✨ Book Review ✨

Lore of the Tides by Analeigh Sbrana
⭐️⭐️⭐️

The sequel to Lore of the Wilds, this book picks up where we last left Lore. She wakes up in the middle of the ocean on a ship, with a broken heart and feeling the sting of the betrayal she experienced.


The magical world and side characters in this book make it truly special to me. I loved the introduction of new characters who are lovable and join Lore on her journey as she tries to find a long lost grimoire.

The pacing of this book felt slow and there were a lot of side quests that seemed to bog the story down. Lore’s internal monologue is tedious at times as well, but overall I enjoyed this one!


*Thank you NetGalley and Harper Voyager for the eARC in exchange for an honest review 💌


Review to be posted on goodreads and instagram on pub day!

Thank you so much to Analeigh Sbrana and NetGalley for an eARC of this book.

4.5 stars!

I had sooooo much fun reading this. I was thinking about it even when not reading. I really enjoyed this story, the characters, the found family, the twists and turns, the love triangle. The love triangle!!! A good, simple, fun and fast read with an enjoyable story. An excellent way to end a duology.

Amazing! Loved seeing Lore come into her own strength and power. The love triangle was *chef’s kiss*. Loved discovering a new part of this world and new characters as well! I was so looking forward to this and it did not disappoint!

I really really wanted to love this book but it just wasn’t connecting for me. While I thought the idea was great, at times the dialogue just felt juvenile.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
I’ll be honest this story really impressed me, especially considering how rocky the first book felt for me. I went into the duology wanting to love it: the premise was strong, the worldbuilding was promising, and the cover art? Gorgeous. Physically I also saw myself in Lore which doesn’t happen often. So safe to say I was rooting hard for this one to deliver and I’m happy to say, Lore of the Tides made it worth it!
The plot is fast-paced, almost chaotic at times, but in the best way. The story is structured in three arcs, which helped organize the all the action in Lore’s quest. At first I was so confused, because I thought they were just going through random side quests but by the end, it all tied up perfectly.
The characters evolved so much in this one too. I found myself actually liking Syrelle way more this time around especially once he dropped the whole “pretending to be someone else” bit. (That plotline made him so irredeemable to me in book one, I wish we had just started here.) And surprisingly… the love triangle? Didn’t hate it either. In fact, I was kind of rooting for a throuple by the end. Lore with both of them? I’d read that.
The new characters were just as charming I especially loved the siren royal family. One thing that threw me a bit: Lore’s fox/moth companion from book one didn’t really show up much here? I thought that dynamic had Disney sidekick potential, but it fizzled out. Cute idea, but wasn’t used to its full potential in my opinion.
Lore herself grew on me a lot. In this book, she finally felt like a strong, layered protagonist. She stood her ground, stayed compassionate even with people who didn’t deserve it, and made sacrifices for her family that felt honest and real. I loved how resilient she was with or without supernatural powers.
And Finn…A literal dreamboat. But who’s really surprised a baddie with waist-length locs and a sassy mouth sold me? And the hair care moments between him and Lore? I LIVEDDDD. As a Black girl who rarely sees us in fantasy worlds (let alone at sea) this made my heart happy.
One of the most unexpected things I appreciated was how the book handled Lore’s period. It was brief but written with so much care and tenderness the stress of experiencing that on top of all the other stuff she had to worry about, I genuinely felt seen(can you tell I’m fighting for my life this finals season?) It even led to one of the cutest scenes in the whole story. More of this in fantasy, please!!!
The action sequences were intense and surprisingly gory, but I was hooked. What I struggled with in book one (the clunky blend of whimsy and adult themes) was much more balanced here. Last time, Lore's voice felt too young for the mature tone the story was aiming for, making certain spicy scenes feel off. But here? It worked. The tone, the stakes, the sensuality all finally clicked.
I’m honestly proud of the author. The growth from book one to book two is impressive, and if this is what she’s capable of in just one sequel, I’ll definitely be waiting for whatever she writes next.
This book solidified my love for short, satisfying duologies. The world feels rich and complete, but there’s just enough charm to make me wish for more. And really, that’s the best kind of fantasy ending you could hope for.

I'd like to start out by saying a huge thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager for the eARC of this book to read so that I could provide my own thoughts and review.

Let me say that this sequel was FANTASTIC!! Analeigh writes so beautifully that I am shocked that she doesn't have more readers that are clambering to get her books, like many of the other big names in the romantasy world. It has recently come to my attention that there are only EIGHT traditionally published black adult romantasy authors (thank you so much for highlighting this, Analeigh!). I really don't want my friends and other romantasy authors to sleep on this duology.

She gives us everything that we love:
- Fae
- Magic
- Beautifully descriptive fantasy world
- Males that would burn the world for her
- A FMC that will lead her people with the dignity that they deserve
- Female Rage (yesssssss, we love it!!)
- An absolutely Epic Adventure

I'm so glad that I was able to read the conclusion of Lore's story as she is truly a FMC that I think needs to be heard right now.

Favorite Quotes:

- "We cannot be cynical when fighting for justice. When your cause is a worthy one, it is hope that will fuel the fires of change."

- "She'd wanted to avoid this because she was filled with so much rage it was like plugging a geyser with earth. She could feel the dirt dampening her anger, shaking and shifting, ready to explode apart by a scalding torrent of devastation and hatred." (how beautiful is this description?!)

- "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 am going to work SO HARD to keep this spoiler free! I LUCKED into the ARC from Net Galley & I cannot be more grateful to have done that!

First of all Lore has some FEELINGS in this one and so did I after that reveal at the end of book 1. The way that Lore moves through carrying this responsibility but also gets to have her emotions - the messy complex and evolving kind - was so well done and thats I think the books biggest flex.

Now the romance part - I don't even know how to tackle it without a spoiler. Suffice it to say that it's WAY more complex than you think it's going to be in the literal best way. Watching Lore be loved unwaveringly, without needing to ask, where she is ALWAYS first, with such a ferocity. PHEW! It was hot.

We got a lot deeper into the history of this quest, into the backstory of Syrelle, into the tangle of all of these lives, and that moves the plot to the next level.

All that said I do wish we could have lived in the end a little longer, not because it was rushed but because some people deserved every bit of it and I would have liked to savor it more.

10/10 would recommend and YOU NEED TO read it.

I’m going to give this one 4.25 stars
This duology ended very well. This is the first set of books that this author has done and I think they were executed very well. I will say the pacing of this one is much faster then the first and I really think that Analeigh Sbrana is off to a fantastic start in her writing journey. There was a time I was curious who Laura was going to end up with, and that normally doesn’t happen. I figured it was going to be what it was, but she had me questioning it.
I loved the added world building taking it on and under the water. I really enjoyed getting to know a different part of the world. I also love how we always end up in more libraries!
My biggest critique would be that though the pacing was much faster when we got to the end it felt like it was to fast. I do think that overall this was a solid ending and a solid duology and I can’t wait to see what Analeigh Sbrana brings is next.
Thank you to Harper Voyager for the complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Voyager for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book!

I want to first say that I enjoyed this book more than I enjoyed the first one (which I still enjoyed, but found I wasn't as invested as I wanted to be.) I felt much more connected to the characters and the story in this book, and I was really rooting for them!

I found some of the pacing to be off, where we would long chapters about Lore's inner monologue about something seemingly unimportant, and then chapters with some of the action were shorter and less detailed. I also found the romance plot to be a bit rushed, and I wasn't as satisfied as I wanted to be when it finally came to pass.

However, I really enjoyed the detailing in the world, especially the underwater kingdom! I found the descriptions to be really beautiful and magical.

But, most of all, I found Lore's character development to be the best part of both books. At the beginning, we get a cowering human who has her whole life turned upside down and has to rely on others to save her. At the end, we see her as this confident, powerful, unafraid woman that changes the lives of all of her people. It's an incredible story to have been apart of, and I felt like a proud sister or something as I watched her succeed.

Overall, I definitely recommend this series and am excited to see what other stories this author has in mind in the future!

This sequel picks up immediately after the cliffhanger from book one, without a recap. That worked perfectly for me since I read the first book before starting this ARC. I really enjoyed this story and honestly struggled to write a review without spoilers! The worldbuilding is immersive, and I found myself wanting to learn even more about the magical systems. (I typically prefer dark academia and epic fantasy, so I know that is just a personal preference)

The pacing is fast, almost too fast at times. While it kept the tension high and the plot exciting, it left the romance kinda rushed. I would’ve loved to see more bonding and romantic moments. But, I also understand that spending more time on romance might’ve taken away from the action and forward momentum.

Lore’s character arc is a major highlight. She grew from a curious, uncertain girl to a strong, determined leader, which is so good.

Overall, this was a satisfying and intense finale. Some parts could’ve used more development, particularly in the romantic subplots and pacing, but it’s still a great read, especially if you love powerful heroines, elemental magic, and Fae.

I wanted to devour this book, but I forced myself to slow down so I could savor my time with Lore, Finndryl and the glorious universe Analeigh Sbrana has created.

Sbrana ended the duology in a satisfying and captivating manner. When I love a first book in a series as thoroughly as I adored Lore of the Wilds I am often concerned the second book what live up to what I have built up in my head as my dream for the characters and the universe I love. I shouldn't have been worried about because Lore of the Tides exceeded my expectations by leagues - and my expectations were HIGH.

I absolutely love how the series ended, the growth of Lore as an individual and within her relationships. I was incredibly surprised with how several of the conflicts resolved, but I felt at peace and grateful for the unexpected turns the story took.

I am once again floored by Sbrana's fresh and captivating take on fantasy and the adventures she sends her characters on.

I forgot how much I loved the world of Lore of the Wilds until I picked up this sequel. Following Lore Ameleyu after the surprising end of the first book (no spoilers, but I didn’t see it coming), we follow her continued adventures to save her people, a group of humans oppressed by the magical fae.

Within the first page, I was so happy to dive back in. The writing style of the author was so refreshing to read, and I loved the twists and turns that popped up out of nowhere. Despite a few word choices that felt jarring compared to the bulk of the book, I was at the edge of my seat and read the whole thing within 24 hours.

Honestly, my only issue is that the final climax of the book felt rushed. I would’ve loved to see more time dedicated to it. Still, I highly recommend this book and look forward to reading the author’s future endeavors!

Okay, so I have been waiting to read this book since the first in the series, "Lore of the Wilds", was released. I devoured the first book in a matter of days and NEEDED more. The anticipation and excitement I had for this book were incredibly high, and it did not disappoint. Once again, I devoured this pretty hefty novel in a matter of days, and it felt like the only thing sustaining me for those few days. The pacing of this novel was wonderful (book one felt a tad bit slow at times), and I enjoyed it wholeheartedly. Even though this could have probably been split down into two books, I'm so glad it wasn't; my heart couldn't handle waiting another year for a third book. The one and only thing that felt lackluster at all was the ending. Although the conclusion itself did feel good, the last 5 or so chapters as a whole felt a bit rushed. There was so much build-up for the final fight scene, and the climax just didn't peak as well as I thought it would. I wanted there to be a bit more of a fight, a bit more planning going in, a bit more action to make that build-up feel explosively satisfying, but it felt too clean. Overall all though (even with my minor complaint about the lackluster final battle), I loved this book and it was everything I needed the sequel to be. I will 10000% be purchasing a copy for my personal collection as soon as it drops!

I did not think the dialog and the banter were very good, so the relationships did not feel realistic, and I didn't really root for any of the characters. Also the stakes didn't feel high - all the problems were almost immediately solved. The magic system was not well explained, and was basically used to make the main character's life easy.

I was quite tired of the inner dialogue about hating her captor especially since nothing major is going on in the first 9 chapters so it seems excessive. I could care less that she wasn’t able to do anything locked up, that’s common sense.

Lapis Deep wasn’t original seeing as the book is named Deeping Lune.

I enjoyed visiting Lapis Deep simple fact of Finn and the history of his grandfather. At this part though I do feel like she’s over attached, maybe I feel this way because of Asher, it was no real time before going to the next guy.

60% in and Lore is still going back and forth with her captor. At this point I feel like majority of the book is them going back and forth. The pacing is slow because we repeat this so much.

The ending really fell off, the fighting was lack luster and anticlimactic.

I’m a sucker for happy endings though and this was definitely a nice duo. I just which we got a bit more information and more lore of the land and descriptions of all the didn’t fae and magical people..

I adored Lore of the Wild, Lore of the Tides is the perfect follow up! I loved the new areas of the world we are taken too and the amount of detailing in each one is the right balance. Lore comes so far since the first book! Lovely cottagecore adventure vibes with a splash of spice!

With Lore of the Tides, Analeigh Sbrana has us returning to her enchanting world with the same quiet beauty and emotional depth that made her debut, Lore of the Wilds, so memorable. This second installment doesn't just build on the first but it expands it, immersing readers in a new coastal setting steeped in salt, fog, and ancient secrets.

Sbrana’s writing is once again a highlight that is serving us lyrical prose, cozy core, whilst also giving us some longing and adventure. What sets Lore of the Tides apart is how it feels, cozy with excitement on the side. Even as the story explores grief, transformation, and hidden magic, it offers a sense of comfort and warmth, somewhat like a good book/tale handed down through ones family. The slower pace won’t be for everyone, but it suits the introspective tone and allows the world building to shine.

Fans of Lore of the Wilds will appreciate how this book carries forward the thematic heart and tone. Never losing the connection to nature, personal healing, and the quiet strength of women.

For readers who love soft fantasy, sea folklore, and stories that feel like a warm blanket on a stormy night, Lore of the Tides is a deeply cozy and satisfying read. Sbrana truly mastered the craft of intimate, mythic storytelling.

Thank you to Sbrana for allowing me to feel all the feels and embark on this journey with Lore once more. I feel like I needed this escape from reality for a minute and you gave me an adventure! Also, thank you to Harper Voyager and Netgalley for making it possible!

This book was one of my most highly anticipated reads for 2025 and it did not disappoint!

Analeigh’s writing is nothing short of poetic and magical. I really feel like we got to see a lot of her personality and sense of humor shine through the characters in this sequel and I have pages on pages of highlighted quotes that gave me the feels. I was wary when I realized I was walking into a love triangle but Analeigh executed this one perfectly and I love that I could understand Lore’s pain because I had a hard time deciding who I would choose if I were in her shoes.

I held back one star because as much as I enjoyed the plot and the fun characters we met during the journey underwater, I did feel a bit disconnected with that storyline and struggled to pick my kindle up for a few chapters. And I was ready to RIOT when soft curly pubes were mentioned during the spicy scene 😂 I know we’re adults and everybody has them but chile pleaseeee.

All jokes aside, I loved this duology and will continue to recommend it to anyone who needs a bit of magic on their TBR!

I've just barely made it to 52% of the book...and I fear I've been pushing myself through almost the entire time. Even making it this far into the book it feels like a lot of time is being wasted and there is no clear direction. Maybe someday I'll pick this back up and finish it...but for now I have to drop it.

Overall, I quite enjoyed the book. However, I felt that the explicit content could have been omitted without detracting from the story. In fact, I found those sections to be somewhat awkward and ended up skipping over them.

Without the inclusion of those scenes, I would have rated the book a perfect 5/5 stars. As it is, I would still give it a strong 4/5.