Sweet Black Waves is a retelling of Tristan and Iseult. It's beautifully written and as a fan of Celtic mythology - and Ireland - this was right up my alley. I'm also a sucker for an enemies-to-lovers romance so there's that.
Despite being familiar with the original tale, I have to admit I still had hope despite knowing Branwen's romance would most likely end in heartbreak. Initially, I wasn't a huge fan of the romance but it grew on me.
As for the characters, I have to say Branwen was my favorite and Eseult was my least. I really couldn't stand her.
Branwen is incredibly loyal, to those she loves as well as the land she calls home. Above all, she wants peace and is willing to sacrifice her own happiness to achieve it
While I enjoyed this, I found the story a bit slow and a tad more descriptive than it probably needed to be.
I will say that I actually liked the ending and am really looking forward to the next installment of the series! I need to know what comes next for Branwen.

When I talk about how I want more books based on Celtic mythology and Irish folklore, this is what I'm talking about. As soon as I saw that this was a retelling of Tristan and Iseult, I knew immediately that I needed to read it. Sweet Black Waves was everything I could have asked for and more. 

There is so much to love about this book. To start, the world-building and setting was stunning. You can tell that Kristina Pérez is very knowledgable in this area, and the way she wove fantasy elements with history was fantastic. Her writing was absolutely breathtaking; it was lush, descriptive, and dreamy. At first I found the plot to be moving along a little too slowly for my likely, but then I found out this was going to be a trilogy and in retrospective I think the pacing is actually perfect.

Since I know the story of Tristan and Iseult inside and out, I had pretty much figured how this book would end. That still didn't keep me from hoping the author might go in a different direction, but then IT happened and my heart broke into a million pieces. I suffered the distinct feelings of wanting to curl on the floor weeping and also wanting to toss my book kindle across the room simultaneously. My heart broke so hard for poor Branwen after that scene and my stomach is still a knot of angst thinking about it. That ending was cruel and unnecessary and I seek reparations. 

Sweet Black Waves is a wonderful fantasy full of Celtic mythology, Irish legends, love, angst, friendship, heartbreak, magic, and adventure. I'm so looking forward to the next book in the series and following Branwen on her continued quest to ensure peace, and dealing with the repercussions from that ending. This is a must read for those who love medieval Irish settings or are fans of Tristan and Iseult!

ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Up front, I hate romance as a genre so when a YA fantasy tips more towards romance there is a good chance I'll be jumping off that ride. So bear that in mind with regard to this review.

This isn't a bad book at all but it is all about the romance - which shouldn't have come as a surprise to me familiar as I am with the story of Tristan and Isolde. Consequently I found this very slow paced. There are fantasy elements and historical elements as well as bits of mythology but the focus is very definitely on the romance. Since I wasn't especially bothered about any of the main characters that aspect of the book didn't grab me. I can totally see this being someone else's favourite book of 2018 though so don't take my blase assessment too much to heart.

What I liked:

Branwen was an interesting character, a competent woman who loved her country and put duty before everything. It was refreshing to see a YA MC who wasn't just throwing herself after the hero.

The fantasy elements were quite magical even if they were only vaguely based on the old religion.

Until about the halfway point I enjoyed the friendship between Eseult and Branwen.

What I didn't like:

Ok the author writes a lengthly note on her choices for languages and names but it just didn't work for me. Perhaps it's that in my opinion taking a historical setting and changing the names is not creating a fantasy world. The world build was in fact a bit wishy washy. This set up further problems for me as a reader because it kept leading me to expect one thing in a historical or mythological context and then delivering something different and all too often very tame and watered down by comparison. I realise this is an issue of my own knowledge of ancient languages, mythology and history clouding my exoectations but the world of Sweet Black Waves wasn't far enough removed to stop it being a constantlt jarring reading experience. Add to that the mixture of Dark Age suppositions on social behaviour with Medieval courtly love mores and then a weird mash up of modern and more archaic language and it was just a headache. I was surprised to discover the author is a medieval historian tbh.

The characters read much younger than they are. In fact despite frequent veiled references to sexual love this is more for 12 to 14 yr olds. No character was more annoying that Esuelt however. By the end I was wishing she had just died in one of the many ways that threatened her throughout the book. (sidebar but we're back to the old blood on the sheets lost virginity trope. Seriously everyone who write YA enough!) Branwen makes a few epic blunders too. Honestly when there's no good reasin for an MC to keep her mouth shut then it just looks contrived.

I didn't buy the love story. In fact this deals with some serious themes but does it by grazing over the surface. It was hard to really get behind any of the characters.

Overall this really was a decent story. I'm frustrated that I didn't like it more. I do actually want to know how it unfolds in future books. But so much of this was repeatitive or just unnecesary imo. I would have preferred it to be a third shorter and a much tighter plot because there are good ideas here and despite my aversion to the author's linguistic choices, some intelligent thought has gone in to it. For a new geberation who does not know the story of Tristan and Isolde, I imagine this will be ideal

An Enchanting book. Strong friendships, family love, magic and the seaside all come together to make this a gread read for young adults.

Based on the Tristan and Iseult tale, this story could appeal to the right reader, but heartbreak is imminent in the story (which those familiar with the traditional story are well aware). Readers may feel a bit let down by the end of the book.

Sweet Black Ways is a romantic and beautifully written retelling of Tristan and Iseault's myth. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and was swept away by the atmospheric setting, and a swoony but heartbreaking romance. Even after I finished reading the book, I couldn't stop thinking about Bronwen, Tristan and Eseault! I can't wait to read the next book, Wild Savage Stars!

The Good
This is a re-telling of the Tristan and Isolde story, so already I’m in because retelling+quasi-Arthurian legend. It is also being marketed as akin to The Mists of Avalon, which is sort of a weird choice and also not entirely accurate. The Mists of Avalon is a huge book that follows the lives of multiple women. The Sweet Black Waves just shows us the very beginning of the Tristan and Isolde story and really follows one woman, with two others as secondary characters. But that’s still awesome! I liked the focus on women and their place within society. They still have power, even if it’s different from the power that men have, and the men really end up taking a secondary position in this story even if they’re doing things too.

The Bad
This is the first book in what I guess will be a series, but I definitely wanted more of exploration of the implications of Branwen’s choices. There isn’t a lot of thought about what her choices mean for her cousin, which is perhaps because this is going to be explored in the next book. And maybe we’re just supposed to see how messed up her decisions are without it being spelled out. But because of that I found Branwen really hard to like, particularly by the end of the book. I get that she’s being portrayed as beholden to something greater than love, which is an interesting set up, but it didn’t feel deep enough for me. It felt like Branwen was playing a part but not truly doing things out of conviction, but rather out of how she wanted to be perceived.

There’s also one character who suddenly turns super bad, apparently to make Branwen’s actions towards him okay. I hated this. I don’t mind the bad character, but at least make him consistent or show more of a movement towards evil! I was especially bothered because his turn was clearly to absolve Branwen of the moral consequences of her actions which, again, is what I wanted the book to be all about.

And speaking of depth, nothing felt very deep. Again, I think the comparison to The Mists of Avalon was a bad plan, because it set my expectations high. This was a typical YA retelling, which isn’t a bad thing, but does mean that it isn’t dense in the way that The Mists of Avalon is. It’s not bad, just different.

The Verdict
This was a solid retelling and I’ll be reading the next one. Just ignore the Mists of Avalon thing.

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Sweet Black Waves is about Branwen, a lady-in-waiting and best friend of the princess. Branwen is devoted to her homeland and hates the raiders who killed her parents. One day, Branwen unknowingly saves the life of a man who turns out to be her enemy, and the event awakens a ancient magic and opens her heart to possibly finding peace with her country’s enemies. The princess isn’t open to the idea of peace, and Branwen must do what she can to help ensure peace is found.

So I went into this book not knowing it was a re-telling of the tale of Tristan and Eseult. I am actually not even familiar with that tale, so this was a new story to me. This book destroyed me. I fell in love with Branwen and Tristan and watching their relationship blossom. Branwen is a strong heroine who often puts her country and princess before herself. She’s fiercely loyal and determined, and I loved watching her development over the course of the book. Tristan is dreamy and clever. Essy, the princess, was obnoxious. I understood her character and her motives, but she was just too immature and whiney for me.

I loved how subtle and in the background the magic in the book was. It starts off with small mentions, and it grows as Branwen does throughout the book. I was broken apart by the ending of this book. I did predict what was going to happen a ways before the end, but it still destroyed me when it actually happened. I am not a happy camper by the ending of this book, but that’s what Perez wants you to feel. This book is beautifully executed, and I am super excited for the next book (the title was just announced!) Wild Savage Stars!

The star-crossed Tristan and Eseult retelling. A tale of forbidden heated bigotry and forbidden love. Branwen is the Lady in Waiting for her Cousin, the Princess. This is a time of war and Branwen may have what it takes to put an end to it all.

I enjoyed the coastal setting. The rich descriptions of this monarchy and it's land. Nestled in the warring factions is a story of strong family bonds and loyalty. The setting shifts to the open seas with treacherous pirates and danger around every corner. There is so much to each and every character that I am looking forward to seeing how they progress, will there be betrayal or loyalty? Love or revenge? Consider me now overwhelmingly curious after such a climatic ending.

I love the tale of Tristan and Isolde, saw this book and was interested in the twist in the story. I was not impressed. There was not good character development. Branwen finds Tristan injured floating in the water. She rescues him and helps him recover and within days they fall in love. Besides being physically attracted to each other there is no other development of their attraction. Eseult (Isolde) is portrayed as an immature, selfish brat. She falls in love with Lord Diarmuid who no one else even likes. Again, no building of the story or characters to explain why Eseult loves him. The magic element that was introduced part way through the story was too far fetched and did not weave well into the story. About half way through the book I could guess what the ending was. When I got to the end it was abrupt and a very unpleasant way to end the book.

Though I like the setting and the writing, I didn't feel a connection to Branwen or any of the other characters. Knowing how things will likely end up didn't help either. I'll keep an eye on the series, but I'm not sold on this being for me. I have a policy currently of DNFing anything I'm unsure about, rather than forcing myself to finish, which would probably make me hate the book.

While I am personally unfamiliar with the story of Tristan and Isolde, I found this book to be wonderful. It has certainly made me eager to learn more of the tale of which it’s loosely based on, but all-in-all I thoroughly enjoyed this story. The pacing, descriptions, and characters were all great, and came together so well. This is the book you’d want to delve in while relaxing in your favorite reading spot.

Wow. WOW. I am in love with this book. Perez's writing is superb and this story... I have no words. I loved this one, the story, the characters, the romance. Just everything. I love it.

I really enjoyed this book! This story was vivid and imaginative and very thought provoking. This book was well paced and kept me reading on, longing to finish. This is a definite 1 click read and i enjoyed all aspects of it!

Sweet Black Waves is a retelling of Tristan and Isolde, though admittedly I don't remember much of that story. I appreciate that the setting here is basically fantasy England/Ireland, but without trying to be historical. I don't like historical fantasy, so this was the right balance of setting and characters for me. I find the Princess a bit spoiled and annoying, particularly at the beginning. I do like Branwen's character and am wondering if there is going to be another book. You don't really have to be at all familiar with Tristan and Isolde to enjoy the book or follow the plot.

I enjoyed reading this story, which to be honest, surprised me. I was on the fence for a while but eventually was won over. Fun read. I cant wait to read the next one in the series.

I received an ARC from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

The problem with reading a re-telling is you know what is going to happen, more or less. And in this case I became so enthralled with the characters that it was a bit like watching a cartoon snowball roll downhill: Massive, and ominous and inevitable.

If you are a fan of Tristan and Iseult or even if you aren't, this is a beautifully written tale whose only flaw is that it has me wanting the next books now.

DNF at 48%. I made a good faith effort to finish this one. I swear. But this book is remarkably similar to Sky in the Deep, which, incidentally, I read last week. I simply don't read enough fantasy YA to absorb the same book twice in a row.

I'm still interested in the story of Tristan and Isolde, because I'm not sure I got a great sense of it from this retelling. I have never read the original, but it must be more interesting than what I read in this book, because these sweet black waves were ready to put me asleep.

This book is incredibly repetitive. Branwen falls in love with Tristan but has a conflicted heart because he's her enemy. Branwen's cousin, Princess Essy, throws a temper tantrum. Essy is difficult to love but worth loving. Branwen worries the queen will discover her secret. Essy mistakenly believes Branwen loves her bodyguard. Two enemy countries must unite or be destroyed. Rinse, wash, repeat.

I went into this book eager for an epic love story and left disappointed.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Children’s Publishing Group and Imprint for the advance reader copy Sweet Black Waves by Kristina Perez in exchange for an honest review. Oh did I revel in the fantasy and magic of this world of kingdoms, kings, queens, lords, and ladies. Based on the star-crossed lovers tale of Tristan and Eseult, Branwen is the cousin, friend and hand-maid of Princess Essy and narrator of this first in a series. I can’t wait for the 2nd book in the series but found the characters of Branwen and Essy difficult to take many times. Essy is a spoiled princess but also very honest that she wants to marry for love (which the king and queen can’t possibly allow) during a time when warring countries need a marriage guranteeing peace. Branwen is Essy’s level-headed cousin who is so consumed with what her country wants that she pushes down her own desires, hides her many lies from those she loves, and sees the course of history being changed (due to something she did). Branwen finds Tristan, half-dead in the sea and rescues him and as she falls for him, she realizes he is their enemy from Kernyv ( killed her parents) but an more importantly an accord between Iveriu and Kernyv will bring peace between their countries. The only true, strong, capable character is Tristan, who remains a force, genuine in his love for Branwen and his power to win Essy’s hand for King Marc, his relative. It is once Branwen uses magic to save Tristan that changes her to an ice queen like the Queen (which was disconcerting and alarming). Any happiness Branwen wants is second to what her country needs. Debut author, Perez is a fantastic world builder with beauty, desire, and danger galore. The ending was devastating, but I will be clamoring for the 2nd in the series!

4.5 stars

I can’t even begin to explain what I felt about this book. My emotions were all over the place. I can only remember one book that affected me that way and it ended up being my all-time favorite book. Sweet Black Waves is a close second to that book.

I requested and got this book because it was inspired by the tale of Tristan and Eseult. But, as I got to reading it, I realized that the author used a lot of Celtic influence in the book. I was thrilled. I am a huge Celtic mythology buff and to see those influences used in the book made me like it even more.

Branwen was the star of Sweet Black Water. She had suffered so much loss in her life. I was surprised when she decided to rescue the man in the water. I was even more surprised when it was a man from the kingdom that hers were warring with. She hated them with a passion. What also caught me by surprise was when she started to fall in love with Tristan. While I saw it coming, I wasn’t expecting it.

I liked Tristan. I still feel that he is Branwen’s true love. I do think that he should have been more truthful with her at the beginning when he was in the cave. But in hindsight, would that have changed anything? I don’t think so. I do think that he pushed Branwen too hard to acknowledge their relationship. I do like that he saw the person underneath every shield that she put up. Even when she started coming into her power, he loved her unconditionally.

I didn’t like Eseult. She rubbed me the wrong way right from the get-go. She came across as spoiled and impulsive. She was willing to ruin a peace treaty between the two countries to be with the man that she “loved“. She did everything in her power to make the journey to Kernyvak as uncomfortable as possible. I wanted to slap her into next Tuesday the whole book but the end, I wanted to pummel her. She didn’t deserve Branwen at that point.

I thought that the romance between Branwen and Tristan was sweet. From the get-go, their feelings for each other couldn’t be hidden. Even the Queen noticed when Tristan formally introduced himself to Branwen. I do wish that it wasn’t a secret romance. But, it would have been dangerous for both Branwen and Tristan to be with each other. They would have been killed. Of course, what happened on the ship puts a huge damper on their romance.

While I understood why the Queen and Branwen did what they did, I didn’t understand why Branwen had to wear it around her neck. That was asking for trouble. I would have thought that she would have packed it with her belongings. Makes sense. But it also makes sense for her to wear it around her neck.

The end of the book killed me. While I figured what was going to happen, I wasn’t expecting it to hurt me as much as it hurt the characters. I actually cried from the point Branwen stumbled upon it to the end of the book. My shock took a while to get over too. I loved the choice words she had for those involved. But I also loved the promise that Tristan made to her. Makes me feel that there is hope.

What I liked about Sweet Black Waves:

A) The Celtic influence throughout the book

B) The phenomenal world building

C) The 3D characters

What I disliked about Sweet Black Waves:

A) Eseult. Couldn’t stand her.

B) The end of the book. It killed me to read

C) What Branwen wore around her neck. It was trouble.

I would give Sweet Black Waves an Older Teen rating. There are sexual situations and violence. But no language. I would recommend no one under the age of 16 read this book.

There are trigger warnings. They would be attempted rape, attempted suicide and assault. If you are triggered by any of those, please do not read the book.

I would recommend Sweet Black Waves to friends and family. I would include a warning about the trigger warnings. This is a book that I will reread.

I would like to thank Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group, Imprint, and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review Sweet Black Waves.

All opinions stated in this review of Sweet Black Waves are mine.

**I chose to leave this review after reading an advance reader copy**