Ada Hughes is the only one who can take care of her brothers from their alcoholic, abusive father. She knows they deserve a future of happiness and is determined to secure it at all costs.
But even the violence that permeates their home doesn’t prepare Ada for the horrors that leap out of mythological books and arrive in their town of Tide Springs.
A novella featuring one of the main characters from the author’s Portuguese fantasy book series, Tides is a portrait of the inner strength that empowers people to stay true to their loved ones even in dire times.
At first, it opens with a considerably broad exploration of Ada’s bond with her brothers, their toxic home environment, and their past. To lose a parent to death and another to the vices of mankind can be extremely tough, and Patricia Morais’ storytelling is heartrending.
I feel that this part of the book is written in a much more persuasive manner than what follows. Here, through the author’s evocative writing, you feel for the Hughes children and wish that they had a better support system.
Although I personally couldn’t understand why Ada chose to remain loyal to their father despite what he put them through, I can agree that people have varying perspectives and priorities.
With the twist that is incorporated mid-way, the threat to the Hughes family changes. It’s an interesting dynamic as Ada now has far more painful battles to fight and that changes her character arc a bit.
After that turning point, I noticed several instances where Ada’s sentiments and actions seemed a little unconvincing. Perhaps if not for the limits of a novella format, those could’ve been developed more naturally.
I liked the fleeting glimpse we get to see of the fantasy world. The novella ends on a promising note that makes you want to read the series and find out what goes on in it.
The one main thing that I wasn’t fond of in Tides is the romance angle that is introduced between Nick and Ada. It felt unnecessary and changed the way I perceived the characters.
On the whole, I wish the rest of Patricia Morais’ works were translated into English. Tides tells an important story of a family destroyed by the actions of a protector.
Note: I received an e-copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
The Life Stories 