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The Boundlands #1
Leviathan's Song
I knew he was trouble before I even laid eyes on him.
Levi Navarre has magic in his voice, a literal siren's lure… not to mention he's leanly muscled and tattooed with a smile that makes my brain melt.
Fortunately, I have a ward against that sort of thing - both his magic *and* his infuriating charm.
*Un*fortunately, I need him.
Levi has some major hesitations about assisting me, but there's a civilization on the line, an entire underwater city that desperately needs my elven magic - and I desperately need his help.
Needing his help and needing *him* aren't the same thing at all… right?
Levi Navarre has magic in his voice, a literal siren's lure… not to mention he's leanly muscled and tattooed with a smile that makes my brain melt.
Fortunately, I have a ward against that sort of thing - both his magic *and* his infuriating charm.
*Un*fortunately, I need him.
Levi has some major hesitations about assisting me, but there's a civilization on the line, an entire underwater city that desperately needs my elven magic - and I desperately need his help.
Needing his help and needing *him* aren't the same thing at all… right?
324 pages, ebook
First published August 6, 2021
220 people are currently reading
4100 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 257 reviews
May 28, 2022
Leviathan's Song was such a pleasant surprise. The amazon recommendation algorithm has clearly smiled down upon me for once.
However, can I just say … calling LS a "slow-burn" romance was VERY misleading. Um, slowly burning where??
❝A true empress,❞ he teased.
❝Why do you still call me that?❞ I wrinkled my nose against his chest.
❝Because you can be my queen anytime you want.❞ …
♥ Elara (h) - golemancer (very likable and highly competent)
🅾🅺 Leviathan (H) - siren (wish we had his POV)
♥ Sidney - magpie (a true ride-or-die bff)
♥ Victor - grim Reaper (i dig his creepy af aura)
♥ Jordan - vampire (keeps the prank #TeamJacob posters, enough said)
🅾🅺 Plot (a bit meandering)
♥ Worldbuilding (extremely solid and i can't wait for further exploration)
♥ Romance - not a slowburn (deeply romantic and fated-mate adjacent)
┍━━━━━━━━━━━━━┑
𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗕𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗗𝗟𝗔𝗡𝗗𝗦 𝗦𝗘𝗥𝗜𝗘𝗦
𝟭: 𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗻-𝗘𝘆𝗲𝗱 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 - 𝟮.𝟱 ✩
𝟮: 𝗟𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻'𝘀 𝗦𝗼𝗻𝗴 - 𝟰 ✩
𝟯: 𝗠𝗮𝗴𝗽𝗶𝗲𝘀 & 𝗠𝗮𝘆𝗵𝗲𝗺 - 𝘁𝗯𝗿
┕━━━━━━━━━━━━━┙
However, can I just say … calling LS a "slow-burn" romance was VERY misleading. Um, slowly burning where??
❝A true empress,❞ he teased.
❝Why do you still call me that?❞ I wrinkled my nose against his chest.
❝Because you can be my queen anytime you want.❞ …
♥ Elara (h) - golemancer (very likable and highly competent)
🅾🅺 Leviathan (H) - siren (wish we had his POV)
♥ Sidney - magpie (a true ride-or-die bff)
♥ Victor - grim Reaper (i dig his creepy af aura)
♥ Jordan - vampire (keeps the prank #TeamJacob posters, enough said)
🅾🅺 Plot (a bit meandering)
♥ Worldbuilding (extremely solid and i can't wait for further exploration)
♥ Romance - not a slowburn (deeply romantic and fated-mate adjacent)
┍━━━━━━━━━━━━━┑
𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗕𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗗𝗟𝗔𝗡𝗗𝗦 𝗦𝗘𝗥𝗜𝗘𝗦
𝟭: 𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗻-𝗘𝘆𝗲𝗱 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 - 𝟮.𝟱 ✩
𝟮: 𝗟𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻'𝘀 𝗦𝗼𝗻𝗴 - 𝟰 ✩
𝟯: 𝗠𝗮𝗴𝗽𝗶𝗲𝘀 & 𝗠𝗮𝘆𝗵𝗲𝗺 - 𝘁𝗯𝗿
┕━━━━━━━━━━━━━┙
December 30, 2022
I so enjoyed Elara (h) and Levi's (H) story, not just for the romance, but also for the world-building and the plot, which is exactly what I was hoping for when I picked this up. The romance is wonderful, slowly built with lovely tension, and very sweet. But I was equally as intrigued with the fantasy world created that involved multiple realms, various beings, and different types of magics. Elara is part elven with two magics, one rare, with a shop she runs with her BFF, Sidney. Elara meets Levi, who's a siren, performing music one day and feels conflicted about the use of his magic, for which she later feels like she needs to apologize. They have additional bump-ins and despite Levi having hesitations over relationships, they slowly develop into each other's person and fall in love against a backdrop of being involved with the machinations of others in this world. Written in first person, single POV of Elara until the epilogue in Levi's. No ow/om drama (they only have eyes for each other), h is a virgin and H is not (but didn't appear to be a manwhore, very limited info on his history).
Elara made for a great heroine with her interesting magical abilities, her kindness and compassion, and how she was able to be both a damsel in distress at times but also so competent and crafty others. I also really enjoyed Levi, who didn't feel like he fit in with his mother's people (merpeople) but also didn't fit with humans. Mer culture also left him with emotional scars that made him a vulnerable character, which balanced his protectiveness, humor, and allure nicely. I never doubted these two would end up together, even at times when Levi felt unworthy of Elara because she came from wealth or Elara was unsure whether Levi would chance bonding with her given his fears. The emotional connection between them was well paced and felt natural and these characters were just adorable. The steaminess also felt well timed with the slow burn and how it didn't overwhelm the relationship or the plot once introduced.
Because of her abilities, Elara is targeted be a dangerous group. She's also asked to use her skills to help protect a group in danger themselves. The politics of some of these beings and areas was incorporated in an excellent way that highlighted injustices and inhumane treatment, but didn't feel bogged down to me. Elara, with Levi's support, has quite the journey and tasks to accomplish and I was fascinated.
Sidney, Sidney's brothers, Levi's best friends, a childhood friend of Elara's, and Elara's parents all protect and provide assistance as they can. Other side characters also play parts so this book is full of supporting cast. The bad guys are bad, but there are also questionable characters that I do wish had received more of a comeuppance. Sidney and Levi's best friends are some of the main characters in the other books in the series and these characters were intriguing, esp Levi's friend Grim, who's a reaper.
I did wish for a chapter between the final one and the epilogue to show more of Elara and Levi in their day-to-day where they weren't trying to achieve impossible tasks or dodging dangers. The epilogue was a jump ahead in the future and I loved it, not only seeing Levi's POV, but also because of the HEA and how it showed them following the events of the main plot. There were also hints of the next book to hook the reader to continue, which success because I added book 2. I read Green-Eyed Monster, since it was a prequel, before this one, but I kind of wish I'd read it after this because the world building now makes way more sense and had been lacking in that one with its short length.
Elara made for a great heroine with her interesting magical abilities, her kindness and compassion, and how she was able to be both a damsel in distress at times but also so competent and crafty others. I also really enjoyed Levi, who didn't feel like he fit in with his mother's people (merpeople) but also didn't fit with humans. Mer culture also left him with emotional scars that made him a vulnerable character, which balanced his protectiveness, humor, and allure nicely. I never doubted these two would end up together, even at times when Levi felt unworthy of Elara because she came from wealth or Elara was unsure whether Levi would chance bonding with her given his fears. The emotional connection between them was well paced and felt natural and these characters were just adorable. The steaminess also felt well timed with the slow burn and how it didn't overwhelm the relationship or the plot once introduced.
Because of her abilities, Elara is targeted be a dangerous group. She's also asked to use her skills to help protect a group in danger themselves. The politics of some of these beings and areas was incorporated in an excellent way that highlighted injustices and inhumane treatment, but didn't feel bogged down to me. Elara, with Levi's support, has quite the journey and tasks to accomplish and I was fascinated.
Sidney, Sidney's brothers, Levi's best friends, a childhood friend of Elara's, and Elara's parents all protect and provide assistance as they can. Other side characters also play parts so this book is full of supporting cast. The bad guys are bad, but there are also questionable characters that I do wish had received more of a comeuppance. Sidney and Levi's best friends are some of the main characters in the other books in the series and these characters were intriguing, esp Levi's friend Grim, who's a reaper.
I did wish for a chapter between the final one and the epilogue to show more of Elara and Levi in their day-to-day where they weren't trying to achieve impossible tasks or dodging dangers. The epilogue was a jump ahead in the future and I loved it, not only seeing Levi's POV, but also because of the HEA and how it showed them following the events of the main plot. There were also hints of the next book to hook the reader to continue, which success because I added book 2. I read Green-Eyed Monster, since it was a prequel, before this one, but I kind of wish I'd read it after this because the world building now makes way more sense and had been lacking in that one with its short length.
December 8, 2021
Leviathan's Song is perfection on a page. Seriously. The world that Elsie Winters has created is so beautiful and so detailed that I found myself forgetting that it wasn't actually real. I wish it was real. The idea of humans and paranormal creatures living in harmony is such a fantastical image and I find myself wishing for the sort of problems associated with those circumstances: sirens swindling me out of my dollars as they sing on the streets, startled women who turn into birds, Grim reapers who make me uncomfortable with the sheer presence of their power.
Leviathan's Song is the story of a handsome and captivating male siren (who does not like to be referred to as a merman) and a dainty yet powerful female half-elf, half-human. From the moment they meet we're drawn in by their intense chemistry. I couldn't have stopped reading if I wanted to. I needed them to be together. This is a slow burn in terms of sex, but it's insta-connection between these two.
I loved, loved, loved that Elara was such a powerful, yet relatable heroine. She has the ability to create powerful weapons, but prefers to spend her time using her powers for good. And not only that, but when threatened Elara isn't the type of heroine who is too proud to accept help from her friends. No, she welcomes it. And there was something so refreshing about that. I admired her for her ability to see her weaknesses and not think herself less because of them.
Levi. Wow. I don't even know where to get started with him. He was...amazing and tragic. Winters did such an amazing job of creating such a complex and troubled character while still making him charming and kind and protective. As a reader I believed that I could have met Levi on the street and fallen in love with him. I wish I could fall in love with him. Sigh.
The secondary characters are honestly some of the best parts of this book and that's saying a lot because everything about this book is spectacular. But Elara's best friend Sid and Levi's best friends Grim and Jordan were hilarious. Only a couple chapters into the book I was messaging Elsie and asking her when I could get my hands on their books because I need them like I need air to breathe.
All in all, this book is a fantasy/paranormal romance readers dream. It hits all the sweet spots and draws you into a world unlike any other. It's the sort of book that you read over and over again and it's never enough.
Leviathan's Song is the story of a handsome and captivating male siren (who does not like to be referred to as a merman) and a dainty yet powerful female half-elf, half-human. From the moment they meet we're drawn in by their intense chemistry. I couldn't have stopped reading if I wanted to. I needed them to be together. This is a slow burn in terms of sex, but it's insta-connection between these two.
I loved, loved, loved that Elara was such a powerful, yet relatable heroine. She has the ability to create powerful weapons, but prefers to spend her time using her powers for good. And not only that, but when threatened Elara isn't the type of heroine who is too proud to accept help from her friends. No, she welcomes it. And there was something so refreshing about that. I admired her for her ability to see her weaknesses and not think herself less because of them.
Levi. Wow. I don't even know where to get started with him. He was...amazing and tragic. Winters did such an amazing job of creating such a complex and troubled character while still making him charming and kind and protective. As a reader I believed that I could have met Levi on the street and fallen in love with him. I wish I could fall in love with him. Sigh.
The secondary characters are honestly some of the best parts of this book and that's saying a lot because everything about this book is spectacular. But Elara's best friend Sid and Levi's best friends Grim and Jordan were hilarious. Only a couple chapters into the book I was messaging Elsie and asking her when I could get my hands on their books because I need them like I need air to breathe.
All in all, this book is a fantasy/paranormal romance readers dream. It hits all the sweet spots and draws you into a world unlike any other. It's the sort of book that you read over and over again and it's never enough.
August 20, 2021
Loved this.
From the moment Elara meets Levi and insults him to his face, to Levi's charming "May I kiss you?" whispered to her, I was cheering this couple on! I ate up all of Levi's sarcastic grins and broad, beautiful smiles. It's written in first from Elara's highly entertaining POV, and her humorous voice is simply delightful.
The secondary characters are just as fleshed out and three-dimensional as the adorable primary couple. We meet an emo grim reaper, a charming vampire, and Elara's best friend, a magpie shifter. The magic system and enchantment crafting fascinated me. This slow-burn PNR is a fresh and fun read.
From the moment Elara meets Levi and insults him to his face, to Levi's charming "May I kiss you?" whispered to her, I was cheering this couple on! I ate up all of Levi's sarcastic grins and broad, beautiful smiles. It's written in first from Elara's highly entertaining POV, and her humorous voice is simply delightful.
The secondary characters are just as fleshed out and three-dimensional as the adorable primary couple. We meet an emo grim reaper, a charming vampire, and Elara's best friend, a magpie shifter. The magic system and enchantment crafting fascinated me. This slow-burn PNR is a fresh and fun read.
March 24, 2023
Sweet little love story between an elf and a mer-person. 🧝♀️💕🧜♂️
There was no stupid mis-communication.
Both characters had hang-ups but also were grownups about it. No dumb third act break-up.
Cute little epilogue.
I loved this world that has been set up and I’m excited about getting the romances of some of our side characters in future books. Especially the grim reaper 💀❤️
There was no stupid mis-communication.
Both characters had hang-ups but also were grownups about it. No dumb third act break-up.
Cute little epilogue.
I loved this world that has been set up and I’m excited about getting the romances of some of our side characters in future books. Especially the grim reaper 💀❤️
June 30, 2022
Cute talented elf meets a cute talented siren. I like the magic, the creatures, and her bird bff. I'm unsure if humans are aware of magic in this world, but it doesn't really matter.
I'm assuming this is a choice on the publisher's end (and hopefully not the author's fault), but uhh where's the slow burn? "Slow burn" is mentioned in multiple places, and the title for it on Amazon even says "Leviathan's Song: A Slow Burn Paranormal Romance"
???????
what?
(Light spoilers regarding the romance)
Was the slow burn right before they fell in love at first sight, or when they kissed after the third time they saw each other? Maybe the "slow burn" was when they married shortly after that first kiss... 🤔😂
so don't read this for the "slow burn" but the romance and story are delightful regardless
I'm assuming this is a choice on the publisher's end (and hopefully not the author's fault), but uhh where's the slow burn? "Slow burn" is mentioned in multiple places, and the title for it on Amazon even says "Leviathan's Song: A Slow Burn Paranormal Romance"
???????
what?
(Light spoilers regarding the romance)
Was the slow burn right before they fell in love at first sight, or when they kissed after the third time they saw each other? Maybe the "slow burn" was when they married shortly after that first kiss... 🤔😂
so don't read this for the "slow burn" but the romance and story are delightful regardless
October 13, 2021
This took me almost a month to read. The world building was cool but the romance wasn’t there for me, it read more like YA than anything else. Elara and Levi were just…okay. A lot of telling about there obstacles to be together instead of showing those obstacles. Levi in particular had a lot of reasons for avoiding relationships and that reluctance was explained but I didn’t really feel it. That likely would have been helped by a dual point of view. This one wasn’t for me.
November 7, 2021
This was a really good story but it could’ve definitely been told over several books for sure! I would have been there for a longer, more detailed version. However, it’s still phenomenal. Really good conflict, great friendships, dialogue, romance, and magical world building. I loved getting to know Levi and Elara as well as their friends.
The epilogue is in Levi’s voice which doesn’t feel quite right and is very strangely expository. Feels like it was tacked on and doesn’t belong to the rest of the story. Add the reveal at their wedding that Elara is pregnant (which is a very common epilogue for romance novels). It doesn’t make sense for a fairly modern couple who was using condoms the whole time and talked about waiting on children. I feel like the epilogue could’ve been cut off.
And there’s a great short story that seems to lead to a book afterwards but no further information on when that book would come out! Really disappointing to not include that info. Also, not on the author’s website.
The epilogue is in Levi’s voice which doesn’t feel quite right and is very strangely expository. Feels like it was tacked on and doesn’t belong to the rest of the story. Add the reveal at their wedding that Elara is pregnant (which is a very common epilogue for romance novels). It doesn’t make sense for a fairly modern couple who was using condoms the whole time and talked about waiting on children. I feel like the epilogue could’ve been cut off.
And there’s a great short story that seems to lead to a book afterwards but no further information on when that book would come out! Really disappointing to not include that info. Also, not on the author’s website.
March 15, 2024
Cozy 90% of the book, random bursts of high stakes moments
This book was excellent, with the creative universe dynamics (Merpeople to being politically powerful), complex characters, and good pacing. Elara was ND coded in a few ways, with her black and white ethics, tendency to be overstimulated in big crowds, etc. She was sometimes a bit too perfect, but she messed up enough to make her believable. Levi was Mr poster child for commitment-phobe post crappy parents, but had a good sense of humor and was generally reasonable. The chemistry was good, in a low spice way, and their love story was tender.
Spice: 3/5
Triggers: near drowning, addiction, abuse (off page), violence, death, child abandonment (off page)
This book was excellent, with the creative universe dynamics (Merpeople to being politically powerful), complex characters, and good pacing. Elara was ND coded in a few ways, with her black and white ethics, tendency to be overstimulated in big crowds, etc. She was sometimes a bit too perfect, but she messed up enough to make her believable. Levi was Mr poster child for commitment-phobe post crappy parents, but had a good sense of humor and was generally reasonable. The chemistry was good, in a low spice way, and their love story was tender.
Spice: 3/5
Triggers: near drowning, addiction, abuse (off page), violence, death, child abandonment (off page)
April 26, 2023
I loved every single second of this 🥹💛
February 27, 2022
This was a really gentle, fun romantic fantasy that felt almost slice-of-life in its pacing even as exciting, world-altering events took place. I enjoyed all of the characters a lot, the different kinds of magic were all fabulous (I especially loved all the magical details in the underground rave attended by various different kinds of creatures in the borderlands between the regular human world and Faerie), the golems were creepy-awesome, and I'm looking forward to Book 2 in this series.
March 16, 2025
Loved this book! The characters had fantastic chemistry and the slow burn and tension was perfect. Levi and Elara were adorable together.
Elara is such a strong character. She may not be physically strong like her friend but she's smart and resourceful and makes good decisions. I absolutely love the friendship between her and Sidney and it's so wonderful to see genuine friendship between women in books. A relationship where they lift each other up and have each others backs? Perfect.
Levi was the perfect type of flirty and respectful and showed such genuine care for Elara. I also adore his weird group of housemates/friends and the found family vibes.
Elsie Winters is quickly becoming one of my favourite authors.
Elara is such a strong character. She may not be physically strong like her friend but she's smart and resourceful and makes good decisions. I absolutely love the friendship between her and Sidney and it's so wonderful to see genuine friendship between women in books. A relationship where they lift each other up and have each others backs? Perfect.
Levi was the perfect type of flirty and respectful and showed such genuine care for Elara. I also adore his weird group of housemates/friends and the found family vibes.
Elsie Winters is quickly becoming one of my favourite authors.
September 25, 2023
this was a really fun, quick read!! i loved the characters, and their relationship with each other was so gorgeous, plus the plotline was interesting. really fascinating and unique world building as well!!
August 23, 2022
Don’t know how many times I’ve rolled my eyes in this book. Especially when Levi keeps mentioning about how turned on he is whenever Elara does something. It almost feels like I’m being told over and over what a girl boss she is instead of me coming up to that conclusion.
Speaking of the heroine. I like reading good girl heroines but Elara just rubs me off the wrong way. She’s born with a silver spoon in her mouth so she comes off as too self righteous and I dunno… Mary Sue-ish.
Unfortunately, this book isn’t for me.
Speaking of the heroine. I like reading good girl heroines but Elara just rubs me off the wrong way. She’s born with a silver spoon in her mouth so she comes off as too self righteous and I dunno… Mary Sue-ish.
Unfortunately, this book isn’t for me.
July 28, 2021
Fantasy romance is one of my favorite genres, so anytime I see a new fantasy romance author, I leap for joy at the prospect of a new world to dive into. After reading Leviathan's Song, I can safely say that Elsie Winters is a bright star for the future of fantasy, creating a world full of rich culture, unique characters, and engaging plotlines that speak to my soul. If it weren't for the need to sleep, I would have read this in one sitting - it was that good. The worldbuilding was thorough yet not overwhelming, allowing the reader to slowly immerse themselves without feeling like they were getting information overload. There were several intriguing side characters that were key players in the plot, rather than serving as merely comic relief or introductions for future books. Although I am extremely excited to read the next book, as I already know who it will be about!
The world is divided into two lands - the Void and the Boundlands. The Void is where all pureblooded humans lived, unable to pass into the Boundlands, where magical beings resided. Depending on the mix of a being's bloodlines, they may be able to pass from one to the other, but many perish in the attempt or find themselves slowly dying the longer they are there. Elara Hawthorne is of mixed elvish blood, allowing her to live in both worlds, and she spends most of her time creating magical charms and using her magic for good rather than evil. So when a shady character comes knocking, wanting her to make him a golem, she immediately declines and finds herself in danger. Levi Navarre is a siren, born of a human father and a mer mother, and Elara is attracted to him instantly. When Elara is in danger, he comes to her aid, and soon she finds him guarding her every move. Her attraction to him goes beyond his siren magic, as her charms deflect the worst of it, but Levi is insistent that they keep their distance. Otherwise a permanent bond could form between them, and if she leaves him, his life would be full of pain and misery. As they work together to keep her safe and assist with a growing crisis in the Boundlands, keeping apart is no longer an option, and soon it's not just their lives but their hearts that are in danger.
I adored Elara and Levi to pieces! They were both such lovable, strong characters who I immediately felt a connection to. While Elara came from a place of privilege, having powerful parents with wealth and high connections, Levi was less lucky, having to use his siren abilities to make money and enduring each day without hope for love or familial support. Elara and Levi started off a bit rocky, but as they spent more time together, it was clear that there was a strong spark between them. Levi fought it every chance he could, not believing it could lead anywhere good, and I felt for him so much. To grow up unwanted by your mother or your people, with a father who drowned in his sorrows in an often harmful way...that must have been a terrible way to grow up. Which is why I was so happy that Elara was there for him and constantly reminding him that he was worthy of affection and love. Elara was an absolute gem, caring more about other people than herself, and she was consistently looking for the good in everyone, not in a naive way but rather in a way that showed her genuinely beautiful heart. She was strong, despite her small stature, and she stood up for herself and others whenever she could. The fact that Levi found it sexy was the cherry on top of this relationship. This relationship was GOALS. I can't stress this enough.
The next book focuses on Sidney, who was an utter delight. Her feisty nature had me laughing several times throughout the book, and her strong bond with Elara was so amazing. I love seeing great female friendships in romance novels, especially when they are just as engaging as the romance itself. I can't wait to see where Sidney's book takes us in this magical world!
**I received a free copy from the author and this is my honest review.**
The world is divided into two lands - the Void and the Boundlands. The Void is where all pureblooded humans lived, unable to pass into the Boundlands, where magical beings resided. Depending on the mix of a being's bloodlines, they may be able to pass from one to the other, but many perish in the attempt or find themselves slowly dying the longer they are there. Elara Hawthorne is of mixed elvish blood, allowing her to live in both worlds, and she spends most of her time creating magical charms and using her magic for good rather than evil. So when a shady character comes knocking, wanting her to make him a golem, she immediately declines and finds herself in danger. Levi Navarre is a siren, born of a human father and a mer mother, and Elara is attracted to him instantly. When Elara is in danger, he comes to her aid, and soon she finds him guarding her every move. Her attraction to him goes beyond his siren magic, as her charms deflect the worst of it, but Levi is insistent that they keep their distance. Otherwise a permanent bond could form between them, and if she leaves him, his life would be full of pain and misery. As they work together to keep her safe and assist with a growing crisis in the Boundlands, keeping apart is no longer an option, and soon it's not just their lives but their hearts that are in danger.
I adored Elara and Levi to pieces! They were both such lovable, strong characters who I immediately felt a connection to. While Elara came from a place of privilege, having powerful parents with wealth and high connections, Levi was less lucky, having to use his siren abilities to make money and enduring each day without hope for love or familial support. Elara and Levi started off a bit rocky, but as they spent more time together, it was clear that there was a strong spark between them. Levi fought it every chance he could, not believing it could lead anywhere good, and I felt for him so much. To grow up unwanted by your mother or your people, with a father who drowned in his sorrows in an often harmful way...that must have been a terrible way to grow up. Which is why I was so happy that Elara was there for him and constantly reminding him that he was worthy of affection and love. Elara was an absolute gem, caring more about other people than herself, and she was consistently looking for the good in everyone, not in a naive way but rather in a way that showed her genuinely beautiful heart. She was strong, despite her small stature, and she stood up for herself and others whenever she could. The fact that Levi found it sexy was the cherry on top of this relationship. This relationship was GOALS. I can't stress this enough.
The next book focuses on Sidney, who was an utter delight. Her feisty nature had me laughing several times throughout the book, and her strong bond with Elara was so amazing. I love seeing great female friendships in romance novels, especially when they are just as engaging as the romance itself. I can't wait to see where Sidney's book takes us in this magical world!
**I received a free copy from the author and this is my honest review.**
August 8, 2021
Oh my gawd....I absolutely had the BEST time reading this fantasy romance book! 5 freaking stars DUDE!!
I loved all the characters in this book, the plot, the romance, and the world building! This story takes place at first in Seattle and goes back and forth between the magical realm and the void (human world). It was really easy to follow along and be able to imagine this urban setting world where both magical creatures and humans coexist.
I loved how Elara, the small elf lady, who had doubts about her own strengths and abilities but throughout the story becomes more sure in herself without straying from her introverted and shy personality.
Levi.....oh Levi you beautiful half-mer landlocked hottie. I just really enjoyed how the author described the effect he had on Elara and just the way he was described......you just FELT that he was hot from the way Elara saw him and it was just chefs KISS!
I would say their attraction really starts to develop about 10% into the book and just ugh yes I enjoyed everything about their romance. Their first kiss, them making out, the smut (which was light to mid level spicy with open door scenes), the way they communicated issues they were having and the way they resolved it!!! It was so satisfying to read!
This just overall felt like a really really great debut novel and I can't wait to read more from Elise Winters. Very excited to read Sidney and Jordan's story in the next book!
*Thank you to the author for an arc of the book. All opinions are my own!
I loved all the characters in this book, the plot, the romance, and the world building! This story takes place at first in Seattle and goes back and forth between the magical realm and the void (human world). It was really easy to follow along and be able to imagine this urban setting world where both magical creatures and humans coexist.
I loved how Elara, the small elf lady, who had doubts about her own strengths and abilities but throughout the story becomes more sure in herself without straying from her introverted and shy personality.
Levi.....oh Levi you beautiful half-mer landlocked hottie. I just really enjoyed how the author described the effect he had on Elara and just the way he was described......you just FELT that he was hot from the way Elara saw him and it was just chefs KISS!
I would say their attraction really starts to develop about 10% into the book and just ugh yes I enjoyed everything about their romance. Their first kiss, them making out, the smut (which was light to mid level spicy with open door scenes), the way they communicated issues they were having and the way they resolved it!!! It was so satisfying to read!
This just overall felt like a really really great debut novel and I can't wait to read more from Elise Winters. Very excited to read Sidney and Jordan's story in the next book!
*Thank you to the author for an arc of the book. All opinions are my own!
October 6, 2025
I was pretty excited to read this book but it disappointed me.
It was unbearably dull.
I liked the main leads and the world was well-built, however, there were simply no stakes and I did not care for the romance. The plot was lacking in substance and was incredibly slow. The romance moved too quickly, the characters had no chemistry although the maturity they displayed was appreciated.
It was unbearably dull.
I liked the main leads and the world was well-built, however, there were simply no stakes and I did not care for the romance. The plot was lacking in substance and was incredibly slow. The romance moved too quickly, the characters had no chemistry although the maturity they displayed was appreciated.
July 31, 2022
I’ve spent my entire life dodging that lure, refusing to let myself be caught by anyone. Until her. Elara. The Empress of my heart.
This was a pretty fun read!
We have a gifted tinker Elf heroine and musically talented male Siren hero- that can't help but feel drawn to each other amidst a backdrop of magic and danger- with interesting side characters and great friendships.
Will read on to the next one~
October 17, 2024
Чарівна любовна історія всередині, таке миле кохання
May 22, 2023
This book has the sweetest love story ever. The characters were awesome, wholesome, and just fun and funny. I love Elara and Levi❤️❤️❤️ who knew an elfish girl and siren boy could make you feel such mushy feelings but I did! 10/10 would read again, and chefs kiss on the spice! /swoon
December 20, 2023
Okay so this book was a little cute I’ll give it that and I like Levi and Elara. However, I cannot tell you what the plot was. I literally have no idea. I just didn’t get it and I felt that there was so much and so many little characters to remember. I just couldn’t keep up.
I also felt that it wasn’t slow burn. I mean they confessed to liking each other and kissed within 100 pages. I do get that they ‘took it slow’ but to me that’s not a slow burn romance. I need the tension and the build up. I just felt it was flat.
This book was cute and I did love the humour and little sarcastic comments that the characters made. “You are quite possibly the most beautiful little creature I’ve ever seen,” I also loved the little sweet comments Levi made and liked how he was a classic brooding character. (Even though those are my favs.)
I did enjoy this book but not as much as I was hoping for. :(
I also felt that it wasn’t slow burn. I mean they confessed to liking each other and kissed within 100 pages. I do get that they ‘took it slow’ but to me that’s not a slow burn romance. I need the tension and the build up. I just felt it was flat.
This book was cute and I did love the humour and little sarcastic comments that the characters made. “You are quite possibly the most beautiful little creature I’ve ever seen,” I also loved the little sweet comments Levi made and liked how he was a classic brooding character. (Even though those are my favs.)
I did enjoy this book but not as much as I was hoping for. :(
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 12, 2021
So this was great. Loved the blend of contemporary and fantasy, I really wouldn’t call it a straight up paranormal? We have an elf who we saw in Green Eyed Monster, and a male siren. I loved their relationship. It was so sweet. Not very smutty, but I really enjoyed the whole book.
September 4, 2021
It's been a long time that a fantasy romance delivered on both- the fantasy and the romance. Full marks for world building, there has been a lot of thought and effort put into it. But the author never let the details get too heavy and kept it entertaining and at a very good pace.
The romance was the star of the book, both Elara and Levi are so lovable, the feels are real in this one people!
Looking forward to more from Elsie, she writes superbly well!
The romance was the star of the book, both Elara and Levi are so lovable, the feels are real in this one people!
Looking forward to more from Elsie, she writes superbly well!
November 24, 2021
DNF due to boredom at 78%. Interesting world and good writing but not enough action for a UF with romance IMHO.
March 18, 2025
Mermaid/Siren books have always been hit or miss for me. I'm not sure why, but something about them just doesn't keep me hooked. But in going through my Apollycon author list, I came across Elsie Winters and wanted to give this one a try. And I enjoyed it. Didn't fall completely in love with it, but there were parts that really connected with me.
Elara was an intriguing character. Her powers and how she could enchant or give life to magical items was pretty interesting to read about. Here was a girl who wanted to help those around her but just wasn't as strong as some of the other magical creatures who lived in this world. Her heart was definitely in the right place though and I have to give her credit for going after what she feels is right. And I did love her best friend - kick ass best friend to have around.
Levi was just all right for me. Again, it's the mermaid/siren thing. There was also an almost instalove thing which was kind of explained but still was off for me. He went from like stranger to bodyguard "I would die for" in no time flat. I just didn't really get a feel for their relationship like I wanted to. Now, I did love the glimpses of his roommates that we got. Definitely would want to know more about them. Especially Grim.
This was a solid good first series book for me. It made me interested in the rest of the series considering who they are about, I just think that maybe these two characters weren't the ones for me.
Elara was an intriguing character. Her powers and how she could enchant or give life to magical items was pretty interesting to read about. Here was a girl who wanted to help those around her but just wasn't as strong as some of the other magical creatures who lived in this world. Her heart was definitely in the right place though and I have to give her credit for going after what she feels is right. And I did love her best friend - kick ass best friend to have around.
Levi was just all right for me. Again, it's the mermaid/siren thing. There was also an almost instalove thing which was kind of explained but still was off for me. He went from like stranger to bodyguard "I would die for" in no time flat. I just didn't really get a feel for their relationship like I wanted to. Now, I did love the glimpses of his roommates that we got. Definitely would want to know more about them. Especially Grim.
This was a solid good first series book for me. It made me interested in the rest of the series considering who they are about, I just think that maybe these two characters weren't the ones for me.
March 26, 2022
Easily one of my new favorites!
Wow, this was an amazing read!
I was hooked from the beginning, I’m talking first paragraph (line if we are being honest)
Levi is just swoon worthy and he has some of the closest friends!
Elara is just total kicking a$$ and taking names! In an underestimated shell! She has the best friend (Sid, then again I’m partial because Sid is my fantasy persona lol we are SO similar)
I have a million things I wanna say about this book but I refuse to spoil it for anyone so I’m not! Just know this book is phenomenal and spicy and just an amazing read! There is so many good moments that had me dying laughing and I cannot wait to get more of the Boundlands!
Wow, this was an amazing read!
I was hooked from the beginning, I’m talking first paragraph (line if we are being honest)
Levi is just swoon worthy and he has some of the closest friends!
Elara is just total kicking a$$ and taking names! In an underestimated shell! She has the best friend (Sid, then again I’m partial because Sid is my fantasy persona lol we are SO similar)
I have a million things I wanna say about this book but I refuse to spoil it for anyone so I’m not! Just know this book is phenomenal and spicy and just an amazing read! There is so many good moments that had me dying laughing and I cannot wait to get more of the Boundlands!
February 25, 2024
It was great and balanced read. Very well written, I was actually kind of sad when I got to the end because I selfishly wanted to read more. Loved every second of it, couldn't put the book down. I'm honestly surprised that the book doesn't have an even higher rating.
I'm usually annoyed when we don't get dual pov throughout the book, but this one didn't really need that. Elara's pov and thought process were a joy to follow. She was a well-rounded and kind person ( deserving of her Empress nickname, lol), and Levi's pov in the epilogue was the cherry on top.
100% would recommend.
I'm usually annoyed when we don't get dual pov throughout the book, but this one didn't really need that. Elara's pov and thought process were a joy to follow. She was a well-rounded and kind person ( deserving of her Empress nickname, lol), and Levi's pov in the epilogue was the cherry on top.
100% would recommend.
November 14, 2023
This book had a lot of potential (loved the characters, interesting worldbuilding), but it suffered from too much telling instead of showing, and the slow-burn romance promised was nonexistent and too shallow because of that. It could’ve definitely been told over several books for a better development for sure, but it's a pretty solid cozy fantasy that feels almost slice-of-life, and I had a great time reading it 💌
May 21, 2022
I really loved this book. It was really hard to put it down. The world building was really good and the relationships (both romantic and friendships) were thoughtful and realistic. I loved that Levi was so turned on when Elara was a total boss b*tch. He was incredibly supportive and encouraging. I would say that this book was closer to a fantasy novel than a romance one. Really the book was about what an incredible golemancer Elara is and then the romance was threaded into that. I really recommend this book. I’m looking forward to the next book in the series.
October 14, 2021
4.5/5
The world is divided into two - the Void (where the humans live) and the Boundlands (home to all kinds of magical goodness).
Elara lives her life in both worlds, spending most of her time in her shop creating magical charms with her best friend Sidney (who we briefly met in Green-Eyed Monster). When an unwanted customer enters her shop demanding a magical piece she refuses to make, Elara immediately finds herself in danger.
“I could have followed my instincts and stayed away from the mouthy little tinker who accused me of theft, but I think I fell in love with her the moment I laid eyes on her.”
Levi is a siren (half-merman, half-human), and his song immediately draws Elara to him, and him to her. But their attraction goes beyond the call of the siren. The past has taught Levi that a relationship with a mer will only end in heartbreak for the both of them, but can he stay away? Can she trust him?
“You already have my heart”
This was such a good slow-burn romance with some hot siren steam! I loved the world building and all the characters (especially Jordan, Grimm, and Sidney) and I’m soo excited for the next book to find out more about Sidney’s story!
The world is divided into two - the Void (where the humans live) and the Boundlands (home to all kinds of magical goodness).
Elara lives her life in both worlds, spending most of her time in her shop creating magical charms with her best friend Sidney (who we briefly met in Green-Eyed Monster). When an unwanted customer enters her shop demanding a magical piece she refuses to make, Elara immediately finds herself in danger.
“I could have followed my instincts and stayed away from the mouthy little tinker who accused me of theft, but I think I fell in love with her the moment I laid eyes on her.”
Levi is a siren (half-merman, half-human), and his song immediately draws Elara to him, and him to her. But their attraction goes beyond the call of the siren. The past has taught Levi that a relationship with a mer will only end in heartbreak for the both of them, but can he stay away? Can she trust him?
“You already have my heart”
This was such a good slow-burn romance with some hot siren steam! I loved the world building and all the characters (especially Jordan, Grimm, and Sidney) and I’m soo excited for the next book to find out more about Sidney’s story!
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