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The Three Bells #2
A Cry for the Deep
Not yet published
Expected 16 Jun 26One, two, three. Three tears. Three girls. Three wishes. Three debts left to be paid.
Sélie Bell is perfectly content. Both of her sisters are back home; Corliss is getting married, and Aven is becoming more like herself every day. Plus, Sélie gets to spend nearly every day with her best friend, Pearl, working at the Bells’ Apothecaire.
But when a letter arrives for Sélie asking her to bring Pearl home to the nearby island of Salille, Sélie reluctantly agrees to accompany her friend on the voyage. And when they arrive, Sélie is shocked to find out that Pearl is actually Marguerite—Salille’s runaway princess.
Before she has the chance to process this news, Sélie finds herself face to face with a mermaid who claims that Sélie must repay her late mother’s debt to the sea witch. Sélie secretly begins completing a series of tasks before the painful new scales growing on her legs overcome her and she turns into a mermaid, losing not just her life on land but any chance she had at love with a certain beloved princess.
A Cry for the Deep is the highly anticipated sequel to A Dance With Death. This gothic sapphic mashup of The Little Mermaid and Rapunzel will lure you in from the first page.
- GenresFantasy
304 pages, Paperback
Expected publication June 16, 2026
About the author
Amanda Linsmeier
19 books208 followersAmanda Linsmeier has been a book nerd as long as she can remember, and it was that great love of reading—especially R.L. Stine novels and fairytales—that eventually brought her to writing her own stories. In high school, she won the senior class vote for “Most Romantic Girl”, a title she’s still ridiculously pleased with. She feels most joyful when writing, scream-singing her favorite songs, playing in the water, and laughing with her beloved family. She lives in a magical place with a man who smells like maple syrup and woodsmoke, their wonderfully wild children, a dog, and an assortment of half-feral cats.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
March 23, 2026
4.5 stars. I absolutely loved this. Loved the atmosphere and the location. Loved the sapphic romance, Pearl and Sélie are so beautiful together. I can’t wait for the third book!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the arc!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the arc!
Review of advance copy received from Author
“One, two, three. Three tears. Three girls. Three Wishes. Three debts left to be paid.”
A betrayal from the past. An agreement made… never to be fulfilled. She never believed in mermaids, then one appeared to her… pointy teeth and a glare just above the water. Her foot was
touched… scales now appearing. A curse passed from mother to daughter. Soon she will no longer be able to breath. Soon she will leave the one that finally gave her their heart.
She must now fight. She must live. She must follow the songs of the siren… to outsmart the creatures of the sea. She needs to stay out of the water.
Thank you so much Amanda for gifting me an advance reader’s copy of A Cry For The Deep. This read was everything – slow burn, mysteries, betrayals being revealed, determination, and the strength that love gives us. This is Book 2 of The Three Bells Trilogy. Book 1, A Dance With Death, still has my heart captured from its originality and suspense. A Cry For the Deep has done the same thing. The beauty that Amanda has created with the Bell sisters is breathtaking. Each of their lives affected by their pasts. Each of their lives trying to move on from the losses that they have endured. Three sisters that fight for each other and give each other strength. A true sisterhood.
These are two books that you definitely want to have on your TBR shelf. A Dance With Death comes out on January 27th. A Cry For The Deep is set to release on June 16th. And this reader cannot wait
for Book 3 to be released. My curiosity has my mind wondering what paths Aven will take.
If you want to know more about these books, please check out their Book Blurbs on Amazon. I do not want to ruin any surprises by sharing them on here.
Here are some of my favorite quotes from A Cry For The Deep (these could change with publishing).
“It’s because she’s kindhearted, so warm and welcoming, because she saved my metaphorical soul when my sister traded her very real one.”
“As though a part of me is rotting away.”
“ She is here. She is mine. She is not-mine.”
“But I do. My heart sings. I do, I do, I do.”
A betrayal from the past. An agreement made… never to be fulfilled. She never believed in mermaids, then one appeared to her… pointy teeth and a glare just above the water. Her foot was
touched… scales now appearing. A curse passed from mother to daughter. Soon she will no longer be able to breath. Soon she will leave the one that finally gave her their heart.
She must now fight. She must live. She must follow the songs of the siren… to outsmart the creatures of the sea. She needs to stay out of the water.
Thank you so much Amanda for gifting me an advance reader’s copy of A Cry For The Deep. This read was everything – slow burn, mysteries, betrayals being revealed, determination, and the strength that love gives us. This is Book 2 of The Three Bells Trilogy. Book 1, A Dance With Death, still has my heart captured from its originality and suspense. A Cry For the Deep has done the same thing. The beauty that Amanda has created with the Bell sisters is breathtaking. Each of their lives affected by their pasts. Each of their lives trying to move on from the losses that they have endured. Three sisters that fight for each other and give each other strength. A true sisterhood.
These are two books that you definitely want to have on your TBR shelf. A Dance With Death comes out on January 27th. A Cry For The Deep is set to release on June 16th. And this reader cannot wait
for Book 3 to be released. My curiosity has my mind wondering what paths Aven will take.
If you want to know more about these books, please check out their Book Blurbs on Amazon. I do not want to ruin any surprises by sharing them on here.
Here are some of my favorite quotes from A Cry For The Deep (these could change with publishing).
“It’s because she’s kindhearted, so warm and welcoming, because she saved my metaphorical soul when my sister traded her very real one.”
“As though a part of me is rotting away.”
“ She is here. She is mine. She is not-mine.”
“But I do. My heart sings. I do, I do, I do.”
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
First of all, thank you to Netgalley and Keylight Books for my ARC of this book!
When I initially requested this book, I didn’t know that it was a series, so I found the first book on Kobo and read it prior to this, which I should not have done. I did not enjoy A Dance With Death as much as I enjoyed A Cry for the Deep. I found that the pacing for A Dance with Death was way too fast and when I saw that the page count for A Cry for the Deep was shorter, I was incredibly worried that the pacing was going to be off, but I was pleasantly surprised when the pacing felt good. I really love Pearl and Selie's friendship and found their interactions so sweet, and Linsmeier did SUCH a good job of the yearning and development of Pearl and Selie's relationship.
Selie's internal monologue did get A Lot sometimes but as someone with anxiety, I understand her thought process and reactions a bit too well. I did not like that Selie would constantly call herself frail (it reminded me a lot of Violet's internal monologue in FW and I didn't enjoy it there either) and at a certain point, the re-use of "frail" (or its synonyms) felt overdone and I wish that there'd been more done to show how Selie is frailer compared to her sisters.
The tone of the book also shifted drastically from the first novel, which surprised me. Again, it felt a bit more developed and concrete where the first book was purely vibes based. The plot, unfortunately, just like the first novel was formulaic and predictable, and I was easily able to predict the plot twist that happens in the book. That being said, I do think that Linsmeier's take on mermaids is refreshing compared to other contemporary depictions of mermaids.
All in all, this book is a solid 3 or 3.5 stars and I had a really fun time reading the book at the end of the day.
When I initially requested this book, I didn’t know that it was a series, so I found the first book on Kobo and read it prior to this, which I should not have done. I did not enjoy A Dance With Death as much as I enjoyed A Cry for the Deep. I found that the pacing for A Dance with Death was way too fast and when I saw that the page count for A Cry for the Deep was shorter, I was incredibly worried that the pacing was going to be off, but I was pleasantly surprised when the pacing felt good. I really love Pearl and Selie's friendship and found their interactions so sweet, and Linsmeier did SUCH a good job of the yearning and development of Pearl and Selie's relationship.
Selie's internal monologue did get A Lot sometimes but as someone with anxiety, I understand her thought process and reactions a bit too well. I did not like that Selie would constantly call herself frail (it reminded me a lot of Violet's internal monologue in FW and I didn't enjoy it there either) and at a certain point, the re-use of "frail" (or its synonyms) felt overdone and I wish that there'd been more done to show how Selie is frailer compared to her sisters.
The tone of the book also shifted drastically from the first novel, which surprised me. Again, it felt a bit more developed and concrete where the first book was purely vibes based. The plot, unfortunately, just like the first novel was formulaic and predictable, and I was easily able to predict the plot twist that happens in the book. That being said, I do think that Linsmeier's take on mermaids is refreshing compared to other contemporary depictions of mermaids.
All in all, this book is a solid 3 or 3.5 stars and I had a really fun time reading the book at the end of the day.
February 10, 2026
Big thank you to Amanda Linsmeier, Turner Publishing company and of course NetGalley. I was so excited to see the advanced readers copy for “A cry for the deep” was available. I loved “A Dance with Death” so I was super excited to continue the Bell story.
In this book we’re following Séllie Belle, the youngest sister. I have to start of to say that Séllie’s emotions and feeling were described with so much detail and attention and I really loved that. There were some really deep quotes and insecurities that touched me. I think most of us can relate to these types of emotions and feelings, which makes it extra powerful.
Then the love story. The slow burn was burning very sloooooooooooow. I have to say that I’m usually up for a good slow burn but for me it took a bit too long in “A cry for the deep”.
Although I enjoyed the romance in this book, for me it didn’t feel as passionate as the romance in book 1. I was hoping for Sélie to fall in love with our other main character (not saying the name to not give spoilers) and I’m so glad they did fall in love. I have to say that I kind of missed the deeper chemistry and spark between them. Don’t get me wrong, there was definitely love and caring but somehow it didn’t feel as strong as the connection between Corliss and Orrin
Some of my favorite quotes:
“I’m braver than you think. I’m brave to wake up each day and look the world in the face.” ❤️
“All this time I mistook myself for broken, but it is in my brokenness that my humanity lives. My strength. My empathy. My love. No, I’m not broken at all. I never was.”
I give “A cry for the deep” a 3.5/5 stars ⭐️.
So far im really enjoying this series and I’m excited to read Aven’s story.
In this book we’re following Séllie Belle, the youngest sister. I have to start of to say that Séllie’s emotions and feeling were described with so much detail and attention and I really loved that. There were some really deep quotes and insecurities that touched me. I think most of us can relate to these types of emotions and feelings, which makes it extra powerful.
Then the love story. The slow burn was burning very sloooooooooooow. I have to say that I’m usually up for a good slow burn but for me it took a bit too long in “A cry for the deep”.
Although I enjoyed the romance in this book, for me it didn’t feel as passionate as the romance in book 1. I was hoping for Sélie to fall in love with our other main character (not saying the name to not give spoilers) and I’m so glad they did fall in love. I have to say that I kind of missed the deeper chemistry and spark between them. Don’t get me wrong, there was definitely love and caring but somehow it didn’t feel as strong as the connection between Corliss and Orrin
Some of my favorite quotes:
“I’m braver than you think. I’m brave to wake up each day and look the world in the face.” ❤️
“All this time I mistook myself for broken, but it is in my brokenness that my humanity lives. My strength. My empathy. My love. No, I’m not broken at all. I never was.”
I give “A cry for the deep” a 3.5/5 stars ⭐️.
So far im really enjoying this series and I’m excited to read Aven’s story.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I really enjoyed this book! It was a 3.5/5 stars for me with a very interesting world building and gothic atmosphere.
I loved the little signs of the romantic interest between Sélie and her love interest. I would have liked a little more of that tension when you are in love with your best friend but haven’t really accepted it from the beginning as it really just read as friendship love until it wasn’t.
I liked some of Sélie’s characterization with how her anxiety shows in unexpected ways such as fully believing her sisters would fix her situation and she didn’t have to be the brave person she wishes to be. I understand her anxiety, but sometimes I felt it could have been shown more with doom thoughts or bodily reactions versus just telling us she was anxious.
I did not enjoy the language used that was very old-timey and formal even in intimate conversations but that is a personal thing. Regardless of this preference, it did work for the book.
The description says it’s a mashup of The Little Mermaid and Rapunzel but I didn’t really get any Rapunzel. The Little Mermaid inspiration was a fun twist on mermaids.
The descriptions are well done like those of the mermaid or her scales growing. It really helped me immerse myself in this world. The fantasy medieval fairy tale land world worked really well and I really enjoyed it. I am looking forward to reading more of Amanda Linsmeier’s books.
I had not read A Dance with Death but there was enough backstory that it can truly be a standalone. I am looking forward to reading more of Amanda Linsmeier’s books.
Thank you Amanda Linsmeier, Keylight Books and Netgalley for the ARC.
I loved the little signs of the romantic interest between Sélie and her love interest. I would have liked a little more of that tension when you are in love with your best friend but haven’t really accepted it from the beginning as it really just read as friendship love until it wasn’t.
I liked some of Sélie’s characterization with how her anxiety shows in unexpected ways such as fully believing her sisters would fix her situation and she didn’t have to be the brave person she wishes to be. I understand her anxiety, but sometimes I felt it could have been shown more with doom thoughts or bodily reactions versus just telling us she was anxious.
I did not enjoy the language used that was very old-timey and formal even in intimate conversations but that is a personal thing. Regardless of this preference, it did work for the book.
The description says it’s a mashup of The Little Mermaid and Rapunzel but I didn’t really get any Rapunzel. The Little Mermaid inspiration was a fun twist on mermaids.
The descriptions are well done like those of the mermaid or her scales growing. It really helped me immerse myself in this world. The fantasy medieval fairy tale land world worked really well and I really enjoyed it. I am looking forward to reading more of Amanda Linsmeier’s books.
I had not read A Dance with Death but there was enough backstory that it can truly be a standalone. I am looking forward to reading more of Amanda Linsmeier’s books.
Thank you Amanda Linsmeier, Keylight Books and Netgalley for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.5
I'm very much on Sélie's side when it comes to traveling - I'm not the biggest fan of it, either. This story was so compelling, and several twists caught me completely by surprise.
Sélie was one of the characters I most wanted to learn more about after reading A Dance With Death, and I'm so glad she got her own story. While I'm excited for Aven's book as well, Sélie always stood out to me as the youngest sibling, someone who was both sheltered and forced to endure trauma at an early age. I related to her so much, which made this book resonate with me even more than the first one.
And Pearl is such a sweetheart. The lengths she would go to for Sélie - whether that's across the world or to the bottom of the ocean - absolutely melted my heart. They complement each other perfectly, and I was thrilled to see them get their happily ever after.
I was worried this would lean heavily on a will-they-won't-they dynamic or the dreaded miscommunication trope, but aside from one brief moment that was resolved almost immediately, it avoided both. That doesn't mean there isn't plenty of yearning. Sélie spends much of the story convinced that what she wants is impossible, and watching her work through those feelings made the romance all the more satisfying.
Overall, I loved this book and can't wait to read A Dream Upon Waking!
Thank you to Keylight Books and Amanda Linsmeier for the free review copy via NetGalley.
I'm very much on Sélie's side when it comes to traveling - I'm not the biggest fan of it, either. This story was so compelling, and several twists caught me completely by surprise.
Sélie was one of the characters I most wanted to learn more about after reading A Dance With Death, and I'm so glad she got her own story. While I'm excited for Aven's book as well, Sélie always stood out to me as the youngest sibling, someone who was both sheltered and forced to endure trauma at an early age. I related to her so much, which made this book resonate with me even more than the first one.
And Pearl is such a sweetheart. The lengths she would go to for Sélie - whether that's across the world or to the bottom of the ocean - absolutely melted my heart. They complement each other perfectly, and I was thrilled to see them get their happily ever after.
I was worried this would lean heavily on a will-they-won't-they dynamic or the dreaded miscommunication trope, but aside from one brief moment that was resolved almost immediately, it avoided both. That doesn't mean there isn't plenty of yearning. Sélie spends much of the story convinced that what she wants is impossible, and watching her work through those feelings made the romance all the more satisfying.
Overall, I loved this book and can't wait to read A Dream Upon Waking!
Thank you to Keylight Books and Amanda Linsmeier for the free review copy via NetGalley.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
If Dark, gothic fantasy with haunting ocean vibes and emotional depth is your vibe, you're at the right place! The plot centers on Sélie Bell discovering her mother’s dangerous debt to a sea witch. There's a journey across mysterious islands, treacherous seas, and royal secrets.
💙💙💙💙💙
Plot points 🔱
* Mermaids, cursed bargains, hidden royalty, and magic with real consequences
* Slow-burn romance that feels tender yet perilous
* Themes of inherited burdens, identity, transformation, and sacrifice
* Lush, atmospheric prose that feels like a dark fairytale retelling
* High emotional stakes and morally complex choices
* Perfect for fans of gothic romantasy and myth-inspired fantasy
💙💙💙
Tropes & vibes 🔱
Sea witches • mermaids • runaway princess • cursed magic• Gothic fairytale • sapphic romance • moody world-building. Basically a “I would burn the world for you” energy 🔥
✨ Verdict: Beautiful, eerie, and unforgettable—this book lingers like the echo of waves long after the final page.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
Author @amandalinsmeier
💙💙💙💙💙
Plot points 🔱
* Mermaids, cursed bargains, hidden royalty, and magic with real consequences
* Slow-burn romance that feels tender yet perilous
* Themes of inherited burdens, identity, transformation, and sacrifice
* Lush, atmospheric prose that feels like a dark fairytale retelling
* High emotional stakes and morally complex choices
* Perfect for fans of gothic romantasy and myth-inspired fantasy
💙💙💙
Tropes & vibes 🔱
Sea witches • mermaids • runaway princess • cursed magic• Gothic fairytale • sapphic romance • moody world-building. Basically a “I would burn the world for you” energy 🔥
✨ Verdict: Beautiful, eerie, and unforgettable—this book lingers like the echo of waves long after the final page.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
Author @amandalinsmeier
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Charming slow-burn, friends-to-lovers romance set against a lush island background with plenty of chilling horror elements, if you're looking for a delightfully dark fairy tale reimagining, look no further! The second book in the Three Bells Trilogy captures rich sensory magic and quiet stakes that still maintain enough propulsion to keep you turning the pages. Selie is a wonderfully relatable protagonist. As someone with a generalized anxiety disorder, there was so much to love about a main character with the same fears and doubts who manages to save the day without changing everything about herself. As with everything Linsmeier writes, the settings and vibes are beautiful and inviting when they need to be and perfectly horrifying the next—something I always love about classic fairy tales. Just like the dangerous mermaids you'll encounter in its pages, A Cry for the Deep is alluring, mysterious, unsettling and undeniably seductive in all the best ways.
Thank you to Amanda Linsmeier, Keylight Books, and Netgalley for the eARC!
Thank you to Amanda Linsmeier, Keylight Books, and Netgalley for the eARC!
May 4, 2026
*2.5
this unfortunately fell a little flat for me. for one, i didn’t connect to sélie as much as i did to corliss, because sélie definitely annoyed me in some ways. she just would act childish at times and i also didn’t love how she was constantly belittling herself. i also enjoyed the plot and writing of the first book more. i felt disconnected from the overall story and i think that was due to the writing style — it felt a little juvenile, in the sense that some of the phrasing felt kind of flat. so that made it harder to stay immersed, especially with the more serious tone of the story. i also didn’t notice that in the first book, so it stood out more here.
i was honestly debating what to rate this, because 2.5 stars felt kind of low. but i did enjoy the first book more and i rated that 3 stars, plus a 2.5 rating is still decent. but after thinking about it more, i think this is a true 2.5 star read for me. not the best thing i’ve ever read, but also not the worst. just pretty much in the middle.
thank you to netgalley and turner publishing company for the arc!
this unfortunately fell a little flat for me. for one, i didn’t connect to sélie as much as i did to corliss, because sélie definitely annoyed me in some ways. she just would act childish at times and i also didn’t love how she was constantly belittling herself. i also enjoyed the plot and writing of the first book more. i felt disconnected from the overall story and i think that was due to the writing style — it felt a little juvenile, in the sense that some of the phrasing felt kind of flat. so that made it harder to stay immersed, especially with the more serious tone of the story. i also didn’t notice that in the first book, so it stood out more here.
i was honestly debating what to rate this, because 2.5 stars felt kind of low. but i did enjoy the first book more and i rated that 3 stars, plus a 2.5 rating is still decent. but after thinking about it more, i think this is a true 2.5 star read for me. not the best thing i’ve ever read, but also not the worst. just pretty much in the middle.
thank you to netgalley and turner publishing company for the arc!
March 29, 2026
Hauntingly and brilliantly written, this book pulled me into its depths from the very first page. Selie’s inner dialogue felt incredibly authentic, mirroring my own rambly thoughts and the occasional “Oops, I said too much” moments. Her insecurities, fears, hopes, and an unwavering love created a profound connection, making me feel as if I was Selie and she was me.
While I won’t spoil the plot, I could sense that this was a retelling of a classic fairytale. The twist at the end was unexpected and absolutely delightful!
Although this is the second book in a series, I didn’t read the first one. However, the writing style makes it unnecessary to have read the first book to enjoy this one. The author provides sufficient information at the beginning and throughout the story to ensure that readers can understand the events that unfold. This book could easily stand alone, but it certainly piqued my interest and made me eager to read the first book.
While I won’t spoil the plot, I could sense that this was a retelling of a classic fairytale. The twist at the end was unexpected and absolutely delightful!
Although this is the second book in a series, I didn’t read the first one. However, the writing style makes it unnecessary to have read the first book to enjoy this one. The author provides sufficient information at the beginning and throughout the story to ensure that readers can understand the events that unfold. This book could easily stand alone, but it certainly piqued my interest and made me eager to read the first book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Characters: ⭐️⭐️⭐️½
Plot:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
World Building:⭐️⭐️⭐️
Overall Vibes:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you Amanda Linsmeier, Keylight Books and Netgalley for the ARC.
This was much better than book 1. It dragged me in straight away. This take on the Little Mermaid was very cool. Sélie was an interesting character. She sometimes comes across as weak, and her keeping her secret to herself for so long made me want to scream. But after she was honest with Pearl, I much preferred the story, and Sélie. The romance was sweet, I would have liked to see some more longing, and the quick jump to 'I love you' threw me off. But the characters were sweet together, and complimented each other nicely. I enjoyed the exploration of the mermaid queen, I only wish there was more from her, perhaps a POV? Overall, I enjoyed this.
Plot:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
World Building:⭐️⭐️⭐️
Overall Vibes:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you Amanda Linsmeier, Keylight Books and Netgalley for the ARC.
This was much better than book 1. It dragged me in straight away. This take on the Little Mermaid was very cool. Sélie was an interesting character. She sometimes comes across as weak, and her keeping her secret to herself for so long made me want to scream. But after she was honest with Pearl, I much preferred the story, and Sélie. The romance was sweet, I would have liked to see some more longing, and the quick jump to 'I love you' threw me off. But the characters were sweet together, and complimented each other nicely. I enjoyed the exploration of the mermaid queen, I only wish there was more from her, perhaps a POV? Overall, I enjoyed this.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Received as an ARC via NetGalley, this is my honest review.
4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This story is a beautifully written story. The prose really resonated with me and I truly enjoyed it. Amanda Linsmeier wrote this "Little Mermaid"-ish story with even more twists and turns.
The slow burn in this Friends-to-lovers story is just right. When Sélie is then presented with having to pay back a debt that is not hers, I wondered how this would affect the story and her life, to then get the rug pulled out from under me. :)
The loss of her life on land and then losing her love just tore me up.
This is a great read for those that enjoy slow burns, fairytale re-telling, this story is for you.
Thank you NetGalley and Amanda Linsmeier for this opportunity
4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This story is a beautifully written story. The prose really resonated with me and I truly enjoyed it. Amanda Linsmeier wrote this "Little Mermaid"-ish story with even more twists and turns.
The slow burn in this Friends-to-lovers story is just right. When Sélie is then presented with having to pay back a debt that is not hers, I wondered how this would affect the story and her life, to then get the rug pulled out from under me. :)
The loss of her life on land and then losing her love just tore me up.
This is a great read for those that enjoy slow burns, fairytale re-telling, this story is for you.
Thank you NetGalley and Amanda Linsmeier for this opportunity
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I was lucky enough to read A Dance With Death (book 1) earlier this year and loved the gothic atmosphere and sibling relationship in that novel. This book had the similar gothic atmosphere but stood out from book 1. The castle by the sea setting was wonderful and the mystery of what was happening with Selie as the story progressed kept me interested. Once again, the relationship did not work for me, it felt a bit rushed. I did like seeing how the girls friendship progressed before their romantic relationship. I am interested to see where the Bell sister's story continues on in book 3 with Aven.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A beautifully written sequel in one of my favorite series! This is one magical world I will never not want to immerse myself in. I loved the characters, the story, the kingdom by the sea, the twists and turns, the romance. Absolutely a must read for anyone who loves fantasy, romantasy, fairy tale retellings, or mermaids. Thank you so much to the dear Amanda Linsmeier and to the publisher for sending me a free ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
~First, thank you NetGalley for my ARC of this book, much appreciated!~
Whimsical and charming. This book had a cute and captivating plot, a unique plot twist with mermaids, and good character development between the main character and her best friend.
However, the writing was a bit repetitive and the conversations were a bit awkward in some chapters. For example, the author described a character as "her skin the warm dark-taupe shade of a polished river stone", which was awkward to me because I imagine most river stones are gray-colored. Additionally, the word "dis-ease" was used to describe that something was not used often, however, there are plenty of synonyms which could have been used instead of "dis-ease" which would have made the writing less awkward.
Overall, cute book and I enjoyed the storyline.
Whimsical and charming. This book had a cute and captivating plot, a unique plot twist with mermaids, and good character development between the main character and her best friend.
However, the writing was a bit repetitive and the conversations were a bit awkward in some chapters. For example, the author described a character as "her skin the warm dark-taupe shade of a polished river stone", which was awkward to me because I imagine most river stones are gray-colored. Additionally, the word "dis-ease" was used to describe that something was not used often, however, there are plenty of synonyms which could have been used instead of "dis-ease" which would have made the writing less awkward.
Overall, cute book and I enjoyed the storyline.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
multi POV 100% Dark Romantasy 4.3*
I have to say the way these fairy tales were reimagined and the adventure that this book takes you is fantastical. It is a sequel but I found even though I had not read the first one I still was able to get the jist of it enough it didn't really affect my reading. If you enjoy one of these fairy tales or both you'll love it.
I have to say the way these fairy tales were reimagined and the adventure that this book takes you is fantastical. It is a sequel but I found even though I had not read the first one I still was able to get the jist of it enough it didn't really affect my reading. If you enjoy one of these fairy tales or both you'll love it.
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