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Captain Kit Brightling #2
A Swift and Savage Tide
Chloe Neill's bold, seafaring heroine Captain Kit Brightling sets sail for high seas and high sorcery in this swashbuckling fantasy series.
Captain Kit Brightling is Aligned to the magic of the sea, which makes her an invaluable asset to the Saxon Isles and its monarch, Queen Charlotte. The Isles and its allies will need every advantage they can get: Gerard Rousseau, the former Gallic emperor and scourge of the Continent, has escaped his island prison to renew his quest for control of the Continent.
Gerard has no qualms about using dangerous magic to support his ambitions, so Kit and the crew of her ship, the Diana, are the natural choice to find him—and help stop him. Sparks fly when Kit's path unexpectedly crosses with that of the dashing and handsome Rian Grant, Viscount Queenscliffe, who's working undercover on the Continent in his own efforts to stop Gerard. But he's not the only person Kit is surprised to see. An old enemy has arisen, and the power he'll wield on Gerard's behalf is beautiful and terrible. Sparks will fly and sails will flutter as Kit and crew are cast onto the seas of adventure to fight for queen and country.
Captain Kit Brightling is Aligned to the magic of the sea, which makes her an invaluable asset to the Saxon Isles and its monarch, Queen Charlotte. The Isles and its allies will need every advantage they can get: Gerard Rousseau, the former Gallic emperor and scourge of the Continent, has escaped his island prison to renew his quest for control of the Continent.
Gerard has no qualms about using dangerous magic to support his ambitions, so Kit and the crew of her ship, the Diana, are the natural choice to find him—and help stop him. Sparks fly when Kit's path unexpectedly crosses with that of the dashing and handsome Rian Grant, Viscount Queenscliffe, who's working undercover on the Continent in his own efforts to stop Gerard. But he's not the only person Kit is surprised to see. An old enemy has arisen, and the power he'll wield on Gerard's behalf is beautiful and terrible. Sparks will fly and sails will flutter as Kit and crew are cast onto the seas of adventure to fight for queen and country.
Audio CD
First published November 30, 2021
41 people are currently reading
875 people want to read
About the author
Chloe Neill
65 books10.1k followersChloe Neill is the New York Times bestselling author of the Heirs of Chicagoland, Chicagoland Vampires Novels, Devil's Isle Novels, and Dark Elite novels. Chloe was born and raised in the South, but now makes her home in the Midwest. When she's not writing, she bakes, works, and scours the Internet for good recipes and great graphic design. Chloe also maintains her sanity by spending time with her boys--her husband and their dogs, Baxter and Scout.
Connect with Chloe at www.chloeneill.com.
Connect with Chloe at www.chloeneill.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 139 reviews
November 30, 2021
Last year I read The Bright and Breaking Sea and then listened to the audiobook. This year I had the pleasure of listening as I read along. The story takes place in an alternate version of 1800s Europe during the Napoleonic war. While book one spent time on world building, such was not the case in A Swift and Savage Tide. We spent more time at sea with battles as Kit aligned with the sea. Prepare for battles, magic and sea dragons! Yes, sea dragons!
Twenty-four-year-old Captain Kit Brightling is aligned to the magic of the sea and in service to the Saxon Isles and its monarch, Queen Charlotte. Gerard Rousseau, the former Gallic emperor, has escaped his island prison and is gathering forces to gain control of the Continent. Kit and the crew of the Diana set sail to find out where he has docked his ship and inform the Navy fleet.
I loved time aboard the ship and was delighted when Kit and the crew crossed-paths with Rian Grant, Viscount Queenscliffe. Grant is working undercover on the Continent in his own efforts to stop Gerard. Magic, epic battles, injuries and discoveries made for an entertaining tale.
I love the magical system, and world Neill has created. She fleshed out the world in book one from the Brightling House for foundlings and Kit’s sisters to the Queen and the conflicts over power. It is rich, and well-plotted, which allowed this second book to enrich the characters and increase the action and pacing.
The slow-burning romance heated up and I love the chemistry and banter between the two. Things happened that have me excited to see more develops in the romance department. I am truly hoping for a happily ever after where Kit gets everything she desires.
I am most curious about some threads, including a fortune-teller and a group of pirates. All added to the tale and have me wishing we didn’t have to wait a year for the next installment.
Danielle Cohen offered a masterful narration and the book and audio match closely. The author’s writing lends itself perfectly to audio and Cohen brought Kit, Grant and the secondary characters to life on the high seas.
The series is perfect for fans of alternate histories, magic and fantasy with a dash of romance. I love Neill’s twist on this time period and dare I say she has me wishing for adventures at sea. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
Twenty-four-year-old Captain Kit Brightling is aligned to the magic of the sea and in service to the Saxon Isles and its monarch, Queen Charlotte. Gerard Rousseau, the former Gallic emperor, has escaped his island prison and is gathering forces to gain control of the Continent. Kit and the crew of the Diana set sail to find out where he has docked his ship and inform the Navy fleet.
I loved time aboard the ship and was delighted when Kit and the crew crossed-paths with Rian Grant, Viscount Queenscliffe. Grant is working undercover on the Continent in his own efforts to stop Gerard. Magic, epic battles, injuries and discoveries made for an entertaining tale.
I love the magical system, and world Neill has created. She fleshed out the world in book one from the Brightling House for foundlings and Kit’s sisters to the Queen and the conflicts over power. It is rich, and well-plotted, which allowed this second book to enrich the characters and increase the action and pacing.
The slow-burning romance heated up and I love the chemistry and banter between the two. Things happened that have me excited to see more develops in the romance department. I am truly hoping for a happily ever after where Kit gets everything she desires.
I am most curious about some threads, including a fortune-teller and a group of pirates. All added to the tale and have me wishing we didn’t have to wait a year for the next installment.
Danielle Cohen offered a masterful narration and the book and audio match closely. The author’s writing lends itself perfectly to audio and Cohen brought Kit, Grant and the secondary characters to life on the high seas.
The series is perfect for fans of alternate histories, magic and fantasy with a dash of romance. I love Neill’s twist on this time period and dare I say she has me wishing for adventures at sea. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
August 10, 2022
A total riot! Just as good as the first book. It has a terse and sometimes awkward romance, a villain like Napoleon, more magic, sea dragons, and more! You cannot go wrong with Kit at the helm of the novel.
If you haven’t read book 1 yet then you’ll want to start there. Don’t worry you’ll be done it and onto this, book two, in no time; and find yourself (like me) waiting impatiently for more!
If you haven’t read book 1 yet then you’ll want to start there. Don’t worry you’ll be done it and onto this, book two, in no time; and find yourself (like me) waiting impatiently for more!
December 22, 2021
5 Stars
*A fabulous adventure full of magic, sea battles, and swoon-worthy romance*
A Swift and Savage Tide was one of my most anticipated reads of the year. I read the first book in the series, The Bright and Breaking Sea, at the beginning of the year and was absolutely over-the-moon with how much I enjoyed this magical alternate to the Napoleonic Wars staring the fierce and sassy Captain Kit Brightling. So A Swift and Savage Tide immediately became one of my most anticipated releases of 2021.
After months of impatiently waiting for this book to come out, I was absolutely in the mood for some swashbuckling adventure. Ok, I’m always in the mood for swashbuckling adventure for adults, but there are shockingly few good books that meet that standard. And even less with awesome female lead characters. So when I find one, it fills me with all kinds of nerdy joy. Give me daring heroines fighting evil with swords and magic alike any day!
The storyline in the sequel was a continuation of the bigger plot. There were continuations of things from the first book as well as some new threads introduced. I won’t go into detail to avoid spoilers, but the story was fast-paced and lively. I absolutely loved getting to go on another adventure with Kit Brightling and her crew. And there was still plenty of witty banter, another thing that makes me giddy.
This story has more romance than the first book, but I was totally on board with that. But there was plenty of action and excitement if the swoony bits aren’t your thing. The espionage and the naval warfare combined with the fast pacing, made this book way too easy to read through in a day. If that pesky thing called adulting hadn’t gotten in the way, then I could have easily read this in one sitting, because I was not bored for even a single moment.
The only thing that I was disappointed in was that the Brightling family wasn't in this story. My main request after reading The Bright and Breaking Sea was that the Brightlings feature more in the sequel. But not only did I not get more, the rest of the Brightling family wasn't even in A Swift and Savage Tide At All! So I had to sulk about that. Honestly, I'm just whining a bit. It didn't stop me from loving this book. But this time I really mean it: there had better be more Brightlings in the next book!
Please, please let there be more books in this series! I’ve got to have more!! (If I may be so bold.)
RATING FACTORS:
Ease of Reading: 5 Stars
Writing Style: 5 Stars
Characters and Character Development: 5 Stars
Plot Structure and Development: 5 Stars
Level of Captivation: 5 Stars
Originality: 4 Stars
*A fabulous adventure full of magic, sea battles, and swoon-worthy romance*
A Swift and Savage Tide was one of my most anticipated reads of the year. I read the first book in the series, The Bright and Breaking Sea, at the beginning of the year and was absolutely over-the-moon with how much I enjoyed this magical alternate to the Napoleonic Wars staring the fierce and sassy Captain Kit Brightling. So A Swift and Savage Tide immediately became one of my most anticipated releases of 2021.
After months of impatiently waiting for this book to come out, I was absolutely in the mood for some swashbuckling adventure. Ok, I’m always in the mood for swashbuckling adventure for adults, but there are shockingly few good books that meet that standard. And even less with awesome female lead characters. So when I find one, it fills me with all kinds of nerdy joy. Give me daring heroines fighting evil with swords and magic alike any day!
The storyline in the sequel was a continuation of the bigger plot. There were continuations of things from the first book as well as some new threads introduced. I won’t go into detail to avoid spoilers, but the story was fast-paced and lively. I absolutely loved getting to go on another adventure with Kit Brightling and her crew. And there was still plenty of witty banter, another thing that makes me giddy.
This story has more romance than the first book, but I was totally on board with that. But there was plenty of action and excitement if the swoony bits aren’t your thing. The espionage and the naval warfare combined with the fast pacing, made this book way too easy to read through in a day. If that pesky thing called adulting hadn’t gotten in the way, then I could have easily read this in one sitting, because I was not bored for even a single moment.
The only thing that I was disappointed in was that the Brightling family wasn't in this story. My main request after reading The Bright and Breaking Sea was that the Brightlings feature more in the sequel. But not only did I not get more, the rest of the Brightling family wasn't even in A Swift and Savage Tide At All! So I had to sulk about that. Honestly, I'm just whining a bit. It didn't stop me from loving this book. But this time I really mean it: there had better be more Brightlings in the next book!
Please, please let there be more books in this series! I’ve got to have more!! (If I may be so bold.)
RATING FACTORS:
Ease of Reading: 5 Stars
Writing Style: 5 Stars
Characters and Character Development: 5 Stars
Plot Structure and Development: 5 Stars
Level of Captivation: 5 Stars
Originality: 4 Stars
August 31, 2022
4.5
A fabulous adventure with all the necessary ingredients to captivate you and leave you wanting more, from this meeting between fantasy and history that is impeccably achieved.
Simply a delight.
The narration is absolutely perfect.
Can I have a third installment please?
A fabulous adventure with all the necessary ingredients to captivate you and leave you wanting more, from this meeting between fantasy and history that is impeccably achieved.
Simply a delight.
The narration is absolutely perfect.
Can I have a third installment please?
November 17, 2021
Thank you Berkley and NetGalley for giving me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
If you are in search of a high seas adventure with magic, nefarious and calculating enemies, budding romance, and adventure, this is a must-read series.
I read the first book, The Bright and Breaking Sea, last year and was absolutely enthralled not wanting it to end. There is always a risk that a second book will not live up to the first but that is not the case with this sequel. It was just as unputdownable as the first and I read it in one sitting that I felt it was over too soon. I could stay in this world for ages.
Neill is able to continuing escalating the stakes while maintaining the underlying tension of a world on the cusp of changing forever. She does a masterful job of bringing in world building elements right when they are needed in such a natural way that it feels like those details were always known. I love how this world keeps unfolding and discovering new pieces to the puzzle of an epic battle that is sure to come.
Not only is the world building and magic system fascinating, the characters are top tier. Kit quickly became one of my favourite heroines in the first book and her dynamic with Rian is so well balanced that I just can’t get enough of scenes that they share. With the introduction of an added enemy and war on the horizon, Neill has no issues with creating a compelling and layered story and characters.
The only thing I am upset about after finishing this book is that I will have to wait another year for book 3!
For reviews and more, check out my blog www.TheEnchantedLibrary.org
If you are in search of a high seas adventure with magic, nefarious and calculating enemies, budding romance, and adventure, this is a must-read series.
I read the first book, The Bright and Breaking Sea, last year and was absolutely enthralled not wanting it to end. There is always a risk that a second book will not live up to the first but that is not the case with this sequel. It was just as unputdownable as the first and I read it in one sitting that I felt it was over too soon. I could stay in this world for ages.
Neill is able to continuing escalating the stakes while maintaining the underlying tension of a world on the cusp of changing forever. She does a masterful job of bringing in world building elements right when they are needed in such a natural way that it feels like those details were always known. I love how this world keeps unfolding and discovering new pieces to the puzzle of an epic battle that is sure to come.
Not only is the world building and magic system fascinating, the characters are top tier. Kit quickly became one of my favourite heroines in the first book and her dynamic with Rian is so well balanced that I just can’t get enough of scenes that they share. With the introduction of an added enemy and war on the horizon, Neill has no issues with creating a compelling and layered story and characters.
The only thing I am upset about after finishing this book is that I will have to wait another year for book 3!
For reviews and more, check out my blog www.TheEnchantedLibrary.org
December 30, 2021
As a massive fan of both Chloe Neill and Captain Kit Brightling, I am extremely excited about the second novel in this series. A Swift and Savage Tide brings readers back to a fantastical world where our beloved Captain is one of the few people around to save the day. And I, for one, cannot wait to see where her journey takes us.
Captain Kit Brightling and her crew have been sent on a mission to track down Gerard Rousseau and his allies. It is a dangerous task, but her fast ship, Diana, and her competent crew give them better odds than most.
While on her mission, she unexpectedly bumps into Rian Grant. Together they must team up, discover Gerard's insidious plan, and save the day. Who knows, if they have the time, perhaps they'll continue falling for one another.
“At twenty-four, Kit understood the ways of romance, and she wasn’t one to pine over a man. Certainly not a viscount.”
Captain Kit Brightling is the best combination of favorite elements: fantasy, piracy, and romance (plus many other details that I almost certainly forget to mention). Thus you can imagine my joy when I laid my hands on the latest novel, A Swift and Savage Tide.
Hopping back onboard Kit's ship, Diana, was such a delight. Her crew is determined and loyal, and I feel like we really got a chance to get to know a few of them in this novel. More than that, we got to learn even more about Kit, her adventures, and the task at hand.
Let us not forget Rian Grant, who plays a pivotal role in this novel. He is likewise dealing with Gerard and the enemy, and I love how that brought these two back together again. I know I can't be the only one thrilled about that – as they are the perfect pair to ship (pun intended).
The slow-burning romance is the perfect balance to an intense and sometimes outright dangerous plot. It's hard to ignore the magical threat that looms on the horizon, though at times, one might like to try and forget all of that.
I honestly really do love Kit's humor and all of the char that seems to seep from these pages. It has quickly become one of my favorite series - something I look forward to. Given the state of the world, I think that is something we could all use right about now.
Thanks again, Chloe Neill, for creating such a captivating series. I love Kit Brightling and very much look forward to seeing what adventure (read: mess) she gets into next time!
Thanks to Berkley and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Read more reviews over at Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks
Captain Kit Brightling and her crew have been sent on a mission to track down Gerard Rousseau and his allies. It is a dangerous task, but her fast ship, Diana, and her competent crew give them better odds than most.
While on her mission, she unexpectedly bumps into Rian Grant. Together they must team up, discover Gerard's insidious plan, and save the day. Who knows, if they have the time, perhaps they'll continue falling for one another.
“At twenty-four, Kit understood the ways of romance, and she wasn’t one to pine over a man. Certainly not a viscount.”
Captain Kit Brightling is the best combination of favorite elements: fantasy, piracy, and romance (plus many other details that I almost certainly forget to mention). Thus you can imagine my joy when I laid my hands on the latest novel, A Swift and Savage Tide.
Hopping back onboard Kit's ship, Diana, was such a delight. Her crew is determined and loyal, and I feel like we really got a chance to get to know a few of them in this novel. More than that, we got to learn even more about Kit, her adventures, and the task at hand.
Let us not forget Rian Grant, who plays a pivotal role in this novel. He is likewise dealing with Gerard and the enemy, and I love how that brought these two back together again. I know I can't be the only one thrilled about that – as they are the perfect pair to ship (pun intended).
The slow-burning romance is the perfect balance to an intense and sometimes outright dangerous plot. It's hard to ignore the magical threat that looms on the horizon, though at times, one might like to try and forget all of that.
I honestly really do love Kit's humor and all of the char that seems to seep from these pages. It has quickly become one of my favorite series - something I look forward to. Given the state of the world, I think that is something we could all use right about now.
Thanks again, Chloe Neill, for creating such a captivating series. I love Kit Brightling and very much look forward to seeing what adventure (read: mess) she gets into next time!
Thanks to Berkley and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Read more reviews over at Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks
June 16, 2024
Not quite as good as the first book but still a delightful ride. Things are taking a very promising turn for Kit and Rian. I’m bummed the publisher canceled the series and we won’t get a book 3. Especially after that twist toward the end!
Characters: Kit is a 24 year old white military sea captain and Aligned with water. Rian is a 28 year old white colonel and Viscount. He has a dog named Sprout. Kit and Rian are members of the Order of Saint James. This is set in 1815.
Content notes: nightmares, PTSD, past and present imperialist war, mass casualties, murder, physical assault, imprisonment, abuse of prisoner (secondary character), ship attack, arson, abduction, pirates, stranded on deserted island, earthshocks, Scarred Villain trope, lacerations, gunshot wound (secondary character), skin burns (secondary character), vomit, misogyny, sexism, classism, injured sea dragon, gambling, secondary character’s father tried to marry her off at 13 to an old man (she escaped), past death of MMC’s parents, FMC was a foundling left at the palace (raised in great group home), on page sex, alcohol, inebriation, gendered pejoratives, gender essentialist language, ableist language, hyperbolic language around suicide
Characters: Kit is a 24 year old white military sea captain and Aligned with water. Rian is a 28 year old white colonel and Viscount. He has a dog named Sprout. Kit and Rian are members of the Order of Saint James. This is set in 1815.
Content notes: nightmares, PTSD, past and present imperialist war, mass casualties, murder, physical assault, imprisonment, abuse of prisoner (secondary character), ship attack, arson, abduction, pirates, stranded on deserted island, earthshocks, Scarred Villain trope, lacerations, gunshot wound (secondary character), skin burns (secondary character), vomit, misogyny, sexism, classism, injured sea dragon, gambling, secondary character’s father tried to marry her off at 13 to an old man (she escaped), past death of MMC’s parents, FMC was a foundling left at the palace (raised in great group home), on page sex, alcohol, inebriation, gendered pejoratives, gender essentialist language, ableist language, hyperbolic language around suicide
November 12, 2021
*Source* Publisher
*Genre* Fantasy / Historical
*Rating* 4.0
*Thoughts*
A Swift and Savage Tide is the second installment in author Chloe Neill's Captain Kit Brightling series. Kit Brightling sails through treacherous waters and magical mayhem in this seafaring historical adventure reminiscent of the Napoleon conflicts. Captain Kit Brightling is a member of the Queen’s Own Guards and with Colonel Rian Grant, Viscount of Queenscliffe, a new inductee into the Order of Saint James. Previously, Kit and Grant uncovered a plot by Gerard Rousseau to employ a magical warship and regain his power he lost when he was dethroned.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
*Genre* Fantasy / Historical
*Rating* 4.0
*Thoughts*
A Swift and Savage Tide is the second installment in author Chloe Neill's Captain Kit Brightling series. Kit Brightling sails through treacherous waters and magical mayhem in this seafaring historical adventure reminiscent of the Napoleon conflicts. Captain Kit Brightling is a member of the Queen’s Own Guards and with Colonel Rian Grant, Viscount of Queenscliffe, a new inductee into the Order of Saint James. Previously, Kit and Grant uncovered a plot by Gerard Rousseau to employ a magical warship and regain his power he lost when he was dethroned.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
June 10, 2024
A great sequel! More adventure, a little more romance and the return of Donal the Pirate King! What I would love though is more books in this series. There is definitely room for Kit further developing her power and what does Gerard actually get up to? Who really is Donal? And can Kit make marriage to a viscount work. What about Louisa? And I'm always here for more Jin! Please Chloe Neill, write some more!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 29, 2023
I FREAKING loved this. If you enjoyed the first, you'll enjoy this one.
December 13, 2021
Loved reading this book, it was a fantastic sequel, and loved everything that happened, and I need a book 3!
January 23, 2022
This was honestly a great way to start off my reading for the year.
I’m always here for historical fantasy - it’s actually just occurring to me that I think it’s one of my favourite genres, so there’s that - and this one is gearing up to be a solid series.
This here is a seafaring novel adventure with pirates and sea dragons and epic naval battles and I came into it knowing it was going to be satisfying on that front. But then I even enjoyed the short jaunt on land we had with the brief incarceration and subsequent interrogation and the Islish spies and the Duke of Raleigh and the ball and holy run-on sentences I’m getting way too hyped up about this. What I’m trying to get at is that from a plot perspective, this was aces.
There’s something about action scenes set on a ship coupled with elemental magic that is just such a recipe for success for me. They are truly my favourite aspects of this novel. The action scenes, specifically the naval ones, have very vivid descriptions that really just capture the essence of a seafaring adventure in every possible way. And the sea dragons and the cannon fire and the elemental magic on top of all of that just meshes wonderfully.
It bothers me a bit that we don’t have a complete picture of the magic and the magic system but it works so well because nobody really has a good grasp on it in the world that Neill has created. So like, it’s frustrating, but it’s a mutual frustration between me and Kit Brightling which helps soften that blow and the sour taste left in my mouth by said agitation.
I like the romance, I ship me some Captain-Viscount HEA, but I don’t like exactly how quickly the romance has progressed in this volume of the series. A couple make-out sessions and an island fling do not a marriage foundation make, but I understand from the historical angle. I just want more simmer at this point, because I really wanna milk that shake for all it’s worth. There was not nearly enough tension to build upon and its absence was felt immeasurably.
I also wish we got to see more of Kit’s sisters.
And felt that the ending was rather anticlimactic despite the cliffhanger.
And could we dig a little deeper from a characterization standpoint? Yes.
But for a plot driven story, it is top notch. And I quite enjoy the cast of characters, despite not knowing them in any sort of intimate way.
I love nautical stories. And I really do think this series is a grand one. I will 100% be picking up the sequel. And if I can help it, it’ll be the first read of 2023 for me, because I’ve got a good thing going with Chloe Neill and Kit Brightling and I don’t want ruin it.
I’m always here for historical fantasy - it’s actually just occurring to me that I think it’s one of my favourite genres, so there’s that - and this one is gearing up to be a solid series.
This here is a seafaring novel adventure with pirates and sea dragons and epic naval battles and I came into it knowing it was going to be satisfying on that front. But then I even enjoyed the short jaunt on land we had with the brief incarceration and subsequent interrogation and the Islish spies and the Duke of Raleigh and the ball and holy run-on sentences I’m getting way too hyped up about this. What I’m trying to get at is that from a plot perspective, this was aces.
There’s something about action scenes set on a ship coupled with elemental magic that is just such a recipe for success for me. They are truly my favourite aspects of this novel. The action scenes, specifically the naval ones, have very vivid descriptions that really just capture the essence of a seafaring adventure in every possible way. And the sea dragons and the cannon fire and the elemental magic on top of all of that just meshes wonderfully.
It bothers me a bit that we don’t have a complete picture of the magic and the magic system but it works so well because nobody really has a good grasp on it in the world that Neill has created. So like, it’s frustrating, but it’s a mutual frustration between me and Kit Brightling which helps soften that blow and the sour taste left in my mouth by said agitation.
I like the romance, I ship me some Captain-Viscount HEA, but I don’t like exactly how quickly the romance has progressed in this volume of the series. A couple make-out sessions and an island fling do not a marriage foundation make, but I understand from the historical angle. I just want more simmer at this point, because I really wanna milk that shake for all it’s worth. There was not nearly enough tension to build upon and its absence was felt immeasurably.
I also wish we got to see more of Kit’s sisters.
And felt that the ending was rather anticlimactic despite the cliffhanger.
And could we dig a little deeper from a characterization standpoint? Yes.
But for a plot driven story, it is top notch. And I quite enjoy the cast of characters, despite not knowing them in any sort of intimate way.
I love nautical stories. And I really do think this series is a grand one. I will 100% be picking up the sequel. And if I can help it, it’ll be the first read of 2023 for me, because I’ve got a good thing going with Chloe Neill and Kit Brightling and I don’t want ruin it.
November 24, 2021
Check out our full post for A SWIFT AND SAVAGE TIDE on Wicked Reads.
Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team
Sarah – ☆☆☆☆
I’m completely addicted to Captain Kit Brightling and her adventures on the high seas. If Kit was finding her feet in the first book, this time she’s fierce, confident, and capable from the start. I love the slightly fantastical Regency setting and the fabulously reimagined Europe in this series.
As Kit grows in confidence, so does her ability to use and channel her magical ability. I love the evolution of her skill as she works to keep herself, her crew – and sometimes even her enemies – safe. Alongside the magic in this book is a little bit of espionage, a dastardly pirate, and some battles on the ocean. The story is as exciting as it is original and I loved every moment of it.
As far as romance goes, this second book sees the return of Rian, who once again joins Kit on her adventures. The sexual tension between these two is real and I love that Kit meets Rian head on as an equal. Her refusal to compromise for a man is wonderful – as is her uncanny ability to save Rian’s life.
Reviewers received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.
December 9, 2021
I was caught up by the gripping action, the colorful characters, and it was nail-biting all through to the end.
Gerard Rousseau has escaped from his island prison to resume his plans to dominate the continent. Captain Kit Brightling and the intrepid crew of the Diana are hot on his tail. Kit runs into some trouble when she spots her old nemesis, La Boucher, apparently risen from the dead. The handsome Rian Grant comes to the rescue and the two of them team up to hunt down the renewed threat.
Kit learned more about her alignment and how to use it. She was thrown into a lot of situations where she had to change her view about things. We also get a small glimpse into Kit’s past, where she might be from. It was great to see Kit grow and discover more about herself, with Grant the solid rock to support her. And Kit and Grant were just so adorable together.
This story has the same vivid descriptions and excellent character development that made the first book stand out for me. The action was more focused this time and it was more intense because of that.
To me this is a sort of amalgamation of the Regency era in England, steam punk, and magic. It’s best to start with the first book in the Captain Kit Brightling series, The Bright and Breaking Sea. That’s where all the world building takes place, and we are introduced to the Captain, her crew, Grant, and their enemies.
I can definitely recommend this series if you’re interested in fantasy, romance, and excitement. I couldn’t put it down and I sure hope there’s more to come.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
November 6, 2021
I was given a copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.
I’m completely addicted to Captain Kit Brightling and her adventures on the high seas. If Kit was finding her feet in the first book, this time she’s fierce, confident and capable from the start. I love the slightly fantastical Regency setting and the fabulously reimagined Europe in this series.
As Kit grows in confidence, so does her ability to use and channel her magical ability. I love the evolution of her skill as she works to keep herself, her crew - and sometimes even her enemies safe. Alongside the magic in this book is a little bit of espionage, a dastardly pirate and some battles on the ocean. The story is as exciting as it is original and I loved every moment of it.
As far as romance goes, this second book sees the return of Rian, who once again joins Kit on her adventures. The sexual tension between these two is real and I love that Kit meets Rian head on as an equal. Her refusal to compromise for a man is wonderful - as her uncanny ability to save Rian’s life.
I’m completely addicted to Captain Kit Brightling and her adventures on the high seas. If Kit was finding her feet in the first book, this time she’s fierce, confident and capable from the start. I love the slightly fantastical Regency setting and the fabulously reimagined Europe in this series.
As Kit grows in confidence, so does her ability to use and channel her magical ability. I love the evolution of her skill as she works to keep herself, her crew - and sometimes even her enemies safe. Alongside the magic in this book is a little bit of espionage, a dastardly pirate and some battles on the ocean. The story is as exciting as it is original and I loved every moment of it.
As far as romance goes, this second book sees the return of Rian, who once again joins Kit on her adventures. The sexual tension between these two is real and I love that Kit meets Rian head on as an equal. Her refusal to compromise for a man is wonderful - as her uncanny ability to save Rian’s life.
November 23, 2021
This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart
Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The Captain Kit Brightling series took me by surprise initially with The Bright and Breaking Sea last year. I loved the historical feeling fantasy world set with a navy and island kingdoms. There definitely was a strong class system with a misogynistic bent. Yet Kit is talented enough she succeeded and got her own ship to command. There was a depth in building of her character, her family members, her work for the Queen and her co-workers. We only learned a bit about the magic system and some enemies of the crown.
In A Swift and Savage Tide, there is much less world and character building overall. Most of the time is spent at sea, fighting battles and collecting intelligence. The enemies are trying to rebuild with a new plan. There is plenty of action and danger. Kit and her crew, as well as Grant, are all very skilled but there is still much danger. There are a few additional layers to the story besides this main task, including a fortune-teller and pirates.
Kit does use her magic from being aligned to water more. She also starts to learn more about it. Magic is illegal because of the huge destruction caused in the previous war. But with a new war, they need all the tools available. Kit tries to learn more from others and also works with it a bit herself as she can.
Another exciting thread is the personal relationship devloping between Kit and Grant. They started out as distrustful co-workers of a sort, and now work well together, supporting and trusting each other. What will this mean in their personal lives?
I can hardly wait for more of this world with its exciting adventures, to learn more about the magic systems and see how Kit and Grant navigate their personal side. The humor is the cherry on top.
COYER # 25 Read a book with water/or the ocean on the cover.
Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The Captain Kit Brightling series took me by surprise initially with The Bright and Breaking Sea last year. I loved the historical feeling fantasy world set with a navy and island kingdoms. There definitely was a strong class system with a misogynistic bent. Yet Kit is talented enough she succeeded and got her own ship to command. There was a depth in building of her character, her family members, her work for the Queen and her co-workers. We only learned a bit about the magic system and some enemies of the crown.
In A Swift and Savage Tide, there is much less world and character building overall. Most of the time is spent at sea, fighting battles and collecting intelligence. The enemies are trying to rebuild with a new plan. There is plenty of action and danger. Kit and her crew, as well as Grant, are all very skilled but there is still much danger. There are a few additional layers to the story besides this main task, including a fortune-teller and pirates.
Kit does use her magic from being aligned to water more. She also starts to learn more about it. Magic is illegal because of the huge destruction caused in the previous war. But with a new war, they need all the tools available. Kit tries to learn more from others and also works with it a bit herself as she can.
Another exciting thread is the personal relationship devloping between Kit and Grant. They started out as distrustful co-workers of a sort, and now work well together, supporting and trusting each other. What will this mean in their personal lives?
I can hardly wait for more of this world with its exciting adventures, to learn more about the magic systems and see how Kit and Grant navigate their personal side. The humor is the cherry on top.
"Good. I need a break from the Pig & Pheasant, if I may be so bold."
COYER # 25 Read a book with water/or the ocean on the cover.
August 1, 2022
While I absolutely love the characters and the magic, I was somewhat disappointed by the spice in this book. It was unexpected since book 1 was very mild. Plus it’s categorized as YA but it’s definitely not. It would have been more expected had the categorization been more accurate.
However, aside from that, I do love the adventure and widening of magic in this book. I’m definitely looking forward to book 3!
‼️A spicy scene with some detail.
—-
Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for this gifted copy.
However, aside from that, I do love the adventure and widening of magic in this book. I’m definitely looking forward to book 3!
‼️A spicy scene with some detail.
—-
Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for this gifted copy.
December 27, 2021
On continue à suivre les aventures maritimes de Kit et Grant avec des pirates, des dragons et de la magie des éléments, au service de la Reine. J’ai beaucoup aimé la relation entre les deux héros et les péripéties de Kit, mais j’ai parfois décroché dans ma lecture car le rythme est décousu, il y a des passages longs et un peu ennuyeux.
January 12, 2022
4.5 stars.
I enjoyed the story and the relationship between Kit and Grant more than in the first book, but I had a tiny issue with the pacing towards the end, in addition to just how stubborn Kit could be from time to time, but not enough to knock more than 1/4 of a star off for each little nitpick. I really love this series and look forward to book 3.
I enjoyed the story and the relationship between Kit and Grant more than in the first book, but I had a tiny issue with the pacing towards the end, in addition to just how stubborn Kit could be from time to time, but not enough to knock more than 1/4 of a star off for each little nitpick. I really love this series and look forward to book 3.
January 21, 2022
Kit Brightling is definitely a favourite of mine and I love that we get more of her in this book. She is such a fierce and powerful character in a world that while different from ours- still has a hard time with women of authority. Also Rian was back and let me say so lad we get to see more of there relationship develop through this book. Lots of things went down in this book and honestly I can't wait to jump into the next one.
Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an arc for an honest review!
Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an arc for an honest review!
January 28, 2022
Another fantastic entry in the Captain Kit Brightling books from Chloe Neill. She more fully explored the magical aspect of the story this time and I am fascinated with the logistics of this! As always, there's a little too much romance for my usual taste, but that is baked in cake with her books and she does a great job with it. The cliffhanger ending has me ready for the next book. High recommend!
November 6, 2021
Thank you so much to Berkley for the early review copy!
4/5 stars
I'm really enjoying this series and it's characters. There's a larger story that isn't fully resolved, a slow burn romance, and each book so far has its own antagonist and it's own story that resolves by the end. I'm absolutely loving reading Kit and Rian's story. And this book even had some privateers! Highly recommend!
4/5 stars
I'm really enjoying this series and it's characters. There's a larger story that isn't fully resolved, a slow burn romance, and each book so far has its own antagonist and it's own story that resolves by the end. I'm absolutely loving reading Kit and Rian's story. And this book even had some privateers! Highly recommend!
November 24, 2021
Read along with audiobook
December 7, 2021
Love Kit Brightling!
Chloe Neill has given us another great duo in Kit and Rian Grant. The series is now well set-up with a good mix of action, magic and slow burn romance. Looking forward to #3.
Chloe Neill has given us another great duo in Kit and Rian Grant. The series is now well set-up with a good mix of action, magic and slow burn romance. Looking forward to #3.
September 19, 2021
Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
A Swift and Savage Tide by Chloe Neill is the second book in the Captain Kit Brightling series, and it's a swash-buckling adventure full of magic and romance. It will appeal to fans of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies or those wanting an adult version of Adrienne Young's Fable series. The story revolves around 24 year-old Kit, who often faces danger and prejudice as a female ship captain. She is also Aligned to the sea, which gives her powerful magic over water. When a lethal enemy escapes his prison, Kit and her crew are charged with finding and stopping him. Will Kit be able to stop this powerful enemy? Or will she and her crew sink into the depths of the sea? And what will happen when a potential love interest resurfaces in the most unlikely of places?
Here is an excerpt from Chapter 1 that introduces us to Kit and her potential love interest, Grant:
"The queen had ordered Grant to the Continent, to resume his prior work as an observation officer, and the Diana had been provisioned. That had been two weeks ago, and she hadn’t seen New London—or Grant—since.
At twenty-four, Kit understood the ways of romance, and she wasn’t one to pine over a man. Certainly not a viscount. But the fire ignited by seeing him across the ballroom—the unexpected shock of it, the exhilaration of it, and the discovery that she needed to see him again—hadn’t diminished in the intervening weeks. It had left her feeling hollow in some deep inner corner of her heart that had never been opened before."
Overall, A Swift and Savage Tide is an exciting fantasy adventure that is everything you would want from a feminist take on Pirates of the Caribbean with more magic. One highlight of this book is Kit, who is a strong female protagonist. It's thrilling to watch her as she commands her crew, goes undercover in new territories, and fights for what she believes in. Another highlight of this book are the amazing side characters. The commander of Kit's ship, Jin, is coded as Japanese, so yay for Asian representation in the fantasy genre! There are also other female side characters, like Mathilda, and it's so refreshing to have women talking to each other in a book about pirates. If you're intrigued by the excerpt above, of if you're a fan of the fantasy genre in general, I highly recommend that you check out this book when it comes out in November!
A Swift and Savage Tide by Chloe Neill is the second book in the Captain Kit Brightling series, and it's a swash-buckling adventure full of magic and romance. It will appeal to fans of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies or those wanting an adult version of Adrienne Young's Fable series. The story revolves around 24 year-old Kit, who often faces danger and prejudice as a female ship captain. She is also Aligned to the sea, which gives her powerful magic over water. When a lethal enemy escapes his prison, Kit and her crew are charged with finding and stopping him. Will Kit be able to stop this powerful enemy? Or will she and her crew sink into the depths of the sea? And what will happen when a potential love interest resurfaces in the most unlikely of places?
Here is an excerpt from Chapter 1 that introduces us to Kit and her potential love interest, Grant:
"The queen had ordered Grant to the Continent, to resume his prior work as an observation officer, and the Diana had been provisioned. That had been two weeks ago, and she hadn’t seen New London—or Grant—since.
At twenty-four, Kit understood the ways of romance, and she wasn’t one to pine over a man. Certainly not a viscount. But the fire ignited by seeing him across the ballroom—the unexpected shock of it, the exhilaration of it, and the discovery that she needed to see him again—hadn’t diminished in the intervening weeks. It had left her feeling hollow in some deep inner corner of her heart that had never been opened before."
Overall, A Swift and Savage Tide is an exciting fantasy adventure that is everything you would want from a feminist take on Pirates of the Caribbean with more magic. One highlight of this book is Kit, who is a strong female protagonist. It's thrilling to watch her as she commands her crew, goes undercover in new territories, and fights for what she believes in. Another highlight of this book are the amazing side characters. The commander of Kit's ship, Jin, is coded as Japanese, so yay for Asian representation in the fantasy genre! There are also other female side characters, like Mathilda, and it's so refreshing to have women talking to each other in a book about pirates. If you're intrigued by the excerpt above, of if you're a fan of the fantasy genre in general, I highly recommend that you check out this book when it comes out in November!
September 25, 2021
I enjoyed the Swift and Savage Tide although I didn’t think it was quite as good as book one. Strong and decisive women of authority, men who don’t object to women as equals (or as superiors). Naval battles! Magic and sea dragons!
The resolution of the attraction between Rian and Kit came quicker than I expected, and the series seems to be verging from normal war into perhaps religious war? far less interesting to me than the normal motivations of land, power, and glory. But I will read book three.
This series is a nice way to get regency vibes only with characters of color and women in positions of authority and power. Good mix of action and character interaction.
I read an advance reader copy of Swift and Savage Tide from Netgalley.
The resolution of the attraction between Rian and Kit came quicker than I expected, and the series seems to be verging from normal war into perhaps religious war? far less interesting to me than the normal motivations of land, power, and glory. But I will read book three.
This series is a nice way to get regency vibes only with characters of color and women in positions of authority and power. Good mix of action and character interaction.
I read an advance reader copy of Swift and Savage Tide from Netgalley.
December 10, 2021
One Sentence Summary: With Gerard Rousseau escaped from his island prison, Kit Brightling’s mission is to find his ship, but she ends up encountering much more than she expected.
Overall
A Swift and Savage Tide is the second in the Captain Kit Brightling series. A fantasy retelling of Napoleon’s escape from Elba, it swirls together Napoleonic era literature with some Jane Austen and regency romance, making it full of adventure with a healthy dose of romance and a dash of societal expectations. While the story is on the simple side, it’s still a fun sea adventure with plenty of action and wonderful characters as well as a dangerous and magic-filled chase across the sea. I love that it manages so easily to put my favorite characters together again without any real lengthy absences and especially that it’s, overall, quite a light and fun read.
Extended Thoughts
Following the events of the first book, The Bright and Breaking Sea, with Gerard Rousseau having escaped his island prison and set on harnessing magic to try to take over the Continent again, Captain Kit Brightling’s mission is to track down his ship. Sailing along the coast of Gallia on her trusty Diana, she believes she’s found it, but, in investigating further, discovers a man the Isles had presumed dead, a man who was also a powerful ally to Gerard.
Unexpectedly, Kit is also reunited with Colonel Rian Grant, and the two are on a new mission, but Kit also knows there’s more to her Alignment with the sea and the magic might be a key to defeating Gerard.
A Swift and Savage Tide is such a fun, fluffy fantasy to me, almost like a guilty pleasure since I typically read heavier, heftier high fantasy novels, but I am adoring this series so far. While it’s starting to feel like a trilogy, I can hope for more, can’t I? This one felt like Jane Austen’s novels plus regency romance crossed a bit with RJ Barker’s Tide Child Trilogy and Napoleonic era literature. As a fantasy retelling of Napoleon’s escape from Elba, it offers a lot of high seas adventure and some quieter romantic interludes mixed with some war preparations as no one knows where Gerard is and a dangerous man on his side turns out to not be dead.
I loved almost everything about this book. It’s fast-paced and fun, offering plenty of action and just enough romance. I did think the romance moved a bit fast, but, considering how fast it moves in regency romance novels, it’s probably quite slow. But I think, for me, A Swift and Savage Tide really shone through Kit taking action. She’s not one to sit by and wait for orders, but will also do what she thinks she ought to in order to best serve her Queen. Overall, there isn’t actually much depth to this book and the point of view is limited to Kit’s, but it’s light and fluffy and quite enjoyable if you’re not looking for something dense. It has a terrific pace that just keeps moving along, making for a fast read.
Kit is a lot of fun. She’s young without being too young and spunky with plenty of guilty pleasures. In some ways, she reminds me of some of Jane Austen’s heroines and I can’t help but adore her. She now makes me wonder if this is what Lizzy Bennet would be if she’d been able to join the Queen’s service. I love that Kit both manages to be an agent of the Queen and a proper lady, balancing the two extremely well, though I think I prefer her when she’s out at sea with her crew. The one thing that bothered me a bit about her was her stubbornness about not committing to Grant. Her reasoning felt a bit weak and repetitive to me without offering much depth or true motivation behind it and some further communication could have cleared it up in mere paragraphs. But I can also appreciate that Kit is young and only has being one of the Queen’s Own to hold onto so I didn’t feel her fears were completely unfounded, just that better communication could have been useful.
Grant, for his part, was just as much fun, and so were all the other minor characters. I would have liked getting some of the story from his viewpoint, but felt I got an excellent amount through Kit’s. He felt much like a typical Englishman, but also untraditional in other ways. As a matter of fact, all of them were like that. Kit’s second in command is a former thief, but the affection between him and Kit is clear and helps drive Kit to attempt things she ordinarily wouldn’t have. Kit’s sisters, too, were quite untraditional, but still managed to operate within the confines of society’s expectations, though there was far less of them than I had wished as they were so much fun in the first book. A Swift and Savage Tide also included one of the pirate kings first introduced in the first book. It went not at all the way I expected, but was a lot of fun as the pirate and Kit negotiated and there was definitely a bit more to him than initially met the eye.
Where the characters were a lot of fun and felt complex and interesting, the story itself was more simple. It’s basically Kit hunting down a man everyone had assumed was dead, a man with powerful and dangerous magic. While I do believe it advances the overall plot, it’s really little more than a chase across the sea. Still, it’s peppered with a lot of great moments, like the romance between Kit and Grant and Kit working out more of what her Alignment makes her capable of. I really enjoyed the nuggets of information we and Kit receive about how it might work as it’s clearly little studied, but will likely play a bigger role when the Isles faces Gerard and Gallia.
A Swift and Savage Tide is a fun adventure across the sea and a bit on land. While there isn’t any real in-depth world building and just enough on how ships operate, it’s still a fun read, quick and easy. This is definitely a lighter fantasy both in terms of heft and story, but I like that it takes a familiar historical context and makes it work in a fantasy setting. Overall, this is a fun sea adventure that both manages to feel old fashioned and modern. The only thing that brought it down for me was the romance as it played on lack of communication, otherwise I thought it was just as much fun as the first book and I can’t wait for more of Kit’s story.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a review copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
Overall
A Swift and Savage Tide is the second in the Captain Kit Brightling series. A fantasy retelling of Napoleon’s escape from Elba, it swirls together Napoleonic era literature with some Jane Austen and regency romance, making it full of adventure with a healthy dose of romance and a dash of societal expectations. While the story is on the simple side, it’s still a fun sea adventure with plenty of action and wonderful characters as well as a dangerous and magic-filled chase across the sea. I love that it manages so easily to put my favorite characters together again without any real lengthy absences and especially that it’s, overall, quite a light and fun read.
Extended Thoughts
Following the events of the first book, The Bright and Breaking Sea, with Gerard Rousseau having escaped his island prison and set on harnessing magic to try to take over the Continent again, Captain Kit Brightling’s mission is to track down his ship. Sailing along the coast of Gallia on her trusty Diana, she believes she’s found it, but, in investigating further, discovers a man the Isles had presumed dead, a man who was also a powerful ally to Gerard.
Unexpectedly, Kit is also reunited with Colonel Rian Grant, and the two are on a new mission, but Kit also knows there’s more to her Alignment with the sea and the magic might be a key to defeating Gerard.
A Swift and Savage Tide is such a fun, fluffy fantasy to me, almost like a guilty pleasure since I typically read heavier, heftier high fantasy novels, but I am adoring this series so far. While it’s starting to feel like a trilogy, I can hope for more, can’t I? This one felt like Jane Austen’s novels plus regency romance crossed a bit with RJ Barker’s Tide Child Trilogy and Napoleonic era literature. As a fantasy retelling of Napoleon’s escape from Elba, it offers a lot of high seas adventure and some quieter romantic interludes mixed with some war preparations as no one knows where Gerard is and a dangerous man on his side turns out to not be dead.
I loved almost everything about this book. It’s fast-paced and fun, offering plenty of action and just enough romance. I did think the romance moved a bit fast, but, considering how fast it moves in regency romance novels, it’s probably quite slow. But I think, for me, A Swift and Savage Tide really shone through Kit taking action. She’s not one to sit by and wait for orders, but will also do what she thinks she ought to in order to best serve her Queen. Overall, there isn’t actually much depth to this book and the point of view is limited to Kit’s, but it’s light and fluffy and quite enjoyable if you’re not looking for something dense. It has a terrific pace that just keeps moving along, making for a fast read.
Kit is a lot of fun. She’s young without being too young and spunky with plenty of guilty pleasures. In some ways, she reminds me of some of Jane Austen’s heroines and I can’t help but adore her. She now makes me wonder if this is what Lizzy Bennet would be if she’d been able to join the Queen’s service. I love that Kit both manages to be an agent of the Queen and a proper lady, balancing the two extremely well, though I think I prefer her when she’s out at sea with her crew. The one thing that bothered me a bit about her was her stubbornness about not committing to Grant. Her reasoning felt a bit weak and repetitive to me without offering much depth or true motivation behind it and some further communication could have cleared it up in mere paragraphs. But I can also appreciate that Kit is young and only has being one of the Queen’s Own to hold onto so I didn’t feel her fears were completely unfounded, just that better communication could have been useful.
Grant, for his part, was just as much fun, and so were all the other minor characters. I would have liked getting some of the story from his viewpoint, but felt I got an excellent amount through Kit’s. He felt much like a typical Englishman, but also untraditional in other ways. As a matter of fact, all of them were like that. Kit’s second in command is a former thief, but the affection between him and Kit is clear and helps drive Kit to attempt things she ordinarily wouldn’t have. Kit’s sisters, too, were quite untraditional, but still managed to operate within the confines of society’s expectations, though there was far less of them than I had wished as they were so much fun in the first book. A Swift and Savage Tide also included one of the pirate kings first introduced in the first book. It went not at all the way I expected, but was a lot of fun as the pirate and Kit negotiated and there was definitely a bit more to him than initially met the eye.
Where the characters were a lot of fun and felt complex and interesting, the story itself was more simple. It’s basically Kit hunting down a man everyone had assumed was dead, a man with powerful and dangerous magic. While I do believe it advances the overall plot, it’s really little more than a chase across the sea. Still, it’s peppered with a lot of great moments, like the romance between Kit and Grant and Kit working out more of what her Alignment makes her capable of. I really enjoyed the nuggets of information we and Kit receive about how it might work as it’s clearly little studied, but will likely play a bigger role when the Isles faces Gerard and Gallia.
A Swift and Savage Tide is a fun adventure across the sea and a bit on land. While there isn’t any real in-depth world building and just enough on how ships operate, it’s still a fun read, quick and easy. This is definitely a lighter fantasy both in terms of heft and story, but I like that it takes a familiar historical context and makes it work in a fantasy setting. Overall, this is a fun sea adventure that both manages to feel old fashioned and modern. The only thing that brought it down for me was the romance as it played on lack of communication, otherwise I thought it was just as much fun as the first book and I can’t wait for more of Kit’s story.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a review copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
December 30, 2021
I was so excited to read this ARC and I was not disappointed!!! It was just as good as the first book and I absolutely loved it. This series is so criminally underrated, holy cow. Daughter of the Pirate King meets Shades of Magic in this abosfreakinglutely AWESOME book. Like c'mon, it's so ridiculously good it should be illegal. The main character is such a badass, and the love interest is actually not your basic graham cracker of a dude. So glad I got approved for this one! Thank you to NetGalley and Chloe Neill for providing me with a free E-ARC in exchange for an honest and constructive review!
February 25, 2025
So good! I really hope book 3 is in the works. Not exactly a cliffhanger, more a pause before hurtling into the next phase of conflict.
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