Tidestep
F.A. Calder
Cauldron Books LC (2026)
ISBN: 978-1971673028
Reviewed by Jennifer Bishop for Reader Views (07/2026)
What would you do if the opportunity for adventure were placed in front of you? Would you take it and try to be worthy of the challenge? In Tidestep: the Water Anchor by F.A. Calder, Zaphiel is given a simple task of delivering a sealed scroll to the leader of another village. However, when he arrives, he finds the village decimated and the leader dead in his home. After opening the scroll to see what was so important about the message, he discovers a stone was stolen from the village and decides to go retrieve the stone to help the village recover. Along the journey, he is joined by a group of individuals who all have their own secrets. As they learn to work together, will they be able to put aside their differences in order to save everyone else? Will they be able to figure out what is really going on with this special stone?
This was such a unique and refreshing new epic fantasy! I really enjoyed the adventure and the new types of humanoid species Calder decided to create for this story. I can see that a lot of thought went into what made each one the way they are, and I’m very excited to get to learn even more in the future books in the series! The main character is Zaphiel; however, we did get to know the other characters in the main party as well through insights into their pasts and thoughts during certain parts of the story. Marek was definitely my favorite, as no matter the circumstance, she always found a reason to smile.
As this is an epic fantasy-style adventure, there is quite a bit of worldbuilding, and it is done so beautifully! There are hints of a previous world through mysterious ruins and cryptic messages from the past that not only pique the interest of the characters but also that of the reader. There is definitely the promise of continuing this exploration in the next book.
Something else that was really refreshing is that there was no romance. The story was strictly focused on people working together and becoming friends through trials and trust. So many books lean on romance to further the story, whereas I know many readers searching for books that fall into this category. I also love that it shows men and women can be friends and work alongside each other without an instant romantic connection. Could there be romance that develops later in the series? Definitely, but it would be more raw and realistic as they all had time to get to know each other beforehand.
Tidestep by F.A. Calder is the first book in the new fantasy series, The Epic Saga of Arthios. There was maybe one curse word in the entire book and no romance. There was some violence, more so described after the fact than in the moment. This is definitely a series to check out! Especially for anyone who appreciates a good epic adventure fantasy!
At a Glance: Epic fantasy adventure. A young messenger sets out to recover a stolen mystical stone after discovering a neighboring village has been destroyed, gathering an unlikely band of allies whose trust is tested along the way. Focuses on friendship, teamwork, and expansive world-building, with mild violence and no romance.
Best for Readers Who Enjoy: epic fantasy, quest adventures, found family, original fantasy races, immersive world-building, magical artifacts, friendship over romance, ensemble casts, clean fantasy, character-driven adventures