After reading the last book, I thought The Seahorse Legacy would be my standard for all great pieces of fiction thereafter--with its great actions scenes, romance, and witty moments-- but I was wrong. Compared to its sequel, The Seahorse Legacy was a simple buildup for The Sunken Realm, laying the foundation for the true tale with all its excitement, twists, and depth.
So often, in both the Christian and speculative fiction genre, there are an abundance of clichés, but not in this book. It wasn’t just story of one character in need of redemption who finally finds it through the love of another. There wasn’t a weepy heroine, sweet and poise through all the trials. This book was clean and safe for anyone to read, but it has an edge to it; a strength in a mature story line with characters not only wounded, but imperfect.
I assumed there would be a simple wrap up of the end of the previous book, but it was so much more. I anticipated the book to be the acceptance of marriage between Erielle and Cazien from the last book, and the subsequent rescue of the children that had been disappearing, instead, this story encompassed far beyond that. The depth and breadth of the story literally left me breathless. Erielle and Cazien not only have to figure out how to make this new and binding partnership work, they are called to dispense justice and truth which leads to the Island Realm where there are both old and new friends and enemies alike. Together they work to fight this evil, each with their different skills to defeat a plot more sinister and complex than it originally appeared. All the while they must learn to truly love each other if they are to succeed—despite both of their past and present struggles.
The depth of change in the characters was amazing. In The Seahorse Legacy, Erielle was so annoying with her whining and destructive pride, but in The Sunken Realm both her and Cazien come into their own. Erielle matures from her ordeals at the end of the last book, and through this book truly becomes the heroine she always desired to be. I loved seeing how everything she thought she wanted before wasn’t really what she wanted, but how it was all used to prepare her for who she was suppose to be: a pirate. She made a ruthlessly awesome one too. Cazien also matured and developed, never losing the charm and sharp edge of danger and excitement. Instead, he simply filled out, becoming a great hero, losing the self-centeredness that kept him back before. They both made mistakes, big ones sometimes, on the road to falling in love and becoming who they were made to be.
Thankfully though, Cazien had a unique way of always knowing when Erielle was angry with him—so disputes and misunderstandings never lasted long.
It might be morbid, but I loved the ruthlessness. These characters are pirates, which makes them not only bold but also dangerous, especially when it comes to justice and protecting the innocent. So often in books we hear rumors of a character/group’s power, but we never really see it. Sure they might be all-powerful, but how exciting is that when we never get to see it? Serena Chase never strays from who her characters are, and they’re pirates: ruthless against evil, great with insults, and know how to let loose some stinging epithets.
Here, the bad guys don’t simply get a pat on the hand and slip away to cause more trouble later. No, they experience the full justice of the Seahorse Pirates. Maybe the justice isn’t something we’re suppose to condone, but I appreciate the fact that the bad guys don’t just get away. We, as readers, are reminded that these people are pirates, not merely bad or good. Cazien himself doesn’t claims to be perfect, “Yes, I am a villain, Lady Erielle, but one with taste.”
The action wasn’t skimped in this story. From Erielle’s cutthroat moments competing in the arena during the competition of twelve to battles at sea facing both monsters of sea and people. Neither is the romance neglected. While Erielle and Cazien’s relationship is one main focus of the story, their interactions don’t take away from the excitement and adventure of the rest of the story. For those looking for a satisfying conclusion to Erielle and Cazien’s tale, they won’t be disappointed. The romance is sweet, but not without the exciting edge that both them being pirates add to it. It didn’t hurt that Cazien’s protectiveness and way of addressing Erielle as ‘love’ was so swoon worthy. The tension in the beginning slowly morphs into a deep bond between the two. I can’t even get started on their witty banter. They had such a great rapport; I couldn’t help laughing at their interactions, like those moments when Cazien could hear Erielle’s thoughts through their bond. But despite the insults they lobbed at each other, there is this deep compassion and love for each other, buried at first under rough exteriors.
The world building was fantastic. From the intricacies of the Seahorse Legacy to the Eastern like culture of the Island Realm, everything was well developed and interesting.
Themes of redemption and grace are threaded throughout the story. Characters learn to trust in a greater plan, even when all looks impossible. There is no excessive preaching in this book, only a motif that gives the reader hope and fulfillment when they finish the last page. Even the author’s note at the end leaves you with warm feelings. I’ve read plenty of good books, but it’s the ones that leave me with new truths and a hope—that stick out to me the most—and this is one of those books.