Compass and Blade- 2⭐️ 2.75🌶️

Fantasy
New adult
Oceanic based powers
Shipwrecks
Smugglers
🏳️‍🌈 side characters
Barely open door, on page romance


The book started out alright. I was compelled by the idea of shipwrecks and the crew that goes out to them. At first it reminded me of Fable by Adrienne Young. But where Fable turned seafaring and the Ocean into a tangible character….. Compass and Blade tried and fell just short. It’s almost like the idea was there, but the author was distracted and forgot to finish the thought. The other characters in the book were so close to being really well done. They just needed to be flushed out more. Given more weight.

The tropes were troping. The plot was almost organized. The only through line I saw was the deadline to save the FMC’s dad. Everything else was like crammed in. There were just too many plot lines and characters that were introduced, then left unexplored or explained.

A f/f side character romance was hinted at in 2 sentences and then never mentioned again. It felt like checking a box. Either put it in and let it have space, or don’t even mention it.

I wanted to like this book. It just fell short in too many places. Maybe it should have been longer and given itself the space to expand?

At 80% I found myself just annoyed that I wasn’t sure what was going on with the romance aspect of this book, because it was so heavy at parts, but then obviously trope-y and cliche… leaning into the teen style of writing. I knew this was a standalone, but it was reading like it was a first book in a series.

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing/Inkyard Press for an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

Compass and Blade by Rachel Greenlaw is a young adult fantasy novel. I believe this one may be just the beginning of a series but not totally certain on that as it’s listed like a standalone for now on most sites, there is mention of it being a trilogy though.

Mira has grown up on the remote island of Rosevear where she has learned to be just like her mother once was a powerful swimmer and one with the water. Mira is one of seven that are sent out to shipwrecks to plunder them but it’s Mira’s job to rescue any survivors.

One day however the Council set in motion a plan to stop the wrecking and obtain Mira’s father taking him away. Mira becomes determined to do whatever she can to rescue her father before he is executed so she teams up with a survivor of the latest shipwreck and set out to find her father before it’s too late.

Compass and Blade by Rachel Greenlaw was compared to a couple of other young adult fantasy novels that I really enjoyed and I’ve read this author before so I had to take a chance and try this one out. I’m always a bit hit or miss with young adult fantasy though and this one while not bad wasn’t a total hit for me either. I just felt the pacing on this story was a little slow for my taste which is one of my biggest drawbacks to a lot of fantasy, wanting more. Compass and Blade wasn’t a bad read by any means but for me just came in at average at three stars but I do seem to be in the minority so if it sounds good to you I’d suggest checking it out.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

This book had such a promising premise. Right away I loved the lyrical writing, the high seas/pirates vibes and the little hints of magic and magical creatures. Mira is a compelling FMC, and I loved her determination to do something to save her father from an awful fate.

So while I initially thought this was going to be a good YA fantasy with a well-rounded supporting cast, once the romance started developing, I knew this wasn't going to go well for me. The insta-pull towards one another, the seemingly deep feelings after minimal interactions and conversations... all of which culminated in a closed-door scene after a less than 2-week relationship? No, thank you.

I feel like there were a lot of missed opportunities for a good slow-burn romance, and while the set-up for a love triangle is somewhat interesting, I just think that first romance fumbled the ball a little too hard to convince me that I would want to continue with this series.

⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: Fantasy
Age Level: Upper YA
Content: fade to black

A big thanks to NetGalley and Inkyard Press for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

.............I have no real words for this book. In a not so good way.

Compass and Blade by Rachel Greenlaw is a YA fantasy book set in a world where the economy runs on wrecking boats. This world of sea and storm runs deep with bargains and blood. On the remote isle of Rosevear, Mira, like her mother before her, is a wrecker, one of the seven on the rope who swim out to shipwrecks to plunder them. Mira’s job is to rescue survivors, if there are any. After all, she never feels the cold of the frigid ocean waters and the waves seem to sing to her soul. But the people of Rosevear never admit the truth: that they set the beacons themselves to lure ships into the rocks. When the Council watch lays a trap to put an end to the wrecking, they arrest Mira’s father. Desperate to save him from the noose, Mira strikes a deal with an enigmatic wreck survivor guarding layers of secrets behind his captivating eyes, and sets off to find something her mother has left her, a family secret buried deep in the sea. With just nine days to find what she needs to rescue her father, all Mira knows for certain is this: The sea gives. The sea takes. And it’s up to her to do what she must to save the ones she loves.

The tropes. The cliché's. It honestly just made it a hard read and a hard pass on recommending it.

This reminded me of another at-sea, oceanically gifted protagonist story that I enjoyed. It’s not the same story as the other. The characters and motives are really different than the other book. But it definitely delivered on the adventure-on-the-high-seas kind of vibe I hoped for.

It feels like a series opener. I’m not sure what will happen with it now, though, since Inkyard Press has closed down. I’ve heard that the authors have been transitioned to HarperCollins, so maybe the series will continue under a new publisher? I don’t know how all of that works. At any rate, I hope the story continues– I’d love to know what Mira does next.

Only two things tripped me up a little bit, and one is absolutely a personal preference thing that I’m only now realizing is the case for me. You know those stories where there’s instant sexual attraction between two characters for no reason or even against good reason? I’m discovering that makes for a difficult protagonist for me to connect with. I find it really hard to buy in, especially when she’s in real danger from him, a stranger. Not saying that someone couldn’t have those feelings. But because I don’t react to danger that way, I find it pulls me out of the story or makes me question the narrator’s reliability.

Totally a personal preference. I enjoyed the book despite that element. It really only comes up a small number of times.

The other thing that challenged me was the magic system. I think the story moved so quickly that sometimes I wasn’t quite sure I understood how things fit together in the larger world. For instance, the blood of magical creatures can be harvested by witches and given to an apothecary to make a powerful potion that can, for example, heal a bad wound. Beyond that mention, we never learn anything about witches. Are they people who have a natural magical ability? Is Mira a water witch? Do they perform magic or are they magic hunters? This doesn’t really come into play in the story, so it doesn’t require a deep explanation, but I found myself wishing that some of the peripheral magical elements were better explained.

Conclusion
I truly enjoyed the chapters on the water, whether Mira was swimming out to a ship or joining a crew and sailing off somewhere. Despite our differences in how we approach romance, Mira’s loyalty to and love for her people made her an easy character to root for, and I’m invested enough to watch for the release of a sequel. I think readers who like stories at sea or characters with a strong connection to the ocean or readers who swoon at star-crossed love will enjoy COMPASS AND BLADE.

Note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Sometimes, you read a book expecting one thing, but you get something totally different... I think this is where I find myself with Compass and Blade. For me, it was a book I was really excited to read, because the premise sounded really interesting. Yet, I feel like it didn't live up to the premise for me. I think there was so much potential, and it just fell short for my taste. 
One thing I will say is I think this book would have been really great if it had been aimed at a little of an older audience than YA (Maybe NA), because I think it could have benefit with more mature characters. And I also think that it might have led to thing before explored deeper than they were. I think there was a lot that could have been done, and we kept really superficial on so many things that it lost my interest. There is a romance that feel just too instant, and the classic tropes felt too present and expected. It felt a little predictable, because without the depth to the story, there was no where else to go with everything.
When I started this book, I wasn't aware whether or not this was planned as a series (it appears there is a book two in the work). I do have to say that when I started the second half of this book, I really felt like this book could have been expended into two books, and this could have given a chance for the book to be able to go into the depth that I was hoping for. I just wanted more depth; from the world, the characters and the story. This would have made me I think really enjoy this book more.

Thank you Inkyard Press and NetGalley for the eARC!

I forgot to leave a review for this, but I really enjoyed it! It's been out for ages, so I won't say much more than I need to for my star rating. <3

The inhabitants of a tiny island purposefully wreck ships to loot what they're carrying. They are generally overlooked by the bigger islands and this is how they keep everyone fed and clothed. Mira, our heroine, works on the wrecking crew and has an affinity for the water, but she doesn't understand why. After catching the attention of the "law" Mira's father and the leader of their island are arrested. Determined to save them, Mira leaves the island hoping the mysterious information her mother left her will help save everyone.

My problem with the story was the number of times Mira gave Seth a second chance and proceeded to break her trust and her heart. This wasn't some sweeping romance, this was a guy using a girl so he could get approval from his mother and his own crew. In my opinion, there wasn't one redeemable quality about Seth and I couldn't see any reason for Mira to ever take him back. Lord Tresillian might be another story, but nothing was cultivated between them that would lead me to believe he's her HEA.

I loved the premise of this book, but in the end it feel flat to me.

thank you netgalley for an arc of this book!

i thought i was going to love this one but i just didn’t. i found myself losing interest and it just dragged. the story was a bit too much at time and the similarities with acotar put me off a little. i also didn’t connect with the character especially the fmc. the book was well written but the overall plot, execution and characters just weren’t for me.

Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and Inkyard Pressfor the opportunity to read an advanced reader's copy of this book for an honest review.

“Compass and Blade” by Rachel Greenlaw was easily put at the top my best book of 2024 list for having the perfect mix of interesting characters, a magnetic romance, and a thrilling story full of twists and turns that will keep you guessing until the end.

The cover art for this book is absolutely gorgeous! Honestly, it’s one of the best covers I’ve seen this year. The artwork really sold the book for me, and I would happily enlarge and frame it on my wall if given the chance.

Mira lives in a small village on the island of Rosevear with her father. However, Mira’s people are basically land pirates who purposely light fires along the cliffs to lure approaching ships to wreck on their rocks so they can plunder everything on board. This is their way of survival. The work is extremely dangerous, so only a handful of people are chosen as Wreckers. Mira’s mother was a Wrecker until she accidentally drowns while working, but Mira took her place because she’s the only person left on the island who can stay in the ocean the longest with the ability to swim further and dive for longer periods of time. The cold doesn’t affect her like everyone else.
When Mira’s beloved father is suddenly arrested and sentenced to death, she will stop at nothing to save him – even if that means risking her life in the process.

This debut book was beautifully written. The author’s style of storytelling was captivating and full of details. It had mystery and adventure, romance and betrayal. The story could have gone on for several more chapters and I would have happily gone along for the ride.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and recommend it to any teen and young adult who likes “The Pirates of the Caribbean” with a strong female lead character.

Thank you to NetGalley for giving this ARC, and this doesn't influence my review. This was a good read, and I loved the various tropes. The romance was not my type though, but it was good nevertheless.

I really enjoyed this for the most part. I will say I did struggle with the naïveté of the main character throughout, which really brought the story down for me at times. I loved the world within though and found the siren storyline so phenomenally fun. I'm curious to see where the romance goes in the second book, as a lot was set up here for more.

“𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘬𝘪𝘴𝘴 𝘢 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢 𝘥𝘢𝘨𝘨𝘦𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘪𝘵 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦.”

This new young-adult fantasy had me in a chokehold last night. A big shout out to rachelgreenlaw_ for this one because I finished it in one sitting! 🤍

We always seem to get fantasy novels with fighters, riders, and hunger games style challenges (which don’t get me wrong I love!), but I was so excited to finally see one with different magic and sailing ships. I’ve always loved pirates, smugglers, and books that focus on the sea. I love the ocean and always feel the most at home there so this fit me perfectly. 🌊

Read this book if you like:
▫️a love triangle
▫️morally grey characters
▫️characters finding their power
▫️fmc bonds with mmc

Thank you HCC Frenzy for the gifted ARC to read! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I’m struggling to form my thoughts on this one. I flew through the first half, and really enjoyed it. I struggled through the second half, and it took me days to read the last fifty pages. I felt like there was a shift in the book after the betrayal, and I just wasn’t as interested in the characters or the story anymore.

I wanted more from this book. I wanted more of the romance, more of the fantasy elements, more of the friendships and camaraderie of the crew, more of the fear for her father and Bryn and more of Mira herself. I felt like I was observing from afar and only getting part of the story. I think that if it was fleshed our and developed a bit further, that is has the potential to be fantastic.

I liked Mira in the beginning, but after being betrayed she was an idiot. She became a naive character who blindly trusted and was then shocked when the same person betrayed her again. She also felt contradictory to herself at times. I liked watching her learn about her mother and her heritage, and I wish that there had been more of that.

The romance felt like an after thought throughout the book. I didn’t buy anything beyond lust, and the connection that Mira refers to constantly is never expanded upon to explain a potential romance.

Overall, this one didn’t quite deliver what I hoped it would. I think it has potential to be a fantastic fantasy romance, but it needs more of everything.

A YA Fantasy with pirates and magic- oh my! I was excited to read this book on those premises, however it was not enjoyable for me.

“They say we are wreckers, that we take and plunder and kill. And maybe we are what they say. But we call it survival”.

Mira and her family live on Rosevear where they lure ships in to shipwreck them and plunder their goods for themselves. One stormy evening, they are taking goods from a wrecked ship when they find one survivor that Mira is drawn to. They take him with them just to have him disappear into the sea. And then he washes up to shore later and they heal him.
After a couple days, another ship is wrecked that turns out to be a trap by the watch to catch them and arrest them. They arrest Mira’s father and Bryn and she’s determined to rescue him. Andrea that starts with finding her mother’s legacy in the ocean. The boy who survived the shipwreck offers to take her to where Mira needs to go in return for saving his life. And so they venture off together, with only seven days before her father is hanged.

Soooo I will say the writing in this book was well done because it caught my attention, however, it was so ridiculous, that’s why I needed to keep reading to see just how ridiculous this story could get.

First off, what I liked, the way this is written is written to capture your attention. I think it’s actually well written, the way it’s written. The story not so much, but the way it’s written, if that makes sense. I liked some of the characters and I do love pirate stories, once we got pirates into the story, and I love books set at sea, so of course, I enjoyed the ocean parts too! I also think this had such potential.

So, this is why I didn’t enjoy this book as much as I hoped I would…

This started off sounding like an historical fantasy without actual magic, especially when Mira mentions how she’s heard of witches, but not necessarily that they are real and nothing to indicate there is anything magical in this world, and then suddenly there is magic and there are mythical creatures.

Now, the beginning of this book made me angry. Tell me, why do these people need to shipwreck boats? They say they do this to survive. Well, then, why don’t they bloody leave the place then!? They take ships to get supplies in neighboring towns and islands, but they can’t just leave and thrive somewhere else??? They can’t even be called pirates. They just sound like a bunch of lazy people who get their hands dirty by shipwrecking boats, killing people by drowning and claiming they don’t want to do this, but it’s survival. Leaving the island and living elsewhere is survival, not this murdering and plundering they’re doing. They’re literally just ordinary people, that lure in boats and shipwreck them. Mira even says one time they’re not murderers. Oh okay, maybe you don’t take a knife to the sailors’ throats, but you drown them when you shipwreck their boats, that sounds like murder to me! I mean there was no justification for their actions. I thought maybe they were cursed and couldn’t leave the island. That would explain things, but they can leave the island, so it just made no sense.

I was so frustrated with this story. So much of it made no sense, like Mira thinks whatever her mother left behind for her is what will save her father. Then what she finds, everyone is hunting for it and why? I don’t know. It sounds like it isn’t anything special aside from useful for Mira specifically. It’s not treasure 🤷🏼‍♀️

I noticed previous reviews stating this is similar to ACOTAR and I concur. There’s a scene in here that’s literally the same as when Feyre was under the mountain with Rhysand, like exactly the same. So interesting. Plus, the love triangle that’s happening. And this girl who apparently can’t stop leaning into gorgeous boys she meets 🙄 and the trust Mira has for everyone is astounding! I mean no matter how many times she’s betrayed, she keeps going back to the same person 😆

Also, there was A LOT of shrugging and leaning and I don’t know why that bothered me so much, but I saw that happening a lot!

I needed to vent about this book. I really thought I would like this one, especially when I love books set at sea, but the beginning of the book got me so frustrated that the rest of the book couldn’t make up for it and I couldn’t like it enough.

I know many already love this book and I would say give it a try, it just wasn’t for me 😕

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

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an E-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I am going to DNF this at 44%. I gave it a fair chance but it’s personally not for me.

It has a lot of good elements happening but I found it a little slow and confusing at times and wasn’t invested enough to continue.

Here are some things that might draw you to this book:
Adventures on the high seas
Smugglers
Group of small islands just trying to get by
Rescue mission
The ocean and its perilous call🌊
Magic
Secrets to unfold
&what I would assume is maybe a little tension/romance.

All wonderful elements but just sadly fell flat for ME but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t give this book a try if it sounds interesting to you!

So I liked the concept of this novel, and enjoyed the loose The Little Mermaid vibes at the beginning with trying to save a drowning boy from the sea due to an unexplained pull between him and our protagonist. It was pretty obvious what the mystery behind who Mira is and I was kind of frustrated that given the clues she had, that she didn't even think that was a potential. What we got of the world building and another character with magic was interesting - unfortunately, they aren't fleshed out enough. On the whole the characters and the world felt flat and I was left both thinking this book was too long and that it needed more pages to provide more details.

I personally had a really hard time with the Mira and Seth storyline... especially thinking this book is intended for teens. Spoilers: you'd think that for someone who grew up in a community that struggles so hard to survive that Mira wouldn't allow herself to be played by a handsome face like she does with Seth. He continues to betray her and it takes her WAY too long to finally realize he's not redeemable.

Overall though I felt like the pacing was off and that this leans more into YA for adults that enjoy their fantasy books full of tropes and some on page sex.

Advanced Reader’s Copy provided by NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and Inkyard Press in exchange for an honest review.

I love fantasy stories set at sea.  In Compass and Blade, Mira is a teen girl who lives on an island that feeds their people by plundering shipwrecks.  When her father is arrested for wrecking, Mira has to find a way to save him before he is hanged.

Mira is a flawed character, tough and compassionate but also naive.  Her love for her father and her drive to save him anchored the book for me.  There are a few plot points that are a bit silly, but I loved the world and characters — there’s a found family involving a teen smuggling grew, and some interesting magic lore.

What really made the book work for me was Greenlaw’s writing: her prose is smooth as the sea on a windless day.  Her writing captured the setting and emotions of the book so well that I was completely sucked in.

The romantic element didn’t really work for me — it was a bit too insta-love, not well enough developed. Mira’s immediate attraction to two boys was very YA tope-y, but I enjoyed the rest of the book so much that I could look past it.

Fans of Fable and Daughter of the Pirate King should definitely check this one out.

Thank you to Netgalley and Inkyard Press for my review copy of this book.

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Collins for this ARC.

I had a hard time with how predictable this book is. The concept is there but I wish there was more depth in the development of the characters and the reasons that things are happening for.

The romance area is very insta-love and relies heavily on the MMC being mysterious.

I wanted to like this more, it is really easy to follow because you are able to catch on the twists really fast.