Kingdom of Waves

Kingdom of Waves #1

by Melissa de la Cruz

The Gilded Wolves meets A Magic Steeped in Poison in the first of a new pulse-pounding YA fantasy duology about two thieves who go after the same mythical treasure, from #1 New York Times-bestselling author Melissa de la Cruz.

Once upon a time, there was a shining kingdom floating on the sea . . .

The kingdom of Ophir was one of the most powerful and beautiful places in the world. But after an invasion by the land of Lacon, it was lost to the waves. Now, the Ophir live as second-class citizens beneath Lacon’s golden palaces.

When two bands of Ophir thieves—one led by Eban Sadreal and the other by Gineth Strong—go after the same treasure, a priceless relic, their worlds and hearts suddenly collide. For the relic releases an ancient magic that could restore the legacy of Ophir—a magic that could change the course of Eban and Gin’s lives forever.

With impossibly high stakes and charming will-they-won’t-they romance, this heist fantasy is perfect for fans of Six of Crows and A Tempest of Tea.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Young Adult, Fiction, Fantasy Romance, Romantasy, Young Adult Fantasy

320 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication June 16, 2026

About the author

Melissa de la Cruz is the New York Times and USA Today best-selling author of many critically acclaimed and award-winning novels for teens including The Au Pairs series, the Blue Bloods series, the Ashleys series, the Angels on Sunset Boulevard series and the semi-autobiographical novel Fresh off the Boat.

Her books for adults include the novel Cat’s Meow, the anthology Girls Who Like Boys Who Like Boys and the tongue-in-chic handbooks How to Become Famous in Two Weeks or Less and The Fashionista Files: Adventures in Four-inch heels and Faux-Pas.

She has worked as a fashion and beauty editor and has written for many publications including The New York Times, Marie Claire, Harper’s Bazaar, Glamour, Cosmopolitan, Allure, The San Francisco Chronicle, McSweeney’s, Teen Vogue, CosmoGirl! and Seventeen. She has also appeared as an expert on fashion, trends and fame for CNN, E! and FoxNews.

Melissa grew up in Manila and moved to San Francisco with her family, where she graduated high school salutatorian from The Convent of the Sacred Heart. She majored in art history and English at Columbia University (and minored in nightclubs and shopping!).

She now divides her time between New York and Los Angeles, where she lives in the Hollywood Hills with her husband and daughter.

Reviews

[kylie’s been jinxed ౨ৎ · Rating 3 out of 5]

❛❛ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴡᴀs ʟᴏsᴛ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ғᴀʟʟ ʜᴀs ʙᴇᴇɴ ғᴏᴜɴᴅ ᴏɴᴄᴇ ᴀɢᴀɪɴ. ❜❜*

˚⊱🫧⊰˚ 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑲𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒅𝒐𝒎 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑾𝒂𝒗𝒆𝒔˚⊱🌊⊰˚

ᯓ 🌊 ᴛʜᴇ ᴋɪɴɢᴅᴏᴍ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴀᴠᴇs ᴡɪʟʟ ʙᴇ ʀᴇʟᴇᴀsᴇᴅ ᴏɴ ᴊᴜɴᴇ 𝟷𝟼, 𝟸𝟶𝟸𝟼!
⤿ ʀᴀᴛɪɴɢ: 3.5 sᴛᴀʀs!! ★★★☆☆
⤿ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴛʜɪs ɪғ ʏᴏᴜ ᴇɴᴊᴏʏ: ʜᴇɪsᴛs, sᴛʀᴇᴇᴛ ᴛʜɪᴇᴠᴇs, ᴛʀᴇᴀsᴜʀᴇ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴀᴄᴛɪᴏɴ!

ᯓ 🫧 ᴄʜᴀʀᴀᴄᴛᴇʀs:

⤷ Gin. A talented Ophir thief looking for the prize, to get herself off the streets and save her own life.

⤷ Eban. Another skilled thief, attempting to gain his freedom and save his people, by getting ahold of the treasure.

They’re both pursuing the same treasure, what could possibly go wrong?

ᯓ 🌊 ᴀʟʟ ᴍʏ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛs:
⤷ This book is super fast paced and it didn’t slow down during the entirety of the book. The writing was well done and the world building is immersive!

This felt like a very quick read at 320 pages, it flew by with lots of action. However, it does toe the line of feeling too rushed, but it did keep my attention pretty well. There’s always another action scene within the next chapter or so. It definitely could’ve done with slowing down the middle and with extra pages.

The writing was easy to read, it brings me back to reading Melissa de la Cruz when I was younger. Additionally, the plot was well defined and straightforward, but that ending! I was expecting a little bit more from the characters, but it was enough to keep me intrigued. The world building was a high point of this book. It was well imagined and detailed, creating a wonderful backdrop for the action.

ᯓ 🫧 ᴏᴠᴇʀᴀʟʟ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛs:

I will probably continue with the duology, to see the character development and how the plot will continue to develop. I would recommend this book to people who have short attention spans and enjoy great world building!

ᯓ 🌊 ʀᴀᴛɪɴɢ:
⤿ 3.5 stars ★★★☆☆

ᯓ 🫧 ʀᴇᴀᴅ ɪғ ʏᴏᴜ ᴇɴᴊᴏʏᴇᴅ:
⤿ To Kill A Kingdom (Christo)
⤿ All the Stars and Teeth (Grace)

*Quote has been taken from an uncorrected proof.

Thank you very much to Netgalley and Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group for a copy of this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

▰▱▰▱▰▱▰▱▰▱▰▱▰▱▰▱▰▱▰▱▰▱▰

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ 🫧 || ᴘʀᴇʀᴇᴀᴅ:
₊⊹⁀➴ heist fantasy? sign me up!!

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC received in exchange for an honest review.

Kingdom of Waves leans very much toward the “young” side of “young adult.” It’s a bit unsubtle in certain spots, but still manages to entertain. I think tweens and new teenagers will love it! Melissa de la Cruz is a perfect author for younger audiences just getting into fantasy - there’s always an intriguing world, some spunky characters, and a good plot to pull you in. That being said, if you’re picking this up because you want a heist book…this is not that. The main characters are thieves and there are some robberies involved, but the main focus is on colonialism and the rewriting of history by oppressors. (The topic is handled very well for the age group, in my opinion.)

I really liked Gin and Eban’s dynamic - bantering thieves is always going to be a favorite - though I wish we’d had more time with Aris and Vergel to bring some different energy to the group. I’m excited to see how Eban’s trial goes, and I’ll definitely be picking up book two for the rest of Ophir’s and Lacon’s lore…and the satisfaction of watching certain nobles get what’s coming to them.

I do think the book was good, but its marketing is doing it a disservice. If the right audience picks it up and has realistic expectations going in, Kingdom of Waves will be a really great read.

[Ann · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

I feel like my main problem with this novel is that it's billed as a heist novel, and it is very much not. Said "heist" really involves just two sets of thieves trying to go after the same treasure hidden in a barrel in an alleyway, and most of the rest of the novel involves what to do with the treasure in the context of Ophir vs. Lacon. I did like Eban a lot when he is first introduced, since I always like a jaded thief looking for the one big job, and I was inclined to like Gin as well, even if I found her romance with Rollo to be a bit intense given that she had just met him a week ago, but I was willing to cut her some slack since he was kind of her savior, and she's a teenager. Unfortunately, everything after that just goes so fast; Gin and Eban's true thieving companions die so fast, and I feel like not enough time is spent on mourning either of them. The lost mystical kingdom of Lashing is found not even halfway through the book, and the romance between Gin and Eban feels speed run as well.

The worldbuilding of this book is interesting, but honestly, the pacing is so fast, and the story could do more to just spend time breathing instead of heading to the next big thing. Hopefully book 2 takes a slightly less frenetic approach.

[Jaimes_Mystical_Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an enjoyable young adult fantasy and a great start to a duology. I liked following the dual points of view between Gin and Eban in this story. This book had a fast pace and high stakes and had me hooked from start to finish. I liked the world building and overall storyline in this one. I can’t wait to see how the story continues in the next book after how this one left off.

Read this if you like:

📖 Heists
📖 Lost kingdoms
📖 Dual POV

Thank you to Goodreads and the publisher for my giveaway prize.

[rachel x]

"The Gilded Wolves meets A Magic Steeped in Poison in the first of a new pulse-pounding YA fantasy duology about two thieves who go after the same mythical treasure"

heist fantasy that's 'perfect for fans of Six of Crows and A Tempest of Tea'?
sold!

[jenny reads a lot]

Treasure and relics?! Say less

| IG | TikTok |

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun book! The Writting was easy and enjoyable. My 12 year old is currently reading it and loves it too!

[Brenda Westervelt · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was okay. I liked the characters and story but I found it slow.

[Risa · Rating 1 out of 5]

1.5 stars rounded down


Wow. This book was rough to read.

Listen, not all (YA fantasy) heist books are created equal. However, if you’re going to comp your book to some of the most notable out there (ie The Gilded Wolves, A Tempest of Tea, and Six of Crows), then readers will have certain expectations going in.

I don’t feel I can even compare those books to what I just read, because I don’t believe Kingdom of Waves is a heist novel, and it’s disingenuous and misleading to call it one.

In my opinion, there are certain elements that should be present in a heist novel, and this book did not hit on any of them. Just because our two main characters are thieves (allegedly, we barely see them steal anything), doesn’t mean this is a heist book. Just because they fight off some other thieves and take some of the loot at the beginning of the book, does not make this a heist book. Just because you borrowed certain characters traits from the aforementioned novels, does not make this a heist book!

Did the two main characters attempt to steal some stolen relics from the elites? Yes. But that’s just a burglary. What makes a heist, in my opinion, is the extensive planning (only for things to go wrong) and a team of high skilled individuals trying to execute that plan. We didn’t get any of that in this book.


I have not read A Magic Steeped in Poison, so I cannot say whether or not that is an accurate comp. But from what I know of the novel, that story centers around a competition. Kingdom of Waves does not.

There were no “impossibly high stakes” like the description promised, and the “will-they-won’t-they” romance came out of left field.


Would I have had a more enjoyable time if the description hadn’t been so misleading? Probably. But even if I just judge the book for what it is, there was hardly anything compelling about it. The two exceptions would be the author’s attempt at exploring the devastating impact of colonialism (although that was done heavy-handedly); and some of the scenes in the last quarter of the book (though I guessed the major plot twist ahead of time; it was kind of obvious).


I mean look, there’s a reader for every book, and I’m sure plenty of people will enjoy reading this. But do not go in expecting it to be as compelling as the books it compares itself to.

This author has published a lot of books (and this will be her second YA fantasy to come out in 2026), so maybe she should slow down to improve the quality of her works, because this almost felt like a cash grab with how misleading the description is.

(Having said that, I read the e-ARC in October 2025, and this book does not come out until June 2026. So the author still has time to make major improvements to the book. Hopefully she does.)



NOTES I TOOK WHILE READING:

- So Gin got caught staying in some nobleman’s palace and was going to be executed for that? That sucks.

- I’m glad the girl who took her place is okay, but it kind of made the scene anti-climatic. I think it would’ve been more compelling and impactful if someone innocent did die because Gin escaped.


- I’m curious to know why Rollo gave her a place to stay in the first place. There’s nothing wrong with him just being a nice guy, but still… given who his mother is, I don’t fully trust it.


- Speaking of death, Eban doesn’t seem too upset that Angel. He says he lost a brother, but then is basically like oh well… it feels very surface level.


- Eban essentially wants enough money for a boat…very Inej of him.

- (Also the name Gin makes me think of Jinn from A Tempest of Tea…)

- It’s cool how current is spoken of as big cats (lions and leopards thus far).

- Eban and Vergil are giving platonic Jesper and Wylan vibes (based on their personalities).

- There’s a lot of telling going on with the writing—this place is this, and I am that… I wish the writing had a less simplistic feel to it.


- And Gin used to work at a brothel…more Inej vibes in the story. (Though to be fair, Gin seemed to work in the kitchens.)


- Aris is an old, fragile, and most importantly kind mentor to Gin. And thus, there’s no way he’s making it to the end of the book. (I was right—he died in a fight with some thieves.)


- So Gin and Eban meet while they are both taking on the thieves with that barrel of loot. I appreciate that Eban saved her (makes sense since he and Vergel seem protective of other Ophir). However, Gin seemed so ready to give up after a couple hits. And then when it’s Eban and Vergel versus her, she picks up blades to fight them despite knowing how well they fight….there just seems to be some inconsistencies in Gin’s character, because she comes off weak sometimes and then comes off as a wannabe badass other times.


- I get that the Thieves Guild is probably supposed to add another level of suspense in the story (since Gin and Eban end up killing thieves from the guild, and they fear retaliation); however, if members of the Thieves Guild aren’t supposed to steal from the noble Houses, what’s the point of having the guild? Eban says he never joined the guild because he’d rather steal from the rich than our own. … But from what I’ve gathered, Eban’s “own” is poor, so what exactly would the guild even be stealing?


- I figured the barrel of loot had some magical elements in it. Curious to know what it all means.

- Interesting that Eban and Gin have matching symbols on their arms. I bet you it will tie them to some Ophir magic/deities some how. (Or it could just be some fated mates mark, which it’s always my favorite.)


- Oh how interesting that Zagger works for Rollo’s house as a guard. I like that surprise. It makes me all the more curious now why Rollo saved Gin’s life. I wonder if he knows something about her (magical) past that we don’t yet. (And perhaps that’s why Rollo wants Gin to go to the lashing, for some reason we’ll learn about later in a twist.)

- 37% in: I should’ve guessed that Vergel would suffer a similar fate to Aris, as he too was too kind for this world. So RIP to Vergel.


- I really like the fight scene where Zagger has other guards/soldiers from House Eternal ambush the trio! And I also really liked how Gin called on a magical spirit from a looted bottle to save them! But it leaves me with two main questions: (1) How did Gin know that the bottle had a spirit in them that could save them? And (2) How did the spirit know to only take out the soldiers, and leave Eban alive?


- So I’m 38% in, and it’s just Eban and Gin left. I’ll be honest—this book isn’t really delivering what was promised. In the description, it says the story follows opposing bands of thieves—while we technically got that (with Aris and Gin looking for the same barrel as Eban and Vergel), that literally only lasted a couple chapters. Since that’s basically the meat of the description, I thought this book was going to follow the two bands competing against each other, maybe even trying to one up each other, and throw the other under the bus—something exciting, to warrant calling this a heist story. We didn’t get that—the competition between the two bands of thieves is over so quickly. And now we are trying to get to the Lashing. What about that screams heist????



- I know he’s had a rough upbringing, but it still feels disingenuous that Eban didn’t show more grief at losing his “brother” Vergel.


- I really like the idea of the glowing blue bottle acting as a compass for them! Hopefully they find the Lashing (though I bet there’ll be some big twist about its existence, like it’s taken over or something, when they get there).


- 41% oh, we’re already arriving at the Lashing. Well that was fast… (It’s been two days? The pacing is too fast.)


- We get it, Eban—you think you should have kept your hair as an escape plan. Which means obviously something is going to go wrong.


- I thought Darius was a man—he came off as an adult to me. So when Gin keeps thinking about how he’s handsome and he looked away like they just kissed…that was jarring.


- So obviously Darius has ties to the Great Houses too if he’s going there for information, and knows Gin’s full name.


- Glad that Gin could just the spirit power to fight off the Blackcoat ambush. I don’t really buy her reason for waiting so long though.



- Alright good—so we have another heist-like event where Darius, Eban, and Gin (and maybe a few others?) are going to try to break into House Dominant to find the relics. My only question about that is—Darius said a couple relics are missing, and we know Gin has one. Didn’t Eban steal things from the loot barrel too, and thus wouldn’t he have the other one?

- Okay so—never mind in that Darius is leaving Eban and Gin to steal the relics themselves (he actually wanted Eban to go by himself, apparently), and just send a flare when done. I feel like that’s a missed opportunity for the heist.

- First, we know that Darius has informants in the houses, so why he wouldn’t go with them to help, or at least help them come up with a plan, is beyond me. Like, how badly does he want to retrieve these relics if he’s so careless about Eban (a guy he clearly isn’t a fan of) and Gin retrieving them? They could’ve at least discussed it during their return trip to Lacon. (I mean, maybe it’ll become clear in the end since Darius is suspicious to me as a character.)

- And second, how convenient that they happen to come across someone who recognizes Gin from House Eternal (bringing her food?), but doesn’t realize that Gin wasn’t working there. And then she’s the one who tells them the secret way into House Dominant. It’s very convenient, and it’s still ridiculous to me that that’s how they come up with a plan.


- Also, it was confirmed that both Gin and Eban are each in possession of a relic. I can believe that there are more that they need to retrieve from House Dominant (though I could’ve sworn Darius said there’s just a couple missing—so maybe he’s setting them up to be caught because he thinks Eban has the missing relics?). But why hasn’t Eban even tried to put his relic to use yet? He’s said he doesn’t have the same power as Gin—fine, let’s say I believe that. Why wouldn’t he at least give it to Gin to try and use, to at least know what it does?

- I mean, I have a strong feeling that Eban will FINALLY try using his relic towards the end of the book (and I’m already 66% in). But it’s so strange and unbelievable that we’re just ignoring it for now.


- I’m a bit confused at Gin’s reaction to seeing Rollo on the street with poor children. She assumes her only helped her, and helps the people on the street, to make himself feel better and different from other oppressors. And while I’m not saying he acted perfectly (and it wasn’t great that he ignored Gin when he saw her), I don’t understand why that riled her up as much as it did. He’s still giving coins (and food?) to those on the street that need it. Yes he’s making himself feel better, but he’s also making others feel better in the process—it’s not like he’s ridiculing them and parading them around the elites to be laughed at or something. (Honestly, this just felt like the author needed an excuse for Gin to choose Eban over Rollo romantically, but I don’t think the reasoning worked here.)


- Also, I greatly appreciate that this story wants to explore how terrible colonialism is. But having paragraph after paragraph telling us how mean the Lacon are to the Ophir is starting to get repetitive. I think it’s more powerful if we are shown these instances (like the attack on the Lashing was good).

- I’m glad that Gin and Eban are reconnecting with their heritage in this book. But them coming across the lost kingdom in the ocean felt kinda random. Like it’s a cool concept, but it’s almost taking away from the task at hand (sneaking into House Dominant). Especially since they are only there in their heads, like a memory/dream. I also wish it had been more intentional about them finding it, like how they were searching for the Lashing earlier.

- The trip to this lost kingdom was obviously just so the author could info dump about the history of the world and the meanings of the relics. And don’t get me wrong, I actually like the history that was given—of the Lacon killing all the bonded to try and teal the magic for themselves. I just wish the history was introduced in a more compelling way. (Or that Gin and Eban at least sought out these answers themselves, rather than it essentially being dropped into their laps.)

- I mean, it was obvious that, if they weren’t just fated lovers, the marks on their arms meant that Gin and Eban are from special bloodlines. I like that though, and I like that Gin is from the warriors and Eban is from royalty.

- This need to bond with relics via the trials is dumb. Gin not only talked to her spirit already; she’s already called on the spirit to save her. So yes, Gin may not have activated the magic within herself yet, she’s already had control of it. So the stakes of these trials don’t feel high.

- Also saying Eban cannot talk to his spirit because he’s not ready to listen…um, okay? What does that even mean?

- The romantic feelings that Eban suddenly has for Gin seem so random. And rushed. I know I’m more than two-thirds into the book, but I don’t understand how such a romance even developed… Because if I’m being honest, Eban and Gin have barely gotten to know each other thus far.


- I’m gonna go ahead and guess that the trickster god is either tied to Darius or Rollo somehow.

- Wow, those trials were dumb. I’m glad they only lasted two chapters, because how anti-climatic.

- First of all, I don’t mind the idea of them having to embrace the past to access their powers. But for Eban to bow out of doing that is stupid—it’s not like he had to relive it and be that nine-year-old on the run (and it felt so real because he was running for his life, etc.). He was just watching it happen! This wasn’t even a trial, to be honest, it was just him watching a memory!

- Second of all, Eban’s memory with his uncle was ridiculous. I appreciate him and his uncle (a father figure) were trying to escape the Blackcoats. But for him to stop running, and draw his sword, because he wants to cut his uncle, so that he can escape… and his uncle is like go ahead do it? That’s so bizarre!!!

- I think it wouldn’t worked way better if while running, the two of them either split up (and maybe Eban hides while his uncle draws the Blackcoats away) OR the uncle was the one to suggest Eban cut him. How it’s currently portrayed just makes no sense. And I understand the author wants to make Eban be this tortured, guilt-ridden person, but this didn’t land at all.

- The only thing I liked about that scene is that Eban took his late uncle’s name.

- Gin’s trial was also dumb. I don’t think she even saw her own memory, she saw he’s spirits? It wasn’t good. The author couldn’t come up with a better way.

- 77% Okay—it’s a long time coming, but maybe we are FINALLY going to get a heist in this book? When they sneak into the vault?

- Nope, just kidding—Darius just tells them to enter the palace as servants, and then sneak off to find the vault. I need more planning than that!

- Between Darius convincing them not to use the entrance in the side of the cliff, and him changing his mind to appear like a noble rather than sneak in as a servant, it’s looking more and more like Darius is in control of the Trickster Ophir God.

- Also, idk why, but I have this feeling that Darius and Rollo might be the same person? (And can shift appearances using their trickster power?)


- It’s pretty obvious from the way that they are only allowing in strong Ophir that there’s going to be some battle to the death. (Yep, I was right! It was so obvious—how did Gin and Eban not realize that? I thought they were smarter than that.)

- While I think it’s stupid how Gin just pushed a man and was invited in (it would’ve been more compelling if she hadn’t been chosen), I did like the scene where they had to battle against the automaton. That was great, and honestly the first truly compelling scene in this book (even if Gin’s ability to control her power so easily, without practice, and just the will of her mind, was a bit convenient). It was a little rushed pacing wise, but I still enjoyed it. It’s also interesting that the guards are wearing Ophir symbols, because they are “rebels” as Tadhana called them earlier.

- Okay so now Gin and Eban are racing through the halls, in search of the vault, with Tadhana leading them the right way. That’s fine, but I still don’t consider any of this to be a heist. I also predict Darius is gonna show up on Team Lacon at some point.


- Listen, I like that they found the Ophir prisoners underground and want to free them (thought it’s a bit weird that the key only works on Silva’s cell, the first one Gin tries). And I think Gin and Eban having to separate in the last leg of their search is good. But they’re under a time crunch where (Silva just said we need to get the prisoners free asap), and yet they are stopping and sharing a kiss? Now?? Not the time.

- Except…now I have even bigger questions. Silva said her and the others were caged because they are to take part in the tournament. So (1) why were they choosing strong people to compete in the competition , when they already had people locked up for it? And (2) why were they only choosing strong people (like Gin and Eban) when there were men, women, and children locked up for the tournament, some of whom have been locked up for a while???? None of this makes sense.


- Also, there’s a good chance they won’t both be in the eastern garden at sundown with Darius.


- Wait what? How does Rollo calling Eban the Weasel make him assume the failed heist at the gaming hall was a setup?????


- I mean listen, Im glad Eban is still alive after fading so many Blackcoats. But the way Rollo was “finish this” implied he wanted Eban to be killed. Now, obviously it’s probably smarter to take Eban prisoner until you find Gin, but Rollo had hoped Gin would be with Eban…so idk, it’s just unclear how the guards knew not to kill Eban in that moment.


- I KNEW IT! I KNEW ROLLO AND DARIUS WERE THE SAME PERSON!! It was so obvious to me.


⁃ I like that Gin tricked Rollo (Darius) by acting like she loves him, only to then stab him.

⁃ The epilogue where Eban has been in prison for months at House Eternal, and Rollo is the warden (alive of course), was intriguing. But I won't be reading the sequel to find out what it is.

⁃ My final thoughts: This book was pretty bad. It was not a heist story at all. And what it was, I didn’t really enjoy. Yikes. I hope the author will make improvements to what I just read.

[Schelby Tharp · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so ready to go back and see what happens! This book had me hooked! I don’t read physical books too often but I couldn’t put it down! I would recommend to everyone!!!!

[Alexis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Many thanks to Netgalley for this arc. I received this book in exchange for my honest review. My thoughts are entirely my own.


This is the first book in the Kingdom of Waves series and I enjoyed it from start to finish.


We are following Gin and Eban’s pov throughout the book. We meet Gin as she is about to be executed but she escapes and another servant is put in her place because of her friendship with Rollo whose bed she was sleeping in when she was found by Lady Ariadne and sentenced to death. Rollo is also the “son” of Lady Ariadne and loves Automatons. Gin and Eban meet when both their teams: Gin and Aris who was like a father to her, and Eban and his best friend both Aris and Eban’s best friend die and Gin and Eban decide to go to the tent island of their people the Ophir while making sure no Blackcoats get them or try to find the location of the “island”. They befriend David who is one of the leaders of the island and Gin is able to bound with a spirit in a bottle who happens to be her ancestor and she gains powers after going through a trial which Eban failed. Gin, Eban, and David go to House Eternal and Eban and Gin get in by be selected to be servants and David a nobleman. They are ushered into an arena where they realize that it’s an re enactment of the Ophir’s becoming servants. Gin and Eban escape and they find out that David is Rollo and he is actually a witch who can shapeshift and he’s been a double agent all along. Gin escapes and Eban is taken hostage and will stand trial.

[Bethany Button · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kingdom of Waves is a super fun, high-stakes heist fantasy with solid Six of Crows vibes. I loved the richly imagined world: the oppressed Ophir people ruled by the golden-clad Lacon, setting the perfect stage for rival thieves Eban and Gineth to chase a mythical, kingdom-restoring relic.

The book is undeniably a thrilling, quick read. The dual POV keeps the energy high, and the initial heist sequence is pulse-pounding. Plus, the rivals-to-lovers spark between Gin and Eban is genuinely charming and makes the pages fly by.

However, the rapid pace is a double-edged sword. Everything moves too fast! The plot jumps from one massive event to the next—heist, deadly trials, lost world journey—without allowing the complex themes or emotional beats to really sink in. The characters and their central romance shift almost instantaneously, which made it feel underdeveloped and unearned.

Honestly, the book just needed another 50-100 pages to flesh out the side characters, deepen the relationship, and give the action scenes the oomph they deserved. It has a great adventurous heart, and I'm invested enough to continue, would love more substance.

(I received this as an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.)

[Ella · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the ARC of Kingdom of Waves in exchange for an honest review.

For starters, I did not finish this book so this review will be based on the 33% (72 pages) that I did read.

I was very excited to start this book. A story with a relic that has ancient magic?! Count me in! However, once I started to read, the story was very hard to get into. The overall plot was very interesting, but I couldn't connect with the characters due to their unrealistic interactions and the little to no consistency with their personalities. The fact that the characters were hard to connect to made it difficult for me to immerse myself in the story, which ultimately made me stop reading the book.

[Jenna W · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good YA fantasy novel. I liked the world building and character development. Super impatient when I got to the end and I realized it's a duology and now I have to wait for the next book to follow this cliffhanger! Nooo! Definitely worth the read, but be prepared to wait for the next one!

[Rebecca Hovis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this book! This was a great read and addicting! This one was hard to put down! The characters are awesome and the lost world kept things interesting! If you want a read that’ll keep you on your toes and wanting more this one is for you!

[Bevany · Rating 4 out of 5]

the first book in a fun new ya fantasy series. there is a cast of great characters with some fun twists that will have you reeling for the next book.

[Abby · Rating 4 out of 5]

I could only picture the Lashing as the giant floating raft the Kakamora from Moana live on...I don't know what that says about me.

Kingdom of Waves by Melissa de la Cruz is the first book in an upcoming YA fantasy series with floating cities, ancient lost magic, and a pair of thieves trying to save their people. This is marketed as a heist book, so let me make it clear from the get go: it is not. Are there heists? Sort of...there's thievery in general, but no overcomplicated plans or assembled teams of experts that I expect in a traditional heist book. I think it would be better described as an adventure between two thieves from a kingdom destroyed by a oppression trying to reclaim their heritage. The mismarketing is why I think so many people are struggling with this book, so I think it's important people know what they're getting into.

In a kingdom where the odds are stacked against them, Gin and Eban must steal to survive. When they get sent after the same treasure, Gin and Eban discover that there are larger forces at play, and if they want to save their people, they'll need to work together to uncover the truth about the past and maybe embark on one final heist. I rarely say this, but I think the pacing was almost too fast. I can only think of three major scenes, and the transitions between them were incredibly rushed. This book easily could've used another 100 pages or so of characterization and worldbuilding because I wanted more depth. The history of the world is very interesting (hidden history, political critique, etc), and I wanted to see the magic system in play more. I liked the tension and suspense, which were only amplified by the pacing, so I never felt like I wasn't invested in the story and I enjoyed it a lot; I just wanted more. My only issue with the plot other than pacing was that I found the plot twist very predictable, but I think it was just a bit over-foreshadowed. I will be reading book 2 when it releases because I need to know what happens next, so don't go into this expecting you can stop with this one.

Because the plot was so fast-paced, the characters were a bit lacking in complexity. I really liked Gin's arc because she's not necessarily a skilled thief and she's a bit out of practice initially, which complicates her involvement in the plot. I also liked the developments of her arc and I'm excited to see how she continues to grow. Eban definitely fit more into the thief stereotype, so of course he's likable. He's a bit less complex than Gin as of now, but there are a lot of backstory hints and considering how his arc ends in this book, I think he has a lot of potential for book 2. Vergel and Aris were fun sidekicks, though I didn't have many thoughts about them. I didn't vibe with Darius at all for a variety of reasons. The lack of side characters I could root for was kind of disappointing because heist novels typically have the found family trope, but I liked the dynamics between Gin and Eban (even if they felt rushed like everything else) and I'm interested to see where they go next.

Kingdom of Waves is the first book in a YA fantasy duology with clever characters, floating/underwater cities, and an action-packed plot, perfect for fans of Tiffany Wang's Inferno's Heir.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the free e-ARC!

3.75/5

[Brittany · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5 stars

The premise of "Kingdom of Waves" takes place in a fantasy world, where a group of oppressed people called the Ophir fight against their oppressors, the Lacon. The 2 main characters Gin and Eban meet during a heist where both of their parties were set up to fail. Instead, they end up working together and successfully completing the heist, only to find out they've stolen relic that can bring back the gods the Ophir lost in a war against the Lacon 500 years ago, something that could change the course of history for the Ophir.

This book is very adventurous, with a lot of heists, fighting, and action packed moments. It's dual point of view and the perspective switches back and forth between Gin and Eban. I think this is perfect for teen readers, as it was a very fun and easy to read. I thought the world was very interesting and well developed, and I loved reading about the magical elements the characters find themselves in the midst of.

Unfortunately, while the world was pretty well developed, I felt the plot and the characters were lacking substance. It's a super short book, I was able to read it in 2 days. I felt the plot was super fast paced, probably too fast paced, and the book could definitely use about 50-100 pages more to really develop. I found it actually started off ok, the writing of the heist being very well executed, only to fall flat once our main characters got to the Lashing. From there, everything took about 5 seconds. The characters had no time to really get to know anyone in the Lashing or anything about it. They're both blamed for the Lashing being found, but also praised for jumping right into the fight and saving everyone miraculously. Gin changes her mind about her feelings towards Eban and Darius and Rollo as fast as you can flick a light switch, and I never found any of her feelings were more than a brief thought ("I like him, no I like him, now I don't like him" with no development as to why). I also felt the characters were so similar to each other that I had no idea whose perspective I was reading. As previously mentioned, the pacing was just too fast, too much was packed into such a short amount of time that really needed more pages to develop, and that detracted from my enjoyment of the book a lot. I felt like we really never got to know any characters other than Gin and Eban. I also found it really hypocritical that Eban strongly distrusts Darius immediately, but will trust some random bar maid he just met that gives them vital information on a whim. Things like this happened consistently throughout the story, characters acting out of character (Gin is supposed to be an amazing fighter but somehow every time she's in a fight fails miserably???). Plus quite a few times I read a paragraph only to read an almost identical paragraph a few pages later.

Overall, I'll continue on to book 2 since it's slated to be a duology, and while there were many flaws, I still had an enjoyable time reading this. I just think it needs a bit more editing and a few more pages to really develop the plot and characters.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Samantha S. (TikTok: RADHouse - RileyAnthonyDesigns) · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (4.5 stars)

I’ve come to expect big things from Melissa de la Cruz, and this absolutely delivered.

First of all — can we talk about that cover? It is STUNNING. One of those books you want facing out on your shelf because it’s just that pretty. And thankfully, the story inside matches the beauty outside.

What I loved most about this book was the atmosphere. It feels lush and cinematic, but there’s also this undercurrent of tension running through every page. Lost kingdoms, class divides, ancient magic, rival thieves going after the same prize — it’s the kind of setup that immediately pulls me in.

The dynamic between Eban and Gin? Chef’s kiss. I am such a sucker for reluctant allies with sharp banter and simmering tension. The will-they-won’t-they energy had me hooked, and I loved that their relationship developed alongside the rising stakes instead of overshadowing the plot.

And the stakes are high. Not just personal stakes, but legacy-level, world-shifting stakes. I really appreciated how the story balanced the intimate emotional moments with the larger political and magical consequences. It never felt small.

If I’m being honest, there were a few moments where I wanted just a bit more depth in certain emotional beats — but overall? I was fully invested. The magic, the heist elements, the layered loyalties — it all worked for me.

This felt like the start of something epic, and now I’m already impatient for the next book.

If you love:
• Rival thieves
• Lost kingdoms and buried magic
• Slow-burn tension
• High-stakes heists
• Gorgeous world-building

This one is absolutely worth the read.

Melissa de la Cruz rarely disappoints me — and this just reinforced why I keep coming back to her stories. 🌊✨

[Brittney · Rating 4 out of 5]

🌊✨ ARC Review: Kingdom of Waves by Melissa de la Cruz ✨🌊
Pub Date: June 16, 2026 | @melissadelacruz

Once upon a time, there was a shining kingdom floating on the sea...
Until the waves swallowed it whole.

Now the people of Ophir live beneath their conquerors’ golden palaces, their magic lost and their legacy buried. When two rival thieves, Eban Sadreal and Gineth Strong, set out to steal the same mythical relic, they spark a dangerous chain of events that could restore their kingdom… or destroy what’s left of it.

Think Six of Crows meets A Magic Steeped in Poison is a mix of danger, deception, and the spark of something forbidden between enemies-turned-allies. ⚔️💔

✨ What to Expect ✨
🌊 Heist + ancient magic
💎 Dual POV
🔥 Rivals-to-lovers tension
🏝️ Lost kingdoms & buried legacies
📖 Themes of power, oppression, and reclamation

While the pacing felt a little uneven balancing a heist, deadly trials, and a lost-world journey, it still delivers lush worldbuilding and a powerful message about resilience and reclaiming identity. The threads of colonialism and justice woven throughout the story gave it so much heart.

“Magic can drown, but it can also rise again with the tide.”

#KingdomOfWaves #MelissaDeLaCruz #YAFantasy #FantasyBooks #HeistFantasy #RivalsToLovers #SixOfCrowsVibes #FantasyDuology #MagicAndMyth #BookReview #ARCReview #BookstagramFantasy #YoungAdultFantasy #Macmillan

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, and the author for the opportunity to ARC read Kingdom of Waves!

I really enjoyed this book, but to start off with my only dislike, the blurb describes Kingdom of Waves as a high stakes heist fantasy. In my opinion, that's not what it delivers. The only real"heist" we see is close to the beginning of the book. And that was basically a milk run. The heist I believe is supposed to be the high stakes portion is at the end of the book, but there wasn't any tension to build up those "stakes." You were basically told "they're risking everything" with nothing to show how or why. Plus, the heist didn't technically end up happening. The only portion of the book that I would consider high stakes is during the arena. I do think if the book was maybe 50 pages longer that things could've been fleshed out better.

However, I really enjoyed the writing. It's very enjoyable and easy to read. The characters are sweet and fun, but some may be lying to you. It's fast paced and relatively short, so if you're crunched on time or in a reading slump, picking this book up would be a good solution.

Overall, the book just isn't marketed well. If you go in expecting the major heist and Six of Crows vibes that the blurb tells you you're getting, you'll probably be disappointed. If you go in expecting a short and fun fantasy with enjoyable, thieving characters and some secrets along the way, you'll probably love it.

[Elsa L · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a stunning world building is a concise book. I have to praise the writing and imagination it took to build this world. First of all, that opening scene was very dramatic. It really set the tone of people being oppressed and how Gin is fighting to survive. Then, Eban as a successful thief, trying to live for more. But the real treat is when Eban and Gin find that their people have been lied to, to keep them compliant. Their lords have erased their history, but Eban and Gin soon learn their connection to the once living kingdom of waves.

Eban and Gin meet when they have to steal some mysterious treasure. They are both hired to do it so of course they clash. But eventually they allied themselves when they seem surrounded due to the stolen treasure. Said treasure, are relics for their old kingdom and mysteriously one communicates with Gin. When both characters, made it to the safe colony of Ophir, we meet several other characters. I really liked this part, because it shows Eban and Gin that there’s more to just being subjected to servitude and they can be free if they fight for it.

I personally loved the twist at the end. Kinda saw it coming but I did not realized the two people were one and the same. It was a great revelation and one that I hope I keep on reading next, I have to read Eban’s trial after all

[ChristineReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have enjoyed the worlds that Melissa De La Cruz has constructed. She writes intriguing stories with characters that keep me turning pages. In 'Kingdom of Waves' we follow Gineth and Eban as they go through trials and tribulations while trying to save their people.

We meet Gineth and Eban after both have had a major set back. Gineth has been expelled from the places she was living, Eban has had a botched heist. Both get pulled in for one big job that ultimately has major consequences. Forced to come together to survive the two journey together, learn to trust each other, and discover the truths of the past.

This was a fun adventure story, I enjoyed seeing how the story built and can see it being an instant favorite for younger young adult readers. The story creates a new world and makes it super accessible. I loved that we didn't quite know who to trust and got exposed to this ancient world. I thought this was creative and fun.

If you are looking for something refreshing, that keeps you guessing while building an intriguing world I recommend this! It was a good time and I am excited to see what happens next. Thank you to the publisher for providing an eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGaey and the publisher for an early copy of this book! Below is my honest review.

Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5 stars

While I enjoy this book, I felt like it focused on too many things. There’s a heist, a trial, and a journey to find a lost world. Even though they all connected to the story, I felt like none of those plot lines got its time to shine. I was more interested in the heist aspect, but we only really get that in the beginning and the end. Then the trials—it was presented as dangerous as many people have died in them. But it was all of two chapters, so I wasn’t really sure how to react to that. And then the journey to the lost world—it makes sense to have this to the story because it literally is the whole story. But it could have used more time.

I did, however, enjoy the fact that the author built this story around colonialism and advocated for the better treatment of marginalized people. It’s not super political, but you definitely see the themes throughout the story.

[Firevsice · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️ 3.75/5 ⭐️
Thanks to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group and NetGalley for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This was my first book by the author. The premise of the book was quite promising. An interesting new world where old magic has died out and ruled by rich families. There’s themes of class disparity. I was intrigued by the setup even though the world building was a bit slow. We are given a dual POV however our main characters aren’t able to provide compelling insights and often come across as too naive and childish to me. Initially the characters were a lot more different in personality and their intentions - somewhere around the 50% mark the book seemed to have lost some footing in terms of this character development. Overall the story was slow and did not have enough plot points to my liking. I’d be interested in picking up the second book but wish the build up in this book was more fleshed out and the writing fast paced to make this a more enjoyable read.

[Paige Watts (she-her) · Rating 4 out of 5]

this is a really fascinating and engaging adventure, with characters that are complex and unique.

KINGDOM OF WAVES follows Gin and Eban, two thieves who meet when they are trying to steal from the same target. however, they soon discover bigger, more dangerous things are happening in their realm that they can face if they work together. both characters are descendants of the Ophir race, which has been overtaken, colonized, and left to an existence of poverty, crime, and systemic prejudice.

with many twists, turns, and obstacles for the characters to face, this book kept me engaged in the narrative and never fully knowing what was going to come next. the characters, while complex and with difficult backgrounds that have made them morally grey in a lot of ways, are so gentle-souled and so lovable that you just want them to succeed and find some kind of permanent happiness. elements of the world are so interesting, unique, and immersive. the ending of this one really made me eager for book 2! I highly recommend this one for anyone who loves Six of Crows or The Gilded Wolves.

[Molly Mizzy]

~Thank you to NetGalley and the Author!❤️ I received an ARC copy for an honest review.~

I am sad to start this off and say I had to DNF this book at 55%. And for that reason I will not give this book any stars I don’t feel as if that is fair.
When I got approved for this book I was really excited cause the blurb sounded fantastic and as a Six of Crows fan I was there for it. I just want to say I really tried to go back in and finish it a couple times cause maybe it was going to capture me later on but it just didn’t and I didn’t want to force it just for the sake of finishing it. This book was extremely fast passed that I actually think we skipped over some things or just quickly moved passed things that should’ve taken more time. And for some that is a perfect read but for me I wanted more. I did like the magical/relics aspect in this though and the world itself is interesting! think if you’re looking for a fast paced story to take a break from something bigger this may be perfect for you! 🫶🏽

[Tee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, this was a fun read.

I really liked the author’s exploration of colonialism, as I thought that was interesting and well-written. Especially in this world, which had a gritty feel to it—that was something I really liked.

The two main characters, Gin and Eban, were enjoyable to follow along with. I wish that we got to see more of their thieving ways throughout the story. Eban was supposed to be the best thief in the sleeve, and we never really got to see why. I also thought the heist elements could have more oomph to them, and some of the action scenes could be a bit more fleshed out. But I still liked them both as characters, and their romance (although a bit quick) was cute.

The twist at the end was an interesting one. Although I saw it coming, I thought it was fun and I think other readers will really like it.

Thank you so much to Roaring Brook Press and NetGalley for allowing me to read the e-ARC!

[Katelyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5 ⭐️

I was really excited to dive into this book, the description sounded right up my alley. The fresh idea and story was really exciting. I really enjoyed the world building, and the draw of the idea of the lost city of Ophir. The characters were fleshed out well, and I enjoyed the initial exasperation of their interactions.
That being said, I do feel things were a bit rushed at times. The trust Gin gave to the people of The Lashing, and their trust of her so quickly after being distrustful what felt like moments before. Gin coming into her power so quickly after just discovering the power of their people’s legacy. Some of the action. I’m sure it was just the huge influx of amazing ideas the author had, but still couldn’t quite get past the speed. That being said, I do look forward to the next book, as I am very curious to see where things go!

Thank you to NetGalley and Melissa de la Cruz for the ARC!

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5.

I really enjoyed the world-building, and the characters were really well fleshed out.

The lost Kingdom of Ophir was once home to magic and beauty, but is now gone. Her people are stranded, left despondent and neglected as second-class citizens in Lacon. We meet two thieves, Eban Sadreal and Gineth Strong, who were thrust together during a life-changing heist. We follow them through a journey of self-discovery and heritage.

The biggest reason I had to dock stars here is because of the pacing. The first 40% flowed really well, but it was almost like we went into hyper-drive after that. Even with this being a YA book, I think this could've pushed for at least 30-40 more pages, and it would've given it a little bit more breathing space.

I definitely enjoyed this, and am looking forward to see where book 2 takes us! The twist in the end is fantastic, and is set-up wonderfully.

Thank you to Macmillan and Netgalley for providing this eARC!