While I enjoyed dark water daughter more I still lover this one. I love Mary so much. And samuel. Didn’t always hate Ben’s presence in this one either.

This series is my ideal pirate epic fantasy(with a minor romance.) I love the magic system and just find the world to be so interesting. Hannah’s writing is perfect and she can do no wrong.

While I still loved Black Tide Son, I did not love it as much as I loved Dark Water Daughter. I loved Mary and Samuel’s relationship. I did feel like some of the side characters lacked the depth I wish they had. The tension was palpable and I loved how they developed individually and together. The writing was very easy to understand and was accessible. I did struggle a bit with the pacing - things would ramp up and then the conflict would end rather quickly. The setting is still so wintery and cold, I love it.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange of an honest review.

I truly love the world and the characters in this book. H.M. Long has beautiful prose and I loved being back in this world and seeing how all of the characters and relationships developed. I listened to DWD before reading the arc and I will say I think I prefer the audiobook experience because of the way that the narrators bring this story to life and I may end up rereading via audiobook when this book is out next week

“We will endure. And we will break fleets upon the water.”

Thank you NetGalley for the arc! Black Tide Son is the sequel to Dark Water Daughter, one of my favorite books of 2024! This second installment of The Winter Sea series was everything I wanted and now that I’m done, I’m right back in the same boat as last year where I NEED the next book!

The pacing was well done and there was much swashbuckling action. This is such a good pirate book, but I also find the magic and fantasy aspect to be so unique! We get more creatures, scheming, bits of romance, and redemption.

I was so happy to be reunited with the characters from book one. Mary and Samuel had me kicking my feet! I love the magic and how this book took what we knew from book one and went deeper. There are epigraphs before each chapter that strengthen the story and provide more insight to the lore, I couldn’t get enough! Each character was well fleshed out. I loved the bromance growing between two particular characters and honestly found myself so surprised at the end with all the feelings I had for Benedict. I love a morally grey character, especially one I thought I knew, but turns out to be much more complex.

I can’t wait to see where book 3 will take me next!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Slightly let down, but still addictive.
Mary Firth, Stormsinger, and Captain Samuel Rosser of Hart, privateer and a South, are under commission of the Usti Crown.
On the side, they are searching for Samuel’s twin Benedict who is a Magni who can control the minds and actions of others. However, both brothers’ ability to manipulate the Other is corrupted and could easily lead to their death without a cure.

They are also being hunted by the Ess Noti who are willing to kill for the knowledge and skills mages have.
And the division between worlds is at its thinnest during the Black Tides.

The wind did not care for distant threats— it cared only for swiftness and freedom. "Part of me is ready for a new adventure."

Samuel and Mary’s relationship must be carefully drawn as the Captain and Stormsinger is a relationship traditionally fraught with abuse and Mary is the first contracted Stormsinger in centuries. They had to be different to set an example to the world.

We do see more tension and development between them and their characters are fleshed out, especially Samuel’s through flashbacks to his and Ben’s past.

”We are the sum of our choices, and what are we to do when all those choices are evil? When the powers who govern us push us away from peace, and into further violence?"
“We heed our consciences," I replied.

The writing is fast paced and very accessible. This might be an adult fantasy, but the writing makes it easy to understand and gripping for all.

I did find that the characters still lacked that depth I want to latch on and despite the promising and tease of great worldbuilding, it feels like a lot of it happens in the author’s head rather than being shown on the page.

I felt freezing cold and wet throughout this book. The Black waters are encroaching and I’m surprised our characters haven’t caught frostbite yet.

Thank you to Titan Books for providing me with the physical arc!

Dark Water Daughter was one of my top reads of last year, a million out of five. I loved the magic system and the characters and the setting and the tension and ugh, it was amazing. You should ABSOLUTELY READ IT.

I felt like Black Tide Son was DWD on maybe 50% power.

1) I hated that by the time we pick up with Sam and Mary at the beginning of BTS (fourteen months after the events of DWD) they have already fallen for each other. I was so looking forward to watching them fall for each other and I felt a bit cheated. And worse, they like each other and want to be together, but Sam can't because "it would look bad". Mary keeps trying to come onto him and he won't because he's just so virtuous and it would compromise her. I realize it was meant to be part of his character arc, but it felt horribly infantilizing to Mary who didn't care about being compromised and said so repeatedly.

2) Sam was a bit of a nothingburger character in this. I somehow ended up liking his evil twin brother - who very much got a woman pregnant by pretending to be Sam and let Sam take the fall for it - better than Sam. Ben was interesting and had his own agenda and weirdly seemed to suit Mary better than Sam at various points? To the point where I was considering shipping the FMC with the evil twin brother of the clearly endgame MMC. That was weird.

3) I don't want to spoil anything, so I'll be vague, but the ending was just toooo effing easy.

All of this being said, I still want to read the 3rd one and will definitely be getting it. I'm just desperately hoping this was just a bad run of second book syndrome. I was so so so looking forward to this one and I was definitely disappointed, but that may be due to my expectations being so high considering how much I loved DWD.

I'll be interested to see other peoples thought's.

3.5/5

2.5 rating - I don't think I read the same book as everyone else??

This was such a disappointing sequel in my opinion! And trust me, I HATE to be saying that but it's honestly how I feel.

I'm convinced H M Long did not write this... I felt like all the characters. became so dull and frustrating. The plot was mostly a cat and mouse chase for the majority of the book that felt like it had no stakes, no tension, and frankly... it felt pointless.

I did appreciate that it was faced paced and the flashbacks from Samuel's pov were interesting! But... that's it? Oh I did love the wintery atmosphere and descriptions though just like in the first book.

The first 20% was pretty good too, the set up was well done and I was intrigued to see where it was going to go but then it just completely fell off and sadly, couldn't recover.

This was truly so bogged down, and I felt no change in character dynamics/relationships,

I'm actually SO sad this has turned out this way I don't think I have anything else to say.

I'm going to hang onto this book though and possibly give it a re-read at another time and see how I get on. But for now, I probably won't be continuing on with the series.

Black Tide Son returns us to the Winter Sea world, where I make my exit early out of this series.

I gave "Dark Water Daughter" a re-read after receiving the ARC last year and wasn't sure what I loved about it the first time. I tried many times to get through it and skimmed the final few chapters hoping for reprieve in this installment, I was left out to sea. Quite honestly, the series could have ended at book one and it would have been a fine ending to a rather okay novel.

Black Tide Son was follows the protagonists with Mary the first contracted stormsinger to Sam's ship. They play this lackluster "will they/wont they" game throughout the novel while some paper tiger gods and monsters linger throughout the book as they figure out that yes, countries will do what they can to come out on top as the most powerful.

The problem with this series is not just its used coffee grounds for characters, its that there isn't anything new or exciting happening and it became harder and harder to pay attention to this novel. I don't think Long's writing is for me and for that I gave this book 2/5 stars and won't be recommending it.

Black Tide Son by HM Long - eBook ARC
4.5 Stars!

Prepare to be swept away into a world where magic flows like the currents of the sea and danger lurks beneath every wave. In "Black Tide Son" by HM Long, readers are treated to a creative fantasy that not only immerses them in a richly crafted world but also introduces a captivating magic system that adds depth to an already compelling narrative.

Long's storytelling is akin to a masterful tapestry where threads of adventure, mystery, and the supernatural are intricately woven together. Set against the backdrop of a sprawling coastal city, the protagonist, Finn, discovers he is not just any teenager—he's a wielder of rare and powerful magic tied to the mysterious Black Tide.

What sets "Black Tide Son" apart is Long's ability to paint vivid scenes with words, transporting readers effortlessly from bustling markets filled with exotic goods to eerie underwater caverns teeming with ancient secrets. The world-building is meticulous, with each locale and culture feeling distinct and alive, making it easy to lose oneself in the sights, sounds, and smells of Finn's world.

The magic system is a true standout, seamlessly integrated into the fabric of everyday life yet imbued with a sense of wonder and danger. From elemental manipulations to the enigmatic powers of the Black Tide itself, every spell and incantation feels both familiar and refreshingly unique, keeping readers eagerly turning pages to see what marvels—or perils—await Finn next.

At its heart, "Black Tide Son" is a coming-of-age tale that resonates with themes of identity, family, and the struggle to find one's place in a world filled with both beauty and darkness. Finn's journey from uncertain youth to formidable magic user is a compelling arc that will resonate with readers of all ages, reminding us that true strength often lies not just in power, but in understanding and compassion.

Overall, "Black Tide Son" is a thrilling debut that promises a deep dive into a fantastical realm where imagination knows no bounds. Whether you're a fan of epic adventures or intricate magic systems, HM Long's novel delivers on all fronts, leaving you eagerly anticipating the next installment in Finn's spellbinding journey. Grab your copy, and prepare to be enchanted!

The Winter Sea hides a multitude of dangers for our seafaring crew.

Mary and Sam are still recovering from all the magical shenanigans from book 1 but they do not get much of a reprieve before they are locked into a new adventure. This time Sam and Ben are the focus of the storyline as the crew of the Hart attempt to find a way to stop Sam slipping into the Other permanently and Ben from becoming a complete unemotional shell.

We set sail to far distant shores and learn more about the wider world this time around. Chunks of the story take place when the crew are separated, incarcerated or otherwise alone and I felt that really helped amp up the danger they were in as they rarely had anyone they could count on.

Politics are again a big motivation for a lot of the plot and sadly the Navy do not paint themselves in a good light, they were willing to ride roughshod over everyone to win.

There is lots of redemption going on too. Charles continues to grow a character, lol and I even began to empathise with Ben. He's not quite likable yet, but he's growing in the right direction. Mary finally takes things into her own hands and ensures that Sam sees that their love is not a power structure and that they could actually be a powerhouse and a formidable team.

There are some interesting new additions to the cast, including an Usti spy and I'm still not sure if she's on the right side yet!

A great mix of action and adventure with Regency/Privateer vibes and a collop of dry humour!

I really love this story and how it is unfolding. It is a dense novel with intricate, detailed and original world building. This can take a reader by surprise as they will have to settle with this read and invest some time with the world to get the most out of the story.
This book will appeal to those who enjoy:
- Epic fantasy
-Golden age of piracy-ish/ Seafaring books
-Unique Magic (ensorcelled weapons of various kinds as well as musical sorcery)
- Magical creatures/hybrid humans
-High Stakes
- Strong independent FMC
- Low to No spice (seriously the slowest romance ever, this is not a Romance book, though the characters do love each other deeply and romatincally- it just isn't that kind of book)
Knocked down one star because for me.. it was like eating a super dense pound cake and it did take me longer than normal to get done. At times I felt the details and the very formal language used did overshadow the plot and narrative, but for other readers this may add to the immersive feel of the story. For me, I enjoyed Black Water Daughter a bit more, but enjoyed this volume as it forwards the story arc along. I assume there is a book three forthcoming?

This is one of those rare cases where the second book is better than the first. The balance of adventure, challenge and plot was perfect. The flow was great and felt like the plot both wrapped up loose ends and continuously moved forward. The dialogue and characters were perfect. The relationships honest and real. Also I ship Ben and Grant.

The only negative thing I can say is that there was quite a bit of grammatical errors but likely will be corrected when it’s published

Thank you Titan Books via NetGalley for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review

Black Tide Son
Dark Water Daughter was on of my favourite fantasy reads of 2023 and so I was very excited to read this next book in the series.
Black Tide Son begins soon after the events of the previous and I didn’t find it as immediately engaging as the previous book. However, that’ s perhaps not a surprise as it would be difficult to surpass beginning a book with your main character about to be executed. It took me a while to remember the details of the characters and previous events and I definitely don’t think that this is a book that you can read without having read the earlier book.
Once I had re-immersed myself in H M Long’s world, I was carried away by the events. I loved being back in this strange world that has similarities to our 18th century but also a complete magic system consisting of the otherworld with the Magus, Sooths and Ghiseau.
The story is told by both Mary and Samuel who have alternating chapters and I loved both of their points of view. Both characters really grew over the course of the novel and their slow burn romance was brilliantly portrayed. I really sympathised with Mary’s frustration at how Samuel was so determined to protect her. It was fun having Grant back after his role in what happened after Mary’s near execution. His dry comments added a nice line of humour to the story.
The most interesting character for me in this book has to be Samuel’s twin brother Benedict. His magic has been corrupted which has left him at best a morally grey character. This means that nobody can ever be quite sure what he will do in any given situation which adds an interesting level of uncertainty to the plot.
Although it’s the middle book of a trilogy, this part of the story is fairly self-contained with the ending leaving our characters at a satisfying pause point rather than leaving the reader on a cliff hanger The extracts that began each chapter were a really effective way of giving the reader information without it slowing the story down.
The plot is quite fast paced through out the book but the final third is as thrilling as anyone could wish as all of the strands came together and Mary and Sam find out who they can actually trust.
This was a brilliant follow up to Dark Water Daughter and I can’t wait for the final volume.
Huge thanks as always to Net Galley and the publishers, Titan Books for providing me with this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I remember saying in my review for the first book in this duology that it reminded me of the high that the original “Pirates of the Caribbean” movie delivered. Like the movie, it was just a blast from start to finish. Similarly, it left me hankering for more and I eagerly began waiting for the sequel. Well, we all know how that turned out with those movies (though I will say that I don’t hate the sequel quite as much as others)… But I’m happy to report that this book sequel did not share a similar fate. In fact, I enjoyed it just as much as the first!

I’ve already used the word “blast” to describe this book, and I can tell that it will be a struggle to refrain from simply spamming that word throughout. Because one of the first things that stands out about this sequel is the adventurous romp it is from start to finish. The first book was action packed as well, but it did had to slow down more at times to properly introduced our two main characters. This book doesn’t have to spare the page time for that, so instead the writing whips the reader up in the first few pages and then doesn’t let you go until the final stop! That’s not to say that there aren’t quieter, more reflective moments, but even these are all bookended by sweeping action sequences. Our heroes spend the majority of the book racing from place to place, and, like them, the reader will be left simply trying to keep up with the events around them (but in the best way possible!).

I will say that this book was a bit less boat-focused than the first book. Going in, I’d have said this shift might have knocked the book down a notch, as the emphasis on naval/pirate shenanigan’s was one of the primary appeals of the first book. But the story more than made up for it by focusing a large chunk of the action on our main characters and a few other characters racing first to break Sam’s brother out of a heavily guarded prison and then from the various parties wishing to re-capture them all. The book also expanded on the political maneuverings between the various nations that make up this nautical world, especially their varying levels of understanding of the magic that exists and the ghists.

And, lastly, I can’t not talk about our main characters, Sam and Mary. Man, I love these two so much! For her part, we see Mary’s growing partnership with the ghist she is bound to and the incredibly creative abilities their teamwork produces. These abilities, alongside her own powerful weather singing magic, did have the potential to maker her a bit overpowered, but the author showed incredible restraint in this area, using all of these elements carefully and judiciously throughout. As for Sam, we learn much more about his (and his brother’s) backstory in this book. Indeed, much of the secondary arc is centered around his search for a cure for his poisoned abilities. I also absolutely LOVED the way Sam’s and Mary’s romance progressed. There were so many ways this could have gone wrong, and then every time, right when I began to be concerned, Long would completely nail it. Unlike the first book, Sam and Mary are together throughout most of this book, and the few quiet moments we get are almost all devoted to them feeling out the next steps to their relationship.

This was pretty much the perfect sequel for me. It built on all of the great ideas presented in the first book, allowed its characters to grow both as individuals and as a couple, and expanded the world and magic system in every way. It also wrapped up the story in a completely satisfying manner, though it did seem to leave a crack in the door for future installments. If you enjoyed the first book, this is a worthy sequel in every way. And, generally, I can’t recommend this duology enough to fantasy readers looking for adventure and slow-burn romance!

Rating 9: Chock full of adventure, romance, and an incredibly unique magical world. If you ever thought “hey, I want pirates but with magic!” than this is the duology for you!

Link will go live July 10 on The Library Ladies blog.

Thank you to Titan Books and H.M. Long for the arc in exchange for an honest review. 4.5/5 stars. I am happy to report that this definitely does not have the dreaded “second-book syndrome”! Black Tide Son shifts its focus from Mary to hone in on Samual and Benedict and their corrupted magic. I loved the brother’s dynamic and found Benedicts character to be so layered and complex. He isn’t a good person but I found myself unable to root against him. This book fleshes out the magic system much more than in the first book and adds new protagonists around every turn. My anxiety was definitely on edge the whole time. And THIS is the type of slow-burn romance, full of tension and longing glances, that I want in my fantasy books! An engaging plot with a dash of achingly slow-burn romance is what Long has delivered and I ate it up. I will say that it did feel like the characters could never catch a break. Every time it felt like the characters were finally getting ahead of all the chaos, the next round of bad luck struck. This is definitely not a complaint. It kept the story engaging and the plot moving forward. Overall, I really loved this installment in the Winter Sea series and can’t wait for the release!

I really enjoyed this 2nd instalment of the series! Book 1 was a straight 5 star read for me and book 2 didn’t disappoint either. The storyline was a little slower at the beginning but the action packed and exciting 2nd half of the book was worth every slower chapter! The final chapters felt as if you were watching an epic fantasy movie and that was really great! I already saw there is a 3rd book planned and I can’t wait to read it!

For the characters, Mary retained her status as one of the most interesting characters. She isn’t the usual fantasy-book-heroine that is helpless and tries to navigate the adventure, but she is fun and brave. I liked her a lot! In addition, Samuel became a main character in this 2nd book and that was a great add to the plot. He is a very fair and kind character and fights for his brother Ben even though he not always treated him nicely in the past. Last but not least, Ben was a side character in book 1 and now became more prominent to the plot. He is very interesting as he is that character who you like but dislike at the same time. He doesn’t get boring.

I really hope that I can read book 3 very soon, as I really want to know what happens next! If you like fantasy books that are a little less romantasy, but fantasy in the foreground, this is your series to pick up!

(The review will be posted on my instagram & Goodreads on July 8th).

After devouring Dark Water Daughter, I couldn’t wait to dive into Black Tide Son. Overall, this was a fantastic continuation of the story and characters from the first book. It suffered a little from book 2 syndrome, requiring a bit of a slower pace to flesh out more world building at the beginning, but it was definitely a satisfying read overall.

While Samuel and Mary are still the two pov characters in this book, it really is Samuel and Benedict who steal the show. Their character development and tenuous relationship kept me turning the pages throughout. Charles kept things light and funny as well, so I appreciated his inclusion even if it wasn’t the most necessary to the plot.

I loved the extension of the world from book 1! The Mereish country added much to the world and its magic. I also enjoyed learning a little more about how the magic and the creatures work.

This is a definite must-read to follow up on Dark Water Daughter, and it sets up perfectly for what I believe will be the final book in the series to follow. I can’t wait to see where it goes next!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance read of this book. All opinions are my own.

‘For him, I would risk nothing. But for you, I would do anything.’

Let me start this review off by saying I am first and foremost, a Mary and Sam stan. I love them so much and cherish every moment we got of them together. I also am obsessed with this world and all of the other characters. Dark Water Daughter was one of my top reads of last year so it really pains me to write this review, but I felt really disappointed by Black Tide Son.

While this book had some very strong elements and a great set up from DWD, this fell quite flat for me. It lacked the lure DWD had and felt quite rushed in comparison. I feel like the world building wasn’t as strong, some plot points were lazy and the POVs all felt disjointed and lacked their unique voices.

The second half of the book certainly picked up. A certain conflict scene was so cool, immersive and vivid. I felt like I was truly there on that ship with Mary, I just wish it had gone for longer and we got more from it. But one of the big build ups in the book fell flat once again. It felt so underwhelming after everything we went through?

‘We have seen one another at our worst and our best, and ay affection for you has only gown, even against my own will.’

Black Tide Son set up so much for us to explore in book 3 and I really can’t wait to see how this all wraps up. While BTS answered some questions, it left so many more unanswered and I cannot wait to see how it ends. I also am so excited to see how Mary and Sam’s relationship continues to grow and really hope we get more tender moments between the two.

Black Tide Son, the much anticipated sequel to Dark Water Daughter, brings us back to the Winter Sea with many of our cherished friends from book one to continue on their high seas adventures.
This time, Samuel, Mary, and their faithful crew go up against a new mysterious foe while on a quest across worlds to find a cure for the Black Tide sickness ailing Samuel and his twin brother Benjamin.

The vivid setting was again a stand out (as it is for all of H.M. Long's books) where I swear I can feel a winter wind blowing as I'm reading some of these scenes. The magic system and all original lore built upon itself from book 1 and brought more creatures and an expansion of Mary's magic in particular into book 2. As anticipated, Black Tide Son provides more historical context into the world's different societies and cultures - what motivates them and what would push them to the brink of war and I am VERY excited to see how this continues to play out throughout the rest of the series.

Though completely brimming with action the pacing felt a little choppy in comparison to Dark Water Daughter and I so wish we had gotten a little more of Samuel and Mary's burgeoning romance --talk about slow burn -- pick up the pace, Samuel, my man! I missed Demery's character and getting to know more about Anne and I hope they make a return to the narrative in the next book!

Overall, I enjoyed another foray on the high seas with some of my favorite characters and their various magics but Black Tide Son wasn't *quite* the powerhouse that Dark Water Daughter was (it was high bar!!). I am, however, excited to see what comes next in the series!

Thank you netgalley and Titan Books for the opportunity to read and review Black Tide Son as an e-arc!

Please Note: public review is withheld until publication month as requested. Feedback will be updated with links upon posting!

4.5/5 ⭐️ I love when a book doesn’t fall prey to second book syndrome.

Perfect for fans of One Dark Window and A Study in Drowning.

Black Tide Son continues the story of the Winter Sea in a way that builds on Dark Water Daughter’s banter, tension, magic system and character development in terms of the Rosser twins.

I would definitely recommend a reread of DWD before reading this as there isn’t a ton of recap on the previous story as we jump right into what’s next for Sam and Mary…and Benedict!! I loved having more Benedict and seeing his character flushed out more. He gets a whole journey of his own that I think is a fantastic piece of this novel.

I loved the way the battle scenes were written and there isn’t really a moment of this book that isn’t high stakes and high octane.

I did want more of just about everything! This is my main sticking point of this book not being 5 stars. I felt like we rushed through some of the plot points in a way that almost felt too fast paced for everything that was going on in this book. Things were solved so quickly that it didn’t always feel like the huge accomplishment that it was.

Spoilers here:

specifically in terms of healing Sam and Ben. We don’t really know how this was accomplished or if it was difficult it was just left as it only takes minutes and that parts of it were held by separate characters to protect themselves. This is something that has been a quest for 2 books and it was solved so vaguely I wanted more from this.

Overall I would recommend this book and this series. Cannot wait for the next installment!