Lochbound

by Rebecca Templeton

There is no happily-ever-after . . .

Kilmara, Scotland. 1725. For fifty years, Iris has accepted the curse that blighted her life. By night, she is a heartbroken woman, destined to walk the misty shores of Kilmara without growing older. By day, she is Moireach, a terrifying monster imprisoned in the murky depths of Loch Moine.

When bodies begin appearing on the shore, the villagers are convinced Moireach is responsible. So a hunter - the rugged, ruthless Henry Carver - is summoned to slay the monster of the loch.

Iris must break her curse before she is killed for crimes she cannot believe she has committed. But as Kilmara's hunt for the monster becomes ever more fevered, she and Henry are drawn together in a dangerous game of impossible attraction.

And when a figure from Iris's past suddenly reappears, she must choose what - or who - she is willing to sacrifice to win her freedom.

. . . when you are the monster.

A glitteringly dark reimagining of The Little Mermaid set in eighteenth-century Scotland, this enchanting and gothic historical fantasy is perfect for fans of Rosie Andrews's The Leviathan, Georgia Leighton's Spellbound and anyone who loved Outlander.

✨Real readers loved Lochbound✨

'Lochbound was crafted so well, weaving in folklore [alongside] the moving parts of the fates of each person...I really enjoyed!' NetGalley Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'As soon as I started reading, I knew Lochbound was going to be a five-star read. And when I cried at the 11% mark, that cemented it. It was a great mashup of its inspirations, The Little Mermaid and Scotland's loch monsters...really emotional and I liked all the twists' NetGalley Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Whimsical and folkloric, this standalone felt so immersive and the storyline was gripping until the very end. So many mysteries, plot twists and romantic tension that will keep you awake at nonsense o'clock...This book is a delight, perfect for romantasy readers!' NetGalley Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'The worldbuilding was amazing!...I really liked the protagonist and the love interest' NetGalley Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Lochbound is a standalone historical fantasy romance that felt like a dark fairytale... [it] kept me gripped throughout and had some surprising twists. I absolutely loved the setting, a small village in the Scottish highlands bordering a loch, and the creepy, unsettling atmosphere of the story' NetGalley Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Genres: Romance

Kindle Edition

Expected publication April 16, 2026

About the author

​Rebecca has had a love of books from a very early age and had lofty childhood aspirations of being a writer, though she ended up joining the legal profession instead. When her husband encouraged her to start writing again, she re-discovered her creative outlet and hasn’t looked back since.

When not writing or working, Rebecca can usually be found crocheting giant blankets, baking or watching Gilmore Girls. She is also owned by a couple of very energetic children.

Reviews

[jlreadstoperpetuity · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Sometimes the monster isn’t outside… it’s the part of you everyone fears.”

🗓 𝗣𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗲 April 16, 2026
📚 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗧𝗶𝘁𝗹𝗲: Lochbound
👑 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿: Rebecca Templeton

✨️𝗤𝘂𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘆 & 🍵𝗧𝗲𝗮 𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀
In 1725 Kilmara, Scotland, Iris has lived with a haunting curse for fifty years. By night she wanders the misty loch shores unchanged by time; by day she is Moireach, a terrifying creature lurking in the depths of Loch Moine. When bodies start turning up on the shore and villagers point fingers at the loch’s monster, a rugged hunter named Henry Carver arrives determined to kill the beast he believes responsible. Iris must find a way to break her curse before she’s hunted down for crimes she’s not sure she committed, all while an impossible attraction builds between her and the very man sent to slay her.

This book gives dark fairytale energy with gnarly atmosphere and a slow burn that hits in all the weird feels. The loch setting is spooky and gorgeous in a fog-and-bones kind of way, and Iris’s battle with isolation, shame, and what it means to be labeled a monster kept me invested. A few plot beats feel familiar if you’ve read folklore retellings before, and the pacing leans into mood more than non-stop action, but the slow-build chemistry and eerie mystery made it a cozy haunting read.

🫶 Thank you to @littlebrownbookgroup_uk for this gifted copy!

🌊 Gothic historical fantasy
🧜‍♀️ Fairytale retelling vibes
🔥 Slow-burn tension
⚔️ Monster vs humanity themes
❤️ Impossible attraction
✨ Rich Scottish folklore atmosphere

[Faye Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

As soon as I started reading Lochbound, I knew this was going to be a 5 star read for me! And when cried at the 11% mark, that cemented it. 

It was a great mashup of its inspirations, The Little Mermaid and Scotland's Loch Ness Monster. It had an emotional, character-led story with a lovely romance and a strong mystery plot too, as FMC Iris tries once and again to break the curse that a witch placed on her 50 years ago. Her human form doesn't age, but every day she is forced into the body of Moireach, a loch ness monster, only returning to her human body at night. I found the story really emotional and I liked all the twists.

My only critique was that it used first person for Iris' chapters, and third person for Henry and Duncan's chapters. I would have preferred if it was all first person or all third person, rather than switching. It was still a 5 star read for me, but it was something I noticed each time it happened.

Disclaimer: I received an Advance Reader Copy from NetGalley but this is my voluntary and honest review.

[Adri · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was crafted so well, weaving in folk lore which is still told in Gaelic traditions of Kelpies and mysterious Lochs. But also wisps and Seelie/Unseelie. Whilst this part added some aspects to the story, it didn’t become a Fae fantasy story.

But there were also the moving parts of the fates of each person, differing life lines and each individuals back story and part in the culmination of the story.

I feel this is more a fantasy mystery, with romance adding to the context and relationships. And in saying this, I remember that there was a love star? Pentagram? Pentagon? Some 5 pointed/cornered shape. But it just didn’t feel like the part of the story that I concentrated on.

I really enjoyed and would read a book by Rebecca again.

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Ciara Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lochbound is a standalone historical fantasy romance that felt like a dark fairytale. It was an easy read which kept me gripped throughout and had some surprising twists. I absolutely loved the setting, a small village in the Scottish highlands bordering a loch, and the creepy, unsettling atmosphere of the story.

I found that the protagonist, Iris, made some frustrating choices at times though and the way ending played out didn’t quite work for me, but I did enjoy my time reading Lochbound and would read from this author again.

[Rina | Worldsbetweenpages · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much Little, Brown Book Group UK | Sphere for the arc!

**4,25/5**

„In a strange way, I hope my sadness never leaves me. It is what reminds me that she was real.“

- Scotland 1725
- cursed monster x monster hunter
- possession
- Little Mermaid retelling
- Loch Ness folklore

What to expect:
Iris lives under a cruel curse that turns her into a feared monster by day and a woman by night. When villagers blame the monster for a series of deaths and summon a hunter to kill it, Iris must break her curse before the hunter discovers who she is. As Iris grows closer to the man sent to kill her, she is forced to face the monster she may truly be.

What I liked:
- The worldbuilding was amazing! The story is set in a secluded Scottish village beside a deep loch. Above it stands the laird’s castle. Both he and his predecessor are obsessed with ridding their land of witches and the village is now avoided by outsiders. While witches are brutally burned at the stake, other creatures like seelies, kelpies and will-o’-the-wisps still roam the area.
- I really liked the protagonist Iris and the love interest. They both have troubled pasts, and I enjoyed seeing them grow closer. I found it especially gripping to read about Iris’s inner struggles and how she locked her trauma away in the monster. They each have different mindsets and goals and you never know which side will be in control.

What I didn’t like:
- Besides the protagonist and the hunter, I wished for characters who were a bit more complex, ones who weren’t entirely evil. Especially since the curse began fifty years ago a lot of time has passed. I found it a bit unrealistic that no one seemed to have moved on.

Writing style: 4/5
Characters: 4,5/5
Worldbuilding: 4/5
Story & Plot: 4/5
Vibes: 4,5/5

Will I buy a physical copy: yes!
Will I read more books by the author: yes!

[Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in 1725 Scotland, Lochbound follows Iris, a woman cursed to live as two beings. By night, she is human, frozen in time and unable to age. By day, she becomes Moireach, the monster trapped in the depths of the loch. For fifty years, Iris has lived like this, until bodies begin appearing on the shore and the villagers decide the monster must be responsible.

This book clearly draws inspiration from Scottish loch folklore and The Little Mermaid, and I really enjoyed how those elements were woven together. Iris was a strong and interesting FMC, especially when it came to her inner conflict. Reading about her struggle with the monster side of herself, and how her past choices led to this curse, was one of my favourite parts of the story. Watching those two sides fight for control genuinely had me on edge.

The plot twist absolutely got me. I’m not a reader who tries to predict twists, so when it happened, I was fully shocked. Some readers might see it coming from YARDS AWAY, but I definitely didn’t, and I loved that moment. Honestly felt betrayed during the moment HAHA.

That said, I did have a couple of small nitpicks. The romance between Iris and Henry felt a little rushed, with strong feelings developing over just a few days. I enjoyed their interactions, but the pacing of the romance didn’t fully work for me. I also found the POV changes slightly jarring, since Iris’s chapters are written in first person while the others are in third person. I would have preferred a consistent style throughout.

Overall, I really enjoyed this story. It was atmospheric, emotional, and engaging, with a compelling protagonist. I’m definitely excited to read more from this author.

Thank you to Little Brown Book Group | Sphere and NetGalley for this ARC.

[Martin Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

A solid tale of love gone wrong and fates made good.

"Lochbound" opens in the small village of Kilmara, in the Highlands of Scotland. It's 1725 and for fifty years, Iris has lived under a curse - by night, she is a young woman haunted by a lost love; by day, she is Moireach, a terrifying monster imprisoned in the depths of Loch Moine. But when bodies start turning up on the shore of the loch, horribly mutilated, she fears the monster is taking over. The villagers live in fear of the monster, and so the laird hires a monster-hunter, Henry to hunt down and slay the monster of the loch.

And so the story unfolds, of a love lost, a hatred born and a curse hanging over a village. Told from three viewpoints - that of Iris, Henry and Duncan, Iris's childhood friend, the reader slowly learns of events fifty years ago, which led to the terrible lochside murders. Iris turns out to be an unreliable narrator, not being aware of the full story surrounding her curse. But in places the three strands blend and overlap and the reader is rewarded by the slowly unveiling of a long ago tragedy.

The story moves along quickly, in places unbelievably quickly, but there's still time to get to know Iris, Henry and Duncan, as well as a few other key characters. There's sufficient atmosphere to paint a believable picture of the village, it's laird, and the prevailing attitudes of 18th century Scotland. And it's hard not feel sorry for most of the characters, as they fight to deny their fates.

Astute readers of historical fantasy will probably work out the various twists and turns well before they are revealed, but that's OK. This is a good story, well told.

Recommended.

[inpageswithlouise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review 🫶🏻

Quote: “I am trapped in this eternal fairy tale that is, in fact, no fairy tale at all.”

Lochbound is a standalone book - it’s a ‘The Little Mermaid’ retelling but definitely a unique one. I literally ATE this one up and read it in one sitting. I couldn’t put it down.

It’s set in 1725 Scotland in a small town - Kilmara. Iris lives under a cruel curse. By night, she walks as a human the misty shores, forever young and heartbroken. By day, when dawn comes, she’s transformed and becomes ‘Moireach’, a feared monster trapped beneath Loch that the villagers fear - along with witches, fae and magic in general. This is also a dark reimagining of the Loch Ness legend, whilst also a story where ‘Ariel’ and ‘Ursula’ are the same soul.

When bodies begin appearing, near the Loch, the monster within is blamed. A ruthless hunter, Henry is summoned to end the monster once and for all. But as forbidden attraction sparks between hunter and hunted, Iris is forced to confront her past. She has only one chance to break her curse before she is killed for crimes she does not remember committing.

What I enjoyed about this book is Rebecca’s writing - I could really feel Iris’s longing for connection just as deeply as her isolation and her hope fighting against the weight of everything she has lost.

I highly recommend this book if you’re after a standalone fairytale retelling. You can expect a haunting atmosphere, misty landscapes and Scottish folklore.

[mo • lesmotsdemo · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up for goodreads and netgalley.
It was a very solid read. The atmosphere was grim and gloomy, which I loved, and the plot was well thought-out with some good reveals. I really liked to learn about the monster and the main character, about their similarities and differences. The main character was quite naive at times but she was charming. The male characters sometimes felt too similar to one another at the beginning, but slowly grew into their own character. The main character’s relationships with the male characters were at times tough to read about (I wanted to tell her they were being manipulative in some ways) and they were not my favorite part of the story. Also, I believe the ending did not match the rest of the story, the tone was too different and I wanted another kind of ending. I would still highly recommend this dark and haunting story.

Thank you to Netgalley for an e-ARC in exchange for a honest review.

[pqrs.books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have you ever read a book where the monster is telling the story? No?

Then you definitely should grab this book.
I absolutely devoured this book from start to finish. It was easy to read with an interesting storyline. Let alone having a cursed protagonist who doesn’t age while her old love interest does was a nice twist that brought problems that I didn’t think of at first but were absolutely convincing after thinking about them.

Yes, the enemies to lovers was expected and the love story was nothing new anymore but given that the rest of the story was kinda unique in some ways I was absolutely willing to „overlook“ the rushed love story.

I just take off one star because for my taste the worldbuilding could have been more complex so sometimes the book lacked some depth but generally it’s a recommendation!

Thanks to Netgalley for the eARC!

[kelseys.inthelibrary · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Review

Lochbound is a 5 star read! Rebecca doesn’t follow the typical fantasy formula, I was constantly thinking, wait, what’s happening? what’s about to happen? All whilst freaking out because the cover states "There's no happily ever after.."

It feels like The Little Mermaid meets Beauty and the Beast, infused with rich Scottish folklore. There are witches and curses, monsters and monster hunter, a murder mystery woven throughout and so much emotional damage: grief and loss, first love, unrequited love, and true love layered beautifully into the story.

This is an excellent standalone debut, and I’m genuinely excited for Rebecca to release it into the world this April. An atmospheric fantasy that surprised me at every turn.

[Juls · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whimsical and folkloric within a Scottish atmosphere.
This standalone felt so immersive and the storyline was gripping until the very end.
So many mysteries, plot twists and romantic tension that will keep you awake at nonsense o’clock (usually 2 or 3 am depending on your reading stamina. Ah!)

This book is a delight, perfect for romantasy readers!

[Rosie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sadly DNF’d half way through, just couldn’t get into the story! Might try again on holiday when my brains more relaxed