"The Tide and the Stars" by Dylan Roche is a captivating maritime adventure that sweeps readers away on a journey across the high seas. Roche's masterful storytelling and richly detailed world-building bring to life the vibrant tapestry of nautical lore and legend.

The novel follows the exploits of a diverse cast of characters, each with their own dreams, struggles, and motivations, as they navigate the treacherous waters of the Caribbean. Roche's characters are vividly drawn and deeply compelling, drawing readers into their world with empathy and authenticity.

What sets "The Tide and the Stars" apart is Roche's impeccable attention to detail, from the intricacies of shipboard life to the pulse-pounding action of naval battles. The prose is lyrical and evocative, painting a vivid portrait of life on the open ocean that is both exhilarating and immersive.

Overall, "The Tide and the Stars" is a thrilling maritime adventure that will appeal to fans of historical fiction and nautical tales alike. Roche's talent for storytelling shines brightly in this engrossing novel, making it a must-read for anyone who loves a rip-roaring adventure on the high seas.

This is such a 5 star read for me. This is fantastic. Super lovely writing, the characters are super amazing and interesting.

This is a lovely story: fairytale in quality, with two different POVs. It's detailed, strong worldbuilding, with a real hint of Narnia to it. If you like stories of young princes lost and princesses, this might be the one for you.

i absolutely loved the fairytale elements in this. the world-building was really captivating and i really enjoyed every minute i spent in this world.

the characters felt very real and it was easy to connect with them, but i think the standout for me with this was the writing. it was so lyrical and i pulled everything together beautifully.

i really look forward to reading more from this author.

thank you so much to netgalley, the publisher and the author for the arc 🫶🏻

Written with great enthusiasm and love of storytelling, “The Tide & The Stars” is a fun ride.

I kept hearing Sondheim’s “Into the Woods” in my head as the story unfolded. Fans of T. Kingfisher and J. A. Zarifian will likely enjoy the fairy tale vibe of this adventure.

Solidly a middle grade read, might be great for young readers/writers who are interested in learning how to structure a story. The bones of this story may be too apparent for older readers, though I still found myself getting swept away from time to time despite being way older than the target demographic!

Thank you to Indigo River Publishing for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley.

This is a sweet adventure story in which the question is asked if fate is in our own hands or written in the stars. It's a big theme in a young voice that isn't shy about reiteration, and the story itself is well-balanced between an earnest plot and it's self-aware tropiness. It reads like a nostalgic fairytale and has the vivid side characters of an 80s Henson film. It's a delightful (and almost... cozy?) fantasy read!

This book is a lively YA fantasy adventure with strong themes surrounding found family, overcoming low self esteem (and in turn, gaining confidence and believing in oneself), kindness, and teamwork. I would recommend this book unhesitatingly to a late middle grade/early high school level reader with an appetite for reading about plucky young protagonists, interesting magical critters, and high fantasy escapades.

Thoughts: while I personally would have preferred more time for the love interest angles to develop (it was a bit of love-at-first-sight), the four main characters were very likable. I wish there had been more time to enjoy each of those characters, to explore beneath surface-level interests and motivations, to learn more about why their connections with one another were so immediate and vibrant, and to see their relationships grow. We spend a lot of time embroiled in Marin's struggles with his own self worth, which is a valuable theme for any novel and especially for YA fiction. It seems like Marin is a character who is often in his head, so reading his express thoughts was understandably on-brand; however, I felt that this sometimes impacted the pacing of the action. (Unrelated to the thematic content: there was one typo I noted that's probably already been identified - page 278 mentions "Vaz," but other instances have the name as "Val." Again, probably already caught but it's against my nerd ethics not to mention it and wasn't sure where/how else to do that!) All of that said: I'm an adult reader who stayed tuned in until the end and my eleven year old self would have enjoyed this book very much! I was invested in the characters' growth and earmarked a handful of quotes and passages that either made me chuckle or that resonated with me.

I know this is starting to wax a little too poetic for a book review, but I tend to think that the "point" of a story is to leave the audience (reader, viewer, whatever) feeling or thinking differently than how they started out. This story reinforced the importance of believing in yourself and surrounding yourself with people who value and support whoever that "self" is - or at least, that was my takeaway. I know that I finished reading The Tide and the Stars different than I started, and I'm better off for it. I look forward to reading more of this author's work in the future.

The book overall is quite good. The story was a bit predictable and there were a few plotholes. I'd rather recommend it for younger readers.

I really enjoyed The Tide and the Stars. Dylan Roche created a world I would love to come back to. He did a great job of weaving in elements of self-esteem into a world of adventure. I also liked the idea that we create our own destiny. Yes our stories may be written in the stars, but the tides are always changing, and so does our stories. I think this would be the perfect story for a young teen just entering high school and having to navigate these same experiences while also being emerged in fantasy and adventure.

In this captivating read, the author masterfully weaves a narrative that is both engaging and thought-provoking. Through a blend of richly developed characters and a meticulously crafted plot, the book offers a unique exploration of its central themes, inviting readers to immerse themselves in the story's depth and complexity. The narrative is paced perfectly, balancing moments of intense action with thoughtful reflection, ensuring that readers are hooked from the first page to the last. The author's ability to evoke emotion and create a vivid, immersive world is truly remarkable, making this book a must-read for anyone looking for an exceptional literary experience.

The quest of a Servant who has been forced to serve and evil witch called IIth and he doesn't know anything about his past or even where if from, so after he meets other servant who also wants to escape they come with a plan and the courage for that.. But the world they both wanted to see isn't quite what they imagine because there's a lot of evil, tyrant kings, demigods, monsters, legendary ones and goblins.. So Marin the MMC finds himself on a quest to save the princess Elspeth and the kingdom but can he?

The book was an entertaining read and I believe that especially young readers will enjoy it a lot. The world building is fairytale like and beautiful. It's easy to empathize with the characters and the writing style is great.
As an adult, I might not be the right audience as I seek some more complexity, more character development and less predictability but I can see that older children or younger teenagers would enjoy it a lot. Very magical and compelling.
I really loved the symbolism of the tide and the stars within the story.

Thanks Netgalley and publisher for the opportunity to read and review.
It's amazing emotional roller-coaster ride with growing into power and courage, prophesies, magical creatures and ancient relics! The characters are fun and lovable. The novel has it all - intriguing adventure, fun characters, and all things we love in fantasy.

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

The Tide and the Stars by Dylan Roche is an engaging fantasy adventure that follows Marin, a servant who has spent his life under the cruel reign of the witch Ilth. Along with fellow servant Aster, Marin escapes in search of freedom, only to discover a world teeming with peril—tyrants, mythical creatures, and vengeful gods. As their journey unfolds, Marin learns that he holds the key to saving Princess Elspeth and the kingdom of Blunia, leading him on a quest to find a lost magical sword. Filled with danger, magic, and self-discovery, this coming-of-age tale beautifully explores themes of bravery, destiny, and identity. A captivating story for fans of epic fantasy with rich world-building and thrilling stakes.

“The Tide and the Stars” was an intriguing read with a unique premise and solid writing. The pacing kept me engaged, and I appreciated the way the author developed the world and characters. Overall, a good read that I’d recommend to fans of YA and sci-fi.

I really enjoyed reading this book, it had that young adult novel and had that fantasy element perfectly. The characters were everything that I was looking for from this type of book and world. I was invested in what was happening and how everything flowed together. Dylan Roche has a great writing style and I hope there is more in this world.