CURIOUS TIDES is the start of a fantasy duology with an intricate magic system full of myth and secrets.

I really enjoyed the magic system of this story, where the phase of the moon and the tide at the time of birth determines your magic - and when you are best able to use it. It was a neat way to put rules onto what could be done, but also explain why tensions existed between most magicians and the eclipse magicians who don't follow the rules. Plus it ties in so neatly with the mythology of the world.

This is a world where the tides are personified and are now gods who have vanished, though there are theories and disagreements over what exactly happened. It felt like a slightly different take on magic systems, using two things that often are involved in them (the moon and water) but combining them in a fun new way.

The mysteries at the heart of the book - what were the drowned doing? What are their society doing now? - made for a compelling plot, with other mystery threads being woven in along the way to create a layered web of suspicion. It meant there was always at least one mystery you were invested in at any one point, pulling you forward.

It is set at a school for the magical, where they learn to control their powers - and maybe join a secret society, if they're deemed important enough. I'm not sure I'd quite class it as a dark academia though, as there isn't a quest for academic knowledge at the heart of the book. It's more about understanding what's happened to these students and to Emory's magic that just so happens to take place at a school.

A new take on the school for magically gifted trope.

Emory is a Healer in a world where magic is inked to the stage of the moon on the day you were born, her gift weak, unlike her best friend Romie, bright, ambitous and full of talent. But Romie is gone, along with seven of their classmates, in a freak accident that only Emory survived. Racked with guilt, Emory doesn't know why Romie was down in the caves that day, and if Emory's presence was responsible for her friend's death. But only four bodies were found, none of them Romie's, and when one of the other presumed drowned students washes up on the beach, alive, only to die horribly just a few minutes later, Emory finds new powers awaken, dangerous forbidden powere. Powers that might just help her discover what happened that night, and maybe just maybe help her find out if Romie is also alive somewhere and can be saved.

Pascale Lacelle has conjured up a complex original world and a creative plot. At times it felt almost too complex, with some clunky backstory filling (a lot of 'She remembered') and I did find my attention wandering at times but overall a clever readable debut.

This book is dark academia at its best!! It sets the tone perfectly, spooky, a sense of impending doom, you’re on the knife edge of something big and there’s a real lingering foreboding - I loved it!! It had all the right elements and hit all the marks perfectly for me and was exactly what I was looking for in a fantasy dark academia set up.

The world is thought out in so much depth and was so intricately created. It’s a beautiful bookiverse and one that you can so easily get immersed in. I loved the set up, the details, the revealing of more and more of the history, lore, backgrounds, myths and legends of the story, I was completely entranced.

We have secret organisations, cults, mysterious disappearances, a magical university and all kinds of magic to get to grips with. The plot was fantastic and the more I read, the more invested I became. Considering it was a fairly big book, I found I didn’t waver at all on my concentration (and after reading a speight of easy reading contemporary romances and nothing books, I was amazed at how quickly I got into this considering I had to use my brain more!).

Great characters, great atmosphere and a really great core plot and story. Honestly can’t wait for this to come out in hardback because even from the ebook, it looked stunning!

And I’m glad this book isn’t a standalone and there’s more to come, because I’m not ready to leave Lunar magic behind and need to catch up with Baz, Kai, Emory and Romie stat!

A dark academia fantasy with magic based on tides, the phases of the moon and eclipses.
Emory is the only survivor of a ritual gone wrong, one she wasn't supposed to have been a part of. Deep in the caves just down from the college, eight other students were lost to the tides but only four bodies were recovered.
Emory returns for a new term but is soon confused by a strange pull she feels back to the caves and a change to her magic. She seeks help from Baz, the brother of her drowned best friend Romie and an eclipse-born magic user. At the same time, Emory is drawn in to a secret society and drawn to Kieran, the society's golden-boy.
I really liked the mythology and magic system involved in this world, the author has obviously put a lot of thought into how all of it works together. The setting is also great, a magical college on the cliffs, a dangerous cave system - it's all very atmospheric and intriguing.
The story alternates between Emory and Baz, and I found Baz to be a much more sympathetic character. Emory had her moments, but she was also clearly obsessed with and jealous of Romie, manipulative and occasionally incredibly stupid.
My other complaint was that the chapters were very long and, especially in the first half, full of repeated, rambling, self-absorption and recounting past events.
Having said that, I liked the general progression of the story and the unfolding of the mysteries surrounding the cave and the magic connected to it and I'm interested to see where the story goes next.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster UK Children's for providing a netgalley copy for me to review

Wow!! This book is exceptional!! It creates one of the most unique and original worlds of magic I’ve ever read. The plot is complex but completely enthralling. I am absolutely in love with this story. A wonderful weaving of dark academia and fantasy- it’s truly stunning. I need the next one now! READ THIS!

This was an enjoyable story, if a somewhat predictable one. I might have enjoyed it more if it hadn't been pitched as 'dark academia.' A heroine who makes a mistake and then spends the rest of the book making up for it isn't exactly dark. Don't get me wrong, she's a great heroine, but there isn't anything morally grey in her makeup. And for me, an academic setting isn't enough to classify something as 'academia': for that, it has to be thoroughly steeped in a particular academic discipline, with a plot that revolves around that scholastic exploration. Admittedly, that's really hard to achieve in a fantasy setting, and the world-building here is solid, just not layered enough to give that academia vibe.

Overall, it kept me engaged.

Thank you NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for an ARC of the book. All opinions are my own.

Emory is a student at Aldryn College for Lunar Magics where people who possess magic can train and develop their powers. However, there is a caveat—each person who possesses magic can do so when the moon is in the right position for their magic; otherwise they need to resort to bloodletting.
Emory is back for her second year, but this year she needs to figure out how and why her best friend died. Who were the people with whom she had gotten closer? What do they know that she doesn't?
It's a year full of mystery and investigation for Emory. She'll have to join the popular crowd at school and a secret society and she'll need to realise her feelings for the two guys who make her heart beat—her best friend's older brother and the leader of the popular crowd.
However, the secrets that Emory discovers are devastating as they bring back more questions than answers about her past, especially about her mother.

This YA novel was full of adventure and mystery since the beginning. I didn't always liked Emory as I thought she was being dumb quite a few times (especially when the boys were involved), but I could see her grow throughout the book. I'm curious to see what book 2 will bring and the answers about Emory's past.

New dark academia obsession? YES, ABSOLUTELY!

It's definitely one of my favorite books now. I can't even find the words to describe what an incredible read this is! I'm already bullying my book club friends to preorder and read this because I need them to be as obsessed with Curious Tides as I am; and I definitely know they will be. The writing, the characters, the unique magic system are all so wonderful! I could not stop reading, I was living in this amazing world and now I'm having such a hard time coming back to reality. Please, please give this book and this author the hype they deserve for this magical masterpiece!

Thank you to S&S for the arc in return for an honest review.

Ok so the atmosphere in this book is to die for. Secret societies, gloomy caves, lunar and tidal magic, mysterious deaths, all delivered perfectly packaged up in beautiful writing. After having just rewatched Wednesday Addams, I am totally here for those vibes. Gimme.

Admittedly, the magic system took a lot of concentration for me to fully get to grips with. It is interesting and complex and I loved the idea that not everyone is super powerful all the time and it depends on your place in the lunar cycle etc, but there were so many Capitalised Names and Phrases where you feel like 'ok this is important to remember', but I couldn't get it to stick. I kind of wish I'd made notes. I also would have kind of liked a bit of a faster pace in the plot department/a little less inner monologuing and a slightly shorter page count.

That being said, this book is still a good A/W read and perfect for moody fantasy fans.

And the cover is absolutely gorgeous right?!

I did not manage to read this unfortunately, due to unforeseeable issues at home but I have preordered this book as I’m interested in reading it once I get the opportunity.

Beautifully written, this book just sucks you in and does not let you go. I do love a bit of dark academia but this one was just so rich and immersive I did not want it to end. More please ......

The feeling you get when you discover a truly phenomenal book is like no other. THIS is a welcome and incredible addition to the Dark Academia genre, and I think it’s going to take the world by storm. It’s exactly what I seek for in this genre - dark, gloomy, enchanting, secretive. I truly could not put it down: the plot was so intricate and well paced, the characters fully fleshed out and likable whilst not being without flaws, and a unique and enthralling magic system. It belongs up there with the greats, and I think lovers of Ava Reid’s A Study In Drowning are especially going to love this one.

The twists were fantastic, with just enough clues dropped along the way that made the pay off so grand. Some I was able to (eventually) predict and some had my jaw dropping. I am counting down the days until Book #2.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Children's UK for providing me with a eARC. All opinions are my own.

This is a fantastic YA dark academia book set in a unique and well crafted world with a strongly developed magic system. It suffered majorly from some initial pacing issues but I highly recommend pushing through the early, repetitive exposition as the story and pace really pick up from part two. Once the stakes become clear this races along with some clever twists and great character development. I will definitely be ordering the next in the duology!

4.5 ⭐️

“Because this book is magic. It's like a portal, you see. It lets you step into other worlds and exist there for a time.”

This book!!! It gives all the dark academia vibes and I absolutely devoured it. There’s secret societies, myths/legends, forbidden magic, romance and incredible world building. I loved the alternating chapters between Emory and Baz’s pov and seeing their thoughts, especially Baz’s feelings for her and the way they were described🥺you could feel the emotion of his words as if you were hearing him speak them.
The magic system was so unique, being based on the moon phases and different tides which made it so interesting to read about. The writing in this book was so poetic and completely immersed me in the world, especially towards the end where I could not look up from my kindle! I loved the characters and friendships in this book and am so excited for the next one; like the ending?! I need more I’m in love!

Thank you so much to @netgalley @simonandschuster children, and @pascalelacelle for the chance to read Curious Tides early! All opinions are my own and the book will be releasing on October 3rd!

What an enthralling book! From the magic to the story to the beautiful descriptions, this was a delight. Lacelle’s writing flows very nicely, creating a movie in my mind as I read on. In Curious Tides, we follow Emory and Baz in the aftermath of a deadly visit to magical caves next to the academy they both attend, where Baz’s sister drowned, and from which Emory was the sole survivor.

We quickly get into the dark academia-esque ambience as we learn more about the different houses ruled by the phases of the moon and the magical powers dictated by tidal alignments at birth. Emory is a Healer, born under a New Moon, but after the disaster at the caves, she finds herself with mysterious and dangerous new powers. Baz, a Timespinner whom she believes can help her master her abilities, is a secretive student plagued by past catastrophes of his own, reeling from his sister’s death. And then, she finds out about a secret society which bears the same mark she mysteriously got on the night she almost drowned, and we’re thrown into a whirlwind of events with her.

Both Emory and Baz were well fleshed out, with qualities and flaws of their own which developed nicely over the course of the story. It’s clear Lacelle has been working on this story for a while and has really gotten to know their characters; I only found a few inconsistencies in personality in the first 30% in favour of the romance sub-plots, but that quickly stopped (or I stopped noticing). This book also has a love triangle (a trope I typically dislike) that actually makes sense! I found myself particularly rooting for Baz, who has my heart and deserves much better than his lot in life.

The plot was also engrossing, and I read the last 40% in one day, almost in one sitting. I felt the first 25% were a bit slow and clunkier than the rest of the story, as we are exposed to a lot of backstory and information relating to the magic system which I felt we could have gotten to more organically throughout the novel. Once we’re in it though, it’s pretty fascinating. There were a few twists I hadn’t seen coming, and I enjoyed coming up with theories (most I got right, but not necessarily in a blatantly obvious way, which is always satisfying) throughout the reading experience.

I can’t wait for this book to be out in the world and for friends to read it because… I need to talk about this ending! I will definitely be on the lookout for book #2 when it’s announced, and I hope it won’t be another year and a half before it’s published. I will definitely need to write down my theories for the rest of the narrative soon so I can revisit them when the sequel comes out.

I would recommend this story to anyone who is into fantasy, including if you don’t read YA a whole lot anymore (aka me). The magic system is quite unique, and while the tropes are familiar, they have an exciting flavour and twist to them, topped off by some exquisite writing. This one will also satisfy astronomy lovers, but won’t put off those who know nothing about it (aka me, again). And of course, it’s a must read for the dark academia fans out there!

With thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Children’s for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Curious Tides

At the begining I wanted to thank NetGalley and Simon&Schuster and of course Author - Pascale Lacelle for giving me an opportunity to be an ARC reader of that book.
Opinion I am about to give is mine and mine only.

Curious Tides.. What. A. Read.

I had a love/hate realtionship with that book while reading. To be honest I almost DNFed. Because you have to embrace yourself in patience, my dear Readers, but trust my word - Curious Tides is worth it!

Book is builded upon a tragedy. We meet Emory in her moments of grief, she just lost her best friend. Convinced that Roomie is dead, Emory keeps blaming herself of the fatal results of THAT night.

THAT night is a combination of many events that led eight best students of Aldryn College of Lunar Magics to certain death. All of them are gone, but not Emory. Now she is back at her school because she has to do everything in her power to solve this mystery.

Curious Tides has, in my opinion, highly complicated and complex magic system, where your power is stricte connected to moon phases and tides. I have to admit I was lost a few times during my read and that was what frustrated me at much. But once I got a hold of what is going on, it was easier to follow events in book.

Next to Emory we meet Baz, who has his own POV, and from chapter to chapter he was growing on me. He is also grieving - Roomie was his sister. He is one of the black sheeps in his world - he wields magic that is not connected to the Tides - abomination, that’s what other call him. He is also very strict and always follows rules, so when Emory came to him for help, he did not want to help her at the begining. Call it sentiment of their childhood friendship or still hidden somewhere feelings he has for his sister’s best friend, but he decides to help her. Doesnt he know, that Emory has already found a way to discover all Roomie’s secrets, and she doesn’t only cofide to him.

Will all this secrets destroy they renewed relation?
Will they discover why Roomie had to die? Is she really dead?
What about Emory’s magic, will she find the answers she is looking for?

To get your answers all you have to do is read this book, like RIGHT NOW. I am really happy that I found enough patience in me to keep reading - it was so worth it.

If you like:

🌑 dark academia
🌒 high fantasy with complex magic system
🌓 love triangle
🌔 hidden powers yet to release
🌕 secret societies
🌖 secrets to reveal
🌗 hidden worlds
🌘 gothic romance

this book is definietly for you! 🌊

For me it was 5/5 ⭐️
I can’t wait to read book 2!

I sadly couldn't get into this book at all for several reasons. Firstly, the language was just far too descriptive, to the point I felt it was getting in the way of my enjoying the story. Secondly, the author seems to have created a world and magic that is so immense that it requires a huge amount of explanation and I often find this an issue with fantasy (a genre I generally love), that you get a lot of information dumped on you early on, and you actually can't take it in, and so that world, it's magic and nuances can be completely lost. I appreciate how much work the writers put into their worlds, the magic systems etc but I find an info dump is not the best way to go, and always puts me off.
Perhaps this books improves as it goes, and maybe the start is just overly descriptive to give you a feel for things, but I found it a bit jarring.

This was such a huge flop for me and I'm so disappointed, because I've been looking forward to reading CURIOUS TIDES ever since it was announced.

It has been a long time since I have been 1) so deeply annoyed with characters, 2) extremely bored by pacing, and 3) impressed by worldbuilding but also like "alright, we get it, move on." The world that Lacalle created genuinely was so cool and intricate, but explaining magic and lore seemed to be her only priority. The story itself dragged and dragged and dragged. Nothing really happened until maybe the 75% mark? There was NO reason the book should have been this long. Where was her damn editor?

Certainly not working on main characters, I'll tell you that much. Oh my god. I hated Emory so so so much. Whereas Baz was sort of wet blanket and just kind of pathetic- easy to tune out- Emory was queen of the Mary Sues. The hero of heroes, most powerful person ever, hates other girls and literally treats them like garbage, treats pathetic Baz like trash too, AND spends the majority of the book believing the world's most obvious asshole just because he smiles at her and tells her she's special. Like, damm, even Alina Starkov had more complexity and common sense than this girl.

There were a few side characters shoehorned in for plot convenience (Vera was especially lazy, writing wise) but there were others that were much more intriguing than the main characters. Kai, Lizabeta, Jae, even Penelope (I felt so bad for her and need her to punch Emory). Lots of wasted potential here.

Overall, this was not a good time. It was boring and cliched and messy. I don't think to pit books against each other or anything, but if you're looking for a YA Dark Academia that deals with two students solving a mystery about a strange book, surrounded by water and death, then read A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid. It is infinitely better than this.

This book was simply incredible. I could not put it down. An incredibly strong debut from a very lyrically gifted author.

This book is everything dark academia fantasy should be. The magic system was really clever and well thought out, the world fully fleshed out and I loved the fact that it was set at a magical university instead of a school. The main characters Emory and Baz were the university wallflowers and I liked this, though some of side characters were a lot more compelling. I also liked that this book was unpredictable, I did not guess the ending, but it all made sense when it was revealed.

4.5 stars overall

Fantastic!!! This book is so beautiful! Gorgeous writing, fascinating characters, a story that had me from the first page. The universe Pascale imagined is so real, but also so otherwordly. Emory and Baz are amazing characters, and Baz's journey during the book is perfect! Just like Pascale's Epilogue, this book was its own kind of portal on a page. Loved it loved it loved it!