What do you think?
Rate this book
The Ocean Curse
- GenresYoung AdultFantasy
Unknown Binding
Published November 11, 2025
5 people are currently reading
37 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
August 19, 2025
🔱... 2 stars
⤷ this review is spoiler free!
this is an arc review. thank you so much to netgalley and little book factory for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
──★ ˙🔱 ̟ # thoughts
the POTENTIAL this book could've had is insane. If you know me, you know im a huge lover of pirate & mermaid stories. so when i found out i was approved for the arc, i got so excited. i'm not the biggest fan of arranged marriage, but if its good enough to keep me hooked, i love it. unfortunately, this one didn't hit for me. an issue i had was the fact that at the begining i could barely differentiate between the male lead's point of view, and the female leads point of view. they were just talking about the same thing, the curse. and i couldn't tell who's pov was who's until a side character showed up.
another issue i had was the fmc, she annoyed me and bored me to death. she was so inconsistent. as soon as she met the male lead, she hated him. but when he didn't sleep with her the night of their wedding because she didn't want to, she got angry at him. and she remained like this through out the book. one minute she would hate him and loathe him, the other she almost got on her knees for him.
the writing is mediocre at best. it wasn't anything special and it wasn't horrible either. sometimes it felt forced, and the writing wasn't flowy at all. it didn't feel natural which made reading this book feel like a chore.
the story didn't connect with me at all. through out the book, i failed to understand why all this was important. the male lead was ambitious, but for what reason?
again, thank you to netgalley and little book factory for this arc. i wish the author great success in her career.
⤷ this review is spoiler free!
this is an arc review. thank you so much to netgalley and little book factory for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
──★ ˙🔱 ̟ # thoughts
the POTENTIAL this book could've had is insane. If you know me, you know im a huge lover of pirate & mermaid stories. so when i found out i was approved for the arc, i got so excited. i'm not the biggest fan of arranged marriage, but if its good enough to keep me hooked, i love it. unfortunately, this one didn't hit for me. an issue i had was the fact that at the begining i could barely differentiate between the male lead's point of view, and the female leads point of view. they were just talking about the same thing, the curse. and i couldn't tell who's pov was who's until a side character showed up.
another issue i had was the fmc, she annoyed me and bored me to death. she was so inconsistent. as soon as she met the male lead, she hated him. but when he didn't sleep with her the night of their wedding because she didn't want to, she got angry at him. and she remained like this through out the book. one minute she would hate him and loathe him, the other she almost got on her knees for him.
the writing is mediocre at best. it wasn't anything special and it wasn't horrible either. sometimes it felt forced, and the writing wasn't flowy at all. it didn't feel natural which made reading this book feel like a chore.
the story didn't connect with me at all. through out the book, i failed to understand why all this was important. the male lead was ambitious, but for what reason?
again, thank you to netgalley and little book factory for this arc. i wish the author great success in her career.
August 22, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley, Emily Suarez, and Little Book Factory for the eARC in exchange for an honest opinion!
I went into this book with high expectations. The concept had so much potential, but what followed was a disappointing, disjointed experience that never came close to fulfilling that promise.
The writing, to be blunt, felt mediocre throughout. For a novel so rooted in the mood and mystery of the sea, there's surprisingly little sensory depth. The descriptions were flat, the tone inconsistent, and almost no tension where there should be plenty. Instead of being pulled in, I felt like I was constantly skimming the surface - never submerged, never invested.
One of the biggest issues was the emotional disconnect. The characters never felt fully formed. I couldn't grasp what motivated them, and their relationships lacked weight or authenticity. Moments that clearly aimed to be poignant did not land. Structurally, the book also felt chaotic. Transitions between scenes were abrupt, and the pacing veered between sluggish and rushed. There were times I wasn't sure what was supposed to be happening, but in a way that suggested the narrative itself hadn't been fully worked out.
What frustrated me most is that this book could have been so much more. The premise had teeth, but the execution didn't follow through. It read like a draft that needed sharper editing, deeper character work, and a clearer sense of direction. I am dismayed that this was such a missed opportunity.
I went into this book with high expectations. The concept had so much potential, but what followed was a disappointing, disjointed experience that never came close to fulfilling that promise.
The writing, to be blunt, felt mediocre throughout. For a novel so rooted in the mood and mystery of the sea, there's surprisingly little sensory depth. The descriptions were flat, the tone inconsistent, and almost no tension where there should be plenty. Instead of being pulled in, I felt like I was constantly skimming the surface - never submerged, never invested.
One of the biggest issues was the emotional disconnect. The characters never felt fully formed. I couldn't grasp what motivated them, and their relationships lacked weight or authenticity. Moments that clearly aimed to be poignant did not land. Structurally, the book also felt chaotic. Transitions between scenes were abrupt, and the pacing veered between sluggish and rushed. There were times I wasn't sure what was supposed to be happening, but in a way that suggested the narrative itself hadn't been fully worked out.
What frustrated me most is that this book could have been so much more. The premise had teeth, but the execution didn't follow through. It read like a draft that needed sharper editing, deeper character work, and a clearer sense of direction. I am dismayed that this was such a missed opportunity.
August 18, 2025
3.5⭐️
This book was cute! I really enjoyed the first half of this book and found myself not able to put it down. I was instantly drawn into the story and wanted to know what would happen next. I enjoyed the banter between the two main characters and the tension between them. I felt like the pacing of the romance was great in the beginning but I felt like they came together too quickly in the second half of the book. I would have loved to see more of a slow burn between the main characters. The second half of the book was also a little confusing at times as we learned more details and I was a bit bored at times. Overall, the vibes of this book were good!
Thank you NetGalley and Little Book Factory for the ARC!
This book was cute! I really enjoyed the first half of this book and found myself not able to put it down. I was instantly drawn into the story and wanted to know what would happen next. I enjoyed the banter between the two main characters and the tension between them. I felt like the pacing of the romance was great in the beginning but I felt like they came together too quickly in the second half of the book. I would have loved to see more of a slow burn between the main characters. The second half of the book was also a little confusing at times as we learned more details and I was a bit bored at times. Overall, the vibes of this book were good!
Thank you NetGalley and Little Book Factory for the ARC!
August 17, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (3.75/5)
Pleasantly surprised by this story! I do love a fated mates / forced proximity romantasy, but this was my first time reading one with pirates and merpeople woven in—and while it wasn’t perfect, it was still a really enjoyable read.
It’s a good, easy read packed with action, secrets, and a really intriguing family history behind the curse. The story follows a handsome captain who pays to marry a woman he believes could be the key to breaking his generational curse—but this new wife of his has secrets of her own. Personally, I would have liked a little more tension between the FMC and MMC, as well as some extra description of the characters’ appearances (I found it a bit tricky to picture them at times). The ending also felt a little confusing and rushed for me since it picked up so quickly.
That said, I really enjoyed the overall concept and the way everything came together. A fun, unique read!
✨ What you’ll find inside:
• Fated mates
• Forced proximity
• Arranged marriage
• Pirates & merpeople
• Spice 🌶️🌶️
ARC courtesy of NetGalley.
Pleasantly surprised by this story! I do love a fated mates / forced proximity romantasy, but this was my first time reading one with pirates and merpeople woven in—and while it wasn’t perfect, it was still a really enjoyable read.
It’s a good, easy read packed with action, secrets, and a really intriguing family history behind the curse. The story follows a handsome captain who pays to marry a woman he believes could be the key to breaking his generational curse—but this new wife of his has secrets of her own. Personally, I would have liked a little more tension between the FMC and MMC, as well as some extra description of the characters’ appearances (I found it a bit tricky to picture them at times). The ending also felt a little confusing and rushed for me since it picked up so quickly.
That said, I really enjoyed the overall concept and the way everything came together. A fun, unique read!
✨ What you’ll find inside:
• Fated mates
• Forced proximity
• Arranged marriage
• Pirates & merpeople
• Spice 🌶️🌶️
ARC courtesy of NetGalley.
August 29, 2025
"He said you belonged to the ocean, and no ship could hold you. Asherah, she who walks on the sea."
I have fallen in love with you in the way a sailor falls for the power harnessed by the ocean, enthralled by the secrets and treasures encapsulated within, and willing to dive within its parted waves."
They each hold a secret they don't want the other to know. A curse, generations old. Can two separate paths of land and sea converge to solve the problems of the past that still plague the present? A story of magic, madness driven by love and mythical creatures for those who enjoy a little Romantasy.
I honestly didn't know at first how I wanted to rate this one. When I got my hands on this ARC from NetGalley and Little Book Factory to read and review I was so excited. My opinions in this review are strictly my own. The premise of the plot sounded really exciting. I love a good Fantasy Romance, and really love mermaids and pirates. The beginning of the book started out pretty strong. I love the FMC's grit and sass, as well as the MMC's grumpy exterior but cinnamon roll personality. The story had so much potential with the new secrets being revealed at every turn as the story unfolded. Then it just kind of slumped off. The story was still good and I just felt like it kind of started to fizzle about 60% of the way through. Like it was undecided if this was going to have another part or not, then the last chapter just kind of ends. You get a teeny tiny snippet of what occurs after it ends in the epilogue, but even that left me feeling slightly dissatisfied. I enjoyed it overall and if I could give partial stars it would be a 3.5-3.75, but not quite a 4 like I was hoping to give it at the beginning of reading it. I will say that I really loved Leo and Gage's characters though. They were my favorite out of the bunch.
I have fallen in love with you in the way a sailor falls for the power harnessed by the ocean, enthralled by the secrets and treasures encapsulated within, and willing to dive within its parted waves."
They each hold a secret they don't want the other to know. A curse, generations old. Can two separate paths of land and sea converge to solve the problems of the past that still plague the present? A story of magic, madness driven by love and mythical creatures for those who enjoy a little Romantasy.
I honestly didn't know at first how I wanted to rate this one. When I got my hands on this ARC from NetGalley and Little Book Factory to read and review I was so excited. My opinions in this review are strictly my own. The premise of the plot sounded really exciting. I love a good Fantasy Romance, and really love mermaids and pirates. The beginning of the book started out pretty strong. I love the FMC's grit and sass, as well as the MMC's grumpy exterior but cinnamon roll personality. The story had so much potential with the new secrets being revealed at every turn as the story unfolded. Then it just kind of slumped off. The story was still good and I just felt like it kind of started to fizzle about 60% of the way through. Like it was undecided if this was going to have another part or not, then the last chapter just kind of ends. You get a teeny tiny snippet of what occurs after it ends in the epilogue, but even that left me feeling slightly dissatisfied. I enjoyed it overall and if I could give partial stars it would be a 3.5-3.75, but not quite a 4 like I was hoping to give it at the beginning of reading it. I will say that I really loved Leo and Gage's characters though. They were my favorite out of the bunch.
September 3, 2025
DNF @ 30%
This is mediocre at best... and I lowkey struggled hard with grasping this book despite grabbing it just today. I'm normally a fast reader, but I kept having to take quite frequent breaks on this one as well.... tried to get through it, and I just couldn't eventually.
The promise of the story here is good - don't get me wrong. The pirate- based sort of romantasy deal drew me in with its soft whispers, promising me to sweep me up into the ocean and take me away with its waves, but this was... disappointing to say the least. Great ideas by the author, but the state in which I've received this book leaves my mind spinning... is this an early draft? Or is this considered ready for publishing?
I'm really curious as someone who's helped edit some things in my past... the story seemed well-done in some parts, and then the interjection of the most random things and the most random thoughts before rapidly switching back to whatever was going on threw me even more... and the story definitely did not flow when compared to the many other books I've read, at times it felt forced, and at times ... I saw things that made me wonder if it was meant to be there, or if it was meant to be edited out and was just... missed by an uncareful eye.
The characters seem to not have that much personality and seem half-developed or thrown in just in attempts to make the story flow somewhat ... Honestly... this manuscript as a whole needs another lookover before it hits the market....
Not for me.
Thank you to Netgalley for this copy in exchange for an honest review, all thoughts and opinions are my own, and the rest of my reviews can be found at https://littlereapling.wixsite.com/fa...
This is mediocre at best... and I lowkey struggled hard with grasping this book despite grabbing it just today. I'm normally a fast reader, but I kept having to take quite frequent breaks on this one as well.... tried to get through it, and I just couldn't eventually.
The promise of the story here is good - don't get me wrong. The pirate- based sort of romantasy deal drew me in with its soft whispers, promising me to sweep me up into the ocean and take me away with its waves, but this was... disappointing to say the least. Great ideas by the author, but the state in which I've received this book leaves my mind spinning... is this an early draft? Or is this considered ready for publishing?
I'm really curious as someone who's helped edit some things in my past... the story seemed well-done in some parts, and then the interjection of the most random things and the most random thoughts before rapidly switching back to whatever was going on threw me even more... and the story definitely did not flow when compared to the many other books I've read, at times it felt forced, and at times ... I saw things that made me wonder if it was meant to be there, or if it was meant to be edited out and was just... missed by an uncareful eye.
The characters seem to not have that much personality and seem half-developed or thrown in just in attempts to make the story flow somewhat ... Honestly... this manuscript as a whole needs another lookover before it hits the market....
Not for me.
Thank you to Netgalley for this copy in exchange for an honest review, all thoughts and opinions are my own, and the rest of my reviews can be found at https://littlereapling.wixsite.com/fa...
September 18, 2025
⭐️⭐️2.5 stars!
Thank you NetGalley and Emily Suarez for this opportunity.
I think this book had potential. I am a sucker for the world of mermaids and pirates. The story could’ve been so much more if the plot had a bit more depth. At times it felt like some plot lines were dropped while others were heightened, making the book feel messy, leading to a flat story line. It felt as if the characters were thrown in the story to fill the pages, and a clear connection between them and their stories was never established.
The fmc was confusing at times, making it hard to form a connection with her, or any character. The writing itself was okay, but not evolved enough to keep you flipping through pages. I definitely struggled a bit to keep reading as I found myself getting slightly confused at times, as a slow burn quickly turned to a romance in a matter of pages. The first few chapters had a good flow but the rest of the book kind of felt rushed.
Overall, the storyline has potential. The banter was there, the world building was good. If the characters were explored a bit more, and a good pace was established, this could’ve become a really enjoyable read.
Thank you NetGalley and Emily Suarez for this opportunity.
I think this book had potential. I am a sucker for the world of mermaids and pirates. The story could’ve been so much more if the plot had a bit more depth. At times it felt like some plot lines were dropped while others were heightened, making the book feel messy, leading to a flat story line. It felt as if the characters were thrown in the story to fill the pages, and a clear connection between them and their stories was never established.
The fmc was confusing at times, making it hard to form a connection with her, or any character. The writing itself was okay, but not evolved enough to keep you flipping through pages. I definitely struggled a bit to keep reading as I found myself getting slightly confused at times, as a slow burn quickly turned to a romance in a matter of pages. The first few chapters had a good flow but the rest of the book kind of felt rushed.
Overall, the storyline has potential. The banter was there, the world building was good. If the characters were explored a bit more, and a good pace was established, this could’ve become a really enjoyable read.
August 28, 2025
Thank you to netgalley and the author for the advanced release copy. I definitely struggled with this book. There were some parts that were well written and I enjoyed but the majority of it was just moving so fast-paced and there seemed like there was just a lot of random things being thrown at you without explanation. It really needed a solid foundation and the whole time I read thinking something would be explained and it wasn't. I honestly having read the whole thing still do not know what curse the mmc had but they sure talked about ending it constantly. I also found the ending very chaotic and choppy with the overall conclusion (before the epilogue) to literally cut all the good action that could/should have happened to tie all the pieces together and just ended the book. It made me feel like there were several chapters that were just missing and an epilogue that was very rushed.
Overall I am in a confused what did I just read state and think I must have received a very early draft copy?
Overall I am in a confused what did I just read state and think I must have received a very early draft copy?
August 14, 2025
i so wanted to like this more than i did. the plot sounded super interesting and i was really into the setting, the characters, the plot. all of it. for me, though, the whole thing felt a little bit too rushed. the fmc and the mmc were supposed to be enemies to lovers, and in a way they definitely were. but it didn’t feel like they were true enemies. the relationship between them felt very surface level throughout most of the story. i would’ve loved more time to see them truly be enemies, be forced to get to know each other, and then fall.
i also felt like the mmc’s curse was sort of brushed over? i didn’t really understand what exactly was wrong with him or how it was resolved. i would’ve liked to see more of that.
finally, im not sure if it was a formatting issue from me downloading or what, but every single page had enter sentences squished together with no spaces. theywerewrittenlikethis and it made it difficult to read.
overall, i finished this book for the characters - i really truly found them enjoyable and lovable and i wanted to see it to the end. thank you to netgalley and the author for providing this arc!
i also felt like the mmc’s curse was sort of brushed over? i didn’t really understand what exactly was wrong with him or how it was resolved. i would’ve liked to see more of that.
finally, im not sure if it was a formatting issue from me downloading or what, but every single page had enter sentences squished together with no spaces. theywerewrittenlikethis and it made it difficult to read.
overall, i finished this book for the characters - i really truly found them enjoyable and lovable and i wanted to see it to the end. thank you to netgalley and the author for providing this arc!
September 17, 2025
*Spoiler free* Buckle up buddies, this one was annoying in quite a few areas!
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
Okay, this one was good in some ways and fell short in quite a few others. It felt like Daughter of the Pirate Queen, but just...a home brand version? It felt very, very much inspired by that series. The daughter of the pirate or shipping king, who wants to escape from under their Dad's thumb who treats them unkindly and without familial love. The daughter who is fiercely independent and doesnt need a man, who wants to be in charge of her own life but her Dad gets in the way of that. A found family of pirates. A pirate guy who starts off like an enemy and ends up in love together. Sirens, sailing tropical waters, getting chased and attacked by her Dad and his armada, resulting in a big pirate ship fight. You see the similarities? Yeah, it felt a little too similar at a lot of the stages.
The pacing was good, it did keep me turning the digital pages and I didnt find any boring sections which is great. The world-building was lacklustre, there wasn't much description of the ships, the ocean, the islands etc. Actually there were certain parts where there was no descriptive world building at all. At one point where they go on an island, it was quite literally described simply as "an island with steep cliffs" where they could park their ship to hide. Daughter of a Pirate King had so much beautiful world-building, that I felt like I was right there in the story, looking at the beautiful tropical ocean. Sometimes too much description is over-the-top and draining, but too little and it doesn't grab the reader and unfortunately this book definitely fell into the last category.
I didnt mind the enemies to lovers theme, but the guy fell way, way too quickly. It was insta-love and insta-lust for him, which I didnt enjoy. And of course the girl lost her V with him, as is usual in these YA books.
I liked the side characters, but I feel like they didnt get to shine much and hardly any attention was given to them (other than the FMC's companion, but I consider her another main character). I feel like that was a lost opportunity to have us readers fall in love with some side characters, which is sometimes one of the best parts of YA fantasy books for me. Especially if they have some humour and sass like a couple of these characters did in the pirate crew, but I wish we got to see that more than a sentence once or twice in the whole book.
The FMC annoyed me a bit, as did her companion who constantly moved from betraying her charge to protecting her and back again, over and over again. It did leave me guessing which was interesting, but made the companion quite unlikeable the majority of the book.
Also the ending. THE ENDING! NOOOOOO! It was so bad. The climactic end fight scene was really good, that wasnt the issue, it was the way the author ended the fight scene 2/3 of the way through and just jumped years ahead in an epilogue. Umm...excuse me?! What the actual? We literally spent the whole book building up to this fight scene with the pirate ship and her Dad's armada, and add in the magical Sea King and his Sea (Kinda) Queen sister, and we just get fighting and you randomly just END THE DAMN BOOK?! I was quite literally thinking the arc was missing a chapter or two. And the epilogue was boring as hell, just jumped ahead a couple years to them having a toddler, and them living near the mermaid kingdom. It reminded me of when I taught primary school kids and they were writing stories and got over it at the end, so just randomly finished the climactic scene, and then added "and they lived happily ever after". That's okay for literal children, but an adult author?! Ahh it was so annoying. She was writing the fight scene so well too, I was really invested and had to drop everything to keep reading. And it just got chopped halfway through and had a "and they had a kid and lived happily ever after" tagged onto the end. Such a shame AND it ended totally closed, no storyline still open for continuation, so I assumed it was a standalone, only for after the epilogue to say that there is a book 2 coming. Umm....how?! It is going to have to focus on a different character, surely. Unless the shit hits the fan years later and a new threat comes along? Im not sure, but it definitely screams standalone to me.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
Okay, this one was good in some ways and fell short in quite a few others. It felt like Daughter of the Pirate Queen, but just...a home brand version? It felt very, very much inspired by that series. The daughter of the pirate or shipping king, who wants to escape from under their Dad's thumb who treats them unkindly and without familial love. The daughter who is fiercely independent and doesnt need a man, who wants to be in charge of her own life but her Dad gets in the way of that. A found family of pirates. A pirate guy who starts off like an enemy and ends up in love together. Sirens, sailing tropical waters, getting chased and attacked by her Dad and his armada, resulting in a big pirate ship fight. You see the similarities? Yeah, it felt a little too similar at a lot of the stages.
The pacing was good, it did keep me turning the digital pages and I didnt find any boring sections which is great. The world-building was lacklustre, there wasn't much description of the ships, the ocean, the islands etc. Actually there were certain parts where there was no descriptive world building at all. At one point where they go on an island, it was quite literally described simply as "an island with steep cliffs" where they could park their ship to hide. Daughter of a Pirate King had so much beautiful world-building, that I felt like I was right there in the story, looking at the beautiful tropical ocean. Sometimes too much description is over-the-top and draining, but too little and it doesn't grab the reader and unfortunately this book definitely fell into the last category.
I didnt mind the enemies to lovers theme, but the guy fell way, way too quickly. It was insta-love and insta-lust for him, which I didnt enjoy. And of course the girl lost her V with him, as is usual in these YA books.
I liked the side characters, but I feel like they didnt get to shine much and hardly any attention was given to them (other than the FMC's companion, but I consider her another main character). I feel like that was a lost opportunity to have us readers fall in love with some side characters, which is sometimes one of the best parts of YA fantasy books for me. Especially if they have some humour and sass like a couple of these characters did in the pirate crew, but I wish we got to see that more than a sentence once or twice in the whole book.
The FMC annoyed me a bit, as did her companion who constantly moved from betraying her charge to protecting her and back again, over and over again. It did leave me guessing which was interesting, but made the companion quite unlikeable the majority of the book.
Also the ending. THE ENDING! NOOOOOO! It was so bad. The climactic end fight scene was really good, that wasnt the issue, it was the way the author ended the fight scene 2/3 of the way through and just jumped years ahead in an epilogue. Umm...excuse me?! What the actual? We literally spent the whole book building up to this fight scene with the pirate ship and her Dad's armada, and add in the magical Sea King and his Sea (Kinda) Queen sister, and we just get fighting and you randomly just END THE DAMN BOOK?! I was quite literally thinking the arc was missing a chapter or two. And the epilogue was boring as hell, just jumped ahead a couple years to them having a toddler, and them living near the mermaid kingdom. It reminded me of when I taught primary school kids and they were writing stories and got over it at the end, so just randomly finished the climactic scene, and then added "and they lived happily ever after". That's okay for literal children, but an adult author?! Ahh it was so annoying. She was writing the fight scene so well too, I was really invested and had to drop everything to keep reading. And it just got chopped halfway through and had a "and they had a kid and lived happily ever after" tagged onto the end. Such a shame AND it ended totally closed, no storyline still open for continuation, so I assumed it was a standalone, only for after the epilogue to say that there is a book 2 coming. Umm....how?! It is going to have to focus on a different character, surely. Unless the shit hits the fan years later and a new threat comes along? Im not sure, but it definitely screams standalone to me.
November 3, 2025
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an Advanced Readers Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Please remember the following is my own opinion about the book I have received. To be honest, I had sat here for hours figuring out what to write for this review as I had a lot to say but I didn’t want this review to be too long.
This book's description interested me as well as its cover. The cover was quite nice. What drew me to the book was the pirate and mermaid factory. I personally love books with these, so I wanted to give this book a go. During the first couple chapters I found myself liking the story a little but there were issues that I found when reading.
I really wanted to like this book but for me it fell short. This book has a lot of potential. The first issue I had was the kindle version I had received. There was a format issue with it that made me not read this version after one and a half pages. It wasn’t a paragraph issue but a spacing issue. The kindle version I received was unreadable for me. There were many words stuck together with no spaces between. This is an example, taken from the book itself; ‘TheyallthoughthimafoolforbelievingHallwhenheboasted’. There were many more like this and I could not sit there and make out the words a moment longer from the kindle version so I had to move to the netgalley app to read this book otherwise I would have DNF’ed at the second page.
I also thought the first third of the book was fine pacing wise but the other two thirds were rushed. I felt there was so much information thrown at us; we had no time to digest it. I was left confused as some of the things mentioned were the first time I’m hearing of them, so they were mentioned and that was it. Nothing expanded upon. While reading the final one hundred pages of this book, it was as if so much information was thrown at us at once that we had no time to digest it. I also felt like the ending was anti-climactic for me and I was surprised that there is a book two for this as it read like a standalone. I felt like there should be more sensory like descriptions of the surroundings like the island and such, I feel like that would have made this book a little better.
While I didn’t mind the characters and the enemies-to-lovers sort of trope, I felt this had left me less satisfied. It had potential but I felt like they fell for each other very quickly. One chapter the female MC didn’t want her husband to touch or sleep next to her then one or two chapters later she fell for him?
Overall, I’d rate this book a 2 out of five stars. While I appreciated this book as it was in a genre I love, this book had potential, but it didn’t quite hit for me. With some extensive editing, I feel like this book would be better. The kindle version of this book also requires extensive editing too.
Please remember the following is my own opinion about the book I have received. To be honest, I had sat here for hours figuring out what to write for this review as I had a lot to say but I didn’t want this review to be too long.
This book's description interested me as well as its cover. The cover was quite nice. What drew me to the book was the pirate and mermaid factory. I personally love books with these, so I wanted to give this book a go. During the first couple chapters I found myself liking the story a little but there were issues that I found when reading.
I really wanted to like this book but for me it fell short. This book has a lot of potential. The first issue I had was the kindle version I had received. There was a format issue with it that made me not read this version after one and a half pages. It wasn’t a paragraph issue but a spacing issue. The kindle version I received was unreadable for me. There were many words stuck together with no spaces between. This is an example, taken from the book itself; ‘TheyallthoughthimafoolforbelievingHallwhenheboasted’. There were many more like this and I could not sit there and make out the words a moment longer from the kindle version so I had to move to the netgalley app to read this book otherwise I would have DNF’ed at the second page.
I also thought the first third of the book was fine pacing wise but the other two thirds were rushed. I felt there was so much information thrown at us; we had no time to digest it. I was left confused as some of the things mentioned were the first time I’m hearing of them, so they were mentioned and that was it. Nothing expanded upon. While reading the final one hundred pages of this book, it was as if so much information was thrown at us at once that we had no time to digest it. I also felt like the ending was anti-climactic for me and I was surprised that there is a book two for this as it read like a standalone. I felt like there should be more sensory like descriptions of the surroundings like the island and such, I feel like that would have made this book a little better.
While I didn’t mind the characters and the enemies-to-lovers sort of trope, I felt this had left me less satisfied. It had potential but I felt like they fell for each other very quickly. One chapter the female MC didn’t want her husband to touch or sleep next to her then one or two chapters later she fell for him?
Overall, I’d rate this book a 2 out of five stars. While I appreciated this book as it was in a genre I love, this book had potential, but it didn’t quite hit for me. With some extensive editing, I feel like this book would be better. The kindle version of this book also requires extensive editing too.
August 28, 2025
The Ocean Curse by Emily K. Suarez presents an engaging premise—a cursed pirate captain and a mysterious bride bound by fate and the sea. While the novel offers an intriguing blend of romance and fantasy, it falls short in several areas that prevent it from reaching its full potential.
Strengths:
Atmospheric Setting: Suarez effectively captures the essence of the ocean and the pirate lifestyle, immersing readers in a world filled with salt air and roiling waves. The setting adds a layer of authenticity to the story, enhancing the overall reading experience.
Romantic Tension: The evolving relationship between Captain Leo and Asherah is compelling. Their dynamic, filled with suspicion and tension, gradually shifts as they uncover dark truths about the curse and their intertwined fates. This slow-burn romance adds depth to the narrative.
Engaging Premise: The concept of a generational curse tied to the ocean and the involvement of merfolk myths and sea-god bargains provide a rich backdrop for the story. The potential for a captivating adventure is evident.
Areas for Improvement:
Pacing Issues: The novel's pacing is uneven, with certain sections feeling rushed. Important plot points are often relayed second-hand, rather than being shown through direct action or dialogue. This approach diminishes the emotional impact and leaves some developments feeling unearned.
Underdeveloped World-Building: While the setting is atmospheric, the world-building lacks depth. The lore surrounding the curse, merfolk, and sea-god bargains is introduced but not fully explored, leaving readers with more questions than answers.
Abrupt Ending: The conclusion arrives suddenly, with critical events unfolding off-page or being resolved too quickly. This abruptness undermines the narrative's emotional payoff and leaves the story feeling incomplete.
Conclusion:
The Ocean Curse offers a promising blend of romance and fantasy elements but struggles to deliver a fully realized narrative. While the atmospheric setting and romantic tension are commendable, pacing issues, underdeveloped world-building, and an abrupt ending hinder the story's overall impact. Readers seeking a light, adventurous read may find enjoyment in this novel, but those desiring a more immersive and cohesive tale might be left wanting more.
Strengths:
Atmospheric Setting: Suarez effectively captures the essence of the ocean and the pirate lifestyle, immersing readers in a world filled with salt air and roiling waves. The setting adds a layer of authenticity to the story, enhancing the overall reading experience.
Romantic Tension: The evolving relationship between Captain Leo and Asherah is compelling. Their dynamic, filled with suspicion and tension, gradually shifts as they uncover dark truths about the curse and their intertwined fates. This slow-burn romance adds depth to the narrative.
Engaging Premise: The concept of a generational curse tied to the ocean and the involvement of merfolk myths and sea-god bargains provide a rich backdrop for the story. The potential for a captivating adventure is evident.
Areas for Improvement:
Pacing Issues: The novel's pacing is uneven, with certain sections feeling rushed. Important plot points are often relayed second-hand, rather than being shown through direct action or dialogue. This approach diminishes the emotional impact and leaves some developments feeling unearned.
Underdeveloped World-Building: While the setting is atmospheric, the world-building lacks depth. The lore surrounding the curse, merfolk, and sea-god bargains is introduced but not fully explored, leaving readers with more questions than answers.
Abrupt Ending: The conclusion arrives suddenly, with critical events unfolding off-page or being resolved too quickly. This abruptness undermines the narrative's emotional payoff and leaves the story feeling incomplete.
Conclusion:
The Ocean Curse offers a promising blend of romance and fantasy elements but struggles to deliver a fully realized narrative. While the atmospheric setting and romantic tension are commendable, pacing issues, underdeveloped world-building, and an abrupt ending hinder the story's overall impact. Readers seeking a light, adventurous read may find enjoyment in this novel, but those desiring a more immersive and cohesive tale might be left wanting more.
September 20, 2025
I took a chance on this book based on the lovely cover art and the intriguing description of an arranged marriage between a cursed pirate captain and a mermaid in disguise.
The story starts strong with fast pacing, plenty of action, and the suspense of whether Asherah can escape before her new husband Leo or his crew discover her secret. I especially enjoyed the gradual reveal of the main characters’ mysterious curses and the tension in the first half.
While the exact ages aren’t stated, Leo seems to be in his late 20s, and Asherah is presumably around 18. That dynamic didn’t bother me, but I did find it frustrating how quickly their relationship shifted from antagonistic to romantic. The enemies-to-lovers trope was clearly the intent, but the transition felt rushed and lacked real buildup. Leo came off as emotionally unstable, while Asherah swung between calling herself a cursed monster to loving her beautiful tail. The emotional inconsistency made it difficult to connect with either character.
As the story progressed, the plot began to unravel. Once Asherah’s secret was revealed, the narrative veered into unbelievable territory, which included modern language and dialogue that broke immersion. The book started to feel more like fanfiction than a polished novel, and the climax fell flat. The premise had promise, but the execution lacked the depth and development needed to stay compelling.
I was surprised to learn that this was Book 1 of the Ripples of Magic series. The book felt like a standalone with no need to continue, but maybe the second book has different main characters – which could be a positive thing. I don’t want to read another book with Leo and Asherah as the main characters.
Overall, this is a quick read that may appeal to readers who love pirates, mermaids, and magical curses. Asherah is a likable heroine with beauty and brains, but the story ultimately left me wanting more substance. Content Warning: There is a spicy scene that felt overly explicit for a teen novel and could have benefited from some restraint to better suit younger readers.
Thank you to NetGalley and Little Book Factory for the opportunity to read an advanced reader's copy of this book for an honest review.
The story starts strong with fast pacing, plenty of action, and the suspense of whether Asherah can escape before her new husband Leo or his crew discover her secret. I especially enjoyed the gradual reveal of the main characters’ mysterious curses and the tension in the first half.
While the exact ages aren’t stated, Leo seems to be in his late 20s, and Asherah is presumably around 18. That dynamic didn’t bother me, but I did find it frustrating how quickly their relationship shifted from antagonistic to romantic. The enemies-to-lovers trope was clearly the intent, but the transition felt rushed and lacked real buildup. Leo came off as emotionally unstable, while Asherah swung between calling herself a cursed monster to loving her beautiful tail. The emotional inconsistency made it difficult to connect with either character.
As the story progressed, the plot began to unravel. Once Asherah’s secret was revealed, the narrative veered into unbelievable territory, which included modern language and dialogue that broke immersion. The book started to feel more like fanfiction than a polished novel, and the climax fell flat. The premise had promise, but the execution lacked the depth and development needed to stay compelling.
I was surprised to learn that this was Book 1 of the Ripples of Magic series. The book felt like a standalone with no need to continue, but maybe the second book has different main characters – which could be a positive thing. I don’t want to read another book with Leo and Asherah as the main characters.
Overall, this is a quick read that may appeal to readers who love pirates, mermaids, and magical curses. Asherah is a likable heroine with beauty and brains, but the story ultimately left me wanting more substance. Content Warning: There is a spicy scene that felt overly explicit for a teen novel and could have benefited from some restraint to better suit younger readers.
Thank you to NetGalley and Little Book Factory for the opportunity to read an advanced reader's copy of this book for an honest review.
September 14, 2025
DNF at 45%
Rating: ⭐️
First I would like to thank Netgalley, the author, and Little Book Factory for providing me with this eARC.
In this book we get duel pov’s of our two main characters: Leo and Asherah. They both have a secret of being “cursed” through their bloodline. Captain Leo believes that through his arranged marriage to Asherah, he will be able to make a journey no man has before. He believes that due to the rumors of her lucky bloodline, he will be able to have an advantage. Little does he know, Asherah has a secret of her own and she is desperate to keep him from finding out.
Leo is truly a gem. From the beginning, he understood the position he was putting Asherah in. He did his best to accommodate and make her comfortable despite the situation. Asherah was wary of his actions based of previous treatment.
While this story was short, the writing did feel pretty juvenile at times. The fmc was written in a way that made her an unreliable narrator. One minute she hated Leo and the next she was upset he didn’t want her. She wanted to escape, then was upset that she “fell” for his kisses. It made the story hard to read.
The characters felt as though they were never fully developed. We learn of the curses they both have, but never go further than that. The was no way to connect with the characters and no connection between them in the story. It all just fell flat.
Rating: ⭐️
First I would like to thank Netgalley, the author, and Little Book Factory for providing me with this eARC.
In this book we get duel pov’s of our two main characters: Leo and Asherah. They both have a secret of being “cursed” through their bloodline. Captain Leo believes that through his arranged marriage to Asherah, he will be able to make a journey no man has before. He believes that due to the rumors of her lucky bloodline, he will be able to have an advantage. Little does he know, Asherah has a secret of her own and she is desperate to keep him from finding out.
Leo is truly a gem. From the beginning, he understood the position he was putting Asherah in. He did his best to accommodate and make her comfortable despite the situation. Asherah was wary of his actions based of previous treatment.
While this story was short, the writing did feel pretty juvenile at times. The fmc was written in a way that made her an unreliable narrator. One minute she hated Leo and the next she was upset he didn’t want her. She wanted to escape, then was upset that she “fell” for his kisses. It made the story hard to read.
The characters felt as though they were never fully developed. We learn of the curses they both have, but never go further than that. The was no way to connect with the characters and no connection between them in the story. It all just fell flat.
August 19, 2025
Honest review is 3.75 stars.
This was given to me as an ARC copy from NetGalley.
The story is told following the FMC, Asherah, and MMC, Leo, through a third person perspective. The spice level was round a 1 out of 5 for me personally. The majority of that was alluding to their attraction to each other or about actions that happened behind closed doors. There was on page scenes as well, but it was fairly minimal. The attraction and yearning between the two happened more than the actual acting on that attraction.
This was a very enjoyable read! The story centers around mermaids and curses, pirates, betrayals, and love. That's just about all you need for a good story! As enjoyable as this story was, there were moments sprinkled throughout that felt almost rushed, like they would have settled better with some expansion on the backstory or the current actions of our characters. There were important plot points that we heard second-hand, being told to the MCs instead of seeing the moment play out on page. The book was such a quick, fun read that some extra information and detailing wouldn't have pulled it down.
All in all, I love the storyline! I had been in a bit of a reading slump and this was a fun little ocean adventure that pulled me out! I will be looking out for the next book in this story!
This was given to me as an ARC copy from NetGalley.
The story is told following the FMC, Asherah, and MMC, Leo, through a third person perspective. The spice level was round a 1 out of 5 for me personally. The majority of that was alluding to their attraction to each other or about actions that happened behind closed doors. There was on page scenes as well, but it was fairly minimal. The attraction and yearning between the two happened more than the actual acting on that attraction.
This was a very enjoyable read! The story centers around mermaids and curses, pirates, betrayals, and love. That's just about all you need for a good story! As enjoyable as this story was, there were moments sprinkled throughout that felt almost rushed, like they would have settled better with some expansion on the backstory or the current actions of our characters. There were important plot points that we heard second-hand, being told to the MCs instead of seeing the moment play out on page. The book was such a quick, fun read that some extra information and detailing wouldn't have pulled it down.
All in all, I love the storyline! I had been in a bit of a reading slump and this was a fun little ocean adventure that pulled me out! I will be looking out for the next book in this story!
September 29, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley, Emily Suarez, and Little Book Factory for the ARC in exchange for an honest opinion!
I was so excited to go into this novel, the premise sounded amazing but unfortunately i was a little let down. It started strong, I enjoyed the first couple of chapters, the FMC's transformation reminded a lot of Shrek which was fun and i liked the chemistry between the two main characters are the start, not quiet enemies to lovers but close. As the book went on i lost interest, the FMC was inconsistent and at times a little annoying, the MMC feel instantly in lust with the FMC and the early chemistry disappeared. The MMC's curse was a little underdeveloped and i still i am little confused as to what it actually is. I wish there was more of a found family among the MMC and his crew, it would have meant more during scenes when they were in danger if they had a stronger bond. The ending is rushed, the climax was resolved reasonably quick and there was no pay off.
This book has the bones of great story and i am hoping that if the authors continues this series that each book will get better.
I was so excited to go into this novel, the premise sounded amazing but unfortunately i was a little let down. It started strong, I enjoyed the first couple of chapters, the FMC's transformation reminded a lot of Shrek which was fun and i liked the chemistry between the two main characters are the start, not quiet enemies to lovers but close. As the book went on i lost interest, the FMC was inconsistent and at times a little annoying, the MMC feel instantly in lust with the FMC and the early chemistry disappeared. The MMC's curse was a little underdeveloped and i still i am little confused as to what it actually is. I wish there was more of a found family among the MMC and his crew, it would have meant more during scenes when they were in danger if they had a stronger bond. The ending is rushed, the climax was resolved reasonably quick and there was no pay off.
This book has the bones of great story and i am hoping that if the authors continues this series that each book will get better.
August 19, 2025
Rating: ⭐⭐
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with this ARC.
When I found this book, I had high hopes — I love pirate-based stories with enough action to keep me hooked. Unfortunately, this one didn’t deliver the satisfaction I was looking for.
It features an arranged marriage trope, which I usually enjoy, but the FMC’s character arc felt inconsistent. One moment she’s constantly complaining about not wanting to be with him and plotting her escape, and the next she does a complete 180 after a bit of fun together. The sudden shift was confusing for me, and I would have liked more build-up to make it believable.
That said, I did enjoy the romance after the MMC’s heartfelt confession of true love. I felt bad for him — he genuinely cared for her and wasn’t just using her for the success of his mission, which made him an easy character to root for.
Overall, though, the story just didn’t click with me the way I hoped, which is why I’m giving it 2 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with this ARC.
When I found this book, I had high hopes — I love pirate-based stories with enough action to keep me hooked. Unfortunately, this one didn’t deliver the satisfaction I was looking for.
It features an arranged marriage trope, which I usually enjoy, but the FMC’s character arc felt inconsistent. One moment she’s constantly complaining about not wanting to be with him and plotting her escape, and the next she does a complete 180 after a bit of fun together. The sudden shift was confusing for me, and I would have liked more build-up to make it believable.
That said, I did enjoy the romance after the MMC’s heartfelt confession of true love. I felt bad for him — he genuinely cared for her and wasn’t just using her for the success of his mission, which made him an easy character to root for.
Overall, though, the story just didn’t click with me the way I hoped, which is why I’m giving it 2 stars.
August 21, 2025
🧜♀️❤️ Thank you NetGalley and Little Book Factory for this ARC ❤️🧜♀️
Honest review rating 3.5 ⭐️
Fans of The Little Mermaid will enjoy this easy to read romance. It has short chapters and is a relatively fast paced romance.
The story follows Captain Leo Smith who is cursed with an unknown overwhelming urge that is pulling him towards a place called Dead Man’s End. To bring him luck he pays for the hand in marriage of Asherah, who’s family are well known for bringing luck. However, unbeknownst to Leo, Asherah is also cursed and when the sunsets transforms into a mermaid.
As Asherah yearns to find out about her mer-family and a way to break her curse she inevitably falls in love with the handsome Leo. Will they both break the curses that bind them? Will love break them free from the curse?
A sweet mermaid themed read with clear ideas taken and adapted from classics like The Little Mermaid ❤️.
Honest review rating 3.5 ⭐️
Fans of The Little Mermaid will enjoy this easy to read romance. It has short chapters and is a relatively fast paced romance.
The story follows Captain Leo Smith who is cursed with an unknown overwhelming urge that is pulling him towards a place called Dead Man’s End. To bring him luck he pays for the hand in marriage of Asherah, who’s family are well known for bringing luck. However, unbeknownst to Leo, Asherah is also cursed and when the sunsets transforms into a mermaid.
As Asherah yearns to find out about her mer-family and a way to break her curse she inevitably falls in love with the handsome Leo. Will they both break the curses that bind them? Will love break them free from the curse?
A sweet mermaid themed read with clear ideas taken and adapted from classics like The Little Mermaid ❤️.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 4, 2025
I am officially obsessed with this oceanic romantasy.
The Ocean Curse swept me away...literally.
Emily K. Suarez has crafted a world where salt air tangles with magic, curses drift through generations, and every wave seems to whisper secrets.
Captain Leo Smith is equal parts broody and determined, running from a family curse while trying to control the chaos of fate. And Asherah? She is fierce, clever, and not afraid to make waves of her own..exactly the kind of FMC I live for.
The tension between Leo and Asherah is 🔥.
Forced into marriage by fate, bound by curses, and tossed into adventure, their chemistry is slow burning perfection, and every reveal kept me on edge.
The stakes, ancestral debts, sea bound magic, and dangerous secrets kept me glued to every page.
If you love epic romantasy, mythical curses, and second-chance romance with a stormy, high-seas backdrop, this is an absolute must read. I could practically feel the ocean spray while reading!
The Ocean Curse swept me away...literally.
Emily K. Suarez has crafted a world where salt air tangles with magic, curses drift through generations, and every wave seems to whisper secrets.
Captain Leo Smith is equal parts broody and determined, running from a family curse while trying to control the chaos of fate. And Asherah? She is fierce, clever, and not afraid to make waves of her own..exactly the kind of FMC I live for.
The tension between Leo and Asherah is 🔥.
Forced into marriage by fate, bound by curses, and tossed into adventure, their chemistry is slow burning perfection, and every reveal kept me on edge.
The stakes, ancestral debts, sea bound magic, and dangerous secrets kept me glued to every page.
If you love epic romantasy, mythical curses, and second-chance romance with a stormy, high-seas backdrop, this is an absolute must read. I could practically feel the ocean spray while reading!
September 7, 2025
I picked up this book after reading several reviews on NetGalley, and I’m glad I gave it a try. For me, the strongest part of the story was the characters — I felt connected to them and enjoyed following their growth all the way through. That’s really what kept me invested.
Where it fell a little short for me was in the world-building. It lacked some depth, which made the setting feel less immersive than I had hoped for. Also, just a quick note: if you’re going in expecting a true enemies-to-lovers arc, you might be a bit disappointed, since it doesn’t quite deliver on that trope.
That said, the story is light, adventurous, and fun. It’s the kind of book you can pick up when you’re not necessarily looking for a big, complex world, but rather something easy to get through. Overall, it was a decent read for me, and I’d rate it ⭐⭐⭐.
Thank you to the author and NetGalley for providing me with this ARC!
Where it fell a little short for me was in the world-building. It lacked some depth, which made the setting feel less immersive than I had hoped for. Also, just a quick note: if you’re going in expecting a true enemies-to-lovers arc, you might be a bit disappointed, since it doesn’t quite deliver on that trope.
That said, the story is light, adventurous, and fun. It’s the kind of book you can pick up when you’re not necessarily looking for a big, complex world, but rather something easy to get through. Overall, it was a decent read for me, and I’d rate it ⭐⭐⭐.
Thank you to the author and NetGalley for providing me with this ARC!
September 15, 2025
This book had so much promise! I wanted to love it. The description was so exciting! It started off like a lighter version of In the Veins of Drowning - which I LOVED but it kinda derailed for me after that. I felt confused for most of the book. The confusion on the curses was answered pretty quickly. But the relationships between characters kept shifting from trust to betrayal to trust to skepticism to betrayal to ??? It all happened so quick and I felt like there was little lead up to some of the events happening. There was also the insta-lust/love/attraction that was maybe supposed to be enemies to lovers or forced proximity felt unbelievable. There was some explanation with the curses but there was no build up to the love outside of the insta-attraction. The twists throughout the book were so interesting but it just fell flat. It's an extremely quick read and the pace is fast.
Thank you NetGalley and Little Book Factory for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you NetGalley and Little Book Factory for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 19, 2025
This story had SO much potential to be great.
It was a quick enjoyable read, with a good plot line. I would have appreciated significantly more detail to help the reader fully immerse themselves into the characters. At times I felt like I was experiencing two completely different writers- one which I loved. The narration felt vague and rushed- leaving me with a wanting feeling.
I kept reading because the storyline truly intrigued me I wanted to know the ending. It was a very cute forced proximity fated romance. Who doesn’t love a romance set on a pirate ship? Especially if you like morally grey, possessive MMCs.
All this book lacked was detail- but the bones of it was magical.
ARC copy received through NetGalley
It was a quick enjoyable read, with a good plot line. I would have appreciated significantly more detail to help the reader fully immerse themselves into the characters. At times I felt like I was experiencing two completely different writers- one which I loved. The narration felt vague and rushed- leaving me with a wanting feeling.
I kept reading because the storyline truly intrigued me I wanted to know the ending. It was a very cute forced proximity fated romance. Who doesn’t love a romance set on a pirate ship? Especially if you like morally grey, possessive MMCs.
All this book lacked was detail- but the bones of it was magical.
ARC copy received through NetGalley
August 19, 2025
3.75⭐ – Honest Review
I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley.
The Ocean Curse follows Asherah (FMC) and Leo (MMC) through dual perspectives. I really enjoyed their romance, it captured their trust and affection perfectly. Both characters were instantly likeable, and I found myself rooting for them from the start.
The story itself is fast paced, packed with action, twists, and turns that kept me hooked. That being said, the shorter length left some of the backstory and worldbuilding feeling a little rushed. I would have loved a bit more depth to the mysteries and setting.
Overall, I had a great time reading this one! If you’re looking for a quick, action packed romance with pirates, mermaids, and sea creatures, this is definitely worth picking up.
I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley.
The Ocean Curse follows Asherah (FMC) and Leo (MMC) through dual perspectives. I really enjoyed their romance, it captured their trust and affection perfectly. Both characters were instantly likeable, and I found myself rooting for them from the start.
The story itself is fast paced, packed with action, twists, and turns that kept me hooked. That being said, the shorter length left some of the backstory and worldbuilding feeling a little rushed. I would have loved a bit more depth to the mysteries and setting.
Overall, I had a great time reading this one! If you’re looking for a quick, action packed romance with pirates, mermaids, and sea creatures, this is definitely worth picking up.
August 20, 2025
I was very excited to get into this book. I love everything related to pirates and mermaids. I am usually not the biggest fan of arranged marriage tropes, but this was okay. The first two chapters I really liked, but I was confused on whose POV it was for a while. The first half of the book was very interesting in terms of worldbuilding, but I admit the main characters felt dull to me. The relationship between them was boring with no build up. The pacing in the second half was rushed with everything regarding the curse coming out too fast. I really enjoyed the ending and it was a great read.
Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher for sending me a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
August 12, 2025
3.75
Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this arc :)This book was a fun and easy medium paced read. The writing was well done and very fluid. I loved the overall plot of the book, but I feel like it was slightly rushed. I would have loved more world building and character development. I thoroughly enjoyed the ending, but once again it felt wrapped up quick. It left me desiring more.
The sexual tension and banter between the main characters was on point. Who doesn’t love a good forced proximity and enemies to lovers trope?
Anything with pirates, mermaids, and sea creatures always has me sold though.
Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this arc :)This book was a fun and easy medium paced read. The writing was well done and very fluid. I loved the overall plot of the book, but I feel like it was slightly rushed. I would have loved more world building and character development. I thoroughly enjoyed the ending, but once again it felt wrapped up quick. It left me desiring more.
The sexual tension and banter between the main characters was on point. Who doesn’t love a good forced proximity and enemies to lovers trope?
Anything with pirates, mermaids, and sea creatures always has me sold though.
August 17, 2025
The Ocean Curse is a tale of love, betrayal, and curses. It follows the story of Asherah Hall who is married off to someone who has paid for her. Captain Leo Smith has a curse which he hopes Asherah will help him break. Meanwhile, Asherah has her own secret that could be dangerous if discovered. I really enjoyed this story and seeing it unfold. I would have liked to know more about Leo's curse as it wasn't mentioned in much detail so it's unclear what the curse really was. I liked the plot - it would not normally be something I would read, but I am glad that I did. Thank you Netgalley for a copy of this.
November 7, 2025
3.5 stars
I really enjoyed this Little Mermaid inspired story. It tells the story of 2 characters who are cursed because of what their family had done before them. I thought this was a really interesting concept to spin from the original story it was inspired from.
With that said, I did feel there was something missing from the story and the characters. The description included "epic romantasy full of mystery, high stakes, and luring magic" and I felt like each of these themes could have been stronger.
I do intend to read a sequel when published.
Thank you to Netgalley and Little Book Factory for this ARC!
I really enjoyed this Little Mermaid inspired story. It tells the story of 2 characters who are cursed because of what their family had done before them. I thought this was a really interesting concept to spin from the original story it was inspired from.
With that said, I did feel there was something missing from the story and the characters. The description included "epic romantasy full of mystery, high stakes, and luring magic" and I felt like each of these themes could have been stronger.
I do intend to read a sequel when published.
Thank you to Netgalley and Little Book Factory for this ARC!
Read
August 21, 2025Thank you to NetGalley and Little Book Factory for the opportunity to read this book which I am DNFing at 33%.
Unfortunately there was nothing about this book that I enjoyed during my time with it including the FMC and her back and forth ways fluctuating between “I’m a monster!” Dramatics and why doesn’t my new husband who I’ve done nothing but be rude to not want to be around me.
This book is less than 300 pages long and every time I opened it to start a new chapter I was filled with dread and resignation.
Unfortunately there was nothing about this book that I enjoyed during my time with it including the FMC and her back and forth ways fluctuating between “I’m a monster!” Dramatics and why doesn’t my new husband who I’ve done nothing but be rude to not want to be around me.
This book is less than 300 pages long and every time I opened it to start a new chapter I was filled with dread and resignation.
September 15, 2025
This book had so much potential based on its premise! I was really excited to jump into it based on the summary, but didn't quite hit its mark with the execution of it! i think that this book needed a little extra work on building characters emotional depth, to really make the reader connect with the story and the characters.
Definitely some really good bones in this story and I'll be keeping my eye on this one in the future!
Thank you NetGalley for the eARC!
Definitely some really good bones in this story and I'll be keeping my eye on this one in the future!
Thank you NetGalley for the eARC!
September 15, 2025
I enjoyed this but I felt like the ending was very rushed. I did like that we got the conclusion in the epilogue but I do feel like it would have been better to have seen what happened before the epilogue.
The relationship between Leo and Asherah was sweet and fiery all at once. I confess I was expecting them to be Marina and Francis in another life. I didn't like how he automatically assumed Asherah was seeing Gage behind his back, though given his connection to Francis it did make sense.
The relationship between Leo and Asherah was sweet and fiery all at once. I confess I was expecting them to be Marina and Francis in another life. I didn't like how he automatically assumed Asherah was seeing Gage behind his back, though given his connection to Francis it did make sense.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews