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The Earthsalt Duology #1
Saltswept
'Deep, sumptuous, and astonishingly beautiful' Hannah Kaner
A ragtag crew. A perilous quest. First, they need a boat. Next, they need to learn how to sail it.
A pirate faces the gallows drop. A farmer is given a terrible ultimatum to save her daughter. An acolyte ascends to priestesshood . . . only to find that a blessing really can be a curse. These unlikely bedfellows band together with an inscrutable pickpocket and a talking ottercat in pursuit of the most hopeless of to sail into the Maelstrom - a raging whirlpool from which no one has ever escaped - and the mysterious treasure hidden within it.
The quest will test their fragile allegiance to its limits, but there is more at stake here than getting the magic of the world is in peril, and the barrier between life and death has never been so thin. And in the Bastion, the seat of power in Paranish, the queen has an unquenchable thirst that threatens the world and everyone in it.
Can there be honour amongst thieves? Without it, they might never see another sunrise.
Lush and lyrical, Saltswept is a vibrant debut - the first book in an epic fantasy duology based on Southeast Asian mythology. Perfect for fans of The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi, The Bone Ships, and Godkiller.
A ragtag crew. A perilous quest. First, they need a boat. Next, they need to learn how to sail it.
A pirate faces the gallows drop. A farmer is given a terrible ultimatum to save her daughter. An acolyte ascends to priestesshood . . . only to find that a blessing really can be a curse. These unlikely bedfellows band together with an inscrutable pickpocket and a talking ottercat in pursuit of the most hopeless of to sail into the Maelstrom - a raging whirlpool from which no one has ever escaped - and the mysterious treasure hidden within it.
The quest will test their fragile allegiance to its limits, but there is more at stake here than getting the magic of the world is in peril, and the barrier between life and death has never been so thin. And in the Bastion, the seat of power in Paranish, the queen has an unquenchable thirst that threatens the world and everyone in it.
Can there be honour amongst thieves? Without it, they might never see another sunrise.
Lush and lyrical, Saltswept is a vibrant debut - the first book in an epic fantasy duology based on Southeast Asian mythology. Perfect for fans of The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi, The Bone Ships, and Godkiller.
400 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 26, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews
December 23, 2025
Thank you to Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for the ARC.
This was a DNF at 28%.
I’m so disappointed because I really wanted an epic queer fantasy to fall in love with. I love books set on ships in the ocean. I really loved the summary and how these characters were going to go on a quest. I think the marketing is very different to the actual content of the book. From the summary I was expecting this to be fun and exciting, as it’s described in a very fun way. The whole talking ottercat, unlikely bedfellows etc.
However, this is completely different to the actual book itself. I got myself to 28% and I do wish I’d DNFed earlier.
This is told from first person multi-POV. I think you can do multi POV in first person if each POV is very distinct, but each POV all feels the same. I actually struggled to work out the gender of the characters at first because of this. I couldn’t differentiate between the characters other than the setting. All of them had the same voice.
I also think the ARC should’ve come with appropriate trigger warnings. There is an instance of sexual violence from a POV character against their partner in bed, to the point where their partner believes they are going to die. It comes out of nowhere. From reading the summary to suddenly getting an instance where a POV character is assaulting their partner in bed is like night and day.
Maybe if the summary wasn’t quite so cute, it wouldn’t have felt like it came out of nowhere. But it did, and it really took me by surprise. I’ve read triggering content before with no issues, but this didn’t fit the tone of the book.
I DNFed this book and I am sad about that because I really wanted to love this one.
This was a DNF at 28%.
I’m so disappointed because I really wanted an epic queer fantasy to fall in love with. I love books set on ships in the ocean. I really loved the summary and how these characters were going to go on a quest. I think the marketing is very different to the actual content of the book. From the summary I was expecting this to be fun and exciting, as it’s described in a very fun way. The whole talking ottercat, unlikely bedfellows etc.
However, this is completely different to the actual book itself. I got myself to 28% and I do wish I’d DNFed earlier.
This is told from first person multi-POV. I think you can do multi POV in first person if each POV is very distinct, but each POV all feels the same. I actually struggled to work out the gender of the characters at first because of this. I couldn’t differentiate between the characters other than the setting. All of them had the same voice.
I also think the ARC should’ve come with appropriate trigger warnings. There is an instance of sexual violence from a POV character against their partner in bed, to the point where their partner believes they are going to die. It comes out of nowhere. From reading the summary to suddenly getting an instance where a POV character is assaulting their partner in bed is like night and day.
Maybe if the summary wasn’t quite so cute, it wouldn’t have felt like it came out of nowhere. But it did, and it really took me by surprise. I’ve read triggering content before with no issues, but this didn’t fit the tone of the book.
I DNFed this book and I am sad about that because I really wanted to love this one.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. - Freya, arc & monthly book box pick reviewer (athenafreyag on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/athenafreyag/ )
Initial thoughts: Southeast Asian mythology x queer characters x found family on a quest sounded intriguing.
What I liked 🤩: I liked how the author handled gender and LGBTQIA representation. So many main characters are queer, and it was so lovely!!
I also liked the Southeast Asian mythology woven in this story.
What I didn’t like 🙃: The pov-chapter structure didn't work well here. The first 30% was challenging. There are many POVs and especially in the beginning when everything and everyone are new, it was hard to keep up. The chapters are fast-paced and it felt like we met everyone in these chapters, and yet, I couldn't retain much about them. It would have been better if we stayed with each character more. We didn't need to start hopping from one mc to the next. It would have helped with the pacing, too. The quest became a quest around 40%...
Also, if the pov wasn't clearly listed in the chapter heading, I would have no idea whose head we were in because the writing was the same. I just couldn't discern each character's voice. I think it would have been better if it was written in third person.
In the beginning, there was sexual violence with no content warning, which shouldn't have happened...
Overall: I love the idea of this but the editorial choices hindered me from enjoying this book, which is killing me because this has queer Asian characters and Southeast mythology 😭
SE info: This is the Illumicrate February pick, and I will skip it.
Initial thoughts: Southeast Asian mythology x queer characters x found family on a quest sounded intriguing.
What I liked 🤩: I liked how the author handled gender and LGBTQIA representation. So many main characters are queer, and it was so lovely!!
I also liked the Southeast Asian mythology woven in this story.
What I didn’t like 🙃: The pov-chapter structure didn't work well here. The first 30% was challenging. There are many POVs and especially in the beginning when everything and everyone are new, it was hard to keep up. The chapters are fast-paced and it felt like we met everyone in these chapters, and yet, I couldn't retain much about them. It would have been better if we stayed with each character more. We didn't need to start hopping from one mc to the next. It would have helped with the pacing, too. The quest became a quest around 40%...
Also, if the pov wasn't clearly listed in the chapter heading, I would have no idea whose head we were in because the writing was the same. I just couldn't discern each character's voice. I think it would have been better if it was written in third person.
In the beginning, there was sexual violence with no content warning, which shouldn't have happened...
Overall: I love the idea of this but the editorial choices hindered me from enjoying this book, which is killing me because this has queer Asian characters and Southeast mythology 😭
SE info: This is the Illumicrate February pick, and I will skip it.
Did not finish
March 15, 2026I would rather read Prince Without Sorrows twice.
After 120 pages I still could not care for any of the characters, lore or prose. As I was reading I was thinking about doing my tax returns, so that told me enough about my feelings about Saltswept.
After 120 pages I still could not care for any of the characters, lore or prose. As I was reading I was thinking about doing my tax returns, so that told me enough about my feelings about Saltswept.
March 17, 2026
Review to come! ⛵️
(FINAL REVIEW:)
This story had a very promising start and ended in a bit of a discombobulation. I loved the characters in their own way (though one does something completely unforgivable that really hampered my enjoyment of her character arc), and the world itself was whimsy and fantastic, but the progression of the plot felt both slow and fast at the same time? It’s rather hard to explain, and the ending didn’t help with it feeling like it was nicely wrapped up and yet wasn’t? I dunno, this book has made me do some somersaulting and not way that I usually like to do with strange fantasies, so let me ramble here and maybe I can come to a conclusion on what this review is going to end as. 😮💨
The story follows three POVs: Finlyr, an outlawed pirate who is desperate to outrun a past mistake; Ris, the single mother of a young girl that has strange magic; and Hanan, a young priestess who finds her dream of being head priestess to the queen is nothing like she imagined. I like Finlyr’s swashbuckling appearance and laid-back attitude, but I weirdly found his overall character to be more of a side character than a say a leading man. I don’t know why but he kind of blended into the background for me in a weird way. 🤔
Ris is an interesting character as she is someone who has been given an ultimatum between living on the run or giving up her magically gifted child. It was never really explained well where the magic in this world comes from nor why only women have this power. I was hoping that Hanan, as a priestess, would clear things up, and it remained ever elusive to me. I liked Ris’s no nonsense approach to life, but I still found her to be incredibly strict with her daughter. 😕
Hanan . . . Oh girl, you are such a weird case. I liked this priestess in how she goes about experimenting with her magic (again, never once goes past the basics of what she can and shouldn’t do in the world), but her very early-in-the-book assault just left me baffled. I mean, we have to admit that there is sexual violence even within the LGBTQ+ community that should be addressed, but man I wish I had a more of a warning on this being addressed in the book (and this is coming from someone who has a splendid time with grim dark fantasies). 😳
All in all, the plot was fine but I would’ve liked a little bit more action here and there (and again, this is coming from someone who enjoys SLOW plots), the villain was not particularly well defined in their powers, and yea. I feel like this was just one big drag fest of the book which is sad because I did want to enjoy this Southeast Asian inspired pirate fantasy. The question now is will I continue with the second book since this is a duology? . . . Maybe since I do want to know what the heck happens with these characters after what happened in the ending. 🧐
Thank you to Hodderscape and NetGalley for accepting my request to read this in exchange for an honest (and late ) review. I did want to love this, but it just didn’t itch that spot I was hoping it would. 😞
Publication day: February 26
Overall: . . . . I’m going to round it up to 3/5 ⭐️ because that talking ottercat was everything! ❤️
(FINAL REVIEW:)
This story had a very promising start and ended in a bit of a discombobulation. I loved the characters in their own way (though one does something completely unforgivable that really hampered my enjoyment of her character arc), and the world itself was whimsy and fantastic, but the progression of the plot felt both slow and fast at the same time? It’s rather hard to explain, and the ending didn’t help with it feeling like it was nicely wrapped up and yet wasn’t? I dunno, this book has made me do some somersaulting and not way that I usually like to do with strange fantasies, so let me ramble here and maybe I can come to a conclusion on what this review is going to end as. 😮💨
The story follows three POVs: Finlyr, an outlawed pirate who is desperate to outrun a past mistake; Ris, the single mother of a young girl that has strange magic; and Hanan, a young priestess who finds her dream of being head priestess to the queen is nothing like she imagined. I like Finlyr’s swashbuckling appearance and laid-back attitude, but I weirdly found his overall character to be more of a side character than a say a leading man. I don’t know why but he kind of blended into the background for me in a weird way. 🤔
Ris is an interesting character as she is someone who has been given an ultimatum between living on the run or giving up her magically gifted child. It was never really explained well where the magic in this world comes from nor why only women have this power. I was hoping that Hanan, as a priestess, would clear things up, and it remained ever elusive to me. I liked Ris’s no nonsense approach to life, but I still found her to be incredibly strict with her daughter. 😕
Hanan . . . Oh girl, you are such a weird case. I liked this priestess in how she goes about experimenting with her magic (again, never once goes past the basics of what she can and shouldn’t do in the world), but her very early-in-the-book assault just left me baffled. I mean, we have to admit that there is sexual violence even within the LGBTQ+ community that should be addressed, but man I wish I had a more of a warning on this being addressed in the book (and this is coming from someone who has a splendid time with grim dark fantasies). 😳
All in all, the plot was fine but I would’ve liked a little bit more action here and there (and again, this is coming from someone who enjoys SLOW plots), the villain was not particularly well defined in their powers, and yea. I feel like this was just one big drag fest of the book which is sad because I did want to enjoy this Southeast Asian inspired pirate fantasy. The question now is will I continue with the second book since this is a duology? . . . Maybe since I do want to know what the heck happens with these characters after what happened in the ending. 🧐
Thank you to Hodderscape and NetGalley for accepting my request to read this in exchange for an honest (and late ) review. I did want to love this, but it just didn’t itch that spot I was hoping it would. 😞
Publication day: February 26
Overall: . . . . I’m going to round it up to 3/5 ⭐️ because that talking ottercat was everything! ❤️
December 4, 2025
Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the eARC!
This was such a beautiful story. Saltswept is the first instalment in a duology, and also the authors debut which is…insane, because it reads like it should be on the NYT Bestsellers.
If you’re looking for one or more of the following: Beautifully layered world-building with rich and vibrant imagery, a story rooted in mythology, a ragtag crew that you can really cheer for, found family or lyrical prose, I think you will adore this one.
This was such a beautiful story. Saltswept is the first instalment in a duology, and also the authors debut which is…insane, because it reads like it should be on the NYT Bestsellers.
If you’re looking for one or more of the following: Beautifully layered world-building with rich and vibrant imagery, a story rooted in mythology, a ragtag crew that you can really cheer for, found family or lyrical prose, I think you will adore this one.
Read
March 12, 2026A mythic, compelling, sometimes-dark adult fantasy (I believe it's a debut novel by an Edinburgh author, shoutout) that I found very readable and enjoyed a lot overall!
I loved the refreshing combo of comforting ‘found family’ elements with SE Asian myth and grittier classic fantasy quest. I suspect readers expecting a cute, ‘voicey’ or YA-tone book may not get on with it, but that's what I liked!! The story’s led by characters with histories, problems, and both victims and perpetrators of serious harm, which I found really thorny and juicy to read, honestly my favourite part.
More warnings on the author’s website, but there’s strikingly-written - but in a way I found thought-provoking and added layers of depth to the world.
There's a lot of queer characters in a way that felt very natural. And not to be a romance nerd, but for a fantasy that touches on chemistry, romance, sex and dark obsession without them being a main focus, it does them INCREDIBLY well, would 1000% read a book centring more of that from the author. I also thought the kids (and ottercat) were really well written, with their own personalities and complexities while still acting their age - or species.
YMMV: While the stakes feel huge, it's shorter than most epic fantasy and the pacing didn't always hit for me. It moves fast, with even big situations, magic and scene-setting moved over fairly quickly, without much time for pivotal moments. One example was I just couldn’t imagine the ship, which is a big part of the plot - small enough to be crewed by just a couple of people, but with big unexplored areas? Is it a junk rig like the covers, or a big European-style tallship like the features actually mentioned in the text? That example's probably on me for missing something or being too much of a ship enjoyer, but after reading I saw the special edition's beautiful evocative endpaper illustrations, and just wished I’d FELT that level of detail in the prose! I wanted more about the world - that’s a personal preference for detailed descriptions in SFF, but I miss when they’re absent… tell me what things look like…
Overall Less depth of grounding in the world than my own preference, but ambitious and very interesting. I had a great time listening to the audio version and darker character moments, and do need to know what happens in the next book.
I loved the refreshing combo of comforting ‘found family’ elements with SE Asian myth and grittier classic fantasy quest. I suspect readers expecting a cute, ‘voicey’ or YA-tone book may not get on with it, but that's what I liked!! The story’s led by characters with histories, problems, and both victims and perpetrators of serious harm, which I found really thorny and juicy to read, honestly my favourite part.
More warnings on the author’s website, but there’s strikingly-written - but in a way I found thought-provoking and added layers of depth to the world.
There's a lot of queer characters in a way that felt very natural. And not to be a romance nerd, but for a fantasy that touches on chemistry, romance, sex and dark obsession without them being a main focus, it does them INCREDIBLY well, would 1000% read a book centring more of that from the author. I also thought the kids (and ottercat) were really well written, with their own personalities and complexities while still acting their age - or species.
YMMV: While the stakes feel huge, it's shorter than most epic fantasy and the pacing didn't always hit for me. It moves fast, with even big situations, magic and scene-setting moved over fairly quickly, without much time for pivotal moments. One example was I just couldn’t imagine the ship, which is a big part of the plot - small enough to be crewed by just a couple of people, but with big unexplored areas? Is it a junk rig like the covers, or a big European-style tallship like the features actually mentioned in the text? That example's probably on me for missing something or being too much of a ship enjoyer, but after reading I saw the special edition's beautiful evocative endpaper illustrations, and just wished I’d FELT that level of detail in the prose! I wanted more about the world - that’s a personal preference for detailed descriptions in SFF, but I miss when they’re absent… tell me what things look like…
Overall Less depth of grounding in the world than my own preference, but ambitious and very interesting. I had a great time listening to the audio version and darker character moments, and do need to know what happens in the next book.
March 6, 2026
“Perhaps I can turn the salt to sweet.”
We’ve been lacking this kind of swashbuckling, multi-POV, fantasy adventure for a while now, so this book was like a breath of fresh air. Refreshingly inclusive and immersive in its worldbuilding, the story follows a disgraced pirate, a mother on a quest to save her daughter, and a priestess who gets more than she bargains for serving a bloodthirsty queen. The plot took a while to get going, but when it did, it took an unexpectedly dark turn that had me racing through the last half. A good old found-family romp through the waves, Saltswept was a strong start to a planned duology, but make sure you check the reviews for trigger warnings before you begin.
Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC!
We’ve been lacking this kind of swashbuckling, multi-POV, fantasy adventure for a while now, so this book was like a breath of fresh air. Refreshingly inclusive and immersive in its worldbuilding, the story follows a disgraced pirate, a mother on a quest to save her daughter, and a priestess who gets more than she bargains for serving a bloodthirsty queen. The plot took a while to get going, but when it did, it took an unexpectedly dark turn that had me racing through the last half. A good old found-family romp through the waves, Saltswept was a strong start to a planned duology, but make sure you check the reviews for trigger warnings before you begin.
Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC!
March 11, 2026
This was so confusing and everything felt so rushed. The characters aren't fleshed out. There was hardly any world-building. I really didn't understand the point of this book. The magic in this world felt like it can be anything. It felt like those who had magic could do pretty much anything without much explanation. I thought there were limits. Another reason I felt like this book was confusing is that transitioning between things was just all over the place. Time transitions were bad. All the metaphors being used made no sense. In regards to the characters not being fleshed out, I found Ris to be super annoying. She was constantly crying for no reason. Some parts I understand, but some, just happens out of nowhere. I could care less about any of the characters and their relationship. Overall, the writing was just bad and therefore, nothing made sense.
March 24, 2026
I went into Saltswept by Katarina Watt expecting a fun mix of quest, heist, and fantasy. Unfortunately, what I got was more of a chaotic mess than a compelling story.
The book opens with three different POVs—Fynlir, Ris, and Hannah—and instead of building intrigue, it’s just confusing. We’re thrown into different settings with completely unfamiliar characters and no real grounding, so it feels like jumping between strangers without a reason to care about any of them. Since it’s written in first person, this becomes even more of a problem. If you don’t immediately clock the name under the chapter heading, it’s hard to tell whose POV you’re even reading. All three voices sound nearly identical, with little to no distinction or nuance, which made the characters blur together.
The actual “quest” doesn’t even properly begin until around 35–40% into the book and then it ends surprisingly quickly. It’s also just not that interesting. The pacing overall feels rushed and chaotic, and a lot of the time I genuinely didn’t understand what was happening.
There are also moments that feel like either major plot holes or serious lack of clarity. For example (minor spoiler), Fynlir seems to get stabbed in the stomach by the queen, but then… nothing comes of it? It’s never really addressed, and I spent several chapters wondering if I misread something or if the book just moved on. That kind of confusion completely pulled me out of the story.
The characters themselves didn’t help. Fynlir, Ris, and Hannah all felt bland, unlikable, or outright annoying, and I struggled to connect with any of them. The magic system is also incredibly vague—people seem to be able to do almost anything, especially the young girl who pulls off miracle after miracle without any explanation of limits, rules, or consequences. It makes the stakes feel nonexistent.
The queen’s storyline was particularly confusing. She comes across as a generic villain without meaningful motivation or backstory, which made her arc feel flat.
Overall, this reads like a debut that needed much more development and editing. The concept had potential, but the execution just didn’t land for me.
That said, the Illumicrate edition is absolutely stunning and honestly, that’s the main reason I’m keeping my copy.
I don’t think I’ll be picking up another book by this author anytime soon—at least not until there’s clear growth in the writing.
2 stars – I’d say skip it.
The book opens with three different POVs—Fynlir, Ris, and Hannah—and instead of building intrigue, it’s just confusing. We’re thrown into different settings with completely unfamiliar characters and no real grounding, so it feels like jumping between strangers without a reason to care about any of them. Since it’s written in first person, this becomes even more of a problem. If you don’t immediately clock the name under the chapter heading, it’s hard to tell whose POV you’re even reading. All three voices sound nearly identical, with little to no distinction or nuance, which made the characters blur together.
The actual “quest” doesn’t even properly begin until around 35–40% into the book and then it ends surprisingly quickly. It’s also just not that interesting. The pacing overall feels rushed and chaotic, and a lot of the time I genuinely didn’t understand what was happening.
There are also moments that feel like either major plot holes or serious lack of clarity. For example (minor spoiler), Fynlir seems to get stabbed in the stomach by the queen, but then… nothing comes of it? It’s never really addressed, and I spent several chapters wondering if I misread something or if the book just moved on. That kind of confusion completely pulled me out of the story.
The characters themselves didn’t help. Fynlir, Ris, and Hannah all felt bland, unlikable, or outright annoying, and I struggled to connect with any of them. The magic system is also incredibly vague—people seem to be able to do almost anything, especially the young girl who pulls off miracle after miracle without any explanation of limits, rules, or consequences. It makes the stakes feel nonexistent.
The queen’s storyline was particularly confusing. She comes across as a generic villain without meaningful motivation or backstory, which made her arc feel flat.
Overall, this reads like a debut that needed much more development and editing. The concept had potential, but the execution just didn’t land for me.
That said, the Illumicrate edition is absolutely stunning and honestly, that’s the main reason I’m keeping my copy.
I don’t think I’ll be picking up another book by this author anytime soon—at least not until there’s clear growth in the writing.
2 stars – I’d say skip it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 24, 2026
In this sea-quest adventure, we follow 3 POVs - Finlyr, Ris and Hanan. Finlyr is a roguish pirate, Ris is a former sailor whose husband was lost at sea and has been left to raise their young, gifted child alone, and Hanan is a gifted priestess who has been raised in the Temple of Aistra (as a result of an edict which requires all gifted children to be given to the Temple). With the land inexplicably struggling and Ris consequently unable to make ends meet, she finds herself agreeing to undertake a perilous mission at the Queen’s behest. And as someone trying to avoid scrutiny from the Queen’s enforcers for past crimes, Finlyr gets roped into joining Ris on her quest. On a different path, and with the Queen shortly due to give birth and requiring a new priestess, Hanan is working hard to stand out from the crowd of acolytes in the hope that she’ll be selected.
Despite many names being thrown at us from the start, the short chapters and straightforward writing style made this an easy book to read, and one which has good LGBTQ+ representation. My main issue with this book is that a lot of elements (be that world building, plot development or character relationships) happened almost out of nowhere and/or were glossed over fairly quickly, which was a shame, as I thought there were lots of really interesting concepts. I also never fully connected with any of the characters and I often found, particularly with Ris and Finlyr, that the POVs were written so similarly that it sometimes took a moment to work out whose head we were in. For these reasons, I unfortunately don’t see myself picking up the sequel.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-ARC of this book.
Despite many names being thrown at us from the start, the short chapters and straightforward writing style made this an easy book to read, and one which has good LGBTQ+ representation. My main issue with this book is that a lot of elements (be that world building, plot development or character relationships) happened almost out of nowhere and/or were glossed over fairly quickly, which was a shame, as I thought there were lots of really interesting concepts. I also never fully connected with any of the characters and I often found, particularly with Ris and Finlyr, that the POVs were written so similarly that it sometimes took a moment to work out whose head we were in. For these reasons, I unfortunately don’t see myself picking up the sequel.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-ARC of this book.
February 14, 2026
Saltswept is an epic fantasy adventure with Southeast Asian mythology. I absolutely adored the talking Otter 🦦, who was absolutely the best character! This book follows multiple points of view so it took me a while to get into the story and to understand who everyone was. But give it time as the story really develops after the half way point. The cast are overall great, they really are a ragtag crew. Some of the points of view were more appealing to me than others and I couldn’t wait to get back to their chapters.
Overall I liked how the author represented a variety of genders and sexualities. I think this is a darker read than suggested from the blurb so do check trigger warnings. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this advanced reader copy. This is a voluntary review of my own thoughts.
Overall I liked how the author represented a variety of genders and sexualities. I think this is a darker read than suggested from the blurb so do check trigger warnings. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this advanced reader copy. This is a voluntary review of my own thoughts.
March 11, 2026
A fun adventure with an endearing cast of characters. I do wish we'd seen more of the group's rationship development on the page in part one, but once the found family was established, I really enjoyed the story.
March 14, 2026
I really liked the story. The three seperate first person POVs were sometimes hard to follow and I had to actively check who I was reading a lot. I felt like the side characters had the most personality.
Really interesting plot with a lot of action. A lot a queer representation which was nice to see in a good fantasy story.
Really interesting plot with a lot of action. A lot a queer representation which was nice to see in a good fantasy story.
January 30, 2026
This was marketed as a swashbuckling adventure tale but was more of a dark fantasy. I was really into the world and the different POV’s, although at first I was very confused with who was who and where they were as the chapters were so short. It got better and better the more I read and I loved how everyone came together to fight for the same goal of freedom.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 22, 2026
I'll admit that I was a bit worried about Saltswept before I read it, because when my Illumicrate SE turned up, I checked the reviews and a lot of the prominent ones early up on the Community Reviews section were like 2 or 3 stars. Reading through them all, they seemed to agree on 3 main critiques:
1) The multiple first-person POVs didn't feel distinct and they had to keep checking the latest chapter page to see whose POV it was.
2) The book took a long time to get into the main plot.
3) Saltswept includes a scene where Hanan, one of the 3 POV characters, physically abuses her sexual partner, doesn't show any remorse, and doesn't face any sort of punishment.
So I was worried going into Saltswept. I was expecting the multiple POVs to be a repeat of the experience I had with Five Broken Blades and The Courting of Bristol Keates. There, the multiple POVs and very short chapters meant that, for me, there wasn't enough time for any depth or complexity before moving to another character in another scene.
As it turns out, I didn't have the experience of critique number 1 with Saltswept at all. Although some of the chapters were short, I didn't think they were shallow, and it didn't leave me feeling like I was just reading a YA book with a bit of spice in to justify an Adult categorisation. The 3 MCs (pirate Finlyr, farmer and mother Ris, and priestess Hanan) all felt like unique characters and I didn't feel like I had an issue remembering whose chapter it was at all.
Regarding critique number 2, I'll agree that it did take a while for the characters to come together and get to the content mentioned in the blurb as Ris and Finlyr meet about 100 pages in and they finally start sailing another 60 pages later. Hanan remains separate until much later on in the book. I personally enjoyed the journey of how they got there, and spending time with the two duos (Ris and her daughter Biba, and Finlyr with Isa, a child he was looking out for) and Hanan separately before they became the ragtag team that the blurb promised.
The third issue, the scene with Hanan purposefully hurting her friend and lover, happens really early on, less than 50 pages in. It happens during a scene where we are told that Hanan and the other priestesses do experiments that play with their powers, to hone them. Hanan definitely intends this particular experiment to hurt her partner. It's a brief scene, and the victim immediately tells her "There's something wrong with you, Hanan. I want you to stay away from now on". In her next scene, Hanan says that her friend didn't believe that she was sorry for her actions and that she went too far. Just from this, it's hard to interpret whether she actually was sorry or not at the time, but that behaviour does tell us something early about Hanan's personality. And I would say that her ambition (and how she treats people in the pursuit of that ambition) doesn't exactly end up being rewarded. She is one of the three main POV characters but I don't feel like she's being painted as a hero. It's not like we're meant to be cheering her on for this behaviour. But just because I wasn't personally triggered by that scene, other readers were, so it is something that may impact readers' experiences with this book.
I loved the queer normative world and the representation across the main characters felt natural and organic. I love where the found family aspect is going and am looking forward to seeing how everything progresses in the second book in the duology. It was the author's debut, which did show on occasion, but there are some main characters that I was particularly drawn to and invested in, and I am interested to see how the duology wraps up.
1) The multiple first-person POVs didn't feel distinct and they had to keep checking the latest chapter page to see whose POV it was.
2) The book took a long time to get into the main plot.
3) Saltswept includes a scene where Hanan, one of the 3 POV characters, physically abuses her sexual partner, doesn't show any remorse, and doesn't face any sort of punishment.
So I was worried going into Saltswept. I was expecting the multiple POVs to be a repeat of the experience I had with Five Broken Blades and The Courting of Bristol Keates. There, the multiple POVs and very short chapters meant that, for me, there wasn't enough time for any depth or complexity before moving to another character in another scene.
As it turns out, I didn't have the experience of critique number 1 with Saltswept at all. Although some of the chapters were short, I didn't think they were shallow, and it didn't leave me feeling like I was just reading a YA book with a bit of spice in to justify an Adult categorisation. The 3 MCs (pirate Finlyr, farmer and mother Ris, and priestess Hanan) all felt like unique characters and I didn't feel like I had an issue remembering whose chapter it was at all.
Regarding critique number 2, I'll agree that it did take a while for the characters to come together and get to the content mentioned in the blurb as Ris and Finlyr meet about 100 pages in and they finally start sailing another 60 pages later. Hanan remains separate until much later on in the book. I personally enjoyed the journey of how they got there, and spending time with the two duos (Ris and her daughter Biba, and Finlyr with Isa, a child he was looking out for) and Hanan separately before they became the ragtag team that the blurb promised.
The third issue, the scene with Hanan purposefully hurting her friend and lover, happens really early on, less than 50 pages in. It happens during a scene where we are told that Hanan and the other priestesses do experiments that play with their powers, to hone them. Hanan definitely intends this particular experiment to hurt her partner. It's a brief scene, and the victim immediately tells her "There's something wrong with you, Hanan. I want you to stay away from now on". In her next scene, Hanan says that her friend didn't believe that she was sorry for her actions and that she went too far. Just from this, it's hard to interpret whether she actually was sorry or not at the time, but that behaviour does tell us something early about Hanan's personality. And I would say that her ambition (and how she treats people in the pursuit of that ambition) doesn't exactly end up being rewarded. She is one of the three main POV characters but I don't feel like she's being painted as a hero. It's not like we're meant to be cheering her on for this behaviour. But just because I wasn't personally triggered by that scene, other readers were, so it is something that may impact readers' experiences with this book.
I loved the queer normative world and the representation across the main characters felt natural and organic. I love where the found family aspect is going and am looking forward to seeing how everything progresses in the second book in the duology. It was the author's debut, which did show on occasion, but there are some main characters that I was particularly drawn to and invested in, and I am interested to see how the duology wraps up.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 23, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc of Saltswept. I'm afraid I'm DNFing it on page 124/at the 33% mark.
Wow, this book is different to what I'd expected from the marketing. I really wanted to love it, because an epic multi-POV fantasy with tons of LGBTQ+ rep and Southeast Asian mythology sounds amazing. It's exactly the kind of thing I enjoy in a book!
To give the book its due, the queer rep really is incredible. At least three major characters (and two POV characters) are LGBTQ+, and there are multiple ways to communicate gender. And, the magic system is fascinating!
However, I had two major issues with it, one to do with how triggering content is handled and one to do with how the multiple POVs are managed/structured. I also had some minor issues, like plot points being solved through unbelievably convenient coincidences.
Issue #1: Poor handling of multiple POVs
I love a good multi-POV book with five or six different characters and storylines. But, if they're not done well, they can throw the pacing off, become confusing, and make it harder to connect with the characters.
My favourite multi-POV books use the POV that's most impactful at each point in time. That's not what Saltswept does.
For the first ~85 pages of the book, Saltswept rotates POVs each chapter, going char A - B - C - and repeat. At the beginning of the novel, all characters are also in different places in the world, so in the first few chapters, you get introduced to a lot of names and places, and a lot of things happen, but very little is explained. In fact, 1/4 of the way in, and some very basic things are still unexplained. I know info-dumping is boring, but Saltswept does the opposite.
This rigid A-B-C-repeat structure also messes with the pacing. Some characters have a lot going on in their story arc, so in the space of 4 of their chapters (and they're short chapters!), they (minor spoilers) It's a lot. It feels rushed. (Also, do they have any other response than trying to throw a punch?)
But then other POV characters don't have as much going on in their arc at this point, so we get a whole chapter of them packing a bag while talking about the same things they talked about in the last chapter. It could have been condensed into a single sentence at the start of a different chapter.
Also, since the book is in first-person POV, it's really hard to actually remember the names of the different POV characters. I didn't feel like there was a strong difference in voice between the POVs, either.
Issue #2: Extremely triggering content that came out of the blue
I often read books with triggering content, but I struggle when it's not appropriately signalled. That was my problem with Saltswept.
For an epic fantasy, this book is described in a really cutesy way: a "ragtag crew" of "unlikely bedfellows" with a "talking ottercat" that needs to learn how to sail a boat and go on a quest. I was expecting something bordering on cosy. I did not expect one of the members of this ragtag crew, and one of three first-person POV characters, to be an abuser.
The intimate partner violence really did come out of the blue. This POV character suddenly, and completely unprovoked, It's triggering, and it's particularly triggering because of how unexpected it was.
I really think this should have been signalled better in the book's description. Had it been, I probably would have continued reading Saltswept because I'd have trusted the book more. There are many ways that this theme could be handled well, and it may turn out that Saltswept does in fact handle this well. But marketing the book as something cutesy means I don't have have enough faith in it to continue reading.
Wow, this book is different to what I'd expected from the marketing. I really wanted to love it, because an epic multi-POV fantasy with tons of LGBTQ+ rep and Southeast Asian mythology sounds amazing. It's exactly the kind of thing I enjoy in a book!
To give the book its due, the queer rep really is incredible. At least three major characters (and two POV characters) are LGBTQ+, and there are multiple ways to communicate gender. And, the magic system is fascinating!
However, I had two major issues with it, one to do with how triggering content is handled and one to do with how the multiple POVs are managed/structured. I also had some minor issues, like plot points being solved through unbelievably convenient coincidences.
Issue #1: Poor handling of multiple POVs
I love a good multi-POV book with five or six different characters and storylines. But, if they're not done well, they can throw the pacing off, become confusing, and make it harder to connect with the characters.
My favourite multi-POV books use the POV that's most impactful at each point in time. That's not what Saltswept does.
For the first ~85 pages of the book, Saltswept rotates POVs each chapter, going char A - B - C - and repeat. At the beginning of the novel, all characters are also in different places in the world, so in the first few chapters, you get introduced to a lot of names and places, and a lot of things happen, but very little is explained. In fact, 1/4 of the way in, and some very basic things are still unexplained. I know info-dumping is boring, but Saltswept does the opposite.
This rigid A-B-C-repeat structure also messes with the pacing. Some characters have a lot going on in their story arc, so in the space of 4 of their chapters (and they're short chapters!), they (minor spoilers) It's a lot. It feels rushed. (Also, do they have any other response than trying to throw a punch?)
But then other POV characters don't have as much going on in their arc at this point, so we get a whole chapter of them packing a bag while talking about the same things they talked about in the last chapter. It could have been condensed into a single sentence at the start of a different chapter.
Also, since the book is in first-person POV, it's really hard to actually remember the names of the different POV characters. I didn't feel like there was a strong difference in voice between the POVs, either.
Issue #2: Extremely triggering content that came out of the blue
I often read books with triggering content, but I struggle when it's not appropriately signalled. That was my problem with Saltswept.
For an epic fantasy, this book is described in a really cutesy way: a "ragtag crew" of "unlikely bedfellows" with a "talking ottercat" that needs to learn how to sail a boat and go on a quest. I was expecting something bordering on cosy. I did not expect one of the members of this ragtag crew, and one of three first-person POV characters, to be an abuser.
The intimate partner violence really did come out of the blue. This POV character suddenly, and completely unprovoked, It's triggering, and it's particularly triggering because of how unexpected it was.
I really think this should have been signalled better in the book's description. Had it been, I probably would have continued reading Saltswept because I'd have trusted the book more. There are many ways that this theme could be handled well, and it may turn out that Saltswept does in fact handle this well. But marketing the book as something cutesy means I don't have have enough faith in it to continue reading.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Saltswept follows several characters - a pirate, a farmer, an acolyte, a pickpocket and a talking ottercat as they go on a quest to find the treasure hidden within the depths of a raging whirlpool.
I'd like to begin by saying that I DNF'd this book around 20% in. I don't have a lot of good things to say about this book other than there is clear LQBTQ+ representation which is very positive. The rest, however, wasn't.
The multiple POV's throughout the 30% I read were confusing. I had no idea what was going on, I feel like some very extreme things happend in each of the characters POV's but because the chapters were so quick, I didn't get to fully grasp what had happened which led to me going back and re-reading areas and pulling me even further out of a story I wasn't fully in. The first characters POV - for example - just suddenly a graphic scene out of nowhere and then in the next it's talking about making sure they don't get a hard on because they're about to be hanged... it was just very random considering the description of this book and the cover both make it look quite atmospheric, beautiful, awe-inspiring and then it's vaguely gritty with no warning. It just didn't sit right with me and instantly put me off the book.
Likewise, the characters - despite being multiple POV - felt like the same character over and over again but in a different body, playing a different part. None of them were unique, more than half the time I wasn't sure where they were going with their narrative and I disliked all of them. I didn't really connect with anyone other than Hanan's story and even that was at a push.
Overall, I am unsure if this would be a book I'd recommend to any reader due to how chaotic it felt for me reading it. I am sure some would love it, but it wasn't one for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for allowing me to read this book in exchange for a review.
I'd like to begin by saying that I DNF'd this book around 20% in. I don't have a lot of good things to say about this book other than there is clear LQBTQ+ representation which is very positive. The rest, however, wasn't.
The multiple POV's throughout the 30% I read were confusing. I had no idea what was going on, I feel like some very extreme things happend in each of the characters POV's but because the chapters were so quick, I didn't get to fully grasp what had happened which led to me going back and re-reading areas and pulling me even further out of a story I wasn't fully in. The first characters POV - for example - just suddenly a graphic scene out of nowhere and then in the next it's talking about making sure they don't get a hard on because they're about to be hanged... it was just very random considering the description of this book and the cover both make it look quite atmospheric, beautiful, awe-inspiring and then it's vaguely gritty with no warning. It just didn't sit right with me and instantly put me off the book.
Likewise, the characters - despite being multiple POV - felt like the same character over and over again but in a different body, playing a different part. None of them were unique, more than half the time I wasn't sure where they were going with their narrative and I disliked all of them. I didn't really connect with anyone other than Hanan's story and even that was at a push.
Overall, I am unsure if this would be a book I'd recommend to any reader due to how chaotic it felt for me reading it. I am sure some would love it, but it wasn't one for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for allowing me to read this book in exchange for a review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Paranish has finally reopened its borders and returners and visitors alike are thronging into Umasa for the birth of the princess. But not all is as it seems.
Finlyr Pane has returned to Paranish - and finds himself barely escaping the gallows. Ris' daughter Biba has powerful magic she can no longer hide - and in an attempt to avoid the Temple, Ris sets out on the perilous quest of retrieving the treasure from the Lahon Maelstrom. Hanan achieves her wildest dreams - only to find out that the Bastion holds dark secrets.
Saltswept is a quest adventure on the high seas, but it's also a dark fantasy that dips into necromancy, which leads to... zombie sailors. A content warning here: the book may look and feel rather YA, but it does contain several sex scenes. It is also categorised as Adult, but it's hard to tell from the blurb and/or cover (though don't ask me what would make a distinction).
The narrative switches between Finlyr, Ris, and Hanan's POVs in first person. I personally think that if you have more than two viewpoint characters, you really should be writing in third person. As it is, it flows well enough despite having to keep tracking down whose first person POV I'm in. (But would've been easier, just saying.) Finlyr and Ris' POVs intertwine quite a bit, and they switch off rather seamlessly since they join forces early on in the book. It's Hanan's POV that often feels jarring, like it's not quite connected to the rest of the story. That storyline is important because it gives us insight into what the stakes are, and what's going on with the Temple and the Bastion, but since the two don't actually intersect until near the end, it feels a little like you're also reading a side quest of some sort.
Overall, Saltswept was an highly enjoyable read and I'm looking forward to book 2!
Note: I received a digital ARC from the Hodder & Stoughton via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Finlyr Pane has returned to Paranish - and finds himself barely escaping the gallows. Ris' daughter Biba has powerful magic she can no longer hide - and in an attempt to avoid the Temple, Ris sets out on the perilous quest of retrieving the treasure from the Lahon Maelstrom. Hanan achieves her wildest dreams - only to find out that the Bastion holds dark secrets.
Saltswept is a quest adventure on the high seas, but it's also a dark fantasy that dips into necromancy, which leads to... zombie sailors. A content warning here: the book may look and feel rather YA, but it does contain several sex scenes. It is also categorised as Adult, but it's hard to tell from the blurb and/or cover (though don't ask me what would make a distinction).
The narrative switches between Finlyr, Ris, and Hanan's POVs in first person. I personally think that if you have more than two viewpoint characters, you really should be writing in third person. As it is, it flows well enough despite having to keep tracking down whose first person POV I'm in. (But would've been easier, just saying.) Finlyr and Ris' POVs intertwine quite a bit, and they switch off rather seamlessly since they join forces early on in the book. It's Hanan's POV that often feels jarring, like it's not quite connected to the rest of the story. That storyline is important because it gives us insight into what the stakes are, and what's going on with the Temple and the Bastion, but since the two don't actually intersect until near the end, it feels a little like you're also reading a side quest of some sort.
Overall, Saltswept was an highly enjoyable read and I'm looking forward to book 2!
Note: I received a digital ARC from the Hodder & Stoughton via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the ARC
Saltswept is a nautical adventure featuring pirates, magic, mythical beasts, and politics.
The story follows the POV of three different characters: Finlyr the pirate; Ris, a farmer (and former sailor) raising her daughter, a child gifted with magic, alone; and Hanan, a Priestess at the Temple of Aistra, where all gifted children are taken to be raised, by order of the Queen.
In trying to protect her daughter from being taken to the temple, Ris is given a mission to undertake a quest for the queen: to recover a magical item for her from the centre of the Maelstrom, for which she’ll need a boat and a crew. While Ris and Finlyr’s stories are closely woven together, Hanan sits apart, her narrative focusing on the Temple of Aistra and the Queen. All POVs are written in first person; although I didn’t have trouble following the different stories, at times it was hard to distinguish who was speaking. If you’re not used to reading multi-POV books, this might take a bit of getting used to.
This was an ambitious story for a debut novel, and while the plot itself was interesting and kept me reading, the world-building wasn’t as in-depth as I like, and the character development was stilted. The book would have benefited from being longer, giving us more time to get to know the characters and the world.
This book is also a lot darker than the cover and description would indicate, so do check out the trigger warnings before picking it up.
Saltswept would be good for someone looking for a plot-heavy maritime adventure who likes mixing found-family vibes with dark undertones and who likes multi-POV novels.
Saltswept is a nautical adventure featuring pirates, magic, mythical beasts, and politics.
The story follows the POV of three different characters: Finlyr the pirate; Ris, a farmer (and former sailor) raising her daughter, a child gifted with magic, alone; and Hanan, a Priestess at the Temple of Aistra, where all gifted children are taken to be raised, by order of the Queen.
In trying to protect her daughter from being taken to the temple, Ris is given a mission to undertake a quest for the queen: to recover a magical item for her from the centre of the Maelstrom, for which she’ll need a boat and a crew. While Ris and Finlyr’s stories are closely woven together, Hanan sits apart, her narrative focusing on the Temple of Aistra and the Queen. All POVs are written in first person; although I didn’t have trouble following the different stories, at times it was hard to distinguish who was speaking. If you’re not used to reading multi-POV books, this might take a bit of getting used to.
This was an ambitious story for a debut novel, and while the plot itself was interesting and kept me reading, the world-building wasn’t as in-depth as I like, and the character development was stilted. The book would have benefited from being longer, giving us more time to get to know the characters and the world.
This book is also a lot darker than the cover and description would indicate, so do check out the trigger warnings before picking it up.
Saltswept would be good for someone looking for a plot-heavy maritime adventure who likes mixing found-family vibes with dark undertones and who likes multi-POV novels.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A pirate, a farmer and a priestess walk into a bar - okay, so the priestess doesn't go to the bar.
Pirate Finlyr gets himself arrest and sentenced to be hanged almost as soon as he sets foot back home, Ris (a farmer) must accept a quest to find a treasure for the queen to avoid her magical daughter being taken from her, and Hanan, the queen's new priestess finds herself in a twisted and dark situation. This mismatched group find themselves caught up in a quest to the deadly Maelstrom but the situation back home maybe even more lethal.
This is multi-pov with short chapters rapidly swapping between the characters. I found that this actually worked best when all the characters were together. The rest of the time, especially at the beginning, it ended up feeling confusing and frenetic. Also, a couple of times it felt like the timelines weren't quite in sync with each other.
The cast of characters are all distinctive, and of course I liked the talking otter. The setting is interesting with good lgbt representation, but the world-builidng could have done with some more development and explanation.
Hanan's storyline with the royal family felt much darker than the rest and was probably the most interesting, but very early on it's marred by - and I'm going to include a spoiler here - having her commit a sexual assault with no remorse or understanding as to why that behaviour was wrong.
Overall, I think this had potential but needed to either thin out the plot points or to be longer (I know it's a duology) just to allow everything a little breathing room. This is a good book if you're looking for a quick swashbuckling romp with a darker edge.
Thanks to Hodderscape for providing a netgalley arc for review
Pirate Finlyr gets himself arrest and sentenced to be hanged almost as soon as he sets foot back home, Ris (a farmer) must accept a quest to find a treasure for the queen to avoid her magical daughter being taken from her, and Hanan, the queen's new priestess finds herself in a twisted and dark situation. This mismatched group find themselves caught up in a quest to the deadly Maelstrom but the situation back home maybe even more lethal.
This is multi-pov with short chapters rapidly swapping between the characters. I found that this actually worked best when all the characters were together. The rest of the time, especially at the beginning, it ended up feeling confusing and frenetic. Also, a couple of times it felt like the timelines weren't quite in sync with each other.
The cast of characters are all distinctive, and of course I liked the talking otter. The setting is interesting with good lgbt representation, but the world-builidng could have done with some more development and explanation.
Hanan's storyline with the royal family felt much darker than the rest and was probably the most interesting, but very early on it's marred by - and I'm going to include a spoiler here - having her commit a sexual assault with no remorse or understanding as to why that behaviour was wrong.
Overall, I think this had potential but needed to either thin out the plot points or to be longer (I know it's a duology) just to allow everything a little breathing room. This is a good book if you're looking for a quick swashbuckling romp with a darker edge.
Thanks to Hodderscape for providing a netgalley arc for review
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
4.5 stars, rounded up! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Saltswept was a lot of fun! It gave me real pirates of the Caribbean vibes with an undead pirate crew, a kraken and a giant bird that can turn people into stone.
This is a book that is really hard to place into a genre because it has a cosy premise but the stakes are really high and there are some dark moments. The adventure at the core of the story is really gripping and the ending left me desperate to know what happens next.
There are multiple POVs in this book and I felt invested in them all but identified most with Ris. I think Katalina Watt perfectly captured her fear of having a child with a forbidden gift as well as her anger and heartbreak over Larkin. It was so refreshing to see a tough and capable mum in a fantasy book.
I loved the talking otter-cat Sini but I would have liked to see more of them. I also felt that part 4 rushed to. Its conclusion a little, especially as this section was action packed.
It wasn’t something that ruined my enjoyment of the book but there were moments in this that I would have appreciated a trigger warning for. One of the POV characters brutally assaults their partner and I there are some horrific animal re-deaths in the beginning that whilst I realise were essential to the plot I would have liked to be able to prepare for.
Overall though, Saltswept is a great fun swashbuckling adventure that gets bonus points for Fetch the dog and the best description of a book hangover I have ever read.
I also loved that the kids became so fond of the undead crew that they named them.
Thank you to Hodderscape and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.
Saltswept was a lot of fun! It gave me real pirates of the Caribbean vibes with an undead pirate crew, a kraken and a giant bird that can turn people into stone.
This is a book that is really hard to place into a genre because it has a cosy premise but the stakes are really high and there are some dark moments. The adventure at the core of the story is really gripping and the ending left me desperate to know what happens next.
There are multiple POVs in this book and I felt invested in them all but identified most with Ris. I think Katalina Watt perfectly captured her fear of having a child with a forbidden gift as well as her anger and heartbreak over Larkin. It was so refreshing to see a tough and capable mum in a fantasy book.
I loved the talking otter-cat Sini but I would have liked to see more of them. I also felt that part 4 rushed to. Its conclusion a little, especially as this section was action packed.
It wasn’t something that ruined my enjoyment of the book but there were moments in this that I would have appreciated a trigger warning for. One of the POV characters brutally assaults their partner and I there are some horrific animal re-deaths in the beginning that whilst I realise were essential to the plot I would have liked to be able to prepare for.
Overall though, Saltswept is a great fun swashbuckling adventure that gets bonus points for Fetch the dog and the best description of a book hangover I have ever read.
I also loved that the kids became so fond of the undead crew that they named them.
Thank you to Hodderscape and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.
January 1, 2026
Thank you Netgalley and Hodderscape for the early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
(3.5 rounded up to 4)
I struggled to get into this book, and I think it might have been the writing style that didn’t agree with me? The pacing is quite fast so it’s hard to keep track of people or remember who they are. Plus I found myself having to check chapter headings to remind myself who I was in the perspective of a number of times.
Basically I couldn’t quite sink in to the story as much as I usually love to do, which was a shame.
Plus I didn’t find myself aching to dive back in to the book when I put it down, which for me is a bad sign. And I’d forget what book I was reading and what was happening in it too…
But aside from the above, I did love the plot, the world building, and the characters. Plus a talking otter-cat is absolutely adorable and I’d love to know more about his origins/backstory!
The magic system felt really organic and easy to visualise, possibly easier than I found the actual physical surroundings to visualise, and I enjoyed the flow of life forces aspect to it.
The evil character was also evil for an understandable reason, just a “that’s how they’re made” type, which can work really well if their sheer existence disrupts life around them.
So generally I’d say this was a good fantasy novel with a unique plot and world, that was just executed kind of confusingly and wasn’t super for me. I’m not sure I’ll pick up the second book, maybe if it’s on sale I’ll give it a shot to know how this all ends - because I am very intrigued!
(3.5 rounded up to 4)
I struggled to get into this book, and I think it might have been the writing style that didn’t agree with me? The pacing is quite fast so it’s hard to keep track of people or remember who they are. Plus I found myself having to check chapter headings to remind myself who I was in the perspective of a number of times.
Basically I couldn’t quite sink in to the story as much as I usually love to do, which was a shame.
Plus I didn’t find myself aching to dive back in to the book when I put it down, which for me is a bad sign. And I’d forget what book I was reading and what was happening in it too…
But aside from the above, I did love the plot, the world building, and the characters. Plus a talking otter-cat is absolutely adorable and I’d love to know more about his origins/backstory!
The magic system felt really organic and easy to visualise, possibly easier than I found the actual physical surroundings to visualise, and I enjoyed the flow of life forces aspect to it.
The evil character was also evil for an understandable reason, just a “that’s how they’re made” type, which can work really well if their sheer existence disrupts life around them.
So generally I’d say this was a good fantasy novel with a unique plot and world, that was just executed kind of confusingly and wasn’t super for me. I’m not sure I’ll pick up the second book, maybe if it’s on sale I’ll give it a shot to know how this all ends - because I am very intrigued!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Closer to 3.5 stars. I really enjoyed the premise of this story, the overarching pirate plot, and the ship. This book is tough for me to rate - there were some parts that I really enjoyed (undead pirate ship crew - felt like something out of Pirates of the Caribbean) but other parts that didn't work quite as well for me.
The book has 3 POVs, but all use the first person. This was fine early on when they were all in separate places doing separate things, but as the book went on and the plot lines converged, it became harder to tell who's POV we were in. I think it would've benefited from being in third person, or with some more distinct personalities displayed in the POVs.
As the book went on, I found myself enjoying one of the POVs less than the other 2, which is not uncommon for me in multi-POV stories. I also felt the ending was a bit rushed - part 4 in general felt really compressed, and would've benefited from some expansion / better pacing.
Things that did work for me - I really enjoyed some of the side characters and side plots, the found family aspect, and the magic system. Excellent LGBTQ representation / normalisation! The chapters were short and helped the book move quickly.
As mentioned in other reviews, there should be a trigger warning for sexual assault (although the scene was shorter than I expected, I can see how it would be very upsetting to others).
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
The book has 3 POVs, but all use the first person. This was fine early on when they were all in separate places doing separate things, but as the book went on and the plot lines converged, it became harder to tell who's POV we were in. I think it would've benefited from being in third person, or with some more distinct personalities displayed in the POVs.
As the book went on, I found myself enjoying one of the POVs less than the other 2, which is not uncommon for me in multi-POV stories. I also felt the ending was a bit rushed - part 4 in general felt really compressed, and would've benefited from some expansion / better pacing.
Things that did work for me - I really enjoyed some of the side characters and side plots, the found family aspect, and the magic system. Excellent LGBTQ representation / normalisation! The chapters were short and helped the book move quickly.
As mentioned in other reviews, there should be a trigger warning for sexual assault (although the scene was shorter than I expected, I can see how it would be very upsetting to others).
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
In Saltswept, we follow a condemned pirate, a desperate mother trying to save her magically gifted daughter, and a young priestess experimenting with her powers. Their paths converge when they join forces with an elusive pickpocket and a talking ottercat to sail into the Maelstrom, a deadly whirlpool said to hold a legendary treasure.
I loved the Southeast Asian–inspired setting and the nautical atmosphere of the book. The premise itself is appealing, as aa ragtag crew battle high seas peril and political intrigue. The magical elements, particularly around death and the veil between worlds, add an extra layer of darkness beneath the swashbuckling surface.
That said, I struggled with this way the story is told. The multiple first-person POVs sometimes make it difficult to distinguish between voices and made events feel disjointed. Although the worldbuilding is imaginative, it occasionally gave the impression of stepping into an already established universe and I actually went to check if there was a previous instalment in this universe that I had missed. The latter third of the book is stronger as the threads draw together, so I'm hoping the sequel will build on that momentum and deliver a more cohesive continuation of the story.
A recommended read for fans of The Bone Ships by R.J. Barker, Godkiller by Hannah Kaner, and darker maritime fantasy.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hodderscape for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I loved the Southeast Asian–inspired setting and the nautical atmosphere of the book. The premise itself is appealing, as aa ragtag crew battle high seas peril and political intrigue. The magical elements, particularly around death and the veil between worlds, add an extra layer of darkness beneath the swashbuckling surface.
That said, I struggled with this way the story is told. The multiple first-person POVs sometimes make it difficult to distinguish between voices and made events feel disjointed. Although the worldbuilding is imaginative, it occasionally gave the impression of stepping into an already established universe and I actually went to check if there was a previous instalment in this universe that I had missed. The latter third of the book is stronger as the threads draw together, so I'm hoping the sequel will build on that momentum and deliver a more cohesive continuation of the story.
A recommended read for fans of The Bone Ships by R.J. Barker, Godkiller by Hannah Kaner, and darker maritime fantasy.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hodderscape for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
January 24, 2026
I read an eARC of this book on NetGalley so thank you to the author and the publisher.
This is a beautiful fantasy, heavily inspired by the sea. There’s magic, there’s sailing, maelstroms and other magnificent nautical challenges. The book follows three points of view and each of these picks up their own side characters who form part of their tales. There’s clear parallels between the three and growing connections.
With the three points of view, I did find that about a quarter of the way through the book, I latched on to one in particular and was less engaged with the other two. I found this part of the story really interesting. But it felt like the motivations and narrative lost clarity a little on the other two. They’re necessary for how they connect later and to add richness and background to the story. I did feel like I was rushing those parts though to get back to the other point of view. The book changes point of view extremely rapidly and frequently so I might have benefited from the other two POVs having slightly longer chapters to make them feel more engaging.
That aside, the story involving the queen was absolutely shocking and riveting. The way this built up was excellently done, with a growing malice and horror as our character starts to learn more and is engulfed in a worrying and dangerous situation.
Lots of wonderful fantastical elements to this book. I loved the influence of the sea throughout and how it shaped so much of the story.
This is a beautiful fantasy, heavily inspired by the sea. There’s magic, there’s sailing, maelstroms and other magnificent nautical challenges. The book follows three points of view and each of these picks up their own side characters who form part of their tales. There’s clear parallels between the three and growing connections.
With the three points of view, I did find that about a quarter of the way through the book, I latched on to one in particular and was less engaged with the other two. I found this part of the story really interesting. But it felt like the motivations and narrative lost clarity a little on the other two. They’re necessary for how they connect later and to add richness and background to the story. I did feel like I was rushing those parts though to get back to the other point of view. The book changes point of view extremely rapidly and frequently so I might have benefited from the other two POVs having slightly longer chapters to make them feel more engaging.
That aside, the story involving the queen was absolutely shocking and riveting. The way this built up was excellently done, with a growing malice and horror as our character starts to learn more and is engulfed in a worrying and dangerous situation.
Lots of wonderful fantastical elements to this book. I loved the influence of the sea throughout and how it shaped so much of the story.
March 8, 2026
I thought this had a strong start, but around the 20% mark, the story began to lose my interest. Finlyr, who is first introduced as quite roughish/charming, gradually just dissolves into quite a bland personality (honestly, pretty much the same as Ris’s original personality). Hanan spontaneously abuses their partner, almost murdering them, and never once reflects meaningfully on it. A plethora of side characters clutter the story. The most contrived set of coincidences imaginable lead to Ris and Finlyr meeting. None of the character’s motivations/goals are ever made clear. The quest itself started around 45% into the book, and rather than moving the story forward, actually seemed to slow the momentum of the plot to a near standstill. At the very end, so many things are happening that it just feels more like someone excitedly telling you ‘and then, and then, and then….!’ without any suspense, rhyme or reason to any of it. It was both chaotic and somehow incredibly dull.
I think Isagani’s character had the most potential, and I would have loved to see them grow and develop with Finlyr as an unlikely mentor figure.
A side note, having the characters constantly insert ‘Aistra’ into every other phrase as an exclamation (‘by Aistra!’, ‘holy Aistra!’ etc) in every chapter is as repetitive as any other expression when overused. I would have liked the expression if it had been used about 75% less.
I think Isagani’s character had the most potential, and I would have loved to see them grow and develop with Finlyr as an unlikely mentor figure.
A side note, having the characters constantly insert ‘Aistra’ into every other phrase as an exclamation (‘by Aistra!’, ‘holy Aistra!’ etc) in every chapter is as repetitive as any other expression when overused. I would have liked the expression if it had been used about 75% less.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Unexpectedly dark fantasy, maybe not getting the marketing it'll need to find its audience.
I was all on board for the ARC of this, based on the colourful cover artwork, cosy blurb-words like 'ragtag crew', 'talking ottercat', 'unlikely bedfellows' and an Amina al-Sirafi comp. Insofar as a good chunk of this is set on a boat, and there are various takes on parents/guardians protecting children I guess I can see it, but much more like "if Amina was written by Joe Abercrombie". I would tag this 'grimdark', 'adult' and 'unlikeable MCs' -- and emphasise the very different reading mood.
I'm not a big grimdark fan, but thought this worked well with that vibe in mind. There's a pacy plot, a big world with history and consequences, and vivid prose throughout. What didn't work for me were the three MC first-person POVs. Cuing the reader as to who's narrating is a subtle but important writing art, and here, without the character name at the top of each chapter, I'd've been completely lost. Hope this is handled more carefully in the second book.
If you're a grimdark enjoyer looking for something a bit different, I think this may really hit the spot for you! Otherwise, hang on for The Tapestry of Fate coming out in May '26.
This review is based upon a complimentary advance reading copy provided by the publisher.
I was all on board for the ARC of this, based on the colourful cover artwork, cosy blurb-words like 'ragtag crew', 'talking ottercat', 'unlikely bedfellows' and an Amina al-Sirafi comp. Insofar as a good chunk of this is set on a boat, and there are various takes on parents/guardians protecting children I guess I can see it, but much more like "if Amina was written by Joe Abercrombie". I would tag this 'grimdark', 'adult' and 'unlikeable MCs' -- and emphasise the very different reading mood.
I'm not a big grimdark fan, but thought this worked well with that vibe in mind. There's a pacy plot, a big world with history and consequences, and vivid prose throughout. What didn't work for me were the three MC first-person POVs. Cuing the reader as to who's narrating is a subtle but important writing art, and here, without the character name at the top of each chapter, I'd've been completely lost. Hope this is handled more carefully in the second book.
If you're a grimdark enjoyer looking for something a bit different, I think this may really hit the spot for you! Otherwise, hang on for The Tapestry of Fate coming out in May '26.
This review is based upon a complimentary advance reading copy provided by the publisher.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a free ARC of Saltswept by Katalina Watt in exchange for an honest review.
2.5 stars
Slight spoilers
I found the multiple points of view difficult to engage with at the beginning of the novel. Many of the characters blended together for me, which made it challenging to distinguish their individual voices. I also often struggled to identify the characters’ genders, and while this may have been an intentional authorial choice, it added to the initial confusion rather than enhancing the reading experience.
At times, the book felt uncertain about what it wanted to be in terms of genre, tone, and themes. There were moments of whimsical, almost cosy fantasy including a cute, talking otter-cat. At other times, quite abruptly the tone was changed by much darker content, including spoiler: non-consensual asphyxiation involving a main character’s love interest. These tonal shifts were jarring and made the narrative feel uneven, as though it hadn’t fully settled on its audience or approach.
That said, the book did pick up in the latter sections. I became more invested as the story progressed, particularly in some characters more than others, and I did enjoy the magic elements and worldbuilding once they were given more space to develop.
Overall, Saltswept was a mixed read for me. While the ending was stronger than the beginning, I’m unsure whether I’m invested enough to continue with book two.
2.5 stars
Slight spoilers
I found the multiple points of view difficult to engage with at the beginning of the novel. Many of the characters blended together for me, which made it challenging to distinguish their individual voices. I also often struggled to identify the characters’ genders, and while this may have been an intentional authorial choice, it added to the initial confusion rather than enhancing the reading experience.
At times, the book felt uncertain about what it wanted to be in terms of genre, tone, and themes. There were moments of whimsical, almost cosy fantasy including a cute, talking otter-cat. At other times, quite abruptly the tone was changed by much darker content, including spoiler: non-consensual asphyxiation involving a main character’s love interest. These tonal shifts were jarring and made the narrative feel uneven, as though it hadn’t fully settled on its audience or approach.
That said, the book did pick up in the latter sections. I became more invested as the story progressed, particularly in some characters more than others, and I did enjoy the magic elements and worldbuilding once they were given more space to develop.
Overall, Saltswept was a mixed read for me. While the ending was stronger than the beginning, I’m unsure whether I’m invested enough to continue with book two.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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