Salt and Knot: A Dark and Spicy Age Gap Omegaverse Monster Shifter Romance

by Ella Verso, Bastian Allen (Narrator), Cleo Pope (Narrator)

An irresistible urge leads me to the sea, where a tentacled monster holds and pleasures me… And then I pass out.

When I wake up, I find I’ve been saved by a gorgeous billionaire Alpha. He claims he’s my fated mate. He’s waited hundreds of years for me. He spoils me in every way. This feels right, except I think he has a secret. And why can’t I stop thinking about the creature in the sea?

A spicy, smutty, fated mates kraken shifter omegaverse romance, with a touch of darkness, and a bit of sweetness. There’s a lot of knotting, fairytale vibes, a multi-century age gap, massive size difference, and tentacle use that will make you blush! Listen for an escapist monster romance that will make you gasp and melt.

Genres: Audiobook, Omegaverse, Romance, Monsters, Fantasy, Spicy, Erotica

Audible Audio

Published October 21, 2026

Reviews

[phoenix *ੈ✩‧₊˚ · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

Salt and Knot is a fun, fast-paced book, especially if you're in the mood for a light monster romance. The setup and cover immediantly caught my eye, and the fated mates dynamic gives the romance a sweet vibe. Both characters are likeable and have great chemistry. To be honest, I expected more tentacle action (👀).

I wanted a bit more depth, a bit more romantic development, and overall just wished for more. I didn't like how Dylan kept a secret from Isla, and the story felt a bit repetitive. Though it didn't completely blow me away, it stays entertaining throughout and strikes a nice balance between spice and romantic tension. It’s an enjoyable monster romance novella.

🎧 I enjoyed the audio narration! The voice performance brings out both the sweet chemistry between the leads as well as the spicier moments.

✧ I received a free copy from the author via NetGalley and am leaving an honest review.

[heart · Rating 3.75 out of 5]

“Six hundred years I waited, Isla, and I found you...I would have waited a thousand more years for you, my little mate."

Yummy!!! 🤭🤭

This instantly caught my attention! I love all these tropes, and it was such a quick, spicy read that I thoroughly enjoyed! I just wish it had been a little longer so we could’ve explored more of their relationship and seen more of the romance between them 🥹

If you like omegaverse, fated mates, monster romance, tentacles, AND A HOT TATTOOED BILLIONAIRE KRAKEN SHIFTER
then you def don’t wanna miss this one 🙂‍↕️

thank you Netgalley for the ARC
_______________
pre read
monster romance fated mates AND omegaverse!!!!
I'm sold!

[Annmarie · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4 Stars
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ 4 Spice

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for providing me with an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own and given honestly.

Well, I was not expecting that… I feel like I need a cold shower and maybe to wash my eyeballs…. That was some freaky spice and a lot of spice. I mean, this book runneth over with the spice. It had me blinking and raising my eyebrows and my mouth full-on falling open at times that I could have caught flies in there, but I kept on reading like my life depended on it.

I'm not a fan of books that have no solid storylines, so with the book being so short, I was sure I was going to have a problem, but nope, I was swept up in a smutty sea and left unsure what I had just read. I mean, it's a short book. You would think there was not enough space to put in that much sexy time. Well, they proved me wrong, and I stand up and slow clap.

I have read a LOT of books, and there are very few Krakens. Like, I've read one maybe before, and that was TAME compared to this book.

I felt like, for a short book, the author got a lot of things in given the short page count, and honestly, I did not hate this book at all. I think this book was a great little pick-me-up; there was no overcomplication. It was mindless fun and spicy. What more could I want?

I would say I would have LOVED to see this book have 300 pages. I think the author would have spun me an epic monster romance with a great story to go alongside the smut and weird stuff.

I would say monster romance fans will eat this up. I know I did.

I don't know if the book had trigger warnings, maybe I missed them, but always remember to read them before going into a book.

If you're after a book with a deep storyline, fully fleshed-out characters, and more twists and turns than the motorway, then this book probably isn't for you!

BUT if you're after a fast, hot, spicy monster romance that you can devour in under an hour, then this bad boy is definitely for you!

[eva .✦ ݁˖ · Rating 0.75 out of 5]

. ꒷ 🐙. 𖦹˙— 0.75 stars ꒰❤️꒱
⤷ romance | 18+ | no spoilers !!
review of advanced copy received from netgalley

⤷ pre-read!༉‧₊˚.

thank you for the arc netgalley! really excited to read this one

⤷ my thoughts༉‧₊˚.

okay so erm.. i wasn’t expecting THAT. to be honest ive never read a book like this before but uh .. i dont think its for me honestly. about 99% of this book was honestly just straight up them wanting eachother and not being able to keep their hands away from each other 👀

⤷the plot ༉‧₊˚.

an irresistible urge leads me to the sea, where a tentacled monster holds and pleasures me... and then i pass out. when i wake up, i find i've been saved by a gorgeous billionaire alpha. he claims he's my fated mate. he's waited hundreds of years for me. he spoils me in every way. this feels right, except i think he has a secret. and why can't i stop thinking about the creature in the sea? a spicy, smutty, fated mates kraken shifter omegaverse romance, with a touch of darkness, and a bit of sweetness. there's a lot of knotting, fairytale vibes, a multi-century age gap, massive size difference, and tentacle use that will make you blush! read for an escapist monster romance that will make you gasp and melt.

⤷characters ༉‧₊˚.

꒰isla꒱༉‧₊˚.

i don’t really have much to say about her as we didn’t get to know that much about her ..

꒰dylan꒱༉‧₊˚.

billionaire and kraken okay dylan i see you HAHA , same as isla tbh .. i don’t have that much to say about him except the fact he’s literally obsessed with isla 🤭

⤷overall!! ༉‧₊˚.

overall i think this book was okay, it certainly wasn’t for me but i feel like it could be a palette cleanser for people who like stuff like this .. it’s a short story and the plot was very interesting, it just didn’t hit for me !

[Steamy Chapters · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for both the ARC and ALC! 😍🐙🔥

AHHHHH I can’t process this!! 🔥 This book matched my freak in the best possible way and was the perfect palate cleanser 🤭

I did the audiobook simultaneously with the book, and the audiobook was just WOOOOW. Bastian Allen and Cleo Pope (narrators) did an amazing job. I’m giddy again just thinking about it 🫶🏻

Spice level: to the MAX 😂🔥

Dylan is a tall, tattooed billionaire alpha AND a kraken shifter. Safe to say he’s a 10/10 for me 🖤🔥

Isla, our omega FMC, is funny and I adored her personality! We don’t get to know that much about her, though.

These kinds of books always bring me joy. I don’t take them too seriously and I always have the best time 🤭

5 stars for me, for both the audiobook and the book ⭐ If I could recommend just one, it would be the audiobook. It was done so well and made the whole experience even better 🖤

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book delivered on the spice!

This book had omegas, kraken shifters, alphas, and fated mates. Honestly, I was super curious about the kraken!

I was totally down for Isla and Dylan. Their connection was undeniably strong, and their chemistry was hot!

The real unknown factor was the kraken and what his attention toward Isla would be like. On some level, that sounds cool, but I’m on the fence because that’s a big octopus.

This audiobook was narrated by Bastian Allen and Cleo Pope. Both of their voices sounded so charming. You could really feel the characters’ emotions when they spoke. Their inflections were on point, and the narration was very enjoyable!

Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for providing me with an ALC in exchange for an honest review.

[Christine · Rating 4.25 out of 5]

Thank you Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the ALC in exchange for my honest review. Hip-hip-hooray for duet audiobooks! Cleo Pope and Bastian Allen were both incredible in this narration!

Short, sweet, and erotic as hell. Who needs reverse harems when you’ve got an eight-tentacled kraken shifter for a mate?! 🥵

While this was an insta-love trope, it made sense and worked well with the story. I loved both Isla and Dylan’s characters and had a blast (see also: struggled to maintain a poker face in public) while listening to this novella. Hoping that Dylan’s shifter friends get books of their own in the future.

[Kelsey 📖 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for this ALC, here are my thoughts:

An omegaverse shifter romance?
That’s full of smut?
Heck yeah!!!

This was such a fun time!
A great palette cleanser! 🐙

If you like:
•omegaverse
•kraken shifter
•fated mates
•smut

Then check this book out!! 📚✨

[Ashley · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

**Tropes & Content Notes:**
🐙 Kraken Monster Romance
🔥 Heat Cycle
💞 Fated Mates
🏠 Forced Proximity
🪢 Knotting
📅 Age Gap (he's immortal, so... you know)
⚠️ Dubious Consent

Thank you to Victory Editing ,NetGalley Co-op, Ella Verso, and the narrators for the advanced listening copy. All opinions are my own.

Let's start with the audiobook because Bastian Allen and Cleo Pope absolutely committed to the bit. This is Duet! This book is unhinged in the best monster-romance way, and both narrators understood exactly what kind of story they were telling. They brought plenty of intensity, possessive energy, and steam to the performance, which made this a very easy listen.

Check those trigger warnings. This book contains dubious consent, and that starts early. *Salt and Knot* wastes exactly zero time getting where it's going. Our characters meet and the story is off to the races almost immediately.

And honestly? I respected that.

This book never pretends to be a deep character study or a slow-burn romance. It shows up, throws a possessive kraken shifter at you, announces they're fated mates, adds a heat cycle, some forced proximity, and enough tentacles to sink a ship(cause he's a kraken 😂), and then gets on with business. This man learns he has a mate and immediately decides that's his entire personality.

We love consistency.

What surprised me was that beneath all the possessiveness, there's also a strong caretaker streak. The MMC doesn't just want his mate. He wants to protect her, provide for her, and make sure she's cared for. If you're a sucker for an over-the-top protective alpha, this book absolutely delivers.

The spice level is high, the pacing is fast, and the monster elements are front and center. If you already enjoy omegaverse, fated mates, knotting, heat cycles, and morally questionable decisions made in the name of true love, you'll probably have a great time with this one.

Overall, *Salt and Knot* is spicy, ridiculous, tentacle-filled fun that knows exactly what it is and never apologizes for it. Sometimes you want literary fiction, and sometimes you want an immortal kraken who sees a woman and immediately decides, Yep, MINE!!

This is very much the second kind of book. 🐙🔥📚

[MissBecka Gee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well this was delightful!
Isla & Dylan are adorable and sweet and hella sexy.
I really enjoyed all the mundane bits of their day to day getting to know each other.
It was sweet to have cooking and just strolling the streets such a large part of this shorty tale.
Really pulled their bond together for me.
I was listening to the audio of this and wowza, Bastian Allen & Cleo Pope were amazing.
My ears blushed at the chemistry these two had.
Much love to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for my ALC.

[Kristina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Salt and Knot by Ella Verso
Narrated by Bastian Allen and Cleo Pope

Wholesome omega verse shifter romance.
Isla is drawn to the ocean; there she encounters a sea creature that almost drowns her amongst other things.

Dylan finds her on the beach and takes her in to recover.

Plenty of spice as Dylan helps Isla with her ‘heat’

Both narrators did a great job at bringing this fast-paced novella to life.

Kraken, insta love, fated mates, billionaire, age gap, novella

Thanks to NetGalley, Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op and Ella Verso for the ARC, and I am leaving this review voluntarily

[Matilda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is basically one big sex fest and while the characters are fairly likeable, only the barest of details is provided about them and the world in which they live.

What to expect:
- Shifter (Kraken) and human romance (sex romp)
- An amalgam of lots of fantasy romance elements: alphas, billionaire, knots, etc.
- Short and sweet

Audiobook review
Length: 4 hours
Narration Style: Duet
Narrators: Bastian Allen and Cleo Pope

What I liked:
- This was short, sweet and to the point
- They only have eyes for each other
- The tentacles were…interesting 😉

What I didn’t:
- This was basically one big sex-fest and while I’m all for that, there was very little else.
- There are references to alphas, betas and omegas but this was never explained clearly. She’s an omega but also human…what does that even mean?
- The FMC kept using the same p word over and over to describe her lady parts and this gave me the ick.

Even Better If:
- Even a few details about the world would have been appreciated. There are brief mentions of other breeds but this wasn’t clarified.
- There are some mentions of her being kept away from the sea. Why? What was the significance of that?

Comments on the narration:
✅ Duet style
✅ MMC’s voice
❌ FMC’s voice. She sounds older than the character (who is only supposed to be 23). And sounds older than the MMC who is supposed to be 600 years old. I found her voice and diction sounded very prim and proper and for me this didn’t suit the character.

Overall, this is a good choice if you’re in the mood for something short, light and spicy.

Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing for this gifted audiobook.

[Elizabeth King · Rating 3 out of 5]

thank you @ netgalley for the arc 🤭

so. i’ve read way better three stars, i’ll admit, but i couldn’t bear to give this a two star. it was quick, it was fun, it cleansed my palette, and it definitely wasn’t the worst (or weirdest) novella i’ve read 🤪

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ALC from Net Galley!

This was a short, spicy, and weird story - and I totally enjoyed it!!!

Tropes/Things I Liked:
*Unconventional Age Gap (like centuries)
*Omegaverse Romance
*Kraken Shifter
*Fated Mates
*Tentacle/Knotting/Play

Spicy Chapters:
2 6 7 8
9 10 13 15
20 21

Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Narration: 3.5/5 (DUET - didn't love the female's accent)

[HolleeJane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Salt and Knot by Ella Verso

Rating: 4 Stars
Spice Rating: 2.5 Chili Peppers
Format: Audiobook | ALC via NetGalley
Narrators: Bastian Allen & Cleo Pope
Length: Approximately 4.5 hours
Genre: Paranormal Romance / Monster Romance / Omegaverse

Salt and Knot by Ella Verso was such a fun, fast-paced, and spicy little audiobook! Coming in at roughly four and a half hours, this was a really entertaining monster romance that introduced me to something new: Kraken shifters!

The story follows Isla, who feels an irresistible pull toward the sea, where she encounters a mysterious tentacled creature. After passing out, she wakes up to discover she’s been rescued by Dylan, a gorgeous billionaire Alpha who claims she’s his fated mate. He’s waited hundreds of years for her and is determined to spoil and protect her. But Dylan is hiding a secret, and Isla can’t seem to forget the mysterious creature she encountered in the ocean.

I’ve read Kraken romances before, but never one featuring an actual Kraken shifter, so this was a first for me! The story also incorporates Alpha/Omega dynamics, which was another new experience for me in this particular type of romance. I actually really enjoyed how those elements came together, especially with the fated mates storyline, massive age gap, and the darker fairytale vibes.

I thought the story was well-paced, and I really enjoyed the chemistry and relationship between Isla and Dylan. Dylan, our MMC, was one of my favorite parts of the story, especially when he was in his human form. I loved how patient, caring, and respectful he was toward Isla. The way he looked after her, spoiled her, and gave her the care she needed really made me appreciate his character. For someone who has waited centuries for his mate, he definitely knows how to make her feel cherished!

And let’s talk about the spice! This book definitely delivers on that front. There is plenty of tentacle play, knotting, and some very steamy moments. The author doesn’t shy away from the more adventurous side of monster romance, but I also appreciated that there was a surprisingly sweet relationship underneath all that spice.

The narration by Bastian Allen and Cleo Pope was fantastic! I really enjoyed their performances, and the duet narration made the listening experience even better. Both narrators brought the characters to life, and I thought their performances worked perfectly with the pacing and overall tone of the story.

My biggest issue was with the beginning of the book, particularly the first encounter between Isla and the Kraken. There were moments that felt like they bordered on dubious consent, which made me a little uncomfortable. I definitely recommend checking the trigger warnings before diving into this one.

I also wasn’t a huge fan of Dylan misleading Isla about his identity. I understood that it created some of the conflict in the story, but it’s just not one of my favorite things to see in a romance, especially when honesty could have made a difference in their relationship.

That being said, neither of those issues took away from how much I enjoyed the overall story. I thought the pacing was handled really well, especially for such a short audiobook. The romance was entertaining, Isla and Dylan had great chemistry, and the narration really elevated the entire experience.

Overall, Salt and Knot was a fun, spicy, and surprisingly sweet Kraken shifter romance! If you enjoy monster romances, fated mates, Alpha/Omega dynamics, massive size differences, plenty of tentacle play, and a protective MMC who knows how to take care of his partner, this is definitely worth checking out!

Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for providing me with a complimentary audio ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[ThatsSomeGoodSmut · Rating 4.25 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op, and the author for a copy of this audiobook.

I enjoyed the narration by Bastian Allen and Cleo Pope. This is a super fast paced, high heat, shifter Omegaverse romance. Isla is an omega who has never traveled to the coast and Dylan is a centuries old Kraken shifter who has been waiting for his fated mate. This story hits the floor running, or maybe starts with tentacles at full force? We are quickly thrown into the deep end with them meeting for the first time, and the kraken trying to claim Isla immediately. This book comes in hot and stays hot the entire time, so it you are looking for some super spicy tentacle and knotting action, look no further.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This new author to me, did an awesome job with this book. I loved the characters, and the storyline.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Faiza · Rating 4 out of 5]

Salt and Knot by Ella Verso 🎧 Narrated by Bastian Allen and Cleo Pope

Well, I certainly wasn't expecting this little audiobook to send me into the deep end quite so quickly! 😂🌊 This was my first proper experience with extra-spicy omegaverse romance, and my introduction to kraken monster romance, so you can imagine my reaction when things got going. Let's just say Ella Verso came prepared, and subtlety was nowhere on the agenda!

The story follows Isla, a young woman who feels an inexplicable connection to the ocean. Her fascination leads her into a frightening encounter with a mysterious sea creature, leaving her in a rather precarious situation. Fortunately, Dylan finds her washed up on the beach and brings her home to recover. He's a ridiculously wealthy Alpha with a protective streak, and he's convinced that Isla is the mate he's been waiting centuries to find. Yes, CENTURIES. Apparently, when your soulmate is involved, patience really is a virtue!

Dylan was definitely my favourite part of this story. He's powerful, attentive, possessive, and more than happy to spoil Isla rotten. His devotion has that delicious fairytale quality where the heroine suddenly finds herself with someone who wants to give her the entire world. Add his immortal nature and kraken-shifting abilities to the mix, and you've got one very unusual romantic hero. I also enjoyed the mystery surrounding his connection to the creature Isla encountered in the water. There was more happening beneath the surface than I initially expected, and I wanted to uncover the truth.

Isla was a little harder for me to connect with. Given her sheltered background and the short length of the novella, I could understand why her character development was somewhat limited, but I would have loved to see more of her personality shine through. I wanted her to take a little more control of her circumstances rather than letting Dylan lead so much of the way. Still, the contrast between her unfamiliarity with this extraordinary world and Dylan's centuries of experience gave their relationship an interesting dynamic.

Now, let's address the SPICE. 🔥 Because goodness me, this book does not believe in taking the scenic route! The heat arrives early, stays for a considerable amount of time, and absolutely delivers on the promise of an intense monster romance. Dylan helping Isla navigate her heat brings plenty of steam, and fans of knots, fated mates, and unconventional romantic encounters will find a lot to enjoy here.

I did have some mixed feelings about the circumstances surrounding their initial encounter and the consent dynamics. Dubious consent isn't usually something I gravitate towards, so certain moments made me pause. I appreciated that the story gave some attention to Isla's understanding of Dylan's shifter instincts as things progressed, although I would have welcomed a little more exploration of her feelings and choices. I also found myself wishing Dylan had been more forthcoming about certain things instead of allowing the mystery to drag on. His reasons made sense within the story, but a little more honesty would have saved some frustration!

Despite those reservations, I was surprised by how much story Ella Verso managed to squeeze into such a short read. Beneath the plentiful steam, there's a romantic fantasy involving an extraordinary creature, an ancient connection, and two characters discovering what their bond means. The pacing is brisk, the premise is wonderfully outlandish, and the whole thing has an indulgent, almost magical atmosphere. Sometimes you simply want an entertaining escape from reality, and this novella certainly understands the assignment.

The audiobook deserves a special mention because Bastian Allen and Cleo Pope were absolutely brilliant! Their performances added so much charm to the experience, and I particularly enjoyed the British accents. They gave the characters personality and made the chemistry feel even more engaging. Honestly, I think listening to this story rather than reading it on the page made the experience considerably more enjoyable for me.

Overall, Salt and Knot was a short, steamy, slightly bonkers adventure that entertained me far more than I expected. Between the billionaire Alpha, the immortal kraken, the fated-mate bond, and the unapologetically high spice level, Ella Verso created something that's easy to devour in one sitting. I would have appreciated a more developed heroine and a little less secrecy, but the audiobook performances and the sheer audacity of the premise made up for a lot.

If you're curious about omegaverse, enjoy monster romance, or simply want a quick listen packed with supernatural romance and plenty of heat, this might be worth adding to your list. Just know that the spice is turned all the way up, so consider yourself warned! 😂🔥

Spice rating: 5/5 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

[Sam · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

He Was a Pirate. He Was a Kraken. He Was Surprisingly Emotionally Competent. 🐙

⭐ 4.5/5
🎧 Audiobook: 5/5
🌶️ Spice: 2/5 experienced | 4/5 newer readers

Sometimes you just need a good, spicy monster romance.

And honestly? Salt and Knot delivered. 😂

I went into this novella looking for something fun, spicy, and entertaining, preferably with excellent duet narration. What I got was all of that, plus a surprising amount of emotional depth.

Dylan is a centuries-old, wealthy kraken shifter with a very interesting past, a monster whose instincts don’t always agree with his human judgment, and a serious case of falling hard for his mate.

The dynamic between Dylan and his kraken was one of my favorite parts of the story.

There was something genuinely entertaining about watching Dylan try to navigate his monster’s instincts while maintaining some semblance of human restraint and common sense.

And the misunderstandings? ☠️

The story knows how to have fun with its premise.

But what surprised me most was how much I enjoyed the emotional development.

Dylan is incredibly attentive to his mate’s pleasure, and the novella balances its spicy omegaverse dynamics with moments of genuine care.

I particularly appreciated how the story handled fear, vulnerability, and acceptance surrounding his monster identity. Those moments gave the relationship more emotional substance than I initially expected.

The heroine’s background also added meaningful context to her experience as an omega, making the fated-mate connection feel like more than an excuse for immediate attraction.

And while this is absolutely a spice-forward novella, it still manages to build an entertaining supernatural world.

By the time Dylan’s friends entered the picture, I was completely invested in the possibility of spending more time with these characters.

The monster friend group? 10/10. I need more.

🎧 Audiobook Experience

Bastian Allen and Cleo Pope delivered exactly what I wanted from the advertised duet narration.

Actual duet narration, excellent execution, and an immersive listening experience.

The audiobook was a major reason I picked this up, and it absolutely delivered.

A note on the spice: This is a smut-forward omegaverse monster romance featuring knotting, tentacles, fated mates, and dubious-consent dynamics. The dubious-consent elements worked for me within this particular fantasy framework, but readers should check the content information and decide whether those dynamics fit their preferences.

Who Should Listen?

Readers who enjoy spicy monster romance, kraken shifters, omegaverse, fated mates, pleasure-focused heroes, true duet narration, and short romances that balance ridiculous supernatural fun with genuine emotional connection.

If you’re looking for a quick, spicy palate cleanser that still gives you characters and a relationship worth caring about, this is an excellent choice.

I came for the spice and the duet.

I stayed for the emotionally competent kraken.

And now I want his friends’ stories. 🐙💕

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven't read many Omegaverse that were not Why Choose, so this was fun for me!

Isla grew up in foster care. Her foster mother warned her about the dangers of the sea, though she's always been drawn to it. Now that she is working, she's saved a bit of money for her first vacation to the ocean. She'll be camping instead of staying in a hotel, but she's so excited. But, once she sees the ocean from the beach, she feels the immediate need to strip down and get into the water. Then, there's tentacles, and things go bananas from there.

Dylan is a kraken shifter, and he's been searching for his mate his entire life (like 600 years!) When his kraken form senses her in his ocean, he can't help himself. Afterward, she passes out on the beach, and he shifts back to his human form to help her, and take her back to his house. His kraken has put her into heat, and she needs his help.

This book was FIRE, and bananas in the very best ways. I had such a great time reading it. My only real complaint is that I felt some threads were introduced and then left hanging. I get that this book was not exactly plot heavy, but it still bothered me. Why was her foster mom so against the ocean? Did she know something?? I also would've loved a little more background about this world's Alphas. They seem pretty awful, but I'm sure Dylan can't be the only exception...

Dylan had a group of several different species of shifter friends, who I assume might be heroes in future books, and I'm all for that! I would absolutely revisit this bonkers world again!

I received an advanced copy of this book from the author. This review is my personal opinion, voluntarily given.
Reviewed by Megan from Romanced by the Book

[Ally · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, this audiobook was SPICY! 🌶️🔥 This was my first truly super-spicy book, and wow, it did not waste any time getting into the action!

Salt and Knot follows Isla, who feels an irresistible pull toward the sea and encounters a mysterious tentacled creature. After the encounter, she wakes up to find herself rescued by Dylan, a gorgeous billionaire Alpha who claims she is his fated mate. He has been waiting hundreds of years for her, and although he spoils her and makes her feel wanted, Isla begins to suspect he is hiding something. She also can't stop thinking about the mysterious creature she encountered in the ocean. 👀

I was definitely thrown into the deep end with this one! 😂 The spice starts early and doesn't hold back. While the heat is certainly the main attraction, I also enjoyed the interesting backstory and the mystery surrounding Dylan and his connection to the creature in the sea. The fated-mates trope and the monster romance elements made this a unique experience, especially since this was my first book at this spice level.

The narration was wonderful and really brought the story to life. Bastian Allen and Cleo Pope did a fantastic job bringing the characters and their chemistry to the audiobook experience. The narration made an already memorable listen even more entertaining.

Overall, this was a fun, fast-paced listen that definitely pushed me outside my usual comfort zone! If you're into monster romance, fated mates, and an exceptionally high spice level, this one brings the heat. Just be prepared because it gets spicy FAST! 🔥🎧

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced listening copy in exchange for my honest review!

🌶️ Spice level: 5/5 — My first super-spicy audiobook, and I was NOT prepared! 😂🔥

[K Mead · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

A dark, spicy, age-gap omegaverse monster-shifter romance featuring Isla, a human omega with a mysterious pull towards the sea, and Dylan, a 600-year-old billionaire Alpha who happens to be a secret Kraken shifter. Well, that’s not something you read every day!

The plot took a little step back while the smut took centre stage! 🌶️ And wow, some of those scenes are DESCRIPTIVE. The writing and narration made them surprisingly hot, and I’m almost embarrassed to admit that! 🫣

I found Isla a little frustrating at first. She seemed quite naïve and unsure of herself, but she gradually grew in confidence, which made her character more likeable. Dylan? Pretty hot all the way through. 🥵

I would have liked a bit more backstory and build-up at the beginning, as I think it could have given the plot a little more depth. But this is a short, snappy listen, so I can see the appeal of getting straight into the action!

Bastian Allen and Cleo Pope did a great job with the narration, and let’s just say those spicy scenes were certainly brought to life! 👀

I’m a sucker for a HEA, and this gave me exactly what I wanted. ❤️ I’d also happily listen to more stories featuring Dylan’s friends. There could be some interesting possibilities there! 😜

And I will NEVER look at calamari in quite the same way again. The word tentacles will now make me blush, and I’ve learned a new favourite word: hectocotylus. Did you know the plural is hectocotyli? You’re welcome. You learn something new every day! 🤣🐙

If you’re after a quick, seriously spicy, slightly bonkers monster romance with a HEA, this might be one for you!

Thank you to Ella Verso, Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op and NetGalley for the audiobook ARC. All opinions are my own.

[Candi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Salt and Knot by Ella Verso is a short and spicy monster romance that is so much fun! I was lucky enough to do an immersive ARC read and I highly recommend it!

Isla is an Omega and has lived a sheltered life while always longing for the sea. Dylan has been waiting 600 years for his fated mate. And while his human form has filled his time with pirating and partying, his kraken form has patiently waited. When Isla steps into the ocean for the first time, the kraken recognizes her and races to find her.

So not my normal romance, but when I saw who the pen name was for, I quickly applied for this! (I love her short / sweet / spicy mafia novellas!)

We started right out the gate with some interesting intimacy in the ocean, and ya know, just throw me right into the deep end! (Ha!) I love how Isla is just searching for where she belongs, having been afraid of alphas and even her own body (heat cycles). And Dylan steps right in to be her everything, and honestly it’s so sweet and thoughtful while also being fast-paced and so spicy!

I also loved meeting the whole friend gang, so I can see how many more little monster romances can pop up in the future - and I am here for it!! I’ve already read the bonus epilogues on the author’s website, so be sure to check that out as well.

The audio: Bastian Allen and Cleo Pope narrate the audio in duet style, and do such an amazing job. You’re fully immersed (ha!) in each scene!

Expect:
💙 alphas and omegas
💙 fated mates
💙 knotting
💙 virgin FMC
💙 age gap (of like 600 years)
💙 duet narration

If you like a fun, spicy monster romance with so much tenderness, add this to your list!

Thank you Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley - all opinions are my own.

[Sonja Charters · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ahh! I really loved this spicy quick read novella by an author I've not come across before.

I've read enough books around this genre now though, to instantly recognise from the cover image and title just what I was letting myself in for and I couldn't wait!

I absolutely love the colours of the cover image and being a little partial to octupi - no! not in that way!! - I just couldn't resist diving in straight away. (Pun maybe intended)

This story drops us in right at the deep end as we follow Isla on an urge to visit the sea, where she's devoured (in the best way possible) by a large tentacled creature.
This triggers her heat to come on and when she's rescued from the beach by sexy billionaire alpha Dylan, she's more than happy for him to take care of her needs for a while.
What she doesn't know is that Dylan and his alter ego have been waiting for so long to meet their fated mate and she's finally arrived.

Oh this was such a quick read and it was just so perfect.
I loved how things played out and the way that Dylan protected Isla from the kraken for just long enough for her to get to grips with all the changes in her life and for her to accept all of him.

This did get a little spicy - ok, there's a fair amount of spice from the start - but it was just so good!
The perfect distraction on a chilly Sunday while doing my bills.
I had the best time.

I'll definitely be checking out more books from this author soon.

[Nicole Allbee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book as an ARC and ALC and this is my honest review.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and hope that this is just the beginning of a series!! It’s a short and spicy novella that drops you right into an omegaverse world with the perfect amount of explanation without being wordy or over-explanatory.

FMC Isla is an omega on her first vacation to the beach - where she has been told never to visit. Her first time in the water, she encounters a deep-sea creature and passes out on the shore. MMC Dylan finds Isla on the beach in her heat and takes her to his home. As an alpha it is his duty to help her, especially since he realizes she is his fated mate. That deep-sea creature is his other half - he is a kraken shifter who initiated the bond/heat by interacting with Isla.

The duet narration was fantastic. Both narrators are British (since the book takes place in Manchester and Cornwall) and did a wonderful job! Near the end (not a spoiler) we’re introduced to an assortment of characters that could easily be an introduction to new books in a continuation of a series. That is my hope!!

[Victoria Blusiewicz · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐
🍒🍒🍒

Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing for an ARC of Salt and Knot by Ella Verso - a Kraken shifter omegaverse.

I went into this book practically blind and I’m so glad I took a chance on this book. This was my first kraken shifter romance novel and it did not disappoint!

Isla is called to the sea and she doesn’t know why. Kept away by her now deceased foster mother, she decides to finally take a trip to Cornwall. What she discovers there is her fated mate, Dylan, a kraken shifter.

This is an instalove, high heat romance that was good from the get go! It’s got the normal elements of an omegaverse, with magic and shifter elements added in. I loved the way they all combined to create a fantasy world that feels fresh.

I loved Isla and Dylan’s chemistry and that she finally found someone she can consider her home.

I really liked this book and now I’m even more intrigued about anything else this author might write!

[Elizabeth · Rating 2.75 out of 5]

Billionaire • Age Gap • Omegaverse • Spicy AF.

It really does have it all.

I understand this is a novella and you’re not going to get in depth background on the characters because who has the time? But this girl literally walked into the sea and then rarely stopped her bang fest 🤣.

I also felt a little uncomfortable with how naive she was. That could just be a •me• thing and that’s fine, u know she’s an adult and can do whatever her lady parts desire, it almost felt like she was just under a spell and didn’t even know what her body was doing or who was doing it to her. She didn’t have the full knowledge of anything that was happening to her and it felt off.

I enjoyed the narration for both characters, they fit really well and helped to stay engaged in the story even when the •story• was a marathon of spicy scenes 🤣

[Tima · Rating 4.25 out of 5]

4.25 stars. This novella is dual POV, well written and edited, and a fast paced, sweet and spicy, fated mates, extreme age gap and size difference, omegaverse erotic romance between Isla, the female human omega lead, and Dylan, the male kraken shifter alpha lead. I enjoyed Isla’s adventurous spirit and her openness to new experiences. I empathised with Dylan’s loneliness and enjoyed his joy at finding his mate. I laughed at his enthusiastic manipulations designed to ensure Isla considered his suit. I enjoyed the spicy intimate scenes, and appreciated the developing consent focus. I enjoyed Isla’s enjoyment of Dylan’s features in every shape. I enjoyed the playful banter and the happy ending with very happy bonus epilogue.

I received a complimentary copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[GWV1993 · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

I did an immersive read with both the digital book and the audiobook.

For me the audiobook was a bit superior because of the amazing voice actors. Loved the duet narration and the accents.

This was a fun ride and a nice palate cleanser. A short, very smutty and sweet story. It was a bit insta-lust to insta-love within 2,3 seconds, but that can sometimes be very enjoyable.

Some of the words chosen in some scenes and some of the actions described felt a bit iffy or I just couldn't imagine how they could be with what was written before.

For example:
her cervix moved and he found that pleasurable?

But it mostly managed to turn my brain off and did make me giggle a few times. Which was what I was hoping for!

Fun debut!

Do beware of some trigger warnings:
non-con/dub-con


*I received this ARC through NetGalley.*

[Melissa · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

(Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC, views are my own)

I think this was my limit for whatever smutty omeagaverse-adjacent holes I've gone down.

For some reason referring to each other as alpha and omega irked me. And what was with the chirping?

As there was no mind-speaking with the kraken it just made me think of My Octopus Teacher where the boundaries on animals felt quite blurred.

It is a short read, and I knew it was going to be more smut than story but I was waiting for something else because there were hints at a plot- what did the foster-mother know to warn her away from the sea?

The back and forward felt repetitive. I can't tell you my secret, I love the ocean, tentacles, knotting.