A big thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and Rachel Greenlaw for providing me with an ARC of Shadow and Tide in exchange for my honest review.

Shadow and Tide, the second installment in the Compass and Blade series, picks up right where the first book left off, seamlessly continuing the story. I particularly enjoyed watching Mira’s character evolve in this sequel, as she grapples with new challenges and complex emotional growth.
The introduction of the witches added an exciting layer of mystery and intrigue to the plot, expanding the world-building in captivating ways.

This was an engaging 4-star read for me, and while the book delivered plenty of action, depth, and character development, it ended on a thrilling cliffhanger that left me eagerly anticipating the final book in the series. I can’t wait to see how this compelling story wraps up!

*Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, Children's | Harper Fire for providing me this book in exchange for an honest review*


I have to say that I really enjoyed Shadow and Tide, but I thoroughly enjoyed Brielle's side story. This failed to capture my attention at first, and mostly I was feeling that it was dragging, but I upon finishing it I had fun.

This is probably 3 to 3.5 stars. I do enjoy this series but I found it to be a little messy for a YA fantasy. I’m still not sure why our main FMC is so sought after, what her strength / power / lure is that means they’re chasing after her. It also had chapters from a witch character, Brielle, who seems to be having her own side plot story, still interesting and still a great strong female character but not sure what her direction is. Our MMC has his own secret magical gift that needs to be understood and so also requires plot side story and that is constantly hinted at but nothing happens with this until the very end, that end left me screaming though!

I like our merry band of characters in this book and I like the magical, seascape setting. I really like the characters, but there is just a bit too much going on without it feeling like as a reader I’m getting many tidbits of information to entice me to keep going…it’s all still a mystery!

I received this book as an ARC and provide an honest review

When I started this book initially, I already read Compass and Blade when it was released, but I found I couldn't follow what happened at the beginning. So first a reread of Compass and Blade happened.

Shadow and Tide picks up where Compass and Blade ends and I got thrown back into the story immediately (after the reread). It was a fun read, some tension, some revelations and I loved the new POV. It kinda turned a bit political and I liked that. I sometimes had a bit of trouble following the plot, but overall I enjoyed this very much! I cannot wait for book 3.

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Collins for this arc. All opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed the second book maybe even more than the first!

The plot maybe was missing something however I believe the characters make up for this!

I love the lore and also Brielles chapters had me in a chokehold

The last 30% of the book was by far my fave

Thank you so much for the ARC

I’m suing Rachel Greenlaw for emotional damage.

“‘To bargains and surprises’
‘To young women made of storms.’”

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Ahhhhhhhhhh this book was such a step up from the first book (and I really liked the first book) I literally blasted through it in a day.

First of all, this book ripped my heart out at like three separate points and I can’t really say too much without giving spoilers but WHY did I/Mira need to go through all of this 🫠

The found family in this book is top notch. Each of the characters feels unique and fleshed out and they all complement each other beautifully - with great banter. And they’re based in a MAGIC CASTLE? Added a star on for that alone 😅

Eliiiiiiiiiiiiii 😭😭😭 omg this guy is swoon worthy in ALL the ways. So capable, so strategic, so loyal & protective, and can travel through the isles like some kind of shadow daddy teleporter? UGH.

Fair warning, the ending is a huge cliffhanger that has left a hole in my soul. I need book 3 yesterday.

Thank you so much Rachel Greenlaw, Harper Fire and NetGalley for the privilege and utter joy of reading this! 💗

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘏𝘢𝘳𝘱𝘦𝘳 𝘊𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘴 𝘜𝘒 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘈𝘙𝘊.

Completely my fault for requesting this before reading the first book. It generally suffers from the same problems I had with Compass and Blade, so I'll hold my hands up and say I should have DNF'd.

It reads as a very young YA book, which doesn't generally appeal to me anymore unless the prose and plot are something magnificent. There will also be no escaping the comparisons between this and ACOTAR (mysterious shadow wielder who can teleport / guardian of a town he wants the FMC to fall in love with / calls his group of close family & friends his "inner circle" / MMC & FMC share dreams of the night sky / another stocky character who serves as weapons and training master / a house that magically fulfils the needs of its occupants / another character trapped in a body while something else prowls underneath). You get the picture.

Almost everything in the plot continues to feel too convenient - things just kinda happen? The introduction of the witches is interesting and I like the development of the magic system (though it does seem a tad inconsistent - can witches wield without creature blood or not?). Brielle is a nice addition, though the switching between third and first person was wild.

We're two books in and I still don't know much about Mira (FMC) other than she likes the sea, is fierce and angry a lot of the time, and will fall for any boy that glances her way. There aren't enough moments of specificity to make me attached, it's all broad brush strokes.

There are moments of real potential here - because a series about wreckers navigating an archipelago based on the Scilly Isles remains super intriguing - but I sadly won't be picking up book three.

Thank you so much for the eARC of Shadow and Tide

I absolutely loved this sequel to Compass and Blade, I was so eager to fall back into this story and I loved the direction it went. It was written just as beautifully as the first, the creation of the storyline was fleshed out so well. I loved all of the character developments, they came together with the storyline fantastically. I still love Mira she gave up so much for everyone round her, her strength was inspiring. I also loved her relationship with Elijah, he was an interesting character.
This storyline pulled me in from start to finish and I really got swept away reading this novel, it was the sequel I was waiting for and it definitely didn't disappoint.

I enjoyed this more than I thought I would. The first book was good but I found my attention drifting quite often. The second instalment is much quicker paced and read much easier. After that cliffhanger I’m assuming book three will be on its way soon and I’m feeling hopeful that it will be the conclusion we need it to be!

I have quite a few weak spots when it comes to books and reading. Of course I easily fall for a pretty cover, especially combined with sprayed edges. The cover of the first book was already pretty, but I think this cover looks even better! I also love love love stories about Sirens. So, I thought it was a very safe bet to request this second book from Netgalley before having read the first one. Harper Fire granted my request and so it was time to dive in.

Luckily I did enjoy this second book a little more than the first book. That's mainly because there is not a lot of Seth in this book. I normally do my very best to understand characters, but Seth really got on my nerves and I was kinda sad he survived the first book. It's also because it feels like our heroine is a little less dumb. She now understands that the world doesn't always want what's best for her and that she can't trust any pretty face she meets.

Unfortunately the plot didn't get much better. This book seemed to be all over the place. All our heroine wanted was to protect her isle and its people, all the villains wanted was to capture her alive for whatever purpose. We never understand what this is all about. I imagine the author wants to keep it a secret, so all can be revealed in the third book, but therefore it was unclear what was at stake, what are we fighting for, what future are we fighting for, what is the end goal?

There is also a lot of cool lore added, but I'm really wondering if combining all this in one story works in this case. The chapters from Brielle's point of view were the most interesting ones of the story, but also that storyline lacked direction. And despite the beautiful writing, the author really has a knack for writing the most pretty sentences, I still couldn't care less about any of these characters. Something is lacking to give me the feeling I know them and root for them. I just don't know what.

However, it's kinda clear that I won't be reading the third book in this series. No matter how pretty the cover will be.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 4.25 stars
Shadow and Tide is the second book in the trilogy and continues after the events of Compass and Blade

“It is better to love, to trust and open your heart, better to risk losing everything than stay closed and cold and never love at all.”

Beware of spoilers for the previous book!
Compass and Blade Review | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I won an ARC of this book at YALC last year, not knowing it was a second book in the series hehe. But having enjoyed Compass and Blade earlier this month I was excited to dive into this book!

The book truly opens with a banger, and I’m immediately brought back to the characters, the world, and the stakes in it! I really enjoyed the opening like this, as it’s a great way to be sucked in right away. Action-packed from start to finish!

The writing style, just like the first, makes it super easy to read and I breezed through the book! I loved the expansion of the world, with especially the magic being more potent in this book and the witches as well! We meet a few new characters, but especially Brielle, who has her own POV in this book as well! I loved that.

Mira is still soooo loyal to those she loves and will go to great lengths to protect them! Those lengths as really shown in this book, as she sacrifices a great deal to do so! Knowing how the book ended really had me crossing my fingers for her.

I was a fan of the romance and the feelings that developed between her and Eli! I like him so much more than Seth and had hoped from book 1 that she would end up with him! While it is very much a subplot, I liked how it tied into the main story!

The ending, well I didn’t really expect that to happen! It took me by surprise in a good way. I liked the progression and how it builds up to that ending. The stakes are the highest they’ve been and with that epilogue, I’m excited to see what book 3 will bring!

Overall, Shadow and Tide is a great continuation of the series, where new characters are introduced, and the stage is set for the big bang in the next book.
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an eARC of this book via Netgalley!

One month after the events of Shadow and Tide, Mira finds herself on Rosevear, haunted and unmoored. When the watch strike, burning her home to the ground, Mira teams up with Elijah, calling in her bargain to discover more about her abilities and destroy Captain Renshaw and the watch. To do so, she’ll need the help of both her friends and the witches. Meanwhile at Coven Septern, Hunter Brielle is tasked with her next assignment – a seemingly human girl. To the ruling council, Mira is a monster. But just what do they want her for?

Wow, what a sequel! The book was action-packed right from the start, drawing me in and reminding me just why I was so invested in these characters. I was once again drawn into Mira’s story, willing the Rosevear islanders on as they found themselves beset by yet another tragedy.
This book saw an expansion of the world-building, introducing us to both new locations and new characters. The witches featured heavily with a new (third-person) POV from Brielle. While I did find this a bit difficult to get into initially, I really appreciated it as a counterpoint to Mira’s perspective and it was itself a useful worldbuilding tool. Beyond Brielle, we were introduced to a whole host of other characters, all of whom had unique personalities and really added to the story.

From our returning characters, we got more of Eli’s backstory, and an insight into the struggles he has faced. I’m excited to see more of his development in the next book. The relationship between Mira and Eli was also so sweet and really well developed with tenderness and depth.

Having started so strongly, the action continued throughout, although perhaps in slightly too many individual instances. There did feel like there was some disconnect between moments of action and the slightly slower-paced moments of ‘calm’ between those periods of high intensity. The ending though… just wow. I am sat here on tenterhooks once again waiting for the next book. A really solid sequel in a fantastic series.
Thank you to Harper Collins UK via Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review ahead of publication.

Thank you to the publishers and netgalley for allowing me to read this early, I’m rating this 4.25.

I really enjoy this world and these characters especially with the new additions we get. I find a lot of the characters are having real identity crisis, they either don’t know where they belong and are teetering on the fence in this brewing battle between the watch/Renshaw and Mira/Eli and the others, or they are questioning who they really are at their core and what they can do.

The story progressed quite a lot, there’s some easy to guess betrayals, surprise reconciliations and heartbreaking loss with a dash of romance along the way. The epilogue had my heart in my throat so it’s an obvious hell yes if you ask me if I’ll be continuing this series.

I really enjoyed this follow up to Compass and Blade. The world building was expanded along and we got to learn more about the witches which was very cool! I loved the setting of the first book and continued to love it here as well. The writing is beautiful and descriptive without being overwrought.

I feel like it suffered slightly from middle book syndrome where you can tell it’s setting up for the next book but that didn’t affect my enjoyment of it.

It’s a really solid entertaining YA read, I can’t wait to see what’s next for Mira and the gang

Thank you Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to arc read this!!

Absolutely loved this book! The world building was amazing, introducing new monsters and the witches 😉.

The dual POV between Mira and Brielle was tricky to get into at first as I felt like it threw me straight into the deep end. But after a few back and forth chapters I got into it.

Watching Mira and Elijah romance grow together was so cute!! I hope they're gonna be End game.

I highly recommend it and I'm excited for the next book!

WOW I really enjoyed this book!

I loved compass and blade and I think this is just as good if not more so!

Loved that we are we introduced to more characters and the witches!


I really enjoyed the romance and I couldn’t put the book down! looking forward to the next.

Rating: ⭐⭐

A fast paced and adventurous sequel, yet seems to lose the charm of the first book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins for the e-ARC.

Following on from Compass and Blade, Mira knows it’s time to call in her bargain with Elijah, and tear down Captain Renshaw and the watch. She turns to the witches for help, yet they are the very coven who have accepted a deal to capture her.

Whilst I enjoyed Compass and Blade, I was hoping for more with its sequel and was sadly let down. Much of this story was predictable and felt like so many other YA fantasies, with less emphasis on sea-faring adventures; instead we got training with daggers, lacklustre villains and lukewarm sexual tension. Renshaw is still very much a threatening presence, yet we now meet a witch coven leader who appears to have the same personality and disdain for her offspring than the captain.

I also felt there were several convenient plot points, for example Renshaw suddenly doesn't need Mira to read the map, she found some witches that can reveal it to her. This made the story feel like a messy afterthought. I didn't really care about any of the characters by the end.

What I did enjoy was the additional pov for Brielle, the hunter assigned to capture Mira. I would have liked more of her backstory, and enjoyed her relationships with the various other characters.

The story is perhaps too YA for my current tastes, so if you enjoy the themes or you're a younger reader, this might be a decent fantasy series to pick up.

Honestly, I liked this book more than Compass &
Blade. It could get confusing at some points with all the side characters and different stories, but it had a good pace.
I felt all types of emotions whilst reading, which is a sign of a good book. You feel invested in getting justice.
It is very YA but felt a bit more mature than the first book.
The book dives straight into the story and keeps you interested.

I enjoyed the first book in the series and was looking forward to the second book but sadly it was just not for me. The writing was great, as always but the story just didn’t work for me. I found the connection between Mira and Elijah so unbelievable - one minute she’s in his arms, the other she’s comparing their bargain to a life sentence. Mira as a FMC was quite frustrating and I felt like she didn’t learn on her mistakes from book one. This story just didn’t hit the spot at all.

A stunning sequel, filled with high stakes, peril, new faces and romance. I love all the new characters and the twists and turns in their stories as well as Mira’s. I am so excited to see what happens next,

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this.