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Tangled Crowns #5
Surfaces
I made a terrible mistake.
I gave my heart to my worst enemy in order to survive.
Relinquishing my heart allows me access to my pent-up magic. But it has a side effect. Now, as I swim through the sea kingdom, I find myself randomly consumed by dark thoughts.
Sometimes when I stare at the men competing in the tournament for my hand, I get a random itch—the urge reach out and snap their necks. To hear that brittle crack of bone and watch their eyes fade to gray. It doesn’t matter how sweet, funny, or handsome they are. The desire to hurt them is nearly overwhelming.
I always thought my birth mother was a monster by choice. Now, I wonder if it’s not a sea sprite’s destiny.
Will I become a leviathan too?
I need to know, and I need to find out quickly as these men grow closer to me and my evil appetite grows stronger. I don't know what I would do with myself if I hurt the sweet courtier, Keelan; the dashing pirate, Valdez; or my one true love, Mateo.
I’m afraid that they’ll see what lies beneath the surface, the shadows swimming in my eyes.
This beast inside might not just cost me my kingdom, but my soul.
I gave my heart to my worst enemy in order to survive.
Relinquishing my heart allows me access to my pent-up magic. But it has a side effect. Now, as I swim through the sea kingdom, I find myself randomly consumed by dark thoughts.
Sometimes when I stare at the men competing in the tournament for my hand, I get a random itch—the urge reach out and snap their necks. To hear that brittle crack of bone and watch their eyes fade to gray. It doesn’t matter how sweet, funny, or handsome they are. The desire to hurt them is nearly overwhelming.
I always thought my birth mother was a monster by choice. Now, I wonder if it’s not a sea sprite’s destiny.
Will I become a leviathan too?
I need to know, and I need to find out quickly as these men grow closer to me and my evil appetite grows stronger. I don't know what I would do with myself if I hurt the sweet courtier, Keelan; the dashing pirate, Valdez; or my one true love, Mateo.
I’m afraid that they’ll see what lies beneath the surface, the shadows swimming in my eyes.
This beast inside might not just cost me my kingdom, but my soul.
410 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 1, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
January 26, 2022
I have to admit, for some reason I was absolutely and totally convinced that this book was gonna wrap up Avia's story. It's a good thing I checked yesterday and discovered that it's actually NOT the last book in the series. I now at least was prepared before I started reading. I don't mind my series being unfinished, but it helps to avoid confusion while reading because I'm wondering how everything is gonna be wrapped up in so few pages.
What I loved about this book is that it clearly shows that Avia is slowly finding her footing. It's interesting. In the previous book everything was new and strange and overwhelming and therefore the book felt a little chaotic. This book quite clearly feels a lot less chaotic. Our Queen is slowly figuring things out and is discovering what she wants and how she wants to do things. Of course, it's still a work in progress, but she's getting somewhere.
I quite enjoyed that in this book the focus is more on the men that really matter. The setting doesn't really allow our Queen to get personal with them, which means that I still feel like there is much more to learn about these guys, but at least it's quite clear which ones are having a chance to end up in the harem and which ones are no more than side characters making up the bunch. I can't wait to see how everything will eventually turn out.
I most of all can't wait to see Avia become the Queen she is starting to become in this book. Unlike her older sister she didn't get a life of training for this, but I think that makes her an even better Queen. She's really figuring this out herself, finding ways to make this work for her, combining her personality with her politics. Yes, that sometimes means messing up, but I think the result will be amazing. I hope the next book releases soon!
What I loved about this book is that it clearly shows that Avia is slowly finding her footing. It's interesting. In the previous book everything was new and strange and overwhelming and therefore the book felt a little chaotic. This book quite clearly feels a lot less chaotic. Our Queen is slowly figuring things out and is discovering what she wants and how she wants to do things. Of course, it's still a work in progress, but she's getting somewhere.
I quite enjoyed that in this book the focus is more on the men that really matter. The setting doesn't really allow our Queen to get personal with them, which means that I still feel like there is much more to learn about these guys, but at least it's quite clear which ones are having a chance to end up in the harem and which ones are no more than side characters making up the bunch. I can't wait to see how everything will eventually turn out.
I most of all can't wait to see Avia become the Queen she is starting to become in this book. Unlike her older sister she didn't get a life of training for this, but I think that makes her an even better Queen. She's really figuring this out herself, finding ways to make this work for her, combining her personality with her politics. Yes, that sometimes means messing up, but I think the result will be amazing. I hope the next book releases soon!
Did Not Finish
December 4, 2023I googled and understood that there is no next book written/existing. I already read half of the book and it was progressing really slowly, so I decided to DNF as of now. If there ever will be an and to the story, maybe I will try once more reading it
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 21, 2024
the ending doesn’t even make sense
If you were going to the end series like that you never should have started writing about her sister at all
If you were going to the end series like that you never should have started writing about her sister at all
July 1, 2021
Ms. Denton's fantasy books are always some of my favorites with her incredible world-building, well-fleshed out characters, and detailed plots. Avia's story arc especially drew me in from the first book and in this second book, I was even more hooked. I love how she is learning how to navigate being a queen in a completely foreign environment with the added nuances of unknown enemies around her. Avia also feels her unlocked power for the first time and the description of how it feels was beautiful. The potential repercussions of using her power are a twist though, I have a lot of questions and theories about what's happening with that.
The guys competing to potentially be in her harem (good and bad) are also developed further in Surfaces. I have several favorites that I need to be in the final group, one that I'm intrigued by but as uncertain of as Avia, some that need to go ahead and skedaddle, and then there's the hidden enemy in Raj...who by the end of the book is unveiled to the reader. The slow burn is also starting to pay off and there is some great steam in this book. There's also more incredibly built tension and chemistry that had me wanting to yell at the author to just let them get a room (which is what she wants so I played right into her hands on that one).
There's a continued mix of action, royal intrigue, drama, some major feels, and humor. Several of the side characters surrounding Avia and the guys continue to shine, including Mr. Whelk (the turtle cause c'mon he's adorable), her advisor and her maid. We get to meet a new enemy and he's a vicious one. At the end, Surfaces does end with unresolved plot points, but I don't think it's truly a cliffhanger, more of a lead-in to the next book, like Depths ended. I may have said this in my review of book 1, but I don't usually read underwater creature books but this part of the series is so fascinating. Avia's story arc has surpassed Bloss's for me as my favorite. I hope Ms. Denton continues to build this world for a long time to come.
The guys competing to potentially be in her harem (good and bad) are also developed further in Surfaces. I have several favorites that I need to be in the final group, one that I'm intrigued by but as uncertain of as Avia, some that need to go ahead and skedaddle, and then there's the hidden enemy in Raj...who by the end of the book is unveiled to the reader. The slow burn is also starting to pay off and there is some great steam in this book. There's also more incredibly built tension and chemistry that had me wanting to yell at the author to just let them get a room (which is what she wants so I played right into her hands on that one).
There's a continued mix of action, royal intrigue, drama, some major feels, and humor. Several of the side characters surrounding Avia and the guys continue to shine, including Mr. Whelk (the turtle cause c'mon he's adorable), her advisor and her maid. We get to meet a new enemy and he's a vicious one. At the end, Surfaces does end with unresolved plot points, but I don't think it's truly a cliffhanger, more of a lead-in to the next book, like Depths ended. I may have said this in my review of book 1, but I don't usually read underwater creature books but this part of the series is so fascinating. Avia's story arc has surpassed Bloss's for me as my favorite. I hope Ms. Denton continues to build this world for a long time to come.
June 27, 2025
Found this series randomly and started to really get into it. I wasn’t the biggest fan of Avis’s story, but now I’m invested. But to end it on that cliffhanger? The teaser saying stay turned for the next one, but this came out in 2021 and it’s half way through 2025…. I need to know what happens next!!
I was confused half way through because I thought the heart was in the shark shifter, but I had to go back and re-read, because spells are tricky and the wording is her worst enemy. Which is Raj, not Watkins. Who is actually stravros. And that’s why I everyone kept thinking it was the shark shifter when it was really Raj. Who as the cliffhanger is now in love with her. Please write the next book!
I was confused half way through because I thought the heart was in the shark shifter, but I had to go back and re-read, because spells are tricky and the wording is her worst enemy. Which is Raj, not Watkins. Who is actually stravros. And that’s why I everyone kept thinking it was the shark shifter when it was really Raj. Who as the cliffhanger is now in love with her. Please write the next book!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 15, 2026
Trials and the bachelor are back
Bloss’s search for her knight continues in this book with trials. We get to know the men better and fall in love with several of the characters, and start rooting for some we hope become knights. Sultan Raj gets to navigate life with Bloss’s heart, unbeknownst to him, and this add to some entertainment as her heart gives him emotions he is not used to. Throughout this book, we are attempting to figure out which character is Raj, so it is a fun mystery to add to the trials. Bloss is learning how to navigate the discourse of her kingdom, but with the men by her side, she is starting to figure it out pretty well. Fun and entertaining. Bring on the next!
Bloss’s search for her knight continues in this book with trials. We get to know the men better and fall in love with several of the characters, and start rooting for some we hope become knights. Sultan Raj gets to navigate life with Bloss’s heart, unbeknownst to him, and this add to some entertainment as her heart gives him emotions he is not used to. Throughout this book, we are attempting to figure out which character is Raj, so it is a fun mystery to add to the trials. Bloss is learning how to navigate the discourse of her kingdom, but with the men by her side, she is starting to figure it out pretty well. Fun and entertaining. Bring on the next!
July 3, 2021
What do you call a cliff in the sea?
Well, leave it to Ann to have us dangling from the ledge of the seamount.
The story of Avia continues as her contestants battle for a chance to be selected to her harem. Avia becomes more confident in herself and we get to know a few of her potential men a better. We do find out who Raj is, and boy does it leave us with our jaws hanging open.
As always, we are left begging for more by the end of the book, so hold tight for book 6 to discover who...
Well, leave it to Ann to have us dangling from the ledge of the seamount.
The story of Avia continues as her contestants battle for a chance to be selected to her harem. Avia becomes more confident in herself and we get to know a few of her potential men a better. We do find out who Raj is, and boy does it leave us with our jaws hanging open.
As always, we are left begging for more by the end of the book, so hold tight for book 6 to discover who...
October 24, 2024
I enjoyed the complex interactions with the various contestants and Avia, the trials and tribulations she faces through each step of her growth.
I was rather surprised when I realized who Avia's greatest enemy was, because I had the impression it was another character, and had to do a small facepalm at myself when I remembered when that character developed. (Insert eye roll at myself)
The story keeps expanding and although we are left with a bit of a cliffhanger, I'm not too mad about it. I will be eagerly awaiting the next book in this series.
I was rather surprised when I realized who Avia's greatest enemy was, because I had the impression it was another character, and had to do a small facepalm at myself when I remembered when that character developed. (Insert eye roll at myself)
The story keeps expanding and although we are left with a bit of a cliffhanger, I'm not too mad about it. I will be eagerly awaiting the next book in this series.
January 21, 2022
Honestly, this series keeps getting better and better, I certainly think that Avia´s book are superior than Bloss´s in many aspects like plot, world building, storytelling, character development, suspense and, last but not least, creating sexual tension as well as affection, intrigue and anticipation of what comes next for Avia and her men. I really really love them all (because come on by the end of book 2 we know the ones she's gonna choose) but FELIPE! Ugh he's my favorite! I NEED BOOK 3!
September 14, 2025
Waiting for Waves
This was my 2nd read of this book. I love this series and the characters. The heroine is strong,but also vulnerable as she finds her footing with her magic and being queen. Her connection with her consort candidates has a heated undercurrent I hope to see sizzle in the next book. Only 5 More days to Waves!
This was my 2nd read of this book. I love this series and the characters. The heroine is strong,but also vulnerable as she finds her footing with her magic and being queen. Her connection with her consort candidates has a heated undercurrent I hope to see sizzle in the next book. Only 5 More days to Waves!
June 20, 2023
Love this series!!!
This series is both sweet and compelling as well as dark and twisty. I love it! I am dying waiting for her next book! ❤️❤️❤️
This series is both sweet and compelling as well as dark and twisty. I love it! I am dying waiting for her next book! ❤️❤️❤️
July 2, 2024
so disappointed
I loved this series until the last book made it feel so incomplete there still so much that need to be finished
I loved this series until the last book made it feel so incomplete there still so much that need to be finished
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews