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Wicked Tides #1
Wicked Tides
The waters are filled with terrors and the waves are red with blood...
Treson Harbor is a place plagued by terrifyingly beautiful monsters from the deep and they're hungry.
When no man is safe on the water, pirates and fishermen alike, people look to hunters.
Vidar "Bone Heart" Woelfson is the Captain of the Burning Rose, a ship known for its blood red sails and the ruthless nature of its crew. He has hunted more sirens than any other ship on the sea and unlike most, Vidar hardly does it for the money. He is haunted by events from his childhood and lives to see every daughter of the sea slaughtered.
Dahlia knows the ship with red sails well, but she knows its captain even better. The man who took everything from her as a child still hunts her waters and she will end him if it's the last thing she does.
Scarred and vengeful, Vidar and Dahlia will soon cross paths again after eighteen years and things certainly will not be peaceful. But even greater horrors might force the two together in an unwilling partnership.
Their rivalry runs deep... their love will run deeper... but not without bloodshed.
***This book contains violence, graphic sexual situations, and language. Please visit my website for a more detailed list of trigger warnings***
Treson Harbor is a place plagued by terrifyingly beautiful monsters from the deep and they're hungry.
When no man is safe on the water, pirates and fishermen alike, people look to hunters.
Vidar "Bone Heart" Woelfson is the Captain of the Burning Rose, a ship known for its blood red sails and the ruthless nature of its crew. He has hunted more sirens than any other ship on the sea and unlike most, Vidar hardly does it for the money. He is haunted by events from his childhood and lives to see every daughter of the sea slaughtered.
Dahlia knows the ship with red sails well, but she knows its captain even better. The man who took everything from her as a child still hunts her waters and she will end him if it's the last thing she does.
Scarred and vengeful, Vidar and Dahlia will soon cross paths again after eighteen years and things certainly will not be peaceful. But even greater horrors might force the two together in an unwilling partnership.
Their rivalry runs deep... their love will run deeper... but not without bloodshed.
***This book contains violence, graphic sexual situations, and language. Please visit my website for a more detailed list of trigger warnings***
384 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 15, 2024
About the author
Courtney Leigh
30 books85 followersI was born on a teeny tiny island in the middle of the ocean to two amazing and adventurous parents. When we moved to the mainland, I was raised on an ostrich ranch in rural Arizona where learned about hard work and responsibility. I attribute my determination to my upbringing and loved the adventures of my younger years. Myself and my siblings schooled in the city, a one hour commute each way.
I majored in theatre then immediately moved on to college when I was 17 pursuing fashion and costume design. I graduated during the recession and couldn't find work, so depression got me until I found the cosplay community and opened up again with both a social life and a creative drive.
Through ALL of this, I was writing in my spare time. From the moment I could draw really sloppy letters on a page, I was creating stories and it became something I did to relieve stress and cope with life changes. At 17, I finished my first novel at 160,000 words (it since got lost in many crashed computers and moves) But since then I have been writing like a mad woman and finally published in 2019. I have no plans of stopping.
I majored in theatre then immediately moved on to college when I was 17 pursuing fashion and costume design. I graduated during the recession and couldn't find work, so depression got me until I found the cosplay community and opened up again with both a social life and a creative drive.
Through ALL of this, I was writing in my spare time. From the moment I could draw really sloppy letters on a page, I was creating stories and it became something I did to relieve stress and cope with life changes. At 17, I finished my first novel at 160,000 words (it since got lost in many crashed computers and moves) But since then I have been writing like a mad woman and finally published in 2019. I have no plans of stopping.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 106 reviews
June 30, 2026
🌟4 Stars🌟
⋆.˚𓇼 ENEMIES to lovers
⋆.˚𓇼 Hunter/Mermaid shifter
⋆.˚𓇼 Pirates
⋆.˚𓇼 Found family
⋆.˚𓇼 Sea adventures
If you love this then this is the book for your summer!!!
°:•.🐠*.•🪸.•:🧜♀️:•.°:•.🐚*.•🪸.•:🫧:•.°
°:•.🐠*.•🪸.•:🧜♀️:•.°:•.🐚*.•🪸.•:🫧:•.°
Courtney Leigh you did it. I've been DESPERATELY searching for a good mermaid/siren fantasy book and I've been constantly let down by the more popular suggestions; I don't want to share titles so I'll just say the romantasy section gets sloppier and sloppier every day.
Wicked Tides surprised me so much. I went in after a DNF (ironically, another attempt at mermaids) and boy did this book took me for a journey on the dark sea. It has everything you're searching for in the bigger names, and better execution too: head-strong characters, a fierce heroine, a crew of sea hunters you'll love by the end of this story, great friendships, a shared evil, grappling romance and even good spice.
The story follows Dahlia and Vidar, a siren and a siren-hunter that share one haunting encounter from when they were children. Basically, her family slaughtered his family, and he managed to murder her family in return. Since that moment eighteen years have passed, but none of the two have forgotten about the other: they've always known they were bound to meet again and only one of them was going to make it out alive this time.
This story is crude and dark, but so addictive the book had me pacing around my house at night (unable to sleep and put it down) and squirming on my sunbed when at the beach.
🐚 Dahlia, our siren, is exactly the type of heroine I love the most. She's scarred, she's brutal, she's murderous and feral, but that's because she HAD to be like this to survive the cruel life of a Kroan mermaid. Underneath it all, Dahlia always wanted more for herself than the hunt of humans and the eating of their flesh. And on top of it all, she wants to escape a dark father that's calling for her from the abyss: in order to avoid that life she'll do anything, even spare her greatest enemy and betrayer.
🏴☠️ Vidar 'Bone Heart' Woelfson is our siren-hunter, captain of the Burning Rose. He's cut more mermaid heads than anybody else on the sea, but still not the one he's been searching for.
Vidar, too, is the type of MMC I like the most. His personality doesn't revolve around his lady but he's a character in his own right. I was as enthusiastic to read his POV as I was Dahlia's because they're so complementary of each other. The captain is a man who's seen horrors, who embraced them and made them his driving force. He's a killer but and honorable one, and we love a MAN that inspires trust in those around him.
Vidar and Dahlia find each other again and — after a very exciting attempt at murder (just the first of many don't worry) — will be forced to share the Burning Rose's space for a greater cause (p.s. Ahnah I love you very much). This will force them to see there's something much more dark inhabiting the waters, something that's haunting even the most murderous of the sirens, something that's keeping Dahlia out of the water and haunting her sleep. Changing the tides. Changing the trades.
°:•.🐠*.•🪸.•:🧜♀️:•.°:•.🐚*.•🪸.•:🫧:•.°
The book has great pacing. Once the characters meet again you'll be basically unable to put it down because every one of their encounters is so tense and angsty.
There are some typos but they didn't bother me much, please remember this author is indie and the book very niche.
I recommend this if you're tired to be let down by the more popular titles and their shallow characters and even shallower plots, please please give it a chance and you won't regret it (I literally found it randomly on the author's own youtube video for mermaid recs).
Also I have a feeling the second one is going to be even greater considering I started it last night and immediately reached 50% because I was UNABLE to put it down, that's how page-turning it is. LOVE it!
That said, I DO think some aspects of the story could use some work and that’s what the one less star is for.
First of all, I didn’t understand up until the middle of the story that it takes place in our own world and our own oceans. I think that should have been made clearer from the start 😭. Also I really wish it was explained why mermaids speak human’s languages/how they learned it.
Secondly, the book is obviously very dark and gory (even horror), so I do think the author could have been even a tad bit more dramatic and emotional in her writing, but that's probably just a personal opinion.
And lastly, but most importantly, I would love to see some more diversity in the future characters!!
°:•.🐠*.•🪸.•:🧜♀️:•.°:•.🐚*.•🪸.•:🫧:•.°
→ My Pinterest board for Dahlia and Meridan if you want to visualize these sirens. I love their sisterhood so much 🤍🌊🫧 {https://pin.it/5OD7f274h}
⋆.˚𓇼 ENEMIES to lovers
⋆.˚𓇼 Hunter/Mermaid shifter
⋆.˚𓇼 Pirates
⋆.˚𓇼 Found family
⋆.˚𓇼 Sea adventures
If you love this then this is the book for your summer!!!
°:•.🐠*.•🪸.•:🧜♀️:•.°:•.🐚*.•🪸.•:🫧:•.°
"Of all the people in our lives, we hated each other the most, but we knew each other the best.
It was a disturbing revelation to know you related to your enemy more than your loved ones."
°:•.🐠*.•🪸.•:🧜♀️:•.°:•.🐚*.•🪸.•:🫧:•.°
Courtney Leigh you did it. I've been DESPERATELY searching for a good mermaid/siren fantasy book and I've been constantly let down by the more popular suggestions; I don't want to share titles so I'll just say the romantasy section gets sloppier and sloppier every day.
Wicked Tides surprised me so much. I went in after a DNF (ironically, another attempt at mermaids) and boy did this book took me for a journey on the dark sea. It has everything you're searching for in the bigger names, and better execution too: head-strong characters, a fierce heroine, a crew of sea hunters you'll love by the end of this story, great friendships, a shared evil, grappling romance and even good spice.
The story follows Dahlia and Vidar, a siren and a siren-hunter that share one haunting encounter from when they were children. Basically, her family slaughtered his family, and he managed to murder her family in return. Since that moment eighteen years have passed, but none of the two have forgotten about the other: they've always known they were bound to meet again and only one of them was going to make it out alive this time.
This story is crude and dark, but so addictive the book had me pacing around my house at night (unable to sleep and put it down) and squirming on my sunbed when at the beach.
🐚 Dahlia, our siren, is exactly the type of heroine I love the most. She's scarred, she's brutal, she's murderous and feral, but that's because she HAD to be like this to survive the cruel life of a Kroan mermaid. Underneath it all, Dahlia always wanted more for herself than the hunt of humans and the eating of their flesh. And on top of it all, she wants to escape a dark father that's calling for her from the abyss: in order to avoid that life she'll do anything, even spare her greatest enemy and betrayer.
🏴☠️ Vidar 'Bone Heart' Woelfson is our siren-hunter, captain of the Burning Rose. He's cut more mermaid heads than anybody else on the sea, but still not the one he's been searching for.
“I haven’t been scared of a siren since the day they ate the crew.”
“Nah, I’m not talking about being afraid of what they’ll do to you. I think you’re afraid of what they’ll do to us. What she’ll do to us. Don’t think I haven’t seen it, boy.”
“Seen what?” I asked though I knew what he was going to say.
“You check the face of every damn bitch we behead.”
Vidar, too, is the type of MMC I like the most. His personality doesn't revolve around his lady but he's a character in his own right. I was as enthusiastic to read his POV as I was Dahlia's because they're so complementary of each other. The captain is a man who's seen horrors, who embraced them and made them his driving force. He's a killer but and honorable one, and we love a MAN that inspires trust in those around him.
Vidar and Dahlia find each other again and — after a very exciting attempt at murder (just the first of many don't worry) — will be forced to share the Burning Rose's space for a greater cause (p.s. Ahnah I love you very much). This will force them to see there's something much more dark inhabiting the waters, something that's haunting even the most murderous of the sirens, something that's keeping Dahlia out of the water and haunting her sleep. Changing the tides. Changing the trades.
°:•.🐠*.•🪸.•:🧜♀️:•.°:•.🐚*.•🪸.•:🫧:•.°
The book has great pacing. Once the characters meet again you'll be basically unable to put it down because every one of their encounters is so tense and angsty.
There are some typos but they didn't bother me much, please remember this author is indie and the book very niche.
I recommend this if you're tired to be let down by the more popular titles and their shallow characters and even shallower plots, please please give it a chance and you won't regret it (I literally found it randomly on the author's own youtube video for mermaid recs).
Also I have a feeling the second one is going to be even greater considering I started it last night and immediately reached 50% because I was UNABLE to put it down, that's how page-turning it is. LOVE it!
That said, I DO think some aspects of the story could use some work and that’s what the one less star is for.
First of all, I didn’t understand up until the middle of the story that it takes place in our own world and our own oceans. I think that should have been made clearer from the start 😭. Also I really wish it was explained why mermaids speak human’s languages/how they learned it.
Secondly, the book is obviously very dark and gory (even horror), so I do think the author could have been even a tad bit more dramatic and emotional in her writing, but that's probably just a personal opinion.
And lastly, but most importantly, I would love to see some more diversity in the future characters!!
°:•.🐠*.•🪸.•:🧜♀️:•.°:•.🐚*.•🪸.•:🫧:•.°
→ My Pinterest board for Dahlia and Meridan if you want to visualize these sirens. I love their sisterhood so much 🤍🌊🫧 {https://pin.it/5OD7f274h}
March 7, 2025
MF Dark Fantasy Horror
High Seas Adventure
Hunter/Siren
True Enemies To Lovers
Hate To Love
Forced Proximity
🔥🔥🔥
Oh fuck yea! All the stars. THIS is how you do enemies to lovers. This book was so good. I genuinely wondered how the two main characters were ever going to be able to make that cross to lovers. There is some serious hate going on here and these two characters are so broken and so obsessed with revenge.
Vidal is a privateer and hunter of Sirens. In his mind, the only good Siren is a dead Siren. Dahlia is a fierce and loyal Siren, and she will hold nothing back to protect the few that she loves. These two share a brutal history that has shaped them into the cold monsters that they are today… after 18 years of constant thoughts of revenge. The way their relationship evolves was just so fantastic. There is no instalust to be had…. This is a slow burn and a hard fought HEA. And the spice, when it finally hits…top notch. And a little kinky 😉
On top of the amazing evolution of this romance, there is an amazing sea adventure that involves monsters that terrify these monsters. This story doesn't shy away from violence and gore, so check the TW if needed. Also, the side characters are as interesting as the main characters and lend so much to the story. I cannot wait to read more from this world.
High Seas Adventure
Hunter/Siren
True Enemies To Lovers
Hate To Love
Forced Proximity
🔥🔥🔥
Oh fuck yea! All the stars. THIS is how you do enemies to lovers. This book was so good. I genuinely wondered how the two main characters were ever going to be able to make that cross to lovers. There is some serious hate going on here and these two characters are so broken and so obsessed with revenge.
Vidal is a privateer and hunter of Sirens. In his mind, the only good Siren is a dead Siren. Dahlia is a fierce and loyal Siren, and she will hold nothing back to protect the few that she loves. These two share a brutal history that has shaped them into the cold monsters that they are today… after 18 years of constant thoughts of revenge. The way their relationship evolves was just so fantastic. There is no instalust to be had…. This is a slow burn and a hard fought HEA. And the spice, when it finally hits…top notch. And a little kinky 😉
On top of the amazing evolution of this romance, there is an amazing sea adventure that involves monsters that terrify these monsters. This story doesn't shy away from violence and gore, so check the TW if needed. Also, the side characters are as interesting as the main characters and lend so much to the story. I cannot wait to read more from this world.
February 14, 2025
She killed his family. He killed hers. They have waited their whole lives to finally kill one another, but a greater threat in the sea and one on land stops them.
THIS BOOK NEEDS BOOK ART!!!
The author puts a really cool spin on siren life and the explanation of how sirens and xnotchs . The pace of the book is decent and the author does a great job of entertaining the reader and connecting the events. I really liked how the characters were intertwined and how most of them knew each other their whole lives. Also, the ending was pretty cute. The last paragraph made me smile :)
At some points you do have to watch. There are time hops with each character of their past. There's a couple when it's within the chapter but it's not really labeled. It will catch you off guard but you will figure it out.
ROMANCE:
The one thing that I wasn't a fan of was the romance scenes in this book. They were awkward, and weird to read. The first couple instances of feelings your really don't know what's going on and why. There is a lot of forced touching with the women of this book. The first kiss comes out of NO WHERE! It's just like rock, then BAM....KISSING. It was a great surprise but that's it for a bit.
Spice 2/5 - Vague
TROPES
Enemies to Lovers
Siren and Pirates
Slow Burn
Second chance
THIS BOOK NEEDS BOOK ART!!!
The author puts a really cool spin on siren life and the explanation of how sirens and xnotchs . The pace of the book is decent and the author does a great job of entertaining the reader and connecting the events. I really liked how the characters were intertwined and how most of them knew each other their whole lives. Also, the ending was pretty cute. The last paragraph made me smile :)
At some points you do have to watch. There are time hops with each character of their past. There's a couple when it's within the chapter but it's not really labeled. It will catch you off guard but you will figure it out.
ROMANCE:
The one thing that I wasn't a fan of was the romance scenes in this book. They were awkward, and weird to read. The first couple instances of feelings your really don't know what's going on and why. There is a lot of forced touching with the women of this book. The first kiss comes out of NO WHERE! It's just like rock, then BAM....KISSING. It was a great surprise but that's it for a bit.
Spice 2/5 - Vague
TROPES
Enemies to Lovers
Siren and Pirates
Slow Burn
Second chance
October 17, 2024
This is a new to me author, but the genre is up my alley. I have read so many mermaid/sirens/ondine stories that I feel I have seen everything. Wicked Tides blew my mind with not only the characters and plot, but the originality of the story. I absolutely loved every single thing about this book. Dahlia and Vidar HATED each other for most of the book. No insta love cutesy. It was actual hate! But watching them fall for each other, just perfection! It wasn't quickly either. It was slow and fierce and crazy and chaotic just like the characters themselves. This has definitely jumped itself into my top favorites for the YEAR!!! Can't wait for what other books this author has to offer
October 16, 2024
You know that feeling you get when you read such an earth-shattering book that you're pierced to your very core and don't know how to recover? Despite thoroughly enjoying a lot of the books I read I haven't experienced many books that insight such feelings in me. This is one of those books for me. I am so honoured that I was given the opportunity to receive an eARC copy of this story because it has so thoroughly altered my brain chemistry I genuinely don't know what to do with myself.
This haunting story follows hateful scarred siren Dahlia and her equally hateful counterpart siren hunter Vidar. Both tormented by a shared tragedy that led them down paths of hate and malice, starved with a thirst for revenge they are forced to come together in unexpected ways when new threats present themselves both on land and in the ocean.
I'm not going to lie, I was struggling a bit at the beginning of the book. Not with the story or writing but in trying to find a way to like the MMC Vidar. I initially felt about him the way I feel about Gabi from Attack on Titan. I could understand why he's doing what he's doing but it ultimately didn't change the fact that I sympathized with the sirens a lot more. His seething vitriol and hatred were startling and hard to get passed for me as I couldn't begin to think what could have happened to cultivate it. That very quickly changed when I saw what actually happened in his past. I am unaccustomed to the bad thing in the past genuinely being something truly horrific. Too often I've read a "dark" book that had the character's dark past be something either predictable or ultimately anticlimactic. I don't necessarily think I crave violence 😏 but if a tragic past is hyped up throughout the book and it ends up being daddy issues cause they witnessed their parent's murder I'm bound to be a little disappointed. This was not the case here. At all. In fact, I'm actually impressed at how truly atrocious the backstory was.
Similarly, it's often rare to find a true enemies-to-lovers story but it was done beautifully here. Watching the progression of their relationship from where they began to where they ended was devastating and ignited something within my soul so profound I can't even begin to define it. I honestly don't know why this story and relationship affected me so much but it was done so ravishingly that I could do nothing but watch eagerly with baited breath and anxiety. "I am in search of a certain torment and there is no other place I could think of." This wrecked me so wholeheartedly I may as well have been shot clean through my heart. When they came together it was so beautiful and dreadful and full of malice and relief I couldn't even begin to fathom where to put my emotions. Despite the gruesome nature of the story, this has somehow become a comfort book and I have no idea what that says about me but I'm choosing to never examine it.
This haunting story follows hateful scarred siren Dahlia and her equally hateful counterpart siren hunter Vidar. Both tormented by a shared tragedy that led them down paths of hate and malice, starved with a thirst for revenge they are forced to come together in unexpected ways when new threats present themselves both on land and in the ocean.
I'm not going to lie, I was struggling a bit at the beginning of the book. Not with the story or writing but in trying to find a way to like the MMC Vidar. I initially felt about him the way I feel about Gabi from Attack on Titan. I could understand why he's doing what he's doing but it ultimately didn't change the fact that I sympathized with the sirens a lot more. His seething vitriol and hatred were startling and hard to get passed for me as I couldn't begin to think what could have happened to cultivate it. That very quickly changed when I saw what actually happened in his past. I am unaccustomed to the bad thing in the past genuinely being something truly horrific. Too often I've read a "dark" book that had the character's dark past be something either predictable or ultimately anticlimactic. I don't necessarily think I crave violence 😏 but if a tragic past is hyped up throughout the book and it ends up being daddy issues cause they witnessed their parent's murder I'm bound to be a little disappointed. This was not the case here. At all. In fact, I'm actually impressed at how truly atrocious the backstory was.
Similarly, it's often rare to find a true enemies-to-lovers story but it was done beautifully here. Watching the progression of their relationship from where they began to where they ended was devastating and ignited something within my soul so profound I can't even begin to define it. I honestly don't know why this story and relationship affected me so much but it was done so ravishingly that I could do nothing but watch eagerly with baited breath and anxiety. "I am in search of a certain torment and there is no other place I could think of." This wrecked me so wholeheartedly I may as well have been shot clean through my heart. When they came together it was so beautiful and dreadful and full of malice and relief I couldn't even begin to fathom where to put my emotions. Despite the gruesome nature of the story, this has somehow become a comfort book and I have no idea what that says about me but I'm choosing to never examine it.
November 3, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Tropes:
• true enemies to lovers ❤️🔥
• dual POV 👥
• dark fantasy romance 🖤
• forced proximity ⛓️
• pirates and sirens ⚓️🧜🏼♀️
• slow burn 🔥
Triggers:
• blood play 🩸
• torture 🪢
• human trafficking
• attempted 🍇 and mentioning
• PTSD
At fourteen, Vidar was taken captive by sirens, forced to witness the brutal slaughter of his father and crew. A young siren called Dahlia, moved by pity, sets him free. The two form a bond forged in mutual scars, both physical and emotional, and make a vow to kill each other, no matter the time it takes.
I was intrigued by the prospect of this twisted tale and was pleasantly surprised by the unexpected turn of events. I loved both fmc and mmc and the emotional turmoil of their story.
This story is both beautiful and brutal, with a narrative that masterfully brings to life the twisted and intertwined lives of two individuals fueled by hatred and love. While it's essential to note the trigger warnings, the book's focus is more on the plot than the graphic content, making it a compelling read. This is a highly recommended read for those who enjoy a darker, more complex love story.
I only took off .5 because i feel it is left open ended and there isn’t news on book 2.
I would’ve read this in one sitting without distractions, I do recommend reading this if you love a true enemies to lovers 🥀
Tropes:
• true enemies to lovers ❤️🔥
• dual POV 👥
• dark fantasy romance 🖤
• forced proximity ⛓️
• pirates and sirens ⚓️🧜🏼♀️
• slow burn 🔥
Triggers:
• blood play 🩸
• torture 🪢
• human trafficking
• attempted 🍇 and mentioning
• PTSD
At fourteen, Vidar was taken captive by sirens, forced to witness the brutal slaughter of his father and crew. A young siren called Dahlia, moved by pity, sets him free. The two form a bond forged in mutual scars, both physical and emotional, and make a vow to kill each other, no matter the time it takes.
I was intrigued by the prospect of this twisted tale and was pleasantly surprised by the unexpected turn of events. I loved both fmc and mmc and the emotional turmoil of their story.
This story is both beautiful and brutal, with a narrative that masterfully brings to life the twisted and intertwined lives of two individuals fueled by hatred and love. While it's essential to note the trigger warnings, the book's focus is more on the plot than the graphic content, making it a compelling read. This is a highly recommended read for those who enjoy a darker, more complex love story.
I only took off .5 because i feel it is left open ended and there isn’t news on book 2.
I would’ve read this in one sitting without distractions, I do recommend reading this if you love a true enemies to lovers 🥀
September 22, 2024
Rating: 5 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️.5
Trope:
- Pirate x Siren
- Enemies to Lovers
- Slow Burn
- Possessive FMC
- Dark Fantasy
- Dual POVs
- Touch him and Die
Vidar "Bone Heart," the infamous Captain of the Burning Rose—known for its blood-red sails—has spent his life hunting Sirens, determined to kill every last one of them to avenge a childhood trauma. Dahlia, a scarred and cursed Siren, is a monster with a kind heart, one responsible for leading a massacre of her own kind. She is determined to kill the man who took everything from her. But when these two enemies finally collide, they discover greater evils that force them to work together.
I finished this book in one day—that's how good it was. The first few pages immediately grabbed my attention. It was fast-paced, with amazing world-building, and the character development was so well done. The romance was spicy! I absolutely love Dahlia; her character was incredible, and Vidar is seriously hot and sexy.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you to the Author and BookSirens
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️.5
Trope:
- Pirate x Siren
- Enemies to Lovers
- Slow Burn
- Possessive FMC
- Dark Fantasy
- Dual POVs
- Touch him and Die
Vidar "Bone Heart," the infamous Captain of the Burning Rose—known for its blood-red sails—has spent his life hunting Sirens, determined to kill every last one of them to avenge a childhood trauma. Dahlia, a scarred and cursed Siren, is a monster with a kind heart, one responsible for leading a massacre of her own kind. She is determined to kill the man who took everything from her. But when these two enemies finally collide, they discover greater evils that force them to work together.
I finished this book in one day—that's how good it was. The first few pages immediately grabbed my attention. It was fast-paced, with amazing world-building, and the character development was so well done. The romance was spicy! I absolutely love Dahlia; her character was incredible, and Vidar is seriously hot and sexy.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you to the Author and BookSirens
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 30, 2026
Perfect pacing and very unique sirens compared to other books I’ve read. 4.5/5
October 16, 2024
Wicked Tides
Dark and wickedly tormented! This story was easy to get sucked into and I found myself on the edge of my seat wondering what would happen next. I would caution that this book is not for a faint of heart so be sure to check the content warnings.
Now for the story, wow, it was quite a fast-paced thrill ride that was full of high risk, adventure, and loads of tension.
There was so much to this world especially of the sirens and the various creatures of the deep. There were different types and cultures and I really hope there will be more books that will explore further into this relatively unknown world.
The characters… oh man where to start with this… both were tormented and ruthless and so much alike. Vidar and Dahlia both bear brutal scars on the inside and out. With a past full of anguish and hearts full of vengeance these characters are literally like fire and fire going at each other.
I loved the banter and I thoroughly loved the hard dark journey the characters had to go through to quench the hate that burned inside of them.
Dahlia was a fierce FMC. She was ruthless and definitely no damsel in distress.
Vidar was a scarred heartless captain. He was definitely no golden retriever with a heart of gold. He was just as morally grey/black as Dahlia.
Their story starts as enemies and develops slowly into something else entirely as they clash together.
I highly recommend this one and there’s so many fantastic tropes as well!! Here’s a few; enemies to reluctant allies to lovers, hate to love, slow burn, pain/pleasure, hurt/comfort, they save each other, forced proximity, fierce siren FMC, merciless morally grey MMC, trauma romance, one ship, high stakes, action-packed, everyone’s a monster, captor/captive, vengeance, dark fantasy, dark romance, possessive characters, touch him/her and xx, and so much more!!
Dark and wickedly tormented! This story was easy to get sucked into and I found myself on the edge of my seat wondering what would happen next. I would caution that this book is not for a faint of heart so be sure to check the content warnings.
Now for the story, wow, it was quite a fast-paced thrill ride that was full of high risk, adventure, and loads of tension.
There was so much to this world especially of the sirens and the various creatures of the deep. There were different types and cultures and I really hope there will be more books that will explore further into this relatively unknown world.
The characters… oh man where to start with this… both were tormented and ruthless and so much alike. Vidar and Dahlia both bear brutal scars on the inside and out. With a past full of anguish and hearts full of vengeance these characters are literally like fire and fire going at each other.
I loved the banter and I thoroughly loved the hard dark journey the characters had to go through to quench the hate that burned inside of them.
Dahlia was a fierce FMC. She was ruthless and definitely no damsel in distress.
Vidar was a scarred heartless captain. He was definitely no golden retriever with a heart of gold. He was just as morally grey/black as Dahlia.
Their story starts as enemies and develops slowly into something else entirely as they clash together.
I highly recommend this one and there’s so many fantastic tropes as well!! Here’s a few; enemies to reluctant allies to lovers, hate to love, slow burn, pain/pleasure, hurt/comfort, they save each other, forced proximity, fierce siren FMC, merciless morally grey MMC, trauma romance, one ship, high stakes, action-packed, everyone’s a monster, captor/captive, vengeance, dark fantasy, dark romance, possessive characters, touch him/her and xx, and so much more!!
September 5, 2024
Ok, this book was FIRE 🔥 It was just what I needed to get out of my slump - Kudos to Courtney Leigh for writing such a great book!
Now for the review:
First off, this was a new subgenre for me - I have not previously read any book that had sirens in it and was definitely out of my comfort zone at first. I love fantasy but am still testing the waters out with content. With that being said sirens/sea captains, pirate ships, creepy underwater "sons" is at the top of my list now!
Captain Vidar and Siren Dahlia have history that is woven together with pain and the need for vengeance. I have read SO many stories that have a similar plot but they just weren't executed as nicely as this was. I thoroughly enjoyed how 60% of the book Vidar and Dahlia hated each other - this was NOT insta lust. I LOVE a good slow burn and this was just that! It didn't feel rushed and it didn't drag - the pacing was on point. Vidar had so many conflicting feelings and it was really refreshing to see that the author allowed him to battle with them and grow organically. Same dor Dahlia, my heart HURT for her - she had so many traumas and was a true survivor. Both Vidar and Dahlia were waiting for death to claim them and their connection with this was just beautifully written.
I typically would have suggestions in a review but I honestly have nothing that I could think needs changing. The pace of the story was perfectly done, the characters had so much depth - even the supporting characters. This is one of those books that I wish I could read for the first time again... I do not give out 5 stars easily - a book really has to hit for it to get one and this one SLAPS.
READ THIS BOOK YOU WON'T REGRET IT!!
Now for the review:
First off, this was a new subgenre for me - I have not previously read any book that had sirens in it and was definitely out of my comfort zone at first. I love fantasy but am still testing the waters out with content. With that being said sirens/sea captains, pirate ships, creepy underwater "sons" is at the top of my list now!
Captain Vidar and Siren Dahlia have history that is woven together with pain and the need for vengeance. I have read SO many stories that have a similar plot but they just weren't executed as nicely as this was. I thoroughly enjoyed how 60% of the book Vidar and Dahlia hated each other - this was NOT insta lust. I LOVE a good slow burn and this was just that! It didn't feel rushed and it didn't drag - the pacing was on point. Vidar had so many conflicting feelings and it was really refreshing to see that the author allowed him to battle with them and grow organically. Same dor Dahlia, my heart HURT for her - she had so many traumas and was a true survivor. Both Vidar and Dahlia were waiting for death to claim them and their connection with this was just beautifully written.
I typically would have suggestions in a review but I honestly have nothing that I could think needs changing. The pace of the story was perfectly done, the characters had so much depth - even the supporting characters. This is one of those books that I wish I could read for the first time again... I do not give out 5 stars easily - a book really has to hit for it to get one and this one SLAPS.
READ THIS BOOK YOU WON'T REGRET IT!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 24, 2025
This is one of the best books I’ve read in a long time. I laughed, I cried, I felt outrage. I could devour book after book filled with the adventures of Vidar and Dahlia.
September 8, 2024
I was trying out a new format for my reviews but that wouldn’t do this book justice. It was amazing! Beautiful, yet bloodthirsty, creatures called Sirens plague the waters of Treson Harbor. Vidar "Bone Heart" Woelfson has made it his duty to rid the world of them, after what they did to his father and himself when he was a young man. Dahlia also seeks vengeance for what happened on that beach when Vidar killed her mother. This is not your typical enemies-to-lovers book where they are fated mates or have an instant love connection, this is a slow burn.To the point where I wondered a few times how these two would ever reconcile their differences. Both of them have to come to terms with the fact that things aren’t always as black and white as they seem. As a new treat from the deep threatens to destroy both of their kind they find common ground and things move forward from there.
I devoured this book. I loved how Vidar and Dahlia were written, unlike many other books of this trope, while they are conflicted by their feelings they are not wishy-washy about it. One of my pet peeves is where the FMC will draw the MMC in then push him away and then do it over and over. This doesn’t happen. Dahlia doesn’t play around, and neither does Vidar, these two are past that point. They have both seen and dealt with too much for that, these are two broken individuals who are just waiting for death to come calling. At times my heart broke for these two as you learn the depth of what they have endured.
My only complaint is that I felt there were many things left unanswered in the plot itself and I would absolutely love it if there was a second book fighting the Sons and maybe giving us a Mullins and Meridan love story…?
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I devoured this book. I loved how Vidar and Dahlia were written, unlike many other books of this trope, while they are conflicted by their feelings they are not wishy-washy about it. One of my pet peeves is where the FMC will draw the MMC in then push him away and then do it over and over. This doesn’t happen. Dahlia doesn’t play around, and neither does Vidar, these two are past that point. They have both seen and dealt with too much for that, these are two broken individuals who are just waiting for death to come calling. At times my heart broke for these two as you learn the depth of what they have endured.
My only complaint is that I felt there were many things left unanswered in the plot itself and I would absolutely love it if there was a second book fighting the Sons and maybe giving us a Mullins and Meridan love story…?
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 3, 2025
Finally a true enemies to lovers!!!!
First let’s start off with bad ass siren Dahlia!! She is a strong, sometimes rash, fiercely loyal, and emotionally exhausted character. Her drive for revenge almost causes her to lose sight of literally everything. Thankfully, Vidar (the target of her revenge) is just as equally all of those things as well.
They are forced to work together to defeat an even more pressing threat to humans and sirens but they do not make it easy on each other.
It is so hard to write an enemies to lovers and make it believable to the reader. I want my enemies to attempt to kill each other several times before falling in love & that’s just want we get here. Even during the first sex scene, Vidar & Dahlia don’t even realize how hard they’ve fallen for each other. That first sex scene was SPICY!! But trigger warning if you’re not into roughhousing.
The world building is done in a way that is not difficult to understand. It’s not too intricate and there are still things even the characters themselves don’t know about their world. I find that to be interesting and can’t wait to learn more in book 2.
I hope we get to dig deeper in side characters like Meridan & Gus in Book 2.
Tropes I loved:
Enemies to lovers
Don’t touch her/him
Revenge
Shared past
First let’s start off with bad ass siren Dahlia!! She is a strong, sometimes rash, fiercely loyal, and emotionally exhausted character. Her drive for revenge almost causes her to lose sight of literally everything. Thankfully, Vidar (the target of her revenge) is just as equally all of those things as well.
They are forced to work together to defeat an even more pressing threat to humans and sirens but they do not make it easy on each other.
It is so hard to write an enemies to lovers and make it believable to the reader. I want my enemies to attempt to kill each other several times before falling in love & that’s just want we get here. Even during the first sex scene, Vidar & Dahlia don’t even realize how hard they’ve fallen for each other. That first sex scene was SPICY!! But trigger warning if you’re not into roughhousing.
The world building is done in a way that is not difficult to understand. It’s not too intricate and there are still things even the characters themselves don’t know about their world. I find that to be interesting and can’t wait to learn more in book 2.
I hope we get to dig deeper in side characters like Meridan & Gus in Book 2.
Tropes I loved:
Enemies to lovers
Don’t touch her/him
Revenge
Shared past
September 26, 2024
“If you say your heart is mine, I’ll not be giving it back until death decides he’s bored of his pursuit of me”
Sirens and pirates??? Sign me tf up.
Courtney Leigh does it again with another amazing dark fantasy romance. I absolutely love her writing style & how she writes her romance scenes.
Enemies to lovers has gotta be one of my fave tropes & Courtney does it so well in this story!!!!
The atmosphere and scenes in this book are perfect. I love how easy it was to visualize. I could almost feel the sea spray against my skin on the Burning Rose with each page.
Dahlia’s character arc is one of my favorite character arcs I’ve read in quite a while. I love her wit & sass. She is such a strong character while still maintaining some empathy.
I absolutely loved that although this was a romance novel, that wasn’t the main plot. There was a lot of story and dialogue that made this book stand out, that’s a very fine line in romance novels and one that Courtney has achieved time and time again.
As always with any dark romance, check TW’s before reading & thank you Courtney for listing them in the first pages!
April 19, 2026
4/5 ⭐ I really enjoyed reading this story !
This book totally represent my 4/5 rating : "Really enjoyed it a lot, but was missing that little something to make it perfect. Still a very good time, I recommend it."
We wait some time for our 2 main characters to interacted together. And one or twice I wished the story's pacing was a bit quicker, and the description of feelings was a bit much (when it was very obvious feeling that we could guess the MCs where feeling without needing a confirmation from the text).
But overall, I did enjoyed the story a lot, the complicated feelings, the mirroring between our MCs from each of their perspective. And the ending was really good.. even if some parts of the plot don't have a closing, we are not left with an unfinished feeling.
This book totally represent my 4/5 rating : "Really enjoyed it a lot, but was missing that little something to make it perfect. Still a very good time, I recommend it."
We wait some time for our 2 main characters to interacted together. And one or twice I wished the story's pacing was a bit quicker, and the description of feelings was a bit much (when it was very obvious feeling that we could guess the MCs where feeling without needing a confirmation from the text).
But overall, I did enjoyed the story a lot, the complicated feelings, the mirroring between our MCs from each of their perspective. And the ending was really good.. even if some parts of the plot don't have a closing, we are not left with an unfinished feeling.
April 29, 2025
I had no expectations of this book but I really enjoyed it, great writing, great characters, great story!
June 20, 2026
oooooh. I love Dahlia. Although I did take some creative liberties and gave the MMC my own description in my head.
January 2, 2025
Read this in one setting. Beautifully written, I couldn’t put it down! I would gladly read this again
February 3, 2026
TRUE enemies to lovers👌
April 14, 2025
This was super different to anything that I’ve read and I was so in to it! Loved the siren loreeeee and the decades long feud. The story moved forwards really nicely and tensions consistently built.
Can’t wait to see what happens nexttttttt
Can’t wait to see what happens nexttttttt
September 28, 2024
I absolutely demolished this book. I could not put it down! I was in a massive reading slump and this was the perfect book to cure that.
I’m not usually a big stand alone person because I feel like they don’t achieve a range of emotional depth that makes me resonate with the characters but this did not suffer that curse for me.
I loved Vidar and Dahlia. They’re both imperfect creatures succumbing to the same agony and torture on opposite sides of the same coin.
True enemies to lovers. Found family. Creepy, violent creatures of the depths that leave you shivering.
The relationship evolves slowly and with intention. No Insta-love. The characters develop rational desires based on understanding one another’s natures and recognising their own violence in another being.
The writing style is fantastic, it does not shy away from the violence in the world and the immoral behaviour of humanity. It dives in and fleshes out the hedonistic nature of the sirens and compares it with the desires of men and shows that they’re not dissimilar in their actions.
I will be keeping an eye on this authors future works.
Thank you to booksirens and Courtney Leigh for allowing me to read an ARC. This is my honest review.
I’m not usually a big stand alone person because I feel like they don’t achieve a range of emotional depth that makes me resonate with the characters but this did not suffer that curse for me.
I loved Vidar and Dahlia. They’re both imperfect creatures succumbing to the same agony and torture on opposite sides of the same coin.
True enemies to lovers. Found family. Creepy, violent creatures of the depths that leave you shivering.
The relationship evolves slowly and with intention. No Insta-love. The characters develop rational desires based on understanding one another’s natures and recognising their own violence in another being.
The writing style is fantastic, it does not shy away from the violence in the world and the immoral behaviour of humanity. It dives in and fleshes out the hedonistic nature of the sirens and compares it with the desires of men and shows that they’re not dissimilar in their actions.
I will be keeping an eye on this authors future works.
Thank you to booksirens and Courtney Leigh for allowing me to read an ARC. This is my honest review.
March 9, 2025
I honestly don’t know how this book isn’t viral. I would love to see this author blow up.
It was such a hot read. I loved it so so much.
It was such a hot read. I loved it so so much.
October 15, 2024
I wasn't expecting this book to be so dark! It is a beautiful story that I devoured in a day. The characters are amazing, so complex and it is inevitable not to feel for them as you learn what they had to endure their whole life.
This enemies-to-lovers is very well written, it is not insta-lust, and the differences between the MCs almost feel irreconcilable, but they learn to work together and understand each other. It is definitely a slow burn, and I enjoyed every second of it.
Vidar and Dahlia are such strong individuals, they are motivated by their pain and the vengeance they want to commit in the name of their loved ones, but somehow, even as they are not completely ok with their feelings towards each other, they go through with it full force.
I enjoyed this story, I wanted to know more about the world and the plot so I felt a little like something was missing.
Thank you so much for the advanced copy!
This enemies-to-lovers is very well written, it is not insta-lust, and the differences between the MCs almost feel irreconcilable, but they learn to work together and understand each other. It is definitely a slow burn, and I enjoyed every second of it.
Vidar and Dahlia are such strong individuals, they are motivated by their pain and the vengeance they want to commit in the name of their loved ones, but somehow, even as they are not completely ok with their feelings towards each other, they go through with it full force.
I enjoyed this story, I wanted to know more about the world and the plot so I felt a little like something was missing.
Thank you so much for the advanced copy!
September 24, 2025
Loved every moment about this book! 🏴☠️🧜🏽♀️🖤 If you’re craving to read about a hot brooding pirate and a tortured siren willing to claw her way to revenge, a sizzling true enemies-to-lovers Romantasy with rich world building and in-depth characters (& ofc spice 😏 🔥) UM THIS BOOK IS FOR YOU!! I can’t wait to read the next book in this series!
October 31, 2024
OMG! MUST READ for all Fantasy Romance Readers! 💗🤩😭
Wow! Just finished this book, “Wicked Tides” and I can honestly say it was exactly what was advertised and so much more! 💗🤭👀😭
I’ve apparently read over 30 books this year, and while I know lots of people read way more as a full time working adult, who is also in school, and also has many of my own personal projects I can say that’s a lot of books. That being said, I believe this might be my Top Read for 2024! I don’t usually pick “favorites” but this book was just amazing!
I couldn’t put it down from the very first paragraph, much less page. Every time “real life” forced me to stop reading, it was pure agony because I didn’t want to leave this world or this story. It is a dark fantasy romance, in a dark, alternate earth, that is full of rich details and beautiful prose. The characters are real, believable, tormented souls each with brutal pasts, present and futures.
The author, Courtney, gifted us with dual, first person POV that flows so naturally and sucks you in like a whirlpool, pulling you in so strongly that you can’t escape; and don’t want to!
Often, I find myself enjoying one POV over the other more. As a woman, I connected with the FMC, Dahlia, the most but even so I absolutely enjoyed reading the MMC, Vidar, as well. I don’t read dark romance/romantasy barely ever because when I’ve tried it always written in a way that I can’t relate to. But, Wicked Tides managed to take very dark themes and make them completely relatable, realistic, and even enjoyable to read. I felt like I was in their heads, feeling their pain, fear, and heartbreak which made the moments of light and joy all the more poignant.
This book made me laugh, cry and left me breathless. The ending is spectacular and perfect, but also left me wanting more. I could go on and on, but I don’t want to accidentally spoil stuff.👀🫠
If you enjoy George RR Martin’s dark, realistic fantasy worlds, but also enjoy epic romance, spice, pirates and mermaids then this book is for you! 💗🤩 I’m sure there are dark romance authors for comparison, but since I haven’t found any other dark romance I enjoy I don’t know them. 😅🤷♀️ Another comparison for me would be Jacqueline Carey’s “Kushiel’s Dart” series which is an older published romantasy series that I adore. Courtney’s story telling, prose snd descriptions were so beautiful and rich. Every single page felt like a gift and I just wanted to memorize it all. 💗🤩😭
This book is a TREASURE! Make like a pirate and grab this “booty” for yourself today! 💝💝💝
P.S. I’m still crying as I write this. Literally just finished the book and it hit me “in the feels” in the best way. I’m sad it’s over… 😵💫😭😭😭 But also super satisfied! 🤣😆
Wow! Just finished this book, “Wicked Tides” and I can honestly say it was exactly what was advertised and so much more! 💗🤭👀😭
I’ve apparently read over 30 books this year, and while I know lots of people read way more as a full time working adult, who is also in school, and also has many of my own personal projects I can say that’s a lot of books. That being said, I believe this might be my Top Read for 2024! I don’t usually pick “favorites” but this book was just amazing!
I couldn’t put it down from the very first paragraph, much less page. Every time “real life” forced me to stop reading, it was pure agony because I didn’t want to leave this world or this story. It is a dark fantasy romance, in a dark, alternate earth, that is full of rich details and beautiful prose. The characters are real, believable, tormented souls each with brutal pasts, present and futures.
The author, Courtney, gifted us with dual, first person POV that flows so naturally and sucks you in like a whirlpool, pulling you in so strongly that you can’t escape; and don’t want to!
Often, I find myself enjoying one POV over the other more. As a woman, I connected with the FMC, Dahlia, the most but even so I absolutely enjoyed reading the MMC, Vidar, as well. I don’t read dark romance/romantasy barely ever because when I’ve tried it always written in a way that I can’t relate to. But, Wicked Tides managed to take very dark themes and make them completely relatable, realistic, and even enjoyable to read. I felt like I was in their heads, feeling their pain, fear, and heartbreak which made the moments of light and joy all the more poignant.
This book made me laugh, cry and left me breathless. The ending is spectacular and perfect, but also left me wanting more. I could go on and on, but I don’t want to accidentally spoil stuff.👀🫠
If you enjoy George RR Martin’s dark, realistic fantasy worlds, but also enjoy epic romance, spice, pirates and mermaids then this book is for you! 💗🤩 I’m sure there are dark romance authors for comparison, but since I haven’t found any other dark romance I enjoy I don’t know them. 😅🤷♀️ Another comparison for me would be Jacqueline Carey’s “Kushiel’s Dart” series which is an older published romantasy series that I adore. Courtney’s story telling, prose snd descriptions were so beautiful and rich. Every single page felt like a gift and I just wanted to memorize it all. 💗🤩😭
This book is a TREASURE! Make like a pirate and grab this “booty” for yourself today! 💝💝💝
P.S. I’m still crying as I write this. Literally just finished the book and it hit me “in the feels” in the best way. I’m sad it’s over… 😵💫😭😭😭 But also super satisfied! 🤣😆
August 10, 2025
STARTED OFF GOOD BUT WAIT, WHAT'S WITH THAT HFN ENDING? WE NEED THE NEXT BOOK SOON! Luckily the cliffhanger wasn't so bad in the sense that impending doom will happen, though yes, the main course of the story has yet to begin!! But, I'm pacified by the MCs confessing their affections for each other.
I've read a similar book to this, however that was more gory and the romantic/chemistry development between the MCs was better written. NOT to say this wasn't good, but it wasn't seamless either. While VIDAR and DAHLIA are connected to each other ever since their shared trauma as children, they were bound to and haunted by each other into adulthood. What starts as anger and rage to kill, morphs into lust and obsession. I wouldn't call it love...not yet, at least.
If only the passionate development had been better. I sensed the building relationship and how both characters were starting to let their guards down despite so much mistrust and bad blood. Their first kiss took me a little by surprise, although I supposed it wasn't too bad - nothing mind blowing. The first time their bodies did the horizontal tango was riddled with plenty of pain, guilt, darkness and self-accusations, needless to say I didn't enjoy it because while it's supposed to be intimate, I felt anything BUT.
There's a connection between the two, but the emotional entanglement wasn't THERE yet. It didn't move me in the way I expected for an enemies to lovers.
DAHLIA and VIDAR resembled children in adult bodies making adult decisions, and yet still trapped in the time that haunts them. They were similar in most things.
OVERALL if you enjoy a pirate, sorry privateer meets Siren romance that doesn't stop to pull punches, then you'll like this. I was very intrigued and looking forward to knowing more about the Siren hierarchy, especially with The Father and His Sons. Definitely anticipating more lovey dovey time between Vidar and Dahlia, seeing how their relationship is so new and fragile. Trust and true devotion has yet to emerge between them, and I'm excited to see how it will go!
I've read a similar book to this, however that was more gory and the romantic/chemistry development between the MCs was better written. NOT to say this wasn't good, but it wasn't seamless either. While VIDAR and DAHLIA are connected to each other ever since their shared trauma as children, they were bound to and haunted by each other into adulthood. What starts as anger and rage to kill, morphs into lust and obsession. I wouldn't call it love...not yet, at least.
If only the passionate development had been better. I sensed the building relationship and how both characters were starting to let their guards down despite so much mistrust and bad blood. Their first kiss took me a little by surprise, although I supposed it wasn't too bad - nothing mind blowing. The first time their bodies did the horizontal tango was riddled with plenty of pain, guilt, darkness and self-accusations, needless to say I didn't enjoy it because while it's supposed to be intimate, I felt anything BUT.
There's a connection between the two, but the emotional entanglement wasn't THERE yet. It didn't move me in the way I expected for an enemies to lovers.
DAHLIA and VIDAR resembled children in adult bodies making adult decisions, and yet still trapped in the time that haunts them. They were similar in most things.
OVERALL if you enjoy a pirate, sorry privateer meets Siren romance that doesn't stop to pull punches, then you'll like this. I was very intrigued and looking forward to knowing more about the Siren hierarchy, especially with The Father and His Sons. Definitely anticipating more lovey dovey time between Vidar and Dahlia, seeing how their relationship is so new and fragile. Trust and true devotion has yet to emerge between them, and I'm excited to see how it will go!
March 28, 2025
“”We are debris on a monstrous tide. Leaves in a violent storm”
I tell you what, my mind was a violent storm of emotions reading this book!
From the first page, I knew Vidar “Bonehart” Woelfson was not going to be our average Morally Grey MMC, in fact, that would be him on a better day. And Dahlia? Even worse.
Vidar has spent his whole life hell bent on avenging his fathers death at the hands of the Sirens - the beguiling yet deadly creatures that wreak havoc on the oceans.
Dahlia is equally as vengeful after Vidar killed her mother and makes a living hunting her kind. She is brutally violent, fiercely loyal to her ‘sisters’ and desperate to find her place in the world. Her need for revenge lands her in Vidar’s path and they spend the better part of the book trying to destroy one another.
What I loved:
☁️ The dream sequences were so vivid and while I normally roll my eyes at flashbacks, they added so much depth to the experiences and memories that drove so much of Vidar & Dahlia’s actions
💪 Two equally strong main characters with so much character development - no damsel in distress vibes here!
💋 Spicy scenes that were as heartbreaking as well as heart racing (it was kinky - check TW)
✒️The map, the epigraphs and the Sea Shanties set this book apart and really pulled the whole vibe together
I’m curious to see if the author writes a sequel as I felt that the ending (while swoon worthy and fantastic) didn’t address a couple of big plot lines in the book. I’d also love to know if we get a Mullins / Meridian romance.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
I tell you what, my mind was a violent storm of emotions reading this book!
From the first page, I knew Vidar “Bonehart” Woelfson was not going to be our average Morally Grey MMC, in fact, that would be him on a better day. And Dahlia? Even worse.
Vidar has spent his whole life hell bent on avenging his fathers death at the hands of the Sirens - the beguiling yet deadly creatures that wreak havoc on the oceans.
Dahlia is equally as vengeful after Vidar killed her mother and makes a living hunting her kind. She is brutally violent, fiercely loyal to her ‘sisters’ and desperate to find her place in the world. Her need for revenge lands her in Vidar’s path and they spend the better part of the book trying to destroy one another.
What I loved:
☁️ The dream sequences were so vivid and while I normally roll my eyes at flashbacks, they added so much depth to the experiences and memories that drove so much of Vidar & Dahlia’s actions
💪 Two equally strong main characters with so much character development - no damsel in distress vibes here!
💋 Spicy scenes that were as heartbreaking as well as heart racing (it was kinky - check TW)
✒️The map, the epigraphs and the Sea Shanties set this book apart and really pulled the whole vibe together
I’m curious to see if the author writes a sequel as I felt that the ending (while swoon worthy and fantastic) didn’t address a couple of big plot lines in the book. I’d also love to know if we get a Mullins / Meridian romance.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
August 13, 2025
4.5 stars
A dark romantasy, enemies to lovers love story between a siren and a siren hunter, this was wickedly done I was not expecting to be as enthralled as I was but this was very hard to put down!
For me, I think it is very difficult to get a true enemies to lovers romance story in just one book with them being enemies and then lovers by the end, it has to be done a certain way for me to feel like these characters are truly enemies and this book definitely did that for me!
Though I still felt like the attraction was a bit too soon at just over halfway through the book there was still a lot of genuine enemy energy between the two where they both still despised each other so I could look past that initial lustful attraction because it went right back to enemies.
I really liked how both characters stories and back stories played out throughout the book and I like when a book can have me not liking a character or their behaviours but then having me appreciate and/or love them towards the end, that was the case for Vidar and Mullins for sure.
I’m interested to see what the next book entails as I think it might be more focused on Meridan and Mullins which I would love to read more on. This was spicy but not overly so, a lot of tension and a great adventure story with heart break and found family vibes. Definitely enjoyed this read and absolutely recommend!
A dark romantasy, enemies to lovers love story between a siren and a siren hunter, this was wickedly done I was not expecting to be as enthralled as I was but this was very hard to put down!
For me, I think it is very difficult to get a true enemies to lovers romance story in just one book with them being enemies and then lovers by the end, it has to be done a certain way for me to feel like these characters are truly enemies and this book definitely did that for me!
Though I still felt like the attraction was a bit too soon at just over halfway through the book there was still a lot of genuine enemy energy between the two where they both still despised each other so I could look past that initial lustful attraction because it went right back to enemies.
I really liked how both characters stories and back stories played out throughout the book and I like when a book can have me not liking a character or their behaviours but then having me appreciate and/or love them towards the end, that was the case for Vidar and Mullins for sure.
I’m interested to see what the next book entails as I think it might be more focused on Meridan and Mullins which I would love to read more on. This was spicy but not overly so, a lot of tension and a great adventure story with heart break and found family vibes. Definitely enjoyed this read and absolutely recommend!
October 18, 2024
Thank you to Book Sirens and Courtney Leigh for the ARC.
Plot 4.5/5
Characters 4/5
Ending 4.25/5
Interest 4.75/5
Overall 4.25/5
-I was already gripped from the very start before I even read the first chapter. One of the first books I read out of pleasure was a Siren x siren hunter enemies to lovers so it nice to remember that book. I really loved the plot itself mixed with the improbable romance. I like how there were a lot of elements which were dark than a typical mermaid fantasy I’d read before.
-I really loved these characters. I still had a few issues with them especially when it came to the spice scenes. It felt more like an assault so I felt quite awkward and uncomfortable reading those scenes. I didn’t like them but other that I really liked the characters and their relationship overall. I like how there were so many elements that kept them appart and it was such a slow burn but I love the fact that they each had a soft spot but still attempted to murder each other.
-The ending was nice. I believe this book is a standalone but I love the fact that the ending is still quite open so if the author wanted to go back and add to world, they could. The only problem I have is the fact that the two main characters end up together which is great but I feel like after this switch everyone is suddenly happy that they are together and alright with a siren amongst them. But good for them.
Plot 4.5/5
Characters 4/5
Ending 4.25/5
Interest 4.75/5
Overall 4.25/5
-I was already gripped from the very start before I even read the first chapter. One of the first books I read out of pleasure was a Siren x siren hunter enemies to lovers so it nice to remember that book. I really loved the plot itself mixed with the improbable romance. I like how there were a lot of elements which were dark than a typical mermaid fantasy I’d read before.
-I really loved these characters. I still had a few issues with them especially when it came to the spice scenes. It felt more like an assault so I felt quite awkward and uncomfortable reading those scenes. I didn’t like them but other that I really liked the characters and their relationship overall. I like how there were so many elements that kept them appart and it was such a slow burn but I love the fact that they each had a soft spot but still attempted to murder each other.
-The ending was nice. I believe this book is a standalone but I love the fact that the ending is still quite open so if the author wanted to go back and add to world, they could. The only problem I have is the fact that the two main characters end up together which is great but I feel like after this switch everyone is suddenly happy that they are together and alright with a siren amongst them. But good for them.
October 1, 2024
3.5
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Please check trigger warnings before you read this book. This one took me quite a while to get into as it felt very heavy and it took building the world and the plot longer than I thought it would. When the character’s finally meet again and the plot really picks up, that was when I got hooked into it and I found the characters to have this gripping effect too them. The more layers we unravelled, the more the tension built up and I felt like I was going through the motions with them. The characters have such a strong bond and watching that grow even more, even in such unconventional ways, was really intriguing. I felt like even from the start you could tell that the characters had these unconventional thoughts that were at odds with what we knew and watching them play out, definitely added to those layers. There were definitely moments when I felt like I could relate to the characters and some of the things that were said. Overall this book became a very enjoyable read for me and I’m intrigued to check out more of the author's work.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Please check trigger warnings before you read this book. This one took me quite a while to get into as it felt very heavy and it took building the world and the plot longer than I thought it would. When the character’s finally meet again and the plot really picks up, that was when I got hooked into it and I found the characters to have this gripping effect too them. The more layers we unravelled, the more the tension built up and I felt like I was going through the motions with them. The characters have such a strong bond and watching that grow even more, even in such unconventional ways, was really intriguing. I felt like even from the start you could tell that the characters had these unconventional thoughts that were at odds with what we knew and watching them play out, definitely added to those layers. There were definitely moments when I felt like I could relate to the characters and some of the things that were said. Overall this book became a very enjoyable read for me and I’m intrigued to check out more of the author's work.
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