The world is breaking, and the sea has begun to whisper.
Aada, Chalain and Jak's quest leads them beyond the ruins of the West to a realm where tides hide secrets older than the gods themselves.To save what remains, they must recover the soul stones before the God of Shadows, and those who seek to ascend claim them for their own.
But the ocean hungers. Beneath its depths, sirens sing of ruin, and a beast long buried stirs in the dark, awakened by the hands of orcs.
As faith falters and loyalties fracture, the trio must decide how much they're willing to lose to stop the coming darkness. Because when the waves rise and the shadows call, even heroes can drown.
5 🌟 This second instalment deepens both the political intrigue and the mythic weight set up in Book 1. Prince Chalain (“Lain”) steps further into the storm — torn between duty, destiny, and the woman who anchors him, Aada. Their relationship is one of the novel’s strongest threads: intimate yet strained by power, prophecy, and the widening conflict around them. A.C. Salter expands the ensemble effectively. Alruna, Jak, and Ashun each carry emotional and strategic significance, while Igig, Freki, and Fenrir add layers of tension and shifting loyalties that keep the narrative unpredictable. But it is Septula, cold and calculating, who sharpens the stakes. As antagonist, she embodies manipulation and long-game ambition, forcing Lain and Aada into choices that feel costly and irreversible. The sea itself remains symbolic and omnipresent — vast, merciless, and reflective of the characters’ internal turmoil. Pacing is deliberate, favouring character development and political manoeuvring over spectacle, but the payoff lies in the emotional consequences and tightening series arc. Atmospheric, character-driven, and heavier than its predecessor, Queen of the Sea solidifies The Shadow of the West as a saga about power, loyalty, and the price of claiming either. I can't wait to read the third instalment Revenge Of The Jackdaw.
What a spectacular book again from the extremely extraordinary talented author A.C. Salter. I could not put this book down again in the first and now the second. What a legend author. Story is beyond incredible and inspirational epic and I adore all the characters again in the second book too. I extremely highly recommend everyone reads all of A.CSalter. Truly remarkable books to read. Five star review. No spoilers review. 10 out of 10 experience. Enjoy!.
The unique love interests, god involvement, and fast paced plot make for a good read. The writing itself leaves something to be desired. It has all the right elements to suck you in, but it never gave me that lost-in-a-book feeling.
Firstly want to say another massive thank you Adrian making me one the arc reader for this book. Another incredible story. Fall in love with the characters more and more as the story develops. Onto the next.... "Dare or be damned"
Was expecting this the be the end of the series but based on how the book ended there will definitely be at least one more book. Wish I knew when it will be coming out.
Hard to put down. Looking for the 3rd book of this part of the series now. You know you have a great book when you don't want it to end, but then need the story to end