Wow Soulgazer! What a ride. I absolutely loved this book. It’s hard to believe this is Maggie Rapiers Debut!!! This was beautifully written, like a poetry. I absolutely loved the coastal gothic vibes this gave.

It was a little slow towards the middle but definitely worth every second!!

The Wolf is such a quirky mmc, I ate it up! It was also nice to see an mmc portrayed differently from the normal type.

I will definitely be stocking this in my store and recommending to all of my pirate adventure loving girlies!

I love the concept of this book and the idea of soulstones and a soulgazer. It felt uniquely different than other fantasy books I’ve read.

I also liked the pirate aspect (it reminded me of FABLE by Adrienne Young in some parts) as well as how legends, magic, and Irish mythology were woven in throughout.

The only thing that bothered me was how wishy-washy the main characters were about their feelings. They kept having the same discussion over and over again. There also could’ve been more world building and sometimes, the magical system/rules got a little confusing.

But overall, a really, really enjoyable read!

Romantasy | Found family | Adventure and action packed | Quest

This debut novel was my first time reading a pirate romance, and I enjoyed it! It was escapist and fun, with steamy romance, action, and characters who showed growth while trying to break some curses and find a legendary island.

I was all in for Saoirse and Faolan's story. Saoirse was lonely, vulnerable, and afraid, but fiercely determined and possessed powerful magic. Her growth across the story was satisfying. Faolan, on the other hand, was rugged and rakish, morally gray, charming, and had a great sense of humor. He was delicious! He also showed significant growth across the story. Their relationship was an angsty slow burn, filled with witty banter and chemistry. The other pirates were also engaging characters, and I really enjoyed the found family dynamic and camaraderie between them.

The writing has a lyrical quality to it, and I loved the elements of Irish mythology woven throughout. However, I would have liked more information about the world these characters inhabited, as I was curious about it and the magic system. Maybe more details will be revealed in the next book. And I am very much looking forward to the next one!

Thank you to Berkley Publishing, Ace Books Pub, and Netgalley for the gifted eARC

This book had my heart in a vice from beginning to end. Romantasy done perfectly, Soulgazer is a book that masters the alchemy of combining a soul-deep, yearning romance with a twisty plot that kept me turning the pages, all told through gorgeous lyrical prose. It’s a book that explores grief, legacy and the thrill and ache of first love all while navigating the discomfort and burgeoning self-assurance of growing into your own skin. Maggie Rapier depicts her soft, emotional main character with raw honesty and bravery that had me rooting for Saorise from the opening pages.

This was a five-star read and one of my favourite books of the year. I can’t wait for book two!

Lovely and lyrical writing, a dashing pirate MMC, and a world full of monsters, curses, and legends.

"Legends never die."

Gosh I LOVED this one! It took me a bit to get into the world, and I still have some questions, but this was a five-star read anyway, thanks to the characters! Maggie Rapier has created some of my favorite characters that I've read this year, and their uniqueness was refreshing compared to the repetitive character tropes that have seemed to dominate the romantasy genre. The Wolf and his tamer have completely redeemed the virgin/rake trope for me! I cannot wait to see what is in store for the rest of The Wolf and the Magpie Duology.

Thank you, NetGalley and ACE for an ARC of Soulgazer by Maggie Rapier. Pub Date: July 8, 2025

Posting Schedule:
NetGalley: 7/1/2025
Goodreads: 7/1/2025
Instagram: 7/8/2025
Retailers: 7/8/2025

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing group for this arc in exchange for an honest review!

4.5 ⭐️

Wow wow wow. This is how you do a romantasy! It felt so fresh and new, with the perfect balance of fantasy plot and romance.

We follow our main character, Soairse, who has spent her whole life shunned by her family for a curse they believe caused her brother and heir apparent’s death. When she’s promised to the Stone King, she desperately looks for a way out. Enter a gorgeous pirate known as the Wolf of the Wild, who has been searching for her to take on a quest. She is the key to finding the Isle of Lost Souls, and he needs to find it urgently for his own hidden reasons 👀

Things I loved:

The overall vibe and setting were chef’s kiss. I grew up obsessed with Pirates of the Caribbean, and our main guy was giving Captain Jack mixed with Will Turner. I was eating it up. I don’t usually read pirate fantasies, but the way the author described sailing, life on the ship, and the crew made me feel like I was right there playing cards and almost falling off the deck.

The worldbuilding was so intricate and fascinating. I want to know so much more about the different Isles, the corruption, the politics, and the magic. I really hope we see even more of this in book two.

There wasn’t much I disliked, but I do wish there had been fewer time jumps. As a reader, I get major FOMO whenever I read that it’s been two weeks or a few days since the main character last checked in. I also thought the romance felt a bit insta-love. It makes sense why, but I usually prefer more of a slow burn 🔥

Neither of those points took away from how addicting and unique this book was. I truly loved every second and binged most of it.

This is for the girlies who always wished a pirate would swoop into their ordinary lives and take them on a whirlwind adventure. Loved it!

“You said you wanted me. Said you wanted this.”
“Aye.”
“Then, take it.”

Thank you so much Berkeley and NetGalley for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!

It’s over for me, a quarter through reading this book I started talking in an accent and feel my mind slip back into it whenever I think of a pirate.

This book was sooo good! The entire premise hooked me from the beginning! There’s nothing I love more than a runaway bride story, add in pirates and I will be your loyal reader forever!

The romance in this was a slow-burn and there were times I just wanted them to kiss so badly and they wouldn’t for another hundred pages-which is fine I just love and kiss scene lol. The writer was fantastic and the characters each had great voices that really help elevate the main plot of the book!

Totally recommend if you want a sexy pirate romance that will have you on the edge of your seat and then tossing the book across the room at the end! :D

The girl with ocean eyes marries the wolf of the seas in this exciting pirate adventure filled with Celtic inspired lore. There's magic, mayhem and a marriage of convenience that turns into so much more you'll be scorched!

For fans of epic, dreamy, sea-soaked, magic filled romances.

All I knew going into Soulgazer was to never trust a pirate and that there was a scorned fiance. And that was enough to get me utterly bewitched. Soulgazer has some beautiful character work balanced by a high seas adventure soaked world. Let's start with Faolan. He's a legend. He's used to being the stuff of myth, mystery, and illusions. And he's chasing this high, this unknowable quality. But when he meets Saoirse - the answer to one of the biggest mysteries, the key to the next legendary story - his whole life changes. Because not only does he get drawn into her orbit, he might have to realize you can only run from the man behind the legend for so long.

this was phenomenal!! this was such a refreshing romantasy read. i loved every moment of this and was captivated by this story and this world from page 1! this has a percent blend of romance and actual plot and kept me on my toes at the turn of every page. i loved saoirse so much and was so intrigued by her magic!! this magic system in this was very unique but easy for me to understand. faolan was unreal, he was SO hot and i am obsessed with this man!! the epilogue being in his pov was absolutely perfect and made this such a satisfying conclusion yet leaves me yearning for book 2!!

Giving this an EASY 5 stars *ONLY* because there’s no way to put more stars up there because wow… what a read and what an adventure!!!!

Soulgazer has all the things that I want most from a romantasy read — epic adventures, overcoming some pretty gnarly and earned hardships, witty banter that has you genuinely laughing out-loud/main characters who tease each other, tension (!!!!), found family, prophecies, fake marriage featuring will they won’t they, “my wife” moments 🥵/protective MMC, forced proximity, nicknames, and platonic relationships that slap just as hard as the romantic ones do.

I adored both Saoirse and Faolan SO, so much. The bits and pieces we genuinely and tenderly learn about Faolan as well as the things about him that are made obvious from the get-go. I love the growth from both characters but most notably Saorise’s. She just *blooms* throughout the story and it felt healing in so many ways. Which I wouldn’t be surprised at all if many women - especially those who grew up in purity culture or feeling restrained in general - feel a sense of healing within the pages of this story.

It was a lot of fun getting to know our cast of secondary characters and the world they live in as well. Soulgazer became a place I really just did not want to leave! Which is such a testament to the excellent storytelling and writing by Maggie.

I ended up having 292 highlights in this book and I’m honestly surprised there weren’t more. I loved everything about this book. Bring on The Magpie and the Wolf Duology part two!!!! 🖤

So many heartfelt thanks to Berkley Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC and endless blessings to Maggie Rapier for crafting my new favorite book/one of the VERY best reads of 2025!

"Every legend has a beginning."

A Pirate.
A forbidden magic.
A marriage of convenience.
A lost island.
A found family.
Enemies to friends to lovers.

A new love story that is destined to be unforgettable. Soulgazer is a sweeping, magic-infused tale of love, power and the impossible choice for a better future.

I can't wait for the next installment of The Magpie and the Wolf #2. .

Thank you Berkley Publishing Group | Ace

Soulgazer by Maggie Rapier
-The Magpie and the Wolf Duology, book 1-

4/5⭐️
1.5/3🌶️ (3ish scenes)
1.5/3🦋

•Blurb•
Swipe for published blurb.

•My Thoughts•
A pirate and a cursed princess, plus Moana vibes but make it Celtic and you have this debut! This was a bit of a slow start for me but the second half was so good! I loved the magic and the lore. The main characters were likable and I especially loved the growth of our FMC, Saoirse (Sur-Shuh). Her backstory was heartbreaking and watching her confidence grow was so good. Our pirate MMC, Faolan, gave occasional Jack Sparrow vibes and while I would have loved his POV, I also enjoyed watching him with his crew and Saoirse! The writing style, especially at the beginning, was very poetic and full of similes and metaphors, so much so that I had trouble figuring out what was figurative and what was literal. It made the world building in the first 20% very confusing for me BUT I just kept reading and eventually everything fell into place. I really enjoyed the slowburn romance and how it developed. I loved the scenes on the ship and the adventures. Overall this was a really fun debut and I can’t wait for book 2 to see how everything ends up!!

Thank you to Maggie Rapier and ACE Books for the early copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Soulgazer is a romantic fantasy that blends danger, destiny, and slow-burn tension in a world shaped by gods, curses, and old magic. Maggie Rapier’s debut leans into classic quest structure while centering a heroine grappling with power she never wanted—and a pirate who might just be more than he seems.

Saoirse’s magic is volatile and terrifying, and she’s spent her life trying to suppress it. When that control finally breaks, the fallout pushes her toward an impossible choice: marry a ruthless king or seek out the infamous Wolf of the Wild. Enter Faolan, a rakish pirate who thrives on his own legend. He’s charming, infuriating, and a bit of a mystery. I found myself wishing for his perspective earlier in the book, but once his backstory unfolds, it adds emotional weight to the journey they’re on.

This is very much a slow burn romance wrapped in a high-stakes adventure. The world feels steeped in myth, with a magic system tied to gods and bloodlines that gives the story texture without overwhelming it. I especially liked the sense that Saoirse and Faolan were pieces in a much larger game, their choices rippling out in unexpected ways. That said, there were moments where the pacing stumbled, and a few scenes could’ve used a little more context or grounding. Still, the writing is lyrical and immersive, and the last few chapters landed beautifully, with Faolan’s final POV chapter standing out as a highlight. This first installment doesn’t end on a huge cliffhanger, but it left me eager to see where the story goes next. Saoirse and Faolan’s future looks nothing like they’d planned, and I’m excited to watch them navigate whatever comes next together.

A strong, satisfying start to what could become a standout fantasy series.

I didn’t know I needed a romantasy story that’s a dark, magical, Irish mythology-inspired, swashbuckling pirate adventure! I’m not kidding, the MMC Faolan is Disney’s Sinbad, but if he was Irish.

The writing is gorgeous, descriptive, and poetic, and the world building and magic system are both fascinating and really unique within this genre. From the jump, I was flying through this story. The premise of a cursed FMC who needs to get married to a rakish pirate that she barely knows in order for them to find a lost island had me HOOKED.

I would say this is a slow burn romance. If you like the dynamic of a sweet, inexperienced FMC with a man who is very patient and gentle when teaching her about intimacy…you’ll enjoy this!

The writing did feel slightly clunky at times with world building jargon and concepts shoved into weird places, which is why I’m not rating this higher. There were several pages that I needed to read a few times to understand what was actually happening.

I sincerely, really, truly give up. I have no idea what's going on. I am viewing this world building through a layer of dense fog. It doesn't make any sense. I am 35% in and nothing is clearing up in terms of world building, and I'm not sticking around any longer because these are things that are usually not cleared up later in the book if the author hasn't laid the groundwork already. I don't understand what the big deal is about this isle. I also frankly don't like the FMC. I am all for a softer female protagonist who is not this warrior archetype, but I then would like her to have some redeeming qualities rather than this simpering, naive virgin. She is neither book smart nor street smart nor has any special skills to assist anyone or propel her along in the plot except this magic she never asked for that doesn't make any sense.

Thank you to Ace Books and Maggie Rapier for the gifted eARC of Soulgazer! All opinions are my own.

Maggie Rapier, the woman that you are.

When I tell you, I love this book, it doesn’t feel like I’m expressing enough. I could tell you that I loved the way the romance and love blossomed between Sairose and Faolan. Or that the way Sairose learns to trust herself, despite the way she was raised was as beautiful as it was harrowing. Or how the villainy in this story is so masterfully written, the betrayals so intimate, and the pain each character feels so real, that your chest will physically ache.

Instead, I’ll tell you that Rapier drops you right into a world where the gods are dead and the magic that was once a death sentence, might be the only thing left that can save everyone. The writing style in this book is lush, lyrical, and designed to make you feel every ounce of longing, hope, devastation, and wonder.

The tagline for Soulgazer, “Every legend has a beginning,” was powerful before I read the book, but now, it seems the book itself was destined to become unforgettable. It’s a sweeping, aching, magic-laced tale of love, power, and impossible choices... and I am all in for whatever comes next.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

My review was posted to Goodreads on 6/21/25.
My Instagram review will be posted 7/8/25
My Amazon review will be posted on 7/8/25.

This book had good bones in the beginning and kept me curious until about 30%. and then the pace was like watching a caterpillar crawl.

I liked some of the dialogue and the world had a very unique premise.

THOUGHTS:
The world building was atrocious. After pushing through 480 pages, I still have no fecking clue what's happening, and my questions are overwhelming.

The characters were undeveloped and confusing. Folan isn't a pirate. He's a 21st century pixie, in a cosplay costume. Saoirse was on a repetitious cycle of "I want him" (weird ass vision from nowhere) "I hate him" and repeat. The writing didn't persuade me to love the characters. I simply endured.

The pace was like watching a caterpillar crawl. Through mud.

The romance was incomplete with zero depth. I have no idea why they love each other. Truly no one knows. There was a scene that needed logistical help, and I didn't believe their feelings were genuine or deep.

"Good girl." was used in 4 separate scenes and I wanted to stab my kindle each time.

OVERALL: If you love the popular romantacy and don't mind being confused or you simply aren't concerned with proper world building, then you might like this.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you NetGalley.

Look at me reading a romantasy! This was definitely a change from my usual contemporary romance reads, but I saw this cover and absolutely had to try it. It’s stunning!

Saoirse is the only person she’s known to survive touching a soulstone. Locked away her entire life and moments away from being forced into marriage, she escapes with Faolan, a pirate with his own agenda. He promises her freedom if she’ll help him find the mythical Isle of Lost Souls. And that’s where the adventure really begins!

Saoirse had this quiet strength at the beginning that I really enjoyed seeing evolve throughout the story. She’s not a badass in the typical sense. She starts off quite meek and naive, but you can really feel her fierce determination. And Faolan totally gives Killian Jones from 𝘖𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘜𝘱𝘰𝘯 𝘢 𝘛𝘪𝘮𝘦 energy! He’s cheeky, incredibly protective, and just rogue enough to keep things interesting. I loved their chemistry, especially how he respected Saoirse’s pace when it came to their romantic tension.

I will say, though, this book throws you straight into the deep end. I was SO confused at first. Between the flowery writing, the concept of soulstones, and the backstory surrounding the curse (really, the entire magical setup), I initially had no clue what was going on. But little by little, the story pieces itself together, and once I wrapped my head around everything, I was swept away by the Irish influences, seafaring adventures, and eerie, dark ocean aesthetic!

Favorite quote(s):

“I don’t need to be a story, but I won't be nothing either.”

Review:

This book was so good! Full of magic, pirates, Celtic inspiration, found family, romance, and even family drama. So many things I love. The world-building was incredible. The characters were amazing. I loved Faolan and his crew so much! Each was unique and had qualities I loved. Saoirse was fantastic, and I loved her determination to gain her freedom and learn about herself and her magic. Even if she was hesitant at first. I loved the banter and relationship growth between her and Faolan. Faolan was so damn flirty, and I loved it. Saoirse’s family kind of sucked, mostly her father and i wanted to punch him so badly for all he did. It was nice to learn about the gods and Saoirse’s ancestors throughout the story, and how it all connected and even connected to Faolan and his goal. I do wish that we got a bit more on Saoirse’s grandmother; what we got was nice, but I wanted a bit more, as she seemed interesting. The ending was wild, I mean, the last few chapters had me stressed, and that ending surprised me so much! I already can't wait for the next one to see how things change for not only Saoirse and Faolan, but for everyone and the world. This was such an enjoyable read for me.