Soul of the Sea (Gallisenae Book 1)

A chosen priestess trapped in service to a wrathful goddess. A kind man washed up on her shores. A choice: abandon her post and risk unleashing a deadly tempest or follow her heart and learn for herself how people live, and love, before the whole world drowns.

Suila was born with a moon on her wrist, the mark of the sea goddess’s claim on her life. As one of nine priestesses, Suila possesses rare magic to tame wild seas and heal fatal wounds, but these gifts come at a cost—she can never leave the tiny island where she serves, no matter how much she wants to see the mainland and find the family who was forced to give her up. Her sacred duty is all that keeps the sea from rising and drowning the world.

One night, the duke’s charming son, Rieg, comes ashore seeking aid for his cousin, Bronan. Suila uncovers a stain of dark magic holding Bronan in its thrall—magic that only the gods and their servants should wield. Suila can’t deny her curiosity, nor can she deny the sparks between her and Rieg. So she devises a dangerous plan…

Suila tears out a piece of her soul and leaves it on the island, fooling the sea goddess into believing she’s still upholding her duty while she makes her escape.

But in her quest for freedom, she’ll soon find it’s not just the world she’s putting at risk, but her heart, too.

Soul of the Sea is a lush, folkloric fantasy with an aching slow-burn romance for fans of Rebecca Ross and Juliet Marillier.