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4.18 AVERAGE
4.18 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Book Review
Of Song & Darkness
By Jessica Spruill
5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A Great fast- pace, No Spice,
Note: this book felt like upper scale YA book
• Sirens and pirates
• Morally grey male leads
• Banter and palpable tension
• Enemies-to-lovers romance
• Protective love interests
• Fade-to-black romance (heartfelt moments without spice)
• Found family dynamics
My Review
This was my first 5-star read of the year, an it fully earned that rating. It was also the perfect palette cleanser after Iron Flame—a refreshing and lighter change of pace.
Such a Fun read!! ✨️👌🏽♥️
The Little Mermaid with Jessica’s unique twists. Greek mythology, dark themes, morally complex characters, and thrilling action sequences blend seamlessly, creating a tale full of surprises and intrigue.
Blackheart Kai, a morally grey pirate you can't help but fall for. Ruthless, dangerous, and fiercely protective, Kai exudes confidence and unapologetic charm, making his point of view an absolute delight to read. His unwavering nature adds depth to his character, pulling readers into his world.
With its captivating plot and well-crafted characters, Of Song & Darkness is a must-read for YA fans of romance books with mermaids, mythology, and morally pirates!!
Of Song & Darkness
By Jessica Spruill
5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A Great fast- pace, No Spice,
Note: this book felt like upper scale YA book
• Sirens and pirates
• Morally grey male leads
• Banter and palpable tension
• Enemies-to-lovers romance
• Protective love interests
• Fade-to-black romance (heartfelt moments without spice)
• Found family dynamics
My Review
This was my first 5-star read of the year, an it fully earned that rating. It was also the perfect palette cleanser after Iron Flame—a refreshing and lighter change of pace.
Such a Fun read!! ✨️👌🏽♥️
The Little Mermaid with Jessica’s unique twists. Greek mythology, dark themes, morally complex characters, and thrilling action sequences blend seamlessly, creating a tale full of surprises and intrigue.
Blackheart Kai, a morally grey pirate you can't help but fall for. Ruthless, dangerous, and fiercely protective, Kai exudes confidence and unapologetic charm, making his point of view an absolute delight to read. His unwavering nature adds depth to his character, pulling readers into his world.
With its captivating plot and well-crafted characters, Of Song & Darkness is a must-read for YA fans of romance books with mermaids, mythology, and morally pirates!!
2.5 stars for Of Song and Darkness
I appreciated the pirates & Greek Mythology interwoven into this no-spice reimagining of Little Mermaid. The fast pace of things really drops you in & grabs your attention immediately.
As the book progressed however I found myself oddly disconnected from the story & characters. I think the speed with which the story moved may be the culprit. The action scenes in particular moved so fast/resolved so speedily that everything felt very low-stakes. Same with their shift from enemies to lovers.
I appreciated the pirates & Greek Mythology interwoven into this no-spice reimagining of Little Mermaid. The fast pace of things really drops you in & grabs your attention immediately.
As the book progressed however I found myself oddly disconnected from the story & characters. I think the speed with which the story moved may be the culprit. The action scenes in particular moved so fast/resolved so speedily that everything felt very low-stakes. Same with their shift from enemies to lovers.
Of Song and Darkness by Jessica Spruill was an absolute delight to read and experience! From the very first chapter, I was drawn into the story and couldn't put the book down. The pacing was perfect, keeping me on the edge of my seat, and the author's writing style was beautifully descriptive, bringing the world and characters to life.
If you're a fan of fairytale retellings, prepare to be captivated by Of Song and Darkness. This Little Mermaid adaptation takes a darker, more sinister turn, offering a rich tapestry of tropes and emotions. From forbidden love and dark magic curses to a retelling of Greek mythology, forced proximity, hidden identity, and the allure of a found family, this book has it all. And let's not forget the charming nicknames like 'sea demon' that add an extra layer of intrigue. Can you resist this enticing blend?
Rhea, the princess of Aquarius and future queen, embarks on a perilous journey to save her kingdom and the oceans from the impending doom of Dark Water, brought on by the Dark Hydra and set to annihilate all life in the oceans. To do that, she must seek the aid of Blackheart Kai, a pirate and killer of sea creatures. Toss in a sea witch, hungry for power and ready to corrupt the world, and you have a tale brimming with adventurous quests, hidden identities, curses, betrayals, deadly encounters, and a love that defies even the darkest of hearts.
Blackheart Kai's life took an unexpected turn when a sea witch introduced a siren to him. Not just any siren but a princess he was meant to eliminate. Yet, there's a deeper side to Kai, a poignant tale of his origins, his childhood, and his resentment towards the sea. Can Rhea, with her unwavering determination, break through his defenses and help him confront his true self? Will he find a way to navigate through his pain and anguish? And most importantly, will their combined efforts be enough to rescue the world and themselves?
Of Song and Darkness is a beautiful fantasy standalone, and I couldn't have been happier to be part of Jessica's ARC team. This is a story that will stay with you long after you've turned the last page. I found myself completely immersed in the world and the characters and I was moved by the depth of emotion and the power of the storytelling. This is a story you don't want to miss!
If you're a fan of fairytale retellings, prepare to be captivated by Of Song and Darkness. This Little Mermaid adaptation takes a darker, more sinister turn, offering a rich tapestry of tropes and emotions. From forbidden love and dark magic curses to a retelling of Greek mythology, forced proximity, hidden identity, and the allure of a found family, this book has it all. And let's not forget the charming nicknames like 'sea demon' that add an extra layer of intrigue. Can you resist this enticing blend?
Rhea, the princess of Aquarius and future queen, embarks on a perilous journey to save her kingdom and the oceans from the impending doom of Dark Water, brought on by the Dark Hydra and set to annihilate all life in the oceans. To do that, she must seek the aid of Blackheart Kai, a pirate and killer of sea creatures. Toss in a sea witch, hungry for power and ready to corrupt the world, and you have a tale brimming with adventurous quests, hidden identities, curses, betrayals, deadly encounters, and a love that defies even the darkest of hearts.
Blackheart Kai's life took an unexpected turn when a sea witch introduced a siren to him. Not just any siren but a princess he was meant to eliminate. Yet, there's a deeper side to Kai, a poignant tale of his origins, his childhood, and his resentment towards the sea. Can Rhea, with her unwavering determination, break through his defenses and help him confront his true self? Will he find a way to navigate through his pain and anguish? And most importantly, will their combined efforts be enough to rescue the world and themselves?
Of Song and Darkness is a beautiful fantasy standalone, and I couldn't have been happier to be part of Jessica's ARC team. This is a story that will stay with you long after you've turned the last page. I found myself completely immersed in the world and the characters and I was moved by the depth of emotion and the power of the storytelling. This is a story you don't want to miss!
4 stars because I’d love for some more background into Rhea’s family history and how they all were before the Black Water threatened their home!
This book is an enemies to lovers, fast paced, “omg didn’t see that coming!” type of read that everyone should get their hands on this summer!
I read this in two days and it gave me all the feels! @jessicaspruillauthor included Greek mythology and pirates into this Little Mermaid retelling and I loved every page!
The chemistry between Rhea and Blackheart Kai were perfect and their banter was so good. The storyline was captivating and I really didn’t want to stop reading, I was thoroughly enthralled!
I could go on but I’d probably give too much away - the plot twists were just so damn good!! Highly recommend this YA fairytale retelling to all those mermaid book lovers!
This book is an enemies to lovers, fast paced, “omg didn’t see that coming!” type of read that everyone should get their hands on this summer!
I read this in two days and it gave me all the feels! @jessicaspruillauthor included Greek mythology and pirates into this Little Mermaid retelling and I loved every page!
The chemistry between Rhea and Blackheart Kai were perfect and their banter was so good. The storyline was captivating and I really didn’t want to stop reading, I was thoroughly enthralled!
I could go on but I’d probably give too much away - the plot twists were just so damn good!! Highly recommend this YA fairytale retelling to all those mermaid book lovers!
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
This book was a really good mixture of pirates and little mermaid with some Greek mythology involving Hades and Poseidon. It was simply captivating and wonderful from the start.
Kai is delicious and devious is the best way. I adored the other crew members, especially Rat. Rhea might be a naive merprincess, but her character growth was wonderful and she’s a spitfire with a heart of gold. She was already so kind, but also not afraid of a challenge. I don’t want to give anything away, so just trust me and go read it!
Jessica weaved a fantastic story full of great characters, storyline, tension, morally grey characters and spark....so much heat, but no spice. Kai and Rhea were really strong characters in their own way and the clash of being enemies was delightful. The banter, the snark, the looks...it's all there! I was definitely invested in the story and not prepared for some of the twists. If you like reading fairy tale mash ups or twists you will love this book.
Kai is delicious and devious is the best way. I adored the other crew members, especially Rat. Rhea might be a naive merprincess, but her character growth was wonderful and she’s a spitfire with a heart of gold. She was already so kind, but also not afraid of a challenge. I don’t want to give anything away, so just trust me and go read it!
Jessica weaved a fantastic story full of great characters, storyline, tension, morally grey characters and spark....so much heat, but no spice. Kai and Rhea were really strong characters in their own way and the clash of being enemies was delightful. The banter, the snark, the looks...it's all there! I was definitely invested in the story and not prepared for some of the twists. If you like reading fairy tale mash ups or twists you will love this book.
adventurous
hopeful
slow-paced
ENDED AS A MISS.
BLOG || INSTAGRAM || TIKTOK
Alright, I had some high hopes for this one based off of friends reviews and the fact that it’s a closed door adult fantasy (I’m always on the search for good books in this category!). And this book was not BAD, but it missed the mark and took me out of the story enough that I was a bit disappointed by the end.
I thought I was reading a full fantasy book and in my mind that means the world building is completely made up. This book referenced real world continents and locations that took me out of the story when everything else was fantasy. I also thought the romance was too fast for me (as is my struggle with standalone romantasy).
The little mermaid retelling + a handsome pirate idea was great though. I did like that idea and most of the execution worked well. There were some good banter moments and a few tropes I enjoyed seeing. I thought the writing style worked well enough for me, I’m just undecided if I will pick up another book from this author.
Overall audience notes:
- Fantasy Romance Retelling
- Language: none (maybe low)
- Romance: kisses
- Violence: moderate
BLOG || INSTAGRAM || TIKTOK
Alright, I had some high hopes for this one based off of friends reviews and the fact that it’s a closed door adult fantasy (I’m always on the search for good books in this category!). And this book was not BAD, but it missed the mark and took me out of the story enough that I was a bit disappointed by the end.
I thought I was reading a full fantasy book and in my mind that means the world building is completely made up. This book referenced real world continents and locations that took me out of the story when everything else was fantasy. I also thought the romance was too fast for me (as is my struggle with standalone romantasy).
The little mermaid retelling + a handsome pirate idea was great though. I did like that idea and most of the execution worked well. There were some good banter moments and a few tropes I enjoyed seeing. I thought the writing style worked well enough for me, I’m just undecided if I will pick up another book from this author.
Overall audience notes:
- Fantasy Romance Retelling
- Language: none (maybe low)
- Romance: kisses
- Violence: moderate