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Tales of Salt and Blood
A siren ... half a girl, half a shark.
Half a nightmare, half a dream.
Round and round and round she swims, like a fish in a bowl. Until one day, she's sold.
The only thing keeping Valerie sane during years of captivity has been the thought of revenge. But she did not factor her new owner into her plans. Enrys is dragging her away from the anger and sadness that had been her shore and out into a wild ocean of longing, passion and hope.
Locked in a power struggle with nearby kingdoms, Valerie isn't the tool Enrys was hoping for when he purchased a siren. Is she a potential ally or just a distraction?
When the only thing holding you together is anger, is it ever safe to let someone else in? The fury of the sea can smooth the sharpest edges ... but it can just as easily drag you under.
Tales of Salt and Blood is a dark fantasy romance written for mature audience. This is book one in a duology.
Half a nightmare, half a dream.
Round and round and round she swims, like a fish in a bowl. Until one day, she's sold.
The only thing keeping Valerie sane during years of captivity has been the thought of revenge. But she did not factor her new owner into her plans. Enrys is dragging her away from the anger and sadness that had been her shore and out into a wild ocean of longing, passion and hope.
Locked in a power struggle with nearby kingdoms, Valerie isn't the tool Enrys was hoping for when he purchased a siren. Is she a potential ally or just a distraction?
When the only thing holding you together is anger, is it ever safe to let someone else in? The fury of the sea can smooth the sharpest edges ... but it can just as easily drag you under.
Tales of Salt and Blood is a dark fantasy romance written for mature audience. This is book one in a duology.
560 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 21, 2024
17 people are currently reading
329 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
June 14, 2025
5 ⭐️ 3 🌶️
From page one I was HOOKED. I’ve been wanting to read this book for so long and I’m borderline angry I put it off because I could not put this book down.
This book is laced with something addictive. The feminine rage, the found family. The FRIENDSHIPS, the romance. I’m such a sucker for mermaids and a mermaid that’s a half shark? Gimme 14 of em’ right now 😭😭
And don’t even get me started on Enrys ✋ this man is like a fae mafia dom and I could not get enough of him and his grumpy attitude.
I truly loved how Valerie grew in just this first book. She is such a strong FMC and I think she’s an inspiration for every woman to take back their power and know their worth. I loved even MORE though, that Enrys lets her find her way on her own. He is so respectful of her, and I love that they both love and accept each other for who they are 😭 beneath this tense plot, the relationships were so heartwarming and wholesome.
I love a book that makes me giggle one minute and terrified for the characters the next and this book was exactly that. The prose is gorgeous, the story is unique and captivating. I truly loved every second of it and I’m desperate for the next book.
I’m honestly just blown away 🥹💙
From page one I was HOOKED. I’ve been wanting to read this book for so long and I’m borderline angry I put it off because I could not put this book down.
This book is laced with something addictive. The feminine rage, the found family. The FRIENDSHIPS, the romance. I’m such a sucker for mermaids and a mermaid that’s a half shark? Gimme 14 of em’ right now 😭😭
And don’t even get me started on Enrys ✋ this man is like a fae mafia dom and I could not get enough of him and his grumpy attitude.
I truly loved how Valerie grew in just this first book. She is such a strong FMC and I think she’s an inspiration for every woman to take back their power and know their worth. I loved even MORE though, that Enrys lets her find her way on her own. He is so respectful of her, and I love that they both love and accept each other for who they are 😭 beneath this tense plot, the relationships were so heartwarming and wholesome.
I love a book that makes me giggle one minute and terrified for the characters the next and this book was exactly that. The prose is gorgeous, the story is unique and captivating. I truly loved every second of it and I’m desperate for the next book.
I’m honestly just blown away 🥹💙
June 16, 2024
The book only got good at about 50%, and blew it out of the water for the last bit.
The plot is intriguing, and the politics get increasingly complex throughout the story. The prose is also poetic and moving at times, but the build up leads to them often falling flat in the first 50%.
I also found the male characters in the first 50% to be horrible, disgusting, sleaze-ball-like creatures, even the MMC. It’s like they’re all bad to make the MMC look good compared to them. But, I feel like the author actually got a grasp with where she wanted to go with all the characters around 35%. Once you hit around the 35% mark, you can see a change in the depth in each character.
Also I feel like the author over utilized k*nk dynamics, and leaned to heavily on it in the structure of the main relationship. However, the spice scenes were 4/5🌶.
I do think the author, with practice and time, will turn out truly phenomenal stories. I hope she never gives up, because I can see she has the ability to grow into a truly great writer. I can’t wait to see what she can do next.
I’d like to thank the author for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
The plot is intriguing, and the politics get increasingly complex throughout the story. The prose is also poetic and moving at times, but the build up leads to them often falling flat in the first 50%.
I also found the male characters in the first 50% to be horrible, disgusting, sleaze-ball-like creatures, even the MMC. It’s like they’re all bad to make the MMC look good compared to them. But, I feel like the author actually got a grasp with where she wanted to go with all the characters around 35%. Once you hit around the 35% mark, you can see a change in the depth in each character.
Also I feel like the author over utilized k*nk dynamics, and leaned to heavily on it in the structure of the main relationship. However, the spice scenes were 4/5🌶.
I do think the author, with practice and time, will turn out truly phenomenal stories. I hope she never gives up, because I can see she has the ability to grow into a truly great writer. I can’t wait to see what she can do next.
I’d like to thank the author for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 5, 2024
The book that made me enter my shark siren era!
June 11, 2024
Where do I even begin? This book was everything I hoped for and so much more!
"Sirens were like the sea, beautiful and deadly, brutal but addicting."
First off, all the vibes in this book are perfect. Dark and mysterious, sexy and deadly.
A shark siren kept in an aquarium, but saved by a stranger starts her quest for revenge.
When Valerie is finally freed from the tank, she has one goal that is stopping her from running from her savior and disappearing into the ocean. She wants revenge for the pain she suffered, but she never expected the challenges her new home throws at her.
"Are you going to be worth my while with those pretty siren eyes?"
Enry's had a plan. But the fragile little babysiren he rescued is not what he was hoping for. She is of no use to him. But he was also not expecting to lose his control around her.
"I am not sharing. Nobody touches what belongs to me."
The tension between Valeria and Enrys is insane and I couldn't wait for them to finally clash. And there where parts that had me screaming and grinning like an absolute idiot.
"I'm going to try something. And you'll behave, babysiren. You will let me do as I please."
But next to the tension and the spice there was so much softness and understanding between the two. Even if it was hidden beneath violence in a way they were able to be themselves around each other. I just loved every interaction without feeling like Inken was trying to create unnessesary tension.
"How long?" he asked.
How long did he keep you locked away? How long have you stayed in the aquarium? How long did you have to suffer?
Next to the relationship between Valerie and Enrys the friendship between her and Aliz healed my little broken heart. These two seemed to be polar opposites, but they fit so well together. Aliz was exactly what Val needed and I just wanted to give both of them a hug. Completing their little family with Shawn and Yason was a masterpiece. The pur joy and chaos that is Shawn is perfectly matched by Yasons seriousnes and they were the perfect cupple to push Vals boundaries.
I could go on forever, and I want to, but I don't want to spoil anyone. The only thing I can really say to you is to go read this book! It broke my heart and put it back together, and I loved every second. This is a debut novel, but the writing is so lyrical it is clear that Inken was born to write, and even if I hate her a little for the cliffhanger in the end, I don't regret a thing, and I can't wait to read book two.
"There is beauty in everything. But beauty is worthless when it can easily be devoured by the shadows."
Thank you so much for the advanced reader copy, Ink! And I truly can't put into words how much this book made me feel and how incredible you are. I can't wait to read more from you.
"Sirens were like the sea, beautiful and deadly, brutal but addicting."
First off, all the vibes in this book are perfect. Dark and mysterious, sexy and deadly.
A shark siren kept in an aquarium, but saved by a stranger starts her quest for revenge.
When Valerie is finally freed from the tank, she has one goal that is stopping her from running from her savior and disappearing into the ocean. She wants revenge for the pain she suffered, but she never expected the challenges her new home throws at her.
"Are you going to be worth my while with those pretty siren eyes?"
Enry's had a plan. But the fragile little babysiren he rescued is not what he was hoping for. She is of no use to him. But he was also not expecting to lose his control around her.
"I am not sharing. Nobody touches what belongs to me."
The tension between Valeria and Enrys is insane and I couldn't wait for them to finally clash. And there where parts that had me screaming and grinning like an absolute idiot.
"I'm going to try something. And you'll behave, babysiren. You will let me do as I please."
But next to the tension and the spice there was so much softness and understanding between the two. Even if it was hidden beneath violence in a way they were able to be themselves around each other. I just loved every interaction without feeling like Inken was trying to create unnessesary tension.
"How long?" he asked.
How long did he keep you locked away? How long have you stayed in the aquarium? How long did you have to suffer?
Next to the relationship between Valerie and Enrys the friendship between her and Aliz healed my little broken heart. These two seemed to be polar opposites, but they fit so well together. Aliz was exactly what Val needed and I just wanted to give both of them a hug. Completing their little family with Shawn and Yason was a masterpiece. The pur joy and chaos that is Shawn is perfectly matched by Yasons seriousnes and they were the perfect cupple to push Vals boundaries.
I could go on forever, and I want to, but I don't want to spoil anyone. The only thing I can really say to you is to go read this book! It broke my heart and put it back together, and I loved every second. This is a debut novel, but the writing is so lyrical it is clear that Inken was born to write, and even if I hate her a little for the cliffhanger in the end, I don't regret a thing, and I can't wait to read book two.
"There is beauty in everything. But beauty is worthless when it can easily be devoured by the shadows."
Thank you so much for the advanced reader copy, Ink! And I truly can't put into words how much this book made me feel and how incredible you are. I can't wait to read more from you.
August 12, 2024
I loved this book, I loved the character development and I found your book was beautifully written.
June 12, 2024
Absolutely loved the take on a siren being half shark! Such a unique and different spin on the sirens. And it was done so well!
The whole bought and sold trope, found family & a plan to steal some secrets; this book kept you guessing and wanting to know the answers!
Loved the main characters, the darkness in them both; the call to one another and the way they balanced each other out; even if they didn’t understand it at first.
I felt like the main characters could’ve come together a little more? They still felt kind of distant to me at the end of the book when I wanted them to be more open with each other, but that might come in book two, so we’ll see!
The whole bought and sold trope, found family & a plan to steal some secrets; this book kept you guessing and wanting to know the answers!
Loved the main characters, the darkness in them both; the call to one another and the way they balanced each other out; even if they didn’t understand it at first.
I felt like the main characters could’ve come together a little more? They still felt kind of distant to me at the end of the book when I wanted them to be more open with each other, but that might come in book two, so we’ll see!
July 20, 2025
Thank you to Inken Bermann for the ARC of Tales of Salt and Blood!
This was such a dark, immersive, and emotionally charged read. Valerie is a shark-siren full of rage and survival instincts, and her dynamic with Enrys—her new, commanding captor—was intense, messy, and surprisingly tender. Their chemistry builds slowly and explosively, layered with power exchange, healing, and kink elements that are handled with care and emotional depth.
At over 560 pages, this book takes its time in the best way—developing rich worldbuilding, a slow-burn connection, and a truly unique heroine. As the first in a duology, it sets the stage beautifully. I’m so ready for book two!
This was such a dark, immersive, and emotionally charged read. Valerie is a shark-siren full of rage and survival instincts, and her dynamic with Enrys—her new, commanding captor—was intense, messy, and surprisingly tender. Their chemistry builds slowly and explosively, layered with power exchange, healing, and kink elements that are handled with care and emotional depth.
At over 560 pages, this book takes its time in the best way—developing rich worldbuilding, a slow-burn connection, and a truly unique heroine. As the first in a duology, it sets the stage beautifully. I’m so ready for book two!
July 6, 2024
Tropes include (but are not limited to): strong fmc & morally grey mmc, female bodybuilder rep, sirens, daddy dom/brat, female rage & found family
Spice rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
Dark rating: 💀💀💀/5
Where do I even begin? ✨
Tales of Salt and Blood is honestly not my usual genre, as I’m only this year attempting to get more into fantasy after a several year long absence from it. Therefore, when I first applied to be an ARC reader, I had mixed emotions - mostly as I was worried about the book not being for me. That I would turn out to be the wrong audience. Even so, I wanted so desperately to read it, so much so that I felt it in my bones.
It was a siren’s call all on its own.🧜🏻♀️🦈
So, I worried and once I actually received, it escalated. However, the moment I opened the book and began reading - I was struck by the alluring dark vibes and the beautiful prose. Because Tales of Salt and Blood is beautifully written and in many ways, it was such an easy read once I found the time to sit and read. The fantasy aspect wasn’t too heavy and it was pleasantly easy to wrap my head around and keep up with.
Writing this, I realise I have a lot of thoughts but not quite the words to put them into writing. Like all books, this too had its ups and downs - but I was also very invested in Valerie - our shark siren fmc -, which might have swayed my feelings regarding the other characters. For the first part of the book (do I dare say first ¼ ish?), I did struggle with the male characters but as we got further into the book, more unravelled. Relationships, depth, character backstory as well as their growth.
There were some aspects I would’ve wished to see more of and some aspects I could’ve gone without, some things I wanted to dive deeper into and some things I felt were a bit rushed towards the end of the book.
All this being said, overall - I truly did enjoy Tales of Salt and Blood. The fact that this is the author’s debut, the first in a duet, is almost mind blowing based on her writing style alone. And let me tell you, the spice in this book delivered as well because ma’am - it was good (but do read the tws/cws first) and I enjoyed the dynamic tremendously between our mmcs.
Now I guess I might have to sell my soul while waiting for the next book, because it left me wanting more and to find out how it all wraps up in the end.
Thank you to the author for the opportunity to read this as an arc. 🖤
Spice rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
Dark rating: 💀💀💀/5
Where do I even begin? ✨
Tales of Salt and Blood is honestly not my usual genre, as I’m only this year attempting to get more into fantasy after a several year long absence from it. Therefore, when I first applied to be an ARC reader, I had mixed emotions - mostly as I was worried about the book not being for me. That I would turn out to be the wrong audience. Even so, I wanted so desperately to read it, so much so that I felt it in my bones.
It was a siren’s call all on its own.🧜🏻♀️🦈
So, I worried and once I actually received, it escalated. However, the moment I opened the book and began reading - I was struck by the alluring dark vibes and the beautiful prose. Because Tales of Salt and Blood is beautifully written and in many ways, it was such an easy read once I found the time to sit and read. The fantasy aspect wasn’t too heavy and it was pleasantly easy to wrap my head around and keep up with.
Writing this, I realise I have a lot of thoughts but not quite the words to put them into writing. Like all books, this too had its ups and downs - but I was also very invested in Valerie - our shark siren fmc -, which might have swayed my feelings regarding the other characters. For the first part of the book (do I dare say first ¼ ish?), I did struggle with the male characters but as we got further into the book, more unravelled. Relationships, depth, character backstory as well as their growth.
There were some aspects I would’ve wished to see more of and some aspects I could’ve gone without, some things I wanted to dive deeper into and some things I felt were a bit rushed towards the end of the book.
All this being said, overall - I truly did enjoy Tales of Salt and Blood. The fact that this is the author’s debut, the first in a duet, is almost mind blowing based on her writing style alone. And let me tell you, the spice in this book delivered as well because ma’am - it was good (but do read the tws/cws first) and I enjoyed the dynamic tremendously between our mmcs.
Now I guess I might have to sell my soul while waiting for the next book, because it left me wanting more and to find out how it all wraps up in the end.
Thank you to the author for the opportunity to read this as an arc. 🖤
June 17, 2024
ARC REVIEW
♡♡♡♡♡/5
❦❦❦❦/5
i feel it's been forever since i last read urban fantasy and i'm sure i never read one that was also a dark romance, so @ink.inwords' debut has been a really pleasent surprise for me!! i've been kinda obsessing over this book for months and sometimes this kind of anticipation can lead to disappointment, but this time it was completely the opposite!!!
i wasn't sure of how i felt about enrys (mmc) and his friends at first but i now believe that had more to do with how valerie (fmc) view them in the very first part of the book, which was also influenced by her previous relationship with the people that had kept her captive, and as you read the book you begin to understand that they are a big part of valerie's growth, as she is surrounded by people who never judge her (despite being amused by her naivety) and they even push her to find herself while respecting her boundaries in their unique ways.
i'm really happy with how the ddlg aspect of the book was treated, even thou in it's not a healthy bdsm representation per se (as stated in the trigger/content list) but i do believe that it was treated with care and respect, and i think it played a really big part on valerie overcoming her trauma through it... and not gonna lie, every scene was hot af and the fact that enrys seems to be unable to control himself when it comes to valerie really did it for me!
i feel like there's still a lot to learn regarding the worldbuilding but what was shown in this book so far mixed with the political dynamics really captivated me, can't wait to see how things turn out in the next book.
also, i loved the idea of the author leaving the option of the book to end in a cliff-hanger, which is developed in the epilogue, to the reader... although i ate it up just as the rest of the book and it's left me really intrigued for what's to come in the second part of this duology.
so, what will you find in this book?:
🦈shark siren fmc
🔱found family
🌊feminine rage
🦈ddlg dynamics
🔱revenge
🌊who did this to you?
✨release date: june 21st 2024
♡♡♡♡♡/5
❦❦❦❦/5
i feel it's been forever since i last read urban fantasy and i'm sure i never read one that was also a dark romance, so @ink.inwords' debut has been a really pleasent surprise for me!! i've been kinda obsessing over this book for months and sometimes this kind of anticipation can lead to disappointment, but this time it was completely the opposite!!!
i wasn't sure of how i felt about enrys (mmc) and his friends at first but i now believe that had more to do with how valerie (fmc) view them in the very first part of the book, which was also influenced by her previous relationship with the people that had kept her captive, and as you read the book you begin to understand that they are a big part of valerie's growth, as she is surrounded by people who never judge her (despite being amused by her naivety) and they even push her to find herself while respecting her boundaries in their unique ways.
i'm really happy with how the ddlg aspect of the book was treated, even thou in it's not a healthy bdsm representation per se (as stated in the trigger/content list) but i do believe that it was treated with care and respect, and i think it played a really big part on valerie overcoming her trauma through it... and not gonna lie, every scene was hot af and the fact that enrys seems to be unable to control himself when it comes to valerie really did it for me!
i feel like there's still a lot to learn regarding the worldbuilding but what was shown in this book so far mixed with the political dynamics really captivated me, can't wait to see how things turn out in the next book.
also, i loved the idea of the author leaving the option of the book to end in a cliff-hanger, which is developed in the epilogue, to the reader... although i ate it up just as the rest of the book and it's left me really intrigued for what's to come in the second part of this duology.
so, what will you find in this book?:
🦈shark siren fmc
🔱found family
🌊feminine rage
🦈ddlg dynamics
🔱revenge
🌊who did this to you?
✨release date: june 21st 2024
August 7, 2024
i had to dnf this book. i think the relations with the men in the books were really toxic and i was not feeling them at all. they simply screamed toxic masculinity and even acted in a way that encourage rape culture... i believe i also missed the CNC warning and this is simply something i can't read.
i was still super intrigued by the story, i would have just prefered it without the aggresive sex scenes, especially after the FMC had just gone through a horrible experience. that's the part where i couldn't do it anymore and stopped reading.
i was still super intrigued by the story, i would have just prefered it without the aggresive sex scenes, especially after the FMC had just gone through a horrible experience. that's the part where i couldn't do it anymore and stopped reading.
June 23, 2024
The character development for Valerie was everything for me. It did take me a while to get into the book. The author has a very unique writing style, she is so talented. Spice was spicing 😌
Though the writing style was very impressive and the story overall was so unique I don’t think this was for me.
3.5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️.💫
Thank you so much for the eARC opportunity. Wishing you the best!
Though the writing style was very impressive and the story overall was so unique I don’t think this was for me.
3.5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️.💫
Thank you so much for the eARC opportunity. Wishing you the best!
June 21, 2024
*Arc Review* Ahh this book!! 😍🥺🔥 Shark-siren yesss pleasee!!! 🦈 Valerie is freaking amazing!!! She went through so much and just kept growing! I have a love/hate relationship with Enrys! 😤🤩😏 Yason, Shawn and Aliz are also amazing!! Ther was so many things going on in this book, definitely kept my interest! Please check triggers before reading!! I cannot wait for the next book!!
September 18, 2024
This book could have been executed so well........ The concept is great, the plot seemed to be interesting but I was so utterly bored, so bored with the over descriptive chapters and absolutely nothing happening in there. Relationships between the siren and *every single* male character is extremely toxic and unrealistic. Had to DNF this book because it failed to grab my attention although I haven't read any siren story before.
June 19, 2024
"There is beauty in everything." She repeated what he had just thought. "But beauty is worthless when it can easily be devoured by the shadows."
wow. wow, wow, wow. 4.5 Stars (rounding up on Goodreads) for this debut novel!
4/5 on the spice level with a sprinkle of k!nk.
If you want to know any of the Tw's they will be listed at the beginning of the book. As always please take any TW's seriously and know that going into this there are some topics that can be triggering. (As someone who reads dark romance, it was pretty tame.)
I am SO excited for you guys to get your hands on this one. I was given the opportunity to apply for an ARC of ToSaB and this did not disappoint at all. I genuinely could not put it down, for the authors first ever novel this was really impressive to read.
The story follows Valerie who's a siren shark shifter that is being sold from an aquarium owner that had her for many years. Her new buyer has his own motives, and along the way feelings develop new challenges arise and shocking things are revealed. You meet corrupt Queens and Kings along the way, princes that have roles to play and characters that get stuck in your heart.
Getting into this book did not take much for me to be hooked on the mystery of the MC's pasts. I love a dark romance, I would say this one is more grey than black, it has a lot of BDSM representation, and the relationship is DDLG. Although I personally am not into the "daddy" specific parts of k!nk, I didn't find this one SO forward about it that it was difficult to ignore. It came in maybe once or twice during a spicy scene (towards the end), just to let the readers aware of that prior to going in. I still very much enjoyed the spice.
Enrys was so freaking hot. Thats really the best way to describe him. Tall, dark, dominant, handsome, with tattoos and willing to bleed a little. I thought his growth was very well done. He is meant to be the asshole type that will protect those he cares about with every fiber of his being. Valerie was true to her shark nature, but the times she was able to be soft and really hand over her control had me gripped. I found their connection together in the start to be a little abrupt, but as the story went one and more events took place I really was here for them at the heart racing ending.
"I am not sharing. Nobody touches what belongs to me."
I knew going into this it would be a chunky read but really the main events that happened in this book happened in about three large parts. At the 50% mark I was so hooked that I just needed to see what was going to happen. HAPPEN THEY DID. There are two big sections split throughout, we got the pleasure of multiple pov switches and met characters along the way that I am so interested in seeing more of. The grotto scenes hurt me and made me anxious at the same time. I was curious about how that resolved but you learn so much in the end that everything prior clicks together. While still leaving more plot to develop for book two.
This book has an optional cliffhanger which I thought was really cool to add into the book. If you want to skip the cliffhanger, which I DON'T think people should because its going to make the sequel very interesting. But, just stop reading after the last chapter.
Sean and Yason specifically could honestly have their own book. I need to see how they came to be, where these two men fell for each other and their past be revealed. Especially with that ending I need to know how they might change and grow!! Yason was almost as intriguing to me as our MMC Enrys.
Aliz was such a solid side character and I loved that my skepticism of her was completely diminished by how amazing of a friendship she had with Val. I'm interested to see if there is anything budding with her an a certain blue eyed siren.
Overall I really did enjoy this story so much, is it absolutely perfect, no. There was action, depth to the characters, histories that need to be revealed and a unique twists on mermaids that I absolutely loved! So happy for this one to drop to the world and to see what other readers think of it!
If you love:
- Spice
- dark romances
- magic and mermaids
- bonds, treaties, and kingdoms
- shadows and shifters
- some mystery
- a touch of gore (slight)
You absolutely need to add this to your TBR! Releasing June 21st!
wow. wow, wow, wow. 4.5 Stars (rounding up on Goodreads) for this debut novel!
4/5 on the spice level with a sprinkle of k!nk.
If you want to know any of the Tw's they will be listed at the beginning of the book. As always please take any TW's seriously and know that going into this there are some topics that can be triggering. (As someone who reads dark romance, it was pretty tame.)
I am SO excited for you guys to get your hands on this one. I was given the opportunity to apply for an ARC of ToSaB and this did not disappoint at all. I genuinely could not put it down, for the authors first ever novel this was really impressive to read.
The story follows Valerie who's a siren shark shifter that is being sold from an aquarium owner that had her for many years. Her new buyer has his own motives, and along the way feelings develop new challenges arise and shocking things are revealed. You meet corrupt Queens and Kings along the way, princes that have roles to play and characters that get stuck in your heart.
Getting into this book did not take much for me to be hooked on the mystery of the MC's pasts. I love a dark romance, I would say this one is more grey than black, it has a lot of BDSM representation, and the relationship is DDLG. Although I personally am not into the "daddy" specific parts of k!nk, I didn't find this one SO forward about it that it was difficult to ignore. It came in maybe once or twice during a spicy scene (towards the end), just to let the readers aware of that prior to going in. I still very much enjoyed the spice.
Enrys was so freaking hot. Thats really the best way to describe him. Tall, dark, dominant, handsome, with tattoos and willing to bleed a little. I thought his growth was very well done. He is meant to be the asshole type that will protect those he cares about with every fiber of his being. Valerie was true to her shark nature, but the times she was able to be soft and really hand over her control had me gripped. I found their connection together in the start to be a little abrupt, but as the story went one and more events took place I really was here for them at the heart racing ending.
"I am not sharing. Nobody touches what belongs to me."
I knew going into this it would be a chunky read but really the main events that happened in this book happened in about three large parts. At the 50% mark I was so hooked that I just needed to see what was going to happen. HAPPEN THEY DID. There are two big sections split throughout, we got the pleasure of multiple pov switches and met characters along the way that I am so interested in seeing more of. The grotto scenes hurt me and made me anxious at the same time. I was curious about how that resolved but you learn so much in the end that everything prior clicks together. While still leaving more plot to develop for book two.
This book has an optional cliffhanger which I thought was really cool to add into the book. If you want to skip the cliffhanger, which I DON'T think people should because its going to make the sequel very interesting. But, just stop reading after the last chapter.
Sean and Yason specifically could honestly have their own book. I need to see how they came to be, where these two men fell for each other and their past be revealed. Especially with that ending I need to know how they might change and grow!! Yason was almost as intriguing to me as our MMC Enrys.
Aliz was such a solid side character and I loved that my skepticism of her was completely diminished by how amazing of a friendship she had with Val. I'm interested to see if there is anything budding with her an a certain blue eyed siren.
Overall I really did enjoy this story so much, is it absolutely perfect, no. There was action, depth to the characters, histories that need to be revealed and a unique twists on mermaids that I absolutely loved! So happy for this one to drop to the world and to see what other readers think of it!
If you love:
- Spice
- dark romances
- magic and mermaids
- bonds, treaties, and kingdoms
- shadows and shifters
- some mystery
- a touch of gore (slight)
You absolutely need to add this to your TBR! Releasing June 21st!
July 9, 2024
“I am not sharing. Nobody touches what belongs to me.”
ARC Review: Captured and trapped in an aquarium, Valerie swims round and round in the small space. Too small for a siren who is half shark, half human. Valerie is weak in her human form at the hands of her captors and accepts her fate until a tall, dark and handsome human purchases her from the aquarium and her world completely changes overnight.
Enrys immediately felt a pull to the siren but set out to purchase her for a purpose, a very important purpose. However, the more she gets acclimated to his estate and the more interactions he has with her, an uncontrollable desire to own Valerie sets in. But who is this siren and how did she end up at the hands of the aquarium owner and stuck in that cage for far too long? What is her story and why does Enrys need her?
“No one gives you jewelry again, understood? The only necklace you will be wearing are the marks I leave on you.”
Book Rating: 4.5/5
Steam/Spice: 3/5
Tropes:
- dark romance
- urban fantasy
- shark siren core
- strong FMC
- found family
- revenge
- female rage
- 'who did this to you?'
- BDSM
“Wiggling your ass in front of me will do you no good, babysiren. I’ll always want to mark that as mine.”
“There is beauty in everything…but beauty is worthless when it can easily be devoured by the shadows.”
Final Thoughts: Wow ok where to start. I really enjoyed the characters in this story, how all of them were different in their own right but it made sense how they all became friends. I fell in love with Enrys more and more throughout the story but Valerie has my heart. She has been through so much and I’m sure she’ll endure more in book 2 but I loved watching her growth and strength throughout. A couple of times throughout, I thought I knew what was going to happen. Who someone was or the secret that someone was holding…but I was pleasantly incorrect. It kept me guessing, even though I would not classify this story as suspense, there were suspenseful moments when it came to the story and what was going to happen next or be revealed. There was an optional cliffhanger which was really cool and now I need to know…do I need to barter my soul with the Ocean Queen to also have an ARC of book 2 when it’s ready?
ARC Review: Captured and trapped in an aquarium, Valerie swims round and round in the small space. Too small for a siren who is half shark, half human. Valerie is weak in her human form at the hands of her captors and accepts her fate until a tall, dark and handsome human purchases her from the aquarium and her world completely changes overnight.
Enrys immediately felt a pull to the siren but set out to purchase her for a purpose, a very important purpose. However, the more she gets acclimated to his estate and the more interactions he has with her, an uncontrollable desire to own Valerie sets in. But who is this siren and how did she end up at the hands of the aquarium owner and stuck in that cage for far too long? What is her story and why does Enrys need her?
“No one gives you jewelry again, understood? The only necklace you will be wearing are the marks I leave on you.”
Book Rating: 4.5/5
Steam/Spice: 3/5
Tropes:
- dark romance
- urban fantasy
- shark siren core
- strong FMC
- found family
- revenge
- female rage
- 'who did this to you?'
- BDSM
“Wiggling your ass in front of me will do you no good, babysiren. I’ll always want to mark that as mine.”
“There is beauty in everything…but beauty is worthless when it can easily be devoured by the shadows.”
Final Thoughts: Wow ok where to start. I really enjoyed the characters in this story, how all of them were different in their own right but it made sense how they all became friends. I fell in love with Enrys more and more throughout the story but Valerie has my heart. She has been through so much and I’m sure she’ll endure more in book 2 but I loved watching her growth and strength throughout. A couple of times throughout, I thought I knew what was going to happen. Who someone was or the secret that someone was holding…but I was pleasantly incorrect. It kept me guessing, even though I would not classify this story as suspense, there were suspenseful moments when it came to the story and what was going to happen next or be revealed. There was an optional cliffhanger which was really cool and now I need to know…do I need to barter my soul with the Ocean Queen to also have an ARC of book 2 when it’s ready?
June 25, 2024
Blurb:
Valerie is a siren; half a girl, half a shark. After years of being held captive in an aquarium by the owner and his abusive son, she’s sold. Enrys is her new owner, originally buys her as a tool to further his agenda with his land and the surrounding courts. She is not what he was expecting, though, and he gets a whole lot more than he bargained for.
Review:
The book is long, and it does start out slow. I honestly didn’t mind it so much because the writing was so good. The story really picks up at about the halfway mark, and from that point on I really devoured it. Admittedly, I was a little slow reading. For no reason other than it be like that for me sometimes. 😂
I really enjoyed the dynamic between Valerie and Enrys. They both are complex characters, carrying deep rooted trauma, confused with trying to figure each other out. Their relationship builds as the story goes on, but there’s tension right from get go. There is more and more spice as the story progresses, and I thought most of the spicey moments held purpose in their relationship rather than just having spice for spice.
I loved Valerie. Her longing for her life in the ocean and her entire backstory was heart wrenching. She’s truly a resilient and strong FMC. I enjoyed where her story went to the very end, and it was so cool to see just how far she came from the person she was at the very beginning of the book.
Overall the book was very well written. The nightmares both main characters have (particularly Valerie) were some of my favorite writing in the entire book. Not going to lie, it was kind of spooky lol. The tension, the suspense, sometimes I was just as confused as Valerie. I can’t wait to read more about Val’s role in regard to the ocean and I’m dying to know more about the memorial. And what’s haunting the coast line. And the ending??? 😂
Thank you so much @ink.inwords for the early copy of your book baby! I cannot wait for book 2! 🦈💙
Valerie is a siren; half a girl, half a shark. After years of being held captive in an aquarium by the owner and his abusive son, she’s sold. Enrys is her new owner, originally buys her as a tool to further his agenda with his land and the surrounding courts. She is not what he was expecting, though, and he gets a whole lot more than he bargained for.
Review:
The book is long, and it does start out slow. I honestly didn’t mind it so much because the writing was so good. The story really picks up at about the halfway mark, and from that point on I really devoured it. Admittedly, I was a little slow reading. For no reason other than it be like that for me sometimes. 😂
I really enjoyed the dynamic between Valerie and Enrys. They both are complex characters, carrying deep rooted trauma, confused with trying to figure each other out. Their relationship builds as the story goes on, but there’s tension right from get go. There is more and more spice as the story progresses, and I thought most of the spicey moments held purpose in their relationship rather than just having spice for spice.
I loved Valerie. Her longing for her life in the ocean and her entire backstory was heart wrenching. She’s truly a resilient and strong FMC. I enjoyed where her story went to the very end, and it was so cool to see just how far she came from the person she was at the very beginning of the book.
Overall the book was very well written. The nightmares both main characters have (particularly Valerie) were some of my favorite writing in the entire book. Not going to lie, it was kind of spooky lol. The tension, the suspense, sometimes I was just as confused as Valerie. I can’t wait to read more about Val’s role in regard to the ocean and I’m dying to know more about the memorial. And what’s haunting the coast line. And the ending??? 😂
Thank you so much @ink.inwords for the early copy of your book baby! I cannot wait for book 2! 🦈💙
June 15, 2024
I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving my review.
I loved the storyline for this book. Definitely a unique story and something I hadn’t come across before! Typically when books are referring to mermaids/sirens, they’re talking about the classic Little Mermaid. The way that Inken depicted her mermaid as half shark, half girl was a cool take on mermaids/sirens!
The main storyline was a dark romance, with the ending still leaving a lot to be discovered. For me, one of the best parts of this book was actually the epilogue and how it set things up for book 2! I wished we could have seen maybe a deeper connection forming between the main characters. It felt like she was there and just all of the sudden loved everyone, and felt at home when she was just taken from her prison not all that long ago. There wasn’t much to happen where I felt like, okay this is why she likes them all so much. Also, there isn’t much of a deeper connection between Val and Enrys by the end, at least not that they ever said to one another. I’m thinking this will be the main focus for book 2.
I will say, this book was not really my type when it came to the open door scenes. Sometimes it felt like the 🌶️ overshadowed the plot, which is honestly just a personal preference. She prefaces that it is definitely that kind of book so I can still absolutely respect it and was expecting it and chose to read regardless.
No matter my feelings on the 🌶️, I’ll still definitely read book 2! I can’t wait to see where things go from here and where Valerie and Enrys end up, now that we know a little more about both of their backstories. Also looking forward to more Shawn and Yason. We had one chapter from their POV so I anticipate there will be more of that to come!
I loved the storyline for this book. Definitely a unique story and something I hadn’t come across before! Typically when books are referring to mermaids/sirens, they’re talking about the classic Little Mermaid. The way that Inken depicted her mermaid as half shark, half girl was a cool take on mermaids/sirens!
The main storyline was a dark romance, with the ending still leaving a lot to be discovered. For me, one of the best parts of this book was actually the epilogue and how it set things up for book 2! I wished we could have seen maybe a deeper connection forming between the main characters. It felt like she was there and just all of the sudden loved everyone, and felt at home when she was just taken from her prison not all that long ago. There wasn’t much to happen where I felt like, okay this is why she likes them all so much. Also, there isn’t much of a deeper connection between Val and Enrys by the end, at least not that they ever said to one another. I’m thinking this will be the main focus for book 2.
I will say, this book was not really my type when it came to the open door scenes. Sometimes it felt like the 🌶️ overshadowed the plot, which is honestly just a personal preference. She prefaces that it is definitely that kind of book so I can still absolutely respect it and was expecting it and chose to read regardless.
No matter my feelings on the 🌶️, I’ll still definitely read book 2! I can’t wait to see where things go from here and where Valerie and Enrys end up, now that we know a little more about both of their backstories. Also looking forward to more Shawn and Yason. We had one chapter from their POV so I anticipate there will be more of that to come!
June 19, 2024
🦈🫧🧜🏽♀️🌊🪵🏰
Rating: 🦈🦈🦈🦈.75/5
Congratulations to the INCREDIBLE Inken, and thankyou so so much for trusting me with your baby(siren😉) ARC, i am in awe at your writing talent and i am beyond excited for book 2 already hehe 🤩
Picture this; a small tank, a man standing on a landing watching on, working to convince another male to buy the creature in front of them. Half a shark, Half a girl. Half a nightmare, half a dream. A grey tail, matching her grey hair flowing down her back, with eyes darker than the plans he had for her. And neither have an inkling of how important the other would become to one another✨
Valarie is fierce, untrusting, and beyond curious. Trying to hide from Enrys will never work, there’s a pull to him she can’t explain or comprehend. But succumbing to her lust over him brings her more answers than she could have imagined❤️🩹
Enrys has worked his way to the top, proving for his friends and the fae who can’t protect themselves. He is cunning and focused, until he finds his mind enthralled by one siren he was not meant to care for🤭
Aliz is a girls girl and i can’t tell you how much i loved getting to know her🥹 i hope everyone has an Aliz in their life🫂 Yason and Shawn are cuties and im so glad we got a piece of everyone’s backgrounds, it really pulled the found family together and i loved every second 🥰
This book is stacked full of lust, angst, fae, sirens, found family, spice, and revenge. The twists are so so fun to read and putting all the missing pieces together was honestly the BEST reading experience i’ve had for the longest time !! This is EASILY a top 5 read this year for me !!
Out THIS FRIDAY 21.06 !🦈🫧🩵
Rating: 🦈🦈🦈🦈.75/5
Congratulations to the INCREDIBLE Inken, and thankyou so so much for trusting me with your baby(siren😉) ARC, i am in awe at your writing talent and i am beyond excited for book 2 already hehe 🤩
Picture this; a small tank, a man standing on a landing watching on, working to convince another male to buy the creature in front of them. Half a shark, Half a girl. Half a nightmare, half a dream. A grey tail, matching her grey hair flowing down her back, with eyes darker than the plans he had for her. And neither have an inkling of how important the other would become to one another✨
Valarie is fierce, untrusting, and beyond curious. Trying to hide from Enrys will never work, there’s a pull to him she can’t explain or comprehend. But succumbing to her lust over him brings her more answers than she could have imagined❤️🩹
Enrys has worked his way to the top, proving for his friends and the fae who can’t protect themselves. He is cunning and focused, until he finds his mind enthralled by one siren he was not meant to care for🤭
Aliz is a girls girl and i can’t tell you how much i loved getting to know her🥹 i hope everyone has an Aliz in their life🫂 Yason and Shawn are cuties and im so glad we got a piece of everyone’s backgrounds, it really pulled the found family together and i loved every second 🥰
This book is stacked full of lust, angst, fae, sirens, found family, spice, and revenge. The twists are so so fun to read and putting all the missing pieces together was honestly the BEST reading experience i’ve had for the longest time !! This is EASILY a top 5 read this year for me !!
Out THIS FRIDAY 21.06 !🦈🫧🩵
July 5, 2024
⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
So this was unique in terms of the fmc, Valerie, being a mermaid and a shark, so I was really looking forward to seeing how badass she was going to be in the story.. because how cool, she wasn’t a typical siren?! Unfortunately, she wasn’t as exciting as I thought she would be.
I really struggled with the characters here. Valerie seemed weak as a main character. I was hoping for a little more edge, but she just seemed like she was floating around with no real importance? Our mmc, Enrys, was just always horny af and somehow had that was never really explained? I do enjoy a good, dark spicy romance and some questionable characters, but I just didn’t find any of these characters really likeable. I couldn’t connect with them at all, and they felt very bland but also incomplete, if that makes sense?
Also, pacing and storyline was a little wonky. The first half of the book was really slow and repetitive. Nothing was really happening aside from her repeatedly talking about the same thing over and over again for at least half of the book. It just couldn’t keep my attention.
Then, when it started to pick up, the revelations were underwhelming and the resolutions to the conflicts felt rushed. I feel like the story was set aside for the smut- which is usually fine, but it just didn’t hit the mark, since I didn’t love the characters. I think if there was just a little more substance to the plot & less repetition, it would’ve captured my attn more.
Thank you to Inken Bermann for the opportunity to read an advanced copy!
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
So this was unique in terms of the fmc, Valerie, being a mermaid and a shark, so I was really looking forward to seeing how badass she was going to be in the story.. because how cool, she wasn’t a typical siren?! Unfortunately, she wasn’t as exciting as I thought she would be.
I really struggled with the characters here. Valerie seemed weak as a main character. I was hoping for a little more edge, but she just seemed like she was floating around with no real importance? Our mmc, Enrys, was just always horny af and somehow had that was never really explained? I do enjoy a good, dark spicy romance and some questionable characters, but I just didn’t find any of these characters really likeable. I couldn’t connect with them at all, and they felt very bland but also incomplete, if that makes sense?
Also, pacing and storyline was a little wonky. The first half of the book was really slow and repetitive. Nothing was really happening aside from her repeatedly talking about the same thing over and over again for at least half of the book. It just couldn’t keep my attention.
Then, when it started to pick up, the revelations were underwhelming and the resolutions to the conflicts felt rushed. I feel like the story was set aside for the smut- which is usually fine, but it just didn’t hit the mark, since I didn’t love the characters. I think if there was just a little more substance to the plot & less repetition, it would’ve captured my attn more.
Thank you to Inken Bermann for the opportunity to read an advanced copy!
July 6, 2024
I overall enjoyed Tales of Salt and Blood! The premise of a shark siren is what hooked me in when I saw it on IG and I eagerly awaited its publication.
I got to read this book on my kindle when I had downtime during my weekend trip to Colorado and it kept me entertained, though it’s when you hit the half way mark when it really starts to pick up.
The first half of the book felt like to me was focused on getting to know Valerie and an introduction to the rest of the characters. I do wish her budding relationship with Enris during the first half of the book expressed more emotions when they had scenes together to each other, instead of just each of them thinking it to themselves. Their action did speak louder than words, but I personally would have liked to see a little more expressive dialogue from them 😆
The smut smutted 💯🔥
I do wish the magical system and world building was explained more during the first half of the books as well. I do get that Valerie hardly knew how the surface world worked, that was very well displayed in the story because of her history. But I think at least Enrys’ POV could have gave us better insight to how magic worked. Did everyone have magic or just some fae? Did the king have magic? Things of that nature that I am still unsure of, though it’s possible that I may have missed it.
I can’t wait to read the next book! I’m excited to order the paperback copy! Congrats to the author for this awesome debut! 🖤
I got to read this book on my kindle when I had downtime during my weekend trip to Colorado and it kept me entertained, though it’s when you hit the half way mark when it really starts to pick up.
The first half of the book felt like to me was focused on getting to know Valerie and an introduction to the rest of the characters. I do wish her budding relationship with Enris during the first half of the book expressed more emotions when they had scenes together to each other, instead of just each of them thinking it to themselves. Their action did speak louder than words, but I personally would have liked to see a little more expressive dialogue from them 😆
The smut smutted 💯🔥
I do wish the magical system and world building was explained more during the first half of the books as well. I do get that Valerie hardly knew how the surface world worked, that was very well displayed in the story because of her history. But I think at least Enrys’ POV could have gave us better insight to how magic worked. Did everyone have magic or just some fae? Did the king have magic? Things of that nature that I am still unsure of, though it’s possible that I may have missed it.
I can’t wait to read the next book! I’m excited to order the paperback copy! Congrats to the author for this awesome debut! 🖤
June 13, 2024
Rating: ★★★★☆
As an ARC reader, I had the pleasure of diving into TOSAB, the debut novel by Inken Bermann. This book offers a refreshing take on the siren myth, presenting a protagonist who is fierce and part shark—an intriguing deviation from the typical glitzy and glamorous portrayal of sirens. This unique interpretation fits perfectly with the predator/hunter role that sirens traditionally embody.
One of the standout elements of the novel is the character of Enrys. His intensity and possessiveness bring a compelling edge to the story. And let’s be honest, we all enjoy a morally grey MMC 😉
While TOSAB is an impressive first novel, I found that nothing strongly drew me in and kept me hooked from start to finish, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy the book. The story has good moments, but it could benefit from a bit more smut to heighten the tension and deepen the connection between the characters. The existing romantic scenes are well-written and enjoyable, but a bit more would enhance the overall experience.
Overall, TOSAB is a solid debut with a creative twist on a classic myth. I'm excited to read the sequel and how Valarie’s and Enrys’ relationship further develops. If you're looking for a fresh take on sirens with an intense and possessive love interest, this book is definitely worth a read. 💙🩵🧜♀️🩶🖤
As an ARC reader, I had the pleasure of diving into TOSAB, the debut novel by Inken Bermann. This book offers a refreshing take on the siren myth, presenting a protagonist who is fierce and part shark—an intriguing deviation from the typical glitzy and glamorous portrayal of sirens. This unique interpretation fits perfectly with the predator/hunter role that sirens traditionally embody.
One of the standout elements of the novel is the character of Enrys. His intensity and possessiveness bring a compelling edge to the story. And let’s be honest, we all enjoy a morally grey MMC 😉
While TOSAB is an impressive first novel, I found that nothing strongly drew me in and kept me hooked from start to finish, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy the book. The story has good moments, but it could benefit from a bit more smut to heighten the tension and deepen the connection between the characters. The existing romantic scenes are well-written and enjoyable, but a bit more would enhance the overall experience.
Overall, TOSAB is a solid debut with a creative twist on a classic myth. I'm excited to read the sequel and how Valarie’s and Enrys’ relationship further develops. If you're looking for a fresh take on sirens with an intense and possessive love interest, this book is definitely worth a read. 💙🩵🧜♀️🩶🖤
June 26, 2024
I am so happy and grateful that I got to read your first baby...
Tales of Salt and Blood follows our FMC, Valerie. A shark siren who is kept in an aquariam. When one day she is saved by a mysterious stranger. Once free she is hellbent on revenge. Seeking retribution for all that she has endured. Our MMC Enrys purchases Valerie, breaking her from her cage. He hopes she can be used as a tool against the neighboring kingdoms that are locked in a power struggle. He quickly realizes that is not the case. Can two people who are both full of anger overcome the odds and come together as allies? Or will they both just distract one another from their goals?
What To Expect:
*First Book in Duology
*Urban Fantasy
*Dark Romance
*Morally Grey MCs
*Revenge Trope
*Found Family
*Muscle Mommy
*Nicknames
*Political Intrigue
*Shark Siren
*Who did this to you?
*Trigger Warnings: (May Contain Spoilers)
•mention of sexual abuse
•physical abuse
•control with food/poor relationship with food
•murder
•captivity
•starvation
•PTSD (Post-Traumatic-Stress-Disorder)
•torture
•kidnapping
•mention of child death (chapter 31)
•suicide explicit
•sexual content
-breath play
-light bondage
-blood play
-spanking
-explicit kink (DDLG*)
-Dubious consent
*Cliffhanger
*and so much more
Inken's words were at times full of beautiful prose and depth. I love stories of the seas. Whether is be pirates or sirens, I'm inherently drawn to them. And Tales of Salt and Blood was no exception. I absolutely enjoyed Inken's take on sirens. I mean when we read about sirens we automatically think of creatures that look more like a gothic mermaid. I loved that our FMC is a shark. I won’t say anymore because I don’t want to spoil anything. And this is a story that should be felt. Tales of Salt and Blood is a solid start to her writing career. I can't wait to read what else Inken has in store for us.
Tales of Salt and Blood follows our FMC, Valerie. A shark siren who is kept in an aquariam. When one day she is saved by a mysterious stranger. Once free she is hellbent on revenge. Seeking retribution for all that she has endured. Our MMC Enrys purchases Valerie, breaking her from her cage. He hopes she can be used as a tool against the neighboring kingdoms that are locked in a power struggle. He quickly realizes that is not the case. Can two people who are both full of anger overcome the odds and come together as allies? Or will they both just distract one another from their goals?
What To Expect:
*First Book in Duology
*Urban Fantasy
*Dark Romance
*Morally Grey MCs
*Revenge Trope
*Found Family
*Muscle Mommy
*Nicknames
*Political Intrigue
*Shark Siren
*Who did this to you?
*Trigger Warnings: (May Contain Spoilers)
•mention of sexual abuse
•physical abuse
•control with food/poor relationship with food
•murder
•captivity
•starvation
•PTSD (Post-Traumatic-Stress-Disorder)
•torture
•kidnapping
•mention of child death (chapter 31)
•suicide explicit
•sexual content
-breath play
-light bondage
-blood play
-spanking
-explicit kink (DDLG*)
-Dubious consent
*Cliffhanger
*and so much more
Inken's words were at times full of beautiful prose and depth. I love stories of the seas. Whether is be pirates or sirens, I'm inherently drawn to them. And Tales of Salt and Blood was no exception. I absolutely enjoyed Inken's take on sirens. I mean when we read about sirens we automatically think of creatures that look more like a gothic mermaid. I loved that our FMC is a shark. I won’t say anymore because I don’t want to spoil anything. And this is a story that should be felt. Tales of Salt and Blood is a solid start to her writing career. I can't wait to read what else Inken has in store for us.
July 12, 2024
Arc review! 🌊🦈🧜🏼♀️
“Are you going to be worth my while with those pretty siren eyes?”
Wooo where do I begin! Tales of Salt and Blood follows our FMC Valerie, who has been in an aquarium tank for the last 5 years of her life and taken from her home by a man who wishes nothing more than to belittle her and abuse her. But then our mysterious MMC Enrys comes and buys her from the aquarium owner.
Once Valerie goes with Enrys, she is hellbent on dishing out revenge on the ones who hurt and wronged her over the years, but Enrys also has some things up his sleeve.
The banter between the main characters and the side characters was fantastic! I love Aliz and Valerie’s friendship so much 🥺.
And the spice was definitely spicing my friends, Enrys is 😮💨.
“Are you going to take me like a good girl now?” His voice was guttural, the words more a growl than a question.”
The twists and turns will leave you guessing what will happen next, and then bam, surprise! I can’t wait to see what happens in book 2 and where the rest of this journey will lead 👀
Also, thank you so much to Inken for giving me the opportunity to read an arc copy of her first book baby! 💙
As always check TW before reading!!
“Are you going to be worth my while with those pretty siren eyes?”
Wooo where do I begin! Tales of Salt and Blood follows our FMC Valerie, who has been in an aquarium tank for the last 5 years of her life and taken from her home by a man who wishes nothing more than to belittle her and abuse her. But then our mysterious MMC Enrys comes and buys her from the aquarium owner.
Once Valerie goes with Enrys, she is hellbent on dishing out revenge on the ones who hurt and wronged her over the years, but Enrys also has some things up his sleeve.
The banter between the main characters and the side characters was fantastic! I love Aliz and Valerie’s friendship so much 🥺.
And the spice was definitely spicing my friends, Enrys is 😮💨.
“Are you going to take me like a good girl now?” His voice was guttural, the words more a growl than a question.”
The twists and turns will leave you guessing what will happen next, and then bam, surprise! I can’t wait to see what happens in book 2 and where the rest of this journey will lead 👀
Also, thank you so much to Inken for giving me the opportunity to read an arc copy of her first book baby! 💙
As always check TW before reading!!
July 1, 2024
Overall, 3 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️, (so, so close to 4 stars!!) and here’s why:
First what I loved: The dream scenes, the smut, Enrys (as a whole, damn I need to experience this man just once in my life!), the imagery was absolutely amazing and I could picture every scene in my head! Also loved Aliz and want more of her story! The idea of a shark siren is also GENIUS and I loved seeing the transitions Valerie made with her forms.
Okay, what I didn’t love: the POVs got confusing even though it was unique the way Inken wrote them. The timeline in the beginning was hard to follow and I got confused easily. There is SO much going on in this book - which could be a good thing, but it’s almost as if this book could have been broken up into 2 separate books with lots more detail and information to keep the reader from getting confused.
Overall, this is a great debut novel and the writing got stronger as the story went on. The storyline was so creative and I loved every piece, just wish it could have been slowed down, explained better, and made into two different books. The ending had me feeling all the feels and I definitely will read the next one!
First what I loved: The dream scenes, the smut, Enrys (as a whole, damn I need to experience this man just once in my life!), the imagery was absolutely amazing and I could picture every scene in my head! Also loved Aliz and want more of her story! The idea of a shark siren is also GENIUS and I loved seeing the transitions Valerie made with her forms.
Okay, what I didn’t love: the POVs got confusing even though it was unique the way Inken wrote them. The timeline in the beginning was hard to follow and I got confused easily. There is SO much going on in this book - which could be a good thing, but it’s almost as if this book could have been broken up into 2 separate books with lots more detail and information to keep the reader from getting confused.
Overall, this is a great debut novel and the writing got stronger as the story went on. The storyline was so creative and I loved every piece, just wish it could have been slowed down, explained better, and made into two different books. The ending had me feeling all the feels and I definitely will read the next one!
June 12, 2024
⭐⭐⭐⭐4/5
🌶🌶🌶3\5
HOLY WOW.
Starting my siren era with this was the most perfect choice. Haven't read any siren\mermaid related books before but this one ? It's just the standard.
Had many ups and down with Enrys, that I questioned some things he did, humph it was mot appropriate and I'll never approve of them, but I can't see am blind.
Val baby color blind asf, don't blame her, if I see a red flag like En I'll gobble him up as well.
This song: "Scary my God, you're Divine"
Is what plays in my head whenever I read a description of Val in her siren form, they're supposed to be predators, but holy smoke I'd like to see her in that moment.
Yason and shawn are my roman empire tbh- any scenes that features them just make me "GAHHHHHHHH".
I want a book about this two real bad😫🖤, their relationship not being approved (smash) I want their book tbh-🤍
But literally I'd pay anything to read it all over, from the beginning eh. The plot twist and all got me hooked I had to pause like 'so dumb of me'
Suspense rate :5\5
Tears :4\5
🌶🌶🌶3\5
HOLY WOW.
Starting my siren era with this was the most perfect choice. Haven't read any siren\mermaid related books before but this one ? It's just the standard.
Had many ups and down with Enrys, that I questioned some things he did, humph it was mot appropriate and I'll never approve of them, but I can't see am blind.
Val baby color blind asf, don't blame her, if I see a red flag like En I'll gobble him up as well.
This song: "Scary my God, you're Divine"
Is what plays in my head whenever I read a description of Val in her siren form, they're supposed to be predators, but holy smoke I'd like to see her in that moment.
Yason and shawn are my roman empire tbh- any scenes that features them just make me "GAHHHHHHHH".
I want a book about this two real bad😫🖤, their relationship not being approved (smash) I want their book tbh-🤍
But literally I'd pay anything to read it all over, from the beginning eh. The plot twist and all got me hooked I had to pause like 'so dumb of me'
Suspense rate :5\5
Tears :4\5
June 16, 2024
Was so honoured to be chosen to read an ARC of this book! Debut novel by Inken Bermann and the first of this duology series! I took my sweet time to devour this book in order to make sure i absorbed every detail i could (the wait for book 2 is going to slowly kill me)!
Focusing on a captured siren shark (Valerie) and what happens following her being sold to a new owner. Details are VAGUE at the beginning - but intentionally for intrigue and ✨mystery. Enrys is the MMC and is drool worthy. Daddy Dom isnt usually my forte, but Enrys makes it sooooo worth it.
Will the revenge and anger Valerie uses to pass her time in captivity get her through the sale to Enrys? Or will his plans for her win out? Whose agenda prevails?
This is definetly the most blind read i have went into and I LOVED IT. I was very hooked into the mystery of the plot. I felt it all flowed very well and tied up all the loose ends (aside from the cliffhanger left for book 2).
🩵🩵 well done Inken! Cannot wait for the second book - meanwhile dreaming of being a mermaid! 🧜♀️ 🦈
Focusing on a captured siren shark (Valerie) and what happens following her being sold to a new owner. Details are VAGUE at the beginning - but intentionally for intrigue and ✨mystery. Enrys is the MMC and is drool worthy. Daddy Dom isnt usually my forte, but Enrys makes it sooooo worth it.
Will the revenge and anger Valerie uses to pass her time in captivity get her through the sale to Enrys? Or will his plans for her win out? Whose agenda prevails?
This is definetly the most blind read i have went into and I LOVED IT. I was very hooked into the mystery of the plot. I felt it all flowed very well and tied up all the loose ends (aside from the cliffhanger left for book 2).
🩵🩵 well done Inken! Cannot wait for the second book - meanwhile dreaming of being a mermaid! 🧜♀️ 🦈
July 2, 2024
✨️Arc review✨️
Tales of Salt and Blood by @inkenbermann book #1 in The tales duology.
This is the authors debut and I have to say this is one of the best I have ever read!
Valerie is held captive in an aquarium and one day Enrys shows up to buy her.
No reasons are given but slowly as the story goes, we learn more about his motives and about both their backgrounds.
I loved how this story was a bit different than most stories I've read about sirens. And the plot twists were so good! I didn't see most of them coming and it kept me on the edge of my seat. Both our MC have been through a lot and I really loved their character developement. As the story progressed it really sucked me in and I couldn't put it down!
The side characters were also very well written and I really loved them.
I highly recommend it especially if you love a good slowburn with:
🦈 Tattooed Morally Grey Shadow Daddy
🧜♀️ Half Shark Muscle Mommy Siren
🦈 Mystery
🧜♀️ Fae
�� Who Did This To You?
🧜♀️ Kinky Spice
The only thing I don't like about it is that book 2 isn't out yet 🤣
Tales of Salt and Blood by @inkenbermann book #1 in The tales duology.
This is the authors debut and I have to say this is one of the best I have ever read!
Valerie is held captive in an aquarium and one day Enrys shows up to buy her.
No reasons are given but slowly as the story goes, we learn more about his motives and about both their backgrounds.
I loved how this story was a bit different than most stories I've read about sirens. And the plot twists were so good! I didn't see most of them coming and it kept me on the edge of my seat. Both our MC have been through a lot and I really loved their character developement. As the story progressed it really sucked me in and I couldn't put it down!
The side characters were also very well written and I really loved them.
I highly recommend it especially if you love a good slowburn with:
🦈 Tattooed Morally Grey Shadow Daddy
🧜♀️ Half Shark Muscle Mommy Siren
🦈 Mystery
🧜♀️ Fae
�� Who Did This To You?
🧜♀️ Kinky Spice
The only thing I don't like about it is that book 2 isn't out yet 🤣
July 3, 2024
I feel incredibly honored to have been given an ARC copy of her debut novel. And let me just say …
5 stars all around!!! The character building, world building, development, and revealing of twists and secrets. I fell in love with this book instantly and Valerie is my body goals I swear.
The characters chemistry in the romance aspect is chefs kiss. I love the romance and this book is very spicy 🥵 I’m obsessed with Valerie’s and Enrys’ story. The way it unfolds is everything to me. I mean who doesn’t love a broody MMC ?
Valerie’s friendship with Aliz made my heart happy. It was so sweet and probably my favorite part of the story 👀 also, of course I had to add a coffee to this post. Iykyk 🤎☕️
I got a lovely sense of found family with this story which is one of my favorite tropes and UGH it’s just so good. I highly highly highly recommend it. Go get it now on Amazon 😍😍😍
The shark siren vibes are vibing with this one 🧜🏼♀️🦈
Edit: *** make sure you read the content warning before reading!!! Very very important for this book!
5 stars all around!!! The character building, world building, development, and revealing of twists and secrets. I fell in love with this book instantly and Valerie is my body goals I swear.
The characters chemistry in the romance aspect is chefs kiss. I love the romance and this book is very spicy 🥵 I’m obsessed with Valerie’s and Enrys’ story. The way it unfolds is everything to me. I mean who doesn’t love a broody MMC ?
Valerie’s friendship with Aliz made my heart happy. It was so sweet and probably my favorite part of the story 👀 also, of course I had to add a coffee to this post. Iykyk 🤎☕️
I got a lovely sense of found family with this story which is one of my favorite tropes and UGH it’s just so good. I highly highly highly recommend it. Go get it now on Amazon 😍😍😍
The shark siren vibes are vibing with this one 🧜🏼♀️🦈
Edit: *** make sure you read the content warning before reading!!! Very very important for this book!
July 23, 2024
This book! Inken tore my heart out with her brilliant debut.
This one is dark- check those CWs… and if you’re after a how to- maybe don’t use this for reference…
Now that’s out of the way- who’s still with me?
Like your MMC morally pitch black? Your FMC not much lighter? A sexy spirited supporting cast and a whole host of villains you just hate! This is the book for you. Add in more than a little, oh so dark, spice and wow!
Mild spoilers ahead…
Some parts Stockholm syndrome, some parts epic destined love story, entirely readable and brilliant. Loved the shark siren concept and the way the MMC didn’t shy away from the FMC dark side- in fact he revelled in it. At first our siren seems lost and weak but we soon discover (along with the MMC) that she isn’t weak- she just needed a chance to be something else.
Plenty of twists and turns… and that ending! Cannot wait for the sequel.
A little in love with Aliz and the boys- just want to know more about my baby Shaun.
This is definitely one for the dark romance readers who like a bit of fantasy in the mix. I’d class this as an urban dark Romantasy.
Thank you Inken for the advanced copy- loved being a part of this.
Out now- go read it!
This one is dark- check those CWs… and if you’re after a how to- maybe don’t use this for reference…
Now that’s out of the way- who’s still with me?
Like your MMC morally pitch black? Your FMC not much lighter? A sexy spirited supporting cast and a whole host of villains you just hate! This is the book for you. Add in more than a little, oh so dark, spice and wow!
Mild spoilers ahead…
Some parts Stockholm syndrome, some parts epic destined love story, entirely readable and brilliant. Loved the shark siren concept and the way the MMC didn’t shy away from the FMC dark side- in fact he revelled in it. At first our siren seems lost and weak but we soon discover (along with the MMC) that she isn’t weak- she just needed a chance to be something else.
Plenty of twists and turns… and that ending! Cannot wait for the sequel.
A little in love with Aliz and the boys- just want to know more about my baby Shaun.
This is definitely one for the dark romance readers who like a bit of fantasy in the mix. I’d class this as an urban dark Romantasy.
Thank you Inken for the advanced copy- loved being a part of this.
Out now- go read it!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 5, 2025
“You were never meant to be caged.”
I started this book on a whim when I saw character art for the FMC. Yes, the character art sold me lol. The premise of this book was super cool and I was curious to read about a siren/shark shifter.
Valeria’s character is very complex. She’s a siren/shark shifter trapped in a small tank and used as entertainment at an aquarium. After many years, Valeria is purchased by MMC Enrys—tatted up shadow daddy omg.
It’s unclear as to why Enrys purchased Valerie and things don’t really start to pick up until 50%. Once you find out his motives, things change.
Valerie’s change growth was amazing—she starts out very timid but Enrys really helped her heal and grow. She’s also a muscle mommy, like hello???? Can we get more muscle mommy characters?
Enrys is the definition of a morally grey character. But that didn’t make me turn away lol.
My only complaint is that certain terms/phrases were repeated a lot—especially on the same page. Super cool story though, and I am curious to see how the final book will play out.
I started this book on a whim when I saw character art for the FMC. Yes, the character art sold me lol. The premise of this book was super cool and I was curious to read about a siren/shark shifter.
Valeria’s character is very complex. She’s a siren/shark shifter trapped in a small tank and used as entertainment at an aquarium. After many years, Valeria is purchased by MMC Enrys—tatted up shadow daddy omg.
It’s unclear as to why Enrys purchased Valerie and things don’t really start to pick up until 50%. Once you find out his motives, things change.
Valerie’s change growth was amazing—she starts out very timid but Enrys really helped her heal and grow. She’s also a muscle mommy, like hello???? Can we get more muscle mommy characters?
Enrys is the definition of a morally grey character. But that didn’t make me turn away lol.
My only complaint is that certain terms/phrases were repeated a lot—especially on the same page. Super cool story though, and I am curious to see how the final book will play out.
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