reviews
"This novel marks the arrival of a promising new voice, one unafraid to take risks in both theme and style. With its vivid pacing, compelling dialogue, and fearless engagement with questions of gender, identity, and power, it showcases an author of ambition and talent. While not without its rough edges, the book demonstrates a clear imaginative vision and the ability to capture readers’ attention from the first page to the last."
- Whistler Independent Book Awards Evaluation 
“The only constant in her life was the stars, never failing to shine above her even during the darkest of nights.”
- M. E. Kalous . I was given an advance reader copy in exchange for a review. Dawning of the Sun is the adventurous tale of Sol Vesper, a young woman who joins the crew of a pirate captain in search of mysterious treasure. As she struggles to gain acceptance and respect of her fellow sailors who consider women a curse on the seas, she discovers things about herself which will change her life forever. This story is a fun and adventurous read filled with risky quests, dangerous rogues, and an enemies-to-lovers romance. The writing and the fast pace make for easy reading. Kalous has written a fantasy world which includes mythology and a touch of magic. The story includes a lovely map of the seas and lands, but I would have liked to learn a little bit more about the world the story takes place in. I hope book two contains more world building, as I feel there’s much history and lore to discover from the different islands on this map. The story covers some heavy topics (see my review on the Storygraph for content warnings). I recommend this book to those who enjoy a strong female protagonist, enemies-to-lovers, the “only one bed” trope, and impossible heists and quests. Thank you @m.e.kalous for kindly sending me this ARC. I enjoyed reading Sol’s story and I am curious where the next book will take her! 🐚⚓️ I rated this 3.75 stars on the Storygraph ✨ . This book totally made me want to rewatch the Pirates of the Caribbean movies! I’m in a pirate mood right now, so if you have any recommendations for books about pirates, feel free to drop them! 🏴☠️ 
Dawning of the Sun by M.E. Kalous
Series: The Aeternum Series (Book 1) Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆ Spice: 🌶️ 🌶️.5 | 18+ Genre: Fantasy Release Date: Available Now! ❀ S U M M A R Y Sol Vesper boards her estranged uncle’s pirate ship as she struggles for respect in a world where women are considered a curse on the seas in this adventurous treasure hunting story. M Y ❀ T A K E This one is for all of you pirate lovers out there. There’s a little bit of everything in this story: adventure, action, love, heartbreak, secrets, etc., with a bit of Pirates of the Caribbean humor mixed in. Although there’s a treasure hunt underway, there’s also a gods + goddesses theme hanging in the background throughout the entire book which brings more of a fantastical element into the mix. There are also some romantic moments, but the plot is forefront (which I loved), and boy, is it a good plot. It hooked me right from the beginning and did not let up until the very last page. Sol is a great MFC with a ton of fight in her, and this is a realistic depiction of just how dangerous the life of a woman pirate would truly be. The only thing I’m sad about is having to wait for book 2. Michele - (@m.e.kalous ) - this is a fantastic debut. Thanks for allowing me to read it before it hits the shelves. 🏴☠️ What you get: ✨Secrets ✨Enemies to Lovers ✨Gods + Goddesses ✨Treasure Hunts + Thievery ✨Pirates of the Caribbean vibes What do y’all think? Are you adding to your TBR? 
Dawning of the Sun (The Aeternum Series Book 1) by M.E. Kalous
Genre: Fantasy/action-adventure Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5 This book was such a great time! This is a fast-paced adult fantasy adventure. There is a ton of action throughout the story and a lot happening. This book is very much made for adults as it does have some darker themes and there are some trigger warnings (such as a number scenes with attempted SA). There is some phenomenal world-building in this book, that also includes a lot of fantasy elements to it. If you are into adult fantasy and love pirates than this one is definitely worth checking out! *I received a free advanced copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. 
Thank you @m.e.kalous for such a wonderful story and the opportunity to read it early! If you like Pirates of the Caribbean or the Adventures of Sinbad, this book is definitely for you too!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
⚔️☀️⚓️ If you were OBSESSED with Pirates of the Caribbean as a teen like I was, this one is definitely for you. This is, I would say, a much more realistic take on what it would be like as a woman in a world full of nefarious pirates. Don’t get me wrong, Sol is tough as nails and can handle herself but she finds herself in many dangerous situations simply because she’s a woman. I felt so deeply engrossed in this story because it just felt real. Aside from that I really loved the plot. A classic treasure hunt pirate book with lots of twists and turns. There’s a dash of romance in there as well, which I thoroughly enjoyed (lots of banter and even a “fuck it” moment 😉) I really enjoyed this book and whipped through it because I was always on the edge of my seat ready to find out what happens next. Definitely recommend if you love Pirates of the Caribbean, a badass FMC, and a splash of romance. 
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