The Song of Salt and Shadow

by Seren Rose

This hardcover edition features an exclusive dark cover and a digital signature.


The Song of Salt and Shadow is an atmospheric siren–pirate romantasy about lost identity, treacherous seas, and slow-burn enemies-to-lovers tension.

A siren born without a tail.
A song meant to drown pirates.
A pirate ready to drown for her.

Hunted for her blood and the scales that grant humans magic they should never wield, Eryse flees the hunters and climbs aboard a vast black ship. The crew is cursed, and in the darkness, ghosts roam the deck. As she steps aboard, a silver thread of light appears — the Glim. Believing she may be the key to breaking the curse, the captain does not let her go.

Caught between a curse that tightens its grip and a sea that never forgives, Eryse cannot live in water and cannot live without it. To claim the tail she was never given, she is forced to confront her own voice and follow a path that leads straight through a pirate who may be just as dangerous as the sea itself.

Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy, Romance, Pirates, Fantasy Romance, Enemies To Lovers, Mermaids

415 pages, Hardcover

Published June 3, 2026

About the author

Writer of slow burn, dark(ish) pirate romance🖤🌊🧜🏻‍♀️

Reviews

[Noi (in & out)]

I think we are in the age of pirate books, and I am not mad about it

[jae ⟡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

holy shit this was a masterpiece. easily one of my favourite books of all time and i just know i’ll be chasing this feeling for the rest of my life.

eryse was the perfect main character for this story and i truly loved following every second of her journey. and sable—our yearning king! other slow burn x enemies to lovers books don’t even come close to what these two had. i never wanted to let them go 💜😭

[liz ౨ৎ · Rating 2 out of 5]

expectations were high and unfortunately not met

[julie ★ · Rating 5 out of 5]

໑ ▸ 4.75 stars
౨ৎ my thought๋
⤿ finished may 172026

“Ignore them,”he whispers.“Focus on me.”

omg. this book is faboulous.

first of all, a huge thank you to Seren Rose for this ARC and letting me read an early copy of this brilliant novel. this review is completely voluntary and honest.

tropes:
- Pirate Captain/Siren
- Slow Burn
- Man on his knees
- Pirates of the Caribbean vibes

song: one day, elizabeth and will theme from pirates of the carribean
I am speechless, this book was soo good like really had the time of my life.
I am always been a huge irates of the carribean's fan and i do love all the siren thing like mako mermaids and h2o and i was lit craving for a romance with sirens.
This book had all and as soon as i saw a video from seren i knwo that i have to get this book asap.
and seren was so kind to me to allow me to and i am foreveer gratefull.
This book follows a siren who is running from hunters that accidentally sails on a pirate ship.
i love all the world building and the descriptions of the sea with all their characteristics soo peculiar and also i really love the plot twist (iykyk).
I was soo well done and the worl crafted soo well that i really can picture me in all of the scenario we see during the book.

But now can we talk about the MMC no because what do you mean he lit GET ON HER KNEES, YEAR FOR HER, HE REMEMBER HER NAME ALWAYS. I am really in love with Sable,like he is lit a MAN A MAN A MA-A-A-AN

i also love our preciuos girl that is a perfect mix of power and flaws, she has a personality which is great and not for granted these days lol. following her journey as she grappled with trust, loyalty, and the search for belonging, all while untangling the intricate mysteries surrounding her, was an experience that had me utterly hooked.

and can we talk about the found family vibes? the way the crew dynamics unfolded, the connections that blossomed, and the genuine care that grew between the characters, it all just clicked perfectly. even the tiniest interactions played a role in weaving that beautiful tapestry of belonging and loyalty, making the relationships feel so deeply authentic.

I laughed, I stressed, I teared up, and I fell head over heels for every single moment. Completely hooked from start to finish!

Thanks again seren and also please can we get more pirates romances????

⌗‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ── 🐡🐚 .ᐟ pre-read

i can't wait to read this book. GUYS it's a piratexsiren and i'm so fucking excited that i get the arc cause what do you mean this vibes matched with will and elizabeth theme for pirates of carrabian aaaaaaa

[anna ୨୧ · Rating 4 out of 5]

➳ 𝒓𝒕𝒄! -༉‧₊˚✧ 4 stars!

this was fun!! i’d recommend for sure especially since summer just started!

*available on kindle unlimited



↳˗ˏˋ 𝐩𝐫𝐞-𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 ˊˎ˗ 🏴‍☠️

since bsf jae loved this so much that means i must read it immediately. i love anything about pirates lol if i could be anything in a fantasy book i would choose to be a pirate every time (help this sounds so corny) 😭 i’ve loved them since i was a kid and even more when i watched pirates of the Caribbean (bc of johnny depp ofc) anyway, i have a feeling i will love this!!

[𝘫𝘢𝘴 ♡ · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this. I’ve been itching for a pirate romantasy to obsess over, but this was sadly not the one. The story itself was interesting, as was the lore, and easily the novel’s greatest strength. I mean, a siren without a tail? Captive on a pirate ship, falling for the captain? This shot to the top of my tbr the second I read that blurb.

Unfortunately, the writing just wasn’t very good. It definitely has promise, but for every line that pulled me into the story, there were ten that took me out. It was over-explanatory at some points and simply juvenile at others.

Maybe I could have forgiven that if there was a swoon-worthy love story to distract me. But the romance was bland and didn’t evolve naturally at all. They went from hardly interacting to suddenly acting like they had this deep bond.

And the male lead gave us nothing but crumbs. He barely had a personality. Other than throwing around the occasional lass or aye, he and his crew didn’t feel like pirates at all.

I think I would revisit this author in the future after she puts out a few more books and has had time to develop her craft further. As it is, unfortunately, the writing did take away from my enjoyment of the story.

[justine ⊹ ࣪ ˖ (slump era) · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Song of Salt and Shadow
⤷ ⭑⭑⭑.𝟮𝟱

🫧⋆｡˚ ❝ I realize that he will never return to himself. That he will never be whole. Because he chose me. ❞

Release Date: June 02, 2026 ⟢

𓏲⋆🪸* What a breath of fresh air! This is the first pirate romance I've read, and boy, was this a stunning premise by Seren Rose. I have a general sense of what to expect after watching numerous pirate movies, but it was still surreal to read about.

The flow of the story was surprisingly good, and I couldn't help but highlight many intriguing details about the lore of the sirens, curses, and pirates. Reading this was a breeze thanks to the fast-paced scenes, and the elements captivated me so much that I couldn't help but want to read more!

While the romance felt a bit like insta-love, I didn't mind it as much because I understood that the characters were in a forced proximity situation. I also appreciated the slow burn in their relationship, especially since the banter between them was so enjoyable!

I think this is why it took me a while to write my review. Upon reflection, I realized I didn’t feel the intensity of the high stakes being depicted, and I was just along for the ride. As we approached the 90-95% mark, I realized the storyline was still unresolved, so I was pretty convinced we would get a sequel. To my disappointment, everything was wrapped up too quickly in the last couple of chapters! The ending felt more like the conclusion of a side quest.

There was a lot of potential in the story, particularly in the history of the sirens and the backstory of how the crew came together. The side characters seemed to have interesting backgrounds that could've been explored more, too, since I became quite attached to a few of them! However, some of the names could have been more inventive. For instance, we have Grim, who is the second in command, while the crew follows the 'Glim', but also another pirate named 'Grimsbane'??

Thankfully, I was able to buddy read this with Ri, too, as we shared the same sentiments! I genuinely hope that Seren decides to create a sequel to address the plot holes in the story because I am definitely checking it out.

જ⁀➴ Thank you to Seren Rose for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Please remember that this opinion is my own. ⭑

𓏸𓈒𓇼𓆉𓈒𓏸

pre-read: say hello to our pirate era!! buddy reading with the gorgeous, bestie ri ♡

[hannah ꕤ · Rating 3 out of 5]

this wasn't my favorite, but i still enjoyed parts of it, especially the world building!

[madi · Rating 4 out of 5]

⋆˙⟡ — 3.75 stars
⌗ ┆started: july 24th ● finished: july 26th

rtc!! 🙈

˒˒ ⊹⌇ pre-read ᝰ
i’m in the mood for a fantasy, so i randomly picked one and let me just say i’m very happy with my choice 🤭 the synopsis and the cover have me so excited 😮‍💨

[Arla Walsh · Rating 2 out of 5]

But. But. But. She still has a tail… how does that..um..work exactly?😭😭 I’m so confused rn💀

[ri ⊹.˚ · Rating 3 out of 5]

‎ ‎ ‎ the song of salt and shadow ꒱ 3.25 stars
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎⌗ 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘥: may 15 ‘26 ⌇ 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘥: may 18 ‘26

full review with some spoilers

‎ ʚɞ i. story
there were many aspects of this story that i really enjoyed so much so that i had expected this arc read to be a four star read. the world building was pretty solid for most of the book and the premise itself was really entertaining. the characters were also really well written and their individual stories brought them together very well. i really enjoyed seeing the sea be its own kind of character, being able to hear what i would call the will of the sea added so much to the story. the conflict was perfectly suspenseful and kept pushing me to keep reading as i wanted to know how they would resolve everything. that all being said the last 13% of this book was what truly knocked my rating down but i’ll get to that later in this review.

‎ ʚɞ ii. characters & relationship
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ 𑣲 eryse, her character was very interesting from the very beginning, the book starts off with a scene where she is running from hunters who have been after her for years. this is when she boards the ship in which most of this book takes place in as a way to escape the hunters. i have not read many books with sirens so it definitely called my attention when i first heard of this book. being a siren makes her a villain in the eyes of the world yet she is so against being a monster and actually fear becoming one and i think that added so much to the character. the plot line revolving around her siren call and missing tail was very intriguing to me, and while it was resolved, it was the ending itself that was anticlimactic.
‎ ‎ ‎ 𑣲 sable, his character is the typical bad boy whose only soft for her but it’s still a bit of a slow burn. he tries to keep her at arms length, she refuses to let him suffer alone. it doesn’t always feel like these characters truly disliked, the tension is a default to them being in close/forced proximity while being so called natural enemies. we learn about the curse of the pirate crew and how all ships have their own independent curse, which is one of the things that i wish we learned more about. we meet his sister and i wish we got to see more of her and the crew who were present but not really touched on unless they were completely relevant to the plot. i wish we got to see more of the technical side of his job as a pirate/captain but that is more so a personal preference.
‎ ‎ ‎ 𑣲 the relationship , i actually really liked them together. i think their tension was a bit forced at times but as a whole i was really invested in their journey as a couple. their fates being intertwined was honestly a perfect addition considering how the story was set especially with how magic works in this world.

ʚɞ iii. the last 13%
this last percentage is when the story really fell short for me. at the 87% mark the story begins to conclude, to me it just seemed like there was so much potential to where the story could have gone and i was let down. there was so much anticipation built around their destination and it just didn’t not live up to it. i think there was a lot lacking in the worldbuilding that could be justified by the isolation of the sea but i think there was still a solution. eryse’s heritage could have easily been used as a bridge to expand on pirates and sirens and it was disappointing that we didn’t get to learn more about all these aspects of the world. the world building went far enough to make me want more and was just not explored.

ʚɞ iv. final thoughts
while i do believe that this book would have worked wonders as a duology rather than a standalone, this was a very strong debut novel. even with there being some weak spot in the story, at least in my opinion, i still enjoyed the book and had a lot of fun reading it and theorizing with justine. i can’t wait to see what else this author has to write and how her writing evolves as she continues her career. please do give this book a chance, i think the story is very worth it even with my gripes about the pacing.

── preread

buddy reading this arc with bestie justine. super excited to read a pirate romance! and the cover is absolutely stunning 🙂‍↕️

justine’s review

ⓘ thank you serene rose for this arc in exchange for an honest review

[halz ☆ · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Stars! ⭐️

"𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡," 𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬, 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐬 𝐤𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐥𝐲, "𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐚 𝐬𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐧."

⊹ ࣪ ﹏𓊝﹏𓂁﹏⊹ ࣪ ˖ The Song of Salt and Shadow was my first ever pirate romance and wow... where has this genre been all my life?!

I had been eagerly counting down the days until this book released and the second it was in my hands, I was completely hooked!

Eryse stole my heart straight from the beginning! 🧜🏻‍♀️🫧 As a siren without a tail, her struggle with belonging and being caught between two worlds and never quite feeling at home in either felt SO beautifully written. I loved watching her grow and discover who she truly was and I found myself rooting for her every step of the way. (And come on, drowning men isn't THAT bad... right?)

And then there's the pirate, aka Captain Sable of the Noctis... I absolutely loved unraveling his story alongside Eryse's! Their chemistry had me kicking my feet. The slow burn was written in such a compelling way and I loved how the novel also focused on the world building and not solemnly on the romance side. Also Sable was as much as a gentleman as a cursed pirate could possibly be 🏴‍☠

But honestly? The real stars of the show were the Noctis crew. From baby Lark to Nightglass to Grim (and every loveable pirate in between) they completely won me over. The found family dynamic was everything and I would happily sail across the sea with this crew any day ⚓

The world itself was pure magic. Sirens, curses, pirates, slow burn romance, found family and endless ocean adventures? Say less!! I was completely swept away by the atmosphere and never wanted to leave. The cursed pirate crew especially gave me Pirates of the Caribbean vibes while still feeling fresh, unique and entirely its own. As my first ever pirate romance, it set the bar ridiculously high and I loved every single second of it!

If you're looking for a fantasy romance that'll make you laugh, swoon and dream about the sea long after you've finished the last page, this books for you 🌊✨🏴‍☠️ I HOPE to god that Seren Rose decides to write more of these characters because I will devour anything to do with Sable and Eryse (and I'd happily read a spin off, that's how much I enjoyed this!!!)

Currently playing Sailor Song by Gigi Perez so I can pretend to sail the seas with the crew of the Noctis 𓇼⋆.ೃ࿔*:⋆

[maliareads · Rating 5 out of 5]

♾️⭐️’s

“Because, darling,” he says softly, “I’m selfish. And resisting you is like telling the moon to stop pulling the tide.”

Holy cow, this was incredible.

Did I pick up this book after seeing the artwork? Yes, yes I did. I’m a simple girl, but let me tell you, I am so glad for it because this book? I’m obsessed. Like, disgustingly obsessed.

I’ve been in such a romantasy slump and this book cured it from the first few chapters. I genuinely did not want to put this book down! This is such an incredibly strong debut novel, and this author? Well, she’s put herself right at the top of my auto-buy author list - I will read anything she writes.

The plot of this book was so incredibly unique. I don’t think I have ever read a romantasy quite like this before, but it delivered on all fronts. I didn’t expect to like it so much but oh, give me a pirate captain x captive siren story any day of the week, please and thank you.

Everything about this book was absolutely perfection, from the plot to the banter, to the tension, to the yearning, to the just everything! This is what romantasy is all about, and I genuinely can’t describe the way this book made me feel - it was pure magic.

I am absolutely FERAL over Sable and Eryse. Oh, they had me obsessed with them from the very beginning. The slow burn in this book was BURNING - you could feel the scorching tension between these two from the moment they met. And the yearning? THE YEARNING? Don’t even get me started. The lingering glances, the subtle touches? Oh, I’m unwell. She’s a siren born without a tail and doesn’t know how to use her siren song and so he WILLINGLY OFFERS himself to her so that she can practice it on him and in response he drops to his knees and he says: “Darling, if you wanted me on my knees, you could have just told me.” I AM DECEASED.

I loved everything about this book, from the plot, to the MMC and FMC and gosh, the side characters? I absolutely love them all so much. It truly felt as though I went on this journey with these characters - this book reignited everything I love about romantasy.

I have a really good feeling about this one! I truly hope it reaches more readers because it was absolutely phenomenal.

[Mathilda · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5 Stars!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I literally devoured this book. It was SO good, I just couldn’t put it down, I simply couldn’t.
And to think this is her first book?? Where on earth is she going from here??
The story itself had an incredible vibe, was super gripping and just absolutely dreamy. Finally something different, a breath of fresh air. The FMC has such great depth of character and the MMC is just grumpy and sweet all rolled into one?!? He is THE ultimate yearner. Literally, his whole being yearns for her.
The trope is an absolute slow burn and enemies-to-lovers with a hint of spice, but above all, loads of built-up chemistry. 🤭👁️🫦👁️
Why only 4 stars despite all that: because in the end, I felt something was missing. Actually, the book isn’t too short or too long. The story is just right, exactly as you’d want it, but perhaps it was missing 10 pages where something was picked up again. Still, I think it’s brilliant as a standalone!! It’s perfect for a quick read and a deep dive, without having to commit to 6 books yet again.
Anyway: READ THIS BOOK!



🚨Here’s a SPOILER, what was missing for me PERSONALLY:🚨




What bothered me in the end, as a romantic and a girl who loves happy endings, was that she doesn’t have the ability to be both physically: a pirate and a siren. My dream would have been for her to be able to use her powers to turn her tail into legs and vice versa. After all, she was never JUST a pirate or a siren. And especially when she says towards the end that she feels like both, then she should be able to live as both. Because she and Sable will always be apart; she’s in the water, he’s on the ship or on land, and so on. There will always be a distance between them that they can’t overcome. For a love story, I actually find that to be heartbreaking. I don’t know, maybe it’s just me, but I would simply have wanted them to be able to be together after all their struggles and adventures. And yet they have to live with that compromise. 😭
And then what? She’s in the water where she got abandoned years ago and is now all by herself?? Forever only being able swimming after the ship of her lover? Noooo😭

[Kornelija Jankauskė · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fainai, kad yra tik viena knyga, plius istorija tikrai, bent man nauja ir neskaityta. Ir nors kažko šiek tiek pritrūko, tikrai linksmai susiskaitė.

[Gustė · Rating 4 out of 5]

For the first half, I was convinced this was a 5⭐️ book. The magic felt fresh, the world was immersive, and it genuinely carried me far away 🌊✨

The whole vibe reminded me of Pirates of the Caribbean. AND I LOVED IT 🏴‍☠️🏴‍☠️🏴‍☠️

However, something shifted for me in the second half and it lost a little of the magic that had me completely hooked at the start. Still, for a debut, this is incredibly impressive.

Captivating and highly entertaining 🌊🧜🏼‍♀️🏴‍☠️✨

[C · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was just absolutely terrible.

I’m sorry.

The whole thing every moment from start to finish inception to conclusion was absolutely terrible.

First off.

First person present tense narrative.
This book read so awkwardly because it was first person narrative in the present tense. Honestly usually that ALONE would make me DNF a book. I cannot abide by it. It made the read clunky and unpleasant.

Second of all the plot seemed good but so poorly executed.

Timeline was all over the place.

The whole curse aspect was a good idea but again, poorly executed.

The enemies to lovers thing felt rushed.

RISA?? Where the fuck did that name come out of?! It didn’t even make sense I’m sorry but I genuinely thought the damn ghost was her dad at one point and it was a nickname he used for her as a kid because IT WAS NEVER ADDRESSED.

Ghost boy starts calling her Risa and she just GOES with it?! Why give Sable a nickname for her and also give her a second nickname that’s just as many syllables as her first name and also sounds like it?! That REALLY irritated me.

The hunters? wtf was the point? She gets knocked out wakes up in a market then bada bing bada boom lover boy shows up IMMEDIATELY and saves her?

There’s FAR too much nonsense chatter happening at pivotal points in the book too.

This was such an absolutely monumental let down.

[maryam · Rating 4 out of 5]

#... 3.75 stars rounded up!
⤷ "Resisting you is like telling the moon to stop pulling the tide."
spoiler free + mini review!
──★..
⤷ @demolitionlover is sharing her thoughts

thank you so much to Seren Rose for accepting my arc request on insta!

wow. this was absolutely amazing. I adored the idea of a haunted/cursed crew. it made following the mcs on their journey much more fun. I also adored the idea of her being a siren without a tail. i loved the dynamic between sable and eryse so much. I love how sable was with her in the beginning and how his attitude towards here changed. i adored eryse’s character, she was a breath of fresh air compared to many fmcs we read about today. she was kind compassionate and caring, characteristics we don’t see much these days in fmcs. I adored sable’s character as well I love the fact that he gives her stolen dresses and he himself wears stolen jewelry. the side characters were fun to follow as well! I love sable’s crew they made such a lovely found family. the writing was fast paced, easy to follow read. my only complaint is that it was a little too fast at times. I would've loved this as a duology rather than a standalone. Because at time it felt a little too fast for me despite being a fan of fast paced books. but overall it was a fun read and I'm looking forward to seeing what the author does next!

[⋆｡°✩ Lulu ꩜ ⋆｡°✩ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good novel for a debut and GREAT FANART (why i read this book)



BUT THIS DID NOT MAKE SENSE 😭

ESPECIALLY THE ENDING.... LIKE HUH???
IM SO CONFUSED (YET AGAIN)

[Hana · Rating 2 out of 5]

Review about “ song of salt and shadow.”🪸🌪

_ تقييمي 2/5 ⭐️

الفكرة نفسها حوله و هي إن في حورية بحر بدول ذيل 🧜🏻‍♀️ هتعمل ايه بقا ؟ هتحب قرصان 🏴‍☠️✋🏻
و هما بيدوروا علي لعنه علشان تنفك .
يعني كجو حلو .



نيجي بقي للكلام ✋🏻✨
أول حاجه مكتوب " من أعداء لأحباء ."
_ مش موجوده .
الرومانسية سطحية أوفر رغم انها المفروض جزء من الحبكة
_ هما بيزعقوا لبعض و فجأة مره وحده هو بقي كيوت معاها و باسها 🙂
Bro what the hell?💀
تحس الكاتبه ما عرفت تخليهم يحبوا بعض ف يلا بينا أي شيء و القراء يفهمون انهم حبوا بعض.





الشخصيات 🏴‍☠️+🧜🏻‍♀️

شخصيات القبطان 🏴‍☠️
ما حبيته ، ولا حسيت انه قرصان مش عرفه حسيت شخصيته تافهه أو يحاول يبان غامض و قوي
و كان يكره البطلة و فجأة بدون مقدمات حبها 🗿؟!



البطلة 🧜🏻‍♀️
Not my type
مش بحب النساء الي هي " ياي أنا ضعيفه ما اقدر اعمل شيء بدون رجل ، بس في نفس الوقت أنا عنيده و مشاكسه ."
_ Bitch shut up 🤐

ما فهمت أي شيء من شخصيتها كانت سطحية شبه الرجال بالضبط .



الألقاب 😀💔
" سمكتي الصغيره ….." 🐠
" أنتِ سمكة صغيره مشاكسه ."🐠

_ طبعا انتو عارفين أن أنا تعوقت من الكرنج

[donata · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️ 3.5/4

Ever since I saw Seren’s TikTok videos about this book she was writing, I was immediately hooked.

I love Pirates of the Caribbean, so when I saw this was going to be a romantasy with Pirates x Siren, I was sold.

Finished it in two days, and my short summary would be: definitely a cute story, but I might have over-hyped it for myself a bit too much.

What I liked:
• The book was darker than I expected.
• Shadow was such an unexpected “character”, but I loved every scene with him.
• The Noctis crew (most of them 🥴) and how Eryse slowly grew on them.
• The banter!!
• Earned spice!
• The yearning!!!

What I missed:
• The slow burn / enemies-to-lovers aspect that I was promised. The attraction felt a bit too fast for me.
• More world building. Eryse’s parents, the crew, the magic system — there was so much potential to explore.
• The ending felt a little rushed. I honestly think this could have been a longer book or even a duology.
• Grim and Cailia?? Hello?? You can’t just leave me with that.

Overall, I had a fun time with this one. If you love pirates, sirens, adventure, and a romance that isn’t too complicated or too spicy, I think you’ll enjoy it.

[aurelia · Rating 5 out of 5]

A huge thank you to Seren Rose for this ARC and letting me read an early copy of this brilliant novel. This review is completely voluntary and honest
🏴‍☠️🧜‍♀️💜

To start off, I’m shocked by how quickly I got hooked on this story (I seriously could not put it down and I read it in less than 24 hours). The world building was utterly amazing and just the concept of the story was so unique that I have never read anything like it. I also loved Eryse and Sable because of how fearless they were and how they looked out for everyone around them which really went along with the story nicely. Their relationship and interactions with each other were so perfect and they had me smiling so wide every time they interacted.

The Song of Salt and Shadow is a must read for anyone who loves books about pirates and sirens and sea adventures. This story brought me back to that childhood wonder of whimsical fantasy worlds while being perfectly suited for my current tastes. I truly cannot recommend this book enough. There were huge Pirates of the Caribbean vibes but it was still so unique that I adored every twist and character. I’m so obsessed and I cannot wait to read anything else she writes!!

[Miglė · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you author for the ARC! I registered and didn’t expect to receive it, so, it was much of a surprise!

I really liked the book. World of pirates and sirens is new to me. I had really big expectations and book didn’t disappoint me at all 🩷

[livi ❞ ♡⃕ · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 ⭐ I have kinda mixed feelings about this one.

The biggest strengths were definitely the plot, the setting, and the atmosphere. It had such a cozy vibe that made it easy to keep turning the pages, and I genuinely wanted to know where the story was going!!

Unfortunately, the characters just never clicked for me.
I could always tell what they were SUPPOSED to be and what their relationship was SUPPOSED to feel like, but I never actually believed it?? Instead of getting lost in their story, i constantly felt like I could see the author’s intentions behind every interaction.

The FMC’s inner monologue was probably my biggest issue. It didn’t feel like she had a distinct personality or voice. It was mostly just a running commentary of what she saw, what she did and what happened around her. & because of that, she never felt like a real person to me. The writing ended up feeling oddly distant and mechanical. The characters felt flat, the romance lacked chemistry, and I was pretty detached from the whole experience. ://

In the end, the cozy atmosphere and interesting premise carried the book for me, but I needed more emotional depth to fully enjoy it.

[Natalia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I LOVED this, oh my gosh, I picked this book up immediately after seeing the most gorgeous art for it and it did NOT disappoint. Full of slow burn, yearning, pirate on his knees, gorgeous moments and writing. WHAT a debut, I loved the writing, the characters, the dynamics, the found family, it was truly WONDERFUL.

[Zainab. Bashir · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Masterpiece on the High Seas! My New All-Time Favorite Fantasy Romance .
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5) An absolute masterpiece. I am obsessed.
Format: ARC (Advanced Reader Copy)
Tropes & Vibey Elements:
Pirate Captain x Siren
Enemies to Allies to Lovers
Slow Burn
He Falls First
Earned Spice
Dark Elements
Plot Twist

“What did I do?”he asks, lifting a brow.
“What did you do?” I repeat. My fingers curl into my palms as the frustration I have been holding back since we woke up from that nightmare finally pushes its way out. “You… kissed me. Again. And you continue to act as if none of it happened.”
“Oh, I’m sorry,” he says dryly. “I thought you wouldn't appreciate me discussing our love life in front of the crew. But say the word, and I can gather them on deck to tell them in detail just how much I enjoyed kissing you.”

I am not someone who reads a lot of fantasy, but when I do, I want something groundbreaking. I want a massive, vivid world, high stakes, and completely fresh concepts This book gave me all of that and more From the very first chapter, it is pure adrenaline, mystery, and unpredictable action. I didn’t feel a single second of boredom. Every single chapter has something happening that leaves you breathless.

The Lore & The Plot :

The story follows Iris, a half human, half-siren. Because of her human side, she doesn't have a tail and cannot sing the magical, enchanting songs of the sirens Everything she knows about her heritage comes from her siren mother, who abandoned her. Living on an island, Iris is constantly hunted by brutal pirates. Even without a tail, her skin alone is incredibly valuable on the black market, and hunters will do anything to strip it from her.
One night, while running for her life, she scrambles onto a docked ship to hide. To her horror, the ship sets sail, and she can't jump off because her pursuers are waiting on the shore. But that's not even the worst part... she realizes she just escaped one group of pirates only to trap herself on the ship of an even more dangerous crew. And the hero He is the Captain of this ship.

The Romance & That Captain... Swoon :

The romance in this book is the definition of perfection. It is a brilliant, agonizing slow-burn where the relationship naturally evolves through the best stages: enemies to allies, then friends, and finally lovers. And the Captain? Screaming, crying, throwing up He is everything.. There is a scene early on where the crew discovers Iris on board and decides to throw her overboard into the middle of the ocean Without a second thought, the Captain throws himself into the sea right after her to save her life From that exact moment, he becomes her protector The Pirate Captain x Siren dynamic was what originally reeled me in from the author's teasers, and it exceeded every single expectation Their banter, the tension, and the earned spice were just top-tier.

The World-Building Concepts I’m Obsessed With :

The unique magical elements completely blew my mind. For example, there is a concept where the ocean can heal your physical wounds, but in return, it takes away a memory. That is so beautifully tragic and unique! Every sea they navigate has its own distinct dangers, rules, and adventures.

Final Verdict :

If you are looking for a highseas fantasy romance that actually delivers a powerful plot alongside incredible romance, you need to put this on your TBR immediately I cannot recommend it highly enough.

Thank you to the author for providing me with an advanced copy of this book! All thoughts and screaming rants are entirely my own.

[Kate Dash · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This book felt like pure magic. ✨🌊
I went into The Song of Salt and Shadow hoping for pirates, sirens, and romance... and somehow it gave me even more than I expected. It completely swept me away from the very first chapter.
The vibes? Imagine the wonder of Disney with the adventure of Pirates of the Caribbean wrapped into a beautifully written romantasy.

Tropes I loved:
🤍 Pirate Captain × Siren
🤍 Enemies to Lovers
🤍 Slow Burn
🤍 Curse
🤍 Found Family
🤍 Hidden Identity
🤍 Yearning MMC
🤍 Man on His Knees
Eryse was such an easy heroine to root for. She was brave, determined, imperfect, and her journey of finding where she truly belonged made me so emotional.
But can we PLEASE talk about Sable??
This man had me giggling, kicking my feet, and highlighting every interaction. The yearning? INSANE. The tension? Absolutely delicious. Every tiny moment between them felt earned, making the romance even more satisfying. That's how you write a slow burn.
The world felt so alive. I could practically smell the salty air, hear the waves crashing against the ship, and picture every storm, every mystery, and every magical creature. I never wanted to leave this world.
One of my favorite parts was the crew. Watching strangers slowly become a family made my heart so happy, and every relationship added another layer to the story.
This book made me smile, laugh, panic, and tear up more than once. It has adventure, mystery, beautiful romance, and characters that stay with you long after the final page.
If you're looking for a romantasy full of pirates, sirens, slow-burn romance, and a hero who is completely, hopelessly gone for his girl... this is your next read.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Easily one of my favorite fantasy reads this year.

[bella fazzati 🪿 · Rating 3 out of 5]

i really wish it was longer and am really confused about how they're together now that she has a tail..... 🫪

[elisabeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

this book is MAYBE like a 1.5 for me i wanted to quit reading it so many times but i had to finish it to keep pace with the book challenge my friends and i do every summer 😭

like there is SO many plot holes i just don’t understand like if she is talking to a shadow how does it have facial features? if she i can’t read how can she recognize words because like reading and not understanding words is being ILLITERATE but if you can’t read i don’t think you’d be able to recognize words at all right? and also like how did the hunters get her back to the fish market so fast when it took her like months? maybe a month? to sail to the sea of the first song? AND ALSO when she’s singing their shadows back to the crew why does she not do it while submerged in water and also why does she not do it gradually at night in the sea of dreams? and also if the only two people that call her “Risa” are a shadow and the captain then my girl how did you not figure out they’re connected sooner wtf

like all of these unexplainable plot holes are just the tip of the ICEBERG of problems here

also the lead is sort of weak and not very smart and idk i don’t think all characters need to be badass but she was just sort of lame and same with sable too like he was just so whatever to me

the plot itself had holes but i will say some of the world building had legs to stand on so that’s good i guess! but the tension between the characters was lacking, the romantic build up was lacking, and i dont buy their dynamic? idk

BUT I WILL SAY THE BOOK HAD ONE REDEEMING QUALITY: LARK the tiniest little baby pirate in the whole world he was actually very adorable so yeah

overall just would not recommend this book but if this is your jam that’s cool too i guess!

[Shannon | readingwithmarlow · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun pirate x siren book for your summer! I had a fun journey with this one but really found myself wanting *more*— truthfully I would have read 200 more pages of this so everything could be a bit more fleshed out. The world and lore has so much potential but I felt a lot of whiplash because nothing was really explained.

The romance was a bit lighter than I’d expected (and somehow felt instant even though it wasn’t?) but again the potential this book has is crazy! It’s a quick read!

Thank you to the author for the arc!!