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VALOUR: A romantasy retelling of Shackleton's Antarctic expedition
VALOUR IN THE FACE OF FEAR
Hester Orn, captain of the Valour, has two problems. One, her mentor is dead, and so is her dream of sailing to Antarctica. And two, her infinitely vexing rival, Lord Septimus, has discovered her secret weather magic.
Then Hester meets Charlotte Bailey, the widow of her mentor. A past trauma haunts Charlotte, and she longs to be brave enough to follow in her late husband’s footsteps. Together, the two women set sail to make the first crossing of Antarctica.
But Lord Septimus pursues them to the Weddell Sea, eager to claim the glory for himself. And when the Valour becomes trapped in the ice and Hester’s magic attracts vicious shape-shifting sea gods, they are forced to work with the rival crew. Sparks fly between Hester and Septimus, while Charlotte starts to fall for the Valour’s engineer. As crew members disappear into the ice, Hester and Charlotte must face their fears and reveal long-kept secrets, or watch their friends perish in the frozen wilds.
A romantasy retelling of Shackleton’s Antarctic expedition with strong female leads, weather magic, rivals-to-lovers romance and terrifying gods.
Hester Orn, captain of the Valour, has two problems. One, her mentor is dead, and so is her dream of sailing to Antarctica. And two, her infinitely vexing rival, Lord Septimus, has discovered her secret weather magic.
Then Hester meets Charlotte Bailey, the widow of her mentor. A past trauma haunts Charlotte, and she longs to be brave enough to follow in her late husband’s footsteps. Together, the two women set sail to make the first crossing of Antarctica.
But Lord Septimus pursues them to the Weddell Sea, eager to claim the glory for himself. And when the Valour becomes trapped in the ice and Hester’s magic attracts vicious shape-shifting sea gods, they are forced to work with the rival crew. Sparks fly between Hester and Septimus, while Charlotte starts to fall for the Valour’s engineer. As crew members disappear into the ice, Hester and Charlotte must face their fears and reveal long-kept secrets, or watch their friends perish in the frozen wilds.
A romantasy retelling of Shackleton’s Antarctic expedition with strong female leads, weather magic, rivals-to-lovers romance and terrifying gods.
350 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 2, 2026
About the author
Amber Maren
2 books16 followersAmber Maren has had a varied life for a mere 39-year-old. She has a PhD in biochemistry (from Cambridge, say less), worked as a biology and outdoor education teacher, ran a successful book subscription box and then got tired of selling other people's books and started writing her own. Her day job currently is 'hiking guide', where her focus is on leading women to build confidence in navigation.
Amber loves writing strong female leads, whether they're introverted or extroverted, messy relationships, found family and female friendship.
She lives in the UK with her family and cockapoos, and when she's not writing you'll find her hiking, running, sailing and sea-swimming.
Amber loves writing strong female leads, whether they're introverted or extroverted, messy relationships, found family and female friendship.
She lives in the UK with her family and cockapoos, and when she's not writing you'll find her hiking, running, sailing and sea-swimming.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
October 2, 2026
Romantasy Antarctic exploration, what a fun setting! And though it wasn't entirely for me as it turns out, it was pretty good and will fit a lot of other readers to a T.
We follow two women as they set out on an Antarctic expedition, one the funder. Charlotte, one the ship's captain, Hester. They do not kiss. The book is not described as a ladies-kissing book, but I somehow had it in my head anyway, and was bemused by the amount of het lust described. This is totally my bad as a reader. But yes, almost entirely straight pairings.
Charlotte, I loved. She's had a past trauma, has kinda made the best of it, but really needs to come out of herself, and what better way to do that than exploring a giant frozen wasteland. I really enjoyed her arc, and wanted all good things for her.
Hester, I wanted to have stiff words with after the first chapter. She's constantly pranking her "infinitely vexing rival" AKA tall, dark, handsome and male love interest. And lusting randomly after him and others. She IS a badass. It just didn't land for me, though I'm a grinch and a lot of others will just enjoy the shenanigans. Some of it, though, if she were a guy, we'd be cancelling all heck out of him, and I'm not comfortable just she's a she. Also bad magic things happen when she gets angry, and instead of going "hm, I should get me some Zen" Bruce Banner style, she just shrugs it all off. All in all, the 'to the death' loyalty of her crew never added up for me, let alone why her love interest was anywhere near her.
Anyhoo. This was a romp, as billed. And solid winter reading given the setting.
Rating: 14/20
This review is based upon a complimentary advance review copy provided by the publisher at NetGalley.
We follow two women as they set out on an Antarctic expedition, one the funder. Charlotte, one the ship's captain, Hester. They do not kiss. The book is not described as a ladies-kissing book, but I somehow had it in my head anyway, and was bemused by the amount of het lust described. This is totally my bad as a reader. But yes, almost entirely straight pairings.
Charlotte, I loved. She's had a past trauma, has kinda made the best of it, but really needs to come out of herself, and what better way to do that than exploring a giant frozen wasteland. I really enjoyed her arc, and wanted all good things for her.
Hester, I wanted to have stiff words with after the first chapter. She's constantly pranking her "infinitely vexing rival" AKA tall, dark, handsome and male love interest. And lusting randomly after him and others. She IS a badass. It just didn't land for me, though I'm a grinch and a lot of others will just enjoy the shenanigans. Some of it, though, if she were a guy, we'd be cancelling all heck out of him, and I'm not comfortable just she's a she. Also bad magic things happen when she gets angry, and instead of going "hm, I should get me some Zen" Bruce Banner style, she just shrugs it all off. All in all, the 'to the death' loyalty of her crew never added up for me, let alone why her love interest was anywhere near her.
Anyhoo. This was a romp, as billed. And solid winter reading given the setting.
Rating: 14/20
This review is based upon a complimentary advance review copy provided by the publisher at NetGalley.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5 stars downgraded
1914. Hester Orn is the captain of the Valour and she's eager to be the first female captain to make an expedition to Antarctica. Though her sponsor dies, his widow Charlotte Bailey decides to still make the voyage as a way to honor her late husband and to get out of her comfort zone.
The plot follows Shackelton's real expedition closely, and I loved that every chapter had a date and every once in a while there was a map so the reader would know how much they travelled. I also liked that stuff that really happened in the original expedition was included.
We had two main POVs, Hester and Charlotte. They are co-protagonists and they were well balanced because they were opposites. While Hester, the captain of the Valour, was feisty, cheerful, bold, breaking the gender stereotypes of the time, Charlotte adhered to the standards of the time. She's reserved, she doesn't dare to express her opinion that much, is scared to do things and would rather hide in the comfort of her home.
At the beginning, I found Hester quite funny. She had this badass aura around her and she liked to prank Lord Septimus, who we could say is her rival because he also wants to go to Antartica. He is also Hester's love interest and I liked their angst but once they revealed their feelings I didn't care about them that much. As the story progressed, though, Hestern's jokes and actions were childish. And a lot of times she was also super horny, which annoyed me to no end. She was insufferable more often than not. I think her character development was contrived.
On the other hand, I liked Charlotte more. Her journey facing her fears of love and also of live a life she was happy with, were more linear and made more sense to me. But like I said, she and Hester balanced each other and I don't think the story would've worked if either of the two was given less space compared to the other.
The pace of the story is fast. The story spans two years and given the setting, it would've been difficult to expand the timeline more because of it. But this made the development of characters and events suffer quite a bit. There's sometimes a big gap of months/weeks between chapters to sped things up and in some cases I can buy the development that I am expected to see, but in other occasions, it felt underwhelming.
I liked that the story is narrated in third person POV, which is my favorite. But since this story is based on an expedition, perhaps diary entries in first person could've worked better.
There's magic but I think it fell flat and it could've done without it or just using it for Hester's role as a captain, but the rest felt like an afterthought. The whole storyline of the beasts they see etc. felt underveloped.
Overall, it is a good story. I think people who liked the og Shackelton expedition with a touch of romance will like it.
Thanks so much to Netgalley for the arc. Opinions are mine.
1914. Hester Orn is the captain of the Valour and she's eager to be the first female captain to make an expedition to Antarctica. Though her sponsor dies, his widow Charlotte Bailey decides to still make the voyage as a way to honor her late husband and to get out of her comfort zone.
The plot follows Shackelton's real expedition closely, and I loved that every chapter had a date and every once in a while there was a map so the reader would know how much they travelled. I also liked that stuff that really happened in the original expedition was included.
We had two main POVs, Hester and Charlotte. They are co-protagonists and they were well balanced because they were opposites. While Hester, the captain of the Valour, was feisty, cheerful, bold, breaking the gender stereotypes of the time, Charlotte adhered to the standards of the time. She's reserved, she doesn't dare to express her opinion that much, is scared to do things and would rather hide in the comfort of her home.
At the beginning, I found Hester quite funny. She had this badass aura around her and she liked to prank Lord Septimus, who we could say is her rival because he also wants to go to Antartica. He is also Hester's love interest and I liked their angst but once they revealed their feelings I didn't care about them that much. As the story progressed, though, Hestern's jokes and actions were childish. And a lot of times she was also super horny, which annoyed me to no end. She was insufferable more often than not. I think her character development was contrived.
On the other hand, I liked Charlotte more. Her journey facing her fears of love and also of live a life she was happy with, were more linear and made more sense to me. But like I said, she and Hester balanced each other and I don't think the story would've worked if either of the two was given less space compared to the other.
The pace of the story is fast. The story spans two years and given the setting, it would've been difficult to expand the timeline more because of it. But this made the development of characters and events suffer quite a bit. There's sometimes a big gap of months/weeks between chapters to sped things up and in some cases I can buy the development that I am expected to see, but in other occasions, it felt underwhelming.
I liked that the story is narrated in third person POV, which is my favorite. But since this story is based on an expedition, perhaps diary entries in first person could've worked better.
There's magic but I think it fell flat and it could've done without it or just using it for Hester's role as a captain, but the rest felt like an afterthought. The whole storyline of the beasts they see etc. felt underveloped.
Overall, it is a good story. I think people who liked the og Shackelton expedition with a touch of romance will like it.
Thanks so much to Netgalley for the arc. Opinions are mine.
Review of advance copy received from Author
The things is, I don’t read many adventure books, so when I signed up to read the ARC of Valour, I was excited, and curious, but I also didn't know *exactly* what to expect between these pages.
And now I can confirm that Valour is exactly what it promises and more. It promises a female-led Trans-Antarctic expedition, and it gives you a fleshed-out, mostly-female crew led by Captain Hester Orn (who is one of the most charming characters I've ever read). She's an absolute firecracker, unafraid and powerful, but she’s also a human being with a heart, searching for the parts of herself she does not know and can't understand. She never crosses the line into being a caricature of herself, or of headstrong women in general.
Besides Hester, VALOUR's themes also shine through in Charlotte, who I'll admit to having a soft spot for. She joins the expedition to blossoms beyond the ghost of her late husband, and while she's quieter than Hester (as most are, to be fair), she showcases that a woman doesn't have to be loud and brash to be strong. She’s scared, and somewhat "softer" than the others, but she powers through in her own way. "Valour in the face of fear" indeed.
Speaking of softness, VALOUR also promises the reader a love story - and it gives you Septimus, the brooding Pirate Lord. He's one of those love interests where you spend the first few chapters wondering what on Earth she sees in him, but it's absolutely worth it in the end ;) Their banter was genuinely delightful, and their relationship was so heartfelt and surprisingly sweet.
Overall, I loved how VALOUR wasted no time in sweeping me into the adventure, just as promised. I'm incredibly intrigued by the magic & deity system, how it works, and how it'll be developed later on in the series. I certainly wouldn't be upset about more adventures with Hester and the crew.
(Also, in terms of favorite characters, mine is probably Marjorie. Or Satan.)
And now I can confirm that Valour is exactly what it promises and more. It promises a female-led Trans-Antarctic expedition, and it gives you a fleshed-out, mostly-female crew led by Captain Hester Orn (who is one of the most charming characters I've ever read). She's an absolute firecracker, unafraid and powerful, but she’s also a human being with a heart, searching for the parts of herself she does not know and can't understand. She never crosses the line into being a caricature of herself, or of headstrong women in general.
Besides Hester, VALOUR's themes also shine through in Charlotte, who I'll admit to having a soft spot for. She joins the expedition to blossoms beyond the ghost of her late husband, and while she's quieter than Hester (as most are, to be fair), she showcases that a woman doesn't have to be loud and brash to be strong. She’s scared, and somewhat "softer" than the others, but she powers through in her own way. "Valour in the face of fear" indeed.
Speaking of softness, VALOUR also promises the reader a love story - and it gives you Septimus, the brooding Pirate Lord. He's one of those love interests where you spend the first few chapters wondering what on Earth she sees in him, but it's absolutely worth it in the end ;) Their banter was genuinely delightful, and their relationship was so heartfelt and surprisingly sweet.
Overall, I loved how VALOUR wasted no time in sweeping me into the adventure, just as promised. I'm incredibly intrigued by the magic & deity system, how it works, and how it'll be developed later on in the series. I certainly wouldn't be upset about more adventures with Hester and the crew.
(Also, in terms of favorite characters, mine is probably Marjorie. Or Satan.)
October 8, 2026
I received an advanced reader’s copy of this book and was not paid for my review.
***
Captain Hester Orn’s Antarctic expedition goes horribly wrong when her ship gets trapped in the ice alongside her infinitely vexing rival, Lord Septimus. Teaming up with her late mentor’s widow, Hester must use her secret weather magic to protect her crew from the brutal elements. Forced into a shaky alliance with Septimus, they must battle shape shifting sea gods and their own darkest secrets to survive the frozen wilds.
- Rivals to lovers
- Secret weather magic
- Deadly sea gods
- Frozen wilderness
***
I am so glad I got to ARC read this book because it was such a fun ride! A totally new setting for me, on an expedition to the Antarctic, reminiscent of Shackleton and his contemporaries' adventures, but this time there are women in charge! Throw in a bit of hidden magic, secret identities, bratty behaviour and enough steam to keep everyone warm, and I am hooked.
It was exciting to explore a new setting in a book, and Maren does so well bringing it to life. It is very clear that she researched it thoroughly and worked hard to recreate the experience of those early adventurers. The personalities of the ships, the ports, and even the seas they sail absolutely add to the rich tapestry of this book.
I loved Hester. She is determined, confident, funny, soft and bratty to the extreme; I want ten of her. Possessing hidden magical powers, she hides them from those closest to her, which is not easy as she is loving and loyal to the bone to her people. Watching her struggle with what to tell, when and how, as well as the fear of her secrets causing her to be rejected by those closest to her, pulls at your heart. And yet, Hester lives for fun and jokes, permanently winding up the scowly, dark and brooding Lord Septimus who runs her town port with an iron fist. And oh, how I love her for it. The literal poking of the bear, the chase, the captures, chefs kiss, give me more.
Septimus is so clearly hot for Hester, in the hidden, growly, threaten-to-destroy-her-world kind of way. Is it healthy? No! Do I care? No! Give me more! Septimus takes far too many risks and is stubborn beyond belief, and yet, there are moments where he shows his heart, his fear, his rage, and his softness. He isn’t just a growly bear of a grump. He is a whole person and I luffs him all.
The story also follows another FMC, Charlotte, the meek and yet brave widow of a great explorer. She is throwing herself into the terrifying unknown to prove that she can, to grow and become a stronger woman. Her story has so much sweetness as this proper lady finds herself, falls in love and wonders just how much she can actually survive.
The cast of characters are a lot of fun; they add whimsy, intrigue, challenging moments, delicious steam and tension. I love the inclusion of magic. It doesn’t take over or get ignored; it has limits and moments of playfulness. Plus, Odette, like seriously, obsessed.
⭐⭐⭐⭐- Something totally new and so well done!
***
Captain Hester Orn’s Antarctic expedition goes horribly wrong when her ship gets trapped in the ice alongside her infinitely vexing rival, Lord Septimus. Teaming up with her late mentor’s widow, Hester must use her secret weather magic to protect her crew from the brutal elements. Forced into a shaky alliance with Septimus, they must battle shape shifting sea gods and their own darkest secrets to survive the frozen wilds.
- Rivals to lovers
- Secret weather magic
- Deadly sea gods
- Frozen wilderness
***
I am so glad I got to ARC read this book because it was such a fun ride! A totally new setting for me, on an expedition to the Antarctic, reminiscent of Shackleton and his contemporaries' adventures, but this time there are women in charge! Throw in a bit of hidden magic, secret identities, bratty behaviour and enough steam to keep everyone warm, and I am hooked.
It was exciting to explore a new setting in a book, and Maren does so well bringing it to life. It is very clear that she researched it thoroughly and worked hard to recreate the experience of those early adventurers. The personalities of the ships, the ports, and even the seas they sail absolutely add to the rich tapestry of this book.
I loved Hester. She is determined, confident, funny, soft and bratty to the extreme; I want ten of her. Possessing hidden magical powers, she hides them from those closest to her, which is not easy as she is loving and loyal to the bone to her people. Watching her struggle with what to tell, when and how, as well as the fear of her secrets causing her to be rejected by those closest to her, pulls at your heart. And yet, Hester lives for fun and jokes, permanently winding up the scowly, dark and brooding Lord Septimus who runs her town port with an iron fist. And oh, how I love her for it. The literal poking of the bear, the chase, the captures, chefs kiss, give me more.
Septimus is so clearly hot for Hester, in the hidden, growly, threaten-to-destroy-her-world kind of way. Is it healthy? No! Do I care? No! Give me more! Septimus takes far too many risks and is stubborn beyond belief, and yet, there are moments where he shows his heart, his fear, his rage, and his softness. He isn’t just a growly bear of a grump. He is a whole person and I luffs him all.
The story also follows another FMC, Charlotte, the meek and yet brave widow of a great explorer. She is throwing herself into the terrifying unknown to prove that she can, to grow and become a stronger woman. Her story has so much sweetness as this proper lady finds herself, falls in love and wonders just how much she can actually survive.
The cast of characters are a lot of fun; they add whimsy, intrigue, challenging moments, delicious steam and tension. I love the inclusion of magic. It doesn’t take over or get ignored; it has limits and moments of playfulness. Plus, Odette, like seriously, obsessed.
⭐⭐⭐⭐- Something totally new and so well done!
September 18, 2026
Thank you to Amber Maren for the eARC of Valour - all opinions are honest and my own.
If I had to sum up this book briefly, it would be: badass female captain, badass female crew, adventures in Antarctica, enemies-to-lovers, romantasy version of a Shackleton retelling, and a fever dream courtesy of animal-shapeshifting gods. It was an absolute wild ride, and I wasn't always entirely sure I knew what was going on, but I enjoyed the book nonetheless.
Charlotte's character growth throughout the whole book was so inspiring - from housewife to intrepid adventurer, allowing herself to love again - she was a force to be reckoned with.
Obviously, with the book being set in Antarctica the surroundings never changed and this did sometimes slow the pace of the book for me personally. This wouldn't stop me from recommending the book to everyone, especially if you love a fun adventure with a found family!
If I had to sum up this book briefly, it would be: badass female captain, badass female crew, adventures in Antarctica, enemies-to-lovers, romantasy version of a Shackleton retelling, and a fever dream courtesy of animal-shapeshifting gods. It was an absolute wild ride, and I wasn't always entirely sure I knew what was going on, but I enjoyed the book nonetheless.
Charlotte's character growth throughout the whole book was so inspiring - from housewife to intrepid adventurer, allowing herself to love again - she was a force to be reckoned with.
Obviously, with the book being set in Antarctica the surroundings never changed and this did sometimes slow the pace of the book for me personally. This wouldn't stop me from recommending the book to everyone, especially if you love a fun adventure with a found family!
October 10, 2026
A retelling with a twist
It’s an adventure to the bottom of the world with a magical twist - read about it in Valour.
Hester, captain of the Valour, is looking to sail to Antarctica. Newly widowed Charlotte is looking for change and adventure. Lord Septimus is…well, he has his own plans. Setting out to cross the Southern Ocean and its icy continent, the journey is beset by constant perils - some natural, some magical.
This debut is a retelling loosely based on the voyage of the Endeavor under Ernest Shackleton. It is a story of endurance, self-discovery and surviving the extremes of Antarctica and includes a paranormal element. It isn’t hard to imagine encountering demon-like orcas and squid women in such an environment.
The story covers two very different romances - between Hester and Septimus, and Charlotte and Arnold. Both are slow burn, but progress at different speeds. Hester and Septimus are rivals to lovers with very spicy scenes, while Charlotte and Arnold are a sweeter romance with no on-page spice. There’s also sapphic romance and bi characters in the story.
If you want a retelling with a difference, add the amazing Valour to your TBR - you won’t regret it.
It’s an adventure to the bottom of the world with a magical twist - read about it in Valour.
Hester, captain of the Valour, is looking to sail to Antarctica. Newly widowed Charlotte is looking for change and adventure. Lord Septimus is…well, he has his own plans. Setting out to cross the Southern Ocean and its icy continent, the journey is beset by constant perils - some natural, some magical.
This debut is a retelling loosely based on the voyage of the Endeavor under Ernest Shackleton. It is a story of endurance, self-discovery and surviving the extremes of Antarctica and includes a paranormal element. It isn’t hard to imagine encountering demon-like orcas and squid women in such an environment.
The story covers two very different romances - between Hester and Septimus, and Charlotte and Arnold. Both are slow burn, but progress at different speeds. Hester and Septimus are rivals to lovers with very spicy scenes, while Charlotte and Arnold are a sweeter romance with no on-page spice. There’s also sapphic romance and bi characters in the story.
If you want a retelling with a difference, add the amazing Valour to your TBR - you won’t regret it.
Review of advance copy received from Author
As someone who’s been to Antarctica, I was SO excited to read this Shackleton retelling and it is so good. I loved the pace and the flip to a FMC instead of a MMC. It’s definitely a true romantasy and I can’t wait to see where the rest of the series goes.
I, especially, loved the character arc for Charlotte. It was also incredibly refreshing to read a story with so many different characters instead of feeling like you were only reading about the FMC and MMC.
Thank you Amber so much for the arc, I can’t wait to read more!
I, especially, loved the character arc for Charlotte. It was also incredibly refreshing to read a story with so many different characters instead of feeling like you were only reading about the FMC and MMC.
Thank you Amber so much for the arc, I can’t wait to read more!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!
I'm feeling disappointed that I didn't like Valour as much as I wanted to, because on paper, this is exactly the sort of book that should've been made for me. An enemies-to-lovers romance for one MC, a cute romance and healing from trauma after a loss for the other MC, all wrapped up in the perils of polar exploration? Sign me up! The concept is great, the romance is by turns cute and steamy, but the real problem is nothing in this novel gets enough focus, because there's just too much stuff competing for page space.
The heart of this novel is the main character, Hester, and her quest for freedom, fame, and glory. I think Hester will be a character that divides opinion, with some people finding her hijinks too childish, but as a bit of a mischief-maker myself, I found them the most funny and lively parts of the book. I also for the most part loved her enemies-to-lovers romance with Septimus; they felt like they had a storied history right from the word go, and you could feel the heat and tension between them immediately. This was developed well throughout the book, and their romance/sex scenes were really hot. It was a little put off-putting, though, at the beginning that he was so willing to be borderline violent with her physically, and calling her a whore at one point was a bit much. The other main character is Charlotte, who had a really nice journey of learning to find her own courage across the course of the book. Her romance with Arnold was really cute, though it could have used just a little more development. I'm also pretty disappointed we didn't get an explicit scene with them, especially after everyone giving her The Talk, as the sex scenes were some of the best parts of this book.
The real problem with this book is that it's not long enough - and, unfortunately, not in a 'I just couldn't get enough' way. The problem facing Valour is that the novel feels like it has the plot of 600 page book squeezed down into only 300 pages. Nothing really has the time it needs to breathe and develop. Too many elements - the two romances, various secondary characters, the journey, and the magical beings, to name a few - are introduced without enough page and plot space to actually develop everything. This really told on the development of various characters; emotions would seem to shift on a dime, and background characters would be introduced or referenced without really being developed beyond a name.
The book feels this lack of space very keenly when it comes to the inclusion of the magical creatures. To me, this felt like stuffing yet more things into an already overcrowded plot, taking attention and page space away from elements that were already suffering from being underdeveloped. This conspires to make this magical world of mythical creatures feel thin and rather tacked on. The 'devil' antagonist seems to change his (paper-thin) motivation as the story requires, we get no foreshadowing that Hester is even that upset about being an orphan until her mother shows up and kicks off that storyline (and I still don't really see that there was any point in Hester being an angel or whatever, rather than just having cool weather powers), and the inclusion of the siren seemed to serve absolutely no purpose at all beyond adding a little hollow jeopardy in the middle of the novel and killing off two characters no one cared about.
I also think the author somewhat shot herself in the foot by making the story hew so closely to the details of a real-life expedition. This resulted in a weirdly disjointed feeling to the novel, as the reader was often told months had gone by and yet it felt like no progress had been made in the characters' development and relationships with each other. I think Maren would have been much better served by focusing with a much tighter lens on the concept of two rival ships stuck in the ice, the hardships of the polar landscape, and the two romances blossoming despite the odds, rather than sticking exactly to the details of a real life expedition and adding in all the supernatural elements beyond Hester's weather magic. (Speaking of, the really isn't much rivalry between the ships at any point beyond Hester and Septimus being at each other's throats. The crews themselves accept becoming one crew with surprising ease!)
Also, maybe this is just because I'm a sucker for nautical and polar details, but the setting itself also felt a bit underbaked. Maren didn't really bring either the ships themselves or the Antarctic landscape richly to life, although it's clear attention was paid here and there. The novel also lacked the constantly pressing sense of danger that should be all around in the polar landscape. This is an incredibly harsh environment where one slip up can mean death, but the pervading sense of anxiety that the landscape and the cold should be giving the characters just wasn't there. There were multiple moments where people got soaked or wandered around out in the snow and seemed to suffer no ill effects (and this is without mentioning the whole stripping off to bang in the tents... I know some details can be waved for the sake of romance, but come on!). There's just not enough gritty detail or anxiety to make it hit home with the reader how terrible being stranded in the Antarctic really would be.
In short, Valour is a stellar concept that has been brought to life with a lot of heart and genuinely compelling romance, but falls flat in many other areas of execution.
I'm feeling disappointed that I didn't like Valour as much as I wanted to, because on paper, this is exactly the sort of book that should've been made for me. An enemies-to-lovers romance for one MC, a cute romance and healing from trauma after a loss for the other MC, all wrapped up in the perils of polar exploration? Sign me up! The concept is great, the romance is by turns cute and steamy, but the real problem is nothing in this novel gets enough focus, because there's just too much stuff competing for page space.
The heart of this novel is the main character, Hester, and her quest for freedom, fame, and glory. I think Hester will be a character that divides opinion, with some people finding her hijinks too childish, but as a bit of a mischief-maker myself, I found them the most funny and lively parts of the book. I also for the most part loved her enemies-to-lovers romance with Septimus; they felt like they had a storied history right from the word go, and you could feel the heat and tension between them immediately. This was developed well throughout the book, and their romance/sex scenes were really hot. It was a little put off-putting, though, at the beginning that he was so willing to be borderline violent with her physically, and calling her a whore at one point was a bit much. The other main character is Charlotte, who had a really nice journey of learning to find her own courage across the course of the book. Her romance with Arnold was really cute, though it could have used just a little more development. I'm also pretty disappointed we didn't get an explicit scene with them, especially after everyone giving her The Talk, as the sex scenes were some of the best parts of this book.
The real problem with this book is that it's not long enough - and, unfortunately, not in a 'I just couldn't get enough' way. The problem facing Valour is that the novel feels like it has the plot of 600 page book squeezed down into only 300 pages. Nothing really has the time it needs to breathe and develop. Too many elements - the two romances, various secondary characters, the journey, and the magical beings, to name a few - are introduced without enough page and plot space to actually develop everything. This really told on the development of various characters; emotions would seem to shift on a dime, and background characters would be introduced or referenced without really being developed beyond a name.
The book feels this lack of space very keenly when it comes to the inclusion of the magical creatures. To me, this felt like stuffing yet more things into an already overcrowded plot, taking attention and page space away from elements that were already suffering from being underdeveloped. This conspires to make this magical world of mythical creatures feel thin and rather tacked on. The 'devil' antagonist seems to change his (paper-thin) motivation as the story requires, we get no foreshadowing that Hester is even that upset about being an orphan until her mother shows up and kicks off that storyline (and I still don't really see that there was any point in Hester being an angel or whatever, rather than just having cool weather powers), and the inclusion of the siren seemed to serve absolutely no purpose at all beyond adding a little hollow jeopardy in the middle of the novel and killing off two characters no one cared about.
I also think the author somewhat shot herself in the foot by making the story hew so closely to the details of a real-life expedition. This resulted in a weirdly disjointed feeling to the novel, as the reader was often told months had gone by and yet it felt like no progress had been made in the characters' development and relationships with each other. I think Maren would have been much better served by focusing with a much tighter lens on the concept of two rival ships stuck in the ice, the hardships of the polar landscape, and the two romances blossoming despite the odds, rather than sticking exactly to the details of a real life expedition and adding in all the supernatural elements beyond Hester's weather magic. (Speaking of, the really isn't much rivalry between the ships at any point beyond Hester and Septimus being at each other's throats. The crews themselves accept becoming one crew with surprising ease!)
Also, maybe this is just because I'm a sucker for nautical and polar details, but the setting itself also felt a bit underbaked. Maren didn't really bring either the ships themselves or the Antarctic landscape richly to life, although it's clear attention was paid here and there. The novel also lacked the constantly pressing sense of danger that should be all around in the polar landscape. This is an incredibly harsh environment where one slip up can mean death, but the pervading sense of anxiety that the landscape and the cold should be giving the characters just wasn't there. There were multiple moments where people got soaked or wandered around out in the snow and seemed to suffer no ill effects (and this is without mentioning the whole stripping off to bang in the tents... I know some details can be waved for the sake of romance, but come on!). There's just not enough gritty detail or anxiety to make it hit home with the reader how terrible being stranded in the Antarctic really would be.
In short, Valour is a stellar concept that has been brought to life with a lot of heart and genuinely compelling romance, but falls flat in many other areas of execution.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.5/5. Truly feels one of a kind.
I'll be honest, I wanted to pick this up almost entirely because I was looking for something gods and sea-related to validate the hold Poseidon's songs from EPIC had (have) on me. It kind of did the trick, but was also so much more than that.
As a debut, I think it's a really strong one. The concept feels very original, especially with the way it ties back to the actual expedition Shackleton went on. I love how Amber chose to incorporate some details, telling the story in a life-like way but adding on a few twists and a magic system on top. It makes the reading experience quite unique and satiaties the curiosity concerning what these expeditions could possibly look like without you having to read journals from them.
Since they aren't clearly marked, I was worried that the different POVs would be confusing for me, but I was pleasantly surprised - the two female leads were very distinct. Hester is extremely bratty and an unfiltered storm of optimism, while Charlotte is much more delicate and unsure of herself. It took me a while to get used to Hester, since I'm not big on pranks, but she did grow on me by the end. Charlotte I liked from the get-go, but that's because I can easily relate to her anxiety.
By far the strongest parts of this book are the female friendships and the general found family vibe. Hester would do absolutely anything for her crew, as she proves throughout the story, and they all have such faith in her that it's very touching. Charlotte also immediately fits right in, gaining confidence through channeling her Captain's strength of character and the crew's enthusiasm. Fliss and what occurs between her and Hester eventually is a good reminder that true friends will never abandon you and how important honesty is in close relationships, yet how easily we give in to fear of being perceived differently.
On that note, I especially adore Charlotte’s character development. She starts as this anxious, grieving woman with a desire to become bolder, and she slowly builds herself up to the point where she's still recognizable as who she was, but so much stronger and more open. It's quite beautiful to watch it happen step by step. Her love story with Arnold is also cute. He's so incredibly patient with her, right till the very end.
The novel itself is mostly shenenigans and sometimes heart-breaking details of the expedition - it mixes hurt with comfort and comedy really well. When the expedition turns gruesome at a certain point, the author makes sure you don't just sit and cry at their fates, including the ways sailors used to pick their spirits up and some fun - or crazy - twists. It's gripping because of its brutality, and also deeply entertaining.
The pushback on patriarchy and misogyny is always something I'll be a fan of, no matter how big or small. Hester is quite a figure and she doesn't let anyone give her shit for being a woman, including her love interest. She's the strongest, boldest, most adventurous person out there and her jubilance cannot be ruined, thank you very much.
And yeah, the dogs. Of course, I loved the dogs. I'm a sucker for animal companions and the way Marjorie took care of Charlotte was the absolute cutest.
That said, there were also some things I wasn't a big fan of. The first one is a matter of personal preference, I think, because I'm sure true enemies-to-lovers fans would eat this stuff up, but... Septimus was too mean to Hester for too long.
While I could squint and enjoy myself anyway, I didn’t manage to completely forget it by the end. Yes, he did sort of explain the bigger things, so I guess some of it I can forgive, but I don't think it's quite enough for me. The way he treated her for more than half of the book was really uncalled for. I get him not wanting her to go - even not saying directly why - and the thousand other smaller offences that were the result of him being pissed off at her antics, fine, but he was constantly rude, never apologized, never expressed gratitude for Hester helping him when she didn't need to since they were competing, blamed her for things which were out of her control, got physical with her, endangered his crew's life based on some patriarchal nonsense, and betrayed her by trying to get everyone to see that she was a witch. I have very mixed feelings, especially since he basically becomes a teddy bear as soon as they get together, so it sits weirdly with me.
The bigger problem, though, was that the magical system raises more questions than it gives answers to. It led to some fun situations and plot twists, sure, but I don't understand the lore at all. Practically nothing is explained. I especially have a tough time wrapping my head around why the big villain was able to sense Hester at this time specifically since it definitely wasn't the first time she used her magic on an expedition. Also, the thing that happens to her when she sleeps - why? Why only then? I'm very confused.
Even so, I liked it. I'd recommend it to enemies (or rivals) to lovers fans who like their MMCs very mean and their FMCs bratty. Also, to adventure romance fans who are looking for something fresh, and to people who yearn for fantastic female friendship representation.
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for letting me read the ARC!
I'll be honest, I wanted to pick this up almost entirely because I was looking for something gods and sea-related to validate the hold Poseidon's songs from EPIC had (have) on me. It kind of did the trick, but was also so much more than that.
As a debut, I think it's a really strong one. The concept feels very original, especially with the way it ties back to the actual expedition Shackleton went on. I love how Amber chose to incorporate some details, telling the story in a life-like way but adding on a few twists and a magic system on top. It makes the reading experience quite unique and satiaties the curiosity concerning what these expeditions could possibly look like without you having to read journals from them.
Since they aren't clearly marked, I was worried that the different POVs would be confusing for me, but I was pleasantly surprised - the two female leads were very distinct. Hester is extremely bratty and an unfiltered storm of optimism, while Charlotte is much more delicate and unsure of herself. It took me a while to get used to Hester, since I'm not big on pranks, but she did grow on me by the end. Charlotte I liked from the get-go, but that's because I can easily relate to her anxiety.
By far the strongest parts of this book are the female friendships and the general found family vibe. Hester would do absolutely anything for her crew, as she proves throughout the story, and they all have such faith in her that it's very touching. Charlotte also immediately fits right in, gaining confidence through channeling her Captain's strength of character and the crew's enthusiasm. Fliss and what occurs between her and Hester eventually is a good reminder that true friends will never abandon you and how important honesty is in close relationships, yet how easily we give in to fear of being perceived differently.
On that note, I especially adore Charlotte’s character development. She starts as this anxious, grieving woman with a desire to become bolder, and she slowly builds herself up to the point where she's still recognizable as who she was, but so much stronger and more open. It's quite beautiful to watch it happen step by step. Her love story with Arnold is also cute. He's so incredibly patient with her, right till the very end.
The novel itself is mostly shenenigans and sometimes heart-breaking details of the expedition - it mixes hurt with comfort and comedy really well. When the expedition turns gruesome at a certain point, the author makes sure you don't just sit and cry at their fates, including the ways sailors used to pick their spirits up and some fun - or crazy - twists. It's gripping because of its brutality, and also deeply entertaining.
The pushback on patriarchy and misogyny is always something I'll be a fan of, no matter how big or small. Hester is quite a figure and she doesn't let anyone give her shit for being a woman, including her love interest. She's the strongest, boldest, most adventurous person out there and her jubilance cannot be ruined, thank you very much.
And yeah, the dogs. Of course, I loved the dogs. I'm a sucker for animal companions and the way Marjorie took care of Charlotte was the absolute cutest.
That said, there were also some things I wasn't a big fan of. The first one is a matter of personal preference, I think, because I'm sure true enemies-to-lovers fans would eat this stuff up, but... Septimus was too mean to Hester for too long.
While I could squint and enjoy myself anyway, I didn’t manage to completely forget it by the end. Yes, he did sort of explain the bigger things, so I guess some of it I can forgive, but I don't think it's quite enough for me. The way he treated her for more than half of the book was really uncalled for. I get him not wanting her to go - even not saying directly why - and the thousand other smaller offences that were the result of him being pissed off at her antics, fine, but he was constantly rude, never apologized, never expressed gratitude for Hester helping him when she didn't need to since they were competing, blamed her for things which were out of her control, got physical with her, endangered his crew's life based on some patriarchal nonsense, and betrayed her by trying to get everyone to see that she was a witch. I have very mixed feelings, especially since he basically becomes a teddy bear as soon as they get together, so it sits weirdly with me.
The bigger problem, though, was that the magical system raises more questions than it gives answers to. It led to some fun situations and plot twists, sure, but I don't understand the lore at all. Practically nothing is explained. I especially have a tough time wrapping my head around why the big villain was able to sense Hester at this time specifically since it definitely wasn't the first time she used her magic on an expedition. Also, the thing that happens to her when she sleeps - why? Why only then? I'm very confused.
Even so, I liked it. I'd recommend it to enemies (or rivals) to lovers fans who like their MMCs very mean and their FMCs bratty. Also, to adventure romance fans who are looking for something fresh, and to people who yearn for fantastic female friendship representation.
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for letting me read the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you to Amber Maren for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Valour is an original magical retelling of Shackleton’s Antarctic expedition, following a woman-led crew of the Valour as they venture into the frozen wilderness. This is a story of survival, combining real historical events with magical creatures, adventure, romance, and found family.
Charlotte Bailey is a recent widow who wants to visit and explore the places her late husband (Ernest Bailey) had been. For me, Charlotte was the emotional heart of the book. She’s grieving and dealing with trauma and begins the story as someone who tends to retreat into herself. Watching her gradually find her confidence through the expedition was probably the character arc I connected with most. I especially loved the way she looked at Hester’s courage, learning to build a new relationship with Arnold (one of the Valour's crew), and slowly beginning to find some of that courage within herself.
Then there’s Hester Orn, captain of the Valour and an explorer of the frozen north. She is basically chaos in human form, but underneath all of that she’s incredibly brave and loyal. She’s brash, impulsive, loud, and her constant button-pushing gave the story some much-needed humour. While I enjoyed the enemies-to-lovers romance between Sea Lord Septimus and Hester, there were times when I felt Hester's antics veered a little too far into childish territory for her age. I did enjoy her, but there were moments when her behaviour felt a little too immature, which occasionally pulled me out of the story.
I enjoyed the decision to take such a well-known historical expedition and reimagine it with a female-led crew. I also appreciated how closely the story followed Shackleton’s actual expedition, as well as the maps showing their location throughout the journey. There were several moments where the real expedition came through in the story, and I found those connections fascinating.
The found-family aspect of the Valour and Intrepid crews was another win for me. Watching these women and men navigate such an unforgiving environment while forming their own bonds was moving.
My biggest issue with the book was that I kept wanting the story to slow down and expand the scenes more. Some scenes felt like they were over almost as soon as they began. The dog sledding, for example, felt like an opportunity for a really immersive moment of enjoyment but we moved through it quite quickly. Lots of scenes were very fast-paced, and for a book set in Antarctica, I wanted to feel the cold, the exhaustion, the danger and the sheer scale of the wilderness. At times, though, everything moved so quickly that I didn’t always feel as immersed in what the characters were experiencing. I also found that the pacing and writing style didn't always match up with the sexual content.
Unfortunately, towards the end, I found myself becoming less invested in some of the characters, which meant the final part didn't have quite the impact I was hoping for.
I also struggled a little with the way the magic was incorporated. The concept itself was intriguing, but I sometimes found its introduction and integration into the story a little abrupt. I think I would have enjoyed the magical elements more if they had been woven into the story more naturally.
Overall, I think Valour has an interesting concept and some genuinely lovely elements. Charlotte’s character development, the found family, Hester’s chaotic personality, the historical inspiration, and the Antarctic setting were all highlights for me. I just wanted a little more time and depth to settle into the world and experience the journey alongside the characters.
Valour is an original magical retelling of Shackleton’s Antarctic expedition, following a woman-led crew of the Valour as they venture into the frozen wilderness. This is a story of survival, combining real historical events with magical creatures, adventure, romance, and found family.
Charlotte Bailey is a recent widow who wants to visit and explore the places her late husband (Ernest Bailey) had been. For me, Charlotte was the emotional heart of the book. She’s grieving and dealing with trauma and begins the story as someone who tends to retreat into herself. Watching her gradually find her confidence through the expedition was probably the character arc I connected with most. I especially loved the way she looked at Hester’s courage, learning to build a new relationship with Arnold (one of the Valour's crew), and slowly beginning to find some of that courage within herself.
Then there’s Hester Orn, captain of the Valour and an explorer of the frozen north. She is basically chaos in human form, but underneath all of that she’s incredibly brave and loyal. She’s brash, impulsive, loud, and her constant button-pushing gave the story some much-needed humour. While I enjoyed the enemies-to-lovers romance between Sea Lord Septimus and Hester, there were times when I felt Hester's antics veered a little too far into childish territory for her age. I did enjoy her, but there were moments when her behaviour felt a little too immature, which occasionally pulled me out of the story.
I enjoyed the decision to take such a well-known historical expedition and reimagine it with a female-led crew. I also appreciated how closely the story followed Shackleton’s actual expedition, as well as the maps showing their location throughout the journey. There were several moments where the real expedition came through in the story, and I found those connections fascinating.
The found-family aspect of the Valour and Intrepid crews was another win for me. Watching these women and men navigate such an unforgiving environment while forming their own bonds was moving.
My biggest issue with the book was that I kept wanting the story to slow down and expand the scenes more. Some scenes felt like they were over almost as soon as they began. The dog sledding, for example, felt like an opportunity for a really immersive moment of enjoyment but we moved through it quite quickly. Lots of scenes were very fast-paced, and for a book set in Antarctica, I wanted to feel the cold, the exhaustion, the danger and the sheer scale of the wilderness. At times, though, everything moved so quickly that I didn’t always feel as immersed in what the characters were experiencing. I also found that the pacing and writing style didn't always match up with the sexual content.
Unfortunately, towards the end, I found myself becoming less invested in some of the characters, which meant the final part didn't have quite the impact I was hoping for.
I also struggled a little with the way the magic was incorporated. The concept itself was intriguing, but I sometimes found its introduction and integration into the story a little abrupt. I think I would have enjoyed the magical elements more if they had been woven into the story more naturally.
Overall, I think Valour has an interesting concept and some genuinely lovely elements. Charlotte’s character development, the found family, Hester’s chaotic personality, the historical inspiration, and the Antarctic setting were all highlights for me. I just wanted a little more time and depth to settle into the world and experience the journey alongside the characters.
October 3, 2026
Valour was the first book I read back in September because I wanted a fresh enough mind to immersive myself in an adventure fantasy that’d have a fair ton of traveling, lest I found it stagnant and redundant. But my worries were unfounded. Yes, it’s mainly set at sea, but we get so many cool encounters and different landscapes and the shenanigans the crew gets up to. At the heart of the story, I found, was love between the crewmates. As they sail from sea to sea, anchor at this shore and that, you can really see the bond that have formed between those on the ship. Those little moments of warmth are what made the story for me.
Perhaps that was why I always subconsciously highlighted that warmth and love whenever I talk about Valour, instead of Hester and Septimus, or Charlotte and Arnold.
Hester and Septimus - while I loved their early banter and it made me laugh - sort of fizzled out for me. Although there was definitely enough page time given for their development, I couldn’t really connect with them as an established couple. Charlotte and Arnold were sweet, but they weren’t my kind of romance here, although I think they could’ve been had they been given more pages. This is also not to say I wish the story should’ve been longer. (I know, wtf am I going on about?)
Could the romances have used a bit more fleshing out? Yes, I do think so, in order for me to actually be invested in them. But the story had enough on its plate with two romances and a stalking animal god plot line that it really could’ve gone either way. Maybe it would’ve felt more developed, but it also could’ve ended up bloated with too many details.
This all makes it sound like I’m giving it a negative review, I’m really not. I don’t make separate posts for arcs I’ve hated because there’s just no point in advertising how much I disliked them and discouraging other people from reading them by announcing it in a post. I really did like this one. Whenever I think back to Valour, even now after a month, it’s filled with warmth - the crew sitting around and talking random things, the dog races, Hester’s brave leaps of faith are things that are at the forefront. The romance wasn’t one that shook my feelings but it could be for so many other people.
It was a story so warm and loving unlike the winter seas it’s crossing. It’s so full of heart and fun. We meet a lovely cast and crew, we meet gods and sirens and angels, we have flirty bickerings that had me snorting. If you want a fantasy set upon a ship sailing the seas where the setting and sceneries don’t feel redundant or boring, this is for you.
This is an honest review of the arc gifted by the author. All opinions are of my own.
Perhaps that was why I always subconsciously highlighted that warmth and love whenever I talk about Valour, instead of Hester and Septimus, or Charlotte and Arnold.
Hester and Septimus - while I loved their early banter and it made me laugh - sort of fizzled out for me. Although there was definitely enough page time given for their development, I couldn’t really connect with them as an established couple. Charlotte and Arnold were sweet, but they weren’t my kind of romance here, although I think they could’ve been had they been given more pages. This is also not to say I wish the story should’ve been longer. (I know, wtf am I going on about?)
Could the romances have used a bit more fleshing out? Yes, I do think so, in order for me to actually be invested in them. But the story had enough on its plate with two romances and a stalking animal god plot line that it really could’ve gone either way. Maybe it would’ve felt more developed, but it also could’ve ended up bloated with too many details.
This all makes it sound like I’m giving it a negative review, I’m really not. I don’t make separate posts for arcs I’ve hated because there’s just no point in advertising how much I disliked them and discouraging other people from reading them by announcing it in a post. I really did like this one. Whenever I think back to Valour, even now after a month, it’s filled with warmth - the crew sitting around and talking random things, the dog races, Hester’s brave leaps of faith are things that are at the forefront. The romance wasn’t one that shook my feelings but it could be for so many other people.
It was a story so warm and loving unlike the winter seas it’s crossing. It’s so full of heart and fun. We meet a lovely cast and crew, we meet gods and sirens and angels, we have flirty bickerings that had me snorting. If you want a fantasy set upon a ship sailing the seas where the setting and sceneries don’t feel redundant or boring, this is for you.
This is an honest review of the arc gifted by the author. All opinions are of my own.
September 25, 2026
Review of an eArc provided by the author.
Valour was one of my favourite reads this year; it has so many great things going for it: two romance plotlines, female friendship, found family, adventure, cute pets, steamy scenes, messing with the patriarchy... You name it, it has it! Such a nice change from a lot of romantasy that has gotten fairly repetitive with the same plotlines and settings. To begin with, the premise itself, a reimagining of the Shackleton expedition but with women (in honour of the women he refused to have on board) really tickled my fancy. There's a strong sense of setting, from Havenport, the quaint harbour town we start in, to the whaling station where they make a stop in South Georgia, and finally the desolate landscapes of Antarctica. This is a journey of highs and lows, and we go from lovely moments of bonding for the crew with sea shanties and dog sled races, to very low points I won't spoil here where it seems unlikely they'll manage to survive, let alone reach their goal.
The message of hope in adversity is probably one of my favourite things in Valour. Yes, it is a very fun book, how could it not be with Hester's antics, her pranks on Lord Septimus, and one evil ginger cat named Satan? But it also made me tear up many times as its protagonists went through some painful growing moments. Both protagonists, the flamboyant Hester and much more timid Charlotte, have to push through discomfort in order to grow, and it is a joy to watch them learn from each other and lean on each other. I particularly loved all the ways our two heroines show they are just as capable as men in the very patriarchal setting of the early 20th century, and the sort of feminist humour that gives you a man-eating siren terrifying the idiotic menfolk too horny to realise the danger. And while Septimus is a supportive love interest, he also eventually lets Hester lead and do what she does best.
Valour packs a lot of action into the two years covered by the plot, there’s no time to get bored, and it leaves you wanting more. I cannot wait to see this world grow, hopefully to see more of a certain irresistible siren, and to find out more about Hester’s magic and its origins. Whatever happens next, I know it will be a hell of a ride with our crew. I highly recommend this book for people who like their romantasy with a hefty dose of adventure, hilarious banter, and a sense of hope that will leave you wanting to join the crew and get a Valour tattoo.
Now when is the Odette novella out? I need it immediately!
Valour was one of my favourite reads this year; it has so many great things going for it: two romance plotlines, female friendship, found family, adventure, cute pets, steamy scenes, messing with the patriarchy... You name it, it has it! Such a nice change from a lot of romantasy that has gotten fairly repetitive with the same plotlines and settings. To begin with, the premise itself, a reimagining of the Shackleton expedition but with women (in honour of the women he refused to have on board) really tickled my fancy. There's a strong sense of setting, from Havenport, the quaint harbour town we start in, to the whaling station where they make a stop in South Georgia, and finally the desolate landscapes of Antarctica. This is a journey of highs and lows, and we go from lovely moments of bonding for the crew with sea shanties and dog sled races, to very low points I won't spoil here where it seems unlikely they'll manage to survive, let alone reach their goal.
The message of hope in adversity is probably one of my favourite things in Valour. Yes, it is a very fun book, how could it not be with Hester's antics, her pranks on Lord Septimus, and one evil ginger cat named Satan? But it also made me tear up many times as its protagonists went through some painful growing moments. Both protagonists, the flamboyant Hester and much more timid Charlotte, have to push through discomfort in order to grow, and it is a joy to watch them learn from each other and lean on each other. I particularly loved all the ways our two heroines show they are just as capable as men in the very patriarchal setting of the early 20th century, and the sort of feminist humour that gives you a man-eating siren terrifying the idiotic menfolk too horny to realise the danger. And while Septimus is a supportive love interest, he also eventually lets Hester lead and do what she does best.
Valour packs a lot of action into the two years covered by the plot, there’s no time to get bored, and it leaves you wanting more. I cannot wait to see this world grow, hopefully to see more of a certain irresistible siren, and to find out more about Hester’s magic and its origins. Whatever happens next, I know it will be a hell of a ride with our crew. I highly recommend this book for people who like their romantasy with a hefty dose of adventure, hilarious banter, and a sense of hope that will leave you wanting to join the crew and get a Valour tattoo.
Now when is the Odette novella out? I need it immediately!
Review of advance copy received from Author
i have been in a reading slump for so long which is why it took me forever to finally pick up valour. thankfully i locked in and was able to finish it right before its release tomorrow, the second of october!!
finishing valour in time to review it was made an easy task for me because i genuinely wanted to keep reading and see where the story went. right from the start, i was invested in the expedition, the characters, and the romance full of tension
what i was drawn to was how unique the premise of valour is: it is a shackleton retelling of expedition to cross the antarctic continent from one side to the other. i actually had no prior knowledge of this historical story, and found that it was a great foundation for the book
i loved the strong female characters- hester’s confidence is honestly inspiring, i loved that she was unapologetically herself. she is exactly who she thinks she is. the rivals to lovers dynamic with septimus was exactly what i needed to get out of my reading slump
i also really appreciated seeing the gentleness of charlotte’s romance. i’m so happy she found what she deserved, and managed to find herself in the process as well
having two distinct main characters was super interesting, and i loved the friendship between hester and charlotte. honestly the whole crew’s found family dynamic was so wholesome and fun
what i felt was a little off was the pacing. the events of the story take pace over a two year period. to fit so much into around 300 pages is definitely tough. it just felt like there was a lot going on and there wasn’t enough space to fully develop everything. some of the development in the romance plots seemed almost sudden in a way, only because even though the characters spent many months together, we only got to see moments of that progression
i also found the magic element of the book somewhat underdevelopped- while i thought that it added an interesting element, i was left with a lot of questions. i would love to know more aabout the shape shifting gods, sirens, and other creatures!
i was in between rating this book 3.5 or 4, but ultimately rounded up to a 4 becazse i simply loved the vibes. overall, i had a great time reading valour and definitely recommend checking it out if an antarctic romantasy sounds intriguing to you!!
thank you so much to amber maren for providing me an arc!
finishing valour in time to review it was made an easy task for me because i genuinely wanted to keep reading and see where the story went. right from the start, i was invested in the expedition, the characters, and the romance full of tension
what i was drawn to was how unique the premise of valour is: it is a shackleton retelling of expedition to cross the antarctic continent from one side to the other. i actually had no prior knowledge of this historical story, and found that it was a great foundation for the book
i loved the strong female characters- hester’s confidence is honestly inspiring, i loved that she was unapologetically herself. she is exactly who she thinks she is. the rivals to lovers dynamic with septimus was exactly what i needed to get out of my reading slump
i also really appreciated seeing the gentleness of charlotte’s romance. i’m so happy she found what she deserved, and managed to find herself in the process as well
having two distinct main characters was super interesting, and i loved the friendship between hester and charlotte. honestly the whole crew’s found family dynamic was so wholesome and fun
what i felt was a little off was the pacing. the events of the story take pace over a two year period. to fit so much into around 300 pages is definitely tough. it just felt like there was a lot going on and there wasn’t enough space to fully develop everything. some of the development in the romance plots seemed almost sudden in a way, only because even though the characters spent many months together, we only got to see moments of that progression
i also found the magic element of the book somewhat underdevelopped- while i thought that it added an interesting element, i was left with a lot of questions. i would love to know more aabout the shape shifting gods, sirens, and other creatures!
i was in between rating this book 3.5 or 4, but ultimately rounded up to a 4 becazse i simply loved the vibes. overall, i had a great time reading valour and definitely recommend checking it out if an antarctic romantasy sounds intriguing to you!!
thank you so much to amber maren for providing me an arc!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
*Arc Review*
*Potential Spoilers*
I was lucky enough to receive an advanced reader copy of Amber Maren’s debut novel, Valour, and I enjoyed every second of it.
Maren takes historical fiction and gives it a fantastical twist as we follow Hester across the oceans in a bid to become the first person to reach Antarctica. With a clear focus on the perils of early seafaring exploration, the novel captures the bravery, resilience, and trust that existed among real Antarctic expeditions, bringing those qualities to life on the page.
Hester is a strong-willed, and often stubborn, protagonist whose leadership drives the story forward. While her decisions can appear reckless, they are always made with careful consideration for the safety and wellbeing of her crew. It is this loyalty and unwavering commitment to those she cares about that makes her such a compelling character and ensures you’re rooting for her from beginning to end.
Beyond the central plot, Maren expertly weaves popular myths and legends into the narrative, accompanying the explorers on their journey into the unknown. From sirens and mystical whales (think Moby Dick), to terrifying krakens, the novel brings to life the mystery of the old illustrated maps. These mythical encounters only diversify the world-building and add an extra layer of excitement to the adventure.
Each new challenge draws the characters closer together, particularly Hester and the male main character, Septimus. His actions hint at his intentions from the very beginning, which ultimately makes the enemies-to-lovers romance all the more satisfying. Watching their relationship develop amidst the dangers of the expedition was one of the highlights of the novel.
That said, I would have loved to see the romance drawn out a little longer, or to have been given more insight into Septimus’s feelings for Hester before the expedition began. A deeper exploration of his perspective would have made their relationship even more impactful.
Overall, I loved every second of this book and have already ordered a physical copy.
Congratulations to Amber Maren on a fantastic debut novel. I can’t wait to see what she publishes next.
*Potential Spoilers*
I was lucky enough to receive an advanced reader copy of Amber Maren’s debut novel, Valour, and I enjoyed every second of it.
Maren takes historical fiction and gives it a fantastical twist as we follow Hester across the oceans in a bid to become the first person to reach Antarctica. With a clear focus on the perils of early seafaring exploration, the novel captures the bravery, resilience, and trust that existed among real Antarctic expeditions, bringing those qualities to life on the page.
Hester is a strong-willed, and often stubborn, protagonist whose leadership drives the story forward. While her decisions can appear reckless, they are always made with careful consideration for the safety and wellbeing of her crew. It is this loyalty and unwavering commitment to those she cares about that makes her such a compelling character and ensures you’re rooting for her from beginning to end.
Beyond the central plot, Maren expertly weaves popular myths and legends into the narrative, accompanying the explorers on their journey into the unknown. From sirens and mystical whales (think Moby Dick), to terrifying krakens, the novel brings to life the mystery of the old illustrated maps. These mythical encounters only diversify the world-building and add an extra layer of excitement to the adventure.
Each new challenge draws the characters closer together, particularly Hester and the male main character, Septimus. His actions hint at his intentions from the very beginning, which ultimately makes the enemies-to-lovers romance all the more satisfying. Watching their relationship develop amidst the dangers of the expedition was one of the highlights of the novel.
That said, I would have loved to see the romance drawn out a little longer, or to have been given more insight into Septimus’s feelings for Hester before the expedition began. A deeper exploration of his perspective would have made their relationship even more impactful.
Overall, I loved every second of this book and have already ordered a physical copy.
Congratulations to Amber Maren on a fantastic debut novel. I can’t wait to see what she publishes next.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thanks to the author for sending me an early copy in exchange for an honest review!
Valour follows a woman-led team of sailors as they sail the Antarctic. It's a romantic, magical retelling of Shackleton's Antarctic expedition, and that is a combo I had never thought of, but it worked SO well. (I highly recommend reading the author's note at the end.)
Something that I always worry about when reading a dual-POV story is that the voices will not feel distinct, and I'm happy to say that this was not the case! Charlotte and Hester were such wildly different people. Charlotte with her anxious determination to be bold in her own way, and Hester's chaotic cannonball-with-a-gooey-center energy were fantastic complements. Their friendship was fun to follow, and I have to say that I have a special soft spot for Charlotte and her love interest, Arnold. I always connect with the quiet women who yearn to be a bit more brave.
Hester's love life was wildly entertaining to follow as she menaced and made googly eyes at Septimus in equal measure. There are some well-loved romance tropes in Valour, but they never felt tired, because the characters were so refreshing and original. Despite how much I enjoyed the love stories in Valour, my favorite relationships were the friendships. The bonds that formed between Charlotte and the Valour crew made me so happy. The deep relationships that Hester already had with them made my heart melt. They are a true found family, and Amber does a wonderful job at fleshing out the side characters.
And the best part about the characters? Watching them get into trouble in the perilous Antarctic. The dangers the crew faced, the close calls that they missed (and didn't miss). The sled races and encounters with mythical creatures. This is a true expedition, and Amber doesn't shy away from some of the gritty things that can happen when stuck in a frigid landscape.
If you love romance and adventure, you'll love Valour.
Thanks again to Amber for trusting me to read this early, the experience was a delight!
Valour follows a woman-led team of sailors as they sail the Antarctic. It's a romantic, magical retelling of Shackleton's Antarctic expedition, and that is a combo I had never thought of, but it worked SO well. (I highly recommend reading the author's note at the end.)
Something that I always worry about when reading a dual-POV story is that the voices will not feel distinct, and I'm happy to say that this was not the case! Charlotte and Hester were such wildly different people. Charlotte with her anxious determination to be bold in her own way, and Hester's chaotic cannonball-with-a-gooey-center energy were fantastic complements. Their friendship was fun to follow, and I have to say that I have a special soft spot for Charlotte and her love interest, Arnold. I always connect with the quiet women who yearn to be a bit more brave.
Hester's love life was wildly entertaining to follow as she menaced and made googly eyes at Septimus in equal measure. There are some well-loved romance tropes in Valour, but they never felt tired, because the characters were so refreshing and original. Despite how much I enjoyed the love stories in Valour, my favorite relationships were the friendships. The bonds that formed between Charlotte and the Valour crew made me so happy. The deep relationships that Hester already had with them made my heart melt. They are a true found family, and Amber does a wonderful job at fleshing out the side characters.
And the best part about the characters? Watching them get into trouble in the perilous Antarctic. The dangers the crew faced, the close calls that they missed (and didn't miss). The sled races and encounters with mythical creatures. This is a true expedition, and Amber doesn't shy away from some of the gritty things that can happen when stuck in a frigid landscape.
If you love romance and adventure, you'll love Valour.
Thanks again to Amber for trusting me to read this early, the experience was a delight!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you so much to Amber Maren for trusting me to read an ARC of Valour!
What a wonderful book. When I read that this was a female retelling of the Ernest Shackleton expedition to Antarctica (with the added bonus of magic, fantasy elements and shape-shifting animal gods) I knew I had to read this!
This book has a line up of fantastic female characters. Hester Orn is captain of the Valour and an explorer of the frozen north. She's loud, she's wildly unapologetic, she's chaotic, she's a menace but all these things make her fiercely brave and loyal. I want to be Hester when I grow up. On the flip side, Charlotte Bailey is the wife of the late Ernest Bailey, a famous polar explorer, is timid, she's quiet, she doesn't like taking up space, she's dealing with grief and trauma, but she has a desire to breakdown her walls and go on the adventure of a lifetime. The personal growth journey Charlotte goes on is inspiring to read and the change from the Charlotte at the start of the book to the Charlotte at the end of the book is beautiful. I also really enjoyed reading about a main character with the same name as me!
The magical and fantasy elements of this were so fun to read. I loved the development of Hester's weather magic and I would love to read more on her backstory and lineage. The imagery in this book was also beautifully described, I've always wanted to travel to Antarctica and I felt like this book really transported me there. It also inspired me to learn more about the Shackleton expedition and the, quite frankly, sheer horror they went through.
I really enjoyed this book and think it's a fantastic debut from a wonderful author. I cannot wait to read more of Amber's work!
What a wonderful book. When I read that this was a female retelling of the Ernest Shackleton expedition to Antarctica (with the added bonus of magic, fantasy elements and shape-shifting animal gods) I knew I had to read this!
This book has a line up of fantastic female characters. Hester Orn is captain of the Valour and an explorer of the frozen north. She's loud, she's wildly unapologetic, she's chaotic, she's a menace but all these things make her fiercely brave and loyal. I want to be Hester when I grow up. On the flip side, Charlotte Bailey is the wife of the late Ernest Bailey, a famous polar explorer, is timid, she's quiet, she doesn't like taking up space, she's dealing with grief and trauma, but she has a desire to breakdown her walls and go on the adventure of a lifetime. The personal growth journey Charlotte goes on is inspiring to read and the change from the Charlotte at the start of the book to the Charlotte at the end of the book is beautiful. I also really enjoyed reading about a main character with the same name as me!
The magical and fantasy elements of this were so fun to read. I loved the development of Hester's weather magic and I would love to read more on her backstory and lineage. The imagery in this book was also beautifully described, I've always wanted to travel to Antarctica and I felt like this book really transported me there. It also inspired me to learn more about the Shackleton expedition and the, quite frankly, sheer horror they went through.
I really enjoyed this book and think it's a fantastic debut from a wonderful author. I cannot wait to read more of Amber's work!
August 26, 2026
**No spoiler review**
I don't even know where to start with this. I thought I'd have collected my thoughts by now but I'm not sure I have!
Overall this is one of the best things I've read this year. I started off reading a chapter here and there on my phone until I finished the book I was already reading on my Kindle but I ended up ditching that and finishing Valour in two sittings.
The plot was so refreshing, it really was something different from what I've seen out there, especially with a retelling. It turned a historical event into a romantasy refresh and I really loved the extra spin on it. I really enjoyed the fact that Amber included names of the real people involved (specifically the ladies).
Character wise, they were written so well. I sincerely loved Charlotte and Hester as the two main FMCs and how the friendships/found families were discovered. Septimus was so brooding and - at first - almost the villain, but as you see more of them and learn motives etc, it was easy to fall in love with him too. The side characters had you rooting for them as well, particularly towards the end where the outcome is uncertain and you weren't sure who was coming out the other side.
Hester was absolutely my favourite. Her tenacity and cheekiness was just brilliant and I was rooting for her right until the end.
Overall, for me, this was a 6 star. As previously mentioned, once I gave into temptation and focussed on it, I read it in two sittings. It was such an engaging and heartwarming story with incredibly well fleshed out characters and I cannot WAIT to see what happens in the next installments. I already have the paperback preordered :D
I received this ebook for free and am leaving my honest review of my own accord.
I don't even know where to start with this. I thought I'd have collected my thoughts by now but I'm not sure I have!
Overall this is one of the best things I've read this year. I started off reading a chapter here and there on my phone until I finished the book I was already reading on my Kindle but I ended up ditching that and finishing Valour in two sittings.
The plot was so refreshing, it really was something different from what I've seen out there, especially with a retelling. It turned a historical event into a romantasy refresh and I really loved the extra spin on it. I really enjoyed the fact that Amber included names of the real people involved (specifically the ladies).
Character wise, they were written so well. I sincerely loved Charlotte and Hester as the two main FMCs and how the friendships/found families were discovered. Septimus was so brooding and - at first - almost the villain, but as you see more of them and learn motives etc, it was easy to fall in love with him too. The side characters had you rooting for them as well, particularly towards the end where the outcome is uncertain and you weren't sure who was coming out the other side.
Hester was absolutely my favourite. Her tenacity and cheekiness was just brilliant and I was rooting for her right until the end.
Overall, for me, this was a 6 star. As previously mentioned, once I gave into temptation and focussed on it, I read it in two sittings. It was such an engaging and heartwarming story with incredibly well fleshed out characters and I cannot WAIT to see what happens in the next installments. I already have the paperback preordered :D
I received this ebook for free and am leaving my honest review of my own accord.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you again to Amber for having me on her ARC team. I am leaving this review for free and completely of my own thoughts and opinions.
I unfortunately didn't vibe with this one the way I thought I would. While this book read up pretty quickly and had some elements I could appreciate, the pacing, lack of wider character development and disconnect (in my opinion) between the magic and the realistic story, left much to be desired.
To start with what I did enjoy, I liked the female friendships in this and how the women were happy to always build each other up. There was no judgement between them, just respect and love.
I did also like the closeness of the Valour crew and how they backed Hester, no matter what. The loyalty between them was clear and well defined.
I also thought the idea of the magic/fantasy was interesting however I felt like it was extremely disconnected from the main exploration plot for the majority of the book and there was little to no explanation of anything, leaving a lot of unanswered questions that, while they could be answered in future books, could have been expanded upon more in this one to help marry the plot together.
I struggled a lot with the pacing of this as days/week's at a time were skipped to fit the entire timeline in and it lead to lack of development for the characters. We learn basically no ones backstory and it leads to some things not having the emotional impact they could have had.
The romances were...fine but I didnt really connect with either of them fully as we just didn't get enough backstory for these characters for me to care overly much about them.
I think this book will work well for those who like strong willed female characters and found family vibes with a looser magic system.
I unfortunately didn't vibe with this one the way I thought I would. While this book read up pretty quickly and had some elements I could appreciate, the pacing, lack of wider character development and disconnect (in my opinion) between the magic and the realistic story, left much to be desired.
To start with what I did enjoy, I liked the female friendships in this and how the women were happy to always build each other up. There was no judgement between them, just respect and love.
I did also like the closeness of the Valour crew and how they backed Hester, no matter what. The loyalty between them was clear and well defined.
I also thought the idea of the magic/fantasy was interesting however I felt like it was extremely disconnected from the main exploration plot for the majority of the book and there was little to no explanation of anything, leaving a lot of unanswered questions that, while they could be answered in future books, could have been expanded upon more in this one to help marry the plot together.
I struggled a lot with the pacing of this as days/week's at a time were skipped to fit the entire timeline in and it lead to lack of development for the characters. We learn basically no ones backstory and it leads to some things not having the emotional impact they could have had.
The romances were...fine but I didnt really connect with either of them fully as we just didn't get enough backstory for these characters for me to care overly much about them.
I think this book will work well for those who like strong willed female characters and found family vibes with a looser magic system.
October 3, 2026
Review of Advanced Copy from Author
First and foremost I would like to thank the author for the E-Arc Copy.
I'd to start off with what I liked, the plots concept really intrigued me and it's initially why I had signed up for the ARC.
But I will not lie, it did not meet my expectations.
I wish we had gotten more of the over arching plot rather than that plot feeling more of a side plot.
The magic and everything had such potential and I so wished we had gotten more of it.
The small snippets we got felt like just that, snippets.
It didn't make sense to me why that plot was treated that way, because although the main plot wasn't bad it was indeed far less interesting than the magic and gods plot.
The plot overall is very character driven and that isn't a bad thing but to me at least it wasn't that interesting, if anything I found myself to be quite bored by it.
Don't get me wrong I enjoyed the characters but I felt that because the book was so character driven it did sacrifice the space and time needed for the plot to build and take form.
Also I did notice how when it came to talking descriptors or just feeling descriptors, those were told to us instead of showed and although I didn't mind I did find myself very '🫤' about it.
I also won't lie, I did not absolutely like how the doggies were put down. I understand why it happened but as a major dog lover like Charlotte and Hester, I disliked it very much.
Overall I just wish we got more plot instead of the characters being the main focus.
Another thing I lowkey got major ick with the fact that the characters were doing the dirty when we the reader know they probably smelled very rank.
All in all,
2/5 ⭐️
First and foremost I would like to thank the author for the E-Arc Copy.
I'd to start off with what I liked, the plots concept really intrigued me and it's initially why I had signed up for the ARC.
But I will not lie, it did not meet my expectations.
I wish we had gotten more of the over arching plot rather than that plot feeling more of a side plot.
The magic and everything had such potential and I so wished we had gotten more of it.
The small snippets we got felt like just that, snippets.
It didn't make sense to me why that plot was treated that way, because although the main plot wasn't bad it was indeed far less interesting than the magic and gods plot.
The plot overall is very character driven and that isn't a bad thing but to me at least it wasn't that interesting, if anything I found myself to be quite bored by it.
Don't get me wrong I enjoyed the characters but I felt that because the book was so character driven it did sacrifice the space and time needed for the plot to build and take form.
Also I did notice how when it came to talking descriptors or just feeling descriptors, those were told to us instead of showed and although I didn't mind I did find myself very '🫤' about it.
I also won't lie, I did not absolutely like how the doggies were put down. I understand why it happened but as a major dog lover like Charlotte and Hester, I disliked it very much.
Overall I just wish we got more plot instead of the characters being the main focus.
Another thing I lowkey got major ick with the fact that the characters were doing the dirty when we the reader know they probably smelled very rank.
All in all,
2/5 ⭐️
October 24, 2026
‘Valour’ is a romantasy retelling of Ernest Shackleton’s Antarctic voyage, complete with hardship, humour (so much humour!), strong female characters, angels and orcas and hilariously inappropriate sirens!
I loved this book! The writing style is accessible and immediate, putting you right in the characters’ shoes (not always a comfortable place to be when they are marooned on the ice, but always entertaining!) There’s a lot of humour and camaraderie. And despite the harshness of the setting, the characters feel very comfortable to be around.
Hester Orn, the Valour’s cocky, reckless, weather-controlling Captain, is the standout. Her emotions are described in such loving detail that the reader feels very close to her by the end. Her snarky, love-hate relationship with rival Captain Lord Septimus is wildly entertaining (and very hot! 🔥)
But there are plenty of milder characters to latch on to if you don’t feel you can match the giddy heights of Hester Orn’s personality! I loved Charlotte Bailey, widow of Hester’s old mentor, who is timid and traumatised, but who gradually learns to trust her voice over the course of the voyage.
The book is incredibly well-researched, but not in a way that weighs down the action. I loved the Antarctic maps, and the chapter headings that begin “In which” – a lovely nod to the conventions of historical literature!
I’ve also got to mention the female friendships (not just Hester and Charlotte, but Hester and her childhood bestie Fliss). These relationships aren’t sanitised or romanticised, the way they might be if a man was writing them. The women argue, nurse grudges, and pass each other romance books with the sexy bits clearly marked! But despite this (or because of it) they would die for each other.
I loved this book! The writing style is accessible and immediate, putting you right in the characters’ shoes (not always a comfortable place to be when they are marooned on the ice, but always entertaining!) There’s a lot of humour and camaraderie. And despite the harshness of the setting, the characters feel very comfortable to be around.
Hester Orn, the Valour’s cocky, reckless, weather-controlling Captain, is the standout. Her emotions are described in such loving detail that the reader feels very close to her by the end. Her snarky, love-hate relationship with rival Captain Lord Septimus is wildly entertaining (and very hot! 🔥)
But there are plenty of milder characters to latch on to if you don’t feel you can match the giddy heights of Hester Orn’s personality! I loved Charlotte Bailey, widow of Hester’s old mentor, who is timid and traumatised, but who gradually learns to trust her voice over the course of the voyage.
The book is incredibly well-researched, but not in a way that weighs down the action. I loved the Antarctic maps, and the chapter headings that begin “In which” – a lovely nod to the conventions of historical literature!
I’ve also got to mention the female friendships (not just Hester and Charlotte, but Hester and her childhood bestie Fliss). These relationships aren’t sanitised or romanticised, the way they might be if a man was writing them. The women argue, nurse grudges, and pass each other romance books with the sexy bits clearly marked! But despite this (or because of it) they would die for each other.
Review of advance copy received from Author
*Thank you to the author for an early copy in exchange for an honest review*
Wow! I couldn't put this book down. The female leads captivated me from the very first page. Their gumption, courage, and humour made me want them as friends of my own. This was my first romantasy read and it did not disappoint.
Shackleton's story is wild enough but Maren's retelling packed it with even more magic and adventure. For Shackleton's crew to have survived what they did - the connection between his crew must have been so strong and Maren really paints this picture well. I felt very invested in every single crew member's experience, including the dogs! Hester, the captain of Valour, is quite the memorable character and I had some mixed emotions about her. Her playful approach to life made her irresistible, although at times she felt immature and hard to relate to. Charlotte, on the other hand, was very relatable and her character developed well. I enjoyed the juxtaposition of the two.
I love books that help me feel what a historic moment would have been like for the people living through it and this book did just that. As soon as I finished the book, I looked up Shackleton to remind myself of the details of his expedition. Maren kept to the timeline of events and really painted a picture of what life would have been like for the crew.
I enjoyed the way Maren wove myths and sea legends into the storyline.
Overall, other than a few moments where Hester's personality and the dynamic between her and Septimus started to come off as a bit predictable, I really enjoyed this book and thought it was written well.
Wow! I couldn't put this book down. The female leads captivated me from the very first page. Their gumption, courage, and humour made me want them as friends of my own. This was my first romantasy read and it did not disappoint.
Shackleton's story is wild enough but Maren's retelling packed it with even more magic and adventure. For Shackleton's crew to have survived what they did - the connection between his crew must have been so strong and Maren really paints this picture well. I felt very invested in every single crew member's experience, including the dogs! Hester, the captain of Valour, is quite the memorable character and I had some mixed emotions about her. Her playful approach to life made her irresistible, although at times she felt immature and hard to relate to. Charlotte, on the other hand, was very relatable and her character developed well. I enjoyed the juxtaposition of the two.
I love books that help me feel what a historic moment would have been like for the people living through it and this book did just that. As soon as I finished the book, I looked up Shackleton to remind myself of the details of his expedition. Maren kept to the timeline of events and really painted a picture of what life would have been like for the crew.
I enjoyed the way Maren wove myths and sea legends into the storyline.
Overall, other than a few moments where Hester's personality and the dynamic between her and Septimus started to come off as a bit predictable, I really enjoyed this book and thought it was written well.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Review of advance copy received from the author.
The way I devoured this book!!! I am so delighted for Amber Maren, who has produced an absolutely brilliant firecracker of a book with this debut novel.
I love long quests where the characters suffer and prevail and see the world, and ultimately uncover something precious about themselves. I love found families with fully developed side characters that have personalities and meaningful relationships amongst themselves and with the MCs. I love romantic plot lines that are hilarious and sexy and tense, but also romances that are heartachingly sweet. I love strong, feminist female characters and female characters that find their strength. I love banter and laugh out loud comedy moments. If you like any of these things, jump aboard the Valour!
Another thing that is fantastic about this book is the quality of the writing, which is excellent, and the pacing (as mentioned, I devoured this). Sometimes I like a first person POV, but in this book the third person and dual POV structure is done really well and drives the story at pace. The book also comes to a very satisfying end, while still setting up for future adventures. I agree with another reviewer, don’t skip the author’s note at the end.
Honestly, everything about Valour to me felt so fresh and original and effervescent. I can’t wait to see what else Amber Maren has in store for these wonderful characters. Hold fast!
The way I devoured this book!!! I am so delighted for Amber Maren, who has produced an absolutely brilliant firecracker of a book with this debut novel.
I love long quests where the characters suffer and prevail and see the world, and ultimately uncover something precious about themselves. I love found families with fully developed side characters that have personalities and meaningful relationships amongst themselves and with the MCs. I love romantic plot lines that are hilarious and sexy and tense, but also romances that are heartachingly sweet. I love strong, feminist female characters and female characters that find their strength. I love banter and laugh out loud comedy moments. If you like any of these things, jump aboard the Valour!
Another thing that is fantastic about this book is the quality of the writing, which is excellent, and the pacing (as mentioned, I devoured this). Sometimes I like a first person POV, but in this book the third person and dual POV structure is done really well and drives the story at pace. The book also comes to a very satisfying end, while still setting up for future adventures. I agree with another reviewer, don’t skip the author’s note at the end.
Honestly, everything about Valour to me felt so fresh and original and effervescent. I can’t wait to see what else Amber Maren has in store for these wonderful characters. Hold fast!
October 1, 2026
I really enjoyed the book!!
When I saw a post about the book and what it is about, I was really drawn into it, also the cover?! So cute! I'm love everything Northern lights and I just knew I had to read it.
I loved Hester, she's the badass captain of the Valour ship. She's confident, powerful and has a sense of humor I really enjoyed. I loved the little 'pranks' she did on Septimus. Also loved her relationship with her crew and with Fliss. You can see that she would do anything for her crew and them for her, they have these strong relationships which I loved a lot.
Septimus is the MMC, he's so serious and broody. Being Hester's nemesis, he always finds himself a target to her jokes and pranks.
When Hester sets out to do a Trans-Antarctic expedition with Charlotte, our other FMC, Septimus finds himself following them, claiming he wants to be the one do to the expedition first.
I loved Charlotte so much! She went through so much in the story and she grew so so much! I just knew she would find in Hester an inspiration on how to be bolder and more confident and I'm really glad that worked out for her!
I loved the parts with Hester's magic, I kind of wish we got to see more of them, but I loved all the fantasy characters that popped up in the story.
I also wish we got more of the story as it felt rushed in some places and it could've been expanded into more pages, I would've loved to read more!
When I saw a post about the book and what it is about, I was really drawn into it, also the cover?! So cute! I'm love everything Northern lights and I just knew I had to read it.
I loved Hester, she's the badass captain of the Valour ship. She's confident, powerful and has a sense of humor I really enjoyed. I loved the little 'pranks' she did on Septimus. Also loved her relationship with her crew and with Fliss. You can see that she would do anything for her crew and them for her, they have these strong relationships which I loved a lot.
Septimus is the MMC, he's so serious and broody. Being Hester's nemesis, he always finds himself a target to her jokes and pranks.
When Hester sets out to do a Trans-Antarctic expedition with Charlotte, our other FMC, Septimus finds himself following them, claiming he wants to be the one do to the expedition first.
I loved Charlotte so much! She went through so much in the story and she grew so so much! I just knew she would find in Hester an inspiration on how to be bolder and more confident and I'm really glad that worked out for her!
I loved the parts with Hester's magic, I kind of wish we got to see more of them, but I loved all the fantasy characters that popped up in the story.
I also wish we got more of the story as it felt rushed in some places and it could've been expanded into more pages, I would've loved to read more!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Valour follows Hester and Charlotte through dual POVs. Hester is an orphan who has begged, lied and gambled her way into owning the Valour, the ship she's determined will take her on the adventure she's always dreamed of. Charlotte, on the other hand, has spent her life hiding behind duty, family and loyalty. After the death of her famous explorer husband, she decides it's finally time to choose herself and set off on an adventure of her own.
The easiest way to convince you to read this is to say it's a female inspired retelling of Ernest Shackleton's Antarctic expedition... but with magic, fantasy and shape shifting gods.
Hester absolutely stole the show for me. She is chaotic and unapologetic. To be honest, she's absolute menace in the best possible way and every time she was on the page I knew something was about to happen. Then there's Charlotte, who goes an amazing character journeys, where we watch her slowly come out of her shell, find her confidence and realise she's capable of so much more was genuinely beautiful.
This book has adventure, humour, romance, brilliant female friendships and a cast of characters you'll root for from start to finish. If you love fantasy adventures with heart, incredible character growth and a feisty FMC who keeps everyone on their toes, definitely add Valour to your TBR.
The easiest way to convince you to read this is to say it's a female inspired retelling of Ernest Shackleton's Antarctic expedition... but with magic, fantasy and shape shifting gods.
Hester absolutely stole the show for me. She is chaotic and unapologetic. To be honest, she's absolute menace in the best possible way and every time she was on the page I knew something was about to happen. Then there's Charlotte, who goes an amazing character journeys, where we watch her slowly come out of her shell, find her confidence and realise she's capable of so much more was genuinely beautiful.
This book has adventure, humour, romance, brilliant female friendships and a cast of characters you'll root for from start to finish. If you love fantasy adventures with heart, incredible character growth and a feisty FMC who keeps everyone on their toes, definitely add Valour to your TBR.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I was lucky to receive an advanced review copy of this book and am leaving my review voluntarily.
Looking for an Antarctic adventure romantasy with found family and shapeshifting sea creatures? Valour is for you.
Hester Orn is the captain of Valour, whom the recently widowed Charlotte Bailey hires to lead an expedition to Antarctica. But Hester’s rival polar explorer, the Pirate Lord, doesn’t want her leading the expedition. Hester, Charlotte, and her crew secretly plan the trip and sneak out of the port, hoping to be the first to cross Antarctica by land.
It’s smooth sailing for Hester and her crew thanks to her secret use of her weather magic until the Pirate Lord and his crew catch up to Valour in Argentina.
When Hester loses control of her magic, a killer orca hunts her down. After a few close calls, it sinks the Pirate Lord’s ship. With a ship down and Valour stuck in the ice, the crews must work together to cross the ice, reach open water, and find land.
Will they be able to get help before everyone perishes, especially with a killer orca on their trail?
The story is filled with adventure, magic, friendship, and bravery. I’d never read a book about polar exploration before. I loved it! Particularly, the animals, the setting, the yearning, and the theme: “Valour in the face of fear." It’s a very fun read.
Looking for an Antarctic adventure romantasy with found family and shapeshifting sea creatures? Valour is for you.
Hester Orn is the captain of Valour, whom the recently widowed Charlotte Bailey hires to lead an expedition to Antarctica. But Hester’s rival polar explorer, the Pirate Lord, doesn’t want her leading the expedition. Hester, Charlotte, and her crew secretly plan the trip and sneak out of the port, hoping to be the first to cross Antarctica by land.
It’s smooth sailing for Hester and her crew thanks to her secret use of her weather magic until the Pirate Lord and his crew catch up to Valour in Argentina.
When Hester loses control of her magic, a killer orca hunts her down. After a few close calls, it sinks the Pirate Lord’s ship. With a ship down and Valour stuck in the ice, the crews must work together to cross the ice, reach open water, and find land.
Will they be able to get help before everyone perishes, especially with a killer orca on their trail?
The story is filled with adventure, magic, friendship, and bravery. I’d never read a book about polar exploration before. I loved it! Particularly, the animals, the setting, the yearning, and the theme: “Valour in the face of fear." It’s a very fun read.
Review of advance copy received from Author
🪽Valour by Amber Maren features strong female leads, peril, romance, and adventure on the sea!
🌊The best parts of this book were the characters. Each person felt unique and flawed and human. I loved the parts that showcased their bonds, their wants, and their desires. Even the gritty parts brought out new faucets of each character.
⛵️I especially loved how different Charlotte and Hester were. Switching between point of views can be difficult, but both women have very unique voices and experiences. I loved how their friendship helped each other grow - Charlotte into a brave young woman and Hester into someone more thoughtful.
✨The magic system was very interesting! I admit that I was more invested in the characters and their relationships than the magic. I felt that some reveals weren’t as shocking to the other characters as I thought they would have been, but it that could be a result of the crew already being close. I can’t say much else without spoiling anything 😅.
🪸Overall, this book was very well written! Each character has their own distinct voice and the magic system is unique! The romance was well-paced and hard earned. I’m excited to read whatever Amber Maren writes next! 4.5 stars!
🌊The best parts of this book were the characters. Each person felt unique and flawed and human. I loved the parts that showcased their bonds, their wants, and their desires. Even the gritty parts brought out new faucets of each character.
⛵️I especially loved how different Charlotte and Hester were. Switching between point of views can be difficult, but both women have very unique voices and experiences. I loved how their friendship helped each other grow - Charlotte into a brave young woman and Hester into someone more thoughtful.
✨The magic system was very interesting! I admit that I was more invested in the characters and their relationships than the magic. I felt that some reveals weren’t as shocking to the other characters as I thought they would have been, but it that could be a result of the crew already being close. I can’t say much else without spoiling anything 😅.
🪸Overall, this book was very well written! Each character has their own distinct voice and the magic system is unique! The romance was well-paced and hard earned. I’m excited to read whatever Amber Maren writes next! 4.5 stars!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I just finished my ARC and am leaving my honest thoughts and review.
What a fun and brilliant story! Valour by Amber Maren is a romantasy retelling of Shackleton's Antarctic expedition. This in itself was enough to get me to read this wonderful debut but you have no idea how many details Amber was able incorporate in the story. I won't spoil it for you, but the timeline/dates, distance traversed, and many of the (nonmagical) unfortunate events are true to actual history. I really enjoyed trying to find those details while reading!
As far as our MCs, Hester is a hoot! A member of her crew describes her best by saying, "Nothing would surprise me about Hester. She's always been a bit... other." She is truly so fun and unique! Septimus is our classic stubborn grump and I loved every second of it! I also loved the loyalty of Hester's friends and crew, and these supporting characters definitely elevated the story even more.
I enjoyed this read from start to finish. I laughed. I definitely cried. And I totally told poor Amber all about it along the way. I absolutely recommend this debut from Amber Maren.
What a fun and brilliant story! Valour by Amber Maren is a romantasy retelling of Shackleton's Antarctic expedition. This in itself was enough to get me to read this wonderful debut but you have no idea how many details Amber was able incorporate in the story. I won't spoil it for you, but the timeline/dates, distance traversed, and many of the (nonmagical) unfortunate events are true to actual history. I really enjoyed trying to find those details while reading!
As far as our MCs, Hester is a hoot! A member of her crew describes her best by saying, "Nothing would surprise me about Hester. She's always been a bit... other." She is truly so fun and unique! Septimus is our classic stubborn grump and I loved every second of it! I also loved the loyalty of Hester's friends and crew, and these supporting characters definitely elevated the story even more.
I enjoyed this read from start to finish. I laughed. I definitely cried. And I totally told poor Amber all about it along the way. I absolutely recommend this debut from Amber Maren.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I thoroughly enjoyed Valour, by Amber Maren and I am grateful for the opportunity to read her debut novel. I was a teenager when I first read about Shackleton’s expedition and I have always found it fascinating in its own right. When you add magic, animal Gods, new friendship and two different love stories on top of that, it leads to a story that you can’t step away from. I was able to read the majority of this book in one sitting.
I enjoyed the mischievous antics of Hester and her many cheeky responses. It was also a treat getting to experience Charlotte’s growth and realization of her own capabilities. There were several fight scenes throughout the book, some curse words, and a bit of spice. I will say I skipped over the spicy parts (Hester will be disappointed in me I’m sure!) but what I found most valuable was the friendship she developed with Charlotte. I have not found many books that focus on adult friendship and that was the biggest highlight for me. Their love stories played out nicely, and had all of the satisfying highs and lows. What a wonderful layered treat this was. I can’t wait to read more!
I enjoyed the mischievous antics of Hester and her many cheeky responses. It was also a treat getting to experience Charlotte’s growth and realization of her own capabilities. There were several fight scenes throughout the book, some curse words, and a bit of spice. I will say I skipped over the spicy parts (Hester will be disappointed in me I’m sure!) but what I found most valuable was the friendship she developed with Charlotte. I have not found many books that focus on adult friendship and that was the biggest highlight for me. Their love stories played out nicely, and had all of the satisfying highs and lows. What a wonderful layered treat this was. I can’t wait to read more!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Hester is the captain of the Valour. A feisty troublemaker who thrives on harassing the Pirate lord Septimus. She has magic that she hides and that she keeps secret from everyone around her. She has no idea how to control it or where it came from since she was an orphan. She is set to go on an Antarctic expedition until her mentor and sponsor dies.
I enjoyed the strong women and the banter, although sometimes Hester drove me nuts since she took the jokes too far when it wasn't really appropriate. I loved seeing Charlotte find her strength and confidence after being so timid. I thought the fact that it was based in actual expeditions was pretty cool, just add magic and mythical creatures.
Beyond that, it was a little bit rough. I felt like the bones of the story were good, but the execution was missing at times. Them surviving so long in the cold was a bit unrealistic, and the end seemed rushed. I feel like there could have been a lot more done with her magic and with the mythical creatures.
With this being her debut novel, I think her writing will develop more as she moves forward.
I enjoyed the strong women and the banter, although sometimes Hester drove me nuts since she took the jokes too far when it wasn't really appropriate. I loved seeing Charlotte find her strength and confidence after being so timid. I thought the fact that it was based in actual expeditions was pretty cool, just add magic and mythical creatures.
Beyond that, it was a little bit rough. I felt like the bones of the story were good, but the execution was missing at times. Them surviving so long in the cold was a bit unrealistic, and the end seemed rushed. I feel like there could have been a lot more done with her magic and with the mythical creatures.
With this being her debut novel, I think her writing will develop more as she moves forward.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I was excited to read an advanced copy of Valour, expecting big things, having followed its journey to publication. The premise of a female led Shackleton retelling, within the romantasy genre caught me as unique and interesting and Amber’s execution held me captivated right to the (excellent) final line.
Amber’s writing is witty and her characters are nuanced. I was quickly sucked into their world and heavily invested in both the romance and Antarctic expedition sides to the story.
Hester Orn was an absolute menace and a delight to read. I took great pleasure in the chaos she unleashed, and the magical elements in the story added wonderful colour. I also adored the character of Charlotte and the journey she went on, both physically and in terms of her character arc. The strong female characters gave this book heart, and their friendship felt as important as the romantic relationships, which was truly heartwarming.
A wonderful debut from Amber Maren, I look forward to reading more from her.
Amber’s writing is witty and her characters are nuanced. I was quickly sucked into their world and heavily invested in both the romance and Antarctic expedition sides to the story.
Hester Orn was an absolute menace and a delight to read. I took great pleasure in the chaos she unleashed, and the magical elements in the story added wonderful colour. I also adored the character of Charlotte and the journey she went on, both physically and in terms of her character arc. The strong female characters gave this book heart, and their friendship felt as important as the romantic relationships, which was truly heartwarming.
A wonderful debut from Amber Maren, I look forward to reading more from her.
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