You thought you knew the whole story... ...but you’ve only heard one side.
Introducing BETWEEN SKY & SEA: the unmissable experience of Zevayr & Mayah’s journey through Zevayr’s eyes—where every moment hurts even more.
Relive the unputdownable story of BETWEEN TIDES & THUNDER from Zevayr’s perspective. This highly-requested POV flip will make you see everything differently. If the first book left you devastated—this one will annihilate you.
Author's Note: It is highly, highly recommended that readers first read BETWEEN TIDES & THUNDERin its entirety before reading BETWEEN SKY & SEA. The internet-breaking, heart-wrenching, soul-crushing experience will not be the same otherwise.
⚡️⚡️⚡️
He was raised to destroy her kingdom. Now she’s the only thing he refuses to conquer. Prince Zevayr of Arbinj has built his name on fear and blood. As the Dark Commander, he is a weapon first and a man second—honed for war and hollowed out by loss. The battlefield has taken everything from him, including his closest friend, leaving behind something sharp and cold, more monster than man.
When he’s ordered to escort his brother’s betrothed back to Arbinj, he expects an inconvenience. He does not expect her.
He doesn’t hesitate. He doesn’t regret. And he certainly doesn’t have room for love. Mayah of Tundrayn is the crown princess of the kingdom that killed his friend—and everything he was raised to despise. Yet she’s defiant where she should yield, soft where he is sharp. She was raised to see him as a monster, but she looks at him like she sees the man beneath the Dark Commander’s cloak. As they travel across rebel-torn lands, Zevayr’s icy barriers begin to melt, and he does the unthinkable—he loses his heart.
Back in Arbinj, where the glittering court is eager to see Mayah fall, Zevayr faces a new war—one that demands he choose between his duty ... and her. Because the harder he falls, the deeper the knife twists in his heart—and Zevayr learns the truth doesn’t always set you free.
The question is not whether Zevayr will defy his kingdom—but how much of it is he willing to burn for her?
Leena Kazak has been spinning stories since she was ten years old, when she wrote her first short story and never looked back. A lifelong reader, she’s devoured everything from fantasy and thrillers to historical fiction and contemporary romance—but these days, she’s happily tumbled down the romantasy staircase and shows no sign of climbing out. (Send help).
She writes fantasy romance with fierce heroines, impossible choices, and immersive worldbuilding. When she’s in the thick of drafting, Leena wakes up between 4:30 and 5 a.m. to chase that magical, half-asleep window when words flow freely and the world is still quiet.
Leena lives in the frigid Northeast with her brooding, handsome husband and their two adorable, half-feral sidekicks. (Leena and her husband are actually the sidekicks, but don’t tell her kids that.)
5 stars obviously because that was everything I needed! I always love a male POV chapter so getting a whole book of Zev’s POV was like Christmas came early. The yearning, Zev’s thoughtfulness, his inner monologue, and seeing that moment at 56% from his perspective was absolutely gut wrenching, delicious, and satisfying. Yes this is the same story at BTAT but you get so much new information in this you’d be doing yourself a disservice by not reading it. Loved it so much. Perfection.
This was such a fantastic surprise and this book was an incredible companion to Between Tides & Thunder!! The first book has excellent rereadability because of the reveal at the end (which I didn’t even see coming btw!!) but having this entire book from his pov was like a dream come true.
I used to play a lot of otome games, which (if you don’t know) are Japanese romance games. Usually they come with a bunch of different love interests to choose from and if you play all of the different routes you get the story told in full. Male POV chapters are crucial to the story, so it's kind of what I came to expect. But when I came into the book community and found that most books were either told from the fmc’s pov or dual pov with only a few important chapters included from the mmc’s pov, I was disappointed but like I accepted it, you know? I didn’t even realise how much I missed and craved and yearned for an entire male pov book until this was announced. Leena, you have made my silly little heart so full and happy with this book!!! I feel like it was written for me 🥹
Anyway it was just as excellent as Between Tides & Thunder. I knew all the twists and turns but the events from Zev’s perspective give so much insight into his feelings and actions. Do I still think he could have learned to trust without his powers? Yes. But I can see why he had such a hard time doing that. This is such an excellent example of the same story being told from two different viewpoints, and how well rounded that makes it, because it felt like a different story at some points. It was just amazing. The steam was off the charts!!!! The only complaint I have is that I wish there had been a proper spicy scene at the end, we got all that buildup and it ended up being not very descriptive, more suggestive. The tension though? The yearning?? Out of this world. Absolute perfection. That man is GONE. Down horrendous with a capital D. Never has a man been so pathetically smitten with a woman in the history of time.
Read Between Tides & Thunder first, do NOT try and tandem read if you haven’t finished because the ending will be spoiled immediately. I will recommend this book with my whole chest, my whole BODY, until I’m ash in a jar. READ IT!! TBR NOW!!
As a companion piece, this is easily a 5-star read 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟.
As soon as I found out we were getting a whole book from Zev's point of view, I immediately dropped what I was reading and dove into this one.
This book adds so much depth to both the characters and the story. One of my only issues with the first book was that the journey portion felt a little drawn out, which is why I gave it 4.5 stars instead of 5. Here, that same journey feels much more meaningful and significant. Maybe it's because we already know where the story is headed, but every step seemed to carry more weight. Plus, the new sweet moments between Zev and Mayah were absolutely adorable.
What I appreciated most is that this never felt like a simple retelling. It reads seamlessly and gives us so many new moments with the characters. We get to see exactly how Zev falls in love with her. Yes, there's attraction, but it's clear that it's everything about Mayah that makes him fall so deeply.
That said, this is very much a companion novel. It works because it expands an already well-developed story and gives us a fresh perspective on events we thought we knew. The twists and revelations from the first book don't carry the same impact here because we already know what's coming. They simply can't hit the same way they did the first time around.
As a companion piece, this is easily a 5-star read 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟. On its own, though, it doesn't stand as strongly as the first book—and I believe that's exactly what it was intended to do. The original story still delivers the stronger emotional and plot impact. As a standalone it would probably only be 4🌟.
If you've already read the first book and are considering this one, I honestly think a tandem read would be the ultimate experience.
One of the strongest aspects of this book is how much more we understand Zev. His pain is heartbreaking. We see how abandoned and alone he felt, and when he believed Mayah had betrayed him, it became almost too much for him to bear. Understanding his perspective adds so much emotional depth to his character.
The extra epilogue featuring Zev and Mayah was a lovely bonus and gives readers a sweet glimpse into their future together.
By the end, this book made me want to reread the first novel all over again. If I ever do, a tandem reread of both books would be an absolute treat.
This was the perfect addition to Between Tides & Thunder and I was so hyped when I found out about it. Zev's POV is full of yearning, pining, agony and heartbreak and it's such a good read. It also reminded me of why I loved the story so much to begin with.
I did say I wanted to read more about Zev and Mayah when I finished the original book and this companion book definitely delivered with extra insights, epilogue scenes and mostly more Zev, which I believe everyone was asking for.
However, I'm going to be honest. I still want to read more about Zev and Mayah and their lives together?! They are such interesting, layered characters, with great chemistry and they have a sweet romance. Plus the story is embedded in a magical world with elemental wielding and political conflict. What more could one possibly want? Give me more books about them being happy together and rebuilding their kingdoms please.
Read ALL of Between Tides and Thunder before you even consider starting this book! Do Not spoiler that wonderful book by reading this first or even in tandem!
This books was everything I hoped when I grabbed it. So many times I've wished for an entire book from the MMC POV but honestly never expected it to be done, let alone done so well.
I've read BTAT twice and thought I knew the story well and that this would just fill in some blanks but this was an entirely fresh take adding depth not only to Zev's view but filling out and providing so much more of the overall story.
I loved this and highly recommend if, but ONLY after reading all of BTAT!
I loved Between Tides and Thunder, so to say I was excited to hear about this is an understatement. I immediately downloaded and read without stopping. I literally devoured this book.
This is BTAT from the MMC POV. Best to read after you have read the original to avoid spoilers!
It was so good to get Zev's POV. The yearning, to see him fall in love. To see his doubts and heartbreak. To understand the internal conflict and betrayal he was dealing with.
BTAT left me with such a book hangover, and this kinda did the same. I love an alternate POV and to have a whole book! Amazing.
It was hard to give it this because I loved between tides and thunder soooooooooo much. However I think had she wrote this as a duet with both POVs it would have been 6 stars for both. Hearing part two and three from Zevs point of view was everything. HOW THIS MAN LOVES HER!!!! *swoon*
It's hard for me to admit but I loved Between Sky and Sea even more than I loved Between Tides and Thunder (okay, it wasn't hard to admit). The twists and turns in Tides and Thunder are of course more interesting but from an emotional and romantic perspective Sky and Sea is a tiny bit better. Maybe because Zev is perfection! Definitely one of the best MMCs of all time (and I'm pretty sure he will forever remain on my book husband list).
As I said in my review for Tides and Thunder, I wanted more and I got more. And it's everything I needed and wanted. I wish more authors would write single POV books with the other POV as bonus content.
I can't recommend this series enough. It's absolutely fantastic.
In my review Between Tides and Thunder i said that I was " mildly upset" that it was a standalone and I am so glad that Leena Kazak lied. Book one was only admiss pov and this is a companion novel to Between Tides and Thunder and it was wonderful. I loved that it was all from Zev's POV this time as we got to see his reactions to everything Mayah did in BTAT. Honestly. Zev falling 1st and harder was everything that I needed in this companion novel. Just like BTAT if you're one of those people who doesn't love when the romance develops too fast, don't worry about it. The first part of the romance is sweet but it will develop into something far more intense and a tad bit more obsessive.
I wish I could rate this higher than 5 stars. Because seriously, this book was beyond amazing! What a perfect companion book to Between Tides and Thunder! I can't even choose which one I like more! But omg the insight into Zevs mind after reading the first book solely from Mayahs pov was exactly what was needed to round out this story. It is rare that an author can rewrite the same story from a different pov and make it entirely unique, but somehow Leena has worked some kind of magic and accomplished what very few authors could have. So kudos to her and her impeccable story telling skills.
This companion book was everythingggggg. I already was obsessed with BTAT and it was easily my top read for the year already. Then, this little lovely number came out of nowhere and I was so glad to experience Mayah and Zev again. Yes, I finished it in one day.
When I tell you that the yearning is UNMATCHED. He’s down bad crying at the gym. I love it!
It also gave so much more context to what was going on in the times when they weren’t together.
Loved! There’s something so rewarding about seeing things from the alternate point of view when you already know everything that comes next. When reading from Mayahs pov Zev seems like such a mystery just to find out that she’s completely unaware of his reality.
My girl Leena really somehow managed to write the best book of all time twice. The angst!!! It hurt so much more from Zev's pov and damn was it delicioussss. The yearning, the love! I love these two so much 💙
Just when I thought I couldn't love Mayah and Zev more, Leena goes and drops Zev's ENTIRE point of view!?!?!? I loved this even more than Between Tides and Thunder, and that's saying something!
Excuse me I am OBSESSED with this?? Like FR? Getting Zev's perspective was a delight and a heartbreak all at once. It broke my HEART in the best way. AHHHH. Beautiful!!