About Compass and Blade:
Title: Compass and Blade
Author: Rachel Greenlaw
Page Length: 336
Publication Date: Feb. 29, 2024
Publisher: Inkyard Press
Synopsis: For fans of Fable by Adrienne Young or To Kill a Kingdom by Alexandra Christo, this romantasy debut is filled with sirens and mysterious magic, swoony romance and cutthroat betrayal.
This world of sea and storm runs deep with bargains and blood.
On the remote isle of Rosevear, Mira, like her mother before her, is a wrecker, one of the seven on the rope who swim out to shipwrecks to plunder them. Mira’s job is to rescue survivors, if there are any. After all, she never feels the cold of the frigid ocean waters and the waves seem to sing to her soul. But the people of Rosevear never admit the that they set the beacons themselves to lure ships into the rocks.
When the Council watch lays a trap to put an end to the wrecking, they arrest Mira’s father. Desperate to save him from the noose, Mira strikes a deal with an enigmatic wreck survivor guarding layers of secrets behind his captivating eyes, and sets off to find something her mother has left her, a family secret buried deep in the sea.
With just nine days to find what she needs to rescue her father, all Mira knows for certain is The sea gives. The sea takes. And it’s up to her to do what she must to save the ones she loves.
Review:
This book had a really interesting premise, and I love the cover. That’s what initially drew me to the book. However, I didn’t enjoy it as much as I had hoped. I struggled with the uneven pacing and writing style, and I didn’t love the main character or the romance. I actually debated DNFing, but the story picked up about halfway through, and I ended up finishing it.
A pirate from a family of pirates, Mira goes on a swashbuckling and action-packed adventure to rescue her father, and I liked that aspect of the story. The world is intriguing, too, as is Mira’s connection to the sea. Initially, I liked Mira as a protagonist, but she kept making horrible choices and the same mistakes, which got really frustrating. Some of the things she does are so illogical, and I didn’t really understand her thought process.
The story also makes use of a lot of tropes, and though I like some of them, the love triangle and insta-love vibes did not work for me. It felt kind of forced, and I didn’t feel the chemistry. Overall, I think this book could appeal to readers who enjoy YA romantasy, but it just wasn’t for me. Thanks to NetGalley and Inkyard Press for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.
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About Sincerely, The Duke:
Title: Sincerely, the Duke
Author: Amelia Grey
Series: Say I Do #2
Page Length: 368
Publication Date: March 26, 2023
Publisher: St. Martin’s Paperbacks
Synopsis:Sincerely, The Duke is the second novel in the historical romance Say I Do trilogy about dukes needing to wed to tap into their wealth by New York Times bestselling author Amelia Grey.
Miss Edwina Fine has one shot at finding a husband before the ton learns her secret. With red hair, green eyes and being one of triplets, she knows the superstitions and rumors about women like her. So when a marriage proposal from the Duke of Stonerick arrives by mail, Edwina jumps at the chance to solve her problems. But nothing could prepare her for the attraction that sparks between them when they finally meet. It will take more than Edwina’s wit to navigate her past, reservations about marriage and the passion that ignites within her for the irresistible duke.
Rick, Duke of Stonerick, enjoys his life exactly as it honing his expert marksmanship, playing cards and fencing with his friends. He even enjoys exchanging affectionate humor with his mother about his lack of matrimonial engagement. But when a recurring illness reminds Rick he has no heir, he picks a name from the list of prospects his mother presents and writes a simple marriage proposal. Then he forgets about it—until that very lady with an iron will and breathtaking bravery shows up at his doorstep, ready to accept. Edwina tempts him like no other and suddenly, marriage doesn’t seem much of an inconvenience after all. But will keeping his illness a secret cost him her love?
Review:
This is the second book in the Say I Do trilogy, and was really curious about it after reading and enjoying Yours Truly, the Duke last year. This story follows Edwina, who makes a deathbed promise to her father and enters into a marriage of convenience upon receiving a handwritten proposal from a duke. Rick, Duke of Stonerick, has an unusual illness and needs an heir as soon as possible, which is why he chose a random woman from his mother’s list of eligible females and proposed.
As soon as Rick meets Edwina, he is enchanted by her. She is bold and certain, and he admires her gumption. Edwina is also smitten, and this insta-love works considering they’re quickly arranging to be married. I like both characters and understood their motivations. Both keep important information about themselves from each other, and those secrets and the miscommunication that follows make sense considering the trust issues both have. Sometimes the way Rick spoke to Edwina bothered me, but overall I thought they had a chemistry-filled and romantic love story.
I thought the exploration of superstitions of the time was really interesting. I didn’t know the superstitions surrounding triplets, especially those with red hair and green eyes. Edwina and her sisters have lived a remote life because of society’s prejudice, and it does cause some issues for the characters. I also liked the bond between Edwina and her sisters. They are all so different, and as a unit, they’re a delight.
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.
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