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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
About the author
D.J. Russo
17 books196 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 49 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!
February 1, 2022
Hmm. My least favorite of the Uncanny Case Files so far, to my dismay. Protagonist Liam's life is super depressing and we spend a lot of page time on that, and the death of his dog. I didn't feel the chemistry, and the plot was all over the place. I enjoyed the non-disney mermaid physiology, though!
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January 11, 2023*** Now available on Amazon for $2.99 or included with your Kindle Unlimited sub! ***
SCALES LIKE STARS is a male/male romance that takes place in an alternate Earth-like setting. It features mermen (and some mermaids!) who eschew the typical human top/fish bottom biology. People have asked if this is going to be a series: the answer is yes, this is actually a sort-of sequel to a book trilogy I had planned and have been writing for a while.
There will be more novellas in the future (Everly is up next!) as well as a full-fledged novel trilogy coming later. You can expect the novellas to pop up sometime in 2022. I will be launching a website and newsletter in the new year, and will post links to all these on my author page. So if that's something you're interested in, please follow me on here for updates!
SCALES LIKE STARS is a male/male romance that takes place in an alternate Earth-like setting. It features mermen (and some mermaids!) who eschew the typical human top/fish bottom biology. People have asked if this is going to be a series: the answer is yes, this is actually a sort-of sequel to a book trilogy I had planned and have been writing for a while.
There will be more novellas in the future (Everly is up next!) as well as a full-fledged novel trilogy coming later. You can expect the novellas to pop up sometime in 2022. I will be launching a website and newsletter in the new year, and will post links to all these on my author page. So if that's something you're interested in, please follow me on here for updates!
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.
January 18, 2022
Scales Like Stars is a heartwarming, reverse little mermaid M/M romance with a very different take from many of the merfolk stories that I have experienced in the past. Rather than living in complete secrecy, merfolk co-exist in the public knowledge of human society in a way that I can only hope will tease more exploration into this world and its culture in the future.
Both of the main characters are wonderful with the out-of-his-depth Liam's interactions with the protective and resourceful Kade bringing a smirk to my face with their exploration and antics.
I enjoy the exploration into the unique merfolk culture and biology and I am eager to experience more of the interactions between the humans and merfolk cultures if the stories eventually evolve into a full novel in the future!
__
I received a free ARC copy of this book for review purposes.
Both of the main characters are wonderful with the out-of-his-depth Liam's interactions with the protective and resourceful Kade bringing a smirk to my face with their exploration and antics.
I enjoy the exploration into the unique merfolk culture and biology and I am eager to experience more of the interactions between the humans and merfolk cultures if the stories eventually evolve into a full novel in the future!
__
I received a free ARC copy of this book for review purposes.
December 16, 2021
I beta read the story for the author and I know things have changed, but even as rough as it was, I already thought it was good. The worldbuilding was enticing and I really wanted more of it. Hopefully, we'll see a few more stories set in this world, maybe with the same, but other pairings are fun too!
This is really a cute story of two people discovering each other and Liam has to familiarize himself with a whole new world and way of living. Definitely recommended to anyone who wants a light, comforting read.
This is really a cute story of two people discovering each other and Liam has to familiarize himself with a whole new world and way of living. Definitely recommended to anyone who wants a light, comforting read.
December 23, 2021
A sweet read about a man who fell for a merman who had to go back to the sea. Despite all odds they find each other again!
I loved the story and the introduction of the world through Liam's, a freshly-baked merman's eyes. Kade's protective streak and willingness to sacrifice his own happiness for the man he loves captured my heart. It was refreshing to see that the merfolk having more anatomically appropriate look to how they should when living under water, as opposed to the pretty visage the media painted of them.
A lovely read!
I loved the story and the introduction of the world through Liam's, a freshly-baked merman's eyes. Kade's protective streak and willingness to sacrifice his own happiness for the man he loves captured my heart. It was refreshing to see that the merfolk having more anatomically appropriate look to how they should when living under water, as opposed to the pretty visage the media painted of them.
A lovely read!
December 30, 2021
I liked the idea for SCALES LIKE STARS but the actual execution of the plot fell flat for me. Liam unexpectedly turns into a merman after he falls into the ocean from a cliff. He's rescued by merman Kade who Liam used to know in high school when Kade briefly lived as a human. I liked that humans knew about merfolk and that merfolk could visit land as a human in order to go to school and learn about the world. The world building is a little thin but for the shorter page length it's pretty good overall.
But when it came to the plot it was all over the place. Liam's time as a merman swung from his struggles adapting, to an unprovoked attack by another merman, to falling in love with Kade. I also felt like the six month separation was completely unnecessary and I don't understand why Kade pushed Liam away and sent him back to land. Kade doesn't want Liam to stay a merman because he feels like Liam is only choosing it because Liam doesn't have anything left on land but if that's true (and it is) why would Kade make the man he loves return to that loneliness? And surprise Liam ends up returning to the ocean because he doesn't have anything on land.
Additionally there were a few things that sat a bit uncomfortable with me. The biggest being that Kade emphasizes several times that Liam would be better off having a family with a wife and kids, which implies that being with Kade, another man, wouldn't allow Liam to have a family. This desire was never something Liam expressed so it seemed off that Kade would keep pushing this heteronormative ideal.
Content Warning: reference to past death of both parents from cancer; several mentions of Liam's dog dying recently
But when it came to the plot it was all over the place. Liam's time as a merman swung from his struggles adapting, to an unprovoked attack by another merman, to falling in love with Kade. I also felt like the six month separation was completely unnecessary and I don't understand why Kade pushed Liam away and sent him back to land. Kade doesn't want Liam to stay a merman because he feels like Liam is only choosing it because Liam doesn't have anything left on land but if that's true (and it is) why would Kade make the man he loves return to that loneliness? And surprise Liam ends up returning to the ocean because he doesn't have anything on land.
Additionally there were a few things that sat a bit uncomfortable with me. The biggest being that Kade emphasizes several times that Liam would be better off having a family with a wife and kids, which implies that being with Kade, another man, wouldn't allow Liam to have a family. This desire was never something Liam expressed so it seemed off that Kade would keep pushing this heteronormative ideal.
Content Warning: reference to past death of both parents from cancer; several mentions of Liam's dog dying recently
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.
December 19, 2021
Scales Like Stars is a heartwarming romance between two adorable young men Liam and Kade, one human (well sort of), one merman. I loved the premise and worldbuilding in this story and the anatomical details were fascinating and very detailed. These weren’t cartoon-esq fish tails stuck on human torsos, these were carefully thought out, fully rounded sea creatures with features that worked in their underwater world, like gills, hard scales, claws and hidden genitalia. The dryly humorous nods to consumer culture and capitalism (companies trying to sell merpeople scale polish for example) were very clever as well.
You feel the angst and longing between Liam and Kade immediately and you can’t help but root for them. Looking forward to other stories set in this world!
You feel the angst and longing between Liam and Kade immediately and you can’t help but root for them. Looking forward to other stories set in this world!
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.
December 22, 2021
2.5 stars rounded up
Just felt a bit shallow.
Hinted at lots of cool worldbuilding, but we never got to see or explore any of that.
The mermaid anatomy was different and unique. Very not-Disney.
I was intruiged and interested but was left craving more. More emotional connection between our heroes. More physical connection too. I didn’t buy the big breakup at all.
CW: death of both parents (past, offscreen, cancer); death of dog (recent past, offscreen); mention of suicide; physical peril; onscreen death of side character (who is the villain and also coded as having some kind of development disorder, which felt very ableist-y)
2/5🔥 (one bj scene, not reciprocated)
Just felt a bit shallow.
Hinted at lots of cool worldbuilding, but we never got to see or explore any of that.
The mermaid anatomy was different and unique. Very not-Disney.
I was intruiged and interested but was left craving more. More emotional connection between our heroes. More physical connection too. I didn’t buy the big breakup at all.
CW: death of both parents (past, offscreen, cancer); death of dog (recent past, offscreen); mention of suicide; physical peril; onscreen death of side character (who is the villain and also coded as having some kind of development disorder, which felt very ableist-y)
2/5🔥 (one bj scene, not reciprocated)
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.
December 14, 2021
Normally I’m not one to delve too much into short stories, but after reading Coming Up for Air by Amanada Meuwissen I found myself craving more merman romance. Thankfully, D.J. Russo was kind enough to send me their new novella, Scales Like Stars, and it hit the spot beautifully. This is a delicate love story about schoolyard crushes, pining memories, and the world falling apart only to be rebuilt better than before. It was cute, heartbreaking, and cathartic all at once, and accomplished all this in less than 100 pages.
I appreciated the fact that despite this being novella, the plot didn’t feel rushed. I think part of that had to do with the fact that both Liam and Kade had a slight history with one another prior to the start of the story, which allowed the romance to progress without feeling like they were moving too fast. I also really liked the wish fulfillment aspect because it made Scales Like Stars feel like a modern day fairytale, and I am all for that.
All in all, I would definitely recommend this if you’re looking for a quick, heartwarming read. I’m not sure if this is going to be a part of a series, but I would certainly be happy if it was.
I appreciated the fact that despite this being novella, the plot didn’t feel rushed. I think part of that had to do with the fact that both Liam and Kade had a slight history with one another prior to the start of the story, which allowed the romance to progress without feeling like they were moving too fast. I also really liked the wish fulfillment aspect because it made Scales Like Stars feel like a modern day fairytale, and I am all for that.
All in all, I would definitely recommend this if you’re looking for a quick, heartwarming read. I’m not sure if this is going to be a part of a series, but I would certainly be happy if it was.
December 16, 2021
This novella is super cute. I liked that the romance started right away and that there was mutual pining (lol). I also appreciated that the mer-folk resembled or were described as physically built to survive the ocean environment versus the more humanistic mermaids that are more well known.
Scales like Stars is a fated mates-esque M/M romance where the Mer-folk have already announced their existence and have accords with humans to live on land and coexist. Liam and Kade were classmates in high school where unbeknownst to each other, they both harbored deep romantic feelings. Merman Kade knew the moment he laid eyes on Liam that he was his mate while Liam had a secret crush all throughout high school. It was not until a fateful and blustery day on a cliff where the story dives into a very cute and heartwarming HEA.
4/5 I recommend giving this a read!
Scales like Stars is a fated mates-esque M/M romance where the Mer-folk have already announced their existence and have accords with humans to live on land and coexist. Liam and Kade were classmates in high school where unbeknownst to each other, they both harbored deep romantic feelings. Merman Kade knew the moment he laid eyes on Liam that he was his mate while Liam had a secret crush all throughout high school. It was not until a fateful and blustery day on a cliff where the story dives into a very cute and heartwarming HEA.
4/5 I recommend giving this a read!
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.
December 12, 2021
I really hope this book has a sequel. I need more of this mythology!
Read
January 9, 2022
Trigger & Content Warnings
Death of a parent from cancer recounted
Animal death (dog) mentioned
Death of a parent from cancer recounted
Animal death (dog) mentioned
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!
.
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.
.
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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