Undertow

by Rachel Ember

In Sihr, a strange world of endless seas, Aron is a penniless orphan fighting for survival, not looking for adventure. He agrees to smuggle forbidden artifacts in exchange for a fresh start in another village, but the rendezvous goes awry. By the night’s end, a magical accident leaves Aron under the compulsion of Zoral, a steely-eyed pirate who seems to be more shadow than man.

Zoral and his crew only have eleven days to rescue their captain from the witches holding her hostage. He doesn’t trust Aron, but he has no choice but to bring him along on the mission.

As the unlikely pair face haunted ships, kraken battles, and the mysteries of ancient cities lost to the rising seas of their world, they discover a connection that runs deeper than magic.

“The queer fantasy romance you’ve been waiting for.”

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, LGBT, M M Romance, Queer, Magic, Adult

356 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 18, 2024

About the author

Rachel was born and raised in the midwest USA, and now lives there voluntarily, a life choice she only sometimes questions. On the small farm her menagerie calls home, she happily juggles her voracious reading and writing habits with caring for her kids and pets.

Reviews

[Brooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️ 5 stars ⭐️

Another buddy read WIN with my twin sis Ivana 💖✨

Fantastical, magical world of endless seas, where an ancient artifact binds the souls of Zoral the shadow pirate and Aron, an orphan that is so much more than meets the eye.

Undertow was an epic tale of pirate voyages, mysterious ghost ships, mighty kraken battles, ancient drowned cities, and a lovely romance.

The world-building was absolutely captivating, the scenery wondrous and picturesque. The writing really made this “Pirates of the Caribbean”-esque world come to life, and I felt part of this crazy crew, in the midst of the kraken fights, right alongside these amazing characters on this mystical adventure.

“Impossible,” Zoral repeated quietly, looking down at Aron with a wry smile. “I’m not sure what that word means to me anymore. Not since the day we met.”

The romance, although not the centerpiece of the plot, was still very sweet and loving and sexy (Zoral’s dirty talk was just *chef’s kiss*).
Aron’s earnest and soft demeanor paired exceptionally well with Zoral’s more rough and warrior-like persona. As always, we love a tough guy who adores and melts for their person.

«He was, somehow, both the intensity of a storm and the respite of its aftermath.»

The ending did feel somewhat abrupt/bittersweet, more of a happy for now situation. There is so much potential for a sequel, exploring Aron’s abilities and them as a couple.

Completely in love with this world and really hope the author decides to expand on it. Either way, I really enjoyed Rachel Ember’s style and will be checking out more of her work.

I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews, and this is my honest review.

CW and tropes (spoilers):
- Pirate MC
- Age gap (10 years, 20 & 30)
- Forced proximity
- Magical elements
- Virgin MC
- “Only one bed” trope
- Dry humping
- Rimming
- Strict top/bottom

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you love pirates, adventure and romance you'll love this one! Undertow is a fantasy novel set in Sihr, where our protagonist Aron ekes out a living and dodges many dangers from the Order, to witches and the vicious kraken and fanged sharks. Aron is an orphan and a bit of a disaster magnet as he finds himself in some pretty precarious positions throughout the book. Thankfully he has pirate captain Zo around to keep him relatively safe. 😂 Undertow is a fun read with intricate world-building and a gratifying amount of spicy content too. I loved the magical elements and the hints of mystery throughout the book.

I was excited to see this book up for publication. I first read it in serial form as a recipient of Rachel's newsletter and quite a bit has changed. It was great to revisit the story and see how it ended... although I have to say it doesn't feel like the story is over quite yet. I'm not sure if there are plans for a sequel but it would be a shame to build such an interesting world and not see it through.

Rating: 3.75 rounded up
Angst: 2.5/5
Steam: 3/5

I received an advance copy of this book and this is my honest review.

[Surajat Debbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5⭐️ rounded up.

This was a little meh and I didn’t really connect with the characters or the world. I think 2 stars would have been a little harsh considering it had some good writing in places.

Proper review to come 💗

[Caz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've given this a B- at AAR, 3.5 stars rounded up.

I’ve enjoyed a number of Rachel Ember’s contemporary romances – her Wild Ones series was my introduction to her work – and I’ve been wondering for a while if she had anything new planned. Then Undertow popped up for review. It’s a fantasy romance set in a world of endless seas inhabited by terrifying monsters, in which humans live in remote outposts called Towers. The worldbuilding is rich – although there are some things that needed more fleshing out – and I liked the found family element among the ensemble cast, but the romance takes a bit of a back-seat, so perhaps it would be best to think of it as a ‘with romantic elements’ kind of book. Oh - and it has pirates! Can’t forget the pirates ;)

Twenty-year-old Aron is looking forward to getting away from the village in the Leaside Tower where he’s been stuck since the death of his father two years earlier. He’s been eking out a living as a ‘fish’ – someone who swims and dives, tethering ships, retrieving lost items and so on – but hasn’t quite scraped together enough to be able to buy his passage out of there when he’s offered the opportunity to make a tidy sum by delivering an unspecified cargo to an unspecified someone who will rendezvous with him out in the waters at the edges of the world. Aron is well aware that whatever he’s getting himself into is dangerous as well as dodgy, but he decides to go for it. He’s been told not to open the bag he’s been given, but as he’s waiting for his contact, curiosity gets the better of him and he looks inside to discover two metal bands etched with runes, runes lined in black that marks them as Dark artifacts. He shoves them away quickly when he hears oars sloshing in the distance; another rowboat approaches him, the exchange is made and Aron starts to row back towards the tower. But then he sees a trio of sharks making for the other boat. Aron calls out a warning and watches as the three pirates dive into the water leaving the artifacts behind, and watches helplessly as the sharks drag their rowboat beneath the surface. With the artifacts lost, will the pirates want their payment, back, too? Aron doesn’t pause too long to consider his options; without the artifacts, his whole future is in danger and he dives into the deep, dark water to retrieve them. It’s hard to see, but Aron manages to keep out of the way of the sharks – who are more interested in the boat anyway – but he doesn’t have much time. His lungs are almost fit to burst when he finds the two items and grabs them – and is then grabbed from behind by someone who helps him get to the surface and back to his boat, which is now inhabited by the two other pirates.

The big man who helped Aron out of the water tells him they’re going to head back to their ship, and that afterwards, Aron can leave and take the small boat – and his payment - back to the tower, but before they can row very far, they see the water in the middle distance beginning to spin and churn, the swirling current spreading and pulling them back as they try to row away. As they’re drawn closer and closer to the centre of a whirlpool and water starts to cascade into the boat, they see something start to break the surface and watch incredulously as a lichen-encrusted mast, followed by a decayed sail, rigging and then the decks, sides and massive hull of a legendary ghost ship follow. And it’s knifing through the water straight towards the rowboat.

This all makes for a really exciting beginning to the story, and given it all happens in the first few chapters, I don’t think it’s a spoiler to say that Aron and his companions do manage to evade the ghost ship and make it aboard the pirates’ vessel. Once aboard, he discovers that his rescuer is Zoral, the captain – well, temporarily in command – of the Dreambringer, and that the artifacts are to be exchanged for the life of their actual captain, who has been kidnapped by witches, and that they have only eleven days left in which to deliver the goods.

Undertow is a well-written and imaginative fantasy-adventure, and the quest-oriented nature of the story keeps things moving fairly swiftly as Aron, Zo and the crew are confronted by – and have to fight their way out of – multiple sticky situations. Aron is an engaging protagonist; a bit naive perhaps, but brave and determined, and I enjoyed watching him gaining in confidence and coming into his own later in the book as he discovers more about himself and his origins and abilities. I liked the way he slowly adapts to pirate life and finds friendship and acceptance amongst the crew, who are, naturally, suspicious of him at first, but are slowly won over by his kindness, courage and loyalty. Zoral, on the other hand, is harder to know; he’s likeable, flirty and raffish, but he isn’t as fully fleshed-out as Aron is, which made it difficult for me to fully buy into their connection. But their attraction simmers nicely and the sex scenes are steamy; if there are to be more books in the series, there’s definitely the potential for a deeper relationship to develop between them.

The action scenes are plentiful and well-written and I enjoyed getting to know more about the world’s lore and its magical systems, the warring witch factions, sea monsters, the ghost ship and the dark artifacts, but because there’s such a lot going on the romance feels underdeveloped, which isn’t helped by the fact that Aron and Zo seem to spend a fair bit of time apart. Then, near the end, the author throws in an anticlimactic twist that pulls the rug from under Aron and Zo’s feet and almost renders their entire quest moot, which had me knocking down the final grade a bit more.

But despite those things, I did enjoy Undertow, and would recommend it to anyone looking to try a new – and different – fantasy story. I don’t know if it’s a standalone or if Ms. Ember is planning more books set in this world, but if she is, I’m sufficiently intrigued by what I’ve learned about it to want to read and discover more.

Note: This title was originally conceived as a serial and distributed via the author’s newsletter. I didn’t read the earlier version, so cannot say if any changes have been made.

[Joyfully Jay · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Joyfully Jay review.

4 stars

Undertow is an exciting fantasy with really wonderful and expansive world building. It takes place in a world where the waters rose after a battle among the witches, drowning the cities and leaving everyone living in floating settlements clustered around towers. There are krakens and weirdly mutated sharks, divers who scavenge for remains of the lost world, pirates and traders, magical artifacts, and more. It really is such a creative and engaging story, and I found myself very drawn in by the elaborate world. That said, I felt like there was too much here that was either explained too late in the story, or not at all. While I appreciated the lack of info dump, I think things veered too far the other direction at times.

Overall, I really enjoyed this one, largely on the strength of the excellent world building.

Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.

[Alastair H · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adventure on the seas! This book was so good! I haven't read a pirate story in a while but I really love them. The ocean has always been a mild obsession of mine so any book in my fav genre that incorporates it's briney, salt filled vastness is usually on my tbr. I got everything I wanted in that regard with this one. It's set in a world full of endless seas with mysterious secretive depths and swimming with terrifying monsters. Aron has more guts than I do, I'll say that much. In the first 50 pages he dives headfirst into shark infested open ocean during a pitch black night. You would not find me doing that. Ever. Clearly he's a badass.

We get insights into both Zoral and Aron's character, and their relationship is built on saving each other's life and getting to know each other during kraken attacks and stalker ghost ships. I do wish there had been a bit more of Zo's backstory, he was an interesting character I wanted to know better.

I think this is a standalone, and honestly that makes me sad because even though it's plenty long it was really good and I didn't get enough of Zoral and Aron, I would love to read about more of their adventures. And also I'd love to see more of the lore behind the world, why are there endless seas? Where did the witches come from? Who exactly is the order? Just more stories I could happily get lost in. I really hope this world is revisited in one way or another, there is definitely so much potential for other stories.

This is the first book I've read by this author and I'd definitely read more, this book threw me head first into Zoral and Aron's story and you won't find me complaining.

*Thanks to GRR for an ARC! These are my honest opinions and I'm giving them voluntarily 💕

[Cara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book for my honest review.

If you’re new to fantasy reads or like your romance with a dash of fantasy then this book is for you - with promises of pirates, magic, ghost ships and dark artefacts this story starts when Aron a 20 year old creedless ‘fish’ agrees to act as the go between in a artefact trade with the pirate Zoral - which of course does not go to plan!

This story is very light on the details, whilst we’re introduced to this idea of the creed and the creedless, gender marks, towers, pets, sunken worlds and plas; you’re never given any real backstory or explanation in what this means and whilst this story is probably meant to be more of a romance set to a fantasy background I didn’t find myself being particularly drawn to the romance between Zoral and Aron; for me it felt very forced and I struggled to feel that romantic connection between the two.

Whilst there is no mention of this book being a series it does feel like that is the intention as for me it definitely felt unfinished.

[S a n d r a · Rating 3 out of 5]

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This is going to be a difficult and hard opinion to give, honestly. To be honest, my opinion largely depends on whether it's a standalone or if the author plans to write a sequel.

If it's a standalone... it's a disappointment and a missed opportunity.

If it's the first book in a saga or a duology, I don’t mind so long as there's a continuation, then we're talking about a great first book and a universe full of possibilities.

Now I'm going to explain why, because I've rarely come across supposedly standalones that don’t work if they really are such.

We're in an alternate world where almost all the surface is flooded. The towns are scattered across the sea and form around huge, tall towers where humans mainly live. The world is actually in such state due to an ancient war between witches, who now govern the world and set the rules for humans.

I won't deny that, at first, some things are a bit confusing. There's a lot of information to absorb and new elements to understand, and sometimes in the early chapters Aron narrates some things as if the reader understands what he's talking about... when we (or at least I) don't. But as the plot advances and with the help of the map at the beginning of the book, the pieces start to fall into place, and soon you get a clear idea of how this new world works.

From there, things improve substantially. It's a story of pirates and magic, full of adventures, tense moments, mysteries, and a race against time to save the captain of the crew. Meanwhile, Aron integrates more and more with the pirate crew, and his relationship with the General becomes more intimate and personal.

Aron and Zo are two very different people who meet by chance. One of the enterprises carried out by Zo and his pirate crew is the illegal trade of all kinds of things and objects that their clients don't want to officially declare. However, on this occasion, their clients have taken the ship's captain hostage to ensure they receive their goods, and therefore the crew is quite anxious and willing to get what they need.

Aron, on the other hand, needs money to move from the tower where he resides to a new one and start over, which is why he accepts an offer to carry out a trade beyond the allowed limits. This is how he meets the pirates, and when the trade complicates, their paths become irreversibly intertwined.

The development of their relationship is quite secondary in the plot and happens at a slow pace, but it left me with a pleasant and quite satisfying feeling. If you're looking for a primarily romantic story, though, it's not what you'll find, as this book focuses more on the mystery of the artifacts that connect our MCs and other magical elements that lead to unveiling secrets hidden for years.

Now then, with all this, how does it matter if it's a standalone book or not?

For starters, the book ends at a strange point. As if something is missing. As if part of the story is missing. This alone would lower my rating of a standalone because if, at the end of a book, you feel like something's missing and there's no intention to continue in a sequel, something's wrong with the story.

But this is further accentuated by the immense worldbuilding the author does. Why do it if there's not going to be more? We hear about the war between the witches, we hear about the artifacts that connect Aron and Zo, we hear about the plans the boys have once the whole debacle with the captain's kidnapping is over, and we also hear about the secrets surrounding Aron... but then it ends, abruptly, without really addressing anything with the witches, the artifacts, or anything else.

Honestly, not only does it seem like something's missing, but it seems like this is the book that introduces a story that will conclude in a later book. The problem is that nothing except the book indicates this, as every source I've looked at says the same: it's a standalone book.

I just hope the author soon gives us new information and confirms that there will be at least one more book set in this world. That would completely change my opinion of this title.

If it stays as a standalone book, I don't entirely recommend reading it. It's entertaining, yes, and it has potential. But you end up feeling like something's missing, and no one likes to be left hanging in a story. Also, I think both Aron and Zo have room for more development, both individually and as a couple.

If there's an intention to publish another book, however, I think it's a fantastic read, full of original and interesting elements, with a lot of action and adventures, and immense potential.

For now, I'm going to leave it with this rating, subject to change if, as I mentioned, it's announced that there will be a sequel.

[ivanareadsalot · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would like to thank GRR for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

💥This was another massively successful buddy read with my soul sis Brooke ! Love twinning and winning with this superstar babe 💯%!💥

🚣So YESSSS i LOVED this book!! At first i wasn't sure if the jeune writing style would be for me, but quick as anything i fell in love (pretty much right after that thought) with Ember's amazing world and her fantastic characters, and i knew this would be a 5 star read before even cresting the quarter mark through!⚓

🌊There was just so much to be enraptured by! I thought the worldbuilding was marvelous and intricate enough to keep me interested, but not overwhelming to the point where it detracted from my enjoyment of the fascinating plot! The water world of Sihr, with its compelling lore and magic systems was easy to want MORE of! And i very much appreciated that the hierarchies/social order in play, was woven seamlessly into the narrative instead of info dumping! There's just soooo much to it (especially the ending, that my mind refuses to let go of) and i'm sitting here nerding out, wanting to dive back in and take detailed notes of everything; all the towers, and the what was, and speculate on what could potentially possibly be...🦈🐦‍⬛

...straight up, i'm loving this for myself lol!⛵



🐟I loooooved the characters. All of them! Even the jerks and the creepy ones! Ember's characterizations were all so rich and engaging, because of their diversity, scope and vitality! And i thought that the author's skillful balance of the fantastical plot elements, and the sweet soft affection between Aron and Zo was simply chef's kiss!🦪

🐦‍⬛I ADORED Aron, who read downy soft and shy, profoundly haunted and hungry in so many ways, and my heart obviously ached for this precious boy!☠️

🦑Zo was #goals the way he made a meal out of Aron's blushing innocence...but also the way he was just badass (his kraken coat is legend), adroit with sword and shadow (figurative but cool as fk), touchy-feely affectionate with Aron (sigh), and just all-round Captain Capable! MY GAWD HI he was a supersonic favourite and i had heart-eyes from beginning to end!😍

🏴‍☠️THE FOUND FAMILY - PIRATE EDITION, IS THE FEELINGS-CREW I DIDN'T KNOW I NEEDED IN MY LIFE BUT I STAN!! I know it's probably been done a million times before, but my gawd I LOVED EVERYTHING ABOUT THE HEART STEALING SHIPMATES OF THE DREAMBRINGER ...and also, i am an absolute sucker for i-didn't-know-i-was-magical boys with dead fathers who tramp about with bad boys who operate outside the margins of the society magic-boy is running from. Niche, i know, but it is what it is.🦑🗡️

🌊STRAIGHT UP I JUST WANT MORE OF THE WORLD OF SIHR, AND ALL THE HIDDEN SECRETS OF THE FRINGE WATERS, BECAUSE I CAN READ THIS FOREVER!!🦈

✨(and i probably will because i'm already excited about rereading this while hoping (manifesting) this will somehow become a series, because joy and perfect-for-me happiness in book form is life!)✨

⚡So YESSSS! This was 9689765783678 kinds of wonderful, and I am very much a fan of THIS! Though a standalone, I hope Rachel Ember will continue on with this exciting and intriguing world, and I look forward to more from this author and 🤞🏽 MORE OF THIS ✨VIBE✨ to come!🌀

[Emily Hernandez · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm the kind of reader who gets easily overwhelmed by the complexity of most fantasy books, but this one did a fantastic job of easing me into the story and keeping me intrigued from start to finish! I love the idea of a world where sea dominates the earth and witches must sacrifice their blood and bones for power, and the fact that it also had pirates was a huge plus. Zo and Aron were strong leads for the story, keeping me invested in the outcome of their quest and making me eager to get to know all of their secrets. I thought this book did a great job of laying out the breadcrumbs to some of the bigger mysteries, and the more I learned about the history of this world the more curious I was to keep exploring the lore. I was fascinated by the dark artifacts, the ghost ship and the spirits it contained, the warring witch factions, and the hidden graveyard under the sea. Because most of the story was quest-oriented, Zo, Aron, and the rest of the crew had a sense of urgency that kept driving them forward with a clear goal in mind. Along the way they had to fight their way out of multiple sticky situations, embrace powers they had been taught to fear, and work together to reach their destination. I would say that the romance between Zo and Aron was more of a complement to the rest of the story than the main focus, but I still enjoyed the handful of spicy moments the two of them did have.

Where this book lost some steam for me was at the end. I had been gearing up to see Zo and Aron take on their enemies firsthand, but while they did fight some very action-packed battles, the end of their quest felt sideswiped by the reveal that their conflict had already been resolved by someone else. I guess there was an unspoken understanding that the deadline they'd been up against the entire time was moot, which was a bit of a letdown, and without that goal to motivate them the characters kinda drifted in the last chapters. Sure, Zo and Aron got in one last spicy romp, and there were a couple of huge lore reveals that haven't gone anywhere yet, but when I got to the last page I was left with no clear understanding of what the characters were working towards next. I usually hate cliffhanger endings with a passion, but I feel like this book needed something to set the stage for where the series is headed next and maybe even a hint of what "big bad" is lurking behind the scenes. Right now all I've got is a location for Zo and Aron's next adventure, and I guess I'll have to wait for the next book to see what happens after they get there.

**I voluntarily read an ARC of this book. This review expresses my honest thoughts and opinions.

[Tashyka · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aron fights for his life as a destitute orphan. In the hopes of obtaining enough money to start over in a different place, he commits to a perilous profession importing dark treasures. Zoral, a shadow man and pirate, ensnares Aron during the encounter, which does not go according to plan. The relic is crucial for Zoral and his crew as they are being held captive in return for their commander. There is a strict deadline for them. Because of this, they will have no choice but to bring Aron along. Aron is unprepared for what unfolds into a thrilling adventure involving a distrustful crew, spectral ships, enormous krakens, and long-lost underwater towns.


An enthralling tale unfolds on a planet named Sihr, which is on the brink of being submerged by water. Everybody lives by a credo and there are towers and barges for housing. The regulations seem to be different for each of the faiths. Aron has never done anything wrong because his father protected him till he died. Outside of his tower, he has limited knowledge of the world. While Zo has no qualms about stealing Aron's innocence, he can't help but feel a strong attraction to and protectiveness of Aron. Zo has the same effect on Aron, and he ends up wanting too much from her. The plot was superbly crafted, with each piece revealed in a methodical and expert manner, immersing us in the story. There needs to be more to the narrative of Zo and Aron. They and the rest of the crew win you over to the point where you want to find out more.I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews, and this is my honest review.

[Debby · Rating 5 out of 5]

A penniless orphan, Aron struggles to survive. When he is offered a dangerous job smuggling dark artifacts, he agrees, thinking he will have enough to make a new start somewhere else. However, the rendezvous does not go as planned and Aron finds himself under the compulsion of a shadow man and pirate, Zoral. Zoral and his crew need the artifact to exchange for their captain, being held hostage. They have a very limited timeframe. As a result, they have to take Aron along with them. Aron is not prepared for this, which turns into quite an adventure, including a crew that does not trust him, ghost ships, really large krakens, and ancient cities lost to the water.

This was a fascinating story set a world called Sihr, a world that water has just about taken. There are towers and barges for living as well as a creed that everyone follows. Each of the creeds seem to have its own rules. Aron is an innocent having been sheltered by his father until his death. He knows very little of life beyond his tower. Zo has no problem taking that innocence but finds himself drawn to Aron and very protective of him. Aron feels the same draw and wants more from Zo than he should. The plot was excellently written, revealing each piece slowly and masterfully, drawing us into the story. Zo and Aron should have more to their story. They and the crew work their way into your heart and you cannot help but want to know more.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

[Siobhan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rachel Ember’s Undertow instantly grabbed my attention. I am always eager to dive into new fantasy worlds, and the promise of pirates meant I went in with high expectations. Unfortunately, my feelings toward this one are mixed.

I will start with complete honesty and say my rating for this is more of a three-point-five-star rating. Although it did have me curious at the start, I was not immediately sucked in. In fact, there were some odd word choices that made it difficult for me to be sucked in. Fortunately, once the story started to move, I found myself addicted. At this point, my rating moved toward a four-star rating. I was hoping such would remain the case throughout, yet things became rushed at the end. Not only were things rushed, but I felt like things were unresolved. It felt like this is the introduction to a series – one where the is a lot more world-building to be done – yet there was nothing to indicate there is more. If there is nothing more, it was a very strange way to end things. Especially as there are lots of unanswered questions. There is also a lot more room for relationship growth, as I did not feel anything between the characters.

All in all, this had potential. I can certainly see it appealing to many. Sadly, it did not tick the boxes I had hoped it would tick for me.

[Emilyrose · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

Aron and Zo had brilliant chemistry together and I really enjoyed seeing them get closer and closer as time went on. Aron integrated so well to pirate life and the story was well paced and kept me hooked throughout. The ending leaves things with them happy together but I do think there are a few threads left loose, giving them the potential to continue their adventure together.

The main reason I've not scored higher isn't actually a criticism of this book. It's well-written, has great secondary characters and is an interesting read. The reason is that I read a version of this story when it was first released as a serial through the author's newsletter and I absolutely loved it. I remember being desperate to read each instalment and gutted to leave the characters behind at the end. That version was much grittier, felt a bit darker and had more angst (but also a bit more backstory) with Zoral and Aron. That isn't a criticism of this version, I did really enjoy it, it just took me a good chunk of the story to stop comparing the two plots and sink into the here and now.

Overall, if you like MM romance set within an interesting world and a HFN ending then definitely give this a try.

I received an ARC and this is my honest review.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm rather picky when it comes to fantasy romance reads, mainly because I need to be able to envision the world that the author has created for their story and cast of characters. Rachel Ember has yet to disappoint me with her writing, so when I learned that the her upcoming release was going to be something different than her norm, I was up for it. Undertow was originally launched by the author via Kickstarter, with copies of the book available on her store. Now, this magical tale can be found on Amazon, and it's currently part of the Kindle Unlimited subscription program, so it's free to read for subscribers (like moi!).

Expectations were high, and Rachel Ember and Aron and Zo blasted through every single one. Ember has always had a way with words, so picturing Sihr and all the goings-on was no hardship on my end. She also delivered two main characters--and a slew of standout supporting characters to boot!--who were layered and just so darn interesting that not delving into their tale would have been a futile endeavor. This is an absolute standalone, so whether you're new to Ember's writing or have read her other books in the past, you can dive in the deep end of Aron and Zo's story and relish every captivating bit of it. Five stars for Undertow!

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got an author-signed Kickstarter early edition of this book from a free little library! What an awesome story, set in a mysterious post-apocalyptic future where the landed is flooded and the cities are lost beneath the water. The magic system is a confusing mix of two orders: witches of blood, and witches of bone, blood being the “good” ones, for once. I loved the twists and turns of the story of Aron and Zo, who were both deep and complicated characters, who got two beautiful spicy nights together, with consent and hygiene discussed even! They flesh out the pirate crew with good medium-depth characters like Letta, Trek, Olsen, Farlap, Elena the engineer, and their new addition of the messenger boy Drake. They meet more great characters like Noa and the divers, and the old bone witch who calls Aron his kin. I feel like there are hints of backstories for so many of them, and it makes me want many more books within this world! But I found the ending frustrating, with no closure about the collar artifact and the witches who traded for it, nor with Aron and Zo’s love for each other. I was confused by the abrupt “The End”, written on an aron bird feather. And then it was followed by a very interesting chapter called The Claim, “a tale of Sihr” about Noa and Bram and their diver families. I loved the setup about their childhood love for each other, the conflict of their feuding families and the claim on the new underwater find, and them claiming each other and forging a future together. I want a whole book about this!! Please, let there be sequels soon.

[Elizabeth D · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25/5 There is a super rich world here, with so many fascinating places, people, and things to explore. As much as I learned, there’s still more that I want to discover! There’s so much rich world-building, and I appreciated the time to delve into this new world. I definitely feel like we’ve only scratched the surface with the magic systems, and I want to understand way more.

I love how Aron finds fellowship amongst the pirates when this seems at first like the least likely thing that could happen. It was fun to watch all the crazy action and relationships that developed as a result. I really enjoyed the quirky found family.

I found Zo a lot harder to really get to know than Aron, but I still enjoyed watching feelings creep up on him when he least expected it. Aron may be innocent and a bit naive in some ways, but he is fierce and determined and not about to give up on Zo ever. I’m glad that Aron was able to meet Nef, and I hope they can spend more time together.

I really hope that we get more in this world! It feels like there’s so much more to come.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a unique and interesting read. The world is covered in water and there are different towers and different groups of people: divers, pets, fish, witches, scholars, pirates, etc. Apples are delicacies and people trade using leaves (I still haven't figured out if these are actual leaves or just what they call their currency. I may have missed this somewhere). I found myself really invested in this story and Aron's and the pirate crew's adventures. I really hope for more in this series, because even though we know where aron and Zo are headed, I feel like their story is just beginning. I would love more backstory on what happened to the world and who the ancients were and their technology. I'm hoping that, if there is a book 2, Zo and Aron will learn these things as Hightower is the home of the scholars.

[Juniper · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adore the world building in this story: it’s a deeply fitting landscape for swashbuckling adventure, and the clear, descriptive nature of the author’s writing style really allows each imaginative flourish to shine. The plot is engrossing, the fantasy elements are interesting in all the best ways, and the main characters have more than their share of compelling moments. Both Aron and Zoral lean hard into their respective tropes, but manage to transcend them in intriguing ways— there’s more to Aron in particular than meets the eye, and I really liked that. The romance doesn’t always feel like the main focus here, and to be honest, I was absolutely fine with that— there’s plenty of adventure to be had, and I’d love to see more of this world and these characters in future stories. 4.5 stars.

*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

[Katherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was sadly disappointed in this book and it came down to the ending. There really was quite a lot to love, with good writing that built up a fascinating world and characters and an important task going on mixed in with a bit of a mystery. But after all that build and all that story it sort of just ends. No really, the book ends and it has to say THE END because otherwise it wouldn't seem done. It is true that the storylines had been wrapped up, but they also sort of hadn't which was what was supremely frustrating. They had solved the sort of mystery and finished the task, but in doing so presented a bigger mystery/concern/ongoing problem for the main characters that apparently was just going to....always be there? It was weird and felt very unsatisfying, like the story wasn't really done, just ending with a little anti-climatic plop.

[EQUUS · Rating 5 out of 5]

If Undertow was a movie it would probably make The Pirates of the Caribbean and Waterworld run for their money. Original dystopian fantasy setting, combined with really good and imaginative mystery and breathtaking action scenes, not to mention a beautiful slow burn and yet hot love story makes it into a page turner. Add well fleshed and interesting characters and Rachel Ember's writing that never dissapoints and you probably won't be able to put it down. I truly hope that author will consider writing a sequel. It's a HEA, but I feel that some mysteries left an opening for this story to continue. I'll be holding my fingers crossed.
Highly recommended.

[Agalactiae · Rating 3 out of 5]

Voilà un nouveau roman de Rachel Ember qu'il me tardait de découvrir ! Cette fois, l'auteur nous embarque dans un roman plus fantasy où nous allons côtoyer des pirates, entres autres.

J'ai trouvé l'univers très sympa, même si beaucoup de choses restent sans réponses. J'ai eu un peu de mal à rentrer vraiment dans le livre en fait, et de ce fait, à m'attacher aux personnages. Zoral et Aron forment un couple sympathique malgré tout.

Je pense être passée un peu à côté du roman... Ce qui me désole car j'adore les écrits de Rachel Ember. Je pense relire « Undertow » à un autre moment, je pense que je n'étais pas dans le bon mood.

[Mandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s been a while between books from this author, and this one was so worth the wait. With its wonderful world creation, characters that are colourful and well-developed, and a storyline filled with adventure and intrigue, it was fabulous.
This sweet slow-burn tale of orphan Aron and pirate captain Zo had swashbuckling pirates, witches, magic, and sea monsters, and is a must-read for PNR fans. I highly recommend this book as a terrific read and really hope there's more to come from this world in the future.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

[K-Me · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an Epic High Seas Adventure! The Fantasy world of Sihr is vivid with the just right amount of originality and complexness. This made for a fun and easy read. I really enjoyed seeing Aron form a bond of comradery with all the pirates who were already a found family of their own. Zo stays a bit of mystery and standoffish man for a while which I was a fan of. He was a hardened, tough but dedicated to his crew. We get battles with Kraken's and Sharks. I mean Zo has to keep his innocent Aron safe and all! I will leave with my favorite part; Zo was one hot dirty talking pirate!

[Suzanne Irving · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eleven days makes a marvelous story

WOW. I love this book. The world building is marvelous, as is the story telling and it feels like I read about a whole life not just eleven days. The fantasy elements are well thought out from flying ghost ships, magic systems, history, a whole society on the water and more. The sweet and sour, stuttering relationship between Aron and Zoral is an interesting story wound around the fantasy world and its happenings. Definitely worth checking this book out and I really hope that we get further stories based in this far off place.

[Deb Kel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not my normal genre but as I received a free arc thought I would have a go! Overall I really enjoyed it though being honest it did take me a while to get into it. I loved the characters
Aron and Zo and thought they had brilliant chemistry together and the relationship development was very well written. A great theme not having read MM "pirate" books before and with plenty of adventure and action it does keep you motivated til the end. A HFN ending that left me hoping we would get more from the author.
I received a free arc from GRR and this is my honest review.

[Traci S · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️
This had such wonderful and descriptive world building making Undertow a really fun read. I loved escaping into this world with Aron and Zoral. There’s a lot going on and the author does an excellent job balancing the story. You get a riveting high seas adventure, an exciting plot, two wonderfully dimensional characters, and a pretty lovely romance. I loved it, it has beautiful writing and tons of excitement.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

[Rena · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, full of adventure with pirates, witches and magical artifacts, it kept me on the edge of my seat for most of the story. I liked both MCs, Aron, was brave, resourceful and sweet, while Zoral dark, mysterious, and commanding, they made a good couple when it got down to it. This was my first book by this author and I really enjoyed her writing style and world building this story was taking place in. Overall this was a very entertaining reading experience.

[Claire Louisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this novel. I first read a version of it a few years ago and while quite a lot, especially in the second half, has changed it was still a fabulous pirate adventure that kept me up reading. Aron and Zo are both great characters and I was excited to be reconnected with them. The rest of the crew were great to get to know. I'd love it if Rachel Ember wrote another book about Aron and Zo and the world she's created which is a wonderfully imaginative place.

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a well-written book with interesting world-building and appealing characters. I just somehow never felt fully invested in it. That might simply mean that I wasn't in the right mood for this particular story. Readers who love pirate tales and post-apocalyptic settings may find it right up their alley.

My thanks to Gay Romance Reviews for an advance copy of this book.