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Tides #2
War and Wind
A cowardly captain. An incompetent crew. A mission she can't fail.
Nile and her small band of loyal midshipmen saved the ship, and Captain Rima might just kill them for it . . . one young officer at a time. No one and nothing on the Aurora is safe anymore, least of all Nile’s explosive secrets or her connection with Domenic, which vibrates between them like a cutlass speared into the deck.
When the shifting tide of war suddenly turns Aurora’s backwater outpost into a vital battleground, Nile faces an impossible choice between duty and freedom. In a cascade of violence, gunpowder, and lies, Nile will soon discover who has her back and who wants to stab a dagger in it. To save the ones she loves, Nile may have to sacrifice everything.
Nile and her small band of loyal midshipmen saved the ship, and Captain Rima might just kill them for it . . . one young officer at a time. No one and nothing on the Aurora is safe anymore, least of all Nile’s explosive secrets or her connection with Domenic, which vibrates between them like a cutlass speared into the deck.
When the shifting tide of war suddenly turns Aurora’s backwater outpost into a vital battleground, Nile faces an impossible choice between duty and freedom. In a cascade of violence, gunpowder, and lies, Nile will soon discover who has her back and who wants to stab a dagger in it. To save the ones she loves, Nile may have to sacrifice everything.
356 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 20, 2017
212 people are currently reading
393 people want to read
About the author
Alex Lidell
74 books1,777 followersAlex Lidell is the Amazon Breakout Novel Awards finalist author of THE CADET OF TILDOR (Penguin) and several Amazon Top 100 Kindle Bestsellers, including the POWER OF FIVE romance series. She is an avid horseback rider who believes in eating dessert first. She writes as both Alex Lidell and A.L. Lidell.
Join Alex's newsletter for news, bonus content and sneak peeks: https://links.alexlidell.com/News
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Find out more on Alex's website: www.alexlidell.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 103 reviews
February 1, 2019
This is pure action-packed FUN! It's the perfect summer read with all the action and sudden reversals of fortune that you could possibly hope for.
The characters are appealing and well drawn. Nile, in particular, makes for a dynamic heroine with strong motivations. She's definitely a bit bullheaded at times, but you're never left wondering why she makes the choices she does. She always has good reason. As reckless as she can be, there were many times when I had to applaud her for keeping her cool as well as she did.
Her relationship with Lieutenant Dana certainly heats up in this book. I may have enjoyed the slow-burn of the previous book more than the thwarted-love of this book. I guess I like suppressed-passion more than overt-passion in my reads? I don't know. Still, these two were entertaining together either way.
Captain Rima is a PERFECT villain. In that he's horrid. And way too smart and way too powerful for his own good! Gah, I hated him SO MUCH! Which was great and kept me turning pages.
And I have to say, I really loved the twist with Prince Tamiath. I was all prepared to hate him, but then he came on the scene and . . . hmmm. He's not what I was expecting. (And, rest assured, he is NOT a third point in a love triangle either! Definitely NOT. He's his own interesting character, not a romantic prospect for Nile.)
The characters are appealing and well drawn. Nile, in particular, makes for a dynamic heroine with strong motivations. She's definitely a bit bullheaded at times, but you're never left wondering why she makes the choices she does. She always has good reason. As reckless as she can be, there were many times when I had to applaud her for keeping her cool as well as she did.
Her relationship with Lieutenant Dana certainly heats up in this book. I may have enjoyed the slow-burn of the previous book more than the thwarted-love of this book. I guess I like suppressed-passion more than overt-passion in my reads? I don't know. Still, these two were entertaining together either way.
Captain Rima is a PERFECT villain. In that he's horrid. And way too smart and way too powerful for his own good! Gah, I hated him SO MUCH! Which was great and kept me turning pages.
And I have to say, I really loved the twist with Prince Tamiath. I was all prepared to hate him, but then he came on the scene and . . . hmmm. He's not what I was expecting. (And, rest assured, he is NOT a third point in a love triangle either! Definitely NOT. He's his own interesting character, not a romantic prospect for Nile.)
January 13, 2022
SCREAMING CRYING SHAKING, WHY IS THIS BOOK SO GOOD??? AND SO PAINFUL??? I CAN'T BREATHE.
August 10, 2021
Fucking Rima. I hate that guy.
War and Wind was an okay sequel if I'm being honest here. It wasn't horrible or anything but it wasn't the best either. In it, we are still seeing Nile getting comfortable with her magic. She can control it a bit better than before but always has to keep it hidden. When her identity is found out, chaos is the only thing coming her way.
Honestly, Captain Rima is a horrible guy and I'm not mad one bit about what happened. He was selfish and completely greedy. So when karma, aka Nile, came his way - I just clapped. It was bound to happen and I was very eager to see it all go down. Mostly because he's an idiot and so is his wife.
Other than that, I loved seeing Tam and Aaron together. His family was a hot mess and I was sure that they were going to be giant assholes after they found out their son liked guys. Still the fake wedding must go on! Of course Dominic has no idea what is going on and plans to leave Nile's service after they are married. Freaking idiot.. if only he would open his eyes and ears to what Nile is saying/doing.
I guess in a way I'm sort of intrigued to see how this will all end. So I'm off to the next book in this series.
War and Wind was an okay sequel if I'm being honest here. It wasn't horrible or anything but it wasn't the best either. In it, we are still seeing Nile getting comfortable with her magic. She can control it a bit better than before but always has to keep it hidden. When her identity is found out, chaos is the only thing coming her way.
Honestly, Captain Rima is a horrible guy and I'm not mad one bit about what happened. He was selfish and completely greedy. So when karma, aka Nile, came his way - I just clapped. It was bound to happen and I was very eager to see it all go down. Mostly because he's an idiot and so is his wife.
Other than that, I loved seeing Tam and Aaron together. His family was a hot mess and I was sure that they were going to be giant assholes after they found out their son liked guys. Still the fake wedding must go on! Of course Dominic has no idea what is going on and plans to leave Nile's service after they are married. Freaking idiot.. if only he would open his eyes and ears to what Nile is saying/doing.
I guess in a way I'm sort of intrigued to see how this will all end. So I'm off to the next book in this series.
February 18, 2018
War and Wind is the second book in the TIDES series. It continues Niles journey of self fulfilment and discovery. Powers need to be controlled, bad captains defeated and wars won.
I'm not sure about this. I still really enjoy the setting and the general plot idea. I just grew to dislike Nile more and more throughout the book. She doesn't trust anyone out of fear of being hurt. So the people around her act in best knowledge and faith but with faulty information and she actually ends up getting hurt. Instead of learning from it and trusting people (specifically Dominic) she blames others until that plotline just suddenly gets dropped. I was hoping and waiting for Nile to actually have to sacrifice something selflessly without the hope of getting something out of it for herself. And when she finally did, when she didn't think of herself first without any reward awaiting her … it didn't last more than twenty pages and she got everything she wanted. I might be sadistic but I wanted her to suffer a bit before all her dreams are fulfilled.
While general plotting and world building are quite nice (even is sometimes awfully convenient) I feel like character development as a whole and specifically emotional development aren't really the author's strong suit. Also, it appears as if the next book is going to add even more central characters. That happened with one of the last books series I read as well. Please don't just add new characters to make up for the fact that you don't know how to develop you already existing ones.
One huge plus in favor of this book is the simple fact that Aaron exists!
I'm not sure about this. I still really enjoy the setting and the general plot idea. I just grew to dislike Nile more and more throughout the book. She doesn't trust anyone out of fear of being hurt. So the people around her act in best knowledge and faith but with faulty information and she actually ends up getting hurt. Instead of learning from it and trusting people (specifically Dominic) she blames others until that plotline just suddenly gets dropped. I was hoping and waiting for Nile to actually have to sacrifice something selflessly without the hope of getting something out of it for herself. And when she finally did, when she didn't think of herself first without any reward awaiting her … it didn't last more than twenty pages and she got everything she wanted. I might be sadistic but I wanted her to suffer a bit before all her dreams are fulfilled.
While general plotting and world building are quite nice (even is sometimes awfully convenient) I feel like character development as a whole and specifically emotional development aren't really the author's strong suit. Also, it appears as if the next book is going to add even more central characters. That happened with one of the last books series I read as well. Please don't just add new characters to make up for the fact that you don't know how to develop you already existing ones.
One huge plus in favor of this book is the simple fact that Aaron exists!
April 25, 2018
Thanks to a really awesome deal ($1.99 for THREE months!), I am now a subscriber to Kindle Unlimited and as such, I have decided to catch up on some books and series that I've been wanting to read and/or finish but that weren't available on audio or through my library. I really liked the first book in this series on audio, and I really enjoyed War and Wind, but it would have been great if the author had left it at two books. The ending of this one is rather nice and an epilogue would have sufficed to give the reader that longed for happily ever after. From reviews of the final book, I can surmise that there's a lot of push-and-pull regarding the romance and that people are still underestimating Nile. (They should really stop doing that.) The only reason I think I'd spend time with Sea and Sand is for the mention of Catsper finally meeting his match that I read in one review. My curiosity is piqued, sure. But there are so many other books that I'd like to give a chance, so for now, I'm setting aside this series, even though I found the first two books equally enthralling.
August 20, 2018
Nile is busy trying to learn to control her magic and keep her identity secret, but a boat is a small place. She is constantly tempted to use her magic. When Rima turns traitor to the kingdom and tries to avoid a key battle, Nile and her band of friends escape Rima in order to steal a merchant vessel, but Dominic is captured by Rima during the escape. What they find in the hold surprises everyone. Nile then makes some unlikely allies who agree to help win the battle. Somehow when the gunpowder clears, she finds herself
July 8, 2017
Same Review Also Posted In My Blog: Dreamy Addictions
War and Wind is an amazing sequel and turns out to be even better than the first book. It most definitely met all of my expectations, and even more. I loved the first book and I've been eagerly waiting to get my hands on its sequel for a while. I loved every aspect of this book and enjoyed every minute of it. I'm so glad there is more sea action and more romance in this book. Nile and Dom are pretty great in this book. The new secondary characters are great addition to the plot and they made the story even more enjoyable to read. The plot is exciting, action-packed and fast paced. It is a well executed plot and the ending left me wanting for more.
The book starts where it was left off in the first book where Aurora barely escapes from a natural disaster and later they find one of their midshipman brutally attacked. Nile aka Ash can already guess it's the work of their cowardly Captain Rima who hates disobedience. Two days ago, to save Aurora from a disaster, Nile cajoled the midshipman Mr. Kederic to change the course of the ship which meant going against the captain's orders. When an Ashing fleet suddenly appears everyone is pretty much surprised by it. They receive a parchment warning about a imminent attack from a Tirik fleet which is heading their way and ordered to sail at the bottleneck juncture and hold their position but the cowardly Captain Rima changes their course away from the battlefield. Now Nile needs to get out of Aurora to reach bottleneck juncture but her only option is the merchant ship Hope which is travelling along with them. After successfully taking control of Hope, Nile sets on a new journey that leads to many surprises.
Nile is a strong female protagonist with a strong will. She's fierce, loyal and brave. She's totally kick-ass in this book and I loved her even more. I enjoyed her character growth. She finally had some control over her gift but unfortunately, she still has to go through the convulsions. Domenic is broody as always but I still love him despite how many times his actions makes me angry. I absolutely enjoyed the forbidden relationship between Dom and Nile and I'm so glad there is more romance in this book. I loved their chemistry and the tension between them. The Secondary characters are also pretty good in this book. I loved Catspar and his Scarred dog Rum, Nile's twin brother Clay and also the newest additions Tam and Aaron who harbors a dangerous secret of their own. I pretty much hated Captain Rima! He's so cunning, loathsome and a major douche in this book. I was totally annoyed with Ana, Nile's friend on Aurora. I used to like her when she was sweet and caring but now she's just annoying.
I loved the plot! It is well written and Well paced! The story is engaging through out and there is never a dull moment. This book was so good that it was hard for me put it down. The twists and turns made it even more exciting. I'm so glad there is more action in this book because the first book doesn't have much action in it. The ending really surprised me and I want more twins action. I liked the writing. The book is told from alternating POV and I had no issues with it. The world building is great! I didn't have difficulty picturing every thing like I had with the previous book.
Overall, It was a great read! I loved the action, the characters, the elemental magic, the slow burn romance, and the sea adventure. The book finally concludes with a minor cliffhanger and I'm dying to read the next book.
War and Wind is an amazing sequel and turns out to be even better than the first book. It most definitely met all of my expectations, and even more. I loved the first book and I've been eagerly waiting to get my hands on its sequel for a while. I loved every aspect of this book and enjoyed every minute of it. I'm so glad there is more sea action and more romance in this book. Nile and Dom are pretty great in this book. The new secondary characters are great addition to the plot and they made the story even more enjoyable to read. The plot is exciting, action-packed and fast paced. It is a well executed plot and the ending left me wanting for more.
The book starts where it was left off in the first book where Aurora barely escapes from a natural disaster and later they find one of their midshipman brutally attacked. Nile aka Ash can already guess it's the work of their cowardly Captain Rima who hates disobedience. Two days ago, to save Aurora from a disaster, Nile cajoled the midshipman Mr. Kederic to change the course of the ship which meant going against the captain's orders. When an Ashing fleet suddenly appears everyone is pretty much surprised by it. They receive a parchment warning about a imminent attack from a Tirik fleet which is heading their way and ordered to sail at the bottleneck juncture and hold their position but the cowardly Captain Rima changes their course away from the battlefield. Now Nile needs to get out of Aurora to reach bottleneck juncture but her only option is the merchant ship Hope which is travelling along with them. After successfully taking control of Hope, Nile sets on a new journey that leads to many surprises.
Nile is a strong female protagonist with a strong will. She's fierce, loyal and brave. She's totally kick-ass in this book and I loved her even more. I enjoyed her character growth. She finally had some control over her gift but unfortunately, she still has to go through the convulsions. Domenic is broody as always but I still love him despite how many times his actions makes me angry. I absolutely enjoyed the forbidden relationship between Dom and Nile and I'm so glad there is more romance in this book. I loved their chemistry and the tension between them. The Secondary characters are also pretty good in this book. I loved Catspar and his Scarred dog Rum, Nile's twin brother Clay and also the newest additions Tam and Aaron who harbors a dangerous secret of their own. I pretty much hated Captain Rima! He's so cunning, loathsome and a major douche in this book. I was totally annoyed with Ana, Nile's friend on Aurora. I used to like her when she was sweet and caring but now she's just annoying.
I loved the plot! It is well written and Well paced! The story is engaging through out and there is never a dull moment. This book was so good that it was hard for me put it down. The twists and turns made it even more exciting. I'm so glad there is more action in this book because the first book doesn't have much action in it. The ending really surprised me and I want more twins action. I liked the writing. The book is told from alternating POV and I had no issues with it. The world building is great! I didn't have difficulty picturing every thing like I had with the previous book.
Overall, It was a great read! I loved the action, the characters, the elemental magic, the slow burn romance, and the sea adventure. The book finally concludes with a minor cliffhanger and I'm dying to read the next book.
June 8, 2017
I can't sing enough praises for Alex's writing! This was a fantastic follow up to Air & Ash and thank you for more romance!!! I really thought I'd hate the introduction of Tam but I ended up loving him and the pretty sweet twist that was thrown in! My heart belongs to Catsper which is all good since Nile has Dom's lol! I can't wait to get my hands on book 3!!!!
June 23, 2017
This book was so exciting I just couldn't put it down. There is a lot of action, romance, and character development. We see how despicable Captain Rima is and he plays an extraordinary adversary. There are a lot of sweet, intense Domenic/Ash moments too. We are also introduced to Tam and Aaron, both really awesome characters and harboring a secret as great as Ash's. I just love that Ash is strong and takes matter into her own hands, and I enjoyed seeing the bond she made with her friends. Ash learns more on how to control her power, and she is finally reunited with her brother Clay. The finale where Ash and Rima face off was really exciting too.
Exciting story
Kickass heroine
Great romance development
Strong friendships
Exciting story
Kickass heroine
Great romance development
Strong friendships
June 22, 2017
(
I received this book free in exchange for my honest review
)
Wow, wow, wow… That is literality all that is going through my head right now. I’m like full of all kinds of good feels, and in truth, though I know there’s going to be a third book, it almost feels like there doesn’t need to be. Sure sure, the war has not ended and there are still loads of things that need answers. It’s just; I’ve never read a book that managed to pretty much have a seamless plot.
And that ending, I could live with that ending knowing where it could lead. I’m giddy because Ash used all her knowledge and resources to find a solution for not only herself but for her new friends and now family. She is not only a strong leader, but she is a strong female character that you can look up to. Her iron will and solid loyalty is what legends are made of. She is going to tip the tides in the war and she is going to be right there in storm. I love her, I only wish that I could meet her in real life, because being a sailor myself I would be honoured to sail under her command.
Speaking of being a sailor, I am quite pleased with the accurate terms and research that went into making this as accurate as possible. It was near perfect. (I say near, because of the lack of swearing.. :p) When Ash switched into officer mode, I could feel the change in her presents and it reminded me of the way my own CO has acted. The leadership was just oozing out of her and it was memorizing.
I loved the touch of forbidden romance. It wasn’t over powering and it was a nice add to the overall plot. It was actually a pushing point for the plot and I loved every second of it.
I highly recommend this series; it is bloody action on the high seas that will have you hook from the first gun fight till the last.
Happy Reading.
-E.A. Walsh
Wow, wow, wow… That is literality all that is going through my head right now. I’m like full of all kinds of good feels, and in truth, though I know there’s going to be a third book, it almost feels like there doesn’t need to be. Sure sure, the war has not ended and there are still loads of things that need answers. It’s just; I’ve never read a book that managed to pretty much have a seamless plot.
And that ending, I could live with that ending knowing where it could lead. I’m giddy because Ash used all her knowledge and resources to find a solution for not only herself but for her new friends and now family. She is not only a strong leader, but she is a strong female character that you can look up to. Her iron will and solid loyalty is what legends are made of. She is going to tip the tides in the war and she is going to be right there in storm. I love her, I only wish that I could meet her in real life, because being a sailor myself I would be honoured to sail under her command.
Speaking of being a sailor, I am quite pleased with the accurate terms and research that went into making this as accurate as possible. It was near perfect. (I say near, because of the lack of swearing.. :p) When Ash switched into officer mode, I could feel the change in her presents and it reminded me of the way my own CO has acted. The leadership was just oozing out of her and it was memorizing.
I loved the touch of forbidden romance. It wasn’t over powering and it was a nice add to the overall plot. It was actually a pushing point for the plot and I loved every second of it.
I highly recommend this series; it is bloody action on the high seas that will have you hook from the first gun fight till the last.
Happy Reading.
-E.A. Walsh
May 19, 2018
*Source* Kindle Unlimited
*Genre* Young Adult / Fantasy
*Rating* 4.0
*Thoughts*
War & Wind, by author Alex Lidell, is the second installment in the authors Tides series. This installment picks up where Air & Ash left off. As a summary, Princess Nile Greysik has found herself onboard the Lyron League Ship Aurora under Captain Rima and first officer Domenick Dana. Barred by her own Kingdom of Ashing from serving on any naval vessel thanks to her own brothers nonsense and a political marriage to a Prince from Felielle she had no desire of participating in, Nile slipped into the night and joined the crew of the Aurora.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
http://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/201...
*Genre* Young Adult / Fantasy
*Rating* 4.0
*Thoughts*
War & Wind, by author Alex Lidell, is the second installment in the authors Tides series. This installment picks up where Air & Ash left off. As a summary, Princess Nile Greysik has found herself onboard the Lyron League Ship Aurora under Captain Rima and first officer Domenick Dana. Barred by her own Kingdom of Ashing from serving on any naval vessel thanks to her own brothers nonsense and a political marriage to a Prince from Felielle she had no desire of participating in, Nile slipped into the night and joined the crew of the Aurora.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
http://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/201...
February 5, 2018
Once again, AMAZING!!! I thoroughly enjoy Lidell’s writing. She captured my attention and held it throughout the entire book. I sometimes found myself frustrated with Nile’s characteristics of being impulsive and rushing into trouble, but her maintainable of her morals and values is honorable throughout the entire book. Even when it hurts herself. I will most definitely be starting the third book tomorrow...well now it’s later today.
June 27, 2017
This is such a terrific series. Book 2 read in a day and I am already eagerly awaiting the next.
Great characters and all comparisons made to Tamora Pierce, Sherwood Smith and the like are apt. Brilliant writing.
Great characters and all comparisons made to Tamora Pierce, Sherwood Smith and the like are apt. Brilliant writing.
May 19, 2018
BOOK REVIEW......
Loved this story. The characters were great. I enjoyed it.
NARRATOR REVIEW.....
The narrator did a good job
Loved this story. The characters were great. I enjoyed it.
NARRATOR REVIEW.....
The narrator did a good job
May 26, 2018
Great
I am really loving this series and can not wait for the next book. Thank you for the great entertainment.
I am really loving this series and can not wait for the next book. Thank you for the great entertainment.
April 30, 2021
3.8 stars
March 16, 2018
The TIDES series by Alex Lidell is probably one of my favourite YA Fantasy reads. You can read my review for First Command, the prequel novella, and for Air & Ash, book one in the Tides series.
What drew me to Nile’s story was the description of the story as a “seafaring adventure of duty, love, magic, and a princess’s quest to protect her kingdom on her own terms.”
If we were to talk about royal women in fantasy books I often come across assassins, politicians, witches, healers, or in the military but never have I, personally, found a royal princess who is also a professional naval officer.
As soon as I read that, I was like I need this book right now and reading the prequel did nothing to dash my high hopes for this series.
WHAT I LOVED
Nile Greysik of Ashing. I love this girl with all my shriveled up heart. She’s ambitious, stubborn, and a woman full of love. The latter description, while it doesn’t dominate Nile’s entire persona, mind you, it is an important part of who Nile is.
Nile is a career driven woman whose years growing up in the navy has made her critical and stoic; we can see this in the decisions she makes and the way she handles dire situations. This is what I love about the portrayal of Nile’s character.
There’s the professional side of her and the nurturing side but throughout the novel neither of these identities is compromised. The author gives Nile moments to break down, to ache for a man, to play big sister to the young ones, and there are moments where Nile commands ship, and fights vicious. One particular scene in the book highlighted this and while I don’t want to spoil anything – it was a moment where Nile doubted her strength because she couldn’t remain unmoved beneath the cruel act.
Nile is a character so full of heart; she can be quite distrustful and stubborn though which gets annoying but that’s Nile for you.
Nile constantly challenges gender roles of this fantasy world. I was rooting for my girl throughout! But she’s also very shrewd. Nile knows when to bend and when to strike.
War and Wind introduces us to a whole new set of characters! I don’t want to spoil too much but meeting these new characters gives us an idea of the world beyond the Ashing kingdom. I was surprised how easily taken in I was by these new characters and I couldn’t wait to get them on some godforsaken adventure just to see how they would work together. We don’t get to spend a lot of time with these new characters as we did with Catsper, the Spades, Ana, and the others. But they seem to work well enough with conspiracy.
The plot, unsuprisingly, is fast paced and full of action. I love the shifting of setting from sea to land. It was refreshing to read of our characters out of their comfort zone. This was something I was looking forward to reading about as I was curious.
This shift also brings us close to Nile’s family giving us an idea of the political climate in the kingdoms. What we’ve come to know from Nile in the first book is visualized in book two. I enjoyed learning about these different cultural factors, however, I do wish we could have stepped out of the royal premises and maybe been given an exploration of the townspeople. I think that would have intrigued me much more and given a fuller portrayal of Nile’s world.
Oh, and let’s not forget the romance between Nile and Domenic. I just….Please just get together already! This slow burn romance is sooooo not good for my heart! Still, I do love the silent communication Domenic and Nile have with each other. Like, you know they’d do anything for each other even if it meant stepping aside. Ugh, my poor heart. And Clay! Finally! I’ve been waiting ages to meet Nile’s brother and now that I have…please give us more!
WHAT I DISLIKED
Ana’s sudden disappearance. What happened? Nile doesn’t even ask about her! It’s like she just vanished. Will this be answered in book three??
Our Domenic can be a little overbearing and overly serious. Loosen up, Dom. He makes the most infuriating decisions, sometimes. I get he wants to be protective over Nile but how about you stop looming over her!
It was hard for me to feel for Nile and Clay. During her adventures, I thought it odd that Nile didn’t have Clay on her mind often. I get that she was under the control of a ruthless coward but I was wanting small moments where she thought fondly of Clay or wondered about his well-being as that would have gotten the readers emotionally invested in their relationship.
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What drew me to Nile’s story was the description of the story as a “seafaring adventure of duty, love, magic, and a princess’s quest to protect her kingdom on her own terms.”
If we were to talk about royal women in fantasy books I often come across assassins, politicians, witches, healers, or in the military but never have I, personally, found a royal princess who is also a professional naval officer.
As soon as I read that, I was like I need this book right now and reading the prequel did nothing to dash my high hopes for this series.
WHAT I LOVED
Nile Greysik of Ashing. I love this girl with all my shriveled up heart. She’s ambitious, stubborn, and a woman full of love. The latter description, while it doesn’t dominate Nile’s entire persona, mind you, it is an important part of who Nile is.
Nile is a career driven woman whose years growing up in the navy has made her critical and stoic; we can see this in the decisions she makes and the way she handles dire situations. This is what I love about the portrayal of Nile’s character.
There’s the professional side of her and the nurturing side but throughout the novel neither of these identities is compromised. The author gives Nile moments to break down, to ache for a man, to play big sister to the young ones, and there are moments where Nile commands ship, and fights vicious. One particular scene in the book highlighted this and while I don’t want to spoil anything – it was a moment where Nile doubted her strength because she couldn’t remain unmoved beneath the cruel act.
Nile is a character so full of heart; she can be quite distrustful and stubborn though which gets annoying but that’s Nile for you.
Nile constantly challenges gender roles of this fantasy world. I was rooting for my girl throughout! But she’s also very shrewd. Nile knows when to bend and when to strike.
War and Wind introduces us to a whole new set of characters! I don’t want to spoil too much but meeting these new characters gives us an idea of the world beyond the Ashing kingdom. I was surprised how easily taken in I was by these new characters and I couldn’t wait to get them on some godforsaken adventure just to see how they would work together. We don’t get to spend a lot of time with these new characters as we did with Catsper, the Spades, Ana, and the others. But they seem to work well enough with conspiracy.
The plot, unsuprisingly, is fast paced and full of action. I love the shifting of setting from sea to land. It was refreshing to read of our characters out of their comfort zone. This was something I was looking forward to reading about as I was curious.
This shift also brings us close to Nile’s family giving us an idea of the political climate in the kingdoms. What we’ve come to know from Nile in the first book is visualized in book two. I enjoyed learning about these different cultural factors, however, I do wish we could have stepped out of the royal premises and maybe been given an exploration of the townspeople. I think that would have intrigued me much more and given a fuller portrayal of Nile’s world.
Oh, and let’s not forget the romance between Nile and Domenic. I just….Please just get together already! This slow burn romance is sooooo not good for my heart! Still, I do love the silent communication Domenic and Nile have with each other. Like, you know they’d do anything for each other even if it meant stepping aside. Ugh, my poor heart. And Clay! Finally! I’ve been waiting ages to meet Nile’s brother and now that I have…please give us more!
WHAT I DISLIKED
Ana’s sudden disappearance. What happened? Nile doesn’t even ask about her! It’s like she just vanished. Will this be answered in book three??
Our Domenic can be a little overbearing and overly serious. Loosen up, Dom. He makes the most infuriating decisions, sometimes. I get he wants to be protective over Nile but how about you stop looming over her!
It was hard for me to feel for Nile and Clay. During her adventures, I thought it odd that Nile didn’t have Clay on her mind often. I get that she was under the control of a ruthless coward but I was wanting small moments where she thought fondly of Clay or wondered about his well-being as that would have gotten the readers emotionally invested in their relationship.
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August 27, 2025
DNF 68%
So I have enjoyed and own a few books from this author. This one however, by the 68% mark was just ridiculous and I could go no further.
Spoilers
Let’s start with the prince. He decided he needed a wife, so he could live happily ever after with his lover Aaron. Having never even met Nile, he decided that since she liked the sea, she would be amenable to marrying him for the sake of him and his lover, and then she could be a spinster at sea for life. So nobody is going to notice that his wife left on a ship and the only person entering his bedroom is Aaron? Nobody has noticed thus far how he is only with Aaron? Nile even admits she would never have accepted his offer if not for trying to save Dane.
The prince says he can’t help Dane, but if they married she could pardon him? And for some reason, nobody would believe their story over Captain Rima’s story. So you have a princess from one kingdom, a prince from a second kingdom, A high ranking marine from another kingdom (along with all of his spades), all of the other people on the ship who would support them, the Diante captain who said he would only assist the princess’s kingdom and not the Lyron league or anyone else, and many more witnesses, but none of them compare to the singular Captain Lima. Lima who miraculously survived a gunshot and falling in the ocean. Lima who isn’t even royalty, just a noble. Lima also managed to beat everyone back to land and run a printing press with a false story and no witnesses. A printing press that is in Nile’s own kingdom and they could easily commandeer and set things straight.
The reasoning behind everything is so ludicrous. Did I mention that even though they can’t pardon Dane, they can let him out of jail, and assign him to the princess’s detail along with the turncoat from Tirik? Yeah that’s believable and acceptable. It was just so ridiculous and irritating that nobody had any common sense or reasoning skills that I had to stop. This story needed some more thought put into it.
So I have enjoyed and own a few books from this author. This one however, by the 68% mark was just ridiculous and I could go no further.
Spoilers
Let’s start with the prince. He decided he needed a wife, so he could live happily ever after with his lover Aaron. Having never even met Nile, he decided that since she liked the sea, she would be amenable to marrying him for the sake of him and his lover, and then she could be a spinster at sea for life. So nobody is going to notice that his wife left on a ship and the only person entering his bedroom is Aaron? Nobody has noticed thus far how he is only with Aaron? Nile even admits she would never have accepted his offer if not for trying to save Dane.
The prince says he can’t help Dane, but if they married she could pardon him? And for some reason, nobody would believe their story over Captain Rima’s story. So you have a princess from one kingdom, a prince from a second kingdom, A high ranking marine from another kingdom (along with all of his spades), all of the other people on the ship who would support them, the Diante captain who said he would only assist the princess’s kingdom and not the Lyron league or anyone else, and many more witnesses, but none of them compare to the singular Captain Lima. Lima who miraculously survived a gunshot and falling in the ocean. Lima who isn’t even royalty, just a noble. Lima also managed to beat everyone back to land and run a printing press with a false story and no witnesses. A printing press that is in Nile’s own kingdom and they could easily commandeer and set things straight.
The reasoning behind everything is so ludicrous. Did I mention that even though they can’t pardon Dane, they can let him out of jail, and assign him to the princess’s detail along with the turncoat from Tirik? Yeah that’s believable and acceptable. It was just so ridiculous and irritating that nobody had any common sense or reasoning skills that I had to stop. This story needed some more thought put into it.
July 24, 2017
Great follow up novel to book 1 and I am excited for book 3! There is more magic, ships, action, romance, and the stakes are higher. If you enjoyed book 1 you will definitely enjoy book 2. This book is hard to put down! I read this in two days, which would have been one if things like sleep and work didn't get in the way.
The first quarter was a bit angstier than I would like, but it goes quickly and is relevant to the story. I also couldn't help but wonder how Nile's teeth enamel and esophagus fair, but choose to believe she has a very resilient, erosion-proof body.
As the story progressed, it went in a direction I didn't anticipate, mixing it well with a combination of action and political machinations. The world further expands with new characters and further character growth. I'm looking forward to seeing how the story further progresses and seeing how Nile's relationship with her magic changes.
The first quarter was a bit angstier than I would like, but it goes quickly and is relevant to the story. I also couldn't help but wonder how Nile's teeth enamel and esophagus fair, but choose to believe she has a very resilient, erosion-proof body.
As the story progressed, it went in a direction I didn't anticipate, mixing it well with a combination of action and political machinations. The world further expands with new characters and further character growth. I'm looking forward to seeing how the story further progresses and seeing how Nile's relationship with her magic changes.
August 2, 2017
I received a copy of this book as an advanced reader copy. War and Wind is the engaging second book in the Tides series. Readers are introduced to a few new characters as well a seeing more of the mainstays from the first book. Rima-the-villain returns much to my delight. It is wonderful having a villain whose actions you understand to be purely selfish individual and family gain.
War and Wind picks up not long after the first book ends. Immediately readers find out about the merchant ship Rima and crew have been escorting and how it ties in to the rest of the overarching story. Alex Lidell does a great job of answering some of the storyline begun in the previous novel and adding in new ones. Further development of the various societies occurs letting readers see more about the different countries and their social interactions. The magic is further developed and the story takes place on both land and sea leading to development of characters only mentioned before.
The dialogue and descriptions are solid, and this book ends on a minor cliffhanger leaving this reader wanting to know what happens next. While there are some interactions of the physical nature, they are tastefully done and fit well with the storyline. In other words, they fit well within the story and aren’t just dumped in for a titillation factor.
The world Lidell created is well worth another visit. (I wouldn’t mind a few more visits in future novels either!) I highly recommend it and look forward to reading more.
War and Wind picks up not long after the first book ends. Immediately readers find out about the merchant ship Rima and crew have been escorting and how it ties in to the rest of the overarching story. Alex Lidell does a great job of answering some of the storyline begun in the previous novel and adding in new ones. Further development of the various societies occurs letting readers see more about the different countries and their social interactions. The magic is further developed and the story takes place on both land and sea leading to development of characters only mentioned before.
The dialogue and descriptions are solid, and this book ends on a minor cliffhanger leaving this reader wanting to know what happens next. While there are some interactions of the physical nature, they are tastefully done and fit well with the storyline. In other words, they fit well within the story and aren’t just dumped in for a titillation factor.
The world Lidell created is well worth another visit. (I wouldn’t mind a few more visits in future novels either!) I highly recommend it and look forward to reading more.
April 14, 2021
Reckless heroine but it sort of pays off?
Okay so like a 3.5 for me.
I made the mistake of reading a low review that whines about this book only being about mentally torturing the reader and heroine. I worried this whole book would focus on one journey full of unnecessary pain (which was eehhh) but it ended up- thankfully -being about a bad journey and sudden twists and turns. And then it ended with such an epic climax that I had to sketch the scenes out, I was that excited.
Nile is very. Very. Hard to deal with. She’s got the guts but none of the experience it takes to use all that gumption properly. Her decisions cost lives and half the time she didn’t look like she felt bad about her choice. I didn’t like her in those moments. But then there would be other times where she did something so incredibly crazy for a reason I can totally get behind and it’s like a switch. I’m suddenly all about her and cheering. So I liked that.
The drama is... drama. Some irritating, some I could enjoy basking in forever. The war seems to maybe be progressing? But let’s be real, I only care about how cool Nile is gonna look when she figures out how to control her powers lol. Just kidding, I care about the world too so hopefully things will be wrapped up in the last book.
Okay so like a 3.5 for me.
I made the mistake of reading a low review that whines about this book only being about mentally torturing the reader and heroine. I worried this whole book would focus on one journey full of unnecessary pain (which was eehhh) but it ended up- thankfully -being about a bad journey and sudden twists and turns. And then it ended with such an epic climax that I had to sketch the scenes out, I was that excited.
Nile is very. Very. Hard to deal with. She’s got the guts but none of the experience it takes to use all that gumption properly. Her decisions cost lives and half the time she didn’t look like she felt bad about her choice. I didn’t like her in those moments. But then there would be other times where she did something so incredibly crazy for a reason I can totally get behind and it’s like a switch. I’m suddenly all about her and cheering. So I liked that.
The drama is... drama. Some irritating, some I could enjoy basking in forever. The war seems to maybe be progressing? But let’s be real, I only care about how cool Nile is gonna look when she figures out how to control her powers lol. Just kidding, I care about the world too so hopefully things will be wrapped up in the last book.
July 15, 2023
I was so worried that the introdution of Tam to the story would make a gross love triangle and ruin the book but Alex took care of that plot point in literally the best way possible!! Like are you joking, the man she has to marry is actually a really nice guy who is in love with his male servant and needs a fake marriage to keep his homophobic mother from knowing he's gay??? That is so dope!! Especially since Aaron is the sweetest and made sure Tamianth would offer her a life of her dreams at sea, with the added bonus of saving Domenic and keeping him close to her as her bodyguard. I also really liked the idea of keeping Quinn around, but he deserved more lines, the poor thing just kind of stood there pretending Domenic and Nile weren't flirting.
This was so smart of the author because not only are all of these plot points super fun to read but the fact that Domenic doesn't know how fake this marriage is gives the story the emotional conflict it needs, backed up by the tragedy of Clays character and the evil Rima, whose actions make so much sense for the filth kind of man he is. Like of course he would blackmail them, that's a classic Rima move.
I could go on about this forever jahbcna
This was so smart of the author because not only are all of these plot points super fun to read but the fact that Domenic doesn't know how fake this marriage is gives the story the emotional conflict it needs, backed up by the tragedy of Clays character and the evil Rima, whose actions make so much sense for the filth kind of man he is. Like of course he would blackmail them, that's a classic Rima move.
I could go on about this forever jahbcna
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 7, 2017
Ok, I'm going to get this out there: I love the early Honor Harrington books by David Weber (and still enjoy that series even though it has too much repetition at times). Add in illicit magic, put it in the sailing age high seas and make the characters and writing even better than what Weber did (and that's no insult to Weber since, as noted, I love those books) and the result is a book (this one) and a series (Tides overall) that has the same feel of those early books (great battles, high energy adventure, navy, societal and international politics at the high end, wonderful lead and supporting characters) BUT in a totally original way (that as noted, and bears repeating, is actually better).
Alex Liddell is a new favorite author (well, not actually so new anymore as I've read all the prior books...). I rarely give 5 stars, especially for books mid-series, but I can't help it here. War and Wind is simply superb and very highly recommended.
Alex Liddell is a new favorite author (well, not actually so new anymore as I've read all the prior books...). I rarely give 5 stars, especially for books mid-series, but I can't help it here. War and Wind is simply superb and very highly recommended.
May 28, 2017
I thought the first book in the Tides series was good, but book 2 was even better. While as well written, it was full of even more twists and a few moments that made me laugh out loud. Book 2 starts out strong and I had to read it all in one setting. I had to see if Captain Rima got what he deserved and would Nile be able to learn control of her air magic. And what about Nile's friends, let alone Domenic? This book had more ship battle scenes that were so well described that I could easily imagine what was going on. Loved revisit all of Nile's friends and seeing if her enemies on the Aurora got what they deserved. I really enjoyed my hatred for Captain Rima and loved what happened to him. Loved the ending! My honest review is - great book full of sea battles, friendship, backstabbers, and a bit of magic thrown in to make a great book I will put in my reread pile.
December 12, 2017
Nile Greysik’s seafaring life continues as more danger threatens her and her shipmates, from outside and within. With the war coming to the normally placid area, Nile must make some decisions that will affect the rest of her life, as well as those she cares about. There is the slimy, conniving, corrupt Captain Rima and his henchmen to contend with, while she’s trying to control her Gift and also keeping it a secret. And then there is the Prince who still wants to marry her, presenting her with a very difficult choice that may be her only option to save the man she loves. This was another surprising and exciting tale with a much more satisfying conclusion that wrapped things up neatly, but with the understanding that there will be more adventures to come - and I can’t wait to read them.
June 26, 2018
This second story of the series follows Princess Nile as she's desperately trying to protect her friends, contain and control her magic, and conceal her true identity. I'm not going to give away spoilers, but I will say I find her relationship with Dominic frustrating at times - I just want to bang their heads together! - and I so admire the things she does with Tam and Aaron. I really enjoyed the outcome of this book, and wouldn't mind reading more about these characters in the future.
The audiobook version of the story was an excellent production and brought the story to life. I really enjoyed listening to it, and would definitely recommend it as an excellent way to enjoy the story.
NB I received a complimentary copy of this audiobook, but I always give an HONEST review based wholly on my own opinions
The audiobook version of the story was an excellent production and brought the story to life. I really enjoyed listening to it, and would definitely recommend it as an excellent way to enjoy the story.
NB I received a complimentary copy of this audiobook, but I always give an HONEST review based wholly on my own opinions
August 14, 2017
Book 2 in the Tides series is just as gripping as the first book as readers follow Princess Nile Greysik. She’s posing as an ordinary seaman aboard the warship Aurora, having run away from home and a political marriage. But when their sedate patrol route suddenly turns into a crucial battleground, Nile must choose between exposing her identity or letting her country fall to defeat. To save the ones she loves, she considers accepting the marriage proposal she’d been avoiding. It may be the only way to foil the enemy and salvage her military career. As a reader, I love these stories that remind me of a cross between Mike Shepherd’s Kris Longknife series and the Horatio Hornblower saga. I can’t wait for the next installment.
January 16, 2018
"War and Wind," is another fabulous installment in Alex Lidell's Tides series! It had me saying 'just one more chapter, then I'll stop for the night and sleep' for about 2 hours. The first half of the book is packed with seafaring adventure, while the second half is a brilliant tapestry of political intrigue swirling in elemental magic! Nile is a beautifully written heroine. She is not perfect, in fact some of her choices are clearly wrong, but her truly good heart, her bravery, and her strong sense of duty see her through each challenge she faces. I am anxious to read the next book Sea and Sand!
As it is classified as YA fiction I would caution parents to make themselves aware of the content before their kids are allowed to read it. There is a scene in chapter 35 that I would not be comfortable with my kids reading for quite some time.
As it is classified as YA fiction I would caution parents to make themselves aware of the content before their kids are allowed to read it. There is a scene in chapter 35 that I would not be comfortable with my kids reading for quite some time.
June 2, 2018
Wwaaa a cliffy.
Audio version.
Oh my goodness I can't wait for the next part. This is a wonderfully creative series.
This narrator is my favorite narrator right up there with Barbara Rosenblatt who's my all-time favorite.
Bookshelves/tags:
adventure, cliffhanger, fantasy, favorites, flogging, paranormal, read, recorded, romance, saga, series, suspense, tragic, young-adult.
Reasons I enjoyed this audio book:
A bit of a Tear-jerker, Wonderful characters, Page-turner, Great world building, Unpredictable, Easy-to-read, Entertaining, Action-packed, Twisted, Haunting.
This Audio book was given to me at my request from the publisher, author or narrator and I provided this unbiased voluntary review.
Audio version.
Oh my goodness I can't wait for the next part. This is a wonderfully creative series.
This narrator is my favorite narrator right up there with Barbara Rosenblatt who's my all-time favorite.
Bookshelves/tags:
adventure, cliffhanger, fantasy, favorites, flogging, paranormal, read, recorded, romance, saga, series, suspense, tragic, young-adult.
Reasons I enjoyed this audio book:
A bit of a Tear-jerker, Wonderful characters, Page-turner, Great world building, Unpredictable, Easy-to-read, Entertaining, Action-packed, Twisted, Haunting.
This Audio book was given to me at my request from the publisher, author or narrator and I provided this unbiased voluntary review.
March 21, 2018
Wow what a story! There’s no getting any sleep once you start reading this book. Lots of action. Intense at times. Beautiful and sweet, loving at other times. A lot of suffering. Some forbidden romance. A jerk of a captain. Bad triumphs temporarily and good triumphs unexpectedly. Think of the movie Master and Commander only with an evil, manipulative, despicable, vile...... you get the picture) in command instead. Then imagine a woman deckhand taking charge and turning the tide-literally. So many twists and surprising turns to this story it is useless to try and predict what Ms Lidell has in store next.
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