Mysterious Skies Above

Vows of Vengeance #2

by J.A. Good

The sea made her a pirate. Vengeance will make her dangerous.

When her brother and Captain Flynn are captured, Rose must embrace the life she becoming a pirate in her own right, with the crew of the Sea Wraith at her side. From glittering ballrooms to shadowed coastlines, she sails into a deadly web of politics, betrayal, and forbidden love.

But the price of freedom may be higher than she imagined. To save those she loves, Rose must strike a bargain with her enemy and voyage into the mysterious deep—where myths breathe, legends stir, and monsters do not always look like beasts.

In this thrilling conclusion to the Vows of Vengeance duology, passion and peril collide in a tale of love, vengeance, and the courage to face the unknown.

Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy, Pirates

408 pages, Paperback

Published January 8, 2026

About the author

J.A. Good is the author of the adult fantasy romance Forged in Fire Series. She is a northerner living in Florida who’s love of books and new worlds inspired her to create her own. She is a pediatric intensive care nurse at night and a writer, mom, wife, and cat enthusiast during the day. When she isn’t naming all the dinosaurs with her toddlers you can find her staring at her book collection with her cats lamenting her lack of castles and magic.

Reviews

[Grace McKay · Rating 5 out of 5]

I truly can’t say enough about how much I love this series. Book 2 didn’t disappoint at all and I’m so sad it’s over. I won’t just miss Rose and Bash but the entire crew of the Wraith. Anyone want to run away and become badass, seafaring pirates? 🏴‍☠️🙋‍♀️🐙

I already want to read them both again…

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

How this series isn’t being talked about all over the book world has me shocked. It’s a newer series by an indie author and is absolutely killer! There isn’t a slow or dull moment. Filled with action and adventure, high stakes and deep sea monsters, treasure and ancient myths. Highly recommend reading! Solid five star read!

**there are some e-reader errors that hopefully will be fixed**

[Ágnes Malta-Lakó · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hmmm, it’s 3.5⭐️s rounded up.

I was very excited about the second instalment of this duology because the first book was such a fun read!
I did highlight a lot while reading because I did enjoy the wisdom that was sprinkled throughout; however, I do think the pacing of this book was a bit odd.

The beginning sets up Bash and Oscar in jail while Rose is fighting for their freedom, and I had to be honest, Bash’s chapters were difficult to get through. Then sudden action started and we were travelling all the time. But geographically I did have a lot of trouble keeping up with it. Like going from London to Azores but somehow the Aloja near Mallorca were in the way? It might be me not paying attention but this sounded more like Madeira to me. And this took up so little time while going back to the pillars of Hercules (Gibraltar) took 5 days. I’m the kind of reader that cannot switch off her engineer brain and this was bugging me.

The endgame/resolution seemed a bit anticlimactic (again, for me), since I was waiting for some kind of power-revelation regarding Rose.

I would recommend this book to read just don’t overanalyse geography. :D

[Hannah Britton · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm having a hard time rating this one, so I'm going to leave it in the middle. I will say that I have enjoyed this duology, it is a fun time full of adventure and drama and if I don't think too hard about it, I don't have any issues. I love all our characters, main, side, and even the villains here. The first half of the book was definitely the best.

I really think this book should have gotten a couple more proof reads and edits. While I am able to look past these things, some were so incredibly jarring. Like mixing up character names! Oliver is kissing Inu? Oliver locked up with Sebastian? You mean Oscar? OOF. That was a pretty big whoopsie for me that I couldn't really shake. Also some parts a new line would start in the middle of a sentence, obviously by accident, and some time later in the book, the first few sentences of a new chapter were formatted up in The Mysterious Deep excerpts, or the excerpt was weirdly double/triple spaced leaving room for only about a sentence or two of the actual chapter... while this is not why I have rated this only 3 stars, it does lead me to believe that this was perhaps rushed out too soon.

So lets get into the nitty gritty....

Spoilers ahead...




I am disappointed by the "quickness" of everything. It is always "we need to go here and do this thing" and then suddenly we are there and it takes about five for it to all be over and done with. I also felt like we had sooo much build up to Rose being so special with ties to these mythical beasts, and we never really get to see the extent of that. I mean, Im glad that we were told what it was? kinda? The extent of her "gift" is an angry cat who loves her, a grumpy crab who tags along for the last couple chapters, and Koinu helping them steer clear of the witches and lifting her up from the depths (both instances were a sentence really), and that is it. There was so much build up for sweet Koinu and I was just left pretty disappointed.

Inu and Val. I was..... underwhelmed, and that really pissed me off. I absolutely loved these characters, but it all happened so fast. I also wanted DESPERATELY for Inu and Rose to have a relationship that we got to see on the page. All the truce we got between them was in Roses POV where she says "we've come to an understanding and are better now" (barely paraphrasing here) and so when everything happens I found it to be... forced? I don't know, I just feel some type a way about it. Val hurt more, but even then we never really got to SEE their relationship we are always just TOLD about it. Kit changed a lot of that, so I was happy to see more of her character.

I think all in all, it is a good and fun time, if I don't think too far into things.

[spiralroots · Rating 5 out of 5]

This final book was truly incredible. I was inspired by the wisdom that was embedded in the words of each character. The epilogue had be in tears. And the final letter by Cordelia Shaw had me in happy tears. This 2-part series has me raw. I had to take breaks between because I didn’t want it to end. Here are some of my most favourite quotes and excerpts that are not going to spoil the book but hopefully inspire you to read it:

P121: There comes a day when a woman stops believing the story written about her and begins writing the one she was born for.

P184: The moment you let me have you, you were mine whether you realized it or not.

P188: Where you go, I go from now on. You are the compass I worship.

P205: Always question the man who values power above all else; he has already forgotten what makes him human.

P224: Her smile was a light in the darkest night, and I had the distinct feeling that if I were ever lost, it would call me home to her.

P392: Obsession and vengeance were two sides of the same coin. The difference was love—love that said stop, love that said enough, love that anchored a person to life instead of letting them sink into purpose until it became a coffin.

And finally p402… which I will not reveal because it’s too precious to put here. You’ll just have to make it to that page and feel the reverence of the words of Cordelia Shaw. I hope you enjoy the books as much as I did.

[Kayla’s Book Binge · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ahhh this is so hard for me. The first book was one of my favorite books of last year. Bash’s line about the afterlife during the Kraken attack is still one of my favorite quotes of all time.

This book is in need of a second edit. Mixing up Oliver and Oscar’s names to the point where Inu is calling her love the wrong name is very jarring. It happened in multiple lines.

I love Bash and Rose so much… but this one did not hit for me as much as book one did. Their reunion didn’t even feel special.

There was such a lead up to her being this daughter of the sea but nothing really happened with it. Yeah some animals are drawn to her but other than that…what’s the point? I was waiting for a big reveal to happen and it never did.

It felt like they got to Atlantis way too easily and there was no struggle to get there. We have no proper ending with Ximena. I was left disappointed with that scene.

I’m forever heartbroken about Inu and Val. Oscar deserved happiness :(

I fear this would have hit harder if it had been a trilogy where this book was focused on getting him out of the prison (imagine if she saved him right as he was being hung? Cinema) and then the third book would have had time to focus on Atlantis and not feel rushed.

[Bee . • ° ★ . • . * ☾ · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best pirate books I've ever read. This was pure Will Turner and Elizabeth Swann and I ate it up.

Inu, there's no words. One of the most powerful silent characters I've ever read.
All the characters had amazing arcs. But Rose left my jaw on the floor. Her strength and resilience, even when faced with impossible choices was incredible to read.
Bash was a pirate after my own heart. I loved how complex and layered he was and I appreciate the route the author took him in in this story.

" I swear to god, to the gods, the seas and the winds that the night sky never sparkles the way her green eyes did just then.bi could spend my whole life chasing after the feeling of watching joy alight her from within, and I would never find a similar novelty on any shore. Pirate, aristocrat, fiancé, they could call me whatever they wanted as long as she called me hers"

Oscar deserves his own story to be told, so I sincerely hope the author sees my review 🫰🏼

[Norine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good gosh. I have no words. Give me Pirates of the Caribbean with deep yearning, languid love and words and adventures and gripping world! Ahhh! This shocked me and made me bawl. Ohhh why! Inu and Val! This definitely felt so different than your regular romantasy. I felt like I was in a movie. No. I felt like I was in the Wraith fighting the Leviathan. Love it!! Okay now I have calmed down. The deep way I love this duology cannot be fathomed. It started slow, read it off and on over the holidaze, and bam. I was sat, and I held on for dear life. I am in awe on how it was written, so non boring. So intense and vivid and once you latch, oh dear, you better buckle up. You can feel each moment, each snipe, each caress, each wonder, each touch. The deep, too deep slow romance is unshakeable, unbothered, possessive too obsessive and I. AM . HERE. FOR IT. Oh the heartbreak, the way I sat up and bawled. Good Gosh. Oh Take me with you. Please. Trap me. Have me. Destroy meeeeeeeeeee.

[LadyA · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pirates, Vengeance, and Bittersweet Goodbyes

The Mysterious Skies Above is a fun, high seas fantasy finale packed with pirates, danger, and a crew that truly feels like found family. I was genuinely sad to say goodbye to Rose, Bash, and the Sea Wraith. The sense of adventure and emotional connection to the characters is where this book shines the most, especially in the first half, which was fast-paced and immersive.

While I really enjoyed the story overall, there were some pacing and editing issues that pulled me out of the experience at times. Even so, the world is rich, the characters are memorable, and the stakes feel personal. If you enjoy pirate fantasy, sea magic, and character-driven adventures, this duology is worth the voyage. It may not be perfect, but it is absolutely an enjoyable and memorable ride.

[Heather Baxendale · Rating 3 out of 5]

NOW THIS is a pirate story! Mysterious Skies Above has adventure, magic, mysterious creatures, and otherworldly artifacts. The first book was a good time, but this was fantastic, and the second book in a fantasy series can be hard. Rose and Bash are fantastic, and the Baileys are delightful, and the crew of pirates is such a good time. The villains and morally gray characters are three-dimensional, and there is actual pirating going on, which I've found lacking in all of my other attempts at a true pirate-themed romance. I mean, the captain gets a hook! A hook! This is what I wanted! Finally.

3.25 stars

[Greta · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars!

This was a great conclusion to the Vows of Vengeance duology. 🥰 It was easy to read and fast paced with a couple twists at the end I didn’t see coming! For most of the book the back-and-forth between Bash and Rose had nice banter and the tension between the two was 🔥

But we lost some of precious souls.... It felt wrong.... I don't know why.... Also some sparks and some tension were missing from book 1, this is why I couldn't give 5 stars! And this is why this duology feels incomplete to me!

Overall, I really enjoyed this book!

[Amber Young · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Obsession and vengeance were two sides of the same coin. The difference was love.- love that said STOP, love that said ENOUGH, love that anchored a person to life instead of letting them sink into purpose until it became a coffin”

This book was so beautiful. The writing made me fall in love with the sea and want to set sail for the rest of my life. There is so much depth to the writing and story line. The sea takes but it also gives 10 fold. It was heartbreaking and beautiful all at once. The character froth and journeys and found family were written so well. It was raw and real.

[Steph Rad · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't normally leave reviews, but I had to for this series! Love the adventure, the found family and the amazing banter throughout these two books. This last book had me laughing, yelling at it to NOT do what I feared it would do and tearing up. I feel like I was a part of this family and it's sad to say goodbye, but it's wonderful to know I can visit anytime.

[Carlie W · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so excited to dive back into the world of Vows of Vengence.
I loved book one and was waiting impatiently for this to come out haha
I loved the journey this took, Rose and Bash and the crew on the Sea Wraith.
I’m not giving anything away but it was beautifully written, the creatures from the deep I loved!
The story line was perfections.

Thank you J.A Good for this awesome duology .

[Shannon Mungo · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best doulogy I have ever read! (and I have read alot of books)

excellent pacing, amazing conclusion, with drama action and more romance!

the side characters become family and they were all so well written and didnt get over powered by the main characters.

Brigerton meets pirates ☠️

Seriously do yourself a favor and go read this series

[Sara Hernandez · Rating 3 out of 5]

LOTS of pacing issues (too much time spent on non-relevant plot scenes, especially considering they give up on their motives from book one). Plot doesn’t really even start until 60% in and everything was rushed from there. Unnecessary character deaths that didn’t really leave an emotional impact because we moved on so fast. Very disappointing considering I loved the first one so much.

[Danielle Bilow · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book and conclusion of this duologyl! The book is face paced, well written & has a few twists you may or may not see coming! I will say this book for me wasn't as impactful as the first, but it's still a good read!

[Elle Clayton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quick, easy, exciting, and adventurous!! I love this duology. It was incredibly fast paced and I would love to read more adventures at sea. There were a few editing errors, but we’re just going to ignore those because the books are so fun

[Dorothy Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This duology was just a delightful yarn, a rip-roaring adventure on the high seas, with a loving found family at its center. There were some editing mistakes, but if you can't overlook those, you'll miss out on a good time. Highly recommend this duology.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a perfect high seas adventure & conclusion to the Vows of Vengeance duet. I loved it, the characters, the mystery, found family, twists & turns, burn the world for her/him romance, and more. I am sad it's over but satisfied with the ending. highly recommend.

[Julia]

Dnf at 44%

[Serena Malik · Rating 5 out of 5]

*chef’s kiss* 👌🏼

[Sherry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it

I loved this second one as much as the first. Briderton meets pirates of the caribbean. The adventure and the society all mixing together and it was so fun to read.

[Maria Trung · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as good as the first sadly hahahaha. Less action and significant plot points for me haha I also tend to not care as much when a couple is already together tbh so it was okkkk

[Melanie Watts · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am on awe of this book. I didn't want it to end. Such a good duology and even though it broke my heart (thanks for that) I loved every part of this book. The intrigue and adventure they have on the Wraith is so epic. The ending was fantastic and it showed the depth of the characters. Bash will always have my pirate heart and Rose is his perfect counter part. I loved the book.