said, “Not today.”
Overall, I think this is one of those situations where I can recognize a lot of things that worked, but some of the character and romance elements just didn’t land for me personally. If you loved the first book, I think you’ll still find a lot to enjoy here. Unfortunately, this one just didn’t hit me quite the same way I was hoping it would.
June 18, 2026
I’ve been itching to read A Wraith Beneath The Tides ever since I first saw its artwork. Finally picked it up last month, and I’m not even exaggerating when I tell you it CONSUMED my life! It was an instant 5 star read, and the second book turned out to be even more perfect somehow.
Let’s start with Esmyra because she’s one of my top favourite fmcs now. I’m gonna be honest, I find that badass fmcs can come across as sassy in an annoying way, but not Esmyra, because she’s SO charismatic! I loved how she completely embraced her feminine rage, and I support all her rights and wrongs. She’s a baddie, and I love her with my whole heart!
Now, Draevyn, I love how real he is. He is a little clueless at times, but it’s such a breath of fresh air to have an mmc who makes human mistakes and it somehow makes him even more perfect. He’s so loving and sensible but doesn’t play at all when it comes to Esmyra. I loved his character development and was cheering every time the Phoenix came out!
The romance was utter perfection! Their chemistry is so pure and their love bloomed so naturally. The tension and the banter were amazing, but what made my heart ache was how beautiful and agonising the yearning was. I loved how devoted and respectful Draevyn was to Esmyra and how he helped her grow and heal. And I was delighted that he gave in to his dark side and would literally burn the world for her 🤌🏼
The world building is so lovely that it made me remember why I love romantasy. The nautical elements, the different magical beings, the meddling gods, it was all so entertaining. I loved the new side characters and the development of the previous ones. The plot got thicker, and I love the whole mystery of their history slowly unfolding. It was stressful but SO fun, and I was on the edge of my seat the entire time!
The cliffhanger at the end? Criminal! I wanted to scream, but I know this ending has set us up for a wild adventure in the next book so I’m very excited for it!
Thank you so much @authoremiliajae for this eARC! 🤍
Let’s start with Esmyra because she’s one of my top favourite fmcs now. I’m gonna be honest, I find that badass fmcs can come across as sassy in an annoying way, but not Esmyra, because she’s SO charismatic! I loved how she completely embraced her feminine rage, and I support all her rights and wrongs. She’s a baddie, and I love her with my whole heart!
Now, Draevyn, I love how real he is. He is a little clueless at times, but it’s such a breath of fresh air to have an mmc who makes human mistakes and it somehow makes him even more perfect. He’s so loving and sensible but doesn’t play at all when it comes to Esmyra. I loved his character development and was cheering every time the Phoenix came out!
The romance was utter perfection! Their chemistry is so pure and their love bloomed so naturally. The tension and the banter were amazing, but what made my heart ache was how beautiful and agonising the yearning was. I loved how devoted and respectful Draevyn was to Esmyra and how he helped her grow and heal. And I was delighted that he gave in to his dark side and would literally burn the world for her 🤌🏼
The world building is so lovely that it made me remember why I love romantasy. The nautical elements, the different magical beings, the meddling gods, it was all so entertaining. I loved the new side characters and the development of the previous ones. The plot got thicker, and I love the whole mystery of their history slowly unfolding. It was stressful but SO fun, and I was on the edge of my seat the entire time!
The cliffhanger at the end? Criminal! I wanted to scream, but I know this ending has set us up for a wild adventure in the next book so I’m very excited for it!
Thank you so much @authoremiliajae for this eARC! 🤍
June 15, 2026
A Flame Among the Seas is a gripping follow-up to A Wraith Beneath the Tides, and it delivers in every way possible.
Draevyn became my favourite character in this book. He would quite literally burn the world down for Esmyra, and even when it hurts him, he would rather sacrifice everything and everyone he loves than give up on her.
It's the kind of devotion that makes romance so compelling, the feelings roll off the page and make you feel every moment right alongside the characters. That said, this story leans more into adventure than romance, and I absolutely loved that balance. While Esmyra is driven by revenge, Draevyn continues to hold onto hope that she will eventually see the truth. The way he carries her in both his thoughts and actions was delicious to read. He never gives up on her.
Then there's Jak, Esmyra's best friend. His unwavering loyalty to Esmyra becomes even more apparent in this book, but it's the way he works alongside Draevyn, and what he witnesses along the way, that makes his character development shine. I also loved the way he tries to protect his crew. There was one particular moment that felt absolutely perfect on the page, and I was so immersed that it felt like I was standing there watching it unfold.
Esmyra still has a great deal to learn throughout this story, but once she reunites with Draevyn and Jak, that's when I felt the heart of the book truly came into alignment. There is something about the dynamic between these characters and their crew that simply works, and I found myself wanting even more of it.
For a sequel, this is one of the best follow-up books I have read. The stakes are higher, the adrenaline never lets up, and the pacing feels spot on. I loved every page and cannot wait to see how the series concludes.
I received this book as an ARC, however, this review reflects my honest thoughts and feelings, shared voluntarily.
Draevyn became my favourite character in this book. He would quite literally burn the world down for Esmyra, and even when it hurts him, he would rather sacrifice everything and everyone he loves than give up on her.
It's the kind of devotion that makes romance so compelling, the feelings roll off the page and make you feel every moment right alongside the characters. That said, this story leans more into adventure than romance, and I absolutely loved that balance. While Esmyra is driven by revenge, Draevyn continues to hold onto hope that she will eventually see the truth. The way he carries her in both his thoughts and actions was delicious to read. He never gives up on her.
Then there's Jak, Esmyra's best friend. His unwavering loyalty to Esmyra becomes even more apparent in this book, but it's the way he works alongside Draevyn, and what he witnesses along the way, that makes his character development shine. I also loved the way he tries to protect his crew. There was one particular moment that felt absolutely perfect on the page, and I was so immersed that it felt like I was standing there watching it unfold.
Esmyra still has a great deal to learn throughout this story, but once she reunites with Draevyn and Jak, that's when I felt the heart of the book truly came into alignment. There is something about the dynamic between these characters and their crew that simply works, and I found myself wanting even more of it.
For a sequel, this is one of the best follow-up books I have read. The stakes are higher, the adrenaline never lets up, and the pacing feels spot on. I loved every page and cannot wait to see how the series concludes.
I received this book as an ARC, however, this review reflects my honest thoughts and feelings, shared voluntarily.
June 18, 2026
Just finished reading an advanced copy of a book that was just released called, A Flame Among the Seas. This is book 2 in this trilogy and it picks up right where book 1 left off. Esmyra did the impossible, bringing the lost kingdom of Maerinys back to the surface from the depths of the ocean. She is not only a pirate captain and a siren, but has been reborn as a goddess, the goddess of the sea. And she is angry and out for revenge after all that happened at the end of the first book. Esmyra doesn't trust her twin sister, she lost her crew, she's grieving her father, and feels betrayed by Draevyn the man she gave her heart to. Her anger, rage, and need for revenge as well as her twin sister's jealousy and thirst for power set a chain of events into motion that will change everything, ending in life and death.
I didn't want to give too much away above so let me just tell you right now to READ THIS SERIES! It's hands-down the best siren/pirate romantasy series! The world building is absolutely incredible. The descriptiveness and attention to detail brings the story to life so you feel as if you're a part of the story experiencing it not just reading it. The characters are so unique and entertaining from their personalities to their magical abilities to their humor. The romance is perfection, absolutely *chef's kiss*. But the epic fantasy and adventures and twists make this story truly unputdownable!!! I don't even know how to put into words how much I love everything about this series and how I never want it to end! 💙📚
Thank you to Emilia Jae for this ARC of A Flame Among the Seas, in exchange for an honest review.
I didn't want to give too much away above so let me just tell you right now to READ THIS SERIES! It's hands-down the best siren/pirate romantasy series! The world building is absolutely incredible. The descriptiveness and attention to detail brings the story to life so you feel as if you're a part of the story experiencing it not just reading it. The characters are so unique and entertaining from their personalities to their magical abilities to their humor. The romance is perfection, absolutely *chef's kiss*. But the epic fantasy and adventures and twists make this story truly unputdownable!!! I don't even know how to put into words how much I love everything about this series and how I never want it to end! 💙📚
Thank you to Emilia Jae for this ARC of A Flame Among the Seas, in exchange for an honest review.
June 11, 2026
There is one word that comes to mind after finishing this book... Fantastic! As a big fan of A Wraith Beneath the Tides, this was one of my most anticipated reads of the year, and it did not disappoint. In fact, it completely exceeded my expectations.
A Flame Among the Seas is exactly what a sequel should be. Picking up right after the events of Wraith, it hits the ground running at full throttle. I also have to shout out the recap at the beginning! It’s the perfect refresher, no matter how well you think you remember the previous book.
Esmyra's villain arc is absolute perfection. She is such a badass, confident without crossing into being cocky. She knows exactly who she is, what she's about, and where her limits lie. Watching her fully embrace her powers was incredible. Meanwhile, Draevyn somehow won me over even more than he did in book one. I love his devotion to Esmyra and how completely down he is to let her take the lead. Their spicier scenes were perfectly balanced, bringing plenty of heat while deeply showcasing their love for one another.
This book is chaotic in the best way possible. It's loaded with action, tension, and a relentless pace that makes it impossible to put down. The magic, the battles, and the character development all come together to make A Flame Among the Seas a phenomenal sequel. I’ll be recommending this to everyone.
Now, the excruciating wait for book three begins...
A Flame Among the Seas is exactly what a sequel should be. Picking up right after the events of Wraith, it hits the ground running at full throttle. I also have to shout out the recap at the beginning! It’s the perfect refresher, no matter how well you think you remember the previous book.
Esmyra's villain arc is absolute perfection. She is such a badass, confident without crossing into being cocky. She knows exactly who she is, what she's about, and where her limits lie. Watching her fully embrace her powers was incredible. Meanwhile, Draevyn somehow won me over even more than he did in book one. I love his devotion to Esmyra and how completely down he is to let her take the lead. Their spicier scenes were perfectly balanced, bringing plenty of heat while deeply showcasing their love for one another.
This book is chaotic in the best way possible. It's loaded with action, tension, and a relentless pace that makes it impossible to put down. The magic, the battles, and the character development all come together to make A Flame Among the Seas a phenomenal sequel. I’ll be recommending this to everyone.
Now, the excruciating wait for book three begins...
May 31, 2026
[5⭐️]
you know when sometimes the 2nd book in a series can fall into the "2nd book syndrome" category…..let me tell you THIS WAS NOT THE CASE!!!! this book picks up right where we left off in book 1, and omg do you get right into it!! esmyra might be one of my new favourite fmcs, mainly because i see so much of myself in her. as soon as she gets hurt you immediately see her put her walls up to protect herself, and she struggles very much to let people in after that. she has her small close circle of people she can trust and who she would consider family when everyone else in her life has failed her. i heavily support both her rights and her wrongs, and it was great to witness her revenge arc in this book. now draevyn!! i didn’t think it was possible to love that man even more then i did in the 1st book, but here we are. as one of my favourite tropes, i definitely adored the found family aspect so much in this book. and i grew such a huge liking to jak as a character especially. now that ending…emilia what the… 😭 how am i supposed to wait!? 😩 safe to say if you love romantasy, and haven’t read this book then what are you doing!! pick it up nowwww
you know when sometimes the 2nd book in a series can fall into the "2nd book syndrome" category…..let me tell you THIS WAS NOT THE CASE!!!! this book picks up right where we left off in book 1, and omg do you get right into it!! esmyra might be one of my new favourite fmcs, mainly because i see so much of myself in her. as soon as she gets hurt you immediately see her put her walls up to protect herself, and she struggles very much to let people in after that. she has her small close circle of people she can trust and who she would consider family when everyone else in her life has failed her. i heavily support both her rights and her wrongs, and it was great to witness her revenge arc in this book. now draevyn!! i didn’t think it was possible to love that man even more then i did in the 1st book, but here we are. as one of my favourite tropes, i definitely adored the found family aspect so much in this book. and i grew such a huge liking to jak as a character especially. now that ending…emilia what the… 😭 how am i supposed to wait!? 😩 safe to say if you love romantasy, and haven’t read this book then what are you doing!! pick it up nowwww
July 11, 2026
initial thoughts: Emilia I feel personally attacked 😭😭😭
Full review to come 🥺🩵
Review:
WHAT THE ACTUAL HELL, EMILIA 😭
I genuinely think this series has become one of my all-time favourites!!
A Flame Among the Seas picks up after the devastating ending of book one, and somehow Emilia Jae managed to make me even more emotionally attached to these characters than I already was.
I loved getting all the new POVs in this one and Emilia has done such an amazing job creating a cast where I either adore them with my whole heart... or want to throw them into the ocean 😂
I also loved seeing Esmeyra navigate everything she went through in book one and finding her true self. She's officially become one of my favourite FMCs ever!!
And Draevyn... UGH I LOVE HIM 😭
His touch her & die energy in this book omgggg, TOP TEIR BOOK BOYFRIEND!!!
I also loved seeing certain characters finally interact and work together, these interactions and chapters had me giggling the whole time!! Every revelation had me questioning everything, and the battle scenes had my heart RACING!
Then THAT ending happened...
I was genuinely bawling my eyes out 😭 I feel personally attacked by Emilia... but in the best possible way because this series is honestly god tier!
Book three immediately please!!!!
Full review to come 🥺🩵
Review:
WHAT THE ACTUAL HELL, EMILIA 😭
I genuinely think this series has become one of my all-time favourites!!
A Flame Among the Seas picks up after the devastating ending of book one, and somehow Emilia Jae managed to make me even more emotionally attached to these characters than I already was.
I loved getting all the new POVs in this one and Emilia has done such an amazing job creating a cast where I either adore them with my whole heart... or want to throw them into the ocean 😂
I also loved seeing Esmeyra navigate everything she went through in book one and finding her true self. She's officially become one of my favourite FMCs ever!!
And Draevyn... UGH I LOVE HIM 😭
His touch her & die energy in this book omgggg, TOP TEIR BOOK BOYFRIEND!!!
I also loved seeing certain characters finally interact and work together, these interactions and chapters had me giggling the whole time!! Every revelation had me questioning everything, and the battle scenes had my heart RACING!
Then THAT ending happened...
I was genuinely bawling my eyes out 😭 I feel personally attacked by Emilia... but in the best possible way because this series is honestly god tier!
Book three immediately please!!!!
June 17, 2026
4⭐️s!
the feminine rage in this book was so seen! esmyra was giving me major dianna ramirez vibes and i was here for esmi’s wrath of vengeance! poor draevyn was put through the ringer trying to get through to esmyra in this book 😅.
a flame among the seas picks up right where you left off from a wraith beneath the tides. the story doesn’t slow down, the betrayals and backstabbing ensue, and emilia feeds you with even more lore that adds even more depth to the story and understanding the characters on a deeper level. i felt esmyra’s anger and draevyn’s desperation to pull her back from the brink of ultimately losing herself to her rage. these two would literally burn the world for each other.. the phoenix and his wildfire.. you definitely don’t want to mess with them!
also, i’m glad my little atlas finally came to his senses lol. he had me worried there for a second!
but that ending?! that ending was RUDE! syrena and azarian, when i get my hands on the two of you.. i swear to kaelypso!! im super excited to see how the story ends when we get to book 3!
thank you to emilia jae and her team for sending me an eARC!
the feminine rage in this book was so seen! esmyra was giving me major dianna ramirez vibes and i was here for esmi’s wrath of vengeance! poor draevyn was put through the ringer trying to get through to esmyra in this book 😅.
a flame among the seas picks up right where you left off from a wraith beneath the tides. the story doesn’t slow down, the betrayals and backstabbing ensue, and emilia feeds you with even more lore that adds even more depth to the story and understanding the characters on a deeper level. i felt esmyra’s anger and draevyn’s desperation to pull her back from the brink of ultimately losing herself to her rage. these two would literally burn the world for each other.. the phoenix and his wildfire.. you definitely don’t want to mess with them!
also, i’m glad my little atlas finally came to his senses lol. he had me worried there for a second!
but that ending?! that ending was RUDE! syrena and azarian, when i get my hands on the two of you.. i swear to kaelypso!! im super excited to see how the story ends when we get to book 3!
thank you to emilia jae and her team for sending me an eARC!
June 14, 2026
I needed this book as soon as I finished the first one and now I’m waiting again! I am absolutely loving this series and need the 3rd already! It picks right up where the last left off and even has a great recap at the beginning of this one. It has non stop action and adventure and the love, tension and yearning between Draevyn and Esmyra is everything!
“I’ve worshipped you since the moment we locked eyes, Esmyra. And I’d kneel to you a thousand times over.”
“You’re the only thing in this cursed world worth bending to.”
Thank you to the author for the early copy of this book.
“I’ve worshipped you since the moment we locked eyes, Esmyra. And I’d kneel to you a thousand times over.”
“You’re the only thing in this cursed world worth bending to.”
Thank you to the author for the early copy of this book.
May 22, 2026
HOW DO I REWIND AND READ IT AGAIN 🩵🌊
An absolute masterpiece on the high seas 🔱🏴☠️ the last book was pure. Pirates of the Caribbean meets the lost city of Atlantis, and this book kicks the action up tenfold. We see Esymyra ready to exact rightous revenge on all those who hurt her, her crew, and her father, Dravyn, fighting against his own family to get back to her, and a psychotic goddess trying to cause chaos and and enact a devious plan centuries in the making.
I felt like I was constantly at the edge of my seat, these characters were simply given no breaks throughout the whole book, so it was easy to feel breathless, right alongside them. The romance was spicy, the stakes were higher, and the ending left me in a puddle of my own tears. How am I supposed to wait for this next book? I guess I have to go rewatch Pirates of the Caribbean to hold me over.
An absolute masterpiece on the high seas 🔱🏴☠️ the last book was pure. Pirates of the Caribbean meets the lost city of Atlantis, and this book kicks the action up tenfold. We see Esymyra ready to exact rightous revenge on all those who hurt her, her crew, and her father, Dravyn, fighting against his own family to get back to her, and a psychotic goddess trying to cause chaos and and enact a devious plan centuries in the making.
I felt like I was constantly at the edge of my seat, these characters were simply given no breaks throughout the whole book, so it was easy to feel breathless, right alongside them. The romance was spicy, the stakes were higher, and the ending left me in a puddle of my own tears. How am I supposed to wait for this next book? I guess I have to go rewatch Pirates of the Caribbean to hold me over.
July 24, 2026
A Flame Among the Seas
By Emilia Jae
⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️🌶️
ARC Review
𝘌𝘴𝘮𝘺𝘳𝘢 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘯𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘵. 𝘚𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘧𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨. 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘣𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘧–𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘭.
Holy moly this book is non stop action packed from start to finish. Emilia does not save the turmoil and anxiety for the last 10-20%. She puts us through it for 100% of this book and it is a wild ride.
I absolutely love this world. The worldbuilding and lore is so rich and perfectly complex. It is immersive and much like Emilia's other series, it feels like I'm watching a movie in my mind when I'm reading. The characters are equally captivating and layered and deliciously morally gray. The way she incorporates antagonist and villain POVs into the story only adds to that movie feel and it's one of my favorite things about Em's writing.
Draevyn was the star of this book for me. He is a man obsessed and will literally (with his fire powers) burn the world to get back to Esmyra. His unwavering dedication to her felt like the backbone of this story.
I also loved Esmyra throughout this story. Girl has been put THROUGH IT and she's a bit spicier as a result, but I love it. She is such a fierce character and perfectly morally gray.
The ending didn't quite work for me which is what brought this book down to a 4⭐. It felt a bit contrived in a way I can't explain without major spoilers. I'm very curious to see where the story goes in book 3.
𝘗𝘦𝘳𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘷𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘧𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘣𝘺 𝘢 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘴𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘶𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘴𝘰 𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘤𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴, 𝘪𝘵 𝘥𝘦𝘷𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘦𝘧𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘳𝘶𝘪𝘯𝘴.
By Emilia Jae
⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️🌶️
ARC Review
𝘌𝘴𝘮𝘺𝘳𝘢 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘯𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘵. 𝘚𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘧𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨. 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘣𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘧–𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘭.
Holy moly this book is non stop action packed from start to finish. Emilia does not save the turmoil and anxiety for the last 10-20%. She puts us through it for 100% of this book and it is a wild ride.
I absolutely love this world. The worldbuilding and lore is so rich and perfectly complex. It is immersive and much like Emilia's other series, it feels like I'm watching a movie in my mind when I'm reading. The characters are equally captivating and layered and deliciously morally gray. The way she incorporates antagonist and villain POVs into the story only adds to that movie feel and it's one of my favorite things about Em's writing.
Draevyn was the star of this book for me. He is a man obsessed and will literally (with his fire powers) burn the world to get back to Esmyra. His unwavering dedication to her felt like the backbone of this story.
I also loved Esmyra throughout this story. Girl has been put THROUGH IT and she's a bit spicier as a result, but I love it. She is such a fierce character and perfectly morally gray.
The ending didn't quite work for me which is what brought this book down to a 4⭐. It felt a bit contrived in a way I can't explain without major spoilers. I'm very curious to see where the story goes in book 3.
𝘗𝘦𝘳𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘷𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘧𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘣𝘺 𝘢 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘴𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘶𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘴𝘰 𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘤𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴, 𝘪𝘵 𝘥𝘦𝘷𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘦𝘧𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘳𝘶𝘪𝘯𝘴.
May 20, 2026
emilia, come here, I’D JUST LIKE TO TALK (full rtc, but an absolute banger)
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