I loved Lore of the Wilds, the first book in this breathtaking fantasy duology by Analeigh Sbrana, and I had high hopes for the second book, Lore of the Tides. Well, Ms.Sbrana blew me away and outdid my expectations. Lore of the Tides takes everything I loved about Lore of the Wilds—feminine rage, strong, lovable FMC, love triangle, political intrigue, gorgeously drawn locales—and expands upon them beautifully. Much like Lore of the Wilds, Lore of the Tides explores issues of oppression and genocide, drawing parallels between the fantasy realm of the books and our real world.

Lore of the Tides is a satisfying conclusion to Lore of the Wilds and is not only a richly drawn fantasy story but also a smart and insightful exploration of systems of racism, oppression, and resistance in our everyday lives.

Thank you to Harper Voyager, The Nerd Fam and of course Analeigh Sbrana for the gifted eARC of Lore of the Tides.

It is not often that I am disappointed in the end of a duology, but this was one that I had to push myself to finish it, hoping for a redeeming end.

Areas I wish were different:
- The pacing. It felt off the whole book, like we were focused on the wrong thing the whole time.
- Lore's romantic development. I understand her complex feelings, especially after such a recent betrayal, but it felt muddy as a reader.
- The king, as a BBEG, felt too distant to Lore. As a reader, we didn't meet him or even have a full view of his evilness until almost the end of the second book.

I absolutely loveddddd Lore of the Wilds! And I couldn't wait to read Lore of the Tides! I wasn't too big of a fan of the love triangle but I did enjoy the story thoroughly! It's pretty fast paced because there's sooo much going on in this book that isn't too long.

Lore of the Tides is an absolutely stunning follow up to one of my favorite books from 2024, Lore of the Wilds. Lore is such a unique and compelling FMC and the entire book I was on the edge of my seat as I was presented with yet another twist. It was nothing that I expected, in such a good way, and I found it to be such a satisfying conclusion to Lore’s story (even though I would happily read more Lore books in the future.

When I first read Lore of the Wilds, I actually couldn't stop talking about it and recommended it to every reader I know! Analeigh Sbrana's writing and world building is unmatched and I'm so happy that Lore of the Tides exceeded my expectations for the conclusion of this duology. This story is perfectly suited to be over two books and I just can't wait to read Sbrana's future releases.

If you are a fan of fantasy, this duology absolutely needs to be on your TBR.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and to the publisher for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This duology has a very interesting and unique plot line. I enjoyed the quests to find the magical grimoires. I think I am finding I enjoy fantasy books with this kind of fun adventure. I like the different woodland and ocean fae. This book had an intelligent FMC, enemies to lovers, multiple love interests, hidden identity, found family, and a unique magic system.

I have to say I think I enjoy duologies. They seem to be the easiest to follow and I don't feel like there is too much filler to make a series drag. This was such a wonderful YA romantasy. The story was packed with a lot of action and drama.

3.75 ⭐ rounded up

Another richly crafted world that continues to enchant. Lore's adventures in this sequel add layer upon layer to the already intricate world from book 1 and I love that there's always something more to explore.

That said, I couldn't help but feel like the plot was a bit scattered. It felt too vast to fit into one sequel. It had the scope of an epic journey that deserved another book tbh. The pacing was a bit scattered and it felt a bit rushed and overstuffed at times. I think Analeigh may have felt that herself too because this quote really sums it up:

<blockquote><spoiler> Lore forgot that she had battled sea monsters and braved a volcano. Had faced griffins, a reverie, and caves bursting with insects. That she had done all this to become powerful, more powerful than him. (Kindle Locations 6472-6473). </spoiler></blockquote>

There was real potential for a "why-choose" romance with all the delicious tension, but it didn't follow through and that's a real missed opportunity imo. I was very happy to see that the romantic tone shifted towards something more adult and less YA feeling.

Overall, this was enjoyable, but a touch overwhelming. The tonal shift in the romance is a step forward, more grown-up and spicier as well. If you enjoyed book 1 and want to continue Lore's journey then I definitely recommend picking this up.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for providing this ARC for my honest review.

Lore of the Tides is the perfect mix of adventure, magic, and romantasy and it made the perfect beach/pool read. It was fast-paced and felt like I was immersing myself in the world of underwater kingdoms. It has some of my favorite tropes with enemies to lovers, quests, and my favorite found family. Since I read this on the beach I could literally hear the waves and smell the salt air as I was pulled into Lore’s quest. If you love a slow burn, resilient FMC story this is the one! If you’re looking for a great escapist fantasy that’s perfect for summer, this is the one! I really enjoyed this one!

3.75 🌟 mostly because I love Lore. I love that she leads a rebellion against an oppressive king and fights for and dreams of freedom of humans.

There is playful banter, tender moments, and plenty of adventure. Lore comes into herself more and stands taller. But she still has moments of weakness and is able to lean into those around her to help her stay strong and keep hope alive. She stands firm in what she believes. I love that.

I didn’t really care for her relationship with Finn as much in this book. I enjoyed the way it was developing in book 1. But then BAM this one we’re all in? Idk. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed Finn. I just would have liked to have been convinced of their relationship more.

Then there’s Syrelle. I loved his character. I kept thinking we were going to get more of his full story. We got pieces and it just made my heart melt.

The ending ties together in a nice neat little bow and it resolves very quickly. I’m not quite satisfied by it. It was just all so fast and clean.

This book is good. But it just just didn’t fully land for me. I feel like the author has incredible ideas and just had something that would have been better suited as a trilogy so that everything could have been flushed out better.

I’m grateful to NerdFam, Netgalley, and Harper Collins for the opportunity to read this as an ARC.

✨BOOK REVIEW✨

Lore of the Tides - Analea Sbrana

I first heard about this duology when the first book, Lore of the Wilds was released. I purchased the book after hearing insane praise from book reviewers and content creators. It then sat on my shelf until I nabbed an ARC of Lore of the Tides. My track record for requesting ARCs of books well into a series before ever starting the series is quite robust and this was no exception. Thankfully for me, this is a duology and a page turning one at that.

Lore is a human, and humans have been ruled by the fae for as long as she can remember. When Lore is forced to work for a fae noble she does so to protect her family and gain the means to journey and find a free home for the humans, away from fae rule. When Lore is called to an ancient magical book she takes it, and with help from a soldier she has befriended, escapes. The first book ends on a major plot twist/cliffhanger (so thankful to have the completed duology!) and the second picks up right from the jump. In the second book, Lore travels to faraway lands and meets more cohorts along the way as she strategizes how to overthrow the fae royalty and help humankind free themselves from their restraints.

I really enjoyed this duology, it read on the YA side in regards to the character’s maturity levels at times but it also excelled in world building for me. This was an epic adventure with a celestial witchy magic system that oddly enough felt refreshingly classic in a good way for me. Yes there are the classic romance tropes (love triangle) and the classism/discrimination/revolution plot lines that we see so frequently in current fantasy series but, Lore of the Wilds duology stands on its own and offers an enjoyable, BIPOC fantasy adventure that is full of action, love and found family.

Lore of the Tides is out now; thank you to Harper Voyager and Netgalley for my copy; all opinions are my own.

I loved that we got to know the characters more in this book. The tug between Lore's heart and mind had me kicking and yelling! This book was just as fast paced and entertaining as the first. A must read

So I DNF this book just because I just couldn't get into to.. the 1st book was so much better! It was great cover!

Lore of the Tides by Analeigh Sbrana is a strong sequel to Lore of the Wilds, filled with high-stakes tension, magical intrigue, and rich worldbuilding. Lore Alemeyu awakens aboard a ship in the middle of the ocean, held prisoner with no escape in sight. Distrusted for her magic, betrayed by a Fae she once trusted, and forced into a dangerous race for the powerful sun book, Lore must navigate both the treacherous crew and the ocean’s mysterious depths. Along the way, she encounters breathtaking undersea kingdoms, faces threats that could doom humanity, and wrestles with the pull of a Fae ally whose intentions, and heart, may be as dangerous as the quest itself.

I enjoyed seeing Lore grow into her powers while exploring new and vividly imagined Fae realms, with the underwater kingdom being a particular highlight. Sbrana balances action and romance well, keeping the story moving while deepening the emotional stakes. As the second book in her debut YA duology, it builds nicely on the first and leaves me eager to see where she takes her storytelling next.

I loved Lore of the Wilds, but I think I loved this one even more. Lore develops a lot as a character, especially after the struggles of her circumstances as the book starts. Sbrana expertly handles the love interests’ plotlines and how Lore’s love life continues in this finale of the duology. Lore’s growth in this book feels natural as she learns how to use her new powers and work to try to save her people.

If you’re looking for your new romantasy obsession, you need to read this duology.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to @harpervoyager_us for the copy of the book! All thoughts are my own.

The stunning finale in Analeigh Sbranas debut duology. I loved everything about this book. It felt fresh and fun and exciting. I loved the characters. What makes a really good story for me is when where you end is so far from where you started you can’t really believe how you got there but you enjoyed the journey.

By the final pages, I was left with the feeling that I’d been promised a journey but never actually left the dock.

If you’re looking for lyrical writing and an immersive mood piece, you might find this worthwhile. But if you want a story that actually goes somewhere, this voyage may leave you stranded

This was one of the times that the sequel stole the show. I enjoyed this ARC read for it's fantasy and Analeigh gave us adventure in a way that allowed us to laugh along, gasp along, and sigh along.

I'm overall quite pleased with the easy reading and the love that our characters grew into. Maybe she's in her epic quest era.

Lore of the Ties was a fantastic sequel!

I always have such a great time reviewing sequels because how do you gosh about a story that you already love more? I adored the way the author continued the story and the journey the characters went through, and I hope everyone jumps in and loves it as much as I did

My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: .5 🌶️
Format: tandem ebook & audiobook

The plot in this duology is very unique and interesting, I loved the epic quest to find these magical grimoires and I loved how AS created a different take on woodland fae and oceanic fae (sirens). And y’all know I love a little animal sidekick, even though the fox didn’t show up a lot in this book.

The audio was a little too slow paced for me, though the narrator did really well at injecting emotion into the scenes. I did have to adjust the speed to 2.5x to keep my attention on the situation, which I seem to have to do to narrators who speak slower than average. I don’t usually like to speed up the audio for fear of missing emotional impact.

I’ll be looking forward to seeing what new projects AS will be working on in the future!

Notable Tropes ——

📕 Intelligent FMC
🧜🏻‍♀️ Magical Books
📕 Oppressed Minority/Rebellion
🧜🏻‍♀️ Enemies to Lovers to Enemies
📕 Mulitple love interests
🧜🏻‍♀️ Hidden Identity
📕 Found Family
🧜🏻‍♀️ Unique Magic System


Thank you to Avon & Harper Voyager for the eARC and to HarperAudio Adult for the ALC! I appreciate the opportunity to read/listen and review and give my honest opinion.

I am irrationally mad that BookTok hasn’t picked up Lore of the Tides and blasted it across the universe, because this series deserves all the hype and then some. Analeigh Sbrana has built a world I never want to leave — the kind you keep thinking about even when you’re not reading.

This book? Absolutely awesome. A full 5-star read for me. The characters feel like old friends, the worldbuilding is rich and immersive, and the plot had me hooked from page one. I’ve fallen completely in love with the whole series — the world, the cast, everything.

Also… I now desperately need a shape-shifting pet fox in my life. Someone please make that happen.

If you haven’t picked up this series yet, do yourself a favor and dive in. You can thank me later.