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Tides of the Sovereign
A centuries-old rebirth curse, an otherworldly Celtic prince, and an inescapable prophecy.
Thirty-year-old magic Bearer Julia Harrison had never given the notion of past lives or grand destinies any real credence or thought. She has knowledge of magic, and the power she shares with the women of her bloodline. She's aware of the difference between Druids and Sorcerers, Wielders and Bearers, and so on, but regardless of all of that... her everyday life has always felt quite normal-distinctly unmagical-and never more so than as of late.
With the recent death of her beloved grandmother, Julia finds herself severed from the only sense of place she'd ever known. Grandma Gertie had all but raised her and was easily the strongest connection she'd had to her own magic, and that of the natural world. Without it, she feels lost. Disconnected. Unable to rely on (or even effectively access) her own limited magics in her current emotional state, Julia's primary focus turns to placing one foot in front of the other as she resumes a linguistics degree that has taken far longer to earn than it should have.
But when a visiting professor arrives on her Vancouver campus-one who brings with him an odd sense of familiarity that's almost as compelling as his raw Celtic masculinity, Julia knows that her life's journey is about to change, heading off on an entirely new path. What she could have never predicted, or even dreamed of, was that somehow, they had walked that path together countless times before... each time towards their own inescapable deaths at the hands of Marcus Cassius Longinus, the indomitable "Child of Rome."
Thirty-year-old magic Bearer Julia Harrison had never given the notion of past lives or grand destinies any real credence or thought. She has knowledge of magic, and the power she shares with the women of her bloodline. She's aware of the difference between Druids and Sorcerers, Wielders and Bearers, and so on, but regardless of all of that... her everyday life has always felt quite normal-distinctly unmagical-and never more so than as of late.
With the recent death of her beloved grandmother, Julia finds herself severed from the only sense of place she'd ever known. Grandma Gertie had all but raised her and was easily the strongest connection she'd had to her own magic, and that of the natural world. Without it, she feels lost. Disconnected. Unable to rely on (or even effectively access) her own limited magics in her current emotional state, Julia's primary focus turns to placing one foot in front of the other as she resumes a linguistics degree that has taken far longer to earn than it should have.
But when a visiting professor arrives on her Vancouver campus-one who brings with him an odd sense of familiarity that's almost as compelling as his raw Celtic masculinity, Julia knows that her life's journey is about to change, heading off on an entirely new path. What she could have never predicted, or even dreamed of, was that somehow, they had walked that path together countless times before... each time towards their own inescapable deaths at the hands of Marcus Cassius Longinus, the indomitable "Child of Rome."
516 pages, Paperback
Published March 14, 2022
16 people are currently reading
790 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
April 12, 2023
beautifully written, incredible world building and an EPIC epic love story. WOW! Without spoilers, he follows her through several life times and chooses her every time. They face death and danger, she learns to come into her power, the villain back story is compelling and i gotta say pick this up! Romance fantasy lovers- this is for you!
May 25, 2022
Do you I know what my primary thought was on finishing this book? It was "finally!" This book takes more than 500 pages to tell a story that might fill 200, if all the fluff was removed. I was so bored; just so, so, so bored throughout this book. It felt like it legitimately was never going to end.
I kept consciously reminding myself that this isn't urban fantasy, in which I might expect action and adventure. Be that as it may, 500+ pages of be told (not shown, but told about) Julia going to class, eating dinner, living her day to day life AND NOTHING OF NOTE HAPPENING was just more than I could tolerate, let alone enjoy. I was bored!
Then, the whole thing ended (or fizzled out) with Julia miraculously doing something to save the day that she didn't know how she did or even what it was. So, it contained no sort of real agency. Plus, nothing truly concludes. It was utterly anti-climactic.
I'll grant that the writing is mechanically sound, the editing seems pretty clean, and those who like a little bit of sappy slice of life literature might well enjoy this. (The book seems to have good reviews outside of mine). But I'm just glad to be finished and have no intention of continuing the series.
I kept consciously reminding myself that this isn't urban fantasy, in which I might expect action and adventure. Be that as it may, 500+ pages of be told (not shown, but told about) Julia going to class, eating dinner, living her day to day life AND NOTHING OF NOTE HAPPENING was just more than I could tolerate, let alone enjoy. I was bored!
Then, the whole thing ended (or fizzled out) with Julia miraculously doing something to save the day that she didn't know how she did or even what it was. So, it contained no sort of real agency. Plus, nothing truly concludes. It was utterly anti-climactic.
I'll grant that the writing is mechanically sound, the editing seems pretty clean, and those who like a little bit of sappy slice of life literature might well enjoy this. (The book seems to have good reviews outside of mine). But I'm just glad to be finished and have no intention of continuing the series.
May 19, 2022
This book follows Julia, a Bearer, whose grandmother recently passed and she decides to go to school where she meets Professor Dom O'Brien who is handsome and seems familiar to her. Once she meets him, things start to change, and she finds out someone is hunting her, and she needs to find out a way to survive or stop him.
This was a much longer book than I expected! I loved the blend of the past, and present with the bit of magic intertwined into there as well, and the beautiful and timeless romance. There was A LOT of detail that went into this book, and you really get to know Julia and how she thinks. I adored Dom, he's just such an adorable and romantic character, I loved it! There are a lot of other side characters, plus the charmingly evil villain, who in my opinion is fantastic and well written! The romance aspect of this book was my favorite.
I will say the book lagged quite a bit at the beginning. I think I would have rated this a higher rating if there had been more events, or just something more that occurred, I had a hard time concentrating and continuing the book at first, but there may be more that happens in the next book. This one seemed to really focus on Julia and who she is and what she can do and navigating her life while on the run.
Overall, a great adult fantasy! Thank you to the author and Literary Bound Tours for the free digital copy to read. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This was a much longer book than I expected! I loved the blend of the past, and present with the bit of magic intertwined into there as well, and the beautiful and timeless romance. There was A LOT of detail that went into this book, and you really get to know Julia and how she thinks. I adored Dom, he's just such an adorable and romantic character, I loved it! There are a lot of other side characters, plus the charmingly evil villain, who in my opinion is fantastic and well written! The romance aspect of this book was my favorite.
I will say the book lagged quite a bit at the beginning. I think I would have rated this a higher rating if there had been more events, or just something more that occurred, I had a hard time concentrating and continuing the book at first, but there may be more that happens in the next book. This one seemed to really focus on Julia and who she is and what she can do and navigating her life while on the run.
Overall, a great adult fantasy! Thank you to the author and Literary Bound Tours for the free digital copy to read. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
May 27, 2022
I really enjoyed this adult fantasy from author Kate Gateley!
Julia is a likable heroine dealing with the death of her beloved grandmother in a realistic portrayal of grief. I enjoyed the magical lore of this story, and how emotions affected the magic.
Her love interest, Dom, was so sweet and I loved their romance! And even the villain was portrayed well, made to be more than just pure evil. This is a long book with a slow start, and I felt it could have been trimmed down to keep the pace better.
Still, I really enjoyed this adult fantasy!
Julia is a likable heroine dealing with the death of her beloved grandmother in a realistic portrayal of grief. I enjoyed the magical lore of this story, and how emotions affected the magic.
Her love interest, Dom, was so sweet and I loved their romance! And even the villain was portrayed well, made to be more than just pure evil. This is a long book with a slow start, and I felt it could have been trimmed down to keep the pace better.
Still, I really enjoyed this adult fantasy!
January 31, 2025
I was not expecting this to be so large, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. I absolutely loved the local setting, we need more love for Vancouver Island!
It gets a little hard to just be told everything over and over again, I would have liked to experience things more as Julia did, especially since it's in first person. It was more sweeping than it was immediate and punchy.
Overall, I enjoyed it. I love my local authors and I'm so happy my library has this entire series! There's pretty long waitlists for it, so I'm happy to pass it along. Check your local library and request a copy!
It gets a little hard to just be told everything over and over again, I would have liked to experience things more as Julia did, especially since it's in first person. It was more sweeping than it was immediate and punchy.
Overall, I enjoyed it. I love my local authors and I'm so happy my library has this entire series! There's pretty long waitlists for it, so I'm happy to pass it along. Check your local library and request a copy!
Read
July 7, 2023It had all the elements I enjoy, but unfortunately, the story fell flat and was unengaging. Despite the initial promise, I finally decided to let it go unfinished 6 hrs in.
August 26, 2024
Wanted to see a Discovery-of-Witches type book, but instead we got an all tell, no show situation
October 6, 2022
This is a very well written book from start to finish. However, there is not a lot happening in what is portrayed as a life and death - mainly ending in death - situation. If there was not the mention of the danger heading towards them at a steady pace, this can be taken out and read almost like a slice of life kind of book.
Julia is a Witch and have never felt like she belonged. When she lost her grandmother, Gertie, the sense of being unhinged is even stronger. But that all changes when she meets a collage professor that has a grounding effect on her and she soon finds herself on a self discovery journey to finally become the Witch she is supposed to be. Discovering that she is part of a prophecy and have lived many lives in the past to only having it end in death by the "Child or Rome", Julia and the collar professor, Dom, will have to find a way to finally defeat the enemy and end the evil growing.
While the summary itself sounds like a fantastic read, it didn't really live up to what I was expecting. I was looking forward to the power she'll learn on her journey, the confidence in becoming a Witch and even the world building but what I got was literally, a slice of mundane life, wake up and take a walk kind of book.
Our main character did nothing and I felt like our characters were just sitting around and waiting for the threat to come. For a whole year, they could have prepared, trained, strategized and analyzed why they have failed for centuries. But they did NOTHING. Which is what was frustrating to me. She is overwhelmed with the discovery of her past lives along with the powerful magic from her surroundings but I can only take so much of that reason up to a certain point. After 200 some pages, I want her to move and become action.
I did however love the characters. Julia and Dom is a very loving couple and I can see that love between them. They worked well together so I was happy to read all about them.
This is a well-written book which is what kept me reading. I think this is one of the stronger writing I have read from a debut novel and I do not regret giving this a read at all. I loved the writing but just wished there was more happening in 500 pages.
Overall, I wanted more of the witchy vibe to the story along with a stronger plot. The characters and writing is perfect and this book would have had a higher rating if there was more events taking place. I do recommend this to anyone who enjoys a much slower down pace along with the slice of life kind of read.
Julia is a Witch and have never felt like she belonged. When she lost her grandmother, Gertie, the sense of being unhinged is even stronger. But that all changes when she meets a collage professor that has a grounding effect on her and she soon finds herself on a self discovery journey to finally become the Witch she is supposed to be. Discovering that she is part of a prophecy and have lived many lives in the past to only having it end in death by the "Child or Rome", Julia and the collar professor, Dom, will have to find a way to finally defeat the enemy and end the evil growing.
While the summary itself sounds like a fantastic read, it didn't really live up to what I was expecting. I was looking forward to the power she'll learn on her journey, the confidence in becoming a Witch and even the world building but what I got was literally, a slice of mundane life, wake up and take a walk kind of book.
Our main character did nothing and I felt like our characters were just sitting around and waiting for the threat to come. For a whole year, they could have prepared, trained, strategized and analyzed why they have failed for centuries. But they did NOTHING. Which is what was frustrating to me. She is overwhelmed with the discovery of her past lives along with the powerful magic from her surroundings but I can only take so much of that reason up to a certain point. After 200 some pages, I want her to move and become action.
I did however love the characters. Julia and Dom is a very loving couple and I can see that love between them. They worked well together so I was happy to read all about them.
This is a well-written book which is what kept me reading. I think this is one of the stronger writing I have read from a debut novel and I do not regret giving this a read at all. I loved the writing but just wished there was more happening in 500 pages.
Overall, I wanted more of the witchy vibe to the story along with a stronger plot. The characters and writing is perfect and this book would have had a higher rating if there was more events taking place. I do recommend this to anyone who enjoys a much slower down pace along with the slice of life kind of read.
September 25, 2023
Title: Tides of the Sovereign
Author: Kate Gateley
Release Date: March 13th, 2022
Page Count: 513
Format: Audiobook
Start Date: September 3rd, 2023
Finish Date: September 13th, 2023
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Review:
I really enjoyed this book very much. It had a wonderful plot. I wouldn't say it was unique, but I can say that it had a very unique spin. At least in my opinion. There were tense moments through the book, but there were also lighthearted moments. I think that both are very important in stores like these. Another thing that I loved about the book is that it's got quite a few pages.
That being said, I can't say that I was majorly in love with this book. I couldn't give it a four or five star rating with good conscience, but I feel like three stars would be too low. I feel like there are parts of the book that could have been rewritten. There were also times that the main characters got on my nerves royally. Especially when they got to where they just weren't listening to anybody at all. Personally, I also think that the book could do with a new cover.
Now that I have the negatives out of the way, I do want to reiterate that I did enjoy the book. I'm actually a good chunk into the second book. I am loving the journey I'm taking in this book. I can't wait to see where it goes from here. Also, I want to note that this review is my personal opinion. There may be people who fall in love with this book and consider it an all-time personal favorite. Please do not let my review keep you from reading the book.
Author: Kate Gateley
Release Date: March 13th, 2022
Page Count: 513
Format: Audiobook
Start Date: September 3rd, 2023
Finish Date: September 13th, 2023
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Review:
I really enjoyed this book very much. It had a wonderful plot. I wouldn't say it was unique, but I can say that it had a very unique spin. At least in my opinion. There were tense moments through the book, but there were also lighthearted moments. I think that both are very important in stores like these. Another thing that I loved about the book is that it's got quite a few pages.
That being said, I can't say that I was majorly in love with this book. I couldn't give it a four or five star rating with good conscience, but I feel like three stars would be too low. I feel like there are parts of the book that could have been rewritten. There were also times that the main characters got on my nerves royally. Especially when they got to where they just weren't listening to anybody at all. Personally, I also think that the book could do with a new cover.
Now that I have the negatives out of the way, I do want to reiterate that I did enjoy the book. I'm actually a good chunk into the second book. I am loving the journey I'm taking in this book. I can't wait to see where it goes from here. Also, I want to note that this review is my personal opinion. There may be people who fall in love with this book and consider it an all-time personal favorite. Please do not let my review keep you from reading the book.
Read
September 27, 2022Two DNFs in a row. In theory I should have loved this but in practice it was painfully dull.
May 28, 2022
Tides of the Sovereign follows our protagonist, Julia, as she is sprung from her quiet life on the West Coast and dropped into a sprawling, centuries-old tale of prophecy, peril and romance. The story blends all my favorite elements of contemporary fantasy and romance into a single yarn, but feels like a new and fresh take.
The mechanics of the book were thoroughly thought out. The magic worked well, without being confusing or overtaking the main story. The book is primarily set in the present though there’s lots of exploration of the past (I found this added to how compelling the romance was). And the characters were compelling and dynamic, especially DOM! Every bit the Celtic prince.
It’s a lengthy read, but I found it still fit nicely inside the genres its straddling (think Discovery of Witches meets Outlander-lite). It feels like a solid foundation for a trilogy that will continue to build in the next book.
Overall I adored this book from front to end. It will be one that I’ll end up re-reading, and can’t wait for the next one to see where the author takes Julia and Dom next!
The mechanics of the book were thoroughly thought out. The magic worked well, without being confusing or overtaking the main story. The book is primarily set in the present though there’s lots of exploration of the past (I found this added to how compelling the romance was). And the characters were compelling and dynamic, especially DOM! Every bit the Celtic prince.
It’s a lengthy read, but I found it still fit nicely inside the genres its straddling (think Discovery of Witches meets Outlander-lite). It feels like a solid foundation for a trilogy that will continue to build in the next book.
Overall I adored this book from front to end. It will be one that I’ll end up re-reading, and can’t wait for the next one to see where the author takes Julia and Dom next!
May 13, 2022
Tides of the Sovereign by Kate Gately, gave me A Discovery of Witches vibes, with two main characters who are a witch and a professor, that have been drawn together throughout history. It was a well written book with a great plot that was as twisty as it was sexy. I loved the fact that the characters were a little older than in my usual reads, and this made for a mature and spicy romance. This felt more modern than the usual stories centred around magic, and had humorous moments. A great start to a new series.
June 6, 2022
Amazing! A timeless love story, growing magic, introspection and adventure weave together to create this intriguing story. Kate Gateley has done a fantastic job of introducing the characters, making you so happy that this is the first of a trilogy; you don't want to leave them behind when you finish the book (especially Dom, the Celtic prince of our dreams!). If you enjoyed such stories as Outlander and Discovery of Witches, you have to give this a read. I can't wait to find out where Dom and Julia's adventure takes them in the next two books.
August 21, 2023
Enjoyed the story and the characters but as others noted it was a bit slow moving in the beginning. Loved the end battle and will be reading the next book to find out what happens.
February 13, 2023
𝐈 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐚 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐬𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠; 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐟𝐟 𝐨𝐟 𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐲𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐬.
An ancient Celtic Prince, a centuries old curse, and an enescapable prophecy. YES PLEASE! I was so ready to fall in love with this book.
🐝 Older FMC & MMC
🐝 Celtic Folklore Inspired
🐝 Canadian West Coast
🐝 Found Family
🐝 Rebirth Curse
🐝 Fated Lovers
🐝 Found Magic
One thing that is book does lack, is action. A sense of urgency about the prophecy. What we get is more of a "slice of life" story, until the last quarter or so of the book. We get to spend so much time with Julia, from the loss of her Gran, to learning how to live with loss, going back to university, and meeting a professor whom she has a mysterious draw to.
Then we take the journey to find out who Julia is, what her life means, and we unravel everything between Julia and Dom. One is cursed to never forget, and one is cursed to slowly forget. So yes, it does lack action, but we learn so much about our FMC.
𝐒𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐝𝐠𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐲 𝐧𝐞𝐰𝐥𝐲 𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫, 𝐈 𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐢𝐞𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐲 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐰𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐬𝐨 𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐦𝐲 𝐛𝐨𝐝𝐲
Even though this story is slower, I very much enjoyed spending time with the characters. The magic systems are very interesting, and I love the Celtic Folklore twists. The Canadian setting was wonderful, and we get to travel from the West Coast to the Prairies in Saskatchewan. It has some very Canadian treats sprinkled throughout the story! Kate is wonderful and weaving together words in a very beautiful way. This book is very well written. I can't wait to meet Julia and Dom again in book two.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5
An ancient Celtic Prince, a centuries old curse, and an enescapable prophecy. YES PLEASE! I was so ready to fall in love with this book.
🐝 Older FMC & MMC
🐝 Celtic Folklore Inspired
🐝 Canadian West Coast
🐝 Found Family
🐝 Rebirth Curse
🐝 Fated Lovers
🐝 Found Magic
One thing that is book does lack, is action. A sense of urgency about the prophecy. What we get is more of a "slice of life" story, until the last quarter or so of the book. We get to spend so much time with Julia, from the loss of her Gran, to learning how to live with loss, going back to university, and meeting a professor whom she has a mysterious draw to.
Then we take the journey to find out who Julia is, what her life means, and we unravel everything between Julia and Dom. One is cursed to never forget, and one is cursed to slowly forget. So yes, it does lack action, but we learn so much about our FMC.
𝐒𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐝𝐠𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐲 𝐧𝐞𝐰𝐥𝐲 𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫, 𝐈 𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐢𝐞𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐲 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐰𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐬𝐨 𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐦𝐲 𝐛𝐨𝐝𝐲
Even though this story is slower, I very much enjoyed spending time with the characters. The magic systems are very interesting, and I love the Celtic Folklore twists. The Canadian setting was wonderful, and we get to travel from the West Coast to the Prairies in Saskatchewan. It has some very Canadian treats sprinkled throughout the story! Kate is wonderful and weaving together words in a very beautiful way. This book is very well written. I can't wait to meet Julia and Dom again in book two.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5
March 29, 2025
This book took a little time to get going as we were introduced to the characters, but once it picked up, I was drawn in. I especially loved the references to Vancouver Island — living here myself, it was so unique to recognize familiar locations. That familiarity really helped me visualize the scenes and added an extra layer of connection to the story.
While I enjoyed the plot, I felt the darker elements — particularly the conflict and what the characters were fighting against — could have been woven in more throughout the book. The main event was strong, but I would have liked to see more tension and stakes along the way.
That said, the relationship between Julia and Dom was a highlight for me. I loved how they met (this time around) and how their connection deepened as they rediscovered each other. Their bond felt real and heartfelt.
I'm looking forward to reading the next two books in the series — I can’t wait to see where their story goes next!
While I enjoyed the plot, I felt the darker elements — particularly the conflict and what the characters were fighting against — could have been woven in more throughout the book. The main event was strong, but I would have liked to see more tension and stakes along the way.
That said, the relationship between Julia and Dom was a highlight for me. I loved how they met (this time around) and how their connection deepened as they rediscovered each other. Their bond felt real and heartfelt.
I'm looking forward to reading the next two books in the series — I can’t wait to see where their story goes next!
May 14, 2025
This is more like a 3.5 star read to me, but I've rounded up!
While I enjoyed the premise of this book, I often felt like we had lost the plot in the writing. The writing is very verbose, and at times overly descriptive. It was a bit long, with some parts not being long enough or receiving enough information.
I also found myself frustrated with Julia. She was actively not interested in planning any of their moves, but would then be angry when she didn't know what was happening, or when decisions were made for her. She also spent much of the book complaining about not knowing much about or being able to control her magic, while putting little to no effort in to working on it.
That being said, I did really enjoy all the little details about Vancouver/Salt Spring Island and the references that locals would understand - seriously I hear the ferry announcement bells in my nightmares.
While I enjoyed the premise of this book, I often felt like we had lost the plot in the writing. The writing is very verbose, and at times overly descriptive. It was a bit long, with some parts not being long enough or receiving enough information.
I also found myself frustrated with Julia. She was actively not interested in planning any of their moves, but would then be angry when she didn't know what was happening, or when decisions were made for her. She also spent much of the book complaining about not knowing much about or being able to control her magic, while putting little to no effort in to working on it.
That being said, I did really enjoy all the little details about Vancouver/Salt Spring Island and the references that locals would understand - seriously I hear the ferry announcement bells in my nightmares.
September 18, 2023
I'm officially hooked if this is any indication of how the rest of the trilogy will be! I love the idea of magic being woven into the world, the different kinds of magic wielders, and how even with all that, life can be...normal(ish). Julia has no idea what fate has in store for her, but it's big. She's a great FMC, and will capture your heart easily. The MMC will absolutely make you swoon (I promise), and the villain...well, let's say Gateley makes it easy to hate him. The story moves along smoothly, with enough tension to keep you hooked. I'm so excited to see where Julia, Domhnall, and Marcus land next - their lives being constantly intertwined for good or ill through multiple lifetimes has just become too good a story to walk away from.
May 2, 2024
Tides of The Sovereign by Kate Gateley is book one in the Lost Wells Trilogy
Imagine just going about your business when this gorgeous man comes barreling into your life, telling you that you've "crossed paths" more times than he can count, ultimately ending the same way every time...
Well, you'll find that in Tides Of The Sovereign. It's a fantasy and historical romance, with witches and sorcerers. You have an adult cast. Magic and supernatural beings. The world building was great. I love that we get aspects of the past, in this sort of time jumping story. Love our mmc so much. I truly enjoyed this story and can't wait to read the rest!
Imagine just going about your business when this gorgeous man comes barreling into your life, telling you that you've "crossed paths" more times than he can count, ultimately ending the same way every time...
Well, you'll find that in Tides Of The Sovereign. It's a fantasy and historical romance, with witches and sorcerers. You have an adult cast. Magic and supernatural beings. The world building was great. I love that we get aspects of the past, in this sort of time jumping story. Love our mmc so much. I truly enjoyed this story and can't wait to read the rest!
March 20, 2022
Completely recommend this magical book. I grew up on the west coast, and this book made my homesick in the best way. Tides of the Sovereign taps into what makes the deep dark dark forests of the Pacific Northwest so special.
The story follows a woman coming to terms with her magical abilities, her history and finding an incredible (and spicy) romance along the way. It is a mystical, funny, sexy adventure with characters you really want to spend time with.
I will totally be gifting this book to fellow lovers of magic and romance, and anyone who can use a little escapism these days.
The story follows a woman coming to terms with her magical abilities, her history and finding an incredible (and spicy) romance along the way. It is a mystical, funny, sexy adventure with characters you really want to spend time with.
I will totally be gifting this book to fellow lovers of magic and romance, and anyone who can use a little escapism these days.
March 4, 2023
Oh. My. Dog. This book had it all. I felt pulled in immediately and felt a kinship with Julia, the main character. This book digs into Druidic magic, deep and intimate love that spans generations, and finding out the answer to the question we all ask ourselves; “Who am I really?”. And there is so much chemistry, edge of your seat adventure and thrills. Kate writes in a way that immersed me into the story and it felt like spending time with a friend. I felt the personal growth of Julia and was so invested in this book. I definitely recommend giving this a read.
December 3, 2023
Firstly, thank you to R&R for the copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Reading the synopsis of this book made me super excited to read it. I dont normally shy away from books that are 500 pages+. While this book had a great story line and the idea that it was built around was great, I felt that it was stretched out when it could've been a 300 pages book. I did enjoy the dialogue, the comedy between the characters and the insight into the lore and the setting (the castle, the places and environment building was just beautiful).
The other thing that made me give this book a three star is the fact that Gateley writes a beautiful grieving process about the grandmother and this came at a time when I'd lost my own grandmother, so this was very therapeutic and healing. I truly enjoyed navigating this experience with Julia and healing how I feel about my own grief.
However, due to the length, it took me a long time to get through the book and I felt I was forcing myself to read through it. I had to pause a few times in order to not DNF the book because it was going VERY slowly. Because of this, I was unable to finish this book in time to read the second book and decided that I'd leave the second book and read it before the third book comes out.
Reading the synopsis of this book made me super excited to read it. I dont normally shy away from books that are 500 pages+. While this book had a great story line and the idea that it was built around was great, I felt that it was stretched out when it could've been a 300 pages book. I did enjoy the dialogue, the comedy between the characters and the insight into the lore and the setting (the castle, the places and environment building was just beautiful).
The other thing that made me give this book a three star is the fact that Gateley writes a beautiful grieving process about the grandmother and this came at a time when I'd lost my own grandmother, so this was very therapeutic and healing. I truly enjoyed navigating this experience with Julia and healing how I feel about my own grief.
However, due to the length, it took me a long time to get through the book and I felt I was forcing myself to read through it. I had to pause a few times in order to not DNF the book because it was going VERY slowly. Because of this, I was unable to finish this book in time to read the second book and decided that I'd leave the second book and read it before the third book comes out.
December 8, 2023
My second DNF of 2023. I was listening to the audio book and kept finding myself thinking of other things. I just couldn't stay interested. The storyline/main premise could have been great, but there was so much added fluff that wasn't necessary. The narrator was hard for me to listen to as well (I didn't like her general delivery or Don's voice), and for such a long book with so many unnecessary details, I just couldn't keep listening. Threw in the towel at 42% (8 hours and 29 minutes in).
February 10, 2024
Took me longer than expected to get through this. As much as I wanted to love this book, I found myself rushing and not fully taking in all the story. I was told by my mother (who said she heard it from the author) that this story is similar to outlander; this is not the case. While the actual story topic is interesting, it was not as I expected. I felt as though there was lots of information missing, jumps in the story line and overall underwhelming storytelling. I did not feel as drawn in as I usually do with books.
April 30, 2022
Finally! A strong female character who is actually relatable! Kate Gateley has written a brilliant modern fantasy with a protagonist who doesn’t fit into your traditional box . Grounded writing peppered with humour perfectly balances the intense love story and unexpected plot twists. I am still trying to figure out how all of this will end! My only disappointment was realizing I had to wait to read the next one!
February 25, 2023
I’m not sure how I feel about this book. There were a lot of words for very little plot until the last 15% or so of the book and even then, it never truly drew me in till the last three chapters. It’s well written in terms of grammatical structure and descriptive terms but there was a lack of movement in the story that just left me slightly intrigued but also bored. I will probably continue with the next book but not right away.
June 2, 2023
Somewhere a Nora Roberts paranormal and Discovery of witches, this book tells an interesting story.
Reincarnation, a clear Villain, druids, magic tattoos, and a love that has spanned millennia.
I must admit that the heroines hissy fits and the heroes desire to keep things to himself made sections of this book irritating.
Reincarnation, a clear Villain, druids, magic tattoos, and a love that has spanned millennia.
I must admit that the heroines hissy fits and the heroes desire to keep things to himself made sections of this book irritating.
March 13, 2024
I wanted to love this so much but I just…didn’t. I found so much of it could’ve been trimmed and shortened and I found it difficult to get through the entire thing. To its merit, At times the writing was absolutely beautiful and painted a vivid picture in my head and I really did like the characters of Julia and Dom.
October 13, 2023
This slow burn contemporary fantasy weaves together the nature of our world and the lore and magic of the past.
Tides of the Sovereign is a quiet book, with soft edges and gentle storytelling. It hits hard where it needs to, packing emotions deeply into those high-stake scenes, but also allows readers to fall into the lives of the characters.
It has Celtic lore, feels right at home with Vancouver (and surrounding areas) as it's main location, and characters who are likeable and feel very real.
Tides of the Sovereign is a quiet book, with soft edges and gentle storytelling. It hits hard where it needs to, packing emotions deeply into those high-stake scenes, but also allows readers to fall into the lives of the characters.
It has Celtic lore, feels right at home with Vancouver (and surrounding areas) as it's main location, and characters who are likeable and feel very real.
March 18, 2025
Hmm. Neat concept. Got a bit draggy. Had some parts that were too descriptive (negative/gory) which immediately makes it not one I'd recommend. (You can't unread those things, then it's in your head...unnecessary.)
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