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Depths of Magic #1
Sea Fire
My song is magic. Too bad someone else controls it. I escaped topside from my downtrodden past under the waves. Out of the shark's mouth, into the squid's grip, as my people say. Now I'm indebted to a seedy dealer, who uses my siren song to squeeze his clients for secrets. A new job at a vacation lodge for land-loving sirens will pay enough to free me of my debts. My sexy new boss is tempting, but I don’t like his secrets. I have enough of my own to fill a mermaid’s purse. A fire threatens the lodge and my livelihood, and it isn’t an accident. I need to find the culprit before my promised payout vanishes in a puff of smoke. It’s a tall order—the visiting sirens can’t recognize me while I’m investigating. If they do, they’ll drag me screaming to the depths for my former crimes.
279 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 1, 2022
About the author
Emma Shelford
47 books187 followersEmma Shelford feels that life is only complete with healthy doses of magic, history, and science. Since these aren't often found in the same place, she created her own worlds where they happily coexist. If you catch her in person, she will eagerly discuss Lord of the Rings ad nauseam, why the ancient Sumerians are so cool, and the important role of phytoplankton in the ocean.
Emma is the author of the Nautilus Legends (a marine biologist discovers that mythical sea creatures are real), the Musings of Merlin Series (Merlin is immortal, forever young, and living in the modern day), and the Breenan Series (a young woman follows a mysterious stranger into an enchanting Otherworld).
Emma is the author of the Nautilus Legends (a marine biologist discovers that mythical sea creatures are real), the Musings of Merlin Series (Merlin is immortal, forever young, and living in the modern day), and the Breenan Series (a young woman follows a mysterious stranger into an enchanting Otherworld).
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
January 12, 2024
DNF 26%
Somebody tries to commit arson, and this MC thinks, without any prior knowledge of the place, or what's going on, that she HAS to be the one to investigate and solve a crime? Huh? Know every single half-Siren and pale folk in the world, do you? Have much previous experience as a private investigator or cop, whilst you were on the run from some as yet undisclosed crime for years? Lol. Ridiculous. If you're going to write fantasy, it has to at least make sense. None of this does, and there are too many good books waiting to be read to waste my time counting crimes against literacy.
Somebody tries to commit arson, and this MC thinks, without any prior knowledge of the place, or what's going on, that she HAS to be the one to investigate and solve a crime? Huh? Know every single half-Siren and pale folk in the world, do you? Have much previous experience as a private investigator or cop, whilst you were on the run from some as yet undisclosed crime for years? Lol. Ridiculous. If you're going to write fantasy, it has to at least make sense. None of this does, and there are too many good books waiting to be read to waste my time counting crimes against literacy.
August 27, 2022
Emma has created a fun and highly imaginative new underwater world to enjoy! Squirter the octopus is an adorable sidekick and readers from British Columbia will recognize the local flavour in the book ❤️ Heartily recommend ❤️
September 12, 2022
Meh
This story just fell flat for me. I found the main character annoying at times but I didn't know enough about her background to be invested. She was too wishy washy about everything. She was told to be subtle about the investigation and literally goes around just telling everyone what she's doing. Keeping her identity a secret is supposed to be really important to her but then she just decides it's not...? Also no one, I mean no one recognized
her, which made me even less excited to read. Also she just tells her possible crush her deep dark secret and is like "oh well". It's like the author wants you to be concerned but not really.....
This story just fell flat for me. I found the main character annoying at times but I didn't know enough about her background to be invested. She was too wishy washy about everything. She was told to be subtle about the investigation and literally goes around just telling everyone what she's doing. Keeping her identity a secret is supposed to be really important to her but then she just decides it's not...? Also no one, I mean no one recognized
her, which made me even less excited to read. Also she just tells her possible crush her deep dark secret and is like "oh well". It's like the author wants you to be concerned but not really.....
April 27, 2024
2.5/5
I'm not the biggest fan of this book, which disappoints me because I also backed this authors Kickstarter. My biggest issue is Lune herself. She is so wishy, washy. Her age, I can account for some of it, but the rest of it didn't make sense. She knows nothing about the Lodge or how it all works, yet is the only one who can investigate it? Doesn't make sense. Levi tells her to be discreet, but what does she do? She tells every single person she questions what she's up to. How in the world does that work? After all that, I could forgive the descripency, but Lune's whole dark secret and being afraid gets thrown out like it's nothing. She is so afraid to get recognized, yet no one recognizes her. Then she's afraid of anyone finding out her secret, yet she told Levi and walked away. It makes me feel that it's not as big of a deal. The plot itself is a bit up in the air. I don't really care about it but I'm curious enough to continue to book 2.
I'm not the biggest fan of this book, which disappoints me because I also backed this authors Kickstarter. My biggest issue is Lune herself. She is so wishy, washy. Her age, I can account for some of it, but the rest of it didn't make sense. She knows nothing about the Lodge or how it all works, yet is the only one who can investigate it? Doesn't make sense. Levi tells her to be discreet, but what does she do? She tells every single person she questions what she's up to. How in the world does that work? After all that, I could forgive the descripency, but Lune's whole dark secret and being afraid gets thrown out like it's nothing. She is so afraid to get recognized, yet no one recognizes her. Then she's afraid of anyone finding out her secret, yet she told Levi and walked away. It makes me feel that it's not as big of a deal. The plot itself is a bit up in the air. I don't really care about it but I'm curious enough to continue to book 2.
August 7, 2024
"Sea Fire" by Emma Shelford is the first in series of a modern-day urban adventure with fairly low stakes, sirening mermaids, and an adorable octopus sidekick. Lune, a half siren, lives on land, scraping by with debt that looms like a black cloud. It's clear she's running from something, and that her underwater past is a painful memory. She has lost of lot of her identity, and yet she can never be human; she truly belongs to neither world.
Lune's story starts when she takes a temp job, hoping to make a quick buck and a quick batch of the magical substance that keeps her connected to the ocean. Cleaning at an elite resort owned by sirens, she quickly finds a mystery and an eye-catching man who needs help to solve it. Her amateur sleuthing becomes an adventure with far more danger than she ever expected.
One of the highlights of this book is the detail of the marine world and its creatures. You can definitely tell that Shelford has a passion and extensive knowledge of the sea!
I recommend this book for those who enjoy contemporary fantasy set in the real world, told in first person point of view. If you love mermaids, check it out!
Lune's story starts when she takes a temp job, hoping to make a quick buck and a quick batch of the magical substance that keeps her connected to the ocean. Cleaning at an elite resort owned by sirens, she quickly finds a mystery and an eye-catching man who needs help to solve it. Her amateur sleuthing becomes an adventure with far more danger than she ever expected.
One of the highlights of this book is the detail of the marine world and its creatures. You can definitely tell that Shelford has a passion and extensive knowledge of the sea!
I recommend this book for those who enjoy contemporary fantasy set in the real world, told in first person point of view. If you love mermaids, check it out!
November 11, 2024
This is the first book in the Depths of Magic series.
Lune, our MC, has baggage back home at Seamount, the traditional home of full Sirens. Only Lune is only half, and has been forced to flee to survive.
Now, she's struggling to survive on land, victim of a predatory version of a siren coyote. When the chance comes for her to make some extra money and Grace (a substance that allows sirens to breathe and live underwater), she jumps on it.
Only, her new job has issues. Someone is trying to destroy it.
Now, to save her future, she has to discover the secrets behind it all, and stop it.
This is a great new adult story with ocean themes, sirens, and the cutest octopus sidekick ever that looks like their might be a future romance in the series as well!
Very sweet, fast read!
Lune, our MC, has baggage back home at Seamount, the traditional home of full Sirens. Only Lune is only half, and has been forced to flee to survive.
Now, she's struggling to survive on land, victim of a predatory version of a siren coyote. When the chance comes for her to make some extra money and Grace (a substance that allows sirens to breathe and live underwater), she jumps on it.
Only, her new job has issues. Someone is trying to destroy it.
Now, to save her future, she has to discover the secrets behind it all, and stop it.
This is a great new adult story with ocean themes, sirens, and the cutest octopus sidekick ever that looks like their might be a future romance in the series as well!
Very sweet, fast read!
February 5, 2024
Good read!
Interesting storyline. Really enjoyed this new take on Siren culture that this book develops as the setting for this storyline. Good character development with fun personalities I enjoyed meeting. This book gives good story, suspense and a mystery to solve, fun characters, and laughter. Definitely want more.
Interesting storyline. Really enjoyed this new take on Siren culture that this book develops as the setting for this storyline. Good character development with fun personalities I enjoyed meeting. This book gives good story, suspense and a mystery to solve, fun characters, and laughter. Definitely want more.
March 3, 2023
Five Sea Stars!
The first book is very good and I’m about to jump in to the second one. The story of Lune is very interesting and the different take on Sirens is refreshing. I can’t wait sit to find out more about Levi.
The first book is very good and I’m about to jump in to the second one. The story of Lune is very interesting and the different take on Sirens is refreshing. I can’t wait sit to find out more about Levi.
October 15, 2023
Not a cozy, better
I was pleasantly surprised. I thought that this would be a light read with a mc that was a bit of a wimp, BUTshe turned out to have grit and the story was engaging. I can't wait to read more.
I was pleasantly surprised. I thought that this would be a light read with a mc that was a bit of a wimp, BUTshe turned out to have grit and the story was engaging. I can't wait to read more.
December 17, 2023
This world is so well developed that the FMC is just not it for me. There is neither rim or reason behind her investigation desires and clear evidence is over looked constantly by her. I had it figured out the second the person was introduced.
December 30, 2023
Sea Fire
Meh, it was alright. The octopus was cute, but it was pretty obvious who the culprit was early on. I'll probably read the next one only cause there were some plot holes in this one.
Meh, it was alright. The octopus was cute, but it was pretty obvious who the culprit was early on. I'll probably read the next one only cause there were some plot holes in this one.
January 16, 2024
This was, to me, a great twist on the siren living on land trope. I liked Lune and of course, her little octopus friend Squirt, is a major draw to me. The world building was creative and enjoyable. I liked the mystery, although I had guessed the saboteur early in the book. I definitely will read more in the series. I gave this a solid 3.5, rounded up to 4 stars.
March 24, 2024
Meh.
Story fell flat. Considering she lived under the sea her whole life and hasn't been on land long, has no human qualifications or anything she seems to huge set of skils she wouldn't realistically have.
Far reached, reaching at times
Story fell flat. Considering she lived under the sea her whole life and hasn't been on land long, has no human qualifications or anything she seems to huge set of skils she wouldn't realistically have.
Far reached, reaching at times
February 26, 2023
Sea fire
I really like,Lune. The story is clean. I don't remember any cussing and the world building is done well. Lune grows as a character and the end is a HFN
I really like,Lune. The story is clean. I don't remember any cussing and the world building is done well. Lune grows as a character and the end is a HFN
July 16, 2023
This was an enjoyable, light read. It was missing the depth, or anything really special or engaging to turn it into a great book, but it was nice enough.
January 7, 2024
New world, good characters
Lune is developing before our eyes, as are the other characters. The focus is on the storyline and not sex. That is a nice change in this genre.
Lune is developing before our eyes, as are the other characters. The focus is on the storyline and not sex. That is a nice change in this genre.
February 27, 2024
Good Story
It's a good story and a different angle on sirens. The plot did drag in a few spots but was interesting.
It's a good story and a different angle on sirens. The plot did drag in a few spots but was interesting.
April 11, 2024
DNF @ 47%. I wanted to like this book but it just wasn’t for me.
April 13, 2024
Great story
Loved this book. Can't wait for the next book. Love the octopus. What a cool wee dude . Can't wait to see what next
Loved this book. Can't wait for the next book. Love the octopus. What a cool wee dude . Can't wait to see what next
January 6, 2025
cute
Cute story I’m obsessed with squirter! I want the little octopus to have his own little story or of his point of view!
Cute story I’m obsessed with squirter! I want the little octopus to have his own little story or of his point of view!
August 22, 2023
I enjoyed this book a lot, but I have to admit I figured out the culprit fairly quickly. I've already started the next book in the series.
February 25, 2022
Emma did it again! This book I fell for a character named Squirter. I always feel like I know the characters. I can’t say much more without spoilers so just read this first book-second one will be out soon.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews