This was a decent follow up to the first book and I actually enjoyed this more. I really wish the whole book had taken place underwater with the sirens. Their whole kingdom felt so fresh and different in a fantasy setting that I want another whole book just about them. It still felt more YA in the storytelling, but the romance was more adult and detailed than the first book. The 2 styles conflicted with each other and felt jarring at times. Really disliked Finn describing how she "tastes" and then calling her by that. Cringed each time it happened.

Book 2 picked up pretty quickly after the end of book 1 and we join Lore, still a prisoner, and on a ship. Lore and Sorrell are on the hunt for Auroradel, the sister Grimore to Deeping Lune. This whole segment of the book got SO annoyingly repetitive and took a while to get through.
Finndryl was also on board as collateral to ensure Lore did as requested. Once the ship was attacked by the sirens the story picked up a lot. The magic, method of breathing underwater, kingdom and culture was literally the best part of he whole duology. When the time for them to leave came I was sad and upset to head back to the surface with the Fae.

The group's travel through the desert and into the mountains felt more of the same with the ship travel, except with some awkward romance. The griffins were more interesting and wish more time was spent with them as well. Lore's confrontation and acquisition of Auroradel was also over far too quickly. Lore's confrontation with The King was a let down. It was a bit predictable and I was annoyed until Lore figured it out. And once it came to the climax, it was over too soon. Then we rush into the ending and the epilogue.

Something about the narrator bugged me but I can't quite pinpoint it. I think it was the cadence she spoke with. She did a decent job making everyone sound distinctly different however.

I really enjoyed the actual story and I had a great time with it mostly, but I wish I had phyiscally read this instead of listening to the audiobook. It felt like it was double the length that it actually was due to the slow pacing. I definitely think the author could have either made it a tad bit longer so the ending didn't feel rushed or cut out some of the earlier plot points that didn't necessarily need to be done to give the ending room to breathe. Overall, it's a better romantasy than most though and a breath of fresh air in regards to the story being told. The underwater kingdom was some of the most inventive story telling and I absolutely adored it. <spoiler>So many times we see the same types of story where the main character ends up with the morally dark grey chracter, but I like that Lore didn't here. </spoiler>

This was a solid conclusion to the duology and was a definite step up in terms of consistent tone and pacing throughout the book! Lore wakes up aboard a ship and continues a quest to find a missing grimoire, and must decide between love interests after a shocking revelation at the end of book 1. It's very action-packed and gets quite steamy as well! It was a pleasant surprise as sophomore novels often fall off in quality rather than improving upon previous work in the way this did. If you want to know what happens I definitely recommend picking this up! It's a satisfying conclusion to the story with fairly consistent execution. The audio narration is done well! I received an audio review copy via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.

Give me dungeons and dragons but make it an epic fantasy adventure.

loved the audiobook!!! Narrators were epic!

We definitely love duologies here and Lore of the Tides and Lore the Wilds by Analeigh Sbrana did not disappoint!

The writing was beautiful with full on fantasy and magic. The themes in this book are on the heavier side but they were written so beautifully.

There’s found family, mystical beings, the magic is insanely cool, and an amazing lover triangle. There’s betrayal, hidden identities, feminine rage and laugh out loud moments throughout.

There is romance and serious convos had.... ie.. period talk. This is exceptionally important for womanhood and coming of age. I like how the topic of serious real life situations was expressed and handled.

Please give this duology a try. It's worth it!

Thanks to Netgalley for the gifted eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Lore waking up trapped on a ship, betrayed and surrounded by fae who hate her immediately had me locked in. The ocean setting was super immersive and the search for the sun book added just the right amount of suspense and had me wondering what was going to happen next. Also Lore is still just as impulsive and stubborn as she was in book pne to me but I could also tell that she was learning. Some of the pacing felt like it was dragging at times and I wish the ending felt a little more emotional for me but overall it was intense and I honestly thought this was better than the first book which I don’t usually say!Also the narrator was absolutely amazing and I can’t wait to find more of this narrators work.

Lore of the Tides" swept me away with its gripping sense of urgency as the characters raced to uncover the lost tombs. The quest pulses with intensity, each chapter raising the stakes and making it impossible to put the book down. What truly sets this story apart are the tangled emotions—love and betrayal twist together, forcing the characters (and the reader) to question where loyalty truly lies. The journey toward trusting one’s own inner power is beautifully woven throughout, adding depth and resonance.

The pacing starts off measured, allowing you to settle into the world, but soon accelerates, building momentum until the final, breathtaking pages. There’s a fair amount of spice—enough to add heat and tension, but never so much that it overshadows the heart of the narrative. "Lore of the Tides" balances adventure, romance, and self-discovery in a way that feels both thrilling and meaningful. Highly recommended for anyone who loves stories where every choice matters and every emotion is earned.

Lore of the Tides delivers a vivid, emotionally charged conclusion. It’s perfect for fans of morally complex fantasy journeys and strong atmospheric writing. Its pacing dips occasionally, but Lore’s evolution and the fiery world she inhabits leave a lasting impression.

I thought Lore of the Wilds was just okay, it had one of the most promising openings but fell flat as the story went on.

Unfortunately, Lore of the Tides started off just as flat for me, and the dialogue felt so immature that I struggled to stay engaged.
I may come back and finish this series someday, but for now, I’m just not enjoying it enough to continue.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperAudio for the opportunity to listen to this one.

Thank you so much to HarperAudio for an early copy of Lore of the Tides! 💖
I read an early copy of Lore of the Tides and I was obsessed!!! A magic library + a love triangle?!?! It was so fun! So when book 2 was coming out, I knew I had to get my hands on it and I was right! This book had SOO much action and adventure! This book even kind of reminded me of The Wicked King (book 2 in The Folk of the Air series) were the setting is kind of underwater for most of the book and there is a lot of action and enemies and allies and all of that fun jazz!
This was a very good audiobook too! There were some moments where I got lost in the story but I think that was due to soooo much action happening and not really the audiobook pacing lol If you loved Lore of the Wilds, I definitely recommend Lore of the Tides! 💕

Lore of the Tides” by Analeigh Sbrana was that girl of sequels. It picked up right where book 1 left us screaming at the cliffhanger, then threw us into new high stakes that had my heart racing. Humans and Fae and Sirens and Orc, oh my – this world is rich and addictive and Marcella Cox brings the story alive wihh the her voice. It suits Lore perfectly.

Finndryl? Babyyy, that man said “I hate everyone but you” and my soul LEFT my body. If Lore don’t choose him, she’s straight up foolish.

I lowkey wish it turned into a “why choose” situation because… options 👀 but either way, 5 stars across the board for this one. The ending left me grinning like a fool.

I thoroughly enjoyed this series. It started out feeling a bit YA, but pleasantly morphed into a more new adult novel with a bit of spice. This installment had a different feel completely from the first book. While I still enjoyed it immensely it almost felt like a completely different story altogether. The love triangle was great, so glad the one I liked best won out in the end. I loved having a bipoc rep series that wasn’t angry and could be enjoyed by anyone.

4.25⭐️
2.5🌶️
What a perfect sequel this was!!!
I loved Lore of the Wilds and the unique world that Sbrana created, so I could not wait to get the next book in this stunning duology.
Lore awakens to being held prisoner on a ship at sea and immediately we are pulled right back into that fiery feminine rage that she had in book 1 and I was living for it! Lore is strong and determined but still soft and hopeful, showing a depth in character that is lovely. I loved this new adventure we went on under the sea meeting new characters, exploring the magic more and adding to the found family that built up in book 1. We truly need more of these beautiful short and sweet fantasy romance duologies!
The love triangle really pulls at your heart strings without being overly frustrating for the reader. The raw emotions are beautiful and I love the balance of action and chaos to quiet sweet moments.
Lore comes wholly into her power here and sets out hell bent to take down the evil fae king and save her home of Duskmere, traversing realms and finding favor in different kingdoms, she is a powerhouse of an FMC. Her relationships are raw and messy and heartbreaking which feels so much like real life, with a side of magical chaos.
Sbrana turned up the SPICE in this one!! It felt authentic as Lore becomes more independent, confident & strong that she would also be exploring her sexuality as a woman. Finn is still as swoon worthy as he was in book 1 and I ATE IT UP!
Give me a "he braids her hair" scene and I'm CAUGHT hook line & sinker.
Overall this was just as beautiful and poetic as book 1 but also added layers and depth to all the characters. The plot was bigger than ever and the call backs to small details in book 1 were perfect.

I have been waiting to continue this journey with the way the first one ended.

I loved the new characters and new kingdom we got to explore. The action continued and it was done perfectly! Getting to continue with Lore exploring and growing was written so well. The ending was wrapped up the way a duology should and I loved it!

I recommend this if you are looking for adventure, magic, and a bit of a cozy feel.

Lore of the Tides was more adventurous than the previous book. I was excited to see Lore travel to new places after being so confined previously. The HEA was great because everyone got one! I'm also all for a morally grey female character who is willing to do whatever it takes to help the people she loves and those who need it. Marcella Cox does a wonderful job narrating and showcasing how strong Lore is.

Lore of Tides by Analeigh Sbrana
ARC from Harper Audio
publication date : July 8th
-the adventure was fun, full of drama and action but I still couldn’t get into it like Lore of the wilds, I love the concepts but I don’t feel connected or in the book as much I thought I would this was a fun read tho I loved the story telling there was missing something to make feel really into it.
rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

5 ⭐ 3 🌶️ 5 🎧

What a fantastic ending to this duology. I absolutely loved these characters and this story; the spice was sneaky hot too. Analeigh wove a beautiful tale and I devoured it whole; I loved this so much.

I really enjoyed Lore's journey, both physical and emotional. She grew so much between books and I really loved that for her. The twists and turns regarding Asher had me giddy, I thought his redemption was really great and I'm hoping we get his story at some point. The way we leave him made me both happy and broke my heart tbh. But Finn truly stole my heart first in Wilds and confirmed in Tides, I adored him and Lore together.

The audio was great, Marcella Cox was wonderful yet again and I loved this listen. Thank you so much Harper Audio for the advanced copy!

This is Black Girl Fantasy and even this white girl enjoyed it.

Do not try and read this book without reading the first in the duology. Sometimes, that works, it will not work in this case.

Lore has to face the ultimate betrayal from the Fae she thought she loved. Sirens, ships, adventures abound. There is an adorable love story but also the beginnings of friendships and lasting friendships.

The characters are well-rounded and feel very real. The world-building is excellent without being too drawn out.

There was very little drag in this book, it moved along at a clipped pace and kept my interest well.

The narration is excellent and really helps with names.

Thank you to Net Galley and Harper Audio Adult for the ALC. All opinions are my own.

I absolutely loveeeeee Marcella Cox and I am super excited that she continued to be the narrator for this duology. I enjoyed the book, yes, but I think the narration made it even better. I did the immersive read, so it was nice to have the audiobook. It makes me want to go deeper into the narration catalog of Marcella and see what other work she has.

This was a satisfying ending to this duology. The love triangle was solved in a satisfying way, as well as all the separate character ARCs. I especially enjoyed the time with the sirens. I did find some on the aspects of the romance to be repetitive. My main complaint is the complaint I have for most books with fae, which is the strange need to refer to people as "males" and "females." Just because people aren't human doesn't mean they can't be called men or women. It's also a dogwhistle for gender essentialism, and incorrect as far as grammar goes since they're not nouns. Really hope this trend will die for good soon.

I am honestly VERY conflicted. The first part of this book felt so slow and I was very tempted to DNF. If I hadn’t received it as an ALC through NetGalley I probably would have.

HOWEVER….

I am glad I didn’t. While the beginning was slow and it felt like it was just going on and on and on I really got in to it in the last half.

The ending saved it. Very similarly to the first book for me 😅

If only the beginning was as captivating as the end.

As far as the audio - I do enjoy the narration but sometimes the narrators voice makes it too easy to just tune out what she is saying. Her voice is so soothing and it feels like my mom is reading to me. There isn’t really a tone change for each character so I think I struggle with the same tone keeping my attention.