Synopsis:
MAY THE SEA ALWAYS SING FOR YOU
Cat Rose knows what it is to live in two worlds, in two times. Before – as Lady Catrine Rose of the Meridian Empire, chained to a loathsome lord with a dwindling fortune. And after – as the Widow Rose, queen of a pirate tavern on the Lyrian Sea, determined to be the master of her own fate.
But tides turn and winds change. The Meridian Empire looms on the horizon, the full weight of her navy falling on the Lyrian, bent on reclaiming the wealthy colonies and crushing the pirate republic once and for all. Ship after ship is captured, save for one, captained by a pirate who continually evades both noose and blade: the legendary Valerian Kane.
With his fearsome ship and uncanny connection to the song of the sea, Valerian is the only man who might rally the pirates who remain. The only man who threatens the Empire. And the only man Cat has ever loved, blazing in and out of her life like a star.
Desperate for victory, the Empire offers Cat a devastating choice: bring them Valerian or hang. In truth, no choice at all. But Cat Rose is nothing if not a survivor. A storm is rising on the Lyrian Sea – the question is, what will it leave in its wake?
From Sunday Times bestselling author Victoria Aveyard comes an epic adventure of love and betrayal amid a brutal war for the high seas.
Review:
If you love Pirates of the Caribbean, you’ll LOVE this. Particularly if you adored Elizabeth Swan.
Cat Rose is a noblewoman-turned-pirate who is forced by the Meridian Empire to hunt down Valerian Kane – the legendary pirate and also the captain who first kidnapped her, then made her fall in love – or face execution.
“Don’t pretend we’re even, Captain Fell. I don’t care what class you were born to. You are still a man in this world. And I still have a noose around my neck.”
Told in Before and After, you see an innocent, slightly skittish noblewoman tied to a husband she despises. She runs into (shot at/kidnapped by/rescued by) Val and you see her strength and fiery stubbornness come out.
Then you jump forward to the decline of the age of pirates. You know something big and bad happened and somehow, Cat is at the centre of it. She’s older, disillusioned, out for herself, and alone.
“Strange. I’m the pirate, but I’m the only one here who hasn’t betrayed anyone,” he muttered, shaking his head. Then he laughed, surprised. “I’ve never held the moral high ground before. I’m not sure I like it.”
This was addictive, tense, and tantalising. I would categorise this as fantasy romance in the first instalment rather than romantasy. It’s predictable where this will end up, but the push and pull of Cat and Val mirror the tide.
I will say: the word ‘tempest’ was used too often. I don’t need to be reminded every other chapter that Val has tempest eyes.
The ending revelations felt rushed. This makes more sense knowing that this was initially intended as a standalone, but its length transformed it into a duology.
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