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The Wicked Sea #1
The Wicked Sea
In this dark and sultry romantasy a mermaid battles hatred—and lust—for the wretched warlock who saved her life.
Mermaid Zephyra of the Syl dreams of freedom. On the run from a dangerous captor and years of abuse, she’s shed her tail, grown legs, and hidden herself on land in the merrow-loathing kingdom of Mortia, left to steal and barter on the dirty streets. But her freedom is short-lived when she’s caught and sentenced to death by the brutal warlock, Arion Stone.
Arion is as beautiful as he is cold and deadly, only interested in punishing the merrow he views as evil. He has grown as strong as any warlock might, but at great personal cost ... which can only be remedied by the heart of the God of Death, lost to a fabled kingdom beneath the ocean’s treacherous depths.
So Arion offers Zephyra a deal she can’t refuse; help him find the mystical heart, and he’ll spare her life. With no other options, Zephyra agrees, entangling their souls and forbidden desires in a magical bargain until death do they part. But Zephyra's past is catching up to her, and the enemy she fled seeks vengeance. If Zephyra and Arion can't learn to fight together—and trust each other—there are worse things awaiting them than just death. Of course, in the wicked sea, everyone has secrets, and no one should be trusted.
Perfect for fans Enemies-to-lovers Magic Sensual Bonds Winged Romantic LeadsForced Proximity
Mermaid Zephyra of the Syl dreams of freedom. On the run from a dangerous captor and years of abuse, she’s shed her tail, grown legs, and hidden herself on land in the merrow-loathing kingdom of Mortia, left to steal and barter on the dirty streets. But her freedom is short-lived when she’s caught and sentenced to death by the brutal warlock, Arion Stone.
Arion is as beautiful as he is cold and deadly, only interested in punishing the merrow he views as evil. He has grown as strong as any warlock might, but at great personal cost ... which can only be remedied by the heart of the God of Death, lost to a fabled kingdom beneath the ocean’s treacherous depths.
So Arion offers Zephyra a deal she can’t refuse; help him find the mystical heart, and he’ll spare her life. With no other options, Zephyra agrees, entangling their souls and forbidden desires in a magical bargain until death do they part. But Zephyra's past is catching up to her, and the enemy she fled seeks vengeance. If Zephyra and Arion can't learn to fight together—and trust each other—there are worse things awaiting them than just death. Of course, in the wicked sea, everyone has secrets, and no one should be trusted.
Perfect for fans Enemies-to-lovers Magic Sensual Bonds Winged Romantic LeadsForced Proximity
Audible Audio
First published April 7, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 623 reviews
April 21, 2026
sooo…. this wasn’t a standalone?? 🧍♀️
anyways, this was pretty entertaining! the main characters had great chemistry, and the tension between them was very well done. i do wish the worldbuilding had been explored a bit more, especially the time spent at sea. overall, i enjoyed the story, although toward the end it felt like there were too many plot twists that didn’t really shock me. but that epilogue!!! i seriously need book 2 already!!!!
preread: the cover is giving barbie fairytopia: mermaidia
anyways, this was pretty entertaining! the main characters had great chemistry, and the tension between them was very well done. i do wish the worldbuilding had been explored a bit more, especially the time spent at sea. overall, i enjoyed the story, although toward the end it felt like there were too many plot twists that didn’t really shock me. but that epilogue!!! i seriously need book 2 already!!!!
preread: the cover is giving barbie fairytopia: mermaidia
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
If it has mermaids, I'm already half in love with it before we start, and when I read the prologue I thought, 'this is going to be a new favourite'. A high stakes, gritty world with gloriously vicious mermaids and tyrannical, fanatical humans at war with them. And then we hit chapter one and that dark tone and atmosphere that had been established in the prologue fizzles away entirely.
Zephyra was that typical out-for-herself, running-from-her-past FMC with an attitude and a witty quip always at the ready, and to me she read much more juvenile than she is supposed to be.
The romance wasn't anything I could sink my teeth into either. Our MMC Arion, is introduced as this emotionless, almost all-powerful Warlock who hates our FMC and all of her kind. His intro in the book is him destroying those fantastically murderous mermaids in the prologue (RIP, you were missed). He and Zephyra actually almost kill each other several times, and though it was very lust-driven, this tension was still bubbling at 50%, and I thought we might have a true enemies-to-lovers arc building. Alas, then **magical bond** and in just the last 50% they fall madly in love. It did absolutely nothing for me.
The premise is fantastic, and the bones of the world-building are pretty decent, but the execution of it just left me off-kilter all the way through. One minute i'm vibing in this dark, sultry world, the next the FMC is facing off against the big-baddie (who tortured, abused and imprisoned her for years) and we get "you...you fucking dick!" And "yeah, well you're a jackass"...compared to the prologue in which we get "We are the depths of the sea and the salt of tears. We are the violence of the riptide and the snarl of waves. We are vengeance." So, yeah. We teeter between those two moods throughout the whole book and I was desperate for more of the latter.
I'm intrigued about where the second book is going but I'd need more bite from it to commit to continuing the series.
Zephyra was that typical out-for-herself, running-from-her-past FMC with an attitude and a witty quip always at the ready, and to me she read much more juvenile than she is supposed to be.
The romance wasn't anything I could sink my teeth into either. Our MMC Arion, is introduced as this emotionless, almost all-powerful Warlock who hates our FMC and all of her kind. His intro in the book is him destroying those fantastically murderous mermaids in the prologue (RIP, you were missed). He and Zephyra actually almost kill each other several times, and though it was very lust-driven, this tension was still bubbling at 50%, and I thought we might have a true enemies-to-lovers arc building. Alas, then **magical bond** and in just the last 50% they fall madly in love. It did absolutely nothing for me.
The premise is fantastic, and the bones of the world-building are pretty decent, but the execution of it just left me off-kilter all the way through. One minute i'm vibing in this dark, sultry world, the next the FMC is facing off against the big-baddie (who tortured, abused and imprisoned her for years) and we get "you...you fucking dick!" And "yeah, well you're a jackass"...compared to the prologue in which we get "We are the depths of the sea and the salt of tears. We are the violence of the riptide and the snarl of waves. We are vengeance." So, yeah. We teeter between those two moods throughout the whole book and I was desperate for more of the latter.
I'm intrigued about where the second book is going but I'd need more bite from it to commit to continuing the series.
Did Not Finish
May 3, 2026Sadly, another DNF. Thought I found the siren-centric book for me, but these fierce ladies of the sea spend a significant portion of the story on land (i.e., they might as well be humans). 🫤 Also, the story is incredibly GORY. 🩸 Just a few pages in and someone's neck is sliced, eyeballs are ripped out, a person's head is torn off, etc. Excessive use of the word "fuck" is ultimately what put me off. I've got nothing against the word, but using it this often undermines its impact.
I suspect plenty of fantasy and/or romantasy readers will find a lot to enjoy in The Wicked Sea, it just happens to be not quite what I'm looking for at the moment, so I'm swimming off to other reads 🧜♀️📚
I suspect plenty of fantasy and/or romantasy readers will find a lot to enjoy in The Wicked Sea, it just happens to be not quite what I'm looking for at the moment, so I'm swimming off to other reads 🧜♀️📚
February 7, 2026
4.75/5
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review!
Wow. What an amazing adult debut. I am jaw DROPPED over how thoroughly I loved this book. The first 20% definitely has a slow pace that does seem to take a while to get to the main plot point teased in the synopsis, but once we get to that point, this book is full throttle non stop action. An incredible sense of when to put in emotional beats makes the structure of this story just something I’m envious over. It’s practically flawless.
Zephyra is such a gorgeous heroine. She is not likable at all to start the story off, but as we get her backstory, all of her actions make SO much sense. The amount of trauma she’s been through hurts my heart but her growth in this novel is done masterfully. Her sense of humour brings levity to a pretty dark novel, but her introspective thoughts are what make her so compelling. Also, I mean, she’s a mermaid!!! I need more mermaids in my fantasy NOW!
Arion is a character I instantly liked. His character growth is subtle yet profound. Although he starts off seeming broody in a typical way, uncovering his trauma gives him so many sides in a way I find lots of fantasy books don’t give the MMC. He is a character and lead in this story in his own right, and does not exist to only support Zephyra. He has his own journey that I’m very excited to see continue in the sequel.
The romance is true enemies to lovers. They did not fuck with each other at all for a while. I do wish the friends stage had been longer but I just am so invested in their love story. The way their souls connect is just so beautiful and ahhhhhh!!!!!! I will say I think them falling in love in like 2 weeks is kind of crazy but it’s fantasy lol. The smut was also well written, and didn’t happen at the worst moments in the story hahah.
The plot?!!! AGHH. The prologue kind of seems out of place and I think doesn’t do much for the overall story, but the fast pacing and non stop action is a delight. So many things happen in this book and the mystery of the heart of mortem is so fun to make theories about. There are so many fun elements in this story - a cursed skull, for example - that give it life. The world seems so lived in.
I am eager to hopefully see more of the mermaid seas in book 2. The book sets up the world very well but we focus more on humans in this one. I was super invested in the world.
The writing style is IMMACULATE. Exactly the type of writing you need for this story. The descriptions of the sea and of mermaids are gorgeous, the humour is well balanced with the intense trauma of these characters, and the atmosphere is very well crafted.
AND THE END? Happy to say my streak of guessing final twists has continued and this one is delightful. Super excited to see where this story will now go. It’s a well foreshadowed twist as well, which I always appreciate.
But the epilogue is SO INTERESTING. The writing is gorgeous in it especially so, but I am dead with everything that happened. How is Zephyra getting out of this situation?! 😩 the sequel is shooting to the top of my most anticipated 2027 list.
I am so happy I got to read this early because this is SO GOOD and everyone needs to grab a copy this April!!!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review!
Wow. What an amazing adult debut. I am jaw DROPPED over how thoroughly I loved this book. The first 20% definitely has a slow pace that does seem to take a while to get to the main plot point teased in the synopsis, but once we get to that point, this book is full throttle non stop action. An incredible sense of when to put in emotional beats makes the structure of this story just something I’m envious over. It’s practically flawless.
Zephyra is such a gorgeous heroine. She is not likable at all to start the story off, but as we get her backstory, all of her actions make SO much sense. The amount of trauma she’s been through hurts my heart but her growth in this novel is done masterfully. Her sense of humour brings levity to a pretty dark novel, but her introspective thoughts are what make her so compelling. Also, I mean, she’s a mermaid!!! I need more mermaids in my fantasy NOW!
Arion is a character I instantly liked. His character growth is subtle yet profound. Although he starts off seeming broody in a typical way, uncovering his trauma gives him so many sides in a way I find lots of fantasy books don’t give the MMC. He is a character and lead in this story in his own right, and does not exist to only support Zephyra. He has his own journey that I’m very excited to see continue in the sequel.
The romance is true enemies to lovers. They did not fuck with each other at all for a while. I do wish the friends stage had been longer but I just am so invested in their love story. The way their souls connect is just so beautiful and ahhhhhh!!!!!! I will say I think them falling in love in like 2 weeks is kind of crazy but it’s fantasy lol. The smut was also well written, and didn’t happen at the worst moments in the story hahah.
The plot?!!! AGHH. The prologue kind of seems out of place and I think doesn’t do much for the overall story, but the fast pacing and non stop action is a delight. So many things happen in this book and the mystery of the heart of mortem is so fun to make theories about. There are so many fun elements in this story - a cursed skull, for example - that give it life. The world seems so lived in.
I am eager to hopefully see more of the mermaid seas in book 2. The book sets up the world very well but we focus more on humans in this one. I was super invested in the world.
The writing style is IMMACULATE. Exactly the type of writing you need for this story. The descriptions of the sea and of mermaids are gorgeous, the humour is well balanced with the intense trauma of these characters, and the atmosphere is very well crafted.
AND THE END? Happy to say my streak of guessing final twists has continued and this one is delightful. Super excited to see where this story will now go. It’s a well foreshadowed twist as well, which I always appreciate.
But the epilogue is SO INTERESTING. The writing is gorgeous in it especially so, but I am dead with everything that happened. How is Zephyra getting out of this situation?! 😩 the sequel is shooting to the top of my most anticipated 2027 list.
I am so happy I got to read this early because this is SO GOOD and everyone needs to grab a copy this April!!!
Did Not Finish
March 12, 2026if your favourite swear word is ‘fuck’ then BOY do I have the book for you right here
May 4, 2026
What the hell was that ending? I loved everything about this book except the ending. I feel robbed. I feel let down. I feel sad for everyone. I need a hug.
April 30, 2026
ੈ✩‧₊˚ 𝕟𝕠𝕥𝕖𝕤 ੈ✩‧₊˚
an extra special thank you to the author and NetGalley for this ARC 💗💗💗
ੈ✩‧₊˚ 𝕡𝕣𝕖-𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕕 ੈ✩‧₊˚
im so excited because BELIEVE ME when I say that I’ve been trying to get a hold of this ARC copy for MONTHS
(rtc) what just happened?
an extra special thank you to the author and NetGalley for this ARC 💗💗💗
ੈ✩‧₊˚ 𝕡𝕣𝕖-𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕕 ੈ✩‧₊˚
im so excited because BELIEVE ME when I say that I’ve been trying to get a hold of this ARC copy for MONTHS
(rtc) what just happened?
May 4, 2026
pre-read:
I fear I may already be obsessed with this book
_______________________________
➵ 4.5 ⭐️
That ending was insaaannnne
art by Sally Pham
Okay, I finished this right when I was getting ready for bookcon and did not get the chance to write the review right after soooo let's see what I remember lol.
First off, if you are not a fan of strong language, blood and gore, this won't be for you. I saw so many people complaining that "fuck" was used often that it made me laugh. I mean, to each their own, but this is Adult, and it is advertised as dark fantasy, if the author wanted to every chapter could've been the word fuck from top to bottom (wouldn't have been much of a story, but she could have).
Anyway, the story gave me Crescent City vibes—from the world building to the main characters.
What really stood out to me was the magic system—it was layered and well fleshed out. I absolutely loved the whole lore with the warlock trials, that was just so fascinating. I don't want to spoil too much because more about it is revealed later on in the book, but everything they go through as kids and the way they get enhancements was so interesting and surprising, I was so not expecting it to go the way it did.
The mermaids and their powers tied to the seas was also very interesting and well thought-out.
Loved the main characters and loved how they understood each other's trauma even if they were enemies who couldn't be more different.
Zephyra's a survivor, she could be selfish and brash and reckless, and she would definitely annoy some people, but I understood where she's coming from.
Arion surprised me a few times, I didn't see him as the typical brooding love interest. There was a fucked up reason for being the way he is that the more I learned the more it broke my heart.
The one thing I'd complain about is the pacing. There was some repetition and during Zephyra's internal monologues I felt like we were slowing down a lot. That kinda kept happening and it felt like the plot was dragging a bit because of it.
Other than that, the romance was great, the adventure was super entertaining—the sorcerer's castle may haunt me forever—and that ending was just crazy. The epilogue made my jaw drop. This is the second book Jordan ends on a crazy cliffhanger, seems like her final chapters are always absolutely packed and insane. I have no idea where the sequel's gonna go but I can't wait to find out!!
eternal gratitude to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC and The Novl for the physical arc
I fear I may already be obsessed with this book
_______________________________
➵ 4.5 ⭐️
That ending was insaaannnne
"And kissing Arion—it's not like kissing anyone else. He is a storm. A hurricane battering a shore. A cyclone whirling, demolishing, breaking everything in its wake, and, oh goddess, this is going to haunt me forever too.
I hate him, and he is going to haunt me forever."
art by Sally Pham
Okay, I finished this right when I was getting ready for bookcon and did not get the chance to write the review right after soooo let's see what I remember lol.
First off, if you are not a fan of strong language, blood and gore, this won't be for you. I saw so many people complaining that "fuck" was used often that it made me laugh. I mean, to each their own, but this is Adult, and it is advertised as dark fantasy, if the author wanted to every chapter could've been the word fuck from top to bottom (wouldn't have been much of a story, but she could have).
Anyway, the story gave me Crescent City vibes—from the world building to the main characters.
What really stood out to me was the magic system—it was layered and well fleshed out. I absolutely loved the whole lore with the warlock trials, that was just so fascinating. I don't want to spoil too much because more about it is revealed later on in the book, but everything they go through as kids and the way they get enhancements was so interesting and surprising, I was so not expecting it to go the way it did.
The mermaids and their powers tied to the seas was also very interesting and well thought-out.
Loved the main characters and loved how they understood each other's trauma even if they were enemies who couldn't be more different.
Zephyra's a survivor, she could be selfish and brash and reckless, and she would definitely annoy some people, but I understood where she's coming from.
Arion surprised me a few times, I didn't see him as the typical brooding love interest. There was a fucked up reason for being the way he is that the more I learned the more it broke my heart.
The one thing I'd complain about is the pacing. There was some repetition and during Zephyra's internal monologues I felt like we were slowing down a lot. That kinda kept happening and it felt like the plot was dragging a bit because of it.
Other than that, the romance was great, the adventure was super entertaining—the sorcerer's castle may haunt me forever—and that ending was just crazy. The epilogue made my jaw drop. This is the second book Jordan ends on a crazy cliffhanger, seems like her final chapters are always absolutely packed and insane. I have no idea where the sequel's gonna go but I can't wait to find out!!
eternal gratitude to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC and The Novl for the physical arc
April 27, 2026
The Wicked Sea was fun until I got the ick.
Note for transparency: I was gifted a special edition from Allurial.
💖 Dark fantasy romance
💖 1st person POV
💖 Mermaid x warlock
💖 Reluctant allies
Spice rating: 🌶️🌶️
To be frank, I should've DNFed this book after that s*x scene (~70%). It gave me the ick and the rest was doomed. Specifically, this line did me in: "if you want me to touch you, show me your f*cking tits."
Up until that point, this book was a solid 4 stars for me and I was having fun. The world building was a bit clunky, but I felt like the character dynamics kept me engaged. I love the FMC's sassiness even though her choices don't always make sense.
Overall, the writing style felt very YA...which made the spice scenes even more jarring. It almost felt like it was written for the male gaze versus the female gaze. Instead of a broody warlock, he sounded like an egotistical frat boy. "I'm gonna make you wish you never had legs, mermaid."
Unfortunately, I will not be continuing this series.
Note for transparency: I was gifted a special edition from Allurial.
💖 Dark fantasy romance
💖 1st person POV
💖 Mermaid x warlock
💖 Reluctant allies
Spice rating: 🌶️🌶️
To be frank, I should've DNFed this book after that s*x scene (~70%). It gave me the ick and the rest was doomed. Specifically, this line did me in: "if you want me to touch you, show me your f*cking tits."
Up until that point, this book was a solid 4 stars for me and I was having fun. The world building was a bit clunky, but I felt like the character dynamics kept me engaged. I love the FMC's sassiness even though her choices don't always make sense.
Overall, the writing style felt very YA...which made the spice scenes even more jarring. It almost felt like it was written for the male gaze versus the female gaze. Instead of a broody warlock, he sounded like an egotistical frat boy. "I'm gonna make you wish you never had legs, mermaid."
Unfortunately, I will not be continuing this series.
April 23, 2026
I was looking forward to this. I feel like there’s a gap when it comes to books that feature mermaids, but this didn’t really work.
It had a promising premise, but it fell so flat. The prologue started out so strong, but then we switched over to Zephyra that came across so naïve and juvenile.
The romance didn’t work for me either. We have these two characters that hate each other and want the other person dead. It really felt like a good foundation for enemies to lovers. But instead we got a magical bound that didn’t make sense and it all turned to insta-lust deluxe instead. When they started simping for each other I was just annoyed because it didn’t feel believable at all.
I felt like the ending was interesting, but probably not enough for me to continue the series.
It had a promising premise, but it fell so flat. The prologue started out so strong, but then we switched over to Zephyra that came across so naïve and juvenile.
The romance didn’t work for me either. We have these two characters that hate each other and want the other person dead. It really felt like a good foundation for enemies to lovers. But instead we got a magical bound that didn’t make sense and it all turned to insta-lust deluxe instead. When they started simping for each other I was just annoyed because it didn’t feel believable at all.
I felt like the ending was interesting, but probably not enough for me to continue the series.
January 15, 2026
**ARC READ**
4.5⭐️
2/5🌶️
Dual/first person POV
Book 1 in a duology
Format: e-arc
Check the triggers
Spoiler free
What a great time!
Thank you so very much to the author, to NetGalley & to Requited Publishing for allowing me to read this arc!
Right from the bloody prologue, i was hooked by its teeth. I was invested in the action from the start & it did not stop. The pacing is this books biggest draw. It’s so fast paced, from the very first line until the very last sentence. & that ending wow! Just for a moment towards the end, it slowed down & started to unfold so excruciatingly slowly in the absolute best & shocking way; with the twists & reveals & I was still kept at the edge of my seat.
The other great draw here is this vast fantasy world/magic system; even for mermaid romanticies, it’s so fresh & new. The originality really shines through in the descriptive & imaginative storytelling & fascinating detail work. & the writing itself is so polished & clean.
The FMC here is another big draw for me. At the beginning tho, I was getting flaky vibes from her/she only thought about herself. she holds herself with such high regards while really just letting people down…. or worse. But as the story unfolded & we get to know her story, it all becomes clear & I just ended up falling in love with her & her history.
& the sir. Like excuse me! This MMC ended up being so down bad for her & the yearning damn.
Their romance started out as literal enemies to lovers. Deadly!!! Vicious!!! Enemies!!! (I don’t wanna give anything extra away.) straight away, we see how equally matched they are in terms of strength but also in terms of hardship & life ass kicking😥 & to see how all of that grew into what it did between them & with that ending, uch I’m so heart broken.
Can NOT wait for book 2! Great adult debut from Ms Gray.
Some critiques:
1 the enemies to lovers pipeline was more of a medium burn IMO. It could have moved slower considering how much they hard core despised each other. But I understand due to a certain plot detail it makes sense.
2 which leads to the timeline issue for me. Because the plot moves so quickly, I realized that everything between them is happening possibly within a few days? It’s not all totally clear, leading to-
3 -some scenes/moments are a little vague or glossed over while-
4 -other times scenes run on for too long or even due to their inner dialogues getting repetitive
**Releases on 4/7/26**
4.5⭐️
2/5🌶️
Dual/first person POV
Book 1 in a duology
Format: e-arc
Check the triggers
Spoiler free
What a great time!
Thank you so very much to the author, to NetGalley & to Requited Publishing for allowing me to read this arc!
Right from the bloody prologue, i was hooked by its teeth. I was invested in the action from the start & it did not stop. The pacing is this books biggest draw. It’s so fast paced, from the very first line until the very last sentence. & that ending wow! Just for a moment towards the end, it slowed down & started to unfold so excruciatingly slowly in the absolute best & shocking way; with the twists & reveals & I was still kept at the edge of my seat.
The other great draw here is this vast fantasy world/magic system; even for mermaid romanticies, it’s so fresh & new. The originality really shines through in the descriptive & imaginative storytelling & fascinating detail work. & the writing itself is so polished & clean.
The FMC here is another big draw for me. At the beginning tho, I was getting flaky vibes from her/she only thought about herself. she holds herself with such high regards while really just letting people down…. or worse. But as the story unfolded & we get to know her story, it all becomes clear & I just ended up falling in love with her & her history.
& the sir. Like excuse me! This MMC ended up being so down bad for her & the yearning damn.
Their romance started out as literal enemies to lovers. Deadly!!! Vicious!!! Enemies!!! (I don’t wanna give anything extra away.) straight away, we see how equally matched they are in terms of strength but also in terms of hardship & life ass kicking😥 & to see how all of that grew into what it did between them & with that ending, uch I’m so heart broken.
Can NOT wait for book 2! Great adult debut from Ms Gray.
Some critiques:
1 the enemies to lovers pipeline was more of a medium burn IMO. It could have moved slower considering how much they hard core despised each other. But I understand due to a certain plot detail it makes sense.
2 which leads to the timeline issue for me. Because the plot moves so quickly, I realized that everything between them is happening possibly within a few days? It’s not all totally clear, leading to-
3 -some scenes/moments are a little vague or glossed over while-
4 -other times scenes run on for too long or even due to their inner dialogues getting repetitive
**Releases on 4/7/26**
November 11, 2025
I'M SAT. Exasperated publishers and frightened booksellers politely ask me (a fangirl in a pink wig and fishtail) to leave but I can't hear them. I'm too busy chanting "mermaids, mermaids, mermaids" while waving a pink banner covered in fan art of Zephyra and Arion.
*I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.*
Updated Review:
A mermaid and warlock put aside their mutual hatred to find and steal the heart of a death god to save themselves from destruction. Zephyra has experienced something so horrible she will do whatever it takes to keep her freedom. Arion will do whatever he must to keep his life.
The juxtaposition of world and its inhabitants gave the story unique and fun twists as it's equally whimsical and deadly. Jordan's writing is so vivid each location felt distinct with it's own magic, creatures, and emotions. Nothing was as it seemed which made everything more exciting.
The character growth in this book truly left my jaw on the floor. Zephyra is for anyone who has experienced being stuck in darkness for so long they don't know who they are when they finally reach the light. She is for anyone who hurt others in the process of escaping the dark. For those who have to face their fears and do so even though they're terrified. She might not be for everyone but she is for me.
When I pictured a mermaid book I was thinking about the beautiful mermaids that hang out in lagoons but Zephyra surprised me. She is beautiful but also deadly, slightly broken and full of rage. I didn't know I wanted a mermaid like her until I read this story. TWS checked all my boxes. A heist plot, mermaids (obviously), amazing character arcs, twists, magic, and more. Jordan seriously outdid herself with this one.
*I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.*
Updated Review:
A mermaid and warlock put aside their mutual hatred to find and steal the heart of a death god to save themselves from destruction. Zephyra has experienced something so horrible she will do whatever it takes to keep her freedom. Arion will do whatever he must to keep his life.
The juxtaposition of world and its inhabitants gave the story unique and fun twists as it's equally whimsical and deadly. Jordan's writing is so vivid each location felt distinct with it's own magic, creatures, and emotions. Nothing was as it seemed which made everything more exciting.
The character growth in this book truly left my jaw on the floor. Zephyra is for anyone who has experienced being stuck in darkness for so long they don't know who they are when they finally reach the light. She is for anyone who hurt others in the process of escaping the dark. For those who have to face their fears and do so even though they're terrified. She might not be for everyone but she is for me.
When I pictured a mermaid book I was thinking about the beautiful mermaids that hang out in lagoons but Zephyra surprised me. She is beautiful but also deadly, slightly broken and full of rage. I didn't know I wanted a mermaid like her until I read this story. TWS checked all my boxes. A heist plot, mermaids (obviously), amazing character arcs, twists, magic, and more. Jordan seriously outdid herself with this one.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
May 5, 2026Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the ARC. I liked that the FMC wasn’t framed as a traditional hero, but as morally complex and sometimes unlikable. I also appreciated the ambitious lore and that the story doesn’t shy away from brutality. However, tonal inconsistencies, overly convenient plotting, and underdeveloped characters made it difficult for me to connect with and stay engaged. The gore often felt inserted for shock value without real meaning or purpose.
Despite the dark content, elements like talking skeleton heads, quippy dialogue, and trope-heavy fantasy kept pulling the story back into YA territory. The mix of YA aesthetics with explicit sex scenes and nonstop swearing felt disjointed and distracting.
The romance also fell short for me as it felt built more on shared trauma than genuine connection, with trauma bonding as a (poor) substitute for emotional development.
I really wanted the story to lean into character development, emotional healing, and the different histories depending on who is telling them, but it didn’t really.
In the end, I didn’t feel like the story had anything substantial to say. It felt engineered to fit popular romantasy trends rather than having its own purpose or story to tell.
Despite the dark content, elements like talking skeleton heads, quippy dialogue, and trope-heavy fantasy kept pulling the story back into YA territory. The mix of YA aesthetics with explicit sex scenes and nonstop swearing felt disjointed and distracting.
The romance also fell short for me as it felt built more on shared trauma than genuine connection, with trauma bonding as a (poor) substitute for emotional development.
I really wanted the story to lean into character development, emotional healing, and the different histories depending on who is telling them, but it didn’t really.
In the end, I didn’t feel like the story had anything substantial to say. It felt engineered to fit popular romantasy trends rather than having its own purpose or story to tell.
Want to Read
January 14, 2026excited about this one🌊🧜🏾♀️#arc
September 27, 2025
MY. SHATTERED HEART.
Jordan Stephanie Gray is my favorite author and person ever and I love her dearly but OMG she really outdid herself with this one, her adult debut! The Wicked Sea is the mermaid romantasy we've all been waiting for, and it's A Court of Silver Flames meets Quicksilver meets Six of Crows. It follows a spitfire pink-haired mermaid named Zephyra who is saved from execution from a super hot super sexy warlock WITH WINGS who end up on a heist/quest together. Oh, and because he saved her life, there's a magical bond between them that makes them super horny for each other. There's also a light academia angle in this story that I won't spoil.
Jordan Gray is the Michaelangelo of banter, and this book is a true romp - silly and hysterical and witty and ridiculous, all in the absolute best way. If you are allergic to fun, you are not allowed to grace this book with your presence! The book is not at all like this movie, but in terms of pure fun, whit, comedy, and wholesomeness, I felt like I was reading a book version of one of my favorite comedies, The Other Woman. But Jordan expertly balances this with the heart of the story, which is about two people with extremely traumatic and abusive pasts starting to heal and finding love, and in that, I felt like I was reading one of my all-time favorite books, A Court of Silver Flames.
The ending of this book is full of crazy twists and absolutely wild reveals. One of my absolute favorite tropes is also in this book, but it's a spoiler, so my lips are sealed. I do not know how I am going to wait for book 2.
And oh, the spice. Top tier, truly. There is a scene in here that is so spectacularly filthy I was actually shrieking.
There is also so much casual diversity in this book, which I deeply appreciated. Zephyra is pansexual, one of the main supporting characters is a Black mermaid, and another is a bisexual man who's also a hilarious and nerdy historian.
I already want to reread this book, and I truly do not know what to do with myself now that I've finished. I truly envy anyone who gets to read it for the first time. The world is so dark right now, and this book was a brightly burning eternal flame.
Jordan Stephanie Gray is my favorite author and person ever and I love her dearly but OMG she really outdid herself with this one, her adult debut! The Wicked Sea is the mermaid romantasy we've all been waiting for, and it's A Court of Silver Flames meets Quicksilver meets Six of Crows. It follows a spitfire pink-haired mermaid named Zephyra who is saved from execution from a super hot super sexy warlock WITH WINGS who end up on a heist/quest together. Oh, and because he saved her life, there's a magical bond between them that makes them super horny for each other. There's also a light academia angle in this story that I won't spoil.
Jordan Gray is the Michaelangelo of banter, and this book is a true romp - silly and hysterical and witty and ridiculous, all in the absolute best way. If you are allergic to fun, you are not allowed to grace this book with your presence! The book is not at all like this movie, but in terms of pure fun, whit, comedy, and wholesomeness, I felt like I was reading a book version of one of my favorite comedies, The Other Woman. But Jordan expertly balances this with the heart of the story, which is about two people with extremely traumatic and abusive pasts starting to heal and finding love, and in that, I felt like I was reading one of my all-time favorite books, A Court of Silver Flames.
The ending of this book is full of crazy twists and absolutely wild reveals. One of my absolute favorite tropes is also in this book, but it's a spoiler, so my lips are sealed. I do not know how I am going to wait for book 2.
And oh, the spice. Top tier, truly. There is a scene in here that is so spectacularly filthy I was actually shrieking.
There is also so much casual diversity in this book, which I deeply appreciated. Zephyra is pansexual, one of the main supporting characters is a Black mermaid, and another is a bisexual man who's also a hilarious and nerdy historian.
I already want to reread this book, and I truly do not know what to do with myself now that I've finished. I truly envy anyone who gets to read it for the first time. The world is so dark right now, and this book was a brightly burning eternal flame.
April 16, 2026
“I’m no longer certain if I’m the hero or the villain.”
The Wicked Sea was a mermaid and warlock, enemies to lovers romantasy that was filled with all the action! This story was set in a brutal world that swirled with betrayal, deals, and death. If you’re looking for an underwater and on land adventure that will keep you guessing, definitely give this one a try!
We are the depths of the sea and the salt of tears. We are the violence of the riptide and the snarl of waves.
We are vengeance.
Learning about their world and the powers that belonged to the warlocks and mermaids was fascinating! Zephyra, a mermaid, was kickass and had no problems playing dirty. She had been on the run when she was caught by Arion, a warlock. His kind slaughtered hers. And his powers seemed to trump hers too. Even if they were killing him. But as a common goal laid out in front of them, they found themselves working together with tension simmering, viciously hating the other, and so much unknown in front of them.
I can’t shake this skittering feeling across my skin, and every instinct in my body is screaming to flee .
With impossible situations and being forced to work together, the push and pull in this story was a lot of fun! Zephyra and Arion became unlikely allies, and I loved watching that very tentative friendship form. Especially since they could be so steamy too! But as others joined in their journey, I was left on unsure footing. Especially with that climatic ending that left us on a cliffhanger! The Wicked Sea was a fun journey and I’m excited to see what happens next!
The woman who has always run. The woman who tried to drown me. The woman who ordered me to explode an entire isle to save our asses. She hesitates .
*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book, provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*
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April 22, 2026
Okay I had a blast binged this in 24 hours idec lol
April 30, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Bonus points for mermaids. I fucked with that!!!! I also fucked with the "he has wings she has a mermaid tail" thing and the duality of a magical world with magical creatures and mermaids and the brutality and gore at the same time. And, this is hands down one of the most beautiful books I’ve ever seen. The cover is gorgeous, I really dig the art, and I’m obsessed with the shiny silver pages.
First of all. That sex scene was so terrible it almost sent me into psychosis. I thought the magic finger fucking scene was bad, but “They take away our ability to have children and make our dicks massive” just really took the cake.
Aside from the terrible magic finger fuck scene, surgically enhanced warlock penises, a completely rushed romance, and a total lack of any plot whatsoever, the worst part about The Wicked Sea was that it genuinely had potential, and it is incomprehensible to me that this is what we chose to do with such a cool idea.
All of the most interesting things about this world are left unexplored. They are mentioned once and then never fleshed out. Like, we know that there is a mermaid society, but we know absolutely nothing about it. We know that the gods live on earth with their people, but we don’t explore what that dynamic is like in any way. We mentioned a massive wall that separates the oceans and we never talk about what being separated was like for mermaid society. Did one part of the ocean have resources that the other parts relied on? What was it like to be cut off from everything? Why do mermaids have brightly colored hair and tails? Do they have any natural predators? Perhaps not, because of their powers, but what is the function of being so brightly colored and easy to spot in the ocean???? There are pegasi who have their wings ripped off to be surgically attached to warlocks—that is metal as fuck, but we only talk about that once. Are there, say, animal rights activist groups, who vehemently oppose what is done to these animals in the name of human greed and power? Do they die afterwards? Why exactly was Arion immune to siren magic in the prologue but not further into the novel? What are the actual mechanics of this bond that they have? Zephyra explains to him once, very briefly, that saving a mermaid grants you a life debt. She says, frequently, that, “we’re just horny for each other because of the bond.” But is that actually how it works? We don’t know. We don’t know anything about this life debt bond because it’s not explained! What is the function of having a giant warlock penis anyways if you’re not supposed to feel any emotions, even sexual desire?????? What were the protagonists’ lives like before the events that set them on their current paths? Zephyra mentions one time that she has a father, and she wanted to train octopuses. Or something. We know that the male main character has a father, and that is about all we are told about their past and their families (or in Zephyra’s case, “family”) besides one single additional sentence at the end of the book. Did they have friends? Hobbies and passions and dreams? We have these sort of infodump cop-out moments of memories spliced in with the story at random moments, and I get that it’s supposed to be that they’re having these big sad flashbacks, but is obvious that it was done that way to try and fill in the gaps about their past without actually doing the work to weave it into the story. Ultimately, nearly every single aspect of these characters’ lives and the world that they live in is left unexplored and sidelined. I took a copious amount of notes during my readthrough of this novel and I have so many more questions like this, but I will spare you listing them all out point by point, because I think you get it by now.
All of those questions lead me naturally to the main characters and their motivations. Particularly Arion’s. We are told that he is driven by a desire to clean the rot from his country after his father’s murder, and that’s why he is the man he is at the beginning of the novel. He wants power, and glory, and to not die. But that’s just it. We are told this, and it is completely incongruous with the boy he was before the warlocks found him. There is no natural progression from the boy who was traumatized from the brutal murder of his father to the power, hungry man that he is. It just doesn’t fit. There is no bridge. And Zephyra—she becomes incredibly tiresome. I get that what she went through for eight years was traumatizing. But we are told so little about what actually happened during the eight years that she spent at this castle, that her motivation to escape and not die and live peacefully aren’t as impactful, and indeed, the same phrases and descriptions being used over and over about it, combined with our lack of knowledge about her, or her life, or what happened to her, or her relationship with Jacin, make her frustrating and annoying. She completely or lacks agency and is just dragged around while everything happens to her.
And of course, we have to talk about the twist and the ending. I don’t want to insinuate that any character with pink hair that dies at the end of the novel is a copy of Evangeline and OUABH. However, the similarities between the events of this story, particularly the ending, the twist, being forced into a deal with Cold Emotionless Handsome Guy, and the opening—the very first page, warning you not to trust anyone or whatever it was—it’s just so clear to me where some of the inspiration was taken from, and I find that to be incredibly lazy and frustrating. The big reveal, that she’s the goddess of life and is actually living through cycles of the original story—it’s all just so similar to Once Upon a Broken Heart, but in a way that makes absolutely no sense for this story considering the complete lack of foreshadowing. Just absolutely no work was done to make this make sense. And, I’ve never read the Foxglove King (I DNF’ed it, surprise surprise), but I’ve read that The Wicked Sea shares many similarities with that novel as well. That has become such a pattern in books these days—particularly in romance novels—and it is so fucking disgusting to me. I get it, nothing is original, and inspiration always comes from somewhere, but it is gross when it is this apparent.
And the plot. It dragged. So. Terribly. Almost nothing happens of substance until the end of the book. It was such a slog to get through. It was so painful, and so incredible that the author managed to make such an interesting idea so boring.
Finally, the romance. It was so rushed and under developed. They went from hating each other to lusting over each other in what felt like a matter of pages. This is a man who has murdered mermaids his entire life. This is a mermaid who has been hunted, and tortured and abused. A mermaid who has undoubtedly watched her people suffer at the hands of men like him. Logistically, realistically, this relationship would not have developed this quickly. But the romance and their dynamic and the enemies to lovers set up is so rushed in the name of smut and horniness. It is just so foul and unbelievable to me, especially considering the horrible things that he has done to her and her people.
Speaking of sex—give us merpussy you coward.
I’m going to leave you all with a call to action: please write more books with fairies (with wings) and mermaids and pegasi unicorns. I beg of you!!!
Bonus points for mermaids. I fucked with that!!!! I also fucked with the "he has wings she has a mermaid tail" thing and the duality of a magical world with magical creatures and mermaids and the brutality and gore at the same time. And, this is hands down one of the most beautiful books I’ve ever seen. The cover is gorgeous, I really dig the art, and I’m obsessed with the shiny silver pages.
First of all. That sex scene was so terrible it almost sent me into psychosis. I thought the magic finger fucking scene was bad, but “They take away our ability to have children and make our dicks massive” just really took the cake.
Aside from the terrible magic finger fuck scene, surgically enhanced warlock penises, a completely rushed romance, and a total lack of any plot whatsoever, the worst part about The Wicked Sea was that it genuinely had potential, and it is incomprehensible to me that this is what we chose to do with such a cool idea.
All of the most interesting things about this world are left unexplored. They are mentioned once and then never fleshed out. Like, we know that there is a mermaid society, but we know absolutely nothing about it. We know that the gods live on earth with their people, but we don’t explore what that dynamic is like in any way. We mentioned a massive wall that separates the oceans and we never talk about what being separated was like for mermaid society. Did one part of the ocean have resources that the other parts relied on? What was it like to be cut off from everything? Why do mermaids have brightly colored hair and tails? Do they have any natural predators? Perhaps not, because of their powers, but what is the function of being so brightly colored and easy to spot in the ocean???? There are pegasi who have their wings ripped off to be surgically attached to warlocks—that is metal as fuck, but we only talk about that once. Are there, say, animal rights activist groups, who vehemently oppose what is done to these animals in the name of human greed and power? Do they die afterwards? Why exactly was Arion immune to siren magic in the prologue but not further into the novel? What are the actual mechanics of this bond that they have? Zephyra explains to him once, very briefly, that saving a mermaid grants you a life debt. She says, frequently, that, “we’re just horny for each other because of the bond.” But is that actually how it works? We don’t know. We don’t know anything about this life debt bond because it’s not explained! What is the function of having a giant warlock penis anyways if you’re not supposed to feel any emotions, even sexual desire?????? What were the protagonists’ lives like before the events that set them on their current paths? Zephyra mentions one time that she has a father, and she wanted to train octopuses. Or something. We know that the male main character has a father, and that is about all we are told about their past and their families (or in Zephyra’s case, “family”) besides one single additional sentence at the end of the book. Did they have friends? Hobbies and passions and dreams? We have these sort of infodump cop-out moments of memories spliced in with the story at random moments, and I get that it’s supposed to be that they’re having these big sad flashbacks, but is obvious that it was done that way to try and fill in the gaps about their past without actually doing the work to weave it into the story. Ultimately, nearly every single aspect of these characters’ lives and the world that they live in is left unexplored and sidelined. I took a copious amount of notes during my readthrough of this novel and I have so many more questions like this, but I will spare you listing them all out point by point, because I think you get it by now.
All of those questions lead me naturally to the main characters and their motivations. Particularly Arion’s. We are told that he is driven by a desire to clean the rot from his country after his father’s murder, and that’s why he is the man he is at the beginning of the novel. He wants power, and glory, and to not die. But that’s just it. We are told this, and it is completely incongruous with the boy he was before the warlocks found him. There is no natural progression from the boy who was traumatized from the brutal murder of his father to the power, hungry man that he is. It just doesn’t fit. There is no bridge. And Zephyra—she becomes incredibly tiresome. I get that what she went through for eight years was traumatizing. But we are told so little about what actually happened during the eight years that she spent at this castle, that her motivation to escape and not die and live peacefully aren’t as impactful, and indeed, the same phrases and descriptions being used over and over about it, combined with our lack of knowledge about her, or her life, or what happened to her, or her relationship with Jacin, make her frustrating and annoying. She completely or lacks agency and is just dragged around while everything happens to her.
And of course, we have to talk about the twist and the ending. I don’t want to insinuate that any character with pink hair that dies at the end of the novel is a copy of Evangeline and OUABH. However, the similarities between the events of this story, particularly the ending, the twist, being forced into a deal with Cold Emotionless Handsome Guy, and the opening—the very first page, warning you not to trust anyone or whatever it was—it’s just so clear to me where some of the inspiration was taken from, and I find that to be incredibly lazy and frustrating. The big reveal, that she’s the goddess of life and is actually living through cycles of the original story—it’s all just so similar to Once Upon a Broken Heart, but in a way that makes absolutely no sense for this story considering the complete lack of foreshadowing. Just absolutely no work was done to make this make sense. And, I’ve never read the Foxglove King (I DNF’ed it, surprise surprise), but I’ve read that The Wicked Sea shares many similarities with that novel as well. That has become such a pattern in books these days—particularly in romance novels—and it is so fucking disgusting to me. I get it, nothing is original, and inspiration always comes from somewhere, but it is gross when it is this apparent.
And the plot. It dragged. So. Terribly. Almost nothing happens of substance until the end of the book. It was such a slog to get through. It was so painful, and so incredible that the author managed to make such an interesting idea so boring.
Finally, the romance. It was so rushed and under developed. They went from hating each other to lusting over each other in what felt like a matter of pages. This is a man who has murdered mermaids his entire life. This is a mermaid who has been hunted, and tortured and abused. A mermaid who has undoubtedly watched her people suffer at the hands of men like him. Logistically, realistically, this relationship would not have developed this quickly. But the romance and their dynamic and the enemies to lovers set up is so rushed in the name of smut and horniness. It is just so foul and unbelievable to me, especially considering the horrible things that he has done to her and her people.
Speaking of sex—give us merpussy you coward.
I’m going to leave you all with a call to action: please write more books with fairies (with wings) and mermaids and pegasi unicorns. I beg of you!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 11, 2026
I was very excited to dive into this one as it had mermaids which I happen to dig. I did enjoy parts of this but unfortunately a lot also fell flat and just wasn’t working for me. The bones of the story were actually great but the first half of this just wasn’t doing it for me though to be fair the second half was actually much better.
This has an enemies to lovers trope with a mermaid and a warlock who are bitter adversaries and actively want each other dead. It’s set in a kingdom where the human populace and the Merrow are bitter enemies. To be caught on land and revealed to be Merrow is a death sentence. Our main male character Arion Stone is a notorious killer of mermaids he’s been fed the adage that the Merrow are all evil demons and need exterminating his entire life so when he captures Zephyra and brings her in he is fully committed to seeing her dead.
Zephyra is on the run from a dark but mysterious past. She’s currently surviving by thievery and attempting to pass as human. After a botched heist she does what she always does takes care of number one and runs. Unfortunately it’s straight into the jaws of a death sentence when she is then apprehended by Arion.
What changes things is a deal one where these two bitter adversaries goals temporarily align. Arion because he is currently a ticking time bomb and counting down how long he has left and Zephyra well she just wants to live and be free of control. Whether that be from her the secret past she is running from or the current situation. To further muddy the waters because of the life debt she now owes to the warlock they are now tethered together until its payed off.
I absolutely loved the prologue it was dark gritty and gruesome a fantastic introduction to the story. Then the tone changed and I wasn’t so sold. Look it’s really hard to root for characters that you find yourself actively disliking. Neither Zephyra or Arion were that likeable. Zephyra was selfish reckless and took care of number one. Arion was bigoted and drunk on his own self importance, he also lacked basic empathy. They were probably a match made in heaven with all of the Undesirable qualities they both seemed to share.
This is set in four parts and plays out almost like a quest as these two set out to hunt a mythical powerful heart that potentially could restore Arion and free Zephyra. As they spend time together there is some character growth on both sides and then these two do then become much easier to root for.
A lot of shit goes down and this was very action packed. It was also pretty gruesome and just a heads up if bad language bothers you this one had a lot. I don’t really care either way but just a heads up. The romance portion did feel believable and authentic with how it was developed and this had a mid burn pace. The scenes between them were also hot and these two did have chemistry. Not that much initially but by the finish they did get there.
I’m also guessing with the way this then concludes theres gonna be a book two, there better be as that ending would be complete tripe otherwise. Im not sure how invested I am and if i would read the second book if there is going to be one. I wasn’t really blown away or even that interested until over half of the way. I also considered DNF’ing a couple times but pushed through as I had the pretty Fairyloot version. This just didn’t grab me and it did read rather YA but with swearing and sex so it felt off. Anyway the writing itself was fine and I did finish.
This has an enemies to lovers trope with a mermaid and a warlock who are bitter adversaries and actively want each other dead. It’s set in a kingdom where the human populace and the Merrow are bitter enemies. To be caught on land and revealed to be Merrow is a death sentence. Our main male character Arion Stone is a notorious killer of mermaids he’s been fed the adage that the Merrow are all evil demons and need exterminating his entire life so when he captures Zephyra and brings her in he is fully committed to seeing her dead.
Zephyra is on the run from a dark but mysterious past. She’s currently surviving by thievery and attempting to pass as human. After a botched heist she does what she always does takes care of number one and runs. Unfortunately it’s straight into the jaws of a death sentence when she is then apprehended by Arion.
What changes things is a deal one where these two bitter adversaries goals temporarily align. Arion because he is currently a ticking time bomb and counting down how long he has left and Zephyra well she just wants to live and be free of control. Whether that be from her the secret past she is running from or the current situation. To further muddy the waters because of the life debt she now owes to the warlock they are now tethered together until its payed off.
I absolutely loved the prologue it was dark gritty and gruesome a fantastic introduction to the story. Then the tone changed and I wasn’t so sold. Look it’s really hard to root for characters that you find yourself actively disliking. Neither Zephyra or Arion were that likeable. Zephyra was selfish reckless and took care of number one. Arion was bigoted and drunk on his own self importance, he also lacked basic empathy. They were probably a match made in heaven with all of the Undesirable qualities they both seemed to share.
This is set in four parts and plays out almost like a quest as these two set out to hunt a mythical powerful heart that potentially could restore Arion and free Zephyra. As they spend time together there is some character growth on both sides and then these two do then become much easier to root for.
A lot of shit goes down and this was very action packed. It was also pretty gruesome and just a heads up if bad language bothers you this one had a lot. I don’t really care either way but just a heads up. The romance portion did feel believable and authentic with how it was developed and this had a mid burn pace. The scenes between them were also hot and these two did have chemistry. Not that much initially but by the finish they did get there.
I’m also guessing with the way this then concludes theres gonna be a book two, there better be as that ending would be complete tripe otherwise. Im not sure how invested I am and if i would read the second book if there is going to be one. I wasn’t really blown away or even that interested until over half of the way. I also considered DNF’ing a couple times but pushed through as I had the pretty Fairyloot version. This just didn’t grab me and it did read rather YA but with swearing and sex so it felt off. Anyway the writing itself was fine and I did finish.
Currently Reading
March 31, 2026Pre read:
Allurial April BOTM pick! The blurb sounds super interesting but we have mixed reviews so I'm very intrigued to see what's in store here. 🤞
Allurial April BOTM pick! The blurb sounds super interesting but we have mixed reviews so I'm very intrigued to see what's in store here. 🤞
January 25, 2026
Unfortunately, this was a DNF at 20%.
I love all things mermaids - I mean, who doesn’t? Hence, my excitement to read this book. I have not read Bitten by this author, so I can’t compare this to that work. However, I went into this yearning for a really good mermaid/siren story, and I didn’t get that. The plot was so very slow and repetitive. I didn’t care about any of the characters enough to continue.
Overall Rating: ⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
I love all things mermaids - I mean, who doesn’t? Hence, my excitement to read this book. I have not read Bitten by this author, so I can’t compare this to that work. However, I went into this yearning for a really good mermaid/siren story, and I didn’t get that. The plot was so very slow and repetitive. I didn’t care about any of the characters enough to continue.
Overall Rating: ⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
April 17, 2026
What a wild ride 🤩🤩 I went into this having zero expectations and only knowing it was about a mermaid so I said “sign me up!” I was not disappointed!!
The FMC is hilarious and snarky. The MMC is tortured and broody. And this did enemies to lovers well; they *actually* hated each other and were trying to k*ll each other in the beginning as opposed to most “enemies to lovers” nowadays where it’s just angst. The story was very entertaining and had me hooked the whole time. And those plot twists at the end?? Loved it!
The only reason I knocked off a star was because I felt like the world building could’ve used a little more fleshing out especially with the details of the warlocks and Fathoms. Left me scratching my head a little but not enough to take away from the story and the characters.
Highly recommend!!
The FMC is hilarious and snarky. The MMC is tortured and broody. And this did enemies to lovers well; they *actually* hated each other and were trying to k*ll each other in the beginning as opposed to most “enemies to lovers” nowadays where it’s just angst. The story was very entertaining and had me hooked the whole time. And those plot twists at the end?? Loved it!
The only reason I knocked off a star was because I felt like the world building could’ve used a little more fleshing out especially with the details of the warlocks and Fathoms. Left me scratching my head a little but not enough to take away from the story and the characters.
Highly recommend!!
May 3, 2026
Zephyra is a mermaid who has just escaped years of capture. Only to be caught and sentenced to death by the broody merrow-hating Warlock, Arion Stone. Fortunately we know this is going to be enemies-to-lovers 😮💨😏
Lots of elements I liked about this story, but overall I think it was more complicated than it needed to be, and so it took me a while to read. The pace was pretty even, intense dark vibes going from one precarious situation to the next.
I enjoyed several of the side characters, my favorite of which is the magic evil skull who seriously and hilariously annoyed all the other characters 💀
3.25 stars, rounded.
Many thanks to Requited for the digital copy.
Lots of elements I liked about this story, but overall I think it was more complicated than it needed to be, and so it took me a while to read. The pace was pretty even, intense dark vibes going from one precarious situation to the next.
I enjoyed several of the side characters, my favorite of which is the magic evil skull who seriously and hilariously annoyed all the other characters 💀
3.25 stars, rounded.
Many thanks to Requited for the digital copy.
November 14, 2025
outrunning a dangerous captor and years of torture, mermaid zephyra never stays in one place for long. disguised as a human in a merrow-loathing kingdom, she is left to barter and steal to survive. but her freedom is short-lived when she is caught by the brutal, handsome warlock arion stone.
burdened by tremendous power and a dark secret of his own, arion is desperate to find the mythical heart of the god of death, lost to a fabled kingdom deep within the ocean.
in exchange for her life, zephyra promises to help arion find the heart, binding their souls and lives together in a magical bargain. with their enemies closing in and danger around every turn, they must learn to set aside their differences - and desire - before it's too late.
zephyra's complex character development is compelling and heartbreaking. dealing with lasting trauma, she undergoes a complete transformation from where the reader meets her at the beginning to her final choices in the end. this is truly one of the most beautiful and well-developed journeys I've read, and I love that she was allowed to be imperfect and make mistakes with serious consequences, which she, in turn, learned and grew from.
arion had unexpected depth to his character. it can be so easy to fall into the strong-gruff-warrior-no feelings stereotype, and while he was still all of that, he had complexities and a tragic journey that complemented zephyra's - and as it turns out, he has (more than) a soft spot for a certain pink-haired mermaid.
the plot was moderately paced with plenty of action to keep things interesting. the banter and quick-witted one-liners are unmatched, adding comic relief and brevity to an otherwise fairly heavy book. the descriptions are vivid and lush, pulling the reader beneath the waves with arion and zephrya.
this story is still living in my mind - I want to reread it already. this is a breathtaking adult romantasy debut that left me staring at a wall crying after I finished.
perfect for fans of lj andrews, a court of silver flames, and kalie cassidy.
thank you to netgalley and requited for an arc of this book.
burdened by tremendous power and a dark secret of his own, arion is desperate to find the mythical heart of the god of death, lost to a fabled kingdom deep within the ocean.
in exchange for her life, zephyra promises to help arion find the heart, binding their souls and lives together in a magical bargain. with their enemies closing in and danger around every turn, they must learn to set aside their differences - and desire - before it's too late.
zephyra's complex character development is compelling and heartbreaking. dealing with lasting trauma, she undergoes a complete transformation from where the reader meets her at the beginning to her final choices in the end. this is truly one of the most beautiful and well-developed journeys I've read, and I love that she was allowed to be imperfect and make mistakes with serious consequences, which she, in turn, learned and grew from.
arion had unexpected depth to his character. it can be so easy to fall into the strong-gruff-warrior-no feelings stereotype, and while he was still all of that, he had complexities and a tragic journey that complemented zephyra's - and as it turns out, he has (more than) a soft spot for a certain pink-haired mermaid.
the plot was moderately paced with plenty of action to keep things interesting. the banter and quick-witted one-liners are unmatched, adding comic relief and brevity to an otherwise fairly heavy book. the descriptions are vivid and lush, pulling the reader beneath the waves with arion and zephrya.
this story is still living in my mind - I want to reread it already. this is a breathtaking adult romantasy debut that left me staring at a wall crying after I finished.
perfect for fans of lj andrews, a court of silver flames, and kalie cassidy.
thank you to netgalley and requited for an arc of this book.
February 15, 2026
Thank you, NetGalley, for providing me with an early E-ARC of the Wicked Sea!
4.75 ⭐️ rounded up
This is exactly what I’ve been looking for in a romantasy: well written and with plenty of plot. The novel follows our two main characters: Zephyra, a mermaid with a traumatic past, on the run from something (or someone) that haunts her, and Arion, a Warlock who’s been bred to hate merrows and has a tragic past of his own. When these two cross paths, they find that they need each other to free themselves from a tragic fate, despite the fact that they’re enemies. A reluctant bond forces them to work together, along with a ragtag team of side characters, to find the heart of a dead god in a place that exists only in stories, to secure the future they desperately want.
This quest the characters go on is reminiscent of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies as well as Atlantis, and I also got a lot of Crescent City vibes, though that may be because Arion reminded me a lot of Hunt. This is definitely a plot-forward book with romance/spice sprinkled in which is honestly very refreshing given some of the romantasy books on the market these days. I did feel like the romantic relationship between Arion and Zephyra blossomed a bit too quickly, and the twist at the end was semi-predictable, though the epilogue has me excited to pick up the next book.
If you like mermaids, Pirates of the Caribbean, quests, and/or Atlantis I would definitely recommend this book!
4.75 ⭐️ rounded up
This is exactly what I’ve been looking for in a romantasy: well written and with plenty of plot. The novel follows our two main characters: Zephyra, a mermaid with a traumatic past, on the run from something (or someone) that haunts her, and Arion, a Warlock who’s been bred to hate merrows and has a tragic past of his own. When these two cross paths, they find that they need each other to free themselves from a tragic fate, despite the fact that they’re enemies. A reluctant bond forces them to work together, along with a ragtag team of side characters, to find the heart of a dead god in a place that exists only in stories, to secure the future they desperately want.
This quest the characters go on is reminiscent of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies as well as Atlantis, and I also got a lot of Crescent City vibes, though that may be because Arion reminded me a lot of Hunt. This is definitely a plot-forward book with romance/spice sprinkled in which is honestly very refreshing given some of the romantasy books on the market these days. I did feel like the romantic relationship between Arion and Zephyra blossomed a bit too quickly, and the twist at the end was semi-predictable, though the epilogue has me excited to pick up the next book.
If you like mermaids, Pirates of the Caribbean, quests, and/or Atlantis I would definitely recommend this book!
April 14, 2026
This was SO good!!! The banter was amazing, loved the MCs Zephyra and Arion! They were very nuanced, neither good nor bad, both had reasons for the way they handled situations and how they treated each other.
It dragged a bit throughout the middle, but that ending was THE BOMB 😱. Has me excited for book 2!
It dragged a bit throughout the middle, but that ending was THE BOMB 😱. Has me excited for book 2!
April 20, 2026
3.5⭐️
A unique mermaid romantasy. These two literally hate each other, that try to unalive you multiple times kind of hate. Eventually the tension builds towards a more lust forward narrative. They end up on an undersea quest to find a mystical heart, and the forced proximity and magical bonds drive them to have to fight to resist one another.
The plot was dark, both characters carrying trauma. Loved the high stakes danger thrown in especially towards the later parts of the book.
My main issues are with the language and dialogue later in this book. Let’s just say the spice is slightly on the cringey side . I was also intrigued by the setting and wished there was more depth to the world building.
Mermaid x Warlock
He’s Got Wings
True Enemies to Lovers
Magical Bonds
“I am not just a mermaid. I am every drop of water in every sea. I am the riptide. I am the salt and the silt. I am the ocean.”
A unique mermaid romantasy. These two literally hate each other, that try to unalive you multiple times kind of hate. Eventually the tension builds towards a more lust forward narrative. They end up on an undersea quest to find a mystical heart, and the forced proximity and magical bonds drive them to have to fight to resist one another.
The plot was dark, both characters carrying trauma. Loved the high stakes danger thrown in especially towards the later parts of the book.
My main issues are with the language and dialogue later in this book. Let’s just say the spice is slightly on the cringey side . I was also intrigued by the setting and wished there was more depth to the world building.
Mermaid x Warlock
He’s Got Wings
True Enemies to Lovers
Magical Bonds
“I am not just a mermaid. I am every drop of water in every sea. I am the riptide. I am the salt and the silt. I am the ocean.”
May 8, 2026
4.5 stars, but rounding up to a 5! It’s been a while since I enjoyed a book so much, and I honestly liked a lot of the elements in this story. Need the next book pleeeeeease.
March 13, 2026
“What if I deserved it? What if I’m just as evil, Arion?”
“I see you, Zephyra. The worst parts and the best parts. I see you, and…if you’re evil, fucking destroy me, Zephyra”
Alright where do I even start? My shelves have been severely lacking in mermaids so I started this as soon as the proof landed on my door step.
I was hooked from page one. The prologue did a fantastic job of setting the scene and instantly made it clear this wasn’t going to be a pretty, frilly mermaid story. We’re immediately thrown into a world where mermaids are strung up and gutted simply for the crime of existing.
The Wicked Sea follows Zephyra the mermaid as she teams up with a winged (!) warlock, Arion, on a mission to hunt down a fabled heart that’ll save both of them from a mutual demise. Set in a world where humans & mermaids are enemies, Zephyra & Arion DESPISE each other. We’re taking genuine iwilldrownthefuckoutofyou enemies to lovers. If you’re someone who gets a little irked by the false promise of enemies to lovers, I need you to pick this up.
The Wicked Sea has seamlessly managed to paint us a world that’s both breathtakingly ethereal & whimsical, whilst also being gruesome and dark. I absolutely love the balance between the two. It’s giving me Once Upon a Broken Heart sort of vibes with the dark but mystical setting
Arion is raised to despise mermaids, with countless mer deaths on his hands, so learning that his only saving grace is a sarcastic pink haired mermaid has him reeling. He thoroughly hates her. We see him go through such a beautiful character arc as he slowly begins to question the unfounded hatred he’s been spoonfed for as long as he can remember. Both he and Zephyra are simply trying to survive their own respective traumas.
For a man who hates her, he sure does call her ‘my mermaid’ and awful lot 🤭
My favourite part of The Wicked Sea was without a doubt the romance. It’s well-earned rather than instalove or lust. Arion’s internal struggle between his ingrained hatred for mermaids & his yearning eventually dissolves into straight up pining and it’s delicious 🤌
The banter & the flirting has me giggling like a teenager. I’m literally hiding my face behind this book so my boyfriend doesn’t see me smirking 🫣 The spice was fucking delectable. “Don’t be gentle. I like it when it hurts” Arion bless his heart is there like say less 🫡
“My loathsome mermaid. My wicked, wicked girl”
✨ Winged Warlock
🐚 Pink haired mermaid
✨ Sentient trees
🐚 Sky pirates
✨ Vengeful sirens
🐚 Tragic backstories
✨ Magical bonds
🐚 Scorching hot spice
Thank you kindly to Hodderscape for providing me with a proof. All thought and opinions are my own.
“I see you, Zephyra. The worst parts and the best parts. I see you, and…if you’re evil, fucking destroy me, Zephyra”
Alright where do I even start? My shelves have been severely lacking in mermaids so I started this as soon as the proof landed on my door step.
I was hooked from page one. The prologue did a fantastic job of setting the scene and instantly made it clear this wasn’t going to be a pretty, frilly mermaid story. We’re immediately thrown into a world where mermaids are strung up and gutted simply for the crime of existing.
The Wicked Sea follows Zephyra the mermaid as she teams up with a winged (!) warlock, Arion, on a mission to hunt down a fabled heart that’ll save both of them from a mutual demise. Set in a world where humans & mermaids are enemies, Zephyra & Arion DESPISE each other. We’re taking genuine iwilldrownthefuckoutofyou enemies to lovers. If you’re someone who gets a little irked by the false promise of enemies to lovers, I need you to pick this up.
The Wicked Sea has seamlessly managed to paint us a world that’s both breathtakingly ethereal & whimsical, whilst also being gruesome and dark. I absolutely love the balance between the two. It’s giving me Once Upon a Broken Heart sort of vibes with the dark but mystical setting
Arion is raised to despise mermaids, with countless mer deaths on his hands, so learning that his only saving grace is a sarcastic pink haired mermaid has him reeling. He thoroughly hates her. We see him go through such a beautiful character arc as he slowly begins to question the unfounded hatred he’s been spoonfed for as long as he can remember. Both he and Zephyra are simply trying to survive their own respective traumas.
For a man who hates her, he sure does call her ‘my mermaid’ and awful lot 🤭
My favourite part of The Wicked Sea was without a doubt the romance. It’s well-earned rather than instalove or lust. Arion’s internal struggle between his ingrained hatred for mermaids & his yearning eventually dissolves into straight up pining and it’s delicious 🤌
The banter & the flirting has me giggling like a teenager. I’m literally hiding my face behind this book so my boyfriend doesn’t see me smirking 🫣 The spice was fucking delectable. “Don’t be gentle. I like it when it hurts” Arion bless his heart is there like say less 🫡
“My loathsome mermaid. My wicked, wicked girl”
✨ Winged Warlock
🐚 Pink haired mermaid
✨ Sentient trees
🐚 Sky pirates
✨ Vengeful sirens
🐚 Tragic backstories
✨ Magical bonds
🐚 Scorching hot spice
Thank you kindly to Hodderscape for providing me with a proof. All thought and opinions are my own.
April 13, 2026
I really liked the premises and the first part of the book, but I found myself losing interest 80% in. It’s catchy but, as happened with Bitten, I found myself not able to enjoy the style of the author, that is sometimes too easy and a little bit flat - that was the main problem I had with these book. With romantasies becoming more andare more competitive, this does not stand out if not for the the heavy spice tone, different from Bitten. But it doesn’t make this adult.
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