Sea of Charms is as good as I thought it would be. I’ve loved The Spellshop series and this has some perfect Easter Eggs! It’s precious and full of music and sea faring! Keep reading this book review of Sea of Charms for my full thoughts.
Summary
Marin is a supply runner with her own boat that she sails from island to island, delivering whatever anyone will pay her to deliver: letters, flour, even the occasional enchanted lemur. It’s a lonely life, but it’s hers, and she wouldn’t trade the freedom of the sea for anything. Her only companion is a sea serpent, Perri, whom she saved from a fisherfolk’s net.
One day, she sails to Alyssium and discovers the city is on fire. There’s been a revolution, and the empire has fallen. Marin, with Perri, begins transporting refugees, finding them new homes where they can start over. One such refugee is Dax, a composer who refuses to leave behind his instruments, no matter how much she tries to emphasize the gravity of the situation. Intrigued by his stubbornness, his passion for stories, and his charming smile, Marin discovers perhaps she isn’t saving him ― maybe it’s the other way around.
Review
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
Sea of Charms is a testament to knowing that just because we’ve been hurt, we can’t close up our heart. We can let the pain and the hurt cause us to keep people at an arm’s length. To know that love, relationships, all open ourselves up to pain. But it’s the most beautiful and brave thing to keep being open to love, to friendships, to love. Sea of Charms is full of Easter Eggs for the past two books and for the next ones. It’s charming as we witness characters making choices for themselves, speaking up for themselves, and chasing their dreams.
When we have made ourselves smaller, more palatable, and easygoing, it’s a knee jerk reaction to never sacrifice again. To never want to be in that position. I know from experience. But Sea of Charms celebrates opening our heart. It acknowledges and explores the revolution and politics the most of the three even as it examines the unfairness of the conservatory system. Sea of Charms made my heart smile as we see that it’s never the wrong choice to open our heart. It’s a found family trope lovers dream and to know that sometimes doing what’s right is harder, but it’s always worth it.
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Find Sea of Charms on Goodreads, Storygraph, Blackwells, & Libro. fm.