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whatyoutolkienabout's review against another edition
5.0
This novella packs a punch. Knowles weaves together folklore, sapphic and female rage, emotion and visceral depictions with just enough spice into this tale. The fact it is set on the high seas is just the icing on top.
Due to its length it is hard to review the tale without spoilers so I will focus instead on the characterisation and writing. First let me say I adored the characters Jaq and Lily (and of course Ambrose). But all the characters shine through, even the terrible ones. They are brought to life by Knowles writing and each given a unique voice.
The tone and pace suit the novella perfectly. I adored how the timeline seemed to flit between past and present mirroring the confusion of the characters as they slowly remember their pasts. It is hauntingly beautiful in places and purely visceral in others. I was well and truly captivated from start to finish and will certainly look for more from this author.
If you love tales of folklore, feminine rage and beautiful prose this is for you.
Due to its length it is hard to review the tale without spoilers so I will focus instead on the characterisation and writing. First let me say I adored the characters Jaq and Lily (and of course Ambrose). But all the characters shine through, even the terrible ones. They are brought to life by Knowles writing and each given a unique voice.
The tone and pace suit the novella perfectly. I adored how the timeline seemed to flit between past and present mirroring the confusion of the characters as they slowly remember their pasts. It is hauntingly beautiful in places and purely visceral in others. I was well and truly captivated from start to finish and will certainly look for more from this author.
If you love tales of folklore, feminine rage and beautiful prose this is for you.
writingandwhimsy's review against another edition
4.0
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an arc of the book!
While a little confusing at times, this was an intriguing read that kept me hooked. The mystery of the characters' beginnings unraveled nicely as the story went on, and I enjoyed the prose. However, the end was a little abrupt and unsatisfying, leaving me a little confused.
While a little confusing at times, this was an intriguing read that kept me hooked. The mystery of the characters' beginnings unraveled nicely as the story went on, and I enjoyed the prose. However, the end was a little abrupt and unsatisfying, leaving me a little confused.
sapphodemia's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
meghannreads's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
“I’ve never felt so full, so nourished. A deep craving finally satisfied. I see so clearly now the cause. A simple truth known long to men and only now discovered by womenfolk. We crave violence. So we swallow violent men.”
I don't read horror but give me an erotic sapphic horror novella with pirates and I'm devouring that in one sitting. This book was so interesting and extremely atmospheric (and a bit gruesome so check the TW). I loved how romantic it was considering all the jealousy and revenge. Also, I just love books with feminine rage!!!!! This book uniquely captures the violence that men can bring when intruding into women's safe spaces and the anger we internalize because of that (but in this book, they actually enact it).
hauntedpostalworker's review against another edition
4.0
Justice for Ambrose.
Peace for Yinka.
It took a little bit for me to get into this one, but once I did I had to finish it! Such a fresh, new take on folklore and fantasy in general.
Peace for Yinka.
It took a little bit for me to get into this one, but once I did I had to finish it! Such a fresh, new take on folklore and fantasy in general.
battlebotwrites's review
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
5.0
Wow, I devoured this novella. So many moments of "omg wow that's awful. I love it."
ladyramakin's review against another edition
4.0
Merciless Waters is a tale of female anger, sapphic love and desire, and the desire all women have for truly safe space to let out the wild violence and desire within us.
Set upon the high-seas, on a ship gained by less then honest means, sails the crew of the Scylla. They have no future and no past, only the endless present stretching out in front of them. The Seas do not change and so neither do the crew.
Jaq is our POV character, and she is violent, wild, and full of desire for Lily. Lily is blown by the wind and her own longings without a care of how they affect others. Neither are perfect, both are exceedingly human and messy. They draw you in and make you feel the desires they have, you crave for their lust and violence to reach its end fulfillment even knowing how gruesome it may be.
The sameness of the crew and seas start to shift when a man is pulled from the sea. He brings with him the terror that is known to all women who must live amongst men, and the crew that has no past begins to remember.
This novella, while shorter then I desired, was exceedingly well done. In the short amount of time I had with the crew of the Scylla I fell in love with the different personalities and their wild way of life. While the main POV at times was a bit directionless and felt like the author was trying to meld both third and first person, the story itself held up and exceeded expectations.
It is rare to find a book that so well captures what it feels like to have male violence intrude into the internal world women create for ourselves, and our safe spaces. Even less capture the anger and violence we feel capable of and at times wish to see enacted upon the men who keep this world a terrifying place to exist as a woman. By the end of this book I found myself longing to be part of the Scylla's endless now and safety and revenge.
I would recommend this to you if you like the following things:
- Horror
- Female Revenge
- Female voices
- Pirates
- Lesbian/Sapphic stories
- Sea Magic
- Stories rich in desire
- Historical Fiction
- Indie Authors
My main word of warning will be that this is a horror novella, and does have cannibalism, gore, and violent deaths. Read the trigger warning the author included prior to starting your read through.
I received and ARC of this book at no cost/for free, I am leaving this review voluntarily and all thoughts and opinions are wholly my own and unbiased.
Set upon the high-seas, on a ship gained by less then honest means, sails the crew of the Scylla. They have no future and no past, only the endless present stretching out in front of them. The Seas do not change and so neither do the crew.
Jaq is our POV character, and she is violent, wild, and full of desire for Lily. Lily is blown by the wind and her own longings without a care of how they affect others. Neither are perfect, both are exceedingly human and messy. They draw you in and make you feel the desires they have, you crave for their lust and violence to reach its end fulfillment even knowing how gruesome it may be.
The sameness of the crew and seas start to shift when a man is pulled from the sea. He brings with him the terror that is known to all women who must live amongst men, and the crew that has no past begins to remember.
This novella, while shorter then I desired, was exceedingly well done. In the short amount of time I had with the crew of the Scylla I fell in love with the different personalities and their wild way of life. While the main POV at times was a bit directionless and felt like the author was trying to meld both third and first person, the story itself held up and exceeded expectations.
It is rare to find a book that so well captures what it feels like to have male violence intrude into the internal world women create for ourselves, and our safe spaces. Even less capture the anger and violence we feel capable of and at times wish to see enacted upon the men who keep this world a terrifying place to exist as a woman. By the end of this book I found myself longing to be part of the Scylla's endless now and safety and revenge.
I would recommend this to you if you like the following things:
- Horror
- Female Revenge
- Female voices
- Pirates
- Lesbian/Sapphic stories
- Sea Magic
- Stories rich in desire
- Historical Fiction
- Indie Authors
My main word of warning will be that this is a horror novella, and does have cannibalism, gore, and violent deaths. Read the trigger warning the author included prior to starting your read through.
I received and ARC of this book at no cost/for free, I am leaving this review voluntarily and all thoughts and opinions are wholly my own and unbiased.
roadtripreader's review
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I thoroughly enjoyed not knowing WTF was going on in the first chapter as little pieces of the tragedy and sea curse come together.
"I wish he would drown.
But the gods will not be so kind" - and we're off.
A crew that has no memory starts remembering and it's all downhill from there.
Plot/Storyline/Themes:
As a sucker for melancholic poetic prose, the narration was catnip. I loved the slow drowning into loss and betrayal, maritime voodoo/magic/bad juju and a pirate crew of women who are living a second life and have no memories of their life before taking over the ship.
Two Sentences, A Scene or less - Characters:
You know I can accept any pirate crew, zombies, undead, Jack Sparrow hoodwinking everyone - I'm open to all the drama (except those real-life whale-hunting,island burning, turtle starving, turtle eradicating Quaker arseholes from The Essex...) so this crew was mysterious, unique and darn captivating.
Also, what in the hell is Ambrose? A sea snake? Is that what a sea krait is? Like a snake-meets mini dragon? Hold on I need to google some fantasy art - oh it's a snake. And it's not even blue like the sea? Just a snake that would be indistinguishable from it's land brethren if it were up here. 🤷🏽♀️
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Scene:
✔️Jaq and Lily's first meal on the Scylla ship. The horror.
✔️Meeting Captsin Rose on the Island-Ship
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Quotes:
🖤 “Such a lonely thing, to be lost at sea ” (Lily being cryptic )
🖤 “A deep craving finally satisfied. I see so clearly now the cause.
A simple truth known long to men and only now discovered by womenfolk. We crave violence. So we swallow violent men.” (Jaq on the sustenance of men)
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Concepts:
■ All women crew ...until the interloper
■Reginald is the destroyer
■ Magic: ship in a bottle with tiny sailors
■Scylla ship and The Orb
■Full Moon Ritual on Deck
StoryGraph Challenge: 1800 Books by 2025
Challenge Prompt: 150 Fantasy Books by 2025
"I wish he would drown.
But the gods will not be so kind" - and we're off.
A crew that has no memory starts remembering and it's all downhill from there.
Plot/Storyline/Themes:
As a sucker for melancholic poetic prose, the narration was catnip. I loved the slow drowning into loss and betrayal, maritime voodoo/magic/bad juju and a pirate crew of women who are living a second life and have no memories of their life before taking over the ship.
Two Sentences, A Scene or less - Characters:
You know I can accept any pirate crew, zombies, undead, Jack Sparrow hoodwinking everyone - I'm open to all the drama (except those real-life whale-hunting,island burning, turtle starving, turtle eradicating Quaker arseholes from The Essex...) so this crew was mysterious, unique and darn captivating.
Also, what in the hell is Ambrose? A sea snake? Is that what a sea krait is? Like a snake-meets mini dragon? Hold on I need to google some fantasy art - oh it's a snake. And it's not even blue like the sea? Just a snake that would be indistinguishable from it's land brethren if it were up here. 🤷🏽♀️
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Scene:
✔️Jaq and Lily's first meal on the Scylla ship. The horror.
✔️Meeting Captsin Rose on the Island-Ship
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Quotes:
🖤 “Such a lonely thing, to be lost at sea ” (Lily being cryptic )
🖤 “A deep craving finally satisfied. I see so clearly now the cause.
A simple truth known long to men and only now discovered by womenfolk. We crave violence. So we swallow violent men.” (Jaq on the sustenance of men)
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Concepts:
■ All women crew ...until the interloper
■Reginald is the destroyer
■ Magic: ship in a bottle with tiny sailors
■Scylla ship and The Orb
■Full Moon Ritual on Deck
StoryGraph Challenge: 1800 Books by 2025
Challenge Prompt: 150 Fantasy Books by 2025