Fated Winds and Promising Seas: A tender-hearted tale of forging fates, fantastic creatures, and found family

By Author / Illustrator

Rose Black

Genre

Fantasy

Age range(s)

14+

Publisher

Hodderscape

ISBN

9781399724739

Format

Hardback

Published

19-11-2024

Synopsis

When a promise is made, a fate is woven.... Imprisoned for a crime he cannot remember committing, Lucky is more comfortable with the four walls of his cell than the world outside. That is until he's ripped free from his prison and swept out into the ocean. . . and rescued by The Dreamer.

But The Dreamer is no ordinary vessel, with its crew of outcasts and heretics who possess the ability to manipulate water. Lucky is taken under the protective wing of a sailor named Gabriel, but when he recognises Gabriel from his past, Lucky suspects it may not be a simple accident that threw them together.

To understand their connection and prove Lucky's innocence, they must navigate treacherous waters, avoid giant Leviathan, and outwit those seeking to arrest them. But some memories hide secrets that could destroy all that they love. And with the tides of fortune ever-changing, the quest for freedom is just the beginning.

Fated Winds and Promising Seas is a queer fantasy, perfect for fans of Legends and Lattes and Nettle and Bone. THEMES AND TROPES! Mental health rep, MM romance, found family, magical ships, safe and cared for, sharing the same room, gay romance novel, happily ever after!

Reader reviews for Til Death Do Us Bard: 'Joyous, uplifting, heart warming'. 'The romance, the adventure, the cast of characters. Every time I think about this book it puts a smile on my face'. 'This book felt like a cozy game of D&D with a side of romance and I loved every minute of it!'

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Reviews

Linda

After ten years of imprisonment for a crime he cannot remember committing, Lucky is ripped free from his prison and swept out into the ocean. . . and rescued by the crew of The Dreamer. The Dreamer is no ordinary vessel, as it has a hardworking, caring crew of outcasts who possess the ability to manipulate water and they chase dangerous sea monsters called Leviathans.

Lucky is taken under the protective wing of a sailor named Gabriel, but when he recognises Gabriel from his past, Lucky suspects it may not be a simple accident that threw them together. Will he ever get his memory back? Will Lucky ever find the white haired girl that haunts him in his dreams? Will he ever get to feel safe and protected?

The author has split Fated Winds and Promising Seas into three parts, all told from Lucky's perspective. The reader follows the boy through his fear of open spaces, of being caught and once again imprisoned and his relationship with Gabriel, which was written so well as it developed from a friendship into a romance.

Alongside the gay romance, the story explores mental health issues, trauma and sadness with the magical ship and sea monsters also giving a taste of adventure. I personally found the world building a bit of a let-down as I found that some of the author's ideas didn't quite make sense as I wasn't given enough information, but that's just me. However, this book is fast-paced with lots and lots of action, and is a proper seafaring adventure that will grab the attention of 12+ readers who like their fantasy on the high seas.

352 pages / Reviewed by Linda Brown, school librarian