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Hexed by the Tide
The pirate queen of the Shattered Islands, Arynn Cosgrove, has battled for control her entire life. After years of bloodshed and sacrifice, she is finally within reach of the peaceful future she has promised the pirates, and ready to face the one person who threatens her hard-earned stability.
When a colossal beast turns her near-victory into chaos, Arynn makes a split-second decision to teleport to safety, only to discover she hadn’t escaped alone. Hadeon Idell, a low-ranking yet ambitious pirate, was swept into the magic with her.
Stranded on a remote island with no crew, no supplies, and no clear way home, they are forced into an uneasy partnership. She has survived by relying on no one but herself, and experience has taught her that closeness comes at a cost. Arynn must decide whether protecting her independence or trust in love.
Hexed by the Tide is a standalone romantasy about a fiercely self-reliant pirate queen, an ambitious underdog determined to earn his place, and the transformative power of choosing to let someone in
When a colossal beast turns her near-victory into chaos, Arynn makes a split-second decision to teleport to safety, only to discover she hadn’t escaped alone. Hadeon Idell, a low-ranking yet ambitious pirate, was swept into the magic with her.
Stranded on a remote island with no crew, no supplies, and no clear way home, they are forced into an uneasy partnership. She has survived by relying on no one but herself, and experience has taught her that closeness comes at a cost. Arynn must decide whether protecting her independence or trust in love.
Hexed by the Tide is a standalone romantasy about a fiercely self-reliant pirate queen, an ambitious underdog determined to earn his place, and the transformative power of choosing to let someone in
185 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 7, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 172 reviews
April 14, 2026
ARC Review:
This was such an easy 5⭐️ read for me. I absolutely loved it. The dual POV between the two main characters worked so well, and the banter between them made their relationship development incredibly fun to follow. The story flowed seamlessly, and I constantly found myself wanting to keep reading.
Hadeon, our MMC, was such a refreshing character. He is gentle, kind, and deeply thoughtful. I especially loved experiencing the world through his perspective.
Arynn, our fierce pirate queen, was beautifully written. Watching her growth throughout the story was so satisfying and added so much depth to the overall journey.
I highly recommend reading this! It’s such an easy fun read. I cannot wait to read more from Lauren
This was such an easy 5⭐️ read for me. I absolutely loved it. The dual POV between the two main characters worked so well, and the banter between them made their relationship development incredibly fun to follow. The story flowed seamlessly, and I constantly found myself wanting to keep reading.
Hadeon, our MMC, was such a refreshing character. He is gentle, kind, and deeply thoughtful. I especially loved experiencing the world through his perspective.
Arynn, our fierce pirate queen, was beautifully written. Watching her growth throughout the story was so satisfying and added so much depth to the overall journey.
I highly recommend reading this! It’s such an easy fun read. I cannot wait to read more from Lauren
May 13, 2026
Just finished reading an advanced copy of a book that was just released on May 7th called, Hexed by the Tide. This is about Arynn the pirate queen, once her and her crew take down one last man she will be able to give them the good life they've all wanted. But when things go wrong during this fight, she uses her magic to escape, only to realize she doesn't know where she teleported to and she's not alone. Hadeon, a lowly pirate, was standing too close and accidentally teleported with her. Now these two are stuck on an island, with no way to get home, and with only the items they had on them while trying to survive until the crew can hopefully find them. They are forced to trust each other to survive, but Arynn has learned the hard way that trusting anyone other than herself doesn't end well. Hadeon is eager to help them survive and prove himself, but first he has to get Arynn to let her guard down.
This was a really enjoyable romantasy! It was a quick, fast paced, and entertaining read! I always love a romantasy with any sort of pirates/sirens/etc basically anything with that vibe and with a setting of the ocean, a ship, or a beach/island vibe! So I totally devoured this story! I wasn't expecting as deep of a storyline or the character growth Arynn had, since this was a short story, but I was pleasantly surprised by both! I really enjoyed this one! 💙📚
Thank you to Lauren O'Brien and BookSirens for this ARC of Hexed by the Tide, in exchange for an honest review.
This was a really enjoyable romantasy! It was a quick, fast paced, and entertaining read! I always love a romantasy with any sort of pirates/sirens/etc basically anything with that vibe and with a setting of the ocean, a ship, or a beach/island vibe! So I totally devoured this story! I wasn't expecting as deep of a storyline or the character growth Arynn had, since this was a short story, but I was pleasantly surprised by both! I really enjoyed this one! 💙📚
Thank you to Lauren O'Brien and BookSirens for this ARC of Hexed by the Tide, in exchange for an honest review.
May 11, 2026
4⭐️ ┇ Bookstagram ┇ BookTok
This was a fun, short standalone pirate romantasy that packs a lot into under 200 pages—I read it in one sitting. It’s fast-paced, easy to follow, and perfect for a quick escape.
The story follows Pirate Queen Arynn, who’s used to surviving on her own, until she’s stranded on an island with the pirate Hadeon. The forced proximity was a highlight—their chemistry is immediate, but what really stands out is how they learn to rely on each other, especially how soft and caring Hadeon is with her.
Arynn’s character growth was well done as she slowly lets her guard down and allows Hadeon in, adding a nice emotional layer to the story.
Short, sweet, action-packed, and romantic—my only complaint is that I wish we had more!
‧₊˚✧𝓦𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓽𝓸 𝓮𝔁𝓹𝓮𝓬𝓽✧˚₊‧
➳❥ Romantasy Standalone
➳❥ Pirate Queen
➳❥ Golden Retriever MMC
➳❥ Forced Proximity
➳❥ Magic
➳❥ He Falls First
➳❥ Banter
ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ 𝓕𝓪𝓿 𝓠𝓾𝓸𝓽t𝓮𝓼
“You survived it—came out of it strong enough to become the woman in front of me now—that's not weakness, Arynn. That's the fiercest kind of strength I've ever seen."
"Real love doesn't have to be earned. It's to be gifted."
"I want to make you feel good. Tell me what you need."
This was a fun, short standalone pirate romantasy that packs a lot into under 200 pages—I read it in one sitting. It’s fast-paced, easy to follow, and perfect for a quick escape.
The story follows Pirate Queen Arynn, who’s used to surviving on her own, until she’s stranded on an island with the pirate Hadeon. The forced proximity was a highlight—their chemistry is immediate, but what really stands out is how they learn to rely on each other, especially how soft and caring Hadeon is with her.
Arynn’s character growth was well done as she slowly lets her guard down and allows Hadeon in, adding a nice emotional layer to the story.
Short, sweet, action-packed, and romantic—my only complaint is that I wish we had more!
‧₊˚✧𝓦𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓽𝓸 𝓮𝔁𝓹𝓮𝓬𝓽✧˚₊‧
➳❥ Romantasy Standalone
➳❥ Pirate Queen
➳❥ Golden Retriever MMC
➳❥ Forced Proximity
➳❥ Magic
➳❥ He Falls First
➳❥ Banter
ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ 𝓕𝓪𝓿 𝓠𝓾𝓸𝓽t𝓮𝓼
“You survived it—came out of it strong enough to become the woman in front of me now—that's not weakness, Arynn. That's the fiercest kind of strength I've ever seen."
"Real love doesn't have to be earned. It's to be gifted."
"I want to make you feel good. Tell me what you need."
May 11, 2026
Review of advance copy received from Author
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ stars
What to expect
🏴☠️ Self reliant pirate queen
⚓️ Forced proximity
🏴☠️ Pirates
⚓️ Banter
🏴☠️ He falls first
This book was good it’s a short, fast paced romantasy. Very easy to read.
Loved the character growth for our FMC Arynn she is a totally self reliant woman but she finally learns she doesn’t have to do everything on her own and let people in.
Our MMC Hadeon is a low ranking, yet ambitious pirate determined to prove himself. She shows Arynn that it’s ok to accept help and to open her heart up to new possibilities.
I loved both the MC's in this book.
I loved the chemistry between the MC’s 👌🏽
The banter was great between all the characters.
I haven’t read any other books by this author but I will definitely add more of her books to my TBR.
Thank you to the author for sending me a copy of your book.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ stars
What to expect
🏴☠️ Self reliant pirate queen
⚓️ Forced proximity
🏴☠️ Pirates
⚓️ Banter
🏴☠️ He falls first
This book was good it’s a short, fast paced romantasy. Very easy to read.
Loved the character growth for our FMC Arynn she is a totally self reliant woman but she finally learns she doesn’t have to do everything on her own and let people in.
Our MMC Hadeon is a low ranking, yet ambitious pirate determined to prove himself. She shows Arynn that it’s ok to accept help and to open her heart up to new possibilities.
I loved both the MC's in this book.
I loved the chemistry between the MC’s 👌🏽
The banter was great between all the characters.
I haven’t read any other books by this author but I will definitely add more of her books to my TBR.
Thank you to the author for sending me a copy of your book.
May 11, 2026
A solid 3.5
This was honestly my first Pirate story and Im absolutely loving it. This wasbfast paced, easy to follow along with. the characters were engaging and fun. I loved the dynamics between Arynn and Hadeon, she needed him just as much as he needed her but it was her being able to acknowledge it; fight it but then admit it to herself, and his being able to wait for her.
This was honestly my first Pirate story and Im absolutely loving it. This wasbfast paced, easy to follow along with. the characters were engaging and fun. I loved the dynamics between Arynn and Hadeon, she needed him just as much as he needed her but it was her being able to acknowledge it; fight it but then admit it to herself, and his being able to wait for her.
May 11, 2026
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. (via IRIS Influencer Society)
I liked Arynn and Hadeon as well as the rest of cast of characters. I could have used a bit more build up between Arynn and Hadeon for their relationship but overall, a good short and spicy easy read.
I liked Arynn and Hadeon as well as the rest of cast of characters. I could have used a bit more build up between Arynn and Hadeon for their relationship but overall, a good short and spicy easy read.
May 8, 2026
Standalone romantasy that is duel POV. A pirate queen and a hot sailor, yes! I usually don’t love a cinnamon roll MMC, but the fierce, fiery FMC made up for it. I loved the dynamic. It was a fun, quick read.
March 21, 2026
Arrrrr matey I loveddddd this book!! Hexed by the Tide was a fast paced and entertaining read!
Lately, I’ve been immersing myself in books with swashbuckling pirates and siren song. This is a PERFECT example of that! I adore this world Lauren created! The story as it develops was meaningful and powerful as well!
This book (to me) is character driven, and the FMC Arynn, was relatable to a fault. Having a massive wall surrounding her heart is something we can all relate to honestly. But she’s also stabby, fierce and loyal to herself and her friends/family. The MMC Hadeon is absolutely the sunshine to her rain clouds. He’s definitely a hopeless romantic, golden retriever and had me giggling often. The banter they gave was givinggggg.
If you’re also a lover of forced proximity, banter, pirates, sea witches and being deserted on an island… then yes absolutely Hexed by The Tide is for youuuu friendsssss!!
Lately, I’ve been immersing myself in books with swashbuckling pirates and siren song. This is a PERFECT example of that! I adore this world Lauren created! The story as it develops was meaningful and powerful as well!
This book (to me) is character driven, and the FMC Arynn, was relatable to a fault. Having a massive wall surrounding her heart is something we can all relate to honestly. But she’s also stabby, fierce and loyal to herself and her friends/family. The MMC Hadeon is absolutely the sunshine to her rain clouds. He’s definitely a hopeless romantic, golden retriever and had me giggling often. The banter they gave was givinggggg.
If you’re also a lover of forced proximity, banter, pirates, sea witches and being deserted on an island… then yes absolutely Hexed by The Tide is for youuuu friendsssss!!
June 13, 2026
Oh no, the instalust strikes again 😭
First of all, thank you to the author for the free copy, and I apologize for this very, very late review. Unfortunately, this book just wasn't for me.
Trust me, I really wanted it to be.
I even visited the author's insta to find a trope map and started drafting my review format beforehand because I genuinely thought this would be my kind of book. A pirate queen? A soft MMC? Sign me up!! Instead, I struggled from the very beginning.
The first issue was Arryn. Rather than letting readers discover her past naturally, she basically listed all of her trauma right away. I understand that this is a novella and page count is limited, but it also removes much of the emotional impact and mystery. A tragic backstory works best when it's revealed gradually or through meaningful flashbacks. Here, I was immediately told that her father was murdered in front of her eyes. And while that's objectively awful, I didn't feel much sympathy because it happened off page.
Honestly, I think Hexed by the Tide would've benefited from being a full length novel because the author can clearly write. It took only a couple of chapters for me to recognize the distinct voices of the protagonists. Arryn felt guarded and distant, while Hadeon, though I wouldn't fully describe him as "soft", came across as the more talkative one.
The magic system, however, left me confused. I know this book is part of a larger universe, but the lore is dropped into the story with very little context. At first, I thought this was a contemporary fantasy setting. Then suddenly a merfolk appeared??? Magic users have bright colored hair (like purple, icy blue) but it's never explained whether that's unique to witches or simply a universal trait in this world.
Arryn mentions running out of enchantment while undercover, and my immediate reaction was HOW? Is magic a limited resource? Does it recharge? Does it have rules? Arryn also calls herself a pirate queen, but the story never really shows how she earned that title beyond inheriting her father's legacy. That left me with a bunch another of questions bcs pirate monarch doesn't make sense to me. What exactly made her respected? What work had she done to build her reputation? She needs to recruit Hadeon for a revenge mission because she doesn't have enough crew. How does she pay them? Why are they loyal to her? I genuinely couldn't tell.
"𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒈𝒊𝒓𝒍 𝒘𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅𝒏’𝒕 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒈𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒔𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒊𝒎𝒂𝒍𝒔 𝒂 𝒔𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕, 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒇𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒚𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒔, 𝒎𝒚 𝒕𝒆𝒆𝒏𝒂𝒈𝒆 𝒑𝒆𝒕𝒖𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒑𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒎 𝒐𝒇 𝒂 𝒅𝒊𝒔𝒄𝒊𝒑𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒅 𝒘𝒐𝒎𝒂𝒏."
And yet this "disciplined woman" is completely helpless when stranded with Hadeon. She doesn't know how to make a fire. She doesn't know how to find water.
Apparently, the plot needed forced proximity so badly that it temporarily removed the FMC's survival instincts. Good lord 😭👍
But what bothered me most was the romance. Or more specifically, how quickly Arryn jumped to Hadeon's dick. It happened the same day they met. THE SAME DAY. For someone that is bisexual, clearly Arryn never met an attractive person because she immediately drooled over Hadeon oh wow 😬 There was no buildup. No tension. No gradual development. Their first intimate scene literally happened because the two had nothing better to do. Do either of you know sleeping is also an option? 😭
What made it worse was that it fell into one of my least favorite tropes: the heroine who's fierce everywhere except in the bedroom. I just can't do it.
“𝑵𝒐. 𝑩𝒖𝒕 𝒅𝒐 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒊𝒔? 𝑰 𝒐𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝒇𝒖𝒄𝒌 𝒎𝒆𝒏 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒕𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕.”
So much for the independent pirate queen, girl 👌
First of all, thank you to the author for the free copy, and I apologize for this very, very late review. Unfortunately, this book just wasn't for me.
Trust me, I really wanted it to be.
I even visited the author's insta to find a trope map and started drafting my review format beforehand because I genuinely thought this would be my kind of book. A pirate queen? A soft MMC? Sign me up!! Instead, I struggled from the very beginning.
The first issue was Arryn. Rather than letting readers discover her past naturally, she basically listed all of her trauma right away. I understand that this is a novella and page count is limited, but it also removes much of the emotional impact and mystery. A tragic backstory works best when it's revealed gradually or through meaningful flashbacks. Here, I was immediately told that her father was murdered in front of her eyes. And while that's objectively awful, I didn't feel much sympathy because it happened off page.
Honestly, I think Hexed by the Tide would've benefited from being a full length novel because the author can clearly write. It took only a couple of chapters for me to recognize the distinct voices of the protagonists. Arryn felt guarded and distant, while Hadeon, though I wouldn't fully describe him as "soft", came across as the more talkative one.
The magic system, however, left me confused. I know this book is part of a larger universe, but the lore is dropped into the story with very little context. At first, I thought this was a contemporary fantasy setting. Then suddenly a merfolk appeared??? Magic users have bright colored hair (like purple, icy blue) but it's never explained whether that's unique to witches or simply a universal trait in this world.
Arryn mentions running out of enchantment while undercover, and my immediate reaction was HOW? Is magic a limited resource? Does it recharge? Does it have rules? Arryn also calls herself a pirate queen, but the story never really shows how she earned that title beyond inheriting her father's legacy. That left me with a bunch another of questions bcs pirate monarch doesn't make sense to me. What exactly made her respected? What work had she done to build her reputation? She needs to recruit Hadeon for a revenge mission because she doesn't have enough crew. How does she pay them? Why are they loyal to her? I genuinely couldn't tell.
"𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒈𝒊𝒓𝒍 𝒘𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅𝒏’𝒕 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒈𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒔𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒊𝒎𝒂𝒍𝒔 𝒂 𝒔𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕, 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒇𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒚𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒔, 𝒎𝒚 𝒕𝒆𝒆𝒏𝒂𝒈𝒆 𝒑𝒆𝒕𝒖𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒑𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒎 𝒐𝒇 𝒂 𝒅𝒊𝒔𝒄𝒊𝒑𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒅 𝒘𝒐𝒎𝒂𝒏."
And yet this "disciplined woman" is completely helpless when stranded with Hadeon. She doesn't know how to make a fire. She doesn't know how to find water.
Apparently, the plot needed forced proximity so badly that it temporarily removed the FMC's survival instincts. Good lord 😭👍
But what bothered me most was the romance. Or more specifically, how quickly Arryn jumped to Hadeon's dick. It happened the same day they met. THE SAME DAY. For someone that is bisexual, clearly Arryn never met an attractive person because she immediately drooled over Hadeon oh wow 😬 There was no buildup. No tension. No gradual development. Their first intimate scene literally happened because the two had nothing better to do. Do either of you know sleeping is also an option? 😭
What made it worse was that it fell into one of my least favorite tropes: the heroine who's fierce everywhere except in the bedroom. I just can't do it.
“𝑵𝒐. 𝑩𝒖𝒕 𝒅𝒐 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒊𝒔? 𝑰 𝒐𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝒇𝒖𝒄𝒌 𝒎𝒆𝒏 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒕𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕.”
So much for the independent pirate queen, girl 👌
May 14, 2026
I loved the premise of this book: pirates, cinnamon roll MMC, and fast-paced. The FMC, Arryn, is strong and independent. She has two best friends with whom she runs her pirate ship. I loved her character because she was able to understand where her faults lie and was able to address them during this fast-paced story. I do wish that we got a little bit more backstory on certain things. I felt like there was a bit of a buildup into Hans, who I had incorrectly assumed was the antagonist of the story, but turned out wasn’t in the way that I had expected. Hadeon, the MMC, is sweet and caring. He is giving golden retriever vibes and really helps Arryn through a lot of her distrust and misgivings.
Overall, this was a quick read. I finished it in one day. It has 187 pages on Kindle, and if you’re looking for a cute, fast-paced romantasy with pirates, this is it!!
Themes/Tropes:
🗡️ Pirates
🗡️ Cinnamon Roll MMC
🗡️ Strong Female Lead
🗡️ Short Story
Quotes:
📜 Turns out, Hadeon Idell wasn’t intimidated by my snarkiness.
📜 Loyalty and love, I realized, were not a promise of forever, but a choice made again and again.
📜 To care so deeply was its own form of bravery.
📜 “Everyone always thinks I’m bluffing,” I grumbled to myself, wiping Hadeon’s weapon clean with a rag.
Overall Ratings:
⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️
Overall, this was a quick read. I finished it in one day. It has 187 pages on Kindle, and if you’re looking for a cute, fast-paced romantasy with pirates, this is it!!
Themes/Tropes:
🗡️ Pirates
🗡️ Cinnamon Roll MMC
🗡️ Strong Female Lead
🗡️ Short Story
Quotes:
📜 Turns out, Hadeon Idell wasn’t intimidated by my snarkiness.
📜 Loyalty and love, I realized, were not a promise of forever, but a choice made again and again.
📜 To care so deeply was its own form of bravery.
📜 “Everyone always thinks I’m bluffing,” I grumbled to myself, wiping Hadeon’s weapon clean with a rag.
Overall Ratings:
⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️
May 9, 2026
Thank you, Lauren O’Brien and IRIS, for an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
This was a quick and easy read! I had fun following the characters and imagining them fighting other groups. The characters were strong, and Hadeon especially was very lovable. The banter and level of understanding he had were so attractive. I also think he worked well with Arynn, who just needed a little more love.
I will say that the plot itself was a bit jumpy. It felt like we switched plot directions very abruptly in the beginning of the book. The same goes for the intimacy shared between Arynn and Hadeon- there wasn’t much buildup, and it felt a little abrupt reading about them getting together so soon. Regardless, I do feel like the dialogue improved a lot toward the end of the story, and their connection felt more natural. I also liked how each character had their own genuine personality instead of everyone feeling flaky. It’s great to see consistency!
Overall, it was a chill read. I wouldn’t say it gave off all the pirate and mermaid adventure vibes I wanted, but it was still entertaining at times. The short length helped the story move smoothly rather than dragging on, but if it had been longer, I feel like the beginning would’ve made more sense. I’d recommend this if you want a quick read with some spice.
This was a quick and easy read! I had fun following the characters and imagining them fighting other groups. The characters were strong, and Hadeon especially was very lovable. The banter and level of understanding he had were so attractive. I also think he worked well with Arynn, who just needed a little more love.
I will say that the plot itself was a bit jumpy. It felt like we switched plot directions very abruptly in the beginning of the book. The same goes for the intimacy shared between Arynn and Hadeon- there wasn’t much buildup, and it felt a little abrupt reading about them getting together so soon. Regardless, I do feel like the dialogue improved a lot toward the end of the story, and their connection felt more natural. I also liked how each character had their own genuine personality instead of everyone feeling flaky. It’s great to see consistency!
Overall, it was a chill read. I wouldn’t say it gave off all the pirate and mermaid adventure vibes I wanted, but it was still entertaining at times. The short length helped the story move smoothly rather than dragging on, but if it had been longer, I feel like the beginning would’ve made more sense. I’d recommend this if you want a quick read with some spice.
July 4, 2026
Hexed by the Tide delivers a charming fantasy adventure with heart, memorable characters, and a beautifully imagined island world. It’s an enjoyable read for fans who want equal parts magic, romance, and high-seas adventure.
Hexed By The Tide, is a fun blend of fantasy, pirates, magic, and romance that feels like setting sail on an adventure. If you enjoy morally gray characters, found family, political intrigue, and a heroine determined to reclaim her future, this is an easy book to get swept up in.
Arynn is immediately likable. She’s carrying the weight of her father’s legacy after witnessing his murder, while trying to unite a fractured pirate kingdom and stop a looming rebellion.
This is a good read for people who love pirates!!
Hexed By The Tide, is a fun blend of fantasy, pirates, magic, and romance that feels like setting sail on an adventure. If you enjoy morally gray characters, found family, political intrigue, and a heroine determined to reclaim her future, this is an easy book to get swept up in.
Arynn is immediately likable. She’s carrying the weight of her father’s legacy after witnessing his murder, while trying to unite a fractured pirate kingdom and stop a looming rebellion.
This is a good read for people who love pirates!!
Did Not Finish
May 7, 2026I had to DNF this... I was really struggling. There was a lot of telling instead of showing so I never felt like I was truly in the story. There were quite a few things that were not explained, and I found myself going back to make sure I didn't miss something. The situationship between Arynn and Hadeon was odd. She literally went from not even cooperating with him to trying to get in his pants, and like didn't her best friend want him? It just felt like there was a lot of gaps in scenes that left me feeling hanging.
*I received an advanced reader copy of this book. This review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.
*I received an advanced reader copy of this book. This review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 7, 2026
Thank you Lauren O’Brien and IRIS Influencer Society for the opportunity to read Hexed by the Tide in exchange for an honest review.
If you love quick, easy reads about pirates and forced proximity, you would love this book! The story is about a sea witch pirate queen and a newbie pirate stranded on an island, forcing her to work with him.
I really liked the storyline and main characters, Arynn and Hadeon. Arynn has rough edges, but loved how Hadeon balances her out. I also really enjoyed how their relationship developed.
Personally, I wish the book was longer to delve deeper into both Arynn and Hadeon backstories and their relationship. We get a touch of the Ayrnn’s past, but not much into her magic or information on all the conflicts from her past. I really like Hadeon, typical golden retriever MMC, but we don’t know too much of his backstory. He briefly touches on his past, but would love to know more about his family dynamics and why he wanted to become a pirate for someone who is so kind. Though, I loved their development in the book, it was slightly too fast for me and would have loved if there were more pages to slow it down.
This is a standalone, but didn’t realize that it was a spin-off of a duology. I’m curious to see if we get more of Arynn’s history in that story.
Overall, I enjoyed the book, I only wished it was longer to slow down their development and relationship and have more details!
If you love quick, easy reads about pirates and forced proximity, you would love this book! The story is about a sea witch pirate queen and a newbie pirate stranded on an island, forcing her to work with him.
I really liked the storyline and main characters, Arynn and Hadeon. Arynn has rough edges, but loved how Hadeon balances her out. I also really enjoyed how their relationship developed.
Personally, I wish the book was longer to delve deeper into both Arynn and Hadeon backstories and their relationship. We get a touch of the Ayrnn’s past, but not much into her magic or information on all the conflicts from her past. I really like Hadeon, typical golden retriever MMC, but we don’t know too much of his backstory. He briefly touches on his past, but would love to know more about his family dynamics and why he wanted to become a pirate for someone who is so kind. Though, I loved their development in the book, it was slightly too fast for me and would have loved if there were more pages to slow it down.
This is a standalone, but didn’t realize that it was a spin-off of a duology. I’m curious to see if we get more of Arynn’s history in that story.
Overall, I enjoyed the book, I only wished it was longer to slow down their development and relationship and have more details!
May 7, 2026
This is a fun, quick read for anyone looking for a spicy pirate romance! Our FMC and MMC end up stranded together on an island. This is a standalone but has tie ins to the authors existing series. Thank you to IRIS Influencer Society and Lauren O’Brien for the gifted ARC!
April 10, 2026
This book had me feeling so emotional when things happened as I deleted I was feeling the pains and emotions of the main characters and the secondary characters as well. So glad my thoughts ended with the ending I felt was the best..
April 21, 2026
3.5/3.75 ⭐️
This was a very enjoyable read for me! I loved both the main characters and their dynamic as well! Unfortunately, because it’s a shorter book, I feel like it wasn’t developed to its full potential. If the book was slightly longer, the pacing of the romance would’ve been even more incredible and we’d have longer to be with them as a couple rather than it feeling a bit rushed towards the end!
I loved the fact that they teleported to a place neither was familiar with and had to rely on each other and build trust in each other, something which never came easily to our FMC! As mentioned, I really loved the dynamic between the FMC and MMC🤭
My only downside is that I wish it had been longer, allowing pacing to be even better but overall I really enjoyed this and I’m looking forward to reading more from Lauren 🥰
Thank you for the ARC🥹💛
This was a very enjoyable read for me! I loved both the main characters and their dynamic as well! Unfortunately, because it’s a shorter book, I feel like it wasn’t developed to its full potential. If the book was slightly longer, the pacing of the romance would’ve been even more incredible and we’d have longer to be with them as a couple rather than it feeling a bit rushed towards the end!
I loved the fact that they teleported to a place neither was familiar with and had to rely on each other and build trust in each other, something which never came easily to our FMC! As mentioned, I really loved the dynamic between the FMC and MMC🤭
My only downside is that I wish it had been longer, allowing pacing to be even better but overall I really enjoyed this and I’m looking forward to reading more from Lauren 🥰
Thank you for the ARC🥹💛
June 15, 2026
I was super excited to read this as I haven’t read many pirate novels, and this plot really drew me in, as it was a standalone fantasy. Centered around a pirate queen and a golden retriever pirate who both get stranded on an island together. It has sea magic, and the premise was great. It was described as a high-stakes survival story with slow-burning tension, and I was ready for it. It was, in fact, not a slow-burning romance at all; the story was going so well and then fell flat. I loved Hadeon; he was great. The pirate queen Arynn, not so much; she had so much potential. I loved that she was the pirate queen and how she had sea magic and the whole strong, independent female vibe. Even her friendship with Cyryn and Elfrieda was great. But for some reason, she became less of a strong woman and someone who needed to rely on everyone more. Not only that, but the romance was just poorly done for me, I feel. It was rushed and not how a slow burn should be. I do love the storyline and the whole backstory, but the main antagonist was confusing, as the villain died early, and there wasn’t really any sort of climax; it just felt bland. I was really looking forward to this, but unfortunately, it just didn’t live up to my hype.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you to Lauren O'Brien and Book Sirens for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Genres, settings, categories, themes: fantasy, romance (M/F), pirates, island, (freedom from) slave trade
💗 Tropes: 💗
> Opposites Attract (black cat FMC x golden retriever MMC)
> Stranded (sub-trope of Forced Proximity)
all about tropes here
POV: 1st person, alternating/dual
Series/Sequencing Style: standalone, no cliffhanger (although hints at the end indicate there will likely be future books with these characters)
Format: ebook (e-ARC)
🔽🔽🔽
Overall ratings
Heat level: 🌶 3/5 spicy seduction 🌶
(from Ampersand’s guide to heat levels in romance novels – (0) sweet, (1) mild sizzle, (2) sensual steam, (3) spicy seduction, (4) red hot, (5) erotic)
~ Heroine/FMC (Arynn) ~ 3/5 🌕🌕🌕🌑🌑
~ Hero/MMC (Hadeon) ~ 5/5 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕
~ Other characters ~ 5/5 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕
~ Plot ~ 4/5 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑
~ Pacing ~ 5/5 🌕🌗🌑
~ Romance ~ 3.5/5 🌕🌕🌕🌗🌑
~ Action ~ 4/5 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑
~ World building ~ 2.5/5 🌕🌕🌗🌑🌑 BUT it should be noted that this book is set in the same world as the duology Tide Bound/Tide Keeper, so there is likely a lot more background world-building there. This is just purely from a standalone perspective.
~ Writing ~ 4/5 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑 repetitive words & quite a few editing errors that will hopefully be fixed by official publication; otherwise, an easy-to-get-into writing style/voice
~ Reading enjoyability & fun ~ 5/5 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕
~ Depth & tone (1 light & fun --> 5 more serious, addresses heavier topics?): 2
~ Diversity & representation: bi FMC, POC best friend / side MC
~ Angst level: 2.5/5 - no 3rd act breakup, which is nice
~ Sadness level: 1/5
🔽🔽🔽
❗CW/Triggers:❗blood, cut throat, death of a parent (historic, off page), fire, forced imprisonment, guns & death by gunshot, injury by fire (including severe burns), kidnapping & forced imprisonment of a child (historic, off page), piracy, slavery / slave trade, sword fighting, use of stabbing & cutting weapons (including swords, knives, axes, & spears)
🔽🔽🔽
📝 Review/Notes 📝
Quick, fun pirate adventure. The MMC is everything, but I never really fully warmed up to the FMC. I’m not entirely sure what he saw in her to be so persistent and patient, so it did make the romance feel a little unlikely. However, he’s great and they’re cute enough. There’s great female friendships between the 3 women pirates, a mini quest to take down a rival, and then the main plot revolving around freeing women who were being trafficked into slavery. Quite a short book, just over novella length. I think a lot of readers will find this an enjoyable read. It’s a lighter & simpler read, although not what I would classify as “cozy fantasy” - there’s still bite with pirates & killing slavers and all that.
🔽🔽🔽
🤠 Recommended for: fans of lighter & simpler romantasies, not fantasy readers into epic world building, lots of depth, & complex plots
Genres, settings, categories, themes: fantasy, romance (M/F), pirates, island, (freedom from) slave trade
💗 Tropes: 💗
> Opposites Attract (black cat FMC x golden retriever MMC)
> Stranded (sub-trope of Forced Proximity)
all about tropes here
POV: 1st person, alternating/dual
Series/Sequencing Style: standalone, no cliffhanger (although hints at the end indicate there will likely be future books with these characters)
Format: ebook (e-ARC)
🔽🔽🔽
Overall ratings
Heat level: 🌶 3/5 spicy seduction 🌶
(from Ampersand’s guide to heat levels in romance novels – (0) sweet, (1) mild sizzle, (2) sensual steam, (3) spicy seduction, (4) red hot, (5) erotic)
~ Heroine/FMC (Arynn) ~ 3/5 🌕🌕🌕🌑🌑
~ Hero/MMC (Hadeon) ~ 5/5 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕
~ Other characters ~ 5/5 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕
~ Plot ~ 4/5 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑
~ Pacing ~ 5/5 🌕🌗🌑
~ Romance ~ 3.5/5 🌕🌕🌕🌗🌑
~ Action ~ 4/5 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑
~ World building ~ 2.5/5 🌕🌕🌗🌑🌑 BUT it should be noted that this book is set in the same world as the duology Tide Bound/Tide Keeper, so there is likely a lot more background world-building there. This is just purely from a standalone perspective.
~ Writing ~ 4/5 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑 repetitive words & quite a few editing errors that will hopefully be fixed by official publication; otherwise, an easy-to-get-into writing style/voice
~ Reading enjoyability & fun ~ 5/5 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕
~ Depth & tone (1 light & fun --> 5 more serious, addresses heavier topics?): 2
~ Diversity & representation: bi FMC, POC best friend / side MC
~ Angst level: 2.5/5 - no 3rd act breakup, which is nice
~ Sadness level: 1/5
🔽🔽🔽
❗CW/Triggers:❗blood, cut throat, death of a parent (historic, off page), fire, forced imprisonment, guns & death by gunshot, injury by fire (including severe burns), kidnapping & forced imprisonment of a child (historic, off page), piracy, slavery / slave trade, sword fighting, use of stabbing & cutting weapons (including swords, knives, axes, & spears)
🔽🔽🔽
📝 Review/Notes 📝
Quick, fun pirate adventure. The MMC is everything, but I never really fully warmed up to the FMC. I’m not entirely sure what he saw in her to be so persistent and patient, so it did make the romance feel a little unlikely. However, he’s great and they’re cute enough. There’s great female friendships between the 3 women pirates, a mini quest to take down a rival, and then the main plot revolving around freeing women who were being trafficked into slavery. Quite a short book, just over novella length. I think a lot of readers will find this an enjoyable read. It’s a lighter & simpler read, although not what I would classify as “cozy fantasy” - there’s still bite with pirates & killing slavers and all that.
🔽🔽🔽
🤠 Recommended for: fans of lighter & simpler romantasies, not fantasy readers into epic world building, lots of depth, & complex plots
Review of advance copy received from Author
I think that this book has a very compelling premise and several genuinely interesting ideas, but the execution doesn’t quite live up to its full potential.
One of the aspects that weighed on me the most while reading is that the story tends to tell more than it shows. There are many moments—especially in the protagonist’s reflections—where her emotions, doubts, or the political context are explained directly, instead of being developed more organically through actions or interactions. This lessens the impact of certain scenes and makes it harder to fully connect on an emotional level.
That said, I do think Arynn’s emotional arc is actually well-structured. Her struggle with her father’s legacy, her role as a leader, and her desire for a different future all form a coherent internal journey. In many ways, Hadeon plays an important role in this, as he pushes her—directly or indirectly—to make choices that align more with what she truly wants rather than what is expected of her. The progression is there, and it makes sense on a conceptual level.
However, the issue lies in how this development is conveyed. Because so much of it is explained rather than shown, the emotional payoff doesn’t always land as strongly as it could. You can see the arc, but you don’t always feel it.
As for the romantic relationship, this is where the lack of development is most noticeable. While Hadeon is clearly positioned as an important influence in Arynn’s journey, their relationship doesn’t get enough on-page development to fully support that impact. There is some initial chemistry, but not enough shared moments to build a convincing emotional connection, which makes the romance feel underdeveloped.
The worldbuilding and premise—pirates, magic, political conflict—are definitely among the book’s strongest elements. From the beginning, the story hints at a world with real potential, with engaging character dynamics and a setting that feels rich with possibilities. There are also action and planning scenes that work well and show that the author has strong ideas.
The issue is that much of this remains underdeveloped. The pacing is generally solid, with a good balance between action, dialogue, and introspection, but some of those internal reflections feel a bit too on-the-nose, as if the narrative doesn’t fully trust the reader to interpret what’s happening.
Overall, it’s a mixed reading experience: a story with a strong emotional foundation and clear character arcs, but ultimately held back by an execution that doesn’t fully capitalize on its potential. Still, it shows a lot of promise, and with a more refined approach to character relationships and emotional delivery, it could have been a much more impactful story.
This review ended up being more technical than my usual, more emotional reactions, but I do think the author shows a lot of promise. I’m genuinely interested in seeing how her writing evolves in future works, because the potential is definitely there.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
One of the aspects that weighed on me the most while reading is that the story tends to tell more than it shows. There are many moments—especially in the protagonist’s reflections—where her emotions, doubts, or the political context are explained directly, instead of being developed more organically through actions or interactions. This lessens the impact of certain scenes and makes it harder to fully connect on an emotional level.
That said, I do think Arynn’s emotional arc is actually well-structured. Her struggle with her father’s legacy, her role as a leader, and her desire for a different future all form a coherent internal journey. In many ways, Hadeon plays an important role in this, as he pushes her—directly or indirectly—to make choices that align more with what she truly wants rather than what is expected of her. The progression is there, and it makes sense on a conceptual level.
However, the issue lies in how this development is conveyed. Because so much of it is explained rather than shown, the emotional payoff doesn’t always land as strongly as it could. You can see the arc, but you don’t always feel it.
As for the romantic relationship, this is where the lack of development is most noticeable. While Hadeon is clearly positioned as an important influence in Arynn’s journey, their relationship doesn’t get enough on-page development to fully support that impact. There is some initial chemistry, but not enough shared moments to build a convincing emotional connection, which makes the romance feel underdeveloped.
The worldbuilding and premise—pirates, magic, political conflict—are definitely among the book’s strongest elements. From the beginning, the story hints at a world with real potential, with engaging character dynamics and a setting that feels rich with possibilities. There are also action and planning scenes that work well and show that the author has strong ideas.
The issue is that much of this remains underdeveloped. The pacing is generally solid, with a good balance between action, dialogue, and introspection, but some of those internal reflections feel a bit too on-the-nose, as if the narrative doesn’t fully trust the reader to interpret what’s happening.
Overall, it’s a mixed reading experience: a story with a strong emotional foundation and clear character arcs, but ultimately held back by an execution that doesn’t fully capitalize on its potential. Still, it shows a lot of promise, and with a more refined approach to character relationships and emotional delivery, it could have been a much more impactful story.
This review ended up being more technical than my usual, more emotional reactions, but I do think the author shows a lot of promise. I’m genuinely interested in seeing how her writing evolves in future works, because the potential is definitely there.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 13, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - 𝓻𝓪𝓽𝓮
🌶️🌶️🌶️ - 𝓼𝓹𝓲𝓬𝓮
🔥🔥🔥 - 𝓹𝓵𝓸𝓽
🩸- 𝓰𝓸𝓻𝓮
🖤 𝓶𝓪𝓲𝓷 𝓬𝓱𝓪𝓻𝓪𝓬𝓽𝓮𝓻𝓼🖤
Arynn & Hadeon
🖤 𝓽𝓻𝓸𝓹𝓮𝓼🖤
📕 𝓻𝓸𝓶𝓪𝓷𝓽𝓪𝓼𝔂
📕 𝓹𝓲𝓻𝓪𝓽𝓮𝓼
📕 𝓼𝓹𝓲𝓬𝓮
📕 𝓼𝓮𝓪 𝔀𝓲𝓽𝓬𝓱𝓮𝓼
📕 𝓶𝓪𝓰𝓲𝓬𝓪𝓵 𝓹𝓸𝔀𝓮𝓻𝓼
🖤𝓺𝓾𝓸𝓽𝓮𝓼🖤
“𝓦𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓭𝓲𝓭 𝓐𝓻𝔂𝓷𝓷 𝓒𝓸𝓼𝓰𝓻𝓸𝓿𝓮, 𝓪 𝓭𝓮𝓪𝓭𝓵𝔂 𝓹𝓲𝓻𝓪𝓽𝓮 𝔀𝓲𝓽𝓱 𝓶𝓪𝓰𝓲𝓬 𝓪𝓽 𝓱𝓮𝓻 𝓯𝓲𝓷𝓰𝓮𝓻𝓽𝓲𝓹𝓼, 𝓱𝓪𝓿𝓮 𝓽𝓸 𝓯𝓮𝓪𝓻?”
“𝓦𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓲𝓯 𝓘 𝓵𝓸𝓼𝓮 𝓶𝔂𝓼𝓮𝓵𝓯 𝓲𝓷 𝓱𝓲𝓶, 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓯𝓸𝓻𝓰𝓮𝓽 𝔀𝓱𝓸 𝓘 𝓪𝓶?”
“𝓢𝓱𝓮 𝔀𝓪𝓼𝓷’𝓽 𝓹𝓾𝓼𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓶𝓮 𝓪𝔀𝓪𝔂 𝓪𝓽 𝓪𝓵𝓵. 𝓢𝓱𝓮 𝔀𝓪𝓼 𝓼𝔀𝓪𝓵𝓵𝓸𝔀𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓱𝓮𝓻 𝓲𝓷𝓷𝓮𝓻 𝓭𝓮𝓶𝓸𝓷𝓼 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓻𝓮𝓺𝓾𝓮𝓼𝓽𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓶𝓮.”
🖤 𝓻𝓮𝓿𝓲𝓮𝔀🖤
This was a really cute romantasy book with a lot of independent woman vibes. Like Arynn, our main fmc, has always seen herself as strong-willed. Reliant on herself to get things done. And seeing her open herself up to Hadeon and allowing herself to ask for help when they are in dire need not only shows that she can allow some of her built up walls to fall but for the right one, she’d be willing to commit to someone besides herself. The plot and as riveting and enjoyable. A unique mash-up of sea witches and pirates in a magical realm complete with a dash of spice to set the chemistry between the mains.
*spoilers*
Arynn is the captain of her pirate crew and also a
Sea witch with a trident that repels magic to use against her foes. After sharing a moment with those closest to her, they decide to assemble a group to use against an evil man named Hans. She knows they must have a strong crew to defeat him and asks everyone to write down two names that will be join them on their quest.
Of the names, one of her closest friends joys down the name Hadeon. Arynn knows shes just choosing him because she finds him attractive. But she doesn't decline it because she has heard great things during his time working with other crews. After everyone aboards, they set out to sneak attack Hans.
But during the ravage, Arynn and Hadeon are suddenly transported to another island after blasting at Hans with her trident. They assume that they are on a deserted island until they discover multiple women and kids in cages. Arynn knows they are slaves to be sold like product and devours her time in helping them the best they can.
It's at that time that they devise a plan to overtake the ship that arrives monthly full of supplies, even after Arynn’s crew finally discovers where they have been stuck at all this time. It's an adventurous thrilling ride full of magical powers, freedom of slaves, and some spice that will have you seated the entire ride.
This is my first book from O’Brien and I loved the tension between Arynn and Hadeon. The way Arynn presented herself as this strong independent captain that didn't need to become the damsel in the distress. They found each other through just being themselves and the fact that they found love that way made it stronger than a lot of stories I've read. HEXED BY THE TIDE is a quick-paced thrilling plot that should be added to your TBR list immediately.
🌶️🌶️🌶️ - 𝓼𝓹𝓲𝓬𝓮
🔥🔥🔥 - 𝓹𝓵𝓸𝓽
🩸- 𝓰𝓸𝓻𝓮
🖤 𝓶𝓪𝓲𝓷 𝓬𝓱𝓪𝓻𝓪𝓬𝓽𝓮𝓻𝓼🖤
Arynn & Hadeon
🖤 𝓽𝓻𝓸𝓹𝓮𝓼🖤
📕 𝓻𝓸𝓶𝓪𝓷𝓽𝓪𝓼𝔂
📕 𝓹𝓲𝓻𝓪𝓽𝓮𝓼
📕 𝓼𝓹𝓲𝓬𝓮
📕 𝓼𝓮𝓪 𝔀𝓲𝓽𝓬𝓱𝓮𝓼
📕 𝓶𝓪𝓰𝓲𝓬𝓪𝓵 𝓹𝓸𝔀𝓮𝓻𝓼
🖤𝓺𝓾𝓸𝓽𝓮𝓼🖤
“𝓦𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓭𝓲𝓭 𝓐𝓻𝔂𝓷𝓷 𝓒𝓸𝓼𝓰𝓻𝓸𝓿𝓮, 𝓪 𝓭𝓮𝓪𝓭𝓵𝔂 𝓹𝓲𝓻𝓪𝓽𝓮 𝔀𝓲𝓽𝓱 𝓶𝓪𝓰𝓲𝓬 𝓪𝓽 𝓱𝓮𝓻 𝓯𝓲𝓷𝓰𝓮𝓻𝓽𝓲𝓹𝓼, 𝓱𝓪𝓿𝓮 𝓽𝓸 𝓯𝓮𝓪𝓻?”
“𝓦𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓲𝓯 𝓘 𝓵𝓸𝓼𝓮 𝓶𝔂𝓼𝓮𝓵𝓯 𝓲𝓷 𝓱𝓲𝓶, 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓯𝓸𝓻𝓰𝓮𝓽 𝔀𝓱𝓸 𝓘 𝓪𝓶?”
“𝓢𝓱𝓮 𝔀𝓪𝓼𝓷’𝓽 𝓹𝓾𝓼𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓶𝓮 𝓪𝔀𝓪𝔂 𝓪𝓽 𝓪𝓵𝓵. 𝓢𝓱𝓮 𝔀𝓪𝓼 𝓼𝔀𝓪𝓵𝓵𝓸𝔀𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓱𝓮𝓻 𝓲𝓷𝓷𝓮𝓻 𝓭𝓮𝓶𝓸𝓷𝓼 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓻𝓮𝓺𝓾𝓮𝓼𝓽𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓶𝓮.”
🖤 𝓻𝓮𝓿𝓲𝓮𝔀🖤
This was a really cute romantasy book with a lot of independent woman vibes. Like Arynn, our main fmc, has always seen herself as strong-willed. Reliant on herself to get things done. And seeing her open herself up to Hadeon and allowing herself to ask for help when they are in dire need not only shows that she can allow some of her built up walls to fall but for the right one, she’d be willing to commit to someone besides herself. The plot and as riveting and enjoyable. A unique mash-up of sea witches and pirates in a magical realm complete with a dash of spice to set the chemistry between the mains.
*spoilers*
Arynn is the captain of her pirate crew and also a
Sea witch with a trident that repels magic to use against her foes. After sharing a moment with those closest to her, they decide to assemble a group to use against an evil man named Hans. She knows they must have a strong crew to defeat him and asks everyone to write down two names that will be join them on their quest.
Of the names, one of her closest friends joys down the name Hadeon. Arynn knows shes just choosing him because she finds him attractive. But she doesn't decline it because she has heard great things during his time working with other crews. After everyone aboards, they set out to sneak attack Hans.
But during the ravage, Arynn and Hadeon are suddenly transported to another island after blasting at Hans with her trident. They assume that they are on a deserted island until they discover multiple women and kids in cages. Arynn knows they are slaves to be sold like product and devours her time in helping them the best they can.
It's at that time that they devise a plan to overtake the ship that arrives monthly full of supplies, even after Arynn’s crew finally discovers where they have been stuck at all this time. It's an adventurous thrilling ride full of magical powers, freedom of slaves, and some spice that will have you seated the entire ride.
This is my first book from O’Brien and I loved the tension between Arynn and Hadeon. The way Arynn presented herself as this strong independent captain that didn't need to become the damsel in the distress. They found each other through just being themselves and the fact that they found love that way made it stronger than a lot of stories I've read. HEXED BY THE TIDE is a quick-paced thrilling plot that should be added to your TBR list immediately.
Review of advance copy
What drew me to this book was the cover (which is gorgeous IMO) but unfortunately the story didn’t grab me as well as the cover did. Its a shame as I actually liked loads of things about this book however there were issues for me and because I couldn’t connect to the characters or their dreams and fears, it struggled to hold my attention. I loved many parts of the writing style but it was patchy with some proofing errors. An example of the patchiness: the description of the MFC’s hair as ‘eggplant purple’ was great the first time it was used I could really visualise it and it’s short and snappy but then when she referred to it as that herself in another instance it came across as a bit awkward because it’s first person POV and we don’t tend to comment on our own hair colour too often as we’re used to it (even if it’s unusual to others). I found many word choices stood out as being powerful, punchy and original, but I felt like it needed more careful editing and intentionality in places where other words choices struck me as a bit weird.
I loved lots of the ideas in the magic system but I felt they were often thrown into an action scene without any previous introduction and that could jar a bit. For example her trident is important and I would have wanted to be introduced to it the moment we meet the character (ideally along with a demo of how it works, why she has it, why it’s important to her). But it just popped up already in her hand, mid scene, and the questions that raised for me I found interrupted the flow. But it is a super cool idea and I just wish it had been introduced differently. There were some other bits of world building slipped in here and there which sounded really interesting and I wanted to hear more of e.g. warring factions on land on sea etc.
In general I think the fantasy plot was where this book didn’t work for me, despite all the cool and original ideas. I think I needed a stronger emotional through line in each chapter opening and ending on why they were doing what they were doing and what the risks and rewards were. Caring more about the main plot would have helped me care more about the romance plot as it would have helped me connect with the FMC and MMC better. The action and intimate scenes I found had great pacing and imagery (only the connection issue remained). In fact I liked the pacing throughout - a nice balance of action, dialogue and internalisations - my only critique in that department being that some of the internalisations were a bit too on-the-nose. Overall it was a mixed bag for me. But some really cool ideas and moments all the same.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I loved lots of the ideas in the magic system but I felt they were often thrown into an action scene without any previous introduction and that could jar a bit. For example her trident is important and I would have wanted to be introduced to it the moment we meet the character (ideally along with a demo of how it works, why she has it, why it’s important to her). But it just popped up already in her hand, mid scene, and the questions that raised for me I found interrupted the flow. But it is a super cool idea and I just wish it had been introduced differently. There were some other bits of world building slipped in here and there which sounded really interesting and I wanted to hear more of e.g. warring factions on land on sea etc.
In general I think the fantasy plot was where this book didn’t work for me, despite all the cool and original ideas. I think I needed a stronger emotional through line in each chapter opening and ending on why they were doing what they were doing and what the risks and rewards were. Caring more about the main plot would have helped me care more about the romance plot as it would have helped me connect with the FMC and MMC better. The action and intimate scenes I found had great pacing and imagery (only the connection issue remained). In fact I liked the pacing throughout - a nice balance of action, dialogue and internalisations - my only critique in that department being that some of the internalisations were a bit too on-the-nose. Overall it was a mixed bag for me. But some really cool ideas and moments all the same.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Hexed by the Tide is a great novella for anyone who loves following themes:
🏴☠️ Pirates
🫂Forced proximity
🔛Dual POV
❤️🔥He falls first
🌶️Surprise spice
Characters:
MFC - Arynn Cosgrove – the pirate queen 🏴☠️ with sea witch powers. Strong, independent, relies on herself and her two best friends the most. Slow to trust strangers, black cat vibe and energy.
MMC – Hadeon Idell – a low-ranking pirate getting by. He falls first and hard, our golden retriever sunshine.
Arynn's best friends – Arynn’s two best friends, enclosing our main witchy trio. They are as opposite as Arynn and Hadeon, yet contribute to the girl trio and follow Arynn through the toughest decisions.
Plot:
The novella begins with us following Arynn in her quest to defeat her nemesis. For this, she needs troops, which is where we get to meet Hadeon, a low-ranking pirate who sees this as nothing more than a good opportunity to earn a coin.
During their heist, Arynn makes a decision to teleport to safety, and, unintentionally, Hadeon teleports with her. And thus, we get two opposites trapped in an unknown environment, surviving on their knowledge and instinct.
While on the island, the plot thickens with both of them catching feelings for one another, yet approaching this ‘🌶️ issue’ in two very opposing ways. We see them figuring it out throughout the whole story, as this sub-plot turns into our main focus.
As the story proceeds on with their adventure, we observe Arynn’s inner fight between her wants, desires and responsibilities, and Hadeon’s determination to not let her flee away from him.
Spice level🌶️:
Based on the description and cover, I did not expect this book to be so spicy so quickly 😂. However, the scenes help us understand both of our main characters’ POVs a bit better, and through them, we observe their approach to intimacy and life in general.
Overall:
I enjoyed the story, loved the main plot changing over the course of the story, and thoroughly enjoyed the characters (I usually hate golden retriever male interests, but Hadeon was tolerable enough to be enjoyable ^.^).
Yet I felt a need to figure out the magic system in this world a little bit more, for which I probably need to read the duology written before this standalone 😅, but a little more info would be nice. I liked the pacing and the changes between fight scenes, dialogues, and the rest.
🏴☠️ Pirates
🫂Forced proximity
🔛Dual POV
❤️🔥He falls first
🌶️Surprise spice
Characters:
MFC - Arynn Cosgrove – the pirate queen 🏴☠️ with sea witch powers. Strong, independent, relies on herself and her two best friends the most. Slow to trust strangers, black cat vibe and energy.
MMC – Hadeon Idell – a low-ranking pirate getting by. He falls first and hard, our golden retriever sunshine.
Arynn's best friends – Arynn’s two best friends, enclosing our main witchy trio. They are as opposite as Arynn and Hadeon, yet contribute to the girl trio and follow Arynn through the toughest decisions.
Plot:
The novella begins with us following Arynn in her quest to defeat her nemesis. For this, she needs troops, which is where we get to meet Hadeon, a low-ranking pirate who sees this as nothing more than a good opportunity to earn a coin.
During their heist, Arynn makes a decision to teleport to safety, and, unintentionally, Hadeon teleports with her. And thus, we get two opposites trapped in an unknown environment, surviving on their knowledge and instinct.
While on the island, the plot thickens with both of them catching feelings for one another, yet approaching this ‘🌶️ issue’ in two very opposing ways. We see them figuring it out throughout the whole story, as this sub-plot turns into our main focus.
As the story proceeds on with their adventure, we observe Arynn’s inner fight between her wants, desires and responsibilities, and Hadeon’s determination to not let her flee away from him.
Spice level🌶️:
Based on the description and cover, I did not expect this book to be so spicy so quickly 😂. However, the scenes help us understand both of our main characters’ POVs a bit better, and through them, we observe their approach to intimacy and life in general.
Overall:
I enjoyed the story, loved the main plot changing over the course of the story, and thoroughly enjoyed the characters (I usually hate golden retriever male interests, but Hadeon was tolerable enough to be enjoyable ^.^).
Yet I felt a need to figure out the magic system in this world a little bit more, for which I probably need to read the duology written before this standalone 😅, but a little more info would be nice. I liked the pacing and the changes between fight scenes, dialogues, and the rest.
May 7, 2026
A short and sweet standalone set in the same world as the Tide Bound Duology. This book is what happens when the fiercely independent pirate queen and a lowly but ambitious pirate end up stranded on an island together. What comes next is nothing short of hilarious and heartwarming.
Hexed by the Tide follows Arynn Cosgrove, the pirate queen of the Shattered Islands, as she goes on a mission for revenge that goes sideways when the group is faced with a monstrous beast. To escape it, Arynn teleports herself to safety. Unintentionally, she brought an uninvited guest along with her. Hadeon Idell tried to save Arynn from the beast and ended up stranded on an unknown island with her. Forced to work together to survive, the two must learn to trust each other in order to make it out alive.
I thoroughly enjoyed these characters and their story! The banter and yearning was top notch, even though it was a short story. I do wish that it had been a bit longer, just so that we could have gotten more out of these characters. I think that would have also helped with the pacing and made it seem a little less rushed. The ending did make it seem like there would be more books coming though, so hopefully we get to see more of Arynn and Hadeon.
Arynn was so relatable. She is used to people letting her down, so she has learned to be independent and trust only herself. Enter Hadeon. Hadeon is just trying to make something of himself and so he accepts a spot on the mission in the hopes of proving himself. He is such a golden retriever while Arynn is more of a black cat, and she can't stop herself from letting him in little by little. He breaks down her walls by doing exactly what he says he will and proves that she can trust him.
When I applied for this ARC, I didn't know that it was part of a previous duology from the author. After reading this, I don't feel like it's completely necessary to read the first books, but it would give some background knowledge that could enhance the story. If you're okay with not knowing all of the references, then feel free to read this one first. I will definitely be going back to read the duology though!
I received an advance reader copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you so much to Iris Influencer Society and the author for this ARC!
Hexed by the Tide follows Arynn Cosgrove, the pirate queen of the Shattered Islands, as she goes on a mission for revenge that goes sideways when the group is faced with a monstrous beast. To escape it, Arynn teleports herself to safety. Unintentionally, she brought an uninvited guest along with her. Hadeon Idell tried to save Arynn from the beast and ended up stranded on an unknown island with her. Forced to work together to survive, the two must learn to trust each other in order to make it out alive.
I thoroughly enjoyed these characters and their story! The banter and yearning was top notch, even though it was a short story. I do wish that it had been a bit longer, just so that we could have gotten more out of these characters. I think that would have also helped with the pacing and made it seem a little less rushed. The ending did make it seem like there would be more books coming though, so hopefully we get to see more of Arynn and Hadeon.
Arynn was so relatable. She is used to people letting her down, so she has learned to be independent and trust only herself. Enter Hadeon. Hadeon is just trying to make something of himself and so he accepts a spot on the mission in the hopes of proving himself. He is such a golden retriever while Arynn is more of a black cat, and she can't stop herself from letting him in little by little. He breaks down her walls by doing exactly what he says he will and proves that she can trust him.
When I applied for this ARC, I didn't know that it was part of a previous duology from the author. After reading this, I don't feel like it's completely necessary to read the first books, but it would give some background knowledge that could enhance the story. If you're okay with not knowing all of the references, then feel free to read this one first. I will definitely be going back to read the duology though!
I received an advance reader copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you so much to Iris Influencer Society and the author for this ARC!
May 10, 2026
“People loved to call me a monster” -Arynn
I had been aware of subgenres under the Romance “umbrella” such as: mermaids and other fantasy-aligned creatures and otherworldly beings. But, I want to hang my head in shame that I am only NOW learning of, and dipping my toe in PIRATE Romances 🙌! As “late to the game,” as I may be -I am MORE than happy that “Hexed By The Tide” was THE story that bridged that “gap” and connected me to the world of Pirate Romance books.
Evidently, the author (Lauren O’Brien) first began the creation of “Hexed By The Tide” during the first book (of a duology), titled “Tide Bound.” O’Brien continued to noodle-around-with/develop “Hexed” when the duology’s second book (“Tide Keeper”) came out.
I really appreciate and applaud O’Brien’s decision to structure Arynn’s story to read as a solid standalone. Arynn, (aka the HBIC of The Devil’s Vortex pirate faction) and her two closest colleagues and fiends Elfrieda and Cyryn had some of the most relatable and entertaining banter both amongst themselves, as well as with Hadeon (the single-mission hire ::COUGH… eye candy… COUGH:: and potential recruit for Devil’s Vortex).
The world building was amazing 👏👏 Aside from seeing The Shattered Islands and the surrounding people an area with such clarity, my other senses were given incredible description… I found myself practically tasting the briny, salty, humidity. And -no joke- I could NOT help the coughing and uncontrollable throat-clearing during the terrifying ordeal with the smoke and fire 🫣🫣
As much as it was succinctly explained -there is a LOT of interconnected backstories of characters and feuds and places. The author mentions her journey in exploring a spin-off, standalone story about Arynn based on the duology “Tide Bound/Tide Keeper,” and that, if they desire, the reader should check out the duology if they haven’t already. I don’t think it’s absolutely necessary to have previously read the duology - especially since I fall in the category of “haven’t yet read the duology”….YET. It might be helpful (if O’Brien is one to hide “Easte egg’s” in her works…💁🏻♀️), but necessary? No.
I will say, though. They’re definitely added to my TBR🙌
• I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.•
I had been aware of subgenres under the Romance “umbrella” such as: mermaids and other fantasy-aligned creatures and otherworldly beings. But, I want to hang my head in shame that I am only NOW learning of, and dipping my toe in PIRATE Romances 🙌! As “late to the game,” as I may be -I am MORE than happy that “Hexed By The Tide” was THE story that bridged that “gap” and connected me to the world of Pirate Romance books.
Evidently, the author (Lauren O’Brien) first began the creation of “Hexed By The Tide” during the first book (of a duology), titled “Tide Bound.” O’Brien continued to noodle-around-with/develop “Hexed” when the duology’s second book (“Tide Keeper”) came out.
I really appreciate and applaud O’Brien’s decision to structure Arynn’s story to read as a solid standalone. Arynn, (aka the HBIC of The Devil’s Vortex pirate faction) and her two closest colleagues and fiends Elfrieda and Cyryn had some of the most relatable and entertaining banter both amongst themselves, as well as with Hadeon (the single-mission hire ::COUGH… eye candy… COUGH:: and potential recruit for Devil’s Vortex).
The world building was amazing 👏👏 Aside from seeing The Shattered Islands and the surrounding people an area with such clarity, my other senses were given incredible description… I found myself practically tasting the briny, salty, humidity. And -no joke- I could NOT help the coughing and uncontrollable throat-clearing during the terrifying ordeal with the smoke and fire 🫣🫣
As much as it was succinctly explained -there is a LOT of interconnected backstories of characters and feuds and places. The author mentions her journey in exploring a spin-off, standalone story about Arynn based on the duology “Tide Bound/Tide Keeper,” and that, if they desire, the reader should check out the duology if they haven’t already. I don’t think it’s absolutely necessary to have previously read the duology - especially since I fall in the category of “haven’t yet read the duology”….YET. It might be helpful (if O’Brien is one to hide “Easte egg’s” in her works…💁🏻♀️), but necessary? No.
I will say, though. They’re definitely added to my TBR🙌
• I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.•
May 7, 2026
Thank you to IRIS for providing me with the arc...
The first thing I would like to appreciate the book about is its cover... It’s just too pretty.. Coming to the plot, there’s just something about pirate romantasy that feels wildly addictive..
The story follows Arynn Cosgrove, the pirate queen who has fought her entire life for power, survival, and stability. After years of battle she’s finally going to secure peace for her people until everything falls into chaos..
During a battle, Arynn uses her magic to teleport to safety only to realize she has brought the rookie pirate Hadeon Idell along with her..
They’re forced into a partnership neither of them wants but slowly begins to need.. Their dynamic carried this entire book for me. Arynn and Hadeon feel like complete opposites from the start. Arynn is independent and guarded to the point of isolation after spending years surviving by relying only on herself, and every decision she makes feels shaped by trauma, responsibility, and fear of losing control. On the other hand Hadeon is a sunshine who brings warmth and steadiness that slowly breaks her walls...
What I loved most is that the romance doesn’t feel rushed despite the shorter length. It grows through survival on the island, quiet conversations, moments of vulnerability and learning to trust someone when trust has always felt dangerous.. Hadeon has very golden retriever MMC energy, but not in an immature way.. more like someone who genuinely chooses kindness even in difficult situations.. And Arynn is very much the emotionally repressed, “I can survive alone” type of heroine who slowly realizes maybe she doesn’t have to. Their relationship feels soft in contrast to the harshness of the world around them, and that balance worked really well for me.
Hexed by the Tide feels like a stormy little romantasy adventure which is fast-paced, emotional, and filled with saltwater magic.
The first thing I would like to appreciate the book about is its cover... It’s just too pretty.. Coming to the plot, there’s just something about pirate romantasy that feels wildly addictive..
The story follows Arynn Cosgrove, the pirate queen who has fought her entire life for power, survival, and stability. After years of battle she’s finally going to secure peace for her people until everything falls into chaos..
During a battle, Arynn uses her magic to teleport to safety only to realize she has brought the rookie pirate Hadeon Idell along with her..
They’re forced into a partnership neither of them wants but slowly begins to need.. Their dynamic carried this entire book for me. Arynn and Hadeon feel like complete opposites from the start. Arynn is independent and guarded to the point of isolation after spending years surviving by relying only on herself, and every decision she makes feels shaped by trauma, responsibility, and fear of losing control. On the other hand Hadeon is a sunshine who brings warmth and steadiness that slowly breaks her walls...
What I loved most is that the romance doesn’t feel rushed despite the shorter length. It grows through survival on the island, quiet conversations, moments of vulnerability and learning to trust someone when trust has always felt dangerous.. Hadeon has very golden retriever MMC energy, but not in an immature way.. more like someone who genuinely chooses kindness even in difficult situations.. And Arynn is very much the emotionally repressed, “I can survive alone” type of heroine who slowly realizes maybe she doesn’t have to. Their relationship feels soft in contrast to the harshness of the world around them, and that balance worked really well for me.
Hexed by the Tide feels like a stormy little romantasy adventure which is fast-paced, emotional, and filled with saltwater magic.
Review of advance copy
English Below :
3 ⭐ 2 🌶️
Ce livre est un standalone dans l'univers de Tide Bound/Tide Keeper. Cela se passe 5 ans après cette duologie. Cette histoire met en scène Arynn, la reine en devenir des pirates.
Une histoire avec un rythme rapide, un MMC de type golden retreiver et une FMC qui refuse de se laisser aller à ses émotions.
Puisque je n'avais pas lu l'histoire principale avant, j'étais un peu perdue dans l'univers au départ. Après 2-3 chapitres j'ai compris la dynamique des personnages et je suis plongée à pieds joints dans l'action et l'aventure.
J'ai aimé ce livre pour :
- Proximité forcée sur une île "déserte"
- Grumpy FMC Sunshine MMC
- Magie de l'océan
- Écriture à 2 points de vue (FMC et MMC)
- Healing Trauma
- La plume de l'auteure
J'ai moins aimé ce livre pour :
- La mise en place de l'histoire et l'élément déclencheur. J'ai trouvé ça un peu décousu et improbable.
English :
3 ⭐ 2 🌶️
This book is a standalone novel set in the Tide Bound/Tide Keeper universe. It takes place five years after the main series. This story features Arynn, the future queen of the pirates.
A fast-paced story with a golden retriever-style MMC and a FMC who refuses to let her feel emotions because she is afraid others will see this as a sign of weakness.
Since I hadn't read the main series beforehand, I was a little lost in the world at first. After two or three chapters, I understood the characters's dynamics and was completely immersed in the action and adventure.
I liked this book for:
- Forced proximity on a "deserted" island
- Grumpy FMC Sunshine MMC
- Sea Witches
- 2 POVS (FMC and MMC)
- Healing Trauma
- The author's writing style
I liked this book less for:
- The setup of the story as of why they got to the island. I found it a bit far-fetched.
3 ⭐ 2 🌶️
Ce livre est un standalone dans l'univers de Tide Bound/Tide Keeper. Cela se passe 5 ans après cette duologie. Cette histoire met en scène Arynn, la reine en devenir des pirates.
Une histoire avec un rythme rapide, un MMC de type golden retreiver et une FMC qui refuse de se laisser aller à ses émotions.
Puisque je n'avais pas lu l'histoire principale avant, j'étais un peu perdue dans l'univers au départ. Après 2-3 chapitres j'ai compris la dynamique des personnages et je suis plongée à pieds joints dans l'action et l'aventure.
J'ai aimé ce livre pour :
- Proximité forcée sur une île "déserte"
- Grumpy FMC Sunshine MMC
- Magie de l'océan
- Écriture à 2 points de vue (FMC et MMC)
- Healing Trauma
- La plume de l'auteure
J'ai moins aimé ce livre pour :
- La mise en place de l'histoire et l'élément déclencheur. J'ai trouvé ça un peu décousu et improbable.
English :
3 ⭐ 2 🌶️
This book is a standalone novel set in the Tide Bound/Tide Keeper universe. It takes place five years after the main series. This story features Arynn, the future queen of the pirates.
A fast-paced story with a golden retriever-style MMC and a FMC who refuses to let her feel emotions because she is afraid others will see this as a sign of weakness.
Since I hadn't read the main series beforehand, I was a little lost in the world at first. After two or three chapters, I understood the characters's dynamics and was completely immersed in the action and adventure.
I liked this book for:
- Forced proximity on a "deserted" island
- Grumpy FMC Sunshine MMC
- Sea Witches
- 2 POVS (FMC and MMC)
- Healing Trauma
- The author's writing style
I liked this book less for:
- The setup of the story as of why they got to the island. I found it a bit far-fetched.
May 6, 2026
A short, spicy little pirate romance that packs a punch!
This book was a lot of fun and brings a magic pirate vibe that I really want to explore more now that I’ve read this book. I didn’t read the two original books, so I definitely plan on going back now after learning this was a spinoff. I’m so intrigued to learn more about the world, magic, gods, mermaids, etc. that we only got to touch on a little bit in this story.
Ayrnn is an absolute badass pirate Queen, determined to prove herself, but when her magic leaves her stranded on an island with a new pirate recruit in her heist crew, she has to learn the true meaning of trust and vulnerability. I admire her strength, resiliency, and commitment to making a name for herself as a pirate queen, while also being willing to own up to her secrets, flaws, and faults when she finds a trusted person to let in.
I absolutely ADORE everything about Hadeon. The fact that even Arynn couldn’t resist his good nature and caring heart goes to show how genuine he truly is. He sees right through her facade and gets to the core of who she is, a young girl hurt from her past who wants to make the world a better place. And he is the one who wants to stand by her while she achieves this so he can support her along the way. The little things he does to show others his gentle nature and way he cares do not go unnoticed and makes him so much more endearing.
This book was such a fun, fast paced adventure, and I had a truly great time with it! Thank you to Lauren O’Brien and Iris Influencer Society for this eARC. All opinions are my own.
Tropes:
🏴☠️ Pirate romance
🔱 Sea witches & magic
🏴☠️ Forced proximity
🔱 Stabby FMC
🏴☠️ Grumpy X sunshine
🔱 Golden retriever MMC
🏴☠️ He falls first
This book was a lot of fun and brings a magic pirate vibe that I really want to explore more now that I’ve read this book. I didn’t read the two original books, so I definitely plan on going back now after learning this was a spinoff. I’m so intrigued to learn more about the world, magic, gods, mermaids, etc. that we only got to touch on a little bit in this story.
Ayrnn is an absolute badass pirate Queen, determined to prove herself, but when her magic leaves her stranded on an island with a new pirate recruit in her heist crew, she has to learn the true meaning of trust and vulnerability. I admire her strength, resiliency, and commitment to making a name for herself as a pirate queen, while also being willing to own up to her secrets, flaws, and faults when she finds a trusted person to let in.
I absolutely ADORE everything about Hadeon. The fact that even Arynn couldn’t resist his good nature and caring heart goes to show how genuine he truly is. He sees right through her facade and gets to the core of who she is, a young girl hurt from her past who wants to make the world a better place. And he is the one who wants to stand by her while she achieves this so he can support her along the way. The little things he does to show others his gentle nature and way he cares do not go unnoticed and makes him so much more endearing.
This book was such a fun, fast paced adventure, and I had a truly great time with it! Thank you to Lauren O’Brien and Iris Influencer Society for this eARC. All opinions are my own.
Tropes:
🏴☠️ Pirate romance
🔱 Sea witches & magic
🏴☠️ Forced proximity
🔱 Stabby FMC
🏴☠️ Grumpy X sunshine
🔱 Golden retriever MMC
🏴☠️ He falls first
May 8, 2026
“𝑳𝒐𝒚𝒂𝒍𝒕𝒚 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆, 𝑰 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒛𝒆𝒅, 𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒂 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒎𝒊𝒔𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓, 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒂 𝒄𝒉𝒐𝒊𝒄𝒆 𝒎𝒂𝒅𝒆 𝒂𝒈𝒂𝒊𝒏 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒂𝒈𝒂𝒊𝒏.”
Thank you BookSirens and Lauren O'Brien for my copy or Hexed by the Tide. Truly grateful to receive such a wonderful read.
The greenest green flag MMC lives in this book and I am LIVING for him. This is a standalone book, and it's so good it makes you wish it was a series so you can follow along on Arynn and Hadeon's adventures.
Expect a short read and an incredible story. Fast-paced, filled with banter, and being forced to survive on a deserted island only to discover they are not alone, you will not be disappointed. Truly has me eager and CRAVING to read the rest of Lauren O'Brien's works.
𝗠𝘆 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴:
5/5 ⭐️ - Recommended Reading
2/5 🌶 - Spice
5/5 ⭐️ - Characters
5/5 ⭐️ - Plot
Arynn Cosgrove, the pirate queen of the Shattered Islands, has battled for control her entire life ever since her father died. After years of bloodshed and sacrifice to take back the what was stolen, she is finally within reach to achieve that with her best friends and loyal crew.
When a colossal beast turns her near-victory into complete chaos, Arynn makes a split-second decision to teleport to safety, only to discover she hasn’t escaped alone. Hadeon Idell, a low-ranking yet ambitious pirate and absolute eye candy, is swept into the magic with her.
Stranded on a remote island with no crew, no supplies, and no clear way home, they are forced into an uneasy partnership. Arynn must decide whether to protect her independence or risk trusting in love.
𝗔𝗱𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗧𝗕𝗥 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲:
💫 Pirates
💫 Magical World
💫 Sea Witches
💫 Emotionally Constipated FMC
💫 Green Flag MMC
💫 Grumpy x Sunshine
💫 Forced Proximity
💫 Banter
💫 Only One Bed
💫 "Who Hurt You?"
💫 Standalone
Thank you BookSirens and Lauren O'Brien for my copy or Hexed by the Tide. Truly grateful to receive such a wonderful read.
The greenest green flag MMC lives in this book and I am LIVING for him. This is a standalone book, and it's so good it makes you wish it was a series so you can follow along on Arynn and Hadeon's adventures.
Expect a short read and an incredible story. Fast-paced, filled with banter, and being forced to survive on a deserted island only to discover they are not alone, you will not be disappointed. Truly has me eager and CRAVING to read the rest of Lauren O'Brien's works.
𝗠𝘆 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴:
5/5 ⭐️ - Recommended Reading
2/5 🌶 - Spice
5/5 ⭐️ - Characters
5/5 ⭐️ - Plot
Arynn Cosgrove, the pirate queen of the Shattered Islands, has battled for control her entire life ever since her father died. After years of bloodshed and sacrifice to take back the what was stolen, she is finally within reach to achieve that with her best friends and loyal crew.
When a colossal beast turns her near-victory into complete chaos, Arynn makes a split-second decision to teleport to safety, only to discover she hasn’t escaped alone. Hadeon Idell, a low-ranking yet ambitious pirate and absolute eye candy, is swept into the magic with her.
Stranded on a remote island with no crew, no supplies, and no clear way home, they are forced into an uneasy partnership. Arynn must decide whether to protect her independence or risk trusting in love.
𝗔𝗱𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗧𝗕𝗥 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲:
💫 Pirates
💫 Magical World
💫 Sea Witches
💫 Emotionally Constipated FMC
💫 Green Flag MMC
💫 Grumpy x Sunshine
💫 Forced Proximity
💫 Banter
💫 Only One Bed
💫 "Who Hurt You?"
💫 Standalone
May 21, 2026
This book felt like being thrown directly into stormy seas with a dagger in one hand and unresolved trauma in the other. Hexed by the Tide is more than just a pirate fantasy romance it’s a deeply emotional story about survival, healing, leadership, and learning that vulnerability is not weakness.
Arynn was SUCH a powerful protagonist. She’s fierce, stubborn, terrifying when crossed, and carrying years of pain from betrayal and abduction that shaped her into someone who trusts absolutely no one. Watching her lead the Devil’s Vortex while constantly fighting to protect both her crew and her own autonomy made her impossible not to root for.
And then there’s Hadeon…
The stranded-on-an-island trope was EVERYTHING here. Forced proximity mixed with survival tension created such a natural emotional build between them. Hadeon never tries to overpower Arynn or “fix” her instead, he offers patience, consistency, and safety in ways she’s never experienced before. Their relationship grows through mutual respect rather than instant passion, which made every softer moment hit even harder.
What surprised me most was how layered the story became beyond the romance. The mission to free enslaved women shifted the narrative into something larger and more meaningful, transforming Arynn’s anger into purpose. The political alliances, pirate rivalries, and evolving leadership dynamics gave the world real depth while still keeping the emotional core front and center.
The themes of trauma recovery and rebuilding trust were handled beautifully. This story understands that healing isn’t linear and that strength sometimes means allowing people to stand beside you instead of carrying everything alone.
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