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Still Waters
A reformed nix.
Drakjan has been living as a harmless freshwater merman for so long he sometimes almost believes in the lie himself.
Almost.
A deadly hunter.
Hraban has dedicated his life to taking down creatures like Drakjan, protecting those who cannot protect themselves.
An uneasy truce.
When fate forces them together, the nix and the hunter discover a dangerous attraction… and a threat that can destroy everything Drakjan has come to love.
~~~~~~
This story was written as a part of the M/M Romance Group's "Love is an Open Road" event. Group members were asked to write a story prompt inspired by a photo of their choice. Authors of the group selected a photo and prompt that spoke to them and wrote a short story.
"Still Waters" contains sexually explicit content and is intended for adult readers.
~~~~~~
This story prompt and photo inspired "Still Waters":
Dear Author,
I only have two words for you: ginger merman! Everything else is up to you.
Photo Description:
A redheaded, muscular young man with a short beard stands in a lake, a scraggly stand of seaweed-draped deadwood behind him and mountains in the distance. He looks directly at the viewer, wearing a neutral expression. The water comes up to just above his waist, and he is lifting a sturdy white net from the water with both hands.
Drakjan has been living as a harmless freshwater merman for so long he sometimes almost believes in the lie himself.
Almost.
A deadly hunter.
Hraban has dedicated his life to taking down creatures like Drakjan, protecting those who cannot protect themselves.
An uneasy truce.
When fate forces them together, the nix and the hunter discover a dangerous attraction… and a threat that can destroy everything Drakjan has come to love.
~~~~~~
This story was written as a part of the M/M Romance Group's "Love is an Open Road" event. Group members were asked to write a story prompt inspired by a photo of their choice. Authors of the group selected a photo and prompt that spoke to them and wrote a short story.
"Still Waters" contains sexually explicit content and is intended for adult readers.
~~~~~~
This story prompt and photo inspired "Still Waters":
Dear Author,
I only have two words for you: ginger merman! Everything else is up to you.
Photo Description:
A redheaded, muscular young man with a short beard stands in a lake, a scraggly stand of seaweed-draped deadwood behind him and mountains in the distance. He looks directly at the viewer, wearing a neutral expression. The water comes up to just above his waist, and he is lifting a sturdy white net from the water with both hands.
65 pages, ebook
First published August 6, 2015
96 people are currently reading
815 people want to read
About the author
Alex Gabriel
9 books269 followersI am a writer. Mostly, I write gay romance – frequently with an element of the supernatural, fantastical or futuristic.
About Me
It all began when I learned to decipher the alphabet. I soon found that the world was full of wonderful stories – but not all of the tales I wanted to read were being told. In self-defense, I began to write, and haven’t stopped since.
In what little time my busy schedule of reading and writing has left me, I’ve worked as a copywriter, a translator, an English teacher, a linguistics tutor, an alibi S.O., a soap maker, a cloakroom attendant, a bartender, and other such things. Only the jobs that involve writing have stuck.
About My Stories
My primary focus is always on the characters. My goal is to create real, interesting and multi-faceted people and develop relationships that ring true… in the context of a world and a story that grab the reader and don’t let go.
I love fiction for its capacity to explore countless different worlds, ask thousands of different variations on what if.
What if time could flow backwards, what if we could travel to alternate universes, what if magic worked, what if gods and demons walked among us? What if telepathy and/or other such powers existed? What if stories were real, and reality just a fiction?
What if…?
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 167 reviews
August 10, 2015
~3.5~
I am not in love with this story. But I respect the hell out of it.
The writing is sharp and clean, the plot original as fuck. Writing a book from a merman's perspective? Brilliant.
Drakjan, a nix (water being: half human, half fish), is guardian of the lake. He still fights the urge to grab and drown. He loves the feeling of holding a body while it takes its last breath and collapses against him.
He nearly drowns Hraban, the hunter, and the hunter tries to trap and kill him
And I think that's why this story left me cold: This is not a romance. It's part mystery, part dark fantasy with different worlds (dimensions?), "rips" (of space? time?), vicious matchgirls, and shifters.
I didn't think there was enough world building to fully grasp the plot as more than an abstraction. So much is left to interpretation, and clues are few and far between.
The fucking with Drakjan in his merman form is intense and hella hot, though. I wanted an encore.
I am not in love with this story. But I respect the hell out of it.
The writing is sharp and clean, the plot original as fuck. Writing a book from a merman's perspective? Brilliant.
Drakjan, a nix (water being: half human, half fish), is guardian of the lake. He still fights the urge to grab and drown. He loves the feeling of holding a body while it takes its last breath and collapses against him.
He nearly drowns Hraban, the hunter, and the hunter tries to trap and kill him
And I think that's why this story left me cold: This is not a romance. It's part mystery, part dark fantasy with different worlds (dimensions?), "rips" (of space? time?), vicious matchgirls, and shifters.
I didn't think there was enough world building to fully grasp the plot as more than an abstraction. So much is left to interpretation, and clues are few and far between.
The fucking with Drakjan in his merman form is intense and hella hot, though. I wanted an encore.
August 6, 2015
Be prepared to be blown away.
The world building, story and characters are so rich and nuanced that I sort of went into a trance while reading. Fair warning, it's slightly dark and not at all saccharine for those who tend to shy away from that sort of read.
Drakjan is a ginger nix, not a merman. The lake and river in which he resides are part of world vibrant with mythical creatures from werewolves to match girls, some fundamentally malevolent. The circumstances under which the rip/portal was opened to allow Drakjan through are murky, though I believe that's intentional. Drakjan coexists with his fellow creatures, but doesn't interact with them and hasn't for quite some time. He's forced from his watery home by a couple of murders that have the townsfolk on edge.
Hraban attempts to hunt him in his own waters. Nixs are not known for their benevolence and their first couple of meetings are hostile and rife with murderous intent. However, Hraban being a professional hunter has a vast knowledge of mythical beings and together they form an uneasy alliance to solve the mystery.
The words are evocative and mesmerizing. Nix mythology was expertly woven into this story. The enemies to lovers trope is deftly composed. Neither of these characters are in the least bit squishy and when they come together it is savage and fierce.
There's not one fault I can find. The ending is perfect. I couldn't ask for anything more.
It boggles my mind that it's free. I love this country!
Highly recommended.
My thanks to the author and their team for this contribution to the LOR event.
The world building, story and characters are so rich and nuanced that I sort of went into a trance while reading. Fair warning, it's slightly dark and not at all saccharine for those who tend to shy away from that sort of read.
Drakjan is a ginger nix, not a merman. The lake and river in which he resides are part of world vibrant with mythical creatures from werewolves to match girls, some fundamentally malevolent. The circumstances under which the rip/portal was opened to allow Drakjan through are murky, though I believe that's intentional. Drakjan coexists with his fellow creatures, but doesn't interact with them and hasn't for quite some time. He's forced from his watery home by a couple of murders that have the townsfolk on edge.
Hraban attempts to hunt him in his own waters. Nixs are not known for their benevolence and their first couple of meetings are hostile and rife with murderous intent. However, Hraban being a professional hunter has a vast knowledge of mythical beings and together they form an uneasy alliance to solve the mystery.
The words are evocative and mesmerizing. Nix mythology was expertly woven into this story. The enemies to lovers trope is deftly composed. Neither of these characters are in the least bit squishy and when they come together it is savage and fierce.
There's not one fault I can find. The ending is perfect. I couldn't ask for anything more.
It boggles my mind that it's free. I love this country!
Highly recommended.
My thanks to the author and their team for this contribution to the LOR event.
January 28, 2025
This is a very, very strange story told in a not quite normal way. The plot is linear, but the POV is from the point of view of Drakjan, an aquatic creature who doesn't think straight and so the world he describes is not entirely understandable at first.
Later you understand the background of his nature and the fantasy elements of this story better, but it was work to get to that point.
I liked the story, I especially liked exactly what you hardly understand.
I don't really know how to express this. It was weird, but I like weird.
Drakjan was old, and his blood ran colder than meltwater. And attacking him in his own water… no. No matter what, that was always a mistake. 🖤🧜🏽♂️🖤
Nothing else felt like this— the dark, welcoming deep beckoning from beneath, the heaving struggles of the blood-hot creature burning in his arms. So alive, so frantic. Quick staccato heartbeat, strong with fear. 🖤🧜🏽♂️🖤
This is not a romance either. But you are rewarded with a very delicious scene.
Drakjan could not remember when he had last kissed someone who responded with such hunger or who fought him so aggressively for control. Maybe he never had. All he knew was that it made him growl into Hraban’s mouth— made him flex his fins to push the hunter more firmly against the pillar, pinning him securely so he was pressed against Drakjan’s body all the way down. 😳🧜🏽♂️😳
✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨
Minor spoilers probably ahead
✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨
Content warnings: murder of werewolves (off page), killing of a vicious creature (on page), near murder between the MCs
Cheating between MCs: No
Other person drama: No
Breakup: No
Kinks: none
Later you understand the background of his nature and the fantasy elements of this story better, but it was work to get to that point.
I liked the story, I especially liked exactly what you hardly understand.
I don't really know how to express this. It was weird, but I like weird.
Drakjan was old, and his blood ran colder than meltwater. And attacking him in his own water… no. No matter what, that was always a mistake. 🖤🧜🏽♂️🖤
Nothing else felt like this— the dark, welcoming deep beckoning from beneath, the heaving struggles of the blood-hot creature burning in his arms. So alive, so frantic. Quick staccato heartbeat, strong with fear. 🖤🧜🏽♂️🖤
This is not a romance either. But you are rewarded with a very delicious scene.
Drakjan could not remember when he had last kissed someone who responded with such hunger or who fought him so aggressively for control. Maybe he never had. All he knew was that it made him growl into Hraban’s mouth— made him flex his fins to push the hunter more firmly against the pillar, pinning him securely so he was pressed against Drakjan’s body all the way down. 😳🧜🏽♂️😳
✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨
Minor spoilers probably ahead
✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨
Content warnings: murder of werewolves (off page), killing of a vicious creature (on page), near murder between the MCs
Cheating between MCs: No
Other person drama: No
Breakup: No
Kinks: none
July 6, 2018
Re-read - and I'm still holding out hope (however thin) that there's a re-visit to this world.
.. ..
Been looking forward to this one - high hopes - no pressure ;)
Annnnd I loved it.
The world building, the characters, the pov, the story, the turn of phrase. All good. Great even.
There's enough background to show who the characters are without delving too deep; it keeps Drakjan interesting yet still a touch mysterious. Perfect for our reformed Nix.
The pov is non-human while still being easy to relate to, little touches from the very start create a dreamy, drifting on the currents sensation;
This has to be the best portrayal of a sea-shifter I've read, his concerns are not human. For all the charm of his song there's no forgetting he's a predator, there's a fierceness held in careful check.
There's a little mystery, an edge of darkness behind the romance that plummets to the depths. Hraban a hunter, is strong and deadly in his own right, their union is an explosion.
The story is tagged HFN which is right considering the short time they know each other, but I have no doubt that this is their beginning. It's perfect and doesn't require more, yet I'd be thrilled to revisit them; see their relationship develop and better explore the village.
.. ..
Been looking forward to this one - high hopes - no pressure ;)
Annnnd I loved it.
The world building, the characters, the pov, the story, the turn of phrase. All good. Great even.
There's enough background to show who the characters are without delving too deep; it keeps Drakjan interesting yet still a touch mysterious. Perfect for our reformed Nix.
The pov is non-human while still being easy to relate to, little touches from the very start create a dreamy, drifting on the currents sensation;
..every sense stretched to vibrant fullness, to thrill to every heartbeat drawing near, to every ripple meeting his silent, waiting skin
This has to be the best portrayal of a sea-shifter I've read, his concerns are not human. For all the charm of his song there's no forgetting he's a predator, there's a fierceness held in careful check.
There's a little mystery, an edge of darkness behind the romance that plummets to the depths. Hraban a hunter, is strong and deadly in his own right, their union is an explosion.
The story is tagged HFN which is right considering the short time they know each other, but I have no doubt that this is their beginning. It's perfect and doesn't require more, yet I'd be thrilled to revisit them; see their relationship develop and better explore the village.
January 24, 2016
Once there was a Nix, a creature like the sirens of old who lived in the dark waters, and delighted in pulling men down to drown, feeling their life sigh out of them as he clutched them in the deeps. And then, wounded and desperate, the Nix went through a rift to another place.
Here the waters were cool and sweet, the fish plentiful, and the local werewolves asked permission for their cubs to splash in his stream. Here the cougars were shy, the beavers annoying, and the land peaceful. The Nix took the name of Julian whenever he left his waters to meet them, and tried to live in peace too, although he couldn't change his nature, just suppress it.
And here, one day, there were two deaths, one stabbed, one frozen in the middle of summer. And in the woods and water there was a new hunter. Or perhaps, more than one.
This was an excellent short fantasy story, with a very individual main character, and just a trace of romance that heats at the end. It's not the place to go for a deeply-relatable hero. One of its charms is that the Nix is not human, and never will be. He's not self-centered so much as deeply aloof from others. And yet, there's a spark in him that makes him a fascinating main character.
Here the waters were cool and sweet, the fish plentiful, and the local werewolves asked permission for their cubs to splash in his stream. Here the cougars were shy, the beavers annoying, and the land peaceful. The Nix took the name of Julian whenever he left his waters to meet them, and tried to live in peace too, although he couldn't change his nature, just suppress it.
And here, one day, there were two deaths, one stabbed, one frozen in the middle of summer. And in the woods and water there was a new hunter. Or perhaps, more than one.
This was an excellent short fantasy story, with a very individual main character, and just a trace of romance that heats at the end. It's not the place to go for a deeply-relatable hero. One of its charms is that the Nix is not human, and never will be. He's not self-centered so much as deeply aloof from others. And yet, there's a spark in him that makes him a fascinating main character.
September 4, 2019
This is about a nix and a hunter, enemies who must band together to stop a monster and protect something they never thought they would have… a home. Perhaps they will even learn to like each other along the way. There’s one sex scene but this is more fairy tale fantasy than romance, eeary without being dark, and a little bit wonderful.
October 13, 2015
Loved this story!!!! I'm becoming a very fast fan of Alex Gabriel's, and MERMAN (sort of) people!!!!
Drakjan and Hraban find themselves in a peaceful town full of sweet loving people happily living in a community, consisting of shifter bears, wolves and cougars. However these two are from a more deadly world and are used to more... Constant threats to safety, therefore they find some comfort in each other as events unfold in this town.
Amazing world building!!!!! Would love to know more, but the creatures, worlds and background were detailed but relevant to the story. Drakjan was such an interesting character and quite funny at times with his thoughts on humans, I could read so much more about him.
I loved the passion and aggression of these two. Two strong men fighting for dominance, yet willing to give in, the sex scene was rough and HOT AS FUCK! I may have established a new fetish for merman sex, and that first kiss... Let's just say it was so rough there was blood and I loved it! Yum yum!
Drakjan and Hraban find themselves in a peaceful town full of sweet loving people happily living in a community, consisting of shifter bears, wolves and cougars. However these two are from a more deadly world and are used to more... Constant threats to safety, therefore they find some comfort in each other as events unfold in this town.
Amazing world building!!!!! Would love to know more, but the creatures, worlds and background were detailed but relevant to the story. Drakjan was such an interesting character and quite funny at times with his thoughts on humans, I could read so much more about him.
I loved the passion and aggression of these two. Two strong men fighting for dominance, yet willing to give in, the sex scene was rough and HOT AS FUCK! I may have established a new fetish for merman sex, and that first kiss... Let's just say it was so rough there was blood and I loved it! Yum yum!
February 3, 2016
THAT prompt!!! Beautifully descriptive writing in this somewhat dark story. It sucked me in and caught me in its net from the first page. Sorry I can't really describe the story properly, but just know that I loved this. Oh, and if it's the sort of thing that matters to you, when these guys get it on it is hot!
August 12, 2016
4.5
Awesome read, unique characters and an interesting world. The matchgirl storyline had some great creative details, but I would have liked more meat to the overall story. More conflict or something.
I loved it, though, especially the steamy scene *fans self*
Awesome read, unique characters and an interesting world. The matchgirl storyline had some great creative details, but I would have liked more meat to the overall story. More conflict or something.
I loved it, though, especially the steamy scene *fans self*
August 7, 2015
Wow
This was rich, vibrant, and beautifully detailed storytelling at its finest.
Drakjan crossed into this world through a rip many, many years ago. It might not have been intentional, but seeing an area that was vast and peaceful to call his own was something that Drakjan quickly latched onto. He's lead a solitary life as days passed from one to another, denying his Nix nature, and living a peaceful life in a peaceful area, only rarely interacting with the local townsfolk.
Drakjan's like changes when a new rip occurs and something comes through. Long suppressed instincts come to the fore, and new enemies make themselves known. When two murders rock the small area and its people, Drakjan is forced to team up with a hunter in order to stop the Being that's responsible. There's an uneasy truce between Drakjan and our hunter, Hraban, but a thread of commonality as well that makes for an interesting ride.
Drakjan's people skills are as rusty as iron left at the bottom of his lake, and watching him interact with other people was humerous. Watching him interact with Hraban was even better, because when these two get it on?
Scorching.
The ending was perfect for them.
Loved this. Highly recommended.
My thanks to the author for their participation in the Love is an Open Road event.
This was rich, vibrant, and beautifully detailed storytelling at its finest.
Drakjan crossed into this world through a rip many, many years ago. It might not have been intentional, but seeing an area that was vast and peaceful to call his own was something that Drakjan quickly latched onto. He's lead a solitary life as days passed from one to another, denying his Nix nature, and living a peaceful life in a peaceful area, only rarely interacting with the local townsfolk.
Drakjan's like changes when a new rip occurs and something comes through. Long suppressed instincts come to the fore, and new enemies make themselves known. When two murders rock the small area and its people, Drakjan is forced to team up with a hunter in order to stop the Being that's responsible. There's an uneasy truce between Drakjan and our hunter, Hraban, but a thread of commonality as well that makes for an interesting ride.
Drakjan's people skills are as rusty as iron left at the bottom of his lake, and watching him interact with other people was humerous. Watching him interact with Hraban was even better, because when these two get it on?
Scorching.
The ending was perfect for them.
Loved this. Highly recommended.
My thanks to the author for their participation in the Love is an Open Road event.
September 23, 2015
4.5 stars
This is a special story— the author crafts a languid, dreamy texture to Drakjan’s world. He’s a nix— a water creature who looks kind of like a merman. His relation to his water home pervades the story, whether it's spying on the neighboring beaver family, or sinking into the lake's murky depths, or floating, just under the surface, looking up to the filtering light.
It isn’t Drakjan's exotic features that are the most interesting thing about him either. He’s a wonderful mix of dangerous predator, swirled up with yearning romantic, and add a dash of strangely sweet narcissism. When another hunter enters Drakjan’s world— a world that he guards jealously, sees as his to protect— he is both suspicious and intrigued. Finally someone who might get him, rise to the challenge of him.
What I really like is that the two MC’s are not warm and fuzzy romantic leads. They are dangerous and tough, and they remain so throughout the short story. I wouldn’t call this a straight-up regular romance… there are elements… but, for me, the ‘romance’ lies in Drakjan’s character and how he draws you in to his world. Don’t get me wrong, there is yearning, connection… there is some lovely hand-on-fin water action…
But the heart of the story is Drakjan’s heart. I hope we get more of his and Hraban’s story; this is a great beginning.
September 6, 2015
This story made me delighted and hopeful, and then kind of... It slipped away.
It was a horrible thing to face the prospect of never again experiencing the unique thrill, the absolute rightness and beauty of that last, faltering heartbeat… that last exhaled breath dancing towards the distant surface like a shoal of silvery fish. The coolness of the water seeping into mammalian warmth as life stilled.
It's masterfully written, with a cadence like deep currents in still waters, intricately woven sentences as if from another reality. And with this ancient, quiet, savage beauty.
But it just... The story, the mystery and hunt, even romance, felt like an afterthought to great world building and fantastic mythical character study.
So, not great for entertainment, but amazing as a demonstration of powerful writing skill.
It was a horrible thing to face the prospect of never again experiencing the unique thrill, the absolute rightness and beauty of that last, faltering heartbeat… that last exhaled breath dancing towards the distant surface like a shoal of silvery fish. The coolness of the water seeping into mammalian warmth as life stilled.
It's masterfully written, with a cadence like deep currents in still waters, intricately woven sentences as if from another reality. And with this ancient, quiet, savage beauty.
But it just... The story, the mystery and hunt, even romance, felt like an afterthought to great world building and fantastic mythical character study.
So, not great for entertainment, but amazing as a demonstration of powerful writing skill.
October 16, 2015
I was quite fascinated with the writing. So eloquent, so stylish and lovely. Too bad the story didn't capture me quite so well. Don't get me wrong, it was very good but I didn't fall in love. This rating is just a quirk of mine.
great mystery, original villain, awesome action scenes and a satisfying ending. Any chance of a sequel?
great mystery, original villain, awesome action scenes and a satisfying ending. Any chance of a sequel?
August 8, 2015
Loved this. I cannot believe how much character and world building Alex packed into this story. I was sucked into this world immediately, and it was a painful struggle to put the story down long enough to change trains/eat/etc. Luckily, no connections were missed in the reading of this story, but it was a close thing!
I’d been following Alex’s story thread since the start, but the story still took me by surprise with its intensity. I don’t want to say too much here, because a large part of what made the story for me was its uniqueness, but I loved the play on mythology as much as I loved the dynamic between Drakjan and Hraban. The danger between them never lets up.
I also really enjoyed the potential for more that Still Waters has. I don’t mean loose ends, but there are details, or aspects of the story, the Sheriff in particular, that feel like it could go really interesting places if Alex lets it. I have my fingers crossed that a sequel is not far away.
I’d been following Alex’s story thread since the start, but the story still took me by surprise with its intensity. I don’t want to say too much here, because a large part of what made the story for me was its uniqueness, but I loved the play on mythology as much as I loved the dynamic between Drakjan and Hraban. The danger between them never lets up.
I also really enjoyed the potential for more that Still Waters has. I don’t mean loose ends, but there are details, or aspects of the story, the Sheriff in particular, that feel like it could go really interesting places if Alex lets it. I have my fingers crossed that a sequel is not far away.
July 29, 2016
This story is a captivating lull of a sweet and lethal siren.
With a twist.
Or to be precise, a pouch concealing a massive cock.
No lady bits here. But the seductive song lured me right in.
Hooked.
Fazed.
Impressed.
I'm given the impression the story is not quite over. Perhaps that's just my wishful desires projecting through. I would most definitely like to know what's to come of our Nix and his Hunter.
Props for the beautiful cover too.
With a twist.
Or to be precise, a pouch concealing a massive cock.
No lady bits here. But the seductive song lured me right in.
Hooked.
Fazed.
Impressed.
I'm given the impression the story is not quite over. Perhaps that's just my wishful desires projecting through. I would most definitely like to know what's to come of our Nix and his Hunter.
Props for the beautiful cover too.
February 1, 2016
A nix. Who lives in a lake and loves to sing. I just can't help myself:
March 19, 2021
"There was blood on his mouth. It suited him"
ENEMIES TO LOVERS!!!!!!! MERMAID SEX!!!!!!!!
ENEMIES TO LOVERS!!!!!!! MERMAID SEX!!!!!!!!
February 2, 2025
This is such a cute little story, it has left a warm place in my heart.
There is something unique about Drakjan who has decided to completely change his nature to keep his place in a world that has kept him safe and made his home. I was really curious to see how his relationship with Hraban would turn out. Especially since the beginning was quite turbulent. These two made a truly remarkable couple.
I liked this story much more than I expected. I will not be surprised if I come back to it after a while.
There is something unique about Drakjan who has decided to completely change his nature to keep his place in a world that has kept him safe and made his home. I was really curious to see how his relationship with Hraban would turn out. Especially since the beginning was quite turbulent. These two made a truly remarkable couple.
I liked this story much more than I expected. I will not be surprised if I come back to it after a while.
December 31, 2022
Alex Gabriel's writing is very different here than in Cold Blooded, but still as great - this time mesmerizing and lyrical. Now I want to read every book he writes to discover his wide range.
January 2, 2016
Just when I've been thinking that most of perfectly nice, nothing wrong with them, LOR stories just simply fail to grab me in these past days, and maybe this is a beginning of a reading slump, here comes Still Waters and *does her best Freddy Mercury imitation* it's a kind of magic! Kind of paranormal magic that I'd love to read about more.
This was one of these books where I often check my progress bar to make sure that - phew! - there's still plenty of story left. Precious little was said about the world and people living in it, but it was just the right amoung to hook you right in. I wanted to hang out there with them all so much, I didn't even want the romance to start because it meant narrowing the focus.
There was this certain kind of coziness to the whole book, despite the murders, like in The Others series by Anne Bishop. I'd love it if Alex Gabriel will revisit this world one day.
UPD: the sequel is planned indeed. Yay!
This was one of these books where I often check my progress bar to make sure that - phew! - there's still plenty of story left. Precious little was said about the world and people living in it, but it was just the right amoung to hook you right in. I wanted to hang out there with them all so much, I didn't even want the romance to start because it meant narrowing the focus.
There was this certain kind of coziness to the whole book, despite the murders, like in The Others series by Anne Bishop. I'd love it if Alex Gabriel will revisit this world one day.
UPD: the sequel is planned indeed. Yay!
August 16, 2015
Once in a blue moon you come across a book that is a gift to your senses.This is such an offering because it slaps you awake.It is both stark & deadly in it's beauty,like bright red blood blooming like poppies across a field of snow.
The Match Girl_an incomparable creation of myth.The death match between the nix & her.Epic
How dare she.This was his territory,his prey.His.How dare this creature presume to take what belonged to him.How dare she.
His instincts were screaming for blood,drowning,death.
This book at seventy one pages was too short for such an immense concept as the writing is unlike any that I have come across in ages.For a brief moment in time I was a merman fighting a match girl beneath a lake of iced death.
I have so many questions:
1.Where is Hraban from?
2.Why is Drakjan in seclusion & denying his primal instinct to kill?What caused the change?Where is he from?
3.The other were creatures,the match girl.Where?What?How?
More history please.More Nix,more Hraban,more deadly opponents as original as the match girl.
The Match Girl_an incomparable creation of myth.The death match between the nix & her.Epic
How dare she.This was his territory,his prey.His.How dare this creature presume to take what belonged to him.How dare she.
His instincts were screaming for blood,drowning,death.
This book at seventy one pages was too short for such an immense concept as the writing is unlike any that I have come across in ages.For a brief moment in time I was a merman fighting a match girl beneath a lake of iced death.
I have so many questions:
1.Where is Hraban from?
2.Why is Drakjan in seclusion & denying his primal instinct to kill?What caused the change?Where is he from?
3.The other were creatures,the match girl.Where?What?How?
More history please.More Nix,more Hraban,more deadly opponents as original as the match girl.
November 24, 2015
I want to be upfront about this - I don’t like mermaid/mermen romances. There is nothing sexy about fish as far as I am concerned (although they are delicious.)
But this story is terrific.
It’s dark and different and wholly original.
The HFN romance between two very different kinds of predators is intense and searing hot.
Having read and loved Gabriel’s Love for the Cold-Blooded, or The Part-Time Evil Minion's Guide to Accidentally Dating a Superhero, I was impressed by how different in tone and style Still Waters was - and yet, just as good. Gabriel has become an author to watch for me. I can’t wait to read whatever comes next.
But this story is terrific.
It’s dark and different and wholly original.
The HFN romance between two very different kinds of predators is intense and searing hot.
Having read and loved Gabriel’s Love for the Cold-Blooded, or The Part-Time Evil Minion's Guide to Accidentally Dating a Superhero, I was impressed by how different in tone and style Still Waters was - and yet, just as good. Gabriel has become an author to watch for me. I can’t wait to read whatever comes next.
honestly-ill-never-get-around-to-it
August 7, 2015NTS; this is by the author of Love for the Cold-Blooded, or The Part-Time Evil Minion's Guide to Accidentally Dating a Superhero
Must read.
Must read.
November 12, 2020
This is the opposite of the opposites attract trope, and that is what I loved best, although the nix's point of view was really well done, and a close second. I always appreciate a truly non-human protagonist. The nix's relationship to his water versus his struggle to connect on land was terrifically represented in lovely, vivid imagery. I loved this world, and the ending is just perfect. Go read it. :)
CW: violence; explicit sex
CW: violence; explicit sex
Want to read
August 7, 2015Thanks to Alex for letting me help spruce up the cover =D
I hope to read sometime before next year LOL. Oh life. Free time? Pfft.
I hope to read sometime before next year LOL. Oh life. Free time? Pfft.
February 5, 2020
Super atmospheric story about a nix who just wants to be left alone in his lake.
I loved the way the story unfolded and gave you more and more information both about the world and Drakjan himself.
I also loved how it was abundantly clear from the start that Drakjan is more monster than anything else, which added an absolutely fascinating twist to the story that completely drew me in.
The romance - and I use the term very loosely here - wasn't as well executed as I would have liked, but it was fine.
Content warnings include: murder and death, drowning, attempted murder, freezing to death, rough sex on-page.
I loved the way the story unfolded and gave you more and more information both about the world and Drakjan himself.
I also loved how it was abundantly clear from the start that Drakjan is more monster than anything else, which added an absolutely fascinating twist to the story that completely drew me in.
The romance - and I use the term very loosely here - wasn't as well executed as I would have liked, but it was fine.
Content warnings include: murder and death, drowning, attempted murder, freezing to death, rough sex on-page.
October 27, 2017
This is a great story and the writing is excellent. Also, it's free! Two fierce and deadly hunters almost begrudgingly find companionship in each other and save the world and it's quite satisfying. This isn't a conventional romance, and the general darkness of the story and Drakjan's lack of humanity and gleeful memories of drowning people give it a definite edge. The tone of this story is wonderful--it's detached and cool and very non-human. At the same time, the writing is very evocative and almost sensual in its descriptions. This is an excellent dark fantasy and I really enjoyed it.
September 29, 2019
New to me author. This is a paranormal mm story about a nix/ merman and a human. They ban together to save their town from another paranormal being. I’ll read more from this author.
April 20, 2017
After reading this for a second time, I've changed a few opinions that don't necessarily affect the star rating.
For starters, I see the romantic element now. It's in the side-eying that the two enemies do as they gradually become lovers and ultimately team up to take out a bigger threat. I think I overlooked it because I'm aromantic and just saw their interactions as grudging camaraderie.
I also see how their first kiss isn't forced. The motivation is in the undercurrent of adrenaline. Drakjan and Hraban see one another as worthy opponents, and while I originally read the moment as purely respect, I now notice how that translates into lusting after a good challenger.
With that said, the singing in air vs singing in water still bugs me. I assure you that sound is more robust in water, it's just you wouldn't hear it so well if you're not in contact with the water. If you don't believe me, try knocking on wood, then put your ear to the wood and knock again; the sound will be louder with your ear pressed to the solid object--same principle applies to water. So if Drakjan was complaining about air-breathers not hearing him singing in the water, I'd understand. But he's complaining about the sound to his own ears, which is what's bothering me.
Anyway, still great story with great world. Very good sex scene. Very hot chemistry.
--
Original review:
This isn't Romance, but it's one hell of a solid Fantasy with fantastic worldbuilding and intriguing characters.
Drakjan is a bit of a sociopath, his nature rooted in the pleasure of drowning air-breathers. He's working on reforming that nature, though it's a work in progress. His chemistry with Hraban, a hunter, is electric, and the two predators find a place of understanding for each other. Also really hot sex.
The writing is superb, but I have two niggles:
1) The introduction really emphasizes Drakjan's love of singing in air because the sound is richer and has more resonance than water. I'm upset no one on the author's team ever questioned the physics behind that. Sound travels the worst in air because there are the least molecules to carry the waves (this is why sound doesn't travel in a vacuum). It's fine if Drakjan likes to sing in air because it attracts air-breathers, but if he's doing it because of its quality, then no, I have to call foul.
2) When Drakjan and Hraban first kiss, it feels too much like the author is shoving them together saying, "This is Romance and you need to kiss already." This particular scene has some very nice tension happening, but it doesn't read as romantic or sexual. The kiss was out of place for two enemies on the verge of camaraderie. It's only at the end of this short story that Drakjan and Hraban have had enough time to develop proper sexual tension for a satisfying sex scene with proper kissing action. It would take a lot more prose to really dig into any possibility of romance.
I'd like to thank the author for the lovely story, and I can't wait to read more.
For starters, I see the romantic element now. It's in the side-eying that the two enemies do as they gradually become lovers and ultimately team up to take out a bigger threat. I think I overlooked it because I'm aromantic and just saw their interactions as grudging camaraderie.
I also see how their first kiss isn't forced. The motivation is in the undercurrent of adrenaline. Drakjan and Hraban see one another as worthy opponents, and while I originally read the moment as purely respect, I now notice how that translates into lusting after a good challenger.
With that said, the singing in air vs singing in water still bugs me. I assure you that sound is more robust in water, it's just you wouldn't hear it so well if you're not in contact with the water. If you don't believe me, try knocking on wood, then put your ear to the wood and knock again; the sound will be louder with your ear pressed to the solid object--same principle applies to water. So if Drakjan was complaining about air-breathers not hearing him singing in the water, I'd understand. But he's complaining about the sound to his own ears, which is what's bothering me.
Anyway, still great story with great world. Very good sex scene. Very hot chemistry.
--
Original review:
This isn't Romance, but it's one hell of a solid Fantasy with fantastic worldbuilding and intriguing characters.
Drakjan is a bit of a sociopath, his nature rooted in the pleasure of drowning air-breathers. He's working on reforming that nature, though it's a work in progress. His chemistry with Hraban, a hunter, is electric, and the two predators find a place of understanding for each other. Also really hot sex.
The writing is superb, but I have two niggles:
1) The introduction really emphasizes Drakjan's love of singing in air because the sound is richer and has more resonance than water. I'm upset no one on the author's team ever questioned the physics behind that. Sound travels the worst in air because there are the least molecules to carry the waves (this is why sound doesn't travel in a vacuum). It's fine if Drakjan likes to sing in air because it attracts air-breathers, but if he's doing it because of its quality, then no, I have to call foul.
2) When Drakjan and Hraban first kiss, it feels too much like the author is shoving them together saying, "This is Romance and you need to kiss already." This particular scene has some very nice tension happening, but it doesn't read as romantic or sexual. The kiss was out of place for two enemies on the verge of camaraderie. It's only at the end of this short story that Drakjan and Hraban have had enough time to develop proper sexual tension for a satisfying sex scene with proper kissing action. It would take a lot more prose to really dig into any possibility of romance.
I'd like to thank the author for the lovely story, and I can't wait to read more.
March 16, 2021
This was an odd, wonderful little story about a reformed nix, a displaced hunter, a peaceful town of supernaturals and a killer. There was something compelling about Drakjan and his isolation, and constant battle to suppress his dark tendencies in order to protect his town and have a safe place to call home.
Oh and I loved the songs!
I actually think the story would have been better without the sex scene - it was jarring with the overall tone and style of the story. It's not really a romance - so don't expect that.
I'd rate it as 3.5* and rounding up today
Oh and I loved the songs!
I actually think the story would have been better without the sex scene - it was jarring with the overall tone and style of the story. It's not really a romance - so don't expect that.
I'd rate it as 3.5* and rounding up today
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