Rate: 2.75/5

In Lore of the Tides, we pick up with Lore after a massive betrayal in Lore of the Wild. We then follow her on an epic quest to find a lost treasure, ending in a world-changing battle. And, of course, we follow Lore as she heals and finds love. This all makes for a book that I would normally love and devour, but I felt it was very rushed and would have really benefitted from being written as a trilogy. There was just a lot going on and virtually no foreshadowing or world building to make the plot turns really compelling. Additionally, I was turned off by the romance focus in seemingly inappropriate times of the story. I think this book could really work for someone who loves a medium-paced romantasy with a strong FMC, love triangle, and a "chosen one" trope. For me, it felt flat in world-building and character motivation/development (except for Lore).

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for the eARC of Lore of the Tides in exchange for my honest review.

This was such a fun story, and I really enjoyed the setting and the world created.

The characters had amazing arcs, especially Syrelle. I wanted to hate him, but his redemption arc felt beautiful.
Finn will always be my favorite 😍.

I think I liked the first one more, but the climax of this story was intense and action-packed, definitely a fun read.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this book. I enjoyed the continuation of Lore, Syrelle, and Finn's story.

My favorite quote is "The dark means stars and moonlight ... You shine golden in the moonlight; you thrive under the glow of the stars, Lore. You are worthy of adoration. Unveil your mosaic wings for me. Let me adore you."

I’m going to have to soft DNF this at 23%. Maybe I’ll pick it up again when I have a physical copy in my hands, but I’ve been trying to get through this book for WEEKS and it’s just not happening.

The pacing is very slow, especially compared to the first one. At least in the first book there wasn’t a goal in mind that we were racing towards, so all the time we spend looking at clothes and scenery felt natural. Now the plot is present (and Lore NEVER lets us forget what her goals are, repetitive much?) and yet we hardly spend any time trying to realize it. I don’t care about reading about the same dress TWICE (once before she puts it on and then again when she’s wearing it) I want to find out where that damn book is!

This was also painfully repetitive. For almost 100 pages the only thing Lore did was think about wanting to find the sun book, think about how she can’t trust Not Asher, think about how much she was still attracted to Not Asher, think about how she STILL can’t trust Not Asher, and occasionally throw in worrying about Finn for flavor. I was TIRED.

Equally as painful were the odd punctuation and SO . . . MANY . . . ELLIPSESS . . . There were paragraphs with sharp short sentences punctuated by like 4 ellipses. Like I get it Lore, you’re trying to think something through, but that is the WORST way to possibly read someone’s inner monologue and I hated it.

I’m so disappointed in this book. I loved the first one, and because of that love I WILL be trying to read this again,,, but later. Much later.

4.3 ⭐️ and 3 🌶️

🖤Fae, Sirens, and Magic ✨
🖤Strong FMC - FEMININE RAGE
🖤LOVE TRIANGLE that will make your chest ache
🖤Found Family
🖤Political Intrigue
🖤BIPOC author/Rep

Spoiler free, as always!
Out of complete honesty, Lore of the Wilds had to walk so that Lore of the Tides could run. I enjoyed every piece of this from the character development to the political intrigue to the spicy moments. It was incredibly well balanced, well-paced, and enjoyable to read. I feel like the author took this novel and RAN with it in an exciting and exhilarating way, that gave me no choice but to keep reading and reading.

Thank you to the author, @netgalley , @thenerdfam , and @harpervoyagerus for the advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

This duology was sweet and a joy to read. Lore's story is full of emotion and relatable moments as well as challenges that she endeavors through despite all her set backs and disadvantages. It really showcases just how much can be overcome if you are willing to try and just do anything at all, and that small steps make big results if you stay the course!

this book was more than I could hope for. After leaving us with a bombshell cliffhanger in Lore Of The Wilds, Analeigh continues Lore's story in a way that stays true to our FMC but really shows her character growth and how is becoming strong for herself and as a leader.

This book introduces us more into the magic of this world and its realms and we get to explore more places. I loved getting to meet more characters from different classes and to see the vast differences between these places.

Analeigh does an amazing job of taking from history to add a layer to the oppression Lore and the humans faced in this book. I also really enjoy that these added details allow each reader to interpret Lore's trials differently.

Lore of the Tides was the perfect follow up to Lore of the Wilds! Lore is headstrong and determined to move her people to a safer place from under the ruling of the evil fae king and will do whatever it takes! I can’t even hold you I was hopeful a certain someone would redeem themselves and earn forgiveness. I understand why they didn’t because the betrayal was deep! But I’m delulu lol! This was the perfect cozy fantasy that was a good pace and kept you on your toes! Lore does not take this journey alone, she has Fin who is willing to do what it takes to protect her while also looking for answers on how to break his families curse. Throughout the book Lore & Fin face different obstacles, monsters, and mind games. And with how the imagery is described you feel like you are right there with them!

I will start off by saying I enjoyed the writing in this book way more than I did in the first book. It was a huge improvement.

I enjoyed the story, the world building and our FMC, Lore. There were still a few things I felt were left unanswered by the end of the story, though.

The overall storyline and, specifically, the ending, had so much potential to be EPIC. I still enjoyed it overall, I was hoping for more of an epic moment for our FMC during the climax of the story.

All of that being said, I DID enjoy this book. It was fun and I love Lore! She’s so relatable, so strong and so sassy!

Thank you NetGalley and Avon Harper Voyager for an E-ARC

This book was one of my anticipated reads of the year. I revisited the audiobook right before to get ready. It was disappointing and with more time I do think we could of gotten a better end product. This book had a lot of potential but also bit off more than it could chew and was very confusing and frustrating, but I was emotionally invested so I finished to see if it would get better. The world building was there. The 2nd part of the book underwater was the most interesting part though it felt like a side quest. And it was supposed to build Lore’s trust in herself, but she was making silly decisions there too. The magic system needed to be fleshed out more and had more dynamic relationships and plot built out. The potential to have interesting main characters, a why choose would have been cute (it was teased, and I was shocked but then it was snatched back lol) but also some kind of learning each other. Syrell would have to do a lot of begging and making up with actions, but I wanted to see him used more. He had the knowledge of magic and was resourceful. There was a disconnect in consistency in characters from the first book. Finn and Lore learning their magic on page would of been fun. Finn, I wanted to push back against Lore’s reckless behavior more especially since she kept putting herself and those around her in danger. Also, all the characters lacked any consistency and intrigue. This felt like an early draft and so they felt like place holders to come back and fix later. It didn’t flow together. I wanted to dig into the human's history but that would need another book and then this one book was too long and rushing to finish everything up.

I had a long list of grievances, and they can be tackled if the book had more time to develop. I took a lot of notes while reading so I could go back to them to review. A good editor to help push the story forward where the ideas still needed developing. A group of sensitivity readers and not just one to cover a multitude of topics. The way a lot of colonized people including Black Americans history and culture was used and referenced unnecessarily and often without as much care if this hadn’t been rushed could had been avoided. There is also the part where this book was in the tone of a YA book. Very immature and if aged down and taking out the smut (which caught me off guard since the first book, also felt like a YA book) in both books that could of been a foundation for a solid sequel. And the loss of the amount of cozy was often replaced with often gross elements(bugs), and graphic violence. Very different tone could feel the stress or pressure more but there were no stakes that weren’t easily solved. It made it boring in a lot of the parts that had built up momentum.

Also did not like the pump fake vision at the end and I will say I was already ready for the book to be over and that wiped me out. I knew those events didn’t happen but by the time I realized that I was angry and drained. Shock is not to be used in place of story and not at the expense of the readers that are supposed to identify with the same people in the vision that were graphically offed. I was angry and I cried before I could figure out what was going on. That part in particular could of benefitted from a range of Black sensitivity readers. Someone besides me had to have an issue with it. This read was frustrating and frustrating I wanted to like it.

I am going to listen to the audiobook since it’s on hold at the library to support but I hope in the future that I enjoy the author's work. I hope she gets the development and time to flesh out the ideas how she wants. I liked Lore of the Wilds (minus the one smut scene and a few smaller things) There is a lot of potential in that pen and we need more Black fantasy so rooting for her.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (4.5 stars)
🌶🌶🌶 (3 spice)

“The sea does not forgive, and neither do girls who’ve been wronged.”

Lore of the Tide by Analeigh Sbrana is an atmospheric, feminist fantasy that hooked me like a siren’s song and refused to let go. If you love a fed-up "witch," ancient curses, and an evil king greedy for power and hiding dark secrets—you’re going to devour this.

The plot builds like a rising tide: slow at first but relentless, until you’re knee-deep in folklore, ghost stories, and chilling betrayal. We follow Lore, a girl caught between grief, rage, and ancient magic—who really just wants to get home.

Lore went through it in this book—but wow, the growth. She found so much of herself through pain, magic, and sacrifice. Lore is my hero because she never lets other people’s doubts define her. This woman is a FIGHTER. She chooses herself, her truth, and her strength—and it’s such a powerful journey to witness.

Now let’s talk about that love triangle… whew. I was stressed in book one, and the tension only ramped up here. Finn and Asher both bring their own kind of magic, and yes—I definitely had a favorite (👀 not saying who), but let’s just say I wasn’t disappointed. That man has a way with words, okay?!

And listen… the spice in this book was so unexpected, but so yummy! 🔥 Let’s just say someone knows how to talk a woman through it, and after reading this… Lore is definitely not the same girl from Lore of the Wilds. The steamy moments didn’t take over the story—they made it more emotionally real, showing where Lore is now and what ....and who she’s ready to claim. 😏

This story is packed with adventure—saving kingdoms, uncovering ancient truths, forging bonds, and learning hard lessons. Lore, Finn, and Asher’s histories unfold in such a compelling way, giving their journey more weight, more purpose, and raising the emotional stakes even higher.

I’ve been waiting for this book since finishing Lore of the Wilds last year, and being able to read this early as an ARC reader was such a gift. I need Analeigh to write more soon—because we need more of this beautiful storytelling and rich, Black fantasy in the world. 💙

This romantasy publishes tomorrow, July 8, and I was able to read it before its release thanks to @netgalley and @harpervoyagerus in exchange for my opinion!

I enjoyed this duology, preferring the first book to the sequel. The cottagecore vibes, the introduction to the characters, the mystery of Deeping Lune (grimoire), the story of how the humans traversed into fae lands and the magic that a human was able to unlock in the pages of a book drew me in.

In the second book, Lore Of The Tides, Lore is taken hostage by a man who has deceived her, broken her heart and forces her to search for the companion grimoire. My disdain for her captor, the repeated drudgery of her nights spent scrying for Auroradel and the prejudice from the ship’s crew were elements that leant towards my preference for the first book.

Lore Of The Tides, however then began to move steadily ahead surprising me with the complexities of her fae jailer, near mutiny, sea monsters and a siren to boot!

Overall this is a duology I enjoyed! I have my eye on the Owlcrate special edition and am trying to come by a Fairyloot copy of the first book! I hope to listen to the audiobook of book 2 also.

📚✨ Lore of The Tides by Analeigh Sbrana
⭐️3.5/5 | 🌶️2/5

We need more duologies. Short and sweet. Give me the full arc, a fast pace, and just enough emotional devastation to keep me thinking about it afterward — and Lore of the Tides mostly hit that mark.

This one is packed with adventure, found family, betrayal, and a magical ocean setting that’s genuinely immersive. The worldbuilding is stunning, the magic system is super unique, and the DnD-like feel made it a fun ride. Lore’s journey for a magical book across dangerous seas had me hooked early on.

Now, full transparency: I didn’t read the first book in this duology, and I definitely think that impacted my overall connection to the characters and the world. I felt like I was catching up emotionally and contextually in a few places — so if you have read the first one, your experience may hit very differently (and likely stronger).

The pacing felt uneven at times. Some moments dragged, while others breezed past key emotional beats I wanted to sit with. And the love triangle? It had so much potential but didn’t quite land for me — more pain than payoff, and I just didn’t feel as invested as I hoped.

That said, Lore as a character? Phenomenal. She’s soft and strong in equal measure, and the way she fights for what she believes in while protecting her own peace was a highlight for me.

Would I read more from this author? Absolutely. This one just didn’t fully hit the emotional or romantic payoff I was hoping for — but I still really enjoyed the world and magic enough to stick around.

🌊⚔️📚

DNF 70%.
I liked but didn’t love book but my expectation was as that book 2 would have better and more engaging writing and character development. I wanted to happen after the ending of book 1.

Sadly, I liked this book even less. It felt like the plot was trying to do too much. The characters felt flat the romance didn’t have much tension and felt stale and forced. The magic system wasn’t fleshed out in the way I was hoping.

The pacing felt slow and I found myself getting bored. Lore felt like she had regressed in character development and was always in some dire situation.

I appreciated the uniqueness of the Sirens and underwater aspects. I thought it was interesting to try and find a second grimoire. I do like the cozy vibes and enchanted library of this book.

Overall I’d say 2.5 stars.

I have a healthy respect for [ahem] fear of the ocean, and it's none of my business what goes on down there. So you can imagine that I started this book as anxious as Lore when she wakes up on a ship... in the middle of the ocean. (No thank yew.) I would have also been seasick without my motion sickness patches... I digress.

This duology is truly cozy; I appreciated the diversity and representation, including how Lore handled her hair while on an adventure. Lore herself represented hope to her people, and that was a bright spot with current events happening in our world. Libraries are such an integral part of the story, which I loved! The pacing of both books was a bit off for me, but overall, I really enjoyed this story and the romance.

Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Voyager for the eARC.

Lore of the Tides is an INCREDIBLE sequel to The Wilds. While further exploring the colorful and magical world beyond Alytheria, Lore finds herself searching for "Deeping Lune"'s sister grimoire "Auroradel." Picking up right at the massive plot twists at the end of 'Wilds,' Lore is on ship.
Analeigh continues it describe her characters in beautifully vivid words, in ways they actually would live and function. I constantly want more, and am glad she has shared this story.

After the events of Lore of the Wilds, Lore wakes to find herself at sea. She has been kidnapped and taken to find a second magical book that is thought to be somewhere in the ocean. Lore soon comes up with her own plans of what to do with the possible power and how she can use it to help her people. She must join forces with fae that she isn't sure she can trust to make this mission possible.

Lore of the Wilds had on my tbr for a while and when I had the chance to read Lore of the Tides early I was so excited to read both books together. This is a really great duology. Lore is an incredible character. She is so powerful and strong and everything I love to see in a female lead. I loved the expansion of the world and magic system in the second book. It has a great but complicated at times love story and strong found family vibes. The pacing of the story really worked for me and the resolution to the story was incredibly satisfying. I look forward to doing an audio reread soon. Analeigh Sabrana is an author that I will be keeping my eye on for a long time to come! I can't wait to see what she does next.

Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Voyager for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Lore of the Tides is a stunning follow up to Lore of the Wilds. Watching Lore come into her own as a sorceress and embrace her power and her anger was exactly what my heart needed. Exploring the wider world was so much FUN, and the new characters we get to meet were played against Lore so well, I could have stayed with them for the rest of the book and not been mad about it at all. This world is so alive and I’m so thankful to Analeigh for allowing us into it.

It does start a little slow, but I think that’s 100% due to where Lore is and why she is there, once the scenery changes the story really starts to pick up and doesn’t really slow down.

There’s something so hot about a man in love watching the woman he loves kick ass. Every time it happened I did a little happy dance…but every time he fought for her?! Whewwwww. And the hair braiding scene? I love care scenes like that so much and it was so good.

The romance was tender and sexy, the adventure was thrilling, the vengeance was just, and the homecoming was heartwarming.

I think I love this one more than the first, but it’s so close. Duologies are my happy place. And this is one of the happiest.

I was thrilled to read this book and couldn’t put it down once I started. The world Lore dwells in is captivating. It is filled with faes, books, magic, and something entirely new. This book is a continuation of the first, and I thoroughly enjoyed witnessing Lore’s growth and strength. There is no love triangle to me because the reader can easily discern Lore’s choice. On the other hand, the plot is intriguing, but the pacing occasionally felt uneven. Despite this flaw, the book remains exceptional. I’m pleased with the ending, even though it occurred rapidly. The final part of the book is filled with action, and I’m certain readers will enjoy it. Ultimately, I’ll miss reading about Lore’s story. The author’s descriptive writing is truly remarkable, and this series will undoubtedly remain in my memory.

Thank you The Nerd Fam, NetGalley and Harper Voyager for an ARC of Lore of the Tides.

There is adventure, sirens, female rage, slow-burn romance, betrayal, and so much more. While I enjoyed the first book, it felt a bit lacking in certain areas, but everything I wanted was delivered tenfold in this one.

The world-building is beautifully written, taking you through several completely different types of landscapes throughout the story. There is a strong, intelligent FMC and diverse characters who all have their unique quirks. Honestly, despite the heavy situations and frequent deaths, they are all quite funny as well.

The only issue I had was that there were a handful of scenes that dragged a bit and could have been cut shorter. Overall, this was such a fun and enjoyable read. The action and adventure were fantastic, the romantic tension was delicious, and the ending was satisfying.