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The Gift of the Sea
1691, Indonesia... After a mutinous betrayal leaves her shipwrecked, Una is plucked from the seas by Hanna. Una's a buccaneer, but Hanna's something else entirely...These two women travel the vast expanse of the seas, meeting all manner of mythological creatures, facing challenges that would make others quiver with fear, and proving that if you put everything you have into it, anything is possible.
Even love.
Or is it revenge?
The Golden Age of Piracy meets Mythology in this epic daring tale of adventure, love, and betrayal on the high seas. Will they be able to stand the waves? Or will they be swept away by the swell?
Book 1 of the Harmony Series.
Even love.
Or is it revenge?
The Golden Age of Piracy meets Mythology in this epic daring tale of adventure, love, and betrayal on the high seas. Will they be able to stand the waves? Or will they be swept away by the swell?
Book 1 of the Harmony Series.
- GenresFantasy
399 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 8, 2020
1 person is currently reading
45 people want to read
About the author
T. Bishop
3 books28 followersT. Bishop lives in too humid Texas. A long-time dreamer with the goal of publishing their very own book, but always too shy to even attempt is now breaking out of their comfort zone. To bring you stories that, hopefully, stay with you, bring a smile to your face, or heck, even tears to your eyes - they're not picky. When not writing, which isn't often, you can find them reading (both books and manga), taking pretty photos, watching anime, and trying out new recipes in their kitchen.
Continue following their writing and life journeys at @authortbishop on Instagram, and see their latest book-related inspiration by following T. Bishop on Pinterest and Spotify, updated daily
Continue following their writing and life journeys at @authortbishop on Instagram, and see their latest book-related inspiration by following T. Bishop on Pinterest and Spotify, updated daily
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
February 18, 2021
The Gift of the Sea is a page-turning word journey that is entertaining and wonderful.
Gifted, talented and prolific—that is T. Bishop.
The Gift of the Sea is a page-turning word journey that is entertaining and wonderful. Bishop creates a world that I thoroughly enjoyed and got lost in. I devoured this book and was enthralled with every wave of action and every calm before another adventure crested.
Very impressed with this first book in the series and very excited for the next tale. Wherever your words lead- take me with you T. Bishop, I’m ready for the ride.
Gifted, talented and prolific—that is T. Bishop.
The Gift of the Sea is a page-turning word journey that is entertaining and wonderful. Bishop creates a world that I thoroughly enjoyed and got lost in. I devoured this book and was enthralled with every wave of action and every calm before another adventure crested.
Very impressed with this first book in the series and very excited for the next tale. Wherever your words lead- take me with you T. Bishop, I’m ready for the ride.
February 7, 2021
I'm actually really shocked this was so good! I'm always skeptical of pirate-themed novels, but this one was written quite eloquently! And the representation was great and not forced which is RARE. 10/10 would recommend.
April 15, 2022
3.5 rounded up to 4 stars.
I've been following this author's Instagram for a while and I have long been intrigued by her books. I'm in a phase in my life where you say "pirate" and I come like a moth to a flame.
The Gift of the Sea follows a ragtag group of pirates that are much more than they seem on the surface. It is a historical fantasy that blends fantasy elements into history in a seamless and believable way. A betrayal sparks a revenge mission and soon the group is following their quarry from Indonesia to the Caribbean. Reveals occur along the way about some of the characters that blend the fantasy worldbuilding in with the historical backdrop very well, and the relationships in the book and queer rep are wonderful. There was a major true historical event toward the end of the book that I thought was intertwined with the story so well, aiding it and sending it hurtling forward. It was a stroke of brilliance.
I do think that some work could have been done with the overall pacing of the book. There were several lulls that were long enough to cause me to start losing interest in the story. I also felt like the major reveal at the end fell flat because it was mostly given to readers in the form of a lengthy villain speech.
The main thing that bugged me out, though? And I'm sorry, but this is going to turn into a mini-rant. The constant use of the word buccaneer. Yes, that term in modern times is more loosely (and incorrectly) used to include all lawless sea raiders who seized ships, but it is not historically correct. In short, buccaneers were originally huntsmen who moved from inner Hispaniola to the coast and Tortuga. Most were French Huguenots, and they did begin to perform piratical acts and formed the loose confederation The Brethren of the Coast. This, to me, is a pretty huge oversight. Nowhere in the book are any of the characters described as French or as hailing from Hispaniola, Tortuga, or any other Caribbean pirate haunt for that matter. I'll admit that I think my research for my own pirate book made me super duper picky about this kind of stuff, but yeah. Most readers aren't going to know this and that's fine. I also caught small oversights such as that the left side of vessels being referred to as the "port side" wasn't popularized until the 1800s and in the time period this book takes place, it would still have been called "larboard". Yeah, I'm a tall ship nerd. I own it. :D
BUT LIKE...everyone who isn't a nerd for Real Pirate History is not going to be cringing every time buccaneer comes up. So...enjoy the book, because there is lots to love here.
I've been following this author's Instagram for a while and I have long been intrigued by her books. I'm in a phase in my life where you say "pirate" and I come like a moth to a flame.
The Gift of the Sea follows a ragtag group of pirates that are much more than they seem on the surface. It is a historical fantasy that blends fantasy elements into history in a seamless and believable way. A betrayal sparks a revenge mission and soon the group is following their quarry from Indonesia to the Caribbean. Reveals occur along the way about some of the characters that blend the fantasy worldbuilding in with the historical backdrop very well, and the relationships in the book and queer rep are wonderful. There was a major true historical event toward the end of the book that I thought was intertwined with the story so well, aiding it and sending it hurtling forward. It was a stroke of brilliance.
I do think that some work could have been done with the overall pacing of the book. There were several lulls that were long enough to cause me to start losing interest in the story. I also felt like the major reveal at the end fell flat because it was mostly given to readers in the form of a lengthy villain speech.
The main thing that bugged me out, though? And I'm sorry, but this is going to turn into a mini-rant. The constant use of the word buccaneer. Yes, that term in modern times is more loosely (and incorrectly) used to include all lawless sea raiders who seized ships, but it is not historically correct. In short, buccaneers were originally huntsmen who moved from inner Hispaniola to the coast and Tortuga. Most were French Huguenots, and they did begin to perform piratical acts and formed the loose confederation The Brethren of the Coast. This, to me, is a pretty huge oversight. Nowhere in the book are any of the characters described as French or as hailing from Hispaniola, Tortuga, or any other Caribbean pirate haunt for that matter. I'll admit that I think my research for my own pirate book made me super duper picky about this kind of stuff, but yeah. Most readers aren't going to know this and that's fine. I also caught small oversights such as that the left side of vessels being referred to as the "port side" wasn't popularized until the 1800s and in the time period this book takes place, it would still have been called "larboard". Yeah, I'm a tall ship nerd. I own it. :D
BUT LIKE...everyone who isn't a nerd for Real Pirate History is not going to be cringing every time buccaneer comes up. So...enjoy the book, because there is lots to love here.
June 9, 2021
The Gift of the Sea is the first book of the Harmony series: a fantasy pirate adventure set during the ‘golden age of piracy.’
The book follows Hanna, a mermaid changeling, who falls in love with the buccaneer, Una, after she washes ashore at her seaside cabin. Hanna and Una have common enemies, pirates! One is Hanna’s father, while the other is Una’s sister. After Una runs away from the cabin to gather a crew for revenge, Hanna follows, along with her sea-nymph adoptive father, to join the Una’s crew incognito. What follows is an explosive and epic adventure filled with intrigue, sea battles, revelry, magic, shape-shifting, and romance.
The cast of the story is both its biggest strength and weakness. They are a diverse bunch; dysfunctional but full of love for each other. They are a realistic depiction of a pirate crew (I assume, having never met a pirate), they bicker and tease each other but always come together when the battles begin. While they are all fascinating in their own right, I did get tired of the switching of viewpoints near the end of the story. I felt some of these were unnecessary, when I really just wanted to read about Demetrius, Hanna and Una.
The romance is really well done. It is just two women who are in love. It isn’t presented in a scandalous or political way and I found this so refreshing. It normalises same-sex relationships, because they are normal. The way the women are written is amazing as well. They are strong, smart and powerful, but not in a cliched way. No Mary-sues or Hollywood superwomen here, just tough buccaneers finding their way in a grimy and violent world.
The twists and turns in the book are shocking and some of the deaths are brutal. It’s great when a read keeps you guessing and I loved the big finale setting up the next book.
T. Bishop is a real talent, she writes with heart and her characters are some of the best I’ve come across in my time reading indie authors. I look forward to seeing where the series goes next and I know it will inspire the misfits and pirates of this world.
The book follows Hanna, a mermaid changeling, who falls in love with the buccaneer, Una, after she washes ashore at her seaside cabin. Hanna and Una have common enemies, pirates! One is Hanna’s father, while the other is Una’s sister. After Una runs away from the cabin to gather a crew for revenge, Hanna follows, along with her sea-nymph adoptive father, to join the Una’s crew incognito. What follows is an explosive and epic adventure filled with intrigue, sea battles, revelry, magic, shape-shifting, and romance.
The cast of the story is both its biggest strength and weakness. They are a diverse bunch; dysfunctional but full of love for each other. They are a realistic depiction of a pirate crew (I assume, having never met a pirate), they bicker and tease each other but always come together when the battles begin. While they are all fascinating in their own right, I did get tired of the switching of viewpoints near the end of the story. I felt some of these were unnecessary, when I really just wanted to read about Demetrius, Hanna and Una.
The romance is really well done. It is just two women who are in love. It isn’t presented in a scandalous or political way and I found this so refreshing. It normalises same-sex relationships, because they are normal. The way the women are written is amazing as well. They are strong, smart and powerful, but not in a cliched way. No Mary-sues or Hollywood superwomen here, just tough buccaneers finding their way in a grimy and violent world.
The twists and turns in the book are shocking and some of the deaths are brutal. It’s great when a read keeps you guessing and I loved the big finale setting up the next book.
T. Bishop is a real talent, she writes with heart and her characters are some of the best I’ve come across in my time reading indie authors. I look forward to seeing where the series goes next and I know it will inspire the misfits and pirates of this world.
April 15, 2024
3.75 Stars
This story was filled with adventures, creatures and most endearingly, characters the reader grows to love and feel like family.
This story was filled with adventures, creatures and most endearingly, characters the reader grows to love and feel like family.
January 9, 2021
I applaud the author for writing strong female leads that were not the "I hate everyone and show no emotion" stereotype. All the characters were strong in their own ways, but each were vulnerable in honest, raw ways that came out differently from one another. It is a character driven story, and so I struggled a bit to keep up with the crew, recalling who everyone was and what they looked like was quite the task.
The plot was woven in but gently, I did find there were some tedious moments where I wasn't sure where the book was going, as there were so many characters to shift through.
Many parts of this book, though, popped. Una and Hanna's authentic feeling relationship, the showing of vulnerability particularly from Una. The diverse backgrounds of the characters actually having reason for being written in, and done very well.
It was a bit wordy, as in certain parts I had a tough time getting through because it felt either repetitive or not needed. But I enjoyed the takeaway from the book, which ultimately is about chosen family.
The plot was woven in but gently, I did find there were some tedious moments where I wasn't sure where the book was going, as there were so many characters to shift through.
Many parts of this book, though, popped. Una and Hanna's authentic feeling relationship, the showing of vulnerability particularly from Una. The diverse backgrounds of the characters actually having reason for being written in, and done very well.
It was a bit wordy, as in certain parts I had a tough time getting through because it felt either repetitive or not needed. But I enjoyed the takeaway from the book, which ultimately is about chosen family.
January 5, 2022
"Live your days like each new one is a grand adventure! Dive into it unafraid of what may happen." ~ Atropous
The Gift of the Sea is a historical fantasy set in the Golden Age of Piracy, a debut novel by T. Bishop.
After Hanna saves Una from a watery grave, these two women set sails to the seas with one common goal in mind: to put an end to the ones who tried to destroy them.
The Gift of the Sea's synopsis had me hooked, and once I delved into the author's Instagram page and saw their character reels, posts, character aesthetics boards, I knew I had to get my hands on this book right away.
Pirates, mermaids, water nymphs, and other mythological creatures; right up my alley!
The cover? Gorgeous! Usually a cover isn't a deal breaker when it comes to books, but look at the cover. How could you not love it?!
And a diverse cast of characters with two queer female leads on top of all that?
SHUT UP AND TAKE MY MONEY.
I've decided to split my spoiler-free review into 5 sections: overall plot, character development, pacing, readability, and writing style.
The Gift of the Sea is a historical fantasy set in the Golden Age of Piracy, a debut novel by T. Bishop.
After Hanna saves Una from a watery grave, these two women set sails to the seas with one common goal in mind: to put an end to the ones who tried to destroy them.
The Gift of the Sea's synopsis had me hooked, and once I delved into the author's Instagram page and saw their character reels, posts, character aesthetics boards, I knew I had to get my hands on this book right away.
Pirates, mermaids, water nymphs, and other mythological creatures; right up my alley!
The cover? Gorgeous! Usually a cover isn't a deal breaker when it comes to books, but look at the cover. How could you not love it?!
And a diverse cast of characters with two queer female leads on top of all that?
SHUT UP AND TAKE MY MONEY.
I've decided to split my spoiler-free review into 5 sections: overall plot, character development, pacing, readability, and writing style.
1st - OVERALL PLOT (5/5 Stars):
The ARC of the story from start to finish was the most riveting part of the novel. From start to finish, there weren't any parts that needed to be expanded upon or fell flat. The ARC rose and fell in all the right spots that a novel should. There were just a few loose ends that were left open since this is the first novel in a series, and will eventually resolve themselves over the next few books.
2nd - CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT (5/5 Stars):
The cast of characters were so diverse and realistic! Super refreshing to read about characters of color from all over the world, and have openly gay characters in the forefront of the story. And thank goodness there wasn't any of the LGBTQ+ characters being used as a plot device or written with the promiscuous trope that usually accompanies queer characters.
The relationship with Una and Hanna was very slow burning. No insta-love or toxic relationships with any of the characters. I LOVED it. All relationships portrayed were healthy and believable. Selina and Solomon will have a slice of my heart 5ever <3
All the characters had individual voices and didn't feel similar to one another. And all characters had purposes; none of them felt like they were filler or there just to serve the plot. They added depth to the story. Which is such a tricky thing to pull off, but T did an excellent job at it!
3rd - PACING (5/5 Stars):
Like the overall plot, the pacing was perfect. Not too quick, not too slow. No "saggy" middle. I do feel the ending could have been expanded upon a little further, maybe another chapter or so to show how the characters dealt with the aftermath of the climax. Maybe even hint at what their plans were for book #2. Other than that, pacing was spot on.
4th - READABILITY (4/5 Stars):
While the book was easy to read, I struggled a bit to push through some of the paragraphs because of the way they were structured. Most paragraphs have 3-5 sentences in them (writing is subjective, I know!) but there were more than a handful of paragraphs that were upwards of 7+ sentences. Seeing large chunks of text made comprehending some of the info a little difficult because there's just a lot going on.
My suggestion would be to separate some lines to keep the flow of text moving quicker.
In the novel, page 129:
Especially Octavia. Just two days ago I'd found the usually stoic Selina doubled over, tears spilling down her cheeks from her laughter. Apparently, Octavia had come and asked, very seriously to 'aid in steering the wheel.' I chuckle despite the absolute horror I'd felt at the time. Yeah... definitely better if she keeps her paws off my ship.
My example:
Especially Octavia.
Just two days ago I'd found the usually stoic Selina doubled over, tears spilling down her cheeks from her laughter. Apparently, Octavia had come and asked, very seriously to 'aid in steering the wheel.'
I chuckle despite the absolute horror I'd felt at the time.
Yeah... definitely better if she keeps her paws off my ship.
Lastly, the chapters are split by POV of all the characters (Caleb, Una, Hanna, Demetrius, Asa, Jonah, Ambrose, Selina, Solomon, Atropous, Kai, Elyse). There were a few chapters towards the end that could have been blended in with one of the main character's. Asa's 1 chapter, for example, could have been put into Hanna's perspective to further show their relationship and character development. I would have liked to see more of Hanna, Una, and Demetrius' perspectives toward the end instead of getting a little bit of everyone.
5th - WRITING (4/5 Stars):
The author has a really keen understanding of this specific era and it shows in the story telling. I am in NO WAY a master at anything history related, but the information put into the novel for the world development really made the world so believable and the characters more relatable.
The prose is beautiful at times too. Some of my favorite quotes of all time have come from this novel:
My past made me who I am at this moment, and I happen to like this 'me'. ~ Solomon
Great Poseidon's arse cheeks, we really just did that! ~ Hanna
Bond or no bond, I'd choose Una. Of that I am certain. ~ Hanna
Throughout the novel, there were quite a few spelling and grammatical errors (missing commas and periods). The writing was also adverb heavy, and some of the actions between characters were repetitive (lips twitching into a smirk, smile, or grin being the one phrase and action that stood out the most). The word choices could have been a bit different.
MY OVERALL THOUGHTS:
T Bishop is now an auto-buy author for me. The Gift of the Sea was an epic read and I CANNOT wait until book #2 comes out. There's a specific character that I need answers from... like yesterday. And I need more Solomon and Selina in my life <3
If this is your first introduction to this genre or pirates and mermaids, I highly suggest giving this novel a read!
September 17, 2021
The Gift of the Sea, by T Bishop, is a swashbuckling fantasy of pirates, mermaids and creatures from the deep. It’s also an emotional joyride through a turbulent history where buccaneers once ruled the oceans.
Every character in this tempestuous adventure is given a voice. Bishop writes from the heart, and her group of mismatched crew members take the reader on an endearing voyage of unprejudiced love, desire, fear, heartbreak and vengeance, entwining fantasy and history. Hannah and Una’s story draws the reader in to a white knuckle ride of turbulence, friendship, betrayal, violence and unavoidable disaster.
Because I’m a slow reader, I can at times find multiple points of view confusing, and there were a lot of names to get my head around, but Bishop’s beautiful visualisation and versatile writing style masters this element with clear definition, each chapter unravelling the story through the different characters’ eyes. And it worked for me.
High seas. Dangerous brigands. Fantastical beings. Impossible love. An engaging story with a cliff hanger ending, highly recommended reading for lovers of pirate and mermaid fantasy. I look forward to book two in Tabatha Bishop’s Harmony Series.
Every character in this tempestuous adventure is given a voice. Bishop writes from the heart, and her group of mismatched crew members take the reader on an endearing voyage of unprejudiced love, desire, fear, heartbreak and vengeance, entwining fantasy and history. Hannah and Una’s story draws the reader in to a white knuckle ride of turbulence, friendship, betrayal, violence and unavoidable disaster.
Because I’m a slow reader, I can at times find multiple points of view confusing, and there were a lot of names to get my head around, but Bishop’s beautiful visualisation and versatile writing style masters this element with clear definition, each chapter unravelling the story through the different characters’ eyes. And it worked for me.
High seas. Dangerous brigands. Fantastical beings. Impossible love. An engaging story with a cliff hanger ending, highly recommended reading for lovers of pirate and mermaid fantasy. I look forward to book two in Tabatha Bishop’s Harmony Series.
December 2, 2020
Author Snippet
− T. Bishop is a 27-year-old author breaking into the industry with her first novel in the genre of Historic Fantasy. A strong supporter of the LGBTQ, she is an inspiration to all.
GIFT OF THE SEA (THE HARMONY SERIES, BOOK 1)
The Gift of the Sea is a dramatic tale of pirates, mermaids, and other beings of fantasy. What is this gift? Is it a gift, or is it a curse? Therein lies the dramatic dilemma of every mermaid’s story. The plot and subplots of this novel take the reader on multiple adventures of Hannah and her friends. Reckless abandonment. Surrogate family. Past scars. You feel so much as you read Hannah’s tale. The first book is a continuing series, this is a great beginning.
Written in a present first-person voice, this novel is different from what I normally read. While the story feels perfect, reading like a historic journal written by a mermaid, the ONLY critique I have for it is the long wait to learn the name of the protagonist. Overall, I have nothing negative to say about this story. Fantasy is my preferred genre to read.
T. Bishop captivates her readers with content all audiences can relate to. From seeking revenge on old enemies to sailing in pirate infested seas, and so much more. Mermaid magic is represented proper in Bishop’s writing. Mythology buffs will find their imaginations sated with the way Bishop portrays these mythological beings in her book. Many will call this a novel, but it is more like an Epic. Mermaids represented in film do not match up with Hannah. Hannah represents mermaids well and proper for those of us nerdy who read mythological books regularly.
This story is AMAZING! The banter between characters is one of the things I enjoyed most. As the story unfolds, new characters come into play and the tale grows as these characters are developed; a compelling mermaid tale!
“I push into Caleb’s chamber and let the door click closed behind me. The first thing I notice is Caleb and Demetrius chatting softly together in one corner, Asa huddled in another. The boy is angled away from them, his whole body curled in on itself, arms wrapped around his face.
Demetrius looks from the cloth-wrapped bundle in my hand to my face.
“Enjoy your walk?”
I nod, glancing at the child. “Can I speak with him?”
Caleb snorts a disgruntled laugh, throwing his hands above his head.
“What are you going to do, sweet check? Ask him nicely and give him some treat?”
Demetrius holds up a hand, silencing him. “GO ahead, Octavia. There’s no harm in letting her have a try.”
Caleb grumbles to himself as I walk over and kneel in front of Asa. “Asa, I’m sorry I tricked you into following me. You see, your friends are trying to hurt mine, youre the youngest on their ship and that makes you an easy target. That’s why I was in the square today.” My soft words seem to reach some part of the boy and he lowers his arms, turning toward me slightly. “If you tell us what we want to know. Ill give you this fairy tart and you never have to go back there ever again.”
Heart-wrenching loss of family tugged at my “feels” to the point that I found myself crying as I read certain scenes. Characters I developed an attachment to, one in particular was alters the direction of the story in a dramatic scene. Ashamed to cry? I am not! When writers treat their readers as T. Bishop does with her eloquent details, I own the emotion that the writing brings out of me. The ending left me gasping as though I were swimming frantically towards the surface of the water to take a breath. I nearly drowned in the story and cannot wait for the next installment to find out where Hannah’s adventures will take us next.
A story that grabs you by the collar and drags you beneath the roiling seas, Bishop had me itching to read this novel long ago when she was developing it on Wattpad! A definite MUST READ and 5-Stars for me! If you enjoy first-person AND historic fiction, this is a great novel for the experience it offers those who read it.
Read this and all other books by T. Bishop, available on Amazon.com. Free to read on Kindle with Kindle Unlimited subscription.
− T. Bishop is a 27-year-old author breaking into the industry with her first novel in the genre of Historic Fantasy. A strong supporter of the LGBTQ, she is an inspiration to all.
GIFT OF THE SEA (THE HARMONY SERIES, BOOK 1)
The Gift of the Sea is a dramatic tale of pirates, mermaids, and other beings of fantasy. What is this gift? Is it a gift, or is it a curse? Therein lies the dramatic dilemma of every mermaid’s story. The plot and subplots of this novel take the reader on multiple adventures of Hannah and her friends. Reckless abandonment. Surrogate family. Past scars. You feel so much as you read Hannah’s tale. The first book is a continuing series, this is a great beginning.
Written in a present first-person voice, this novel is different from what I normally read. While the story feels perfect, reading like a historic journal written by a mermaid, the ONLY critique I have for it is the long wait to learn the name of the protagonist. Overall, I have nothing negative to say about this story. Fantasy is my preferred genre to read.
T. Bishop captivates her readers with content all audiences can relate to. From seeking revenge on old enemies to sailing in pirate infested seas, and so much more. Mermaid magic is represented proper in Bishop’s writing. Mythology buffs will find their imaginations sated with the way Bishop portrays these mythological beings in her book. Many will call this a novel, but it is more like an Epic. Mermaids represented in film do not match up with Hannah. Hannah represents mermaids well and proper for those of us nerdy who read mythological books regularly.
This story is AMAZING! The banter between characters is one of the things I enjoyed most. As the story unfolds, new characters come into play and the tale grows as these characters are developed; a compelling mermaid tale!
“I push into Caleb’s chamber and let the door click closed behind me. The first thing I notice is Caleb and Demetrius chatting softly together in one corner, Asa huddled in another. The boy is angled away from them, his whole body curled in on itself, arms wrapped around his face.
Demetrius looks from the cloth-wrapped bundle in my hand to my face.
“Enjoy your walk?”
I nod, glancing at the child. “Can I speak with him?”
Caleb snorts a disgruntled laugh, throwing his hands above his head.
“What are you going to do, sweet check? Ask him nicely and give him some treat?”
Demetrius holds up a hand, silencing him. “GO ahead, Octavia. There’s no harm in letting her have a try.”
Caleb grumbles to himself as I walk over and kneel in front of Asa. “Asa, I’m sorry I tricked you into following me. You see, your friends are trying to hurt mine, youre the youngest on their ship and that makes you an easy target. That’s why I was in the square today.” My soft words seem to reach some part of the boy and he lowers his arms, turning toward me slightly. “If you tell us what we want to know. Ill give you this fairy tart and you never have to go back there ever again.”
Heart-wrenching loss of family tugged at my “feels” to the point that I found myself crying as I read certain scenes. Characters I developed an attachment to, one in particular was alters the direction of the story in a dramatic scene. Ashamed to cry? I am not! When writers treat their readers as T. Bishop does with her eloquent details, I own the emotion that the writing brings out of me. The ending left me gasping as though I were swimming frantically towards the surface of the water to take a breath. I nearly drowned in the story and cannot wait for the next installment to find out where Hannah’s adventures will take us next.
A story that grabs you by the collar and drags you beneath the roiling seas, Bishop had me itching to read this novel long ago when she was developing it on Wattpad! A definite MUST READ and 5-Stars for me! If you enjoy first-person AND historic fiction, this is a great novel for the experience it offers those who read it.
Read this and all other books by T. Bishop, available on Amazon.com. Free to read on Kindle with Kindle Unlimited subscription.
January 21, 2022
‘The Gift Of The Sea’ written by T bishop
Mermaids, Nymphs, Pirates, and everyday people on not so everyday adventures. T Bishop put together an interesting (to say the least) group of people together to go on a dangerous and time consuming mission. I am genuinely impressed at how well this whole book captured me and refused to let me go; Don’t worry, the brilliant author is brining us a sequel.
This is the first book that I have read this year that I will easily and without regrets give a 5 star rating too.
I will recommend this book to readers who enjoy:
- Slow burn romance
- Fantasy worlds
- Pirate/ocean themes
- Historic settings
- Books with tension & twists
If you are worried that this book won’t be inclusive with different races and sexualities due to it being set in the 1600s DONT WORRY. T Bishop was very inclusive with this book despite its time setting. I absolutely love reading books set in the past but I usually feel so “ick” about it because they all seem to have the same characters.
Positives:
✔️ Mermaids
✔️ Pirates
✔️ literally all the characters
✔️ so many different and great perspectives
✔️ MULTIPLE strong female leads
✔️ people of colour
✔️ Tension in the right places for right time
✔️ Unexpected twists 🙃
Mermaids, Nymphs, Pirates, and everyday people on not so everyday adventures. T Bishop put together an interesting (to say the least) group of people together to go on a dangerous and time consuming mission. I am genuinely impressed at how well this whole book captured me and refused to let me go; Don’t worry, the brilliant author is brining us a sequel.
This is the first book that I have read this year that I will easily and without regrets give a 5 star rating too.
I will recommend this book to readers who enjoy:
- Slow burn romance
- Fantasy worlds
- Pirate/ocean themes
- Historic settings
- Books with tension & twists
If you are worried that this book won’t be inclusive with different races and sexualities due to it being set in the 1600s DONT WORRY. T Bishop was very inclusive with this book despite its time setting. I absolutely love reading books set in the past but I usually feel so “ick” about it because they all seem to have the same characters.
Positives:
✔️ Mermaids
✔️ Pirates
✔️ literally all the characters
✔️ so many different and great perspectives
✔️ MULTIPLE strong female leads
✔️ people of colour
✔️ Tension in the right places for right time
✔️ Unexpected twists 🙃
March 23, 2021
Wow... okay, where to begin. First off, this is my first FF romance and I am blown away. The love between Una and Hanna was beautiful. This novel is VERY well written. I’ve been wanting to read this because her teasers sucked me in and I LOVE pirates! Here’s my review:
Let’s take a trip back into time shall we? To the year 1691, Indonesia. With mermaids, water nymphs, druids, pirates, some grumpy crew mates. Who I adore ;)) 🌊 🏴☠️
Shipwrecked and nursed back to health by Hanna and Demetrius. Una, who lost her crew in the wreckage, must continue with her journey in search of Kai and Elyse.
When Hanna saves Una from a sea creature, they’re bonded by magic.
Now, Una finds herself a new crew, with a new ship and the journey continues. And what a journey it is!! I loved how the author gave us every characters POV, that was so different, and every side character was amazing! I will say it was an emotional roller coaster for me on some parts. 😭
“The person who waits patiently will always obtain the largest reward, remember that.”
Let’s take a trip back into time shall we? To the year 1691, Indonesia. With mermaids, water nymphs, druids, pirates, some grumpy crew mates. Who I adore ;)) 🌊 🏴☠️
Shipwrecked and nursed back to health by Hanna and Demetrius. Una, who lost her crew in the wreckage, must continue with her journey in search of Kai and Elyse.
When Hanna saves Una from a sea creature, they’re bonded by magic.
Now, Una finds herself a new crew, with a new ship and the journey continues. And what a journey it is!! I loved how the author gave us every characters POV, that was so different, and every side character was amazing! I will say it was an emotional roller coaster for me on some parts. 😭
“The person who waits patiently will always obtain the largest reward, remember that.”
February 16, 2021
Holy seaballs! Hold onto your hats!
What a magical, sea enchanting roller-coaster T.Bishop takes on in the first instalment of The Harmony Series - The Gift of the Sea.
The story was captivating and the characters both intriguing and unique, T.Bishop paints every scene with vivid imaginary that leaves you gasping for more.
Hanna, a half-ling mermaid surprises herself when she saves someone that she never dreamed of - a pirate. Those pesky skeletons are banging on the closet in attempts to have her past swallowing her whole, but she pushes through and what she finds in this pirate astonishes even her.
Una, buccaneer through and through only has one thing on the mind - REVENGE... but things start to change shape when Hanna comes to the rescue.
A story of betrayal, loss, heartbreak and so much more, T.Bishop will have you begging for more.
I can't wait to see what comes next from this upcoming author!
What a magical, sea enchanting roller-coaster T.Bishop takes on in the first instalment of The Harmony Series - The Gift of the Sea.
The story was captivating and the characters both intriguing and unique, T.Bishop paints every scene with vivid imaginary that leaves you gasping for more.
Hanna, a half-ling mermaid surprises herself when she saves someone that she never dreamed of - a pirate. Those pesky skeletons are banging on the closet in attempts to have her past swallowing her whole, but she pushes through and what she finds in this pirate astonishes even her.
Una, buccaneer through and through only has one thing on the mind - REVENGE... but things start to change shape when Hanna comes to the rescue.
A story of betrayal, loss, heartbreak and so much more, T.Bishop will have you begging for more.
I can't wait to see what comes next from this upcoming author!
February 6, 2021
A tidal wave of emotion!
The Gift of the Sea is a unique experience.
The diverse cast of character's will grab your heart and steal it like true Pirates. The journey this cast of characters go threw is mind blowing an aw inspiring. The character's truly feel like there people you would meet in real life an they would be your best friends. The story is written with rich an vibrate words that jump from the page an make you feel like your experiencing the world first hand. Dive into this story an see for yourselves what a gift it is.
The Gift of the Sea is a unique experience.
The diverse cast of character's will grab your heart and steal it like true Pirates. The journey this cast of characters go threw is mind blowing an aw inspiring. The character's truly feel like there people you would meet in real life an they would be your best friends. The story is written with rich an vibrate words that jump from the page an make you feel like your experiencing the world first hand. Dive into this story an see for yourselves what a gift it is.
June 1, 2021
Wow! This book was amazing. It was well written and I loved the different POV from the characters. It felt like I knew them all. This book made me laugh out loud at times, but also brought me to tears more than once. The characters emotions are palpable, you will hurt with them and for them. And the twist, I did not see that coming. I can't wait to read more work from this author. This is a book that will keep you hooked from beginning to end. I highly recommend it.
June 30, 2021
Epic story that deserves awards.
Wow wow wow! I was completely blown away by this story! This is an author to watch. Supreme story telling that hooks you in takes you on one hell of a ride, and leaves you with a book hangover for days. I can see this story going to film it is so well done. I’m thrilled more is being written in this series - if I could give more stars I would- an epic 5 ⭐️ read
Wow wow wow! I was completely blown away by this story! This is an author to watch. Supreme story telling that hooks you in takes you on one hell of a ride, and leaves you with a book hangover for days. I can see this story going to film it is so well done. I’m thrilled more is being written in this series - if I could give more stars I would- an epic 5 ⭐️ read
March 30, 2021
This book had so much to love! I mean it has pirates, mermaids, sea nymphs, and sea monsters. I was totally sold as soon as I heard pirates and was pleasantly surprised to find out all the other great things it has. It was a truly great adventure read.
December 26, 2021
Great read!
An absolute engulfing read that will have you continually turning the page. Well developed characters and an engrossing world will have you wanting more which the story promises. Can't wait!
An absolute engulfing read that will have you continually turning the page. Well developed characters and an engrossing world will have you wanting more which the story promises. Can't wait!
July 3, 2021
The Gift of the Sea is my first historical romance, and what better way to start than with a slowburn PIRATE/MERMAID FF?!
I loved Hanna and Una so much. Hanna taught Una so much in their time together in this book and vice versa. I can't wait to see what they learn and how they grow with each other in book two. They give you all the feels. You laugh at their banter, you get frustrated at their anger, everything.
TGOTS was absolutely wonderful, even if there were some parts where I was literally screaming because HOW COULD T. BISHOP DO THAT?! (exact words). I'm so excited to learn Una and Hanna's fate, especially after that ending!
I loved Hanna and Una so much. Hanna taught Una so much in their time together in this book and vice versa. I can't wait to see what they learn and how they grow with each other in book two. They give you all the feels. You laugh at their banter, you get frustrated at their anger, everything.
TGOTS was absolutely wonderful, even if there were some parts where I was literally screaming because HOW COULD T. BISHOP DO THAT?! (exact words). I'm so excited to learn Una and Hanna's fate, especially after that ending!
December 27, 2021
Duuuuuuuude…
That’s it. That’s the review.
(Jokes. I’ll be coming back to put my thoughts into some sort of comprehensive word vomit and try to explain how much I loved this book and how much my heart is completely destroyed.)
EDIT:
I’m finally back to update my review.
Tabitha has written an incredible story of mermaids and pirates and nymphs and found family that I think about every day. They have written this world that I just want to climb into and live inside. But also not because I'd probably not survive » To say I highly recommend checking it out is a huge understatement! I urge you with every part of my being to buy it and read it. When I made this tiny reel I KNEW this would be the song I paired it with because I love it so much. I love the setting, the love, the connections, the witty banter, the characters, the magic, the queerness, the heartbreak (there's so much effing heartbreak), and did I mention it's queer? Cause it is. I was lucky enough to beta test the second book in the series and I want to scream all about it, but alas I cannot So I'm here to hype up the first book and tell you all to go give them a follow and buy their book so we get more! (Ambrose for life ) just saying I also wanted to point out something that I felt Tabitha wrote really well. There is a misunderstanding between two characters that is a main plot point. These characters give one another space to work through their feelings and don't resort to unnecessary pettiness and intentional hurt towards one another. They both deal with their feelings and then are able to move past the hurt together. It was so fresh to have this big hurt be dealt with in such a healthy way.
That’s it. That’s the review.
(Jokes. I’ll be coming back to put my thoughts into some sort of comprehensive word vomit and try to explain how much I loved this book and how much my heart is completely destroyed.)
EDIT:
I’m finally back to update my review.
Tabitha has written an incredible story of mermaids and pirates and nymphs and found family that I think about every day. They have written this world that I just want to climb into and live inside. But also not because I'd probably not survive » To say I highly recommend checking it out is a huge understatement! I urge you with every part of my being to buy it and read it. When I made this tiny reel I KNEW this would be the song I paired it with because I love it so much. I love the setting, the love, the connections, the witty banter, the characters, the magic, the queerness, the heartbreak (there's so much effing heartbreak), and did I mention it's queer? Cause it is. I was lucky enough to beta test the second book in the series and I want to scream all about it, but alas I cannot So I'm here to hype up the first book and tell you all to go give them a follow and buy their book so we get more! (Ambrose for life ) just saying I also wanted to point out something that I felt Tabitha wrote really well. There is a misunderstanding between two characters that is a main plot point. These characters give one another space to work through their feelings and don't resort to unnecessary pettiness and intentional hurt towards one another. They both deal with their feelings and then are able to move past the hurt together. It was so fresh to have this big hurt be dealt with in such a healthy way.
January 26, 2026
The first thing that drew me to this book was the pirate theme. I love the idea of a story centered around life at sea. Una and Hanna, were engaging main characters, and one of my favorite parts of the book was the relationships between the characters and how they developed throughout the story.
The author did a great job staying true to the historical timeline, which made the setting feel authentic and immersive. I also really enjoyed how unpredictable the plot was. Just when I thought I knew what was coming next, the story would take a different direction, which kept me interested and turning the pages.
Without giving away any spoilers the ending leaves you curious about what happens next. Im currently, diving into to the second book “Truth of the Sea”, to continue the journey.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book. I was able to visualize everything while reading. Which, is a plus! 🤗
The author did a great job staying true to the historical timeline, which made the setting feel authentic and immersive. I also really enjoyed how unpredictable the plot was. Just when I thought I knew what was coming next, the story would take a different direction, which kept me interested and turning the pages.
Without giving away any spoilers the ending leaves you curious about what happens next. Im currently, diving into to the second book “Truth of the Sea”, to continue the journey.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book. I was able to visualize everything while reading. Which, is a plus! 🤗
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