A Jewel Bright Sea

Mage and Empire #1

by Claire O'Dell

A whirlwind of intrigue, lies, politics, and adventure swirls around one woman—and the prize she’s been sent to reclaim …
 
It was her talent for tracking magic that got Anna Zhdanov sent to catch a thief. A scholar’s daughter sold as a bond servant, she has no desire to recover the Emperor’s jewel for herself. But a chance to earn her freedom has driven her to the untamed Eddalyon province, awash with warm breezes, lapping waves, and more danger than she could possibly guess.
 
Within days her cover as an indolent noblewoman is in question, and it’s clear there’s more to Anna’s task than she knows. Soon she’s the captive of the unpredictable pirate captain Andreas Koszenmarc, hunted by the Emperor’s guard, besieged by a brigand queen, and at odds with her only friend. She must trust someone if she is to survive. But when all that’s certain is that everyone is hiding something, it’s no simple thing to choose …
 
Praise for A Study in Honor
 
“…a hell of a good novel… A Study in Honor turns out to be one of those books I find impossible to put down. I want the sequel immediately.”
— Tor.com

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Pirates, Magic, Adventure, Epic Fantasy

ebook

First published September 3, 2019

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.

Pen name of Beth Bernobich

Reviews

[Beth]

Anna grew up with her father encouraging her academic and magical tracking skills until she finds herself sold into bond servant. Given a choice to earn her freedom, Anna chooses to take on a task for her master, find the stolen Emperor’s jewel.

Heading to the wilds of the Eddalyon province, Anna finds herself head to head with a pirate crew also searching for the jewel. Eventually Anna has to make a decision if she should join forces with the untrustworthy pirate captain, Andreas, or face murder charges. Of course, she jumps on the pirate adventure where they hold a very uncertain amount of trust for each other’s motives.

When you crack this book open be prepared for a rollercoaster adventure because magic, mayhem and pirates infuse A Jewel Bright Sea in this politically charged twisty, turning plot.

I received this ARC copy of A Jewel Bright Sea from Kensington Books - Rebel Base Books. This is my honest and voluntary review. A Jewel Bright Sea is set for publication Sept 3, 2019.

My Rating: 4 stars
Written by: Clair O'Dell
Series: Mage and Empire (Book 1)
Paperback: 246 pages
Publisher: Rebel Base Books (September 3, 2019)
ISBN-10: 1635730813
ISBN-13: 978-1635730814
Genre: Romantic Fantasy

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Jewel-Bright-S...
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-je...
Itunes: https://books.apple.com/us/book/a-jew...

[Carrie]

A Jewel Bright Sea by Claire O’Dell is the first book in the Mage and Empire fantasy series. This series is an adult adventurous fantasy with romance and magic in a world with pirates. Of course having a love for pirate-y adventures I had to try this series out.

Anna Zhdanov had always had a talent for tracking magic but hadn’t much use for it when she was sold as a bond servant. Now however Anna is getting her chance to use her magic and possibly gain her freedom when she’s asked to find the Emperor’s jewel. Before she knows it though Anna is captive once again, this time by Andreas Koszenmarc, the pirate captain, the is being tracked by the Emperor’s guard.

A Jewel Bright Sea is the type of fantasy series that drops readers right into the action and doesn’t take the time to build up the world in which their joining. While I do love a lot of action over a slower pace just being dropped into the story made for a confusing start. As the book went along I also never felt there was much depth given to the characters to make me care for them or the romance. As much as I love pirates this start to the Mage and Empire fantasy series ended up at just a so-so read for me.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/

[Marta Cox]

I found myself wanting to read this because I loved the idea of mixing pirates with magic. Our heroine is Anna and she's indentured to a very ambitious man who sees her magical ability as a way to further his own dreams. Anna is sent in disguise as a noble woman to track down the thief of a very important gem but unfortunately ends up kidnapped by pirates ! Can she trust these felons because if she's going to fulfil her mission then she definitely needs help but will the price be too high ?
As this adventure began Anna is traveling with two men who also work for her Master but it's not initially apparent who can be trusted. I will say straight away that it felt rushed initially, almost as if the author forgot to give the reader vital information which was eventually coming but if blunt didn't quite work. Once Anna got taken by the pirates I did find myself much more engaged I'm happy to say and here's were it got just a tad predictable. The Captain is conniving, secretive and downright sneaky but he is set up as a love interest which honestly to me all felt a little too trite .
What really did work for me was Anna and her progression as a protagonist I wanted to succeed. The uneasy alliance she forms is full of doubt and the reader is frequently wondering if betrayal is just around the corner. I might not have been convinced by the romance angle but I absolutely adored Mate, Anna's friend as he was so loyal and the author introduces many others who stand out from Nicholas a cheeky boy to Thea , a healer with a remarkable gift.
The pace of this story just kept building with action and surprises and the second half of the book definitely made up for the way the author threw us into the beginning. This fantasy has very interesting magical elements and I feel Anna's adventures are far from over so I look forward to finding out just what happens next.
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair

[Carol (StarAngel's Reviews) Allen]

Book – A Jewel Bright Sea
Author – Claire O’Dell
Series – Mage and Empire #1
Cliffhanger? - Yes
Publication Date – September 3, 2019
Genre – Fantasy Pirates
Rating – 4.25 out of 5 Stars

Complimentary copy generously provided by the author through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

My Thoughts - Story
A very enjoyable book that mixes pirates, magic, adventure, and so much more. I found myself submersing myself in this story of Anna and Andreas. Yes, their relationship starts out pretty rocky (well, he did kidnap her) but they join forces and that is where the story gets interesting watching their relationship unfold.

I will be looking out for the next book in this series because I can’t wait to see what happens next!

Reason for Reading – Request from NetGalley
Story – 5 out of 5 Stars
Steam – 4 out of 5 Stars
Angst – 4 out of 5 Stars
Writing – 4 out of 5 Stars
Content Flow – 4 out of 5 Stars
Would Read More from Author? Yes
Recommend To – Readers who love historical pirates with some magic entwined

[Shelley]

*Source* Publisher
*Genre* Fantasy
*Rating* 3.5-4

*Thoughts*

A Jewel Bright Sea, by author Claire O'Dell, is the first installment in the authors Mage and Empire series. A talent for tracking magic gets Anna Zhdanov sent to catch a thief. A scholar’s daughter sold as a bond servant, she has no desire to recover the Emperor’s jewel for herself. But a chance to earn her freedom has driven her to the untamed Eddalyon province, awash with warm breezes, lapping waves, and more danger than she could possibly guess.

*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*

https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...

[Moony (Captain Mischief) MeowPoff]

The cover is so beautiful i might tear up a little.
But the story was meh for me, i wanted to like it and wanted to be interested but nope.
Sadly no. Oh well, not all books can fit for everybody.

I got this eARC from netgalley :)

[Crystal _ Reading Between the Wines Book Club]

Claire O'Dell's A Jewel Bright Sea is an adventurous tale brimming with magic, mayhem, pirates, and politics!

Anna Zhdanov had a wonderful life of academia and magic growing up with her father. With his sudden passing though, Anna learns of the mountain of debt he kept hidden from her. Her only hope of paying off all of the creditors pounding at her door is to sell herself as bond servant to her father's friend, who she thought was a good man. Now she is given the chance to be free of her servitude. All she has to do is recover the Emperor’s stolen jewel. But she isn't the only one after this treasure...

While I enjoyed the exceptional adventure of A Jewel Bright Sea, you're very much thrown into the middle of things right from the start of the book without any explanation. The plot was extremely confusing at first. I wasn't sure who these characters were, what their parts in the story were, or what kind of world I had stepped into. It took some time for me to sort it all out and become absorbed with the story. Anna travels to new lands with her two household companions. One who she believes she can trust, and the other who she know's she cannot. When it comes out that they are just one of many groups searching for this missing gem, it's hard to know just who to trust period. The plot is full of twist and turns, and once you start to feel good about someone there is suddenly a surprise betrayal. The story-line kept me on my toes and Claire O'Dell has weaved an interesting world to be sure in this new series.

One of my main issues with this title was that there was more telling than showing. I never felt any deep emotions from these characters. They just skimmed the surface. I didn't feel the attraction between Anna and Andreas, though it was an obvious set up from the start, and I didn't understand a lot of this couple's actions. There were numerous unfinished sentences from Andreas, and I think that if his character could have been expanded on more he would have had that much-needed depth for the romantic sub-plot. While I liked these characters, I found myself wanting to like them more and just not being able to with the material given. I was also frustrated that I couldn't picture the main characters in my head. I can't recall if their looks weren't touched upon in the story, of if it wasn't touched upon well enough.

That being said, I finished the book, and enjoyed it in all. The plot moved steadily, with never a lull, and the world that Claire O'Dell has created here is unique. While I think that the characters and romance lacked substance, I am interested to read more. I am also curious about Anna's dreams or visions. Are they a glimpse of the past, or a warning for the future?


 
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[The Lit Bitch]

This book had a lot to recommend itself….pirates, adventure, magic, romance, fantasy. So many things that made it sound like a fun book to escape into.

I also thought the cover was pretty, though a little on the busy side. But ultimately I thought the promise of adventure and pirates sounded like a winning combo so picking up this one up when the time came, was full of promise for me.

I haven’t read anything by O’dell before but I know she has written a couple of other books that are part of a series, so I was curious to see what her writing style was and how the magic and pirates situation came together in this one!

This book had a lot more political intrigue than I expected. Not that it was a bad thing at all. I enjoyed navigating the politics of this world and the characters in it, though at times it could be a little on the confusing side. I did have to pause a few times to recall what was happening and why. I also felt like the reader was told a lot about things rather than being shown so sometimes that made reading a little tedious.

But what I did enjoy was the chemistry between Anna and Andreas, though it was clearly meant to be a secondary plot, I kept reading so I could continue to enjoy their budding romance. It has a slow burn quality to it though I hoped it had a little bit more time to simmer. I know that some readers felt that their romance was a little bland but for me I enjoyed it and the sexual tension was great for a secondary plot as a little something extra.

There is quite a bit of adventure and of course the pirates in this book as promised! I thought that added pizzaz and fun to the whole book. At times it might have felt like the author was trying to incorporate a little too much into this novel, but I didn’t think that it was over done or too over the top. I actually thought it blended together rather well.

Overall this book was ok for me. It was good but needed a little more organization for me to be great. It has all the right ingredients but needs a little more structure to bring everything it wants to do about for the reader. That said I ended up giving it 3 stars since I did enjoy the world, politics, and romance.

See my full review here

[Cathy Geha]

A Jewel Bright Sea by Claire O’Dell
Mage & Empire #1

Anna Zhadanov is impersonating a wealthy woman as she hurries to finish a quest that could mean her freedom. Her “owner” has sent her to find a precious jewel stolen from t he emperor and if she finds it and hands it over in the specified time then her debt will be paid and she will be free...in more ways than one. With two capable men at her side she has chased the thief for a LONG time and her time is in short supply when the story begins. She will be captured by a pirate, threatened by another pirate, be accused of murder, use magic, learn more about magic, escape, be saved, save others, heal...and a whole lot more. She also might just find herself liking someone enough to spend more time with him in book two of the series.

What I liked:
* The world this book takes place in
* Anna’s strength of purpose, willingness to help and a lot more
* Andreas’s poker face, tenacity and derring-do
* Anna’s friend in servitude
* The belief system of the people in the story
* The magic and how it was used and explained
* The plot
* The writing
* The secondary characters
* The fact the book ended without a cliffhanger but left me wanting to see what will happen next

What I didn’t like:
* What happened to the gem – am hoping that it will find its way to a safe place eventually
* The evil people and what they did – wasn’t supposed to like them so the author did well to make me dislike them

Would have liked more about:
* Backstories of some of the characters - BUT with more books to look forward to am wondering if some of the characters will tag along and I will learn what I want to know then.
* The empire and its history, the ruling family, etc
* The religious beliefs, customs, class system of people, etc – again, this may come out more in future books of the series...world building is the term I was looking for

Did I enjoy this book? Yes (and I am not a fan of fantasy)
Would I read more in this series? Yes

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington-Rebel Books for the ARC – This is my honest review.

4-5 Stars

[Nicole]

I received this novel from net galley and the publisher. Thank you!
This novel weaves a tale involving magic, adventure, betrayals, and political intrigue. The jewel that the Emperor had was stolen and it is a plot even more sinister than Anna Zhdanov first thought when she began her mission to retrieve the jewel so she can earn her freedom as a bond servant. She magical abilities help her tremendously with following the thief. Along with someone who she considers a friend, they track down the thief but instead find themselves captured by the pirate captain Andreas Koszenmarc, who is much more than he appears to be. Anna and Andreas have more trouble on their heels than before, each having a different motive for wanting the jewel. They form an uneasy alliance, but it slowly grows into trust but both still have truths they have not told the other. As they get closer to finding the thief and the jewel, there feelings for the other begin to deepen even with their secrets. There is a deeper plot at play, one that was rather unexpected. The question becomes, who will betray the other first and can they overcome it that betrayal. Look forward to more adventures with Anna, Andreas, and the rest of the pirate crew!

[Darlene]

I was invited to blurb this novel* and I enjoyed it immensely. Claire O'Dell gives me everything I want in an adventure: Magic! Swashbuckling! Treasure! Romance! And, of course, pirates!

I highly recommend A Jewel Bright Sea and I'm looking forward to the next Mage and Empire novel.

*I received a free ARC in exchange for an honest blurb.

[S.J. Higbee]

I’ll be honest – I did check a couple of times to make sure that I was reading the first book as O’Dell tips us in the middle of this adventure and for a variety of reasons, I do think this one would have been even more effective if we’d seen at first hand Anna’s life with the unpleasant man who she finds herself in bondage to. However, once I sorted out exactly who was doing what to whom, I thoroughly enjoyed being swept up into the swashbuckling adventure and various twists and turns of this story. It’s always a challenge to keep the characterisation suitably three-dimensional when so much is going on, but overall O’Dell rose to that challenge and I really liked Anna in all her guises.

O’Dell’s writing works particularly during the magical scenes where her prose nocks up a notch to vividly portray what is happening to Anna, so that we are kept in touch with her as she is confronted with a powerful magic capable of ripping her away from her soul and killing her. I also like the fact that we, the reader, realise the extent of her abuse in a way that Anna isn’t fully able to process – it’s nicely done. And while it arouses our sympathy, it means that our heroine doesn’t come across as too much of a victim.

I also liked the variety of people she met and in amongst the violence and double-dealing, I enjoyed the fact that she also met a number of kindly folks who are prepared to help her. Most of these characters worked well, but I have to say, this book would have had another mark if I had been wholly convinced by a certain captain. Sadly, I wasn’t. I’m not sure why – but I’ll admit to my heart sinking a bit when he and Anna became more than friends.

However there is so much going for this entertaining, action-packed fantasy sea adventure that it wasn’t the dealbreaker it could have been and I’ll happily read the next book to find out what happens next to Anna. With a bit of luck, a sea monster will make away with that wretched captain… Recommended for fans of sea-going fantasy adventure tales. The ebook arc copy of A Jewel Bright Sea was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest opinion of the book.
8/10

[L]

**I won a copy in a Goodreads giveaway**

I really enjoyed Claire O'Dell's Janet Watson books, so I was excited to see that she was tackling a favorite genre of mine: fantasy, with a dash of romance. I'm coming away from this one conflicted, though. It was fun, but I didn't enjoy it as much as I expected to.

The good: The worldbuilding is deftly done. O'Dell doesn't spoon feed us; the shape of the world slowly unfurls from Anna's actions and reactions. I'm glad to see that there's a sequel, and I look forward to learning more about the world. I also really enjoy her writing style.

The less satisfying: I never really connected with any of the other characters, except maybe Anna's friend Mate (and he was absent for a good chunk of the story). Anna seems distant from everyone else throughout the book, even when they're laboring side-by-side. In a way, this approach makes sense, given her status as a bonded servant who's not still free and who has been abused. However, it doesn't exactly make for an satisfying read for someone who prefers character-driven novels to plot-driven one. And it becomes especially problematic for me when we get to the romance. It didn't feel like they had enough interactions to barely begin to know each other, much less fall in love--it's probably not a good sign when you give a disbelieving laugh when one says "I love you" to the other.

In short, I don't know how to rate this book, but I'll definitely be picking up the sequel, if that counts for anything.

[Tamara]

Title: A Jewel Bright Sea
Author: Claire O’Dell
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 4.0 out of 5

Anna Zhdanov is the daughter of a scholar. She’s also a bond servant. So when someone steals a jewel from the Emperor, her master tasks her with recovering it—and earning her freedom. But the wilds of Eddalyon are an island paradise, filled with enemies, pirates, and magic.

Soon Anna’s status as indolent noblewoman is called into question, and she finds herself held captive by the notorious pirate caption Andreas Koszenmarc, who’s also searching for the missing jewel. With the Emperor’s guard and another brigand at their heels, Anna must decide if she can trust Andreas—before both of them lose the jewel and their promised rewards.

I enjoyed A Jewel Bright Sea. Pirates and magic? I am definitely there for that. There was so much going on behind the scenes in this novel, and that sense of a bigger picture gave a lot of depth to the story. The reader just knew that there was an explanation for everything—even if they couldn’t figure out what that was just yet. Anna has lived a tough life, and she trusts no one, so deciding whether to trust Andreas is a big deal for her. I loved the worldbuilding here as well, as that made the story truly shine.

Claire O’Dell is an award-winning author. A Jewel Bright Sea is her newest novel, the first in the Mage and Empire series.

(Galley courtesy of Kensington Books/Rebel Base Books via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.)

More reviews at Tomorrow is Another Day

[ashley (❁´◡`❁)]

3 stars, purely based on my enjoyment.

I honestly cannot determine if this is a good or bad book, but I need to read the next one.

+'s: Anna is a clever, capable heroine; the magic system is interesting; love pirates & magic!!!; Maté forever is my next tattoo
-'s: abrupt & strange pacing in the beginning; repetitive descriptions (how many times can one say 'salt-stung' or something smells 'green'? many times); characterizations can read as flat vs. subtle; there is no exposition or explanation for the world or characters at ALL

I think this world needs fleshing out. I feel like the author took the tip of "show, don't tell" a bit too literally and did little explanation of anything. It often feels like you're meant to have a handle or some background on this world & characters already. I would flip through and wonder if I missed an introduction or something, only to find that no, this was the first time I'm meeting this character. While I did begin to piece together loose identities for everyone, my personal handle on the characters outside of Maté, Anna, and Thea (later on) felt very loose. I can't tell if it's subtle or just nonexistent.

Despite my quibbles, I did enjoy this book a lot more than I expected when I first began, and I'm glad I stuck through it because there is something very fun and original about the world. I just feel like the writing needs a lot more tightening up and the world-building expanded; perhaps that will come in the second book?

[Colleen Corgel]

I have some mixed feelings on this one. It is extremely slow at the beginning, as fantasy series starters can be, but there were times where the details got in the way of the story at times. There's some decent world building, wrapped around a bit of a swash buckling fantasy. I did enjoy the lead character in Anna, as she is smart, and capable, but does make some interesting mistakes, so it doesn't feel like she is preternaturally competent. It can be a bit of a problem with fantasy novels that the lead is just too good at what they do, so dire situations don't feel too risky. Here there are some sticky situations that she gets herself into, but she does have to work hard to get herself out of them.

This is an okay start for what could be a really fun fantasy adventure. People will enjoy the tension between our leading lady and the rouge pirate, Andreas, even though I was a little frustrated by how quickly the pair fall into bed with each other. I could see it coming from a mile away, but it still felt forced, like just another added bit of drama. But then again, the writing style just flows, and O'Dell rights some really fun action pieces. I just am more on the pleasantly satisfied end of things with the book. I will read the next book, but hoping for some meatier character moments.

I received this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Roni]

I received this novel from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
UMMMMM WOW BETRAYAL, LIES, & INTRIGUE

This book is a jewel!!!! Every page turned there was an unexpected surprise- but instead of whiplash I was always excited. The plot had me on the edge for every second and I loved every second. Anna's magical powers were actually so magical, super useful and relevant to the story's plot. In novels like this, most of the scenes are rushed and to fast to follow. This was not the case for A Jewel Bright Sea. Everything was even and easy to follow. EVEN the characters were great and the relationships that are written are relatable/real. The only reason I did not give five stars would be that Anna's love seemed to bloom out of the blue. There were no previous inclinations, thoughts OR EVEN FLIRTY CONVERSATIONS. Then all of a sudden she is kissing this man and IN LOVE? I think that was a BIG WHOOPS on the author's part. However, I CANNOT WAIT for the second book! I've heard a lot about Claire O'Dell and they have all been good things and I can already tell from the ending that the sequel will be LIT. I will be recommending this book to friends and my book club when it is finally published!

[Laura (Bookie_mama_bear)]

💎BOOK REVIEW 💎
Firstly a thank you to Netgalley and Kensington books (Rebel Base) for allowing me to review this book prior to release for an honest review.
I really enjoyed this book! It’s a mixture of adventure & fantasy. Pirates, mages, nobles and lots of backstabbing (some literal and some figurative). The leading lady, Anna, can be a little frustrating at times. She has immense power and potential yet she cowers in the corner a little too often for me. Her back story is sad and really makes you route for her throughout. I like that her best friend isn’t the typical sidekick, he’s older and cranky, almost fatherly. The most fearsome pirate is a woman....yes!! The story wrapped up nicely and it could have easily been left here and I wouldn’t have felt frustrated but I’m glad there is a follow up to look forward to.🙌🏼
The writing style is very complex at times but it’s a book aimed at an older audience, it borders on being YA but I feel it crosses over more into adult fantasy. Excellent scene setting and characterisation, I really loved and loathed in equal measure. 💎
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

[Laura Kehoe]

4.5 stars, actually. But it was still really good!

This was a really fun read! I loved the characters and the world Claire O'Dell created. It was a fast-paced book that kept me interested from start to finish. I didn't know what to expect when I started, but I'm so glad I gave this book a chance. It did not disappoint!

I really appreciated each character stayed true to their own personality and motivations. When they changed their minds or did something different, I feel like I understood why they made that choice. It didn't feel like a random action to keep the story going. And they all had such great personalities!

I'm really intrigued by the world O'Dell built! There is still so much more I want to learn, but I feel like I have a pretty solid grasp of how things work and what this world looks like.

If you like action-packed fantasy books with strong characters, I would highly suggest giving this book a read! I'm excited to see where this story goes next.

Disclaimer: I was offered a copy of this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Michaela]

Truthfully this story wasn’t bad, it just failed to capture me. I didn’t really get invested until the end because most of the beginning just read as flat even when there was action going on. I don’t think I’m going to read the second because the author proceeded to lose my new interest in the last pages. While the end was not satisfying that is less the result of a captivating cliffhanger and more the disappointment at the bottom of a gentle hill—it just ended. I’m not invested enough in the characters or the new (kinda bland) plot line to continue this story. Also, unrelated, but did the main couple really need that break at the end? Like I realize they both technically lied to each other and lying breaks trust, but the lies felt like such softballs in terms of betrayals. Neither lie impacted the other character or the plot in a heavily negative way (Andreas’ lie almost seemed helpful)…so no harm, no foul? Again I realize the harm is technically to the trust and this just might be my disconnect to the characters speaking, but I really didn’t see a huge issue here.

[Vigasia]

I reqested for this book on Netgalley seeing that Martha Welss gave it 5 stars. And she is one of my favourite authors so I decided I give her recommendation a try. And I am glad that I did. It is very good fantasy novel with likeable characters and well constructed plot. Plus there is an interesting magic system, strong female protagonist and pirates. What's not to like?

Our protagonist is Anna a woman with magic skills who is on a quest from his master to find the stolen jewel. She and her friend Mate are kidnapped by a bunch of pirates and then the adventure begins. I really liked Anna and Mate friendship and her relationship with othe side characters.

Pacing of this book is good for the novel of this size. Nothing's happen too fast or too slow, but all the time something's going on, so it's definitely not a boring story. It was my first introduction to Claire O'Dell prose, but I think that she can create an engaging story for fantasy fans.

[Carolina Colleene]

Language: R (96 swears, 6 “f”); Mature Content: R; Violence: PG13
As a bonded servant because of her father’s debts, Anna must obey her master -- but that is not the only reason she has for going on this dangerous quest. If she is successful in getting what her master wants, Anna will finally earn her freedom. Months of following clues has gotten Anna closer, and she knows she will be successful, until another group shows interest in the thing she seeks and puts the reward of her freedom at risk.
I found the beginning confusing, something to slog through hoping that the story would get better and make more sense. It did, for a while, but I’m still a little confused about how everything worked out in the final battle of the story. I was also disappointed in the short-but-descriptive-enough sex scene that was randomly inserted in the middle of the book. Everything resolved nicely, though, in the end. The mature content rating is for that sex scene, groping, and implied rape; the violence rating is for battle gore.
Reviewed for https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/

[Elizabeth]

I won an advanced copy of this one, and it did take me a while to really figure out what was going on. This has a bit of a Lara Croft vibe with a healthy dose of Pirates of the Caribbean. Lots of swashbuckling pirates and island adventure! Anna is a really interesting heroine with plenty of grit who has taken up a rather impossible quest for the chance at a quiet life for herself and her books (and more telling, a lock on her door). Figuring out who she can trust, trying to stay out of a dangerous political mess, and chasing a dangerous magical trail keep this story's pace fast and wild. Got to say, I really loved the ending too! I was prepared for my ship to sink, so it was a high note to end on. And I wouldn't be at all surprised if trouble follows Anna into her next trip!

[Heather Jones]

A story in O’Dell’s world of River of Souls, but starting a different series (Mage and Empire) that combines threads of romance, adventure, and mystery. You get plunged into the world with its rich geography, history, and politics pretty quickly, so it may help to have read other books set in the world to have a solid grounding. For some reason I didn’t love it as deeply as I did the River of Souls series and I’m not entirely sure why. I think I felt too off-balance with regard to where the plot was going and following all the twists and turns, betrayals and allegiances. O’Dell does fabulous world-building and I enjoyed exploring new aspects of that, but didn’t quite connect with the protagonist as much as I hoped to.

[CR]

Unfortunately the best thing about this title was the cover. The story opened pretty well however, it went down hill from there. The writing style was fine as was the pacing. But, this character driven story just didn't do it for me. I never really connected with the characters all and the romance just didn't click with me at all because it just didn't have enough page time to blossom.

The world building was amazing though. I really felt like this wasn't a finished title. It felt more like it was a title that was still looking for editing. And in the end at least for this reader. I wished more care would have been taken with the plot and the characters.

[Sara Jo]

The story got off to a slow start and the world-building needs some work, but it had promise over all. I was disappointed by the magic words being used in a Dutch or German language but never translated. It was clear they were important yet left as a mystery which didn’t make sense to me. I enjoyed Anna and Andreas but would have appreciated more backstory and description as well.

I was provided with an ARC of this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Helen Wawrejko]

Well written, sweeping drama as Anna hunts for a stolen magical jewel. Bonded servant, the promise of freedom leads her into the den of pirates on the same course as she. Mystery, action, swashbuckling adventure, this behind doors read has a slow burn romance in between the lies. Everyone has an agenda, and it is a great reveal. I really liked it, and would recommend it to anyone. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC from Netgalley.

[Liz]

If you're looking for a fast-paced swashbuckler, this is a book you'll want to pick up. It has lots of action, some intriguing magic, a gutsy heroine, a simmering romance and treachery everywhere. I enjoyed this book and the nice ending has the promise of more to come.
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway for this honest review.

[grosbeak]

Having read the author's first trilogy set in this universe, I knew what I was in for: mild romantic fantasy in a vaguely central-European setting. The leads were basically identical to the leads of the previous one, and the hero had the same last name as that hero: are they related? Is this a reboot? I can't really be bothered to go back and figure it out.

[Berni Phillips]

This was fun. It has everything you need to take you away from your stressful day-to-day life: pirates, magic, secret identities, romance, and swashbuckling. It's the perfect place to take a vacation in your brain.