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Prince's Tide
Royce’s childhood was anything but calm. As an adult with famous parents, he preferred to live away from the public eye. All he needed was a boat, a crew, and his best friend Pete. That changed when Royce made a mistake that dropped him into the Gulf. Struggling for survival, his rescue isn’t from above, instead it comes from the sea itself in the shape of a legend long thought extinct and relegated to stories.
Fascinated with life above the waterline, Troller happens upon a fishing boat with a lone person on deck. When the sailor falls overboard, he doesn't stop to think about the consequences of rescuing the human. When he comes face to face with Royce. He’s instantly enamored, but his people haven't shown themselves in centuries. Troller swims away, afraid he's risked his people's safety, unable to forget the man he saved.
A year later, Troller uncovers a secret that has his people below the waves. Its knowledge could cost him his life. He swims to the one place he might be safe and arrives on Royce’s boat, naked and exhausted. Their mutual attraction quickly becomes more as they build a life together. When their secrets threaten to separate them, will love and trust be enough to keep them together and alive?
Prince's Tide is a spicy merfolk romance with a HEA. The Mythical Desires Universe is a queer-centric world where myth and legends exist alongside advanced science and technology.315 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 25, 2023
About the author
M.L. Eaden
14 books97 followersM.L.(Mel) Eaden works by day in the tech industry, but at night, she reads books, writes stories, and is an avid board gamer. Originally from the sunflower state, she migrated to one with a lone star for work and sunshine. She has indie-published several books and short stories from the same queer-centric universe. She’s also published several contemporary short stories in anthologies.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
May 8, 2024
“It’s very simple. If you ask me to give up the sea, I will stay with you, Royce.”
Gay Mermans 🤭
Hated Halic.
I hope a shark ate him.
The hair braiding was absolutely adorable. Esp when they did it to each other 🥹
“I could spend the rest of my life helping you take care of your hair.”
I about shit my pants when Royce was telling Troller and the babies to leave him to die. Not uh honey!!! Not after all we've been through.
I cried when Royce and Pete reunited.
This was confusing at times, but I had fun.
ps- The old cover photo is at the end of the book..
It made my heart so happy to finally see them 🥹
No cheating.
No OM.
Pete (Royces bestie) kisses him after seeing Troller and Royce smooch.
He just thought their kiss was hot and wanted to see if maybe he was gay too 😅 He's not.
Gay Mermans 🤭
Hated Halic.
I hope a shark ate him.
The hair braiding was absolutely adorable. Esp when they did it to each other 🥹
“I could spend the rest of my life helping you take care of your hair.”
I about shit my pants when Royce was telling Troller and the babies to leave him to die. Not uh honey!!! Not after all we've been through.
I cried when Royce and Pete reunited.
This was confusing at times, but I had fun.
ps- The old cover photo is at the end of the book..
It made my heart so happy to finally see them 🥹
No cheating.
No OM.
Pete (Royces bestie) kisses him after seeing Troller and Royce smooch.
He just thought their kiss was hot and wanted to see if maybe he was gay too 😅 He's not.
Did Not Finish
May 28, 2023DNF at 25%. The storytelling in this felt simplistic, going into very little detail about the character’s thoughts, feelings, motivations, or personalities. And it was basically instalove, with nothing to explain why the characters felt anything beyond physical attraction.
Did Not Finish
May 30, 2023DNF 50%.
This book had a lot of possibilities, but honestly, i didn't like the writing. To much everywhere at once. There were many plots to follow, and not all of them were explained. Their dialogues were weird, and even the sex scenes felt mewwwww...
This book had a lot of possibilities, but honestly, i didn't like the writing. To much everywhere at once. There were many plots to follow, and not all of them were explained. Their dialogues were weird, and even the sex scenes felt mewwwww...
June 4, 2023
An absolutely wonderful read. It has it all. Fantasy creatures, transformations, :sparkle: the gay :sparkle:, magically advanced technology that allows two people to have children no matter their sex or species, and so much more. The story itself is :chef's kiss:. It is almost an isekai in a kind of way, but both characters get to experience their own version at different parts of the story. I also love how Royce is constantly described as "BIG MAN" and Troller is allowed to be himself, sequin dresses and all.
May 15, 2023
Totally unknown author to me who surprisingly delivered few hours of entertainment with their story. Enthralling fictional world where humans has learned to coexist with a lot of species from myths, legends and lore. It's a world of magic and technology with main focus on the waterfolk. Yes! That's right - the author has created an interesting world building about the history, culture and traditions of mermen. It's a modern MM fairytale about Royce - a human and prince in hiding and Troller - a counselor of waterfolk pod - how they met, fell in love and built life together combining the best of both worlds and tackling all the challenges thrown their way.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 16, 2023
A Joyfully Jay review.
3 stars
Prince’s Tide grabbed my attention from the blurb, as I tend to enjoy mer stories and I was interested to try a new-to-me author in M.L. Eaden. Unfortunately, however, this story really didn’t work for me right from the start and only slightly improved as it went along. On the positive side, Eaden does have some nice world building with regard to the world of the merfolk and, toward the end, we learn some interesting things about their history. I appreciated that the story includes a variety of LGBTQ characters and that diversity is nicely incorporated into the story. We ultimately get to see Royce and Troller bring about some positive change for Troller’s community and there is a nice happy ending for the men and the other side characters.
Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.
3 stars
Prince’s Tide grabbed my attention from the blurb, as I tend to enjoy mer stories and I was interested to try a new-to-me author in M.L. Eaden. Unfortunately, however, this story really didn’t work for me right from the start and only slightly improved as it went along. On the positive side, Eaden does have some nice world building with regard to the world of the merfolk and, toward the end, we learn some interesting things about their history. I appreciated that the story includes a variety of LGBTQ characters and that diversity is nicely incorporated into the story. We ultimately get to see Royce and Troller bring about some positive change for Troller’s community and there is a nice happy ending for the men and the other side characters.
Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.
June 9, 2023
The good
+ Troller's enthusiasm for learning everything about living on the surface
+ Troller shopping for clothes. I love the way he didn't know that humans decided clothing is a gendered thing for some reason, and just picked whatever clothing he liked
+ Royce not giving up on Troller
+ Royce braiding Troller's hair
+ Pete. He's a very good friend
The neutral
o I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. My review remains honest and unbiased
o The writing felt a bit too simplistic sometimes. The text didn't always flow pleasantly, and things were often left unexplained. It made the connection between the main characters at the start of the book and Royce's background feel very surface-level
o Paranormal species were 'out' and everyone knew about magic, but for some reason the existence of the merfolk was a myth and nobody believed Royce when he said he met one of them
The bad
- At some point, I got so sick of the word "vocalized". Royce vocalized. Troller vocalized. All the merfolk vocalized. Everyone fucking vocalized. Aaaargh!
- Royce's father
- The first time they had penetrative sex, Troller didn't know what was going on. Royce just stuck his dick inside without asking and Troller didn't really know what was happening. That's not how consent works, and it was dubcon at best
- They had sex in the same room as where their babies were sleeping. I have no idea if parents actually do this but it sounds like a terrible idea and made me very uncomfortable. Especially because silence spells existed in their universe
- Many things were left open-ended or unexplained. Will there be a sequel to this book? I still have so many questions. Royce was secretly semi-royalty, but what country/region was he a prince of? What was special about their third child? What happened to the bad guy?
Quotes
I liked the story and how sweet Royce and Troller were to each other. I did not really like the way the sexual component of their relationship was handled. I could have done with some actual consent for Troller's first time, and I could have done without the sex in the same room as their kids. However, the world did intrigue me and if there is going to be a sequel I'll probably read it anyway.
+ Troller's enthusiasm for learning everything about living on the surface
+ Troller shopping for clothes. I love the way he didn't know that humans decided clothing is a gendered thing for some reason, and just picked whatever clothing he liked
+ Royce not giving up on Troller
+ Royce braiding Troller's hair
+ Pete. He's a very good friend
The neutral
o I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. My review remains honest and unbiased
o The writing felt a bit too simplistic sometimes. The text didn't always flow pleasantly, and things were often left unexplained. It made the connection between the main characters at the start of the book and Royce's background feel very surface-level
o Paranormal species were 'out' and everyone knew about magic, but for some reason the existence of the merfolk was a myth and nobody believed Royce when he said he met one of them
The bad
- At some point, I got so sick of the word "vocalized". Royce vocalized. Troller vocalized. All the merfolk vocalized. Everyone fucking vocalized. Aaaargh!
- Royce's father
- The first time they had penetrative sex, Troller didn't know what was going on. Royce just stuck his dick inside without asking and Troller didn't really know what was happening. That's not how consent works, and it was dubcon at best
- They had sex in the same room as where their babies were sleeping. I have no idea if parents actually do this but it sounds like a terrible idea and made me very uncomfortable. Especially because silence spells existed in their universe
- Many things were left open-ended or unexplained. Will there be a sequel to this book? I still have so many questions. Royce was secretly semi-royalty, but what country/region was he a prince of? What was special about their third child? What happened to the bad guy?
Quotes
"Pete worked very hard and did intimate things for the pastries," Troller said, with all the sincerity of someone who had become very serious about bread in the last two days.
I liked the story and how sweet Royce and Troller were to each other. I did not really like the way the sexual component of their relationship was handled. I could have done with some actual consent for Troller's first time, and I could have done without the sex in the same room as their kids. However, the world did intrigue me and if there is going to be a sequel I'll probably read it anyway.
July 28, 2026
a very enjoyable mm fantasy romp. lots of characters and worldbuilding almost too much at times. but enjoyable because all's well that ends well for Troller and Royce, their friends, and everyone they meet under the sea. if you like ocean fantasy and MM spice get this book.
May 23, 2023
Lovely fantasy book with merpeople ❤️I loved the sweet love story and the world building! And of course I loved learning how the mermen ‘do it’🔥 🌶️🌶️🌶️
June 28, 2023
Reviewed for Love Bytes – 4.25 hearts
When an accident tossed Royce into the sea, he believed his rescuer was a figment of his imagination. A year later, Royce discovers the fairytale is real. The day Troller rescues Royce from death is the result of his curiosity getting him into trouble. With his life forever changed, he seeks out Royce, and the consequences are far-reaching.
Prince’s Tide is the first in a series of Merfolk Shifter Romances from the Mythical Desires Universe. It is set in the future, when inclusion and acceptance are the norms, and science facilitates that which nature cannot provide, in food, ways of life and procreation. But that message had not reached the merfolk. The story was an engaging tale of love and enlightenment, above and beneath the waves that had vibes of Little Mermaid-meets-Aquaman.
The story is told in the first person from the viewpoints of Troller and Royce. Worldbuilding evolves around the life of a trawler and the pod of Troller’s heritage. Details were in that sweet spot of not too much or too little, which suited my reading tastes. While reading, I experienced a few cases of - ‘hold on. I thought you said XY a few pages back, and now you’re doing Z.’ But the events flowed nicely and didn’t seem forced. By today’s standards, the main protagonists would be in the mid-life age group. However, as this story is set at no specific time in the future, the details suggest that, e.g., forty is the new twenty, but with a heap more experience.
Royce’s love of the sea allows him a normal life away from his famous parents. He is an honorable man with an all-inclusive crew aboard his trawler. This type of world occasionally pops up in writing, and the ‘in-the-future’ developments were an exciting view of what could happen—his tight relationship with his best friend, Pete, made for a lovely arc to the story, too.
Troller is a lovely being from myth. I love how he sees all clothes as befitting all genders, regardless of style. I particularly liked the imagery of a sequined dress aboard the trawler. I also liked how the author wrote about Trollers' learning process from the sea to land – and vice versa. Historically, merfolk were persecuted, and as such, hid themselves away. This had lasting consequences for their race. So, when Troller ventured onto land, he discovered that long-lost abilities returned, which affected the story arc.
Prince’s Tide is different, and I like - different. Among other things, this story has drama/events like magic, transfiguration, manifested abilities, imprisonment, dictatorship, history, and learning. It advertises hope for the future of humanity and its relationship with the earth. However, there were areas where, for me, the story played safe and amicable when I’d have preferred gritty. There were also a couple of loose ends that I’d have liked to see tied up instead of left to, presumably, be dealt with in another book.
This book was provided free in exchange for a fair and honest review for
Love Bytes.
When an accident tossed Royce into the sea, he believed his rescuer was a figment of his imagination. A year later, Royce discovers the fairytale is real. The day Troller rescues Royce from death is the result of his curiosity getting him into trouble. With his life forever changed, he seeks out Royce, and the consequences are far-reaching.
Prince’s Tide is the first in a series of Merfolk Shifter Romances from the Mythical Desires Universe. It is set in the future, when inclusion and acceptance are the norms, and science facilitates that which nature cannot provide, in food, ways of life and procreation. But that message had not reached the merfolk. The story was an engaging tale of love and enlightenment, above and beneath the waves that had vibes of Little Mermaid-meets-Aquaman.
The story is told in the first person from the viewpoints of Troller and Royce. Worldbuilding evolves around the life of a trawler and the pod of Troller’s heritage. Details were in that sweet spot of not too much or too little, which suited my reading tastes. While reading, I experienced a few cases of - ‘hold on. I thought you said XY a few pages back, and now you’re doing Z.’ But the events flowed nicely and didn’t seem forced. By today’s standards, the main protagonists would be in the mid-life age group. However, as this story is set at no specific time in the future, the details suggest that, e.g., forty is the new twenty, but with a heap more experience.
Royce’s love of the sea allows him a normal life away from his famous parents. He is an honorable man with an all-inclusive crew aboard his trawler. This type of world occasionally pops up in writing, and the ‘in-the-future’ developments were an exciting view of what could happen—his tight relationship with his best friend, Pete, made for a lovely arc to the story, too.
Troller is a lovely being from myth. I love how he sees all clothes as befitting all genders, regardless of style. I particularly liked the imagery of a sequined dress aboard the trawler. I also liked how the author wrote about Trollers' learning process from the sea to land – and vice versa. Historically, merfolk were persecuted, and as such, hid themselves away. This had lasting consequences for their race. So, when Troller ventured onto land, he discovered that long-lost abilities returned, which affected the story arc.
Prince’s Tide is different, and I like - different. Among other things, this story has drama/events like magic, transfiguration, manifested abilities, imprisonment, dictatorship, history, and learning. It advertises hope for the future of humanity and its relationship with the earth. However, there were areas where, for me, the story played safe and amicable when I’d have preferred gritty. There were also a couple of loose ends that I’d have liked to see tied up instead of left to, presumably, be dealt with in another book.
This book was provided free in exchange for a fair and honest review for
Love Bytes.
May 22, 2023
This is a solid 3.5 star book. The story was unique and the MCs fairly well-developed. I hadn’t realized this was set in the same world as the author’s St George Chronicles series (which I thoroughly enjoyed!) until I was a bit into the book. I think if I’d put that together sooner I would’ve had an easier time with some of the world building elements.
This was an insta-love story and I was here for it. Troller and Royce were sweet together and it was fun to see their whole story unfold through the book. I do think some sections could’ve been elaborated on and the book turned into a series since the book covers so many years. Also, at times the writing style wasn’t really my cup of tea so it was hard for me to get back into the story each time I started reading agin.
I loved that both Royce and Troller had to learn the others language at some point. They both made big sacrifices for each other and I appreciated so much that it wasn’t always one character making the effort. They 100% deserved/earned the the happily ever 🥰
This was an insta-love story and I was here for it. Troller and Royce were sweet together and it was fun to see their whole story unfold through the book. I do think some sections could’ve been elaborated on and the book turned into a series since the book covers so many years. Also, at times the writing style wasn’t really my cup of tea so it was hard for me to get back into the story each time I started reading agin.
I loved that both Royce and Troller had to learn the others language at some point. They both made big sacrifices for each other and I appreciated so much that it wasn’t always one character making the effort. They 100% deserved/earned the the happily ever 🥰
May 19, 2023
3.5 stars
The author created a unique world and it pulled me in instantly. I enjoyed learning about Water-folks and their traditions.
Royce and Troller were sweet together. Their bond was beautiful and their love warmed my heart. They had to fight to get their HEA but it was totally worth it. Amazing things came their way towards the end.
This was a good read but it felt rushed and sometimes lacked in detail. There were various unanswered questions too which left me hanging.
*I voluntarily read this book. All opinions stated are solely my own and no one else's*
The author created a unique world and it pulled me in instantly. I enjoyed learning about Water-folks and their traditions.
Royce and Troller were sweet together. Their bond was beautiful and their love warmed my heart. They had to fight to get their HEA but it was totally worth it. Amazing things came their way towards the end.
This was a good read but it felt rushed and sometimes lacked in detail. There were various unanswered questions too which left me hanging.
*I voluntarily read this book. All opinions stated are solely my own and no one else's*
May 23, 2023
I was excited to read this story and it was definitely different from other merfolk tales. Royce and Troller were almost like an insta-love story and it was crazy from the very beginning. I liked how the waterfolk as Troller called them, weren’t just human on top but were different shades of colors and had all sorts of fins and sharp teeth. I really enjoyed this story and how Royce helped Troller and his pod defeat the one who was harming them all. The story had sweetness, laughter, heat…lots of heat, love and family. It was a great little story.
May 26, 2023
This book was pretty good, although not consistently well-written. The story has more than a smidge of “inspiration” from Little Mermaid, but really expands on the story in an interesting way. Recommended!
May 24, 2023
His parents are famous but all he wants is a quiet life so he goes to sea with a crew and his best friend. Life is good until an accident throws him into the sea to certain doom but he is rescued by someone who lives in the sea. Life is about to get difficult. What will happen for them? Can love conquer all? See where life will take them
June 21, 2023
Unique, certainly, but... I don't want to say this, being original is not the win all I wish it was.
Because this a Little Mermaid retteling - gay, without the deadline or loosing the voice and consent, ya know, and set in a futuristic but also kind of magical (which makes it more fantasy) world. Or it starts as a retelling. Prince gets tossed. A redhead saves him. That one moment is enough to alter their life. Why not? Well, one year later *record sratch*... yeah, it's one year but the retteling goes on and... I mean, you probably know this story, it's not a spoiler, right? So to put it in more informative terms, it's the uber-modern version of the quite old-fashioned (as in classic fairy-tale as in "it's okay to kiss unconscious young girls so you can marry them") story we know - there's a crew member who uses the pronouns they/them and two men are married with kids that are genetically their kids... the romance, why, the whole story is much smoother. No drama, no angst - the Red learns English faster than kids learn to speak, he is so enchanted by the world around him and makes independent decisions and it's pretty much smooth sailing (pun intended) for a lot reasons and for a long time and this is the part where I'd call "boring!" (do you also hear that word in Homer Simsons voice? I don't even watch the show but... where was I?) normally but alas, the first part was the good part - in my eyes.
Then came the next part. There's no way not to make this a bit spoiler-y so leave if you need to but to keep it vague, the "second" part happens under the sea. And it was so weird. It also suddenly had problems. Why, it had so many problems I didn't like and that weren't being solved it was a surprise I could find it in my to focus on the story. Which was shard.
I never Captained a boat. I never even saw a fishing boat or what it's called. I never saw a mermeid. But reading the first part? I could relate to all those events. I could image and I felt... well, I simply felt because the situation, even in such a subtly different world, was "familiar". Which cannot be said about the second part that was just... alien is probably what I am looking for. The events and the attitude towards them just felt so strange to my mind of an experienced reader. Dragons? Weird aliens? Shifting into a wolf or popping out a baby while not being a cis female? Been there, Read that, can tell you all about it. This was like... like caviar. You know it exists and it kind of makes sense to you if you bend your brain right (or wrong, really) but it's so removed from your life it might as well be on another planet.
A great description of a truly foreign culture that worked well (on paper) thus turned this nice and warm and simple romance into the dead mouse a cat might leave you on your doorstep - you just don't have the heart to tell it you don't want it and... okay, I am stopping the metaphors.
Simply told, I finished the weird portion because I was invested in the first part but it fell pretty flat in the end and I wasn't charmed enough by that one to overweight the overall rating and my feelings on the book.
But if you want to see how mermaids really live complete with raw fish eating, shark sightings and floating to the ceiling then you sure should give this one a try.
Because this a Little Mermaid retteling - gay, without the deadline or loosing the voice and consent, ya know, and set in a futuristic but also kind of magical (which makes it more fantasy) world. Or it starts as a retelling. Prince gets tossed. A redhead saves him. That one moment is enough to alter their life. Why not? Well, one year later *record sratch*... yeah, it's one year but the retteling goes on and... I mean, you probably know this story, it's not a spoiler, right? So to put it in more informative terms, it's the uber-modern version of the quite old-fashioned (as in classic fairy-tale as in "it's okay to kiss unconscious young girls so you can marry them") story we know - there's a crew member who uses the pronouns they/them and two men are married with kids that are genetically their kids... the romance, why, the whole story is much smoother. No drama, no angst - the Red learns English faster than kids learn to speak, he is so enchanted by the world around him and makes independent decisions and it's pretty much smooth sailing (pun intended) for a lot reasons and for a long time and this is the part where I'd call "boring!" (do you also hear that word in Homer Simsons voice? I don't even watch the show but... where was I?) normally but alas, the first part was the good part - in my eyes.
Then came the next part. There's no way not to make this a bit spoiler-y so leave if you need to but to keep it vague, the "second" part happens under the sea. And it was so weird. It also suddenly had problems. Why, it had so many problems I didn't like and that weren't being solved it was a surprise I could find it in my to focus on the story. Which was shard.
I never Captained a boat. I never even saw a fishing boat or what it's called. I never saw a mermeid. But reading the first part? I could relate to all those events. I could image and I felt... well, I simply felt because the situation, even in such a subtly different world, was "familiar". Which cannot be said about the second part that was just... alien is probably what I am looking for. The events and the attitude towards them just felt so strange to my mind of an experienced reader. Dragons? Weird aliens? Shifting into a wolf or popping out a baby while not being a cis female? Been there, Read that, can tell you all about it. This was like... like caviar. You know it exists and it kind of makes sense to you if you bend your brain right (or wrong, really) but it's so removed from your life it might as well be on another planet.
A great description of a truly foreign culture that worked well (on paper) thus turned this nice and warm and simple romance into the dead mouse a cat might leave you on your doorstep - you just don't have the heart to tell it you don't want it and... okay, I am stopping the metaphors.
Simply told, I finished the weird portion because I was invested in the first part but it fell pretty flat in the end and I wasn't charmed enough by that one to overweight the overall rating and my feelings on the book.
But if you want to see how mermaids really live complete with raw fish eating, shark sightings and floating to the ceiling then you sure should give this one a try.
July 9, 2023
Prince's Tide: A Merfolk Shifter Romance by M.L. Eaden is an intriguing blend of gay romance, cozy mystery, and urban fantasy. Set in a contemporary world, the story takes readers on a journey where characters delve into each other's secrets and uncover the underwater lives of the merfolk, also known as waterfolk.
This romance novel offers a high spice and heat level, catering to readers who enjoy steamy encounters on the page. However, it is important to note that the book also explores the theme of teratophilia, which involves intimate relations with fantastical creatures. This unique aspect adds an element of fantasy and the paranormal to the romance, creating a distinctive twist.
In addition to the romance and fantasy elements, Prince's Tide also delves into representation and exploration of gender and orientation. The book introduces a diverse cast of characters and explores their identities within the context of a world inhabited by different species and magic. It touches upon themes such as adoption/guardianship, communication issues due to language barriers, and societal self-isolation, providing depth and complexity to the narrative.
M.L. Eaden's writing style is engaging, allowing readers to immerse themselves in the urban fantasy world that intertwines with the cozy mystery and romance elements. The pacing is well-managed, keeping the story moving forward while balancing the development of the relationships and the unraveling of the mysteries.
Overall, Prince's Tide: A Merfolk Shifter Romance offers a unique reading experience for fans of paranormal romance, particularly those interested in LGBTQ+ representation and exploration of diverse identities. M.L. Eaden's skillful blending of genres and the inclusion of thought-provoking themes make this book a compelling choice for readers seeking a passionate and enchanting tale set in a captivating and imaginative world.
This romance novel offers a high spice and heat level, catering to readers who enjoy steamy encounters on the page. However, it is important to note that the book also explores the theme of teratophilia, which involves intimate relations with fantastical creatures. This unique aspect adds an element of fantasy and the paranormal to the romance, creating a distinctive twist.
In addition to the romance and fantasy elements, Prince's Tide also delves into representation and exploration of gender and orientation. The book introduces a diverse cast of characters and explores their identities within the context of a world inhabited by different species and magic. It touches upon themes such as adoption/guardianship, communication issues due to language barriers, and societal self-isolation, providing depth and complexity to the narrative.
M.L. Eaden's writing style is engaging, allowing readers to immerse themselves in the urban fantasy world that intertwines with the cozy mystery and romance elements. The pacing is well-managed, keeping the story moving forward while balancing the development of the relationships and the unraveling of the mysteries.
Overall, Prince's Tide: A Merfolk Shifter Romance offers a unique reading experience for fans of paranormal romance, particularly those interested in LGBTQ+ representation and exploration of diverse identities. M.L. Eaden's skillful blending of genres and the inclusion of thought-provoking themes make this book a compelling choice for readers seeking a passionate and enchanting tale set in a captivating and imaginative world.
May 24, 2023
Prince’s Tide had me curious from the moment I stumbled upon it. As someone who is always eager to find a new twist on the mermaid lore, this one had me going in with high hopes. While I can see many loving this, it did not fit with my reading tastes.
While the story did have me curious throughout, and it did have me invested with the first couple of chapters, I never felt anything for the characters because of one simple fact. Instalove. I know a lot of people are fine with it – and there are circumstances where I will accept it – yet it did not work for me with this one. It made for some cute moments, yet I wanted to watch things unfold slowly. There was so much potential for things to be explored, yet details simply were. It removed a lot of the enjoyment of this one for me, leaving it a story that never held me as tightly as I had hoped. This is clearly a huge personal preference thing, though, so do not let my dislike of instalove scare you away from the story.
All in all, while this was not for me, I can certainly see why many will be hooked on it.
While the story did have me curious throughout, and it did have me invested with the first couple of chapters, I never felt anything for the characters because of one simple fact. Instalove. I know a lot of people are fine with it – and there are circumstances where I will accept it – yet it did not work for me with this one. It made for some cute moments, yet I wanted to watch things unfold slowly. There was so much potential for things to be explored, yet details simply were. It removed a lot of the enjoyment of this one for me, leaving it a story that never held me as tightly as I had hoped. This is clearly a huge personal preference thing, though, so do not let my dislike of instalove scare you away from the story.
All in all, while this was not for me, I can certainly see why many will be hooked on it.
May 27, 2023
As the child of famous parents, Royce upbringing was not quite ideal. As an adult, he prefers to stay out of the public eye. All he really wants is his fishing boat, a crew and his best friend Pete. All that changes when he falls and is rescued from below. He finds he cannot forget his rescuer. That man is a legend come to life. Troller could not resist saving the man who fell but he is now afraid he has exposed his people to danger. Neither man can forget the other and Troller finds some truths that threaten him, he turns to Royce for help.
This is a beautiful love story. These two fall in love but neither share everything. When Troller is forced to return, Royce knows he will do anything to get him back. The whole mythology and legends of Troller’s people is very well done. Troller with Royce’s help begins to realize his full potential. This was fun to read and at times sad, but it will captivate and charm anyone who reads this. Don’t miss this one. It is part of a series where myths and legends come to life next to modern science and technolocy.
This is a beautiful love story. These two fall in love but neither share everything. When Troller is forced to return, Royce knows he will do anything to get him back. The whole mythology and legends of Troller’s people is very well done. Troller with Royce’s help begins to realize his full potential. This was fun to read and at times sad, but it will captivate and charm anyone who reads this. Don’t miss this one. It is part of a series where myths and legends come to life next to modern science and technolocy.
October 21, 2023
It took me a whole to start on this one by a new to me author.
I was pleasantly surprised by thr world created, magic seems normal and all around, which at the same time threw up some questions on the plotline; how truely hidden the merfolk are/ where and why not find Troller with the help of a spell when he was taken away.
The development of the relation between Royce and Troller and almost insta attraction at their second meet. I love that they where both able to explore both their worlds. The way little ones are intruduced into their life to take care off. The support running both ways with all friends and families. I can understand the time jumps in the storyline, but it wqs aometimes a bit hard to keep clear how mich time had passed. The book flowed well for me however I am left with queations about Halic amd also Benny, I am wo dering what more is in store and if this is the start to a series?.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I was pleasantly surprised by thr world created, magic seems normal and all around, which at the same time threw up some questions on the plotline; how truely hidden the merfolk are/ where and why not find Troller with the help of a spell when he was taken away.
The development of the relation between Royce and Troller and almost insta attraction at their second meet. I love that they where both able to explore both their worlds. The way little ones are intruduced into their life to take care off. The support running both ways with all friends and families. I can understand the time jumps in the storyline, but it wqs aometimes a bit hard to keep clear how mich time had passed. The book flowed well for me however I am left with queations about Halic amd also Benny, I am wo dering what more is in store and if this is the start to a series?.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 17, 2023
The world building definitely shines in this book— there’s so much creatively imagined and interesting detail that weaves together magic, technology, and a variety of interesting adaptations from legends and lore. Troller is an easy character to like: the wonder and care with which he approaches things is lovely. Royce has his moments, more good than bad but he was more of a mixed bag for me, and there were times when I got a bit lost in the temporality (or lack of) in their narrative. Without spoilers, there are definitely aspects of plot and character development that are nascent or just never there, and that makes it easier to feel adrift in the story overall than I think either the characters or world building really deserve. Overall, however, I loved the potential here enough to see past the rough edges: 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 5, 2023
There are a lot of merfolk stories out there so the lore is fairly well known. But what this author does is create a world that managed to suck me in almost right away. I had no trouble following along with the world and the politics and the plot in general.
What didn't work as well for me is the individual character evolution and the romance. I knew they were a good match, I could tell they were growing and learning, but there was some kind of disconnect for me that I didn't expect with how much I liked everything around and underlying them.
I'm interested in coming back for more from this author and world, and since it was my first book by this author, I'm keeping an open mind; I will have hopes for a more solid balance in the next book though.
What didn't work as well for me is the individual character evolution and the romance. I knew they were a good match, I could tell they were growing and learning, but there was some kind of disconnect for me that I didn't expect with how much I liked everything around and underlying them.
I'm interested in coming back for more from this author and world, and since it was my first book by this author, I'm keeping an open mind; I will have hopes for a more solid balance in the next book though.
May 18, 2023
This is a new-to-me author, and I found I really enjoyed the author's story-telling and writing style. I'm not really into insta-love, but I think it worked here. There was a lot of world building, and a lot of information on waterfolk. It was imaginative and well-written. However, there were a few holes I wish would have been filled. I won't mention them due to spoilers. I do think this would have benefited as a duology, since there was so much information and it was such a quick read. The entirety of the book spans several years. I wanted so much more of this world! Overall, a quick, enjoyable, fluffy read. I will be looking foward to reading more books by this author.
June 30, 2023
I’m a big fan of MM romance and fantasy and this book gives you both. The world building is top notch but the character depth and emotion falls a bit flat. There is a TON of time covered in this story and at some points, i felt like i was reading a timeline. This happened, then that, and then this. I feel like if the author split this book at the main conflict point and fleshed out the characters a bit more - it could’ve been that much better. I am curious to see a sequel as I want to know more about Benny, but overall I felt a little lackluster about the writing on this.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 25, 2023
This was actually quite an enchanting read! Royce and Troller are so cute and sweet together. I would say they rescue each other and find love. I enjoyed the simplicity of writing. They had an instant attraction and affection for each other which I found adorable. I really enjoyed the descriptive world of the merfolk. We experience and learn about it with Royce. We also get to experience some merman spicy times too! I would call this a 4.5 read that I rounded up to a 5 because I adored the characters, and I enjoyed the world they lived in.
June 22, 2023
I enjoyed the world this author has created for the merfolk and giving both Royce and Troller the chance to be a hero and save the other's life was a nice addition to the story. I appreciated the fact that while the story covers several years from their first meeting through building a relationship through a threat they must face, the author kept things within a single book. It kept me hooked and reading right along from start to finish.
July 13, 2023
'I kissed Troller’s blushing cheek and smiled. It was a good day. I wanted it to last forever.'
I enjoyed this book. I've loved mermaids/mermen since I was a kid, and I love all kinds of mm romance. So I was excited for a merman/human mm romance. Great world building and characters. I really liked both Troller and Royce and how strongly they connected. I also like the supporting characters. A fun, entrancing read. 4 stars.
I enjoyed this book. I've loved mermaids/mermen since I was a kid, and I love all kinds of mm romance. So I was excited for a merman/human mm romance. Great world building and characters. I really liked both Troller and Royce and how strongly they connected. I also like the supporting characters. A fun, entrancing read. 4 stars.
May 25, 2023
Troller and Royce are very sweet together. This is more of an insta love story. I enjoyed the world building and how the merpeople were portrayed.
Both men have to learn each other's language and work together to achieve their HEA.
This was an enjoyable read but it felt rushed at times.
he story had sweetness, laughter, heat…lots of heat, love and family.
Both men have to learn each other's language and work together to achieve their HEA.
This was an enjoyable read but it felt rushed at times.
he story had sweetness, laughter, heat…lots of heat, love and family.
June 30, 2023
My first book I’ve read by this author and overall i did enjoy it. A good fictional storyline with great characters who did eventually end up with their hea. However I did feel it was rushed in places and lacking in detail but still worth the read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 30, 2023
This was a neat story and the author did a nice job of weaving a story that brings together characters from above with those under the sea. It felt like a bit of a riff on the Little Mermaid with a twist but even so it kept my attention throughout.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
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