What do you think?
Rate this book
Monsters of Brimrey Island #1
Tied to the Waves: An MX angsty romance
The ocean was the end of my parents' lives—he might be the start of mine.
An angsty MX monster romance
In an ideal world, my dead parents’ waterfront house would rot with them.
In an ideal world, I wouldn’t need the money from selling it, and I would’ve never returned to the island I fled from at eighteen.
But life is never kind to people like me, is it?
So I’m back where I left the friends who broke my heart and the ex whose bruised fingerprints I still can’t scrub off my skin.
The second-to-last thing I need right now is an injured, unconscious merman drifting over to my dock. And the last, the way he tells me I’m beautiful when he wakes up.
Tied to the Waves is an MX monster romance with a nonbinary protagonist, a sweet love interest, lots of hurt/comfort, dark themes, and spice. As a full-length novel with a HEA, it can be read as a standalone or as the first book in a series full of trans characters set in the small town of Brimrey Island.
An angsty MX monster romance
In an ideal world, my dead parents’ waterfront house would rot with them.
In an ideal world, I wouldn’t need the money from selling it, and I would’ve never returned to the island I fled from at eighteen.
But life is never kind to people like me, is it?
So I’m back where I left the friends who broke my heart and the ex whose bruised fingerprints I still can’t scrub off my skin.
The second-to-last thing I need right now is an injured, unconscious merman drifting over to my dock. And the last, the way he tells me I’m beautiful when he wakes up.
Tied to the Waves is an MX monster romance with a nonbinary protagonist, a sweet love interest, lots of hurt/comfort, dark themes, and spice. As a full-length novel with a HEA, it can be read as a standalone or as the first book in a series full of trans characters set in the small town of Brimrey Island.
320 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 7, 2025
4 people are currently reading
105 people want to read
About the author
Vee Debras
3 books13 followersVee Debras (they/them) grew up in an isolated, creaky-floored house in the mountains. They spent their childhood staring at a dark corner of their tiny room, terrified that the demon lurking there would try to possess them.
In an unexpected turn of events, they became a queer monster romance writer.
Vee is obsessed with love and community, so of course hurt/comfort is their favorite flavor of story—life will hurt you, but the people who love you have your back.
When not going tap tap tap on their keyboard, you can find Vee enjoying a horror movie or the latest seasonal anime. Or maybe gazing out to sea while listening to Hozier (and crying about it, probably).
Join their newsletter at veedebras.com to be kept up to date with news, discounts, the writing process, and more. You'll also receive a free novelette featuring a nonbinary main character and a biblically accurate angel.
In an unexpected turn of events, they became a queer monster romance writer.
Vee is obsessed with love and community, so of course hurt/comfort is their favorite flavor of story—life will hurt you, but the people who love you have your back.
When not going tap tap tap on their keyboard, you can find Vee enjoying a horror movie or the latest seasonal anime. Or maybe gazing out to sea while listening to Hozier (and crying about it, probably).
Join their newsletter at veedebras.com to be kept up to date with news, discounts, the writing process, and more. You'll also receive a free novelette featuring a nonbinary main character and a biblically accurate angel.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
June 15, 2025
It reminded me of a sea anemone swaying in the currents, except the dark tendrils moved on their own, exploring the space around them as if blindly trying to reach something.
So we've got swaying tendrils that burst out of a cock pocket, careful clawed fingering, fin-boning (fin bone insertion, fin bone boning?),
gill-sucking, gill-exploration, and tail-grinding/tail-humping.
I seem to start a lot of my reviews with dick or sex descriptions, but it's not my fault!
The opening that had appeared between them was the same shade of dark green as the scales. I only made it out because of the tangle of tendrils that bloomed from it.
This book goes heavy on the hurt/comfort and it wasn't just about one event. It's everything. The small town shittiness, being forced to return home after their parents died, broken friendships, loneliness, anger, really relatable/realistic terrible exes or past sexual encounters, gossipy shitty grudge-holding townies, a hateful deadnaming aunt, the list goes on and on.
Ness isn't happy to be back on their hometown island, and finding an injured merman and dragging him to a bathtub to recover, while trying to sort through their childhood house and sell it, it felt like it was going to be a good story.
Plus unapologetic monster-fucking.
There was a lot more to it than that. I liked the level of unhappiness and pain at being forced to confront their childhood. The flashback scenes were not lengthy, just long enough to reveal why it's painful.
Echo, who chose that name himself because it's his favorite word in English, is the curious sunshine side of the relationship, and also lonely. The bathtub caretaking scenes were great, the fact that Ness hates seafood and can't stand the smell, but has to feed it to Echo daily...Ness just can't catch a break. Ness is obviously the grumpy half.
The jewelery-making gift-giving was sweet, and I loved that Ness got to see Echo's home, where it's filled with all kinds of trinkets.
Frames with no pictures, empty liquor bottles, what looked like a mixer bowl full of marbles. A smile tickled the corner of my mouth. There was an old toaster next to a pile of rusty pen sharpeners.
“All this is very Little Mermaid-esque.”
The clicking of the watch stopped. Echo said nothing, so I asked, “Do you know The Little Mermaid?”
“No.”
It's not really a spoiler since it's a book tag the author used (revenge on a rapist), and it's revealed pretty quickly that Ness' childhood friend got raped. I really enjoyed watching that fucker get his due.
The two ex-childhood friends were fun, Dusk was my favorite, which is convenient since the upcoming book is about him and a demon. Dusk is a bitchy, grumpy, rude, sarcastic fucker, and I'm excited for his book.
Actually, I'm cutting this review short so I can go ARC read Dusk's book, Tied to Hell.
I got this book from Trans Rights Readathon bundle on itch, it's Vee Debras' debut book, and you can buy it everywhere, including itch and Smashwords.
You can also grab a free prequel novella, Tied to Heaven, by signing up for their newsletter here. They only send out two scheduled newsletters a month, and as someone who reads/skims a lot of newsletters daily looking for freebies and sales, I love that approach.
Tied to Heaven is 65 pages, has a nonbinary priest-in-training (future seminarian? priest aspirations? whatever you want to call it), and a biblically-accurate angel, so expect a many-eyed, many-tongued angel. Oh, and some angst. And a church kneeler! As someone who once thrifted a kneeler (I was a strange teenager) and had it in my bedroom despite not having religious beliefs, (it just looked 'cool'), I am curious to see what that's all about.
Sometimes adulthood felt like an endless string of trips to the grocery store.
Yes, why is adulthood so exhausting? Meal planning every day for life is awful. 😂
I'll add tags later!
August 4, 2025
This was a deeply moving story of finding your people and learning to be vulnerable. Ness had very emotionally unavailable/uncaring parents and the scars from that went deep. They were hesitant to open up to anyone, even Mr puppy dog sunshine himself. Echo was just the sweetest boi and I wanted to love on him. Even though Ness wasn’t the warmest companion during his healing process, they did have genuine care and concern for him. Their love story was heavily influenced by their traumas and they made human(or imperfect person in Echo’s case) mistakes. The long lost friends were awesome and I love them.
Spice: 3/5
Triggers: emotionally unavailable and neglectful parents, violent accidental parent death (past), mentions of drowning, discussion of attempted suicide, murder, off page sexual abuse and rape (side character), transphobia, deadnaming, dysphoria, slur against disabled person, mention of internalized racism, manipulative family member, ableism, dissociation, stalking behaviors
Spice: 3/5
Triggers: emotionally unavailable and neglectful parents, violent accidental parent death (past), mentions of drowning, discussion of attempted suicide, murder, off page sexual abuse and rape (side character), transphobia, deadnaming, dysphoria, slur against disabled person, mention of internalized racism, manipulative family member, ableism, dissociation, stalking behaviors
July 5, 2025
Tied to the Waves is the first book in Vee Debras's Monsters of Brimrey Island series. Although this series can be enjoyed as interconnected standalones, I think it would be best read in order for plot elements and world-building. Here's what you can expect from Ness and Echo:
🌊 MX monster romance
🌊 First person single point of view
🌊 Guaranteed happily ever after
🌊 Open door spice
🌊 Nonbinary main character
🌊 Sunshiney love interest
🌊 Hurt/comfort
🌊 Small town
Ensure you review the content and trigger warnings to decide if this book is right for you. Note that this list of warnings may be incomplete. Please take care of yourself while reading.
This was another gem I found on Bookstagram, and I had a great time reading this book! I saw someone talking about the second book in the series, Tied to Hell, and as soon as I read the blurbs for both I knew I had to read them.
In Tied to the Waves, Ness has returned home to Brimrey Island against their will. Their parents have died in an accident and left them everything. Although they intend to come and sell the house as quickly as possible, of course things don't quite go to plan. On their first night there, Ness rescues an injured merman. When we meet Ness, they're so angry and bitter. And when they detail what it was like growing up on Brimrey Island with their parents, we understand why. Their character development and growth throughout the book was just so good. An injured merman wasn't on their Bingo card for this trip home, but Echo is an absolute game-changer. He was so sweet and sunshiney, I loved his wonder at the world. But most of all, I loved how he loved Ness. And I really enjoyed Ness getting protective of him, even if they claimed they were annoyed by them.
Definitely review the content and trigger warnings for this one, as it does delve into some darker topics and contain some angst. The ending's also a bit unconventional, as one would expect when one main character has to remain in water in order to survive. I love that the characters stay true to themselves though. Ness reconnecting with their friends Juniper and Dusk was also really awesome, and I'm excited to get to know them in Tied to Hell.
🌊 MX monster romance
🌊 First person single point of view
🌊 Guaranteed happily ever after
🌊 Open door spice
🌊 Nonbinary main character
🌊 Sunshiney love interest
🌊 Hurt/comfort
🌊 Small town
Ensure you review the content and trigger warnings to decide if this book is right for you. Note that this list of warnings may be incomplete. Please take care of yourself while reading.
This was another gem I found on Bookstagram, and I had a great time reading this book! I saw someone talking about the second book in the series, Tied to Hell, and as soon as I read the blurbs for both I knew I had to read them.
In Tied to the Waves, Ness has returned home to Brimrey Island against their will. Their parents have died in an accident and left them everything. Although they intend to come and sell the house as quickly as possible, of course things don't quite go to plan. On their first night there, Ness rescues an injured merman. When we meet Ness, they're so angry and bitter. And when they detail what it was like growing up on Brimrey Island with their parents, we understand why. Their character development and growth throughout the book was just so good. An injured merman wasn't on their Bingo card for this trip home, but Echo is an absolute game-changer. He was so sweet and sunshiney, I loved his wonder at the world. But most of all, I loved how he loved Ness. And I really enjoyed Ness getting protective of him, even if they claimed they were annoyed by them.
Definitely review the content and trigger warnings for this one, as it does delve into some darker topics and contain some angst. The ending's also a bit unconventional, as one would expect when one main character has to remain in water in order to survive. I love that the characters stay true to themselves though. Ness reconnecting with their friends Juniper and Dusk was also really awesome, and I'm excited to get to know them in Tied to Hell.
February 15, 2025
Ok wow. It's hard to describe how good this book is… and why. So I will start with just a strong recommendation to read it, as long as you’re ok with the trigger warnings.
Of course there’s the story, which is beautiful and sad and hurt and healing and loving. And well-written.
It's also the ambiance. Reading Tied to the Waves felt immersive to me. And an ambiance of dissociation, like moving or interacting (or feeling emotions) through water.
Also important to me: characters in this book experience(d) trauma, directly and indirectly. But it all *fits* with the story. No manufactured angst; what’s there is aligned with the plot and the people. Same with poor decisions. Not a sitcom-y “Oh no don’t do that/say that” cringe thing. People make mistakes that make sense to them based on the specific situation and the specific ways they are f*ed up by past events and current coping mechanisms (or lack thereof).
There’s more I wanted to say about how much I enjoyed this book, but I’ve struggled to find the right words. Giving up for now to get my review posted so more people will know about this book and (assuming it appeals and trigger warnings aren’t an issue) will get it and read it.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I would have bought the book anyway, but am grateful I didn’t have to wait until release day to start reading.
Note: This same review is on Amazon. Or at least it will be once it gets through their review process. Posting here without the delay.
Of course there’s the story, which is beautiful and sad and hurt and healing and loving. And well-written.
It's also the ambiance. Reading Tied to the Waves felt immersive to me. And an ambiance of dissociation, like moving or interacting (or feeling emotions) through water.
Also important to me: characters in this book experience(d) trauma, directly and indirectly. But it all *fits* with the story. No manufactured angst; what’s there is aligned with the plot and the people. Same with poor decisions. Not a sitcom-y “Oh no don’t do that/say that” cringe thing. People make mistakes that make sense to them based on the specific situation and the specific ways they are f*ed up by past events and current coping mechanisms (or lack thereof).
There’s more I wanted to say about how much I enjoyed this book, but I’ve struggled to find the right words. Giving up for now to get my review posted so more people will know about this book and (assuming it appeals and trigger warnings aren’t an issue) will get it and read it.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I would have bought the book anyway, but am grateful I didn’t have to wait until release day to start reading.
Note: This same review is on Amazon. Or at least it will be once it gets through their review process. Posting here without the delay.
March 15, 2026
This was a lot darker than I thought it would be.
Hurt/comfort and found family are both strong themes and at the end there is hope but it takes some time to get there. Not easy to read for sure.
The sex scenes are really detailed and everywhere once they started 🤭
And if you are here for some monster sexy times: this book is for you 🔱🧜🏻♂️🦈🐟
I didn't like the 80% drama (so over Mc's pulling sparkling-Edward-bs instead of TALKING)
And the end felt a little rushed, I wished there would have been more glimpses into the future.
Hurt/comfort and found family are both strong themes and at the end there is hope but it takes some time to get there. Not easy to read for sure.
The sex scenes are really detailed and everywhere once they started 🤭
And if you are here for some monster sexy times: this book is for you 🔱🧜🏻♂️🦈🐟
I didn't like the 80% drama (so over Mc's pulling sparkling-Edward-bs instead of TALKING)
And the end felt a little rushed, I wished there would have been more glimpses into the future.
February 5, 2025
Tied to the Waves is the story of Ness a human and Echo a merman. Please read the trigger warnings because some dark issues are mentioned. Ness goes back to the island so they can sell their house and finds an injured merman. This book was a heartbreaking story. I felt so bad for Nessie they have had such a hard life for someone so young. I loved all characters and world building were so well done. I would definitely recommend this book.
March 9, 2025
CWs and CNs at the end.
Sometimes the perfect book with the perfect tropes finds you just at the right time. Vee Debras’ Tied to the Waves felt like it was made for me and contained all the things that make me fall utterly head over heels in love with a world, its characters and the story.
Tied to the Waves is the first in the Brimrey Island series and is set in the small seaside town of Brimrey Island, long rumoured to be home to all kinds of creatures and monsters. Reluctantly returning to their hometown after several years to deal with their parents’ house after their deaths is Ness. Bad enough Ness has to deal with all the bad memories of their childhood home and having to face all the heartbreak they thought they left behind, they find themselves now having to tend to a severely injured merman who washes onto their dock and who’s earnest eyes and precious demeanour makes them confront so many feelings Ness thought they buried forever.
There was so much to love about this story and one part of it was definitely angst done in ways that resonate so deeply. This novel wasn’t pain just for the sake of depicting pain, but was in some very real fears and trauma that Ness had experienced. This was an intense and yet deeply realistic portrayal of what it means to have felt neglected and abandoned by the very people who should have done the opposite, of having a world disrespect your authentic self and then having to come back to the same place associated with all that pain. And yet, what if, the novel asks us, the place that caused such hurt is also the place that provides the love and community that is so desperately necessary to heal? This is Ness’s journey through the book. It was painful at times and my heart hurt to watch them push away the people they wanted around them the most. But it was also so gratifying to watch their friends and their love interest, Echo, continue to meet them at their own pace and also show up for them even when they did their best to chase them off.
I also fell absolutely in love with the utter darling that was Echo. There is nothing I appreciate more than characters who love with abandon, who will love so openly and largely with zero agenda or care for what anyone else will think. Echo is all big heart and wide-eyed sweetness from the moment we meet him, with just the right amount of avenging angel. As much as Ness is wary of being left again, they can’t help but slowly feel so wrapped up in the ready affection Echo gives them, and how willing he is to listen, respect and validate everything they have experienced. I felt my heart squeeze more than once while watching them fall in love and this is the kind of swoony, big feels I live for.
I also must mention how beautifully the world of the story was crafted. Told through Ness’s eyes, I really loved how much the ocean felt like another character in the story. Described with a kind of dreamy quality, there was an almost magical realism to Ness’s relationship with the sea and how much of a connection they felt to it. Sometimes confusing and overwhelming, at other times freeing and seductive, and finally just safe and feeling like home, the arc of Ness’s feelings towards the ocean mapped out the beats of the story and I found it deeply compelling to read.
I’ll be thinking about Ness and Echo for a long time, as well as Dusk and June who made the perfect side characters and this perfect angsty, swoony romance. Highly recommend this book and I enjoyed it so much!
CWs:
Off-page SA; toxic relationship with parents; transphobia (including deadnaming); past suicide attempt; depression; some ableism; some internalized racism; death of parents in an accident; injury and injury detail; blood; mentions of drowning.
CNs:
This is a paranormal, small town romance between a merman and an enby human. Tropes include hurt/comfort, tending to injuries and found family. The novel is high heat and includes several on-page sex scenes.
Sometimes the perfect book with the perfect tropes finds you just at the right time. Vee Debras’ Tied to the Waves felt like it was made for me and contained all the things that make me fall utterly head over heels in love with a world, its characters and the story.
Tied to the Waves is the first in the Brimrey Island series and is set in the small seaside town of Brimrey Island, long rumoured to be home to all kinds of creatures and monsters. Reluctantly returning to their hometown after several years to deal with their parents’ house after their deaths is Ness. Bad enough Ness has to deal with all the bad memories of their childhood home and having to face all the heartbreak they thought they left behind, they find themselves now having to tend to a severely injured merman who washes onto their dock and who’s earnest eyes and precious demeanour makes them confront so many feelings Ness thought they buried forever.
There was so much to love about this story and one part of it was definitely angst done in ways that resonate so deeply. This novel wasn’t pain just for the sake of depicting pain, but was in some very real fears and trauma that Ness had experienced. This was an intense and yet deeply realistic portrayal of what it means to have felt neglected and abandoned by the very people who should have done the opposite, of having a world disrespect your authentic self and then having to come back to the same place associated with all that pain. And yet, what if, the novel asks us, the place that caused such hurt is also the place that provides the love and community that is so desperately necessary to heal? This is Ness’s journey through the book. It was painful at times and my heart hurt to watch them push away the people they wanted around them the most. But it was also so gratifying to watch their friends and their love interest, Echo, continue to meet them at their own pace and also show up for them even when they did their best to chase them off.
I also fell absolutely in love with the utter darling that was Echo. There is nothing I appreciate more than characters who love with abandon, who will love so openly and largely with zero agenda or care for what anyone else will think. Echo is all big heart and wide-eyed sweetness from the moment we meet him, with just the right amount of avenging angel. As much as Ness is wary of being left again, they can’t help but slowly feel so wrapped up in the ready affection Echo gives them, and how willing he is to listen, respect and validate everything they have experienced. I felt my heart squeeze more than once while watching them fall in love and this is the kind of swoony, big feels I live for.
I also must mention how beautifully the world of the story was crafted. Told through Ness’s eyes, I really loved how much the ocean felt like another character in the story. Described with a kind of dreamy quality, there was an almost magical realism to Ness’s relationship with the sea and how much of a connection they felt to it. Sometimes confusing and overwhelming, at other times freeing and seductive, and finally just safe and feeling like home, the arc of Ness’s feelings towards the ocean mapped out the beats of the story and I found it deeply compelling to read.
I’ll be thinking about Ness and Echo for a long time, as well as Dusk and June who made the perfect side characters and this perfect angsty, swoony romance. Highly recommend this book and I enjoyed it so much!
CWs:
Off-page SA; toxic relationship with parents; transphobia (including deadnaming); past suicide attempt; depression; some ableism; some internalized racism; death of parents in an accident; injury and injury detail; blood; mentions of drowning.
CNs:
This is a paranormal, small town romance between a merman and an enby human. Tropes include hurt/comfort, tending to injuries and found family. The novel is high heat and includes several on-page sex scenes.
February 15, 2025
Well, before I start talking about what this book made me feel, I need to mention Tied to Heaven first since it's a sort of prequel for the series and one of my absolute favorite books ever (and you can get it FOR FREE by subscribing to Vee's newsletter, just saying).
Do you know what it's like to read a book and get the feeling the author wrote it for you? That's what happened to me with Tied to Heaven. It was as if Vee had taken a peek into my head and made sense of all that mess. Everything felt so familiar it was sickening (in a good kind of way, if you get what I mean). A closeted non-binary with religious trauma and catholic guilt? That's my life story, baby.
So, yeah, you could say I was quite excited about Tied to the Waves after such an introduction to this world.
First things first, as much as I love Tied to Heaven and Vee's writing, it's painfully obvious I'm not the target audience for this book. A quick look into my library will show you that I might be asexual, but I'm also a kinky motherfucker, as a certain friend of mine would say. I like my smut, nsfw, p0rn (or whatever the hell you wanna call it) based on fixed dynamics and power exchange, and that's not Echo and Ness at all. For all the erotica I read, I can get pretty uncomfortable when more... vanilla sex is involved. A pity, really, because I wish I could've appreciated the beautiful writing of those steamy scenes.
Now, I have to say I find myself wanting to know more about Brimrey Island and the people who live there, I even want to get to know the Beep Beeps and what they actually do. And it's not just the town that fascinates me, everything surrounding Echo's kin does too. The lore about the merfolk is so fucking INTERESTING, I just want to sit down by Echo's side and ask him questions about his culture for hours, not even Ness could get me to stop.
Oh, talking about the devil. I spent most of the book internally screaming at Ness. Why? Well, it's what happens when you find a character very relatable. In a bad way. Ness surely knew how to trigger me with their self-destructiveness and trauma. But they slowly healed and got better, and I felt like I was healing and getting better with them. It was so satisfying. Just like the last third of the book, it was my favorite section of the book and very, very satisfying (and somewhat comforting too, don't ask me why).
But do you want to know what was my absolute favorite thing in Tide to the Waves? Dusk and June. I already knew June from Tied to Heaven and this book made me love her even more. But Dusk, oh Dusk, my love. I don't know if I wanna adopt him or marry him, he's just one of those characters I felt a connection with from the very beginning and now he's mine forever. Does this make any sense? Hell if I know, but it does to me, so good luck trying to understand my rambling.
My point is, I love Dusk. He's an icon. He's a legend. He's the moment. I can't get enough of him, so I'm now hooked on The Monsters of Brimrey Island for the rest of my life I guess. I'll get any Dusk crumbs Vee will be willing to give me from now on.
Do you know what it's like to read a book and get the feeling the author wrote it for you? That's what happened to me with Tied to Heaven. It was as if Vee had taken a peek into my head and made sense of all that mess. Everything felt so familiar it was sickening (in a good kind of way, if you get what I mean). A closeted non-binary with religious trauma and catholic guilt? That's my life story, baby.
So, yeah, you could say I was quite excited about Tied to the Waves after such an introduction to this world.
First things first, as much as I love Tied to Heaven and Vee's writing, it's painfully obvious I'm not the target audience for this book. A quick look into my library will show you that I might be asexual, but I'm also a kinky motherfucker, as a certain friend of mine would say. I like my smut, nsfw, p0rn (or whatever the hell you wanna call it) based on fixed dynamics and power exchange, and that's not Echo and Ness at all. For all the erotica I read, I can get pretty uncomfortable when more... vanilla sex is involved. A pity, really, because I wish I could've appreciated the beautiful writing of those steamy scenes.
Now, I have to say I find myself wanting to know more about Brimrey Island and the people who live there, I even want to get to know the Beep Beeps and what they actually do. And it's not just the town that fascinates me, everything surrounding Echo's kin does too. The lore about the merfolk is so fucking INTERESTING, I just want to sit down by Echo's side and ask him questions about his culture for hours, not even Ness could get me to stop.
Oh, talking about the devil. I spent most of the book internally screaming at Ness. Why? Well, it's what happens when you find a character very relatable. In a bad way. Ness surely knew how to trigger me with their self-destructiveness and trauma. But they slowly healed and got better, and I felt like I was healing and getting better with them. It was so satisfying. Just like the last third of the book, it was my favorite section of the book and very, very satisfying (and somewhat comforting too, don't ask me why).
But do you want to know what was my absolute favorite thing in Tide to the Waves? Dusk and June. I already knew June from Tied to Heaven and this book made me love her even more. But Dusk, oh Dusk, my love. I don't know if I wanna adopt him or marry him, he's just one of those characters I felt a connection with from the very beginning and now he's mine forever. Does this make any sense? Hell if I know, but it does to me, so good luck trying to understand my rambling.
My point is, I love Dusk. He's an icon. He's a legend. He's the moment. I can't get enough of him, so I'm now hooked on The Monsters of Brimrey Island for the rest of my life I guess. I'll get any Dusk crumbs Vee will be willing to give me from now on.
February 7, 2025
This monster romance has a lot to love, but I struggled with Ness during the latter half of the book.
From the beginning, I loved Ness's weirdness. Their inexplicable lust for the sea caught me off guard but became one of my favorite parts of the story. I also enjoyed having a nonbinary protagonist I could see myself in. They don't really dislike their body; they dislike the assumptions other people make based on their body. I also felt their complicated relationships to family and "home" were very real, especially when loss is involved.
Later in the story, I began to feel frustrated with Ness. While they're clearly lashing out because of their traumatic past, they rarely take responsibility for how their actions affect Echo. They repeatedly talk over him and interpret his words in bad faith despite Echo demonstrating time and then again that he is naive but excited to learn. Eventually Ness just felt mean to me. They make Echo feel like he must constantly apologize for missteps he could never have been reasonably expected to understand.
On a similar note, I found it odd that Echo sees humans as "normal" and himself as "other" despite having grown up with his own people and culture. He is terrified that he will be too weird for Ness and scare them away. As I mentioned earlier, Ness does not give similar consideration for how human culture is foreign to Echo.
Ness promises to work on their attitude at the end, but I didn't find this satisfying. They're allowed to be imperfect and human, but I found them hard to like by the end of the book. I would have loved to see them do the work and develop a healthier relationship with Echo before the story ended.
I'm so grateful for the chance to check out an ARC for free. I'm leaving this review of my own accord.
From the beginning, I loved Ness's weirdness. Their inexplicable lust for the sea caught me off guard but became one of my favorite parts of the story. I also enjoyed having a nonbinary protagonist I could see myself in. They don't really dislike their body; they dislike the assumptions other people make based on their body. I also felt their complicated relationships to family and "home" were very real, especially when loss is involved.
Later in the story, I began to feel frustrated with Ness. While they're clearly lashing out because of their traumatic past, they rarely take responsibility for how their actions affect Echo. They repeatedly talk over him and interpret his words in bad faith despite Echo demonstrating time and then again that he is naive but excited to learn. Eventually Ness just felt mean to me. They make Echo feel like he must constantly apologize for missteps he could never have been reasonably expected to understand.
On a similar note, I found it odd that Echo sees humans as "normal" and himself as "other" despite having grown up with his own people and culture. He is terrified that he will be too weird for Ness and scare them away. As I mentioned earlier, Ness does not give similar consideration for how human culture is foreign to Echo.
Ness promises to work on their attitude at the end, but I didn't find this satisfying. They're allowed to be imperfect and human, but I found them hard to like by the end of the book. I would have loved to see them do the work and develop a healthier relationship with Echo before the story ended.
I'm so grateful for the chance to check out an ARC for free. I'm leaving this review of my own accord.
February 12, 2025
Thank you to Vee for the ARC! I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
This was a super enjoyable read and all-around a strong novel-length debut. I liked all of the characters quite a bit (even if I sometimes wanted to just shake Ness around and tell them to STOP) as well as their dynamics— Ness’s relationship with the siblings felt like the kind of friendship that you can sink back into even after years apart. I also felt that Debras’ handling of each character’s individual trauma and their reactions to it was very intentional and well-portrayed. Likewise, as a trans reader who loves reading trans romance (by trans authors!) I especially enjoyed the way that Ness interacted with their gender identity, which in many ways felt parallel to my own experiences.
I struggled a bit with the pacing at times— honestly, I think the book was just a little too short! I mean this both in a “dang, I wish I could spend more time with these characters” way as well as a “I would have liked to see more development” way. Certain aspects of the plot (the build to Ness and Echo’s first kiss, their early conversations, and the plot related to Young) occasionally sped by a bit too fast for me. Ultimately, there were a number of opportunities where I wish Debras had dug in a little more and provided more detail and insight into a world I was really enjoying!
Aside from wishing for a slower burn on Ness and Echo, I definitely enjoyed where their relationship ended up going. I loved that Ness was immediately into the whole mer-person thing (me too, Ness) and that Echo was the one hesitant about it. They complimented each other well and had me rooting for both of them to just admit how much they cared about each other! Also, the sex scenes? Phew. Very well done. I’ll be thinking about those for a while.
Overall, I definitely recommend giving this one a read: it’s a very touching, engaging, and sweet/sexy addition to the queer monster romance genre!
This was a super enjoyable read and all-around a strong novel-length debut. I liked all of the characters quite a bit (even if I sometimes wanted to just shake Ness around and tell them to STOP) as well as their dynamics— Ness’s relationship with the siblings felt like the kind of friendship that you can sink back into even after years apart. I also felt that Debras’ handling of each character’s individual trauma and their reactions to it was very intentional and well-portrayed. Likewise, as a trans reader who loves reading trans romance (by trans authors!) I especially enjoyed the way that Ness interacted with their gender identity, which in many ways felt parallel to my own experiences.
I struggled a bit with the pacing at times— honestly, I think the book was just a little too short! I mean this both in a “dang, I wish I could spend more time with these characters” way as well as a “I would have liked to see more development” way. Certain aspects of the plot (the build to Ness and Echo’s first kiss, their early conversations, and the plot related to Young) occasionally sped by a bit too fast for me. Ultimately, there were a number of opportunities where I wish Debras had dug in a little more and provided more detail and insight into a world I was really enjoying!
Aside from wishing for a slower burn on Ness and Echo, I definitely enjoyed where their relationship ended up going. I loved that Ness was immediately into the whole mer-person thing (me too, Ness) and that Echo was the one hesitant about it. They complimented each other well and had me rooting for both of them to just admit how much they cared about each other! Also, the sex scenes? Phew. Very well done. I’ll be thinking about those for a while.
Overall, I definitely recommend giving this one a read: it’s a very touching, engaging, and sweet/sexy addition to the queer monster romance genre!
November 5, 2025
Tied to the Waves - 4/5
First, please ignore that I was reading this from late July to early November, that's not a reflection on the quality of the book at all honest!
So, I really enjoyed this one: it's an angsty queer monsterfucker romance that manages to encapsulate a lot of both the inherent queerness of monsterfucking as an artform and also just manages to be queer af regardless. Our enby protag Ness is filled to the brim with delicious delicious angst and so is our merman MMC Echo as they struggle with family, friendships, who they are, and all that real fucky stuff. It's fun to see them drawn together even as they conflict and explore how they're different both in body and mind in a way that really works for me, although like in many of these books I think the relationship drama and sometimes the angst gets a little overbearing and repetitive at times I know that's what this kinda story needs so I can largely forgive it.
I also really like the side cast, June and Dusk, who really stand out here for me and I believe Dusk is the protag of book 2 which is exciting (I think a few hints may have been dropped towards that near the end of this one 👀) and I hope June gets a lot more page time too. I will say, something specific with June is my main criticism of the book. June is a trans woman which is great and such and I do love how she's written as a character! However, . This is the main thing that really annoyed me in this book.
Overall though, this was a really good time! Highly recommended to monsterfuckers everywhere!
First, please ignore that I was reading this from late July to early November, that's not a reflection on the quality of the book at all honest!
So, I really enjoyed this one: it's an angsty queer monsterfucker romance that manages to encapsulate a lot of both the inherent queerness of monsterfucking as an artform and also just manages to be queer af regardless. Our enby protag Ness is filled to the brim with delicious delicious angst and so is our merman MMC Echo as they struggle with family, friendships, who they are, and all that real fucky stuff. It's fun to see them drawn together even as they conflict and explore how they're different both in body and mind in a way that really works for me, although like in many of these books I think the relationship drama and sometimes the angst gets a little overbearing and repetitive at times I know that's what this kinda story needs so I can largely forgive it.
I also really like the side cast, June and Dusk, who really stand out here for me and I believe Dusk is the protag of book 2 which is exciting (I think a few hints may have been dropped towards that near the end of this one 👀) and I hope June gets a lot more page time too. I will say, something specific with June is my main criticism of the book. June is a trans woman which is great and such and I do love how she's written as a character! However, . This is the main thing that really annoyed me in this book.
Overall though, this was a really good time! Highly recommended to monsterfuckers everywhere!
February 7, 2025
I was spellbound from start to finish
I'm not going to spoil this book for you, not even giving you the MCs' names, as it's something you just have to read for yourself, and I'm so glad I asked the author for an ARC. Vee has written a beautiful romance between a nonbinary person and a merman. The blurb gives you an idea of the story but I couldn't have guessed what awaited me.
I could not put it down and I loved it. It's not without angst, and please read the trigger warnings, but please, please, read it if you can.
Vee's voice is fresh, with their own unique style. Their imagination is wonderful, and I defy you not to fall in love with the merman. He is just such a perfect character and I wanted to hug him all through the book. The nonbinary person elicited empathy and I admired their strength and determination, and wanted them to thrive. I so want to tell you more but I won't. All I'll say is it made me smile, it made me tear up once or twice, and it won't leave me alone now I've finished it.
I read the free prequel, Tied To Heaven (available from the author's website), and was immediately taken with Brimrey Island and its inhabitants. One side character in that appears here too, so you may want to read that first and it's a bit of a head trip too, but this does stand alone.
I already know that Vee will be an automatic read for me and I can't wait to see what they write next.
I'm not going to spoil this book for you, not even giving you the MCs' names, as it's something you just have to read for yourself, and I'm so glad I asked the author for an ARC. Vee has written a beautiful romance between a nonbinary person and a merman. The blurb gives you an idea of the story but I couldn't have guessed what awaited me.
I could not put it down and I loved it. It's not without angst, and please read the trigger warnings, but please, please, read it if you can.
Vee's voice is fresh, with their own unique style. Their imagination is wonderful, and I defy you not to fall in love with the merman. He is just such a perfect character and I wanted to hug him all through the book. The nonbinary person elicited empathy and I admired their strength and determination, and wanted them to thrive. I so want to tell you more but I won't. All I'll say is it made me smile, it made me tear up once or twice, and it won't leave me alone now I've finished it.
I read the free prequel, Tied To Heaven (available from the author's website), and was immediately taken with Brimrey Island and its inhabitants. One side character in that appears here too, so you may want to read that first and it's a bit of a head trip too, but this does stand alone.
I already know that Vee will be an automatic read for me and I can't wait to see what they write next.
June 3, 2025
So glad I gave this book a chance!
I picked up the prequel story from the author a while back and really loved it despite it being in a writing style that I don't normally enjoy as much. I took a little while to get into this one too, but I'm so glad I stuck it out.
The main character, Ness, is IMHO a bit dissociated throughout the start of the book, which made it difficult to get to know them and made the writing feel emotionally distant at first, which I didn't care for. But it is oh so satisfying when the MC finally does start to come out of their shell later in the book and you get a better understanding of where they're coming from.
Echo is a wonderfully sweet love interest who was also a painfully accurate representation of the joy and pain of being neurodivergent in a society that doesn't understand you. I loved how patient each of them were with each other and how much space and understanding they offered each other's wounds.
I would recommend this book to anyone who needs a reminder of the power of a found family who chooses you when no one else does, the many different and wonderful forms that love can take, and that even the oddest and loneliest of us can find a place to call home.
I picked up the prequel story from the author a while back and really loved it despite it being in a writing style that I don't normally enjoy as much. I took a little while to get into this one too, but I'm so glad I stuck it out.
The main character, Ness, is IMHO a bit dissociated throughout the start of the book, which made it difficult to get to know them and made the writing feel emotionally distant at first, which I didn't care for. But it is oh so satisfying when the MC finally does start to come out of their shell later in the book and you get a better understanding of where they're coming from.
Echo is a wonderfully sweet love interest who was also a painfully accurate representation of the joy and pain of being neurodivergent in a society that doesn't understand you. I loved how patient each of them were with each other and how much space and understanding they offered each other's wounds.
I would recommend this book to anyone who needs a reminder of the power of a found family who chooses you when no one else does, the many different and wonderful forms that love can take, and that even the oddest and loneliest of us can find a place to call home.
February 8, 2025
With complex and multi-layered characters that feel like real people and a love interest that's the literal embodiment of the sun (if suns were wet and underwater), Vee has written an emotional and heart-wrenching story about healing, the family you choose, and allowing yourself to be loved, all intertwined with the most creative—yet sweet—spice ever!
It's amazing how books can make you feel so many things and how characters can become so special to you. I know for sure that Ness and Echo will stay with me forever, and I will come back to this book because Brimrey also feels like home now. I can't wait for the next books!!! ❤️🩹
It's amazing how books can make you feel so many things and how characters can become so special to you. I know for sure that Ness and Echo will stay with me forever, and I will come back to this book because Brimrey also feels like home now. I can't wait for the next books!!! ❤️🩹
February 7, 2025
First of all jump to the free prequel Tied to Heaven available free on authors website as this gives you such a great backdrop to the Island and characters. In this book we follow Ness, a human and Echo, a merman. I have to say not normally "my thing"! However this was such a thoughtful, well written, imaginative storyline with dark issues and heartbreak. Even with that you are pulled into their story and kept captivated following their journey to find out what happens! No spoilers from me so recommend you read 😜
I received a free arc copy and this is my honest review
I received a free arc copy and this is my honest review
February 7, 2025
I did enjoy the story. Echo was a wonderfully sweet character but Ness was just so unfair to him. They constantly to out their frustrations on him, I know that they had their own issues but they were just so mean to Echo. By the end their attitude was changing and I wouldn't have minded a bit more story just to see their relationship with Echo develop. All in all an enjoyable read.
*I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book*
*I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book*
May 17, 2025
I'm really not sure how I feel about this one. I loved Tied to Heaven, so I was extremely excited for this full length story set in the same universe. The writing is, much like TtH, beautiful and very, very human, but I kind of hated Ness? And I can't quite figure out if I hated them because they were unlikeable or because they were far too relatable. I wanted to shake them more than once and yell THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO LOVE YOU IF YOU'D JUST LET THEM.
April 4, 2025
Review Quickie
The vibes were perfect. I wish I could read this again for the first time. The MC’s are my personality now and I was so emotionally devastated I will probably never touch this book again, definitely recommend!
The vibes were perfect. I wish I could read this again for the first time. The MC’s are my personality now and I was so emotionally devastated I will probably never touch this book again, definitely recommend!
June 28, 2025
An amazing monster romance novel! I adored the characters so much. It's always a treat when a romance novel treats its protagonists as flawed and realistic.
May 12, 2025
Absolutely superb, heart wrenching, beautiful writing! Instant fav. And I knew it would be after reading Tied to Heaven.
Nessa was complex and relatable and fallible. Their processing of grief for their parents' was palpable. Not grief at their death but grief at the parents they never were and the painful familiarity of old wounds. All the cuts that litter Nessa's life and inform their world view were visceral
And Echo... OMG, he was so sweet and perfect. Adorable and neurospicy and too good. Loved everything about him. Even during spicy times (which were delicious), he had this earnestness to his desires. Very consent forward on both their parts, too.
The story was similarly very provoking. Mind your triggers because there's sensitive topics. But done so beautifully. Addressed with a lot of care, intentionality, and captured in poetic prose.
Highly, highly recommend. It will hurt your heart and heal it. 5 stars.
**This is an ARC review**
Nessa was complex and relatable and fallible. Their processing of grief for their parents' was palpable. Not grief at their death but grief at the parents they never were and the painful familiarity of old wounds. All the cuts that litter Nessa's life and inform their world view were visceral
And Echo... OMG, he was so sweet and perfect. Adorable and neurospicy and too good. Loved everything about him. Even during spicy times (which were delicious), he had this earnestness to his desires. Very consent forward on both their parts, too.
The story was similarly very provoking. Mind your triggers because there's sensitive topics. But done so beautifully. Addressed with a lot of care, intentionality, and captured in poetic prose.
Highly, highly recommend. It will hurt your heart and heal it. 5 stars.
**This is an ARC review**
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews