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Kingdom of Bones Trilogy #2
Dark Tides
When love is an anchor, the sea can swallow you whole.
Csilla Abado has a full plate after becoming the first Queen of Bones. While leading Cerulia, sending fleets to hunt for Dominic Rove, and recruiting new crews to the cause, she must also find a way to mend the lingering crack between Limbo and the mortal realm. Otherworldly creatures are spilling through, threatening more than just the island kingdom. When Lorelei and Nara go missing, the crew takes sail once again to find them and stop the worst of the villains, Magnus, before he can slip through the crack. As their leader, Csilla takes every decision head-on, but her sister's death weighs on her, and if she doesn't learn to let go, she could end up alone in her fight.
After the events at Crossbones, Kane Blackwater is desperate to find the traitorous Dominic Rove, but when his desperation sends him to Death's Cove, he's met by creatures that should be locked away in Limbo. He returns to Cerulia with this knowledge and an evil, magic-laced wound that’s slowly seeping through his body. When Lorelei suddenly goes missing, he joins the search, but his time is running out and he must decide what's more important to him: her life or his own.
Lorelei Storm isn't the same since her return from the realm of Limbo. A menacing and powerful magic rests under her skin, and she fears it as much as she craves its potential. She tries to keep this secret from her found family, but when she accidentally hurts someone, she finds she can no longer hide her ability. She flees only to be caught, alongside Csilla’s first mate Nara, by an Incendian Scout and taken as prisoner. But Lorelei finds out the scout is also an emberblood, and if she must, she will use her enemy to learn how to control her powerful new magic.
Jaron Thorne was raised to hate and hunt pirates. Becoming his fire god's champion and wielding his obsidian sword has given him even more purpose in ridding the kingdoms of every last pirate. Fighting runs through his veins, but when Magnus's whispers send him to steal away the only living stormblood, he ends up taking an extra captive: an archer whose frosty demeanor intrigues him as much as he hates it. But as he learns more about the world he thought he knew, Jaron must learn to control his inner-flames or risk burning down everything around him, including his chance of finding his lost brother.
As the war between gods and mortals builds to a crescendo, Csilla, Kane, and Lorelei must not only protect their world from destruction, but also their hearts from looming devastation. The seas darken and not everyone will survive the rising tides.
Csilla Abado has a full plate after becoming the first Queen of Bones. While leading Cerulia, sending fleets to hunt for Dominic Rove, and recruiting new crews to the cause, she must also find a way to mend the lingering crack between Limbo and the mortal realm. Otherworldly creatures are spilling through, threatening more than just the island kingdom. When Lorelei and Nara go missing, the crew takes sail once again to find them and stop the worst of the villains, Magnus, before he can slip through the crack. As their leader, Csilla takes every decision head-on, but her sister's death weighs on her, and if she doesn't learn to let go, she could end up alone in her fight.
After the events at Crossbones, Kane Blackwater is desperate to find the traitorous Dominic Rove, but when his desperation sends him to Death's Cove, he's met by creatures that should be locked away in Limbo. He returns to Cerulia with this knowledge and an evil, magic-laced wound that’s slowly seeping through his body. When Lorelei suddenly goes missing, he joins the search, but his time is running out and he must decide what's more important to him: her life or his own.
Lorelei Storm isn't the same since her return from the realm of Limbo. A menacing and powerful magic rests under her skin, and she fears it as much as she craves its potential. She tries to keep this secret from her found family, but when she accidentally hurts someone, she finds she can no longer hide her ability. She flees only to be caught, alongside Csilla’s first mate Nara, by an Incendian Scout and taken as prisoner. But Lorelei finds out the scout is also an emberblood, and if she must, she will use her enemy to learn how to control her powerful new magic.
Jaron Thorne was raised to hate and hunt pirates. Becoming his fire god's champion and wielding his obsidian sword has given him even more purpose in ridding the kingdoms of every last pirate. Fighting runs through his veins, but when Magnus's whispers send him to steal away the only living stormblood, he ends up taking an extra captive: an archer whose frosty demeanor intrigues him as much as he hates it. But as he learns more about the world he thought he knew, Jaron must learn to control his inner-flames or risk burning down everything around him, including his chance of finding his lost brother.
As the war between gods and mortals builds to a crescendo, Csilla, Kane, and Lorelei must not only protect their world from destruction, but also their hearts from looming devastation. The seas darken and not everyone will survive the rising tides.
296 pages, Hardcover
First published October 18, 2022
10 people are currently reading
677 people want to read
About the author
Kimberly Vale
3 books195 followersKimberly Vale is a reader, a bit of a hopeless romantic, and started writing on Wattpad as a teen. Since then, she has accumulated millions of reads online and volunteered her time to mentorship programs and other community efforts. With a BA in Education, she teaches remediation and dyslexia intervention in public schools and lives in Arkansas with her husband, two children, and two dogs. She also enjoys playing video games, trying new recipes, and coming up with ridiculous theories about her current tv-obsessions.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
September 9, 2023
Why did I think it was duology??? That ending what was that omggg??? It was very fast paced, lots of pirates, magic, even a dragon??? At the end. Curious about the next book.
Thank you NetGalley for providing digital advanced copy in exchange for honest review.
Thank you NetGalley for providing digital advanced copy in exchange for honest review.
October 4, 2022
3.5 stars
Dark Tides is unquestionably a strong addition to the Kingdom of Bones Trilogy. The plot and character arcs were expanded upon in interesting ways and new characters were introduced. This sequel also has a much darker tone and atmosphere than it's previous entry, which I really enjoyed. And of course, the pirate lore and adventures were great. I'm not sure if I plan on continuing this series, as I'm starting to become more picky with my YA reads as my reading preferences change and mature, but I would definitely recommend this book to current YA fans.
Thank you to Wattpad WEBTOON Book Group for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Dark Tides is unquestionably a strong addition to the Kingdom of Bones Trilogy. The plot and character arcs were expanded upon in interesting ways and new characters were introduced. This sequel also has a much darker tone and atmosphere than it's previous entry, which I really enjoyed. And of course, the pirate lore and adventures were great. I'm not sure if I plan on continuing this series, as I'm starting to become more picky with my YA reads as my reading preferences change and mature, but I would definitely recommend this book to current YA fans.
Thank you to Wattpad WEBTOON Book Group for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 17, 2022
This was such a phenomenal read! I think I enjoyed this one even more than Crossbones, which by the way, was amazing! Told in Multi-POV Csilla, Kane, Loreli and Jaron. Jaron, the new addition to the book, so his parts were really interesting. Even the world-building was fantastic! If you love fantasy and pirates, snarky comments, then pick this up!
August 23, 2022
Thank you to NetGalley for the arc.
When I read the first book I absolutely loved it but I was worried that its sequel wouldn't live up to it. Thankfully I was so wrong! The stakes are higher and relationships are deeper. It was so interesting getting to see Lorelei move closer to discovering herself. It was a short book (which I loved) so it was an incredibly quick read with the plot zooming by. I couldn't put it down!
When I read the first book I absolutely loved it but I was worried that its sequel wouldn't live up to it. Thankfully I was so wrong! The stakes are higher and relationships are deeper. It was so interesting getting to see Lorelei move closer to discovering herself. It was a short book (which I loved) so it was an incredibly quick read with the plot zooming by. I couldn't put it down!
October 19, 2022
Thank you to Wattpad Books for an eARC from NetGalley.
This was a really good sequel. I have to be honest and say that I didn’t really remember much from the first book, but I found that there was enough of the characters remembering and small explanations to help me not feel lost.
I felt like this one was very romance-focused. It was still a bit of pirate adventure and magic, but the romance plots took more of the spotlight this time. Especially between Kane and Lorelei. I liked their relationship. I was rooting for them, and I wanted to see them together.
I would have liked to see more of the characters as individuals struggling to be reunited after Lorelei is kidnapped. I wanted to see Kane struggling with her kidnapping and also with his deadly magical wound. I wanted to see Lorelei struggling to control her storm powers. I felt like we didn’t really get much of them as individuals and it jumped to them being back together.
I did like the alternating POVs between Lorelei, Kane, Csilla, and Jaron. The book is told in third-person, but it was nice to get into the characters heads in their chapters. I wish we’d gotten more of Csilla because I felt like she got lost at times.
I found the book moved along at a good pace, and the writing style was easy to read. Once I picked it up, I was able to quickly get into the story and kept flipping pages without wanting to put it down. I’m definitely looking forward to the third book in this series.
This was a really good sequel. I have to be honest and say that I didn’t really remember much from the first book, but I found that there was enough of the characters remembering and small explanations to help me not feel lost.
I felt like this one was very romance-focused. It was still a bit of pirate adventure and magic, but the romance plots took more of the spotlight this time. Especially between Kane and Lorelei. I liked their relationship. I was rooting for them, and I wanted to see them together.
I would have liked to see more of the characters as individuals struggling to be reunited after Lorelei is kidnapped. I wanted to see Kane struggling with her kidnapping and also with his deadly magical wound. I wanted to see Lorelei struggling to control her storm powers. I felt like we didn’t really get much of them as individuals and it jumped to them being back together.
I did like the alternating POVs between Lorelei, Kane, Csilla, and Jaron. The book is told in third-person, but it was nice to get into the characters heads in their chapters. I wish we’d gotten more of Csilla because I felt like she got lost at times.
I found the book moved along at a good pace, and the writing style was easy to read. Once I picked it up, I was able to quickly get into the story and kept flipping pages without wanting to put it down. I’m definitely looking forward to the third book in this series.
September 24, 2022
"And one more thing, General," she said. "This isn't a kingdom anymore. It's a queendom."
WOW WOW WOW WOW WOW. I read Crossbones last year and adored it, and Dark Tides definitely rose to the occasion of being a fantastic sequel. This is definitely one of my favorite sequels of all time and I'm so happy we will be getting a third book. Kimberly Vale definitely had my emotions in a chokehold with this one.
The relationships have grown so much deeper, the character's have grown into their roles and powers and the arcs are just *chefs kiss*.
THAT ENDING THOUGH! It has been a long time since I read a book with an ending that shocking, I literally had my mouth wide open when I read it.
I cannot wait for the third book to come out!
WOW WOW WOW WOW WOW. I read Crossbones last year and adored it, and Dark Tides definitely rose to the occasion of being a fantastic sequel. This is definitely one of my favorite sequels of all time and I'm so happy we will be getting a third book. Kimberly Vale definitely had my emotions in a chokehold with this one.
The relationships have grown so much deeper, the character's have grown into their roles and powers and the arcs are just *chefs kiss*.
THAT ENDING THOUGH! It has been a long time since I read a book with an ending that shocking, I literally had my mouth wide open when I read it.
I cannot wait for the third book to come out!
October 7, 2022
THAT LAST PARAGRAPH Y’ALL AREN’T READY!!!
Kimberly Vale has done it once again! The mythology is expanded, new characters are introduced, and time is spent in new settings within this world. I loved returning to the characters and pirate lore of this series! This book has a darker tone than the first one but the found family dynamic of this pirate crew is able to balance it out while simultaneously making the already raised stakes even higher. Each of our characters gets more development especially Lorelei, who we really see grapple with what happened to her at the end of Crossbones and find new sides of herself. The ending, ESPECIALLY the last paragraph, have me so excited for the conclusion of this series!!!
Kimberly Vale has done it once again! The mythology is expanded, new characters are introduced, and time is spent in new settings within this world. I loved returning to the characters and pirate lore of this series! This book has a darker tone than the first one but the found family dynamic of this pirate crew is able to balance it out while simultaneously making the already raised stakes even higher. Each of our characters gets more development especially Lorelei, who we really see grapple with what happened to her at the end of Crossbones and find new sides of herself. The ending, ESPECIALLY the last paragraph, have me so excited for the conclusion of this series!!!
October 2, 2022
I just reviewed Dark Tides by Kimberly Vale. #DarkTides #NetGalley
“But they have a particular liking for human flesh”
“You know, Borne, you could have mentioned that before I tried to pet the thing”
This book is fantastic! Humorous, snarky moments mixed with impending death… amazing! The creatures in this book sound creepy and awesome. I would love to have some illustrations of them. And of course you can have a novel about pirates with lots of trickery.
“This isn’t a kingdom anymore. It’s a queendom” 🖤🖤🖤🖤
That ending though! 😲 I cannot wait to see what happens next.
“But they have a particular liking for human flesh”
“You know, Borne, you could have mentioned that before I tried to pet the thing”
This book is fantastic! Humorous, snarky moments mixed with impending death… amazing! The creatures in this book sound creepy and awesome. I would love to have some illustrations of them. And of course you can have a novel about pirates with lots of trickery.
“This isn’t a kingdom anymore. It’s a queendom” 🖤🖤🖤🖤
That ending though! 😲 I cannot wait to see what happens next.
December 17, 2023
I thought this was a duology! There’s no date for book 3 yet and it was advertised for oct 2023 🥲
I didn’t enjoy this one as much as book 1 - but it was a really quick read.
Lorelei was particularly naive in this book.
I loved how Csilla stood up for her people.
I’m happy we got more of Kane & Finn in this one! They’re my favourite characters.
The setting was darker than book 1 - which I enjoyed. Terrible cliffhanger though!
I didn’t enjoy this one as much as book 1 - but it was a really quick read.
Lorelei was particularly naive in this book.
I loved how Csilla stood up for her people.
I’m happy we got more of Kane & Finn in this one! They’re my favourite characters.
The setting was darker than book 1 - which I enjoyed. Terrible cliffhanger though!
November 26, 2022
Dark Tides was a very strong sequel! The story starts off strong and you are right back into the action with your fav pirate gang!
The character development was really good in this one and I loved getting to follow multiple characters throughout. It made the story feel so much more well-rounded and gave much needed perspective from the good and bad guys.
It was quite romance focused which I enjoyed. The added romance made the journey the pirates were on that much more stressful!
This book was quite a bit darker than the first in my opinion but I liked it. The ending got me good! Highly recommend this series!
The character development was really good in this one and I loved getting to follow multiple characters throughout. It made the story feel so much more well-rounded and gave much needed perspective from the good and bad guys.
It was quite romance focused which I enjoyed. The added romance made the journey the pirates were on that much more stressful!
This book was quite a bit darker than the first in my opinion but I liked it. The ending got me good! Highly recommend this series!
October 24, 2022
I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Wow, what a phenomenal follow up to Crossbones! The whole crew makes a return and so do all the humorous and snarky moments. This one has a lot going on, and you meet some new characters but it was a super fun read! Kane is still on his mission to find Rove, Lorelei is trying to control her storm, Magnus is still trying to break free, there is a crack in Limbo so weird shit is escaping, AND of course there is Csilla and Flynn. Also, THAT ENDING. I was not ready, you won’t be either. So looking forward to the next book!
"This isn't a kingdom anymore. It's a queendom.”
Wow, what a phenomenal follow up to Crossbones! The whole crew makes a return and so do all the humorous and snarky moments. This one has a lot going on, and you meet some new characters but it was a super fun read! Kane is still on his mission to find Rove, Lorelei is trying to control her storm, Magnus is still trying to break free, there is a crack in Limbo so weird shit is escaping, AND of course there is Csilla and Flynn. Also, THAT ENDING. I was not ready, you won’t be either. So looking forward to the next book!
August 6, 2022
*****5 Stars!
“This isn’t a kingdom anymore. It’s a queendom.”
First I would like to thank Wattpad Books and NetGalley for allowing me to read an arc of this book. I am honored to have been given a chance to read it and give an honest review.
Dark Tides follows Csilla Abado, newly crowned Queen of Bones faced with the task of ruling Cerulia, sending fleets to hunt Dominic Rove, and recruiting new crews to the cause, she must also find a way to mend the lingering crack between Limbo and the mortal realm; allowing otherworldly creatures spilling through and threatening more than just the island kingdom. When Lorelei and Nara go missing, the crew takes sail once again to find them and stop the worst of villains, Magnus, before he can slip through the crack. As their leader, Csilla takes every decision head-on, her sister’s death weighs heavy on her, and if she doesn’t learn to let go, she could end up alone in her fight. After the events at Crossbones, Kane Blackwater is desperate to find the traitorous Dominic Rove, but when his desperation sends him to Death’s Cove, he’s met by creatures that should be locked away in Limbo. He returns to Cerulia with this knowledge and an evil, magic-laced wound that’s slowly seeping through his body. When Lorelei suddenly goes missing, he joins the search, but his time is running out and he must decide what is important to him: her life or his own.
Lorelei Storm hasn't been the same since her return from the realm of Limbo. A menacing and powerful magic lingers just beneath her skin, and she fears it as much as she craves its potential. She tries to keep this secret from her found family, but when she accidentally hurts someone, she finds she can no longer hide her ability. She flees only to be caught, alongside Csilla’s first mate Nara, by an Incendian Scout and is taken prisoner. She discovers the scout is also an emberblood, and if she must, she will use her enemy to learn how to control her powerful new magic. Jaron Thorne was raised to hate and hunt pirates. Becoming his fire god’s champion and wielding his obsidian sword has given him even more purpose in ridding the kingdoms of every last pirate. When Magnus’s whispers send him to steal away the only living stormblood, he ends up taking an extra captive: an archer whose frosty demeanor intrigues him as much as he hates it. But as he learns more about the world he thought he knew, Jaron must learn to control his inner-flames or risk burning down everything around him, including his chance at finding his lost brother.
As the war between gods and mortals builds to a crescendo, Csilla, Kane and Lorelei must not only protect their world from destruction, but also their hearts from looming devastation. The seas darken and not everyone will survive the rising tides.
This was everything I wanted in a sequel and more! Just like the first book in this series, Dark Tides had me on the edge of my seat eagerly awaiting what twists and turns would happen next. It was so nice to be able to reconnect with the characters from the previous book and see where the last book had left them in this new adventure. The one thing I really love about this series is how these characters are so easy to love and root for, each and everyone of them are so fascinating and relatable in their own way. I really enjoyed being able to see their relationships and bonds strengthen during this story. The pacing of this story was also very well done, the storytelling was so fluid and I found myself easily losing myself within the tale.
I felt each and everyone of these characters grew so much from the first book and the overall tone of the book really only made the stakes higher. In the first book the tone revolved around their inner strength, the bonds of love and acceptance of oneself, while in this story they were faced with the meaning of love in its purest form. To what lengths would they go to save the ones they loved above all else? Would they do anything to achieve it? It was really interesting to watch each character make their own choice to this very difficult question and to see where they end up because of that decision.
Once again the worldbuilding was absolutely perfect! The descriptions that were used really painted such a beautiful picture in my head while I read, I could practically taste the sea air! The author did a really excellent job bringing this world and its characters to life, giving it all a very authentic feel.
I’ve been waiting for this book with bated breath and I was not disappointed! As a lover of all things pirate-related, this is a series I’ve been waiting for! This is a book full of beautiful scenes, heroic and complex characters, swashbuckling and thrilling adventures and mysterious dark creatures from another world and something I would highly recommend! I simply cannot wait for the third book!
“This isn’t a kingdom anymore. It’s a queendom.”
First I would like to thank Wattpad Books and NetGalley for allowing me to read an arc of this book. I am honored to have been given a chance to read it and give an honest review.
Dark Tides follows Csilla Abado, newly crowned Queen of Bones faced with the task of ruling Cerulia, sending fleets to hunt Dominic Rove, and recruiting new crews to the cause, she must also find a way to mend the lingering crack between Limbo and the mortal realm; allowing otherworldly creatures spilling through and threatening more than just the island kingdom. When Lorelei and Nara go missing, the crew takes sail once again to find them and stop the worst of villains, Magnus, before he can slip through the crack. As their leader, Csilla takes every decision head-on, her sister’s death weighs heavy on her, and if she doesn’t learn to let go, she could end up alone in her fight. After the events at Crossbones, Kane Blackwater is desperate to find the traitorous Dominic Rove, but when his desperation sends him to Death’s Cove, he’s met by creatures that should be locked away in Limbo. He returns to Cerulia with this knowledge and an evil, magic-laced wound that’s slowly seeping through his body. When Lorelei suddenly goes missing, he joins the search, but his time is running out and he must decide what is important to him: her life or his own.
Lorelei Storm hasn't been the same since her return from the realm of Limbo. A menacing and powerful magic lingers just beneath her skin, and she fears it as much as she craves its potential. She tries to keep this secret from her found family, but when she accidentally hurts someone, she finds she can no longer hide her ability. She flees only to be caught, alongside Csilla’s first mate Nara, by an Incendian Scout and is taken prisoner. She discovers the scout is also an emberblood, and if she must, she will use her enemy to learn how to control her powerful new magic. Jaron Thorne was raised to hate and hunt pirates. Becoming his fire god’s champion and wielding his obsidian sword has given him even more purpose in ridding the kingdoms of every last pirate. When Magnus’s whispers send him to steal away the only living stormblood, he ends up taking an extra captive: an archer whose frosty demeanor intrigues him as much as he hates it. But as he learns more about the world he thought he knew, Jaron must learn to control his inner-flames or risk burning down everything around him, including his chance at finding his lost brother.
As the war between gods and mortals builds to a crescendo, Csilla, Kane and Lorelei must not only protect their world from destruction, but also their hearts from looming devastation. The seas darken and not everyone will survive the rising tides.
This was everything I wanted in a sequel and more! Just like the first book in this series, Dark Tides had me on the edge of my seat eagerly awaiting what twists and turns would happen next. It was so nice to be able to reconnect with the characters from the previous book and see where the last book had left them in this new adventure. The one thing I really love about this series is how these characters are so easy to love and root for, each and everyone of them are so fascinating and relatable in their own way. I really enjoyed being able to see their relationships and bonds strengthen during this story. The pacing of this story was also very well done, the storytelling was so fluid and I found myself easily losing myself within the tale.
I felt each and everyone of these characters grew so much from the first book and the overall tone of the book really only made the stakes higher. In the first book the tone revolved around their inner strength, the bonds of love and acceptance of oneself, while in this story they were faced with the meaning of love in its purest form. To what lengths would they go to save the ones they loved above all else? Would they do anything to achieve it? It was really interesting to watch each character make their own choice to this very difficult question and to see where they end up because of that decision.
Once again the worldbuilding was absolutely perfect! The descriptions that were used really painted such a beautiful picture in my head while I read, I could practically taste the sea air! The author did a really excellent job bringing this world and its characters to life, giving it all a very authentic feel.
I’ve been waiting for this book with bated breath and I was not disappointed! As a lover of all things pirate-related, this is a series I’ve been waiting for! This is a book full of beautiful scenes, heroic and complex characters, swashbuckling and thrilling adventures and mysterious dark creatures from another world and something I would highly recommend! I simply cannot wait for the third book!
October 7, 2022
Rating: 5/5
Pub: 10/18/22
I was gifted eARC for my honest review
If you love pirates, Fantasy, adventure, action, Gods against mortals, creatures from another world and YA books then this is your book
This book was absolutely a perfect sequel to Crossbones. I was a little worried that this book wouldn’t live up to the first book, but I am pleased to say that this book really delivered.
The Characters in this book went deeper with their development, and we really got to see them all shine. I think Lorelei and Csilla developed beautifully, we really get to see both strong women bloom into their roles and bring their characters to life. Kane and Alrik are some of my favorite male characters in this book, I do like Finn as well. With Kane you get the strong broody type but deep down you know he can be the sweetest thing in the world to the right girl and he would go to the ends of the world for her as well. Alrik is the goofball, with all his banter in this book had me laughing, I loved how he is never scared to ask the questions that everyone else is thinking. I love how Vale was able to blend the plot and the characters so perfectly.
The overall feel of the book was much darker with little twists in the book, and that just made it even more exciting to read and having to know what was going on next had me going turning pages like no other. I loved how we got to see how everyone was doing after the first book and how some were dealing with not being a pirate anymore, but in the end, you can never really take a pirate from the sea they belong there. I can not wait to see what the last book will bring us; will it be an epic battle between the gods and mortals or will there be a world of destruction before some find redemption and others find what is holding them back in the world. 10/2023 is SO far away, but I can not wait until it comes out and we get to know how everything will finally come together.
I want to thank NetGalley and Wattpad Books for allowing me the opportunity to read and review this amazing book.
Pub: 10/18/22
I was gifted eARC for my honest review
If you love pirates, Fantasy, adventure, action, Gods against mortals, creatures from another world and YA books then this is your book
This book was absolutely a perfect sequel to Crossbones. I was a little worried that this book wouldn’t live up to the first book, but I am pleased to say that this book really delivered.
The Characters in this book went deeper with their development, and we really got to see them all shine. I think Lorelei and Csilla developed beautifully, we really get to see both strong women bloom into their roles and bring their characters to life. Kane and Alrik are some of my favorite male characters in this book, I do like Finn as well. With Kane you get the strong broody type but deep down you know he can be the sweetest thing in the world to the right girl and he would go to the ends of the world for her as well. Alrik is the goofball, with all his banter in this book had me laughing, I loved how he is never scared to ask the questions that everyone else is thinking. I love how Vale was able to blend the plot and the characters so perfectly.
The overall feel of the book was much darker with little twists in the book, and that just made it even more exciting to read and having to know what was going on next had me going turning pages like no other. I loved how we got to see how everyone was doing after the first book and how some were dealing with not being a pirate anymore, but in the end, you can never really take a pirate from the sea they belong there. I can not wait to see what the last book will bring us; will it be an epic battle between the gods and mortals or will there be a world of destruction before some find redemption and others find what is holding them back in the world. 10/2023 is SO far away, but I can not wait until it comes out and we get to know how everything will finally come together.
I want to thank NetGalley and Wattpad Books for allowing me the opportunity to read and review this amazing book.
November 14, 2022
"If it meant protecting those she loved, she'd let the world burn."
⭐⭐⭐
Thank you to Wattpad Books and Edelweiss+ for a copy of this book for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
content warnings: grief, death, blood/violence, murder, kidnapping/hostage situation
Dark Tides is the sequel to Crossbones, and follows the same characters adjusting to their new lives amidst the ending of book 1. With a new leader of the pirates, a character struggling to control their growing powers, and the continuous impending doom of an old evil rising again, most of the characters are dealing with their own internal struggles and are unwilling to share this with the rest of their friends when the external struggles are complicated enough already. Will they be able to solve all of these problems before it's too late?
I will say that I absolutely adore the characters in this book, and found myself chuckling at their dialogue and even crying at a plot twist toward the end. For characters and some fun enemies-to-lovers tropes, this trilogy has five-star potential. Unfortunately, the plot was almost non-existent. The two major cliffhangers I remembered from book 1 were the growing powers in a character and the threat of evil looming. The powers plot peaked in a way that felt really underwhelming? Sort of like The second part was finally addressed at the very end, so this book sort of just felt like filler in between book 1 and what I assume will happen with book 3.
I will still read book 3 because I really enjoy Kimberly Vale's characters and their dynamics and interactions with each other. ♥
⭐⭐⭐
Thank you to Wattpad Books and Edelweiss+ for a copy of this book for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
content warnings: grief, death, blood/violence, murder, kidnapping/hostage situation
Dark Tides is the sequel to Crossbones, and follows the same characters adjusting to their new lives amidst the ending of book 1. With a new leader of the pirates, a character struggling to control their growing powers, and the continuous impending doom of an old evil rising again, most of the characters are dealing with their own internal struggles and are unwilling to share this with the rest of their friends when the external struggles are complicated enough already. Will they be able to solve all of these problems before it's too late?
I will say that I absolutely adore the characters in this book, and found myself chuckling at their dialogue and even crying at a plot twist toward the end. For characters and some fun enemies-to-lovers tropes, this trilogy has five-star potential. Unfortunately, the plot was almost non-existent. The two major cliffhangers I remembered from book 1 were the growing powers in a character and the threat of evil looming. The powers plot peaked in a way that felt really underwhelming? Sort of like The second part was finally addressed at the very end, so this book sort of just felt like filler in between book 1 and what I assume will happen with book 3.
I will still read book 3 because I really enjoy Kimberly Vale's characters and their dynamics and interactions with each other. ♥
November 19, 2022
Limbo has a crack and things are getting through, like dreamwraiths. While Csilla and the others try to find a way to mend it, Lorelei and Nara go missing. The rest of the group must band together to find them while keeping Magnus from slipping through the crack and destroying the world.
With a prologue that ignites the intrigue and makes you wonder where it will fit into the story, my attention was held hostage throughout this greatly paced, marvelous escapade.
Each POV is deftly done as to identify with its character, distinguishing them with thoughts and actions brought to life by an inviting narrative. There are four now and they are equally engaging. There is a quirky note to the writing, beckoning you to smile. And excitement always brewing. The figurative speech is tangible in its tickle-the-imagination, spot-on way.
The world is expanding in this sequel in a satisfactory way with the clever buildup we are used to. The action is depicted quite well and vivid descriptions color the narrative. There are parts where you want to gasp, parts where you want to cheer, parts where you want to laugh and parts where you want to scream. Loyalty and bravery in the face of insurmountable odds are important themes here.
Some, let's call them tricks, to continue the plot did not make sense to me, while there were also events or relationships that were forced or too convenient. That does not mean that I did not enjoy this sequel and its appropriate touch of swashbuckling.
If you love the supernatural, great adventure and pirates you will be immensely entertained. And that ending will have you clamoring for the finale book.
With a prologue that ignites the intrigue and makes you wonder where it will fit into the story, my attention was held hostage throughout this greatly paced, marvelous escapade.
Each POV is deftly done as to identify with its character, distinguishing them with thoughts and actions brought to life by an inviting narrative. There are four now and they are equally engaging. There is a quirky note to the writing, beckoning you to smile. And excitement always brewing. The figurative speech is tangible in its tickle-the-imagination, spot-on way.
The world is expanding in this sequel in a satisfactory way with the clever buildup we are used to. The action is depicted quite well and vivid descriptions color the narrative. There are parts where you want to gasp, parts where you want to cheer, parts where you want to laugh and parts where you want to scream. Loyalty and bravery in the face of insurmountable odds are important themes here.
Some, let's call them tricks, to continue the plot did not make sense to me, while there were also events or relationships that were forced or too convenient. That does not mean that I did not enjoy this sequel and its appropriate touch of swashbuckling.
If you love the supernatural, great adventure and pirates you will be immensely entertained. And that ending will have you clamoring for the finale book.
March 12, 2023
Dark Tides is the worthy sequel to Crossbones, my favorite YA pirate book. I undoubted enjoyed this faster paced adventure a second time and I’m excited to read the finale which is slated for 2024. We follow a variety of young adult pirates in book one who are competing for the now empty pirate throne by entering a deadly scavenger hunt. This sequel takes place after the final events of book one and I loved nearly every second of it!
I’ve always enjoyed how fast pace this series is. There’s plenty of action and adventure throughout the entire book so it allowed me to read this very quickly. I also think that the world is fun and exciting with the different mythical creatures and gods we are introduced to. When comparing this series to more “popular” YA pirate books, I personally think that it far surpasses both Fable and Daughter of the Pirate King, so it disappoints me that this series is so underrated.
My only real complaint about this book was that it was too short. I felt like some scenes were missing that would’ve given us more character growth, relationship development, or just more details in general. Although I love the fast paced nature of this series, I felt like the second book just needed another 50 pages added to it. It was only about 250 pages in total so bumping this up even just to 300 I think would’ve been more satisfying. That being said, I still had a great experience reading this and I am eagerly awaiting the conclusion.
October 10, 2022
I had a really good time with this book. I really enjoyed the first one, I loved the competition element so I was a little hesitant for this one because the competition ended in the first one.
We get 4 POVs, Csilla, Kane, Loreli and Jaron. Since we already knew the first 3 characters, it was never confusing and Jaron was a great addition. His POV was very interesting and mysterious, especially at first. I liked all 4 of these characters and each story that they had. They each had an important part to play and each POV was necessary.
The plot was really interesting and kept my attention. At the very beginning, Kane and Flynn are looking for Rove and instead, they find terrifying creatures that have escaped Limbo and zombies on an abandoned ship. They then return to Baltessa and Lorelai gets kidnapped. While we get the 4 POVs, we get the storyline of Lorelai and Jaron traveling to who knows where and Csilla and Kane trying to follow them.
It did seem like this book was more of a lead up to the last one in the trilogy, but it definitely hit the mark of not being a dreaded book 2 slump. It ended at the perfect place to begin the third and final book and I already can't wait for it!
Thank you to Netgalley and Wattpad books for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
We get 4 POVs, Csilla, Kane, Loreli and Jaron. Since we already knew the first 3 characters, it was never confusing and Jaron was a great addition. His POV was very interesting and mysterious, especially at first. I liked all 4 of these characters and each story that they had. They each had an important part to play and each POV was necessary.
The plot was really interesting and kept my attention. At the very beginning, Kane and Flynn are looking for Rove and instead, they find terrifying creatures that have escaped Limbo and zombies on an abandoned ship. They then return to Baltessa and Lorelai gets kidnapped. While we get the 4 POVs, we get the storyline of Lorelai and Jaron traveling to who knows where and Csilla and Kane trying to follow them.
It did seem like this book was more of a lead up to the last one in the trilogy, but it definitely hit the mark of not being a dreaded book 2 slump. It ended at the perfect place to begin the third and final book and I already can't wait for it!
Thank you to Netgalley and Wattpad books for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
September 6, 2022
I want to thank #Netgalley for letting me read the eArc of #DarkTides.
I loved this sequel tho Crossbones. Lorelei and Mara have been taken and Csilla's rage becomes encompassing. As the queen pigs crossbones she should be staying to help her people but her friends or should we say her family always come first. Especially since the death of her sister Rhoda. Bill's crew has been trying to late Dominic Rove tho make him pay for betraying them but Dominic had other plans. He had been letting more as Magnus whispers in his ear. He uses Jaron Thorne a man raised to hate pirates to kidnap Nara and Lorelei.
Kane will stop at nothing to bring Lorelei home. His love for her fuels him. It's one.of the only.things that keeps.him going after being stabbed by a a half dead returned from the hole left in Limbo when Lorelei fought Magnus.
Csilla discovers that many things are escaping from limbo and causing havoc. They must find a way to close it and keep Magnus from returning. But they cannot achieve this.without Lorelei.
Will they make it to her on time?
I loved this sequel tho Crossbones. Lorelei and Mara have been taken and Csilla's rage becomes encompassing. As the queen pigs crossbones she should be staying to help her people but her friends or should we say her family always come first. Especially since the death of her sister Rhoda. Bill's crew has been trying to late Dominic Rove tho make him pay for betraying them but Dominic had other plans. He had been letting more as Magnus whispers in his ear. He uses Jaron Thorne a man raised to hate pirates to kidnap Nara and Lorelei.
Kane will stop at nothing to bring Lorelei home. His love for her fuels him. It's one.of the only.things that keeps.him going after being stabbed by a a half dead returned from the hole left in Limbo when Lorelei fought Magnus.
Csilla discovers that many things are escaping from limbo and causing havoc. They must find a way to close it and keep Magnus from returning. But they cannot achieve this.without Lorelei.
Will they make it to her on time?
August 27, 2022
When I read a sequel, I always look for raised stakes and more action, and I'm pleased to say that this book delivered! The plot was just as engaging as the first book, but felt all the more captivating because of how it built on the worldbuilding set up in CROSSBONES. It didn't feel like too many plot points to keep up with, and was a good, light read while still holding my interest. The characters were also a big motivating factor for me to keep turning pages. Each one is so easy to cheer for, and their arcs were easy to follow yet complex enough to mean something for the larger story. I also loved Vale's writing style, and felt she had only grown from her debut. It's descriptive and paints a picture, but its punchy enough not to drag and lose my interest! Overall, I really enjoyed this as both a sequel and as a book. I am always ready for a good pirate adventure! Thank you to Wattpad and NetGalley for the ARC!
October 13, 2022
I was so excited to dig into Dark Tides after getting approved on NetGalley and I was not disappointed! Dark Tides continues the action we grew to expect in Crossbones; right away there was a zombie pirate battle! We’re also introduced to a new POV character who is deliciously morally grey and I think I smell an upcoming enemies-to-lovers romance! There is a nice little twist revealed to the reader and then…a cliffhanger! In the end, Dark Tides gets another four stars from me. I’m not the biggest fan of a cliffhanger ending, depending on how it’s done, and in this case it’s all climax with no denouement. Call me picky, but I like my cliffhanger after a denouement; not only does that lend to a feeling of closure, but it also causes a punchier shock of the open end. (Yes, I know by definition a cliffhanger does not have closure, but there’s that completed story feeling if there’s a denouement before the cliffhanger, whereas all climax does not feel like a finished story).
October 18, 2022
After reading Cross Bones last year I didn't see how Kimberly Vale could capture the magic of the first part of this mystical trilogy but she has and I can't wait to read more.
With a cast that's as complicated as it is intense we have everything in this book I didn't know I needed. From wars with gods to pirate politics, this book is fantastic in so many ways,
While reading this book I found myself even more invested in our main characters, Csilla, Kane, and Lorelei we also see even more of what makes the world of Cerulia such a fantastic yet terrifying place to be.
With stunning imagery, breathtaking twists, and brilliant characters I can't wait to see what happens next for our beloved characters.
Thank you to NetGalley and Wattpad Books for providing an advance copy of this book, I have voluntarily read and reviewed it and all thoughts and opinions are my own.
With a cast that's as complicated as it is intense we have everything in this book I didn't know I needed. From wars with gods to pirate politics, this book is fantastic in so many ways,
While reading this book I found myself even more invested in our main characters, Csilla, Kane, and Lorelei we also see even more of what makes the world of Cerulia such a fantastic yet terrifying place to be.
With stunning imagery, breathtaking twists, and brilliant characters I can't wait to see what happens next for our beloved characters.
Thank you to NetGalley and Wattpad Books for providing an advance copy of this book, I have voluntarily read and reviewed it and all thoughts and opinions are my own.
August 19, 2022
Thank you to the publisher for the eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I enjoyed this book far much than I would've thought to. I was very excited to read this sequel and get to know what happens next, one thing I loved was the small bits of information I kept getting while reading because I forgot most of what happened in Crossbones😅 This book was fast paced and intriguing but I felt as if the characters didn't seem genuine in their feelings, Lorelei and Kane had a bit of chemistry but it was lacking and so I couldn't fully support them. I liked the story, it was a short read and would definitely read the conclusion.
3 stars🌟
I enjoyed this book far much than I would've thought to. I was very excited to read this sequel and get to know what happens next, one thing I loved was the small bits of information I kept getting while reading because I forgot most of what happened in Crossbones😅 This book was fast paced and intriguing but I felt as if the characters didn't seem genuine in their feelings, Lorelei and Kane had a bit of chemistry but it was lacking and so I couldn't fully support them. I liked the story, it was a short read and would definitely read the conclusion.
3 stars🌟
September 23, 2022
Dark Tides was such a thrilling second installment to the Kingdom of Bones Trilogy. Part of me was nervous when I started reading because I was afraid it wouldn't live up to the thrill of the first book, but it was pretty awesome. As we progress further into the story, characters become more complex and deeper and evolve in new and interesting ways. There's a lot for the character's to contend with a and a certain darkness that is ever present throughout. I love how the story continues to give multiple POV narration, adding to its depth and complexity. This book is such a hit and I'm highly anticipating the final installment!
*Special thanks to NetGalley and Wattpad Publishing for providing an advanced readers copy. All opinions are my own and I am leaving this review voluntarily*
*Special thanks to NetGalley and Wattpad Publishing for providing an advanced readers copy. All opinions are my own and I am leaving this review voluntarily*
October 20, 2022
There was no second book slump here! Vale comes in swinging with pirates, a similar-but-new threat due to consequences of actions in the last book, great characters, and a big ole cliffhanger.
I didn't reread the first book before starting this one, so I was worried that I'd be lost, but after a few chapters I was settled back in to the story and characters like no time had passed. There is just enough callback to how the first book went without it being a full-on recap. There was also plenty of world-building without it feeling like a slog. So excited to see what comes next!
Also, justice for Csillia! I don't know that I can bear to watch her hurt anymore!
Thanks to Wattpad Books and Netgalley for the e-ARC!
I didn't reread the first book before starting this one, so I was worried that I'd be lost, but after a few chapters I was settled back in to the story and characters like no time had passed. There is just enough callback to how the first book went without it being a full-on recap. There was also plenty of world-building without it feeling like a slog. So excited to see what comes next!
Also, justice for Csillia! I don't know that I can bear to watch her hurt anymore!
Thanks to Wattpad Books and Netgalley for the e-ARC!
January 16, 2023
An interesting continuation. Though it fits the storyline and I was happy to see Kane and Flynn again (they are my faves), this felt rushed. It's a pretty short read but I couldn't get into it as much as I did the first one. I would have liked to know more about Jaron. I wanted more of the interactions between Jaron and Nara/Lorelei to support budding relationships and give weight to any conflicting emotions Jaron may have had later on. The plot seemed almost too fast-paced and didn't allow me to really immerse myself in the world I came to love in the first book. It was what it was. That being said, I will still continue to the last book and hope for a climactic ending. I will say I liked the little epilogue. Was quite the teaser.
October 12, 2022
*Source* Publisher
*Genre* Young Adult / Fantasy
*Rating* 3.5-4
*Thoughts*
Dark Tides is the second installment in author Kimberly Vale's Kingdom of Bones trilogy. Vale’s swashbuckling pirates return for another high seas, high stakes adventure where Csilla and the Bones crew must battle more otherworldly creatures seeping in from Limbo, and threatening to swallow them whole. As the war between gods and mortals builds to a crescendo, Csilla, Kane, and Lorelei must not only protect their world from destruction, but also their hearts from looming devastation. The seas darken and not everyone will survive the rising tides.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
*Genre* Young Adult / Fantasy
*Rating* 3.5-4
*Thoughts*
Dark Tides is the second installment in author Kimberly Vale's Kingdom of Bones trilogy. Vale’s swashbuckling pirates return for another high seas, high stakes adventure where Csilla and the Bones crew must battle more otherworldly creatures seeping in from Limbo, and threatening to swallow them whole. As the war between gods and mortals builds to a crescendo, Csilla, Kane, and Lorelei must not only protect their world from destruction, but also their hearts from looming devastation. The seas darken and not everyone will survive the rising tides.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
December 15, 2022
Thank you for the opportunity to review this book. I absolutely adore this world, and I loved exploring it with our characters, I will say II liked the first one more, it kept me on my toes, however, I see where the author is going with this. I adored Flynn and his comic relief, but also how he treats Csilla through her life changes, he is always there for her and that is just the best. We get to see more of the characters, and a little of their background, and just keep adding to the love I have for this group. The ending though, WOW, I can't wait for what's coming next.
December 21, 2023
Okay, confession..... I love pirate books. I don't know why I'm so drawn to them, but I am. This book is the perfect mix of fantasy gods and pirates. The sequel to Crossbones, Dark Tides doesn't fall short. It picks up right away from where the first book ended and is full of action and intrigue. It totally ended on a cliff hanger so I can just feel more coming and it better get here quickly! It's been a year...... I just love how relatable and gray the characters are and how much you love and hate them at the same time.
October 20, 2022
Entering the second book the story really embracing the mystical elements that were becoming more prevalent at the end of the first book. Half walking dead pirates, creatures from limbo, "on screen" use of magical powers, all serve to ramp up the stakes.
The early stages were a bit of a slow burn for me, it wasn't until the interactions with Jaron/Nara and some of his backstory that I started to get pulled in.
Overall a satisfying read, with a compelling stage set for a third book.
The early stages were a bit of a slow burn for me, it wasn't until the interactions with Jaron/Nara and some of his backstory that I started to get pulled in.
Overall a satisfying read, with a compelling stage set for a third book.
October 22, 2022
Did not read the first book, but the second book was not hard to follow. Enjoyed this book from beginning to end, the action, the romance, the friendships and mostly the characters were such a treat and so enjoyable. Highly recommend if you want something fun to read but with well written and with amazingly developed and ever growing characters, and you won’t want to miss this book. And you won’t believe the end.
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