Seriously this is so fast paced and action packed that it made for a quick read and I was constantly hooked wanting to find out what would happen next.

Like a magical prince rescues/frees a mysterious, attractive boy only to think he’s dead and mourn him THEN finds him just hanging out in a market most definitely alive (but like how did he survive jumping off a boat in the middle of the water? 👀) and from there things get even more hectic! Okay so when I first added this to my TBR I (like many others it seems?) I thought it was going to be gay pirates and I was like yes please sign me up! Alas, there aren’t pirates (or at least none to like) BUT it was so much better than I even expected because it was the perfect level of fantasy for my tastes. Tal must escape if he hopes to save his family and the kingdom. But before they can pursue anything further, Tal is kidnapped by pirates and held ransom in a plot to reveal his rumored powers and instigate a war. That is, until Tal runs into Athlen days later on dry land, very much alive, and as charming-and secretive-as ever. So when Athlen leaps overboard and disappears, Tal feels responsible and heartbroken, knowing Athlen could not have survived in the open ocean. Tal is surprised to feel an intense connection with the roguish Athlen. His first taste of adventure comes just two days into the journey, when their crew discovers a mysterious prisoner on a burning derelict vessel. Prince Tal has long awaited his coming-of-age tour, having spent most of his life hidden away behind palace walls to keep his forbidden magic secret. Genre & Rep: Young Adult (historical fantasy) | Queer Rep (m/m pairing, achillean romance)

In deeper waters ft lukens