An evil queen sits on the throne, and the Seer has seen a curse is coming.

When empath Dylan Blaine is summoned to a gala on the Isle of Selkies, he knows it will likely spell his doom. But you can’t turn down a summons from a seer. His fears are justified when he encounters Lyselle, a sorceress who wants his power for her own.

Selkie heiress Kiah of Lomasi doesn’t know what help she could possibly be in the Seer’s game against the Witch Queen, but then disaster strikes as they’re leaving the gala, and she’s the only one who can save Dylan’s life.

Will Dylan, Kiah, and a handful of others that the Seer has brought together be able to navigate court politics, black magic, assassins, and monsters to keep their country from destruction? Or will the Witch Queen, who’s been sacrificing people with magic to feed her own stolen powers, end them all?

Book 1 of the Seer’s Gambit series.

For all his life, Dylan Blaine has stayed safe by hiding his empath abilities. But he never anticipated an invitation from the Seer. Meanwhile, selkie Princess Kiah also attends the Seer’s dinner in search of solutions for fighting the Witch Queen. Dylan and Kiah must join with allies from other nations and races to prevent disaster from destroying the nation of Barra. Shari Branning’s Sea and Soul begins the Seer’s Gambit series with a breath of fresh sea air in the urban fantasy genre. Branning uses familiar characterizations yet with unique twists for a breezy read full of warmth and adventure.

Best for: Fans of light, adventurous urban fantasy with a side of romance.

Discern: Lightly described violence in a fantasy setting, villains use black magic, lightly described torture scene.