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.

Dabney: This is the third first entry in a new YA/NA fantasy trilogy I read in 2023--the other two were The Fourth Wing and The Hurricane Wars--and it was the best of a very good bunch.

I loved everything about it: the sublime prose and the unexpected character arcs and plot. Greenlaw's storytelling relies not on dragons or complicated magic but rather on Mira, her riveting heroine, and those on whom she must rely. Lisa, was it a gem for you too?

Lisa: This was my first encounter with this author and I was mightily impressed by it. Mira is a stunner of a character; and she happens to be one of the best of 2024. She’s something special and unique in the field.

Dabney: Agreed. The very best leads in magical fiction are those whose magic is a plus not a necessity. I’d have happily read about Mira if she hadn’t an enchanted bone in her body–she’s smart, a bit snarky, determined, loyal, and witty. I loved her.

Mira, as we learn in the first pages of the novel, lives in a small, coastal town that relies on the illegal goods they get from being wreckers. She has a preternatural ability to stay in the water and the villagers use her to swim out to the wrecked ships and bring back treasures. She is both ambivalent and determined about her work–she is a marvelously pragmatic woman. When the wrecking goes terribly wrong and her father is imprisoned by the draconian British Guard, she sets out on a quest and, oh, I was so there to watch her in all her adventures.

Lisa: The piratical worldbuilding here is fantastic; it reminded me of several different real-life subcultures, like people who scavenge wrecks for cash, or pearl divers working in the deep sea to support their villages. It felt very real and lived-in. And Mira’s love of the ocean is gorgeous and well-defined. It’s, in a great way, a definite part of who she is.

Now, we both loved Mira, but what did you think of Seth? He was wonderful in my opinion - at least in the beginning…

Dabney: Seth, like many a good romantic hero, is full of surprises. I liked his ambiguity–one of the reasons to keep turning the pages in this very good book is to see if he is truly an ally or not. What did you so like about him?

Lisa: He had some great lines, and his mysterious ways kept me turning the pages, TBH. But…well, let’s just say that wonderfulness gets complicated with time and ends with a big twist we won’t spoil here. The ending of this novel leaves things in a very…cliffhangy place. That said, moral grayness is a wonderful part of this novel, and it is a feature and not a bug.

Dabney: I so agree with you about the way the book treats good and evil. Greenlaw knows that while her characters all have the capacity to do right and wrong, they, like us all, rarely choose one or the other. I loved the people in this book–they are utterly believable. Seth, Mira, her friends, and those they meet on their journey are wonderfully limned.

Lisa: Her ability to paint her characters as real, live human beings is what makes this book so very compelling, to be honest.

Dabney: To me, a great book has a trifecta of offerings; the best novels have stellar characters, engrossing plots, and wonderful worldbuilding. We’ve agreed that the characterizations in Compass and Blade are excellent. What did you think about the plot?

Lisa: The plot is fantastic, even if it’s your typical protagonist-finds-self-while-looking-for-lost-parent journey. It’s powerfully done, quite suspenseful and yes - leaves room for a sequel (this is set to be a trilogy).

Dabney: Well, it is an oft quoted maxim that there are only seven stories humans tell–I am rarely critical of novels simply because they recount stories we’ve read before. What I care about is how well is that tale told and, in Compass and Blade, I think it’s done beautifully. The details of this story–Mira’s experiences in and out of the sea, the battles she and her compatriots are drawn into, the politics of the worlds she travels to–these are all unique and made for a page turner of a book.

Lisa: Completely true. The world of sailing here is beautifully, written and sculpted thoughtfully. Did it encourage you to think of heading out on a boat yourself?

Dabney: I love being on the water but I think I’d like it a lot better if I had Mira’s gifts!

Lisa: I can’t blame you, but it made me want to check out the high seas. Familial loyalty is also important here; after all, Mira’s journey is all about rescuing her father. What did you think about the themes of family and family ties binding in this one?

Dabney: If I have a complaint about the book, it’s the bloody-mindedness of Mira’s determination to save her father. Parents, in the overwhelming main, never want their kids to sacrifice their lives for them. I wanted Mira to value her life as much as she does her dad’s.

Lisa: I actually related to that part of the story. Maybe because my mom’s dead and my father’s very much a part of my life, but I could understand her need to get sacrificial.

Dabney: Huh. I think for me, it’s probably an age thing. I can’t imagine the horror I’d feel if one of my kids or my siblings’ kids gave up their life for mine. That said, it certainly makes Mira an admirable character. She’s not pirating for gold for herself–all of her efforts (until the end but no spoilers here!) are motivated by her need to save first her father and second her village.

I really did enjoy the hell out of this book. It’s marvelously subtle and I couldn’t put it down. It’s an A read for me. How about for you?

Lisa: This is a solid A all the way; Mira is a heroine of all time, the plot and worldbuilding are both fantastic, and the supporting characters memorable. I’m very here for the second book in the series.

Dabney: Me too! Thanks for chatting with me.

An adventure-filled swashbuckling fantasy with a great cast of side characters. I enjoyed the action, and the pacing was great! My personal preference for seafaring books is to have them chock full of detailed technical knowledge... which this one did not (I question some of the sailing plausibility), but the magical elements and character relationships made up for the lack. I didn't love the ending, but it did a good job of setting this book up as either a standalone or the first in a series.

Seth is the absolute worst.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc! Opinions are my own.

3.5 Stars

From the moment that Compass and Blade began, I was engrossed in the idea of Rosevear and the Wreckers. The first chapter is one of the most gripping first chapters I have read in a book in a long time. From that alone, I was recommending the book to anyone who would listen! I really love the world that Greenlaw created. She is a beautiful writer.

What felt a bit disappointing to me was the depth of characterization. The book moves at a fast pace, and I felt like I never got to spend enough time with people. I would have liked more time with Agnes and Kai on Rosevear. I wanted to really understand Bryn and Mira's Dad's roles on the island. I wanted more time to understand Ennor and more time on the Phantom to meet those characters. I wasn't invested in people because there were so many of them and I felt like I didn't understand anyone's motivations. I also felt that way about the romance. Why did they like each other? What did Mira keep going back after certain revelations? What did he do to earn her trust?

I definitely recommend this one, and I hope the next book really lets us meet the characters.

This is was such a fun read. Filled with adventure, romance, and pirates. The story follows Mira who comes from an Island of wreckers as she set sail to help save her father.

If Pirates of the Caribbean and The Little Mermaid had a love child, it would be this story! A well-balanced romantasy full of swashbuckling pirates, sirens, adventure and vengeance. What more could you want?

This book was amazing! The story had me on the edge of my seat and I fell in love with the characters. The plot was well thought out and the world was so intriguing! I definitely recommend!

Compass amd Blade is a fantasy young adult story of self-discovery, betrayal, and loss. Mira is a member of the island of Roseveal whose mother died when she was a child. The only way to survive their unforgiving island is to scavenge the cargo from ships they lure to rocks just off their coast. Only, it's illegal to scavenge the cargo from wrecked ships and the watch are closing in on the islanders. When the watch lure the islanders into scavenging a wrecked ship, they capture Mira's father and their leader. Mira comes up with a plan that will require her to leave the island and discover the truth about who her mother really was. She will meet new faces and learn that not everyone is what they seem.

Overall, a good story and a solid four stars. Mira's quest to save her kin is quick paced amd full of intriguing characters. While some surprises weren't really surprises it was a fun read. However, I didn't see much of the ending coming.

If you're into pirate YA, this is a good book for you. If not, probably not worth picking up.

What I liked:
- I generally like pirate books, so I loved the whole atmosphere and all the different places they explored.
- The beginning was my favorite, when we're still on Rosevear
- The way family was explored was quite compelling

What I didn't like:
- I think the author was going for a plot twist, but it seemed obvious to me
- The romance didn't do it for me. Mira was a little too dumb and fell too quick

Compass and Blade was an excellent story to scratch that pirate, high seas itch. It drew me in from the beginning and Mira’s character was presented extremely well and realistically. I loved the morally gray characters, the villains, the plot twists. Everything was great and made for a fun read.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy!!! This book has pirates, sirens, and more. You can have it all. A dark mysterious person offering shady dealings. The kind stranger who agrees to help and a FMC who will cut you for touching those in her family. If you want a book that has a person tied to their home but desperate to leave with a yearning for the sea, read this book.

I will be screaming about this book from the rooftops for the foreseeable future. If you're in the mood for an epic adventure with characters that make you happy, swoon, and furious all within moments of eachother, well then, this is the book for you!

From the very first page, the island of Rosevear, the Wreckers, and Mira hooked me. Mira's bravery and curiosity shined throughout the pages, and I loved following her journey through the isles with the cast of characters she meets along the way.

The action and adventure frequently had me sweating as I wondered what was coming next, but I also enjoyed the romance that seeped in between during the quieter moment. Rachel has a fan for life out of me, and I can't wait to read what comes next for Mira and company!

Thank you to NetGalley and Inkyard Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is quite possibly one of the most beautifully written books I've ever read. If you watched the Little Mermaid on repeat as a kid, and then realized that Pirates of the Caribbean was more your vibe, the imagery of this book is going to suck you in.
Plot wise it's almost nonstop adventure and backstabbing and maneuvering and planning and ACTION. I was torn between ripping through this book in a day or two and forcing myself to slow down so I could hang out with the characters longer. I truly didn't want it to be over.
Shouts out to NetGalley for providing the ARC and I can't wait to see others get as hype about this book as I am

Compass and Blade is an adventurous story about a girl and her village who survive on the edge of starvation, resorting to sinking and looting ships that pass their island. When law enforcement of threatens to wipe them out all together, she risks everything to find a hidden secret her mother left for her. And with it, a legacy she’s torn between accepting and losing the only family she’s ever known, or losing everything else.

Compass and Blade has the outline of a good story, but it just didn’t execute for me. The main character was fairly hollow and I couldn’t really understand her motivations or decisions. The romance was so forced and inauthentic, and I just couldn’t justify how she fell for him in the first place, let alone kept pining for him after everything he did to her. I found the characters and their decisions very unrealistic and it just took me out of the story all together.

The plot was interesting, but moved along too quickly for the reader to get into the backstory and mythos of the world which left it feeling very one-dimensional. Overall, I would have enjoyed this more with more world building and better character designs.

I really enjoyed this! Mira was such a compelling and well-realized character which made following her journey even more unforgettable for me. This was a pretty accessible epic with wonderfully crafted characters, a really interesting plot, and a setting that I could vividly imagine. I cannot wait to read more in this world (hopefully), more from this author, and to purchase a copy for myself when it's fully released! Stunning!

I loved this book. From start to finish it drew me forth on the best kind of choppy seas. I had chills from the very first page, and Mira felt so incredibly real. Mira and her journey will be with me for years to come—I just know it. And Seth! Oh, Seth. I think I'm in love. I've said it before and I'll say it again, this book is like a wave. An enormous wave, too mammoth to surf. The kind where the lip and the wave curl thrusting up and over only to crash and become dangerous white water. The best kind of wave. The best kind of book.

I loved this book. It was such an adventure to read as we enter the world of islands, pirates, shipwrecks, mythical creatures, and treasure. Mira is a strong girl who wants to know who she is and why the ocean calls to her. As she reaches out to her dead mother, she must help rescue her father and her island from the watch who enforce the laws, but at the expense of her people. The reader will enjoy the pull of Seth and Elijah on Mira, while feeling the pain she experiences in the relationships.

Compass and Blade is a whimsical and beautifully written YA novel. It was fast paced and incredibly fun. I am so thrilled that this story has more to come with a second instalment.

Pirate fantasy, betrayal, romance... Sign me up! The plot of Compass and Blade, full of twists and turns, will have you by the throat from beginning to end. This is only aided by the beautiful (if a little repetitive) description that brought the cruel sea and enchanted isles to life. The world building was equally delightful, not a drop of boring info dumping!

Honestly, the only thing holding me back from giving four stars are the characters. Mira and her love-interest especially. Their romance was insta-lovey and just… dull. As individuals too, they lacked personality, it made it hard to be invested in either of them.

Overall, though, I'd recommend, this book is a lovely addition to the YA fantasy cannon!

Thank you NetGalley for access to the e-book in exchange for an honest review

This is a solid YA fantasy debut, for readers who love a sea-faring adventure. The world-building and lore are very captivating. I loved all the magical creatures. The descriptive language was written in a way that really immersed me into the setting. The atmosphere and the writing are definitely the highlights of the story. I didn’t feel the connection with the main character that I wanted. And I also didn’t feel the romantic connection believably enough to be invested. I wanted to see more depth and development. Mira just wasn’t my favorite female heroine to read. The plot is full of action and the pacing is well-done. This one is a fun, fast, exciting read that will definitely find its audience who love it. From the writing alone, I would definitely be interested to read more from this author.

Compass and Blade by Rachel Greenlaw is an enchanting tale perfect for fans of pirate fantasy such as Mad Kestrel looking for a dash of romance and and intriguing magic system. I would have loved to see the magic system explored a little more but I loved seeing the world as a whole through a protagonist who is a bit naive and rash. I will be keeping an eye out for more titles by this author in the future .