Review by Booklist Review
In Holland's latest fantastical tale, a species of whale--the Livyati--has amazing magical properties, and the people of Kirkrell heavily depend on the Livyati's magic and the Fairfax Whaling Company to survive. However, whaling comes at immense costs, including curses from an oceanic fae species called the finfolk. Eighteen-year-old Susannah "Annie" Fairfax, now the head of the Fairfax Whaling Company, suffers from a curse herself: should she become too heartbroken, she'll become a man-eating monster. The curse began manifesting after the death of her parents, and it's worsening due to the potential betrayal of her fiancé, August. Silas, an infamous captain with finfolk heritage, tells her there's a cure, but, like whaling, it comes at a great cost. Promises are made, lies are told, and secrets are revealed in this dark, briny YA fantasy. While it's formulaic in some aspects, it maintains suspense, and Annie, weighed down by duty and sexism, is a sympathetic protagonist. Recommended for fantasy fans, ocean lovers, and buccaneer enthusiasts.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Because of a finfolk curse placed upon her human family, 19-year-old Annie Fairfax is slowly transforming into a monstrous creature. As a child, Annie believed she had no reason to fear the curse, which dictates that if she suffers heartbreak, she'll turn into a bloodthirsty entity. Then Annie narrowly escapes a shipwreck that kills her parents, an incident purportedly perpetrated by the finfolk that terrorize the whaling ships of her coastal village, Kirkrell. Now the head of her father's whaling company, Annie grapples with the terrifying reality that her worsening heartache has caused her monstrous traits to emerge. When disgraced captain Silas Price, half human and half finfolk, warns Annie that her human betrothed, August Hargreave, is plotting her murder, she becomes more desperate to break the curse. But only finfolk can undo the enchantment, forcing Annie to jeopardize her company, risk her heart, and trust in Silas. Sea-swept horror and folklore elements fuse into a pulse-pounding parable of gender, love, and power. Holland (Phoenix Flame) cloaks the tightly woven plot in murky, ominous atmosphere, a stormy backdrop against which a titillating love triangle of intricately rendered white-cued characters grapple with their worst fears. Ages 13--up. Agent: Pete Knapp, Park & Fine Literary. (Nov.)
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
A cursed young woman must decide who she can trust and how to save herself and her siblings. Annie Fairfax watched her parents die when the fae known as the finfolk sank their whaling ship in revenge for their hunting of the magical Livyatan whales. Annie and two other children--Silas and August--survived but returned cursed, like many who encounter the finfolk. Now 18, Annie leads the Fairfax Whaling Company of Kirkrell while hiding the heartbreak curse that takes a toll on her body and mind. She's engaged to August, who may covet her business more than her heart. Silas, now the feared captain of the Cursed Crew, is rumored to be part finfolk. When the trio embark on a dangerous expedition to the far north to establish a new whaling outpost, Annie begins to question August's intentions. On the voyage, Silas is Annie's confidant, offering the hope of meeting the finfolk and lifting her curse. Holland blends fantasy with themes of legacy, identity, and moral awakening as Annie fights for survival and reckons with everything she's been taught. Despite a slightly bumpy ending, the writing is rich and immersive, the pacing sharp, and the characters are deeply compelling. Their flaws and deep, often unexpressed, feelings contribute to their well-rounded characterization. This duology opener explores what it means to do the right thing, even when it means turning against your past. Most characters are cued white. An extraordinary work teeming with magic, intrigue, and strong emotion.(Fantasy. 13-18) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
