Immersed

The Clockwork Siren #1

by Katie Hayoz

What if love turned you into a monster?

Forget petticoats and demure female behavior. Melusine Doré prefers armored corsets and knives and slays evil creatures for a living. The grim and gruesome don’t frighten her; she’ll take on a cyclops or a dragon and not even break a sweat. But when her rival, the charismatic Levi Cannon, comes to town, all her buried fears begin to surface. Melusine realizes she is in danger of something much more horrifying than facing blood-thirsty beasts – she’s in danger of falling in love. Because love alone has the power to reveal a secret terrible enough to completely shatter her world.

Set in the muddy streets of 1850s steampunk Chicago, Immersed by Katie Hayoz is a dark yet romantic fantastical romp. It is a stand-alone novella, but the first in a series of adventures that follow Melusine on her quest to rid the world of monsters…and her struggle to come to terms with every monstrous facet of herself.

Immersed is also part of the Falling in Deep Collection: From mermaids to sirens, Miami to Athens, dark paranormal romance to contemporary stories with steam, the fifteen award-winning and best-selling authors of the Falling in Deep Collection are bringing you mermaid tales like you've never seen before.

Every week beginning May 26th, 2015, we'll be releasing one unique, never-before-published novella! Each novella will feature our favorite creature of the deep: mermaids.

The Falling in Deep Collection (May – September Releases)
Scales by Pauline Creeden
Ink: A Mermaid Romance by Melanie Karsak
Of Ocean and Ash by A. R. Draeger
Deep Breath by J. M. Miller
At the Heart of the Deep by Carrie Wells
The Mermaid’s Den by Ella Malone
The Water is Sweeter by Eli Constant
The Glass Mermaid by Poppy Lawless
An Officer & a Mermaid by Blaire Edens
How to be a Mermaid by Erin Hayes
Cold Water Bridegroom by B. Brumley
A Beyond the Sea Prequel by Emily Goodwin
Immersed by Katie Hayoz
Siren's Kiss by Margo Bond Collins
To Each His Own by Anna Albergucci

Never miss a release! Join our newsletter for behind the scenes information and release updates: http://eepurl.com/bdRtbD

Genres: Steampunk, Fantasy, Romance, Paranormal, Mermaids, Historical, Historical Fiction

112 pages, ebook

First published August 18, 2015

About the author

Katie grew up in Racine, Wisconsin where she acquired an irreversible nasal twang and an addiction for books with a slightly dark edge. She now lives in Geneva, Switzerland with her husband, two daughters, and a very fuzzy cat. She has been an avid reader of YA fiction for years. While she has a penchant for the paranormal, she devours a range of books -- along with popcorn and black licorice. She consumes all three in large quantities. Luckily, the books don't stay on her hips.

Reviews

[Camly Nguyen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Melusine kills monsters for a living. When her biggest competitor Levi appears and takes hold of her contracts, she gets really frustrated because his parents are already rich and doesn't need the money while she's doing this for a living. When they are both recruited by a man to kill a monster, Melusine and Levi accept to collaborate and share the prize. The only problem is that Melusine was cursed at a young age by her mother. If she falls in love, she will turn into a mermaid and the person she loves will hate her forever. Will she have her HEA?

Really liked the book except for the fact that I thought that everything was way too rushed . The romance was definitely the kind that you read in typical YA romance novels and the way that they "broke" the curse was WAY TOO EASY to be true. Other than that, the writing was nice, characters were interesting and easy to follow, the plot was enjoyable although a bit predictable. Overall, a decent light book to read for funsies.

[Linda (un)Conventional Bookworms · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I received a free ARC of Immersed from the author, Katie Hayoz, in exchange of an honest and unbiased review*

Immersed is a tightly written steam-punk novelly with intriguing and compelling characters, as well as mysterious mythology where all I want is to know more!

This and all my other reviews are originally posted on my blog (un)Conventional Bookviews

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good. Well written, vivid imagery, enticing main character, good backstory, well-paced, not too predictable. Only four stars, because I want it to be longer....

I haven't read a lot of steampunk, so I can't say if the setting worked for that. I liked it. The world building was great, I was transported there right away, down to the muck squelching in my boots. I would wish for more details on the automatons, to flesh out the imagery.

Nice touch of explaining a little bit about Chicago before the start of the story.

Good plot, no loose ends dangling, it all flowed together nicely. A little more ass-kicking and build-up of suspense would have been great. My only gripe with the story: The length. With a little over 100 pages it was over too quickly. And the sequel only has 42 pages, which is worse. Maybe both together would have made a proper novel...?

Small set of characters, likeable, believable, nobody is silly or too stupid to live... I am not into mermaids as a rule, but here they were nicely evil and not the too sweet Disney version. Dark mermaids and Steampunk, I could do more of that!

I am pretty sure I will get book two, despite it's extreme shortness. I hope the author will eventually graduate to full-length novels. Her novels to date all seem to be YA, which is not my thing.

Would I recommend this to my UF reading buddies in favour of ass-kicking heroines? Absolutely.

I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Kindle Ninja · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everything’s better with bacon.

Immersed is steampunk wrapped in bacon. That’s how good this novella is.

There’s a new badass heroine in 1850s Chicago and she’s not to be messed with. Melusine Doré slays monsters and beasts for a living and does so without breaking a sweat. The rough and tough exterior conceals a past that defines her present. She’s unbreakable. Or is she?

Rival monster-hunter Levi Cannon seems a worthy opponent but a profitable offer forces them to work side by side; an opportunity that has some dire repercussions.

The chemistry between Melusine and Levi is unmistakable – from the playful banters to the accidental contacts to the sexual tension. They’re quite a pair.

Author Katie Hayoz has this incredible knack for perfectly timed plot twists. She knows how to tease and knows when to astonish.

Immersed is steampunk with soul.

[Sea · Rating 5 out of 5]

"It may have to do with the fact that you ridicule my successes and look down upon women as a whole. It may also be because you are a spoiled little rich boy who takes work from those who really need it."

Damn. You go, girl.



This book was on fire (despite its water focus).

I love-love-loved the very sexy, strong, and sassy Miss Melusine Doré. She walks around covered in monster blood and mud and still exudes ferocity.



Levi raised his eyebrows. "What else do you have hidden in there?"
Melusine matched his look with her own. "Treasure beyond your wildest dreams, Mr. Cannon."

Countless times, Melusine takes the chauvinist expectations of the world around her and obliterates them. From the very beginning, she's never caught as the damsel, isn't afraid to get a little dirty, and speaks up when she's being treated unjustly. Melusine is one of the strongest female leads I've ever read, and she alone earned all 5-stars.

Fortunately, her male counterpart didn't mess up the rating. Levi Cannon was strong and soft in all the right moments. He is helpless to keep himself from antagonizing our girl, teasing her with endless innuendos.

"Most ladies prefer sidesaddle," he said. "Unaccustomed as they are to having something between their thighs."
Melusine began to slide off. "I believe I'd rather walk than listen to your--"
But he stopped her midway. "Forgive me I take far too much pleasure in goading you. I'll shut my sauce box. I promise."

Ah, but do not fear. Their relationship didn't start here. Nor is the constant innuendo enough to woo our wild woman. Their romance develops gorgeously through memories of their childhood together alongside their present adventure and turmoil.

The world-building was beautiful and intriguing: a mixture of steampunk and urban fantasy laid over 1850s Chicago. The plot kept me hooked the entire way.

This is a phenomenal, quick read that made me smile and deserves A LOT more hype than it's getting. Recommended to everyone, everywhere, all the time!

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Melusine Doré has spent her life hunting down and killing monsters for a living. Her biggest competition is Levi Cannon who's family is well off so Melusine resents him for taking away jobs from her that she needs to survive. When the two are forced to team up to hunt a sea creature they can't help but end up attracted to each other. Unfortunately for Melusine she has been cursed when it comes to love.

Katie Hayoz has done a wonderful job with this story and bringing all the different elements of it to life. There was just so many different things going on that a part of me thought this story would probably fail miserably but I ended up thoroughly enjoying it. Chicago was turned into the fantasy/steampunk land with monsters and machines. The characters were given enough attention to their back stories that you really care about them and their relationship. Very hard to make it all come together in a novella but it has been done with Immersed.

Great quick read with a mixture of a lot of different elements.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....

[Frankie Ness · Rating 5 out of 5]

See, I hate aquatic tales. Water creatures bore me, I find them cold and unrelatable.

So the fact that I loved this one is truly a BIG thing for me! I'm very particular about my steampunk reads, I want every detail to be perfect from the costume down to the dialogue. IMMERSED was superb! I'm just a little disappointed that it's clean. I sure would want to be a fly on the wall when Melusine & Levi consummated their love. Lol

Can't wait for more! Katie did say this is the start of a series? Fingers crossed I didn't misread that part.

[Lola · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review

I had seen two very positive reviews for this book on blogs of bookbloggers that I frequently visit so when I saw this one netgalley I didn't hesitate for a second and hit request. I really enjoyed this book and was amazed by the seamless blend of multiple genres, this book has steampunk, paranormal, romance and historical aspects and it all worked together to create an interesting world and story. I really enjoyed this book and wanted to keep reading. There's a bit of a mystery surrounding Melusine her past as well, which was well done with a few flashbacks to reveal more.

Melusine is an interesting main character, she doesn't want to fall in love, because of something that happened in the past. While the story furthers we also learn more and more about her past and I could see how it shaped her into the person she is today. She was a great character, with her monster fighting skills, but also having a dark past. Levi was a nice character, although it took me awhile to warm up to him as I found him a bit annoying at first. The side characters are less developed, but there's still enough characteristics about them to give the reader a feel of who they are.

There is some romance going on, although it isn't the focus. it nicely blends in within the plot and I almost felt like it was as much part of the plot as everything else. It was very well done, although at times I which there was a bit more depth and connection between them. I do felt like they were a good couple, but as it is a short story there is less time for them to get to know each other, so things develop rather quickly. I did like how things ended with their romance and the later half of the book I enjoyed their relationship more than in the first half when they are still trying to hide their feelings, although it all makes sense why they acted that way later on in the story.

The world building was done very well, although it wasn't the focus. We learn how there are monsters and those who hunt them. Melusine makes the distinction to only kill monsters who harm others, although Levi seems more easy with what he'll kill. So there was some hint that not all monsters were as evil or harmful. There's a big diversity in monsters and it seems like almost all monster are possible, we see more common monsters like sirens and Cyclops, but also weirder ones like the siren eel and some sort of mud snake creature. I thought it was well done, although the author leaves a lot open as well.

Another part I loved was the historical setting, it's set in 1850 in Chicago and there were mentions of raising the city form the mud. I had to check out the links in the front of the book before I believed it was real, it sounded so surreal how they raise the whole city and I loved learning this little tidbit about the city's history. There are frequent mentions of mud and one where a house is being moved with the people having breakfast inside and it just added a great atmosphere to this book. I could vividly imagine how the city looked like and combined with all the steampunk elements it really was a joy to read about.

To summarize: This book nicely blends different genres in one story. This book has paranormal, romance, steampunk and historical elements and it all fits together nicely. I was really impressed by the blend of genres and how it created an interesting world. I liked the characters and enjoyed learning more about Melusine her past. The romance was well done, although i would've enjoyed to see more about the two of them and how they felt in love as it felt like things happened rather quickly even though they have a past together. The world building was well done, although it also leaves some thing open. I really liked the setting in Chicago and almost didn't believe it was real with how they raised the city form the mud. It was very interesting and I enjoyed learning this tidbit of history.

[A. J · Rating 4 out of 5]

I finished this story in a couple of hours and I enjoyed it very much. If you like to read about mermaids, or steampunk then this book is for you. The plot was pretty good. I always have my doubts when romance is involved, but Immersed wasn’t a disappointment. The world was fabulous. The monsters, the steampunk, the dirt and grime of the poor places, this world has creepy monsters hanging out in the mud waiting to pull you under. How cool is that? And the mechanical servants and horses, and steam carriages! Everything was wonderfully described and vivid in this book. And the weapons that our main character, Mel, uses are fantastic. The suspense people! The question of “What’s the matter with Mel?” did have me anxious. I just had to know what was going to happen, I was flipping through the pages on my kindle as fast as my fingers could go.

I did have a few small complaints. Like the main character’s name, Melusine? How do I even try to pronounce that? But it is a unique name, and once I saw the nickname Mel being used I was okay. At times I felt that Mel was too easily convinced by a certain man named Levi, but then she is in love with him. The love story isn’t anything new, strong girl with no room for love meets cocky arrogant hottie who loves her. That doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy their romance, I actually did like it. I mean Levi has auburn hair, it’s hard not to like that. ;)

All that said, I give it four stars. It’s entertaining, it’s fairly well written, and it has mermaids. Enough said, go read it people!

Originally posted @ https://whimsywriter3.wordpress.com/

[Crittermom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Immersed is a short novella packed with steampunk action and romance. Its heroine, Melusine, will appeal to young women as she is both brave and resourceful.

Melusine kills monsters for a living, but unlike the majority of monster hunters, she is female and only targets those that are evil. While monsters are little challenge, men are troublesome, particularly her rival, the handsome and charismatic Levi Cannon. He is a danger to her in a way no monster is, for if she falls in love she will fall victim to the curse wrought by her mother. Together they are tasked with defeating a vicious beast, one with a very specific kind of prey.

Hayoz is an excellent storyteller, and the length is perfectly suited to the story. I liked the premise of the novella, as well as the original action sequences. It will be interesting to see how Melusine’s relationship progresses, and what further adventures she will face in future installments.

4/5

I received a copy of Immersed from the publisher and netgalley.com

—Crittermom

Immersed is an exciting steampunk romance
http://muttcafe.com/2015/09/immersed

[Brandee (un)Conventional Bookworms · Rating 5 out of 5]

*4.5 Stars*
If all steampunk is like this, I'm on board! Hayoz did an incredible job creating a setting and characters that drew me in and kept me captivated. I can't wait for more!

Full review to come...

[Gypsy Madden · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m already itching to read more of this fun adventure series. It has it all: a strong leading lady, the flair, freedom, and inventiveness of Steampunk, fantasy monsters to be hunted, a romance, plenty of humorous moments and banter, and mermaids. I loved all of the imagination that went into the monsters. I loved the trolls that infested the mud outside of Melusine’s boarding house that she treated as an annoyance instead of something to be eradicated. And I loved that Levi was this larger-than-life famous rich boy monster hunter who Melusine had so many pre-conceived notions about and he was actually adorably hurt that she ascribed those things to him and he was determined to show her the truth of himself and change his reputation in her eyes. And I loved the messes she kept getting into and the perverse pleasure she got out of dirtying up Lord Edwin’s upholstery. And I loved Melusine’s character history which made her a dimensional person with a lot of questions still to be answered. Though I did keep wondering why she didn’t just tell him as soon as she noticed any sort of pull between them. To not tell him felt idiotic. And I loved the quirky side characters bringing to life the Steampunk world from the robot butler to Edwin who was part cybernetic, to the inventor of gadgets, to the land lady who didn’t approve of Melusine. And I loved the adventure and thrill of trying to tackle a giant, ravenous sea creature who could eat them like a snack.

Even though this is book 1 in a series, it is a full story (albeit novella-size) with a satisfying ending. Though I can’t wait to see further into the lives of Melusine and Levi and what their next adventure will be.

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would give this six stars if I could. No, that’s not enough. Immersed gets ALL the stars! I haven’t read the second novella yet, and I can already tell you that it won’t be enough. I’m going to need a lot more of these characters. This is the most excited I’ve been for a new series in a long time!

I originally wanted to read this book because I was working my way through the Falling in Deep Collection. Plus, I had heard good things about Katie Hayoz, so it seemed like the perfect chance to try one of her stories. I’m going to live dangerously and say that this was my favorite book in the entire collection (so far). I had no idea that it was steampunk too! Pretty much my most favoritest genre! The world created is a steampunk Chicago, where they live side by side with the creatures of myth and legend. Mermaids, vampires, werewolves… they’re all real, and Melusine is a monster hunter. Gotta love a kick ass female lead! Skirts are for sissies! Regardless of her tough exterior, you can tell that she has a softer side. Still waters run deep, and all that. Levi Cannon was immediately a character I could see myself falling for, but I also feel like his story has only just been skimmed. I hope that there might be an opportunity to hear some chapters from his point of view in an upcoming story.

I’m trying my darnedest to come up with something even slightly critical to say, but I got nothin’. All I can say is “Enjoy!”

A copy of this book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

[Beth ~Book Loving Is My Superpower~ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has a unique premise as well as a new spin on old school monsters. The world/character developments were surprisingly rich while the actual writing was run of the mill Meh. The Steampunk aspect was explored more here than most books I have read that claim to be in the Steampunk genre these days. The actual steam driven mechanical aspects were great for background ambiance and interesting footnotes but weren't key factors in the story, something I would have given more stars for. It was a super quick read and did leave me wanting...though wanting what was an enigma. I believe this is due to the fact that it felt rushed and thin instead of having slow(ish) to boil, suspensefuly percolating, nail biting, robust foundation and plot twists. I know that's a lot to ask for but for me an unforeseen plot twist/ pivot, or intricate weaving of character depth vs. trials vs. inventive ways of achieving success are what sets a book above the rest and therefore deserve 4-5 stars. Should you read it??? In hindsight I would have skipped it and unsurprisingly, I am foregoing any future books in the series.

[Tracey · Rating 4 out of 5]

For the most part, this was a lot of fun.

The setting was very nicely drawn, and exposition nicely handled – just the right balance between suspense and explanation.

There were a couple of unfortunate errors (which might, I hope, have been corrected by the time of publication); Sir Edwin Aldridge is frequently referred to as "Sir Aldridge", for example. I do hope that's fixed.

There's a little bit of romance; a nice amount of humor; a heroine who has her priorities straight ("The wings paid for one month’s rent and a bag of butterscotch candy") and whose situation manages to stand out in a field of fierce and feisty underdog young ladies.

The usual disclaimer: I received this book, with thanks, via Netgalley for review.

[B. Brumley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Immersed begins with headlines in a steam-punk, fantasy version of 1850s Chicago. Our heroine, Melusine, hunts creatures for a living. When she is pulled into a reluctant partnership with Levi Cannon, her competition, sparks fly. Levi Cannon inspires delicious, mechanized, steam infused sparks. While some historical details of Chicago are used, Katie Hayoz does a wonderful job of crafting a new world. Her writing is easy to follow, but not boring. The action sequences are expressed clearly. The sex scenes are light in tone, tastefully sprinkled throughout, as is any harsher language.

I'm already on to the follow up! Definitely recommended.

[Elena · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book sounds great! I hope to win, read it and enjoy the story ... If I win, the review will be updated once I finish the book :)

[Olivia Wildenstein · Rating 5 out of 5]

I lost sleep over this book which is my way of measuring if I liked a story. HAYOZ writes beautifully and her characters and world building are spellbinding. Getting the next book in the series now.

[Vodkamelie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this fictional short story about monster hunters. It's easy, adventurous and well written.

[Donna Bull · Rating 4 out of 5]

"I see very little difference between monsters and men"

A fun and entertaining steam punk fantasy!! Set in Chicago, this novel is a wonderful combination of the hunt for creatures like mermaids, cyclops and others and mechanical automaton men, horses and carriages. The lifting and moving of homes and buildings at this time in Chicago was not anything I had heard of before but really adds to the atmosphere of the book. The story follows Melusine, who works as a monster hunter, but has a secret from her past that keeps her from forming any close relationships. When her monster hunter rival, Levi, comes back to town, they are thrown into working together to catch a beast lurking in Lake Michigan, and her desperation to not get close to anyone is threatened, and this may doom both of them.
I really enjoyed the world and all the mechanical creations in the story. Melusine is skilled, tough and determined to earn her own way in the world. Levi is funny and delightful and I loved all the banter between the two of them. This is part of a trilogy and I am definitely looking forward to continuing on with the series!!!

[Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first experience with the world of steam punk. I admit it is a little strange.

I really enjoyed the story of Melusine and Levi. They have real chemistry. I also felt like the author was holding back. I guess maybe it is because she was saving it for future books. I enjoyed all of the glimpses into who they used to be and I want to know more.

How the curse ended up is exactly what I was hoping for. It could have played out a couple different ways that still would have been okay, but that one was truly what I was hoping for.

[Chenay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this

This book was interesting and sucked me right in. Its set in a steam punk world which I've never read till this book i was pleasantly surprised though knowing this author i should of known itd be a great read. The characters are amaxing n their growth already in book 1 was perfect its written in a 3rd person pov

[Beka · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little of everything

An exciting mix of supernatural and steampunk mixed in with a bit of romance made this a fun fast read. I’m off to start the next book in the series I can5 get enough.

[Benjamin Forman-Sauter: Angel Mentor & Author · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightfully haunting Steampunk-mermaid version of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" set in prestigious Chicago during the industrial revolution. The romance is as epic as a Buffy and Spike duo. Hayoz's writing style is as edgy and fluid as her sea monsters. Although the most scary villains tend to run in the human variety. The mechanical-clockwork cyborg-esk Sir Edwin Aldridge was as unforgettable as the delightful Melusine and the heroic Levi. I can't wait to read the next instalment in this series.

[Cryogenic Fire · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not bad

Nice historical detail woven into creative world building and a very enjoyable pair of lead characters make this a fun story to read.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short and sweet story with no wild plot twists or anything like that. Just an enjoyable read for a little escapism!

[NotTheTea · Rating 4 out of 5]

It says right there. Fast paced story. But I still think they could have divulged more. Why they had to go at lightening speed

[Coco.V]

🎁 FREE on Amazon today (11/28/2021)! 🎁

[MsMoxy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was really blown away by the premise of this book! It’s such a fantastic story and I love the alternative Chicago world! What an imaginative place! I love the history mixed in with this new mythology! Just fantastic!

[Rachel Friedland · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was pretty entertaining! It was more original than I expected for a monster-hunting type story, and I thought the characters interesting. It was imaginative, and a very quick read. I liked it!