Adonis

Salt and Starlight #1

by L. Sherleen

Accused of a hate crime and expelled from school in his final year, Connor returns home to his seaside town to let everything blow over. There, not only does he have to learn to deal with the addition of two new stepbrothers and a new stepdad, but he also has to grapple with a world set against him.

It’s not all bad though.

Within his dad’s underwater lab, he discovers something in the deep. Something exciting. Something that calls to him. Something that doesn't shy away from the ugly in him as the world does. And Connor could use the distraction…even if it endangers his life.



Adonis is an 18+ standalone m/m merman mystery adventure.

Genres: Fantasy, M M Romance, Romance, Paranormal, Contemporary, LGBT, M M Fantasy

404 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 11, 2023

About the author

Lily Sherleen writes what she loves to read: sweet coming-of-age stories with a hint of romance--where the heroes find themselves during their journey. She currently lives on the coast of Ireland with her beloved cats who keep her company while she writes.

Reviews

[Astra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started this book not knowing if I would like it, but it turned out alright! The plot was quite interesting and not predictable. I also loved the development of Conner, our main character and the world building around Adonis. The main complaint I would have would be wanting to know more about Austin and really how he and Conner met, like I wanted a flashback with the two of them not just pieces.
But otherwise this book was a solid read in the end.

[Jay H (Hiatus) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars✨

Adonis is an immersive romance that seamlessly blends mystery, fantasy, and deep emotional exploration.If you loved Moth you're gonna fall in love with adonis too. Let's just say their anatomy is very similar, and their personals are similar but at the same time very different??

One of my favorite dynamics was between Connor and Trevor. Trevor consistently had Connor’s back, even when standing up to Edith—a character who seemed to divide opinions. Some think she got off easy, but I disagree. Edith is nothing like Ben, who deserved every bit of what came to him. Still, Connor’s parents put him through hell, and it was satisfying to see them face the consequences.

Adonis as a character is like a mix of Moth (same anatomy and sexual preferences) and Seraph (who acts like a caveman and doesn’t speak English). The author crafted a compelling character who’s more than just a romantic interest—he’s a complex figure in Connor’s world.

But this book wasn’t just about a guy falling for a merman. There was so much more going on—drama, family issues, tension—that kept me on the edge of my seat. Connor’s journey toward finding family and healing in unexpected ways was just as important as the romance. I loved the balance!

My one complaint? There’s a whole side of the merman world that was left untouched. I’m seriously hoping for another book that dives deeper into it.

And can we talk about Laurence? I love that kid SOO MUCH!!! The scene where Adonis insists that Laurence is Connor’s stepchild had me cracking up.

“We shall make do with Laurence,” Adonis said with confidence.
Connor groaned. “Adonis, I have told you a dozen times. Laurence is not my child.”Adonis grunted. “Adonis.”
“Yes. I remember. He is step-child.”

I LOVE his relationship with Laurence
I highly recommend it if you're looking for something that delivers on spice, emotion, and a touch of adventure, all while telling a heartfelt story of love, family, and healing.




_____________
Pre-Read:

This BETTER live up to the hype, or heads are going to fly. I hope you guys have an AMAZING weekend 💖😘💋

[Reem · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you Betsy for recommending this book, it’s my first one with a Merman MC🧜‍♂️ 🩵 I finally managed to crawl out of the rabbit hole and read.

Starting with what I found problematic: a lot of grammatical errors, bad sentence structures, forgetting the characters are Irish and using US words and spelling. It could be the editing? I ignored it at first, then started to give excuses like it might be a debut novel or maybe the version I found is the problem but it was a lot and for many other reasons, I decided that this author is not for me.

Another thing I found personally uncomfortable was the intimate scenes, the main character just turned eighteen and the author did such a wonderful job writing him to represent his age, you never forget the fact that he’s still a kid. I am not a teen and those scenes were very explicit! So I just skimmed them to the next part, and enjoyed reading their overall relationship development more, it’s very sweet.

On the more positive side: the mystery was set up perfectly, with many different aspects of it, different clues and trying to tie it all together. It was absorbing and I had so much fun coming up with different theories. Though the climax was good, it was a little underwhelming and solved too quickly. The step family were lovely and their interactions were good to read but most times the mother is with them but it’s like she doesn’t exist, a bad choice of how to make us hate her.

If you like YA shifter romance with a mystery, you’ll like this book.

[Megan [At The Cottage] · Rating 3 out of 5]

MM Romance
Merman Mystery
3.5 Stars ⭐️


While I had initially DNF’d this and my review is below, I never returned it because I kept wondering how the mystery part of this book would unfold. I decided to go back in a few weeks later just to skim it and shockingly, I started to enjoy it. The book picked up around the 60% mark and I had trouble putting it back down. Once I got over the fact this was not a cute merman story and had more depth to it, I enjoyed myself. This does have some really sweet parts between Adonis and Conner and the sex scenes got better as time went on. The last few chapters were from Adonis’ POV and I really enjoyed that. Even though this has a complete ending, I feel like there is so much more this world has to offer and when I saw the author was planning to write more about this couple including the parts that are still a bit mysterious, I was happy. I want to see this what’s on the other side so to speak and I’d love more of Adonis’ POV.

I’m giving this 3.5 stars lowered down only because the first part was slow enough that I did briefly DNF but I really enjoyed what took place when I picked it up again. However, Edith is still terrible and her “reasons” don’t excuse her shitty behavior. Conner’s parents were some of the worst people I’ve ever read about and not for the usual reasons we see. I can only hope karma will track them down.

========================================
One of my reading goals was to DNF instead of suffering through and if I keep reading this, I’m going to rate this super low and have to rant because I’m already so disappointed. The first 20% of this book was set up to be a cute merman story. Yes, our main character Connor had some issues he was dealing with and it had a rather dark vibe because his family, especially his mom Edith, were total assholes. But it started out like this merman creature Adonis was going to be Connor’s saving grace from it all. However, at 30% Connor’s ex boyfriend Austin shows up but he’s not welcome because he betrayed Connor and is to blame for Connor’s ongoing issues. The book has taken this weird turn towards a mystery involving the ex boyfriend, his dad and a political agenda of some kind. There’s a mystery to be solved about what actually happened to Connor on the night in question that ruined Connor’s life but I don’t care about any of that because I just want to merman story. I read some reviews and I’m going to hate where this is going not to mention having the reviews say that there is a resolution when it comes to Edith is preposterous. She’s the worst character ever and there is no way she can be redeemed. Just the way she treats her son Connor is grounds for her to be killed off or imprisoned but not given some really bad redemption. Also, this could use a good proofreading. Naval instead of Navel, globs of cum. Yuck. 🤢

No rating because it’s under 50%. What a shame because I really liked this at the start and I love the cover. But no thank you. I’m done.

[Ray · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm in my gay fish era, and I'm not slowing down for anybody. I read this on kindle unlimited and by the 75% mark id already ordered me a physical copy. I'm a sucker for found family what can I say. This book weirdly enough reminded me of the relationship in brothersong by tj klune, lol. I thought it was a very nice blend of romance, mystery, and character moments. My one (1) complaint is that the word hair is used 106 times in this book and not once was it used to describe what color hair our main character conner has. But that's my only complaint lol. I had such a good time with this one!

[Marci · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow what a delight!!! I don’t typically read a ton of fantasy books but I’m really glad I picked this up. L. Sherleen has quickly become an author I would read anything from.💁🏼‍♀️ Very cute and sweet without being twee. Plus there’s a good balance of romance and plot. I don’t want to give anything away but there’s a big mystery / conspiracy the characters uncover and madness ensues…🫨 It was intense! My heart fell into my stomach.😮

I really enjoyed watching the main character Connor have the character arc he did. Growth encouraged by a found family he so desperately needed. I adored them all deeply.❤️ Adonis is the merman we all need in our lives, just so full of love and radiating sunshine.🌞 He was so needy, desperate and obsessed….and *I* was obsessed with it.🙂‍↕️ Every page with him was a treat. Connor and Adonis have excellent chemistry and their bond is so easy to feel through the pages. I am so in love with their love. It’s so cute how affectionate they are. The cuddles!!!🥰 Adonis squeaking out of contentment when they’re close.😭 When Connor asked Adonis if they were boyfriends and Adonis said “mates” I’m pretty sure I squealed.🤭 All of the adorable human x mermaid miscommunications. How did my heart not burst out of my chest reading this, I’m not sure… Take a dive into this book, you won’t regret it!!!✨🧜🏼‍♂️💕✨🧜🏼‍♂️💕✨🧜🏼‍♂️💕✨🧜🏼‍♂️💕

[Achim · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5
Reading other reviews it seems I'm not alone with my struggle to rate this book. There is a lot to love about this book but unfortunately it couldn't keep up the standards it was setting in its first part. I was completely on board with the family setting and how that set the mood right from the beginning. Connor, accused of a hate crime he can't remember and with no one to defend him, is sent back to his home town, back to his more than dysfunctional family with a father focused only on this research work and a mother who despised his very existence. Only his mother's new husband seems to allow the benefit of a doubt but in typical teenage drama he antagonizes him and doesn't even tell them that it couldn't be a hate crime. Who cares after even his boyfriend didn't stand up for him. That's the initial situation and while his stepfather and his younger stepbrother working on tearing Connor's walls down, some other aspects trickle down into the story and I'm not even talking about the sudden appearance of a young mermen right next to his father's lab. You know quite early something's fishy (no pun intended) and you're waiting for the other shoe to drop – just to be distracted by the new development on the family situation and Connor's involvement with Adonis.

Okay, Trevor, the stepfather, might be too good to be true while Ben, the biological father, comes up short from a caricature but I enjoyed that part of the story even with Adonis in the mix. I appreciated L. Sherleen's decision not to make Adonis in some kind of mermen shifter i.e. you don't need legs for sexual explorations and while he obviously can understand Connor he doesn't seem to be able to communicate in actual words. He's an odd character, clingy, proud and curious and so obviously not human. I would have liked to read more like this first part even after the ex boyfriend suddenly arrives and with him the mystery picks up speed.

Sadly that speed is what takes out the seriousness and the fun. The resolution of the mystery has some action elements but feels anticlimactic and the story becomes rushed and looses its traction. Now right out of the left field we have to accept a dimension tear but there's no time to tell us more about it? Nothing about Adonis' people or his culture even in those last chapters which we get from his point of view? The situation with Connor's mother also had that lukewarm resolution. I didn't expected a happy ending but that by-the-way carelessness didn't sit well, at all. All the good work the author did in the first part was completely undermined by the rushed 2nd part, such a pity.

[Shonee · Rating 4 out of 5]

So, I hesitated to start this because of the heavy subject matter that I incorrectly assumed was a race-based hate crime, not gay bashing. It is indeed about gay bashing...kind of.

I've seen a couple reviews where some have said that the resolution with Connor's mother, Edith, was unsatisfactory, and I can see that. I'm super sensitive to parents who aren't good to their kids NOT getting what they deserve. This, isn't the case here, if you're wondering. She doesn't get everything she deserves, but she doesn't get off scot-free, either. If I'm OK with it, I'm sure most who also have this sensitivity will be, too.

Also, the pacing is a little wonky in this book, but I feel it was excusable. There needed to be more detail about Connor's family dynamics in order to get the big picture. It's not that the second half was rushed, but I'm seeing this book as not being mainly about a man falling in love with a merman, but Connor finding family and healing in unexpected ways that just so happens to include a merman.

All that said, wowza, the sex in this was insanely good. I didn't think I'd be into it as much as I was (I've read stories with merfolk sex or merfolk/human sex in them and it was meh), but I was pleasantly surprised.

02/13/2025
I'm still bitter that Connor's mom's husband thought it was OK for his kids to take over Connor's bedroom and have Connor sleep on the couch, even temporarily. That is SUCH an asshole move, that it makes me not like him, even though he turns out to be the only person (besides his mermans) who stood with him.. Like, I'm sitting here at a gentle simmer at 3am.

[Ken W · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tough book to rate.

There was a lot about this book that I enjoyed and a lot about this book that I disliked. Edith was a horrible character even after her backstory was revealed. The mystery part of the story was weird and the end of the mystery was abrupt. I did like a lot of the characters and the family dynamic, except for Edith. Overall I will give this 3 stars and say that I won't be diving into any of this author's other books.

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. There was a lot of potential in the story but too much time was spent in the beginning with family drama. For me, it really detracted from the developing relationship between the MCs. The somewhat unique approach to mermen held my interest, but again, there was a whole other side of the merman’s world that was left unexplored.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really struggled with rating this one. There were some really stand out fantastic things at play here but the story was really bogged down by structural instabilities that made it difficult to really enjoy what was done well.

The positives I saw at play here was in our cast of characters. So often I see the merperson trope shying away from the *ahem* anatomy. I liked that Sherleen didn’t use the “oh but he can turn into a human” cop out and really committed to the species difference. Monster fuckers - dinner has been served. The way Connor and Adonis communicate with one another was really sweet and, even though I am not a fan of insta-love, it was hard not to find Adonis and his immediate infatuation with Connor endearing.

The family dynamics really shined for me above everything else here. I think you know you’ve written compelling familial relationships when the reader says “yeah the merman is cool, but let's get back to the family” because honestly, I was far more interested in the relationships between Connor and his new step-father/brothers than I was the romance. It was rewarding to watch them all warm up to one another.

Alas, there were some things I really wished were handled better. The plot as whole needed some workshopping - there was a mystery involving some shady science/experiment stuff going on (I don’t want to spoil too much so I’m being vague on purpose!) that felt too convoluted for the story being told. Also the introduction of different dimensions/worlds? It felt like a bandaid over a paper-cut that really didn’t need a bandaid - I was perfectly ok with the existence of mermaids in Ireland. I didn’t need an explanation and trying to throw it in at the end felt like an afterthought. This story would have been a 5 star perfect romance without all the underlying sci-fi and conspiracy ideas thrown in there.

I would say if you are looking for a merman M/M romance that does the different species x human trope justice then this would be a good read for you regardless of the plot.

I will be posting my star rating for this book after it has been officially published. I received this book as an arc from BookSirens and am leaving this review voluntarily.

[εllε · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awww, this was the best book I’ve read lately ❤️
The story was so original and the characters well developed and fresh. I loved how layered Connor was and how cute Adonis was. Trevor too was a superb dad and I can’t wait to read more about the other step-bros Nick and sweet Laurence. I’d gladly read another book (or more) set in this universe. Beautiful, beautiful book 🤩

[peoniesandmm · Rating 5 out of 5]

i thoroughly enjoyed every second of this book.

[kylie ‧₊˚☾ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars
the romance was cute but i especially loved the relationship development between connor and his step family. my one gripe is that nothing substantial really happened for a lot of the book and then all the reveals felt rushed at the end; i wish we got more details about Adonis, and his world and powers. overall it was a really enjoyable read!

[Wanderer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I speed read this in a day, including while at work during lulls in my duties. I would go back and speed read it all again for the first time if I could, and then once more for good measure.

This is the mer/human novel that I have been desperately searching for for far too long but have never been able to find. I’ve read my fair share of mer novels, and none of them have quite managed to hit the spot, for one reason or another. So when I found Adonis, I read the blurb with interest and went into it not really expecting anything mind blowing—something fun and entertaining at best.

I’ve never been happier to have my expectations blasted.

Everything about this is absolutely, completely, downright perfect. I have not one single complaint. Watch me stand on top of the nearest tall building and scream at anyone who will listen to please for the love of god read Adonis, it’s everything.

We meet Connor, a troubled teen with the attitude of a wildcat, sent back to his childhood home to live with a mother who hates him, a father who doesn’t care about him, and a step-family he never wanted. Circumstances have forced him into proximity with his mothers new husband and his two sons, setting up the dynamic for the kind of painful healing that every good novel thrives on.

Connor is a convicted criminal, and the circumstances of that conviction haunt him in the sleepy seaside town. He makes his escape in the waves, able to breathe out in the open sea. And it’s there he befriends Adonis, a curious and flighty merman, marking the beginning of a sweet and frankly amusing relationship.

Not all is as it seems in this sleepy little Irish town. There is an underlying mystery to be solved in this story, that I gleefully devoured like a starved beast. Honestly, I went into this expecting a sweet little fluffy romance with maybe a hint of angst. I’m so glad that I’ve been proven wrong.

THE YEAHS

- Adonis. What a delightful, obnoxious and otherworldly creature. I loved that he isn’t just a human with a tail. He’s decidedly inhuman, and his behaviour shows it. And!!! Anatomy!!! Praise the heavens for creative anatomy!!!!
- Connor and his story. Honestly, I started out thinking he was a bit of a tool, but that was so quickly brushed away. His relationship with those around him and how they are shaped and have been shaped by his childhood is both a painful and healing journey.
- Trevor, Laurence and Nick. I just!!! Love this family okay!!!!!
- The unexpected mystery. There was little hint of it in the blurb, so the early inklings I got of it were a delightful surprise. And wonderfully set up too.
- The way Connor’s trauma is handled. After the way his mum treats him all his life, his outbursts and reactionary nature are not unexpected. And the way he slowly but surely heals under the gentle guidance of Trevor and Laurence. I had worried about one plot point at the end to do with Connor’s mum (that I can’t detail more without spoiling), but I was immensely satisfied with the way that thread closed. Everything is all handled with care, and with patience and unwavering support for Conner as he comes to grips with the way he learns to see the world is just. Chefs kiss emoji.
- There’s so much more. If I ramble on too much I won’t stop. Everything was a yeah from me. All of it.

THE NAHS

- Nothing. Have you not been reading so far? I have not one thing to gripe about. Alert the press.

Basically, I want more. I want more of Connor and Adonis, I want more of this new life they’ve discovered. I want more of Laurence and Trevor and even Nick and Sam and Austin. I want more of all of it.

Lily Sherleen has gained a new fan in me. Excuse me while I go and binge read the rest of her novels.

I received this novel as an ARC and am leaving my review voluntarily.

[The Word Nerd Reviews Blog · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was a bit hesitant to read Adonis for two reasons:

1. The blurb read as high school YA, and while I've read (and loved) YA in the past, over the past few years I just haven't really been taken in by anything.

2. I'm really wary of anything super hyped in rec groups etc. I have about a 25% success rate with these books, and while I do usually read them, I often wonder why they were so popular.

If you fit into either of these categories, please give this book chance! It may still not be the book for you, or like me you will be pleasantly surprised.

To cover off point one, it's sort of borderline YA/NA. Connor is 18 so it sort of puts it into the YA category, but he's out of school (kicked out perhaps) and that is where the YA link ends. I'd put it more into the NA category, especially since the story is quite steamy and explicit in parts.

While Connor is 18, Adonis' age is not mentioned. I suspect he's older (possibly much, much older) but in his species' maturity speed I'd put him to the equivalent late teens to early to mid twenties (very approx!). Their relationship is beautiful, and both Adonis (to others rather than Connor) and Connor can be real jerks (which is why I think Adonis is younger in maturity, if not years) they are both lovely characters. There are a few instances where Connor is almost cruel to Adonis, but this is Connor's immaturity and not knowing how to handle the situation, it is clear he adores Adonis, he just has some maturing to do.

As for point two, well, in my very humble opinion, this book is worth the hype! I was completely absorbed from the first chapter and didn't want to put it down. The only reason it took me 2.5 days to read was that I had to go to work! I'm really hoping the author brings out a second book to continue Connor and Adonis' adventures.

If you've been hesitating reading this one, please give it a chance. I'm so very glad I did!!

[Layla · Rating 3 out of 5]

RTC when I'm not so sleepy.

[P-san~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

(There were some American aspects that showed up - like feet instead of metre - but I still enjoyed it a lot)

[Jewel · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 Stars

[Krys (spicy.spine.breaker) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved by the ocean my whole life and never has this happened to me.
Life is so utterly unfair.
GIVE ME A MER-PERSON.



Pacing was a bit slow in the beginning but the characters more than made up for any stagnant moments. This book was great.

🧜🏻‍♂️Smug arrogant Adonis is my favorite.

FRTC

[penny storm · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 reverse-Cinderella stars!!!! I absolutely adored this book. Such a standout!! This gave me the same elated feeling when I finished as I had when I read “Mortal Skin” by Lily Mayne. I’d put off starting this one when the first reviews I read were very mid. But I am SOOOO happy I went for it.

I’m not sure if it was my mood or just all the components melded into pure literary bliss for me, but this is in my top 10 of the year. I stayed up way too late desperately trying to finish it last night unsuccessfully. But I am obsessed with that feeling when a book latches on and -common sense be damned!!- all nighter? Bet! Responsibilities can wait!

Guys (and merfolk!) the FAMILY thing. No spoilsies but Gahhhhh the faaaaaamily! My heart hurt in the first 30% and just wanted to wrap Connor up in love and support and stability!! I didn’t expect how invested I’d be in the family storyline and honestly loved it almost more than the MC’s romance. I just adore being surprised in a lovely way. And honestly.. that cold hearted b**** can drive her car straight into the ocean.

I’m sure some will want more on the romance but it felt fantastic to me, I was so invested in everything else going on. Was it perfect? No. But did I finish the book wishing for more or less in any areas. No! I loved it cover to cover. I wish I could read it for the first time again!

Only demand is MORE! More of Connor and Adonis. More of all of them! Sign me up!!

[Lola · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up

I recently read a book that I had barely looked at (went in blind) and for some reason my dumbass thought it was a merman book. Fun fact: it was not. So, after finishing that I decided maybe I should actually try a merman book. I really enjoyed Missed Steps by this author so I figured this might be a good place to start.

I love this author because she just throws the reader right in at the beginning with no idea what's going on. There was no info dumping here, very little exposition. You just have to hang on and put things together as it goes. There was an underlying mystery throughout the book so not only do you have to put the pieces together to catch up to what the MC already knows, but you also have to learn everything regarding the mystery at the same time as him. That might not work in every story, but it worked so well here. I had to keep reading because I had to know what was going on.

L Sherleen is so good at writing a self saboteur. The MC here, Connor, reminded me a lot of Kyle from Missed Steps - but worse. Literally out there making his whole life a mess because of his pride. He was a spiky black cat with trust issues and honestly, he was mean as hell for the most part. He did show a lot of growth over the book, and you do see that he had a good heart, but he was still kind of a bitch right to the end. Good for him. There were times when his refusal to ask for (or even just accept) help were crazy frustrating but that was who he was and he got there eventually.

I was really into the plot and I loved the side characters and the MC, but, to be honest, I felt like this book did not work as a romance. The inclusion of Adonis and the merpeople in general were essential to the plot but I didn't get the romantic connection between Connor and Adonis at all. She could've just made them good friends and allies and I actually would've believed it more and it would've accomplished all the same things.

There was just so little relationship development and they went from zero to merman sex pretty frickin fast (and I usually don't complain about fast burns). I'm all good with monster sex but it was pretty unsexy trying to imagine this guy with his big ass tail floppin around in the sand with his Wyn style cock pocket (iykyk). If you're not gonna have a significant emotional connection then you at least gotta nail the smut. Idk, maybe I wasn't seeing the vision here.

The romance aside, the ending was also a bit of a mess. The mystery had built, I was so invested, the big confrontation was fairly well done... and then it fell apart in the last like 10%. We were left with a ton of questions and not enough answers. I know there are future books in the series but they feature different couples, so the questions I had specifically about Connor won't be answered. Or if they are, we'll only get to see that from the outside. Which is stupid. It honestly felt a little like she ran out of steam and didn't want to address things properly so she did a lazy wrap up and called it a day. Grrr.

I think this author is probably talented and I appreciated a lot of what was done here (hence the 3.5 stars), but I hardly read any non romance anymore, so if you were gonna try and get me with the (non romantic) plot, you better stick the landing. I doubt I'll read the rest in this series but I would keep an eye out for other works of hers.

P.S. All the fucking points to Trevor. He was easily the best character in the book and I would read ten more of him gently parenting his three sons. What a fucking Daddy.

Connor didn’t shout back. His anger had never been a loud thing; it was something that seethed and boiled under his skin. It didn’t explode out of him unless it had the potential to ruin his life, then he lost his temper and got himself accused of hate crimes. Apparently.

Connor didn’t do forgiveness. He didn’t let things go. He held grudges and hit back and fought.

Connor climbed off the ship, feeling an odd jitter in his legs to now be standing on something solid and unmoving. It felt unnatural to him, as if his natural place was the ocean rather than land. Nothing bad ever happened to him on sea, only on land.

He was not a person who could safely navigate soft people; his interactions with Sam proved that. His edges were too sharp to be blunted, and Connor didn’t even want them to be anything else. He wasn’t in a position where softness would serve him.

“The world is set against you, Connor.” Trevor said. “I think it would do some good to get some of that hate off your back, don’t you? You don’t want to spend your life getting turned away from restaurants over something you can solve now.” “I don’t much care for the world, so it can hate me all it wants,”

Connor and Adonis explored the reef together until Adonis found a sand-coloured octopus to offer to Connor, and Connor decided he didn’t want a merman boyfriend after all.

Connor didn’t feel guilty. Edith knew that. Trevor called him soft and gentle, but she was the one who knew that truth. That he had blades and poison within him. That he was willing to wield them.

“We shall make do with Laurence,” Adonis said with confidence. Connor groaned. “Adonis, I have told you a dozen times. Laurence is not my child.” Adonis grunted. “Adonis.” “Yes. I remember. He is step-child.” “No, that’s—ugh, never mind.”

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Safety (may contain spoilers)

SA/rape: None

Other person drama: None, really. Connor starts the book thinking his ex boyfriend cheated on him and said ex boyfriend has disappeared off the face of the earth. He comes back and causes problems but Connor has zero interest in him. Connor has another ex boyfriend (a good guy!) who is part of the plot but there's no romantic feelings or anything, he's just a side character. We never learn anything about Adonis's previous love life but he definitely knows his way around a human cock so there's questions there - and they're never answered which annoyed me! I guess it doesn't matter because he only cares about Connor during the course of the book but I couldn't get it out of my head.

[ᐯEᖇOᑎIᑕᗩ · Rating 5 out of 5]

4⭐️
As a mood reader, I have to be in the right headspace for fantasy books, but Adonis completely drew me in. The story follows Connor, a troubled young man with a messy family history who’s forced to serve his sentence under the supervision of his estranged mother Edith and her new partner, Trevor. Things start rocky with his stepbrothers, Nick and Laurence, but as the story unfolds, Connor finds unexpected allies—and even love—in the unlikeliest places.

Enter Adonis, a merman from another dimension. His arrival intertwines with Connor’s dark past, including his abusive father’s horrifying experiments on merfolk and even Connor himself. Despite a harrowing capture by Connor’s father, the story builds to a thrilling climax, with Connor finding redemption, defeating villains, and even making peace with parts of his family.

I didn’t expect much going in, but the emotional depth, intriguing worldbuilding, and Connor’s journey from brokenness to belonging surprised me in the best way. While the fantasy elements were layered, they didn’t bog down the plot, and the mix of family drama, action, and romance made this an engrossing read.

[Courtney Bassett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic! I’d love more!

I adored this book! Circumstances seemed a little grim for Connor at the start, but he quickly gets support (and love) from unexpected places. Adonis was a HOOT. I loved how territorial he was lol. I was delighted to actually get a couple of chapters from his POV later on.

I definitely would love more books in this world, whether further adventures of Connor and Adonis or maybe even Austin and… Liam? Who knows!

*edited to add that the audio is WONDERFUL*

[Jen (Fae_Princess_in_Space) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely LOVED Adonis - I thought the story was compelling, it kept me guessing and I absolutely loved the characters!

I’d probably classify this as a ‘fated mates monster romance’; the relationship between Adonis and Connor was so sweet, and there is a lot of spice! Adonis is Merfolk, so there is some ✨interesting✨ anatomy, so if you’re not much of a monster romance fan, tread carefully, but honestly the storyline itself was so sweet. It reminded me of Lily Mayne’s ‘Monstrous’ series, so if you liked those you’ll likely love this.

There were a whole cadre of really awesome side characters who I’m hoping we see more of in later books including a ‘found family’ storyline that I absolutely adored.

There was a mystery element to it - Connor is being framed for a crime he didn’t commit, so he is trying to find out what has happened. I thought whilst this was clever and it kept me guessing, the reason behind it was a bit clunky. Interestingly the character at the time mentions it being a strange motivation, so I appreciated that the book was quite self-aware in that aspect.

Overall this was a great read with compelling main characters and a very sweet romantic storyline 💕 Would absolutely recommend!

I received a free ARC of this book from BookSirens. All opinions in this voluntary review are my own.

[veronica · Rating 5 out of 5]

i devoured this book in one sitting. incredibly well-written and captivating, it is definitely one of the best books i’ve read this year. i expected a fun, fluffy read and i got so much more than that. the plot was complex and well thought-out, and i was engaged in the storyline from the start. the romance, although more of a subplot, was very well-developed, with equal amount of romantic and steamy. i had so much fun reading connor and adonis’ interactions - these two were both extremely charming and utterly ridiculous.

still, the best part of this book were the characters. i was very impressed with how substantial and multidimensional they were; their personalities were intricate and realistic, and getting to understand them was an emotional journey. i was moved by the relationship dynamics built throughout the story, the strength of family bond and finding love in unexpected places.

this book felt perfect in every element. it was interesting, it was gripping, it was emotional and i couldn’t put it down even for one second. i honestly don’t remember the last time the book made my feel this way. i couldn’t be more excited to continue the series and discover what else this author has to offer. spectacular book.

[Rose Galante · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adonis. Wow. I loved this story. There’s a LOT going on. It’s a definite 18+ M/M monster romance/mystery story. We have a brave and misunderstood main character, Connor; a lovely step dad, 2 step brothers (one is a turd and the other is sunshine reincarnated), a beautiful and protective merman, secret underwater lab experiments, main character falsely accused of a crime, found family, and forbidden/otherworldly love. This is such a unique story, I truly loved it. I read this as an ARC from BookSirens.

[Joscelyn Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Adonis and Connor's story, it kind of reminded me of the movie The Shape of Water, they were wonderful characters. Connor being framed set him on the path to Adonis and everything that blossomed between them. An engaging fantastical read.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[antonia🫧 · Rating 5 out of 5]

i started this thinking it's just a cute fluffy plain merman romance book. WRONG! i got mystery, i got conspiracies, i got secrets and i got found family.

I LOVED ADONIS and i liked nick too, he was only looking out for his brother.

edith, she's a sore subject. i get her but i also don't, you know?

i'm not even talking about ben the disgrace of a sperm donor, as far as i'm concerned trevor is connor's true and only father.

i also still have mixed feelings for austin and i felt sorry for sam.

[Jose Romero · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5