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These Shallow Waters
Ellie Hughes is done. Done being pitied, done being part of a life where she no longer fits in, done. After the loss of her husband, Ellie travels halfway across the world, on a whim, to the tiny hamlet of Bettyhill, Scotland. The town is full of colorful characters, including the handsome but surly librarian, Lawson MacCallum.
When unforeseen circumstances leave her stranded, the kind townspeople happily come to her aid. But this small town has secrets around every corner. Lawson quickly becomes a confidant and tells her of a mythological society awaiting their lost heir, where a dark prophecy has left their people in need of a savior to return light to their civilization. As Ellie is thrust into the dark world below the ocean’s glittering surface, she is introduced to creatures beyond her fairest dreams and worst nightmares. With a new crown and title, Ellie must find the strength to battle this ancient evil, or else her new home will come crumbling down around her.
When unforeseen circumstances leave her stranded, the kind townspeople happily come to her aid. But this small town has secrets around every corner. Lawson quickly becomes a confidant and tells her of a mythological society awaiting their lost heir, where a dark prophecy has left their people in need of a savior to return light to their civilization. As Ellie is thrust into the dark world below the ocean’s glittering surface, she is introduced to creatures beyond her fairest dreams and worst nightmares. With a new crown and title, Ellie must find the strength to battle this ancient evil, or else her new home will come crumbling down around her.
291 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 1, 2024
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83 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews
April 6, 2024
"Like the puffer fish I truly desire to be, I blow up my cheeks with air while I think about the fact that the witch could be a thousand years old."
° • ♡ • °
Omg that ending! I knew I smelt something fishy (pun totally intended) 🐟
I've always loved mythology, especially mythical creatures and this story kept me constantly captivated!
I loved Lawson right from the beginning even with his broodyness and constant curses lol. Ellie is also a delight and has a very similar sense of humour to me which I found very amusing. The pair of them together are so cute and heartwarming, my jaw started aching from all the smiling 🤭🥰
I was absolutely thrilled to be chosen to be on the authors arc team for this book! As soon as I read into it more, I couldn't stop thinking about it! I'm very grateful to Madison for letting me read and review this beautiful book early!
I adored this book so much and I cant wait to see what happens next 👀
° • ♡ • °
Omg that ending! I knew I smelt something fishy (pun totally intended) 🐟
I've always loved mythology, especially mythical creatures and this story kept me constantly captivated!
I loved Lawson right from the beginning even with his broodyness and constant curses lol. Ellie is also a delight and has a very similar sense of humour to me which I found very amusing. The pair of them together are so cute and heartwarming, my jaw started aching from all the smiling 🤭🥰
I was absolutely thrilled to be chosen to be on the authors arc team for this book! As soon as I read into it more, I couldn't stop thinking about it! I'm very grateful to Madison for letting me read and review this beautiful book early!
I adored this book so much and I cant wait to see what happens next 👀
April 4, 2024
Wow, I get the pleasure of being the very first review. No pressure or anything.
These Shallow Waters follows recently widowed Ellie. After suddenly losing her husband, Ellie and her closest friend find themselves in Bettyhill Scotland, continuing her husband's research into his own genealogy. It is there that she meets the surly, but quite handsome, Lawson MacCallum. The two get off to a rocky start, but after circumstances push them closer together the two must work together to bring down an evil set to invade their world.
There were small aspects of the story that I couldn't fully grasp, but all of which were not integral to the overall plot (sorry guys, I don't want to explain further and risk spoilers). Beyond that, the story was actually quite captivating and easy to read. The lore and world building were so well done that I wasn't at all focused on the romance.
I'm very excited to watch Mousers writing evolve in subsequent books, and even more excited to see where the Deep Waters series goes after that cliffhanger!
These Shallow Waters follows recently widowed Ellie. After suddenly losing her husband, Ellie and her closest friend find themselves in Bettyhill Scotland, continuing her husband's research into his own genealogy. It is there that she meets the surly, but quite handsome, Lawson MacCallum. The two get off to a rocky start, but after circumstances push them closer together the two must work together to bring down an evil set to invade their world.
There were small aspects of the story that I couldn't fully grasp, but all of which were not integral to the overall plot (sorry guys, I don't want to explain further and risk spoilers). Beyond that, the story was actually quite captivating and easy to read. The lore and world building were so well done that I wasn't at all focused on the romance.
I'm very excited to watch Mousers writing evolve in subsequent books, and even more excited to see where the Deep Waters series goes after that cliffhanger!
April 8, 2024
What a debut!
I definitely had fun reading this one. The very first chapter is going to suck you in and throw you into this wild mythological world that has Sirens, Selkies, war, love, and loss. I'm new to a book like this and I really enjoyed it. The plot is interesting and there is very quick world building which is nice to have sometimes. The story is very fast paced and a lot is going to happen what feels like all at once so there's no filler really while waiting for the next part which definitely kept me on my toes while reading it.
I like Ellie a lot. She's quirky, introverted and is dealing with something terrible. I loved watching her character develop into this badass, strong warrior that she was destined to be. I think everything leading up to the main plot in this story brought her out of her shell and gave her a true purpose and probably saved her to.
Lawson. Lawson. Lawson. Man did I love him. I live for the grumpy, cold blooded, standoffish guy that most people find strange until he meets our FMC and immediately changes into this caring, sweet to her man. I love his story and thought his background was tragic but made him who he is. I loved his love for his people and his protectiveness over not only them, but also this girl who came into his life and flipped his world upside down.
I really enjoyed this story overall. I think it's unique and definitely sets itself up for book two which, by that cliffhanger (my jaw dropped with that one), should be a wild ride. I will say there were some parts that felt a little rushed for me but it didn't take away from the main story and was easy to overlook.
I definitely recommend picking this up on release day if you like mythical creatures, a brewing war, strong main characters, banter, and a fast paced storyline.
Thank you Madison for the Arc, I'm definitely looking forward to the next one!
Release Date: May 1st, 2024
I definitely had fun reading this one. The very first chapter is going to suck you in and throw you into this wild mythological world that has Sirens, Selkies, war, love, and loss. I'm new to a book like this and I really enjoyed it. The plot is interesting and there is very quick world building which is nice to have sometimes. The story is very fast paced and a lot is going to happen what feels like all at once so there's no filler really while waiting for the next part which definitely kept me on my toes while reading it.
I like Ellie a lot. She's quirky, introverted and is dealing with something terrible. I loved watching her character develop into this badass, strong warrior that she was destined to be. I think everything leading up to the main plot in this story brought her out of her shell and gave her a true purpose and probably saved her to.
Lawson. Lawson. Lawson. Man did I love him. I live for the grumpy, cold blooded, standoffish guy that most people find strange until he meets our FMC and immediately changes into this caring, sweet to her man. I love his story and thought his background was tragic but made him who he is. I loved his love for his people and his protectiveness over not only them, but also this girl who came into his life and flipped his world upside down.
I really enjoyed this story overall. I think it's unique and definitely sets itself up for book two which, by that cliffhanger (my jaw dropped with that one), should be a wild ride. I will say there were some parts that felt a little rushed for me but it didn't take away from the main story and was easy to overlook.
I definitely recommend picking this up on release day if you like mythical creatures, a brewing war, strong main characters, banter, and a fast paced storyline.
Thank you Madison for the Arc, I'm definitely looking forward to the next one!
Release Date: May 1st, 2024
May 12, 2024
'These Shallow Waters' presents an intriguing blend of mythology and modern ages. As someone with an interest in mythical creatures, I found the premise engaging enough to keep me reading throughout the entire book.
The characters, particularly Ellie and Lawson, offered glimpses of depth, though at times their development felt rushed and their interactions very predictable. While the pacing occasionally faltered, leaving certain plot points feeling hurried, the overall narrative managed to hold my attention. The cliffhanger ending definitely left me wanting to read the next book.
This was a great debut and I look forward to seeing how Madion's writing improves moving forward. Thank you for providing me with an ARC. My opinions are my own. 🖤
The characters, particularly Ellie and Lawson, offered glimpses of depth, though at times their development felt rushed and their interactions very predictable. While the pacing occasionally faltered, leaving certain plot points feeling hurried, the overall narrative managed to hold my attention. The cliffhanger ending definitely left me wanting to read the next book.
This was a great debut and I look forward to seeing how Madion's writing improves moving forward. Thank you for providing me with an ARC. My opinions are my own. 🖤
April 12, 2024
What a debut novel this was! Fabulous, fabulous, fabulous. And at only 250 pages, it packs a lot of punch for not a lot of book.
Selkies and Sirens are not so commonly found in fantasy books (Or ones that I have read anyway) and it was a very refreshing and I have learnt something knew about the mythology around Selkies which was interesting.
Lawson was giving ‘where is my wife’ vibes (iykyk) and Ellie was a badass, strong, independent MFC. You can't help but love these two characters and are rooting for them throughout the book.
The story line was intriguing and although I knew something was up, that shock ending I didn't see coming and so, although this book isn't even out at the time of writing this review, I must demand book 2 immediately.
Towards the end of the book I was questioning the whereabouts and significance of two of the characters and the ending pulled the pieces together in a way that satisfied my wonderings but also made me want to know more.
Now, I really enjoyed this book, hence the 4 stars, however there are 2 things that annoyed me just a smidgen.
1. How fast the main characters fell in love.
I was hoping for more of the enemies to lovers, forced proximity trope to shine through and there was such a good opportunity for these tropes to be played out soooo well, but it just hit the mark a little.
2. Plot Holes
There are a few loose ends and plot holes when you get to the end of this book that have really played on my mind. We get one of them relatively tied up at the very end but what about Graham? Caitlin? The guy she was with? What about Noah? He has been mentioned far too much to just be a passing character right? And his lineage? Why the fleeting mention of previously being pregnant? There's just too many questions still up in the open at the moment, and although this makes me very excited for the series to continue, I am left feeling a little unsatisfied as well.
Overall, this book was an amazing debut from Madison and I highly recommend you all to pick it up on release date. I can easily see this becoming a knew tiktok/booktok sensation.
Selkies and Sirens are not so commonly found in fantasy books (Or ones that I have read anyway) and it was a very refreshing and I have learnt something knew about the mythology around Selkies which was interesting.
Lawson was giving ‘where is my wife’ vibes (iykyk) and Ellie was a badass, strong, independent MFC. You can't help but love these two characters and are rooting for them throughout the book.
The story line was intriguing and although I knew something was up, that shock ending I didn't see coming and so, although this book isn't even out at the time of writing this review, I must demand book 2 immediately.
Towards the end of the book I was questioning the whereabouts and significance of two of the characters and the ending pulled the pieces together in a way that satisfied my wonderings but also made me want to know more.
Now, I really enjoyed this book, hence the 4 stars, however there are 2 things that annoyed me just a smidgen.
1. How fast the main characters fell in love.
I was hoping for more of the enemies to lovers, forced proximity trope to shine through and there was such a good opportunity for these tropes to be played out soooo well, but it just hit the mark a little.
2. Plot Holes
There are a few loose ends and plot holes when you get to the end of this book that have really played on my mind. We get one of them relatively tied up at the very end but what about Graham? Caitlin? The guy she was with? What about Noah? He has been mentioned far too much to just be a passing character right? And his lineage? Why the fleeting mention of previously being pregnant? There's just too many questions still up in the open at the moment, and although this makes me very excited for the series to continue, I am left feeling a little unsatisfied as well.
Overall, this book was an amazing debut from Madison and I highly recommend you all to pick it up on release date. I can easily see this becoming a knew tiktok/booktok sensation.
April 19, 2024
This is a captivating dark fantasy romance, that draws on the unique mythology of sirens and selkies, and dives into a dark and hidden world.
I loved the nods to Pride and Prejudice weaved in, and the way the characters are introduced to the story.
There's a constant sense of mystery and brewing drama that keeps things interesting throughout, and you truly feel you're along for the ride discovering the impossible alongside Ellie.
I liked that Ellie and Lawson's relationship grows over time, they certainly have their ups and downs, but their bond is unique and I enjoyed how it developed their characters.
I am definitely intrigued to see where this series heads and to learn more about certain absent characters, especially after that ending! (Knew there was something fishy)
Excited to see more of the selkies and sirens as the prophecy unfolds and they face more dangers to protect their Kingdom and uncover secrets.
🌊 "You are my North Star, my Sun, and my Moon"
🌊 "I need Ellie, like I need to breathe"
🧜Dark Fantasy Romance
🦭He falls first
🧜Selkies / Sirens
🦭Arranged Marriage
🧜Royalty
🦭Mythology
🧜Prophecy
🦭Found Family
I loved the nods to Pride and Prejudice weaved in, and the way the characters are introduced to the story.
There's a constant sense of mystery and brewing drama that keeps things interesting throughout, and you truly feel you're along for the ride discovering the impossible alongside Ellie.
I liked that Ellie and Lawson's relationship grows over time, they certainly have their ups and downs, but their bond is unique and I enjoyed how it developed their characters.
I am definitely intrigued to see where this series heads and to learn more about certain absent characters, especially after that ending! (Knew there was something fishy)
Excited to see more of the selkies and sirens as the prophecy unfolds and they face more dangers to protect their Kingdom and uncover secrets.
🌊 "You are my North Star, my Sun, and my Moon"
🌊 "I need Ellie, like I need to breathe"
🧜Dark Fantasy Romance
🦭He falls first
🧜Selkies / Sirens
🦭Arranged Marriage
🧜Royalty
🦭Mythology
🧜Prophecy
🦭Found Family
April 26, 2024
Thank you Madison for kindly gifting me a physical ARC in exchange for my honest review!
This book is really good for a debut novel. The premise of the selkie and siren lore is super unique and interesting - one that I haven’t encountered in my reading yet. I really enjoyed that part of it. I feel like the story line itself is good, the pacing was just a bit off. It was a very short book at 250 pages and it could have been a little longer to help make the pacing of everything feel more organic.
*Caution: spoilers ahead!*
Some things that i disliked:
• I found myself confused when Ellie went from disliking and not trusting Lawson to agreeing to get in a boat with him after he told her his story, which must have sounded insane.
• Then, they randomly fell in love with each other, but the story didn’t support the progression and it kind of felt forced.
• I didn’t really understand the need to kill off Caitlin. I also didn’t understand why they constantly kept calling Ellie out for eating a lot.
• I was confused at how Ellie seemed completely conscious after being rescued even though the sirens had started draining her blood.
• I personally found the cliffhanger quite predictable and was waiting for that shoe to drop the whole time.
I do think Madison has a lot of potential as a writer and look forward to seeing her growth with the continuation of this series!
This book is really good for a debut novel. The premise of the selkie and siren lore is super unique and interesting - one that I haven’t encountered in my reading yet. I really enjoyed that part of it. I feel like the story line itself is good, the pacing was just a bit off. It was a very short book at 250 pages and it could have been a little longer to help make the pacing of everything feel more organic.
*Caution: spoilers ahead!*
Some things that i disliked:
• I found myself confused when Ellie went from disliking and not trusting Lawson to agreeing to get in a boat with him after he told her his story, which must have sounded insane.
• Then, they randomly fell in love with each other, but the story didn’t support the progression and it kind of felt forced.
• I didn’t really understand the need to kill off Caitlin. I also didn’t understand why they constantly kept calling Ellie out for eating a lot.
• I was confused at how Ellie seemed completely conscious after being rescued even though the sirens had started draining her blood.
• I personally found the cliffhanger quite predictable and was waiting for that shoe to drop the whole time.
I do think Madison has a lot of potential as a writer and look forward to seeing her growth with the continuation of this series!
April 20, 2024
This book follows the story of Ellie who is recently widowed and travels to Scotland on a mission to discover more about her late husband’s ancestry.
Once Ellie arrives in Scotland she meets Lawson and they go on a journey together which plunges Ellie into another world she didn’t know existed.
Tropes:
- Scottish Folklore
- Forced Proximity
- Bound by Fate
- Hot MMC
- Sweet but strong FMC
This book gripped me from the first chapter and I fell in love with the FMC. There is also a huge twist at the end and not only that, this book ends on a cliffhanger.
The story itself is a great story but I do feel there are some scenes that surprised me and I felt happened too quickly. Taking all that into consideration I’ve given this 4 🌟
Once Ellie arrives in Scotland she meets Lawson and they go on a journey together which plunges Ellie into another world she didn’t know existed.
Tropes:
- Scottish Folklore
- Forced Proximity
- Bound by Fate
- Hot MMC
- Sweet but strong FMC
This book gripped me from the first chapter and I fell in love with the FMC. There is also a huge twist at the end and not only that, this book ends on a cliffhanger.
The story itself is a great story but I do feel there are some scenes that surprised me and I felt happened too quickly. Taking all that into consideration I’ve given this 4 🌟
May 1, 2024
I really enjoyed this book. It was a first for me into the world of mythology of silkies and sirens and realism. The book follows Ellie who was recently widowed. Her friend Caitlin convinces her to travel to Scotland to find out more about his ancestory he was working on. This small town has some interesting characters and folklore stories! They meet Lawson the town librarian and Graham out in a pub the first night. The world building was great and a good introduction to this type of mythology. I felt like I was on the adventure too with Ellie as she is thrust into this new place, world and life. It was captivating and a quick read.
May 2, 2024
I really enjoyed this book! Mythological creatures of the sea was fun and it was a nice change of pace to the kinds of fantasy books I've been reading lately! I loved Ellie and the broody Lawson, their chemistry was great! I'm excited to read the next installment after that ending!!
May 4, 2024
What a great debut! The Scottish setting, the mythology, the gripping start that had me quickly turning pages to the cliff hanger ending… all made this a fun and entertaining read.
A year after her husband’s death, Ellie travels with her best friend to a small village in Scotland. It’s a town steeped in folklore of sirens, selkies, and other mythological sea creatures. Everyone knows each other and offers a kind welcome except for a handsome, brooding outsider. Lawson who knows exactly who she is and why she has come. Unbeknownst to Ellie, she has come to fulfill an ancient prophecy, putting herself and Lawson’s people at risk as they come together to battle an evil she never knew existed beneath the dark waters.
Read this book if you like:
💕 Grumpy/Sunshine
🏴 Scottish setting
🦭 Selkies
✨ Mythology
📖 Page turner
💍 Arranged marriage to true love
🌶️ Low spice (one open door yet modest scene)
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 stars. The characters switched to love a bit too quickly and I saw the plot twists coming, but even so I really enjoyed the story and am looking forward to the next book in the series!! 🙌
Thank you so much, Madison Mouser, for the ARC of your book! It was a pleasure to read! 🤗
A year after her husband’s death, Ellie travels with her best friend to a small village in Scotland. It’s a town steeped in folklore of sirens, selkies, and other mythological sea creatures. Everyone knows each other and offers a kind welcome except for a handsome, brooding outsider. Lawson who knows exactly who she is and why she has come. Unbeknownst to Ellie, she has come to fulfill an ancient prophecy, putting herself and Lawson’s people at risk as they come together to battle an evil she never knew existed beneath the dark waters.
Read this book if you like:
💕 Grumpy/Sunshine
🏴 Scottish setting
🦭 Selkies
✨ Mythology
📖 Page turner
💍 Arranged marriage to true love
🌶️ Low spice (one open door yet modest scene)
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 stars. The characters switched to love a bit too quickly and I saw the plot twists coming, but even so I really enjoyed the story and am looking forward to the next book in the series!! 🙌
Thank you so much, Madison Mouser, for the ARC of your book! It was a pleasure to read! 🤗
April 19, 2024
⋆｡°✩ Spoiler Free Reviews ⋆｡°✩
I was kindly provided with this book (censorship is BS and I hate it but here we are!)
I do believe this is a debut novel and I’m so privileged to be able to read it!
The plot - this is a romantasy novel - Sirens, Selkies, and humans. Tropes featured include; marriage of convenience, enemies to lovers and grumpy X sunshine. There are a few triggers so CHECK YA FUCKIN TRIGGERS PEOPLE. It’s a cliffhanger, and I’m intrigued to read book 2 actually Very minimal spice, maybe one scene? Nothing scandalous.
I found this one difficult to get through. Only because there were integral things to the plot line that didn’t appear to make sense until later on. Whilst that was definitely a stylistic choice, I think I wasn’t in the right headspace to fully appreciate it. I cannot wait to see Ms Mouser’s writing take off, and see where this series takes us!!
The MC - Ellie is our human FMC who just wants a new start. I couldn’t believe the twists and turns she kept encountering. They were wild and props to her for being a badass throughout them.
The male counterpart - Lawson is our grumpy Selkie who just wants to get home. He’s a bit of a dickhead but honestly he got better. Over time he got better and whilst he’ll forever be a bit of an idiot when it comes to Ellie, he means well.
I was kindly provided with this book (censorship is BS and I hate it but here we are!)
I do believe this is a debut novel and I’m so privileged to be able to read it!
The plot - this is a romantasy novel - Sirens, Selkies, and humans. Tropes featured include; marriage of convenience, enemies to lovers and grumpy X sunshine. There are a few triggers so CHECK YA FUCKIN TRIGGERS PEOPLE. It’s a cliffhanger, and I’m intrigued to read book 2 actually Very minimal spice, maybe one scene? Nothing scandalous.
I found this one difficult to get through. Only because there were integral things to the plot line that didn’t appear to make sense until later on. Whilst that was definitely a stylistic choice, I think I wasn’t in the right headspace to fully appreciate it. I cannot wait to see Ms Mouser’s writing take off, and see where this series takes us!!
The MC - Ellie is our human FMC who just wants a new start. I couldn’t believe the twists and turns she kept encountering. They were wild and props to her for being a badass throughout them.
The male counterpart - Lawson is our grumpy Selkie who just wants to get home. He’s a bit of a dickhead but honestly he got better. Over time he got better and whilst he’ll forever be a bit of an idiot when it comes to Ellie, he means well.
May 2, 2024
4⭐️
2🌶️
After the loss of her husband, Ellie travels halfway across the world, on a whim, to the tiny hamlet of Bettyhill, Scotland. The town is full of colorful characters, including the handsome but surly librarian, Lawson MacCallum. Lawson quickly becomes a confidant and tells her of a mythological society awaiting their lost heir, where a dark prophecy has left their people in need of a savior to return light to their civilization. As Ellie is thrust into the dark world below the ocean's glittering surface, she is introduced to creatures beyond her fairest dreams and worst nightmares. With a new crown and title, Ellie must find the strength to battle this ancient evil, or else her new home will come crumbling down around her.
This was so good!! It was a tiny bit slow to start, and I do think Ellie accepting everything so quickly was a little weird, but once they were with Lawson's kingdom I could not put this book down! I've never read any selkie or siren lore based fantasy before so I wasn't sure what to expect but this exceeded any expectations I did have! Definitely add this to your list of reads! These Shallow Waters is available as of yesterday so get it now!!
2🌶️
After the loss of her husband, Ellie travels halfway across the world, on a whim, to the tiny hamlet of Bettyhill, Scotland. The town is full of colorful characters, including the handsome but surly librarian, Lawson MacCallum. Lawson quickly becomes a confidant and tells her of a mythological society awaiting their lost heir, where a dark prophecy has left their people in need of a savior to return light to their civilization. As Ellie is thrust into the dark world below the ocean's glittering surface, she is introduced to creatures beyond her fairest dreams and worst nightmares. With a new crown and title, Ellie must find the strength to battle this ancient evil, or else her new home will come crumbling down around her.
This was so good!! It was a tiny bit slow to start, and I do think Ellie accepting everything so quickly was a little weird, but once they were with Lawson's kingdom I could not put this book down! I've never read any selkie or siren lore based fantasy before so I wasn't sure what to expect but this exceeded any expectations I did have! Definitely add this to your list of reads! These Shallow Waters is available as of yesterday so get it now!!
May 14, 2024
These Shallow Waters follows the story of Ellie Hughes who after the loss of her husband travels to the tiny hamlet of Bettyhill, Scotland on a whim. Ellie is tired of being pitied and done with life where she no longer fits in.
I’m not going to lie it took me a little bit to get into this book and I was still iffy on it half way through but by the end I did end up enjoying it. This is the first time I read a fantasy book with Selkies and Sirens so I wasn’t sure what to expect. I did love the fact that it dives into a dark world that’s hidden and the fact that it has mythology with it.
Okay now for Lawson. Lawson is the typical grumpy, stand offish, cold blooded guy. Most of the towns people find Lawson strange. Now for his background it is tragic but the way that he treats Ellie in the story.
The cliff hanger at the end of the book will definitely have you wishing that book two was out already and honestly I am looking forward to it because once I start a series I’m one that needs to finish the series.
If you have the chance to read this book I suggest that you take the chance as you may honestly like it more than i did. Im hoping book two can captivate me right from the beginning when it comes out.
This is Madison Mouser’s debut novel and for being a debut o give her a 10/10. Her writing style is easy to follow and I feel like she does her research before she actually writes. I am thankful Madison gave me the chance to read her debut novel even if it took me a little while to finish it.
I’m not going to lie it took me a little bit to get into this book and I was still iffy on it half way through but by the end I did end up enjoying it. This is the first time I read a fantasy book with Selkies and Sirens so I wasn’t sure what to expect. I did love the fact that it dives into a dark world that’s hidden and the fact that it has mythology with it.
Okay now for Lawson. Lawson is the typical grumpy, stand offish, cold blooded guy. Most of the towns people find Lawson strange. Now for his background it is tragic but the way that he treats Ellie in the story.
The cliff hanger at the end of the book will definitely have you wishing that book two was out already and honestly I am looking forward to it because once I start a series I’m one that needs to finish the series.
If you have the chance to read this book I suggest that you take the chance as you may honestly like it more than i did. Im hoping book two can captivate me right from the beginning when it comes out.
This is Madison Mouser’s debut novel and for being a debut o give her a 10/10. Her writing style is easy to follow and I feel like she does her research before she actually writes. I am thankful Madison gave me the chance to read her debut novel even if it took me a little while to finish it.
April 21, 2024
rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
spice: none
this is madison’s debut novel and i loved it! i’ve never read a book that was mythology based, and i was so interested in the siren and selkie lore!
i loved reading about ellie and lawson’s relationship blooming. it was quite funny when he was making fun of her purple sweater. 😂 i did feel a little bit sad about noah and caitlin. 😭 the ending had me SHOOK!! i need to read book 2 already!! i’m hoping to get more info on the siren and selkie lore in the next book, i used to be huge on mythology when i was younger so this book brought back fun memories!
also side note, i think i saw a selkie coat washed up on shore in mexico a few years ago. 👀
spice: none
this is madison’s debut novel and i loved it! i’ve never read a book that was mythology based, and i was so interested in the siren and selkie lore!
i loved reading about ellie and lawson’s relationship blooming. it was quite funny when he was making fun of her purple sweater. 😂 i did feel a little bit sad about noah and caitlin. 😭 the ending had me SHOOK!! i need to read book 2 already!! i’m hoping to get more info on the siren and selkie lore in the next book, i used to be huge on mythology when i was younger so this book brought back fun memories!
also side note, i think i saw a selkie coat washed up on shore in mexico a few years ago. 👀
April 15, 2024
I haven’t ever really written a review, so apologies if it comes across a bit rambly
Starting this book I was a little unsure, but by about 60 pages in I was hooked, the storytelling was really good.
The cliffhanger…. I knew it was going to be a cliffhanger but dang to leave it like that?! I now need book 2 please and thank you.
For a debut, this book is fantastic and I am so glad I got to read it and delve into this world.
Ellie and Lawson are just… chefs kiss.. he’s so grumpy I loved him from the start and I Ellie.. my that woman just makes you want to smile with her and protect her.
Madison you should be so proud of the world you have created here. Looking forward to the next one
Starting this book I was a little unsure, but by about 60 pages in I was hooked, the storytelling was really good.
The cliffhanger…. I knew it was going to be a cliffhanger but dang to leave it like that?! I now need book 2 please and thank you.
For a debut, this book is fantastic and I am so glad I got to read it and delve into this world.
Ellie and Lawson are just… chefs kiss.. he’s so grumpy I loved him from the start and I Ellie.. my that woman just makes you want to smile with her and protect her.
Madison you should be so proud of the world you have created here. Looking forward to the next one
May 5, 2024
The plot line was super interesting! And I love the dynamic between them! You can definitely tell they have a connection. The only thing I wish is that there was more tension, and they didn’t say I love you so fast but nevertheless, still really good!
April 9, 2024
I was so excited to receive my first physical ARC and finished this book in one sitting! I can honestly say I was hooked from the beginning. Ellie is dealing with the grief of losing her husband and decides to drop everything at home and travel to a tiny town in Scotland. While there, she meets Lawson, the town’s librarian who mysteriously washed up on their shores years ago. She finds herself caught up in an ancient prophecy of the Selkies to take back their throne from the Sirens. And though she doesn’t plan on entering any part of this world, she might have to contend with the feelings she’s having for the librarian who’s definitely more than meets the eye.
I haven’t had a lot of exposure to this type of lore so it was so fun to learn more about and be immersed in this fast-paced, action-packed story. Ellie and Lawson are compelling characters that I would love to have more time getting to know, so I’m already looking forward to book two of this series. Book One is releasing May 1st and coming soon, MARK YOUR CALENDARS for this one!!
I haven’t had a lot of exposure to this type of lore so it was so fun to learn more about and be immersed in this fast-paced, action-packed story. Ellie and Lawson are compelling characters that I would love to have more time getting to know, so I’m already looking forward to book two of this series. Book One is releasing May 1st and coming soon, MARK YOUR CALENDARS for this one!!
May 2, 2024
I am definitely in my selkie royalty era! There something about selkies, Scotland, and the mythical lore of this story that had me on the edge of my seat.
Ellie is mourning the loss of her husband, Noah, and finds herself in Scotland, after her best friend Caitlin convinces her to travel there to learn more about her late husband’s ancestry. When Ellie meets the broody and stand-offish, yet handsome man, Lawson, sparks fly, but not in the way that you think. Lawson seems to have some vendetta against and for Ellie, and his presence rattles her more than she’d like to admit. When odd and unexpected circumstances leave Ellie stranded in Scotland alone, she finds herself thrust into selkie royalty, and discovers that she is the missing piece to fulfill a long awaited prophecy.
This story was eerie, chilling, humorous, swoony, and fun! I loved watching Ellie and Lawson’s love unfold. Seeing Ellie embrace her role as a strong, courageous, and kind leader, and Lawson be in awe of her, was one of my favorite parts. The lore, the eerie creatures, and beautiful setting of Scotland, along with gorgeous castles, only added to the experience of reading this fantastic story. Brace yourself for some twists and turns 😁 I cannot wait to read book 2!
Thank you to the author for the ARC copy!
Romantic Content: Sexual Innuendos, Fade to Black, Closed Door
TW: Death of Loved Ones, Torture, Grief, Trauma, Explicit Swearing
Ellie is mourning the loss of her husband, Noah, and finds herself in Scotland, after her best friend Caitlin convinces her to travel there to learn more about her late husband’s ancestry. When Ellie meets the broody and stand-offish, yet handsome man, Lawson, sparks fly, but not in the way that you think. Lawson seems to have some vendetta against and for Ellie, and his presence rattles her more than she’d like to admit. When odd and unexpected circumstances leave Ellie stranded in Scotland alone, she finds herself thrust into selkie royalty, and discovers that she is the missing piece to fulfill a long awaited prophecy.
This story was eerie, chilling, humorous, swoony, and fun! I loved watching Ellie and Lawson’s love unfold. Seeing Ellie embrace her role as a strong, courageous, and kind leader, and Lawson be in awe of her, was one of my favorite parts. The lore, the eerie creatures, and beautiful setting of Scotland, along with gorgeous castles, only added to the experience of reading this fantastic story. Brace yourself for some twists and turns 😁 I cannot wait to read book 2!
Thank you to the author for the ARC copy!
Romantic Content: Sexual Innuendos, Fade to Black, Closed Door
TW: Death of Loved Ones, Torture, Grief, Trauma, Explicit Swearing
May 2, 2024
What a unique and refreshing story. The mythology in this book is not one that I regularly come across in my reading adventures, which made it very enjoyable. I really loved the mix between modern day and mythological worlds. It was fun to read about jeans and sweats in a castle. I also enjoyed the journey of self-discovery the main characters Ellie and Lawson go on. And the cliffhanger at the end made me eager for the next installment.
Highlights:
✨Mythological Creatures
✨Modern x Fantasy World
✨Bookworm MCs
✨Training Scene⚔️
✨Prophecies
Favorite Quotes: “You look like the kid of girl who likes to live in worlds other than her own.”
Thank you to the author for this advanced copy. My opinions are my own.
Highlights:
✨Mythological Creatures
✨Modern x Fantasy World
✨Bookworm MCs
✨Training Scene⚔️
✨Prophecies
Favorite Quotes: “You look like the kid of girl who likes to live in worlds other than her own.”
Thank you to the author for this advanced copy. My opinions are my own.
May 17, 2024
I love reading books based around mythology. Especially when it revolves lesser known creatures. Enter " These Shallow Waters" and its Irish Selkie stars. Lore around these creatures has always intrigued me so I was excited to receive an arc of these books featuring them.
This was a great debut effort, whose dark underlying themes had me captivated. It had a unique concept and likeable characters. Ellie despite the loss in her life retains a quirky personality and tries to find a positive outlook on life. Displaying an enviable inner strength. Also, how can you not love a book obsessed MC. And Lawson was a perfect grumpy love interest with a soft center, in an only her way. It was a little too much insta love for me, but I got over it quick as I loved the two together.
Chock full of drama, mystery and intrigue I was hooked from the first pages. The ending cliff hanger was predictable and I called it early on . That said it's not preventing me from wanting to dive into book two when it comes out.
Thanks to Madison the author for my advanced copy in return for an honest review.
This was a great debut effort, whose dark underlying themes had me captivated. It had a unique concept and likeable characters. Ellie despite the loss in her life retains a quirky personality and tries to find a positive outlook on life. Displaying an enviable inner strength. Also, how can you not love a book obsessed MC. And Lawson was a perfect grumpy love interest with a soft center, in an only her way. It was a little too much insta love for me, but I got over it quick as I loved the two together.
Chock full of drama, mystery and intrigue I was hooked from the first pages. The ending cliff hanger was predictable and I called it early on . That said it's not preventing me from wanting to dive into book two when it comes out.
Thanks to Madison the author for my advanced copy in return for an honest review.
May 2, 2024
Thank you Madison Mouser for the opportunity to review These Shallow Waters in exchange for a fair and honest review.
These Shallow Waters intrigued me with its promise of a romantasy adventure full of mythical creatures (selkies and sirens), a prophecy, and an enemies-to-lovers dynamic. Madison Mouser's writing is easy to read, has steady pacing, and is full of world-building that unites modern-day Scotland and mythology with believable realism. She's respectfully spun Scottish mythology into an intriguing fantasy adventure with Pride and Prejudice vibes and well-developed characters. The storytelling has a steady degree of mystery; some readers might see the pointers in the writing that give clues to the end. Plenty of drama packed into the story keeps the pacing steady and engages the reader.
The characters are well-developed with complicated and emotive backstories. Ellie, the female main character, is quirky, introverted, and reluctant at the story's start. Her transformation during her character arc brings her out of her shell, helping her move forward and embrace her agency in the world. I liked seeing Ellie grow; I hope she embraces more of her badass potential in book 2 and keeps Lawson on his toes. Lawson is a standoffish grump with a chip on his shoulder bigger than Scotland. At points, I wanted Ellie to kick him to the curb because he crossed too many lines. He is redeemed because falling in love makes him embrace his caring, possessive side – a guy born to endorse the touch her and die vibes.
Lawson and Ellie don't hit it off with good first impressions. Sparking some interesting early conflict between the pair, it doesn't fan into great flames as the romance comes on quickly after Lawson earns his way back into the good books. Felt a little instalove for me. Not my favourite trope to see. Things do seem to go around in circles in their relationships – they make the same repeated mistakes and miscommunication stretched out. Lawson and Ellie find their feet with each other, becoming very cute together as they settle into their relationship; they become a force to reckon with.
A promising debut book from Madison Mouser, spinning a dark romantasy with interesting characters set against Scotland's beautiful, dramatic, moody west coast highlands. I'm intrigued to see where Lawson and Ellie's story goes, as I found a couple of loose ends to tie up in book 2, so I will keep an eye out to see what comes next.
These Shallow Waters intrigued me with its promise of a romantasy adventure full of mythical creatures (selkies and sirens), a prophecy, and an enemies-to-lovers dynamic. Madison Mouser's writing is easy to read, has steady pacing, and is full of world-building that unites modern-day Scotland and mythology with believable realism. She's respectfully spun Scottish mythology into an intriguing fantasy adventure with Pride and Prejudice vibes and well-developed characters. The storytelling has a steady degree of mystery; some readers might see the pointers in the writing that give clues to the end. Plenty of drama packed into the story keeps the pacing steady and engages the reader.
The characters are well-developed with complicated and emotive backstories. Ellie, the female main character, is quirky, introverted, and reluctant at the story's start. Her transformation during her character arc brings her out of her shell, helping her move forward and embrace her agency in the world. I liked seeing Ellie grow; I hope she embraces more of her badass potential in book 2 and keeps Lawson on his toes. Lawson is a standoffish grump with a chip on his shoulder bigger than Scotland. At points, I wanted Ellie to kick him to the curb because he crossed too many lines. He is redeemed because falling in love makes him embrace his caring, possessive side – a guy born to endorse the touch her and die vibes.
Lawson and Ellie don't hit it off with good first impressions. Sparking some interesting early conflict between the pair, it doesn't fan into great flames as the romance comes on quickly after Lawson earns his way back into the good books. Felt a little instalove for me. Not my favourite trope to see. Things do seem to go around in circles in their relationships – they make the same repeated mistakes and miscommunication stretched out. Lawson and Ellie find their feet with each other, becoming very cute together as they settle into their relationship; they become a force to reckon with.
A promising debut book from Madison Mouser, spinning a dark romantasy with interesting characters set against Scotland's beautiful, dramatic, moody west coast highlands. I'm intrigued to see where Lawson and Ellie's story goes, as I found a couple of loose ends to tie up in book 2, so I will keep an eye out to see what comes next.
May 31, 2024
My Rating: ★★★★☆
These Shallow Waters by Madison Mouser, published on May 1, 2024, by Mimosa Bookhouse, is a captivating debut that masterfully blends contemporary romance with mythological fantasy. I am grateful to Madison for the opportunity to be part of her ARC team and experience this enchanting tale firsthand.
The story follows Ellie Hughes, a grieving widow who impulsively relocates to the quaint hamlet of Bettyhill, Scotland, seeking a fresh start. There, she encounters the enigmatic and surly librarian, Lawson MacCallum, and a community filled with colorful and kind-hearted characters. When unforeseen circumstances leave Ellie stranded, the townspeople come to her aid, revealing the town's many secrets.
Ellie soon learns from Lawson about a mythological society awaiting their lost heir and a dark prophecy threatening their civilization. Thrust into an underwater world teeming with fantastical creatures and ancient evil, Ellie must embrace her new crown and title to save her newfound home.
Madison Mouser's debut is impressively executed, with a storyline that's easy to fall in love with and characters that are thoughtfully introduced and developed. Ellie is a relatable and resilient protagonist, whose journey from grief to empowerment is both heartwarming and inspiring. The transition from the quaint Scottish town to the mystical underwater realm is seamless, and the world-building is rich and imaginative.
The romance between Ellie and Lawson is a slow burn, adding depth to their relationship and making their eventual connection all the more satisfying. The supporting characters, each with their own quirks and secrets, add layers to the narrative and make Bettyhill feel like a real, vibrant community.
In conclusion, These Shallow Waters is a delightful and well-crafted debut that promises a bright future for Madison Mouser in the literary world. With its engaging plot, well-developed characters, and seamless blend of romance and fantasy, this book is a must-read for fans of both genres. I highly recommend it and look forward to seeing what Madison Mouser writes next.
These Shallow Waters by Madison Mouser, published on May 1, 2024, by Mimosa Bookhouse, is a captivating debut that masterfully blends contemporary romance with mythological fantasy. I am grateful to Madison for the opportunity to be part of her ARC team and experience this enchanting tale firsthand.
The story follows Ellie Hughes, a grieving widow who impulsively relocates to the quaint hamlet of Bettyhill, Scotland, seeking a fresh start. There, she encounters the enigmatic and surly librarian, Lawson MacCallum, and a community filled with colorful and kind-hearted characters. When unforeseen circumstances leave Ellie stranded, the townspeople come to her aid, revealing the town's many secrets.
Ellie soon learns from Lawson about a mythological society awaiting their lost heir and a dark prophecy threatening their civilization. Thrust into an underwater world teeming with fantastical creatures and ancient evil, Ellie must embrace her new crown and title to save her newfound home.
Madison Mouser's debut is impressively executed, with a storyline that's easy to fall in love with and characters that are thoughtfully introduced and developed. Ellie is a relatable and resilient protagonist, whose journey from grief to empowerment is both heartwarming and inspiring. The transition from the quaint Scottish town to the mystical underwater realm is seamless, and the world-building is rich and imaginative.
The romance between Ellie and Lawson is a slow burn, adding depth to their relationship and making their eventual connection all the more satisfying. The supporting characters, each with their own quirks and secrets, add layers to the narrative and make Bettyhill feel like a real, vibrant community.
In conclusion, These Shallow Waters is a delightful and well-crafted debut that promises a bright future for Madison Mouser in the literary world. With its engaging plot, well-developed characters, and seamless blend of romance and fantasy, this book is a must-read for fans of both genres. I highly recommend it and look forward to seeing what Madison Mouser writes next.
May 2, 2024
⭐⭐⭐ 3/5 stars
This was a good debut novel and I enjoyed the story but some things left me wanting more. I liked learning about the selkie and siren lore. That world felt super interesting and the overall premise of the story kept me interested. Also, the ending was a great setup for the next book so I may return for the sequel just to find out what happens!
Highlights:
✨ Selkie & Siren lore
✨ Scottish small-town setting
✨ Grumpy / Sunshine romance
✨ Clean romance - fade to black
✨ Cliffhanger ending
✨ First book in a series
These Shallow Waters was a bit too short to cover all of the information I was hoping to learn and the real climax/action that I was looking for. The book felt a bit too fast-paced, so things weren't explained or as fleshed out as I think they could have been. This is the first book in a series so I understand that a lot of this was the beginning to set up the rest of the story. I think that the next book will be really engaging and dive more into the action/story that I was expecting from this book.
I really liked both of the characters and I feel like the foundation for their love story was a strong idea but I felt like the execution was lacking. I still like them being together but it felt almost rushed and they went from just getting to know each other to suddenly being head over heels in love. This is one of the areas that I think could have been better executed, but regardless I still like them as a couple.
My biggest con for this book though is that it felt like everything was just happening to Ellie instead of her taking charge of her path. I prefer female leads who push the story forward and choose their path, but Ellie felt like she was just going with the flow. However, I do think Ellie will be more of a strong female lead who takes control of her destiny in the sequel because of the character development that happens later in this book.
Thank you to Madison Mouser for this ARC in exchange for an honest review! All opinions expressed in my review are my own.
This was a good debut novel and I enjoyed the story but some things left me wanting more. I liked learning about the selkie and siren lore. That world felt super interesting and the overall premise of the story kept me interested. Also, the ending was a great setup for the next book so I may return for the sequel just to find out what happens!
Highlights:
✨ Selkie & Siren lore
✨ Scottish small-town setting
✨ Grumpy / Sunshine romance
✨ Clean romance - fade to black
✨ Cliffhanger ending
✨ First book in a series
These Shallow Waters was a bit too short to cover all of the information I was hoping to learn and the real climax/action that I was looking for. The book felt a bit too fast-paced, so things weren't explained or as fleshed out as I think they could have been. This is the first book in a series so I understand that a lot of this was the beginning to set up the rest of the story. I think that the next book will be really engaging and dive more into the action/story that I was expecting from this book.
I really liked both of the characters and I feel like the foundation for their love story was a strong idea but I felt like the execution was lacking. I still like them being together but it felt almost rushed and they went from just getting to know each other to suddenly being head over heels in love. This is one of the areas that I think could have been better executed, but regardless I still like them as a couple.
My biggest con for this book though is that it felt like everything was just happening to Ellie instead of her taking charge of her path. I prefer female leads who push the story forward and choose their path, but Ellie felt like she was just going with the flow. However, I do think Ellie will be more of a strong female lead who takes control of her destiny in the sequel because of the character development that happens later in this book.
Thank you to Madison Mouser for this ARC in exchange for an honest review! All opinions expressed in my review are my own.
April 29, 2025
{3.5/5}
CW: some violence, gore, loss of a spouse, loss of family, implied spice, some others
Selkies really are vastly underrepresented in modern fantasy though.
Still mourning the loss of her husband, Noah, Ellie Hughes and her best friend Caitlin fly off to Scotland to connect with Noah’s ancestral roots. The town of Bettyhill is small and charming, but Ellie soon becomes separated from Caitlin. No money, no passport, no way out. Enter Lawson McCallum, a loner in the small Scottish village and a man with many secrets. Unbeknownst to Ellie, though, at least one of those secrets involves her. The others mainly involve Lawson’s selkie coat and an ancient sea witch’s prophecy.
[Note: The burnout is real, so this will be a shorter review.]
This book was interesting, but the main focus seems to be more on the character growth end of things, not so much on action and moving parts. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that, I just have a preference for things to be less introspective (otherwise my brain runs off with me and I have to work harder to stay focused on the story). The actual emotional plotline (the attraction, the affection, etc) moves pretty quickly, which I’m chalking up to magical prophecies and such, but the overall plot falls more into the slow and steady category. Every so often one of the characters would start to do a self reflection and examination that would get a tad long winded, but, again, personal preference, it’s actually written fairly well.
The setting is beautiful and I would 10/10 go visit this town. Bonus points for the focus on the library spaces, because obviously. The various selkie-oriented locations are also beautifully depicted, as are the selkies and the sirens themselves.
All in all, this was an easy read that I would love to revisit when I’ve got some more brain space to devote to just vibing with it. I’m looking forward to book 2, which releases very soon! The overarching plot is interesting, and the characters play well off each other, so I’m excited to see what the next part of their story entails.
CW: some violence, gore, loss of a spouse, loss of family, implied spice, some others
Selkies really are vastly underrepresented in modern fantasy though.
Still mourning the loss of her husband, Noah, Ellie Hughes and her best friend Caitlin fly off to Scotland to connect with Noah’s ancestral roots. The town of Bettyhill is small and charming, but Ellie soon becomes separated from Caitlin. No money, no passport, no way out. Enter Lawson McCallum, a loner in the small Scottish village and a man with many secrets. Unbeknownst to Ellie, though, at least one of those secrets involves her. The others mainly involve Lawson’s selkie coat and an ancient sea witch’s prophecy.
[Note: The burnout is real, so this will be a shorter review.]
This book was interesting, but the main focus seems to be more on the character growth end of things, not so much on action and moving parts. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that, I just have a preference for things to be less introspective (otherwise my brain runs off with me and I have to work harder to stay focused on the story). The actual emotional plotline (the attraction, the affection, etc) moves pretty quickly, which I’m chalking up to magical prophecies and such, but the overall plot falls more into the slow and steady category. Every so often one of the characters would start to do a self reflection and examination that would get a tad long winded, but, again, personal preference, it’s actually written fairly well.
The setting is beautiful and I would 10/10 go visit this town. Bonus points for the focus on the library spaces, because obviously. The various selkie-oriented locations are also beautifully depicted, as are the selkies and the sirens themselves.
All in all, this was an easy read that I would love to revisit when I’ve got some more brain space to devote to just vibing with it. I’m looking forward to book 2, which releases very soon! The overarching plot is interesting, and the characters play well off each other, so I’m excited to see what the next part of their story entails.
April 30, 2024
I read this as an ARC that releases tomorrow and all I can say is book 2 better come out fast!! Read this in half a day!
I was hooked the entire time, such a unique story. Paranormal, love, mystery, battles, weird rituals. I have never heard of Selkies before and this was so fresh and new. The idea of the coat was interesting and I was picturing like seal-people 😅
I did kinda see the ending coming (it’s a cliffhanger but still) but it was all the more reason for me to race through to see if I was right. I like being right haha
And makes the anticipation for book 2 so much more, I NEED TO KNOW
Lawson and Ellie were both so likeable. Maybe not at first for him 😤 but she is this book loving, reserved, introverted mumu wearer.. I can relate. But then she’s also so sarcastic and full of fire! I loved seeing that come out and the back and forth with them was so fun.
He’s also so sexy and broody, but he’s also an outsider and a book lover too. You definitely know there’s more to him and I was dying to ditch Graham!
There is basically no spice here, if that’s what you’re looking for, but it’s romantic and lovely! Doesn’t always need to be spicy
Overall the lore was super cool. There was a lot of background but she left some things unanswered to keep you guessing. Introducing the other characters was seemless and easy to keep track of and the type of relationships they had to others. I really appreciate this! I struggle when too many names get thrown in and I can’t tell who’s even important
I did not like Esme, fuck that lady, talking shit about my queen and trying to get with Lawson. AS IF
BUH BYE 👋
I did find it a little odd and funny that there was so much mention of how much Ellie can eat. Don’t get me wrong, I love food, but it was mentioned a lot. I’m glad she’s confident enough to eat what she wants, even if I do think mint ice cream tastes like toothpaste 😂
I was hooked the entire time, such a unique story. Paranormal, love, mystery, battles, weird rituals. I have never heard of Selkies before and this was so fresh and new. The idea of the coat was interesting and I was picturing like seal-people 😅
I did kinda see the ending coming (it’s a cliffhanger but still) but it was all the more reason for me to race through to see if I was right. I like being right haha
And makes the anticipation for book 2 so much more, I NEED TO KNOW
Lawson and Ellie were both so likeable. Maybe not at first for him 😤 but she is this book loving, reserved, introverted mumu wearer.. I can relate. But then she’s also so sarcastic and full of fire! I loved seeing that come out and the back and forth with them was so fun.
He’s also so sexy and broody, but he’s also an outsider and a book lover too. You definitely know there’s more to him and I was dying to ditch Graham!
There is basically no spice here, if that’s what you’re looking for, but it’s romantic and lovely! Doesn’t always need to be spicy
Overall the lore was super cool. There was a lot of background but she left some things unanswered to keep you guessing. Introducing the other characters was seemless and easy to keep track of and the type of relationships they had to others. I really appreciate this! I struggle when too many names get thrown in and I can’t tell who’s even important
I did not like Esme, fuck that lady, talking shit about my queen and trying to get with Lawson. AS IF
BUH BYE 👋
I did find it a little odd and funny that there was so much mention of how much Ellie can eat. Don’t get me wrong, I love food, but it was mentioned a lot. I’m glad she’s confident enough to eat what she wants, even if I do think mint ice cream tastes like toothpaste 😂
January 12, 2026
I just finished the audiobook of These Shallow Waters and now I just want to dive right back into the series to continue with these characters.
I was really enjoying the main characters banter throughout the story and the way they met in the beginning of the book, it definitely set the tone for what would be an interesting dialouge between them. The Grumpy MMC x Sunshiney Sassy FMC combo is just too good. They provided many fun moments throughout as well as alot of depth amd emotion in the more intense moments of the book.
These Shallow Waters was was a page turner for me, it was beautiful, had frustrating moments, heartbreaking at times, heartwarming, inspiring, and very intriguing. The Author had beautiful word-illustrations that helped me really visualize the characters and what was happening around them.
I love the incorporation of different mythological oceanic creatures in this read. The descriptions of their look is very visual and I felt like had a mesmerizing picture being painting in my head.
The narrators were phenomenonal in the audiobook. They were fun, emotional, had depth, and did wonderful with thier inflections in tone for their characters as well as when they were switching characters for the side characters. Together they paired really well and their voices suited eachother where they flowed well within the story. I wanted to keep throwing on this audiobook throughout the day to just get a few more mins in and get deeper into the story because it was very interesting storyline that kept me invested in knowing more.
But, AHH the ending, leaving us on a note where you just need more!! I can't wait to dive headfirst into These Deep Waters.
One of my favorite parts was definitely the involvement of the different mythical creaturesand all of the descriptions surrpunding them. I fell very easily into the story and the narrators rhythm.
I was really enjoying the main characters banter throughout the story and the way they met in the beginning of the book, it definitely set the tone for what would be an interesting dialouge between them. The Grumpy MMC x Sunshiney Sassy FMC combo is just too good. They provided many fun moments throughout as well as alot of depth amd emotion in the more intense moments of the book.
These Shallow Waters was was a page turner for me, it was beautiful, had frustrating moments, heartbreaking at times, heartwarming, inspiring, and very intriguing. The Author had beautiful word-illustrations that helped me really visualize the characters and what was happening around them.
I love the incorporation of different mythological oceanic creatures in this read. The descriptions of their look is very visual and I felt like had a mesmerizing picture being painting in my head.
The narrators were phenomenonal in the audiobook. They were fun, emotional, had depth, and did wonderful with thier inflections in tone for their characters as well as when they were switching characters for the side characters. Together they paired really well and their voices suited eachother where they flowed well within the story. I wanted to keep throwing on this audiobook throughout the day to just get a few more mins in and get deeper into the story because it was very interesting storyline that kept me invested in knowing more.
But, AHH the ending, leaving us on a note where you just need more!! I can't wait to dive headfirst into These Deep Waters.
One of my favorite parts was definitely the involvement of the different mythical creaturesand all of the descriptions surrpunding them. I fell very easily into the story and the narrators rhythm.
April 27, 2024
This was a really good debut novel! It's been a long time since I've read a book with selkie's, and with the added bonus of this book taking place in Scotland, I was really excited for this one. The mythology and lore was interesting, and if you have questions, a lot of stuff is explained and revealed towards the back half of this book. There were some things that nagged at me from the beginning of the story, and then bam! Question answered. The surprising reveal at the end had my jaw on the floor. I knew something was off about a person, but I was not expecting that.
This book seemed very cozy to me. A small village in Scotland where everyone knows everyone, mystical creatures, and Ellie and Lawson slowly becoming friends then falling in love. There are definitely dark elements though, with death and battle scenes. Lawson was extremely broody, sometimes in a funny way, and I think Ellie was a good balance for him, being bright and bubbly. She never seemed to let bad things get her down for too long and despite her painful past, approached life with a good sense of humor. Despite Lawson having a few hiccups, I loved how he opened up to Ellie and how protective he became of her so fast. Their relationship was overall very sweet!
I do wish the middle section of the book was a little more fleshed out. Ellie's acceptance of Lawson being a Selkie King seemed to happen way too quick, as well as their romantic feelings for each other going from 20 to 100. The marriage ceremony seemed a little too human. I thought there would have been a little more Selkie traditions because their kingdom seemed so separate from the rest of the world. It also would have been nice too to see more of Ellie's interactions with the rest of the Selkie people.
Overall, a pretty solid read and would recommend if you want a cozy, mystical read.
Thank you to the author for allowing me to read an ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This book seemed very cozy to me. A small village in Scotland where everyone knows everyone, mystical creatures, and Ellie and Lawson slowly becoming friends then falling in love. There are definitely dark elements though, with death and battle scenes. Lawson was extremely broody, sometimes in a funny way, and I think Ellie was a good balance for him, being bright and bubbly. She never seemed to let bad things get her down for too long and despite her painful past, approached life with a good sense of humor. Despite Lawson having a few hiccups, I loved how he opened up to Ellie and how protective he became of her so fast. Their relationship was overall very sweet!
I do wish the middle section of the book was a little more fleshed out. Ellie's acceptance of Lawson being a Selkie King seemed to happen way too quick, as well as their romantic feelings for each other going from 20 to 100. The marriage ceremony seemed a little too human. I thought there would have been a little more Selkie traditions because their kingdom seemed so separate from the rest of the world. It also would have been nice too to see more of Ellie's interactions with the rest of the Selkie people.
Overall, a pretty solid read and would recommend if you want a cozy, mystical read.
Thank you to the author for allowing me to read an ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 22, 2024
This was a fun, easy read. The writing was smooth and enticing, the characters likeable and easy to align with, and the world was really, REALLY cool.
I thought this concept was really neat. Having a pseudo-magical world just around the corner, and on the same plane as a human world. I haven't read anything like it before. In addition to that, the human world was very up to date on technology while the magical world was extremely outdated. Just a cool layout to the magic system that I found to be very unique.
Ellie is so cute and sweet. She is your average awkward Introvert who would rather read a book in a bar than talk to strangers. Lawson is definitely a conundrum, and he knows it. He is standoffish and surly, but instantly has a soft spot for our Ellie.
I wouldn't necessarily describe Ellie and Lawson and enemies to lovers, but there is definitely a fated component there.
We get to see both Ellie and Lawson grow as people as they both take on responsibilities that they hadn't imagined for themselves.
I don't want to go too far into what Ellie has to go through to get her to that Selkie kingdom, but I can ensure the reader that it is fast-paced and endearing. I'm always a fan of just fast-forwarding through days that don't hold a lot of merit, and this book definitely does that.
I personally felt myself screaming at the cliffhanger at the end that our characters FINALLY got it! (I can't say what, but just know it's right there...and it's frustrating to watch them not know).
Overall: I would recommend this book!
I thought this concept was really neat. Having a pseudo-magical world just around the corner, and on the same plane as a human world. I haven't read anything like it before. In addition to that, the human world was very up to date on technology while the magical world was extremely outdated. Just a cool layout to the magic system that I found to be very unique.
Ellie is so cute and sweet. She is your average awkward Introvert who would rather read a book in a bar than talk to strangers. Lawson is definitely a conundrum, and he knows it. He is standoffish and surly, but instantly has a soft spot for our Ellie.
I wouldn't necessarily describe Ellie and Lawson and enemies to lovers, but there is definitely a fated component there.
We get to see both Ellie and Lawson grow as people as they both take on responsibilities that they hadn't imagined for themselves.
I don't want to go too far into what Ellie has to go through to get her to that Selkie kingdom, but I can ensure the reader that it is fast-paced and endearing. I'm always a fan of just fast-forwarding through days that don't hold a lot of merit, and this book definitely does that.
I personally felt myself screaming at the cliffhanger at the end that our characters FINALLY got it! (I can't say what, but just know it's right there...and it's frustrating to watch them not know).
Overall: I would recommend this book!
May 31, 2024
Stars: ⭐️⭐️ out of 5
Spice: 🌶 out of 5
Tropes:
🗯Banter
🧜♀️Selkie/Siren
📃Prophecy
💍Arranged Marriage
❤️Contemporary Fantasy Romance
📖Review:
This is a fairly short, at 250 pages, story but even so, the pacing didn't seem as in sync with the development as some other stories this length (or shorter) I have read. There is more of a shorthand to the main characters' accelerated relationships and predicament.
With that said, our FMC, Ellie comes to Scotland after her husband passes (by walking into the ocean, no explanation given) and meets surly and handsome librarian Lawson. He's got a secret not wanting to give too much away, and
a prophesied arranged marriage between the two develops.
The rushed timeline and Ellie's acquiescence is what I find too easily accepted. Within 24hr, she agrees to marry this "stranger", to begin combat training and fulfill this prophecy.
They have moments of sweetness but then Lawson's mood twists seem sharply out of character. The love between them I just didn't quite invest in. And thus I also didn't connect to either of them.
There could have been more explanation on the selkie lore (as I was a bit lost) as well...as that is fascinating to learn more about! The prophesy itself also felt too specific and perfectly tailored to fit the restrictions of the narrative.
There were some enjoyable scenes at the beginning but there were plot gaps and not really the deep chemistry and complex drama I prefer.
Spice: 🌶 out of 5
Tropes:
🗯Banter
🧜♀️Selkie/Siren
📃Prophecy
💍Arranged Marriage
❤️Contemporary Fantasy Romance
📖Review:
This is a fairly short, at 250 pages, story but even so, the pacing didn't seem as in sync with the development as some other stories this length (or shorter) I have read. There is more of a shorthand to the main characters' accelerated relationships and predicament.
With that said, our FMC, Ellie comes to Scotland after her husband passes (by walking into the ocean, no explanation given) and meets surly and handsome librarian Lawson. He's got a secret not wanting to give too much away, and
a prophesied arranged marriage between the two develops.
The rushed timeline and Ellie's acquiescence is what I find too easily accepted. Within 24hr, she agrees to marry this "stranger", to begin combat training and fulfill this prophecy.
They have moments of sweetness but then Lawson's mood twists seem sharply out of character. The love between them I just didn't quite invest in. And thus I also didn't connect to either of them.
There could have been more explanation on the selkie lore (as I was a bit lost) as well...as that is fascinating to learn more about! The prophesy itself also felt too specific and perfectly tailored to fit the restrictions of the narrative.
There were some enjoyable scenes at the beginning but there were plot gaps and not really the deep chemistry and complex drama I prefer.
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