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Eldentimber #5

Elodie of the Sea

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He's a king who gave up on love. She's a girl with no memory.

An entire ocean is keeping them apart. 

Eight years have passed since the marriage tournament that decided the fate of Princess Pippa of Lauramore and strengthened alliances between the kingdoms of Elden. The competitors have moved on with their lives. Some have found adventure; some have found love.

Prince Bran of Triblue, however, has put his life on hold, preparing for his father's crown.

Two days before Bran's winter coronation, just when the prince cannot afford distractions, a girl washes onto the Triblue shore. She has no memory of her past life, no clue who she is or where she belongs—nothing but a ring on her finger and a peculiar marking on her cheek.

And the newly crowned king has more than a mysterious girl to worry about. The sea has become unpredictable. Storms claim ships in the dead of night, and sailors return with horrifying stories of monsters from the deep. It soon becomes clear the girl and the bizarre events are connected.

The girl came from the sea... and the sea wants her back.

But Bran isn't willing to give her or his kingdom up without a fight, even if it means he must request help from every corner of Elden.

An entire cast of Eldentimber characters returns in an epic series conclusion that readers have been asking for.

381 pages, ebook

First published March 29, 2018

174 people are currently reading
279 people want to read

About the author

Shari L. Tapscott

68 books912 followers
Shari L. Tapscott writes young adult fantasy and humorous contemporary fiction. When she's not writing or reading, she enjoys gardening, making soap, and pretending she can sing.

She loves white chocolate mochas, furry animals, spending time with her family, and characters who refuse to behave.

Tapscott lives in western Colorado with her husband, son, daughter, and two very spoiled Saint Bernards.

Join Shari's newsletter, and be one of the first to learn about new projects, upcoming releases, sales, and specials.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
Profile Image for Camille.
Author 34 books559 followers
January 21, 2023
Ooh, Elodie of the Sea was adorable! I’m so glad I loved it, especially after the middle offerings in the Eldentimber series were rather disappointing reads for me. Before reading this, I’d only loved the first book in this series, Pippa of Lauramore, and while I also enjoyed Grace of Vernow, the novella that came after it, I didn’t like the others as much as I’d hoped, so I was worried that this book would follow a similar pattern and I wouldn’t like it. But I not only liked it, I loved it!

I adore mermaid stories, and this one was not only thoroughly charming but such a fantastic and creative take on mermaids, who in this world are shapeshifters, with a fascinating (albeit heartbreaking in many aspects) mythology. The story also had a Little Mermaid feel, but rather than the heroine losing her voice, she loses her memory, which provided an interesting twist.

Elodie was such a wonderful character, both because of her mermaid abilities and because of her delightful personality, but I especially loved sweet Bran; after Archer, he’s my favorite hero in this fun series. I loved watching him not only grow into his role as king but find the love he’d been waiting for. It was such a pleasure getting to read so many chapters from his perspective. He and Elodie not only were adorable together, but their romance was so beautiful, especially with how often they sacrificed for one another.

In addition to the cute and utterly sweet romance, the plot was thoroughly engaging with some fun twists. I especially loved seeing a return of the characters from the previous books, especially Pippa, Archer, and their four boys. It was also so satisfying seeing what had become of Lionel; I love when characters are redeemed.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed Elodie of the Sea. It along with Pippa of Lauramore are two books I’ll definitely reread many times in the future whenever I feel the need to escape into Shari Tapscott’s enchanting fairytale world.
Profile Image for Aimee .
3,072 reviews298 followers
April 16, 2018
I was so, so happy to read this story for a couple reasons. One, I love this series. It's one of my favorite. Two, I have been waiting for Bran (who I love) to get his happy ever after. He's been around since book one and it's about time.

As with all the books in this series, this book has adventure, light romance and a touch of mystery. All characters from the previous books made an appearance in this book and it was so fun- like a family reunion! Each book can stand alone and don't necessarily have to be read in order, but you will probably enjoy this series more if you do.

Elodie is from the sea. She has some mermaid like qualities with some creative twists. My imagination was sparked, filling my mind with visions of far off lands and magical creatures. The story kept a good pace and I was completely invested from beginning to end.

I love this series. It's great for YA and adults alike. It's clean (no swearing or sexual situations) which I also love.

Content: some violence, mild peril

- I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. All opinions expressed are my own.
Profile Image for Jessica Harrison.
555 reviews18 followers
November 20, 2024
Simply magical. I love this story! I found it captivating from page 1 and it held me straight through to the end. It’s definitely my favorite in the series.

I haven’t read many mermaid stories, so am not sure if this is standard mermaid magic and culture, or something unique to this book. Regardless, it was very well done and I was thoroughly impressed. I’ve liked Bran’s character since he first appeared in book 1, and it was great to see him further fleshed out here… I also love how different this story is, so far from the rinse and repeat that often comes with series like this.

Highly recommended!

Content:
There’s no foul language or sex. There is some violence, but it’s not excessive. The romance is sweet and clean, with only a few chaste kisses near the end. There is a lot of magic. There’s no mention of faith or God.
Profile Image for Nanzee.
137 reviews19 followers
January 7, 2022
This was a pretty epic conclusion to the series... if you don't count Genevieve's book, that is.
It was amazing to see Irving and Audette again with their Brookraven unicorn hocus-pocus makeovers. Pippa and Archer were also pretty fun to meet in this book and so were Anwen and Galinor. I can't really remember if Seirsha and Rigel were in this but they're the best couple of this series so this book would be missing out.

The sea drama was awesome and I had so much anxiety at the ending. I think the world-building in this was sooooo impressive and interesting. The merfolk concepts were really good and the love story was generally heartwarming.
Can't say I loved seeing Rosie and her man in this...#TeamIrving+Audette4Eva
Profile Image for brii | brii (three months behind...).
845 reviews1 follower
January 9, 2025
This was my least favorite of the series.

While I think it started off pretty strong and I did enjoy it at the beginning, I got a little bored of the memory loss pretty quickly and found it to be rather boring and repetitive. It did pick up again near the end, and the twist was pretty decent but there was too much of a stretch in the middle here I found myself bored and struggling to continue. I really didn’t connect with Bran.

Also!

I didn’t bring this up before, but!

I really dislike when an author follows a writing pattern for an entire series then decides ON BOOK 5 to switch things up. Never before have we done a dual pov, so why are we doing it now?

I mean, I get why we did it, because Elodie wasn’t around, but the author should have gone in a different direction or found a way around it. It does not make sense to me to switch things up, and it bothers me.

But that’s probably just me.
Profile Image for April.
965 reviews32 followers
April 8, 2018
Abolutely loved this novel! From the moment I stepped into the well crafted world Tapscott has created I was once again swept away. Tapscott has become a favorite author of mine; one whose novels I eagerly anticipate and find myself completely delighted with. I cannot wait to see what she has next up her sleeve... I am hoping that our Eldentimber "pirate" may have a story brewing!?!

Back to the story at hand... Elodie and Bran, happy sigh! This story was so hard to put down late last night, (but I eventually did), and even throughout the day I wanted to dive back in but had to wait. It was worth the wait! The characters are wonderful, the story enchanting, the romance sweet and sigh worthy, and a thread of truth and heart woven throughout! Highly recommended!
Profile Image for Kim .
1,155 reviews19 followers
April 2, 2018
This seemed to be a little bit like The Little Mermaid. I liked her take on mermaids though - more human shapeshifters. Elodie's best friend from her younger years is a secondary character in this story, yet plays a very important role in the story. His brother, the king of the merpeople seems to be the bad guy - but...
Bran, our hero, must decide what role he wants to play in his own life and how much he is going to be in control of the decisions that will make up the picture of that life.
All of the characters from her previous stories get to be a part of this story too, and it is quite fun to have them there to encourage, tease, and fight alongside Bran and Elodie.
I have loved this series and am so glad that it has continued!

This is a clean read!
Profile Image for Tricia Mingerink.
Author 12 books450 followers
December 27, 2021
I enjoyed this book, though it wasn't my favorite of the series. Elodie and Bran are a sweet couple, but it was a little bit of insta-love. And I'm not a huge fan of the Little Mermaid, so the mermaid aspect wasn't my favorite.

Still, it was great to see all of the characters from previous books come together once again. It was great to see where they are a few years after their books.
Profile Image for Greta Riordan.
625 reviews36 followers
August 23, 2025
A wonderful end

This book is full of twists and turns that you will never suspect. The characters from the previous books join together once again to face an evil. And meet a surprise, someone you would never suspect.
Profile Image for Christina.
799 reviews33 followers
April 20, 2020
Great ending to the series

This was a pretty climactic ending to this series. I’m so sad to be finished with it, but I suppose I probably can’t lose sleep over the books indefinitely, lol.

This is the only book in the series to change points of view. It’s still the first person perspective, it just changes from either Elodie or Bran at the beginning of each chapter. I liked getting to be inside each of their heads. Almost every character from the other books returns in this one to help face the villain at the end, and I loved seeing everyone come full circle.

Elodie and Bran’s romance was sweet and their devotion to one another was endearing. Elodie washes up on shore where soon-to-be-king Bran finds her, without any memory of who she is. I don’t want to spoil anything, but that moment when she breaks through enchantments and links in order to jump into the sea to save someone was my favorite.

I’m sad to be done with the series but I enjoyed every moment. A fantastic series of books that have adventure, mystery, fantasy, magic, friendships, and a clean yet swoony romance. I highly recommend them!
Profile Image for Alex L Criddle.
822 reviews6 followers
August 5, 2019
I really loved the writing in this novel. Though I love the other novels in this series, it would have been great to see the men’s perspectives like we get to see Bran’s in this story. Reading about mermaids through Elodie’s perspective added further dimension to the already rich world of Eldentimber. The portrayal of mermaids in this story was unique, and seeing other magical beings and creatures in the world was also interesting. It was so satisfying to see characters from throughout the series in one place. I loved how the couples interacted, and it was fun to see how their families have grown throughout the years. I do wish Seirsha and Rigel could have been included more, but I understand that not everyone will have read that particular novel. I was surprised to see a certain character, but wish we would have learned more about the past years that led that character to the events of this novel. I’m so sad that this series is over, but so happy I’ve been able to visit Eldentimber and experience a fantastic world where love really does conquer all.
50 reviews1 follower
March 2, 2020
Entertaining

This book was entertaining and switched POV between the King and Mermaid which was a nice change from the previous books.

The story line was fun, lite, and easy to follow. It was particularly fun that the future King doubted himself as ruler and kept wanting to run away with the mermaid. It was however a bit predictable and the Gimly never appeared again which was slightly disappointing. He said he would and he even planned an event but never appeared again.

I also liked to see Lionel again, because book 1 left so many questions about him. Now, however, I am truly curious and feel he needs a book to pick up after the Princess tournament from book one.

I also liked the reunion of the many characters from the other books. I always like that in stories like these.

Profile Image for Bess.
723 reviews
April 13, 2020
Well, this was a wonderful end to a fantastic series.
This was by no means my favorite of the books, but I thoroughly enjoyed Elodie & Bran's story!
Mermaids, mermen, sea dragons, regular dragons, people back from the dead, light magic, dark magic, love, selflessness, and so much more sprinkles this sweet read.
Bran finally finds his HEA in the form of a washed-up mermaid. Though she's lost all of her memories, Elle falls for the dashing to-be-king. Once sea dragons strike though, it is enough trauma for her memories to resurface.
This is a great tale of true love. I loved some of the lines in this about lust vs infatuation vs love and I couldn't agree more! It's a beautiful story and a lovely ending to the series!
P.S. Irving is in this one too (blush). Along with all of our friends from the previous books too!!
Profile Image for Leah.
399 reviews
March 31, 2018
I seriously love any book by Shari Tapscott but then make it a mermaid story and add a handsome king, and I’m in book heaven! :)
It’s been a while since I’ve read the Eldentimber series, so it was fun to go back and reconnect with all the characters from the previous books. I liked that time had passed since the last stories, so all the characters were a bit older, with families, etc...but still just as fun and gorgeous. ;)
Adding Bran and Elodie’s story definitely made this series feel more complete. They had great chemistry and I loved seeing their relationship grow.
This book was entertaining and filled with everything I love...romance, humor, and a bit of fantasy. Now I’m tempted to read the whole series over again!
Profile Image for Karla.
489 reviews5 followers
February 20, 2019
It was so great to see everyone come back to this last book in the series. As always the book is about the main couple Elodie and Bran, but it sure was nice whenever Pippa, Archer, Anwen, Galinor, Irving, Audette, etc. and while Rigel and Siercha couldn't make it but they were mentioned and that was good enough. Hell, even Lionel, yeah from the first book who got taken prisoner by the dragons, makes an appearance. Although I do miss the old covers, this'll do.

With a few themes that resemble the story of The Little Mermaid, like the whole falling in love with a human, Elodie losing something important to her (her memory instead of her voice). Interesting romance and watching everything tie together at the end and come full circle was satisfying.

Profile Image for Victoire.
299 reviews
April 2, 2018
I am absolutely in love with this author! Her stories are so captivating and this one is no exception! The world building is great, the characters are so different from one another and I think it's amazing that you can enjoy everyone's story of how they fell in love but you can really connect to the couple that is similar to your personality. I loved Bran and discovering his strong introverted personality, and Elodie and her struggle. I am quite the fan of mermaids so also a bonus to the story. I would definitely recommend to anyone who enjoys a good book, especially if they like princes and princess and truly falling in love.
Profile Image for Billie Flaming.
585 reviews4 followers
October 28, 2018
A fun conclusion to the series. It was fun to see all (or most. Rigel and Seirsha were absent, much to my chagrin) of the characters reunite for one last hurrah.
Elodie and Bran are adorable and a very good pair; I liked both them and their chemistry. I’m especially pleased that we spent half of the story seeing from Bran’s perspective. One complaint I have in this series is that peeking into the minds of the dudes would be beneficial at times.
All in all, a fun series, ended with a fun book. The best thing about this world is the different magical creatures; ending with the titular character being one such creature was fitting.
Profile Image for Vibliophile.
1,591 reviews130 followers
March 10, 2019
The best of the series

I think this might be my favorite of the series (Audette is a close competitor). Elodie & Bran are so good together, yet they aren't supposed to be together. You know it's a fairytale so it's all going to work out, thankfully, but it's so hard waiting to find out how. I do wish, especially if this is to be the last of the series, that we had gotten a fuller happily-ever-after - maybe the author will grant us a novella as an epilogue where our heroes have some sort of reunion & we find out how many kids each couple has, what they end up doing, etc! 🙏

Clean romance level: passionate kissing,
nothing graphic
Profile Image for Nicholas Gienger.
3 reviews
March 31, 2018
Great if you already love the series!

I loved the story and all the bits and pieces about the other characters from this series. My only "complaint" is that I now want to read them all again...too many good characters. Even having read the rest of the series I ended up struggling to remember some of the who's who in this enchanting world. I strongly recommend only reading these books in order if you don't want to have a major case of, "who..?" At least the main storyline doesn't have that issue, you can follow the main storyline without a problem.
Profile Image for Kerri.
617 reviews5 followers
May 22, 2018
A good way to wrap up this series, especially as so many characters from the other books were included. Even a surprise character had his fate revealed. The story is a little bit Little Mermaid, and I liked that aspect. I also liked the dual perspectives; when things are written in first person I often miss getting the other sides of the story. I think the evil plot line could've been explained a little more fully, and there were a fair few typos in the book, but I enjoyed it all the same.
154 reviews4 followers
March 31, 2018
Fabulous ending

Sweet, clean, with some fun twists, and returns. Great finale to the series. Loved this series and this was a great book! I loved how they fall in love over time - once again there is an attraction, but it is not as important or overshadowing as the person they fall in love with.
42 reviews
April 1, 2018
This book was a gorgeous retelling of the Little Mermaid, though I don't think "retelling" is correct. This book is original, it simply has threads of the Little Mermaid story woven through it, such that it never felt predictable. This is a great book, fun, sweet, and a little mysterious. I'd highly recommend it!
Profile Image for Marie.
272 reviews2 followers
April 27, 2018
Great Read

I have enjoyed all of Shari Tapscotts books in the Eldentimber series. This book did not disappoint. Except that there isn't a 6th. The story was fun and unique . I love that goodness prevails and true love wins. Be sure to read the whole series of you haven't already. If you have grab this book nd enjoy a reunion of all the kingdoms coming together!
Profile Image for Stephani Austin.
267 reviews1 follower
October 24, 2018
Squee!

Awesome continuation of the series. So happy to have Bran’s story. And I was a bit apprehensive about the mermaid part, because that’s a bunch more magic than some of the previous books, but Audette’s story tied that nicely together. I enjoyed the new mermaid lore. It was surprising to meet Lionel again, and now I want to hear his story!
80 reviews
February 5, 2019
Finale.

This was a great ending to this series. It was hard for me to put the entire series down so it was no surprise when it took me longer to finish this book. I did NOT want this series to end!!

I love that this book is told from both Elodie and Bran’s POV. This is the only book in the series to do this but it really helped to bring the story together.

Great read.
131 reviews2 followers
May 6, 2019
Exquisite ending to a fun series

Wow! With all my favorite characters from previous books and engaging and exciting new characters, this book is all I could hope for! Each character had something new added and the story was fast-paced and engaging to read. What a wonderful conclusion to the series.
665 reviews6 followers
May 20, 2019
Wonderful story with mermaids

This is not a retelling mermaid story . Elodie flees her island home and ends up in Trieblue. Bran finds her on the beach , with no memories of who she is or where she's from . Everyone from the series shows up. Good love story
Profile Image for Joy.
779 reviews11 followers
January 21, 2020
I will never never tire of this author’s fantasy stories. I may just splurge and buy this entire series in paperback!

This is a wonderful ending to the series, and I enjoyed seeing all the main characters from the series come together once again in friendship. And their a surprise entrance from a long lost character..

Read this series! Follow this author!
495 reviews
November 28, 2024
It’s always fun when many characters from previous books join.

It was clean and only kissing. One descriptive scene of her legs in the water but still on the cleaner side. No cursing.

I’m still not entirely sure who the villain was maybe it was more than one. I didn’t quite fall in love with them or their love story as with the other books and I am not sure why.
32 reviews
March 31, 2018
Love the Eldentimber Series

I am so sad that this is the end of the series. Shari Tapscott does an excellent job creating characters that you fall in love with and live through. I wish she had more books I could devour.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews

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