Sea of Strangers is the second book in The Ryogan Chronicles by Erica Cameron. This second book is what you would expect from a middle novel: filled with fast-paced adventure. With danger lurking at every turn and racing against time, this book was filled with high stakes and an immense plot.
This is the second book in The Ryogan Chronicles, so if you would like to read my review of the first book, Island of Exiles, please click here.
Summary, via GoodReads
The only way for Khya to get her brother back alive is to kill Varan—the immortal ruler who can’t be killed. But not even Varan knew what he was doing when he perverted magic and humanity to become immortal.
Khya’s leading her group of friends and rebels into the mountains that hold Varan’s secrets, but if risking all their lives is going to be worth it, she has to give up everything else—breaking the spell that holds her brother captive and jeopardizing her deepening relationship with Tessen, the boy who has been by turns her rival and refuge since her brother disappeared. Immortality itself might be her only answer, but if that’s where Khya has to go, she can’t ask Tessen or her friends to follow.
Overall Review
I thought the plot was very exciting! I was on the edge of my seat page with every page turn. I was constantly wanting to know what was going to happen next. With such high stakes, it was a constant battle of who to trust, where to go, and how to solve their problems.
The characters were amazing! The cast of characters from the first book were ever present, and I thought Erica Cameron did a wonderful job of balancing everyone out. I especially loved a new character introduced in this book, named Lo’a! Seeing the characters we already knew learn new cultures and a new language was a breath of fresh air. The Itagamin’s are accustomed to a land where everyone gets rations and the group above self, which is a big change when they go to Ryogo. Exploring this was fantastic!
The world building was also beautiful. I loved reading the characters from Shiara exploring the snow filled areas of Ryogo. Their reactions to the cold were hilarious and added a level of humor amidst the troubles they were traipsing through. Beyond that little bit, the world was immaculate. Learning how big the world truly is was another great read.
The attention to detail was stunning. From the Itagimin, Dehitran, and Ryogan languages all the way to the cultural differences between each group… it was spectacular. The world was so immersive because of these reasons, making this read so fantastic. I loved that glossary at the beginning of the book, which helped with some of the character names and common words in the different languages.
TL;DR (too long; didn’t read)
Exciting plot, amazing characters, beautiful world building, and stunning attention to detail. Erica Cameron truly crafted a spectacular book!
RATING:
5/5 Stars
Makayla Sophia 