Week 16 Review: Heirs of Bone and Sea

From Goodreads:

Dive into the grand adventure of two young royals seeking to end the war between their two kingdoms in what Kirkus calls, "A Sapphic fantasy romance series-opener brimming with blood and longing."

Climb the tower. Kill the princess.

Evhen, princess—no, queen—of Vodaeard, is on a revenge mission. After witnessing her parents' brutal murder by the king of Marama and the horror of his undead army, she's vowed to kill his daughter. It'll be poetic justice and also take away his supernatural edge in the war. But when she realizes the princess might be an ignorant pawn, she changes course and hides her royal identity—after all, she can't trust an enemy, no matter how beautiful she is.

Stay alive. Break the curse.

Princess Kalei of Marama is moon-blessed, allowing her to resurrect her kingdom's loyal subjects. But when she's attacked in her safe lighthouse by a fiery pirate, her worldview is shattered once she learns what her power is really being used for. Determined to prove her innocence and willingness to stop her father, she has no choice but to trust her would-be killer to safely deliver her to the Vodaeardean princess. But who can she trust in when it seems Captain Evhen is not the only one who wants her dead?

My Review:
I did enjoy this book. I did have some quibbles that I'll note, but I did have a good time with these characters and this story. Of these two princesses, who have to work together because one wants to make up for the harm that she unknowingly caused, and the other who wants payback for the deaths of her parents, but can't seem to take the easy way to doing so. I had a great time! 

Events were happening, but I wasn't sure why. I trust the author knows why the world works the way that it does. I just would like an explanation, or a more simple one, because I just did not know or understand, and I would really like to! 

I was pretty annoyed that they kept calling her a criminal, given what they did to her parents, but it turns out they didn't recognize her, and just knew that she kidnapped their daughter. So that makes sense, but it annoyed me until that bit of information came out. 

One thing that I'm wondering-why did the people, when Kalei was in opposition with her parents, take the side of the king and queen, against her, the one that brought them back? Seems pretty ungrateful, especially with what happens to them. Unless they knew that that was coming...even so. Not cool! 

There is plenty set up to be dealt with in the next book, which I'm really excited to see, between Kalei no longer having her powers, but maybe something darker, Evhen, with her brother held captive by the king of Marama, the bargain that she made to bring Kalei back...so excited to see how things are going to get resolved! 

I otherwise had a really good time reading this book and I can't wait for the sequel! 

Author: Kay Adams 
Series: Dark Depths #1
Read: April 15th, 2024
Source: NetGalley 
Reason Why: Sounded really great, and it's a DAC Book and a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2024 Book!
Publisher: Dreamscape Media 
Published: March 5th 2024

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars