It's always an excellent day when a sequel is better than its predecessor, and Whisper of the Tide improved on the weakest parts of Song of the Current while still keeping all of the best elements (namely all of the swashbuckling adventures and folklore undercurrents). Caro is a fun protagonist and it was cool to get to learn a LOT about sailing simply by following along with her as she continues her adventures.

Sadly this book wasn’t for me. Just couldn’t connect to it, no matter how many times I started it. I think I’m not in the right frame of mind currently. I’ll have to try again later.

I have decided that this duology(?) just isn't for me. I have tried to pick book one up so many times and I just cannot get into it. I am going to keep my physical copies just incase I wish to try again. The writing is very lovely but the story just doesn't grab me.

Unfortunately, I did not get the chance to read this ARC prior to the book's publication, but we did end up buying it for our library collection.

Whisper of the Tide has been on my TBR list foooorrrrever! I loved the first book, but I just kept putting off the second book for some weird reason. I don't know why I kept putting it off because it really turned out to be a fun read. I loved the strong female lead (just like the first novel) but this one had a little extra adventure to it and I really enjoyed that. The romance is a little "eh" to me, but that's ok because I didn't really expect it to be great based on the first book. I thought the characters were a little awkward together, but maybe that was just me. All in all, it was a fun and entertaining read. I don't think its really a book that will stick out to me a few months from now, but it was enjoyable while I was reading it. Thanks to NetGalley for sending a copy in exchange for an honest review.

In this thrilling sequel to Song of the Current the author does a great job tying up loose ends and making this one a hit out of the park. I will say that I loved all the beings and the characters but this one was lacking something that would have made it a 5 star read. I am not sure what it was but it just felt like it was lacking something.

I did enjoy this one a lot better than book one. As I was invested in the story for book one but not as much as I had hoped. If you are looking for a book where women rule then check this one out!

I did not finish Whisper of the Tide. This was not a book for me. I hope to revisit this one at a later date though. I believe it could be a case of wrong time. I just had a hard time following the plot and enjoying the book.

This was a no brainer for me! I absolutely fell in love with Sarah Tolcser from Song of the Current and Whisper of the Tides was one of my most anticipated releases for 2018. I was beyond happy with it and can't wait to read more from this brilliant author!

This was a strong sequel to Song of the Current that left me even more in love with the world it’s set in

Strong follow-up to Song of the Current. Major POTC vibes, which I enjoyed very much, though I do wish there'd been more ship moments.

I loved the first one, but was hesitant to read this one. I just wasn't read for this story to end. Still, I had to know what happened. I wasn't disappointed! Such a good story!

I only wish I'd been smart enough to reread the first book to prepare for this one. Mainly because there was a lot I'd forgotten---including characters. Despite this, I still loved this book and am a bit sad this was the end!

Girl pirates have finally become a thing! A thing that people want to read about. I adore Caro and her growth. Her road to discovery of who she is added to how that could possibly fit with Markos...so well done.

Also, there are important messages that are somewhat subtly thrown in. Think the girl scientist and Caro complimenting her as opposed to putting her on blast.

The book starts off slow, but really picks up and ends with a bang.

I think this series deserves a better fandom than it's gotten. I rarely see anyone reading or discussing them and I've been surprised by that. The covers are gorgeous, the writing is stunning...I'd think it would appeal to a bigger audience.

WHISPER OF THE TIDE by Sarah Tolcser should definitely be on your "to read" list this summer. I really liked the first book (Song of the Current) in this series and eagerly anticipated a return to the fantasy world of Caro Oresteia and Markos Andela. Once again, Caro is a strong female protagonist, protecting Markos from assassination as he tries to regain his rightful throne. WHISPER OF THE TIDE is full of adventure – pirates, treasure, and magic – as well as humor, romance and difficult choices. How will Caro choose between a life with Markos and a destiny related to the sea goddess?

Tolcser's work encompasses politics, family relationships and plenty of cliffhangers so it has wide appeal, including to anyone who enjoyed the Jack Sparrow character in the Pirates of the Caribbean films. Enjoy!

link in live review:
https://treviansbookit.blogspot.com/2017/07/song-of-current-by-sarah-tolscer.html

I’ve been looking forward to Whisper of the Tide since I finished Song of the Current. I actually ended up liking this one more, which is always a nice surprise for a sequel. I loved the hunt for the sunken/lost treasure, it made for quite a fun adventure.

It was so easy to slip back into this world. Even though I didn’t remember 100% of the events from Book 1, enough subtle reminders were woven in that I was never confused. I wasn’t a huge fan of what happened between Caro and Markus in this book (WHY CARO, WHY??) but I understood why the plot went that direction. Also, that ending more than made up for it and I’m very excited for the next book now.

I thought the distinction between what Markus wanted for himself and what he needed as Emparch was handled well. Plus I liked how Tolcser stressed the importance of honest and open communications in relationships (or the person you love may end up making a political marriage). I also liked how Caro was on her own when figuring out who she wanted to be. Both Diric and Kenté stole the show though, I found myself really looking forward to scenes where they were present.

There’s assassins, political intrigue, a hunt for sunken treasure, pirates, and magic. Need I say more?

This is a solid sequel. It didn't fall into the tropes that normal sequels do. There was a lot of twists and turns, and by the end, I had no idea who was actually betraying whom. I think my favorite thing about this book is Caroline. I loved that she was true to herself the whole time and Markos accepts her the way she is.

Join Caro as her adventure continues with the emparch, Markos, who is continuously being attacked as he attempts to get his country back. Caro starts to question who she is and her purpose as she struggles with the idea of being emparchess and parting with the sea. This swashbuckling romance will keep you turning pages to the very end.

The Story-
From the very first chapter till the end I loved following Caro as she discovers who she is and what she really wants to do with her life. I couldn’t help cheering Caro on while she struggled with her star crossed love life that just didn’t want to be harmonious with her sea life.

Even though much of the story the characters were struggling to just stay alive or were fleeing capture, the story still had a plot and direction. If you’re looking for an action packed pirate adventure then I would say check this series out. Between the love story, actual pirating, a treasure map, and being cast away on the island you are sure to be entertained the whole way through.

The World Building-
There is so much more ship jargon in this book. I loved it in the first book with the wherries, and I loved it again in this book. It’s not an overwhelming amount that if you don’t know the directions on a boat that you wouldn’t be able to understand, but having the language there helped bring the feel of the ship to life.

It was fun to learn a little bit more about the favoritism of the various gods, but not to the point that it took away from the adventure. I love that the ocean god has a snarky attitude that fits with Caro’s.

We also get a little bit of fun with more of the shadow magic through Kente (winner of cousin of the year for being so faithful to Caro). Though at times I thought the shadow magic ended up being a little too convenient, I appreciated that it wasn’t 100% fool proof and that there were still obstacles that interfered with it’s capability.

The Characters-
This book made me want to watch the first two Pirates of the Caribbean’s. You know when they were still good. The dynamic of Caro and Melanos just reminded me so much of Elizabeth Turner and Jack Sparrow.

I thought their trust/hate relationship really helped drive the story along, as you tried to decide if Melanos was going to be a bad guy or not by the end of the book. I was a nice way to keep you on your toes.

Caro has this selfishness that she has to overcome where all her decisions seem like they’re about what’s best for Markos, but at the same time she just wants a bit of everything. I loved that she just didn’t have everything figured out, and was willing to make some sacrifices in the end.

So...................

So, I loved the first book.  I thought it was fun and I loved how Caro was this strong female character who kicked ass. The pirate elements, the action, the badassery, and the surprises at every turn kept me at the edge of the seat. Also, I loved how Caro has brown skin and is depicted as a female of color! I do loooove diversity. 



Yet........

This book disappointed me. Yes, there were times were it was exciting, the writing was  a quick pace that played well with the book, and i love the fantasy elements but Caro goes from this badass girl to a lovesick teen. Like I get it, it's a YA novel (I think? Sex is mentioned but a lot of YA novels have been dipping in the erotica pool...)



Lack of Chemistry

Maybe because I haven't reread the first book in awhile but I felt like there was a lack of chemistry  between Markos and Caro. Markos is as pompous, insecure, and silly as usual and appeared even more so than usual. When he acts like this, it is a defence mechanism but in the first book, he was portrayed as a person who grew into his confidence and was noble and heroic with his actions  but in this book, he is whiny and annoying. Markos doesn't want to be Empirach (? Like c'mon, just say Emperor) but he attempts to find supporters for his army to take back his kingdom. To this, he must accept a marriage proposal, which he is willing to throw away for Caro. SPARE ME!



SPARE ME THE SAME OLD YA BS!

SPARE MEEEEEE! LIKE SERIOUSLY. You are going to throw away a crown for a person you've known for mere months. SPARE ME. Like I get it, it's a YA romance novel but PLEASE. At 23 I can't accept this nonsense anymore. It's lazy writing to me. It would have been more interesting if he owned up to his duties rather than acted like a prepubescent weenie.



Okay, here comes the feminist rant:

Countdown!

3

2

1

Caro, I get it sweetie. Your boyfriend has to dump you to marry another girl-it would suck. But good God, Caro literally defies the Sea God and does everything but destroy herself to get back to him. Like even the Sea God thinks she was being silly for just not accepting it.

Why did Caro have to digress from this kick-ass independent girl to forlorn lovesick girl? Why can't she be in love and not this silly character who throws away everything for love? For a guy you haven't known for awhile. Why do female characters have to do EVERYTHING for their men but the guys just sit there and do nothing. 

I honestly was angry reading her parts as she bemoaned Markos. LIKE I GET IT. Your first heartbreak is no joke but c'mon! The Sea God takes away all of your magic, leaves you stranded, all because you couldn't let Markus marry another person to save his country. It's not like he was like byeeeeeeee bishhhhh! He was doing it for a valuable reason. And even people were saying that she could be his mistress since she doesn't want to be Emparichess (?). You DON'T EVEN WANT TO MARRY HIM SO WHY ARE YOU STROKING OUT?

Rant aside, I hope there is more growth with Diric in the next book-I thought there was someting building with Caro but they are just a lot alike and were just realizing it.

Other than all of that, the book is solid and I loved the world-building, the writing, the story, the originality of it. There are so many pirate stories now-a-days but the author sets herself apart.

Will I read the next book? Sure. Will I go out of my way to do so? Ehhhhhhh

This is a really fun sequel! I love the characters, and this delivers just as much action, adventure, mystery, suspense, and romance as the first. The threads that were left dangling after the first book were brought to a satisfying conclusion here. I definitely recommend this series to fans of pirate adventures.

One sentence review: A fantastic conclusion to the journey beginning in Song of the Current.

I am so grateful to NetGalley, Bloomsbury, and Sarah Tolcser for the eARC copy of Whisper of the Tide. When I finished Song of Current, I was not ready to be done with Cora and Vix. I was so happy that I happened to have received a copy from NetGalley. 

Tolcser's writing has begun to felt like turning on a movie. I grab a comfortable seat, some snacks, lots of water, and a cuddle buddy to prepare for a day absorbed in her stories. 

I do wish Tolcser would have opted to avoid the recap in the first few chapters, I did find my attention wavering and was sorely tempted to skim until new information popped up. Once we finally pushed off the Port of Summaries and set sail in a new storyline, I was captivated once more by the misadventures of Cora. 

I did not realise the extent of my connection with these characters until this book took my heart and broke it, several times. I did not finish Song of the Current with the impression that I bonded much with the main characters. Yet, I felt my pulse quicken and my chest hollow at the trials and losses experienced by them in this story. 

I had so much fun with these tales of a man in peril and a heroine in dingy, salty armour. I already know I will find myself revisiting this duology again. I don't feel as if Tolcser is finished with Cora's adventures, but this book ties up the ends very well. (For which, I am grateful.) If she does revisit Cora, I am on board for the journey.

I received an eARC of this book in exchange for a fair review.

What an awesome read!!! I loved Song of the Current, and was very excited to read the second half of the duology. I was not disappointed at all!! Caro is just a badass pirate babe (excuse me, privateer) and I love how full of spice she is! This story is unlike anything I have ever read and I love finding a unique plot line in a sea of retellings. If you love adventure, pirates, and a little bit of love story, then this series is for you!!