A Kiss of Salt & Sea

Darkstone Academy #1

by Bliss Devlin

In a world ruled by human mages, I'm an orphan without magic, living under the thumb of my heartless stepfather. When he sells me into indentured servitude at Darkstone Academy for the Magical Arts, I find myself far from home and surrounded by dangerous enemies.

The human students here are the rejects from other academies. And then there are the supernaturals, diplomatic hostages who hate humans and aren't shy about showing it.

But then I meet three powerful supernatural guys who don't want to be here either. They will do anything to keep Darkstone Academy from breaking me.

The gorgeous but cold merman Lord Tama is a monster who kills without a second thought to protect me.

The dragon Prince Boreas, is fiery and ruggedly handsome. When he tells me he treasures me, it's time to worry. Dragons never let go of treasures from their hoards.

And finally, the beautiful but enigmatic Fae Prince Gwydion is a fellow healer. His skilled kisses leave me wanting more. A lot more. But the Fae are dangerous... especially when you owe them a favor. Like me.

Then, as students and supernaturals begin dying all around us, I'm plunged into a vortex of murder and political intrigue. Are my new protectors the solution to the problem... or the cause?

Maybe I don't have any magic. But I have sharp wits, an unparalleled gift for herbs and potions, and a whole boatload of sheer stubborness. I'm determined to leave Darkstone Academy in one piece and free, no matter what it throws at me.

A Kiss of Salt and Sea is the first volume in a steamy dark academy fantasy romance series. If you love page-turning action, a richly imagined fantasy world, and slow-burn romance with sizzling payoffs, then step through the gates of Darkstone Academy!

Please This book contains explicit content and darker elements, including mature language, death, and domestic violence. It is not intended for anyone under 18 years of age. This is book one in a series.

Genres: Fantasy, Dragons, Romance, Paranormal, Fae, Why Choose, Romantasy

384 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 31, 2023

About the author

Bliss Devlin works in high tech, likes sushi (and sashimi), and doesn't much care for modern art.

Readers have praised her work as "...a sizzling combination of hot sex and super sweet romance."

She draws inspiration from a childhood spent reading fairy tales, myths, and legends, and an adulthood spent living and traveling overseas. When not writing tales of erotic adventure, she travels, bakes gourmet delights, and hangs out online with an amazing group of smart, funny, sophisticated people.

Reviews

[Taylor Chitwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

•Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
•Spice: 🌶️(.5)
•TW: physical abuse and neglect (think Cinderella), slavery, indentured servitude, racism amongst Fae types, slut-shaming, brief attempt of SA (stopped by an MMC)
•Tropes: wounded heroine, who-did-this-to-you, touch-her-and-💀, reverse harem, friends-to-lovers, fated mates (with a twist)
•HEA? Nope, it’s a cliffy!
•Bonuses: LGBTQ representation (just mentions in book #1)
•Angst level: 2/5

Jacinthe has been living the Cinderella life…before the prince saves the princess, that is.

She never met her father, her mother having married someone else after she was born. But after a horrible accident that leaves her motherless, her stepfather becomes abusive and neglectful. And when he gets remarried? The abuse just worsens….

Until the day Stepfather Dearest decides he doesn’t need Jacinthe, and pawns her off as an indentured servant against her will. Unfortunately, she’ll be serving her 7 years at a “school” for bitchy Royals with an affinity to magic; and for a mageborn who has no magic herself, this is a dangerous place to be.

On her way to the school (*cough* prison *cough), she meets a merman who’s been forced to shift into a human body for the duration of his stay at Darkstone. Later meeting a dragon in the same situation and a High Fae male groundskeeper, she forms an undeniable connection with all three.

But forces are working against all of them - not the least of which being the Law that prohibits relationships between any Fae races and humans. And when people start showing up dead around Darkstone? Jacinthe and her males are the immediate suspects.

If you enjoy a lower-angst High Fantasy friends-to-lovers reverse harem, you’ll love this book! It’s packed full with action and mystery and humor, and has a heroine with a heart of gold. Whilst her men are certainly protective, each one definitely has an inner golden retriever to die for. You will laugh, you will cry, and your only regret will be having to wait for the next book!

PS Ms Devlin - you need any ARC readers for book 2? HMU 🤣

Recommended for 17+ due to cursing and some brief sex scenes

[Jen's Kindle · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was not it for me.

These are my unfiltered thoughts WHILE reading, so may contain spoilers.

The names (of places) are terrible mouthfuls. Also, the FMC starts the book 17 so hopefully they fast forward and I'll still have to age her up in my head. Okay, so she at least turned 18 before anything happened. But Tama has tentacles and a "genital slit". I'm just... It's not hot. Also, they way they talk in this book is terrible. It's as if everyone is new to language
Everyone is called a qualifier and their name... every time. Think: Friend Jacinthe, Apprentice Jacinthe, Friend Tama, etc. It bothers me.

If I wasn't already at 80% I'd definitely dnf. This is probably one I WISH I dnfed.

Cringe-worthy words used to describe genitals: manhood, virgin passage, pearl (clit), wet folds, and of course "slippery sex".

And then she burnt him as she came. Thank god that's over. It'll be a no from me on the rest of the series.

⭐
🌶️

[Darcey]

dnf @66%

my attention span (or lack of) is concerning… i got bored. up until roughly 10% ago i was enjoying it, it was heaps of fun! maybe i’ll try again one day…

[Alyssa Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

This isn't the most brilliant book I've read, but it is fun and strange. It is a reverse harem novel, and the characters are all delightfully too understanding. The protagonist is oblivious but cute. The author could do a better job at building atmosphere, but from the pacing of the story, I think her main focus was just fun reader service. There were parts that made me giggle and others that made me roll my eyes. All in all, a short fun read in an interesting world, and sometimes that's what you need.

[⊹ Gabriela | Asternyx ⊹ · Rating 3 out of 5]

⇢ What to expect:
∘ Reverse-Harem — small (3-4)
∘ Romantasy
∘ "Touch her & die"
∘ Strong FMC w/ unknown past
∘ Friends to Lovers
∘ Prison-like academy setting
∘ (multi-species) Monster MMCs

Finished this one at last. I enjoyed it at first, but slowly lost interest. The plot kept me going, but the characters and the romance blossoming between them weren’t captivating enough for me to want to continue the series.

[Mills · Rating 2 out of 5]

A Kiss of Salt and Sea is a fun but ultimately not particularly well written story.

I'm not sure if the author had an intended audience in mind; it certainly doesn't feel that way. I'd honestly describe it as YA were it not for the infrequent but fairly detailed sexual references.

The plot is like so many YA fantasy-lite stories I've read before. The foreshadowing lacks any subtlety so I've had a pretty clear idea of the heroine's narrative arc for a long time. I can't prove I'm right because A Kiss has no plot resolution but come on - the mysterious mother, the dragon-like colouring, the tattoo, the ability to see magic, the mage mother's relief that her child shows no magic, the burning sensation in the collar compared to that in the earrings, the mysteriously deceased heir to the throne, the merman who insists no ship sank, the dragon King notorious for knocking up a noble woman... Go ahead and tell me our heroine isn't The half-dragon child of the Princess Royal and dragon King and heir to at least the human throne, hidden by a magic suppression tattoo, I dare you. Adults don't need to be spoon-fed plot.

I could never take the heroine's plight seriously because she falls on her feet constantly. She escapes the brothel.* She's given the best jobs in the kitchens. Her boss is such a lax time keeper that she doesn't notice our heroine have a leisurely meal and chat with her friends twice a day. In fact, the only believable danger she's ever in is sexual, which leads me to the other side of this book.

Its attitude towards sexuality is muddled but sadly credible. There are several instances in which our heroine is threatened with gang rape. The men involved are angry when she resists, calling her bitch, whore, slut etc. Ah the irony of slut shaming someone who doesn't want to have sex with you. And yet, this happens. I don't object to sexual violence being used in fiction to shine a light on it but just so the heroine can play damsel in distress? Not great. It feels even more grimey when you consider that the heroine's stepfather planned on selling her to a brothel and was disappointed that she got a different offer.

This grubby feeling doesn't pair well with the juvenile plot and instalove. For there's plenty of instalove. The male protagonists are allowed one or two opportunities to show some personality before becoming one of the heroine's fanboys. In case you thought this at least means smut, alas, barely. More in the next book, perhaps, now that the harem has been set up.

[Rasheta · Rating 1 out of 5]

Where do I start with this book?

Female lead I suppose, let me be clear she starts the book as a seventeen year old. The male leads are clearly older than her, although we don’t get any ages because that would make this even more gross. The guys do get a little slack from me because they don’t know she’s a minor. Although they never ask either so I take my slack back it evens out. There are so many ways the author could have made the female lead better. She could have time skipped and aged the girl up. She could have, I dunno, started with FL older. There are options here but she didn’t. I found myself feeling rather gross and uncomfortable with the whole “romance” side of things. She does turn eighteen before any of the, I am going to laughingly call sex, happens so I guess there’s that. It actually didn’t make me feel any better about it if I’m honest. Seriously, why is this woman a minor and then eighteen? What’s the point. We may never know the answer.

The male leads are kind of better the best written one is the Fae. Clearly the author has a love for the fae and honestly who doesn’t? He was by far the most interesting of the three men who are her beaus. The author actually started out well with Tama but then as the book progressed she got worse at writing him. The dragon was equally cringe but he didn’t get as much time as the other two and that was probably a good thing.

The plot, I write the word plot laughing hysterically because there really isn’t one. The whole conflict of the story is the person killing the mages and other worldly folk. This is totally unresolved by the end of the book (unless I missed something but I don’t think I did) Why is this your conflict if you have no desire to actually come to some kind of conclusion? Also, there is legitimately no movement on finding the culprit at all throughout the book. The conflict is mentioned people die, the main characters go on about their day. Why? I’m left with far more questions than answers at the end of the book.

Plot,ha ha, continued. This book was written like an angsty teen romance. I had to check twice to make sure this wasn’t a Young Adult novel, it’s not according to Amazon, it’s written like one. There isn’t anything in this book worse than in Sarah J mass novel. Why is this an adult novel? Who knows the author has no idea for sure. Also, as with all YA novels, the plot points were incredibly easy to figure out. For example, I knew her tattoo was sealing her power from the time she was on the boat talking to Tama. I also knew she was a dragon child as soon as she was told the story about why the guys were not held hostage in the capital anymore. I also knew by the end of the book something would happen to the tattoo and BAM she would have power. I was correct. The sex is so cringe that it’s hard for me to say anything about it. I read a lot of smut and lemme tell you I’ve read Fanfiction with better adult scenes. This whole book was a train wreck and I feel dumber for having finished it.

[Leesa Lillie]

DNF at 51%. The plot had a lot of promise but the dialogue was pulling me out of the story.

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

A young girl with an opportunity – including an Academy of Magical Arts and a Harem of supernaturals.

What I appreciated about A Kiss of Salt & Sea is that it stands out from the crowd. It takes the well-loved dark academy setting and the renowned romance combined with the fantasy genre and makes it its own.

I loved the book's opening – albeit the MC, Jacinthe, is in a very upsetting situation – as it was reminiscent of Cinderella, which helps us understand Jacinthe's character and the decisions she makes. Her relationship with her stepfather is troubled, but it provides Jacinthe a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

I will admit, that some of the language in the book that is used (names, places, even vocabulary) is a struggle at times – but I understand the need for it, especially when you consider the book's genre(s) and tropes. Jacinthe seems pretty naive – which can frustrate you at times – but it goes along well with her overall character.

I feel as though Jacinthe's relationship with Tama had more substance as opposed to the other men in the harem. Obviously, they spent a lot of time together on the ship – but it means that when we are introduced to Boreas and Gwydion it gives off an 'instalove' vibe – and it is never really expanded upon. There definitely is an opportunity for the relationships within the harem to be expanded upon, and hopefully, they are in book 2.

I will say, a lot of the secondary characters in this book were very endearing and served their purpose well. The majority of the plot felt fine and was paced well. When approaching the end of the book – it definitely felt a bit rushed – especially the sudden inclusion of Ilhan and the cliffhanger.

I understand the book is rated 18+ when considering the tropes and inclusion of smut scenes – or 'courtship session' as they are referred to in the book, but a lot of the plotlines definitely feel as though they belong in a YA book.

Overall, a decent read, hence the 3 stars. I am interested in seeing how the harem grows and progresses, so I am planning on giving Book 2 a chance.

[Manda · Rating 4 out of 5]

The gorgeous cover of A Kiss of Salt & Sea caught my attention when I was looking for my next romantasy academy read. This book exceeded my expectations with an atmosphere of danger, distrust, and lies surrounding engaging characters that prove that enemies can become trusted friends. Jacinthe and her friends are surrounded by political intrigue and dangerous enemies at Darkstone Academy.

Jacinthe is a strong FMC, with a compassionate and nurturing spirit. There is clearly more to Jacinthe's background and magical abilities that she believed, and the hints given in the book make it obvious what direction that is headed, but questions still remain. Did her mother actually perish on her voyage back home at the beginning of the book? Does Jacinthe's father know about her?

I'm diving right into the second book because I just have to know what happens next!

[LittleBookLoves · Rating 3 out of 5]

The MMCs are interesting. Jacinthe is interesting as well. The pacing of the story was an issue the entire time. I have mixed thoughts about the insta-love occurring at the end of the book, especially considering that this never really felt like a slow burn romance. It sort of read like a slow burn between Tama and Jacinthe but there really wasn't enough there between them for it to even feel like a slow burn. As for Boreas and Gwydion...these didn't feel like slow burn romances either, so the strong love at the end was confusing. I'll read the next book in the series to see if there's improvement before deciding if I'm going to DNF this series.

[Lemon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Plot: 3/5 • Smut: 1/5 ————-> This was odd. She’s only 17 and she’s forced off to indentured servitude after her mother dies. That’s about where it gets to before it goes weird. The names are a mouthful. There are so many characters. Idk this just wasn’t for me.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5?! Some of the dialogue is so weird like none of the characters have ever had a conversation before?! It’s weirdly formal in tone. Im really intrigued by the plot and planning to read at least book 2. The editing at some points made me irritated, but the writing itself was good

[Haley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Had a very hooking beginning! I loved that it had a lot of action. I really liked the characters and their development. Overall a really good story!!

[Alissa Mendoza · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was difficult to complete. I kept hoping it would get better, but it didn't, and that was sad.
The vocabulary was poorly selected and awkward. The story line started off good enough--introducing characters, trying to build backstory and a plot--but went from "I don't trust you, you used me for your own gains" to THE NEXT CHAPTER being like, 'to save her life we all must soul bond with her and we might become her slaves because of it' and the FMC being "in love with them all" so it's okay with her if they soul bond with her to save her life because she wants to bone them all.

Also, walruses don't have tentacles, so that was weird. And also, walruses aren't sexy. And "folds"? No thanks.

Attempt at a reverse harem. That went from slow build to, I need to rush to finish writing this book. Author must have had a deadline to meet.

Will not be reading the next, unless it's free and shows up in my kindle library by itself, AND I don't have anything else to read.

Could have been good... if it wasn't so bad. 🥴😬

[Kim that.bookish.mama · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a solid 3 star read.

This book leaves me with a I didn’t hate it but I didn’t love it either kind of vibe. I feel like there was a lot of potential but it kinda just fell flat.

I liked that our FMC came from a hard past so I thought she would end up being a strong bad ass FMC but her character really didn’t evolve much… now I don’t know what she will become in future books… my opinions are just of her in this book of course.

This book also had one of my biggest icks and that was the instalove trope…. I really really don’t like it and so that definitely took me out of the story…

What I did like was the magic system! It was very interesting and I loved the “monster” or “creature” aspect… that was super fun!

All in all this book was just meh for me…. I liked it but definitely didn’t love it.

[Julianne · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF- Finished 100% of book 1 and 19% of book 2

**Review shared for series**

"..lust and affection without trust and honor cause the most trouble." pg. 86 book one

There is... a lot going on with this. Some of it was pretty good, but not a lot of it to be honest. I really wanted to like it.

A lot of the time it just made me uncomfortable. Mostly when it came to the relationships that were (or rather really weren't) being built...

There is also the fact that EVERYTHING seems to go right for fmc.. good for her. Her life is so terrible and yet she seems to be the luckiest person in the world. It all seems to be working out for her which is.. just not entertaining since problems are constantly being thrown at her.

[BreakingtheEpigraph · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Dark and Twisted Fairytale Retelling

I found this story to be an enjoyable read, full of intrigue and unexpected twists. As my first book by this author, it didn’t disappoint. Fans of dark fantasy and fairytales with unique twists should definitely give this one a try.

The story follows Jacinthe, a girl whose troubles seem to end when her stepfather, Baldwin, decides she’s no longer useful—but her life takes an even darker turn. Sent to Darkstone Academy as an indentured servant, she’s thrown into a world of danger and mystery. Her fate shifts after meeting Tama, Boreas, and Gwydion, whose alliances challenge her assumptions and reshape her path. Meanwhile, dark events at the academy escalate as hostages are mysteriously targeted, forcing Jacinthe to rely on her strength and wits to survive.

The characters are compelling, and the plot is packed with surprises that kept me hooked. The dynamics between Jacinthe and her allies are engaging, and the suspenseful, dark atmosphere of the academy adds a lot of depth to the story. While some parts felt a little rushed, the unexpected twists and fascinating outcomes more than made up for it.

If you enjoy dark fantasy, fairytale retellings, or paranormal romance, this book is worth your time. I’m giving it 4 stars and can’t wait to continue the series to see where the story goes next!

[Ines · Rating 5 out of 5]

Luckily, I started this book on my day off from work, because I devoured it from start to finish and everything forcing me to put it down was met with plenty of resistance! I absolutely loved this book, and Jacinthe’s story managed to grab my attention from the very first page.

Still, it’s hard to explain what exactly made me love this book so much. Sometimes, I just find a book that touches me on a different level. One where it isn’t anything rational that jumps out compared to other books, but where the story seems to grab onto my very soul. This story managed to do that, giving me a complete experience and not just a great story.

Of course there are also the more traditional ways to say what’s great about this book: it has fascinating world building, an intriguing backstory, some great male characters, a lovely fmc with hidden powers, a who-dunnit trope and a deeper layer connecting everything with each other. I’m pretty sure I already know what that deeper layer is, but knowing that doesn’t take away any of the reading pleasure. It even adds to it, waiting for that moment everything will be revealed.

I absolutely loved this book, and I can’t wait to get my hands on the next part of this series!

[Lisa Rector · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. So close to five stars. This book held me captivated until I got to the ritual that bound the 4 guys to Jacinthe. It just felt rushed and a bit cheesy. I felt that some elements didn’t feel right, like why would the curse they siphon make the cedar grow instead of mutating and corrupting it? And why did the fourth guy join them? I liked his character but he needed a bit more page time and a developing relationship with Jacinthe. And I wish the men, especially the merman, didn’t sound like ridiculous children when they speak. I loved this world building and characters. I think Jacinthe is part dragon. And the last “courtship session” was meh. And what exactly are these tentacles? A merman with tentacles that move like appendages? So it’s as if he has three *ahem* parts. Good grief. That got an eyeroll. Sorry. I’ve read mermaid stuff and this was new to me. (I really want to know how long they are because i’m thinking like 18 inches for them to bend and do stuff but that’s got to be too much.) Oi. Good read though. Not sure if I want to read on, maybe just to find out more about the fourth guy, whatever his name was. Ilhan?

[Lux · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely was in awe at this book, and would recommend this to anyone who needs a reverse harem with lots of powerful supernatural creatures. Not only that, they have the touch her and die... Literally!

This book follows Jacinthe, as she is 'exiled' from her own mother's home. On the ship she meets a dreadfully protective merman, Tama, and as she reaches the island she is overcome with 2 other sinfully attractive supernaturals.... Plus another at the end.

Ultimately, the main characters, the secondary characters... Scrap that, all the characters, were so beautifully built, and I was able to fully emerge myself into this world. Am I jealous of Jacinthe? Yes. But this book wrapped me in a tight leash with how amazing it was, the world building, the characters, the development, their relationships.

The cliffhanger hurt my heart, as I now need to know what happens next. I can't deal with this tension! I will definitely be reading the next book in the series as I need to know what happens!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and I am voluntarily leaving a review.

[ReverseHaremMuse]

Darkstone Academy – 1/5 Stars

I genuinely struggled to get through this series—not just once, but twice. First, I tried reading it. When that failed, I gave the audiobooks a shot once the full series dropped. I did make it further with audio... but honestly, reading it? Near impossible.

The concept had promise. Djinn and Mermen? Yes, please. I was excited for something unique and darkly magical. But what I got felt more like a watered-down young adult novel awkwardly pretending to be an adult paranormal romance. It didn’t work. At all.

The writing was rough—repetitive and juvenile. And let’s talk about the word “friend.” If I had a dollar for every time it was used, I’d have funded a better editor. That word is officially banned. You’ve used up the lifetime quota—for both of us.

The FMC? She’s officially on my “Worst Female Leads of All Time” list. Painfully frustrating and utterly unrelatable.

So yes, I got my refund on the audiobook. And no, I won’t be revisiting this one. Ever.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interested

So this drew me in and kept my attention fairly easily.

The characters are young and their relationships reflect their age so it’s very believable. I like all the secondary characters that create a kind of found family vibe.

There is intrigue once you get to the island and things start to go bad and fingers start to point back at our main characters. Something is very rotten under the surface and not just because the magical races are taken as political prisoners.

A slow burn rh with some steam at the end. Their friendship builds as a group first. Magic, murd3r and intrigue.

Multiple povs told in first person.

Characters-
Jacinthe of Bernswick - human female, healer apprentice
Warrior Tama of Walrus Clan - male merman
Prince Boreas of the Anemodareis - male dragon
Lord Gwydion ap Pwyll - male fae
Lord Ilhan of Parish - heir to the Duke of Frankia, mage and healer

Steam - slow burn but hot at end

Triggers - death, domestic violence

[Lucent · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.4 stars

The writing style at the beginning of the book seemed quite mature for a reverse harem, which honestly impressed me at first. However, as the story progressed, I started to change my mind. It began to feel a bit uneven, and some of that initial polish faded as the plot went on and more character POVs were given.

Nothing about this book blew my socks off, but it was still a fun read overall with some genuinely cute relationships. I found myself enjoying certain scenes and dynamics, even if the story didn’t completely wow me.

One thing that stood out, though, was how often some of the same information got repeated. Also, a lot of the names and places in this book were way too much of a mouthful. I spent half the time sounding them out in my head instead of just getting lost in the story.

In the end, I’m a little on the fence about continuing the series. It had its moments, but I’m not sure if it was strong enough to keep me hooked for the long run.

[Sherleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well my girl Jacinthe is a lucky, lucky girl!! This book has a slow burning romance (and courtship) between a human with no magic and 3 handsome males. Did anyone order a reverse harem, you know that is my favorite. This author serves up a story were our FMC goes trough a difficult path that can break her. Most of the time it seems like fate or circumstances are against her. But she will quickly learn that even if she doesn't want to there is someone (someone's) that got her back. The end of the book left me with a lot of "burning questions" even though we have learned a bit about our Jacinthe!! Oh, did I tell you about the tentacles? I didn't? That means that you have to read it!! LOL This book kept me engage the whole time and I hope you like it too!!

[Heather Collins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well.. That was definitely different. The beginning was really, really slow but honestly the story keppes getting more interesting. I think I like it, at least enough to continue on with book 2 to see what happens.

Tama, the merman, is definitely a first for me. That was really interesting, to say the least.

Boreas, the dragon, is why I freaking love Dragon shifters, even though he isn't technically a shifter.
That whole concept kinda confuses me about how Jacinthe would make a relationship work with them in their natural forms, but I'm definitely intrigued. 🤔

Gwydion is all around very intriguing and I'm excited to find out more about him. Gotta love a Dark Fae. 🥵🖤

Ilhan.. I'm not really sure what to think of him yet, but I am curious to see if he does eventually become her 4th.

[Chaos · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didnt know what I was expecting when I picked up Kiss of Salt and Sea. The title intrigued me as well as the synopsis. Im so glad to say I loved Jacinthe's story. She has suffered much but is kind and caring. She treats everyone as equals even if they dont see her that way. It angers me to no end how Rodrigo, his sister, and the rest of the students treat Boreas, Gwydion, and Tama. They aren't monsters. In fact if anyone is monsters, its the ones trying to kill innocents. I dont trust Rodrigo and his sister. I think something is fishy especially with the way they act towards the Djinns, merfolk, dragons, and fae. Its disgusting. I love Jacinthe and her fire. There's something there. I dont think her mom is dead. I dont think she's human. She's powerful

[Mackenzie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This narrative makes an interesting attempt at defining a world with complex magic and political systems. Unfortunately, it is quite cluttered with distractions; there are so many elements introduced with minimal or inadequate explanations, and language quirks that seemed intent to establish differentiations in culture, but were more irritating than endearing the further the narrative progressed. The relationships, friendships and otherwise, established within the bounds of the school are inexplicable and uncanny. Rarely does any escalation feel as though it has foundation or is the result of logical progression. This is a relatively quick read, but I wouldn’t call it a memorable one by any stretch of the imagination.

[Ashinherbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got A Kiss of Salt and Sea from stuff your kindle day. This book has the potential of being a Reverse Harem but I’m going to assume the author will touch more on that in book two as this one barely dipped its toe in RH. It was a good read, but I kinda felt like the whole book was all over the place. Four men bound themselves to her, but one man I don’t think understood what he was really getting himself into. Especially since he originally had blamed her for the death of several students at the academy. But one incident brought to light that Jacinthe or her three men, were not the ones they had originally blamed.

[Utena · Rating 2 out of 5]

Merman. Dragons. And Fae. Oh my!

2/5

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