The Bright and Breaking Sea by Chloe Neill – a Review

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Description:
Kit Brightling, rescued as a foundling and raised in a home for talented girls, has worked hard to rise through the ranks of the Isles’ Crown Command and become one of the few female captains in Queen Charlotte’s fleet. Her ship is small, but she’s fast–in part because of Kit’s magical affinity to the sea. But the waters become perilous when the queen sends Kit on a special mission with a partner she never asked for.

Rian Grant, Viscount Queenscliffe, may be a veteran of the Continental war, but Kit doesn’t know him or his motives–and she’s dealt with one too many members of the Beau Monde. But Kit has her orders, and the queen has commanded they journey to a dangerous pirate quay and rescue a spy who’s been gathering intelligence on the exiled emperor of Gallia.

Kit can lead her ship and clever crew on her own, but with the fate of queen and country at stake, Kit and Rian must learn to trust each other, or else the Isles will fall….

Review:

The Bright and Breaking Sea by Chloe Neill is the first book in her new Captain Kit Brightling series.  I always enjoy Chloe Neill’s books, but wasn’t sure about this new seafaring fantasy series.  WOW I totally loved the book and can’t wait for more about our wonderful heroine, Kit.  I enjoyed this wonderful story from start to finish, and absolutely loved Kit, Grant and all the secondary characters that Neill created.  It did not take long to read this book, as I could not put it down.

Kit Brightling, our heroine, is one of the few female captains for the Queen’s fleet.  Kit, who has a magical affinity to the sea, and is only in her mid-twenties, has risen up quickly through the ranks of the Isles’ Crown Command, and has gained much respect from the Queen, and especially her magnificent crew.  She has successfully completed all her assigned missions, even though her ship, Diana is small, but it is the fastest ship.  Kit has such a fantastic crew, especially her top people, who were totally loyal to her. 

Upon completion of her assignment, Kit is surprised to be called to see the Queen.  She learns that the exiled emperor of the previous victorious war, is secretly getting help to plan a revolt.  Seems there is a traitor in the Crown Command, as one of their best undercover agents has been kidnapped, and the Queen wants Kit to find a way to rescue the agent, as well as find the traitor.  But she is told that someone else will go this dangerous mission with her, and she isn’t too happy about that.

Colonel Rian Grant, Viscount Queenscliffe, is a former soldier and veteran of the previous war; and because the missing agent is a respected friend, he agrees to join the mission.  Rian may be a veteran of the wars, but he too is not thrilled to be sharing the mission with Kit, whose crew and ship will be used. The start of this mission pits Kit and Rian constantly sniping at each other, and their banter was fun to watch.  Rian feels his experience should allow him to lead, but he will learn quickly that Kit is a master at what she does, and her alignment to the sea is a definite plus, not to mention how her crew respects and adores her.  In a short time, Rian will see Kit in a different life, especially when she puts her own life in danger to rescue one of her crew members.  He not only begins to respect her decisions, but finds himself slowly falling for her.  The chemistry between them though slow burn, was flirty, fun and sassy.  But the knowledge that he is a viscount and she is a captain destined to be at sea, keeps them at a forced distance. 

What follows is a wonderful exciting tense adventure, where Kit and Rian work together to find the traitor, as well as stop the exiled emperor from regaining his power; the Queen will send them both on another mission that is also dangerous. The more time they spent and work together, the more they learn to respect each other.  I totally loved them together, and cannot wait to see what Neill has in store for them in future books.

The Bright and Breaking Sea was a wonderful magical world created by Neill, filled with two great heroes, fabulous secondary characters, exciting adventures, seafaring escapades, pirates, and a budding romance.  I for one look forward to the next book in this series, so very well written by Chloe Neill.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher