Absolutely stunning. I loved the first book so much and wasn't sure if the sequel would live up to it, but I shouldn't have worried. The plotting is so incredibly intricate and the storyline so deeply emotional. Just like the first book, it captures a fairytale feel without resorting to clichés or feeling like a repeat of other existing stories. This world is so unique and I enjoyed getting to see a new kingdom. And the tension between Lore, Syrelle and Finn is so expertly-crafted. I'm not typically a huge romantasy reader, but I would happily read a thousand romantasies written by Analeigh Sbrana.

This book was everything you want in the second (and final) book of a duology—captivating, entertaining, heartbreaking, and cozy all at once. The author did an amazing job, because to me, sequels sometimes fall short but this one did not disappoint, picked up right where the last one left off and it didnt stop! and I’m so excited to see how much her writing will grow from here. a

Thank you so much Harper Voyager for the e-arc!! I enjoyed this book. I liked it even more than book one. After the cliffhanger of book one, I needed this book!! The imagery and setting in this book are perfect for summer. I loved the ocean vibes and the sirens. I also loved the volcano setting down the road. I enjoyed getting to know a bit more about “Asher” and learned that not everything as it seemed. I also loved seeing Finn and Lore have their moments together. I was always rooting for them! There is definitely more spice in this book. One thing that kept it from being a five star read for me was the dialogue. At times it felt forced and catering to the booktok or bookstagram community like the “good girl” and “you’re taking me so well” lines thrown in. I get that people love that, it just wasn’t for me in the way it was executed! I loved the way it ended though and I would overall recommend to my friends and followers.

first, thank you so much to The nerd fam, to HarperCollins, and of course to Analeigh for the pleasure of Reading Lore's story.

Do I recommend this?
as a duology? Yes. Lore's story was wonderful, however it is a story about Lore and her people first and foremost.

The duology of Lore's story as a whole was such a rich, lovely experience for me. Lore of the Wilds quickly became one of my favorite stories and I fell in love with not only Lore, but the male main characters and many of the side characters as well.

Lore of the Tides brought us to many more parts of Lore's world and I loved traveling the map and eating up more of the cultures and people- I loved all of the new side characters who were introduced to the party and I found the Siren kingdom fascinating. I was excited to see how Lore's story would end and it kept me reading through pretty quickly.

I loved Lore as a character, I loved how passionate and thoughtful she was. I loved the way she reacted like a real person within the context of her world and how much she loved her people. I would like to say, for readers, while this has a love story and has some spice, Lore's story is really about the struggle and love she has for her people. I think that's really important to know going into this so that you have the proper expectations.

Just a small note, but at times the pacing had a tendency to feel a little strange but in this case I wasn't necessarily put off by it. I wished some of the other characters we'd met (like the orc and Syrelle's family) had shown up at the end or in the epilogue to kind of tie them back in. I will also note here, this book does have a few scenes that deviated from the cozy cottage core aesthetic that was advertised and got quite dark with graphic depictions of violence in a couple of scenes that I wasn't expecting. This wasn't necessarily an issue for me personally, but i could see where it might be difficult for some to get through.

the main reason for my 4 star rating was that the romantic subplot left me feeling so bittersweet. I know this is a personal preference, but I spent most of the book feeling so awful for the guy I think I was meant to hate?

[vague ending spoilers]

I wanted so badly for this to have a heart warming happily ever after where everyone was together and maybe even hinted that there could have been love for everyone but damn I was left STILL feeling so bad for him.. in all honesty, It did feel as though there was more chemistry and longing and romantic tension between Lore and Syrelle, leaving Finn feeling a little like the 'safe and easy' choice. I enjoyed the glimpses into Finn's perspective- him telling her he never hated her etc, and I think if we had gotten more of that from him, I would have felt a lot more connected to him as a character rather than feeling like he was put into a position of being the nice, 'default' guy she settles for.

[end spoilers]

Overall, I genuinely enjoyed this duology. Lore of the Wilds was a wonderful book and, while part two left me feeling bittersweet despite a form of happily ever after, I was happy to get to see this story through to the end. If these books had been given a little more space to expand, I think they would have been even more wonderful, but I recognize that oftentimes an author is constricted by publishing to keep a story short. I think if that was the case here, it was a disservice, because Lore's story was so, so good, and I wish it had had a little more space to adjust pacing (and maybe the kind of happy ending i had hoped for lol (just kidding. [mostly]))

Okay look, this scratched every itch. That’s the only way I can explain it. This book was captivating and entertaining and heartbreaking and cozy (at times) and literally everything you want in the second (final) in a duology. I really enjoyed reading Lore’s story, I want to be her friend in real life lol and Finn is definitely on the list for favorite book partners. This was seriously such a fun read, I’m so glad I got the chance to experience this, and a little early even makes it feel ✨special✨ .

Thank you for this eARC and the opportunity to finish this incredible duology! 🖤

I absolutely loved book 1 Lore of the Tides and book 2 left NO room for disappointment! Analeigh never disappoints in her writing style and the ability to write a beautifully scenic book.

Thank you to NetGalley, Avon, Harper Voyager, and HarperAudio for this advanced copy! You can pick up Lore of the Tides on July 8, 2025.

What a fantastic ending to an incredible duology! I really loved the direction Analeigh Sbrana took with this book, as Lore and her companions explored new regions of the world and made some wonderful new friends. The side characters (such as the siren Queen and Prince Hazen) really stole the show whenever they appeared on page, and I appreciated how these relationships showcased that Lore being human shouldn't differentiate her treatment from other creatures. They liked Lore for her own merits, including her ingenuity and bravery.

This might be one of my favorite adult love triangles I've read thus far. As the story went on, the reader really flip-flopped with Lore between Syrelle and Finndryl. Each of them showed up for her in different ways, but I'm not upset about the choice she made (okay maybe a little bit). We see her handling the betrayal from the end of Book 1 throughout the first third of Lore of the Tides, and despite seeing how this male shows up for her and tries to protect her, it's impossible to forget the role he played in all the hurt that she endured. Plus, the offhand mention of how they could have all been together... Analeigh, polyamorous epilogue WHEN.

All in all, if you enjoyed the first book, I think you'll eat this one up just as much (if not more)!

This book, right out of the gate prepared me for magic.
"To every black reader who grew up looking for themselves on fantasy shelves, this one's for you"

Last year, my world was encompassed by the world of Lore and this year, we are brought a duology that matched the first. We dive deeper within the magic of words and the power that they bring within speaking life and death into existence. We see Lore grow and thrive within hardships as well as exist within the resilience and joy that was between the margins.
Reuniting with characters as well as being introduced to new ones that push the narrative forward and raises the stakes that were introduced within the predecessor. It was a sister book, a twin.

This book was one that I never wanted to put down. This was one that I will never forget and will forever be imprinted in my heart, especially the themes and messages that are present within this current climate. Let it resonate within you and start a conversation.
And, as a closer, I adore Finn.
That is all!

I unfortunately did not finish this book. I did not connect with the characters and I found myself not really interested in where they were going after book one. This is a soft dnf and I may pick it up on audio when it releases because I enjoyed the audio of book one. Thank you so much for the earc!

First of all…Wow! I am so proud of the authors growth. Her writing style improved significantly in this book. Thank you so much for the opportunity to read this book and review it! I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. Soft fantasy/ sea folklore was done amazing. The world building was amazing and the plot was very interesting yet cozy. The character growth from Lore was good not great but good. She proved resilience and empathy and really voiced herself better. She felt more mature than in the first book which compliments the story better with the love triangle. I also ended up liking Syrelle more than I thought. I didn’t like the over use of the “good girl” phrase it didn’t seem to bode well with the overall feel of the book. Like I mentioned the book gives a more dark cottage core atmosphere and with true relatable anatomy struggles that the spice wording felt a little clunky. Even though there was more intimate details than the first book I feel some wording could have been better. I did feel the ending a little lacking in the sense that I felt like I needed more closure? Or maybe just a little more something. Overall I think the author has done an amazing job, I can’t wait to see how much better her work will get. Again such a great piece of art! Thank you for the E-ARC.

2.5-2.75* Rounded Up

This sequel was a pretty big disappointment for me, the first one was more engaging and even though I did give it a lot of leniency for pacing issues and some writing repetitiveness I could not overlook those same issues in this sequel. The pacing was way off again and the last big climax happened in like 2 chapters which was so weird with how much time was spent on other parts of Lore's journey. I also was not feeling as much chemistry between characters in this book, where in the last one I did see chemistry with both love interests this one just felt forced. I also felt like there was no build up to the end couple getting together it just happened and they all of a sudden were in love. I think the premise of this story and the themes of oppression and finding your own power were so good but were not well executed. If there had been a tad more development with maybe a trilogy instead of duology or a bit more editing of unnecessary parts then it could have become more powerful of a story. The covers of these books are so beautiful and the representation and world feel loving and magical but it needed a bit more to be a memorable fantasy for me.

I received an eARC thanks to Netgalley and Harper Voyager. All opinions are my own.

I AM UNHINGED. 🐉🌊

This book dragged me to the ocean floor, crushed my ribs with pressure, and then resurrected me with vengeance and magic. I need therapy. I need book three. I need to scream into the void.

Lore wakes up chained to a ship, magic suppressed, betrayed and bruised—but not broken. Not even close. She’s clawing her way back from devastation with vengeance in her veins and justice burning in her throat.

The quest? Unhinged. We’ve got sea monsters, enchanted islands, ancient grimoires, creepy kings, and high seas tension so thick I could TASTE the salt. The pacing is wild, the stakes are brutal, and the plot twists? Oh, they bite.

Lore isn’t a victim—she’s a storm in human form. Watching her rise, rage, and take back power had me on the floor. She’s not just surviving anymore—she’s hunting.

And let’s talk about the romantic chaos. The tension? Feral. The yearning? Screaming. The betrayal? UNFORGIVABLE. I trust no one. I love everyone. I am deeply unwell.

The worldbuilding is lush and violent—volcanic islands, mythical beasts, underwater kingdoms. It’s folklore meets fury, and it does not let you breathe. The prose is lyrical and sharp, soaked in saltwater and emotion.

This isn’t a cozy read. This is a revenge arc with teeth, and Lore is finally wielding the blade.
🖤 If you want:
A heroine who says “not today, fae scum” and means it

A love triangle that feels like drowning in longing

Political scheming, magical peril, and righteous fury

A dark, feminist fantasy that rips you open

Then Lore of the Tides will absolutely wreck you.

⚠️ CW: kidnapping, trauma, betrayal, implied SA, emotional manipulation, explicit scenes, and violence.

Lore of the Tides was an amazing sequel with more characters, more growth, more spice, and more side quests. I loved getting to see Lore really come in to her own and getting to make new friends while still focusing on her home and people.

The new ‘lands’ and new characters were definitely my favorite part but it was so rewarding to return back to Duskmere and Wyndlin Castle. I also loved getting to spend more time on the romantic subplot and I loved every minute of getting to see them be sweet to each other (the hair braiding scene!).

The tone is still a little YA and the pacing is still a little breakneck but I really enjoyed Lore of the Tides and think this is a great duology over all!

Thank you to the author, Nerd Fam, Harper Voyager, and NetGalley for the e-arc!!! All thoughts my own!

<i>"When it comes to you, Lore, I am utterly lost."</i>

And just like that, Lore's story has come to a bittersweet end.

<i>"That's the thing about power, Lore, is that for those who seek it, there can never be enough."</i>

Lore is a wonderfully complex character, who shows both moments of weakness and female rage, and we love her for it.

<i>"I'm not afraid of the darkness that follows you... that tries, even now, to bury you. Instead of being lost to it, you thrived."</i>

After being teased with a possible love triangle, I was ready to hope for a "why choose?" situation because despite the heartbreaking revelation at the end of book 1, I was hoping for all of them to just kiss and make up.

I loved the tender moments between Lore and Finndryl and we got a lot more spicy scenes compared to the previous book (one of them even a little scandalous in a semi-public setting, gasp!).

I struggled a little at the start of the book to get into the story as it felt like a lot of repetition, especially terms and moments that were just mentioned a few paragraphs prior (ex. Auroradel, the Book of Sunbeams, Deeping Lune).

Where I think the book could've used a little more polishing was on the tone and language used which was very inconsistent and threw me out of the story on a few occasions.

Example, for most of the book the story was told in typical fantasy speech ("It would be my honor to escort you") and then randomly would use very much modern slang ("cool") along with curse words ("The fuck it will!")

Thank you to the publisher for an advance review copy, all opinions are my own.

I couldn't get into this book. I liked the characters from Lore of the Wilds and thought that this adventure would appeal to me, but it felt a little too meandering and not quite what I was looking for. I did DNF this book, but I'm sure there are plenty of folks who will enjoy it!

Lore of the Tides had a lot of potential with its moody, atmospheric setting and hints of a deeper underwater world, plus, I’m always a sucker for mermaids or ocean creatures. But unfortunately, the execution didn’t quite live up to the premise. sigh.

The biggest issue for me was how much the story focused on the romance, so much so that it left very little room for plot development, world-building, or meaningful character growth. And considering this is the second book in a series, I expected more depth by now. Instead, most of the narrative revolved around Lore’s thoughts and feelings about the men around her; how they made her feel, how she felt about them, rinse and repeat.

The characters felt underdeveloped, with unclear motivations and little emotional evolution. The romance itself leaned heavily on physical attraction and tension, but lacked the emotional weight to make it feel earned. At times, I found myself frustrated or disconnected from what was happening simply because I didn’t feel grounded in the characters or their choices.

There were still glimmers of interesting ideas, especially involving the underwater elements, but they never had the chance to shine. Overall, the story stayed surface-level when it had the potential to go much deeper.

I enjoyed Lore of the Wilds, and that ending made Lore of the Tides a must read. I was curious about how the dynamics between characters would change after the revelations at the end of book 1. Fortunately, I received an advance review copy, so I didn’t have to wait.

For me, what we get in book 2 is a lot of growth. Book 2 dives right into the action, and it made me feel like I was in Lore’s shoes - disoriented and trying to figure out what was going on and how to deal with the current situation. Lore’s dealing with a lot; betrayal, being abducted and forced to help her enemy, her fears for her people and her friends. She has to contend with her emotions and her circumstances and figure out how to achieve her goals. That gives her a clear focus. From the beginning, her objective to help her people and free them from the oppression they’ve endured is her ultimate goal, but the story steadily feeds us short-term goals that advance the plot and Lore’s growth arc.

The steady stream of short-term goals makes the story fly. It also delivered a sense of eventual victory. While some goals are harder to achieve than others, one by one, Lore is victorious.

I liked visiting different places and having what some might consider side quests. For me, the underwater kingdom storyline worked well, because it provided Lore with opportunities to learn, it enabled her to form a good relationship with another kingdom who proved themselves allies, and that alliance enabled her to access essential resources she needed for her other objectives. Everything that happened there served her main objectives.

I enjoyed revisiting these characters. I liked the way the story unfolded. And I was satisfied with the resolution to Lore’s story. I feel like the potential is there to revisit these worlds with other characters, such as their guide or the boat captain, because Sbrana has created a rich world with interesting characters I wanted to spend more time with. 4.5 stars

ARC and ALC review

4.25 stars

"Lore of the Tides" by Analeigh Sbrana is the sequel to "Lore of the Wilds".

Thank you Avon and Harper Voyager for the advance review copy and HarperAudio for the advance listener copy.
Opinions from this review are completely my own.

"Lore of the Wilds" ended with a revelation about one of the characters and I am glad that I could continue the story immediatly after finishing it.
Lore is held prisoner on ship and she has to face a lot of danger.

Compared to the first book, now there is more action, new characters, places and more spice.
Lore is a powerful character and has a good development.
The fantasy world is beautiful and colorful, especially the part underwater.

I also listend to the audiobook narrated by Marcella Cox. She also narrated the first book and did a great job.
It is not easy to narrated many characters and make them sound different, but it was well done in this case.
Also, you could fell Lore's personality through Marcella's voice.

Overall I liked this book more that the first one, but I would have liked a different ending for Syrelle.
I kept hoping there was something more.

If you like fantasy with a slow burn romance, strong characters and magical oceans, you will like this book.

This was a delightful read. While I really enjoyed Lore of the Wilds- I found its strengths to be in the vibes and individual characters. In this sequel, the action and storytelling are really taken to the next notch. I found Lore to be an even more interesting character, and the plot was compelling from start to finish! I thought the duology was concluded really well!

I was really looking forward to this because I was intrigued with where the story was headed after the ending of the first book. I like that this is a duology and isn't dragged out. Unfortunately, I did not like this. The plot was boring. The romance fizzled out dramatically. There was no tension with either of the MMCs. I was cringing pretty hard at the dialogue. I also was not a fan of the writing. Please note that this is just my opinion. You might love it. I hope you do! Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Voyager for an e-arc.