Starred Review for Kirkus Reviews (Thu Apr 28 00:00:00 CDT 2022)

The pirate Teriana is the epitome of the beauty and strength of the seafaring Maarin; Marcus is leader of the feared (and revered) Thirty-Seventh Legion. What the two have in common though, is secrets....Celendrial—inspired by ancient Rome—is the center of the Empire, home of their government, with major ports bringing wealth to the upper echelons of the city. Through the years, the Cel have used their legions to subdue the continent as they know it. But the Maarin, who have no land, are left free to sail the seas and trade as they will—until now. Newly elected Lucius Cassius has other plans for the Maarin people and the Dark Shores only they know how to reach. Once believed to be a myth by the Cel, Cassius has made it his mission to find the Dark Shores and will use any means necessary to conquer them. The book grabs readers from the beginning with its stellar worldbuilding and multidimensional characters, and the mythical elements are truly believable within the constructs of the story. The perspective shifts between the viewpoints of Teriana and Marcus from chapter to chapter, offering readers greater insights into each. Teriana has dark skin, Marcus has light-brown skin, and other characters have a range of skin tones; race is of no significance in this world. A gripping introduction to a new series. (Fantasy. 14-18)

ALA Booklist (Mon Apr 01 00:00:00 CDT 2019)

Teriana is one of the Maarin, a seafaring people who frequently trade with the Celendor Empire, despite their many differences (including the Maarin's devotion to a legion of deities). When a dangerous new Cel leader learns that the Maarin are able to travel to the mythic Dark Shores, he places Teriana and her ship under the control of Thirty-Seventh legion, led by military prodigy Marcus, with the promise to release Teriana's mother and the rest of the captive Maarin if she shows the Cel how the journey is made. Knowing that the Cel, and Marcus in particular, are known for ruthless pillaging missions, Teriana is reluctant, to say the least, but as she and Marcus struggle to lead their combined crew through dangerous seas, assisted by the sea serpent scion of a goddess, and against a tyrant's army, they come to see the flaws in their assumptions about each other. This epic first installment in a new series from Jensen (The Malediction Trilogy) features stunning worldbuilding, a vivid cast of secondary characters, and a steamy slow-burn romance between two exceedingly competent and compelling heroes. Dark Shores is not one to miss.

Kirkus Reviews (Fri Oct 04 00:00:00 CDT 2024)

The pirate Teriana is the epitome of the beauty and strength of the seafaring Maarin; Marcus is leader of the feared (and revered) Thirty-Seventh Legion. What the two have in common though, is secrets....Celendrial—inspired by ancient Rome—is the center of the Empire, home of their government, with major ports bringing wealth to the upper echelons of the city. Through the years, the Cel have used their legions to subdue the continent as they know it. But the Maarin, who have no land, are left free to sail the seas and trade as they will—until now. Newly elected Lucius Cassius has other plans for the Maarin people and the Dark Shores only they know how to reach. Once believed to be a myth by the Cel, Cassius has made it his mission to find the Dark Shores and will use any means necessary to conquer them. The book grabs readers from the beginning with its stellar worldbuilding and multidimensional characters, and the mythical elements are truly believable within the constructs of the story. The perspective shifts between the viewpoints of Teriana and Marcus from chapter to chapter, offering readers greater insights into each. Teriana has dark skin, Marcus has light-brown skin, and other characters have a range of skin tones; race is of no significance in this world. A gripping introduction to a new series. (Fantasy. 14-18)