Lochbound

by Rebecca Templeton

A glitteringly dark reimagining of The Little Mermaid set in eighteenth-century Scotland, this enchanting and gothic historical fantasy will hypnotize fans of Outlander and Spellbound.

There is no happily-ever-after when you are the monster. . . .

Kilmara, Scotland. 1725. For fifty years, Iris has accepted the curse that blighted her life. By night, she is a heartbroken woman, destined to walk the misty shores of Kilmara without growing older. By day, she is Moireach, a terrifying monster imprisoned in the murky depths of Loch Moine.

When bodies begin appearing on the shore, the villagers are convinced Moireach is responsible. So a hunter—the rugged, ruthless Henry Carver—is summoned to slay the monster of the loch.

Iris must break her curse before she is killed for crimes she cannot believe she has committed. But as Kilmara's hunt for the monster becomes ever more fevered, she and Henry are drawn together in a dangerous game of impossible attraction.

And when a figure from Iris's past suddenly reappears, she must choose what—or who—she is willing to sacrifice to win her freedom.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Retellings, Romantasy, Historical Fantasy, Mermaids, Historical

Kindle Edition

Expected publication January 5, 2027

About the author

​Rebecca has had a love of books from a very early age and had lofty childhood aspirations of being a writer, though she ended up joining the legal profession instead. When her husband encouraged her to start writing again, she re-discovered her creative outlet and hasn’t looked back since.

When not writing or working, Rebecca can usually be found crocheting giant blankets, baking or watching Gilmore Girls. She is also owned by a couple of very energetic children.

Reviews

[Books_and_Crafts · Rating 5 out of 5]

10/10 no notes. Perfect blend of fairytale, celtic lore, historical fantasy and the little mermaid!

[bee · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

this had me hooked! from the very beginning i knew i was going to enjoy this, the writing was beautifully haunting at times. the multiple pov’s was nice and at first i thought this was going to be very similar to other monster x hunter romantasies i’ve read before but it felt more than that. the slow burn really was slow but i appreciate that and it felt genuine. henry was so likeable and pure and always treated iris with respect. around the final 20% i couldn’t put it down, even though plot twists were being thrown at me left right and centre some of them genuinely caught me by surprise. some pretty obvious, but regardless! i was shocked 0-0. the blend of scottish folklore and the tale of the little mermaid was the reason i picked this up and it did not disappoint. if you like fairytales but a little darker, i would highly recommend.
i’d definitely read from this author again!

thank you netgalley for providing me with an arc.

[Kathlyn-Nicole Milne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lochbound was a perfect blend of Scottish Folklore and Fairytale and a genre I never knew I needed.

This Standalone book is definitely worth a read and gave me beautiful nostalgic vibes of Scottish stories from when I was younger. This was dark and eerie and I liked the Romance in this however the folklore and intriguing plot is what really drew me in.

A couple of things I would have made this a 5 star read are
1- I felt the romance wasn't as epic as I would have liked and I needed more of a bigger intensity and yearning build up. However it was a lovely romance
2- the middle felt a little slower in pace and slightly repetitive. However, the rest of the pacing was spot on.
The final 150/100 pages were perfectly paced.

I love when the twist finally happens and I didn't even have it on a radar. This book certainly delivered on that the twist had be gasping outloud. However, thinking back I should have noticed the sign, this to me is a sign of a very well written suspenseful story.

[Claire Hall · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

Loved this story!!….. actually loved the fact it’s a stand alone too, there’s full closure in it ✨

[Adri · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was crafted so well, weaving in folk lore which is still told in Gaelic traditions of Kelpies and mysterious Lochs. But also wisps and Seelie/Unseelie. Whilst this part added some aspects to the story, it didn’t become a Fae fantasy story.

But there were also the moving parts of the fates of each person, differing life lines and each individuals back story and part in the culmination of the story.

I feel this is more a fantasy mystery, with romance adding to the context and relationships. And in saying this, I remember that there was a love star? Pentagram? Pentagon? Some 5 pointed/cornered shape. But it just didn’t feel like the part of the story that I concentrated on.

I really enjoyed and would read a book by Rebecca again.

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kate O'Shea · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not for me. Far too much romance in the fairy tale for my taste.

Lochbound is a sort of re-telling of the story of The Little Mermaid with various twists. In the original tale the mermaid falls in love with a human and trades her voice for human legs so that she may be with the Prince. However she fails to win his love and chooses to end her own life rather than kill him for picking the wrong woman.

In Lochbound Iris was mortal but has been cursed to live her days as the monster, Moireach, in the loch. Unfortunately someone has been killing local men, the monster is blamed and a hunter arrives to end Moireach's life.

And this is where the novel begins a long and circuitous route to the end. The hunter is obviously handsome and kind etc, the villagers are obviously superstitious, Iris obviously has to break the curse but noone knows how. We go round and round in ever increasing unlikely scenarios until the end.

Theres lots of faerie types, there's lots of unrequited love, several witches, lots of misunderstanding and wrongful accusations.

I am afraid I wasnt engaged in the second half of the book and skim read quite a lot of it - especially the romance bits.

The book was simply not for me. Definitely in the romance half of the romantasy genre. I would have liked a different end and fewer heaving bosoms, so to speak.

All my fault. I chose badly.

Thankyou to Netgalley and LittleBrown for the digital review copy.

[Faye Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

As soon as I started reading Lochbound, I knew this was going to be a 5 star read for me! And when cried at the 11% mark, that cemented it. 

It was a great mashup of its inspirations, The Little Mermaid and Scotland's Loch Ness Monster. It had an emotional, character-led story with a lovely romance and a strong mystery plot too, as FMC Iris tries once and again to break the curse that a witch placed on her 50 years ago. Her human form doesn't age, but every day she is forced into the body of Moireach, a loch ness monster, only returning to her human body at night. I found the story really emotional and I liked all the twists.

My only critique was that it used first person for Iris' chapters, and third person for Henry and Duncan's chapters. I would have preferred if it was all first person or all third person, rather than switching. It was still a 5 star read for me, but it was something I noticed each time it happened.

Disclaimer: I received an Advance Reader Copy from NetGalley but this is my voluntary and honest review.

[Kha (kha.fantasyrealm) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting book.. a folklore retelling of the Loch Ness Monster legend. Unfortunately, I didn’t feel very connected to the characters and couldn’t fully immerse myself in the story. Some parts also felt a bit repetitive. However, if you enjoy folklore-inspired stories, this book may still interest you.

Thank you to the Author & Little Brown Book Group via NetGalley for this ARC.

[jlreadstoperpetuity · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Sometimes the monster isn’t outside… it’s the part of you everyone fears.”

🗓 𝗣𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗲 April 16, 2026
📚 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗧𝗶𝘁𝗹𝗲: Lochbound
👑 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿: Rebecca Templeton

✨️𝗤𝘂𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘆 & 🍵𝗧𝗲𝗮 𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀
In 1725 Kilmara, Scotland, Iris has lived with a haunting curse for fifty years. By night she wanders the misty loch shores unchanged by time; by day she is Moireach, a terrifying creature lurking in the depths of Loch Moine. When bodies start turning up on the shore and villagers point fingers at the loch’s monster, a rugged hunter named Henry Carver arrives determined to kill the beast he believes responsible. Iris must find a way to break her curse before she’s hunted down for crimes she’s not sure she committed, all while an impossible attraction builds between her and the very man sent to slay her.

This book gives dark fairytale energy with gnarly atmosphere and a slow burn that hits in all the weird feels. The loch setting is spooky and gorgeous in a fog-and-bones kind of way, and Iris’s battle with isolation, shame, and what it means to be labeled a monster kept me invested. A few plot beats feel familiar if you’ve read folklore retellings before, and the pacing leans into mood more than non-stop action, but the slow-build chemistry and eerie mystery made it a cozy haunting read.

🫶 Thank you to @littlebrownbookgroup_uk for this gifted copy!

🌊 Gothic historical fantasy
🧜‍♀️ Fairytale retelling vibes
🔥 Slow-burn tension
⚔️ Monster vs humanity themes
❤️ Impossible attraction
✨ Rich Scottish folklore atmosphere

[Sophie H · Rating 1 out of 5]

Lochbound had potential as a Scottish folk tale, Little Mermaid fantasy retelling but it was a poorly plotted, muddled mess of a story that got progressively worse.

Plot holes galore, rushed storytelling, immature FMC, repetitious, poorly realised characters with underdeveloped backstories and an unbelievable insta-love yearning between the FMC and MMC which made no sense and held little interest.

I wouldn’t recommend - at all.

[Joanne · Rating 3.25 out of 5]

I’m not really sure what I made of it. It’s not my usual genre at all but I liked the idea of it being inspired by Scottish folklore. It's a retelling of The Little Mermaid with sealies, witches and kelpies! I loved the narration but in general I thought the book was a bit too long. However, I did finish it so obviously I was invested enough to do that!

[Thenerdypsych · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

This was beautiful and darkly ethereal. If you're looking for your next historical gothic fantasy, this is it!

The story begins with meeting our FMC, the fierce Iris as she takes human form during her few hours reprieve from being the Loch's cursed monster. Moireach is her monster form. Over the decades she has endured her curse, Moireach has become a separate entity full of rage and violence. Iris takes solace in her best friend Duncan who is now an elderly man still clinging to the hope that she will one day fall in love with him, despite the curse preventing her from aging. As we learn more about Kilmara, Scotland in the 1700's, the fantasy elements of the story start to reveal themselves, hidden from the majority of the villagers but also in plain sight. I enjoyed the different fantastical parts of Kilmara and would love to learn more about the lore of this world. We soon find out that bodies have start showing up on the banks of the Loch which the laird blames on Moireach. Next enters Henry. Our valiant and tenacious monster hunter, hired from out of town to rid the Loch of it's murderous creature. The meet cute between Iris and Henry was extra special as she saved his life and prevented him from drowning. And so they proceed, being inexplicably drawn to one another, the hunter and the hunted: "There is something about his presence which pulls my heart towards him, wanting to be close to him, to know him".

My favourite part of Lochbound were the complexities of Iris' curse and the unreliability of almost every character we meet. I found myself weary of those who were trustworthy and finding faith in those who were treacherous. A close second was when Iris learns to embrace her ferocity as she enters her feminine rage era! "Men always blame witchcraft for female behaviour they can't understand". Oh, and the spice at the end was the ultimate slow burn, enemies to allies to lovers payoff I was hoping for! 🖤

If you were a 90's kid and loved any of the following, this is going to be right up your street!
Legend of Sleep Hollow x Hocus Pocus x The Little Mermaid --- All set in 1725 Scotland!

✨Thank you Rebecca, Hannah, and LBBG for the early copy - my views are my own✨

I loved this and cannot wait to read what Rebecca writes next!

[mo • lesmotsdemo · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up for goodreads and netgalley.
It was a very solid read. The atmosphere was grim and gloomy, which I loved, and the plot was well thought-out with some good reveals. I really liked to learn about the monster and the main character, about their similarities and differences. The main character was quite naive at times but she was charming. The male characters sometimes felt too similar to one another at the beginning, but slowly grew into their own character. The main character’s relationships with the male characters were at times tough to read about (I wanted to tell her they were being manipulative in some ways) and they were not my favorite part of the story. Also, I believe the ending did not match the rest of the story, the tone was too different and I wanted another kind of ending. I would still highly recommend this dark and haunting story.

Thank you to Netgalley for an e-ARC in exchange for a honest review.

[booksellerreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want to thank Jonathan Ball Publishers for a proof copy. All opinions are my own.

This was an interesting, gothic reimagining of The Little Mermaid. It has its own twists and flares with Scottish myths🥰

There is no fairy tale ending when you are the monster.

I enjoyed the writing style. It was easy to read.

This is written in dual POV. I sometimes found the pacing a bit slow, and only about page 186 did the plot grip me completely.

Some parts of Iris' POV felt dragging, and I wanted to read more about Moireach and how everything happening affected her... she battled to survive.

Duncan, I had my doubts...

Henry felt a bit underwhelming😅

The last few chapters... Truth unveiled, and the betrayal😮 I couldn't flip the pages fast enough.

Learned a new word, Laird. My mind each time, Lord.

Sometimes, we have to accept that there is darkness in each of us.

If you love a gothic atmosphere and The Little Mermaid, this one might be right up your alley🤩📚

[Morgan-Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and Little Brown Book Group for the arc!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Lochbound gave ALL of the dark, gothic fairy tail vibes and told the story immaculately. The inclusion of folklore and attention to detail was exquisite, and I loved how dark and gloomy the setting was. It really set the tone for the story, and created the perfect atmosphere for it. Each twist was so well written and constantly kept you guessing what was going to happen. My personal favourite was the final twist with the witch- genuinely did not see this coming and had to put the book down in shock! The romance was also just the perfect amount of slow burn- delicious, reeling and overall just a delightful reading experience.

[Gen · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The darkest places never speak of the things they know. In that way, they're just like people."

4⭐

This was a really captivating story and I am so glad I picked it up. Set in Kilmara, Scotland in 1725 Iris has accepted the curse that has destroyed her life for fifty years. By night, she is a heartbroken woman, destined to walk the misty shores of Kilmara without growing older. By day, she is Moireach, a terrifying monster imprisoned in the peaty depths of Loch Moine. When bodies begin appearing on the shore, the villagers become convinced Moireach is responsible, and a hunter, Henry Carver, is summoned to slay the monster of the loch. I was drawn to this because it felt like it would be a dark and romantic story, a twist on star-crossed lovers and secrets kept from each other, never knowing when it's safe to reveal the truth. In the end, this was historical fantasy mystery, mixing fairytale mythology like The Little Mermaid with Scottish folklore, the Loch Ness monster, and even a little bit of Shrek and Fiona's story with the transitioning into a beast at certain times of the day. The twists just kept coming, some shocking and others a little predictable, but together they made for a really compelling and interesting story.

I really loved the atmosphere of this book. The foggy, dreary town beside the loch, with the castle looming over it, reminded me so much of my time exploring Scotland, and I could absolutely imagine the real life Urquhart Castle on Loch Ness being the inspiration for the setting. Even though it's a ruin now, I could see it in my mind so perfectly. The poignant way Iris sings her mourning song and haunts the caves and shores of the loch was perfectly spooky, and I loved the mix of kelpies, seelies, changelings, and witches. This book was spot on for aesthetic vibes, and that was definitely one of my favourite things about it. The characters were fascinating, not entirely likeable but definitely readable. Everyone in this story has an ulterior motive and almost everyone is morally grey. All of the men supporting Iris do so because they're attracted to her, while the women are guarded and untrustworthy, and a bit male-centered, making it difficult to know who could be relied on. The only character who seemed truly pure of heart was Iris herself. When she wasn't being tormented by Moireach, she just wanted to be loved and to love, despite her father's wishes for her to marry someone better off than a mercenary soldier. The worst was definitely Duncan, his obsessiveness and bitterness over being rejected slowly morphing into hatred and violence was also so twisted, particularly because it reflected the way some men really do act towards women and rejection in reality, feeling entitled to a woman's affection simply because they were friendly to her. It was almost a "friend-zone" origin story, and I thought that was a really interesting and uncomfortable aspect.

I sadly didn't feel as connected to the characters as I would've liked. I was rooting for Iris and Henry the entire way through, but I did feel like their relationship was a little shallow at times. I needed a bit more depth, tension, and passion to really sell this as a soulmates, one true love type of story. It needed to be more heartwrenching, with declarations of love and moments where they really bared their souls and feelings to each other. I think the POV changes might've played into this a little bit. The book switches between first person with Iris and third person with everyone else, and I think it might've worked better if it had stuck to one perspective, or perhaps used third person throughout. That might have given the story a little more room to breathe and explore the characters rather than getting stuck in Iris' internal monologues, which could feel repetitive at times. I also don't know that we needed quite as many POVs. Iris and Henry would've been enough for me, although getting inside Duncan's head was definitely creepy, and Moireach's thoughts were fascinating. I just don't think that particular plot point was pushed as far as it could've been. I wish we'd had more tension between Moireach and Iris, perhaps with Iris seeing through the monster's eyes more often and really building the doubt over whether she was responsible for the murders or not. The voice in her head and the compulsion/possession were good, but I wanted them pushed further, with some more intense scenes that verged on horrifying. I also wish there had been a bit more feminine rage in this story. I wanted to see Iris get angry at how everyone uses and deceives her, rather than defaulting to Moireach's rage. I wanted to see her unleash the monster and work together with her to get revenge and justice.

Ultimately, I really enjoyed this book, even if I didn't quite connect with it as deeply as I wanted to. The writing was lovely, and although it occasionally fell into a bit of a "and then and then and then" style of narration that stalled the pacing, it was otherwise really nicely crafted and everything came together in a beautiful way. The atmosphere, folklore, mystery, and twists kept me invested, and I loved the idea at the heart of this story. I just think there was so much potential here for it to have been even more emotionally devastating and passionate than it ultimately was. I wanted more from Iris and Henry, more from the relationship between Iris and Moireach, and more exploration of the horror lurking beneath the surface. With just a little more depth and tension, I think this could've easily been a five-star read for me, because all the ingredients were there. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who loves dark historical fantasy, Scottish folklore, Gothic-esque settings, and slow burn romances with a healthy dose of mystery and secrets. If you're looking for something atmospheric and beautifully spooky with a fairytale feel, this is definitely worth picking up.

"Men always blame witchcraft for female behaviour they can't understand."

[Amanda · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

At nearly 400 pages, this puppy was way too long. A lot of repetitive nights where there's very little change or plot movement. The writing itself wasn't bad. There was one twist that surprised me, but ultimately the villains were a little too cartoonish and uncomplicated for my taste.

[Lana | lanas.little.library · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️ 5/5
🌶️ 1/5

This book is a soft, slow and beautifully written story that feels like you're being pulled under water until you can’t find your way back up. This is a Little Mermaid retelling set in 18th-century Scotland, a small town romantasy with OG folklore fairytale vibes that is perfect for people wanting a whimsical read with just a hint of darkness. And as always, I have way too much praise I need to get off my chest.

Set along the dark shores of a Scottish loch in the town of Kilmara, the story follows Iris, a woman living under a terrible curse that divides her existence between human and something far more monstrous. During the waking hours, she is ‘Moireach’ (the monster under the loch), and when night falls she becomes herself again, a human trapped in a cursed immortal existence. That is, until bodies start dropping and the laird hires a hunter, Henry Carver… who awakens the monster inside Iris, and the two start to blend to the point where she doesn't know who or what she is anymore. Iris is desperate to break her curse before she’s discovered and killed for crimes she doesn’t know if she committed, all while an undeniable attraction builds between her and her hunter.

The beautiful way this story was written made the setting, the loch, seem like a character itself. Gorgeous and spooky, it felt almost alive and brimming with heavy secrets. It leans fully into its gothic atmosphere with fog-covered water, an isolated village, superstitions and the lingering threat and dread of magic. With the mystery surrounding Iris’ curse, there is a steady tension that lingers and the interactions between Iris and ‘Morieach’ show their deep and dangerous relationship, built on the impossible premise that one of them may have to destroy the other to survive. It is steeped in folklore, making it feel like a dark fairytale.

Iris is a hauntingly compelling heroine. She is resilient, sharp-willed and quietly defiant in the face of a curse that has stripped her of control over her own body and reputation. She’s both feared and vulnerable, monstrous and deeply human, carrying so much on her immortal shoulders. Her determination to uncover truths so convoluted and reclaim her agency, whilst suffering in her loneliness, makes her feel achingly real. She’s got that soft strength, where she still viscerally believes her true love will come save her whilst being devastatingly heartbroken and hopeless. A beautifully crafted character.

Then we’ve got Henry, a man so much more than the archetypal hunter. He is thoughtful, determined and perceptive enough to question the easy narrative he’s been handed. Beneath his controlled, duty-bound exterior is a man capable of empathy and is utterly filled with a deep, painful sense of grief. His slow shift from suspicion to understanding adds so much depth to his character and his quiet integrity makes him an utterly compelling counterpart to Iris.

Both Iris and Henry’s relationship is a slow-burning, tension-filled connection that thrives on mistrust, curiosity and reluctant understanding. Although both of them are stuck in the throes of grief, surviving day by day rather than living, their connection feels rather inevitable and their growing friendship never feels easy. Every moment of closeness is shadowed by the knowledge that he’s meant to kill her, and that she might be exactly what he fears. Their bond grows through small, hard-won shifts in perspective, turning suspicion into respect and then into something deeper, dangerous and utterly magnetic. It’s intimate without losing its edge, balancing tenderness with underlying risk. By the end, their love feels both fragile and fiercely earned.

With the story, the last 20% was just plot twist after plot twist, I predicted absolutely nothing. The way everything tied together was perfectly crafted, I was left in pure awe. I cannot say anything without giving away major spoilers, but just know MY JAW WAS CONSTANTLY DROPPING!
Rebecca Templeton has created a beautiful story that I will think about for a very long time. It is definitely one of my new favourites, and I cannot wait to see what she writes next!

[Helen Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow wow wow… what a book.

From the very beginning I was completely drawn into Lochbound. Inspired by The Little Mermaid, this is a darker, more haunting retelling set in early 1700s Scotland. A story of love, loss, longing and a curse that refuses to let go.

Iris has spent fifty years living between two worlds… human by night, and by day the monster in the loch.
“I am no longer the princess in the castle. I am now simply the monster in the loch…”

The story is beautifully told through multiple perspectives. Iris in first person, alongside Duncan, Henry and even the monster itself. It adds so much depth and really allows each character’s story and emotion to shine.

Duncan absolutely broke my heart. A childhood friend who has carried Iris’s secret for fifty years… loving her quietly, selflessly.
Henry Carver, the monster hunter, brings tension and intrigue, and the dynamic between him and Iris had me completely hooked.
And Thane… a reminder of love lost and everything Iris has endured.

One of my favourite moments early on was when Henry first hears the monster’s haunting song – it genuinely gave me goosebumps. The writing is so vivid and atmospheric, I could almost hear it myself.

This is one of those books that slowly pulls you in… and then suddenly refuses to let you go. I found myself thinking about it constantly, picking it up at every spare moment, and from around 70% onwards, I could not put it down.

The tension builds so well, with twists that genuinely caught me off guard. Just when I thought I had a sense of where things were going… I didn’t. The final stretch had me completely gripped, shocked, emotional, and honestly just sitting there like what did I just read?!

This is a mesmerising, beautifully written story full of heartache, danger, and longing. A tale of love that isn’t always returned, of grief, jealousy, and the consequences of choices made long ago.

I feel incredibly lucky to have had the opportunity to read this early. Lochbound is one that will stay with me.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[inpageswithlouise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review 🫶🏻

Quote: “I am trapped in this eternal fairy tale that is, in fact, no fairy tale at all.”

Lochbound is a standalone book - it’s a ‘The Little Mermaid’ retelling but definitely a unique one. I literally ATE this one up and read it in one sitting. I couldn’t put it down.

It’s set in 1725 Scotland in a small town - Kilmara. Iris lives under a cruel curse. By night, she walks as a human along the misty shores, forever young and heartbroken. By day, when dawn comes, she’s transformed and becomes ‘Moireach’, a feared monster trapped beneath Loch that the villagers fear - along with witches, fae and magic in general. This is also a dark reimagining of the Loch Ness legend, whilst also a story where ‘Ariel’ and ‘Ursula’ are the same soul.

When bodies begin appearing, near the Loch, the monster within is blamed. A ruthless hunter, Henry is summoned to end the monster once and for all. But as forbidden attraction sparks between hunter and hunted, Iris is forced to confront her past. She has only one chance to break her curse before she is killed for crimes she does not remember committing.

What I enjoyed about this book is Rebecca’s writing - I could really feel Iris’s longing for connection just as deeply as her isolation and her hope fighting against the weight of everything she has lost.

I highly recommend this book if you’re after a standalone fairytale retelling. You can expect a haunting atmosphere, misty landscapes and Scottish folklore.

[Olivia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review of early finished copy received from the Publisher.

4⭐️ | OUT now!

This is a dark retelling of The Little Mermaid and a murder mystery. By day Iris is Moireach a terrifying monster and by night she returns to her human form destined to wander the misty shores of Kilmara.

When bodies begin appearing on the shore, the villagers are convinced Moireach is responsible. Iris must break her curse before she is killed for crimes she cannot believe she has committed..

This was full of Scottish folklore and intrigue. I think Rebecca Templeton sets the scene of Kilmara, Scotland so well and also Loch Moine which is integral to the story. Iris is such a headstrong FMC and her determination and persistence to break her curse was what gripped me to the story initially and also kept me hooked and rooting for her. I loved the inner conflict that existed within Iris and fighting against Moireach, I won't go into the MMCs too much as it's hard not to without spoilers!

However in this dark retelling Rebecca does tackle some important themes like grief, feminism and what happens when love is unrequited and festers instead..

I thought the first third and last third of the book were paced well. However I felt the book lost itself in the middle.

I would recommend this if you love stories about mermaids, morally grey characters and Scottish folklore!

[Georgia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a tremendous debut and everything I love in a historical fantasy! Lochbound is an atmospheric historical fantasy retelling of the Loch Ness monster and The Little Mermaid, described as ‘Outlander meets Spellbound’ , and it couldn’t be truer.

Little Mermaid retellings and Scottish settings always jump straight to the top of my TBR. The Loch Ness monster inspired element was so interesting and refreshing to me. It was unique and such a joy to read.
The gloomy moody atmosphere was absolutely perfect. I eat up settings like this every time.

Gorgeous writing that was easy to digest made this a story that I flew through SO quickly. Multiple POV’s and a mystery/crime element made this so addictive and impossible to put down.

This also had a small subplot of romance running through it, so if you are a romance girly you should definitely give this a try!

I enjoyed my reading experience with this immensely. I’m so lucky to have received an early copy of this so thanks again to Sphere/LBBG!
I will definitely be reading everything Rebecca Templeton writes after this!
Lochbound releases April 16th so there’s still time to pre-order a copy!
🌊🌑🧜🏻‍♀️✨

[Amy Weston · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lochbound is a The Little Mermaid retelling with a Scottish folklore twist.

I always enjoy a historical setting and I loved the inclusion of witches and folkloric beings. I also really loved how feminism was entwined, one quote I really loved was "men always blame witchcraft for female behaviour they can't understand."

There is also an exploration of so many different types of love that I found fascinating: first loves, unrequited loves, forbidden loves and being in love with the idea of something more than the actual person themself.

The book definitely picked up for me moreso in the second half, and when the plot twists started hitting I was hooked.

I did hope for a more atmospheric feeling when reading this, as I was super excited for the historical Scotland backdrop, and sometimes the writing felt a little surface level.

Thank you Little Brown for the early proof copy of this book.

[Juls · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whimsical and folkloric within a Scottish atmosphere.
This standalone felt so immersive and the storyline was gripping until the very end.
So many mysteries, plot twists and romantic tension that will keep you awake at nonsense o’clock (usually 2 or 3 am depending on your reading stamina. Ah!)

This book is a delight, perfect for romantasy readers!

[Margaret McCulloch-Keeble · Rating 1 out of 5]

Och my, I found this dreary. I really wanted to like it, being Scottish and hoping the fae folk would be written well, but as it turns out, all in all I was not interested in Iris or the curse she's under nor the good grey folk of Kilmara. I do wonder if the book is aimed at perhaps a younger audience? Not for me I'm afraid.

[Ceri · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did enjoy it for the most part but the end felt a bit rushed and dramatic sadly :(

[Emma Alvey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kilmara, Scotland, 1725. Bound by a curse, for fifty years, Iris has walked the shores by night as a heartbroken woman and inhabited the murky depths of Loch Moine by day as Moireach, a terrifying monster. When bodies that have been brutally murdered and mutilated start appearing on the shore, the villagers are convinced that the monster in the sea is responsible. So, they call hunter Henry Carver to slay her. Iris knows it is only a matter of time before he finds her so she must find a way to break her curse before she is killed for crimes she doesn’t believe she committed. But things become complicated when she and Henry find themselves drawn to one another. Can she keep her monstrous identity from him?

Dark, haunting, gothic and alluring, Lochbound is a spellbinding twisted fairytale. A retelling of The Little Mermaid merged with Scottish folklore, this story of mermaids, monsters, murder, magic, legend and love had me in a chokehold from start to finish. The Little Mermaid is my favourite fairytale and I’ve been fascinated by selkies and kelpies for years, so I knew as soon as I read the description that this was a book I had to read. And I loved every moment spent with this story and the characters. Exquisitely written, perfectly choreographed and filled with heart-pounding tension, this is the definition of a page-turner. Debut author Rebecca Templeton is a talented storyteller and I can’t wait to read whatever she writes next.

The book is filled with compelling and memorable characters who I loved reading. Some of them might appear good and others bad at first, but all of them contain shades of both, are flawed and nuanced. Iris and Moireach are the perfect example of this and I love how Rebecca used them to portray the battle between good and evil. Moireach is the physical embodiment of evil. A vault for Iris’s darkest thoughts. We see the powerful internal battle that Iris faces after opening a connection between them as she desperately battles to keep control as Moireach fights to consume her with darkness.

The attraction between Iris and Henry is so well written and it is easy to see why they are so drawn to one another. This could have been hard to believe as unbeknownst to him, Henry is hunting Iris’s daytime form, but Rebecca writes with such care that we can see how their romance is blossoming against the odds. I also really enjoyed how she wrote Duncan’s obsessive, unrequited love for Iris. I know he’s her friend but he gave me the ick from the start and I am sure he was deliberately written that way.

A gorgeous gothic and folkloric tale, this is a must-read debut.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kilmara, Scotland. 1725. For fifty years, Iris has been living with a tragic curse. By night, she may walk the shores of Loch Moine in human form, unmarked by the years that have passed, though still plagued with the heartbreak that brought about the cruel twist in her fate. By day, she exists only as rage-driven Moireach, a monstrous creature of legend trapped beneath the waters of the Loch.

When mutilated bodies begin appearing around the village, with the hearts torn from their chests, the villagers believe Moireach must be responsible. To placate the villagers, the laird hires a sullen monster hunter, Henry Carver, to slay the monster. Iris now faces an impossible choice: to hide away hoping Henry will not discover her secret, or try to break the curse.

Taking inspiration from her fascination with Han's Christian Anderson's The Little Mermaid, Rebecca Templeton spins a dark and delicious retelling that makes the most of its setting in eighteenth century Scotland.

The novel unfurls in misty Kilmara, a placed steeped in folklore and scarred by Laird Crawford's witch-burning campaign, through the perspectives of Iris/Moireach, as she wavers between her two identities; Iris' childhood friend, and sole confidant, Duncan; and the hunter, Henry Carver. The voices of these characters weave around each other, following Iris' quest to break the curse before Henry can slay Moireach; Duncan's desperate attempts to protect Iris; and Henry's single-minded pursuit of the task he has been set. But things are not as straightforward as they first appear.

Iris' quest seems impossible in a land where witches have been burned to ashes, and to delve into magic leads to suspicion and danger. Her only hope is to get closer to Henry, who she feels a strange connection with, even though he has been summoned to kill her - while Moireach fights to gain control. Meanwhile, Henry becomes fascinated with the beautiful, red-headed girl he keeps bumping into at night beside the loch, as he searches for Moireach, and starts to question what he has been told about what is going on in Kilmara. In parallel, Duncan's over-protectiveness, driven by the unrequited love he feels for Iris, warps into obsession.

With dark and delicious, slow-burn loveliness, the threads of the story weave into a spell-bound knot that takes a very enjoyable mix of enchanted fairy tale, heart-rending love story, and rip-roaring historical adventure to unpick. Love, loss, family drama, jealousy, betrayal, and darkness within all have a part to play as the plot builds in pace and tension, and the twists around who are the real monsters in Kilmara come thick and fast at the climax of the tale - many of which had me gasping out loud. Brava, Rebecca!

I alternated between the gorgeous hardback edition, and the spectacular audio book for this one, skilfully narrated by Susie Riddell and Norman Bowman - which I highly recommend if audio books are your bag, as this story is a perfect vehicle for the spoken voice.

Fabulous from start to finish! I cannot wait to read more from Rebecca Templeton!

[Nicki Markus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lochbound was a book with a exciting premise that blended folklore and fairy tale, and at the start I was ready to get behind Iris and through myself into her story. There was a lot that worked for me in this book: the setting, the premise, the atmospheric prose. What I couldn't quite fall in love with, though, was the romance between Iris and Henry. It seemed to come out of nowhere. It was really more insta-lust than true love, and so it was hard for me to accept the important role that relationship played in events. I would have liked to have had that connection fleshed out a little more so I could find it more believable. That was my only gripe though. Other than that, I found the story compelling and one that kept me turning the pages each night, keen to know what would happen next. In the end, I would give this one four stars. Aside from the romance not working for me, it was an enjoyable read.

I received this book as a free eBook ARC via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

[Bethany (whatsbethanyreading) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was awesome!! It was essentially a mix between The Little Mermaid and the legend of the Loch Ness Monster. When Iris was 20 years old, she was cursed by a witch because she asked to live eternally with her true love. Every night at midnight, she can live as a human, but as soon as dawn arrives, she transforms into a sea monster. Fifty years later, bodies start appearing in the town and locals blame the monster in the loch. As Iris tries to break her curse, she meets the mysterious hunter hired to kill her.

I was shocked multiple times throughout the book. The writing was exquisite, the imagery was beautiful, and the emotion was so real. It was such a great read! I love The Little Mermaid, so I was excited to read this once I heard the summary. It was such a dark retelling and it was definitely different than the Disney version, but it aligned pretty well with the original tale by Hans Christian Anderson. Instead of a mermaid, she was cursed to live as a sea monster inspired by the Loch Ness Monster, so that was definitely different! Overall, I loved it!