Kit Rocha is near the top of my list when I need books that will distract me and feed my soul some hope and joy so that I can go back out into the world. Seriously, if you want to read about community building and mutual aid with a generous helping of queer normativity and sex positivity, Kit Rocha has several different series that will give you that. I pretty much always have a Kit Rocha book open.
Daughter of Tides starts a new duology in the Court of High Dreamers world. Sorin, the Betrayer, has been removed from his Imperial throne. The dreams he stole from his citizens have been released, some twisted into nightmares, and the Court of High Dreamers are trying to help the people survive the chaos. Aleksi, the Lover, and Naia, the Nymph, are sent to Akesia to treat with the Ice Queen, Gwynera. Einar, the Kraken, the immortal pirate, is their ride and their protector. Aleksi is hiding that dying from an injury he suffered in the battle against The Betrayer. Someone else is trying to thwart efforts to build peaceful relations between the High Court and the shattered Empire. There is court intrigue, a hidden history revealed, someone is brought back from the dead, and so much delicious yearning.
I fell in love with Aleksi as a character in Queen of Dreams. During a sword fight, he delivers a lesson on love.
“People make assumptions, you see,” Aleksi said conversationally as Hinrick charged him. He stepped aside, and Hinrick skidded to a stop just before hitting the unseen boundary of their dueling ground. “Love is soft, a tender emotion meant for moonlight and babies’ blankets and a mother’s kiss. They forget…Love can be a blade.” A slice across Hinrick’s cheek. “A cudgel or a shield, harder than tempered steel.” Hinrick feinted and lunged. Aleksi bashed him in the head with the pommel of his sword, driving him back. “Love can heal,” he murmured. “But it can also wound. And it can be a fury that no one who has not yet loved another to the very depths of their soul could ever hope to comprehend.”
Aleksi is capable of exerting hard power, but soft power is his forte. His care, patience, and attention to detail make him a formidable diplomat. They also make him an excellent match maker and he has noted the attraction between Einar and Naia. But has he noticed their attraction to him? Einar is a grumpy, stand-offish sailor. Ballads have been written about his cold heart and his refusal to stay more than a night. But Naia, a powerful, newly born from The Dream, makes him want more than just his ship. Technically there is an age gap, but Naia, full of sunshine, may be new to the world but she has power over the sea, and thousands of years worth of memories.
It is very Kit Rocha to position the embodiment of love and generosity as the antidote to a cruel empire. They did it with Sachiel in Queen of Dreams, and again here with Aleksi. It’s very Kit Rocha for a character who is dying make improving the lives of the people they love better (see also Grey in The Devil You Know). In the worlds of Kit Rocha, caretaking, protecting, and making the world a softer place for everyone is the greatest good. It’s not surprising that Bree and Donna, who write together as Kit Rocha, were named Democracy Heroes for their work raising money for voting rights.
I can’t wait for the second book.
I received this as an advance reader copy from Montlake and NetGalley. My opinions are my own, freely and honestly given.