Tides and Torment

by Caitlan Honer

“Has anyone ever told you that you look ravishing when you’re dying?”

Roisin—an indestructible, heavens-approved assassin—has once again found herself imprisoned. Luckily for her, she once tricked a god into servitude, and he now has no choice but to obey her every command, which includes a (relatively) swift rescue and escape. Thaddeus—aka Thadaryx, God of Sight—would love nothing more than to kill the girl holding his chains and be free to trick more souls into damnation. Instead, he’s forced to help her escape, posing as husband and wife aboard a ship that quickly takes a turn when someone starts killing the passengers one by one.

After Roisin is targeted, she realizes on a ship full of suspects that Thaddeus is the only one whose murderous intents she can trust. A deal is made to hunt down the Thaddeus helps Roisin play detective, and once a day he can test her indestructibility. Together, Roisin and Thaddeus must navigate murder, ocean storms, and the rising tensions beginning to infiltrate their fake marriage. Bodies are piling up, and time is running out to uncover the truth before they reach land.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance

350 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication November 10, 2026

Reviews

[Fariha Taskin]

Pre-read
𓇼 ⋆.˚ 𓆝⋆.˚ 𓇼
Another ARC, the cover was so pretty!!! And the pages inside? Absolutely beautiful

[𝘫𝘢𝘴 ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of advanced copy received from Netgalley

This book is what we call a true enemies to lovers. The story begins with Thaddeus despising Roisin, and his reason for doing so is completely valid. But I love them together so damn much. I was burning with anticipation the entire time waiting for that hate to turn into something else. It’s definitely a slow-burn though, and I can’t wait to see their relationship evolve further in the next book.

I won’t say what Roisin does at the end, only that I was hoping she wouldn’t follow through and I don’t know how I’m going to forgive her for it. A shame, because prior to that moment, I really liked her. But she has a lot of character development to go through, so I expect some major improvement from her in the next book. And Thaddeus got over what she did pretty much instantly, which doesn’t hurt.

Speaking of Thaddeus, I’m obsessed with this man. Fucking love him. Thaddy is damn right. One of the things that struck me the most about him is that when he was a full-fledged god worshipped by humans, he was a kind one. Watching him edge back towards who he used to be was wonderful.

The worst part about this book is that it doesn’t come out until November, meaning book two is even further away. Which pains my soul.

Overall, I really enjoyed this. It was well-written and the premise is just so damn cool. An indestructible assassin and an immortal god chained to her command? Say less.

I will note that there were some typos and numerous formatting errors, but that’s normal for this being an arc. And again, the book doesn’t come out until November, so there’s plenty of time to fix those.

This was a buddy read with my friend Cris who thankfully loved it just as much as I did. Because if she didn’t, it would have been on sight 😊🔪

. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.

thank you to the publisher for the arc♡

[Aeman]

-ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈
Pre-read:
↪ 2026 book #nth!
I have always wanted to read a pirate romance, so when I stumbled upon this one I knew I had to apply for the arc. And surprise! surprise! I got approved. The description had me intrigued, to say the least. A fake marriage where they probably hate each other? SIGN.ME.UP.
The murder mystery is the cherry on top.

⚠️if you have the arc and wish to buddy read, drop a comment or reach out to me on Instagram: aeman_nisha
I'm not starting it until next week.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Bethany Crow · Rating 4 out of 5]

⋆ Thank you to Netgalley for this eARC! ⋆
| 4.25 ⭐️|
If I had to describe this book in one sentence, I would say it's an incredible fantasy book with enemies to lovers, mystery subplot- but make it on a pirate ship.
Going more in depth though, this has everything I loved. The tension was simmering, it was a true enemies to lovers, and it was written very well. They genuinely hated each other, then learned to depend and care for one another and there past and current struggles.
The yearning- especially from Thaddeus- was top tier. And it had forced proximity trope which I absolutely adore.
The banter was phenomenal, the dialouge sometimes made me giggle. And the scenes where they were getting to know eachother- amazing.
The mystery had me intrigued, and I was able to guess a part of what was going on.
All I'm saying is this book left leaving me wanting more. I really hope this author writes more in this world or with these characters, and if she does, I'll be lining up to read it.

[Bree Delgado · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was not ready for how amazing this book was going to be. The god of sight being indebted a badass assassin?
The banter had me kicking my feet and giggling. I read it in one sitting! I also thought I was knew who the murderer was like 3 times. Wow! Can’t wait for the next one.

[Juls · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good banter, a murder mystery, true enemies-to-…? and one of the best FMC ever!
That forced-proximity trope took an entire other level with a fake marriage AND a curfew. 👀
Had a difficult time rooting for the MMC but I think that was the point of his character so well done!

[Candice HappyCatastrophy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Turner Publishing/Keylight for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this delightful book!
This appears to be Caitlin Honer’s debut novel and if so, I will be reading more of her future creations including the sequels to this fun book, Tides and Torment.

In this story, we are thrown into the wild life of Roisin, the mortal-but-unkillable assassin for the goddess Ilanae. This is a world where one can have a wish granted or gain special abilities via entering into a bargain with one of the gods, whether worshipped or forgotten. However, these deals are often full of pitfalls and trickery where the gods always come out far better than the mortals. Go figure. We mortals can be so dense.

Roisin is no exception and now she is forced to kill any human her goddess wishes, in exchange for the promise of a safe passage across a magical river and to a peaceful afterlife once she dies. But it’s beginning to look like she will never ever die and will be forced to kill forever.
So she’s one messed up girlie.

Enter stage right, one of the many forgotten gods in this world, called The Hidden Ones. These forsaken gods live in and under this river of souls- angry and forgotten - entertaining themselves by making their own deals with mortals and pulling any they find down into this hidden world with them. So having Ilanae’s protection across the river is a huge thing and this promise keeps Roisin going as she spends decades being a pet killer. On one of these assignments she ran into this Hidden god, the God of Sight - who is ironically blind- but has many wondrous and scary powers. However, he is being kept as a slave by the very king Roisin was sent to kill, and she makes a deal to free the god only to bind him to herself and force him to do her bidding.

Yeah. Trust no one in this book.

However, the banter and completely hate-hate relationship between these two is what gives this book wings. Honer describes the ridiculous predicaments these two find themselves in as “Scooby-Doo moments” and as I laugh until I cry, I couldn’t agree more. There is one point, where Roisin is having a bit of a moment, and promises the God of Sight that he can attempt to kill her once a day for one hour. And he definitely takes her up on it and what ensues is some of the funniest moments in the book.

Honer also promises absolutely no insta love and by all the book gods she keeps her word on this. Hallelujah. The fact that none of the more touching moments ended up as a jump in the sack, but more than likely ended in yet another hilarious conversation between the two was so refreshing! Slow burn? The slowest! But it’s the only way that makes sense when one is master and one is slave and both are completely maladjusted and slightly unhinged. It’s perfect.

What isn’t so perfect is the world building. It is obvious that Honer is a reader herself and has her finger on the pulse point of the reading community. She knows we all hate insta love. She also knows we prefer being shown the world and let it unfold with minimal telling. Too often, authors will feel the need to info dump and tell us in a long exposition exactly how their fantasy world works. Honer doesn’t do that. In fact she so avidly avoids telling us anything about this world that it is a bit confusing and I found myself lost at times. This world is so big, with so much history, with this fresh, new take on the gods-among-mortals trope, that I believe it would benefit greatly by a little more explaining. The chapters alternate between our two main character’s viewpoints, which I love, and we get puzzle pieces of this world via their actions and contemplations and conversations…but I needed more to really understand what was going on. Many important characters from their past are only just mentioned, and some names are very close to one another. Maybe it’s a me thing, but plot points would come up that were dependent on how this world works and I could not understand what was happening or why this thing was important to the character.

And there are a LOT of characters. And I loved them all. But they were also not very well explained so I quickly lost track of who was who. I was even surprised at the appearance of several who seemed to come out of nowhere and yet had a pretty big influence on the trajectory of the book.

All that feels to me like a first time author who hasn’t yet fine tuned their style of story telling and an editor that maybe should push harder for details and cohesion. I am hoping for her subsequent books to smooth out as she gains experience. Because making sure you explain a world enough is something that can be taught and learned. What cannot be taught as easily are all the things I love about this book and that Honer seems to be able to do consistently and with ease. Things like incredible banter and conversations between characters. The absolute hilarity of the situations Roisin and her god get themselves into. The eeeeevil tricks they plot and play on each other which have a spectacular ability to backfire. Balancing the characters’ immortality and superhuman abilities with real-life sticky situations, annoyances and danger. (There is a running joke about Roisin and her ability to ruin every dress she ever wears that is fantastically funny )

So although this book has some very real story telling flaws, the writing is so good and the humor so on point that these flaws are easily forgivable. They need to be fixed as we move on in the series but give me this “look what you got us into now” banter and the slow slow emergence of emotions and humanity in our superhero main characters and I will eagerly read whatever Honer writes.

[Bee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am grateful to have received this arc from NetGalley, Turner Publishing Company, and Keylight Books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions and writing are my own.

Tides and Torment was such a fun read! This book is for all the people who watched Pirates of the Caribbean and experienced either their bi awakening or confirmation with Elizabeth Swan and Will Turner! Caitlan Honer’s Tide and Torment is a swashbuckling murder mystery that will leave you searching for clues and motive among the passengers and crew on Samira’s Beloved. The main character, Roisin, loves wearing beautiful dresses that, may or may not, interfere with her job as a goddess-approved assassin; how could she not wear the perfect matching slippers to her lilac dress when death is on the menu? The second main character, Thaddeus, the God of Sight, has been forced into servitude by Roisin, whom needed rescue from said slipper-murder incident. However, as they were fleeing, they boarded a ship sent to sail a week away, and neither were expecting to be forced to reckon with each other in such close quarters. As if it couldn’t get any worse, the other passengers start to be murdered. Imagine: who could be better to solve the mystery than the literal assassin and God of Sight caught on the ship?

Honestly, when I saw the cover on Netgalley, I knew I had to get my hands on it. It is absolutely gorgeous, and the beauty does not stop at the cover. The inside has chapter illustrations that added to the aesthetic and atmosphere of the book. You should go look at the author’s instagram for more art from real human artists (love that!). Tides and Torment grasped my attention right away and did not let me rest until I finished the story. I loved learning how everything came together as the mystery unfurled. Caitlin Honer wrote complex, compelling characters that were very interesting to get to know as the story progressed, and it never felt like there were too many people introduced. Caitlin Honer does not shy away from making the characters experience hardship and have them question everything. It was so important to read about the master/servant relationship between Roisin/Thaddeus and Ilenae/Roisin (the goddess that Roisin works for). It will never matter if the person holding the chains is kind and does not demand a lot of you, they still hold the chains that keep you from freedom.

I look forward to reading more about how both main characters progress and grow individually and together as the story continues in book two. Plus, who would say “no” to more romance developing between the two hotties that are the main characters? Not I – which is why I will be waiting patiently for the release of this book in November and then the second book.

Things I forgot to mention that I loved: the world building and experience/emotions that come from loneliness.

[Caitlin Boot · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of Advanced Copy Received from NetGalley

⭐ 4.5/5

I'll start by saying I absolutely adore the cover and artwork. It was one of the first things that drew me in and made me request an ARC. It dares to stand out in a genre where so many covers tend to look the same.

The story opens with our main female character, Roisin, in jail—actual jail—a place she unfortunately finds herself in quite often. The one man who absolutely despises her has no choice but to help save her. I love an enemies-to-lovers romance, but this takes it to another level. You genuinely believe these two cannot stand each other, and when they're forced into close quarters, the stakes become even higher. As bodies begin to drop, they're left with no choice but to work together to unravel the mystery.

Both characters are deeply tormented and carry their own trauma, each with very valid reasons to hate the other. Roisin is a heroine with real depth. During the first half of the book, she's portrayed as fearless, resilient, and seemingly unbreakable. As the story progresses, though, so does her emotional complexity. Watching her process everything happening around her and seeing the ways she copes felt incredibly personal and emotional.

Thaddeus initially comes across as broody, aloof, and emotionally detached. But the more you learn about his past, his motivations, and the weight he carries, the more layered he becomes. He ended up being one of my favourite characters. Everyone sees the gods as cruel, uncaring beings, and while he insists he shouldn't care what people think, a part of him still desperately wants to prove them wrong.

I absolutely devoured this book. The tension was razor-sharp, and watching these two slowly gravitate toward one another, only to be violently torn apart again, had me completely hooked.

I'm already sad that I probably won't be able to get my hands on the paperback since I live in the Netherlands, but hopefully it'll get a European release once it's officially published.

Was it perfect? No.
Was it close? Absolutely.

I genuinely think this has the potential to become an incredible series, and I'm so grateful to have had the opportunity to read an ARC.

A few of my favourite quotes:

"This should be fun, don't you think?" Roisin whispered to him on the walk to their cabin. "Playing husband and wife?" He couldn't imagine a worse punishment for rescuing her.

"Has anyone ever told you that you look quite ravishing when you're dying?"

"'My husband is not a threat to me.' The stab wound implied otherwise. Luckily, wounds couldn't talk."

"Consent isn't a luxury afforded to the enslaved."

[HB the Nocturnal Bookworm · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

This was a fun whodunit book. I loved the plot twists and turns of the murders and being trapped on a boat. The story had witty banter reminiscent of the movie Clue, and the FMC was enchanting. I kept wanting to know what was happening next, and I read it in a few sittings.

The more we got from how the FMC, Roisein became indestructible was so sad, and it made me invested in her journey. This am so happy to see this is a genuine enemies to friends type of book, and they still think they have a lot to go to become lovers. Friends with benefits sure, but they are still on the slow burn journey.

I think the MMC is a very interesting character. Hopefully his background will be expanded upon. He is very burly and I would love to know more about his and Roisein's interactions and what made their dynamic so surly. Additionally, it is eluded that being bound limits his power. Will we learn what that is? Is it just because she bound him or because he is a Hidden One?

I will say that the worldbuilding confused me at times. I wish we had more explanation into why the gods treated her and her followers the way that they do. Additionally, I was confused about the difference between the Hidden Ones and Gods and why there was continued animosity between them. By the end of the book, most of it made sense, but the trickle of information throughout left me disoriented.

There were so many characters and their descriptions were quick and not very detailed. I got a bit blurred on who some of them were, and was unable to picture them, or remember some of their ages. For example, Roisein's mother's name was introduced quickly, and when it was referenced later, I was not sure who they were speaking about.

However, because of the relationships Homer writes as the story unfolds, you become emotionally attached to the side characters and fear they might be a villain or in peril. This definitely kept me on my toes because I did not know who was to blame as the clues kept shifting. I really enjoyed the story and hope it continues. Personally, I might just need a bit more help following the worldbuilding as it develops.

I am looking forward to the next one the series!

[Anna Grace Debiec · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tides and Torment by Caitlan Honer is a fantastic spin on murder mystery with a splash of meddling gods, indestructible humans, and daunting tasks.


The book unfolds on a ship following a daring prison break orchestrated by Thaddeaus - the god of sight who is tied to Roisin. Roisin and Thaddy embark on the ship disguised as two different guests; however, a murder takes place the night they leave. Roisin begins to form relationships with several of the other passengers. She finds kinship with some of them but is soon betrayed and falls into a sense of despair. I felt deeply for Roisin and Thaddy. Both have had to struggle through the past and relieve treacherous moments while aboard the ship. Thaddy is a god who is stuck with Roisin because she was able to ensnare him during an assassination. He is a complex and interesting character, that I hope to read more about in the next books.


Meanwhile, Roisin is a passionate, lonesome, but kind soul. She yearns for connections and hopes to retrieve the memories stolen from her by a goddess. Roisin's loyalties are interesting throughout the story. She is indebted to Ilenae, the goddess, and forced to assassinate followers of the Hidden Ones, who are gods and goddesses forgotten by humans. She is loyal to Ilenae, but understands that theirs is not an equal partnership but rather a leader and a subject. Ilenae does not aid Roisin when she is in trouble, and she certainly does not help her through precarious situations. Instead, she uses her as a tool to find and execute those who are no longer her followers.


I believe the overarching plot will be interesting in the next books. The main focus in this story were the murders on the ship and the dynamic between Roisin and Thaddeaus; however, the epilogue reveals more about the next book. I am excited to continue this series and read more about Roisin and Thaddeaus.


Thank you to NetGalley and Turner Publishing Company for a copy of this book for an honest review.

[Julia Rachelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

A romantasy murder mystery on the high seas? SIGN ME UP. Caitlan Honer’s writing reached through the page and grabbed me by the throat(a fitting comparison if you know Roisin Lark).

I loved this book so much. Our two main characters are Roisin, a (literally) indestructible goddess-approved assassin and Thaddeus, the (almost) forgotten god of sight who (ironically) is blind. He can, however, see through the eyes of others (and other creatures-like his seeing eye spider) and years before entered a bargain with Roisin that ended with her having the power to command him. Roisin, being an assassin, uses this to her advantage to force him to save her when she gets into too much trouble. This was already such a fun dynamic, but when the pair escape Roisin’s latest dungeon cell and steal passage aboard a random ship, they find themselves in the middle of a classic murder mystery as passengers begin to disappear.

The worldbuilding in this book was incredible-especially the lore between the gods and the forgotten gods(Hidden Ones). The plot balanced the worldbuilding perfectly with the murder mystery. I thought I had the killer figured out until I didn’t.

Thaddeus and Roisin’s character arcs go far beyond the typical romance normally found in romantasy (though there’s plenty of that too don’t you worry). They’ve both been taken advantage of by gods and hidden ones alike and the conversations about free will and self worth pulled my heartstrings.

The ending was satisfying AND set up the characters for further adventures in Book 2 which I CAN’T WAIT to read! Literally the last three sentences of the epilogue BLEW MY MIND. I definitely recommend Tides and Torment and the good news is that it is available for preorder now and releases in November!

[aria.roastandread · Rating 5 out of 5]

5  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

"We're having a full conversation, and your eyes are elsewhere?" 
"Haven't any eyes, thanks very much for noticing."

Seriously, 5 stars to ETERNITY! I was initially drawn to the cover, but the content far surpassed my expectations. I finished this in just a day, finding myself hard to put this down. Right off the bat, I fell in love with our main character's dynamic. Without spoiling too much, their relationship was heavy on the forced proximity troupe done right, having to play husband and wife on a ship with literal murders happening. Caitlan Honer excels on creating funny banters as Thaddeus and Roisin interact, as well as creating heart-tugging scenes when it needs to be. The slowburn was so, so good and doesn't feel forced at all.

It was also notable that I found myself caring for the side characters, and they carried distinct voices of their own; their backstory, personality and actions feels like they truly have essences of their own. I think it's hard to pull off so many characterizations but somehow, Honer did it so seamlessly; it was easy to distinguish who is who, even though we're introduced with quite many characters at once.

Tides & Torment managed to make me feel a litany of emotions- giggly, impressed, funny, sorrow and grief. The murder mystery reminded me of a Detective Conan's setup where a murder takes place on a ship, and the passengers each are presented with strong alibis to connect with the murder. I had fun following the whodunnit story and trying to guess who's the actual perpetrator. In terms of worldbuilding, I think it's well done, and I cannot wait to learn more in the next installments. The ending was set up in a satisfying way to wrap the conflict in this one, but laid out an already strong foundation for book two.

I highly recommend this, and implore everyone else to try this out! I will be following Caitlan Honer's career closely. Definitely one of my favourite 2026 reads! 

[Likhith Suram · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had everything I enjoy in a fantasy - gods, magic, mystery, and an enemies-to-lovers romance that actually felt like the characters had reasons to dislike each other. Setting the story on a ship gave it a unique atmosphere, and the murder mystery kept me interested from beginning to end.

The best part for me was definitely Roisin and Thaddeus. Their relationship never felt forced, and I loved seeing how their opinions of each other slowly changed. The tension, teasing, and conversations between them made me smile more than once. Every scene they shared made me want to keep reading.

The world was also really interesting. The idea of forgotten gods, dangerous bargains, and immortality made the story stand out. There was always something new to discover, and I liked slowly learning how everything connected instead of having every answer right away.

The only thing that held it back a little for me was that I sometimes wanted a bit more time with certain moments. A few relationships and plot points moved on just as I was getting invested, and I would have loved a little more depth before the story pushed forward. With such a big cast and an ambitious world, I think spending a little longer on some scenes would have made the emotional moments hit even harder.

Overall, I had a great time with this book and I’m excited to see where the series goes next. If you enjoy fantasy with real enemies-to-lovers tension, mystery, clever banter, and an original world full of gods and secrets, I definitely recommend giving this one a try.

[whatthesmutt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley for an arc copy in exchange for a honest review.

Tropes:
- Slowest of burns
- Fake Marriage
- One Bed
- True Enemies To Lovers
- Forced Proximity
- Who Dun It

I cannot honestly recommend this book if you're a murder mystery, slowest of burns fan. I have to be honest, I battled back and forth as to whether or not I was actually going to read it. But because I kept coming back to this book, I knew I just had to get it over with and read it.

AND I AM SO GLAD I DID. I'm actually so annoyed at myself for not reading it sooner.

I ate this up, and I cannot believe how well written this was. It was clever, plot heavy but never overwhelming and just enough of a sprinkle of tension building between our MCs. When I say this is a true Enemies to Lovers I mean it. It's full trying to kill, not dislike but hate to lovers. And its perfection. Even the magic system is truly unique, we have two sets of gods working against one another, a blind god of sight who uses those around him to see and a goddess approved assassin. One chained to the other against their wishes, both forced to help one another anyway. It was incredible down to all the little Easter eggs flowing into the cliffhanger and the next book. I cannot wait to get sucked into this world again.

If this is Caitlan Honer debut novel, then I cannot wait to see where this world and her writing takes us. Because this was truly such a great and enjoyable read.

[Faa · Rating 5 out of 5]

AAAAARRRGGHHHHHH. This.

This is how you wrote it! Honestly, I come here with no expectations. No hope for how this will turn out at the end. I was in fear, to be honest. Because, this one would be the first fantasy and romance book that I reviewed and I am scared I ended up hating it but nope. Not at all. I loveeeeeee it so much.

The slow burn? Avoiding feelings? The banter? God, I didn’t know it would be this fun! Usually, the reason why I avoid fantasy and romance is because of world-building, but no. I did not hate world-building and find it tiresome.

Instead, I really really really love it. The dynamics between Thadaryx and Roisin. Not to mention, the main plot of their whole journey; solving the murderer.

Honestly, shout out to the author!!! I definitely would never suspect the killer (because I am sucks at solving murder mysteries) and I love how the author kept misleading us to another innocent party. Not until the very end of the book and how Thadaryx gets to play hero too, haha.

I love every bit of this book. I love the story, the characters, the mystery! It has been a pleasure for me to read it and find myself loving it way too much than what I am anticipating! Love, love, loveeee this book.

However, I would love to read some more about Roisin & Thadaryx in the future!🩷

[GrowingInTheValley (Rhiannon) · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I came for the murder mystery romantasy. I left obsessed with Caitlan Honer.”

Tides & Torment completely swept me away. From the moment I saw the breathtaking cover, I knew this book was going to be special — and somehow it still exceeded my expectations. Every single thing the author promised was delivered: enemies to lovers, forced proximity, murder mystery chaos, storm-tossed tension, and chemistry so sharp it practically crackled off the page.

This felt like Pirates of the Caribbean wrapped in dark romantasy magic, with all the banter, danger, and emotional intensity I could ever want. Roisin and Thaddeus were magnetic together, and the atmosphere aboard the ship was immersive in the best way — eerie, romantic, and addictive.

What surprised me most was the murder mystery element. I genuinely had no idea who the killer was, and I loved being kept guessing the entire time. The twists completely blindsided me.

And that ending?! I'm desperate for the next book because I need to know what happens next.

I received an ARC copy of this book, but that absolutely won’t stop me from buying the paperback just so I can stare at that gorgeous cover on my bookshelf.

An absolute five-star read for me, and one of the most entertaining romantasies I’ve read in a long time.

[Rita Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of advanced copy received from NetGalley

Thank you too NetGAlley for an ARC In exchange for an honest review.

I usually don't do a short summary of the book, but the book is to good, not to do this. Romantasy book with an FMC that can't die but feel all the pain, and a blind MMC that can only see through others eye and with it even memories, get stuck on a boat with a murderer. And the FMC and MMC absolutely hate each other in true enemies-to-lovers

The author makes you feel all the emotions and you will hate that you love the MMC, even when your in his POV, you will hate him and love him. Which to be honest is amazing that an author actually manages to do that.

If you love a true enemies-to-lovers. Your going to love this book just because of that. Also if you love a good murder mystery where a few people are trapped together and one if then is the killer, you are going to love this book. And if you love a fantasy book with a complex history, cruel god and goddesses, and diffrent take on magic, again you will love this book. And if you like all 3 you will probably be like me. And this book will be the best read of the year. If I could have given 6 stars I would.

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to netgalley & publishers for this arc!

Tropes to expect:
Fake marriage
Enemies to Lovers
Mystery sub-plot
Forced proximity

Tides & Torment was very Pirates of the Caribbean x clue in the best possible way! The book takes place on a pirate ship following a prison break by Thaddeus (MMC) who is tied to Rosin (FMC). As they embark on the ship - a muder takes place.

Thadddeus and Rosin are true enemies to lovers in the best way possible - Thaddeus truly, deeply despises Rosin at the start - but you slowly watch the hate turn and I can’t wait to see where it goes after this book. I would say they are more friends with benefits at the end of this because they are slow burning - but they truly learned to grow together and depend on one another. I loved Thaddeus & Rosin together - the banter was bantering and tension and yearning were next level!!

That ending…
I can't quite put into words how I feel. Other than to say I wish she made a different choice but on the other side of it all I understand why she did what she did but ugh the cliffhanger!!!

This book is perfect for anyone who loves a good fantasy with a dash of mystery… and definitely fans of Pirates of the Caribbean!

[°✧ sultana ✧° · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a short fantasy where they’re stuck on a ship together for a week. He’s the of sight god chained to her, and she’s a mortal that doesn’t really die. It’s the first installment in a new series, and the cover was what initially drew me in.

Roisin I enjoyed. She’s a complex character who dealt with loss, and she doesn’t think she deserves the story-book typical happy ending. Thaddeus hates her. I mean he is chained to do her every command. I really liked his power, how he can jump from every creature’s sight and see through their eyes. (He’s blind.) Ultimately, they were interesting, and he takes every chance to try to kill her, while they’re playing happy couple on the ship. However I didn’t really connect to them. I think because of its short nature they didn’t develop that much and it fell flat for me. I also had no interest in the mystery or finding the ‘killer’, and when they were finally revealed, it just felt like it came out of nowhere for shock factor? I really wanted to love this but alas, this didn’t hit for me. Give it a try though! You might have a better time. This author’s world building is incredibly unique, and I found the magic fun.

Thank you to the publisher on Netgalley for this ecopy.

[Sydney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Please note that this ARC was provided to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review by me!

I don’t know what I was expecting when I started to read this book, but it definitely wasn’t the cozy, yet murderous tale this turned out to be (although I wasn’t disappointed!). I feel like terms “cozy” and “violent murders” don’t usually go together, but this book managed to do it for me. I liked that I felt I knew the main characters from the very beginning - no long and drawn out monologues about their tragic backstory, just little bits and pieces scattered throughout. I also liked that the MMC and FMC are true enemies with real hate for each other from the very beginning - like seriously, true enemies!

My only real complaint was how slow this novel felt at times. I thought I would feel more compelled to figure out the ending, however, I never felt that drive to spend the whole day and night reading. Instead, I was content to put this book down and pick it up at my leisure (which maybe isn't a bad thing for some people?). Overall, the witty banter, cozy relationships, and whodunnit vibes made this a fun read!

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

"He lifted a single dark brow. 'I bludgeon my way down to the bottom of this pit, and you can't even be bothered to be awake when I arrive?'
'Hello to you too,' she said, voice cracking."

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I devoured this book in a day! A murder mystery where people keep dying, with an indestructible, heaven-approved assassin and the forgotten God of Sight she commands playing detective—while also pretending to be a married couple, trapped together on a boat? I was hooked.

I loved Roisin and Thaddeus's dynamic. The tension between them was fantastic! There's no spice, but their chemistry and banter more than made up for it. I also really enjoyed trying to figure out who the killer was. We get real peeks into each suspect's background, which kept making me change my mind about who was involved.

I'll definitely be checking out whatever Caitlan Honer writes next! I can't wait to add this one to my shelf when it comes out in November.

[Amaiur · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review. This was my very first ARC, and I couldn’t be happier 💖

An enemies to lovers romantasy murder mystery on a sailing ship? Say LESS. The story immediately hooked me as Roisin and Thaddeus quickly begin their journey as a fake married couple. I really enjoyed their dynamic, their tension, and the nuances of their relationship —being on opposite sides of the Gods’ conflict, her being able to command him, and him wanting her dead to gain his freedom.

At first, I was a little confused by the Gods and Hidden Ones system but that was just my language barrier. Once everything fell into place I really enjoyed the worldbuilding. Thaddeus’s powers were fascinating, and I want to learn more about other Hidden Ones.

The murder mystery and the Baasch storyline were a bit of a weaker part for me, the reveal felt a little anticlimactic. However, the end of the epilogue was incredible. That is the kind of final sentence / twist I live for. I can’t wait to see what happens next!

[Mia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Writing ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5/5
World building ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
Plot ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Characters ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5/5

Wow.

Just the concept of this book was intriguing, an assassin with a fallen god at her beck and call. I remember reading the first 20% of the book and wondered how on earth will the two of them collide.

The writing in Tides and Torment is music to my eyes; I find literally no fault with it. I like it very much. It isn't too wordy. It's precise but not repetitive.

The world building is nicely done. It's a bit secondary to the plot and everything that happened, but the bits I see of it is a thumb-up.

The plot is engaging. The banter is lovely. Did I find plot holes? I don't know, I was busy vibing. The mystery in here kept me on my toes. I dare say I got the culprit right. So I'm pretty hyped up. 😁

I pity and worry for Roisin. The poor girl is traumatized and has got attempts to off her every day in her life. I hope she find reprieve and learn o open her heart again for a certain murderous god.

Overall, a 4.75⭐ for me. Fun time, a writing style I vibe with, good world building 👍​

[Naomi Torres · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, I sincerely hope there’s a book 2 because that ending 🤯

So we have an assassin who made a deal with the hidden ones (essentially gods who are like “fallen angels”) and was gifted indestructibility. Insert the god of souls, who decides to make Roison her personal assassin to aid in un-Aliving other individuals who call upon the hidden ones.

On a job Roison stumbles upon a fallen God, the god of sight, and after tricking him into revealing his true name she forces him to become her protector. At her beck and call Thaddeus found himself relieved of one captor and took by another. But when Roison is captured and commands Thaddeus to save her, they end up on a ship as their escape route, and smack dab in the middle of murder scheme thanks to their stolen identities.

I love how the author blended fantasy with the mystery element. I also really enjoyed the banter and tension between Roison and Thaddeus! It was gruesome, it was questionable, it was swoon worthy, and I was here for it all 🙌🏽 The end reveal was done fantastically, same as the extra plot twist!
A job well done.

[TeMi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Also the formatting on Netgalley Reader was not it I could not increase the font and when i increased on my computer the text got blurry.
DNFED
We begin by finding out that the MFC managed to tame a Hidden One( a God in their world) named Thadryx. Roisin got caught and she lied saying she was sent by her goddess which resulted in her getting beaten. It turns out that Thardyx dislikes Roisin and is mad for being bested by a mortal. Thardyx is the God of sight. He cosplays as a human and is unable to resist the calls of a summon. Roisin offered a deal to the goddess in exchange for indesubtibility. Roisin is almost a hundred years old as the deal witht eh goddess stopped her aging. Thardyx eventually comes to rescue her and he also recues the other prisoner.s
Good parts:
Bad parts:
It was told that he had no eyes but he could still glance over his shoulder and move around normally. It is never said how he does it.

[Kara B · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a definite 4.5 star read for me.
First of all, this is a true enemies to lovers trope which is so refreshing compared to the books that claim to be enemies to lovers but really its just two people who have a shared mild annoyance with each other.
I really enjoyed the mystery aspects of this book which made it hard to put down, as well as the tension growing between the FMC and the MMC. Paired with their dialogue and clever, well timed sarcasm, I truly could not get enough of their dynamic.
One thing that sticks with me is that even though the MMC is the grumpy, brooding type they didn't make the FMC the bubbly, sunshine type which I really appreciated.
Now as for their progression from their relationship from the beginning to the end, I felt like there could have been more build up to the change so it didn't feel so quick to happen however I do see it working in favor for future books in the series.
Overall I would definitely recommend this book!

[Summer Ross · Rating 4 out of 5]

-Netgalley Reviewer-

Honestly I fell hard for this book with every twist, every torment, every page of yearning that kept me up at night. I wish this was not a series because waiting for the next book when this one is barely released is utter torment.
It doesn't end on a cliffhanger... more a happily for now scenario.
It is a bit darker of a read. An enemies to lovers trope with true intent to be an enemy.
The book has a pretty good mystery involved on the ship which I honestly didn't expect the end of.
Will I read book 2 absolutely. Will I recommend this to anyone who will listen absolutely.
If you enjoy enemies to lovers, assasins, yearning, mystery, and a good story... this is the one to read.

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of a Netgalley ARC- but trust these are my true feelings.
A book so captivating it made me forget the MMC’s name was Thad. A fascinating closed ship murder mystery with a unique world full of gods. The remembered gods retained power and praise while the forgotten ones clawed for power through fae-type deals. When a child enters into one of those deals, a brutal, unkillable assassin is born. While she has many great qualities, a forgotten god hates that one of her qualities is that she’s unkillable… or does he??? Thrust together on a ship with murders piling up, anything can happen.
But that’s not all!! This book had the most delicious slow burn, enemies to lovers that truly delivers on every yearning desire. Truly a breath of fresh air.

[em · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was not prepared for the way this book had me HOOKED.

I originally was drawn to the book by the absolutely gorgeous cover but stayed because of the banter between the very opinionated MC’s

This book was a whirlwind of plot twists and never knowing who to trust. I wasn’t fully prepared for this to be a mystery / thriller wrapped in such a pretty packaging but i’m not complaining in the slightest.

I will say the ending did leave me sort of wishing for more. It didn’t leave off on a cliffhanger or anything but definitely some room that the story could be expanded upon later.

For now, I’m very eager to check out what else Caitlan Honer has for us to read in the meantime while we hopefully wait for a sequel.