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Crossbones: A seafaring MM Dark Romance

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They were forged in rebellion, bound by ruin and undone by something far more dangerous—

Prince Caspian De’Vero isn’t the Crown Prince—thank God—but he is still burdened by the weight of a corrupt kingdom. To combat his guilt by association, he wages a quiet war against his own bloodline—siphoning gold from the royal treasury to fund a haven for refugees displaced by his father. For years, his rebellion has gone unnoticed but as the gold dwindles and suspicions rise, he needs to find a way to keep his cause alive.

Captain James Blackwell—The Stormbreaker—a pirate with a haunted past, a violent vendetta, and a ship whose reputation is whispered about in every tavern from the Seven Landings and beyond. When he captures who he thinks is a De’Vero noble, he decides to ransom him for some much needed gold. But things take a turn when the man is hardly what he expects and much to his dismay, he begins to take an interest in the charming rogue who throws himself recklessly into danger and challenges everything he thought he knew about himself.

Their fates collide further when an uneasy alliance is formed over a lost treasure that would solve both of their problems—if it exists. As they’re forced to work together, their relationship is volatile, dangerous and—dare they admit it, intoxicating. When the past resurfaces in more ways than they expect, both men soon realize the truth—the tides are turning, the storm is coming and some secrets were never meant to stay buried.

A Prince and a Pirate—two men navigating what it means to choose who you become—caught in an epic tale of loyalty, forbidden love and sacrifice.

***CROSSBONES is a standalone MM dark romance with sensitive topics and themes
For a full TW list, please see Devyn River's website*****


Some tropes possessive MMC, captive/captor, pirates, bi-awakening, enemies to lovers, forced proximity, treasure hunt

309 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 1, 2025

49 people are currently reading
496 people want to read

About the author

Devyn Rivers

5 books409 followers

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
Profile Image for Astra.
173 reviews426 followers
September 25, 2025
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, a true enemies to lovers and I haven’t read one of those in a while. Plus I have to mention the cover because it’s absolutely gorgeous!!

Caspian, also known as Fox, definitely lives up to his animal nickname. He is witty, stubborn, and snarky, not to mention he can let a lie slip easily through his lips without so much as even a twitch. His father is the King of House De’Vero, a very cruel and very powerful man with his older brother being no different.

Caspian has grown to despise the things his father does, the ruthless control he has and the way he uses it to simply tear people from their families. So, he begins to rebel, taking upon the undercover title of Fox, he rescues refugees and gives them a safe place to start rebuilding their lives. All of this he does beneath the nose of both his father and brother.

Over the years he has made countless masks for himself, painted pretty with false personalities. Everything he does is to ensure he is not caught, but while he is protecting those who need it he also has begun to lose himself. Caught in a web of internal lies. Until a beast of a man storms into his life and rips him free.

James Blackwell, also known as The Stormbreaker, a vicious pirate Captain with a heart of black coal. Who has devoted his life completely to wiping out the De’Vero family. The people who had taken everything from him, stripped his innocence away and forced him to live without the comfort of a family. He is dead set on his goal and has lived his life among the unforgiving sea for quite some time, killing any and all who dare to step in his way. However, that is until he meets one Prince in particular who may pose as an exception.

I’m telling you the tension between these two was OFF THE CHARTS. I absolutely loved all their banter. Caspian and James are both like flames, trying to see who can burn the brightest. Or like arrows, trying to see who can strike the weakest point. But underneath all those sharp words, and cruel smirks is an unmistakable attraction that binds them together and refuses to let go.

The romance is a delicious slow-burn followed by steamy moments of passion and shared messy emotions while Caspian sees if he can take that heart of coal and ignite it into passion once more. Slowly they unravel each other and realize they may just be the dark tempting shadows they both seek.

Now was this book perfect? No. While the romance I thought was lovely and nicely dragged out the plot seemed to jump around a bit too quickly. The writing was also a little jumbled here and there. A few sentences I would read and not understand a thing while others I thought were the most beautiful poetic words ever. I did really enjoy all the pirate lingo though. I have to admit I’m not sure what all of it meant (it’s been a hot minute since I’ve seen Pirates of the Caribbean) but it still proved entertaining.

There is one larger TW I would like to point out. First of all this is a dark romance. These characters have some messed up pasts and there is mention of rape. Also off page rape that happens to one of the characters. These mentions aren’t long or anything but essential to understand some backstory elements. Just keep that in mind while picking this one up.

OVERALL, I thought this book was an incredible adventure, it will definitely keep you on your toes. The romance was lovely and well done while the characters manage to be both complex and entertaining.
Profile Image for Evie.
562 reviews301 followers
September 26, 2025
So I’m starting with the good bits…

The vibes this cover brings? Immaculate…..

The premise of the story 10/10, no notes……

The execution……..ahhhhhhhhhh…….yeah……..look this book has probably made me the maddest for unfulfilled potential that I have felt for a long while.

Enemy to lovers story with the ‘spare’ prince of a corrupt kingdom and a murderous pirate captain on a hunt for a hidden treasure? SO GOOD. Unfortunately, I found that this suffered from an awkward writing style and a narrative flow that felt very amateurish. Every plot point was just conveniently laid out like stepping stones over a river and it all just felt *too* neat and easy.

I was actually having a pretty good time with it to start with (I missed my train stop because I was so involved); I could acknowledge that the writing wasn’t fantastic but that I was entertained by the premise. Unfortunately once the cracks starting showing and I started to notice the imperfections it felt like that scene in Austin Powers with the mole where I just couldn’t unsee all the plot holes and inconsistencies. Honestly, a lot of the things that got under my skin were pretty minor, one of the earlier ones that got me was a character stating someone had been lying to them for weeks, when they had only known them for days… but then there was also characters concerned about potentially starving but when they kill a giant ass bear they just leave the meat? Little things like that and plot holes which just started stacking up and all the little things just accumulated.

I also found that there was no real difference in the ‘feel’ of the characters, we would change POVs and if I put the book down and came back to it, the only way I could remember who’s POV I was in was by reading the names mentioned. This lack of flavour in the characterisation was also present in the side characters who were also all pretty interchangeable to me and gun to my head, I could maybe remember one of them.

Also the frequency of modernism slipping in was not my fave, the most egregious of which was all the times the characters went for lube (like kudos for having it at least I guess) but as a term I found this really jarring, like just use oil like any other self respecting 1600s pirate with a close companion lol.

I think I was hoping for a more period accurate pirate adventure, and honestly this felt like a pirate book that was written with a movie marathon of the ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ being the bulk of the research and preparation. Which, if thats the vibe you are looking for, pop off, this will probably slap, just wasn’t what I was hoping for.

Right up to the very end I felt bummed out by what a good premise this story had, but that it was just missing the sophistication in writing skill that was needed to meet that potential and honestly it was that stellar premise that saved the book even this much…. But hey, at least the cover is dope…..
Profile Image for Sarah.
1,009 reviews87 followers
November 23, 2025
DNF 80% - Captive Prince remake but with pirates. Unfortunately this execution did not work for me. The writing felt simultaneously clumsy and too neat. The premise feels too ambitious for the writing level. I wanted to love this, the cover made me download it as soon as I saw it and the pirate vs prince blurb sounded promising.

Major scenes are written in a very simple way. For example they arrive in a port unexpectedly and the Bad Guy turns up in the next scene. They storm a castle and rescue a prisoner in a few pages. The Bad Guy is conveniently out for the afternoon and they easily defeat all his soldiers. Over and done with just like that. Everything is very surface level.

I am bored out of my mind.

In the author notes she says she went for
“1650’s-1730’s in terms of technology and authenticity” but I personally could not tell it was a historical.

“Hot as fuck.” “Incredibly hot man.” “Blowjob.” “Cute, adorable.”
There is a lot of modern language, and the dialogue and thought processes didn’t even feel particularly male. They talk like college students from the early 2000’s. I also felt their actions were not very convincing for pirates in this era.

I appreciate it’s tricky to achieve historical accuracy but some terms felt glaringly out of place and by the end I couldn’t suspend disbelief any longer. From simple things like calling the ships passageway a “hallway” to “just grabbing the lube out the drawer” like they have a tube of KY stashed in there. Google says whale blubber would be most likely used by pirates in that period and I have to say I’m disappointed it didn’t get a mention.

The characters are indistinguishable from one another. One is a Prince, the other a pirate and I still couldn’t tell whose POV it was until someone called them by name. Similarly I couldn’t keep the side characters straight.

There are plot holes such as days that suddenly become weeks, and I’m happy to over look some inconsistencies but with everything else it just added to the amateur feel.

This entire book has prolific use of the em dash, every page uses it multiple times. It drove me a little crazy as it felt so overused and kept throwing me out of the story. Sometimes the font was different too and this distracted me. There is also a lot of use of italics during the text. The whole formatting really just didn’t read naturally for my brain and the dramatic wording didn’t feel like it matched the actual content of the story.

”Some days I don’t want to face the truth—that I’m more monster than man.
And who would ever be reckless enough to give their heart to such a creature?
Not that I want that, let me be clear.
And yet…
As I watch my crew disembark onto the beach and rush into another’s arms—lover, whore, wife, husband—the loneliness tugs gently at my chest. An annoyance and weakness I can’t afford. Luckily, it’s a dull feeling—nothing rum and a quick fuck won’t remedy. I had those frivolous desires stripped from me long ago and if I have a heart, it only beats to keep my dark soul alive, nothing more.”


TW for off page rape, references to rape.
Profile Image for mal..
69 reviews36 followers
November 9, 2025
4.5/5

"Good men don't carry scars like mine," he says quietly. He takes another hit and hands the smoke back to me, directing his exhale away from my face before he speaks. "Good men don't have shadows that try to drag them into the dark."

I take a hit and exhale out to the sea, watching as the swirls get yanked away by the wind and disappear. "You pull people out of the shadows because you know the way. Maybe you're supposed to have a foot in both—a bridge between two worlds."


let me just start by saying that the cover of this book is stunning! i'm happy that what's inside lives up to it.

from the first couple paragraphs, the writing was impressive and atmospheric. a very strong start; james' character immediately intrigued me. let's just be honest though, there's no universe in which i wasn't going to enjoy a fleshed out, slow burn, ruthless pirate x rebel prince romance story. like...?? 🙄🙄

description

surprisingly didn't hate the first person narration. thanks to some truly traumatic college sports romances with cringey internal monologues, i'm always dubious of first person pov stories; here, though, it worked pretty well. the MCs' voices also felt unique and distinct, not like the author in a character costume.

the moments of tension between the MCs were many—and they were delicious. love when an author clearly understands and appreciates the lost art of drawing out the moment when the two leads finally let go of their inhibitions and crash together.

now, i'll always be the first to roll my eyes at a captive prince comparison... but dare i say many aspects of this story were reminiscent of it. while crossbones doesn’t necessarily match the political complexity, rich world-building, or viciousness of the initial animosity between the MCs of captive prince (and i firmly believe that no m/m story ever will!), i feel that there were certainly echoes in terms of the development of the romance, certain plot beats, and even some of the characters.

thoroughly and unashamedly enjoyed how possessive james was over caspian. the sex was hot, and there was definitely no shortage of it.

After we're presentable again, he steps into me, his eyes sharpening. "I mean it—no one else gets to have you." His thumb passes over my lower lip. "I may not know how to do this but I'm going to figure it the fuck out."


description

there were minor grammatical errors (sentence fragments, missing commas, etc.) i noticed every now and then, and a repetitive word choice here and there, but all in all nothing overly distracting. i do wish certain scenes were more fleshed out—a few key moments/scenes ended too quickly for my liking, leaving me wanting a bit more emotional payoff. i also found myself mixing up some of the side characters, particularly the quartermasters of james and caspian. doesn't help that their names are one letter off and rhyme. lan & van...? why 😭

overall though, i tore through this book in a single weekend. compelling main characters, a steamy romance, and an engaging treasure hunt. what's not to like???
Profile Image for Danielle.
157 reviews
October 2, 2025
DNF. Unfortunately, this wasn’t what I was really expecting when I read the summary. The premise itself is very intriguing. A pirate story and love story between two characters with tortured pasts but different goals, one looking for retribution and the other looking for liberation. A prince and the pirate who has vowed to destroy the prince’s entire line. For an enemies to lovers story, I just felt like it revved up too quickly. The story was too focused on the sexual aspects of the characters in the introduction in comparison to building the backstory and characterization, in my opinion. And then when the characters meet it’s pretty much instantly sexual tension and flirting. For me, I feel like the character would have benefited from being more fleshed out and exploring the disdain aspect for longer. I also think the characters may fit too neatly into their archetypes? I think if that instant lust doesn’t bother you, then you’ll probably enjoy the book but I couldn’t get past it.
Profile Image for Amy Carr.
157 reviews2 followers
August 1, 2025
This was everything I didn't know I needed! A MM pirate romance, with trauma, secrets, royals, treasure hunting, and so many twists your head will be spinning!

James and Caspian are both captains, one a secret royal who is doing everything he can to stop the powers that be from doing any more damage, the other a notorious pirate who is out for revenge from the royalty who took everything from him.

They feel the pull to each other quickly, and holy, once they give in, it is perfection! They are such strong characters, with Caspian using dark humor as his coping mechanism, and James being broody and serious, they compliment each other so well.

This is very plot heavy, but the story is spun so perfectly, I was constantly surprised and fascinated at what might come next. Devyn described everything in such vivid detail that made it so easy to follow. It is a romance, with lots of spice, but woven so well with suspense and action.

Well worth the read!
Profile Image for Maya.
139 reviews85 followers
August 1, 2025
Okay, this is definitely one of my favourite reads this year, I loved the adventurous pirate theme and Caspian and James absolutely own my heart 😩😩 I loved the banter, I loved Caspian’s brattiness and the way James slowly came out of his shell
I also really liked the attention to detail for all the ship and pirate stuff
Profile Image for Mug.
515 reviews121 followers
dnf
September 26, 2025
dnf @ 55% - i’d prefer more showing, less telling
Profile Image for Nadia.
50 reviews
July 12, 2025
4.5 ⭐
"Some men are made of storms...
He's made of the silence that comes after."

Crossbones is an intoxicating blend of action, heat, and heart. Caspian is the kind of sharp-tongued, sass-laced character I live for. And James? Broody, dangerous, and quietly devastating. Together, their chemistry is pure lightning in a bottle.

The spice? Devyn Rivers does it again. Every scene is equal parts scorching and emotionally charged. There’s no fade-to-black here, only blush-to-red.

The plot twists kept me on edge, and the action sequences were just as satisfying as the romance. Add in her beautiful poetic touches and it becomes clear why this author is one of my favourites.

Devyn Rivers has proven, once again, that she can write characters who bleed, burn, and breathe on the page. And I? I inhaled every word.

Half a star lost due to some pacing issues.
Profile Image for Sam Price.
61 reviews
August 3, 2025
actual rating: 2.5

The plot itself was good. But there were SEVERAL instances where I fell out of the immersion because there was some modern day vernacular thrown in there.

also, lube wasn't created until like the late 1800s. 😭 Them using it didn't make a lick of sense. At least use oil or something...
Profile Image for Julia.
576 reviews8 followers
October 14, 2025
I don’t really get why this is being marketed as a dark romance, even the author herself admits in her notes that it isn’t. Personally, I didn’t mind that at all; James' and Caspians chemistry was insane. But labeling it as “dark” feels unnecessarily misleading.

That being said, this book delivers everything you could want from a pirate romance — and then some! An incomplete list of why this book is awesome:

Multiple kidnappings, grinning and mouthing off while being captured and threatened, epic fight scenes, gripping each other by the throat, patching each other up after battle, wet shirts, falling for each other with their eyes wide open, having each other’s backs in battle, supporting each other in taking revenge on their enemies, using each other’s weapons, touch him and die, really hot sex, dirty talk, Kraken and tentacle jokes, lots of rum, being smitten with each other and calling each other adorable, brushing fingers and holding hands, admiring how the other looks in the morning and evening light, quoting and writing poetry to each other, ...

Need I go on?!

If I had one complaint, it’s that the plot could’ve used a bit more tightening. The treasure hunt that dominated much of the book didn’t seem to serve a larger purpose in the end, leaving it feeling a little aimless. The last third of the book was definitely the weakest.

Loved the vibes, though — the atmosphere, the romance, the swagger of it all. The plot felt a bit weak, but I’m excited to see what the author comes up with next; she teased more pirate novels in the same world, and I would absolutely be here for it!
Profile Image for Dani.
289 reviews11 followers
December 2, 2025
The perfect dark MM pirate romance! I just love Devyn's writing, and I always know I am in for a good time when I start one of her books.

It had all the right amounts of romance, tension, spice and plot twists to keep you fully engaged. I say this is dark because it does have darker elements, but it is definitely on the lighter side compared to her other books. There was so much adventure and intense action moments which is everything you would want and expect in a pirate romance! It truly lived up to it and was the best time as these two set sail on their goal to find treasure.

I ate up this romance. James and Caspian were both so likeable. Caspian with his charm and wit, James with his broodiness and savagery. These two were like fireworks when together and I was loving every second of it. I don't want to say too much and spoil the plot because I think the best experience comes from going into this blind like I did. You could say there are a bit of enemies to lovers vibes going on here but these two soon realize they are a lot more alike than they think with a common goal in mind...

Can I just say I loved the plot twists and shocking discoveries throughout this book especially towards the end. There was one instance that just melted my heart and solidified my love for Caspian. And the way James is such a fierce protector especially for Caspian when he was hurting... my heart! These two were just chef's kiss, together and separately. There was the perfect amount of masculinity from the both of them while also showing their softer sides. I really liked how Devyn included some poetry in this. I love a man that can express his feelings through words. They just gave me all the butterflies, and I really appreciated their tender moments and much as I did the rough and spicy ones. I think these two brought out the best in each other and it was just such a healthy dynamic between the two of them.

I would love to see more books in this world. I definitely feel like Devyn left it open to do more with other characters in the future but maybe that's just wishful thinking on my part.
Profile Image for M.
1,200 reviews172 followers
October 8, 2025
I love some good swashbuckling, and as I first dove into this book, that is what I got. My head was full of Pirates of the Caribbean music and I was ready for adventure. But as the story went on, it was just... too much. Every pirate trope/mishap/near death experience you can think of of, this book has crammed it in. You want sea battles? Got it. You want krakens and whirlpools? Got it. You want corrupt leaders and antiheroes? Got it and then some. Family drama? Of course. You want giant bears and icy fortresses? Got it. You want several thousand near misses and crazy injuries from which our MCs just jump up and walk it off? Got you, girl.

The gist of this story is that an infamous pirate (James Blackwell) kidnaps a prince (Caspian De'Vero) and is extremely intrigued by him. They have chemistry, but it takes a while to develop into action. But while these two are working out their feelings about each other, like a million side quests happen. I don't even want to try and explain all the shenanigans. I'm tired.

I appreciated the world building, and I liked the characters, I think they had lots of interesting facets even when they were making the stupidest fucking choices. The writing was also not terrible, although it felt anachronistic to the general era this book is mimicking. But holy fuck, did this book need an editorial eye. I genuinely feel like it would have been a much better read if the author had just chosen a plot and kept things going roughly in the same direction rather that trying to write the pirate adventure to end all pirate adventures, because what ends up happening is that some really important plot points get glossed over and then you're stood there like 'what just happened?'. There's so much potential here, but it was mangled by the overload of happenings.
Profile Image for Giulia.
229 reviews3 followers
September 16, 2025
3.75

Crossbones was a dark, stormy, and surprisingly emotional seafaring adventure that kept me turning the pages. I loved the atmosphere—Devyn Rivers did such a great job of pulling me into the world of crashing waves, lightning-filled skies, and the constant threat of pirate battles. It honestly felt like I was right there on the ship, caught between danger and desire.

The heart of the book, though, is really the dynamic between the Prince and the Pirate. Their relationship is full of tension, passion, and vulnerability, and I loved how their connection built across the story. It’s not always pretty—there are darker edges and morally gray choices—but that’s exactly what made it feel so compelling. I appreciated that the romance wasn’t just surface-level attraction; there was an emotional pull that made me want to root for them, even when things got messy.

That being said, there were a few spots where the pacing felt uneven. Some plot twists happened really quickly, and I found myself wishing the story slowed down a bit to let me sit with the emotions or explore the fallout more fully. I also would have loved a little more depth from the side characters, because they clearly had stories of their own that could’ve added more layers to the world.

Overall, Crossbones gave me exactly what I wanted: a dark MM romance set against the danger of the sea, with a central relationship that kept me hooked. It’s atmospheric, romantic, and a little bit ruthless—perfect if you’re in the mood for pirates, princes, and a love story that doesn’t shy away from the shadows.
Profile Image for spicy chickie.
23 reviews8 followers
July 13, 2025
I was lucky enough to get this as an ARC. This one took me a bit to get into but once I was in the MM spice was great. The time period and pirates aren’t in my usual wheelhouse I loved the story. Another great read!
Profile Image for Sarah Solinsky.
8 reviews
August 27, 2025
A little dark, great spice, awesome pacing and the story? Damn. Devyn Rivers knows how to tell a story and keep you from getting board. She skipped unnecessary fluff and focused on the details that made it all come alive. The poetry was amazing. Not only is this story beautiful but the writing was as well.
Worth the read 💯
Profile Image for Denise Alcaraz.
687 reviews17 followers
September 6, 2025
I enjoyed this story. I looooved Red Rabbit and Darling Wildfire immensely. I liked Wild Soul Rising, but I liked Crossbones more. Rivers is an author I look for. This story is strictly MM and felt it was done well. I'm not really into pirate stories but I've been know to read a few. What struck me most was the number of plot points in the story, or significant events. I didn't count them, per se, but it felt like more than I'm used to in "romance" stories. I was always engaged in the story and the banter. I dislike stories where you don't really know WHY 2 people are drawn to each other, but somehow they are like inexplicable magnets. Not so here. James knows what catches his attention. Caspian is not afraid of him like everyone else is. This intrigues him even tho he wants to kill him. And Caspian's dimpled smirk, James cannot stop looking at. He doesn't know what to do with that and the defiance. Oh and then there's Pirates, Princes and Poetry, the holy trifecta! Haha. Both James and Caspian have secrets and vendettas to pursue and now must work them out as reluctant partners.

I look forward to reading more from this author.
Profile Image for Madam Ra.
274 reviews2 followers
September 13, 2025
4,5 ⭐️ this was such a fun book! Such a blast of adventures, treasures and betrayals. It’s plot driven with not so little amount of heat. It was very interesting, I would say page turner at times. There’s was a significant amount of past trauma/torture on page so be aware. James and Caspian were awesome characters, each in their own way and they clicked like magnets 🩷 There are dimples, so many interruptions, fist fight, sword fights, lost treasure and sssooooo much rum! I can’t recommend this enough.
Profile Image for Rachel B..
Author 1 book21 followers
July 27, 2025
If you wanted Jack Sparrow and Will Turner to make out , read this book 😭
Profile Image for Shaunae.
172 reviews3 followers
October 27, 2025
I wanted to DNF this 10 times.
The writing is not the strongest. There were so many phrases repeated in this book, it was annoying. The shuttering of eyes, the biting of a bottom lip, not a lot of creativity there. I was drawn into the cover, which thankfully did not have a shirtless man on it, and the plot. This price trying to bring down his evil father with the help of a pirate, I was sat for it. It was a poor execution though. There was no research done for the time period. Looking it up, it’s supposed to be set in the 1600’s. The dialogue is modern day, not of the time period. “Are you feeling salty about that, Captain?” As quite a few reviewers pointed out, there’s no lube back then. Also, guns did not rapidly fire. In some parts, it was acknowledged that guns back then fired once before having to be reloaded but it didn’t apply to our hero’s.
The plot seemed pieced together and held with scotch tape. It was like let me throw this in here, let me throw that in there. Here’s a Kraken, here’s a polar bear, duke it out. What happened to the people in the castle was laughable and not scientifically possible. What happened to said castle at the end reminded me of some Indiana Jones shit and not in a good way. Give me events and conflicts that make sense to the plot.
I think the little bit of saving grace was the romance. It was very lust driven, down to the last page. That was very obvious from their first meeting. However, when they did have really sweet moments, it stuck with you. I love the poetry they would exchange with each other and they did develop a deep love for one another. Enemies to lovers, touch him and die, I was here for it. Their intimacy was so repetitive though, that I started skipping them.
These characters have Wolverine level of healing abilities….in the 1600’s.
Nipples being referred to as skin pebbles should never, ever fucking happen. I better not read it again anywhere.
Profile Image for Carolynn Kapuscinski.
21 reviews2 followers
July 30, 2025
This book completely blew me away. Cross Bones was my first M/M romance, and it set the bar incredibly high. Devyn Rivers continues to prove she’s a master at crafting complex, unforgettable characters. This time with Caspian and James.

James is a monster shaped by pain and vengeance. Caspian is a savior burdened by guilt. Both wear masks, one made of fire and fury, the other of charm and light, and both are haunted by their pasts. Caspian hides his trauma behind sarcasm and humor, but James is the only one who truly sees through it. Their dynamic is intense, layered, and at times heartbreaking. Watching them unravel each other, piece by piece, was one of the most satisfying emotional arcs I’ve ever read. The depth of their connection had me laughing one minute and tearing up the next.

Devyn doesn’t just write romance, she builds worlds full of danger, action, and heart. The action scenes were cinematic and full of tension, and the plot had some twists I genuinely didn’t see coming. But what stood out most was the emotional and psychological depth, one character seeking revenge, the other redemption. Their journey felt raw and human, and their chemistry was magnetic.

If you love romance with depth, action, vulnerability, and unforgettable characters, Cross Bones is a must-read. I feel lucky to have been an ARC reader for it.
Profile Image for Adri_reads_.
58 reviews8 followers
July 17, 2025
“A single map can lead
the lost to many things…”

James lives for the open seas with no attachments to anyone or anything.
“I have a heart, it only beats to keep my dark soul alive, nothing more”. He’s known to those around him as “The storm-breaker”, with a hit-list for those whom have wronged him as a former slave, he’s looking for finish it off once and for all.

Caspian a “spare prince ” with his own mission to help those in need as ,“The Fox”. Once “abandoned by a kingdom…their plight is a continuous reminder of the horrors that exist”, that he looks to rectify through his own form of rebellion. .

The most unlikeliest of love stories is about to unfold…

“Your kiss ruined me and if I’m to be lost- it’ll be in the darkness with you”.

Multi- 1st person pov
MM- Dark romance
Open door spice
Revenge/ rebellion

* Chef’s kiss* to everything about this novel. The characters and story were phenomenal. The most unhinged mmc becomes a possessive cinnamon roll.
Profile Image for Nana.
234 reviews1 follower
September 7, 2025
📖 Crossbones
🖋️ Devyn Rivers
🧬 MM Romance 
⭐ 4
🌶️ 5


An engaging and unexpectedly deep read. The relationship between James and Caspian unfolds in carefully layered moments, gradually revealing their vulnerabilities and desires.

James goes through a journey of self-discovery before embracing his feelings for Caspian, leading to a passionate and possessive love. Caspian, with his sharp sarcasm and the cynical mask he wears to hide his pain, is a complex and magnetic character.

Together, they form a captivating couple, full of chemistry and emotional tension that keeps the reader hooked from start to finish. Even for those who don’t usually read MM romance, or are just starting to explore the genre, Crossbones is a fantastic entry point. Absolutely worth the read.
Profile Image for Lydia Langston.
131 reviews2 followers
July 17, 2025
A swashbuckling, rum-soaked, sexy adventure. I loved this MM pirate romance! Devyn does an amazing job at pulling you into her books and creating movies in your head. I could see everything so vividly. I’m a big lover of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies so this book really struck me in my heart. Caspian and James, the MMCs, are so fun to get to know and fall in love with. Caspian had me from the get go but James really snuck up on me. They’re so well written and so well rounded. The plot was fun and full of witty banter, twists, and all the steamy smut you could want! Do yourself a favor and read this book! Also - Devyn can we have more from this world please?
Profile Image for Innocence Thomas.
61 reviews
August 8, 2025
Devyn girl , you did it AGAIN . You always know how to pull me in and hold me in a chokehold . I’m a HUGE fan of MM and of your work so when I found out I was elated . Blackwell & Caspian are kismet . Their story had me giggling and squealing with my feet kicking the air many times and I loved the rush of emotion I had so many times with their story , I been obsessed with your books since Red Rabbit and I have majority of your books on my shelves because of how much I treasure them . Crossbones will just be another I tend to add to the collection 🫶🏽 5 starz ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Profile Image for Hali Simmons.
182 reviews6 followers
July 20, 2025
I have been a huge fan of Devyn Rivers since Red Rabbit and could not wait to read Crossbones. I was not disappointed!

Caspian and James have insane chemistry. The tension, the spice, the way they challenge each other. It was SO good. The pirate setting made everything feel dark and dangerous in the best way.

If you love MM dark romance with strong characters and off-the-charts steam, you need to read this.
Profile Image for Jenny Marshall.
183 reviews
September 18, 2025
This is a dark, swoony MM pirate romance that swept me back into my pirate era. Caspian, the charming runaway prince haunted by his past, collides with Blackwell, the brooding captain bent on revenge. And the tension and yearning between these two had me on the floor!

Their story is full of passion, adventure, and aching vulnerability as they learn to forgive themselves and embrace who they are. I adored their journey—and their love!
Profile Image for Kellyn.
181 reviews3 followers
August 6, 2025
4.5-5 stars. Not gonna lie, the beginning was losing me a few times, but once you hit about 20% into the book it picks up and I was hooked. James and Caspian are brilliantly written and I adored their love story. I wouldn’t mind them being turned into a series and seeing more in the future. Oh and no spoilers, but the ending was *chefs kiss*.
Profile Image for Alli Long..
150 reviews
August 7, 2025
Okay what!!!! That was amazing. This was a spicy MM pirate romance and I ate it up.
Growing up I loved pirates of the Caribbean and to read something like this was just everything to me.
Devyn Rivers is a brilliant writer and you should definitely check her out!!
The plot twists at the end?!?
The journey itself throughout this story was incredible.
Amazing amazing amazing!!!
Profile Image for Jamie Jacobs.
28 reviews
August 1, 2025
Pirate and Prince MM Romance filled with tension, action, adventure, love, heartache and so much spice! I absolutely fell in love with these characters and their world. A must read for sure! Devyn Rivers sure knows how to captivate her readers!
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