El susurro de la marea

Song of the Current #2

by Sarah Tolcser

Caro y Markos se han acostumbrado a la rutina: despertar, preparar el desayuno, tratar de evitar que alguien asesine a Markos ese día…
Las corrientes están agitadas. Markos corre constante peligro: muy pocos lo apoyan en su proclama por el trono de Akhaia y, sin fuerzas militares, no tiene si quiera oportunidad.
Alivio aparece en el horizonte cuando un poderoso Arconte decide aliarse con él en su pelea por el trono. Pero a cambio de un ejército, el joven deberá desposar a su hija. Así que Caro y
Markos deberán decidir qué es más importante: si su amor o el destino de Akhaia.
Naufragios, tesoros perdidos, viejos y nuevos enemigos, magia oscura y un romance devastador sacuden esta historia en la que encontrarás tu destino.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Pirates, Young Adult Fantasy, Romance, Adventure, Fiction

418 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 5, 2018

Reviews

[Chelsea Humphrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 STARS

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't wholly enjoying all the YA pirate fantasy fiction that's being released, and the Song Of The Current series consistently has the most gorgeous covers. The first book in the series was a solid debut to an intriguing twist on some of the ancient folklore in the genre, and I felt Whisper Of The Tide was just as solid of a sequel. The story continues in the following of a strong female protagonist, and this plot also features mystery, action sequences, and just enough romance. There was a satisfying wrap-up to most of the threads that were left open in the first novel and upon finishing the book I realized just how much I've enjoyed reading about these characters, and also just how much I'll miss them again. Highly recommended to fans looking for another pirate fantasy adventure, but definitely start with Song Of The Current to keep from being confused and spoiled for the many twists and turns.

*I received a review copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

[Sarah]

Not to brag but I've already read an early version of this and it's super satisfying and super fun.

[The Captain · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ahoy there me mateys! I loved the author’s debut and was excited to finally read the second book of the duology. While I try to post no spoilers if ye keep reading this log then ye have been forewarned and continue at yer own peril . . .

I absolutely loved life on the river in song of the current. The second book returns to follow Caroline Oresteia and her new life on the sea. Many months have passed since the events of the previous book. All of Caro’s old wishes and dreams for the future are sunk. Caro feels adrift in her new role and has no real sense of purpose or direction. She has pledged her support Markos to win back his throne. Can she support him and figure out what she wants at the same time?

Well not easily that be for sure! Issues involve bounty hunters, pirates, a vengeful sea goddess, assassination attempts, hidden treasures, magic, shipwrecks, and making deals with old enemies. Plus there be relationship drama, self-doubt, and mistakes made. This book certainly increased the stakes for Caroline. There were plot twists galore, fun banter, and lots of conniving. The relationship between Caro and her enemy was one of the highlights for me. The world building continued to float me boat. I wouldn’t mind heading for many of these ports.

The only small issue I had was that Caro’s family does not play big roles in this installment. I kinda missed her dad and Fee. Ye did get to see some of her fierce cousin at least. The duology concluded satisfactorily but I wouldn’t mind another story set in this world. About Daria perhaps? Arrrrr!

Check out me crew member’s review of this one:

Raven @ dreamyaddiction’s review – “Overall, I loved this book! It’s a total entertaining read filled with adventure, magic, romance, pirates, ships, and treasure hunting. The story wrapped up perfectly with a satisfying ending. I’m really gonna miss this world and the characters. If there’s ever a spin off of this series in the future, I would definitely read it. I can’t wait to know what the author has in store for us next.”

[Sarah Tolcser · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't remember doing this, so I think I fell asleep on my phone last night. EXCELLENT SLEEP, 5 STARS.

[Scrill · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC received from the publisher via Netgalley for a fair review.

“A ship was not meant to sit at anchor in the harbor, and neither was I.”*

Join Caro as her adventure continues with the emparch, Markos, who is continuously being attacked as he attempts to get his country back. Caro starts to question who she is and her purpose as she struggles with the idea of being emparchess and parting with the sea. This swashbuckling romance will keep you turning pages to the very end.

The Story
From the very first chapter till the end I loved following Caro as she discovers who she is and what she really wants to do with her life. I couldn’t help cheering Caro on while she struggled with her star crossed love life that just didn’t want to be harmonious with her sea life.

Even though much of the story the characters were struggling to just stay alive or were fleeing capture, the story still had a plot and direction. If you’re looking for an action packed pirate adventure then I would say check this series out. Between the love story, actual pirating, a treasure map, and being cast away on the island you are sure to be entertained the whole way through.

The World Building
There is so much more ship jargon in this book. I loved it in the first book with the wherries, and I loved it again in this book. It’s not an overwhelming amount that if you don’t know the directions on a boat that you wouldn’t be able to understand, but having the language there helped bring the feel of the ship to life.

It was fun to learn a little bit more about the favoritism of the various gods, but not to the point that it took away from the adventure. I love that the ocean god has a snarky attitude that fits with Caro’s.

We also get a little bit of fun with more of the shadow magic through Kente (winner of cousin of the year for being so faithful to Caro). Though at times I thought the shadow magic ended up being a little too convenient, I appreciated that it wasn’t 100% fool proof and that there were still obstacles that interfered with it’s capability.

The Characters
This book made me want to watch the first two Pirates of the Caribbean’s. You know when they were still good. The dynamic of Caro and Melanos just reminded me so much of Elizabeth Turner and Jack Sparrow.


I thought their trust/hate relationship really helped drive the story along, as you tried to decide if Melanos was going to be a bad guy or not by the end of the book. I was a nice way to keep you on your toes.

Caro has this selfishness that she has to overcome where all her decisions seem like they’re about what’s best for Markos, but at the same time she just wants a bit of everything. I loved that she just didn’t have everything figured out, and was willing to make some sacrifices in the end.

The Soundtrack
Eisley – Currents


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[Shannon Miz · Rating 4 out of 5]

You can find the full review and all the fancy and/or randomness that accompanies it at It Starts at Midnight

Honestly, I was a little hesitant to start this one. I liked, but didn't love the first book . But I must say, I was pleasantly surprised by how easy it was to get into this sequel! The elements that I enjoyed from the last book were still in play: Caro being full of awesomeness, her banter with Markos, and the atmospheric world building. There's a ton of at-sea adventure in this book, and Caro sailing feels so, so right.

But there was definitely more at stake in this book. It seemed much less "safe" than the first, which was actually my biggest gripe with Song of the Current. So for this to seem a bit more urgent, more dangerous, made it a much better read for me. In fact, I was pulled in almost immediately by the direness of it all. The plot never lagged for me, and I was engaged the whole time.

There's also some new/better-fleshed-out side characters in the mix that made the book all the more enjoyable. One of my favorite aspects of this book is Caro's relationship with a villain of sorts- to say anymore would be spoilery, but it was fabulous. The banter and snark that we've grown to love comes out in full force. The only thing I wasn't totally thrilled with was a bit of predictability and a little bit of "lack of communication" trope from our romantic duo.

The ending, if it is the ending of the series (I have no idea, but it seems to be only the two books for now?) is definitely satisfying. So if it remains a duology, I think readers will be quite pleased with the direction this book takes.

Bottom Line: Definitely stronger than the first, I highly enjoyed this sequel set in a watery world of political chaos.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maybe 4.5 stars, but I loved it! Just as in Song of the Current, Caro & Markos's banter & chemistry lit up the pages. I really like that Caro carves out her own fate from the expectations and demands everyone else places on her. Full review to come.

11/7/17:
*crying* LOOK HOW BEAUTIFUL THAT COVER IS HOLY COW!

4/27/17:
I'm about halfway through Song of the Current, and the way it's going, I'm going to need the sequel ASAP!

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.25 // 5
[No Spoilers]
.
I really enjoyed the sequel much more than the first book. You can really tell the author has grown and feels incredibly more confidant within the world.
Instead of having to focus on the world building, we were able to focus on the characters more and their struggles.
The plot certainly took a completely different direction than I thought, which was GREAT! I was thinking this story would lose its nautical tones and influences, but it ended up being the exact opposite.
The return of one of the most complex characters from the first book I think had to be my favorite part. He was hysterical, and I couldn’t stop grinning the entire time. I have so many jokes marked off in the ARC because he’s just so funny!
I also enjoyed watching the maturation of Caro because she was very insecure even at the end of book one. It was a gradual and nice change because people certainly do not change with the snap of their fingers. Her relationship with Markos also felt more real if that makes sense. It was really genuine and sweet.
By the way the villains in this story are so numerous and so evil, and I LOVED IT! I was shaking my book in anger and betrayal so many times- I’ve lost count now. My fangirl screams certainly are seen in my Instagram story haha.
This story was just soooo much better than the first, and I’m so thankful I could review and read it. I really hope there’s a spin off to this world because Sarah certainly set up that possibility in the end, but I’m going to miss Markos and Caro so much!

[Cindy ✩☽♔]

At last a synopsis!

But the hint of a potential love triangle...

On the plus side With shipwrecks, lost treasure, old and new enemies, dark magic...

-
The cover is beautiful and I love it!

[The Library Ladies · Rating 5 out of 5]

(Full review here at the thelibraryladies.com.)

Remember a time, not so long ago, when “Pirates of the Caribbean” was actually acclaimed and not a national joke? I mean, those first few movies were a blast! I may, may, have even seen the first one in theaters three times. I remember being almost giddy over just how much unadulterated, unquestioned fun that first movie was offering up. Adventure! Romance! Great characters! And some top notch humor that the other films never seemed to really understand or replicate in all the many, MANY, iterations that followed. So you can imagine just how thrilled I was when I discovered about halfway through this book, that “Whisper on the Tide” was essentially what you’d get if you took that first movie and then took Kiera Knightley’s character from the third movie, but actually made her, you know, a good character and had her run the show.

While Caro has finally discovered her true calling, with the goddess of the ocean in her ear and a ship to her name, her time of late has been spent decidedly NOT at sea. After pledging herself to help Markos regain his lost throne, she’s recently discovered that much of what this help is made up of is running a few messages here and there and sitting through various speeches and rallies while Markos looks to drum up support for his cause. And all is not going well. The ocean god is displeased with Caro’s lack of sea time adventures and Markos few followers are pushing towards a marriage of convenience that would bring in much needed support. Caro has more and more difficulty seeing a path forward that allows her to keep both of her loves, the sea and Markos himself.

For all that the description of the story, both mine and the official one, puts a lot of weight on Caro’s decision about her future, part of what has made me like this series so much so far is Caro’s no nonsense approach to life and decision making. She doesn’t wilt away from tough choices and she is endlessly practical. In many ways, she sees her ability to make hard calls as her biggest asset to Markos, whom she often derides as getting too caught up in the emotions of things. Here, these character traits move the story along and keep it from being marred in the emotional duldrums of soap opera-ness that could have come about with a different character in this situation. But what makes it all the better is that through this book, Caro must learn that her own practicality and willingness to follow the harder path is not always a boon.

In short order, she’s back out on the ocean and beginning to understand how very little she knows of life as a sea captain, for all that she has her own ship and the ear of the sea goddess. The action never lets up and Caro’s adventures are filled with everything you’d want from a pirate adventure. We have storms, and ships sinking, and maroonings on islands, and lost treasure, and pirate lairs. Really, like I said at the beginning, all the best parts of the “Pirates of the Caribbean” movies, though each with their own unique spin and connection to the larger plot.

For secondary characters, we sadly saw much less of not only Markos, but Caro’s magic-wielding cousin, Kente, was also out of commission much of the time. But what we did get from her was integral to the plot, and I liked the the fact that she had a role at all, as with the way the last book ended, I wasn’t sure we were going to see more from her. Markos, also, was abscenfor much of the middle portion of the book. I was ok with this. I still very much enjoyed the romance between him and Caro, and their banter and Markos’ own cluelessness about certain things were still some of the most fun pieces of dialogue in the story. However, by sidelining him and their romantic entanglements, Caro was given the space and time to really come into her own as a character and drive the plot on her own.

This also gave room to add a surprising new (?) character who I had not expected to see at all. I don’t want to spoil it, but I thoroughly enjoyed this addition and the character added a much needed sense of ambiguity and moral greyness to an otherwise fairly straightforward adventure story. To continue the “Pirates” compariosons, if Caro is Elizabeth and Markos is Will, this new character was Jack Sparrow and lived up to the utter delight that any character should be if trying to fill that role.

I also greatly enjoyed the expanded idea of Caro’s relationship with the sea god. While we heard a lot about the river god and the solid, calm prescense that he transferred to those who were chosen by him, we only briefly met the sea god in the last book. And true to the nature of the sea, she is much more volatile and unpredictable than the god of the river seemed to be. I was relived that she wasn’t reduced to just another magical ability for Caro, but given her own agendas and whims that often came into conflict with Caro’s. Their ongoing battle of wills was a large secondary driver of much of the story and I was very pleased with how it played out.

In the end, I enjoyed this book even more than the first. While “Song of the Current” had a slow start, this one jumped right into the action and never let off the gas pedal. Caro was her same sassy self, but was given more room to proactively drive the plot herself this go around. I still very much enjoyed the romance, but was pleased to see that it played second fiddle to the action and adventure. And between the ocean god and the surprise Jack Sparow-esque character, there was enough double crossing and cross purposes to keep readers on their toes about what would be coming next. If you enjoyed the first book, I’m sure you’ll love this one!

Rating 9: Take all the good parts of the “Pirates” movies, make them even better, and turn it into a book and ta da!

[Raven_Blake (dreamy addictions) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Same Review Also Posted On My Blog: Dreamy Addictions

"You had to know what you wanted - but knowing wasn't enough. You had to be willing to fight for it. To be so strong even the sea could not defy you. That is how strong we must be, to keep the things we love."

Last year, I read Song of the Current and I absolutely loved it. It was a great debut. When I heard there's a lost treasure hunt involved in this sequel, I'm so ready for it. Whisper of the Tides is not only a fun sequel but also a good conclusion to this series. I loved getting back into this world and meeting the characters once again. I quite enjoyed this book as much as the first one. It has a perfect amount of  adventure, romance,  humor, snark, and action but the one thing that made this whole journey a fun ride is definitely the dynamic between Caro and a certain Conniving Pirate. These duo reminded so much of Elizabeth Swann and Jack Sparrow from Pirates of the Caribbean. I loved their relationship and their snarky banters.  

 Caro's adventure continues in this sequel where she helps Markos in his campaign and also becomes his protector to look out for any assassination attempts from their enemies. Markos is called pretender even though he's a legitimate heir to the throne. He needs an army to fight against Konto Theucinian, but no one wants to risk a war by supporting a young prince except for one Powerful Archon who is willing to support Markos’s claim to the throne if, in exchange, he accepts his daughter’s hand in marriage. Now Caro and Markos needs to decide which is important, their love or the throne. Caro always belonged to the sea and she never fitted to be an emparchess so she finally makes the painful decision for both of them which eventually leads Caro to another dangerous adventure.

I loved Caro even more in this book. Her character growth was very well done. After the events in the first book, She was kinda confused about where she fit in and where her true destiny lies. She Struggled while making hard decisions but she always stood strong. She's not perfect and made mistakes but that's what makes her so real. Markos is a delightful character. He's always sweet, fun and charming. He's kinda secondary character in this book because he had less part in this book. I still enjoyed the swoony romance and fun banters between him and Caro. I liked Kente, Caro's cousin who wields shadow magic. She was there for her whenever Caro needed help. I really wish she had more part in this book because she's really an amazing character. I also liked the Snarky Sea Goddess who loves taunting Caro.  And finally, we have a surprising new character in this book who stole the show. He's a great addition to the plot and I really didn't expect to see him again. He has an intriguing and fun personality. I really enjoyed his character a lot. I'm not revealing his name because it's kinda spoilery. If you like Jack Sparrow then you'll definitely love this guy.  

The plot was very interesting and engaging throughout. It has a slow start which I'm really not fan of, but after the mysterious shipwreck, I was hooked to the plot till the end. There were so many twists and turns in the book that kept me on the edge of my seat. The whole story felt like an adventurous ride. There's a lot of sea adventure in this book and I enjoyed every minute of it. The writing was pretty good, but to be honest I struggled with the writing in the beginning. The book was told in Caro's first person pov. I enjoyed reading the story from Caro's POV, but I think this would've been even more enjoyable if it was written in multiple POV's. The world building was amazing. It was one of the best aspects of this series. The world of riverlands is an enchanting world filled with magic, myths, gods and goddesses, sea creatures, and pirates. I wish we could explore more of this world. 

Overall, I loved this book! It's a total entertaining read filled with adventure, magic, romance, pirates, ships, and treasure hunting. The story wrapped up perfectly with a satisfying ending. I'm really gonna miss this world and the characters. If there's ever a spin off of this series in the future, I would definitely read it. I can't wait to know what the author has in store for us next.

[Aila · Rating 4 out of 5]

IT WAS SO GOOD!

WHISPER OF THE TIDE was a stunning sequel! I came in with high expectations, but was honestly ready to give it a 3 star midway through the book, no joke. What changed my mind? I could say that the events that happened were pretty awesome, or the resolution was sooo satisfying and lovely, or how the stuff that had me side-eyeing were properly addressed. But I think plain and simple, Tolcser breathed life into Caro’s character and made her resilient, flawed, and just great in general. I adored her from start to finish, mistakes and all. And I hope fans of the book come into WHISPER OF THE TIDE with an open mind and heart to Caro’s flaws.

The book follows Caro’s first person POV as she tries to help Markos overthrow the rule of Konto Theucinian, who has a strict regime as monarch (or Emparch, as they are called here). Both Markos and Caro are on Theucinian’s hitlist, and much of the action comes from assassination attempts and being on the run. Markos is trying to get supporters to place him on the throne, as his father was the Emparch and was killed when Theucinian took power, but many people call him the Pretender and are too afraid of Theucinian to support him. The interesting part of this particular plot is that it’s there, but not the main focus. Theucinian is a force that’s unseen throughout the book - his actions are done through other characters and thus made for an uneventful protagonist.

“‘When we make a promise to serve, sometimes that promise is hard to keep. Whether you serve a god or an Emparch.’ He nodded at me.
‘Or both.’”

Caro’s life was flipped upside down after meeting Markos and getting embroiled in the politics of the land. She found out that she was one of the chosen by the sea goddess, even though she grew up calling for the river god. Additionally, she wants to explore and travel, but stays in the city near Markos to help him with his campaign. Because of this, doubt and restlessness emerges, creating a confused main character who doesn’t know where she fit in. I really enjoyed this particularly piece of introspection because her obvious insecurities made her stand out as a character, even as she puts up a strong and fierce front.

The plot thickens when Caro pushes Markos to marry another noble that will help him with his campaign. At the same time, she defies the sea goddess and becomes stranded in an island with an unlikely ally. Or is it enemy? With that, the fun begins.

“Three months ago I’d believed with every bone in my body that my fate was in the riverlands. I’d been wrong. Was this really fate… or the god attempting to manipulate me?”

I thought that I would really dislike the romance in this book. Both Caro and Markos don’t know what they want, and whether to sacrifice their lives over duty. Since she pushes him away, they aren’t together for the middle of the book and I low key got annoyed with him. BUT. But, when they meet again, things are in the open. Hidden schemes are unfolding and they - mainly Caro - has learned a lot since they last met. I love how the author really makes good use of dialogue and communication to sort their relationship out. Yes for no misunderstandings! And overall, I thought they were a great couple with sweet chemistry and complementing hearts full of adventure.

“Practicality had never been Markos’s strong point. He could stand there and make romantic proclamations all he wanted. Myself, I preferred the money.”

I really enjoyed the ending and how most plot points got wrapped up. Another great thing about this book was SOOO many women in power. It’s uncommon to see that in YA fantasies, and I loved seeing all these talented, ruthless, and creative heroines here. This book also features: mistaken deaths, fearsome sea monsters, a map to a long-lost treasure, and the taste of the sea. Tolcser writes a timeless ocean adventure that wanderlust readers will devour.

Thank you Netgalley and Bloomsbury for the review copy!

[mith · Rating 4 out of 5]

AHHH, i love satisfying endings! a brilliant finale to a fun series.

[Kelly (Diva Booknerd) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seventeen year old Caroline Oresteia was a privateer on board the Cormorant, alongside her father, a humbled Wherryman, now evading capture for her thievery upon the everglades of Kynthessa. Caroline is a tenacious young woman, her fortitude is inspiring. Altruistically, she is now assisting Markos as he attempts to converge military and political allies. Markos Andela is the legitimate Emparch of Akhaia, his family slain by Konto Theucinian and displaced from his kingdom.

Mitigation emerges from Lord Pherenekian, Archon of Eryth. A proposal of a fifteen thousand person artillery in exchange for the political union of Markos and his daughter Agnes Pherenekian, an unconventional young woman interested in academics and potential Emparchess. Quite the conundrum for Caroline, conflicted between her fondness for the Prince and a Kingdom in disarray.

Whisper of the Tide is a maritime adventure of resilience and endurance. Generations of Oresteria Wherrymen have been guided by the River God, speaking the language of the Everglades. Except for Caroline, claimed by the Sea Goddess and destined for adventure. The relationship between Caroline and Markos is convoluted and apprehensive, Caroline placing her aspirations aside to preserve the revolution and subjugate Konto Theucinian, while desperately yearning for the wild blue yonder.

A ship was not meant to sit at anchor in the harbor, and neither was I.

The secondary characters are meticulously created, including a former adversary. Cousin and apprentice Shadowman Kenté. Merchant manager Docia Argyrus. Opportunist Sophronia Hypatos. Dido Brilliante the Pirate Queen and capitalist merchant Tamaré Bollard. Distinctly tenacious women who have challenged gender equality and celebrated the female achievement.

Sarah Tolcser has created an enchanting and captivating narrative, an entertaining adventure for the marauder at heart. Avast ye scalawags and buccaneers, all hands ahoy!

[Miranda · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading Song of the Current, I was DYING to get my hands on the sequel! I am so excited that I FINALLY read it and it was so much fun! This book was full of adventure, badass moments, romance, banter, and so much more!

One of my favorite things about this book was the high-stakes feeling that was weaved into every chapter. The plot of this story kept me on the edge of my seat! I was always dying to know what was going to happen next and I was constantly clutching my chest in fear for my favorite characters. The author did a great job at creating an exciting book that never lost its momentum!

I was happy to see all of the characters, old and new, develop A LOT in this book. The author really focused on fleshing out the characters in this story, which made them even more lovable than I thought possible! I seriously loved all the characters in this book! Each character is memorable and perfect in their own charming way. If I had to pick a favorite character though, it would definitely be Caro. Caro is such a witty and badass female. SHE IS MY QUEEN AND I LOVE HER!!!

The romance was just as swoony and lovable as ever in this book. I loved the romantic development and the steamy moments that resulted from the development! My only issue with the romance was the LACK OF COMMUNICATION! The communication issues lead to some angst, which I know keeps the relationship interesting, BUT I JUST WANTED THEM HAPPY AND IN LOVE!

This book was the perfect follow up to Song of the Current! Fans of the first book will not be disappointed with this sequel!

4 / 5 Fangs

*This ebook was given to me in exchange for an honest review. *

MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It
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[Gillian · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a thrilling sequel! I missed my subway stop I was so engrossed in this one- pirates and gold and danger and love and hard choices! I couldn't put it down.

[Tracy Banghart · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've owned this book for years, and I'm mad I didn't read it sooner. I loved the first book in the series, and this one was even better. Such a great, great duology. I highly recommend it!

[Lilly (Lair Of Books) · Rating 5 out of 5]

RTC on LAIR OF BOOKS

UPDATE---> FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW MAY ALSO BE VIEWED ON LAIR OF BOOKS

MY REVIEW...

2018 has been the year of the sequel here at Lair Of Books & thankfully there have been some really amazing follow-ups! Whisper Of The Tide is one of the most satisfying conclusions to what is now one of my favorite duologies in YA Fantasy. If you’re a fan of all things pirates like I am, you’ll enjoy this high seas adventure into the wee hours of the morning. All of the things I loved about Song of the Current were back & better than ever! our MC has spread her wings and is on a mission to protect the love of her life Marko who has a huge target on his back. Marko’s father the Emparch has been murdered & Konto Theucinian has taken over. Konto’s rule is very rigid and Markos is having difficulty campaigning for military support to overthrow Theucininan, many are going as far as calling him “The Pretender.” Caro is focused on keeping Markos alive while he tries to rally support & is beginning to struggle internally with the change of course her life has taken. To Caro, being the captain of her own ship was a dream come true and although the River God never whispered her name, that never changed her love for the pirate life. Caro may not have received the call of the River God but a bigger power has already set it’s sights on her. Destined for the open waters, Caro will have to choose between Markos & his political battles or her true calling. The Sea Goddess isn’t one to give those she chooses, the option to decline her call…

Caro & Marko are both struggling a bit with what they think is expected of them VS. their hearts desire. These characters are super fleshed out, more so than in Song Of The Current. I may not have cared too much for Marko in the first book but I began to appreciate him a bit more in this book. Marko is driven by duty, he doesn’t want to let the people down but politicking isn’t something that is coming easy to him. Most importantly, he isn’t willing to let go of Caro & marry a more “suitable match” for the good of the kingdom. Meanwhile, Caro is playing the self-sacrificing card & is basically telling Markos go-on get married & I’ll learn to live with it. This then sets off a series of events that place Caro on a wild treasure hunt. From piers to pavement, Caro & Marko are chased & multiple attempts against their lives are made. This made for a adrenaline induced read in which I couldn’t flip the pages fast enough. I ditched the page flags & allowed myself to enjoy this fun ride till the very end. We also got to see some of our favorite supporting characters return, with a focus on immediate & extended family members. I find myself hella intrigued by Caro’s cousin who can manipulate her shadow & has been in training since last we saw her in Song of the Current. It’s rare we get extended family in YA Fantasy, I love seeing Caro with her family members. If I had one complaint it would only be that we don’t really get to see Caro’s dad and Fee (Frog person) this time around.

The world building continued to be A+ expanding on the Sea God mythology and those she has chosen to be her children. What I loves most about this book is that we see Caro who is a strong Bi-racial woman continue to embrace all of the things that make her look different. Caro has bi-racial hair and is of a darker complexion with freckles, all things she loves about herself. She’s also very aware that they set her apart amongst the people of the river where she was raised by her father. Caro shows us what it’s like to be caught in the middle of both sides of her family. Her Father’s side who live by the ways of the River God as fishermen & wives VS. her Mother’s side who are well known established business people (Ships & trade) throughout the land. Caro resembles her mother who is described as a beautiful strong woman of color who also went against tradition & became a powerful captain and owner of the family business. We see Caro toggle back & forth between the two worlds & it just added depth to our MC, something that is sometimes sacrificed in YA Fantasy books for the sake of the plot. I am someone who prefers character driven books and can honestly say there was a healthy balance of both character & plot development in this duology. When an author creates characters I can’t help but get attached to it’s always my hope that we see more from them. Sarah Tolcser is now on my radar & I will pick up anything written in this world or not for that matter. For now, I won’t say goodbye…till next time ;)

*HUGE thanks to BLOOMSBURY YA & Sarah Tolcser for the early review copy in exchange for my honest opinion

[Namera [The Literary Invertebrate] · Rating 4 out of 5]

⤅ A strong sequel, just a shame the ending feels so... unfinished.

I have SOO MANY questions, reading that ending. And that's not something I like when it's at the end of what's supposed to be the last book in a series. The romance conclusion also feels to me a bit more HFN than it should for a final book, even in YA where HFNs rather than HEAs are common.

Everything else, though, is solid. Great action, lovely poetic prose, likeable characters. Technically the hero cheats WITH the heroine since he gets married when he thinks she's dead (not as bad as it sounds, trust me, there's context) but he never consummated his marriage with his wife. Also she turns out to be evil. So it's all good.

[Blog]

[camila · Rating 5 out of 5]

ERA PARTE DO PLANOO claro que eu sabia, claro…….
chorei muito mesmo assim? chorei

[Nicole Alycia]

This definitely wasn’t as good as the first book.
There was a lot of pining in this book and it got annoying at times. But there were some really good parts that made up for it. Had it not been for those really good parts this probably would have been a 3 star read for me. I prefer my heroines to have a better idea of what they’re doing before they do it and that was not the case in this book. She started to realize things towards the end but after one whole book I feel like it shouldn’t have been so hard for her to make up her mind. Maybe that’s just me ...
Overall this was a pretty solid duology though! I’d definitely recommend reading it!

[ella ✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely amazing! I loved Song of the Current when I read it in February and somehow I managed to get my hands on Whisper of the Tide and it did not disappoint 😍 I read it in an evening + a morning and loved it so much x

[Cassandra (Thebookishcrypt) · Rating 4 out of 5]

*ARC provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review*
This book takes place three months after Song of the Current and I am proud to announce that I was pleasantly surprised by it! I really wanted to like this book more than the first one and I'm so happy that's exactly what happened! It did take me a bit to get into but my interest was spiked about halfway in and I couldn't put it down after tat.
I loved the new characters we were introduced to here. They were so interesting and they definitely drove the story forward faster than I expected and they made me appreciate Sarah's storytelling so much more. I also liked the way the relationships between some characters developed and changed throughout the pages. I was pleasantly surprised how a few of them changed and it was one of my favorite things to witness.
Sadly, I was bummed that this was still almost as predictable as the first book so that is why I couldn't give it 5 stars. It took me a while to figure out but the main reason why it was so difficult for me to be interested in the story line was because I didn't care for the romance. I am always more interested in how the romance develops in the books I read but I struggled to attach myself to Caro and Markos. It was a huge point against it since some of the things happening centered around it to begin with. Fortunately, I ended up caring about it a little more by the end. A couple of things that happened between Caro and Markos made me tear up with giddiness so I liked that. It's always a good thing when an author changes my minds about things and that's exactly what Sarah did here.
I can't even begin to describe how I have so much more respect for Caroline after having read this. Her character developed amazingly and I couldn't be happier with it.
The ending was absolutely satisfying but I wouldn't be mad if we got another book in this series. I am definitely intrigued enough by that ending to demand more!

[Caitlyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Any author who renders me a fan of swashbuckling fantasy is ingenious.

[Lexi // libraryoflexi · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars!

[Ash | Wild Heart Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whisper of the Tide brings readers back into Caro's world of gods, rebellions and piracy. Despite having promised Markos she would sail for him, Caro is beginning to feel stuck and unsure of who she is. As Markos' efforts to raise support for his campaign to take back his throne continue to stall, Caro is faced with the possibility of losing him for good. 

I thoroughly enjoyed book one of this duology, The Song of the Current. I hadn't read anything like it and Caro was such a great protagonist to follow, add pirates and it was a whole lot of fun. Whisper of the Tide brings all this back along with a good deal more pirating. Reading Whisper of the Tide I found the pages flying by. I would put it down to pause only to pick it right back up because I couldn't stop reading. 

The beginning did start off a little slow as the focus was on Markos' political manoeuvring as opposed to adventures. I was a little worried at this point that I wasn't going to enjoy this books as much as the first, however things slowing began to pick up. Then, around the 100 page mark, the fun really began and didn't let down for the rest of the book. 

I loved the return of some side characters, one return in particular  I really enjoyed, though it wasn't what I had been expecting and they weren't unchanged. Tolcser played with the themes of forgiveness and guilt really well here. 

"You had to know what you wanted - but knowing wasn't enough. You had to be willing to fight for it. To be so strong even the sea could not defy you. That is how strong we must be, to keep the things we love."

Something that I really loved about Whisper of the Tide was how pirate-y it was, It was just so fun! This book was both easy to read in the sense that it swept you away as well as being filled with complicated twists and turns. None of which I saw coming. I think that was one of the best endings I have ever read. I won't spoil it but I in no way so it coming but I absolutely loved where each character ended up, it was such a satisfying conclusion.  

I highly recommend both books in this series if you want a solidly enjoyable series, filled with great characters, adventures and pirates. 

★★★★☆ (4 1/2)

*I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own*

This review and more can be found at wildheartreads.wordpress.com

[Ainslee || Jest and Hearts · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a wonderful end to such an adventure!

I'm applauding Sarah Tolcser for creating an enchanting world full magic and adventure with a full cast of flawed diverse characters.

If you're looking for adventure, politics, pirates, romance, betrayal and deceit you'll find that here! There were so many twists and turns and never a dull moment in this book. If you liked Song of the Current I highly suggest you read Whisper of the Tide you'll love it! I couldn't put this down and it is one of the best sequels and satisfying ends to a story I have read in a long time.

The story follows Caro as she tries to navigate through the mess of her life after it got turned upside from meeting Markos. She was thrown into a life full of politics, piracy and an unimaginable fate. Caro is such a fantastic character shes strong, cocky, sure of herself, funny, determined and best of all shes flawed! Flawed characters are always the most entertaining because they tend to make horrible decisions which always leads to disaster. And Caro does get herself into some pretty disasterous situations!

Caro is trying her hardest to help Markos reclaim his throne after the disasters in Song of the Current. While doing this she has basically given up her one true love: Sailing. When Markos is faced with a hard decision that could help him win back his throne Caro makes the decision for him. This decision leads Caro on an adventure and disaster of a lifetime!

The adventure really begins when Caro manages to land herself on a deserted island with the most unlikely person you could possibly imagine while becoming a real pirate and being chased with a price on her pretty head. She also manages to get kicked while shes down a lot, one bad thing happens after another and she cant seem to catch a break. Although its really all her fault to begin with. Caro is faced with a lot of betrayal and deceit on her journey and an opportunity of a lifetime, something that's only been told in legends and fairytales.

There are two characters that stand out in the book and they are Kente and Diric Melanos. Kente is Caro's cousin who has shadow magic which is very convenient in tricky situations. Kente is also a strong determined female who is willing to put her life on the line in order to help her cousin. She has such a big heart and shes very sassy and a bit of a comedic relief at times. Then we have Diric who is a scoundrel, he's killed a lot of people and hes a true pirate. Hes basically Caro's Arch nemesis after trying to kill her mother and father in Song of the Current. He is basically wrench thrown into Caro's life in Whisper of the Tide.

Poor Markos in this book is faced with a lot of difficult decisions and politics while trying to reclaim his throne. Hes trying to find alliances who believe his story and want to back him up but he doesn't seem to have much luck. That is until an offer comes in that could help him change everything, tsk tsk, some things are too good to be true. He has also had many assassination attempts on his life and they don't seem to be stropping anytime soon.

While this story is at times predictable its still an amazing adventure with a wonderful diverse cast of characters.

Thank you so much to Raincoast Books for gifting me a copy for review.

[Ivysaurus · Rating 5 out of 5]

At the beginning of book one, we have a girl who lives a quiet life with her pa, sailing a small cargo wherry back and forth between river ports.
At the beginning of book two, we have a privateer captain who singlehandedly commandeered her ship from pirates and speaks with the god of the sea.
And that’s on good character development.

I love Caro so hard. I really do. Her story is about accepting change, even when it happens without your permission, and letting the current of fate take you to where you need to be in life. While still fighting for what you love.

For a third of this book, I was sure this sequel would fall victim to the issue all sequels have: they don’t have the same magic as the first journey. And I absolutely hate the “sequel-angst” that befalls a couple who have already ended up together in the first book.
But, fuck, was I wrong. (Once you get past the angst in the first 1/3) this book is filled with the same adventure and chase and lovability as book one. Whereas the first book made me happy, this book is more epic, more touching, and meant more to me as a reader. I even found myself falling in love with a character who I had sworn off as the worst of villains in book one.
Again, that’s on good character development.

I don’t know if I can ever read this sequel again, though. I’ve read book 1 maybe four times in my life already, but this is the first time I read book 2. And damn, this one is a fucking telenovela. All these dead characters that come back to life, and people who aren’t who you think they are, and the gut-wrenching, anxiety-inducing, hair-tearing DRAMA. I just can’t put myself through that level of stress again for what is supposed to be one of my favorite books.

And, by god, is this one of my favorite books. 😊

[Starr ❇✌❇ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.3

This is a pretty good continuation of Song of the Current, but it didn't quite give me what I wanted. You know what it did give me, though? Pirate adventure. So I kind of forgive it.

Whatever else issues I had with this sequel, I can't say it wasn't fun- which is what I wanted most! I had a good time with the first book and their unexpected missions and falling into politics. So what I wanted most was to not be bored reading this book, or have it be too heavy. And it is, indeed, just as much an accidental, fun, adventure-y book. And, as I said, it gets pirate flavored, which is excellent. There's some unexpected allying, hidden treasure, black markets, cunning plans, and daring escapes- hard not to have a good time!

And I did enjoy revisiting the characters overall, and getting to know new ones, but this positive is also my main negative.
I liked Song of the Current so much because I really loved Caro- gritty, tough talking, powerful, and faithful & loyal to a fault. I also loved the aesthetic of the river people, which is entirely different from the aesthetic of this book, so I missed that, but I did like what was there instead. However, with Caro, this book shows almost entirely nothing but her vulnerable, uncertain side. I love to see layers, but there just wasn't much Caro being Caro.

That also goes for the romance. The romance has one of my favorite dynamics in it- rough girl, posh boy, who accept each other and do not change- and I loved how the last book left things casual and with room to grow. This book takes a very sharp turn into complete romance, commitment, etc, which felt less organic and disingenuous to Caro. So did Caro suddenly becoming really sappy and weepy about the romance. She turned into a martyr, which doesn't look good on her.
The romance just didn't hit the same this time around. Also because Markos isn't in it for huge chunks of time.

Overall, this book was still a fun time and I liked revisiting the world and seeing how certain things from the first book played out, but it was missing its spark for me.