A review by beccisays
Compass and Blade by Rachel Greenlaw

adventurous emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

This was my first ever siren romantasy and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I ended up devouring this book in less than a day, it held my attention from the start to the very end.

I have always been the hunter of treasures, the wreck swimmer, the one who lures the ships in. But now I stand on the other side. As though I am the ship they have lured and trapped.

Mira lives in a seaside town which survives only by pillaging boats which have wrecked upon their shores. When her father is captured by the authorities to face consequences for these unlawful acts of survival, Mira sets out on a quest determined to rescue him. During this adventure, she also hopes to uncover the secrets her Mother took to her early grave and which her Father won't dare speak of, in fear it will lead her to succumb to the pull of the sea that she has felt calling to her as she comes of age. 

I found myself regularly saving quotes and some of the imagery was absolutely stunning - I felt transported to somewhere between the ocean and the night sky, particularly during this scene:

The sky is a bowl brimming with starlight. I gasp in wonder, tilting my head up, and breathe in the quiet and the cold. There are stars layered over stars. So many, I can hardly pick out the constellations. The night blazes silver, navy pockets of true dark rippling like velvet between. I have never seen so much brilliance.

The water is a crisp reflection of the sky above. We are floating through a sea of starlight. I laugh softly, watching as a shooting star blazes over the still water.

I definitely felt some parallels with A Court of Thorns and Roses, most noticeably when Lord Shadow Daddy made a very Rhysand coded appearance (hands in pockets and all) to mark our imprisoned heroine with a bargain tattoo (or two). I personally didn't mind the starlight and Night Court vibes, I think they matched well with the tone of the book and the inclusion within a pirate and siren story was original enough that it didn't feel like a carbon copy. 

The second betrayal within the book felt a bit empty and sadly lacked impact, as it happened so soon after the first. I hope we see the vengeance and impact play out over time in future books, which I will very much be looking forward to reading.

Thank you Harper Collins and Rachel Greenlaw for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.