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Flipped Fairytales
Drown Me Gently
He was never meant to fall in love with the surface.
Auren is a Mer prince with a restless heart and a dangerous fascination for the surface world. When he falls for Elias, a charming human with a smile like sunlight, Auren breaks every law of the deep to see him again. But someone is watching-Ulric, the Kraken court sorcerer sworn to protect him, and the only one who knows what it will cost if the sea decides to punish Auren's defiance.
He was never meant to feel anything at all.
Ulric has guarded Poseidon's bloodline for centuries, bound by ancient magic and an oath he cannot break. Auren was supposed to be a duty, nothing more. But every rule Ulric has lived by starts to fray the moment the reckless prince dares to look at him like he's more than a monster. And when Auren turns to him for comfort, for touch-Ulric knows the price of breaking his oath may be his soul.
In a world of gods, monsters, and forbidden magic, love is the one thing neither of them was meant to survive.
But when a prince offers his heart to the dark, the dark just might love him back-with all its teeth.
Auren is a Mer prince with a restless heart and a dangerous fascination for the surface world. When he falls for Elias, a charming human with a smile like sunlight, Auren breaks every law of the deep to see him again. But someone is watching-Ulric, the Kraken court sorcerer sworn to protect him, and the only one who knows what it will cost if the sea decides to punish Auren's defiance.
He was never meant to feel anything at all.
Ulric has guarded Poseidon's bloodline for centuries, bound by ancient magic and an oath he cannot break. Auren was supposed to be a duty, nothing more. But every rule Ulric has lived by starts to fray the moment the reckless prince dares to look at him like he's more than a monster. And when Auren turns to him for comfort, for touch-Ulric knows the price of breaking his oath may be his soul.
In a world of gods, monsters, and forbidden magic, love is the one thing neither of them was meant to survive.
But when a prince offers his heart to the dark, the dark just might love him back-with all its teeth.
294 pages, Paperback
Published August 14, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
August 22, 2025
Spicy and gay little mermaid? Say less! Action packed and gut wrenching the best ways, Drown me Gently captures all the romance and magic of classic fairy tales, but dives deep into a darker story line that had me at the edge of my seat. Auren's wonder for the world meets Ulrich's devotion to the sweet prince, and tells a story that is as hot as it is heart warming. Intriguing world building meets forbidden lovers and I can't get enough. (Much like our sweet mermaid Auren 😉)
July 1, 2026
Yes yes. 100% yes. Immediately, little mermaid retelling. Dark. Grumpy/sunshine, longing and pining that is just 😩 delicious. And the slow burn caught 🔥 the second it hit. Omg 🫠🫠 the art work helped visualize all of it & im so obsessed. 5 ⭐️ 4 🌶️ & all my love cause it had me hooked from start to finish
February 14, 2026
a swimming good time!
Listen, I’ve read my fair share of retellings, however this one definitely became one of my favs. The build up of the couples relationship was maddening and gut wrenching at times, however the sweet moments were tooth aching in the best way. A quick read, with an interesting twist to the little mermaid, I liked this enough to want to buy a physical copy of so I can read it over and over again.
Listen, I’ve read my fair share of retellings, however this one definitely became one of my favs. The build up of the couples relationship was maddening and gut wrenching at times, however the sweet moments were tooth aching in the best way. A quick read, with an interesting twist to the little mermaid, I liked this enough to want to buy a physical copy of so I can read it over and over again.
August 15, 2025
Holy smokes, this was hands-down, the best “little mermaid” retelling that I’ve read. Loved Ulric and Auren together. This will definitely be a reread.
July 7, 2026
✨🖤🌊🐙🧜♀️ THIS!! This is how you do a fairy tale retelling!! 🧜♀️🐙🌊🖤✨
I started this buddy read late on Thursday and ended up completely devouring the entire book in twelve hours flat, and I have not shut up about it since. I’ve spent the last forty-eight hours completely fan-girling across every group chat I’m in because EVERYONE needs to read this right now.
This retelling never felt like a copy and paste of the Disney movie or Hans fairy tale. It takes the bones of a familiar story and turns it into something entirely its own, while still sprinkling in these nostalgic little easter eggs that made me lose my mind every time I caught one.
The chaotic, forbidden pull between a reckless merman prince and his fiercely protective kraken sorcerer had me completely hooked from the start. Every single moment of restraint, every bit of agonizing tension, and every glance that shouldn’t mean something but absolutely does builds into something unbearable in the best way. I was fully losing my mind over the sheer weight of an ancient monster trying to hold himself together under centuries of rigid duty before finally snapping into the most devastating, dangerous possession for his prince.
If you love monster romance, dark fairy tale retellings, and an obsession-heavy dynamic that feels like it's constantly one breath away from completely exploding, drop everything and read this masterpiece immediately.
I started this buddy read late on Thursday and ended up completely devouring the entire book in twelve hours flat, and I have not shut up about it since. I’ve spent the last forty-eight hours completely fan-girling across every group chat I’m in because EVERYONE needs to read this right now.
This retelling never felt like a copy and paste of the Disney movie or Hans fairy tale. It takes the bones of a familiar story and turns it into something entirely its own, while still sprinkling in these nostalgic little easter eggs that made me lose my mind every time I caught one.
The chaotic, forbidden pull between a reckless merman prince and his fiercely protective kraken sorcerer had me completely hooked from the start. Every single moment of restraint, every bit of agonizing tension, and every glance that shouldn’t mean something but absolutely does builds into something unbearable in the best way. I was fully losing my mind over the sheer weight of an ancient monster trying to hold himself together under centuries of rigid duty before finally snapping into the most devastating, dangerous possession for his prince.
If you love monster romance, dark fairy tale retellings, and an obsession-heavy dynamic that feels like it's constantly one breath away from completely exploding, drop everything and read this masterpiece immediately.
July 17, 2026
i love retellings, so MM little mermaid with a twist? count me in.
this book was beautiful. it’s a slow burn, but once it burns it’s hot! at first, i was a bit peeved with how stubborn Auren was, but it’s understandable with the way he lives and you realize he just wants to be seen and loved. Ulric, is grumpy and has an oath he has to follow. reading his inner monologue you realize there’s a lot more going on. the yearning, the heartache, the angst, and the love between these two. ugh my heart.
🌊 “Let me stay like this.
Let me have this moment.
But if I must vanish… let it be here.
With you.
With love.
With the salt of your kiss still on my lips.
All I ask, my darling, is that you—
Drown me Gently.” 🌊
this book was beautiful. it’s a slow burn, but once it burns it’s hot! at first, i was a bit peeved with how stubborn Auren was, but it’s understandable with the way he lives and you realize he just wants to be seen and loved. Ulric, is grumpy and has an oath he has to follow. reading his inner monologue you realize there’s a lot more going on. the yearning, the heartache, the angst, and the love between these two. ugh my heart.
🌊 “Let me stay like this.
Let me have this moment.
But if I must vanish… let it be here.
With you.
With love.
With the salt of your kiss still on my lips.
All I ask, my darling, is that you—
Drown me Gently.” 🌊
July 6, 2026
If your favorite comfort movie is Little Mermaid, you need to snag this book! The first half is a fun retelling with a gender/villain swap, and the second half is a MM smut fest with tentacle play and kraken c•ck (I mean that in the best way possible). This is for the ones who love Emily McIntire books, but want more a bit more yearning. The ones who want a fast paced, well-written story with a twist on the world and side characters. And it’s for the ones who swoon for a possessive MMC. He won’t burn the land, but he’ll drain the oceans!
August 14, 2025
Little Mermaid? But make it gay and SPICY🔥
I really enjoyed this flipped gender retelling! It had quite it bit more to it compared to the original Disney film (and I’m not just talking about the spice) there see more twists and turns and it was something I couldn’t put down! Finished in two days! Can’t wait to see more in this Flipped Fairytales series!
I really enjoyed this flipped gender retelling! It had quite it bit more to it compared to the original Disney film (and I’m not just talking about the spice) there see more twists and turns and it was something I couldn’t put down! Finished in two days! Can’t wait to see more in this Flipped Fairytales series!
January 5, 2026
I stepped out of my normal romance reading with this one and it did not disappoint! Its’ little mermaid inspiration with a twist was addicting 🤭 I literally couldn’t put it down! @terezakanewrites nailed this flipped fairytale perfectly 🧜🏼♀️ *spice was involved* 🌶️def recommend for fantasy readers 🤩
January 24, 2026
As my first M/M book, I wasn't sure how I'd feel about the roles being different from the original fairytale but OMG! Could not put this book down! This is love at its core no matter how you see it, willing to give up so much for that one being who is your all. Don't even get me started on sex with tentacles!! So hot and amazingly written.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 8, 2025
MCs
mermaid/kraken
gay
strict roles
21/ancient
TROPES
grumpy/sunshine
hurt/comfort
forced proximity
frenemies to lovers
fated mates
CWs
forced medical procedure
forced body modification
forced captivity
KINKY SHIT
tenticlessssss
mermaid/kraken
gay
strict roles
21/ancient
TROPES
grumpy/sunshine
hurt/comfort
forced proximity
frenemies to lovers
fated mates
CWs
forced medical procedure
forced body modification
forced captivity
KINKY SHIT
tenticlessssss
July 12, 2026
I love a little mermaid retelling, especially a GREAT emotionally compromising little mermaid retelling… and this was THAT.
Auren 🧜🏽♂️ & Ulric 🐙🪄 were heartbreaking at times (most of the time) & when they weren’t, they were fire. Gorge.
Auren 🧜🏽♂️ & Ulric 🐙🪄 were heartbreaking at times (most of the time) & when they weren’t, they were fire. Gorge.
September 26, 2025
as it turns out i was more taken by the synopsis (and maybe the first quarter) than the actual book :/ the beach scene did make me cry, and since i'm in a giving mood, i rounded up the rating
ETA: hi, i'm back bc i couldn't stop thinking abt the beach scene. not the part that made me cry, but the part right after, which also happens on the beach. i'm gonna try not to spoil it, so, at the time i didn't really give much thought to it, but since then i couldn't help but think that it wasn't really this grand sacrifice it was made out to be?? giving up something you never really wanted in the first place isn't a sacrifice. the fact that it was made to seem like he was giving up something precious to him kinda pissed me off lmao like bro, no, he got what he wanted in the end so it was no grand gesture of love or whatever. anyway, i've said my piece, and i'll be taking that star back, too
P.S. not enough krakenfucking 🚬😮💨
October 1, 2025
gorgeous from start to finish. especially the epilog 😘
December 3, 2025
The Gay Little Merman. What a flipped fairytale this was! I absolutely loved it. Teresa called this a diet dark romance and boy did she deliver in those scenes. That last scene though..
December 5, 2025
Entretenido, para pasar el rato.
February 1, 2026
MERMAID M/M ROMANCE
...
(that's all)
...
(that's all)
mm-ok-r
June 8, 2026Rokp (o.99)
June 27, 2026
Main plot was a little rushed.
July 10, 2026
Tereza Kane's writing is like a drug and I'm hooked. I couldn't put it down!
July 15, 2026
Literally my favorite book. In my top 5. Tereza's writing style is everything. Girl can write smut!
I love Auren and Ulric.
Pacing was beautiful.
I couldnt put it down!
I love Auren and Ulric.
Pacing was beautiful.
I couldnt put it down!
March 18, 2026
I absolutely loved this! What a wonderful take on the classic “The Little Mermaid” … only in reverse with the Mer Prince falling in love with the monster protector instead of the human.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews