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The Wicked Sea #1
The Wicked Sea
Not yet published
Expected 9 Apr 26In this dark and sultry, enemies-to-lovers romantasy, a mermaid battles hatred and lust for the wretched warlock who saved her life.
On the run from a dangerous captor and years of abuse, Mermaid Zephyra of the Syl has shed her tail, grown legs, and hidden herself on land in the merrow-loathing kingdom of Mortia, left to steal and barter on the dirty streets. But her freedom is short-lived when she's caught and sentenced to death by the brutal warlock, Arion Stone.
Arion is as beautiful as he is cold and deadly, only interested in punishing the merrow he views as evil. He has grown as strong as any warlock might, but at great personal cost...which can only be remedied by the heart of the God of Death, lost to a fabled kingdom beneath the ocean's treacherous depths.
So Arion offers Zephyra a deal she can't refuse; help him find the mystical heart, and he'll spare her life. With no other options, Zephyra agrees, entangling their souls and forbidden desires in a magical bargain until death do they part.
But their enemies are circling, and if Zephyra and Arion can't learn to fight together-and trust each other-there are worse things awaiting them than just death.
On the run from a dangerous captor and years of abuse, Mermaid Zephyra of the Syl has shed her tail, grown legs, and hidden herself on land in the merrow-loathing kingdom of Mortia, left to steal and barter on the dirty streets. But her freedom is short-lived when she's caught and sentenced to death by the brutal warlock, Arion Stone.
Arion is as beautiful as he is cold and deadly, only interested in punishing the merrow he views as evil. He has grown as strong as any warlock might, but at great personal cost...which can only be remedied by the heart of the God of Death, lost to a fabled kingdom beneath the ocean's treacherous depths.
So Arion offers Zephyra a deal she can't refuse; help him find the mystical heart, and he'll spare her life. With no other options, Zephyra agrees, entangling their souls and forbidden desires in a magical bargain until death do they part.
But their enemies are circling, and if Zephyra and Arion can't learn to fight together-and trust each other-there are worse things awaiting them than just death.
Kindle Edition
Expected publication April 7, 2026
14 people are currently reading
9465 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
Want to read
October 8, 2025I fear I may already be obsessed with this book
November 11, 2025
I'M SAT. Exasperated publishers and frightened booksellers politely ask me (a fangirl in a pink wig and fishtail) to leave but I can't hear them. I'm too busy chanting "mermaids, mermaids, mermaids" while waving a pink banner covered in fan art of Zephyra and Arion.
*I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.*
Updated Review:
A mermaid and warlock put aside their mutual hatred to find and steal the heart of a death god to save themselves from destruction. Zephyra has experienced something so horrible she will do whatever it takes to keep her freedom. Arion will do whatever he must to keep his life.
The juxtaposition of world and its inhabitants gave the story unique and fun twists as it's equally whimsical and deadly. Jordan's writing is so vivid each location felt distinct with it's own magic, creatures, and emotions. Nothing was as it seemed which made everything more exciting.
The character growth in this book truly left my jaw on the floor. Zephyra is for anyone who has experienced being stuck in darkness for so long they don't know who they are when they finally reach the light. She is for anyone who hurt others in the process of escaping the dark. For those who have to face their fears and do so even though they're terrified. She might not be for everyone but she is for me.
When I pictured a mermaid book I was thinking about the beautiful mermaids that hang out in lagoons but Zephyra surprised me. She is beautiful but also deadly, slightly broken and full of rage. I didn't know I wanted a mermaid like her until I read this story. TWS checked all my boxes. A heist plot, mermaids (obviously), amazing character arcs, twists, magic, and more. Jordan seriously outdid herself with this one.
*I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.*
Updated Review:
A mermaid and warlock put aside their mutual hatred to find and steal the heart of a death god to save themselves from destruction. Zephyra has experienced something so horrible she will do whatever it takes to keep her freedom. Arion will do whatever he must to keep his life.
The juxtaposition of world and its inhabitants gave the story unique and fun twists as it's equally whimsical and deadly. Jordan's writing is so vivid each location felt distinct with it's own magic, creatures, and emotions. Nothing was as it seemed which made everything more exciting.
The character growth in this book truly left my jaw on the floor. Zephyra is for anyone who has experienced being stuck in darkness for so long they don't know who they are when they finally reach the light. She is for anyone who hurt others in the process of escaping the dark. For those who have to face their fears and do so even though they're terrified. She might not be for everyone but she is for me.
When I pictured a mermaid book I was thinking about the beautiful mermaids that hang out in lagoons but Zephyra surprised me. She is beautiful but also deadly, slightly broken and full of rage. I didn't know I wanted a mermaid like her until I read this story. TWS checked all my boxes. A heist plot, mermaids (obviously), amazing character arcs, twists, magic, and more. Jordan seriously outdid herself with this one.
Want to read
May 28, 2025A MERMAID ROMANTASY?! Everything I wanted...
Want to read
September 1, 2025Mermaids, the sea, curses, and heavy on spice. I’m ready
September 27, 2025
MY. SHATTERED HEART.
Jordan Stephanie Gray is my favorite author and person ever and I love her dearly but OMG she really outdid herself with this one, her adult debut! The Wicked Sea is the mermaid romantasy we've all been waiting for, and it's A Court of Silver Flames meets Quicksilver meets Six of Crows. It follows a spitfire pink-haired mermaid named Zephyra who is saved from execution from a super hot super sexy warlock WITH WINGS who end up on a heist/quest together. Oh, and because he saved her life, there's a magical bond between them that makes them super horny for each other. There's also a light academia angle in this story that I won't spoil.
Jordan Gray is the Michaelangelo of banter, and this book is a true romp - silly and hysterical and witty and ridiculous, all in the absolute best way. If you are allergic to fun, you are not allowed to grace this book with your presence! The book is not at all like this movie, but in terms of pure fun, whit, comedy, and wholesomeness, I felt like I was reading a book version of one of my favorite comedies, The Other Woman. But Jordan expertly balances this with the heart of the story, which is about two people with extremely traumatic and abusive pasts starting to heal and finding love, and in that, I felt like I was reading one of my all-time favorite books, A Court of Silver Flames.
The ending of this book is full of crazy twists and absolutely wild reveals. One of my absolute favorite tropes is also in this book, but it's a spoiler, so my lips are sealed. I do not know how I am going to wait for book 2.
And oh, the spice. Top tier, truly. There is a scene in here that is so spectacularly filthy I was actually shrieking.
There is also so much casual diversity in this book, which I deeply appreciated. Zephyra is pansexual, one of the main supporting characters is a Black mermaid, and another is a bisexual man who's also a hilarious and nerdy historian.
I already want to reread this book, and I truly do not know what to do with myself now that I've finished. I truly envy anyone who gets to read it for the first time. The world is so dark right now, and this book was a brightly burning eternal flame.
Jordan Stephanie Gray is my favorite author and person ever and I love her dearly but OMG she really outdid herself with this one, her adult debut! The Wicked Sea is the mermaid romantasy we've all been waiting for, and it's A Court of Silver Flames meets Quicksilver meets Six of Crows. It follows a spitfire pink-haired mermaid named Zephyra who is saved from execution from a super hot super sexy warlock WITH WINGS who end up on a heist/quest together. Oh, and because he saved her life, there's a magical bond between them that makes them super horny for each other. There's also a light academia angle in this story that I won't spoil.
Jordan Gray is the Michaelangelo of banter, and this book is a true romp - silly and hysterical and witty and ridiculous, all in the absolute best way. If you are allergic to fun, you are not allowed to grace this book with your presence! The book is not at all like this movie, but in terms of pure fun, whit, comedy, and wholesomeness, I felt like I was reading a book version of one of my favorite comedies, The Other Woman. But Jordan expertly balances this with the heart of the story, which is about two people with extremely traumatic and abusive pasts starting to heal and finding love, and in that, I felt like I was reading one of my all-time favorite books, A Court of Silver Flames.
The ending of this book is full of crazy twists and absolutely wild reveals. One of my absolute favorite tropes is also in this book, but it's a spoiler, so my lips are sealed. I do not know how I am going to wait for book 2.
And oh, the spice. Top tier, truly. There is a scene in here that is so spectacularly filthy I was actually shrieking.
There is also so much casual diversity in this book, which I deeply appreciated. Zephyra is pansexual, one of the main supporting characters is a Black mermaid, and another is a bisexual man who's also a hilarious and nerdy historian.
I already want to reread this book, and I truly do not know what to do with myself now that I've finished. I truly envy anyone who gets to read it for the first time. The world is so dark right now, and this book was a brightly burning eternal flame.
November 14, 2025
outrunning a dangerous captor and years of torture, mermaid zephyra never stays in one place for long. disguised as a human in a merrow-loathing kingdom, she is left to barter and steal to survive. but her freedom is short-lived when she is caught by the brutal, handsome warlock arion stone.
burdened by tremendous power and a dark secret of his own, arion is desperate to find the mythical heart of the god of death, lost to a fabled kingdom deep within the ocean.
in exchange for her life, zephyra promises to help arion find the heart, binding their souls and lives together in a magical bargain. with their enemies closing in and danger around every turn, they must learn to set aside their differences - and desire - before it's too late.
zephyra's complex character development is compelling and heartbreaking. dealing with lasting trauma, she undergoes a complete transformation from where the reader meets her at the beginning to her final choices in the end. this is truly one of the most beautiful and well-developed journeys I've read, and I love that she was allowed to be imperfect and make mistakes with serious consequences, which she, in turn, learned and grew from.
arion had unexpected depth to his character. it can be so easy to fall into the strong-gruff-warrior-no feelings stereotype, and while he was still all of that, he had complexities and a tragic journey that complemented zephyra's - and as it turns out, he has (more than) a soft spot for a certain pink-haired mermaid.
the plot was moderately paced with plenty of action to keep things interesting. the banter and quick-witted one-liners are unmatched, adding comic relief and brevity to an otherwise fairly heavy book. the descriptions are vivid and lush, pulling the reader beneath the waves with arion and zephrya.
this story is still living in my mind - I want to reread it already. this is a breathtaking adult romantasy debut that left me staring at a wall crying after I finished.
perfect for fans of lj andrews, a court of silver flames, and kalie cassidy.
thank you to netgalley and requited for an arc of this book.
burdened by tremendous power and a dark secret of his own, arion is desperate to find the mythical heart of the god of death, lost to a fabled kingdom deep within the ocean.
in exchange for her life, zephyra promises to help arion find the heart, binding their souls and lives together in a magical bargain. with their enemies closing in and danger around every turn, they must learn to set aside their differences - and desire - before it's too late.
zephyra's complex character development is compelling and heartbreaking. dealing with lasting trauma, she undergoes a complete transformation from where the reader meets her at the beginning to her final choices in the end. this is truly one of the most beautiful and well-developed journeys I've read, and I love that she was allowed to be imperfect and make mistakes with serious consequences, which she, in turn, learned and grew from.
arion had unexpected depth to his character. it can be so easy to fall into the strong-gruff-warrior-no feelings stereotype, and while he was still all of that, he had complexities and a tragic journey that complemented zephyra's - and as it turns out, he has (more than) a soft spot for a certain pink-haired mermaid.
the plot was moderately paced with plenty of action to keep things interesting. the banter and quick-witted one-liners are unmatched, adding comic relief and brevity to an otherwise fairly heavy book. the descriptions are vivid and lush, pulling the reader beneath the waves with arion and zephrya.
this story is still living in my mind - I want to reread it already. this is a breathtaking adult romantasy debut that left me staring at a wall crying after I finished.
perfect for fans of lj andrews, a court of silver flames, and kalie cassidy.
thank you to netgalley and requited for an arc of this book.
September 1, 2025
This enemies-to-lovers tale has a strong dose of tension, from the dark alleys of Mortia to the ocean’s most forbidden depths. Arion’s icy presence and Zephyra’s fierce, wounded resilience make for an easy read, though I wish their chemistry had been given even more time to fully unfold.
The empire of the sea is vividly imagined and Jordan Stephanie Gray nails the atmosphere. If you're a sucker for mermaid lore, this could be for you.
The empire of the sea is vividly imagined and Jordan Stephanie Gray nails the atmosphere. If you're a sucker for mermaid lore, this could be for you.
November 17, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
After reading her debut book Bitten, I was so excited to hear that she was coming out with another book. This was one of my highly anticipated preorders for next year, but it fell a little flat for me. I do think there should be more warnings in the beginning of the book, particularly about gore. The prologue was really interesting but then I think it took a turn when the first chapter appeared. The first 35% of this book felt like it really dragged on and I had to put the book down several times to read something else to get interested in it again. It did take a better turn later in the book, but I was hoping for more. Bitten, her other book, was one of my favorite reads this year so I was a little disappointed when I got to this one and it fell flat. I would still recommend this to a friend because as the book goes on it gets better, but this is a book you need to push through.
After reading her debut book Bitten, I was so excited to hear that she was coming out with another book. This was one of my highly anticipated preorders for next year, but it fell a little flat for me. I do think there should be more warnings in the beginning of the book, particularly about gore. The prologue was really interesting but then I think it took a turn when the first chapter appeared. The first 35% of this book felt like it really dragged on and I had to put the book down several times to read something else to get interested in it again. It did take a better turn later in the book, but I was hoping for more. Bitten, her other book, was one of my favorite reads this year so I was a little disappointed when I got to this one and it fell flat. I would still recommend this to a friend because as the book goes on it gets better, but this is a book you need to push through.
December 20, 2025
this book was amazing!! it took me so long to read because I simply didn’t want to say goodbye to the characters. as a mermaid lover myself ( cue embarrassing childhood antics ) I was drawn to the story and the world, but the characters??? oh my god I could not get enough! I was so drawn to all of them and wanted to read more and more about them, but i don’t want to spoil anything for people. it’s such a fascinating world, with characters who I wish I could know, and I’m sad that I finished because I had to say goodbye to them. that’s truly a note of how well written it was because I kept fighting with myself going “I want to know what happens” but also “I don’t want to say goodbye to this world” and I LOVE books and stories in general that are like that. kept me hooked from the prologue through the epilogue.
November 5, 2025
This was lacking I make it to 35% and had to DNF. It felt like all the other romantasy’s that are coming out no substance. I know the edition when it gets published is beautiful that is why I was so excited to get the ARC on NetGalley but it was such a letdown. In need more to my reads give me the yearning we all want.
try-again-later
October 9, 2025The violence in the prologue was rather triggering for me, so I'm setting this aside for a future date.
Want to read
October 31, 2025April 2026
December 13, 2025
FULL REVIEW TO COME OMG I AM SPEECHLESS RIGHT NOW
JORDAN HOW DARE YOU BE SUCH AN AMAZING WRITER
(Arc received by the author at one of the Bitten tour stops 💖)
JORDAN HOW DARE YOU BE SUCH AN AMAZING WRITER
(Arc received by the author at one of the Bitten tour stops 💖)
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews