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Blood of the Sirens

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Mermaids don’t exist. But mermen do.

And they’ve just risen from the deep.

When a horde of mermen invade Jesse’s quiet North Carolina beach town, they’re not searching for love—they’re hunting for fertile human women to breed their dying kind.

Unfortunately for Jesse, she’s at the top of their list.

She doesn’t know that when she finds a half-naked man tangled in a fishing net during her nightly kayak ritual. She just thinks she’s saving him. Instead, she unleashes a war beneath the waves—between rival mer clans, a vengeful sea witch, and a centuries-old curse that binds her fate to the ocean itself.

As secrets surface and loyalties blur, Jesse will have to choose between the men who would die for her... and the one who might destroy her.


🔥 Touch her and die
💦 Steamy scenes
🐚 Mermen shifters
🌊 Mermaid awakening

232 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 20, 2024

332 people are currently reading
650 people want to read

About the author

Raven Storm

39 books506 followers

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5 stars
85 (24%)
4 stars
85 (24%)
3 stars
111 (31%)
2 stars
49 (13%)
1 star
24 (6%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
570 reviews16 followers
December 28, 2024
Look I just couldn't get into this one. Jesse is basically a "not like other girls" pick me girl with self esteem issues and her surly, negative and bitchy personality grated on my nerves. Then there's Merrick who's basically a little martian merman who basically knows nothing and is super innocent and only into her because of his mating urges. Eh, not my thing.

- the story just wasn't there for me. The plot seems random and all over the place, there's no chemistry and everyone only cares because she has siren blood. That's it.

- Also the whole "she is mine" rape-y vibes of all the other men in the book was not it for me. I'm all from primal play stuff but this was just ... Yikes

- I get low self esteem but Jesse was really annoying after a while. Constantly comparing herself to other women and bemoaning being bigger and being angry etc. it wasn't written like oh she's strong and confident, it's just her complaining internally about how fat her legs look or how gross her stomach is... I didn't like her as a character but this desperation and negativity really made her seem really unlikable and meh. You can have a hard to like character but they have to have other redeeming qualities and she just doesn't.

- I wasn't crazy about how thin / medium build women were referred to in this book. Both Merrick and Jesse refer to them as bitches or "not wearing any clothes" when they're just in bathing suits... At a beach. Like girl? You hate that people treat you bad for being a big girl - can we not do the same to other body types?

- if I didn't hate her enough, Jesse knowing Merrick is being tortured / held by the witch and she goes "hmmm guess I can sleep with Caspian instead" ... What???? Yeah she doesn't do it but she actively considers it. BARF.

- lastly there's BARELY any romance. Merrick is obsessed with her right away and she kind of just .. allows it. There's no chemistry or heat and like NO smut???
Profile Image for Leilani Lopes-Haslam.
245 reviews9 followers
January 3, 2025
I thought this idea for the sirens and mermen had great promise. I think the book overall went too fast and there was a lot of plot holes that could have been improved on.

I really liked having a “thicker gal” as a FMC, but I do agree that there is some shaming of smaller women which I found weird.

This one ends on a cliffhanger and sets it up well for the second book. I do think that this book had a lot of potential but I wish there was a bit more character development and more romance.
Profile Image for Shawn Costello.
103 reviews1 follower
December 30, 2025
What the hell did I just read?

The idea behind the story was strong and had me very interested. What threw me off were the dozens of typos, including spelling errors, missing words, and wrong pronouns.

The actual writing also felt very messy and all over the place. I can understand Merrick being written like Sheldon Cooper from Big Bang Theory, but the sequence of events was all over the place. You're gonna tell me they were swimming in the ocean for 2 days with no sleep? I don't buy it for a second.

Let's not forget Jesse and and almost every other thought being about her weight. As a plus size woman, I was almost offended by the the down right harmful way Jesse apparently believes people think of her, her weight, and how she looks. And Merrick and Caspian are supposed to be the first ones to see beyond her size? I call bullshit.

And finally, the complete Little Mermaid ripoff of throwing in an octopus woman creature and calling her a sea witch. I think my eyes rolled so hard I gave myself a headache.

The author seems to have no idea where this story is going, and with a sequel clearly in the works, that concerns me greatly, and gives little to no hope of redemption.
Profile Image for Liz Crivello.
37 reviews1 follower
December 27, 2024
Story ends on a cliff hanger. Story could have had so much more depth and action. There wasn’t much going on for most of the book. I wish it was longer and had more. The male main character was awkward and weird only loving the FMC so he could mate with her. There’s no relationship or romance at all. If he was more experienced as a human, held power or had more of a hero persona, I’d like him more. He was just blah.
Profile Image for Annalise.
20 reviews1 follower
December 8, 2024
ARC Review - ⭐️⭐️⭐️

🧜‍♂️🩵🐬🩴🧙‍♀️

I basically flew through this book! I enjoyed that it was a quick read. I overall liked the premises of the book and found it easy to get into from the first 2 chapters. I liked the naive side of the MMC when it came to understanding humans and how it funny to see him fumble his way around. Our FMC is a curvy girl as well and it was really refreshing to read that!

Both our main character had chemistry really quickly, which is important to me when the book is short. I was sold on their relationship, but would have loved to see them spending more time together before we reached the climax of the story.

I did get a little lost in the second half of the book due to feeling like there was a lot happening. It seemed to move from one issue and antagonist to the next really suddenly. I felt that for a book this short, that it would have been better paced for the second half of the book had it not jumped around so quickly.

The book also did seem to end very suddenly. However, I can understand and respect that this will be expanded on in the next book and the author is wanting to set it up.

Overall, being this is the first book with Merpeople that I have read, I feel that it is good introduction to it. Being that the book is on the shorter side, it is fast paced with less world building so I think it serves as a good recommendation for those who may not be as familiar with fantasy books and wanting to dip their toes into it.
I look forward to seeing where this series goes!
107 reviews
January 14, 2025
The storyline was interesting and I thought the concept was good.

That being said. Lots of misspellings, even the main character’s name was misspelled at parts. A lot of the writing has parts where it said one thing then the next sentence it said something completely opposite. Lots of weird body shaming of her inner dialogue and then of other girls, the FMC is not a girls girl. Also the ending line is not correct she didn’t say ‘hey hottie’ she said ‘you good?’ The ‘hey hottie’ was from the girls on the boat before the MMC met the FMC.

ALSO- Merrick literally destroyed his life for you and you’re just going to get it on with someone you called a zombie and haven’t really had interaction with? Doesn’t seem like you and Merrick were that strongly connected- I know it says it’s a why choose but it was just very poorly introduced.

I enjoyed the story up until around the 80% mark then it started to veer off course I feel. I am looking forward to book two to see how this all works out. I hope it goes more in-depth, I felt like there were so many interesting concepts but they were barely touched.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for TBRBooks.
108 reviews8 followers
May 27, 2025
Blood of the Sirens by Raven Storm

Merrick, a merman, just wants to make his art. Not take over ruling for his dad and find a mate on land to have his baby. Jesse has given up on dating. She wanted to finish getting her degree as a biologist but she’s been kicked out of school for reasons beyond her control. Things spiral out of control for both of them when they meet by chance.

I loved this book! I finished the entire thing in less than a day. There were plenty of dramatic scenes and funny scenes. I haven’t read a book that had made me laugh out loud in a long time and I’m so glad i finally picked this one off of my bookshelf! If you enjoy plenty of hilarious internal monologue and a merman shifter who doesn’t understand what the middle finger means you should read this book! Perfect for fans of touch her and die, shifter, and a bit of why choose tropes! I can’t wait for number two to be released! 5 stars because I could not put this book down!
89 reviews2 followers
November 22, 2025
easy read

It’s like the author gave up caring in the last 10% of the book. There’s weird pronoun confusion, what flavor ice cream is she eating (it changed from one paragraph to the next), since when does she work at a museum with kids and not an aquarium? There are minor editing issues in the earlier part of the book, but it’s easy to overlook. I didn’t even want to finish because the errors keep popping up. And they’re really noticeable inconsistencies with the plot and story line.

Aside from that, it’s enjoyable enough. There’s some depth to the storyline, background, etc. but it’s not overly detailed. I don’t actually feel any emotional connection to the characters because there’s only stated emotions, not shown feelings.

I doubt that I’ll read the next in the series. But it wasn’t a waste of time.
27 reviews2 followers
December 10, 2024
Jesse is a woman who thinks her family will forever see as her as a disappointment. Kicked out of college where she studied to be a marine biologist you can only imagine her enthusiasm at learning mermen are real. They are real and they all want her to have their babies.

Merrick thinks she is perfection and looks at her like world begins and ends with her. He has a definite possessive touch her and 💀 vibe. He only wants to protect her and let her choose for herself what it is she wants.

This is a great introduction to a whole new twist on the Little Mermaid. My only issue was how abruptly it ended. So I would give it 4 stars. Even with that I still want to know how everything plays out and see what happens next!
Profile Image for Ariel Fulford.
4 reviews1 follower
December 19, 2024
ARC REVIEW ❤️🧜‍♀️

I flew through this one, I found that the story was cute and a different perspective. Seeing the instant chemistry between Merrick and Jesse was nice, though I wish it had been a little more in depth, but for the length of the book it was good. I feel like the why-choose element really was missing from this one, it wasn't really a why choose when she feels sad and guilty for wanting what she wants. I also noted that there was a really quick ending, almost like a cliffhanger but not quite. Overall, it was a cute story and the representation of a FMC that is curvy was great. Also, I found myself giggling and laughing more than once at seeing Merrick try to navigate the human world.
Profile Image for Blair Welter.
216 reviews3 followers
November 10, 2025
Double Book Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐🐚🧜‍♂️🧜‍♀️🧜‍♂️🧜‍♂️🧜‍♂️
Blood of the Sirens & Revenge of the Sirens (ARC)
By @writerravenstorm
Reviewing together as they are both shorter books and book one does end on a cliffhanger.
Highly recommend for every person obsessed with The Little Mermaid. As this is a retelling with a twist. The males are the ones who need to find their "land legs". And our FMC would rather be in the ocean. This series hits on some sensitive topics: body shaming, bullying, SA, breeding . But it doesn't drag the story down, it propels it forward.
Book 1 did take a bit to find its footing (much like our merman shifters), but once it did, the plot really took off, kept you enthralled and engaged.
Profile Image for SheWhoCooksandBooks Ashley.
79 reviews3 followers
December 30, 2024
I was hit with so many feelings while reading this - laughter, wonder, joy, horror and worry are just a few.

I love the hints of the Little Mermaid and the play on her story.

It was amazing to read from the MMC pov as he learns about things that we take for granted. The way things are described (such as hand gestures) it is easy to see how different cultures could be confusing and a little funny for those of us that understand the meanings/ use.

The pacing of the story is really good, it doesn’t linger/ over describe where you are itching for it to move along.

I’m really looking forward to book 2 and how this moves to a why-choose story. This book does end on a cliff hanger.
Profile Image for Georgen Charnes.
Author 3 books7 followers
January 7, 2026
It started out okay, I liked the FMC at first. She was at a low point in her life and trying her best. But everybody except one guy, her gay best friend, is a jerk. Then she meets the merman, and everybody in the sea except for him is a jerk who want to rape her to death.

And there's lots of almost sex with dubious consent.

Just no.
Profile Image for Mappy BookGirl.
556 reviews17 followers
December 17, 2024
Another interesting series by Raven Storm. Although I don't normally read a lot of mer people stories, I love this author so figured I'd give it a read. I absolutely adore the FMC, Jesse. Despite everything she has been through, she remains fierce, kicks butt, continues to try to roll with the punches, and maintain some semblance of life despite the chaos. That is until our MMC, Merrick, comes into the story. There were a lot of twists in this tale, but it was too short and I need the next one ASAP!!!
Profile Image for Becca Joyner.
38 reviews2 followers
December 20, 2024
This book is such a quick read, so naturally I read it in a day 🤣

I did not expect any of the events to happen like I was expecting a completely different outcome. It has me wondering if this book could have 2 love interests and turn into a why choose, because now that Caspian is being his sweet, I know the pain you feel self, I NEED it! Like I so hope there is going to be more books! The cliffhanger is happy and sad at the same time, but I have a feeling my boy Caspian will pull through for Jesse and Merrick!
Profile Image for ☆KittyKatsBooks☆.
176 reviews19 followers
December 21, 2024
Wow! I am obsessed with sirens, and this story, I feel, captured the essence of what sirens would be, if they were real. I loved the twists and elements of The Little mermaid throughout, almost like a modern day retelling, for adults!!! Many times I cheered, gasped, laughed, and choked up, all the while falling in love with the characters and the beautiful world building Raven Storm wrote so magnificently and magically! I will definitely be following this story, and can't wait for book 2!
4½⭐️ 3½🌶
Profile Image for Alison Birks.
187 reviews7 followers
December 19, 2024
This is the first book I’ve read that includes merpeople, Jesse is a curvy no nonsense girl who despite being a disappointment to her family, she gets kicked out of college where she studied marine biology only to learn that mermen are real after they want her to be a vessel for merbabies.

Merrick falls hard and fast for Jesse with possessive tendencies touch her and 💀 vibes, he wants her to choose for herself what she wants, I need more now
9 reviews
October 12, 2025
Loved it!

Blood of Sirens - this was a short, fast paced book! The story was great with so much happening throughout. Others said there were a lot of plot holes. As I was reading, I was trying to see what was missing. There are still unanswered questions BUT there will be a book 2! Hopefully they will be answered then. I loved that there were two POV’s - one for each of the MMC and FMC. I can’t wait to read Revenge of the Sirens to follow more of Jesse’s and Merrick’s story.
Profile Image for Bonnie.
104 reviews6 followers
November 8, 2025
This book is the first in a series about a young human woman who finds herself the main point of attraction of a handsome merman.
This book has elements of The Little Mermaid, but with a twist to it.
The characters have personality, the story deals with some past trauma, there is action, slow burn spice and a cliff hanger.

The book has good potential, but there could have been some more character and story development.
Profile Image for Annemarie .
978 reviews22 followers
November 17, 2025
I had the best laugh at some of the things Merrick came out with. Talk about brutally honest.

Jesse's character tugs at the heartstrings. Bullied at school because of her weight, and then to have her dream shattered because of a rich student who couldn't handle rejection.

As if rampant Mermen weren't enough, a Sea Witch with her own agenda is thrown into the mix.

Be prepared to burn the midnight oil.
10 reviews
December 28, 2025
Great potential, poor execution

The concept was great. But the author takes so much time bemoaning irrelevant deatils, that the ending feels- not only rushed, but- convenient. The world building is weak. I will not be continuing the series to see if her writing tightens up. I would kindly recommend that she stick to one thing, instead of trying to fit a dozen tropes into a songle story.
Profile Image for Grace Farnsworth PA.
278 reviews22 followers
December 13, 2024
This was such a good book.

I absolutely loved it. It's like a twist on The Little Mermaid.

I loved the worldbuilding. I felt like I was in this world Raven created. I was a little mad about that cliffy at the end, but I can't wait for book 2 to be able to resubmerge myself back in this world.
Profile Image for ₊⋆ Nyxia ☾.
705 reviews55 followers
December 14, 2024
Mermen, yes please!!
I’m pretty obsessed with Merrick. His awkwardness was really adorable and I loved how possessive he was!

𝐈𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐮𝐥. 𝐇𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐮𝐥.

This story is great and I haven’t read one like this before. It’s very fast paced and I love a strong fmc. This book is darker and that ending had me freaking out, definitely can’t wait for the next!

ꜱʜᴇ ɪꜱ ᴍɪɴᴇ.

🧜🏻‍♀️🤍
Profile Image for Morgan.
29 reviews1 follower
December 18, 2024
This book started as an interesting concept but then ended more predictable than expected. It ends on a cliffhanger so you’ll need the following books to get answers, but based on where the story is heading, the general direction is to be expected. There were some funny parts in the book and a ton of second hand embarrassment. 🤣
Profile Image for Tracy L. Steffenson.
10 reviews1 follower
December 30, 2024
Fun read overall

If you like the idea of a darker twist on Disney's The Little Mermaid, you might just like this one. It is a fun little read and reads quickly. However, there are numerous writing and editing errors (that can get a little annoying), but it doesn't take away from the overall work.
Profile Image for Dez Flemm.
10 reviews
February 14, 2025
How did this book get published? There were many grammatical errors, the page layouts were off so I couldn’t read the chapter titles and the plot holes were outrageous. The only reason I finished this book is because I was waiting for the why choose to start why choosing. I’m sorry, but there are better merperson fan-fiction available that are free to read.
14 reviews
March 18, 2025
I enjoyed the concept, and thought it was refreshing to see two MC's who weren't your typical character builds. I feel it was a bit rushed and that there was space for alot more detail. It was also a bit disappointing for me when it became more stereotypical Little Mermaid vibes... Still promising and I hope book 2 expands on the details more
Profile Image for Claire.
145 reviews
April 24, 2025
This had an interesting concept and Merrick’s ignorance around the human world was funny, but that’s about it for me.

The writing wasn’t great and the story itself moved too fast. I didn’t buy the bond between Merrick and Jesse and I especially hated the scenes with her and Caspian at the end.

All in all I felt like this was written in a single afternoon with zero care or editing.
Profile Image for Ellie Moncrief.
51 reviews
September 23, 2025
Omgggg, you guyssss, this book had me so in my feels and emotionally wrapped up in the plot that I FINISHED it without even realizing I was at the end! I loved this book! I’m a sucker for sexy mermen—especially socially awkward ones—and I can’t wait for the next book because the cliffhanger we got in this one was criminal. A must-read for mer-lovers!
Profile Image for Felicia Seay.
548 reviews4 followers
November 12, 2025
Interesting

This is an interesting beginning to the story, that ends unfinished. It's a twisted, more adult version of the little mermaid story. I really enjoyed what I read of it, but I was frustrated to have it suddenly cut off abruptly, unfinished. It does need mild editing for typographical errors.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews

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