What do you think?
Rate this book
As Boundless as the Sea: Book 1 in a Gaslamp Romance Trilogy
A second-world Regency Era fantasy romance and a gothic reimagining of the Age of Sail, inspired by the found-family spirit of tabletop RPG storytelling, and written as a heartfelt tribute to classic historical romance novels.
In the magic-fueled port city of Fabinmore—where law is a mere suggestion, and the church bears the sharpest claws—three star-crossed souls are running from a tempest, and none of them is fast enough.
Aisengale Mythrien was once a decorated captain in the Royal Elven Navy, now living in disgrace and exile after the staggering loss of his family. He works as a common surgeon by day, and by night trades in forbidden magic, burying his grief beneath trickery, sin, and a vendetta pact he’s desperate to break.
Evelyn Venturi, a seasoned midwife and reluctant priestess, has spent her life in servitude and debt to the very house of nobility Aisen swore vengeance against. She carries an outlawed gift of her own—one that could unravel the careful life she’s built, unless she yields to a bargain with the same dark power that already holds Aisen in its grip.
Once separated by political rivalry after a single night of forbidden passion, Aisen and Evelyn are given a second chance, seven years later…in defiance of their deepest vows, and at risk of everything they’ve rebuilt since.
Then Oliver Kinleigh arrives—the elven naval commander Aisen once loved and lost, carrying a decade of unresolved longing like an anchor, and orders that could see Aisen hanged.
Aisen, Evelyn, and Oliver each carry a truth that could undo everything they're working to heal, just as the city teeters on the edge of revolution. Old wounds bleed into new ones. And an ancient relic surfaces that may be the key to everything Aisen has lost...including Oliver.
But what the sea takes, love will refuse to surrender.
A gaslamp fantasy romance with second chances, forbidden magic, and a love that defies the stars. For readers who crave slow-burn tension, morally complex heroes, found family, and queer, expansive love written with care. In the vein of Carnival Row’s smoky aesthetics, with the mischievous, devoted romance of The Artful Dodger and the queer historical fantasy of The Magpie Lord.
As Boundless as the Sea is Book One of a trilogy; it has an MMFF polycule series projection and a guaranteed happily-ever-after. This installment centers the bi4bi MF romance between Aisen and Evelyn, with the romances between Aisen, Oliver, Evelyn, and Bemere presented in epistolary, flashbacks, and vignettes.
In the magic-fueled port city of Fabinmore—where law is a mere suggestion, and the church bears the sharpest claws—three star-crossed souls are running from a tempest, and none of them is fast enough.
Aisengale Mythrien was once a decorated captain in the Royal Elven Navy, now living in disgrace and exile after the staggering loss of his family. He works as a common surgeon by day, and by night trades in forbidden magic, burying his grief beneath trickery, sin, and a vendetta pact he’s desperate to break.
Evelyn Venturi, a seasoned midwife and reluctant priestess, has spent her life in servitude and debt to the very house of nobility Aisen swore vengeance against. She carries an outlawed gift of her own—one that could unravel the careful life she’s built, unless she yields to a bargain with the same dark power that already holds Aisen in its grip.
Once separated by political rivalry after a single night of forbidden passion, Aisen and Evelyn are given a second chance, seven years later…in defiance of their deepest vows, and at risk of everything they’ve rebuilt since.
Then Oliver Kinleigh arrives—the elven naval commander Aisen once loved and lost, carrying a decade of unresolved longing like an anchor, and orders that could see Aisen hanged.
Aisen, Evelyn, and Oliver each carry a truth that could undo everything they're working to heal, just as the city teeters on the edge of revolution. Old wounds bleed into new ones. And an ancient relic surfaces that may be the key to everything Aisen has lost...including Oliver.
But what the sea takes, love will refuse to surrender.
A gaslamp fantasy romance with second chances, forbidden magic, and a love that defies the stars. For readers who crave slow-burn tension, morally complex heroes, found family, and queer, expansive love written with care. In the vein of Carnival Row’s smoky aesthetics, with the mischievous, devoted romance of The Artful Dodger and the queer historical fantasy of The Magpie Lord.
As Boundless as the Sea is Book One of a trilogy; it has an MMFF polycule series projection and a guaranteed happily-ever-after. This installment centers the bi4bi MF romance between Aisen and Evelyn, with the romances between Aisen, Oliver, Evelyn, and Bemere presented in epistolary, flashbacks, and vignettes.
554 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 30, 2026
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
November 4, 2026
Part swashbuckler, part medical procedural, all heart—As Boundless as the Sea is an intriguing opening act to the upcoming trilogy. For lovers of the Witcher 3 and Baldur's Gate 3, ABATS brings something familiar but also unique to the shelf via a world lush with lemon orchards and blue coastlines, haunted naval vessels and stormy seas, and a Victorian flavored cityscape beset by religious violence.
The central setting, Fabinmore, reminded me of one of my favorite locations in the Witcher 3, Novigrad—a place with Dickensian street gangs, sprawling campuses, tea shops and dive bars, magical gardens, operas and bath houses, and book burnings, which inevitably lead to something darker (thus, Novigrad). This world is so richly detailed—a world you can easily sink into as a reader and which is explored with all the curiosity and adventure of your favorite RPG video game.
Putting aside Fabinmore, which feels like a character unto itself, the cast of this book is an absolute treat: from Evelyn, the heroine of this tale, beset with a forbidden power and a declared devotion to a life that makes her palatable to her family and peers and yet chafes her wild soul, to Aisengale, the scrappy surgeon, military deserter, forbidden practitioner, and lost soul whose very existence points the cast starboard towards adventure and uncertainty...and, of course, my favorite: the surly, sad, and duty-bound Oliver, former lover and first mate, now hurtling down a tragic path towards a betrayal of the heart and old ties, there's not a POV you won't enjoy—won't want to read so much more of.
This is the opening act of a larger story, and so the apex does not occur in this book, but ABATS sets the stage for an epic journey of loss and tragedy, freedom and connection, and at the heart of it all, a quest to arrive at personal truths. Both the meta plot, with a war looming on the horizon, and religious zealotry nipping at their heels, and the personal conflicts of each of the POV characters, promise something unforgettable to come.
My favorite scene of course featured my favorite character: approaching a "haunted" naval vessel, and truly the touch of horror that deftly brushes that scene made me so, so, so excited for everything that will come next in this series... Plus, this chapter (as in, this first book) ends on such a shocking cliffhanger, the culmination of three major pathways at a crossroads that is certain to break the heart.
If you long for steampunk fantasy, rapscallions, slow-burn romance, dark elves in uniform, medical drama, and character conflicts that really and truly challenge the hearts they occupy, you will not want to miss out on As Boundless as the Sea.
The central setting, Fabinmore, reminded me of one of my favorite locations in the Witcher 3, Novigrad—a place with Dickensian street gangs, sprawling campuses, tea shops and dive bars, magical gardens, operas and bath houses, and book burnings, which inevitably lead to something darker (thus, Novigrad). This world is so richly detailed—a world you can easily sink into as a reader and which is explored with all the curiosity and adventure of your favorite RPG video game.
Putting aside Fabinmore, which feels like a character unto itself, the cast of this book is an absolute treat: from Evelyn, the heroine of this tale, beset with a forbidden power and a declared devotion to a life that makes her palatable to her family and peers and yet chafes her wild soul, to Aisengale, the scrappy surgeon, military deserter, forbidden practitioner, and lost soul whose very existence points the cast starboard towards adventure and uncertainty...and, of course, my favorite: the surly, sad, and duty-bound Oliver, former lover and first mate, now hurtling down a tragic path towards a betrayal of the heart and old ties, there's not a POV you won't enjoy—won't want to read so much more of.
This is the opening act of a larger story, and so the apex does not occur in this book, but ABATS sets the stage for an epic journey of loss and tragedy, freedom and connection, and at the heart of it all, a quest to arrive at personal truths. Both the meta plot, with a war looming on the horizon, and religious zealotry nipping at their heels, and the personal conflicts of each of the POV characters, promise something unforgettable to come.
My favorite scene of course featured my favorite character: approaching a "haunted" naval vessel, and truly the touch of horror that deftly brushes that scene made me so, so, so excited for everything that will come next in this series... Plus, this chapter (as in, this first book) ends on such a shocking cliffhanger, the culmination of three major pathways at a crossroads that is certain to break the heart.
If you long for steampunk fantasy, rapscallions, slow-burn romance, dark elves in uniform, medical drama, and character conflicts that really and truly challenge the hearts they occupy, you will not want to miss out on As Boundless as the Sea.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I was provided an arc; thank you to the author for this! All opinions are my own.
What a beautifully written debut! I love the world, I love the characters, I need to find out what happens next. Joy's prose is so lyrical and beautiful and flows so effortlessly; it feels dramatic and distinct without being overly flowery. You really feel for Aisen, Ev, and the rest, and despite all their past traumas and challenges, you cannot help but root for them.
I will say my FAVORITE is Tybalt. I'm not usually one to glom onto the rogueish thief types, but gosh, he stole my heart from the get-go. The only thing this book was missing was more Tybalt, lol.
I can't wait to read more, I can't wait to get the physical copy of this book, I am very excited for it all! What an excellent and heart-wrenching story! You'll definitely be right there with me clamoring for more.
(I know the spice is a small part of this particular volume, but DAMN is it written well. Brava!)
This book is perfect for fans of Dnd, histroms written by the greats like Lisa Kleypas, and those who love epic fantasy but want more romance in their high drama. You'll want to read this book!
Thank you again for the arc!
What a beautifully written debut! I love the world, I love the characters, I need to find out what happens next. Joy's prose is so lyrical and beautiful and flows so effortlessly; it feels dramatic and distinct without being overly flowery. You really feel for Aisen, Ev, and the rest, and despite all their past traumas and challenges, you cannot help but root for them.
I will say my FAVORITE is Tybalt. I'm not usually one to glom onto the rogueish thief types, but gosh, he stole my heart from the get-go. The only thing this book was missing was more Tybalt, lol.
I can't wait to read more, I can't wait to get the physical copy of this book, I am very excited for it all! What an excellent and heart-wrenching story! You'll definitely be right there with me clamoring for more.
(I know the spice is a small part of this particular volume, but DAMN is it written well. Brava!)
This book is perfect for fans of Dnd, histroms written by the greats like Lisa Kleypas, and those who love epic fantasy but want more romance in their high drama. You'll want to read this book!
Thank you again for the arc!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I was given an e-arc for a honest and fair review.
This book was so so beautiful. Sometimes I read books where I really enjoy it but as soon as I’m finished, it doesn’t really stay with me. However, I think this book will stay with me for a long time. In a lot of ways because of how incredible the story was, but also because of the way Joy Peregrine writes. Lush. Gorgeous!! Every passage, every sentence is intentional and stays with you.
The characters all felt very real in the sense that yes this is fantasy, but they felt human(which no they weren’t all human but you know what I mean). In the way that They had flaws, but you understood them and rooted for them. My favorite character was Aisen but Tybalt was a close second. (TBH I just loved everyone but I always fall for the rougish types)
And the relationships between the characters?! The yearning?! There were so many passages that had me clutching my chest if we are being honest. JOY!! HOW DID YOU DO THAT
Anyway you need to read this book. Especially if you like nautical settings, fantasy adventure with high stakes and romance that punches you in the GUT.
This book was so so beautiful. Sometimes I read books where I really enjoy it but as soon as I’m finished, it doesn’t really stay with me. However, I think this book will stay with me for a long time. In a lot of ways because of how incredible the story was, but also because of the way Joy Peregrine writes. Lush. Gorgeous!! Every passage, every sentence is intentional and stays with you.
The characters all felt very real in the sense that yes this is fantasy, but they felt human(which no they weren’t all human but you know what I mean). In the way that They had flaws, but you understood them and rooted for them. My favorite character was Aisen but Tybalt was a close second. (TBH I just loved everyone but I always fall for the rougish types)
And the relationships between the characters?! The yearning?! There were so many passages that had me clutching my chest if we are being honest. JOY!! HOW DID YOU DO THAT
Anyway you need to read this book. Especially if you like nautical settings, fantasy adventure with high stakes and romance that punches you in the GUT.
October 31, 2026
Thank you to the author for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review!
Rating: 4/5
This was a lyrical story, brimming with rich worldbuilding and characters that you can't help but root for. This is the kind of book that's better read slowly, in order to savor it. While the slow-moving plot made it difficult to catch my attention at times, the emotional character arcs captured me, until I felt like I needed to find out what happens to them.
The yearning between the main characters was fantastic; both the slowburn between Aisen and Evelyn, and Aisen's and Oliver's longing for each other as former lovers. The author is upfront about the fact that this is intended to be a polyamorous romance, and I can truly feel the romantic tension between them all.
Another aspect of this book that stood out to me is its rich worldbuilding. Every setting, every side character feels real—like everyone has backstories and motivations that influence their actions, with nothing feeling like a set for the main characters to move around in. I feel like there's so much behind the scenes that I'm not seeing, enough that keeps me wondering for the next book.
Overall, this was a lyrical and relaxing read, and I cannot wait to read the next installment!
Rating: 4/5
This was a lyrical story, brimming with rich worldbuilding and characters that you can't help but root for. This is the kind of book that's better read slowly, in order to savor it. While the slow-moving plot made it difficult to catch my attention at times, the emotional character arcs captured me, until I felt like I needed to find out what happens to them.
The yearning between the main characters was fantastic; both the slowburn between Aisen and Evelyn, and Aisen's and Oliver's longing for each other as former lovers. The author is upfront about the fact that this is intended to be a polyamorous romance, and I can truly feel the romantic tension between them all.
Another aspect of this book that stood out to me is its rich worldbuilding. Every setting, every side character feels real—like everyone has backstories and motivations that influence their actions, with nothing feeling like a set for the main characters to move around in. I feel like there's so much behind the scenes that I'm not seeing, enough that keeps me wondering for the next book.
Overall, this was a lyrical and relaxing read, and I cannot wait to read the next installment!
October 30, 2026
**A World and Characters That Stole My Whole Heart!**
The worldbuilding is alive, vibrant, and exciting! The character arcs, personalities, and relationships are so real and relatable that these characters swiftly stole my whole heart!!!
I truly cannot say enough about this incredible novel. It gave me Romeo and Juliet vibes, woven into a wonderful adventure with a cast of characters you can't help but wish were your real-life friends!
What struck me most was how deeply I connected with all three main POVs. Their thoughts, emotions, and experiences felt so authentic that, at times, it was like reading something I had felt or experienced myself. There is something truly special about a story that makes you feel so profoundly understood.
I have already ordered my physical copy, and I cannot wait to hold it in my hands and cherish it forever!!!
**Eagerly awaiting Book 2!!!**
The worldbuilding is alive, vibrant, and exciting! The character arcs, personalities, and relationships are so real and relatable that these characters swiftly stole my whole heart!!!
I truly cannot say enough about this incredible novel. It gave me Romeo and Juliet vibes, woven into a wonderful adventure with a cast of characters you can't help but wish were your real-life friends!
What struck me most was how deeply I connected with all three main POVs. Their thoughts, emotions, and experiences felt so authentic that, at times, it was like reading something I had felt or experienced myself. There is something truly special about a story that makes you feel so profoundly understood.
I have already ordered my physical copy, and I cannot wait to hold it in my hands and cherish it forever!!!
**Eagerly awaiting Book 2!!!**
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews