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Zeal of the North #1
Who Hears the Waters’ Call
Not yet published
Expected 22 Jul 26From Amazon best selling Author Sophia St. Germain comes a thrilling new series, Zeal of the North, in which a Viking heir must attend the king's brutal war academy before she is sent to conquer the world.
The eldest daughter of the chieftain of their village, Elvara Sweengard was brought up to do one thing: marry someone of equal rank to further her family’s rule. But when the ships in their village go quiet and magic vanishes, the unthinkable is confirmed: her father and brother have been slaughtered on their way to the Hird—the king’s elite war academy—where her brother was to claim his mantle as the next chieftain.
Elvara is now the only thing standing between her people and extinction. She must take her brother’s empty seat at the academy and earn a rune from the gods to restore the magic they lost—but first, she must survive both the ruthless trials of the Hird and the other initiates vying for her place, all without her family’s tragedy being revealed.
As the trials begin, she soon learns that they are not the only dangers she faces. Enemies lurk both inside and outside the realm. She needs to decide who is friend and who is foe before it’s too late—something that becomes far more complicated when the battle bond meant to tie her to her childhood guard is compromised and she instead finds herself tethered to a six-foot-five Viking warrior who would sooner put an axe through her heart than see a crown on her head.
The eldest daughter of the chieftain of their village, Elvara Sweengard was brought up to do one thing: marry someone of equal rank to further her family’s rule. But when the ships in their village go quiet and magic vanishes, the unthinkable is confirmed: her father and brother have been slaughtered on their way to the Hird—the king’s elite war academy—where her brother was to claim his mantle as the next chieftain.
Elvara is now the only thing standing between her people and extinction. She must take her brother’s empty seat at the academy and earn a rune from the gods to restore the magic they lost—but first, she must survive both the ruthless trials of the Hird and the other initiates vying for her place, all without her family’s tragedy being revealed.
As the trials begin, she soon learns that they are not the only dangers she faces. Enemies lurk both inside and outside the realm. She needs to decide who is friend and who is foe before it’s too late—something that becomes far more complicated when the battle bond meant to tie her to her childhood guard is compromised and she instead finds herself tethered to a six-foot-five Viking warrior who would sooner put an axe through her heart than see a crown on her head.
544 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication July 22, 2026
About the author
Sophia St. Germain
11 books1,522 followersSophia St. Germain is a Swedish-born, American-married author whose obsession with mythology and defiant princesses began with diaries full of stories at ten years old. Nowadays, she writes dark romantasy with fierce, flawed women and the swoon-worthy men who are obsessed with them, always with scorching slow burn and found family.
When she isn’t plotting her next world, she’s likely fueled by an iced latte, navigating a slightly chaotic life with her own mini FMC, husband, and dog, often recovering from a reality TV binge.
Having lived in five countries and four states, Sophia is a traveler at heart. She dreams of a life by the beach where she can dip into the ocean whenever she wants and write on a balcony with the waves as background music.
When she isn’t plotting her next world, she’s likely fueled by an iced latte, navigating a slightly chaotic life with her own mini FMC, husband, and dog, often recovering from a reality TV binge.
Having lived in five countries and four states, Sophia is a traveler at heart. She dreams of a life by the beach where she can dip into the ocean whenever she wants and write on a balcony with the waves as background music.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 135 reviews
June 9, 2026
” you are utterly, terrifyingly, devastatingly infinite.”
GUYS MY SLUMP IS OVER.
this book completely captivated me. the world building was incredible and and i was immersed into the story from the beginning.
i was sceptical of the trials as i feel they are so overdone in romantasy books but these were so well done and woven into the storyline that they didn’t feel like trials because they were necessary for the plot.
i loved the sentient ships!!! these were so well done and i loved that they had their own personalities 🥹
all the characters, including the side characters were written so well. they all had their own chance to shine in this book. enemies become allies, allies become friends. i would die for my man ivren.
elvara is fiesty, badass and will do everything she can to save her people. i absolutely loved her from the first page and was rooting for her the whole book. i was in absolute awe of her resilience.
darcke is broody and mysterious and the mouth on this man???? he is a man who talks her through it 🤭 the slow burn was perfect and the “fuck it” moment paid off.
the last 20% had me on the edge of my seat but the last 5%?! pure chaos i had whiplash.
i feel this book is going to HUGE and im so grateful i got to read this early. this is everything you want in a romantasy and the viking world just gave it that extra little bit of wow!! thank you so much sophia for the e-arc i cannot wait for book 2!!
GUYS MY SLUMP IS OVER.
this book completely captivated me. the world building was incredible and and i was immersed into the story from the beginning.
i was sceptical of the trials as i feel they are so overdone in romantasy books but these were so well done and woven into the storyline that they didn’t feel like trials because they were necessary for the plot.
i loved the sentient ships!!! these were so well done and i loved that they had their own personalities 🥹
all the characters, including the side characters were written so well. they all had their own chance to shine in this book. enemies become allies, allies become friends. i would die for my man ivren.
elvara is fiesty, badass and will do everything she can to save her people. i absolutely loved her from the first page and was rooting for her the whole book. i was in absolute awe of her resilience.
darcke is broody and mysterious and the mouth on this man???? he is a man who talks her through it 🤭 the slow burn was perfect and the “fuck it” moment paid off.
the last 20% had me on the edge of my seat but the last 5%?! pure chaos i had whiplash.
i feel this book is going to HUGE and im so grateful i got to read this early. this is everything you want in a romantasy and the viking world just gave it that extra little bit of wow!! thank you so much sophia for the e-arc i cannot wait for book 2!!
Want to Read
March 31, 2026I'm a sucker for Vikings.
June 18, 2026
I will be shocked if this book doesn’t get picked up by a traditional publisher.
Imagine Moana if she was a Viking and had to go to a War Academy to prove herself and to save her people.
I had such a blast gossiping about the characters in Who Hears the Waters Call by @sophiastgermain_author like they were our friends with @falling.for.fictionmco during our ARC buddy read 😍 - thank you so much for the opportunity to read this book early! (The official release date is July 22nd!)
I loved this book so much. It literally has everything we love about Romantasy books: a war academy, an FMC who has to become more than what she thought she was, a broody mysterious dirty-talking MMC, and all the slow burn, banter, tension and plot twists you could ever want! I CANNOT WAIT for book 2.
I didn’t have time before RomantasyCon LA, but now I’m definitely going to have to read The Compelling Fates Saga before @villainsandvixens and @thenewromanticsbooks event next month! 😁😍
Imagine Moana if she was a Viking and had to go to a War Academy to prove herself and to save her people.
I had such a blast gossiping about the characters in Who Hears the Waters Call by @sophiastgermain_author like they were our friends with @falling.for.fictionmco during our ARC buddy read 😍 - thank you so much for the opportunity to read this book early! (The official release date is July 22nd!)
I loved this book so much. It literally has everything we love about Romantasy books: a war academy, an FMC who has to become more than what she thought she was, a broody mysterious dirty-talking MMC, and all the slow burn, banter, tension and plot twists you could ever want! I CANNOT WAIT for book 2.
I didn’t have time before RomantasyCon LA, but now I’m definitely going to have to read The Compelling Fates Saga before @villainsandvixens and @thenewromanticsbooks event next month! 😁😍
June 19, 2026
✨ARC Review✨
What makes me so incredibly sad is I wanted to love this book. I truly did. I enjoyed the "Compelling Fates Saga", so not enjoying this is sad to me. But something was SOO off about the writing.
There were good moments. I really enjoyed the sentient ships and how Elvara interacted with them. I thought it was unique, and giving the ships personalities without having them talk was a lot of fun. And Darcke did have some good moments and lines...
But...
Everything happens with no time to sit and absorb anything.
The amount of overclarifying, saying the same thing over and over again in the first chapter was alarming. Talking around in circles that made the chapter longer than it needed to be with Viljan and Elvara saying the same sentence or meaning over and over again was not good.
The conversations and dialog are all over the place. Incredibly chaotic with very minimum or no stage direction at all that made it hard to follow or know where people are standing or doing or having them one place and then appear somewhere else without the words to describe them moving made it very hard to follow. Almost flighty, like when your thoughts are flighty and zip from one moment to another, it felt like that.
At the 50% mark it started to feel like it was finding it's flow, I think the romance and banter was decent and that is when it started becoming more of a focus so that is why it maybe felt it was finding it's flow.
The way things are revealed isn't clear at all. A lot of guesswork that the reader has to do, and confusion. I don't need to be babied, but I do need to know what our characters are thinking and need them to explain a twist and make it make sense and clear that the characters even know what is going on when something is revealed. Again, very flighty.
The ending was very convoluted, and one of the most confusing endings I have read in a long time. It was unsatisfying because I had no idea what was going on, who was who, what was what, what things meant... it was like those dreams where you are thrown into a situation and expected to know what to do.. but you don't.
Again, I really wanted to love it, I really really did... but unfortunately I think it needs time with edits to make the flow better and spend TIME to make the payoffs worth it.
Thank you so incredibly much for the ARC. I will always be honest in my reviews 🤍
What makes me so incredibly sad is I wanted to love this book. I truly did. I enjoyed the "Compelling Fates Saga", so not enjoying this is sad to me. But something was SOO off about the writing.
There were good moments. I really enjoyed the sentient ships and how Elvara interacted with them. I thought it was unique, and giving the ships personalities without having them talk was a lot of fun. And Darcke did have some good moments and lines...
But...
Everything happens with no time to sit and absorb anything.
The amount of overclarifying, saying the same thing over and over again in the first chapter was alarming. Talking around in circles that made the chapter longer than it needed to be with Viljan and Elvara saying the same sentence or meaning over and over again was not good.
The conversations and dialog are all over the place. Incredibly chaotic with very minimum or no stage direction at all that made it hard to follow or know where people are standing or doing or having them one place and then appear somewhere else without the words to describe them moving made it very hard to follow. Almost flighty, like when your thoughts are flighty and zip from one moment to another, it felt like that.
At the 50% mark it started to feel like it was finding it's flow, I think the romance and banter was decent and that is when it started becoming more of a focus so that is why it maybe felt it was finding it's flow.
The way things are revealed isn't clear at all. A lot of guesswork that the reader has to do, and confusion. I don't need to be babied, but I do need to know what our characters are thinking and need them to explain a twist and make it make sense and clear that the characters even know what is going on when something is revealed. Again, very flighty.
The ending was very convoluted, and one of the most confusing endings I have read in a long time. It was unsatisfying because I had no idea what was going on, who was who, what was what, what things meant... it was like those dreams where you are thrown into a situation and expected to know what to do.. but you don't.
Again, I really wanted to love it, I really really did... but unfortunately I think it needs time with edits to make the flow better and spend TIME to make the payoffs worth it.
Thank you so incredibly much for the ARC. I will always be honest in my reviews 🤍
June 7, 2026
Thank you, Sophia for this eARC!
4.5 rounded up ✨ okay my mind is still SPINNING from this!! Badass Vikings, an academy, bonds, sentient boats, literally he hates her, and one of my new favorite “f*ck it” moments. The world building was soooo incredible here - I was immersed from the start and found myself never wanting to leave this world.
Elvara will sacrifice anything and everything for her people. She is stubborn to a fault but won’t let anything get in her way. Every chapter I’m like, damn give this poor girl a break!! Darcke is a broody, broken, warrior who is confusing af. He has big feelings and he’s not very good at processing them but he’s also now one of my favorite MMCs. I think? I’ll return to that statement when book 2 exists.
I love all of our side characters and how they fit into the story, they all serve a purpose. Naturally, like any other romantasy, I trust none of them but I still them all the same. Like Ivren, I would die for him.
I had to read the ending over again because my brain was allllll over the place. So many questions and I can’t wait to see what happens!!
4.5 rounded up ✨ okay my mind is still SPINNING from this!! Badass Vikings, an academy, bonds, sentient boats, literally he hates her, and one of my new favorite “f*ck it” moments. The world building was soooo incredible here - I was immersed from the start and found myself never wanting to leave this world.
Elvara will sacrifice anything and everything for her people. She is stubborn to a fault but won’t let anything get in her way. Every chapter I’m like, damn give this poor girl a break!! Darcke is a broody, broken, warrior who is confusing af. He has big feelings and he’s not very good at processing them but he’s also now one of my favorite MMCs. I think? I’ll return to that statement when book 2 exists.
I love all of our side characters and how they fit into the story, they all serve a purpose. Naturally, like any other romantasy, I trust none of them but I still them all the same. Like Ivren, I would die for him.
I had to read the ending over again because my brain was allllll over the place. So many questions and I can’t wait to see what happens!!
June 16, 2026
As an eldest daughter, I loved this book so much! I felt so seen by Elvara. I haven’t read other books by this author yet, but I’m definitely going to!!
“You are”—his hand lifted my chin, his eyes searing into mine—“utterly, terrifyingly, devastatingly infinite.”
“You are”—his hand lifted my chin, his eyes searing into mine—“utterly, terrifyingly, devastatingly infinite.”
June 20, 2026
Review of advanced copy given by author
GATHER ROUND BESTIES, WE ARE OFF TO HUG SOME BOATS!!!!! WHO hears the waters’ call!???
ME, I HEAR THE WATERS’ CALL AND I NEED BOOK 2 ASAP BC THE TWIST I THOUGHT WAS TWISTING TWISTED OFF MY NIPPLES WHEN IT DOUBLE TWISTED!!!! FIVE STARS!!!!!!!!!!
SOPHIAAAAA YOU MFING QUEEN!!! Thank you for letting me be a feral arc reader for you 🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻
I WILL KEEP THIS SPOILER FREE BUT I HAVE TO SCREAM
THE BOATS?! JUST A BUNCH OF GIRLS’ GIRLS
THE BETRAYALS!!!!PLURAL!!!! I am HURT for Elvara!!!!!
LET ME BLUE SKADOO INTO THE BOOK AND SLAP A FEW PPL I BEG PLEASE
THE ENEMIES TO LOVERS!!!! TRUE!!!!!! ENEMIES TO LOVERS!!!!!!!
THE “FUCK IT”
AND “ABOUT. FUCKING. TIME.” CHEF’S KISS!!! DO IT AGAIN
The entirety of chapter 35, I read it thrice over back to back before moving to 36. ABSOLUTE CINEMA!!!!!!
Catch me rereading on July 22 🙂↕️
(On a personal note, as a mother who experiences PPD.. the way Elvara gets up every day solely because she has people she loves depending on her… even when she doesn’t want to get back up anymore. Still doing it for them. SEVEN STARS FOR THAT ALONE TRULY)
GATHER ROUND BESTIES, WE ARE OFF TO HUG SOME BOATS!!!!! WHO hears the waters’ call!???
ME, I HEAR THE WATERS’ CALL AND I NEED BOOK 2 ASAP BC THE TWIST I THOUGHT WAS TWISTING TWISTED OFF MY NIPPLES WHEN IT DOUBLE TWISTED!!!! FIVE STARS!!!!!!!!!!
SOPHIAAAAA YOU MFING QUEEN!!! Thank you for letting me be a feral arc reader for you 🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻
I WILL KEEP THIS SPOILER FREE BUT I HAVE TO SCREAM
THE BOATS?! JUST A BUNCH OF GIRLS’ GIRLS
THE BETRAYALS!!!!PLURAL!!!! I am HURT for Elvara!!!!!
LET ME BLUE SKADOO INTO THE BOOK AND SLAP A FEW PPL I BEG PLEASE
THE ENEMIES TO LOVERS!!!! TRUE!!!!!! ENEMIES TO LOVERS!!!!!!!
THE “FUCK IT”
AND “ABOUT. FUCKING. TIME.” CHEF’S KISS!!! DO IT AGAIN
The entirety of chapter 35, I read it thrice over back to back before moving to 36. ABSOLUTE CINEMA!!!!!!
Catch me rereading on July 22 🙂↕️
(On a personal note, as a mother who experiences PPD.. the way Elvara gets up every day solely because she has people she loves depending on her… even when she doesn’t want to get back up anymore. Still doing it for them. SEVEN STARS FOR THAT ALONE TRULY)
June 9, 2026
Thank you for the ARC 🙏🏻
What a wild ride! Characters who grew on me, a story line that had me wondering what will happen next, and an ending that had me second guessing everything!
Hot Vikings, magical boats, a strong fmc, did I mention Hot Broody Vikings?? 🥰
What a wild ride! Characters who grew on me, a story line that had me wondering what will happen next, and an ending that had me second guessing everything!
Hot Vikings, magical boats, a strong fmc, did I mention Hot Broody Vikings?? 🥰
June 9, 2026
THIS IS THE TOP OF MY LIST THIS YEAR! Spoiler free!!
10 ⭐️s EASY!
Thank you so much to the author, Sophia, and her PA Amanda for approving me for this ARC!
I don’t even know where to begin.
Just know that if you love:
Slow Burn
Vikings
War
Feminine Strength and Rage
Trials
Gods
Bonds
Top Tier Banter
Then this one is for you!
Ok, updates that I sent to the group chat, the amazing author, and her awesome PA: (slight editing so theirs no spoilers)
“Can we talk about how much I hate the king’s second?”
“I love that the ships are sentient!”
“I NEED some of these scenes in audio!” 🔥🔥🔥
“You really outdid yourself with this one Sophia! It’s amazing!”
“You keep us on the edge of our seats!”
“Ottoh is an ass!” (This opinion changed!) 😂
“I like Ivren so far. Please don’t let him turn into an asshole!”
“30% in and wowwwwww! It’s getting crazy!! I love that Elvara doesn’t back down!”
“Who’s Fedic again? He’s kinda funny. I like him at the moment. lol”
“What the hell was Ivren thinking?”
Insert multiple quotes that I love from the book but one would be,
“F*ck! I didn’t know it was possible for one person to be so consistently, infuriatingly, alluring and irritating at the same time.”
And another would be, “I was joking.” “You need to f*cking practice because you’re not funny.” Y’all! I snorted! 😂
Chapters 28 and 35 are 👩🍳💋
Messages I sent the author:
“I honestly got hooked since the first page and am asking work to slow down so I can read instead.”
“This book is going to be a bestseller!”
Let me just say I absolutely loved the main characters and all of the side characters! There’s so much to say with such little room! Just believe me when I say to go read this book when it releases July 22nd!!!
10 ⭐️s EASY!
Thank you so much to the author, Sophia, and her PA Amanda for approving me for this ARC!
I don’t even know where to begin.
Just know that if you love:
Slow Burn
Vikings
War
Feminine Strength and Rage
Trials
Gods
Bonds
Top Tier Banter
Then this one is for you!
Ok, updates that I sent to the group chat, the amazing author, and her awesome PA: (slight editing so theirs no spoilers)
“Can we talk about how much I hate the king’s second?”
“I love that the ships are sentient!”
“I NEED some of these scenes in audio!” 🔥🔥🔥
“You really outdid yourself with this one Sophia! It’s amazing!”
“You keep us on the edge of our seats!”
“Ottoh is an ass!” (This opinion changed!) 😂
“I like Ivren so far. Please don’t let him turn into an asshole!”
“30% in and wowwwwww! It’s getting crazy!! I love that Elvara doesn’t back down!”
“Who’s Fedic again? He’s kinda funny. I like him at the moment. lol”
“What the hell was Ivren thinking?”
Insert multiple quotes that I love from the book but one would be,
“F*ck! I didn’t know it was possible for one person to be so consistently, infuriatingly, alluring and irritating at the same time.”
And another would be, “I was joking.” “You need to f*cking practice because you’re not funny.” Y’all! I snorted! 😂
Chapters 28 and 35 are 👩🍳💋
Messages I sent the author:
“I honestly got hooked since the first page and am asking work to slow down so I can read instead.”
“This book is going to be a bestseller!”
Let me just say I absolutely loved the main characters and all of the side characters! There’s so much to say with such little room! Just believe me when I say to go read this book when it releases July 22nd!!!
June 14, 2026
Thank you Sophia St. Germain for the ARC of Who Hears the Waters' Call! This was my first book by this author and I was absolutely NOT disappointed with it!
I'm always a sucker for a good viking inspired book and this one had me totally hooked. Especially when the tropes are: enemies to lovers, battle bonds, brutal trials, slow burn, sentient ships, magical forests and viking war academy.
The way that St. Germain has created this world sucks the reader in right from the start, and doesn't let them go- even at the end of the book. It was a wild ride from start to finish and the ending definitely had me second guessing just about everything!
Elvara is stubborn to a fault and will sacrifice anything and everything to protect her people. She refuses to let anything (and anyone) get in the way of what she has set her heart to accomplishing, even if that means dying in the process.
Darcke on the other hand has layers to him that he doesn't necessarily want discovered. That is until Elvara walks into his life, and I guess you could say the rest is history. I ate up the fact that he absolutely cannot stand Elvara at the beginning- can't even bear to be near her for short periods of time. But of course that makes for the best tensions and chemistry.
This book is full of tension, all the emotions, scandals and tons of betrayals. It is absolutely one you need to pick up if you need your viking fantasy fulfilled. I'm eagerly awaiting the second book because I absolutely need more of the Zeal of the North series!
I'm always a sucker for a good viking inspired book and this one had me totally hooked. Especially when the tropes are: enemies to lovers, battle bonds, brutal trials, slow burn, sentient ships, magical forests and viking war academy.
The way that St. Germain has created this world sucks the reader in right from the start, and doesn't let them go- even at the end of the book. It was a wild ride from start to finish and the ending definitely had me second guessing just about everything!
Elvara is stubborn to a fault and will sacrifice anything and everything to protect her people. She refuses to let anything (and anyone) get in the way of what she has set her heart to accomplishing, even if that means dying in the process.
Darcke on the other hand has layers to him that he doesn't necessarily want discovered. That is until Elvara walks into his life, and I guess you could say the rest is history. I ate up the fact that he absolutely cannot stand Elvara at the beginning- can't even bear to be near her for short periods of time. But of course that makes for the best tensions and chemistry.
This book is full of tension, all the emotions, scandals and tons of betrayals. It is absolutely one you need to pick up if you need your viking fantasy fulfilled. I'm eagerly awaiting the second book because I absolutely need more of the Zeal of the North series!
June 8, 2026
I absolutely devoured the Arc of this book. 😮💨
From the very first chapter, I was completely invested in Elvara and her journey. The trials, the politics, the magic, the secrets—I was hooked the entire way through and genuinely had no idea where the story was going to take me next.
And Darcke… I need to talk about Darcke.
I spent about 60% of this book absolutely hating this man. Every time he appeared, I was rolling my eyes and questioning his existence. Then somehow, against my will, this book dragged me onto the biggest emotional rollercoaster and had me rethinking everything. The tension between these characters was INSANE. Every interaction had me kicking my feet one minute and wanting to throw my Kindle the next.
The pacing was perfect, the danger felt real, and I loved watching Elvara fight for her place in a world determined to underestimate her. There was never a point where I was bored or tempted to put this down.
And that ending?! ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! I need the next book immediately. Not eventually. Not when it’s released. Immediately.
A fantastic fantasy with a fierce heroine, brutal trials, amazing tension, and a love interest who caused me nothing but stress. I cannot wait to see what happens next.💕
From the very first chapter, I was completely invested in Elvara and her journey. The trials, the politics, the magic, the secrets—I was hooked the entire way through and genuinely had no idea where the story was going to take me next.
And Darcke… I need to talk about Darcke.
I spent about 60% of this book absolutely hating this man. Every time he appeared, I was rolling my eyes and questioning his existence. Then somehow, against my will, this book dragged me onto the biggest emotional rollercoaster and had me rethinking everything. The tension between these characters was INSANE. Every interaction had me kicking my feet one minute and wanting to throw my Kindle the next.
The pacing was perfect, the danger felt real, and I loved watching Elvara fight for her place in a world determined to underestimate her. There was never a point where I was bored or tempted to put this down.
And that ending?! ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! I need the next book immediately. Not eventually. Not when it’s released. Immediately.
A fantastic fantasy with a fierce heroine, brutal trials, amazing tension, and a love interest who caused me nothing but stress. I cannot wait to see what happens next.💕
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 13, 2026
ARC review:
If you’re reading this, you’ve found me at a very Viking time in my life. I am Vikingmaxxing. As with every Viking fantasy, you must be ready for vicious and gory and downright ruthless characters. Which is why the two love interest beat the shit out of each other multiple times in this book before they got heart eyes. I loved the slow burn, loved the sentient ships, loved the found family.
The reason it’s not a 5 star is because I got very confused at the end with the big reveal tbh. But alas, maybe it’s just me and my peanut brain. Also, I found the men to be kinda lacking tbh?? All the men were not in the female character’s leagues at all. they need to step it up which is hopefully in book 2 #grovellingplz
Read this book if you like solid world building, suffering, and a really bleak outlook for all involved
If you’re reading this, you’ve found me at a very Viking time in my life. I am Vikingmaxxing. As with every Viking fantasy, you must be ready for vicious and gory and downright ruthless characters. Which is why the two love interest beat the shit out of each other multiple times in this book before they got heart eyes. I loved the slow burn, loved the sentient ships, loved the found family.
The reason it’s not a 5 star is because I got very confused at the end with the big reveal tbh. But alas, maybe it’s just me and my peanut brain. Also, I found the men to be kinda lacking tbh?? All the men were not in the female character’s leagues at all. they need to step it up which is hopefully in book 2 #grovellingplz
Read this book if you like solid world building, suffering, and a really bleak outlook for all involved
June 7, 2026
Oh my goodness Sophia has done it again!
I loved everything about this! The tension, the emotions, the betrayal, the scandal!! I am eagerly awaiting the next book and this one isn’t even actually out yet!
If you like Vikings, fierce women, brooding men, ships with a personality and tension…oh so much tension. This book is for you!
Thank you Sophia and Amanda for the eARC! So lucky to be among the first to experience this book!
I loved everything about this! The tension, the emotions, the betrayal, the scandal!! I am eagerly awaiting the next book and this one isn’t even actually out yet!
If you like Vikings, fierce women, brooding men, ships with a personality and tension…oh so much tension. This book is for you!
Thank you Sophia and Amanda for the eARC! So lucky to be among the first to experience this book!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I came for the norse mythology and viking battles. I left with an unhealthy attachment to a sentient ship and a broody viking warrior...
I spent most of this book alternating between giggling and kicking my feet, clutching my chest, and mentally yelling "just admit it already!" at Elvara and Darcke. One minute they looked ready to kill each other, the next they were drowning in tension so thick I could barely breathe. Add in rune magic, norse mythology, sentient ships and enough betrayal to keep me suspicious of everyone, and I was completely hooked!
Things I loved:
⚔️ Elvara - a fierce FMC fuelled by stubbornness and sheer force of will
🖤 Darcke and his broody, grumpy, filthy-mouthed self
🔥 Enemies to lovers done exceptionally well
😂 Banter that had me grinning like an idiot
🚢 Sentient ships that somehow stole my heart
🤝 Found family that felt natural and earned
🗡️ Complex characters with questionable loyalties
🪓 Rich norse mythology and viking culture
💥 Vivid, immersive battle scenes
👀 Constant twists, secrets, betrayals, and surprises
Elvara was easily one of the standout characters for me. She’s lost her power, yet she never once feels weak. Her strength comes from her sheer force of will, stubbornness, loyalty, and unwavering commitment to her people. She refuses to back down when challenged and stands firm in her beliefs no matter the cost. She is fierce, feisty, resilient, and determined, and honestly, she is exactly the sort of woman you would want fighting beside you. Just preferably not against you. If Elvara ever looked at me the wrong way, I'd probably apologise even if I hadn't done anything. You definitely do not want to end up on Elvara's bad side
Then there is Darcke. Before we begin, I'd like to formally apologise because despite the pronunciation guide, my brain stubbornly spent the entire book calling him "Dark-ee". Why? I've no idea. My brain simply made a choice and committed to it. Anyway, onto the broody viking warrior who stole my heart...
Outwardly, he acts as though he can't stand Elvara. He has that deliciously grumpy *I don't care about anyone or anything* attitude, yet beneath the surface there are glimpses of something far softer. He is flirty, alluring, and possesses a filthy mouth that had absolutely no business being that effective. The man claims to hate her, can't bear being around her, and then throws himself in front of danger to save her life five minutes later. Darcke... you stole my heart! 🔥
The chemistry between Elvara and Darcke was phenomenal. Their relationship genuinely kept me on edge because I never knew what direction they were going to take next. One minute they seemed ready to kill each other, the next they were drowning in tension so thick you could cut it with an axe. Every interaction had me wondering whether they were about to stab each other or kiss each other, and honestly, either outcome felt equally likely. Every moment they shared had me giggling, screaming, or desperately turning pages to see what happened next. Their romance perfectly captured that journey from hate to love, and I was completely invested in every chaotic second of it.
One of my favourite aspects of the story was how layered the entire cast felt. The side characters were never there simply to fill space. The found family elements developed naturally throughout the story, creating relationships that felt authentic, messy, and deeply rewarding. Yet everyone had their own motivations, secrets, loyalties, and personal struggles. I loved that I never truly knew who could be trusted. Just when I thought I had someone figured out, they would reveal another side to themselves or make a choice I never saw coming. I spent most of the book trusting absolutely nobody.
And then we need to talk about the sentient ships because I never expected a ship to become one of my favourite characters. Yet somehow Sophia made it happen. They brought so much heart, humour, and personality to the story, adding a unique layer to the world. I arrived expecting viking warriors and magical runes. I left emotionally attached to a boat. A boat. How did this happen?
The action scenes deserve special mention because they were absolutely fantastic. The battles were vivid, brutal, and immersive. I felt every clash of steel, every desperate struggle, and every brutal consequence. The trials and challenges kept the pacing moving at breakneck speed, and there was never a point where the story felt slow or predictable.
If you want rune magic, political chaos, morally questionable choices, Viking brutality, and a romance that had me questioning whether these two were about to kiss or commit murder at any given moment, this is the book for you.
This has set a dangerously high standard for viking fantasy, and I'll be judging everything else accordingly... and a broody MMC with a filthy mouth is now basically non-negotiable for me!
I spent most of this book alternating between giggling and kicking my feet, clutching my chest, and mentally yelling "just admit it already!" at Elvara and Darcke. One minute they looked ready to kill each other, the next they were drowning in tension so thick I could barely breathe. Add in rune magic, norse mythology, sentient ships and enough betrayal to keep me suspicious of everyone, and I was completely hooked!
Things I loved:
⚔️ Elvara - a fierce FMC fuelled by stubbornness and sheer force of will
🖤 Darcke and his broody, grumpy, filthy-mouthed self
🔥 Enemies to lovers done exceptionally well
😂 Banter that had me grinning like an idiot
🚢 Sentient ships that somehow stole my heart
🤝 Found family that felt natural and earned
🗡️ Complex characters with questionable loyalties
🪓 Rich norse mythology and viking culture
💥 Vivid, immersive battle scenes
👀 Constant twists, secrets, betrayals, and surprises
Elvara was easily one of the standout characters for me. She’s lost her power, yet she never once feels weak. Her strength comes from her sheer force of will, stubbornness, loyalty, and unwavering commitment to her people. She refuses to back down when challenged and stands firm in her beliefs no matter the cost. She is fierce, feisty, resilient, and determined, and honestly, she is exactly the sort of woman you would want fighting beside you. Just preferably not against you. If Elvara ever looked at me the wrong way, I'd probably apologise even if I hadn't done anything. You definitely do not want to end up on Elvara's bad side
Then there is Darcke. Before we begin, I'd like to formally apologise because despite the pronunciation guide, my brain stubbornly spent the entire book calling him "Dark-ee". Why? I've no idea. My brain simply made a choice and committed to it. Anyway, onto the broody viking warrior who stole my heart...
Outwardly, he acts as though he can't stand Elvara. He has that deliciously grumpy *I don't care about anyone or anything* attitude, yet beneath the surface there are glimpses of something far softer. He is flirty, alluring, and possesses a filthy mouth that had absolutely no business being that effective. The man claims to hate her, can't bear being around her, and then throws himself in front of danger to save her life five minutes later. Darcke... you stole my heart! 🔥
The chemistry between Elvara and Darcke was phenomenal. Their relationship genuinely kept me on edge because I never knew what direction they were going to take next. One minute they seemed ready to kill each other, the next they were drowning in tension so thick you could cut it with an axe. Every interaction had me wondering whether they were about to stab each other or kiss each other, and honestly, either outcome felt equally likely. Every moment they shared had me giggling, screaming, or desperately turning pages to see what happened next. Their romance perfectly captured that journey from hate to love, and I was completely invested in every chaotic second of it.
One of my favourite aspects of the story was how layered the entire cast felt. The side characters were never there simply to fill space. The found family elements developed naturally throughout the story, creating relationships that felt authentic, messy, and deeply rewarding. Yet everyone had their own motivations, secrets, loyalties, and personal struggles. I loved that I never truly knew who could be trusted. Just when I thought I had someone figured out, they would reveal another side to themselves or make a choice I never saw coming. I spent most of the book trusting absolutely nobody.
And then we need to talk about the sentient ships because I never expected a ship to become one of my favourite characters. Yet somehow Sophia made it happen. They brought so much heart, humour, and personality to the story, adding a unique layer to the world. I arrived expecting viking warriors and magical runes. I left emotionally attached to a boat. A boat. How did this happen?
The action scenes deserve special mention because they were absolutely fantastic. The battles were vivid, brutal, and immersive. I felt every clash of steel, every desperate struggle, and every brutal consequence. The trials and challenges kept the pacing moving at breakneck speed, and there was never a point where the story felt slow or predictable.
If you want rune magic, political chaos, morally questionable choices, Viking brutality, and a romance that had me questioning whether these two were about to kiss or commit murder at any given moment, this is the book for you.
This has set a dangerously high standard for viking fantasy, and I'll be judging everything else accordingly... and a broody MMC with a filthy mouth is now basically non-negotiable for me!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you Sophia for the eARC
This book literally pulled me straight out of my fantasy slump.
What you're going to get:
-Deadly Trials
-Enemies to lovers
-Slow burn
-Viking Academy
-One Bed
-One Horse
-Banter
-Tension
-Bonding ceremony between MCs
You'll be dropped into the middle of a Vikings world where you will have to fight for your honor and respect and be recognized by their gods. The writing is easy to follow making the world building and the magic system easy to understand!
Elvara's grief, pain, strength, and worry is felt every moment throughout her story. Being the older sister having to lie, cheat and sacrifice repeatedly to ensure the safety of her people makes her easy to connect to and so easy to love as our FMC. Even when things were Elvara never lost sight of her goal and she didn't care if she stood by herself or with people behind her. When you ask for a badass FMC - Elvara will be served on a silver platter for you.
When I said I need enemies to lovers - Darcke and Elvara show tf up. The banter, the animosity and hate between each other before then finally give in is top tier. & girl idk if I would even say "give in" cause the way this couple had me wanting them to give in give in was undeniable.
All other characters were written so well, I think every single person made me angry, then understand them and then by the end of it rooting for all of them to make it through the trials.
Now the plot and plot twist was definitely GIVING in this book. I mean there was a part of me that thought I knew what was gonna happen and then Sophia came in and flipped on me. It was soooooo good.
I really wasnt expecting the ending - and honestly I was expecting this book to end on a cruel cliffhanger but while it was a cliffhanger you feel like there is a sense of clarity by the end of it. While it wasnt cruel - book 2 literally CANNOT come soon enough!
I cant wait to finish this duet!!
QUOTE SPOILERS ‐-------------------------------------------------
“My ship remembers,” he called after them as they tried to overtake each other to get away. “Do not fucking try to come within ten feet of her again.”
“Cry if you want,” Darcke said when I choked down a sniff. “I think only half of the crowd is looking at us. Besides, you’ve already exhausted everyone’s capacity for disappointment.”
“Too late.” I pressed a finger into his chest. “I know you were trying to make me laugh.”
“You’re good,” Darcke breathed. “You’re a very good girl.”
“You’re the one who’s impossible,” Darcke said. “Impossible to get out of my fucking head.”
“Sometimes I can’t tell if I want to kiss you to silence you or because your wicked little mouth is the only thing I see when I shut my eyes.”
“You make me want to reach for your throat and capture your lips in the same breath. Fuck! I didn’t know it was possible for one person to be so consistently, infuriatingly alluring and irritating at the same time.”
“If my blood is the price for your breath, then so fucking be it,” he growled. “That cave fucking shook me, and I will not relive that.”
“You really know how to woo a girl with sweet words,” I got out. Darcke wetted his lips. “This is nothing, heir. I can get a lot fucking dirtier.”
“You better be fucking sure,” he breathed as his hands slid under my shirt, whispering over my back, and I whimpered as I leaned my forehead on his shoulder. “Because there is nothing honorable about the way I plan to fuck you. I can’t promise the doors of Hel won’t bolt shut at the sight of us.”
“You don’t get to fucking die, heir,” he whispered furiously. “Do you hear that? You made me feel like this. You fucking took my heart— stole it without me even noticing. You invaded my mind and claimed me for yours. So you don’t get to leave. You don’t get to leave me.”
“You can’t do this to me, Elvara. I can’t lose you too.”
“Whatever happens now. Whatever your fucking gods decide,” Darcke said. “You are worthy. You deserve your magic. You’ve proved that again and again, and if they don’t see it, fuck them.”
“If you think that there is a place in this world I will not follow you, then you have not listened. You have still not heard me.”
🤍♥️🤍♥️🤍
This book literally pulled me straight out of my fantasy slump.
What you're going to get:
-Deadly Trials
-Enemies to lovers
-Slow burn
-Viking Academy
-One Bed
-One Horse
-Banter
-Tension
-Bonding ceremony between MCs
You'll be dropped into the middle of a Vikings world where you will have to fight for your honor and respect and be recognized by their gods. The writing is easy to follow making the world building and the magic system easy to understand!
Elvara's grief, pain, strength, and worry is felt every moment throughout her story. Being the older sister having to lie, cheat and sacrifice repeatedly to ensure the safety of her people makes her easy to connect to and so easy to love as our FMC. Even when things were Elvara never lost sight of her goal and she didn't care if she stood by herself or with people behind her. When you ask for a badass FMC - Elvara will be served on a silver platter for you.
When I said I need enemies to lovers - Darcke and Elvara show tf up. The banter, the animosity and hate between each other before then finally give in is top tier. & girl idk if I would even say "give in" cause the way this couple had me wanting them to give in give in was undeniable.
All other characters were written so well, I think every single person made me angry, then understand them and then by the end of it rooting for all of them to make it through the trials.
Now the plot and plot twist was definitely GIVING in this book. I mean there was a part of me that thought I knew what was gonna happen and then Sophia came in and flipped on me. It was soooooo good.
I really wasnt expecting the ending - and honestly I was expecting this book to end on a cruel cliffhanger but while it was a cliffhanger you feel like there is a sense of clarity by the end of it. While it wasnt cruel - book 2 literally CANNOT come soon enough!
I cant wait to finish this duet!!
QUOTE SPOILERS ‐-------------------------------------------------
“My ship remembers,” he called after them as they tried to overtake each other to get away. “Do not fucking try to come within ten feet of her again.”
“Cry if you want,” Darcke said when I choked down a sniff. “I think only half of the crowd is looking at us. Besides, you’ve already exhausted everyone’s capacity for disappointment.”
“Too late.” I pressed a finger into his chest. “I know you were trying to make me laugh.”
“You’re good,” Darcke breathed. “You’re a very good girl.”
“You’re the one who’s impossible,” Darcke said. “Impossible to get out of my fucking head.”
“Sometimes I can’t tell if I want to kiss you to silence you or because your wicked little mouth is the only thing I see when I shut my eyes.”
“You make me want to reach for your throat and capture your lips in the same breath. Fuck! I didn’t know it was possible for one person to be so consistently, infuriatingly alluring and irritating at the same time.”
“If my blood is the price for your breath, then so fucking be it,” he growled. “That cave fucking shook me, and I will not relive that.”
“You really know how to woo a girl with sweet words,” I got out. Darcke wetted his lips. “This is nothing, heir. I can get a lot fucking dirtier.”
“You better be fucking sure,” he breathed as his hands slid under my shirt, whispering over my back, and I whimpered as I leaned my forehead on his shoulder. “Because there is nothing honorable about the way I plan to fuck you. I can’t promise the doors of Hel won’t bolt shut at the sight of us.”
“You don’t get to fucking die, heir,” he whispered furiously. “Do you hear that? You made me feel like this. You fucking took my heart— stole it without me even noticing. You invaded my mind and claimed me for yours. So you don’t get to leave. You don’t get to leave me.”
“You can’t do this to me, Elvara. I can’t lose you too.”
“Whatever happens now. Whatever your fucking gods decide,” Darcke said. “You are worthy. You deserve your magic. You’ve proved that again and again, and if they don’t see it, fuck them.”
“If you think that there is a place in this world I will not follow you, then you have not listened. You have still not heard me.”
🤍♥️🤍♥️🤍
June 9, 2026
SOPHIA ST. GERMAIN, THE WOMAN THAT YOU ARE.
Sophia has already firmly earned a place on my auto-buy author list. The second I saw I had been approved for an ARC of Who Hears the Waters’ Call, I was SCREAMING. No hesitation. No questions asked. Instant read. It still exceeded my expectations!!!
This book grabbed me from the very first chapter and refused to let go. I told myself I’d read a few chapters before bed and suddenly I was hundreds of pages in, and already wondering how I was supposed to wait for the next book.
First of all, can we talk about this SETTING??? Viking-inspired fantasy was always going to get my attention, but pairing it with rune magic, divine influence, warrior culture, political intrigue, and academy-style training elements? Sophia might as well have personally designed this book for me!!! The world feels expansive and lived in without ever becoming overwhelming. Every new piece of lore had me wanting more.
And then there’s Elvara. My GIRL!!!!! She is stubborn, determined, fierce, and willing to shoulder impossible burdens if it means protecting the people she loves. So much of her journey is shaped by sacrifice, grief, duty, and survival, and I found myself rooting for her from the very beginning. She refuses to quit, even when the odds are stacked impossibly high against her, and I LOVE an FMC with that kind of grit.
BUT LET’S BE HONEST. The reason half of us are here: ELVARA AND DARCKE. When I say enemies to lovers, I mean ENEMIES TO LOVERS. These two genuinely cannot stand each other for a good chunk of the book and the tension that creates is ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS!!!! I was absolutely living for every scene they shared. The push and pull between them is executed SO well because underneath all the anger, you can slowly start to see the understanding forming. Watching that relationship evolve was one of my favourite parts of the entire book.
And the side characters??? I NEED MORE OF THEM IMMEDIATELY. One of my favourite things Sophia does as an author is create supporting casts that feel like actual people rather than background decoration. Everyone has their own motivations and loyalties, and by the end I found myself deeply invested in so many of them. I desperately need more time with this cast.
I was SO confident I knew where things were heading. But Sophia absolutely pulled the rug out from under me multiple times. Every time I thought I understood the bigger picture, another revelation would appear and completely shift everything. The twists felt earned, surprising, and perfectly woven into the story. Looking back, the clues were there, but I still spent large portions of the final act staring at the pages in complete disbelief.
And THAT ENDING!!!! I have so many questions. I need to know what happens next with Elvara. I need more Darcke. I need more of ALL of the side characters. I need more of the magic, more of the politics, more of this world.
If you love Viking-inspired fantasy, rune magic, academy vibes, fierce heroines, enemies-to-lovers done RIGHT, shocking twists, and worlds that completely consume your life while you’re reading them, do yourself a favour and pick this one up!!!!!
Thank you SO much to Sophia St. Germain for this eARC, please continue to ruin my emotions forever!!!!
Sophia has already firmly earned a place on my auto-buy author list. The second I saw I had been approved for an ARC of Who Hears the Waters’ Call, I was SCREAMING. No hesitation. No questions asked. Instant read. It still exceeded my expectations!!!
This book grabbed me from the very first chapter and refused to let go. I told myself I’d read a few chapters before bed and suddenly I was hundreds of pages in, and already wondering how I was supposed to wait for the next book.
First of all, can we talk about this SETTING??? Viking-inspired fantasy was always going to get my attention, but pairing it with rune magic, divine influence, warrior culture, political intrigue, and academy-style training elements? Sophia might as well have personally designed this book for me!!! The world feels expansive and lived in without ever becoming overwhelming. Every new piece of lore had me wanting more.
And then there’s Elvara. My GIRL!!!!! She is stubborn, determined, fierce, and willing to shoulder impossible burdens if it means protecting the people she loves. So much of her journey is shaped by sacrifice, grief, duty, and survival, and I found myself rooting for her from the very beginning. She refuses to quit, even when the odds are stacked impossibly high against her, and I LOVE an FMC with that kind of grit.
BUT LET’S BE HONEST. The reason half of us are here: ELVARA AND DARCKE. When I say enemies to lovers, I mean ENEMIES TO LOVERS. These two genuinely cannot stand each other for a good chunk of the book and the tension that creates is ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS!!!! I was absolutely living for every scene they shared. The push and pull between them is executed SO well because underneath all the anger, you can slowly start to see the understanding forming. Watching that relationship evolve was one of my favourite parts of the entire book.
And the side characters??? I NEED MORE OF THEM IMMEDIATELY. One of my favourite things Sophia does as an author is create supporting casts that feel like actual people rather than background decoration. Everyone has their own motivations and loyalties, and by the end I found myself deeply invested in so many of them. I desperately need more time with this cast.
I was SO confident I knew where things were heading. But Sophia absolutely pulled the rug out from under me multiple times. Every time I thought I understood the bigger picture, another revelation would appear and completely shift everything. The twists felt earned, surprising, and perfectly woven into the story. Looking back, the clues were there, but I still spent large portions of the final act staring at the pages in complete disbelief.
And THAT ENDING!!!! I have so many questions. I need to know what happens next with Elvara. I need more Darcke. I need more of ALL of the side characters. I need more of the magic, more of the politics, more of this world.
If you love Viking-inspired fantasy, rune magic, academy vibes, fierce heroines, enemies-to-lovers done RIGHT, shocking twists, and worlds that completely consume your life while you’re reading them, do yourself a favour and pick this one up!!!!!
Thank you SO much to Sophia St. Germain for this eARC, please continue to ruin my emotions forever!!!!
Review of advance copy received from Author
An undeniable 6 ⭐️ read for me!!
I am gobsmacked by this incredible book! Having read all of Sophia’s books; this one, by far is my absolute favorite she has written to date! She really and truly took her writing to a whole new level with 𝑾𝒉𝒐 𝑯𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒔 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑾𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒔’ 𝑪𝒂𝒍𝒍.
I loved everything about this book! It was dark, gritty, violent yet so emotional. My heart was broken so many times throughout this book, but Sophia somehow managed to piece it back together. The plot flowed perfectly and effortlessly for me. I was never ever bored and it never felt slow. The action packed trials and everything with Gods literally had me on the edge of my seat with white knuckles and, most often, holding my breath in anticipation of what may or may not be coming next. The narrative was how I would expect a Viking based story to be. The world was immersive and detailed with the most exquisitely vibrant imagery. I literally felt like I was right there at the Hird and going through the trials right along side the characters. And the lore - utterly fantastic!
The characters, OMG! Elvara is one badass Viking! Even in the face of EVERYTHING, she’s still relentless and determined! As hard as it was at times, she never let the bad guys win. She’s strong yet soft at just the right moments. In the heart wrenching moments, I could feel the emotion and the struggles just ooze from the words. Darcke, what can I say 😂 He’s broody mysterious and really is the most assholey MMC. Despite his initial reluctance and hatred toward Elvara, he has a heart underneath all that brute! Their push/pull dynamic was intense. The angst was delicious. The brushing of the fingers, the touch of their legs, the longing in the glances was so good. Their banter, was exciting to watch play out! The slow burn is burning and keeps on stewing. I am anxious to see where this goes after everything that was revealed.
The side characters were as equally important. They added a layer of depth to the entire story that was so good. Even though some of the were assholes in the beginning, they found a common ground, protected each other when it mattered and worked as a team of heirs. They truly formed a fantastic “found family” so to speak.
All the twists and revelations just blew my mind. What an incredible job weaving the deception so beautifully.
The sentient ships! This was so good and so unlike anything I have read thus far. I loved that his ship seemed to like her more than him. The banter between Elvara and Darcke and the ships had me cackling so many times.
The revelations and twists had me gasping! It was one blow after the next. Sophia did an incredible job weaving the deception so beautifully. But, thank you for not leaving me hanging by my pinky toe from the edge of a cliff at the end of this one 😂
Sophia has created an amazingly unique world with such a unique magic system; and the most wonderful cast of characters.
This book hasn’t even been release yet and I’m already chomping at the bit for the sequel! This story is truly magnificent!
Thank you, Sophia, from the bottom of my heart, for the very early opportunity to read this incredible book!
I am gobsmacked by this incredible book! Having read all of Sophia’s books; this one, by far is my absolute favorite she has written to date! She really and truly took her writing to a whole new level with 𝑾𝒉𝒐 𝑯𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒔 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑾𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒔’ 𝑪𝒂𝒍𝒍.
I loved everything about this book! It was dark, gritty, violent yet so emotional. My heart was broken so many times throughout this book, but Sophia somehow managed to piece it back together. The plot flowed perfectly and effortlessly for me. I was never ever bored and it never felt slow. The action packed trials and everything with Gods literally had me on the edge of my seat with white knuckles and, most often, holding my breath in anticipation of what may or may not be coming next. The narrative was how I would expect a Viking based story to be. The world was immersive and detailed with the most exquisitely vibrant imagery. I literally felt like I was right there at the Hird and going through the trials right along side the characters. And the lore - utterly fantastic!
The characters, OMG! Elvara is one badass Viking! Even in the face of EVERYTHING, she’s still relentless and determined! As hard as it was at times, she never let the bad guys win. She’s strong yet soft at just the right moments. In the heart wrenching moments, I could feel the emotion and the struggles just ooze from the words. Darcke, what can I say 😂 He’s broody mysterious and really is the most assholey MMC. Despite his initial reluctance and hatred toward Elvara, he has a heart underneath all that brute! Their push/pull dynamic was intense. The angst was delicious. The brushing of the fingers, the touch of their legs, the longing in the glances was so good. Their banter, was exciting to watch play out! The slow burn is burning and keeps on stewing. I am anxious to see where this goes after everything that was revealed.
The side characters were as equally important. They added a layer of depth to the entire story that was so good. Even though some of the were assholes in the beginning, they found a common ground, protected each other when it mattered and worked as a team of heirs. They truly formed a fantastic “found family” so to speak.
All the twists and revelations just blew my mind. What an incredible job weaving the deception so beautifully.
The sentient ships! This was so good and so unlike anything I have read thus far. I loved that his ship seemed to like her more than him. The banter between Elvara and Darcke and the ships had me cackling so many times.
The revelations and twists had me gasping! It was one blow after the next. Sophia did an incredible job weaving the deception so beautifully. But, thank you for not leaving me hanging by my pinky toe from the edge of a cliff at the end of this one 😂
Sophia has created an amazingly unique world with such a unique magic system; and the most wonderful cast of characters.
This book hasn’t even been release yet and I’m already chomping at the bit for the sequel! This story is truly magnificent!
Thank you, Sophia, from the bottom of my heart, for the very early opportunity to read this incredible book!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Gifted eARC by the author. All opinions are my own !
Obsessed. Consumed. Ruined.
I devoured it in less than 48 hours, sacrificing sleep without hesitation because putting it down simply wasn’t an option. Every chapter ended with a revelation, a threat, a moment of tension that forced me to keep turning the pages. By the time I reached the final page, I felt genuinely heartbroken that it was over.
And honestly ? I already want to reread it😏😂
The story follows Elvara Sweengrad, daughter of a Viking chieftain whose life is shattered when her father and brother are killed in a raid. Forced to hide the truth, she must take her brother’s place in the brutal Hird, a legendary competition where the heirs of the five Viking clans battle for glory, power, and survival.
There’s just one problem.
With her father’s death, Elvara has lost the magical rune that granted her the strength of five men. The very power her clan is feared for. The very power everyone believes she still possesses.
Now she must survive deadly trials, political games, ruthless enemies, and impossible expectations while hiding a secret that could destroy everything she loves.
The worldbuilding is rich, immersive, and brutal. The trials had me on the edge of my seat. The stakes felt real. The danger felt constant. At no point did I feel safe… and neither does Elvara.
But as incredible as the plot is, the true highlight of this book was Darcke.
Because wow !!!
Darcke is the kind of MMC who crawls under your skin and refuses to leave. Beneath the sharp edges, the arrogance, and the anger is a deeply wounded soul carrying burdens heavier than anyone realizes. He is fiercely loyal, relentlessly protective, and the type of man who would burn down the world to keep his people safe.
Yet he’s also trapped in a dangerous game, walking a razor-thin line between duty and survival. Every choice he makes carries consequences, and every secret threatens to destroy him.
And the chemistry between him and Elvara ?!
Absolutely. UNREAL.
The tension was so electric, so intense, and so painfully sensual that I genuinely had moments where I had to put my Kindle down and drink some water before continuing.
The slow burn in this book should honestly come with a warning label.
The man has the filthiest mouth imaginable, and I mean that as the highest compliment. His dialogue had me highlighting quote after quote😅😂 Every teasing remark, every dangerous promise, every perfectly timed line was devastatingly attractive. Some of his quotes deserve their own fan club.
I was kicking my feet, giggling, screaming, and staring at walls.
This book delivers everything: epic Viking-inspired fantasy, deadly trials, political intrigue, powerful magic, unforgettable characters, heartbreaking sacrifices, and a romance so addictive it should probably be classified as a controlled substance.
An exhilarating, heart-pounding fantasy with one of the most captivating couples I’ve read in a long time. If you love fierce heroines, tortured heroes, deadly competitions, and tension so thick you could cut it with an axe, read this immediately !!!!!!!!!!!!!
Obsessed. Consumed. Ruined.
I devoured it in less than 48 hours, sacrificing sleep without hesitation because putting it down simply wasn’t an option. Every chapter ended with a revelation, a threat, a moment of tension that forced me to keep turning the pages. By the time I reached the final page, I felt genuinely heartbroken that it was over.
And honestly ? I already want to reread it😏😂
The story follows Elvara Sweengrad, daughter of a Viking chieftain whose life is shattered when her father and brother are killed in a raid. Forced to hide the truth, she must take her brother’s place in the brutal Hird, a legendary competition where the heirs of the five Viking clans battle for glory, power, and survival.
There’s just one problem.
With her father’s death, Elvara has lost the magical rune that granted her the strength of five men. The very power her clan is feared for. The very power everyone believes she still possesses.
Now she must survive deadly trials, political games, ruthless enemies, and impossible expectations while hiding a secret that could destroy everything she loves.
The worldbuilding is rich, immersive, and brutal. The trials had me on the edge of my seat. The stakes felt real. The danger felt constant. At no point did I feel safe… and neither does Elvara.
But as incredible as the plot is, the true highlight of this book was Darcke.
Because wow !!!
Darcke is the kind of MMC who crawls under your skin and refuses to leave. Beneath the sharp edges, the arrogance, and the anger is a deeply wounded soul carrying burdens heavier than anyone realizes. He is fiercely loyal, relentlessly protective, and the type of man who would burn down the world to keep his people safe.
Yet he’s also trapped in a dangerous game, walking a razor-thin line between duty and survival. Every choice he makes carries consequences, and every secret threatens to destroy him.
And the chemistry between him and Elvara ?!
Absolutely. UNREAL.
The tension was so electric, so intense, and so painfully sensual that I genuinely had moments where I had to put my Kindle down and drink some water before continuing.
The slow burn in this book should honestly come with a warning label.
The man has the filthiest mouth imaginable, and I mean that as the highest compliment. His dialogue had me highlighting quote after quote😅😂 Every teasing remark, every dangerous promise, every perfectly timed line was devastatingly attractive. Some of his quotes deserve their own fan club.
I was kicking my feet, giggling, screaming, and staring at walls.
This book delivers everything: epic Viking-inspired fantasy, deadly trials, political intrigue, powerful magic, unforgettable characters, heartbreaking sacrifices, and a romance so addictive it should probably be classified as a controlled substance.
An exhilarating, heart-pounding fantasy with one of the most captivating couples I’ve read in a long time. If you love fierce heroines, tortured heroes, deadly competitions, and tension so thick you could cut it with an axe, read this immediately !!!!!!!!!!!!!
Review of advance copy received from Author
♾️ ⭐
Where do I even begin with this book?
I want to do this story justice, but I genuinely don’t know if I have the words. For me, Infinity Stars was everything I want in a fantasy romance and more. From the very first page, I was completely captivated, and with every chapter I found myself falling deeper and deeper into the world of Skagerik.
This was also my first book by this author, and what an introduction it was. If Infinity Stars is anything to go by, I’ll be adding every single one of her books to my TBR because I need more of her storytelling immediately.
And let’s be honest, mention Vikings and you already have my attention. This book delivers so much more than that. It has enemies to lovers, enemies to friends, high stakes, secrets, betrayals, and trials. Before you groan at the mention of trials, these aren’t the typical romantasy challenges that feel thrown in for drama. They are woven seamlessly into the story and serve a genuine purpose within the plot, making them feel essential rather than predictable.
Elvara is exactly the kind of heroine I love. Fiercely loyal, self sacrificing, and willing to place the needs of her people above her own, she carries the weight of her secrets alone and will do absolutely anything to protect them. Sometimes that determination works against her, but it only made me root for her more. I wanted her to succeed from beginning to end.
Then there’s Darcke. Moody, dangerous, and utterly compelling. As one of the last of his people, his determination to restore his clan drives everything he does. Beneath the hard exterior, he’s far more similar to Elvara than either of them realise, and watching their relationship develop was one of my favourite parts of the book.
The world building was exceptional. Every character, from the main cast to the side characters, felt fully realised and important to the story. Skagerik came alive on the page, immersing me so completely that I felt as though I was walking alongside these characters through every triumph and heartbreak.
And just when I thought I had everything figured out, this book proved me completely wrong. The twists hit hard. The pacing is fantastic throughout, but the final 20% absolutely explodes. Revelation after revelation left me reeling, and by the end I was suffering from the best kind of whiplash.
This book has all the makings of the next big fantasy obsession. I feel incredibly lucky to have been part of the ARC team, and I’m genuinely jealous of everyone who gets to experience this story for the first time.
Without a doubt, this has become one of my all time favourite reads and one of my favourite books of the year. It’s also ensured that I’ll be reading everything this author writes going forward.
Only downfall about being a ARC reader! I need to wait longer for Book 2 😭
Where do I even begin with this book?
I want to do this story justice, but I genuinely don’t know if I have the words. For me, Infinity Stars was everything I want in a fantasy romance and more. From the very first page, I was completely captivated, and with every chapter I found myself falling deeper and deeper into the world of Skagerik.
This was also my first book by this author, and what an introduction it was. If Infinity Stars is anything to go by, I’ll be adding every single one of her books to my TBR because I need more of her storytelling immediately.
And let’s be honest, mention Vikings and you already have my attention. This book delivers so much more than that. It has enemies to lovers, enemies to friends, high stakes, secrets, betrayals, and trials. Before you groan at the mention of trials, these aren’t the typical romantasy challenges that feel thrown in for drama. They are woven seamlessly into the story and serve a genuine purpose within the plot, making them feel essential rather than predictable.
Elvara is exactly the kind of heroine I love. Fiercely loyal, self sacrificing, and willing to place the needs of her people above her own, she carries the weight of her secrets alone and will do absolutely anything to protect them. Sometimes that determination works against her, but it only made me root for her more. I wanted her to succeed from beginning to end.
Then there’s Darcke. Moody, dangerous, and utterly compelling. As one of the last of his people, his determination to restore his clan drives everything he does. Beneath the hard exterior, he’s far more similar to Elvara than either of them realise, and watching their relationship develop was one of my favourite parts of the book.
The world building was exceptional. Every character, from the main cast to the side characters, felt fully realised and important to the story. Skagerik came alive on the page, immersing me so completely that I felt as though I was walking alongside these characters through every triumph and heartbreak.
And just when I thought I had everything figured out, this book proved me completely wrong. The twists hit hard. The pacing is fantastic throughout, but the final 20% absolutely explodes. Revelation after revelation left me reeling, and by the end I was suffering from the best kind of whiplash.
This book has all the makings of the next big fantasy obsession. I feel incredibly lucky to have been part of the ARC team, and I’m genuinely jealous of everyone who gets to experience this story for the first time.
Without a doubt, this has become one of my all time favourite reads and one of my favourite books of the year. It’s also ensured that I’ll be reading everything this author writes going forward.
Only downfall about being a ARC reader! I need to wait longer for Book 2 😭
Review of advance copy received from Author
4.5⭐️ (rounded up)
1.25 🌶
Wow, wow, WOW!! Sophia did it again with another amazing book that absolutely hooked me from page 1 and made it impossible to put down. This book was everything I needed right now and I seriously fear it may put me into a reading slump because it was so good.
What's inside:
-Enemies to Lovers
-Deadly Trials
-Viking War Academy
-Sentient Ships
-Slow Burn
-Betrayal
-"Fuck it"
-One Bed
-One Horse
-Hot Hate and Tension
-Banter
-Gods
Elvara and Darcke are absolutely enemies for the first half of this book. This isn't a "so-called" enemies to lovers, this is the real thing.. the hate and the way they despise each other just makes the push-pull that happens between them even hotter.
-- I kicked him in the face before he could react, savoring the crack of his nose and the blood that splattered over me. Like a crazy person, I dragged a finger through the wetness and brought it to my nose. “Oh. Smells like a fucking bastard.” --
-- “I hate you too,” I hissed, my throat drying up as my foot slipped. “I hate you so fucking much.” Darcke fucking patted my back. “I’m sure I’ll survive.” --
The sacrfices that Elvara makes for her people and in the effort to do what she feels is right, while at the same time making herself miserable, makes her one of those tough and determined FMCs that I love. This girl doesn't quit even in the face of some pretty insurmountable odds. Shes smart and strong willed and she has a snarky mouth that tends to drive the people around her mad.
-- “Sometimes I can’t tell if I want to kiss you to silence you or because your wicked little mouth is the only thing I see when I shut my eyes.” He raked his other hand through his hair. “You make me want to reach for your throat and capture your lips in the same breath. Fuck! I didn’t know it was possible for one person to be so consistently, infuriatingly alluring and irritating at the same time.” --
Darcke - he's been broken and has done his best to piece himself back together. As the fiercest warrior in service to the king, he has no choices but to do as he is commanded. When he is stuck working closely with Elvara, who he sees as the spoiled heir to one of the clans, the way he despises her and pushes her fuels her determination even more to not fail in her task.
Sophia did an excellent job of building an immersive world full of characters that leap off the page. Bit by bit these characters showed more of themselves, from the main characters to the supporting characters, everyone played a part. They are all complex, and as they move through the story enemies become allies and friends become questionable. Its really hard to know who Elvara can trust at times, as everyone has their own motivations for how things play out.
The intrigue and tension really kept me engaged in this story. I really did not want to put this down and I kept one-more-chaptering myself until 3am because I had to know what was going to happen next.
This is a book that is going to take off when it releases, so hear me when I say to add this to your TBR!! If you enjoy enemies-to-lovers with deady trials and that intrigue that keeps you guessing about who can be trusted, then this is a book you do not want to miss!
Thank you to Sophia St. Germain for an eARC of this book. I absolutely devoured it!h
1.25 🌶
Wow, wow, WOW!! Sophia did it again with another amazing book that absolutely hooked me from page 1 and made it impossible to put down. This book was everything I needed right now and I seriously fear it may put me into a reading slump because it was so good.
What's inside:
-Enemies to Lovers
-Deadly Trials
-Viking War Academy
-Sentient Ships
-Slow Burn
-Betrayal
-"Fuck it"
-One Bed
-One Horse
-Hot Hate and Tension
-Banter
-Gods
Elvara and Darcke are absolutely enemies for the first half of this book. This isn't a "so-called" enemies to lovers, this is the real thing.. the hate and the way they despise each other just makes the push-pull that happens between them even hotter.
-- I kicked him in the face before he could react, savoring the crack of his nose and the blood that splattered over me. Like a crazy person, I dragged a finger through the wetness and brought it to my nose. “Oh. Smells like a fucking bastard.” --
-- “I hate you too,” I hissed, my throat drying up as my foot slipped. “I hate you so fucking much.” Darcke fucking patted my back. “I’m sure I’ll survive.” --
The sacrfices that Elvara makes for her people and in the effort to do what she feels is right, while at the same time making herself miserable, makes her one of those tough and determined FMCs that I love. This girl doesn't quit even in the face of some pretty insurmountable odds. Shes smart and strong willed and she has a snarky mouth that tends to drive the people around her mad.
-- “Sometimes I can’t tell if I want to kiss you to silence you or because your wicked little mouth is the only thing I see when I shut my eyes.” He raked his other hand through his hair. “You make me want to reach for your throat and capture your lips in the same breath. Fuck! I didn’t know it was possible for one person to be so consistently, infuriatingly alluring and irritating at the same time.” --
Darcke - he's been broken and has done his best to piece himself back together. As the fiercest warrior in service to the king, he has no choices but to do as he is commanded. When he is stuck working closely with Elvara, who he sees as the spoiled heir to one of the clans, the way he despises her and pushes her fuels her determination even more to not fail in her task.
Sophia did an excellent job of building an immersive world full of characters that leap off the page. Bit by bit these characters showed more of themselves, from the main characters to the supporting characters, everyone played a part. They are all complex, and as they move through the story enemies become allies and friends become questionable. Its really hard to know who Elvara can trust at times, as everyone has their own motivations for how things play out.
The intrigue and tension really kept me engaged in this story. I really did not want to put this down and I kept one-more-chaptering myself until 3am because I had to know what was going to happen next.
This is a book that is going to take off when it releases, so hear me when I say to add this to your TBR!! If you enjoy enemies-to-lovers with deady trials and that intrigue that keeps you guessing about who can be trusted, then this is a book you do not want to miss!
Thank you to Sophia St. Germain for an eARC of this book. I absolutely devoured it!h
June 9, 2026
I’ll start off by saying I’ll read anything Sophia writes! This was an amazing read that I could not put down it completely captivated me the world building was immaculate, the tension phenomenal, the emotions this book put me through it had me laughing out loud, heart broken, on the edge of my seat. It was an incredible start to Elvaras and Darcke journey I cannot wait to see what Sophia brings us in book two!
Our MFC Elvara was such a well written character stubborn strong as hell and willing to carry the weight of whatever burden came her way if it meant protecting those she loved, she faced such trials and grief through this book the odds were truly stacked against her but it shaped her into such strong loyal relentless fmc you couldn’t help yourself rooting for her the entire time, she never gave up no matter what was thrown at her and her relationships with the side characters was equally as alluring as the romance!
Speaking of side characters they truly shined in this book, it was never a dull moment when they were on the page, you wanted to know them as much as you did the main characters the bonds they all created giving you the most hard forged found family. The sentient ships who were sarcastic and funny may have been one of the best parts of the whole book I couldn’t wait for them to appear!
Then our MMC Dracke was a the brooding cold dark Viking we all wanted, he was intense confusing, you wanted to hate him at the times but the yearning and tension we got form him was a chefs kiss this was definitely an enemies to lovers story with true hatred they would of generally killed each other if they could of but watching there relationship grow from this to the small touches and understanding was consuming
Sophia really has a way at the end of her books to really surprised you, you think you know where the story is going but the plot twists kept coming and coming! The ending had me in pure disbelief, I cannot wait to see where things go now!
If you’re looking for enemies to lovers, trials, found family, vikings, tension, fantastic world building, completely loveable side characters, betrayal, multiple plot twists pick this one up immediately you will not be disappointed
Thankyou again to Sophia and Amanda!
Our MFC Elvara was such a well written character stubborn strong as hell and willing to carry the weight of whatever burden came her way if it meant protecting those she loved, she faced such trials and grief through this book the odds were truly stacked against her but it shaped her into such strong loyal relentless fmc you couldn’t help yourself rooting for her the entire time, she never gave up no matter what was thrown at her and her relationships with the side characters was equally as alluring as the romance!
Speaking of side characters they truly shined in this book, it was never a dull moment when they were on the page, you wanted to know them as much as you did the main characters the bonds they all created giving you the most hard forged found family. The sentient ships who were sarcastic and funny may have been one of the best parts of the whole book I couldn’t wait for them to appear!
Then our MMC Dracke was a the brooding cold dark Viking we all wanted, he was intense confusing, you wanted to hate him at the times but the yearning and tension we got form him was a chefs kiss this was definitely an enemies to lovers story with true hatred they would of generally killed each other if they could of but watching there relationship grow from this to the small touches and understanding was consuming
Sophia really has a way at the end of her books to really surprised you, you think you know where the story is going but the plot twists kept coming and coming! The ending had me in pure disbelief, I cannot wait to see where things go now!
If you’re looking for enemies to lovers, trials, found family, vikings, tension, fantastic world building, completely loveable side characters, betrayal, multiple plot twists pick this one up immediately you will not be disappointed
Thankyou again to Sophia and Amanda!
June 11, 2026
✨ARC Review✨
I absolutely devoured this book and am so grateful to have gotten to read it early! The Viking theme, the setting, the magic system, the gods, the trials… there was so much going on that I couldn’t put it down.
The FMC is a total badass, and I absolutely loved her quick wit and snarky comments. But she was also vulnerable and real. The MMC was definitely morally grey, and the banter and tension between them was so good! It was fun to watch them go from wanting to throw each other into the sea to being willing to sacrifice for the other. There was one really spicy scene where they didn’t even touch, and it was freaking HOT 🥵
The found family element was beautiful… until it wasn’t. The banter between the different heirs was really entertaining 🤣 Especially since the FMC makes a lot of enemies at first, until they get to know her better. I absolutely loved the sentient ships and found it so funny when they took it upon themselves to force things to happen.
The ending was absolutely insane. I don’t think I’ve ever said “what the fuck?” so many times in a row 😅 I’m usually pretty good at predicting some of the twists in the plot, but what happened here had my mind absolutely befuddled 🫠
This was truly such a great read, and I already can’t wait for the second book!
A few of my annotations so you can get a sense for the vibes:
“🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 oh my GOD”
“My god he’s ruthless 😂”
“Omgggg it’s getting hot in here 😅”
“Oh MY GOD 🫠 this scene is wildddddddddd 🥵”
“This banter is top tier 😂😂”
“What the fuckkkkk omg”
Some favourite quotes:
“Honor was for those who could afford to die. I was choosing the power of those who refused to. I might not be a hero in the end. But I was a survivor.”
“Oh. Smells like a fucking bastard.” 😂
“Watching you die like a fish struggling for breath in a fisherman’s hand? No. Killing you myself and silencing that wicked mouth of yours? That would entertain me for a few moments.”
“Like you want me to fuck you so hard over that railing that the king will have no choice but to execute us both for how loud you’ll scream.”
“You look like the queen of my own personal Hel, and it’s like I’m living a slow death, knowing I have no right to make you mine.”
“Fuck it.”
I absolutely devoured this book and am so grateful to have gotten to read it early! The Viking theme, the setting, the magic system, the gods, the trials… there was so much going on that I couldn’t put it down.
The FMC is a total badass, and I absolutely loved her quick wit and snarky comments. But she was also vulnerable and real. The MMC was definitely morally grey, and the banter and tension between them was so good! It was fun to watch them go from wanting to throw each other into the sea to being willing to sacrifice for the other. There was one really spicy scene where they didn’t even touch, and it was freaking HOT 🥵
The found family element was beautiful… until it wasn’t. The banter between the different heirs was really entertaining 🤣 Especially since the FMC makes a lot of enemies at first, until they get to know her better. I absolutely loved the sentient ships and found it so funny when they took it upon themselves to force things to happen.
The ending was absolutely insane. I don’t think I’ve ever said “what the fuck?” so many times in a row 😅 I’m usually pretty good at predicting some of the twists in the plot, but what happened here had my mind absolutely befuddled 🫠
This was truly such a great read, and I already can’t wait for the second book!
A few of my annotations so you can get a sense for the vibes:
“🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 oh my GOD”
“My god he’s ruthless 😂”
“Omgggg it’s getting hot in here 😅”
“Oh MY GOD 🫠 this scene is wildddddddddd 🥵”
“This banter is top tier 😂😂”
“What the fuckkkkk omg”
Some favourite quotes:
“Honor was for those who could afford to die. I was choosing the power of those who refused to. I might not be a hero in the end. But I was a survivor.”
“Oh. Smells like a fucking bastard.” 😂
“Watching you die like a fish struggling for breath in a fisherman’s hand? No. Killing you myself and silencing that wicked mouth of yours? That would entertain me for a few moments.”
“Like you want me to fuck you so hard over that railing that the king will have no choice but to execute us both for how loud you’ll scream.”
“You look like the queen of my own personal Hel, and it’s like I’m living a slow death, knowing I have no right to make you mine.”
“Fuck it.”
Review of advance copy received from Author
I loved WHTWC! I loved the lore, world building, the pacing, and the overall story. The FMC, Elvara's (Vara) struggle throughout the book could be felt off the pages. As an eldest daughter, I could relate to her need to protect, be the best, do the best, and take care of the family. The grief and devastation starts from literally page one and it literally doesn't stop. She's navigating becoming the clan's Heir, alone and targeted from the beginning, pulling on strength and determination from within. Everyone is out to get her when she makes it to the Hird, much to her own choices; however she has the strong will out of any FMC out there; she never gives up. She is the embodiment of a Viking. Heads roll, literally, as soon as she steps foot into the Hird. There's action, violence, death, and destruction, as this book is a roller coaster of chaos for Vara. I loved it.
Then she meets Darcke, the dark brooding King's lead guardsman. He hates her, tries to kill her, and overall, wants her out of his life. She also wants nothing to do with him. Neither trust each other. It's a true, enemies to forced proximity to potential lovers situation. The way they antagonize each other is perfect. She "steals" his sentient ship, although, it's more like the ship takes her on an escapade to help her; Darcke doesn't see it this way, so of course he's pissed.
Vara is forced to pretend her father and brother are still alive, all the while, breaking inside. No one can know the true reason she's at the Hird. Her brother's best friend is trying to help her and has figured out her secret. Her guard is protective, but she's also pushed him away, hoping to make him her second. HOWEVER, shit hits the fan, and she's betrayed; forcing her to choose another.
As she and Darcke are forced to work together, along with others through the vicious trials, Vara's life is constantly in danger. She has no magic to save her like the other Heirs. Everyone again, is out to get her and of course, she can't stop running her mouth (love this about her) to direct them from her lack of magic.
The culmination of this book is a roller coaster of emotions, betrayals, Gods and disaster. Your jaw drops as Vara finds out the truth behind what placed her as Heir. I cannot wait for the second book!!!! I could read this over and over.
Then she meets Darcke, the dark brooding King's lead guardsman. He hates her, tries to kill her, and overall, wants her out of his life. She also wants nothing to do with him. Neither trust each other. It's a true, enemies to forced proximity to potential lovers situation. The way they antagonize each other is perfect. She "steals" his sentient ship, although, it's more like the ship takes her on an escapade to help her; Darcke doesn't see it this way, so of course he's pissed.
Vara is forced to pretend her father and brother are still alive, all the while, breaking inside. No one can know the true reason she's at the Hird. Her brother's best friend is trying to help her and has figured out her secret. Her guard is protective, but she's also pushed him away, hoping to make him her second. HOWEVER, shit hits the fan, and she's betrayed; forcing her to choose another.
As she and Darcke are forced to work together, along with others through the vicious trials, Vara's life is constantly in danger. She has no magic to save her like the other Heirs. Everyone again, is out to get her and of course, she can't stop running her mouth (love this about her) to direct them from her lack of magic.
The culmination of this book is a roller coaster of emotions, betrayals, Gods and disaster. Your jaw drops as Vara finds out the truth behind what placed her as Heir. I cannot wait for the second book!!!! I could read this over and over.
Review of advance copy received from Author
⚔ "Who Hears The Waters' Call"⚔
By Sophia St. Germain
*ARC review*
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐💫
🌶.5
If I am ever asked to suggest a romantasy that was written from start to end completely aligned with absolutely everything I love, it would be this book (and I'm sure the next one too)!!
I finished this in tears, not because of the ending, which was just perfect cliffhanger, and enough to leave me yearning for more, and not anxious, but for all the feels and characters I loved so much, I surprised myself!
I am indeed very much in love with Norse mythology and viking stories, for a very long time now, so this was a beautiful read to feed that love of mine! But, on the side with that, the author simply wrote this book perfectly! The magic, the pacing of the story, the trials, all the side characters, everything was worked out to the smallest detail, and I felt every single emotion, and there were many!! The plot was just amazing and I truly could not predict that final twist!!
But most of all, I really loved our main characters, Elvara and Darcke!! They are real people, with struggles and hardships, but what I value above all else with them, is that they stayed true to their morals and values, they stayed true to themselves, and to each other!! Even, when they questioned their own honor, they were the most honorable! And I love those type of characters!! True enemies to lovers, their banter was just outstanding, I was on the edge of my seat, giggling and highlighting paragraph after paragraph!!
I am so, so eager for more of them and their story and can't wait to get my hands on the second book!! And this one goes straight to my top 10 of the year!! I am still trying to process my love for this book and I am so happy I got to read it!!
This book releases on July 22, so make sure to add it to your goodreads, and perhaps snatch yourself a special edition copy from the author's website!! I sure have done so the moment I started reading the book, already knowing how much I'll love it!!
I really appreciate the author for accepting me to their ARC team and providing me the opportunity to read this book early and to love it even more!!
Tropes:
•enemies to lovers
•battle bonds
•brutal trials
•slow burn
•sentient ships
•magical forests
•viking war academy
By Sophia St. Germain
*ARC review*
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐💫
🌶.5
If I am ever asked to suggest a romantasy that was written from start to end completely aligned with absolutely everything I love, it would be this book (and I'm sure the next one too)!!
I finished this in tears, not because of the ending, which was just perfect cliffhanger, and enough to leave me yearning for more, and not anxious, but for all the feels and characters I loved so much, I surprised myself!
I am indeed very much in love with Norse mythology and viking stories, for a very long time now, so this was a beautiful read to feed that love of mine! But, on the side with that, the author simply wrote this book perfectly! The magic, the pacing of the story, the trials, all the side characters, everything was worked out to the smallest detail, and I felt every single emotion, and there were many!! The plot was just amazing and I truly could not predict that final twist!!
But most of all, I really loved our main characters, Elvara and Darcke!! They are real people, with struggles and hardships, but what I value above all else with them, is that they stayed true to their morals and values, they stayed true to themselves, and to each other!! Even, when they questioned their own honor, they were the most honorable! And I love those type of characters!! True enemies to lovers, their banter was just outstanding, I was on the edge of my seat, giggling and highlighting paragraph after paragraph!!
I am so, so eager for more of them and their story and can't wait to get my hands on the second book!! And this one goes straight to my top 10 of the year!! I am still trying to process my love for this book and I am so happy I got to read it!!
This book releases on July 22, so make sure to add it to your goodreads, and perhaps snatch yourself a special edition copy from the author's website!! I sure have done so the moment I started reading the book, already knowing how much I'll love it!!
I really appreciate the author for accepting me to their ARC team and providing me the opportunity to read this book early and to love it even more!!
Tropes:
•enemies to lovers
•battle bonds
•brutal trials
•slow burn
•sentient ships
•magical forests
•viking war academy
June 5, 2026
Wow Sophia this book did not disappoint! I was hooked from page 1 and could not put it down once I started. This was my most anticipated read of the year.
Elvara went through so much in this book. I felt for her because everything seemed stacked against her. She had so many enemies while trying to keep her family’s secret a secret. She was never meant for this her brother was but now that he and her father are dead she has to step up and get a rune. She grew so much by the end it was amazing to see her journey so far. It wasn’t an easy journey by any means but what journey is ever easy.
Darcke hates her guts for some reason. He wants to kill her a lot. But what happens when he becomes her second? He hates her but now he’s her second how the heck will that work? There is so much you still have to learn about him. You get some but not everything. I loved that while he hated her he still pushed her to be better. He made her fight and made her become the person she is by the end of this book.
I loved all the side characters and their stories in this book. My heart broke when characters didn’t make it because you learn so much about them and watch them grow that it hurts to see them not make it to the end. It’s all a part of these characters lives and they all know they might die but it’s still sad.
I loved the ships! They were freaking hilarious and I always looked forward to seeing what they would do next. They had minds of their own and it was one of my favorite things.
The plot twists!!! Sophia you are crazy and so sneaky! I didn’t see any of them coming! They made so much sense once they happened but I wasn’t expecting them. Now you have me questioning things and wondering what will happen next.
Overall I loved this book and can’t wait to read the second part of their story after that ending. This book lasted 10 minutes after I realized it hit my inbox before I started reading it. It definitely isn’t after 6:30am as I am writing this (no I haven’t slept). I knew I would drop everything to read this book the second it hit my inbox. Who needs sleep anyway when you have an amazing book to read. I read this book as an arc.
Elvara went through so much in this book. I felt for her because everything seemed stacked against her. She had so many enemies while trying to keep her family’s secret a secret. She was never meant for this her brother was but now that he and her father are dead she has to step up and get a rune. She grew so much by the end it was amazing to see her journey so far. It wasn’t an easy journey by any means but what journey is ever easy.
Darcke hates her guts for some reason. He wants to kill her a lot. But what happens when he becomes her second? He hates her but now he’s her second how the heck will that work? There is so much you still have to learn about him. You get some but not everything. I loved that while he hated her he still pushed her to be better. He made her fight and made her become the person she is by the end of this book.
I loved all the side characters and their stories in this book. My heart broke when characters didn’t make it because you learn so much about them and watch them grow that it hurts to see them not make it to the end. It’s all a part of these characters lives and they all know they might die but it’s still sad.
I loved the ships! They were freaking hilarious and I always looked forward to seeing what they would do next. They had minds of their own and it was one of my favorite things.
The plot twists!!! Sophia you are crazy and so sneaky! I didn’t see any of them coming! They made so much sense once they happened but I wasn’t expecting them. Now you have me questioning things and wondering what will happen next.
Overall I loved this book and can’t wait to read the second part of their story after that ending. This book lasted 10 minutes after I realized it hit my inbox before I started reading it. It definitely isn’t after 6:30am as I am writing this (no I haven’t slept). I knew I would drop everything to read this book the second it hit my inbox. Who needs sleep anyway when you have an amazing book to read. I read this book as an arc.
Review of advance copy received from Author
What's it about?
The eldest daughter of the chieftain of their village, Elvara Sweengard was brought up to do one thing: marry someone of equal rank to further her family’s rule. But when the ships in their village go quiet and magic vanishes, the unthinkable is confirmed: her father and brother have been slaughtered on their way to the Hird—the king’s elite war academy—where her brother was to claim his mantle as the next chieftain.
Tropes
⚔️ Enemies to lovers
➰️ Battle Bonds
💀 Deadly Trials
🔥 Slow burn
✨️ Rune Magic
⛵️Sentient Ships
Perfect if you enjoy...
🛡 Norse Mythology
⚔️ Alot of fight scenes
📚 The Broken Kingdoms by LJ Andrews
My thoughts
Everything about this book draws you in, the cover, the blurb and the tropes hooked me but the story itself, from the outset made it difficult to put down! 🔥📚
Elvara, our FMC, is incredible. Her resilience, emotional depth and complexity makes her easy to love as a reader. I felt her struggles so keenly all I wanted was for her to succeed. Honestly the love interest could have been any number of people at the start. She was surrounded by men and I was worried we were going to step into a love triangle but our MMC made himself very clear that nobody was going anywhere near Vara 🫣🥵
The worldbuilding was brilliant and based on the Viking culture we are all familiar with but with a huge dose of magic! The sentient ships, the elements holding power and the norse gods made the story feel even more ancient and mystical.
The trials in this story were amazing because they didn't feel like trials 😂 They felt more like a right of passage intrinsicly built into the culture and social structure. You had to participate in the war academy, the trials had to be done to earn your ship, your weapons, your warriors. The way were incorporated into the story was truly a masterpiece. 👏
I loved this book, even the many side characters were brilliantly written to the point I remember every name, who they were and what they did. My favourite being Torden 🥹💙
The ending was bloody fantastic, I can't stop thinking about it, it was everything! I can't wait for book 2 🎉
I can't recommend this book enough, it was AMAZING! ✨️
The eldest daughter of the chieftain of their village, Elvara Sweengard was brought up to do one thing: marry someone of equal rank to further her family’s rule. But when the ships in their village go quiet and magic vanishes, the unthinkable is confirmed: her father and brother have been slaughtered on their way to the Hird—the king’s elite war academy—where her brother was to claim his mantle as the next chieftain.
Tropes
⚔️ Enemies to lovers
➰️ Battle Bonds
💀 Deadly Trials
🔥 Slow burn
✨️ Rune Magic
⛵️Sentient Ships
Perfect if you enjoy...
🛡 Norse Mythology
⚔️ Alot of fight scenes
📚 The Broken Kingdoms by LJ Andrews
My thoughts
Everything about this book draws you in, the cover, the blurb and the tropes hooked me but the story itself, from the outset made it difficult to put down! 🔥📚
Elvara, our FMC, is incredible. Her resilience, emotional depth and complexity makes her easy to love as a reader. I felt her struggles so keenly all I wanted was for her to succeed. Honestly the love interest could have been any number of people at the start. She was surrounded by men and I was worried we were going to step into a love triangle but our MMC made himself very clear that nobody was going anywhere near Vara 🫣🥵
The worldbuilding was brilliant and based on the Viking culture we are all familiar with but with a huge dose of magic! The sentient ships, the elements holding power and the norse gods made the story feel even more ancient and mystical.
The trials in this story were amazing because they didn't feel like trials 😂 They felt more like a right of passage intrinsicly built into the culture and social structure. You had to participate in the war academy, the trials had to be done to earn your ship, your weapons, your warriors. The way were incorporated into the story was truly a masterpiece. 👏
I loved this book, even the many side characters were brilliantly written to the point I remember every name, who they were and what they did. My favourite being Torden 🥹💙
The ending was bloody fantastic, I can't stop thinking about it, it was everything! I can't wait for book 2 🎉
I can't recommend this book enough, it was AMAZING! ✨️
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received an arc copy of this book via the book funnel app and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️
As someone who loves anything Viking & Norse related, Who Hears the Waters Call immediately caught my attention, and I'm glad I decided to give it a chance.
The story started off incredibly strong, pulling me into the world and keeping me invested through the first half of the book. Around the midway point, however, I began to struggle a little. The pacing slowed considerably and it felt more like a slow burn than I had initially expected. There were moments when I considered putting it down, but I'm pleased I persevered because the payoff was worth it in the end.
One of the book's greatest strengths is the relationship building and the world building, I could really see myself competing in the trials myself.
I particularly enjoyed seeing the bonds develop between the FMC and the supporting characters. Their friendships and connections felt genuine and added plenty of heart to the story.
I did find myself confused by some aspects of the magic system. Certain elements, particularly the magical boats that seemed to possess minds of their own, weren't always fully clear to me, and I occasionally struggled to understand exactly how some of the magic worked within the world.
The romance and sexual tension is present throughout the story and comes with a little spice, but don't expect anything overly explicit as it is not that kind of book and is definitely more fantasy based.
I also have to mention the cover because it's absolutely stunning. The artwork is beautiful and was one of the things that drew me to the book in the first place. I'm already hoping a special edition will be released in the future because it would make a gorgeous addition to any bookshelf.
Overall, despite some pacing issues and a few moments of confusion with the magic system, this was an enjoyable romantasy book with strong character relationships, a touch of spice, and a beautiful world.
Definitely worth picking up if you're a fan of Norse-inspired fantasy and slower-building romances.
Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️
As someone who loves anything Viking & Norse related, Who Hears the Waters Call immediately caught my attention, and I'm glad I decided to give it a chance.
The story started off incredibly strong, pulling me into the world and keeping me invested through the first half of the book. Around the midway point, however, I began to struggle a little. The pacing slowed considerably and it felt more like a slow burn than I had initially expected. There were moments when I considered putting it down, but I'm pleased I persevered because the payoff was worth it in the end.
One of the book's greatest strengths is the relationship building and the world building, I could really see myself competing in the trials myself.
I particularly enjoyed seeing the bonds develop between the FMC and the supporting characters. Their friendships and connections felt genuine and added plenty of heart to the story.
I did find myself confused by some aspects of the magic system. Certain elements, particularly the magical boats that seemed to possess minds of their own, weren't always fully clear to me, and I occasionally struggled to understand exactly how some of the magic worked within the world.
The romance and sexual tension is present throughout the story and comes with a little spice, but don't expect anything overly explicit as it is not that kind of book and is definitely more fantasy based.
I also have to mention the cover because it's absolutely stunning. The artwork is beautiful and was one of the things that drew me to the book in the first place. I'm already hoping a special edition will be released in the future because it would make a gorgeous addition to any bookshelf.
Overall, despite some pacing issues and a few moments of confusion with the magic system, this was an enjoyable romantasy book with strong character relationships, a touch of spice, and a beautiful world.
Definitely worth picking up if you're a fan of Norse-inspired fantasy and slower-building romances.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Firstly thank you to Sophia for the chance to read this ARC, I’m so grateful!🥹 I loved the compelling fates saga so I knew I’d be obsessed with this and OH MY!
The intricate story had me hooked from the start. I love it when authors don’t skip out on the world building and the history and lore in new worlds. Did I study the pronunciation guide, yes I did. Did any of it stick in my mind? No it didn’t but that was fun- I think I mispronounced every single thing but I was having a great time!😂
This story follows Elvara, she has to enter an academy created by the king to essentially prove that they’re worthy of leading their villages. It’s brutal, it’s dangerous and she doesn’t know who she can trust with her secrets. ARGH the tension throughout this story was gripping. The FMC in this book gives badass big sister energy and boy was I a fan!😍. She’s fierce but also has this vulnerability to her which she cannot show and watching her grow and develop throughout her journey was so satisfying.
We also meet our MMC Darcke 😮💨
This man is the perfect combination of darkness, brooding and mystery- who doesn’t love seeing a powerful man fall apart for a woman. This is a perfect enemies to lovers.
The TENSION, the BANTER, the BOND ugh it was everything. I’m a huge fan of bonds in fantasy books, it makes things so much for fun and interesting and it delivered let me tell you. We get a “Fuck it” moment people and the way I was squealing😂😂
I also loved understanding our side characters lives and personalities. The sentient ships were also one of my favourite parts. I want a sassy ship to be my friend too🥹
The last 20% had me reeeeeeeeling and oh my, the last 5% of this book I didn’t know if I was happy or if I was terrified. It was emotional whiplash in the best way.
BRAVO Sophia, you’ve created a world which I’m already utterly obsessed with- yay for vikings! 😮💨
You absolutely must give this book a read when it’s released but be prepared for cliff hangers and a “what happens now?” moment.
The intricate story had me hooked from the start. I love it when authors don’t skip out on the world building and the history and lore in new worlds. Did I study the pronunciation guide, yes I did. Did any of it stick in my mind? No it didn’t but that was fun- I think I mispronounced every single thing but I was having a great time!😂
This story follows Elvara, she has to enter an academy created by the king to essentially prove that they’re worthy of leading their villages. It’s brutal, it’s dangerous and she doesn’t know who she can trust with her secrets. ARGH the tension throughout this story was gripping. The FMC in this book gives badass big sister energy and boy was I a fan!😍. She’s fierce but also has this vulnerability to her which she cannot show and watching her grow and develop throughout her journey was so satisfying.
We also meet our MMC Darcke 😮💨
This man is the perfect combination of darkness, brooding and mystery- who doesn’t love seeing a powerful man fall apart for a woman. This is a perfect enemies to lovers.
The TENSION, the BANTER, the BOND ugh it was everything. I’m a huge fan of bonds in fantasy books, it makes things so much for fun and interesting and it delivered let me tell you. We get a “Fuck it” moment people and the way I was squealing😂😂
I also loved understanding our side characters lives and personalities. The sentient ships were also one of my favourite parts. I want a sassy ship to be my friend too🥹
The last 20% had me reeeeeeeeling and oh my, the last 5% of this book I didn’t know if I was happy or if I was terrified. It was emotional whiplash in the best way.
BRAVO Sophia, you’ve created a world which I’m already utterly obsessed with- yay for vikings! 😮💨
You absolutely must give this book a read when it’s released but be prepared for cliff hangers and a “what happens now?” moment.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Who Hears the Waters' Call
Sophia St. Germain
Zeal of the North, book one
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thank you so much to the author for an ARC of this book!
"And now? Covered in ice and snow? You look like the queen of my own personal Hel, and it's like I'm living a slow death, knowing I have no right to make you mine"
Elvara Sweengard was brought up to do one thing: marry someone of equal rank to further her family’s rule. But when her father and brother have been slaughtered on their way to the Hird—the king’s elite war academy—where her brother was to claim his mantle as the next chieftain, Elvara is now the only thing standing between her people and extinction. She must take her brother’s empty seat at the academy and earn a rune from the gods to restore the magic they lost - all without her family’s tragedy being revealed. As the trials begin, she soon learns that enemies lurk both inside and outside the realm. She needs to decide who is friend and who is foe before it’s too late—something that becomes far more complicated she finds herself tethered to a six-foot-five Viking warrior who would sooner put an axe through her heart than see a crown on her head.
I ATE THIS BOOK UP. Every single page. I absolutely loved it start to finish, couldn't put it down, chef's kiss amazing. The vikings + enemies to lovers + brutal trials + sentient ships. Perfection. Sophia is a master with her storytelling and scenery. I needed to know what happened next but also didn't want it to end. The side characters added so much to the story. Darcke.......you broody, sexy, dirty Viking you. Obsessed. I can't wait until book 2.
"Honor was for those who could afford to die. I was choosing the power of those who refused to. I might not be a hero in the end. But I was a survivor."
Tropes:
Dark Viking Romantasy
Enemies to Lovers
Forced Proximity
War bonds
Sentient Ships
Found Family
Sophia St. Germain
Zeal of the North, book one
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thank you so much to the author for an ARC of this book!
"And now? Covered in ice and snow? You look like the queen of my own personal Hel, and it's like I'm living a slow death, knowing I have no right to make you mine"
Elvara Sweengard was brought up to do one thing: marry someone of equal rank to further her family’s rule. But when her father and brother have been slaughtered on their way to the Hird—the king’s elite war academy—where her brother was to claim his mantle as the next chieftain, Elvara is now the only thing standing between her people and extinction. She must take her brother’s empty seat at the academy and earn a rune from the gods to restore the magic they lost - all without her family’s tragedy being revealed. As the trials begin, she soon learns that enemies lurk both inside and outside the realm. She needs to decide who is friend and who is foe before it’s too late—something that becomes far more complicated she finds herself tethered to a six-foot-five Viking warrior who would sooner put an axe through her heart than see a crown on her head.
I ATE THIS BOOK UP. Every single page. I absolutely loved it start to finish, couldn't put it down, chef's kiss amazing. The vikings + enemies to lovers + brutal trials + sentient ships. Perfection. Sophia is a master with her storytelling and scenery. I needed to know what happened next but also didn't want it to end. The side characters added so much to the story. Darcke.......you broody, sexy, dirty Viking you. Obsessed. I can't wait until book 2.
"Honor was for those who could afford to die. I was choosing the power of those who refused to. I might not be a hero in the end. But I was a survivor."
Tropes:
Dark Viking Romantasy
Enemies to Lovers
Forced Proximity
War bonds
Sentient Ships
Found Family
Review of advance copy
What an absolute adventure this was. You are dropped straight into this whimsical, vicious Viking world of magic, political tension, familial rivalries, courage, honor, grief, pain, and fear. The Viking energy is captured so well through the character descriptions, names, ships, weapons, Norse Gods, and cultural norms.
The first half of the book may feel a bit heavy as you acclimate yourself to a world that is refreshingly unique, vivid, and detailed. In the midst of this world, we meet our FMC who is experiencing that part of a life journey where it feels like the hits just won't stop coming. It may be hard for those of us that empathize to witness her pain, but I promise it's worth it. Our girl, Elvara, is on a journey and she is forged in the fire- we are lucky enough to bear witness. The writing speaks to the internal struggle we all face to keep moving forward even when we feel like it's impossible...... and who we ultimately become on the other side of that fight.
This story follows a true enemies to lover's trope (done well!) but the rest of the story is anything but formulaic. The trope feeds an already strong plot.
The spice is limited but the scenes we do get are worth the wait. The way our MMC had both the dirtiest and the sweetest mouth sent my heart into palpidations.
You're going to think you know what the twists are but you will be wrong. Even if you figure out a sliver of it, the whole will surprise you.
Some cliffhangers just feel cruel- that is not this book. It will leave you shaken but with a sense of resolution. That being said, I have new burning questions and can't wait to see what our characters do next!
Fantastic plot. Fantastic world building. Fantastic romance. Fantastic raw, powerful heroine. 5 stars.
Review created prior to publication date because I received an eARC from Bookfunnel.
The first half of the book may feel a bit heavy as you acclimate yourself to a world that is refreshingly unique, vivid, and detailed. In the midst of this world, we meet our FMC who is experiencing that part of a life journey where it feels like the hits just won't stop coming. It may be hard for those of us that empathize to witness her pain, but I promise it's worth it. Our girl, Elvara, is on a journey and she is forged in the fire- we are lucky enough to bear witness. The writing speaks to the internal struggle we all face to keep moving forward even when we feel like it's impossible...... and who we ultimately become on the other side of that fight.
This story follows a true enemies to lover's trope (done well!) but the rest of the story is anything but formulaic. The trope feeds an already strong plot.
The spice is limited but the scenes we do get are worth the wait. The way our MMC had both the dirtiest and the sweetest mouth sent my heart into palpidations.
You're going to think you know what the twists are but you will be wrong. Even if you figure out a sliver of it, the whole will surprise you.
Some cliffhangers just feel cruel- that is not this book. It will leave you shaken but with a sense of resolution. That being said, I have new burning questions and can't wait to see what our characters do next!
Fantastic plot. Fantastic world building. Fantastic romance. Fantastic raw, powerful heroine. 5 stars.
Review created prior to publication date because I received an eARC from Bookfunnel.
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