Unfortunately, this one wasn't for me. There are so many great ideas in Curious Tides, but they quickly began to feel completely overwhelming, to such an extent that I needed to take prolonged breaks from the book. I wanted to be pulled into this story, but alas, it simply never did.

I absolutely love the ideas of the world of CURIOUS TIDES and was so excited to pick this up. There's so much about the setup that's intriguing, and I did find a lot of the ideas underpinning the world building impressive. However, I found the execution a bit heavy and overwritten in the first half and this stopped me from loving it as much as I wanted to. I do think it could have been pared back as for me something in the slow pace/overwriting/info dumping held it back. It did really pick up for me - perhaps around the halfway mark - and I got caught up in the story and the ending. It does feel similar to THE ATLAS SIX in that way (a book I had similar pacing issues with), but I think CURIOUS TIDES will definitely appeal to fans of that book and will find its readers! 3.5 stars.

The world that Pascale Lacelle is created is quite literally, magical! The system is so intriguing and the way she has built the school and the magical houses just makes me want to go and see what magic I would have!

Emory and Baz are wonderful characters, with depth and flaws, which makes you love them even more.
The story itself is wonderful and rich. There wad the perfect amount of twists and turns. I saw a few of them coming, but it didn't take away from the story at all

Overall, I adored this book, and once it's released in October, it's gonna be huge! So I would definitely recommend pre-ordering it now, so you can dive headfirst into this stunning world on day one!

As an avid high fantasy reader and a huge fan of dark academia books like Ninth House I was very excited to get a hold of Curious Tides as an advance reader from Simon & Schuster via NetGalley.

The novel is set in a world of magic, where an individual's magical talents are aligned with the phase of the moon they're born under, with those born under an Eclipse being viewed with suspicion and are much aligned. We start the novel months after a mass tragedy killed 8 of the school's brightest minds, following along a dual POV to uncover mystery and intrigue.

The plot was great, there's a lot of potential storylines to uncover as there were a lot of characters mentioned throughout the book who played minor roles throughout, I would have loved to see more of Jae, Kai & Vera throughout and I can only hope they make a larger appearance in book 2. Unfortunately because there is quite a few characters named, it could be quite easy to get muddled if you're not a particularly fast reader.

The world building was good, but the pacing felt off at times. I would have liked a more steady build to get to know some of the context of what was going on.

The main POVs are Emory & Baz - I loved watching Baz grow into his own and become more comfortable, there was a good level of character growth, which I am predicting can only get stronger in book 2. Emory drove me a bit mad at times (can we please stop with the female characters that are easily swayed by the male minds around them!) however she does show a level of depth I can't wait to see in book 2

All in all, this felt more like the prequel or build to a much larger story. It does well to capture my attention and make me want to read the next one, however I'm not sure it's one I'll return to time and again.

This book was just — a lot.

Don't get me wrong. The prose is really pretty, filled with a ton of colorful similes and metaphors about the sea. It was a bit on the nose, but the quality of the writing made up for it.

The world-building is incredibly detailed. There are eight pages before the prologue that are solely dedicated to listing and describing each of the magic houses and the types of magic its occupants wield. While I appreciate the intricate amount of details and care Lacelle put into her story, it's also very overwhelming. There's also numerous points where the story stops in order to give additional exposition about how the magic works in this world. I was annoyed at this; I just wanted the story to keep going and not stop every page or so in order to overexplain something.

As for the story itself, it kept me interested but it really lost me at the end. The mystery around Romie's death and how it fit into the wider prejudice society has against the Eclipse users should have pulled me in a lot more, but it got really muddled for the aforementioned world-building stops. The plot easily could have been cut down a hundred pages. Also, the love triangle was very predictable and probably the worst element. I just really struggled to connect to anything — the characters, story, or otherwise.

All in all, this was good but not for me. I can definitely tell this will reach its audience I'm just not among them.

Wow. I am fascinated with this magical world. Pascales immersive world building takes us to the enchanting Aldryn College for Lunar Magic, with houses based on the phases of the moon. Each phase having their own set of magic makes for so many interesting characters, which we follow throughout the book.

The story completely swept me away with the magical atmosphere, mystery, gripping character building and simply fantastic writing.
I really enjoyed the alternating chapters from different characters perspectives which made for an exciting read.
The twists in the plot kept me gripped and the ending had me completely shocked!
Cannot wait for the next book in the series….I need more!
Thank you to Net Galley and Simon & Schuster Children’s UK for an advanced copy in return for an honest review.

This book is definitely a 5 star read!

Thank you to Netgalley and Simon and Schuster for providing the ARC in exchange for a review!

I was absolutely hooked on this book from the very first page! The writing is stunning, the interior illustrations are also stunning, and the characters are so fleshed out and well developed. This book was unlike anything I've ever read before, it was so unique and beautiful in every way.

The story immediately piqued my interest and I was so intrigued as to how it would progress and I was also really invested in the romance plot with Emory.

Baz was such a charming character, and I loved getting both perspectives throughout this book, so it all felt more fleshed out and I also liked how each character was finding out things individually.

The magic system is complex but so unique and I loved it! It's based on the moon phases and tides, and I think that's such a cool thing to include with magic!

I recommend this book to anyone who likes dark academia, dark fantasy/fantasy, magical schools, dual POV, secret societies, murder mystery, developed characters and world building, strong friendships and lots of plot twists!

I'm absolutely going straight onto the short prequel book, and will be highly anticipating the sequel after that ending!!

An interesting read using a really unique magic system of lunar magic. Lacelle creates a vivid mystery set against a dark academia and sea based world.

Book Review 📚
Curious Tides by Pascale Lacelle - 4.5/5 ⭐

Oh I wish I had of read this as soon as I was sent the ARC! It was utterly phenomenal. The characters, the plot, the story, all of it was magical and brilliant!

Firstly, the characters. They were extraordinary. Lacelle perceived them in such a riveting way. The description of their personality was flawless and I felt like I understood exactly what Lacelle was telling us. The POVs were handled amazingly and throughout so thoroughly. It really brought the book to life.

Secondly, world building. Oh my goodness. It blew me away. It was so descriptive and had an amazing quality to it. It was so easy to imagine the scene when Lacelle done such a fantastic job of writing it. Unreal.

Thirdly, the mix of fantasy come romance was perfect. There wasn't to much of either and it was so perfectly balanced. I can't put into words how beyond amazing this book was to read. This is a definite recommendation.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for allowing me to read this ARC - this is an HONEST review from my own personal opinion.

This was a compelling read filled with magic and wonder. It reads so well and the story is sublime. There are warnings of some natures and those are handled well in the story itself.

Why had she gone into those caves? How had she survived what others more magically gifted than her had not?

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3.75
Thank you to Simon and Schuster for providing an arc in exchange for a review!

Five students ventured to the depths of caves. Only Emory returns. The rest drowned in the murky deeps and presumed dead. Only Emory believes her best friend is still alive and calling for her in a place no one has ventured except for in myths and legends.

A school where those with magic in their veins learns to control and excel. A secret society dealing in odd magics and rituals. Caves that have a dark mystery and an even darker past of drowned students and monstrous nightmares.

”Because this book is magic. It's like a portal, you see. It lets you step into other worlds and exist there for a time."

I loved the relatable feelings of inadequacy and hopelessness the cast of characters felt. There was academic competition, but more poignant was the social pressure. The need to fit in, the desire to be seen, the wish for identity, belonging, and community.

It was all she'd ever wanted, to be seen. To have someone see her for everything that she was and wasn't and deem it enough.

The push and pull of being your own person where you’re constantly compared, or think you are. Where you measure yourself up to others, putting them on a pedestal so you’re always looking up from afar, unable to see your own worth and sense of self.

This leads nicely into another important theme: manipulation. How we lean on others and rely on them to build us up… or tear us down.

“But don't confuse his interest in you with his obsession with power."

I would recommend this if you enjoyed The Atlas Six, Ninth House, and Legendborn!