Fantasy mixed with high seas adventures and oceanic vibes is one of my all time favorite niche genres! Compass and Blade is deeply atmospheric, with high stakes, found family, mythical creatures, and magic.

Mira’s connection to the sea is so beautifully described. I love how she hears the song of the ocean and sets off to save her family and find herself. This was a story of discovery, of first love, and doing what you believe to be right while trying to survive. Plus, any fantasy novel with morally grey characters and a villain love interest is sure to be a hit. Greenlaw’s lyrical prose brings the dangerous and magical world of the Fortunate Isles to life.

If you loved Fable, this is absolutely the book for you! Compass and Blade is the first in a trilogy and I can’t wait to learn more about this world and watch Mira bring it to its knees.

Thank you to NetGalley and Inkyard Press for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Mira aches for the sea that surrounds her beloved island home. It’s only when she’s submerged in the vast expanse of blue-green that she really feels peace; despite losing her mother to its abyss of secrets long before. Mira secretly desires something more than a lifetime spent rooted to the only place she’s ever known — but when the opportunity for that adventure comes crashing down upon her, it does so at an impossible cost.

I read an obscene amount of young adult fantasy (it is my genre of choice by far), and while many series successfully capture some key elements; like a visually immersive, effortless writing style, thoroughly developed characters that build meaningful relationships, or a clever big reveal and unpredictable plot at the heart of the text, few manage to check all of the boxes at once. Rachel Greenlaw’s “Compass and Blade” is one of those rare titles. When I say I loved it, that is a gross understatement.

From a scorching, complicated love affair, to a fearless protagonist who moves mountains to save those she cares for, to a heart wrenching portrait of loss, everything works in “Compass and Blade.” It’s a conclusion I already felt myself wanting to draw within the first few pages, only to see the rest of the story crescendo to a sensational tipping point. This is no mere book — it is a masterpiece.

*Thanks to NetGalley and Inkyard Press for the ARC.*

Calling all fans of FABLE, DAUGHTER OF THE PIRATE KING, and Pirates of the Caribbean! COMPASS AND BLADE is just what you need!

I literally couldn’t put this book down. It was so fast paced and exciting. And that last chapter was a doozy! Luckily, I read in Rachel’s Goodreads bio that this is a trilogy because I am not ready to let go of this world.

Some tropes that this one includes are enemies to lovers, villain love interest, bargains and consequences, and found family.

I can’t wait to read the next book in this series!

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