Compass and Blade

February 15, 2024
A girl tries to save her father and learn the truth about her own identity. Growing up on the isle of Rosevear, Mira has always felt called to the ocean in a way she suspects her fellow islanders aren't. Working as a wrecker with other villagers, her job is to save survivors from the ships they lure toward shore to illegally plunder. Mira can't help but feel suffocated by her life. Her father is loving but "a little too stifling"; he's especially protective since Mira's mother died doing the same work that she now does. But when the watch--the governing force of their region--set a trap to catch them, Mira's father is captured and sentenced to death. Mira, desperate to save him, finds herself seeking help from Seth, a survivor of one of her isle's own wrecks. Following a gut feeling and a set of coordinates found in her mother's belongings, Mira sets out to save her father. She's thrown together with the members of a ship's crew, all of whom, it seems, have their own secrets to keep. While the narrative initially lacks momentum, it eventually gains speed, delivering twist after satisfying twist. Some of the characterizations lack depth and the romance would have benefitted from being more fully developed, but beautiful imagery builds an engrossing world that's tough to leave behind. Mira is cued white; some secondary characters are brown-skinned. A slow-building but ultimately satisfying fantasy adventure. (map) (Fantasy. 14-18)

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Starred review from February 15, 2024
Grades 8-11 *Starred Review* The sea takes, and the sea gives. This is the credo that Mira has grown up with, and for her people, on the island of Rosevear, it is a way of life: to survive the harsh winters, they lure ships to their rocky coasts, wrecking them along their shores and plundering their holds. As one of the seven who swims out to the ships, Mira is responsible for saving what lives she can, and it's a responsibility she takes seriously; she lost her own mother, a wrecker before her, to the sea. When the city watch decides to no longer turn a blind eye to Rosevear and sentences Mira's father to hang, Mira enlists the services of a boy she once saved from drowning and hires herself a crew that could be her salvation or her doom. Armed with only a set of coordinates left to her by her mother, she heads for an open sea filled with pirates and monsters, praying for something that will help her on her quest. The high stakes and ticking clock make this propulsively readable, but it's the dreamy, confident writing that elevates this debut to the next level. A swashbuckler that metes out romance and vengeance in equal measure and with equal weight, this series starter is poised to make a significant splash.

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April 5, 2024

Gr 10 Up-Living on a remote island, Mira is part of a crew that causes shipwrecks and plunders the loot. Her job is to save any survivors, and one day she rescues a mysterious and attractive boy. She inherited her position after her mom died, and like her mom, she thrives in the sea. The day after saving said stranger, the watch arrests her father and the crew's leader. They are to be executed in nine days for causing the shipwrecks. Mira believes that the answer to saving them will come from learning about her mother and so begins her maritime adventure. Though the book starts off slowly, the worldbuilding makes it worth it. When it picks up speed it becomes a fun read with adventure, betrayal, romance, and mythical creatures. While there are some predictable parts, there are also some refreshing scenes, like Mira's meet-cute with the male romantic lead whom she saves. If your patrons are searching for a book that flips tropes, this is not it. However, this is perfect for libraries where YA fantasy is popular generally. VERDICT A solid romantasy purchase for any collection and ideal for fans of Lauren Roberts and BookTok trending books.-Wilsinia Ocasio

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