Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
DNF @ 13%

I am not starring this book, because my opinion is so strongly my opinion that it isn't fair to star this. I would just remove the book instead of reviewing it for netgalley normally as I don't think I experienced the book enough to get an opinion, but I have feedback on why this book didn't work for me.

The blurb of this book did not do a good job conveying what it's about. That plot is still there, and I see the sprinkling of it, but in the first 13%, I saw Davis twice and Iris once. This was over six chapters + prologue. This means that we got the PoV of the two named MCs from the blurb less than half the time.

This is not a horrible thing, because the way this book works, it's very jumpy. Intentionally, not badly. It follows multiple characters from different timelines as it all comes together to form the narrative. This is a narrative type that I just do not click with. It requires a specific type of patience and attention to small details to realize how the narrative pieces tie together, and you don't even get that tie together until later on.

These types of books are hard to pull off, and I give Hawthorne all the credit for that. But the blurb and advertisement needs to convey this better, because I wouldn't have picked it up. These types of books are not for me, and I know they're not for everyone, so others will go in unaware of the type of book this is.

If you like these types of narratives and the plot sounds interesting, please, try it. But if you don't like those sort of narratives, just know that this book features it, because man, the blurb does NOTHING to indicate it xP

The writing in this is stunning!
I loved the authors writing style. It was so detailed to the point I could truly immerse myself in the world. However, sometimes this meant that the pace of the book was a little slower and the story definitely felt more character based.
The author incorporates multiply different aspects of Chinese mythology into this which I found really interesting as its something I've never really delved into before. This led to a group of very unique characters.
However, the dual timeline mixed with the level of detail in this book made the first quarter of the book difficult to understand but this paid off as it set up a beautiful world and complex, diverse and unique characters.
100% recommend reading this is you love intricate worlds, unique mythological characters and a character based plot.
Full review will be posted on my tiktok page later this week

Ａｕｄｉｏｂｏｏｋ & Ｅｂｏｏｋ Ｒｅｖｉｅｗ
2.5 ☆
For some, the only way to possess magic is to steal it from others. Born without magic, Davis is an outcast in his own shapeshifter family. Yearning for his father's approval, he sets down a path that intertwines with Iris, a girl whose own ambitions are hindered by a mysterious illness.

This cover art is gorgeous! The storyline was intriguing, but it was extremely slow-paced and confusing to me with the dual timeline and multiple characters the story switched between. I think if it were a dual timeline with maybe just two characters, I would have loved this story, but I DNF'd at 40%. I will reread and relisten when the book is published.

The audiobook is good; the narrator did a good job telling the story. It was easy to listen to and understand. I listened at 2x speed.

Thank you, Netgellay, Hawk Ridge for the audiobook and the ebook for my honest review.

☆☆☆☆
Of Mountains and Seas is a story that spans across different time lines with multiple POVs. This book is Chinese Mythology inspired and is very well done. This story has a lot of unique elements and makes for a very interesting read. I really enjoyed the mystery within this book.
As I listened to this on audio rather than from a physical book the time line jumping and POV changes were a little confusing to begin with but at about 20% in I had gained enough knowledge about the characters that I could listen with ease, the narrator did an incredible job of bringing this story to life. That being said I feel that if I had read a physical copy this wouldn't have been a minor issue. I really enjoyed the Chinese mythology element of this story along with the world building and magic system. I am definitely interested in reading more from this author as this was a really beautifully written piece.
Disclaimer - My rating reflects the vibes and enjoyment I had whilst reading the book.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for my ALC and a huge thank you to Emily Renk Hawthorne.
Also reviewed on Goodreads, StoryGraph,Fable and Instagram (post coming soon) @read.with.rue

Thank you NetGalley for an ALC of Of Mountain and Seas in exchange of my honest opinion.

This story was a blend of several things that I love. A unique world with paranormal elements, an interesting magic system, and mystery. The Chinese mythology and familiar relationships that were woven into this novel made the plot shine.

As I listened to the audiobook, I was deeply immersed in the story due to the fantastic interpretation of the narrator. However, one of the things that I have to point out is that this story is not linear. We have several timelines and threads running together that understandably add to the mystery element of the plot. However, Listening to it made me a bit confused. I believe that if I had consumed this story in paperback or ebook I would be able to better follow along with the plot points, as the data at the beginning of the chapter is spoken quite quickly and it does not stick in my brain.

Overall an interesting story with unique elements.

This story is well written and for the most part, the plot is tight and believable. I can’t say I loved the switching back and forth of timelines especially at the beginning because I received this ARC as an audio and it was harder to follow. But after about 20% it was all good. Obviously it all made sense to why this is such at the end and I am glad it tied up pretty neatly.

The magic system is a lot of fun and I particularly like the magical stones! The world building around it all very easy to follow as well.

I particularly liked how the story can sit as a standalone but the end can be open for more to come. Although sometimes it’s nice to have a good standalone by itself.

The lack of romance was also refreshing.

Where I didn’t give stars for was really the compelling-ness of the story. Unfortunately there wasn’t enough suspense vibes or the like to make me want to not put this down. There was also a little lacking in characterisation for some side characters that I felt could have been more developed.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC :)

This is a gorgeous cover on a really fascinating book. I liked how well blended the dual POV were, and the characters were engaging. This was a fun read, and should be great for fantasy readers who like world-building and deep characters who unfold as the story goes along.

Just. Wow.
Well thank you Emily Renk Hawthorne for this amazing read. The story had me gripped and every chapter left me wanting more. This story will stay with me for a very long time.
The characters were completely enthralling and lovable, even the villain. The unique and talented writer that Emily is had me empathising with, essentially a psychopath, in one breath and in the next absolutely hating him.
As soon as I got to grips with the time skipping, I loved piecing together the intricate pieces of the puzzle whilst trying to figure out the conclusion of said puzzle.
The powers and the segregation was an interesting spin and really made you think about how power can influence your mind set and person and how people pleasing can be detrimental.
And id be remiss if I didn't mention that I LOVED the shout out to Chinese mythology and the way that Emily points you in the right direction to find out more.

So all in all a FANTASTIC book and I recommend readers who love multiple point of views, thrilling story with twists that you don't see coming - this is definitely for you.

*I received this from #netgalley for an honest #review*

Author did their 150% and audiobook narrator doubled it, making this book the most magical experience.

The story follows different characters at different periods of time and since their lives intertwine at some point the reader often sees consequences before the cause, sees smoke and later, compiling small bits of information here and there, becomes able to see the fire and who started it.

The powerless shifter wannabe, the deceived child stripped of her power, the grandma who loves her granddaughter wholeheartedly despite the conflict with her daughter, the girl who doesn't know what she really is. I loved them (well, maybe not ALL of them) and enjoyed the story. 10 hours of audiobook went by so rapidly and were so captivating I was able to forget I have problems processing audio information.

Even though it is a part of a series, it can be read as standalone and thank skies doesn't feel like an introductory part of the second book. I truly want to be one of the first people to read/hear the next book. Before that moment come, I'm gonna go to the nearest mountain to scream about how I loved the story and how I recommend it to everyone. Hope you will hear me

Thank NetGalley, publisher and author for providing me with ARC copy

Thank you @netgalley and Emily for letting me review this book in exchange for a spoiler free and honest review!

What a refreshing reading experience. I was able to listen to this as an audiobook where the narrator Natalie Naudus had the most soothing voice for this book.

Chinese Mythology, dual POV in different time lines (which I’m a sucker for), LGBTQ+ representation, magic stones and such intricate and beautiful world building! This book taught you lessons while also keeping you enthralled within the plot line. Not only are you seeing how far these characters go to be accepted but HOW they get there within themselves regardless of society or beliefs.

I loved listening to this, and I am looking forward to reading more work from Emily!

First of all, this cover is absolutely gorgeous—the artist did a fantastic job! Secondly, this is a beautiful debut novel. The book features multiple points of view (POVs) that span various timelines, each of which converges into a significant event that has impacted many people across generations. This structure can be confusing, as each chapter presents a different POV and timeline, and some timelines feature the same POV as others. There are many characters to keep track of, but I found that the more I learned about the story, the easier it became to manage the complexity. However, I still have some confusion about certain characters.

I love how the novel explores the familiar line between the magical and the mundane. In this world, we encounter shifters and statics. The story combines a non-linear timeline, magical realism, political issues involving magical and non-magical beings, a mystery that spans generations, and elements of Chinese folklore with intriguing twists. Additionally, the narrator does an amazing job of bringing the story to life, giving each character a distinct voice and personality. This is an amazing fantasy debut that captures the beauty and mystery of an epic fantasy world.

I really wanted to enjoy this work but the audio does not play for me. Awaiting a response from support. Hoping to get the ebook instead soon.

The narrator has a very lovely voice, I'm actually going to listen to this tonight before bed, and wednesday at work.

Of Mountains and Seas is really unique take on Chinese mythological creatures and the shapeshifting trope. The world is like ours, except Shifters (people who can shift into mythological beasts and have magical secondary powers) live hidden amongst society (Statics - non shifters). The story covers several, multi-generational POV's in a non-linear timeline. The narrative voices were distinct enough that I could remember who I was with, but as I was listening to the audiobook, it was a little difficult at first to remember where I was in the timelines - usually I'd flip to the start of the chapter to remind myself if I forgot. The various POV's examined the effects of having to fight for your place in a society that isn't ready to accept you, and the lengths some people will go to achieve it. As I'd hoped, as the story progressed it was revealed how all the characters lives were intermingled and how the actions some of them had made in the past had totally changed the present for others. The book ended satisfyingly enough, and I'm intrigued enough to read the sequel!

Natalie Naudus does a great job of the narration - the pacing is nice and the character voices are unique without being distracting or off-putting.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hawk Ridge Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley for the audiobook arc, unfortunately the download file does not work. I’ve tried reaching out and haven’t got a response back.

This is a fresh entry to the epic fantasy genre, geared around Chinese mythology but set in modern times. Unlike others, I wasn't a fan of the nonlinear narrative, at least in audiobook format. I kept losing a sense of what and when. Still, we have an interesting new take on "shifter" lore, an intriguing plot ... and a cliffhanger.

The narration by Natalie Naudus was superb. Natalie has an impeccable ability to switch between characters and accents on a dime. Despite embodying a range of characters of all genders, ages, and cultures, I never felt it was strange.

Magic-less in a family of shapeshifters, Davis is desperate for approval and power. Enter Iris, a girl with dreams as big as her mysterious illness is debilitating. Their paths cross in Yuras, a sleepy California town with a not-so-sleepy secret: a cave full of magic transferring stones. Jackpot, right? Not so fast. With locals snooping around and Davis’s skeletons threatening to burst out of the closet, their quest turns into a rollercoaster of secrets, magic, and a whole lot of drama.

This is a multi POV, timeline hopping adventure, shifting between the perspectives of the main characters across different points in time. It’s a perfect blend of shapeshifters inspired by Chinese mythology, strong female leads, and villains you’ll love to hate. The political intrigue surrounding magical folks blending in with the normies adds a juicy layer to the already rich plot. Think magical realism with a side of suspenseful drama.

I listened to the audiobook, which was pretty solid overall, though I did find myself wondering “Wait, which timeline are we in now?” a couple of times. But hey, the smooth narration made it easy to dive back in after those minor hiccups.

Verdict: A magical, multi layered tale that keeps you hooked, even when you’re not quite sure what decade or character’s POV you’re in.

Posted on Instagram, storygraph, and good reads on 1/12/2025

Folks might be aware of my fondness of myths from around the world. "Of Mountains and Seas" by Emily Renk Hawthorne really scratched that part of my brain.

There are Shifters hiding from the non-magic folks in the world. Some have a couple of abilities and can turn into various creatures that is the inspiration for many legends. Davis has no such powers and is rather poorly treated by his father about it. But there are stones that allow someone to take another's powers, but they degrade. When Davis obtains one of these and gains power, his twisted desires to prove himself will create a decades spanning plot. Families are ruined, lives cut short, and some catharsis is going to occur.

Narrated by Natalie Naudus, the way those final lines were delivered so normally, like it was perfectly ordinary, was just real ominous.

Reasons to read:
-Creatures based of the contents of Classic of Mountains and Seas
-Generation and time spanning story and diverged and intersects beautifully
-The ideas we hold from our youth can really mess us up
-Just some messed up use of powers

Cons:
-Alive for that long and was so close to the period when therapy became socially acceptable

I thought this was a little clunky at first with all the character POVs but I was drawn in by the story nonetheless. I very much enjoyed how each characters intertwined by the end though! I also really enjoyed the use of Chinese mythology and a different set of fantasy than the currently popular fae.

4.5⭐️

Thank you so much to Emily Reno Hawthorne and NetGalley for this audiobook. This book was something else. It was so unique yet with familiar elements. I loved that it was a shifter story, but done in a way that I’ve never seen before. I loved how Hawthorne wove bits and pieces of Chinese mythology throughout.

There were multiple POVs in this story AND in different time periods. At times it was a tad hard to follow, but once you get the flow of it, it all starts to make sense. Watching the evolution of Davies and Iris was wild.

I appreciated the complex relationships that develop throughout the story with families and friends. It brings a different tone to the story than the vast majority of other stories that focus so heavily on romance. It was a breath of fresh air!

I highly recommend this book. It’s such a unique story and was written in such a creative way. I’m definitely looking forward to the second book!