This was such a wonderful sequel that spanned so many settings taking the reader on an adventure as well. The love triangle was interesting to follow, and the romantic moments were touching. A main point of this book was Lore’s resolve to help her people. Her adventures along the way made it a page-turner. If you’ve read the first book, don’t hesitate to pick this one up.

The adventure Lore had to go on to save her people was crazy. This book picks up right where the first book leaves off. With Lore right in the middle of all the craziness. This book is full of adventure with trails and riddles for Lore to solve. I loved every minute of it, except the part with all the creepy crawling things in the cave. I also fell in love with all the characters, and the love triangle. The story plot was good and the world building was on point. 5 star read. Plus the book cover is gorgeous.

In the second book of The Lore of the Wilds duology, we find Lore still reeling from the betrayals of book one and imprisoned on a ship. Her adventures once off of the ship are quite exciting. I wanted to keep reading to find out what happens next. The development of the characters was strong and I developed an investment in their journeys and future. There are further adventures and dealings with the Royal Court that were also intriguing. Lore is also grappling with complicated feelings that draw her to two different males. If you are looking for a fun read with plenty of action, with a strong romance subplot, you should give this book a read.

I really, really wanted to love this a lot, but I did not.

There were so many things happening in the first half that I kept thinking "okay, this is okay because there will be a third book", so of course I had to double check and when I realized it was a duology I didn't felt worse about it. The love triangle didn't give me quite what I was hoping, and felt a little rushed to me. Syrelle kept warning her about his uncle and how dangerous he was to her and then by 75% in we still hadn't seen him, but we were introduced to random characters and events that I felt were unnecessary.

Things I really loved about this were pretty simple, but sometimes it really is the little things that make a big impact. Lore discussing being on her period and the pain surrounding it, and Finn helping her with it is something that discussed a whole lot but is realistic and for the MMC to get involved was nice. I enjoyed how loving and caring Finn was, especially when he not only braided her hair for her but knew what he was doing.

Overall, book 2 wasn't it for me, but I would read more from this author in the future as I did enjoy Lore of the Wilds.

Thanks to Netgalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Okay, this was better than the first at holding my attention, but at the end of the day-I just don’t care about this story or these characters.

Lore spends most of the book thinking about how she was betrayed and trying to figure out which guy she wants to be with. I started to think this was going on the “why-choose” direction, but no.

Every trial or obstacle she came across was too easy for her even though in her head she kept saying she was going to die or couldn’t do it. The last 10% is where it gets a smidge bit tough for her and even that was too easy.

Not to mention her being kidnapped multiple times but going along with whatever her kidnappers wanted her to do.. and then going off with random folks she just met a page ago and then they just disappeared- never to be mentioned again.

And the smut-it was fine- probably better if you like the whole “good girl” thing but it came across really cringey here.

I did appreciate the tender moments between the Lore and the guy she chose. That was sweet.

Overall this should be a cozy, YA romantasy with some sex scenes.

I thought that this book was wonderfully written! The adventure was exciting and pulled me right from the start! I was given this book as an arc read and unfortunately didn't realize right away that it was the 2nd book in the series. It didn't make it impossible to follow though so I continued reading and loved every minute! I do plan on doing a re-read starting with the 1st book so I can get the full experience of both books!

I was excited for this sequel after the twists that ended book 1! But for all that leadup I was honestly bored. The second half things start moving and pick up more, but then every roadblock seems solved relatively easy.

After the ending of the first book, I was READY to read Lore of the Tides and it did not disappoint! There are plenty of things I enjoy about this book, but I found that the pacing really hit right. I loved that it felt like a proper quest, as I was reading I knew the goal of the journey and I just got to enjoy. Lore is such a fun main character and her thought process added the perfect sprinkle of zest to the plot. I was avidly rooting for her. Something I thought was incredibly well done though, was the scenery. I could truly imagine the location and immerse myself into what was going on effortlessly. This book was stunning and I think I loved it even more than the first!

✨This ARC was provided by Harper Voyager via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.✨

I did not finish this book. The pacing felt way off. When I reached the half way mark in the book I had to admit to myself that, as much as I loved the first book in this duology, I was not enjoying the second book.

Thank you for the opportunity to read "Lore of the Tides."

Unfortunately, I decided to DNF this book and out of respect for the author I have not rated it on any social media platform. The reason for my DNF is due to not being able to get into the story and stay engaged. I see it’s highly rated so I hope that in the future I might return. I appreciate being selected to receive a copy of this book, thank you!

A dark fantasy that really leans into atmosphere—yes, please. The ocean is both character and threat in this tale, and the lore? It’s rich, deep, and steeped in salt and sorrow. I won’t lie—there were moments it felt dense, but it rewards you if you stick with it.

The protagonist is layered and flawed in a way I think you’ll vibe with. She’s unraveling both a mystery and herself. There are moments of horror, magic, betrayal... and the sea is always watching. It’s like The Shining meets Pirates of the Caribbean—but in a good way.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!

I know. I know. This book has been out for 2 1/2 weeks as I'm writing this review. Lore of the Wilds was such a quick and fun read for me that I was so excited for this one to come out. That being said, I feel there were too many plot lines going at the same time to keep track of the main storyline. I loved the atmosphere and the magic, but with the multitude of characters and side quests, it just kinda fell flat for me. All of the conflict had a quick solution, which led to quite the number of conflicts. Also Lore just wanting to jump on Finndryl at the *slightest* touch, nah.

This is an action packed, cozy duology that is entertaining nonetheless. There is a lot that goes on in this books, lots of battle scenes, lots of fighting for their lives. If you love a quest for a magical book, I would suggest.

Lore of the Tides is one of those rare sequels that surpasses its predecessor. The improvement is clear, from tighter pacing to more confident prose, and I attribute much of that to the author growing more comfortable with their voice and refining their storytelling craft. The book picks up immediately after the events of the first, with Lore now trapped aboard a ship and tasked with locating the sister volume to her magical grimoire. Her journey takes her to new lands and introduces her to an intriguing cast of companions, expanding the world in exciting ways.

My biggest critique lies in the tonal dissonance. The book often leans into a cozy, almost whimsical fantasy atmosphere—lush descriptions, gentle banter, and found-family dynamics—but this is abruptly interrupted by explicit sex scenes that feel at odds with the otherwise soft tone. It gave me a sense of genre whiplash, as if the book couldn’t quite decide what it wanted to be. While both elements can coexist in a story, in this case, the execution made the contrast jarring. A clearer commitment to either the cozy fantasy aesthetic or the more sensual tone would have made for a smoother, more cohesive reading experience.

I gave Lore of the Tides a 3 out of 5 stars, not because the story wasn’t good, but because it had been so long since I read Lore of the Wilds, I honestly forgot half of what happened. That definitely made it harder to fully connect with everything going on.

The setup is instantly tense. Lore wakes up imprisoned on a ship, surrounded by a crew that doesn’t trust her, with Fae politics, magical quests, and betrayals coming from every angle. There’s high stakes, ancient magic, and a deep sense of mystery as they search for the sun book, and I loved how atmospheric the oceanic setting was. There’s something so eerie and magical about the way Analeigh Sbrana writes.

I really enjoyed the romantic tension between Lore and the Fae male who’s been helping her. It had that slow burn, “can I trust you or will you ruin me” vibe I adore. But at the same time, I couldn’t help but feel a little disconnected, mostly because I couldn’t remember key backstory or character dynamics from book one.

If I had reread Lore of the Wilds first, I think this book would’ve hit harder emotionally. Still, the writing is strong, the magic is rich, and the story wraps up with some beautifully intense moments. Just… maybe do yourself a favor and brush up on book one before diving in.

First, I’d like to thank the Nerd Fam and Harper Collins for the gifted eARC of this book! I will add that I also purchased the hardback for myself, because I loved it so much!

This was a brilliant sequel. Humans, fae, witches, sirens - this book has everything. What a wonderful follow up to Lore of Wilds. This journey around their world was so much fun - filled with new powers, new creatures, and new foes.

One difference I noted from the ARC to the published copy is that they must have reshuffled some information or removed a chapter. One of my critiques was that I wanted it to move a little faster in some places, but they seem to have done that in its final edits!

Analeigh Sbrana is one of, I believe, only 8 Black romantasy authors, who is traditionally published. We need more. MORE Black voices in writing, more Black authors, more Black main characters. This book is wonderful and should be a lesson to publishers that readers want and will love books with Black main characters. I can’t wait to see what she writes next.

If you’re drawn to elegant, mythic romantasy with an immersive oceanic setting, emotionally complex characters, and themes of justice and healing, Lore of the Tides offers a great finale to a duology that feels both gentle and fiery.

Lore of the Tides picks up right where Lore of the Wilds left off, but trades the cozy forest vibes for a dark, sea-soaked adventure. Lore is still reeling from betrayal, stuck on a Fae ship, and trying to track down a powerful grimoire—this time with much higher stakes.

The writing is super atmospheric (think crashing waves, glowing coral, and volcanic magic), and Lore’s emotional journey is really satisfying. There’s a romance subplot that’s sweet and slow-burn, but the real focus is on justice and healing. The ending feels a little rushed, but the vibes? Impeccable.

If you like poetic prose, soft fantasy, and heroines who fight with grit and heart, this one’s worth the read.

I can't believe Lore's story is over. I truly wish it was a duology because I love the characters and wish there was more time to develop their stories.

Starting off with the positives. I love the use of magic throughout the story and Lore's journey. She truly grew and matured into being a great leader for her people. I was very engrossed to see how Syrelle's character would turn out. Slight spoiler *High key most of me was waiting for Findryl to be a villain and Lore to actually end up with Syrelle in the end. I really felt like he had noble intentions and was misguided. The spice was spicing baby until the last page. Analeigh's writing has continued to blow me out the water and was able to create such vivid imagery. I could see this easily being turned into a movie or tv show.

Some not so great things. I feel like this book had a pacing issue due to trying to cram so much in this conclusion. I truly think it suffered from being a duology and should have been a trilogy. The addition of the sea society was so cool but I felt distracted from who was supposed to be the ultimate villain the king. I felt like the ending was rushed and for the whole storyline to be about defeating the king and getting the humans away, I felt like it was weird that we saw his character on page so late and he was easily defeated within a few pages. Had this book be about find Auroradel and the next been about freeing the humans I think it would have landed better. I also wish we could have gotten more of the characters from book 1 throughout the story instead of just the end.

Overall I still enjoyed the story and was happy that after everything Lore went through she was able to get her people to safety. Looking forward to the next book by this author!

4.25/5 stars
2.5/5 spice

Tropes:
Romantasy
Love triangle
Witch x Fae
Sirens
Black love
Tension
Feminine rage
Single POV

Although there were moments that slowed down the pace of the story I did enjoy this book. I liked how we got to see a whole new kingdom underwater and how the Sirens lived. So many details and descriptions... it was very easy to imagine. I honestly wouldn't mind a spin-off of just the Sirens, especially Prince Hazen and his shenanigans.

I liked how the author handled the love triangle. There was definitely some tension and a few "I hate that I love you" moments that had me squealing. But overall, the triangle was handled maturely and concluded in a way that made sense. I normally stay away from triangles because they can be so overly dramatic and unnecessary. This one felt realistic and I understood Lore's position.

I do wish that the ending was more... well, just more. It was a little rushed for me but that might be because I'm used to drawn-out battles in a fantasy. This first book did lean more towards a cozy fantasy but we get a darker feel in this second one simply because we get that final battle and confrontation.

Overall, this was a great conclusion to the first book. Some things lacked for me that would have made it a five-star but still a very enjoyable story. I highly recommend this duology for fans of diverse characters, Black love, love triangles, and found family.

Thank you to Netgalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own and offered voluntarily.

What an amazing adventure! The ending was a little anticlimactic but overall very well done. I really enjoyed meeting all the various types of beings.