I loved this so much. I went in thinking I would love Simran most, and then realised Vina might be the love of my life? She's like the ultimate golden retriever, except she isn't. Because she's got so much depth and so many little oddities underneath that shape who she is and why she acts how she does. I am such a lover of that knight.
Also, the worldbuilding in this was so unique and clever. I really loved it, it was so imaginative and creative. I feel like the idea of tales shaping and sustaining a world is such an interesting idea. Its gonna stick with me for a long time.
This is the first Knight-related romance I've ever read and it was glorious. I feel like it's set the bar bahaha. Anyway. I'll collect my thoughts and likely make a tiktok about this soon so I can chitchat all my unhinged thoughts (mainly how much I fancy Vina)
Thank you so much netgalley for this! <3

Gorgeously written, an absolute stunner. I loved the author's Burning Kingdoms trilogy and everyone should read that series, but this is another level of writing and god, does it make me excited for what's to come from Tasha Suri.

The Isle in the Silver Sea is a story about stories, which is one of my favourite types of book. It also features a lady knight, which, coincidentally, is another of my favourite types of book. And a witch, which is also- you get the picture.

I loved how the story was written like a retelling, a story of itself, which was so fitting considering the very plot of this was based around people reincarnating to relive their fated stories over and over again. I honestly can't speak highly enough of this, as I found it such a satisfying and unique bit of magic. Seriously, if nothing else, people need to read this for just the mythology and the writing, both of which were the clear highlights in an overall very strong book.

But they could also read it for the characters. Vina, Simran, and so many of the secondary characters (I won't spoil who, but you'll know - they are a FAMILY in part two and YES) were so easy to love. Vina especially was such a fantastic character, god, I love her.

While I am a big fan of standalones - there's something so satisfying about wrapping everything up in one book - I can't help but feel this perhaps would have been better served as a duology. Yes, the book is split into part one and part two, but I would actually look at wrapping up a book one as they fulfill their first "quest" (really meeting Galath). My only quibble with the book was the romance, which is a main plot and very much at the heart of the story. I loved Vina and Simran together, don't get me wrong, and I loved how their romance developed for the first third or so, but felt that it got a bit rushed after that point. They had one kiss, went their separate ways, and then . . . came back together and were in love? I think Tasha Suri can write an amazing slow burn, and wish she'd had a bit more time to do so, especially for something so integral to this story.

That said, the writing and the story and the characters were all so strong that the romance needing more development barely hindered a moment of my enjoyment of the story; this is an easy 4.5 stars, and I'm not sure how, but Tasha Suri needs to write more in this world for me personally.

Thank you to the publisher, Orbit, and to NetGalley for the ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC.

With a premise as enchanting as its title, The Isle in the Silver Sea draws readers into a world where fairy tales aren’t just stories. They are the very lifeblood of an island, repeated endlessly through incarnates to keep its magic alive. The lore is lush, steeped in folklore and eerie faerie bargains, tangled forests, and the quiet weight of societal suppression. The queer norm setting is a welcome touch, woven seamlessly into the fabric of the world.

The concept is phenomenal and brimming with potential, and I was especially taken with the haunting atmosphere and strong themes. Secondary characters shone the brightest, leaving the main leads feeling a bit distant in comparison. While the romance didn’t quite grip me, the tale itself held my attention. Unfortunately, the pacing and execution lacked the spark the premise promised, and the world building and magic system felt too thin for something so layered.

Still, this was my first read from Tasha Suri, and despite its flaws, I’m intrigued enough to pick up more of her work.

If I had one complaint it was not seeing enough of the cat.

This story gripped me right from the beginning. It was a little confusing at the beginning as the world building took place but the thing I love is that it wasn’t info dumped on you but gently woven through the story revealing the world they live in. I did feel that part two was a little rushed and think that perhaps a duology would have been better but I really loved it. So much magic angst and romance. Tasha Suri has the most beautiful and mesmerising writing style.

On an isle where tales are what’s keeping everything together, just as long as the incarnated main characters of said tales live them out to the very end. Vina and Simran – both incarnates in a doomed tale of love and death – are desperate to keep the tale at bay as long as they can so they can just live. So when they discover that there might be a way out, they join forces to free themselves. For themselves, each other, their loved ones and every one else who is trapped in a tale without having asked for it.

Disclaimer: I received an advance reader copy of The Isle in the Silver Sea by Tasha Suri via Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion. Thanks so much to Tasha Suri and Orbit for the trust.

I went into this rather blindly, knowing only three things: one, I love everything Tasha Suri writes, two, The Isle in the Silver Sea is sapphic and three, there’s a lady knight and I am SO HERE for the lady knight summer of 2025. So in spite of being neck-deep in a burn-out, I was pretty confident I was going to love this, and honestly? I did. Although I currently have the attention span of a fruit fly and that did cause my to take forever to finish it, I did manage to finish it, because it was just that good!

If you’ve read anything by Tasha Suri before, you already know that she is an excellent writer. The Books of Ambha duology was my introduction to her work, and even though that is her debut duology, her lyrical prose and gorgeously layered writing was already expertly honed, and after having excelled with The Burning Kingdoms trilogy, I was absolutely not surprised to find equally gorgeous writing in The Isle in the Silver Sea.

What I was curious about, was how Suri would handle a stand-alone novel after recently having finished a trilogy. And in this regard too, she displays absolute mastery of her craft. The Isle in the Silver Sea reads like a fairytale – and despite there being so many layers (the mythology of the Isle, the personal stories of Vina and Simran, their love story, their tale, The Knight and the Witch, the other tales and how/whether they call connect, the court politics, the fae (there’s even FAE!)), everything is wrapped up gorgeously by the end and it all just makes sense.

And don’t even get me started on the romance. Because even though there is an inevitability to Vina and Simran falling in love (because that’s what their tale is all about), their actual falling in love, and them fighting their story and wanting agency over their own lives and their loves was absolutely beautiful and made me root for them all the way through. It would have been so easy to omegaverse this shit and just focus on the “fatedness” of it all, but instead the focus was on the agency and I loved that.

The mythology of the tales and how they are tied to the island was another element I really enjoyed, and how Tasha Suri implemented a message about “otherness” and how those tales are perceived to be less important by the Isle’s (white) people was expertly done as well.

All in all this is an absolutely fabulous new book in Tasha Suri’s already impressive bibliography and honestly – she’s been an autobuy author since Empire of Sand and that isn’t changing. Highly recommended for any fans of fantasy and romantasy with fairytale vibes, angry witches and pining knights. You won’t be disappointed.

The jasmine throne by Tasha Suri is probably one of my all time favourite books so imagine my happiness when i was granted a Earc of her new book, The isle in the silver sea. I will try to keep this free from heavy spoilers.

To start with the characters. I found both Vina and Simran wonderful POVs to follow. They’re distinct and such fundamentally different people that somehow fit together perfectly. They have conflicting views on life but uphold similar values and their slow discovery of each other had me on edge in the best way! Their romance was so layered and tragic but despite everything you just *had* to root for them.

I also adored both of their relationship with Hari and *spoiler*. Seeing Simran have such a soft spot for someone made her character so much stronger. We see her loyalty and love and it helps us believe all her later motivations and actions. I also loved Vina and Hari in part 2 but you have to read the book for that.


The world building was over all fantastical. I have always adores stories that allow tales to intertwine and grow and Silver sea did exactly that. We get to see so many new and old tales referenced and it’s such a delight to see how Tasha Suri manages to make them in to one.

We get a very easy to understand magic system as well. It’s a simple ink based system thats used to its fullest. I like how all other magic can simply be explained with the ink as well, stories are written in ink and so is the isle.

My only complaint about the book does come in here as well. ( mild spoilers ahead ) There is a few instances of modern words being used and also modern things being explained.

The first is some weirdly modern queer terms being used instead of historical. I think it would have suited the tone better to reference a few older words and sayings to make it less jarring. Especially when it only happens twice and the rest is older words that feel thematically fitting.

The second thing that bugged me was the phone, skyscrapers and plane mentioned. In my opinion it also just threw me out of the book a bit and made me feel weird about the implications of them. I think the book was too short to explore it and the very few mentions just felt off when the most modern thing we got before was victorian. The rest of the book seemed very rooted in Elizabethan England so it just really threw me for a loop. I think it should have been cut or maybe explored just a inch more for it to work for me.

There is also a part where Vina have to leave her sword behind but then Simran borrows it from her- so thats a slight continuation error but that did not affect my rating.

Over all it was a fantastical read and I can’t wait to make all my friends read it! I really hope we get more books like this in the future!

Absolutely gorgeous and one of the reading highlights of my year so far, The Isle in the Silver Sea deeply considers stories and more importantly who gets to tell them and the narratives seeded by colonialism. Reading this felt like a dream and maybe it was a dream I had, a thousand years ago.

A fascinating spinning of lore brings us to Tasha Suri’s vision of Britain, powered by stories, and an intriguing mixture of gaslamp, steampunk, regency, Arthurian, Empire, and anything else you could imagine: any age where stories have been told, bound together. Stories which form the strength of the Isle, and whose reincarnate players must act out those stories in perpetuity, to keep the narrative strong…

And oh, don’t those tales of Britain sing of hope and glory and Empire; and don’t they gloss over the ones who don’t, who shouldn’t, who can’t belong in the tales?

Simran, a witch, and Vina, a knight, find themselves trapped in a tale - doomed to fall in love and destroy each other. But is their fate as real as their love, and can they write themselves a new ending?

This is a powerful story, the shape of which does not quite reveal itself until you are well and truly caught. It’s a love story - yes, well, and sort of; but it’s SO MUCH MORE. It’s a story of destiny, of homelands, of power, and a story of love - love found in strange places, both expected and unexpected.

I found this strangely reminiscent of Pratchett’s WITCHES ABROAD, with the idea of stories having power, and how a witch might use that - for good and for ill. But instead of exploring and testing that through satire, Suri does it here through a painfully beautiful romance - Romance with a capital R, including a quest, and a test of character.

Gorgeous work, with characters who will stay with you forever. They live and live again: eternal.

4.5*. I absolutely love books that have their own fairy tales and this was no exception. The storytelling was just beautiful and so imaginative, and although I wasn't sure why it needed to be set in an alternative Britain, it didn't bother me at all.

I will say, the main romance relied on the tale itself rather than the characters' chemistry, but Vina had so much game that I still liked it. The other relationships, both platonic and romantic, were gorgeous and tugged at my heartstrings.

Ultimately, this was a love letter to diverse stories, and I had a great time reading it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK for providing a copy of this book for review. All opinions are my own.

The Burning Kingdoms trilogy cemented Tasha Suri as one of my all-time favourite author, and The Isle in the Silver Sea only served to strengthen that view. The worldbuilding, characters and plots were all masterfully done. I especially love how, even with the POV just changing between Simran and Vina, there were still glimpses into the wider cast of characters and the wider world through the excerpts of various letters/books/speeches included at the start of each chapter. They were such a phenomenal way to build up the world, especially in Part One with the way in which the archivists' reaction to each piece (preserve/destroy/review) was recorded below it.

I loved how much this was a story about stories, about characters who were away of the tale they were in and trying to avoid it; about how the world meant that they had no choice in eventually succumbing to their tales (unless they paid a great cost and died, killing not just themselves but their tale and the land it sustains). The way the Isle was ever changing, born and maintained by tales was such a phenomenal bit of world-building. I just absolutely adored everything about how the Isle was created and how that had such an impact on the story, this could only take place in this world and that's such a testament to how well-crafted every aspect of this story was.

I adored the MCs, Simran and Vina. I especially loved the way in which they almost had a role reversal between parts one and two. I was absolutely not expecting the ending of part one and the reveal that this story, the story of ending the archive and Queen's grip on tales and the Isle, was going to follow the pair across two lifetimes. Just the way they had to succumb to their original tale, to the Knight and the Witch, in order to be free of it,,,, absolutely incredible, I was sobbing. And then th way their next lives were so different - the way Simran was originally the one living outside the purview of the queen and archives only to then be found and raised within the Tower, and the way Vina was originally raised at court but then lived a life outside of it all with Hari and Galath, I loved how they almost gained a perspective of each others' experiences but still, when it came to remembering who they were, were still undeniably themselves - Simran still pushed people away, Vina still acted to aid others like a knight. Just such good characterisation to have them be so changed and yet the same.

Also Galath and Hari, truly an unexpected but loved side romance. What I would give to read about their relationship and how it evolved from Galath kidnapping Hari to them raising Vina together. Also I loved how the incredibly complicated family tree, and the strange feelings around that were handled in the story. Like,one of Simran's past selves was Galath's mother and then he ends up in a relationship with her best friend and they then raise her reincarnated girlfriend together. Absolutely wild, yet executed so well!

Finally, I have to say about the bits of worldbuilding and the parallels to reality/pre-existing tales that were built in. I loved how the there was a clear commentary through the way the Isle was dying as tales were restricted and censored that a thriving society needs life and that comes from new stories and new perspectives. I loved how a sign of change was Elsewhere tales showing up and gaining incarnates. I also really enjoyed the way ideas about the ravens at the Tower of London were brought into the story (what a scene that was!!) and the way the Eternal Prince/King, Eternal Queen and Spymaster seemed steeped in Arthuriana. The Spymaster definitely felt like Merlin whilst the Eternal Prince/King felt like Arthur.

Overall, Isle is another practically perfect book from Tasha Suri, I absolutely adored the writing, the world, the characters and the story.

Thank you to Netgalley for this eARC

A witch and knight destined to love and kill each other in every lifetime, in a magical England built on stories.

I loved the concept of ‘incarnates’, people born to live out set stories, and the different ways different incarnates responded to their fates.

I really enjoyed the ‘archivist’ notes at the start of each chapter—pointing out that stories are not free from external machinations, and that what stories get told is a decision based in politics.

The main characters were super compelling. Their relationship was a beautiful struggle between the fates that tied them together and their own free will. I thought Vina’s development from loyal, dutiful, martyr-happy knight to someone who isn’t afraid to express her own needs was particularly well done.

I was not expecting Part 2 but it worked really well. Tasha Suri might be a perfect writer. I adored this book and will be thinking about it for a long time to come.

A fantastic sapphic take on retellings. Simran and Vina are the current reincarnations of a tragic tale of the witch and the knight from the Isle in the Silver Sea. The story is loosely based in the United Kingdom, with the main action taking place in central London. Think something akin to A Darker Shade of Magic- a comfortably known setting, yet at the same time, so unique.
This is a standalone, and Tasha Suri did a fantastic job of selling the instant chemistry between Simran and Vina. I was hooked! There was a lot of discourse throughout the book on colonialism and how the Isle is built on the backbone of suffering and the ostracisation of Elsewhere people i.e., immigrants. A lot of sensitive topics were woven into the story. I don’t want to say too much, as some could be considered spoilers.
One downside is that the magic system and setting were often difficult to follow, and the action often moved at a neck-breaking speed, especially toward the end. However, this is understandable due to the standalone nature of the book. I sometimes wished Tasha had spent more time fleshing out the scenes and letting the reader immerse themselves in the fantastic setting she created.
Overall, though, this is a must-read for anyone looking to feed their lady knight book hunger.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for approving me to read this ARC!
The Isle in the Silver Sea is being published on 21st October 2025.

Unfortunately, this was a DNF. The concept of this storytelling plot seemed so intriguing but it really fell flat. The writing was a bit too YA for me and the characters had little personality. The magic system was barely explained and just didn’t grip me as much as it should’ve.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy. Firstly I have to say that the concept of this book, where people are incarnates of stories is absolutely fantastic. For the first quarter of the book I was convinced this was going to be a 5 star read, but unfortunately after that point the pacing became increasing chaotic. I did enjoy this book, but I can't help but feel it could have been better if the story was not rushed. Like other reviewers I wish this had been a duology, so that readers could savoy the joy of this highly creative setting and the characters therein.

DNF at 10%

I was really excited for this one, especially with some of the glowing reviews I saw for it. The concept seems really unique, and I think that I could appreciate the message that this book is trying to convey. Unfortunately, the first few chapters left me feeling more confused than intrigued. the world building and magic weren't making sense, and it didn't seem like something that would become more clear as the book progressed. I want to root for the main characters in the books I read, but in the chapters I got to before deciding to put the book down, I just didn't feel enough attachment to continue reading.

Great concept, set in a nice atmopshere and a world just detailed enough to get our bearings without being that detailed, which left a sense of mysery. Knowing exactly which era the book was set in is a bit complicated, it felt like a mix of medieval, Renaissance era. Not knowing wasn't an issue for me. Same goes for the magic system. Since the story has its bearing in foklore and legends, not knowing how the magic worked and what wass precisely possible wasn't an issue. We have just enough to get a sense of the limitations and stakes, and that's what's needed the most (no I am not a fan of the very scientific like magic system).

Was I super invested in the romance? Not really, but still enough. There were times where I didn't want to stop reading, which is a very good (and not that common) sign. It worked and was coherent for what the story was trying to do. The main point of the story seemed to be the ability to chose one's fate, to have an ability for change, may it be for a character or a story. Underneath that is all the struggle around the "purety" of a nation, new stories and new people coming in, old stories kept at bay because they challenges the main narrative handled by the powerful (here, the Eternal Queen).

All in all, a very pleasant tale of letting change come and bring new stories, succeeding mostly at what is was aiming to do!

I absolutely loved this book. The Isle in the Silver Sea stands out as something truly unique within Tasha Suri’s body of work. While her previous books are known for sweeping epics and political intrigue, this one is quieter, more introspective, and deeply atmospheric.

The writing is as beautiful as ever, but the emotional depth and eerie, isolated setting gave it a haunting, almost dreamlike quality that really stuck with me. It’s slower-paced, but in a way that invites you to linger. A mesmerizing and unforgettable read.

I absolutely loved every second of this. I spent the last 20% trying and failing not to cry because it was going to end and if that isn't the sign of a good tale I don't know what is.
I adored these characters and the journey they went on and I loved being scared to turn the page because I cared so much. This felt magical and new but also familiar, soft and comforting as it pulls from stories we know or tropes we can recognise, but what Suri does with those tales is something else entirely.
I'm going to hopefully write a longer review on goodreads once I dry my eyes and gather my thoughts but I cannot wait to hold this book physically in my hands and underline too many things and experience it all over again.

This was such a unique, fantastical read! From the sapphic romance to the wonderful world-building, it had all the makings of an excellent story. I loved the plot between the knight and the witch that blends romance and mystery. Tasha Suri is a fantastic writer who knows how to invoke emotion and leave the reader wanting more.

My only complaint was that I wish it were longer, by splitting it into at least two books. I was also a bit confused by the alternate London setting and couldn't quite pinpoint its place in time.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an E-ARC of this book.

If this book was an incarnate tale, it'd be made from the whimsy and the doomed fated love of Once Upon A Broken Heart, the sharp social commentary & symbolism akin to Babel, and the complete batshit insanity re: the magic system and setting of The Starless Sea. Does this work? For the most part yes!!! I have a feeling Tasha Suri could write absolutely anything, and with the writing style this gorgeous and the characters so loveable, I would eat it up.

And the romance!!!! Despite the fact that the main characters - the witch Simran and the lady knight Vina - are literally fated to fall for each other and doom each other in every lifetime, it didn't feel insta-lovey at all. I loved both characters and was SO invested in their love story. The flirting had me swooning fr. I also thought that the side characters were well-developed and a lot of care clearly went into them, which I always love!

I have to say that I loved part 1, despite the fact that the pacing started to slow down quite a bit. But the transition into part 2 was crazy. I still don't know how I feel about it. I think I have to agree with the other reviewers that this story would work better as a duology, so that the plot would have room to breathe. I felt like the momentum was killed and there wasn't enough space left to describe what was going on in detail, so I was left feeling confused at times. But overall I was still invested in the story and the characters enough to keep going, and I loved where everyone ended up in the end.

This book is definitely worth a read, it's beautifully written and ambitious. I just wish it wasn't a standalone, so that all the plotlines and the characters could have room to be developed further.