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The Master of Tides
In the city of Tarian, where mastery over the tides is essential for the city’s very existence, an unforeseen and unthinkable thing has happened. The Master of Tides—Tarian’s guardian for over seven hundred years—has died, and the Sand Coin, the object that gives the Master his power, has vanished into the shadows.
With the Sand Coin missing and Tarian under threat from an impending cataclysmic event, Cora, a spirited orphan girl laboring in the city’s Water Works, embarks on a desperate quest to save her city.
Along with Will, her charming yet unwelcome companion, Cora discovers that to find the Sand Coin, she must join the magical Wandering Circus. But who in this mysterious and dangerous troupe of young performers can she trust? And how far will Cora have to travel with the circus in order to bring the Sand Coin home?
The Master of Tides is a spellbinding tale of courage, friendship, and the enduring power of hope in the face of encroaching darkness.
With the Sand Coin missing and Tarian under threat from an impending cataclysmic event, Cora, a spirited orphan girl laboring in the city’s Water Works, embarks on a desperate quest to save her city.
Along with Will, her charming yet unwelcome companion, Cora discovers that to find the Sand Coin, she must join the magical Wandering Circus. But who in this mysterious and dangerous troupe of young performers can she trust? And how far will Cora have to travel with the circus in order to bring the Sand Coin home?
The Master of Tides is a spellbinding tale of courage, friendship, and the enduring power of hope in the face of encroaching darkness.
296 pages, Hardcover
Published April 27, 2024
2 people are currently reading
119 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
October 4, 2023
Constellations that are living beings and protectors of mankind? Sign me up! A young woman with a witty sidekick? I'm there. Deep magic and old woods? I've got my mug and I'll see you on the other side! This was an excellent series opener and I cannot wait for the next installment in the world of Hibaria!
January 23, 2024
When I read Jamin Still’s “Tales of Hibaria: The Awakening” in 2021, I immediately hoped that there would be future full-length novels set in the world of Hibaria. It’s a world so full of compelling stories, settings, and characters! Needless to say, I was so thrilled to read “The Master of Tides” and once again be immersed in Hibaria.
The coastal town of Tarian is protected by the Master of Tides, whose power is derived from the Sand Coin. When the Master of Tides dies and the sand coin is found to be missing, 14-year-old Cora finds herself unexpectedly setting out in search of the missing coin.
Soon after leaving the Water Works (the place she has worked for a number of years since she washed ashore in Tarian, orphaned by the great Storm), she joins up with a very unusual circus made up entirely of kids and teenagers. Traveling with the circus and pursuing the trail of the missing Sand Coin, Cora soon finds there is more than meets the eye with the Wandering Circus.
After surviving an attack by bandits, Cora and a few other members of the circus must travel through immeasurably dangerous places in order to reach their intended destination. Time, however, is quickly running out for Cora to return the Sand Coin to Tarian and save the city from the seasonal high tides – and from others who seek to control the coin’s power.
Cora’s story is intriguing, and I liked that “The Master of Tides” was not predictable. There are many twists and turns in the story that I wasn’t necessarily expecting – which isn’t always the case for me reading fantasy or adventure stories that are aimed at a juvenile audience.
Like in "Tales of Hibaria: The Awakening", magic manifests in this story in interesting ways that aren’t just spell casting (though there is some of that too). For example, the characters physically enter a dream (more like a nightmare) come to life, and of course the Sand Coin itself is an artifact with tremendous magical powers.
A question from readers who are new to Jamin Still’s work might be, “Can this book be read without having read 'Tales of Hibaria: The Awakening' first?" I’m fairly confident that readers can pick this book up first and be immersed in the world of Hibaria without difficulty. To be honest, I forgot a lot of details since reading "Tales of Hibaria: The Awakening" two years ago! When I went back and skimmed "Tales of Hibaria: The Awakening" after finishing the new book looking for any characters that might overlap, there was at least one piece of information I was glad I had forgotten, because it made for a better surprise at the end of "The Master of Tides." Readers might feel a bit “tossed in” to the world, but like many fantasy works that immerse readers in a world steeped in its own mythology, there’s a joy of discovery in trying to figure out what’s going on, and of course a wish to know even more about the world (that will be felt by those that have read "Tales of Hibaria: The Awakening" too!).
"The Master of Tides" is absolutely a 5 star book for me. I really enjoy the fantasy genre in general, but there are few worlds I find as captivating as Hibaria. Jamin Still’s story telling in "The Master of Tides" brings to life a fascinating world, and I look forward to what I hope will be many more Hibaria stories!
Content Considerations: Magic and magical creatures, mild fantasy fighting/violence, mildly tense or scary scenes. Suitable for mid-elementary age and up.
Thank you to the publisher for providing an ARC so I could review Master of Tides before its release. I’ve also backed the Kickstarter and eagerly await my physical copy of the book!
The coastal town of Tarian is protected by the Master of Tides, whose power is derived from the Sand Coin. When the Master of Tides dies and the sand coin is found to be missing, 14-year-old Cora finds herself unexpectedly setting out in search of the missing coin.
Soon after leaving the Water Works (the place she has worked for a number of years since she washed ashore in Tarian, orphaned by the great Storm), she joins up with a very unusual circus made up entirely of kids and teenagers. Traveling with the circus and pursuing the trail of the missing Sand Coin, Cora soon finds there is more than meets the eye with the Wandering Circus.
After surviving an attack by bandits, Cora and a few other members of the circus must travel through immeasurably dangerous places in order to reach their intended destination. Time, however, is quickly running out for Cora to return the Sand Coin to Tarian and save the city from the seasonal high tides – and from others who seek to control the coin’s power.
Cora’s story is intriguing, and I liked that “The Master of Tides” was not predictable. There are many twists and turns in the story that I wasn’t necessarily expecting – which isn’t always the case for me reading fantasy or adventure stories that are aimed at a juvenile audience.
Like in "Tales of Hibaria: The Awakening", magic manifests in this story in interesting ways that aren’t just spell casting (though there is some of that too). For example, the characters physically enter a dream (more like a nightmare) come to life, and of course the Sand Coin itself is an artifact with tremendous magical powers.
A question from readers who are new to Jamin Still’s work might be, “Can this book be read without having read 'Tales of Hibaria: The Awakening' first?" I’m fairly confident that readers can pick this book up first and be immersed in the world of Hibaria without difficulty. To be honest, I forgot a lot of details since reading "Tales of Hibaria: The Awakening" two years ago! When I went back and skimmed "Tales of Hibaria: The Awakening" after finishing the new book looking for any characters that might overlap, there was at least one piece of information I was glad I had forgotten, because it made for a better surprise at the end of "The Master of Tides." Readers might feel a bit “tossed in” to the world, but like many fantasy works that immerse readers in a world steeped in its own mythology, there’s a joy of discovery in trying to figure out what’s going on, and of course a wish to know even more about the world (that will be felt by those that have read "Tales of Hibaria: The Awakening" too!).
"The Master of Tides" is absolutely a 5 star book for me. I really enjoy the fantasy genre in general, but there are few worlds I find as captivating as Hibaria. Jamin Still’s story telling in "The Master of Tides" brings to life a fascinating world, and I look forward to what I hope will be many more Hibaria stories!
Content Considerations: Magic and magical creatures, mild fantasy fighting/violence, mildly tense or scary scenes. Suitable for mid-elementary age and up.
Thank you to the publisher for providing an ARC so I could review Master of Tides before its release. I’ve also backed the Kickstarter and eagerly await my physical copy of the book!
October 9, 2023
Tales of Hibaria-The Master of Tides was a lovely read. I quickly read the previously published works by Jamin (Tales of Hibaria-The Awakening) last night to refresh my memory of the world of Hibaria and then today managed to read all the way through The Master of Tides.
This story is full of hope, sadness, suspense, despair, love, hatred, fear, and excitement. Cora must decide what choices to make, and whether to lean into her fears and sadness or continue to dull her emotions and feelings. Is there hope if she goes through the pain? Who is an enemy, and who by contrast is a friend? Does she want or even need friends? Old world magic vs New world magic leaves my brain thinking through possible directions the stories could be headed. The ending, while satisfying, also left me hoping for more to come.
I found myself sucked into the world of Hibari, and unwilling to escape. The stories of both books based in Hibaria intermingle in just the perfect way, and while one does not NEED to have read The Awakening in order to enjoy The Master of Tides, I found it lovely to wonder just how Jamin would tie different stories together into this novel. I can not wait for Jamin to continue adding to the stories from Hibaria and am so glad to have my own hard copy on its way to me via the Kickstarter! Thanks to the publisher for sending me an advance copy of the book to review!
This story is full of hope, sadness, suspense, despair, love, hatred, fear, and excitement. Cora must decide what choices to make, and whether to lean into her fears and sadness or continue to dull her emotions and feelings. Is there hope if she goes through the pain? Who is an enemy, and who by contrast is a friend? Does she want or even need friends? Old world magic vs New world magic leaves my brain thinking through possible directions the stories could be headed. The ending, while satisfying, also left me hoping for more to come.
I found myself sucked into the world of Hibari, and unwilling to escape. The stories of both books based in Hibaria intermingle in just the perfect way, and while one does not NEED to have read The Awakening in order to enjoy The Master of Tides, I found it lovely to wonder just how Jamin would tie different stories together into this novel. I can not wait for Jamin to continue adding to the stories from Hibaria and am so glad to have my own hard copy on its way to me via the Kickstarter! Thanks to the publisher for sending me an advance copy of the book to review!
December 27, 2023
I really enjoyed this story and this world. Appropriate for all ages and I look forward to the next story!
May 11, 2024
4.5 rounding up. Excellent story telling and world building and compelling characters. I’m excited to read more in this series.
November 24, 2023
Jamin Still is a brilliantly creative author and artist! We absolutely loved this riveting book! The plot line kept us guessing! Rich in language, it was a timeless novel. Keep the books coming please!
May 11, 2024
The setting for this story is really refreshing. I haven't read anything with quite this mix. Here, in the first book in the series, we start in a seaside industrial town. Then, we're on the road with a circus. Then, we're in a dark, fantastical wood. Then the open sea. It's not typical medieval times in Hibaria.
I enjoyed Cora as a heroine, but I think I liked Will more. He was much spunkier, and Victoria was a tortured soul. But Cora makes sense as the protagonist because she has the most growing to do.
I know that authors sometimes fear dumping too much worldbuilding on the reader, but, because Hibaria has such a unique mythos, I kept forgetting certain aspects that popped up later, such as the role of the constellations and Augrind's backstory.
Even though this is the first book in the series, and it ends with setup for the next book, there was good closure here. No cliffhangers, just a few twists.
I think that kids around 12 and up would enjoy this, and the morals are sterling.
I enjoyed Cora as a heroine, but I think I liked Will more. He was much spunkier, and Victoria was a tortured soul. But Cora makes sense as the protagonist because she has the most growing to do.
I know that authors sometimes fear dumping too much worldbuilding on the reader, but, because Hibaria has such a unique mythos, I kept forgetting certain aspects that popped up later, such as the role of the constellations and Augrind's backstory.
Even though this is the first book in the series, and it ends with setup for the next book, there was good closure here. No cliffhangers, just a few twists.
I think that kids around 12 and up would enjoy this, and the morals are sterling.
February 7, 2024
A Wandering Circus made up of orphaned children where nothing is as it seems...a captive but restless evil that yearns to break its bonds...ancient forests haunted by old wounds and bristling with outlaws, fearsome beasts, and mysterious Shadowhunters...an elusive Sand Coin that can harness the power of the tides...and unlikely friendships forged through harrowing trials.
TALES OF HIBARIA: THE MASTER OF TIDES surprised and delighted me at every turn. As a fellow fantasy author, I enjoy trying to guess plot twists long before they happen, but this story frequently surprised me in startling but satisfying ways. The cliffhanger epilogue left me craving more, and fascinating hints and references throughout the body of the story made want to go back and read the prequel (AWAKENING) as soon as ever I can.
Despite the many perils that the young protagonists face, their perseverance and faithful friendship--even as they wrestle with real doubts, weaknesses, and fears--filled my heart with light. This is a story of courage in the face of darkness, friendship that grows stronger through testing, and the power of forgiveness and hope.
TALES OF HIBARIA: THE MASTER OF TIDES surprised and delighted me at every turn. As a fellow fantasy author, I enjoy trying to guess plot twists long before they happen, but this story frequently surprised me in startling but satisfying ways. The cliffhanger epilogue left me craving more, and fascinating hints and references throughout the body of the story made want to go back and read the prequel (AWAKENING) as soon as ever I can.
Despite the many perils that the young protagonists face, their perseverance and faithful friendship--even as they wrestle with real doubts, weaknesses, and fears--filled my heart with light. This is a story of courage in the face of darkness, friendship that grows stronger through testing, and the power of forgiveness and hope.
November 14, 2024
Felt like I had missed the first book in the series. Too much world building info was skipped over. Plot was very contrived. Details in scenes didn’t make sense with the events (she sent water into the pipes and all the water was in the bay forming a maelstrom? The box she was carrying the entire time through all sorts of physical action gets smashed when she just randomly falls over?) And I don’t think I’ve ever read the word “and” in a book so many times in my life and I have read a lot of books and the author’s sentences go on and on.
Harmless and probably enjoyable for kids, just not great writing.
Harmless and probably enjoyable for kids, just not great writing.
March 25, 2024
This book has given me a new love of fantasy. As of late I have read more non-fiction, but this book may be changing that trend. I found the characters intriguing and so well thought out and enjoyed the unexpected plot twists. The dialogue between characters was enjoyable.
I lost sleep (in the best kind of way to continue reading additional chapter) and finished the book far quicker than my normal. I am eagerly awaiting the next installation to the series!
I lost sleep (in the best kind of way to continue reading additional chapter) and finished the book far quicker than my normal. I am eagerly awaiting the next installation to the series!
March 28, 2024
We loved “Tales of Hibaria: The Awakening” and read it multiple times, as a family and with another family. It was wonderful to reread and be reminded that the tale of Cora would take a story of its own and to finally have that book in my hands. While I missed Jamin’s beautiful paintings every chapter, “Master of Tides” was gorgeous in its own right. Adventure, friendship, loss, commitment, good vs evil - it’s a story I will be happy to hand to my children and recommend to others.
June 25, 2024
I truly enjoyed reading this book! It captivated me and kept me on the edge of my seat! If I had to give one critique, it would be that the ending felt abrupt and I wish it had been a little more drawn out like the rest of the book. Jamin did a great job with world building and building up the plot.
August 30, 2024
Very decent adventure JF/YA fantasy story. I like how it kept surprising me by its unique and creative world building. The characters slowly grow on one, though they never became as compelling or believable as I wished. The dialogue dissatisfied me—something about it didn’t match its world, fell flat…I read this for a book club and perhaps the hype about it set me up for too high expectations!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 7, 2024
It really pulled me in and I can’t believe I finished a book so fast this late in a pregnancy. Character development was good and I was constantly shocked by characters’ behavior, although not in an “this was unrealistic” way (if I thought about it, the characters’ reasons for their actions always seemed plausible when thinking about the preceding events), and I was virtually never able to anticipate any of the dramatic turns of events.
There were a few parts where back stories could have been explained more thoroughly, but perhaps that’s info I would’ve gotten if I read the other book about Hibaria.
All in all, a great book and I’m certainly hoping another is coming soon!
There were a few parts where back stories could have been explained more thoroughly, but perhaps that’s info I would’ve gotten if I read the other book about Hibaria.
All in all, a great book and I’m certainly hoping another is coming soon!
December 29, 2023
Please please tell me there's a sequel.
November 19, 2024
Audrey and I really enjoyed reading this middle grade fantasy together! I hope the author writes more!
July 30, 2025
Very entertaining story!
January 6, 2026
About halfway through I decided I was really enjoying the book (took me a minute because you're kind of just thrown into an already-existing background story). There's a lot of assumed world development and I liked the story, so I'm hoping there will be a sequel.
December 4, 2023
“The Master of Tides” is fantasy novel with a strong female lead, a humorous sidekick, and a well-developed fantasy world that offers a delightful reading experience. The interplay between the characters and the obstacles they encounter leads to a well-rounded and engaging story that combines suspense, victory, and the enchantment of a fantastical realm. “The Masters of Tides" ends with a solid conclusion yet leaves you ready continue the adventure in future books.
Order from Renewed Books or Amazon.
Order from Renewed Books or Amazon.
July 8, 2024
Jamin has written such a brilliant book!!! I love it more and more each time I read it. Jamin's art and now his books have special places in my home and heart.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews