Title: These Rebel Waves
Author: Sara Raasch
Type: Fiction
Genre: YA, Fantasy, Historical, Adventure, Pirates
Publisher: Balzer + Bray (HarperCollins)
Published: August 7, 2018
Source: Publisher

A physical copy of this book was kindly provided by the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.

Adeluna is a soldier. Five years ago, she helped the magic-rich island of Grace Loray overthrow its oppressor, Argrid, a country ruled by religion. But adjusting to postwar life has not been easy. When an Argridian delegate vanishes during peace talks with Grace Loray’s new Council, Argrid demands brutal justice—but Lu suspects something more dangerous is at work.

Devereux is a pirate. As one of the outlaws called stream raiders who run rampant on Grace Loray, he pirates the island’s magic plants and sells them on the black market. But after Argrid accuses raiders of the diplomat’s abduction, Vex becomes a target. An expert navigator, he agrees to help Lu find the Argridian—but the truth they uncover could be deadlier than any war.

Benat is a heretic. The crown prince of Argrid, he harbors a secret obsession with Grace Loray’s forbidden magic. When Ben’s father, the king, gives him the shocking task of reversing Argrid’s fear of magic, Ben has to decide if one prince can change a devout country—or if he’s building his own pyre.

As conspiracies arise, Lu, Vex, and Ben will have to decide who they really are . . . and what they are willing to become for peace.

– My Review –

What a roller coaster ride These Rebel Waves was! And it left me with quite the book hangover, too! When I first started reading this book, it took me a few chapters to really get into the story, but I do not know if this is because the book had to slow the plot a little in order to share important information about the world, or whether it was because I’ve been in a YA fantasy slump and was worried that the slump would affect my reading of this book (though, I definitely didn’t have to be worried about this). Or, it may have been a combination of both factors! But in either case, if the book feels a little slow to you in the beginning, it may be because the first few chapters had to handle the world building, and I definitely encourage you to continue reading, because it’s so worth it!

Somewhere around the sixth or seventh chapter, I found that I was so hooked on These Rebel Waves, that putting it down was almost physically impossible! Devereux and Adeluna grew on me especially, and I hold some of the other characters dear to my heart as well (but cannot share their names because I don’t want to spoil anything). The the plot … oh my goodness! Once it took off, it really took off. There was action, sexual tension, growing familial and platonic relationships, as well as enough twists and turns to make my heart feel both equally concerned and happy! I was not ready for These Rebel Waves to end, and I’m even less ready to wait a whole year to see what is going to happen next with the characters that have grown so dear to me, as well as Grace Loray (the lushly-imagined island/country that they are fighting to protect)!

– About the Author –

Sarah Henning is a recovering journalist who has worked for the Palm Beach Post, Kansas City Star and Associated Press, among others. While in South Florida, Sarah lived and worked through five hurricanes, which gave her an extreme respect for the ocean. When not writing, she runs ultramarathons, hits the playground with her two kids and hangs out with her husband Justin, who doubles as her long-suffering IT department. Sarah lives in Lawrence, Kansas, which, despite being extremely far from the beach, happens to be pretty cool.

– Purchase Links –

THANK YOU FOR READING MY REVIEW! HAVE YOU READ THIS BOOK? WHAT DID YOU THINK? AND IF YOU HAVEN’T READ IT YET, DO YOU WANT TO, OR NOT? HOW COME? LET ME KNOW YOUR THOUGHTS IN THE COMMENTS!