Hi hello and welcome to a post I haven't done in far too long. Today, I'm sharing my review of On Twisting Tides by Val E. Lane, the sequel to From Tormented Tides. This has been a highly anticipated release and I’m so excited to be able to share my thoughts! Be warned, I can’t resist a good pun so there will be many goofy water related puns and jokes throughout this review. Also, this will be spoiler-free so you can enjoy this review without having to worry about being spoiled for any major plot points or events that happen. Let’s get started!

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Title: On Twisting Tides

Author: Val E. Lane

Pages: 324

Genre: Fantasy 

Release Date: 27 March 2023

From Goodreads: "The curse is broken, but Katrina is still plagued by the haunting note left behind as a new semester begins in the coastal town of Constantine. And she’s still not sure how to admit to herself that she may never be the same after that night on Valdez’s ship. Meanwhile, Milo adapts to his second chance at life, but the heavy conscience of a pirate's past still weighs on his soul. When Katrina receives another chilling letter, she’s tasked with a burden that will require a journey across the sea…and he’s determined not to let her face it alone. But as Milo’s world unravels and Katrina battles newfound inner demons, holding back the ocean’s wrath may prove to be the least of their problems…and the shadows of the past may not be as distant as they seem."

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Thank you so much to Val E. Lane for providing me with an ARC copy in exchange for review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The ending of From Tormented Tides had me absolutely craving more. I wanted more Katrina and Milo, more siren lore, more pirates, more everything! So when the opportunity to sign up for a chance at an ARC of On Twisting Tides arose, I jumped on it quicker than Katrina jumps off of ships. I knew I would love the sequel just as much, if not more, than the first book, and I was right!

Katrina is trying her best to continue her life after breaking the curse and finding out she’s a siren. What is she supposed to do about that side of herself? Can she move on from the note she found or will it consume her? Milo is trying to find his place in the world after being cursed for 300 years and, understandably, he’s not only struggling, but he’s also finding it hard to leave behind his piratey behaviors, putting strain on his and Katrina’s relationship. I really loved seeing how the two of them interacted because obviously things aren’t perfect and they weren’t portrayed as such. With a lot of books, you can encounter insta-love relationships where the couple is so perfect and never has any problems. But here, these two are dealing with some heavy realizations and issues and they’re struggling with figuring out how to move on from the events of the first book. They both have opportunities to grow as individuals and together, and smooth sailing it is not, friends. But their relationship is definitely reminiscent of Elizabeth and Will from Pirates of the Caribbean so if you liked that couple, you’ll love Katrina and Milo!

As for our other crew mates, I really enjoyed getting more of Kenzie and Noah with this book! Of course I love our main characters, but Kenzie and Noah are also really big parts of the events of the story and I think they add so much to the scenes they’re in. Not only do they help Katrina in her quest, but they also get to develop their own kind of relationship, and I loved seeing it develop as the story progressed. Kenzie’s personality is just so refreshing and I think she balances out Katrina really well when she’s going through some of her rougher moments, and while Noah can be very stubborn and grumpy, he’s definitely a softie with Kenzie and seems to really care for Katrina and Milo in his own way. I appreciated that the side characters were actually given the attention they deserved and the ability to grow along with Katrina and Milo and I really hope that they make an appearance together again. 

The events of the story are incredibly trying on these characters in different ways and they all have things they have to deal with. By the end of the book, you’ll basically be reading about entirely new characters with how much they change on their journey, and I’m so excited to continue following the story of these wonderful characters in the next book! Also, there’s a surprise character comeback that had me yelling louder than Elizabeth Swann screaming FIRAR and that is all I will say. 

Hi hello and welcome to a very exciting post! Today, I have the pleasure of helping to share the cover reveal of The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic by Breanne Randall. This cover is so incredibly beautiful and really gives off magical witchy vibes and I’m so happy to have the opportunity to share it today! If you’re a fan of Practical Magic and Gilmore Girls, then this is the book for you. I’ll also be sharing some fun things related to the book and some pre-order information for those that are interested. Let’s get started!
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Release Date: 19 September 2023

From Goodreads: "Sadie Revelare has always believed that the curse of four heartbreaks that accompanies her magic would be worth the price. But when her grandmother is diagnosed with cancer with only weeks to live, and her first heartbreak, Jake McNealy, returns to town after a decade, her carefully structured life begins to unravel. With the news of their grandmother's impending death, Sadie's estranged twin brother Seth returns to town, bringing with him deeply buried family secrets that threaten to tear Sadie's world apart. Their grandmother has been the backbone of the family for generations, and with her death, Sadie isn't sure she'll have the strength to keep the family, and her magic, together. As feelings for Jake begin to rekindle, and her grandmother growing sicker by the day, Sadie faces the last of her heartbreaks, and she has to decide: is love more important than magic?"

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How absolutely beautiful is this cover?! Now, how about some fun book-related extras to keep us going after the cover reveal! Keep reading for some awesome quotes, character graphics, a bookish playlist, and information on some really cool pre-order incentives from Blue Mountain Bookshop.

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Preorder Information

If you're someone that likes pre-order goodies, Blue Mountain Bookstore has some wonderful bonuses if you pre-order from their shop. That tote is super cute and I'm always a fan of things like stickers and signed bookplates! There are also several other links for other retailers that you can pre-order the book from if goodies aren't really your thing. Remember, pre-ordering is incredibly helpful to authors, especially debut authors, so any support is always a wonderful thing!

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookbub | Book Depository | Indie Bound | Indigo

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Author Information

Breanne Randall is a freelance writer by trade and an author by vocation. She graduated with honors with degrees in English Literature, Psychology, and Religious Studies, and her articles have been published in national magazines such as Parents, Fit Pregnancy, Good Housekeeping, Family Circle et al. as well as regular contributions to sites such as Disney Family, SheKnows, Bustle, et al. A seasoned traveler, she imbues her stories with the magic and culture collected from the over forty countries she’s visited. Breanne lives in the sleepy foothills of Northern California with her husband, two daughters, and a slew of farm animals. When she’s not writing, you can find her wandering the property searching for fairy portals or serving elaborate stuffed animal tea parties.

Facebook | Instagram | TikTok

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And that does it for this cover reveal! I’m so happy that I came across Breanne on TikTok and am now able to share the cover for The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic because it genuinely is a gorgeous cover. I’m super into the color green recently and I’m a big fan of Practical Magic, so I’m not surprised that I love it so much. Thank you so much to Breanne Randall for sharing all of the graphics and details related to the book because it all helped make this an even more exciting post!  Are you excited for The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic? What do you think of the cover? Let me know in the comments below and don’t forget to go add it on Goodreads. Thanks for stopping by and I’ll see you in the next chapter!