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Marin is a supply runner, sailing from island to island delivering whatever anyone will pay her to deliver: letters, supplies, an odd enchanted statue. Her only companion is a sea serpent, Perri, whom she once rescued. Sure, it can be a lonely life, but she’s captain of her own ship, and she wouldn’t trade her freedom on the sea for anything.
Then one day, on what should have been a routine trip into Alyssium, Marin discovers a city on fire. There’s been a revolution. Rumors say the empire has fallen. Suddenly, Marin is transporting refugees looking for new homes rather than their shopping list items. One such refugee is Dax, a composer who doesn’t seem to grasp the gravity of the situation. And unlike the others, he’s not looking for a new home. He wants to see the world. Intrigued by his innocence, his passion for stories and songs, and his charming smile, Marin agrees to let him temporarily join her crew… in exchange for a favor. But along the way, Marin wonders if she isn’t saving him—maybe it’s the other way around.
In an author’s note, Sarah Beth Durst states she wrote this series as an escape from the hate and cruelty of the world. That sense of lighthearted escapism really does shine through in Sea of Charms. Sure, it contains some larger themes about the importance of choice and the misuse of power, but at its heart is a story that’s purposefully upbeat. If you’re looking for a complex plot or high-seas adrenaline, you might need to look elsewhere. In fact, despite the time-sensitive nature of the core plot, Sea of Charms brims with little side quests that seem to meander and set the laid-back tone for the entire story.
While I enjoyed this book, it wasn’t my favorite in the series. It covers the entire revolution timeline, and perhaps because of this, it could feel repetitive and slow. However, I believe this book may be bridging an old and new era for the series as a whole. In Sea of Charms, we explore more of the world, have multiple cameos from previous book characters, and even glimpse a fun nod toward book four—where I’m hopeful the series will taker readers into new territory beyond the revolution. Regardless, Sea of Charms continues this series’ legacy of being a safe haven to readers looking for some happiness, and it’s easy to love it for that alone.
Rated: Mild, for 9 uses of moderate language, 2 uses of mild language, and one use of the name of Deity. There is some violence with mild descriptions of destruction and at least one death. Characters kiss.
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*I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
