It was her talent for tracking magic that got Anna Zhdanov sent to catch a thief. A scholar’s daughter sold as a bond servant, she has no desire to recover the Emperor’s jewel for herself. But a chance to earn her freedom has driven her to the untamed Eddalyon province, awash with warm breezes, lapping waves, and more danger than she could possibly guess.
 
Within days her cover as an indolent noblewoman is in question, and it’s clear there’s more to Anna’s task than she knows. Soon she’s the captive of the unpredictable pirate captain Andreas Koszenmarc, hunted by the Emperor’s guard, besieged by a brigand queen, and at odds with her only friend. She must trust someone if she is to survive. But when all that’s certain is that everyone is hiding something, it’s no simple thing to choose …- Goodreads

This is one of those reads that I reluctantly enjoyed. Nothing really happens until you are about 70% into the book which is a lot of time. Why I pulled through for so long? Because I knew it was coming. The author gives you a (very) slow build not in regards to the romance of the novel but the whole pirate adventure theme. I actually really enjoyed it and wished the author added much more of that excitement and magic way more in the beginning of the book. 

In regards to the romance, it was unexpected because nothing gives way for anything to happen. It made sense but it was forced. There wasn't any form of lust or want from Andreas or Anna at any point before the big explosion happened. I understand that maybe the author was putting a lot on them as characters so when they had downtime they could see each other but that method didn't really do anything for me. 

However, I did like their romance once it started and I did like the book right after it hit the 70%. 

Overall, its one of those books that isn't exactly good but you get drawn into it and start feeling yourself enjoying it. There is a book two and I hope that the author chooses other characters to focus on that are part of Andreas and Anna's story as opposed to talking about them. I plan on reading book two. 

3 Pickles

A well written and entertaining mix of fantasy and adventure, a book that kept me hooked till the end.
I liked the interesting world building, the fleshed out cast of characters and the plot that I found engrossing.
I look forward to reading other books by this author.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to Kensington Books and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

Thanks to Netgalley and to the publisher for sending me an e-galley of this book!

A Jewel Bright Sea initially pulled me in with the promise of magic and pirates. I've been on a pirate kick lately so I was interested to dive in.

You're immediately dropped into a rich and atmospheric world as Anna disguises herself as a noblewoman trying to search for a magical jewel. It's written well and detailed, but I felt that the reader is dropped into the middle of a quest in progress and I was left scrambling to piece together the world. I got a clear picture of the surroundings and a faint sweeping description of Anna's world. The magic system was fairly interesting but everything else seemed shallow. I couldn't really connect with anyone in the story but that might just be me.

The plot moved quickly, as soon as she was on the pirate ship and within a few pages she was off, but not really free. The whole progression gave me whiplash. I get that it meant to build tension and keep the reader on their toes, but it didn't feel cohesive. You're also introduced to a number of new characters in a short period of time without much explanation about who is who.

I know there are people who would enjoy this sort of adventure I just don't think it was for me. There isn't anything wrong with the story, I just couldn't connect with it.

I was provided with an ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.

A stolen jewel that can lay the foundation of an empire must be recovered at all costs. The bondservant Anna is dispatched on a perilous mission of disguise and intrigue to ferret out the thief.

But there is a shadowy puppetmaster with a hidden agenda. When Anna is kidnapped by a pirate and his crew, she worries that she will never see her bond-debt paid. But the wily pirate is adept at spinning narrow escapes and self-preservation.

In a reckless quest to find the jewel and avert disaster, Anna and the pirate captain Andreas are drawn ever closer.

I was completely captivated by this tale of uncommon courage and unexpected love. I can't wait to read the sequel!

Well written, sweeping drama as Anna hunts for a stolen magical jewel. Bonded servant, the promise of freedom leads her into the den of pirates on the same course as she. Mystery, action, swashbuckling adventure, this behind doors read has a slow burn romance in between the lies. Everyone has an agenda, and it is a great reveal. I really liked it, and would recommend it to anyone. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC from Netgalley.

The story got off to a slow start and the world-building needs some work, but it had promise over all. I was disappointed by the magic words being used in a Dutch or German language but never translated. It was clear they were important yet left as a mystery which didn’t make sense to me. I enjoyed Anna and Andreas but would have appreciated more backstory and description as well.

I was provided with an ARC of this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A Jewel Bright Sea by Claire O’Dell, 328 pages.
Kensington Books (Rebel Base Books), 2019. $16.
Language: R (96 swears, 6 “f”); Mature Content: R; Violence: PG13
BUYING ADVISORY: HS - NO
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
As a bonded servant because of her father’s debts, Anna must obey her master -- but that is not the only reason she has for going on this dangerous quest. If she is successful in getting what her master wants, Anna will finally earn her freedom. Months of following clues has gotten Anna closer, and she knows she will be successful, until another group shows interest in the thing she seeks and puts the reward of her freedom at risk.
I found the beginning confusing, something to slog through hoping that the story would get better and make more sense. It did, for a while, but I’m still a little confused about how everything worked out in the final battle of the story. I was also disappointed in the short-but-descriptive-enough sex scene that was randomly inserted in the middle of the book. Everything resolved nicely, though, in the end. The mature content rating is for that sex scene, groping, and implied rape; the violence rating is for battle gore.
Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

This novel was very action-packed that has intrigue, magic, and pirates! The novel immediately swings you into action on the first page. I loved Anna! She was a heroine that was tough as nails! I thought she was an adept spy! The only thing I did not like about this book was the world-building. It took me awhile to understand it. Still, if you are looking for a light, fast-paced fantasy, this is the perfect novel for you! I recommend this for fans of Cage of Deciet, Daughter of the Pirate King, and Throne of Glass!

I found myself wanting to read this because I loved the idea of mixing pirates with magic. Our heroine is Anna and she's indentured to a very ambitious man who sees her magical ability as a way to further his own dreams. Anna is sent in disguise as a noble woman to track down the thief of a very important gem but unfortunately ends up kidnapped by pirates ! Can she trust these felons because if she's going to fulfil her mission then she definitely needs help but will the price be too high ?
As this adventure began Anna is traveling with two men who also work for her Master but it's not initially apparent who can be trusted. I will say straight away that it felt rushed initially, almost as if the author forgot to give the reader vital information which was eventually coming but if blunt didn't quite work. Once Anna got taken by the pirates I did find myself much more engaged I'm happy to say and here's were it got just a tad predictable. The Captain is conniving, secretive and downright sneaky but he is set up as a love interest which honestly to me all felt a little too trite .
What really did work for me was Anna and her progression as a protagonist I wanted to succeed. The uneasy alliance she forms is full of doubt and the reader is frequently wondering if betrayal is just around the corner. I might not have been convinced by the romance angle but I absolutely adored Mate, Anna's friend as he was so loyal and the author introduces many others who stand out from Nicholas a cheeky boy to Thea , a healer with a remarkable gift.
The pace of this story just kept building with action and surprises and the second half of the book definitely made up for the way the author threw us into the beginning. This fantasy has very interesting magical elements and I feel Anna's adventures are far from over so I look forward to finding out just what happens next.
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair

It was not bad, but after a while I got a bit bored. The first half of the book was more captivating, the chemistry between the main characters was better too.

I reqested for this book on Netgalley seeing that Martha Welss gave it 5 stars. And she is one of my favourite authors so I decided I give her recommendation a try. And I am glad that I did. It is very good fantasy novel with likeable characters and well constructed plot. Plus there is an interesting magic system, strong female protagonist and pirates. What's not to like?

Our protagonist is Anna a woman with magic skills who is on a quest from his master to find the stolen jewel. She and her friend Mate are kidnapped by a bunch of pirates and then the adventure begins. I really liked Anna and Mate friendship and her relationship with othe side characters.

Pacing of this book is good for the novel of this size. Nothing's happen too fast or too slow, but all the time something's going on, so it's definitely not a boring story. It was my first introduction to Claire O'Dell prose, but I think that she can create an engaging story for fantasy fans.

This was an enjoyable well written, nicely plotted book. The protagonist Anna was an excellent character. The plot started off fairly simple in the first few pages then expanded and became more intriguing as the book went on and additional well developed characters were introduced. The use and explanation was magic was well done. A bonus for me in this book was the friendships, I tend to enjoy books with well developed non-romantic relationships as well. This was my first Claire O'Dell book but I've read and enjoyed her books written as Beth Bernobich so if you liked those books, I think you'd like this too.

This novel weaves a tale involving magic, adventure, betrayals, and political intrigue. The jewel that the Emperor had was stolen and it is a plot even more sinister than Anna Zhdanov first thought when she began her mission to retrieve the jewel so she can earn her freedom as a bond servant. She magical abilities help her tremendously with following the thief. Along with someone who she considers a friend, they track down the thief but instead find themselves captured by the pirate captain Andreas Koszenmarc, who is much more than he appears to be. Anna and Andreas have more trouble on their heels than before, each having a different motive for wanting the jewel. They form an uneasy alliance, but it slowly grows into trust but both still have truths they have not told the other. As they get closer to finding the thief and the jewel, there feelings for the other begin to deepen even with their secrets. There is a deeper plot at play, one that was rather unexpected. The question becomes, who will betray the other first and can they overcome it that betrayal. Look forward to more adventures with Anna, Andreas, and the rest of the pirate crew!