I received a review copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. It has not affected my opinions.
Genre: Fantasy
Age Range: Adult
Star Rating: 5 stars
Series: second book
*SPOILER ALERT: contains SPOILERS for DARK WATER DAUGHTER*
Blurb:
Samuel and Mary are thriving as privateers on the Winter Seas. As they navigate the complexities of their growing bond, in a world that would see Mary as chattel to be traded, the pair are forging a better way to live, under the sails of Hart.
But when their latest prize brings tales of Benedict’s capture by Mereish forces, they must make the impossible choice; to serve their nation or save Samuel’s brother.
Thrust into a mission of intrigue and infiltration, they seek to break into the most secure prison on the Mereish Coast. But as they sail deep into enemy territory, they find themselves hunted by a cunning and mysterious new foe – an enemy who seems to know their every secret, and who will kill to keep their own.
As the Blade Tide rises, and fleets rake to the water, Samuel, Mary, and Benedict are on a desperate race for survival – both their own, and the free nations of the Winter Seas.
Blurb taken from Goodreads. Add to your shelves here.
Review:
BLACK TIDE SON is a thrilling sequel that takes the characters into the path of powerful nations.
This book introduces a large conspiracy to shake the nations. This is not the close story of DARK WATER DAUGHTER, where the concern is more personal and closer to home – a single pirate (as terrible as he is) to fight. This is about clashing nations and powers beyond the world. It gives this book an epic scale of stakes, balanced and made intimate by personal drama.
There are fewer “multi-media” elements between chapters in this book, not so many encyclopaedia extracts with world building or backstories told as fairy tales. In their place, there are flashback chapters from Samuel’s perspective. These delve into his relationship with Benedict, exploring what shaped them.
Benedict is present for much of the book and I really liked getting the chance to know him better. He’s a complicated character and he and Samuel have a complicated relationship (mostly Benedict’s fault.) The ending hints that he will be back in the next book, which I’m excited about. He feels so much more human and likeable (though still very morally grey and messy!) after a book and I want to see his relationship develop and change now he’s taking more ownership of his actions.
This book contains a sea battle with lots of ships, cannons, bombardments, and magic. I was so glad to see it – I love sea battles in books. They are chaotic, indiscriminate, and operate very differently to two armies on a field.
I am looking forward to the next instalment next year!
Read my reviews of other books by H. M. Long:
The Winter Sea (this series):
- DARK WATER DAUGHTER (#1)
The Four Pillars:
- HALL OF SMOKE (#1)
- TEMPLE OF NO GOD (#2)
- BARROW OF WINTER (#3)
- PILLAR OF ASH (#4)
Sifa Elizabeth Reads 