Between Tides & Thunder

ARC Review: Between Tides & Thunder by Leena Kazak

Some books quietly pull you in. Others grab hold and refuse to let go. Between Tides & Thunder firmly falls into the second category.

I finished my ARC of this book with that familiar feeling every reader knows too well. I kept telling myself, “Just one more chapter,” only to look up and realize it was far later than planned. From the very beginning, the story establishes a sense of tension and momentum that makes it genuinely hard to put down.

At the heart of the novel are two warring countries forced into an arranged marriage meant to secure peace. The female main character is a healer, compassionate yet strong, navigating both political pressure and deeply personal grief. Opposite her is the male main character, a man feared and hated for his role in the deaths of her people. Their shared history, clashing magic, and unresolved pain make them natural enemies, and the story does not shy away from the weight of that conflict.

What makes Between Tides & Thunder especially compelling is how patiently and realistically that tension evolves. The emotional distance between the characters feels earned, as does every small shift in trust and understanding. Watching hostility give way to something more complex and vulnerable was incredibly satisfying, and the slow build only heightened the payoff.

The emotional stakes are consistently high, and the chemistry between the leads adds an extra layer of intensity to every interaction. Their connection is not just romantic, but deeply tied to the larger themes of grief, loyalty, and the cost of war. Combined with the political intrigue and magical elements, the story feels rich without becoming overwhelming.

If you are a fan of romantasy that leans into complicated characters, emotional depth, and tropes that truly deliver, this is one to add to your TBR. Between Tides & Thunder offers a strong balance of romance, conflict, and worldbuilding, and it left me genuinely wanting more.

I would happily return to this world again, and I hope this is not the last story we get to experience within it.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️.5

Blurb:

She was raised to hate him. Now she shares his bed.
Princess Mayah of Tundrayn isn’t allowed to want. Not freedom. Not love. Not even her own future. Instead, she’s spent her life healing others’ pain and swallowing her own. But when her father strikes a fragile alliance with enemy-kingdom Arbinj to crush a rising rebellion, she is bartered into a marriage she didn’t choose for a crown she doesn’t want.

She expects a prince. She gets the Dark Commander.
Zevayr is ruthless, unyielding, and a stormwielder with a reputation soaked in blood. He is everything Mayah was taught to fear. Yet as they race across rebel-torn lands, the less certain she is of where the monster ends and where the man begins.

In Arbinj’s glittering courts, the Rebellion surges and dangerous secrets stir from Mayah’s past—secrets that could shatter her kingdom, and her heart, if she lets them.

The question is not if Mayah will betray, but who: her people, her love, or herself?

Xoxo, Melissa