The Beacon and the Brine

Monstrous Cravings #2

by Katherine McIntyre

A desperate human dreamer. A sea monster bound by contract. A forbidden romance that could set them free…or end in destruction.

After one mistake too many, Elrich’s family is marrying him off.

Arielle Triton is his future bride-to-be, gorgeous, eligible, and from a wealthy family with connections to New Atlantis...who also hides the fact they’re merfolk. Except there’s no spark toward Arielle, none of the soul-searing romance Elrich dreamed of.

Yet, Ursuline, the serious cecaelia who’s their family lawyer? From the moment he meets them, he’s drowning in their sharp gaze, living for their low chuckles, their dry wit. But Ursuline is bound to the Triton family, just as Elrich is bound to marry someone he doesn’t love. And as those feelings grow stronger for Ursuline, the tug-of-war between duty and desire become unbearable.

As the truth behind the Triton family wealth surfaces, Elrich can no longer ignore the weighted whispers or disappearances from the staff. However, learning too many secrets in the Triton household is deadly, and if he and Ursuline stand a chance of survival, he’s clutching onto one hope.

Some contracts are destined to be broken.

Genres: Fantasy, M M Romance, LGBT, Monster Romance, Queer, Romance, Adult

360 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 7, 2026

About the author

Geeky Queer Romance.

Katherine McIntyre is feisty with a big attitude despite their short stature. They write stories featuring snarky women, ragtag crews, and men with bad attitudes—high chance for a passionate speech thrown into the mix. As a genderqueer geek who’s always stepped to their own beat, they've made it their mission to write stories that represent the broad spectrum of people out there. Easily distracted by cats and sugar.

Reviews

[Florence . · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh how I loved the romance in this book. These two got my heart beating so fast, I was just so obsessed with them.

I loved the premise of two very lonely guys whose living circonstances forbid from being together but who found a safe place in each other’s arms no matter what the cost would be later on and I just loved seeing all of their interactions. These guys were just the perfect foil for each other and I think that all of their interactions were so much fun to read.

This book was such a good time and I cannot wait to read more of this series, as I loved the vibes in this book, so so much.

[Lionelle Pmuls (That's Slump Backwards & It's What I Do) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4,5 sunshine Stars ⭐ | 5 🌶️
ARC Read: 31/03/2026
I received this ebook for free from the author and I'm leaving this review of my own accord. Thank you Katherine McIntyre for this gift. 🥰

What to expect from this book? 🤔
🫶 MX Adult Monster Romance 🫣 🥵🤌
💙 Little Mermaid Retelling
🎨 Slow Burn
🦑 Betrothed To Another
🏖 Secret Relantioship
🖌 Size Difference
🎹 Close Proximity
🌊 Dirty Talk
💙 Touch Starved
🎨 D/S Dynamic
🏖 Praise Kink
🖌 Breeding Kink
🦑 Tentacles Tentacles Tentacles
🌊 Chastity Cages
🦑 Double Penetration
🎹 Bondage
💙 Mild Dacryphilia
🎨 Nipple Play
🦑 "Suck"
🏖 Cum Kink
🖌 "Good Boy"
🎹 "Sunshine"
🌊 Politics
💙 Intersex Rep
🎨 Found Family
🏖 Hurt/Comfort
🌊 HEA
🎹 Check Out The Content/Trigger Warnings

Format: Ebook/ARC
Cover: 5/5

I love this world so much!
Elrich and Ursuline are so real, Kat just never misses the mark.

Series: Monstrous Cravings #2
Story: 5/5
POV: One - 1st Person
Plot: 5/5

Main Characters:
5/5 -Elrich: 23yo, he/him, cis-male, nickname: sunshine, human species, is a painter/artist.
5/5 - Ursuline: ?yo, they/them, intersex, cecaelia species, is a lawyer.
Side Characters: 5/5
Steam Level: 5/5
Romance: High Focus

✨✨✨✨Q✨u✨o✨t✨e✨✨✨✨

"Elrich: How they’d taken me tonight was lifechanging. I’d never felt so possessed or claimed in my life. I’d never experienced such elation or pleasure either. The quiet between us was the comfortable sort, their natural tendency just like mine, to daydream.
They’d been inside me in every way. I could feel their cum both filling my stomach and slick in my hole, even though so much of it had poured out. My heart soared."

✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨

Humor: Low Focus
Angst: Medium Focus
Cheating? No
The Ending: 5/5
HEA/HFN/Cliffhanger: HEA

Favorite character? Elrich/Both
Enjoyment: 5/5

✨✨✨✨Q✨u✨o✨t✨e✨✨✨✨

"Elrich: I lowered my hand and stood there with them, staring out at the sea, as if it might hold answers. Of why this much pain existed in the world. Of why horrors happened to innocents. Of why the rich and powerful were determined to cause destruction.
The red streaks on a canvas bloomed in my mind, and I itched to paint this agony. To cast it out from my heart, from my soul, and into art that might stand a chance of lasting beyond me."

✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨

Hope this review was helpful.
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!!Please remember that all my reviews are a matter of my personal taste. Your opinion and what you are willing or want to tolerate in the books you read is your own. We all have different opinions and preferences when it comes to the kind of books we enjoy, so it's important to respect that. It's just a book... but reading is still political!
No AI was used to make this review. These are my own words. And I support real artists.

[Roxanna Mascarenas · Rating 4 out of 5]

If a fan of the little mermaid but wanted Eric to fall for someone else and make it a none binary character, this would be your answer
Katherine delivers characters that don’t fit into molds and stories that twist and turn, from a classic story such as this you get a chance to find a story of two characters going on an adventure to escape from the trap of the Tritan family and get their HEA.

[Joyfully Jay · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Joyfully Jay review.

4 stars

The Beacon and the Brine is the second book in Katherine McIntyre’s Monstrous Cravings series of fairytale retellings. The story takes place in the same world as The Thorn and the Spire, and there is some minor character crossover, but the books stand alone with no problem. The stories take place in a world where there are both humans and “monsters” (aka various supernaturals and mythical beings). They are also fairytale retellings, this one based on The Little Mermaid. While The Thorn and the Spire very much followed the beats of its source material, Beauty and the Beast, this one diverges more from the original. Obviously, the big change is that the villain, Ursula, becomes the love interest Ursuline here, but this story is more loosely based in general.

McIntrye really has a great approach with this series and I am enjoying these stories quite a lot. At the end of the book, we do get a note as to who is up next and I am super intrigued by both the character and the take on the fairytale that is planned.

Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.

[Ashh Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy Barnacles, folks !!

The amount of emotions I encountered while reading this book was exactly like the ebb and flow of crashing ocean waves.

One minute I was swooning, then, BAM! Terrified for our main characters. Then I was swooning again, and then whew! Those spice scenes!

Then starting from chapter 25…..I was on red alert gnawing at my proverbial fingernails with fear! Then my heart was shattered and then I was Kim kardashian crying…

Yeah. I need book 3 STAT!

[K.C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic modern take on the Little Mermaid fairy tale with great twists and a lovely pairing.
Tentacle action top notch 👌 🐙

[Ashley | adhdandread · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Beacon and the Brine by Katherine McIntyre
Monstrous Cravings #2
Length: 342 pages
Source: Gay Romance Reviews
Publication date: April 7, 2026

4 ⭐⁣⁣⁣
4.5 🌶️⁣⁣⁣

WHAT TO EXPECT
🩵 MX monster romance
🩵 Human x cecaelia
🩵 Secret relationship
🩵 The Little Mermaid retelling
🩵 Betrothed to another
🩵 Hurt comfort
🩵 Found family
🩵 Size difference
🩵 First-person POV

AUTHOR'S BLURB
A desperate human dreamer. A sea monster bound by contract. A forbidden romance that could set them free…or end in destruction.

After one mistake too many, Elrich’s family is marrying him off.

Arielle Triton is his future bride-to-be, gorgeous, eligible, and from a wealthy family with connections to New Atlantis...who also hides the fact they’re merfolk. Except there’s no spark toward Arielle, none of the soul-searing romance Elrich dreamed of.

Yet, Ursuline, the serious cecaelia who’s their family lawyer? From the moment he meets them, he’s drowning in their sharp gaze, living for their low chuckles, their dry wit. But Ursuline is bound to the Triton family, just as Elrich is bound to marry someone he doesn’t love. And as those feelings grow stronger for Ursuline, the tug-of-war between duty and desire become unbearable.

As the truth behind the Triton family wealth surfaces, Elrich can no longer ignore the weighted whispers or disappearances from the staff. However, learning too many secrets in the Triton household is deadly, and if he and Ursuline stand a chance of survival, he’s clutching onto one hope.

Some contracts are destined to be broken.

MY THOUGHTS
This is an excellent continuation of the Monstrous Cravings series! It's a bit more angsty than I expected based upon the first book, but it served the story well based on the forbidden nature of Elrich's and Ursuline's relationship (father's employee x daughter's fiancé). The chemistry between the two is palpable throughout the book, and I love how protective Ursuline is of Elrich from the very beginning. My heart broke for both MC's traumatic pasts. There is a lot–A LOT–of pining in this book, even when they are together. Fortunately, their relationship is solid from the start, with no angst between the two. And the spice? Is spicing. Tentacle spice. Chastity spice. DP spice. Everything in this book is well written and often beautifully descriptive, especially when talking about the world that the author has built here.

BOTTOM LINE
I'd recommend this book and series for anybody who likes monster romance with some action, thrills, and a hefty helping of angst.

CONTENT WARNINGS
Explicit sexual content (including chastity cage and double penetration), tentacle bondage, mention of sexual assault (off-page and not an MC), parental neglect, discovery of death of a relative (mention)

–A🩷

Thanks to Gay Romance Reviews and Katherine McIntyre for an eARC of this book. All opinions are mine. Reviews posted regularly on StoryGraph, Goodreads, Amazon, Instagram, BlueSky, BookBub, and Fable.

[Abigail Beckwith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here's Katherine McIntyre's latest: "The Beacon and The Brine." It's a Little Mermaid retelling..sort of. This novel is the second in her new Monstrous Cravings series.

["A desperate human dreamer. A sea monster bound by contract. A forbidden romance that could set them free…or end in destruction.

After one mistake too many, Elrich’s family is marrying him off.

Arielle Triton is his future bride-to-be, gorgeous, eligible, and from a wealthy family with connections to New Atlantis...who also hides the fact they’re merfolk. Except there’s no spark toward Arielle, none of the soul-searing romance Elrich dreamed of.

Yet, Ursuline, the serious cecaelia who’s their family lawyer? From the moment he meets them, he’s drowning in their sharp gaze, living for their low chuckles, their dry wit. But Ursuline is bound to the Triton family, just as Elrich is bound to marry someone he doesn’t love. And as those feelings grow stronger for Ursuline, the tug-of-war between duty and desire become unbearable.

As the truth behind the Triton family wealth surfaces, Elrich can no longer ignore the weighted whispers or disappearances from the staff. However, learning too many secrets in the Triton household is deadly, and if he and Ursuline stand a chance of survival, he’s clutching onto one hope.

Some contracts are destined to be broken."]

Obsessed. Utterly fucking obsessed. I love how true to the original tale this was but how entirely Katherine turned it on it's head. It's clearly The Little Mermaid, but it's also very clearly not what we grew up watching/reading. It's unique and dark and beautiful.

Elrich was nothing like our beloved Eric. He was softer, but he was just as sweet and kind hearted and open to all kinds of people/life/love. Ursuline is a "monster" in the eyes of society just like Ursula was, but they have reasons for being colder and closed off. They're scared and scarred, but they're unbelievably caring and utterly devoted to the people they love.

I'm obsessed with those of these characters. They didn't have it easy, far fucking from it, but they held on to each other, onto the hope of something brighter. They loved each other fiercely in the face of being imprisoned forever. They fought for their HEA (alongside their found family and best of friends), and it was well deserved (even if they shouldn't have had to fight so fucking hard for it).

Trigger Warnings: off-page (not MC) mentions of sexual assault, parental neglect, discovery of death of a relative, and more.

#gayromancereviews #grr #arcs #arcteammember
#thethornandthespire #thebeaconandthebrine #thadderandtheally #monstrouscraving #monstrouscravingsseries #katherinemcintyre #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

[Billy ⋆｡･☽･⋆* (semi-hiatus) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish I could give this book a higher rating, 5 stars aren't enough.

Reading this formidable inclusive re-imagening, this remarkable queer retelling, I couldn't help but feel fascinated, intrigued, and absolutely captivated. There was suspense, there was drama, betrayals, love, romance, ... and so much more. This book has multitudes, layers, depth, and wonder. And I'm So Here For It!
There was also this beautiful warmth from the main characters. Ursuline is most likely one of the strongest, bravest characters I've ever read. Their struggles, be it under water or not, are real. They have my heart. And Elrich, in some capacity, Elrich is extremely relatable. I'm completely in love with the main characters, they are both so precious. The sunshine bit made me tear up. Wonderful book.

I really enjoyed the way the author decided to take their retelling of "The Little Mermaid", who would have guessed the merfolk characters were the villains?... It's so contemporary, dynamic, and I would not change a single thing. Everything works, it makes perfect sense. The world they're building is incredible. I can't wait to devour Aladin (it's supposed to be darker than the others... Noice!).

I'm so grateful for this book, for this promising series, for this wonderful author. Thank you so much, Kat McIntyre ❤️

Favorite Quotes:

> "I lowered my hand and stood there with them, staring out at the sea, as if it might hold answers. Of why this much pain existed in the world. Of why horrors happened to innocents. Of why the rich and powerful were determined to cause destruction."<

> "My jaw dropped. It wasn’t until they mentioned the Spires that I connected the dots between the Spires and Cillian. “You mean you’re friends with Cillian Ashmore?”
Ursuline cocked a brow. “Sunshine, he’s friends with me.”"< - Loved the comeback of the characters from the 1st book!

>"Living on the surface, refusing to dive beneath, had never been for me. I craved the colors, the depths, the thrills, the spark of creativity, the pulse, the pulse, the pulse of the blood pumping inside me.
No, this was what made a life not just survivable, but the exultant joy that made it memorable.."< - Again, Elrich is incredibly relatable. I'm absolutely enamored. On top of that, he is the kindest ❤️.

Spoiler-not-spoilert alert. I forgot about the blurb and the tropes of the book by the time I started reading it. So it was a nice "surprise" when I stumbled into this one: >“You’re going to get more than a mouthful, sunshine,” they said. “Your belly and your hole will be full of cum by the time I’m done with you.”< Yay! Breeding kink! So fun, such a fun book.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Ursuline had been my savior—from the sea, from my cage. They’d set me free in every way, but with them… I wanted to be captured.”

Katherine McIntyre brings us another beautiful world-building tale of found family, romance, and adventure in her Monstrous Cravings series with The Beacon and the Brine. This book is a standalone but does feature some characters from The Thorn and the Spire. The Beacon and the Brine is a reimagining of The Little Mermaid but turns the original on its tail by focusing on the male lead Erlich, who becomes betrothed to mermaid Arielle.

In this tale the Triton family of mermaids are actually not very pleasant creatures. In fact no one in Peregrine City even knows they are mermaids. Monsters tend to be looked down on and are almost treated like second class citizens. So the Tritons pretend they are human as they gain a foothold in the business sector of the city. In their desire to make connections and improve their standing they agree to an arranged marriage between their daughter Arielle and the successful Durand family’s son Erlich.
Erlich is sweet and artistic. He tried to become a successful part of his family’s business but corporate life is not for him. He’d rather be swimming in the sea or painting. His family is mean and frustrated with him so they agree to an arranged marriage with the Triton family’s daughter. Erlich feels like he has no choice and agrees to go along with it.

Ursuline is the smart and sexy Triton family lawyer who also happens to be a cecaelia… with mating tentacles (yes plural!) Ursuline is actually kind and caring but has their own reasons why they work for the malicious Triton family. When Ursuline and Erlich meet the sparks fly and the story becomes an epic romance with tons of spice. I won’t spoil it, but I did mention tentacles!

There are also some wonderful kinks explored in The Beacon and the Brine including praise, dacryphilia (tears/crying), and male chastity to name a few. I love this beautiful world with found family that Katherine McIntyre has created for us and I’m looking forward to the next installment. I can’t wait to see which fairytales inspire her next stories. Thank you Katherine McIntyre for the ARC!

[Brooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️ 3.5 stars ⭐️

I’d never been kissed like this before, like I was something of value. Like I was worthwhile.

A sweet retelling of The Little Mermaid… if the fairytale was about Eric and Ursula falling in love, and they were queer, and the Triton family was evil, and Eric was being forced to marry Ariel, and they lived in a world of humans and monsterkind.
So, nothing like the original fairytale at all.

Just the smallest taste, and I could die happy. I needed to know what it felt like to be possessed by them, to be theirs, even if only for a few stolen moments.

I don’t say that in a bad way. I don’t think of it as an actual retelling, but as a fantasy monster romance, it was pretty fun.
I love that the author decided to explore something a little different compared to the usual merman/mermaid love interest, and also compared to the first book of the series.
I loved the dynamic between Elrich and Ursuline, the tentacles, the sweet dominance, the care between them, the tentacles, the little bit of forbidden romance. Oh, did I mention the tentacles??

“The look on you, sunshine,” they said, a hoarseness in their voice. “You’ll be my undoing.”

But while I really enjoyed the romance side, the plot is where it kind of lost me. Especially in the last 10%, where it’s all the more dramatic and rushing to the happy ending. Evil rich families doing evil things to get even richer. Not my fave kind of plotline.

An interesting and unique take on the original fairytale. Even though the plot fell flat for me, the romance was absolutely lovely. Don’t know if I’ve enjoyed these enough to really want to continue the series, but Aladdin and Jafar are next, and that sounds pretty intriguing.

I didn’t know when I’d fallen for them, but between midnight swims and diner trips, I had. They owned a piece of my heart.

CW and NSFW info (spoilers):
- Parental neglect
- Brief mention of SA (not MCs)
- Family death/loss (off page)
- Non-binary MC
- Atypical anatomy
- Chastity cage/orgasm control
- Tentacles
- Bondage
- DP
- Rimming

[Tashyka · Rating 5 out of 5]

With The Beacon and the Brine, Katherine McIntyre continues her Monstrous Cravings series with another stunning story about reuniting with family, finding love, and going on adventures. Though it stands alone, this novel contains plot points and characters from both The Thorn and the Spire. A male protagonist named Erlich becomes engaged to a mermaid named Arielle in this retelling of The Little Mermaid called The Beacon and the Brine, which in turn flips the script on the original.

The mermaids of Triton's family are portrayed in this story as somewhat unpleasant. They are mermaids, and no one in Peregrine City knows it. People often look down on monsters and treat them as though they are not important. Thus, in order to establish themselves in the city's commercial sector, the Tritons pretend to be human. They plan for their daughter Arielle to be married to Erlich, the son of the prosperous Durand family, so that they may both gain social status and create contacts.
Sweet and artistic, Erlich is a delight. Unfortunately, he was never cut out for the corporate world, despite his best efforts to join his family's firm. The ocean or painting would be more appealing to him. Because his relatives are angry and cruel toward him, they arrange for him to marry the daughter of the Triton family. Because he doesn't think he has any other option, Erlich decides to comply.

The beautiful and cunning Triton family lawyer, Ursuline, is actually a cecaelia—a creature with several tentacles for mating! Despite her seeming kindness, Ursuline is actually working for the evil Triton family for their own selfish ends. Ursuline and Erlich's first encounter sets the stage for a passionate, epic affair. I touched on tentacles before, but I won't give anything away.

Praise, dacryphilia (tears/crying), and male chastity are just a few of the beautiful quirks covered in The Beacon and the Brine. Looking forward to the next installment, I adore Katherine McIntyre's gorgeous universe filled with found families. It will be fascinating to watch which fairy tales she draws from for her future works.I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews, and this is my honest review.

[Colleen (colleenreads40) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.25/5 ⭐

The Beacon and the Brine is the second book in Katherine McIntyre’s Monstrous Cravings series. This book could be enjoyed as a standalone. Here’s what you can expect from Ursuline and Elrich:

🌊 MX paranormal romance
🌊 First person single point of view
🌊 Guaranteed happily ever after
🌊 Open door spice
🌊 Little Mermaid retelling
🌊 Mating tentacles
🌊 Hurt/comfort
🌊 Found family
🌊 Chastity
🌊 Drawn to the sea
🌊 Arranged to be married to another
🌊 So much yearning

Ensure you review the content and trigger warnings to decide if this book is right for you. Note this list of warnings may be incomplete. Please take care of yourself while reading.
⚠️ Mention of sexual assault (off-page and not main character)
⚠️ Parental neglect
⚠️ Chasisty cage
⚠️ Tentacle bondage
⚠️ Double penetration
⚠️ Discovery of death of a relative

This was such a great addition to Katherine’s Monstrous Cravings series. I loved the chemistry between Ursuline and Elrich. We were promised yearning in this book, and we definitely got it! The tension between the two main characters was just delicious, and they both deserved the happily ever afters they got. Elrich is promised to a mysterious rich family to further his parents’ business interests. Ursuline is closed off, and Elrich can’t understand why such an ethereal creature works for such a shady family. As with the first book in the series, there’s an element of suspense which really added to the slight dark edge. The spicy scenes between the characters were so much fun, and I loved the passion and trust that developed between the two of them. We get cameos from Cillian and Beau, who I loved a lot, and I just adored the entire found family aspect of the series that’s continuing. The diner (why can’t it be real!?) is such a foundation for the characters and I just wasn’t ready for this one to end.

I received an advanced review copy from Gay Romance Reviews and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[True Loveislovereview · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elrich was never enough for his parents. He’s an artist, and as the heir he should fulfil a role at the family business, but he fails time after time.
His father is done with him and is marrying him off to a wealthy family, two birds with one stone.

His bags are packed and off he goes to the Triton family. He has to marry Arielle Triton. According to Arielle’s idea, they are free to do what they want and see who they want, before and after the wedding.
Elrich feels trapped. The only way to feel free is in the ocean and behind his canvas.
Meeting Ursuline made it all more bearable.

Ursuline is a cecaelia, they are the Triton’s family lawyer.
Elrich is touched starved, he is used to being set aside, invisible, and discarded. Ursuline gives him their full attention, full of sweet endearments.
They find each other more than once, and preferably in their beloved water, the encounters are hot as fuck.
Imagine what all those tentacles could do, and even more at the same time?

There’s no future for them. Both are bound to the Triton family with killing contracts.

The Triton family had secrets, and those who dared to speak about them just disappeared!
Elrich is determined to find out and escape, preferably with Ursuline, before the wedding.
There are so many questions, a few for example: what are the Tritons hiding, why can’t Ursuline return to New Atlantis, what’s going on with the disappearing?

In short, without spoiling, there’s a lot to discover and a massive hurdle to overcome, before the lovers have their hea!
What a fabulous story this was! The author created an impressive world with magical creatures. The plot was well thought out, and Ursuline and Elrich are engaging, emotional, and lovable characters. Their sexual moments were scorching and breathtaking.
The writing was enthralling, the story compelling, and the pace just right; it made it all very comfortable to read.

Review also on LoveBytes - LGBTQ bookreviews

[San Lemonade · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Beacon and the Brine by Katherine McIntyre
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 stars
⬆️ Ebook ARC
👉 Single First-Person POV
🎨 Cover: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 stars

📚 Monstrous Cravings Series Book Two
👉 Can Be Read as a Standalone

🌈 Adult MX Fantasy PNR
🥀 Twisted Fairy Tale
📖 Little Mermaid Retelling
(but make it filthy and sweet)
🌘 Darkish Tone
👉 Low-Angst
📍Set in Peregrine City 🌊
👏 Fantastic World-Building
❤️‍🩹 Hurt & Comfort
🔥 Action, Intrigue & Tension

❌ Forbidden Love (They Shouldn’t, But They Can’t Resist)
😈 Alluring Monsters ✨️
🧜 Sea Monsters & Human Politics
🌶 Deliciously Steamy Moments
👀 Cameos (Loved it! 💖)

🐙 Tentacled Lawyer x Sweet Artist Human 👣
👉 Intersex Rep
🧲 Opposites Attract
🧲 Touch & Love-Starved

🔥 Dynamics:
👉 D/s Dynamic
🥵🤌 Kinky & Exquisite Chemistry
🖤 Love-Starved Sub x Possessive Dom
💬 Good Boy 😳
🎹🔥 Spicy Music Room Scene (😉😉😳)
🐙🔥 Tentacle Love
🔥 Slow-Burn (but... hot damn)
📈 Spice Level (Intensity, not frequency):
🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶

🌈 MCs:
🎨🖌🏖👉 Elrich (23), Human (He/Him):
-Former employee at the family company, Albatross Industries.
-Sweet, cautious, and full of heart.
-Carrying a deep, tender vulnerability.
-Comes from a wealthy family, an only child under immense pressure to succeed.
-Raised without love, under cold and controlling parents who dictate every step of his life.
-Coerced into an arranged marriage with someone he doesn’t love, from a powerful, ruthless family. None of the soul-searing romance Elrich dreamed of.
-He has no voice in his own future.
-He’s always wanted to be an artist, but his parents forbade it.

🎹⚖️🌊🦑👉 Ursuline, Cecaelia Monster, Intersex (They/Them):
-From New Atlantis, beneath the sea.
-Dark eyes, pale blue skin, short silver hair slicked back, muscular, with broad shoulders and a solid frame, their lower limbs are eight dark tentacles.
-A fierce lawyer, serious and clever.
-Bound by contract to the Triton family, who rule over the city.
-Their sharp wit and standoffish attitude hide a deeply caring heart.
-Loves playing the piano, game nights with their close-knit circle of friends, and swimming.

⚠️ Content Warnings:
⚠️ Sexual assault (mentioned, off-page)
⚠️ Parental Neglect
⚠️ Coercion
⚠️ Discovery of a Relative’s Death

💞 Found Family / Monster Found Family 😗🤌
💪 Character Growth & Healing ❤️‍🩹
💯 Lovely Side Characters
🥰 Love The Ending
😍 HEA

💭 My Thoughts:
📖 🥹 Elrich & Ursuline are perfection!
🥰 I was completely hooked from the first page!
Heart-melting, suspenseful, spicy and tender all at once! The world-building is fantastic and the writing is beautiful, as always.
🔥 The spice… HOLY. SIN. All the heat mixed with tenderness is chef’s kiss. The way they care for, tease, and challenge each other was perfection.
🌊 Peregrine City is a world of intrigue, danger and secrets. I loved every glimpse behind the Triton household... the secrecy and tension had my heart racing!
🫂 These two took me on such an emotional rollercoaster.
Elrich’s vulnerability and Ursuline’s guarded heart. A pairing that is deeply emotional and incredibly sweet.
💙 I loved seeing familiar faces from the first book while meeting exciting new characters. And the atmosphere at Haven Diner is always a delight full of found family vibes.
🥰 Can’t wait for the next! 🫠

▪︎FAV QUOTES▪︎

■ I licked my lips, my mouth dry. Their dark eyes zeroed in on the motion, intense and searing. My cock stirred with interest at a look like that.
No one looked at me like that.
Like I was the only thing in existence. - Elrich

🔥■ There,” I gasped out. “Oh gods, there.” Their tentacles wrapped around my nipples, another one gliding up and down my crack, and sweat broke out on my temple. My breaths came in ragged. They could overload me, make me forget that anything else existed but them. - Elrich

😉 Thanks for reading hope this helps you out!
I received this book as a gift from the author and am voluntarily leaving this review.

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[Adeselna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Gay Romance Reviews for the ARC

“The Beacon and the Brine” is the second book in the Monstrous Cravings series. Elrich and Ursuline are incredible together. Ursuline is really protective of him, and though they also struggle to make their voices heard, Ursuline always keeps wanting to save Elrich from making a mistake. They both suffer a lot before they find happiness in each other.

Ursuline tries to resist Elrich, but it’s hard when he’s such an amazing person. Although he’s in a terrible situation, being forced to marry someone he doesn’t even remotely like, Elrich is never hateful towards anybody. He tries to befriend everyone and even be nice to his fiancée. He appreciates Ursuline’s piano skills since he’s a man of the arts, and the same goes for Ursuline.
It’s clear they adore Elrich’s passion for art and painting. Elrich also loves the sea, and he’s really sad when Ursuline tells him they haven’t visited their family for so long.

They have a D/S dynamic, and Ursuline is more of a soft dom. They want to worship and praise Elrich, and Elrich is a sucker for praise. He’s also very touch starved, especially when he and Ursuline start exploring each other. Elrich finds them beautiful, even if they are a different creature. Ursuline is always mesmerized by how kind and soft Elrich is.

He never deserved anything that happened to him, and more than just being a more dominant person, Ursuline just wants him to be happy. The most amazing thing is that they’re not that different. They are both compassionate people, caring and they love each other and fight for their happiness.

“The Beacon and the Brine” is a beautiful spin on a fairy tale, and I really loved this one, we could really feel the love and devotion these two have for each other and how much they were willing to do to be together. It was really nice to witness two very adorable people getting their earned HEA.

[Laura R · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would like to thank the author for sending me and arc in exchange for an honest review through NetGalley.

Elrich knew he was always going to be a pawn for his family, but when they arrange a marriage between him and the daughter of an extremely wealthy family with ties to New Atlantis, he knows he’ll be trapped in this life forever. And Arielle isn’t exactly his type. Resigned to a loveless marriage and living in the shadow of Arielle, he never expected Ursuline – the cecaelia lawyer to the Triton family. And Elrich is quickly drawn to their charm. The two of them might be bound to the Triton family in different ways, but does that mean that they’re both doomed to a miserable life?

This was HOT. WOW I honestly didn’t expect the spice level to be THAT high. I liked the way that the Little Mermaid story was twisted here and retold, and I found myself rooting for Elrich as he did his best to get away from Arielle. I also like Ursuline, surprisingly, and found their wit and the scenes with them in it to be fantastic. I loved the romance for sure, and I will be the first to say that there’s something endearing when looking at the both of them and realizing they need each other in order to feel like they have any control over their own lives, but what I loved the most was the spice. Honestly it was so well written. I will say, the very beginning was a little bit slow, but once it picked up it was non-stop and super fast paced. I loved the plot, I loved the ending, I loved the main and side characters… honestly, I loved this book. I would 1000000% recommend this to anyone who loves retellings and monster romances.

Actual Rating: 4.5 stars

[Kristina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to say, I am loving these monster fairytale retellings!

In this remix of The Little Mermaid, Elrich is coerced into getting engaged to Arielle, the youngest daughter of the mysterious (and obscenely wealthy) Triton family. However, he instead feels sparks towards Ursuline, the cecaelia lawyer who works for the Tritons. As these two keep running into each other (and trying to fight their feelings), Elrich finds himself on the edge of something nefarious with his betrothed's family...something that could put him and Ursuline in danger.

Oh my gosh, the yearning in the book between Elrich and Ursuline is unreal! I truly could not handle all the feelings these two threw at each other. Our sweet, naive Elrich is trying to find himself, and Ursuline, who is very guarded with their secrets, works so hard to resist our sweet, compliant man.

When these two finally give in (it's a bit of a slow burn), let me tell you that it is absolutely filthy hot. If I had one of those fans Victorian ladies used, I would have been fanning myself during several of the steamy scenes. The chemistry is unreal, and this book definitely gets to flex the muscles of...imaginative scenes that monster couples can bring (I am admittedly relatively new to the genre, but as usual Katherine is a fantastic guide in this journey!).

Add in with all of that a solid plotline to go along with the romance, and this is a very enjoyable story! If you were someone who watched The Little Mermaid and wanted more Ursula (and maybe even thought Ariel was not your favorite), this is definitely the book for you. And even if you loved The Little Mermaid, this is an imaginative retelling of the classic story!

[Emily Hernandez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elrich and Ursuline's romance was a heartfelt journey of two lonely souls finding one another. Both trapped by their circumstances and the Triton family, they found each other at what appeared to be the most inconvenient of times. Their stolen moments together were bright spots of happiness in an otherwise unpleasant situation, and I adored watching them build a genuine connection with each other. Over shared meals, sea outings, and steamy private time, Elrich and Ursuline fell head over heels in love and I couldn't get enough. Elrich expressed himself through his art, and no one inspired more art than Ursuline. I think that's what made me sure there was something special there, and the more wrapped around each other they grew, the less doubt I had.

This story truly flipped The Little Mermaid on its head, and I was loving the reimagined narrative and all its twists and turns. The suspicious doings of the Triton family were a pressing mystery to unravel, and the more the pieces came together the more concerned I was at what was ahead of Elrich and Ursuline. Their situation could have been hopeless, but because they had each other I knew they would fight for the future they wanted. I felt nervous and edgy the whole time they were building their escape plan, and the outcome went in a direction I never expected. It was wonderful to see the monster community rally behind them when things seemed most dire, and by the end, Ursuline and Elrich got justice served in the most satisfying way.

**I voluntarily read an early copy of this book. This review expresses my honest thoughts and opinions.

[LC · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Disney! Even as an adult, I love watching the movies and some of the live action films have been wonderful. When Katherine McIntyre mentioned writing these tales, I was immediately on board. I thought The Thorn and the Spire would be my favorite. Turns out out even my love for Beauty and the Beast could not top Elrich and Ursuline.

Elrich is a disappointment to his parents. No matter how hard he tries, it is never good enough for them. His love of painting, not even his talent is enough to get their approval. When they tell him he must be married, poor Elrich has been beaten down enough to do as they say.

Ursuline is a lawyer of the highest caliber. He works for the Triton family as they pretend to be human in Peregrine City. When he picks up Arielle’s fiancé, he wasn’t expecting lightning to strike. Can he really allow Elrich to get caught up in the Triton’s schemes?

This story flips The Little Mermaid on its head. It is stupendous!! Ursuline is a commanding figure in this story. They outshine Arielle and her father Frederick. Elrich is a man in love with the sea. It brings him comfort and almost dying in a storm does not stop him from craving the feel of the water around him. This story keeps the pages turning with angst and heat along with heartache. I knew what I wanted to happen, but I couldn’t tell how it would unfold. To me the best stories keep your eyes glued to the page and The Beacon and the Brine definitely did that. The best part? Loving the story so much and loving the easter eggs of the next one to come just as much.

[Michelle N. · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Beacon and the Brine is the second book in the Monstrous Cravings series by Katherine McIntyre. While there are side characters from the other book in the series, this is a stand-alone novel and does not require prior reading. Although, considering this is an imaginative and romantic retelling of The Little Mermaid, familiarity with that tale might be beneficial.
McIntyre has created a world where monsters and humans share space but like in the real world those with money hold the power and those who are different are discriminated against.
Elrich is a human who comes from a rich and powerful family but he is a constant disappointment and failure to his parents. He dreams of escaping his parents’ control and living a life of his own. His dreams are cut short when he is told he is to wed heiress Arielle Triton. Neither Arielle or Elrich want this wedding and Elrich is learning the Triton family are not what they seem. Elrich finds an ally and companionship with Ursuline the lawyer who is held in contract to the Triton family. Ursuline and Elrich need to work together to escape the Triton family and find a life together.
This is such a creative take on a well-known fairy tale. I loved the twists involved in the story and the development of Ursuline and Elrich’s relationship. Elrich is such a sweet, pure soul; you can understand why Ursuline was powerless to resist him.
I am definitely going to read all of the books in this series.

[Mikaela (risqué.romance) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Beacon and the Brine - Katherine McIntyre
4.5/5✨🌟

* SPOILERS *

I loved the first book in the series but when I saw that this was going to be a continuous series and it was featuring Eric and it was featuring a different person he was going to end up with, yes please!

I really loved Elrich and Ursuline together. They were simply perfection from the moment they meet.

Elrich was set up in an arranged marriage with him being set up with Arielle. Man, the whole Triton was a piece of work. They were not what I expected but that’s the whole twisted story when you read a retelling and man, this was so good.

I love how Elrich and Ursuline connected and my goodness, the spice was everything. When Ursuline’s mating tentacles make their appearance, I was here for those hot scenes.

Once it started to pick up on the beginning, I devoured this book. I also love the found family and how we meet other characters that hope they get their own book.

There is a bit of action that literally had me on the edge of my scene and man, I was sucked in when these two realized they couldn’t stay away. The challenges they meet makes you want more and that’s when you find out just how not nice the Triton family is, especially what they did to Ursuline’s family.

This is definitely my favorite in the series so far.

I received a copy of this book and this is my honest review.

[Bonnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! Katherine just has a way of creating characters and writing stories that are so lovely to read.
And the way the relationship between Elrich and Ursuline grew in this story was sooooo satisfying! There were tingling feelings, my heart was racing at times, the growing tension was deliciously agonizing and the spice was on fire!
Both MCs instantly claimed a spot in my heart and I became completely invested, at times feeling the same emotions they were experiencing in the story.
This was such a fun and interesting twist on The Little Mermaid and I love how the roles of various characters were completely reversed. It left me guessing about some motives until the very end.
Oftentimes found family can be so important and that was definitely the case in this story. It was so touching to see the lengths they went to to help and protect each other and how being included was something Elrich had longed for all his life. And Ursuline? The way they were willing to do anything for Elrich was absolutely swoon worthy!
I really liked that the suspense lasted until the very end of the book, and the intense, danger-wrought scenes completely took me by surprise and left my heart pounding!

[Flick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely love this series!

I am hooked on this series. I do admit, the first book is still my favourite so far but this was a very, very close second (and only because Beauty and the Beast was a childhood favourite). I really enjoyed the way the Little Mermaid has been adapted - it keeps it fresh yet also familiar in the way that fairy tale retellings are. It feels fitting especially as the most well known fairy tales are all adaptations of the original (let’s face it, the Little Mermaid animated movie is far from the original). In a way the script is flipped (with Ursuline and Elrich falling in love) but I always felt a bit like the merfolk were the bad guys in the animated version or at least not entirely the good guys, so this felt right in a way to see them fully cast in that light. We got a fantastic romance between Elrich and Ursuline; though I admit, whilst I enjoyed seeing them fight for their HEA I almost wish they didn’t have to. Yes it made the book wonderful but they were also incredibly lovable characters so seeing them struggle was hard. You know it’s a good book when you want the plot to stop so the characters you love can just be happy! I’m excited for what comes next!

[Mandy (MP Book Reviews) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elrich is pushed into an arranged marriage with Arielle Triton, a wealthy merfolk heiress he feels no real spark with. Instead, he finds himself drawn to Ursuline, the cecaelia family lawyer bound to the Tritons by contract. As his feelings grow, Elrich uncovers dark secrets behind the Triton family’s power — disappearances, whispers, and danger that make duty impossible to ignore. To save himself and Ursuline, he may have to break the very contracts that keep them trapped.

The connection between Elrich and Ursuline is the heart of this story — a bond so strong it rises above the contracts and obligations tying them both to the Triton family. Their relationship feels fated, tender, and quietly powerful, even as danger closes in around them. I loved the sense of drama throughout, especially as the darker truths behind the Tritons come to light. The stakes are high, the tension constant, and the worldbuilding rich with paranormal intrigue. The supporting cast of monster friends was a delight, and watching Elrich slowly become part of that community added warmth and hope to an otherwise perilous journey. A beautifully emotional paranormal romance with danger, loyalty, and a love that refuses to be contained. This was an MM story with mature content.

[Seraphina Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Beacon and The Brine
Monstrous Cravings book 2
Katherine McIntyre

Elrich & Ursuline

Little mermaid retelling
Tentacles, chastity cages, bondage …
Found Family
Secret Relationship
Hurt /Comfort
Size Difference

Oh, wow this was so good. Fantastic 2nd book in this series.

I adored these two. They were beautiful together.

Both knew what it was like to be trapped and under pressure, then seeking comfort within eachother…. I loved them.

Ursuline and Elrich’s chemistry was so good. They were so hot together, the kink was so good, Kat does kink so so so well.
I also loved the storyline. The found family was so beautiful.

These two have an uphill battle in their relationship, maneuvering their secret relationship while also battling the Triton family's power and secrets.

I loved how we got to see characters from the 1st book!

This was so good…. I breezed right through this.

Great book

Fun, sweet swoony, spicy monster book

Looking forward to more front his world

So thankful for this arc

[Emilyrose · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

This was a well-written story set in an interesting world full of so many different creatures and magic. For me, my favourite part was definitely the chemistry between Elrich and Ursuline; there was plenty of steam but also their romance together did seem believable too. I liked that there was plenty going on with the secondary characters and it was good to get a brief glimpse at some of the characters like Cillian from book 1 in the series. I'm pleased they got their HEA at the end. My only criticism is that it did feel a little bit like Elrich's fear about his lack of contribution was actually true! It felt like, other than being one of the MCs for the romance aspect, he doesn't really do much else to help himself or fight for his HEA. That's not to say I dislike his character, he's just not really what I expected by the end. I also wish the 'punishment' aspect of the resolution had been a bit harsher (and more instantaneous) too. Overall though, it's still a good mm romance that does hook you in from the start.

I received an ARC and this is my honest review.

[Sarah (missrelena) · Rating 5 out of 5]

A triumphant return to the world of The Thorn and the Spire, The Beacon and the Brine avoids the sophomore slump by being even better than it's series predecessor. A delightful retelling of the Little Mermaid tale with the delightful twist of the main couple being the prince and the sea witch (lawyer).

Ursuline and Elrich's relationship is deep (all puns intended) and dynamic. While there is much pining, there is also communication, protectiveness, and a willingness to be there when the other needs them most. While neither character is "perfect," their foibles and traumatic pasts are what make them work as a couple. It is also refreshing that the two are interested in each other, not because the relationship is "forbidden," but because they are honestly drawn together by attraction and respect. This story is a joy to read from beginning to end.

Recommended for fans of C.W. Gray, Emily Jane Buehler, and Sera Bishop.

* I received a free eArc through GRR in return for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own and are left without compensation. *

[Cara · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

The Beacon and the Brine is the second book in the Monstrous Cravings series.

It’s a retelling of *The Little Mermaid*, but with a dark twist and adapted for modern times.

It’s a standalone book, but it’s connected to the previous one since both are set in Peregrine City and feature that “found family” theme that characterizes the author’s work.

The story centers on Elrich, the son of a prominent family, whose sole passion is painting, and who finds himself in an arranged marriage resulting from a business alliance between the two families. Ursuline is the lawyer for the family of Elrich's fiancée. Here, the Tritons aren't kind or selfless; they're ruthless businesspeople.

As is typical of this author's books, this one explores kinks.

I enjoyed the book, especially how it puts a new spin on little details that I think we all have in the back of our minds.

I can't wait to read the third one, which looks very promising.

[Fae · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars
🌶️🌶️🌶️
This was a very fucking GOOD retelling of the Little Mermaid! Loved the fact that Ursuline is a non-binary/intersex character (with both internal and external genitalia - mating tentacles ftw baby!), loved the fact that the Triton family was actually the bad one. Did not initially love the fact that Elrich had major damsel-in-distress vibes, BUT he mostly redeemed himself by the end. Plus the fact that he felt so bad about always needing help and the way Ursuline supported him and reassured him were very well done.
I absolutely adored their dynamic. Like, I love a good Dom/sub dynamic but often it gets portrayed as either Daddy-dom or sadistic-dom. This was very much a caring/pleasure-dom that sometimes dipped its toe in 24/7 dynamic (with Elrich wanting them to choose their order at a restaurant). The storyline was very well-thought out I feel, though some things were quite predictable (because of familiarity with the original fairytale).