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Lily of the Sea: Book Two of the Phoenix Rising Grim Pirate Fantasy Series
Caraway Returns...
Chart a Course,
Plan a Wedding,
Storm a Castle.
For the readers who are moody, feisty, and in another world may also be stabby.
What to expect!
Grim and emotional tale, slow-burn romance, grumpy x sunshine, one-bed and one-horse, feminine rage, found family, forbidden romance, pirate politics and found family drama, swordfights, thriller elements, and of course LGBTQA+ representation (Asexual fmc and other queer rep).
CONTENT (This is a pirate story)
Violence, light gore, blood, vomiting, character deaths (both on and off the page), sexual harassment, drowning, sea monsters, dismemberment, anxiety, emotional abuse, physical abuse, manipulation, PTSD, sharp objects and gun violence, swearing, narcissism, depression, and alcoholism.
Chart a Course,
Plan a Wedding,
Storm a Castle.
For the readers who are moody, feisty, and in another world may also be stabby.
What to expect!
Grim and emotional tale, slow-burn romance, grumpy x sunshine, one-bed and one-horse, feminine rage, found family, forbidden romance, pirate politics and found family drama, swordfights, thriller elements, and of course LGBTQA+ representation (Asexual fmc and other queer rep).
CONTENT (This is a pirate story)
Violence, light gore, blood, vomiting, character deaths (both on and off the page), sexual harassment, drowning, sea monsters, dismemberment, anxiety, emotional abuse, physical abuse, manipulation, PTSD, sharp objects and gun violence, swearing, narcissism, depression, and alcoholism.
620 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 16, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
August 16, 2026
Lily of the Sea was such an enjoyable read! I really like Burget’s writing style, and it made this one incredibly easy to get into.
The characters continue to be one of my favorite parts of this series. I love Caraway’s independence and the way her relationships develop without taking away from who she is. I really enjoyed the other characters in this book as well, especially the found-family dynamic among the crew. I appreciated the unique approach to the romance and how well it fit Caraway’s character.
I’m looking forward to continuing the series and seeing what happens next for Caraway!
Perfect for readers who like:
❦ pirate fantasy
✦ slow-burn romance
❦ asexual FMC
✦ grumpy × sunshine
❦ found family
✦ banter
❦ pirate politics
✦ one bed
❦ forbidden romance
✦ feminine rage
❦ green-flag MMC
✦ strong, independent FMCs
Thank you so much to the author for the ARC and the opportunity to continue Caraway’s story!
The characters continue to be one of my favorite parts of this series. I love Caraway’s independence and the way her relationships develop without taking away from who she is. I really enjoyed the other characters in this book as well, especially the found-family dynamic among the crew. I appreciated the unique approach to the romance and how well it fit Caraway’s character.
I’m looking forward to continuing the series and seeing what happens next for Caraway!
Perfect for readers who like:
❦ pirate fantasy
✦ slow-burn romance
❦ asexual FMC
✦ grumpy × sunshine
❦ found family
✦ banter
❦ pirate politics
✦ one bed
❦ forbidden romance
✦ feminine rage
❦ green-flag MMC
✦ strong, independent FMCs
Thank you so much to the author for the ARC and the opportunity to continue Caraway’s story!
September 11, 2026
Lily of the Sea by Madeline Burget — ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you so much to Madeline Burget for sending me an ARC in exchange for my honest review!
WE’RE BACK ON THE HIGH SEAS, Y’ALL!!! 🏴☠️🌊
After absolutely loving Caraway of the Sea, I was SO excited to return to Caraway’s world, and Lily of the Sea did not disappoint. This sequel picks up with Caraway dealing with the aftermath of everything that happened in the first book, joining a new crew and trying to figure out who she is now that her life has completely changed.
I *loved* seeing Caraway’s healing journey. Caraway is still dealing with grief, trauma, nightmares, anxiety, and all of the complicated feelings surrounding her brother’s betrayal. Watching her slowly begin to trust again, build new friendships, and find her place within this crew was one of my favorite parts of the book. Her character development felt incredibly genuine, especially as she continues to navigate her asexuality and what love actually means to her.
And ENZO. 🥹
I loved their relationship in the first book, but watching it develop here made my heart so happy. Enzo is such a GREEN FLAG. He cares about Caraway deeply without ever making her feel like she owes him anything in return, and I absolutely adored the way he supports her as she works through her feelings about love and attraction.
But honestly, the friendships might have been my favorite relationships in this book. Caraway’s bonds with the women around her were SO GOOD, and I loved watching this group slowly become a found family. Coen is still an absolute sweetheart, Annecherie remains the love of my life, and we get some wonderful new characters along the way—including one very determined young girl who wants nothing more than to become a pirate. 👀
The pirate adventure itself also gets BIGGER this time around. We spend much more time at sea, and the dangers that were almost mythical in the first book suddenly feel very, very real. There’s sword fighting, murder, a rescue mission, secrets, high-seas chaos, and plenty of mystery surrounding Enzo’s homeland. The stakes definitely felt higher this time around, while Burget still manages to give us those cozy character-driven moments between all the chaos.
I also have to mention how CINEMATIC this book feels. The fight scenes, the quiet conversations, the moments of tension between characters—I could picture so much of it playing out like a movie in my head.
But at its heart, Lily of the Sea is a story about healing, acceptance, love, and finding people who let you be exactly who you are. And I think that’s what made this sequel hit so hard for me.
Madeline Burget has created such a fascinating little corner of the pirate fantasy world, and I am VERY invested in Caraway and her crew. If you loved the first book, you absolutely need to continue the journey.
More pirates. More found family. More Caraway. More Enzo. More high-seas chaos.
I’m already ready for the next adventure 🥹🏴☠️💚
Thank you so much to Madeline Burget for sending me an ARC in exchange for my honest review!
WE’RE BACK ON THE HIGH SEAS, Y’ALL!!! 🏴☠️🌊
After absolutely loving Caraway of the Sea, I was SO excited to return to Caraway’s world, and Lily of the Sea did not disappoint. This sequel picks up with Caraway dealing with the aftermath of everything that happened in the first book, joining a new crew and trying to figure out who she is now that her life has completely changed.
I *loved* seeing Caraway’s healing journey. Caraway is still dealing with grief, trauma, nightmares, anxiety, and all of the complicated feelings surrounding her brother’s betrayal. Watching her slowly begin to trust again, build new friendships, and find her place within this crew was one of my favorite parts of the book. Her character development felt incredibly genuine, especially as she continues to navigate her asexuality and what love actually means to her.
And ENZO. 🥹
I loved their relationship in the first book, but watching it develop here made my heart so happy. Enzo is such a GREEN FLAG. He cares about Caraway deeply without ever making her feel like she owes him anything in return, and I absolutely adored the way he supports her as she works through her feelings about love and attraction.
But honestly, the friendships might have been my favorite relationships in this book. Caraway’s bonds with the women around her were SO GOOD, and I loved watching this group slowly become a found family. Coen is still an absolute sweetheart, Annecherie remains the love of my life, and we get some wonderful new characters along the way—including one very determined young girl who wants nothing more than to become a pirate. 👀
The pirate adventure itself also gets BIGGER this time around. We spend much more time at sea, and the dangers that were almost mythical in the first book suddenly feel very, very real. There’s sword fighting, murder, a rescue mission, secrets, high-seas chaos, and plenty of mystery surrounding Enzo’s homeland. The stakes definitely felt higher this time around, while Burget still manages to give us those cozy character-driven moments between all the chaos.
I also have to mention how CINEMATIC this book feels. The fight scenes, the quiet conversations, the moments of tension between characters—I could picture so much of it playing out like a movie in my head.
But at its heart, Lily of the Sea is a story about healing, acceptance, love, and finding people who let you be exactly who you are. And I think that’s what made this sequel hit so hard for me.
Madeline Burget has created such a fascinating little corner of the pirate fantasy world, and I am VERY invested in Caraway and her crew. If you loved the first book, you absolutely need to continue the journey.
More pirates. More found family. More Caraway. More Enzo. More high-seas chaos.
I’m already ready for the next adventure 🥹🏴☠️💚
Review of advance copy received from Author
Caraway and Enzo have stolen my heart, and I'm so glad that they have! There is SO MUCH to love about this story (yes, that is a reference to the impressive page count) and truthfully the bi-panic I felt over not being able to choose between loving Caraway or Enzo more is just the tip of the iceberg.
Jokes aside, this book is filled with a lot of heart, of honesty and so much healing. To be seen and accepted the way Enzo sees and accepts Caraway and her past was wonderful to read, and Caraway's confusion and anxiety around whether the way she loves is enough was such an honest exploration of asexuality.
Few groups of people do found family the way that pirates do, and Madeline Burget captured that feeling perfectly - a wonderful departure from the antagonistic vibe of Caraway's crew in book 1. In Lily we have wonderful side characters with giant personalities and I loved every minute! I was so glad to see on the author's social media that she left in every scene that she wrote for the story because it gave me such a deep insight into what it might be like to live with such a lively crew of people, and it sounds like a lot of fun.
It's not all warm and cozy though, the book is also full of high-stakes adventure and intrigue (and a few creatures from the deep), and Burget finds the perfect balance between what she describes as a grim-cozy setting. I don't want to give too much of the plot away here, but we have some nasty interactions and visit a very hostile kingdom in this installment of the series - I am really excited to see the fall out from the revelations of the final pages of the book when I get my paws on book 3!
Thank you to Madeline Burget for the opportunity to read and honestly review Lily of the Sea prior to its release.
Jokes aside, this book is filled with a lot of heart, of honesty and so much healing. To be seen and accepted the way Enzo sees and accepts Caraway and her past was wonderful to read, and Caraway's confusion and anxiety around whether the way she loves is enough was such an honest exploration of asexuality.
Few groups of people do found family the way that pirates do, and Madeline Burget captured that feeling perfectly - a wonderful departure from the antagonistic vibe of Caraway's crew in book 1. In Lily we have wonderful side characters with giant personalities and I loved every minute! I was so glad to see on the author's social media that she left in every scene that she wrote for the story because it gave me such a deep insight into what it might be like to live with such a lively crew of people, and it sounds like a lot of fun.
It's not all warm and cozy though, the book is also full of high-stakes adventure and intrigue (and a few creatures from the deep), and Burget finds the perfect balance between what she describes as a grim-cozy setting. I don't want to give too much of the plot away here, but we have some nasty interactions and visit a very hostile kingdom in this installment of the series - I am really excited to see the fall out from the revelations of the final pages of the book when I get my paws on book 3!
Thank you to Madeline Burget for the opportunity to read and honestly review Lily of the Sea prior to its release.
Review of advance copy received from Author
⭐️ 4
📚 Phoenix Rising (book 2)
🌶️ none
We pick up right where we left off in book 1 and I have to say I enjoyed the sequel even more! Caraway is working on how to deal with her past life. She wants to turn over a new leaf and to become her own person without her brother Marcel, while dealing with his “ghost”. This book is a much more in depth look into all the characters storylines.
Caraway had so much growth this book. She still struggles with learning to trust others, letting go of the past, and not feeling guilt when others wish to help her. She has grown to care deeply for Enzo and Annecherie and she’s protective of her new crew.
Enzo remains perfect. His patience and true understanding, plus acceptance of Caraway was beautiful to watch. He didn’t expect her to change or to give anything she couldn’t give. He accepted her for who is she and never pressured her to do or be anything else.
Our side characters this book were so much more well rounded and I loved the back stories and time we spent with them! Zach and Coen are my little babies and I need nothing but happiness for those two. Annecherie becoming a much more prominent character this book was brilliant. Caraway having a strong relationship with a female friend I think helped her grow immensely. She too deserves happiness. The addition of Elmira was also interesting and I know there’s more to her story we will need to find out. Then we have Demitri who added a lot of laughs as he antagonized Caraway.
Thank you to the author for the eARC! I am so ready for book 3 after that cliffhanger!!!
Tropes:
- Grim cozy pirate
- stabby female pirate
- Rival captains
- He falls first
- Yearning
- Banter, sparring, hair washing
- Secret royal
- Asexual FMC
Favorite Quotes:
- "Caraway, I accept you as you are," he lifted my hand to his lips, kissing my palm softly, "as you were," he then placed my palm against his chest, directly over his racing heart, "and all that you've yet to become, whatever that may be. I accept all of you, in spite of all that I do not know or understand. You may call me a fool, but I'd rather fall than never have taken the leap. As I've told you before-the risk is mine."
Spoilers moving forward:
- I knew Demitri was the missing prince and I guessed Enzo was a half brother because of his undying loyalty to him no matter how many problems he caused
- Seeing Demitri interact with his half sister was very interesting in the last chapter, he attachment to her guard, her missing fiancé (which I assume will be Zacharia) and all the dynamics between the queen who had their families murdered should be a great story for book 3
- Caraway ending the book saying she is the Blade to the Pirate King, she’s accepting her role again but in her own way and on her own terms, i’m so excited to see how this plays out
📚 Phoenix Rising (book 2)
🌶️ none
We pick up right where we left off in book 1 and I have to say I enjoyed the sequel even more! Caraway is working on how to deal with her past life. She wants to turn over a new leaf and to become her own person without her brother Marcel, while dealing with his “ghost”. This book is a much more in depth look into all the characters storylines.
Caraway had so much growth this book. She still struggles with learning to trust others, letting go of the past, and not feeling guilt when others wish to help her. She has grown to care deeply for Enzo and Annecherie and she’s protective of her new crew.
Enzo remains perfect. His patience and true understanding, plus acceptance of Caraway was beautiful to watch. He didn’t expect her to change or to give anything she couldn’t give. He accepted her for who is she and never pressured her to do or be anything else.
Our side characters this book were so much more well rounded and I loved the back stories and time we spent with them! Zach and Coen are my little babies and I need nothing but happiness for those two. Annecherie becoming a much more prominent character this book was brilliant. Caraway having a strong relationship with a female friend I think helped her grow immensely. She too deserves happiness. The addition of Elmira was also interesting and I know there’s more to her story we will need to find out. Then we have Demitri who added a lot of laughs as he antagonized Caraway.
Thank you to the author for the eARC! I am so ready for book 3 after that cliffhanger!!!
Tropes:
- Grim cozy pirate
- stabby female pirate
- Rival captains
- He falls first
- Yearning
- Banter, sparring, hair washing
- Secret royal
- Asexual FMC
Favorite Quotes:
- "Caraway, I accept you as you are," he lifted my hand to his lips, kissing my palm softly, "as you were," he then placed my palm against his chest, directly over his racing heart, "and all that you've yet to become, whatever that may be. I accept all of you, in spite of all that I do not know or understand. You may call me a fool, but I'd rather fall than never have taken the leap. As I've told you before-the risk is mine."
Spoilers moving forward:
- I knew Demitri was the missing prince and I guessed Enzo was a half brother because of his undying loyalty to him no matter how many problems he caused
- Seeing Demitri interact with his half sister was very interesting in the last chapter, he attachment to her guard, her missing fiancé (which I assume will be Zacharia) and all the dynamics between the queen who had their families murdered should be a great story for book 3
- Caraway ending the book saying she is the Blade to the Pirate King, she’s accepting her role again but in her own way and on her own terms, i’m so excited to see how this plays out
Review of advance copy received from Author
This was another fun Phoenix Rising book. Caraway is such a unique character and, as a fellow asexual, I could completely understand her awkwardness and behaviour.
Plot: Caraway has joined Lorenzo's pirate crew, but she's still haunted by what happened at the end of book 1 (spoilers). They travel through dangerous waters, attacks, and a wedding to Enzo's home city to try and rescue someone from the royal dungeon.
Caraway and Enzo are so great in this. Their dynamic is what I enjoyed most in this book. Caraway has a lot of issues to work through (regarding her past) and also her feelings for Enzo. I completely understood her as she tried to work with her lack of sexual desire, unsure of what to do with her feelings for him. Her awkwardness was just perfect (honestly didnt realise how awkward it was until I read someone else dealing with it 😅). There is so little Ace representation in media that it just made a special place in my heart for Caraway and this book.
And then there is how understanding Enzo is to her. Understanding that she can only give what she can and that that is enough for him. Top tier man with feelings and understanding.
The secondary characters were great in this book. Demitri added a lot of fun as he antagonised Caraway. Coen and Zack I loved in book 1 and loved them equally in this book. Anne gave us another female character who had so much depth and she deserves someone!
Loved the more sailing and pirating aspects of this book, getting to know more of the crew as crew.
But those character reveals! I guessed wrong. And I'm not mad. But also next book please! It ended in a nasty cliffhanger and I need to know more.
I received an advance review copy of this book and am leaving a voluntary review.
Plot: Caraway has joined Lorenzo's pirate crew, but she's still haunted by what happened at the end of book 1 (spoilers). They travel through dangerous waters, attacks, and a wedding to Enzo's home city to try and rescue someone from the royal dungeon.
Caraway and Enzo are so great in this. Their dynamic is what I enjoyed most in this book. Caraway has a lot of issues to work through (regarding her past) and also her feelings for Enzo. I completely understood her as she tried to work with her lack of sexual desire, unsure of what to do with her feelings for him. Her awkwardness was just perfect (honestly didnt realise how awkward it was until I read someone else dealing with it 😅). There is so little Ace representation in media that it just made a special place in my heart for Caraway and this book.
And then there is how understanding Enzo is to her. Understanding that she can only give what she can and that that is enough for him. Top tier man with feelings and understanding.
The secondary characters were great in this book. Demitri added a lot of fun as he antagonised Caraway. Coen and Zack I loved in book 1 and loved them equally in this book. Anne gave us another female character who had so much depth and she deserves someone!
Loved the more sailing and pirating aspects of this book, getting to know more of the crew as crew.
But those character reveals! I guessed wrong. And I'm not mad. But also next book please! It ended in a nasty cliffhanger and I need to know more.
I received an advance review copy of this book and am leaving a voluntary review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC REVIEW 🚨
Thank you to the author for an ARC copy of Lily of the Sea .
⭐️⭐️⭐️.75/5
I loved how much adventure and action this book had! The first in the series was grounded (literally) at port for almost the entirety, so this book spending so much time at sea was so fun! I can also tell that the author put SO much thought, effort, and research into every fight scene (and there are a lot! the FMC is a badass!)
I also absolutely LOVE the asexual rep we see in our FMC. The romance burns so slow and good, with the FMC going through a lot of personal growth and exploration and she tries to figure out her attraction and sexuality. As someone on the asexual scale (demisexual), this was extremely refreshing and made me feel seen and understood!
I think my biggest critique of this book is that it’s truly just too long, and because of that, the pacing was off and it often felt like it was dragging through the beginning/middle, and then really rushed in the last 150 pages, when we hit a really interesting place. This would have been solved if the book had been split into two, which would have given the author more direction in the first half (because the “main goal” of the book ended up being SO far away, leading to some wandering ideas that didn’t feel important) and given the second half more space to breath and fill out without rush. OR, we needed to cut out a ton of the first half so the main conflict of the book could have held more weight and arrived sooner.
Overall, an enjoyable read and I loved the last 200 pages a lot, but the length really did weigh it down. I am excited to see what comes next in the series.
Thank you to the author for an ARC copy of Lily of the Sea .
⭐️⭐️⭐️.75/5
I loved how much adventure and action this book had! The first in the series was grounded (literally) at port for almost the entirety, so this book spending so much time at sea was so fun! I can also tell that the author put SO much thought, effort, and research into every fight scene (and there are a lot! the FMC is a badass!)
I also absolutely LOVE the asexual rep we see in our FMC. The romance burns so slow and good, with the FMC going through a lot of personal growth and exploration and she tries to figure out her attraction and sexuality. As someone on the asexual scale (demisexual), this was extremely refreshing and made me feel seen and understood!
I think my biggest critique of this book is that it’s truly just too long, and because of that, the pacing was off and it often felt like it was dragging through the beginning/middle, and then really rushed in the last 150 pages, when we hit a really interesting place. This would have been solved if the book had been split into two, which would have given the author more direction in the first half (because the “main goal” of the book ended up being SO far away, leading to some wandering ideas that didn’t feel important) and given the second half more space to breath and fill out without rush. OR, we needed to cut out a ton of the first half so the main conflict of the book could have held more weight and arrived sooner.
Overall, an enjoyable read and I loved the last 200 pages a lot, but the length really did weigh it down. I am excited to see what comes next in the series.
August 26, 2026
We are finally back with one of my favorite pirates and book 2 was absolutely worth the wait!
Caraway is having a hard time after the death of her brother. She’s on a new crew, with expectations that are far different from what she was used to. Friendships and bonds are slowly starting to form, but she’s still struggling with the trauma of her brother’s betrayal and the nightmares she can’t seem to outrun. It doesn’t help that she also has no idea how to reconcile the feelings Lorenzo has for her when she doesn’t seem to feel the same about him….at least not in the way she believes she should.
There’s so much character development happening in this book and we get to meet quite a few new and interesting people as well.
There’s a foolish, yet charming former captain who has mysterious connection to Lorenzo, as well as an insistent young girl who wants to join the crew to become a pirate….despite Caraway’s hesitation to lead her into that life.
But it isn’t all new characters. Our old favorites are still around… like the bright and darling Coen (who has an adorable love story of his own) and the love of my life—Annecherie, who joins them on this adventure.
There’s a lot going on in this book, but the way Madeline weaves a story is so incredibly satisfying. She’s gifted in being able to handle trauma in a realistic way while balancing the emotions and volatile nature of who Caraway is as a person. And Lorenzo…despite his secrets he is the epitome of a green flag man, and I absolutely love the way he cares for her without expecting anything in return. As it should be.
Thank you Madeline for the ARC.
Caraway is having a hard time after the death of her brother. She’s on a new crew, with expectations that are far different from what she was used to. Friendships and bonds are slowly starting to form, but she’s still struggling with the trauma of her brother’s betrayal and the nightmares she can’t seem to outrun. It doesn’t help that she also has no idea how to reconcile the feelings Lorenzo has for her when she doesn’t seem to feel the same about him….at least not in the way she believes she should.
There’s so much character development happening in this book and we get to meet quite a few new and interesting people as well.
There’s a foolish, yet charming former captain who has mysterious connection to Lorenzo, as well as an insistent young girl who wants to join the crew to become a pirate….despite Caraway’s hesitation to lead her into that life.
But it isn’t all new characters. Our old favorites are still around… like the bright and darling Coen (who has an adorable love story of his own) and the love of my life—Annecherie, who joins them on this adventure.
There’s a lot going on in this book, but the way Madeline weaves a story is so incredibly satisfying. She’s gifted in being able to handle trauma in a realistic way while balancing the emotions and volatile nature of who Caraway is as a person. And Lorenzo…despite his secrets he is the epitome of a green flag man, and I absolutely love the way he cares for her without expecting anything in return. As it should be.
Thank you Madeline for the ARC.
August 16, 2026
I actually read this book without reading book one and I still really enjoyed it. You got enough of a sense of the characters through this story alone to know exactly who they were and how their world worked.
I will probably go back and read through book one though to fill in the gaps. This one also sets up things for book three extremely well without feeling like someone just turned off the channel in the middle of the episode.
I adored the character of Caraway, a Pirate trying to leave their more dangerous years behind them, she really just wants to sail, do the occasional raid with minimal bloodshed and take care of her plant. This book also has the most genuine feeling exploration of asexuality that I've ever experienced. It made me sad that while Caraway was self aware enough to experience attraction or sexual feelings the same way that others did she hadn't been able to truly accept it as normal and that the people who know and love her wouldn't care or ask for more. I hope she comes to terms with that in book three.
I also really loved the brother and sister dynamic between Caraway and Demitri as well as Demetri and Lorenzo. The interpersonal relationships overall in this book are wonderful and definitely a huge selling point. This was a wonderful relative low stakes, low spice adventure.
I will probably go back and read through book one though to fill in the gaps. This one also sets up things for book three extremely well without feeling like someone just turned off the channel in the middle of the episode.
I adored the character of Caraway, a Pirate trying to leave their more dangerous years behind them, she really just wants to sail, do the occasional raid with minimal bloodshed and take care of her plant. This book also has the most genuine feeling exploration of asexuality that I've ever experienced. It made me sad that while Caraway was self aware enough to experience attraction or sexual feelings the same way that others did she hadn't been able to truly accept it as normal and that the people who know and love her wouldn't care or ask for more. I hope she comes to terms with that in book three.
I also really loved the brother and sister dynamic between Caraway and Demitri as well as Demetri and Lorenzo. The interpersonal relationships overall in this book are wonderful and definitely a huge selling point. This was a wonderful relative low stakes, low spice adventure.
Review of advance copy received from Author
It was nice to be back in Caraway’s world and spend some time at sea and on land with the crew. The drama and intrigue followed them wherever they sailed.
Lilly of the Sea is the second instalment in a grim cosy pirate fantasy with a stabby romance and the reluctant hero: Caraway.
Caraway’s messy asexual awakening was my favourite this time. While she questions things in book one, she definitely realises that she experiences no sexual attraction in this one.
I can’t say much about the plot since this is the second book, but I loved all the relationships. They felt deeper and more meaningful this time around.
It wasn’t even the romance that impressed me the most (though it was cute), but the strong friendships Caraway builds with the other women on her journey.
We got to spend way more time at sea this time and I loved it. All the dangers lurking in this world felt palpable and got very real all of a sudden. What book one portrayed as a mere myth came back at night to torment the crew.
This book is for you if you like...
...A cosy but dark pirate story with a strong romantic plot,
...A messy asexual awakening with found family,
...Sword fights, murder and a rescue mission with a slow pace.
Lilly of the Sea is the second instalment in a grim cosy pirate fantasy with a stabby romance and the reluctant hero: Caraway.
Caraway’s messy asexual awakening was my favourite this time. While she questions things in book one, she definitely realises that she experiences no sexual attraction in this one.
I can’t say much about the plot since this is the second book, but I loved all the relationships. They felt deeper and more meaningful this time around.
It wasn’t even the romance that impressed me the most (though it was cute), but the strong friendships Caraway builds with the other women on her journey.
We got to spend way more time at sea this time and I loved it. All the dangers lurking in this world felt palpable and got very real all of a sudden. What book one portrayed as a mere myth came back at night to torment the crew.
This book is for you if you like...
...A cosy but dark pirate story with a strong romantic plot,
...A messy asexual awakening with found family,
...Sword fights, murder and a rescue mission with a slow pace.
August 15, 2026
I came for the love story and stayed for the side characters - Demitri, I see you 🙂↕️
Firstly, a huge thank you to the author for sending me an early copy of her book and trusting me with her work. Having loved Caraway of the Sea, I couldn't wait to dive back into this world and spend more time with our favourite characters.
And now I can safely say that book two is definitely worth a read. From exquisite worldbuilding 🏴☠️ and great representation, to many noteworthy action scenes and new character introductions, this sequel had everything.
Seeing Caraway grow was one of my favourite parts of the story. Although I sometimes found it hard to get behind her way of thinking - and I found myself agreeing with Demitri more than once 👀 - I still love and empathize with her. Whilst the romance isn't the main focus of the story, it's still very well-done, and you can't help but root for Caraway and Enzo to work through their issues and finally kiss 🤭
That said, the pacing was my biggest problem. With the book being over 600 pages, there were moments where the story dragged, as not much was actually happening. That could've been avoided by cutting down some scenes.
Still, I really enjoyed returning to this world and learning more about it and its people. I wish I could've given the book an even higher rating than I did.
3.75 ⭐️ ARC Review
Firstly, a huge thank you to the author for sending me an early copy of her book and trusting me with her work. Having loved Caraway of the Sea, I couldn't wait to dive back into this world and spend more time with our favourite characters.
And now I can safely say that book two is definitely worth a read. From exquisite worldbuilding 🏴☠️ and great representation, to many noteworthy action scenes and new character introductions, this sequel had everything.
Seeing Caraway grow was one of my favourite parts of the story. Although I sometimes found it hard to get behind her way of thinking - and I found myself agreeing with Demitri more than once 👀 - I still love and empathize with her. Whilst the romance isn't the main focus of the story, it's still very well-done, and you can't help but root for Caraway and Enzo to work through their issues and finally kiss 🤭
That said, the pacing was my biggest problem. With the book being over 600 pages, there were moments where the story dragged, as not much was actually happening. That could've been avoided by cutting down some scenes.
Still, I really enjoyed returning to this world and learning more about it and its people. I wish I could've given the book an even higher rating than I did.
3.75 ⭐️ ARC Review
Review of advance copy received from Author
A huge thank you to Madeline Burget for the ARC for this!
Let me start by saying, I've been WAITING for this sequel since I finished Caraway of the Sea in 2024 and this did not disappoint even a little!
This book had a lot of little journeys with a good chunk of it being personal journeys that Caraway took within herself. We watch as she learns how to be her own person after the traumatic death of her brother, we also watch as she tries to overcome the guilt and nightmares of her past. We also get to witness her own struggles with her asexuality and learning to love and be loved in ways that are comfortable for her platonically and romantically.
Enzo is my favorite book boyfriend. I don't use that term lightly or really ever but he's just so understanding, gentle, and passionate. There's never a time that I felt like the relationship between him and Caraway was weird or forced. I just adore them.
The moments of self discovery mixed with the sweet romance and high stakes action had me absolutely head over heels for this book. I'm going to be obsessing over this for A LONG TIME!
Let me start by saying, I've been WAITING for this sequel since I finished Caraway of the Sea in 2024 and this did not disappoint even a little!
This book had a lot of little journeys with a good chunk of it being personal journeys that Caraway took within herself. We watch as she learns how to be her own person after the traumatic death of her brother, we also watch as she tries to overcome the guilt and nightmares of her past. We also get to witness her own struggles with her asexuality and learning to love and be loved in ways that are comfortable for her platonically and romantically.
Enzo is my favorite book boyfriend. I don't use that term lightly or really ever but he's just so understanding, gentle, and passionate. There's never a time that I felt like the relationship between him and Caraway was weird or forced. I just adore them.
The moments of self discovery mixed with the sweet romance and high stakes action had me absolutely head over heels for this book. I'm going to be obsessing over this for A LONG TIME!
August 17, 2026
Y’all THIS BOOK!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I was craving for some more Caraway in my life and Lily of the Sea delivered! Honestly, the characters are best explained as, “if bi-panic were a book” because how can you NOT love both Caraway and Enzo?!
I loved seeing the healing side of character development in this one mixed with some high-stakes tomfoolery. I enjoy how Burget manages to make a cinematic book— like each fight scene or heart-to-heart I can vividly see in my minds-eye and I just KNOW these books would make epic movies too, ya know? This grim-fantasy explores adventure, healing, and love. As well as diving into Caraway’s anxiety and stress around love in particular. Caraway wonders if her love would be enough, which I found very honest and vulnerable as she explores more of her asexuality. Enzo, the ever lovable cutie pie with suave, loving her through it all. I’m already Jonesing to know what happens next, but I know patience is well worth it! Stunning job well done.
Thank you Madeline for the book to read and review! All thoughts and opinions are honest and my own. It was a blast of a read 🥳
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I was craving for some more Caraway in my life and Lily of the Sea delivered! Honestly, the characters are best explained as, “if bi-panic were a book” because how can you NOT love both Caraway and Enzo?!
I loved seeing the healing side of character development in this one mixed with some high-stakes tomfoolery. I enjoy how Burget manages to make a cinematic book— like each fight scene or heart-to-heart I can vividly see in my minds-eye and I just KNOW these books would make epic movies too, ya know? This grim-fantasy explores adventure, healing, and love. As well as diving into Caraway’s anxiety and stress around love in particular. Caraway wonders if her love would be enough, which I found very honest and vulnerable as she explores more of her asexuality. Enzo, the ever lovable cutie pie with suave, loving her through it all. I’m already Jonesing to know what happens next, but I know patience is well worth it! Stunning job well done.
Thank you Madeline for the book to read and review! All thoughts and opinions are honest and my own. It was a blast of a read 🥳
Review of advance copy received from Author
Lily of the Sea by Madeline Burget is the second book in the Phoenix Rising Series. Caraway of the Sea is the first book and I recommend reading that book before diving in to this one. It's a great book and you will be glad you did.
In this book, we get a deeper understanding of Caraway and her desire to understand the way she feels towards people. She is also seeking forgiveness for her past. I liked how Enzo accepts Caraway as she is - no exceptions. He does not want or expect her to change or to be someone other that who she really is.
The secondary characters in this book added depth to the story. It was great to have another female character in Anne. Dimitri added a fun element to the story but he was also annoying at times. Caraway handled him well under the circumstances!
While a heartwarming story with a found family, strong FMC, and slow-burn romance, please remember this is a pirate book and make sure to read the triggers warnings.
Thank you to the author for an ARC of Lily of the Sea. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
In this book, we get a deeper understanding of Caraway and her desire to understand the way she feels towards people. She is also seeking forgiveness for her past. I liked how Enzo accepts Caraway as she is - no exceptions. He does not want or expect her to change or to be someone other that who she really is.
The secondary characters in this book added depth to the story. It was great to have another female character in Anne. Dimitri added a fun element to the story but he was also annoying at times. Caraway handled him well under the circumstances!
While a heartwarming story with a found family, strong FMC, and slow-burn romance, please remember this is a pirate book and make sure to read the triggers warnings.
Thank you to the author for an ARC of Lily of the Sea. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
August 24, 2026
Rating: 3,5/5
Main tropes:
Review:
Thank you Madeline Burget for sending me this book as an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
After how much I enjoyed the first book, I was really excited to jump back into Caraway's story, and it was great getting to see where her journey takes her next. This one has a slower start than the first, with the action and adventure taking a bit longer to kick in, but once the story picks up, I was much more invested.
That said, I really liked getting to see a more vulnerable side of Caraway. The book actually takes the time to explore the trauma she's dealing with after the first book, rather than having her magically bounce back from everything. It added a lot more depth to her character and made her feel even more like a real person.
Once the story picked up, I was much more invested, and I'm definitely still curious to see where Caraway's journey takes her next!
Main tropes:
Review:
Thank you Madeline Burget for sending me this book as an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
After how much I enjoyed the first book, I was really excited to jump back into Caraway's story, and it was great getting to see where her journey takes her next. This one has a slower start than the first, with the action and adventure taking a bit longer to kick in, but once the story picks up, I was much more invested.
That said, I really liked getting to see a more vulnerable side of Caraway. The book actually takes the time to explore the trauma she's dealing with after the first book, rather than having her magically bounce back from everything. It added a lot more depth to her character and made her feel even more like a real person.
Once the story picked up, I was much more invested, and I'm definitely still curious to see where Caraway's journey takes her next!
September 1, 2026
Oh I've been waaaaiting for this. Literally since I finished Caraway of the Sea the day it was released. And it was worth the wait. It took me all month so read cause I've been EXHAUSTED but it was so good!
What a spectacular story and so many characters to love. It's full of grief, rage, joy, and so much anger!
Seeing the way Annecherie and Lorenzo care for Caraway 🥺💖✨️ They're both big pieces of her and it's so beautiful.
And hello all the Lorenzo moments with Caraway 😏 Never going past her boundaries nor pressuring her into something and still showing her that he cares for her for who she is. ✨️✨️
This one we get a bit of island time like in book one but we also get lots of time on the sea, a wedding, and a prison break ✨️ theres lots of emotions to be had and plenty of action to keep you going.
I hope you enjoy a little murder 💅
What a spectacular story and so many characters to love. It's full of grief, rage, joy, and so much anger!
Seeing the way Annecherie and Lorenzo care for Caraway 🥺💖✨️ They're both big pieces of her and it's so beautiful.
And hello all the Lorenzo moments with Caraway 😏 Never going past her boundaries nor pressuring her into something and still showing her that he cares for her for who she is. ✨️✨️
This one we get a bit of island time like in book one but we also get lots of time on the sea, a wedding, and a prison break ✨️ theres lots of emotions to be had and plenty of action to keep you going.
I hope you enjoy a little murder 💅
August 11, 2026
Caraway is such a special character and I thoroughly enjoyed getting to explore the depths of her in this book. Following the events of the first book, she begins to carve a place for herself in the world but she first has to come to terms with who she is outside of her role as her brother’s enforcer.
As an ACE FMC, her love story is unlike most things you’ll read but it’s so beautiful to see the complexity on page and represented so well.
Oh and let’s not forget the crew! The banter and found family vibes are *chef’s kiss*
The cliffhanger took me by surprise though!
As an ACE FMC, her love story is unlike most things you’ll read but it’s so beautiful to see the complexity on page and represented so well.
Oh and let’s not forget the crew! The banter and found family vibes are *chef’s kiss*
The cliffhanger took me by surprise though!
August 15, 2026
This was an absolutely amazing way to follow up Caraway of the Sea. The author did not take it easy on torturing readers who love Lorenzo and his faithful yearning, but there is an art to accepting the moments of tenderness she does provide. With Caraway’s trauma and self doubts, her hesitancy to leap into love is so valid and written very authentically. This was not an easy journey but it was a thrilling one, a very compelling read, and one I genuinely want to see to completion in however many books as it takes.
I can’t recommend this more highly, I LOVE this series.
I can’t recommend this more highly, I LOVE this series.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you Madeline for the e-arc of this book. All thoughts are my own!
Oh my goodness I love this series. I love the author’s style of writing and the storytelling is incredible. The cozy vibes were there, and the ending was intense. I cannot get enough pirate books in my life, and this series definitely feels raw and grim at times which is exactly what a pirate’s life should be! Definitely check this one out if you’re looking for pirates and found family.
Oh my goodness I love this series. I love the author’s style of writing and the storytelling is incredible. The cozy vibes were there, and the ending was intense. I cannot get enough pirate books in my life, and this series definitely feels raw and grim at times which is exactly what a pirate’s life should be! Definitely check this one out if you’re looking for pirates and found family.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Ok so book two I enjoyed much better than book one. This one had more world building and Caraway had some growth which I really liked. I still struggled with being completely invested in the story but things I loved were, as I said Caraway’s growth, the found family aspect was great, I liked Caraway and Enzo’s relationship, and I really enjoyed the world building in this book. Overall I liked the book.
August 31, 2026
This gave me all the feeling and glory of "pirates of the carribean" and mystery of the sea. I am not sure which is my favorite part. However, what an ending!! my head was spinning and I pretty much screamed!! The new character and Enzo relationship was ever evolving and had an inkling of how they were connected (dont want to spoil it). There were times that i did want Enzo and Caraways relationship to bloom more. I can only hope for more down the road!! Rrrr!!
September 24, 2026
Fast-paced, Thrilling Pirate Adventure
This series is phenomenal and book 2 is a gripping sequel. There is so much action, it reads almost like a modern Treasure Island with a female lead. I am highly anticipating more from this series. Every character is unique and each have their flaws. I cannot wait to see more from Caraway and I simply must get more from Coen and Zach. I just adore Coen especially.
This series is phenomenal and book 2 is a gripping sequel. There is so much action, it reads almost like a modern Treasure Island with a female lead. I am highly anticipating more from this series. Every character is unique and each have their flaws. I cannot wait to see more from Caraway and I simply must get more from Coen and Zach. I just adore Coen especially.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This was such a great story of found family. I love the male crew who not only accepts their female pirate but treats her as an equal. I love that Enzo was the guy who lived Caraway the way she needed. She was never pressured or judged for her intimacy issues. I also loved the friendship with Caraway and Annecherie. Every girl needs herself a girls girl to lover her the way she is.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Lily of the Sea is an epic pirate fantasy continuation in the Phoenix Rising series. It’s a well thought out and heavy world building and character development book that takes you on a journey from one port to another. Caraway and Enzo make a great pair and Caraway’s development through the series thus far is wonderful.
Thank you Madeline for the ARC of of Lily of the Sea!
Thank you Madeline for the ARC of of Lily of the Sea!
August 26, 2026
Thank you to the author for the eARC! All thoughts are my own.
I'm blown away by how much this sequel blew me away.
While Caraway of the Sea was such an amazing read, Lily of the Sea showed how much Madeline Burget's writing has grown - from lush descriptions to witty banter and a very conflicted FMC, this book is one that will captivate you. While this story is certainly a pirate's tale, it is also a story of healing and acceptance.
While still having its cozy moments, I felt that the stakes of the story ramped up in Lily of the Sea. The character work both between Caraway and Enzo, as well as the rest of the crew that we get to know more and Coen and Zack's character arc are fantastic. I loved the mystery surrounding Enzo's homeland and why there was tension returning there.
This book is very thicc but also so worth the time invested in it! I had a blast with the high seas hijinks, as well as the character driven moments in the lulls. I cannot wait to read more of Caraway's adventures!
I'm blown away by how much this sequel blew me away.
While Caraway of the Sea was such an amazing read, Lily of the Sea showed how much Madeline Burget's writing has grown - from lush descriptions to witty banter and a very conflicted FMC, this book is one that will captivate you. While this story is certainly a pirate's tale, it is also a story of healing and acceptance.
While still having its cozy moments, I felt that the stakes of the story ramped up in Lily of the Sea. The character work both between Caraway and Enzo, as well as the rest of the crew that we get to know more and Coen and Zack's character arc are fantastic. I loved the mystery surrounding Enzo's homeland and why there was tension returning there.
This book is very thicc but also so worth the time invested in it! I had a blast with the high seas hijinks, as well as the character driven moments in the lulls. I cannot wait to read more of Caraway's adventures!
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