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 my first WWW Wednesday! This meme was formerly hosted by MizB at A Daily Rhythm and revived on Taking on a World of Words. This is a really fun and easy weekly post where you answer the three W’s:  what are you currently reading, what did you recently finish reading, and what do you think you’ll read next? Let’s get started!
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What are you currently reading?

I'm currently reading an ARC of On Twisting Tides by Val E. Lane and I'm loving it so far! From Tormented Tides was so good and was one of my favorite books I read in 2022, so getting the opportunity to read an ARC of the sequel is incredibly exciting. If you like Pirates of the Caribbean, this is absolutely the book for you. This series is full of lyrical writing that will hook you like a siren song and won't let go until you're emotional as can be and realizing you've finished the book.

What did you recently finish reading?

I finished That Time I Got Drunk and Yeeted a Love Potion at a Werewolf by Kimberly Lemming! I had such a fun time reading it and I really think if you're looking for a refreshing take on the fantasy and romance genres, pick this series up. It's more along the lines of fantasy rom-com and I know that might sound odd but it works so well! The world is fantastic, the characters are so loveable, and the writing isn't what you'd expect from a fantasy book. It's modern fantasy, if that makes sense? I love how different it is than other books that I've read in those genres. Also, I found out the author draws her own covers which is just amazing!

What do you think you'll read next?

Okay, I know that Belladonna by Adalyn Grace wasn't on my Spring TBR but this keeps popping up on TikTok and it has been on my regular TBR for a long time. Plus, it is a springy cover with all the flowers, right? Never mind the fact that they're possibly poisonous flowers. I'm just obsessed with the cover and apparently the sequel, Foxglove, comes out in August so this seems like a good time to read the first book just in case I really enjoy it and want to read the second book!
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And that does it for this WWW Wednesday! I'm such a fan of this weekly post because I'm already doing better with keeping up with my reading. This post really allows me to see how my reading "plans" change weekly because one week I could say I'm going to read one book, and then completely change it the next! How is your reading week going? What's something you're currently reading or planning on picking up soon? Were you introduced to any new books with this post? I'd love to know so please feel free to leave me a comment down below! Don't forget to visit Taking On a World of Words and see Sam's post for the week, and maybe check out some others awesome weekly posts from the comments! 
Thanks for stopping by and I'll see you in the next chapter!

1. In Fall, the air is crisp and clear: name a book with a vivid setting!

2. Nature is beautiful, but also dying: name a book that is beautifully written, but also deals with a heavy topic like loss or grief.

3. Fall is back to school season: share a non-fiction book that taught you something new.

4. In order to keep warm, it’s good to spend some time with the people we love: name a fictional family/household/friend group that you’d like to be a part of.

Delilah Green Doesn’t Care by Ashley Herring Blake is one of my favorite books of 2022 and I would absolutely love to be part of the friend group that is in this book (and the sequel)! I fell so in love with these characters and I think they would be such a great friend group to be a part of. I can imagine having so much fun causing mischief with Delilah, reading books with Claire, and maybe even talking about interior design with Astrid! I’m super excited for Iris Kelly Doesn’t Date coming out next year because I just know I’m going to love it.

5. The colorful leaves are piling up on the ground: show us a pile of fall-colored spines!

6. Fall is the perfect time for some storytelling by the fireside: share a book wherein somebody is telling a story.

7. The nights are getting darker: share a dark, creepy read.

9. Fall returns every year: name an old favorite that you’d like to return to soon.

10. Fall is the perfect time for cozy reading nights: share your favorite cozy reading “accessories”!

And that does it for the Finally Fall Book Tag! This was such a fun tag to do and I hope I was able to introduce you to some new books that you can add to your TBR! I would love to see your answers to this tag so if you want to do it, consider yourself tagged and be sure to link me your answers in the comments below. Or, if you don’t plan on doing the entire tag, leave me a comment about a book you’re planning on reading during the Fall season. Tomorrow is day 7 and I’ll be sharing some book line poetry so be sure to come back and check it out! Thanks for stopping by and I’ll scare ya later!