Break Wide the Sea by Sara Holland follows a young woman, Annie Fairfax, as she navigates dangerous waters to break a centuries-old curse that has haunted her family. The people of Kirkrell have long feared the finfolk—bloodthirsty fae who haunt the seas, cursing those who cross them and their bloodlines. These sea-dwellers are known for sinking the ships of those who hunt the magical whales. The magic from the whales has brought prosperity to Kirkrell.
Nineteen-year-old Annie inherited her family’s business, the Fairfax Whaling Company, after the tragic death of her parents. Although the family has been successful, their fortune comes with a dark cost: they are cursed to slowly turn into monsters if they experience heartbreak. Since her parents’ deaths six years ago, Annie has begun to grow scales that creep up her arms, and claws have started to emerge from her fingertips.
Her fiancé, August, has been a steadying presence in her life—until she hears rumors that he plans to take over her company. After learning this, her curse intensifies, growing stronger with each passing day. Annie begins to fear that her time may be running out.
When she discovers that Silas Price—a young captain who is half-finfolk, half-human—might be able to help, she jumps at the chance. Silas promises to take her to the finfolk queen who can lift the curse, but only if Annie agrees to end whaling forever.
As they sail north, Annie struggles with the promise she’s made. She’s determined to find a way to cure herself without ending the whaling that sustains her city. But as she hesitates and begins to backpedal, she realizes she’s not the only one hiding secrets. Her feelings for August begin to fade, while her connection with Silas deepens. Torn between duty and desire, Annie feels the weight of her responsibility as the heir to the company. But as her curse worsens, she must face an impossible question: will she choose to save herself or preserve her family’s legacy?
I found this novel to be an interesting read. The writing style was engaging and made it easy to feel transported into Annie’s world. The book started off strong, though I found the middle section a bit slow. It did pick up again toward the end, but I was expecting a more satisfying conclusion—only to realize it’s part of a series. That said, I’m definitely curious to see what happens next, especially with the cliffhanger ending.
I especially enjoyed the scenes with Annie, her siblings, Silas, and his cursed crew. I wish we had learned more about each crew member’s curse and how it affected the story. Their dynamic reminded me of one of my favorite pirate crews, the Straw Hat Pirates from One Piece. While some parts of the book were repetitive and a bit slow, I still enjoyed the overall experience and would be open to continuing the series.
No comments:
Post a Comment