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The Kingdom of Crows #4
House of Shifting Tides
Dive into the first standalone spin-off of the bestselling series and Booktok sensation, The Kingdom of Crows. Cathal's story takes place right after the events of House of Striking Oaths and should be read in order.
TWICE UPON A TIME, A PRINCESS FELL IN LOVE WITH A BEAST.
I was reborn with no memory of my previous life and no powers, save for transforming into an aberration most wish eliminated. Among the few who don't wish me dead are the Shabbin Queen, Fallon and her mate Lorcan, and Cathal Báeinach—Fallon’s father and my self-appointed sentry.
Despite my best efforts, I cannot understand why the Crow King’s boorish general has decided to guard me, a woman he can barely stand to look at. I may lack education and be physically unpleasing, but do I deserve such scorn? More importantly, though, if he's repulsed by me, then why stay?
When I suggest he leave, he reminds me that he's one of the most lethal males in the realm. And while he may be that, he's also one of the most infuriating. A male who makes my blood run hot with equal measure irritation and lust.
Why must I be drawn to the brute who loathes me?
And why, when I forge a magical mind link to another male, must I keep hungering for the Crow who�finally—lڳ?
House of Shifting Tides is a spellbinding tale of destiny, found family, and second chance romance, where blood isn’t always thicker than water and where fated love consumes all.
TWICE UPON A TIME, A PRINCESS FELL IN LOVE WITH A BEAST.
I was reborn with no memory of my previous life and no powers, save for transforming into an aberration most wish eliminated. Among the few who don't wish me dead are the Shabbin Queen, Fallon and her mate Lorcan, and Cathal Báeinach—Fallon’s father and my self-appointed sentry.
Despite my best efforts, I cannot understand why the Crow King’s boorish general has decided to guard me, a woman he can barely stand to look at. I may lack education and be physically unpleasing, but do I deserve such scorn? More importantly, though, if he's repulsed by me, then why stay?
When I suggest he leave, he reminds me that he's one of the most lethal males in the realm. And while he may be that, he's also one of the most infuriating. A male who makes my blood run hot with equal measure irritation and lust.
Why must I be drawn to the brute who loathes me?
And why, when I forge a magical mind link to another male, must I keep hungering for the Crow who�finally—lڳ?
House of Shifting Tides is a spellbinding tale of destiny, found family, and second chance romance, where blood isn’t always thicker than water and where fated love consumes all.
461 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 11, 2024
1,509 people are currently reading
19.9k people want to read
About the author
Olivia Wildenstein
61books4,849followersOlivia is a USA Today best-selling author of romantasy. When she’s not swooning over her characters� steamy escapades, or plotting their demise, you can find her sipping wine and crafting her next twisted, romantic masterpiece, all while trying to convince her children and leading man that she loves them more than her laptop.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 269 reviews
December 6, 2024
� 3.45 stars �
“Twice upon a time, a princess fell in love with a beast.�
What to Expect:
� Paranormal Romance
� Fated Mates
� Second Chance Romance
� Shifters
� He Falls First
� Memory Loss
� Betrayal
� Dual POV
This author has a a lot of strengths. She has a wonderful imagination and the main thread of her storylines and her character development always draw me in. She excels at creating that “found family� vibe we all crave and the worlds she creates are worlds I wish I could dive into and get lost in. The physical descriptions of her worlds however, always leave a bit to be desired. I always feel like I am on a movie set with only a few staged rooms. I often feel like I’m missing something - almost like there are deleted scenes. For example, on Shabbe I could only envision a few rooms of a castle, an ocean, and like 6 people until about 60 more showed up out of nowhere at the end. What were those people doing before then and how did she never interact with any of them? I think these are independently published and that may be the root of the problem. I just felt like this needed to be edited and polished a little more to make it great.
Ultimately, I really enjoyed this and I was thrilled to read from another character’s perspective (I can’t stand Fallon who was the MC in the last three books). I have read that the author intends to write a few more books in this series and I will be interested to see which characters she focuses on next. Perhaps Lore & Fallon’s daughter? I think there was a prophecy about her in a previous book which seems like clear foreshadowing. I also enjoyed getting glimpses into Cathal’s thoughts so I was excited to learn that OW plans to continue writing in dual POV. His grumpy protectiveness was so sweet and unwavering. No matter how much it hurt him, he always put Daya’s needs first. 🤍 I was happy to see these beloved characters find resolution and receive the happily ever afters that they deserve.
I can’t claim that this was the best book in the series, but I enjoyed being back in Shabbe and The Kingdom of Crows! This series will always be an instant yes for me. If she writes it, I’ll be reading it. 🐦⬛👑🐉
✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ �
Pre-read: I adore this series but I CANNOT stand Fallon. Soooo excited to read from a different character’s POV!
Cathal better get his happily ever after! 🖤🔪
“Twice upon a time, a princess fell in love with a beast.�
What to Expect:
� Paranormal Romance
� Fated Mates
� Second Chance Romance
� Shifters
� He Falls First
� Memory Loss
� Betrayal
� Dual POV
This author has a a lot of strengths. She has a wonderful imagination and the main thread of her storylines and her character development always draw me in. She excels at creating that “found family� vibe we all crave and the worlds she creates are worlds I wish I could dive into and get lost in. The physical descriptions of her worlds however, always leave a bit to be desired. I always feel like I am on a movie set with only a few staged rooms. I often feel like I’m missing something - almost like there are deleted scenes. For example, on Shabbe I could only envision a few rooms of a castle, an ocean, and like 6 people until about 60 more showed up out of nowhere at the end. What were those people doing before then and how did she never interact with any of them? I think these are independently published and that may be the root of the problem. I just felt like this needed to be edited and polished a little more to make it great.
Ultimately, I really enjoyed this and I was thrilled to read from another character’s perspective (I can’t stand Fallon who was the MC in the last three books). I have read that the author intends to write a few more books in this series and I will be interested to see which characters she focuses on next. Perhaps Lore & Fallon’s daughter? I think there was a prophecy about her in a previous book which seems like clear foreshadowing. I also enjoyed getting glimpses into Cathal’s thoughts so I was excited to learn that OW plans to continue writing in dual POV. His grumpy protectiveness was so sweet and unwavering. No matter how much it hurt him, he always put Daya’s needs first. 🤍 I was happy to see these beloved characters find resolution and receive the happily ever afters that they deserve.
I can’t claim that this was the best book in the series, but I enjoyed being back in Shabbe and The Kingdom of Crows! This series will always be an instant yes for me. If she writes it, I’ll be reading it. 🐦⬛👑🐉
✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ �
Pre-read: I adore this series but I CANNOT stand Fallon. Soooo excited to read from a different character’s POV!
Cathal better get his happily ever after! 🖤🔪
Want to read
June 26, 2023Istg if my manz Cathal doesn’t get his happy ending rn rnnn
March 26, 2025
2.5 stars
It was alright, though not as good as the rest of the series. I mainly read it because I didn’t want to miss any new info before jumping into the 5th book.
It was alright, though not as good as the rest of the series. I mainly read it because I didn’t want to miss any new info before jumping into the 5th book.
July 7, 2024
OMG I was SO EXCITED to jump back into the Kingdom of Crows series and Y'ALL. House of Shifting Tides by @olives21 is SO GOOD 🤌🏼🤌🏼. THIS BOOK is EXACTLY what this series needed. I was getting all the vibes I was obsessed with in House of Pouding Hearts (my favorite of the series) - there's humor, there's SO much s3xual tension, and there's crazy action and angst. Lots of plot lines get tied up neatly which I appreciated, many favorite characters show back up (there's PLENTY of Lore and Fallon), and there are new character additions too. Just all around good fun, and I was so excited to be back in this world!!
I can't go into much detail about the plot since this is the fourth book in the series, but it's pretty well established that this book is about Fallon's mother, Zendaya, and father, Cathal. This book was giving me ALL the star-crossed lovers vibes, which I'm always OBSESSED with 😱. These two KNOW they belong together but circumstances keep them apart, and it's just incredible painful for a while. I love how freaking protective Cathal ends up being - he's more growly and ruthless than Lore 😏. And OMG, despite her awful circumstances, I freaking LOVED Daya. She's a much more mature version of Fallon, and I loved her for it.
Seriously, this series is one of my favorites of all time, and I LOVE that there’s even more to the story! Pretty sure I'll always remember the series that made me fall in love with a crow... and then now I'm in love with ANOTHER crow? I guess I'm just forever in my crow era. Caw caw friends.
I can't go into much detail about the plot since this is the fourth book in the series, but it's pretty well established that this book is about Fallon's mother, Zendaya, and father, Cathal. This book was giving me ALL the star-crossed lovers vibes, which I'm always OBSESSED with 😱. These two KNOW they belong together but circumstances keep them apart, and it's just incredible painful for a while. I love how freaking protective Cathal ends up being - he's more growly and ruthless than Lore 😏. And OMG, despite her awful circumstances, I freaking LOVED Daya. She's a much more mature version of Fallon, and I loved her for it.
Seriously, this series is one of my favorites of all time, and I LOVE that there’s even more to the story! Pretty sure I'll always remember the series that made me fall in love with a crow... and then now I'm in love with ANOTHER crow? I guess I'm just forever in my crow era. Caw caw friends.
December 20, 2024
Should have been a novella.
Zendaya and Cathal's story didn't need to be a whole book. I miss Lorcan and Fallon...
Zendaya and Cathal's story didn't need to be a whole book. I miss Lorcan and Fallon...
October 6, 2024
4.5 Stars
This is an utterly brilliant addition to the series. I adored Cathal and Daya's story and cannot wait for the next book in this series.
It is just full of brilliant characters, romance, spicy scenes, magic and mystery. Utterly fantastic.
Only just not reaching 5 stars as I found the ending a little rushed and wanted to know how a particular fight scene ended and we didn't get that. Still, it is brilliant.
This is an utterly brilliant addition to the series. I adored Cathal and Daya's story and cannot wait for the next book in this series.
It is just full of brilliant characters, romance, spicy scenes, magic and mystery. Utterly fantastic.
Only just not reaching 5 stars as I found the ending a little rushed and wanted to know how a particular fight scene ended and we didn't get that. Still, it is brilliant.
August 29, 2024
Compared to the other books in this series, this was so mid :(
March 7, 2025
Klappentext:
I was reborn with no memory of my previous life and no powers, save for transforming into an aberration most wish eliminated. Among the few who don't wish me dead are my grandmother—the Shabbin Queen—Fallon and her mate Lorcan—the rulers of Luce—and Cathal Báeinach—Fallon’s father and my self-appointed sentry.
Despite my best efforts, I cannot understand why the Crow King’s boorish general has decided to guard me, a woman he can barely stand to look at. I may lack education and be physically unpleasing, but do I deserve such scorn? More importantly, though, if he's repulsed by me, then why stay?
When I suggest he leave, he reminds me that he's one of the most lethal males in the realm. And while he may be that, he's also one of the most infuriating. A male who makes my blood run hot with equal measure irritation and lust.
Why must I be drawn to the brute who loathes me?
And why, when I forge a magical mind link to another male, must I keep hungering for the Crow who—finally—lڳ?
Meinung:
Den 4ten Teil hab ich wieder auf englisch gelesen, da mir die Wartezeit bis zur Übersetzung zu lange dauerte.
Die erste Hälfte war etwas schwierig zu lesen, da Daya die Sprache wieder lernen musste und daher das Buch auch so geschrieben wurde. Grammatikalisch falsches Englisch zu lesen, ist schwieriger als gedacht :)
Aber es wurde von Kapitel zu Kapitel besser. Ich fand es wahnsinnig süß, wie Cathal ihr alles beigebracht hat. Es gab sehr viele Stellen zum laut loslachen, aber auch 1-2 bei denen ich knapp am fremdschämen war :)
Ich fand die Geschichte gelungen und es hat mich gefreut, dass es an den anderen Teilen angeknüpft hat, obwohl es mich störte, dass andere Charaktere im Vordergrund waren.
I was reborn with no memory of my previous life and no powers, save for transforming into an aberration most wish eliminated. Among the few who don't wish me dead are my grandmother—the Shabbin Queen—Fallon and her mate Lorcan—the rulers of Luce—and Cathal Báeinach—Fallon’s father and my self-appointed sentry.
Despite my best efforts, I cannot understand why the Crow King’s boorish general has decided to guard me, a woman he can barely stand to look at. I may lack education and be physically unpleasing, but do I deserve such scorn? More importantly, though, if he's repulsed by me, then why stay?
When I suggest he leave, he reminds me that he's one of the most lethal males in the realm. And while he may be that, he's also one of the most infuriating. A male who makes my blood run hot with equal measure irritation and lust.
Why must I be drawn to the brute who loathes me?
And why, when I forge a magical mind link to another male, must I keep hungering for the Crow who—finally—lڳ?
Meinung:
Den 4ten Teil hab ich wieder auf englisch gelesen, da mir die Wartezeit bis zur Übersetzung zu lange dauerte.
Die erste Hälfte war etwas schwierig zu lesen, da Daya die Sprache wieder lernen musste und daher das Buch auch so geschrieben wurde. Grammatikalisch falsches Englisch zu lesen, ist schwieriger als gedacht :)
Aber es wurde von Kapitel zu Kapitel besser. Ich fand es wahnsinnig süß, wie Cathal ihr alles beigebracht hat. Es gab sehr viele Stellen zum laut loslachen, aber auch 1-2 bei denen ich knapp am fremdschämen war :)
Ich fand die Geschichte gelungen und es hat mich gefreut, dass es an den anderen Teilen angeknüpft hat, obwohl es mich störte, dass andere Charaktere im Vordergrund waren.
Read
September 29, 2023Rooting for cathal 😔✋� it's also kind of funny since cathal means pumpkin in hindi😭
July 12, 2024
Rating: 4.5🌟
Spice: 1.5🌶�
Tropes/Themes:
- Adult fantasy romance
- Book 4 in series
- Second chance romance
- Slowburn romance
- Fated mates
- Protective MMC
- Grumpy x Sunshine vibes
- Tension, angst, and heartbreak 💔
- Witches, Shifters, Fae, Humans
- Deception and betrayals
‘House of Shifting Tides� follows Cathal and Zendaya, who are Fallon’s parents. The main storyline for this book was introduced in Book 3 of the series, but continues and finishes in this book, so I do recommend you read the first three books in the series before diving into this one!
Returning to the world of the Kingdom of Crows series was a joy for me, as it remains one of my favorite series! I was eager to see what would happen with Cathal and Zendaya, especially after the cliffhanger at the end of Book 3, and “House of Shifting Tides� did not disappoint!
The story begins with a transformed Zendaya who has lost memories of her previous life. Watching Zendaya relearn everything was inspiring; her strength truly shines through. Thrust into a conflict-ridden world, she must figure out whether those closest to her are genuine allies or manipulative adversaries. I honestly didn’t know who I could trust, and the author did a great job with building tension and small conflicts between the Zendaya and the new characters introduced.
Moreover, I loved the exploration of Zendaya’s internal struggles, as she questions what her “old� self would do and whether her current self is “good enough.� One of the most heartbreaking part of her journey is her lack of memory of Cathal. I think some instinctual part of her can recognize he is someone important to her, but she is unable to recall anything regarding their past relationship.
Cathal, devastated by their broken mate link (Crows only have one life mate), refuses to give up on Zendaya. He becomes her unofficial grumpy, handsome Crow bodyguard, and is always watching over her. He’s extremely protective of Zendaya (for good reason) ❤️. I love the second chance romance aspect of their story. Their relationship development is intense, filled with so much tension and angst 🔥, with various events in the book attempting to drive them apart. At times, it seemed their relationship might be doomed, but there is a happily-ever-after for this couple!
In this book, we delve deeper into the Shabbans, their world, and customs. They heavily rely on prophecy, with only the Queen able to communicate with the Cauldron. Zendaya, being the true heir to the throne, must prove that she is worthy to rule, as some doubt her status as a “true� Shabban. The background scheming and deceit keep the plot engaging and intriguing.
Fallon and Lore are also featured heavily in this book. Fallon actually plays a significant role, and I loved seeing these two again!
While I enjoyed the book overall, there were a few things I didn’t love. A significant event involving a major character seemed to negate a subplot from previous books, which was disappointing. Additionally, I found it difficult to visualize the Shabban Queendom and its waterways, which made it difficult to follow along with what was happening during the action-packed ending.
Although marketed as a standalone, I believe reading the first three books is essential to fully grasp this one. The main storyline was introduced at the end of Book 3, and unresolved plot points from the first three books of the series, such as the Crows� obsidian curse, are further explored in this book.
Overall, I loved Cathal and Zendaya’s story, and like I say with every book in this series, I can’t wait to read the next one!
Thank you to the author for this ARC. This review contains my honest opinions.
Spice: 1.5🌶�
Tropes/Themes:
- Adult fantasy romance
- Book 4 in series
- Second chance romance
- Slowburn romance
- Fated mates
- Protective MMC
- Grumpy x Sunshine vibes
- Tension, angst, and heartbreak 💔
- Witches, Shifters, Fae, Humans
- Deception and betrayals
‘House of Shifting Tides� follows Cathal and Zendaya, who are Fallon’s parents. The main storyline for this book was introduced in Book 3 of the series, but continues and finishes in this book, so I do recommend you read the first three books in the series before diving into this one!
Returning to the world of the Kingdom of Crows series was a joy for me, as it remains one of my favorite series! I was eager to see what would happen with Cathal and Zendaya, especially after the cliffhanger at the end of Book 3, and “House of Shifting Tides� did not disappoint!
The story begins with a transformed Zendaya who has lost memories of her previous life. Watching Zendaya relearn everything was inspiring; her strength truly shines through. Thrust into a conflict-ridden world, she must figure out whether those closest to her are genuine allies or manipulative adversaries. I honestly didn’t know who I could trust, and the author did a great job with building tension and small conflicts between the Zendaya and the new characters introduced.
Moreover, I loved the exploration of Zendaya’s internal struggles, as she questions what her “old� self would do and whether her current self is “good enough.� One of the most heartbreaking part of her journey is her lack of memory of Cathal. I think some instinctual part of her can recognize he is someone important to her, but she is unable to recall anything regarding their past relationship.
Cathal, devastated by their broken mate link (Crows only have one life mate), refuses to give up on Zendaya. He becomes her unofficial grumpy, handsome Crow bodyguard, and is always watching over her. He’s extremely protective of Zendaya (for good reason) ❤️. I love the second chance romance aspect of their story. Their relationship development is intense, filled with so much tension and angst 🔥, with various events in the book attempting to drive them apart. At times, it seemed their relationship might be doomed, but there is a happily-ever-after for this couple!
In this book, we delve deeper into the Shabbans, their world, and customs. They heavily rely on prophecy, with only the Queen able to communicate with the Cauldron. Zendaya, being the true heir to the throne, must prove that she is worthy to rule, as some doubt her status as a “true� Shabban. The background scheming and deceit keep the plot engaging and intriguing.
Fallon and Lore are also featured heavily in this book. Fallon actually plays a significant role, and I loved seeing these two again!
While I enjoyed the book overall, there were a few things I didn’t love. A significant event involving a major character seemed to negate a subplot from previous books, which was disappointing. Additionally, I found it difficult to visualize the Shabban Queendom and its waterways, which made it difficult to follow along with what was happening during the action-packed ending.
Although marketed as a standalone, I believe reading the first three books is essential to fully grasp this one. The main storyline was introduced at the end of Book 3, and unresolved plot points from the first three books of the series, such as the Crows� obsidian curse, are further explored in this book.
Overall, I loved Cathal and Zendaya’s story, and like I say with every book in this series, I can’t wait to read the next one!
Thank you to the author for this ARC. This review contains my honest opinions.
July 18, 2024
DNF @80%.
Eek, dnf at 80%!
It’s not a bad book, I just got bored.
What I enjoyed:
It was lovely having glimpses of the old fav characters. I loved the tiny snippets of Cathal that we got.
What I didn’t enjoy:
This book for me is just the same old tried and tested formula. Mate. Bond. Love. Can’t be together, will they/won’t they (spoiler, they will, of course they will)
For me there wasn’t enough Cathal. I would have enjoyed more of his pov.
It’s fine. Just a bit old hat. I have a feeling it’s going to be super popular with the die hard fans of this series and I get that.
Three stars because I love this author, but honestly, I’d really love to read something fresh and new from her.
Eek, dnf at 80%!
It’s not a bad book, I just got bored.
What I enjoyed:
It was lovely having glimpses of the old fav characters. I loved the tiny snippets of Cathal that we got.
What I didn’t enjoy:
This book for me is just the same old tried and tested formula. Mate. Bond. Love. Can’t be together, will they/won’t they (spoiler, they will, of course they will)
For me there wasn’t enough Cathal. I would have enjoyed more of his pov.
It’s fine. Just a bit old hat. I have a feeling it’s going to be super popular with the die hard fans of this series and I get that.
Three stars because I love this author, but honestly, I’d really love to read something fresh and new from her.
July 12, 2024
have you ever wondered ‘what if the loch ness monster is hot and sometimes has legs?� bc if so, i have the perfect book for you, my friend.
this is book 4 in a series, and there’s not much i can say about it without giving away a major twist from book 3, so check my reviews for book one here and don’t come back until you’ve finished book 3.
if you, like me, were blown away by the reveal at the end of book 3, then buckle up for a ride when you pick this one up. i’ve been waiting for cathal and zendaya’s story since olivia’s house of rising sands novella, and though this came in a form nobody could have expected, this installment was fun.
i don’t normally love second chance romance stories, but the way this is done is so unique that it makes it more digestible. did you like the movie the vow? with channing tatum and rachel mcadams? because if so, you’ll love this. and while there are some elements of the story that are frustrating � largely, daya’s lack of communicative abilities for the first third, making it a little more difficult to understand what, exactly, is happening from her POV � most of the book is smooth sailing. or should i say smooth swimming.
i won't get into the plot out of an abundance of caution for spoilers, but know that this is one for the romantasy folks, who don’t mind an occasional dabble into monster romance, this is one for existing fans of olivia wildenstein, who don’t mind the occasional creative verbiage choice during spicy moments (nethermouth will live in infamy), and this is especially one for fans who read and loved fallon’s story but wanted more, as house of shifting tides offers some closure and answers on some of the things that her trilogy left unanswered.
ultimately, this was fun, a quick read, with some titillating new developments, and will likely leave you with a new shifter hyperfixation and a fervent urge to book a beach vacation. nothing heals like the sea � unless it’s a sea serpent’s tongue.
if you ever had a formative obsession with the loch ness monster, this is the PERFECT shifter book for you.
this is book 4 in a series, and tells cathal and zendaya's story, both shifters of very different kinds, as they attempt to rekindle the embers of their romance after years of forced distance, new lives, and memory loss.
i don’t normally love second chance romance stories, but the way this is done is so unique that it makes it more digestible. did you like the movie the vow? with channing tatum and rachel mcadams? because if so, you’ll love this. i won't get into the plot out of an abundance of caution for spoilers, but know that this is one for the romantasy folks, who don’t mind an occasional dabble into monster romance, this is one for existing fans of olivia wildenstein, who don’t mind the occasional creative verbiage choice during spicy moments, and this is especially one for fans who read and loved fallon’s story but wanted more, as house of shifting tides offers some closure and answers on some of the things that her trilogy left unanswered.
ultimately, this was fun, a quick read, with some titillating new developments, and will likely leave you with a new shifter hyperfixation and a fervent urge to book a beach vacation. nothing heals like the sea � unless it’s a sea serpent’s tongue.
thank you to olivia wildenstein for the opportunity to read an advance copy!
this is book 4 in a series, and there’s not much i can say about it without giving away a major twist from book 3, so check my reviews for book one here and don’t come back until you’ve finished book 3.
if you, like me, were blown away by the reveal at the end of book 3, then buckle up for a ride when you pick this one up. i’ve been waiting for cathal and zendaya’s story since olivia’s house of rising sands novella, and though this came in a form nobody could have expected, this installment was fun.
i don’t normally love second chance romance stories, but the way this is done is so unique that it makes it more digestible. did you like the movie the vow? with channing tatum and rachel mcadams? because if so, you’ll love this. and while there are some elements of the story that are frustrating � largely, daya’s lack of communicative abilities for the first third, making it a little more difficult to understand what, exactly, is happening from her POV � most of the book is smooth sailing. or should i say smooth swimming.
i won't get into the plot out of an abundance of caution for spoilers, but know that this is one for the romantasy folks, who don’t mind an occasional dabble into monster romance, this is one for existing fans of olivia wildenstein, who don’t mind the occasional creative verbiage choice during spicy moments (nethermouth will live in infamy), and this is especially one for fans who read and loved fallon’s story but wanted more, as house of shifting tides offers some closure and answers on some of the things that her trilogy left unanswered.
ultimately, this was fun, a quick read, with some titillating new developments, and will likely leave you with a new shifter hyperfixation and a fervent urge to book a beach vacation. nothing heals like the sea � unless it’s a sea serpent’s tongue.
if you ever had a formative obsession with the loch ness monster, this is the PERFECT shifter book for you.
this is book 4 in a series, and tells cathal and zendaya's story, both shifters of very different kinds, as they attempt to rekindle the embers of their romance after years of forced distance, new lives, and memory loss.
i don’t normally love second chance romance stories, but the way this is done is so unique that it makes it more digestible. did you like the movie the vow? with channing tatum and rachel mcadams? because if so, you’ll love this. i won't get into the plot out of an abundance of caution for spoilers, but know that this is one for the romantasy folks, who don’t mind an occasional dabble into monster romance, this is one for existing fans of olivia wildenstein, who don’t mind the occasional creative verbiage choice during spicy moments, and this is especially one for fans who read and loved fallon’s story but wanted more, as house of shifting tides offers some closure and answers on some of the things that her trilogy left unanswered.
ultimately, this was fun, a quick read, with some titillating new developments, and will likely leave you with a new shifter hyperfixation and a fervent urge to book a beach vacation. nothing heals like the sea � unless it’s a sea serpent’s tongue.
thank you to olivia wildenstein for the opportunity to read an advance copy!
July 14, 2024
okay umm� maybe this was just me�
I really enjoyed the beginning, but the ending felt rushed and it confused me a little?? maybe i wasn’t paying attention well enough. also it was weird to me that the whole time, zendaya was like “don’t compare me to the old zendaya, im my own person�, just for her to jump on the chance to get her memories back and the very end.
3.5-4 stars just because i love the characters.
I really enjoyed the beginning, but the ending felt rushed and it confused me a little?? maybe i wasn’t paying attention well enough. also it was weird to me that the whole time, zendaya was like “don’t compare me to the old zendaya, im my own person�, just for her to jump on the chance to get her memories back and the very end.
3.5-4 stars just because i love the characters.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 14, 2024
House of Shifting Tides was an emotional and beautiful addition to the . Those we loved and cared for got the HEA we desperately wanted, it wasimpossible not to cry tears of joy. Yet, there are still other stories that need to be told, including ones who we have yet to meet. I absolutely love this world and can’t wait to see what is in store for it down the road! If you adore found family, second chances, and romantasy, this book is a must read!
When ended, we were left in a precarious position. Everything was up in the air. Zendaya was a shifter unlike those that had ever been seen before, and she had no memories of her life. Starting out, we found ourselves just as lost and in the dark as Zendaya. Not only was she trying to figure out her body, but she was struggling to even understand those around her. While there were moments of frustration, we slowly got to watch Zendaya grow. And I loved watching her understand the world around her. Especially when those moments led to me laughing out loud. And that had solely to do with a beautiful crow shifter named Cathal.
Cathal had already captured my heart in the previous books. So, to watch him get accidentally called Daddy Crow and deal with Zendaya and her lack of memories, it was impossible not to feel the gamut of emotions. My heart bled for Cathal and what he lost. And while moments between them felt scorching hot, it was challenging since Zendaya didn’t understand what her actions were doing to Cathal. I loved that we got a few chapters here and there in his POV. Especially since Cathal was protective, loyal, loving, brave and a book boyfriend you can’t help but love!
From the moment Zendaya started thinking of Cathal as her crow, I was elated. Yet they had an insurmountable road in front of them. Not only with each other, but because of the world and turmoil around them. With politics in play, characters you can’t help but hate, and motives unknown, there was a lot going on in this story. But we also got to see so many of our favorites, and those we love! Plus, I loved some of the twists that took place! It made this story impossible to put down. And I have a new favorite side character, but their name won’t be mentioned because of spoilers�. page 284 hugging is your clue if you’ve read this book!
House of Shifting Tide was laced with betrayal, love, bargains, visions, sacrifice, friendship, and some fabulous twists and turns! I couldn’t help but feel everything the characters felt. From frustration, to love, to even crying tears of joy and relief with them later on. This book took us on a wild ride and I’m so thankful Zendaya and Cathal’s story was told! I can't wait to see what happens next in this world!
*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book, provided by the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*
For more of my reviews, please visit:
* * * * * *
I cant my head. “Where I belong, Dádhi Cathal?�
He blinks. Then blinks again. And then he grimaces. “Dádhi?�
“Isn’t that name?�
When ended, we were left in a precarious position. Everything was up in the air. Zendaya was a shifter unlike those that had ever been seen before, and she had no memories of her life. Starting out, we found ourselves just as lost and in the dark as Zendaya. Not only was she trying to figure out her body, but she was struggling to even understand those around her. While there were moments of frustration, we slowly got to watch Zendaya grow. And I loved watching her understand the world around her. Especially when those moments led to me laughing out loud. And that had solely to do with a beautiful crow shifter named Cathal.
I may always belong to her, but in this lifetime, she doesn’t belong to me.
Cathal had already captured my heart in the previous books. So, to watch him get accidentally called Daddy Crow and deal with Zendaya and her lack of memories, it was impossible not to feel the gamut of emotions. My heart bled for Cathal and what he lost. And while moments between them felt scorching hot, it was challenging since Zendaya didn’t understand what her actions were doing to Cathal. I loved that we got a few chapters here and there in his POV. Especially since Cathal was protective, loyal, loving, brave and a book boyfriend you can’t help but love!
Why do I feel so…so…restless? Why do my lids burn and my heart ache? Because I’ve lost my grip on the past, or because I fear the future?
From the moment Zendaya started thinking of Cathal as her crow, I was elated. Yet they had an insurmountable road in front of them. Not only with each other, but because of the world and turmoil around them. With politics in play, characters you can’t help but hate, and motives unknown, there was a lot going on in this story. But we also got to see so many of our favorites, and those we love! Plus, I loved some of the twists that took place! It made this story impossible to put down. And I have a new favorite side character, but their name won’t be mentioned because of spoilers�. page 284 hugging is your clue if you’ve read this book!
His rough hand cups my cheek with the utmost tenderness. “Zendaya of Shabbe, you are and will always be my one and only.�
My chest heats. At first, I think it’s because I must’ve struck another bargain, but when the heat spreads, I realize it doesn’t stem from magic but from how powerfully my heart beats for Cathal.
House of Shifting Tide was laced with betrayal, love, bargains, visions, sacrifice, friendship, and some fabulous twists and turns! I couldn’t help but feel everything the characters felt. From frustration, to love, to even crying tears of joy and relief with them later on. This book took us on a wild ride and I’m so thankful Zendaya and Cathal’s story was told! I can't wait to see what happens next in this world!
*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book, provided by the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*
For more of my reviews, please visit:
* * * * * *
November 25, 2024
I have exclusively listened to The Kingdom of Crows series. The production and narration is absolutely amazing. The narrators themselves do a fantastic job capturing the essence of the characters and feel of the book.
House of Shifting of Shifting Tides is a great addition to the series. Not only do we get to delve into Cathal and Zendaya’s story but we also get to see all our other favorite characters from the previous 3 books.
I honestly wasn’t sure how I was going to feel about Cathal and Deya. Sometimes I have trouble jumping to new characters after having such strong feelings about the “originals� but really I LOVED them. I love the second chance they got together but felt all the feelings when they weren’t sure they would get it. I loved watching Deya really come into herself after being “reborn� and finding her voice. I loved the grumpy protectiveness of Cathal.
If you loved the first three books in this series then don’t hold back read or listen to this one too!
House of Shifting of Shifting Tides is a great addition to the series. Not only do we get to delve into Cathal and Zendaya’s story but we also get to see all our other favorite characters from the previous 3 books.
I honestly wasn’t sure how I was going to feel about Cathal and Deya. Sometimes I have trouble jumping to new characters after having such strong feelings about the “originals� but really I LOVED them. I love the second chance they got together but felt all the feelings when they weren’t sure they would get it. I loved watching Deya really come into herself after being “reborn� and finding her voice. I loved the grumpy protectiveness of Cathal.
If you loved the first three books in this series then don’t hold back read or listen to this one too!
November 23, 2024
3.5 ⭐️ This was a slow read for me but definitely kept my interest enough to finish. It was a nice wrap up from the other books and introduced a cute new romance, I liked it for sure I just didn’t love it.
October 25, 2024
I’ve come to the conclusion that I don’t really care who the main characters are, as long as I get my fair dose of Lorcan. However, Cathal and Daya were good choices to revolve around.
As the fourth book in the series, I love the fact that these characters are established and the reader can enjoy plenty of banter and angst from our unorthodox family of crows and serpents. Cathal and Daya’s love story is both beautiful and painful (for a while). One without memories, one with nothing but memories, and the world seemingly working against them.
As the fourth book in the series, I love the fact that these characters are established and the reader can enjoy plenty of banter and angst from our unorthodox family of crows and serpents. Cathal and Daya’s love story is both beautiful and painful (for a while). One without memories, one with nothing but memories, and the world seemingly working against them.
January 4, 2025
I’m still famished because this book did not eat
July 24, 2024
4.5 ⭐️
1.5 🌶�
Tropes:
- Found Family
- Second Chance Romance
- Fated Mates (with a twist)
- Grumpy, Protective MMC
- Slow Burn
Crow Daddy’s story is here and it does not disappoint! I absolutely adore the grump who is Cathal Báeinach. Yes, he is stern and usually scowling, but he also is protective and caring, and the way he loves truly is the stuff of fairytales.
I have a big soft spot for Zendaya too. Her journey through relearning essentially everything and finding her true self is an emotional roller coaster. She is so strong and such a pure soul, and there are so many challenges she must face as she navigates a world of feelings, prophecies, and politics that she doesn’t understand. And there are so many obstacles she and Cathal must overcome if they are to find their way back to one another.
Things are definitely not all that they seem over on Shabbe. I thought I had it all figured out. And I did figure out a few things, but there were also twists that I did not anticipate - manipulations, betrayals, and surprising allies. I did have issues with the pacing at times, and the ending felt a bit rushed, which kept this from being a 5 star read for me. But it was close. I was rapt, and devoured this book in 2 days. If you’re a fan of Romantasy, found family, fated mates with a twist, second chance romance, and slooow burns, I definitely recommend giving House of Shifting Tides a read!
Note - While House of Shifting Tides is a spin-off, if you haven’t already read the rest of the Kingdom of Crows series, I recommend reading that first to fully understand what’s going on. This book takes place immediately after House of Striking Oaths and should be read in order.
1.5 🌶�
Tropes:
- Found Family
- Second Chance Romance
- Fated Mates (with a twist)
- Grumpy, Protective MMC
- Slow Burn
Crow Daddy’s story is here and it does not disappoint! I absolutely adore the grump who is Cathal Báeinach. Yes, he is stern and usually scowling, but he also is protective and caring, and the way he loves truly is the stuff of fairytales.
I have a big soft spot for Zendaya too. Her journey through relearning essentially everything and finding her true self is an emotional roller coaster. She is so strong and such a pure soul, and there are so many challenges she must face as she navigates a world of feelings, prophecies, and politics that she doesn’t understand. And there are so many obstacles she and Cathal must overcome if they are to find their way back to one another.
Things are definitely not all that they seem over on Shabbe. I thought I had it all figured out. And I did figure out a few things, but there were also twists that I did not anticipate - manipulations, betrayals, and surprising allies. I did have issues with the pacing at times, and the ending felt a bit rushed, which kept this from being a 5 star read for me. But it was close. I was rapt, and devoured this book in 2 days. If you’re a fan of Romantasy, found family, fated mates with a twist, second chance romance, and slooow burns, I definitely recommend giving House of Shifting Tides a read!
Note - While House of Shifting Tides is a spin-off, if you haven’t already read the rest of the Kingdom of Crows series, I recommend reading that first to fully understand what’s going on. This book takes place immediately after House of Striking Oaths and should be read in order.
July 27, 2024
3.7 ⭐️⭐️⭐️ ok so I have some mixed feelings about this for different reasons. I really enjoyed Zendaya. I liked watching her and her innocence live and relearn everything. I liked watching her put things together and come up with reasons why to things and just seeing the world through her fresh eyes. What I didn’t like is how long of a gap there was between this and the 3rd book. I feel like with this kind of story with information overload, many different “languages� so many characters with all kinds of names and powers and races that there was too much time left to forget things. I honestly barely remember any of the side characters. Important things that happened I was trying to piece together and remember but it just wasn’t clicking. And that’s not to say you have to remember everything enjoy this book since I obviously finished and did enjoy it but it definitely took away from it. Another issue for me is I feel like I was missing important pieces of Meriams story. I know in the previous books we kinda get different stories about her but none had just flat out made her the good guy until this book and so now I’m struggling to understand what happened. I don’t think we get a clear enough view of Priyas motivations for doing everything she did but not being the “bad guy� in the end. Honestly I think it would be a better reading experience if you read the first 3 right before this one but I didn’t think I’d need to reread everything since I knew this was a story about Daya and not Lore/Fallon.
December 4, 2024
I've been looking forward to reading this as I've loved this whole series.
It was heartbreaking the way Cathal and Zendaya were separated previously, but after Zendaya's transformation I had no idea how or even if they could reconnect their mate bond and have a second chance together.
With secrets, betrayals, lies, intriguing magic, unexpected twists and of course Zendaya's rebirth and subsequent innocence, this book kept me guessing all the way.
I loved these two, Daya's sense of humour, compassion and determination to learn was exceptional. I loved Cathal, he may be slightly grumpy and cantankerous at times, but his love and loyalty were unwavering, despite what they were put through.
The story perhaps took a bit of time to unfurl, it was slow burn to start with, but took off at a rate of knots once Daya learnt the secrets of her past.
Lots of our beloved and not so beloved characters were part of this, some determined to keep Daya and Cathal apart as well as not wanting the crows curse broken.
Who could be trusted? There were certainly a lot of twists and turns on the way.
I listened to the audio, alongside the ebook. The languages Olivia Wildenstein has created are phenomenal, but reading parts definitely helped as I did miss a few things early on especially. More down to me, probably, forgetting things from the previous books.
The narrators were very good, although the accents when reading the others' words were sometimes not so clear.
I love the world of crows, Shabbins, Fae, serpents and humans and look forward to what comes next
4.25 stars
It was heartbreaking the way Cathal and Zendaya were separated previously, but after Zendaya's transformation I had no idea how or even if they could reconnect their mate bond and have a second chance together.
With secrets, betrayals, lies, intriguing magic, unexpected twists and of course Zendaya's rebirth and subsequent innocence, this book kept me guessing all the way.
I loved these two, Daya's sense of humour, compassion and determination to learn was exceptional. I loved Cathal, he may be slightly grumpy and cantankerous at times, but his love and loyalty were unwavering, despite what they were put through.
The story perhaps took a bit of time to unfurl, it was slow burn to start with, but took off at a rate of knots once Daya learnt the secrets of her past.
Lots of our beloved and not so beloved characters were part of this, some determined to keep Daya and Cathal apart as well as not wanting the crows curse broken.
Who could be trusted? There were certainly a lot of twists and turns on the way.
I listened to the audio, alongside the ebook. The languages Olivia Wildenstein has created are phenomenal, but reading parts definitely helped as I did miss a few things early on especially. More down to me, probably, forgetting things from the previous books.
The narrators were very good, although the accents when reading the others' words were sometimes not so clear.
I love the world of crows, Shabbins, Fae, serpents and humans and look forward to what comes next
4.25 stars
July 12, 2024
Holy Crow what a ride! I loved being back in this world! I am obsessed with this series and this book brought all the greatness I’ve enjoyed over the last three books (and we get another one!!!)!
Daddy Crow was super protective and bristly just the way we like him and Daya really shown! I absolutely devoured and left no crumbs each time I picked it up. I loved having plenty of Fallon, Lore, and the gang, but also fell in love with some new (old) characters. I love a good second chance romance snd it was so fun having it in a fantasy!
The burn was slow, anatomy lessons had, plus we got a S3x Ed session from Cathal and boy did he have to work for it (and edged us on quite a bit). Not super spicy, but just a smidgen for you to enjoy, though the action, twists, and turns kept me well entertained!
Make sure you are up on your vocabulary and House of Striking Oaths (as well as the prequel novella, House of Rising Sands) is fresh in your mind, because things can get a bit confusing with the introduction and re-entry of quite a few characters and three languages. Some I remembered, but I would highly suggest reviewing the glossaries before diving in.
A Thank you so much Olivia for the opportunity to ARC for you again as part of your team. I can’t wait for more!!
Daddy Crow was super protective and bristly just the way we like him and Daya really shown! I absolutely devoured and left no crumbs each time I picked it up. I loved having plenty of Fallon, Lore, and the gang, but also fell in love with some new (old) characters. I love a good second chance romance snd it was so fun having it in a fantasy!
The burn was slow, anatomy lessons had, plus we got a S3x Ed session from Cathal and boy did he have to work for it (and edged us on quite a bit). Not super spicy, but just a smidgen for you to enjoy, though the action, twists, and turns kept me well entertained!
Make sure you are up on your vocabulary and House of Striking Oaths (as well as the prequel novella, House of Rising Sands) is fresh in your mind, because things can get a bit confusing with the introduction and re-entry of quite a few characters and three languages. Some I remembered, but I would highly suggest reviewing the glossaries before diving in.
A Thank you so much Olivia for the opportunity to ARC for you again as part of your team. I can’t wait for more!!
July 24, 2024
4/5�
📖 via KU
House of Shifting Tides
This was probably my most anticipated book of the year with the continuation of the series. I was obsessed with the three books before. I was also devastated that Lore and Fallon’s story was over� but we get such a great continuation of their relationship along with Dahdi Cathal and Zendaya (Mahdi).
I think my love of this series brought my rating up because I felt like even though this book was nearly 500 pages there wasn’t a whole lot happening. It really was character driven. Idc, I love it. The author has such a good way of painting storylines together and building relationships up!
The bonus epilogue of Fallon and Lore’s wedding was a nice little bite for the next book!
📖 via KU
House of Shifting Tides
This was probably my most anticipated book of the year with the continuation of the series. I was obsessed with the three books before. I was also devastated that Lore and Fallon’s story was over� but we get such a great continuation of their relationship along with Dahdi Cathal and Zendaya (Mahdi).
I think my love of this series brought my rating up because I felt like even though this book was nearly 500 pages there wasn’t a whole lot happening. It really was character driven. Idc, I love it. The author has such a good way of painting storylines together and building relationships up!
The bonus epilogue of Fallon and Lore’s wedding was a nice little bite for the next book!
July 14, 2024
I had a perfectly curated tbr for this month. Then this book just popped into existence and I decided to send that tbr to hell (momentarily) and read it before I forgot about more facts from the last three, since I was sure I wasn't going to reread them.
Now I'm glad I read it asap because boy did I forget almost everything about everyone. And by that I mean the myriad of secondary characters this series has. I felt lost so many times I just decided to go with the flow, because I actually like Daya and Cathal. I just don't believe their story got the book they deserved. It was overly complicated plot wise and not complicated enough character wise. In my opinion, things could've been simpler because what should have been the center of absolutely everything is them, and Fallon.
I guess I'll continue with the series because I already know this people and, despite my previous ranting, I'm invested.
Now I'm glad I read it asap because boy did I forget almost everything about everyone. And by that I mean the myriad of secondary characters this series has. I felt lost so many times I just decided to go with the flow, because I actually like Daya and Cathal. I just don't believe their story got the book they deserved. It was overly complicated plot wise and not complicated enough character wise. In my opinion, things could've been simpler because what should have been the center of absolutely everything is them, and Fallon.
I guess I'll continue with the series because I already know this people and, despite my previous ranting, I'm invested.
July 15, 2024
After a really rocky start (most of the story is miscommunication and holding information) it wasn't that bad. It is a wholesome story. Not really adventurous but more romantasy. Nice that everyone gets an happy ending. Everyone gets along, good wins the evil, nobody important dies, the wronged ones get recognized and forgiven etc etc etc. I do like the happiness everyone gets but.. I kinda feel like um is there more? This felt like an long epilogue than actual book in the series.
Also kinda bummed that Daya in the end gets her memories back. Like yay (really I would also want my memories back) but the way she compares her new and old self all the time saying she is different then in the end she isn't.. like what was the point on that...
Also kinda bummed that Daya in the end gets her memories back. Like yay (really I would also want my memories back) but the way she compares her new and old self all the time saying she is different then in the end she isn't.. like what was the point on that...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 9, 2025
4.5
C'était exactement ce a quoi je m'attendais, donc je ne suis pas déçue. Comme le reste de la saga, c'est drôle, un peu malaisant, avec cet univers si bien développé, ces personnages très caricaturaux, ces moments où j'aurais voulu me laver les yeux a la javel...
J'ai passé un super moment, et j'étais très contente de retrouver l'univers.
C'était exactement ce a quoi je m'attendais, donc je ne suis pas déçue. Comme le reste de la saga, c'est drôle, un peu malaisant, avec cet univers si bien développé, ces personnages très caricaturaux, ces moments où j'aurais voulu me laver les yeux a la javel...
J'ai passé un super moment, et j'étais très contente de retrouver l'univers.
July 16, 2024
Best book of the series
August 10, 2024
It was okay. Not my favourite in this series, but nice to have closure.
September 28, 2024
Daya and Cathal, dual POV’s in the continuation of this epic world. Loved the new characters and shifters. Can’t wait to read the next one.
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