Book: Between Tides and Thunder by Leena Kazak
Reviewed by Weird | weird.reads.books
Rating: 5/5
I devoured this standalone romantasy within two days because, yes, it’s that good. I was a little nervous going in this book because the ratings were already so high that I didn't want my expectations to get skewed. It is absolutely worth the hype.
The story follows Princess Mayah, who is forced into a political marriage to broker a fragile alliance with a rival kingdom. When the other nation sends the prince’s brother, Zev, to escort her back to Arbinj, things get complicated fast. This is a world of elemental magic, and Zev is a lightning wielder, an element Mayah fears most thanks to some good ol’ childhood trauma. Naturally, these two are total opposites, so there’s no way they’d ever catch feelings, right?
While the setup might sound like your classic romantasy, there is so much more simmering beneath the surface. The world-building is wonderful, and the characters are complex enough to keep you guessing. Between the plot twists and the emotional devastation, I found myself constantly checking the page count, wondering how on earth all this conflict could possibly be resolved in just one novel!
The tension between Mayah and Zev absolutely sizzled. I am a sucker for a good buildup, and Zev is the ultimate possessive MMC who falls first. He’s going to be a new favorite book boyfriend for a lot of people. Plus, there’s a specific side effect when they share their magic that acts as a pesky little aphrodisiac which may or may not have led to a chasing scene. 🤭
If you’re looking for a morally grey, high-stakes romantasy, I cannot recommend Between Tides & Thunder enough. Go read this book!
Thank you to Leena Kazak and the IRIS Influencer Soociety for the eARC. All opinions are my own.