The Bright And Breaking Sea

Just a wonderful idea and brilliantly written. Can't wait for the next one.

Oh my, oh my, oh my did I love Kit Brightling!! Chloe Neill is the author of the Chicagoland Vampire series and has now branched out to a new fantastical series! The Bright and Breaking Sea is full of magic, intrigue and connection! Kit Brightling is a foundling with a magical connect to the power of the sea. Kit is in the service of her countries queen and the protection of it’s people. She is a character that is easy to love and wonderful to read. Her interaction and relationships with other characters are real and spirited. Kit’s and Rian’s relationship isn’t exactly a enemies to friends to lovers type situation, but something close. I look forward to the development between these 2 characters and their stories develop! If you are a reader of Chloe Neill, be prepared: This is not a Chicagoland, Heirs, Devil’s Island, Dark Elite book. This is a series all its own and if you love Neill’s writing, you will love this book too. The Bright and Breaking Sea is a story of it own. I look forward to however many books Neill has planned for this series!

This book is like Master and Commander, if Russell Crowe had been a woman with magic on her side. Kit Brightling is a phenomenal female lead, allowed to be so many things other than "strong". Supporting characters are diverse and distinct, while the alternate historical details are well-drawn and apparent. The action is suspenseful, relentless, and when the quiet moments come, it's almost a relief. But even in the quiet moments, something is happening and in this way we get to know Kit and her adversary-turned-love-interest Rian Grant, whose gradual shift in regard for Kit is subtle and more than believable. The magic element is done fairly well; it could have been expanded on maybe just a bit more, but given that this is a first book, I expect magic to play more of a role in later installments. I would also say that at times Kit's adventures seem to be achieved slightly too easily. But the action is just such fun, it's not something that's very bothersome. It's like Indiana Jones; we want and expect him to come out on top, so why not the same for Kit & Co.? This book is a marvelous time and I can't wait for the next book!

Took a while to become engrossed but once it grabs you you can't put it down. It's a little different from her normal stories but still fantastic.

Ships and spies and rescues and magic: what's not to love? The only thing I didn't like all that much was the romance aspect, which just didn't work that well for me. The world building was minimal, but this was still an immersive, fun read.