Publisher's Weekly Review
The second in Sparks's Embraced fantasy romance series (following How to Tame a Beast in Seven Days) is a lively tale of pirates, intrigue, sorcery, and lost heirs. Brigitta, raised in secret on the Isle of the Moon to protect her from her evil half-brother, is the missing princess of Tourin and one of the magic-wielding Embraced, a trait that could earn a death sentence in many places. King Gunther of Tourin, her half-brother, has found her, but before he can capture her, Brigitta is kidnapped by the notorious pirate Rupert, an Embraced with the ability to control winds. Rupert has his own ax to grind with Gunther; at first he views Brigitta as a useful pawn, but their mutual distrust slowly turns into empathy and then love. Before they can build a life together, Rupert will need to foil Gunther's nefarious plot to expand his political power. Despite some awkward plot tangents, the story charges along at a rapid pace, and Sparks's characters are witty and full of life. Her latest should satisfy historical romance fans who are ready for a little magic. Agent: Michelle Grajkowski, Three Seas Literary. (Sept.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Kirkus Review
An exiled princess and a sorcerer pirate find love on the high seas, but their histories could tear them apart.On a voyage to visit her adopted sister, Queen Luciana of Eberon, Birgitta discovers that she herself is the princess of Tourin, though she grew up on the Isle of the Moon thinking she was an orphanand then only minutes later, she's kidnapped by the pirate Rupert, who's also a Wind Sorcerer. Rupert knows Birgitta as "the so-called princess" to whom he was betrothed 19 years earlier, when he was 7 and she was only a baby, before her father had his entire family killed and usurped the Tourinian throne. While Rupert has developed a reputation as a fearsome pirate, thanks to efforts he's taken to relieve the current king, Birgitta's brother, of his beloved gold, it doesn't take Birgitta long to discover that he's a more honorable man than he lets on. While he constantly reminds himself that she's the enemy and part of his revenge, Rupert can't help but fall for the brave and intelligent woman Birgitta has become, and she might just feel the same way about him. In the second book of a new fantasy series by Sparks (How to Tame a Beast in Seven Days, 2017, etc.), the pacing shows some improvement, but there are several of the same drawbacks, including a rushed ending. A dense but enjoyable fantasy romance. Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
