Author name: srishtybhatt

Synopsis Not every fantasy romance needs relentless action to be unforgettable. Between Tides and Thunder shines through its emotional depth, immersive world, and a beautifully patient love story that tugs at your heart leaving a lasting impression.  Between Tides and Thunder follows the story of Princess Mayah of Tundrayn and Prince Zevayr of Arbinj, two rival kingdoms. Their paths collide through an arranged marriage neither of them desired. Bound by generations of animosity, sacrifice and duty, they carry the wounds of a war neither of them started. However, forced proximity compels them to question everything they believed about each other. First Impressions: An Unexpected Surprise  Because this is a standalone, I started it expecting a typical enemies-to-lovers trope. Instead, I was completely unprepared for the twists and turns it took. It kept me on edge while keeping the element of surprise intact. I was swept away by Leena Kazak’s nuanced writing. She adds rich layers to her characters, reminding me of the difficult choices we must make in life – especially when trapped by the expectations of society, culture and our own familial ties. I deeply related with the characters, understood their dilemma, and could clearly see the trauma that shaped them.  Kazak portrays vulnerability through Maya and Zevayr so deeply that you want to weep both with and for them.The story is fast-paced, immersive, and hits you with an unexpected emotional punch. It broke my heart in the most beautiful way. In a crowded market of endless romantasy books churning out everyday, Between Tides And Thunder stands out for its heartwarming tenderness, thoughtful moments and dilemma-bound protagonists who knew each other through generational animosity before they ever knew each other as people. Mayah and Zevayr: The Children Behind the Crowns  Born into royalty, Mayah and Zevayr are two wounded children trapped in adult bodies, overwhelmed by duty, responsibility and the grief of losing those dear to them.Throughout the story, I saw them operating as two individuals sharing the exact same pain, haunted by the echoes of a generational conflict. However, when fate brings them together, they don’t expect to discover that they have both played the villain in the other’s story. This realisation unfolds into a painful epiphany: “As much as I try to hate him, my heart melts the anger away before it crystallizes. Because he knows what it’s like, too. He knows what it’s like to lose someone he loves. He’s not the monster I desperately want him to be. Need him to be. He’s just like me. That’s what makes it so hard to hate him. Because I can’t.” They carried their demons, long before they could carry their kingdoms. Both were expected to be the perfect heirs when they were two grieving souls barely holding up years of anguish and resentment – children who simply needed a warm embrace, a gentle assurance of safety, and the steady guidance to remind them that they do not have to carry the weight of the world all alone.  Love Amidst the Ruins of War Mayah and Zevayr meet at a point in their lives when they have skillfully mastered the art of hiding where it hurts the most. They are two heirs ready to lay down their lives for their people. As the story progresses, we see them witness one another behind their masks of nonchalance and beyond the walls of distrust and anger. They begin to unravel under each other’s kindness, building a foundation of something deep and true.  By witnessing the consequences of war on both the kingdoms– the lives lost, and livelihoods destroyed– they realise they aren’t fighting each other, but rather the same war. Exploring those internal ruins together reveals that they are far more alike than they ever imagined—both kind, deeply caring, and natural givers. “You summoned that rain. Back at the cottage,” I say instead, the words bubbling over. “Why?”He glances at me, then back to the path. His shoulders are stiff.“The same reason you healed the boy, I imagine.”“We’ve taken so much from them. I wanted to give something back.”Heat prickles behind my eyes, my throat cinching tight. In the spaces where resentment and blame once poisoned their hearts, empathy, kindness and understanding take root. This slowly grows into mutual respect and care neither expected to find.  Their lenses shift as their guards come down. They never try to fix each other, instead hold one another through their personal storms. If they bled alone before, they unknowingly begin bleeding for each other. As Mayah starts to see the imprints of war left on Zevayr: “My heart aches for the boy he once was and the man he’s become.” What Didn’t Quite Work for Me I’ll be honest – the final act felt rushed to me. After all that emotional build-up, the resolution tied up a little too neatly. Characters who were meant to be dead suddenly reappear, and conflicts that felt insurmountable resolve with almost convenient ease. It gave me pause – because when you’ve built such a layered, emotionally complex journey, you want the payoff to feel earned, not handed out. That said, here’s the thing: the first 80% of this book is so deeply vulnerable and tender that it still stays with you. Mayah and Zevayr’s healing, their quiet moments of understanding, the way they hold each other through their storms – that is the heart of this book. If you go in knowing the ending leans toward convenient rather than fully earned, you’ll still fall in love with the characters. I certainly did. Would I have loved a few more chapters to sit with the complexity? Absolutely. But do I regret reading it? Not for a second. Final Thoughts: Why This Book Will Stay With You Leena Kazak made it incredibly difficult to choose which parts of the story to quote because there are simply too many vulnerable moments that deserve to be highlighted and wept over!  Despite its rushed ending and a few convenient twists, Between Tides and Thunder is still a