Salt & Storm

by Kendall Kulper

[Angie]

I received an ARC through NetGalley.

Salt & Storm is incredible. I knew I was going to love it from that amazing opening chapter, and I did. I held onto that love even when the author ripped my heart out and messed with my emotions. Just...wow. A historical setting, a taste of the paranormal, and a swoon worthy romance are the ingredients for a perfect book when mixed correctly, and oh, how Salt & Storm mixes them right. Avery has lived on Prince Island her entire life, just like the generations of Roe women before her. It's a small whaling community, and as the island witch, her grandmother keeps the whalers and their families safe. But her time is coming to an end, and Avery should be taking over, since her mother has sworn off magic. Then she has a dream, where she dies, and she knows she'll never be the next witch unless she can find a way to change the future.

The alternate history setting of Salt & Storm was perfect, and not just because the mid-1800s are my favorite to read about. It just fit with the magical aspect and really amplified the struggles between Avery and her mother (a character that I loved to hate, so much!). I also loved getting to know a little more about whaling, which is probably weird. But Prince Island is almost as dependent on whales as they are on the Roe witches. It's a time where kerosene is starting to gain popularity, and whales are becoming increasingly rare. It's no wonder the town folk go a bit mad when learn about Avery's grandmother's failing spells...

Salt & Storm has an amazing romance! It doesn't really come about until halfway through, and then does become quite important, but not in an annoying insta-love way. It tugged at my emotions, made me smile, and made me cry! Yes, I cried! It is tragic and beautiful and sad and...my emotions! Avery and Tane--the tattooed harpoon boy!--come together because he was told of a young witch who could interpret dreams. He agrees to help her get to her grandmother if she reads all of his dreams for him. Of course, they grow close, and then there's a twist and it killed me! But then I figured out another twist that would untwist that twist, but then it didn't matter because it was all going to happen regardless! And then I cried. Quite the emotional investment on my part.

I absolutely loved Salt & Storm! I do not have a single complaint about it, except maybe that it broke my heart and I was not expecting that. I went into this expecting excitement, adventure, magic and romance! Well, I got all of that plus more! Avery's relationship with magic, her mother, and grandmother was amazing and I didn't see that all coming! Her romance with Tane was sooooo good and tragic! Then there's her relationship with the island and their inhabitants, which was complicated and certainly screwed up. I just loved everything it had to offer!

Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.