Imagine if The Little Mermaid and Cinderella got a dark, enchanting makeover filled with faerie magic and betrayal. In the stormy port town of Saint-Malo, Lucinde is far from your typical society girl. While her sisters chase suitors, Luce is out sailing with her smuggler bestie Samuel. But everything changes when she rescues a mysterious man from the sea, pulling her into a world of glittering balls, dangerous secrets, and powers she never knew she had.

Kell Woods’s writing is an absolute dream, painting such a vivid and magical world that you’ll feel like you’re floating through it. The villains are complex, the heroes misunderstood, and trust is as slippery as sea glass. Every word feels carefully chosen, creating a lush, lyrical experience that’s pure magic. Sure, I had to look up a word or two, but that only added to the charm. This is the kind of book you’ll wish you could experience for the first time all over again.

Verdict: Magical, mysterious, and utterly mesmerizing

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Collins Australia for an advanced digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.