Phantom of the Waste

Silk & Scale #1

by Emma Hamm

Seraphine has spent her life kneeling before a god that sees everything.

As one of the chosen priestesses of the Engine, she was taught that obedience is salvation, and doubt is death. Unfortunately, when she disobeys to give water to those in need, Seraphine learns the truth far too late: Even devotion does not make her untouchable.

Cast into the desert as punishment, she is offered as a living sacrifice to the creature that stalks the sands. Vael. A being of fang and scale. Half man. Half serpent. The Phantom of the Waste, who slaughters humans without mercy.

Except her.

He leaves her alive, and she follows him into the endless dunes, where the world splits open beneath her feet. Hidden cities. Buried truths. A history her god erased.

His touch burns like venom in her veins. And soon she learns the monster she was taught to fear may be the only one who has ever told her the truth.

Genres: Monster Romance, Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, Fiction, Monsters, Romantasy

368 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication January 19, 2027

About the author

We all know you don't really care about reading my background. Enjoy Cap instead.

Reviews

[Anna (annareadit) · Rating 3.75 out of 5]

rtc

[saralouisereads · Rating 5 out of 5]

thank you Emma Hamm for the opportunity to beta read this for you!!! i had so much fun and love love LOVED this book!! i’m not gonna get too detailed in this review but just know it was AMAZING and i can’t wait for you all to get your grubby little paws on it. here’s some tropes for you though 🥲
• dual pov
• dystopian
• monster romance
• size difference
• grumpy but soft for her only
• third person pov (my fav)
• vibrating peen
• exceptional character growth
• virgin mmc

[Morally_Gray_Nola · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been so excited for this new series from author Emma Hamm to finally come out. Let me tell you, it does not disappoint. Seraphine makes few exceptions to following her ‘god’, The Machine, blindly. She cannot bear to watch the people of her city thirst to death. Risking her own life, she sneaks water to them — this is the first of the many examples Seraphine gives of her strength of character throughout this phenomenal book. It is this inner strength that first catches Vael’s curiosity. Speaking of Vael . . . what a glorious creature he is 🫦 Vael is sexy without the campy feel that ofttimes accompanies many naga characters. Their journey to their HEA is treacherous, full of many heart stopping / heart wrenching / stomach churning / laugh out loud / toe curling moments.

PHANTOM OF THE WASTE is an exciting primer to what promises to be another epic Emma Hamm series. Lorn and Sabine are next 🖤
*** Recommended ***

MMC:
✨Vael
FMC:
✨Seraphine
HEA/Cliffhanger:
✨HEA
Series:
✨Book 1: Silk and Scale
Tropes:
👉naga romance
👉protective mmc
👉virgin mmc
👉enemies to lovers
👉dystopian romance
👉he falls first
👉naga x priestess
Triggers:🛑see content warning page/author’s website for full list🛑
💥18+
💥 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️, mf, open🚪sex
💥profanity
💥violence, blood, gore
💥death, mass murder

[Jessica · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

ARC Review: Thank you Emma Hamm for the opportunity to receive an e-ARC!! I was extremely excited for this one and to return to a world we all loved, but this time from the topside!

This was such a fun read, and I’m an absolute sucker for a good monster romance with top tier worldbuilding. Emma certainly knows how to deliver a slow burn romance too.🙆🏼‍♀️

I loved the concept of the Engine and gods, as well as exploring the desert and its dystopian atmosphere. The inclusion of AI being a major point in everyone’s survival was interesting.

And then there’s Vael. A naga. Never thought I’d be adding snake people to my list of hear me outs, but here we are. Vael and Seraphine were such a cute match, and I loved watching their romance unfold. That said, I have a weakness for the grumpy, silent types.. so I’m already looking forward to whenever we get Caligo’s book. 👀

[cereal · Rating 5 out of 5]

spoiler free beta review—

i was given a beta read of this book a few months ago, and it quickly became one of my favorite Emma Hamm books EVER. she is always absolutely amazing with her stories. The detail in the world building was beautiful, the characters absolutely well thought out and lovable. I miss reading this book already.

Thank you again to Emma Hamm and her wonderful team for allowing me to be a beta reader again.
6 stars for this book, because it's just so good it's off the charts.

[marissa pekurny · Rating 5 out of 5]

omg this book was so freaking good and i am so glad i got the privilege to beta read it for emma! she is one of my autobuy authors and this book did not disappoint! i loved vael and seraphine so much. sera was such a lovely character and i couldn’t get over how resilient she was. vael was just lovely in general and im obsessed. everything about him was great and i loved how broody he was and how he grew throughout the book. sera really came out of her shell and became such a strong person. i absolutely loved the ending and definitely recommend reading this book!! you will not be disappointed! thank you so much to emma for trusting me to beta read your story and i cannot wait to see what is in store next!

[Tetiana Adamiuk]

I neeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeed this!

[Frankie_Nicole]

Y’all, I got an ARC 🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹😭😭😭😭🖤🖤🖤🖤

[Madison · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

ARC

RTC

[The Fabled Librarian🖤 · Rating 5 out of 5]

🖤 Phantom of the Waste by Emma Hamm 🖤
⭐ A must-add to your 2027 TBR!
📚 Releases January 19th, 2027

First things first, a HUGE thank you to Emma Hamm for sending me an e-ARC of this book! I was so excited to return to this world, and once again, Emma reminded me why she’s an automatic-add-to-my-TBR author. If she writes it, I want to read it. It’s that simple.

We follow Seraphine, a priestess devoted to the Engine, an artificial intelligence worshipped as humanity’s protector. After risking everything to help the people of Gula, Sera is cast into the Wasteland as a sacrifice. But she’s not quite ready to accept her fate. I absolutely loved Sera! She’s resourceful, stubborn, and incredibly resilient. While her unwavering faith in the Engine occasionally tested my patience, watching her question everything she’s ever believed, uncover the truth, and find her own strength was so satisfying. Her transformation was one of my favorite parts of the story.
Then there’s VAEL. A cold, intimidating naga with very little interest in humans and plenty of reasons to distrust them. Naturally, I was immediately intrigued. There’s so much more beneath his intimidating exterior, and getting to uncover his history while watching his relationship with Sera develop was wonderful. Their romance felt natural, their chemistry was fantastic, and I was rooting for them the entire time.
And we absolutely cannot forget COMPASS. What an absolute little treasure! His unsolicited facts and perfectly timed commentary had me thoroughly entertained. I need more of him immediately. One of my favorite things about this book was its worldbuilding. Returning to Emma’s world and getting a glimpse into what’s happening in the Above was such a treat. The dystopian atmosphere was genuinely unsettling, and there were moments when I caught myself wondering just how easily some of these circumstances could become reality. There’s more beneath the surface of this story than just romance, and I loved having so much to think about after finishing.
Of course, Emma also delivered on the romance and spice! The dynamic between Sera and Vael was such an enjoyable journey, and let’s just say having a naga love interest certainly makes things interesting. 😂 The characters, immersive setting, engaging plot, and emotional development made this such an enjoyable read. I also loved getting a little preview of what’s coming next, because now I’m already impatient for more!
And ANAM?! I am especially excited for his story. I would also absolutely LOVE to see some familiar faces from Below make an appearance again. There are so many possibilities with this world, and I cannot wait to see where Emma takes us next.
Overall, Phantom of the Waste was an excellent addition to this world, and I’m already ready for the next installment.
Emma Hamm continues to be an automatic TBR author for me. Her ability to create imaginative worlds, compelling characters, and romances that keep me invested is exactly why I’ll continue picking up her books.

🖤 Phantom of the Waste releases January 19th, 2027!

If you love dystopian fantasy, naga love interests, enemies-to-lovers tension, intriguing worldbuilding, and a romance with plenty of spice, ADD THIS ONE TO YOUR TBR!

Thank you again, Emma, for the opportunity to read this early. I already need more!

#PhantomOfTheWaste #EmmaHamm #FantasyRomance #MonsterRomance #BookTok #Romantasy #UpcomingReads #TBR

[Victoria Gavin · Rating 5 out of 5]

"We are very good at pretending that we are like you, but we are not"....

Chills. 10 stars. I am officially floored by this book! It delivered absolutely everything you want in a monster romance, while flawlessly weaving in a nuanced, modern cautionary tale about the evolution of AI ("The Engine"). I was so wholly captivated by how the author added this brilliant layer of intellectual depth without hurting the pacing at all. The concept of looking into the future where a generation actually thinks an AI engine is a god is SO fascinating..... especially when that Engine decides humanity is too unpredictable.... (no spoilers but you are going to be on the edge of your seat).

As for the romance? Masterpiece. I think I am in love with Naga men now...? May I have book 2? I was completely obsessed as soon as our MMC Vael was describing the special way his jaw could unhinge... and the VIBRATIONS!! (If you know, you know).
Despite their unconventional start, he was so deeply caring and protective of our FMC Sera. Watching them fall in love and support each other through the worst revelations of their lives was so endearing. Plus, I was melting when his possessiveness starts to take him off guard... and he genuinely hated when he didn't have every ounce of her attention.

Emma Hamm will forever be an auto- read, auto- buy author for me. The magic she puts into every book with the perfect mix of spice, plot, romance, character depth... I am constantly in awe. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for the ARC. I think this book is going to become my personality for a long time and I can't wait to scream about it to the world for the foreseeable future.

[Hennie · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all, a huge thank you to Emma for sending me an early copy of this book! I was SO excited when it was announced because I absolutely adore Emma's work, and I knew I had to read this one.

We follow Seraphine, Sera, a priestess who worships the Engine, an AI created to protect humanity. After disobeying her god, she is cast into the Wasteland as a sacrifice. Sera was such a resilient and resourceful FMC! I will admit, I was a little frustrated with her blind faith in the Engine at first, but watching her slowly uncover the truth, open her eyes, and seek revenge was so satisfying.

And then we have Vael. A cold, stern naga who wants absolutely nothing to do with humans. Understandable, considering everything he knows about them! But there is so much more to him than meets the eye, and I loved learning about his past and watching his relationship with Sera develop. Their romance felt natural and believable, and I was rooting for them the entire time!

Also, can we talk about Compass?! What an absolute treasure. I loved him and his tendency to randomly spew out facts whether anyone asked or not.

The writing was engaging, the plot was fantastic, and the dystopian setting genuinely gave me chills. There were moments when I caught myself thinking, "Wait, this could actually happen..." and that was honestly terrifying. This story definitely left me with a lot to think about, and I can see it lingering in my mind for a while.

And the spice? SO GOOD. I may have had to use my imagination a little more than usual because, well... naga. But Emma absolutely delivered!

We even got a tiny sneak peek of the second book, and I am already counting down the days. I NEED MORE!

[TheKailyChapter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't know what Emma Hamm puts into her writing, but I devour it every time. Phantom of the Waste has been one of my most anticipated reads since its existence was first teased in the Deep Waters series. The plot was fast-paced and engaging, keeping me on the edge of my seat to see how Vael and Seraphine would tackle the tasks before them. I absolutely could not put this book down, even taking my Kindle to work to read during every free moment!

I loved watching the character development unfold between Vael and Seraphine, moving from enemies to reluctant allies to friends to lovers. And on that note, I don't normally comment on the spice in my book reviews, but these scenes were HOT! 🥵 There was just something about the build-up and the chemistry between these two that was on fire. This was by no means my first monster romance, but it was my first naga romance, and wow, did it set the bar high! I would never dare to rush the creative process that brings us these incredible stories, but I'm already so invested in these characters and cannot wait for the next book!

Thank you so much to Emma Hamm for the opportunity to read this ARC!

[Naz- bookhusbandcollector · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you so much to Emma Hamm for the earc of Phantom of the Waste!

I loved this! I loved the Deep Water Series so much but it also left me curious about the world above. I was so excited for this series!

Humans have essentially destroyed this world and now an AI is in charge with the goal of making sure humanity survives. In reality the AI has created a world where everything is controlled and it's worshipped as a God, literally. Our FMC Sera is a priestess who is thrown out of her village for going against the AI's wishes and she meets our MMC Vael who is a Naga and a result of genetic experiments of gene splicing.

Vael and Sera have very different goals but as they spend more time together and Sera discovers more of the truth behind the AI she has worshipped as a god, they become more aligned. This story has a lot of parallels to issues in our current world and even though there is a romance at the center of it, it's also very poignant. Most of the highlights I have from this book are from the dangers of AI and what is has and will do.

If you are an Emma Hamm fan and especially a fan of the Deep Waters series, I think you'll love this !

[Jade · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recieved an arc of this book and it was EXCELLENT. Its so great to return to this world and see whats going on in the Above. I have marked this as having spoilers just in case, but have tried to avoid anything too obvious.

Seraphine is a priestess to the Engine, who is exiled for stealing water and giving it to the citizens of Gula. She then meets Vael the naga in the desert, and follows him, after being shocked he can speak. Impressed(?) By her tenacity to stay alive and follow him, Vael decides to help her (to a point) to stay alive and also meet his own ends (whats in the box, in the box!!).

From there, its a classic Emma Hamm love story, of 2 people who's agendas align (eventually) and fall in love. I really love these books, because the characters are all strong in all the right ways, while still having realistic weaknesses.

I cant wait for Anams story in particular, and really hope we get to run into the OGs from Below!! It would be interesting if the Engine has any tentacles into the under sea stations.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another adrenaline filled master piece by Emma. I always loved the slow burn, graduated crescendo of her story lines. In the beginning I wasn’t sure about the diabolical nature of AI in the book (given how it’s hitting a little close to home with how much AI is taking over our current world), but she married the “future” with the fantasy of human x naga saga in the most delicious way. I always loved Emma’s book where it’s never a love at first sight. The love was earned and built through experiences. Her vivid description of all the imagery made it so easy to imagine everything like a movie. This is truly one of my favorite naga monsterromance and I cannot wait for more in the series! This is an action packed book filled with adventures, discovery, passion, loss, and hope. For those who loved the Deep Water series, you’ll love seeing this universe of all the humans that had to stay above ground versus going into the ocean! 10000/10 it is such a great read!

[Jessica Sokol · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

I just finished arc reading this and it was phenomenal. The world building was fantastic! So many details and such vivid imagery. I loved it.

Sera and Vael, they have my whole heart! Sera is the definition of resilience. She refuses to give up no matter how hard and dire things become. She will not bow down to anyone and she will not stop. I loved her character! Vael is broody and doesn’t know how to joke properly but oh my heart, he’s so sweet and protective. I loved them! I also really loved his brothers and I hope we get to see more of them!

This is a great story filled with strength, determination, found family, and love.

[Teya Freads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Endlessly grateful for this ARC - thank you Emma!

This book was a gift. I have been so excited about this since it was announced. Sometimes that happens and you end up disappointed because it’s not as good as you thought it would be. That was not the case here. It held up and I’m so happy. I’m excited for the next one and this one isn’t even out yet.

Some of the highlights:
- grumpy MMC who’s soft for her
- FMC who refuses to die
- virgin MMC
- delightfully heavy handed, fuck AI messaging
- she teaches him dumb dad jokes

Spice 🌶️🌶️/5
Tears 0/5
Giggles ✨✨✨/5

[Mimi Chow · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to get the ARC of the long awaited Phantom of the Waste and wow! It did not disappoint. The premise was really fascinating and relevant to what is taking place in the real world. Also, it had you really invested in characters that you didn’t think you would be. The journey our main characters, Sera and Vael go on together is a wild one. Love the tropes and there was some little thriller bits in there too which surprised me! Cannot wait to order the hardback and all the special editions of this amazing book!

[Kiarah · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

Yet another book by Emma Hamm that I was unable to put down once I picked it up. Even though we don't see our underwater crew in this new installment, reading about the world Above was so cool. I am already making bets on how many books and whose POV we will be getting, though it is probably obvious.

I really enjoyed the dangers of blind obedience and faith woven into the story. Whether it is the AI or religion, you should still use your own brain to think for yourself.

[PeaPoe · Rating 5 out of 5]

A human woman fighting against everything she has been taught? A naga man working to unravel secrets of his past that haunt him? A companion with poorly timed “umm actually”s? An AI gone awry? This book has all of this and more. Our main character is a woman torn between her own beliefs and what she has been asked to do since she was born. This tale shows the unraveling of her fate after she is found to have gone against the AI’s wishes.

[Heather Peach · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing read cover to cover.
The world building was rich and interesting with excellent descriptions. Seraphine and Vael are wonderful and I was rooting for them from the start. I was kicking my feet and twirling my hair reading this book.
Emma Hamm you have done it again. You made me love mermen, trolls, and now snakemen.
I am so excited for this new series!

[Jenni | The Zesty Library 🧡✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨📖 ARC Review 📖✨

SHE DOES IT AGAIN!!! 👏👏👏
This was such a clever book - I adored the plot and as always Emma writes the most incredible characters I get super attached to! I loved everything about this book!! What an adventure and what a ride!!

✨ Enemies to Lovers
✨ Dystopian/Sci-Fi
✨ Forced Proximity
✨ Monster X Human
✨ Grumpy/Sunshine

[Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this story! The characters were amazing, and the plot was thrilling. Just the right amount of danger and slow burn. The action did not stop, the story kept me hooked. Can’t wait to see how the story will progress in future books !!

Advance reader copy review.

[Hana Rima · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an amazing read. Its great regardless of if you have read the Deep Waters series or not. (It is the same world but not any real cross over.) I absolutely loved the story and characters and I already can't wait for the next book.

[Jordan Standifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Emma Hamm books so freaking much. The start of this series might be my favorite so far. No spoilers here. Just that I can’t wait for what comes next. Thank you so much for the ARC!