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Hail the Rising Tides
Prim and prideful Ione possesses the Moon Goddess’s spirit and a harrowing fate: overpower the wrathful Sun God and sweep His murderous pyromancers into the sea. But attaining divine ascension is easier said than done, and the longer Ione takes to save her people, the more impatient her conniving archpriest becomes.
Quiet, distrusting Lina has had more than enough of bloodshed. After escaping immolation by Sun-worshipers, she gains a new lease on life as a nameless acolyte of the Moon Goddess. That is until she catches the eye of Lady Ione, whose captivation with Lina has caused the Goddess to stir within her for the first time.
As temples burn and Ione’s archpriest launches treacherous gambits of his own, Ione and Lina’s alliance deepens into something neither of them anticipated. If Ione’s enemies reach her before she can awaken the Moon Goddess, everyone she loves will go up in flames.
But if she succeeds, the Sun cult will be annihilated - including Lina, whose past as a Sun priestess cannot remain hidden forever.
Hail the Rising Tides combines queer forbidden love, elemental magic, and a lush Mediterranean-inspired setting. It spans over four distinct POVs and features both sapphic and achillean romances, and is perfect for fans of The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri, and Avatar: The Last Airbender.
Follow the author at @katkraehenauthor on instagram.
Quiet, distrusting Lina has had more than enough of bloodshed. After escaping immolation by Sun-worshipers, she gains a new lease on life as a nameless acolyte of the Moon Goddess. That is until she catches the eye of Lady Ione, whose captivation with Lina has caused the Goddess to stir within her for the first time.
As temples burn and Ione’s archpriest launches treacherous gambits of his own, Ione and Lina’s alliance deepens into something neither of them anticipated. If Ione’s enemies reach her before she can awaken the Moon Goddess, everyone she loves will go up in flames.
But if she succeeds, the Sun cult will be annihilated - including Lina, whose past as a Sun priestess cannot remain hidden forever.
Hail the Rising Tides combines queer forbidden love, elemental magic, and a lush Mediterranean-inspired setting. It spans over four distinct POVs and features both sapphic and achillean romances, and is perfect for fans of The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri, and Avatar: The Last Airbender.
Follow the author at @katkraehenauthor on instagram.
Paperback
First published April 7, 2026
About the author
Kat Kraehen
1 book18 followersKat is an artist and writer of queer fantasy who realised that dumping all their trauma onto characters was way cheaper and artsier than therapy. When not writing, they can be found drawing, taking naps, or enjoying cute little drinks such as choccy milk or this cherry blossom frappe thing that their local bubble tea place makes. They enjoy sushi and guacamole on toast, probably not at the same time, but they’ll try anything once. They live in sunny (HA) western Ireland with their husband and black cat familiar, Jiji.
Their debut, a standalone queer fantasy titled Hail the Rising Tides, will be released in spring of 2026.
Their debut, a standalone queer fantasy titled Hail the Rising Tides, will be released in spring of 2026.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
This is one of those fantasy books you can truly get lost in. Four main characters are a lot to handle in a debut but Kat Kraehen does it so well!! All of them are fully realized, have their own wants, faults, and personalities. Personally, River was my favorite. How not surprising! :)
The story is layered, complex, and compelling, with an immersive magic system. There's a lot of plot to go around, in an amazing way. A great debut all around!
Thank you to the author for trusting me with an ARC!
The story is layered, complex, and compelling, with an immersive magic system. There's a lot of plot to go around, in an amazing way. A great debut all around!
Thank you to the author for trusting me with an ARC!
April 18, 2026
Picked up from the library's new purchases due to my resolution to read more f/f. In Hail the Rising Tides, Ione is fated to be the vessel of the Moon Goddess, but she has never managed to master her powers. When she collides with Lina, a disciple from the rival sun cult in disguise, the two young women are catapulted onto a dangerous new path.
Despite the fact that the official book copy doesn't mention them at all, this is a book with four POV characters, including hot-headed son of a pirate admiral Kai and Ione's loyal guard River. (So if you're doing math, the plot is actually 50% Some Guy, and Kai and River's romance gets more development than Ione and Lina's). But I think the main reason I didn't gel with Hail the Rising Tides is that, despite the few brief sex scenes, it felt very characteristically YA. I'd class it as New Adult, at most. All of the characters are 18 to 22 and feel very young. Ione and Kai in particular are petulant, impulsive, and primarily emotionally driven. The POV characters have fairly limited experience, and the worldbuilding felt very narrow and blinkered, with not much detail beyond things that are directly relevant to the plot.
Of course, YA has always had its strong points, and I liked the sweet, vivid immediacy of Ione and Lina's romance. I enjoy when characters seem to genuinely like each other, rather than engaging in hostile sparring (Which. Uh. Pretty well sums up Kai and River). I also liked the surprisingly gentle non-romantic relationship that develops between Ione and Kai, despite their rough start. But because these relationships are grounded in such flat worldbuilding, I was never truly engaged with the story. There's a sun priesthood and a moon priesthood, which have been at war for years. Kai's mother is from a pirate fleet that's allied with the moon priests. And that's almost entirely it, with very little sense of the culture, history, or background.
There are fun elements here, particularly some of the character dynamics, but ultimately this book isn't aimed at me. I didn't DNF but I'm not sure I'd read another book by this author.
Despite the fact that the official book copy doesn't mention them at all, this is a book with four POV characters, including hot-headed son of a pirate admiral Kai and Ione's loyal guard River. (So if you're doing math, the plot is actually 50% Some Guy, and Kai and River's romance gets more development than Ione and Lina's). But I think the main reason I didn't gel with Hail the Rising Tides is that, despite the few brief sex scenes, it felt very characteristically YA. I'd class it as New Adult, at most. All of the characters are 18 to 22 and feel very young. Ione and Kai in particular are petulant, impulsive, and primarily emotionally driven. The POV characters have fairly limited experience, and the worldbuilding felt very narrow and blinkered, with not much detail beyond things that are directly relevant to the plot.
Of course, YA has always had its strong points, and I liked the sweet, vivid immediacy of Ione and Lina's romance. I enjoy when characters seem to genuinely like each other, rather than engaging in hostile sparring (Which. Uh. Pretty well sums up Kai and River). I also liked the surprisingly gentle non-romantic relationship that develops between Ione and Kai, despite their rough start. But because these relationships are grounded in such flat worldbuilding, I was never truly engaged with the story. There's a sun priesthood and a moon priesthood, which have been at war for years. Kai's mother is from a pirate fleet that's allied with the moon priests. And that's almost entirely it, with very little sense of the culture, history, or background.
There are fun elements here, particularly some of the character dynamics, but ultimately this book isn't aimed at me. I didn't DNF but I'm not sure I'd read another book by this author.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received an ARC of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review. Many thanks to Kat Kraehen for the opportunity to read it early!
I’ve been looking forward to HAIL THE RISING TIDES for months, and I’m delighted to say that it’s every bit as enjoyable as I hoped. The world Kraehen built in this story is rich and fascinating, real and visceral from the very first page. I especially found the magic system to be a unique take on elemental magic—wonderfully reminiscent of water/firebending in Avatar the Last Airbender!
Of course, what stands out most in this gem of a book are the characters. Having admired Kraehen’s artwork of the characters, I felt like I already knew them as I read, and it was really cool to get to finally know their whole stories. Ione, Lina, Kai, and River come to life on the page, and their dynamics are super fun. By the end of the book, I felt like they were my friends.
I was getting nervous around the 70% mark when so many things still needed to be resolved, but ultimately the book wrapped up with a satisfying—if very unexpected—conclusion. What starts as a slow progression of events escalates into a heart-pounding conflict that kept me wondering how the hell the characters would make it out.
I very much enjoyed this read, so if you’re a fan of character-driven fantasy with a simmering smidge of romance in the background, definitely pick this up.
I’ve been looking forward to HAIL THE RISING TIDES for months, and I’m delighted to say that it’s every bit as enjoyable as I hoped. The world Kraehen built in this story is rich and fascinating, real and visceral from the very first page. I especially found the magic system to be a unique take on elemental magic—wonderfully reminiscent of water/firebending in Avatar the Last Airbender!
Of course, what stands out most in this gem of a book are the characters. Having admired Kraehen’s artwork of the characters, I felt like I already knew them as I read, and it was really cool to get to finally know their whole stories. Ione, Lina, Kai, and River come to life on the page, and their dynamics are super fun. By the end of the book, I felt like they were my friends.
I was getting nervous around the 70% mark when so many things still needed to be resolved, but ultimately the book wrapped up with a satisfying—if very unexpected—conclusion. What starts as a slow progression of events escalates into a heart-pounding conflict that kept me wondering how the hell the characters would make it out.
I very much enjoyed this read, so if you’re a fan of character-driven fantasy with a simmering smidge of romance in the background, definitely pick this up.
March 18, 2026
Can I just say WOW!! This book was so good!
All of the characters were great! There were 4 pov’s and all of them showed each character’s personality perfectly! I adored and cared about all of the main characters! One did not outshine the other, all of the pov were all equally their own and so well written! Can you hate and love a character at the same time? Yes that is possible haha! Kai was that for me, however I ended up really liking his character! He had a good arc and he got slapped (a lot) haha
The magic system was so cool! I enjoyed the differences between the hydromancy and pyromancy magic! The fight scenes were AWESOME! So well done and had me on the edge of my seat! The idea behind the Gods was so unique and different, I really enjoyed them!
The story itself was so well done! I haven’t read anything like this! About halfway through, I did not want to put it down! I devoured the rest of the book so quickly!
This was a well written debut novel! I enjoyed these characters so much! I also love that the author is also the artist for the cover and characters! I hope to be able to see these characters again because they have my heart! Thank you so much for the opportunity to read this ARC! I feel so honored to have been able to read this book! 💕
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️
All of the characters were great! There were 4 pov’s and all of them showed each character’s personality perfectly! I adored and cared about all of the main characters! One did not outshine the other, all of the pov were all equally their own and so well written! Can you hate and love a character at the same time? Yes that is possible haha! Kai was that for me, however I ended up really liking his character! He had a good arc and he got slapped (a lot) haha
The magic system was so cool! I enjoyed the differences between the hydromancy and pyromancy magic! The fight scenes were AWESOME! So well done and had me on the edge of my seat! The idea behind the Gods was so unique and different, I really enjoyed them!
The story itself was so well done! I haven’t read anything like this! About halfway through, I did not want to put it down! I devoured the rest of the book so quickly!
This was a well written debut novel! I enjoyed these characters so much! I also love that the author is also the artist for the cover and characters! I hope to be able to see these characters again because they have my heart! Thank you so much for the opportunity to read this ARC! I feel so honored to have been able to read this book! 💕
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️
July 23, 2025
Super excited for this!
April 7, 2026
I honestly couldn’t stop reading this book it was so good. The characters, the ethereal and magical vibes, THE PLOT!!! I adored it and want to read it again literally right now.
The versatility in this book, the fluidity, everything was detailed and authentic, characters were humorous, unique and easily lovable. This very quickly became one of my top favorite books.
I mean wow, what an amazing job. Ione has grown up in a castle with her parents, under the belief that she is the vessel for the Moon Goddess. Political tensions are on the rise between those who follow the moon, and those who follow the sun.
Multi pov switching between Ione, River- Ione’s sworn holy protector, Kai- a warden from the south sent to strengthen the north with protective magic, and Lina- a girl who has just escaped the terror of the sun followers burning her town and seeks sanctuary.
Lina is quickly accepted into Ione’s circle, with Ione insisting that the Moon Goddess within her is called to her. Kai on the other hand, takes a little longer for them to get used to and is met with distrust.
As their friendships evolve, political tensions continue to rise and soon Ione knows the Moon Goddess will be called to battle. However, everything changes after a terrible battle and life as they all knew it will never be the same.
Thoroughly enjoyed this book, so creative and exciting, definitely was a “just one more chapter” late in the AM type of book for me!!! (Okay maybe more than one)
The versatility in this book, the fluidity, everything was detailed and authentic, characters were humorous, unique and easily lovable. This very quickly became one of my top favorite books.
I mean wow, what an amazing job. Ione has grown up in a castle with her parents, under the belief that she is the vessel for the Moon Goddess. Political tensions are on the rise between those who follow the moon, and those who follow the sun.
Multi pov switching between Ione, River- Ione’s sworn holy protector, Kai- a warden from the south sent to strengthen the north with protective magic, and Lina- a girl who has just escaped the terror of the sun followers burning her town and seeks sanctuary.
Lina is quickly accepted into Ione’s circle, with Ione insisting that the Moon Goddess within her is called to her. Kai on the other hand, takes a little longer for them to get used to and is met with distrust.
As their friendships evolve, political tensions continue to rise and soon Ione knows the Moon Goddess will be called to battle. However, everything changes after a terrible battle and life as they all knew it will never be the same.
Thoroughly enjoyed this book, so creative and exciting, definitely was a “just one more chapter” late in the AM type of book for me!!! (Okay maybe more than one)
April 27, 2026
This book was wild. It's very own type of masterpiece. And that's towards the words, then there's the art this author made for this book. It is just... SO incredibly gorgeous. I bought some of the art before ever getting the book. Jumped at a chance to get an eARC.
I was incredibly grateful for receiving it. But then I hit a bit of a slump while reading it, unfortunately. It was a hefty read for that mood. And I wasn't a big fan of the large amounts of time passing frequently. But that's my only real complaint. Which is actually me just begging that this be rewritten into a small series.
I felt like there could have been so much more to this story. Not in a negative way exactly, just in an "I want more" kind of way.
I felt like I was constantly reading the climatic last third of a story throughout most of this book? I don't know. The whole thing was a roller-coaster.
With that, there's definitely a variety of sexual tension and content. All well done, and there's art to be found for those too if you find the author's newsletter.
These are my honest thoughts, I appreciate the ARC and can't wait to give it a proper re-read when I buy the physical copy.
I was incredibly grateful for receiving it. But then I hit a bit of a slump while reading it, unfortunately. It was a hefty read for that mood. And I wasn't a big fan of the large amounts of time passing frequently. But that's my only real complaint. Which is actually me just begging that this be rewritten into a small series.
I felt like there could have been so much more to this story. Not in a negative way exactly, just in an "I want more" kind of way.
I felt like I was constantly reading the climatic last third of a story throughout most of this book? I don't know. The whole thing was a roller-coaster.
With that, there's definitely a variety of sexual tension and content. All well done, and there's art to be found for those too if you find the author's newsletter.
These are my honest thoughts, I appreciate the ARC and can't wait to give it a proper re-read when I buy the physical copy.
May 11, 2026
This was alright. I felt like it started off strong then fell apart a bit in the middle, and the main conflict was anticlimactic. There were also some weird time skips that made it hard to follow.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Actual Rating: 4.5
You should ABSOLUTELY judge this book by its cover, by which I mean: It. Is. Beautiful. I instantly fell in love with Ione, and the quiet development of Lina made her such a rich character over the long term! River was the perfect chevalier-bestie, and Kai. Well, Kai needs a slap in the face (but he got plenty, don't worry). For anybody who is a fan of Sarah Beth Durst's Queens of Renthia series or Roseanne A. Brown's A Song of Wraiths and Ruin, you should run (not walk) to your nearest The Internet and pick this baby up!
In Hail the Rising Tides, Kraehen explores what it means to be Enough, to be perfect or what is expected of you, to be lovable and wanted through queer-platonic and romantic relationships. The book is such an emotional rollercoaster, and it's done masterfully. Kraehen introduces twists to plot and to character in ways that ramp up the intensity while keeping everything moving forward. There was A Moment (among many other powerful/important moments) where I had to put the book down and have a good cry (you will know it when you get to it!), and there are some lines especially in later parts of the book that are so raw or beautiful that the Feelings Train never stops moving.
Kraehen's choice to have four distinct PoV characters really worked to give a much more expansive story than we might have had if it were just Ione or just one of the couples, each character brought so much to the story not just in terms of what events could unfold but also in terms of how they see each other developing. All our MCs to some degree or another effectively have the rug pulled out from under them as Major Events drastically change their relationships with each other and the world, and I appreciate that each of them seems to deal with it in different ways that at the same time weave them together or draw them apart, depending.
I love the world, and I love that it is allowed to take shape through the story without ever bogging it down with explicit descriptions of magic systems and ritual beyond what is important to the story itself. Hail the Rising Tides comes to such a satisfying and beautiful conclusion that we don't need more - what is important is Menon, and Sowelan, and their communities of worshipers in conflict.
I enjoyed some of Kraehen's dialogue choices that showed different class/heritage of the different characters, especially the choice to use "yous" and "yous all" for a plural second person. I did struggle with Kai's early chapters but only because I dislike bullies and, well. The boy has issues. Which should really be taken as a testament to Kraehen's writing ability, to create a characters who is compelling despite his intense unlikability.
Finally, I think Hail the Rising Tides would make an incredible graphic novel - not just because I know Kraehen is a fantastic artist (do yourself a favor and go check out all the character art on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katkraehena...) - but because I think the best writing is character interaction/internal monologue and their narrative shaping of space.
This is a debut that should not be ignored or left to languish on a TBR and I cannot wait to see what Kraehen dreams up next!
(Thank you so much to the author for providing me with a free copy, this is my unbiased and honest review)
You should ABSOLUTELY judge this book by its cover, by which I mean: It. Is. Beautiful. I instantly fell in love with Ione, and the quiet development of Lina made her such a rich character over the long term! River was the perfect chevalier-bestie, and Kai. Well, Kai needs a slap in the face (but he got plenty, don't worry). For anybody who is a fan of Sarah Beth Durst's Queens of Renthia series or Roseanne A. Brown's A Song of Wraiths and Ruin, you should run (not walk) to your nearest The Internet and pick this baby up!
"She was born with the Moon Goddess Menon’s blessing, worshipped by the high priests and raised as the saviour of Menon’s disciples. Ione was a beacon of hope, a harbinger of peace for her people– and of the end of times for the Sun God Sowelan’s cruel apostles. But Menon’s divine grace did not come with instructions."
In Hail the Rising Tides, Kraehen explores what it means to be Enough, to be perfect or what is expected of you, to be lovable and wanted through queer-platonic and romantic relationships. The book is such an emotional rollercoaster, and it's done masterfully. Kraehen introduces twists to plot and to character in ways that ramp up the intensity while keeping everything moving forward. There was A Moment (among many other powerful/important moments) where I had to put the book down and have a good cry (you will know it when you get to it!), and there are some lines especially in later parts of the book that are so raw or beautiful that the Feelings Train never stops moving.
Kraehen's choice to have four distinct PoV characters really worked to give a much more expansive story than we might have had if it were just Ione or just one of the couples, each character brought so much to the story not just in terms of what events could unfold but also in terms of how they see each other developing. All our MCs to some degree or another effectively have the rug pulled out from under them as Major Events drastically change their relationships with each other and the world, and I appreciate that each of them seems to deal with it in different ways that at the same time weave them together or draw them apart, depending.
I love the world, and I love that it is allowed to take shape through the story without ever bogging it down with explicit descriptions of magic systems and ritual beyond what is important to the story itself. Hail the Rising Tides comes to such a satisfying and beautiful conclusion that we don't need more - what is important is Menon, and Sowelan, and their communities of worshipers in conflict.
I enjoyed some of Kraehen's dialogue choices that showed different class/heritage of the different characters, especially the choice to use "yous" and "yous all" for a plural second person. I did struggle with Kai's early chapters but only because I dislike bullies and, well. The boy has issues. Which should really be taken as a testament to Kraehen's writing ability, to create a characters who is compelling despite his intense unlikability.
Finally, I think Hail the Rising Tides would make an incredible graphic novel - not just because I know Kraehen is a fantastic artist (do yourself a favor and go check out all the character art on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katkraehena...) - but because I think the best writing is character interaction/internal monologue and their narrative shaping of space.
This is a debut that should not be ignored or left to languish on a TBR and I cannot wait to see what Kraehen dreams up next!
(Thank you so much to the author for providing me with a free copy, this is my unbiased and honest review)
Review of advance copy received from Author
From page one, this story had me on tenterhooks. This is going to be a TREAT for anyone who likes a hefty serving of intrigue, danger, secrets, queerness, neurodiversity, and spice with their fantasy.
I was especially taken with the friendship, love, and found family themes, which are always dear to my heart. I loved the contrast in realistic depictions of "didn't always do it right, but doing their best" familial figures with those who are genuinely, nail-bitingly malicious, but which society still expects the younger generation to revere - and how damaging that expectation can be. Sibling tensions (both rivalrous and murderous) are also a STRONG theme here.
This is a multi-POV story and it really deserves to be, because each of the four narrative characters is lovable, sympathetic, and completely unique in their background, goals, and their narrative voices. Despite the fact that I am often leery of stories that hop to different perspectives, I found I didn't mind whoever was stealing the spotlight in a given moment in Hail the Rising Tides, because I just wanted more and more of ALL FOUR OF THEM. I can't imagine this book any other way. The author truly did it justice. The complicated relationships between the four main characters were also handled with taste and sensitivity to what they would "really do" (or feel tempted to do, but resist) in the situations they faced. I appreciated that the spicy scenes felt earned and special within each relationship, even if what that meant differed wildly when comparing each relationship as a reader. I couldn't get enough.
Another thing I appreciated so much with this book was how the author represented the human-made parts of the dominant religions in this world, which center around the deities of the moon and sun - this book doesn't hide from factionalism and self-serving agendas, and also shows different perspectives and relationships among characters who have had very different experiences with religion and religious followers. Also I just ADORED the insect-like imagery that surfaced in depictions of anything relating to the moon goddess, it felt so refreshing (in sometimes the most morbidly fascinating way) to see a "celestial" deity associated with sensations of creepy crawly unease. I went in expecting the usual starry purity moon-phase and tidal glow vibes, and instead I got BUGS and seething bug-parts, and it was PERFECT/gross, it completely upended my impression of what a moon goddess "should be like" and that tension is echoed so well in how the religious practitioners characterize their goddess versus the visceral, inexplicable, sometimes awful experiences had by the character INHABITED by aspects of that goddess. It opened my eyes to how uncomfortable and eldritch and fascinating a deity might be from a direct "mortal" perspective, and how disinterested that deity might be in conforming to human ideas of what/who they "ought to be." I lost count of how many semi-repulsed, fully-appreciative shivers the descriptions gave me. Well worth it, and something I would recommend both to readers who enjoy "hands on" deities in fantasy settings, as well as readers who tend to shy from that content - the unreadability of the gods even to their most 'lofty' or 'favored' followers really makes it sing.
And I can't leave off without first raving about the jaw-dropping, gorgeous COVER ART, which is the author's own original work. I need more of this.
I had the privilege of receiving a free ARC of this book. My review is my own opinion!
I was especially taken with the friendship, love, and found family themes, which are always dear to my heart. I loved the contrast in realistic depictions of "didn't always do it right, but doing their best" familial figures with those who are genuinely, nail-bitingly malicious, but which society still expects the younger generation to revere - and how damaging that expectation can be. Sibling tensions (both rivalrous and murderous) are also a STRONG theme here.
This is a multi-POV story and it really deserves to be, because each of the four narrative characters is lovable, sympathetic, and completely unique in their background, goals, and their narrative voices. Despite the fact that I am often leery of stories that hop to different perspectives, I found I didn't mind whoever was stealing the spotlight in a given moment in Hail the Rising Tides, because I just wanted more and more of ALL FOUR OF THEM. I can't imagine this book any other way. The author truly did it justice. The complicated relationships between the four main characters were also handled with taste and sensitivity to what they would "really do" (or feel tempted to do, but resist) in the situations they faced. I appreciated that the spicy scenes felt earned and special within each relationship, even if what that meant differed wildly when comparing each relationship as a reader. I couldn't get enough.
Another thing I appreciated so much with this book was how the author represented the human-made parts of the dominant religions in this world, which center around the deities of the moon and sun - this book doesn't hide from factionalism and self-serving agendas, and also shows different perspectives and relationships among characters who have had very different experiences with religion and religious followers. Also I just ADORED the insect-like imagery that surfaced in depictions of anything relating to the moon goddess, it felt so refreshing (in sometimes the most morbidly fascinating way) to see a "celestial" deity associated with sensations of creepy crawly unease. I went in expecting the usual starry purity moon-phase and tidal glow vibes, and instead I got BUGS and seething bug-parts, and it was PERFECT/gross, it completely upended my impression of what a moon goddess "should be like" and that tension is echoed so well in how the religious practitioners characterize their goddess versus the visceral, inexplicable, sometimes awful experiences had by the character INHABITED by aspects of that goddess. It opened my eyes to how uncomfortable and eldritch and fascinating a deity might be from a direct "mortal" perspective, and how disinterested that deity might be in conforming to human ideas of what/who they "ought to be." I lost count of how many semi-repulsed, fully-appreciative shivers the descriptions gave me. Well worth it, and something I would recommend both to readers who enjoy "hands on" deities in fantasy settings, as well as readers who tend to shy from that content - the unreadability of the gods even to their most 'lofty' or 'favored' followers really makes it sing.
And I can't leave off without first raving about the jaw-dropping, gorgeous COVER ART, which is the author's own original work. I need more of this.
I had the privilege of receiving a free ARC of this book. My review is my own opinion!
April 18, 2026
I want to start by thanking the author for choosing me to be one of the early readers and letting me enjoy such an amazing novel, I hope to see much more of her in the future.
If you have any doubt about picking up this book I’m telling you, no, I’m BEGGING you to make yourself a favor and do it because there is no possible universe in which you will regret it. From the story, to the characters and the setting, every little detail is taken care of to create compelling storytelling and a balanced book.
The author has a lot of details about the characters in her instagram, which I really enjoyed having a perfect visual of how they looked like and their little perks, but let me tell you something else: they feel so human. Each of their struggles, their internal battles and hard choices are perfectly grounded in who they are and what really matters to them, which in the end makes them more real and tangible.
Added to that, the magic system was really interesting, she did a nice twist of elemental magic with gods and humans in the same space (even in the same body) and I found it quite refreshing. If you like Avatar the Last Airbender, you will definitely love this as much as I did. Without wanting to fall into spoilers, half way through the book there’s a plot twist (and I know people always say this but I swear it’s true here) that you will never see coming, turning the story completely around. The second half of the book really works into the characters deeper feelings and pushes them to make hard decisions, forcing them to define what really matters to them and who they are.
Finally, I don’t want to leave the representation aspect out of this, especially as a Bi woman myself, because I can’t lie and say it wasn’t the most rewarding experience I have had IN A LONG TIME with Bi characters. Not only it wasn’t the most important aspect of themselves, because why would it be, but also the nuance and depth was not lost when their sexuality came to the front and was discussed or mattered in any way.
In the same line, the romance aspect was simply perfect of course, the chemistry between the couples was unmatched and the relationships developed really naturally, even friendships and alliances landed exactly where they should’ve. It didn’t felt like the romance took away or pushed out the main plot, which sometimes happens in fantasy novels where it feels like the story pauses to make space for it. It works really well into it, not only as a lever sometimes to entice certain events, but also as a force and motivation when the characters might need it most.
The only reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 was because of the ending, and don’t get me wrong, everything was perfectly tied and no questions were left unanswered, but I would’ve hopped she took more time with it. Basically, I’m saying I wish the book was longer, which it isn’t entirely a bad thing, but it did made for things resolving a bit quicker than I would’ve liked. Especially because I know she could have done it beautifully even if it took more time, but I understand it can get tricky. Nevertheless, experience is everyone’s master, and I know she will only get better from now on, which makes me very excited for whatever she comes up with next.
I’m honestly hopping this book gets the attention and success it deserves, and it can end up being translated to Spanish, because I’m convinced it will make NUMBERS here in Spain. In which case, everyone remember I said it first!
If you have any doubt about picking up this book I’m telling you, no, I’m BEGGING you to make yourself a favor and do it because there is no possible universe in which you will regret it. From the story, to the characters and the setting, every little detail is taken care of to create compelling storytelling and a balanced book.
The author has a lot of details about the characters in her instagram, which I really enjoyed having a perfect visual of how they looked like and their little perks, but let me tell you something else: they feel so human. Each of their struggles, their internal battles and hard choices are perfectly grounded in who they are and what really matters to them, which in the end makes them more real and tangible.
Added to that, the magic system was really interesting, she did a nice twist of elemental magic with gods and humans in the same space (even in the same body) and I found it quite refreshing. If you like Avatar the Last Airbender, you will definitely love this as much as I did. Without wanting to fall into spoilers, half way through the book there’s a plot twist (and I know people always say this but I swear it’s true here) that you will never see coming, turning the story completely around. The second half of the book really works into the characters deeper feelings and pushes them to make hard decisions, forcing them to define what really matters to them and who they are.
Finally, I don’t want to leave the representation aspect out of this, especially as a Bi woman myself, because I can’t lie and say it wasn’t the most rewarding experience I have had IN A LONG TIME with Bi characters. Not only it wasn’t the most important aspect of themselves, because why would it be, but also the nuance and depth was not lost when their sexuality came to the front and was discussed or mattered in any way.
In the same line, the romance aspect was simply perfect of course, the chemistry between the couples was unmatched and the relationships developed really naturally, even friendships and alliances landed exactly where they should’ve. It didn’t felt like the romance took away or pushed out the main plot, which sometimes happens in fantasy novels where it feels like the story pauses to make space for it. It works really well into it, not only as a lever sometimes to entice certain events, but also as a force and motivation when the characters might need it most.
The only reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 was because of the ending, and don’t get me wrong, everything was perfectly tied and no questions were left unanswered, but I would’ve hopped she took more time with it. Basically, I’m saying I wish the book was longer, which it isn’t entirely a bad thing, but it did made for things resolving a bit quicker than I would’ve liked. Especially because I know she could have done it beautifully even if it took more time, but I understand it can get tricky. Nevertheless, experience is everyone’s master, and I know she will only get better from now on, which makes me very excited for whatever she comes up with next.
I’m honestly hopping this book gets the attention and success it deserves, and it can end up being translated to Spanish, because I’m convinced it will make NUMBERS here in Spain. In which case, everyone remember I said it first!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Hail the Rising Tides was everything I expected it to be. It was a five-star read from start to finish and had me hooked right from the first page.
The world building and lore were incredibly interesting, consistent, and compelling. From a fantasy perspective, it felt beautifully crafted, original, while also being easy to grasp. The tension between factions was established very early on and I absolutely loved how the book resolved.
The prose was immaculate. I truly loved the writing; not only was it very visual and sensory, but it was also gripping and immersive, descriptive without taking anything from the action, with punchy dialogue, unique and individual character voice, and clever use of accents and vernacular.
The characters were my absolute favourite thing. Coming into this, I had a hunch I would really like River and of course the seleneschal did NOT disappoint. All four POVs were compelling in their own different way. Ione was depicted wonderfully, with her innate strength coming through in her narration while being perceived very differently by most of those around her, Lina was such a beautiful character to step into, River, as I said, wonderful, and the one who surprised me most... I knew Kai was going to be an interesting character, but I did not expect him to win me over the way he has. He's climbed the ranks to an all-time favourite character and I don't think I will ever forget having read through his POV.
"What's the shtory?" is something I will probably think about every single day. Words fail to express how much I love this man and his tender childlike beauty, his little 'Swords' and 'Ineen' and 'Your one', and his love of music.
I will keep ranting about Kai if I don't stop myself, so on to the next aspect: the antagonists in this book are complex, which is something I enjoy. While there's two to three particular figures who serve the role of the 'big bad', one in particular being most detestable, several other characters perform actions that are questionable and antagonizing for the main characters, but it's all handled with complexity and sensitivity.
I was very pleasantly surprised by one of the characters who felt antagonizing at the start but ended up being someone I actually sympathized with. I won't say who it was to avoid spoilers, but it made me so happy.
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes character-driven but plot-heavy writing with beautiful prose, a unique and wonderful magic system, and two lovely romances that feel incredibly natural to the story and the characters. Let's be honest, I would recommend this book simply because everyone in the world needs to meet Kai Mahina, and that's the shtory
The world building and lore were incredibly interesting, consistent, and compelling. From a fantasy perspective, it felt beautifully crafted, original, while also being easy to grasp. The tension between factions was established very early on and I absolutely loved how the book resolved.
The prose was immaculate. I truly loved the writing; not only was it very visual and sensory, but it was also gripping and immersive, descriptive without taking anything from the action, with punchy dialogue, unique and individual character voice, and clever use of accents and vernacular.
The characters were my absolute favourite thing. Coming into this, I had a hunch I would really like River and of course the seleneschal did NOT disappoint. All four POVs were compelling in their own different way. Ione was depicted wonderfully, with her innate strength coming through in her narration while being perceived very differently by most of those around her, Lina was such a beautiful character to step into, River, as I said, wonderful, and the one who surprised me most... I knew Kai was going to be an interesting character, but I did not expect him to win me over the way he has. He's climbed the ranks to an all-time favourite character and I don't think I will ever forget having read through his POV.
"What's the shtory?" is something I will probably think about every single day. Words fail to express how much I love this man and his tender childlike beauty, his little 'Swords' and 'Ineen' and 'Your one', and his love of music.
I will keep ranting about Kai if I don't stop myself, so on to the next aspect: the antagonists in this book are complex, which is something I enjoy. While there's two to three particular figures who serve the role of the 'big bad', one in particular being most detestable, several other characters perform actions that are questionable and antagonizing for the main characters, but it's all handled with complexity and sensitivity.
I was very pleasantly surprised by one of the characters who felt antagonizing at the start but ended up being someone I actually sympathized with. I won't say who it was to avoid spoilers, but it made me so happy.
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes character-driven but plot-heavy writing with beautiful prose, a unique and wonderful magic system, and two lovely romances that feel incredibly natural to the story and the characters. Let's be honest, I would recommend this book simply because everyone in the world needs to meet Kai Mahina, and that's the shtory
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you, Kat, for the ARC! (Available April 7, 2026).
First of all let me just say that I’m IN LOVE with this book and these characters!! The magic system is really interesting. I love that it includes sun/moon and fire/water elements!
Ione is the reincarnation of the Moon goddess Menon, and possesses water magic. She struggles to harness that magic, but her growth throughout the story is phenomenal! Her guard, River, doesn’t possess any magic, but that doesn’t stop him from being an absolute badass. Lina is a girl who possesses fire magic, but escapes from her abusive home and takes shelter in Oseidos, where Ione and River live. Kai is a powerful water wielder who becomes employed as a warden to protect Oseidos, and later begins teaching Ione how to strengthen her own powers. The four form an unlikely alliance between each other, and they all grow in such an inspiring way.
I usually am not a fan of books with more than 2 POVS because I often end up getting confused along the way. However, this book is actually enhanced by having POVs from each of the 4 main characters! It really helps to establish who each person is and the struggles they personally face. I truly fell in love with all of them because they’re so well written. They’re all snarky and messy, complex individuals who strive to better themselves in different ways. It’s so hard to pick a favorite, but I think if I had to choose it would be Kai 🤭 He’s such a fun character and I was really rooting for him from the very beginning.
The writing itself is also beautiful. It’s witty and immersive and easy to follow. It had lots of twists and turns that I wasn’t expecting, keeping me on my toes as I read. If you’re looking for political intrigue, LGBTQ+ representation, with elemental magic, then look no further!! As much as I love longer series, I do really love a good standalone book too, and this one is wrapped up so beautifully that I’m not left with a bunch of questions. Also, if you haven’t seen the character art that Kat has done, I highly encourage you to check it out!! Everything Kat does is stunning and is what initially drew me into wanting to read the book!
First of all let me just say that I’m IN LOVE with this book and these characters!! The magic system is really interesting. I love that it includes sun/moon and fire/water elements!
Ione is the reincarnation of the Moon goddess Menon, and possesses water magic. She struggles to harness that magic, but her growth throughout the story is phenomenal! Her guard, River, doesn’t possess any magic, but that doesn’t stop him from being an absolute badass. Lina is a girl who possesses fire magic, but escapes from her abusive home and takes shelter in Oseidos, where Ione and River live. Kai is a powerful water wielder who becomes employed as a warden to protect Oseidos, and later begins teaching Ione how to strengthen her own powers. The four form an unlikely alliance between each other, and they all grow in such an inspiring way.
I usually am not a fan of books with more than 2 POVS because I often end up getting confused along the way. However, this book is actually enhanced by having POVs from each of the 4 main characters! It really helps to establish who each person is and the struggles they personally face. I truly fell in love with all of them because they’re so well written. They’re all snarky and messy, complex individuals who strive to better themselves in different ways. It’s so hard to pick a favorite, but I think if I had to choose it would be Kai 🤭 He’s such a fun character and I was really rooting for him from the very beginning.
The writing itself is also beautiful. It’s witty and immersive and easy to follow. It had lots of twists and turns that I wasn’t expecting, keeping me on my toes as I read. If you’re looking for political intrigue, LGBTQ+ representation, with elemental magic, then look no further!! As much as I love longer series, I do really love a good standalone book too, and this one is wrapped up so beautifully that I’m not left with a bunch of questions. Also, if you haven’t seen the character art that Kat has done, I highly encourage you to check it out!! Everything Kat does is stunning and is what initially drew me into wanting to read the book!
April 16, 2026
Hail the Rising Tides is a fantasy romance that follows four different perspectives. Ione is the vessel of the moon goddess, and she must protect her people from her enemy, the sun god, and his pyromancers.
To start off, the perspectives were handled nicely. I really enjoyed the prologue and how it established the main conflict in the story with Lina's character, and then we learn more about Ione's situation as the moon goddess, who has a lot of burdens weighing down on her shoulders. Stories with more than three perspectives can throw me off, but this was not the case! I loved exploring each of the four main characters, and they all brought something important to the table. There wasn't a single perspective that dragged for me, and even though Kai was quite an antsy fella, I enjoyed his side of the story as well.
(The twists were so nice, too. No spoilers, but I didn't see THAT coming iykyk).
Handling four different perspectives is a great accomplishment. Especially when the author can keep it all balanced.
River was my favorite, but I enjoyed the whole cast. I would want River as my personal guard if I was a high priestess. Not only does he lock in and get stuff done, but he also just seems very chill to hang with. I liked that he wasn't just a stoic guard but was a good friend that listens.
Also, definitely judge this book by its cover because the vibes were all there. It's a pretty story with pretty prose! And a stunning cover to top it all off.
Really interested to see what else Kat Kraehen writes! Would love to see more of this world explored!
Very wonderful debut!
To start off, the perspectives were handled nicely. I really enjoyed the prologue and how it established the main conflict in the story with Lina's character, and then we learn more about Ione's situation as the moon goddess, who has a lot of burdens weighing down on her shoulders. Stories with more than three perspectives can throw me off, but this was not the case! I loved exploring each of the four main characters, and they all brought something important to the table. There wasn't a single perspective that dragged for me, and even though Kai was quite an antsy fella, I enjoyed his side of the story as well.
(The twists were so nice, too. No spoilers, but I didn't see THAT coming iykyk).
Handling four different perspectives is a great accomplishment. Especially when the author can keep it all balanced.
River was my favorite, but I enjoyed the whole cast. I would want River as my personal guard if I was a high priestess. Not only does he lock in and get stuff done, but he also just seems very chill to hang with. I liked that he wasn't just a stoic guard but was a good friend that listens.
Also, definitely judge this book by its cover because the vibes were all there. It's a pretty story with pretty prose! And a stunning cover to top it all off.
Really interested to see what else Kat Kraehen writes! Would love to see more of this world explored!
Very wonderful debut!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I really loved this story. I first fell in love with all the character art and then the story just drew me in. The characters are all flawed in their own way and they are fighting their own demons and feelings of insecurities that make them relatable.
I really loved just how much love is in this book. Ione begins this story as a vessel to a goddess who does not appear for her and it's this failing that causes her to have fear that she's not worth it or that she is not strong enough. In come Kai, River, and Lina to help her along the way whether she wanted them to or not. Her affection for Lina was pure and lovely and I just loved them together.
Kai is the first MMC and he's fighting his own insecurities with his family and his struggle to find belonging. His growing affection for River was absolutely my favorite part of this book. Their banter and just small gestures had me giggling and kicking my feet. River is totally my favorite character in this book. He has the best comeback for everything and his just utter devotion was beautiful to read.
Besides the love growing between these characters, there is a looming threat with death and destruction at every turn and villains hiding in plain sight. I loved that there was never just one villain, but the enticing thought of power forming more than one evil to be fought.
I honestly did not want this story to end! If the author ever decides to write side stories, I would totally eat that up.
I really loved just how much love is in this book. Ione begins this story as a vessel to a goddess who does not appear for her and it's this failing that causes her to have fear that she's not worth it or that she is not strong enough. In come Kai, River, and Lina to help her along the way whether she wanted them to or not. Her affection for Lina was pure and lovely and I just loved them together.
Kai is the first MMC and he's fighting his own insecurities with his family and his struggle to find belonging. His growing affection for River was absolutely my favorite part of this book. Their banter and just small gestures had me giggling and kicking my feet. River is totally my favorite character in this book. He has the best comeback for everything and his just utter devotion was beautiful to read.
Besides the love growing between these characters, there is a looming threat with death and destruction at every turn and villains hiding in plain sight. I loved that there was never just one villain, but the enticing thought of power forming more than one evil to be fought.
I honestly did not want this story to end! If the author ever decides to write side stories, I would totally eat that up.
Review of advance copy received from Author
4/5
Thank you to the author, Kat Kraehen, for providing me with an ARC of "Hail the Rising Tides" in exchange for an honest review!
Overall, I really enjoyed this book! I found the story to be super interesting, and I really loved Ione. I would do anything for Ione, I think.
Right from the plot blurb, I was intrigued. A sapphic romance between the vessel of the Moon Goddess and a former Sun God priestess? Sign me up! Adding in the characters like River, Cynthia, and Kai made it even more interesting, and I liked the way that the PoV chapters switched between Ione, Lina, River, and Kai to give us the full story. I will say here that I wished there was a little more of Lina and Ione, as much as I liked River and Kai, it felt like they overshadowed the other two, which was a little sad given that Lina and Ione are the selling point in the blurb. I still really liked River and Kai and getting their PoVs though! I just wish there was more Ione and Lina (especially Ione!).
Once the plot started moving, I was incredibly invested. I didn't really expect any of what happened towards the end, which made it all the better to me. This is a spoiler-free review, so I won't say more, but I do think what happened was pretty well done!
As a whole, I really enjoyed this book and I'm grateful to have received an ARC of it from the author!
Thank you to the author, Kat Kraehen, for providing me with an ARC of "Hail the Rising Tides" in exchange for an honest review!
Overall, I really enjoyed this book! I found the story to be super interesting, and I really loved Ione. I would do anything for Ione, I think.
Right from the plot blurb, I was intrigued. A sapphic romance between the vessel of the Moon Goddess and a former Sun God priestess? Sign me up! Adding in the characters like River, Cynthia, and Kai made it even more interesting, and I liked the way that the PoV chapters switched between Ione, Lina, River, and Kai to give us the full story. I will say here that I wished there was a little more of Lina and Ione, as much as I liked River and Kai, it felt like they overshadowed the other two, which was a little sad given that Lina and Ione are the selling point in the blurb. I still really liked River and Kai and getting their PoVs though! I just wish there was more Ione and Lina (especially Ione!).
Once the plot started moving, I was incredibly invested. I didn't really expect any of what happened towards the end, which made it all the better to me. This is a spoiler-free review, so I won't say more, but I do think what happened was pretty well done!
As a whole, I really enjoyed this book and I'm grateful to have received an ARC of it from the author!
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book is absolutely gorgeous. I know you should never judge a book by it's cover, but the art is just so beautiful. For sure it is what first grabbed my attention. But the story inside is just as lovely. The author writes in a way that makes Hail the Rising Tides not feel like her debut novel. It is very well written. She has created a unique world with likeable and fluid characters.
The magic system is elemental based and kind of reminiscent of Avatar: The Last Air Bender. At least, when they talk about the hydromancy and pyromancy, I'm certainly seeing bending in my head. However, it is still uniquely its own. These magical abilities are linked to the gods, and one individual is chosen as the avatar for the moon goddess and the sun god.
Lena is raised to be the avatar of Menon, but she often struggles with feeling deserving or enough. This is a major theme of this book. The characters come from different walks of life, but despite their talents and achievements, each suffers with feeling good enough. Honestly, I found this incredibly relatable.
The twists and turns in this book were next level. Right when I thought the story was going in one direction, it took a hard left turn. How we got to the ending was a wild rollercoaster, and I every much enjoyed the ride!
Thank you to the author for the eARC. All thoughts are my own.
The magic system is elemental based and kind of reminiscent of Avatar: The Last Air Bender. At least, when they talk about the hydromancy and pyromancy, I'm certainly seeing bending in my head. However, it is still uniquely its own. These magical abilities are linked to the gods, and one individual is chosen as the avatar for the moon goddess and the sun god.
Lena is raised to be the avatar of Menon, but she often struggles with feeling deserving or enough. This is a major theme of this book. The characters come from different walks of life, but despite their talents and achievements, each suffers with feeling good enough. Honestly, I found this incredibly relatable.
The twists and turns in this book were next level. Right when I thought the story was going in one direction, it took a hard left turn. How we got to the ending was a wild rollercoaster, and I every much enjoyed the ride!
Thank you to the author for the eARC. All thoughts are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I knew from the moment I started following Hail the Rising Tides's journey that I'd love it - and I wasn't disappointed.
Captivating characters, elemental magic, political (and religious) stakes, tender romance, and lush settings - Hail the Rising Tides has it all. I love that all four main characters - Kai, Ione, River, and Lina - have their own POV chapters. The decision truly helped to understand their motifs and actions. It was also a joy to watch the characters starting to trust each other.
We also of course have a the political aspect, including a lot of issues regarding who to trust, and rightfully so. Everyone could potentially be a traitor, with plots hidden in the dark. Just the right mixture of hints we get through all the different POVs, so the reader can piece together what's happening, yet the characters not being quite sure.
The use of accent was wonderfully done, and I much enjoyed Kai drifting into his accent. Can't say it's surprising that he very quickly became my favorite character of the bunch.
All in all, Hail the Rising Tides is an amazing story combining elemental magic, found family, and divine powers into one book. Add to that the bi rep (plus side characters being nonbinary, aro, ace, and more) - I couldn't be happier with a book.
Captivating characters, elemental magic, political (and religious) stakes, tender romance, and lush settings - Hail the Rising Tides has it all. I love that all four main characters - Kai, Ione, River, and Lina - have their own POV chapters. The decision truly helped to understand their motifs and actions. It was also a joy to watch the characters starting to trust each other.
We also of course have a the political aspect, including a lot of issues regarding who to trust, and rightfully so. Everyone could potentially be a traitor, with plots hidden in the dark. Just the right mixture of hints we get through all the different POVs, so the reader can piece together what's happening, yet the characters not being quite sure.
The use of accent was wonderfully done, and I much enjoyed Kai drifting into his accent. Can't say it's surprising that he very quickly became my favorite character of the bunch.
All in all, Hail the Rising Tides is an amazing story combining elemental magic, found family, and divine powers into one book. Add to that the bi rep (plus side characters being nonbinary, aro, ace, and more) - I couldn't be happier with a book.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I devoured this book from start to finish. I am a sloooooow reader but I read this in record time. The world Kat created in HTRT is so vivid and magical. I love the author's voice in this book. It brought so much personality to the story, and all four of the main characters were incredible fun. Ione was such a powerhouse even through all the twists and her battle with self doubt. Kai was hilarious and heartbreaking. I loved watching River battle between his wants and his duty and his struggles. It made him such a layered character. And Lina was incredible, just this amazing, strong, self-loathing character that I went absolutely feral for. She had so much complexity and I just loved getting to see inside her mind.
I think one of the best parts about this book was the way Kat subverted expectation. It makes the story so heartwrenching, powerful, and kept me guessing until the very end. The twists and turns were freaking marvelous and had me on the edge of my seat. I read the last quarter of this book in one sitting and I cannot recommend this book highly enough. I laughed, cried, shrieked, and maybe one time threw my reading device across the room). What a legend. Kat has a loyal reader here. I will read anything she hands me after reading this one!
I think one of the best parts about this book was the way Kat subverted expectation. It makes the story so heartwrenching, powerful, and kept me guessing until the very end. The twists and turns were freaking marvelous and had me on the edge of my seat. I read the last quarter of this book in one sitting and I cannot recommend this book highly enough. I laughed, cried, shrieked, and maybe one time threw my reading device across the room). What a legend. Kat has a loyal reader here. I will read anything she hands me after reading this one!
April 7, 2026
I want to thank the author for the e-ARC copy.
What I loved most about this book was how gorgeous the writing felt. It has that lyrical, immersive quality that makes the world feel vivid without slowing the story down. The prose carries so much atmosphere, and it made the magic, tension, and emotion land even harder.
I also really loved how thoughtfully the world was built. The contrast between moon and sun, water and fire, felt both beautiful and dangerous, and the magic had such a strong elemental presence throughout.
Another thing that stood out to me was how well the story handled religion and religious fanaticism. It does not treat devotion as something simple or pure. It shows how belief can comfort, shape, control, and also be twisted into violence and power, which made the conflict feel so much deeper than just good versus evil.
And I really loved the characters. Ione, River, Lina, and Kai each brought something different to the story, and their growth felt meaningful. Their tension, loyalty, found family energy, and personal struggles gave the story so much heart.
It felt layered, intense, and beautifully written in a way that kept pulling me deeper into the story.
4.5/5 ⭐
What I loved most about this book was how gorgeous the writing felt. It has that lyrical, immersive quality that makes the world feel vivid without slowing the story down. The prose carries so much atmosphere, and it made the magic, tension, and emotion land even harder.
I also really loved how thoughtfully the world was built. The contrast between moon and sun, water and fire, felt both beautiful and dangerous, and the magic had such a strong elemental presence throughout.
Another thing that stood out to me was how well the story handled religion and religious fanaticism. It does not treat devotion as something simple or pure. It shows how belief can comfort, shape, control, and also be twisted into violence and power, which made the conflict feel so much deeper than just good versus evil.
And I really loved the characters. Ione, River, Lina, and Kai each brought something different to the story, and their growth felt meaningful. Their tension, loyalty, found family energy, and personal struggles gave the story so much heart.
It felt layered, intense, and beautifully written in a way that kept pulling me deeper into the story.
4.5/5 ⭐
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC Review
3.5⭐️
This was a really well thought-out and well-written fantasy, especially for a debut.
The worldbuilding, the magic system, the characters, everything came together beautifully. You can tell a lot of care went into crafting this story. I also really enjoyed the relationships and the found family vibes (always a win), and there were some genuinely funny moments sprinkled throughout.
But… and I hate saying this… it just didn’t fully grip me.
No matter how much I tried, I couldn’t completely immerse myself in the story, and I’m not entirely sure why. Because objectively? It has all the elements I usually love.
So yes… this is my official “it’s not you, it’s me” moment. 🤣😭
Overall, I can absolutely see why others would love this and it’s a strong debut. It just didn’t fully click for me personally.
3.5⭐️
This was a really well thought-out and well-written fantasy, especially for a debut.
The worldbuilding, the magic system, the characters, everything came together beautifully. You can tell a lot of care went into crafting this story. I also really enjoyed the relationships and the found family vibes (always a win), and there were some genuinely funny moments sprinkled throughout.
But… and I hate saying this… it just didn’t fully grip me.
No matter how much I tried, I couldn’t completely immerse myself in the story, and I’m not entirely sure why. Because objectively? It has all the elements I usually love.
So yes… this is my official “it’s not you, it’s me” moment. 🤣😭
Overall, I can absolutely see why others would love this and it’s a strong debut. It just didn’t fully click for me personally.
May 8, 2026
My actual rating is a 3.5
I did enjoy reading the book but there were several things I took issue with. Some things were never explained. The pacing was all over the place with really slowing down in the middle and the end feeling very abrupt. The twists don’t add any reread value to the story and the smut scenes seem to come out of nowhere. I also found it difficult to feel the chemistry the characters supposedly had with one another. The constant POV switches felt like an excuse to not finish a scene, a thought or a plot point
I still rated this book rather highly because it was not only an interesting concept but also an entertaining book. I wish it was expanded on more and limited to two well written POVs but all this to say that I do recommend the book.
I did enjoy reading the book but there were several things I took issue with. Some things were never explained. The pacing was all over the place with really slowing down in the middle and the end feeling very abrupt. The twists don’t add any reread value to the story and the smut scenes seem to come out of nowhere. I also found it difficult to feel the chemistry the characters supposedly had with one another. The constant POV switches felt like an excuse to not finish a scene, a thought or a plot point
I still rated this book rather highly because it was not only an interesting concept but also an entertaining book. I wish it was expanded on more and limited to two well written POVs but all this to say that I do recommend the book.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Four characters, four POVs. Ione. Lina. Kai. River. (Special mentions: oh hello Cynthia and Hilo!).
Each with their unique voices and distinct personalities. Ill-fated destinies, crappy/thorny familial relationships. Their journeys to overcome their fears and protect the ones they love, and become their own person. Ione, Lina, Kai and River all feel like such complete people, folks whom you meet in the flesh and blood. It’s impossible to pick just one favorite character – they all are so lovingly written (and drawn) by Kat <3
Kat has done such an amazing job for her debut novel and I absolutely cannot wait to read more from her!
P.S. I will not stop raving about THE WEDDING SCENE. Holy smokes (PUN INTENDED), that was one whirlpool of crazy tension and that TWIST. You should go read Hail The Rising Tides if you want to know what I’m on about ;-).
Each with their unique voices and distinct personalities. Ill-fated destinies, crappy/thorny familial relationships. Their journeys to overcome their fears and protect the ones they love, and become their own person. Ione, Lina, Kai and River all feel like such complete people, folks whom you meet in the flesh and blood. It’s impossible to pick just one favorite character – they all are so lovingly written (and drawn) by Kat <3
Kat has done such an amazing job for her debut novel and I absolutely cannot wait to read more from her!
P.S. I will not stop raving about THE WEDDING SCENE. Holy smokes (PUN INTENDED), that was one whirlpool of crazy tension and that TWIST. You should go read Hail The Rising Tides if you want to know what I’m on about ;-).
May 4, 2026
This book is such a delight! I was pleasantly surprised. The characters feel alive, and even the secondary characters have a clear, unique voice.
The plot is very interesting and not cliche at all (- when you think you know what's coming, you're caught by a shocking plot twist. I's so exciting!
The relationships felt rich and very real. So good!
If you like fantasy, magic, bi represenration, romance- and friendship-focused stories, this one is for you!
The plot is very interesting and not cliche at all (- when you think you know what's coming, you're caught by a shocking plot twist. I's so exciting!
The relationships felt rich and very real. So good!
If you like fantasy, magic, bi represenration, romance- and friendship-focused stories, this one is for you!
Review of advance copy received from Author
4.5 stars
Thank you to the author for this ARC!
It took me a while to write this review because there is so much to process but I think I can finally do it.
The first 30% of the book feels quite slow, but this is key in fantasy and important for the story because while not much happens, this is where worldbuilding takes place and we get to know the characters and why we care for them. The author does an exceptional job at creating characters we care for with all their flaws, qualities and unique characteristics. I must confess my favourite character was Kai and his Arc. He became someone better even with all the layers and emotional baggage he carried. His relationship with River was one I was rooting for all along and them hating each other in the beginning created more tension than Ione and Lina's, in my opinion.
Moreover, the plot had many pieces and every part of the story had some purpose to its overall climax and ending. I did wonder, however, why did no one ask if war was something the gods wanted? I didn't pay much attention to this because I assumed it was something rooted in the people's minds that they would not question. I could also predict the twist, but it was satisfactory and made complete sense.
On an unrelated note, the descriptions and story telling were just beautiful, and this does not look like a debut novel.
Lastly, I wished Ione had acquired fire powers because she could never really control her water ones. Although her strength at the ending suggests she merely wasn't using them for the right thing.
I loved it!
Thank you to the author for this ARC!
It took me a while to write this review because there is so much to process but I think I can finally do it.
The first 30% of the book feels quite slow, but this is key in fantasy and important for the story because while not much happens, this is where worldbuilding takes place and we get to know the characters and why we care for them. The author does an exceptional job at creating characters we care for with all their flaws, qualities and unique characteristics. I must confess my favourite character was Kai and his Arc. He became someone better even with all the layers and emotional baggage he carried. His relationship with River was one I was rooting for all along and them hating each other in the beginning created more tension than Ione and Lina's, in my opinion.
Moreover, the plot had many pieces and every part of the story had some purpose to its overall climax and ending. I did wonder, however, why did no one ask if war was something the gods wanted? I didn't pay much attention to this because I assumed it was something rooted in the people's minds that they would not question. I could also predict the twist, but it was satisfactory and made complete sense.
On an unrelated note, the descriptions and story telling were just beautiful, and this does not look like a debut novel.
Lastly, I wished Ione had acquired fire powers because she could never really control her water ones. Although her strength at the ending suggests she merely wasn't using them for the right thing.
I loved it!
May 8, 2026
I had such a fun time reading this book! The characters were so lovable and the worldbuilding was fascinating. I was sucked in right away and had a hard time putting the book down. I will definitely check out this author’s future work!
April 26, 2026
An interesting tale with great queer characters and a unique magic system. I received this as a digital ARC thanks to the author, and this is my honest review.
4 ⭐️’s
2 🌶️’s
4 ⭐️’s
2 🌶️’s
April 20, 2026
DNF @ 80%
This book had SUCH a strong start but at the halfway point the plot fell to pieces. It felt very rushed and unhinged and all over the place and even my love of the characters (except Lina - who gets very very little focus. it's an insult that she's on the hardcover edition cover) could not get me to finish this book.
Basically, I am so so disappointed.
This book had SUCH a strong start but at the halfway point the plot fell to pieces. It felt very rushed and unhinged and all over the place and even my love of the characters (except Lina - who gets very very little focus. it's an insult that she's on the hardcover edition cover) could not get me to finish this book.
Basically, I am so so disappointed.
November 28, 2025
First off, while I know this is Kats debut piece she absolutely writes like a seasoned author. I have read so many books and have gotten arc copies of quite a few but the diligence and completeness of this manuscript even in an non-final form was better than many published works I've read over the years so I just wanted to give extra credit for that. I expect great things from this author going forward.
Now into the nitty gritty of this story. If you are into fantasy books at all you will enjoy this. It has a complex and well written battle system, the action scenes jump off the page and paint cinema behind your eyes and the characters are nuanced and keep you wanting more.
The cast consists of 4 main characters with extremely memorable supporting cast (the volume of fan art I want to do for this book is literally unsustainable for me) so there may not be a stand out favorite for you, which I consider a good thing. I think its the mark of a book when everyone can have different favorites because all the characters are so strong and have distinctive personalities and this book delivers on that.
The main cast consists of Ione, a rebellious Princess Type (one of my fave tropes if I'm being honest, yes god let the pretty girl drink and curse), Kai, the charismatic asshole type (another favorite because of REASONS) as if they weren't already perfect they are both disaster bisexuals which I cannot emphasize enough is the absolute best. Then there are their respective foils Lina, the sensetive and strong girl holding a dark secret and River the bodyguard with a low annoyance threshold. They all work perfectly together, the dynamics and the banter are top tier.
Now plot, this starts as a basic "Oh no this one group is going to destroy us so we need to destroy them" type of trope but takes SEVERAL hard lefts throughout the series leaving you to wonder what the original plot even was by the end. And I say that in the most positive way possible. I read so much and watch so many stories that it is legitimately hard to surprise me while reading. I will read the same story time repeatedly and just look at the storytelling and character quality. So when I tell you that my jaw DROPPED not once but twice during this whole mess, I mean the twists are completely unexpected. Until you look back like "OMG did that mean THAT? Oh nooooooo" so yeah the story is fantastic.
In conclusion I highly recommend this book, I will definitely be buying a copy when it debuts to read it again with whatever fantastic illustration Kat does for the cover to treasure on my shelf.
Now into the nitty gritty of this story. If you are into fantasy books at all you will enjoy this. It has a complex and well written battle system, the action scenes jump off the page and paint cinema behind your eyes and the characters are nuanced and keep you wanting more.
The cast consists of 4 main characters with extremely memorable supporting cast (the volume of fan art I want to do for this book is literally unsustainable for me) so there may not be a stand out favorite for you, which I consider a good thing. I think its the mark of a book when everyone can have different favorites because all the characters are so strong and have distinctive personalities and this book delivers on that.
The main cast consists of Ione, a rebellious Princess Type (one of my fave tropes if I'm being honest, yes god let the pretty girl drink and curse), Kai, the charismatic asshole type (another favorite because of REASONS) as if they weren't already perfect they are both disaster bisexuals which I cannot emphasize enough is the absolute best. Then there are their respective foils Lina, the sensetive and strong girl holding a dark secret and River the bodyguard with a low annoyance threshold. They all work perfectly together, the dynamics and the banter are top tier.
Now plot, this starts as a basic "Oh no this one group is going to destroy us so we need to destroy them" type of trope but takes SEVERAL hard lefts throughout the series leaving you to wonder what the original plot even was by the end. And I say that in the most positive way possible. I read so much and watch so many stories that it is legitimately hard to surprise me while reading. I will read the same story time repeatedly and just look at the storytelling and character quality. So when I tell you that my jaw DROPPED not once but twice during this whole mess, I mean the twists are completely unexpected. Until you look back like "OMG did that mean THAT? Oh nooooooo" so yeah the story is fantastic.
In conclusion I highly recommend this book, I will definitely be buying a copy when it debuts to read it again with whatever fantastic illustration Kat does for the cover to treasure on my shelf.
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