Thank you so much for letting listen to this audiobook. This story is brutal and tragic and suspenseful.

Excellent debut novel. If you love fantasy and shapeshifters then this book is for you. A twisting tale expertly moving between time periods to slowly unravel the plot.
The relationship between Shifters and Statics(normal humans) has always been tenuous. The Shifters are divided within themselves and the politics are tearing them apart. Davis was born into a powerful shifter family but lives as an outcast due to his static condition. All he wants is to be accepted. A magical cave may be the answer to his problems or destroy the fragile peace. Two young girls who know knowing of Shifters may just hold the key to saving everything.
Beautifully weaving Chinese mythology and folk tales this book is a delightful adventure.

I discovered Mountains and Seas through its audiobook version, and I’m afraid it wasn’t the best way for that. Don’t get me wrong. The audio production is flawless and I loved the narrator who did a great job to bring the characters to life.
But this story is told by using a lot of different POVs and timelines and it makes it sometimes difficult to follow as all the stories are weaving into each other, mixing generations and family secrets, and adding politics that feel sometimes a bit messy. That’s a shame because the core idea was super nice with a magical society which doesn’t know if they have to hide or mix or reign (and is a great metaphor for communities), a different magical system (especially regarding the stones that are at the core of the plot), a lot of magical creatures/shifters coming from Chinese Mythology.
I’ll probably try a reread with a book this time, and will read the second book anyway, as it piqued my interest enough for me wanting to continue this series.

Thank you NetGalley and to the author for the ALC. My opinions are my own.


Rate 3.5/5

I found this world of magic and shifters to be super interesting. The story spanned generations and developed the politics of this magical world with gusto.
As a fan of multi-pov narratives, I loved the way the story progressed throughout the years and the family trees. Again, the politics between the magically-inclined and the statics were richly described both through personal vendetta and wider political motivations.
I liked the way secrets were kept and erevealed through the progression of the plot.
If anything, given the premise of the book and the number of characters involved centrally, I could not get to connect with any of them and found that I wasn't much invested in what happened to them. The usual good wins over evil plotline also made the storyline pretty predictable.
I would have loved a bit more world-building and more insight into characters to get to know them better. I did like the writing style overall and would love to read more by the author.

I loved the intercollecting storylines and characters throughout time and the Chinese mythology. Overall it was good but not a memorable read.

You need to pay attention with this book! There are time jumps and perspective shifts. The writing was well done and I enjoyed the pacing of the story. I have always been a mythology nerd and I really enjoyed these Chinese themes throughout. Wonderful book and story overall!

I think this book will have a big readership. It's a really cool mix-up of Chinese mythology and a multi-point-of-view mystery. For me, the book maths was X-Men meets Borgen but with the pacing of a crime procedural like Law and Order. There's friendship, coming of age stories, family relationships, political intrigue and the dynamics of "integration" and whether shapeshifters should be allowed to mix and live with non-powered people. At times, I found the different overlapping narratives hard to distinguish and had to relisten to a chapter near the end but I really enjoyed how the book comes together. I didn't see YA about multigenerational Chinese American characters when I was young and I think lots of people will vibe with this.

This was a really interesting book.
It has the perspectives of all the characters, so we could understand everyone’s actions, and we get so see everyone's lives, and how they progressed over the years and how they impact each other. I love that.
The story is inspired by Chinese mythology and is about shifters with powers, and the plot revolves around the politics of the shifters in human (statics) society.
The writing is beautiful, and the way the story is told is amazing. The book transports us to the world and involves us in the characters lives and things, and we just want to know more! It is so good! And the audiobook is a perfect way to experience this book. First, the narrator does an amazing job; her voice is really soothing, but because of the way the story is written, listening to it brings so many nostalgic feelings, like someone is reading a story by your side or describing something just for you. It is amazing.

3/5 ⭐️ for the book
2.5/5 ⭐️ for the Audiobook

A multi-POV modern fantasy adventure that spans over a century and 3 generations with strong Chinese mythology inspirations for a strong debut from Emily Renk Hawthorne. It was a little hard to get into at the start. Jumping all over the place with different POVs and years giving me whiplash while trying to keep all the threads sorted before they were braided together. By the end, you understand why the author did the chapters the way she did, and so I forgave her for the sore neck. I don't read a lot of YA these days, but the cover art for this book is absolutely awesome, and it was what drew me in to consider it for an ALC.

For younger and non-immigrant young people, it's just a well written story about people who are different, just trying to get through life and how some choices can ripple down for generations. I think "shifting" was a great allegory for the struggles immigrants face and made me appreciate the book that much more. The ending was a bit mid for me, but the rest of the book made up for it in a lot of ways. Was surprised to learn there will be a sequel, but not sure if I will read it. I think Of Mountains and Seas is a great pick-up for anyone who enjoys urban fantasy and likes to read between the lines.

The audiobook was narrated by Natalie Naudus and the flow just wasn't there for me. I think part of my issue was her using the same voices for different characters solely based on their gender and then 2 variations for different ages outside of one with an accent. With a story that already has a lot of moving parts to try and remember and keep in the right places the voices did not help. If she also narrates the sequel, it will be a definite pass for me.

Thank you to NetGalley, Victory Editing Co-op and Emily Renk Hawthorne for an ALC so I could write this honest review. All opinions are my own.

Of Mountains and Seas is a modern take on the Chinese mythology from Classic Mountains and Seas. It includes a multigenerational storyline that, at times, was hard to follow on audiobook because I couldn’t look back to the year we were discussing. It was equally hard because the characters spanned all three timelines. This story includes shifters and political segregation. I thought the fantasy aspects of this story were good, and the ending was satisfying. Loved the shifter forms from Chinese mythology. This book is the first in a duology.

Listen to eat while reading the e arc.
So food.
The story was so unique and enticing.
Higky recommend.

Very confusing plot dnf'd half-ish way through... kinda boring didn't understand it. the plot points didnt connect well, we went from one time period to another without a transition.

Thank you NetGalley and Hawk Ridge Press for this ARC Audio Copy!

I really enjoyed the premise an the mythology of this book a lot. Chinese mythology is so interesting and there was a lot that I had never heard of that I really enjoyed learning about. I enjoyed how it was spanned over multiple timelines and multiped characters and how their lives were interconnected, but I had a hard time differentiating between some of the characters sometimes. I think if I had read a physical book it may have been easier to track what POV we were in better but I still enjoyed it as an audio book because the narrator did a good job with the story.

4⭐
'A multigenerational mystery told through converging timelines.'

Absolutely enjoyed this fantasy read! The multiple timeliness confused me at first, but devoured this book once I knew who's-who (& the when's-when)! The magic aspect wasn't too complex - making it more enjoyable for me.

Thank you NetGalley and Hawkridge Press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Of Mountains and Seas by Emily Renk Hawthorne is an enchanting blend of fantasy, mystery, and powerful character dynamics. The rich world-building and shifting timelines kept me completely immersed, while themes of identity, loyalty, and resilience added emotional depth. Davis and Iris’s journey of magic, ambition, and discovery is captivating, and the layered storytelling makes every twist impactful. Natalie Naudus’s narration brings the characters to life beautifully. A must-read for fantasy lovers seeking a thoughtful, high-stakes adventure. I can’t wait to see what the next book brings!

"Of Mountains and Seas" is a YA urban fantasy that combines magic, family drama, and social commentary. The story follows a cast of characters including Davis, a shapeshifter without magic in a family of shifters, Iris, who is facing a mysterious illness, and Nivi, a girl tired of her family's expectations. This is a bit vague for a summary, but I don't want to give any spoilers.

What I Loved
- World-building inspired by Chinese mythology
- Interesting magic system
- Diverse and complex characters
- The themes of balancing tradition and progress
- The narrator did a great job differentiating characters and was pleasant to listen to

What I Didn't Love
- I wish we knew how things got to where they are on a grand scale when we start the book was explored more
- I wish we had gotten to the magic school earlier in the book
- There is a lot of moving in time and between characters, so if you get distracted you may need to re-read or re-listen to sections.

Something to Note:
The blurb could lead you to believe that Davis and Iris are the two primary characters who take up most of the books, but lots of time is spent with other characters.

This audiobook is a great choice for fans of character-driven fantasy YA with intricate plots and rich cultural influence. If you are interested in exploring themes of identity, use of power, and the balance between tradition and new will find this story rewarding.

I got very confused with the multiple POVs and timelines and think I would have preferred to read the book rather than listen to the audio because of this - I unfortunately got lost and then distracted.

Thank you for the review copy

Reading a book requires a certain level of trust from the reader: trust in the author’s word choice; trust in the author’s way of telling the story; trust that seemingly far apart stories will come together. Emily Renk Hawthorne delivered all three.

It’s also important for readers to know the type of book they’re reading to help better discern if the experience will be right for them.

If you like stories with:
- Multiple points of view
- Multiple timelines (with big pay off!)
- Intentional, intricate world-building
- Unique magic systems
- Inspiration from Chinese Mythology
- Generational secrets
- Mystery elements

Then this is the story for you! An impressive debut that kept me guessing, puzzling, and guessing again, I’m looking forward to what Emily Renk Hawthorne writes next.

Thank you NetGalley, Hawk Ridge Press, and Emily Renk Hawthorne for the audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with this audiobook ARC in exchange for my honest review.

First of all, the narration was wonderful in this book! Aside from that, I really enjoyed the politics in this story, as well as the references to Chinese mythology. The author did a great job with pacing and atmosphere; making me feel immersed in the story. I loved the mystery woven within the story and I loved the back and forth in timelines. Should this book have a sequel, I will read it, and would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a good fantasy/mystery!

An amazing debut novel! This captivating story weaves together the lives of several characters across various time periods, revealing the intricate connections between them. The story is a remarkable fusion of magical realism and Chinese mythology, creating a truly unique experience. As I listened to the audiobook, it took some time to acclimate to the time jumps, but the plot proved to be so engaging that it quickly captured my full attention. I'm eagerly anticipating the next installment—this is a journey you won't want to miss!

***Thank you to NetGalley, Emily Renk Hawthrone, and Hawk Ridge Press for graciously sending me the audiobook to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.***