This Vicious Sea

by Megan G. Mossgrove, Sarah C. Davies

A blood-soaked pirate on a quest for her freedom.

A siren prince caught between vengeance and answers.

When Odelia Ivor, daughter of the most violent pirate on the Adamaris Sea, finds herself in the brig of The Gilded Hart, she doesn’t expect the captain that rescued her to be so… enticing. Bone blade, blue hair, bulging—cough—buttons on his shirt. Too bad he’s determined to let her rot in the inland prison. She’s got one hope to convince him to let her go—and it just might work out in all their favour.

Captain Rune Ahren, siren prince by blood, bounty hunter by choice, knows the routine. He’s caught his prey, and she wants to bargain. Except—this time—it’s a deal he can’t refuse. Lethally gorgeous and armed with a razor sharp tongue, the woman’s got more violence in her than a sea wyrm. It’s all he can do to focus on the task at hand, waiting for the moment she tries to kill him. Again.

One map, four keys, a deadly secret, and this vicious, monster-laden sea… But the greatest threat may just be the viper in his bed.


This Vicious Sea is a standalone, dual POV, spicy ocean romantasy featuring “run and I’ll catch you,” “where tf do you keep all these weapons?!” tying her to the mast for her safety, kissing underwater, kickass fmc, siren mmc, cutthroat banter, riddles, kraken fights, lost treasure, and more!

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Romantasy, Pirates, Mermaids

624 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 24, 2026

Reviews

[RedFireLady · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️
2 🌶

What's inside:
Enemies to Lovers
Forced Proximity
One Bed
High Seas Adventure
Siren Prince MMC
Deer Shifter Pirate FMC
Found Family
Treasure Hunt
Banter
Spice

This Vicious Sea is a standalone adventure-filled story about Odelia a pirate and daughter of a brutal pirate captain, and Rune, the siren prince that captures her. He is a bounty hunter intent on turning her in to face justice, but when Odelia strikes a bargain with Rune using the treasure map she stole from her father, they agree to hunt the treasure together and split what they find. And so begins their adventure to solve riddles while visiting several islands to locate the keys that will unlock the treasure they seek.

The book did start off a bit slow for me, but I am glad I stuck with it because it did end up grabbing my interest. Odelia is a complex character who just wants to escape her father and her past to begin a new life away from all the killing and brutality that she has experienced. I did find myself hurting and feeling for her and everything she has been through and wanting her to find the escape she seeks.
Rune is a tough but kind hearted siren that is looking for his lost mother while also bounty hunting pirates to clear the seas of its criminals. When he captures Odelia he is intent on turing her in, until he finds out the treasure map may also leads to clues about his missing mother.
The side characters really add a lot to the story as well and help to really round out the book. I couldnt help but fall in love with Rune and his crew.

The banter is fun and keeps things interesting and the plot was fun and engaging. I found myself laughing a few times and I even teared up a bit for Odelia and the trauma she experienced.

This was definitely an action-packed adventure about finding love and family where you least expect it.

Thank you to the authors for an eARC copy of this book.

[Noelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sitting here in awe over this story. I’ll be thinking about it for days to come. This story was the perfect mix of adventure, action, love, and more. The epic journey this story took us on was a roller coaster - one I still am not ready to be done riding. The riddles and obstacles that these characters had to work through and overcome were so well thought out and planned - I enjoyed each one. The found family in this book… *chef’s kiss* - It was such a beautiful thing to see how Odelia, a pirate captive and prisoner, became one of the Gilded Hart and how with each of the characters we loved… she really developed a relationship with them. Otto was just the sweetest and must be protected at all costs - I ABSOLUTELY loved his character. I actually loved all of the side characters and what they brought to the story. Odelia was so much fun to get to know more - she had so much depth to her character. Rune was also incredible and I loved the banter and jokes he brought to the book. Odelia & Rune’s attraction was tangible early on but the authors did an AMAZING job of building the chemistry and relationship between our main characters. This book had twists and turns that I wasn’t expecting but I’m blown away at how well they tied it up at the end. I found myself wondering how they would be able to do so as I was approaching the end… but really I am so so happy with the ending and the perfect little bow that tied this book together.

[Rochelle ♡]

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˖⁺‧₊♡ pre-read review ⋙
the entire concept of an enemies-to-lovers romance between a female pirate and siren prince hellbent on vengeance embarking on high sea adventures is so tantalising and irresistible! i’m looking forward to something different in the romantasy genre and beg that this delivers.

a massive thank you to megan g. mossgrove and sarah c davies for the gifted e-arc.

follow me on: instagram

[Shannon K G · Rating 4 out of 5]

The enemies to lovers between a bounty hunter and a pirate was swoon worthy at times. A few times their thoughts of attraction towards eachother was a bit out of place, but when it really counted it was near perfection.
The pace slows a few times, but the high stakes treasure hunt more than makes up for it making every page worthy.

[Meg (fantasybook.adventurer) · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨This Vicious Sea✨

This sweet and spicy Romantasy is EXACTLY what I needed. If you love pirates, sirens, shifters, and fae along with low stakes and gentle world building then you’ve GOT to check out this latest read by Megan and Sarah. I’ve had the pleasure of reading Sarah before and she NEVER fails me.

We follow a dual 1st person POV from Odelia, our pirate lord’s daughter who is renowned for her prowess but fighting to escape her reputation, and Rune, our Siren Prince bounty hunter who just so happens to capture said daughter, one of the ruthless Vipers. When they agree to assist each other in a treasure hunt, Rune hopes to find answers on his missing mother and Odelia seeks to find enough gold to run from her problems, because being alone means safety. Except that that mantra soon falls short when she begins integrating into Rune’s reluctant crew.

Odelia is strong yet longing to be soft, scarred, and ready to escape her sins. She only wants to be free, but her past won’t release her. Rune is a green flag, cinnamon roll Captain. He is supportive, encouraging, and willing to take everyone’s burdens. Together, they complement each other so well and I loved seeing them grow closer. The tension, yearning, and slow burn had me giggling and aching and when the burn ignites, each moment is SO GOOD. This is a cozy Romantasy and I loved how it revolved completely around the romance. And Otto was a clear favorite. 🤭 I can 💯 see myself reading this again when I need a comfort read.

Tropes you may find in TVS are forced proximity, wound tending, captive x captor, cinnamon roll siren daddy, one tent/one bed, pirates, fae and shifters, gentle world building, treasure hunt, slow burn to medium spice, so much yearning, found family, nickname, and a HEA.

Thank you, Megan and Sarah, for this gifted arc and thank you, Sarah, for allowing me to continue to be on your ST. It’s a pleasure to have been here from the beginning!!

[Deirdre · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an eARC directly from the authors, and this is my honest review.

- dual POV
- 🦌 deer shifting wood nymph
- siren prince 🤴🏻 🧜‍♀️
- he chases her, & she likes it 😉
- 🏴‍☠️pirates
- treasure map 🗺️
- enemies to reluctant allies to lovers ❤️
- standalone
- ❤️😃HEA

If you are looking for a fun standalone in a pirate setting that is very predictable, highly troped, with an HEA, this is the book for you!

I give this book 3.5 stars. Overall, I liked this book, it was a fun time, and I am glad to have read it. I am also a sucker for a sappy, HEA and this provided that!

In regard to the plot, I got glimpses of Indiana Jones, The Mummy, Pirates of the Caribbean, and more recently the movie Uncharted.

This book was primarily romance focused with a heavy side plot. As the plot moves forward, much of the focus was still on the tension between the MC’s. There were frequent action scenes that got your heart racing, but before and after these action scenes, again, the focus was on the attraction and tension building between the MCs.

This story started off with strong hate between the MCs. He jailed her and she tried to kill him. Then, they discovered that they had a shared goal, so they reluctantly aligned with each other. He still didn’t trust her, so he would tie her up to his bed at night. Over time, trust was established and slowly built. Of course, though, as that trust was building, they still had secrets they had not shared with each other. Eventually, the secrets are revealed and there are hurt emotions. Those emotions are processed and then they reunite, and we have our happy ending.

- I will note that there were no surprises and zero twists. This was a big part of why I did not give it a full four or five stars. The fact that it was so predictable made it somewhat cheesy and that’s not my favorite. However, that doesn’t make for a bad story, it just doesn’t keep me on edge and/or it does not provoke the strong emotions I like when reading a book when there’s a surprise or twist.

Now come on let’s chat about the characters:

I really liked that the MMC was different than other men in the genre. He had blue hair, was a male siren, and was overall very kind and empathetic. In addition to this, he was strong, fierce, and determined. Again, this was a nice change of pace for an MMC in the genre. I appreciated how thoughtful he was and he was a big part of why the MFC was able to have such substantial character growth. I also really love that the MMC had emotions and was vulnerable by crying in front of the MFC. I love a man that can show a range of emotions, not just anger

I also really liked the MFC. She was just doing her best to find a sense of safety, which required her to escape her father and keep big secrets from everyone else. She was a nice blend of being 1) assertively aggressive in order to protect herself, 2) vulnerable overtime, and 3) truthful at times to give other people a chance. She could stand up for herself both emotionally and physically, and would verbally assault men who were disgusting. Similar to the MMC, I really liked that she was able to share her emotions with the MMC, especially ones other than anger once they established some trust.

In regards to the MCs, the relationship between them was very predictable. This was not bad or good, just giving information for those reading this review to determine if they like predictability or not. The MFC was raised emotionally abused and neglected, so she was cold and presented with a rough exterior, but really she had a warm heart. Standard MFC trope. The MMC was raised with love, but high expectations for what he should do and how he should behave as a prince. He was more warm, but cocky and arrogant at times. Again, standard MMC trope for a prince. Both MC‘s only have fathers and no mothers (really common trope). The MCs we’re a great fit together. They challenged each other to grow. The MMC‘s found family opened the MFC with warm arms and showed her how families really should look. The MFC then showed the MMC that not all pirates were jerks. I really was impressed with both their individual character and relational growth.

- The MMC’s found family was fantastic. I loved Otto so much. What a warm heart. He added so much to the plot, even though he was a side character. Also, the MMC‘s best friends having their secret love for each other. Although a small component to the story, I loved it. They were both very loyal to him and challenged him to be better. They even had character and relational growth, which was lovely to read.

- The pacing: the pacing the first 20% of the book was quite slow, and I had a difficult time getting drawn in. However, the pacing starts picking up and the plot starts moving forward after 20%. Then, every aspect of the story really starts moving around 50%.

- There were some heart wrenching, anxiety provoking action scenes that really drew me in. I loved when the MMC would try to “protect” the MFC and she would just show him that that was unnecessary, most of the time. She challenged his need to control in these action scenes, really forcing him to grow.

Some points I didn’t love about this book:
- A big chunk of the book focused on the internal dialogue from each of the MC’s POV about how attracted the MCs were to each other and all the reasons why they could not be together. This got a bit repetitive at how much and how often this happened. I think internal dialogue such as this is important for readers to understand each person‘s POV, but when it is frequent, lengthy, and the same content every other chapter, I’m just now skipping these paragraphs saying, I get it!

- Because of how often and how much the internal dialogue focused on how attracted the MC’s were to each other and why they could not be together, the characters lacked depth. It was not until the last 10% that we got more glimpses about the MMC‘s past. It wasn’t until the end that I felt I knew him a little bit better. I don’t think we should have to wait until the last 10% of a standalone to actually find some depth to a main character. Also, although I understood the MFC and why she was the way she was, we were only told this. We were never shown the depth to the MFC. Currently, I’m audio listening to another book and I’m only 8% in, and I feel like I know that MFC incredibly well. I don’t think authors need to spend chapters describing the depth of a character, but little snippets intertwined in early help draw me into the character, again something of which I felt was lacking in this book.

- The banter: Finally, around 50 to 55%, I felt the banter and sexual tension between the MC’s was finally something that had me giggling. Before that, I didn’t get that strong anticipation feeling in my chest when banter is really strong. Don’t get me wrong, there was banter, but it wasn’t as enthusiastic and blush inducing as I like. I was excited to have this level of banter start at the 50% mark.

- I normally don’t notice but I caught modern language in this book that did not make sense for this world. This book takes place in this magical land, but they used the words such as “pay check.” That’s a really modern term based literally in paper checks from banks. I don’t think this pirate world has checks.

- My one issue with the MMC was how he truly was a terrible captain. He was a good person, but a terrible captain. The author’s put work into creating a kind and warmer man, as evidenced by him allowing a pirate to yell at him without consequence, when all other captains would have “slit his throat.” So, that didn’t make sense for much of his behavior. 🏴‍☠️ First, the MMC’s ship was one that found bounties but the MMC decided, for selfish reasons, they were going on a treasure hunt, even when his crew AND closest friends said that was not a good idea and asked him not to, multiple times. He did not care what they thought and did what he wanted. If he were a ruthless captain or a golden retriever captain going into his villain era, this would have made so much more sense. He was written as wanting to find his mother, but to have his crew killed off and he just kept going to find information about his mother (not even find his mother! just information) didn’t align with how he was described morally, especially because his internal dialogue all throughout the book was about how much hate he had towards pirates who would just kill everyone for their own selfish pursuits. 🏴‍☠️ Second, his men died because of his selfish pursuits and almost no care was given. He just keeps trucking along and there was only a mention of going to the funerals, and I’m not sure he even did. Yes, he does make a choice to do everything alone to prevent death, but he just moved right along and people kept dying. 🏴‍☠️ And thirdly, during fighting scenes and people getting hurt, he’s focused on the MFC’s wet white shirt or how hot she looks. 👎🏻 Really?

- Also, there were a ton of spelling and some grammar errors. I read a ton of ARCs and I don’t think I’ve read one with this many errors before. I hope they have a good editor to catch all of these before published!

[Siren Bard · Rating 4 out of 5]

I honestly enjoyed this book!
At first it feels like this is going to be an enemies to lovers and instead you get this forbidden love vibe-Which I loved. He is a Captain and she is a scum eating Pirate. Their kinds don’t mix! Yet... Mixing happens... and its spicy!
Our MMC Rune is a sunshine type and it shows in how he talks and banters with FMC Odelia the obvious grump of the two. But there is an attraction that doesn't take long to spark but oh does it take these two to sometime to fan that spark to a flame! I loved every moment of it! Also let me say the banter only keeps going after the feels begin, which is nice because instead of flutters and flattery the banter doesn’t fizzle out, instead keeps going giving the book a playful feel along with the heart stopping dangers the Gilded Hart Crew face
I was already a Megan G. Mossgrove Fan but now adding Sarah Davies to my list of enjoyed authors after this book.

[Kassyreadsalot · Rating 4 out of 5]

Title: This Vicious Sea

Author: Megan G. Mossgrove & Sarah C. Davies

Synopsis: A blood-soaked pirate on a quest for her freedom.

A siren prince caught between vengeance and answers.

When Odelia Ivor, daughter of the most violent pirate on the Adamaris Sea, finds herself in the brig of The Gilded Hart, she doesn’t expect the captain that rescued her to be so… enticing. Bone blade, blue hair, bulging—cough—buttons on his shirt. Too bad he’s determined to let her rot in the inland prison. She’s got one hope to convince him to let her go—and it just might work out in all their favour.

Captain Rune Ahren, siren prince by blood, bounty hunter by choice, knows the routine. He’s caught his prey, and she wants to bargain. Except—this time—it’s a deal he can’t refuse. Lethally gorgeous and armed with a razor sharp tongue, the woman’s got more violence in her than a sea wyrm. It’s all he can do to focus on the task at hand, waiting for the moment she tries to kill him. Again.

One map, four keys, a deadly secret, and this vicious, monster-laden sea… But the greatest threat may just be the viper in his bed.


Review: This book was everything I wanted and more! There was action, adventure, and romance that let me rooting for the main characters! What could be better than that? I loved Ofelia as the main female character I completely understood where she was coming from and why she was the was she is! Rune was fantastic! He was just as interesting and I loved the way he interacted with Odelia! I absolutely adored the found family aspect in this book! It was perfect and I couldn’t get enough of it! It was nice to see her be loved and happy considering her life hasn’t been easy! I loved the side characters they were great! I adored Odi he was such a sweetheart and he deserved the world! I never wanted this book to end!

Thank you to Megan and Sara for giving me the opportunity to read this book in advance!

[Kelly Kerr · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5-3.75⭐

~ ARC Review ~

A pirate romantasy with forbidden love, shifters, and found family. I enjoyed it for a romantasy. I thought the characters were likeable, especially the side characters. The action scenes were engaging and the trials were unpredictable and stressful.

However, I thought the spice was a little TOO much. It was especially jarring when a horny thought popped up in the middle of life/death situations. I also felt like there were several loose ends that were not resolved by the end.

Overall, if you like spicy romantasy with a nautical twist and heavy emphasis on found family, you'll find this a fun read. However, I wish the term "vicious seas" wasn't so overused.

[Jade Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a fun read. A refreshing change from shadow daddies. A siren prince bounty hunter MC and stabby deer shifter pirate FMC. It’s got trials, it’s got banter, it’s got tension of all varieties. Definitely worth a read for any romatasy reader 🖤

[Marissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

“This Vicious Sea” is a spicy ocean romantasy by Sarah C Davies and Megan G. Mossgrove.
An adventure like “The Mummy” but with Pirate flair, it’s loaded with dangerous creatures, deadly puzzles, and treasure hunting wrought with risk…and an enemies-to-lovers romance full of steam 🤤

The adventure component? Invigorating. None of the puzzles is the same that they have to face, but they’re written so well that they don’t change the energy of each scene. It reminded me so much of “The Mummy” movies (my favorite) that I couldn’t get enough. The creatures of each island? Terrifyingly cool. Mossgrave & Davies's use of mythical creatures like Sirens, Kelpies, and the Kraken was both shocking and awe-inspiring.

I admired Odelia (I love the name) and her desire to start over. Her character is full of love amidst her heartbreaking and ruthless past, and I was grateful she was able to learn and experience the different types of love that she needed. Rune is as handsome as he is dangerous; his blue hair and Siren abilities have teeth and claws that bear the brunt of his heartbreaking mission. They’re everything (on the surface) that they should detest, but that “f— it” moment? Scrumptious 🤌

🌶️🌶️🌶️ with “slow burn” heat, yearning for the enemy, hip gripping action, and almost breaking a bolted bed.

Aside from the MCs, we meet a lot of characters in “This Vicious Sea,” and they all brought something important to the table. While we’re left with an HEA for our MCs, I wondered what happens next to the characters I grew to love. The cook with a big heart? The Fae and her Siren?
A second book is in the works, and I have a feeling I know whose story is next. I want them all!

The book begins at a slower pace with fast moments to reel you in before you realize you’re reeled in, hook, line, and sinker. There is no slow pace after this; it felt like an adventure movie where everything happens with momentary calms, but you, instead of being at the edge of your seat, are grinning ear to ear with eagerness.

I found this book when I was deep in my merman era, and girlll I was NOT disappointed. I jumped on this ARC opportunity, and I’m glad I did!

[Jersy.the.romantasy.moms · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Odelia is a walking ocean. Unpredictable. Dangerous. Raging. Calm. Breathtaking. And I’m drowning in her."

What an action packed love story! I would say this is equal parts epic fantasy and romantasy. The plot and goal of the characters are each their own and amazing. But the chemistry, banter, and obsession these two grow into was hot and magical!

Here is your new favorite pirate fantasy of 2026!

Sirens, bounty hunters, pirates, shifters, fae, princes, kraken... I could go on and on. It was not over done one bit. The balance of characters and their roles was perfection. It kept me turning the pages late in to multiple nights. You can't just stop in the middle of battles!!!

What also makes an amazing adventure for me? Entertaining side characters who captures your attention and heart just as much as the main characters. I could just wrap Bear up in my arms ans never let him go! He is the ships cook who was severely injured at age 14 by mone other than Odelia father, the captain of the Sea Bane.

Quick intro:
Odelia of the infamous Sea Bane is a shifter pirate who gets captured by bounty hunter, siren, and pirate hater, Rhune. Upon interrogation, she offers a treasure map that is more interest to him and his heritage than turning her into authorities. Together they go through the different clues and tasks the map set forth. Every step is dangerous and life threatening.

Definitely put this on your TBR for release on February 24th! You won't be disappointed!

Things to look forward to:
🗡 Badass FMC Pirate
🗡 Siren Bounty Hunter MMC
🗡 Magical Creatures of many kinds
🗡 Enemies to Lovers
🗡 Slow Burn
🗡 Forced Promixity
🗡 Treasure Hunt
🗡 Banter

[Rachel’s Coffee & Rain Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨ARC Review✨

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️

🧜‍♂️ enemies to lovers
🏴‍☠️ deer shifter pirate FMC
🧜‍♂️ siren prince MMC
🏴‍☠️ Pirates of the Caribbean x Indiana Jones
🧜‍♂️ banter & spice
🏴‍☠️ only one tent

This was an adventure-packed standalone with all the feels, delicious enemies-to-lovers banter and tension, treasure hunting, found family, spice, and a hard-earned love.

Odelia was a great blend of strong and soft, fierce and gentle. She was smart, kind, empathetic, and easy to root for. Rune was arrogant and a strong leader, hellbent on doing the right thing, but frustrated by his pull to the enigmatic pirate he captured. Both of their growth was intriguing to see and kept me reading as I couldn’t wait for them to finally see each other.

The found family on the ship was great, Otto must be protected at all costs. I almost wanted a bit more of that, of Odi building those bonds with others as well as Rune.

The adventure was extremely well done, the perils on each island intense and I couldn’t stop reading. This book offered the adventure of Indiana Jones and the all the feels of your favorite romantasy. I cried a couple times, laughed out loud, and was glued to my kindle during heart-pounding action. Would rec if you love pirate/siren, enemies to lovers, adventure, found family, spice, revenge/redemption.


Why not 5 stars? For me some of the writing was a tad long-winded and struggled to hold my attention in parts. My mind would drift or I’d subconsciously skip ahead to dialogue to see if the scene moved forward. The action and second half of the book made up for this, but I still feel maybe 50 pages could have been cut.

[Bookish._.Banter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pirates. Shifters. And Sirens! Oh MY!!

Nisse wants to escape her identity as a savage pirate. Her father is the most sought after and feared pirate on the seas. And he honed her to be a weapon.

In her attempt to flee, another band of pirates has attacked their ship, knocking her overboard. She didn’t want to die this way but resigns herself to the fate as her world fades to black from lack of oxygen.

Rune is a siren prince who has turned bounty hunter on a multifaceted mission. Set to rid the seas of pirate scum and also discover what happened to his mother, who disappeared years ago.

When she awakens in the brig, the name her mother gave her spills from her lips in a desperate moment of self preservation. Odelia. Far less likely to get her killed but everyone on the ship is still wary of her.

When she presents a map to long lost treasure that bears the symbol of his mother, they set sails on an adventure that will spill much blood and open even more wounds. She just wants to get the treasure and disappear. He wants answers and to end the evil that nearly took one of his own.

There’s so many emotions: raw and tumultuous that have you kicking and giggling or screaming and crying! And the slow burn damn near sets the sea to boiling!

An excellent entry into this world.

[kayleighsBookCorner · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely loved everything about this book. The story, the writing, the banter and tension. It was so good. Pirate/siren books always do it for me, and this one definitely didnt disappoint!

You get a mixture of action, adventure and love as our MCs go on and epic quest to find burried treasure. But its definitely not an easy journey, as there are dangers at every turn.

Odelia is such a badass! She a pirate and a killer, but she also has a heart and just wants to be loved.
And Rune, oh man, he's definitely been added to my list of book boyfriends. Hes the siren prince and bounty hunter whose tough when he needs to be, but underneath, he has a playful caring side. Him and Odelia are just perfect together.

The side characters really brought this book together. Tavi and Elio, ahh I need to know more about them. And Otto (Bear) he was just the sweetest

[Ashley Brink · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars! This Vicious Sea is exactly what I needed right now. I’m currently juggling way too many unfinished series, so finding a standalone this good was so refreshing!

Rune is a siren prince who hunts pirates. When he unknowingly rescues the daughter of his worst pirate enemy, he begrudgingly finds himself working with the “sea scum” Odelia to hunt for a treasure that may hold answers about his past. But as they face the deadly treasure map tasks, they can’t help but be drawn to one another.

The chemistry and banter amongst the crew is what drew me into this story the most, and the found family was so heartwarming. It is a fast paced plot with the perfect balance of romance and action. I especially loved all the mythical creatures, including some that I don’t read about often but really enjoyed: pirates, sirens, krakens, and wyrms mixed with fae and shifters. It is impressive how much action, magic, and romance the authors packed into a single book without it feeling rushed. I really hoping the authors write more standalones with these characters in the future!! Thank you Megan Mossgrove and Sarah Davies for the amazing ARC!

• Enemies-to-lovers
• Deadly treasure hunt
• Found family
• Dual POV
• Tension and Banter
• Forced proximity
• Captive x captor
• Cinnamon roll hero

[Alexandria Gale · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really fun read! I haven't read a book with a Siren MMC before, which is what drew me in at first since it was a little different. Plus that cover art! sooooo pretty.

Anyway, those are what interested me at first, but the story itself is what kept me reading and zooming right through the book. The plot was great, it wasn't just the amazing slow burn romance but the treasure hunting aspect, with added danger etc it was amazing. We get lovable side characters, some less lovable characters all of it :)
We get spice but it doesn't kick up until later in the story but when it does *fans self*

The conclusion to this story was good and closed off nicely. If more stories are added to this world I will definitely read them.

[Brooke Thacker · Rating 4 out of 5]

The cover art immediately made me want to read this and I’m so glad I did!

I really enjoyed it and will definitely be reading the next story to come. I believe it’ll focus on different main characters which I am here for because I grew to really love the side characters and want more of them.

Otto of course was adorable and I wanted even more moments of him bonding with Odi and telling a bit more of his story.

Rune was an immediate love as well as Odi. I loved watching their story unfold. They were both interesting characters with so much to them.

The ending wrapped up really sweet and I’d absolutely love an even longer epilogue a few years down the road 👀 maybe even a novella. I love Rune and Odi and will take anything I can get of them.

What kept me from giving 5 stars is just personal preference. I wanted more bonding moments with banter and more downtime to space out all of the action going on. Overall though I loved this book and the writing/characters and can’t wait for more!

[Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

la first like to give the authors a big "thank you!" for providing me with an ARC of this lovely novel.

Written in dual POV, this book follows the story of Odelia and Rune, a pirate and siren respectively. Both are dealing with their own prejudices and grief but through the book, work through these challenges together. I really enjoyed the side characters as well, especially Otto. Last, the love scenes were very tender and I felt the build up very believable.

This was a very unique story, and I'll definitely be recommending it to my fellow book lovers.

I do feel like the writing could've used a bit of work, as the first 1/4 of the book seemed to have endless em dashes and choppy sentences. Things got much better as the book progressed, but poor grammar/sentence structure did take me out of the story at times.
Last, while I believe there will be another book in this world, I wish the story focused a bit more on world building. It felt a bit two-dimensional.

[Chennie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was invited to read This Vicious Sea as an ARC reader, and what a fun adventure it was. It is a stand-alone fantasy adventure with pirates, sirens and sea monsters. It is enemies to lovers and has some fun banter between the two main characters. It comes with a treasure hunt (because pirates!) and a satesfying HEA. It was fun from the start until the end. Read it as a book between series, as a pallet cleanser, or just because you want to read a solid good stand alone.

[Mackenzie Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Odelia is a walking ocean. Unpredictable. Dangerous. Raging. Calm. Breathtaking. And I’m drowning in her."

I absolutely adored this book! It may include some swashbuckling adventures and gore, but it was such a sweet romance! I love how their trust and love bloomed over time.

I think the only thing I would've liked is more background on the MMC's mom. We don't get a complete background as to what happened to her and why.

[Clémence · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you so much for the ARC !

I took my time reading it, but as I went deeper into the book, I just couldn't put it down.

This book is an adventure and a journey, of two souls finding each other, spiced with such loveable characters (I'll gladly give my life for Otto).

It is slow burn, but once they cave in... The FEELS ! ALL THE FEELS !

I loved every bit of it, every island described, every riddle solved, and every kiss shared

[Bibliophile · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was EVERYTHING! I loved the tension, the enemies to lovers, and the high-stakes treasure hunting. A lot of this was cute, especially with the found family, and some tender moments. Pace was mostly fast paced, though the book is a bit long but expected for fantasy romance. Perfect for fans of pirate romances, heists, secrets, and enemies to lovers dynamic.

Overall; 5 ⭐️ and 2.5 🌶️

* I received this as an ARC*

[Abby Windsor · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ✨

If you like adventures, riddles, deadly pirates with booty, hunky sea captains and spice you’ll love This Vicious Sea.

The combination of Davies and Mossgroves writing styles shine through for one epic adventure.

Thank you Sarah and Megan for allowing me an early read.

I don’t want to give anything away pre-launch date so I’ll leave with a snippet that is sure to leave you wanting more.

“She’s a pirate and I’m a bounty hunter—a prince—but the truth is, here on my knees, I know without a doubt that I would crumble for her.”

[CO · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! It’s everything I like in a romantasy- enemies to lovers, adventure, and fun side characters. It was an easy read but interesting enough to keep me engaged. It’s definitely a slow burn… but so worth it! Can’t wait to see if there will be another book in the same world to explore the other characters.

[Carina · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 🌟

I received an ARC of this book, this is my honest review. This book is a standalone. It was such an easy read. I love fast pacing books, there was always something happening. Rune is not your typical brooding MMC, he is charismatic, funny and very caring. Odi is such a breath of fresh air, she is capable without being bitchy, has gone through life just surviving and the only thing the reader wants it’s for her to finally be loved. The side characters are adorable, all in their own way. The world is quite complex but the authors don’t fall for pages and pages of infodump, you can place yourself in it quite quickly. The spice is plenty and explicit. You can’t go wrong if you pick this book.

[Claire · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had a lot of fun reading this one! Pirate and adventurer vibes mixed with fantasy elements made for a really fresh read. The FMC and MMC had great chemistry and I enjoyed their relationship. At certain points the world building felt a bit thin but overall didn’t detract from the story at all. The conflict wraps up in the last roughly 30 pages which I also didn’t love.
Overall, fun read with a fresh take on pirates and sirens and characters who were compelling and enjoyable!

Thanks to the authors for an eARC copy of this book!

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a sucker for forced proximity and enemies to lovers... actual enemies to lovers..SLOW BURN... mix in pirates amd sirens and shifters... SOLD !!! ODI is a feisty strong FMC THAT I love READING ABOUT... this book has many side characters that are loveable too .. RUNE *SWOONS* ...YES YES YES.... the plot was fun and interesting and takes you on the adventure with the characters... if you love a good romantasy story filled with creatures of all shapes and sizes...check this out !!! ty so much foe the advanced copy of this beautifully written story ....

[BethsBooks95 · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨️ARC review copy✨️

absolutely loved this read. loved the banter. loved the tension. loved when they finally admitted their feelings. loved Otto. so, so good.

[Kel Bel Bookmonger · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨ARC REVIEW✨

This book was beautifully written ♥️ a true enemies to lovers. Pirates & Mermaids 🧜‍♀️ who wouldn’t like that?? Someone that can’t be trusted!! 4.5 ⭐️