A Sea of Golden Chains

Backward Fairy Tales #2

by Callie Thomas

To escape death, I pledged an unbreakable vow to the sea.

A failed ransom sends Marigold overboard into the turquoise waters, death’s grip too tight to escape. As she sinks into the darkness, her screams echo into a bewitching song, luring a handsome merman to her rescue. Now the ancient magic that saved her chains them together, their destinies and hearts entwined forever—a bond Marigold didn’t ask for, especially as painful memories from her past weigh heavily on her conscience. Desperate to reconcile with her estranged family, she flees to shore before her transformation can complete.

But Ryken is hooked, refusing to leave her side, even if that means following his mate to the surface and entering the one place despised by the Merfolk. His rash decision strips him of his strength and converts his glittering tail into a pair of useless legs. With their roles reversed, he is forced to rely on Marigold to help him traverse the human world while they search for her family. The longer they stay on land, the more their feelings grow into something deeper—something he would kill to protect.

Chaos ripples out from Cadell’s feuding territories, sending the couple off course into dangerous territory. But Marigold refuses to give up on her quest despite Ryken’s warnings. The salty breeze beckons them home—a reminder that their time on land is running out. Torn between her family and her vow to the sea, she finds herself testing the bonds of her newfound love. 

Will she ignore the call of the sea, even as war looms in the distance? Or will she find the courage to fulfill her destiny with Ryken at her side?

A Sea of Golden Chains is a YA fairy tale inspired by a reverse Little Mermaid and Beauty & the Beast. If you love swoony mermen, second chances, family relationships, and underwater adventures then this is the backward fairy tale for you!

****
Note for teens: This story has a little more romance than book one, so I put it in the higher YA age bracket of 15+. It is still clean, just kisses, and NO fade to black. But Ryken does communicate by touch. (Don't worry, Marigold is as shocked as you are! How does a merman not have any manners?!)

Genres: Fantasy, Retellings, Romance, Fairy Tales, Clean Romance, Romantasy, Young Adult

497 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 1, 2023

About the author

* Write From the Heart *

Callie Thomas is an indie author who loves all things fairy tales—including twisting tales of her own. Her favorite stories have a mix of sweet romance, laughter, and a pinch of magic. When she's not writing, she enjoys playing board games, reading at the beach, and traveling the world with her husband and two boys. Since she can't live at Disney World, you'll find her near the historical battlefields and lush woodlands where her family lives in Fredericksburg, VA. She recently published her first Vella series, A Forest of Stolen Memories & A Sea of Golden Chains, and has more stories on the horizon.

Reviews

[Jacquelyn 💐 {This Rapunzel Reads} [Jesus Christ, my Living Hope] · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was just not for me…I kinda knew that from the first few pages including the part where he bit her like what?? 🤯 The mermaids were made out to be these evil people. I just did not like this at all. I didn’t care for the characters either. 🤢 The love story wasn’t even good either.

[Dulcie Dameron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Did I binge read this in two days and ignore all other responsibilities, inducing lose sleep, because I was hooked from chapter one?

Yes. Yes, I did.

But I have ZERO shame, ya hear me?! ZERO.

Because Ryken is just that enthralling. A beastly merman who captures you to keep you as his mate? Um, yep. Sign me up.

First, you're engrossed in the glittering underwater world Callie paints for you, mesmerized by the handsome monster holding Marigold captive, then you're on an angsty journey across land and falling in love with his innocence and endearing dedication.

I LOVED the first book in this series, but I SUPER LOVED this second one and wish I wouldn't have waited a month to read it.

Fave parts:

✨️RKYEN!!!!
✨️The choker/collar
✨️The biting (YEP, I said it )
✨️The absolute feral way he protects her (and vise versa)
✨️Sneaky Peeks of characters from book 1
✨️RYKEN!!!!
✨️The prose is 😍 stunning!
✨️Mattis
✨️The Merboys (as I'm affectionately referring to Ryken's "pack")
✨️The constant sniffing out emotions
✨️The chase instinct 🫠
✨️The underwater ship full of junk
✨️RYKEN!!!!

Will I continue to read everything Callie writes? Yes, AND she's an auto-buy clean fantasy author for me from now until the end of time.

The end.

P.S.

If you're into Stephanie Garber's writing, pick up Callie's books. You won't be disappointed!

[Celestria · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have some mixed feelings about this book. I loved the twist on the fairytale, and I thought the portrayal of merfolk was a lot more interesting and realistic than any other book ive read. Ryken trying to figure out the human world made for some funny moments. But the romance was too intense for me. If it had been dialed back a bit, I would have liked it more. There was also a character mentioned throughout the book that was super obvious who it was but Marigold couldn't seem to figure it out and nobody would just come right out and ask or tell who it was. That mystery could have been solved soooo much sooner. Some people might not like how possessive the MMC is. I lost count of how many times he said "you're mine."

Content that I remember: lots of kissing, innuendo, MCs share a bed a couple times but its not sexual, a sorcerer who is portrayed as a good guy

[Tales and Treats with Tay · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

I had a great time continuing from Book 1 into this conclusion of the duology! The author did an excellent job worldbuilding in Book 1 but this one was a even better, I was absolutely fascinated by the world underwater and the Merfolk. You can see teeny hints of The Little Mermaid but this story was all its own; a unique world with an interesting plot.

I really liked both of the MCs and especially enjoyed seeing Ryken learn about the human world: the curiosity and child-like wonder was endearing, but several of his blunt truths were pretty funny too.

As for the romance, this book is more descriptive than Book 1 but there are no explicit scenes. I personally am usually pretty sensitive to even descriptions of kissing but this book didn't bother me, I think I gave it more leniency because it's fantasy--merfolk are more animalistic by nature. There were several kisses, some of them longer; descriptions related to physical attraction/desire; a few bed-sharing scenes but they weren't sexual; smelling scents (again the animalistic traits coming into play); mild innuendo.

There were a few things that I would have liked to have had more details about or be better fleshed out regarding the plot, and I was getting a tad frustrated with one of the characters trying to figure something out.

Overall, I loved the world this duology creates and the characters have an epic love story.


Content: magic, see above romance description

Faith: 0/3 a secular clean fiction; contains possible Christian allegorical elements could have drawn possible inspiration from the Christian God (author is a Christian)

[Evelyn (Ev’s Novel Delights) · Rating 5 out of 5]

(Pretty Clean Fantasy)

OMG… I loved that. Ryken is… 👌🏼🥰😍😍🤭🤗😏😏😙💞❤️ {swoons}. Marigold was great too! I mean if I’m being honest.. PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING WAS GREAT
4.5 stars!

RTC later 💙💛💙💛💙💛💙💛💙💛💙💛💙

[Lydia Mae · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thrilling story, with many unexpected twists. I loved the action and the attention to detail in the worldbuilding. This fated-lovers romance was very swoony, and I loved seeing more of the world in this series. It was such a fun read, and I look forward to reading more from Callie Thomas.

[Latisha Sexton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had me in a chokehold and kept me up till two am two nights in a row. I loved the first one, but I LOVED LOVED this one for so many reasons (ok, maybe most of it was RYKEN).

The world-building is stunning. Every little detail was just amazing and painted a beautiful picture of the world (under the water and on land).

Ryken. Sigh. What can I say? He's made it into the top of my favorite heroes list. He was the sweetest, most innocent Alpha I've ever read. He was so protective of Marigold and so tender and sweet with her. He was most definitely a cinnamon roll where she was concerned. The romance was super swoony with delicious tension.

I loved getting to revisit characters from the first book and am really hoping we get more from certain characters introduced in this book.

[Rachel Luke Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed book 1 of this series but book 2 I absolutely adored!

This book just takes you on a wonderful journey and the underwater world and the dynamics of the mermen/sirens were amazing!

Ryken may be one of my all time favorite male characters now! He has so much depth and I love that he just had a child like wonder of the world on land. His blunt commentary is just my favorite thing and I love that he has no filter. Seeing him experience so many firsts like his first kiss, first steps, and falling in love was so sweet! Did I mention yet that he is a total merman though! He is fierce, strong and the ultimate protective hero! Like he will attack anyone that wants to claim Marigold for himself and ahhh he's just the best 🙌

I hardly ever share quotes but here are a couple ones I loved from our dear Ryken:

“I like kissing you,” he whispered against my lips. “We should continue this human tradition when we return to the sea.”

“The song you sang . . . is how I feel about you,” he said with a throaty hum. His thumb brushed over my cheek. “You’re my beginning and end.”

“I’m lost in your world, like an outcast who doesn’t belong . . . and I don’t want to live in a world where we can’t be together.”

I also loved Marigold! I love that she is a total stickler for rules and propriety and yet this journey just throws her into the deep end. She is constantly battling with her need to be near Ryken and trying to remember all the things her mother drilled into her head. I love that we get to see her embrace who she is destined to be and the strength she possesses. And when she finally does...yeah she is just unstoppable!

Overall if you are looking for an amazing fairytale romance with so many swoony moments, a little mermaid retelling that has been flipped in the best of ways, and just an incredible adventure give this one a go! This one is a little over 500 pages but I downed it so fast and yet never wanted my time with Ryken and Marigold to end!

Physical Intimacy Lvl 2.5 (Longer making out, no tongue description)
Zero Swearing
Single POV (Marigolds)

[The Squeaky Clean Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. Wow. Wow. I need more of this book

The saddest part about this book was that it ended! Granted it's 448 pages of gorgeousness (not counting the two bonus epilogue chapters) but still it wasn't enough.

Because Marigold is AMAZING. I mean her growth in this book *chef's kiss* perfection.
Her journey is downright beautiful.

You know who else is beautiful.

Ryken the merman.

Dude. This dude is the most protective manly merman ever written while at the same time being a total cinnamon roll. Like how he can be both?!? No idea but he is.

I highlighted soooo many of his lines because they just made me laugh!


That's also what I loved about this book is the fact you have intense fantasy, fight scenes, magic, high stakes, but then the next second you're giggling and squeaking like a school girl.

It was the absolute perfect balance of lightness and intensity.

Okay but the swoony merman though 😍😍


Also our cameos from Rose and Cedric were 👌👌 specifically Cedric had some great lines 🤣 IYKYK


The magic was fascinating, the plot has you hooked, the stakes keep you at the edge of your seat and I literally did not put the book down after I started reading and am writing this review at 3 am.

Totally worth the loss of sleep.

💋Kisses only, some suggested comments between mates (I felt like they were hilarious)
⚠️Marigold was abducted and hurt before getting thrown into the sea. PTSD from book 1 events for some side characters
And of course fantasy death.

[Kayt · Rating 5 out of 5]

"If you see the wonder of a fairy tale you can take the future - even if you fail!"
ABBA knew what they were talking about when they sang these words. Wonder. A word that denotes awe and curiosity, a hunger to know more and to revel in the magnificence of something magical and otherworldly. Something that sets your imagination on fire. Something like a retold fairy tale or even better - a Backward Fairy Tale! A completely original story which turns your beliefs inside out, makes you rethink everything you thought you knew about common mythological beings such as merpeople, and takes your emotions on a high octane ride over a waterfall with no safety net! When you read a Callie Thomas book you will find yourself falling into an endless sea of delight, entranced and held captive by the characters’ lives spinning apart and coming together in the most magical way possible!

Truly, I never thought I'd read a book 53 chapters long and decide at the end that it wasn't long enough, but somehow I always seem to finish a Callie book too fast and I constantly find myself left wanting more and more and yet more until infinity! I think she is the one author who casts such a spell on my imagination that myriads of books penned by her would still not be enough to feed my insatiable desire!

“Listen to the call of the waves. So tranquil. I love how water can be so gentle and calming, but also powerful and destructive. It’s like it’s alive with feelings and emotions, and can flip on you depending its mood. I model Ryken after that.” Callie Thomas

As I sit here obediently listening to the magnificently musical melody of the Indian Ocean, I am captivated by the thought of what lives beneath the waves. I am almost desperate to go exploring in the ocean’s depths and find the world of the merpeople, but I know it is not for me to go there in real life: however Callie has opened a portal in my imagination and I can adventure there whenever I read her sagas - a fact for which I truly am grateful!

Certainly, A Sea of Golden Chains was on the darker side of fairytales with elements of abduction and a teaspoon of madness thrown in amongst other things - Callie is not known for light and fluffy writing but the story was so complex and captivating that even though it was a fairytale, it didn’t feel like mere fiction. Indeed, all the elements of this book – dark, light, swoony and otherworldly – were woven together into a magnificent narrative tapestry worthy of the Chronicle Weavers themselves, culminating in a masterpiece that now rides the crest of the wave of my favourite books, vying for top place with A Forest of Stolen Memories - the only book that could ever match it in intensity and narrative!

[Kaity ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved our leading lady and merman! 🧜🏻‍♂️ It was magical with lots of drama and I loved reading their love story. The way they communicated with one another was fascinating. Overall, this was really fun! 🌊

[Danielle Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this one! She wrote the perfect alpha male!

[Addy-Reed · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was pretty good. RTC💚🖤

[~Soaring Hummingbird~]

The storyline was amazing and very alluring! I’ve always disliked the way mermaids are portrayed in movies because it’s so inaccurate compared to the old folktales. This book was very well written with the mermaids and mermen. The only thing I have to say is this book talks quite a bit (more so in the second half) of attraction and feelings. Because the mermen and mermaids are so connected to their mate, their feelings are very strong. While I can see that, I feel it could’ve been a tad bit less. That’s why I gave it 4 stars. It’s a good book and probably one I’ll read again, just know that it does have some male/female attraction stuff in there.

[Halena · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like the first book in the series more than this one. The relationship between Marigold and Ryken felt too forced for most of the book. Also Ryken was too possessive for me. I did think their relationship improved by the end of the book. I also like that Rose and Cedrick show up again in this book.

[Anna Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

* 4.5 *

A sweetly written tale that gives a unique reverse spin on the Little Mermaid, though very much its own story, but with little nods to the fairytale throughout it.

Having read A Forest Of Stolen Memories and exploring Rose and Cedrick’s story, I was very keen to meet Marigold and follow her journey. The little snippets in AFOSM created intriguing groundwork that encouraged curiosity and a desire to find out what Marigold’s adventure would be.
So, if you're looking for an easy to read fairytale re-telling, enjoy banter, merfolk vs human cultural differences, good against evil, sweet clean romance, adventure, character growth and humour, touch-her-and-the-sea-will-claim-you protectiveness, then say hello to Marigold and Ryken’s story!
Callie Thomas has created beautiful underwater and land kingdoms, her word imagery painting vivid images for the reader, though I would’ve liked a bit more underwater world building to get to know the menfolk and their kingdom more thoroughly. I feel like that would've helped with understanding Ryken better as well.

One of my favourite aspects of this read was the gradual growth of Marigold’s relationship with Ryken, how Ryken demonstrated the depth of his love not only by his protective nature, but through learning to understand Marigold and her humanity; both changing for the better to embrace the good and the bad, the strengths and weaknesses, finding their way forward for themselves and beginning to bridge the divide between their peoples.

The major conflict finale in the book did feel a little like it could’ve been expanded on a bit more, but there were plenty of action moments sprinkled through the book leading up to that event so it certainly isn't lacking in the adventure department.
This is a fairly fast paced story, and doesn't delve into overtly complex world building or elaborate magic systems, potentially to keep the tale moving along, but still includes magic and wonder.

It was an easy, enjoyable read that delivered all the swoony feelings and humorous banter, while also containing beautifully interwoven faith elements that didn’t feel forced and added to the depth of the story.

I was fortunate enough to read this as an ARC book, all opinions are my own.

[Shell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, I now know why everyone loves Ryken! What a merman!

After reading this first book in this series (duology? I'm not sure if more books are to come) I was eager to find out what happened to Rose's sister. I'm not particularly interested in mermaid stories (I don't dislike them, I just wouldn't gravitate towards them) but I really enjoyed the lore that Callie Thomas built up around merfolk: the beast/wild creature nature of the merman, the thrill of the chase aspect of their relationship, the synchronised heartbeats, the heightened senses including smelling emotions.

I thought the author was very clever with the things that Ryken didn't know or understand about being human and human culture. It was endearing to see his wonder at the human world, and his confusion over things that seem so simple to us. It's a good reminder of what crossing cultures can be like. I loved seeing how patient Marigold was with Ryken in these moments.

I loved Ryken's protective nature (so protective!) and consistent love and care for Marigold, even going far out of his comfort zone for her. He was wonderful and hilarious and swoony. Marigold grew a lot in this story, from someone who didn't feel like she was worth much, to stepping into her power and the task given to her by Ruah. But she also grew in her relationship with Ryken, doing a full 180 in her feelings for him, and I was here for it!

The one thing that frustrated me was how long it took for Marigold to learn the truth about her sister. Admittedly there was some serious misdirection from other characters, but because I knew the truth from the first book, it was difficult to keep reading about Marigold being in the dark for so long.

Tropes:
*bonded mates
*protective merman MMC
*"mine"
*merman on land
*found family
*transformation
*power and duty
*single POV

Content warning: kidnapping, death
Intimacy level: 2 (non-descriptive kissing but with some moaning, slight sexual innuendo)

[Katherine Jensen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Epic Mermaid Adventure

A Sea of Golden Chains is an epic adventure through kingdoms, romance, and self discovery. It was gripping and entertaining from beginning to end. I enjoyed getting to explore more of this magical world and getting to watch Marigold find herself and find love through various trials. I liked the theme of how suffering can be redemptive and can help form us in good ways, especially when we are surrounded by love and this story explores that without being too heavy. Marigold also discovers that obedience doesn’t guarantee a perfect future and that some rules are helpful while others are worth breaking, especially when a command comes from someone who doesn’t have pure intentions. She really finds her voice. In another theme, it was fun watching Marigold and Ryken explore each others cultures and navigate the joys and complexities of cross cultural relationships. Mattis was a brilliant and heroic side character and I hope we get to see more of his story and another Windcrest character’s story one day. I also liked how Ruah was portrayed. The family dynamics were another sweet touch to this story and there were some great cameos from A Forest of Forgotten Memories. This book can be read standalone but will make more sense if you read A Forest of Stolen Memories first. This book is a clean no spice romance though it is on the swoonier end of that spectrum. It has a few mild non gory fight scenes. This is an enjoyable and epic read fit for readers who enjoy fantasy, mystery, fate of the kingdoms adventures, a little magic, and romance.

[Shades · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 Stars!
To say I adored this book is an understatement! It was SO GOOD!
Both MMC + FMC were very good and intriguing. He was adorable and funny, while she was sweet but stuck by her rules. It actually gave a decent demonstration to boundaries and that was awesome compared to most YA stories nowadays.
The only "complaint" I have is that after reading the first Backward Fairy Tale book, the reader discovers most of the plot of this one early and it seems like miscommunication from outward sources to the main characters is the biggest setback. The only other mention to make is the light and occasion innuendo that takes place, but it was nothing explicit (*see below*).
The romance was clean and well done. The characters learn to grow together AND individually as the story progresses. They learn a lot from and about each other before the end, and even happily got married!
Ryken's annoyance with human rules had me cracking up, and the amount of times discussions such as, "No, we don't bite people," had to take place was astonishingly funny.
I loved seeing Rose and Cedrick happy while their own little family grows!!
MY CONTENT WARNINGS:
Violence: 1.5/5 (Marigold is kidnapped at the beginning, people threaten to hurt her and Ryken, a character dies,
Language: .5/5
Romance: 2/5 (Still clean! Several kisses, sleeping side-by-side, though NOTHING HAPPENS, little-to-mild innuendo [though Ryken doesn't even understand half of it] but most of it is in the context of being married.)
EXTRA: discussions about abuse and unhealthy relationships do take place as Marigold finds out more about Prince Alexander and Rose's relationship along with figuring out her own. She believes Ryken says "You are mine," in a possessive or harsh way (which is the case had it not been for translation issues since she's a human and he's a merman) rather than him meaning, "I love you," but all of that is sorted out.

[Charley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ever wonder what it would be like to mash the story of a reverse Little Mermaid together with Beauty and the Beast? Well, this book, "A Sea of Golden Chains", by Carrie Thomas has it all.
The story starts with Ryken, the very handsome merman, rescuing Marigold, who is pushed overboard after being kidnapped. Her beautiful voice engages Ryken and he has chosen her as his mate. But Marigold feels the need to rescue her sister Rosie and doesn't complete the process of becoming a mermaid. She convinces Ryken, who is allowed to have legs, to come on shore and search for her lost sister. But times are changing and it will be difficult for our hero and heroine to know who is friend and who is foe. They must face many nail biting adventures once they leave the sea and head inland, always searching for Rosie.

This is one of the best fairy tales I have ever read. I loved all the engaging dialog, I loved how Ryken would protect Marigold in every misadventure, I loved how the author weaved ln previous characters from her other books, and I loved the ending. I was given an ARC copy but these are my own comments. This is an absolute wonderful read and if you love clean fairy tales with happy endings then get this book! You will love it as much as I did.

[Dakota · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Sea of Golden Chains is my favorite Callie Thomas book so far. This fantasy romance is oh so delightful and full of deep love that puts tingles in my heart. This story weaves a strong connection to nature with unique fantasy elements, making the plot engrossing.

Callie’s writing continues to be quite strong, creating believable characters in a well crafted world. There are also many amusing moments in this story, as one of the characters tries to understand the foreign world he is thrown into. The spiritual elements in this book are a little stronger than the first in the series, providing a comforting connection for those who look.

But the romance is the star of this story, written with a beauty and power that impressed me. Some of the lines were so eloquent, describing love the way I’ve experienced it. Though nothing progresses past kissing, the characters certainly hint at wanting something more a few times, so I’d call this more of a pg-13 book.

This is an excellent read, one I’d highly recommend. The romance is touching, the fantasy interesting, and the plot immersive. A great, heart-warming story with many positive themes, and a whole lot of love.

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

[Lesley Barklay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some excellent world building in this reverse little mermaid story.

I liked the way the culture of the merfolk was developed, although I didn't feel like there was much page time spent under the sea. The idea of collectors was interesting, and anthropologically speaking, it was interesting to see Thomas play with how a culture that develops underwater would communicate.

This books was a bit on the steamier side than book one, since merfolk communicate through touch, and there was a little bit of innuendo (although I did finish the book with a burning curiosity to know how merfolk mate). We get told there's a chase element to it, and there's a hint that maybe it involves tails, but, like seriously, how do these creatures reproduce? [Which is neither here nor there, just wondering.]

I struggled a little bit with some aspects of the plot which revolved around a misunderstanding. Without giving spoilers, one of the characters was lied to, but she came so close to the truth so many times, and even when confronted with it, she just didn't make the connection.

Aside from that, it was nice to see the two sisters united, and I liked the faith element. Definitely worth checking out.

[Bess · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one was wild.
Marigold, the lost sister from book 1, gets her own story. And what a story it is!
It picks up close to the time of her kidnapping and continues forward. By the time Marigold is lucid, a year has passed since the time of her kidnapping. Where did the time go? What happened to her in the meantime? The last thing she remembers is being tossed into the sea and left to die. And here she still was, the sea. Underwater. How was she alive? Ruah obviously has plans for Marigold. But what?
Ryken, a merman, is in love. Marigold is his mate. He gave her his heartbeat to keep her alive for the past year as Marigold's song pulled him to her. He nursed her and tended her and upon her awakening, had plans to leave him and return to her former life. But it was not to be or so he thought.
The conclusion of the duology, this is quite the read. At times, it felt like there were so many tangents we were never going to get to the reunion! But it was worth the wait.
Disclaimer: battle, mermaids, sirens, drowning, flesh-eating fish, clean, no sex, indecent exposure, lots of indecent touching but that was how they communicated, kissing, captivity, magic, slave collar, deranged behavior, and lots more! This one will keep you guessing.
Not a bad end to the series!

[Hannah Elisabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

🌊BOOK REVIEW🌊 A Sea of Golden Chains by Callie Thomas

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Um… I might be addicted to mermaid/merman books now…new obsession…but if I do go on a kick…none other will hold a candle to this one😮‍💨

First things first…RYKEN🫠😮‍💨 I love him. Oh my gosh I LOVE HIM😍🥰🤭 He is…wild. He is adorable (sorry, I know he wouldn’t like that🤭) but he is the sweetest! 🥰 He’s so curious and funny! I was swooning and laughing and giggling the whole time! Also some of his comments…😳😮‍💨 MAN! 🫠🫠 Merman, human, I loved him either way. 🫶🏻 His protectiveness and flirtiness and oh my word just everything about him I loved!

Marigold was a sweetie pie too!!🥹 I loved seeing her grow and come out of her shell! How she fell in love with Ryken🥹😭😭🫶🏻 He was so patient with her and I just loved seeing their romance!

I loved being back in this world! I love the magic system, and I even picked up better on the allegorical elements in this book! (Yes, I saw them in Forest too, but I am blonde so I think maybe it just clicked better seeing it more? Idk)

I could read a whole series just on Ryken and Marigold and Cedrick and Rose because they are such a cute little family and I don’t think I can ever get enough of them!🥹🥰

[Stephie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reverse Little Mermaid

This is the second book in the backyard fairy tales series. I was first introduced to Callie's style of writing in A Forest of Stolen Memories and was very much looking forward to reading book two. So, you can imagine how excited I was to have received an ARC. It was truly one of the highlights of my week.
Ryken and Marigold's story was a pleasure to read. I loved Callie's take on the Little Mermaid and found myself rooting for Ryken from the get-go. Her take was unique and kept me quite interested in seeing what would happen next, how her and her sister's story would develop, and, of course, how their relationship would grow.
A nice, clean read that keeps you captivated, I would definitely recommend A Sea of Golden Chains and look forward to reading more from Callie.
P.S. there's a little surprise near the end that you will just love!!!

This ebook was given to me as an ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Rebecca Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully clean, yet overflowing with swoony 🤩😌

A girl living in the shadow of a sibling is thrust into a journey of discovering her true identity.
Is there anything more important than finding one’s identity?! To be wanted, loved, and accepted for who you are?
The author hits the nail on the head with the inner dialogue.
This is such a dynamic story of what it looks like when someone asks themselves the life changing question “But what about me?”
She finally gets a taste of true identity and a life of her own. When once she was lost but is now found.
Although fantasy, the character progression between Marigold and Ryken is believable, their love story is one of my favorites now.
So many sweet, adorable, and passionate moments between them, it’s hard to nail down which one was my favorite.
Ryken, goodness, such a pure and honorable character.
What a page turning, butterflies in your stomach, can’t put the book down, swoony read!
This story was so good, I’m officially in a book hangover, unable to pick up another story just yet.

I had the honor of receiving an ARC, my opinions are my own.

[Kitty · Rating 4 out of 5]

This fantasy romance is amazing. The story blends a strong connection to nature with imaginative fantasy elements, creating a captivating plot that I couldn't put down. Ok, mostly because RYKEN 😍. I especially enjoyed the light-hearted moments as one character navigates through a new world, adding a touch of humor to the story.

The spiritual aspects in this book offer a comforting touch for those who appreciate it, adding an extra layer of depth to the story. But it's the romance that steals the spotlight. The love between the characters is portrayed in a way that felt genuine and heartfelt. I personally would have liked much more spice (the book only goes as far as kissing) however, the emotional connection between them is palpable and endearing.

Overall, I highly recommend this book for anyone looking for a heart-warming read filled with love, fantasy, and positive vibes. It's a delightful story that will leave you with a smile on your face.

[Fool of a Thistle · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I liked "A Forest of Stolen Memories", the feeling that things were missing or slightly off in it did not linger in this sequel, making it better and worth the read!

"A Sea of Golden Chains" doesn't exactly pick up where AFOSM left off, but reveals what happened to Rose's mysteriously abducted (and presumed dead) sister, Marigold. After a number of events told from Marigold's POV (so it's impossible not to love Ryken, her merman mate), the sisters find their way back to one another and save the kingdoms with their romantic partners, family and friends.

Though the ending was a bit rushed and the bonus chapters told from Ryken's POV made me wish the whole book had gone back and forth between Marigold and Ryken's perspectives (hence 4 and not 5 stars), I feel like most of the characters and their adventures/roles were well written and thus, more captivating than the ones in first book.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not wait to read Marigold’s story after reading, A Forest of Stolen Memories. A Sea of Golden Chains did not disappoint! This was such a unique spin on the little mermaid fairy tale. While certain elements of the little mermaid fairy tale were weaved in this book, Callie created a original book that was fantastic! I read this book in one day. Callie did such a great building a tale that had me hook until the end. Marigold is a great heroine and grew so much throughout the book. I love Ryken, he is swoony! Their banter was sweet and funny! I loved how they grew to trust and rely on each other. Another interesting aspect was that this is a gender flipped fairy tale. As for the romance, this is a clean book with kissing. This book is best read if you have read A Forest of Stolen Memories first.

I received an ARC copy of the book and all thoughts are my own.

[Shara Bowles · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I’m sorry I don’t have the answers. What I do know is that whatever happens, you won’t be alone. The good, the bad, and everything in between, I am here by your side.”

I know, SO good, right?? This book is full of amazing moments like this! It's a little mermaid story like you've never read before! I could not get enough of Marigold and Ryken together. Complete with a world full of magic, a villain you never see coming, a kingdom bent on starting a war to gain more power, an unexpected ally you can't help but like, sweet interactions with a little boy, appearances by our favorite characters from the first book, a sea filled with wonder and peacekeeping merfolk, and the sweetest romance between an endearing and highly protective merman and one very brave young woman that will make you swoon, it's a book any fantasy lover would want on their shelf!

I received an ARC of this book and all thoughts and opinions are my own!