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The Banished Queen Saga #1
Traitor of the Tides
Avenge those you love. Never surrender.
After going against the king's wishes and risking everything to save her people, Mer is condemned as a traitor. Prepared for death, she's shocked when her grandfather stays the executioner's hand but exacts a far more insidious punishment.
An arranged marriage to the very monster who had taken Mer's beloved from her.
No one will stop her from vengeance - even the demon who is nothing like she thought and threatens to break through all her walls.
After going against the king's wishes and risking everything to save her people, Mer is condemned as a traitor. Prepared for death, she's shocked when her grandfather stays the executioner's hand but exacts a far more insidious punishment.
An arranged marriage to the very monster who had taken Mer's beloved from her.
No one will stop her from vengeance - even the demon who is nothing like she thought and threatens to break through all her walls.
Kindle Edition
Published April 14, 2023
91 people are currently reading
531 people want to read
About the author
Frost Kay
36 books1,403 followersUSA Today Bestselling Author Frost Kay is a certified book dragon with an excessive TBR, and a shoe obsession. If you love bewitching fantasy and sci-fi, epic adventures, dark promises, thrilling action, swoon worthy anti heroes, and slow burning romance; her books are for you!
She claims ownership to the bestselling young adult series The Aermian Feuds packed with adventure, secrets, and betrayal.
Fans of Frost Kay love her epic and science fiction teen titles for their "witty banter and exquisitely crafted sentences (that) never leave you bored or wanting," and "find the writing on par with Queen (Sarah J.) Maas and Elise Kova."
You can find her at www.frostkay.net
You can also sign up for a free story here:goo.gl/Z2PkyC
She claims ownership to the bestselling young adult series The Aermian Feuds packed with adventure, secrets, and betrayal.
Fans of Frost Kay love her epic and science fiction teen titles for their "witty banter and exquisitely crafted sentences (that) never leave you bored or wanting," and "find the writing on par with Queen (Sarah J.) Maas and Elise Kova."
You can find her at www.frostkay.net
You can also sign up for a free story here:goo.gl/Z2PkyC
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
August 6, 2025
This book sets itself up for failure early on, from page 19 actually.
"Her husband slipped beneath the prince's guard and stabbed him in the back. 'No!' she shouted. What was Ream thinking? The prince tossed his head back in pain a moment before he flipped his sword and stabbed backward."
So not only does her husband stab him in the back, but the prince doesn't even turn to look and see who he's killing, he just stabs the person who tried to kill him, which I think is fair.
She's freaking out, trying to figure out how to heal her husband, and he says "This is of my own doing, my love.'"
"She swallowed hard and frowned, trying to come up with a reason why he would say such a thing. Why did he attack the prince? our ally? As if he could read her thoughts, he replied, 'I had no choice. They have my daughter.'"
So her husband, the prince's ally, tries to kill him by stabbing him in the back, gets stabbed himself, and then tells her he knew what he was doing and he did it on purpose to try to save his daughter. His daughter, by the way, is not being held by the prince's people, she's being held by the people that both ALLIES are fighting against.
"'The Scythians gave me proof. They have a likeness of her.' Scythians. Mer froze, staring down at her husband. He'd been in contact with the enemy?"
"She frowned as she ran over the events of the evening. Ream was a healer, not a warrior. He shouldn't have been on that warship in the first place. He'd attacked the prince, and the Methian royal had only defended himself. Mer began to shake. 'What have you done?' she whispered."
"'Was it you?' she questioned. No one knew how the enemy had obtained knowledge on how to hunt the Sirenidae. 'Did you betray us? Me?' Ream reached up and cupped her cheek, his fingers so cold. 'You will understand when you have your own child. There are no lines you won't cross to protect them.' That was a yes. Her heart broke."
Okay so we have established that:
1. Her people and the prince's people are allies against a common enemy.
2. Her husband betrayed her people and told their enemy how to kill them.
3. Her husband attempted to kill the prince by stabbing him in the back.
4. The prince killed her husband by stabbing backwards without looking.
5. Mer is aware of all of the above and is clearly confused and devastated by her husband's actions.
We then spend the rest of the book with Mer going off about how much she hates the prince (now the king) for killing her husband. She tries to kill him, tries to embarrass him in front of his people and make him look bad, and generally acts like a petulant piece of shit. How could anyone like her? How could anyone root for her? About halfway through the book I had to stop and flip back to just confirm that, yes, all the above had happened, because it makes absolutely no sense for her to have this much rage toward this guy.
Boo crap.
"Her husband slipped beneath the prince's guard and stabbed him in the back. 'No!' she shouted. What was Ream thinking? The prince tossed his head back in pain a moment before he flipped his sword and stabbed backward."
So not only does her husband stab him in the back, but the prince doesn't even turn to look and see who he's killing, he just stabs the person who tried to kill him, which I think is fair.
She's freaking out, trying to figure out how to heal her husband, and he says "This is of my own doing, my love.'"
"She swallowed hard and frowned, trying to come up with a reason why he would say such a thing. Why did he attack the prince? our ally? As if he could read her thoughts, he replied, 'I had no choice. They have my daughter.'"
So her husband, the prince's ally, tries to kill him by stabbing him in the back, gets stabbed himself, and then tells her he knew what he was doing and he did it on purpose to try to save his daughter. His daughter, by the way, is not being held by the prince's people, she's being held by the people that both ALLIES are fighting against.
"'The Scythians gave me proof. They have a likeness of her.' Scythians. Mer froze, staring down at her husband. He'd been in contact with the enemy?"
"She frowned as she ran over the events of the evening. Ream was a healer, not a warrior. He shouldn't have been on that warship in the first place. He'd attacked the prince, and the Methian royal had only defended himself. Mer began to shake. 'What have you done?' she whispered."
"'Was it you?' she questioned. No one knew how the enemy had obtained knowledge on how to hunt the Sirenidae. 'Did you betray us? Me?' Ream reached up and cupped her cheek, his fingers so cold. 'You will understand when you have your own child. There are no lines you won't cross to protect them.' That was a yes. Her heart broke."
Okay so we have established that:
1. Her people and the prince's people are allies against a common enemy.
2. Her husband betrayed her people and told their enemy how to kill them.
3. Her husband attempted to kill the prince by stabbing him in the back.
4. The prince killed her husband by stabbing backwards without looking.
5. Mer is aware of all of the above and is clearly confused and devastated by her husband's actions.
We then spend the rest of the book with Mer going off about how much she hates the prince (now the king) for killing her husband. She tries to kill him, tries to embarrass him in front of his people and make him look bad, and generally acts like a petulant piece of shit. How could anyone like her? How could anyone root for her? About halfway through the book I had to stop and flip back to just confirm that, yes, all the above had happened, because it makes absolutely no sense for her to have this much rage toward this guy.
Boo crap.
July 11, 2025
Thank you so much to @rrbooktours and @frost.kay.author for providing me with an eARC of Traitor Of The Tides! This book had everything I was looking for in a romantasy book! The characters were so well written especially the two love interest in this story. I love how strong Mer is but how she also has a soft side to her as well. The pacing in this book is a little slow in the beginning but eventually speeds up towards the middle of the book. The ending has me needing to read more from the amazing Frost Kay, I’ll definitely be reading more of her books in the future! Thank you again for giving me the opportunity to read this amazing book!💕📚
Tropes:
-Enemies To Lovers🗡️
-Romantasy❤️🔥
-Slow Burn🔥
-Sirens🧜♀️
-Arranged Marriage💍
July 8, 2025
Ahhhh you guys! This book was EVERYTHING!!!! Mer is a widowed Sirenidae princess still trying to come to terms with the loss of her love when her grandfather forces her into an exiled marriage to the Methian (human) king Raziel that killed her last husband.
Determined to get revenge on the Methian and keep her people safe she accepts the bargain her grandfather has struck.
This book had me enthralled!! I love the rich world that Frost Kay created! The unique laws, languages, customs, and creatures!!! Can I just say that the flying catlike creatures were my absolute favorite… big surprise there from this cat mama 🤣 🐈
If you love mythical aquatic races like sirens, merpeople, and kraken you need to read this book ASAP!
Determined to get revenge on the Methian and keep her people safe she accepts the bargain her grandfather has struck.
This book had me enthralled!! I love the rich world that Frost Kay created! The unique laws, languages, customs, and creatures!!! Can I just say that the flying catlike creatures were my absolute favorite… big surprise there from this cat mama 🤣 🐈
If you love mythical aquatic races like sirens, merpeople, and kraken you need to read this book ASAP!
July 1, 2025
A solid 4 star read!
*mild spoilers below*
Just finished this ARC and I really enjoyed it! I have not read the previous series so I felt a little lost at first. That being said, I was brought up to speed fairly quickly and I liked the world-building. I cannot wait to go back and read the other series.
Mer is extremely interesting as a character - she is vicious and seeking to avenge her husband’s death which was caused by her new husband. However she wants what is best for her people and sacrifices everything to help those who need it.
Raziel was interesting as an MMC; he seems to be fairly developed but I still want to know more about him and why he is the way he is.
The dual perspective was nice but a few of the jumps had me feel like I was missing something.
Both characters are tumultuous together and I think they will be interesting now that they are warming to each other as they are stuck in the quarantined village. I am intrigued and I am going to definitely read the next book, especially since this one ended on a cliffhanger. Frost creates interesting worlds and characters and I will definitely be back for more!
*mild spoilers below*
Just finished this ARC and I really enjoyed it! I have not read the previous series so I felt a little lost at first. That being said, I was brought up to speed fairly quickly and I liked the world-building. I cannot wait to go back and read the other series.
Mer is extremely interesting as a character - she is vicious and seeking to avenge her husband’s death which was caused by her new husband. However she wants what is best for her people and sacrifices everything to help those who need it.
Raziel was interesting as an MMC; he seems to be fairly developed but I still want to know more about him and why he is the way he is.
The dual perspective was nice but a few of the jumps had me feel like I was missing something.
Both characters are tumultuous together and I think they will be interesting now that they are warming to each other as they are stuck in the quarantined village. I am intrigued and I am going to definitely read the next book, especially since this one ended on a cliffhanger. Frost creates interesting worlds and characters and I will definitely be back for more!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 10, 2025
**Thank you to the Author for the ARC; all opinions are my own.**
This is for the newly released version, June 2025.
3.75-4 ⭐️
1 🌶
I was a little confused at first because I didn't realize that this was the start of a sequel series to Aermian Feuds! That being said, I was able to figure out what was going on, and enjoyed this one! It reads very easily and is fast paced.
I loved Mer's ruthlessness against her situation, and I am rooting for her Raziel in book 2! That cliffhanger, guys 🙂↕️
If you like:
☆sirens
☆flying cats
☆enemies-to-lovers
☆slow burn 🔥
☆sequel series
☆revenge plots
☆war
☆arranged marriage
Try this one out!!
This is for the newly released version, June 2025.
3.75-4 ⭐️
1 🌶
I was a little confused at first because I didn't realize that this was the start of a sequel series to Aermian Feuds! That being said, I was able to figure out what was going on, and enjoyed this one! It reads very easily and is fast paced.
I loved Mer's ruthlessness against her situation, and I am rooting for her Raziel in book 2! That cliffhanger, guys 🙂↕️
If you like:
☆sirens
☆flying cats
☆enemies-to-lovers
☆slow burn 🔥
☆sequel series
☆revenge plots
☆war
☆arranged marriage
Try this one out!!
July 4, 2025
This was just so much fun! One of the BEST actual enemies to lovers I've read!
Give me all the enemies-to-lovers tension, the forced proximity of an arranged marriage, the lethal banter, and yes, the unspoken yearning hidden far, FAR under layers of distrust and rage. Mer and Raziel’s dynamic is exactly the kind of slow thaw I crave in this genre: reluctant alliances, emotional armor cracking just a little, and burning attraction that neither of them wants to acknowledge.
Mer is fierce and stubborn, brimming with rage and purpose, but she also has this tenderness buried deep down, especially in her interactions with Raz’s grandmother and the sea creatures she bonds with. And Raz? An ice king with actual patience (rare!) who is deeply annoyed with Mer and deeply devoted in equal measure. He’s already halfway in love and has no idea what to do with himself. I’m obsessed.
Is this a deeply philosophical or layered fantasy epic? Not really. But it is highly readable, emotionally satisfying, and delivers exactly what it promises. The world-building is interesting but a little thin; it sets the stage more than it immerses you. Most of the big plot happens at the end, so pacing-wise, it’s a little back-heavy. Still, I wasn’t bored. Not even for a second.
Also, flying feline creatures and bonding? YES!
Genuinely a great time. I can’t wait to see where Mer and Raziel go from here because that tension is far from over. And that ENDING!!
Thanks so much to R&R Book Tours and the author for the complimentary copy. This review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.
Give me all the enemies-to-lovers tension, the forced proximity of an arranged marriage, the lethal banter, and yes, the unspoken yearning hidden far, FAR under layers of distrust and rage. Mer and Raziel’s dynamic is exactly the kind of slow thaw I crave in this genre: reluctant alliances, emotional armor cracking just a little, and burning attraction that neither of them wants to acknowledge.
Mer is fierce and stubborn, brimming with rage and purpose, but she also has this tenderness buried deep down, especially in her interactions with Raz’s grandmother and the sea creatures she bonds with. And Raz? An ice king with actual patience (rare!) who is deeply annoyed with Mer and deeply devoted in equal measure. He’s already halfway in love and has no idea what to do with himself. I’m obsessed.
Is this a deeply philosophical or layered fantasy epic? Not really. But it is highly readable, emotionally satisfying, and delivers exactly what it promises. The world-building is interesting but a little thin; it sets the stage more than it immerses you. Most of the big plot happens at the end, so pacing-wise, it’s a little back-heavy. Still, I wasn’t bored. Not even for a second.
Also, flying feline creatures and bonding? YES!
Genuinely a great time. I can’t wait to see where Mer and Raziel go from here because that tension is far from over. And that ENDING!!
Thanks so much to R&R Book Tours and the author for the complimentary copy. This review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.
June 28, 2025
Already a huge fan of Frost Kay, I squealed when I saw she had a new book coming out, (AND sirens? One of my faves, omg! and LOOK at that cover art! 😍) and counted down the days of release and then it was pushed back (which I didn't mind waiting a little longer!) And THEN my amazon kindle pre order was canceled (not sure why)
But I was blessed with an ARC copy!
Andddd I LOVED LOVED LOVED IT!
I'm swooning for the two main characters, guess you could say I've been lured? 😉🧜♀️
I absolutely love a strong, fierce, yet KIND FMC.
NGL, The MMC showed compassion for children and I swooned. He's not just lusting after the FMC and blasting anyone who gets in his way.
They felt like actual people (and siren, but you get it) very important, I've read too many stale cringe characters.
I feel like I'll just babble all day and swoon about how much I love this book.
I can not wait for book 2!
But I was blessed with an ARC copy!
Andddd I LOVED LOVED LOVED IT!
I'm swooning for the two main characters, guess you could say I've been lured? 😉🧜♀️
I absolutely love a strong, fierce, yet KIND FMC.
NGL, The MMC showed compassion for children and I swooned. He's not just lusting after the FMC and blasting anyone who gets in his way.
They felt like actual people (and siren, but you get it) very important, I've read too many stale cringe characters.
I feel like I'll just babble all day and swoon about how much I love this book.
I can not wait for book 2!
July 7, 2025
I liked: the cover art, the subtle references to iconic scenes from The Little Mermaid, that it includes Sirens, the basic plot outline.
I didn't like: the way the FMC seemed almost manic in her decision making. She absolutely never wanted to have a conversation to problem solve anything. She just wanted to throw herself off balconies/ships/ledges and straight into fights. The writing also did not clearly indicate time passing between chapters or even sometimes locations. Our characters would spend hours together traveling somewhere and not say one word to each other when they could have worked out so much. Or the FMC is on a boat for days/weeks with other Siren healers and she never discusses with them why they are being sent with her so she knows nothing about the plague? Really? She's supposed to have been a commander in the war and yet she seemingly can't have a productive conversation with another adult.
This is a perfectly fun read if you don't ask too many questions or want the characters to act sensibly.
I didn't like: the way the FMC seemed almost manic in her decision making. She absolutely never wanted to have a conversation to problem solve anything. She just wanted to throw herself off balconies/ships/ledges and straight into fights. The writing also did not clearly indicate time passing between chapters or even sometimes locations. Our characters would spend hours together traveling somewhere and not say one word to each other when they could have worked out so much. Or the FMC is on a boat for days/weeks with other Siren healers and she never discusses with them why they are being sent with her so she knows nothing about the plague? Really? She's supposed to have been a commander in the war and yet she seemingly can't have a productive conversation with another adult.
This is a perfectly fun read if you don't ask too many questions or want the characters to act sensibly.
July 25, 2025
I’ve never read monster romance before but never any mermaid books and I’m so glad this was my first one!! Kay Frost writes emotionally connected characters that you love straight from the first page. The spice, heartache, intrigue was all amazing and on point! I want MORE. But this is absolutely a book I’ll pick up again, which is rare for me.
August 25, 2025
Frost Kay’s Traitor of the Tides is everything I crave in a fantasy romance — high stakes, complex relationships, and a heroine who refuses to bow to fate. From the moment Mer is branded a traitor for saving her people, the tension never lets up. Facing execution, she’s shocked when her grandfather spares her life… only to sentence her to an arranged marriage with the man she hates most — the one responsible for the death of her beloved.
What unfolds is an intricate dance between vengeance and vulnerability. Kay excels at writing enemies-to-lovers with teeth — the banter sizzles, the attraction builds like a storm, and every emotional beat feels earned. Mer’s new husband isn’t the villain she thought; instead, he’s a layered, morally complex character who challenges her in ways she never expected.
The worldbuilding is lush and political, with dangerous alliances, court intrigue, and whispers of supernatural forces. Every scene feels cinematic — from tense confrontations in shadowed halls to intimate moments that sneak up on you. Kay doesn’t just tell you a story; she pulls you into a living, breathing world where loyalty is tested and love grows in the unlikeliest of places.
Mer is a heroine worth rooting for — brave, flawed, and fiercely loyal. Her emotional arc is powerful, as she struggles to reconcile her grief with the possibility of a future she never imagined. The romance is slow-burn perfection, full of longing and conflict that make every stolen moment matter.
In the hands of a lesser author, this premise could have felt predictable, but Kay keeps the tension high and the stakes personal. The ending leaves you breathless, satisfied yet eager for what comes next.
If you’re a fan of Danielle L. Jensen, Jennifer L. Armentrout, or Sarah A. Parker, this book deserves a top spot on your TBR. Traitor of the Tides is a masterclass in romantic fantasy — and it might just be Frost Kay’s best work yet.
⭐⭐⭐⭐ / 5 — A gripping blend of vengeance, politics, and swoon-worthy romance that will keep you reading late into the night.
What unfolds is an intricate dance between vengeance and vulnerability. Kay excels at writing enemies-to-lovers with teeth — the banter sizzles, the attraction builds like a storm, and every emotional beat feels earned. Mer’s new husband isn’t the villain she thought; instead, he’s a layered, morally complex character who challenges her in ways she never expected.
The worldbuilding is lush and political, with dangerous alliances, court intrigue, and whispers of supernatural forces. Every scene feels cinematic — from tense confrontations in shadowed halls to intimate moments that sneak up on you. Kay doesn’t just tell you a story; she pulls you into a living, breathing world where loyalty is tested and love grows in the unlikeliest of places.
Mer is a heroine worth rooting for — brave, flawed, and fiercely loyal. Her emotional arc is powerful, as she struggles to reconcile her grief with the possibility of a future she never imagined. The romance is slow-burn perfection, full of longing and conflict that make every stolen moment matter.
In the hands of a lesser author, this premise could have felt predictable, but Kay keeps the tension high and the stakes personal. The ending leaves you breathless, satisfied yet eager for what comes next.
If you’re a fan of Danielle L. Jensen, Jennifer L. Armentrout, or Sarah A. Parker, this book deserves a top spot on your TBR. Traitor of the Tides is a masterclass in romantic fantasy — and it might just be Frost Kay’s best work yet.
⭐⭐⭐⭐ / 5 — A gripping blend of vengeance, politics, and swoon-worthy romance that will keep you reading late into the night.
July 12, 2025
Oh my goodness this is the most fun I’ve had read a book in a while. The banter in the war against each other in their arranged marriage ❤️🔥 perfection. I loved how this author covered deep emotions with tragedies of the war/battles, but also brought humor with the enemy-feeling interactions and banter between the MCs in their arranged marriage. The dual POV hit just right in this one, too 🫠 All of that ‘kiss already!!’ lust-filled hate tension makes for the BEST enemies to lovers. The way this turned tender with sweet caretaking moments was icing on the cake. I was swooning and kicking my feet seeing the king’s tender care, and Mer melting into him. That ending 👀 I NEED book two!
🧜♀️ Feral FMC
👑 Determined MMC
❤️🔥 Enemies to Lovers
❤️🔥 Hate to Lovers
❤️🔥 Banter
❤️🔥 Tension
❤️🔥 Sassy retorts
❤️🔥 Caretaking
❤️🔥 Tender Moments
❤️🔥 Griffin Riders
❤️🔥 One Bed
🫑🫑 (steamy no spice with some innuendo comments)
Some triggers to check
🧜♀️ Feral FMC
👑 Determined MMC
❤️🔥 Enemies to Lovers
❤️🔥 Hate to Lovers
❤️🔥 Banter
❤️🔥 Tension
❤️🔥 Sassy retorts
❤️🔥 Caretaking
❤️🔥 Tender Moments
❤️🔥 Griffin Riders
❤️🔥 One Bed
🫑🫑 (steamy no spice with some innuendo comments)
Some triggers to check
June 25, 2024
This is not even a new book but chapters pulled from book 7 in her other series. So I was completely disappointed when reading this and reading her note of being excited to write this new story and continue updating. There is not one new chapter and I read all five chapters and waited over a month to see if there would be an update
Read
August 20, 2025Okay first omg LOOK at that cover art!
The worldbuilding is fantastic and I absolutely loved the dynamic and all the sass between the MCs. That ending was not something I expected.
What you get:
Arranged marriage
Enemies to lovers
Snarky banter
One bed
Slow burn
Griffin riders
Secret societies
Sea adventure
The worldbuilding is fantastic and I absolutely loved the dynamic and all the sass between the MCs. That ending was not something I expected.
What you get:
Arranged marriage
Enemies to lovers
Snarky banter
One bed
Slow burn
Griffin riders
Secret societies
Sea adventure
August 11, 2025
"You'll never survive me.".
As soon as I read the dedication, I knew this book was for me: "To those in their female rage era."
This book had me absolutely adoring Mer and Raz! It’s super refreshing to see an FMC who, despite feeling so much grief, anger, and a thirst for vengeance from a war that stole her late husband, still has a head on her shoulders and shows a lot of empathy and concern toward others. She's also extremely sassy and vicious, which I need more of. 🤌🏻
The MMC also shows a lot of care, even if it's not initially towards Mer. He’s trying to protect his people from the devastation of a plague spreading through his kingdom, and feels the Sirenidae may have the answers to help. So he agrees to an arranged marriage with Mer, who's been banished from her kingdom.
If you enjoy a genuine slow burn, enemies-to-lovers romance, and I mean hate-to-love, this should definitely be on your list. These two DESPISE each other at first, but the TENSION building between them is so freaking good!! There are so many times they are constantly fighting one another physically and mentally, plus, she tries to unalive him when they first meet (with a shell blade and her teeth!)
AND there are flying felines! Skye, is Raziel’s fiilee mount, and the interactions between them have been so much fun (we essentially meet him as the two play a game of chicken to see who would flinch first). 😆 And by the end I was absolutely invested in both MCs, so the ending sent me into a slump because I was not expecting that and need to know what happens next!
(4.25⭐s)
Thank you so much to R&R Book Tours and the author for a copy of this eARC!
𝐈𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬, 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐓𝐁𝐑 𝐀𝐒𝐀𝐏!
✨ A king with a heart of ice
✨ A banished siren princess with revenge on her mind
✨ Enemies to lovers set within an arranged marriage
✨ Blistering female rage
✨ Secret societies
As soon as I read the dedication, I knew this book was for me: "To those in their female rage era."
This book had me absolutely adoring Mer and Raz! It’s super refreshing to see an FMC who, despite feeling so much grief, anger, and a thirst for vengeance from a war that stole her late husband, still has a head on her shoulders and shows a lot of empathy and concern toward others. She's also extremely sassy and vicious, which I need more of. 🤌🏻
Raz had expected her to be cold like the sea, but she was all flames and fire like the sun.
The MMC also shows a lot of care, even if it's not initially towards Mer. He’s trying to protect his people from the devastation of a plague spreading through his kingdom, and feels the Sirenidae may have the answers to help. So he agrees to an arranged marriage with Mer, who's been banished from her kingdom.
If you enjoy a genuine slow burn, enemies-to-lovers romance, and I mean hate-to-love, this should definitely be on your list. These two DESPISE each other at first, but the TENSION building between them is so freaking good!! There are so many times they are constantly fighting one another physically and mentally, plus, she tries to unalive him when they first meet (with a shell blade and her teeth!)
He manhandled her and tossed Mer over his shoulder. The air was knocked out of her as his shoulder slammed into her stomach. She screeched, throwing decorum out the window, and clawed at his back, tearing his shirt from his trousers and slicing bloody furrows into his back.
He slapped her on the rear. Hard.
Mer’s eyes watered, but she gritted her teeth against the pain. How. Dare. He.
“Remove your hands from my person, or I’ll remove your hand from your arm,” she promised.
“Then pull your talons from my back,” he growled in return.
AND there are flying felines! Skye, is Raziel’s fiilee mount, and the interactions between them have been so much fun (we essentially meet him as the two play a game of chicken to see who would flinch first). 😆 And by the end I was absolutely invested in both MCs, so the ending sent me into a slump because I was not expecting that and need to know what happens next!
(4.25⭐s)
Thank you so much to R&R Book Tours and the author for a copy of this eARC!
𝐈𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬, 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐓𝐁𝐑 𝐀𝐒𝐀𝐏!
✨ A king with a heart of ice
✨ A banished siren princess with revenge on her mind
✨ Enemies to lovers set within an arranged marriage
✨ Blistering female rage
✨ Secret societies
July 4, 2025
I take the skies over the sea any day. When it comes to reading, it's where I tend to lean. Nevertheless, how can I say no to one of Frost Kay's epic fantasies? The answer is I can't. Frost Kay really has perfected enemies-to-lovers. When the leading characters hate each other but are wildly attracted to one another and are secretly waging their own personal war, it is everything. The tension, the back-and-forth, miscommunication, secrets, betrayal—ugh, it's so good.
The characters are amazing. Mer is a sirenidae princess, but she's not the pampered kind. Mer is a warrior; she's strong, cunning, and takes action. She also has a big heart, which is how she ended up in this mess. Raziel is on his way to becoming a good king. He still has a few rough edges that need to be worked out, but I like him. The problem with this pair is that they are too much alike. A bit feral and stubborn, intelligent yet puts the world on their shoulders, they were always going to clash.
Mer and Raziel hate each other. Heck, Mer tried to kill him at first sight! The first few chapters were savagery of epic proportions. Raziel has a mean streak, and Mer sort of lost her mind for a minute. I am surprised no one ended up dead. There is a thin line between love and hate, and it all starts with attraction. Both are catching feelings, yet are in complete denial about it. It was chef's kiss. I can't wait for that tension to break; it's going to be so good.
The world was breathtaking, and the detailing was incredible. I could easily picture the siren kingdom on the sea floor, and the forest people's palace is in a mountain. Of course, with fantasies, there are politics and power struggles that help move things along. I like secrets, deception, and subterfuge as much as any fantasy reader, and they certainly were present here. Things are going on beneath the surface that no one's noticed yet. Well, no one except Mer and maybe Raziel. A sickness, missing people, and uneasy situations— the mystery has me hooked.
The prologue gave a little hint about something that I'm sure is going to be revealed as important. So now I'm just waiting for that shoe to drop. It didn't happen in this book, but the two significant twists more than made up for it. One so shocking it had me yelling at my Kindle app. Traitor of the Tides was outstanding, and I'm already dying for more.
The characters are amazing. Mer is a sirenidae princess, but she's not the pampered kind. Mer is a warrior; she's strong, cunning, and takes action. She also has a big heart, which is how she ended up in this mess. Raziel is on his way to becoming a good king. He still has a few rough edges that need to be worked out, but I like him. The problem with this pair is that they are too much alike. A bit feral and stubborn, intelligent yet puts the world on their shoulders, they were always going to clash.
Mer and Raziel hate each other. Heck, Mer tried to kill him at first sight! The first few chapters were savagery of epic proportions. Raziel has a mean streak, and Mer sort of lost her mind for a minute. I am surprised no one ended up dead. There is a thin line between love and hate, and it all starts with attraction. Both are catching feelings, yet are in complete denial about it. It was chef's kiss. I can't wait for that tension to break; it's going to be so good.
The world was breathtaking, and the detailing was incredible. I could easily picture the siren kingdom on the sea floor, and the forest people's palace is in a mountain. Of course, with fantasies, there are politics and power struggles that help move things along. I like secrets, deception, and subterfuge as much as any fantasy reader, and they certainly were present here. Things are going on beneath the surface that no one's noticed yet. Well, no one except Mer and maybe Raziel. A sickness, missing people, and uneasy situations— the mystery has me hooked.
The prologue gave a little hint about something that I'm sure is going to be revealed as important. So now I'm just waiting for that shoe to drop. It didn't happen in this book, but the two significant twists more than made up for it. One so shocking it had me yelling at my Kindle app. Traitor of the Tides was outstanding, and I'm already dying for more.
July 7, 2025
A traitorous siren forced into a marriage alliance that not only takes her out of the sea and puts her on land, but requires her to marry the man who killed her former husband.
The plot:
The whole idea of the FMC having to marry the man who killed her husband first and foremost had me intrigued! I'm thinking how can you make a romance bud between two people when the FMC hates his guts because he killed her husband. Like what?! And to top it all off she's forced to live out of the sea, away from her home, her people, her family, everything that she knows. I was surprised though that the plot didn't take the direction I quite thought it would. There seemed to be various focuses in this one, both parties having set motives and agendas they are focusing on. The MMC is fighting to secure alliances and find a cure for an illness that has been wiping out his people. Whereas, the FMC is in search of this mysterious being. I didn't mind it, however, and was still intrigued and entertained. And it left on such a cliffhanger!!
Mer:
She was such a feisty character. She is a princess Siren who lost her husband in war. She then becomes a traitor to the crown when she helps the humans of the above world. As punishment, she is forced to marry a human king, who turns out to be the man she knows to have killed her husband. She goes into this with built-up rage at her new husband, and will seemingly stop at nothing to get what she wants. I feel like she didn't have much growth in this one, a little bit here and there but we get to learn about who she is now and what has made her who she is, and I'm excited to see who she becomes in the next one!
Raz:
I liked the king. I think he is woefully misunderstood and misjudged. He cares deeply for his people and is trying his best to save them. He is very patient and kind toward Mer, even when she is nasty to him. I like me a good gentle king, not one that is overpowered or greedy. I think he is a very safe character, in the best way.
Romance and spice:
There is definitely a lot of tension between Mer and Raz. There's not much romance between them as they are figuring out their difference and their path moving forward, but their encounters were entertaining. There was no open door spice in this book, however, be aware there is an attempted SA (not by MMC).
Overall, I will continue this series when the next book comes out, and I will check out more from this author!
Tropes:
• Banished Siren Princess
• Siren x Human
• Enemies to Lovers
• Arranged marriage
• Female rage
• Deadly illness
... And more!
The plot:
The whole idea of the FMC having to marry the man who killed her husband first and foremost had me intrigued! I'm thinking how can you make a romance bud between two people when the FMC hates his guts because he killed her husband. Like what?! And to top it all off she's forced to live out of the sea, away from her home, her people, her family, everything that she knows. I was surprised though that the plot didn't take the direction I quite thought it would. There seemed to be various focuses in this one, both parties having set motives and agendas they are focusing on. The MMC is fighting to secure alliances and find a cure for an illness that has been wiping out his people. Whereas, the FMC is in search of this mysterious being. I didn't mind it, however, and was still intrigued and entertained. And it left on such a cliffhanger!!
Mer:
She was such a feisty character. She is a princess Siren who lost her husband in war. She then becomes a traitor to the crown when she helps the humans of the above world. As punishment, she is forced to marry a human king, who turns out to be the man she knows to have killed her husband. She goes into this with built-up rage at her new husband, and will seemingly stop at nothing to get what she wants. I feel like she didn't have much growth in this one, a little bit here and there but we get to learn about who she is now and what has made her who she is, and I'm excited to see who she becomes in the next one!
Raz:
I liked the king. I think he is woefully misunderstood and misjudged. He cares deeply for his people and is trying his best to save them. He is very patient and kind toward Mer, even when she is nasty to him. I like me a good gentle king, not one that is overpowered or greedy. I think he is a very safe character, in the best way.
Romance and spice:
There is definitely a lot of tension between Mer and Raz. There's not much romance between them as they are figuring out their difference and their path moving forward, but their encounters were entertaining. There was no open door spice in this book, however, be aware there is an attempted SA (not by MMC).
Overall, I will continue this series when the next book comes out, and I will check out more from this author!
Tropes:
• Banished Siren Princess
• Siren x Human
• Enemies to Lovers
• Arranged marriage
• Female rage
• Deadly illness
... And more!
July 6, 2025
First let me say that this book destroyed me in the best possible way. Traitor of the Tides was so beautifully written that I often found myself daydreaming about the world and creatures Frost Kay created. This was my introduction to the well established Aermian Feuds world, and at first I was a little lost. But Kay’s writing was SO elaborate, providing ample information, and I quickly became familiarized and absorbed in it. The main characters were perfection. I have never read an enemies to lovers book quite like this, and the relationship dynamics between Mer the FMC and Raziel the MMC were explosive!
I loved Mer, for she was the perfect balance of strength, ferocity, and kindness. I truly love a willful, sassy, and intelligent FMC who is an equal in many ways to her male counterparts. It was gratifying seeing her soften from a being broken by grief and hell-bent on revenge to someone who grows to care for the people and creatures of Methi.
I adored Raziel. He is strong, patient, and loyal, ruling his kingdom with authority and humility and is fiercely protective of his people. I loved how his disdain for Mer slowly morphs into appreciation, and even comes to find comfort in her presence.
This book ends on a killer cliffhanger. There are some sub plots that are left unresolved, and some big twists that will leave you on the edge of your as seat. Just remember that this is the first book in a series, and we will hopefully get some answers in May of 2026 when the next book is released. While this is a romance fantasy, it’s also a slow burn. And when I say slow burn I mean slooow. There was virtually no romance in TotT. However, that allowed for a natural development of the relationship between the main characters, with so much tension at the end you could cut it with a knife. I’m beyond excited to see how their relationship continues to build in book 2!
5/5 stars for Traitor of the Tides, this book was phenomenal. I implore all lovers of fantasy to read this book!
I voluntarily reviewed a free advance copy of this book provided by Frost Kay. This review is honest, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
I loved Mer, for she was the perfect balance of strength, ferocity, and kindness. I truly love a willful, sassy, and intelligent FMC who is an equal in many ways to her male counterparts. It was gratifying seeing her soften from a being broken by grief and hell-bent on revenge to someone who grows to care for the people and creatures of Methi.
I adored Raziel. He is strong, patient, and loyal, ruling his kingdom with authority and humility and is fiercely protective of his people. I loved how his disdain for Mer slowly morphs into appreciation, and even comes to find comfort in her presence.
This book ends on a killer cliffhanger. There are some sub plots that are left unresolved, and some big twists that will leave you on the edge of your as seat. Just remember that this is the first book in a series, and we will hopefully get some answers in May of 2026 when the next book is released. While this is a romance fantasy, it’s also a slow burn. And when I say slow burn I mean slooow. There was virtually no romance in TotT. However, that allowed for a natural development of the relationship between the main characters, with so much tension at the end you could cut it with a knife. I’m beyond excited to see how their relationship continues to build in book 2!
5/5 stars for Traitor of the Tides, this book was phenomenal. I implore all lovers of fantasy to read this book!
I voluntarily reviewed a free advance copy of this book provided by Frost Kay. This review is honest, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
July 12, 2025
Disclosure: I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. As always, my review reflects my true thoughts and is written with the genre and intended audience in mind. I do not let personal preferences override the book’s intent, and I strive to give fair and respectful feedback.
I officially crown this book as a top-tier enemies-to-lovers romance. You know those books where the shift from enemies to lovers happens way too fast and feels unearned? Not here. Traitor of the Tides builds that tension and emotional shift so slowly and satisfyingly. Their first meeting? She literally cuts his throat. And from there, we get a beautifully paced evolution of their dynamic as they share culture, burdens, vulnerabilities—and face something ancient and eerie beneath the tides.
The worldbuilding in this book is rich and layered, but never overwhelming. The two cultures the author created are immersive and introduced at a natural, thoughtful pace. My favorite part of the world? Definitely the sea creatures. They were vivid, strange, and completely fascinating. I can’t wait to see what other secrets the ocean holds in the next book.
The FMC is fierce, bloodthirsty for a reason, and absolutely captivating. She has strong morals that she holds to with unwavering strength, and that made me root for her even more. Her growth and her convictions made her one of the strongest leads I’ve read in a while.
While I personally predicted a few of the plot twists, they were still well executed and fun to watch unfold. I think most readers will really enjoy the surprises along the way. And that ending—wow. I was not ready for that kind of cliffhanger. I am fully invested in this series now and cannot wait to see where it goes next.
If you love a slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romance, immersive oceanic fantasy, morally grounded heroines, and sea-drenched secrets—Traitor of the Tides absolutely belongs on your radar.
I officially crown this book as a top-tier enemies-to-lovers romance. You know those books where the shift from enemies to lovers happens way too fast and feels unearned? Not here. Traitor of the Tides builds that tension and emotional shift so slowly and satisfyingly. Their first meeting? She literally cuts his throat. And from there, we get a beautifully paced evolution of their dynamic as they share culture, burdens, vulnerabilities—and face something ancient and eerie beneath the tides.
The worldbuilding in this book is rich and layered, but never overwhelming. The two cultures the author created are immersive and introduced at a natural, thoughtful pace. My favorite part of the world? Definitely the sea creatures. They were vivid, strange, and completely fascinating. I can’t wait to see what other secrets the ocean holds in the next book.
The FMC is fierce, bloodthirsty for a reason, and absolutely captivating. She has strong morals that she holds to with unwavering strength, and that made me root for her even more. Her growth and her convictions made her one of the strongest leads I’ve read in a while.
While I personally predicted a few of the plot twists, they were still well executed and fun to watch unfold. I think most readers will really enjoy the surprises along the way. And that ending—wow. I was not ready for that kind of cliffhanger. I am fully invested in this series now and cannot wait to see where it goes next.
If you love a slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romance, immersive oceanic fantasy, morally grounded heroines, and sea-drenched secrets—Traitor of the Tides absolutely belongs on your radar.
July 18, 2025
Merfolk, flying large felines, and a slow-burn enemies-to-lovers plot? Count me in.
I wasn't sure what to expect with this read. It sounded so interesting and had a ton of my favorite plot points, but Frost Kay was a new writer to me and I'd had no exposure to this universe before this book. I was very pleasantly surprised!
Mer is such a strong female lead. She doesn't back down, but she also isn't cruel. And our male lead Raz is such a kind hearted lead, who is soft in all the right ways without being a pushover. These two are a mess together and I kinda love it. Half-enemies, half miscommunication (since one of them is a little confused about why they hate each other), and a lot of reluctant romantic tension results in a so many fun situations. I'm really excited to see how their bond grows in the next book!
I didn't go in expecting such a strong political plot presence, but I didn't find myself minding it it at all. It was easy to digest and so needed for the plot.
I also really respected one of the heavier topics that was depicted in the book. As someone who has experience something similar, it very much felt like how that situation was processed for me. I thought it was a really realistic and mature depiction and I thought it did actually add to the book and the character involved's growth.
By the end I found myself disappointed the next book wasn't out.
Non-detailed ending conversation below:
~
~
~
The only reason it's not 5 stars is because I felt like the ending wanted to be a cliffhanger, but it didn't have enough force behind it. But it was a good stopping point for sure. Left the reader with a lot of interesting questions to comeback for. And the other reason for 4 stars is a me thing as a reader, but I really wish some of the names were more imaginative. They were a little on the nose for me. Sirenidae, Mer, fiilee all just so close to their origin concepts.
I wasn't sure what to expect with this read. It sounded so interesting and had a ton of my favorite plot points, but Frost Kay was a new writer to me and I'd had no exposure to this universe before this book. I was very pleasantly surprised!
Mer is such a strong female lead. She doesn't back down, but she also isn't cruel. And our male lead Raz is such a kind hearted lead, who is soft in all the right ways without being a pushover. These two are a mess together and I kinda love it. Half-enemies, half miscommunication (since one of them is a little confused about why they hate each other), and a lot of reluctant romantic tension results in a so many fun situations. I'm really excited to see how their bond grows in the next book!
I didn't go in expecting such a strong political plot presence, but I didn't find myself minding it it at all. It was easy to digest and so needed for the plot.
I also really respected one of the heavier topics that was depicted in the book. As someone who has experience something similar, it very much felt like how that situation was processed for me. I thought it was a really realistic and mature depiction and I thought it did actually add to the book and the character involved's growth.
By the end I found myself disappointed the next book wasn't out.
Non-detailed ending conversation below:
~
~
~
The only reason it's not 5 stars is because I felt like the ending wanted to be a cliffhanger, but it didn't have enough force behind it. But it was a good stopping point for sure. Left the reader with a lot of interesting questions to comeback for. And the other reason for 4 stars is a me thing as a reader, but I really wish some of the names were more imaginative. They were a little on the nose for me. Sirenidae, Mer, fiilee all just so close to their origin concepts.
November 7, 2025
I picked this book up because of the quick read, hadn’t read a book yet where it’s dedicated to Sirens and the story line of enemies to lovers sounded right up my alley.
I have two different views on this book.
I really love the overall story line. The enemies to lovers trope should have hit as it’s a very good take on the trope and plausible too. However, there were a bunch of things lacking for me.
I unfortunately didn’t feel the tension and have any emotional connection to either of the characters. I think if the book was a little more fleshed out then I would have rated this much higher. We don’t really get any character development for her husband who was murdered, so although I can sympathise with the rage, I don’t feel any of it along side her.
I still don’t really know what she did to make her the traitor, it just didn’t feel fleshed out to me. At the very end of the book it spoke of other series this author has written in this world, which is not actually explained anywhere on this book as it’s an entirely new series. So I am unsure if all of that is fleshed out further there?
I also feel like we would just jump and I was suddenly reading about one location, and then realised I somehow missed we were in an entirely new location?
I still enjoyed myself because the overall story line has me intrigued. But I do think the writing style just wasn’t for me. I would like to read the next book still, so despite all the above it still held my interest enough to finish it and want to continue.
I have two different views on this book.
I really love the overall story line. The enemies to lovers trope should have hit as it’s a very good take on the trope and plausible too. However, there were a bunch of things lacking for me.
I unfortunately didn’t feel the tension and have any emotional connection to either of the characters. I think if the book was a little more fleshed out then I would have rated this much higher. We don’t really get any character development for her husband who was murdered, so although I can sympathise with the rage, I don’t feel any of it along side her.
I still don’t really know what she did to make her the traitor, it just didn’t feel fleshed out to me. At the very end of the book it spoke of other series this author has written in this world, which is not actually explained anywhere on this book as it’s an entirely new series. So I am unsure if all of that is fleshed out further there?
I also feel like we would just jump and I was suddenly reading about one location, and then realised I somehow missed we were in an entirely new location?
I still enjoyed myself because the overall story line has me intrigued. But I do think the writing style just wasn’t for me. I would like to read the next book still, so despite all the above it still held my interest enough to finish it and want to continue.
June 28, 2025
Traitor of the Tides
Perfection!! I absolutely loved every minute of this one!!
This book captivated me from the start and this is only the beginning! There’s so much of this new world I want to explore!! All the different kingdoms and creatures in it.
The story flowed well and had a great pace to it. There were twists and turns throughout that hooked me and left me wondering what would happen next.
I enjoyed seeing both the world on land and in the ocean. As I mentioned earlier there’s still so much that has to be explored yet!!
I did love the various customs and creatures. I could picture everything in my mind and am eager for more.
Then there’s the characters; Mer and Raziel! So good!!
Mer was strong feisty woman who wasn’t afraid to challenge the norms and fight for what she believed in. I loved her fire and how fierce she was.
Raziel was a proud king who would do anything for his people. I loved his heart and his patience.
The two of them together were explosive! It was a clash for sure! I won’t give anyway any details but trust me it was so good!!
This book doesn’t have much in the way of romance yet but I can feel it building up to it and I think it will be so worth it in the end!
If you love tropes like enemies to ??, arranged marriage, political intrigue, forced proximity, one bed, vicious FMC, patient MMC, traumatic past, slow burn, lots of sizzling tension, hurt/comfort, and more then you’re not going to want to miss this one!
Perfection!! I absolutely loved every minute of this one!!
This book captivated me from the start and this is only the beginning! There’s so much of this new world I want to explore!! All the different kingdoms and creatures in it.
The story flowed well and had a great pace to it. There were twists and turns throughout that hooked me and left me wondering what would happen next.
I enjoyed seeing both the world on land and in the ocean. As I mentioned earlier there’s still so much that has to be explored yet!!
I did love the various customs and creatures. I could picture everything in my mind and am eager for more.
Then there’s the characters; Mer and Raziel! So good!!
Mer was strong feisty woman who wasn’t afraid to challenge the norms and fight for what she believed in. I loved her fire and how fierce she was.
Raziel was a proud king who would do anything for his people. I loved his heart and his patience.
The two of them together were explosive! It was a clash for sure! I won’t give anyway any details but trust me it was so good!!
This book doesn’t have much in the way of romance yet but I can feel it building up to it and I think it will be so worth it in the end!
If you love tropes like enemies to ??, arranged marriage, political intrigue, forced proximity, one bed, vicious FMC, patient MMC, traumatic past, slow burn, lots of sizzling tension, hurt/comfort, and more then you’re not going to want to miss this one!
June 30, 2025
4.25 Stars
Mer is a Sirenidae princess and she is banished from her home sea's and forced to marry King Raziel from Methi. The only problem? He killed Mer's husband, and has no memory of it, and now Mer is out for revenge. Raz agreed to the marriage because a plague is spreading through his lands, and he needs medicine that only the Sirenidae can provide. When Mer and Raz meet for the first time, Mer tries to kill him right off the bat, and Raz swiftly returns the favor.
While I enjoyed this story, I was a little confused in the beginning, and felt like we had been missing some key information, but as the story flowed, I was able to pick up more bits and pieces. I wish that there was more development around the Fiilee, they seemed like they would be stunning, and it seemed like it would be hard to bond to one, but when Mer did, that part was just glossed over quickly.
While the plot could have used some buffering, I did really like Mer and Raz. Mer is a fiesty, and stabby character, who doesn't ignore the people under her title and cares for everyone. Raz is trying to lead his people as best as he can, all while trying to keep a plague from spreading even farther. I loved how stabby and murderous that Raz and Mer could be with each other, but then in the next moment, show compassion and tenderness. There wasn't much romance in this book, but I can tell in the next book, the slow burn may finally start to ignite.
Mer is a Sirenidae princess and she is banished from her home sea's and forced to marry King Raziel from Methi. The only problem? He killed Mer's husband, and has no memory of it, and now Mer is out for revenge. Raz agreed to the marriage because a plague is spreading through his lands, and he needs medicine that only the Sirenidae can provide. When Mer and Raz meet for the first time, Mer tries to kill him right off the bat, and Raz swiftly returns the favor.
While I enjoyed this story, I was a little confused in the beginning, and felt like we had been missing some key information, but as the story flowed, I was able to pick up more bits and pieces. I wish that there was more development around the Fiilee, they seemed like they would be stunning, and it seemed like it would be hard to bond to one, but when Mer did, that part was just glossed over quickly.
While the plot could have used some buffering, I did really like Mer and Raz. Mer is a fiesty, and stabby character, who doesn't ignore the people under her title and cares for everyone. Raz is trying to lead his people as best as he can, all while trying to keep a plague from spreading even farther. I loved how stabby and murderous that Raz and Mer could be with each other, but then in the next moment, show compassion and tenderness. There wasn't much romance in this book, but I can tell in the next book, the slow burn may finally start to ignite.
July 10, 2025
I was provided an ARC of this title for free and am leaving this review voluntarily. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Traitor of the Tides is the first title of Frost Kay’s The Banished Queen Saga, and follows Mer Thalassan, an exiled Sirenidae princess who was marked as a traitor to her people before she was banished from ever seeing them again, and forced to marry the mortal King who killed her husband.
Someone is tearing out the hearts of King Raziel’s people, and despite the recent arrangement he made with the Sirenidae King, he believes them to be responsible—so after his new bride literally tries to slit his throat upon their first meeting, he plans to make her pay penance for their crimes.
But everything is not as it first seems, and the pair find that…
“The line between love and hate is thin.”
Read this if you love:
Enemies to lovers
Sirens
Partially undersea setting
Sea monsters
Magic
Stabby FMC
Female rage
Biting
“Wife”
FMC with a temper
Forced proximity
One bed
Vicious FMC
Tension
Slow burn
Secrets
Animal companions
Twisty ending
Cliffy
This was another fast paced adventure filled to the brim with feminine rage and tension you’d have to SAW through— but also still leaves so many questions waiting for answers. And that ending was DIABOLICAL, but will absolutely keep me coming back for more!
Thank you so much to Frost Kay & R&R Book Tours for the gifted digital ARC!
Traitor of the Tides is the first title of Frost Kay’s The Banished Queen Saga, and follows Mer Thalassan, an exiled Sirenidae princess who was marked as a traitor to her people before she was banished from ever seeing them again, and forced to marry the mortal King who killed her husband.
Someone is tearing out the hearts of King Raziel’s people, and despite the recent arrangement he made with the Sirenidae King, he believes them to be responsible—so after his new bride literally tries to slit his throat upon their first meeting, he plans to make her pay penance for their crimes.
But everything is not as it first seems, and the pair find that…
“The line between love and hate is thin.”
Read this if you love:
Enemies to lovers
Sirens
Partially undersea setting
Sea monsters
Magic
Stabby FMC
Female rage
Biting
“Wife”
FMC with a temper
Forced proximity
One bed
Vicious FMC
Tension
Slow burn
Secrets
Animal companions
Twisty ending
Cliffy
This was another fast paced adventure filled to the brim with feminine rage and tension you’d have to SAW through— but also still leaves so many questions waiting for answers. And that ending was DIABOLICAL, but will absolutely keep me coming back for more!
Thank you so much to Frost Kay & R&R Book Tours for the gifted digital ARC!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 21, 2025
If you’re in the mood for slow-burn enemies-to-lovers with sassy banter, secret plots, and an ocean full of betrayal—Traitor of the Tides is your next obsession.
We follow Mer, a banished Sirenidae princess entering into an arranged marriage with the human King Raziel, who she has some unfinished business with because he essentially destroyed her life. Is Mer walking down the aisle willingly? Absolutely not. She plans to take him down from the inside.
Except it turns out said king is not as cold or heartless as she thought, even if she tries to pretend otherwise. And their chemistry? Delicious, chaotic, and full of tension. If you love reluctant attraction, sharp banter, and some forced proximity, you will eat this up.
The world-building is immersive starting off in Thalassa, the realm of the Sirenidae, which houses ancient magic, political tension, and more than a few secrets. Then there is Methi, the human realm, which is in the midst of plague, desperation, and distrust.
I quite literally devoured this book. Everything about the story and the characters pulled me in. I was fascinated by the lore, the political systems, and I could not get enough of the tension layered throughout.
Traitor of the Tides mixes siren lore with court politics, slow burn chemistry, and a cliffhanger ending that left me reeling for hours. I desperately want to get my hands on the sequel.
We follow Mer, a banished Sirenidae princess entering into an arranged marriage with the human King Raziel, who she has some unfinished business with because he essentially destroyed her life. Is Mer walking down the aisle willingly? Absolutely not. She plans to take him down from the inside.
Except it turns out said king is not as cold or heartless as she thought, even if she tries to pretend otherwise. And their chemistry? Delicious, chaotic, and full of tension. If you love reluctant attraction, sharp banter, and some forced proximity, you will eat this up.
The world-building is immersive starting off in Thalassa, the realm of the Sirenidae, which houses ancient magic, political tension, and more than a few secrets. Then there is Methi, the human realm, which is in the midst of plague, desperation, and distrust.
I quite literally devoured this book. Everything about the story and the characters pulled me in. I was fascinated by the lore, the political systems, and I could not get enough of the tension layered throughout.
Traitor of the Tides mixes siren lore with court politics, slow burn chemistry, and a cliffhanger ending that left me reeling for hours. I desperately want to get my hands on the sequel.
July 7, 2025
🪸 A Banished Sirenidae Princess sold to her sworn enemy. A ruthless King who will do anything to save his empire.
This was my first Mermaid/Siren romance fantasy and I think I’m hooked.
I was grabbed by the beautiful cover art!
🪸
After losing her husband in war and betrayal to her family Mer is forced to leave her ocean home and marry the king on land, not just any king .. Raz her enemy.. and Mer finds herself either wanting to kill him or fall for him.
🪸
With flying felines, enemies to lovers, female rage, a cold king, slow burn, he falls first, forced marriage, deadly plague and war I was on an emotional roller coaster. This book had my attention the whole time and even infiltrated my dreams.. that’s when you know a book is good as only a few has done that for me. After reading I found out that Mer & Raz were characters in previous book series from Frost, I think if I read them first I wouldn’t have been so confused in parts and have so many unanswered questions. But that’s on me.. not knowing and just diving into this book. But I still loved reading this and
the ending has such a cliff hanger and I can’t wait for book 2.
“Maybe he wasn’t the monster she believed him to be. Maybe . . . she was the monster.”
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This was my first Mermaid/Siren romance fantasy and I think I’m hooked.
I was grabbed by the beautiful cover art!
🪸
After losing her husband in war and betrayal to her family Mer is forced to leave her ocean home and marry the king on land, not just any king .. Raz her enemy.. and Mer finds herself either wanting to kill him or fall for him.
🪸
With flying felines, enemies to lovers, female rage, a cold king, slow burn, he falls first, forced marriage, deadly plague and war I was on an emotional roller coaster. This book had my attention the whole time and even infiltrated my dreams.. that’s when you know a book is good as only a few has done that for me. After reading I found out that Mer & Raz were characters in previous book series from Frost, I think if I read them first I wouldn’t have been so confused in parts and have so many unanswered questions. But that’s on me.. not knowing and just diving into this book. But I still loved reading this and
the ending has such a cliff hanger and I can’t wait for book 2.
“Maybe he wasn’t the monster she believed him to be. Maybe . . . she was the monster.”
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
July 10, 2025
Have you ever finished a book by a new-to-you author and instantly knew you needed to read their entire backlist? Because that’s exactly what Traitor of the Tides did to me. First off—when I saw the cover and my jaw dropped. And when I realized it had sirens with an enemies-to-lovers trope? I was sold.
Set after a brutal war between land and sea, Mer—now a widowed siren princess—wants revenge. And she’s aiming high: the cold, gruff King Raziel himself. She agrees to an arranged marriage to get close and destroy him… but living among land-dwellers and dealing with her new husband isn’t as simple as she thought. Raziel matches her in coldness and stubbornness, and the hate-to-love tension between them is glorious. The slow burn? Was BURNING. And when I realized it was going to continue burning into book two, I screamed into the void of despair! Why does YA ROMANTASY HAVE TO HIT SO HARD?!?!😩(whiney cry)
Frost Kay has officially snared me. The world is rich, the hatred is sharp, and the chemistry is dangerous. Book two cannot come fast enough. I need it like... yesterday. HURRY. 😫 (more whiney crying) 5⭐️.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Set after a brutal war between land and sea, Mer—now a widowed siren princess—wants revenge. And she’s aiming high: the cold, gruff King Raziel himself. She agrees to an arranged marriage to get close and destroy him… but living among land-dwellers and dealing with her new husband isn’t as simple as she thought. Raziel matches her in coldness and stubbornness, and the hate-to-love tension between them is glorious. The slow burn? Was BURNING. And when I realized it was going to continue burning into book two, I screamed into the void of despair! Why does YA ROMANTASY HAVE TO HIT SO HARD?!?!😩(whiney cry)
Frost Kay has officially snared me. The world is rich, the hatred is sharp, and the chemistry is dangerous. Book two cannot come fast enough. I need it like... yesterday. HURRY. 😫 (more whiney crying) 5⭐️.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 6, 2025
This is the first book in the Banished Queen Saga, an ocean themed fantasy romance. I received an advance review copy and my thoughts are my own. Thank you to the author and R&R Book Tours for my eArc.
Tropes and themes include:
✨Slow burn
✨Enemies to lovers (with attempted murders)
✨One horse
✨Sirens x humans
✨One bed
✨Secret societies
✨Arranged marriage
✨Revenge
✨Banished badda$$ princess
Rating: 4.5/5 Stars 1/5 Flames
The Lovely: This was a fun, sea inspired summer fantasy romance. The FMC is a banished siren princess betrothed to a human King. But she’s got her own goals - revenge. I loved how what happened to her previously set her on a dark-ish path but she still helps others, even at risk to herself.
Also Lovely: This is a true enemies to lovers - she attempts to off him, and he nearly offs her in another situation. Their building tension was perfect.
Recommendation: This ends on a pretty big cliffhanger, one that left me with some big questions. I *think* I know who this villain is but I’m not positive yet. Book two is due to be released in 2026. If you like a summery ocean themed romantasy with building tension, I think you would like this book.
Tropes and themes include:
✨Slow burn
✨Enemies to lovers (with attempted murders)
✨One horse
✨Sirens x humans
✨One bed
✨Secret societies
✨Arranged marriage
✨Revenge
✨Banished badda$$ princess
Rating: 4.5/5 Stars 1/5 Flames
The Lovely: This was a fun, sea inspired summer fantasy romance. The FMC is a banished siren princess betrothed to a human King. But she’s got her own goals - revenge. I loved how what happened to her previously set her on a dark-ish path but she still helps others, even at risk to herself.
Also Lovely: This is a true enemies to lovers - she attempts to off him, and he nearly offs her in another situation. Their building tension was perfect.
Recommendation: This ends on a pretty big cliffhanger, one that left me with some big questions. I *think* I know who this villain is but I’m not positive yet. Book two is due to be released in 2026. If you like a summery ocean themed romantasy with building tension, I think you would like this book.
July 9, 2025
Frost has done it again. I fell in love with the world of Aermia with the Aermian Feuds saga, and didn't think anything could reel me in like the stories of Sage & Tehl or Sam & Jasmine. But I was wrong. Mer and Raziel's story takes enemies to lovers to a whole other level. Random thoughts without spoilers... The storyline is amazing - the plot is cohesive and intriguing, and keeps you engaged and wanting to see what is going on and what will happen next. The world building started in the Aermian Feuds continues as we learn more about Methi. The Duke absolutely disgusts me. I pray he is a red shirt character and has a TERRIBLE fate waiting for him. The, um, "physical interactions" between Mer and Raz had me laughing as I am imagining them going at each other. And that ending.... woman, how can you just leave us all hanging on by a tentacle like that?!?!? Ugggh counting the days until Empress of Skys comes out because I NEED MORE. Chef's kiss. 15/10 totally recommend. Read it right now. You won't regret it. If you do regret it, sober up and read it again because you must be high - this book is amazing!
August 7, 2025
𝖙𝖔 𝖙𝖍𝖔𝖘𝖊 𝖎𝖓 𝖙𝖍𝖊𝖎𝖗 𝖋𝖊𝖒𝖆𝖑𝖊 𝖗𝖆𝖌𝖊 𝖊𝖗𝖆..
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And THAT I AM. 👏
God, this was good. You guys know how much I was anticipating the release of this book and to get my hands on an ARC copy of it?
I can die happy now.
I know everyone who reads. This will probably rave about the enemies to lovers. Dynamic here, but can we, for just a second talk about the world building?! It was INCREDIBLE without being overwhelming.
So beautiful I could picture it in my mind that I, too felt like I was right there with the sirenidae...
And the LITERAL GUTTING I experienced when reading this:
"𝖂𝖍𝖞 𝖆𝖗𝖊 𝖞𝖔𝖚 𝖘𝖔 𝖐𝖎𝖓𝖉 𝖙𝖔 𝖒𝖊? 𝕯𝖔 𝖞𝖔𝖚 𝖕𝖎𝖙𝖞 𝖒𝖊?" "... 𝖓𝖔, 𝕴 𝖉𝖔𝖓'𝖙 𝖕𝖎𝖙𝖞 𝖞𝖔𝖚, 𝖇𝖚𝖙 𝕴 𝖜𝖎𝖘𝖍 𝖘𝖔𝖒𝖊𝖔𝖓𝖊 𝖍𝖆𝖉 𝖇𝖊𝖊𝖓 𝖙𝖍𝖊𝖗𝖊 𝖙𝖔 𝖘𝖍𝖔𝖜 𝖒𝖊 𝖆𝖓 𝖔𝖚𝖓𝖈𝖊 𝖔𝖋 𝖈𝖔𝖒𝖋𝖔𝖗𝖙 𝖜𝖍𝖊𝖓 𝕴 𝖜𝖆𝖘 𝖘𝖙𝖗𝖚𝖌𝖌𝖑𝖎𝖓𝖌 𝖜𝖎𝖙𝖍 𝖒𝖞 𝖔𝖜𝖓 𝖕𝖗𝖔𝖇𝖑𝖊𝖒𝖘."
I was literally unwell.
𝘈 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘭𝘺 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘨𝘶𝘦 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘔𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪, 𝘒𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘙𝘢𝘻𝘪𝘦𝘭'𝘴 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦. 𝘏𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴𝘯'𝘵 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘳𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘰𝘯 𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵, 𝘯𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘩𝘦𝘳. 𝘏𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘙𝘢𝘻 𝘤𝘢𝘯'𝘵 𝘢𝘧𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘺. 𝘐𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘥, 𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘥𝘰 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘢𝘳 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘧𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘪𝘯 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘩𝘪𝘮...
-
-
And THAT I AM. 👏
God, this was good. You guys know how much I was anticipating the release of this book and to get my hands on an ARC copy of it?
I can die happy now.
I know everyone who reads. This will probably rave about the enemies to lovers. Dynamic here, but can we, for just a second talk about the world building?! It was INCREDIBLE without being overwhelming.
So beautiful I could picture it in my mind that I, too felt like I was right there with the sirenidae...
And the LITERAL GUTTING I experienced when reading this:
"𝖂𝖍𝖞 𝖆𝖗𝖊 𝖞𝖔𝖚 𝖘𝖔 𝖐𝖎𝖓𝖉 𝖙𝖔 𝖒𝖊? 𝕯𝖔 𝖞𝖔𝖚 𝖕𝖎𝖙𝖞 𝖒𝖊?" "... 𝖓𝖔, 𝕴 𝖉𝖔𝖓'𝖙 𝖕𝖎𝖙𝖞 𝖞𝖔𝖚, 𝖇𝖚𝖙 𝕴 𝖜𝖎𝖘𝖍 𝖘𝖔𝖒𝖊𝖔𝖓𝖊 𝖍𝖆𝖉 𝖇𝖊𝖊𝖓 𝖙𝖍𝖊𝖗𝖊 𝖙𝖔 𝖘𝖍𝖔𝖜 𝖒𝖊 𝖆𝖓 𝖔𝖚𝖓𝖈𝖊 𝖔𝖋 𝖈𝖔𝖒𝖋𝖔𝖗𝖙 𝖜𝖍𝖊𝖓 𝕴 𝖜𝖆𝖘 𝖘𝖙𝖗𝖚𝖌𝖌𝖑𝖎𝖓𝖌 𝖜𝖎𝖙𝖍 𝖒𝖞 𝖔𝖜𝖓 𝖕𝖗𝖔𝖇𝖑𝖊𝖒𝖘."
I was literally unwell.
𝘈 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘭𝘺 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘨𝘶𝘦 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘔𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪, 𝘒𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘙𝘢𝘻𝘪𝘦𝘭'𝘴 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦. 𝘏𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴𝘯'𝘵 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘳𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘰𝘯 𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵, 𝘯𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘩𝘦𝘳. 𝘏𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘙𝘢𝘻 𝘤𝘢𝘯'𝘵 𝘢𝘧𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘺. 𝘐𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘥, 𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘥𝘰 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘢𝘳 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘧𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘪𝘯 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘩𝘪𝘮...
July 7, 2025
I love Mer and Raz! I've been waiting to see Raz's story be told, and he is just so near and dear to my heart. I absolutely love their relationship, especially how it starts out. Their banter and arguments just can't be beat. I enjoyed their progression throughout the book and what they learn, both about each other and about their countries and the world around them. Sometimes I wished that the pacing would go a little faster, but honestly, I've decided that it was just fine because I was constantly engrossed, and if it went faster, then their story would end up rushed instead. Both Mer and Raz are stubborn and fierce, and I believe they were just meant for each other. I had shipped Raz with Mira in the previous books/series SO hard, and was so sad when Mira turned him down, but now I'm seeing how this is truly a power couple. I can't wait to find out the rest of their story and I'm bummed that there was such a cliffhanger! But, it doesn't deter me from this story and I will (not so) patiently wait for the rest. This book has no spice.
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