Mooncursed: The Drowned King Series, Book 1

The Drowned King #1

by Holly Renee, Anthony Palmini (Narrator), Samantha Brentmoor (Narrator)

A cursed sea king, a stolen bride, and a fate meant for another.

They say madness dwells in the ocean's depths… and in the eyes of the Drowned King. Cursed to take a human bride and break her mind the moment she sees his face, the Drowned King spends his life in torment, watching. Waiting.

Lou was never meant to be chosen. Branded from birth as a saltwitch, she has always been seen as the cursed shadow of her moonblessed twin. Now, veiled and bound in marriage to a man she must never see, she's thrust into a life of ancient gods and unraveling fate…and unspeakable desire.

Yet even as fear becomes tangled with a perilous longing for the Drowned King's heated touch, the truth of her choosing looms over her like a siren's song. It rages louder with every breath she takes as whispers travel through the rumblings of war, of ancient goddesses awakening, of a queen with saltwater on her lips who will change everything.

There is no stopping fate, for though she was never meant to be chosen, the moon has already summoned the tide.

From bestselling author Holly Renee comes an emotionally compelling romantasy drenched in salt and magic.

Narrated in duet style.

Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy, Romance, Fantasy Romance, Enemies To Lovers, Forced Proximity, Slow Burn

Audible Audio

First published November 3, 2026

About the author

✨USA Today Bestselling Author
🤠 Cowboy Casual out October 7th

Find me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorhollyrenee/
Join my Reader Group, Hollywood: https://www.facebook.com/groups/HollyRenee


🩷🤠COWBOY ROMANCE🤠🩷

Cowboy Casual | Coming October 7th


✨🌙⚔️FANTASY ROMANCE⚔️🌙✨

The Veiled Kingdom Series

The Veiled Kingdom
The Hunted Heir
The Rivaled Crown

The Stars and Shadows Series
A Kingdom of Stars and Shadows
A Kingdom of Blood and Betrayal
A Kingdom of Venom and Vows
A Kingdom of Fire and Fate


🖤🫦CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE🫦🖤

The Boys of Clermont Bay Series
The Touch of a Villain
The Fall of a God
The Taste of an Enemy
The Deceit of a Devil
The Seduction of Pretty Lies
The Temptation of Dirty Secrets

The Good Girls Series
Where Good Girls Go to Die
Where Bad Girls Go to Fall
Where Bad Boys are Ruined

The Rock Bottom Series
Trouble with the Guy Next Door
Trouble with the Hotshot Boss}
[book: Trouble with the Fake Boyfriend

The Wrong Prince Charming
The Wrong Prince Charming

Reviews

[ellen · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

thank you so much to netgalley and sourcebooks for this arc!

this one was so, so fun. in all honesty, it took me a little while to get into it, but once i was, i was HOOKED. the romance was really the stand out point in this book for me - the chemistry worked so well and had me giggling and kicking my feet. the premise was also really unique, and i really enjoy fantasy stories that have such a link with the sea, and seaside cities.

overall, this was a really quick and intriguing read, with a really great romance! i enjoyed a lot!

[cat · Rating 3 out of 5]

"This longing was a dangerous tide, and gods help me, I wanted nothing more than to drown in her."


on repeat 𝄞 ࿐♬ 𓍢ִ🎧ྀི ᯓ ‎♪ˎˊ˗
“ᴡᴀᴛᴇʀ” x sᴀʀᴀʜ ᴄʜᴀɴɢᴇᴅ
1:15 ───♥─────── 2:56


╭➤ the premise ────────────────────────────╮
A marriage to a cursed sea king, a bride forbidden from ever seeing his face, and a curse that threatens to unravel everything. Louisa, a saltwitch who has always lived in the shadow of her moonblessed twin, finds herself bound to the mysterious Drowned King. With ancient goddesses awakening and an undeniable pull growing between them, there’s far more to this marriage than either could have imagined
────────────────────────────╯

mooncursed was definitely… different. The cover was 100% what initially pulled me in because LOOK AT IT. it’s so beautiful. 😭 Now, I should probably mention that fantasy and I have a complicated relationship. I struggle with the genre, especially when the worldbuilding gets overwhelming and there’s so much happening that I feel like I’m constantly trying to catch up. Unfortunately, that kinda happened here. I found the writing and the way certain things were explained difficult to follow, and there were moments where I genuinely wasn’t sure what was going on

And I hate saying this, but I felt like not much actually happened for a good portion of the book. Louisa was constantly almost drowning, hearing the sea calling her name, and experiencing these repeated moments that started feeling a little… too repetitive. Things were technically progressing, but at such a slow pace that I struggled to feel like I was getting anywhere.

The romance was another mixed bag for me. Rune and Louisa had some intriguing moments, but I initially didn’t fully understand why they were so intensely drawn to each other. It does explains a bit more later, but even with that, their connection and the way everything escalated felt a little too sudden for me, and I wanted more time to actually understand what was developing between them 🤷🏼‍♀️

Thankfully, things started picking up around the 60% mark, and I finally felt like the story was giving me more to sink my teeth into. I understand that this is the beginning of a trilogy and there’s naturally going to be mystery, unanswered questions, and a lot of setup. However, I wish some things had been explained a little better because the confusion occasionally took me out of the experience 🫩🫩 I definitely feel like this book needed to be longer to further expand on the world

That cliffhanger though?? I was definitely raising my eyebrows. 👀 Despite my frustrations, I’m genuinely curious about where things are headed and a little more excited to pick up the second book than I expected. Not a complete win for me, but I’m still willing to see what the sea has in store 🙂‍↕️

favorite quotes ↓

“You are devastating,” I whispered, my voice rough with restraint. “Like the sea carved you just for me.”

“I have seen nothing, wanted nothing, but you since the moment I found you”

“I’d give the sea my bones, my blood, my every memory so long as you’re the last thing I see.”

things to know about the book ↓

🌊 forced marriage
🌊 cursed sea king x saltwitch
🌊 “no looking” curse
🌊 slowburn
🌊 cliffhanger
🌊 dual POV

swearing: yes
spice rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
→ chapters: 21, 25

Thank you NetGalley, publisher & author for this arc in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

─────────
・❥・⁀➷ 𝕡𝕣𝕖-𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕕

september 9th- somehow im being accepted for all my top arcs?! life is so good rn 😭 im so thankful

[Sophie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Me: Ooh, gorgeous cover.
Also me: Wait. I dnf’d this author’s last series.
Me again: This sounds so good tho. Ahh fuck it, i’m reading it.

Who knew I had so little self control? But listen I’m not mad about it.

First of all, I found this to be very atmospheric which immediately made me want to put on my headphones and listen to my favorite reading playlist. I was completely enthralled by the first chapters, just getting to know the world and how it worked.

Basically: a curse was placed on the royal bloodline, and whoever the Drowned King marries is destined to lose their mind. Except the King has refused to take a bride, and the curse is fighting back.

Now imagine the most powerful and uncontrollable force out there. Did you think about the sea? Because that’s what’s fighting back, and it’s devouring everything in its path. So he can either find a bride, or watch his entire kingdom drown.

Not much of a choice, is it?

Having that ticking clock makes for such a tense setup, especially once feelings get involved...

But that’s also where my main complaint comes in. Lou and Rune have maybe two or three interactions before things get heated between them. There’s definitely yearning and tension but… where did it come from? The romance is too half-baked for any of it to actually hit hard.

This book is already so short. I don’t get why it rushed through the romance instead of adding another 50 pages to let it breathe. Also, I don’t think I ever found out their ages. This is crucial information that I need to know, and it’s bothering me a little bit that I don’t.

I could rant about the FMC having zero survival instincts around the sea. Or how the writing got a bit repetitive. And how that ending was so underwhelming.

But even with all these issues, I can’t deny how much I enjoyed it. I was kinda skeptical going into this, but it ended up being way better than I expected.

─ ✦ ────

✎ᝰ.┊ pre-read: dropped everything to start this. no regrets

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc!

[viv · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

ohmygod whattt. i'm actually speechless. i didn't expect to love this as much as i did and the ending?!?? holy cliffhanger!!!! i have so many theories for the next book😭😭😭😭
full rtc💘

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mooncursed (The Drowned King #1) Holly Renee
Book Blurb: A cursed sea king, a stolen bride, and a fate meant for another.
They say madness dwells in the ocean's depths…and in the eyes of the Drowned King. Cursed to take a human bride and break her mind the moment she sees his face, the Drowned King spends his life in torment, watching. Waiting.

Rating: ****
Feels: Adventure, Intrigue, Heat, Surprise
Style: Romantasy, Fantasy, Fantasy Romance, Enemies To Lovers
First published November 3, 2026 : 320 pages

Themes & Setting: Really enjoyed the themes of curses and prophecies surrounded by an intense attraction and forbidden love. This had a very atmospheric setting where the sea felt very involved in every aspect of the story.
FMC: Lou was a bit naive which played into how she was raised but overall I enjoyed her character as she was not a pushover and wanted to be seen and respected.
MMC: The Drowned King was soo soo hot and angsty. The kind of tortured broody guy who you just want things to work out for!
Conclusion: Loved the vibes of this book. Vengeful sea goddesses and curses all around !! The delightful tension between Lou and the drowned king was everything. The whole I totally want my wife but should I really slow burn was killing me and it was delicious. To look upon him is to be dreaded and yet she can’t help but be drawn to him. It’s completely delicious slow burn mixed with forbidden romance and some lovely sea witch vibes. I really loved how at each and every turn you are totally reminded of the setting, where they are and how close the sea is. It really sets a mood and a vibe throughout the story and feels really immersive. Overall really enjoyed this alot and will be reading book two !! Need to know what happens next !!!

Favorite Quote: "The sea remembers what we forget" she said, soft as a lullaby.

Book Vibes:
Enemies to Lovers
Forbidden Love
Forced Proximity
Siren Goddess
Forced Marriage
Slow Burn
Tortured Hero
A Curse & A Prophecy

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am quite impressed by the rich world building in this novella. I did not expect so much detail in just over 200 pages!

The pace of this book is fast right out of the gate. The story begins by following Lou, who is considered a saltwitch by her people. The community speaks of the curse of Aysu, in which a woman is claimed by the Drowned King and must follow him to his kingdom. It’s expected that she will be betrothed to him and fall into madness.

Right about then, I was mad 😂 What do you mean she’s basically being sent off to preserve a strange man’s kingdom?! Lou seriously has been through it. Her own people treat her as an outcast, and now she’s following this stranger to what will inevitably be her downfall.

The curse was wild. The story progresses in such an addictive way that makes Lou’s fate feel all the more dire. Add in the additional revelations and the growing tension between Lou and the Drowned King, and I was glued to the pages!

I did not want to put this book down, and I sure didn’t want to be left on a cliffhanger! I was so invested in this world and literally cannot wait to see what happens next!

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for providing me with the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Jessica]

DNF at 50%

Unfortunately, I am not a huge fan of overly lyrical writing, and that was how this story was told. The author heavily leans into the sea/cursed atmosphere and that took up most of the page instead of the actual plot. Because of that, I wasn't really engaged in the story or the characters, so I decided to put this one down.

[Beth · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

Beautifully Written, Frustratingly Incomplete

Moon Cursed by Holly Renee is one of those books that pulls you in with its gorgeous prose. The writing is lyrical, atmospheric, and beautifully crafted, creating an immersive world that is easy to get lost in. Renee has a talent for painting scenes with words, and there were plenty of moments where I found myself slowing down just to appreciate how elegantly a passage was written.

That said, as the story progressed, I found myself craving more substance beneath the beautiful language. The characters and plot had intriguing elements, but I kept waiting for deeper answers, stronger development, and more meaningful revelations. The book felt like it was building toward something significant, only to leave many of those expectations hanging.

And then there was that ending.

I understand cliffhangers are often used to create anticipation for the next installment, but this ending felt so abrupt that it left me staring at the page thinking, "Wait... that's it?" Instead of providing even a small amount of clarity or payoff, it seemed to cut off right when the story was finally ready to deliver answers. Had I been reading a physical copy instead of my tablet, I genuinely might have thrown the book across the room.

Despite my frustration, I can't deny that Holly Renee's writing is stunning and kept me turning pages. While the ending and lack of resolution left me disappointed, there was enough beauty in the storytelling to keep me interested in seeing where the series goes next. If you enjoy lush, poetic writing and don't mind a cliffhanger that leaves you hanging by a thread, Mooncursed may be worth the journey. Just be prepared to finish the final page with far more questions than answers.

Thank you to @Netgalley | @sourcebooks and @SourcebooksCasablanca for this ARC review copy. This opinion is mine and mine alone.

[Katie’s Bookshelf · Rating 3 out of 5]

3⭐️
This had an interesting enough plot to make me me pick it up but unfortunately didn't end up working great in my opinion. It somehow managed to be fast paced while also having not much happen?

The writing is also very lyrical and while beautiful, I found it hard to follow. So many instances of Lou hearing the ocean or dreaming of her mother's voice and stuff that I kept having to go back and check if it was real or not. Like half the writing was just the author waxing poetic instead of anything actually happening

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishing team for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[ari ⁠♡ · Rating 1.5 out of 5]

This was such a struggle to get through. I almost dnf multiple times, and my biggest issue was the writing. The prose felt so unnecessarily flowery and overdone, like it was trying way too hard to sound poetic. On top of that, so many things felt repetitive. Did anyone keep count of how many times the FMC was mentioned?🤦🏻‍♀️

[Rebecca]

2nd November Alluriel pick

Summary sounds interesting but I did DNF a different book by Renee

[Amelia · Rating 3 out of 5]

From the first chapter and the first mentions of religious indoctrination and burning women at the stake for “witchcraft”, I knew I would be interested in this. Leave it to me to want to read every book about fighting against what you’re told to believe by zealots who accept no challenge.

“I wanted to shake this bullshit faith right out of her bones until she remembered what it was like to be alive.” I felt this one in MY boooooooones. “The priests taught that to look upon him was to invite madness, that the sea would crawl into the mind through the gaze and hollow it out piece by piece.” Ah yes, the priests making up bullshit with no proof or standing 🌚

This was my first Holy Renee book and I was so surprised by how descriptive her writing was. In my own stupidity, I assumed that because her books are short by my standards, the prose would be more utilitarian but that is what I get for assuming, making an ass out of myself. She really paints a picture of what’s happening that with normal people would create real visuals to add to the storytelling but guess who can’t see pictures in her defective brain? 😂 I really do feel that for the majority this would be a massive plus, but for me, it was very hard to stay in it an understanding what I’m supposed to be understanding. I really had to focus for a while to be able to follow what’s happening because my brain just cannot process a lot of details at once.

And sadly in the end this worked against me even further because I felt we were progressing in the book without meaningful events. The dialogue and interactions between Rune and Louisa were also not working for me at all, between the use of the diminutive “little” and just the formulaic “look at me I am big and mean”, all I wanted to do while reading their interactions was look away. I found the entire thing a bit too formulaic and like I’ve read these exact sentences a many times before.

However, while I was not in love with this story I think a lot of people will be as it’s fun, fast paced and romantic in its own way! My final rating is somewhere between 2 and 3 ⭐️ so I will be rounding up because I am actually interested in continuing.

Thank you to Netgalley for the arc!!

[catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this! It was such an immersive read and I loved the world Holly Renee created. The writing had a really magical and poetic style to it, especially with all the imagery surrounding the sea and the curse. The shorter length also made it a really fast paced and engaging read.

I loved how Rune and how protective he was of Lou and how determined he was to find a way to break the curse rather than accepting what was happening to her. Seeing how deeply he cared about his people and the lengths he was willing to go to protect them made me love his character. He’s also just a yearner so of course I love him.

I really enjoyed Lou and Rune together. There was definitely chemistry between them, and I found myself rooting for them throughout the book. My issue was that I wanted more from their romance. I would have loved more meaningful moments where we could see their connection evolve and deepen. I think that would have made their relationship feel so much more impactful.

That being said, I really enjoyed the story, the atmosphere, and the worldbuilding, and I’m interested in seeing where the series goes next. I’m really glad I got the chance to read this one, and that plot twist ending was crazy so I can’t wait to see what Book 2 brings!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of Mooncursed 🌙🌊

[Heather Becht (fantasyromantasy) · Rating 5 out of 5]

“𝘐 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘥𝘰𝘮, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘐 𝘧𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘮𝘢𝘺 𝘳𝘶𝘪𝘯 𝘶𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘭.”

First let's take a moment for the cover.. Holly has the prettiest books and if Holly writes it, I read it. Mooncursed is drenched in magic and yearning and I loved every second of the ride. I loved how unique and picturesque the world was and immediately felt swept up in the story. I had the best time reading, and the plot and pacing made for a quick read.

Lou has had it rough and her story had me sucked in from the start. I found the curse and the draw of the magic system to be so intriguing. I am sossss down bad for Rune. The tension and yearning between Lou and Rune bleeds through the pages. Holly writes MMCs with the filthiest mouths and Rune did NOT disappoint.

Holly is one of my favorite authors because her books are just so enjoyable and easy to read. I’m so excited to continue the series, and I know that Holly is going to make it such a fun ride!

𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙑𝙞𝙗𝙚𝙨:
Siren Romantasy
Enemies to Lovers
Forbidden Romance
Forced Marriage
Mirrorborn Twins
Tortured Hero
Daughter of a Salt Witch
Drowned King
Cursed to Never Look Upon the Other
Curses, Sea Witches, & Goddesses

“𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘳𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘧 𝘪𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘴𝘵𝘴 𝘮𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘭, 𝘴𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘪𝘵. 𝘐’𝘥 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘢 𝘮𝘺 𝘣𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴, 𝘮𝘺 𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘥, 𝘮𝘺 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘴𝘰 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶’𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘐 𝘴𝘦𝘦.”

[Shannon Farley]

OMG! Just got the Free Read copy on NetGalley! 🔥Cant wait to see what Holly is bring us in this new world!💜

[AvidReader · Rating 3.75 out of 5]

This was beautiful!
I enjoyed the concept, it was fascinating.
The overall vibe of the book was delicious. It was dark, moody, tragic, emotional and tense. I also enjoyed the writing style.

I liked Rune and Lou. They were both stubborn and loyal.
Loved the secondary characters Raden and Kaeli too.

I didn’t give it more stars because in the second half things got a little confusing and repetitive. I also felt like romance needed a little more time to marinate between them.

Loved the ending. Even though I was expecting a 10 different climaxes, I didn’t get it right and it still made me gasp. Can’t wait to read book 2.

-Unique lore filled world.
-Cursed MMC
-Veiled FMC
-Forced Proximity.
-Forced marriage
-Prophecy, revenge and vengeful Goddesses.
-Book 1, safe, TW and recommended.

I received an advance review copy and I’m leaving this review voluntarily.

[Leticia (jerseygirlsbookshelf) · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

"When I saw her, goddess when I saw her, the curse beneath my skin went silent for the first time in my life. There was no choice to be made. It was her."
I couldn’t stop reading this book! Was it the lore and the world building behind it? Was it the connection to the sea? Was it the “witchy” parts? Maybe the hero?
What about… It was all of it! And I can’t wait to know what’s coming next!

"The Drowned Vow would take me, it would claim my mind, and I’d lose myself to the siren goddess Aysu like all the brides before."
Holly sets the stage by offering us a tale of gods and how one lover wrongs the other, leading to eternal revenge and a curse. A curse that is to fall on a mortal woman whenever she is chosen to be the bride of the so-called Drowned King.
And he is coming soon to claim his queen.

"The world itself seemed to bow in his presence, every grain of sand, every salt-laced whisper of wind, every trembling molecule between heaven and earth bending toward him like flowers seeking the sun, though he carried only night in his wake."
It wasn't supposed to happen, but Louisa is the one he takes. Louisa, who was shunned practically since birth, left on her own and treated horribly by the other villagers and her own family. Louisa, who everyone calls a witch, and seems to have a weird affinity with the sea.
Louisa… who is clearly a lot more than she seems.

"That’s what you are, isn’t it? A little witch. That’s what they claim you are."
"And are you what they claim you to be?"
"No. I’m much, much worse."
But so is Rune, the king. Haunted by knowing he will have to choose a queen, knowing the fate he is dooming her to, which was the same one his father doomed his mother to. But he has to do it because it means keeping the curse in check and his kingdom safe.

"You cannot command the sea not to look at the shore. I have seen nothing, wanted nothing, but you since the moment I found you staked to that post."
The problem lies in the fact that Rune never saw her coming. He never thought he would fall for the woman he chose. And Lou never expected to fall for the king either.

"His gaze found mine through the layers of salt and fabric, and suddenly the ocean fell silent. There was only one voice remaining, and it yearned in a way that the ocean never had. Mine."
From the start, it’s clear to see something else is at play here. Yes, there’s the curse, and maybe there’s fate, but we know they were meant to meet—and probably meant to be. And they both try to deny it and stay away, but it’s just not possible.

"You are devastating. Like the sea carved you just for me."
There’s a lot of description, and I loved Holly’s more poetic writing as it put me in their shoes. It showed me what is going on inside Louisa and how torn she is. It made my heart break for her and for the way she was treated. And it showed me how amazing Rune really is.

"If I was to drown, it would be in him. If I was to kneel, it would be only at his feet."
I loved seeing everything mostly through her eyes. I loved how she found a family of sorts with his family, even though she’s trying to keep things from them. I loved their moments together and how every touch seemed purposeful.
And as I found out more about a prophecy that seems to be connected to her—and maybe to them—all I wanted was to learn more.

But then there was a cliffhanger. It’s OK. I knew it was coming!

"I was born to bear this curse, and if it costs me my soul, so be it. I’d give the sea my bones, my blood, my every memory so long as you’re the last thing I see."
This has all the foundations of a meant-to-be romance based on a curse that only love will be able to break. And I seriously cannot wait for more of Rune and Lou!

Thank you, Sourcebooks and NetGalley for the eARC.

[Holly · Rating 3 out of 5]

So frustratingly underdeveloped i'm almost mad about it. I'd make some sort of quip about how shallow this was for a book that revolves around the sea, but can't be bothered.

I can't deny that this was entertaining, certainly in the beginning. Sea witches? Vengeful goddesses? Arranged marriage and a curse that means she can't look at her husband without going slowly insane? Stop flirting with me. The lyrical writing helps set the tone for this moody, atmospheric world and I enjoyed it, and the FMC Lou, who was a strong, defiant character in the face of some dire situations. As we move through the story though, the prose that paints such gorgeous pictures in the beginning just starts to feel like it's dragging its feet because nothing really meaningful develops. It just circles the same metaphors and repetitive inner monologue and explanations without really going anywhere or answering anything. Also I BEG. NO MORE MODERN DIALOGUE IF YOU'RE CRAFTING A WORLD AND A WRITING STYLE LIKE THIS ONE. This book needed to be 100 pages longer to allow the story time to really stretch its legs and find some depth, which was also desperately needed for the character/relationship development too.

The story fell disappointingly short in the romance. That's frustrating because I know Holly Renee can write beautiful, passionate, believable romances. I love her contemporary Calloway Ranch series. There was absolutely no substance to this romance though. It moved at lightening speed. Especially for such a short book. I have absolutely no idea how or even why these two fell in love, which means that every grand declaration and spicy scene just felt out of place and awkward to me.

And what's wild is that as I was writing this review, I felt like i'd had similar problems with the authors Stars and Shadows series so I went back to look at my review for the first book which I wrote in 2023 and it's all the same issues I had with Mooncursed. It just confirms that her fantasy works are just not for me. Copy pasted below:

'It was a quick, easy read. I'm intrigued by the premise. I just don't think the execution is the best. At less than 300 pages the world and magic system-building was never going to be extensive but it's practically non-existent. There's a huge dose of insta lust/love. The characters' motivations and thoughts keep going back and forth in a way that seems pretty aimless. The world and characters just feel underdeveloped and flat so it's hard to feel particularly invested in them. The spice is there, but as good as that is I wish less focus had been put on that and more on the characters and their relationships.'

[Kat | Tropes TBD · Rating 2.5 out of 5]

Thanks to the publisher for providing me a copy of this book!

Very intriguing set up for a fantasy book with lots of great imagery and some great set up in world building for future books, but I didn't buy the relationship at all and found the prose to be too lyrical and purple for my taste.

I think a lot of what will determine if people will like this book is the writing. It is a very distinct style. I haven't read any of this authors author books to know of this is typical for her. The prose is, at the very least, purple-tinged. I'm sure many people will find it beautiful. I found it to be a bit distracting. At some times, it added well to the ocean and water imagery, being a bit floaty itself. At other times, it made the story more confusing than it needed to be. It also meant that it felt like the two leads got a personality transplant during sex scenes when they suddenly started speaking like every other brooding man and inexperienced woman in a romance novel. I hate when the MMC suddenly becomes a domineering partner when a sex scene hits and we have a severe case of that here.

The relationship itself is basically just insta-lust (love?). We see no development and the leads don't even really spend time together. This book is too short for how much the relationship progressed. I think this should have been slower burn and they shouldn't have gotten together in this first book.

The ending is intriguing but I don't know if I'll continue. As I said, the imagery is strong, I just really don't love this style of writing.

[Cara Harp · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Sourcebooks via NetGalley for this advanced copy!

An ancient curse, prophecy, and arranged marriage are all of my absolute favs! This has all of the ingredients to be a romantasy lovers dream. Seriously, 5⭐️ for the vibes, I was having such a good time! The back story with the twins and their upbringing hooked me immediately and the yearning and tension between Lou & Rune was so thick it honestly shocked me for how short this story is and I’m typically a slowburn girlie.

That being said, at about 60-70% it sort of fell flat and seemed repetitive with not much happening other than further tension growing between our main characters. And maybe that was intentional! However it didn’t keep my interest as much as the first half did regarding plot progression. I am excited to see where book two takes them because I really enjoyed the romance!

[Louis (audiobookfanatic) · Rating 4.25 out of 5]

BLURB:
Louisa (Lou), the shunned daughter of a burned witch, is chosen by the Drowned King as his bride instead of her twin sister, binding her to an ancient curse.

REVIEW:
This is my first read from Holly Renee, and I was drawn in by the gorgeous cover and the fact that this is the first book in a new series. I find that a lot of romantasy books today are unnecessarily drawn out, so I was excited to see that this audiobook wasn’t long. This is a fast-paced story with sea folklore, ancient curses, sirens, Fae, a dangerous goddess, and a kingdom in danger. If you like a romantasy that gets right into the action, this is worth checking out.

The story is told in third-person POV, following Lou, one of a set of twins born during the "Moonwake." Her sister Celine was blessed by the moonlight, but Lou was cursed by the sea and banished to live in a cottage with her witch mother. The book has a gripping start when Lou sees a monstrous ship approaching the village, signaling the arrival of the Drowned King (Rune), coming to collect a sacrifice in exchange for keeping the rising waters at bay. Everyone is prepared to give him Celine. When Rune and his fae subjects arrive, he chooses Lou instead, and this is where things take off. All of this happens very early on, so no spoilers here! From there, Lou is taken to the Drowned King’s kingdom while a mysterious goddess calls to her from the water.

I really enjoyed the pacing. There are no wasted chapters, and the story keeps moving. The cast of characters is small, which I appreciated, especially with all the sea folklore and mythology. Once Lou arrives in Drowned King’s kingdom, the world-building gets more expansive. Some standout characters are Rune’s siblings, Kaylie and Raden, as they become increasingly concerned about Lou and the future of their kingdom. There’s also an intriguing mystery surrounding Lou’s identity and interesting dynamic between Lou and Rune. As you’d expect, there’s romantic tension between them and eventual spicy scenes. As someone who doesn’t enjoy a huge amount of spice, I thought they were well placed and didn’t take over the plot.

The chapters are short to medium, and at just over 8 hours on audio, it’s an easy binge listen that you can finish in a day or a weekend. The final 10% is very high stakes. The kingdom faces an increasingly dangerous threat, and Lou makes risky decisions that have consequences she doesn’t foresee. The last scenes had me hooked to my headset, and the story ends on a sudden cliffhanger that left me with lots of questions.

I think this is a solid start to a new romantasy series, and I’m looking forward to seeing where Holly Renee takes the story next. If you enjoy shorter, fast-paced romantasy, sea mythology, ancient curses, Fae kingdoms, and dangerous prophecies, this is a good option for your TBR.

And if you’re an audio listener, I recommend the audiobook! Narrated in duet style by Samantha Brentmoor and Anthony Palmini, the two do a fantastic job bringing Lou and the Drowned King to life. I enjoyed the chemistry they brought to the characters, and they do a wonderful job with the pacing and building tension, especially in the final chapters.

[Maya · Rating 3 out of 5]

Holly Renee's writing here is beautiful and immersive, and I think she did a great job of creating an intriguing world with a dynamic cast of side characters. Unfortunately, I had a few issues with the execution that kept me from fully enjoying the story.

The lore was pretty confusing, and I felt like I was constantly trying to piece together the rules of this world. The pacing was also strange? Somehow everything was happening so quickly while simultaneously very little was actually happening. And if I had to read about the sea calling her name ONE MORE TIME!! Enough is enough lmao.

I fear I saw the cliffhanger coming from a mile away, but it still pissed me off. I finished with way more questions than answers, and not in a particularly satisfying way. I'm not normally one to suggest a book needed to be longer, but I genuinely think another 50 pages could have made a world of difference here.

Overall, lots of potential, but I wish the execution had been a bit stronger!

[Rachel · Rating 2 out of 5]

What a stunning cover! That is what immediately dragged me in which is super fitting for a siren type of story. Reading the synopsis had me really excited to pick this up and I was lucky to get an eARC.

The setting was neat and lots of ocean vibes that I was here for with the bonus of fae as well! It opens with a fable about the world and a betrayed goddess. Louisa is setup to marry the fae king Rune after he takes her from her home in order to break the curse from the betrayed goddess. She is expected to be sacrificed after looking upon the Drowned King once bound to him. The imagery relating to tidemarks was cool, though I would have liked to know more about the magic and how it worked. I’m guessing there will be more to come in the next book!

Now unfortunately, this book wasn’t working for me. I found the writing to be repetitive and not much happened that made sense to me. A third of the way in and hardly a single conversation occurred between anyone. Halfway into the story we have a wedding between Louisa and Rune who haven't shared any real moments together and few conversations. Then that’s nearly followed by a full spicy scene together. I would have loved to see more scenes of them getting to know each other in order for me to feel like a relationship was forming between them.

There was a scene towards the end that was a nice group moment between the siblings and her where finally some details were shared about themselves, but I honestly don’t know anything deeper about any of the characters. We are told that Louisa is wild, yet I didn’t see that on page. She went along with almost everything she was told to do and didn’t ask questions.

I know this wasn’t a glowing review, but I still appreciate the chance to read this early. Of course I wish this would have landed better for me, but if you like ocean vibes and destructive goddesses then maybe give this a shot. I understand not every book is for me, so this could be for you! Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks for the opportunity to read this book early!

[Dominique · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of my most anticipated releases and it did not disappoint! I pretty much read this in one sitting! It was fast paced and a quick read but filled with so much! From the world building, to the legend, to the mystery of the cursed and the undeniable attraction between Lou and The Drowned King, Rune.
Both Rune and Lou have been through so much and both have the weight of the world on them, I need them to get their HEA they deserve this 😭
There are so many twists and turns and I absolutely cannot wait for the next book, especially after that ending!!

👑 𝘾𝙪𝙧𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙎𝙚𝙖 𝙆𝙞𝙣𝙜
🌙 𝙎𝙩𝙤𝙡𝙚𝙣 𝘽𝙧𝙞𝙙𝙚
💕 𝙁𝙤𝙧𝙘𝙚𝙙 𝙈𝙖𝙧𝙧𝙞𝙖𝙜𝙚
🌊 𝙎𝙖𝙡𝙩𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙘𝙝
🔮 𝙁𝙤𝙧𝙗𝙞𝙙𝙙𝙚𝙣 𝙈𝙖𝙜𝙞𝙘
🖤 𝙀𝙣𝙚𝙢𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙇𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨
✨ 𝘼 𝙑𝙚𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙛𝙪𝙡 𝙂𝙤𝙙𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙨
🌜𝙏𝙬𝙞𝙣 𝙎𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙨 & 𝙊𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙁𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙨


Rating ⭐️: 5/5 | Spice 🌶️: 1.5/5

Thank you so much to the author for the arc! 💕🫧

[Ashley {_xamountofbooks} · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. (via Podium)

I think this did suffer a little due to the shorter page count. It felt like the first half was a bit repetitive and nothing really happened. Imo, the time could have been spent on developing the characters and their relationships. I get why cliffhangers are a thing but it felt like I was just getting into the story when it abruptly ended. Samantha Brentmoor and Anthony Palmini were great though!

[kelseys.inthelibrary · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

A very typical Holly Renee book, fast paced, easy to read, and perfect for a quick romantasy fix. Because it’s so short, not much actually happens within the main timeline, so the plot feels underdeveloped.

That said, I really enjoyed the premise of the drowned Fae king being forced to marry a mortal bride. The atmosphere was one of the strongest parts of the story, and I loved how relentless the sea and the goddesses were in their pursuit of vengeance against the king’s bloodline.

Overall, it checked all the classic romantasy boxes. While it didn’t completely blow me away, I had a good time with it and will probably continue the series.

[Danielle Strona · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you, Holly Renee and SourceBooks, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I need the next book in the series like yesterday!! That ending left me speechless, in the best way!

The story follows Lou, a woman who has been separated from her twin sister for years after their father abandoned both Lou and her mother. Branded a witch and banished from her community, Lou has resigned herself to being alone, but everything changes when the Drowned King arrives in search of his bride. At first, Lou's twin sister is offered to him. Instead, the Drowned King chooses Lou. Now, Lou is taken to his kingdom and is thrust into a world she never imagined. As she and the Drowned King are bound together by a curse neither of them chose, they must uncover its secrets while figuring out if they can trust one another, and whether they can change the fate that has been forced upon them.

I loved the world-building and how the whole world centers around the ocean. You are pulled right into the story, and it will have you captivated the entire time. This also feels like such a fresh new romantasy. This is a world that is easy to understand and combines curses and gods, which I loved. I still have so many questions that I am left wondering about, but I know I must wait for the next book!

I loved Lou and Rune had me swooning! They had so much chemistry, and I was rooting for them the entire time. I loved how Rune wanted to do anything to keep Lou from the curse and find a way to break it. He would do anything for the people he loves, as would Lou. They are both such selfless people that I couldn't help but admire their characters. I loved a yearning Rune! I couldn't stop giggling and kicking my feet!

I liked the pace of the book and felt like it all flowed together nicely. I loved that we got to see a little into Lou's past and how it's shaped her. Both she and Rune bring some baggage into their relationship, but they try to work through it. Once you are pulled into the world, you aren't going to be able to come back up! This is a book you will want to read in one sitting.

[Di · Rating 4 out of 5]

𝙍𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬 𝙤𝙛 𝙖𝙙𝙫𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙥𝙮 𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙚𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙙 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙉𝙚𝙩𝙂𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙮

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 Stars

Tropes: 🌊 Cursed Sea King • 💍 Forced Marriage • 🧙🏻‍♀️ Saltwitch FMC • 👑 Fae King • ❤️‍🔥 Star-Crossed Romance • 🔥 Slow Burn • ❤️‍🩹 Tortured MMC • 🌙 Curse, Prophecy & Fate • 🧜🏻‍♀️ Ancient Goddesses • 👯‍♀️ Moonblessed Twin • ⚔️ Kingdoms on the Brink of War

Holly Renee is one of my all-time favorite authors, so obviously I had high hopes for this one. 🖤

The world-building was really good, although it felt like a LOT to take in for the length of the book. This could have easily been 500+ pages and I wouldn’t have complained. 🤣 That honestly makes me think Holly is laying the groundwork for a killer series.

I had hoped this would be written a little closer to the style and feel of The Veiled Kingdom, which this really wasn’t at all, so it took me a minute to adjust my expectations.

Still, I really enjoyed the ocean-soaked atmosphere, curses, ancient gods, fate, and the whole concept of the Drowned King. 🌊

🖤 Definitely curious to see where Holly takes this world next.

Now I’m just crossing my fingers I get to listen to the audiobook version too. 🤞🏻🎧

[Chelsea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Managed to bang this one out in a day. Do not ask me how I did it, but she’s DONE.

I really enjoyed this one, but I’m not going to lie… I needed and wanted MORE. I also feel like it was missing just a little extra oomph. I was instantly pulled in by Holly’s writing, and I think she did a fantastic job. I absolutely loved all the details she included and how she built this world.

Lou, branded a saltwitch since birth, has always lived in the shadows, far away from her moonblessed twin sister. And let me just say, her father is an absolutely terrible human being. Although, I suppose we can chalk some of his behavior up to fear, because cowardice was clearly running the show.

When the time comes for the cursed king to steal-cough-claim a wife, everyone assumes Lou’s sister will be the prime candidate to live out a cursed existence. But the king has other plans.

Told through dual POVs, we watch Lou get thrown into a world she never knew existed. A world where she begins to understand the suffering of its people and what her sacrifice could mean for them. Meanwhile, Rune struggles to put the needs of his kingdom first when he knows all too well what that kind of sacrifice meant for his own mother.

The love between these two is pretty much instant, but I just feel like WE, THE PEOPLE, deserved MORE. More buildup, more development, and more time before we got to the ending and all the drama. I would have loved to see Lou develop deeper connections with the people of the kingdom, but I will say I’m happy with how strong her relationship with Rune is.

The veil protecting her from going mad was such a cool touch, and the way their relationship becomes fully consummated, essentially setting the curse into motion? I was HERE for it.

I’m honestly not sure what we’re looking at here. A duology? A full-blown series? Either way, I NEED MORE. Easily, this could have been 500+ pages, and I would have happily devoured every single one.

And that cliffhanger?! EXCUSE ME, HOLLY. You cannot just leave us there. I’m ready. Let’s go. 😂

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mooncursed is a high energy, fast paced, absolutely tantalizing romantasy. From the first page I was absolutely locked into this story! It was easy to engage with and addicting to read too. This is a great start to a series I’ll be following to the very end.

This is a journey mostly led by Lou. Ostracized by her village, including her own father and twin sister, Lou has been branded a cursed saltwitch, just like her mother. She belongs nowhere until the Drowned King comes to claim a bride and chooses her.

The entire concept of this story is fantastic. Lou is chosen as a bride that is used to feed a curse to save the Drowned King’s world from collapse. But the king, Rune, comes to quickly warm to Lou and refuses to use her, even as the cursed sea rages on. Like immediately there are high stakes and danger literally lurking at every corner (and eerie whisper!). I was swept as easily by it as Lou was by the ocean. It’s an effectively alluring work that left me thirsty for even more. It’s an energetic start that promises so much story to discover.

Now I did find the fast pace both exhilarating and almost too much at times. I would have liked it to slow down a touch to really let the chemistry between Lou and Rune marinate more. To feel more of an emotional intimacy take hold as the love story developed. It wasn’t quite all there for me but at the same time I loved both characters and came to love the support and belief they placed in one another. They’re strangers tethered together for a greater cause, but they learn to adapt to one another. To learn one another too! And Lou, who has been thrown into a whole new world, does her best to adapt there. Which is tricky given how the sea and whispers beckons her. While I would have liked more here, knowing there are more books ahead keeps me pushing forward. This is the start to a very special series!

I’m absolutely hooked and ready to go for that sequel!

Thank you SourceBooks Casablanca and NetGalley for this complimentary eARC, I leave this honest review voluntarily.