Captain Kit Brightling loves the sea. Not only does she have a magical affinity for the sea itself, but she’s worked hard on the seas to rise up to her current rank as one of the few female captains after starting her early years as an abandoned foundling. Kit is used to working alone with her own crew as they seek out signs of what the Gallic emperor, Gerard Rousseau, may be up to now that he is exiled to Montgraf after the end of the war. However, Queen Charlotte has commanded Kit to work with Viscount Rian Grant. Rian doesn’t trust Kit’s magical abilities as he’s not Aligned and doesn’t trust anything he can’t see or touch. However, Rian and Kit will have to learn to work together if they hope to accomplish their assigned task and rescue Marcus Dunwood.

THE BRIGHT AND BREAKING SEA is the first book in the Captain Kit Brightling series, and wow, Chloe Neill hits it out of the park yet again! I have to admit that I was a little skeptical as I’m generally not a fan of seafaring books, even in the fantasy genre, but I am a huge fan of Chloe Neill’s other works and decided to give it a try- and boy, am I thankful I did! It’s not vampires but THE BRIGHT AND BREAKING SEA is still darned good!

Kit is a phenomenal heroine! She’s full of spunk and fire and willing to stand up to anyone who dismisses her for being Aligned or female. She’s also very loyal and I love the witty repartee between her and Rian as they navigate both the dangerous waters of the sea and their own building relationship. Rian is a bit of a handful as he has his own ideas about magic, but he does respect Kit’s position and knowledge, even if he disagrees or doubts what it means to be Aligned.

THE BRIGHT AND BREAKING SEA is a fascinating tale, full of adventure, intrigue, humorous bantering, and a hint of romance. History fans will notice the nod towards Napoleonic history in the setting and events, but I love the magical twist Chloe Neill puts on her world-building. I look forward to seeing where Chloe Neill takes things in this alternate history fantasy world! Chloe Neill is a must-read author for me and THE BRIGHT AND BREAKING SEA once again showcases her gift for storytelling.