This was most definitely a case of “it’s me and not the book,” as I did not realize that this romance would fall more along the lines of a paranormal/fantasy romance series where we follow the same romantic couple for multiple books, as opposed to a novel where the romance is contained within that story (I’m not really a fan of super slow-burn romances). Because of this, I was somewhat frustrated by the lack of development of the main romantic couple’s relationship, although I did find the characters interesting on their own. I also found the plot to be very predictable (as soon as we met the villain, I knew he would be bad news) and hard to engage with. I am much more of a character-driven reader (which is why I like romance, as the plot is usually minimal), so a romance with little character development and a plot that I didn’t care about just meant this was not the book for me. I did enjoy Chloe Neill’s writing style, however, and I think the cover is fantastic! I also think readers who like longer fantasy romances series will find this to be a fun start to a new series, I just am not one of those readers.

Thank you to Berkley for providing me with an early e-copy of this work through Netgalley. The Bright and Breaking Sea is out this coming Tuesday, November 17.

I received an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

My Rating: 4 Stars

Let’s discuss the things that I personally love in a book. First of all, though I know it may sound silly, I have a weakness for blue books. I also love books set at sea, and books with a military element. Unique magic systems always tickle my fancy and I have a deep obsession with hate to love romance. Knowing all of these things, I think you can most likely look at the cover of this book, then take a peek at the synopsis, and decide pretty quickly that this book checks all of those boxes!

In addition to everything listed in my first paragraph, I love a strong female protagonist, a well developed secondary cast, and a unique magic system. The Bright and Burning Sea fortunately had all three! Kit and her crew were both likable immediately. I am pretty sure I get sea sick, but I would tough it out for a shot at being on that crew. The side characters were well fleshed out given the amount of time that the book was able to dedicate to them, and I loved them almost as much as Kit and Rian. (Almost being the key word here)

Kit was smart, strong, and comfortable in her own skin, which is something I love to see in a protagonist. Her budding relationship with Rian was a delight to read and I definitely look forward to more of their relationship in future books. Rian is absolutely a bit of a curmudgeon, and I find that I like that in a man. Though this first book in the series was a bit light on the romance and focused more on the espionage and overall mission, there is definitely the potential for more romance in future books.

There were a few tiny pacing issues and I did feel as though the plot took a slightly predictable turn. Overall, however, this book delivered on its promise of a swashbuckling adventure to love. The action picked up almost immediately, there was the hint of romance I was hoping for, and the mystery aspect of the book definitely had me interested. I look forward to the next book in the series!

The Bright and Breaking Sea is a pirate/spy story and very different from the Chicagoland series. We meet Kit Brightling, a member of the Crown Command as the Captain of The Diana. The Queen sends her on secret missions, but mostly to the public eye she is seen as a courier. Kit is aligned with the sea meaning she is able to magically manipulate the water and current to help sail. We even meet a few of the crew who have the same power but with land and wind. It’s an interesting magic system.

When the Queen believes there are traitors in the Crown Command and a man goes missing she assigns Kit and Colonel Rian Grant to the case. As a member of the Beau Monde, Kit at first does not like him and vice versa. It’s interesting to see the two work together despite not liking each other (at least at first) and learn to respect each other. There isn’t a lot of romance, but It will probably be seen in the next book. It’s a relationship definitely built on respect, and that’s awesome.

We get to meet a lot of characters all with their own interesting stories including some of her adopted sisters. Her sister Jane is into inventions and makes explosives, and Kit’s second in command, Jin, is a master thief. It’s a fun array of characters. I like the story and by the middle of the book it was full of action and adventure.


Special thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for sharing this ARC with me in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed this historical fantasy novel and am so excited to conjure this series. The Bright and Breaking Sea follows Captain Kit Brightling on her journeys to carry out top-secret missions for her queen. It’s set in a post-Napoleonic era where magic is real, which I thought was such a cool mash-up. The magic system overall was pretty interesting and I’m really looking forward to seeing it fleshed out more in future novels.

The Bright and Breaking Sea is full of action, adventures, pirates, and espionage. Plus there’s a truly excellent enemies to lovers romance! And two found families that are just adorable. Overall, this was a quick and fun series starter! I can’t wait to find out what happens next and definitely plan on picking up the second book in the series.

I haven't seen many people talking about this book, but I thought it was fun and I want more people to read it! I've always loved books involving pirate ships and sea voyages, I think it started with the Redwall books when I was a child. There's just something enchanting and mysterious about the ocean, and no matter how many times I read about sea battles, deep sea creatures, and getting lost at sea, it never gets old!

Besides books about the ocean, the other kind of story that really appeals to me is period pieces about women who take on roles of power and subvert the expectations of what a proper lady should be doing. Kit Brightling is one of a few women captains in the Queen's service, and although she does face some prejudice, no one can deny that she's good at her job. Kit has the magical ability to control the waves and manipulate them to get her ship moving exactly how she wants...you can imagine how useful that skill is during a naval battle!

If I had to use two words to describe this book, I would say it is both charming and understated. There is a fantasy element, but the magical aspects only play a small role in the story. I thought the worldbuilding in general was pretty interesting, with differences between magic that can be harnessed on the shore/sea vs vibrational magic in the earth. There is a very slow burn, understated romance. There's also a mystery element, but nothing too stressful. The characters were all incredibly endearing and charming. My favorite character is definitely Kit's sister Jane. Jane is only a minor character but she engineers explosives of all kinds and I LOVE HER.

This book is a lot of fun, full of witty banter and fun action scenes. My only complaint is that it starts off pretty slow, and I was waiting for the stakes to be raised and it didn't happen until about 2/3 of the way through the book. But if you go into this book just looking for a fun and charming read, you won't be disappointed.

In this Historical Fantasy action and adventure tale, Kit Brightling is a young, female captain, one of the few in her ranks, who has a special kinship with the sea. She has a magical capability to aid her ship by drawing the enormous power from the sea though using it is not without personal cost or danger. Kit was raised in a foundling home for girls and instilled with a can do and never say die attitude as were several of her “sisters.”Queen Charlotte has a special assignment for Kit; while happy to be of service to the sovereign, she is less than pleased to discover who her companion is going to be.

A veteran of the Continental war, Rian Grant, Viscount Queenscliffe, does not have any magical skills; however, he does have military ones to aid Kit in their joint purpose rescuing a spy who has been trying to uncover a very dangerous plot that will push them all back into war. The Napoleonic-type Emperor of the previous conflict fought in Gallia was exiled; but, it seems he is getting back in the war game with a new magically fueled strategy that could devastate the Isles and their allies. Kit has little use for Beau Monde aristocrats such as Rian, but as they work together, each one comes to appreciates the other’s strengths and fierce bravery.

Kit deals with a lot prejudice as a young female in a male dominated profession and not a being a member of the upper societal echelon. Rian may have social standing, but he has personal problems to sort out as well as the memories of a brutal war to deal with while working with Kit against traitors and enemies alike. This story is set in an alternate 1815 British Isles and European universe where magical abilities are both admired and scorned depending on whether they are perceived as a talent or a weakness.

There is a romantic element as clearly Kit and Rian have a strong attraction towards one another; however, they are from vastly different worlds with goals that would not seem to support a relationship other than a working one. This story is a new series for Ms. Neill that is a departure from her Urban Fantasy and Contemporary Fantasy books. Most definitely a seafaring yarn, there is much detail about the sailing of a wooden ship, magical or otherwise, and the loyal crew who serve aboard the Diana under Kit Brightling’s talented and feisty command.

-- Read this review, and other, on my blog at https://hookedbythatbook.com --

I always enjoy Chloe Neill’s books, and this one certainly met my expectations. There’s plenty of action, all well-described in vivid detail. The characters are well-developed and I especially loved Kit. She knows exactly what she wants, but she isn’t so rigid in her goals that she can’t make room for changes. I didn’t like Rian Grant at the start, but he certainly grew on me as time went on. It was a great pleasure seeing them work together so well. Maybe there were a bit too many separate quests, but overall, I really had fun reading this book.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A light, interesting swashbuckling story that's kind of a mix between Captain Blood, Horatio Hornblower and the Temeraire series (without the dragons).

I enjoyed reading it but I do have to say that I felt like the challenges faced by the main character were all a little too easily solved? I'd settle in for a great "rescue the prisoner from the prison rock" story and then it would be over immediately and without much drama. Then I'd get excited for a "chase the traitor" story and the traitor's sails would be broken. This continued throughout the book. As is noted by other reviewers, there are a lot of great story setups that then get solved far too easily. This is, of course, exactly what you want in real life, but as a book, it failed to enthrall. However, as airy fare for stressful times, this is pretty good.

Firstly, I loved the setting and the characters. I personally love ocean adventures, and I love the fun that a good ship crew can bring to a story. This novel was no exception, I loved the characters that comprised Kit's crew. I like to have a good mix of characters that already know each other, and characters that are meeting for the first time. This way, you can get many different looks at the personality of a certain character. In this instance the different relationships help flesh out the character of Kit.

Also as I said, I do love a good enemies to lovers romance. I love the tension between Kit and Rian, and how through their adventures their relationship changes. However, I do think this could have used some more depth, as it happened a bit fast.

I also like the idea of the magic! And I can really only say that much, as we only really get a glimpse of Kit using her magic. I want more! I hope the future books expand on this more, because I think there could be a LOT of cool things done with it.

I've mentioned a few things already that I wanted more of (i.e. more depth in the relationship between Kit and Rian and more magic).

In addition, I think my main reason for not rating this 4 stars (or higher) was the pacing and general storyline. The rescue that is mentioned in the synopsis is only about a third of the book. The two then go on to have more adventures that are related to the main plot, but I thought it jumped from adventure to adventure almost too quickly, without very strong narrative ties.

I have no real complaints about the characters other than Kit because I did genuinely enjoy them all - villains excluded. That being said, I think they could have benefitted from more development. If the action had been slightly more limited, I think it would have given more room for the characters to really show more of themselves.

All in all, this was a quite a fun read and I think the author can only go up from here with the sequel. Soooo I'd really like the sequel now please!! hahaha.

***4.5 *I Try to be Mysterious at Least Thrice a Day. It Keeps the Blood Moving’ Stars***

This was a fun high seas romp with a good dose of mystery/suspense and filled with a ton of characters I want to spend a lot more time with!

I loved Kit. She’s strong, loyal, determined and simply a good person. She isn’t one to overreact, but she has her moments where doing the right thing may get her into a bit of a kerfuffle ~ depending on whose POV one is looking at. I loved that she was absolutely comfortable in her own skin and could, when the situation called for it, admit that her way may not be the best and roll with the punches.

And then there is Rian Grant. I cannot deny that even I was a bit wary of him at the start but as time progressed I ended up liking the Viscount. His is a bit of a grump and can definitely come across as a true member of the Beau Monde, but as the story progresses you find that there is a lot more to him than meets the eye and I cannot wait to find out what else the Viscount is made of as the series progresses.

As a huge MEthan fan, I was all kinds of curious and excited to dive into this new world and I wasn’t disappointed. I love that the world has a Victorian era vibe with a magical twist to it and how easy it was to get lost in it. The suspense side of the coin was done well and I’m quite interested to see how the overall series arc plays out. As for the romance side of things, in all honesty it is very light and I was perfectly fine with it because it fits the Victorian vibe as well as just how Kit and Rian were portrayed and am looking forward to a slow burn ride when it comes to the two of them.

But as everyone knows, I LOVE well written secondary characters and this one is chock full of them. Jin, Hetta, Jane, Tamlin, Louisa...and so many more that I’d end up naming almost every character in the book, but there were so many unique characters that filled the pages, I simply want to spend more time with them.

So, if you’re looking for a high seas journey, then this is a must click for you!

The Bright and Breaking Sea is a swashbuckling adventure with magic, intrigue, danger, spies, a female captain, and bit of romance! It's a very fun book and is perfect if you are looking for a more light-hearted read.

Kit Brightling is a foundling raised to serve the crown. Her water-aligned magic and savvy at sea have earned her position as captain, as well as her super secret position in the queen's service as a spy. She wants nothing more than to sail her ship, certainly not settle down in a marriage that would clip her wings. But dangerous plots are afoot and the queen sends her on a top-secret mission, alongside a nobleman she wants nothing to do with. At least, for now.

This is fast-paced and a lot of fun, featuring strong female characters who prove they are more than capable to their misogyistic detractors. Not only Kit, but also Queen Charlotte who is a young Black woman proving her ability to rule. I won't say too much more, but I had a really good time with this and I think others will too. And the audiobook is very well done! I received an advance audio copy for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

The Bright and Breaking Sea is the first installment in author Chloe Neill's Captain Kit Brightling series. Set in a Napoleonic-like era, the story begins in the year 1812 with Gerard Rousseau, Emperor of Gallia, trying to take control over an entire continent. It is the first time we are introduced to key characters Rian Grant a Sutherland officer observing Gerard's troop movements, as well as Lieutenant Kit Brightling. Kit is Aligned with the sea. She can feel the currents of magic that spin beneath the waters. There are others who are Aligned with the Earth. The story then moves forward 3 years. The war is over. Gerard was defeated and is now in exile to Montgraf.

Kit was rescued by Hetta Brightling along with 7 other girls she calls sisters. She’s never known who her real parents were, but Hetta has taught her the Principles of Self-Sufficiency that have allowed her to blossom. Thanks to Kit’s unique abilities and willingness to take on any challenge successfully, she’s risen through the ranks is now Captain Brightling of the Isles ship Diana. She’s not only the youngest Captain, but also one of the few women to hold that position. While most believe that Kit and her crew are mere couriers for Queen Charlotte, in reality they actually work secret mission for the Queen’s Crown Command including chasing down messages that have been sent from Gerard to allies who would love to see him return to power.

After the war ended, Rian Grant put the war behind him and took his father’s title of Viscount Queenscliffe. He may be a veteran of the Continental war but returning to the blood shed of the past no longer appeals to him. He’s got more important things to worry about like keeping his home from falling into disrepair. Until the Queen orders him to join with Kit and her crew in finding a spy named Dunwood who Rian once served with during the war. It seems the man has gone missing with important intelligence on the exiled Emperor of Gallia who may be trying to gather ships and solders for a comeback. Kit, Rian, and the crew of the Diana journey to a dangerous pirate quay called Finistere where the Five Pirate Kings call home to rescue Dunwood who’s been gathering intelligence on the exiled emperor of Gallia. Queen Charlotte believes that Gerard is trying to gather ships and solders for a comeback attempt.

Kit isn’t a fan of the upper class called Beau Monde. She’s not had any use for them for a long time. Kit balks at having Rian onboard because of his status as a Viscount, but the fate of her country is at stake, and any help that he can bring to the table, including making sure her ship is seaworthy, will be a large benefit to everyone if they can stop Gerard from returning. I love how wonderful Kit and her crew get along. Especially Tamlin McCreary and Jin Takamura. My favorite of Kit’s sister is Jane. She’s a creative brainiac who builds sparklers (bombs) that are extremely helpful on several of Kit’s missions. This isn’t a romance heavy book unlike the authors Chicagoland series. It’s more focused on action, and adventure, and magic, and swashbuckling fun which is fine with me.

Is it gauche to say I've found my new favorite book? Because I've found my new favorite book. From the first page I was in *LOVE* with Kit Brightling, a foundling with a magical attachment to the sea. She's equal parts dashing Captain and rogue pirate, the Boss of her ship,serving the Queen, taking no fools, doing her job like no one can. Be still my beating heart. Tell me to jump and I am in the water, done. She's not arrogant, she's not whining about how no one takes her seriously she's just DOING IT and we need more female characters like Kit in our YA lives. When she's' introduced to Grant, who is ALOOF not ABUSIVE, they don't instantly gel but it' isn't over the top, "I HATE LOOKING AT YOU BECAUSE OF YOUR FACE", it's organic and their relationship changes with the plot and it's so refreshing to see an enemies to friends trope that isn't a nasty polyester blend of fabricated emotions. I just love it. The ending sets up the rest of the series, obviously, but it ends nicely. This is a must- read, this is a must recommend, this is a must buy for all your friends and give out as Christmas gifts because they love strong female protagonists, espionage and exciting adventure stories. READ THIS BOOK.

Unfortunately I DNF this book. The pacing was waaay too slow for me. There was too much description on the process of sailing.

Pirates, magic, and some steamy romance oh my. I was delighted by this story i throughly enjoyed it. We have a stowaway child, a sea captain that is disdained by not only the men in this profession cause she female but also cause she aligned (has use of magic).. I was wrapped up in the missions that were assigned by the queen in what ended up being a chase to discover how magic is being used against others in an underhanded way. I love the steamy romance that is brewing. I also adored the stowaway child and am eager to see what happens next.

Chloe Neill is back and this time she's taking on the sea. Captain Kit Brightling was a courier for Queen Charlotte and tasked with sniffing out a traitor to the crown. Too bad for her, she had to do it with a snobby, aristocrat.

The Kit Brightling series started with a bang as the novel opened with the overthrowing of a tyrant. The prologue set the scene for the entire book as it was fast-paced and tons of fun. Set in a European-lite world, <strong>The Bright and Breaking Sea</strong> was full of political intrigue, magic, and the start of a hate-to-love relationship. While <strong>The Bright and Breaking Sea</strong> took place mostly on the waters, I found myself drawn to chapters on land. There, Neill introduced readers to Kit's adopted siblings and the political structure of Queen Charlotte's courts.

The Bright and Breaking sea</strong> is the start to a wonderful fun series and I hope we have to opportunity to explore every nook and cranny.

Chloe Neill's newest series is here, and I couldn't be more excited about it! The Bright and Breaking Sea is the first novel in the Captain Kit Brightling series, and I hope it lasts a good long while.

Kit Brightling is a woman of extraordinary skill and confidence. That is how she became a captain of her own ship in Queen Charlotte's fleet. Kit is more than a Captain, however. She's a spy, a soldier, and a loyal woman through and through.

So when she is tasked with the job of acting against a known tyrant – one who wants more war for her country – Kit doesn't hesitate. Okay, perhaps she hesitates a little as Rian Grant is thrown into her life, and onto her ship.

“Secrets, Kit thought ruefully, were the currency of both war and peace.”

From the moment I saw the cover to The Bright and Breaking Sea, I just knew that I had to read it. Once I read the description? I was utterly sold. Everything about this novel sounded appealing, and let me tell you; it was worth all of that mental hype I went through.

Kit's adventure was daring and not in the least bit short of sass and determination. This may be a world of fantasy, but there were plenty of real-world elements to make it feel real. Such as all the persistence Kit encountered as a female captain (with powers).

Kit was but one of many highlights in this novel. Rain is a character that will grow on you, with time (naturally). The secondary characters are a delight as well, from Kit's many sisters to the members of her crew.

“Principle of Self-Sufficiency No. 1: Never take for granted the generosity of others.”

The world itself is a fascinating one, with a complex system of magic and politics. All of which left me hoping to see more. Which means that I'm here looking forward to the next novel already, but I'm okay with that.

The Bright and Breaking Sea essentially dove right into the plot, but given Kit's nature, this actually was a brilliant decision. It spoke of the story and her character all in one, just in many subtle and compelling ways.

“Principle of Self-Sufficiency No. 4: Learn from the past; don't dwell on it.”

Truthfully, this is a series and world that I could see myself enjoying for years to come. I don't know how long the series intends to be, but I for one am hoping for a trilogy – if not even more than that. Though frankly, I'll take whatever I can get. Here's to the next novel!

Goodreads Review:
This was quite a bit of fun. For me, personally, it was a little too much romance to be an adventure and a little too much adventure to be a romance, if that makes sense?
Overall, I found the characters compelling, and thought there was genuine chemistry between the protagonist, Kit, and her enemy-turned-lover who shall remain nameless cuz spoilers...
There were a few too many quests that the characters had to race to constantly and I think the book would have benefited from some slower moments, allowing the story and the characters to breathe and for the reader to get to know everyone better.
Is it the greatest ocean adventure romance you'll ever read? No. Was it a light, fun, and engaging way to spend a few hours? Absolutely!
Thank you so much to NetGalley for sending me an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

In an alternate history, Kit Brightling is a naval captain in the Queen’s Crown Command. Unbeknownst to many, she carries out secret missions for the crown due to being Aligned—that is, possessing an elemental connection to the sea (others may be Aligned to the land or wind, for example). Kit's latest mission involves the recovery of an intelligence officer, but she is none too pleased to find herself sharing command with army colonel and aristocrat, Rian Grant, Viscount Queenscliffe. Relentless adventure, a touch of mystery, and a slow-burning romance on the high seas commence.

What I love about this novel is that it’s pure fun. The pacing is on point, moving in a series of rises and falls like the rolling waves Kit and her crew sail. The action sequences are suspenseful while the quiet moments are used to further character development. The crew is distinct, and what is very well done is diversity. ALL characters are given the same treatment: hair, eye, and skin color description. Queen Charlotte is dark-skinned, while Kit’s second in command is of inferred Japanese descent. Racial prejudice is de-emphasized to the point of being non-existent, while gender and, to an extent, religious prejudices are elevated. Kit’s crew is distinct, well-managed, and well-defined in their roles.

Kit is a wonderful character. Battle-hardened and wise in her leadership, she is a memorable protagonist. I also love the irony in her intense fear of horses and love for romances and penny dreadfuls. Grant is also a character with presence, although his is, perhaps, a little less clear than Kit’s. But it’s good for the love interest in a slow-burn romance to retain a bit of mystery. The will-they/won’t-they dynamic is much better for it.

If I had one criticism it would be that each mission is slightly too easy for Kit and co. to achieve. However, the overall lightness of the novel’s tone mingled with the expertly written action make this complaint minor and easy to forgive. The eARC I was sent had several grammatical typos that I hope are cleaned up before release day.

I loved this book so much that I pre-ordered a physical copy before I’d even finished it. It’s just that marvelous a time.

I struggled to read this book.

Maybe I was spoiled by Chloe Neill's other urban fantasy series, which are fast paced and action-packed, and I was expecting something similar.

The storytelling here was slow and descriptive and I found myself skimming so often that I would frequently realize I had no idea what was going on.

I eventually gave up trying to finish it.

If you like slow paced historical fiction, give it a go.

If you were looking for an adventurous fantasy, you may grow weary of waiting for the plot to take off.