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Soul of the Sea
Not yet published
Expected 11 Aug 26
A chosen priestess trapped in service to a wrathful goddess. A kind man washed up on her shores. A choice: abandon her post and risk unleashing a deadly tempest or follow her heart and learn for herself how people live, and love, before the whole world drowns.
Suila was born with a moon on her wrist, the mark of the sea goddess’s claim on her life. As one of nine priestesses, Suila possesses rare magic to tame wild seas and heal fatal wounds, but these gifts come at a cost—she can never leave the tiny island where she serves, no matter how much she wants to see the mainland and find the family who was forced to give her up. Her sacred duty is all that keeps the sea from rising and drowning the world.
One night, the duke’s charming son, Rieg, comes ashore seeking aid for his cousin, Bronan. Suila uncovers a stain of dark magic holding Bronan in its thrall—magic that only the gods and their servants should wield. Suila can’t deny her curiosity, nor can she deny the sparks between her and Rieg. So she devises a dangerous plan…
Suila tears out a piece of her soul and leaves it on the island, fooling the sea goddess into believing she’s still upholding her duty while she makes her escape.
But in her quest for freedom, she’ll soon find it’s not just the world she’s putting at risk, but her heart, too.
Soul of the Sea is a lush, folkloric fantasy with an aching slow-burn romance for fans of Rebecca Ross and Juliet Marillier.
Suila was born with a moon on her wrist, the mark of the sea goddess’s claim on her life. As one of nine priestesses, Suila possesses rare magic to tame wild seas and heal fatal wounds, but these gifts come at a cost—she can never leave the tiny island where she serves, no matter how much she wants to see the mainland and find the family who was forced to give her up. Her sacred duty is all that keeps the sea from rising and drowning the world.
One night, the duke’s charming son, Rieg, comes ashore seeking aid for his cousin, Bronan. Suila uncovers a stain of dark magic holding Bronan in its thrall—magic that only the gods and their servants should wield. Suila can’t deny her curiosity, nor can she deny the sparks between her and Rieg. So she devises a dangerous plan…
Suila tears out a piece of her soul and leaves it on the island, fooling the sea goddess into believing she’s still upholding her duty while she makes her escape.
But in her quest for freedom, she’ll soon find it’s not just the world she’s putting at risk, but her heart, too.
Soul of the Sea is a lush, folkloric fantasy with an aching slow-burn romance for fans of Rebecca Ross and Juliet Marillier.
- GenresFantasy
419 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication August 11, 2026
About the author
Carly Jonathan
1 book16 followersCarly Jonathan was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest and has been writing stories for as long as she can remember. With a degree in Creative Writing and a minor in Biology, she's both a word nerd and a science nerd, which comes in handy when creating new fantasy worlds. When not reading or writing, she can usually be found managing her endless TBR or meticulously planning her next travel adventure with extensive spreadsheets.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
July 4, 2026
A beautiful story about love, loss, and the sacrifices we make for the people we care about. Soul of the Sea captured me from the very first page and maintained that momentum until the very end. I fell in love with every character and find myself reluctant to say goodbye to a world that I am just starting to know. I highly recommend this book to anyone with even the slightest interest - you will not be disappointed!
June 25, 2026
Loved this book! Story enraptured me from the start. FMC embodies courage, strength, and resilience. Her quest for self determination is a path of discovery full of challenges and mysteries.
July 13, 2026
Thank you to the author for providing me with an ARC. All opinions are my own.
“To the sea, the sky, and those who live between them.”
Set between the sacred Isle of Sena and the thriving mainland of Kemper, Soul of the Sea follows Suila, one of the nine Gallisena priestesses devoted to the sea goddess Sena despite quietly yearning for a life beyond the island’s shores. Everything changes when a ship arrives carrying Rieg, the Duke of Kemper’s charming son, seeking aid for his cousin Bronan, who has been afflicted by a mysterious illness. With them come long-buried secrets that slowly unravel everything Suila has ever believed about herself, her faith and the world beyond the sea.
One thing Carly absolutely excelled at was the atmosphere. From the windswept shores of the Isle of Sena to the bustling streets of Kemper and the ancient forests beyond, every corner of this world felt rich, expansive and wonderfully alive. The Celtic folklore is woven so seamlessly into the story that it never feels like background lore. Rather, it becomes part of the characters’ everyday lives, making the world feel both lush and magical.
The sisterhood was another standout for me. Watching Suila work, learn and pray with the other priestesses gave the story so much warmth. Their bond felt genuine and supportive and it also made Suila’s eventual life-changing decision all the more heartbreaking. I also loved how the importance of female friendships continued to shine throughout the story in ways I won’t spoil here, but it was definitely one of my favourite aspects of the book.
Suila herself completely stole my heart. She’s curious, compassionate and quietly rebellious, constantly torn between the life she’s always known and the one she secretly dreams of. Watching her step beyond the boundaries of her world and slowly discover who she wants to become was easily the most rewarding part of the story.
More than anything, though, this book is about freedom. It’s about questioning the life you’ve been told to live, finding the courage to choose your own future and discovering that love should never ask you to become someone else.
By the time I turned the final page, I wasn’t ready to leave this world behind. The ending left me desperate for more and I already know I’ll be counting down the days until I can return to these characters. Carly Jonathan has created a beautiful beginning to what promises to be an unforgettable series.
5 stars from me!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“To the sea, the sky, and those who live between them.”
Set between the sacred Isle of Sena and the thriving mainland of Kemper, Soul of the Sea follows Suila, one of the nine Gallisena priestesses devoted to the sea goddess Sena despite quietly yearning for a life beyond the island’s shores. Everything changes when a ship arrives carrying Rieg, the Duke of Kemper’s charming son, seeking aid for his cousin Bronan, who has been afflicted by a mysterious illness. With them come long-buried secrets that slowly unravel everything Suila has ever believed about herself, her faith and the world beyond the sea.
One thing Carly absolutely excelled at was the atmosphere. From the windswept shores of the Isle of Sena to the bustling streets of Kemper and the ancient forests beyond, every corner of this world felt rich, expansive and wonderfully alive. The Celtic folklore is woven so seamlessly into the story that it never feels like background lore. Rather, it becomes part of the characters’ everyday lives, making the world feel both lush and magical.
The sisterhood was another standout for me. Watching Suila work, learn and pray with the other priestesses gave the story so much warmth. Their bond felt genuine and supportive and it also made Suila’s eventual life-changing decision all the more heartbreaking. I also loved how the importance of female friendships continued to shine throughout the story in ways I won’t spoil here, but it was definitely one of my favourite aspects of the book.
Suila herself completely stole my heart. She’s curious, compassionate and quietly rebellious, constantly torn between the life she’s always known and the one she secretly dreams of. Watching her step beyond the boundaries of her world and slowly discover who she wants to become was easily the most rewarding part of the story.
More than anything, though, this book is about freedom. It’s about questioning the life you’ve been told to live, finding the courage to choose your own future and discovering that love should never ask you to become someone else.
By the time I turned the final page, I wasn’t ready to leave this world behind. The ending left me desperate for more and I already know I’ll be counting down the days until I can return to these characters. Carly Jonathan has created a beautiful beginning to what promises to be an unforgettable series.
5 stars from me!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review of advance copy received from Author
I was invested from start to finish and really loved this book! The storytelling is really so intriguing and pulls you in quickly.
Suila is a great narrator. She's naive, which makes you think the story is going in one direction, but the naivety works against her. Suila is spunky, kind, and thoughtful. I loved reading her internal monologue and I felt like I was feeling her emotions with her.
I also liked the other characters in the story. I thought Rieg was a particularly interesting character and the writing for him is so interesting. I felt like the book really leaves it up for interpretation what you should think about him towards the end. I really liked how complex and human Jonathan makes him . In the end I felt overall very confused about him, but I kind of liked that since it felt more accurate to how you might feel for someone you have a complicated history with.
The plotline with the Tustan tea was also so interesting. I thought it was a cool metaphor for medication and how it can suppress your emotions, but also make you more capable of going around and doing everyday tasks that would be hard to do otherwise. The overall message where Suila I recognize this was probably drawn heavily on the author's personal experiences, in which case it makes sense. I just would've enjoyed further exploration of the ideas because it was such a unique plot point.
I think this is a great book and I would definitely recommend to those who enjoy fantasy (YA and adult) or who are searching for a unique story. I genuinely really enjoyed reading it and looked forward to picking it up for the night and reading new chapters. The narration is engaging, the plot is fun with serious moments interspersed throughout it, and it leaves enough open-ended questions for future books in this series.
Suila is a great narrator. She's naive, which makes you think the story is going in one direction, but the naivety works against her. Suila is spunky, kind, and thoughtful. I loved reading her internal monologue and I felt like I was feeling her emotions with her.
I also liked the other characters in the story. I thought Rieg was a particularly interesting character and the writing for him is so interesting. I felt like the book really leaves it up for interpretation what you should think about him towards the end. I really liked how complex and human Jonathan makes him . In the end I felt overall very confused about him, but I kind of liked that since it felt more accurate to how you might feel for someone you have a complicated history with.
The plotline with the Tustan tea was also so interesting. I thought it was a cool metaphor for medication and how it can suppress your emotions, but also make you more capable of going around and doing everyday tasks that would be hard to do otherwise. The overall message where Suila I recognize this was probably drawn heavily on the author's personal experiences, in which case it makes sense. I just would've enjoyed further exploration of the ideas because it was such a unique plot point.
I think this is a great book and I would definitely recommend to those who enjoy fantasy (YA and adult) or who are searching for a unique story. I genuinely really enjoyed reading it and looked forward to picking it up for the night and reading new chapters. The narration is engaging, the plot is fun with serious moments interspersed throughout it, and it leaves enough open-ended questions for future books in this series.
Review of advance copy received from Author
where do i even begin? i feel like this book encapsulates everything i adore about both fantasy and romance. the worldbuilding is incredible!! it blew me away as it developed and i cannot wait to know more. i’m honestly very interested in the etymology of all the words and places made up by carly jonathan like !!!! name a cooler worldbuilding.
soul of the sea also feels very youthful, in a way. i always try to think if i would have enjoyed this book when i was a teenager and honestly, i would have eaten this up! and i ate this up right now so… lets u know it’s incredibly written, with wonderful characters and interesting plot, and also very very very fun!
something i really appreciated about the book is that no plot twist felt like it didn’t make sense. everything had at least dropped a little pebble from the very start until it turned into the plot twist itself, and i love that i was surprised but not to the point that it felt forced within the story or like a shock factor we could’ve gone without. i always love little details like this.
thank uuu so much to carly jonathan for the arc!!!
soul of the sea also feels very youthful, in a way. i always try to think if i would have enjoyed this book when i was a teenager and honestly, i would have eaten this up! and i ate this up right now so… lets u know it’s incredibly written, with wonderful characters and interesting plot, and also very very very fun!
something i really appreciated about the book is that no plot twist felt like it didn’t make sense. everything had at least dropped a little pebble from the very start until it turned into the plot twist itself, and i love that i was surprised but not to the point that it felt forced within the story or like a shock factor we could’ve gone without. i always love little details like this.
thank uuu so much to carly jonathan for the arc!!!
Review of advance copy received from Author
With intentional world building, Carly Jonathan had the story coming alive right off the pages. My favorite thing about Carly's writing is that each scene pops with vibrancy that elevates the mind's eye when reading. The descriptive writing was fun to set my eyes on!
Not only that, the storytelling sucked me in and I was thrown into a world I didn't want to leave. With a continuous turn of events I was left on the edge of my seat, clutching my kindle until the very last page. *The blurb of the book is just the start!* I really had no clue where this book was going to take me. You think you know, but then a wave of new information crashes over you and you're embarking on a deeper adventure. I can't wait for book two!
Tropes:
Slow-burn romance🔥💘 (my favorite part!)
Healing magic ✨
Folklore Vibes 🌊
Soul rendering stakes❤️🔥
Touch HIM and 💀
Can I live in this book? It's so much better than the real world 😅 I'd like to be a side character and just live in the world created 😅😅😅
(I received this as an advanced copy, and all of my thoughts are honest.) Thanks for the wild ride !!!
Not only that, the storytelling sucked me in and I was thrown into a world I didn't want to leave. With a continuous turn of events I was left on the edge of my seat, clutching my kindle until the very last page. *The blurb of the book is just the start!* I really had no clue where this book was going to take me. You think you know, but then a wave of new information crashes over you and you're embarking on a deeper adventure. I can't wait for book two!
Tropes:
Slow-burn romance🔥💘 (my favorite part!)
Healing magic ✨
Folklore Vibes 🌊
Soul rendering stakes❤️🔥
Touch HIM and 💀
Can I live in this book? It's so much better than the real world 😅 I'd like to be a side character and just live in the world created 😅😅😅
(I received this as an advanced copy, and all of my thoughts are honest.) Thanks for the wild ride !!!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Sea and sky's. Wow. The way Carly invoked the feelings of suppressed emotions on the FMC was so closely reminiscent to how I know people often feel on medication, how I've felt on anti depression medication. It made me see the FMC as a piece of me. I wanted her to win. I wanted her to FEEL. I wanted her to be free in every sense of the word.
Carly gave us incredible world building, a great villian (or 2 or 3) and while there were surprises, none of them were shocking. They fit the book, they fit the storyline and they gave me all the feels.
Initially I was worried the story was a bit too easy, but it very quickly turned into more than just a romantasy narrative. The true narrative is about a girl finding herself. Accepting herself. Loving herself. When I say I cannot wait for the next book. The next 2 or 3 books if she will give them to us - I'll be patient but I wont like it 🫠the book held me captive. 5 stars
Carly gave us incredible world building, a great villian (or 2 or 3) and while there were surprises, none of them were shocking. They fit the book, they fit the storyline and they gave me all the feels.
Initially I was worried the story was a bit too easy, but it very quickly turned into more than just a romantasy narrative. The true narrative is about a girl finding herself. Accepting herself. Loving herself. When I say I cannot wait for the next book. The next 2 or 3 books if she will give them to us - I'll be patient but I wont like it 🫠the book held me captive. 5 stars
Review of advance copy received from Author
This was SUCH an amazing read! I would give it 6 stars if I could. Beautifully told. Highly highly highly recommend to everyone. This is book one of a duology but does not leave you with a terrible cliffhanger which I appreciate.
The characters were all so well thought out and delivered, and I love love love the storyline, plot, writing, literally everything about this book. I was so happy with how strong of a character Suila is, she grew so much and I am excited to see her story continue. Cannot wait for book 2!
There were a couple twists I did not see coming and a couple things that made me suspicious and I love the way it all came together and how we were given little breadcrumbs throughout. And when she used her powers 💪👑💅
The MMC is such a cutie 🥰🥰
ARC read!
Tropes:
✨️ Magic
🕯 Slowburn (no spice)
🌊 Ocean vibes
The characters were all so well thought out and delivered, and I love love love the storyline, plot, writing, literally everything about this book. I was so happy with how strong of a character Suila is, she grew so much and I am excited to see her story continue. Cannot wait for book 2!
There were a couple twists I did not see coming and a couple things that made me suspicious and I love the way it all came together and how we were given little breadcrumbs throughout. And when she used her powers 💪👑💅
The MMC is such a cutie 🥰🥰
ARC read!
Tropes:
✨️ Magic
🕯 Slowburn (no spice)
🌊 Ocean vibes
Review of advance copy received from Author
Wow. so this novel is about a magic-using young woman who has bigger plans for herself than her current life dictates. She’s the girl who is yearning for more - not content with the cards fate has dealt her.
Within the first quarter of the book comes the first plot twist and I did not see it coming. Then, as Suila continued on her journey, the book deviated from what I thought was purely romantasy to the FMC really discovering who she was and what she really wanted. Her story was not just one of one girl pining for love, and I felt that the author handled it beautifully.
As the story continues, a few more plot twists got thrown in, which I was very pleased with - it kept the plot fresh and me hooked. I binge-read this book over the course of 1 day - approximately 7 hours - and it was 7 hours well spent. Sea & sky, I just need book 2.
Within the first quarter of the book comes the first plot twist and I did not see it coming. Then, as Suila continued on her journey, the book deviated from what I thought was purely romantasy to the FMC really discovering who she was and what she really wanted. Her story was not just one of one girl pining for love, and I felt that the author handled it beautifully.
As the story continues, a few more plot twists got thrown in, which I was very pleased with - it kept the plot fresh and me hooked. I binge-read this book over the course of 1 day - approximately 7 hours - and it was 7 hours well spent. Sea & sky, I just need book 2.
Review of advance copy received from Author
“To the sea, the sky, and those who live between them.”
Soul of the Sea is the first book in the Gallisenae series by Carly Jonathan and I loved this immersive and magical tale that had me swept away to two places, the Isle of Sena and the Mainland of Kemper.
The author not only brought these places to life so not only can the reader imagine it in their mind’s eye but you can almost smell the salt of the sea air as it catches on the wind. This to me truly helped me want to learn more about the various aspects of the story and the cast of characters we encounter along the way, whether it be the protectors of the sacred Isle known as the Gallisenae or those who live in Kemper, each felt real enough to step out from the page and tell us more. There’s a brilliant balance of sharing information so the fantasy elements remain so, and we learn enough to understand what and why things are happening the way they do and not be overwhelming which can be hard to do. I also loved how there’s also elements of Celtic folklore woven throughout Soul of the Sea and the blend of Johnson’s imagination and these ancient tales work wonderfully together to give a depth to the story and the characters which is always welcomed by me. Plus, I just adore Celtic folklore and history so I’m always eager to see it in modern tales.
Suila is our leading lady, a priestess who has been kept at the Isle of Sena and I loved her from the moment I met her and really wanted to see her find out where she truly belonged and was eager to find out how that freedom of self would unfold. She’s vibrant and strong but also so very innocent because she’s spent so long away from the bustling community found on the mainland and she truly deserves all the happiness and joy she can get. I think many readers will be truly rooting for her along the story because like with any well-written protagonist in a fantasy novel - Suila does encounter many footfalls and problems along the way and is far too trusting of people. I wanted to reach in and save her on many occasions just so I could tell her that trusting her instincts is a good thing and to do it!
I couldn’t put Soul of the Sea down - it has everything I could want. This was the perfect introduction to a new fantasy series with wonderful world-building, engaging and enigmatic characters both good and bad and has a storyline that has you fully immersed and eager to know what’s next and I really can’t wait for the sequel - no pressure Carly!
Soul of the Sea is the first book in the Gallisenae series by Carly Jonathan and I loved this immersive and magical tale that had me swept away to two places, the Isle of Sena and the Mainland of Kemper.
The author not only brought these places to life so not only can the reader imagine it in their mind’s eye but you can almost smell the salt of the sea air as it catches on the wind. This to me truly helped me want to learn more about the various aspects of the story and the cast of characters we encounter along the way, whether it be the protectors of the sacred Isle known as the Gallisenae or those who live in Kemper, each felt real enough to step out from the page and tell us more. There’s a brilliant balance of sharing information so the fantasy elements remain so, and we learn enough to understand what and why things are happening the way they do and not be overwhelming which can be hard to do. I also loved how there’s also elements of Celtic folklore woven throughout Soul of the Sea and the blend of Johnson’s imagination and these ancient tales work wonderfully together to give a depth to the story and the characters which is always welcomed by me. Plus, I just adore Celtic folklore and history so I’m always eager to see it in modern tales.
Suila is our leading lady, a priestess who has been kept at the Isle of Sena and I loved her from the moment I met her and really wanted to see her find out where she truly belonged and was eager to find out how that freedom of self would unfold. She’s vibrant and strong but also so very innocent because she’s spent so long away from the bustling community found on the mainland and she truly deserves all the happiness and joy she can get. I think many readers will be truly rooting for her along the story because like with any well-written protagonist in a fantasy novel - Suila does encounter many footfalls and problems along the way and is far too trusting of people. I wanted to reach in and save her on many occasions just so I could tell her that trusting her instincts is a good thing and to do it!
I couldn’t put Soul of the Sea down - it has everything I could want. This was the perfect introduction to a new fantasy series with wonderful world-building, engaging and enigmatic characters both good and bad and has a storyline that has you fully immersed and eager to know what’s next and I really can’t wait for the sequel - no pressure Carly!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you to the author for providing an advance copy as part of her launch team.
The story is unique, the setting an isolated island, populated by a group of nine women, gifted with healing and water-weilding powers to serve the goddess Sena.
But Suila, our heroine, though she loves her sisters, is not satisfied with this life and takes an opportunity to leave the island behind in search of answers to her past and perhaps, to find love too.
Leaving a piece of her soul behind on the island, she finds herself in the "real world", meeting others and forming relationships which will complicate her inevitable return to the island. There is dark magic afoot and mild political intrigue as well as good old-fashioned young love. The magic system and world feels real and unique. I enjoyed the story overall and look forward to reading the next book to see what's in store for our characters!
The story is unique, the setting an isolated island, populated by a group of nine women, gifted with healing and water-weilding powers to serve the goddess Sena.
But Suila, our heroine, though she loves her sisters, is not satisfied with this life and takes an opportunity to leave the island behind in search of answers to her past and perhaps, to find love too.
Leaving a piece of her soul behind on the island, she finds herself in the "real world", meeting others and forming relationships which will complicate her inevitable return to the island. There is dark magic afoot and mild political intrigue as well as good old-fashioned young love. The magic system and world feels real and unique. I enjoyed the story overall and look forward to reading the next book to see what's in store for our characters!
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book is so sweet! I was honestly really worried with the romance aspect at the beginning of this book, I just wasn't a fan of the guy she was going after. But perhaps that was the point! I'm so happy with how the romance turned out and I'm glad we weren't left with a sad cliff hanger.
I normally read books with a lot more wars/battles, so this book is definitely something "cozier" than my usual read, but it still kept my interest and I wanted to keep reading to see where it went. Nothing was unexpected, but I did enjoy the twists.
I want to say more but don't want to spoil it! I'm excited to see what happens in book 2!!
I normally read books with a lot more wars/battles, so this book is definitely something "cozier" than my usual read, but it still kept my interest and I wanted to keep reading to see where it went. Nothing was unexpected, but I did enjoy the twists.
I want to say more but don't want to spoil it! I'm excited to see what happens in book 2!!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Not only is this cover art absolutely stunning, but the story inside is in.cred.ible!! I was hooked from the very first page! I am the absolutely worst with telling someone about a book without giving away the entire plotline, so this review may not help you, but I will say this.... if you are here, checking this book out, just read it. It is fantastic. You can feel the love poured into this story. There were times that I was so consumed in the story, I didn't even realize I was reading. I felt like I was watching a movie. I am so glad I had the opportunity to read this and I can't wait to buy a physical trophy copy!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received an advanced copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed this book. I found myself staying up way later than I normally should because I wanted to keep reading. The thing that first grabbed me was the incredibly descriptive writing from the author. The world she created was described in such detail I could imagine everything. The lore and story of the gods was detailed, well thought out, and intriguing. I found myself caring about the characters and found them relatable, and appreciated the mental health rep in the FMC, Suila. I can't wait for the next book!
I really enjoyed this book. I found myself staying up way later than I normally should because I wanted to keep reading. The thing that first grabbed me was the incredibly descriptive writing from the author. The world she created was described in such detail I could imagine everything. The lore and story of the gods was detailed, well thought out, and intriguing. I found myself caring about the characters and found them relatable, and appreciated the mental health rep in the FMC, Suila. I can't wait for the next book!
Review of advance copy received from Author
First of all, thank you for the opportunity to read Soul of the Sea before it releases!
I enjoyed this book! It was a fascinating story with beautiful worldbuilding and incredible magic. The ocean ambience was excellent. The author's descriptions were phenomenal. It was atmospheric, deeply connected to nature, capturing the magic of the sea!
The ending had me like “what???” and staying up much later than I intended to finish. Looking forward to seeing what the author does next with this story and these characters!
I enjoyed this book! It was a fascinating story with beautiful worldbuilding and incredible magic. The ocean ambience was excellent. The author's descriptions were phenomenal. It was atmospheric, deeply connected to nature, capturing the magic of the sea!
The ending had me like “what???” and staying up much later than I intended to finish. Looking forward to seeing what the author does next with this story and these characters!
Review of advance copy received from Author
If i could give this 10 stars i would. I was hooked from the very first page. I did not want to put it down. It was beautifully written. The character development and world building were incredible. This book had everything in it: action, adventure, mystery, magic, romance. Some of the plot twists i didn't see coming. As someone that loves the ocean this book made my soul happy. I can't wait to see what happens next!
Thank you to Carly jonathan for letting me read an early copy of this!
Thank you to Carly jonathan for letting me read an early copy of this!
Review of advance copy received from Author
A beautifully told story of Suila breaking past the expectations she was born into, daring to follow her heart into the unknown. Finding family, friends, loved ones and most importantly herself along the way. From a PNW person I loved the coastal vibes. Also did I mention MY FRIEND WROTE THIS BOOOOOOOOK!
June 23, 2026
ARC !!
Great book !
The story is evolving with the main character and her discoveries along the way.
I really enjoyed reading it and will be curious about the follow up books
Great read and really enjoyable!
Great book !
The story is evolving with the main character and her discoveries along the way.
I really enjoyed reading it and will be curious about the follow up books
Great read and really enjoyable!
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book is amazing. The plot is quite unique but still involves sacrifice,love and magic. You simply fall in love with the characters even if they’re not what they seem. This is definitely a book all Romantasy/fantasy fans should read you will not be disappointed.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I absolutely adored this book. Beautifully written, characters are so lovable and the motives that drive them are so clear which really fleshes them out and makes them real.
I never wanted this to end, devoured every word and desperately need the second book so I can stay immersed
I never wanted this to end, devoured every word and desperately need the second book so I can stay immersed
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book was amazing. I fell in love with the characters and the setting the minute I started reading. Carly's imagery was so descriptive, I felt like I was standing next to Suila the whole time. I was rooting for Suila the whole time, and I could hardly put the book down.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you for the ARC! I enjoyed this book.
Review of advance copy received from Author
4.5 ⭐️ The book’s premise really got me hooked and I did expect it to be heavier or maybe less predictable, but I managed to hit the mark at every turn. Still, a very good read with the challenges heavily revolving around what was already known thus not really giving any away. It was a peculiar book just like the characters were and you somehow grow fond of the characters you first thought were dismissable.
I think it’s a good read for anyone who wants to find a place where they truly belong after not being given the choice in the first place. This is for all those who felt out of place in what’s meant to be their home and their calling. It makes one wish to be able to find people to help her realize that she can, that she’s worth every struggle, that she always has a home she can come back to, and that she’s hard saying goodbye to, just like Suila did.
I think it’s a good read for anyone who wants to find a place where they truly belong after not being given the choice in the first place. This is for all those who felt out of place in what’s meant to be their home and their calling. It makes one wish to be able to find people to help her realize that she can, that she’s worth every struggle, that she always has a home she can come back to, and that she’s hard saying goodbye to, just like Suila did.
June 26, 2026
What a beautiful story! This book really had it all. I cannot recommend it enough.
Review of advance copy received from Author
A really strong debut novel, and I'm eager to read more about this world!
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