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Haven Cove #1
Called to the Deep
First comes desire. Then hunger.
When Killian Quinn, captain of offshore fishing boat Dawn Chaser, receives a distress call from a sailing ship caught in a terrible storm, he and his crew rush to provide aid. But when they arrive, all that’s left of the ship and its crew is splintered wood and a borderline hypothermic woman who can’t remember how she survived. His attraction to her is instantaneous, and maintaining a professional distance proves to be a struggle, especially when she needs a place to stay that’s far from the press and curious townsfolk, and his idyllic cottage by the sea is the perfect sanctuary.
What was supposed to be a thrilling once-in-a lifetime opportunity for Lorelei Roth—who’d never been to sea—turns into a seafaring tragedy. As Lorelei struggles to accept that she is The Osprey’s only survivor, she is plagued by strange dreams and sleepwalking episodes that draw her into the ocean. And if the grieving process wasn’t hard enough, Lorelei also grapples with guilt from developing feelings for the captain who rescued her. But worst of all, is a new, unsettling hunger for raw flesh that’s eating her from the inside out. The handsome captain begins to look like a tasty snack in more ways than one.
Discovering that she’s descended from the people-eating mermaids who devoured her crew, Lorelei struggles to accept her identity knowing her entire existence relies upon its secrecy and devouring human flesh. What happens when Killian finds out? His snoopy ex? A marine biologist? A reporter? The world at large? What happens when Lorelei answers the ocean’s call to the deep?
When Killian Quinn, captain of offshore fishing boat Dawn Chaser, receives a distress call from a sailing ship caught in a terrible storm, he and his crew rush to provide aid. But when they arrive, all that’s left of the ship and its crew is splintered wood and a borderline hypothermic woman who can’t remember how she survived. His attraction to her is instantaneous, and maintaining a professional distance proves to be a struggle, especially when she needs a place to stay that’s far from the press and curious townsfolk, and his idyllic cottage by the sea is the perfect sanctuary.
What was supposed to be a thrilling once-in-a lifetime opportunity for Lorelei Roth—who’d never been to sea—turns into a seafaring tragedy. As Lorelei struggles to accept that she is The Osprey’s only survivor, she is plagued by strange dreams and sleepwalking episodes that draw her into the ocean. And if the grieving process wasn’t hard enough, Lorelei also grapples with guilt from developing feelings for the captain who rescued her. But worst of all, is a new, unsettling hunger for raw flesh that’s eating her from the inside out. The handsome captain begins to look like a tasty snack in more ways than one.
Discovering that she’s descended from the people-eating mermaids who devoured her crew, Lorelei struggles to accept her identity knowing her entire existence relies upon its secrecy and devouring human flesh. What happens when Killian finds out? His snoopy ex? A marine biologist? A reporter? The world at large? What happens when Lorelei answers the ocean’s call to the deep?
354 pages, Paperback
First published September 20, 2022
62 people are currently reading
4064 people want to read
About the author
Desirée M. Niccoli
10 books165 followersBy night, Desirée M. Niccoli writes a blend of vicious romance and cozy horror, featuring monsters, villains, and the supernatural, and often served with (mostly) emotionally intelligent characters and heart. By day, she is a public relations professional living the nomadic military life with her husband and two cats Pawdry Hepburn and Puma Thurman. Although born and raised in Pittsburgh, Desirée has since lived in coastal Maine (where her spooky heart truly lies) and Maryland.
Name Pronunciation: DE-zi-RAY NI-Koh-lee. Rhymes with cannoli.
She is represented by Kaitlyn Katsoupis at Belcastro Agency.
For emailed book news and author’s musings, subscribe to Desirée’s blog Brain Ink at www.dmniccoli.com. And for even more regular book-related updates, you can find her on Twitter/X and TikTok @dmniccoli and Instagram @author_dmniccoli.
Name Pronunciation: DE-zi-RAY NI-Koh-lee. Rhymes with cannoli.
She is represented by Kaitlyn Katsoupis at Belcastro Agency.
For emailed book news and author’s musings, subscribe to Desirée’s blog Brain Ink at www.dmniccoli.com. And for even more regular book-related updates, you can find her on Twitter/X and TikTok @dmniccoli and Instagram @author_dmniccoli.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 103 reviews
October 14, 2022
Lorelei, a lone survivor to a ship wreck. Killian, the captain to his ship. Killian saves her and sparks fly instantly for the two. When Lorelei discovers she is a siren, after having nightmares and sleep walking in the sea. Killian stays by her side and his love for her does not waver. A love story between a fisherman and mermaid. There are ups and downs. I love their fiery connection. When Lorelei starts to tell others and their accepting reaction to her was sweet but not everyone will be as accepting. Someone discovers what she is and the ending will leave you wanting more. I can't wait to continue this story and hope for a second book.
Read
November 23, 2022DNF around 60%. I was so excited for this author's full-length book after reading her really cool ghoul novella, but this isn't quite working for me. I still totally recommend to anyone who's in the mood for a fisherman captain + domesticated flesh-eating killer siren-mermaid romance... but unfortunately, I'm just losing interest. The idea is cool, but the execution is missing the mark FOR ME.
It's just a little overwritten for me (calling his abs 'an archipelago' was a bit... much).
It toggles back and forth between feeling too slow and too abrupt. I'm not entirely convinced of the characters' motivations or the timelines we're following. The dialogue doesn't feel believable to me. I keep thinking to myself— people don't say that, people don't talk like that.
However! Please still read this if you're interested! I'm excited for this new-to-the-scene author and don't want to discourage anyone from reading. I would totally try her again in the future.
It's just a little overwritten for me (calling his abs 'an archipelago' was a bit... much).
It toggles back and forth between feeling too slow and too abrupt. I'm not entirely convinced of the characters' motivations or the timelines we're following. The dialogue doesn't feel believable to me. I keep thinking to myself— people don't say that, people don't talk like that.
However! Please still read this if you're interested! I'm excited for this new-to-the-scene author and don't want to discourage anyone from reading. I would totally try her again in the future.
Read
September 21, 2023Called to the Deep is my love letter to Maine and the found family I made while I lived there. It’s the book that showed me I could still write after a six-year drought, and it’s a real mashup of things. There’s: Heartfelt romance. Creepy horror moments. Marine science. Found family fluff. Humor. Environmentalism. Boat stuff. PR problems. And of course, flesh-craving (and sometimes flesh-eating) mermaids.
It’s about a lady monster and the discovery and acceptance of who and what she is and the people who help her get there. It’s a heroine’s journey and a reminder that we don’t have to go it alone.
The sequel, Song of Lorelei, is about healing, atonement, and embracing oneself, claws and all.
My deepest thanks for giving the Haven Cove crew a chance.
xoxo
Desirée
It’s about a lady monster and the discovery and acceptance of who and what she is and the people who help her get there. It’s a heroine’s journey and a reminder that we don’t have to go it alone.
The sequel, Song of Lorelei, is about healing, atonement, and embracing oneself, claws and all.
My deepest thanks for giving the Haven Cove crew a chance.
xoxo
Desirée
December 29, 2022
I'm always happy to try a mermaid romance and I was intrigued by the setup for CALLED TO THE DEEP which features the only survivor of a ship wreck who finds out afterward she's the descendent of people-eating mermaids. Overall, this was a good book with some solid bones but a few things slowed me down while reading. The beginning is very slow and it wasn't until about 40% that I really started to get engaged with the plot and what was happening to Lorelei. Much of the beginning sets up the small coastal town of Haven Cove and if you love atmospheric settings than the beginning will probably work better for you than it did for me.
Once we started to get into the mermaid bits of the story I found it a lot more interesting and I liked seeing how Lorelei handled her changing appetites, predatory instincts, and new abilities. I also appreciated how raw and real Niccoli wrote Lorelei's struggle to control her desire to eat people; it's not just casually mentioned, we actually see the real and dangerous consequences of Lorelei's hunger. I also liked both Lorelei and Killian as a couple, their feelings develop quickly but I like that in a romance so it worked for me. Also, I'm always a sucker for a hero who falls first and falls hard for his love interest. The way Killian takes care of Lorelei and appreciates her differences was written really beautifully. Throw in some great secondary characters and there's some really good found family moments.
Outside the slow start the other thing that held me back was how much narrative there was compared to dialogue. There were so many things that were just summarized as they were happening and this made me feel disconnected from the story; it was like I was getting a second hand account of events rather than seeing them as they were happening. Many times a character would go to have a conversation with another character and instead of having that dialogue on page, the reader would just get a summary of what was discussed or what happened. I noticed this occurred a lot more in the last third of the book and made the ending feel like it was trying to rush through a bunch of events.
All that being said, I do plan to read the second book when it comes out because I'm curious to see what happens with Lila's study and whether or not the wild mermaids will find lasting peace from their hunger.
**ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review**
Content Warning: survivors guilt and PTSD; on page funeral; past death of a parent from cancer; brief mention of verbally abusive parent; references to rape; light stalking from an ex
Once we started to get into the mermaid bits of the story I found it a lot more interesting and I liked seeing how Lorelei handled her changing appetites, predatory instincts, and new abilities. I also appreciated how raw and real Niccoli wrote Lorelei's struggle to control her desire to eat people; it's not just casually mentioned, we actually see the real and dangerous consequences of Lorelei's hunger. I also liked both Lorelei and Killian as a couple, their feelings develop quickly but I like that in a romance so it worked for me. Also, I'm always a sucker for a hero who falls first and falls hard for his love interest. The way Killian takes care of Lorelei and appreciates her differences was written really beautifully. Throw in some great secondary characters and there's some really good found family moments.
Outside the slow start the other thing that held me back was how much narrative there was compared to dialogue. There were so many things that were just summarized as they were happening and this made me feel disconnected from the story; it was like I was getting a second hand account of events rather than seeing them as they were happening. Many times a character would go to have a conversation with another character and instead of having that dialogue on page, the reader would just get a summary of what was discussed or what happened. I noticed this occurred a lot more in the last third of the book and made the ending feel like it was trying to rush through a bunch of events.
All that being said, I do plan to read the second book when it comes out because I'm curious to see what happens with Lila's study and whether or not the wild mermaids will find lasting peace from their hunger.
**ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review**
Content Warning: survivors guilt and PTSD; on page funeral; past death of a parent from cancer; brief mention of verbally abusive parent; references to rape; light stalking from an ex
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March 11, 2021Proud to say I was the original beta reader for this novel, way back when. :)
December 16, 2025
3.5 stars
I really love Desirée as an author, but this missed the mark a bit for me. The pacing was weird and I just didn’t feel as emotionally connected to the characters. Killian was swoony AF though. Lorelei was intense and dealing with some serious instinct misfiring, which def was understandable.
Spice: 3/5
Triggers: Grief, mental health struggles (PTSD, survivor’s guilt), death (shipwreck/sinking, natural disaster), blood, semi-cannibalism, body horror (one explicit scene), violence, capture of sentient being, stalking, upper nudity involuntarily posted on internet (not for sexual purposes), drowning, hypothermia, head injury (side character), cancer (briefly mentioned), death of a parent (past), rape (briefly mentioned), mentions of toxic parent
I really love Desirée as an author, but this missed the mark a bit for me. The pacing was weird and I just didn’t feel as emotionally connected to the characters. Killian was swoony AF though. Lorelei was intense and dealing with some serious instinct misfiring, which def was understandable.
Spice: 3/5
Triggers: Grief, mental health struggles (PTSD, survivor’s guilt), death (shipwreck/sinking, natural disaster), blood, semi-cannibalism, body horror (one explicit scene), violence, capture of sentient being, stalking, upper nudity involuntarily posted on internet (not for sexual purposes), drowning, hypothermia, head injury (side character), cancer (briefly mentioned), death of a parent (past), rape (briefly mentioned), mentions of toxic parent
February 2, 2023
You know maybe it's cause I kissed a lot of mermaid book-shaped frogs, but this deserves 5 stars. A great mix of romance and actual mermaid lore. I loved seeing Lorelei's and Killian's relationship - it was really healthy and beautiful to see. But I was surprised to see how detailed and thought-through the mermaid lore bit of it was. And the extent to which it was the focus of the book was a pleasant surprise as well. Will go to the top of mermaid books for me!
January 5, 2023
I loved the eerie aquatic horror of this book. Give me way more bloodthirsty mermaids please and thank you. Good thing there is a sequel coming out soon :)
August 17, 2022
CALLED TO THE DEEP is a rare and luscious treat…a seductive, decadent romance spiced with pulse-pounding horror. Niccoli’s charmingly carnivorous mermaid will absolutely enchant you while making you cast a wary eye to the waves. Scary, delicious fun!
That’s the professional-sounding blurb, but this debut is going to knock your socks off! I loved every moment of Lorelei and Killian’s romance. The characterization is stellar, I love that the heroine is the “monster” for once, and Killian is a kind-hearted and protective hero whose brooding is far from toxic. Niccoli also creates a wonderful sense of place in this book—she’s very familiar with her coastal Maine setting, and it shows. This is a lovely read and I cannot wait for the next book in this planned series!
That’s the professional-sounding blurb, but this debut is going to knock your socks off! I loved every moment of Lorelei and Killian’s romance. The characterization is stellar, I love that the heroine is the “monster” for once, and Killian is a kind-hearted and protective hero whose brooding is far from toxic. Niccoli also creates a wonderful sense of place in this book—she’s very familiar with her coastal Maine setting, and it shows. This is a lovely read and I cannot wait for the next book in this planned series!
September 8, 2022
Oh my gosh, where to start? For one thing, our hero is a seafarer from Maine named Killian (long dramatic stare at all OUAT fans). Now forget that he doesn't look like Killian Jones, I still fancasted so work with me here. 😍
We open with a shipwreck with almost all lives lost, and damn if that doesn't set the tone for this creepy yet utterly enthralling book.
Niccoli doesn't hold back from teasing the line between heroine and monster. With a craving for human flesh, Lorelei is both terrifying and sexy. And truth be told, once you get past the scales, there were some characters I wouldn't mind Lorelei sinking her teeth into.
With a well rounded and fun supporting cast, CALLED TO THE DEEP is a quick and consuming read about a young woman (Lorelei) who survives a wreck, only to discover the reason she beat out the cold of the northern Atlantic Ocean is that she's a siren. As her body and cravings change, she fights to remain in control of her human life, including the budding romance with the ship captain who saved her: Killian. With the help of her marine biologist best friend, Lorelei evades prying reporters and snooping ex's to discover what makes a siren a killer, and maybe (just maybe) find a way to save herself and her people.
We open with a shipwreck with almost all lives lost, and damn if that doesn't set the tone for this creepy yet utterly enthralling book.
Niccoli doesn't hold back from teasing the line between heroine and monster. With a craving for human flesh, Lorelei is both terrifying and sexy. And truth be told, once you get past the scales, there were some characters I wouldn't mind Lorelei sinking her teeth into.
With a well rounded and fun supporting cast, CALLED TO THE DEEP is a quick and consuming read about a young woman (Lorelei) who survives a wreck, only to discover the reason she beat out the cold of the northern Atlantic Ocean is that she's a siren. As her body and cravings change, she fights to remain in control of her human life, including the budding romance with the ship captain who saved her: Killian. With the help of her marine biologist best friend, Lorelei evades prying reporters and snooping ex's to discover what makes a siren a killer, and maybe (just maybe) find a way to save herself and her people.
October 7, 2022
DAMN I LOVED THIS BOOK!
We have a hot sea captain who is also the kindest soul, a woman coming to terms with her new mermaid/siren identity and the power that comes with it, and oops I'm trying not to eat people.
All the coastal Maine fall vibes your October heart could desire, plus outside AND boat sexy times.
5 stars, put this book into my veins
We have a hot sea captain who is also the kindest soul, a woman coming to terms with her new mermaid/siren identity and the power that comes with it, and oops I'm trying not to eat people.
All the coastal Maine fall vibes your October heart could desire, plus outside AND boat sexy times.
5 stars, put this book into my veins
December 12, 2022
Rating: 3.5/5.0
“Called to the Deep” is a different twist on the mermaid tail with some added romance.
Read full review in the 2022 Holiday issue of InD'tale Magazine.
“Called to the Deep” is a different twist on the mermaid tail with some added romance.
Read full review in the 2022 Holiday issue of InD'tale Magazine.
January 10, 2025
I was recommended this book with the promise of some "spice" and sadly it didn't really deliver.
August 14, 2025
The cover and synopsis were exactly what I was looking for. And for the first 75pgs, I was loving it. Then it went downhill for me. The way the characters spoke was off, and the story was way too slow. I expected a bit more considering it was a siren/captain story. There should have been more doing instead of talking. Some of the descriptions, like Killian's abs, gave me the creeps. There is a way to describe a hot person without making it pervy. Add in how slow it was, it didnt work. I do love the characters and wish it was enough to continue the series but I'm not interested anymore. I may check this authors other works and see if I like those better.
September 10, 2022
So glad I got my hands on an early copy because I. Am. Obsessed! If you’re a fan of the monster romance genre, love atmospheric romances, and love mermaids and sea shanties, this is the book for you!
September 20, 2022
Seaside, gothic romance.
Loved the twist on mermaids, a little more monstrous (they have REASONS) but enjoyable.
Killian is a mature King. Sexy! Loves boundaries and respect!
Great start to the series. Will definitely read more.
Loved the twist on mermaids, a little more monstrous (they have REASONS) but enjoyable.
Killian is a mature King. Sexy! Loves boundaries and respect!
Great start to the series. Will definitely read more.
February 5, 2023
What an enchanting read! The beautiful writing style and the captivating story had me deeply engrossed in this book! This book was a lovely mix of mermaid lore, romance, and horror and it was breathtaking. There was so much to love about this book.
What I loved:
🧜♀️ Lorelei and Killian’s relationship
🧜♀️ The atmospheric coastal setting
🧜♀️ Well developed characters
🧜♀️ The dark horror elements
I’m so glad I have book two, and I can’t wait to dive in.
What I loved:
🧜♀️ Lorelei and Killian’s relationship
🧜♀️ The atmospheric coastal setting
🧜♀️ Well developed characters
🧜♀️ The dark horror elements
I’m so glad I have book two, and I can’t wait to dive in.
September 18, 2022
Series: Haven Cove #1
Rating: 3 stars - I liked it
When Lorelei Roth’s first trip out to sea ends in tragedy, she finds herself struggling with survivors' guilt and discovering that she isn’t only human. While dealing with all the new changes in her life, she is also dealing with her developing feelings for the captain who rescued her.
“To think, a simple fishing captain bewitching a siren. He could ask anything of her in that moment, and she’d sing his name and deny him nothing.”
Lorelei and Killian’s story was a slow building one that was really enjoyable. Lorelei’s first trip out to sea leads to her finding out that she is a mermaid, a mermaid who eats human flesh. As you can imagine, this causes a lot of stress and fear for her, especially since she is falling for Killian. I really liked how Killian handled finding out that she wasn’t completely human. Yes, he was scared for a bit but he also realized that Lorelei was still the same person and helped her work through some of her fears. Lorelei and Killian’s relationship was very sweet and comforting. They took care of each other and worked out their issues as a team, which is always a great thing.
Another aspect of this book that I really enjoyed was the found family that Lorelei found. Part of Kililan’s crew, and surrogate family, welcome Lorelei with open arms and make her a part of their circle. They accept everything about her and go out of their way to make sure she is safe, and cope with all the changes to her body. I really love when there is a big found family in stories like this because it’s great seeing the MC have someone to lean on, outside of their partner.
The mermaids in this world are quite fascinating because they are not the sweet sirens from The Little Mermaid. These are sirens who sing to eat humans. I really enjoyed this world of vicious mermaids and the truths they uncover about the species. I am very interested in seeing how the mermaid’s life will change in the next book.
Overall, this was a great slow building paranormal romance. If you are looking for a mermaid romance that isn’t all sweet and gentle, pick up this one.
Trigger warnings: death of mother from cancer discussed briefly; grief; PTSD; survivors guilt; verbally abusive father mentioned; rape briefly mentioned;
*ARC provided by the author for an honest review.*
You can also find my reviews at Red-Haired Ash Reads.
Rating: 3 stars - I liked it
When Lorelei Roth’s first trip out to sea ends in tragedy, she finds herself struggling with survivors' guilt and discovering that she isn’t only human. While dealing with all the new changes in her life, she is also dealing with her developing feelings for the captain who rescued her.
“To think, a simple fishing captain bewitching a siren. He could ask anything of her in that moment, and she’d sing his name and deny him nothing.”
Lorelei and Killian’s story was a slow building one that was really enjoyable. Lorelei’s first trip out to sea leads to her finding out that she is a mermaid, a mermaid who eats human flesh. As you can imagine, this causes a lot of stress and fear for her, especially since she is falling for Killian. I really liked how Killian handled finding out that she wasn’t completely human. Yes, he was scared for a bit but he also realized that Lorelei was still the same person and helped her work through some of her fears. Lorelei and Killian’s relationship was very sweet and comforting. They took care of each other and worked out their issues as a team, which is always a great thing.
Another aspect of this book that I really enjoyed was the found family that Lorelei found. Part of Kililan’s crew, and surrogate family, welcome Lorelei with open arms and make her a part of their circle. They accept everything about her and go out of their way to make sure she is safe, and cope with all the changes to her body. I really love when there is a big found family in stories like this because it’s great seeing the MC have someone to lean on, outside of their partner.
The mermaids in this world are quite fascinating because they are not the sweet sirens from The Little Mermaid. These are sirens who sing to eat humans. I really enjoyed this world of vicious mermaids and the truths they uncover about the species. I am very interested in seeing how the mermaid’s life will change in the next book.
Overall, this was a great slow building paranormal romance. If you are looking for a mermaid romance that isn’t all sweet and gentle, pick up this one.
Trigger warnings: death of mother from cancer discussed briefly; grief; PTSD; survivors guilt; verbally abusive father mentioned; rape briefly mentioned;
*ARC provided by the author for an honest review.*
You can also find my reviews at Red-Haired Ash Reads.
July 20, 2023
A spine-tingling and yet romantic beginning to the Haven Cove series.
When Captain Killian Quinn of The Dawn Chaser and his crew come upon the wreckage of The Osprey after receiving a distress call after a particularly devastating storm, they are shocked to find the half-lifeless form of Lorelei Roth clinging to the wreckage. Lorelei, the only survivor, is immediately thankful for Captain Quinn and his crew's timely rescue and more than a little caught off guard by the Captain's attentive kindness and her immediate attraction to him.
Killian, equally struck, does whatever he can to help Lorelei after her harrowing ordeal. Her time on The Osprey was supposed to be educational, the trip of a lifetime. And it would be... but not for the reasons she originally hoped.
Returning to The Dawn Chaser's home port of Haven Cove, ME, Lorelei is left to struggle with the reality of being the only survivor of a terrible tragedy. Plagued with survivor's guilt, terrifying nightmares, and sudden sleepwalking episodes that leave her drenched in seawater, Lorelei's only source of comfort is the daring sea captain who rescued her. But as her memories begin to clear, and Lorelei's episodes get worse, the horrifying truth of The Osprey's accident will be revealed... as well as her own true nature.
Can Lorelei and Killian navigate their budding romance as well as the truth of Lorelei's heritage and what really happened to The Osprey's crew that night? Or will the events of that fateful night and the siren call of the sea prove to be too much for the pair?
This was such a fun read! I am so glad my friend recommended this series to me and that I didn't wait too long to get started. It was a relatively short novel, but so thoroughly enjoyable nevertheless. The expert way Ms. Niccoli weaves romance and dare I say it, horror, was such a fresh and refreshing take.
Ms. Niccoli gives you these moments of real suspense and terror as well as moments of heartwarming friendship and romance. The rapid-fire romance between Killian and Lorelei feels genuine throughout most of this story. There were aspects of the big reveal that felt a little rushed and I wish they had been fleshed out more thoroughly but over all the writing is excellent and the pacing leaves nothing to be desired.
I'm very much looking forward to the next installment of this series. As soon as I finished this novel I immediately turned around and bought the next one. I look forward to seeing where Ms. Niccoli's writings take her! I think I've found another author to follow!
When Captain Killian Quinn of The Dawn Chaser and his crew come upon the wreckage of The Osprey after receiving a distress call after a particularly devastating storm, they are shocked to find the half-lifeless form of Lorelei Roth clinging to the wreckage. Lorelei, the only survivor, is immediately thankful for Captain Quinn and his crew's timely rescue and more than a little caught off guard by the Captain's attentive kindness and her immediate attraction to him.
Killian, equally struck, does whatever he can to help Lorelei after her harrowing ordeal. Her time on The Osprey was supposed to be educational, the trip of a lifetime. And it would be... but not for the reasons she originally hoped.
Returning to The Dawn Chaser's home port of Haven Cove, ME, Lorelei is left to struggle with the reality of being the only survivor of a terrible tragedy. Plagued with survivor's guilt, terrifying nightmares, and sudden sleepwalking episodes that leave her drenched in seawater, Lorelei's only source of comfort is the daring sea captain who rescued her. But as her memories begin to clear, and Lorelei's episodes get worse, the horrifying truth of The Osprey's accident will be revealed... as well as her own true nature.
Can Lorelei and Killian navigate their budding romance as well as the truth of Lorelei's heritage and what really happened to The Osprey's crew that night? Or will the events of that fateful night and the siren call of the sea prove to be too much for the pair?
This was such a fun read! I am so glad my friend recommended this series to me and that I didn't wait too long to get started. It was a relatively short novel, but so thoroughly enjoyable nevertheless. The expert way Ms. Niccoli weaves romance and dare I say it, horror, was such a fresh and refreshing take.
Ms. Niccoli gives you these moments of real suspense and terror as well as moments of heartwarming friendship and romance. The rapid-fire romance between Killian and Lorelei feels genuine throughout most of this story. There were aspects of the big reveal that felt a little rushed and I wish they had been fleshed out more thoroughly but over all the writing is excellent and the pacing leaves nothing to be desired.
I'm very much looking forward to the next installment of this series. As soon as I finished this novel I immediately turned around and bought the next one. I look forward to seeing where Ms. Niccoli's writings take her! I think I've found another author to follow!
June 28, 2024
After loving two of the authors novellas this was a huge disappointment. Let’s start off with the fact that I was just NOT the right reader for this book. I don’t like mermaids. And I would have dnfed this book if it wasn’t to get my team points in a readathon. So take this review with a grain of salt. But the ethics around studying the mermaids really, really bothered me. I wasn’t ok with it at all. Additionally I hated every single one of the conflicts in this book. The ex. The issue of mermaids. I’m never a fan of “paranormals existing” being any sort of conflict in a paranormal romance. Yeah honestly this book just wasn’t for me. And my lack of enjoyment of it reflects that.
September 2, 2022
Thank so much Desiree for sharing this early copy with me!
As a land locked dweller, I always adore a sea side setting and this one was so full of atmosphere. Wholesome but creepy if that makes any sense. I loved the gentle romance between the captain and our lovely man eating mermaid that again somehow managed to be sweet and deadly at the same time. If you love mermaids and monsters, then this romance is definitely for you!
As a land locked dweller, I always adore a sea side setting and this one was so full of atmosphere. Wholesome but creepy if that makes any sense. I loved the gentle romance between the captain and our lovely man eating mermaid that again somehow managed to be sweet and deadly at the same time. If you love mermaids and monsters, then this romance is definitely for you!
November 4, 2022
This is so tricky to review without spoiling the whole thing but WOW. I am such a sucker for a mermaid story and this one was pretty unique. The love story is slow burn but really well written, you get a good dose of plot while still wanting more of their story. I can’t wait for the sequel! LOVED IT.
February 17, 2023
I was really drawn to Killian and Lorelei and how good they are together. This was a fast paced read and I seriously enjoyed it, although I did think everyone who found out the truth about Lorelei was a little too calm about it. A bit predictable, but worth it for its descriptive writing and wonderful story. *I received a copy from the author in exchange for my honest review.
December 28, 2022
The immaculate gothic vibes coupled with passionate romance between Lorelei and Killian is SO well written. I really enjoyed Called to the Deep :) Not only is Killian a certified book boyfriend material, he BAKES. Not to mention he cooks too! *swoons*
August 13, 2022
I love that this book made me actually talk back to the book.
“Gross!”
“Wait! Humans taste like whaaaat?!!”
“Gasp! Mermaid fight?!”
What a fun, sexy, monstrous time!
“Gross!”
“Wait! Humans taste like whaaaat?!!”
“Gasp! Mermaid fight?!”
What a fun, sexy, monstrous time!
August 21, 2025
DNF at 61%. Bored with the story and where it’s going
October 7, 2022
I was into the idea of murderous/sexy mermaid drama, but found this only moderately entertaining.
September 28, 2023
DNF - 60%
If this book was a color, it'd be beige.
The premise had so much potential, but it just didn't deliver what I was looking for. The concept of sea captain finding (and falling for) a shipwreck survivor only to discover she's a human-eating mermaid was awesome. It had the potential to be dark, gritty, dramatic and filled with so much delicious tension and yet it failed to hit all those marks for me.
The pacing throughout the entire book is off and it takes a really long time to get anywhere with the to MCs. Also, every possible dramatic movement, like Killian discovering she's a mermaid, was sooo tame. They literally just talked it out logically and without ANY dramatic moments. There's virtually no tension, no conflict, nothing!!
I hate DNFing a book but I find myself rushing through it to get to the end without any enjoyment, so I'm shutting it down. This just did not have any of the angst I was hoping for from a book with this type of setup.
If this book was a color, it'd be beige.
The premise had so much potential, but it just didn't deliver what I was looking for. The concept of sea captain finding (and falling for) a shipwreck survivor only to discover she's a human-eating mermaid was awesome. It had the potential to be dark, gritty, dramatic and filled with so much delicious tension and yet it failed to hit all those marks for me.
The pacing throughout the entire book is off and it takes a really long time to get anywhere with the to MCs. Also, every possible dramatic movement, like Killian discovering she's a mermaid, was sooo tame. They literally just talked it out logically and without ANY dramatic moments. There's virtually no tension, no conflict, nothing!!
I hate DNFing a book but I find myself rushing through it to get to the end without any enjoyment, so I'm shutting it down. This just did not have any of the angst I was hoping for from a book with this type of setup.
July 20, 2025
Love this take on mermaids, and the unique ways they evolved in this world. Totally here for the spooky siren aesthetic. The Spam thing cracks me up! Killian is wonderful, love that he is older and mature, but not so infallible that he can't still stumble through some situations. Lila is fantastic, too, and I enjoy Marci and Walsh sooooo very much.
May 17, 2024
I was truly hooked from the very beginning. I felt the laughs, the fear and the love from all the characters. I was called out for audibly gasping and giggling throughout my read!
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