Sinner's Isle has left a mark on my soul. Yes, it's a romantic fantasy filled with pirates and deliciously magical adventures, but it's also so much more. It's a thought-provoking take on how quickly some humans are to villainize others simply for their differences. Seeing Rosalinda transform from being resentful of who she is and what she's capable of into a place of acceptance and appreciation was incredibly satisfying. And the way Angela, the author, wove in her culture into this world was a true delight.

💕 Fated Mates
🫶 Inclusive Characters
🪄 Witches
🏴‍☠️ Pirates

Thank you so much to Angela Montoya and Random House for this ARC through NetGalley. Sinner's Isle will be available October 31st, 2023.

Love love love.

Love.

While giggling at different parts of this book I thought to myself, this has such Princess Bride Chaos energy and that is how I've decided to pitch it to my friends.

Seriously I was in tears a few times from laughter. That's the best sort of praise I can give because come on how many books have actually made you laugh that much?

The romance was heated and very emotional, which is something that is so rare and hard to do in YA without the tension coming from the physicality of things and I appreciated it very much.

The politics and hidden agendas of everyone made for great antagonists but also some sweeping metaphors that are timely and I think will be recieved well, but they are ultimately presented in a nuanced way. Usually it's very much black and white in YA, but this book handles its politics from so many angles that make it bleed with authenticity. And because of that I think the messages are much more relatable.

There was so much to adore in this story, the characters popped, the island setting popped, the sea monsters and gemstones and pirates and balls and court politics all popped just right for me.

I'm pretty sure this is a standalone but let it be known I will pay real money for some fluffy or angsty with a happy ending or hurt/comfort novellas about some of the side relationships that don't get the spotlight in this novel.

Anyway! Highly recommend if you like the Princess Bride's humor, Pirates of the Caribbean's aesthetic and action, and the heated romance in Zorro. 💕

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children’s for the opportunity to read rage and review this arc which will be available Oct, 31, 2023!!!

This was a weird book. Not in a bad way but just that it meandered. The plot was steady and kinda predictable but fun. The main characters were delicious together. Pirates witches foul kings and romance. I dug it!

Title: Sinner's Isle
Author: Angela Montoya
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

You know that feeling when you anticipate a book so much you fear that it won't deliver, but then it turns out even better than you imagined?

That was this book for me.

Angela Montoya is one of my favourite people in the writing community, so when it was announced that Sinner's Isle was being published I screamed just a little (ok, a lot, I was so excited). Then when I was gifted an e-arc, I screamed even more. And it was all worth it.

This book had everything I could possibly want and more: enemies to lovers, found family, witches (with super unique magic), forbidden romance, the fated mates trope, sirens, latina characters, LGBTQIA+ characters in the forefront, badassery, the list goes on and on.

I don't even know what to say, I loved it so much. I am so desperate to get my hands on a physical copy (can October come quicker please?!) This book is a guaranteed fantasy favourite for fans of Serpent & Dove, Pirates of the Caribbean and On These Black Sands.

Please go add this book to your tbr list now!!

This debut novel was FANTASTIC. I could not stop reading. Majestic Rosalinda and many others are trapped on Sinner’s Isle, where society thinks they belong. When they come of age, they are paraded around and eventually bonded to whoever is willing to pay the highest tithe for them and their magical abilities. Rosa is determined to get herself and her best friend off of the isle before the binding but things quickly go awry. What follows features a brooding, hot pirate named Mariano, his crazy best friend Santi, the King and many others. You can’t put the book down because you can’t wait to see what happens and if Rosa and Mariano succeed in their missions. Ugh, absolutely loved it.

This is a great YA fantasy for fans of Adrienne Young's books set in the Narrows, Serpent and Dove, and all things pirates. The story follows two characters trying to escape different things. For Rosa, the island she has been imprisoned on along with all the other women born to this empire with magic. For Mariano, he is escaping the fall out of his father, the pirate king's, death. The results of both of those attempts end up bringing the MCs to each other in an insta-love relationship with a dash of hate due to Mariano's distrust of Majestics. This is a solid debut and I can't wait to see what stories Montoya whips up next!

4.8⭐️ ~ a story full of adventure, love, intrigue, pirates, witches, magic, friendship, enemies, betrayal, found family and more love. What's not to love? If you're looking for a book you can read in one sitting, this is it. It will grab your attention from the very first page. I really hope there will be a sequel, because this wasn't enough for me. I want to know more about this world, magic, history and Santiago. Yes, Santiago is the best, try to convince me otherwise. Thanks again Angela Montoya for giving me the arc through NetGalley.

18-year-old Rosalinda is a Majestic - a witch - who has lived on Sinner's Isle with other Majestics for the last decade. Every year, all Majestics over the age of 18 are paraded around for wealthy men to appreciate and bond to. If chosen, a Majestic cedes her free will to her male bonded and he gains her power. In turn, the women are told that this binding saves their souls from the sin of being Majestics. Desperate to avoid this fate, Rosalinda and her best friend plan to escape the island before the binding.

Mariano is the prince of pirates, the son of the most feared pirate in the world. When his father dies, he gifts Mariano with a magical stone, telling him to follow it to his heart's desire. When Mariano follows the chain, he and his best friend Santi end up shipwrecked on Sinner's Isle. Determined to leave with treasure, the two plan to steal riches and a ship.

What unfolds is a YA fantasy reminiscent of a combination of Serpent & Dove and Fable. This was a fun, lighthearted read with themes of found family, friendship, and love. My only real complaint with this book was the insta-love between the main characters. I love the fated mates trope, but only when it seems like they have reasons to be soul mates. The MCs in this book were just infatuated with each other immediately, and I wish it had been clearer why they loved one another over any of the other characters in the book. Rosalinda was also a little gullible, but I'm giving her grace for being 18.

✅ YA Romantic Fantasy
✅ Pirates
✅ Witches
✅ Fated Mates
✅ Queer rep
✅ POC MCs
✅ Found Family

Thanks so much to Angela Montoya and Random House Children's for this ARC through NetGalley. Sinner's Isle will be available October 31st, 2023.

Thank you to @netgalley and @joyrevbooks for approving an ARC of this book 💕

This book had been on my radar the minute the cover was revealed 😍

Rosalinda is a Majestic, forced to live in Sinner's Isle until she binds herself to a man who will probably use her for her magic, which is why she plans on escaping with her best friend Juana.

Mariano is a pirate with only a chain to his name that, according to his father, will lead him to his greatest desire. Why did it lead him to Rosalinda, then?

I loved everything about the story, but what I loved the most was that Rosalinda had the power in her to save herself. This book comes out in October of this year, so make your to grab your copy if you like:

📚 Found Family
📚 Soulmates
📚 Pirates and Witches
📚 Young Adult

I wasn’t expecting much from Sinner’s Isle, I thought would be a surface level pirate romance. I could not have been more wrong. This is one of the best YA books I’ve read this year! The story is well written, characters are deep, the plots fit together seamlessly, and I finished it feeling good. I expect good things for this book now!

I fell prey to this story from chapter one. It grabbed onto me and didn’t let go. There are so many things to list off as reasons to love Sinner’s Isle but if I had to choose one it’s the cliffhangers at the end of every scene and chapter. The story plays out like a Hollywood film. A carefully crafted plot that builds and surprises!

I can’t believe the world has to wait another four months for this gem, but I devoured SINNER’S ISLE in just a few days. This stunning debut by Angela Montoya follows a powerful witch and a charming pirate through eight nights of enemies to lovers, political foils, tons of magic, and a love story that will leave you breathless.

I received an ARC of this book through a giveaway, and it was one of my biggest wins of the month (aside from graduating college, I guess). I was able to read this book while spending the weekend in Portland. Montoya brings alive a unique fantasy world based in Latinx culture, creating a love story and characters we all get to root for.

Definitely recommend this book to any fantasy romance lover, and I look forward to seeing what Montoya brings us next.

SINNER’S ISLE is the combination of Tangled and Pirates of the Caribbean that I didn’t know I needed. But trust me, I needed it.

Rosalinda needs a way off Sinner’s Isle, and she’s desperate enough (and conniving enough) to blackmail a pirate in order to set sail. Mariano is similarly stunned by Rosa’s beauty when they meet as Flynn Rider is when he meets Rapunzel, and attempts his own smoulder. Rosa is just as unimpressed as Rapunzel was… but she’s ready to use any advantage she’s got.

A fun, 5-star read that has all of the magic of Tangled with a little more heat, SINNER’S ISLE is not one to miss. Available Halloween 2023 and ready for pre-order now.

Sinner’s Isle is the debut book of author Angela Montoya. This fantasy romance begins and we immediately get a sense of the characters’ personalities within a few brief lines of dialogue. It’s obvious they have some shadow work to do, no pun intended.
Montoya has put together a book that delivers romance, adventure, and self discovery. The action rarely dulls and if things have gotten a bit dark you can count on humor and wit to cut the tension.
While delivering villains you love to see fail and heroes you love to see succeed, Montoya never ceases to serve real world lessons. Giving into darkness is sometimes too easy, especially when we’ve lost hope. Opening oneself to love is a brave and vulnerable act.
Montoya’s work is inclusivity at its best. The story does not shy away from including a wealth of sexualities, giving the reader some wonderful LGBTQ+ characters in which to see actual people, not mere props for pandering. Quite possibly best of all, a cast of Latinx characters that will give readers a chance to see themselves reflected in on the page, to see what they’re capable of accomplishing. All of that being said, the secret is out, Montoya is a Majestic storyteller.

This was such a fun ride! Swashbuckling and romantic, Sinner's Isle is a pirates x witches romantasy that sweeps along on a thrilling and satisfying adventure. It pulls off a satisfying conclusion while leaving room for a sequel--which I would absolutely read, if there will be one. I would love to see this get made into a movie--it feels very cinematic and would be absolute fun to see on screen.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc!

Thank you for the privilege of getting to read the e-ARC of this incredible story. This book is all kinds of wonder and everything I didn't know I needed to escape into. At all times it felt as though I was right there on Sinner's Isle amongst the beauty and magic. The characters were relatable and also mystical, as well as being completely swoon worthy!

Would highly recommend!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Actual rating: 4.5 (rounded up)

A sweeping debut from Angela Montoya, Sinner’s Isle is perfect for anyone who loves magic, (hot) pirates, growth, friendships, and of course, witchy women. This is for those people who were in love with, and still are in love with, Orlando Bloom from Pirates of the Caribbean, but make him hispanic.

When I describe this book as atmospheric, I mean it in every sense of the word. The world felt realized and true, and the magic system was to die for. I love love loved the lore and backstory of this book and I particularly love how its effects were felt throughout all aspects. The connections between magic and women and sinfulness as purported by religious figures felt very raw and important and yet believable in a fantasy setting. The female narrative here was powerful and thoughtfully weaved into the plot in a way I was impressed by. Additionally, The use of spanish throughout the book was also refreshing as I feel like I don’t see spanish x fantasy often. It was also really thoughtfully placed, even if you don’t speak it (although I do) you are still able to glean most of the meaning. The writing was incredibly descriptive and truly beautiful at moments and left me wanting more. Finally, Montoya’s characters feel like real people (Santi is my favorite, sorry) with real thoughts and desires, and I found myself really rooting for them.

I do, however, have a few critiques, and this is where it gets minorly spoilerish: I didn’t know how to feel about/didn’t quite like the use of the soulmate trope in this book. I think, while it was done well and did fit in the story, it made the pacing a bit off for me, particularly when it comes to the main relationship. I felt it could’ve been handled a bit differently to build suspense and tension more in the relationship, although that is just personal preference. Also, the “villain”, Lord Morales, felt a tiny bit characterized to me, although I did love the ending in which his wife takes her power back from home, so that again is personal opinion.

All in all, this was an excellent debut and I look forward to reading more of Montoya’s work.

Thank you again to Netgalley and the publisher for this e-arc

Holy hell. What a debut!
Pirates. Magic. And a badass Latinx woman?! Obsessed. From start to finish. So good.

This was exactly the type of book I needed to get back into romance fantasy! The fantastical world-building that the author established throughout this read left me mind-blown. The characters were all rich in both their levels of relatability as well as the complexity behind their love for one another. I want to spoil so much, but am holding myself back. Trust me, if fantasy romance is a genre you absolutely adore, then this book is a definite must-read!

This was so spellbinding. I could not stop reading this story!! Witches and Pirates. This was so entrantsing. I am still thinking about it a couple of days later.
I just reviewed Sinner's Isle by Angela Montoya. #SinnersIsle #NetGalley
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