This book was great and truly suspenseful! I enjoyed it, but not as much as I initially expected. I'd rate it 3.75 stars.

The story started wonderfully, capturing my interest. However, I felt a slight dip after a few chapters. Thankfully, the excitement picked up again, and I devoured about 50% or more in just three days. The final 20% was amazing, but it didn't quite maintain the same level of captivating intrigue that kept me turning the pages earlier in the book. Nonetheless, I'm glad I requested it, as I haven't read anything quite like it in a long time. I was particularly curious to learn more about the magic of the sapphire and its origins. I also wished for more pirate action – more ships, battles, travel, and exploration of the world.

I truly loved the relationship between Mae and Ethan, even though I felt their attraction was evident from the start. I admired how they supported, protected, trusted, and loved each other unconditionally. Their character development throughout the story was well-executed. Mae grew more confident and stronger, facing her fears head-on. Ethan, while sometimes a bit negative, was still a compelling character.

The most captivating aspect of the latter part of the book was the evolving relationship between Mae and Miss Rosewood. I was fascinated by how their dynamic shifted from governess and student to one of genuine friendship. I particularly enjoyed Miss Rosewood's character development and her understanding and forgiveness of Mae.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a suspenseful, action-packed romance with beautifully developed relationships and a captivating story!

This suspense filled historical romance set in Victorian England was absolutely enthralling and engaging mystical love story. It had drama, action, intrigue, pirates, a governess, an elite secret society, a magical sapphire, and so many more emotional and supernatural issues that kept me very entertained. I enjoyed how beautifully everything worked out in the end. I highly recommend reading!

Thank you to NetGalley and Dragonblade Publishing for an ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Based on the book's description, I was expecting more about what ended up being the background story: how Mae's family and business fell apart to cause her to be where she is now. I wish the author had included more of that. I think that would have developed the story and characters much more. The description also made it sound like there would be a lot more pirate-related stories and adventures, and there aren't. All the pirates are finished at the point where we start the story.

Overall, I liked Mae as a character. But she was inconsistent, sometimes willing to take a risk without a second thought, and others she was much more subdued. I didn't love the romance part of the book, it was fine. But its timeline was very abrupt and seemed rushed. And the romance itself was very light, more sweet than anything, nothing spicy, which is fine I guess. Also, very light on the fantasy aspect, if you're expecting a whole different realm, adjust your expectations accordingly. It felt more like a historical fiction with a little magic and a little romance.

The pace of the book was difficult for me. There were portions of the middle that dragged, and twists in the story that didn't seem to fit here (maybe it will become more clear as the series continues?). The last 30% of the book is where it picks up and a lot is going on. I think I would have enjoyed the story more if the author could have found a way to weave some of this action into the middle that was sometimes just boring. But factoring in the entirety of the pace, it was too slow for me.

I think if you have the right frame of mind going in, this can be a nice relaxing read, and maybe a more exciting series as future books come out. It just didn't hit the mark for me and I don't think I will continue with the series.

I think this book had the perfect amount of magic for me. It helped keep the book based in reality for me making it believable. ( I know an odd thing to say about magic). Mae was a very empathetic character, she was kept in the dark about the family business and she never really had done anything wrong other than decline proposals she didn’t want, which apparently, is horrendous. Elllsworth discussed and implied sexual violence desire against Mae were unexpected to me but not overly grotesque. My favorite scene was near the end with the heaven or hell question, it felt very raw. This was an adventure story with pirates and a love story just as promised. I am in the middle with my rating between 3 and 4 stars. I’m interested in reading more in this series. Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

honestly, I dont think I know where to start. this book is fine, truly. if you want an historical fantasy romantic romp, please pick it up by all means. there's castles, being chased on a horse, sexual tension in a body of water, a crazy (perhaps magical?) order that is out for payback, and also familial betrayal that leads to our fmc and mmc being thrown together to conquer all the big bad.

but this book (to me) was also confusing? I didn't understand many intentions, why certain characters said/did things and why we were rooting for the main relationship. at times it felt convoluted and written to be, if you get what I mean? like the characters had no agency, except for what the author needed from them to propel the plot forward, which I thought was a shame.

it could be me, truly. I am currently knee-deep in personal shit and exams (a combo from hell) but if I'm honest, I havent completely lost the ability to understand a plot or character arcs. perhaps this wasn't a match made in heaven this time around.

Sapphire Heiress is a closed door historical romance in which the heroine has fallen from high society and ultimately goes on an adventure of a lifetime when a pirate who seems to live forever crosses her path.
It has pirates, forbidden romance, a treasure hunt, and many family secrets. There are twists, betrayals, and a sprinkling of magic!
I definitely recommend this read!

The fantastical pirate element was all good and fun, but I needed more from the romance. More tension, or maybe a little more mystery surrounding the mmc.

Mae is having family and money issues.
Ethan rescues her from a rainstorm in the forest.
There are supernatural elements and magic that has caused Ethan to remain young.
I enjoyed these lightly treated phenomena as the emphasis was on Mae’s strength and character..
The romance between the two of them was also a treat.
Enjoyable and easy reading fun.

This has got to be one of my first historical romances I’ve read thus far and I’m not the one to pick up a book in this genre but as soon as I saw that the FMC is half Filipina I mean how can I say no? It did very much give that pirates of the Caribbean throughout the book.

- Secret society
- Pirate MMC
- Treasure hunting

I’d went into this book thinking it was more of a romance book but it took me more of a surprise that it came to be more of a suspenseful historical with a dash of romance. Action packed for the first parts of the book and a tad of fantasy, the premise of the book was quite whimsical! Locke who is our MMC is a retired pirate who hasn’t aged and is in this journey for this sapphire where Mae falls into the story of this adventure with him. Although me being a hopeless romantic and yearning for more chemistry between Locke and Mae, it was very open and closed type of romance between them. I would love the ending to be extended so I can grasp more of Locke and Mae’s relationship after the journey. But overall I enjoyed Mae as a FMC, her drive and resilience as a whole, it’s what you expect from any other living Filipina!

Thank you Ella, Dragonblade Publishing and Netgalley for this ARC.

This was a beautifully written young adult adventure.
For me, I got Pirates of the Caribbean x Cinderella vibes and it worked!
It’s very low fantasy, with only minimal magical/mystical elements and I would place in more of a historical/adventure genre.

Some of the conversational passages could be a bit unclear as to who was speaking with each line, but easy to figure out eventually.
I found that I didn’t feel much chemistry between the 2 main characters until the last 15% of the book, even though there were mentions of intrigue between them. I think this was because the trust between them took sooooo long to secure. Meant that the relationship felt rushed at the end to me.

But it was a great adventure with some really interesting characters and conflicts! Didn’t know how much a needed a pirate-ish book until this one.

I liked the concept of the story.
However the characters didn’t feel like they had individual personalities and therefore they fell very flat, and their relations to each other felt superficial, which is ultimately why I couldn’t connect to the story.
I think it would’ve been better if it was told from the fmc’s perspective. I think that way, we could’ve gotten deeper into her character-building, and it might have added some mystery to the mmc and I think it would make the story more interesting, trying to figure out what is happening along with her.

I really enjoyed this book! I was expecting more of a mystery and fantasy book but it was very much a historical romance which I surprisingly really liked. This book as well written and was fast paced enough to keep me engaged but not to fast I felt disconnected from the story.

what is delightful story. Even with the best planning, things may not go as smoothly as One would hope. But if it’s meant to be, it will be and that’s how I like the story.

This is a promising start to a new series, featuring a governess and a former pirate. The fact that he spent about 30 years not aging adds to the magical quality of the story. I will say that the beginning scenes when Mae meets the mysterious man in the forbidden woods was very well done. That's the time they are tip toeing around each other, trying to figure out each other's lies and truths.

Thank you to netgalley for the ARC. Opinions are my own.

Thank you, Dragonblade Publishing and NetGalley, for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I’m not a big historical romance reader, but this one promised a bit of fantasy and a half-Filipino lead, so I was hooked by the premise.

Mae is a governess formerly from high society England. A chance encounter leads her to meet Ethan Locke, a pirate with a connection to her past. Together, they embark on a journey to find her family’s old fortune. Among this treasure is a magical sapphire that a secret society has its eyes on. Their adventure is filled with mysteries, intrigue, and plenty of yearning.

I enjoyed the beginning, but the middle faltered a bit while the ending picked up the stakes again. There were a couple of plot points that seemed unnecessarily dragged out, but it shines when it finds its footing again. I really like how the author weaved in some diversity into the story and it was a breath of fresh air to read. I’m intrigued enough in the world that’s been built to read more about it in future installments.

The romance is so sweet but a little bland at times. It’s a closed-door romance, so I wasn’t expecting anything spicy, but I would have enjoyed a bit more sweetness in the middle of the book where the plot kind of faltered for a bit. I loved reading Mae’s POVs, and she was a great lead in this novel. Locke was a bit underwhelming, but I think I just wanted a bit more of an adventurous spirit from a pirate. Since he’s a self-described retired pirate, he comes off a little boring.

3.5 ⭐️ rounding up!

This was a strong start to the Silver Order series, it had that historical fiction element that I was looking for and enjoyed about this type of book. The characters had that overall concept that I wanted and enjoyed getting into this world. I was hooked from the first page and was glad everything worked together to tell the story. I'm excited for more in this series and from Ella Leon.

3.5 rounding up! I went into this thinking it was going to be heavy on fantasy, but it's more historical romance with mystery and fantasy elements. I was pleasantly surprised!

Mae was left on her own after her brother died (their parents passed away previously) and her family's shipbuilding business fails (she trusted a business manager, as she didn't have the knowledge to run the business herself. When she sells the family property, she remains as the governess of the two daughters, one of whom is old enough to enter society.

One evening, Mae's meets a mysterious man in the woods and in intrigued by him. This man, Locke, is a retired pirate who had been wearing a magic gem that kept him from aging and a possessed an elixir that healed him when injured. It turns out that Locke was a contemporary of Mae's father and he's 58 years old, though hasn't aged since he was 30. He's seeking a treasure Mae's father may have hidden at the house.

Two other men are part of the cast. One is definitely a villain, but the other's allegiance is vague. He knows Locke and seems to work with him, but Locke also doesn't seem to want to work with him. Yes, it's a little confusing, but you will root for Mae from start to finish. Her life went from sheltered and happy to complicated very quickly, but she roles with the punches. She has all this knowledge that keeps the three male characters in check at times and that’s pretty satisfying!

I believe the setting is the Victorian era, as there are horses and carriages, but also a train. I think I wish the setting was a little more defined, but that's my inner history nerd. In addition, aside from the mention of Bristol and other countries that Mae's parents and Locke visited, I didn't get a firm idea of where Mae's and Locke's homes were. There's a point when they are at a third home, but Mae doesn’t know how she got there. They take a train back to Mae's home from there, so things come full-circle.

This was an interesting story, but I think it's one that might be even better upon a second read, which I'll be doing when the second book in the series comes out.

As soon as I saw the Deal for this book in publishers marketplace I knew I had to read it right away. I love high stakes historic romance and I love magic within historical romance, and this book did not disappoint. You can tell the author lovingly integrated historical details, and the writing was gorgeously, lushly atmospheric and fast paced. Also, surprisingly, hauntingly gothic in a way I definitely didn't expect but appreciated. The mystery of the sapphire kept me hooked and turning the pages long past when I should have gone to sleep.

More historical romance novels should put names on their chapters!

I would classify this one as sweet, not spicy.

Tropes
- Governess FMC
- Pirate MMC
- Excellent banter
- Secret society
- Treasure hunters
- Meet in a storm
- Caught wandering the house at night
- Magic healing
- Secret messages
- Revenge quest

Loved reading the mesmerizing and entertaining romance story. Ethan Locke, a pirate, needs to find the sapphire that was stolen from him and return it to Pierce, a member of the Silver Order, but Locke makes a deal with a ruthless man, Ellsworth, for the governess, Mae, to aide them in retrieving Mae's hidden family fortune. Read the highly recommended, wonderfully written, and a must read riveting love story.

I received an ARC of this book and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

I went into this book thinking high seas and treasure. That was not accurate. Don’t get me wrong the story was good but I was very incorrect in the assumption that pirates meant sailing. It doesn’t. The whole story takes place after the pirates retire, so it’s all on land.

The beginning was okay, the middle dragged really badly but the ending made up for it. Was there some odd story lines sure, was the love a little fast yes. The love scene is closed door which surprised me (again my fault for assuming but with the cover I assumed it was a bodice ripper romance.)

Locke is a retired pirate. He’s 60 something years old in a 30 year old body. He stole a gem and it made him stop aging. The person he stole it from is after him so he needs to find the gem, which was stolen by his rival several years ago. The rival is dead so the key to finding the Sapphire is her. So onward they go on a merry chase from evil doers to try and find the treasure.

The ending was great with lots of action. I do think we need a little more in the middle but all in all a decent, easy read.

Thank you NetGalley and Dragonblade Publishing for the ARC.