Article contributed by Raathi Chota
Tides of Mutiny is a standalone YA fantasy novel which will immerse readers with the wordbuilding and likable characters. From the beautiful cover to the blurb, readers receive the sense of adventure and excitement Rebecca Rode has created every step of the way.
The plot driven story is told from the perspective of Lane, who goes by her “male” name to disguise herself as a sailor and it gets right to it from the first chapter. Readers get the sense of Lane’s world, where females are not allowed to be sailors, because of a once female sailor shifted the past for female sailors like Lane herself. Yet that has not stopped our main character from dressing as a boy and sailing with her father, who appears to be a captain of his own ship!
With this insight, readers know the sea life is in Lane’s blood. She will stop at nothing to make sure it happens. Yet when Lane is introduced to Aden, who figures out her identity, she must consider what’s more important as their relationship grows: his agenda or her future.
All in one novel, Rode has created a world where people are mistreated, and there are injustices and hierarchies to question. The worldbuilding is not complex to overwhelm a reader looking for leisure time, rather enough to wrap one’s head around. The writing itself is at a pace of enjoyment where readers will fly through the book in no time.
Lane becomes a favourable character from the get-go. She is determined in getting what she wants and strives for equality that has been stripped from female sailors. She showed her braveness through her bearing of two axes, but also how she was not afraid to speak up for her loved ones. The connection she has established amongst the crew, even though most of them do not know her secret, is assuring—but a reminder of how they might react if they knew she was a female.
Aden, on the other hand, was not as spectacular as Lane. There are many fantasy characters to compare him to base on personality, expectations, appearances, looks, etc. Readers might feel nothing toward Aden as the attention had been more on Lane, but he was a dedicated sidekick and smart observer.
This review remains spoiler-free, but it’s worth noting the worldbuilding and how it is constructed around Captain Garrow. Since readers see the story from Lane’s perspective, her father has a lot of influence on her. It was fascinating to spot the moments of doubt fall upon Lane whenever she learnt of a ‘tale’ or ‘rumour’ of her beloved father.
Personally, the ending felt open-ended for possibilities which could probably leave space open for a sequel or companion novel. The entire resolution was not a drag, but rather entertaining to see whether Lane and Aden see it to the end! A highly recommended book for anyone searching for something to escape into!
Tides of Mutiny is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of September 7th 2021.
Will you be picking up Tides of Mutiny? Tell us in the comments below!
Synopsis | Goodreads
Lane Garrow has a secret—one that could get her killed.
In a world where female sailors are executed, sixteen-year-old Lane’s dream of being a ship’s captain seems impossible. Sea life is all she knows, and she wouldn’t give it up for anything, even if it means she has to hide as a captain’s boy to avoid being killed. But Lane’s carefully constructed world begins to crumble when an old pirate enemy comes after her father. And she begins hearing rumors that her father was once a pirate as well.
Lane doesn’t want to believe her father could have a dark past, but she can’t help questioning everything she’s known. After all, Lane’s life at sea is built on lies—why couldn’t her father’s be, too?
Then a mysterious prince shows up, and Lane finds her very survival tied to a boy who could destroy everything. With pirates, betrayal, and death threatening Lane and those she loves, she must now decide between the future she always expected and a prince with an unknown agenda who she finds herself falling for. Lane must either protect herself and find a way to live her dream, or risk everything for a world where her very existence is a death sentence.
Maybe there’s a third option. After all, she’s never played by the rules before. Why start now?
