Book Review Bloodtide by Sophie Burnham

 This is book 2 in the Ex Romana Series and I ate this one up like Halloween Candy! 

The new cover direction is really really really good.  i just love how each cover is different, but does follow a theme that is slick and sophisticated, just like the series! 

So this is the second installment in this series and I was a little concerned that it might suffer from that second book slump.  I was delightfully surprised.  Bloodtide is more engaging than Sargassa and I had trouble putting this one down, and I REALLY CANNOT WAIT for THE THIRD! 

Going to try to do this with no spoilers - might be a bit tough. 

   In Sargassa we are introduced to a wide cast of characters who are all cogs in the wheel of the never ended Roman Empire. (or did it really never end?) Initially I was a little overwhelmed by the amount of characters, but I will say as I read they swiftly sorted themselves out pretty cleanly.  And the set up- which included the world building- explaining the social order, introducing the players, and the general environment really sets up Bloodtide for super success. 

   In Blood tide, our band of unlikely allies continues to work to try to bring about a more just situation. Everyone has different tasks and is being lead by a mastermind, who has a somewhat tenuous grasp on power.  As they work, underdog hero/ines emerge, relationships are tested, discarded and maybe picked up again.  This is a fairly queer normative novel with many characters involved in several types of relationships. As Covert missions are completed, family tree elements are revealed, and each character must make difficult choices as they move forward in tense, electric environment. 

 I remained true to my favorite character Theo Nix, who is just the most badass of them all, but seems about to be felled by love!

I did receive this book from Astra Publishing House and this is my completely honest review. I did love this book, and I do want to read more from this author, especially in this series. 

STATS

First Published: October 2025

Pages: 368

Available as an Audio Book : Yes

Trigger Warnings:  violence, grief, Weather events,  body injury, food insecurity, classism. 

(this is not a full list, read responsibly)