BREAK WIDE THE SEA by Sara Holland is a Young Adult Fantasy novel set in a world with magical whales, nautical fae folk, and curses. I'd originally requested this eARC because the story was recommended to me on one of my favorite writing podcasts. Friends, it was so, so good! The world building was top notch, the magic system original, and the romance slow-burn and unforgettable. Before I gush on, I'll share the premise and setup.

Meet eighteen-year-old Annie Fairfax, who has recently inherited the role of head of her family's whaling company. Her parents having died a couple years ago, she has been left to run the business, and has begun to manifest the family curse of heartbreak that's plagued the Fairfaxes for generations. Fairfax Whaling Company is struggling because whale sightings have gone down and they are can't keep up with the demand for the magical cures derived from the processing of hunted magical whales. When her fianceé — the handsome and persuasive August — announces to the shareholders that Annie is to accompany him and crew as they embark on a voyage to establish a new hunting area further north, she's surprised and frightened.

On a fateful night nine years ago, she, August, and the Silas — a boy around her age whom she totally despises — were the only survivors of the finfae attack on the ship carrying them and Annie's parents. Annie decides to go on the voyage, only to discover that her sister (and a stow-away who means a lot to Annie) decide to join her. Just when you think the stakes couldn't get higher, they do... then they do again.

Will Annie ever be treated with respect by the shareholders of her late father's company? Will August attempt to kill Annie off during the voyage as an anonymously shared message promises? Will the finfae attempt to take down the ship before they can reach their destination? Will Annie ever be able to find a cure for the heartbreak curse that threatens to turn her into a monster? Read this excellent book to find out.

What I loved most:
- the unique magical system kept me fascinated throughout the book. There are curses, magical ways of capturing a recording of someone saying something, fae but make them marine-oriented, magical pendants, and more
- Having grown up in a large family, it was fun to read a book in which three siblings are on an adventure together. Even better, Lydia and Kit were wonderful characters in their own right, and I really enjoyed seeing how they fit into the overall story
- Annie's beliefs start out in a place that bothered me (it's necessary to kill whales) and then as her eyes were opened to the cruelty around her, she evolved and changed course
- August is the perfect love-to-hate him character: manipulative, handsome, and thrumming with toxic masculinity yet so tender towards Annie at times
- Enemies to lovers is one of my favorite tropes and Sara delivers with a slow-burn intensity that I just ate up
- Can we talk about Silas for a minute? He was the perfect foil to August and the broody, hair-blowing-in-the-salty-sea-air hottie that sailed his way into my heart (see what I did there?). Seriously, though, he's complicated, cares so much about his found family (and the girl he loves!), and has lots of layers and secrets
- The Northern sea setting was atmospheric and magical
- I'd mentioned this earlier, but the found family element in this novel was something I enjoyed. It didn't feel forced, each member of the Whistler had a unique and interesting personality.
- The curse of heartbreak physically manifesting someone into a monster, seen allegorically, is a clever way of portraying how heartbreak can hurt someone so much as to turn them into a monster, someone bitter and cruel and only looking out for themselves.
- That twist at the end had me gaping at my eReader

What didn't work:
- This is a matter of taste, and something really small. I'm not sure I would have leveraged a religious symbol from our world in a fantasy.
- Annie had way too much patience with August. It made me suspect he has magic that allows him to compel people. Hmmm.... prediction for book 2, mahaps?

BREAK WIDE THE SEA is an immersive read brimming with adventure, romance, and danger, with a strong cast of characters and a creative magic system. I highly recommend it. Run, don't walk, to purchase this fantastic novel!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | Wednesday Books for providing me with an eARC of this book for my honest feedback.

Thank you NetGalley for a free eArc in exchange for an honest review!

I was completely hooked from the very first page of this book! I loved all of the other books Sara Holland has written, so I had high hopes and I wasn’t disappointed. I felt like the world and magic system was so unique (loved the historical vibe as well). The plot twists were somewhat predictable, but so many events were really shocking to me. I’m dying to know what happens in book 2 because it was a DEVASTATING cliffhanger!

This was a slow burn start, for me. with an absolutely heart racing ending.

The Fairfax family has run the whaling for their city through generations. But those that go to sea to whale know that one day they will lose their life there - and the parents have passed and the oldest child, Annie, has taken over the business. But really, only in title, she hasn't picked up the reigns to learn how things go.

Because this isn't any whaling - this is fae whaling - where the whales have magical blood that heals her people. And their are fae folk that aren't too excited they are still hunting in the waters. As the population of whales gets lower every year, this is the year Annie must go out in the boats and scout out farther hunting ground and negotiate farther port access.

I didn't love Annie at first. She was a bit silly. I found the curse system to be so well done and I loved the necklaces and bargains. I did like Annie once she got her feet under her, as she realized what all was at stake. Such a great beginning to a series - one that definitely ends leaving you wanting more. I'll definitely be looking for book 2! This one was interesting, unique, and so fun!

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

Which is why you must never give anyone that power over you. Love others, but not so much that they could break your heart. “

“Love isn’t what breaks your heart. Love is the only way we survive any of this.”

For fans of Dark Water Daughter, Fable, and Daughter of the Pirate King!

Break Wide the Sea, is the first entry into a duology by Sara Holland. It’s a saltbrine crusted, gothic, historical fantasy. This world has irrevocable curses, magical whales, and dangerous finfolk that lurk beneath the surface.

Our FMC Susannah(Annie) has the shadow of her family’s legacy resting upon her shoulders. With her not only her siblings to take care of, but the wellbeing of the town resting on her shoulders, she struggles to maintain control of her family’s whaling company. The whales the town relies on are getting rarer and rarer, leading to a riskier opportunity that may cost her own life. Oh yeah, and she’s also cursed. She’s got a lot going on at the moment. Early on she starts to realize truths she felt unalienable are as shifting as the tide, and she’ll need to find out where her loyalties lie. What you sacrifice to keep your loved ones safe and how love can make you a monster.

The opening chapters I was immediately pulled into this world. I couldn’t put it down, like I myself was caught in the riptide or cursed. The middle and towards the end the vision gets a little less clear in some sections. I know I’m going to have to re-read the last few chapters again just to process and get some clarity. I wish the story had expanded more on the whales themselves, the finfolk, and that nice little extra tidbit she dropped right at the end. I think ina lot of ways they are supposed to be mysterious because Annie knows so little about them but it would have been nice to have. I also need to know more of Silas’ backstory. I need more answers.

That being said, I can’t what for the sequel. Ms. Holland took me over that cliff with no breaks, and I need to know what is going to happen next!

A huge thank you to NETGALLEY, St. Martin’s Press, and Sara Holland for the eARC! The thoughts and opinions of this review are my own.

I received a temporary digital copy of Break Wide the Sea from NetGalley, Wednesday Books and the author in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Left in charge of her father's whaling company after her parents' deaths, Annie Fairfax is determined for the company's investors, its crew and her community to see she is capable of leading. That is so small feat when she is hiding a deadly secret, literally. She is slowly turning into a monster; her family line was cursed by the fae hundreds of years ago, a heartbreak leads the person to eventually lose themselves entirely. Silas, half fae and a crew member she loathes, gives her the opportunity of a lifetime, come on the whaling voyage and she may be able to convince the fae queen to break her curse. Unfortunately, her fiancé is also trying to take over the company and plans on killing her; will she survive and break her curse or will he get to her first?

Break Wide the Sea took a little while for me to really get into, but when I did, I couldn't put it down. I found the voyage and the process of whaling to be extremely interesting. I thought Holland did extremely well describing the conditions and experiences of the voyage and crew. I am excited to read the second installment.

Absolutely loved this book! With haunted ship and the suspense is to die for! I couldn't get enough of it.

Break Wide the Sea is what happens when you mix cursed heiresses, ruthless fiancés, and moody sea monsters into one storm of a story. Annie’s world is full of salt, betrayal, and a ticking curse that literally turns her into something monstrous every time her heart shatters. Enter Silas, a half-finfolk captain who is equal parts danger and allure, and suddenly Annie’s carefully arranged life is breaking wider than the sea itself. Think Succession with harpoons and fae curses—messy, dramatic, and impossible to look away from.

This book is dripping with atmosphere—dark waters, haunted ships, and whispers of finfolk who will definitely ruin your day. The romance? Deliciously messy. Silas is the kind of broody ship captain who makes you want to scream at Annie to run and kiss him at the same time, while August (the fiancé) is basically a human red flag in a tailored coat. It’s not just love triangles—it’s betrayal, power plays, and the kind of choices that make you want to throw the book at the wall and then pick it right back up.

Sure, some of the worldbuilding could have gone deeper—I wanted to taste the sea salt and hear the ice crack—but honestly, I didn’t care because I was too busy being wrecked by Annie’s heartbreak and monster-metaphors. This is YA fantasy with teeth: messy, queer-tinged, and not afraid to get dark. If you like your fairy tales sharp and your heroines caught between power and ruin, this one’s going to leave you gasping for the sequel.

I loved the writing style of this YA romantic fantasy. I thought the whaling aspect was unique and something I haven't read about in this genre before. Combined with the finfolk magic it was very atmospheric. Silas and his connections to the finfolk were intriguing. I look forward to the sequel

8.5 / 10 ✪

https://arefugefromlife.wordpress.com/2025/10/29/break-wide-the-sea-by-sara-holland-review/

A rollicking adventure upon the high seas, Break Wide the Sea proved an exciting, immersive, duplicitous, and ofttimes romantic read that I had no problem devouring. Though the romance especially suffers later-on—due to a somewhat clumsy love-triangle that was obvious from the start—the story swoops in to pick up the slack, delivering an unexpected twist that might just change everything.

Honestly, I actually kinda enjoyed the romance at first—not the love-triangle (which was mostly low-key until after the midway point), but the mystery of August, and whether or not he wanted her dead. Romance-mystery, I guess. Tied together, it was quite enjoyable, until Annie began to thaw on it a bit further on. For… what reason, you ask? Well, I won’t give it away (due to spoilers), but it honestly doesn’t make complete sense, which nearly ruined the immersion.

Fortunately, I adored the setting! The whale magic, the high seas, the finfolk: all combined to remind me of a cross between the game series Dishonored and Adrienne Young’s Narrows sequence. So long as there was a mystery to investigate, a sea to explore—I was sold. And where the romance stumbles, the characters and their development step up.

As much as I hated the love-triangle (as much as I hate ANY love-triangle) this one worked best before there was any real triangle to worry about. The interactions between Annie and August and Silas—a bond formed six years ago when the three alone managed to survive the attack that claimed Annie’s parents—could’ve basically sold the entire story. But they don’t need to. Further evolving relationships include those between Annie and her two siblings, Silas and the crew, Annie and… well, everyone else. Even without a ship-shape romance (sorry, couldn’t help it), Break Wide the Sea delivers both with story- and character-driven narratives. It didn’t necessarily steal my heart, but I thoroughly enjoyed it all the same. And can’t wait to see where the twists land us come Book #2!

TL;DR

Break Wide the Sea delivers as a character- and story-driven narrative even as the romance falters approaching the close. Relationships and interactions between the characters wowed, even as the mystery, and the setting (a kind of cross between Bethesda’s Dishonored and Adrienne Young’s Narrows series) completed my immersion. While an obvious love-triangle didn’t exactly ruin the romance from the start, a bit of clumsiness doomed its finish, before a twist might have redeemed the whole bit coming into Book #2. So… where does that leave us? I don’t usually sell out for the romance, so it stumbling is fine by me. I adored the setting, and can’t wait to rejoin it in the second installment. There are thrills, twists, mysteries, and vibrant, almost-human characters. There’s more than enough to love, even if it wasn’t perfect—recommended.

WOW. Just wow. I thought I would just like this book. In the end I loved it. Annie is an orphaned heiress to a whaling company . She is not only young but a woman, so it is hard for her to be seen and heard as the head of the company. She has a fiance that loves her for who she is and knows everything about her, including the fact that she has a curse that has plagued her family for generations. She sets out to find a cure. Out on the open seas she learns more about herself and the people around her. She is faced with the decision to stop whaling all together or to continue and face the consequences from the sea people..
All around great book. There is a love triangle, Annie being 18 struggled with this triangle as that's what one does. I am glad she saw the light at the end of the book

Introducing… the first YA fantasy in years that has completely immersed me.

I really loved this. It’s wholly original, with crisp, compelling writing that pulls you in from page one and never lets go. The pacing is flawless — not a single dull moment — and the worldbuilding is rich without ever feeling overwhelming. Creepy villains? Absolutely. And they were actually creepy.

This is romantasy, yes, but the romance takes a backseat to the curses, politics, and power struggles, which I honestly prefer. I’m always drawn to fantasy where the romance is a subplot (but a necessary one), and this hit that perfect balance.

The character development was another highlight. The MC starts off so thoroughly brainwashed by her upbringing that you kind of resent her, but watching her grow, question, and change is incredibly satisfying. It’s done with nuance and patience, which I appreciated.

Of course, it’s still YA, so it doesn’t have the layered depth of adult fantasy, but this came very close. It might be the closest I’ve found in the genre. Emotional, intense, and unputdownable.

Give me the sequel, I beg.
@stmartinspress 🌊

Thank you NetGalley and Wednesday Books for an eARC of this book. I haven't cried this much over a book in a while and I'll start pleading now for an ARC of Book 2 when available.

I absolutely adored this one and am so glad I let myself be lured in by the stunning cover. Annie's story is one I really connected with, and I loved following her and the Whistler crew across the seas.

Also, Silas?? Possibly my new favorite male character of the year. I need to see more of him in the next book.

Going into this ARC, I didn't realize it was a "book 1", but I was honestly so thrilled when I realized the stage was being set for a sequel. Holland did a fabulous job teasing Annie's next adventure and I only hope book 2 isn't far away.

The whole ending of the book really dug its claws into me and made me feel so many big feelings. I stayed up reading past my bed time and ugly cried, both of which are a rare occurrence. I'll be blaming Sarah Holland if my eyes are puffy at work tomorrow.

5/5 stars

I really loved the magic system in this book. It was completely unique to anything I’ve read before. I also liked how the dependency on the whaling industry to keep magic and society going was a metaphor for whaling in general and even climate change. The writing was really beautiful and I liked the narrative voice; it helped to establish the atmosphere of this almost Victorian-esque city and culture. I do think that the book might have been stronger if the characters were aged up to make it adult rather than YA.

The cover of this book is captivating as much as the description is. An adventure set at sea and needing to break a curse relating to heartbreak and turning into a monster that is put upon the main character, Annie, by the sea fae finfolk. Heir to a whaling hunting business, Annie gets swept up into a love triangle as she's determined to break this curse before her time runs out.

This story was unique and original. Whales with magic, that I want to learn more about. And a mysterious half human half finfolk second love interest. I loved the setting on the sea, with both a mix of historical and fantasy vibes. The story had its ups and downs in keeping me attentive, but overall I enjoyed it. I would have loved to have seen more of the finfolk in this first story, however, there was a lot that happened at the end that I feel is a very strong set up for a great second book.

Thank you Wednesday Books and St. Martin's Press for the eARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

I haven't read such a STUNNING and completely original fantasy novel in quite sometime. This book was dark, emotional, immersive, adventurous, mysterious, and EXTREMELY addictive! There were piratey vibes and fae mythology as well as a love triangle. I don't' usually like love triangles but this one was done right! I know this Break Wide The Sea isn't even published yet but I am sooooo ready for the second book in the series because this just leaves you CRAVING more! Sara Holland is now on my list of If she writes it, I'm gonna read it! Such an amazing story! It's a must read for fall!!

I received an Advanced Reader's Copy of this book on NetGalley. This review is honest, unbiased, and completely my own.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!

Break Wide the Sea was such a unique and enchanting read and the cover is stunning. This story weaves together magical whales, dangerous Finfolk (fae), and a cursed heroine in a tale brimming with peril and betrayal.

Annie (or Savannah) carries the weight of a family curse: Heartbreak. With her parents gone, she’s left to manage their whaling company, protect her two younger siblings, and navigate her feelings - all while the curse looms over her. Annie soon finds herself caught in a storm of treachery, impossible choices, and magic.

As she unexpectedly embarks on her first whaling journey ahe begins questioning everything she knew about her family’s legacy, the curse, and even the monsters she was raised to fear.

If you like oceanic folklore, and fierce heroines battling curses, and betrayal this book is for you.

This book was good, and the plot was interesting. I thought the magical system was unique and well-developed, seemed everything was thought about. The world-building was slow and easy to digest. What was the issue with this book is the writing style. I am a big fan of the Oxford comma; this book would have benefited. Sometimes, the author tends to enumerate many things and keep using "and" (for example: "blue and green and yellow" rather than "blue, green, and yellow"). Other times, the author tends to repeat themselves; they re-tell information they mentioned in a previous chapter (how the magic works). Some of the sentences need to be cut down into small sections because they start losing their meaning. It made it hard to connect with the MC because you need to focus on fully understanding those long sentences. Also, we lacked a bit of insight into the thoughts of the MC; we never know her emotions except when it comes to anger and heartbreak. There seems to be a disconnect between the reader and the MC. Other than the fact that the author's style is not for me, I would have loved to be shown some of the scenes that happened in the background. For example, discussion about certain plans, the planning of certain actions or decisions, would have helped with connecting with the MC.

The Fairfax Whaling Company has served its town for several generations, producing food, jobs, and healing whale blood to its citizens. However, the Fairfax's have a deadly secret: they're cursed by the finfolk.

Upon leading the company, Susannah "Annie" Fairfax is launched into the world of whaling, the fae, bloodline curses, and betrayal. The very world hangs on her shoulders. She must end whaling if she is to save it. But can she do it, or will she die trying?

I really enjoyed this story. Silas was my favorite, and I loved that our plot was mostly at sea. I do think that we need a little more in this book as far as emotional descriptions go. The author told us a lot about how the characters were feeling rather than showing us and letting us feel those emotions with the characters. For me, this created a bit of a disconnect from our fmc. Overall, though, it was a solid 4-star read, and the ending was so cool!

Fabulous. Such a unique seafaring fantasy read. I loved the monstrous finfolk, the fae and the magical whales. I will warn anyone that toward the end there is a fairly intense whale death. It's a crucial moment for the main character. But just a heads up for the animal lovers! Otherwise, I really enjoyed the romance and world-building ALOT.


Goodreads Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7495197914
Story Graph: https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/cc9036c0-0524-407f-b4b8-c16d3e46fe3f

I loved this!! So adventurous and the world building was so intriguing! The romance was beautifully developed and I loved the friendships made along the way. A stunning novel, can’t wait to read more from Sara Holland!