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Sinner's Isle by Angela Montoya is an enchanting and action-packed adventure that had me hooked from the very first page. This fun and lighthearted read is a breath of fresh air in the world of YA fantasy, and it deserves every one of these five stars!

The story revolves around the spirited and powerful witch, Rosalinda, trapped on the remote and mysterious Sinner's Isle. Under the watchful eye of the power-hungry Doña Lucia, Rosa is preparing to be the centerpiece of this year's Offering, where the wealthy will choose a Majestic to serve them for life. The captivating blend of found family, friendship, and love weaves throughout the plot, making it a heartwarming and emotionally resonant tale.

The fated love elements in the story may be a bit heavy-handed, but strangely, they make you root for the pirate and the witch even more. Mariano, the charming and swashbuckling pirate, is a character that's impossible not to love, and Rosa's strength and determination are admirable.

What sets Sinner's Isle apart are the unexpected twists and turns that left me cheering and shedding happy tears. The whirlwind of the plot keeps you on the edge of your seat, and the diverse cast of characters, both likable and despicable, adds depth and complexity to the story.

This book reads like a Disney movie brought to life in the best way possible. The action is thrilling, the romance is swoon-worthy, and the plot twists are both surprising and satisfying. Angela Montoya's writing feels fresh and original, and this standalone fantasy novel marks a promising start to what I hope will be a new series. I can't wait to dive into this captivating world again and see where the author takes us next.

In summary, Sinner's Isle is a delightful gem of a book that delivers adventure, romance, and unexpected twists. If you're ready for an exhilarating journey filled with magic, intrigue, and unforgettable characters, this is the perfect choice. Angela Montoya has crafted a story worth celebrating and falling in love with. Don't miss out on this fantastic read!

Rosalina is trapped on Sinner’s Isle, an island that holds captive all the Majestics (witches) who will be sold to the highest bidder at the Offering. Once sold, the Majestics bind with the wealthy owners. Rosa is the most prized Majestic at this season’s Offering because of the vicious shadows she controls. She must escape the island before a wealthy owner forces her to destroy whatever she touches. Mariano, AKA Prince of Pirates, is stranded on Sinner’s Isle after the king’s fleet destroys his father’s ship. Mariano and Rosa work together (although skeptical of the other’s motivations) to escape Sinner’s Isle before the Offering.

Full of adventure, Sinner’s Isle is an impressive debut! I love the world-building: history, politics, and magic. It’s very easy to follow for non or newer fantasy readers. The love story feels a little like insta love, but Montoya fully weaves a soul mate (heartsong) thread throughout the story that I ached for Rosalina and Mariano to recognize their heartsong. I appreciate how Montoya didn’t create all evil men. A few of my favorite characters respect, acknowledge, and praise women as individuals with their own interests and desires.

My Three Favorites:
🧡Character: Santi - he provides an abundance of humor! Maybe Santi’s story could be book 2? Just a thought.
🧡Scene: the twist towards the end - perfect! I actually gasped at the twist!
🧡Quote: Our pirate, Mariano says, “Forgive me for saying this, but most men don’t take women seriously. They see a lovely face and can think of nothing past that. But women are cunning - they are smarter than most men - and they aren’t as easily distracted. In fact, my kind often loses all focus when a lady is nearby.” Truth bomb! Love it!!

I love standalone fantasies, and Sinner's Isle by Angela Montoya is a great one!!! It's like the book version of a fun summer Blockbuster. There are pirates, witches, a glittering festival, and so much hilarious banter! I especially loved how Rosa's shadow magic changed throughout the book in accordance with her character arc. Oh, and there's one twist at the end that I didn't see coming, and it's so good!

In a world where witches known as Majestics are held captives on an island and forced to be bonded to people and have their powers used without their consent, a powerful young witch yearns to escape and the only person she can get help from is the mysterious roguish pirate that landed on her island that she can't stay away from. Rosalina is trapped on Sinner's Isle, an island filled with young women, witches, who were forced here because society views their magic as dangerous and where these women would be forced to be bonded to powerful men. Rosalina has been plotting her escape, she doesn't want to be forced to be bonded to a man, to have her powers used against her will, she wants freedom from it all. She is the prized commodity at this year's Offering, a fiesta for the wealthy to come and pick a Majestic to take. Rosalina fears her powers, her abilities to control shadows, because she barely has any control and she knows in the wrong hands she'd destroy everything and everyone. Then there is the handsome Prince of Pirates, Mariano, who has been sailing the seas and going on adventures. Yet when the king's fleet attacks his father's ship, he becomes marooned on Sinner's Isle with only an enchanted necklace his father gave him telling him it would lead to his heart's desire... and instead he finds himself being lead straight to Rosa. When Rosa's escape attempt ends with her best friend being held captive and Rosa being blackmailed and threatened into behaving for the Offering, she needs a new plan to escape, and when she runs into a handsome pirate, she knows he is the key to her escape and rescuing her friend. The more Rosa and Mariano spend time together the stronger this strange feeling between them begins to grow. Can they both find a way to escape Sinner's Isle and all the enemies on the island that want to destroy them or will they be forced to never have the chance at a peaceful life... possibly together....This was an overall really interesting novel and I enjoyed how everything wrapped up in the end. I thought the magic system was interesting and I liked how the relationship between the two main characters grew. It's a fun read and I would recommend it for anyone looking for a nice fantasy romance with some magic and some pirates!

*Thanks Netgalley and Random House Children's, Joy Revolution for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

This was an absolutely fun read. Rosalinda is a Majestic (a witch with a specific power), and she reluctantly teams up with Mariano, the Pirate Prince, in order to escape her gilded prison. I loved that Rosalinda and Mariano were each given time to go through their own journeys of discoveries, betrayals, and violence. Each were fleshed out in a real way and you could see the relationships they have with others. However, this does mean they get little time together, so it is a case of insta-love explained away by "heartsongs." I am able to overlook that in favor of the amazing worldbuilding through the scope of one island. This is an amazing story with Latin characters and queer representation in prominent side characters.

Excellent and vibrant debut
This book captivated me from the beginning. The magical world building was both intricate and easy to understand. I love the Spanish language woven throughout the book as well, and the main characters were so relatable and easy to love. The adventure is epic. I love seafaring books that have just enough romance to keep me engaged and this is exactly it.

Rosalinda has lived on Sinner’s Isle, where Majestics dwell, since she was young due to inheriting magic and being a Majestic herself. The newest King is coming to select a Majestic who will be with him until he dies due to the recent king dying. Rosalinda is sure it will be her due to the dangerous and powerful magic she possesses. However, her and her friend Juana have a plan to escape instead of going through with the Offering. Meanwhile, Mariano, son of the notorious pirate El Draque, is trying to save his father from death when their ship is attacked and his father gives him a pendant that can take him to his heart’s true desire and tells him to flee. Mariano finally does determined to use this pendant to find all the treasures and vessels in the world and make a name for himself. He takes his friend Santi to follow this pendant, which instead leads him to Sinner’s Isle, the island of the Majestics where the Offering is currently occurring.

This is such a fantastic debut! It’s a fast read that is just go go go from the start and I couldn’t put it down! I needed to keep reading to see what would happen next, and “just one more chapter” turned into multiple chapters 😆 I just couldn’t stop reading!

The world is fascinating and interesting! The way the Majestics are treated really frustrated me and made me angry and so reading about sympathizers and these girls who are trying to escape, you’re just rooting for them the whole time! I loved the magic system, such interesting and unique abilities the girls had. There’s pirates, which I admit, I wish there was more about their world, but you get enough of a glimpse that you can’t help but love the pirates in here!

The characters are fantastic characters too! Rosalinda was such a strong character. At times, she may have come off as a bit weak, but she had strong convictions and morals, and I appreciated that she wasn’t immediately using her shadows to just murder everyone and instead tried to find a non violent way to escape. She’s smart, witty and loyal to those she loves. She was also inspiring because it seemed her situation was so hopeless to the point she seemed to be giving up and her odds seemed bleak, and then there would be a light thanks to her friends or family. I just loved her, especially when she was around Mariano!

Mariano was a fun character, but then how can you say no to a pirate!? Whenever him and Rosalina interacted, I laughed! They were so sassy around each other, and yet, you could feel the tension between them, and it was delicious and I just wanted more of them!

There’s a few surprising side characters I really liked such as Sebastian, Juana, Lola and other Majestics. But I have to say, Santi was my favorite! I adored him from the moment he entered into the story and he became my favorite 🥰 he is the comedic relief, and yet, he has a tragic story that I guessed and was hoping I was right, and I’m so glad I was right because it made the story even better and even more emotional!

There’s a couple twists that are enjoyable and loved in this book and I just honestly want more from this world! I highly recommend this one!

I received a free digital copy to read. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Honestly, a round of applause for author Angela Montoya on such an amazing debut!
This romantic Fantasy follows Rosalinda, aka Rosa, our fierce FMC who is quite the force to be reckoned with, she is a very powerful witch, or Majestic, a term used to identify the people who can weild magic. And like every other Majestic, she is subjected living on Sinner's Isle, never to leave, unless chosen during the Offering. But she refuses to be anyone's puppet, so she begins to scheme a plan of escape, with her best friend Juana at her side.
Enter Mariano, our handsome and witty MMC, is a pirate that lands on Sinner's Isle after his father's ship was attacked by the King's fleet. Here he crosses paths with Rosalinda and this sparks an idea in her head. She needs a way off this island, and the very attractive pirate before her was the ticket. So she blackmails him and our adventure begins.
A book with an abundance magic, adventure, found family, swoon-worthy romance, and high stakes. I found myself up until 4am reading, it was that good. It has been a while since I picked up a YA book and honestly, this book reminded me why I love it so much.
No cliffhangers here, which was so good to see. However, I don't know if this means that it will be a standalone or we can expect another book. I guess we shall see.

Pirates and witches, you say? Sign me up, says I! This is a fun book! Lots of found family, swashbuckling, and fated mates (a little too instalove for me, tbh). There is lost of diversity and representation. I'm really excited to read more from this author.

Thank you to NetGalley, Ms. Montoya, and Random House for the opportunity to read an ARC of this title. An honest review was requested but not required.

I LOVED the worldbuilding here. The idea of sea serpents and pirates and cannibal mermaids and majestics (women with goddess-like powers) is so cool. I wish Rosa had been able to leave the island MUCH earlier and that the bulk of the story had taken place at sea. Oh well. My main problem was Rosa: I felt like she spent the entire story fighting herself and letting things happen TO her; being reactive instead of proactive. It was really frustrating. The insta-love didn't bother me too much, or at least not as much as others, but I wish there had been more story developed with the King, more consequences for the traitors? mutineers? rebels?, more plot interactions between Mariano and Rosa, more information about Mariano's mysterious pendant, more, more, more. Frankly it seemed like half of duology. Maybe it was, and I missed it?

At any rate, this was fun, but it had all the bones to be amazing. Maybe in (a hypothetical) book 2, where Rosa rules the seas, some of these ideas and concepts could be expanded. ⭐⭐⭐

"Sinner's Isle, the debut novel by Angela Montoya, offers a world in which there is religion-controlled magic in which witches are bound to powerful people for "their own benefit". Witches are kept on a remote island until they are chosen. Rosalinda, a witch with formidable shadow powers and the most prized Offering seeks to flee the island and earn her freedom.

It is an engaging setting and interesting premise and I adored the natural incorporation of Spanish language and Hispanic culture. I would have liked even more depth in the world-building.

Notably, the King and his compelling backstory stand out as a particularly engaging element. I also enjoyed the platonic relationships contained within the story. While the concept of the heartsong bond adds an intriguing layer to the story, the reliance on fated mates and instant love did not resonate with me. Despite this, the characters shine individually, although some additional depth and complexity could further enhance their development.

Overall, Sinner's Isle showcases Montoya's promising talent and I look forward to more from this budding author. A promising start!

Thank you to Netgalley, Random House Children's, Joy Revolution for the eARC! This is an honest review.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing this eARC.

Sinner's Isle follows Rosa, captive on Sinner's Isle, as she plans to flee to save herself and stumbles upon Mariano, the prince of pirates.

This was a fun YA fantasy romance read! There wasn't oodles of depth -- the romance in particular was incredibly insta-love -- but overall the story and the world made for such a fun, quick read. I was thoroughly enamored, and I thought that Montoya in particular did a solid job of balancing stakes and building the suspense of the narrative. Plus, I'm always going to have a good time where pirates are involved.

While this didn't necessarily knock my socks off, I found Sinner's Isle very entertaining, and I'd certainly recommend it for anyone who's looking for a fun little romantasy.

I have been friends on Tiktok with Angela for well over a year and so I have watched her for a large portion of her writing journey. So when I saw her book on NetGalley, I HAD to request it. Let me tell you I am so glad I did.

I have never read a fantasy novel with pirates in it, so my expectations were low but let me say this book is SO good! The writing is exceptional. I think there was just the right amount of world-building and the story developed well. I would say the book is YA/NA, honestly, I don't know what true YA is anymore so it's on the lighter side I would say. I say that because while there is romance, it is not spicy. I don't often read books without spice but the plot in Sinner's Isle was so good, I wasn't even bothered.

Rosa was such a bad a** and I never thought I would see a female shadow hands;) I loved the author's spin on mates and enjoyed seeing how all of the pieces of the puzzle came together in the end.

This was such an enjoyable read, I look forward to reading more by Angela and seeing where her writing career goes!!

This was a fabulous debut! I was hooked from the very first page. The world-building and magic system was described flawlessly and also didn't overwhelm me in the slightest. The characters were diverse and personable and you immediately wanted to root for them. The romance was sweet (I loved the fated soulmates trope used here) and the entire book read like a Disney adventure (in the BEST way possible: think the original pirates of the Carribean). This is a fantastic YA Fantasy, one I will definitely be recommending.

I think Angela Montoya is a gem and a truly talented writer. I cannot wait to read more by her in the future!

4.25/5

Sinner’s Isle:⁣
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“I suppose sometimes the world needs to burn to make room for a new forest to grow.” ⁣
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Thank you SO MUCH @getunderlined @prhaudio for my gifted copies [partner]⁣
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I’ve been 100% in my pirate/sea era and it’s all thanks to Sinner’s Isle. I binged One Piece, bought a few additional pirate books. I mean, I want all the magic. Ok, but in all honesty, Angela Montoya had the best marketing for her book, and I totally would have bought it off that alone. But this book is it y’all. Oh, but you don’t like pirates? Well Rosa’s a witch so.. bye.⁣
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Rosa was amazing. She has phantoms that just want to unleash their wrath on the world.. and she just wants them to simmer. However, Rosa is seen as *the* hot Majestic for this years offering. She’d rather eat rocks, but Doña Lucia basically has her blackmailed to do as she commands. ⁣
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Highly recommend the audio. The hilarity of Santi was perfect in audio. Ana Osorio, amazing as always. I loved the audio and it really brought the characters to life.⁣
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10/10 always going to recommend. Sinner’s Isle was amazing. Out 10/31

I really loved Sinners Isle. Montoya does a really great job of world building and creating intrigue in this world right from the start. I thought both characters were well written and were relatable enough to want to find out what would happen and how they would collide in this world. I'm so glad that I preordered this because I will certainly be rereading it, and also suggesting it to others!

Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review!

This was an excellent young adult romantic fantasy book. Sinner’s Isle was beautifully written and the world was wonderfully crafted. I loved main characters Rosalinda and Mariano in this book and I appreciated the dual POV as it helped tell the story.

Read this if you like:

✨ Witches
✨ Pirates
✨ YA Romantasy
✨ Dual POV

This was an amazing debut novel and I definitely recommend picking it up.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
I’ve loved all the books released under the Joy Revolution imprint so far, and Sinner’s Isle, their first fantasy romance offering, is no different. I was immediately drawn to the interesting world, with the story revolving largely around a yearly “Offering” fiesta, and how it centers around the Majestic witches “binding themselves to wealthy men. It’s an openly icky concept, and I like how it creates a great sense of stakes for the leads to work against. That, juxtaposed with the pirates who end up on Sinner’s Isle, make up great elements for this adventure.
Rosalinda and Mariano are very solid main characters. I admired Rosalinda’s determination to try to escape her fate in particular. Mariano is also interesting, and I love how he also has a form of magical intervention as he searches for his heart’s desire, but of course, he gets more than what he expected in Rosalinda. The witch/pirate dynamic between them is pretty much as fun as you’d expect. The romance isn’t exactly the most substantial, and it is very instalovey, but it’s fairly sweet and inoffensive otherwise, considering overall “romantasy” standards.
I liked that the book charted the days relative to the timeline of “the Offering,” giving it a sense of how time was passing, even if Rosalinda is determined to avoid the fiesta itself. I do think it also helped with the pacing, although the overall adventurous tone also helped.
This was a solid debut, and I look forward to more books from Angela Montoya in the future. If you enjoy fantasy romance and love witches and/or pirates, I’d recommend checking this out!

Like a turbulent storm, Sinner's Isle is a mix of emotions of bravery, justice, and love.
Sinner's Isle is an island where all the Majestics are captured and held - women with magical gifts.
There they are prepared till coming of age to be bonded by men to control at the Offering ceremony.

Dual POV from Rosa and Mariano.

Rosa longed for freedom. After losing her family to Majestic hunters, she planned to escape with her friend Juana before the Offering. However, they were betrayed and Juana is held captive to ensure Rosa compliance. Her magic is her shadows. Once multi-color, her shadows are now black as her despair. She fears them because she thinks that if she does not control them, no one she loves will be safe.

Mariano is the Pirate Prince. During a storm, while his father is dying, he is urged to flee.
When an armada attacks their ship out of the blue, he complies taking a magical pendant that his father gave him to lead him to his true hearts desire. Mariano luckily escapes with the help of his funny comedic mate Santiago. Luck beholds, they drift off onto Sinner's Isles.

There the whole journey is center around escaping Sinner's Isles. There is political dissent and even a coupe.
But what I throughly enjoyed about this book is the relationships between the characters. The friendships and love they have for each other as well as the heart soul. The arc of Rosa was magnificent to read as well. How her shadows evolved from the beginning to the end was just so satisfying because it represented Rosa.
Also I LOVE Santiago and Mariano bantering and interaction. Santiago is one of my favorite characters! He seems so silly and a mess but deep down he is a man of honor and integrity.

Overall I would definitely recommend reading this!
Thank you netgalley for this eARC for my honest opinionated review

The time of the Offering has arrived, and the King and many of his high class subjects have made their way to the remote Sinner’s Isle to select a Majestic of their own. But an eighteen-year-old Majestic named Rosalinda has plans apart from becoming bound for the rest of her life to a man she has never met. Instead of escaping the Isle as she and her best friend Juana initially intend, however, their plans are thwarted and Rosa must find another way to escape. Lucky for her, a pirate named Mariano has found himself on the island as well, and he may be just the right person to help deliver Rosa to the freedom she desires.

This charming young adult novel combines magic, romance, and adventure into a compelling package that is difficult to put down. Taking place over the course of only a few days, the narrative progresses quickly and incorporates several engaging interactions into each one. And since the narrator shifts between Mariano and Rosalinda, readers get a sense of each protagonist’s thoughts and feelings before the other character is aware of them. Thanks to this design, dramatic tension increases throughout the novel, and readers will eagerly await the moment when Mariano and Rosalinda discover their true feelings for one another.

Many colorful characters appear alongside Mariano and Rosalinda, including their individual best friends, and these characters often interject comedy into an otherwise dark situation. Additionally, much of the story is inspired by Mexican folklore, so readers will find Spanish language and culture interspersed within this fantasy novel. Fans of enemies to lovers romance, especially stories that incorporate some level of fate or destiny, will appreciate the overall focus of this novel. And alongside that, readers are sure to enjoy the action, intrigue, and danger faced by the characters at every turn. Multifaceted and memorable, this is a love story that will resonate with a wide range of mature young adult and older readers.