Sadly ,I've had to do a soft dnf for now and come back to the book in the future. I think the writing was very good. Based on what I've read so far I would still recommend this to people I know would love this type of story.

This was everything and more, I loved Lucky story I think he was a wonderful character and I loved the story development.. This is probably one of the best books I've read this year, this was my first book from the author and thanks so much for the change really, such an amazing story of healing and processing things

4.5 Stars

Fated Winds and Promising Seas is a heartfelt fantasy that follows Lucky, a young man escaping a dark past, and his journey aboard The Dreamer, a ship of outcasts and found family. The story contains heartfelt characters and relationships, with a focus on personal growth throughout the novel. A cozy maritime fantasy perfect for fans of character-driven tales with a magical twist.

I after having the lovely chance of reading Rose Black's first book: Til Death Do Us Bard, there was absolutely no chance I would ever be able to skip a novel by Rose. Fated Winds and Promising Seas brings the same feeling that Til Death Do Us Bard did. It delivers found family, queer romance, fascinating magic and magical creatures and who can ever say no to adventures at sea?

I will say that I have seen some people say that they consider this a cozy read and while the book has some cozy elements, I would never consider this book as such. It is a relatively dark book full of trauma and sadness. Lucky has been in prison for the past ten years for murder, something he does not remember doing. When he is freed from prison during an attack, he escapes onto a ship of hunters. He might be physically free, but mentally he's not. I just have such a soft spot for character-driven stories. Following Lucky and his path to healing was wonderful.

I don't want to give too much of the story away, but just know that I truly loved it and that I shall continue to keep an eye out for Rose Black's upcoming novels.

Thank you so much for granting my request for the eARC!

I was hoping for a comfort cozy read and though there are some elements of that, overall I didn’t love it.A lot of things felt were never really fully explained, such as the existence of the leviathans and the reason for Lucky’s mother’s death - we got some brief deus ex machina style explanations for some key points near the end, but they didn’t really feel particularly fleshed out

This is the perfect example of sweet cosy fantasy that demands to be read in the Autumn/Winter months. My heart was full from start to finish.

Imprisoned for a decade for allegedly killing his mother, Lucky doesn't remember most of his previous life. His life is made of days in his familiar cell, the routine of the same food, the same guards, the same everything. This is all his life will ever be. And then everything changed when the leviathan attacked. Busted out of prison by a sea serpent, Lucky is picked up by a leviathan-control ship, The Dreamer, where he finds a young man who's oddly familiar and a life he could make his own. But haunted by the mysteries of his past, the mysteries of the present (sea serpents acting strangely and unforeseen disasters), and the fact that he's a wanted fugitive, he's going to need to work hard to claim the life that he doesn't even know if he deserves.
Broken into three parts, this story felt more like three stories. It was a bit disjointed. It starts as an adventure novel, deep in cozy fantasy, when Lucky escapes prison and joins the Leviathan ship. It takes a very sudden turn in part two when we skip six months and he's training to be a religious cop. And then part 3 honestly felt like a bit of a fever dream. I think that it almost got too busy. The author opened so many threads (pun intended), most of which were pretty interesting, but which were challenging to connect and simply went in so many directions. I think part one was my favorite thread, and I really wish the story had maintained that plot. It was fun. It was the cozy fantasy I was advertised. But no, alas, we moved on. Honestly, part two was fine, but the ending was so...weird. No spoilers but it took some weird twists. Like Fifty First Dates happens. And then just...wraps up.
I will say, the world was interesting. Stuck between the opposing forces of Fate, the destinies of the world woven into a tapestry, and Promise, the unpredictable choices of humans and leviathans, was an interesting place to be. The role of the church of Fate as opposed to the lawlessness of the Sea and Promise was also cool. I love a good sea monster, especially a neutral/good sea monster, and the water magic system was pretty rad. A literal tapestry of fate was a nice twist as well.
So in general, a mixed bag. Lots of promise, slightly weird execution.

Fated Winds and Promising Seas is a sweet little story with a surprising amount of depth!

If you like your cozy fantasy to be heavy on character development, this one might just be for you! I felt the the Characters were really the star of this swashbuckling tale. They are each nuanced and flawed in ways that make them feel like beloved friends. I found myself truly invested in both the MC's and that investment pushed me through a pacing that felt sluggish in a few places.

All in all, this will make a lovely addition to your TBR.

This was an excellently told story and felt so different from what else I've been reading lately. This isn't going to scratch a fast paced need, but if you're ready to explore a new world through a unique story with brilliant writing, I think you'll love this!

I loved this!! Rose Black become one of my favourite authors this year and this book absolutely lived up to that. There’s just such a lovely way that Rose writes and is able to tell a story and I can’t wait to see what’s next

A truly heartwarming, uplifting adventure, this novel will sweep you away into a wonderful land! A total must read.

Fated Winds and Promising Seas by Rose Black captivated me with its heartfelt exploration of found family, healing, and adventure. Lucky’s journey from isolation to redemption aboard The Dreamer was a powerful and emotional experience, enhanced by a memorable cast of characters like Captain Gabriel and the magical ship itself. The blend of raw emotion and whimsical fantasy kept me engaged, and the themes of connection and hope resonated deeply.

That said, I found the pacing uneven, particularly in the earlier sections. The author’s attempts to convey the passage of time through long, repetitive descriptions of Lucky’s routines felt unnecessary and detracted from the story’s momentum. While I understood the intention—to emphasize monotony and build a sense of entrapment—it often felt redundant and made these parts of the narrative drag. The book truly shone when it moved past this and embraced its adventurous, character-driven heart.

Despite these flaws, I would still recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys fantasy rooted in emotional depth and character growth. Its poignant message of healing and connection far outweighs the moments of sluggish pacing, making it a worthwhile and memorable read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review Fated Winds and Promising Seas.

After reading Rose Blacks' previous work, Till Death do us Bard earlier this year and loving it, I was very excited to get my hands on her next book, hoping I would fall for it just as the last one. However, I found myself disappointed.

I did enjoy the book overall, but I have to admit it just wasn't anything special, and I found the plot largely predictable, which ruined my enjoyment of it. But I dont think that should discourage others from reading and potentially enjoying this book if you're somebody in the market for a cosy romantasy with a seafaring adventure, a mystery, and characters on a journey of self healing.

Fated Winds and Promising Seas captivated my heart, with its themes of found family, love and self discovery. Prepare for a tale on the high seas with mythical creatures and a crew of misfits who are sure to capture your heart.

This tale is an emotional rollercoaster of highs and lows about chasing your own path and wants, despite what fate may have in store for you and how sometimes the bonds that are most unbreakable are the ones you forge yourself. Both our MC's undergo a journey not only of adventure but of healing, growth and understanding of the traumas they have experienced.

Black has created a tale not only packed with action and adventure but also introspective and quiet moments in which we can explore our MC's feelings and emotions caused by the challenges and traumas in his past, allowing us to more fully explore his journey.

“Engaging, fun and heartwarming”
I enjoyed this gripping story, full of found (queer) family, sea monsters, old (scary) magic, high seas, and missing memories. It’s got cosy vibes but plenty of peril too. Good fun and I didn’t want it to end!

Rose Black’s sophomore novel Fated Winds and Promising Seas has it all: an exciting magic system and intricate world-building, adventures on high seas with lesbian captains and a crew that make a wonderful found family, Leviathans and a tender queer romance.
Kept in solitary confinement for a crime he cannot remember committing, Lucky only feels safe within the four walls of his prison cell. Then, he is ripped from his seaside prison and fished out of the ocean by the crew of The Dreamer.
The ship’s crew is made up of outcasts and heretics, and some of them have the ability to manipulate water. One of the water dancers, Gabriel, takes Lucky under his wing and helps him to adapt to life on board The Dreamer. Though he has little recollection of his past, Lucky thinks he remembers Gabe from his childhood.
To understand their connection and prove Lucky’s innocence, the two must face dangerous waters, the beaters that want to arrest them, and the giant Leviathan. But when catastrophic events start to occur around them, they start to suspect that there may be a high cost to their freedom.
I fell more than a little bit in love with Lucky and Gabe and the seafaring fantasy world of Fated Winds. I loved all the unexpected twists the story took, and the beautiful mental health representation.

3 stars

Fated Winds and Promising Seas is a fantasy romance novel about adventure and found family. The story follows Lucky, a guy imprisoned for a crime he can’t recall committing, whose life takes a turn when he is freed during an attack. He is rescued a magical ship crewed by outcasts with unique abilities. Lucky's journey entwines with Gabriel, a sailor with connections to his forgotten past, as they navigate the mysteries of this fantasy world, confront trauma, and challenge ideas of fate and identity.

The story includes a romance between Lucky and Gabriel, who share a healing sort of relationship. It also emphasizes themes of mental health, self-discovery, and freedom. I did notice though that the pacing was a bit off around the halfway mark, especially as Lucky struggled emotionally, and the world building could’ve been more thought-out. But if you enjoy a cozy, heartfelt story, this could be a great read!

“𝘐 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘪𝘵’𝘴 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘥. 𝘕𝘰𝘵 𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘥, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘶𝘱 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘪𝘵.”

Thank you to NetGalley for this early copy to read and review!

I read Til Death Do Us Bard earlier this year, which was why I was excited to see this one pop up on NetGalley. I have been loving the kind of silly, adventurous, emotional beats in stories that feel akin to DND. ‘Bard’ was a story I found fit the bill pretty well. Fated Winds and Promising Seas was good, though didn’t quite live up to what I was expecting after Bard.

This book gives an aura of cozy fantasy with found family and some deep seated trauma in our characters. I’d say we got this in spades, with varying degrees of success in execution.

It’s hard to go wrong with found family and I think it was sweet here. The relationship between Lucky and Gabriel was sweet. They care for each other and you see them develop and help each other grow. Parts of this felt rushed, like a lot of it was fast moving or the character changed or developed quicker than you’d expect. This didn’t hamper my enjoyment too much. Once again, I love a traumatized sad boy. And I got two?? Thank you. The story is very much about finding yourself and choosing who you want to be. You don’t have to let your past dictate who you’ve become. Lucky spends a good chunk of the story healing himself and then in turn helping those around him.

It’s definitely more of a character driven story with vague worldbuilding that has the potential to be very cool. I think leviathans are always a really interesting creature to throw into a story. Even if we don’t know where they came from, they’re awesome to see on paper. I’m definitely going to be on the lookout for monster books in this vein.

⭐️ Tropes ⭐️
(Vague spoilers)
-found family
-monster hunting
-pirate adjacent
-deep trauma
-queer normative
-cozy-esque fantasy
-slow burn
-hurt/comfort

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read an eARC in exchange for an honest review. Unfortunately, I DNF'd at 40% after struggling to engage in the story.

This book is about Lucky who has been imprisoned for the murder of his mother. He doesn't remember committing the murder or even his real name. After 10 years of imprisonment, Lucky takes the chance to escape when a leviathan attacks the prison and is taken aboard the Dreamer where he's taken in by the ship's motley crew and meets Gabriel. I adore cosy fantasy and based on the beautiful cover, tropes and intriguing plot, I really expected to love this. However, the book was darker and focussed more on trauma and sadness (not a bad thing in a different type of book) but it wasn't what I was expecting. The writing was simple and easy to follow; however the pacing of the book felt too fast-paced and disjointed.

I did enjoy the characters and would have loved to have seen their relationships develop on a deeper level through a slower timeline. The author has created a really interesting fantastical world which could have flourished in either a longer book or a series of books.

Overall, I think anyone who is look for a quick and easy read adventurous read would enjoy this.

Whilst this story did have cosy fantasy aspects, it also dealt with darker subjects so please be aware going into this that it's not all light-hearted fun.
I enjoyed the fast paced nature of the story and the pirates! Who doesn't love pirates??
I loved the characters and the overall vibes were great!