This book had an absolute hold on me while I was reading it, and I didn’t want to put it down! I thought about the characters all the time when I was forced to stop reading, and I highlighted lines like crazy while I was reading. This book is everything I love about romantasy! It is swoonworthy, funny, sweet, adventurous, fast-paced, and completely bingeable! I was intrigued by Ryu in previous books, and I loved his redemption arc in this book! Ryu is morally gray and witty and complicated, and I had the best time reading about him. His character growth is well written, and I adored seeing him fall for Mellie! Mellie is delightful, and I loved her so much! Her connection to animals was fascinating, and I loved her sense of humor and honor. She and Ryu complemented each other perfectly, and their interactions and story kept me glued to the page. The worldbuilding in this book and series is fantastic, and I felt like I was seeing everything the characters were. I was completely entranced while reading, and I was sad to finish the book. This is definitely a book I will need to reread in the future because I loved it so much! I voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Of Tides and Treason (PAPERBACK)
Of Tides and Treason (PAPERBACK)
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Paperback. Book #3 in The Kasmian Chronicles series.
A ruthless prince. A desperate mage. A cursed kingdom.
Prince Ryu’s hatred of magic is matched only by his loyalty to his dying country. So when his mother orders him to track down a mage consorting with Arn’s legendary tidefoxes, he won’t let anything stand in his way of healing the land… not even the beautiful mage or her animal companions.
Mellie reluctantly agrees to help Arn and the mysterious Ryu, but when she learns he’s actually the cunning prince known for hunting mages, it’s too late to run—she’s his captive, and the lives of her wolves and fox are at risk unless she does exactly what Ryu wants.
The longer Ryu and Mellie work together, the more Ryu’s beliefs about magic and mages are challenged—horrifyingly, magic may be the only key to reviving the land before it’s lost forever.
But the High Sovereign hates magic as much as ever, and her patience for Ryu’s growing affection is thin. Ryu may be weak, but she is not, and she will see that all magic is eradicated from Arn for good, even if that means killing Arn itself. Ryu and Mellie must set aside their differences if they want to have any hope of saving Arn before it’s destroyed beyond repair.
Perfect for fans of Tara Grayce, Shari Tapscott, and Kenley Davidson, Of Tides and Treason is the newest installment in the Kasmian Chronicles, a series of swoony romantic fantasy connected standalones.
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Customer Reviews
Overall rating: 4.8 / 5 from 4 reviews.
Another thrilling and completely riveting read! I was so intrigued by Rhu in the previous book, I just had to hear his story! These are standalone books, they do bring in characters from the previous books BUT each one makes perfect sense without having to read the previous ones, although.... I strongly recommend you do! Constance has a way with words that the story, the characters themselves, wrap around you and hug you warmly. And that's the underlying thread throughout, warmth. Ok, there ARE some cringe moments but the overall read is one of beauty and majesty. Lovely, gorgeous read doesn't even begin to explain it! Ok, gush over... Two very different personalities, two very different agendas. Ryu's is to find someone who can help heal the land. There's a deep seated hatred of magic and mages throughout the Kingdom. If found, they're captured and enslaved. Which is what Ryu is tasked to do by his mother. Mellie, forced into a marriage she can't accept, so Mellie fled. She fled to the relative safety of the woods, in relative peace, until Ryu located her. Then a delightful dance ensued between them, loathing one second, warmth the next, but was was certain, is that Ms Lopez is the best choreographer for this type of slow dance! The placement of each step planned with precision, executed brilliantly, leaving one one in admiration at her skill. Ms Lopez is so skilled in her craft, I live each and every word, I'm in the world she's created, I breathe the very air her characters do. Besides the two MC's, who I adored, the side characters are just as impressive. And I just loved Felix and Blaze and Fiera! Their love and protectiveness of Mellie is sweetness personified! Ryu and Mellie are chalk and cheese and I loved seeing their personalities shine through, although, Ryu is a contradiction on two legs. A gentle gardener and lover of plant life, essentially an all round good guy, who is so ruthless in his hatred of mages, speaks volumes to indoctrination, to falsehoods he's been frd. Ryu's sense of duty, his honour and his people are paramount, he'd do anything for his people, for his land. Uncovering Mellie's past brings forth first disbelief, then rage and loathing. Mellie is sweetness and caring and compassionate, but she's got spunk, she sure is no walkover. I loved her conflicting thoughts on Ryu, I adore them both equally, except...ok, I was ready to give Ryu a good shaking! Geez man, DON'T jump to conclusions! He slowly gets off his horse and realises he's been duped, by his mother, by his friend by the very beliefs he accepted as truth. Besides wanting to bop him once or twice, I really loved him. He's actually has a heart of gold and as all the realisations, the truth crashes solidly on his head, and the action he was forced to take, he shattered MY heart! But also made it sing with his finally attaining all he's supposed to be.. Golly how do I unpack this book???? A dying land, a girl fleeing from a cruel marriage arrangement, a prince who would sacrifice anything for his kingdom and his people, a crazy monarch who's lost the plot, The banter was perfect, the dance was perfect, their emotions were perfect, heck this book is as perfect as it can get! It's gives us secrets, it gives us misguided bias, it gives us drama together with a fabulous plot and characters so heartfelt. But she also gives us the angst and stress, like those final few chapters, my golly was I panting from not being able to draw in enough air! Excellent read yet again by this excellent author!
Beba A. 5/5
So, this story features me and a young Bruce Lee fighting against his angry mother to save the dying land of the nation of Arn. Also, a bunch of adorable greenish grey foxes and some wolves that are literally smoking hot. I am 100% convinced that Mellie is based on me...appearance, attitude, special connection with animals, and love of Arnese (aka Japanese) gardens. She is a lovely young woman with a huge heart that wants to help despite it not being her choice to do so in the first place. And Ryu...he gets a pretty good redemption arc, but I think we could all tell at the end of Chaos he was starting to crack. I was a little surprised at how dark certain points of this one got compared to the rest of the series, but it was very fitting for the feel of the story overall. Constance has a way of writing the most absolutely lovable characters, both MCs and side characters (I think I might even like Asahi more than Ryu himself! And I'm soooooo looking forward to Vendar getting more page time in the next book!!!). These stories are technically standalones but are all interconnected, so I would recommend at least reading "Of Chaos and Cadence" before this one. "Of Stormlarks and Silence" is technically the first in the series
Jessica J. 5/5
Mellie is a mage on the run from a horrible betrothal hiding in the last place anyone would look for her: the kingdom of Arn, a place renowned for its barbaric treatment of mages. Ryu is a smug, self righteous prince of Arn, trying to redeem himself in the eyes of his mother by tracking down one mage rumored to have abilities that might save Arn from whatever sickness is killing the land. Together, they will put things to rights and learn what they truly want. I’m not gonna lie, I spent the first dozen chapters wanting someone, anyone, to punch Ryu in the face. He’s THAT smug. By the time someone does finally stab him a time or two, it’s not even satisfying- he’s progressed along his character arc to the point where I couldn’t even enjoy it! 😂 Mellie is sunshine and loveliness from start to finish. She learns to be brave and choose for herself. Also: fox and wolf sidekicks. 😍 I’d recommend this to nearly anyone! One swoony kiss at the end would hold me back from handing it to younger readers. Great for fans of KM Shea.
Aunt L. 4/5