This was a solid conclusion to the duology, though even in a short 2 book series I wish we would have gotten more into the magic system in this book. I read the first book, Lore of the Wilds, and though I wasn't blown away I was still interested enough to continue and hoped to get more character development, more world building, just more. The pacing of this book was decent and to be fair I was never bored enough to stop, but I just found this book to be middle of the road. Lore herself is the highlight for me as she is a strong FMC with that oh so potent rage, but also such a sense of humor.

In this epic second novel, sends us to sea with no way out... maybe. Written in a way that is easy to understand for first time fantasy readers and great characters to follow along, I really enjoyed reading this story and would recommend this book for those looking for a beach/vacation read.

DNF @ 50%
i tried to get into this book but honestly just couldn’t. i couldn’t care about the characters or the plot or really anything going on, i kept dozing off, i even tried switching between audio and ebook and still no luck. the plot for this duology is interesting and had a lot of potential but it’s rushed and poorly edited, better than the first book but still has some flaws.

4.5 ⭐️’s
What a great conclusion to this duology. So much adventure packed into this book.

The world Sbrana wrote of the ocean was so imaginative. A true underwater world with such interesting takes—cooking food w/underwater volcanos? Loved it!

The end had me tearing up as these characters moved on.

Thank you Harper Voyager & Net Galley for this e-arc.

3.5 stars.
I was very excited to read this book after completing the first one. I love that we are starting to get more duology in the fantasy sphere as it is hard to stay attached when it is 5+ books in a series. In saying that, I do think that it is hard for an author to be able to nail the timing on a duology. My biggest complaint is that it felt that there was some areas that dragged and seemed unnecessary to the story line in general. And then it would be rushing to finish something so that we could continue onto the main part of the story.
I did like that the "love triangle" kind of disappeared right away. I would have been really annoyed if the FMC continued to be in the triangle lol. Also, I was always a fan of Finn from the beginning, so I'm glad she ended up with him lol.
Thank you netgalley for the arc of this book.

Absolutely loved this read! I knew from the first book that Lore would grow once she left all she knew behind. She is stronger, sharper, and more confident in herself and her abilities. It took a bit to get there, but it was worth the wait. We met a new group of allies, but enemies too. Lore to work through her issues with Sorrel, but giving a piece of her mind every time was a chef's kiss. However, learning more about his family background and seeing the budding relationship between her and Finn continued the conflict. I will say Sorrel had an unexpected solution. I won't say I was shocked, but I like his spirit 😅

⭐ Summary

Lore of the Tides picks up right where Lore of the Wilds left off, plunging us deeper into Lore’s world of fae magic, betrayal, and survival. This time, the ocean itself becomes a battlefield as Lore is thrust into the schemes of Asher and Syrelle, the pull of Finndryl, and the dangerous quest for the sun book. New realms like the sirens’ underwater kingdom expand the worldbuilding, adding layers of danger and wonder. The stakes are higher, the betrayals cut deeper, and Lore’s magic and heart are tested more than ever.

⸻

✨ Tropes & Vibes ✨

🧜‍♀️ Sirens & underwater kingdoms
⚔️ Betrayal & hidden agendas
💔 Yearning + complicated love interests
🔥 Found inner strength & power growth
🤝 Enemies-to-allies (slow trust)
👑 Fascinating, morally gray royals
🌊 High-stakes magical quest
👀 Justice for Asher (needs his own book!)

⸻

💭 My Review

This sequel gave me everything I wanted from book one. The pacing was sharper, the worldbuilding more vivid, and the character arcs hit so well.

I’d honestly read an entire spinoff just about the sirens and the underwater kingdom. The Queen in particular was such a standout, and I’m still thinking about her. Finndryl was someone I wasn’t sure about at first, but watching his relationship with Lore grow was so satisfying. Their bond felt earned, layered, and messy in the best way.

And then there’s Asher. My heart breaks for him. I truly hope he gets another book or novella because his story, especially the hints about his uncle, deserves more exploration.

One of my favorite parts of this duology is how much Lore grows into her own power. By the end, she isn’t just surviving, she’s wielding her strength fully, and it was so rewarding to see. The magic system felt more refined, and the character dynamics had the weight and payoff I had been waiting for.

Overall, Lore of the Tides was the perfect conclusion. It felt like the author really let this one cook, and the result was a story full of memorable moments, heart, and magic. 🌊✨

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (solid 4/5 for me!)

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for an ARC!

I loved this book so much. I was so excited to read it after I finished the first one. Thank you for allowing me to read it. Definitely ended up getting a physical copy.

Lore of the Tides is a masterful sequel to Wilds and the stunning conclusion to the duology. Tides takes place on a much bigger scale geographically, as well as the scope is much larger.
Right off the bat, Lore is forced to search for Auroradel, the sister grimoire to Deeping Lune. She must use her wits and her magic to resume the search on her own terms. Her adventure is one for the history books, seeing picturesque sights and meeting a colorful cast of characters, and the ending is a wonderful reward.
There are excellent parallels to the real human fight for survival and justice in marginalized communities today and I felt the author’s emotions through their words. Tides is prosaic, poignant and timely. I cannot recommend this book enough.

A really great sequel! Took me a minute to get to since I wanted to read book 1 first, but really loving this story and characters!

Lore of the Tides is the second book in the duology that started with Lore of the Wilds. Tides picks up right where Wilds left off, and reading Wilds before Tides is absolutely necessary.
I really enjoyed the new settings that were explored in Lore of the Tides, especially in the underwater kingdom (is it a spoiler if it is the cover image?). Overall, this was a fun read and I recommend it to people who enjoyed the first book!

I received this book as an ARC and decided to read the first installment, Lore of the Wilds, prior to digging into this one. That said, I do think you would miss quite a bit of the set-up to this storyline if you jump into this one without reading the first. Another disclaimer I have to my review is that I fell into a reading slump when I was sitting about 20% into this book.

Lore of the Tides started out slow for me and I felt a little bored, much like Lore, for the first half of this book. Once I picked it up again, I was invested and found the storyline to start picking up about halfway through. I found the story much more intriguing once our FMC started adventuring again and enjoyed the underwater and desert realms. The spice, for me, in these books seemed awkward and misplaced at times with our FMC going on long awkward thought processes of longing in the middle of other chaos and the two love interests just didn’t work for me here. Do we hate him or love him? I don’t know. Something just felt off with the whole Asher/Syrelle bit that I couldn’t personally relate to. All in all, Lore of the Tides was worth the read to get to the near-end scene where things finally got interesting. Lore finally takes on the King of Alytheria, and I was pleased with the outcome (both times). Definitely a slow start and strong finish with this one.

Thanks to Avon/Harper Voyager and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this advanced copy.

Listen, the banter in this book is top notch, the flirting and the confession of feelings are as sweet and deserving as they come butttt they also come during a high stakes moment, which feels a little off. I get high stress situations can make us recognize our feelings but maybe don’t stop to confess them while you’re being attacked or near to drowning?

That said, I lovedddd the storyline and plot of this book. Truly my only complaint is the pacing. I found myself skimming the story because non important things were drawn out. But yet, there were other times when something should have been challenging and it was almost like oops look we made it through unscathed when people never return from this adventure. And just like the first, it reads like YA but with adult content.

I’d still recommend it, but it’s not going to be for everyone.

Read if you like:
🧜‍♀️adventure
🧜‍♀️love triangle
🧜‍♀️betrayal
🧜‍♀️fae x human

I really enjoyed this duology! Unlike others, I loved the first book and was super excited to dive into the sequel. This duology as a whole has scratched a particular itch for me, so even though my personal rating lands closer to a 3.5/3.75, I’m rounding up to four stars because of how much I connected with the story.

We jump right back into the story after that cliffhanger. Lore’s rage is front and center in this book. Her character development was great to see; however, I did struggle with how conveniently “overpowered” she became. She suddenly knows how to wield powerful magic and how to cast every spell. We're told she's been training and learning spells, but we never actually see her put in the work, which felt like a missed opportunity for more character growth. Also, the final showdown with the villain was a bit anticlimactic, and the lead up to it dragged.

On the brighter side, the romantic tension between Lore and Finndlyn was perfect. It had me giggling and kicking my feet, and it didn’t overtake the plot. The introduction of the sirens and their underwater world was also absolutely captivating. Sbrana's world-building shines brightest in these moments, and honestly, I'd love to see a spin-off exploring that realm further.

Thematically, I loved the emphasis on liberation, resistance, and found family. There were moments that genuinely made me tear up 🥹 I’m satisfied with the ending, though I was hoping for more closure. I felt like there are still some unresolved questions/loose ends.

What I think throws a lot of readers off with this series is tone. On the surface, it looks like a high-stakes fantasy, but at its heart, it’s more of a cozy romantasy with a YA feel. Personally, I liked that blend, but I can see why expectations might clash. That contrast between cottagecore cozy fantasy and sweeping adventure romance is what made me fall in love with it.

Ultimately, I loved this journey. This ended up being the perfect summer read to binge. I think Analeigh Sbrana has so much potential as a storyteller, and I’m genuinely excited to see what she writes next!

Highly recommend if you like:
✨Fae
✨Sirens
✨Adventure/quest
✨Love triangle
✨He falls first
✨FMC rage
✨Magical library

This was a cute story and it picked up where Lore of the Wilds left off. The shock of learning who was behind this was hard to take but it all made since in the end. Trust was a big thing that Lore had to figure out through out this book because of being betrayed by someone that she thought was a love is hard to deal with. But the unexpected love that she developed with Finn was amazing. The strength that Lore had as well is amazing. So grateful to have had the opportunity to read this book.

Lore of the Tides was everything I wanted in a finale and more. Analeigh Sbrana’s writing is lush, emotional, and absolutely gripping. I felt every wave of grief, hope, and fire right alongside Lore. Her growth in this book was incredible, and the balance of action, magic, and tender character moments kept me hooked.
The world-building is breathtaking (pirates, underwater realms, volcanoes, yassssss) and the relationships had me tabbing so many pages. Finn and Lore’s dynamic especially stole my heart.
A powerful, passionate, and unforgettable conclusion to the duology and I’ll be thinking about it for a long time. Highly recommend!

Forever thankful to receive this book before the release date. This was one of my most anticipated reads for this year. I’m sad this duology is over but happy I had the chance to read it. Forever obsessed with Lore 🖤

3.5✨ Overall I felt like this was a solid conclusion to the duology and a great debut for the author. I loved that it was kept at just 2 books and not overly drawn out.

The high points for me were the time in Lapis Deep, which painted a vivid picture of this realm under the sea and Lore’s time back in Duskmere with her people. And Finn 😍 everything about Finn.

Where I feel like it fell flat was in supporting details. If a character wasn’t needed they just disappeared until later and if a journey was too arduous it was just skipped and by the next chapter we were there. The ending battle was also convenient and could have used more details. So overall not a bad book at all if you want an adventure and perfect to pick up if you want fantasy without too much weighing it down.

My heart! This story! I have so many things to say but cannot put my thoughts into words properly. I love this world and these characters so so much.

Lore is so beyond strong, she is beautiful inside and out and deserves all the happiness in the world. Her love and dedication to those around her is so admirable and her story is so wonderful. This is how a duology should be done, it’s built out so well and so in depth, it never feels like it drags. Every moment is so important and keeps you on your toes. Her love triangle has me kicking my feet and I love the depth of her choices.

Thankful for the opportunity to read the conclusion to the amazing duology! Although it didn’t hit for me hard as Lore of the Wilds I still enjoyed it.