Book: Between Tides & Thunder by Leena Kazak
Reviewed by Nikkisnightreads
Rating: 5/5
"It’s the lies we tell ourselves that keep us moving forward." 🌊⚡️
This line echoes throughout Between Tides & Thunder, and each time it appeared, it felt more poignant. It perfectly captures the heart of this story; the secrets we keep from others, and the even deeper ones we keep from ourselves just to survive.
If you live for a slow burn that actually makes your chest ache, then BTAT is a must-read. Leena Kazak’s debut is a masterclass in yearning, political intrigue, and the kind of tension that kept me awake until 4am to finish.
From the very first pages, I was completely swept away by Mayah and Zev. Their banter is sharp, sarcastic, and layered with a tension that builds beautifully from the moment they lay eyes on each other.
The world-building is seamless, but it’s the character development during their journey across the war torn land that really stole my heart. Watching the walls come down as they transition from enemies to understanding one another was beautiful. Seeing the "Dark Commander" facade start to crumble and realizing Zev was falling first? EVERYTHING.
Prepare yourself for the betrayal, though. It’s the kind of twist that rips your heart out just as you're starting to get comfortable. For a standalone, the pacing is incredible. It has all the depth of a series with the satisfaction of a complete arc. This one is going to live rent-free in my head for a long time.