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High Tide
Naiya, a bouncer at the siren-owned club, The Tail in downtown Vancouver, has been released from her underwater prison after 100 years with a mission. A mission that will grant her freedom—hunt down the traitorous skyren, the hawk-like warriors of the sky, and seduce them with the siren’s song.
But before she can trap one, a skyren with chestnut-brown wings finds her and saves her from a power-hungry dragon shifter who snatches her from a deserted street. And now, Naiya has to deliver the skyren to the terrapod council to buy her continued freedom, or protect the judgmental male who risked everything to save her life.
Full of magic, deadly choices, and heartbreaking secrets, High Tide is a standalone urban fantasy romance about forbidden love and two reluctant allies who have to trust one another to save their nation.
Please Note: This book is not intended for anyone under 18 years of age.
But before she can trap one, a skyren with chestnut-brown wings finds her and saves her from a power-hungry dragon shifter who snatches her from a deserted street. And now, Naiya has to deliver the skyren to the terrapod council to buy her continued freedom, or protect the judgmental male who risked everything to save her life.
Full of magic, deadly choices, and heartbreaking secrets, High Tide is a standalone urban fantasy romance about forbidden love and two reluctant allies who have to trust one another to save their nation.
Please Note: This book is not intended for anyone under 18 years of age.
- GenresFantasy
357 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 2, 2026
About the author
Rachel E. Baird
2 books24 followersRachel E Baird loves to craft fantasy romance stories full of nature-based magic. A graduate of Queen's University and an active member of the Alberta Romance Writers’ Association (ARWA) and the Imaginative Fiction Writers Association (IFWA), High Tide is their debut novel.
Rachel is an avid explorer, a mushroom enthusiast, and a lover of musicals. She currently lives in Ontario with her husband, daughter, and a few hairy beasts.
When she’s not trapped at her desk, you'll find her in the garden, foraging for mushrooms, or at the beach.
Rachel is an avid explorer, a mushroom enthusiast, and a lover of musicals. She currently lives in Ontario with her husband, daughter, and a few hairy beasts.
When she’s not trapped at her desk, you'll find her in the garden, foraging for mushrooms, or at the beach.
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August 24, 2026
"ʙᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ꜰᴜɴɴʏ ᴛʜɪɴɢ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ʜᴇᴀʀᴛ ɪꜱ, ɪᴛ’ꜱ ɴᴏᴛ ᴀʟᴡᴀʏꜱ ʀɪɢʜᴛ."
— ℕ𝕒𝕚𝕪𝕒.
💚 She's a bloodthirsty siren sent to hunt him
💚 He's a skyren who stalked her
💚 First and third person POV
💚 Women come first
💚 (Soft) enemies to lovers
💚 Murder mystery in an urban fantasy setting
💚 Questionable mating ritual
When "I love you" became so outdated that the MMC in this book prefers to say, "𝑭𝒆𝒆𝒍 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒂𝒄𝒌𝒍𝒆 𝒎𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒚𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆" to his feral girlfriend who likes to bite him and drink his blood ....
I call that love, folks 😩
Even though I can't swim any better than a baby seal that choked on its own whisker, sirens/mermaids/half fish or whatever you want to call them are still one of my top five mythological creatures. Who doesn't love the ability to sing your enemies into becoming your puppets? 😏
Rachel E. Baird really looked at the traditional siren concept and said, you know what? I'm gonna make them more terrifying!! Also, what if most of them were women with anger issues who desperately needed therapy?
Baird's sirens drink blood, y'all!!
They can shoot torrents of water from their mouths and pores!! And ofc, they have beautiful tails that they can use either for swimming or for slapping their males (optional). Idk. Sounds fun to me 😐
Following the story from Naiya's perspective, a "young" siren who has just gotten out of prison (no, she wasn't dealing illegal pufferfish drugs, it's complicated), can be described in one word: 𝙁𝙐𝙉!
I love that Naiya is messy, both at heart and ughhh in her home. This girl has a house that would make your mother scream with a hanger in hand. The only thing she really cares about is her pet fish, whom she believes is "𝒇𝒖𝒄𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒈𝒐𝒅 𝒐𝒇 𝒈𝒐𝒍𝒅𝒇𝒊𝒔𝒉". Which was ... Fair 🙂 Naiya is a great protagonist. She's fierce and headstrong without falling into the annoying girlboss stereotype.
One thing I noticed immediately from chapter one was how Baird managed to make her feel capable even when she eventually needed to be saved by the MMC, Xander. Nothing makes me close a book faster than the damsel in distress trope, or an FMC who's constantly described as powerful only to end up clinging to her man every five minutes.
Baird found the perfect balance here. Naiya remains terrifying without becoming overly dependent on Xander. In the middle of the book, she even saves Xander almost entirely on her own by climbing a fucking cliff like ??? This girl took "touch him and die" very seriously 🙂 So it's not simply "she saved him" or "he saved her" It's more like "𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒔𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒉 𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓." And that makes them feel much more like actual partners.
Though I wouldn't mind seeing her completely overpower him hehehe 😳
“𝙉𝙤. 𝙄 𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙛𝙚𝙧 𝙢𝙮 𝙢𝙚𝙣 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚 𝙨𝙥𝙞𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙚𝙙. 𝘽𝙪𝙩 𝙄 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙠 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙡 𝙦𝙪𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙞𝙨, 𝙬𝙝𝙮 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚? 𝘿𝙤 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙖 𝙙𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙝 𝙬𝙞𝙨𝙝?”
𝙃𝙚 𝙛𝙡𝙖𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙙 𝙢𝙚 𝙖 𝙬𝙞𝙘𝙠𝙚𝙙 𝙜𝙧𝙞𝙣. “𝙄𝙛 𝙄 𝙙𝙤, 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙢𝙞𝙨𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙜𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙞𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙢𝙚?”
Xander also ended up winning my heart.
A little story: I asked the author what kind of MMC he was when I applied for the ARC because I COULDN'T stand shadow daddy. Baird told me he was 80% cinnamon roll and 20% brooding warrior. Now, I have to admit that I was initially a little annoyed by his "women are dangerous, I hate women 😔" attitude, so I was very happy when he quickly started moving away from that mindset. And yep, there was a BIG reason behind it, so it didn't come across as random misogyny.
Xander is a conflicted character, and somehow, he grew on me. I wouldn't necessarily call him a cinnamon roll, but he's definitely a pathetic yearner who's ready to throw his wings, his body, and his heart at Naiya.
"𝙈𝙖𝙮𝙗𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙢𝙖𝙙𝙚 𝙢𝙚 𝙘𝙧𝙖𝙯𝙮, 𝙤𝙧 𝙢𝙖𝙮𝙗𝙚 𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙄 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙𝙣’𝙩 𝙡𝙤𝙨𝙚 𝙝𝙚𝙧."
Another thing I really appreciated about Baird's writing 🤙
This is a friendly reminder to never settle for less, y'all: Xander was willing to let Naiya drain him.
That's ✨ 𝒅𝒆𝒅𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 ✨
Because of this, one of Xander's story arcs had me staring blankly at my phone screen with eyes like 👁️👄👁️ because wdym THAT happened to him?! Dude got tossed around by evil women, abused, and experienced the worst case of body betrayal not once, but twice I??? Wowza 🙂 It was honestly one of the worst cases of body betrayal I've ever read, and I still don't know what to say about it 💀
Dear author, did you love Naiya too much, or did you just hate Xander? Be honest 😭
The side characters here were absolutely amazing. Julian almost stole the show for me. He's the youngest, cheerful, and a little flirty. Now that's what I call a cinnamon roll. I was going to adopt him if he hadn't ended up with *𝒃𝒍𝒆𝒆𝒑* 😏 But here you go, baby Julian: my blessing 💚☘️🙏 Cole was great too, and his relationship with his siren could've made for a fantastic second chance romance. Why haven't we heard more about him yet? WHY??? 😬 Quinn and Darius were also okie, although I struggled a little to distinguish between them.
Seriously, this world has so many touch starved, mate hungry skyrens. Boys, calm down. Don't throw yourself at the first woman you see! 😭
"𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙠𝙮𝙧𝙚𝙣 𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙝𝙪𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙞𝙧𝙚𝙣’𝙨 𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙪𝙧𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙗𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙙𝙡𝙪𝙨𝙩."
That being said, the pacing of High Tide could've been tightened. For a fantasy novel, I consider 400+ pages a normal length, but this one dragged a little in places. I also felt like the second spicy scene was mostly there for fan service. It kind of disrupted the pacing. I'm not saying Baird can't write spice because she clearly can, but the placement could've been better.
And this leads me to my biggest issue, the one thing that kept me from giving this five stars: 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒊𝒏𝒇𝒐 𝒅𝒖𝒎𝒑𝒊𝒏𝒈.
The beginning of High Tide showers us with so much information that, by the first ten chapters, I could already figure out almost everything. It felt like we readers had all the cards while the characters barely knew each other and were just waiting to catch up. That took away some of the fun for me because I think certain elements could've worked much better as surprises.
The part where Xander suddenly defeats the final boss also disappointed me because it happened off page. Especially when we'd already seen Xander struggle against regular enemies, let alone their leader. Awww, man. I wanted to read the fight! 😩
But it's not a fatal flaw. The villain saved the story from dropping to three stars for me. I LOVE a smart villain. I don't care what they're going to do. I don't care what their motivation is. If they're smart and capable of making the MCs struggle more than breaking a sweat, there's a good chance I'll be sitting here going ehhh, I kind of love them??? I'm not saying I support them. But heyya, I understand them 🤡
"𝙄𝙩 𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙚𝙢𝙖𝙡𝙚𝙨 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙝𝙤𝙣𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙧𝙪𝙢. 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙚𝙢𝙖𝙡𝙚𝙨 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙢𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙚𝙘𝙞𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨."
YASSSSH SAY IT LOUDER.
So, yeah. Conclusion: 𝒇𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒔!! 🌟🌟🌟🌟 A solid debut from Baird. I can't wait to read another siren story hopefully one with even more feral female sirens who probably enjoy drowning ships as a hobby. Who knows?
"𝘼𝙣𝙙 𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙥𝙞𝙩𝙚 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙤𝙛 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙢𝙖𝙨𝙠𝙨, 𝙢𝙮 𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙛𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙝𝙞𝙢 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣 𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙡𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙣."
Thank you Rachel E. Baird for the free copy, and I'm truly sorry for the late review!
— ℕ𝕒𝕚𝕪𝕒.
💚 She's a bloodthirsty siren sent to hunt him
💚 He's a skyren who stalked her
💚 First and third person POV
💚 Women come first
💚 (Soft) enemies to lovers
💚 Murder mystery in an urban fantasy setting
💚 Questionable mating ritual
When "I love you" became so outdated that the MMC in this book prefers to say, "𝑭𝒆𝒆𝒍 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒂𝒄𝒌𝒍𝒆 𝒎𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒚𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆" to his feral girlfriend who likes to bite him and drink his blood ....
I call that love, folks 😩
Even though I can't swim any better than a baby seal that choked on its own whisker, sirens/mermaids/half fish or whatever you want to call them are still one of my top five mythological creatures. Who doesn't love the ability to sing your enemies into becoming your puppets? 😏
Rachel E. Baird really looked at the traditional siren concept and said, you know what? I'm gonna make them more terrifying!! Also, what if most of them were women with anger issues who desperately needed therapy?
Baird's sirens drink blood, y'all!!
They can shoot torrents of water from their mouths and pores!! And ofc, they have beautiful tails that they can use either for swimming or for slapping their males (optional). Idk. Sounds fun to me 😐
Following the story from Naiya's perspective, a "young" siren who has just gotten out of prison (no, she wasn't dealing illegal pufferfish drugs, it's complicated), can be described in one word: 𝙁𝙐𝙉!
I love that Naiya is messy, both at heart and ughhh in her home. This girl has a house that would make your mother scream with a hanger in hand. The only thing she really cares about is her pet fish, whom she believes is "𝒇𝒖𝒄𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒈𝒐𝒅 𝒐𝒇 𝒈𝒐𝒍𝒅𝒇𝒊𝒔𝒉". Which was ... Fair 🙂 Naiya is a great protagonist. She's fierce and headstrong without falling into the annoying girlboss stereotype.
One thing I noticed immediately from chapter one was how Baird managed to make her feel capable even when she eventually needed to be saved by the MMC, Xander. Nothing makes me close a book faster than the damsel in distress trope, or an FMC who's constantly described as powerful only to end up clinging to her man every five minutes.
Baird found the perfect balance here. Naiya remains terrifying without becoming overly dependent on Xander. In the middle of the book, she even saves Xander almost entirely on her own by climbing a fucking cliff like ??? This girl took "touch him and die" very seriously 🙂 So it's not simply "she saved him" or "he saved her" It's more like "𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒔𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒉 𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓." And that makes them feel much more like actual partners.
Though I wouldn't mind seeing her completely overpower him hehehe 😳
“𝙉𝙤. 𝙄 𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙛𝙚𝙧 𝙢𝙮 𝙢𝙚𝙣 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚 𝙨𝙥𝙞𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙚𝙙. 𝘽𝙪𝙩 𝙄 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙠 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙡 𝙦𝙪𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙞𝙨, 𝙬𝙝𝙮 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚? 𝘿𝙤 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙖 𝙙𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙝 𝙬𝙞𝙨𝙝?”
𝙃𝙚 𝙛𝙡𝙖𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙙 𝙢𝙚 𝙖 𝙬𝙞𝙘𝙠𝙚𝙙 𝙜𝙧𝙞𝙣. “𝙄𝙛 𝙄 𝙙𝙤, 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙢𝙞𝙨𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙜𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙞𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙢𝙚?”
Xander also ended up winning my heart.
A little story: I asked the author what kind of MMC he was when I applied for the ARC because I COULDN'T stand shadow daddy. Baird told me he was 80% cinnamon roll and 20% brooding warrior. Now, I have to admit that I was initially a little annoyed by his "women are dangerous, I hate women 😔" attitude, so I was very happy when he quickly started moving away from that mindset. And yep, there was a BIG reason behind it, so it didn't come across as random misogyny.
Xander is a conflicted character, and somehow, he grew on me. I wouldn't necessarily call him a cinnamon roll, but he's definitely a pathetic yearner who's ready to throw his wings, his body, and his heart at Naiya.
"𝙈𝙖𝙮𝙗𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙢𝙖𝙙𝙚 𝙢𝙚 𝙘𝙧𝙖𝙯𝙮, 𝙤𝙧 𝙢𝙖𝙮𝙗𝙚 𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙄 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙𝙣’𝙩 𝙡𝙤𝙨𝙚 𝙝𝙚𝙧."
Another thing I really appreciated about Baird's writing 🤙
This is a friendly reminder to never settle for less, y'all: Xander was willing to let Naiya drain him.
That's ✨ 𝒅𝒆𝒅𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 ✨
Because of this, one of Xander's story arcs had me staring blankly at my phone screen with eyes like 👁️👄👁️ because wdym THAT happened to him?! Dude got tossed around by evil women, abused, and experienced the worst case of body betrayal not once, but twice I??? Wowza 🙂 It was honestly one of the worst cases of body betrayal I've ever read, and I still don't know what to say about it 💀
Dear author, did you love Naiya too much, or did you just hate Xander? Be honest 😭
The side characters here were absolutely amazing. Julian almost stole the show for me. He's the youngest, cheerful, and a little flirty. Now that's what I call a cinnamon roll. I was going to adopt him if he hadn't ended up with *𝒃𝒍𝒆𝒆𝒑* 😏 But here you go, baby Julian: my blessing 💚☘️🙏 Cole was great too, and his relationship with his siren could've made for a fantastic second chance romance. Why haven't we heard more about him yet? WHY??? 😬 Quinn and Darius were also okie, although I struggled a little to distinguish between them.
Seriously, this world has so many touch starved, mate hungry skyrens. Boys, calm down. Don't throw yourself at the first woman you see! 😭
"𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙠𝙮𝙧𝙚𝙣 𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙝𝙪𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙞𝙧𝙚𝙣’𝙨 𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙪𝙧𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙗𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙙𝙡𝙪𝙨𝙩."
That being said, the pacing of High Tide could've been tightened. For a fantasy novel, I consider 400+ pages a normal length, but this one dragged a little in places. I also felt like the second spicy scene was mostly there for fan service. It kind of disrupted the pacing. I'm not saying Baird can't write spice because she clearly can, but the placement could've been better.
And this leads me to my biggest issue, the one thing that kept me from giving this five stars: 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒊𝒏𝒇𝒐 𝒅𝒖𝒎𝒑𝒊𝒏𝒈.
The beginning of High Tide showers us with so much information that, by the first ten chapters, I could already figure out almost everything. It felt like we readers had all the cards while the characters barely knew each other and were just waiting to catch up. That took away some of the fun for me because I think certain elements could've worked much better as surprises.
The part where Xander suddenly defeats the final boss also disappointed me because it happened off page. Especially when we'd already seen Xander struggle against regular enemies, let alone their leader. Awww, man. I wanted to read the fight! 😩
But it's not a fatal flaw. The villain saved the story from dropping to three stars for me. I LOVE a smart villain. I don't care what they're going to do. I don't care what their motivation is. If they're smart and capable of making the MCs struggle more than breaking a sweat, there's a good chance I'll be sitting here going ehhh, I kind of love them??? I'm not saying I support them. But heyya, I understand them 🤡
"𝙄𝙩 𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙚𝙢𝙖𝙡𝙚𝙨 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙝𝙤𝙣𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙧𝙪𝙢. 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙚𝙢𝙖𝙡𝙚𝙨 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙢𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙚𝙘𝙞𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨."
YASSSSH SAY IT LOUDER.
So, yeah. Conclusion: 𝒇𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒔!! 🌟🌟🌟🌟 A solid debut from Baird. I can't wait to read another siren story hopefully one with even more feral female sirens who probably enjoy drowning ships as a hobby. Who knows?
"𝘼𝙣𝙙 𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙥𝙞𝙩𝙚 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙤𝙛 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙢𝙖𝙨𝙠𝙨, 𝙢𝙮 𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙛𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙝𝙞𝙢 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣 𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙡𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙣."
Thank you Rachel E. Baird for the free copy, and I'm truly sorry for the late review!
September 20, 2026
Naiya, a bouncer at the siren-owned club, The Tail in downtown Vancouver, has been released from her underwater prison after 100 years with a mission. A mission that will grant her freedom—hunt down the traitorous skyren, the hawk-like warriors of the sky, and seduce them with the siren’s song.
But before she can trap one, a skyren with chestnut-brown wings finds her and saves her from a power-hungry dragon shifter who snatches her from a deserted street. And now, Naiya has to deliver the skyren to the terrapod council to buy her continued freedom, or protect the judgmental male who risked everything to save her life.
YOUR MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS!!! Please read and pay close attention to the trigger warnings at the beginning of this book. Some content and scenes may not suit all readers and could be triggering for others. Remember, your mental health comes first. Reader discretion is advised. Intended for readers 18+.
Triggers include but are not limited to: Abusive Relationships, Addiction, Blood, Death/Decapitation, Emotional Abuse, Murder, Profanity/Explicit Language, Sexual Assault, Sexually Explicit Scenes, Slavery, Torture, and Violence.
Tropes: Forbidden Love, Enemies-to-Lovers/Opposing Sides, Reluctant Allies, Slow Burn Romance, He Falls First / Protective MMC, Who Did This to You?, Rescue/Saved by the Enemy, Captor vs. Protector Dilemma, Morally Grey FMC, Strong/Deadly FMC, Winged MMC, Siren × Winged Supernatural Romance, Dragon Shifters, Selkies & Multiple Supernatural Factions, Siren Song/Supernatural Seduction, Freedom at a Price, Impossible Choice/Love vs. Freedom, Secrets & Betrayal, Trust-Building Romance, Telepathic/Mind Communication, Dual POV, HEA / Standalone Romance, Forbidden Love, Enemies/Opposing Sides to Lovers, Reluctant Allies, Slow Burn, Found Family, Protective FMC/MMC, Forced Proximity, Supernatural Inter-Species Romance, “Who did this to you?”, “Touch Him and Unalive”
High Tide is the 1st book in the Secret Siren Songs Series by Rachel E. Baird. Full of magic, deadly choices, and heartbreaking secrets, High Tide is a standalone urban fantasy romance about forbidden love and two reluctant allies who have to trust one another to save their nation. Please Note: This book is not intended for anyone under 18 years of age.
I want to be straightforward here in saying that High Tide, which is the first book in the Secret Sirens Songs Series/Duet, was the first work by Rachel E. Baird that I read, and I can safely say that it won't be the last one. Already from the very first word I was drawn into the world that Rachel has created, and I was completely fascinated by it.
Can you imagine what it must be like to be stuck under the sea for a hundred years? That is exactly what happened to Naiya. When at last she had used up all the strength she had to manage her escape back to the surface, the world above water had changed so much that it was no longer like the one she had remembered.
She never found it easy to attain freedom; shortly after she had surfaced, she was sent to a bar owned by sirens, called The Tail, which had dazzling neon lighting and was always in a state of chaos. She hadn't even had time to work out what was going on when someone gave her an impossible task: to use her hypnotic siren song to locate the legendary skyrens, those fierce, winged guardians of the sky, and capture them so that she could hand them over to the people who had first imprisoned her.
Is it not simple? By no means. She had hardly started on her mission when the mysterious Xander from that same group of skyren saved her life.
From that point on, the story never once lost its momentum. The entire book is an example of fast-paced urban fantasy and remains tightly written right through to the end. All of the stages in Naiya’s journey include the most emotionally wrenching of the classic fantasy stereotypes: the “found family” which is closer than blood evokes so much sadness that it could fill a river, the gradually building romantic tension between her and a man who began as her bitter rival, and a protagonist who won't allow anyone else to decide her fate.
Naiya is direct and stick-to-itiveness, desperately seeking a place among the people, even if that means battling dragons and moving through the shady parts of the city; the betrayals she has suffered together with her confusion regarding her own identity make her a vivid and deeply relatable character who hits right at the heart of the matter.
Regarding the dragons, I was absolutely thrilled by the action scenes in the book, particularly those taking place at the dragon shifters' stronghold, since my heart was always racing throughout. The only thing I sometimes wished for was a couple of additional minor details to go over and enjoy. Nevertheless, the book never slows down, the dialogue is sharp and never boring, and one surprise after another makes it impossible to predict what will happen next; some of the betrayal plot points completely caught me off guard and I even ended up gasping aloud when they occurred.
Xander is by no means a moody and one-dimensional love interest; his character is well developed with his background being slowly shown as the narrative progresses, and his wish to protect the people he cares about comes across as sincerely genuine, without being excessive or intrusive. There is strong chemistry between him and Naiya, but it never takes away from the story's main emotional journey.
There are also her friends—Darius, Quinn, Cole, and Julian—who bring warmth, humor, and an unmistakable brotherly friendship. The way in which this group gets on with one another is just like the Bat Boys in ACOTAR: they constantly tease and argue with each other but are always loyal to one another, even though they each have their own particular dynamic. It is in the best possible way that Naiya's arrival disrupts their usual routine.
For readers: this book does not omit anything when it comes to mature content, including brutal and terrifying violent encounters as well as passionate romantic scenes which are entirely uncompromising. The book is intended only for people who are 18 years of age or over.
Anyone who appreciates the rich, layered worldbuilding of Crescent City and who is interested in a tale featuring sirens, sky warriors, and dragon shifters will find that this book stays with them long after they have put it down.
When I finished the final page and closed the book, I was already asking for a sequel and secretly wishing the next one would focus on Tilly's story, even though all the evidence suggests Nelleke and Cole will take the lead in the next book. In either case, I am already looking forward to returning to this world day by day.
A Few of my Favorite Quotes Are:
‘The only thing more dangerous than the siren's sing was alcohol in the belly of a fool.’
‘Fucking prick was pushing it. He should not be turned on, thinking about what I'd look like naked, while I was imagining what it might be like to rip out his entrails.’
"Do all males, regardless of species, demand random women come to bed with them?"
‘I was a seductress. A manipulator. A cruel, blood-sucking siren.’
‘I wanted to hate the vibrant color of her eyes and her wild brown curls. Yet, I found I didn't.’
‘The ruler of the spessartine dragon shifters sat on an overly fluffed couch, and for once, he was fully clothed in his red and black robes. But even though he looked more part, she wasn't intimidated by the lazy brute.’
‘She stood in front of me, and I froze for a moment, completely spellbound by her dangerous purple eyes and dazzling smile.’
"Because only a fool wouldn't come with you willingly, little vixen. And I'm no fool."
‘Mother of the Sea, was I already attached to him?’
"Trust me. It's safe to dive. It's high tide."
"I've told you before, feel free to tackle ne anytime."
“You are just like the dragon shifters, lying and manipulating to serve your own ends. Fuck, I should have realized. That’s why you were wearing that ridiculous shirt.”
'Whenever you’ll have me, however you want me, I am yours.' Like he really meant he was mine.’
‘Zoab must have made a record as the shortest living mate, and I couldn’t even bring myself to be upset about that.’
But before she can trap one, a skyren with chestnut-brown wings finds her and saves her from a power-hungry dragon shifter who snatches her from a deserted street. And now, Naiya has to deliver the skyren to the terrapod council to buy her continued freedom, or protect the judgmental male who risked everything to save her life.
YOUR MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS!!! Please read and pay close attention to the trigger warnings at the beginning of this book. Some content and scenes may not suit all readers and could be triggering for others. Remember, your mental health comes first. Reader discretion is advised. Intended for readers 18+.
Triggers include but are not limited to: Abusive Relationships, Addiction, Blood, Death/Decapitation, Emotional Abuse, Murder, Profanity/Explicit Language, Sexual Assault, Sexually Explicit Scenes, Slavery, Torture, and Violence.
Tropes: Forbidden Love, Enemies-to-Lovers/Opposing Sides, Reluctant Allies, Slow Burn Romance, He Falls First / Protective MMC, Who Did This to You?, Rescue/Saved by the Enemy, Captor vs. Protector Dilemma, Morally Grey FMC, Strong/Deadly FMC, Winged MMC, Siren × Winged Supernatural Romance, Dragon Shifters, Selkies & Multiple Supernatural Factions, Siren Song/Supernatural Seduction, Freedom at a Price, Impossible Choice/Love vs. Freedom, Secrets & Betrayal, Trust-Building Romance, Telepathic/Mind Communication, Dual POV, HEA / Standalone Romance, Forbidden Love, Enemies/Opposing Sides to Lovers, Reluctant Allies, Slow Burn, Found Family, Protective FMC/MMC, Forced Proximity, Supernatural Inter-Species Romance, “Who did this to you?”, “Touch Him and Unalive”
High Tide is the 1st book in the Secret Siren Songs Series by Rachel E. Baird. Full of magic, deadly choices, and heartbreaking secrets, High Tide is a standalone urban fantasy romance about forbidden love and two reluctant allies who have to trust one another to save their nation. Please Note: This book is not intended for anyone under 18 years of age.
I want to be straightforward here in saying that High Tide, which is the first book in the Secret Sirens Songs Series/Duet, was the first work by Rachel E. Baird that I read, and I can safely say that it won't be the last one. Already from the very first word I was drawn into the world that Rachel has created, and I was completely fascinated by it.
Can you imagine what it must be like to be stuck under the sea for a hundred years? That is exactly what happened to Naiya. When at last she had used up all the strength she had to manage her escape back to the surface, the world above water had changed so much that it was no longer like the one she had remembered.
She never found it easy to attain freedom; shortly after she had surfaced, she was sent to a bar owned by sirens, called The Tail, which had dazzling neon lighting and was always in a state of chaos. She hadn't even had time to work out what was going on when someone gave her an impossible task: to use her hypnotic siren song to locate the legendary skyrens, those fierce, winged guardians of the sky, and capture them so that she could hand them over to the people who had first imprisoned her.
Is it not simple? By no means. She had hardly started on her mission when the mysterious Xander from that same group of skyren saved her life.
From that point on, the story never once lost its momentum. The entire book is an example of fast-paced urban fantasy and remains tightly written right through to the end. All of the stages in Naiya’s journey include the most emotionally wrenching of the classic fantasy stereotypes: the “found family” which is closer than blood evokes so much sadness that it could fill a river, the gradually building romantic tension between her and a man who began as her bitter rival, and a protagonist who won't allow anyone else to decide her fate.
Naiya is direct and stick-to-itiveness, desperately seeking a place among the people, even if that means battling dragons and moving through the shady parts of the city; the betrayals she has suffered together with her confusion regarding her own identity make her a vivid and deeply relatable character who hits right at the heart of the matter.
Regarding the dragons, I was absolutely thrilled by the action scenes in the book, particularly those taking place at the dragon shifters' stronghold, since my heart was always racing throughout. The only thing I sometimes wished for was a couple of additional minor details to go over and enjoy. Nevertheless, the book never slows down, the dialogue is sharp and never boring, and one surprise after another makes it impossible to predict what will happen next; some of the betrayal plot points completely caught me off guard and I even ended up gasping aloud when they occurred.
Xander is by no means a moody and one-dimensional love interest; his character is well developed with his background being slowly shown as the narrative progresses, and his wish to protect the people he cares about comes across as sincerely genuine, without being excessive or intrusive. There is strong chemistry between him and Naiya, but it never takes away from the story's main emotional journey.
There are also her friends—Darius, Quinn, Cole, and Julian—who bring warmth, humor, and an unmistakable brotherly friendship. The way in which this group gets on with one another is just like the Bat Boys in ACOTAR: they constantly tease and argue with each other but are always loyal to one another, even though they each have their own particular dynamic. It is in the best possible way that Naiya's arrival disrupts their usual routine.
For readers: this book does not omit anything when it comes to mature content, including brutal and terrifying violent encounters as well as passionate romantic scenes which are entirely uncompromising. The book is intended only for people who are 18 years of age or over.
Anyone who appreciates the rich, layered worldbuilding of Crescent City and who is interested in a tale featuring sirens, sky warriors, and dragon shifters will find that this book stays with them long after they have put it down.
When I finished the final page and closed the book, I was already asking for a sequel and secretly wishing the next one would focus on Tilly's story, even though all the evidence suggests Nelleke and Cole will take the lead in the next book. In either case, I am already looking forward to returning to this world day by day.
A Few of my Favorite Quotes Are:
‘The only thing more dangerous than the siren's sing was alcohol in the belly of a fool.’
‘Fucking prick was pushing it. He should not be turned on, thinking about what I'd look like naked, while I was imagining what it might be like to rip out his entrails.’
"Do all males, regardless of species, demand random women come to bed with them?"
‘I was a seductress. A manipulator. A cruel, blood-sucking siren.’
‘I wanted to hate the vibrant color of her eyes and her wild brown curls. Yet, I found I didn't.’
‘The ruler of the spessartine dragon shifters sat on an overly fluffed couch, and for once, he was fully clothed in his red and black robes. But even though he looked more part, she wasn't intimidated by the lazy brute.’
‘She stood in front of me, and I froze for a moment, completely spellbound by her dangerous purple eyes and dazzling smile.’
"Because only a fool wouldn't come with you willingly, little vixen. And I'm no fool."
‘Mother of the Sea, was I already attached to him?’
"Trust me. It's safe to dive. It's high tide."
"I've told you before, feel free to tackle ne anytime."
“You are just like the dragon shifters, lying and manipulating to serve your own ends. Fuck, I should have realized. That’s why you were wearing that ridiculous shirt.”
'Whenever you’ll have me, however you want me, I am yours.' Like he really meant he was mine.’
‘Zoab must have made a record as the shortest living mate, and I couldn’t even bring myself to be upset about that.’
June 8, 2026
I received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review
A little add-on: I stayed up so late reading and finishing this masterpiece, and started to write this review that I fell asleep halfway through- excuse my spelling.
I am stunned, in a positive way. It left me wanting to immediately read more about this universe. Rachel captured everything perfectly- in my honest opinion.
I felt a connection to the characters and it felt like I was sitting nearby and watched it live.
I loved the world-building about this book so much. 🤩 It was an awesome concept with the sirens mating with Skyrens or humans!
Naiya is such a baddie. I genuinely enjoyed reading her chapters. I loved the rebellious side as she was resisting the urge to fall into the 'stereotype' of a siren. Her character concept was interesting and her badass personality but sometimes I felt like she was doing too much. I also loved the protective nature she had for the unmated sirens.
Xander, what can I say, he is interesting. He is like a wildcard- he actives himself when you don't think it's happening. His backstory was tragic and I got emotional when he told it.
The Story build up and wasted no time to dive into the mystery and why the Shifters want Naiya. I loved how it went- to everything is fine and then to nothing is fine. I was hooked to every single page and couldn't put it away and read into the deep of the night. The sex scenes? They were hot- okay? I loved them- especially the mirror scene. They didn't feel over the top nor did they feel unnecessarily- it felt just right. Also dropping the title of the book? Yes gurl. It was epic.
You can't believe the GASP I let out at the betrayal of that ONE person. I wanted to punch that person so hardcore in the face at the moment
Also Rachel, thank you for not killing off any of my characters. I hope to read more of your stories soon.
I do have a feeling that a certain dragon shifter will soon make a return as he didn't give the character to give up so soon.
‼️‼️ DO NOT CONTINUE IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO BE SPOILED AS I AM GOING TO SHARE MY FAVOURITE QUOTES/PASSAGES FROM THE BOOK ‼️‼️
- The only thing more dangerous than the siren's sing was alcohol in the belly of a fool.
- Fucking prick was pushing it. He should not be turned on, thinking about what I'd look like naked, while I was imagining what it might be like to rip out his entrails.
- "Do all males, regardless of species, demand random women come to bed with them?"
- I was a seductress. A manipulator. A cruel, blood-sucking siren.
- I wanted to hate the vibrant color of her eyes and her wild brown curls. Yet, I found I didn't.
- The ruler of the spessartine dragon shifters sat on an overly fluffed couch, and for once, he was fully clothed in his red and black robes. But even though he looked more part, she wasn't intimidated by the lazy brute.
- She stood in front of me, and I froze for a moment, completely spellbound by her dangerous purple eyes and dazzling smile.
- "Because only a fool wouldn't come with you willingly, little vixen. And I'm no fool."
- Mother of the Sea, was I already attached to him?
- "Trust me. It's safe to dive. It's high tide."
- "I've told you before, feel free to tackle ne anytime." [Xander you little minx 🤭]
- “You are just like the dragon shifters, lying and manipulating to serve your own ends. Fuck, I should have realized. That’s why you were wearing that ridiculous shirt.”
- 'Whenever you’ll have me, however you want me, I am yours.' Like he really meant he was mine.
- Zoab must have made a record as the shortest living mate, and I couldn’t even bring myself to be upset about that.
A little add-on: I stayed up so late reading and finishing this masterpiece, and started to write this review that I fell asleep halfway through- excuse my spelling.
I am stunned, in a positive way. It left me wanting to immediately read more about this universe. Rachel captured everything perfectly- in my honest opinion.
I felt a connection to the characters and it felt like I was sitting nearby and watched it live.
I loved the world-building about this book so much. 🤩 It was an awesome concept with the sirens mating with Skyrens or humans!
Naiya is such a baddie. I genuinely enjoyed reading her chapters. I loved the rebellious side as she was resisting the urge to fall into the 'stereotype' of a siren. Her character concept was interesting and her badass personality but sometimes I felt like she was doing too much. I also loved the protective nature she had for the unmated sirens.
Xander, what can I say, he is interesting. He is like a wildcard- he actives himself when you don't think it's happening. His backstory was tragic and I got emotional when he told it.
The Story build up and wasted no time to dive into the mystery and why the Shifters want Naiya. I loved how it went- to everything is fine and then to nothing is fine. I was hooked to every single page and couldn't put it away and read into the deep of the night. The sex scenes? They were hot- okay? I loved them- especially the mirror scene. They didn't feel over the top nor did they feel unnecessarily- it felt just right. Also dropping the title of the book? Yes gurl. It was epic.
You can't believe the GASP I let out at the betrayal of that ONE person. I wanted to punch that person so hardcore in the face at the moment
Also Rachel, thank you for not killing off any of my characters. I hope to read more of your stories soon.
I do have a feeling that a certain dragon shifter will soon make a return as he didn't give the character to give up so soon.
‼️‼️ DO NOT CONTINUE IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO BE SPOILED AS I AM GOING TO SHARE MY FAVOURITE QUOTES/PASSAGES FROM THE BOOK ‼️‼️
- The only thing more dangerous than the siren's sing was alcohol in the belly of a fool.
- Fucking prick was pushing it. He should not be turned on, thinking about what I'd look like naked, while I was imagining what it might be like to rip out his entrails.
- "Do all males, regardless of species, demand random women come to bed with them?"
- I was a seductress. A manipulator. A cruel, blood-sucking siren.
- I wanted to hate the vibrant color of her eyes and her wild brown curls. Yet, I found I didn't.
- The ruler of the spessartine dragon shifters sat on an overly fluffed couch, and for once, he was fully clothed in his red and black robes. But even though he looked more part, she wasn't intimidated by the lazy brute.
- She stood in front of me, and I froze for a moment, completely spellbound by her dangerous purple eyes and dazzling smile.
- "Because only a fool wouldn't come with you willingly, little vixen. And I'm no fool."
- Mother of the Sea, was I already attached to him?
- "Trust me. It's safe to dive. It's high tide."
- "I've told you before, feel free to tackle ne anytime." [Xander you little minx 🤭]
- “You are just like the dragon shifters, lying and manipulating to serve your own ends. Fuck, I should have realized. That’s why you were wearing that ridiculous shirt.”
- 'Whenever you’ll have me, however you want me, I am yours.' Like he really meant he was mine.
- Zoab must have made a record as the shortest living mate, and I couldn’t even bring myself to be upset about that.
Review of advance copy received from Author
🐉🧜♀️🪶ARC Reader Review🪶🧜♀️🐉
Naiya has spent the last hundred years imprisoned beneath the ocean—so when she’s finally released, it comes with a price. As a bouncer at the siren-owned club, The Tail, she’s given one brutal mission to earn her freedom: hunt down the skyren—hawk-like warriors of the sky—lure them in with her deadly siren song, and deliver them to the terrapod council. Simple enough… until one of them saves her life.
Before Naiya can even begin her hunt, Xander—a skyren—steps in to rescue her from a group of dragon shifters trying to kidnap her. Suddenly, her mission isn’t so clear-cut. As their paths intertwine, Naiya is forced to confront an impossible choice: secure her long-awaited freedom, or protect the very being she was meant to betray.
This book is a fun, fast-paced fantasy set in a modern urban world, perfect for readers who enjoy supernatural stories with a contemporary edge. It definitely gives off Crescent City vibes, though with lighter world-building. You’ll find all the fan-favorite tropes here—found family, enemies-to-lovers tension, and strong female leads.
Naiya is easy to root for. She’s fierce, independent, and determined to take control of her own fate after a lifetime of being controlled. Her complicated family history and search for belonging add emotional depth, making her feel real and relatable despite the fantastical setting.The betrayals that she faces had me audibly gasping! I did not see it coming!
Xander, the male lead, is equally compelling. His past slowly unfolds throughout the story, pulling you in piece by piece. There’s a protective edge to him—he clearly has a possessive streak—but it never crosses into overbearing territory. He respects Naiya’s strength and ability to handle herself, which makes their dynamic all the more enjoyable.
The supporting cast—Darius, Quinn, Cole, and Julian—bring strong found-family energy. Their bond with Xander adds warmth and humor, and Naiya’s presence shakes up their dynamic in interesting ways. Fans of tight-knit, brotherhood-style groups (think ACOTAR’s Bat Boys) will feel right at home here.
While I genuinely enjoyed the story, the pacing isn’t perfectly even. Some sections feel slower and less action-packed, while others—like the dragon shifter stronghold—left me wanting more detail and intensity. The book contains several explicit spicy scenes and violent scenes, and the author recommends it for readers aged 18 and older.
Overall, this is an entertaining read packed with sirens, dragon shifters, betrayal, and swoon-worthy, winged warriors. If that sounds like your kind of book, it’s definitely worth picking up.
I’m especially curious to see where the series goes next. If future books explore Tilly’s story, I’ll be first in line—she feels like a character with much more beneath the surface, and I have a strong suspicion about where her story might lead. However, I assume it will be Nelleke and Cole!
Naiya has spent the last hundred years imprisoned beneath the ocean—so when she’s finally released, it comes with a price. As a bouncer at the siren-owned club, The Tail, she’s given one brutal mission to earn her freedom: hunt down the skyren—hawk-like warriors of the sky—lure them in with her deadly siren song, and deliver them to the terrapod council. Simple enough… until one of them saves her life.
Before Naiya can even begin her hunt, Xander—a skyren—steps in to rescue her from a group of dragon shifters trying to kidnap her. Suddenly, her mission isn’t so clear-cut. As their paths intertwine, Naiya is forced to confront an impossible choice: secure her long-awaited freedom, or protect the very being she was meant to betray.
This book is a fun, fast-paced fantasy set in a modern urban world, perfect for readers who enjoy supernatural stories with a contemporary edge. It definitely gives off Crescent City vibes, though with lighter world-building. You’ll find all the fan-favorite tropes here—found family, enemies-to-lovers tension, and strong female leads.
Naiya is easy to root for. She’s fierce, independent, and determined to take control of her own fate after a lifetime of being controlled. Her complicated family history and search for belonging add emotional depth, making her feel real and relatable despite the fantastical setting.The betrayals that she faces had me audibly gasping! I did not see it coming!
Xander, the male lead, is equally compelling. His past slowly unfolds throughout the story, pulling you in piece by piece. There’s a protective edge to him—he clearly has a possessive streak—but it never crosses into overbearing territory. He respects Naiya’s strength and ability to handle herself, which makes their dynamic all the more enjoyable.
The supporting cast—Darius, Quinn, Cole, and Julian—bring strong found-family energy. Their bond with Xander adds warmth and humor, and Naiya’s presence shakes up their dynamic in interesting ways. Fans of tight-knit, brotherhood-style groups (think ACOTAR’s Bat Boys) will feel right at home here.
While I genuinely enjoyed the story, the pacing isn’t perfectly even. Some sections feel slower and less action-packed, while others—like the dragon shifter stronghold—left me wanting more detail and intensity. The book contains several explicit spicy scenes and violent scenes, and the author recommends it for readers aged 18 and older.
Overall, this is an entertaining read packed with sirens, dragon shifters, betrayal, and swoon-worthy, winged warriors. If that sounds like your kind of book, it’s definitely worth picking up.
I’m especially curious to see where the series goes next. If future books explore Tilly’s story, I’ll be first in line—she feels like a character with much more beneath the surface, and I have a strong suspicion about where her story might lead. However, I assume it will be Nelleke and Cole!
Review of advance copy received from Author
First of all thank you so much to author Rachel E. Baird for trusting me with an ARC of High Tide.
I want to say that this book completely swept me away, I was not expecting to fall in love with this world and these characters ad much as I did.
One of my absolute favorite aspects about high tide was Rachel’s portrayal of Sirens, and Naiya made this story shine for me. Naiya is the kind of heroine I love to read about,she’s feisty, determined, smart and at the same time she is compassionate, noble and fiercely loyal. Despite being the daughter of a power hungry and cruel Siren she chooses everyday to be different even if at first she doesn’t even recognize it herself.
Her character to me felt like a reminder that we are not defined by where we come from or what others expect us to be come. We always have the power to choose who we are, and I love seeing that reflected in her journey.
The romance part of this book was something that stood out for me as well, what I appreciated most was that Naiya and Xander’s relationship was not built on instant trust or attraction alone. Both characters carried deep rooted prejudices and wounds that they actively had to work through them before they truly could be together. I especially appreciated how thoughtfully Xander’s trauma was handled, the story makes it abundantly clear why he struggles to trust women, and his fears never felt irrational or brushed aside. Even the possibility that Naiya could be his mate and trustworthy wasn’t enough to magically erased years of pain, trauma and betrayal. That felt incredibly realistic to me cause it’s so true,sometimes when we have been hurt deeply by the people who are supposed to love us and care for us like our parents in his case it was his mom, it can be extremely difficult to embrace vulnerability and lowering your guard down becomes deeply terrifying,and I understand that opening yourself to friendship let alone love after that can’t be easy.
I loved that the story allowed both characters the space to grow, heal, and earn each other’s trust rather than taking shortcuts. Their relationship felt genuine because it required effort from both of them, cause yes you can love someone, you can be attracted to them and all that jazz but it will still not be enough if there is no respect, understanding and trust.
I truly can’t wait to read the next few books and see more of the crew and who they end up with and to finally see the worlds worst mom defeated and dead hopefully.
I am sorry if I have any typos it’s 4 am and I just finished this amazing book, please give this book a chance is the perfect book to cure your book hangover.
I want to say that this book completely swept me away, I was not expecting to fall in love with this world and these characters ad much as I did.
One of my absolute favorite aspects about high tide was Rachel’s portrayal of Sirens, and Naiya made this story shine for me. Naiya is the kind of heroine I love to read about,she’s feisty, determined, smart and at the same time she is compassionate, noble and fiercely loyal. Despite being the daughter of a power hungry and cruel Siren she chooses everyday to be different even if at first she doesn’t even recognize it herself.
Her character to me felt like a reminder that we are not defined by where we come from or what others expect us to be come. We always have the power to choose who we are, and I love seeing that reflected in her journey.
The romance part of this book was something that stood out for me as well, what I appreciated most was that Naiya and Xander’s relationship was not built on instant trust or attraction alone. Both characters carried deep rooted prejudices and wounds that they actively had to work through them before they truly could be together. I especially appreciated how thoughtfully Xander’s trauma was handled, the story makes it abundantly clear why he struggles to trust women, and his fears never felt irrational or brushed aside. Even the possibility that Naiya could be his mate and trustworthy wasn’t enough to magically erased years of pain, trauma and betrayal. That felt incredibly realistic to me cause it’s so true,sometimes when we have been hurt deeply by the people who are supposed to love us and care for us like our parents in his case it was his mom, it can be extremely difficult to embrace vulnerability and lowering your guard down becomes deeply terrifying,and I understand that opening yourself to friendship let alone love after that can’t be easy.
I loved that the story allowed both characters the space to grow, heal, and earn each other’s trust rather than taking shortcuts. Their relationship felt genuine because it required effort from both of them, cause yes you can love someone, you can be attracted to them and all that jazz but it will still not be enough if there is no respect, understanding and trust.
I truly can’t wait to read the next few books and see more of the crew and who they end up with and to finally see the worlds worst mom defeated and dead hopefully.
I am sorry if I have any typos it’s 4 am and I just finished this amazing book, please give this book a chance is the perfect book to cure your book hangover.
May 27, 2026
✨ARC reader review✨
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️ -open door, but not too much!
WOW this book was so much better than I expected it to be! I knew it was going to be a romance regardless but the world revolving around an intense war between factions was not what I was expecting (as in not just one vs the other but so many involved!)
This story follows Naiya, a siren, who’s life is turned upside down when she starts to see various human bodies being dropped off near her place of work with no clue how they’re appearing out of nowhere. Xander, a skyren, has moved from his sanctuary into the city in order to learn about who is causing all this turmoil.
Naiya and Xander must work together, while not necessarily trusting each other at first because of their different backgrounds, in order to discover who is leaving these bodies around and how they can be stopped. Naiya was just released from her underwater prison and does NOT wish to return.
Naiya and Xander have such a nice budding romance throughout the book!! I’m not a large fan of miscommunication tropes but this one (while not the complete miscommunication trope in its entirety) was one of those were there needed to be secret keeping to keep the story rolling and so you can discover the intensity of the situation. I also loved how much Xander would do anything for Naiya! It truly showed her, even with some skepticism at first, just how much he actually cares about her.
I loved the addition of all the side characters such as Xander’s brothers/friends and Naiya’s aunt. Truly well written characters. A little bit of the layout (sentence writing) would have me confused if I was residing continuously or if there were actually stops between sentences but all in all it wasn’t something that had me lost within the story.
I can’t wait to see what else continues between factions! We know that the war is nowhere near over and I can’t wait to see how Rachel continues their stories!
Thank you Rachel for this ARC copy 😌
I can’t wait to see what else you bring to life!!!
“No. I rather prefer my men to be spirited. But I think the real question is, why are you here? Do you have a death wish?”
He flashed me a wicked grin.
“If I do, will you promise to give it to me?”
^^had me giggling kicking my feet 🫢
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️ -open door, but not too much!
WOW this book was so much better than I expected it to be! I knew it was going to be a romance regardless but the world revolving around an intense war between factions was not what I was expecting (as in not just one vs the other but so many involved!)
This story follows Naiya, a siren, who’s life is turned upside down when she starts to see various human bodies being dropped off near her place of work with no clue how they’re appearing out of nowhere. Xander, a skyren, has moved from his sanctuary into the city in order to learn about who is causing all this turmoil.
Naiya and Xander must work together, while not necessarily trusting each other at first because of their different backgrounds, in order to discover who is leaving these bodies around and how they can be stopped. Naiya was just released from her underwater prison and does NOT wish to return.
Naiya and Xander have such a nice budding romance throughout the book!! I’m not a large fan of miscommunication tropes but this one (while not the complete miscommunication trope in its entirety) was one of those were there needed to be secret keeping to keep the story rolling and so you can discover the intensity of the situation. I also loved how much Xander would do anything for Naiya! It truly showed her, even with some skepticism at first, just how much he actually cares about her.
I loved the addition of all the side characters such as Xander’s brothers/friends and Naiya’s aunt. Truly well written characters. A little bit of the layout (sentence writing) would have me confused if I was residing continuously or if there were actually stops between sentences but all in all it wasn’t something that had me lost within the story.
I can’t wait to see what else continues between factions! We know that the war is nowhere near over and I can’t wait to see how Rachel continues their stories!
Thank you Rachel for this ARC copy 😌
I can’t wait to see what else you bring to life!!!
“No. I rather prefer my men to be spirited. But I think the real question is, why are you here? Do you have a death wish?”
He flashed me a wicked grin.
“If I do, will you promise to give it to me?”
^^had me giggling kicking my feet 🫢
November 10, 2026
I stayed up way too late finishing this book, and honestly, I regret absolutely nothing!
Rachel E. Baird, what did you just do to me?! I went into High Tide expecting a fun fantasy romance, but I wasn't prepared to become this invested in the characters and their world.
First, the concept! Sirens, Skyren (hawk-like winged warriors), dragon shifters, and a supernatural world existing alongside our modern one. I loved the creativity behind it, and the world-building pulled me in from the beginning.
Naiya is such a badass. She's fierce, rebellious, stubborn, and has absolutely no interest in fitting into the mold everyone expects her to. I loved her attitude, her determination, and especially how protective she was of the other sirens. She's flawed, sometimes a little too much for her own good, but that's what made her feel real.
Then there's Xander. Oh, Xander. He's definitely a wildcard. Just when you think you have him figured out, he surprises you. His backstory was heartbreaking, and I loved watching him and Naiya navigate their trauma, trust issues, and undeniable connection.
The chemistry between these two was fantastic. Their relationship wasn't built on instant trust. They had things to work through, and I enjoyed watching them grow individually and together.
And can we talk about the Skyren brotherhood? Darius, Quinn, Cole, and Julian brought so much personality to the story. Their banter, loyalty, and protective nature gave me all the found-family feels. I NEED MORE OF THESE MEN!
The story wastes no time pulling you into the mystery. There are twists, betrayal, danger, and plenty of moments when everything seems fine until suddenly it absolutely isn't. I was hooked and constantly wanting to know what would happen next.
Rachel, thank you for this adventure. I am officially invested in this world and already hoping we get more stories featuring these characters.
- Urban fantasy romance
- Sirens and supernatural creatures
- Enemies-to-lovers
- Strong, rebellious FMC
- Protective MMC
- Found family
- Mystery, betrayal, and twists
- Open-door spice
ARC received in exchange for my honest thoughts and review.
Rachel E. Baird, what did you just do to me?! I went into High Tide expecting a fun fantasy romance, but I wasn't prepared to become this invested in the characters and their world.
First, the concept! Sirens, Skyren (hawk-like winged warriors), dragon shifters, and a supernatural world existing alongside our modern one. I loved the creativity behind it, and the world-building pulled me in from the beginning.
Naiya is such a badass. She's fierce, rebellious, stubborn, and has absolutely no interest in fitting into the mold everyone expects her to. I loved her attitude, her determination, and especially how protective she was of the other sirens. She's flawed, sometimes a little too much for her own good, but that's what made her feel real.
Then there's Xander. Oh, Xander. He's definitely a wildcard. Just when you think you have him figured out, he surprises you. His backstory was heartbreaking, and I loved watching him and Naiya navigate their trauma, trust issues, and undeniable connection.
The chemistry between these two was fantastic. Their relationship wasn't built on instant trust. They had things to work through, and I enjoyed watching them grow individually and together.
And can we talk about the Skyren brotherhood? Darius, Quinn, Cole, and Julian brought so much personality to the story. Their banter, loyalty, and protective nature gave me all the found-family feels. I NEED MORE OF THESE MEN!
The story wastes no time pulling you into the mystery. There are twists, betrayal, danger, and plenty of moments when everything seems fine until suddenly it absolutely isn't. I was hooked and constantly wanting to know what would happen next.
Rachel, thank you for this adventure. I am officially invested in this world and already hoping we get more stories featuring these characters.
- Urban fantasy romance
- Sirens and supernatural creatures
- Enemies-to-lovers
- Strong, rebellious FMC
- Protective MMC
- Found family
- Mystery, betrayal, and twists
- Open-door spice
ARC received in exchange for my honest thoughts and review.
June 2, 2026
Naiya, siren that has spent the last hundred years imprisoned under the sea, is tasked with one mission to ensure her freedom: hunt down the skyren and lure them to the terrapod council using her siren song. Only issue with that mission is there are dragon shifters trying to kidnap her and Xander, a skyren, steps in to rescue her. Now, Naiya is at a crossroad; does she help the one who saved her life or does she give up his to guarantee her freedom.
This is an edgy, fun, and adventurous take on the supernatural happening in the modern world. I would say, in my opinion, I would recommend this anyone who was interested in Supernatural, Teen Wolf, or Legacies. (True Blood as well but I’ve never watched it lol). I love the secret lives happening amongst the regular world vibes this gives. Found Family is a heavy trope you’ll find here (one of my favorites). Naiya also has constant mental “push and pulls” going on. You really get a feel for her hesitation and internal battle to choose the right path for her and her people.
I had fun reading the story. In my opinion, there are moments where the pacing feels off. There’s times where I’m looking for a full breakdown of the situations and extensive details. Then, there are times where it gets slow and drags on a bit. It’s random so it did throw me off a little sometimes. Overall, it is definitely intriguing and can have you talking to the book (me, it had me talking to the book lol). I wonder who the next book will follow. P.S. please pay attention to the content warnings as they are there for a reason.
Thank you to the author for an eARC of this book. This review is all my own thoughts and feelings 💛
This is an edgy, fun, and adventurous take on the supernatural happening in the modern world. I would say, in my opinion, I would recommend this anyone who was interested in Supernatural, Teen Wolf, or Legacies. (True Blood as well but I’ve never watched it lol). I love the secret lives happening amongst the regular world vibes this gives. Found Family is a heavy trope you’ll find here (one of my favorites). Naiya also has constant mental “push and pulls” going on. You really get a feel for her hesitation and internal battle to choose the right path for her and her people.
I had fun reading the story. In my opinion, there are moments where the pacing feels off. There’s times where I’m looking for a full breakdown of the situations and extensive details. Then, there are times where it gets slow and drags on a bit. It’s random so it did throw me off a little sometimes. Overall, it is definitely intriguing and can have you talking to the book (me, it had me talking to the book lol). I wonder who the next book will follow. P.S. please pay attention to the content warnings as they are there for a reason.
Thank you to the author for an eARC of this book. This review is all my own thoughts and feelings 💛
Review of advance copy received from Author
✨ ARC Reader Review - Advanced Copy Received from Author✨
This is the first book I've received as an ARC, and wow, what a way to start!!
If you like your female lead with a bit of sass, then Naiya, a kick ass mermaid bouncer, is your girl. Your main man, well, Xander is complicated, possessive (but not in an unpleasant way) and fierce - and ready to fight for (and with) his love.
This book has intrigue, plot twists, a will they won't they romance, relationship complications, group dynamics and chequered family histories. The chemistry between the two main characters is plain to see from the start, however the writer has taken the time to allow them to come to terms with their past, and what it could mean for the future.
There is a little bit of spice, and one particular aspect may cause distress to readers with a forced act trigger. However it's not overly gratuitous, and given the nature of the sirens, entirely within character.
I can easily see a series developing from this - the skyren "brotherhood" of Darius, Quinn, Cole and Julian, Tilly, Nelleke and the other sirens.
The early chapters quickly set the scene, and had me hooked. Nothing felt rushed, yet I never felt swamped by details - just the right pace from start to finish. Absolutely loved it, and would highly recommend to readers over 18 looking who are looking for a fantasy romance, that's not too heavy, not too sickly sweet, not too violent and not too spicy - you won't want to put it down!!
This is the first book I've received as an ARC, and wow, what a way to start!!
If you like your female lead with a bit of sass, then Naiya, a kick ass mermaid bouncer, is your girl. Your main man, well, Xander is complicated, possessive (but not in an unpleasant way) and fierce - and ready to fight for (and with) his love.
This book has intrigue, plot twists, a will they won't they romance, relationship complications, group dynamics and chequered family histories. The chemistry between the two main characters is plain to see from the start, however the writer has taken the time to allow them to come to terms with their past, and what it could mean for the future.
There is a little bit of spice, and one particular aspect may cause distress to readers with a forced act trigger. However it's not overly gratuitous, and given the nature of the sirens, entirely within character.
I can easily see a series developing from this - the skyren "brotherhood" of Darius, Quinn, Cole and Julian, Tilly, Nelleke and the other sirens.
The early chapters quickly set the scene, and had me hooked. Nothing felt rushed, yet I never felt swamped by details - just the right pace from start to finish. Absolutely loved it, and would highly recommend to readers over 18 looking who are looking for a fantasy romance, that's not too heavy, not too sickly sweet, not too violent and not too spicy - you won't want to put it down!!
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Author
High Tide by Rachel E. Baird begins like a calm sea before the storm - smooth, steady, and deceptively gentle - before crashing into an unforgettable wave of passion, intrigue, and tangled emotions.
Naiya and Alexander ignite the pages from the very beginning with undeniable chemistry and magnetic attraction. Their connection is intense, sensual, and impossible to look away from. But beneath the surface of their romance lies an entire world of layered stories, simmering tension, and side romances that leave readers desperate to know who will be next to fall headfirst into love, danger, or both.
The worldbuilding/characters in this novel are absolutely addictive. Sirens bring an alluring sensuality, the Skyren characters add mystery and irresistible heat, and the dragon storyline? Completely wild in the best possible way. Every twist pulled tighter at my curiosity while tugging hard at my heartstrings.
With emotional depth, scorching romance, fantasy intrigue, and interconnected relationships woven beautifully throughout, High Tide leaves readers breathless and eagerly waiting for whatever comes next.
If you love fantasy romance packed with passion, magical creatures, layered relationships, and enough tension to keep the pages burning, High Tide is absolutely worth the plunge.
High Tide by Rachel E. Baird begins like a calm sea before the storm - smooth, steady, and deceptively gentle - before crashing into an unforgettable wave of passion, intrigue, and tangled emotions.
Naiya and Alexander ignite the pages from the very beginning with undeniable chemistry and magnetic attraction. Their connection is intense, sensual, and impossible to look away from. But beneath the surface of their romance lies an entire world of layered stories, simmering tension, and side romances that leave readers desperate to know who will be next to fall headfirst into love, danger, or both.
The worldbuilding/characters in this novel are absolutely addictive. Sirens bring an alluring sensuality, the Skyren characters add mystery and irresistible heat, and the dragon storyline? Completely wild in the best possible way. Every twist pulled tighter at my curiosity while tugging hard at my heartstrings.
With emotional depth, scorching romance, fantasy intrigue, and interconnected relationships woven beautifully throughout, High Tide leaves readers breathless and eagerly waiting for whatever comes next.
If you love fantasy romance packed with passion, magical creatures, layered relationships, and enough tension to keep the pages burning, High Tide is absolutely worth the plunge.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I enjoyed this ARC read 📚. The pace was a little inconsistent, and I would have liked to see more description in the battle with Zoab. In fact, I would have liked more interaction with Zoab in general. We do not get to see much from his character in the book and I was craving more.
I liked both Xander and Naiya's characters. Both have experienced trauma and have to learn to navigate it and learn to trust. It was interesting to have both main characters learning, struggling and growing throughout the story.
I loved the Skyren 'brothers' of Xanders - it feels very much like family. Quinn, Julian, Darius and Cole all feel like brothers in the way they interact with one another. They bicker and argue but are also there to support one another through thick and thin. Naiya's aunt also comes through with support.
There was some betrayal I was not expecting along the way (plot twists), but I will not give that away. It pulled at my heart strings. Naiya's mother is truly awful, which was a bit triggering with my own terrible mother in my life.
Trigger warning: this book does have a scene with forced sexual acts to one of the main characters. It was uncomfortable for me to read and you should be warned!
There is also a lot of blood drinking ;).
I liked both Xander and Naiya's characters. Both have experienced trauma and have to learn to navigate it and learn to trust. It was interesting to have both main characters learning, struggling and growing throughout the story.
I loved the Skyren 'brothers' of Xanders - it feels very much like family. Quinn, Julian, Darius and Cole all feel like brothers in the way they interact with one another. They bicker and argue but are also there to support one another through thick and thin. Naiya's aunt also comes through with support.
There was some betrayal I was not expecting along the way (plot twists), but I will not give that away. It pulled at my heart strings. Naiya's mother is truly awful, which was a bit triggering with my own terrible mother in my life.
Trigger warning: this book does have a scene with forced sexual acts to one of the main characters. It was uncomfortable for me to read and you should be warned!
There is also a lot of blood drinking ;).
July 3, 2026
Skyren (feathered flyers) compete with dragon shifters for the sky. Syrens and selkies compete for humans on land.
Xander is over 100 years old - a skyren forced to hunt for a syren to find out why humans are dying.
Naiya is a syren who has beem brought up from where she was hidden at the bottom of the sea to attract a skyren to capture woth her song and torture for information.
Sounds easy, right? Whats the catch?
The catch is that while syrens drink blood, drinking skyren blood means they lose the taste for anyone elses blood.
An addiction to one skyren forever.
Sounds fine. Doable, even.
Oh, no, HIS blood sings for her! Xander's blood wants her to drink deeply, to tame her wild nature *as skyren blood was created to do*.
The have a mystery to solve - dead humans left near the syren club.
But how are they supposed to function when theyre struggling to keep their hands (and teeth) off each other?
The villains are cruel, calculating, and utterly irredeemable. The world of vancouver is dirty, and gritty, the two factions fighting against time to chase down the culprits.
A thrilling read
Xander is over 100 years old - a skyren forced to hunt for a syren to find out why humans are dying.
Naiya is a syren who has beem brought up from where she was hidden at the bottom of the sea to attract a skyren to capture woth her song and torture for information.
Sounds easy, right? Whats the catch?
The catch is that while syrens drink blood, drinking skyren blood means they lose the taste for anyone elses blood.
An addiction to one skyren forever.
Sounds fine. Doable, even.
Oh, no, HIS blood sings for her! Xander's blood wants her to drink deeply, to tame her wild nature *as skyren blood was created to do*.
The have a mystery to solve - dead humans left near the syren club.
But how are they supposed to function when theyre struggling to keep their hands (and teeth) off each other?
The villains are cruel, calculating, and utterly irredeemable. The world of vancouver is dirty, and gritty, the two factions fighting against time to chase down the culprits.
A thrilling read
Review of advance copy received from Author
🌟 ARC Review 🌟
I was lucky enough to be part of the ARC team to read this book before its release, and below are my honest thoughts!.
If you like:
🧜♀️Sirens
🩸Vampires
🪶 MMC with wings
💜 Found Family
☠️ Touch him and end to exist
💜 Slow burn
Review: I have never before been into books about sirens, but I do love me some vampires, so I took a chance on this book, and let me tell you, the cross between sirens and vampires- Love it. FMC? I adore a girl who can admit her faults, failures, and can own up to it all. MMC, he’s got wings, a know-it-all (but not in the over cocky way that’s ick) attitude, and HE falls first. The plots great while a little faster paced then I'd have liked, knowing this is the first of many to come, I can live with it. THE SLOW BURN. The first chapter I was iffy, but hitting into chapter two and after dragged me in, and I ATE IT UP.
Dislikes: Slightly faster paced than I would have liked for this book, but I really think that’s a me issue, not a book issue <3
I was lucky enough to be part of the ARC team to read this book before its release, and below are my honest thoughts!.
If you like:
🧜♀️Sirens
🩸Vampires
🪶 MMC with wings
💜 Found Family
☠️ Touch him and end to exist
💜 Slow burn
Review: I have never before been into books about sirens, but I do love me some vampires, so I took a chance on this book, and let me tell you, the cross between sirens and vampires- Love it. FMC? I adore a girl who can admit her faults, failures, and can own up to it all. MMC, he’s got wings, a know-it-all (but not in the over cocky way that’s ick) attitude, and HE falls first. The plots great while a little faster paced then I'd have liked, knowing this is the first of many to come, I can live with it. THE SLOW BURN. The first chapter I was iffy, but hitting into chapter two and after dragged me in, and I ATE IT UP.
Dislikes: Slightly faster paced than I would have liked for this book, but I really think that’s a me issue, not a book issue <3
October 8, 2026
What an interesting read. I love all of the mythological elements put into this book. I like how it talks about the skyren as a race that Poseidon made to protect humans from the sirens. Never knew Poseidon liked humans so much in all the lore I read 😉.
Nairya, the strong willed siren who doesn't really trust anyone but herself. Zander, the stalwart commander who ONLY trusts his bretheren. I loved the story of how Nairya and Xander came together. They each are holding back a little bit of something from themselves and when they find each other they are able to help one another explore that emptiness.
The twists and turns in this book were great but it also made me a little mad. How many mistakes can these two make? I guess it helped their relationship in the end but it frustrated me.
I also wish for a little more world building. I didn't even know they were in Vancouver until about 20% in. I liked seeing other little story lines blossom in this book and can't wait to dive into the next. Pun intended.
Nairya, the strong willed siren who doesn't really trust anyone but herself. Zander, the stalwart commander who ONLY trusts his bretheren. I loved the story of how Nairya and Xander came together. They each are holding back a little bit of something from themselves and when they find each other they are able to help one another explore that emptiness.
The twists and turns in this book were great but it also made me a little mad. How many mistakes can these two make? I guess it helped their relationship in the end but it frustrated me.
I also wish for a little more world building. I didn't even know they were in Vancouver until about 20% in. I liked seeing other little story lines blossom in this book and can't wait to dive into the next. Pun intended.
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC copy received by Author.
This was a top-notch dark romantasy that wrecked me in the best way. I’ve always loved mermaids and magical sea beings, but seeing them through a dark romance lens? Overwhelming and beautifully written.
The worldbuilding is dense at first — lots of technical sea/mer lore that had me re-reading. Tip: Check the glossary BEFORE you start. Would’ve saved me from chapter 1 confusion.
Ohhh Xander 🤧❤️❤️❤️❤️= born to be an admiral. Gentleman trulyyyy, and possessive too. his character was perfectly balanced.
Naiya tested my patience, but given her backstory and trauma with her mother, her choices made sense.
And ZOABBBB... god. The villain of the story with full devil aura 😈 Here’s my confession: I liked his devilish personality, poor guy though.
This was a top-notch dark romantasy that wrecked me in the best way. I’ve always loved mermaids and magical sea beings, but seeing them through a dark romance lens? Overwhelming and beautifully written.
The worldbuilding is dense at first — lots of technical sea/mer lore that had me re-reading. Tip: Check the glossary BEFORE you start. Would’ve saved me from chapter 1 confusion.
Ohhh Xander 🤧❤️❤️❤️❤️= born to be an admiral. Gentleman trulyyyy, and possessive too. his character was perfectly balanced.
Naiya tested my patience, but given her backstory and trauma with her mother, her choices made sense.
And ZOABBBB... god. The villain of the story with full devil aura 😈 Here’s my confession: I liked his devilish personality, poor guy though.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This was a wonderful read. I instantly fell in love with Naiya and I absolutely enjoyed watching her relationship with Xander develop. The main plot was straightforward but still fun to follow along There's a perfect amount of spice sprinkled in and those scenes were extremely well written and will probably get you 🥵. There are a few scenes involving SA so be prepared but I think they made sense in the story and felt uncomfortable to read as such a scene should without feeling exploitative or gross. If you enjoy stories like True Blood and enjoy the tropes of enemies to lovers and absolute Good boy green flag male characters you will most definitely enjoy this book. I can't wait for a sequel!
September 6, 2026
It is my first time reading a book by this author.
This book was a quick read.
I felt the writing was good, the pacing was good, not rushed at all. I can see what the author meant by standalone HEA. There is not much world building but I don't think it took much away from the book.
The creature of choice was quite interesting to read about. I don't know the lore very well so it was nice to read about it through the story. The three person's point of view (POV) was a nice surprise and didn't take away from the story. It added a little extra to the read. I liked that I could learn more about sirens and skyrens through the different POV's.
It all came together quite nicely.
Thank you for the good read.
(Review posted to amazon)
This book was a quick read.
I felt the writing was good, the pacing was good, not rushed at all. I can see what the author meant by standalone HEA. There is not much world building but I don't think it took much away from the book.
The creature of choice was quite interesting to read about. I don't know the lore very well so it was nice to read about it through the story. The three person's point of view (POV) was a nice surprise and didn't take away from the story. It added a little extra to the read. I liked that I could learn more about sirens and skyrens through the different POV's.
It all came together quite nicely.
Thank you for the good read.
(Review posted to amazon)
May 21, 2026
Hi all, I really enjoyed the story, the advisory’s for anything that could trigger someone was appreciated but they were crucial to the Narrative but tame in the same hand.
The amount of thought that went into the characters and creatures that were brought to life was exceptionally good and well thought out.
It was fascinating to see how the battle for good and evil played out and the how deception and loyalty was dealt with. But of course the love behind the main characters on whether they could over come or not was gripping.
This was an excellent read and highly recommend reading this book and any that the author has written or will write.
The amount of thought that went into the characters and creatures that were brought to life was exceptionally good and well thought out.
It was fascinating to see how the battle for good and evil played out and the how deception and loyalty was dealt with. But of course the love behind the main characters on whether they could over come or not was gripping.
This was an excellent read and highly recommend reading this book and any that the author has written or will write.
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC From the author
I loved the plot and how the story would have me think and put together some pieces to understand it or what might happen next. The characters are well written as well. I loved reading the book!!
Naiya was well written, and her development was amazing. She did have me a little frustrated at some parts, but I can understand due to how she grew up and her mentality from how she was treated by her mother.
Xander was a true gentleman, and I love him sm. I also liked the fact that he was willing to want to trust Naiya despite his past trauma from his mom it was truly beautiful and heartwarming.
I loved the plot and how the story would have me think and put together some pieces to understand it or what might happen next. The characters are well written as well. I loved reading the book!!
Naiya was well written, and her development was amazing. She did have me a little frustrated at some parts, but I can understand due to how she grew up and her mentality from how she was treated by her mother.
Xander was a true gentleman, and I love him sm. I also liked the fact that he was willing to want to trust Naiya despite his past trauma from his mom it was truly beautiful and heartwarming.
June 4, 2026
This book really sucked me when I started it because it felt so real with the aspect of the supernatural world being within the modern world ! It flowed so smoothly with the characters as they have the chance to discover themselves with their own trauma alongside realizing they’re meant to be. With Naiya she didn’t let her mother being known as a cruel siren define her giving that much needed lesson to not let your past or circumstances define you. She made her own path and feisty to boot. Definitely a slow burn for the romance aspect but in other avenues it felt fast paced. May just be me since I zoomed through this book since it had you on the edge wanting to see what happened next.
June 4, 2026
This book was really interesting..I liked the Sirens and the Skyren..and the whole story of how they came to be. It was definitely a whole different story that I have never heard before..this author definitely had me engrossed in the story and I didn't want to put it down once I started (I had to because life doesn't have a pause button..but we can wish right?😂)
This was well written and I could imagine the whole story in my head...I will definitely be looking out for more books by this author and definitely if this becomes a series. I received an advance reader copy of this book for an honest voluntary review.
This was well written and I could imagine the whole story in my head...I will definitely be looking out for more books by this author and definitely if this becomes a series. I received an advance reader copy of this book for an honest voluntary review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
A fantasy romance filled with dangerous choices, winged protectors, and slow-burning tension. Naiya’s journey feels emotional and intense, especially with the constant push between freedom and survival.
The romance builds gradually, the world has a dark atmospheric feel, and the moral conflicts keep things interesting. Some pacing felt uneven, but overall it was a captivating read with strong “protective but untrusting” energy.
Perfect for readers who love slow-burn fantasy romance with morally grey characters.
The romance builds gradually, the world has a dark atmospheric feel, and the moral conflicts keep things interesting. Some pacing felt uneven, but overall it was a captivating read with strong “protective but untrusting” energy.
Perfect for readers who love slow-burn fantasy romance with morally grey characters.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received an advanced author copy of High Tide.
*This one is an adult (18+) fantasy with a couple more intense scenes, which the author communicated clearly before reading.
High Tide is a fantasy story with action, romance, and a little family drama. Baird takes you through a modern day city as humans live with sirens unknowingly. This novel has some twists and turns that will keep you excited to finish reading!
I would love to live the in Sky Mountains and reside in that magical world!
*This one is an adult (18+) fantasy with a couple more intense scenes, which the author communicated clearly before reading.
High Tide is a fantasy story with action, romance, and a little family drama. Baird takes you through a modern day city as humans live with sirens unknowingly. This novel has some twists and turns that will keep you excited to finish reading!
I would love to live the in Sky Mountains and reside in that magical world!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I really enjoyed this book and I hope it gets the attention it deserves. Right away, the story begins with action and intrigue. The setting is a modern-day Vancouver and there are all sorts of fantastical creatures involved: Sirens, Skyrens, Selkies, Dragon-Shifters,… a leatherback turtle. The main characters Naiya and Xander are more of reluctant allies-to-lovers and their growth and relationship development is careful and mature. The spice was spicin’!!! I finished the book hungry for more of this world!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received an ARC of this book 📖
3.5 ⭐️ rounded up to 4!
🌶️🌶️ has some detailed spicy scenes
This book was good! I’ve been in a siren/pirate mood, so this was right up my alley.
- Urban Fantasy
- Bloodthirsty sirens
- Elemental magic
- Multiple POV
- Shifters
- Dark romance (blood play, torture, non con from non mcs)
Don’t be deterred by the cover - it’s actually a grittier and more intense story than it would seem based on the cover. If you are a fan of urban fantasy or sirens, this is worth a read!
3.5 ⭐️ rounded up to 4!
🌶️🌶️ has some detailed spicy scenes
This book was good! I’ve been in a siren/pirate mood, so this was right up my alley.
- Urban Fantasy
- Bloodthirsty sirens
- Elemental magic
- Multiple POV
- Shifters
- Dark romance (blood play, torture, non con from non mcs)
Don’t be deterred by the cover - it’s actually a grittier and more intense story than it would seem based on the cover. If you are a fan of urban fantasy or sirens, this is worth a read!
June 2, 2026
High Tide is a fun, fast-paced fantasy with a great cast of characters.
There's enemies to lovers, a fierce FMC, a winged warrior outcast leader MMC, betrayals, scheming, power grabs, good vs evil, found family - everything you'd want in a modern fantasy.
Naiya and Xander are solid mains, and I liked getting to know them. The world building is off to a great start, and I had fun with the political scheming.
I'm excited to see where this series takes us!
✨ Review of advance copy received from Author ✨
There's enemies to lovers, a fierce FMC, a winged warrior outcast leader MMC, betrayals, scheming, power grabs, good vs evil, found family - everything you'd want in a modern fantasy.
Naiya and Xander are solid mains, and I liked getting to know them. The world building is off to a great start, and I had fun with the political scheming.
I'm excited to see where this series takes us!
✨ Review of advance copy received from Author ✨
June 19, 2026
High Tide was a captivating urban fantasy romance that pulled me in from the very first chapter. The blend of magic, forbidden love, danger, and emotional depth kept me turning pages late into the night. The characters felt real and relatable, and their journey was filled with twists, heartbreak, and hope. If you enjoy fantasy romance with strong chemistry, high stakes, and a unique magical world, this is definitely a book worth reading!
Review of advance copy received from Indie Reviewers
I truly enjoyed this stand alone romantasy / urban fantasy. Our FMC Naiya is shy but fierce. She is thrust into a world that she truly doesn’t understand. The MMC Xander doesn’t want to be anyone’s hero. Throw in some shady politics and dragon shifters and you have court intrigue, found family and more. There are twists, some with predictable outcomes. But I did thoroughly enjoy it.
June 17, 2026
I love the dynamic between Naiya and Xander. The spice was SO GOOD! I was a little confused in the beginning about why the skyren and sirens were enemies, but it worked out. I'm really excited about future books in this series!
September 28, 2026
Stellar story line!
Really appreciated the fast paced plot and deeply drawn characters. Loved that it was based in BC, Canada!
Magic system was also interesting and well explained.
Really appreciated the fast paced plot and deeply drawn characters. Loved that it was based in BC, Canada!
Magic system was also interesting and well explained.
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