A Simple Tale of Tides and Longing: A Simple Tales Novella

by Kami King Larsen

Once upon a time, in an unexpected and magical moment, Maeve Garrow fell in love with a dashing selkie. Unfortunately, that same man broke her heart and set her on a path to becoming someone she hardly recognizes. Now years later, her life is anything but magical. The man she hastily married in the wake of her heartbreak has left her. The people of Feyport look at her with pity rather than admiration. Worst of all, she wonders if she will forever be left on the fringes of the fey stories she has always adored.

When the same stunning selkie arrives in the water with a message for her sister, Maeve doesn’t know how to hold on to the anger and betrayal Declan left her with. What is worse, he seems to blame her for the way things ended.

With danger lurking in the shallows competing with the unexpected joy of Declan’s message, Maeve will need to learn to trust not only the man she has never stopped loving, but her heart as well.

In this short but mesmerizing addition to the Simple Tales books, old and new readers alike can immerse themselves in the world of Feyport, where Celtic folklore meets sweet fantasy romance at its best.

74 pages, Paperback

Published January 26, 2025

About the author

Lover of stories, writer of fiction, doctor for children, and enjoyer of wine and whimsy

Reviews

[Krystal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sometimes I like to grab an indie read that I know little about by a new to me author. I thought this shortie would be worth a shot because the mythos surrounding selkies has the potential to provide a unique take.

Maeve jumped into a doomed quickie marriage after being abandoned by the selkie she was involved with, Declan. There’s a danger lurking in the local waters that Declan returns to hunt. When the former lovers cross paths again Maeve can’t understand why Declan blames her for the demise of their relationship.

The beginning felt like there was too much tell and not enough show. I enjoy getting to know characters through their actions and dialogue, but it took me awhile to become invested here. The middle found its groove and contains a great action sequence. I was glad I stuck around because once the plot got rolling it was entertaining. I would’ve liked the ending more if it had a bit more punch, but it was decent.

This is part of a series, but can be read as a standalone. I have not read the earlier books and had zero issues.

I would recommend this one to paranormal romance fans looking for a short story sans spice.

Thank you to the author and publisher for providing an Advance Readers Copy for review via BookSirens. These are my unbiased opinions.

[Caiti · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a free ARC from BookSirens.

This is a stand alone novella, set midway through a series, something that made me a bit nervous. I think this was fairly justified as while the writing made a really good effort at filling in the gaps, there was still parts I couldn't comprehend.

However, I absolutely loved the concept of the seal-shapeshifting folk. I love seals and they're such an unassuming animal in a world full of werewolves and dragons. The backstory between the main characters was also really interesting and felt believable. I do think the shortness of this did dampen some of the chemistry, but it didn't stop me enjoying the ending.

[Sudeshna Banerjee · Rating 4 out of 5]

"A Simple Tale of Tides and Longing" is a super engaging novella that takes you to the magical place of Feyport, where Celtic legends and a cute romance mix together. It’s all about Maeve Garrow, a woman whose life goes off the rails when she falls for a charming selkie named Declan. But things go south, and their love story ends in heartbreak, leaving Maeve's life pretty rough since then. When Declan shows up again with a message for Maeve's sister, she has to face her past and figure out if she can trust the guy she’s never really stopped loving.

Maeve is a really well-drawn character, and her emotional journey feels so relatable. You can totally get her struggle between feeling angry and hurt while also being surprised by Declan's return. Declan, the selkie guy, brings a cool sense of mystery to the whole thing, which makes him super intriguing, too.

Kami King Larsen's writing flows beautifully and really brings the enchanting vibe of Feyport to life. The descriptions are super vivid and packed with feeling, pulling you right into the story's world. The pacing is spot on, mixing quiet moments with action in a way that feels just right.

The novella dives into themes like love, loss, and finding redemption. It really explores the ups and downs of emotions and highlights how powerful forgiveness and trust can be. The story reminds us to accept our past and learn to trust again, even after getting hurt.

Larsen uses all sorts of cool writing tricks to make the story pop, like colorful descriptions, deep emotions, and a great sense of setting. Throwing in Celtic mythology really spices things up, making the tale stand out and super interesting.

The pacing of the novella is on point, with a clear flow that grabs your attention from start to finish. It’s easy to read too, with straightforward writing that anyone can get into.

"A Simple Tale of Tides and Longing" is a lovely little novella that mixes fantasy and romance with some real emotional depth. Kami King Larsen’s writing is super charming and really pulls at your heartstrings, making it a great pick for anyone into Celtic mythology and sweet love stories. It really sticks with you, prompting thoughts about love and forgiveness.

I totally recommend "A Simple Tale of Tides and Longing" to anyone who digs fantasy romance and Celtic vibes. It’s a heartwarming story that you’ll be thinking about long after you’ve finished it.

[Moonburst · Rating 5 out of 5]

Years ago, Maeve fell in love with Declan, a selkie. But when he didn't return to the beach, Maeve made some difficult decisions to protect herself and her family. Now, her husband has divorced her and Maeve is forced to contend with what she wants to make of her life. When Declan returns to Faeport's shores, they both have to decide if it's worth healing their fractured relationship.

A Simple Tale of Tides and Longings is a short novella that gives closure to Maeve's story line. Both Maeve and Declan have been hurt, and their quick decisions have had long lasting effects. Watching the two find resolution is extremely edifying and is a perfect thing to tide you over until the next book in the series. While this story can be read on its own, you will get the most out of it if you read the previous books in the series.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Keli · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Knowing that this was a novella 2.5, I assumed it was likely about lesser characters in one or both of the previous A Simple Tales stories, so I read the first two. While it isn't necessary, it does help with understanding the background of Tides and Longing's main characters, Maeve and Declan. Plus, the first two books are well worth the read!

A Simple Tale of Tides and Longing is such a simple, sweet, uplifting story of love redeemed. It concludes Maeve and Declan's story, which was hinted at in Kami King Larsen's A Simple Tale of Water and Weeping. It is a tidy and enchanting end to Feyport's theme of acceptance of people of ALL kinds. Highly recommended for those that love a quick read that's full of juicy (but clean) romantic tension.

[Kat M · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this as a in-between for the Simple Tales series. It had that elmeent that I was looking for and then everything worked with the mythology romance going on. The characters had that feel that I was looking for and enjoyed the romance going on. Kami King Larsen has a strong writing style and enjoyed the feel of this. It uses the Celtic folklore that was everything that I was hoping for and enjoyed this world overall.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Jessica Gilbert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ugggh the angst...

My one issue with this book would be the level of angst between basically every character. There's the tension with the main characters and then the tension with the side characters that attributes to more tension with the main characters.

All the misunderstandings and world altering information. It's a lot to get through in a short amount of pages. This quick read will leave you in a bit of a whirlwind but again, that ending makes up for it all.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

It will come as no surprise, but I loved this little novella.

[Brigid Litras · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another lovely take of Irish folklore. I really enjoyed this novella.

[Coeur Maverick · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Simple Tale of Tides and Longings, Book 2.5 of The Simple Tales series by Kami King Larson is a fey romance novella. I read this novella on its own, without knowing the series before that point. It stands well on its own, explaining everything a reader would need to know without needing to reference what had happened before.

As a light hearted romantic read, it is a good novella to read in one sitting, though I suspect that some may want to savour it by splitting the reading into two sessions, perhaps dreaming overnight of the possibility of meeting their own selkie lover.

I thoroughly enjoyed this light read, and I now want o learn more about selkies and kelpies.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. I look forward to reading the rest of the series.

[Kath · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a unique reading experience for me and immensely enjoyed the story. Sisters Maeve and Aylee lived in a small town by the ocean where mythical creatures dwelled in and out of the water. These sisters each fell for a selkie, human in land and seal in the water, brothers Declan and Cailean.

Interesting reading about the oceans mythical creatures, both good and bad ones. Lots of drama and intrigue to keep reader interested in story.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[CMarie · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful addition to this series. I love Maeve and this was a touching addition to her journey. The romance was heartfelt and emotional. The writing was lyrical and lovely. You couldn't have asked for more from this novella. Best enjoyed after the books prior in the timeline but could serve as an entry to the world as well.

[RedReviews4You Susan-Dara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kami King Larsen is an author who always brings me back to that wonderful world of being an early teen when I was old enough to look behind the skirts of a pretty princess and see the darker side of fairy tales and myths but still young enough to look at the castle she lived and wonder What if... If this is the kind of story that appeals to your inner young person, then you don't want to miss this book.

Although set inside of a series, this novella can easily be read as a standalone and fully enjoyed. This is the perfect weekend read because once you step into the carefully crafted world of Feyport that Larson has built, you will not want to leave. A Simple Tale of Tides and Longing is the heart wrenching story of a male Silkie and the human woman he falls in love with. Told with beautifully vivid writing that never interfere with the story's pace and characters that are real in their struggles, flaws, and decisions, I cannot share how compelling or finely crafted this story is without spoiling something.

[Kami · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a short one but I felt like it was necessary to bridge the first 2 books to the last 2. I hope you all enjoy