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Tidebound
344 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 8, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
June 3, 2026
Tidebound is an entry into a bigger adventure. Four teens navigate a secret far older than they are, whilst contending with conflicting agendas and half-truths.
Tidebound is a modern fantasy that starts firmly planted in tech and spy terrain, with the fantasy elements gradually opening up. The tech elements are confidently expressed and add to the character quirks rather than overshadowing them. The characters are likeable, and you definitely find yourself rooting for them by the end of the book.
Computer tech and street smarts meet ancient mystery with a fantasy edge.
Interesting to see where the story moves from here.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Tidebound is a modern fantasy that starts firmly planted in tech and spy terrain, with the fantasy elements gradually opening up. The tech elements are confidently expressed and add to the character quirks rather than overshadowing them. The characters are likeable, and you definitely find yourself rooting for them by the end of the book.
Computer tech and street smarts meet ancient mystery with a fantasy edge.
Interesting to see where the story moves from here.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 9, 2026
From the very first page, this book keeps you on the edge of your seat. Part of it satisfies the Percy Jackson hangover we’ve all been nursing since middle school, while another part leaves you wildly confused by everything unfolding at once. The beginning can feel a bit like an info dump, making it hard to piece everything together immediately, but the puzzle pieces slowly start clicking into place. While I still have questions about certain backstories and character relationships, it only makes me want more. Steven does a great job of giving readers just enough to stay hooked without revealing too much too soon. This is an impressive debut novel, and I’m excited to see what he does next and how his storytelling continues to evolve.
May 13, 2026
great read!
I really enjoyed this book. The growth of the younger characters, the change of dynamics as they learned to work together, and the details of the story that really pulled me in. I can’t wait to see what happens in the next book!
I really enjoyed this book. The growth of the younger characters, the change of dynamics as they learned to work together, and the details of the story that really pulled me in. I can’t wait to see what happens in the next book!
May 8, 2026
I had the absolute pleasure of being one of this book’s advance readers, and I can confidently say I was completely blown away. From the very first page, Tidebound pulls you into a world full of twists, turns, and richly drawn characters, all set against a vivid and unmistakably Irish backdrop.
The pacing is relentless in the best possible way, I genuinely could not put this book down and ended up devouring it cover to cover over a single weekend. And what a weekend it was. As someone who grew up in Ireland, reading about such authentic Irish characters and settings felt surreal. Every page transported me straight into the heart of the story, making the world of The Wildstones feel alive and vibrant.
The author’s writing style is distinctive and confident, breathing real depth into the characters. The ones you’re meant to love will fill you with warmth and joy in every scene, while the antagonists will have your heart racing, more than once I caught myself genuinely anxious about what they might do next (don’t worry, you’ll understand once you read it).
This book is a masterful blend of mystery, espionage/ spy mission, layered with a magical, modern-day fantasy twist, all wrapped in an irresistibly charming Irish setting. The character development is memorable, the stakes feel real, and the story leaves a lasting impression long after the final page.
I couldn’t recommend Tidebound more highly. I cannot wait for Book 2 and to see where this story and these characters go next.
The pacing is relentless in the best possible way, I genuinely could not put this book down and ended up devouring it cover to cover over a single weekend. And what a weekend it was. As someone who grew up in Ireland, reading about such authentic Irish characters and settings felt surreal. Every page transported me straight into the heart of the story, making the world of The Wildstones feel alive and vibrant.
The author’s writing style is distinctive and confident, breathing real depth into the characters. The ones you’re meant to love will fill you with warmth and joy in every scene, while the antagonists will have your heart racing, more than once I caught myself genuinely anxious about what they might do next (don’t worry, you’ll understand once you read it).
This book is a masterful blend of mystery, espionage/ spy mission, layered with a magical, modern-day fantasy twist, all wrapped in an irresistibly charming Irish setting. The character development is memorable, the stakes feel real, and the story leaves a lasting impression long after the final page.
I couldn’t recommend Tidebound more highly. I cannot wait for Book 2 and to see where this story and these characters go next.
May 8, 2026
Tidebound is a really strong opener to the Wildstones series. The book wastes no time and grips you with immediate questions and a glimpse at the fantastical nature of what’s to come and who is involved. Despite being a fantasy book, it remains incredibly grounded and balances this aspect looming aspect with the real life and day to day experiences of the characters, weaving them together with ease.
On the characters, I found the core 4 to by far be the strongest aspect of the book. The characters are introduced immediately and all have strong motivations, personalities and are written in a way that ensures that they all remain ‘main characters’ with individuals drives and storylines instead of simply direct foils and hinges for eachother. Their back and forth/banter gives you that sense of belonging with them and understanding of their dynamics that people want when reading a book. All of the supporting characters add a of substance to the story by giving us a sense of an ‘outside view’ of our main characters and everything has a purpose.
Finally, I really appreciated the book not rushing to give you answers to everything immediately, it gives you just enough at every turn to let you follow the thread at a good pace. I’m really excited to see where the next books takes us and what twists and turns are to come!
On the characters, I found the core 4 to by far be the strongest aspect of the book. The characters are introduced immediately and all have strong motivations, personalities and are written in a way that ensures that they all remain ‘main characters’ with individuals drives and storylines instead of simply direct foils and hinges for eachother. Their back and forth/banter gives you that sense of belonging with them and understanding of their dynamics that people want when reading a book. All of the supporting characters add a of substance to the story by giving us a sense of an ‘outside view’ of our main characters and everything has a purpose.
Finally, I really appreciated the book not rushing to give you answers to everything immediately, it gives you just enough at every turn to let you follow the thread at a good pace. I’m really excited to see where the next books takes us and what twists and turns are to come!
May 11, 2026
Tidebound is a wonderful debut and the beginning of what will surely be a fantastic series.
I tend to judge a book by how quickly I want to pick it back up after I put it down, and from the moment I started Tidebound, I couldn't stop until I finished it.
Steven’s writing has an incredible ability to completely immerse you in the world he’s created. The way he sets each scene and describes the world around the characters makes you feel like you’re right there with them. The balance between mystery, tension, and emotional moments kept me completely hooked the whole way through.
The characters throughout Tidebound were wonderfully written, from the protagonists to the antagonists. The dynamic between the four main characters was one of my favourite parts of the book. They each felt distinct from one another, yet still real and relatable, with their own personalities, charm, and flaws. I found myself becoming deeply invested in both their relationships and individual journeys as the story unfolded.
I have to say, I’ve struggled to properly get back into reading lately, and this was the first book in a long time that reminded me why I love it so much.
I am incredibly excited to read more from Steven in his very bright future as an author and to see where this series goes next.
I tend to judge a book by how quickly I want to pick it back up after I put it down, and from the moment I started Tidebound, I couldn't stop until I finished it.
Steven’s writing has an incredible ability to completely immerse you in the world he’s created. The way he sets each scene and describes the world around the characters makes you feel like you’re right there with them. The balance between mystery, tension, and emotional moments kept me completely hooked the whole way through.
The characters throughout Tidebound were wonderfully written, from the protagonists to the antagonists. The dynamic between the four main characters was one of my favourite parts of the book. They each felt distinct from one another, yet still real and relatable, with their own personalities, charm, and flaws. I found myself becoming deeply invested in both their relationships and individual journeys as the story unfolded.
I have to say, I’ve struggled to properly get back into reading lately, and this was the first book in a long time that reminded me why I love it so much.
I am incredibly excited to read more from Steven in his very bright future as an author and to see where this series goes next.
July 18, 2026
Tidebound is one of those books that completely draws you into its world from the very beginning. The writing strikes a perfect balance of vivid imagery without being overly demanding, the settings tangible without becoming over-described. It made the world incredibly easy to picture, and I found myself genuinely immersed throughout.
What I loved most was how it captured that sense of adventure and wonder that made me fall in love with fantasy as a teenager, while still feeling fresh and entirely its own. There are familiar elements that touched on nostalgia, but they’re woven together in a way that feels original rather than derivative, creating something with its own distinct identity.
The pacing kept me invested, the characters left me wanting to know more, and each felt authentic by resonating with in their own ways. By the end I was already looking forward to seeing where the story goes next. If this is the standard set by the first instalment, I’m very excited to see what Steven Silke has in store for the series. Highly recommended, especially for those looking to get out of a reading rut!
What I loved most was how it captured that sense of adventure and wonder that made me fall in love with fantasy as a teenager, while still feeling fresh and entirely its own. There are familiar elements that touched on nostalgia, but they’re woven together in a way that feels original rather than derivative, creating something with its own distinct identity.
The pacing kept me invested, the characters left me wanting to know more, and each felt authentic by resonating with in their own ways. By the end I was already looking forward to seeing where the story goes next. If this is the standard set by the first instalment, I’m very excited to see what Steven Silke has in store for the series. Highly recommended, especially for those looking to get out of a reading rut!
Review of advance copy received from Author
idebound (Book 1 of the Wildstones) started off a bit slow and felt unsteady at first, which left me confused for a while. However, as the story progressed, it really picked up toward the end and finished on a strong cliffhanger that definitely made me want to know what happens next.
One of my main issues was that, while the characters are interesting and have good development, there are some noticeable plot holes. I found myself wondering about the backstories of the kids—why were they chosen, and what makes them important? I was also confused about David’s relationship to Nathan and felt that this connection wasn’t clearly explained. At times, the story could have benefited from more detail overall.
That said, there is solid character development, even if I think it could have been taken a bit further. Despite my questions and a few frustrations, I’m still intrigued and looking forward to Book 2, especially to see if some of these unanswered questions are addressed.
One of my main issues was that, while the characters are interesting and have good development, there are some noticeable plot holes. I found myself wondering about the backstories of the kids—why were they chosen, and what makes them important? I was also confused about David’s relationship to Nathan and felt that this connection wasn’t clearly explained. At times, the story could have benefited from more detail overall.
That said, there is solid character development, even if I think it could have been taken a bit further. Despite my questions and a few frustrations, I’m still intrigued and looking forward to Book 2, especially to see if some of these unanswered questions are addressed.
June 19, 2026
Tidebound is a seriously strong start to a new series. From the first pages, it throws you straight into questions, secrets, and a modern-day world that feels grounded — and then slowly opens the door to something bigger and more magical. I loved that it doesn’t explain everything at once. It gives you just enough to keep you hooked, and the puzzle pieces start clicking into place as you go.
The best part for me was the core group of four characters. Their dynamic feels real, their banter works, and they each have their own motivations instead of blending together. The pacing kept me turning pages, the tension stays high, and the mix of mystery, spy/mission energy, and fantasy twist really worked for me. I finished this feeling excited (and a little impatient) for book two. 5 stars.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The best part for me was the core group of four characters. Their dynamic feels real, their banter works, and they each have their own motivations instead of blending together. The pacing kept me turning pages, the tension stays high, and the mix of mystery, spy/mission energy, and fantasy twist really worked for me. I finished this feeling excited (and a little impatient) for book two. 5 stars.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 11, 2026
A welcome reintroduction to the excitement of fantasy!
As someone who was once an avid reader, this book reminded me just how much I had missed getting stuck into a good story. It brought back the feeling of how much fun reading can actually be!
The way my opinion of various charaters shifted as I moved further into the story is quite telling of how well the author understands charcter development and its inherent importance to a story. Piecing together each individual with ever-stacking layers of background information really helped me build a rapport with each character, while witholding other fragments left me with just the right amount of intrigue to keenly await the next book in the series.
I thoroughly enjoyed how much the storytelling reflected the nautical theme of the book, with the action ramping up exponentially as you near the final few chapters, almost reminiscent of a storm at sea brewing and finally breaking ashore.
I'm very much looking forward to the next instalment and can't wait to see what's in store for all the characters we've met so far!
As someone who was once an avid reader, this book reminded me just how much I had missed getting stuck into a good story. It brought back the feeling of how much fun reading can actually be!
The way my opinion of various charaters shifted as I moved further into the story is quite telling of how well the author understands charcter development and its inherent importance to a story. Piecing together each individual with ever-stacking layers of background information really helped me build a rapport with each character, while witholding other fragments left me with just the right amount of intrigue to keenly await the next book in the series.
I thoroughly enjoyed how much the storytelling reflected the nautical theme of the book, with the action ramping up exponentially as you near the final few chapters, almost reminiscent of a storm at sea brewing and finally breaking ashore.
I'm very much looking forward to the next instalment and can't wait to see what's in store for all the characters we've met so far!
Review of advance copy
This book was a little slow to get into, I understand he was setting up the backstories, but it took a bit to get through those first few chapters. However once the story started unfolding it was a very good read and I am excited to see what happens in the next book. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from Author
i really enjoyed this book, keeps you gripped all the way through. I also loved the writing style, felt like a really smooth enjoyable read. I would 100% recommend
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews