From #1 New York Times bestselling author Victoria Aveyard comes an epic adventure of love and betrayal, amid a brutal war for the high seas.
May the sea always sing for you
Cat Rose knows what it is to live in two worlds, in two times. Before—as Lady Catrine Rose of the Meridian Empire, chained to a loathsome lord with a dwindling fortune. And after—as the Widow Rose, queen of a pirate tavern in the Lyrian Sea, determined to be the master of her own fate.
But tides turn and winds change. The Meridian Empire looms on the horizon, the full weight of her navy falling on the Lyrian, bent on reclaiming the wealthy colonies and crushing the pirate republic once and for all. Ship after ship is captured, save for one, captained by a pirate who continually evades both noose and blade: the legendary Valerian Kane.
With his fearsome ship and uncanny connection to the song of the sea, Valerian is the only man who might rally the pirates who remain. The only man who threatens the Empire. And the only man Cat has ever loved, blazing in and out of her life like a star.
Desperate for victory, the Empire offers Cat a devastating choice: bring them Valerian or hang. In truth, no choice at all.
But Cat Rose is nothing if not a survivor.
A storm is rising on the Lyrian Sea—the question is, what will it leave in its wake?
Hahah soft dnfd- I finally got free and out of my slump but idt it's the right book to read rn ___ Reading a Victoria Aveyard book after 5 years is insane 😭 I stopped cuz I wasn't feeling it with Realmbreaker but I loveeeed her Red Queen series, it was also one of the first series I read. Hopefully, this is good!!
Buddy reading with my cousin who will infuriate me throughout the book 😒
I had this on 2x speed and 8 hours left, EIGHT, yet I still couldn’t force myself to finish it.
There’s a great story in here. If only it wasn’t buried in heavy descriptions, so much repetition, and a painfully slow pace. If that sounds like your kind of book, I’m sure you’ll have a lovely time with it. I just couldn’t do it anymore. Cut it down by half and it would have been a solid read… and a standalone as it was first intended to be.
And I’m so confused by the audiobook. It’s meant to be a dual narration by Fiona Hardingham and Shane East, so why the hell did I only hear Fiona?? Is Shane even in the room with us??? I have to say I’m so annoyed about that.
Also, there’s way too much focus on Cat’s first marriage to that disgusting old man. How dare you not kill him off ASAP??
If I had paid for this, I’d want my money back. Just saying.
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✎ᝰ.┊ pre-read: OMG I GOT THE ALC, MY WEEKEND IS BOOKED
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the alc!
Thank you to Harper Voyager for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. (I am writing this review a near 6 months before publication, so there is time to alter it). Oof… It hurts to be writing this, but I need to be truthful. I went into this expecting adventure, high stakes, and tension. Above all of that, though, I expected it to be ADULT. The only thing that seemed adult about it, was the expansive world building… But even YA books can have that. The overly-descriptive writing and repetitive language made me want to hit my head on the wall. I wanted so badly to be immersed, but I wasn’t. The pacing is bad… Like really bad. It was so boring until about 80% in, and by then, I had just read so many words, but none of them were saying anything. The main characters’ relationship didn’t give me any feelings because the bond wasn’t shown to the reader until too far in. Therefore, I didn’t really care when the action finally happened. I think with some editing, it could be good. But now? I didn’t like it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
(4.25/5) Ohhh my fellow Pirates of the Caribbean girlies are going to eat this one up because I absolutely did.
🗓️ ARC Review. Pub Date: September 9, 2026 🗓️ 🎁 ARC gifted to me by Harper Voyager
🏴☠️ Romantic fantasy 🏴☠️ 3rd person POV 🏴☠️ Dual timeline 🏴☠️ Pirates & Pirate Republic
Spice rating: 🫑
This is my first Victoria Aveyard book, so I went in with no expectations and relatively blind. I'm really happy I did because Tempest was a total adventure.
I haven't read many dual timeline fantasy and romantasy books, but it's definitely something I'm going to start looking for from now on. When it's executed well, it adds this layer of mystery that I can't help but gobble up. There's a "before" and "after" timeline, but, as the reader, we don't know what that the moment of time is that separated these two timelines / where they converge.
THAT being said, the beginning of Tempest was a little rough for me to get into because it kept jumping from before/after so quickly (it switches every chapter). It made it hard for me to situate myself in this world and with these characters. I would've appreciated the first few chapters being kept within the before or after before switching off to every other chapter the rest of the story. (This is where ultimately why I didn't rate this the full 5 stars).
Once I was settled in, I was LOCKED IN THIS STORY and didn't want to put it down. I think it took me about 2 days to get 60ish pages into the book and then I binged the rest within an evening. I stayed up until midnight to finish this (and that says a lot because I have a toddler who already steals my beauty rest).
The political intrigue is executed well and made me really think as a reader. I always think of pirates as ruthless, but the present monarchy (sorry I may be misspeaking right here) that overthrew the pirate republic is actually the more ruthless. It creates an interesting juxtaposition where you're not sure who is the "good" vs "bad" guy and what side our FMC should be on. Or if there's even a side to be on.
Okay, now a MOMENT for the romance. Is this is a romance heavy story? Absolutely not. But did I eat up every single morsel of a crumb we received? ABSOLUTELY. The way the mystery surrounding them had me on the edge of my SEAT. I need book 2 RIGHT. NOW.
Recieved an e-Arc through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own
Oh ya'll are gonna LOVE this
“May the sea always sing for you”
ALEXA PLAY THE PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN SOUNDTRACK
The world building for this book is insane! The writing is lyrical and beautiful, and I was so invested in Cat. She was smart and analytical, and I loved how we jump right into her story. The love that Victoria Aveyard put into this book and her passion for pirates is so visible. The knowledge she has for the ships, life on the sea, pirate culture, etc… girl did major homework and I respect it. I ended up doing my own deep dive into the golden age of piracy. She meant it, this is in fact giving pirates of the Caribbean vibes.
I will say, I know there’s still 6 months till this is published, but I NEED a map! There’s so many islands and places mentioned that I would have loved to have that visual. Hopefully they do plan to include one in the published version.
I also want to mention that the world building is so detailed that I do think that’s partially why Victoria had to split this into a duet instead of a standalone. Storywise- not much happens. If anything it’s pretty slow moving. This book is us trying to get invested in the characters and Cat’s fight for survival. You’re trying to get to know them. Not everyone is going to love that, and I know it. But I personally would rather be invested over rushing to finish the actual plot and condense it into one book.
Cat herself is NOT perfect and I love her for it. I support women’s wrongs. She’s mean, she’s catty (get it) and girls got a gambling problem. But she feels grown to me, and aware of the harshness of the world. I was able to see a difference between the naive girl she was and the woman she became just trying to survive. None of these characters are good people. They are PIRATES! They kill, scheme and manipulate. You aren’t going to love them but they are going to be consistent.
The romance was interesting, I very rarely see a true enemies to lovers to enemies romance. Like they REALLY hate each other. Give me more. I do wish we got more bits with Valerian, I think he’s a very intriguing character and he should have had a tiniest bit more focus. That’s all I have to say on that because I want to avoid spoilers.
I’m already so excited for the next book. I did get invested, and hopefully it’ll be able to move faster than this book did. I want to know how it ends, and I’m hoping for a good ending. I know how the golden age of piracy historically ended but maybe in Victoria’s world there can be a happier ending. I hope this brings more good books into the pirate genre; that’s lacking and I want more as someone who also grew up watching pirates of the Caribbean.
Victorias writing style is so good, I can see such a clear difference and her growth as a writer. She seems so confident.
P.s. drink every time the word “tempest” appears in this book
Thank you to Victoria Aveyard and publisher for allowing me to read this arc. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
4/22 edit: saw the bookcon panel where VA literally admits to reading goodreads reviews 💀 Hi babes hope you enjoyed my rambling
exhausting repetitive naval gazy prose that didn’t go anywhere. sadly there’s only a single tension hook that this book revolves around (and it’s literally LAND politics) which completely paralyzes all the characters in this book. so as the reader you’re stuck in this narrative loop that keeps just going around and around and around and dragging you down cause nothing changes. when i thought we were finally moving forward, the same stuff was recycled and we went through the same circle of thought over and over again.
this book tried so hard to sound pretty and smart at the expense of pacing and substance. it tried to be lush and atmospheric and yet i was hammered over the head with overused analogies like salt this, wind that, endless tides there, timber here, it sharpened blah blah blah. if i never hear “his tempest eyes” & “the song of the sea” for the rest of my life i literally will be so happy.
i was so bored and so many times i really wish i DNFd it and really i should’ve. the dual timeline, while initially fascinating, definitely did not help this book at all. so much of this was tell vs show. you’re telling us in one timeline of what we should know and imagine about these characters yet nothing was showed in either timelines. seriously didnt care about anyone except maybe ana who is very cool.
im so disappointed cause i really wanted to like this.
Victoria Aveyard has long been a cornerstone of the YA fantasy book space...but she has come to make her mark on the adult market. Tempest is a highly addictive, politically intriguing, and daring dip into the world of pirates. The Lyrian Sea is no home for the weak & through Tempest, you get to see her brutality first hand.
Cat Rose is no meek FMC, she is cunning, swift, and everything a lady shouldn't be. She is by far one of my favorite FMC's to grace the pages in front of me. I've never found a character I want to be friends with so bad. It's so refreshing to see a character age right before you. We jump between Cat being 20 & 30. You can FEEL how she's changed.
Valerian Kane. My new obsession. What we got to see of him was not enough. I'm sure it will never be enough. Sharp, observant, and so charismatic, he is the ultimate pirate boyfriend. My only qualm is wanting more of him. "Release the files!" I scream, but I'm only screaming at Victoria about wanting the second book already.
Tempest is an absolute stand out read for me. Reading Victoria Aveyard's book as an adult brings me the same amount of joy that it did when I was reading her books as a teen. PS for the most immersive reading experience you should read this outside in in the sun, perhaps near a body of water, and put on the Pirate of The Caribbean soundtrack. Trust me it won't disappoint.
Thank you Harper Voyager for the advanced copy! <3
May the sea always sing for you…well baby it’s singin. I need a moment to gather my thoughts but know I was here & that this book took my breath away!!
STANDALONE!! PIRATES!!! ADULT NOVEL!!! AND INSPIRED BY PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN?!?
“in which a former noblewoman faces execution for treason unless she helps the Empire hunt their most wanted enemy, the last great pirate captain, and the only man she has ever loved”
and here we are finally with a story that reminds me of one my fav ship ever: Elizabeth Swann and Captain Jack Sparrow 🔥
AND HERE I AM WAITING FOR THIS BOOK IN 2024!!! 💘💘💘💘💘💘💘💘💘
OMG OMG OMG If this series falls off the way Red Queen did, I will die. I will absolutely die. Please let Cat and Val stay just the way they are.
I will say this is definitely not romantasy or even fantasy romance. This is an EPIC pirate fantasy and I am SAT. Bring on the next book because I am ready!!
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Voyager for the arc of this novel!! I am forever in you debt
If Pirates, a SLOW 🔥 and TENSION and I mean TENSION is your vibe mark your calendars for this release!
The book started off with a decent amount of world building for the first 20-25% but omfg once it took off it really took off and I couldn’t put it down. I stayed up way too late reading and I don’t regret it. 😂
We have our FMC and two different timelines. The before (something happens) and the after. I don’t normally love this style but it really worked for this book and kept me hooked. I love how the two timelines weaved together to create little Easter eggs / connecting pieces.
Are we will left with a lot of questions by the end of this book? ABSOLUTELY! But I feel the set up for the next one will be so worth it.
Our FMC Cat: loved her. She’s in her 30’s and not behaving like a spoiled brat. She’s smart, cunning and you can see how her past has started to shape her into who she is in the after.
Valerian Kane- Pirate (MMC #1): broody, mysterious but a hint of golden retriever and he’s so swoon worthy
Captain Fell (MMC #2): he’s got secrets, hardened by his past and comes off as ass but I can also sense a soft side to him. I’m not sure where his story is going but I’m so curious to find out.
I have no idea what to expect in book two except for things to get blown wide open and I’m so here for it!!!!!
DNF @ 33% because I simply could not take her saying “his tempest eyes” one more time. I was promised swashbuckling pirates and adventure and what I got was an introduction to an unhappy (and ill fated) marriage, a bit of vague historical fiction leaning plot points, and a slowly paced repetitively written book. Do not reccomend…
TYSM to Libro.FM for the ALC. I liked the narrator!
Pirates of the Caribbean was my bi-awakening, and Tempest has relaunched my POTC obsession, I fear. 🏴☠️
I appreciated Victoria Aveyard's political, class, and social commentary in Tempest just as much as the tension and scheming between the three main characters. She even made me root for a blond man. 🙄 It was a risk to tell this story in dual timelines "before" and "after" but... it worked for me. Book one, at least, felt more atmospheric than action-packed, but I absolutely ate up the worldbuilding and set up for book two so I didn't mind the slower pace. *cue Beyonce's "Tyrant"*
Thank you to Harper Voyager for the physical ARC I received at B&N Book Fest and the eARC I received on treasure hunt day. 💙
i really tried to push through with this one. i can see the potential and actually liked how clever and cunning cat, our fmc was. unfortunately, i just wasn’t vibing with it and was bored for a majority of the story. it’s one of those cases where i needed more of a presence from the mmc to get hooked on the story and sadly, i didn’t get that.
the premise does sound fun so if you’re into the vibes of pirates of the caribbean, dense world building, and what i’m sensing is going to be a very slow burn enemies to lovers back to enemies, definitely check this one out!
tempest is book 1 in a duology by victoria aveyard, releasing 9/8.