Of the Sun and Sea

What comes from the sea calls to the sea…

At only nineteen, Marina Oliver has lost everything. After an accident took her parents’ lives and left her drowning in grief, she finds fleeting comfort in her recurring dreams of ocean waves. But when the waves come for her while she’s awake, Marina falls through the cracks of her world and into Elsudra, a realm torn apart by war and ruled by a dictator who seeks to control the source of its magic.

Elsudrans call it the Omnia, and it has latched onto her. Forced into hiding and harboring a power she neither wants nor understands, Marina fights against her fate, despite being told she should’ve chosen it herself. When she begins showing inclinations toward the Omnia’s power, however, she can’t help but wonder why someone like her—plagued by internal storms and guilt—would’ve been tasked with such an extreme burden. The more she fights for home, the more intense her dreams grow, and with them, looming threats that force her to confront the darkness both around and within her.

Published: April 2025
High/portal fantasy, scifi. New adult. Complete duology omnibus.

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Praise for Of the Sun and Sea

  • “Dense and dramatic yet heartfelt and relatable, Melissa K. Magner’s Of the Sun and Sea is both a beautiful fantasy adventure and a poignant metaphor for grief and mental health.”

    — IndieReader (IR Approved, 5 stars; IRDA Winner, 2025)

  • “An intimate epic, high-stakes, character-driven portal fantasy…Magner relishes Elsudra, investing it with fresh details, weird tech and monsters, and dark secrets. Magner also loves friends discovering each other—and Marina discovering herself, as the novel explores the trauma of loss with rare depth for the genre.”

    — BookLife by Publishers Weekly

  • “Magnificently written...Melissa K. Magner has created an unforgettable female protagonist.”

    — Readers’ Favorite

  • “With powerful representation, layered worldbuilding, and emotional truth, Of the Sun and Sea is a mirror, a challenge, and a bittersweet balm. So worth the read.”

    — Caroline Hurry, Author

  • “An engaging read for anyone who loves beautifully woven narratives filled with depth and emotion.”

    — Lubov Leonvoa, Author

  • “[Marina’s] transformation from a shell of a person consumed by grief to the absolute supernova of a heroine was incredible...I cannot say enough good things about this book.”

    — Kirsten, Reader/Reviewer

  • “Speechless, moved, heartbroken, inspired and much more. [...] This is not a story of a girl who saves a world. It’s a story of a girl who saves herself.”

    — Trisha, Reader/Reviewer

  • “I didn’t expect this story to stay with me the way it has. Of the Sun and Sea is more than just a fantasy, it’s an exploration of loss, identity, and the terrifying beauty of power.”

    — Nathan, Reader/Reviewer

  • “I don't know who gets to pick which books are fantasy classics, but I'd like to nominate this one, please.”

    — Kay, Reader/Reviewer

  • “Melissa Magner is a writer truly coming into her own in this through-the-looking-glass duology of a young woman overcoming grief and discovering her sense of self while embracing her destiny in a far off realm. [...] The story is sweeping, but the characters are fully realized and keep you invested in their journey. The villains are menacing. The heroes are flawed. And the finale is completely satisfying.”

    — Dani, Reader/Reviewer

Immersive Audio

Music is a huge part of my writing process. Listen to the Spotify Playlist to hear songs that inspired the book or dive deeper into the “Signature Songs” list to match the song with scenes and characters.

Signature Songs

Like a cinematic score, this playlist follows the story’s emotional beats, from overarching themes to defining scenes and key characters.

1. A mystical, melancholic theme song

2. Marina and the Delve (Book 1, Ch 3)

3. Looking through the anteactus (Book 1, Ch 21)

4. The darkness beyond (Book 1)

5. At first, there was silence.” (Book 1, Ch 48)

6. The path Marina chooses (Book 1, Ch 48)

7. Returning to the Admares (Book 1, Ch 52)

8. Reckoning of thieves (Book 2, Ch 1)

9. Moving forward (Book 2, Ch 3)

10. A sanctuary beneath the stars (Book 2)

11. A sacrifice (Book 2, Ch 52)

12. “She answered him with names.” (Book 2, Ch 54)

13. “She breathed.” (Book 2, Ch 55)

14. Bells ring, grief lingers (Book 2, Ch 58)

15. Marina’s song

16. Aeric’s song

17. Kieron’s song

18. Pierce’s song

19. Ryder’s song

20. Yolie’s song

21. Ismene’s song

22. Cal’s song

23. Florin’s song

24. Neva’s song

25. Elta’s song

26. Lars’s song

27. Ocot’s song

28. Vaughn’s song

29. Safira’s song

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