Book Review: These Hollow Shores by A.P. Walston

In my never-ending quest to catch up on blog posts, I present to you my long-overdue book review of These Hollow Shores by A.P Walston, Book 2 in the Tides of Fate series! This was originally published on Reedsy Discovery as an ARC review, which you can check out here.

Also, if you’re interested in becoming a Reedsy reviewer, follow my referral link to learn more!

I reviewed the first book in the series, This Savage Sea, back in January of this year and had such a blast! When the author reached out and asked if I’d be willing to review book 2, there were no two ways about it… I had to find out what happened next!

Disclaimer: as an Amazon affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases. If you purchase via my links, I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.

If you like adventures on the high seas, sassy heroines, swoon-worthy pirates, and ethereal jungle islands with eldritch magic, then These Hollow Shores is sure to deliver!

Of course, you’ll have to read Book 1 first, but I digress! No spoilers ahoy, though you may want to read my review of book 1 for context!

Summary of These Hollow Shores

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

A gripping continuation of a captivating fantasy romance series that will delight and devastate.

An archaeologist caught in the middle.
When adventure entered Anna’s life in the form of a tattooed pirate and a cursed map, she had been more than willing to answer its call.

A pirate with a secret.
Secrets had always hidden on Trevor’s skin or behind a grin. He’d never had reason to share their weight with anyone, but soon realizes revealing the secrets he’d collected could mean the difference between life or death for the wee lass he had grown so fond of.

A captain longing for home.
Markus had joined the Briland Navy hoping to find home, but it hadn’t come in the form of a quaint flat or a sprawling city—it had come with a storm and the reflection of golden-green eyes. Trapped aboard with his sister’s ex-suitor, Markus finds himself longing for a woman who wishes she had let him drown all those years ago.

With their course set, Markus, Anna, and Trevor all have choices to make—ones that will affect more than just their lives. Caught between her growing feelings and her dedication to her family, Anna must choose: the pirate or her brother.

My Review

In book 2 of Tides of Fate, we catch up with Anna, Trevor, and Markus as they brave the high seas to stop a determined foe from waking a fabled sea beast. Charming pirates, deadly islands, and a romance to rattle the stars await in this swoon-worthy fantasy adventure.

This Savage Sea walked so that These Hollow Shores could run. Book 2 delivers on many of the promises made in book 1 and with great success, building on the characters and world in interesting, layered ways. I thoroughly enjoyed the worldbuilding in this book and how it all interconnects; Anna’s background as an archeologist becomes more relevant as we get deeper into the pirate lore and it never feels too convenient. It was very easy to immerse one’s self in the world of this story and each setting had a flavor all its own.

But what we really need to talk about is our main couple. Their chemistry throughout this book is fantastic; if you’re a fantasy romance fan, you will be both delighted and devastated. Anna is a nuanced, believable heroine and even when you question her decisions, you still root for her in the end.

And then, of course, there’s Trevor. I already said in my review of book 1 that Trevor has made my list of favorite fictional men and book 2 has served to reinforce that claim. He is also nuanced and, while completely swoon-worthy, is an alpha male in the best possible way: simultaneously the baddest mother and biggest cinnamon roll you will ever have the pleasure of reading about. I want only good things for him and Anna. Author, please, I beg of you!

As for criticisms, there were some weird scene jumps in this book, particularly in the latter half, and a lot of descriptions that I, personally, found repetitive. I still feel vague on some of the characters’ backstories, but overall, the writing, the pacing, and the plot in this book have improved dramatically. As they should!

This book is everything a fantasy romance should be: swoon-worthy, exciting, immersive, and sexy… but not at the expense of the plot. If you are a fan of Pirates of the Caribbean, then this is the series for you. Book 3 needs to happen post-haste because that cliffhanger had me internally screaming. And that’s all I can say about that!