REVIEW! These Rebel Waves by Sara Raasch

I don't usually have a book review as my weekly post, however I'm currently in Disneyland Paris (head over to my Instagram stories at @captainfurby to see my daily updates), but next week I'll be back to normal with weekly posts.

So anyway, this book came in my August Fairyloot and I really liked the sound of it, I also won a giveaway for the ARC. I buddy read this book, but I couldn't manage to stick to the daily pages and finished it a couple of days ahead of everyone else.

My Rating: ★★★★

So the blurb for this book (taken from Goodreads) is:
Adeluna is a soldier. Five years ago, she helped the magic-rich island of Grace Loray overthrow its oppressor, Argrid, a country ruled by religion. But adjusting to postwar life has not been easy. When an Argridian delegate vanishes during peace talks with Grace Loray’s new Council, Argrid demands brutal justice—but Lu suspects something more dangerous is at work.

Devereux is a pirate. As one of the outlaws called stream raiders who run rampant on Grace Loray, he pirates the island’s magic plants and sells them on the black market. But after Argrid accuses raiders of the diplomat’s abduction, Vex becomes a target. An expert navigator, he agrees to help Lu find the Argridian—but the truth they uncover could be deadlier than any war.

Benat is a heretic. The crown prince of Argrid, he harbors a secret obsession with Grace Loray’s forbidden magic. When Ben’s father, the king, gives him the shocking task of reversing Argrid’s fear of magic, Ben has to decide if one prince can change a devout country—or if he’s building his own pyre.


As conspiracies arise, Lu, Vex, and Ben will have to decide who they really are . . . and what they are willing to become for peace.

The beginning of this book started really slow which was quite disappointing as I was drawn to the blurb, and I usually struggle with a book if I don't get into it within the first few chapters. It was hard to get into the politics and religion side of the book, but I did like the idea of plant magic. I'm glad I stuck with this book, as about half way through I was gripped and couldn't put it down (again sorry to my fellow buddy readers)

I found Ben's chapters harder to read, and I felt for him with how he was so obviously lied to, manipulated and brainwashed by his father. With Lu she was so certain that everything she was doing would lead to one thing happening, and when the realisation hits her I just wanted to hug her. There was literally nothing I didn't like about Vex, he's definitely my favourite character.