War and Wind

Tides, Book 2

By: Alex Lidell

Narrated by: Kaitlin Bellamy

A cowardly captain. An incompetent crew. A mission she can't fail.

Nile and her small band of loyal midshipmen saved the ship, and Captain Rima might just kill them for it... one young officer at a time. No one and nothing on the Aurora is safe anymore, least of all Nile's explosive secrets or her connection with Domenic, which vibrates between them like a cutlass speared into the deck.

When the shifting tide of war suddenly turns Aurora's backwater outpost into a vital battleground, Nile faces an impossible choice between duty and freedom. In a cascade of violence, gunpowder, and lies, Nile will soon discover who has her back and who wants to stab a dagger in it. To save the ones she loves, Nile may have to sacrifice everything.

War and Wind is the exciting sequel to Air and Ash, a seafaring adventure of duty, love, magic, and a princess's quest to protect her kingdom on her own terms. Recommended for fans of Sarah J. Maas, Tamora Pierce, and David Weber.

©2017 Alex Lidell (P)2018 Alex Lidell

Wwaaa a cliffy.

Wwaaa a cliffy.
Oh my goodness I can't wait for the next part. This is a wonderfully creative series.
This narrator is my favorite narrator right up there with Barbara Rosenblatt who's my all-time favorite.
Bookshelves/tags:
adventure, cliffhanger, fantasy, favorites, flogging, paranormal, read, recorded, romance, saga, series, suspense, tragic, young-adult.
Reasons I enjoyed this audio book:
A bit of a Tear-jerker, Wonderful characters, Page-turner, Great world building, Unpredictable, Easy-to-read, Entertaining, Action-packed, Twisted, Haunting.
This Audio book was given to me at my request from the publisher, author or narrator and I provided this unbiased voluntary review.

Secrets are catching up with Nile and the war

*I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

The book starts a few short hours after Air and Ash ends. It's a continuation in the time line. We do get drops of what has recently happened on the ship and who is where and what they've done, but it's brief and quick to get back into the flow of the story. This is book two of the series, and you really should start with book one.

I'm thrilled Kaitlin returned to the series as the voice of our characters. She has become Nile, in voice, for me. Kaitlin continues with the personalities and voices of all the characters we got to know in the first book. The story is brought to life by Kaitlin with emotions and pacing that fits each action or event of the story. Once again, the story flows smoothly and voiced with feeling.

The beginning is bringing us back into the world, raising our awareness of all that is happening around Nile. It grows the worry that she'll be found out, or punished or worse, and spark the flame between Nile and Dominic.

There are many worried we feel for Nile as she went on this venture. We know them and still worry as things start to surface and seen by others. There are new worries that slowly grow here, and potential worries that could go either bad or good for Nile.

We have a new POV that's added into the story through out. Captain Ral Quinn. The story starts with his POV and picks up with him off and on through the book. I like this addition as he sheds some light on a few things, and opens up some possibilities for the gifted along with worry for Nile. A worry Nile doesn't even know about, but also something that could help her in more ways than one.

There is a war between nations in this book. Something we are not front and center at seeing. But it's important as it motivates the movements of all in the world. And, eventually, it becomes something Nile is drawn into and becomes more active in.

We more new characters here. Ones that I quickly came to love. Would I have loved them as much had we met them before all the events in the first book... I don't know. But I love them now. They will become important in Nile's life and how she'll live her life.

We have our characters we know... Dominic, Captain Rima, and many others. I still love Dominic and those that Nile has come close to on the ship. I still hate Captain Rima. lol. That is all credit to the author. She has written a bad person in a wonderful way to have me hate him so. And, there is a character that my thoughts shift some on. You'll know who it is as you get back into the world.

I'm sorry if I sound vague in my descriptions, but this book follows close to book one and I don't want to give any spoilers or details to the story. If you enjoyed book one, keep on sailing through as you'll enjoy this one as well.

I will be watching for the third book in audio too!

Excellent

I enjoys this book even more than the first in the series. The first section of the book was hard for me to get to, just because things felt so bleak for the characters, but the rest of the book, and the ending were worth the hardship! I loved the new characters introduced, and the friendships Nile formed with them. Definitely my favorite book of the year, and high on my list of personal favorites. Kaitlin Bellamy continues to be the best narrator I've heard.

Amazing Narration!!!

I listened to the first book of this series, rather than reading it. The narration was amazing and brought the story to life. I couldn't wait for the audio book of the second to continue the story, so I bought the second one on kindle. I only got a few pages in before I realized that I wasn't as hooked without the narration. Don't get me wrong. The story was REALLY good and well written, but the beginning was a little slow (even Harry Potter was slow in the beginning, and I'm a HUGE Potterhead). I don't think the switch in media helped much either. So it sat forgotten for a bit.

And THEN! I remembered the book and saw that the audio book was out and I picked it up again. Kaitlin Bellamy is an amazing narrator that brings the story to life and hooks you from the first word! I'm glad that Alex Lidell found her, because I truly do love the story Alex has to tell and hearing it through Kaitlin's voice is unforgettable. She brings each character to life, all with different accents and mannerisms. She is absolutely one of the best narrators I've ever listened to and hope that she does even more with her talent.

Great sequel to book 1

I loved this book as much as book 1. Nile and Domenic had even more challenges ahead of them, and their enemies were more dangerous and evil than they had expected. Unfortunately for Nile her royal duties finally caught up with her, and she found out, that there was more to her fiance than net the eye. I loved the creative way she helped the Prince and his real love (no spoilers). Many turns and twists, great characters and plot kept me reading for most of a night, until I finished it.

The narration was great, depicting different personalities very well. I'd love to listen to more of Mts. Bellamy audiobooks.

I'm looking forward to more adventure and romance, which are ahead of Nile and Domenic.

The Series Gets Even Better!!!

The Tide Series by Alex Lidell has been an amazing series so far. I listened to Air and Ash (Book 1) and immediately picked up War and Wind (Book 2.)

The second book is even more packed with action, adventure, and romance. It picks up almost immediately after Air and Ash. I would definitely listening/reading Air and Ash before War and Wind. I had a hard time putting it down. The whole book I kept feeling at any minute I would be discovered as the book and narration together just feel so real and immersive.

I really am going to have a hard time waiting for Book 3 to come out on audiobook!

Kaitlin Bellamy is one of the best female narrators out there. Her voices are spot on, distinct, and perfect! Much of the story can be felt in how she pronounces things, mannerisms, sounds, etc. Her male voices are so good that again, I think I am listening to two separate narrators.

I received a copy of this audiobook at my request, since I loved Air and Ash so much! I voluntarily left this review because I love this book and series so much!

great follow up

This a great continuation of the previous story. The characters from before are more confident in their abilities and place in their world and you can feel it,The story is a great navel warfare story and a mix of fantasy. It has characters you care about and well paced story. The story is exciting and makes you want to continue on. It's a great story.

New favorite high seas series!

This series (War and Wind and the first book, Air and Ash), is one of my new favorites. It took the tropes of high seas adventures and turned so many of them on their head (hooray for women who can be awesome and WOMEN not women-dressed-as-men in fantasy navy!), all the while building complex politics around a complex world and a really compelling love story. I can't say some of my favorite parts without major spoilers but...yes. This book is diverse and beautiful and just about everything I love.

Nile is one of those characters that you can both love and get exasperated with--she's not a pushover YA heroine by any means, and often gets herself in trouble through her willfulness. But, it's also one of her strengths, and I really loved that about her.

I also really loved the magic system in this world. As someone who has disabilities, the idea that magic came at a cost--but also great rewards--was really something I resonated with.

I don't know if there are more books in the series, or if there will be more, but even for these two this series is 100% worth it. I know I'll be rereading these for years to come!

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

Outstanding

Wow! I enjoyed the heck out of Air and Ash, the first book in the Tides series, but War and Wind is even better. As always I will attempt to keep my review spoiler free. Picking up where previous book ended, we are immediately thrown back into Niles world of swashbuckling adventure. Alex Lidell has done a fantastic job crafting very real characters. Some you'll love....and some you'll love to hate. Seriously you know an author is doing something right when you find yourself honestly feeling anger and hatred towards the villain of a tale. As for the story...wow, this is definitely a complex tale with tons of twists. There is plenty of high seas adventure, action, political intrigue, a touch of social commentary (handled brilliantly I might add), and more than a touch of romance. And just like in the first book, while there is plenty of action, you also get the sense the saga is building towards something bigger. Something even more epic. And that ending...,loved it. Can't wait to see what comes next.

Kaitlin Bellamy returns to narrate War and Wind, and once again she does an absolutely fantastic job. I really hope she does more narrating in the future.

I was given a free review copy of this audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this unbiased review.

Entertaining

Wowser! War and Wind has a lot, lot, lot going on! The story is interesting, entertaining, and is easy to fully immerse in. I am usually more of an urban fantasy fan but this story and world was gripping and more enjoyable than i expected. The characters are likable and believable. The situation they face is realistic with a small side of paranormal. The narrator did a great job! Looking forward to book 3! I received a free copy of this audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.