Sea of Strangers is the second installment in author Erica Cameron's The Ryogan Chronicles. Sea of Strangers is the follow up to Island of Exiles which was released earlier this year. The Ryogan Chronicles is a diverse, gritty fantasy with multiple complex cultures, and high-tension romance. Sea of Strangers picks up several weeks after the action packed finale to The Island of Exiles. The protagonist of this series is 17-year old Khya, a resident of a country called Shiara.

Khya is a fykina mage and a soldier who was trained to protect her country against all dangers. Khya, who may be the most powerful mage in generations, has the ability to create wards to keep her squad mates protected. After learning a shocking secret in the previous installment, and then having her brother taken away from her, Khya becomes convinced that she must find a way to break Varan of his immortality at all costs. Khya and her friends found an ally in Osshi, who offered his assistance.

It's where the story picks up. Khya and her friends are on a ship heading into the unknown. They must trust that her new allies will get them safely to the land called Ryogan. With her brother's life on the line, Khya must trust some new allies she and her group meet along the way. Most notably Lo'a, a sort of gypsy who travels by caravan along with her family. Lo'a teaches Khya about Ryogo's magic, and becomes a staunch friend and maybe more. But, this land has a long memory when it comes to Varan and the other 11 immortals he helped create. Including Chio and Tsua who Khya met in the previous novel.

Khya and her allies will face a difficult terrain, wacky weather, prejudices, a changing environment, and soldiers chasing them at every avenue. But, it is the Ryogo's who will suffer if Varan makes good on his threat. They have no clue what is coming for them. It will be up to Khya and her allies to stand up and be counted, or fall be the way side.

**One of the things I liked most about this book, besides the ever present challenges and action, and Khya being thrust into a leadership roll, is that the author actually spends time laying out who her characters are and what abilities they have. You can find this glossary at the beginning of the book, as well as the end. This is a series with both racial diversity and cultural diversity in the way certain prejudices are aimed towards people who are different.

sea of strangers picks up where island of exiles left off. at sea, khya and her friends must come upon an idea that will allow them to survive the dangers ahead.

the action rarely stops, but we do get more answers to what the misireh are up to and a deeper understanding of the mythology and magic that imbues this world. because this is book two of a planned trilogy there’s still not a whole lot of resolution but i have high hopes for book three.

the relationship between khya and tessen continues to deepen, and i enjoyed the quiet moments between them, even as everything around them falls apart over and over again. what they are aiming to do feels like the impossible and yet, their perserverance, their determination makes it seem like it's within reach even as they are faced with setback after setback.

**sea of strangers published on december 5, 2017. I received an advance reader copy courtesy of netgalley:entangled publishing (entangled teen) in exchange for my honest review.

**I received an ARC of this book from Entangled Teen via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**

I was so excited when I was contacted by Entangled Teen to read and review Sea Of Strangers. I previously read and reviewed Island Of Exiles and loved it, so I had high hopes for this one. And it did not disappoint. Erica Cameron writes beautifully and I love that she puts a glossary in her books, as I do get confused on the language sometimes. The author has created such a beautiful world, and I can't wait to see what she creates next.

Full review to come December 28th, when I host the Sea Of Strangers blog tour and guest post by Erica Cameron. Head to my blog, Rose Reviews, then to check it out!

You cannot imagine my excitement when I was chosen to review Sea of Strangers, the second book in The Ryogan Chronicles. Actually, if you have read the first book, Island of Exiles, you can. I had the opportunity to review Island of Exiles on a different review site, and it definitely made it on my Top Hit list. Seriously, if you haven't read it, it is AMAZING. Erica Cameron weaves normal, everyday words, into a tapestry filled with magic, betrayal, diversity and hope. And if you are going to read Sea of Strangers, you will need to read it first, otherwise you will be totally lost.

Sea of Strangers starts up exactly where Island of Exiles left off, but I realized immediately that it had been too long since I had read the first book. The names are unusual names, and there are so many characters, both from the first book and new ones, that I had trouble remembering who was who. This problem only got worse as the book went on, especially because I didn't feel connected to the characters like I had in the first book. Other than Khya, I felt that because there were so many characters, most of them were along for the ride, and I never really felt close to any of them. Even Tessen, her main love interest, seemed to be in the shadows for much of the book.  

That brings me to plot. There wasn't one. I suppose 'traveling through the mountains looking for a solution to their problem' could be construed as a plot, but that is seriously all they did. Travel. It seemed to all be leading up to something, but then the book ended. For a book that was as long as this one (nearly 400 pages), I had expected a lot more, and I found myself trudging through the pages (similar to the characters, since that is basically all they did), waiting for something noteworthy to happen.

My last note will be in reference to diversity. This is something that marketing has talked a lot about in reference to Sea of Strangers. I loved how diverse it is, but I felt it was handled better in Island of Exiles. There was a lot of diversity in the first book, but not in a 'look at me' kind of way. It was subtle, which made it way more powerful. I felt that Sea of Strangers steered away from that, and every other page was 'look at how diverse we are!' 

To summarize, if you want a trilogy where you will love every book, this may not be right for you (though many will disagree with my review, so you shouldn't take my word for it). I encourage you to read the first book, Island of Exiles, because it really is that amazing, and you can make your decision from there. I may have been expecting too much because of how much I loved the first book, and ended up disappointed with this one. I am giving it 3 out of 5 stars.

Received in exchange for a honest review.

Erica Cameron followed up the first book in the series with a sophomore book that packs a punch. The writing is fluid and really keeps you in the moment. The characters just draw you in and keep you there with them as you feel the danger like a living breathing entity. You are engaged and invested in the story from the beginning. As Khya and her group are racing against time to find a way to stop Varan but also stay alive.

they are now in Ryogan and wow so much happens. We have friendships and alliances bloom. Alliances break and betrayals that you don’t see coming happen. THey are understandable but still shocking. The attraction between Tessen and Khya grow and go to the next level. You see battles and loss of loved ones that give those around them guilt. Secrets revealed and some really wild decisions made. Khya grows into her leadership role with the help of Tessen and his unwavering faith and belief in her. But also his love for her grows and shines through. the situations this group of loyal and caring friends get into are so dangerous and just keep your heart in your throat as it beats so fast and you sit on the edge of your seat wondering if they will come out of this unscathed.

Varan’s secrets are slowly unraveling and Khya is seeing just who he is and all his lies. She is also figuring out what he did to become immortal and her power and understanding of the desosa grows. This group comes into their own and grows into a force to be reckoned with while still showing compassion for those around them. They only want to do what is right and see their loved ones come out unscathed as well.

so much danger and intrigue in this book but also friendship, love and loyalty. You do wonder though if in the end Khya will be able to lead even if it means sacrificing what got her started on this journey in the first place. Also the immortality deal and some being born with it is wild. So was that ending. Dangerous and jaw dropping. Has you wanting the next book right away.

**Any quotes used are from an advanced readers copy and may not be in the final publication**

<blockquote><b>
“What is a life when it is given in protection of family?”
“The most precious thing in the world. Don’t pretend it’s worth nothing.”
“True, and it is my gift to give.”
</b></blockquote>

I was lucky enough to receive a copy of Sea of Strangers from Entangled and since reading <a href="https://bookreviewsbydi.blogspot.com/2017/03/review-island-of-exiles-erica-cameron.html">Island of Exiles</a> earlier this year, this book was one of my most anticipated releases and I'm happy to report that <b>it did not disappoint me in any way</b>.

There is so much attention to detail which I really appreciate that in a book and especially in a YA book. Not only this but the plot just flows so instinctively and never feels forced. The characters are faced with situations and frustrations that make so much sense and there's absolutely no deus ex machina which again, I can definitely appreciate!

<img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FhV7dEtEpGI/Wik-h6uKDvI/AAAAAAAEFyY/spw8uNVqilcOSe4xSuudF1e9FvhhTaTqACK4BGAYYCw/s1600/11.jpg" width="50%">

<b>World building</b>, now let you tell me about this world building! I have to spend a moment here fan-girling about the blissful world building in this series: It's complex, diverse in so many ways and oh-so-amazing for this reader! There's culture, politics, language and so many layers and textures to everything that it's created a rich and organic experience. There's a 'Cast of Characters' in the beginning of book two which can help reacquaint you with the people of the world but I have to say that I was so glad that I re-read <a href="https://bookreviewsbydi.blogspot.com/2017/03/review-island-of-exiles-erica-cameron.html">Island of Exiles</a> before jumping in to this book because the plot picks up exactly where the last book left off and there's little to no recapping. These definitely cannot be read as standalones.

The character development in this series is <i>almost</i> on par with the world building and I loved seeing the main character, Khya grow throughout these books. For those of you that don't know, Khya is a Desosa Mage which means she can manipulate energy and in her particular case she is a fykina ward mage -able to shield herself and others from both magic and the physical world. She has spent a lot of her life with a single goal in mind and after facing a huge betrayal at the hands of those she trusted the most, her life has been a riot of turmoil ever since. Seeing her face her dilemmas and tackle the complications that life is stacking up against her is heartening and, as with the first book I couldn't help but be invested in this story. She's flawed and yet so compelling.

Speaking of compelling characters, Tessen is Khya's lifelong rival and was always one step ahead of her at getting the promotions that she so desperately was working towards and desired. Tessen is a Basaku mage which means that all five of his senses are enhanced and he can also sense the subtle changes in the desosa (the ambient magical energy of the world). I love his relationship with Khya and his pragmatic approach to life. He is a soothing calm to Khya's fiery nature and it's so nice to see a good strong male character that is also happy to be in the background and not taking the lead or forcing his alpha-ness into a situation.

<img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jYFvK2r6FjQ/Wik_G4f4JHI/AAAAAAAEFyk/lo9i9q0BBx4Q9E6X1idjwr6lcNC9k8-eQCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/7.jpg" width="50%>

It's also refreshing to have an entire series built on the compelling ties of family and of responsibility, and not just on that of romance. The romance is wonderful, don't get me wrong - it is profound and complex and subtle and is synergistic to the plot while never BEING the plot. Erica has written beautiful relationships full of sizzling chemistry and sincerity.

I also need to specifically address the diversity in these books - <b>the diversity is amazing and what I love about it is that it is so raw and genuine</b> without ever being forced upon the reader that 'this book is diverse'. It's not there for the sake of being diverse - it just IS. There's diversity of culture, of skin colour, of gender (there's even a third gender!!!), of sexuality (including asexuality which I've never seen featured before in a YA book/series).

There's plenty of new characters and culture in this installment and <b>while the plot tended to move a little slower in this middle book of the trilogy I was never bored or frustrated</b>. I think the balance between the shifting of characters into their positions for the final book and the introduction of this part of the world was a good one and there was still plenty of action sequences detailing the Itagamin's proficiency both in their magical abilities and military like training.

The only major problem that I had with the book was that CLIFFHANGER!!!!!!! <b>Between the heartrending casualties of this book, further plot twists and revelations I'm definitely eager for the next book</b>. Write fast please Miss Cameron!

<blockquote><b>
“If there’s one thing I’ve learned in my annoyingly long life, it’s that you can only do what you’re capable of doing.”
“I know that.” Everyone does. What else can anyone do?
Tsua looks up from the whetstone, amusement in her eyes. “No, you don’t. Not yet. I know it sounds like an obvious lesson, but it took me a very long time to learn it. You’ve only just begun, child.”
</b></blockquote>

Sea of Strangers, the sequel to Island of Exiles. I don’t understand the different use of pronouns and it’s distracting but the author’s descriptive details make a scenic world once again. On their journey, the travelers encounter magic, other cultures, dangerous terrain and poisonous birds. They become a strong team and learn to work together and Khya learns that she’s capable of so much more than she ever could have believed. The ending is interesting and intense and my favorite part! 4 stars for a sequel with as much spirit as the first book of the Ryogan Chronicles!

Actual Rating: 3.5 / 5 Stars

DISCLAIMER: I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher and in no way have they influenced my opinions or my review. This review also contains SPOILERS so read it at your own risk.

It was a bit hard for me to jump right back into this world for the second book. It has been awhile since I read the first book in the series that I had forgotten some of the plot, a lot of the words and their meanings and even some of the magic system that was used. The world created by Cameron is such a complex and detailed world that while at first it can be hard to understand, once you do you are immediately immersed and you can’t stop reading to find out more.

This book isn’t as action packed as the first one, it is more a process of self discovery after their world has fallen apart when they learned everything they were told back home was a lie. This is further developed when they travel to Ryogan which they were told was “heaven” where they would go when they died. Only to find out that they are being chased by the very people they thought would help them and that they fear them for who they are and what they do. Also the Ryogan’s treat their people abysmally and violently which clashes with their ideal “heaven.” Their world has been upended and when they are constantly confronted with the fact when they travel through Ryogan they learn to deal with it and move past it so they can deal with the issues ahead.

We return with our cast from the previous book although we lose some more along the way. I understand plot wise why it had to happen. Tyrroh had to die so Khya could take his place as leader. But I really liked and thought this book was different by having the main protagonist Khya with a strong support system and the fact that her input was immensely important but she didn’t have to take the full responsibility for the group. But while she may not want to take up the mantle of leader, it has been thrust upon her. The only thing I would like to change about Khya is her willingness to throw away her life for the greater good or for her brother.

I still don’t understand the deaths of Chio and Tsua though. I understand why they had to do it, but why did they have to do it at that moment? They could have put it off until a bit later and still been fine. I felt so bad for Zonna, to lose his parents like that but not to be able to die himself. Personally think it is because he was born immortal and not because he was mortal and then made immortal which go against the laws of nature. That is just my theory though.

I definitely saw Osshi’s betrayl coming from a mile away. He was discontent with the way things were going practically from the start of this book. I also can’t really fault him for wanting to warn his people of what is coming. This does put Khya and her team at a disadvantage though, but she should think of the well-being of the Ryogans as well as her own people. But I can also see why they are wary after how they have seen the Ryogans treat their own people. I can’t believe he went so far in betraying them though. Spying on them to set up a trap when they are only trying to save his people? I will admit that was low, even for him.

We get some interesting new characters in the form of Lo’a and Ahta. I really like Lo’a as a character; she is interesting, family oriented, smart, secretive and is very knowledgeable and strong. The group would not have been able to survive and get near as far on their quest without Lo’a and her family I think. She is an interesting addition to the Itagami group and I’m interested in seeing how she further helps and influences them.

The only thing I didn’t see coming was Khya becoming an immortal. I also don’t understand why she wasn’t more angry when it was forced upon her. Yes, it saved her life and it is an advantage in the upcoming battle; but what about Tessen and everyone else? Is she really expecting to die in the final battle? I don’t know, but that was the one thing I was actually surprised when I read about it.

It was very refreshing to see how diverse this book is when it came to partners. There were so many different types of relationships and all were immediately accepted. There might be differences in opinion, but they don’t shame themselves or others for their desires or whatever partner or lifestyle they choose. I loved seeing all of the different pairings and how they interact with each other outside of a battle setting.

It was really interesting where the story ended, I didn’t expect it to end like that. Khya is so into throwing herself into impossible situations that I thought she and her team would definitely go help the town that was in trouble in some way. I didn’t expect them to just watch from the sidelines. It was the smart move to do what they did but I didn’t think they could sit still and watch their former family slaughter an innocent village. Also, that epilogue with Yorri! Ahhhhh! He’s awake but has no idea where he is but knows he is hidden. It seems like Varan brought the Immortals with him based on the storm he was talking about. I need more information about that as soon as possible! I can’t wait to see how he features in the next book.

While this book feels more like a filler book up to the big battle, it is important to set things up and it gives us more of a background and some history of what the group is dealing with. Sometimes a journey of self reflection is just as important as a physical battle. Knowledge is half the battle and this was a journey for knowledge. Now that they are set up though all they have to do is figure out how to stop the Miriseh with the stones and stop the Itagami army. No big deal. I still have so many questions by the end of this book though! Will Yorri be freed and reunited with Khya and Sanii? What about Varan and the stones? How will the Kaisubeh fit into the next book? So while this may not have been the most exciting book, the plot is never boring, you are always trying to figure out their next move and you are so immediately drawn into this complex world you are loathe to leave it. I can’t wait to see where the story goes next!

Packed with action, a dangerous quest, romance, and the multi-layered details of a complicated and unique fantasy world, Sea of Strangers is an epic addition to The Ryogan Chronicles.

Sea of Strangers picks up right where Island of Exiles left off, thrusting the reader back into the middle of the action as Khya, Tessen and their crew escape Shiara for the promised freedom of Ryogan. Their journey must serve two purposes: warning the inhabitants of Ryogan of the coming danger, and finding the secret of how to destroy Varan and his seemingly unbeatable power. But their quest for answers, their goal to soon return home for their loved ones, is fraught with danger, and much will have to be sacrificed if they are to succeed.

Starting Sea of Strangers, it was easy enough to fall back into the rhythm of the plot, but it took me a bit longer to get my head around all the different names, places, languages, and levels of magical powers again. It has been just under a year since I read book one in the series, Island of Exiles, but the story has remained clear in my mind. Not so the languages and names. There are four distinct languages in this series and there are original and unique names for all characters, places, magical abilities, and even simple things like terms of endearment. Full credit to Erica Cameron for creating such a richly detailed and unique world. I have no idea how she keeps it all straight in her head! It wasn't until I had finished reading the book that I found the thorough glossary of terms and places neatly located at the conclusion of the story. This would have been helpful to use while reading, but surprisingly, while I might not have understood all the terms, or might have got place names a little muddled, I was still able to enjoy this enticing fantasy novel.

Sea of Strangers is just as full of intrigue as the first book in this epic fantasy series. There is no shortage of adventure as the characters undertake their quest, travelling from new place to new place, seeking clues and answers to their problems. It is a long and complicated journey, which made the book feel long and complicated.

Sea of Strangers continues with the diverse cast of characters to whom we were first introduced in book one, from those from a third gender to every type of LGBT orientation. This is much more part of the story than in book one, and sexuality, gender, and open, fluid, and multi-partner sexual relationships are also frequently discussed.

Sea of Strangers is a strong second book in this Ryogan fantasy series. I would highly recommend reading book one before tackling book two. Sea of Stranger perfectly sets up the third book for a massive final battle, which is sure to be an amazing read.

The publishers provided an advanced readers copy of this book for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.

Find more reviews, reading age guides, content advisory, and recommendations on my blog <a href="https://madisonslibrary.wordpress.com/">Madison's Library.</a>

Even though I tried to be as non spoilery as possible, this is the second book of a series and it is pertinent to read the first book. If I do spoil anything, I am sorry and it might be best to avoid this review until the first book has been read.

This series is just so cool, for lack of better words. I should find more words other than cool or awesome. Anyway. The entire world and the world building is seriously some of the best I've seen out of dystopian/fantasy books. Granted, I haven't read a lot of fantasy books but these books make me want to check out more.

This book is all about the travel and the preparation of war. So it was a tiny bit slow in places but that was to be expected. I'm not sure there are a lot of ways to make travel fun. But this book was important for the next (which I'm sure there will be). There are a lot of answers that get resolved from the first one.

There were two things from this book that really stood out for me that I feel I can talk about without spoiling the entire thing. One is the character growth from Khya. She is really blossoming and it makes me so incredibly happy. She is learning that accepting help is completely okay and failure doesn't mean the end. It means getting up and trying again. Character growth from a character is the one thing I look for when I start a series. Erica Cameron is nailing character growth so well.

The second thing that really stood out for me in this book was the concept of sexuality and how freely it flowed through the book. Asexulity came up more and more in the convorostations. I am not an expert on asexuality but I think it was awesome that sexuality could just be. This is an #ownvoices book, which I think makes it all the more awesome. Love really is love in this book. I must point out that there was a slur (in the language used by one of the characters, but a slur none the less) about a child that was asexual but it was quickly challenged.

Overall, I am totally hooked! I can't wait to get the next book in my hands. There are still a lot of things to be resolved and I'm anxious to see how Kyah continues to grow as a person. I also would love to see where Kyah and Tessen's relationship goes. I would highly recommend this series to anyone who is looking for their next #ownvoices fantasy series.