Marin has always belonged on the great blue sea. 

Betrayed by love, she lives and works as a supply runner, sailing from island to island, delivering an array of goods with Perri the sea serpent and Ree the sailor shrub as her crew.

On one of her routine trips to the capital, Alyssium, Marin finds a revolution underway―and her friend Dax in the line of fire. 

What starts as a rescue evolves into a deal: She will keep Dax on as a member of her crew if he pretends to be her boyfriend at the End-of-Harvest Festival back home.

But against her better judgment, Marin finds herself intrigued by his stubbornness, his passion for stories, his charming smile―and realizes that perhaps she isn’t saving him. Maybe it’s the other way around.

My Review

Marin belongs to the sea. It’s where she finds peace, works through her frustrations, and feels most like herself. As she runs from her past, she has sacrificed her one true love because of the controlling fiancé who continues to haunt her memories. The emotional abuse she endured has stolen her confidence and sense of self-worth, and I appreciated that Sarah Beth Durst chose to write about this type of manipulation. It is often minimized, yet it affects so many women in real life. I don’t blame Marin for running, but I also admire that she never forgets her parents or the debt she hopes to repay. Her past has convinced her that love is no longer meant for her.

I loved the quick introductions to the cast. We meet Dax, the composer from Alyssium, Perri, the loyal sea serpent who has rescued Marin more times than she can count, and later Rei, who adds even more charm to the crew. Perri is like an oversized magical pet, roaming the seas while communicating with Marin in his own unique way.

This story runs alongside the events of The Enchanted Greenhouse. Although each book stands alone, this one begins in the past, with the delivery of the librarian’s statue while the Crescent Islands Empire is in turmoil. The interconnected timeline was a fun surprise and made the world feel even richer.

I admire Marin’s strength and independence. She is practical, hardworking, and determined to pay her debts before returning home. Her no-nonsense personality is balanced by a compassionate heart. As her crew grows to include Dax, Rei, a flying cat, and of course Perri, the adventure becomes even more enjoyable.

This book is filled with magical creatures, cozy fantasy elements, and even hints of fake dating. The smaller tropes, like “who hurt you,” “only one bed,” and the growing adventures, made me smile. Marin’s story is rooted in regret, anger, and surviving emotional abuse, while Dax is the definition of a golden retriever hero. His warmth and kindness are the perfect contrast to Marin’s guarded heart.

Like The Spellshop, this story wraps you in a warm hug. It captures that same comforting, whimsical atmosphere while taking readers across the sea. The cats on Marin’s home island of Flicker are absolutely charming, and Marin and Dax’s push-and-pull relationship had me rooting for them from the beginning. Even the forced proximity feels natural because it’s driven by choice rather than circumstance.

The journey itself is one of my favorite parts of the novel. Every stop introduces new magical creatures, from dragons and sentient plants to flying cats. Sarah Beth Durst has such a gift for creating imaginative worlds. While the story is occasionally a bit wordy, I enjoyed Marin’s practical personality, realistic outlook, and often hilarious inner monologue. She worries about nearly everything, making her feel incredibly human despite the magical setting.

Dax and Rei were highlights for me. Dax’s gentle spirit and caring nature shine throughout the story, while Rei brings humor, spontaneity, and cozy moments that brighten every scene.

I also loved seeing familiar characters from previous books make appearances. As Marin’s deadline approaches and Dax continues working on his opus, the tension slowly builds. I appreciated that this remained a clean romance with kisses only.

The ending is bittersweet. Rather than choosing herself, Marin follows her conscience and sacrifices her own happiness to do what she believes is right. While the pacing felt drawn out at times, I enjoyed how the story concluded. The themes of the sea, music, sacrifice, and hope came together beautifully, even if this wasn’t quite as magical for me as The Spellshop. It was still a heartwarming adventure that left me excited to return to this enchanting world.

if you would like to read or listen to Sea of Charms by Sarah Beth Durst, you can find this book on Amazon. As an Amazon associate I earn on qualifying purchases.

If you like this book you may also enjoy books with these tags and categories: Cozy Fantasy, Friends to Lovers, and Adventure.