Reviewer: @rustic_pages_and_literature (Instagram)
Rating: 5/5
“When the storm wind blows, I’m not afraid of anyone.”
Compass and Blade remind me of Fable. The treasure hunter and the wreck swimmer.
Whilst reading this book, I tell myself every time, “just one more chapter.” I can not put this book down. It’s so full of mystery, and I needed answers. This book kept me on the edge of my seat. If you enjoyed reading To Kill a Kingdom by Alexandra Christo and Fable by Adrienne Young, you are definitely going to love this one. Full of action, betrayal, and magic.
I loved the character Mira she reminded me of Lira and Fable. Mira is a strong female character, and she is about to find out who and what she is. In Compass and Blade, you never know who to trust. Everyone who wants to help her is a little sketchy or has an agenda. I loved reading it. Kept me on the edge of my seat and wondered what was going to happen to Mira. It is really good! The last 10% of the book had me worried because there was still a lot going on and the betrayal…. Oh my goodness! I loved how adventurous and mysterious this book was. The world built was amazing with magic and pirates and wreckers and even witches and sirens.
This is definitely a must-read! I can’t get over how much I enjoyed this. Thank you so much Jonathan Ball Publishers @jonathanballpublishers for this gifted arc copy.
Reviewer: @theratherslowreader (Instagram)
For fans of: Pirates of the Caribbean, sirens, mermaids, pirates, smugglers.
Synopsis:
On the remote isle of Rosevear, Mira, like her mother before her, is a wrecker, one of the seven on the rope who swim out to shipwrecks to plunder them. Mira’s job is to rescue survivors, if there are any. After all, she never feels the cold of the frigid ocean waters, and the waves seem to sing to her soul. But the people of Rosevear never admit that they set the beacons themselves to lure ships into the rocks.
When the Council watch lays a trap to put an end to the wrecking, they arrest Mira’s father. Desperate to save him from the noose, Mira strikes a deal with an enigmatic wreck survivor guarding layers of secrets behind his captivating eyes, and sets off to find something her mother has left her, a family secret buried deep in the sea.
With just nine days to find what she needs to rescue her father, all Mira knows for certain is the sea gives. The sea takes. And it’s up to her to do what she must to save the ones she loves.
Review:
The writing was beautiful, evocative, and atmospheric. It reflected a real love for the ocean and everything sea-related.
I really enjoyed the first 120 pages or so, and the ending was hectic and dramatic. The plot, however, was a bit of a hit and miss for me.
I wasn’t invested in the romance aspect. It made Mira look very gullible and silly, which wasn’t in line with how she was portrayed otherwise. I never bought the instant love on either main character’s side.
I think Mira will be a much better character when we see her ‘grow’ a bit in the series.
Thank you @jonathanballpublishers for this review copy!
Reviewer: @mr.pink.ink (Instagram)
Rating: 3.75/5
Do you enjoy stories on the ocean?
I quite enjoyed this fast-paced, pirate-esque action adventure with gunfights, sirens and a shadow manipulator, wherein our young heroin, Mira, must find a way to save her father from certain death while discovering the secrets her mother left for her.
Even though Compass & Blade can be predictable at times the story is nonetheless engaging and the characters are flawed and relatable. The writing is descriptive and grabs you right in; the following line in the book tickled me pink:
“And, in the midst of the swirling mist, I find her mast, at last.”
Also, this is a standalone but the ending is open-ended enough for there to possibly be a sequel in the future.
But, seriously though, the girls in these “romantasy” novels are all confusing lust and attraction for love and, regardless of how many daggers end up in their backs at the end, they always, always choose the “bad” guy and waste their forgiveness. Or is it just me?
Many thanks to @jonathanballpublishers & @jonathanballkids for sending me an #ARC for review. All opinions are my own.
Reviewer: @tbrwarriors (Instagram)
Mira lives on the isle of Rosevear, Her village survives by being “wreckers”
Wreckers guide selected ships carrying valuable cargo to ultimately “crash”, leaving the selected seven people on the island to help survivors get to land and take the ships contents for themselves.
There has always been speculation as to who they are and what they do, but no man has caught them – until now. The Watch has a new captain, his young and he is eager to prove himself and climb the ranks, exposing the “wreckers” and using them to set an example is something he is adamant on doing when he tricks the wreckers and takes their leader and Mira’s father captive. Mira is forced to hide or they will take her to, but she hears the Captain say they have 8 days to come clean or her father will hang.
Mira has always felt at home in the sea, more than she does on land. Her body craves the heat of the sea where others feel the cold. After losing her mother to the sea her father is PETRIFIED of losing her to, keeping her there on the island much to her dismay. Now – she has to leave, she will make a deal with the survivor they saved from the previous wreck, a stranger, and she will save her father and their leader and bring them home – and she has only 8 days to so.
I enjoyed this, I actually felt like this was quite an original plot line – I myself have not yet read something similar. I liked the writing as well, the authors descriptions and details were almost lyrical.
This does read on the YA side (I mean, I love YA) but just take that into account if you don’t.
This was quite an atmospheric read as well, the ships, the subtle elements of magic, the pirates – it was great 😊
Thank you @jonathanballpublishers for a gifted copy of this book ❤️
Compass and Blade is available at:
