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Demon of the Deep #2
Splinter Heart
Not even the fastest ship on the Broken Sea can escape the past.
Nia has a secret. As a seaside tavern maid she seduces anyone who might have information about Silver Stroud’s treasure. Unless she can get her hands on it, she’ll meet a premature death just like her mother did. When Roseforte Harbor is attacked by mercenaries, Nia is abducted by the very pirate who might have the answers she’s been searching for. But she may find much more than she bargained for in the gorgeous Splinter Zanta.
Splinter Zanta lost everything the night she killed her captain. Now she holds his legacy in her bloody hands. All she has left is a treasure without a key, and a heart still pierced by splinters of her old life. When Nia demands to stay aboard her ship, Zanta’s carefully guarded history comes undone by this beautiful woman. Can Zanta allow herself to heal, or will grief drive the rest of her life?
An enemy from Rowan’s past stalks him through the waters. Rowan is determined to protect what is his, even if that means going against his husband’s wishes. While Yves struggles to balance his monstrous urges with his love for Rowan, Rowan searches for Zanta to warn her of the danger fast on their heels.
Set sail once again with the chaotic crews of the Siren Song and Kraken’s Fury. Old enemies resurface. Lost connections reignite. And storms loom in the distance.
Nia has a secret. As a seaside tavern maid she seduces anyone who might have information about Silver Stroud’s treasure. Unless she can get her hands on it, she’ll meet a premature death just like her mother did. When Roseforte Harbor is attacked by mercenaries, Nia is abducted by the very pirate who might have the answers she’s been searching for. But she may find much more than she bargained for in the gorgeous Splinter Zanta.
Splinter Zanta lost everything the night she killed her captain. Now she holds his legacy in her bloody hands. All she has left is a treasure without a key, and a heart still pierced by splinters of her old life. When Nia demands to stay aboard her ship, Zanta’s carefully guarded history comes undone by this beautiful woman. Can Zanta allow herself to heal, or will grief drive the rest of her life?
An enemy from Rowan’s past stalks him through the waters. Rowan is determined to protect what is his, even if that means going against his husband’s wishes. While Yves struggles to balance his monstrous urges with his love for Rowan, Rowan searches for Zanta to warn her of the danger fast on their heels.
Set sail once again with the chaotic crews of the Siren Song and Kraken’s Fury. Old enemies resurface. Lost connections reignite. And storms loom in the distance.
486 pages, Paperback
Published July 6, 2026
About the author
Briar Belmont
4 books22 followersBriar Belmont is a spicy romance and romantasy indie author debuting in 2024. She adored reading and writing from a young age and has a soft spot for fairytales and folklore. She can often be found in her garden or curled up with her pets and a good book.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
July 18, 2026
how am I supposed to wait until the next book comes out with an ending like this?!
this was so, so goddamn good. it had everything I've loved about the previous two books - queer pirates! smut! the absolute Hannibal-esque nonsense (affectionate) between Yves and Rowan! plot twists and sea warfare! - in spades, but with added sapphics! I devoured it in like, a day, and will absolutely be rereading it (along with the others, again) before the next installment comes out.
this was so, so goddamn good. it had everything I've loved about the previous two books - queer pirates! smut! the absolute Hannibal-esque nonsense (affectionate) between Yves and Rowan! plot twists and sea warfare! - in spades, but with added sapphics! I devoured it in like, a day, and will absolutely be rereading it (along with the others, again) before the next installment comes out.
July 11, 2026
THIS BOOK. THIS GORGEOUS, THICK BABY. I AM OBSESSED.
My reactions every other chapter were absolutely unhinged. The spice? Just as good as the last book. But OH. MY. GOD. The plot. The twists. The reveals. I did not see half of them coming.
Also... I didn't know pirates were my kink. Does that make me a pirate bunny? I don't know. I don't care. All I know is at this point, this author could hand me a grocery list and I'd probably devour it.
Yves and Rowan are my babies. Actually, every single character is my baby *shrugs*. But the tension between Yves and Rowan? The emotional distance? The absolutely feral chemistry simmering underneath the feral husbands? I was LOSING IT.
And can we talk about the other couples?? They were written so beautifully. Logan? Certified slut. Certified love of my life.
Zanta and Nia absolutely wrecked me. I loved how their stories intertwined, how neither of them blamed the other for the scars of their past, and how they still found their way back to each other. Their relationship was so much more than I expected.
If you love spicy romances, jaw-dropping plot twists, and ridiculously sexy pirates... congratulations, your next read is right here.
P.S. Read the books in order.
(I work with the author, but this review is 100% my own opinion and has nothing to do with our professional relationship!)
My reactions every other chapter were absolutely unhinged. The spice? Just as good as the last book. But OH. MY. GOD. The plot. The twists. The reveals. I did not see half of them coming.
Also... I didn't know pirates were my kink. Does that make me a pirate bunny? I don't know. I don't care. All I know is at this point, this author could hand me a grocery list and I'd probably devour it.
Yves and Rowan are my babies. Actually, every single character is my baby *shrugs*. But the tension between Yves and Rowan? The emotional distance? The absolutely feral chemistry simmering underneath the feral husbands? I was LOSING IT.
And can we talk about the other couples?? They were written so beautifully. Logan? Certified slut. Certified love of my life.
Zanta and Nia absolutely wrecked me. I loved how their stories intertwined, how neither of them blamed the other for the scars of their past, and how they still found their way back to each other. Their relationship was so much more than I expected.
If you love spicy romances, jaw-dropping plot twists, and ridiculously sexy pirates... congratulations, your next read is right here.
P.S. Read the books in order.
(I work with the author, but this review is 100% my own opinion and has nothing to do with our professional relationship!)
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you to Briar Belmont for the ARC of Splinter Heart!
This book is a great sequel to Demon of the Deep. It has the same high heat and high stakes action and adventure.
This book follows the same four couples from the first book as well as introducing Nia and Zanta. There are MM and FF scenes in the story.
The book is long (it needed to be with so many characters to follow), but the story is always moving so I barely noticed the length!
My biggest problem with Splinter Heart is that there are five couples to follow now. And while it is easy to follow the stories of Nia/Zanta and Rowan/Yves, the other three couples were at times getting mixed up in my mind. These are the same characters from the first book so that did help.
Overall, I really enjoyed this hot high stakes pirate novel and look forward to reading what Briar writes next!
This book is a great sequel to Demon of the Deep. It has the same high heat and high stakes action and adventure.
This book follows the same four couples from the first book as well as introducing Nia and Zanta. There are MM and FF scenes in the story.
The book is long (it needed to be with so many characters to follow), but the story is always moving so I barely noticed the length!
My biggest problem with Splinter Heart is that there are five couples to follow now. And while it is easy to follow the stories of Nia/Zanta and Rowan/Yves, the other three couples were at times getting mixed up in my mind. These are the same characters from the first book so that did help.
Overall, I really enjoyed this hot high stakes pirate novel and look forward to reading what Briar writes next!
July 7, 2026
High seas, high heat, high stakes!
Starting off strong with incredible intimacy, things do not slow down, with three separate pairings moving forwards together until they collide, tumultuous feelings and revelations unfolding as fate draw everything together.
Unparalleled choreography - intimacy, combat, ships, emotional damage - not a page goes by without a stirring description.
Yves and Rowan roam the high seas. Zanta has a past and accidentally takes Nia on board. What begins as subterfuge becomes more.
John and Logan move through life together, along with Fox and Gaël.
A visceral and deep story with a delicious book two of three cliffhanger ending 😍😍
Starting off strong with incredible intimacy, things do not slow down, with three separate pairings moving forwards together until they collide, tumultuous feelings and revelations unfolding as fate draw everything together.
Unparalleled choreography - intimacy, combat, ships, emotional damage - not a page goes by without a stirring description.
Yves and Rowan roam the high seas. Zanta has a past and accidentally takes Nia on board. What begins as subterfuge becomes more.
John and Logan move through life together, along with Fox and Gaël.
A visceral and deep story with a delicious book two of three cliffhanger ending 😍😍
July 20, 2026
I've loved, loved, loved this whole series. I don't care about things that don't make sense (using real world dates for example), but I love the characters in all their beauty and brokenness.
Wish there had been more time spent with the sapphic couple.
Wish there had been more time spent with the sapphic couple.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews