Dark Shores is my first read by author Danielle L. Jensen, and I have to say that I’m impressed. I originally received a digital arc of this book through Netgalley and never had the chance to read because graduate school is crazy, y’all. So, when I saw the audiobook for this on Scribd I jumped at the chance to listen to it, and once I got into the story I didn’t want to put it down. About half way in I decided to just buy the book because it is a beauty and I knew I needed it for my shelves.

“Just because you can’t do something doesn’t make it impossible.”

The characters were interesting and I love how the secondary characters were very prominent throughout the entire story. Teriana is a girl who has been put in a very dire situation. In her eyes, she’s having to choose between her faith, beliefs, and morality or the lives of her family and crew, and honestly, what seventeen-year-old girl wouldn’t choose her family even if it means risking an entire continent of people. Marcus is stubborn and filled with self loathing from all of the situations he’s had to endure and what he’s had to do for the sake of men and the empire in which he’s sorta/kinda enslaved to. I loved, loved, loved Marcus’ personality and his ability to see reason and do what’s right even though he works for a corrupt government.

The plot itself was good and intriguing. The world building, in my opinion, wasn’t overwhelming to the point it suffocates the actual storyline. It complimented it perfectly and gave just enough information for me to fall into this story easily and stay connected with the world that Jensen has built. Dark Shores isn’t a pirate story; it has pirate themes because they do have to sail across the sea and Teriana is consider sea-folk, but it’s more about military regimens, strategies, and politics. Basically, the East is trying to conquer to West type thing. It’s also filled with gods, Demi-gods, and loads of fantasy which I really appreciated.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. Some of the pacing seemed slow at times but it never took away from the story as a whole. The characters are young and you need to keep that in mind when looking at their characters. The romance aspect really shows their age and, at times, felt rushed and unnecessary. I liked seeing the subtle hints at attraction but the all out love interest could have been saved for book two so that readers could be given time to see the buildup of attraction between Teriana and Marcus. The love aspect was really the only reason why this book is a 4 and not a 5 for me. With that said, I’m still very, very excited for book 2!!!

Dark Shores was one of the better books I've read in the last few months. It follows a diverse cast, Teriana is a female pirate who in order to save her people must make a deal with a commander, Marcus who has hidden secrets. Each of them are fighting to save their people, their friends, and their friends who have become family from dangers mostly unknown.

Although this story has tons of political intrigue, it also is a tale of many adventures, and tons of action, meddling gods, blackmail, and fights to the death. Fans of Daughter of The Pirate King would enjoy this book for it's witty banter between the characters, the pirates, and of course the enemies-to-lovers romance. But also fans of Game of Thrones (even just the TV show) would enjoy this due to the warring kingdoms, the politics, and the spots of magical elements.

Dark Shores was even better than I had anticipated and never had a slow moment, or a time where I wish the author had done something different. There is still more to come, and I have high hopes for the series.

__________________________________________

I FREAKING LOVED IT.

Full review to come after I let it all soak for a minute.

But this book has:
- High seas adventure
- political intrigue
- Enemies-to-lovers romance
- sloooooooooow-burn romance
- A snarky main character
- An understanding that sometimes we have to make our own families
- Beautiful writing
- and a bit of GORE.
- AND MAGIC/Meddling gods

Even though I don’t read Fantasy often and I’ve slowly been getting into the genre, this has to be one of my favorites. Also, my first 5-star review! Never would I have thought I’d get sucked into a sea adventure mixed with gods and Ancient Roman times. It’s basically everything Fantasy wise, into one book—well series since I can’t wait for the second novel!

Dark Shores by Danielle L. Jensen follows the story of Terianna, second in command to the Quincense and heir to the Maarin Triumvirate. Born with the seas, Terianna collides with drama when her friend has to marry because of her dad’s soon passing. With an idea in mind, Terianna hopes to help a friend escape an unwanted betrothal. It doesn’t help when Marcus, commander of the Thirty-Seventh is assigned to kill Terianna’s friend and take over the Maarin people, for their access to the Endless Seas. When someone finds out Marcus’ dark secret and Terianna’s people are captured, they’re forced to abide to save their secrets and loved ones. 

Okay, I tried to summarize a blur with no spoilers but if you’d like to read the official blurb, then you can here. Thank you to NetGalley who approved my request, I really didn’t know what I was getting myself into when I read the blurb. Also, TorTeen, ever since Dark Shores I’ve been adding books from them into my TBR list. 

When I first started with this book, it confused because of the terminology used, thankfully the author provided a glossary at the end of the book where I flicked back to now and then. I loved the pace of the book; it wasn’t too quick for me not to digest the information and understanding of every chapter and it wasn’t draggy—AT ALL. Every second chapter had an epic ending that made you want more if there was a cliffhanger. Usually, with me, I find there’s a lot of dialogue in Fantasy (based on past books I’ve read) but this had action, adventure, and suspense. It was from Terianna and Marcus’ perspective which I liked. The different lives and ways of living, Marcus the commander and twenty? twenty-one? And Terianna, a captain of the Quinecense at seventeen! Things are bound to fly. 

Terianna wasn’t like another female MC in a Fantasy novel. She was mature yet still played around and joked as a teenage girl would. She’s very decisive and doesn’t give up easily. Even when her people are captured, she was strong and loyal to a point where Marcus even knew he couldn’t break her. She has a good heart yet doesn’t let it show as a weakness, throughout the novel we see Terianna get soft but her actions make up for it. Marcus on the other hand, I couldn’t get enough of him. At one point I felt sorry for him—I think it was the scene where he spoke to his brother then his sister—but him too, shows none weakness. You’d think he’s a grownup, but he’s only in his twenties? The decisions he makes, how far he’s willing to go to save not only his men but to do the right thing. Both of them don’t let feelings get in the way, which I found essential otherwise it’d take the essence away of it being Fantasy and Adventure. There’s romance but just enough!

My favorite parts would have been when they were all on the ship trying to enter the Dark Shores. That was a suspenseful time yet it was interesting to read how Marcus and his comrades reacted to seeing the sea gods and how Terianna communicated with them. I can imagine this on the big screen. I also liked the parts when Terianna got along with the soldiers yet still seeing them as the enemy in the end. She doesn’t lose her morals and what she truly came for. 

If you’re looking for something new, especially tiring of one specific type of Fantasy that you’re latched on and want to read something new yet has a bit of everything, I’d recommend this book. I can’t wait for the second novel where I hope the author includes a map and more glossary terms! After reading this book through NetGalley, I’ve added it to my ‘to buy’ list because I want this book on my shelf!

I am so sad that I didn't care for this one. I loved this author's other stories and this is the first one that I just didn't enjoy. When I first started this one I just knew I wasn't going to like it. This one just didn't have the same feel as Stolen Songbird and this one really felt like it wasn't even written by the same person.

Thanks to Tor Teen and NetGalley for the Advance Review Copy in exchange for an honest review.

Having read the wonderful Viper by Bex Hogan recently I was excited to read another swashbuckling adventure based on the high seas. If this whets your appetite then well, you may have to rein your expectations in a bit as the synopsis is telling a few fibs.



There are two points of view in this novel, the first is that of 17-year-old Teriana, who is touted as....

“A PIRATE WITH A WILL OF IRON”

First things first, she is not a pirate. She is a trader from the Maari culture who are seafaring traders, definitely not pirates. I thought Teriana was pretty cool, she was spunky and dropped some A+ one liners. The concept of the Maari people was interesting and it was great to see a dark-skinned heroine front and centre in a YA fantasy novel.

We also have the viewpoint of Marcus, the...

SOLDIER WITH A SECRET

This novel is heavily inspired by the Roman Empire and 19-year-old Marcus is the commander of the Thirty-Seven, a notorious legion with a fearsome reputation for massacring and enslaving civilians. Marcus was interesting enough I suppose, it’s clear the author has a decent knowledge about Ancient Rome, but I felt sometimes it was a little too inspired by the real-life historical setting. It felt a little jarring with the fantasy elements of the story.

Marcus and Teriana find themselves thrown together in a quest to open paths from the East to the West, the West being hitherto keep secret from the East. There is a good amount of action in this novel, but the pacing can be rather strange sometimes with some parts dragging, particularly towards the end. The love story is compelling enough if being rather obvious. I liked the banter between Marcus and Teriana and there were moments of genuine humour.

There was lots of world building thrown in at the beginning without any real exposition which I found a bit confusing at first.

This book was not without its issues, but I enjoyed it overall, I got the feeling it wasn’t always sure quite what it wanted to be but the story is fun and exciting and Teriana is likeable enough as a heroine to carry the story.

First Impressions

I've been interested in Dark Shores since I saw the cover reveal. It grabbed my attention and hasn't let go. When I had to opportunity to be on the blog tour I jumped at the chance. The book starts out a little slow going, but it picks up after a time jump. And it's a fast enough read that I read it in less than a day. Overall the book was really good, I just had a couple complaints that brought the rating down a star.

Characters

I absolutely loved Teriana. She's tough and had to make some hard choices. I love her commitment to her family and her crew. She also looks out for her best friend Lydia, when many in her position wouldn't have befriended her in the first place. On the topic of Lydia, I have some theories, but I'm not sure if they count as spoilers. What I will say is this: she isn't around after the time jump, but I don't think we've seen the last of her.

While I really like Teriana, I'm not a big fan of Marcus. He states in the story that he doesn't think he's worthy of her, and personally I agree with him. While he, like Teriana, had to make some tough choices in life, he still lives in a place of relative privilege. Especially considering she's basically his captive the entire book. I also feel like he doesn't fully see just how bad the Empire's conquering is. He sees the cost on battlefield, but he doesn't understand the personal and spiritual costs to what he's doing. And even when he does see that what he's doing is wrong, he only makes minimal sacrifices. I almost wanted Teriana to be like "I like you, but not enough to be with you right now. But call me up if you ever want to start a rebellion." Because there's definitely a rebellion against the Empire coming.

World Building

I loved the world I got to see in Dark Shores. I'm unsure if the final copy has a map or not, but I know my digital ARC didn't. I'd love to see one if one exists, because I think it would help me visualize the story better. While we get a lot of characters talking about the world, we don't see a whole lot of it. Most of the book takes place at sea and in two countries. I want to better understand the differences of the East vs the West and just why the must never meet. Hopefully we'll get more answers in book two. This world is really interesting, and I hope to learn more about the gods, the different people, and how everything ties together.

This was honestly a little disappointing for me. Upon reading the premise I was so excited for a YA pirate book with an awesome female main character. I feel what I got was a YA fantasy that had some ship aspects but was a bit too political and featured a slow burn romance that never felt quite convincing. The world building could have been a bit more exciting and I took a while to read this book as the beginning threw me off. I appreciate the LGBTQ aspects of the book and that it was mentioned casually and thus normalized. The ending was not exactly satisfying, but seemed to be setup for a sequel. Unfortunately as a bookseller I found that for a YA book the mention of "prostitutes" (can we use sex worker or something more pirate-esque please) and sex in general, as well as the common swearing, made this book a little less YA. Would not recommend for the young YA/teen reader.

Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Let's be honest this review would suck. I didn't take any notes while reading Dark Shores because I was too busy falling in love with it. Me coming up with a couple of sentences would be a miracle. Nevertheless, I think the only thing worth mentioning is this... Dark Shores is everything I need in YA fantasy. The writing was flawless. The romance was just the right amount of slowburn. The characters were complex and lovable. And the action didn't let up from the very first page which I absolutely enjoyed! This book is a definite page-turner!

Teriana is a badass heroine and I adore her. Can we just talk about her strong bond with Lydia? It was so sweet and beautiful. How I wish it didn't end too soon though. And Marcus. MARCUS. Meet my newest book boyfriend ya'll. This complicated, broody, lovable and wonderful guy will steal your heart. And you're gonna want him to steal it. Give. me. more. Teriana. and. Marcus. (I'm a bit scared for them though considering the you know what. I have a feeling the fallout is going to be BRUTAL. Definitely not looking forward to that.) But who really stole my heart is Servius and Quintus. I love, love, love these two so much!

Dark Shores is captivating and breathtakingly action-packed. I love how there was never a dull moment. This is my first and only Danielle Jensen book (what is wrong with me?!) I'm just gonna go ahead and remedy that.

I received an e-arc to read and review.

Dark Shores by Danielle L. Jensen is the first book I’ve read by her and after finishing this one, it will not be the last. Her strong female characters, realistic romance, humour, and adorable characters stole my heart pretty early on. Her writing kept me going back for more, making me devour this book in three days flat. This is a story about pirates and politics and is filled with drama and moral dilemmas that will leave you fired up in anticipation of its sequel.

“East must not meet West. What you told her is forbidden for a reason. If the Cel were to learn about the West…you know what they’d do. Conquest is in their blood!”

The story follows second mate, Teriana, as she embarks on a forbidden mission to the West to save her family and her people. She has to work in tandem with Marcus, a commander of the infamous thirty-seventh legion, who’s reputation of never surrendering, sets them at odds from the very beginning.

“Her expression hardened. ‘My mind is what makes me an asset to my husband, not my name.”

Both stubborn and passionate, these two create a tense dynamic that eventually blossoms into a slow burning romance. They share common ground which gives them an even footing to build respect. But don’t worry, the plot takes priority and is full of action! The romance you get is both realistic and unrushed, which provides a nice balance to the story and the other friendships made during their voyage.

One of the friendships I really enjoyed was her friendship with Quintus, one of Marcus’ men and her appointed guard. He’s a young soldier who respects the job and she’s essentially a prisoner and their unlikely friendship was absolutely adorable! He treats her as an equal despite everything and everyone reminding him that she isn’t, and it’s that respect that makes her open up and care about him and the other men of the thirty-seventh. They aren’t what she expects and that makes it hard to hate them. They are a strangely humble group of soldiers who are extremely adept at warfare.

“Servius, you’re full of shit. Everyone knows you got that scar trying to shave your legs.’ The group erupted into laughter, none louder than Servius, and then the conversation turned to everyone sharing stories about their varying scars, the volume increasing as the rum disappeared down throats.”

I also love Servius. He appreciates Teriana’s honesty and plays off her anger really well. He’s full of character and I really hope to see more of him in the next book.

“He’d been to nearly every corner of the Empire, met individuals of every single nation and race, but the Maarin were distinct with their eyes that rippled like the waves they lived upon, shifting colour with their moods. Beautiful as the girl was with those rounded cheekbones, full lips and flawless dark skin, Marcus thought her eyes were the best part of her. They were honest. After the way she’d been treated, he was certain he’d never see them another colour than that of inky pools of hate and fear. But after all the politics, lies, and deception he’d waded through of late, he liked the idea of being around someone whose feelings were clear, even if they were negative.”

Okay, this quote right here works on multiple levels. First and most obvious being the incredible degree that Jensen holds herself to in her writing. It’s immaculate and descriptive without making you doze off. Second, the whole idea that this seafaring people have eyes that reflect their very livelihoods and changes with their moods? Hands down ingenious and creative and most importantly leaves me wanting to know more about this world. And thirdly, can you sense those sparks? Holy crap the two main characters have so much chemistry and raw emotion, that makes this a beautiful love story that is driven by the plot rather than being the plot itself!

This is a story that takes place in a world much like Ancient Rome, where politics and belief run their lives. Despite being politically driven and a little confusing at first, this book became so much more and it really shocked me (in a good way). I had little knowledge about it before diving in and confusing politics wasn’t helping matters, but then all of sudden it wasn’t about that anymore. It was about what you would do to save your people and the challenges you would face along the way, because anything that important wouldn’t be easy.

This book definitely blew me away and it deserves a 9 out of 10. It is filled with very strong dialogue, bloodthirsty politics and eerie yet captivating scenes that show the true danger of life at sea. If you’re a fan of Tricia Levenseller’s, Daughter of the Pirate King Duology, I would definitely give this one a try because they both have strong female pirates and great romance! And although I haven’t tried Jensen’s other series, if you’re impressed by her writing like I was, check out The Stolen Songbird!

This book arrived to me later than expected in order to review it for this tour stop, so I had to read it so fast in order to have a review prepared for today.

Dark Shores is a wonderful book, the pacing is great and the plot was an interesting one. Teriana is a pirate who lives in a world where one one half there inhabitants are godless and on the other there are many gods that are worshiped. These worlds have been separate for a long time and the Dark Shores are often even considered a myth to the godless Cel.

Teriana sails the seas in between these two nations keeping the existence of the pagans a secret from the war hungry Cel. When the Cel learn about the other half of the world immediately there is trouble. They now plan to send an army and take over and they need help to find the route to get through. Teriana is forced to help them in order to save her people.

Marcus is the military leader entrusted with the exploration and inevitable overtaking of this new land but he has issues with the government. together they are both in bad spots but must work together to make it all work in their favors.

Both of the main characters are strong but stubborn and it makes for a wonderful read and wonderful relationship building. I really love the hate to friendship/ love set up and it is a great book for that, there is so much uncertainty. Their stubborness feels accurate for the situations they are in and I really like them together regardless of the plot.

The plot itself was pretty quick paced and very fast in the very end of the book, I really enjoyed it. I was disappointed that it wasn't as pirate heavy as it makes it out to be by the cover and the synopsis but the adventure that was laid out through the plot did make up for it. There is so much from this even without the pirates - there are civilizations with interesting politics, and exploration and magic and gods and war and friendships that build into this wonderful story, it was so fun to read (I just wish I could have spent more time on it, and not rushed it for a review, so maybe I will have to re-read).

My only issue was that I wish it had a map - there may be one in the final version...I was reading a Netglley ebook copy, and it did not have one.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Jean Book Nerd for an honest review. There is no compensation for this review. What follows is my opnion and mine alone.


Okay, I actually was hesitant about reading this because the blurb had said pirates. I've never read a pirate book and I wanted to try one out, but I was nervous. Note. This is not a pirate book. Get that out of your head. It's not a pirate book. However, that did not ruin this book.


Dark Shores is a fantasy with a Roman Empire inspired country out for further expansion. There are rumors of another continent on the other side of the world, but the seas are endless and the Empire is not equipped for that length of travel. Enter a deep lore, a very devote group of people, and a kickass female protagonist who is trying to save everyone she cares about at the expense of her soul.

Sounds good, right?

I was hooked by chapter seven and didn't want to put it down. And once you hit that 25% mark, the book is fast reading. It has everything you could want in a fantasy: magic, political intrigue, and colorful cultures. It was like watching a movie or tv show.

I will definitely be reading book 2 when it comes out. The only downside is waiting for it to come out.

Final Rating: 4/5

After seeing a friend of mine read this book and absolutely adore it, I was excited to read it too. I was not disappointed. I flew through this story because I was just enjoying it so much once I finally started reading it.
I adored the main character Teriana. She’s sassy and unapologetic. She does what she needs to do to keep her loved ones safe, even if that means being forsaken by her gods. I loved how fierce and funny she was. I really enjoyed her as a character.
I also really enjoyed Marcus. He was such a good character. Everything about him is just a little morally grey. He wants to be good, may be good on the inside. He has the best intentions but will do anything to protect his secrets. I loved the found family aspect of the story. Marcus is the leader of the Thirty Seventh (essentially a part of the army) and they were trained and grew up together. They’ve been through the worst things in their lives together. I really enjoyed the comradery and seeing the men get to know Teriana.
I think seeing Teriana interact and win over the Thirty Seventh was probably my favorite parts of this book.
The world building was honestly incredible. It was seamlessly intertwined with the story. There was no info dumping and I really appreciated that. I thought the concept of this world was so fascinating and unique. I cannot wait to learn more about what’s going to happen next.
I have no complaints about this book. I completely loved it. I loved the world, the characters, the writing. I just enjoyed the whole reading experience. If you’re in search of a piratey fantasy, look no further.

I never got around to reading “Stolen Songbird,” but it’s been on my TBR list for quite some time and I know that a lot of people really enjoyed it. So when I saw a new title by this author available on NetGalley I thought, “Here’s my chance!” Unfortunately, this wasn’t a complete hit with me, however.

Two worlds divided by a vast ocean and with only one people who know of the existence of both. Teriana comes from this people and a family of peaceful traders. Marcus comes the opposite side of things, known for his keen tactics and manipulations that have seen him slowly but steadily gaining territory for his Empire. The two could not be more different, but each are thrown when secrets, betrayals, and political maneuverings begin fraying the edges of their lives. Now, these two unlikely comrades, must come together to chart a new path for themselves and their peoples.

I struggled with this book from the very start, but I don’t want to start my review with a list of complaints. As I read on, I did find some things that stood out as strengths, so I’ll highlight those first. One, while not as complex as I might have wished, I did enjoy the world building at the heart of this story. The clear inspirations from Ancient Rome were interesting not only for the cultural aspects, but also for how Marcus’s story of conquest plays out. I also enjoyed the general pacing of the book. It was a quick read and I flew through it pretty quickly. There were a few moments here and there where this pacing seemed to stumble, but overall it was a fast read and for those looking for a quick, easy read, this book will hit those marks.

But, like I said, I had struggles. These started right away with the introduction of Teriana whom I immediately had troubled connecting with. She reads as very immature, to the point that it was almost hard to believe that she was meant to be the age she is presented as. It’s hard to come back from first impressions like this, so while Teriana had some good moments throughout the story, I was never able to get over some of this. I didn’t have as many direct problems with Marcus, but he also didn’t connect for me. Not that there was anything standing out with the character as much as with Teriana’s, but…nothing really stood out with the character at all, either.

This book also suffered from a false expectations. There story is promoted as being about pirates and adventures on the high seas. Alas, no. This is much more of a political fantasy at its heart. Which would be fine on its own, since some of my favorite fantasy novels are political at their heart. But when I pick up a book being told its about one thing and then find out that that thing isn’t in it at all, we have problems. I really hate marketing ploys like this. There are readers for the book as it actually is, target them. Stop trying to misrepresent your book to his some type of fad. Do they actually think that readers who were tricked into picking up a book on the promise of one thing (pirates, in this case) are not going to notice when that thing isn’t even really there? You’re just going to end up with disappointed readers and miss out on the ones who would have truly enjoyed the book and praised it for what it actually is.

I also have to mention that the romance was not to my taste. I enjoy a good enemies-to-lovers romance as much as the next person, but it really is starting to get old. It feels like this is almost the only type of romance one finds anymore in YA fiction. And what’s worse, it always feels rushed. This is the first book in a series. Why do the main characters need to fall in love in this book? Isn’t it more believable that it would take longer than this to move from pretty opposite extremes, enemies to lovers? Plus, drawing it out builds anticipation. It’s a win/win. Trust that readers can appreciate some delayed gratification.

So, yes, this book wasn’t for me. I can’t say whether or not going in with my expectations properly targeted towards a political fantasy and away from pirates would have made all the difference, but it would have helped. Ultimately, however, poor characterization for Teriana and a tepid romance killed it for me.

Rating 6: Fails to bring anything new to the table, though it is a quick read if you’re looking for a beach book.

4.5 Stars

'Dark Shores' is the first book in a new young adult fantasy series that fans of the genre and of pirates are going to love. It seems that YA fantasy is a huge thing right now, with an almost epic fantasy feel. This one fits right into that category but also stands apart from it. Everything about this book was incredibly well done and I can't really think of anything I didn't love about it. I adored the main characters, Teriana and Marcus, and enjoyed getting to know each of them throughout the book. They were both complex, well rounded, and realistic with plenty of faults to make them easy to connect with. I loved seeing them grow on their own as well as when they're working together against their common enemy.

The setting was great with amazing world building. I felt as though I could close my eyes and be transported to these places. The author uses detailed descriptions and vivid imagery to bring it all to life right in front of our eyes. It was like I was beside the characters experiencing everything right along with them. I loved learning all I could about the Empire, the Dark Shores, the pirates and their lifestyles, and everything in between. I'm looking forward to getting to know even more about it all in the coming books. The writing style was well crafted with a dual narrative - that of Teriana and of Marcus. The only tiny thing that bugged me personally is the author's choice of writing style. The third person point of view is used throughout the novel and while I completely understand the reasoning behind using this style, I always seem to prefer first person. I have to admit that even though this wasn't my favorite writing style, it fit the novel well and we learned a lot about each of the main characters and got to see things from both perspectives. Overall, this was a fantastic first book in a promising new YA fantasy series and I'm already looking forward to reading the next one. I highly recommend this for fans of YA, fantasy, epic fantasy, pirates, and adventure.

(I have scheduled my blog review to be posted on June 4)

I was a little disappointed in this book. I enjoyed it overall, but I was hoping to have a lot more pirate involvement. Teriana is a pirate and is second mate to her mother. Marcus is the commander to the Thirty-Seventh legion. The newly elected senator, Lucius Cassius, forces the Thirty-Seventh legion to capture the Maarin (Teriana's people) and force them to reveal the location of the secret passage to the western part of the world.
Teriana is the only one willing to save her people's lives and agrees to show Marcus and his army to the secret passage. There was some action on the seas, but most of the story took part in Celendor, the empire Marcus' legion is based, and Derin, the kingdom in the western part of the world they are trying to travel to.
I'm also over the prisoner/captor love trope. Though Marcus is basically blackmailed by the senator to escort Teriana to the western world, she is still his prisoner. It's not as black and white as some other books I've read, but I still just don't enjoy it anymore.

I would recommend this book to someone who enjoys that trope and/or someone just looking for an adventurous badass female character.

I thought this story was really well done and I believe that a lot of my students would enjoy this fast-paced, high action novel that was beyond anything I expected.

“Because bravery and willpower have their limits,” he said. “Fear does not. And there are worse things than pain.”

High seas adventures is something that I have never read before, so this was a new venture for me. And wow! This was everything that I hoped it would be and so much more.

The Eastern landmass of Reath and the Western part have zero communication with each other. The rule has always been that the East must never meet the West. They have always believed that there was no way to transport there but the Maarin people know the truth.

Teriana is second in command to the Quincense and heir to the Maarin Triumvirate. She knows the deep dark secrets of the Dark Shores but she’s not allowed to tell, until she tells her best friend, Lydia about it. Lydia is going to be forced to marry, Cassius and she thought this would save her from the life she is about to be forced into.

Cassius gets word of the secrets that were passed between Teriana and Lydia and his men overtake the Quincense. Threatening everything Teriana has ever loved and believed in, she spills everything but not before she has the word of the safety of those she’s always loved. Now, Teriana must show Marcus and his legions how to make it safely to the Dark Shores.

Marcus and Teriana both have plans up their sleeves and they must make it there alive for their plans to work. But we know that things never go as planned. With more secrets to be kept and battles to be fought, will they make it to the dark shore? Or will the monsters of the deep leave them at the bottom of the ocean?

This was an epic book. There was never a dull moment and this kept me intrigued from the start. I lost major sleep because I needed to know how this ended. I must obtain book two immediately.

Marcus and Teriana were two characters that worked well together. They were both no nonsense and spoke their minds. They were quite the match for each other. That’s exactly what this book needed. Plus Teriana was a complete badass. We need more books with tough female leads.

Dark Shores was that high fantasy I needed to bring that genre back into my life. If you need a push in that direction, you should read this book. Hell, don’t let anything hold you back from reading this!! I can’t wait to see where she takes this series but all I know is that it’s going to be amazing.

DARK SHORES is a high stakes sea faring adventure, full of political intrigue and an enemies to lovers slow burn romance. I definitely admit that that I was drawn to this book by its cover, but once I really dug in to the story I found myself completely captivated.

The beginning has a lot of world building. If you''re finding that the story doesn't immediately suck you in, stick with it because it's going to get good! In this book you will find adventure, battle, romance and interesting twists and turns. The ending left me wondering what will come next!

4.5 stars

I’ll be completely honest and say that while I enjoyed the beginning of this story, I wasn’t invested in the plot or the characters until probably close to the halfway point. And then I just didn’t want to stop reading.

The only complaint I’m going to make–and it did not affect my rating–is that the author said that the Empire is based on the Roman Empire. To me, based on implies a similar structure and culture but renaming things to suit the new world. That isn’t the case here. Pretty much all the terminology is Roman names. Legatus, Centurion, Consul, Legionnaire, togas, etc, etc. It was pretty much “I’ll just take the Roman Empire, change the name, and set it in a fantasy world.” It just annoyed me a bit.

However, I can say that the clash of cultures, of a religious land versus a godless land, the different races and mindsets…it was all so well done.

By the end I was invested in the romance and the conflict, and just wondering what would happen next. I’m honestly hoping for more godly encounters in the next installment. It was amusing to see the godless soldiers react when presented with the vast power of the gods.

I am absolutely obsessed with anything Danielle L Jensen writes!! Badass killer females pirates versus hot gladiator like soldiers vs possessed pagan gods..... LIKE WHAT MORE COULD YOU THROW IN THAT COULDRON OF LITERATURE?!
Jensen is known for compelling narratives, powerful females, heartthrob love interests and magical settings, and the Dark Shores did not disappoint.

Much of the book addresses not only allegiance, blood thicker than water, religion but also war and sovereignty. A lot of the main conquerors are forcing small villages to assimilate to their empire and throughout the novel the underlying tone of the poeple’s right to self determination, a concept which is not blatantly said but prevalent in the story and modern day circumstances.

Danielle L Jensen has not disappointed me with a book to date. Definitely an auto-buy author. I recommend this for YA readers (although TW for gore and violence) adult fantasy readers and anyone who loves kickass female pirates... what more is there to love?