MoodReads - Romance Book Discovery

Beta soft launchEvery book’s tags are being checked by hand ✨ some categories are fuller than others while I work through them all ✨

Cover of The Call of the Sea

The Call of the Sea

by Kate Schumacher

🌶️🌶️mild·spoiler·The Grail Cycle #1

Why Read This?

An Arthurian retelling with pirates, mermaids, and fae magic set against a backdrop of religious oppression — where forbidden love blooms on the open sea.

Synopsis

Once, the world was ruled by those with magic in their blood. But once was a long time ago … Ever since magic was outlawed in Kernou, Jenyfer Astolat has been living with a secret that would see her bound to the stake as food for the sea. But when her reckless lies see her married to a man she does not love, Jenyfer has to forget fleeing town — and forget about Ordes Merlyni, the charming pirate who has been helping her wield magic in secret. Arthur Tregarthen never wanted to be a leader, but it’s a duty he can’t escape as the son of the Chif. As he struggles to hide the truth of who he is from his formidable father, a chance meeting with a Magic Wielder reveals secrets from his past that even Arthur didn’t know. When a Witchfinder tricks Jenyfer into revealing her magic, it sets off a chain of events that propel her, Arthur and Ordes into games that have been eons in the making. But now it falls to them to make decisions that will shape the fate of the world… The Call of the Sea is the first book in The Grail Cycle, an epic romantic fantasy reimagining of the Arthurian legends.

At a Glance

3.94 ★ Goodreads
Spice Level🌶️🌶️mild
Endingspoiler
PairingMIXED
Romance Pacingslow burn

Top Tropes

enemies to loversforced proximityslow burn

Mood

atmosphericdarkromanticepicadventurous

Book Details

Goodreads Rating

3.94 ★

Page Count

516 pages

Published

2023

Primary Genre

Fantasy Romance

Pairing

MIXED

POV

Multi-POV

Romance Pacing

Slow Burn

Cliffhanger

spoiler

Audiobook

Available

Yes

Format

Single Narrator

Narrator

Catrin Walker-Booth

Tropes

RomanceMagicActionAngstWorld
Theme Constellation

sign in to see all 8 tropes

Mood & Vibe

Mood

sign in to see writing style, pacing & more

Characters

FMC: witch/mage sign in to unlock

Spice Details 🌶️

Open door but not graphic — passionate tension with burning chemistry that simmers more than it scorches sign in to unlock

sexual assault (brief)domestic abuseviolencedeathbattle scenesreligious persecutionhomophobiareligious zealotry

World & Setting

high fantasy sign in to unlock

Reading Context

book hangover sign in to unlock

Similar Books

Cover of Of Sand and Silk

Of Sand and Silk

Claire Butler

🌶️🌶️·multi-POV
slow burnenemies to lovershidden identity
Cover of The Prince's Poisoned Vow

The Prince's Poisoned Vow

Hailey Turner

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️·multi-POV
hidden identitysecret heir/royaltyslow burn
M
No Cover

The Godslayer

Alina Kramer

🌶️🌶️🌶️·dual POV
enemies to loversfated matescursed love interest
Cover of The Half KingKU

The Half King

Melissa Landers

🌶️🌶️·dual POV
cursed love interestforced proximityhidden identity
M
No Cover

Rowan Blood

Kellen Graves

🌶️🌶️·third person
enemies to loversslow burnforced proximity
Cover of Soulgazer

Soulgazer

Maggie Rapier

🌶️🌶️·first person
marriage of convenienceforced proximityadventure romance
Cover of Scorched Earth

Scorched Earth

Danielle L. Jensen

🌶️🌶️·multi-POV·
slow burnforbidden loveenemies to lovers
Cover of Anastasia

Anastasia

Sophie Lark

🌶️🌶️·dual POV·
enemies to loversslow burnforbidden love

Short Takes

quick 280-character reactions for this book. drop a thought, rate the vibe, keep scrolling.

Sign in to share your take.

Loading...

Book Chat

Talk about The Call of the Sea with other readers