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Member Reviews

I did NOT want this book to end. I took all the time I had to finish this because it was just too good!

The way Lore navigated betrayal and love is unspoken. She grows into the protector and warrior she always dreamed of. She found her voice, her family and the love she deserves. This duology is everything. Even though it is over I still want more. The way the story never gave way is just a testament to Analeigh's writing. This is on my list of books I will forever recommend!

Love! Love! Loved it!

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After leaving us with a terrible cliffhanger for Lore of the Wilds, Analeigh Sbrana is back with more Lore. Lore of the Tides picks up not long after the end of Lore of the Wilds, with Lore and Finn being held prisoner on a boat by Syrelle and his awful aunt.

Lore is an absolute powerhouse of a main character and her journey through Lore of the Tides only displays that even more. Lore of the Tides is a wonderful finale to the duology and I'm looking forward to see what else Analeigh Sbrana writes.

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Lore of the Tides is a beautifully written fantasy that blends rich folklore with emotional depth and high stakes. The world feels both haunting and alive with vivid imagery that pulls you into the sea-soaked setting. The protagonist’s journey is compelling, full of grief, strength, and hard choices, and her dynamic with Asher adds tension and intrigue throughout. OMG I loved her and Finn 🌶️🔥 Their chemistry was everything. I also loved how the story explored identity, legacy, and the weight of ancient power. Fans of lyrical prose and morally complex characters will find this an unforgettable read.

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ARC Review – Lore of the Tides
Lore of the Tides picks up immediately where Lore of the Wilds left off—so if you thought we were slowing down to catch our breath, think again. We’re tossed straight into an underwater world full of new characters, ancient secrets, and ocean magic that feels both beautiful and dangerous.

This installment expands the universe in a big way. There’s rich world-building, some juicy reveals, and that slow unraveling of lore (no pun intended) that keeps you curious. But what I really appreciated? We’re still following a Black girl discovering just how powerful she is—even when the world around her keeps shifting, testing, and trying her.

It’s giving legacy, it’s giving destiny, it’s giving “I’m not the one to play with.”

If you love your fantasy with layered worlds, magical politics, and heroines learning to stand in their power, go ahead and add this one to your TBR.

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My jaw was on the floor with this one. I was on the edge of my seat and wanting so much more. Like SO OOOOOOOO much.

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The second book in the Lore of the Wilds duology picks up with Lore Alemeyu waking up on a ship in the middle of the ocean, held prisoner with no way to escape. Facing a distrustful crew and betrayal by a Fae she thought she could trust, Lore must navigate threats on the ship and beyond to find the sun book and help free her people. All the while, she can't help but feel the intense pull of a Fae male who's been helping her all along. But is she willing to risk her human heart for creatures that have burned her in the past?

Sbrana's world-building is exceptional, creating a vivid and immersive setting that enhances the emotional depth of the story. The romance adds complexity to Lore's journey, though some readers found the love triangle dynamic a bit predictable. Overall, Lore of the Tides is a satisfying conclusion to the duology, offering a blend of adventure, magic, and heartfelt moments.

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The first book was really really good and moved at an incredible pace. This one slowed down a bit too much for me and then didn’t answer some questions I still had. But I did love Lore and I loved the action and I especially loved how the love triangle resolves. Syrelle ended up being such a good character in the end.

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This book was a little hard for me to get through. I think part of the problem is I do have a hard time with love triangles and neither of the love interest had me rooting for the main character to end up with.

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Lord of the Tides was a great read! It felt like a true step up from the first book, with a more consistent tone and tighter pacing throughout. The love triangle was handled brilliantly and it added real depth to the character dynamics.

This sequel truly leveled up the duology’s plot. The story is packed with action, yet it never loses sight of its emotional core. I especially loved Lore’s journey—her exploration of her powers and the way she was forced to confront hard truths about herself felt both personal and powerful. Including elements of the feminine everyday was also refreshing to see.

One theme throughout the book that I loved was the importance of libraries and how they are the key to everything. I couldn't agree more!

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I made the mistake of thinking this was book 1 so while I was a little confused, I still had a great time reading it! I will definitely be going back to read book 1 and then rereading Lore of the Tides to get the full effect of the duet because I think I will absolutely love it!

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I really enjoyed the plot of this book after feeling unsure of Lore of the Wilds, but of course, the cliffhanger had me coming back! The world building of The Sunken Garden was amazing and I really enjoyed being there as well as voyaging across the ocean. I felt Lore’s character growth was a huge part of this story and I loved that aspect. We can clearly see her frustrations and her mind finally decide she’s not going to take any more of this. The romance I thought was good as well but I definitely enjoyed the plot a bit more!

Finally I feel like Lore would have absolutely been blasting That’s So True by Gracie Abram’s during the first half of this book!

Thank you @netgalley @avonbooks for this gifted e-arc!

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5⭐️2🌶️
-Found Family
-CottageCore
-Unique Magical Systems
-Love Triangle
-Female Rage
-Mythical Creatures

“ 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”

“ power doesn’t always roar. Sometimes it refuses. Sometimes it walks away.”

“ she yearned for the luxury of trust”

Oh goodness, what a treat this book was. I hardly ever say this, but I honestly enjoyed this sequel even more than the first, and that’s saying something because I really liked the first one.Lore’s growth? Phenomenal. Watching her evolve into a young woman who’s not just fierce but unrelenting! It was everything. I was rooting for her the entire time. The way she navigates power, pain, and purpose felt so real & relatable. She never softened herself for anyone, and I truly loved that for her.And the world building? Impeccable. Every corner of this universe felt rich and intentional. The journey into the different lands and magical systems had me fully immersed. I loved seeing all the different cultures, people, creatures and how Lore interacted with them. It gave the story so much depth. Ok so Characters lol The way I feel about Asher the same way I feel about Tamlin, I ain’t accepting criticism about them two…😩. I still have such a soft spot for him. His backstory, the choices he had to make, his pain….ugh nearly broke me. I wanted him for Lore so badly. I know he messed up, but damnit I believe he deserves redemption! But baby Finn? Ugh. He’s like a breath of fresh air in a burning world. I don’t usually go for yes men…..but was just exactly what Lore needed. Focused, playful, supportive, loving. He encouraged her, teased her, and lightened her when the world was trying to break her down. Their relationship dynamic was perfect. I loveeeeeedddd when he braided her hair OMGGGG. One of my favorite parts of this book was the female rage. It was raw, powerful, and so timely. Lore’s frustration, her hopelessness, her push to stay in the fight i resonated with deeply. Especially with how things feel in our country right now, I felt that. It was honest, painful, but beautifully portrayed.The writing? Absolutely beautiful & full of banter!!! & it comes with a delicious little dose of spice, which I absolutely enjoyed!! Kudos to Analeigh this Duology was exquisite. Thank you NetGalley, Analeigh, And Harper Voyager for the incredible opportunity to ARC read for this book!

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4 solid stars! So freaking good! I literally bought the audiobook because I loved it so much! Analeigh is officially an auto buy author for me!

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DNF overall.

I didn’t read the first book in the series, but the premise caught my interest when I came across it. Unfortunately, this is a DNF. The writing felt a bit unpolished, and there were a lot of small errors throughout that weren't caught in editing. The magic and several plot points seemed too convenient for the sake of the story and just kind of existed when needed. The romance/spice also felt off and disjointed, this book felt YA but had adult elements so it was just odd. It just wasn’t the right fit for me. Thank you to NetGalley/the publisher for the early copy.

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If you loved The Lore of the Wilds for its magic and emotional intensity, Lore of the Tides brings a satisfying and vivid conclusion. It’s haunting, bold, and full of grace—and while it’s not perfect, Lore’s quest for justice, identity, and love makes it a memorable end to the duology. Expect slow pacing at the start and a rush of high drama near the end. Some of Lore's internal monologue does become repetitive, and I am not a fan of love triangles no matter how minor.

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After last book’s cliffhanger, I was flabbergasted. I had no clue what was going to happen. I don’t think I could have been in a more stunned state than I was when I started this. I was feeling all the betrayal Lore feels.
To me, the best part of this book is that when Lore feels things or realizes something, we are led through her entire thought process and all the implications of those realizations. She walks us through all of her thoughts while she works through them herself. Because of this, we feel as she does with the same intensity. We cannot understand the depth of emotions with a basic statement. Lore (written by Analeigh Sbrana) walks us through the entire process. When she’s livid, we are shown that progression until we are livid too. Whatever she feels, she feels deeply and so do we.
That’s a great character and even better storytelling.

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I originally wasn't aware that this was the continuation of a duology so I wasn't going to review it since I hadn't read the first book. I managed to get my hands on the first book of this series and I read through it but didn't love it. I thought maybe the story would get better during this second one, but I just couldn't connect with the story at all. I did finish it because I don't like DNFing ARC's. I felt lost with the magic system and was really hoping for the story to captivate me more.

This duology just wasn't for me.

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Thank you to Analeigh Sbrana, Avon, Harper Voyager, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book.

I want to start with admiring just how beautiful the cover of this book is!
I enjoyed the first book and was super excited to pick up the second/conclusion of this story. After the twist ending from the first book I was dying to know where we would go next and who Lore would choose in the end.

I wanted to love this book but I did have some issues with the pacing as well as intimate scenes that felt very unnecessary and uncomfortable.

The ending was as well a bit abrupt and left me feeling as though there should have been more. There was a huge lag and drawn out side plot in the middle of the book that maybe should have been shortened to add to the ending/conclusion of this whole tale.

Now, don't get me wrong, the book was still enjoyable! I really do like the characters and the world that Analeigh Sbrana has created. I hope she writes a novella or something else to help tie up the ending. I will definitely be reading more of her work in the future. Lore is an extremely well written female protagonist that is strong, independent, caring, and kind. Her journey to find the magical books and the adventure along the way is wildly entertaining!

I appreciated that she did gives us a duology for this work and there is still room for her to explore other characters in this world if she wanted.

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ARC Review

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶🌶/5

What a perfect conclusion to Lore's story. This is a 5-star series for me! I've already recommended Lore of the Wilds to everyone and now I will be more insistent!

Things I loved about this book:
1. FINNDRYL... enough said! He has made it on to my top 5 book boyfriend list!
2. LORE! I love this character! I love that her strength comes from her community and her softness! The emotional depth this character has is *chef's kiss*
3. The expansion of the world! I love that there are more than Fae and Humans in this world! Sirens and Orcs and Pixies, oh my!
4. Syrelle's redemption

Things I hated about this book:
1. It's the end of the series!
2. BUGS!!!!!!!

Overall, I loved this book and I want to live in Lore's new world! But also, the bug scenes are my greatest fear and I am not over it.

Thank you to Analeigh Sbrana, Harper Voyager, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

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LOVED IT! Sometimes the sequel is better than the first book and this is one of those instances. I feel like in the first book we got introduced to so much of the world and the characters it was hard to keep up. Book 2 is filled with more adventure, action, and romance (everything a fantasy book should have). I will say it started off rather suddenly and I was surprised by how quick the story moved at the start, but it made sense once the premise was laid out. Additionally, I do think acquiring the second book as a quest was a good trope, and I really did like the change of romantic interest. My only qualm was the many references to them being a throuple, because she kept saying she would never forgive the one who betrayed her. Also, it was a little hard to follow the background history of the fae characters but not enough to not keep reading. I really enjoyed the siren queen and her husband, they were delightful. I also thought the siren prince was going to have his own agenda, but he was just a cute himbo. Overall, very good duology, would recommend as a romantasy starter.

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