On Silver Shores

The Ancients' Bargain #1

by V.T. Hoang

Sirens are known for their beauty and grace. Everything from their lithe figures to their perfectly symmetrical faces to the cadence of their voices is designed to charm. Pleasure of the flesh is how they sustain themselves. So, of course, Detective Carver would be the one siren lucky enough to hate sex.

Ever since his husband died, Carver has resented the defining feature of his race, but when his boss calls in someone to assist with his investigation, he finds himself confronted with a problem he never expected—attraction. Jian is supposed to be just an analyst, buttoned-up and stiff and unassuming. Nothing could be further from the truth. Sure, he can put on a nice smile and act polite enough, but there's something behind his eyes that's decidedly not professional. That hunger for carnal satisfaction Carver thought long dead starts to come back to life as they work together.

And he has to wonder if he's just starving or if this is a craving.

Genres: Fantasy, M M Romance, Romance, Queer, Paranormal, LGBT, Paranormal Romance

340 pages, Paperback

Published November 1, 2024

About the author

Look who came to cry...
V. T. Hoang is a Viet trans man who writes queer romance that hurts, but he'll forever write happily ever afters.

Reviews

[Evie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have some complicated thoughts on this book. I suppose from the outset I should say that I think that this is an incredibly ambitious debut, both in the creation of the scope of world building, as well as the fact that this series consists of 6 interconnected/stand alones. I can clearly see the writing skill displayed here that would later be developed and put to impressive use in House Monstra, which absolutely captured me. However, you can tell that this is earlier in their catalogue of work.

Reading the authors note its touching to see how important platforming trans POC stories are for the author as a Trans Asian Man himself. These stories feature a combination of races, gender identities and relationship configurations. Gender and sexuality was played with in a fascinating way here with Sirens being predominantly female, and given Carver is a rare male of the species he is actually born intersex, with both sets of sexual organs intact and operational. There was also a bit of a strange dynamic here of Carver being haunted by his human ex-husband who died a century earlier and is encouraging him to give love another try.

I really enjoyed Carver and Jian chemistry and romantic relationship. There are sparks and attraction between the two almost immediately, however it's interesting how it's played off as competing predator drives of demons and sirens, given that sirens have an allure designed to attract as they heal off sexual energy. It should be noted that early on in the story (prior to Carver and Jian meeting) that Carver has to employ the services of a consort to feed, but he takes no joy in it and it happens mostly off page.

It's difficult because some of the grievances I have about ambiguous world building would likely be expanded upon in the subsequent books as, although they follow different couples, they do all exist within the same sandbox and are known to each other. So I would like to give Hoang the benefit of the doubt with respects to that (and honestly learning more about this world is a major motivating factor that would make me want to continue if I did)

The thing that actually caused me to really struggle was trying to pin down the time period this was set in. Up until about 60% I had actually thought that this was set in an alternate contemporary universe with sirens, demons, fae and werewolves. So you'll imagine my bamboozled shock when the book told us it was actually in the 1910s. But I'm still confused because there was mention of autos (cars), jazz, a pager like device that receives messages, guns with magazines and hoodies? I kind of wish that it either committed to an alternate current day setting, or embraced the historical age it claims to be set in, rather than the confusing mixture of the two.

Ultimately though, this was a fun action PNR that features an impressive effort to platform a variety of races, genders, sexulaities, relationships and connections. Any grievances I might have about some of the boundaries of the world building are off set by how enjoyable I found the characters and the core world.

[Smutty Sully · Rating 5 out of 5]

Free on Amazon 20-22 February! Books 1-3!!

Seducing a colleague was highly unprofessional and rude.

I'm completely blown away that this is a debut book by an author I only stumbled across because it was free. Oh yeah, and it's still free right now on Amazon, so do yourself a favor and go grab it!!

It's a debut book that's part of a series with three books so far all released within the past two months or so by a Vietnamese trans author.

Who used to be an editor? Fuck, I love editors.

So much pain, suffering, killing, the morose widowed siren that should be dead, paired with a new coworker who happens to be a demon, well-written amazing powerful women, intense world-building, biting, edging, begging, near-death scenes, grim ugly pasts, I don't know what else to say! I cannot wrap my head around a random debut book being this good.

Off to binge-read the next book! This deserves a full review later!




MC Names: Carver & Jian

Incomplete tags: Anachronistic fantasy, widowed intersex halfblood siren/full-blooded demon pairing, Black MC (Irish-Moroccan)/Sino-Viet MC pairing, detective/analyst pairing, opposites attract, mental health rep, PTSD, chronic nerve pain, disability rep, scars, tattoos, anxiety, panic attacks, new coworkers, Viet-American author, trans author, POC author, debut book, intense world-building, well-written women, diverse rep, insta-attraction without an instant follow through, flirting & blushing, intersex rep, talking to dead husband via life-like hallucinations, cooking caretaking, blue curly hair, predatory instincts, edging, begging, biting, POC MCs, a touch of "sir", emotional, angsty, dancing, aquarium visits, wolf-shifters, fae, ancient beings, side character poly rep, siren lore, multiple languages, vers, on-page switching, strong brother/sister bond, single dad, history of abusive marriage.

Author's CWs behind spoilers, just in case: Mentions of suicidal ideation and attempted suicide, mentions of past sexual assault, non-graphic depiction of attempted past sexual assault, minor depictions of psychosis and altered mental state, graphic depictions of violence, mentions of past torture and abuse, mentions and minor depictions of past intimate partner violence, mentions of structural racism and exploitation of a disenfranchised indigenous group, minor body horror

[V.ya · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐️

Carver, a siren who lost his mate a century ago, should have died like most mated sirens (CW: not for the lack of trying), but he survives, barely. He is repulsed by other sexual partners than his mate, and since that’s how sirens feed, he’s mostly starving, only managing to feed when his body is at its limit. However, when Carver needs to work together with Jian—a powerful, full-blooded demon—Carver suddenly finds his body reacting in a positive way.

Okay, so this story might seem to revolve around sex only, but it’s much more than that. For one, it’s set in a world with sirens, demons, vampires, fae, werewolves, and their complex political world. It takes a lot of space to explain properly, so the romance is just half of the story. It’s good that Carver and Jian have chemistry right off the bat. There’s also a delicious dynamic of two predators circling one another, although it ends much too soon for my liking.

I need their story to be longer, preferably multiple books! There’s so much more to explore in their dynamics as different races and in their pasts. It feels like we barely scratch the surface when it’s already over. The author still manages to make me love both Carver and Jian, though, and their vulnerability towards each other is touching. I like the hurt-comfort and healing aspects of their relationship, as well as the flavorful smut scenes.


“Nothing is wasted on you,” he said as he laid a hand over Jian’s on the counter. “You misunderstand what it means to be claimed.”
Jian slowly lifted his eyes. “What does it mean then?”
(…)
“It means,” he murmured, “that I can’t stand the thought of anyone else touching you.”
(…)
“It means I want you to think of me when I’m not there,” he continued softly. “It means I want to keep you in my bed every night and wake up next to you every morning. It means I want the rest of the world to know who you belong to.”


I do have minor gripes with the story, like how Jian, the powerful demon, doesn’t seem powerful at all in fights. Or how their team/affiliation seem to leave all the confrontations to them. There are also several holes in the logic, but I can overlook most of them, and since this is the first in a series, some things might become clearer in the subsequent books.

Anyway, this is still an enchanting fantasy that I recommend. There’s enough angst and action to keep me going. There’s also a POC rep (dark skin siren and Asian-like demon), intersex protag, and lesbian and poly side characters.

[Bekka · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic! Absolutely brilliant.
The only thing I wanted was a slower ending but overall this was perfectly balanced between romance and plot, had complicated characters bridging cultural gaps and was just beautifully written. The relationship with Thomas (late husband) intertwined beautifully into Carver and who he is – the man who Jian falls in love with.

Highly recommend! CWs listed at the end of the book:
Mentions of suicidal ideation and attempted suicide, Mentions of past sexual assault, Non-graphic depiction of attempted past sexual assault, Minor depictions of psychosis and altered mental state, Graphic depictions of violence, Mentions of past torture and abuse, Mentions and minor depictions of past intimate partner violence, Mentions of structural racism and exploitation of a disenfranchised indigenous group, Minor body horror

NSFW infos
- Two POC MCs one is a siren with blond-blue curls and blue eyes and the other a demon.
- Siren needs arousal to survive but hasn’t been able to enjoy sex since his husband of nearly forty years died 100 years ago (“Siren genetics weren't meant to accommodate a Y chromosome, so like most males of his kind, Carver still had a functioning vagina. His testes occupied the space where ovaries would have been in a female. He didn't have a uterus.” P. 67)
- Demon mainly tops
- Biting

[Monica Noé · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book has:
- black lead
- Asian love interest
- intersex characters
- polyam representation

This book hits a lot of tropes that I didn't really expect based just on the blurb. "Detective who falls for colleague" gives the impression of more like an office romance, which it is technically I guess. But the central theme is around the struggles of being chronically disabled and finding someone else who understands because they've lived it to a degree. It touches a little on opposites attract as well. Carver's kind of the straight-laced character, and Jian is decidedly more willing to forgo propriety. Together, they make something of an interesting pairing where they embody similar struggles (mental health namely), but have very different approaches. But it felt very real to how people actually deal with things like PTSD and chronic pain.

There's some good spice throughout, and the romance was surprisingly tender for a book that has pretty strong kink elements. I will say the highs in this book are high, and the lows are low. But the author doesn't let you spend too much time in the low points or draws out the misery, which I liked.

It wasn't perfect. There are parts where the story lulls, but overall, it was a very touching and heartfelt read. If you like kind of an anachronistic/parallel world that feels vaguely like magical realism and sickeningly sweet romance, this might be for you.

[Adaline · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a discovery this book was!
It should be a crime that it has so little reviews.

I will write a proper review when my thoughts are more coherent but I adore it and I’m starting book 2 asap.

[Jaseryx · Rating 5 out of 5]

The writing is incredible in this hidden gem? I really enjoyed this book and will be reading the rest of the series. Some plot elements held it back from being truly exceptional, so 4.5 stars, rounded up. I appreciated the journey these two went on, but the resolution of both the relationship and the plot were just a little too easy and impersonal for me. Still, the spice was classy and the world was richly detailed. The MCs were well thought out characters from well thought out races of magical beings. I loved the side characters, especially the sister, and I can't wait for her book.

[Bizzy]

DNF at 46%. Unfortunately, this just didn’t work for me. I’m going to apologize here at the start for how long this review is. The amount I have to say probably makes it sound like I thought the book was hot garbage, but I didn’t. If I had to rate it, I’d probably give it 3/5. My brain is just really, really good at identifying things I don’t enjoy in books so I always have lots of nitpicks, which then circle endlessly around in my thoughts unless I exorcise them by writing them down. So, here you go, my list of complaints that looks worse than it really is.

The world Hoang created in this book seemed interesting but most of the details are given to the reader in long infodumps with insufficient context. There are a lot of fantasy races (sirens, fae, demons, vampires, werewolves, maybe others) and at least one major political or cultural group aligned with each race, but you learn almost nothing about the values, goals, or objectives of any of the races or groups aside from the fact that some of them are obsessed with the idea of racial purity. However, although racial purity isn’t the only driver of conflict between many of these races, and some of those other conflicts are apparently relevant to our characters’ backstories and possibly the main plot of this book, the reader is given almost no information about them. Many of the worldbuilding passages feel like reading a textbook instead of a novel, because almost none of the information actually drives the plot by shaping the characters’ thoughts or actions; maybe some of it will be important later but almost none of it is important now, when it’s being delivered to the reader. As a result, I quickly lost track of most of the factions and why they mattered – and I’m an experienced sci-fi and fantasy reader who is used to books where you feel overwhelmed with new names and places at the beginning.

Additionally, other than the various groups/factions the author introduces, the worldbuilding feels very shallow. Cars are called “autos” and instead of smartphones, people have “messengers” that appear to be text-only. Beyond that, there are few hints of how this world differs from our own, and in many important respects, it appears to be the same. Why is that? What does this world actually look like? How has the existence of these various races shaped culture and politics? How does being part of each of these races shape someone’s beliefs or values? What does it mean to be a human in a world populated by beings with supernatural powers and centuries-long lifespans? While I wouldn’t expect to have answers to all these questions at the point where I DNFed, I do expect partial development of some answers, or at the very least, indications that some answers are forthcoming if I continue reading.

These problems were compounded by the fact that seemingly every new piece of information was yet another reason why our main characters are the most badass or special members of their race. This is less of a flaw in the book and more an issue of preferences, but I really don’t enjoy stories where all the main characters start out being super powerful and then just get more powerful as the book continues. And that type of story really doesn’t work for me when all the badassery happens off-page, in the past, and the characters on-page are just normal (or in this case, extraordinarily polite and kind) dudes. If you want to convince me that a character is holding themselves back, then you need to actually show that to me, not just have them think about how important it is to hold back but never actually struggle to do so.

I also had no interest in the romance between the main characters because they are apparently only attracted to each other for physiological reasons, to the point that they have a conversation where they agree that this is what’s happening. Worse, one of the main characters hasn’t experienced sexual desire for 100 years,due to issues caused by siren physiology, and feels it again for the first time with the other main character because the other MC is such a powerful demon that it makes the siren’s body want to respond by fighting, and sex is a siren’s weapon. In other words, his lack of desire is a form of disability, and it is apparently cured because he finally met someone who was physically/supernaturally powerful enough to trigger his fight response. I’m hoping there’s more to the situation that I just didn’t get to, because the part I read felt like a very convoluted form of the “disability cured by magic dick” trope, which doesn’t appeal to me at all. In general, I’m not interested in reading romances that are based mostly or entirely on physical attraction, even if the characters eventually develop feelings after banging.

One of my other major issues is also one of personal preference. I feel like some queer books go out of their way to make all the major characters extremely polite, considerate, and accommodating of each other at all times so that interpersonal conflicts are driven by outside forces that are clearly bad/evil and can be fought against. I understand why people find this appealing, but it doesn’t work for me because it feels so forced and unrealistic. In reality, even when two people have nothing but the best intentions in their interactions with the other, those intentions do not always translate perfectly into action. But in stories like this one, not only does everyone have good intentions, everyone else around them always seems to sense those good intentions, so any fear, anxiety, distrust, and so on is quickly soothed. Our two main characters have many reasons to distrust each other, and their relative power levels (supernaturally) are apparently putting their bodies into fight or flight mode (or whatever), yet I felt absolutely no tension between them because they just somehow knew the other was trustworthy and immediately wanted to get along. Similarly, something happens between one of the MCs and a side character that should have made the MC mistrustful, upset, or scared, but he had almost no reaction (at least, not that I got to) because the side character is a Good Guy, I guess. Why should I care about this development if the MC doesn’t?

Finally, I found this book sorely lacking in plot. At the point where I DNFed, the two main characters had done almost nothing. They interviewed one witness and right before I DNFed, they were affected by something important happening to one of the side characters. Otherwise, they sat around talking or thinking about their sad backstories, each other, or some of the background worldbuilding info. The main reason I DNFed is because once I put this book down, there was nothing to pull me back in. The romance was just “our badassery makes us want to fuck” and the main plot of “we’re investigating some werewolf racists for vague and convoluted reasons” kept getting derailed by side character POVs and other problems. I just don’t care how either of those things winds up getting resolved.

[X]

DNF @ 16% - the demon detective MC getting turned on by questioning a nervous suspect (and then the MCs getting aroused by each other while still in the interrogation room, lol what??) is a no for me. However, the writing/fantasy elements were interesting enough that I’m going to try the next book in the series instead.

[Liseth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This debut novel was so enjoyable to read! The writing is gorgeous! I loved the author's unique style and beautiful prose. The world was so richly detailed, and the romantic plot was super engaging. The characters, both the MCs and sides, were fantastic! The action could have been a bit faster-paced at times, but honestly, the romance made up for it, it was perfectly sweet! The ending felt a little rushed, but I didn't mind because they got their happy ending! An extra epilogue would've been awesome, though, just to see a little more of their future.

[bre · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn’t put it down!

This book was amazing! The characters are so unique and complex and I absolutely love the tension in this romance! I wish I could read this book again for the first time!

[Tea]

I don't usually go for romance, but I really love the deep characters and world-building in this novel. I was very happy to read, and very much look forward to the sequel.

[thosemeddlingkids]

Pausing for now at 21% and devastated about it.

I'm not feeling the insta-horny but we won't do anything about it vibes right now.

[K · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a hidden gem, I am shocked this book only has 16 reviews! Hoàng created such a unique and refreshing take on a fantasy world. From romance, to politics, to intriguing world building and action, this book had it all.

In this world there are mystical races (demons, vampires, fae, werewolves, sirens etc.) and each race was very fleshed out, instead of focusing on just one. I really enjoyed getting to read about Hoàng’s take on the inner workings of sirens vs demons etc. This set up also allowed Hoàng to dive into political machinations and issues like racial discrimination.

I liked the caring dynamic between the main characters, however I will say that I felt they became emotionally connected quickly considering their circumstances. I was expecting a slower burn and on page emotional relationship development, but instead they warmed up to each other quite fast and seemed to have an inherent trust in each other. In any other book, I would’ve said it felt like the relationship developed off page and we were missing scenes, but with this book it felt easy to excuse it as “oh everyone is naturally drawn to sirens so that explains their connection”.

4.5 stars ⭐️ ◡̈

[Sam Reads Books *Just the Highlights* · Rating 5 out of 5]

2025: 4.5

[Hailey · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[BiblioFan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t really know what to say about this book. The world building was so well done. The information was trickled throughout the book so it was easy to digest and follow along with. It was a complex world with interesting takes on supernatural creatures while also staying true to the common traits you expect from them.

Carver is a siren who has been living with illness and barely living since his husband died. Sirens tether with their mates and usually die with them, but Carver somehow is alive and wishes he wasn’t. His species needs sex to survive, but he hates it.

Enter Jian, a charming demon with his own past and trauma. He was forced to fight in a war he didn’t want to and he has the scars to prove it, both psychological and physical. Since he’s a demon, water harms him. It makes it interesting for a siren and demon pairing.

The story that unfolds from there is complex and well written. I loved both main characters immediately. The side characters are rich and have their own stories. I was just as interested in them as I was in the MCs. I’m hoping some of them get their own stories.

The author was an editor and it’s clear as you read. The writing is exceptional and clean. The story flows well and is engaging. The cast of characters is diverse and I feel like representation is well done.

I highly, highly recommend this book. I’m excited to read more of this author’s books and this series!

[Cheeks · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

You know what, this was a lot of fun. There were some plot holes and some of the characterization felt inconsistent, but the world is cool and I will be continuing on with the series.

It kinda reminds me of shadowhunters but dares to ask the question “why should paranormal creatures operate under the same gender binary as humans?”

[Talya · Rating 4 out of 5]

great for fans of the ever green series by lyra evans

[Vita · Rating 3 out of 5]

"The evidence, he whispered, "of these selfish, possessive thoughts is on you, and if i had my way, I'd leave my scent over every inch of you--inside and out."
For a tense heartbeat, Jian didn't speak, didn't move, didn't seem to breathe even. And then he turned his head just enough to bring his lips to the
corner of Carver's.
"I`m yours," he breathed."

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow this book was SO beautiful!! I loved the world that was created, the characters, and especially their chemistry! Will definitely be rereading this one.

[Eli Everett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Was very gay. Could be gayer. but very gay and good overall. perhaps the quickest I’ve finished a book in many months. and I still didn’t finish it very quickly.

[Laurie Kleveland · Rating 3 out of 5]

Being honest, the last 30% of the book save this one for me. I wasn't really invested in the first half, but i'm always here for the emotions and the last half made me very emotional.
The story was a little clunky to me and I feel like I had to re-read parts to make sure I actually understood what was going on. I also felt that despite thier own respective issues, it was a little insta-lovey. Not quite literally, but that's what it felt like as I read it and it didn't fit with the chracters in my opinion. There was also a lot of things that were just a little too convienient for me. Like Carver being able to essentially "blood bend" all the blood out of the wolves by saying that blood was mostly water, but also was previously able to take only ocean water out of Jian's bloodstream and leaving his blood, while also being "new" and "inexperienced" at water manipulation".
The emotions at the end were top tier though, everything that happened at the hospital was intense on my poor heart. I also liked how the angst between the characters was minimal and a little realistic. They would be hesistant to share something but then would realize it's better to jsut be honest and open. SO it was really nice that there was open conversation between the MCs through the whole story, that can get so frustrating some times so I really liked that were smart about communication.

[Moni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Carver is a siren who wants to die after his husband died, sirens mate for life and die with their partners, so Carver not dying with his husband is an anomaly that left him severely scarred and averse to sex, which he needs to survive. He has to work a case with an expert, Jian. Jian is a pure blood demon, fought in the war against his family and was left with severe PTSD. His ex wife also sexually abused him as they were required to have a child before being able to divorce and she wanted out of the marriage.

They are both traumatised, but learn to enjoy life once again. Their relationship is truly beautiful. These idiots were like "are these *feelings* I'm feeling?? This will hurt me in the long run... welp, problem for future me. Off to being cute and shit" and I love them for it. They are my babies who must be protected at all costs!

I've said it already, but I'll say it again. This world is so interesting, it's got typical paranormal elements such as demons, sirens, vampires and werewolves, but adds its own unique twists. For example, demons are fire creatures and are healed by fire and hurt by water, even getting killed by being submerged in water, pureblood vampire go blind very early in their lives. They have technology, but not quite the same as ours. The world is also not Western-centric, which I love to see.

[Macrochiroptera · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this one so much! While book 3 is still my favorite, I really enjoyed most of the plot and the romance. Once again I am fascinated by how the authors writers non-human. Sirens, werewolves, demons - they are not simply humans with a different phenotype/look, but they have a series of cultural and biological characteristics that distinguish them from humans but also from each other's. My favorite (after reading to books) are definitely demons. You can tell there is danger in them, but at the same time they are not written as "hopelessly hunting and bloodlusting" creatures. The balance is so good!

The romance in this novel is quite good, but unfortunately it is hard for me to read novels which focus so much on mourning, so I could not fully enjoy the two protagonists falling in love.

[Cabert A · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even though I just finished the book, I was so aware of how special it was while I was reading it. So I decided to keep a list of what I loved about this book, including:


  Multicultural MCs
  Strong female side characters
  Complex world building - truly nothing like it in paranormal romance
  An exciting and unpredictable plot with tangible stakes
  Angst
  MCs with tortured pasts who find love together
  Adults who actually talk about things instead of hiding, avoiding, or miscommunicating
  Hard choices
  Exciting fight scenes
  Masterful writing


Honestly, if a book has even 3 of these, I'm usually pleased. So this one just blew it my expectations for paranormal romance away.

[Claire Montgomery · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was truly captivated by the world built and the characters in this book. I loved Carver and Jians characters, how their relationship development and the journey that they went on, at times my heart ached for them and made me a little emotional, showing just how well written their characters were. I loved all the different beings in this book so different to how I have read them before and some I have never come across and I admired that. It's not often a fantasy read but I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I loved that the plot kept me engrossed and at edge on times wondering just how it would pan out. I am excited to explore this world and its characters in the rest of the series.

[August · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book is SUCH a hidden treasure and a trojan horse. you go into it thinking it’s just some queer paranormal romance but it ends up being a complex story full of world building, interracial politics, and rediscovering a purpose after grief, physical disability, and trauma. don’t get me wrong, there *is* well done queer smut in this, but you are going to get so much more than that with it. also really enjoyed the casual trans and intersex rep throughout the book. tons of fun, can’t wait to read the rest!

[Leah M-S · Rating 4 out of 5]

So enjoyable. The world building was rich, and while it felt like a lot in the beginning, it’s easy to get a handle on all the intricacies. (the glossary of terms in the beginning helps you!) There was some repetition in the writing/descriptions, but nothing too jarring. This happened mostly in the latter half of the book.

Genuinely touching ending too, I wanted the best for Carver and Jian, and sure maybe things tied up a but too nicely for a happily ever after but honestly? I’m not complaining.