Rating: ★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 409 pages
Author: H.M. Long
Publisher: Titan Books
Release Date: July 8th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

The epic naval fantasy trilogy concludes, as Sam, Mary and Benedict play a deadly game of war and espionage on the high-seas. Perfect for fans of pirate-infested waters, magical bestiaries and battling empires, by authors such as Adrienne Young, L. J. Andrews and Naomi Novik.

In the wake of the events of Black Tide Son, Hart flees into pirate-infested waters to shelter on the island where former rogue James Demery and the Fleetbreaker, Anne Firth, now rule.

Reeling from their discoveries about the truths of the Mereish-Aeadine war, Mary and Sam hover on the precipice of a terrible, world-altering choice – they can stay silent and maintain their good names, or they can speak out, and risk igniting total war across the Winter Sea.

Meanwhile, Benedict captains The Red Tempest, a lawless ship of deserters and corrupted mages in search of an Usti spy with incendiary stolen documents. Benedict is determined to make the truth known, consequences be damned.

As rumours spread of a new Ghistwold sprouting in the Mereish South Isles, May and Sam sail once more into intrigue, espionage and an ocean on the brink of exploding into conflict. They must chart a course toward lasting, final peace, at the heart of the age-old battle for power upon the Winter Seas.

I DON’T KNOW Y’ALL.

I remember liking the first two books in this series but not with an overwhelming sense of having to pick up book three ASAP. I’ve still been looking forward to RTB though and feel like I’ve been disappointed. I can’t decide if that’s because of my mood or this just wasn’t that great of a conclusion.

The plot was fairly rinse and repeat. Run over here, try to capture someone, get in a bind, get out, and do it again. All waiting for the final showdown.

And this also reminds me that I don’t recommend the audiobook for this one. With only one narrator for three POV’s, let me tell y’all, I got so lost trying to figure out which male POV (of twin brothers mind you) I was in and that threw me off multiple times.

Not the ending I was hoping for, maybe I’ll read more from this author?

Overall audience notes:

• Fantasy + Romance
• Language: mild
• Romance: closed door
• Violence: moderate

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