Tag Archives: fantasy

Book Review: The Tidebound Bargain, by Isolde Morrow

I received an advance copy of Isolde Morrow‘s The Tidebound Bargain.

She built an empire from wreckage. He’s guarded these waters for millennia. Neither planned on needing the other. When a storm destroys everything Captain Maren Voss spent three years rebuilding, she wakes on a volcanic island that shouldn’t exist—watched over by something vast, ancient, and far too interested in keeping her alive. Eidros has protected Ven Skai for centuries, binding a horror beneath the reef and asking nothing from the humans who shelter on his shores. But Maren is different. She calculates risk the way he reads tides. She doesn’t flinch from what he is. And she sees the cage he’s built around himself—the same one he built around the woman who fled him three hundred years ago. The bargain seems simple: her help with the binding in exchange for safe passage home. But the creature beneath the reef is stirring. And Maren is learning that some debts can’t be paid in coin—only chosen freely.

Again, I received and read an ARC. So, there is a chance some things have changed between my reading and the book’s publication. However, I had very mixed reactions to this book. It started out very strong. I liked Maren. I was intrigued by the mysterious Guardian. The shipwreck plot looked interesting. The prose is VERY purple, but I have a pretty high tolerance for purple prose and thought it lovely.

But then the book just went on and on and on and on and on, repeating itself about a million times. Yes, Maren and Eidros were working out difficult things, and Eidros showed real growth. Maren’s growth was less straightforward, and ultimately, as is so often the case, she gave up her previous life to pick up Maren’s. But she did grow. And yes, consent is very strongly emphasized, and I appreciated that. It is, in fact, an important part of what Maren and Eidros are working out between them. I liked the story a lot.

I also liked the mystery around what Eidros actually was. I got the impression he’s not wholly organic, not entirely naturally evolved, maybe. Again, it’s a mystery, and I appreciate it. But by the end, I was just praying for it to finally end. I honestly think a good 100 pages could have been cut with no effect but improvement. I figure some people will love this, others will hate it. I enjoyed the story, but was stifled by the length. Would I read the next? Probably.

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Book Review: Splintered Loyalty, by W.R. Gingell

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I contributed to the Kickstarter for W.R. Gingell‘s Splintered Loyalty and therefore received an early-release e-copy of the book. I’ve reviewed the previous books here: Splintered Mind, Splintered Life, Splintered Sight, and Splintered Path.

Luca is back. Jasper is shady. The Tea House has returned to its regularly scheduled programming.

But nothing is quite normal for Viv, who knows that someone in the Tea House hacked her phone and stole valuable information about her mother before she had a chance to look at it. Tech Support can help with that—but only so much.

And before Viv has a chance to get to the safe deposit box belonging to her parents that might or might not still be in an old, gothic Melbourne bank, she and the rest of the Tea House denizens are overrun by an invasion of Forex agents taking over the Tea House.

Viv knows she can’t trust Jasper completely. She trusts Luca completely, but knows she shouldn’t. She’ll need all her wits—and allies—about her to save the Tea House and uncover her own family secrets before it’s too late.

I find reviewing books well into a series difficult. There comes a point where I just want to go, “I’ve made it to book five in this series. I clearly enjoy this world, these characters, and this story. And I’ve likely already explained why in at least one of the previous four reviews.” But it’s true. I’ve enjoyed everything I’ve read by Gingell, and the Shattered World series is no exception. I like her writing style, authorial tone, wit, humor, and characters.

Viv and Luca are marvelous, and both are allowed to grow separately in this book. Though the reader sees more of Viv’s growth than Luca’s. I did miss seeing them work together, but I appreciate that Viv needed a chance to prove her abilities on her own. And she does, saving the day as only she can.

I did feel the writing here was a tad more rushed in some indefinable, perhaps imagined, way. But I still finished the book wishing the next one was already in hand. I’ll be waiting impatiently.