Gray Seas by Hailey Edwards [Review]

Gray Seas (Black Hat Bureau #8) by Hailey Edwards
Format: ebook
Source: provided for review
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: June 24, 2023

Black Hat Bureau
1. Black Hat, White Witch
2. Black Arts, White Craft
3. Black Truth, White Lies
3.5. Black Soul, White Heart
4. Black Wings, Gray Skies
5. Gray Witch
6. Gray Tidings
7. Gray Court
8. Gray Seas - Paperback | Kindle
9. Gray Days
10. Gray Dawn

Hailey Edwards
| Website | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

After the challenge for the throne of Hael went sideways, Rue expected Stavros to place a bounty on Asa’s head, but she didn’t expect him to pin an even bigger target on her back. Then again, it was her fault he was forced to turn tail and run from the fight during a live broadcast to the entire kingdom. That had to sting his pride. Life would have been so much simpler if only he had been incinerated by her magic along with the rest of the arena.

But simple is one thing Rue’s life has never been. And things keep getting more complicated when a stalker turns to murder, carving messages into the bodies of his victims. With a killer on her trail, she ought to be focused on staying alive, but a hot tip on another case leads her into the bowels of the Black Hat compound, where Rue discovers a world of secrets and lies that just might bring the Bureau crashing to its knees.

Thoughts on Gray Seas: Full on disclaimer: I adore Rue and Asa and all the individuals they've amassed around them, but I am DYING over what Aedan is being forced to endure. I completely understand why he did what he did and I respect that he was trying to protect Rue and it's absolutely killing me that he's in that woman's clutches. *dies and is dead*

Hoo-boy. Enough about Aedan (FOR NOW!), let's get back to Rue and the many MANY balls she's juggling as she works on making a difference in this world and others. Seriously, the lady has SO MUCH she's dealing with. An incomplete list: dead bodies, bombs, more dead bodies, a sentient book that might or might not be slyly influencing her, witches doing their witchy things, a warg BFF who's slightly unhinged in the best way, a (more than) slightly feral response when someone looks at Asa admiringly, crafts that hardcore ship her and Asa as a super power couple, and a whole bunch of people who are looking to her to lead them.

She also has Aedan's sacrifice to deal with. Plus a high maintenance former queen who I DO NOT LIKE. Oh, and there's Asa's father and his cheating, cheater ways. That jerk.

So what does our former black witch do? She recruits from her allies and delegates a few things. Well, she sort of delegates. Let's just say that she's starting to understand that having people around you who you trust is very important in the grand scheme of things. Fortunately for her, she DOES have people she trusts. And her circle of trust is expanding which is really a feat considering how closed off and wary Rue was when we first met her.

A string of bodies, a man trying to impress Rue, black witches, white witches, family connections, and decisions that need to be made. Rue and Asa are working on finding themselves and it's a messy (and slightly blood splattered) journey. The pieces are falling into place, but I'M STILL DYING OVER AEDAN AND WHAT HE'S BEING FORCED TO ENDURE. Poor guy.