A fantastic follow up to Drowned Tides, which mostly avoids the pitfalls of being the bridge book in a trilogy. Very much looking forward to the next volume.

This book was sooo much better than Curious Tides. I thought the world jumping was so cool and I love how the different groups of friends were off on their own adventure. I don’t usually enjoy more than 2 POVs but having Emory, Baz, Romie and Kai’s views was really enjoyable. They all think so differently so I loved seeing that. Baz and Kai’s part kind of reminded me of HP and the tri-wizard tourney which was cool. My criticism of both books is my god they are long. But that’s okay because they ended up being great reads.

I was between a 3.5 and 4 on this one but rounded up. I think the story started off strong, dragged a bit in the middle, but the ending left me wanting more. The addition of new characters and POVs was great. The chapters were shorter and the storyline in this one was a bit more exciting than the first. 70% hit and we had our plot twist and I knew I was in for a good ending. I will definitely finish this series.

**4.25 stars**

Thank you to the publisher for the ARC of this book that I accidentally waited until after release to read....oops!

This book was a wild ride. I didn't expect this series to become what it is when I started book one--and I'm having a blast!

This book reminds me a lot of the Magicians--the book and the show, honestly, but less campy and much better done in my opinion. It's marketed as dark academia over and over but honestly that's such a small part of it, it's crazy.

I loved the expanding world and characters in this book. The returning characters go through so much development and then we also get some super fun new characters.

The way the threads of the book all come together at the end felt so masterful. I couldn't see where it was going for the longest time, but by the end it all came together in a way that has me FERAL for book 3. There are several things at the end that made me go "UM WHAT??"

My biggest issue(s) with the book and thus why it isn't 5 stars: first and foremost, some of the main characters and relationships from book one just...didn't go where I wanted. I don't want to spoil anything but one POV character in particular was just so disappointing on the page and with their attitude the whole book it really took me out of it.

Another issue I had is that a good portion of the book feels clunky. And while everything tied together at the end, it took a LOT to get there and some things could have been tied together sooner and maybe some things could have been left out. The pacing was off for much of it, but I get it because there is a LOT of ground to cover!

Lots of other thoughts but they're all spoilery, so I'm off to find someone to shout about the ending with!

In 2023, Pascale Lacelle enchanted lovers of dark academia-flavored fantasy with Curious Tides, the first entry in the Drowned Gods Trilogy. Set in a world where magical practitioners take their powers from the phases of the moon, this first novel introduced us to a unique and intriguing cast of characters. While practitioners born under the four common phases of the moon are at the height of their powers during said phases, “Eclipse-born” are shunned for their increased powers and potential to Collapse. This overclocking of their powers turns their blood silver and leads to massive destruction… or so the people of this world are led to believe.

It behooves anyone to read Curious Tides before diving into Stranger Skies, as these books are inextricably linked. And, while one could potentially enjoy what Stranger Skies brings to the table without what comes before, it won’t hold nearly the same emotional impact. This is a story meant to be read in full—so know that coming in.

The Story
One of the major unseen characters of Curious Tides was Cornus Clover: an author from hundreds of years ago who penned a novel about a scholar who traveled between many worlds. Much of the action of this first book hinged on the belief that the events of Clover’s novel either had happened or would happened. Stranger Skies, the middle book of the trilogy, is the upshot of this.

Four main characters, who also serve as rotating narrators, return for this book. Emory was initially believed to be a Healer, but discovered over the course of Curious Tides that she is Eclipse-born. Not only that, but she is a Tidecaller: able to use the abilities of others. She and her friend Romie, reunited during the events of the first book, now find themselves moving through many different but parallel worlds. A dying forest houses witches who take their powers from the ground; an arid wasteland is inhabited by people who augment themselves with draconic powers; yet another world has banned all music for fear of upsetting its gods. But all these worlds have similar symbols, legends, and traditions that seem to link them.

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As Emory and Romie travel the multiverse, their friends Baz and Kai slip backwards through time thanks to Baz’s Timespinner abilities. But they end up somewhere very specific: in the time of Cornus Clover, seemingly before he’s begun to write his legendary story. The two time travelers discover secrets about their family’s pasts, unfortunate truths about the status of Eclipse-born, and the truth behind Clover’s influence in this time.

Across both settings, the world laid out in Curious Tides grows ever more expansive. The truth behind the gods known as the Tides becomes apparent, overturning the mythology of the first book and paving the way for something grander still.

What Works
One of the best things about the Drowned Gods Trilogy so far is the aesthetic. The vibe, as they say, is impeccable, full of fancy old-timey literary salons and parties and dusty libraries. Referring to things as “dark academia” doesn’t always hit the mark, but both Curious Tides and Stranger Skies bring that feeling home. It’s not just about setting the action in a school, although that is certainly there as well. The whole story is grounded in the desire and passion for knowledge, and the many directions that can take a person. That alone can make this a dense read, but not an unrewarding one.

With Stranger Skies in particular, there’s also a great deal of worldbuilding—a building of several worlds, in fact. This could go horribly awry, as Emory and Romie and their companions jump from plane to plane, with each having its own vast history and mythology. While we only see a couple of these other worlds (the rest will have to wait for the third installment), they are well built-out. Everything feels as though it could very well have existed underneath the world of Curious Tides for an eternity; none of these worlds feel appended.

Just as each world feels unique, each point-of-view character feels unique. It’s a common trend to throw the narrative back and forth between or among characters, but this only works if the characters are unique enough in their thought processes to justify this perspective switch. In the case of Stranger Skies, this is completely valid. Romie and Emory travel together, but they have very different views of Emory’s growing Tidecaller powers and a growing distrust between them. Baz and Kai go back in time together, but each boy’s powers give them very different perspectives into what’s happening around them. And, without giving away the end game of this book, it’s definitely wise to let each of these four have a hand in showcasing the action.

It’s also worth mentioning that the print version of this book is gorgeous, with really lovely moon phases accompanying the page numbers and some fantastic typography for each section. If at all possible, treat yourself and get this one in hardcover.

What Doesn’t Work
So much of Stranger Skies is extremely strong, to the point that there’s very little to criticize about it. If there is one problem, though, it is that it suffers from a somewhat bloated supporting cast. This was an issue also present in Curious Tides, but it was a bit more excusable as the action took place within a school broadly and within a secret society with a variety of differently-powered members narrowly. As the action is divided across time and space, though, the cast creep becomes a bit much.

In Baz and Kai’s half of the story, things aren’t too bad. There are a few minor characters in addition to their core supporting cast, but they’re never really built up to be more than a supporting cast. Emory and Romie, on the other hand, are building up a large following by necessity. By virtue of the prophetic story they are fulfilling, they gain three more companions (two of whom we get to know in depth in this book); one more, equally important, also joins in. That’s a sizable cast weighing down this half of the book, but they’re well developed. But then two more characters from Curious Tides are added in, one as a love interest for Romie, as well as more characters from one of the realms through which the group travels. Which is not to say Romie’s romance should be abandoned; if anything, it should have more focus, perhaps putting aside one or two of the hangers-on. This important relationship, especially placed opposite her failing friendship with Emory, feels rather sidelined.

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A cast of thousands is hardly a problem in a fantasy epic, but it does feel a bit like some characters are there who don’t need to be, leading to others not getting as much spotlight as they ought to.

Final Score
Rating: 4 out of 5.
Stranger Skies is absolutely stellar as a book: the story, the characters, the worldbuilding, even the book as you hold it in your hands. If you are a lover of Victorian/Edwardian vibes, dark urban fantasy, and sprawling magical worlds you can get lost in, you owe it to yourself to dive into the Drowned Gods Trilogy.

The only thing working against it is the occasional imbalance of the cast. With one more book to go and the cast list already bursting at the seams, it’s starting to get a little worrying. But even that can’t ruin this read. It’s a perfect book for the lengthening autumn evenings.

Stranger Skies builds on an already solid fantasy foundation of book 1. I loved how the characters grew and complicated, but still were what I loved from Curious Tides. I particularly enjoyed how much it kept me guessing! I wanted to unravel each new mystery. Overall, I would highly recommend if you’ve read book 1 to keep going and pick up Stranger Skies!

3.75 rounded up

Thank you to Netgalley and Simon and Schuster Children’s for this e arc in exchange for an honest review.

In a sweeping sequel to Curious Tides, Lacelle takes us through space, time, and into other worlds. Although the book was incredibly fantastical, with a rather complex and intriguing overarching plot, I find myself with mixed feelings. At times, it seemed almost as if this book was trying to do too many things at once. I found the relationships jumbled a bit the B plot more interesting than the A plot (which dragged just a little), and the ending to be FASCINATING and thrilling but a bit improperly set up/rushed.

Where this book shines is Lacelle’s complex and magical worldbuilding. It’s almost too many pieces to keep track of, but she does it in a way that is entertaining and unexpected. I also love the characters she creates, particularly Baz (I will say Romie irritated me she was lowk a terrible friend), and the tension is built well.

Overall , this was an enjoyable, compulsive read and if you liked Curious Tides, I would recommend Stranger Skies.

I struggled getting through this one, especially the second part. I felt like there was a lot going on (traveling through new worlds, adding time travel, expanding histories, increasing the romance), but it progressed slowly. I'm not sure all the added elements were needed for this story. I'm wondering if it would have been better to push some of the elements from this novel into the first one. I think there could have been a better starting off point. I like the characters, but I'm not completely won over by them. I'm not sure how much I'll actually get to see of my favorite character based on where they end up at the end of this one. I didn't love this one, and I'm not sure I'll continue the series.

I loved the second book in the Drowned Gods series! The continued dark academia and mystery vibes was great but I loved how much the world expanded in the sequel. There's more magic and fantasy elements making this even better. I was surprised by all of the new pov's but thought the parallel storylines worked really well together. I loved the new perspectives! One of the best things in this book was the character development. Across the board the main characters really start to accept who they are and they will become. I also really enjoyed the complex concepts we saw in this book. They were handled really well and were quite emotional at times. Overall I really enjoyed this book and can't wait for to see what comes next!

Amazing book. Love the story line and the character development. Love the plot line amazing job. Will def Recommend to friends and family

Stranger Skies is an exceptional sequel that picks up right where Curious Tides left off, delivering non-stop adventure and intrigue. This series, which blends elements of dark academia with fantasy, is truly underrated and deserves more attention. The characters, beautifully complex and imperfect, continue to grow in depth through their difficult friendships and budding romances. I was initially apprehensive about the series expanding from a duology to a trilogy, but Pascale Lacelle exceeded my expectations. This book isn’t just filler; it expands the world, plot, and characters in meaningful ways.

The inclusion of multiple POVs, particularly Kai and Romie, significantly enriches the narrative, offering fresh perspectives and enhancing the intricacy of the world. The dual timelines add an exciting layer to the storytelling, allowing for fascinating character development and unexpected twists. The tension between Romie and Emory feels authentic, especially after the events of the previous book, and the time-travel adventure introduces new characters and complexities.

While the pacing occasionally falters, particularly in the Romie/Emory chapters, the book ultimately weaves together its many threads with skill. It leaves readers with plenty of questions and an eagerness for the conclusion. I’m already looking forward to rereading this to prepare for the next installment, as it’s a lot to remember! This series deserves a wider audience—its dark academia elements paired with rich storytelling make it a hidden gem in the genre.

Baz and Kai - my goodness - you have my heart.

After that cliffhanger in Curious Tides, we find that Emory and Romie have traveled across realms to the worlds described in Song of the Drowned Gods, albeit not exactly as they were in that book. Meanwhile, Baz and Kai have traveled back in time and end up meeting Cornus Clover himself. And again, not quite the Cornus Clover of legend.

This book takes its time, and I will admit I enjoyed the Baz-Kai chapters more than that Emory-Romie chapters, but as our protagonists begin to understand what is actually happening and what Clover has set in motion, the stakes just keep getting higher. This book ends with yet another cliffhanger, and I cannot wait to find out just where Pascale Lacelle is taking us.

**3.5 STARS**

Content Warning: violence

I enjoyed Curious Tides, which is the first book in this series so I was very curious to see where this story went. Here are my thoughts:

Likes:

+ I like the dual stories going with Romie and Emory in one place and Kai and Baz in another. I think it worked well seeing both worlds happening at the same time. I thought the world building was really good and expanded.

+ There was a little romance stirring in this book between two people that was hinted in book one. I love to see it, but it definitely comes at the end of the book and we’ll see what happens in book three. It’s definitely a slow burn. On the other hand where Emory had all the romance in book one, her relationship with Romie is what needs to be fixed and I liked to see their friendship journey.

+ There is magic, lots of action and so much going on in both worlds. Baz as a Timespinner even gets to go into the past with Kai to the point where I’d say things really changed for these magic wielders. I thought that part was very interesting and realized how large this world building is.

Dislikes:

~ I found this one a little too long and the pacing was off and there were parts that dragged. I do think it’s long because there was so much happening with the story, and lots more characters being introduced. But I did take a few weeks to finish this one.

Final Thoughts:

I did like how this world opens up in this book. There is so much going on and different worlds to explore. There is also a lot more characters introduced but at times I felt it dragged and was a bit too long for me. I think people who love fantasy though will love this one.

This book was SOOOO good! The plot was very well thought out and the story flow was easy to follow. I enjoyed being able to read additional characters point of view that we missed out on in the first book. There were also many surprises and I now have so many theories and questions that I cannot wait for the third book! I loved being able to meet new characters that helped build the story and gain more background on some we already knew from Curious Tides. 10/10 would read again.

Ok phew..let me catch my breath..that was an insane ride. If “don’t look away you will miss it” feeling is a book, it’d be this one! with a mad dash plot and twists constantly that constantly fire off before you could take a breather. If it isn’t apparent, I am saying I loved the book. I think I loved it more than the first book which is always a good sign, you better buckle up before you start this chunky adventure because it’s definitely worth it. Now if you are a patient person you’d reread Curios tides before jumping in(actually recommend it), but my fellow impatient readers like me fear not! The author did a great job of including key details from the first book smoothly without making it feel redundant to bring us up to the speed

The multiple POV- adding Kai and Romies’s made a world of difference for me, it expanded the world on itself allowing me to get perspective from these characters. That being said I thought the author did a brilliant job expanding the world even further, while it continues to be intricate I devoured it. It is narrated in two time lines which was super fun to read! the friction between Romie and Emory felt so realistic with how their friendship takes a hit after the events that take place in the previous book

Kai and Baz time go on a time traveling trip to 200 years the past meeting more wonderful characters(mostly) to fall in love with while Emory (my fav shade of grey) Romie traverse the different worlds mentioned in the previous books, there were more new characters introduced via them that I absolutely enjoyed reading about. The two timelines and the simultaneous plots happening in them would converge towards the end making sense of the plot as a whole. While undoubtedly it’s complex, I thought it’s pulled off quite well

There are quite a few twists and turns, you might see some while others might completely take you by surprise. There were times I felt pacing was off specifically with Romie/Emory's POV's.However, I really ended up enjoying the sequel and looking forward to the next book obviously but next time I think I’d have to reread this book in order to continue haha because it’s a lot to remember till then.

Thank you to Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing, Margaret K. McElderry Books, Edelweiss, and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this title to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
If you have not read the first book in this series, Curious Tides, stop here. There will more than likely be spoilers for that book below. And you'll need to read that first book to understand what happens in this one.
Curious Tides was my favorite book of 2023. I will admit, when it was sent to me I was unsure I'd really want to read it. The length was intimidating but I also judged the book by its cover and it just didn't look inviting to me. Boy was I WRONG! Not only do I now love that cover, but I am in love with all the characters and the world Lacelle has built. It's a very unique magical system and the world building was amazing.
I was super excited to jump into this one seeing as the first one pretty much ended on a cliff hanger. I needed to know what happened to all the characters! This installment of The Drowned Gods series is full of action and adventure. It delves deeper into the magical system and gives a ton of history and background world.
This book is told from four points of view. Yep, two new POVs are added and I'm sure you can imagine that changed the story up quite a bit. Having Romie's POV really expanded how the story progressed. And we got a dip into Kai's POV at the end of the first book so I knew he was going to be included! Plus we still hear from Baz and Emory. It's great to watch the story unfold from all these characters who are complex, real, and very reliable. Do their emotions get involved? They sure do. But it brings just the right amount of drama and intrigue to pull the reader along. I loved seeing the two characters we got to know so well in book one through the eyes of their best friends. We're also introduced to a slew of new characters. One of which is the author of the story which started all the characters down the road of this story.
The romance takes a bit of a turn in this book. We did see it somewhat towards the end of book 1 but it ramps up much more in this book. And those you thought were pining for each other turns out to be a bit different than what we first thought. It's a very slow burn so if you're expecting it to pop out and be real early on, you're in for a surprise. Expect a build until things combust.
This book introduces time travel. Lacelle does a good job with is, as well. I'm always worried that time travel books will have too many complicated things happening and make it hard to understand but that is not the case here. I will say I was surprised at what was reveled by the characters who did travel. I was worried how it would alter the other timeline. The alternating time lines were easy to understand and keep up with. We don't really see the intersection of the timelines until the end, so I'll be interested to see how it plays out in the third book of the series.
Often times the second book of a trilogy suffers from middle books syndrome where the book becomes just filler to get you to the third book that wraps the story up. This is not that book. This book absolutely lends so much to the story. Especially because it explores more worlds than what we saw in the first book. It expands the universe so well. It gives more depth to the characters, plot, and world.
I loved the mystery and intrigue in this book. I will admit it was a long one. I am very intimidated by long books. I did have to take a few breaks. And I did find myself jumping back at times to make sure I understood what was happening as it did get complicated at times. And I love that Lacelle continued using the dark academia introduced int book one in this book. She doesn't take you away from that part of the book which really is so important to the overall story.
While I wanted to love this book as much as the first, I did feel the pacing was not quite as on point with this installment as the first. I struggled at times to understand some of what was happening. There was so much new stuff introduced, such a large expansion of the universe, I sometimes had a hard time keeping it all straight. This brought my rating down. But overall, this is a great continuation of interesting and unique lore with complex characters and time lines that keep you turning the page. Once again we're left with a cliff hanger which leave me wondering just how the author is going to solve the pickle these characters have gotten themselves into! Excited for the next book already!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me review this book. This book was action packed from the first page to the last page. Myths and magic along with ley lines and how the lines amps up the magic. I’ve heard of key lines and it made me want to read more about them.

This is how you do a sequel! Stranger Skies picks up where Curious Tides left off and it was non stop the entire time. It was stunning and adventurous! I absolutely love these characters and how they are complex and imperfect. The difficult friendships and budding romances were so good! I was a little nervous when I learned this was changing from a duology to a trilogy, but Pascale Lacelle did not disappoint. This isn’t a filler book. This book expanded on book 1 and added more depth to the characters, plot, and world. We’re also introduced to new characters and povs. It was beautifully written and entertaining. I loved seeing all the little pieces coming together even though I still have so many questions! I cannot wait for the conclusion!

When I first read Curious Tides, it was immediately a perfect five star read. It felt like it was written specifically for me and I loved everything about it. I’m so happy to say that the highly anticipated sequel is even better than the first book. I just love the prose and starting the sequel reminded me exactly why I loved the first book so much. The lunar magic of this series is one of the most unique magic systems I’ve ever read. The powers you have are determined by the phase of the moon when you were born and the magic is stronger depending on the phase it’s currently in. This series is set at a university with students split into houses based on their moon phase, and there’s nothing I love more than a book with a magical academy. The Drowned Gods series has secret societies, an ancient mysterious storybook, a dark academia setting, multiple points of views, and powerful characters always trying to save the day. One of my favorite parts of the first book was the romance as well as the subtle hinting at a potential relationship. The romance in the sequel was even better with some huge slow burn payoffs. I don’t want to spoil anything but let’s just say if you wanted a certain potential couple to get together, you are going to be very happy reading this book. The build up was so worth it, I love them so much. Stranger Skies had a lot of answers to questions from the first book and so many plot twists that left me once again on the edge of my seat for the next one.

I was quite surprised by the multiple POVs in this second installment. I never felt disconnected from the characters even with changing perspectives. I welcomed these new insights into Romie and Kai. The thing that shines the most here is the character development, it is quite obvious now that Emory is not the same person as when we first start reading the series. And she’s slowly coming to terms with who she is and eventually who she is becoming. But even with that, my favorite is for sure Baz. Another great character development but Baz’s is more diverse than Emory’s. Not only is he helping the eclipse-born movement, he is also saving his family and then he is also going after his friends. He has gone way out of his comfort zone and I like that he realizes he quite likes it.
All in all, the lore in this book is so original and complex. It might not be for everyone but I loved it. The traveling and the cultures they experience everytime they go to another ley line portal. Definitely a high fantasy book to read since it will keep you entertained the whole time