The Girl Who Belonged to the Sea

Enemies to lovers trope is a classic favorite but sometimes hard to pull off. However, this was executed this perfectly!!!!!!!!! I couldn’t put the book down because I was so emotional invested in the main leads relationship. I loved the MC and her ability to not turn into a mute and cower. She spoke up and her feisty attitude made things with Bash so much more fun. The plot was different and refreshing and the author was able to incorporate both romance and fantasy perfectly without one overshadowing the other. The ending though? Can’t say I was expecting that and considering this isn’t a standalone, I’m exciting to see how the story continues. Can’t wait to read more from this author.
I requested this book to review based on the synopsis and I’m so glad I was approved because this is a must read.

I really enjoyed The Girl Who Belonged to the Sea. It’s such an immersive read, and I love the world that Katherine Quinn created. The story has tons of action, adventure, and romance, and the characters are fantastic! I especially like the main characters, Margrete and Bash, as well as Bash’s closest friends.

Margrete’s development and growth over the course of the story are immense. A young woman who has been abused by her father for years, Margrete never expects to find her freedom when kidnapped by a gang of pirates, but that is exactly what happens. Margret had such a terrible life, a life of abuse, pain, and suffering, and she is terribly scarred from her experiences. However, away from the toxicity and evil that is her father, Margrete begins to find herself. She gains strength, surety, and a sense of belonging on her journey, and it is fantastic. Margrete, like Bash, is very selfless, but to see her stand up for herself and to take charge is awesome.

The story is told primarily from Margrete’s point of view, though there are chapters told from Bash’s perspective too. I feel like you really get to understand both characters well with the dual perspectives. Margrete (and the reader) initially sees Bash as a villainous pirate who has kidnapped her for his own nefarious purposes. However, it’s clear fairly early on that he’s much more than that. Bash is so self-sacrificing, and all of his decisions are for the betterment of his people regardless of his needs and desires. He puts a lot of pressure on himself and is desperate to save his kingdom. He deals with a lot of conflicting feelings, and having his perspective humanizes him and shows his thoughts, feelings, motives, and vulnerabilities. It also reveals his feelings about Margrete.

Of course, my favorite part of the book is the romance. It is epically swoon-tastic, and I loved every chemistry-laden minute of it! I love a good enemies-to-lovers, forbidden romance, and the relationship between Margrete and Bash is everything! Their love is described as “a molding of two souls that called out for the other,” and I think that’s the most beautiful and perfect description of Margrete and Bash.

Bash and Margrete have such strong and deep feelings for each other, but there is so much standing in their way. Kidnappings, revenge, her father, vengeful gods, and monsters threaten them at every turn, and they are supposed to be each other’s enemies. Their relationship is angst-filled, a constant push and pull, “will they or won’t they” dynamic, and I love their banter, sexual tension, and chemistry.

I also love the family that Margrete finds in Bash and his closest friends. They are so fun and witty together, and they add interesting dynamics to the story. Margrete has never really known unconditional love and acceptance except with her young sister, and Bash and his friends change that. Margrete becomes more confident and strong, and she sees her own worth more than she ever did before because of this found family. These friends have a lot of respect for each other, and they are extremely loyal. I like that they take Margrete under their wing and show her what it means to belong.

This is a wonderful debut novel from Katherine Quinn. The world-building is layered, unique, and fascinating, and I love the lore and mythology introduced. The imagery and symbolism are also strong, as is the character development. A well-paced and captivating read with mystery, action, and a swoon-tastic romance, The Girl Who Belonged to the Sea will appeal to readers of romantic fantasy. Thanks so much to the author, NetGalley, and City Owl Press for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley for this ARC! This book came as a complete surprise. It was hands down one of my favorite fantasy romances this year. I loved Margrete and her sure-fire attitude. She achieved such character growth by the end of the book. Bash took a while for me to like (mostly because I can’t stand his name). Overall, this enemies to lovers romance was incredibly difficult to put down.

From the moment I picked up the book, I was ensnared and had a difficult time putting it down! The Girl Who Belonged to the Sea is an amazing fantasy story involving gods, magic, a mythical island, a pirate King, and more!! The main character Margrete is raised in an abusive home with a total jerk for a father. Her father plans to wed her to a Count for a unknown advantage. During the wedding ceremony, a group of pirates arrive and kidnap Margrete away. Margrete is taken away by a handsome pirate and quickly learns that everything she thought was a myth or a legend is REAL. This book is definitely some enemies to lovers trope and knife to the throat trope. Thank you to Net Galley for an eARC of this book. I cannot wait to read the rest of this trilogy!