Smexy Books

Romance and Urban Fantasy Reviews

  • Review Request
  • Contact
    • Smexy Reviewers Profiles
    • New Reviewer Application
    • Contact
  • Advertising
  • Home
  • Reviews
    • By Genre
      • BDSM
      • Contemporary
      • Erotic
      • Fantasy
      • F/F
      • Historical Romance
      • Historical PNR
      • LGBTQ+
      • M/M Romance
      • New Adult
      • Urban Fantasy
      • Paranormal Romance
      • Sci-Fi
      • Romantic Suspense
      • Young Adult
    • By Letter Grade Rating
      • A Reviews
      • B Reviews
      • C Reviews
      • D Reviews
      • DNF Reviews
  • Features
    • New Releases
    • Smexy Deals!
    • Retro Review
    • Weekly Wrap-Up
    • Blog Tour
    • Scenic Sunday
    • To Be Read
    • Guest Post
    • Top Ten/Happy Friday
    • Smex Scene Sunday
  • The Psy/Changeling Channel
You are here: Home / Angela / Review: The Bright and Breaking Sea by Chloe Neill

Review: The Bright and Breaking Sea by Chloe Neill

November 18, 2020 by Angela 1 Comment

The Bright and Breaking Sea by Chloe Neill
Historical Fantasy
November 17, 2020, by Berkley
ARC

Review by Angela

The cover for The Bright and Breaking Sea is what first caught my attention and led me to read the blurb and then actively inquiring about a review copy. I am 100% here for badass ship captains magically attuned to the sea.

This book was quite unlike any I can remember reading. Sort of a fantasy historical adventure with a dash of romance. The main protagonists were introduced rather quickly and I knew right away I would be ride or die Kit Brightling. Kit, the competent, bright, sharp-edged Captain of the Diana with an affinity for the magic of the sea and the legacy of a wonderful found family. Colonel Rian Grant, Viscount Queenscliffe took a while to grow on me, mainly because he was rather an uptight, rude jerk to Kit in the first few chapters. He does evolve though, and I became a fan by the end.

I was completely delighted by this unique fantasy. The worldbuilding and background were easy to power through and understand, The social structure seemed to be patterned after a more traditional Regency England historical setting, just with less sexism and more diversity. It also feels like it was heavily influenced by the Napoleonic wars. If that seems like a lot, don’t worry it really isn’t. This story was easy to fall into.

While I think fans of hard-core fantasy will really like this first book in a new series, I also think readers of romantic fantasy will enjoy. The romance is one that I feel like Ms. Neill will take her time developing and let me just say, I am here for it. Kit and Rian have a chemistry and a flourishing partnership that is irresistible to me.

I was also completely taken by the secondary characters and the promising sub-plots they represented. Jin, Jane, even Rian’s wastrel younger brother all have me intrigued for what’s to come in this series. It’s been some time since I was this intrigued by an entire cast of characters. I look forward to finding out what comes next.

Final grade- B+

AMAZON * GOODREADS

Share this:

  • Tweet
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit
  • Click to share on Mastodon (Opens in new window) Mastodon
  • More
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) WhatsApp

Like this:

Like Loading...

Related

Filed Under: Angela, B Review, Berkley, Chloe Neill, Fantasy, historical fantasy

Comments

  1. Kareni says

    November 18, 2020 at 4:08 pm

    This does sound enticing, Angela. Thanks for sharing your enthusiasm!

    Loading...
    Reply

Leave a ReplyCancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Welcome to Smexy! If you are reader feel free to use our search feature to find a specific book or browse through our features to find Smexy Deals, New Releases, and book news!

As an Amazon Associate, we do earn from qualifying purchases. We also earn a small commission on affiliate links to Apple, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords,  Booksamillion, and Bookshop,org.

 

Shop our Affiliates!

Amazon

B&N

Apple

Smashwords

Booksamillion

Angela

Melanie

Jen

Kate

Iby

Kate H.

Sign Up for Daily Emails


Thank you!

You have successfully joined our subscriber list.

.

Follow Us!

Follow Us on FacebookFollow Us on TwitterFollow Us on Instagram

Top Posts & Pages

  • New Releases- Week of May 12-16, 2025
    New Releases- Week of May 12-16, 2025
  • Smexy Deals- Deals for books by Brynne Weaver, Lori Wilde, Jo Goodman, and more!
    Smexy Deals- Deals for books by Brynne Weaver, Lori Wilde, Jo Goodman, and more!
  • Review: Manacled by SenLinYu
    Review: Manacled by SenLinYu
  • Review: The Last Letter by Rebecca Yarros
    Review: The Last Letter by Rebecca Yarros
  • Steamy Excerpt from Everything's Better With Lisa by Lucy Eden
    Steamy Excerpt from Everything's Better With Lisa by Lucy Eden
  • Monday Morning Book News!
    Monday Morning Book News!
  • Review: Regretting You by Colleen Hoover
    Review: Regretting You by Colleen Hoover
  • Review: The Finish Line by Kate Stewart
    Review: The Finish Line by Kate Stewart
  • Smex Scene Sunday
    Smex Scene Sunday
  • Smexy’s Top Ten Favorite Sex Scenes of 2012
    Smexy’s Top Ten Favorite Sex Scenes of 2012

Disclosure

The majority of the books reviewed at this site have been provided for free by publishers, authors, or other third parties like NetGalley or Edelweiss. Acceptance of a free copy does not guarantee a review or a positive review.

As an Amazon Associate, we do earn from qualifying purchases. We also earn a small commission on affiliate links to Apple, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords, and Booksamillion.

Shop our Affiliates!

Amazon

B&N

Apple

Smashwords

Booksamillion

 

Find Our Reviewers

Angela @fv-angela.bsky.social l Goodreads

Melanie @melonreads.bsky.social l  Goodreads

Jen .@thebooknista l Goodreads

Kate  @kateminasian l Goodreads

Iby Instagram l Goodreads

Kate H. @Naranjadia l Goodreads

Copyright © 2025 · Beautiful Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

 

Loading Comments...
 

    %d