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What Lies Beneath the Tide
"The open sea is a dangerous creature, unpredictable and heartless. It will swallow you whole and dissolve your bones into foam. It is a lawless, wretched thing and yet it is equally seductive, alluring, and elusive. I cannot think of a better thing for a monster to be."
Maeve Anderson is just like everyone else in Saltridge. She's lived here her entire life, works a dead-end job, and for the most part, keeps to herself. Between waiting tables at the Captain’s Quarters, taking care of her trainwreck mother, and keeping her disgruntled cat fed, Maeve doesn't have much time for a social life. Not that she wants one anyway, given the small number of options she has in this town.
Still, nothing prepares her for the sudden arrival of Alex Hayworth, whose presence in town has not gone unnoticed. And it’s not just his peculiar interest in her that makes Maeve unsettled. It’s that he seems to have an uncanny knack for showing up in the most unexpected places—although the same could be said for her if you asked him.
Alex Hayworth is no stranger to tragedy. After all, his entire career as a detective is centered around it. However, when his life suddenly becomes upended by his own personal trauma, Alex soon finds himself in the middle of a mystery even he can’t seem to solve. Desperate for a distraction, he travels to Saltridge, where he unwillingly begins to unearth a sinister secret this quiet little town has been harboring beneath the tide for far too long.
In this contemporary fantasy thriller, What Lies Beneath the Tide weaves a thrilling tale of self-preservation, love, loss, redemption, and the importance of one's identity.
Maeve Anderson is just like everyone else in Saltridge. She's lived here her entire life, works a dead-end job, and for the most part, keeps to herself. Between waiting tables at the Captain’s Quarters, taking care of her trainwreck mother, and keeping her disgruntled cat fed, Maeve doesn't have much time for a social life. Not that she wants one anyway, given the small number of options she has in this town.
Still, nothing prepares her for the sudden arrival of Alex Hayworth, whose presence in town has not gone unnoticed. And it’s not just his peculiar interest in her that makes Maeve unsettled. It’s that he seems to have an uncanny knack for showing up in the most unexpected places—although the same could be said for her if you asked him.
Alex Hayworth is no stranger to tragedy. After all, his entire career as a detective is centered around it. However, when his life suddenly becomes upended by his own personal trauma, Alex soon finds himself in the middle of a mystery even he can’t seem to solve. Desperate for a distraction, he travels to Saltridge, where he unwillingly begins to unearth a sinister secret this quiet little town has been harboring beneath the tide for far too long.
In this contemporary fantasy thriller, What Lies Beneath the Tide weaves a thrilling tale of self-preservation, love, loss, redemption, and the importance of one's identity.
283 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 23, 2024
23 people are currently reading
619 people want to read
About the author
Daphne Parker
4 books79 followersWhen not lost in the labyrinth of her own creations, you can find Daphne exploring alternate dimensions (also known as the local coffee shop) or engaged in intense debates with her children on why they can't have cake for breakfast—okay, why they sometimes can't have cake for breakfast.
A Michigan native, she lives with her husband, their tiny minions, their menace of a cat, and one lazy dog. The Black Hat Society, previously released and currently pulled for republishing, was her first publication, followed by What Lies Beneath the Tide, available now! Please visit her website or follow her on social media for more information on upcoming releases and updates.
A Michigan native, she lives with her husband, their tiny minions, their menace of a cat, and one lazy dog. The Black Hat Society, previously released and currently pulled for republishing, was her first publication, followed by What Lies Beneath the Tide, available now! Please visit her website or follow her on social media for more information on upcoming releases and updates.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 103 reviews
April 8, 2024
Thank you for the chance at being an ARC reader!
I enjoyed this very much. There was a couple things I would have changed if I wrote it, but I didn’t and it’s fine! I love Maeve and wish there was more to her story. And the amount of detail with the police stuff, amazing!!
Overall, I enjoyed this book very much!!
Also what happened to Charley????
I enjoyed this very much. There was a couple things I would have changed if I wrote it, but I didn’t and it’s fine! I love Maeve and wish there was more to her story. And the amount of detail with the police stuff, amazing!!
Overall, I enjoyed this book very much!!
Also what happened to Charley????
August 20, 2024
I’ve never written a book review before, but I had to with this one. This book is amazing and I highly recommend reading it. From the first chapter to the last chapter I was hooked. I had to force myself to put the book down at times because I was so invested and had to know what happens next. I don’t even know if I blinked while I was reading haha. I wish I could go back in time and read this book again for the first time. What Lies Beneath The Tide is definitely one of my favorite reads of 2024. Great job Daphne!
March 31, 2024
STAR RATING- 5/5 LITERALLY GIVE THIS BOOK ALL THE STARS
SPICE-1
TROPES- SMALL TOWN, SUPERNATURAL, FANTASTY, MYSTERY
Alex is devastated after the passing of his parents. He pretty much shuts down and isn’t
interested in facing what happened until he gets a call from the realtor asking if he’s still on board with listing his parent’s house for sale. After confirming he realizes he’s going to have to step foot in their house and decide what he’s going to do with all of their belongings. The attic is one of the last rooms that Alex has to go through. While on his way out, calling it a day his foot catches on a loose board and something shiny catches his attention. After moving the board he finds an old treasure box. He is baffled because the items inside do not belong to him, his parents, or his best friend that often stayed with him. Alex has a weird feeling and is overcome with this feeling of needing to know who these things belong to. After getting some advice from his best friend, Alex does a google image search on the postcard that was found in the box. That search brings him to articles in a town called Saltridge and a disappearance of a man named Max who suddenly disappeared but “didn’t exist” Alex decided to take some personal time to figure out what this all means. What he wasn’t prepared for was walking into a town that is infested with secrets & mysteries. Saltridge is a place that you go to to disappear.
Maeve is just like any other person in her small town. She is a waitress at the only restaurant and is just trying to survive. She is quiet and keeps to herself. When she isn’t working she takes care of her chaos ridden mother and moody cat. She is unbelievably beautiful and is constantly fighting off the advances of men. Underneath it all, Maeve dreams of more, but for her it will never be possible as her underlying secrets are trying to break through. Maeve may seem like the the quiet beauty but under it all is something that noone could have ever predicted.
My thoughts- OH MY LANTA this was an absolutely incredible book. I didn’t know exactly what I was expecting when I first started this book, but this definitely wasn’t it.... it was so much better. Daphne Parker has a way with words that is hard to explain. She brought this world, this town, these characters to life in a way that you would think that this was her 100th book, not her 2nd!! My mind was blown with every turn of the page and the end had me gasping! I haven’t read anything like this and the mention of a small town near the ocean with Sirens, I was all in! YOU JUST KNOW with that description, something is going down!! If you like small towns, supernatural, mystery, and fantasy look no further, this is the book for you!
“Mermaids are storybook creatures, lovely and sweet and full of magic. Sirens are nasty and hideous creatures, created for only one purpose- to steal the souls of men”
“Humans are silly creatures- easily manipulated and never aware. Such easy prey.”
SPICE-1
TROPES- SMALL TOWN, SUPERNATURAL, FANTASTY, MYSTERY
Alex is devastated after the passing of his parents. He pretty much shuts down and isn’t
interested in facing what happened until he gets a call from the realtor asking if he’s still on board with listing his parent’s house for sale. After confirming he realizes he’s going to have to step foot in their house and decide what he’s going to do with all of their belongings. The attic is one of the last rooms that Alex has to go through. While on his way out, calling it a day his foot catches on a loose board and something shiny catches his attention. After moving the board he finds an old treasure box. He is baffled because the items inside do not belong to him, his parents, or his best friend that often stayed with him. Alex has a weird feeling and is overcome with this feeling of needing to know who these things belong to. After getting some advice from his best friend, Alex does a google image search on the postcard that was found in the box. That search brings him to articles in a town called Saltridge and a disappearance of a man named Max who suddenly disappeared but “didn’t exist” Alex decided to take some personal time to figure out what this all means. What he wasn’t prepared for was walking into a town that is infested with secrets & mysteries. Saltridge is a place that you go to to disappear.
Maeve is just like any other person in her small town. She is a waitress at the only restaurant and is just trying to survive. She is quiet and keeps to herself. When she isn’t working she takes care of her chaos ridden mother and moody cat. She is unbelievably beautiful and is constantly fighting off the advances of men. Underneath it all, Maeve dreams of more, but for her it will never be possible as her underlying secrets are trying to break through. Maeve may seem like the the quiet beauty but under it all is something that noone could have ever predicted.
My thoughts- OH MY LANTA this was an absolutely incredible book. I didn’t know exactly what I was expecting when I first started this book, but this definitely wasn’t it.... it was so much better. Daphne Parker has a way with words that is hard to explain. She brought this world, this town, these characters to life in a way that you would think that this was her 100th book, not her 2nd!! My mind was blown with every turn of the page and the end had me gasping! I haven’t read anything like this and the mention of a small town near the ocean with Sirens, I was all in! YOU JUST KNOW with that description, something is going down!! If you like small towns, supernatural, mystery, and fantasy look no further, this is the book for you!
“Mermaids are storybook creatures, lovely and sweet and full of magic. Sirens are nasty and hideous creatures, created for only one purpose- to steal the souls of men”
“Humans are silly creatures- easily manipulated and never aware. Such easy prey.”
June 30, 2024
I got this ARC from the author.
It took me a while to get into this book, as well as, a while to read. I just wasn’t hooked in the beginning. Once I started getting to the parts where there is more interaction between Maeve and Alex, that’s when I started to get into the story. I do feel the ending didn’t tie up some loose ends for me.
Overall, it was a good book. I will read it again over a course of a week vs a couple of months!
It took me a while to get into this book, as well as, a while to read. I just wasn’t hooked in the beginning. Once I started getting to the parts where there is more interaction between Maeve and Alex, that’s when I started to get into the story. I do feel the ending didn’t tie up some loose ends for me.
Overall, it was a good book. I will read it again over a course of a week vs a couple of months!
April 13, 2024
I’m not sure how I would classify this book. A fantasy mystery thriller? All I know is that it was good, and not what I was expecting at all.
Alex goes to Saltridge to find out what he can about some things he found in his parents attic. Maeve is a resident dealing with unruly tourists and a crappy mom. When the two meet, things get a little weird, and Alex starts learning more about what’s happening in this small town. What follows is an entertaining story with twists and turns, sirens, a little spice, lots of mystery, and a great storyline.
Character development and world building are nicely done. The writing is great and the story flows smoothly making this an easy but very enjoyable read.
Overall, I really liked this book, enough that I read it in one day. Totally recommend for fantasy and mystery readers!
I received an advance reader copy from the author, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Alex goes to Saltridge to find out what he can about some things he found in his parents attic. Maeve is a resident dealing with unruly tourists and a crappy mom. When the two meet, things get a little weird, and Alex starts learning more about what’s happening in this small town. What follows is an entertaining story with twists and turns, sirens, a little spice, lots of mystery, and a great storyline.
Character development and world building are nicely done. The writing is great and the story flows smoothly making this an easy but very enjoyable read.
Overall, I really liked this book, enough that I read it in one day. Totally recommend for fantasy and mystery readers!
I received an advance reader copy from the author, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 21, 2024
This book was a newer genre for me, typically you will find me with a romance in my hand/kindle. With that said I didn’t want to put this book down once I started! The mystery and intrigue I felt throughout the entire book made me want to keep going.
I think it was gut wrenching and hit you in the feels just right and the FMC was clearly just trying to find her place in this world and dealing with demons that out of her control.
MMC was angsty and has had his fair share of tragedy, but I was surprised at how much I loved the ending. It was beautifully written!
Overall I would highly recommend this book for anyone that is looking for a supernatural thriller or to step out of their normal comfort genre!
I think it was gut wrenching and hit you in the feels just right and the FMC was clearly just trying to find her place in this world and dealing with demons that out of her control.
MMC was angsty and has had his fair share of tragedy, but I was surprised at how much I loved the ending. It was beautifully written!
Overall I would highly recommend this book for anyone that is looking for a supernatural thriller or to step out of their normal comfort genre!
April 5, 2024
I received an ARC for this book and let me just say, I LOVED IT! I’ll be honest, I didn’t read anything about this book before I started. I didn’t want to have any expectations and that tactic did not disappoint. I don’t know what I was expecting, but the story gripped me and held me the entire time.
You think you know, but you don’t know the whole story… from the first page to the last. I don’t like constant or overdone romance scenes, so this book had just the right amount of spice. And let me tell you… I was devouring the one particular part of the book. When you read it, you will know.
I love the alternating views of characters and even though the beginning of the book was a little too… descriptive for me (I blame my ADD/ADHD - my mind created every adjective it saw and I was struggling to focus that night) it came together fantastically.
I’ve always been a lover of mermaids, and have been enthralled with the thought of sirens, yet now I want more and more. And if someone’s story isn’t quite over…… which I hope it’s not….. I will be waiting impatiently until the story continues.
Bravo to the author! Well done!
You think you know, but you don’t know the whole story… from the first page to the last. I don’t like constant or overdone romance scenes, so this book had just the right amount of spice. And let me tell you… I was devouring the one particular part of the book. When you read it, you will know.
I love the alternating views of characters and even though the beginning of the book was a little too… descriptive for me (I blame my ADD/ADHD - my mind created every adjective it saw and I was struggling to focus that night) it came together fantastically.
I’ve always been a lover of mermaids, and have been enthralled with the thought of sirens, yet now I want more and more. And if someone’s story isn’t quite over…… which I hope it’s not….. I will be waiting impatiently until the story continues.
Bravo to the author! Well done!
June 14, 2024
Full Read Review: really enjoyed getting to know the characters! The story took me for turns that i wasn't expecting! Kept me interested and pulled me in more as I turned the pages.
Beta Read Review: I was given the opportunity to read the first handful of chapters as a beta reader.
This story gives you a good amount of character background to start. The detail used helps you feel what the characters are feeling which is great. It took me a little bit to get through, but it kept pulling me back in!
As the story started to take off, my need to keep reading increased!
So looking forward to the full release!
Beta Read Review: I was given the opportunity to read the first handful of chapters as a beta reader.
This story gives you a good amount of character background to start. The detail used helps you feel what the characters are feeling which is great. It took me a little bit to get through, but it kept pulling me back in!
As the story started to take off, my need to keep reading increased!
So looking forward to the full release!
April 4, 2024
Update: After waiting for what feels like forever I finally got to read my copy and let me tell you it EXCEEDED my expectations. I know its technically a thriller but this book has a little bit of everything and I love that. The characters were fleshed out really well and the story had so much detail and depth I honestly felt like I was really going through it all with Alex and Maeve. This girl is going places I promise you that. I will read anything and everything she writes
April 26, 2024
This is my book, and I've gotta say. . . I think it's pretty good 😉 Putting yourself out into the great big world takes courage. Thank you to everyone who gave my book a chance ❤️
April 15, 2024
WHAT FOLLOWS IS A SPOILER FREE REVIEW! what a refreshingly original novel! I absolutely could not stop reading this. Daphne has a style that is addictive- beautiful and yet still easily readable without putting you off the way some descriptive writing styles can! This is an author to watch because I promise you that if she doesn’t get a deal from this book these publishers are NUTS. Moreover, the ENTIRE TIME I thought- this is going to be made into a movie one day and started mentally casting people for each role. THAT is a good book! I think the summary does a good job so I don’t want to recap what she’s already done in the description- I get personally irritated reading reviews that do this when there’s no need- The description for this is accurate but it’s so much more exciting even! (She couldn’t have been more descriptive without giving fun details you find out later). THIS BOOK CONTAINS SOME SMUT and what you do come across is graphic and 🔥. Good to know in advance for public spaces- 😉
Triggers Include-
SA- IF YOU HAVE EXPERIENCED SA- this may prove a hard one for you. I personally have but have a little distance from my event and so even though I was triggered I managed to get through it. Exercise caution if you decide to read- this author is highly skilled at making you feel the truth of what the character goes through emotionally and it’s hard when you know it yourself intimately. HOWEVER I think for people that have never experienced it personally it’s important that accurate depictions like this exist because it helps with empathy. As a survivor I appreciate someone who will use SA in a way that spreads truth instead of using it as a sensational element to fluff up their story and create drama for no real useful purpose.
CONSENSUAL ROUGH S E >< and graphic smutty descriptions UNRELATED to SA - forceful fellatio and se ><.
De @ t h and graphic v ! O lence: none of children or baby except one brief line of a child being “snatched from a belly” but without any graphic descriptions.
Gr ! E f / Parental Loss : VERY DETAILED DEPICTION of experiencing parental loss and the emotional aftermath. Again this author is highly skilled at making you feel her characters emotion. EXERCISE CAUTION I lost my dad and it triggered me a bit to read this part, as my emotions are still more fresh than they should be.
Emotional a b () se: a character is described as having been experiencing that and is in denial about it- nothing too long in the book about it or too terribly descriptive on this subject.
I’ll close this review with - This author is headed to incredible places. A fantasy meets thriller? Oh yeah this was heaven! I couldn’t stop reading this and I absolutely loveee the ending! I actually didn’t see it coming! This book is worth every penny and I HIGHLY suggest you pick up a copy so you can say you have a first edition from the soon to be legendary Daphne Parker!
Triggers Include-
SA- IF YOU HAVE EXPERIENCED SA- this may prove a hard one for you. I personally have but have a little distance from my event and so even though I was triggered I managed to get through it. Exercise caution if you decide to read- this author is highly skilled at making you feel the truth of what the character goes through emotionally and it’s hard when you know it yourself intimately. HOWEVER I think for people that have never experienced it personally it’s important that accurate depictions like this exist because it helps with empathy. As a survivor I appreciate someone who will use SA in a way that spreads truth instead of using it as a sensational element to fluff up their story and create drama for no real useful purpose.
CONSENSUAL ROUGH S E >< and graphic smutty descriptions UNRELATED to SA - forceful fellatio and se ><.
De @ t h and graphic v ! O lence: none of children or baby except one brief line of a child being “snatched from a belly” but without any graphic descriptions.
Gr ! E f / Parental Loss : VERY DETAILED DEPICTION of experiencing parental loss and the emotional aftermath. Again this author is highly skilled at making you feel her characters emotion. EXERCISE CAUTION I lost my dad and it triggered me a bit to read this part, as my emotions are still more fresh than they should be.
Emotional a b () se: a character is described as having been experiencing that and is in denial about it- nothing too long in the book about it or too terribly descriptive on this subject.
I’ll close this review with - This author is headed to incredible places. A fantasy meets thriller? Oh yeah this was heaven! I couldn’t stop reading this and I absolutely loveee the ending! I actually didn’t see it coming! This book is worth every penny and I HIGHLY suggest you pick up a copy so you can say you have a first edition from the soon to be legendary Daphne Parker!
April 3, 2024
OH MY GOD! This book was nothing like what I expected and in the most amazing way! The twists hit me like a freight train and kept me glued to the story! I have never read anything like this before, a mystery/thriller with mythology and fantasy!? 😍 YES ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT!
Definitely check triggers because there are absolutely some tough parts to read, but it was done so well. I did take a little time to get into it in the first few chapters, kind of getting a feel for the characters and understanding what brought them to the points they were at in life but it did help to know all of those things later on so it definitely made sense as I progressed through the book.
Overall, I absolutely LOVED this, it kept me on the edge of my seat and I couldn’t have ever guessed what was to come! If you love thrillers/suspense and mythology then this is a GREAT read! And a fast one too! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 All the stars! Amazing book!
Definitely check triggers because there are absolutely some tough parts to read, but it was done so well. I did take a little time to get into it in the first few chapters, kind of getting a feel for the characters and understanding what brought them to the points they were at in life but it did help to know all of those things later on so it definitely made sense as I progressed through the book.
Overall, I absolutely LOVED this, it kept me on the edge of my seat and I couldn’t have ever guessed what was to come! If you love thrillers/suspense and mythology then this is a GREAT read! And a fast one too! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 All the stars! Amazing book!
April 3, 2024
If you would have told me to read this book because you saw it go viral on TikTok, I would never doubt that. This book deserves to go viral, because it has that enchanting wow factor that keeps you engaged the entire time. You jump right into the story and details are given so organically that you check the time and suddenly you’re 10 chapters in. Daphne’s writing style is easy to absorb and there were so many magical quotes I have saved from my reading. I spent all of my spare time devouring this and cannot wait to see more of Maeve!
April 2, 2024
4.5 to 5 star read
🌶🌶.5 on the spice. There's not a whole lot. It's very plot based; but the spice that's in it is great!
Daphne has a way of plucking you up and putting you into the story. Her descriptions are detailed enough to where the picture is perfectly painted and all the feelings are being felt. The story progresses perfectly. This does read as a stand-alone, but there's definitely open material, so she can take this anywhere. There's little twists that are perfectly placed to have your nose glued.
Please read the trigger warnings. Like I said, the author is very good at making you feel all the feels the characters are.
🌶🌶.5 on the spice. There's not a whole lot. It's very plot based; but the spice that's in it is great!
Daphne has a way of plucking you up and putting you into the story. Her descriptions are detailed enough to where the picture is perfectly painted and all the feelings are being felt. The story progresses perfectly. This does read as a stand-alone, but there's definitely open material, so she can take this anywhere. There's little twists that are perfectly placed to have your nose glued.
Please read the trigger warnings. Like I said, the author is very good at making you feel all the feels the characters are.
April 7, 2024
“The ocean is capable of many things. It is a living, breathing entity blessed with unrelenting power.”
-Maeve
Wow!
That’s the simplest thing I can say. Simply wow!
So let’s start with, I loved it. I loved every minute of it. The story’s great. It’s mystery, with adventure, romance, loss, a touch of mythology, and darkness. I got lost in the story and couldn’t put it down.
I don’t want to spoil this book for anyone… but if you like:
Books that will keep your attention
Develops a well thought out and detailed story, Develops characters well and gives them depth
Then this book is for you.
I don’t want it to sound like I’m sugar coating it … but this book makes my Top 5. Period. And if there is to ever be a book 2 in this world, 1000% a purchase. Hands down!
-Maeve
Wow!
That’s the simplest thing I can say. Simply wow!
So let’s start with, I loved it. I loved every minute of it. The story’s great. It’s mystery, with adventure, romance, loss, a touch of mythology, and darkness. I got lost in the story and couldn’t put it down.
I don’t want to spoil this book for anyone… but if you like:
Books that will keep your attention
Develops a well thought out and detailed story, Develops characters well and gives them depth
Then this book is for you.
I don’t want it to sound like I’m sugar coating it … but this book makes my Top 5. Period. And if there is to ever be a book 2 in this world, 1000% a purchase. Hands down!
April 2, 2024
This is a story that weaves together fantasy, mystery, and romance. Parker's vivid descriptions will lead you deep into a world where secrets lie under surface. The characters are well-developed and engaging. The atmospheric setting adds to the tension, creating a sense of discomfort throughout the entire book. I definitely enjoyed Parker's writing style. I was hooked from the beginning. I look forward to what she will publish next! Definitely recommend!
April 4, 2024
This book is full of twists and turns. There's a ton of characters and story lines. It makes the read so much better. Everything ties together nicely! I don't want to spoil anything. This is a must read and I'm so glad I read it.
April 11, 2024
This book I will admit too me a little time to get into as it has a lot of moving parts and I was confused with the dual POVs, but I ended up really enjoying it! Alex is dealing with the grief of losing his parents and it leads him to a box in the attic, which ended up unlocking a whole mystery plot that I loved the ending to. Maeve is your girl next door in a small town with a dark past that we don't figure out until the end of the story. I was shocked by the plot twist in the book, I didn't see it at all until right before it was revealed. This book is incredible, especially as the author's debut novel!
January 8, 2025
This story almost feels like it's backwards in a sense that the last 20 pages should have been the first 20 pages in regards to information definitely slow burn hang in there it's gets better looking forward to Mercy's Story
November 15, 2024
Long and rambling. The prose was uninteresting and totally predictable.
Needed a developmental editor BADLY.
Needed a developmental editor BADLY.
April 6, 2024
I was blessed to be picked as an ARC reader for this amazing book!!! And let me tell you, I went into this book blind! I happened to be scrolling Tiktok and found Daphne Parker’s video saying she was looking for ARC readers. I just recently got back into reading and had never done anything like it before so I signed up, not thinking I’d be picked, and went about my way. I’m so glad I was chosen because this book was absolutely amazing!! The emotion, the suspense, the sacrifices in it, the relationships and even the little bit of spice thrown in there!! All so worth the read!! Also the tid bit at the end, miss ma’am! What was that haha ❤️ I didn’t want to book to end but also couldn’t put it down and wanted to know what happened!
April 15, 2024
I was very excited to be chosen as an ARC reader for this book, but unfortunately this book isn't what I thought it would be. SPOILERS AHEAD!!
Alex & Maeve's stories felt very disconnected from each other until basically the end of the book. They only had a few interactions with each other, and they were super brief, and yet she was willing to sacrifice herself for him? I thought they needed to interact and go through a lot more than that for that kind of ending.
I could tell that Alex's story had a clear goal of finding out what happened with his brother's box of things and getting some closure for his parents' deaths, but Maeve's story felt a bit jumbled and random with no real point until the last like 80% of the story. On the same note of Alex's brother, the reveal that he even had a brother in the first place fell a little flat. I wasn't sure by his reaction if he already knew he had a brother or not (I actually had to skim back a few pages to check and see). His emotions and reaction when Jenkins told him was a little boring.
I really wasn't invested in the story until about 90% of the way through when the answers came to light about Max and Mercy, but even then it just felt very meh. When Maeve was being self-loathing and said "In the end, I may drown a thousand men, but the solitude that follows carries a much greater punishment," I had to take a step back and chuckle. You kill thousands of men but feel sorry for yourself because you're lonely? I completely understand having to self-isolate because of the siren inside of her, but that statement feels very ignorant and just wrong. Not sure if Maeve was meant to be redeemed at the end with her sacrifice but in my mind, she wasn't redeemed at all and is still the major villain of this story.
I really wanted to like it more than I did but I have to give it two stars.
Alex & Maeve's stories felt very disconnected from each other until basically the end of the book. They only had a few interactions with each other, and they were super brief, and yet she was willing to sacrifice herself for him? I thought they needed to interact and go through a lot more than that for that kind of ending.
I could tell that Alex's story had a clear goal of finding out what happened with his brother's box of things and getting some closure for his parents' deaths, but Maeve's story felt a bit jumbled and random with no real point until the last like 80% of the story. On the same note of Alex's brother, the reveal that he even had a brother in the first place fell a little flat. I wasn't sure by his reaction if he already knew he had a brother or not (I actually had to skim back a few pages to check and see). His emotions and reaction when Jenkins told him was a little boring.
I really wasn't invested in the story until about 90% of the way through when the answers came to light about Max and Mercy, but even then it just felt very meh. When Maeve was being self-loathing and said "In the end, I may drown a thousand men, but the solitude that follows carries a much greater punishment," I had to take a step back and chuckle. You kill thousands of men but feel sorry for yourself because you're lonely? I completely understand having to self-isolate because of the siren inside of her, but that statement feels very ignorant and just wrong. Not sure if Maeve was meant to be redeemed at the end with her sacrifice but in my mind, she wasn't redeemed at all and is still the major villain of this story.
I really wanted to like it more than I did but I have to give it two stars.
April 24, 2024
OVERALL: 4/5
SPICE: 2/5
I was blessed enough to be chosen by author, Daphne Parker, to be an ARC reader for her new book, "What Lies Beneath the Tide", and this Fantasy/Thriller story did not disappoint!
Alex Hayworth is a young detective who is learning how to deal with the grief and shock of the sudden passing of his mom and dad. While cleaning out their home to prep for sale he found something mysterious that lead him on a wild goose chase to the small quiet town of Saltridge.
Maeve's character is an anti-social homebody who's struggling trying to take care of her mom who refused to take care of herself. Then the harder she tries to do the right things the worse life got for her. She never felt happy with herself or her life.
Halfway through the book when Maeve and Alex met, I was convinced I had to finish this book the same day lol. Maeve has a bad feeling about Alex, and he isn't so sure about her either but he feels a strong physical pull to her that he can't explain. Alex is trying to find out about his forgotten brother, and Maeve is trying to calm the evil she feels within. The intermingling of their stories line up to towards the end explain the past, present, and the future for them both. Or lack there of....
This authors way of writing, and the story itself pulled me in and wouldn't let me go........much like sirens do!! I gave this book a 4 star overall rating only because I wonder..... What happened to Charley? .....What made Alex and Maggie end up together? I would have loved to have more but felt like the ending was too sudden. It does say Mercy's story isn't over so I hope the next one will fill in the gaps. Other wise I loved this story and I can't wait for Daphne Parker's next release.
SPICE: 2/5
I was blessed enough to be chosen by author, Daphne Parker, to be an ARC reader for her new book, "What Lies Beneath the Tide", and this Fantasy/Thriller story did not disappoint!
Alex Hayworth is a young detective who is learning how to deal with the grief and shock of the sudden passing of his mom and dad. While cleaning out their home to prep for sale he found something mysterious that lead him on a wild goose chase to the small quiet town of Saltridge.
Maeve's character is an anti-social homebody who's struggling trying to take care of her mom who refused to take care of herself. Then the harder she tries to do the right things the worse life got for her. She never felt happy with herself or her life.
Halfway through the book when Maeve and Alex met, I was convinced I had to finish this book the same day lol. Maeve has a bad feeling about Alex, and he isn't so sure about her either but he feels a strong physical pull to her that he can't explain. Alex is trying to find out about his forgotten brother, and Maeve is trying to calm the evil she feels within. The intermingling of their stories line up to towards the end explain the past, present, and the future for them both. Or lack there of....
This authors way of writing, and the story itself pulled me in and wouldn't let me go........much like sirens do!! I gave this book a 4 star overall rating only because I wonder..... What happened to Charley? .....What made Alex and Maggie end up together? I would have loved to have more but felt like the ending was too sudden. It does say Mercy's story isn't over so I hope the next one will fill in the gaps. Other wise I loved this story and I can't wait for Daphne Parker's next release.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 16, 2024
O.M.G! Don’t walk, RUNNNN to preorder!!!! I had the opportunity to be a ARC reader for Daphne and hands down she did NOT disappoint!!! All I can say is that I am sitting here wishing there was MORE!
I will admit that the first few chapters were a little hard for me to get through as it’s always difficult getting into a new book and learning a new authors writing (if that makes sense LOL). BUT once I got past the first couple chapters, I was HOOKED! Looking back, I thoroughly appreciated and enjoyed the first few chapters as it gave us a background of the characters and helped us better understand them as a person. I felt as if I knew them personally
There is a trigger warning of SA and if that’s a trigger for you this may not be the book for you but I will say as hard as some of the trauma was to read, it was well thought out and written that it was worth getting through. I have read books in the past where there were no TWs and I had to close the book as I couldn’t stomach it. Daphne did an amazing job warning her readers before even starting the book and for that alone was HUGE in my eyes!!!
I am still so sad that I finished and it’s done, I need more!! There were times I thought for sure I knew who and what a couple times then BOOM, wrong again. I was on the edge all the way up to the ending. Absolutely great read!!!!
Daphne did PHENOMENAL work with this novel and I cannot wait to see what’s in store for her next as we watch her grow!!!
I will admit that the first few chapters were a little hard for me to get through as it’s always difficult getting into a new book and learning a new authors writing (if that makes sense LOL). BUT once I got past the first couple chapters, I was HOOKED! Looking back, I thoroughly appreciated and enjoyed the first few chapters as it gave us a background of the characters and helped us better understand them as a person. I felt as if I knew them personally
There is a trigger warning of SA and if that’s a trigger for you this may not be the book for you but I will say as hard as some of the trauma was to read, it was well thought out and written that it was worth getting through. I have read books in the past where there were no TWs and I had to close the book as I couldn’t stomach it. Daphne did an amazing job warning her readers before even starting the book and for that alone was HUGE in my eyes!!!
I am still so sad that I finished and it’s done, I need more!! There were times I thought for sure I knew who and what a couple times then BOOM, wrong again. I was on the edge all the way up to the ending. Absolutely great read!!!!
Daphne did PHENOMENAL work with this novel and I cannot wait to see what’s in store for her next as we watch her grow!!!
May 2, 2024
Let's do this right.
The opening of the book is strong; it kicks off immediately with the inciting incident that drags the male MC, Alex, into his journey. You immediately get introduced to the grief and trauma that he grapples with the rest of the book with a fair bit of background sprinkled in throughout.
A few chapters in, we meet Maeve, the female MC and only get a glimpse into her life and a bit of veiled mystery that surrounds her.
The writing is phenomenal. It was an easy read, sped along by short chapters that lured you into an easy sense of "I have time for one more" that made the book fly by. I gave it 4 stars because there were a few minor gripes in an otherwise thrilling story. First gripe, and probably the biggest, was that there is a bit of fluff. The book starts strong, reels you in on this adventure that I won't elaborate on to avoid spoilers, but hits a bit of a lull in some areas. Second gripe, there is one big question left unanswered concerning a certain obsidian eye (again, vague to avoid spoilers).
This is a Dark Urban Fantasy Thriller with Mystery elements, but I might even go so far as to say that it has a "slice of life" feel to it as it walks you through a moment in two people's lives. The characters are distinct and well-crafted, the world is well-built and left me wanting to know more about it. It was well worth the read.
The opening of the book is strong; it kicks off immediately with the inciting incident that drags the male MC, Alex, into his journey. You immediately get introduced to the grief and trauma that he grapples with the rest of the book with a fair bit of background sprinkled in throughout.
A few chapters in, we meet Maeve, the female MC and only get a glimpse into her life and a bit of veiled mystery that surrounds her.
The writing is phenomenal. It was an easy read, sped along by short chapters that lured you into an easy sense of "I have time for one more" that made the book fly by. I gave it 4 stars because there were a few minor gripes in an otherwise thrilling story. First gripe, and probably the biggest, was that there is a bit of fluff. The book starts strong, reels you in on this adventure that I won't elaborate on to avoid spoilers, but hits a bit of a lull in some areas. Second gripe, there is one big question left unanswered concerning a certain obsidian eye (again, vague to avoid spoilers).
This is a Dark Urban Fantasy Thriller with Mystery elements, but I might even go so far as to say that it has a "slice of life" feel to it as it walks you through a moment in two people's lives. The characters are distinct and well-crafted, the world is well-built and left me wanting to know more about it. It was well worth the read.
April 15, 2024
I was given the opportunity to be an arc reader for this book. It was really good. I was hooked from the start. It's got romance, fantasy vibes, but mostly this book is mystery. I will admit about 3/4 through the book I got a little confused once everything was coming together but I eventually understood what was going on. This book took a turn (in the best possible way) that made me question everything I thought I knew. It had me on my toes from the beginning. I loved the in depth detail of everything Alex and Maeve went through. It made me feel apart of the story.
I definitely think I need more of a description of the characters beyond just the simple hair color and face features. I had a hard time picturing these characters in my head.
Thank you Daphne Parker for letting me be an arc reader. I enjoyed this book from the start.
But I'm curious what happened with Maeve's mother and Charley.??
I definitely think I need more of a description of the characters beyond just the simple hair color and face features. I had a hard time picturing these characters in my head.
Thank you Daphne Parker for letting me be an arc reader. I enjoyed this book from the start.
But I'm curious what happened with Maeve's mother and Charley.??
May 17, 2024
This book has a beautiful cover and an interesting topic. The author has a way with words, and the descriptions were pretty. I liked the first chapters, especially those about Alex. However, soon things started being weird. First of all, I'm not sure why Alex's chapters are in the third person while Maeve's are in first person. If it's because in book no2 Alex won't be there... maybe it'll sense then but not right now.
The book jumps here and there and a lot of things don't make sense. Even when things are explained in the last chapters, I got no real answers. To be honest, I didn't really get it and at that point I didn't care either. Maeve's mother stole her. I have no idea what happened there or how Alex ended up escaping, but maybe book no 2 explains more. Unfortunately, it's not a book I'll read.
Still, I'm happy to see all these people enjoyed the book. Probably they understood what happened too xD
The book jumps here and there and a lot of things don't make sense. Even when things are explained in the last chapters, I got no real answers. To be honest, I didn't really get it and at that point I didn't care either. Maeve's mother stole her. I have no idea what happened there or how Alex ended up escaping, but maybe book no 2 explains more. Unfortunately, it's not a book I'll read.
Still, I'm happy to see all these people enjoyed the book. Probably they understood what happened too xD
November 25, 2024
I feel like this book could have had way more potential. Spoilers
I don’t understand how Mercy and Max fell in love if sirens only leave the water when they’re punished so how did a siren fall in love with a random? How did jenkins escape when trying to save him? How did maggie and alex reconnect? did he just sell his house and inherit his parents? why were the police not more involved in missing person cases ? shouldn’t it be known for that after all the people Maeve killed (went missing) . Assuming how big a whore her mom is i’m sure there’s how many other men that go missing in Saltridge? and people don’t talk about that throughout the book how many people go missing except Maeve bc she obviously knows why. I like the first part of the book and then when the reveal Of Maeve being a siren started to creep into the book everything just jumped everywhere and didn’t make sense . It felt rushed like the author just wanted to be done writing the book to get it out there .
I don’t understand how Mercy and Max fell in love if sirens only leave the water when they’re punished so how did a siren fall in love with a random? How did jenkins escape when trying to save him? How did maggie and alex reconnect? did he just sell his house and inherit his parents? why were the police not more involved in missing person cases ? shouldn’t it be known for that after all the people Maeve killed (went missing) . Assuming how big a whore her mom is i’m sure there’s how many other men that go missing in Saltridge? and people don’t talk about that throughout the book how many people go missing except Maeve bc she obviously knows why. I like the first part of the book and then when the reveal Of Maeve being a siren started to creep into the book everything just jumped everywhere and didn’t make sense . It felt rushed like the author just wanted to be done writing the book to get it out there .
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 13, 2024
Thank you to the author for an ARC! This book was a fast-paced fantasy with thiller undertones. I've never read a book with the unique mix of murder mystery and mythology quite like this one. I read this in under 24 hours; the short chapters, with plot twists that made me audibly gasp, made me determined to find out what was next. The writing style is almost lyrical in some chapters, reminiscent of a sea shanty, which is appropriate given the haunting coastal setting of the story. The main characters were generally likable, and the author did a good job making their responses to grief and loss relatable. However, there did seem to be a few plot holes where it felt like the author was rushing to get information to the reader and lost track of where they were in the story.
Overall, I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more about Maeve and her journey.
3.5⭐️
Overall, I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more about Maeve and her journey.
3.5⭐️
April 19, 2024
I received an ARC for this book and was so excited to read it, and I do think it was a good read. BUT, I also feel slightly disappointed as well? You have to really pay attention to certain names and people. At the end of the book, someone comes back into the picture and I literally was like "who the f is this??" And had to search the name to figure it out 😅 I had forgotten them completely because they seemed so insignificant so I also think it's weird that this person ended up there at the end because they seemed so irrelevant. I loved that it had a mix of darkness, mystery, twists, and some fantasy type vibes to it. Overall it was okay and kept me reading because I wanted to learn what happened, but I was a bit underwhelmed with the story as a whole, and felt like it could have had a bit more oomph.
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