The first book in the Secret Siren Songs series, High Tide, is a gripping urban fantasy romance set in Vancouver, for fans of Crescent City, the Black Dagger Brotherhood, and In the Veins of the Drowning.
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 an 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.
Rachel E Baird loves to craft fantasy romance stories full of 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.
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!
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.
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?”
✨ 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!!
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.
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 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
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.
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.
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.
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.
*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 book checks all the boxes for the perfect urban fantasy romance. For me, it is very well written, and the story and characters are so well developed. I wasn’t really expecting so much blood-drinking from sirens, and this is the only reason I’m giving it 4 stars.