Secrets of the Void

Deep Waters #5

by Emma Hamm

She was never meant to wake up.

Ellie was created in secret. A perfect clone of a powerful woman long dead. For years, she knew only sterile walls, the touch of cold instruments, and the voice of the scientist who molded her into something useful. Something obedient.

Until the day she opened her eyes and met a god.

Proteus. The sea’s first son. The god who once ruled the depths, and who has spent centuries imprisoned by those who feared him. Now freed, his vengeance is as vast as the ocean itself. He will reclaim his dominion. Drown the world that betrayed him. And he will use Ellie, the clone who carries the face of his enemy, to do it.

But the more time he spends with her, the more his carefully built hatred begins to unravel. Because Ellie isn’t just a tool. She’s clever, defiant, heartbreakingly alive. And Proteus—ancient, merciless Proteus—finds himself wanting her more than he wants his revenge.

She was made to serve.
He was born to destroy.
Together, they could end humanity. Or save it.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Monster Romance, Monsters, Mermaids, Fiction, Romantasy

383 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 5, 2025

About the author

We all know you don't really care about reading my background. Enjoy Cap instead.

Reviews

[katie ୨୧ · Rating 3 out of 5]

rtc!

BYE I THOUGHT THIS SERIES WAS OVER

WE BACK BABY

[Haven · Rating 2 out of 5]

not gonna lie this was extremely disappointing and I was almost blind with rage that this was the end of this series. Harry Potter ass ending.

One extra star for the epic character decision for Proteus being a deep sea demogorgon basically, but he's such a basic romantasy edgelord with the normal morality of a person that it was a waste of an epic design. He was just some dude and Ellie had the personality of a wet paper towel even at the end. His motivations made absolutely zero sense and also he dropped most of his convictions immediately.....so.....

time to reread Daios and Anya my favorite war criminals

[brooklyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

what the hell was that??? the main characters were so flat?? you put a miscommunication trope in my monster romance???? Emma Hamm i was rooting for you!!!!!!

[Gerbera_Reads · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF at 46%

I can't stay interested in the story. I do not like the MCs. Ellie is bland and Proteus is written too human like considering he is an ancient creature and very different from regular undines. I found that irritating. I am sorry not to finish this series because I loved the first 3 books very much. But I just do not care to continue.

[J · Rating 2 out of 5]

This series has made its way into my heart in a way that is difficult to describe. I've read them all, reread a the first a few times and generally couldnt get enough.
When I saw this book I felt like I was holding my breath till I had it. I am a quick reader- most books only take me a few hours. This one... it took a few days. I felt the charm, and the excitement at times, but it was so difficult. Nearly insta love without them understanding it. The world was in my opinion not wrapped up well, in the last 10 pages I was sure there was going to be a glimpse at another book due to its dragging. No it jumped to the future to show that some things become a bit more comfy for the future generarions.

I feel like the book can be summarized quite quickly:
Tentacle creature who sees himself as a god finds a clone, eats her arm in a fit of rage over his parents dying and then her lack of response is seen as strength so he is interested in her. She teaches him to be his own person and tell the truth to other humans and mermen in order to save their races from extinction.

There was a huge emphasis on splicing in this book which was made sense but to end the book with the knowledge that Mira and Arges were able to gestate a baby feels like... for generations they didnt try making babies the old fashion way in those big science labs? This book specifically said that the baby is the first hybrid so I dont think I missed something. Scientists constantly messing with genes and DNA and they didnt try to see what happens naturally?

I feel like the scenes dragged at times, and were too quick in others. I enjoyed the visualizations, but it still felt a bit forced? Almost like maybe us fans were holding the author at [insert weapon of your choosing] point.

Overall I am thankful, and proud to have completed this series. I do feel like the last two were dropping off.

Thank you Emma!

[Rachel Hirsch · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am sorry to have to give this rating because I have really enjoyed most of this series! But this book was such a miss for me. It ended up being extremely repetitive, sometimes almost the exact same sentence in the same paragraph. The plot did not feel cohesive and I didn’t believe the chemistry between the two main characters because there wasn’t a lot of build up, or enough understanding of motivations. The character growth was told more than shown (IMO). For example, a lot of what should have been new experiences for Ellie, got explained away with a simple “I witnessed this once before so it’s not very new to me” and that was frustrating. I felt like the author wasn’t sure what she wanted to tell you about either of these main characters; we would spend a short time exploring their pasts only to be yanked out of it before it started getting good. It’s like there weren’t enough details on the things that mattered (what does survival for humans and undines really look like in this new vision of the future?), and all over the place with details that I could have gone without (how many times Ellie saw someone jorkin it back on Tau). Bonus points for the character design of Proteus because that was cool and I love a truly terrifying MMC. But… this book was boring. There, I said it.

[saralouisereads · Rating 5 out of 5]

3🌶️ i’m in tears over this series being over 😭 and with how full my heart is not just for these characters (although i may have shed a few tears just for them) but for all of the characters throughout this series. i looooved these two so much, our mmc being a big scary monster but SO sweet for his girl and his girl alone had me meltinggggg, possessive and obsessed, just how we like em. fantastic book/series. going down as one of my most favorite series ever. this was a wonderful end of an era, everything wrapped up so nicely. i seriously can’t wait to read more of Emma’s books. i will forever recommend this series to my monster lovers and those looking to dip a toe into this genre. 🥹🩵

[Annica ⚡️ annica_reads_books ⚡️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this series and this final book. So sad it’s over! These characters were some of my faves. I loved Proteus 🤤

[Marie-Maude Michaud · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 ⭐️ !! Sad that this series is over :(

[Zeen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sadly, a disappointing and boring conclusion to what was otherwise a stellar series. Nothing about Proteus felt ancient...he was just some guy...

[cereal · Rating 5 out of 5]

i just wanna first thank Emma Hamm for letting me be a beta reader for this wonderful book!

i was invested in every single aspect of this book. the plot, the romance, the tension.... emma hamm does it once again. Proteus was an interesting character design. i did really love watching both his & Ellie's development throughout the story (and oh my goodness was there alot of development!)

i also really like the closer look to the Above and how the world has been laid out. good worldbuilding is super important for a good story, and i think the worldbuilding in this book was exceptional.

i ate this book up 🤭 5/5 stars, and i have to say i think this was my favorite of the series, and it's bittersweet to think it was the end. i love this world so much.

[Dayna | daynas.bookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

by far my favorite book in the series 😭 what a stunning way to finish the Deep Waters!!

this series has impressed me from book one with its depth (no pun intended). this isn’t just a monster romance!! each story is beautiful, powerful, and an eye opening reminder to take care of our earth. emma hamm’s characters are so multi layered and captivating, i’m always in awe.

this book specifically swept me away from page one. i’ve been WAITING to learn more about the ancients this whole series and i loved being back in this world but from a slightly different perspective. this book felt like it was written for the “eldest daughters who grew up as gifted kids” to see themselves in ellie who sees her worth only in her accomplishments. enter a literal sea god monster with the weight of the world on his shoulders who becomes violently down bad and the rest is history. they stole my heart and i was living for every sweet moment 😭

ALSO?? the opportunities for future books is soooo exciting and i’m sat patiently to see what happens with future releases 👀

so excited to be starting the year off on such a high note. if you haven’t started this series, take this as your sign!!!

[Corryn Hernandez · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m so sad. :(

I loved the beginnings of this series so much, and I feel that’s evident as I stuck with it for 5 books (plus a novella) waiting for it to recapture the magic it had.

The ending that we were given was so hollow. All of this buildup for a future that was given maybe 5 pages of explanation in a flash forward? And we don’t even see ALL of the characters and where they’re found themselves in this new world? Only Mira and Arges and their little abomination. Okay cool, anyone else? How is this effecting things? What’s the Above looking like?

Ellie and Proteus had really interesting sex scenes (iykyk🐙) but their romance was TERRIBLE. Proteus was SO cool as a character being a literal monster and a god, but he immediately became an emo crybaby who took out his bad moods on everyone, INCLUDING ELLIE??? Mind you, she’s about as interesting as a dishrag, but I still don’t want to read about my female protags being literally mutilated and terrified into compliance. It was genuinely like 75% into the book and she was still afraid of him killing her over bullshit when they had ALREADY been intimate… it’s very much giving abusive and manipulative. And it came off even weirder because Ellie, being a CLONE, was programmed and trained to be compliant and is VERY inexperienced. Their whole thing reeks of grooming which never made it super great reading about Proteus’s 5th attempt on her life and Ellie’s 27th internal fear of being killed or discarded.

Als the logistics of their goals and plans were very confusing. I could not understand exactly what Proteus’s plans were half the time, or how they were working toward them. The research facilities (Sanctuary? Honestly idk) and the new Above facilities were not folded well into the story. I did not understand the moving parts, and not for a lack of trying.

I am very sad about this honestly.

[Liv - Livslibrarylabyrinth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love an emo boy sea monster.

Pretty cool that Proteus really was a “monster” compared to the undines. He was a genuinely scary ancient monster wrapped up in a secret softie yearning package.

Seeing the characters we know and love from the perspective of somebody that doesn’t trust them was super interesting and I really appreciated the different angle.

I thought the characters in this one were a little flat compared to the others? I still enjoyed it and loved that we got an ending to the series, but there was a lack of chemistry.

Overall a fantastic series and it continues to remain one of my favourite monster romances of all time.

[Ryanne · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ughhhh. I didn’t like the way this one all wrapped up. It was so rushed and didn’t make sense. The miscommunication trope between the People of the Water and the humans was painful. Who the heck was Ellie? She didn’t make sense? I just didn’t see her as a person even though that was the entire point of her story. I felt like I understood what the author wanted conveyed but the way it came to be just didn’t hit for me. Also why was the arm eating ever included? It did NOTHING for the plot, absolutely nothing. It was disturbing and weird and unnecessary. Hated hated hated Proteus mouth situation, it was so weird.

Now, this book wasn’t a total loss. I still like the world that was created. Alexia is MY GIRL. I appreciate this author and her creativity. I really love the four other books. I hope your next series is about the snake people Above.

[Mair Alys · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favourite of the series.

Omg Proteus. I LOVE HIM!

And Ellie? Such a good character.
Them together?
Unrivalled.


This series is one of the best romance series I’ve ever read.
The character the plot the world. I never want it to end.

[Jnix · Rating 2 out of 5]

I adored this series, but I think it peaked with book 3 and Maketes. I was confused about everyone’s motivations and the story was pretty convoluted. The epilogues tied things up well enough, and it was sweet seeing everyone’s endings. But I think maybe the story tried to be too wide in scope and do too much.

[Alicja Mis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing finale to an amazing series 💙 Ellie is for all the people pleasers on their healing journey or before it

[Nezha · Rating 5 out of 5]

The perfect end to the Deep Waters series 😭👌🏻
Proteus and Ellie's lives were so different on the outside but I loved reading about them getting to know each other and figuring out how similar they actually are 🥹💘

I started and finished the Deep Waters series in 2025 and I have to say it has definitely earned a place among my favourite book series I've read so far 🙌🏻

[Charlie · Rating 1 out of 5]

hard to read with a disappointing end

I absolutely loved the first four books of this series, I could not read them fast enough. This one however is a complete mess. Its not written like the other ones, the love interests suck and there nothing to like about them, things are just repeated and so much of the exposition just feels like page filler to pad out the length for no reason. I hate shadow-daddy style male love interests and this one gets that boring treatment. There is nothing to like about P or Ellie and they working so well together makes no sense. I struggled to get through this book and the "four years later" HP style ending is garbage. This kinda ruined the series for me.

[t1ffs03 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did have this at 3 stars but I changed it to 4 because of Pilot.

Proteus, my guy, you are terrifying. Please go back to sleep (im just kidding). It was suprising to know the undines were the ones to put him to sleep due to him being a god but they were different from the ones we know. He would definitely have me shaking in my flippers. I wish there was a way to see him lined up around the others. His intentions were....nice? He wanted the humans out of the water which made sense but his way of going about it was so egotistical.

Ellie, my baby who was only born 2 seconds ago, of course you would end up with the scariest one. I loved her so much. She was so innocent but then again not. She had been through so much because of selfish iditios in Tau who wanted a science experiement. It was all to realistic to what would definitely happen in real time. I loved how she went from believeing she was just a doll to yelling in his face. Girl boss level.

Their love was so interesting to watch. Was it nearly copy and paste to the others? Yes. Do i care? No. Give me 20,000 rn.

I can't believe this is the end tho. I was so happy to see A CHILD? MIRA AND ARGES CHILD? YESSSS. Very weird but SO CUTE. I love how they went from literally sedating Proteus just to speak to Ellie to Arges literally throwing an arm over his shoulder and just being like "Dude, look at us. Look at our mates."

Lovely series, 10/10 will be re-reading <3

[Sam Poly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, what a wild and completely fulfilling way to end such a beautiful series. I didn’t think anything could take my heart as much as the first book did, but Proteus and Ellie’s story was so unique and full of wonder that I wish I could read this again for the first time.

They are drawn to each other in such a way that they truly become a part of the other. Perhaps it’s because of the similarity of being used for the betterment of others, and their twin journey in discovering themselves only makes their connection deeper.

It is always a thrill to see the other characters from previous installments in the series, and I had to remind myself at times reading that I loved each of those characters individually, because I was so rooting for Proteus and Ellie that I was mad at the others for seemingly getting in the way.

I would also be a fool to not be screaming and crying that our very first mates have a baby now. Might just go reread the first book to remember Arges and Mira’s love story from the very beginning since they have this new chapter.

Reaching the end of this was so incredibly bittersweet. I can’t believe it’s over, but oof what a way to wrap it all up. The future looks bright for all species, including new ones. Emma, you have done such an amazing job of crafting this fantastical, apocalyptic world that is somehow filled with so much hope and perseverance. Gonna go cry now. 💙🌊

[˚. ୭ jiang cheng defender · Rating 4 out of 5]

i cant believe this is the last book in the deep waters series omg emma hamm 😭😭😭😭😭😭

i really really really REALLY liked proteus and ellie not only as a couple, but as individuals!! reading about how they are viewed by other people, how they viewed themselves and how they viewed each other truly was a ride!! i mean, we have ellie who is a clone and therefore is not really seen as someone Real and we also have proteus, who is not a undine, but rather a god, son of the ancients, and who wishes to be worshipped just like he was in the past. and then they find each other and just… god, i can’t even describe what they made me feel.

i do have something to criticize… like, miss emma hamm… i really like your worldbuilding, but most of the time i felt like you tangled candy in front of me by going over what is happening Above, and then you took that candy away by not really exploring this new scenario. i mean, the snake people proteus and ellie had seen through the cameras?????? hello?????? but rather than believe those were plot holes you simply forgot, i will believe that it was done by choice so you can start a new series about the snake people so everything is in the same universe. that is called manifestation 🙏

[Molly Ellen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ohh mannnn. I don’t even want to do this bc I love Emma 😭. I was so excited to read about proteus he lost alll his momentum as soon as he met Ellie and turned into no one. Ellie lost me after he ate her arm and she didn’t care. She’s a clone so it’s cool we’ll just make a new arm so stakes are lost. I just loved the first two books I wanted to learn more about the world Emma created and it’s all formulaic we just kept meeting new couples every time and hearing the same thing over and over again. I guess it is time for this series to end. I just wish we could go back to Anya and Daios or Mira and Arges and learn more about them and their culture. I still believe in this world and that it can be fun again.

[Nina · Rating 2 out of 5]

2/5 stars

Unfortunately, the final book didn’t really convince me :( I simply missed the tension that was so strong in the previous installments, and the relationship progressed far too quickly for my taste. I only finished this book because I wanted to know how the entire series would wrap up. Such a shame.

[Nadia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointed. I loved this series and was looking forward to this book. But it felt like literally nothing happened. It dragged on so bad, and Proteus was such a nothingburger character. What a waste of such a cool monster design...

[Book Worm · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars.

[Flor Machado · Rating 2 out of 5]

es el que menos me gustó, empezó bien y me gustó como se fue desarrollando la relación pero esperaba más no solo del final sino de Proteus. Nos lo presentan como un Dios casi todo poderoso pero esto nunca se materializa, me pareció que era débil y su plan también.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Goodbye to my mermen

[Heather]

Review in progress

"I'm just a doll. I'm sorry you broke me, but a broken doll can still be played with."