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Scales Like Stars #1
Scales Like Stars
“I never once pitied you,” Kade said quietly.
Liam swallowed. “Then why?”
“Because you’re you. Do I need more of a reason than that?”
After the death of his parents and the loss of his job, a walk along the cliffs should have cleared Liam's thoughts. Instead, an accident sends him tumbling into the ocean...and into the arms of a merman.
To make things worse, his savior is not just any merman, but Kade — the boy he fell in love with a decade ago, only to get ditched unceremoniously after their first kiss.
Kade is dealing with terrifying discoveries: their reef is dying, and their Elder, a leader to their people, has disappeared. Not only that, but strange, violent occurrences begin plaguing their underwater home of Promeiya. The unexpected arrival of a human man he still desires makes everything far more complicated. Especially when Liam is turned into a merman by forces neither of them understands.
Liam is unable to turn back into a human, and the two of them have no choice but to work together. But will they be able to overcome the mistakes from the past before they lose not just each other, but their lives?
SCALES LIKE STARS is an adult, M/M contemporary fantasy romance novel. For content guidelines, please refer to the author’s website. It is the first book in a series and ends with an HFN (happily for now.) Tropes you can expect in this book: second chance romance, best friends to lovers, fated mates, forced proximity.
Liam swallowed. “Then why?”
“Because you’re you. Do I need more of a reason than that?”
After the death of his parents and the loss of his job, a walk along the cliffs should have cleared Liam's thoughts. Instead, an accident sends him tumbling into the ocean...and into the arms of a merman.
To make things worse, his savior is not just any merman, but Kade — the boy he fell in love with a decade ago, only to get ditched unceremoniously after their first kiss.
Kade is dealing with terrifying discoveries: their reef is dying, and their Elder, a leader to their people, has disappeared. Not only that, but strange, violent occurrences begin plaguing their underwater home of Promeiya. The unexpected arrival of a human man he still desires makes everything far more complicated. Especially when Liam is turned into a merman by forces neither of them understands.
Liam is unable to turn back into a human, and the two of them have no choice but to work together. But will they be able to overcome the mistakes from the past before they lose not just each other, but their lives?
SCALES LIKE STARS is an adult, M/M contemporary fantasy romance novel. For content guidelines, please refer to the author’s website. It is the first book in a series and ends with an HFN (happily for now.) Tropes you can expect in this book: second chance romance, best friends to lovers, fated mates, forced proximity.
324 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 15, 2021
40 people are currently reading
396 people want to read
About the author
D.J. Russo
18 books197 followersAmerican author living in the Netherlands.
Keep up to date with everything I'm working on!
https://authordjrusso.carrd.co/
Keep up to date with everything I'm working on!
https://authordjrusso.carrd.co/
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
May 3, 2024
What an amazing story! I'm a sucker for intricate world-building, and here it is so superbly done I am now convinced Lyrica is real and I crave to visit! The main characters are so cute together. The intimate scenes are both hot and impactful because when they happen, you are emotionally invested in the characters. In fact, the writing style makes it impossible for you not to be invested in everything that happens. It's that good! The secondary characters are great too, so I can't wait to see them again in the next book!
April 25, 2023
This was a really pretty book that had a lot to say, and I am honestly so psyched to see where the next one leads! Russo has crafted a really unique mer-world that we get to see a lot of in this series intro. Liam and Kade are both uber goobers who are completely adorable idiots who I loved even as I was screaming at them to just COMMUNICATE for dick's sake. Not in a miscommunication trope way though--in a "we both have trauma and are too squishy and feelings are hard" kind of a way, which is much better.
I will say that this almost reads more like a fantasy adventure with romantic elements than the other way around, but I'm demisexual myself (yay for demi rep in this book!) and not feeling tons of spice in the books I read lately so this didn't bother me at all! The spice that was there felt earned and was pretty hot 😏 I'm a sucker for when the littler partner tops 🙌🏻 Instead I got treated to something that felt like if The Little Mermaid was allowed to return to its queer roots and was also injected with commentary about community and the negative impact of humanity on the environment.
I will say that this almost reads more like a fantasy adventure with romantic elements than the other way around, but I'm demisexual myself (yay for demi rep in this book!) and not feeling tons of spice in the books I read lately so this didn't bother me at all! The spice that was there felt earned and was pretty hot 😏 I'm a sucker for when the littler partner tops 🙌🏻 Instead I got treated to something that felt like if The Little Mermaid was allowed to return to its queer roots and was also injected with commentary about community and the negative impact of humanity on the environment.
May 15, 2023
“Because you, star in my sky, are my true mate…”
4⭐️2🌶️
Set above and below the sea on an Earth-like planet where merfolk are known to exist. Liam & Kade meet during high school and quickly become close friends and maybe something more until Kade suddenly pulls away and after graduation disappears beneath the sea. Several years later after a very bad day Liam finds himself plunging into the ocean and he wakes up in Kade’s arms with a brand new tail 😳🧜🏻♂️
This book was so fascinating! Since we’ve got a character from either side of the water there’s lots of interesting commentary on culture, immigration, government, privilege, and the ecosystem. Everything is definitely not better down where it’s wetter and there’s some big problems going on that Liam gets swept up in.
It lagged a bit in the middle but this is somewhat unsurprising as it’s setting up for a series. I expect book 2 will probably read a bit smoother in pacing. Still the ending is jam packed with action and has several shocking moments so it ends on a very high note.
If you like your romances more sweet than spicy, with lots of world-building, and action packed plot - this is 100% for you!
Personally I like my romances more focused on the relationship and on the spicy side so I’m not sure I’ll continue on but I did enjoy reading this one and it’s always nice to get some variety. I can easily see fans of YA/NA fantasy romance loving this 🥰
I received an advanced copy for review - all opinions are my own.
4⭐️2🌶️
Set above and below the sea on an Earth-like planet where merfolk are known to exist. Liam & Kade meet during high school and quickly become close friends and maybe something more until Kade suddenly pulls away and after graduation disappears beneath the sea. Several years later after a very bad day Liam finds himself plunging into the ocean and he wakes up in Kade’s arms with a brand new tail 😳🧜🏻♂️
This book was so fascinating! Since we’ve got a character from either side of the water there’s lots of interesting commentary on culture, immigration, government, privilege, and the ecosystem. Everything is definitely not better down where it’s wetter and there’s some big problems going on that Liam gets swept up in.
It lagged a bit in the middle but this is somewhat unsurprising as it’s setting up for a series. I expect book 2 will probably read a bit smoother in pacing. Still the ending is jam packed with action and has several shocking moments so it ends on a very high note.
If you like your romances more sweet than spicy, with lots of world-building, and action packed plot - this is 100% for you!
Personally I like my romances more focused on the relationship and on the spicy side so I’m not sure I’ll continue on but I did enjoy reading this one and it’s always nice to get some variety. I can easily see fans of YA/NA fantasy romance loving this 🥰
I received an advanced copy for review - all opinions are my own.
April 21, 2023
Genre: Futuristic Fantasy Romance
Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Tropes: Second chance, MM romance, sweet love, mates, monsters, Demi and Bi rep
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
What it’s about:
Liam has lost everything in his life that has meant anything to him. He is floundering (haha look at that pun) and unsure where to go from here. But fate takes him for a little trip, right into the arms of his past. Will Kade be the answer Liam’s heart is searching for? Or will the dangers brewing send a tidal wave of destruction through the life he’s trying to rebuild? This is a story of heart ache, second chances, tender love and finding one’s voice.
Why you will like:
Merpeople (who doesn’t love some glittering scales), sweet love, mates, second chances, sea monsters, and a unique take on the underwater world.
Notes:
This was an very interesting book. The concept, the characters, fresh take on merpeople, world details.. it was all there. I love the fact the merpeople were monsterish, not just pretty people with tails. And the emotions the characters went through were all real (not always pretty) and believable. Kade is so sweet 🥹 and I mean vicious too but only to protect the ones he loves. Loved Everly’s sass too! I encourage anyone with a love of merpeople, monsters, and sweet love to give this book a read!
Why you might dislike:
This book prologue starts out in high school then transitions to adulthood (10years later). I had a little bit of a hard time with the transition. I just kept imagining them younger. I think it was Liam finally finding his voice that finished that transition in my brain from high school to seeing them as adults. The word choice wasn’t my fav but language styles are all so different, wasn’t my preference but others may enjoy the style of this book more than me.
TW:
Violence, gore, sea monsters, sexuality explicit scenes, bigotry, grief, mental illness. Check authors site in case I missed any.
May 5, 2024
"Just for the record...I love you, Liam. All of you. Every time I learn something new about you, I'm utterly fascinated."
Chose this to read for Mermay and I'm so glad I did! This story has action, swoony romance, mystery, and angst. I felt bad for the characters because they really couldn't catch a break! But the MCs kept each other going until the end. And it was lovely seeing their relationship bloom again after not seeing each other for a decade even with so much going on.
There isn't much spice until the second half but ooooooh boy is it worth the wait. I did not expect to see Liam become such a dom. And Kade is such a consent king. He was so supportive of Liam's transformation, sexual identity, and waiting until he was ready. Also....peen ridges....🥵
The world building was good and leaves a lot open to future books (I hope!). We get a little bit of a look into the lore of the world and different species and I'm excited to learn more! There was so much mystery revolving the relationship and history between the Mer people and humans that I hope we get to know more about. The descriptions of the species were awesome and I could easily envision it in my head. Some creatures and events were a bit spooky and dark and it was just enough that it wasn't too much but kept me on the edge of my seat!
Very much looking forward to reading more of Basalt aka Mr Grumpy Gills. We get a tiny taste of him and Everly together and what might be between the two of them in this book BUT I NEED MORE!
Chose this to read for Mermay and I'm so glad I did! This story has action, swoony romance, mystery, and angst. I felt bad for the characters because they really couldn't catch a break! But the MCs kept each other going until the end. And it was lovely seeing their relationship bloom again after not seeing each other for a decade even with so much going on.
There isn't much spice until the second half but ooooooh boy is it worth the wait. I did not expect to see Liam become such a dom. And Kade is such a consent king. He was so supportive of Liam's transformation, sexual identity, and waiting until he was ready. Also....peen ridges....🥵
The world building was good and leaves a lot open to future books (I hope!). We get a little bit of a look into the lore of the world and different species and I'm excited to learn more! There was so much mystery revolving the relationship and history between the Mer people and humans that I hope we get to know more about. The descriptions of the species were awesome and I could easily envision it in my head. Some creatures and events were a bit spooky and dark and it was just enough that it wasn't too much but kept me on the edge of my seat!
Very much looking forward to reading more of Basalt aka Mr Grumpy Gills. We get a tiny taste of him and Everly together and what might be between the two of them in this book BUT I NEED MORE!
May 2, 2023
5/5☆
I can definitely say I've never read a book quite like this one! I wanted to try a new genre, and this did not disappoint. Russo creates a unique underwater world, and I was impressed with how the merpeople were described as actually looking like sea creatures, even keeping some of their characteristics when on land.
This is a second chance m/m romance, I wasn't sure how it was going to work.. being mermen and all, BUT it is thoroughly described, haha.
The story was really thought out, I liked most of the characters, and I really liked Everly and Kades sibling relationship. I also found it interesting how aggressive the merpeople were in this book, I wasn't expecting that, but I guess it's more of a dog eat dog world down there.
One thing I thought was weird but not worth reducing my rating, was how the merpeople could just change their sex to fit their needs, that part made it less believable for me and I think it could have been left out.
Overall, it was a great start to a new series, and I'm excited for the next one! Also, the cover is soooo gorgeous! 😍
You'll like this if you like:
🧜♂️ second chance romances
🧜♂️ found family
🧜♂️ LGBTQ+
🧜♂️ sea monsters
I was given this ARC in exchange for an honest review 🥂🌟
I can definitely say I've never read a book quite like this one! I wanted to try a new genre, and this did not disappoint. Russo creates a unique underwater world, and I was impressed with how the merpeople were described as actually looking like sea creatures, even keeping some of their characteristics when on land.
This is a second chance m/m romance, I wasn't sure how it was going to work.. being mermen and all, BUT it is thoroughly described, haha.
The story was really thought out, I liked most of the characters, and I really liked Everly and Kades sibling relationship. I also found it interesting how aggressive the merpeople were in this book, I wasn't expecting that, but I guess it's more of a dog eat dog world down there.
One thing I thought was weird but not worth reducing my rating, was how the merpeople could just change their sex to fit their needs, that part made it less believable for me and I think it could have been left out.
Overall, it was a great start to a new series, and I'm excited for the next one! Also, the cover is soooo gorgeous! 😍
You'll like this if you like:
🧜♂️ second chance romances
🧜♂️ found family
🧜♂️ LGBTQ+
🧜♂️ sea monsters
I was given this ARC in exchange for an honest review 🥂🌟
January 21, 2024
The prologue - set a decade before the rest of the story - drew me into the story right away. I immediately developed a soft spot for the insecure Liam and the author managed to express his feelings well. After the prologue, we jump ten years further in time and it is clear that time has not done Liam any good. He has been through some trauma and Kade - his only friend who he had a crush on - appears to have turned his back on him right after the prologue.
I found the reason for this a bit cliché and not very strong; I had hoped for more. While Liam thankfully didn't forgive him right away, it felt like “their second chance" went a little too easy.
In addition to the romantic subplot, the merman community struggles with all sorts of mysterious problems that the main characters want to solve. This added a mystical layer to the story.
What I found refreshing, was that the humans and the merpeople were very aware of each other– in most stories, a human stumbles upon a merman/mermaid and they have to keep it a secret from the humans. So Russo's approach was refresihing. I also liked the background of the merpeople. Because of their long existence, I did have some trouble with their rather primitive society; it felt a bit like it sold the people too short.
'Scars like stars' was an nice read. The characters were somewhat average, and so were the suspense and plot twists. So three stars: nothing in the story really stood out for me, but it's certainly not a bad book either.
I found the reason for this a bit cliché and not very strong; I had hoped for more. While Liam thankfully didn't forgive him right away, it felt like “their second chance" went a little too easy.
In addition to the romantic subplot, the merman community struggles with all sorts of mysterious problems that the main characters want to solve. This added a mystical layer to the story.
What I found refreshing, was that the humans and the merpeople were very aware of each other– in most stories, a human stumbles upon a merman/mermaid and they have to keep it a secret from the humans. So Russo's approach was refresihing. I also liked the background of the merpeople. Because of their long existence, I did have some trouble with their rather primitive society; it felt a bit like it sold the people too short.
'Scars like stars' was an nice read. The characters were somewhat average, and so were the suspense and plot twists. So three stars: nothing in the story really stood out for me, but it's certainly not a bad book either.
May 7, 2023
I'm so honored to have received an ARC for Scales Like Stars by DJ Russo. I was sold from the moment I heard "m/m" and "mermaid" in the same sentence. I'm not sure what I was expecting, but I know this surpassed any thoughts I had going in. Russo has created a world so rich in detail I was super intrigued and wanted to learn more with each page. I normally blow through books but I took my sweet time reading this one because I didn't want it to end. I have a new book boyfriend in Daddy Basalt as well. Kade and Liams romance was sweet, cute, and perfect. I enjoyed reading a demi sexual character in Liam, too. Overall this book is great if you love a rich new world, action, drama, comedy, and characters you can't help but love!
June 10, 2024
I didn't think one book could make me love merfolk more than I already do. I love Kade and Liam so much, and the way Kade accepts all of Liam, just the way his is... not broken, just him. I loved seeing the LGBTQ+ panic as Liam grew up battling through his feelings and coming to terms with himself and how society sees him. It was so real and raw and hit me in my feels! Kade sees Liam's anxiety as flaws with the world and not a flaw in Liam... and that was just incredible, Kade is the most supportive and accepting! Everyone deserves this kind of love.
May 16, 2023
I REALLY REALLY LOVED this book.
I ABSOLUTELY LOVE Liam and Kade.
I wish I was better at doing book reviews but honestly the only things I can say are that it’s amazing and fantastic that everyone should read it.
I love the fact that with the merpeople in this book actually look like sea creatures (when in water) compared to “beautiful and perfect merpeople” like most other books.
I also like that it has an ongoing story line that will continue in the next book and I’m totally onboard.
Can’t wait to read more books in this series and from this author.
Thank you for sharing your story and world with us.
I was given an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I ABSOLUTELY LOVE Liam and Kade.
I wish I was better at doing book reviews but honestly the only things I can say are that it’s amazing and fantastic that everyone should read it.
I love the fact that with the merpeople in this book actually look like sea creatures (when in water) compared to “beautiful and perfect merpeople” like most other books.
I also like that it has an ongoing story line that will continue in the next book and I’m totally onboard.
Can’t wait to read more books in this series and from this author.
Thank you for sharing your story and world with us.
I was given an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 17, 2023
Stars: 3.5 rounded up to 4
MMC(s): Kade, Liam
Tropes: ADHD rep, Grumpy/Sunshine, found family, sea monster and Selkies, ace rep, second chance romance, queer rep
> Reviewer add: Other partners, sweet consent kings
Perspective: Dual
Plot or character driven: Both, heavier lean on plot
Spicy scenes breakdown:
> Present? Yes
> Detailed? Yes
> Multiple, with only one character? No
> Multiple, with both/multiple characters? Yes
> Personal favorite? There are multiple water scenes.
> Anything else to note?
Burn speed: Medium, about 50%
Can this be read as a stand-alone: This is the first in a series.
Re-Readability: You will likely need to for subsequent works.
Content/Trigger Warnings/Enticements: Parental loss, homophobia, societal flaws
I received an advanced reader copy of this book, and this is my voluntary, honest review.
“The way merfolk society operated reminded Liam of his own people. Though they shared plenty of differences, there were common threads that tied them together. The way they cared for one another, their homes, and their community. The way their children played and aggravated the adults. The way they formed social groups and caught up on the latest gossip. It was comforting to Liam to know that he wasn’t living in an alien world, but a parallel one.”
As teenagers in high school, Liam and Kade met through an exchange program. Kade withdraws from their relationship, and leaves Liam questioning and lost. Years later, they meet again when Kade discovers something amiss within the merfolk of Promeiya.
This novel was a beast. I'm going to divide this up into three pieces.
Plot wise: Massive. This world is really fascinating to me in both layers, interactions between the humans and merfolk, and the merfolk and other denizens of the sea. The history of the merfolk is also complex and I feel like we're going to learn more in subsequent novels. There are some unanswered questions in this book that leave room for answers in the following books.
Relationship between Kade and Liam: this is definitely a second chance relationship. They were both young for their first chance and they made youthful mistakes, which I found to be very realistic no matter their species. They have to deal with what happened before but also their feelings that still exist. And their emphasis on both consent and safety/comfort of their partner? These sweet consent kings. Loved it.
Characters: Liam was so insecure, especially in the beginning that it made his part of the story hard for me to read. However, getting to see him blossom and gain more confidence was GLORIOUS. Kade on the other hand was the confident one, but there was the sense of something missing from him and his life and that's Liam.
What needed work: at certain points in the story the pacing felt off: either too slow, or too fast (particularly the end). And at other points, especially in Liam's perspective, it felt more like we were being told or narrated to, instead of shown which nearly always broke me out of the story.
I feel like I want to re-read this story again. We’ll see how I feel in a couple weeks.
MMC(s): Kade, Liam
Tropes: ADHD rep, Grumpy/Sunshine, found family, sea monster and Selkies, ace rep, second chance romance, queer rep
> Reviewer add: Other partners, sweet consent kings
Perspective: Dual
Plot or character driven: Both, heavier lean on plot
Spicy scenes breakdown:
> Present? Yes
> Detailed? Yes
> Multiple, with only one character? No
> Multiple, with both/multiple characters? Yes
> Personal favorite? There are multiple water scenes.
> Anything else to note?
Burn speed: Medium, about 50%
Can this be read as a stand-alone: This is the first in a series.
Re-Readability: You will likely need to for subsequent works.
Content/Trigger Warnings/Enticements: Parental loss, homophobia, societal flaws
I received an advanced reader copy of this book, and this is my voluntary, honest review.
“The way merfolk society operated reminded Liam of his own people. Though they shared plenty of differences, there were common threads that tied them together. The way they cared for one another, their homes, and their community. The way their children played and aggravated the adults. The way they formed social groups and caught up on the latest gossip. It was comforting to Liam to know that he wasn’t living in an alien world, but a parallel one.”
As teenagers in high school, Liam and Kade met through an exchange program. Kade withdraws from their relationship, and leaves Liam questioning and lost. Years later, they meet again when Kade discovers something amiss within the merfolk of Promeiya.
This novel was a beast. I'm going to divide this up into three pieces.
Plot wise: Massive. This world is really fascinating to me in both layers, interactions between the humans and merfolk, and the merfolk and other denizens of the sea. The history of the merfolk is also complex and I feel like we're going to learn more in subsequent novels. There are some unanswered questions in this book that leave room for answers in the following books.
Relationship between Kade and Liam: this is definitely a second chance relationship. They were both young for their first chance and they made youthful mistakes, which I found to be very realistic no matter their species. They have to deal with what happened before but also their feelings that still exist. And their emphasis on both consent and safety/comfort of their partner? These sweet consent kings. Loved it.
Characters: Liam was so insecure, especially in the beginning that it made his part of the story hard for me to read. However, getting to see him blossom and gain more confidence was GLORIOUS. Kade on the other hand was the confident one, but there was the sense of something missing from him and his life and that's Liam.
What needed work: at certain points in the story the pacing felt off: either too slow, or too fast (particularly the end). And at other points, especially in Liam's perspective, it felt more like we were being told or narrated to, instead of shown which nearly always broke me out of the story.
I feel like I want to re-read this story again. We’ll see how I feel in a couple weeks.
May 22, 2023
💙🧜♂️ Scales Like Stars ARC Review 🧜♂️💙
Thank you so much to DJ Russo for the opportunity to read and review this book!!
Scales Like Stars is a paranormal MM fantasy. Liam’s day has progressively gotten worse - he feels more alone than ever, was fired from his job, and then slipped and fell into the ocean. The last thing he expects is to be saved by Kade, the friend he shared a passionate kiss with a decade ago…who happens to be a merman
This was a fun start to a new series. Liam and Kade were wonderful characters and I enjoyed their relationship together. It felt a little Insta-love for my personal preferences, but that’s a “me” issue and not a book issue. There’s also a whole larger plot that involves the entire race of merpeople, and while that was intriguing, I felt like it took away from Liam and Kade’s relationship at times
That being said, I still enjoyed this book and thought it was a fun read. Overall a 3 star read and I am looking forward to more in this world! This book is a smidge of a slow burn, but it does have some smut in the second half of the book - so two flames for smut
If you enjoy books with second chance romances, size differences, & found family vibes, then definitely pick this one up!
Thank you so much to DJ Russo for the opportunity to read and review this book!!
Scales Like Stars is a paranormal MM fantasy. Liam’s day has progressively gotten worse - he feels more alone than ever, was fired from his job, and then slipped and fell into the ocean. The last thing he expects is to be saved by Kade, the friend he shared a passionate kiss with a decade ago…who happens to be a merman
This was a fun start to a new series. Liam and Kade were wonderful characters and I enjoyed their relationship together. It felt a little Insta-love for my personal preferences, but that’s a “me” issue and not a book issue. There’s also a whole larger plot that involves the entire race of merpeople, and while that was intriguing, I felt like it took away from Liam and Kade’s relationship at times
That being said, I still enjoyed this book and thought it was a fun read. Overall a 3 star read and I am looking forward to more in this world! This book is a smidge of a slow burn, but it does have some smut in the second half of the book - so two flames for smut
If you enjoy books with second chance romances, size differences, & found family vibes, then definitely pick this one up!
May 16, 2023
Separated through circumstance.
Reunited by the Goddess.
Bonded through fate.
QOTD: If you could transform in to a mythical creature at will, which one would you choose?
AOTD: A fairy def!
Promeiya’s hottest merfolk romance is Scales Like Stars by D.J. Russo!
This book has everything: fated mates, a shipwreck, mysterious transformation, greasy hamburgers, the existence of an entire species as we know it, hanging in the balance at the hands of a select group of merfolk
Scales Like Stars is a romance and much more! I genuinely enjoyed the world-building in this story. The differences between merfolk and human culture added a lot to Kade and Liam’s dynamic between each other and their respective societies. They both seem to be misfits in their own kind, so it was lovely to see them finally find solace in each other.
I was so invested in the plot, to where I forgot it was a romance during some parts, but the spice and affection between Kade and Liam brought me back when it needed to.
Tropes I loved: found family, ace, demisexual, & ADHD rep, fated mates, instalove
When it comes to genres, I’m a “try everything once” type of reader, and I’m happy to have this mythical creature romance under my belt. I recommend, especially if you’re a lover of fantasy. I’ll be anxiously waiting for the next book in this series.
Thank you, D.J. Russo for the digital ARC! All opinions are my own.
Reunited by the Goddess.
Bonded through fate.
QOTD: If you could transform in to a mythical creature at will, which one would you choose?
AOTD: A fairy def!
Promeiya’s hottest merfolk romance is Scales Like Stars by D.J. Russo!
This book has everything: fated mates, a shipwreck, mysterious transformation, greasy hamburgers, the existence of an entire species as we know it, hanging in the balance at the hands of a select group of merfolk
Scales Like Stars is a romance and much more! I genuinely enjoyed the world-building in this story. The differences between merfolk and human culture added a lot to Kade and Liam’s dynamic between each other and their respective societies. They both seem to be misfits in their own kind, so it was lovely to see them finally find solace in each other.
I was so invested in the plot, to where I forgot it was a romance during some parts, but the spice and affection between Kade and Liam brought me back when it needed to.
Tropes I loved: found family, ace, demisexual, & ADHD rep, fated mates, instalove
When it comes to genres, I’m a “try everything once” type of reader, and I’m happy to have this mythical creature romance under my belt. I recommend, especially if you’re a lover of fantasy. I’ll be anxiously waiting for the next book in this series.
Thank you, D.J. Russo for the digital ARC! All opinions are my own.
May 16, 2023
ARC Review: Scale Like Stars by @djrusso_author
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️
🧜♂️What can I say, if you love merpeople and fantasy this book is for you!!🧜♀️
💜In this book, 2 separate worlds collide and 2 high school loves reunite after 10 years!
🧜♂️ Liam- human (or so we thought) has gone through so much in his life and has literally lost everything. He undergoes a drastic transformation and ends up finding a past he never knew existed.
🧜♂️Kade-merman who chose to live life free of commitment and responsibility struggles with finding the right path.
As life unravels for them both, the ocean is going through transformation (and not the good kind). They end reuniting in the most crazy way.💜
As Kade, Liam and Everly swim to get to the bottom of it. Truths are shared, battles are fought and pasts are brought to the surface.
I really enjoyed this read. It gave me a transformation or a coming of age vibe. There is heartbreak, danger, and love in this story. Intense scenes and some spice.
@djrusso_author I am honored to have been one of the first to be able to read this and wish the best of luck on release💜
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️
🧜♂️What can I say, if you love merpeople and fantasy this book is for you!!🧜♀️
💜In this book, 2 separate worlds collide and 2 high school loves reunite after 10 years!
🧜♂️ Liam- human (or so we thought) has gone through so much in his life and has literally lost everything. He undergoes a drastic transformation and ends up finding a past he never knew existed.
🧜♂️Kade-merman who chose to live life free of commitment and responsibility struggles with finding the right path.
As life unravels for them both, the ocean is going through transformation (and not the good kind). They end reuniting in the most crazy way.💜
As Kade, Liam and Everly swim to get to the bottom of it. Truths are shared, battles are fought and pasts are brought to the surface.
I really enjoyed this read. It gave me a transformation or a coming of age vibe. There is heartbreak, danger, and love in this story. Intense scenes and some spice.
@djrusso_author I am honored to have been one of the first to be able to read this and wish the best of luck on release💜
May 12, 2023
My first introduction to scales was in the form of short novella, and I wasn't expecting for the full version to be so delightfully different!
Liam's and Kade's reunion and romance is a wonderful story to follow and the deal of mystery surrounding the troubles within the story's setting hooks you in and keeps the pages turning to find out what's going on. I am looking forward to the sequel in the series to follow the breadcrumbs the end of this book sets down.
And the spice! Goodness. It's not for the faint of heart for sure and I loved that. There's never been a genre in more need of a little heat than fantasy.
All in all, this was a wonderful read and I can't wait to meet these characters once again in the future. What really surprised me how emotional I felt around the subject of Liam's parents. Their story might have ended before the book's began, but I loved how they still had such a presence in the book, as much of a non-sequitur as that point is.
A definite must Mer-May read for sure!!
Liam's and Kade's reunion and romance is a wonderful story to follow and the deal of mystery surrounding the troubles within the story's setting hooks you in and keeps the pages turning to find out what's going on. I am looking forward to the sequel in the series to follow the breadcrumbs the end of this book sets down.
And the spice! Goodness. It's not for the faint of heart for sure and I loved that. There's never been a genre in more need of a little heat than fantasy.
All in all, this was a wonderful read and I can't wait to meet these characters once again in the future. What really surprised me how emotional I felt around the subject of Liam's parents. Their story might have ended before the book's began, but I loved how they still had such a presence in the book, as much of a non-sequitur as that point is.
A definite must Mer-May read for sure!!
May 8, 2023
A fast paced, well-rounded adventure!
This is a wonderfully written second chance romance, that actually has so many elements that it blows the mind a little!
This story is a second chance romance following a human and merman finding their way back together after missing out on their chance initially.
This story is ALSO an action adventure where a massive threat needs to be neutralized for the good of many.
The characters are beautifully written and explored, as they navigate their traumas and heartbreak and find peace together. It was also great to see representation for Bisexuality, Demisexuality, gender fluidity and ADHD.
This story has so many wonderful elements to it that come together beautifully and form a tale (see what I did there) that you just can’t put down!
The best is that this is the first book of a series and more books are coming!
Thank you to the author for the opportunity to be an ARC reader for this fanstastic read!
This is a wonderfully written second chance romance, that actually has so many elements that it blows the mind a little!
This story is a second chance romance following a human and merman finding their way back together after missing out on their chance initially.
This story is ALSO an action adventure where a massive threat needs to be neutralized for the good of many.
The characters are beautifully written and explored, as they navigate their traumas and heartbreak and find peace together. It was also great to see representation for Bisexuality, Demisexuality, gender fluidity and ADHD.
This story has so many wonderful elements to it that come together beautifully and form a tale (see what I did there) that you just can’t put down!
The best is that this is the first book of a series and more books are coming!
Thank you to the author for the opportunity to be an ARC reader for this fanstastic read!
May 16, 2023
Liam is dropped into the ocean, turned to a merman, reunited with Kade, and discovers the dying reef. In a story that is full of adventure and multiple elements, this brings a little of everything to the table. Russo has built a world unique in itself and the characters have that charming flawed yet you love them element. The mixture of a dying reef which is so extremely relevant was not only a gripping addition but left readers feeling the true devastation alongside our leading guys. Not as spicy as I was expecting but I read some max heat levels so this is perfect for those dipping toes into the m/m waters
May 27, 2023
This is a second chance MM romance and there were 2 things that I just LOVED. 1. The majority of this book takes place underwater! 2. The human miraculously sprouts fins and gills. The merfolk can shift into human form, but I loved that this story created the opposite event needing to happen!
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The romance was adorable. Kade and Liam are so good together, which made that bit of spice very nice. They both also had a good growth arc, especially Liam. But there was also a really good storyline. Leviathans are rising, Merfolk are disappearing, the coral is unwell. . . So many things to keep you flipping pages.
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The romance was adorable. Kade and Liam are so good together, which made that bit of spice very nice. They both also had a good growth arc, especially Liam. But there was also a really good storyline. Leviathans are rising, Merfolk are disappearing, the coral is unwell. . . So many things to keep you flipping pages.
May 27, 2023
Firstly, the world of Scales like Stars was so beautiful. D.J. really submersed you into this futuristic world of adventure, merfolk, shipwrecks, sea monsters and selkies. Liam and Kade are so sweet and passionate. Their story is just filled to the brim with love and hope. Their love felt truly written in the stars. I loved the grumpy/sunshine aspect and how they complimented one another. Scales like Stars was a great start to this series and I can't wait to see where it goes from here.
May 3, 2023
This is the first merpeople book I have ever read and I really enjoyed it! The struggle of dealing with mental Illness, grief, unresolved trauma and self acceptance is well portrayed. Liam and Kade had the perfect Grumpy/ Sunshine vibe and meshed together very well. I’ll definitely be picking up the next book when it comes out!
May 13, 2023
I received an advance copy for review
I really like the two leads this story. I thought their relationship was really cute (once they actually ya know talked about their issues.) I had some trouble getting into this book, the start was a bit slower than I would have liked so I’m giving it 4 stars
I really like the two leads this story. I thought their relationship was really cute (once they actually ya know talked about their issues.) I had some trouble getting into this book, the start was a bit slower than I would have liked so I’m giving it 4 stars
June 5, 2023
This was a pleasant and fast-paced book, some parts felt a little unorganized and chaotic but that may be because of my ADHD, I liked how there were equal parts action, tenseness, and romance, if you're looking for a quick read that has merfolk and different deep sea creatures, this book is for you.
June 11, 2023
Good
I really liked this book and the concept. I enjoyed the world building and characters. The only concern I have is this book ended on a small cliffhanger without any definite conclusion. This left me feeling disappointed even though I really enjoyed the book, that's why it's only getting 4 stars instead of 5.
I really liked this book and the concept. I enjoyed the world building and characters. The only concern I have is this book ended on a small cliffhanger without any definite conclusion. This left me feeling disappointed even though I really enjoyed the book, that's why it's only getting 4 stars instead of 5.
July 3, 2023
Good story
I really enjoyed it and the world building was excellent. I don't know why I didn't love it, i think the build up just fizzled out at the end and it seemed like a new character was created every time there was a little plot hole, which meant it was hard to get attached sometimes. But world building was second to none, and I do highly recommend this book.
I really enjoyed it and the world building was excellent. I don't know why I didn't love it, i think the build up just fizzled out at the end and it seemed like a new character was created every time there was a little plot hole, which meant it was hard to get attached sometimes. But world building was second to none, and I do highly recommend this book.
July 21, 2023
An interesting take
I’ll always be here for merfolk stories. While I found the story intriguing, I could have done with more world-building to ground the visuals. It also felt a bit like the plot and romance were competing and neither won. In short, lots of cool concepts, but could have benefited from not having to split between so many plot threads.
I’ll always be here for merfolk stories. While I found the story intriguing, I could have done with more world-building to ground the visuals. It also felt a bit like the plot and romance were competing and neither won. In short, lots of cool concepts, but could have benefited from not having to split between so many plot threads.
March 22, 2024
4/5 ♡
As someone with ADHD, this book was super accurate to how I feel. The thoughts, feelings, & actions that Russo uses to describe what ADHD feels like are super on key with my own experience with it. It's super nice to feel represented & Russo did a phenomenal job at making everything feel real!
As someone with ADHD, this book was super accurate to how I feel. The thoughts, feelings, & actions that Russo uses to describe what ADHD feels like are super on key with my own experience with it. It's super nice to feel represented & Russo did a phenomenal job at making everything feel real!
May 17, 2023
Loved this
I loved how mermaids actually looked so diffrent then they are normally portrayed. I also loved how Liam wrapped things up it was so realistic. (Trying not to give spoilers) I read this in one sitting. Thank you for a glimpse of this beautiful world.
I loved how mermaids actually looked so diffrent then they are normally portrayed. I also loved how Liam wrapped things up it was so realistic. (Trying not to give spoilers) I read this in one sitting. Thank you for a glimpse of this beautiful world.
February 26, 2024
This was just not good. Everything (characters, romance, world building, plot, etc) was shallow and clunky. But I finished it (although I mostly skimmed after 40%) so it gets an extra star for that.
Did not finish
May 13, 2024DNF 70%
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