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Drowned Gods #1
Curious Tides
Ninth House meets A Deadly Education in this gorgeous dark academia fantasy following a teen mage who must unravel the truth behind the secret society that may have been involved in her classmates’ deaths.
Emory might be a student at the prestigious Aldryn College for Lunar Magics, but her healing abilities have always been mediocre at best—until a treacherous night in the Dovermere sea caves leaves a group of her classmates dead and her as the only survivor. Now Emory is plagued by strange, impossible powers that no healer should possess.
Powers that would ruin her life if the wrong person were to discover them.
To gain control of these new abilities, Emory enlists the help of the school’s most reclusive student, Baz—a boy already well-versed in the deadly nature of darker magic, whose sister happened to be one of the drowned students and Emory’s best friend. Determined to find the truth behind the drownings and the cult-like secret society she’s convinced her classmates were involved in, Emory is faced with even more questions when the supposedly drowned students start washing ashore— alive —only for them each immediately to die horrible, magical deaths.
And Emory is not the only one seeking answers. When her new magic captures the society’s attention, she finds herself drawn into their world of privilege and power, all while wondering if the truth she’s searching for might lead her right back to Dovermere…to face the fate she was never meant to escape.
Emory might be a student at the prestigious Aldryn College for Lunar Magics, but her healing abilities have always been mediocre at best—until a treacherous night in the Dovermere sea caves leaves a group of her classmates dead and her as the only survivor. Now Emory is plagued by strange, impossible powers that no healer should possess.
Powers that would ruin her life if the wrong person were to discover them.
To gain control of these new abilities, Emory enlists the help of the school’s most reclusive student, Baz—a boy already well-versed in the deadly nature of darker magic, whose sister happened to be one of the drowned students and Emory’s best friend. Determined to find the truth behind the drownings and the cult-like secret society she’s convinced her classmates were involved in, Emory is faced with even more questions when the supposedly drowned students start washing ashore— alive —only for them each immediately to die horrible, magical deaths.
And Emory is not the only one seeking answers. When her new magic captures the society’s attention, she finds herself drawn into their world of privilege and power, all while wondering if the truth she’s searching for might lead her right back to Dovermere…to face the fate she was never meant to escape.
544 pages, Hardcover
First published October 3, 2023
About the author
Pascale Lacelle
3 books526 followersPascale Lacelle is a French-Canadian writer from Ottawa, Ontario. A longtime devourer of books, she started writing her own at the age of 13 and quickly became enthralled by the magic of words. After earning her bachelor’s degree in French Literature, she realized the English language is where her literary heart lies (but please don’t tell any of her French professors that). When not lost in stories, she’s most likely daydreaming about food and travel, playing with her dog Roscoe, or trying to curate the perfect playlist for every mood.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,824 reviews
September 15, 2023
i've finally found the feeling i've been chasing in dark academia books. how do i put into words how ecstatic i was to finally find this gem😭 dark and gloomy academy vibes, perhaps the characters are all hot and sleep-deprived (maybe that bit is just my imagination), secret societies, myths & legends, a touch of forbidden magic, immaculate world-building, and sooo much more. this was one of the few books that i fell in love with on the first page.
i love that the chapters alternated between emory and baz (also one of the rare times i enjoyed the love interest's pov more). this book has a love triangle (not a spoiler) but the other dude doesn't even have a pov sooo LMAOOOO i was baffled. so we know who's endgame already ??? :^ (unless the author is trying to bamboozle me...)
baz's pov oh my godddd HE IS SO IN LOVE WITH HER !! the way he describes and thinks of her is poetry
"The images were imprinted on his soul, how the light hit Emory's face and made her hair shine like gold. He remembered the sound of her laugh and the way she smiled...how everything had felt right in the world..."
so in this universe, you only get one power manifestation. emory is a Healer, so when she discovers she has Reaper magic the night a missing classmate washes ashore, she seeks Baz, her best friend's older brother's for help, to teach her how to harness her powers. THEN THERE'S ALSO THIS ELITE SECRET SOCIETY where the other love interest is... i wish i could share more but it's honestly best if you experience it yourself!
at times i thought the world-building was a little repetitive (but i'm also slow so maybe that was a good thing). i also saw part of the ending coming !! which should say a lot since i have two brain cells and foreshadowing isn't a concept it knows. that being said, i was still gasping like a fish out of water in the last ten or so chapters. absolute whiplash.
something about the myths and stories remind me so much of rebecca ross' writing which i LOVED. also the writing was so poetic, reminded me a bit of chloe gong's! ty netgalley for the arc !! i cannot wait for book 2 ♡
i love that the chapters alternated between emory and baz (also one of the rare times i enjoyed the love interest's pov more). this book has a love triangle (not a spoiler) but the other dude doesn't even have a pov sooo LMAOOOO i was baffled. so we know who's endgame already ??? :^ (unless the author is trying to bamboozle me...)
baz's pov oh my godddd HE IS SO IN LOVE WITH HER !! the way he describes and thinks of her is poetry
"The images were imprinted on his soul, how the light hit Emory's face and made her hair shine like gold. He remembered the sound of her laugh and the way she smiled...how everything had felt right in the world..."
so in this universe, you only get one power manifestation. emory is a Healer, so when she discovers she has Reaper magic the night a missing classmate washes ashore, she seeks Baz, her best friend's older brother's for help, to teach her how to harness her powers. THEN THERE'S ALSO THIS ELITE SECRET SOCIETY where the other love interest is... i wish i could share more but it's honestly best if you experience it yourself!
at times i thought the world-building was a little repetitive (but i'm also slow so maybe that was a good thing). i also saw part of the ending coming !! which should say a lot since i have two brain cells and foreshadowing isn't a concept it knows. that being said, i was still gasping like a fish out of water in the last ten or so chapters. absolute whiplash.
something about the myths and stories remind me so much of rebecca ross' writing which i LOVED. also the writing was so poetic, reminded me a bit of chloe gong's! ty netgalley for the arc !! i cannot wait for book 2 ♡
Want to read
September 21, 2023i would sell my soul for the cover.
January 3, 2024
4.35!
“There is a scholar on these shores who breathes stories. He inhales all manner of them, holds each one in his soul, and when his lungs are too full of words, he exhales at last, daring to breathe his own stories to life. Thus he breathes in words and breathes more out, in and out and in again like the measured rhythm of the sea, until one day he finds a peculiar book that sets even the tides off their fated course.”
The writing style was amazing. Literally so immersive and oh my god the world building was so enhanced, I fell in love with the world too easily not to mention how in depth the magic system was like the author really outdid herself. Now i'm not gonna lie but i have to say that this book was super slow. I liked the pacing because it went perfectly with my busy schedule but I wouldve enjoyed it less if i read it without anything occupying my time.
The characters were really well written too and in depth as well. I liked how the twists were revolving around them and how they shaped the plots. They were some aspects in them that i found frustrating but it was truly a joy to read about them. It was well balanced between the plot i'd say because the characters were there and they made the book a little light and brought emotions into it but it was mostly plot driven and i did not mind that factor because it was crafted brilliantly.
The romance. im still confused on this. It was there but it wasn't clear i was very confused. Hopefully we get a better insight on this part of the book.
__
A pretty cover and Lunar magic?? sign me up...
“There is a scholar on these shores who breathes stories. He inhales all manner of them, holds each one in his soul, and when his lungs are too full of words, he exhales at last, daring to breathe his own stories to life. Thus he breathes in words and breathes more out, in and out and in again like the measured rhythm of the sea, until one day he finds a peculiar book that sets even the tides off their fated course.”
The writing style was amazing. Literally so immersive and oh my god the world building was so enhanced, I fell in love with the world too easily not to mention how in depth the magic system was like the author really outdid herself. Now i'm not gonna lie but i have to say that this book was super slow. I liked the pacing because it went perfectly with my busy schedule but I wouldve enjoyed it less if i read it without anything occupying my time.
The characters were really well written too and in depth as well. I liked how the twists were revolving around them and how they shaped the plots. They were some aspects in them that i found frustrating but it was truly a joy to read about them. It was well balanced between the plot i'd say because the characters were there and they made the book a little light and brought emotions into it but it was mostly plot driven and i did not mind that factor because it was crafted brilliantly.
The romance. im still confused on this. It was there but it wasn't clear i was very confused. Hopefully we get a better insight on this part of the book.
__
A pretty cover and Lunar magic?? sign me up...
October 13, 2023
3.5 because I'm intrigued by the magic system and secret societies.
I do not recommend this if you're a character-driven reader, and also I would like fourth wall breaking superpowers so I can step in the book and strangle the FMC a good 50% of the time, thank you.
I do not recommend this if you're a character-driven reader, and also I would like fourth wall breaking superpowers so I can step in the book and strangle the FMC a good 50% of the time, thank you.
February 16, 2024
4.75!
Oh my goodness I stayed up way too late to finish this. Though slow paced it is super fun to read especially with how well written it is and how exquisite and complex the magic system is. The plot gripped me in enough and the characters all flawed had such depth that I found myself falling for them and the sense of mystery was another thing that I appreciated.
I can't wait for the sequel to see how the events unfold.
Oh my goodness I stayed up way too late to finish this. Though slow paced it is super fun to read especially with how well written it is and how exquisite and complex the magic system is. The plot gripped me in enough and the characters all flawed had such depth that I found myself falling for them and the sense of mystery was another thing that I appreciated.
I can't wait for the sequel to see how the events unfold.
March 5, 2024
This isn’t particularly cohesive but my notes while I was reading will have to suffice as my review —
Exposition so excessive it made me want to apologise to my critiques of The Scholomance
It’s 520 pages, nothing happens until 120 pages before the end!!! It needed to be 300.
Dark Academia where????
The most surface level attempt at addressing inequality and bias in institutions I’ve ever read
Involvement with the secret society ended up being sooooo minimal - all so passive and in the background until the last 50ish pages
Do they ever actually even go to class? Did she ever pass that really important test that just got forgotten? I feel like the author forgot the book was even set in a school
Literally sooooo obvious from first conversation which character was going to betray her
The obsession with calling back to this ‘fiction’ book was so overused to the point where we’re being hit over the head with it, & it just got tedious. I literally don’t give a shit about the fucking epilogue
Kai was probably the only character I actually felt engaged with
Desperately frustrating to throw in a non-binary character with such a cool backstory and give them absolutely ZERO personality
Dismayed a little by the amount of reviews saying MC was manipulative and leading Baz on as if it was abundantly clear that she liked Baz and was being manipulated by Kieran?? Starved for attention and praise and drawn in????
She might as well be saying “Romie’s sooooo cool and I’m soooo boring I am but a tiny sapling in the shadow of her tree” for the whole book
This was SUCH a cool concept and it was so tedious I’m so annoyed
Exposition so excessive it made me want to apologise to my critiques of The Scholomance
It’s 520 pages, nothing happens until 120 pages before the end!!! It needed to be 300.
Dark Academia where????
The most surface level attempt at addressing inequality and bias in institutions I’ve ever read
Involvement with the secret society ended up being sooooo minimal - all so passive and in the background until the last 50ish pages
Do they ever actually even go to class? Did she ever pass that really important test that just got forgotten? I feel like the author forgot the book was even set in a school
Literally sooooo obvious from first conversation which character was going to betray her
The obsession with calling back to this ‘fiction’ book was so overused to the point where we’re being hit over the head with it, & it just got tedious. I literally don’t give a shit about the fucking epilogue
Kai was probably the only character I actually felt engaged with
Desperately frustrating to throw in a non-binary character with such a cool backstory and give them absolutely ZERO personality
Dismayed a little by the amount of reviews saying MC was manipulative and leading Baz on as if it was abundantly clear that she liked Baz and was being manipulated by Kieran?? Starved for attention and praise and drawn in????
She might as well be saying “Romie’s sooooo cool and I’m soooo boring I am but a tiny sapling in the shadow of her tree” for the whole book
This was SUCH a cool concept and it was so tedious I’m so annoyed
October 19, 2023
The vibes were immaculate and the magic system is one of my favourites but unfortunately the characters fell flat for me, I guessed the twist from early on so it made the reading experience predictable for me.
Quite a few things were repeated but presented as if it was new information which irked me
It was also very long and nothing really happens until the last 100 pages, unfortunately I’m not intrigued enough to continue the series
Quite a few things were repeated but presented as if it was new information which irked me
It was also very long and nothing really happens until the last 100 pages, unfortunately I’m not intrigued enough to continue the series
October 11, 2023
A delightfully lush, dark academia debut teeming with forbidden magic, mystery and secret societies—that fans of Lev Grossman’s The Magicians or Leigh Bardugo’s Ninth House are sure to enjoy.
Set in a world full of magic (and told through alternating, dual perspectives) we follow Emory, a teen mage still grieving the loss of her best friend, Romie, to a tragic drowning accident. And Baz, Romie’s reclusive brother still coming to terms with her loss.
Estranged since childhood, the pair haven’t spoken in years. But when the drowned students start to wash ashore—with bodies that aren’t as dead as they should be. Emory and Baz must reunite once more.
Working together, they hope to uncover the truth behind the drownings, and the shady secret society that shares ties to the all the missing students. But time is of the essence and they must solve the mystery before the magic that claimed Romie and the others, decides to claim the lives of anyone else.
I loved every exquisitely detailed second of this! The world-building was breathtaking, with prose that practically swam off the page — and in a very Erin Morgenstern fashion, submerging us in a world of intricately woven lore and lunar-based magic that I found fascinating. Though I did find the pacing (particularly the first half) a little slow.
However, I was really fond of the excerpts we encounter (from MC Baz’s favourite book, Song of the Drowned Gods.) Which I thought were really reminiscent of the interconnected stories I fell hopelessly in love with, in Morgenstern’s The Starless Sea.
Our protagonists, Emory and Baz were likewise incredibly fascinating too. Suffering from survivor’s guilt (having followed Romie to the sea cave, and being present moments before the tragedy occurred) Emory’s emotional response was quite heartbreaking. However, some of her choices had me seriously questioning her decision making skills.
I do admit, that of our two main characters, it was Baz that I felt the most connected to. Being born with Eclipse magic (the most stigmatised branch of magic), Baz has endured a lifetime of vitriol. And yet, his determination to help Emory, (and risk having his own magic bound if they’re caught) was incredibly endearing. Especially after witnessing the depth of his compassion and his unwavering drive to do the right thing—even if it means breaking the rules.
Overall, a magic and mystery filled, YA fantasy with a sprinkle of romance and dark academia deliciousness.
Also, thanks to Rachel Quin, Simon & Schuster UK & Netgalley for the e-arc.
Set in a world full of magic (and told through alternating, dual perspectives) we follow Emory, a teen mage still grieving the loss of her best friend, Romie, to a tragic drowning accident. And Baz, Romie’s reclusive brother still coming to terms with her loss.
Estranged since childhood, the pair haven’t spoken in years. But when the drowned students start to wash ashore—with bodies that aren’t as dead as they should be. Emory and Baz must reunite once more.
Working together, they hope to uncover the truth behind the drownings, and the shady secret society that shares ties to the all the missing students. But time is of the essence and they must solve the mystery before the magic that claimed Romie and the others, decides to claim the lives of anyone else.
I loved every exquisitely detailed second of this! The world-building was breathtaking, with prose that practically swam off the page — and in a very Erin Morgenstern fashion, submerging us in a world of intricately woven lore and lunar-based magic that I found fascinating. Though I did find the pacing (particularly the first half) a little slow.
However, I was really fond of the excerpts we encounter (from MC Baz’s favourite book, Song of the Drowned Gods.) Which I thought were really reminiscent of the interconnected stories I fell hopelessly in love with, in Morgenstern’s The Starless Sea.
Our protagonists, Emory and Baz were likewise incredibly fascinating too. Suffering from survivor’s guilt (having followed Romie to the sea cave, and being present moments before the tragedy occurred) Emory’s emotional response was quite heartbreaking. However, some of her choices had me seriously questioning her decision making skills.
I do admit, that of our two main characters, it was Baz that I felt the most connected to. Being born with Eclipse magic (the most stigmatised branch of magic), Baz has endured a lifetime of vitriol. And yet, his determination to help Emory, (and risk having his own magic bound if they’re caught) was incredibly endearing. Especially after witnessing the depth of his compassion and his unwavering drive to do the right thing—even if it means breaking the rules.
Overall, a magic and mystery filled, YA fantasy with a sprinkle of romance and dark academia deliciousness.
Also, thanks to Rachel Quin, Simon & Schuster UK & Netgalley for the e-arc.
October 26, 2023
I wasn't sure about this story, because 500 pages can often feel like a slog in young adult books if they're not paced properly, and unfortunately my instincts were right. Curious Tides delivers an interesting Dark Academia story set at a magic school, but needed to be a good 200 pages shorter.
There's two POVs in this, Emory and Baz, who are starting school after the loss of a group of students, one of which, Romie, was Emory's best friend and Baz's sister. The story is started after these events have happened, with Baz and Emory investigating if Romie is really gone, or if there's a way to bring her back.
Because we join the story late, I didn't feel the emotional connection to Romie that Baz and Emory did, and I really felt the story would have benefited from Romie's POV, bringing us back to before the events happened. I really think this would have driven the story forward and improved the pacing.
Overall, the story was really interesting, but moved at a snail's pace. I'm unsure if I'll read the sequel, because I don't wish to re-read this book, and will only pick it up if I can fully remember the plot of this once the sequel is released.
There's two POVs in this, Emory and Baz, who are starting school after the loss of a group of students, one of which, Romie, was Emory's best friend and Baz's sister. The story is started after these events have happened, with Baz and Emory investigating if Romie is really gone, or if there's a way to bring her back.
Because we join the story late, I didn't feel the emotional connection to Romie that Baz and Emory did, and I really felt the story would have benefited from Romie's POV, bringing us back to before the events happened. I really think this would have driven the story forward and improved the pacing.
Overall, the story was really interesting, but moved at a snail's pace. I'm unsure if I'll read the sequel, because I don't wish to re-read this book, and will only pick it up if I can fully remember the plot of this once the sequel is released.
August 9, 2024
I should’ve known I wouldn’t break the 3-5 curse (I read 3 books that are 5 stars in a row but never a 4th that also is) but had fun still.
This is the perfect book for people who liked If We Were Villains but then became interested in witchcraft.
It got a little boring by the end but honestly, I think most people would see it the other way around
(Hi, nice to meet you. I don't like action, description of physical movements, etc)
This is the perfect book for people who liked If We Were Villains but then became interested in witchcraft.
It got a little boring by the end but honestly, I think most people would see it the other way around
(Hi, nice to meet you. I don't like action, description of physical movements, etc)
December 12, 2023
This was a delicious setting and magic system. I loved the college, its secret society, and the house affiliations dependent on moon phase and birthdate. The moon phase and tide alignments were clever and created not only a structure but a mood for the story as well. I ate it up.
The characters are in college, and the overall themes and development of the story definitely feel young adult with a predictable plot outline. What strengthened and matured the narrative was Baz's POV chapters. His backstory, relationships, management of his magic, grief, loss, and subsequent need for emotional and magical control, were very compelling. The conversations with his mentor Jae and scenes in the institute were a fascinating part of the narrative.
The aspect that drew me out of the story was how convenient things were for the characters. Their access and authority seemed unrealistic. They can access Dovermere whenever they want to even though students regularly drown there—seems like the adults would make it more difficult, with wards, curfews, etc. The institute also seems incredibly easy to infiltrate. Their access to magic feels very overpowered; awesome, but without enough limits to make any plights carry weight. If glamours and illusions can disguise people so absolutely, and power over light can make people invisible, and time can be undone so that misfortunes are reversible, what challenges are left? As it is, it seems the characters' only limitations are their own beliefs. While this is a really solid message thematically, I need magic systems to have some clear limitations, or the world becomes too ungrounded for me.
Overall, this is a strong and entertaining YA story, and I will definitely pick up the next book.
The characters are in college, and the overall themes and development of the story definitely feel young adult with a predictable plot outline. What strengthened and matured the narrative was Baz's POV chapters. His backstory, relationships, management of his magic, grief, loss, and subsequent need for emotional and magical control, were very compelling. The conversations with his mentor Jae and scenes in the institute were a fascinating part of the narrative.
The aspect that drew me out of the story was how convenient things were for the characters. Their access and authority seemed unrealistic. They can access Dovermere whenever they want to even though students regularly drown there—seems like the adults would make it more difficult, with wards, curfews, etc. The institute also seems incredibly easy to infiltrate. Their access to magic feels very overpowered; awesome, but without enough limits to make any plights carry weight. If glamours and illusions can disguise people so absolutely, and power over light can make people invisible, and time can be undone so that misfortunes are reversible, what challenges are left? As it is, it seems the characters' only limitations are their own beliefs. While this is a really solid message thematically, I need magic systems to have some clear limitations, or the world becomes too ungrounded for me.
Overall, this is a strong and entertaining YA story, and I will definitely pick up the next book.
September 19, 2023
Allured by the premise of a magical college, tidal/lunar magics, a secret society, and a mystery to be solved I was very excited to dive into Curious Tides. What I was hoping would be a transfixing story, instead wound up being a never ending trudge. If I had not kindly been given access to an e-ARC by the publisher, I would have thrown in the towel very early on.
With incredibly lengthy chapters, immense description, and a very slow moving story, my interest was never grasped. The magic system while very creative, felt needlessly complex (especially for a YA novel). The book alternates between two POVs, Emory and Baz, though for most of the book they are not in each other’s presence. We then wind up following two different storylines that seldom cross paths. Based on the information given in the blurb, this played out very differently than how the I anticipated Emory enlisting Baz’s help, and thus the story proceeding.
As slow as I found the world building and plot to move, I kept hoping to find something exciting within these pages, but it never came. Our MC was infuriating, the plot twists felt obvious, and it felt like simply too much was trying to be tackled. I think streamlining the ground covered both in side plots and length, would have lended itself greatly.
All in all, this was an ambitious debut. The beauty of books and opinions is that they vary so greatly between readers. It appears from other early reviews that this book is finding, and likely will continue to find its target audience. I, however, am not part of it.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
With incredibly lengthy chapters, immense description, and a very slow moving story, my interest was never grasped. The magic system while very creative, felt needlessly complex (especially for a YA novel). The book alternates between two POVs, Emory and Baz, though for most of the book they are not in each other’s presence. We then wind up following two different storylines that seldom cross paths. Based on the information given in the blurb, this played out very differently than how the I anticipated Emory enlisting Baz’s help, and thus the story proceeding.
As slow as I found the world building and plot to move, I kept hoping to find something exciting within these pages, but it never came. Our MC was infuriating, the plot twists felt obvious, and it felt like simply too much was trying to be tackled. I think streamlining the ground covered both in side plots and length, would have lended itself greatly.
All in all, this was an ambitious debut. The beauty of books and opinions is that they vary so greatly between readers. It appears from other early reviews that this book is finding, and likely will continue to find its target audience. I, however, am not part of it.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
July 19, 2023
That. Was. Phenomenal.
I don’t even have words to describe how much I loved this book. I received an e-ARC yesterday and already finished it because I could not put it down. The mysteries are so compelling. The characters are rich and complex and disasters in their own ways and I loved them! The magic system and world building were so unique.
This was so perfectly unpredictable. Normally, I figure out the twist early on but I never saw these twists coming (but in the best way). I was sitting here saying “OHHHH THAT MAKES PERFECT SENSE” right after a reveal.
If there isn’t a sequel I will be DEVASTATED. This is what dark academia should be. This debut was perfection in a book. I already can’t wait to reread it.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I don’t even have words to describe how much I loved this book. I received an e-ARC yesterday and already finished it because I could not put it down. The mysteries are so compelling. The characters are rich and complex and disasters in their own ways and I loved them! The magic system and world building were so unique.
This was so perfectly unpredictable. Normally, I figure out the twist early on but I never saw these twists coming (but in the best way). I was sitting here saying “OHHHH THAT MAKES PERFECT SENSE” right after a reveal.
If there isn’t a sequel I will be DEVASTATED. This is what dark academia should be. This debut was perfection in a book. I already can’t wait to reread it.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
November 30, 2023
3 Reasons to Read
1: If you are looking to swept away by a more lyrical-feeling audiobook. (And you’re not in a rush.)
2: When you’re looking for more complicated world-building in the YA space. Like… You’re a fan of Leigh Bardugo. & Naomi Novik’s dark academia vibe.
3: You like stories within stories, woven throughout.
3 Reasons to Pass:
1: If love triangles aren’t your thing.
2: You need all action. Lacelle has a dreamy voice.
3: You were looking for spicy- it’s more pg- 13.
——
3.75 (This felt like a decent win for #nohypeNovember )- I’ll look forward to the next book- it will definitely be on my audiobook TBR.
1: If you are looking to swept away by a more lyrical-feeling audiobook. (And you’re not in a rush.)
2: When you’re looking for more complicated world-building in the YA space. Like… You’re a fan of Leigh Bardugo. & Naomi Novik’s dark academia vibe.
3: You like stories within stories, woven throughout.
3 Reasons to Pass:
1: If love triangles aren’t your thing.
2: You need all action. Lacelle has a dreamy voice.
3: You were looking for spicy- it’s more pg- 13.
——
3.75 (This felt like a decent win for #nohypeNovember )- I’ll look forward to the next book- it will definitely be on my audiobook TBR.
Shelved as 'on-hold'
January 5, 2024the synopsis should be this book has a love triangle
February 9, 2024
*WARNING! - This is a negative review. Like, really, negative. Like, when I'm stopped at the gates of hell, they’re pulling this out as evidence.
First of all, whoever wrote “Ninth House meets A Deadly Education in this gorgeous dark academia fantasy following a teen mage who must unravel the truth behind the secret society that may have been involved in her classmates’ deaths.” into the blurb needs to be taken outside and shot. As those are two very beloved reads, I skipped my happy ass down to the bookstore on release date and purchased this book. I OWN THE EBOOK AND THE AUDIOBOOK as well, that’s how confident I was.
Well, stupid is a disease and I’m suffering from it because this was dogwater. I should have known. It doesn’t make sense to expect topics that inherently belong in adult fiction to condense well in YA. The right idea, the wrong bitch.
Emory. Emory. Emory. What did I do wrong in my past life to be punished with her point of view? And don’t start, because clearly, Lacelle can write compelling characters (BAZ) so why were we stuck with EMORY. One of the most annoying, whiney, bitchy FMC I have ever had the displeasure of reading. I know, I know, she’s like a teen, and she like just suffered the horrible loss of her best friends, BUT THAT WAS BAZ’S WHOLE SISTER BITCH. She insisted on playing the “but I suffered MORE” game the entire book. Girl. Get a grip. Bless Baz and his patience, because all Emory proved to me was that she should have taken that forever swim in the ocean instead of Romie (I know, straight to hell with me).
I also didn’t like how she was constantly narrating her own romantic interactions? Instead of describing her own emotions and reactions to things that are happening to her, we get weird out-of-body descriptions of how the other person is feeling? EX: “She didn’t miss the way that he tracked a shaft of her unbound hair as it fell forward on her bear shoulder, shimmering golden in the candlelight. His hand twitched as if he yearned to run his fingers through it.“ Like adding the “as if” made it her own original thought. Also who the fuck talks about their own hair like that? Very much Y/N and I was gagging. I can excuse girl bossing, but she was just fucking pathetic.
Now, I won’t lie, I read until exactly 50% and then skipped to part 4 (that’s 84%, don’t say anything, this book is 530 fucking pages) because I had a feeling I knew how the ??plot twist?? was going to go. This shit was predictable as fuck. Where was the mystery I was promised?? The murder?? The secret society?? Let me tell you, the secret society was like 7 dudes wearing towels on their heads and brandishing driftwood (not really).
Lastly, the world-building. Lacelle wrote THE FUCK out of the magic system. But sometimes, less is more. As in, less time spent coming up with the 47 different names for all the magic, and more time spent on… well, the book.
First of all, whoever wrote “Ninth House meets A Deadly Education in this gorgeous dark academia fantasy following a teen mage who must unravel the truth behind the secret society that may have been involved in her classmates’ deaths.” into the blurb needs to be taken outside and shot. As those are two very beloved reads, I skipped my happy ass down to the bookstore on release date and purchased this book. I OWN THE EBOOK AND THE AUDIOBOOK as well, that’s how confident I was.
Well, stupid is a disease and I’m suffering from it because this was dogwater. I should have known. It doesn’t make sense to expect topics that inherently belong in adult fiction to condense well in YA. The right idea, the wrong bitch.
Emory. Emory. Emory. What did I do wrong in my past life to be punished with her point of view? And don’t start, because clearly, Lacelle can write compelling characters (BAZ) so why were we stuck with EMORY. One of the most annoying, whiney, bitchy FMC I have ever had the displeasure of reading. I know, I know, she’s like a teen, and she like just suffered the horrible loss of her best friends, BUT THAT WAS BAZ’S WHOLE SISTER BITCH. She insisted on playing the “but I suffered MORE” game the entire book. Girl. Get a grip. Bless Baz and his patience, because all Emory proved to me was that she should have taken that forever swim in the ocean instead of Romie (I know, straight to hell with me).
I also didn’t like how she was constantly narrating her own romantic interactions? Instead of describing her own emotions and reactions to things that are happening to her, we get weird out-of-body descriptions of how the other person is feeling? EX: “She didn’t miss the way that he tracked a shaft of her unbound hair as it fell forward on her bear shoulder, shimmering golden in the candlelight. His hand twitched as if he yearned to run his fingers through it.“ Like adding the “as if” made it her own original thought. Also who the fuck talks about their own hair like that? Very much Y/N and I was gagging. I can excuse girl bossing, but she was just fucking pathetic.
Now, I won’t lie, I read until exactly 50% and then skipped to part 4 (that’s 84%, don’t say anything, this book is 530 fucking pages) because I had a feeling I knew how the ??plot twist?? was going to go. This shit was predictable as fuck. Where was the mystery I was promised?? The murder?? The secret society?? Let me tell you, the secret society was like 7 dudes wearing towels on their heads and brandishing driftwood (not really).
Lastly, the world-building. Lacelle wrote THE FUCK out of the magic system. But sometimes, less is more. As in, less time spent coming up with the 47 different names for all the magic, and more time spent on… well, the book.
November 23, 2023
my first unintended 1 star book of the year is HERE!!! at first, i was about to give the book 2 stars, i really did, because i like baz and i like the magic system. but any book that evoked so much rage in me that i rant and scream about it in personal chats and on more than one twitter accounts only deserved one star. this book tries to tackle too much, which makes the plot so predictable and lackluster, not to mention how repetitive the world-building is.
let's not even start with that "plot twist" that i can already see happening the second that character was introduced. you don't need to be a genius to know it. hell, even a 10 years old would be able to pick it up that quickly lmaooo and it didn't even feel satisfying. when it was revealed, i just wanted the book to be done as quickly as possible.
last but not least, and most importantly, i need payment from the author for making me suffer through emory's pov. amazing how this girl is stupid, idiotic, dense, hormonal in a way i absolutely do not respect, have no self-preservation, useless, annoying, i can keep going but it'll be too much for the masses. baz is the only decent character and while i tolerate the story from his pov, the fact that emory spends her time lying and using baz for her own gain and trashing him to another love interest that's so bland and to climb up the stupid social ladder makes me hate the book even more. have i mentioned how much i hate the love triangle? baz absolutely deserves so much better than emory, and keiran is a boring opportunist piece of shit that's so self-absorbed. that romance with keiran is entirely unnecessary and speaks more about the staggeringly high level of incompetence that emory possesses.
p.s. the AUDACITY in mentioning ninth house in the description of this book when it can't even live up to nh whatsoever
let's not even start with that "plot twist" that i can already see happening the second that character was introduced. you don't need to be a genius to know it. hell, even a 10 years old would be able to pick it up that quickly lmaooo and it didn't even feel satisfying. when it was revealed, i just wanted the book to be done as quickly as possible.
last but not least, and most importantly, i need payment from the author for making me suffer through emory's pov. amazing how this girl is stupid, idiotic, dense, hormonal in a way i absolutely do not respect, have no self-preservation, useless, annoying, i can keep going but it'll be too much for the masses. baz is the only decent character and while i tolerate the story from his pov, the fact that emory spends her time lying and using baz for her own gain and trashing him to another love interest that's so bland and to climb up the stupid social ladder makes me hate the book even more. have i mentioned how much i hate the love triangle? baz absolutely deserves so much better than emory, and keiran is a boring opportunist piece of shit that's so self-absorbed. that romance with keiran is entirely unnecessary and speaks more about the staggeringly high level of incompetence that emory possesses.
p.s. the AUDACITY in mentioning ninth house in the description of this book when it can't even live up to nh whatsoever
February 20, 2024
I hate myself for putting this book off for such a long time! It was everything I needed but so much more as well. I don't want to say anything because I want everyone to feel what I felt by experiencing it but I'm just going to say everything was done perfectly!
November 26, 2023
4/5 stars, the vibes in this book were impeccable
Thank you to Simon Teen for the arc through netgalley and a physical arc in exchange for an honest review, as well as a finished copy!
"She was drowning in a sea of stars" (1)
Even from the cover of this book, the map, and the gorgeous little set that Simon Teen sent to me I knew that this book was going to be gorgeously written. I am such a sucker for unique magic systems, magical schools, and dark academia and all of those things are perfectly aligned in this book (like the moon phases haha). I really think that this book was so much fun and it kept me entertained the entire time, with an interesting mystery plot and fun characters.
This book is quite thick, so there were times that I was worried the plot would be boring at times. While there were moments that it was repetitive, as the main driving plot point was figuring out a mystery and oftentimes both main characters stumbled upon similar information separately, I didn't really mind it. Usually, this affects my opinion more but because this was a magical school and there was a very cool magic system that helped make sure that the rest of the story was very interesting, and helped support the plot. There were some plot twists that I saw coming so not everything was a surprise, but I did really enjoy following along with the mystery.
My favorite part of this book was definitely the magic system, having powers people are granted depending on which moon they are born under is so cool. The lunar houses were all so unique too and I was really glad that there was a guide at the front of the book to help me remember. Beyond the really interesting powers, there was also some amazing lore surrounding a set of gods and the little stories from a "book" scattered throughout the book, they signaled when a new part of the book was starting and that was so fun.
The cast of characters was also very fun to follow throughout the whole story. Emory was arguably the main character even though Baz got a point of view as well. Everything in the story though revolved around Emory, her connection to the death of the other students, and the consequences of it on herself and others. She was a little naive and fell into the "chosen-one" trope but I honestly like that trope so I was pretty much good with it. Baz was a great character too and I loved him from the first moment that he was on the page, he's exactly my type of book character. Then as well Kieran was an important side character, along with many others who are mysterious and I cannot name haha. They were interesting to see develop too.
In this book the romance appears like enemies to lovers, but then maybe a love triangle but then mutual pining but then friends to lovers? It's very complicated and I don't always like reading love triangles so that was one thing that I just took a little bit off for. But I do think I am excited for the future of the romance in the rest of the series, even if I'm not sure how it will end up.
[TW: death of loved ones, drowning, trauma depicted, blood and gore, murder]
Thank you to Simon Teen for the arc through netgalley and a physical arc in exchange for an honest review, as well as a finished copy!
"She was drowning in a sea of stars" (1)
Even from the cover of this book, the map, and the gorgeous little set that Simon Teen sent to me I knew that this book was going to be gorgeously written. I am such a sucker for unique magic systems, magical schools, and dark academia and all of those things are perfectly aligned in this book (like the moon phases haha). I really think that this book was so much fun and it kept me entertained the entire time, with an interesting mystery plot and fun characters.
This book is quite thick, so there were times that I was worried the plot would be boring at times. While there were moments that it was repetitive, as the main driving plot point was figuring out a mystery and oftentimes both main characters stumbled upon similar information separately, I didn't really mind it. Usually, this affects my opinion more but because this was a magical school and there was a very cool magic system that helped make sure that the rest of the story was very interesting, and helped support the plot. There were some plot twists that I saw coming so not everything was a surprise, but I did really enjoy following along with the mystery.
My favorite part of this book was definitely the magic system, having powers people are granted depending on which moon they are born under is so cool. The lunar houses were all so unique too and I was really glad that there was a guide at the front of the book to help me remember. Beyond the really interesting powers, there was also some amazing lore surrounding a set of gods and the little stories from a "book" scattered throughout the book, they signaled when a new part of the book was starting and that was so fun.
The cast of characters was also very fun to follow throughout the whole story. Emory was arguably the main character even though Baz got a point of view as well. Everything in the story though revolved around Emory, her connection to the death of the other students, and the consequences of it on herself and others. She was a little naive and fell into the "chosen-one" trope but I honestly like that trope so I was pretty much good with it. Baz was a great character too and I loved him from the first moment that he was on the page, he's exactly my type of book character. Then as well Kieran was an important side character, along with many others who are mysterious and I cannot name haha. They were interesting to see develop too.
In this book the romance appears like enemies to lovers, but then maybe a love triangle but then mutual pining but then friends to lovers? It's very complicated and I don't always like reading love triangles so that was one thing that I just took a little bit off for. But I do think I am excited for the future of the romance in the rest of the series, even if I'm not sure how it will end up.
[TW: death of loved ones, drowning, trauma depicted, blood and gore, murder]
November 15, 2023
"The drowned gods are calling; will you answer?"
The first half of this book was veeeery slow paced with a lot of info dumping. It was difficult to read. The magic system was overly complicated to the point of being boring, in my opinion. However, I liked the characters enough to keep reading, and the second half did improve. By a lot. The pace got better, I started to like Baz more, and got invested in the story. I loved Keiran as a character, he was incredibly well written, and completely stole the show for me. I liked Emory, too, she was complicated and flawed and entertaining. Virgil was great too. And Kai–I loved how he was described with his sharp, slanted smiles and midnight voice, etc.
Overall, this book was flawed, but with occasional moments of brilliance, and was a decently enjoyable read once the pace picked up in the second half. The atmosphere was enticing, the dark academia aspect did appeal to me and if it weren't for pacing issues and too much info dumping, I definitely think this book could have been brilliant. As it is, it wasn't bad, it just wasn't incredible either. I genuinely enjoyed the second half of the book which redeemed it for the boring first half. I don't regret reading this book. At the 20% mark I was worried I might, and considered DNFing. But I'm glad I finished this and I'll take that as a win.
Quotes:
"But books allowed Baz to dream without fear of falling.
"Evil awaits the careless."
"...with the stories he inhales and the words he exhales, as much sustenance to him as air."
"The thought was at once thrilling and unbearable."
"You underestimate how tireless I can be when I chase after something I want."
"But don't confuse his interest in you with his obsession with power."
"Besides, there was the Keiran Dunhall Thornby of it all." 😂
"What if in pretending to be mediocre, he had become so?"
"I've got you, Ains." 🤩
"Power unrivaled."
"Blood and bones and heart and soul."
"Kai smiled, a dangerous thing."
The first half of this book was veeeery slow paced with a lot of info dumping. It was difficult to read. The magic system was overly complicated to the point of being boring, in my opinion. However, I liked the characters enough to keep reading, and the second half did improve. By a lot. The pace got better, I started to like Baz more, and got invested in the story. I loved Keiran as a character, he was incredibly well written, and completely stole the show for me. I liked Emory, too, she was complicated and flawed and entertaining. Virgil was great too. And Kai–I loved how he was described with his sharp, slanted smiles and midnight voice, etc.
Overall, this book was flawed, but with occasional moments of brilliance, and was a decently enjoyable read once the pace picked up in the second half. The atmosphere was enticing, the dark academia aspect did appeal to me and if it weren't for pacing issues and too much info dumping, I definitely think this book could have been brilliant. As it is, it wasn't bad, it just wasn't incredible either. I genuinely enjoyed the second half of the book which redeemed it for the boring first half. I don't regret reading this book. At the 20% mark I was worried I might, and considered DNFing. But I'm glad I finished this and I'll take that as a win.
Quotes:
"But books allowed Baz to dream without fear of falling.
"Evil awaits the careless."
"...with the stories he inhales and the words he exhales, as much sustenance to him as air."
"The thought was at once thrilling and unbearable."
"You underestimate how tireless I can be when I chase after something I want."
"But don't confuse his interest in you with his obsession with power."
"Besides, there was the Keiran Dunhall Thornby of it all." 😂
"What if in pretending to be mediocre, he had become so?"
"I've got you, Ains." 🤩
"Power unrivaled."
"Blood and bones and heart and soul."
"Kai smiled, a dangerous thing."
July 25, 2023
Why had she gone into those caves? How had she survived what others more magically gifted than her had not?
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3.75
Thank you to Simon and Schuster for providing an arc in exchange for a review!
Five students ventured to the depths of caves. Only Emory returns. The rest drowned in the murky deeps and presumed dead. Only Emory believes her best friend is still alive and calling for her in a place no one has ventured except for in myths and legends.
A school where those with magic in their veins learns to control and excel. A secret society dealing in odd magics and rituals. Caves that have a dark mystery and an even darker past of drowned students and monstrous nightmares.
”Because this book is magic. It's like a portal, you see. It lets you step into other worlds and exist there for a time."
I loved the relatable feelings of inadequacy and hopelessness the cast of characters felt. There was academic competition, but more poignant was the social pressure. The need to fit in, the desire to be seen, the wish for identity, belonging, and community.
It was all she'd ever wanted, to be seen. To have someone see her for everything that she was and wasn't and deem it enough.
The push and pull of being your own person where you’re constantly compared, or think you are. Where you measure yourself up to others, putting them on a pedestal so you’re always looking up from afar, unable to see your own worth and sense of self.
This leads nicely into another important theme: manipulation. How we lean on others and rely on them to build us up… or tear us down.
”But don't confuse his interest in you with his obsession with power."
I would recommend this if you enjoyed The Atlas Six, Ninth House, and Legendborn!
Bookstagram
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3.75
Thank you to Simon and Schuster for providing an arc in exchange for a review!
Five students ventured to the depths of caves. Only Emory returns. The rest drowned in the murky deeps and presumed dead. Only Emory believes her best friend is still alive and calling for her in a place no one has ventured except for in myths and legends.
A school where those with magic in their veins learns to control and excel. A secret society dealing in odd magics and rituals. Caves that have a dark mystery and an even darker past of drowned students and monstrous nightmares.
”Because this book is magic. It's like a portal, you see. It lets you step into other worlds and exist there for a time."
I loved the relatable feelings of inadequacy and hopelessness the cast of characters felt. There was academic competition, but more poignant was the social pressure. The need to fit in, the desire to be seen, the wish for identity, belonging, and community.
It was all she'd ever wanted, to be seen. To have someone see her for everything that she was and wasn't and deem it enough.
The push and pull of being your own person where you’re constantly compared, or think you are. Where you measure yourself up to others, putting them on a pedestal so you’re always looking up from afar, unable to see your own worth and sense of self.
This leads nicely into another important theme: manipulation. How we lean on others and rely on them to build us up… or tear us down.
”But don't confuse his interest in you with his obsession with power."
I would recommend this if you enjoyed The Atlas Six, Ninth House, and Legendborn!
Bookstagram
October 15, 2023
I would give this book 10 stars if I could. Wow! It's been so long since I have felt like a book was written for me. This book was written for me or at least that is how I feel. I loved this with my whole soul. The world, the atmosphere, the characters, the fact the book centers on the moon and its' cycles...the main characters even love coffee. I couldn't love a book more if I tried. And what's amazing is I had no idea this book was coming. It was nowhere on my radar. I found it on a whim and it's now one of my favorite books ever. Sometimes the universe blesses me. I am so glad I found this book. A little Dark Academia, a little Fantasy, add some mystery and a splash of celestial magic and you have my favorite book I have read this year so far. Fantastic, this book is just fantastic.
January 14, 2024
4.7 stars
This book was so slowly paced but it read so good. The writing was so exquisite and i believe Pascale will be etched into my auto-buy authors. the world she built weaved with lunar magic and the depths of Baz and Emory that were explored and the betrayals and twists were something that kept me intrigued throughout the book.
This book was so slowly paced but it read so good. The writing was so exquisite and i believe Pascale will be etched into my auto-buy authors. the world she built weaved with lunar magic and the depths of Baz and Emory that were explored and the betrayals and twists were something that kept me intrigued throughout the book.
January 9, 2024
reading this book was literally the most magical experience of my life
November 13, 2023
The absolute insanity of the last half made up for the slow first half WHAT was that ending
December 2, 2023
Goodreads ATE my review after it had been up for multiple months, wtf?????? Anyway, here it is again:
This was a great debut, with an awful lot to like. It struck a great balance between hitting a lot of the tried and true YA fantasy tropes, while injecting them--and the book itself--with fresh spins. The characters were interesting and well rounded, and I particularly appreciated seeing both a love triangle done well, and a male lead who bucked the typical YA fantasy stereotypes. In fact, for me the male characters were the ones whose character writing stood out: Emory was a decent lead though not an extraordinary one, while Baz, Keiran and Kai were all particularly complex and interesting. The magic system was well developed and really cool (Moon and water magic!! Yes please!), the mysteries compelling, and I particularly loved the atmosphere of 'creepy caves and ocean'-based dark academia. The aesthetics of the book itself are also gorgeous.
There were a few rough edges, however. The prose was unremarkable and relied too much on sentence fragments. The first half of the book in particular was also far too heavy in exposition and navel gazing; it's a very long book for a YA fantasy debut and definitely could have been tightened. I also felt that many of the most significant character moments came through telly-y inner monologue rather than being shown in a way that made their significance hit home. And while this is really a matter of taste, for me the story felt too much *about* the magic system and its (often a bit convoluted) worldbuilding. That's very much a preference thing though; I'm sure many readers will love exactly that. It's also worth noting that the book doesn't stand alone, reading very much like the first in a series. Hopefully the recent S&S acquisition won't hurt the publication of the next volume.
Overall, this was a really enjoyable upper YA read from a promising new author whose career I'm excited to follow. Thank you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review!
This was a great debut, with an awful lot to like. It struck a great balance between hitting a lot of the tried and true YA fantasy tropes, while injecting them--and the book itself--with fresh spins. The characters were interesting and well rounded, and I particularly appreciated seeing both a love triangle done well, and a male lead who bucked the typical YA fantasy stereotypes. In fact, for me the male characters were the ones whose character writing stood out: Emory was a decent lead though not an extraordinary one, while Baz, Keiran and Kai were all particularly complex and interesting. The magic system was well developed and really cool (Moon and water magic!! Yes please!), the mysteries compelling, and I particularly loved the atmosphere of 'creepy caves and ocean'-based dark academia. The aesthetics of the book itself are also gorgeous.
There were a few rough edges, however. The prose was unremarkable and relied too much on sentence fragments. The first half of the book in particular was also far too heavy in exposition and navel gazing; it's a very long book for a YA fantasy debut and definitely could have been tightened. I also felt that many of the most significant character moments came through telly-y inner monologue rather than being shown in a way that made their significance hit home. And while this is really a matter of taste, for me the story felt too much *about* the magic system and its (often a bit convoluted) worldbuilding. That's very much a preference thing though; I'm sure many readers will love exactly that. It's also worth noting that the book doesn't stand alone, reading very much like the first in a series. Hopefully the recent S&S acquisition won't hurt the publication of the next volume.
Overall, this was a really enjoyable upper YA read from a promising new author whose career I'm excited to follow. Thank you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review!
March 26, 2024
✔️ Dark Academia
✔️ Messy relationships, both platonic and romantic.
✔️ Secret societies
✔️ Bad decisions galore.
✔️ Eldric magics blended with hard magics
This was fun and held together well till near the end when it hit rough waters. Nothing unsalvageable considering there is another book coming in this world.
It has engaging characters, nice world building, lovely writing, and the pacing never faulters.
✔️ Messy relationships, both platonic and romantic.
✔️ Secret societies
✔️ Bad decisions galore.
✔️ Eldric magics blended with hard magics
This was fun and held together well till near the end when it hit rough waters. Nothing unsalvageable considering there is another book coming in this world.
It has engaging characters, nice world building, lovely writing, and the pacing never faulters.
August 7, 2023
3.5/5 Stars
I really wish Goodreads had half stars, but this book was definitely not a four star rating to me, so three it is.
I originally picked Curious Tides up because I read the blurb where it is compared to A Deadly Education, which is one of my favorite series. Unfortunately, this did not match up.
The first 200 pages (first half) of this book were excruciating. I felt like nothing ever happened and the same plot details were being rehashed over and over again. The characters felt one dimensional, particularly the main characters. Baz's whole personality was based around a book he was obsessed with, whose plot was essentially retold in every chapter from Baz's perspective. Emory felt bland and had moments of both being unnecessarily paranoid about sharing secrets and moments where she felt entirely too trusting for no reason. There's a scene in the book where . In some moments, Emory entirely ignored things she heard or things people told her. These things were later used as plot twists, but I noticed them immediately and it just made her look oblivious and somewhat dumb.
The love triangle in this book was kinda painful. Emory had some chemistry with Baz, but she spends most of her time focusing on Kieran instead. I understand why, for plot purposes, but she falls way too quickly and is entirely too trusting of him. Kieran and Emory have no chemistry, and the supposed attraction between them feels fake. As a whole, the entire first half of the book was just a lot of repeated, drawn out setup that I struggled to care about.
The second half of Curious Tides, thankfully, was much better. Once I reached about 250-300 pages, I was flying through the book and finished it not too long after. This was when some of the action started to pick up and the book went further into the magic and mystery of the world. The magic system was still nothing entirely special to me, but I did enjoy how Pascale Lacelle used the concept of 'Collapsing' and some other smaller aspects of the magic. Baz's time magic was fun, and I wish we had seen more of Romie or Kai's dream/nightmare magic because the concept was really interesting.
Emory still had moments of obliviousness that left me frustrated, but she did get better in the second half. I still found it difficult to believe she had two guys falling over her and a lot of the emotional moments fell flat, but I did enjoy her moments with Romie. While she is by no means one of my favorite main characters, she was tolerable and even enjoyable by the end. Baz quickly became my favorite of the book and I found his plot far more interesting than anything Emory did. Most of Emory's arc was predictable, but Baz's chapters held multiple plot twists that I did not see coming at all. I enjoyed seeing him finally stop being so nervous by the end and look forward to what he may become in future books.
While I'm not dying for the sequel or eager to reread, I did enjoy the second half of Curious Tides and will probably be reading the sequel whenever it is published. Hopefully, Emory will become more interesting in the future now that
I really wish Goodreads had half stars, but this book was definitely not a four star rating to me, so three it is.
I originally picked Curious Tides up because I read the blurb where it is compared to A Deadly Education, which is one of my favorite series. Unfortunately, this did not match up.
The first 200 pages (first half) of this book were excruciating. I felt like nothing ever happened and the same plot details were being rehashed over and over again. The characters felt one dimensional, particularly the main characters. Baz's whole personality was based around a book he was obsessed with, whose plot was essentially retold in every chapter from Baz's perspective. Emory felt bland and had moments of both being unnecessarily paranoid about sharing secrets and moments where she felt entirely too trusting for no reason. There's a scene in the book where . In some moments, Emory entirely ignored things she heard or things people told her. These things were later used as plot twists, but I noticed them immediately and it just made her look oblivious and somewhat dumb.
The love triangle in this book was kinda painful. Emory had some chemistry with Baz, but she spends most of her time focusing on Kieran instead. I understand why, for plot purposes, but she falls way too quickly and is entirely too trusting of him. Kieran and Emory have no chemistry, and the supposed attraction between them feels fake. As a whole, the entire first half of the book was just a lot of repeated, drawn out setup that I struggled to care about.
The second half of Curious Tides, thankfully, was much better. Once I reached about 250-300 pages, I was flying through the book and finished it not too long after. This was when some of the action started to pick up and the book went further into the magic and mystery of the world. The magic system was still nothing entirely special to me, but I did enjoy how Pascale Lacelle used the concept of 'Collapsing' and some other smaller aspects of the magic. Baz's time magic was fun, and I wish we had seen more of Romie or Kai's dream/nightmare magic because the concept was really interesting.
Emory still had moments of obliviousness that left me frustrated, but she did get better in the second half. I still found it difficult to believe she had two guys falling over her and a lot of the emotional moments fell flat, but I did enjoy her moments with Romie. While she is by no means one of my favorite main characters, she was tolerable and even enjoyable by the end. Baz quickly became my favorite of the book and I found his plot far more interesting than anything Emory did. Most of Emory's arc was predictable, but Baz's chapters held multiple plot twists that I did not see coming at all. I enjoyed seeing him finally stop being so nervous by the end and look forward to what he may become in future books.
While I'm not dying for the sequel or eager to reread, I did enjoy the second half of Curious Tides and will probably be reading the sequel whenever it is published. Hopefully, Emory will become more interesting in the future now that
August 4, 2023
Wow. I am fascinated with this magical world. Pascales immersive world building takes us to the enchanting Aldryn College for Lunar Magic, with houses based on the phases of the moon. Each phase having their own set of magic makes for so many interesting characters, which we follow throughout the book.
The story completely swept me away with the magical atmosphere, thrilling mysteries, gripping character building and simply fantastic writing.
I really enjoyed the alternating chapters from different characters perspectives which made for an exciting read.
The twists in the plot kept me gripped and the ending had me completely shocked!
Cannot wait for the next book in the series….I need more!
Thank you to Net Galley & Simon & Schuster Children’s UK for an advanced copy in return for an honest review.
October 5, 2023
TLDR review: Great world-building and magic system; chapters are long af; Baz is damaged but sweet/loveable; Emory’s an emotionally messy batch
Curious Tides by Pascale Lacelle has been one of my most anticipated releases for the year. It’s a book with a magic system based on the phases of the moon. What’s there not to love about that? Coming from the standpoint of a moon-loving crystal witch, the book gives off the impression that it has been dipped in the precious moonlight and sprinkled in the light of the stars. So, imagine my excitement at being able to read this book.
Curious Tides is about a girl named Emory and a boy named Baz. They both attend Aldryn College, a university designed around helping people with special abilities further their studies and applications of their magic. In this universe, whatever moon phase a person is born under gives them special magic related to the particular phase of the moon. Emory is a healer born under the New Moon while Baz is an outlier, being born under an eclipse.
Unfortunately for Baz, in this world, the religion states that the eclipse-born represent people born under the phase of the Shadow, or this world’s proverbial devil. As the belief goes, the Shadow stole magic from the Tides/Moon Phases forcing the Tides to lock him away, sacrificing themselves in the process. So, Baz, like others born under the eclipse, are treated poorly like they themselves are untrustworthy thieves.
The magic system of this world is phenomenal. The application and explanation of the moon phases translated into magic is imaginative and extremely well thought out. All while reading, you find yourself going back and forth trying to decide which phase of the moon you would like to be born under. The applications of each form of magic are almost endless. Take Baz, for example, he is a Time Spinner. He can change time around an object or person. He can even stop time in an entire room, or he can pick and choose different aspects of the room to pause, reverse, or slow down. If you have ever watched the reboot of Charmed, his power closely resembles Mel, the middle sister. Towards the end of the book, I, along with Baz, began to question where the limit of his power lies. And, that is one of the great aspects of this book, the potential for the plot feels endless as the world is built on such great magic and mythology.
The pacing of this book is where the book could use some work. The chapters are broken up into Emory and Baz’s POV. Switching Points of view works greatly for this book. However, the chapters are incredibly long and slows the pacing of the book. This book would definitely prosper from shortened chapters even if those chapters stay in the same POV. Speaking of the two main points of view, this is where this review begins to take a u-turn.
While Baz was a loveable nerd full of anxiety, wanting deep-down in his heart to do the right thing, Emory was a shallow, annoying, selfish, and self-centered hypocrite. To say that I didn’t like this character is being too nice. I hated her. There were several times throughout the book where I wanted her to eat dirt. And, this is not out of my personal point of dislike, but because of her thought processes and actions in the book. From the beginning of the book, everything is about Emory. What does Emory need? What does Emory want?
The book starts off with the reader learning of a traumatic event that happened at the end of the previous term. Basically, Emory was near ground zero of her best friend Romie’s death. She spends months during the summer dealing with this traumatic event. When she comes back to school, she’s emotionally devastated. But, you know who else is emotionally devastated? Baz is. Romie was his sister after all. Emory went through prep school with both Romie AND Baz. They grew up as friends, so Romie’s death should have been a shared experience between Emory and Baz. But is it? No, because Emory chooses to shut down and keep things to herself. I am fully aware that people grieve in their own way. However, the way that Emory grieved was by shutting herself off, not communicating with Baz, and ultimately gaslighting his feelings about Romie’s death. Emory was dead to me when the gaslighting started.
There is also an element of mystery surrounding what actually happened to Romie. This is a perfect time where Emory could open up, even just a bit, to Baz in order for them to work together to figure out what happened to someone they both loved. But, does Emory do that? No, she lies and keeps secrets from Baz. Then, she goes to the hot dude on campus and his group of friends and lays her heart bare for them. The priorities of this character are all screwed up. Grief can be used as an excuse for her smorgasbord of emotions. And, by smorgasbord, I mean she was jealous at points, she was needy, she was gullible, and she was irrationally angry. Grief can only be an excuse for so much of her actions though.
The most inexcusable thing about Emory as a character is her lack of responsibility. Throughout the book she emotionally manipulates Baz, she gaslights him, and she downplays his feelings towards her. She treats a person that she has known almost all of her life like he’s a pawn on a chessboard. And, at the end of the book when Baz finds out, she doesn’t even truly apologize. She gives this lackluster tear-filled apology. This even comes off like emotional manipulation because she uses her devastation and aftermath of the poor decisions she’s made to garner sympathy while apologizing. That is not a true apology. Then, what makes it ten times worse is that Baz, being the bigger person, tries to find the silver-lining in this bottom-feeder of a person.
I usually really enjoy the chosen one trope in books, but only if that character seems worthy of the power they have been given. Emory is definitely not worthy. She does absolutely nothing to garner the abilities she’s given. She even mentions in her internal monologue about how she feels entitled to have powers and be special. This book is the first of a series, and I seriously hope she has a chance to grow in the next book because she is a nineteen year-old with the emotional intelligence of a ten year-old.
Baz had a great opportunity to grow in this book, and he did. Was it a steady upward line of growth? No, but he kept giving it a shot all the same. His adventure in this book is the one I am most interested in. I am also looking forward to the development and adventure of other side characters like Kai and Jae. I'm also looking forward to Baz’s developing relationship with his father. Emory can go take a long walk off a short plank.
This book was a series of ups and downs for me. I both liked and didn’t like a lot of things while reading it. I’m looking forward to the next book though.
Thank you to #turnthepagestours and Simon and Schuster for the arc. All opinions are my own, and I leave this review voluntarily.
Curious Tides by Pascale Lacelle has been one of my most anticipated releases for the year. It’s a book with a magic system based on the phases of the moon. What’s there not to love about that? Coming from the standpoint of a moon-loving crystal witch, the book gives off the impression that it has been dipped in the precious moonlight and sprinkled in the light of the stars. So, imagine my excitement at being able to read this book.
Curious Tides is about a girl named Emory and a boy named Baz. They both attend Aldryn College, a university designed around helping people with special abilities further their studies and applications of their magic. In this universe, whatever moon phase a person is born under gives them special magic related to the particular phase of the moon. Emory is a healer born under the New Moon while Baz is an outlier, being born under an eclipse.
Unfortunately for Baz, in this world, the religion states that the eclipse-born represent people born under the phase of the Shadow, or this world’s proverbial devil. As the belief goes, the Shadow stole magic from the Tides/Moon Phases forcing the Tides to lock him away, sacrificing themselves in the process. So, Baz, like others born under the eclipse, are treated poorly like they themselves are untrustworthy thieves.
The magic system of this world is phenomenal. The application and explanation of the moon phases translated into magic is imaginative and extremely well thought out. All while reading, you find yourself going back and forth trying to decide which phase of the moon you would like to be born under. The applications of each form of magic are almost endless. Take Baz, for example, he is a Time Spinner. He can change time around an object or person. He can even stop time in an entire room, or he can pick and choose different aspects of the room to pause, reverse, or slow down. If you have ever watched the reboot of Charmed, his power closely resembles Mel, the middle sister. Towards the end of the book, I, along with Baz, began to question where the limit of his power lies. And, that is one of the great aspects of this book, the potential for the plot feels endless as the world is built on such great magic and mythology.
The pacing of this book is where the book could use some work. The chapters are broken up into Emory and Baz’s POV. Switching Points of view works greatly for this book. However, the chapters are incredibly long and slows the pacing of the book. This book would definitely prosper from shortened chapters even if those chapters stay in the same POV. Speaking of the two main points of view, this is where this review begins to take a u-turn.
While Baz was a loveable nerd full of anxiety, wanting deep-down in his heart to do the right thing, Emory was a shallow, annoying, selfish, and self-centered hypocrite. To say that I didn’t like this character is being too nice. I hated her. There were several times throughout the book where I wanted her to eat dirt. And, this is not out of my personal point of dislike, but because of her thought processes and actions in the book. From the beginning of the book, everything is about Emory. What does Emory need? What does Emory want?
The book starts off with the reader learning of a traumatic event that happened at the end of the previous term. Basically, Emory was near ground zero of her best friend Romie’s death. She spends months during the summer dealing with this traumatic event. When she comes back to school, she’s emotionally devastated. But, you know who else is emotionally devastated? Baz is. Romie was his sister after all. Emory went through prep school with both Romie AND Baz. They grew up as friends, so Romie’s death should have been a shared experience between Emory and Baz. But is it? No, because Emory chooses to shut down and keep things to herself. I am fully aware that people grieve in their own way. However, the way that Emory grieved was by shutting herself off, not communicating with Baz, and ultimately gaslighting his feelings about Romie’s death. Emory was dead to me when the gaslighting started.
There is also an element of mystery surrounding what actually happened to Romie. This is a perfect time where Emory could open up, even just a bit, to Baz in order for them to work together to figure out what happened to someone they both loved. But, does Emory do that? No, she lies and keeps secrets from Baz. Then, she goes to the hot dude on campus and his group of friends and lays her heart bare for them. The priorities of this character are all screwed up. Grief can be used as an excuse for her smorgasbord of emotions. And, by smorgasbord, I mean she was jealous at points, she was needy, she was gullible, and she was irrationally angry. Grief can only be an excuse for so much of her actions though.
The most inexcusable thing about Emory as a character is her lack of responsibility. Throughout the book she emotionally manipulates Baz, she gaslights him, and she downplays his feelings towards her. She treats a person that she has known almost all of her life like he’s a pawn on a chessboard. And, at the end of the book when Baz finds out, she doesn’t even truly apologize. She gives this lackluster tear-filled apology. This even comes off like emotional manipulation because she uses her devastation and aftermath of the poor decisions she’s made to garner sympathy while apologizing. That is not a true apology. Then, what makes it ten times worse is that Baz, being the bigger person, tries to find the silver-lining in this bottom-feeder of a person.
I usually really enjoy the chosen one trope in books, but only if that character seems worthy of the power they have been given. Emory is definitely not worthy. She does absolutely nothing to garner the abilities she’s given. She even mentions in her internal monologue about how she feels entitled to have powers and be special. This book is the first of a series, and I seriously hope she has a chance to grow in the next book because she is a nineteen year-old with the emotional intelligence of a ten year-old.
Baz had a great opportunity to grow in this book, and he did. Was it a steady upward line of growth? No, but he kept giving it a shot all the same. His adventure in this book is the one I am most interested in. I am also looking forward to the development and adventure of other side characters like Kai and Jae. I'm also looking forward to Baz’s developing relationship with his father. Emory can go take a long walk off a short plank.
This book was a series of ups and downs for me. I both liked and didn’t like a lot of things while reading it. I’m looking forward to the next book though.
Thank you to #turnthepagestours and Simon and Schuster for the arc. All opinions are my own, and I leave this review voluntarily.
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