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Review: Whisper of the Tide by Sarah Tolcser

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Whisper of the Tide by Sarah TolcserWhisper of the Tide
Sarah Tolcser
Bloomsbury
Published on June 5, 2018

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

About Whisper of the Tide
Caro Oresteia spent her life waiting to be called by the river god, as those in her family had been for generations. But when she’s swept away on an adventure to save the Akhaian royal prince, Markos, her destiny is sealed by the sea god instead.

For now, Caro is landlocked, helping Markos reclaim his throne after nearly his entire family was assassinated in a political coup. Without any financial or military support, Markos is desperate for allies, and Caro has fought off more than one attempt on his life. When a powerful Archon offers his army in exchange for Markos’s marriage to his daughter, Caro must choose: Her love for Markos, or the fate of Akhaia? And more importantly: How much is she willing to risk to defy the sea god’s wishes and chart her own course?

With shipwrecks, lost treasure, old and new enemies, dark magic, and breathtaking romance, Sarah Tolcser weaves another epic story about chasing your fate.

My Review
I forgot how much I love Caro’s character in this series. She’s so spunky and strong. All the sailing stuff and love for ships and such make Whisper of the Tide a fun read, too. It’s all my favorite things about Pirates of the Caribbean but tossed with some political intrigue and additional strong female characters. Delicious!

It always makes me nervous to read the sequel to a book I loved. I’m always torn because I want to know what happens next, but I’m so afraid it won’t be as good as the first book and will somehow diminish my good memories. No worries here. Whisper of the Tide stands alone as a great love story and a tale about how you have to understand who you are before you can hope to have a happy romantic relationship. It’s very different than Song of the Current, but I really enjoyed the high adventure and race against assassins. I’m so glad I read it. Unfortunately, it does have some references to sex (see below for details), so some sensitive readers may want a heads up on that. The tone and scope of the story will probably appeal more to older readers. You can find my review of Song of the Current here.

Recommended for Ages 16 up.

Cultural Elements
Caro has brown skin and red hair—an oddity where she lives.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Infrequent use of strong profanity.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing between boy and girl. Two scenes show Caro and Markos getting into bed. One cuts to the next morning, letting us know they had sex without showing anything. The other gives some limited details.

Spiritual Content
Caro has been chosen by the god of the sea, and then asked to make a choice between her calling and her life with Markos. The sea god is a capricious one, who has destroyed followers who’ve disappointed her in the past. Caro’s cousin has learned some magic associated with stealth and assassination.

Violent Content
Some combat between Caro and enemies involving knives and guns.

Drug Content
None.

Note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

 

Review: Song of the Current by Sarah Tolcser

Book Review and Content, Fantasy, Young Adult/Teen 12-18, , , , ,

Song of the Current
Sarah Tolcser
Bloomsbury USA Children’s
Published June 6, 2017

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

About Song of the Current
Caroline Oresteia is destined for the river. For generations, her family has been called by the river god, who has guided their wherries on countless voyages throughout the Riverlands. At seventeen, Caro has spent years listening to the water, ready to meet her fate. But the river god hasn’t spoken her name yet—and if he hasn’t by now, there’s a chance he never will.

Caro decides to take her future into her own hands when her father is arrested for refusing to transport a mysterious crate. By agreeing to deliver it in exchange for his release, Caro finds herself caught in a web of politics and lies, with dangerous pirates after the cargo—an arrogant courier with a secret—and without the river god to help her. With so much at stake, Caro must choose between the life she always wanted and the one she never could have imagined for herself.

My Review
The writing in this story hooked me right from page one. I fell instantly in love with Caro and ached with her over her fears about being overlooked by the god of the river. Her unexpected passenger made me laugh (though he mostly made Caro roll her eyes), and I spent pages and pages eagerly hoping for more than just angry sparks between them. Even the minor characters seemed to pop right off the page.

I loved the story world, too. It reminded me a little bit of The African Queen (the movie with Humphrey Bogart and Katherine Hepburn where they run a dangerous course down the river to escape the Nazis) but with a fantasy spin and gender roles reversed.

The plot started off strong and only got better. Every time I thought the stakes couldn’t possibly get higher, Tolcser proved me wrong by adding some new twist.

The only hiccup for me was the way romance is portrayed in the story. It’s not that I don’t believe casual relationships or unconventional relationships exist. I guess I find them unsatisfying to read about. I’m a sucker for a true love tale, and I can’t seem to help it.

Overall, though, this is a great summer read for fantasy lovers looking for a sailing adventure. (Trish Doller, all the sailing references made me think of you and our conversation at ApollyCon! I’m still hoping to see your sailing novel in print one day!)

Recommended for Ages 14 up.

Cultural Elements
Caro is of mixed race, with bronze skin and fiery red hair, an unusual combination. Her sailing companion is one of the Frogmen, a race said to be part river god, part human. She has large eyes and a wide, frog-like mouth as well as green skin. Some cultures treat Frogmen as slaves. Caro and her family consider them equals.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Moderate profanity used infrequently.

Romance/Sexual Content
Some kissing. Late in the story, Caro takes a lover (a young man) to bed with her. They begin undressing each other, and it’s implied they have sex. She makes it clear she’s comfortable with a casual relationship and doesn’t want to commit to any future with him.

Spiritual Content
Lots of references to various gods and their roles in human life. Caro’s family has had a long relationship with the god under the river, who speaks to them in small things. Caro has been waiting for a connection with the god for her whole life. Other gods exist as well, some more powerful or capricious than others.

Violent Content
A group of soldiers beat a young man. References to torture (Caro doesn’t witness it.) Battles between Caro’s allies and enemies. Not a lot of gore, though.

Drug Content
Caro and her companion drink wine and liquor.

Note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.