Title: Break Wide the SeaAuthor: Sara Holland
Pages: 336
Publication Date: Nov. 11, 2025
Publisher: Saturday Books
Genres: Fiction / Romance / Fantasy / Romantasy
Synopsis:
The seafaring humans of Kirkrell have always been plagued by finfolk—bloodthirsty fae who haunt the seas, sinking ships and cursing bloodlines. Yet it’s only by hunting magical whales that Kirkrell can prosper. Nineteen-year-old Annie is heir to the Fairfax Whaling Company, but their family’s success came at a cost: a curse by which heartbreak turns Fairfaxes slowly into monsters. And six years ago, the shipwreck that killed Annie’s parents left her with scales spreading up her arms, claws sprouting from her fingertips.
The love of her fiancé, August, salved her heart for a while—but when she learns August is maneuvering to take over the company, the curse worsens. Fearing her time is running out, she strikes a bargain with a disreputable young captain, half-finfolk and half-human Silas Price: on a voyage to hunt whales in the far north, Silas will take Annie to the finfolk queen, who can lift the curse in return for a promise to end whaling forever.
As Annie, August and Silas sail north, she is determined to uphold her family’s legacy, but the threat of the finfolk tests her resolve. Lies corrupt her relationship with August; meanwhile a dangerous connection with Silas blooms—but he’s keeping secrets too, and his might be the most dangerous of all.
As heiress, it’s Annie’s responsibility to deliver whale magic to her city. But as heartbreak looms, she must choose between saving herself and her family’s legacy—and hope it doesn’t cost her everyone she loves.
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Break Wide the Sea has such a fascinating premise and a world that immediately pulled me in. The idea of a cursed family, heartbreak that literally turns you into a monster, and a world haunted by finfolk is so intriguing. The author’s worldbuilding is rich and atmospheric, and it initially felt fresh and immersive. That being said, the pacing dragged in places, especially in the middle, where the story felt a bit repetitive. I also wished there was more about the curse, the finfolk, and the whale magic. All of those elements were so interesting, and I have a feeling they’ll be explored more in the next book.
I also struggled with some of the characters, especially Annie. She was such a frustrating protagonist. Her choices often didn’t make sense for someone who was raised to lead and take over her father’s company. She’s portrayed as intelligent and capable, yet her actions, especially regarding her fiancé’s betrayal, made her come across as naive and passive. I understood that she was torn between her heart and her duty, but she ignored so many glaring red flags that it became hard to sympathize with her. I also found her anger toward Silas at times misplaced, and I was confused by their sudden feeling change, which made it difficult to fully invest in their slow-burn relationship.
Speaking of red flags, there’s a bit of a love triangle between Annie, August, and Silas, which didn’t really work for me. I’m not a fan of love triangles in general, and this one felt unnecessary, especially since August’s character was so one-dimensional. He’s meant to be charming and dependable, but he came off flat and predictable. Silas was more compelling, but he’s a walking red flag, too. He was mysterious, flawed, and clearly hiding secrets, but I didn’t understand his motives either. They just didn’t track with his behavior and moral compass.
On a positive note, the found family aspect with Silas’s crew was great. They were flawed, loyal, and full of personality, and their dynamic added warmth and humanity to the darker elements of the story. I also liked how the story explored the moral complexity of hunting for survival. I was initially intrigued by this story because my ancestors were whalers in Newfoundland, but I don’t know much about them or what they did, and there are some vivid scenes that put some aspects of the job into perspective. This, the worldbuilding, and the found family are solid. I just wish the character arcs and emotional depth matched the strength of the setting and the lore.
Thanks to NetGalley and Saturday Books for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.
- love triangle
- curses
- found family
- forced proximity
Sara Holland is the New York Times-bestselling author of EVERLESS, EVERMORE, HAVENFALL, and PHOENIX FLAME. She grew up in small-town Minnesota among hundreds of books. She worked in a tea shop, a dentist’s office, and a state capitol building before heading to New York to work in publishing. These days, she can be found exploring the city’s bookstores or finding new ways to put caffeine in her bloodstream.
Great review, Julie! I wish we would have liked this one more!!
Thanks, Leslie! Same.
Great review, Julie. From the premise it sounds great. Thanks for sharing what worked and what didn’t. I was tempted.