Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC! I was really really excited to get this one!

I LOVED this book! It's atmospheric, from the prose, to the setting, to the descriptions. You can FEEL the eerie isolation of the island, smell the brine on the ocean wind, hear the waves crashing against the rock. Sadie Turner is a master at vibes and descriptions and wow was that book full of them! The isolated island was one of my favourite settings I've ever read.

Now to the story:

We follow Corith, who is a Floodmouth, meaning she has the power to control the waves with her words. She starts off at a magic institution but is quickly informed that she has secured one of the most prestigious positions there is for someone with her gifts: serving one of the one of the hundred noble houses. But nothing is as it seems from the moment she gets to the noble family's island residence. People are suspicious and rude, her fellow employees are acting strange, and the noble family has secrets as big as the island. No one will tell her anything about her predecessor--until Corith works out that the family's previous Floodmouth not only died, but was her best friend (who left the academy before her and she hasn't spoken to since).

Corith is DETERMINED to find out what happened to her friend, even if it puts her in great danger, and right in the path of Llir, the nobles' youngest son with secrets of his own. Of course they can't stand each other and OF COURSE this means I immediately shipped them.

If you are looking for a book featuring characters with grey morals, atmospheric vibes, autism rep, slow-burn enemies to lovers, and many creepy wavey happenings, I really recommend this book. Couldn't put it down! Can't wait to go buy a physical copy for my shelf once it's out! (JUST LOOK AT THIS COVER OMG ITS SO PRETTY!)

Detailed world-building and a magic system that felt real. The full cast of characters were a highlight for me and I am desperate to see where they go next.

Plus, noone quite haunts a narrative like your girl Zennia...

Moody, salt-soaked, and quietly gripping. Tidespeaker delivers a richly atmospheric YA fantasy where power is as dangerous as the sea itself. Turner’s worldbuilding shines—isolated islands, crashing waves, and an elite magic system built around controlling water give the story a vivid, almost claustrophobic pull.

Corith is an engaging heroine: earnest, guarded, determined, and navigating grief and suspicion even as she’s thrust into the demanding world of House Shearwater. The unfolding mystery surrounding Zennia’s death intertwines beautifully with a slow-burn, tension-heavy connection between Corith and Llir. While the stakes simmer more than they roar, the emotional depth and ambience make the journey deeply satisfying.

A strong pick for readers who enjoy elemental magic, island-set intrigue, and YA fantasy tinged with romance, danger, and secrets hidden beneath the tides.

The main character Corith is amazing, the way she weaves her magic like person with the different characters and the Shearwater siblings is really amazing, the imagery created through the use of words , just simply flows into one another seamlessly, without any doubt as to what is going on.
From the very cover the author just keeps you riding along and captured form start to finish.
The setting just perfectly complements the actual action and it is a perfect balance of the two.

Brilliant.