Whisper of the Tide

by Sarah Tolcser

Caro and Markos have settled into a routine: Wake up, eat breakfast, and try to figure out who might attempt to assassinate Markos today . . . so the currents aren't exactly calm. Markos is in constant danger, and his claim to the throne is shaky without the support of an army. But then a powerful Archon offers Markos the military might he needs in exchange for marrying his daughter. Markos and Caro must decide which is more important: their love for each other or the fate of Akhaia.

With shipwrecks, lost treasure, old and new enemies, dark magic, and breathtaking romance, Sarah Tolcser weaves another epic story about chasing your fate and charting your own course.

• ISBN10: 1681193000
• ISBN13: 9781681193007
• Publish Date: 5 June 2018
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: GB
• Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
• Imprint: Bloomsbury YA
• Format: eBook (EPUB)
• Pages: 352
• Language: English
• URL: http://bloomsbury.com/

Reviews

[Kelly]

Seventeen year old Caroline Oresteia was a privateer on board the Cormorant, alongside her father, a humbled Wherryman, now evading capture for her thievery upon the everglades of Kynthessa. Caroline is a tenacious young woman, her fortitude is inspiring. Altruistically, she is now assisting Markos as he attempts to converge military and political allies. Markos Andela is the legitimate Emparch of Akhaia, his family slain by Konto Theucinian and displaced from his kingdom.

Mitigation emerges from Lord Pherenekian, Archon of Eryth. A proposal of a fifteen thousand person artillery in exchange for the political union of Markos and his daughter Agnes Pherenekian, an unconventional young woman interested in academics and potential Emparchess. Quite the conundrum for Caroline, conflicted between her fondness for the Prince and a Kingdom in disarray.

Whisper of the Tide is a maritime adventure of resilience and endurance. Generations of Oresteria Wherrymen have been guided by the River God, speaking the language of the Everglades. Except for Caroline, claimed by the Sea Goddess and destined for adventure. The relationship between Caroline and Markos is convoluted and apprehensive, Caroline placing her aspirations aside to preserve the revolution and subjugate Konto Theucinian, while desperately yearning for the wild blue yonder.

A ship was not meant to sit at anchor in the harbor, and neither was I.

The secondary characters are meticulously created, including a former adversary. Cousin and apprentice Shadowman Kenté. Merchant manager Docia Argyrus. Opportunist Sophronia Hypatos. Dido Brilliante the Pirate Queen and capitalist merchant Tamaré Bollard. Distinctly tenacious women who have challenged gender equality and celebrated the female achievement.

Sarah Tolcser has created an enchanting and captivating narrative, an entertaining adventure for the marauder at heart. Avast ye scalawags and buccaneers, all hands ahoy!

[shannonmiz]

You can find the full review and all the fancy and/or randomness that accompanies it at It Starts at Midnight

Honestly, I was a little hesitant to start this one. I liked, but didn't love the first book. But I must say, I was pleasantly surprised by how easy it was to get into this sequel! The elements that I enjoyed from the last book were still in play: Caro being full of awesomeness, her banter with Markos, and the atmospheric world building. There's a ton of at-sea adventure in this book, and Caro sailing feels so, so right.

But there was definitely more at stake in this book. It seemed much less "safe" than the first, which was actually my biggest gripe with Song of the Current. So for this to seem a bit more urgent, more dangerous, made it a much better read for me. In fact, I was pulled in almost immediately by the direness of it all. The plot never lagged for me, and I was engaged the whole time.

There's also some new/better-fleshed-out side characters in the mix that made the book all the more enjoyable. One of my favorite aspects of this book is Caro's relationship with a villain of sorts- to say anymore would be spoilery, but it was fabulous. The banter and snark that we've grown to love comes out in full force. The only thing I wasn't totally thrilled with was a bit of predictability and a little bit of "lack of communication" trope from our romantic duo.

The ending, if it is the ending of the series (I have no idea, but it seems to be only the two books for now?) is definitely satisfying. So if it remains a duology, I think readers will be quite pleased with the direction this book takes.

Bottom Line: Definitely stronger than the first, I highly enjoyed this sequel set in a watery world of political chaos.