Caffeinated Reviewer

A Swift and Savage Tide by Chloe Neill is the second novel in the high seas tales of Captain Kit Brightling. Magic, swoons, and battles on the high seas await you as the adventure continues. Grab a cup of joe and read my review of the book and audiobook.

Chloe Neill's bold, seafaring heroine Captain Kit Brightling sets sail for high seas and high sorcery in this swashbuckling fantasy series.

Captain Kit Brightling is Aligned to the magic of the sea, which makes her an invaluable asset to the Saxon Isles and its monarch, Queen Charlotte. The Isles and its allies will need every advantage they can get: Gerard Rousseau, the former Gallic emperor and scourge of the Continent, has escaped his island prison to renew his quest for control of the Continent.

Gerard has no qualms about using dangerous magic to support his ambitions, so Kit and the crew of her ship, the Diana, are the natural choice to find him—and help stop him. Sparks fly when Kit's path unexpectedly crosses with that of the dashing and handsome Rian Grant, Viscount Queenscliffe, who's working undercover on the Continent in his own efforts to stop Gerard. But he's not the only person Kit is surprised to see. An old enemy has arisen, and the power he'll wield on Gerard's behalf is beautiful and terrible. Sparks will fly and sails will flutter as Kit and crew are cast onto the seas of adventure to fight for queen and country.

Last year I read The Bright and Breaking Sea and then listened to the audiobook. This year I had the pleasure of listening as I read along. The story takes place in an alternate version of 1800s Europe during the Napoleonic war. While book one spent time on world building, such was not the case in A Swift and Savage Tide. We spent more time at sea with battles as Kit aligned with the sea. Prepare for battles, magic and sea dragons! Yes, sea dragons!

Twenty-four-year-old Captain Kit Brightling is aligned to the magic of the sea and in service to the Saxon Isles and its monarch, Queen Charlotte. Gerard Rousseau, the former Gallic emperor, has escaped his island prison and is gathering forces to gain control of the Continent. Kit and the crew of the Diana set sail to find out where he has docked his ship and inform the Navy fleet.

I loved time aboard the ship and was delighted when Kit and the crew crossed-paths with Rian Grant, Viscount Queenscliffe. Grant is working undercover on the Continent in his own efforts to stop Gerard. Magic, epic battles, injuries and discoveries made for an entertaining tale.

I love the magical system, and world Neill has created. She fleshed out the world in book one from the Brightling House for foundlings and Kit’s sisters to the Queen and the conflicts over power. It is rich, and well-plotted, which allowed this second book to enrich the characters and increase the action and pacing.

The slow-burning romance heated up and I love the chemistry and banter between the two. Things happened that have me excited to see more develops in the romance department. I am truly hoping for a happily ever after where Kit gets everything she desires.

I am most curious about some threads, including a fortune-teller and a group of pirates. All added to the tale and have me wishing we didn’t have to wait a year for the next installment.

Danielle Cohen offered a masterful narration and the book and audio match closely. The author’s writing lends itself perfectly to audio and Cohen brought Kit, Grant and the secondary characters to life on the high seas.

The series is perfect for fans of alternate histories, magic and fantasy with a dash of romance. I love Neill’s twist on this time period and dare I say she has me wishing for adventures at sea.

Amazon | Audible

About Chloe Neill

Chloe Neill is the New York Times bestselling author of the Chicagoland Vampires Novels, the Devil's Isle Novels, and a YA series, the Dark Elite. Chloe was born and raised in the South, but now makes her home in the Midwest. When she's not writing, she bakes, works, and scours the Internet for good recipes and great graphic design. Chloe also maintains her sanity by spending time with her boys--her husband and their dogs, Baxter and Scout.

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About Danielle Cohen

Danielle Cohen grew up in Manchester, England, reading anything and everything aloud, and at the age of eight dreamed of being a news reader, or later, a stand-up comedian! Neither of those careers ever came to fruition, but she did pursue an acting career for many years, performing in many venues around London, at the Edinburgh Festival, and worked with several children's theater companies. Danielle has also voiced a number television documentaries. Danielle now lives in Vermont. She is an actress and a successful audiobook narrator. She has always loved telling a good story and being an audiobook narrator has been a natural progression. When she's not narrating audiobooks, she can be found walking or running with friends, playing board games with her husband and teenage daughters, or baking and eating cake.

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About Kimberly

Kimberly is a coffee loving book addict who reads and listens to fictional stories in all genres. Whovian, Ravenclaw, Howler and proud Nonna. She owns and manages Caffeinated PR. The coffee is always on and she is ready to chat. BlueSky | Facebook | Instagram

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