Soulgazer - (The Magpie and the Wolf Duology) by Maggie Rapier (Paperback)

About the Book

"With their freedom on the line, a young woman and a rakish pirate take their fate into their own hands as they attempt to find a lost mythical isle with the power to save their entire world. Saoirse yearns to be powerless. Cursed from childhood with a volatile magic, she's managed to imprison it within, living under constant terror that one day it will break free. And it does, changing everything. Horrified at her loss of control, Saoirse's parents offer her hand to the cold and ruthless Stone King. Knowing she'll never survive such a cruel man, Saoirse realizes there is only one path forward...she must break her curse. On the eve of her wedding, Saoirse seeks out the legendary Wolf of the Wild-Faolan, a feral, silver-tongued pirate. He swears to help rid her of the deadly magic, if she'll use it to locate a lost mythical isle first. Crafted by the slaughtered gods, it's the only land that could absorb her power. But Saoirse knows better than to trust a pirate's word. With the wrath of her disgraced father and scorned betrothed chasing them, Saoirse adds one last condition to protect herself: if Faolan wants her on his ship, he'll have to marry her first"--

Book Synopsis

With their freedom on the line, a young woman and a rakish pirate take their fate into their own hands as they attempt to find a lost mythical isle with the power to save their entire world.

Every legend has a beginning.

Saoirse yearns to be powerless. Cursed from childhood with a volatile magic, she's managed to imprison it within, living under constant terror that one day it will break free. And it does, changing everything.

Horrified at her loss of control, Saoirse's parents offer her hand to the cold and ruthless Stone King. Knowing she'll never survive such a cruel man, Saoirse realizes there is only one path forward...she must break her curse.

On the eve of her wedding, Saoirse seeks out the legendary Wolf of the Wild--Faolan, a feral, silver-tongued pirate. He swears to help rid her of the deadly magic if she'll use it to locate a lost mythical isle. Crafted by the slaughtered gods, it's the only land that could absorb her power.

But Saoirse knows better than to trust a pirate's word. With the wrath of her disgraced father and scorned betrothed chasing them, Saoirse adds one last condition to protect herself: if Faolan wants her on his ship, he'll have to marry her first.

"A tale rife with longing, extraordinary tenderness and delicious tension. A glorious escape for the heart and imagination."--Roshani Chokshi, New York Times bestselling author of Last Tale of the Flower Bride

Review Quotes

"Rich in myth and wonder, Soulgazer is a tale rife with longing, extraordinary tenderness and delicious tension. A glorious escape for the heart and imagination."
--Roshani Chokshi, New York Times bestselling author of Last Tale of the Flower Bride

"This book is the kind of romantic that has inspired poets and songwriters for generations--myth and wild magic, ethereal prose, and a love story that hums with tension, yearning, and surprising, exquisite gentleness. Readers who step into this world will swoon, sigh, and dream. Simply, utterly gorgeous."
--Claire Legrand, New York Times bestselling author of Furyborn

"Soulgazer is a masterful debut. A rollicking adventure gives way to tender romance--rendered in prose that will make readers want to highlight every line. Maggie Rapier is ready to make you fall in love."
--New York Times bestselling author Sasha Peyton Smith

"A stunning world of lush magic and tantalizing romance. Every word stuck with me long after I finished!"
--LJ Andrews, USA Today bestselling author of The Broken Kingdoms

"A high-stakes romantic adventure steeped in magic. I loved it!"
--Kristen Ciccarelli, New York Times bestselling author of Heartless Hunter

"Strikingly beautiful and as romantic as the sea itself, this gorgeous fantasy debut has both the lure of a song and the power of a tide."
--Brittany Arena, author of A Dance of Lies

"Soulgazer is the epic pirate romantasy of my dreams. Maggie Rapier's debut combines immersive worldbuilding, heroic adventure, and steamy romance effortlessly. Her poetic prose enhanced every element of the story, bringing it to life with lush metaphors and a dreamy cadence so beautiful I couldn't help but think I was standing next to the characters through every twist and turn. Saoirse's journey of self-discovery and empowerment had me rooting for her from page one. Her serious, sorrowful beginning paired with Faolan's flirtatious banter, storytelling prowess, and tender care for his wife-of-convenience left me swooning. He's a love interest unlike any I've read before, which made him all the more captivating! The chemistry flew off the page and had me racing through the chapters late into the night, desperate to discover how it ended. I cannot wait to read Rapier's next book!"
--​Alexandra Kennington, author of Blood Beneath the Snow

"Rapier's wild-hearted debut embraces rich mythology and thorny generational inheritances. Equal parts ferocious, sensitive, and sexy, Soulgazer will draw you into its hypnotic currents."
--Isabel Agajanian, author of Modern Divination

"Every page brims with fathomless atmosphere and captivating, untethered magic. Deeply romantic and ethereally written, Soulgazer will hook you and leave you desperate for more."
--Kalie Cassidy, author of In the Veins of the Drowning

"Rapier balances the action-packed adventurous story with heartbreaking emotional moments and wonderfully whimsical details. Full of fascinating myth and magic, heart-pounding action, and a tender and sexy romance, Rapier's superb debut offers a delightful pirate romantasy, first in a duology."
--Library Journal (starred review)

"Rapier's spicy debut romantasy sets sail against a Celtic-inspired backdrop, filled with action and enough romantic tension to keep readers guessing about what will happen next."
--Booklist

"The novel is very rich in lore and language, and a very intense amount of longing between the two main characters. Honestly, at one point, I was calling the novel 'the Irish pirate telenovela' because of the deep passion and dramatic yearning. It conjures rich imagery in the voyage - like the sea and its mysterious depths, the way to the isle is a mystery steeped in old folklore and even a song from Saoirse's past. The marriage of convenience transforms on the crossing into an enemies-to-lovers slow-burning romance (emphasis on burn)."
--Fresh Fiction

About the Author

Born in the South with a healthy streak of wanderlust, Maggie Rapier is an incurable romantic who loves nothing more than wordplay and witchcraft--except, perhaps, her sourdough starter. When she's not marketing French antiques or writing about moody girls and sexy pirates, you can find her wandering in the woods with a basket in hand.