Fantasy Romance Review: A Winding Wave of Magic by Nicole French

A Winding Wave of Magic by Nicole French

Tides of Power and Heart: My Thoughts on A Winding Wave of Magic

Thank you to BookSirens for providing this e-book and the opportunity to read and review it.

A Winding Wave of Magic by Nicole French

Cassandra Whelan is so close to starting her teaching career when a message interrupts everything. Her grandmother, Penny, died. Penny gave Cassandra the family beach house, centuries-old secrets to protect, and a coveted position on a council. However, Cassandra knows nothing about these items nor the depths of the governing fae world.

Cassandra is fae—a Seer to be exact—yet her powers do not align with her. Constantly misbehaving, this news causes her to jump into freezing bodies of water. Jonathan Lynch, a sorcerer-shifter, saves this girl too many times to count. He slowly creeps into her world, as it was Penny’s final wishes for him to guide her.

Cassandra needs to embark on a journey to avenge her grandmother. Through this, she must learn for become the most powerful Seer of a generation. Each day brings her closer to manifestation and taking her seat at the council, bringing her closer to their secrets.

Spoilers follow! Continue reading if you don’t mind a few plot reveals.

I really loved reading this. When I picked it up, I expected a light, maybe even silly fantasy—but what I got was a richly detailed story with an incredibly crafted world. The beginning pulled me in right away and actually helped pull me out of a reading slump.

Cassandra’s journey, navigating life without her grandmother while uncovering the secrets of the fae world, kept me hooked. Despite the magic, the characters felt genuinely real and grounded. The story constantly amazed me, even if there were a few predictable moments. For example, I was surprised by the fated mates element, but not by the fact that they ended up together.

Rating: 4 / 5