In The Sea Of Thorns

by Fidda Kabir

Roisin,

He came like a grim reaper, cloaked in darkness, yet he brought me life instead of death. Just when I thought it was the end, he became my beginning.

After I was rescued from my abductors and returned home, I began noticing a man. He would stand under the lamppost, night after night, through the rain, through the snow—always watching, always waiting. Then the roses began to appear. In my room. On my windowsill. A silent promise. A warning. Or a reminder that I was never truly alone. I should fear him. I should run.
But his presence calls to me like a whispered lullaby in the dark, both haunting and comforting all at once.
Because deep down, I already knew, he wasn’t a stranger.
He was a ghost I had yet to name.

Ghost,

I wasn’t supposed to be obsessed, but I was. I wasn’t supposed to fall, but I did.
I was meant to save her… not become her grim reaper.
She was a shattered soul, a girl who had already survived the darkness once. I was the man sent to save her. But somewhere between the shadows and the silence, I crossed a line. I became her protector. Her stalker. Her greatest sin.
She should run from me. Fear me. Hate me. But she doesn’t.
And now, neither of us can walk away.
Because the real threat isn’t me, it's the past coming to claim her. And this time, I won’t let her go. Even if I have to set the world on fire, I’ll turn it to ash just to keep her safe.

Genres: Dark Romance

309 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 5, 2025

About the author

Fidda Kabir is an author who finds joy in writing romance. She loves writing novels and poems. She also loves to travel around the world. Besides writing, she loves to read and is obsessed with the rain.

Reviews

[Ashly · Rating 1 out of 5]

⭐️/5 [DNF @16%]

While the Author did send an updated ARC where she increased the age of the FMC [from 17 to 18], it did nothing to actually increase the maturity level of the FMC or the writing complexity. The age gap was never the issue imo. The FMC was insufferable, I could not even get to 20% of this book. The reviews for this book are very mixed it seems. You either love it, or hate it....It was the later for me.

[Sarah_A6210 · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF 20 pages in.

This isn’t the first book I’ve read from this author and although I DNF’d that book too I was willing to give it another go. I just don’t think this authors style and I match.

The writing is choppy and misconnected, it feels like post-it notes of writing stuck together on a page. The FMC’s age was changed from 17-18 but she read more like 12-13 having her first crush.

I thought it started off strong with the FMC having been kidnapped and rescued by a friends Uncle the older MMC, she has an instant attraction and obviously I am not far into the book but he has an attraction he’s trying not to give in to.

However, I had to stop when an employee in her 30’s at the FMC’s family cafe openly said to the MMC that he was obviously good at delivering O’s with his hands as soon as she put his coffee down, this was after openly insulting his appearance because of a scar on his face and saying how ugly it made him and what a shame because he would have been handsome without to which the FMC and her friend, the MMC’s niece!!!! Both jumped in to say how hot he was! His niece!!
This woman was in her 30’s, made out to act like she was a teenager in high school and speaking to a random stranger with that language. Are you ok?

That did it for me and I don’t think I’ll be actively venturing for any other work like this in the near future.

I was very fortunate to receive this book as an Arc, thank you Grey’s Promotions but unfortunately, not for my tastes.

[Michellelovesreading · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a good book. I finished it in a couple days. I loved characters.

Stars:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice:🌶️🌶️🌶️

[KaylaLaz · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was so excited for this, but unfortunately it fell way short. We open the book with our main character (originally she was 17 but the author has changed her age to 18 at the beginning) being rescued after being kidnapped while on vacation with her friends. It is one of her friends uncles that rescues her, and the uncle immediately becomes obsessed with the heroine. I love an age gap dark romance, but the Hero in this was just way too immature to be in his thirties. I feel like he read like a teenage in some of the things he did as well as the things he said. The kidnapping plot was underdeveloped and was resolved in a couple pages, it didn’t even need to be there. It was a quick read, but it just didn’t work for me.

Thank you to Grey’s Promotions for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Lisa Conant · Rating 2 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️ out of 5
🌶🌶🌶

🫦Age Gap (19, 28)
☠️Touch Her and D1e
❤️‍🩹Scarred MMC (with Heterochromia)
🥷Sta1ker (to keep her safe)
👿Grumpy x Sunshine
💪Protective & Obsessive MMC

This ended up lacking as a sta1ker, age gap romance for me.

My hesitations come from dialog sounding immature, mostly for the FMC, Rose. I lost count the times she has a tantrum and runs away from him. I actually feel bad for Steve (and dont understand why he's so attracted to her). The way she reacts to Steve and how she spoke in inner monologue, not putting two and two together was frustrating. A coworker of hers says abrupt thoughts that I don't think anyone would say to a person (and she's a 30yr old adult).

Rose's dialog especially just felt forced too often for the sake of a dramatic reaction that didn't feel organic. There was a lack of nuance and maturity to the writing style overall. A shame because the bones of something more dramatic was here but quite quickly the story deflated.

[Leisel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This truly was a slow-burn romance, and at times I found myself on the verge of giving up, as the pacing felt a little too drawn out and, at points, slightly repetitive. I later realised this is the second book in the series, and not having read the first, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was missing some critical context or emotional depth that might have enriched the story.

I enjoy a good slow-burn when it’s well executed, and this story certainly had the right ingredients—trauma recovery, emotional healing, and a protective love interest. But for me, something just didn’t fully land, though I can’t quite pinpoint what was missing. That said, I did push through to the end and was ultimately content to see it through.

The two main characters were well-developed. In terms of the age-gap trope, a ten-year difference didn’t bother me. In fact, I often find it intriguing to see the emotional maturity some younger female characters display. However, I did find myself occasionally frustrated, thinking, Why can’t they just trust their instincts and acknowledge their feelings to each other?

One thing I did love was the sense of empowerment Steve continuously tried to instill in Roisin. His protective nature—bordering on possessive—felt sincere and rooted in genuine care, especially in helping her overcome her trauma. That aspect of their relationship was beautifully handled and gave the story some much-needed emotional weight.

[A. Adams · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the 2nd book in the Blooming Romance series. All books are standalones. I didn't read the 1st book in the series. I did like the covers for both books though.

This is a YA novel with beauty and the beast themes, along with age gap, mafia, crime, obsession, stalking, masked man, and a fairly innocent FMC. Roisin is kidnapped and rescued by Steve. Steve is her friend's uncle. Steve is very grumpy and aloof. While Roisin really forms a trauma bond with Steve, Steve doesn't reciprocate to Roisin. Steve has a secret obsession with Roisin and making sure she's safe. Steve is really hung up on Roisin's age. There is a 10 year age gap between Roisin and Steve. Roisin is a magnet for trouble. Even after being rescued Roisin has a stalker and her former captor is also looking for her.

The book was a little juvenile for me. It was also missing details at certain points. I didn't mind the age gap. It also felt like the pacing was off. Steve hung around for a year but it didn't feel that way. All of a sudden Roisin went from 18 to 19. It also confused me how Roisin knew who her stalker was. Roisin and Steve had 2 early connections that needed more details. I did read this whole book in a few hours.

I received an ARC from Grey's Promotions.

[Brandy Huckaby · Rating 2 out of 5]

Gosh. I hate low-rating books but this one was a struggle and it’d probably be a 1.5⭐️ for me. I had to really push myself to finish. The plot had promise, but the characters were just not like-able. There was a lot of very immature writing: characters acting and saying things way younger than they were. Even the FMC who was between 18-20 throughout this book, while the other characters were in their 20’s up to early 30’s…. ALL of them acted closer to 13-15 in age. It was honestly annoying and just too juvenile for my taste. In addition, the chapters felt choppy and things would happen very sudden which most of the time led to confusion. It was hard to follow. There was also a lot of errors which was distracting to my OCD self. I love an age gap, forbidden romance….but I didn’t quite understand why he hyper-fixated on her age until she turned 20. She was legally of age the entire book, and I never understood why 20 was his benchmark. Then he was completely feral with her. It was just giving me a lot of whiplash. The dialogue and actions were very repetitive too. So it just got old fast. Not for me. Maybe a younger audience? But I honestly think the author just needs a better editor to help in the developmental phase.

[Kristy · Rating 4 out of 5]

What happens when you come back when you see to much Rosin wonders the same thing as a victim of sex trafficking everything is more difficult since her rescue family, friends, relationships her only real connection is a stalker who leaves her roses and the man who saved her Ghost.

Ghost is older owner of his own company and should know better but he cant stay away from little rose he's just bidding his time until he can make her his. Risin dosen't understand why Steve aka Ghost won't be with her she doesn't care about the age gap why should he he's always there just out of reach watching and the ones that took her there not done with her yet and Ghost won't let her go.

This is a complicated love story that takes time to develop with twists and turns with a complicated hero that stays in the grey areas of life never fully good but with just a edge of darkness obsessive, controlling and completely devoted willing to do anything to keep her. And Risin she's strong but slightly broken with her trauma it's difficult to trust or love.

I was allowed to read and advance copy of this book via GreysPromotions and this is my honest review

[Renee · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book from the publisher/author to review for Stephanie's Book Reports.

Oh how it hurts my heart to three star a book. I wanted to love it. I really did. When you read the blurb to this book you just know that it is going to be absolutely amazing. I have never read this author. It was my first time. The story line had the potential to be amazing, it really did, but it fell way way short for me. I don't know that I as the niece to many uncles ever thought a single one of them was smoking hot. That felt so odd to me. So much so I think I read that sentence about 44 times to make sure I wasn't losing my mind. I don't know that I even know what I really read honestly. It was super choppy. Like someone was telling you a story, going back to add more and then oh oh oh I forgot this happened too. So anyhow I finished it because I am one of those readers that just can't not put a book down unfinished. I struggled big time. Asked myself why oh why did I do this to myself and still to this day I am a little bumfuzzled by what I read.

[Wendy Livingstone · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book in this series, and the first time I have read this author’s work, but she is certainly a name to look out for in the future.
Roisin is in a dangerous situation, when she is rescued by Steve / Ghost from her abductors, and he is instantly smitten with her. Steve is protective and obsessed with Roisin, to the point of stalking her to keep her safe.
This is a well written, easy to read, action packed story, with found family, emotions, forced proximity, survival, grumpy / sunshine, opposites attract, an age gap, touch her and die vibes, humor, undeniable chemistry, and love, which leads to an entertaining, twisted, and unpredictable page turner.
I look forward to reading more from this author whose work I recommend.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

please read Trigger warning!


🌶🌶🌶🌶.5

" You were the plot twist I wasn't expecting,"

Fate at its best. Roisin keeps finding herself in situations, and her Grim Reaper saves her everything. Roisin *Little Rose* finds herself part of a human trafficking ring with the help of another girl she escapes and finds herself being saved by Steve, which is her friends Lavender uncle. Once home, he makes sure she is OK. Yet again, Rose finds herself back in the arms of her captors. You're going to have to read to find out if they get there happily ever after. This book pulls you in from the start. There are so many twists in this book that you dont see coming. There are a few times I want to slap a few of the characters, and I definitely yelled at a few ot them.

[Eclectic Review · Rating 2 out of 5]

I just finished my first Fidda Kabir novel, and let me tell you, it was quite the experience, though not necessarily a good one. I almost gave up midway, but my stubbornness to see it through prevailed.

The story revolves around Roisin, an eighteen-year-old who has faced the unimaginable as a victim of human trafficking. I mean, you expect a character who has gone through such trauma to seek help, process their experiences, or at least reflect on the gravity of their situation. But nope, instead, Roisin seems to just brush it all off as she dives back into partying with her friends and dating other guys. Not to mention, she’s comfortable with a stalker following her around. Seriously?

Roisin gets rescued by her friends' uncle, Steve Barton, who has some pretty concerning feelings towards her. Steve is a twenty-eight-year-old security company owner. He keeps saying he doesn’t deserve a girl as young as Roisin, but come on, his actions scream otherwise. Though I am not a fan of age gap romances, I understand many people like them. However, in my opinion, girls as young as Roisin need to grow as an individual before jumping into a relationship.

As for the writing? It’s not quite as polished as I had hoped. While I appreciate a casual vibe, the informal style often veers into territory that felt clumsy. This made it a challenge to connect with the characters on a deeper level, which is such a bummer because they had real potential to tell a powerful story.

All in all, while I did manage to finish it, this book didn’t quite do it for me. If you’re into dramatic romances with heavy themes and questionable character development, maybe give it a shot.
Thank you to Ms. Kabir for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.

For more of my reviews, visit The Eclectic Review.

[Shelly Stradley · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the Sea of Thorns is an age gap, forbidden romance, w/ MMC w/ a protector and obsessed attitude who is a stalker w/ a touch her and die attitude. This book tells the story of Roisin and Steve. Steve owns his own security company and is involved w/ rescuing Roisin after she is abducted. After the rescue, Steve can’t seem to let Roisin go. A stalker then enters Roisin’s life. First from a distance but as time goes on up close and personal. Find out who Roisin’s grim reaper / stalker is who would kill anyone who touched her! And find out what happens to Steve and Roisin’s relationship! Great read! highly recommend!