Taken by the Tide

by Invi Wright

He was supposed to drown her.



Sadie has spent her life chasing the horizon-working aboard her father's crabbing boat and laughing off myths of the deep-until Kyros boards their ship.



There's a storm. Blood stains his hands. Before she can understand what's happening, Kyros throws her overboard and leaves her to die.



Except Sadie doesn't drown. She isn't human. She's something forbidden.



When Kyros realizes what she is, he takes her back to Tideborn-an underwater city on the brink of collapse. Only somebody with Sadie's blood can fix it.



But there are monsters that lurk in the depths, the Red Bloom is near, and Kyros-the man who betrayed her-is the only one who can keep her alive.



He says she's their last hope.



Sadie isn't sure she wants to save his world. She might rather watch it burn.

Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy, Monster Romance, Romance, Enemies To Lovers, Spicy, Paranormal

308 pages, Paperback

Published August 25, 2026

About the author

Invi had just begun her career in marketing when she decided to start a new hobby— writing.

After many tears and more anger walks than is probably healthy, she decided to pursue writing full-time and began the journey of becoming a self-published author.

She was born and raised in New York, but she now lives in the Midwest with her husband, two daughters, and one-eyed pug. When Invi isn't writing or reading, she can usually be found binge-watching TV, attempting a puzzle, or making a to-do list.

Reviews

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

the cocket was everything I didn’t know I needed.

[Tessa · Rating 3 out of 5]

i really be reading anything

[Lumpy Space Princess · Rating 4 out of 5]

❝ I came for the merman romance and left with questions about finplay and the pocket. 😂 ❞

🌊🧜‍♂️🔥
Star Rating ★★★★☆
Spice Rating 🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶
⋆˚𖤓˖° Thoughts... ⋆˚𖤓˖°

Okay this was FUN. It had me giggling and kicking my feet 😂

Invi Wright really knows how to give me exactly the kind of fantasy romance chaos I apparently need in my life.

Sadie was such a good FMC for me. She’s smart, stubborn, sassy and definitely not the type to just sit quietly while everything happens around her. I loved that she had strong morals and this determination to get back to her father no matter what.

And Kyros??? Possessive. Protective. Slightly primitive. Morally gray.
Obviously I was listening. 💀🔥

Their relationship had that perfect enemies to lovers tension where you can feel everything slowly shifting underneath all the arguing and distrust. I also really liked that the romance took its time and actually built toward something instead of just throwing them together immediately.

The underwater world was surprisingly easy to follow too. I never felt lost, but it still had enough mystery, danger and strange merfolk lore to keep me interested. The spice also did not disappoint. At all. 🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶

Honestly this was exactly what I wanted from a smutty merman romance. Also a nice quick read which is always nice.

⋆˚𖤓˖° Pre Read thoughts... ⋆˚𖤓˖°

Smutty merman romance?

Say less. I’m already in the water. 🌊🧜‍♂️🔥

Sadie has spent her life treating mermaid stories like nonsense, until Kyros appears, throws her overboard and casually reveals that she might not be entirely human after all. 😂

Now she’s trapped in an underwater world full of secrets, danger and one very suspicious merman who seems determined to complicate her life.

Also, if this man has a tail and an attitude problem, I fear I may already understand the assignment. 💀🌶️

𖤓 Triggers / Tags: merman romance, enemies to lovers, forced proximity, kidnapping / captivity themes, fantasy violence, underwater kingdom, possessive love interest, sexual content, romantasy

[Laurin Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️

I picked this up because I was ovulating and wanted to know what a merman was getting up to HAHAHAHAHA

… I found out

vlog coming to booktube

[EmJustReading · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A perfectly addicting read!

I finished this in less than 48 hours, and when I wasn’t reading it… I was counting down the minutes until I could start reading again.

I LOVE enemies to lovers when they are actually enemies at the start (which means they must at least try to take the other out) This book hits the mark!

Taken by the Tide is the first Mer-man story I’ve read, and I’m so grateful for this introduction! It’s a fun fantasy, but there’s a minimal-moderate amounts of world building, compared with some books that have so much world building it’s hard to follow.

This book will have you by the first line, and then the joke continues a bit through the rest of the book. I loved the progression of the romantic element, and all of the ways that spice gets worked in are perfection.

Also I am at the point that I’m sick of FMC having a nickname “Little —” so I was chuffed when Kyros nicknamed her “reef rat” (but I don’t think he says it outloud/ to her”

The only critique of this book is I don’t know how you get wet noisy when you’re already underwater… but we’re in a universe with mer people, so I will just accept the underwater noises!

I read an ARC, but these are my honest opinions.

P.S. someone please clone Invi Wright so she can release books twice as fast and I can read them!!! Also, I love bioluminescence lolol

[ari ⁠♡ · Rating 2 out of 5]

So we’re just expected to swoon over the guy who killed fmc's dad now?

[Hannah Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This gets 4 stars for pulling me out of my reading slump. I started a new job so I'm way behind on my reviews, but this was such a good time.

[Susy · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 stupid Stockholm Syndrome stars. I probably should have DNFed this one but sadly, I persevered. So strap in kids, this one is gonna be a doozy. You’re welcome.

Spoilers ahead and I frankly don’t care.

Let me first preface this tirade by saying that yes, I do realize that this is purely a work of fiction. Mermaids do not exist and they certainly are not homicidal maniacs…on second thought, maybe that would have been an improvement for this book.

Sadie works on a crabbing boat with her father (good guy) and another hand, Tipper. (Also apparently a decent dude). One day they bring on a new hand, Kyros to help out with the crabbing run. Kyros ends up chucking Dad and Tipper overboard and then sends Sadie into the drink. Why? Because Dad always had a fascination with the idea of mermaids existing somewhere in the ocean. Sadly, he got too close for comfort and Kyros, being the king of mermaids, kills him to keep the secret. Could Kyros have simply destroyed Dad’s collection of hand drawn maps and drawings? Absolutely but hey, this way is way more efficient!
Sadie mysteriously survives her murder…er…drowning because, wait for it, she’s part mermaid! Hazzah! Was Mom a mermaid? Did Dad know? We’ll never know because hottie Kyros KILLED HIM. But remember, Kyros is hot and Sadie is so interested in finding out if mermen have penises so that’s okay. She adjusts to life under the sea and gets “marked” by Kyros so that they may continue to have mildly kinky sex. The end.

[Rose Parker · Rating 3 out of 5]

She didn't use the bathroom once 👀

[Catte Coelho · Rating 4 out of 5]

🇬🇧

**I received an ARC from the author, but this review reflects my honest opinion.**

I had really high expectations going into this one... and I'm so happy to say it delivered.

This was my first time reading a romance with a merman MMC, and I have to admit, I was hooked almost immediately. The premise alone was enough to make me curious about Kyros, who he really is, and why he makes the choices he does. The mystery surrounding him kept me turning the pages, and I loved slowly piecing him together.

Sadie was also such an easy FMC to root for. Considering everything she goes through, I admired how adaptable she was. She never felt weak, she never gave up, and despite everything being thrown at her, she kept moving forward.

I also think the pacing really worked here. This isn't a particularly long book, and I never felt like the relationship was rushed. On the contrary, Invi managed to develop their connection naturally while keeping the story moving, which made it such an enjoyable read.

My biggest issue was actually Sadie's inner monologue.

Without spoiling anything, she goes through something genuinely traumatic, and yes, Kyros is responsible for putting her in that situation. The moral dilemma she experiences makes complete sense.

The problem wasn't *what* she was thinking. It was how many times we revisited those same thoughts.

After a while, it started feeling a little repetitive because I already understood her internal conflict, and I don't think it needed to be reinforced quite so often.

Other than that, I genuinely loved the way Invi built this world and these characters. More importantly, it feels like this is only the beginning of something much bigger.

And yes... I noticed that Tiper scene. And now I need his book.

The only reason this wasn't a five-star read for me is because I expected a little more from the Covenborn. Considering how much they're built up as this terrifying threat, I was hoping for a bit more resistance, a bit more backstory, and a little more time spent exploring them.

Still... Kyros Cockett completely surprised me, and I absolutely loved how possessive he became once he accepted what Sadie meant to him.

And Seraya and Daros? Don't think I didn't notice that chemistry.

Because I did. And now you've made me curious.

I'm definitely looking forward to seeing where this universe goes next.

🇵🇹

**Recebi um ARC da autora, mas esta review reflete apenas a minha opinião.**

Entrei neste livro com expectativas bastante altas... e ainda bem que posso dizer que correspondeu.

Foi a primeira vez que li um romance com um merman como MMC e fiquei imediatamente curiosa. A premissa está muito bem conseguida e dá-nos exatamente o suficiente para querermos perceber quem é realmente o Kyros e, acima de tudo, porque age da forma como age. Adorei ir descobrindo essas respostas aos poucos.

A Sadie também foi uma protagonista muito fácil de gostar. Tendo em conta tudo aquilo por que passa, admirei bastante a forma como se adapta às circunstâncias. Nunca senti que fosse uma personagem passiva ou que desistisse perante a adversidade.

Também acho que o ritmo funcionou muito bem. Sendo um livro relativamente curto, um pacing mais rápido só beneficiou a história. A relação desenvolve-se de forma natural, nunca senti que estivesse a ser apressada e, por isso, tornou-se muito fácil torcer pelos dois.

O meu maior problema acabou por ser os monólogos interiores da Sadie.

Sem entrar em spoilers, ela passa por uma situação genuinamente traumática e, sim, o Kyros é responsável por isso. O dilema moral que ela vive faz todo o sentido.

O problema nunca foi esse.

Foi a quantidade de vezes que voltávamos exatamente aos mesmos pensamentos.

Ao fim de algum tempo começou a parecer um pouco repetitivo porque eu já tinha percebido o conflito interno dela e não senti que fosse necessário reforçá-lo tantas vezes.

Tirando isso, gostei muito da forma como a Invi construiu tanto as personagens como este universo. E, acima de tudo, fiquei com a sensação de que isto é apenas o início de algo muito maior.

E sim...

Eu reparei naquela cena do Tiper.

Estou a ver o que fizeste.

Agora quero o livro dele.

A única razão pela qual esta não foi uma leitura de cinco estrelas prende-se com os Covenborn. Tendo em conta a forma como são apresentados como uma ameaça tão grande, estava à espera de um bocadinho mais de resistência, de mais backstory e de uma exploração mais aprofundada dessa parte da história.

Ainda assim...

O Cockett surpreendeu-me bastante e adorei a forma como o Kyros se tornou completamente possessivo depois de aceitar aquilo que a Sadie significava para ele.

E a Seraya e o Daros?

Não pensem que me escapou aquela química.

Porque não escapou.

E agora também quero saber a história deles.

Mal posso esperar para ver onde a Invi nos leva a seguir.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Review

This book reminded me exactly why I fell in love with Invi Wright's writing in the first place.

From the very first page, I was completely hooked. Before I'd even had a chance to settle into the story, I was already laughing. Sadie's narrative voice is sarcastic, quick witted and completely unapologetic, and she became one of those characters I knew I was going to love almost immediately. I don't think there was a single chapter where she didn't make me smile.

One of the things I admire most about Invi's writing is how effortless everything feels. The world building never asks the reader to work harder than they need to. Instead of introducing dozens of complicated names, places and systems that you have to memorise, everything feels intuitive. Tideborn, Coveborn... each part of the world is distinctive enough to feel immersive, but familiar enough that I never found myself stopping to figure things out. It meant I could stay completely absorbed in the story rather than trying to learn the mechanics of a brand new world.

Kayros was another highlight for me. At the beginning of the book he comes across as moody, guarded and almost impossible to read. Through Sadie's eyes, he honestly just seemed like a beautiful man with the personality of a "damp sponge." But as the story unfolds and you begin to understand his world, his responsibilities and everything that's shaped him, your perception shifts alongside Sadie's. By the end, I couldn't have imagined him any other way.

The chemistry between Sadie and Kayros was absolutely delicious. Invi has this incredible ability to build romantic tension without ever rushing it. Every interaction, every sarcastic comment, every tiny moment of physical contact felt intentional. She doesn't rely on instant attraction or endless spice to keep you invested. Instead, she lets the anticipation build until you're almost desperate for them to give in. When they finally do, it feels completely earned.

What impressed me most, though, was the balance. So many romantasy books either become overwhelmed by complicated world building or lean so heavily into dramatic plot twists that the relationships begin to take a back seat. Invi somehow manages to avoid both. The romance remains the heart of the story, while the grief, the plot and the wider world continue to develop naturally around it. Nothing feels forced. Nothing feels overdone. Everything has room to breathe.

Sadie's grief for her father was handled beautifully. It never disappeared simply because the romance developed, and equally it never overshadowed everything else. It was woven naturally throughout the story, reminding you that she was carrying more than one emotional burden. Those quieter moments gave the book so much heart.

By the time I reached the end, I felt completely satisfied with Sadie and Kayros' story, but I would absolutely inhale another series set in Tideborn. There is so much potential within this world, and if Invi ever chose to expand it further, I'd be first in line to read it.

This is exactly why I keep coming back to Invi Wright's books. They're immersive without being overwhelming, emotional without becoming melodramatic, and romantic without ever sacrificing the story they're trying to tell. Her writing has an ease to it that makes every page feel effortless to read, and once again I found myself completely swept away.

[Kristine · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75 Stars ⭐️

This was another”new to me” author but sadly, this book seemed to be more of a miss for me.

The premise revolves around our FMC Sadie - a 25 year old woman who happened to work with her father on a fishing trawler. The two of them had a particularly strong and solid relationship. Everything changes when they bring on a new person to the boat. This person - MMC Kyros - does some irredeemable things, things that change everything. One of those things was throwing Sadie off the boat and into the water (deep in the middle of the ocean) in an attempt to murder her.

The crazy thing was that Sadie didn’t drown. All of a sudden she was able to breathe under water.

At this point, I was still thinking that the premise was interesting and had potential but little by little, the farther along we got in the book. The more and more everything frustrated me.

Why? Well, many reasons, but the one thing that I just couldn’t get over was the fact that Kyros was the man (or Merman) who killed her father, the other crew member Tipper who was as close as family, and tried to kill Sadie. How does one go about forgetting those actions? We are talking about right AFTER the murders. There was no time to grieve, to mourn…….and Sadie is thinking about all of the things she wants to do with Kyros. Things like the logistics of where exactly his c*ck was and how the process worked with a man without legs and with no visible appendage. Seriously? Those are the things on your mind?


And don’t get me started on the whole Covenborn. So much build up…..for what? It was over before it began. And no one thought to ask questions about a particular mermaid’s back story? No one?

This book had potential, but for me, that was all it was.

[Baily Beerbower · Rating 1 out of 5]

Yes I finished it but no I didn’t like it 🤷‍♀️

[Aly Hill · Rating 1 out of 5]

I made it to 60% and there was still no Cocket. I choose sanity so I DNF’d it. I was at the point that I wanted to throw my kindle at the wall.

[Hope Morris Durst · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not everything recommended by a Tiktok influencer should be read & I’ll leave it at that

[Erin Allison · Rating 2 out of 5]

I did not enjoy it, but it wasn't as bad as I was expecting

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was forced to read this against my will in a book clurb and it was…. Something 🤣

[JN Foxe · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Having something with you, even if it doesn’t last, is better than never having anything.”

[Mikyla Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️ - i absolutely devoured this book on my plane ride, it really did it for me i hate to say it. - .5 stars because it did give me whiplash and tbh i wish the book was longer

[Rachel Ertas · Rating 3 out of 5]

This unfortunately did not do what her other books did. However the art is pretty so 3 ⭐️

[JuLiterally · Rating 1.5 out of 5]

Мені не сподобалась ця квола реалізація "стокгольмского синдрому".
Ну і абсолютно безглузде вбивство батька гг самим чгг - це кринж.

[Casey Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick fun, fantasy read

[M · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cocket indeed

[Antonia Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨ARC REVIEW✨

I started Taken by the Tide by Invi Wright yesterday and finished it today. I truly wish I had a reaction video of my face reading about Sadie’s special fin. 😅 🤫

I have to give this book 5 Stars ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice is a 3/5 🌶️🌶️

Sadie & Kyros I really loved, this was my first merman romance book & I fear it may be the start of my newest obsession. I teared up with Sadie, gasped, giggled & was kicking my feet during this. Somehow I felt every emotion right along Sadie.

Invi truly creates the most lovable characters that I feel so emotionally connected to. The way this story unfolded was so unlike anything I imagined going into this. I am begging for this to be a series because I am dying to know more about each of the mer pods. 🧜‍♂️🌊❤️‍🔥

❤️‍🔥Enemy to lover
❤️‍🔥Forced proximity
❤️‍🔥Obsessive MMC
❤️‍🔥”My hybrid” 😍
❤️‍🔥One bed

This book will be released August 25th 2026, but you can pre-order it now! (I know I have!)

“He was supposed to drown her.
Sadie has spent her life chasing the horizon—working aboard her father’s crabbing boat and laughing off myths of the deep—until Kyros boards their ship.
There’s a storm. Blood stains his hands. Before she can understand what’s happening, Kyros throws her overboard and leaves her to die.
Except Sadie doesn’t drown. She isn’t human. She’s something forbidden.
When Kyros realizes what she is, he takes her back to Tideborn—an underwater city on the brink of collapse. Only somebody with Sadie’s blood can fix it.
But there are monsters that lurk in the depths, the Red Bloom is near, and Kyros—the man who betrayed her—is the only one who can keep her alive.
He says she’s their last hope.
Sadie isn’t sure she wants to save his world. She might rather watch it burn.” 🔥

[Sammiejo · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

When I think about what I want in a merman romance (and as a devoted monster lover that is indeed something I give serious thought to) Taken by the Tide fits the bill pretty perfectly. It has great world building, emotional intelligence, and *ahem* unique anatomy with a side of incredibly hot, uncontrollable rut courtesy of the 'red bloom'.

There is no meet-cute for our lovers in this book. Instead, their story begins with murder. Sadie works on a crab boat with her dad and fellow fisherman Tipper. A few days out at sea Kyros, a leader of a pod of merpeople, mercilessly drowns their entire three-person crew. Things get even more complicated when Sadie drowns—but doesn’t die. It turns out that she is an extremely rare hybrid, with an ability that could help save the pod from extinction...but why would she even consider helping the monster who killed her family?

The deck is really stacked against them: Sadie wrestles with feeling a connection to the man who killed her father--Kyros is burdened by the weight of his responsibilities, which led him to take such drastic action in the first place--and almost every other merperson in the sea would prefer to see Sadie dead. None of these problems are easily resolved; but the story develops in such a way that hard-won happiness does come along, and you’ll cheer for them every step of the way.

All the aforementioned issues mean there is a long, slow burn for a most of the book. And the spice, when it finally hits in earnest, is phenomenal. If you love a dominant, frenzied MMC with primal instincts, you're going to want to read this. I’ll take a little of that red bloom for myself! 😉

[Christi Goodwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

FINALLY, A SPICY MERMAID TALE! (Pun intended)

I know I'm not the only one who as a young girl wished mermaids existed. If I'm honest, still sorta do. The beginning of this book had that little girl giggling in delight.

Loved the perspective we get through the mer community. "A little mer girl stared at the hybrids legs the way humans look at a fish tank; with awe and wonder."

The author does an amazing job immersing the reader into a vivid fascinating world.

The spice starts around half way through. I'm categorizing this into the monster smut genre. Quite bazaar, creative, and so much fun!

The author leaves us with a possible book 2 idea, but without a cliffhanger. Crossing fingers.

[Anabel · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.75 stars
Okay I have thoughts about this. The first half of the book I was pretty intrigued, but then it fell flat for me. The siphon never really made sense to me and it seemed way easier to destroy than I would’ve liked. I also felt that this was a good example of insta-lust done wrong. Sadie - the man killed your father and then after two weeks you are telling him that u love him…..spare me. Also for the last 20% of the book was just total smut with no plot and then it ended. But I’ve been itching to read a fantasy like this so I’m conflicted.

Also some of the banter seemed a bit insane and I was lowkey cringing. AND THE COCKET like I ain’t down for that🤷🏼‍♀️

[josie spng · Rating 4 out of 5]

interesting time to find out you’re petrified of the deep sea but nevertheless i had a great time!!!! unfortunately this is a monster type romance which means ive broken my friends trust and for that i am sorry …four stars tho

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cock pocket. That is all.

[Sierra Holden · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC copy of this book and I found it to be a fun fast paced book! I love everything that Invi writes and I ate this one up. I especially enjoyed the banter and protectiveness from Kyros.

I feel like the end hinted at maybe a potential sequel and I hope to see more of the Tideborn world!