Tides of Deception

by Caley Robison, Kate Black (editor)

In a realm where alliances are forged through royal decrees, Cassia, the proud daughter of Nimuria, finds her fate abruptly altered by a proclamation of unity. Torn from the familiar shores of her homeland, she is destined to wed Louie, the future king of Allagash, Nimuria's long-standing adversary. As she navigates the treacherous waters of an impending political marriage, Cassia discovers hidden layers of intrigue, encountering rumors of magic, familial secrets, whispers of war, and the enigmatic Agenor. Forced into a world of uncertainty, Cassia must wield not only her sword but also her wits as she unravels the threads of a destiny interwoven with ancient rivalries, submerged truths, and the timeless struggle between the mortal and divine. Unveil the intricate tapestry of a world teetering between magic and reality, where alliances shift like shadows and the truest hearts are tested. In this epic saga of love, loss, and self-discovery, every choice echoes through the corridors of fate, leaving an indelible mark on the destinies of gods and men alike.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Magic, Fantasy Romance, Greek Mythology

250 pages, Paperback

Published September 27, 2024

Reviews

[Dev Jones 🏹 · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 ⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was a fun fantasy novel if you’re looking for a quick read.
The playful banter between the characters will have you giggling with them.
The story itself is entertaining and I loved all of the Greek mythology references.

The writing was great and easy to follow along with.
I did enjoy reading from the other characters perspectives, I just felt some of the multi pov chapters made the story choppy and repetitive.
I also wish this book was longer.
It would’ve been fantastic if some details in the plot were explained more.
I would’ve loved to see more of Agner and the mermaids.
This book did end on a cliffhanger that hints we’ll see more of this in the next book.
But since it ended so abruptly, it made it feel a bit lackluster.

[Haley · Rating 4 out of 5]

The only reason I am rating this 4 stars and not 5 is because it was TOO SHORT and the ending was TOO ABRUPT. The cliffhanger got me so good and I was fuming. I could not believe it cut there!! I needed more and have so many questions.

This story follows Cassia, a beautiful and badass princess who is to be married off to a foreign prince, Louie of Allagash. As she tries to build a relationship with Louie, she is also haunted by a handsome stranger she meets on her voyage to her new kingdom - Agenor, a merman. There are rumors Cassia is related to the gods, and as weird things start to happen, everyone begins to question who Cassia truly is.

Read this book if you enjoy...
- Fierce FMC
- Multi POV
- Greek mythology, gods, and magic
- Political scheming
- Arranged marriage
- "Who did this to you?"
- Love triangle

[Kez Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the mix of action, romance, mystery and mythology. The storyline is intriguing with an arranged marriage to join two warring kingdoms, royal scheming, powerful abilities as the God's rumoured descendants, and conflicted love triangles.
I love Cassia's resilience and bravery, she is cunning, caring, and skilled.
I enjoyed seeing her character develop as she's torn between Louie and Agenor, and especially towards the end as her power grows.
Belus is an intriguing character too and I liked that the story covered multiple POV.
Can't wait for the next book!

🌊 Mythology
🌊 Greek Gods
🌊 Arranged marriage
🌊 Royal Intrigue
🌊 Hidden Identity
🌊 Tournament
🌊 Love Triangle

[Millie · Rating 5 out of 5]

⚜️Strong Female Lead
⚜️Feminine Strength
⚜️Secret Heritage
⚜️Awakening Powers
⚜️Twins
⚜️Evil Twin
⚜️Lovers To Enemies
⚜️Internal Conflict

⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️
“You’re mine, and you’ll always be mine.” He whispered, sending shock waves down her spine. He caressed her arm gently, a smile playing on his lips as he kissed her again, making her heart flutter in her chest.
“Always.” She breathed.”
⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️

This book captured my heart from beginning to end. It managed to get me out of a reading slump that elapsed for months on end. And now this novel gave me a major book hangover 🤣. I need book 2 and I need it yesterday! Caley managed to create an immersive world. One that I wish I could live in. The writing was easy to follow.

The character art? Chef’s kiss!

There is no spice but there’s some clear tension.

My rating… I have heard of 6 star ratings and I asked myself if I will ever have a 6 star review. I’m very critical with my books and when I rate I don’t give 5 stars that easy.

This book? Is my first ever 6 star book rating!

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tides of deception

this book grabbed me and did not let go. 🗡️✨

cassia is a total badass fmc navigating a royal marriage, ancient rivalries, and a swoon-worthy love triangle. 💔 add in political intrigue, whispers of magic, and sword fights that will leave you breathless, and you’ve got a wild ride.

the world-building is rich but never overwhelming, and the action scenes? chef’s kiss. 👏 but that ending? absolutely destroyed me. 😭 cliffhanger alert… you’ve been warned.

[Nikki Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had me in a chokehold from beginning to end. The story is interesting and fast paced right from chapter one so I was immediately invested. The world building is plentiful without being overwhelming or hard to follow. The author spaces out the info about the world and the political situation throughout so it feels very natural as it comes up.
The FMC is now on my top list of butt kicking babes. She's instantly loveable. The MCs and the love triangle between all of them had me squealing.
If you love action and fight scenes then buckle up because this book is absolutely filled with so much high stakes action. The fight scenes are all so well written so it makes it really easy to imagine it all as it's happening.
The ending.... THE ENDING. I am unwell. This is the kind of cliff hanger you lose sleep over. What a great setup for what's looking to be a great series!

[Shelby Wallen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an actual masterpiece-- everything about it was so genuinely well done. The cover and character art are absolute perfection. Tides of Deception is a medium-paced, action packed, epic no spice romantasy with Greek Mythology, actual history, merfolk, magic, murder and Hunger Games x Gladiator vibes. The characters are so well written and have so much depth, I feel the book is a perfect mix of being both plot and character driven. The antagonist(s) are some of the best I've encountered and I hate them so much, I love it! This is an EASY 5 star read for me, definitely one of my all time favorites! It just flows so organically. Beautiful writing style, immaculate art, epic action/adventure, phenomenal detail, perfect pace, multi-dimensional and loveable (and some extremely hateable in the best way) characters, mental health representation, genuinely sweet romance and that cliffhanger ending!!! Caley absolutely blew this out of the water! So, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so GOOD!!! I'm actually obsessed and cannot wait for the rest of this series. This is a must read if you're a fantasy lover!

5⭐️, 10/10, all the things
🫑 no spice, but some slow burn steam!

[Sabine A McDaniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great first book in the series. Kick A$$ FMC who is a princess sent off to another kingdom. Multiple MCs who are HOT. Toss in some mystical powers from the gods. Lots of action and overall a great read. I knew it would end in a cliffhanger but it didn't completely destroy me so I will patiently wait for book two. Thank you to the author for an advance copy of the book.

[Andrea Richmond · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read Tides of Deception as an ARC Read. Overall, I feel like this book was just the beginning of a wonderful story. At first, I struggled reading it a little as characters were brought in, and the stage was set, but about 1/3 of the way in the story began to develop and go fast. Lots of twists that I didn't see coming, and I'm torn as to which male character I want to swoon over the most. I am definitely looking forward to reading the rest of the series and watching this epic story unfold.

[Lia's Haunted Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m going to be incredibly dramatic for a second—WHAT IS HAPPENING?! How can this end on a cliffhanger?! What’s going to happen to Cassie, Louie, Othello, THE DAD, THE WEDDING?! And seriously, fuck the queen. CALEY, I AM VERY ANGRY (not really, slight dramatic moment).

Now that I’ve calmed down—this book was amazing. As you all know, I primarily read horror, so this was the perfect palate cleanser. I’ve always loved romance books, and this? This is exactly the kind of romance I want (emphasis on for me).

The story follows Cassie, who is set to marry for political allegiance. It’s fantasy (I think?) and is heavily inspired by Greek mythology. The world is built around a system where the gods—Zeus, Poseidon, and the rest of the pantheon—are worshipped, with the setting taking place across various islands where Poseidon is the dominant deity.

I found myself gushing, giggling, and fully invested. The best part? Cassie. She’s strong, smart, and caring, but also practical—she understands that sometimes we have to play the hand we’re dealt and adjust our goals and dreams accordingly. She’s not just another rebellious heroine; she picks her battles wisely, while still being the heroine and fighting for the greater good.

This is romantasy, yet it had a fairytale feel—the writing, the kingdoms at war, the evil parents, the subplots, the us against the world tension, the evil queen scheming, and all the squeal-worthy moments (yes I said squeal-worthy).

I should include that this book had zero spice—just a few kisses—and I loved it. Normally, I read books with heavy spice, and yet, I didn’t miss it here whatsoever. The romance, the tension, and the emotional depth were more than enough.

The pacing was fast at times, but honestly? It worked because the characters actually communicated. There was no drawn-out, angst-ridden miscommunication trope—and I appreciate that more than words can express.

This was a breath of fresh air, and I genuinely loved it. As soon as I hit post on this review, I’m starting book two.

[Nichole · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5

"Fight close to the enemy."

This is my first fantasy read about mermaids, and all I can say is that this is a great book!! The touch of Greek mythology just completed this lovely fantasy story. Two realms who have been at war decide it's time to make a peace treaty and unite both realms through marriage. As Cassia is sent away to marry the Prince of Allagash, she discovers a place of wonder, mystery, and rumors of magic.

Cassia, the FMC, is not your typical princess. She has a fearless personality, and I love that about her. Her best friend Liz is the perfect side character throughout this story. My first impression of Louie did not turn out to be accurate. The Queen is definitely someone I want to know more about. There is so much mystery within the royal family that I can't wait for the story to uncover all their hidden secrets.

Tides of Deception is a great and easy fantasy read. I could not stop reading it, and the cliffy at the end almost had me pissed and sad at the same time. I enjoyed the multiple POVs from both good and bad & main and side characters. This is a quick read with mystery and leaves you wondering what will happen!

[Hailey Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quote: “Fate has a funny way of twisting like a serpent in the water.”

Review: I couldn’t wait to get into this book it has been all I could talk about this month. I went into this book on the verge of being put into a book slump and Tides of Deception was exactly what I needed to bring me back to life. I was hooked right from the beginning and couldn’t put the book down. This story you will follow Cassia as she is forced to wed Louie for the sake of her kingdom. What will become of Cassia when truths are discovered and alliances are shifted. Cassia is full of fire and fury and will not stand down on what she believes is right. It was amazing reading about of unstoppable main character. She is unlike any royalty not following the standard that were set in front of her. As the truth starts to unfold we uncover more betrayals and hatred. This story is messy and I couldn’t love it more. Every character you read unlocks new motives and new possibilities. Tides of Deception was addicting and exhilarating. I can’t wait to see what is next for Cassia in Tides of War.

[CeeReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Caley for sending me a copy of Tides of Deception along with book 2 Tides of War which I am jumping into next!

This book had the perfect mix of action, romance, mythology and mystery. Seriously I have questions. I really enjoyed the story and characters in this book (not you Queenie)

The story follows Cassia, the princess of Nimuria who on her birthday was told she was to marry the enemy to bring peace between the 2 families.

This is the beginning of a great story and I cannot wait to see where it ends up. Caley writes beautifully, it is fast paced but with nothing left out, everything is described so well you can envision the characters as you read and feel the emotions they do.

I really want more on Belus, he really stood out to me as the should be villain but there’s more to his story and I can’t wait for it.

🌊 Mythology
🌊 Greek Gods
🌊 Arranged Marriage
🌊 Love Triangle
🌊 Mermaids
🌊 Multiple POV

4.5 ⭐

[GheridenTheBookBard · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (4.75/5)

“Tides of Deception” by Caley Robison is a captivating read that had me hooked from start to finish. The story follows a strong and compelling FMC who is married off to a prince from a rival foreign land. The world-building is immersive, seamlessly weaving in elements of Greek mythology that add depth and intrigue.

The characters are well-developed and engaging, especially the FMC. Her love triangle with the prince and a mysterious man she meets on her first night in the new land adds layers of tension and excitement. The pacing is spot-on, keeping the story moving without ever feeling rushed.

And that ending? It left my jaw on the floor and me desperately wanting more. If you’re a fan of strong characters, rich world-building, and a plot that keeps you on the edge of your seat, “Tides of Deception” is a must-read!

[Whit · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is like a reversal of The Little Mermaid crossed with The Hunger Games. The story is fast paced and captivating. Prepare your heart for a cliffhanger (Caley, I’m gonna need book 2 ASAP!).

Mermaids
Twins
Warrior FMC
Magic
Greek Mythology
Multiple POV
Political Marriage
Romantic tension (with no spice)

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (4.5)
I had a some trouble with how the early chapters were a little repetitive with the POV switches. However this minor annoyance was quickly forgotten as the story pulled me under.

Favorite Quote: “Yet, to Cassia, the familiarity of her homeland felt like shackles, and the weight of her noble lineage burdened her soul.”

Favorite Character: Liz

[Robyn Penney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! The world building in this book is fabulous. I could picture the places and also what the characters look like. The fmc is beautiful, has class, but very much a badass and she’s smart too. I love her loyalty to her best friend. She is betrothed to a prince she’s never met and their budding love story is perfect. I love everything about this story. There’s an evil queen, a naughty, sexy bad boy, a hot merman, sexy, broody prince, the best friend and of course a fmc who can take care of herself and actually has a brain. There’s adventure, fighting, romance, magic and I’m very much looking forward to the next book! Thank you Caley Robison for the arc!

[Janet Guzman · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the first page… I was hooked!!! Hehe pun intended… Cassia badass princess!!!! Iffy on Agenor & Louie but Belus is an asshat! The drama and twists had my head spinning! I’m truly sad to wait for book 2 but dying for the release to add this beauty to my collection… I hope everyone who reads this amazing author’s work falls in love with it like I did🩷

[Kate13 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do you love a mix of greek mythology, special powers, a badass FMC, merfolk, and awesome fight scenes? Excellent. This is definitely the book for you! Robison writing draws you in and keeps you turning the pages. This book is full of suspense, and you’re never really sure who to trust. This is set up to be a multi-book series that won’t disappoint. Definitely sign up for her preorder and grab this when it comes out! You won’t regret it.

[Kristine Salmond · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book! Enjoyable reading, interesting characters and plot. Violence, romance and magic? Hell, yes! Highly recommend!
Can't wait for the next book! 🩷

[J. L. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok, this one totally got me! I thought I was ready for the plot twist, but wowza, was I in for a surprise! Picture this: a mash-up of The Little Mermaid but throw in some gladiator vibes—mind blown, right? But trust me, it totally works in Tides Of Deception! Get ready to swoon over a fierce female lead, and if you're into arranged marriages, found families, Greek mythology, and a wicked queen, then this book is about to become your new obsession!

[Caroline Bruder · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story begins with a young, altruistic girl whose father thinks it’s a great idea to marry his daughter to some unknown prince in an enemy territory and treats it like she should be excited? If that’s not enough, her mother basically tells her to hell with your dreams, “You were born into privilege and with that comes specific obligations that transcend personal aspirations.”

Caley Robison did a great job painting a picture of the perfect FMC. At one point another character says “she’s no damsel in distress” and it’s one of the things that really made this book. She’s not the FMC who stupidly goes into situations or makes decisions that are stupid, she’s smart, cunning, and puts the pieces together

Now for my favorite parts:
🩵Chapter 28…. The arena scene… YA HAD ME YELL “NO NO NO” in my Uber causing poor Hector to look at me questionably. What a brilliant scene! That’s really when the book started picking up to a point I couldn’t put it down.
🩵The love square (what I call it) was totally out of the norm and I’m genuinely invested in “WHO IS SHE GONNA PICK?!” I know who I’d pick but I don’t want to spoil anything. ⚔️

[Heather Kearns · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
no spice but has banter and tension

Caley, I don't know what you put into this book, but I am glad to know book 2 is in the works because that ending...ma'am! That ending ended too quickly, and I have so many questions and wonder what is about to happen.

Cassia is a badass FMC that is drawn to the ocean, she has secrets that reveal themselves in time, there are also rumors started about her and as the story progresses people begin to wonder who really is Cassia. She is no one's political chess piece and can stand up for herself. She has the training and knowledge to take down anyone.

Louis is the Prince of Allagash, who Cassia is arranged to marry for political reasons, but is it love at first sight? These two have a very interesting relationship, and Louis is quick to trust others over his gut, but does he end up falling for her? You'll have to read to see.

Agenor-our mysterious merman that Cassia meets on her maiden voyage. [Yep, that's all I'm giving away here]

This book moved at a good pace. The story was engaging and intriguing. Caley built strong characters and an imaginative world that you can immerse yourself in. Highly recommend this book to those fantasy girlies (and guys) who love

🗡 a stabby FMC
🗡 magic
🗡 banter and tension
🗡 political marriage
🗡 Mythology
🗡 who did this to you
🗡 love triangle
🗡 morally grey villain
and more!

[Victoria Liiv · Rating 4 out of 5]

I throughtly enjoyed this book. After the first chapter which was dragging slightly and felt incredibly long the story picked up and ohboy how it did. There are a slight love at first sight feels to it, which I am all in for. It also has a slight fated versus chosen theme in it. There are more than once suitors and multiple POV's to intrigue the shit out of you. Plenty of suspense and a few ups and downs and the ending will leave you wanting for more. It surely has left me.

A fantastic no-spice romantasy book infused with Greek Mythology. I only say no-spice, because lately it's become a thing where romance is expected to have some. It was perfect the way it was written, with a YA feels to it and plot-driven storyline.

[Laci · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book starts off in a magical oceanic world about a stabby princess who gets the worst gift for her birthday, taking her on a journey with her best friend where they find themselves navigating new waters in enemy territory.

Tropes:
🔱 Enemies to Lovers
🔱 Divine Lineage
🔱 Strong Female Lead
🔱 Gods and Goddesses
🔱 Touch Her and Die
🔱 Evil Twin
🔱 Love Triangle

This is a story surrounded by beauty, secrets, and fear at every turn, not to mention a smart-ass prince, a cinnamon-roll merman, and a morally-grey evil twin.

🌶 "You don't have to face everything alone," he whispered, his lips barely brushing against hers. 🌶

Caley Robison had me squealing with excitement, on the edge of my seat, and wishing I had more!!

🔱 "Who did this to you?! Who dared to touch you?!" 🔱

[Book.Lover.1986 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow what a storyline. Absolutely loved it. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series.

When is it coming out Caley?

[Bevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

{4.75/5}

CW: some violence, some gore

Thank you to the author for allowing me to be a part of the ARC team! “Tides of Deception” is available now!

Take some Little Mermaid vibes, add a dash of Greek mythology, and make all the MCs incredible. Mix well and serve with a side of ‘I finished the whole thing in one night because it was amazing.”

Cassia expected her 18th birthday to mark the start of her freedom, not the announcement of an arranged marriage to the crown prince of an enemy kingdom. Resigned to her fate, she’s prepared to do what she can to both survive and guarantee her people’s safety. As surprising bonds form and enemies plot from the shadows, Cassia slowly discovers that all is not as she thought when she first arrived in Allagash.

I wasn’t kidding when I said I read this whole thing in one go; I don’t think I moved from my chair once. It’s a really engaging story with characters that are enjoyable to read, and I just couldn’t walk away once I started. (Also, merfolk. That is all.)

Told in 3rd person (my favorite!) and shifting between characters, the rotating focal points were perfectly timed to give you the insight you wanted or needed at exactly the right moment. Super cute scene between the FMC and one of the MMCs? Here’s his thoughts on the matter (because sometimes it’s just really fun to know exactly what’s going on in his head). Rinse and repeat for relevant plot points with immaculate timing. Seriously, it made the book incredibly easy to follow and added a lot of nuance to scenes that were already well done.

Let’s not forget the characters themselves! Perfectly flawed and supremely enjoyable, every one of them. None of the MCs are without their own issues, but it makes them do interesting things and change the course of the story in unexpected ways. If lack of communication in a relationship is an issue for you, you might find yourself really irritated at times, but it’s not the entire crux of the problem the characters face, so it’s not like one good conversation would fix everything. We also end up with multiple romantic possibilities, some of which make me question whether I should go back to therapy, and that’s always a personal favorite.

The world building is low key, but distinctively fantasy-esque, and it provides a nice backdrop for the storyline. It’s paced like a YA at times but the content leans more towards the adult range, which to me puts it solidly in the NA category, at least for this first book. Everything about the story makes it an easy, fun read that ultimately leads up to a tense, angsty ending that had me positively screaming for book 2.

This is easily one of the most enjoyable books I’ve read so far this year, and I immediately wanted to dive into the next one. You’re going to chuckle, you’re going to yell at the characters a little bit, you’re going to experience some really sweet moments…and then you’re going to have to yell at them a little bit more. The plot is easy to follow without feeling like it’s too basic or simplistic, and the whole thing promises to deliver even more delight in the next installment. If you like badass heroines and (multiple) unique MMCs, then this is one you need to check out.

[Bailey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Why is she able to sneak away from big parties that revolve around her so easily? What do you mean she’s a princess AND it’s her birthday and she can just sneak off with a man without being caught?

Overall thoughts-
It took me forever to finish this book because the beginning was so slow. It didn’t really pull me in until halfway through, and although I struggled in the beginning I did find myself wanting to read more about Cassia and Louie. I adored Louie which is crazy because he’s a blond man. The other men were just…lacking and uninteresting.

I hated Agenor and Belus and every time there was a mention of never seeing Agenor again I would jump for joy.

The needlessly violent scenes from Belus were off putting and honestly confusing. I assumed this was a small country, so surely killing a warehouse of over 100 men would have an impact on the economy and life, at least in this town. I am a pro at suspending my disbelief but that scene had me raising an eyebrow the entire time. No matter how powerful you are, unless you have some kind of sonic/force field/blast power, you’re not single-handedly taking down 100 men with a knife. Wouldn’t they all run at you at once? Whatever.

Thoughts on the writing-
While I do think Caley has potential to be a good writer, I don’t think she’s there quite yet. (At least not in this book but I haven’t read the sequel yet.) The reviews giving this book 5 stars for amazing writing are doing her a severe disservice. It could be 5 stars for a fun story, but for writing?

I had multiple people read parts of this book to see if I was the problem and everyone agreed. The writing needs some improvement. (This is not a bad thing, everyone starts somewhere. No one starts at the top. I’m sure if I tried to write a book it wouldn’t be the best thing ever written. How is anyone supposed to get better if you aren’t telling them they need to?) The beginning of this book contains sentences that especially awkward and clunky. It almost comes across as if AI was used to edit certain pages. There were sentences that had seven commas. At that point just make it into a couple easier to digest sentences? The story is really what carried me through, although it started to get derivative close to the end, like Caley had just read ACOTAR and Hunger Games and pieces of that seeped into her own writing. I can forgive that, because nothing is completely original now and you have to get inspiration from somewhere; It just seemed like a last minute thought? Kind of rushed and random.



OVERALL I enjoyed the book. I look forward to seeing how Caley improves and where this story goes but I have a feeling I’m going to be disappointed because I love Louie so much. I don’t want him to end up being a villain or Cassia to fall in love with Agenor. For once I want the blond man to win. I want his mom to die, his family to be happy and safe, and Cassia by his side.

[Lindsey Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/ 🌶️

This book is really good. Action packed, slow burn without spice (that actually held my attention), mythology, merfolk, and magic grabbed my attention and didn’t let go. When I say you won’t stop reading until the last page, I mean it. Even though the last page is a jaw hits the floor cliffhanger. I can’t wait for book 2 to come out and continue this journey.

Cassia is drawn to the ocean. There’s more to her than meets the eye, which is all revealed in due time, but she is strong and confident. She refuses to be a political chess piece for anyone. She is also very smart and knowledgeable. Due to an arranged marriage she is headed to form an alliance with an enemy kingdom. It is here she meets creatures she only dreamed out, possibly begins to fall for her husband, and learns so much about herself.

Louie is drawn to Cassia, but this book is definitely slow burn. As their relationship unfolds I didn’t know what direction it was going to go in? He doesn’t try to make Cassia into something she isn’t and seems to accept her for her, but again that slow burn made me agonize over what they are to each other.

Caley’s writing style does flow very nicely. The book is well paced, consistent throughout, and the plot line twists and turns in ways you don’t see coming. Although nuances of The Little Mermaid, it is an original story that I enjoyed reading start to finish. Caley knows how to draw you in and keep you on the edge of your seat. The development the characters went through felt organic, not forced, and a few of them you are left wondering what side they fall on. Intriguing, captivating, and wonderfully written describe this book!

As always, review any author notes before reading.

Tropes:
⚜️Strong Female Lead
⚜️Feminine Strength
⚜️Secret Heritage
⚜️Awakening Powers
⚜️Good and Evil Twins
⚜️Enemies to Lovers
⚜️Internal Conflict

[Gabriel Garcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tides of Deception by Caley Robison is an engaging action-adventure novel that beautifully blends romance with elements of political intrigue. The story centers around Cassia, the proud daughter of Nimuria, whose life takes an unexpected turn due to a proclamation of unity. She is to marry Louie, the future king of Allagash, a long-standing rival of her homeland.



As Cassia embarks on her journey through this impending political marriage, she uncovers deeper layers of intrigue, including rumors of magic, family secrets, and whispers of war, alongside the mysterious figure of Agenor. The transformation of Cassia—from a warrior princess to an uncertain bride—is compelling, and the tension surrounding her family's kingdom and that of her future husband adds depth to the plot. The setting draws inspiration from Roman and Greek cultures, which is evident in the names, attire, and gods.



While I found myself thoroughly invested in the narrative from start to finish, I had one notable critique regarding the final chapter. The preceding chapters reveal Cassia's secret parentage and her true identity, culminating in her ultimate disappearance and straining her relationships with Louie and Liz. The resolution in the final chapter felt rushed; extending it or incorporating a scene break to detail Cassia's fate could have provided a more satisfying conclusion. This addition would not only enhance the emotional impact but also seamlessly lead into the sequel, Tides of War.



Overall, Caley Robison’s story is an excellent read, and I am eager to explore the continuation of Cassia's adventures in the sequel.



Where to buy: https://authorcaleyrobison.wixsite.co...-

[berrgiebooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is about Cassia, Louie, and Agenor.

Cassia has found herself in a situation that puts her in an arranged marriage to Garner peace between her kingdom and Louie's Kingdom. Louie has found himself in an arranged marriage but doesn't trust his mother's intentions. Agenor came to the surface for one night of being able to be a human. Things got more complicated than they should have.

When you meet the three point of views that you get in this book, this is where they all are. Cassia is a strong, independent girl that is doing this for the sake of her country, but is entirely capable of fighting for herself and defending herself and it makes me really enjoy her as a character. Louie is a character that recognizes strength and doesn't put cassia in a box, which is really nice to see as their interactions grow.Agenor is the most complex character because you're not 100% sure where his relevance is right away, but his initial engagement with cassia really lays a landscape at the beginning, that becomes crucial throughout the story.

Caley did a wonderful job of making a story that involved mermaids and princes not feel like it was just a rewrite of mermaid's tales that we All know and love. I really enjoyed the ebbs and flows of this story and how she really sets herself up for you to want to read book two. As I've been reading the first book of series lately , this is proving to be a lost art of setting the book up for you to anticipate what is coming next out of fantasy stories. I applaud Caley on her ability to not lose the key element of a series, which is the want for continuation.