A review by tatiannareads
Then, Earth Swallowed Ocean by Shiloh Sloane, Shiloh Sloane

5.0

I don't read a lot of horror erotica or shifter romances, but when I do, this is the type of story I am looking for. Then, Earth Swallowed Ocean by [a:Shiloh Sloane|22098368|Shiloh Sloane|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] is a dark, paranormal, enemies-to-lovers romance. It's a lyrical, gritty and haunting story about two werewolves hiding in plain sight in post-WW2 Appalachia .. and how a deal between the devil and a human girl catapults her right into their path.

Potential triggers: suicide, abuse, neglect, blood and gore, murder, grief and loss, non-con between love interests.

While reading I couldn't help but think that this story is like a cross between Hemlock Grove and [b:The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue|50623864|The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue|V.E. Schwab|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1584633432l/50623864._SY75_.jpg|46895612], which both happen to be favourites of mine in their respective genres.

"He hears most people like they’re yelling but her voice is perfect. Like waves in the ocean. He’s been landlocked for years."


Werewolves are illustrated to perfection in this story, in my opinion. Ridge and Wright are more animal than human whether they want to admit it or not. Ridge especially, having given into this animalistic side of him, is a primal beast with zero moral compass and an insatiable hunger for human flesh. And Sadie? Well, she's the perfect prey.

This book won't be for everyone. Not only is it incredibly dark, there are also some elements to the story that can be frustrating for romance readers. For me, this was the perfect mix of unhinged, evocative and original with the most delectable prose I could ask for. I went in blind and was surprised quite a few times with the direction... but in a good way! Sloane did not hold back in her writing and I give her major props for that. She is incredibly talented and has a unique writer's voice that I love — I'm already feral for the next book in this series and cannot wait to see what else she writes!

All three characters tugged at my heart and as their backstories unraveled, I fell harder and harder.

"How cruel is the Devil, that he’d send evil after her and she’d fall in love with him?"


The blurb promises "demonic levels of horniness" and that would be correct. There is tons of sex in this book.. more than I anticipated but welcomed all the same. It's unhinged werewolf erotica at its finest, and I loved every second of it.

I don't know what else to say about this story other than it was an experience, and that I'm still chewing on it. I would recommend this to any dark paranormal romance readers that want something a little outside-the-box, appreciate true enemies to lovers, rich and evocative writing and creative storytelling.