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Compass Rose #2
Sea Wolf
In the year 2514, the only thing more dangerous than the seas is those who sail them.
Life aboard the mercenary ship Man o’ War is rarely dull as hurricanes, swarms of jellyfish, and man-eating squid pose daily doses of danger. As intrigue and subterfuge from enemies old and new begin to surround its captain, the infamous Miranda Stillwater, even an uncanny sense of direction won’t be enough to help Compass Rose navigate these dangerous straits. As dark secrets bubble to the surface and everything she’s fought so hard for begins to crumble, Rose learns the hard way that she’ll have to rely on the only person who can save her from certain disaster. Unfortunately, that person is Compass Rose herself.
This swashbuckling 26th-century adventure novel is smart, colorful and quirky, yet it manages to deliver a healthy dose of heart, humor, and humility on every single page.
Life aboard the mercenary ship Man o’ War is rarely dull as hurricanes, swarms of jellyfish, and man-eating squid pose daily doses of danger. As intrigue and subterfuge from enemies old and new begin to surround its captain, the infamous Miranda Stillwater, even an uncanny sense of direction won’t be enough to help Compass Rose navigate these dangerous straits. As dark secrets bubble to the surface and everything she’s fought so hard for begins to crumble, Rose learns the hard way that she’ll have to rely on the only person who can save her from certain disaster. Unfortunately, that person is Compass Rose herself.
This swashbuckling 26th-century adventure novel is smart, colorful and quirky, yet it manages to deliver a healthy dose of heart, humor, and humility on every single page.
350 pages, Paperback
First published July 27, 2021
50 people are currently reading
2085 people want to read
About the author
Anna Burke
8 books1,065 followersAnna Burke enjoys all things nautical and generally prefers animals to people. When she isn’t writing, she can usually be found walking in the woods with her dogs or drinking too much tea, which she prefers hot and strong—just like her protagonists.
She lives in Massachusetts with her wife, dogs, and too many houseplants. She received her MFA in Creative Writing from Emerson College, where she now teaches in their Popular Fiction MFA program. She is also the Director of Education for the Golden Crown Literary Society.
You can follow her on Twitter @annaburkeauthor.
She lives in Massachusetts with her wife, dogs, and too many houseplants. She received her MFA in Creative Writing from Emerson College, where she now teaches in their Popular Fiction MFA program. She is also the Director of Education for the Golden Crown Literary Society.
You can follow her on Twitter @annaburkeauthor.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 172 reviews
July 18, 2021
This review is never going to do Sea Wolf justice. This book is much too complex and smart for a few words to be enough, and too many words would take the focus away from what really matters, ie the book itself.
Sea Wolf picks up three months after the end of Compass Rose. I strongly recommend reading them in order. The Man o’ War crew is still trying to navigate life in a world where the ocean is the least dangerous place, and that’s saying a lot since it’s filled with lethal creatures and the air above reeks of deadly gas. Right from the start, the author puts the characters in a very precarious situation, and things will keep getting worse. Of course.
I have loved every book by Anna Burke that I’ve read (I still have to read Thorn), and I realised while reading this one that my favourites have one thing in common: boats. More than one thing, actually. Water too. I’d read the author’s bio but what “enjoys all things nautical” really meant didn’t register until now. The way she writes, through Compass Rose, about the currents, the ocean, its inhabitants turns them all into characters in their own right.
With this book as with Anna Burke’s previous ones, each word feels as if it was carefully weighted, some put aside, discarded, so that only the exact right ones to tell this specific story remain. Anna Burke’s writing is at once beautiful and efficient. It’s precisely crafted to break the reader’s heart while not giving a lot of opportunity to breathe as they, along with the characters, are put through the wringer again.
One of my favorite themes in lesfic – and not only there – is that of chosen family. Even though Rose didn’t really choose who ended up being part of her family, she now has one, for better or for worse. In Sea Wolf even more than in Compass Rose, who one chooses to be and who one chooses to be with is everything.
In my review of Compass Rose, I wrote about reluctant chemistry. The attraction and love and lust between Rose and Miranda are still significant in this instalment, but romance isn’t what this book is about at all. Rose and Miranda get to know each other better, and, at least for Rose, get to know themselves better too. While Sea Wolf answers some of the questions Compass Rose left open, it also brings up a whole new set. A lot of what Rose thought she had understood by the end of book 1 turns out to be false, or at least not exactly as true as she believed. Burke’s characters are flawed and so very human, and character growth isn’t just a phrase. It’s not always pretty however, but it’s very real.
There’s something very special about dystopian novels. The premise is an awful catastrophe/apocalypse/human stupidity (that one feels more and more real) and yet there is so much hope in surviving.
I received a copy from the publisher and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
Sea Wolf picks up three months after the end of Compass Rose. I strongly recommend reading them in order. The Man o’ War crew is still trying to navigate life in a world where the ocean is the least dangerous place, and that’s saying a lot since it’s filled with lethal creatures and the air above reeks of deadly gas. Right from the start, the author puts the characters in a very precarious situation, and things will keep getting worse. Of course.
I have loved every book by Anna Burke that I’ve read (I still have to read Thorn), and I realised while reading this one that my favourites have one thing in common: boats. More than one thing, actually. Water too. I’d read the author’s bio but what “enjoys all things nautical” really meant didn’t register until now. The way she writes, through Compass Rose, about the currents, the ocean, its inhabitants turns them all into characters in their own right.
With this book as with Anna Burke’s previous ones, each word feels as if it was carefully weighted, some put aside, discarded, so that only the exact right ones to tell this specific story remain. Anna Burke’s writing is at once beautiful and efficient. It’s precisely crafted to break the reader’s heart while not giving a lot of opportunity to breathe as they, along with the characters, are put through the wringer again.
One of my favorite themes in lesfic – and not only there – is that of chosen family. Even though Rose didn’t really choose who ended up being part of her family, she now has one, for better or for worse. In Sea Wolf even more than in Compass Rose, who one chooses to be and who one chooses to be with is everything.
In my review of Compass Rose, I wrote about reluctant chemistry. The attraction and love and lust between Rose and Miranda are still significant in this instalment, but romance isn’t what this book is about at all. Rose and Miranda get to know each other better, and, at least for Rose, get to know themselves better too. While Sea Wolf answers some of the questions Compass Rose left open, it also brings up a whole new set. A lot of what Rose thought she had understood by the end of book 1 turns out to be false, or at least not exactly as true as she believed. Burke’s characters are flawed and so very human, and character growth isn’t just a phrase. It’s not always pretty however, but it’s very real.
There’s something very special about dystopian novels. The premise is an awful catastrophe/apocalypse/human stupidity (that one feels more and more real) and yet there is so much hope in surviving.
I received a copy from the publisher and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 5, 2021
This was what I hoped for and more! I loved the first book in this series “Compass Rose” and I was so excited to read Sea Wolf. If it then still exceeds expectations …. need I say more? Yes, apparently, I do. For those that do not know the series, it’s dystopian with cli-fi elements (the world exists mainly of water, what land remains is inhabitable, and people live on boats and huge water stations) and we’re talking about pirates and mercenaries here, but it’s so much more than that. The characters, the plot, and the worldbuilding in these books are so good, and this book even takes the worldbuilding a step further than the first book. What is going on in miss Burke’s mind to come up with this stuff?
These books have to be read in order to fully understand everything in this second book, and why deprive yourself of the excellent first book in the series? The first book has a lot of action, but also politics and intrigue which continue in this book. Basically, everybody wants to dominate the seas. We follow all events from Rose’s perspective (first person, 1 POV) and it’s not a matter of good versus bad. There are several opposing forces and Rose, a navigator, and her headstrong Captain Miranda and their crew are in the middle of this battle of forces, trying to manipulate things to what they think is best, but how to do that if you’re constantly surprised with new facts?
The plot is, like the first book excellent, it keeps surprising you and keeps you wanting more. This book is, in terms of plot, really a middle book. It builds towards the third book and has an open ending (more open than the first book). But it is in no way a filler book, it focusses on the growth of the main characters, Rose and Miranda. I liked how they get to know themselves (and there are insights to discover there) and how they slowly get to know and understand each other. Due to the ever-changing forces around them, they make decisions which are often not the right ones (if there are any right choices) and just when you think you understand them, you learn something new about them. They are both flawed and lovable. There is a clear romance storyline between them, but character growth dominates over the romance. That said, the romance between them is beautiful. It’s difficult and they keep hurting each other, but you also see their love for each other and I just need them to be together.
OK I’m going to stop gushing over this book, I need the third book, preferably yesterday. Fans of dystopian novels will love this, but I think also people who like a book with excellent character building featuring haunted and flawed characters will enjoy this. Highly recommended!
These books have to be read in order to fully understand everything in this second book, and why deprive yourself of the excellent first book in the series? The first book has a lot of action, but also politics and intrigue which continue in this book. Basically, everybody wants to dominate the seas. We follow all events from Rose’s perspective (first person, 1 POV) and it’s not a matter of good versus bad. There are several opposing forces and Rose, a navigator, and her headstrong Captain Miranda and their crew are in the middle of this battle of forces, trying to manipulate things to what they think is best, but how to do that if you’re constantly surprised with new facts?
The plot is, like the first book excellent, it keeps surprising you and keeps you wanting more. This book is, in terms of plot, really a middle book. It builds towards the third book and has an open ending (more open than the first book). But it is in no way a filler book, it focusses on the growth of the main characters, Rose and Miranda. I liked how they get to know themselves (and there are insights to discover there) and how they slowly get to know and understand each other. Due to the ever-changing forces around them, they make decisions which are often not the right ones (if there are any right choices) and just when you think you understand them, you learn something new about them. They are both flawed and lovable. There is a clear romance storyline between them, but character growth dominates over the romance. That said, the romance between them is beautiful. It’s difficult and they keep hurting each other, but you also see their love for each other and I just need them to be together.
OK I’m going to stop gushing over this book, I need the third book, preferably yesterday. Fans of dystopian novels will love this, but I think also people who like a book with excellent character building featuring haunted and flawed characters will enjoy this. Highly recommended!
June 25, 2021
I can’t tell you why I bought Compass Rose, and then let it languish in my e-reader for so long before reading. But when I was offered Sea Wolf for an honest review (thank you, Bywater Books!), I knew it was time to read Compass Rose. I’ll save that review for later. For this review, suffice it to say I read Compass Rose, then immediately started Sea Wolf, and I’m very glad I did. (In conversation, I’ve likened it to binge-reading.) The benefit here was that I was already familiar with the characters on The Man O War, their personalities, their conflicts and their motivations.
Sea Wolf is Anna Burke’s best work to date. I would go so far as to say it is her best work EVER. In fact, I would say Sea Wolf is on par with the imagination of Anne McCaffrey or Kim Stanley. Sea Wolf has all the pirates, all the tension, angry squid and political subterfuge a fantasy fiction lover could want. More, actually than Compass Rose.
(As tempting as it is to recap the novel, I won’t, because the blurb does it best)
Sea Wolf answers questions leftover from Compass Rose, and yet asks even more questions of its own. I fervently hope there will be a third installment, although I can’t possibly imagine how the author is going to top Sea Wolf! It is a large novel, so don’t expect to blow through this in one sitting! We are as immersed as Orca, Miranda, Rose and the others as the power shifts throughout the crew, old enemies are brought aboard who should have been sent to the bottom of the sea, and political secrets are brought to light. Danger lurks on every page, and I’m not just talking about Kracken’s cooking.
When I got about three-quarters of the way through, I thought that might be a good place to stop for the night. But maybe just one more paragraph… Next thing I knew, I was being introduced to a new culture and their mind-blowing technological advances and it was three in the morning! I do not exaggerate when I tell you that the book left such an impact on me that I literally could not sleep afterwards! I wandered my dark hallway wondering what in the world I could possibly read that would come close to the scope of Sea Wolf.
If you are an Anna Burke fan and you’ve read everything else she’s written, and you think you’ve seen her best work...wait until you read Sea Wolf. This is her Magnum Opus.
Read Compass Rose first, then read Sea Wolf and prepare to have your literary world changed forever.
Sea Wolf is Anna Burke’s best work to date. I would go so far as to say it is her best work EVER. In fact, I would say Sea Wolf is on par with the imagination of Anne McCaffrey or Kim Stanley. Sea Wolf has all the pirates, all the tension, angry squid and political subterfuge a fantasy fiction lover could want. More, actually than Compass Rose.
(As tempting as it is to recap the novel, I won’t, because the blurb does it best)
Sea Wolf answers questions leftover from Compass Rose, and yet asks even more questions of its own. I fervently hope there will be a third installment, although I can’t possibly imagine how the author is going to top Sea Wolf! It is a large novel, so don’t expect to blow through this in one sitting! We are as immersed as Orca, Miranda, Rose and the others as the power shifts throughout the crew, old enemies are brought aboard who should have been sent to the bottom of the sea, and political secrets are brought to light. Danger lurks on every page, and I’m not just talking about Kracken’s cooking.
When I got about three-quarters of the way through, I thought that might be a good place to stop for the night. But maybe just one more paragraph… Next thing I knew, I was being introduced to a new culture and their mind-blowing technological advances and it was three in the morning! I do not exaggerate when I tell you that the book left such an impact on me that I literally could not sleep afterwards! I wandered my dark hallway wondering what in the world I could possibly read that would come close to the scope of Sea Wolf.
If you are an Anna Burke fan and you’ve read everything else she’s written, and you think you’ve seen her best work...wait until you read Sea Wolf. This is her Magnum Opus.
Read Compass Rose first, then read Sea Wolf and prepare to have your literary world changed forever.
May 3, 2023
Loved the first book in this series but this one was even better. The continuation of this story leads Rose to a few new places and I loved this addition to her story. Miranda is back here too and their new adventure is even more enlightening than the last. I hear that there will (eventually) be a third book in this series and I will be waiting patiently (not so much) for that one to be released. I will also be reading some of Burke's other books in the meantime.
March 25, 2023
I can’t love this series any more than I do.
Where’s book 3? I need it like I need air to breathe.
Whatever I might write won’t do this book any justice. Just start by reading Compass Rose, continue with Sea Wolf and cross all you can in hopes of book 3 being available VERY soon.
Where’s book 3? I need it like I need air to breathe.
Whatever I might write won’t do this book any justice. Just start by reading Compass Rose, continue with Sea Wolf and cross all you can in hopes of book 3 being available VERY soon.
August 4, 2021
AMAZING! Book 3, please!!
September 29, 2021
What did I just read?
This book is everything and yet I need so much more.
I've loved everything I've read from Anna Burke. She's truly becoming one of the forces of lesfic and her ability to jump genres from sci-fi, to fairy tail retellings, to contemporary romance is outstanding. And she does all so remarkably well. I was late to the party reading this book's prequal Compass Rose earlier this year and I thought that book blew my socks off, but this book one-ups that in nearly every way.
Sea Wolf picks ups a couple months after the ending of Compass Rose. The ship is struggling along, relationships are simultaneously strained and growing and alliances are weak. The world is dangerous and no one really knows who you can trust.
And as I said, this book has everything. The characters you loved from Compass Rose? You're gonna meet them in so much more detail now. Found Family? in spades. Action scenes? They're in there. Emotional content and angst? Get ready to cry. Mysteries of the world Burke has built? You'll get so many more answers but just as many more questions arise. A critique of people for inaction on climate change? That's there too!
Sequels are hard for me to review because I never know what to talk about especially if you haven't read the first book in this series- and the first book is essential to understanding this one. This book is clearly setting up for the third book as it ends in a much more open ended way compared to Compass Rose, but this book doesn't exist for the sake of existing- as I said this is the book that truly opens up the world and these characters way more than the first book does.
This book is wonderful and I NEED the third book NOW. 5/5
This book is everything and yet I need so much more.
I've loved everything I've read from Anna Burke. She's truly becoming one of the forces of lesfic and her ability to jump genres from sci-fi, to fairy tail retellings, to contemporary romance is outstanding. And she does all so remarkably well. I was late to the party reading this book's prequal Compass Rose earlier this year and I thought that book blew my socks off, but this book one-ups that in nearly every way.
Sea Wolf picks ups a couple months after the ending of Compass Rose. The ship is struggling along, relationships are simultaneously strained and growing and alliances are weak. The world is dangerous and no one really knows who you can trust.
And as I said, this book has everything. The characters you loved from Compass Rose? You're gonna meet them in so much more detail now. Found Family? in spades. Action scenes? They're in there. Emotional content and angst? Get ready to cry. Mysteries of the world Burke has built? You'll get so many more answers but just as many more questions arise. A critique of people for inaction on climate change? That's there too!
Sequels are hard for me to review because I never know what to talk about especially if you haven't read the first book in this series- and the first book is essential to understanding this one. This book is clearly setting up for the third book as it ends in a much more open ended way compared to Compass Rose, but this book doesn't exist for the sake of existing- as I said this is the book that truly opens up the world and these characters way more than the first book does.
This book is wonderful and I NEED the third book NOW. 5/5
September 5, 2021
Anna Burke has done it again with Sea Wolf! Compass Rose is an all time favorite of mine and the second installment in the trilogy was just as good, no middle book syndrome here. Book 3 when?
The same CWs as Compass Rose apply (violence, etc) but a few unexpected warnings for drug use, addiction, alcoholism, & withdrawal.
Love sapphic books, too? Let's be friends! Bookstagram | Booktok | Booktube | Twitter
The same CWs as Compass Rose apply (violence, etc) but a few unexpected warnings for drug use, addiction, alcoholism, & withdrawal.
Love sapphic books, too? Let's be friends! Bookstagram | Booktok | Booktube | Twitter
November 10, 2021
I loved Compass Rose and was super excited about Sea Wolf! Unfortunately, I didn't like it as much as the first book.
What I did like:
Anna Burke's writing continues to be amazing. She's one of my favourite authors, I've read everything she's published so far and I will read all her future works too.
We got some answers about Rose's heritage, and the world building was layered in nicely.
Harper. I love her. And Kraken. Shout out to Seamus too!
What I didn't like:
Rose herself. She was crying on what felt like ever other page. I grew tired of it early on. Her and Miranda also argued for the majority of the book, which I found really annoying. They're supposed to be in love, yet they spend the book resenting each other.
Also I didn't really know why they elected Rose as captain? She had a head injury, couldn't think straight, and, as mentioned above, whined and cried all the time.
Miranda was a far cry from the fearsome pirate captain in the first book. She spends the majority of this book neglecting her duties to worry over Rose, despite the fact they keep arguing all the time. This allowed Ching to stage her mutiny.
I feel like Harper would have been a better choice as narrator, even though I know why she isn't. She just has so much more personality than Rose, who's entire personality in this book seemed to be 'crying'.
I hope Rose and Miranda get their acts together in the next book because I loved Compass Rose and the little rag tag group of pirates.
I realise this review seems quite negative, which I apologise for. I just didn't gel with Rose this time round. I really do enjoy Anna Burke's writing!
3.5 stars rounded up.
What I did like:
Anna Burke's writing continues to be amazing. She's one of my favourite authors, I've read everything she's published so far and I will read all her future works too.
We got some answers about Rose's heritage, and the world building was layered in nicely.
Harper. I love her. And Kraken. Shout out to Seamus too!
What I didn't like:
Rose herself. She was crying on what felt like ever other page. I grew tired of it early on. Her and Miranda also argued for the majority of the book, which I found really annoying. They're supposed to be in love, yet they spend the book resenting each other.
Also I didn't really know why they elected Rose as captain? She had a head injury, couldn't think straight, and, as mentioned above, whined and cried all the time.
Miranda was a far cry from the fearsome pirate captain in the first book. She spends the majority of this book neglecting her duties to worry over Rose, despite the fact they keep arguing all the time. This allowed Ching to stage her mutiny.
I feel like Harper would have been a better choice as narrator, even though I know why she isn't. She just has so much more personality than Rose, who's entire personality in this book seemed to be 'crying'.
I hope Rose and Miranda get their acts together in the next book because I loved Compass Rose and the little rag tag group of pirates.
I realise this review seems quite negative, which I apologise for. I just didn't gel with Rose this time round. I really do enjoy Anna Burke's writing!
3.5 stars rounded up.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 19, 2021
Oh...my god. Book Hangover For Reals right now.
This was one of those books that saddened me every time I picked it up and saw the percentage increase, because I truly did not want it to end. The story picked up after Compass Rose (you need to read it first), and the story was rich, colourful, fast-paced, yet goddamned hard to envision. Like the first one, my imagination struggled to catch up with the complex descriptors, because Ms. Burke created a dystopian world that is truly unique and fascinating. Frankly, it's terrifying.
But this is truly a brilliant read. There is action, love, fighting, loyalty, mutiny, blood, heartache, and tenderness. It's as layered as one of Mary Berry's cakes in Great British Bakeoff. It'd say it's more an action-drama than a romance for sure. Compass Rose and Miranda Stillwater take centre stage, but their loyal band follow them through the oceans on a journey to the south, which is "uncharted waters," and territory that none of them have sailed before. What awaits them? Will they all survive? Will Rose find out more about who she is and where she comes from?
It is going to be agony waiting for book 3, because I just gotta believe there is going to be one. 5/5 with a bull horn and a vuvuzela. Throw in a shofar while you are at it.
This was one of those books that saddened me every time I picked it up and saw the percentage increase, because I truly did not want it to end. The story picked up after Compass Rose (you need to read it first), and the story was rich, colourful, fast-paced, yet goddamned hard to envision. Like the first one, my imagination struggled to catch up with the complex descriptors, because Ms. Burke created a dystopian world that is truly unique and fascinating. Frankly, it's terrifying.
But this is truly a brilliant read. There is action, love, fighting, loyalty, mutiny, blood, heartache, and tenderness. It's as layered as one of Mary Berry's cakes in Great British Bakeoff. It'd say it's more an action-drama than a romance for sure. Compass Rose and Miranda Stillwater take centre stage, but their loyal band follow them through the oceans on a journey to the south, which is "uncharted waters," and territory that none of them have sailed before. What awaits them? Will they all survive? Will Rose find out more about who she is and where she comes from?
It is going to be agony waiting for book 3, because I just gotta believe there is going to be one. 5/5 with a bull horn and a vuvuzela. Throw in a shofar while you are at it.
May 9, 2022
ITS ALMOST THREE AM AND I AM WAY TOO FULL OF EMOTIONS.
FUUUUUUUUUUCCKKKKKK.
FUUUUUUUUUUCCKKKKKK.
July 26, 2021
Sea Wolf by Anna Burke is the second novel in The Compass Rose series. In my opinion, this book is even better than the first book, and that’s saying something because I think Compass Rose is an absolutely wonderful tale.
The second novel begins a few months after the first one ends, and continues the story of Compass Rose, Captain Miranda Stillwater, and all of the characters we have come to know and care for in the first book. There is adventure, intrigue, danger, disaster, death, love, and heartbreak in this story. There is also a great deal of angst, especially with Rose and Miranda. The author is not very kind to the characters in this tale, and really gives them a lot to overcome. Of course this only adds to the excitement of the story, and made this a book I simply could not put down.
I have always loved reading post-apocalyptic, dystopian novels. This series has two of the best books in the genre that I’ve ever read. The world in these two books is frightening because it could so easily become true. In both of these stories, the setting is mostly a world of oceans, due to climate change. What land is still above water is mostly uninhabitable. Even the water has many dead areas, and the areas that are not dead are alive with dangerous predators, both marine life and human. The harshness of this setting only adds to the dangers the characters must survive, and that is before you add multiple bad guys trying to grab power and wealth.
The author weaves relationships all through Sea Wolf. For instance, we know that Rose and Miranda are in love. What these two have to learn is that love alone is not enough to sustain a lasting relationship. This becomes a major part of this story. The characters we see most often, and especially Rose, must also find their place within a crew that becomes a chosen family. These story elements are woven into the plot so well that we, the reader, don’t even notice their skillful inclusion until we reflect on the story later.
This is not a standalone novel. Sea Wolf begins where Compass Rose ends, and trying to read the second story alone would be hard to do. Luckily, both books are fantastic, so you should get them both and read them in order. Then we can all sit and wait impatiently for Ms. Burke to write the third book in the series.
I received an ARC from Bywater Books for an honest review.
The second novel begins a few months after the first one ends, and continues the story of Compass Rose, Captain Miranda Stillwater, and all of the characters we have come to know and care for in the first book. There is adventure, intrigue, danger, disaster, death, love, and heartbreak in this story. There is also a great deal of angst, especially with Rose and Miranda. The author is not very kind to the characters in this tale, and really gives them a lot to overcome. Of course this only adds to the excitement of the story, and made this a book I simply could not put down.
I have always loved reading post-apocalyptic, dystopian novels. This series has two of the best books in the genre that I’ve ever read. The world in these two books is frightening because it could so easily become true. In both of these stories, the setting is mostly a world of oceans, due to climate change. What land is still above water is mostly uninhabitable. Even the water has many dead areas, and the areas that are not dead are alive with dangerous predators, both marine life and human. The harshness of this setting only adds to the dangers the characters must survive, and that is before you add multiple bad guys trying to grab power and wealth.
The author weaves relationships all through Sea Wolf. For instance, we know that Rose and Miranda are in love. What these two have to learn is that love alone is not enough to sustain a lasting relationship. This becomes a major part of this story. The characters we see most often, and especially Rose, must also find their place within a crew that becomes a chosen family. These story elements are woven into the plot so well that we, the reader, don’t even notice their skillful inclusion until we reflect on the story later.
This is not a standalone novel. Sea Wolf begins where Compass Rose ends, and trying to read the second story alone would be hard to do. Luckily, both books are fantastic, so you should get them both and read them in order. Then we can all sit and wait impatiently for Ms. Burke to write the third book in the series.
I received an ARC from Bywater Books for an honest review.
July 26, 2021
After Anna Burke’s amazing debut novel Compass Rose stormed the WLW books world in 2018, I have this author on my radar. Three years later and with four more books under her belt in the genres of fantasy, historical fiction and traditional romance, we finally have the Compass Rose sequel.
In the year 2514, the sea levels on Earth have risen and land is either flooded or too polluted to live on. Compass Rose is a gifted navigator who has joined forces with mercenary Captain Miranda Stillwater. In their journey across the ocean, while they battle dangerous enemies in human and animal form, Rose will embark on a self-discovery journey of her own.
This is book 2 of 3 in the Compass Rose series. Book 3, titled True North, is gonna be released next year, according to the author. Like book one, this novel is told from Rose Point of view. Sea Wolf delves deeper into her life story, background, and her relationship with Miranda. Ms. Burke loves putting her characters through the wringer (by her own admission) and Sea Wolf is a perfect example as it packs up emotional turmoil with nail-biting action at a fast-paced speed that never gives the reader a respite.
Sea Wolf picks up three months where Compass Rose finishes so it’s highly recommendable to read them in sequence. There are too many details to the overall arc that cannot be fully understood without reading book one. I listened to the audiobook of Compass Rose a few days before reading Sea Wolf and I’m glad I did as I had forgotten many important details about the story and it helped with my enjoyment of book two. While Compass Rose plot ties most loose ends, Sea Wolf unties and transforms them into a tangled yarn. You can think of this novel as a bridge between books one and three. While Compass Rose tended to describe facts, Sea Wolf asked questions. Hopefully True North will have all the answers and we won’t have to wait too long to get them.
If you are looking for a fast-paced adventure dystopian book with a romance at the side and don’t mind committing to reading the whole series, then this one is for you. 5 stars.
ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
In the year 2514, the sea levels on Earth have risen and land is either flooded or too polluted to live on. Compass Rose is a gifted navigator who has joined forces with mercenary Captain Miranda Stillwater. In their journey across the ocean, while they battle dangerous enemies in human and animal form, Rose will embark on a self-discovery journey of her own.
This is book 2 of 3 in the Compass Rose series. Book 3, titled True North, is gonna be released next year, according to the author. Like book one, this novel is told from Rose Point of view. Sea Wolf delves deeper into her life story, background, and her relationship with Miranda. Ms. Burke loves putting her characters through the wringer (by her own admission) and Sea Wolf is a perfect example as it packs up emotional turmoil with nail-biting action at a fast-paced speed that never gives the reader a respite.
Sea Wolf picks up three months where Compass Rose finishes so it’s highly recommendable to read them in sequence. There are too many details to the overall arc that cannot be fully understood without reading book one. I listened to the audiobook of Compass Rose a few days before reading Sea Wolf and I’m glad I did as I had forgotten many important details about the story and it helped with my enjoyment of book two. While Compass Rose plot ties most loose ends, Sea Wolf unties and transforms them into a tangled yarn. You can think of this novel as a bridge between books one and three. While Compass Rose tended to describe facts, Sea Wolf asked questions. Hopefully True North will have all the answers and we won’t have to wait too long to get them.
If you are looking for a fast-paced adventure dystopian book with a romance at the side and don’t mind committing to reading the whole series, then this one is for you. 5 stars.
ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
December 28, 2021
AAAAAHHHHHHH!!! I NEED BOOK 3 RIGHT NOW PLEASE OMG!!!!! Sorry for the capslock, but I’m legit screaming right now. Omg i don’t even know where to begin, this adventure is everything and more and I can’t get enough. The plot, the characters, this world, just wow!! I love Rose and Miranda and Orca and Kraken and Finn and Harper so much, I just want them safe and after that ending… omg I’m scared and I need book 3 asap because I need to know URGENTLY what’s going to happen next. It’s not even a want, it’s a need 😅 I’m addicted to this story and this style of writing, just wow. Bless you, Anna Burke, this is mind-blowingly brilliant! BRAVA!! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 Do we have a date for the third book? Asking for a friend 😂
July 29, 2021
Liked it even more than the first one! I like how we get to know Miranda in depth. What makes her the way she is. It's great to see Rose grow and the best part the story only starting to get more complicated. This was way easier to visualise than the first book so that's a plus.
July 29, 2021
This was an epic sequel. I loved it.
The Sea Wolf and the sea wolves she gets her courage from. I can't bloody wait for the next book!
The Sea Wolf and the sea wolves she gets her courage from. I can't bloody wait for the next book!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 31, 2023
What a wild ride this book is! It is non stop action the entire time and is now responsible for me saying, "Neptune's Balls" whenever I get irritated. :-)
I don't normally gravitate towards this type of book, but Anna Burke's writing is so vivid and pulls you into the story. A great escape that I can't recommend more!
I don't normally gravitate towards this type of book, but Anna Burke's writing is so vivid and pulls you into the story. A great escape that I can't recommend more!
August 9, 2021
I'm crying because I have to wait for the third book almost a year :-|
April 8, 2025
"This book kicked my ass" are the first words in the author's notes that followed the Epilogue. And man, I get why! This series was a stunning piece of work. To have achieved this must have taken so much patience and resilience from Burke.
First of all - the world she created: I didn't understand everything about the science behind everything, but despite that, I believed every aspect of this scary dystopian future. This world feels as organic and alive as the Sea Wolves' city she describes at the end. Every word, every description serves as a heartbeat in the story.
The romance - what can I say? It's so refreshing to have something different from the usual formula where the story ends when the protagonists get together. Compass Rose and Sea Wolf take us through a very painful and real slow burn from the first meeting to being together and - no pun intended - navigating the world together, trying to make it work.
This is not a feel-good story, though. Anna Burke gives you absolutely no respite. It hurts, a lot. Both Rose and Miranda (which are unbelievably well developed characters) are both broken in their own way, and it's making loving each other a bit difficult. I love the tension, the push and pull, the "I'd die if I lost you" thread that's there from literally the beginning of the series, even when they're not together-together.
I loved seeing the switch from Compass Rose to Sea Wolf, where Miranda becomes the vulnerable one and Rose comes into her own. Beautiful.
The secondary characters - love them all. I felt part of their crew. Every dynamic is lovely to read.
I can't rate it below 5 in good conscience, because it's such a master piece in its own right. But it's not without flaws. I would have for example loved to have more intimate scenes, and more feel-good scenes, to balance out the heavy feeling that follows the entire series.
The ending? to be honest, maybe a bit anticlimactic - it felt like an opening towards a 3rd book, but as far as I know there isn't one. Maybe she rushed a bit to finish - which is a shame after such a long and painful ride.
But yeah - seriously well done. What can Anna Burke not write about? This must be the 5th book by her I've read in the last few months and they're all amazing, and they're all - somehow - very different from one another.
First of all - the world she created: I didn't understand everything about the science behind everything, but despite that, I believed every aspect of this scary dystopian future. This world feels as organic and alive as the Sea Wolves' city she describes at the end. Every word, every description serves as a heartbeat in the story.
The romance - what can I say? It's so refreshing to have something different from the usual formula where the story ends when the protagonists get together. Compass Rose and Sea Wolf take us through a very painful and real slow burn from the first meeting to being together and - no pun intended - navigating the world together, trying to make it work.
This is not a feel-good story, though. Anna Burke gives you absolutely no respite. It hurts, a lot. Both Rose and Miranda (which are unbelievably well developed characters) are both broken in their own way, and it's making loving each other a bit difficult. I love the tension, the push and pull, the "I'd die if I lost you" thread that's there from literally the beginning of the series, even when they're not together-together.
I loved seeing the switch from Compass Rose to Sea Wolf, where Miranda becomes the vulnerable one and Rose comes into her own. Beautiful.
The secondary characters - love them all. I felt part of their crew. Every dynamic is lovely to read.
I can't rate it below 5 in good conscience, because it's such a master piece in its own right. But it's not without flaws. I would have for example loved to have more intimate scenes, and more feel-good scenes, to balance out the heavy feeling that follows the entire series.
The ending? to be honest, maybe a bit anticlimactic - it felt like an opening towards a 3rd book, but as far as I know there isn't one. Maybe she rushed a bit to finish - which is a shame after such a long and painful ride.
But yeah - seriously well done. What can Anna Burke not write about? This must be the 5th book by her I've read in the last few months and they're all amazing, and they're all - somehow - very different from one another.
October 24, 2021
So… when is the next one coming out?
Read
June 4, 2021I literally inhaled this book. Catch me in utter disbelief that I finished it already. RTC.
May 18, 2022
«This had always been my crew. Not Man o’ War, and not even North Star, but these ridiculous, messy, hardheaded fools. I loved each and every one of them.»
Girl, honestly, same. If you combine the majority of tropes that make me feel a little bit insane you'll get this book and its characters.
This sequel took such a drastic dramatic turn both plot and relationships wise in comparison with the previous book that I'll be processing for weeks for sure. I was stressed 90% of the time while reading.
A special shout out to Miranda Stillwater, gotta be one of my favourite morally grey characters of all time.
«My brutal, beautiful, broken love.»
Girl, honestly, same. If you combine the majority of tropes that make me feel a little bit insane you'll get this book and its characters.
This sequel took such a drastic dramatic turn both plot and relationships wise in comparison with the previous book that I'll be processing for weeks for sure. I was stressed 90% of the time while reading.
A special shout out to Miranda Stillwater, gotta be one of my favourite morally grey characters of all time.
«My brutal, beautiful, broken love.»
July 28, 2021
Five Stars not enough,
Oh Anna, i read this book in one sitting. The emotional rollercoaster is brillant and draining. Rose and Miranda are so damaged and beautiful they broke my heart. The characters are so well developed, i could almost see and hear them andf eel their pain. Five Stars are not enough, i give it ten+. Anna you had better be writing the next installment PDQ.
Oh Anna, i read this book in one sitting. The emotional rollercoaster is brillant and draining. Rose and Miranda are so damaged and beautiful they broke my heart. The characters are so well developed, i could almost see and hear them andf eel their pain. Five Stars are not enough, i give it ten+. Anna you had better be writing the next installment PDQ.
July 13, 2022
I was blown away by Compass Rose when I read it a few months back and was so happy that a sequel was published. Sea Wolf picks up three months after Compass Rose, and I was keen to see where the story would go. One of my favourite things about this series is the world-building. Anna Burke has managed to make a compelling dystopian world and setting, with some amazing characters and an interesting quest.
I loved the twists and turns to the storyline within book two. It kept me engaged from the get-go and I cannot wait to see how the story progresses in book three.
I found Miranda so completely different in book two then her formidable self in book one, and I was disappointed by the change in character. Rose is a bit of a mess in this book (which I guess is not surprising with everything that's happened) but I still really liked her as the narrator and heroine. Foe me though, Harper and Orca won me over even more in book two, which is a feat as I adored them both in book one.
I cannot wait for book three! 🙌
I loved the twists and turns to the storyline within book two. It kept me engaged from the get-go and I cannot wait to see how the story progresses in book three.
I found Miranda so completely different in book two then her formidable self in book one, and I was disappointed by the change in character. Rose is a bit of a mess in this book (which I guess is not surprising with everything that's happened) but I still really liked her as the narrator and heroine. Foe me though, Harper and Orca won me over even more in book two, which is a feat as I adored them both in book one.
I cannot wait for book three! 🙌
December 16, 2023
Book 2 did not disappoint. The plot continues to thicken and excite, thrill, stimulate… you know what I mean . I am loathed to think of Miranda and Rose’s story coming to an end because I want it to go on and on and on as sagas do.
February 1, 2024
Back into uncomfortable waters for me (no pun intended) as sci-fi/fantasy/speculative fiction isn't my genre of choice, but Anna Burke has yet to disappoint me and she definitely didn't disappoint me here. Unfortunately, as this is the second book in the series, there's a lot about the first book that I'd forgotten, so I had some difficulty navigating the plot (again, no pun intended) at first, but I eventually got my sea legs under me (pun definitely intended this time, which is why it's especially bad) and was ready to go.
Like most Anna Burke books, this novel took me a minute to really get into what was going on. Part of that is my impatience with alt-worlds and part of that was trying to remember what had happened in Compass Rose. But credit to Burke where other authors fail me--I was able to get a sense of her futuristic, dystopian water world so that I could concentrate on the plight of her characters, particularly Compass Rose and Miranda Stillwater. Burke also managed to keep me in the perfect amount of tension while I read--I had to put the novel down sometimes to take a breath, but I always wanted to come back. I also appreciated the romance in this novel because it felt incredibly human. Rose and Miranda have a ton of flaws and issues they're dealing with, and Burke doesn't idealize any of it. They're both problematic in their ways and maybe they're not an ideal partnership, but what I like about the writing of this pair is how much I still want them to work out. And that felt real. Because all humans are a little bit fucked up.
It's not a perfect book. It can be convoluted at times, but after the first few chapters I wasn't bothered by that anymore. I also have to fault it a little bit for not really standing alone. I know I've mentioned this in other reviews, but any book in a series should be understood on its own merit, and Sea Wolf doesn't. The previous book, Compass Rose, isn't summarized and the ending leaves a door wide open for another book. Add to the fact that there's a 3-year gap between the publications of books 1 and 2 and, to my knowledge, nothing confirmed about a book 3 (already 3 years since the publication of book 2), this is even more problematic.
But these complaints are relatively minor, especially from someone like me who is basically allergic to all speculative fiction. Of course, this does involve pirates, so...
Like most Anna Burke books, this novel took me a minute to really get into what was going on. Part of that is my impatience with alt-worlds and part of that was trying to remember what had happened in Compass Rose. But credit to Burke where other authors fail me--I was able to get a sense of her futuristic, dystopian water world so that I could concentrate on the plight of her characters, particularly Compass Rose and Miranda Stillwater. Burke also managed to keep me in the perfect amount of tension while I read--I had to put the novel down sometimes to take a breath, but I always wanted to come back. I also appreciated the romance in this novel because it felt incredibly human. Rose and Miranda have a ton of flaws and issues they're dealing with, and Burke doesn't idealize any of it. They're both problematic in their ways and maybe they're not an ideal partnership, but what I like about the writing of this pair is how much I still want them to work out. And that felt real. Because all humans are a little bit fucked up.
It's not a perfect book. It can be convoluted at times, but after the first few chapters I wasn't bothered by that anymore. I also have to fault it a little bit for not really standing alone. I know I've mentioned this in other reviews, but any book in a series should be understood on its own merit, and Sea Wolf doesn't. The previous book, Compass Rose, isn't summarized and the ending leaves a door wide open for another book. Add to the fact that there's a 3-year gap between the publications of books 1 and 2 and, to my knowledge, nothing confirmed about a book 3 (already 3 years since the publication of book 2), this is even more problematic.
But these complaints are relatively minor, especially from someone like me who is basically allergic to all speculative fiction. Of course, this does involve pirates, so...
August 3, 2021
here's how orca/rose can still win!
but all jokes aside i think if i hadn't spent the entirety of compass rose wanting them together, not rose/miranda, i would have enjoyed this a lot more
five reasons to read this book
Rep: lesbian mc & li, lesbian side characters
CWs: gore, violence, amputation
but all jokes aside i think if i hadn't spent the entirety of compass rose wanting them together, not rose/miranda, i would have enjoyed this a lot more
five reasons to read this book
Rep: lesbian mc & li, lesbian side characters
CWs: gore, violence, amputation
January 1, 2025
Am I starting to sound like a broken record every time I review an Anna Burke book? Her writing is beautiful, the characters sing and the plot continues to grip you lovingly (but very firmly) by the throat.
Truly my only qualm is that there is not yet a sequel.
Truly my only qualm is that there is not yet a sequel.
April 21, 2025
I have no words for the majesty and brilliance of this book. I love every character, every bit of imagination that went into creating this world. And now on to waiting for the 3rd book with bated breath.
August 25, 2021
Simply fucking incredible. No spoilers, but I loved how our rag tag band of heroes kind of returned to their…roots at the end—and that ending?? Fuck.
I have so many questions for Anna Burke after this chapter of her post apocalyptic lesbian pirate saga. Fuck. So good! So many QUESTIONS! Cannot wait for the next book!
fuck
I have so many questions for Anna Burke after this chapter of her post apocalyptic lesbian pirate saga. Fuck. So good! So many QUESTIONS! Cannot wait for the next book!
fuck
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