What do you think?
Rate this book
Of Soulbound Sacrifice: A Sapphic Siren Romantasy
A sapphic love story sequel to the award-winning prequel, Of Hoarfrost and Blood
----
It should be a straightforward kill for a Siren warrior. The only problem is she loves her target more than life itself.
Zaynab is finally free to find her way in the world. She thinks she is going to find Demerise, the girl she used to love, until she finds herself staring into the glowing green eyes of a blue-haired Siren on the eve of her execution. With a blade to her throat and a heart that begs for more, will Zaynab find a way to be with the woman she loves, or will she lose herself in the depths?
Brina is the fiercest warrior princess in Clan Brinneagh. She has spent her entire life training to lead her clan, which is going swimmingly. Perfectly, in fact, until she finds herself staring into the maple eyes of a land-dweller she is sent by her clan to kill. The choice for Brina is as simple as the age-old adage goes...kill or be killed.
Can love truly conquer all if “all” includes oceans of murderous Sirens?
----
----
It should be a straightforward kill for a Siren warrior. The only problem is she loves her target more than life itself.
Zaynab is finally free to find her way in the world. She thinks she is going to find Demerise, the girl she used to love, until she finds herself staring into the glowing green eyes of a blue-haired Siren on the eve of her execution. With a blade to her throat and a heart that begs for more, will Zaynab find a way to be with the woman she loves, or will she lose herself in the depths?
Brina is the fiercest warrior princess in Clan Brinneagh. She has spent her entire life training to lead her clan, which is going swimmingly. Perfectly, in fact, until she finds herself staring into the maple eyes of a land-dweller she is sent by her clan to kill. The choice for Brina is as simple as the age-old adage goes...kill or be killed.
Can love truly conquer all if “all” includes oceans of murderous Sirens?
----
516 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 31, 2026
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
March 17, 2026
Love is the heart of this story, it is shown in several ways and that's what makes this story so special.
Brina is a tough unapologetic bad ass siren who has done everything her clan expects from her. But when she rescues a land dweller, she makes a decision that will carve a new path to her destiny. Daring to defy everything for a chance of true happiness.
Zaynab is not in her ideal situation has her crossing the sea with the least desirable crew. When the ship is attacked, she is saved by a mysterious siren that has her taking a second look. But when it is revealed what it took to save her, she is frustrated and it doesn't help that she is attracted to her savior. Learning her new life path, she sets off on an adventure she will never forget.
I loved Scarlet's world that she created, she immerses the reader in the underwater realm life and land life. I absolutely adored seeing a character from her first book (OH&B) make an important appearance!
I applaud at the way she shows different types of love throughout her story. It is not just the tender and complex love between the the two sirens, but a love between a mother and daughter. Daring to defy generational expectations in the name of family. A story of courage and selflessness, finding that true love is worth fighting for.
{ARC REVIEW}
Brina is a tough unapologetic bad ass siren who has done everything her clan expects from her. But when she rescues a land dweller, she makes a decision that will carve a new path to her destiny. Daring to defy everything for a chance of true happiness.
Zaynab is not in her ideal situation has her crossing the sea with the least desirable crew. When the ship is attacked, she is saved by a mysterious siren that has her taking a second look. But when it is revealed what it took to save her, she is frustrated and it doesn't help that she is attracted to her savior. Learning her new life path, she sets off on an adventure she will never forget.
I loved Scarlet's world that she created, she immerses the reader in the underwater realm life and land life. I absolutely adored seeing a character from her first book (OH&B) make an important appearance!
I applaud at the way she shows different types of love throughout her story. It is not just the tender and complex love between the the two sirens, but a love between a mother and daughter. Daring to defy generational expectations in the name of family. A story of courage and selflessness, finding that true love is worth fighting for.
{ARC REVIEW}
Review of advance copy received from Author
🧜🏽♀️💙🧜🏼♀️Of Soulbound Sacrifice ARC Review 🧜🏼♀️💙🧜🏾♀️
🎵King Princess, Arcane, League of Legends
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️🌶️🌶️
It should be a straightforward kill for a Siren warrior. The only problem is she loves her target more than life itself.
Can love truly conquer all if “all” includes oceans of murderous Sirens?
📖 Romeo and Juliet, but make it spicy, sapphic, and Sirens - oh, and they fight back.
📓 Quick Synopsis: a Siren warrior princess is set to kill a human woman, only to discover she's fated to love her. Torn between duty and desire, the two must navigate political tensions, violence, racism, and shifting alliances in a world where a love like this can take decades off your life—if it doesn't kill you.
🫵🏼 Of Soulbound Sacrifice is for readers who:
• are character-driven readers
• love sapphic, dark romantasy
• enjoy monster/inhumane love interest
• enjoy a good bit of explicit spice and emotional angst
• love political tension
• love forbidden romance
📗 For the first roughly 15%, I was thinking this was probably going to be a 4 ⭐ read. But from then on, it consumed me until I finished. The reappearance of a certain character from another book by Scarlet was wholly heartbreaking, but I was also incredibly happy to see this character again. I love how emotionally intelligent and driven it is. I love that underlying everything, love is the driving force (various types of love). I'm excited (and a little scared) about where the story goes from here, but I can't wait to find out.
❓QOTD:
❕ AOTD:
📜 Themes
⚖️ Duty/Desire
The 'kill your lover' premise drives everything. It's intensified by clan loyalty and inherited violence, culture hatred (racism/Xenophobia), and the idea that love itself is dangerous.
"Your ignorance is willful, and your minds are motivated solely by your greed."
🖤 Forbidden Love/Taboo Desire
Long-standing tensions (well, hatred) between Sirens and humans have cultivated a lot of hated and violence between the two groups.
Siren Brina is heir to her clan, and as such, loving a non-Siren, like human Zaynab (Zen), is simply out of the question. It leans into taboo intimacy and power imbalance in a thoughtul and careful manner.
"Their complacency was motivated by fear and control, but it was still a bitter pill to swallow that they had sat back and allowed..."
Identity/Belonging
Characters are caught between worlds - land vs sea, duty vs autonomy, and inherited roles vs chosen self. Zen's search for self-definition outside expectation really hit home for me.
🧗🏼♀️Trauma/Survival
This book does not shy away from darker, heavier topics, and I love that (but if TW/CW are a concern for you, please make sure you check them prior to reading). Some of the topics covered include toxic families, PTSD, bodily harm, and survivors (and the guilt that can come with surviving).
They're not background elements. They shape character choices and emotional stakes. They're handled with thought and care and used with a purpose.
✍🏼 Written with accessible language, it's immersive and emotionally direct. I appreciate the focus on character interiority and tension. It leans into sensory detail, particularly in romantic scenes, and I love that. For me, it made it more immersive. I adore character-driven stories, and this is that. I also love the strong emotional immediacy. The dialogue reads smoothly and naturally, befitting the characters and story. I greatly appreciate the bits of levity and feel they're needed in times of high (or extended) tension.
⏳ The pace is pretty quick and the stakes are high (and feel high). I love that the action, romance, and conflict are interwoven.
"Why are we only allowed to have teeth when we use them to take care of others?”
🗺️ The world is well developed and explained, richly imaginative and lushly described. I love that we explore multiple biomes and think it gives readers a sweeping, cinematic experience. I love that we experience distinctly different cultures. That aids in feeling a stronger sense of cultural conflict. It's layered without being overwhelmingly dense.
"I expect there is a lot more to the story than what makes it into the papers.”
🔮 Leaning more towards thematic and aesthetic magic (similar to Priory of the Orange Tree, or House of Hunger), it isn't a rigid rule-based magic. I liked that about it.
👥 We get a cast that's both diverse and inclusive, and it's done in a way that feels organic.
💙 I loved that the emotional stakes were truly life or death, it made it more visceral. I adore that Scarlet didn't ignore or glaze over the power imbalance. It's directly addressed and handled. Their connection is immediate, almost obsessive at times, and emotionally charged. They don't "fix" one another, but they support one another on their journeys.
It is what I would call instalove, which I don't often enjoy. After the initial encounters, it made sense for the plot and characters, so I tried not to let that be too big of a deal to me. I don't know that it's truly a Romeo & Juliet retelling, but if it is, they were instalove, too (at least as best as I recall and understood, but it's been a very long time since I read it). This was the only thing I didn't love, so technically it's like a 4.9.
🌶️ While it is pretty spicy, the spice doesn't overtake or become the plot, nor is it vanilla. 🥵 It serves the characters, their relationship and the full scenes feel earned.
📚 If you liked: The Jasmine Throne (Tasha Suri), Girls of Paper and Fire (Natasha Ngan), The Final Strife (Saara El-Arifi), She Who Became the Sun (Shelley Parker Chan), House of Hunger (Alexis Henderson), The Serpent and the Wings of Night (Carissa Broadbent), or From Blood & Ash (Jennifer L Armentrout), then I think you'd enjoy Of Soulbound Sacrifice.
⚠️ Please check author's site for complete list of TW/CW as this does contain material that could be triggering for some. 💙
🐸 Thank you to @scarlet.tempest.writer for the opportunity to read this eARC. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and freely given.
🎵King Princess, Arcane, League of Legends
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️🌶️🌶️
It should be a straightforward kill for a Siren warrior. The only problem is she loves her target more than life itself.
Can love truly conquer all if “all” includes oceans of murderous Sirens?
📖 Romeo and Juliet, but make it spicy, sapphic, and Sirens - oh, and they fight back.
📓 Quick Synopsis: a Siren warrior princess is set to kill a human woman, only to discover she's fated to love her. Torn between duty and desire, the two must navigate political tensions, violence, racism, and shifting alliances in a world where a love like this can take decades off your life—if it doesn't kill you.
🫵🏼 Of Soulbound Sacrifice is for readers who:
• are character-driven readers
• love sapphic, dark romantasy
• enjoy monster/inhumane love interest
• enjoy a good bit of explicit spice and emotional angst
• love political tension
• love forbidden romance
📗 For the first roughly 15%, I was thinking this was probably going to be a 4 ⭐ read. But from then on, it consumed me until I finished. The reappearance of a certain character from another book by Scarlet was wholly heartbreaking, but I was also incredibly happy to see this character again. I love how emotionally intelligent and driven it is. I love that underlying everything, love is the driving force (various types of love). I'm excited (and a little scared) about where the story goes from here, but I can't wait to find out.
❓QOTD:
❕ AOTD:
📜 Themes
⚖️ Duty/Desire
The 'kill your lover' premise drives everything. It's intensified by clan loyalty and inherited violence, culture hatred (racism/Xenophobia), and the idea that love itself is dangerous.
"Your ignorance is willful, and your minds are motivated solely by your greed."
🖤 Forbidden Love/Taboo Desire
Long-standing tensions (well, hatred) between Sirens and humans have cultivated a lot of hated and violence between the two groups.
Siren Brina is heir to her clan, and as such, loving a non-Siren, like human Zaynab (Zen), is simply out of the question. It leans into taboo intimacy and power imbalance in a thoughtul and careful manner.
"Their complacency was motivated by fear and control, but it was still a bitter pill to swallow that they had sat back and allowed..."
Identity/Belonging
Characters are caught between worlds - land vs sea, duty vs autonomy, and inherited roles vs chosen self. Zen's search for self-definition outside expectation really hit home for me.
🧗🏼♀️Trauma/Survival
This book does not shy away from darker, heavier topics, and I love that (but if TW/CW are a concern for you, please make sure you check them prior to reading). Some of the topics covered include toxic families, PTSD, bodily harm, and survivors (and the guilt that can come with surviving).
They're not background elements. They shape character choices and emotional stakes. They're handled with thought and care and used with a purpose.
✍🏼 Written with accessible language, it's immersive and emotionally direct. I appreciate the focus on character interiority and tension. It leans into sensory detail, particularly in romantic scenes, and I love that. For me, it made it more immersive. I adore character-driven stories, and this is that. I also love the strong emotional immediacy. The dialogue reads smoothly and naturally, befitting the characters and story. I greatly appreciate the bits of levity and feel they're needed in times of high (or extended) tension.
⏳ The pace is pretty quick and the stakes are high (and feel high). I love that the action, romance, and conflict are interwoven.
"Why are we only allowed to have teeth when we use them to take care of others?”
🗺️ The world is well developed and explained, richly imaginative and lushly described. I love that we explore multiple biomes and think it gives readers a sweeping, cinematic experience. I love that we experience distinctly different cultures. That aids in feeling a stronger sense of cultural conflict. It's layered without being overwhelmingly dense.
"I expect there is a lot more to the story than what makes it into the papers.”
🔮 Leaning more towards thematic and aesthetic magic (similar to Priory of the Orange Tree, or House of Hunger), it isn't a rigid rule-based magic. I liked that about it.
👥 We get a cast that's both diverse and inclusive, and it's done in a way that feels organic.
💙 I loved that the emotional stakes were truly life or death, it made it more visceral. I adore that Scarlet didn't ignore or glaze over the power imbalance. It's directly addressed and handled. Their connection is immediate, almost obsessive at times, and emotionally charged. They don't "fix" one another, but they support one another on their journeys.
It is what I would call instalove, which I don't often enjoy. After the initial encounters, it made sense for the plot and characters, so I tried not to let that be too big of a deal to me. I don't know that it's truly a Romeo & Juliet retelling, but if it is, they were instalove, too (at least as best as I recall and understood, but it's been a very long time since I read it). This was the only thing I didn't love, so technically it's like a 4.9.
🌶️ While it is pretty spicy, the spice doesn't overtake or become the plot, nor is it vanilla. 🥵 It serves the characters, their relationship and the full scenes feel earned.
📚 If you liked: The Jasmine Throne (Tasha Suri), Girls of Paper and Fire (Natasha Ngan), The Final Strife (Saara El-Arifi), She Who Became the Sun (Shelley Parker Chan), House of Hunger (Alexis Henderson), The Serpent and the Wings of Night (Carissa Broadbent), or From Blood & Ash (Jennifer L Armentrout), then I think you'd enjoy Of Soulbound Sacrifice.
⚠️ Please check author's site for complete list of TW/CW as this does contain material that could be triggering for some. 💙
🐸 Thank you to @scarlet.tempest.writer for the opportunity to read this eARC. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and freely given.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Of Soulbound Sacrifice is book two in the Manacles of Ice and Blood series by Scarlett Tempest. The physical book is beautiful with a lovely cover, map pages, illustrations, and a pronunciation guide.
The writing style is well done and immersive, featuring vivid imagery, strong world-building, and layered characters. Multiple heavy themes are explored, such as body positivity, sex positivity, female pleasure, diversity, identity, freedom of choice, trauma, grief, and toxic family dynamics, among others. I particularly liked the juxtaposition of strength and vulnerability, as well as confidence and insecurity, present in the main characters as internal challenges, while they simultaneously manage external adversities.
The opening was unexpected for me and emphasizes the creation of a space in which women are allowed to seek pleasure and enjoy their bodies. The addition of these well-placed scenes painted a broader view and challenged the typical expectations of women. Additionally, the examples of physical and mental strength, resilience, and tenacity of these women were well-received.
The romance in this romantasy was very insta-love and lusty. That's not my thing, and I had to suspend my disbelief on that aspect, but I was truly engaged by the plot and invested in the outcome. Tempest did a great job of keeping the story interesting and fast-paced with a lot of action, suspense, and high stakes.
On a personal level, I did not connect emotionally with the characters. However, I appreciated their respective journeys and the precarious balance they had to maintain between their experiences and processing all those feelings and remaining functional. Y'all, there is a lot going on! These fierce women went through some things.
Zen was level-headed and helped ground Brina, who, despite her best efforts, is a chaos gremlin.
I want to see more of Demarise, so I am hoping she will get more page time in the upcoming installments.
Although it is not perfect and some of the characters' choices were frustrating, I found it highly entertaining, and I recommend this series.
TW: violence, bloodshed, death, sex, toxic family
I suggest reading the author's full list of triggers.
#sirens #shifters #fae #darkromance #romantasy #smut #spicy #queernormative #instalove #bonded #bodypositivity #suspense #actionpacked #femalepleasure #magic #adventure #highstakes #worldbuilding #grief #toxicfamily #HFN
I received a review copy from the author. This is my honest opinion.
The writing style is well done and immersive, featuring vivid imagery, strong world-building, and layered characters. Multiple heavy themes are explored, such as body positivity, sex positivity, female pleasure, diversity, identity, freedom of choice, trauma, grief, and toxic family dynamics, among others. I particularly liked the juxtaposition of strength and vulnerability, as well as confidence and insecurity, present in the main characters as internal challenges, while they simultaneously manage external adversities.
The opening was unexpected for me and emphasizes the creation of a space in which women are allowed to seek pleasure and enjoy their bodies. The addition of these well-placed scenes painted a broader view and challenged the typical expectations of women. Additionally, the examples of physical and mental strength, resilience, and tenacity of these women were well-received.
The romance in this romantasy was very insta-love and lusty. That's not my thing, and I had to suspend my disbelief on that aspect, but I was truly engaged by the plot and invested in the outcome. Tempest did a great job of keeping the story interesting and fast-paced with a lot of action, suspense, and high stakes.
On a personal level, I did not connect emotionally with the characters. However, I appreciated their respective journeys and the precarious balance they had to maintain between their experiences and processing all those feelings and remaining functional. Y'all, there is a lot going on! These fierce women went through some things.
Zen was level-headed and helped ground Brina, who, despite her best efforts, is a chaos gremlin.
I want to see more of Demarise, so I am hoping she will get more page time in the upcoming installments.
Although it is not perfect and some of the characters' choices were frustrating, I found it highly entertaining, and I recommend this series.
TW: violence, bloodshed, death, sex, toxic family
I suggest reading the author's full list of triggers.
#sirens #shifters #fae #darkromance #romantasy #smut #spicy #queernormative #instalove #bonded #bodypositivity #suspense #actionpacked #femalepleasure #magic #adventure #highstakes #worldbuilding #grief #toxicfamily #HFN
I received a review copy from the author. This is my honest opinion.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Of Soulbound Sacrifice was an intense emotional read that had everything I was missing in OR&P. I received this as an ARC for free. All opinions are my own. While I was expecting a sapphic dark fantasy romance, there was so much more to unpack here. It was an amazing read that I did not want to put down!
The character work is exquisite! I adored getting to see more of Brina's world, even if it has rough parts to it. She's still extremely relatable to me in her self-esteem struggles. I love that we got more of her headspace, and she really comes into her own through the course of this book. Zaynab was a really fun read and I liked getting to know her. She goes through so much in this book and I really liked seeing how she handles things.
The open door scenes were fun and didn't feel out of place. Though I feel like Zaynab should have reacted a little differently during one of them. I also would have liked to see a bit more discussion in the early book before some of the scenes. I really liked that about Brina's prior novella and think it would have been good here too.
This is so much more than a romance. There's a lot of focus on self-care, shadow work, and taming your personal demons. I loved all the work each character put into helping the others. Working through generational trauma, self-esteem, PTSD, among other spoilery things that I will not list here. There's a lot of good stuff in here for working through some of that and some sections had me all kinds of emotional.
The only complaint I have is a *me* thing so I'm not docking any points for it. I don't like the miscommunication trope and I was a little annoyed when it came up here. I can admit it makes perfect sense with Brina & Zaynab's circumstances and mindsets when it comes up. (). I just personally wish there could have been something else.
Overall, this was a 5 star read for me, and I highly recommend it for those who like a darker fantasy world with good character work and a focus on helping each other through the shadows.
The character work is exquisite! I adored getting to see more of Brina's world, even if it has rough parts to it. She's still extremely relatable to me in her self-esteem struggles. I love that we got more of her headspace, and she really comes into her own through the course of this book. Zaynab was a really fun read and I liked getting to know her. She goes through so much in this book and I really liked seeing how she handles things.
The open door scenes were fun and didn't feel out of place. Though I feel like Zaynab should have reacted a little differently during one of them. I also would have liked to see a bit more discussion in the early book before some of the scenes. I really liked that about Brina's prior novella and think it would have been good here too.
This is so much more than a romance. There's a lot of focus on self-care, shadow work, and taming your personal demons. I loved all the work each character put into helping the others. Working through generational trauma, self-esteem, PTSD, among other spoilery things that I will not list here. There's a lot of good stuff in here for working through some of that and some sections had me all kinds of emotional.
The only complaint I have is a *me* thing so I'm not docking any points for it. I don't like the miscommunication trope and I was a little annoyed when it came up here. I can admit it makes perfect sense with Brina & Zaynab's circumstances and mindsets when it comes up. (). I just personally wish there could have been something else.
Overall, this was a 5 star read for me, and I highly recommend it for those who like a darker fantasy world with good character work and a focus on helping each other through the shadows.
April 1, 2026
ARC Review!
This was my very first sapphic fantasy siren romance adventure that I didn't know I needed. This storyline was exciting from the very beginning. I was instantly sucked in by the obvious humor of the extra characters as well as the 2 alluring main characters Brina and Zaynab. From the moment Brina sees Zaynab she is pulled in and fully captivated and this is before she finds out her name as well as Zaynab having an undeniable pull towards Brina. The storyline is such a perfect mix of action packed and slow-burn with the push and pull and wonderfully written plot twists because yes there is surprisingly more then 1 or two. I felt like whenever there was a moment of me saying "okay this is finally the end" I also found myself saying "oh no it's not!" You will definitely be shocked a few times and kept dangling on the edge of your seat clutching your invisible pearls because hunty this isn't a boring book at all! After everything seems to be calm the complete opposite happens and you will be fully entertained throughout the book. Brina literally gave her life for someone she didn't know but loved instantly. There are nice spicy sapphic moments that you will definitely not forget as well as enough yearning between the two for everyone's enjoyment and frustration at times. You will feel all the feels while reading this book like 0-100 type of feelings but it's all so good and worth it. I feel like the end left me so shocked after all that we just went through throughout the book but I'm going to say over all I absolutely recommend this book and I'm impatiently waiting by the ocean but not to close to the waters edge (IYKYK) for the next adventure. Thanks so much to the Author for allowing me this amazing experience because this was a awesome roller-coaster ride!
All these opinions are my own!
This was my very first sapphic fantasy siren romance adventure that I didn't know I needed. This storyline was exciting from the very beginning. I was instantly sucked in by the obvious humor of the extra characters as well as the 2 alluring main characters Brina and Zaynab. From the moment Brina sees Zaynab she is pulled in and fully captivated and this is before she finds out her name as well as Zaynab having an undeniable pull towards Brina. The storyline is such a perfect mix of action packed and slow-burn with the push and pull and wonderfully written plot twists because yes there is surprisingly more then 1 or two. I felt like whenever there was a moment of me saying "okay this is finally the end" I also found myself saying "oh no it's not!" You will definitely be shocked a few times and kept dangling on the edge of your seat clutching your invisible pearls because hunty this isn't a boring book at all! After everything seems to be calm the complete opposite happens and you will be fully entertained throughout the book. Brina literally gave her life for someone she didn't know but loved instantly. There are nice spicy sapphic moments that you will definitely not forget as well as enough yearning between the two for everyone's enjoyment and frustration at times. You will feel all the feels while reading this book like 0-100 type of feelings but it's all so good and worth it. I feel like the end left me so shocked after all that we just went through throughout the book but I'm going to say over all I absolutely recommend this book and I'm impatiently waiting by the ocean but not to close to the waters edge (IYKYK) for the next adventure. Thanks so much to the Author for allowing me this amazing experience because this was a awesome roller-coaster ride!
All these opinions are my own!
Review of advance copy received from Author
After reading the prequel Of Rifts and Promises I couldn’t wait to read Brina’s full story in Of Soulbound Sacrifice. This book is a standalone sapphic siren romantasy full of desire and life and death adventure. Brina is a Chieftess-in-training of Clan Brinneagh who is tasked with being a distraction on a human ship while her Clan attacks said ship. Brina does not agree with killing everyone on the ship especially not after she set eyes on the ship’s cook Zaynab.
There is an instalove trope here that actually pulled me out of the story a bit. I guess instalove is just not my thing although I do like the one night to forever trope. But in Of Soulbound Sacrifice the instalove is actually very dangerous. It leads Brina to sacrifice most (hundreds of years) of her life to save Zaynab’s life. She actually becomes Soulbound to Zaynab and turns her into a siren also. Admittedly I have not read a lot of books with sirens but I thought it was really unique that someone could be “turned” into a siren.
Brina’s Clan is furious that she has reduced her life to only last about 20 more years while becoming Soulbound to a land dweller. She is severely beaten as punishment and the Clan intends to kill Zaynab. This book was full of nonstop excitement with barely a moment to rest and breathe. Both characters were severely injured multiple times and I honestly feared for their lives.
I loved how well developed the characters were and the dual POV with Brina and Zaynab. There was also plenty of well written open door spice. While I have not read Of Hoarfrost and Blood yet I was intrigued by a character that appears in this book and am definitely going to go read her story next. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4. Thank you Scarlet Tempest for the ARC!
There is an instalove trope here that actually pulled me out of the story a bit. I guess instalove is just not my thing although I do like the one night to forever trope. But in Of Soulbound Sacrifice the instalove is actually very dangerous. It leads Brina to sacrifice most (hundreds of years) of her life to save Zaynab’s life. She actually becomes Soulbound to Zaynab and turns her into a siren also. Admittedly I have not read a lot of books with sirens but I thought it was really unique that someone could be “turned” into a siren.
Brina’s Clan is furious that she has reduced her life to only last about 20 more years while becoming Soulbound to a land dweller. She is severely beaten as punishment and the Clan intends to kill Zaynab. This book was full of nonstop excitement with barely a moment to rest and breathe. Both characters were severely injured multiple times and I honestly feared for their lives.
I loved how well developed the characters were and the dual POV with Brina and Zaynab. There was also plenty of well written open door spice. While I have not read Of Hoarfrost and Blood yet I was intrigued by a character that appears in this book and am definitely going to go read her story next. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4. Thank you Scarlet Tempest for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you to the author for providing me with a digital ARC of Of Soulbound Sacrifice by Scarlet Tempest. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This was such a fun, fast-paced read and one I really enjoyed.
Of Soulbound Sacrifice leans fully into that classic star-crossed lovers dynamic, with land-dwellers and Sirens on opposite sides of a conflict shaped by long-standing misunderstandings and stereotypes. Watching those assumptions get challenged as the story unfolds was one of my favorite parts of the book.
At the center of it all is the relationship between Zaynab and Brina, and I genuinely loved their dynamic. The emotional stakes are strong from the beginning, and the tension between love and duty keeps things compelling throughout.
And yes… the spice is absolutely spicing. This is definitely on the higher end in terms of heat, but it still maintains emotional depth, which I really appreciated. The romance never feels shallow, even in its more intense moments.
I also really appreciated the representation in this book. Beyond the sapphic romance, there is meaningful amputee representation that felt thoughtfully included within the story.
The pacing is quick, and the story moves in a way that makes it very easy to fly through. Overall, this was an engaging romantasy with strong character dynamics, emotional tension, and a compelling central relationship.
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC REVIEW
Duel 1st Person POV. 5🌟 4🌶️. 516 pages
5 Spicy Scenes
From the minute I started reading this book I instantly knew it would be a 5 star read. Who doesn’t love the lore of the siren, make them sapphic and you can bet your ass I’ll devour it!
Of Soulbound Sacrifice follows Brina the heir to the siren clan of Brinneagh as she navigates a blood feud between her clan and the land dwellers, when she becomes enamoured with a ships cook Zaynab. Brina must scarfice everything to save Zaynab from her fate and the two fight for their survival!
EVERYTHING about this book was spectacular and you cannot tell me otherwise. The character development was on point, I fell completely in love with both Brina and Zaynab from the beginning (although I may have screamed at my kindle during some of Brina’s questionable decisions 😅). Honestly everything from the world building, to the feud between sirens and humans, a whole new magical system and the most detailed mythical creatures I have ever encountered! This book is officially up there with one of my favourite reads so far this year!
Also round of applause for the author because, say it with me 👏 fat 👏 FMCs 👏 are 👏 HOT 👏 as 👏 HELL!
Of Soulbound Sacrifice will be released March 31st, add it to your TBR or I will come to your house and disorganise everything!
Things to LOVE:
📚Epic Fantasy
💔Forbidden Love
🧜♀️Siren Shifters
🧜Butch Siren Clan Princess
🧜♀️Femme Land Dweller
🩸Blood Feuds
🪢Soul Ties
🐉Mystical Creatures
⛓️💥Breaking The Cycle
😏Inappropriate use of a Pestle
😏Tail Play
Duel 1st Person POV. 5🌟 4🌶️. 516 pages
5 Spicy Scenes
From the minute I started reading this book I instantly knew it would be a 5 star read. Who doesn’t love the lore of the siren, make them sapphic and you can bet your ass I’ll devour it!
Of Soulbound Sacrifice follows Brina the heir to the siren clan of Brinneagh as she navigates a blood feud between her clan and the land dwellers, when she becomes enamoured with a ships cook Zaynab. Brina must scarfice everything to save Zaynab from her fate and the two fight for their survival!
EVERYTHING about this book was spectacular and you cannot tell me otherwise. The character development was on point, I fell completely in love with both Brina and Zaynab from the beginning (although I may have screamed at my kindle during some of Brina’s questionable decisions 😅). Honestly everything from the world building, to the feud between sirens and humans, a whole new magical system and the most detailed mythical creatures I have ever encountered! This book is officially up there with one of my favourite reads so far this year!
Also round of applause for the author because, say it with me 👏 fat 👏 FMCs 👏 are 👏 HOT 👏 as 👏 HELL!
Of Soulbound Sacrifice will be released March 31st, add it to your TBR or I will come to your house and disorganise everything!
Things to LOVE:
📚Epic Fantasy
💔Forbidden Love
🧜♀️Siren Shifters
🧜Butch Siren Clan Princess
🧜♀️Femme Land Dweller
🩸Blood Feuds
🪢Soul Ties
🐉Mystical Creatures
⛓️💥Breaking The Cycle
😏Inappropriate use of a Pestle
😏Tail Play
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you to the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I really loved the world building and aspects of the world that the author has created. It hooked me right away and I found myself wanting to know so much more. I know there is another book in this series and I will definitely be reading it to get more of this world!
I will say that the love is pretty insta-love. This usually isn’t for me, but it did make sense in this story with the “soulbound” aspect of it. I would’ve like a little more build up before that. It was a little hard to believe they felt that much in such a short time.
Without giving away spoilers, I do feel like a character was unfairly judged by both Brina and Zaynab, especially Zaynab knowing the trauma said person went through.
A lot happened in this story and it definitely keeps your attention. It’s why I think theending doesn’t necessarily fit. There was so much build up and then it was kind of just over. There were a lot of questions I still had by the end.
Overall, I enjoyed this and loved the world the author built. I would’ve liked more of a build up with the relationship in order for me to believe their love for each other. I will definitely be reading more of the author’s works in the future! 3.5 stars!
I really loved the world building and aspects of the world that the author has created. It hooked me right away and I found myself wanting to know so much more. I know there is another book in this series and I will definitely be reading it to get more of this world!
I will say that the love is pretty insta-love. This usually isn’t for me, but it did make sense in this story with the “soulbound” aspect of it. I would’ve like a little more build up before that. It was a little hard to believe they felt that much in such a short time.
Without giving away spoilers, I do feel like a character was unfairly judged by both Brina and Zaynab, especially Zaynab knowing the trauma said person went through.
A lot happened in this story and it definitely keeps your attention. It’s why I think theending doesn’t necessarily fit. There was so much build up and then it was kind of just over. There were a lot of questions I still had by the end.
Overall, I enjoyed this and loved the world the author built. I would’ve liked more of a build up with the relationship in order for me to believe their love for each other. I will definitely be reading more of the author’s works in the future! 3.5 stars!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you so much for the chance to be an ARC reader for this!!
Of Soulbound Sacrifice is the kind of book that had me saying just one more chapter and then staying up way longer than I planned! The storyline moves at a quick pace, but it works so well and never feels rushed or overwhelming, everything flows in a way that kept me fully hooked from beginning to end.
I really loved both Zaynab and Brina, Brina being my absolute favorite! Their relationship felt so emotional, and their journey together took me through so many ups and downs. There were moments that made me smile, moments that hurt, and moments where I just had to sit and take everything in, the connection between them made it easy to get attached and genuinely care about what happened to them.
I also really appreciated how the heavier topics were handled. They added so much depth to the story and made everything feel more grounded and real instead of just surface level. It made it easier to relate and understand the characters, and I found myself sympathizing with them a lot more because of it.
Overall, this was such an amazing read, I enjoyed every single moment of it and it’s definitely one of those books that sticks with you even after you finish, I already know I’ll be coming back to re-read it again!!
Of Soulbound Sacrifice is the kind of book that had me saying just one more chapter and then staying up way longer than I planned! The storyline moves at a quick pace, but it works so well and never feels rushed or overwhelming, everything flows in a way that kept me fully hooked from beginning to end.
I really loved both Zaynab and Brina, Brina being my absolute favorite! Their relationship felt so emotional, and their journey together took me through so many ups and downs. There were moments that made me smile, moments that hurt, and moments where I just had to sit and take everything in, the connection between them made it easy to get attached and genuinely care about what happened to them.
I also really appreciated how the heavier topics were handled. They added so much depth to the story and made everything feel more grounded and real instead of just surface level. It made it easier to relate and understand the characters, and I found myself sympathizing with them a lot more because of it.
Overall, this was such an amazing read, I enjoyed every single moment of it and it’s definitely one of those books that sticks with you even after you finish, I already know I’ll be coming back to re-read it again!!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received this book as an ARC from the author.
I was very excited to read a sapphic siren tale, but unfortunately decided to DNF around 45% into the story. While I lived the world building and would really enjoy spending more time learning about the siren society that the author built, I had a few issues with other parts of the story, and found myself dragging my feet when it came to reading.
First, what I liked. As I said before, the world building was amazing. It felt very rich and vivid and real. Additionally, Zaynab was my favorite character. She's smart, resourceful and determined to do the right thing. I found her very relatable and realistic.
What I did not like, sadly, was mostly related to Brina. I did not even make it to halfway through the book and already Zaynab has risked her life three times saving Brina from something. Two of those times were entirely from Brina's own impulsiveness causing the problem in the first place. I liked their romance well enough, despite how awkwardly rushed it was, but Brina just struck me as so young and immature.
Overall, it's a very promising story and I genuinely hope others enjoy it. It unfortunately just wasnt for me.
I was very excited to read a sapphic siren tale, but unfortunately decided to DNF around 45% into the story. While I lived the world building and would really enjoy spending more time learning about the siren society that the author built, I had a few issues with other parts of the story, and found myself dragging my feet when it came to reading.
First, what I liked. As I said before, the world building was amazing. It felt very rich and vivid and real. Additionally, Zaynab was my favorite character. She's smart, resourceful and determined to do the right thing. I found her very relatable and realistic.
What I did not like, sadly, was mostly related to Brina. I did not even make it to halfway through the book and already Zaynab has risked her life three times saving Brina from something. Two of those times were entirely from Brina's own impulsiveness causing the problem in the first place. I liked their romance well enough, despite how awkwardly rushed it was, but Brina just struck me as so young and immature.
Overall, it's a very promising story and I genuinely hope others enjoy it. It unfortunately just wasnt for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This was my first sapphic romance, and while I enjoyed the story overall ended up with mixed feelings. The worldbuilding is the standout here. The author drops you straight into a vivid conflict-heavy setting that feels layered and alive. The lore is compelling, the stakes are clear, and the opening hooked me immediately Where it didn't land as strongly for me was the romance between Brina and Zaynab. Their connection develops incredibly fast - one moment they're meeting and the next they're deeply bonded. I understand that the soulbound element is meant to explain the intensity, but I still wanted more emotional buildup. What does the soulbond do? Is it magical pull fate, instinct, attraction? Without that groundwork, the relationship felt more like being dropped into the middle of a whirlwind rather than watching one form. The ending also felt abrupt - a big dramatic woah followed by an immediate cutoff. I wasn't quite ready to leave the world yet. Despite those issues, I did enjoy the story. The world is rich, the conflicts are engaging, and the potential is huge. I just wish the romance had been given more space to grow so the emotional payoff felt earned.
Review of advance copy received from Author
After having read Brina's prequel novella, I was excited to read this book, and Of Soulbound Sacrifice did not disappoint.
Everything about this book, from the romance between Brina and Zaynab, to the political intrigue within Brina's clan was entirely well done. I'll admit, I had a very soft spot for Brina (and her impulsive decisions) after Of Rifts and Promises, and I found myself invested in her story from the beginning, and hoping for a happy ending for her. Brina might be a bit of a 'messy' character-- she definitely makes some questionable choices, but she's also very easy to love. Her romance with Zaynab was lovely, and I was satisfied by the ending.
It was also very interesting to see the characters interact with Demerise, the FMC of Scarlet's first book. I'm hoping we get to see more of her (I love seeing actually good autism representation in media), but I guess time will tell.
Of Soulbound Sacrifice definitely isn't a book for the faint of heart, but if you want a Romeo and Juliet retelling with sapphic sirens, this might just be the book for you!
Everything about this book, from the romance between Brina and Zaynab, to the political intrigue within Brina's clan was entirely well done. I'll admit, I had a very soft spot for Brina (and her impulsive decisions) after Of Rifts and Promises, and I found myself invested in her story from the beginning, and hoping for a happy ending for her. Brina might be a bit of a 'messy' character-- she definitely makes some questionable choices, but she's also very easy to love. Her romance with Zaynab was lovely, and I was satisfied by the ending.
It was also very interesting to see the characters interact with Demerise, the FMC of Scarlet's first book. I'm hoping we get to see more of her (I love seeing actually good autism representation in media), but I guess time will tell.
Of Soulbound Sacrifice definitely isn't a book for the faint of heart, but if you want a Romeo and Juliet retelling with sapphic sirens, this might just be the book for you!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Author Scarlet Tempest has wowed readers again with the second installment in the Manacles of Ice and Blood series/world.
Alongside familiar characters, we meet several new characters that pull on our heartstrings and take readers on an epic adventure.
My favorite character was Zaynab, and I was so happy that this book followed her story and gave everyone more details on what happened to Demerise's best friend after they went separate ways in Of Hoarfrost and Blood (book one).
Zaynab was fierce, strong-willed and so incredibly loving. She stood up for herself and made herself heard when something needed to be said. I loved her energy, passion, and the connections she formed with the other characters.
The romance of this book was as beautiful as it was complex. In a twist on "marriage of convenience" with the siren soul bond, I enjoyed watching two strangers become lovers become lifelong ride or die partners.
If you're looking for something with spice balanced with emotional scenes, action, adventure and high stakes -- this is your sign to read this book!!
Alongside familiar characters, we meet several new characters that pull on our heartstrings and take readers on an epic adventure.
My favorite character was Zaynab, and I was so happy that this book followed her story and gave everyone more details on what happened to Demerise's best friend after they went separate ways in Of Hoarfrost and Blood (book one).
Zaynab was fierce, strong-willed and so incredibly loving. She stood up for herself and made herself heard when something needed to be said. I loved her energy, passion, and the connections she formed with the other characters.
The romance of this book was as beautiful as it was complex. In a twist on "marriage of convenience" with the siren soul bond, I enjoyed watching two strangers become lovers become lifelong ride or die partners.
If you're looking for something with spice balanced with emotional scenes, action, adventure and high stakes -- this is your sign to read this book!!
April 16, 2026
Another 5 star read!
Scarlet is amazing at making their characters come to life amd feel actual emotions and go through the motions.
Brina has had alot of growong up to do and to look back on the choices she has made.
I actually love zen for her, she is the level headed women she needs to keep brina in line.
While yes there is ALOT happening all at once i was able to keep up with most of it.
There is plenty of spice, emotionial stupidity, emotional growth and battle action to keep you on youe toes in this story. Its like watching your teen do what you warned them not to do and they have to suffer the consquences. (Brina).
With joking aside i really did love this story, it brings alot of critical,emotional thinking to the front and problem solving. It shows the depth of what us adults with mental illness , disabilities, trauma and addictions go through.
That being said, i will riot if there isnt away to save brina and keep her alive past 20 years 😭😭 there has to be someone wgo can give them a equal life span.
Scarlet is amazing at making their characters come to life amd feel actual emotions and go through the motions.
Brina has had alot of growong up to do and to look back on the choices she has made.
I actually love zen for her, she is the level headed women she needs to keep brina in line.
While yes there is ALOT happening all at once i was able to keep up with most of it.
There is plenty of spice, emotionial stupidity, emotional growth and battle action to keep you on youe toes in this story. Its like watching your teen do what you warned them not to do and they have to suffer the consquences. (Brina).
With joking aside i really did love this story, it brings alot of critical,emotional thinking to the front and problem solving. It shows the depth of what us adults with mental illness , disabilities, trauma and addictions go through.
That being said, i will riot if there isnt away to save brina and keep her alive past 20 years 😭😭 there has to be someone wgo can give them a equal life span.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 24, 2026
I was so excited when this book was announced and even more excited to recieve an ARC copy of it. All opinions are completely my own but i was given an ARC copy in exchange for a review.
I fell in love with Scarlet Tempest's writing with OHAB so couldn't wait to see what came next and Of Soulbound Sacrifice did not disappoint!
Sapphic Sirens - what more could you need!
OSS was filled with so many wonderful and intense moments and a delicious dose of spice! Brina and Zaynab's relationship felt so full and real and their chemistry was great right from their first meeting, I felt so invested in them.
I had been introduced to Brina in the Of Rifts and Promises novella and was super excited to delve more into her world, I loved this take on sirens.
Tempest's world building is so filled with depth and bleeds through the page in such a real way; so if you are looking for a fantasy filled with rich world building and immersive storytelling this is definitely a series you should check out.
I fell in love with Scarlet Tempest's writing with OHAB so couldn't wait to see what came next and Of Soulbound Sacrifice did not disappoint!
Sapphic Sirens - what more could you need!
OSS was filled with so many wonderful and intense moments and a delicious dose of spice! Brina and Zaynab's relationship felt so full and real and their chemistry was great right from their first meeting, I felt so invested in them.
I had been introduced to Brina in the Of Rifts and Promises novella and was super excited to delve more into her world, I loved this take on sirens.
Tempest's world building is so filled with depth and bleeds through the page in such a real way; so if you are looking for a fantasy filled with rich world building and immersive storytelling this is definitely a series you should check out.
Review of advance copy received from Author
If you like fantasy with sirens you will love this book, also if you like action-packed and a lot of drama. I swear one little problem was solved and 3 came up (in a good way) it kept you interested, though it's kinda long and it took me a while bc I was busy.
I loved Briallus! Damn I want to hug her.
I read this without reading the prequel so I didn't know what was going on Demerise's mind, it made me curious to read it.
I guess the ending it's kinda open? But I liked it that way, if the plot was solved really quickly after that many troubles it would've felt too abrupt.
So now I'm dying to read the next book.
Also, the spice was really great!
I loved that Brina and Zen really understood and complemented each other, even if they didn't agree in something there was so much support, and it started as kind of an insta love so if you like that type of romances, you'll like this one.
Thanks so much to the author for providing me with an ARC, I wish you much success!
I loved Briallus! Damn I want to hug her.
I read this without reading the prequel so I didn't know what was going on Demerise's mind, it made me curious to read it.
I guess the ending it's kinda open? But I liked it that way, if the plot was solved really quickly after that many troubles it would've felt too abrupt.
So now I'm dying to read the next book.
Also, the spice was really great!
I loved that Brina and Zen really understood and complemented each other, even if they didn't agree in something there was so much support, and it started as kind of an insta love so if you like that type of romances, you'll like this one.
Thanks so much to the author for providing me with an ARC, I wish you much success!
Review of advance copy received from Author
First of all I wanted to say thank you to the author for giving me the opportunity to be an ARC reader for this book!
I’ll start off by saying that i’m a sucker for anything with Sirens AND sapphic romance!! So i was very happy that i got to read a book with both of these elements. I was pulled me in from the first page. The romance between Zaynab and Brina was excellent. The spark between them happened pretty fast and it flowed throughout the story. The stakes in this were high which further added to their longing for each other and their love. I thought the world building was pretty good. Sometimes with fantasy reads the world building isn’t established as days it can drag on and on without getting to the plot which, some people
prefer that but i thought the world building intertwined with the plot perfectly. I was constantly engaged by how
much action was happening. Nothing really felt filler. Overall, great read!
I’ll start off by saying that i’m a sucker for anything with Sirens AND sapphic romance!! So i was very happy that i got to read a book with both of these elements. I was pulled me in from the first page. The romance between Zaynab and Brina was excellent. The spark between them happened pretty fast and it flowed throughout the story. The stakes in this were high which further added to their longing for each other and their love. I thought the world building was pretty good. Sometimes with fantasy reads the world building isn’t established as days it can drag on and on without getting to the plot which, some people
prefer that but i thought the world building intertwined with the plot perfectly. I was constantly engaged by how
much action was happening. Nothing really felt filler. Overall, great read!
April 5, 2026
Phew! This was a glorious rollercoaster ride of emotions! I was hooked from the start and I’m still ensnared in its net. Love. Betrayal. Life. Death. Duty. Magic. Healing. Intrigue. Pain. This story has it all.
Brina is a no nonsense warrior heir to her clan. She has been raised as duty above all else. A Siren that doesn’t step out of line and doesn’t have wants or needs beyond the clan’s grasp.
Zaynab is a healer, alone on a ship that hunts the ‘sea monsters’. She just needed passage to hopefully find her childhood friend that she had to leave behind.
Brina watches the ship for the clan and also watches Zaynab, knowing in her heart that Zaynab isn’t a hunter, isn’t an enemy.
The events following are cataclysmic and these two become hunted. Trying to navigate being soulbound while also being hunted is very tricky, a bit steamy and downright dangerous. Highly recommend reading their story! I think this is going on my reread list ;).
Brina is a no nonsense warrior heir to her clan. She has been raised as duty above all else. A Siren that doesn’t step out of line and doesn’t have wants or needs beyond the clan’s grasp.
Zaynab is a healer, alone on a ship that hunts the ‘sea monsters’. She just needed passage to hopefully find her childhood friend that she had to leave behind.
Brina watches the ship for the clan and also watches Zaynab, knowing in her heart that Zaynab isn’t a hunter, isn’t an enemy.
The events following are cataclysmic and these two become hunted. Trying to navigate being soulbound while also being hunted is very tricky, a bit steamy and downright dangerous. Highly recommend reading their story! I think this is going on my reread list ;).
Review of advance copy received from Author
I was given the opportunity to be an Arc reader and I could not put this book down at all. It constantly had me on edge and waiting to see what was going to happen next. This book has it alllll sapphic love, action, drama, betrayals, climaxes (lol more than one), the story was really captivating. I loved these two FMCs as well as their POVs, the personalities really come through. Seeing how these characters grew and dealt with the hardships they endured during their journey and how they had to adapt in more than one way. Will they make it? Will they be able to make the ultimate sacrifices? Will it be enough? You just got to read this book. The author also did amazing at the world building and gave a real feel and vision when writing. I cannot wait to see more from them and other stories they build from here!!
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC Reader Review. All opinions are those of my own and have been given freely.
This book is definitely a good read for those who enjoy the story of how love can find even the most unsuspecting people and fundamentally change that person, usually for the good. I enjoyed the plot, I found the setting and the characters endearing. The inner dialogue of the characters helped to give insight into the outward reactions of the characters. The love story, definitely one that will make you smile. I encountered some grammar errors, nothing tragic. I found a few confusing spots in the tense and timeline but again, not dealbreaker level. I highly recommend taking the time for this read. Now I’m going to check out the other works by this author to see if in fact lightening does strike twice. Hope you enjoy this book. I love Zaynal and Brina and I bet you will too.
This book is definitely a good read for those who enjoy the story of how love can find even the most unsuspecting people and fundamentally change that person, usually for the good. I enjoyed the plot, I found the setting and the characters endearing. The inner dialogue of the characters helped to give insight into the outward reactions of the characters. The love story, definitely one that will make you smile. I encountered some grammar errors, nothing tragic. I found a few confusing spots in the tense and timeline but again, not dealbreaker level. I highly recommend taking the time for this read. Now I’m going to check out the other works by this author to see if in fact lightening does strike twice. Hope you enjoy this book. I love Zaynal and Brina and I bet you will too.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I want to start by saying thank you to the author for providing me an ARC of this book! I enjoyed the world-building, the fantasy elements, and the sapphic siren love story, and thought they were immersive and fun to read. I do wish the magic system, lore, and relationships between characters had been better developed though, since I found all of those topics interesting and wanted a deeper dive. I also struggled to connect to the characters; their reactions to events felt very juvenile at times and I wasn’t a fan of the insta-love between Brina and Zaynab, or the constant miscommunication trope, though I did find their devotion to one another really sweet. I’m grateful I had the chance to read this book, and while it ended up not being for me, I think other people will greatly enjoy it and connect with the characters!
March 21, 2026
It was my honor to receive an ARC for Of Soulbound Sacrifice. I had a lot of fun reading this book! The writing was well done and the characters were very real and complicated. I loved the adventure and the different aspects of the magical world! I also thought the character you meet later in the book was really well formed, but I won’t reveal their name to keep this review spoiler free.
I did have a bit of a hard time with the relationship between Brina and Zaynab, I wanted them to have a little more relationship building before saying, “I love you.” And I understand that they are Soulbound, but I still felt the relationship felt a little rushed. Some of the conflicts were a little unnecessary or forced. And don’t get me started on miscommunication tropes. But overall, this was a fun read and I’ll def read more of Tempest’s books.
I did have a bit of a hard time with the relationship between Brina and Zaynab, I wanted them to have a little more relationship building before saying, “I love you.” And I understand that they are Soulbound, but I still felt the relationship felt a little rushed. Some of the conflicts were a little unnecessary or forced. And don’t get me started on miscommunication tropes. But overall, this was a fun read and I’ll def read more of Tempest’s books.
Review of advance copy received from Author
3.75 ⭐️ 3🌶
This was an epic adventure ride. Do you like boats, perhaps an undersea world, or maybe a fantasy landscape? This book has something for everyone. It criss-crosses settings and adds in mythology, fae, monsters. While that can seem daunting to intertwine it all, it was rather seamless.
The interactions between the fmcs Brina & Zen, were genuine and developed at a slower pace compared to the action of the plot. At times I wanted to shake the two of them, they should have been more open and honest. They each had their own history which contributed to their distorted perceptions. I believe that would have helped to shorten the length of the book a wee bit.
Tropes and triggers: Found Family, fated mates, species prejudice, murder, enemies to lovers, quests
I was given an advanced copy for an honest review.
This was an epic adventure ride. Do you like boats, perhaps an undersea world, or maybe a fantasy landscape? This book has something for everyone. It criss-crosses settings and adds in mythology, fae, monsters. While that can seem daunting to intertwine it all, it was rather seamless.
The interactions between the fmcs Brina & Zen, were genuine and developed at a slower pace compared to the action of the plot. At times I wanted to shake the two of them, they should have been more open and honest. They each had their own history which contributed to their distorted perceptions. I believe that would have helped to shorten the length of the book a wee bit.
Tropes and triggers: Found Family, fated mates, species prejudice, murder, enemies to lovers, quests
I was given an advanced copy for an honest review.
April 1, 2026
This was an absolutely beautiful book I cannot get it out of my head. I loved it that much.
Brina is a tough, independent, badass siren. All her life she has done what is expected of her from family and her people. Until one day she rescues a beautiful land dweller from an accident at sea and she questions everything.
Zaynab is a not in the best of situations. She is crossing the sea with a not-so-great crew. The ships gets attacked and she is saved by a mysterious siren. She then becomes a little ticked that she is attracted to the siren that saved her. This was a wonderful story Scarlett did a phenomenal job with the characters and their relationships. She did a wonderful job. with the world building. Overall, this was a wonderful book and i cannot wait to get this in paperback because I will read this multiple time.
Brina is a tough, independent, badass siren. All her life she has done what is expected of her from family and her people. Until one day she rescues a beautiful land dweller from an accident at sea and she questions everything.
Zaynab is a not in the best of situations. She is crossing the sea with a not-so-great crew. The ships gets attacked and she is saved by a mysterious siren. She then becomes a little ticked that she is attracted to the siren that saved her. This was a wonderful story Scarlett did a phenomenal job with the characters and their relationships. She did a wonderful job. with the world building. Overall, this was a wonderful book and i cannot wait to get this in paperback because I will read this multiple time.
April 3, 2026
This one felt really emotional in a quiet but powerful way. The kind of story where everything revolves around love, but not just one type, and that’s what made it stand out to me.
The connection between the characters carries so much weight. It’s intense, a little complicated, and you can feel the push between duty and what the heart wants, which made it really easy to stay invested.
I also loved the overall atmosphere. It feels immersive and a bit magical, like you’re fully pulled into this world and everything happening in it. It added so much to the reading experience without taking away from the emotions.
Overall this was such a beautiful and meaningful read that really stuck with me after I finished.
So grateful to have this one on my shelf and experience this story, thank you to the author for such a heartfelt read
The connection between the characters carries so much weight. It’s intense, a little complicated, and you can feel the push between duty and what the heart wants, which made it really easy to stay invested.
I also loved the overall atmosphere. It feels immersive and a bit magical, like you’re fully pulled into this world and everything happening in it. It added so much to the reading experience without taking away from the emotions.
Overall this was such a beautiful and meaningful read that really stuck with me after I finished.
So grateful to have this one on my shelf and experience this story, thank you to the author for such a heartfelt read
April 1, 2026
Oh this book is so beautiful. Not just the cover. A love story between a siren and a human is forbidden and is the focus of most of this book. Yes there is plot and some badassery but the relationship between Brina and Zaynab is gorgeous. I love the way this author wrote their relationship. Its a 500 page book but it didnt feel like it. Between the writing, plotting, and chapters being decently short, it made the book go by so fast. I was so angry watching how Brina's mother treated her. Brina did everything to be the perfect siren but she was perfect the way she was!!! The ending is a bit open ended because there will be a next book but for now their sort of happy. Not everything is perfect but I'm hoping eventually it will.
Review of advance copy received from Author
There are many 4 and 5 star reviews for this book so I know my inability to connect with it was obviously a 'me' thing and not an indication of the quality of the writing and story.
There were a few things I struggled with - instalove, extreme punishments, decision making - but the worldbuilding was great and the cast of characters solid and interesting. The author crafted feelings very well and her storyline was centred on emotion and the short and long-term repercussions of it. Lots of highs and lows!
While it wasn't for me, I'm sure this book will find many readers who fall in love with it.
There were a few things I struggled with - instalove, extreme punishments, decision making - but the worldbuilding was great and the cast of characters solid and interesting. The author crafted feelings very well and her storyline was centred on emotion and the short and long-term repercussions of it. Lots of highs and lows!
While it wasn't for me, I'm sure this book will find many readers who fall in love with it.
April 15, 2026
Of Soulbound sacrifice is a gorgeous sapphic romance. I was captivated early on by the rich world of sirens that Tempest is able to build. I am new to pure fantasy, and tend to tread lightly because I can find some worlds overwhelming to keep up with. but this didn't feel like a challenge to me. This was bliss. There was something so quiet and beautiful about this fast paced book of adventure. The character finding harbor in each other, the clear communication between them, the disability representation, and the beautiful cadence of the book swept me away.
I am eagerly awaiting the second book, and can't wait to see where these women go next. Thank you for this treasure!
I am eagerly awaiting the second book, and can't wait to see where these women go next. Thank you for this treasure!
Review of advance copy received from Author
An amazing fantasy world full of magic, danger, and enough self sacrifice to make you wonder if Zaynab and Brina could possibly come out in one piece. The characters are deep and show continual growth through their struggles to be true to themselves and each other. Even their poor choices kept me wanting more.
I read this in less than a night because I just couldn't imagine trying to sleep before I knew the ending.
I read this in less than a night because I just couldn't imagine trying to sleep before I knew the ending.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews