Upon a Starlit Tide

Luce, the adopted daughter of a wealthy sea merchant and privateer in Saint-Malo, spends time with her mother and two sisters trapped in their houses following social customs, longing for adventure on the sea. She often sneaks out to a small cove to practice sailing with Samuel and Bones, two British smugglers. One morning after a storm, Luce finds a young man in the wreckage of a ship. Morgan is the youngest son of another wealthy sea merchant family and romance blooms between them. As the story progresses, some ugly truths are revealed: Morgan’s intentions, Luce’s true heritage, and the ultimate betrayal by those she loves. The writing is both lyrical and descriptive, and the constant tension between expectations and Luce’s desires keeps the pace moving along. Set in the 1750s as British and French fleets are privateering, this story blends historical fiction, familiar fairy tale themes, folklore, and fae in a compelling tale of love, loss, learning, and discovery. There are a few love scenes and violent interactions, but nothing too graphic. This excellent book will appeal to a wide variety of readers, especially fans of Marissa Meyer’s Gilded and Robin McKinley’s Beauty.