📖 Synopsis
Of Mountains and Seas is not just another fantasy novel—it’s a multi-generational tale of shapeshifters, stolen magic, and the heavy cost of ambition. Davis, born powerless into a family where magic means everything, struggles to win his father’s approval. Iris, battling a mysterious illness, is desperate to carve her own destiny. Together, their paths collide in Yuras, an otherwise quiet Californian town hiding a cave of stones that can transfer magic from one being to another.
But with power comes consequences. Nivi, a local drawn into their discovery, sets off a dangerous chain reaction of betrayal, secrets, and revelations. Told across multiple POVs and timelines, this book blends Chinese mythology, political intrigue, morally gray choices, and the question we’ve all asked: how far would you go to change your fate?
✍️ Detailed Review
Emily Renk Hawthorne delivers a fresh, ambitious fantasy with Of Mountains and Seas. This isn’t a book that holds your hand—it asks you to pay attention, connect the threads across shifting perspectives, and sit in the gray morality of each character.
What stood out most for me:
- The mythology – Instead of defaulting to the usual European-inspired fantasy tropes, Hawthorne leans into Chinese mythological roots, especially in how shapeshifting and power are treated as cultural and spiritual inheritances.
- The morally gray cast – Nobody here is all good or all evil. Davis is desperate, Iris is flawed but compelling, and Nivi embodies both innocence and ambition.
- Multiple timelines – This gave the book an epic feel, spanning generations while tying together family trauma, ambition, and survival.
- The themes – Abuse, generational trauma, identity, and the desperation for belonging are written with raw honesty.
It’s dark at times (see the trigger warnings), but it’s also deeply human. No spice, no gratuitous romance—just a layered story about power and its cost.
👩 About the Author
Emily Renk Hawthorne (@emilyrenkhawthorne) writes diverse, emotionally charged fantasy with strong cultural grounding. Her cast of BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ characters makes Of Mountains and Seas a standout in modern fantasy, bridging inclusivity with compelling storytelling.
🔥 Spice Rating
🌶️ 0/5
This is a no-spice book. The emotional intensity is high, but there’s no romance heat or explicit language. Perfect for readers who prefer rich worldbuilding and character depth without romance at the forefront.
📚 Books Similar to Of Mountains and Seas
If you loved this, you’ll enjoy:
- Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan (mythology + generational sacrifice)
- She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan (political intrigue + morally gray leads)
- The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang (dark themes + layered history)
- The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh (mythology + magic tied to destiny)
🎲 Interactive Section
✨ Quiz: Which Of Mountains and Seas Character Are You?
- When faced with a problem, you:
- A) Try to prove yourself, no matter the cost.
- B) Use wit and ambition to find a way around it.
- C) Keep secrets until the time is right.
- D) Search for balance, even if it means sacrifice.
- What motivates you most?
- A) Earning respect and love.
- B) Overcoming personal limits.
- C) Protecting your community.
- D) Gaining freedom and control.
- If you found the magic-transferring stones, you would:
- A) Use them immediately to gain power.
- B) Study them and learn their history.
- C) Keep them hidden.
- D) Bargain with them for leverage.
Mostly A’s → Davis: Flawed, determined, desperate to prove yourself.
Mostly B’s → Iris: Ambitious dreamer with hidden vulnerabilities.
Mostly C’s → Nivi: Quiet strength, caught in fate’s web.
Mostly D’s → The Villains: Power-hungry, cunning, always playing the long game.
💬 Book Club Questions
- Do you think Davis’s desire for approval justified his actions?
- How do the timelines add depth to the story?
- What do you think the novel says about power—earned vs. stolen?
- Did you sympathize more with Iris or Nivi, and why?
🕹️ Quick Game – Steal or Protect?
Imagine you discover the cave with the magic-transferring stones. Do you:
- 🔥 Steal the magic to finally become who you’ve always dreamed of being?
- 🌊 Protect the stones, knowing the destruction they could bring?
Drop your choice in the comments—let’s see which side readers fall on!
💡 Why You Should Get a Copy
Because Of Mountains and Seas is exactly the kind of fantasy the genre needs more of—diverse, mythologically rich, morally layered, and unafraid to tackle uncomfortable truths. If you want to be swept into a world where power has consequences and characters blur the lines of good and evil, this is a must-read.
👉 Grab your copy on Amazon today. Support diverse authors. And if you love indie fantasy, this belongs on your shelf.
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Final Thoughts
Emily Renk Hawthorne has announced herself as a powerful new voice in fantasy with Of Mountains and Seas. This is a novel that lingers in your mind, begging to be revisited and discussed. It’s ambitious, heartbreaking, and utterly absorbing.
If you love shapeshifters, myth-inspired fantasy, morally gray characters, and stories that refuse to give you easy answers, this book is for you.
⭐ 5/5 stars. Easily one of my top reads of 2025 so far.
Suggested For Fans Of:
- Sue Lynn Tan (Daughter of the Moon Goddess)
- R.F. Kuang (The Poppy War)
- Andrea Stewart (The Bone Shard Daughter)
- Shelley Parker-Chan (She Who Became the Sun)
Why You Should Read It
Because stories like this remind us that fantasy isn’t just about magic—it’s about what we’re willing to risk for it. It’s about humanity, ambition, and survival. And it’s about asking ourselves: If given the chance to rewrite our fate, what would we sacrifice to take it?
Reading Caffeinated 