Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Tressa at Wishful Endings to spotlight and discuss the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they are books that have yet to be released. The meme is based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.
This week I'm highlighting Dance of the Starlit Sea by Kiana Krystle.
From Goodreads: Lila Rose Li arrives at her aunt’s cottage with dashed dreams. For years, she pushed herself to become the perfect ballerina her parents would approve of, but after collapsing on stage, she snapped and lashed out violently. Now, exiled to Luna Island, with its sparkling blue waters and rose-covered boutiques, Lila struggles to believe that a girl like her—a natural disaster—deserves good and gentle things.
As the islanders gear up for their beloved tradition, the Angel of the Sea pageant, Lila vows to remain on the sidelines. But the more she learns about the island’s lore, the more she grows suspicious. Luna Island was nothing more than a failed fishing village before angels supposedly came and blessed them with abundance. The pageant is a competition to seek a High Priestess for their commune. To win is to be loved and adored by all, the ultimate blessing.
However, the Angel of the Sea is supposed to reign for seven years, and the previous winner only reigned for one. Something is haunting the island, throwing off the balance the pageant ensures. And as an eerie voice calls to Lila, drawing her closer to the ocean—to its depths—she worries its haunting her, too. The only way to discover what’s really going on, and protect herself, is to win the pageant. But how can a monstrous girl like her ever hope to be crowned by angels?
Kiana Krystle's enchanting debut simmers with forbidden romance and dark secrets. A lush and sinister blend of paranormal mystery and mythology, wrapped up in fairytale about a teen girl's hard-earned journey toward loving every part of herself.
I will admit that I'm mainly intrigued by that beautiful cover. I remember back when books about angels were all the rage 10-15 years ago, and this is definitely giving me flashbacks to my younger years. The early reviews for this book have been extremely mixed, with some describing it as a 'pastel horror' book. That only makes me more interested in reading it. Sure, it might not be a 5-star read, but I feel like I need some pastel horror in my life, so I'll give it a chance all the same.
Dance of the Starlit Sea will be released on August 6, 2024.
Check out the early reviews on Goodreads, or preorder the book at Amazon US / Amazon UK / Blackwells
I love this cover and can see why you want to read it!
ReplyDelete