Book Review: A Captivating Adventure of Magic and Courage
"Every legend has a beginning," and this story beautifully illustrates that notion. The journey of a young woman, Saoirse, and a charming pirate, Faolan, takes readers on an exhilarating quest filled with magic, danger, and self-discovery.
Saoirse longs to be free from her volatile magic, a curse that has shadowed her since childhood. Living in fear of her own power, her world is turned upside down when she loses control. In a desperate act to protect her, her parents offer her hand to the merciless Stone King. However, Saoirse is determined not to succumb to such a fate; she chooses to confront her fears and break her curse.
On the brink of an unwanted marriage, she seeks out the legendary Wolf of the Wild, Faolan—a cunning pirate with a heart of gold beneath his roguish exterior. Their partnership unfolds as they embark on a quest to find a mythical isle, a land created by the slain gods that holds the key to harnessing her magic.
What makes this tale truly enchanting is the dynamic between Saoirse and Faolan. Their relationship blossoms amidst the chaos, filled with witty banter and mutual respect. Saoirse’s wise decision to demand marriage as a condition to join Faolan on his ship adds a clever twist to their adventure, showcasing her strength and intelligence.
This book is a remarkable blend of fantasy and empowerment, illustrating how courage can lead to self-acceptance and freedom. Readers will find themselves rooting for Saoirse as she navigates her journey, and the vivid world-building and compelling characters make it a must-read for anyone who enjoys a thrilling adventure.
Overall, this story is not just about facing external challenges but also about embracing one's identity and the power that lies within. It’s a tale that inspires bravery and resilience, making it a perfect addition to any reading list. #netgalley

Absolutely magical. I enjoyed the intricacies of the cultures, and the magic system! The romance was fun. Recommend to read if you like Pirates of the Caribbean! Felt action packed and full of danger. Loved this.

First and foremost, WHAT A BEAUTIFUL COVER.

Also, what a beautiful book. I really ended up enjoying this more than I thought I would and that made me overjoyed. The characters are complex yet relatable and I really enjoyed the world building and lore.

If you've been looking for a pirate fantasy-romance book, look no further. Soulgazer is the book that you've been waiting for. I have a feeling that this is the book that everyone's going to be talking about this year. Rapier does an absolutely fantastic job of knitting a beautiful tapestry with her words -- there's a gorgeous, interesting world at the base, and a compelling love story between a pirate, and a girl with magic in her veins at the forefront.

I adored this, plain and simple. As soon as I saw the cover for the first time, Soulgazer became a must read for me. I requested an e-ARC on Netgalley with low, low hopes that I would actually get approved. (For some reason Berkley doesn't tend to grant my requests, but THANK YOU SO MUCH BERKLEY.) To my utter shock, I was granted a copy. I pretty much immediately dived in -- and flew through this book. It is so good. So, so good.

Our main character is Saoirse -- a 22 year old young woman who is cursed with the ability to see glimpses of the future. She is stuck in an absolutely horrible life. Her father, the king of her island, despises her because he believes she caused her brother's death. The king keeps her locked away from everyone else, and doesn't allow anyone to touch her. Saoirse hasn't been physically touched by anyone in ages. Her mother allows this, and basically ignores her daughter (while also crying about it.) Saoirse blames herself for everything bad that happens, even though literally none of it is her fault.

We start the book with a holiday? Of sorts. All eligible young men and women are dressed up as animals and dance around an island. I think to find their future spouses? (This part isn't fully explained, but there's enough to guess at what goes on.) Saoirse dresses as a magpie. She participates on the edges of the holiday, and is caught by her father who explains that she is to wed another king -- someone awful. Saoirse is both furious and terrified, and runs away from her father right into the crowd where she meets our MMC -- Faolan.

Faolan is pretty much everyone's dream romantic pirate. He's cocky, handsome, and flirty. His crew loves him. He's got a secret heart of gold. You know, all the great things about romantic pirates. I adored him. I would have read eight million more pages of him flirting with Saoirse, and her getting flustered and frustrated with him. Faolan and Saoirse come up with a plan to get her away from her horrible life, and run away.

Together, they snipe at each other, pick and tease and argue, but all the while they're falling for each other. My personal, favorite kind of romance.

There's magic woven deeply throughout the whole book, along with a quest of sorts. I'm not going to spoil this, because I want you (and everyone else) to read this! I wish this book had been twice as long. I loved Soulgazer so so much, but my one (literally one!) beef with it is the ending. There is nothing in my ARC that says this is the first part of a duology. I had to go look up the author, and even then, I only saw she was working on the second book on her Instagram.

The book ends on a hopeful, but sad note, and THERE IS NOTHING THAT SAYS IT'S GOING TO GET BETTER. I am begging Berkley to add a TO BE CONTINUED or something before this gets sent to be printed or there's going to be a lot of sad readers out there.

Anyway, please, please pick this one up once it comes out. Soulgazer is the pirate romance you've been looking for, I promise.

Wow. Just… wow. This novel was nothing short of exceptional. While I could easily continue gushing, I find myself almost speechless, because, simply put, this story is phenomenal. Soulgazer is the kind of book that stays with you long after you’ve turned the final page—and without a doubt, it has earned a permanent spot on my re-read list.

The characters were richly developed, each one complex and compelling in their own way. The world-building and lore weren’t just fascinating—they felt seamlessly woven into the very fabric of the narrative, creating a universe that was both expansive and deeply immersive. The prose was lyrical and beautiful, with moments of quiet elegance that made every page a pleasure to read. The pacing was flawless, maintaining a steady rhythm that kept me hooked from start to finish. The plot moved quickly enough to hold my attention, yet still allowed the story to unfold at its own pace, giving moments the time they needed to breathe and develop fully.

I’m completely in awe of this remarkable debut. It’s a masterful work, and I can’t wait to see what this author does next.

Please, do yourself a favor and get your hands on Soulgazer the moment it’s available on July 8th—you’re in for an unforgettable treat.

Thank you Berkley, Maggie Rapier, and Netgalley for the chance to read and review Soulgazer ahead of its publication, in exchange for an honest review!

Unfortunately, this book just wasn’t for me. I actually found that the lyrical writing style made it harder for me to get into the story. I also found the connection between the main characters to be a little too insta-lovey at first despite expecting a slow burn.

By no means do I think this was a bad book, I just don’t think I was the right audience. I completely understand why other reviewers enjoyed it.

If there’s one book that proves magic, adventure, and raw emotion can coexist beautifully, it’s Maggie Rapier’s Soulgazer. From the very first page, this story seizes your imagination and sails it straight into uncharted waters, blending myth, romance, and danger into a tale that feels both timeless and utterly original.

At its heart, Soulgazer is the story of Saoirse, a woman cursed not just by magic but by the crushing fear of her own power. Rapier masterfully portrays Saoirse’s internal battle with her volatile magic as a haunting metaphor for self-acceptance and resilience. Her journey to break free from the Stone King’s clutches and find her own destiny is as gripping as it is heart-wrenching.

Enter Faolan, the legendary Wolf of the Wild—a pirate with a silver tongue and a thousand secrets. Their partnership crackles with a perfect blend of mistrust, mutual respect, and undeniable chemistry. The slow burn of their relationship, underscored by Saoirse’s bold decision to marry him for protection, keeps the tension taut and irresistible.

Rapier’s worldbuilding is nothing short of extraordinary. The mythical isle crafted by slaughtered gods feels both ethereal and menacing, its legend interwoven with the story in a way that feels natural and awe-inspiring. The stakes are sky-high, with Saoirse and Faolan pursued by enemies at every turn, but the moments of tenderness and quiet longing between them give the narrative a grounding that makes it feel deeply human.

What truly sets Soulgazer apart, though, is its emotional depth. Rapier writes with a sensitivity that makes you feel every ounce of Saoirse’s fear, courage, and hope. It’s a story of self-discovery as much as it is an adventure. A journey that speaks to the power of vulnerability, trust, and embracing the parts of yourself you once thought unworthy.

This is a book that lingers, one you’ll want to revisit to lose yourself in its rich prose and the unforgettable bond between Saoirse and Faolan. A must-read for lovers of lyrical fantasy, high-stakes romance, and stories that dare to dream of redemption and freedom.

The description of this book, and the beautiful cover art, immediately caught my attention.

Saoirse has ocean eyes and is cursed. Her family fears and hates her for it, believing that through touch Saoirse can cause death. She is hidden away until her father, a king, decides to marry her off to another king. At a gathering of people from the different islands, Saoirse meets one of her favorite heroes, Faolan, the Wolf of the Wild. Faolan has been looking for a lass with ocean eyes. He believes she can lead him to a magical island he is looking for. Saoirse is willing to help him in exchange for help escaping her arranged marriage - if he will marry her. They set off on an epic adventure fraught with danger as they learn about themselves and each other.

Though I ended up really enjoying the story, I struggled to get started, but once I got a couple of chapters in, I could start to make sense of the story. I wish we had a bit more character development of some of the side characters - some seem to be ignored and then pop back up randomly - i.e. you know she has two brothers, but you don't learn anything about Aidan until the last 25% despite her family being mentioned throughout. The mom just seems to disappear in that last 25% even when Saoirse is back home.

I decided to give this 4 stars, because I liked the originality of the story and am interested to see what is next for this author.

Thank you #NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I came for the vibes, and vibes I was seeeerved ✨🌊🏴‍☠️🤎 Imagine the threads of Pirates of the Caribbean, Serpent and Dove, and the first Outlander book but woven into something new!

Sea salt and the crash of waves. Pebbled beaches and coarse sand. Sunburned hands and freckled skin. A soft Irish brogue. Loud, boisterous laughter. Danger flashing in deep blue eyes. The flash of a grin. A soft touch and dark hair. Eyes that change like the ocean. A magpie feather, a fine green coat. Abalone shells and silvery moonlight. White sails unfurling. A pounding heart, a skipped beat. The faintest hint of fangs, a woad ink tattoo. Maps of the world spread across a heavy wooden desk. Treasures and trinkets weighing down the corners. Myths and legends. Gods long forgotten. An endless horizon, an adventure in the making.

A yearning. A hunger.

Riddled with guilt, aching with loneliness. Cursed with power no one understands, and everyone fears. Saoirse has survived this long by making herself smaller.

A storyteller. A dreamer. Someone determined to blaze his own path across the stars. Faolan has made a name for himself as the Wolf of the Wild.

Both desperate for a way out, and for the freedom it offers.

The world will know their names.

✨ Every legend has a beginning ✨

"Let me make a legend of you.”
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For transparency’s sake I will inform you that I am a part of Maggie’s street team tasked with promoting this book. That being said, this is my honest review of her work.
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This story is so beautifully written and lyrical! Maggie has a talent for storytelling and I can’t wait to read every single story she publishes.

Saoirse will be a beloved character that lives on my heart until my final day. Her struggle to find herself and her happiness while carrying such a heavy burden is inspiring… but I do envy her for finding a sexy pirate on her travels.

The girls aren’t ready for Faolan. He is going to be on all the book boyfriend lists 😂 and the fan-art is going to go crazy!

I can’t wait to get my hand on my physical copy, I’m itching to annotate every page. July 2025 can’t come soon enough!

3/5

Soulgazer is an example of a fantasy novel that had all the components of something I was set to love but was slightly bogged down in its execution and the framing of the narrative. It's safe to say I've been waiting ages for more fantasy involving pirates and adventure on the high seas. I have complained loudly and often that what we need is more pirates and we need them now. Maggie Rapier's Soulgazer has pirates, a search for a mythical island, a marriage of convenience, and one woman's journey for control over her deadly powers interwound in one romantic fantasy debut. There's a lot brought into this first installment, some of which were executed more strongly than others. What immediately impressed me about Soulgazer was its glittering prose which mesmerized me right from the very beginning. The waves crashing against the shore, the group of women arrayed like swans, and the hungry energy of the Damsha Babhdóir appeared so vividly in my mind. I was immediately intrigued by Saoirse's perspective and ready to see where this gripping story would take me. In the same way, there were issues such as the exposition via flashbacks at odd intervals and the initial setup which left little room for the narrative to breathe. I would have loved more chapters at the beginning to surmount the worldbuilding needed for the story to really flourish instead of dragging that out for longer than was needed. The romance between Saoirse and Faolan didn't grab me until the last quarter of the book but I enjoyed their reluctant alliance which blossomed into something deeper. Soulgazer sticks the landing with its final act and its inquiry into legends and power. Certainly, a novel that will enchant and delight many and I'm interested to see where it's headed!

Soulgazer is a beautiful debut novel by Maggie Rapier. We're pulled into a world that feels both familiar, yet a folk tale with all its lure and danger unsure quite who to trust. Saoirse and Faolan are lovable, flawed characters along with the rest of the cast. I was wrapped up in their bond and relationship, the secrets they shared and the secrets they keep, and the banter! Faolan will be the new favorite book boyfriend, I swear it. I love that Saoirse is a soft girl trying to find her voice and her way in the world and stumbling as she does, like we all do. Her humanity, weaknesses, softness, and strength are refreshing. Rapier has created a wonderful tale, lyrical and magic. I can't wait to read book two!

I am a fanciful girl, and this book tore my heart out and put it back gently.

It’s not often that a fantasy story has prose written like poetry, and yet Maggie somehow managed not only a beautifully written tale, but an entertaining story that leaves you truly wondering what comes next for our sea-faring friends.

Make no mistake, Saoirse and Faolan aren’t your average soft girl and cocky pirate. They’re dynamic, sometimes frustrating, emotionally real characters that you can’t help but love and root for.

I’ve just finished reading this story and I can still taste the ocean on my tongue (or is that my drying tears to that feckin’ ending??)

A five star read for me!

An absolutely BRILLIANT debut, I cannot stop gushing about this story!!! The characters, the world, the stakes, THE ENDING!!! I mean, every single page of SOULGAZER is just dripping with lush prose & lyrical language that is just jaw droppingly beautiful. I cannot wait to see where Maggie takes this story next.

Soulgazer is an excellent example of how words on paper, spun carefully under the magic of storytelling can mend a wounded heart, rip a new gap in the tissues of a soul and make you feral for a fictional world and its characters.

Soulgazer is so much more than just a pirate romantasy. Labels and tropes do not catch the true essence of this beautifully written story, where we follow Saoirse who learns to spread her wings, accept herself and grow. Her magic is unbelievably clever, the world building is fascinating and the twists of fate and history are so well-layered in the core of the book that when you get to one of the reveals you feel it was evident, yet you didn't expect.
The character growth of both Saoirse and Faolan are so well-developed, the emotional stakes of the plot bringing them closer and closer. I screamed over the swoony scenes, the arguments, the sassy endeavors and banter of theirs! Through and through obsessed with them and I am so glad there will be another book following these two flawed, messy but utterly human souls.

Maggie Rapier's writing is like the box of Pandora: you never know what secret, beauty or magic it will release when you open it, but you can be sure it will captivate you, enchant you and move you in the deepest particles of your soul. Lyrical prose blended with carefully spun metaphors, SOULGAZER will stick long after the last page.

Thank you so much Maggie and Berkley Publishing for the e-galley in exchange for my honest review.

Gorgeous, immersive prose that makes you savor every word while getting so swept into the narrative, you forget you're reading at all, Soulgazer is the perfect romantasy escape.

I fell in love with Saoirse immediately; her vulnerability, her longing for more tamped down by fear of her own power—which made her eventual character arc so achingly satisfying, I couldn't hold back my tears.

As love stories go, Saoirse and Faolan are IT. The banter, the steam, the lengths they'll go to make each other feel seen and loved, were so moving and tender, my heart soared for them.

Soulgazer's high seas adventure, magic and mythos, found family, and beautiful descriptions have made this one a fast favorite, even more special than I knew it would be. I can't wait to return for more in Book 2!

Huge thank you to Maggie and Ace Berkley for the ARC.

Saoirse is a girl who has been cursed her entire life and feels deep responsibility for a tragedy that occurred. Faolan is legendary, a well-known pirate who is intent on finding the girl with ocean eyes to lead him in a quest. When Saoirse is trapped in an unwanted betrothal, escaping with Faolan and his crew is her only hope. Yet Saoirse needs a guarantee of safety, so a marriage of convenience is struck. Faolan and Saoirse explore the connection between them as they adventure across the seas.

I feel incredibly lucky to be on the street team for Soulgazer! Soulgazer is the type of book that captivates your soul while reading it. Maggie Rapier has crafted an atmospheric and transportive tale. Maggie’s writing style is excellent. I was particularly in awe of each opening chapter line and ending line. It made it very hard to put the book down, because I had to find out what happened next! Saoirse goes through intense character growth as she faces the power that she has always believed was a curse. I particularly loved Saoirse’s journey of learning to express anger and gain agency in her own life. Maggie also includes beautiful sensory details that paint a vivid scene. Readers will feel the caress of the wind and the spray of the sea as they read.

Maggie Rapier understands the power of stories and legends, especially what makes a good one. In her adventures with Faolan, Saorise learns what it means to be a legend and must decide whether she wants that for herself. The crew that surrounds Faolan are a delightful crew of found family. I loved when Saoirse became one of their wolf pack! Faolan and Saoirse are crafted with interesting flaws and secrets that slowly unfurl to reveal the desperate bargains they’ve struck. They experience intense chemistry and every touch is filled with tension. Faolan is book boyfriend material, especially for the Captain Hook girlies.

Saoirse and Faolan are characters that will live in your mind long after the final page. The ending is chillingly good, as Saoirse’s choices will absolutely come back to haunt her newfound love with Faolan. I can't wait to see how the story continues!

Readers who enjoy Adrienne Young, Rebecca Ross, and Isabel Ibañez will love Soulgazer.

Thank you to Maggie Rapier, Ace, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

For publisher: My review will be posted on Goodreads, Amazon, Storygraph, and Barnes & Noble etc.