ARC Review: Faye and the City in the Sea by Nicole Bailey

Title: Faye and the City in the Sea

Author: Nicole Bailey

Series: Faye and the Ether (Book 2)

Publication Date: Dec. 29, 2020

Synopsis: Faye can never be free from the blood that stains her soul.

Haunted by the horrific traumas of battle, Faye struggles to move past the bloodshed she witnessed that fateful day. No amount of magic can erase from her mind the images of the lives lost.

She can’t breathe.

Can’t sleep.

Can’t focus on anything but the terror she’s drowning in.

Yet she isn’t the only one plagued by trepidation. As a co-council, anxiety is a part of Daron’s daily life. But never before was it like this. Crippled by fear, he hunts for a way to keep Faye and Alec safe as the threat of Typhon draws near.

Traveling to the mercity for the full moon revelry, Faye uncovers a sinister new threat that could endanger life for all merfolk. Can she and Daron work together to protect their new allies? Or will the losses suffered sink their enchanting world to the depths?

LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon

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My Review:

I’m so excited to review Faye and the City in the Sea today! I read the first book, Faye and the Ether, several months ago and was captivated by the characters and world in this YA fantasy series by Nicole Bailey! I love the continued development and expansion of the setting in Faye and the City in the Sea, the character arcs, and the multi-layered story-line.

As Faye travels to the underwater mermaid realm, when she and her allies battle evil foes, and even when she is resting as their camp, the story is rich with imagery and so immersive! Bailey is skilled in painting a vivid picture of this fantastical world and the plethora of supernatural characters. The author also blends classic mythology with a modern spin, which creates a unique and fascinating plot.

The love story between Daron and Alec is another one of the highlights of the story. They are so in love, and I love that we were able to see this relationship develop. They are both strong, honorable people, and they bring out the best in each other. Neither is perfect, but their love and respect are unconditional. I adore their connection, and their chemistry is romantic and filled with swoon-worthy moments!

You are the reason my heart beats in my chest. And for myself, to know that as long as either of us draws breath into our lungs, we’ll be together.

In addition to Daron and Alec’s romance, there is a love triangle brewing with Faye and two other characters. Though love triangles are not usually my favorite trope, I’m loving this one! Both males are intriguing and mysterious, and I can’t wait to learn more about each, as well as their growing relationships with Faye, in future books.

Though Daron is blissfully in love, he, like Faye, is tormented in this book. Riddled with anxiety and worry, they live in fear of future possibilities and losses. Faye, in particular, struggles with her actions and how they affected other people. I like that the author examines this aspect of their characters, as it is often something that is glossed over in many YA fantasies. There are emotional aftereffects of participating in conflict and war, and Bailey doesn’t shy away from the barrage of conflicting, confusing, and heartbreaking feelings that both Daron and Faye possess.

Faye and the City in the Sea is the second book in the Faye and the Ether series, and it isn’t a standalone. So, I would suggest reading the first book in the series before you read this one. That being said, it is a great read, and I totally recommend it! Thanks so much to Nicole Bailey for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

Rating:

Favorite Parts:

The romances, of course! 🙂

The immersive and vivid world!

Favorite Lines:

You can’t control how others feel. Attempting to do so will only leave you unhappy.

You believe in anyone except for yourself and I’m skeptical of everyone, including myself.

Sometimes faith is like bravery, you have to act on it before you find the rewards.

Recommendations:

This is the second book in the series and isn’t a standalone. So, I would recommend reading Faye and the Ether, the first book in the series, before you read this one.