DNF @ 21%

I wanted desperately to fall in love with Dark Shores and the story it had to offer, but I struggled the numerous times I tried to get into it prior to release and that hasn't changed even now. I know many others will and have absolutely love(d) it, but unfortunately it just wasn't for me.

*Review can be found at https://smadasbooksmack.blogspot.com/

Teriana thought she was helping her best friend out by telling her the secret of her people, she just never knew that that secret would be shared and the whole Maarin race would be under the potential for destruction. Marcus has a big family secret that he doesn't want to get out, which overall makes him a puppet in the master plan of the new leaders of the Celendor Empire. The mysterious Dark Shores in the west is about to be discovered in the worst kind of way.

It took at least half the book for me to be fully invested in the story. Don't get me wrong, I thought interesting things were happening and the world building was detailed and unique and I wanted to keep reading, I was just not fully connected to the characters. Once I was though, I could not get enough of this story! The entire concept of the world is fantastic, a conquering nation set on complete dominance, a secret side of the world and the gods that dictate who can come and go- Yes please! Dark Shores was so incredibly jam packed- be it with danger, action, betrayal, death and murder, gods, magic, angst, fear, and a romance I shipped even though all signs pointed to it not happening- just wait until the truth really comes out, it is bound to get even messier.

I feel like this could very easily cross the boundaries into adult fantasy, due to the very adult content- the main characters are older teens but have been basically adults for years, one has even been in control of his own group of soldiers. Danielle has a way of creating real, completely flawed characters that you can't help but root for. I really liked both the main characters and (most) of the side characters, the potential for betrayal that the end hinted at was fantastic and I need more now! I wouldn't exactly call this a cliff hanger ending, but so many loose ends were left that I can't stop stewing over. I have no idea how many books are going to be in the series, but count me in for all of it.

Of my God!!! I fell in love with this stunning book! I was very excited to read this and it did not disapoint!!! I recommend it to all fans of the genre. I will reread this one soon!!!

I requested this book because of the cover and the description, but the cover is what really caught my eye. I'm so glad I got this book to read. I loved the book and the storyline. I loved the romance in the book and enjoyed this book from start to finish.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my review in any way and the thoughts expressed are my own.

East must never meet West. The Celendor Empire has conquered the entire Eastern half of the world, erasing all religions and enslaving the people, and the Maarin, the traders that sail across the globe, will protect the secret of the West at all costs. We follow two main characters, Teriana a young Maarin woman, and Marcus the Cel’s best commander. When the Cel threaten Teriana’s entire people, she is forced to lead Marcus’ and his legion to the West. Both Marcus and Teriana are merely slaves to the Cel Senate and if they don’t do as their told they, and everyone they love, will be killed.

The Cel Empire was clearly inspired by the Romans while the West, or at least the region we saw, seemed to be South American. This land was run by various clans who are all ruled by a sadistic Urcon. It was fascinating to learn more about the Aniquinons and snippets of information about the various other lands. Not only are the cultures and people strikingly different from the Cel, they also worship six gods, and some a seventh god of death. Some people are even god-marked, given magical gifts that allow them to do incredible feats, like healing terminal wounds. It was a great comparison between the two and I loved how important it was to the people, especially Teriana.

I really loved the Maarin people, they were an intriguing sea fairing people. They live their entire lives on the sea, travelling between the East and West, their greatest taboo is revealing one side of the world to the other. To do so would make you forsaken by the gods, forever damned to eternal punishment. Though Teriana knows she is damning her soul, she is willing to do anything to save her family and her people. The Maarin have tangible proof the gods exist by their ship’s guardian, Magnius, an enormous sea creature that follows them bellow their ship. I loved how nonchalant they were about this massive creature and he was a great introduction to the magic of this world.

Teriana and Marcus are one of the only ‘forbidden romances’ I loved. It was obvious why they shouldn’t be together, yet they developed feelings for each other, regardless of whether or not they acted on them. Their romance was the definition of a slow burn which only made it all the more captivating any time they were alone together. I just wanted everything between them to be gone and for the two be simply be together!

The soldiers were interesting characters, you knew they were nothing more than slaves yet they had actively helped conquer hundreds of people, but they were still human beings with their own distinct personalities. Teriana wants to hate them, to stop them, but the more she spends time with them, the more she realizes she may actually like them. I personally loved Miki and Quintius, two of Teriana’s bodyguards, they were funny and friendly and their deep love was beautiful. They were a great representation of how many in the Celendor legions, and the real-world Romans, were gay and came to deeply love each other. It was difficult, I knew they were the ‘bad guys’ and needed to be stopped, but just like Teriana, I couldn’t stand the idea of anything happening to these guys I’d come to care for, especially Miki and Quintius.

I loved this book, it’s characters and magic system was interesting and a breath of fresh air. Not to mention it was excellent to have a main character of colour, her long braids full of beads sounded beautiful. I give it 5/5 and am so excited to read the next in this great new series.

I very much enjoyed this book! Ancient Rome as a historical theme is a nice change from what I've been reading lately, and I love reading about sea-faring cultures. The characters were interesting, complex, and likable. The plot had immediate world-ending consequences as well as personal consequences for all of the characters, and the web of personal relations was intriguing. Exploration, political intrigue, action, and romance.
Although, I have to admit that the end fell a little flat for me. The plot seemed to be pushed to the back to focus on the culmination of the romantic replationship when I was feeling much more invested in the action/adventure part of the story than the romance. It made the ending a little unsatisfying. I'll be looking forward to the next book all the same.

I don't remember requesting this book, but it sure was a fun surprise. Sometimes, especially during summer, you just need a swashbuckling adventure, and Jensen was able to deliver that! Definitely recommending to fans of the PIrates of the Caribbean franchise, as well as readers looking for a fun new adventure series to dive into.

Thank you to Danielle L. Jensen, Macmillan, and NetGalley for sending me the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was awesome! My inner fangirl is so sad that Marcus doesn't exist in real life. The world that Jensen has created is beyond the normal scope of words. This book is excellent!

This book was really good!! Definitely loved the tension and romance in it. Can’t wait for the next one

I received an advanced copy from the publisher via Netgalley for an honest review.

Now, to begin, I was excited for this novel and then all these other pirate themed novels seemed to be popping about...however, I was wonderfully incorrect, as this novel was quite good! I initially thought it was to be a stand-alone and then I saw the #1 and thought, 'ugh...will this be dragged out?' This novel was interesting and seemed a little slow in the beginning, hence my concerns of how this novel would unfold, and I was happily incorrect. We got into the story and went on an adventure and battles and the good and bad of wars. I do also appreciate writing characters and explaining the different reactions with PTSD. Many people these days seem to use it as a coin phrase without fulling understanding it, so I very much appreciate when authors seem to really understand and write it so well.

Quite an enjoyable novel and I am excited to see what else the author has in story for us and these adventures!

One of the biggest takeaways I got from Dark Shores is that if you are expecting a swashbuckling pirate story, this is going to disappoint you. Don’t get me wrong, I really enjoyed the story and there are pirates, but this book is more about politics, war, and the adventure in discovering new places. If I had to compare this book to something, I would almost want to say it has a similar story and feel as the movie Gladiator. The setting has a very ancient Rome feel, and the fight for leadership and the way the legions are described kept making me think of Gladiator. This is not a bad thing, I really enjoy stories in that time period and I also really like that movie. It’s nice to have something to compare it to, because it makes it a bit more easy to understand the setting and motives of the people. There is also a big focus on religion and the gods this world worships (or don’t depending on where you are in the world.) With these two elements in addition to the cast of characters we are introduced to, makes the story something you get sucked into and don’t want to put down.

Overall, I enjoyed this read. Although it was a bit off from what I expected going in, I enjoyed what I got. The story, world, and characters kept me interested enough throughout the book and I will most likely pick up the sequel when it comes out. This was the first book I have read from this author, but I liked her style of writing and plan to try her other books as well. If you are looking for a book that has an Ancient Rome feel, Pirates, Political conflict, interesting characters, and a pretty decent adventure this book is a good pick!

DARK SHORES is an exciting beginning to this new fantasy series where one land learns that there is another side to their world they didn't even know existed and seeks to conquer it. Readers will easily relate to the two main characters as well as their motley crews, feel immersed in this fantasy world, and swoon with the romance. An overall entertaining read.

I couldn't help but falling in love with Teriana and Marcus. They both were so very different with different roles to play, but were forced together in order to save those they love. They were well fleshed out and perfectly flawed. I also fell in love, along with Teriana, to the soldiers who became her friends. It was so easy to forget that they were her enemies. I really enjoyed the way the story progressed and the whole premise of this hidden world with real gods. It was quite fantastic! This story also pulled emotions from me during some parts. I liked the overall plot—it never felt dull or that it was overly dramatized (a pet peeve of mine), and kept me engaged from beginning to end. I can envision several different paths and outcomes in coming books and I'm hoping that things eventually go the way I want them to go. It doesn't hurt to hope. *crossing fingers*

Now the things I didn't love... I would have liked more explanation in regards to Teriana and why who she is was so important. It's mentioned, but doesn't seem to really hold any meaning or influence the story.This read very much like an adult fantasy novel. I know that seems to be the trend. I would have loved for it to have been cleaner in the swearing and romance departments, especially as I thought the story ARC would have been fine with less. It's also fairly crude in places, although some of that I would expect among soldiers and sailors.

In the end, was it what I wished for? This is definitely a page-turner with plenty of action, romance, and some complex characters. Recommended to fantasy fans.

Content: Swearing (including a lot of s-words and one f-word), a fade-to-black love scene, references to gay relationships and prostitution, and violence.
Source: I received a complimentary eARC from the publisher, which did not require a positive review nor affect my review in any way.

After falling in love with Danielle Jensen's other book series, I really was eager to jump into her new book, Dark Shores. From the beginning it was like talking to an old friend. Her easy to read and effortless flow was like a comfort read that I had been longing for and could now return to. I love how her books can give you a setting and feel for the characters without all of the boring info dump and she creates such vivid atmospheres.. I especially liked that there was some folklore in these with "gods" living among the mortals in the shape of creatures.

I'm also a big sucker for anything pirate, and the fact that one of our main characters is a female pirate crewed by another strong female pirate (her mother) was all I needed to know to instantly fall in love. And then it wouldn't be a Jensen novel without some AMAZING romance thrown in there. I knew from the start when our two star crossed lovers were thrown into this adventure together that their hate would eventually soften towards each other and that they would fall hard and fast. And when the sparks started flying I was so ready for it!!!

This was such a fun adventure with so many twists and turns that you never really knew where it would go, and the way it ended had my heart beating so hard I thought it might burst right out of my chest!! I love Jensen's writing and will eagerly be looking forward to her next book so I can once again escape to one of her beautiful fantasy worlds and find romance and friendship and all the necessities of a good book all in one place. Highly suggest reading this one!

I loooove a good pirate story! Throw in some meddling gods (heh hem, Zeus) and you’ve got a best seller in the making!
Me. Jensen has written an amazing book and is definitely on my watchlist now!

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Thank you to the publisher and to Netgalley for this ebook copy in exchange for an honest review!

The premise of Dark Shores had me really convinced I would love this book. I loved that it was based off of Ancient Rome and had a diverse cast of characters. Our two main characters are Marcus and Teriana. Marcus is a military prodigy and a legendary commander renowned for his talent for manipulation. Teriana on the other hand is a Maarin (a peaceful sea-trading folk) sailor. Let me also say that I wanted to love this book – truly, I did.

The world consists of two main continents with a vast sea between them. The Maarin believe that East must not meet West no matter the cost. I found the premise of this really interesting, but all in all a little hard to believe. I did, however, really enjoy the idea of the Maarin ships were able to traverse such an expansive ocean in such a timely manner.

“The only thing curtailing the spread of the Empire’s dominion was the Endless Seas and the Senate’s ignorance of anything on the other side worth conquering.” – Danielle L. Jensen

I think my biggest issue with the book was that I didn’t feel a connection to the characters at all. I felt like Teriana was naïve and immature while Marcus was drenched in enough self-loathing it would have made Louis de Pointe du Lac (Interview with the Vampire) proud. The critics quoted a “slow-burn love” in the story and I just didn’t get that. I honestly felt like the enemies-to-lovers trope was unbelievable and came out of nowhere. I was way more interested in how Teriana was befriending and humanizing the soldiers than the ridiculous romance.

I feel like this is another book where I’m in the minority with. I understand why a lot of people would like it, but to me it was quite a bit of a letdown. I think the potential was there to be amazing, but the plot fell flat and the characters left no lasting impression on me. Maybe if the book had an extra 100-200 pages of development it would have been able to fix those holes? I don’t know. I doubt I’ll pick up the sequel, but only time will tell.

I found this book to be very interesting in very many ways. I loved hearing from the two MC. What they were thinking, how the solved things that come up. I will agree the the love interest was more towards the end of the book, but I hope we will see more of it in the second book.

I would recommend this book if you find story's with ships and battle.

3.75 stars

It took me a while to finish this book, though not necessarily because it was bad. I've been in a reading slump lately, but I love high seas adventures.

Where the story really shines is in the characters and the mythology. Though I would have loved to see more of certain background characters, I really got a good feel for the main characters and their relationships with each other and others. The story also leaves the door open for plenty more adventures to come, and while the ending was admittedly rushed it was still intriguing. A solid start to a series.

High seas adventure, blackmail, and meddling gods meet in Dark Shores, the first novel in a new YA fantasy series.

After eagerly frothing over every hint towards the plot-line shared on social media, I was delighted to receive this ARC, and was NOT disappointed. Resemblant to he creativity and world-building of Tamora Pierce, whilst drawing from a history rife with symbolism's and powers, Jensen has encapsulated the very essence of Ancient Rome, and constructed into something that is her own. A pirate. A soldier. A dangerous quest. A Purpose, and I was sold.

Rich in historically accurate language, and depiction/imagery, this novel perfectly draws you in, and spits you out asking for more.

Dark Shores follows the point of view of the two main characters, Teriana and Marcus. Teriana is the fierce Maarin pirate whose people hold an ancient secret of Gods and the whereabouts of the obscure lands known as the Dark Shores. The Maarin travel between the two worlds, the Celendor Empire and the Dark Shores, and guard the secret of each land with their life for if East meets West, war will be inevitable. But all that changes when Teriana spills the beans to her trusted friend. Word gets out to the senator of the Empire and the Maarin people soon finds themselves prisoners.  In order to save her people, Teriana comes to an agreement to help the Empire with the conquest of the Dark Shores.

In comes Marcus, the clever commander of the Thirty-Seventh legion and man of many secrets himself. When the secrets of his own are threatened to be revealed by the senator of Celendor, Marcus finds himself leading the journey to the Dark Shores with Teriana as his prisoner/informant.

'"Its time for you to let go of the lies Mother Empire has whispered in your ears and start seeing the world for what it really is."
"And what is that?"
"Inexplicable. Limitless." Her gaze went back to the ocean. "Divine."'

Dark Shores was a fun, fast read that I found myself quickly engrossed in. The two worlds we get to explore were so different and yet the same in many respects. I enjoyed the spicy, slow-burn romance between our two main characters and getting to watch each of their character developments. My only complaint was the story gets quite a bit rushed as it comes to the end and I felt that it should've been, like, a hundred pages longer to work its way through the events that were happening. However, I am looking forward to book two and seeing where Teriana and Marcus's journey leads AND hopefully getting to see some more cool Gods action.

I love Jensen, she is a talented author, but sadly it took me several tries to get into this one. Still, the journey is well worth it, and I bought myself a hardcover to have on my shelf and will faithfully read anything Jensen writes.