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Sails and Sirens
Love grows with the tide–and can destroy like a tidal wave.
The Seven Kingdoms are under threat. Sea Hunters, descendants of Pirates, are slaughtering sirens and sea creatures alike. Siren Princess Eliana Leilani of Cerulia is tasked with going to the surface with her little sister, Elara, in an attempt to infiltrate the college campus, where the suspected Hunters dwell. Little does Eliana know that uncovering the Sea Hunters responsible for the attacks on her people would change everything she’s ever known, both about her world and herself.
Will Sawyer is a ruthless Sea Hunter, fighting alongside his father and younger brother, Aidan, to protect unsuspecting humans from the wrath of supernatural entities. He holds a dark grudge against sirens–they killed his grandfather in cold blood. Hunting and sailing are his only sources of solace–until he meets Eliana. He is instantly beguiled by her, tumbling head over heels, with disastrous consequences.
Tensions rise when the Siren Kingdoms and Hunter Association encounter an even larger threat than they can handle. Family bonds will be tested, worldviews will be challenged, and love will prove to be an unbreakable force–or used as a weapon for revenge.
The Seven Kingdoms are under threat. Sea Hunters, descendants of Pirates, are slaughtering sirens and sea creatures alike. Siren Princess Eliana Leilani of Cerulia is tasked with going to the surface with her little sister, Elara, in an attempt to infiltrate the college campus, where the suspected Hunters dwell. Little does Eliana know that uncovering the Sea Hunters responsible for the attacks on her people would change everything she’s ever known, both about her world and herself.
Will Sawyer is a ruthless Sea Hunter, fighting alongside his father and younger brother, Aidan, to protect unsuspecting humans from the wrath of supernatural entities. He holds a dark grudge against sirens–they killed his grandfather in cold blood. Hunting and sailing are his only sources of solace–until he meets Eliana. He is instantly beguiled by her, tumbling head over heels, with disastrous consequences.
Tensions rise when the Siren Kingdoms and Hunter Association encounter an even larger threat than they can handle. Family bonds will be tested, worldviews will be challenged, and love will prove to be an unbreakable force–or used as a weapon for revenge.
Unknown Binding
Published August 27, 2025
3 people are currently reading
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
August 8, 2025
ARC review
Thank you Netgalley for this enjoyable read.
Sirens VS Pirates/hunters
Almost Romeo and Juliet -like romance
Taboo instant love
Spicy supernatural fantasy
I am not sure that they got the supernatural part down but to me it was definitely a great fantasy romance read. I was not expecting to enjoy this book as much as I did. 4 stars because I have many questions still. I was confused in the first few chapters and might have to go back and reread.
FMC: Eliana is a siren and the eldest princess who is next in line to the throne. Her dad is the current king of the seven seas. She has two sisters Emery and Elara.
This gives off a little bit of The little mermaid vibes. Her sister, Elara, reminds me of Ariel. Her dad is king and has one of the tridents while the other kings and queens have the remaining tridents. It is siren vs hunter/human. And even though it is instant love between the love interests, I thought the author did a really good job at not boring me. I usually do not like instant love but this one was well put together that i enjoyed it.
MMC : Will is a hunter who just wants to make his father proud. He is focused on hunting a specific creature for almost the entire book. He absolutely hates sirens as that is the way he was raised. He hunts the sea creatures with his father and his brother.
Thank you Netgalley for this enjoyable read.
Sirens VS Pirates/hunters
Almost Romeo and Juliet -like romance
Taboo instant love
Spicy supernatural fantasy
I am not sure that they got the supernatural part down but to me it was definitely a great fantasy romance read. I was not expecting to enjoy this book as much as I did. 4 stars because I have many questions still. I was confused in the first few chapters and might have to go back and reread.
FMC: Eliana is a siren and the eldest princess who is next in line to the throne. Her dad is the current king of the seven seas. She has two sisters Emery and Elara.
This gives off a little bit of The little mermaid vibes. Her sister, Elara, reminds me of Ariel. Her dad is king and has one of the tridents while the other kings and queens have the remaining tridents. It is siren vs hunter/human. And even though it is instant love between the love interests, I thought the author did a really good job at not boring me. I usually do not like instant love but this one was well put together that i enjoyed it.
MMC : Will is a hunter who just wants to make his father proud. He is focused on hunting a specific creature for almost the entire book. He absolutely hates sirens as that is the way he was raised. He hunts the sea creatures with his father and his brother.
August 17, 2025
4💎
2.5 🌶️
🪽Brilliant retelling of a classic with a new concept of the supernatural struggles in our modern world and navigating those forbidden relationships.
📔I loved the concept of hunters and sirens. Something that I haven’t read before.
📔So interesting how they were falling for each other and sharing all these half truths without actually saying who they were
📔The suspense with Eliana waiting to be found out by Will and her anguish over having these feels and not sure what to do was brilliant.
📔The cool under the water phrases were such a great addition- like ‘you’ll sink him for sure.’
📔Some really intense and emotional scenes - no spoilers so you will have to read to find out 😛
🍷If he knew who I really was, he would never say such kind things to me. He wouldn’t care how I felt.
🍷If he discovers the truth, he’ll end me. But I’m drowning in affection for him. It’s so taboo, it makes my stomach churn.
🍷“What kindness?” he retorts softly. “You deserve respect. That’s a fact, not something you should thank me for.”
🦈Little Mermaid Retelling
🦈Forbidden love
🦈He falls first
🦈Sirens
🦈Sea hunters
2.5 🌶️
🪽Brilliant retelling of a classic with a new concept of the supernatural struggles in our modern world and navigating those forbidden relationships.
📔I loved the concept of hunters and sirens. Something that I haven’t read before.
📔So interesting how they were falling for each other and sharing all these half truths without actually saying who they were
📔The suspense with Eliana waiting to be found out by Will and her anguish over having these feels and not sure what to do was brilliant.
📔The cool under the water phrases were such a great addition- like ‘you’ll sink him for sure.’
📔Some really intense and emotional scenes - no spoilers so you will have to read to find out 😛
🍷If he knew who I really was, he would never say such kind things to me. He wouldn’t care how I felt.
🍷If he discovers the truth, he’ll end me. But I’m drowning in affection for him. It’s so taboo, it makes my stomach churn.
🍷“What kindness?” he retorts softly. “You deserve respect. That’s a fact, not something you should thank me for.”
🦈Little Mermaid Retelling
🦈Forbidden love
🦈He falls first
🦈Sirens
🦈Sea hunters
August 27, 2025
This was a cute retelling of the Little Mermaid story.
A Siren Princess falls for a supernatural human Sea Hunter. As their forbidden love blossoms, how many secrets can they both have? And will both of their homes survive the battles? Long time fueds between families, and a war against Sea Monsters.
The MMC is sweet and protective. The FMC is strong and stands up for what is right. There are strong family loyalties. The characters were fun and I liked the story.
A Siren Princess falls for a supernatural human Sea Hunter. As their forbidden love blossoms, how many secrets can they both have? And will both of their homes survive the battles? Long time fueds between families, and a war against Sea Monsters.
The MMC is sweet and protective. The FMC is strong and stands up for what is right. There are strong family loyalties. The characters were fun and I liked the story.
September 17, 2025
Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This story felt like coming home to a childhood favourite—just rewritten for the adult I am now. Sails and Sirens is a sweet, romantic, slightly spicy siren retelling of The Little Mermaid, with just enough darkness to keep it interesting and enough heart to keep me smiling.
Eliana Leilani isn’t a mermaid—she’s a siren—which adds an exciting twist to the familiar tale. Her dynamic with Will is what truly pulled me in: awkward, shy, magnetic. I found myself grinning through their encounters like I was reading about two teens figuring it all out for the first time. Their spicy moment caught me off guard in the best way—it felt young, tender, and unexpectedly real.
The prose is light and often reads like a script, leaning toward a younger audience with simple structure and some fourth-wall nudging. Some relationships, especially with Eliana’s father, felt underdeveloped compared to the beautifully soft romance arc. And the worldbuilding around siren powers was a little inconsistent—but the charm never faded.
And Alina. Absolute scene-stealer. A violet-themed sea witch with a seashell necklace and eel sidekicks? She’s Ursula’s cooler, sassier cousin—and I adored every line she had (especially that “you poor unfortunate soul” moment!).
This read like a cozy, whimsical fantasy rom-com, with just the right amount of spice and a happy ending I didn’t know I was craving. A joyful standalone that made me feel nostalgic and soft in all the right ways.
Favorite quotes:
• “…the people far away, swaying to the music, and practically mating with each other in public.”
• “Why don’t you start a little collection in a cavern?”
This story felt like coming home to a childhood favourite—just rewritten for the adult I am now. Sails and Sirens is a sweet, romantic, slightly spicy siren retelling of The Little Mermaid, with just enough darkness to keep it interesting and enough heart to keep me smiling.
Eliana Leilani isn’t a mermaid—she’s a siren—which adds an exciting twist to the familiar tale. Her dynamic with Will is what truly pulled me in: awkward, shy, magnetic. I found myself grinning through their encounters like I was reading about two teens figuring it all out for the first time. Their spicy moment caught me off guard in the best way—it felt young, tender, and unexpectedly real.
The prose is light and often reads like a script, leaning toward a younger audience with simple structure and some fourth-wall nudging. Some relationships, especially with Eliana’s father, felt underdeveloped compared to the beautifully soft romance arc. And the worldbuilding around siren powers was a little inconsistent—but the charm never faded.
And Alina. Absolute scene-stealer. A violet-themed sea witch with a seashell necklace and eel sidekicks? She’s Ursula’s cooler, sassier cousin—and I adored every line she had (especially that “you poor unfortunate soul” moment!).
This read like a cozy, whimsical fantasy rom-com, with just the right amount of spice and a happy ending I didn’t know I was craving. A joyful standalone that made me feel nostalgic and soft in all the right ways.
Favorite quotes:
• “…the people far away, swaying to the music, and practically mating with each other in public.”
• “Why don’t you start a little collection in a cavern?”
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 30, 2025
Sails and Sirens is a fantasy tale inspired by the classic story of the Little Mermaid. This book features Princess Eliana Leilani of Cerulia and Will Sawyer, a ruthless Sea Hunter.
Eliana is the eldest daughter of King Augustus, one of the rulers of the seven kingdoms. Recently there have been several siren murders by Sea Hunters. The sirens thought they were gone, but they have returned and their sole purpose is to kill. When one of the king's most trusted advisors is killed, he decides to reinstate their Scouting Division and appoints Eliana as the leader. She and her youngest sister, Elara, take a potion created by Alina, the sea sorceress, which allows them to walk on land amongst the humans, but only for 72 hours. Their goal is to attend the Sea of Atlas school and see if they can determine who is responsible for these atrocities.
Both sisters take the potion but its effects start earlier than expected. While she tries her best, Eliana doesn't quite make it to the surface on time and passes out due to lack of oxygen. Fortunately, Will happens upon her floating body while docking his boat, Princess, at the Atlantic Yacht Club. He pulls her out of the water but is quickly chased away by Elara who comes to tend to her big sister.
While on land, Elara spends most of her time with a human male named Malik Harris. They have been meeting regularly and she is quite fond of him. Eliana tries to fit in but when she attracts the wrong kind of attention, none other than Will steps in to defend her. The two end up spending more and more time together. When Eliana realizes that he is a Sea Hunter, she pretends to date him in order to learn more. Over time though, her feelings grow. How is she to eliminate the threat to her people and protect her heart?
I really enjoyed Brubaker's version of this classic story. The characters, while fantasy-based, were still somewhat relatable and compelling. I found the dynamic between the characters to be alluring; they drew me in and kept me captivated. Will's character is both villain and hero, and the mix was perfect. I like how the author diverted from the classic story and made it her own.
If you're a fan of the fantasy genre, I would encourage you to check it out. In the meantime, I'll be eagerly awaiting the author's next release as she never disappoints.
Eliana is the eldest daughter of King Augustus, one of the rulers of the seven kingdoms. Recently there have been several siren murders by Sea Hunters. The sirens thought they were gone, but they have returned and their sole purpose is to kill. When one of the king's most trusted advisors is killed, he decides to reinstate their Scouting Division and appoints Eliana as the leader. She and her youngest sister, Elara, take a potion created by Alina, the sea sorceress, which allows them to walk on land amongst the humans, but only for 72 hours. Their goal is to attend the Sea of Atlas school and see if they can determine who is responsible for these atrocities.
Both sisters take the potion but its effects start earlier than expected. While she tries her best, Eliana doesn't quite make it to the surface on time and passes out due to lack of oxygen. Fortunately, Will happens upon her floating body while docking his boat, Princess, at the Atlantic Yacht Club. He pulls her out of the water but is quickly chased away by Elara who comes to tend to her big sister.
While on land, Elara spends most of her time with a human male named Malik Harris. They have been meeting regularly and she is quite fond of him. Eliana tries to fit in but when she attracts the wrong kind of attention, none other than Will steps in to defend her. The two end up spending more and more time together. When Eliana realizes that he is a Sea Hunter, she pretends to date him in order to learn more. Over time though, her feelings grow. How is she to eliminate the threat to her people and protect her heart?
I really enjoyed Brubaker's version of this classic story. The characters, while fantasy-based, were still somewhat relatable and compelling. I found the dynamic between the characters to be alluring; they drew me in and kept me captivated. Will's character is both villain and hero, and the mix was perfect. I like how the author diverted from the classic story and made it her own.
If you're a fan of the fantasy genre, I would encourage you to check it out. In the meantime, I'll be eagerly awaiting the author's next release as she never disappoints.
August 4, 2025
I was very excited to read this Little Mermaid retelling with supernatural elements!
The Little Mermaid aspect was certainly there but I felt the supernatural element was definitely missing. We didnt get to learn much about the true powers/strengths of the Hunters and Sirens; it would have been really cool to have just a little more depth on the Siren royalty. This left me feeling a bit dissapointed as it wasn't what it was presented to be. I would say the book felt more like a small-town romance that happened to have Sirens in it. I really missed the depth!
Readers who like softer characters, such as a sensitive FMC and an emotional MC would enjoy this book! The characters had real potential and I wish that as a reader I felt more attachment and investment in them, but I found the FMC to be inconsistent in the way she spoke and approached things and this just bothered me.
Overall, the book was okay (as a small-town romance) but not as a retelling with supernatural elements. It needed more focus on the latter and, unfortunately, the writing style was not for me as it felt far more YA than NA (with the exception of the more explicit chapters and even then it felt somewhat immature for me), so for me, this book was a miss.
I did see in the acknowledgements that the author is transitioning from YA, so this could be a contributing factor and once she finds her feet I believe her books will have real potential.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!
The Little Mermaid aspect was certainly there but I felt the supernatural element was definitely missing. We didnt get to learn much about the true powers/strengths of the Hunters and Sirens; it would have been really cool to have just a little more depth on the Siren royalty. This left me feeling a bit dissapointed as it wasn't what it was presented to be. I would say the book felt more like a small-town romance that happened to have Sirens in it. I really missed the depth!
Readers who like softer characters, such as a sensitive FMC and an emotional MC would enjoy this book! The characters had real potential and I wish that as a reader I felt more attachment and investment in them, but I found the FMC to be inconsistent in the way she spoke and approached things and this just bothered me.
Overall, the book was okay (as a small-town romance) but not as a retelling with supernatural elements. It needed more focus on the latter and, unfortunately, the writing style was not for me as it felt far more YA than NA (with the exception of the more explicit chapters and even then it felt somewhat immature for me), so for me, this book was a miss.
I did see in the acknowledgements that the author is transitioning from YA, so this could be a contributing factor and once she finds her feet I believe her books will have real potential.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!
July 25, 2025
This was a modern retelling of The Little Mermaid with a refreshing twist. Eliana is a mermaid sent on a mission to spy on a college where monster hunters attend… only to fall for Will, a siren hunter who just so happens to be everything she’s not supposed to trust.
Eliana was such a sweet character. She was endearing, innocent, and completely out of her depth in the human world. Watching her try to make sense of modern life was both adorable and funny.
And then there’s Will. Funny, respectful, and the definition of a consent king. I usually don’t enjoy instalove, but here it works. You could tell how much they admired each other’s kindness, intelligence, and goodness in a way that made their bond feel meaningful and pure. I really appreciated how Will always let Eliana set the pace and made her feel safe.
The sibling dynamics were another highlight for me. Eliana and Will would argue and banter with their respective siblings but were also protective of them, which made it feel realistic and relatable.
If you enjoy soft, character-driven fantasy romance with found family themes, forbidden love, and just the right touch of danger, I think this one’s worth picking up.
Thank you NetGalley and Midnight Tide Publishing for the ARC.
Eliana was such a sweet character. She was endearing, innocent, and completely out of her depth in the human world. Watching her try to make sense of modern life was both adorable and funny.
And then there’s Will. Funny, respectful, and the definition of a consent king. I usually don’t enjoy instalove, but here it works. You could tell how much they admired each other’s kindness, intelligence, and goodness in a way that made their bond feel meaningful and pure. I really appreciated how Will always let Eliana set the pace and made her feel safe.
The sibling dynamics were another highlight for me. Eliana and Will would argue and banter with their respective siblings but were also protective of them, which made it feel realistic and relatable.
If you enjoy soft, character-driven fantasy romance with found family themes, forbidden love, and just the right touch of danger, I think this one’s worth picking up.
Thank you NetGalley and Midnight Tide Publishing for the ARC.
August 20, 2025
This was a fun little summer read!
Eliana is a siren who goes up to the human world to find the Hunters that are coming after her kind. She meets Will and then discovers that he's part of the hunter group she's looking for! She decides to keep watch on him to learn more about what they're planning and, oh no, they fall in love!
They're romance was cute and so sweet as Eliana really is a fish out of water when it comes to human things. We also get dual POVs so you get to know Will's thoughts and feelings which was entertaining because he's like your typical man (a h0rny college boy).
They both had really good sibling dynamics that I would have loved to have seen explored even more! Plus I really enjoyed the Sea Witch (who wasn't evil).
Also... MEGALODON!! This is the first book I've ever read with one and that was SO FUN!
Loved all The Little Mermaid references! Those were fun and made me laugh to come across!
The ending was good and full of hope for the future!
Read if you love:
-Little Mermaid retelling
-Floridian setting
-Sibling relationships
-Rivals/enemies to lovers
Thank you to the author for the eARC of this book. My thoughts are entirely my own.
Finish date: 8/13/25, Release date: 8/27/25
Eliana is a siren who goes up to the human world to find the Hunters that are coming after her kind. She meets Will and then discovers that he's part of the hunter group she's looking for! She decides to keep watch on him to learn more about what they're planning and, oh no, they fall in love!
They're romance was cute and so sweet as Eliana really is a fish out of water when it comes to human things. We also get dual POVs so you get to know Will's thoughts and feelings which was entertaining because he's like your typical man (a h0rny college boy).
They both had really good sibling dynamics that I would have loved to have seen explored even more! Plus I really enjoyed the Sea Witch (who wasn't evil).
Also... MEGALODON!! This is the first book I've ever read with one and that was SO FUN!
Loved all The Little Mermaid references! Those were fun and made me laugh to come across!
The ending was good and full of hope for the future!
Read if you love:
-Little Mermaid retelling
-Floridian setting
-Sibling relationships
-Rivals/enemies to lovers
Thank you to the author for the eARC of this book. My thoughts are entirely my own.
Finish date: 8/13/25, Release date: 8/27/25
August 19, 2025
Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
I am a huge fan of The Little Mermaid so I jumped at the opportunity to read a spicy re-telling and had high hopes!
With that being said, this was a decent read for me, maybe not one I would recommend or reread, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. There were a few elements that felt underdeveloped, like the Hunters’ supernatural powers and how they were received and going into more depth on what they are. In the same note, I felt as though the Sirens could have been explored more as well, but I did love all The Little Mermaid innuendos thrown in! From certain characters, their descriptions and the way they spoke, to specific lines take from the movie, really made me giggle!
I enjoyed the romance exploring a forbidden love. Will, the MMC, and Eliana, the FMC, definitely fall into the love at first sight trope. The predictability in him being drawn to her ‘for no reason’ (because she’s a siren) and her not being able to sense his hunter qualities sets their story into motion. But I tend to love a good predictable love story! While their love was evident and nonnegotiable, the story line did take a turn that I did not see coming and I loved the supernatural aspect; hunting other sea beasts and even discussion of land beasts.
Lastly, there is spice sprinkled into the book, although it felt very immature for me. The verbiage used to describe Will and Eliana kind of gave me a bit of the ick, if I’m being honest.
I feel like there was so much potential, and the effort is there, but unfortunately fell a bit short for me in certain areas.
I am a huge fan of The Little Mermaid so I jumped at the opportunity to read a spicy re-telling and had high hopes!
With that being said, this was a decent read for me, maybe not one I would recommend or reread, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. There were a few elements that felt underdeveloped, like the Hunters’ supernatural powers and how they were received and going into more depth on what they are. In the same note, I felt as though the Sirens could have been explored more as well, but I did love all The Little Mermaid innuendos thrown in! From certain characters, their descriptions and the way they spoke, to specific lines take from the movie, really made me giggle!
I enjoyed the romance exploring a forbidden love. Will, the MMC, and Eliana, the FMC, definitely fall into the love at first sight trope. The predictability in him being drawn to her ‘for no reason’ (because she’s a siren) and her not being able to sense his hunter qualities sets their story into motion. But I tend to love a good predictable love story! While their love was evident and nonnegotiable, the story line did take a turn that I did not see coming and I loved the supernatural aspect; hunting other sea beasts and even discussion of land beasts.
Lastly, there is spice sprinkled into the book, although it felt very immature for me. The verbiage used to describe Will and Eliana kind of gave me a bit of the ick, if I’m being honest.
I feel like there was so much potential, and the effort is there, but unfortunately fell a bit short for me in certain areas.
June 23, 2025
A very different retelling of the Little Mermaid tale. There are so many great and interesting ideas in this book. Some twists and character choices that are so strong and fresh, I absolutely loved it.
This tale brings the Pirates vs Sirens to modern day and really has fun with that idea. There's mythological elements, technology and ofcourse a lot of swoon. A nice and cozy story.
This tale brings the Pirates vs Sirens to modern day and really has fun with that idea. There's mythological elements, technology and ofcourse a lot of swoon. A nice and cozy story.
August 21, 2025
⭐4.5 stars⭐
Just finished reading an advanced copy of a book that is about to be released on August 27th called, Sails and Sirens. This is about Eliana, she is a siren princess and she is tasked with going to the surface with her sister to find the evil and ruthless Sea Hunters (descendants of pirates) they have been told about who have been attacking sea creatures and sirens. When she gets there and tries to blend in by attending college, she realizes this task isn't going to be as simple as she thought, the world above water is not what she was expecting. Will is a Sea Hunter along with his brother, just like his father and grandfather before him. They are doing their duty of protecting humans from supernatural creatures, they think sirens are evil and ruthless. When Will and Eliana meet and immediately fall for each other, things get complicated as they navigate falling in love but are also sworn enemies that are keeping secrets from each other about who they truly are. This was such a fun story! It gave Little Mermaid vibes, but with its own twists and differences that made the story stand strong on its own. I loved how Eliana was literally a fish out of water, not understanding human things like phones, coffee, undergarments 🫣🤣 This had my emotions all over the place from laughing out loud to tearing up, I really enjoyed this story! I would absolutely love to get more stories of this supernatural world with more mermaids and like vampires and such that were mentioned! 💙📚
Thank you to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for this ARC of Sails and Sirens, in exchange for an honest review.
Just finished reading an advanced copy of a book that is about to be released on August 27th called, Sails and Sirens. This is about Eliana, she is a siren princess and she is tasked with going to the surface with her sister to find the evil and ruthless Sea Hunters (descendants of pirates) they have been told about who have been attacking sea creatures and sirens. When she gets there and tries to blend in by attending college, she realizes this task isn't going to be as simple as she thought, the world above water is not what she was expecting. Will is a Sea Hunter along with his brother, just like his father and grandfather before him. They are doing their duty of protecting humans from supernatural creatures, they think sirens are evil and ruthless. When Will and Eliana meet and immediately fall for each other, things get complicated as they navigate falling in love but are also sworn enemies that are keeping secrets from each other about who they truly are. This was such a fun story! It gave Little Mermaid vibes, but with its own twists and differences that made the story stand strong on its own. I loved how Eliana was literally a fish out of water, not understanding human things like phones, coffee, undergarments 🫣🤣 This had my emotions all over the place from laughing out loud to tearing up, I really enjoyed this story! I would absolutely love to get more stories of this supernatural world with more mermaids and like vampires and such that were mentioned! 💙📚
Thank you to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for this ARC of Sails and Sirens, in exchange for an honest review.
January 14, 2026
This book deserves all the stars! I flew through this in one day! I couldn’t put the book down and I didn’t want to! If this one isn’t on your list yet it needs to be!
June 13, 2025
OH MY SWEET STARFISH!!!!!!! This book was the one of the greatest retells with her amazing twists!!!! Eliana loved her and Will you are officially a book bf!!! Tysm to this sweet author for the opportunity…. Love ALL her works.. if you haven’t read any… what are you waiting for?!?!?!
July 22, 2025
For my personal taste, this book I would consider to be a cozy with engagung emotions read. There is a dark fantasy meets contemporary college romance but with bigger elements as the main characters are faced with big responsibilities.
Will Sawyer is a Sea Hunter. Raised and trained to hunt monsters, especially sirens, after one had taken his grandfather from his family.
Princess Eliana Leilani is a Siren who goes above water to "blend in" after a close family friend was slayed by a Sea Hunter and the memory of her mother just 2 years prior also having the same fate.
The unlikely pair find themselves falling for each other until the truth surfaces and now everything they thought of their relationship is questioned. BUT so is their views on what they believed they hated all along.
I absolutely enjoyed this book!!!!!✨️📚✨️
Will Sawyer is a Sea Hunter. Raised and trained to hunt monsters, especially sirens, after one had taken his grandfather from his family.
Princess Eliana Leilani is a Siren who goes above water to "blend in" after a close family friend was slayed by a Sea Hunter and the memory of her mother just 2 years prior also having the same fate.
The unlikely pair find themselves falling for each other until the truth surfaces and now everything they thought of their relationship is questioned. BUT so is their views on what they believed they hated all along.
I absolutely enjoyed this book!!!!!✨️📚✨️
September 19, 2025
It is with a terrible weight on my shoulders that I cannot say I enjoyed this book. I almost DNF'd it. I picked it back up again to give it a shot and though I finished it, I didn't come away with any particularly redeeming qualities I could give it praise for. There were just too many missed opportunities and unbelievable characters and just bad plot. If you care to know the full details, read the spoilers below.
Before reading further, do be aware that I forgive a lot in fiction. I am not stuck on perfection and often just want a nice story, so the fact that I couldn't hold back on this one says a lot for me. Here we go...
**SPOILERS**
First, I can't fathom how a well-trained spy and infiltrator of human society is so unbelievably unprepared for doing her own job. The main character wiffle-waffles between confidence and meekness depending on how she is meant to interact with the main love interest, rather than being the trained spy she is supposed to be. She does have confidence issues, but confidence in your personal life and confidence in your job are two different things and I would imagine that if she were so woefully behind in human rituals and vernacular as she seems to be, that she would have either spoke up or been pushed out by someone who could do the job.
Second, the potion and transformation scene at the beginning of the book: The characters are given a potion to turn themselves into humans. It is stated that the potion is volatile and timing is unpredictable. Then why in all the oceans would you take that thing at the bottom of the ocean? No one used to this, no one trained for this dangerous job, would take a potion at the bottom of the ocean not knowing whether they were going to drown or not on the way up. This was done for one reason, and one reason alone, so that the author could set up the MFC and the MMC meeting after the mermaid washes up naked on shore. That's all. She almost drowns because she was ridiculously idiotic enough to take the potion at the sea floor and so washes up naked on shore. Cue scandalous meeting of characters. Bad, bad writing.
This is where I almost DNF'd the book. But I picked it up again...
Third, a big missed opportunity: The MFC has a sister who obviously hates her from the outset of the story. You're not given much about why, but sister rivalry and heiress issues are a good hand wave for most stories. That's fine. The missed opportunity is turning that animosity into an actual twist in the plot. Maybe this whole time the sister was pulling some strings, maybe she was behind the guard attacking the MFC? Maybe she messed with the potion in the beginning of the book? The whole time the sister is set up to be the saboteur but then we don't get that sweet release. It's played out as a simple sibling rivalry which falls flat.
Fourth, another big missed opportunity: The side hunk. There is a hunk mermaid in the royal court who the author hints at being a possible love interest, but it never goes anywhere. There could have been some real tension and subplot there, but there was none. In the end he attacks her after her "betrayal" to her kingdom and though that is understandable, it could have been way more interesting if something more was drawn out of that dynamic. Maybe nothing ever did happen between them, but then write about how it caused friction, or uncomfortable glances, or...something.
I could go on, but those are the standout reasons I could not give this book a good review.
Before reading further, do be aware that I forgive a lot in fiction. I am not stuck on perfection and often just want a nice story, so the fact that I couldn't hold back on this one says a lot for me. Here we go...
**SPOILERS**
First, I can't fathom how a well-trained spy and infiltrator of human society is so unbelievably unprepared for doing her own job. The main character wiffle-waffles between confidence and meekness depending on how she is meant to interact with the main love interest, rather than being the trained spy she is supposed to be. She does have confidence issues, but confidence in your personal life and confidence in your job are two different things and I would imagine that if she were so woefully behind in human rituals and vernacular as she seems to be, that she would have either spoke up or been pushed out by someone who could do the job.
Second, the potion and transformation scene at the beginning of the book: The characters are given a potion to turn themselves into humans. It is stated that the potion is volatile and timing is unpredictable. Then why in all the oceans would you take that thing at the bottom of the ocean? No one used to this, no one trained for this dangerous job, would take a potion at the bottom of the ocean not knowing whether they were going to drown or not on the way up. This was done for one reason, and one reason alone, so that the author could set up the MFC and the MMC meeting after the mermaid washes up naked on shore. That's all. She almost drowns because she was ridiculously idiotic enough to take the potion at the sea floor and so washes up naked on shore. Cue scandalous meeting of characters. Bad, bad writing.
This is where I almost DNF'd the book. But I picked it up again...
Third, a big missed opportunity: The MFC has a sister who obviously hates her from the outset of the story. You're not given much about why, but sister rivalry and heiress issues are a good hand wave for most stories. That's fine. The missed opportunity is turning that animosity into an actual twist in the plot. Maybe this whole time the sister was pulling some strings, maybe she was behind the guard attacking the MFC? Maybe she messed with the potion in the beginning of the book? The whole time the sister is set up to be the saboteur but then we don't get that sweet release. It's played out as a simple sibling rivalry which falls flat.
Fourth, another big missed opportunity: The side hunk. There is a hunk mermaid in the royal court who the author hints at being a possible love interest, but it never goes anywhere. There could have been some real tension and subplot there, but there was none. In the end he attacks her after her "betrayal" to her kingdom and though that is understandable, it could have been way more interesting if something more was drawn out of that dynamic. Maybe nothing ever did happen between them, but then write about how it caused friction, or uncomfortable glances, or...something.
I could go on, but those are the standout reasons I could not give this book a good review.
August 15, 2025
Supernatural meets Little Mermaid in this spicy tale of a siren falling for a monster hunter. It's a great premise and it is obvious that this book is a work close to the author's heart. I love reading independently published books and encouraging newer writers in their craft. While the author has written some other Young Adult books, this was their first foray into a New Adult piece.
I loved our MCs, Eliana and Will, and their romance was adorable. I love a good enemies to lovers and nothing makes you enemies like trying to hunt the other one down! Despite issues I had with the book that I lay out further on, I kept reading because I genuinely liked them and wanted to see how their story ends.
There were quite a lot of elements that I loved about this book and the set up was great. Little Mermaid (Eliana) goes to college where she meets and falls in love with a boy (Will) from a family of monster hunters? Love it. Unfortunately, the book doesn’t always hit right. Despite being New Adult, it still reads as Young Adult with lots of spice thrown in. The characters are supposed to be in their early 20s, but feel much younger.
Written in first person present tense, the story often edges the line of 4th wall breaking telling then a natural showing of the action and characters. This includes things like the characters repeatedly telling us things we’ve already learned, such as Will often repeating how he has Hunter speed and strength, instead of just showing it in use.
This is the kind of book I would love to get in a writing workshop. The author has a great passion for the book and it's close to being great. But there are quite a few content/continuity issues that really needed to be picked up on by an outside reader/editor. For example, it's important Will never knows where she lives, yet in one scene he offers her a ride home and she accepts and as far as we know, gives her that ride. But later he does not know where she lives. And it's important later that she never met his parents, but again we have a scene with Will and his mom discussing them all having lunch next weekend. That weekend comes and goes and we never get any resolution that Eliana made an excuse or something to get out of it (though she actually did want to meet his parents). So, while I didn’t notice too much in the way of grammatical errors, I noticed quite a lot of this kind of error and that always drags me out of the narrative.
What remains the biggest disconnect for me though, is that Eliana supposedly has taken college classes before, to the extent that she even took tests and completed those classes. Yet, she can only be on land three days at a time and certainly does not act like she spent that much time on land. Again, these are issues that should be caught by an editor because the writer is too close to the piece.
Ultimately it was a cute, fun read but feels like the concept has the potential for much more.
3 ½ stars, rounded up to 4 - I want to support independent authors and I think readers that enjoy spicy young adult will like it. But the narration style never meshed for me and I kept being taken out by continuity issues. I'm really hoping some of these are addressed by the time the book is published. I’ll review the final finished book to see if any of this was addressed.
This is an ARC review, book provided by NetGalley.
I loved our MCs, Eliana and Will, and their romance was adorable. I love a good enemies to lovers and nothing makes you enemies like trying to hunt the other one down! Despite issues I had with the book that I lay out further on, I kept reading because I genuinely liked them and wanted to see how their story ends.
There were quite a lot of elements that I loved about this book and the set up was great. Little Mermaid (Eliana) goes to college where she meets and falls in love with a boy (Will) from a family of monster hunters? Love it. Unfortunately, the book doesn’t always hit right. Despite being New Adult, it still reads as Young Adult with lots of spice thrown in. The characters are supposed to be in their early 20s, but feel much younger.
Written in first person present tense, the story often edges the line of 4th wall breaking telling then a natural showing of the action and characters. This includes things like the characters repeatedly telling us things we’ve already learned, such as Will often repeating how he has Hunter speed and strength, instead of just showing it in use.
This is the kind of book I would love to get in a writing workshop. The author has a great passion for the book and it's close to being great. But there are quite a few content/continuity issues that really needed to be picked up on by an outside reader/editor. For example, it's important Will never knows where she lives, yet in one scene he offers her a ride home and she accepts and as far as we know, gives her that ride. But later he does not know where she lives. And it's important later that she never met his parents, but again we have a scene with Will and his mom discussing them all having lunch next weekend. That weekend comes and goes and we never get any resolution that Eliana made an excuse or something to get out of it (though she actually did want to meet his parents). So, while I didn’t notice too much in the way of grammatical errors, I noticed quite a lot of this kind of error and that always drags me out of the narrative.
What remains the biggest disconnect for me though, is that Eliana supposedly has taken college classes before, to the extent that she even took tests and completed those classes. Yet, she can only be on land three days at a time and certainly does not act like she spent that much time on land. Again, these are issues that should be caught by an editor because the writer is too close to the piece.
Ultimately it was a cute, fun read but feels like the concept has the potential for much more.
3 ½ stars, rounded up to 4 - I want to support independent authors and I think readers that enjoy spicy young adult will like it. But the narration style never meshed for me and I kept being taken out by continuity issues. I'm really hoping some of these are addressed by the time the book is published. I’ll review the final finished book to see if any of this was addressed.
This is an ARC review, book provided by NetGalley.
July 27, 2025
Thank you so much Midnight Tide Publishing for sending me this ARC via Netgalley!
Sails and Sirens is a standalone Little Mermaid retelling and I had so much fun reading this book, it’s a refreshing take on one of my favorite tales and I really enjoyed it!
Eliana is a siren princess tasked with going on land to infiltrate and end the hunters. Will is one of the hunters killing sea creatures, but from the moment they meet they can’t ignore their attraction to each other, but with Eliana hiding who she is and a mythical sea creature threatening them all, they need to find a way to have peace before their families destroy one another.
I love Little Mermaid retellings and this is one of the best I’ve read, there are so many unique twists here and I enjoyed them all. I loved the world of sea creatures and sirens and hunters and the conflict was written in such an interesting way with everyone being both in the right and in the wrong and no easy way to fix it. Eliana was a great FMC and a true fish out of water here, I laughed out loud many times at her vexation with human technology and custom and I loved the clever way of changing some of the human sayings into something underwater people would say. Will was also great and such an amazing romantic interest, he was so caring and patient and understanding with Eliana and their relationship was written in a perfect way, they were younger than I expected them to be (19 & 21) and since it’s been a while since I read this kind of relationship in book it was refreshing to see them a bit awkward and first time falling in love, I also wasn’t sure for a minute there if it’s going to be a YA or NA book but the spicy scenes quickly dispelled my doubts and those scenes were so good. I also really liked side characters, especially Elara and Aiden, and Alina, the sea witch, was such a nice surprise, I loved her.
Sails and Sirens is a really great read that I recommend to everyone and I can’t wait to read more books from this author.
Sails and Sirens is a standalone Little Mermaid retelling and I had so much fun reading this book, it’s a refreshing take on one of my favorite tales and I really enjoyed it!
Eliana is a siren princess tasked with going on land to infiltrate and end the hunters. Will is one of the hunters killing sea creatures, but from the moment they meet they can’t ignore their attraction to each other, but with Eliana hiding who she is and a mythical sea creature threatening them all, they need to find a way to have peace before their families destroy one another.
I love Little Mermaid retellings and this is one of the best I’ve read, there are so many unique twists here and I enjoyed them all. I loved the world of sea creatures and sirens and hunters and the conflict was written in such an interesting way with everyone being both in the right and in the wrong and no easy way to fix it. Eliana was a great FMC and a true fish out of water here, I laughed out loud many times at her vexation with human technology and custom and I loved the clever way of changing some of the human sayings into something underwater people would say. Will was also great and such an amazing romantic interest, he was so caring and patient and understanding with Eliana and their relationship was written in a perfect way, they were younger than I expected them to be (19 & 21) and since it’s been a while since I read this kind of relationship in book it was refreshing to see them a bit awkward and first time falling in love, I also wasn’t sure for a minute there if it’s going to be a YA or NA book but the spicy scenes quickly dispelled my doubts and those scenes were so good. I also really liked side characters, especially Elara and Aiden, and Alina, the sea witch, was such a nice surprise, I loved her.
Sails and Sirens is a really great read that I recommend to everyone and I can’t wait to read more books from this author.
June 27, 2025
If you love The Little Mermaid, fairytale retellings that aren't an exact replica of the story they're retelling, and men who really know how to treat their women, this novel is for you!
Eliana is a siren princess, and Will is a sea hunter - their mission in life is to destroy the other, but we all know things are never that simple. That is definitely so here. Eliana and Will's story was a rollercoaster in the best possible way, with so many ups and downs you'll be hanging on to the railings of your boat! I enjoyed every minute of the journey, and I loved what I believe to be a subtle tie-in to Cynthia's OF HEARTS AND HUNTERS. The world is bigger than you realise!
Family relationships play a big role in this story, and I thought they were incredibly well done. Whether we were watching the easy way Will got along with his brother or the way Eliana's sister was always at her throat, there's a scene that everyone with a sibling is sure to relate to. (There's somebody I really hope gets bitten by karma!)
The world-building is fantastic. It gave me Supernatural vibes where a small percentage of people know about what's out there, but ignorance doesn't keep you safe. The stories and portrayals of the Sea and Land Hunters really dragged me in. Likewise, the portrayal of the Seven Kingdoms under the sea was masterful. I loved the way their names spoke to which sea they resided in, and the territories had their differences in both looks and ideologies. Despite all of this, I never felt overwhelmed by the world-building. The balance was masterful.
I'm not one for smut, so read anyone else's review for that, but I absolutely ADORED Will and the way he treated Eliana. Gentleman, take notes. You might learn a thing or two from Mr Sawyer!
Overall, I am SO GLAD I picked this up! It's a wonderful read, a fantastic retelling without being a straight-up copy, and I'm already looking forward to a re-read in the near future!
Eliana is a siren princess, and Will is a sea hunter - their mission in life is to destroy the other, but we all know things are never that simple. That is definitely so here. Eliana and Will's story was a rollercoaster in the best possible way, with so many ups and downs you'll be hanging on to the railings of your boat! I enjoyed every minute of the journey, and I loved what I believe to be a subtle tie-in to Cynthia's OF HEARTS AND HUNTERS. The world is bigger than you realise!
Family relationships play a big role in this story, and I thought they were incredibly well done. Whether we were watching the easy way Will got along with his brother or the way Eliana's sister was always at her throat, there's a scene that everyone with a sibling is sure to relate to. (There's somebody I really hope gets bitten by karma!)
The world-building is fantastic. It gave me Supernatural vibes where a small percentage of people know about what's out there, but ignorance doesn't keep you safe. The stories and portrayals of the Sea and Land Hunters really dragged me in. Likewise, the portrayal of the Seven Kingdoms under the sea was masterful. I loved the way their names spoke to which sea they resided in, and the territories had their differences in both looks and ideologies. Despite all of this, I never felt overwhelmed by the world-building. The balance was masterful.
I'm not one for smut, so read anyone else's review for that, but I absolutely ADORED Will and the way he treated Eliana. Gentleman, take notes. You might learn a thing or two from Mr Sawyer!
Overall, I am SO GLAD I picked this up! It's a wonderful read, a fantastic retelling without being a straight-up copy, and I'm already looking forward to a re-read in the near future!
August 11, 2025
BOOK: SAILS AND SIRENS
AUTHOR: CYNTHIA BRUBAKER
PUB DATE: 26TH AUGUST 2025
🌊🧜🏼♀️🏹
REVIEW- 4.5 stars
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
🏹🧜🏼♀️🌊
This book was amazing! I have never read a book like this. I loved it, from the storyline to the amazing characters and the ending. This book is so similar to The Little Mermaid yet so unique and different. We have the underwater kingdom of Cerulia of sirens and Oscala (land) filled with humans and supernatural humans like Hunters. For centuries, sirens and hunters have been at war, killing each other and mistaken about each other.
🌊🧜🏼♀️🏹
The FMC, Eliana, is a Cerulian princess and heir to the throne. She was sent to investigate the hunters. She's hardworking, loving, and confused about the human world and her position at Cerulia. The MMC, Will a Hunter who's a talented sailor and a very good guy. I liked them both individually and they were even better together. I loved their relationship and chemistry. However, I felt like some aspects of their relationship were way too fast, but it didn't really bother me.
🏹🧜🏼♀️🌊
Then, Eliana's real identity was revealed, and all h*ll was let loose. I liked the realistic breakdown both MCs went through. They even went through a great danger fighting a megalodon and almost dying and finding each other again. I admire both MCs' fights for each other and peace between the sirens and hunters. There was also a hint of palace drama, too.
🌊🧜🏼♀️🏹
This book was very good and I read it in a couple of hours. I liked the ending, but I just wanted more because the MCs are just so different, and getting together will be so difficult. I loved the world building. I would definitely recommend this book, and I can't wait to read more books in this series.
🏹🧜🏼♀️🌊
AUTHOR: CYNTHIA BRUBAKER
PUB DATE: 26TH AUGUST 2025
🌊🧜🏼♀️🏹
REVIEW- 4.5 stars
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
🏹🧜🏼♀️🌊
This book was amazing! I have never read a book like this. I loved it, from the storyline to the amazing characters and the ending. This book is so similar to The Little Mermaid yet so unique and different. We have the underwater kingdom of Cerulia of sirens and Oscala (land) filled with humans and supernatural humans like Hunters. For centuries, sirens and hunters have been at war, killing each other and mistaken about each other.
🌊🧜🏼♀️🏹
The FMC, Eliana, is a Cerulian princess and heir to the throne. She was sent to investigate the hunters. She's hardworking, loving, and confused about the human world and her position at Cerulia. The MMC, Will a Hunter who's a talented sailor and a very good guy. I liked them both individually and they were even better together. I loved their relationship and chemistry. However, I felt like some aspects of their relationship were way too fast, but it didn't really bother me.
🏹🧜🏼♀️🌊
Then, Eliana's real identity was revealed, and all h*ll was let loose. I liked the realistic breakdown both MCs went through. They even went through a great danger fighting a megalodon and almost dying and finding each other again. I admire both MCs' fights for each other and peace between the sirens and hunters. There was also a hint of palace drama, too.
🌊🧜🏼♀️🏹
This book was very good and I read it in a couple of hours. I liked the ending, but I just wanted more because the MCs are just so different, and getting together will be so difficult. I loved the world building. I would definitely recommend this book, and I can't wait to read more books in this series.
🏹🧜🏼♀️🌊
September 17, 2025
▸Urban fantasy romance
▸Fairytale retelling
▸Little Mermaid retelling
▸Forbidden love
▸Enemies to lovers
▸Forced proximity
▸Siren x siren hunter
▸Fake dating
▸Hidden identities
▸Siren princess FMC
▸Smitten MMC
▸Sea monsters
▸Touch her/him and d1e
▸Dual POVs
Will is a Sea Hunter, a supernaturally skilled killer who enjoys eliminating sea monsters, including sirens.
Eliana is a siren, Princess of Cerulia, assigned to a scouting squad to end the Sea Hunter on the surface who killed the King of Cerulia's trusted advisor.
Eliana's journey to the surface leads her to meet Will, who makes it complicated for her to complete her mission.
This was a great read🤩 the plot outstanding and well written✨ I loved the characters and the way they interacted with each other felt well developed and natural, Will and Eliana are both very sweet together!💖 they definitely had chemistry from the very start, and I loved the development and relationships between them, how they build trust and loyalty especially when they find out each other's hidden identities. I just didn't really like the ending, I hope their story doesn't end in this book! if you like a light urban fantasy books containing enemies to lovers between Hunters vs Sirens with Romeo and Juliet vibes this definitely a book to pick up and try✨
♥️Thank you so much Cynthia Brubaker for the gifted copy, I'm so grateful for the opportunity! all opinions are my own♥️
▸Fairytale retelling
▸Little Mermaid retelling
▸Forbidden love
▸Enemies to lovers
▸Forced proximity
▸Siren x siren hunter
▸Fake dating
▸Hidden identities
▸Siren princess FMC
▸Smitten MMC
▸Sea monsters
▸Touch her/him and d1e
▸Dual POVs
I truly wish things could be different between us, that he would still look at me in this way if he knew the truth.
Will is a Sea Hunter, a supernaturally skilled killer who enjoys eliminating sea monsters, including sirens.
Eliana is a siren, Princess of Cerulia, assigned to a scouting squad to end the Sea Hunter on the surface who killed the King of Cerulia's trusted advisor.
Eliana's journey to the surface leads her to meet Will, who makes it complicated for her to complete her mission.
I care for Will.
I never wanted to, it was never supposed to happen.
If he discovers the truth, he'll end me.
But I'm drowning in affection for him.
This was a great read🤩 the plot outstanding and well written✨ I loved the characters and the way they interacted with each other felt well developed and natural, Will and Eliana are both very sweet together!💖 they definitely had chemistry from the very start, and I loved the development and relationships between them, how they build trust and loyalty especially when they find out each other's hidden identities. I just didn't really like the ending, I hope their story doesn't end in this book! if you like a light urban fantasy books containing enemies to lovers between Hunters vs Sirens with Romeo and Juliet vibes this definitely a book to pick up and try✨
♥️Thank you so much Cynthia Brubaker for the gifted copy, I'm so grateful for the opportunity! all opinions are my own♥️
September 2, 2025
The Dyslexic Reviewer - Spoil Free Reviews
Stars: ⭐⭐⭐.5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Author: @cb.novelist
POV: Duel POV, 1st Person
Gene: Urban Romantasy
Triggers: Open Door
Read Time: 10-11 Hours
What I loved about this book:
❤️ World Building - There was two worlds to build in this book, under the sea and above the waters. The author did a wonderful job building both of these worlds. Under water, you can pick up some of the "little mermaid" vibes this book has, though it's it own world and story. You can envision it, it is a lush world with the sea life working together. Above the waters, you have a look at typical Florida college town. It is rich and familiar.
❤️ The Characters - I loved Eliana and her sister Elara, they have a great sister relationship, even though they never seem to agree. It is the same sibling relationship you see with Will and Aiden. These characters are well flushed out and have depth to them. It was enjoyable to get to know them.
❤️ The Story - The story was beautiful, it reminds us that revenge killing is futile and never ending, until both sides finally learns to let go.
What I thought could have been better:
🤔 Some parts seemed a little too drawn out and I ended up skimming some parts.
Overall: This was a good book, I enjoyed it, It was sweet over all. It's out now and you should go get it!
🐬Siren "Fact" - Inspired by Eliana
One of the most famous tales involving sirens is found in Homer's "Odyssey," where the hero Odysseus is bound to his ship's mast to resist their alluring calls while his crew blocks their ears with wax. (www.ebsco.com)
🥰 Favorite Quote
"You poor unfortunate soul" - Cuz how could it not be 🥰
I got this book free from @netgalley for my honest review.
Stars: ⭐⭐⭐.5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Author: @cb.novelist
POV: Duel POV, 1st Person
Gene: Urban Romantasy
Triggers: Open Door
Read Time: 10-11 Hours
What I loved about this book:
❤️ World Building - There was two worlds to build in this book, under the sea and above the waters. The author did a wonderful job building both of these worlds. Under water, you can pick up some of the "little mermaid" vibes this book has, though it's it own world and story. You can envision it, it is a lush world with the sea life working together. Above the waters, you have a look at typical Florida college town. It is rich and familiar.
❤️ The Characters - I loved Eliana and her sister Elara, they have a great sister relationship, even though they never seem to agree. It is the same sibling relationship you see with Will and Aiden. These characters are well flushed out and have depth to them. It was enjoyable to get to know them.
❤️ The Story - The story was beautiful, it reminds us that revenge killing is futile and never ending, until both sides finally learns to let go.
What I thought could have been better:
🤔 Some parts seemed a little too drawn out and I ended up skimming some parts.
Overall: This was a good book, I enjoyed it, It was sweet over all. It's out now and you should go get it!
🐬Siren "Fact" - Inspired by Eliana
One of the most famous tales involving sirens is found in Homer's "Odyssey," where the hero Odysseus is bound to his ship's mast to resist their alluring calls while his crew blocks their ears with wax. (www.ebsco.com)
🥰 Favorite Quote
"You poor unfortunate soul" - Cuz how could it not be 🥰
I got this book free from @netgalley for my honest review.
July 15, 2025
I inhaled this book like my Labrador eats her breakfast. I dipped my toes in once I heard it was a Little Mermaid retelling with Winchester vibes and were fully submerged once I dove into Cynthia's magical world.
I loved:
🧜♀️ 🏹 Our FMC Eliana and MMC Will. Both are full of heart and strength, striving to do what's right for what and who they love as well as staying true to their convictions no matter the cost. Their relationship wasn't set in stone. It had its ebbs and flows, like all relationships do, making it feel authentic.
🦈 🚢 The Siren and Sea Hunter lore. Cynthia crafted a wonderful Siren Kingdom and Sea Hunter code. I especially enjoyed the fish out of water scenes where Eliana was trying to navigate the human world. The little attention to detail in scenes made a big impact on me. A Siren wouldn't be flawlessly moving through the human world. The various faux pas throughout the storylines made me giggle.
Well done Cynthia on a fun and engaging story with action, spice and a megalodon! I would love to read more from this world - give us Aidan and Elara's story please 🙏🙏
I loved:
🧜♀️ 🏹 Our FMC Eliana and MMC Will. Both are full of heart and strength, striving to do what's right for what and who they love as well as staying true to their convictions no matter the cost. Their relationship wasn't set in stone. It had its ebbs and flows, like all relationships do, making it feel authentic.
🦈 🚢 The Siren and Sea Hunter lore. Cynthia crafted a wonderful Siren Kingdom and Sea Hunter code. I especially enjoyed the fish out of water scenes where Eliana was trying to navigate the human world. The little attention to detail in scenes made a big impact on me. A Siren wouldn't be flawlessly moving through the human world. The various faux pas throughout the storylines made me giggle.
Well done Cynthia on a fun and engaging story with action, spice and a megalodon! I would love to read more from this world - give us Aidan and Elara's story please 🙏🙏
July 29, 2025
This book is what I consider a cozy, small college town romance book with your classic love-at-first-sight meet cute and some light tension between the main characters to keep things moving. Unfortunately, this book was described to me as a modern Little Mermaid meets Supernatural tale and while I can definitely see the Little Mermaid, I'm afraid it didn't quite hit the mark on Supernatural.
The concept of a Siren accidentally falling in love with a Hunter, the very person literally born and raised to kill her, is great. The issue I have with this is that the book feels less like a fantasy romance and more like a contemporary romance book that happens to have a mermaid in it. I would have loved to see more world-building to really flesh out what the sirens and Sea Hunters can do. Despite sirens vs Sea Hunters being the main conflict, I felt like there were no real stakes between them because I don't know what all their powers are and how deadly they actually are.
Thank you again Midnight Tide Publishing for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
The concept of a Siren accidentally falling in love with a Hunter, the very person literally born and raised to kill her, is great. The issue I have with this is that the book feels less like a fantasy romance and more like a contemporary romance book that happens to have a mermaid in it. I would have loved to see more world-building to really flesh out what the sirens and Sea Hunters can do. Despite sirens vs Sea Hunters being the main conflict, I felt like there were no real stakes between them because I don't know what all their powers are and how deadly they actually are.
Thank you again Midnight Tide Publishing for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
December 13, 2025
Sails and Sirens by Cynthia Brubaker is described as a spicy Little Mermaid retelling and while it lived up to that description in some ways ultimately the book failed for me.
While reading I found it hard to pinpoint the character ages, the main characters are apparently in college but they come across as much more juvenile, mid teens at most and sometimes even younger, and when I read the author's notes at the end she explained that this book was originally a YA short story that she decided to develop. For me those YA bones are far too prominent and the book reads like it is aimed at a YA audience except for the spicy scenes, which obviously are aimed at an older audience., As for those scenes some worked but others were nothing short of cringe inducing which did not help my struggles with this book. The writing style seemed like this could have been written for a school project, which again was at odds with the spicier content. Unfortunately this one just was not for me. It had a good premise but the execution left a lot to be desired.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.
While reading I found it hard to pinpoint the character ages, the main characters are apparently in college but they come across as much more juvenile, mid teens at most and sometimes even younger, and when I read the author's notes at the end she explained that this book was originally a YA short story that she decided to develop. For me those YA bones are far too prominent and the book reads like it is aimed at a YA audience except for the spicy scenes, which obviously are aimed at an older audience., As for those scenes some worked but others were nothing short of cringe inducing which did not help my struggles with this book. The writing style seemed like this could have been written for a school project, which again was at odds with the spicier content. Unfortunately this one just was not for me. It had a good premise but the execution left a lot to be desired.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.
August 13, 2025
ARC Review. My first book from Cynthia Brubaker. Not sure if I’ll read another. I’ve heard that this is her first attempt at writing for an older audience, but this book didn’t quite work. I could see where it has potential to be a great story, but the writing just wasn’t there. The continuity wasn’t there. Through most of the story, based on other characters that we knew were younger, I was expecting the FMC to be at least 21, but in the epilogue, she was as celebrating her 20th birthday. Not sure how her and her younger sister were hanging out in a bar at the beginning of the book when they were clearly under age. There were parts that confused me and I had to go back to see if I had missed something, or read it wrong. I did not, in fact, miss anything or read it wrong, things were just not there to explain it. At the end of the book, I feel like I had more questions than answers, and I feel like those answers were supposed to be explained in what I had read.
Might be a good book after a good editor goes through it.
Might be a good book after a good editor goes through it.
July 17, 2025
This was my first Little Mermaid inspired retelling and I have to say I was definitely intrigued and sucked into the world right away! I also enjoyed the changes that the author made to the story to make it her own.
Siren Princess Eliana seeks revenge on the Human Sea Hunters who are attacking her people. William, a Sea Hunter, would do anything to protect his family, especially from the Sirens. But when there’s a greater evil at play, can they come together, and perhaps find love along the way?
***Enemies to lovers
***New adult
***Strong family dynamics
***Dual POV
Lots of adventure, suspense and action in this one! I really loved the sibling relationships between Eliana and Elara and Will and Aiden. All and all, this was a fun fantasy read, and I will definitely check out future novels by the author.
Thank you to Midnight Tide Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC of this novel; all opinions are my own.
Siren Princess Eliana seeks revenge on the Human Sea Hunters who are attacking her people. William, a Sea Hunter, would do anything to protect his family, especially from the Sirens. But when there’s a greater evil at play, can they come together, and perhaps find love along the way?
***Enemies to lovers
***New adult
***Strong family dynamics
***Dual POV
Lots of adventure, suspense and action in this one! I really loved the sibling relationships between Eliana and Elara and Will and Aiden. All and all, this was a fun fantasy read, and I will definitely check out future novels by the author.
Thank you to Midnight Tide Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC of this novel; all opinions are my own.
November 5, 2025
🌶️🌶️
Cute unexpected ending and interesting twists. One of the better re-imaginings I have read.
Thank you Cynthia Brubaker for an eARC.
I really enjoyed the world building, the dedication to accurate fish out of water (heh) about technology and just human social customs in general and how nasty sisters can be to each other. It's very obvious Cynthia put a lot of thought into her characters, societies and how they would mesh. This was a refreshing break from the usual romantasy.
“You poor, unfortunate soul.”
🧜🏼♀️Enemies to Lovers
🔱Hidden Identities
🧜🏼♀️Fish Out Of Water
🔱Re-imagining
🧜🏼♀️Secret Societies
🔱Hunter MMC
🧜🏼♀️Siren FMC
🖤🖤🖤🖤
If you only want to see books I rate 4-stars or higher, get book recommendations or just connect and talk books follow me on Instagram
🖤🖤🖤🖤
Cute unexpected ending and interesting twists. One of the better re-imaginings I have read.
Thank you Cynthia Brubaker for an eARC.
I really enjoyed the world building, the dedication to accurate fish out of water (heh) about technology and just human social customs in general and how nasty sisters can be to each other. It's very obvious Cynthia put a lot of thought into her characters, societies and how they would mesh. This was a refreshing break from the usual romantasy.
“You poor, unfortunate soul.”
🧜🏼♀️Enemies to Lovers
🔱Hidden Identities
🧜🏼♀️Fish Out Of Water
🔱Re-imagining
🧜🏼♀️Secret Societies
🔱Hunter MMC
🧜🏼♀️Siren FMC
🖤🖤🖤🖤
If you only want to see books I rate 4-stars or higher, get book recommendations or just connect and talk books follow me on Instagram
🖤🖤🖤🖤
July 21, 2025
I like tweaks to disney/fairy tale princess stories (especially smexy tweaks), so I was excited to read this. This book had some interesting points, but I think it would be better suited for YA. I have not read previous works by the author. I understand the MFC was "newer" to human land, but if she had been taking classes there previously, some things were just hard to buy into that were so new & confusing to her. I'm all about using a couple mer/swim/fin references, but it got old. I also think some things were just skipped over and/or maybe I just wasn't invested enough to remember the details (timeframes seemed off to me, not exactly spoiler but did something happen to her father or did he just get old?). Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for the ARC opportunity.
July 27, 2025
Sails and sirens takes inspiration from the little mermaid and supernatural, giving of hunter mixed with Disney vibes.
Eliana siren princess of Cerulia is tasked with a mission to gain information on the human sea hunters, alongside one of her sisters Elara. William Sawyer is a sea hunter alongside his brother and father, finds Eliana intriguing both becoming infatuated with each other, can a siren and a sea hunters stand the tests of time?
The sibling dynamics are very relatable Eliana so the her two sisters and Will with his brother, there is banter but also protection.
Can the truth set you free?
Forbidden romance
Thank you Cynthia Brubaker, Midnight tide publishing and NetGalley for the ARC read
Eliana siren princess of Cerulia is tasked with a mission to gain information on the human sea hunters, alongside one of her sisters Elara. William Sawyer is a sea hunter alongside his brother and father, finds Eliana intriguing both becoming infatuated with each other, can a siren and a sea hunters stand the tests of time?
The sibling dynamics are very relatable Eliana so the her two sisters and Will with his brother, there is banter but also protection.
Can the truth set you free?
Forbidden romance
Thank you Cynthia Brubaker, Midnight tide publishing and NetGalley for the ARC read
August 13, 2025
I liked this book overall and it is an easy read. It is a modern-day retelling of The Little Mermaid with supernatural elements and a twist. This did read more YA, but it did not ruin the story for me. The story is about a siren, Eliana, and a siren (sea) hunter, Will, who have been taught the other is responsible for the attacks and slaughter of their people. Eliana is tasked by her father to enroll in the college campus, along with one of her sisters, to gain more knowledge about the hunters and their plans. The beginning of the story sets up the foundation and then the story picks up with plot twists that keep you engaged to see where it’s going to. Eliana and Will both have to decide where their loyalties lie and if they should go with their head or their heart, and if what they’ve always been taught is in fact the truth.
Thank you so much to the author for a gifted eARC.
Thank you so much to the author for a gifted eARC.
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