On Twisting Tides takes place a few months after the events of From Tormented Tides. Milo is still adjusting to his second chance at life, while Katrina is trying to figure out what her great-grandmother wants. However, once she discovers that, the series of events that play out force them to go back to the 18th century in a race to save the world. Val E. Lane builds on her previous world to deliver this book that’s perfect for fans of Pirates of the Caribbean, The Little Mermaid, Outlander, and Outer Banks. As it combines a mix of pirate adventure and romance with a modern-day urban fantasy setting.
I did receive this book as an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) in exchange for my review, but all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Synopsis
Even the calmest waters can become a little…twisted
The curse is broken, but Katrina is still plagued by the haunting note left behind as a new semester begins in the coastal town of Constantine. And she’s still not sure how to admit to herself that she may never be the same after that night on Valdez’s ship.
Meanwhile, Milo adapts to his second chance at life, but the heavy conscience of a pirate’s past still weighs on his soul. When Katrina receives another chilling letter, she’s tasked with a burden that will require a journey across the sea…and he’s determined not to let her face it alone.
But as Milo’s world unravels and Katrina battles newfound inner demons, holding back the ocean’s wrath may prove to be the least of their problems…and the shadows of the past may not be as distant as they seem.
Book Details
- Published: March 27, 2023
- Page Count: 324 pages
- Genre: Fantasy Romance
Thoughts on On Twisting Tides
So, how did they end up in the 18th century?
Well, Cordelia (Katrina’s great-grandmother) wanted to get both the siren scale necklace that Katrina got rid of at the end of From Tormented Tides, and use it with a trident (that can move time, space, and life) to flood the entire world. Katrina, however, does not agree with this and decides with Milo that the two of them are going to stop her by finding the necklace first. However, Cordelia beats them to it so the only option to stop the end of the world is for them to sail to the Bermuda Triangle and find the trident. While they do manage to do this, McKenzie (Katrina’s roommate) and Noah (McKenzie’s boyfriend and individual that Milo steals a boat from) end up joining them. When they reach the center of the triangle, however, their ship is destroyed and the trident’s powers take them back to the 18th century.
Milo ends up separated from the group and washes ashore in his hometown during the week his father is killed, and Milo is forced into slavery on the pirate crew we met him in the previous book. Thus granting him a chance to rewrite his entire history, which would free him of the heavy conscience of the pirate life he was forced into. But that would also mean, he would never meet Katrina.
Meanwhile, Katrina, McKenzie, and Noah end up on Bellamy’s pirate ship before he joined his father’s crew. She struggles with her inner siren as she spends more time out of the water. Thus, leads her to be cold, heartless, and selfish, and do things she normally wouldn’t do. All things she feared as they remind her of what Cordelia mentioned to her; that Katrina was soulless just like Cordelia. While she struggles with this side of her, she also discovers that she can control water through her tears.
It was great to see Bellamy again as I loved his character in the last book, and was sad to see him go at the end of From Tormented Tides. So, it makes sense that we got to go back in time to see him again. And going back to when Milo’s backstory begins during a time when sirens were everywhere, allows for both of our main characters to have solid character development. Plus, we get to explore what that means for each of them since we got both of their POVs instead of just one like in the last book.
I won’t spoil how the events play out or how they get back to modern times, but it was a rollercoaster of emotions. And I can’t help but wonder, how the next book is going to go in this series with the way things ended. I wouldn’t say it was a cliffhanger, but there was a major thing that happened at the end which will heavily come into play during the next book. Overall, I loved On Twisting Tides. I couldn’t put this book down, and I can’t wait to read the rest of the series as it gets released. So, I would give this book a 4.25-star rating out of 5. As this book kept me on my toes trying to figure out what was going to happen next. And the ending left such an emotional impact.
Love ya,
Mae Polzine
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