Thank you to the publisher, Inkyard Press, and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Mira is one of the wreckers on the island of Rosevear, who lure ships onto the dangerous surrounding coastline and then swim out to plunder the wrecks. But when the Council begins laying traps to put an end to the practice, Mira’s father is arrested and sentenced to be hanged. Desperate to save him, Mira makes a deal with a survivor from the recent wreck for passage off the island and she sets out to find something left to her by her mother, who was a wrecker as well, in the hopes that it might help. Mira’s journey will reveal some long hidden family secrets and the truth of why she feels so at home in the sea, but with the day of the hanging drawing swiftly closer, will she find what she seeks in time?

The premise of this book reminded me a lot of Daughter of the Pirate King and Fable, both of which I really enjoyed, so I requested this as soon as I noticed it was available.

This concept behind this book was quite promising and the initial chapters did a great job of describing the world and later, the magic system. Mira’s village and their practice of intentionally wrecking ships and plundering the remains was intriguing, but it was only present for the very first few chapters of the story and isn’t focused on much after that.

As with every fantasy novel, it would have been nice to have a map, especially given that the characters were travelling all over the place, and in such a short time frame too – the entire book took place over the course of only 8 days. There were times when the travel between places seemed oddly quick and it made the world hard to picture.

The writing was pretty good and the pacing was consistent and a good fit for the story. However, Compass and Blade had pretty much every trope I could think of for this genre, from enemies to lovers, found family, magical creatures and more, which made many parts of this book more than a little predictable for me.

Mira would have been a likeable character if she didn’t keep making such stupid decisions. She was naive and ridiculously gullible and kept going down the same path again and again even after knowing the truth. It would have been more readable if she atleast learned from the experience and there was some character growth but no. And don’t even get me started on the romance.

I don’t mind books that have a major romance arc – but this had literally every cliche in the book. Mira and Seth’s relationship fell totally flat for me from a reader’s perspective and I had zero interest in the arc, it was so insta-lovey and irritating. I think this is meant to become a sort of love triangle in the sequel, but honestly, I’m not that impressed with the other dynamic either. The rest of the characters weren’t all that memorable and just blended together after a while.

While I didn’t exactly predict the ending, given the number of tropes and the way the story was unfolding ensured that I wasn’t taken by surprise when it all came together either. There was just not enough of a twist on these tropes, so it made the ending and the book as a whole feel as if it was falling into very familiar patterns. Nonetheless, it ended on an interesting note (thankfully not a cliffhanger) and sets up things well for the sequel.

Overall, this book didn’t really work for me. I’m still in two minds as to whether I’ll be reading said sequel because I’m not sure I could put up with one more book of these characters. Still, I’ll hold judgement on that until it’s out and I see some reviews for it. Compass and Blade definitely had a unique concept with a lot of potential, so if it interests you, I would suggest picking it up.

Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, Inkyard Press, and Rachel Greenlaw for the opportunity to read Compass and Blade in exhange for an honest review.

This novel follows Mira, a girl who lives on a remote island. She is a wrecker, someone who goes out to shipwrecks to claim the items for themselves. Generally, there are no survivors, for the wrecks are done purposefully, and those who participate don't want word to get out.

When the island Council seeks to end the illigal intentional shipwrecks, laying a trap for those who are the cause, Mira's father is imprisoned. Mira will do anything to save him, even teaming up with wreck survivor, Seth, to get her father back.

In the process, Mira uncovers new secrets about her mother and her heritage that she wasn't expecting, and Seth has some interesting secrets of his own. Mira has nine days to save her father from the noose, so the novel takes place within that matter of days. The romance is almost as fast-paced and ridiculous as that of Romeo and Juliet, but with a little bit more flavor to it. The pacing overall is a bit all over the place, and the main focus shifts a few times thoughout.

This novel seems to be the start to a series, but I am unsure. It has one of those endings where it could be conclusive, but there could also be a spicy revenge story down the line. It's a decent novel in terms of the style itself. The quick romance scenes are enjoyable to read, and some of the action makes the story more exciting.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I truly *wanted* to like this book so much more than I did, and there *were* aspects that I loved: the by-the-sea setting, the unique aspect of "wreckers", the fast pacing.

That said, these high points weren't enough to save this novel from the lows, and they were plenty. The true sticking point for me was the main female character, Mira. I was not invested in her, I did not feel a connection to her, and she made some astoundingly awful decisions that I simply could not get past. The romance fell flat for me as well, and the plot was somewhat nonsensical.

I will likely check out other books by this author to see if perhaps my dislike of this one is a fluke, as I do think the author can weave a story with some skill.

3 stars.

3.5 Stars

I struggled with how to rate this one. The opening was compelling with interesting characters, high stakes, and a fascinating world. And the ending made me want to read the next installment. Based on these two parts I would have rated it 4 stars.

However from roughly 50%-95% I was quite frustrated and considered DNFing this multiple times. My two main issues came down to certain plot points feeling copy and pasted from ACOTAR, and Mira’s utter lack of common sense and trusting people who’d already proven untrustworthy, which felt like it was only necessary for plot reasons not for character development. I won’t list examples of either due to spoilers, but suffice to say it hampered the believability and my enjoyment.

As I said before, I am interested to see where it goes, so I may read the next book, but I’m not certain.

I ate this book up. For those who loved "Daughter of the Pirate King," "Bridge Kingdom," or "To Catch a Pirate" this will be a really enjoyable read. The story follows Mira, whose community are "wreckers" (people who lure ships to sink and then `steal their goods. When Mira's father is caught, Mira leaves their island to go in search for a way to save him. Along the way she meets quirky allies, new enemies, and uncovers many secrets. Its YA and it feels appropriate for that level of readers (i.e. this is not a spicy romantasy).

The world is interesting and there are a lot of potential world building threads that I would like to see Greenlaw explore further in the rest of the series. I am especially interesting in seeing other magical beasts and creatures! I thought the plot was good, relatively quick paced. And I can see myself really loving these characters in the future. Mira is a pretty naive FMC, but since she grew up on a small island, it makes sense. The way she kept forgiving the main male character was infuriating, but makes sense for a teen experiencing love for the first time. I see a lot of potential for the other case of characters and I am especially interested in seeing more of the mysterious Eli.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing, Inkyard Press for providing an eARC of this book!

A girl connected to the sea finds herself setting sail to find her mother's secrets... and facing love, betrayal, and discovering who she really is. This is the first book in a series and follows Mira, a wrecker who plunders ship wrecks to make money just like her mother did before her mother died at sea. She lives on the remote isle of Rosevear but when the Council wants to put an end to the wrecking they arrest Mira's father to make an example of him and he is heading towards the noose unless she can save him. Along the way she makes a deal with the mysterious wreck survivor Seth, who has secrets surrounding him and lies on his tongue. Mira has no choice but to trust Seth yet finds herself drawn to him and falling for him... yet one lesson she is about to learn the hard way is that sometimes you have to be careful who you can trust and she's going to need all her wits about her to survive the betrayals that await her at sea. This book unfortunately was a let down for me. I had really high hopes and was so excited for a fun pirate/magic story with romance and adventure. The romance was NOT IT AT ALL, seriously, do yourself a favor and skip this one if you are looking for a good romance. Mira is the most annoying and naive protagonist I have come across in a while. It was so hard to get across this book because every time I would start reading, I would just want to close it and walk away from it. Mira comes off like a naive high schooler and honestly her survival instincts are pretty...bare to none. I just, don't see myself finishing this series and the way this one ends sets it up for the next book. So while this one was a miss for me, I would say if you enjoy younger YA books with romance and quests, maybe give this one a go, maybe you'll have a better time with it than I did.

*Thanks Netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing, Inkyard Press for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

I uploaded my review to Goodreads. I will upload my review to Amazon on the publication day.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Rachel Greenlaw for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for Compass and Blade coming out February 27, 2024. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I really love books set around the sea and ships. I love books about islands and islanders. I have a Polynesian background, so I can relate to these types of stories a lot. I thought the writing was really well done. Mira was a really great character, but I thought she was a little too trusting of some of the young men she just met. I loved the first half of the book. Things got a little convoluted for some of the second half of the book with the going back and forth. But then I loved the ending. Seems like it’ll be a series. I’ll definitely check out other books by this author.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys seafaring adventures!

Thank you so much to Netgalley & the publisher for this review copy! I am so looking forward to this and to writing a full review on my social media when I am able! Thanks again!

I think there was a lot to love about this story! The beginning and overall vibes felt reminiscent of Adrienne Young’s Fable: life on an island and the high seas, a girl with abilities unlike those around her, a group of teens sailing a ship. While I thinking the first part of this book really stood out, I do think it lost a bit of that feeling the longer the book progressed.

It is a bit tropey, which isn’t a bad thing on its own, but they didn’t feel flushed out enough to truly make sense. I don’t think the strength of this novel is the characters, but rather the world itself. Sirens, monsters, smugglers, lies! That’s where this story truly feels at its peak.

Mer as a protagonist was someone I wanted to root for, though I didn’t always agree with her and thought some things happened a little too quickly. But overall, I think she’s a likable character and I’d love to see how she develops and grows! I think there’s a lot more to dig into when it comes to her.

I always love a good love story, but Seth was not it for me. Elijah on the other hand… Overall, I’d have skipped the romantic aspect of this in favor of more time with the other members of the crew!

While this may not have been five stars for me, I do think it’s a fun read with a lot of potential!

Mira lives on the island of Rosevear, where they survive by being wreckers - luring ships to crash and then collecting the spoils. When a sting leads to the arrest of her father, a desperate Mira goes on a journey to find something her long-dead mother had hidden in the sea in an attempt to save his life.

I really wanted to love this one but it just didn't hit for me. I think the pacing was a little off and I really struggled to get into it. It started to pick up a little over halfway, but it wasn't soon enough for me to continue if I wasn't trying to finish for a review. The romance fell flat for me personally and I wasn't really buying it.

All that said, just because it didn't work for me doesn't mean it won't work for you. It's set up nicely for a sequel - I think if the sequel leans in more to the magic and adventure aspects, it could be great. I'd be interested to see what else this author writes.

Enjoyed this story and Mira’s character. Loved the side characters. This was a wonderful story, with some great twists, that kept a me reading and interested. The beginning started a little slow, but it picked up and was great.

This is definitely a series I will be continuing! There is adventure, magic, quirky friends and hunky men. What’s not to like?

I enjoyed this from beginning to end. There is suspense and mystery throughout the whole book and you can tell the world and storylines were crafted with thought and care. I loved the hints of magic but also how it doesn’t play a huge role.

This is a book about a young woman trying to figure out where she belongs and discovering the strength that has always lived inside her.

Content Warning: violence

+ I feel like this story started off strong. Mira and her friends and family on Rosevear are wreckers. When a ship wrecked on their shores, they pillaged the ship for survival. The world-building is interesting because it’s a world of survival in the seas and islands around Rosevear. There are pirates, magic and sirens.

+~ I liked the found friendship Mira has with the crew that takes her on her journey but again it would have been nice to get to know each of them more. The story needs more character building.

+~ The story moved quickly but at times I think too quickly. I wanted to learn more about the wreckers but Mira leaves the island right away into the story, so she can help save her friend and her dad who were caught by the watchers and are about to be hung. So she basically island hops in order to find this treasure her mother left for her and she thinks whatever this treasure is, can help her save her dad. I wanted to learn more about the Sirens but I just think we needed more world-building in general.

~ Mira was an interesting character until we had to follow her on this journey to find the treasure and she just came off so naive in so many situations. She falls for a boy she hardly knows – this story takes place in the span of one week – and her feelings for him puts her in the worst situations. Not to mention, he betrays her multiple times and she forgives him the first time! This girl had no business going on this journey without anyone she could trust, but she wanted to be a hero. And also she feels other things about another boy so yes there is a love triangle brewing. I was pretty frustrated with her as a character by the end. 

My Thoughts:

This book had so much potential because I like a good pirate book but the more I read, the more Mira, the MC seemed so naive and clueless. I think she has a chance in book two to really embrace the side of her that will wreck vengeance on her enemies but yeah this book was just okay. I did feel like the writing is for a younger audience but there is a sex scene. Anyway, this was somewhat entertaining despite the love triangle, and the issues I have with the main character. I would love for more world-building and character building in the next book but I’m not even sure I want to read the next book!

I really wanted to love this one, especially since I thought the premise was so cool, but I found that I just didn't love the writing style.

[arc review]
Thank you to HarperCollins Canada for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.
Compass and Blade releases February 27, 2024

Mira is among a group of islanders that intentionally sabotage ships in order to steal their cargo, yet they also make sure to stay behind to save any remaining sailors.
It’s hard to garner any sympathy towards them as a reader knowing that their only way to survive is dependent on ruining the countless lives of others which is rather malicious.

When the authoritative group called The Watch capture Mira’s father and the island’s leader, she takes it upon herself to make a trade worthy enough to save their lives.

This is such a wild thing to say about the first book in a series, but this honestly felt like it suffered from second book syndrome. There was so much that was clearly being held back and most of what happened in the grand scheme of things will probably end up as redundant filler.
The romance part of this “romantasy” was lacking in believability and I wouldn’t be surprised if the love interest changed in the next installment.

There is so much potential here, but I think it could have benefitted from more developmental work.

Consider this if you like:
- sirens
- ships at sea
- bargains
- betrayals
- cliché YA characters

This was an adventure, it just wasn't an exceptional one. The plot (was there one?) was very hard to follow and it all seemed pointless.

I love a good trope, unfortunately, this had every single one forcefully smooshed in there. It wasn't particularly smooth and takes away from the story.

It was predictable, and that may be for some people- but I didn't really find myself excited at any point of this book.

In reflection, "Compass and Blade" provided an overall enjoyable reading experience for me. The thematic elements centered around piracy, coupled with the vividly depicted setting, high stakes, unexpected plot twists, and infusion of magical elements, all contributed to the book's appeal. However, my enthusiasm waned in certain aspects, particularly concerning character development, the romantic subplot, superficial conflicts, and adolescent emotional themes, which I found less engaging. Despite being categorized as a Young Adult fantasy, I occasionally perceived the writing style as overly simplistic, which occasionally detracted from my immersion in the narrative. Nevertheless, for readers who relish Young Adult fantasies set amidst maritime adventures, I would readily recommend "Compass and Blade" for its thematic richness and captivating storyline

Compass and Blade by Rachel Greenlaw follows Mira, who, like the rest of her family, wrecks ships. They save the occupants of the ships and loot the ship. Ultimately, Mira’s father is arrested and she must save him.

Unfortunately, I did not finish this book. It has a really great premise. However, I found myself feeling apathetic about this book. None of the characters I felt connected to. It was a struggle to motivate myself to read this book. I do love the concept of this book though, and while it may not work for me, I’m sure others will love this book.

Thank you to Inkyard Press and Netgalley for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC.

The writing in this book is gorgeous and I was so here for the adventure! I loved the unique setting and storyline. I could almost taste the sea. I’m looking forward to reading the sequel!

I have so many thoughts. This book started off good. I was invested in the world, the story, side characters, and FMC: Mira. Then, she kept making annoying choices; I gave her the benefit of the doubt bc she’s 18 and we all made stupid decisions then. However, how many times can you be burned and still go back to your old ways, Mira?!?! This is literally all your fault. Because of these continued refusals to see people for what they were, I grew to really dislike the fmc. By the end of the story, her little “fit” of feminine rage was so unbelievable because she was such an insufferable character. She honestly got what she deserved. I will not be reading book 2.
Thank you for the arc to Netgalley