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Of Song and Darkness
Poseidon has fallen. The world won’t be far behind. Unless she can stop the rising darkness.
The world beneath the waves is in chaos.
Without Poseidon to hold it at bay, Dark Water is slowly spreading, devouring anything it touches. Even the mighty King Manta has given up hope.
But his daughter hasn’t. Rhea, the siren princess of Aquarius, will do anything to save her world. Even if it means hunting down the mythical Medusa—and partnering with a notorious pirate captain.
Blackheart Kai has more dangerous secrets than Rhea can fathom. He’d rather kill her than help her save her people. She knows he can’t be trusted. But knowing that doesn’t stop her from needing him…or wanting him.
With the survival of the seven seas hanging in the balance, can Rhea and Kai overcome their hatred and work together when it matters most? Or are they destined to share Poseidon’s dark fate?
The world beneath the waves is in chaos.
Without Poseidon to hold it at bay, Dark Water is slowly spreading, devouring anything it touches. Even the mighty King Manta has given up hope.
But his daughter hasn’t. Rhea, the siren princess of Aquarius, will do anything to save her world. Even if it means hunting down the mythical Medusa—and partnering with a notorious pirate captain.
Blackheart Kai has more dangerous secrets than Rhea can fathom. He’d rather kill her than help her save her people. She knows he can’t be trusted. But knowing that doesn’t stop her from needing him…or wanting him.
With the survival of the seven seas hanging in the balance, can Rhea and Kai overcome their hatred and work together when it matters most? Or are they destined to share Poseidon’s dark fate?
297 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 3, 2024
About the author
Jessica Spruill
1 book27 followersI am an author publishing my debut fantasy novel, OF SONG AND DARKNESS, in the summer of 2024. This will be a standalone with Little Mermaid vibes and a morally grey pirate captain.
By day, I work as a Registered Dietitian at a health department. By night, I escape into the fantasy worlds in my mind and bring them to you through my writing. I began my writing career on Wattpad as a paid writer, where you can find the first books I have written. I live with my husband and two German shorthaired pointers on the family farm. I am an avid baker and enjoy living off the land.
By day, I work as a Registered Dietitian at a health department. By night, I escape into the fantasy worlds in my mind and bring them to you through my writing. I began my writing career on Wattpad as a paid writer, where you can find the first books I have written. I live with my husband and two German shorthaired pointers on the family farm. I am an avid baker and enjoy living off the land.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 90 reviews
May 13, 2024
If you’re a fan of fairytale retellings… you’re going to absolutely love this one - think The Little Mermaid but darker. I was hooked from the first chapter and didn’t want to put it down. I loved every single page and every character.
We are first introduced to Princess Rhea, daughter to the King & Queen of Aquarius. Rhea was never supposed to be Queen as the second born…. But after her sisters death she had no choice but to assume her sisters role as future Queen. She still doesn’t want it though and doesn’t fit the mold and meet the expectations placed upon her… she doesn’t want to be the poised and composed princess that is expected of her. Instead, Rhea is stubborn, adventurous, curious, intelligent and so much more - so when rumors of the Dark Water continue to spread throughout the kingdom, despite being forbidden of being spoken of, Rhea decides to break rules and goes on her own search for this Dark Water to confirm whether or not it it exists. And when she finds and sees Dark Water for herself…. She is not only horrified at the destruction it is causing to the ocean and its lush vegetation… but she is terrified for her kingdom and its people. When she finds out that not only did her father know of Dark Water, but that he has lost all hope id stopping it…. Rhea cannot and does not accept that fate as reality for herself or all the other living organism in the ocean. Rhea is willing to do whatever it takes to save the Ocean and her people… even making a deal with the evil Sea Witch and working with the vicious sea creature hunter, Blackheart Kai. Rhea begins a long and near impossible journey to save her people and stop the Dark Water… Can she do it? Can she survive working with the one man who has made a name for himself by hunting down and killing her kind? Rhea doesn’t know the answer to those questions but knows if she doesn’t try she, and her people, are dead anyways.
We are first introduced to Princess Rhea, daughter to the King & Queen of Aquarius. Rhea was never supposed to be Queen as the second born…. But after her sisters death she had no choice but to assume her sisters role as future Queen. She still doesn’t want it though and doesn’t fit the mold and meet the expectations placed upon her… she doesn’t want to be the poised and composed princess that is expected of her. Instead, Rhea is stubborn, adventurous, curious, intelligent and so much more - so when rumors of the Dark Water continue to spread throughout the kingdom, despite being forbidden of being spoken of, Rhea decides to break rules and goes on her own search for this Dark Water to confirm whether or not it it exists. And when she finds and sees Dark Water for herself…. She is not only horrified at the destruction it is causing to the ocean and its lush vegetation… but she is terrified for her kingdom and its people. When she finds out that not only did her father know of Dark Water, but that he has lost all hope id stopping it…. Rhea cannot and does not accept that fate as reality for herself or all the other living organism in the ocean. Rhea is willing to do whatever it takes to save the Ocean and her people… even making a deal with the evil Sea Witch and working with the vicious sea creature hunter, Blackheart Kai. Rhea begins a long and near impossible journey to save her people and stop the Dark Water… Can she do it? Can she survive working with the one man who has made a name for himself by hunting down and killing her kind? Rhea doesn’t know the answer to those questions but knows if she doesn’t try she, and her people, are dead anyways.
June 12, 2024
I devoured this fast-paced Little Mermaid retelling. It was dark, exciting, and full of delicious tension between characters. The Little Mermaid was my absolute favorite Disney movie when I was a kid so this was a highly anticipated read for me as soon as I saw @oldenoughforfairytales share about @jessica’s upcoming book MONTHS AGO in her stories.
Rhea, the siren princess, was everything I hoped she would be and more. She was determined and full of heart, just like Ariel 🥹. Nothing was going to stop her from trying to save her people from the Dark Water that was killing everything in its path and I loved her for it.
Blackheart Kai is now my new favorite morally grey pirate 😮💨. He is ruthless, dangerous, protective, and just oozes confidence. I loved reading his POV and appreciated that he never apologized for who he was or what he did.
I loved the nods to the original Little Mermaid story while also enjoying Jessica’s original touches. The Greek mythology, darkness, morally grey characters, fighting/action, and twists were all really cool and well done.
I highly recommend this book if you like:
🧜🏼♀️ sirens and pirates
🏴☠️ morally grey MMC
🧜🏼♀️ banter and tension
🏴☠️enemies to lovers
🧜🏼♀️ touch her and ☠️
🏴☠️ fade to black romance (no spice, just swoony kisses)
🧜🏼♀️ found family
Rhea, the siren princess, was everything I hoped she would be and more. She was determined and full of heart, just like Ariel 🥹. Nothing was going to stop her from trying to save her people from the Dark Water that was killing everything in its path and I loved her for it.
Blackheart Kai is now my new favorite morally grey pirate 😮💨. He is ruthless, dangerous, protective, and just oozes confidence. I loved reading his POV and appreciated that he never apologized for who he was or what he did.
I loved the nods to the original Little Mermaid story while also enjoying Jessica’s original touches. The Greek mythology, darkness, morally grey characters, fighting/action, and twists were all really cool and well done.
I highly recommend this book if you like:
🧜🏼♀️ sirens and pirates
🏴☠️ morally grey MMC
🧜🏼♀️ banter and tension
🏴☠️enemies to lovers
🧜🏼♀️ touch her and ☠️
🏴☠️ fade to black romance (no spice, just swoony kisses)
🧜🏼♀️ found family
May 23, 2024
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!
May 2, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️,5
“Your concern is touching. It almost seems like you care.”
“And here I believed you were just a heartless pirate.”
“Touch her again, and you won’t have to worry about your hand because I will cleave you to the brisket, savvy?”
I really enjoyed this book, it was easy to read and kept me engaged from start to finish.
The FMC Rhea is the siren princess of Aquarius, and she’s willing to do anything to save her world. I liked her character development and how she gained much more confidence throughout the story.
The MMC is a notorious pirate captain, Blackheart Kai. I enjoyed the banter and tension between him and Rhea. There were some things revealed about his history and how/why he ended up being a pirate captain. He seemed like a really interesting character and I would love to learn more about him and his past.
The storyline itself was easy to follow and interesting. There were some plot twists towards the end that took me by surprise, and I didn’t see those coming. There were a few times where the plot felt maybe a bit too easy and convenient for the main characters but overall I really enjoyed the story.
I received an ARC of this book and I am voluntarily leaving a review. Receiving ARC didn’t affect my opinion of the book.
“Your concern is touching. It almost seems like you care.”
“And here I believed you were just a heartless pirate.”
“Touch her again, and you won’t have to worry about your hand because I will cleave you to the brisket, savvy?”
I really enjoyed this book, it was easy to read and kept me engaged from start to finish.
The FMC Rhea is the siren princess of Aquarius, and she’s willing to do anything to save her world. I liked her character development and how she gained much more confidence throughout the story.
The MMC is a notorious pirate captain, Blackheart Kai. I enjoyed the banter and tension between him and Rhea. There were some things revealed about his history and how/why he ended up being a pirate captain. He seemed like a really interesting character and I would love to learn more about him and his past.
The storyline itself was easy to follow and interesting. There were some plot twists towards the end that took me by surprise, and I didn’t see those coming. There were a few times where the plot felt maybe a bit too easy and convenient for the main characters but overall I really enjoyed the story.
I received an ARC of this book and I am voluntarily leaving a review. Receiving ARC didn’t affect my opinion of the book.
June 28, 2024
5 Stars
(Had this at 4.5 stars but I continually think about how much I loved it so I’m giving it 5!)
🔱 The vibes:
- sirens and pirates
- dual pov
- Fantasy (fairytale)
- Morally grey MMC
- Mythological
- Lies and betrayal
🏴☠️ My thoughts:
After Poseidon dies, the evil Hydra is unleashed on the Seven Seas. Without Poseidon to protect the oceans, the Hydra’s Dark Water is spreading throughout the seas, killing everything it touches.
🏴☠️ A monster and a hunter (ie Siren and Pirate) make a deal to work together to stop the Dark Water. With both Rhea and Kai keeping secrets from each other, and with an explosive hatred for one another, this proves to be an epic journey full of sirens, pirates, mythological creatures, lies and betrayal.
🔱 Kai is the definition of a morally gray MMC and I was obsessed. I liked his backstory and his darkness.
🔱 Rhea is a siren princess, but proves to be such a force. I loved the dynamic between Kai and Rhea….the hate and disdain…the romance…and everything inbetween.
🔱 I loved the enemies to lovers journey. I loved the writing style. I loved the ocean and pirate vibes; the mermaid vibes; and the greek mythology thrown in.
🔱 There were some moments that I think could have benefited from more world building or more explanation on the mechanics of things…but overall, this book was a total delight, and I will be eagerly awaiting future books by this author.
(Had this at 4.5 stars but I continually think about how much I loved it so I’m giving it 5!)
🔱 The vibes:
- sirens and pirates
- dual pov
- Fantasy (fairytale)
- Morally grey MMC
- Mythological
- Lies and betrayal
🏴☠️ My thoughts:
After Poseidon dies, the evil Hydra is unleashed on the Seven Seas. Without Poseidon to protect the oceans, the Hydra’s Dark Water is spreading throughout the seas, killing everything it touches.
🏴☠️ A monster and a hunter (ie Siren and Pirate) make a deal to work together to stop the Dark Water. With both Rhea and Kai keeping secrets from each other, and with an explosive hatred for one another, this proves to be an epic journey full of sirens, pirates, mythological creatures, lies and betrayal.
🔱 Kai is the definition of a morally gray MMC and I was obsessed. I liked his backstory and his darkness.
🔱 Rhea is a siren princess, but proves to be such a force. I loved the dynamic between Kai and Rhea….the hate and disdain…the romance…and everything inbetween.
🔱 I loved the enemies to lovers journey. I loved the writing style. I loved the ocean and pirate vibes; the mermaid vibes; and the greek mythology thrown in.
🔱 There were some moments that I think could have benefited from more world building or more explanation on the mechanics of things…but overall, this book was a total delight, and I will be eagerly awaiting future books by this author.
May 9, 2024
Sink me! What an exhilarating read for any fans of The Little Mermaid and Greek mythology 🧜♀️🧜♂️ Jessica Spruill is a creative genius as she plunges her readers through waves and plot twists I didn't even see coming! This was an easy read and I seriously couldn't put it down. The banter and tension between Blackheart Kai and Rhea was perfect and I loved the character development as each sought to fulfill their purpose. Like wow... I keep thinking about the surprises and I'm excited for more people to read this story! I also appreciated that this book is written as a closed door romance. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 4.5/5 stars from me!
May 22, 2024
WHAT TO EXPECT 💜
🧜🏼♀️ Greek mythology
✨ Little Mermaid retelling
🧜🏼♀️ Enemies to lovers
✨ Found family
🧜🏼♀️ Pirates
✨ Closed door romance
🧜🏼♀️ Morally grey MMC
✨ Touch her and 💀
RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (4.5) / 5
THOUGHTS 💭:
Ahhhh I was sooo pleased with this book! It has to be one of my most anticipated read of this year and I’m so honored to be able to this early copy! 🥹💕
THIS WAS EVERYTHING!!! I LOVED IT SO, SO MUCH! Jessica, you’re a true talent! The writing of this book was so easy to go through! I was completely sucked into this magical world created by the author. Jessica really knows how to keep her readers’ mind captivated and intrigued which is very much praiseworthy!!
As for the storyline, it was excellent! And the characters were so well written, I loved their character development! Blackheart Kai and Rhea played major role in the story as they’re the main characters. Their banter was so cute and I just couldn’t get enough of them! Even though it’s a closed-door romance, you could literally feel the chemistry between both of them! They’re definitely on my favorite book couple lists!
There’s also few suspenseful plot twists which had my jaw DROPPED! This was such a great read! If you love fairytale retelling with closed door romance you’re gonna absolutely love this!! A MUST READ!
🧜🏼♀️ Greek mythology
✨ Little Mermaid retelling
🧜🏼♀️ Enemies to lovers
✨ Found family
🧜🏼♀️ Pirates
✨ Closed door romance
🧜🏼♀️ Morally grey MMC
✨ Touch her and 💀
RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (4.5) / 5
THOUGHTS 💭:
Ahhhh I was sooo pleased with this book! It has to be one of my most anticipated read of this year and I’m so honored to be able to this early copy! 🥹💕
THIS WAS EVERYTHING!!! I LOVED IT SO, SO MUCH! Jessica, you’re a true talent! The writing of this book was so easy to go through! I was completely sucked into this magical world created by the author. Jessica really knows how to keep her readers’ mind captivated and intrigued which is very much praiseworthy!!
As for the storyline, it was excellent! And the characters were so well written, I loved their character development! Blackheart Kai and Rhea played major role in the story as they’re the main characters. Their banter was so cute and I just couldn’t get enough of them! Even though it’s a closed-door romance, you could literally feel the chemistry between both of them! They’re definitely on my favorite book couple lists!
There’s also few suspenseful plot twists which had my jaw DROPPED! This was such a great read! If you love fairytale retelling with closed door romance you’re gonna absolutely love this!! A MUST READ!
May 10, 2024
3.5⭐ rounded up to 4! This was such a fun nautical adventure! It has little mermaid vibes, but with more adult themes. The characters are loveable and the MMC is definitely going on my list of book boyfriends.
There are nautical references throughout the whole story that make the writing feel so immersive. Overall the writing is really straightforward which makes the story so easy to digest.
The visuals described create such an interesting world. There's lots of action throughout the whole book and although some parts felt a little predictable there were some big twists that came out of nowhere. I definitely recommend this if you're looking for a cozy, yet exciting pirate romantasy that wraps itself up with closure at the end.
There are nautical references throughout the whole story that make the writing feel so immersive. Overall the writing is really straightforward which makes the story so easy to digest.
The visuals described create such an interesting world. There's lots of action throughout the whole book and although some parts felt a little predictable there were some big twists that came out of nowhere. I definitely recommend this if you're looking for a cozy, yet exciting pirate romantasy that wraps itself up with closure at the end.
May 30, 2024
If you are a fan of The Little Mermaid, this book is for you. It is a fast paced and intermediate fantasy. It is such an easy read that I read it in a day. There is no spice or bad words, so it is also appropriate for YA, but the writing is still mature enough for older readers. This is a stand alone and does not end on a cliffhanger.
June 3, 2024
I absolutely loved this book from Jessica Spruill!
I loved that it had a thread of a Little Mermaid retelling, but darker and swapped to enemies to lovers.
It quickly grabbed my attention and kept it so much so that I finished it in less than a day. It was truly one I couldn't put down.
Blackheart Kai was a morally gray merciless pirate who definitely lived up to his name. He was filled with darkness and doing all he could to destroy everything that Rhea loved.
I love that they truly were enemies but had a somewhat common goal. I loved that it was a slow burn but with a lot of tension and banter.
I loved watching Kai's nickname for Rhea go from something she absolutely detested to one she embraced and cherished. I loved that we saw Kai change because of Rhea and also see who he really was.
This story definitely keeps you on your toes and every time I thought I could guess what would happen next I was wrong.
If you are looking for a pirate and siren romance that is on the darker side but full of redemption and hope try this one out asap!
Physical Intimacy Level 3 (More detailed kissing as well as inferred nudity at times when Rhea swaps from mermaid to human)
Moderate swearing (13 Hel*, 2 Dam*, 3 Bast***)
Dual 1st Person POV
I loved that it had a thread of a Little Mermaid retelling, but darker and swapped to enemies to lovers.
It quickly grabbed my attention and kept it so much so that I finished it in less than a day. It was truly one I couldn't put down.
Blackheart Kai was a morally gray merciless pirate who definitely lived up to his name. He was filled with darkness and doing all he could to destroy everything that Rhea loved.
I love that they truly were enemies but had a somewhat common goal. I loved that it was a slow burn but with a lot of tension and banter.
I loved watching Kai's nickname for Rhea go from something she absolutely detested to one she embraced and cherished. I loved that we saw Kai change because of Rhea and also see who he really was.
This story definitely keeps you on your toes and every time I thought I could guess what would happen next I was wrong.
If you are looking for a pirate and siren romance that is on the darker side but full of redemption and hope try this one out asap!
Physical Intimacy Level 3 (More detailed kissing as well as inferred nudity at times when Rhea swaps from mermaid to human)
Moderate swearing (13 Hel*, 2 Dam*, 3 Bast***)
Dual 1st Person POV
May 11, 2024
“I wouldn’t mind a show, but I can promise you, I will never touch a creature like you, not in that way.” His voice is filled with just as much hate as I felt for him.
🖤My thoughts on Of Song and Darkness: Pirates meets the little mermaid! I was hooked into the book from page 1! Rhea is a typical stubborn siren, who is intrigued and interested in the human world, but knows of the dangers that humans posses. It was nice to get to know her family a little, instead of them being nameless beings in her life. Got to see the father daughter banter, the sibling bonding and the love between mother and daughter before she went off on her adventure to save all ocean beings! Which is a lot on one sirens shoulder. Not only does she set off to save everyone, but to do it with the one being that would take pleasure in killing her and not loose a wink of sleep doing it! I loved and thrived off the witty banter between Rhea and Kai, each one trying to best the other. And the relationship between Kai and his crew!!!! He may hate ocean dwellers but he’s a mighty fine captain😘 all in all I LOVED the book, and am so sad it’s all over now after craving for it for MONTHS🖤🖤🖤 highly recommend this book and hope everyone who reads it enjoys Rheas journey ☺️
And fall in love with the mighty Captain Blackheart Kai like I did🖤🖤🖤
🖤My thoughts on Of Song and Darkness: Pirates meets the little mermaid! I was hooked into the book from page 1! Rhea is a typical stubborn siren, who is intrigued and interested in the human world, but knows of the dangers that humans posses. It was nice to get to know her family a little, instead of them being nameless beings in her life. Got to see the father daughter banter, the sibling bonding and the love between mother and daughter before she went off on her adventure to save all ocean beings! Which is a lot on one sirens shoulder. Not only does she set off to save everyone, but to do it with the one being that would take pleasure in killing her and not loose a wink of sleep doing it! I loved and thrived off the witty banter between Rhea and Kai, each one trying to best the other. And the relationship between Kai and his crew!!!! He may hate ocean dwellers but he’s a mighty fine captain😘 all in all I LOVED the book, and am so sad it’s all over now after craving for it for MONTHS🖤🖤🖤 highly recommend this book and hope everyone who reads it enjoys Rheas journey ☺️
And fall in love with the mighty Captain Blackheart Kai like I did🖤🖤🖤
May 3, 2024
Firstly, this is one of the first fantasy book I've read in over six years and I'm glad I decided to enter the genre once again with this book. It was filled with twists I hadn't expected and don't even get me started on the well fleshed out characters. They felt true to their characterization and nothing done by them felt out of character.
I loved Rhea's character the most because of her rebelliousness and true care for her people. She's the sort of character that would get you rooting for their victory.
The romance between them felt believable and I would definitely recommend to anyone looking for a fantasy romance to read
I loved Rhea's character the most because of her rebelliousness and true care for her people. She's the sort of character that would get you rooting for their victory.
The romance between them felt believable and I would definitely recommend to anyone looking for a fantasy romance to read
May 27, 2024
This book started off like a little mermaid retelling with a twist however it quickly morphed into an even greater tail. It had so many twists and I loved the character development. It was also very swoony and I loved it! Just when I thought it can’t get better or there will be loose ends it tied itself up in a knot with a bow. I highly recommend this book if you enjoy enemies to lovers and adventure stories with no spice. Not to worry though the romance builds plenty and has you begging the characters to kiss or admit their love for each other
May 13, 2024
The whole idea of this story was so good. I really enjoyed every little twits and turns and that it was inspired by The Little Mermaid. I was so excited to read this book, unfortunately, it was too short for my liking.
When books are too short, the pace often feels rushed and that is excatly what happened in this book. I felt as if things where moving way too quickly, sometimes even leaving me a little confused as to what had actually happened.
The writing is really good, my only issue truly was the execution of the story.
When books are too short, the pace often feels rushed and that is excatly what happened in this book. I felt as if things where moving way too quickly, sometimes even leaving me a little confused as to what had actually happened.
The writing is really good, my only issue truly was the execution of the story.
June 9, 2024
➳༻❀☕️🅱︎🅾︎🅾︎🅺•🆁🅴🆅🅸🅴🆆☕️❀༺➳
✧°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧
📚📝✨🥀𝗕𝗢𝗢𝗞•𝗗𝗘𝗧𝗔𝗜𝗟𝗦🥀✨📝📚
🔱𝙾𝙵 𝚂𝙾𝙽𝙶 𝙰𝙽𝙳 𝙳𝙰𝚁𝙺𝙽𝙴𝚂𝚂 𝙱𝚈 𝙹𝙴𝚂𝚂𝙸𝙲𝙰 𝚂𝙿𝚁𝚄𝙸𝙻𝙻
🔱𝚂𝚃𝙰𝙽𝙳𝙰𝙻𝙾𝙽𝙴
🔱𝗚𝗘𝗡𝗥𝗘: 𝙵𝙰���𝚃𝙰𝚂𝚈 𝚁𝙾𝙼𝙰𝙽𝙲𝙴 𝚆𝙸𝚃𝙷 𝙻𝙸𝚃𝚃𝙻𝙴 𝙼𝙴𝚁𝙼𝙰𝙸𝙳 𝚅𝙸𝙱𝙴𝚂
🔱𝗥𝗘𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗦𝗘 𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘: 𝙹𝚄𝙽𝙴 𝟹𝚁𝙳 𝟸𝟶𝟸𝟺
╰┈➤𝙰𝚅𝙰𝙸𝙻𝙰𝙱𝙻𝙴 𝙾𝙽 𝙺𝚄✨
🔱𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗠𝗢𝗢𝗗 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗𝗘𝗥: 𝙰𝙳𝚅𝙴𝙽𝚃𝚄𝚁𝙾𝚄𝚂; 𝙴𝙼𝙾𝚃𝙸𝙾𝙽𝙰𝙻; 𝙷𝙾𝙿𝙴𝙵𝚄𝙻; 𝙻𝙸𝙶𝙷𝚃𝙷𝙴𝙰𝚁𝚃𝙴𝙳; 𝙳𝙰𝚁𝙺
🔱𝗣𝗔𝗚𝗘 𝗡𝗨𝗠𝗕𝗘𝗥: 𝟸𝟿𝟽 𝙿𝙰𝙶𝙴𝚂
🔱𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ || 𝟻
🔱⚠️𝗖𝗛𝗘𝗖𝗞 𝗧𝗥���𝗚𝗚𝗘𝗥 𝗪𝗔𝗥𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗚𝗦
✧°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧
✨✨𝑀𝑦 𝑇ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑔ℎ𝑡𝑠✨✨
Thank you so much to Jessica Spruill & R&R Book Tours for my Advanced Reader Copy of 𝐎𝐅 𝐒𝐎𝐍𝐆 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐃𝐀𝐑𝐊𝐍𝐄𝐒𝐒! This review is comprised entirely of my own thoughts & opinions, & is based on the copy I received.
Y’all know that I always love a fairytale retelling, and this dark Little Mermaid retelling was everything I wanted it to be and more! Of Song and Darkness was full of pirates, mermaids, a swoony enemies to lovers romance, witty banter, plot twists, and amazing characters! It was so captivating and I enjoyed the characters’ journeys so much. Rhea and Kai had the most amazing chemistry! I couldn’t get enough of them!
Rhea is so fierce and determined, and she will stop at nothing to make sure she protects the ones that she loves. She is such an admirable FMC, and I loved her from the very beginning. Kai is our morally grey MMC and I was swooning for him as soon as he came on page! This book also does the enemies to lovers trope PERFECTLY! A romance between the siren princess and a notorious pirate captain?! It’s literally perfection! And the snarky banter between them was *chef’s kiss.*
For this being a standalone, I thought this was perfectly written! The pacing was done very well, and I thought it had the perfect balance between romance and plot, and I seriously just loved the fact that this gave me all the Little Mermaid feels! Overall, I cannot recommend this one enough!
……..
Cʜᴇᴄᴋ Oᴜᴛ Mʏ Fᴜʟʟ Rᴇᴠɪᴇᴡ ᴏɴ GᴏᴏᴅRᴇᴀᴅs!
Lɪɴᴋ ɪɴ ᴍʏ Bɪ0!✨✨
📚📝✨𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗙𝗘𝗖𝗧 𝗜𝗙 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗟𝗢𝗩𝗘✨📝📚
🧜🏻♀️ Who Did This to You
🏴☠️ Touch Her and 💀
🧜🏻♀️ Enemies to Lovers
🏴☠️ Sirens and Pirates
🧜🏻♀️ Greek Mythology
🏴☠️ Morally Grey MMC
🧜🏻♀️ Fade to Black Romance
🏴☠️ Found Family
✧°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧
✧°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧
📚📝✨🥀𝗕𝗢𝗢𝗞•𝗗𝗘𝗧𝗔𝗜𝗟𝗦🥀✨📝📚
🔱𝙾𝙵 𝚂𝙾𝙽𝙶 𝙰𝙽𝙳 𝙳𝙰𝚁𝙺𝙽𝙴𝚂𝚂 𝙱𝚈 𝙹𝙴𝚂𝚂𝙸𝙲𝙰 𝚂𝙿𝚁𝚄𝙸𝙻𝙻
🔱𝚂𝚃𝙰𝙽𝙳𝙰𝙻𝙾𝙽𝙴
🔱𝗚𝗘𝗡𝗥𝗘: 𝙵𝙰���𝚃𝙰𝚂𝚈 𝚁𝙾𝙼𝙰𝙽𝙲𝙴 𝚆𝙸𝚃𝙷 𝙻𝙸𝚃𝚃𝙻𝙴 𝙼𝙴𝚁𝙼𝙰𝙸𝙳 𝚅𝙸𝙱𝙴𝚂
🔱𝗥𝗘𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗦𝗘 𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘: 𝙹𝚄𝙽𝙴 𝟹𝚁𝙳 𝟸𝟶𝟸𝟺
╰┈➤𝙰𝚅𝙰𝙸𝙻𝙰𝙱𝙻𝙴 𝙾𝙽 𝙺𝚄✨
🔱𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗠𝗢𝗢𝗗 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗𝗘𝗥: 𝙰𝙳𝚅𝙴𝙽𝚃𝚄𝚁𝙾𝚄𝚂; 𝙴𝙼𝙾𝚃𝙸𝙾𝙽𝙰𝙻; 𝙷𝙾𝙿𝙴𝙵𝚄𝙻; 𝙻𝙸𝙶𝙷𝚃𝙷𝙴𝙰𝚁𝚃𝙴𝙳; 𝙳𝙰𝚁𝙺
🔱𝗣𝗔𝗚𝗘 𝗡𝗨𝗠𝗕𝗘𝗥: 𝟸𝟿𝟽 𝙿𝙰𝙶𝙴𝚂
🔱𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ || 𝟻
🔱⚠️𝗖𝗛𝗘𝗖𝗞 𝗧𝗥���𝗚𝗚𝗘𝗥 𝗪𝗔𝗥𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗚𝗦
✧°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧
✨✨𝑀𝑦 𝑇ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑔ℎ𝑡𝑠✨✨
Thank you so much to Jessica Spruill & R&R Book Tours for my Advanced Reader Copy of 𝐎𝐅 𝐒𝐎𝐍𝐆 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐃𝐀𝐑𝐊𝐍𝐄𝐒𝐒! This review is comprised entirely of my own thoughts & opinions, & is based on the copy I received.
Y’all know that I always love a fairytale retelling, and this dark Little Mermaid retelling was everything I wanted it to be and more! Of Song and Darkness was full of pirates, mermaids, a swoony enemies to lovers romance, witty banter, plot twists, and amazing characters! It was so captivating and I enjoyed the characters’ journeys so much. Rhea and Kai had the most amazing chemistry! I couldn’t get enough of them!
Rhea is so fierce and determined, and she will stop at nothing to make sure she protects the ones that she loves. She is such an admirable FMC, and I loved her from the very beginning. Kai is our morally grey MMC and I was swooning for him as soon as he came on page! This book also does the enemies to lovers trope PERFECTLY! A romance between the siren princess and a notorious pirate captain?! It’s literally perfection! And the snarky banter between them was *chef’s kiss.*
For this being a standalone, I thought this was perfectly written! The pacing was done very well, and I thought it had the perfect balance between romance and plot, and I seriously just loved the fact that this gave me all the Little Mermaid feels! Overall, I cannot recommend this one enough!
……..
Cʜᴇᴄᴋ Oᴜᴛ Mʏ Fᴜʟʟ Rᴇᴠɪᴇᴡ ᴏɴ GᴏᴏᴅRᴇᴀᴅs!
Lɪɴᴋ ɪɴ ᴍʏ Bɪ0!✨✨
📚📝✨𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗙𝗘𝗖𝗧 𝗜𝗙 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗟𝗢𝗩𝗘✨📝📚
🧜🏻♀️ Who Did This to You
🏴☠️ Touch Her and 💀
🧜🏻♀️ Enemies to Lovers
🏴☠️ Sirens and Pirates
🧜🏻♀️ Greek Mythology
🏴☠️ Morally Grey MMC
🧜🏻♀️ Fade to Black Romance
🏴☠️ Found Family
✧°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧
June 2, 2024
This is the dark Little Mermaid retelling I didn’t know I needed! It’s so much more than that: sprinkle in a healthy dose of Greek mythology, add some witty banter, stir in mythical creatures, a dash of forbidden love, and a pinch of edge of your seat action and adventure? A recipe for a wild ride all the way to the Marianas Trench!!
Our FMC is Rhea, second daughter of King Manta of Aquarius. She’s a siren with an impending arranged marriage to Orm. A terrible catastrophe is poised to wipe out her world, and she will do absolutely anything to save her kingdom. Even if it means making dark deals with dangerous enemies and risking her life to do the impossible, all on her own. She is brave and resilient and very emotional, feeling everything very intensely. You can’t help but love her and root for her. Once she meets the dastardly morally grey pirate captain, you really hope he’s not as black-hearted as the stories claim, because she falls really hard for him!
Our MMC is Blackheart Kai. He is a ruthless and debonair man who has earned his name and reputation. He has a lot of secrets, and despite his hardened exterior, he is a deep well of a man. He finds himself unexpectedly drawn to Rhea. He battles that pull with everything he’s got. But she charms her way past his defenses with light and tenderness, and the chapter where all that goes down is worth the whole book!
I love these two so much. High seas and the undersea come alive in vivid world building, there’s angst and emotional intimacy, there are secrets and twists and 🤯 revelations. So good!! Go check it out!
Our FMC is Rhea, second daughter of King Manta of Aquarius. She’s a siren with an impending arranged marriage to Orm. A terrible catastrophe is poised to wipe out her world, and she will do absolutely anything to save her kingdom. Even if it means making dark deals with dangerous enemies and risking her life to do the impossible, all on her own. She is brave and resilient and very emotional, feeling everything very intensely. You can’t help but love her and root for her. Once she meets the dastardly morally grey pirate captain, you really hope he’s not as black-hearted as the stories claim, because she falls really hard for him!
Our MMC is Blackheart Kai. He is a ruthless and debonair man who has earned his name and reputation. He has a lot of secrets, and despite his hardened exterior, he is a deep well of a man. He finds himself unexpectedly drawn to Rhea. He battles that pull with everything he’s got. But she charms her way past his defenses with light and tenderness, and the chapter where all that goes down is worth the whole book!
I love these two so much. High seas and the undersea come alive in vivid world building, there’s angst and emotional intimacy, there are secrets and twists and 🤯 revelations. So good!! Go check it out!
July 6, 2024
3.5☆
If you're looking for a fast-paced book on the shorter side, Of Song and Darkness would be your thing! It has pirates, sea creatures, enemies-to-lovers and no spice!!
(Spoilers in this paragraph!!) Unfortunately, I did have a few issues - one of them was how her fiancé was addressed. It was indeed a forced engagement and Orm was a professional jerk. HOWEVER, the author decided to make Rhea mention him and even compliment him (which was fake, yes, though I do not think Kai knew that), yet afterwards no one paid any attention to it and the two main characters kissed. I think it should have been addressed better and it left a bit of an icky feeling for me:/ Another instance was when another woman ran upto Kai and kissed him and he then continued to hold her waist, now him and Rhea were not together by then, so no other women drama really, but for me it felt a bit strange.
The writing was quite nice! It did fall flat for me in some parts where I would appreciate more tension, more focus on emotions such as their first kiss. Nonetheless, it was also quite easy to read and descriptive which I enjoyed!
The plot was entertaining for sure!!:) The plot twist that came later on was absolutely impressive and I did not see it coming. I think the last 20-30% of the book were the best part!
In conclusion, I enjoyed it mostly:))
If you're looking for a fast-paced book on the shorter side, Of Song and Darkness would be your thing! It has pirates, sea creatures, enemies-to-lovers and no spice!!
(Spoilers in this paragraph!!) Unfortunately, I did have a few issues - one of them was how her fiancé was addressed. It was indeed a forced engagement and Orm was a professional jerk. HOWEVER, the author decided to make Rhea mention him and even compliment him (which was fake, yes, though I do not think Kai knew that), yet afterwards no one paid any attention to it and the two main characters kissed. I think it should have been addressed better and it left a bit of an icky feeling for me:/ Another instance was when another woman ran upto Kai and kissed him and he then continued to hold her waist, now him and Rhea were not together by then, so no other women drama really, but for me it felt a bit strange.
The writing was quite nice! It did fall flat for me in some parts where I would appreciate more tension, more focus on emotions such as their first kiss. Nonetheless, it was also quite easy to read and descriptive which I enjoyed!
The plot was entertaining for sure!!:) The plot twist that came later on was absolutely impressive and I did not see it coming. I think the last 20-30% of the book were the best part!
In conclusion, I enjoyed it mostly:))
May 4, 2024
It's MERMAY!
This story is a mix of Little Mermaid, Greek Mythology, and Pirates.
From the start, the author's pace is spot on. I never felt like I was reading. The world building and the information to build the story is done in a way that is seamless and not bogged down by information overload. The story picks up pace at just the right times and keeps the reader on a perfect ride throughout the story.
The development of the FMC Rhea, as well as the MMC, Kai, is wonderful. I love how Rhea goes on a complete journey that is supported by Kai and his gang of pirates. She is determined to help others and has to learn first to help herself. Kai has run from who he is for his entire life. With Rhea's help, he finds within himself the strength to face his past as well as his future. And then there is their growing relationship...It's a perfect blend of banter and swoon-worthy scenes that gives the reader just enough but never enough (if that makes sense). It's simply perfect.
Favorite quotes:
"Monsters are not born. They are made by their acts."
"All I ask is for you to try. If we die, we die together."
"Haven't you heard? I'm not a princess. I am a sea demon."
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and you will too.
It will keep you on the edge of your seat...or should I say fins? :)
This story is a mix of Little Mermaid, Greek Mythology, and Pirates.
From the start, the author's pace is spot on. I never felt like I was reading. The world building and the information to build the story is done in a way that is seamless and not bogged down by information overload. The story picks up pace at just the right times and keeps the reader on a perfect ride throughout the story.
The development of the FMC Rhea, as well as the MMC, Kai, is wonderful. I love how Rhea goes on a complete journey that is supported by Kai and his gang of pirates. She is determined to help others and has to learn first to help herself. Kai has run from who he is for his entire life. With Rhea's help, he finds within himself the strength to face his past as well as his future. And then there is their growing relationship...It's a perfect blend of banter and swoon-worthy scenes that gives the reader just enough but never enough (if that makes sense). It's simply perfect.
Favorite quotes:
"Monsters are not born. They are made by their acts."
"All I ask is for you to try. If we die, we die together."
"Haven't you heard? I'm not a princess. I am a sea demon."
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and you will too.
It will keep you on the edge of your seat...or should I say fins? :)
June 14, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Do you like books inspired by the Little Mermaid with a dark twist and a morally grey MMC? If so, this book may be for you! Of Song and Darkness by Jessica Spruill follows Rhea, a siren princess who sets out on a journey to save her kingdom from Dark Water. After she strikes a deal with Morgana the sea witch, she finds herself with legs, and held captive on the ship of Blackheart Kai. Rhea needs Kai to help her find the key to stopping Dark Water, but Kai (a monster hunter) is set to kill Rhea. Will they be able to overcome their hatred of each other and save the seven seas?
I was hooked from the first chapter! Rhea is a strong FMC and I enjoyed seeing her character develop over the course of the story. And morally grey men are my favorite, so I automatically loved Blackheart Kai as soon as he appeared on the pages. The plot twist that appears really surprised me; it sort of came out of nowhere. I also really enjoyed the Greek mythology that was incorporated into this story and thought the pacing of this story was great!
If you’re a fan of enemies to lovers, pirates, sirens, Greek mythology, touch her and 💀, who did this to you, morally grey MMC, and fade to black romance, give this book a shot!
Do you like books inspired by the Little Mermaid with a dark twist and a morally grey MMC? If so, this book may be for you! Of Song and Darkness by Jessica Spruill follows Rhea, a siren princess who sets out on a journey to save her kingdom from Dark Water. After she strikes a deal with Morgana the sea witch, she finds herself with legs, and held captive on the ship of Blackheart Kai. Rhea needs Kai to help her find the key to stopping Dark Water, but Kai (a monster hunter) is set to kill Rhea. Will they be able to overcome their hatred of each other and save the seven seas?
I was hooked from the first chapter! Rhea is a strong FMC and I enjoyed seeing her character develop over the course of the story. And morally grey men are my favorite, so I automatically loved Blackheart Kai as soon as he appeared on the pages. The plot twist that appears really surprised me; it sort of came out of nowhere. I also really enjoyed the Greek mythology that was incorporated into this story and thought the pacing of this story was great!
If you’re a fan of enemies to lovers, pirates, sirens, Greek mythology, touch her and 💀, who did this to you, morally grey MMC, and fade to black romance, give this book a shot!
May 26, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This story was an epic tale with The Little Mermaid vibes but darker elements and a pirate set out to kill all the sea creatures he finds. It was a book loaded with adventure, a morally grey pirate captain mmc, a strong siren fmc, Greek mythology, and a race to save the sea from an evil force.
🌊Found family
🌊Greek Mythology & mythological sea beasts
🌊Enemies to lovers
🌊Closed door romance
🌊Pirates & Sirens
🌊Little Mermaid vibes
🌊Touch her and 💀
🌊Standalone fantasy romance
I loved Of Song and Darkness. It captivated my mind and heart and didn’t let go. Would recommend!
“The sheer pleasure that overtook her features when her hand dipped below the surface had me momentarily captivated. There was a rosiness to her cheeks that I had not noticed before and a twinkle in her honey-swirled eyes that was bewitching.”
“The allure of his strength and the chilling reality of his deeds collided, leaving me torn between the attraction that drew me to him and the horror of the blood on his hands.”
“For as long as I lived, no matter how short that may be, I would never forget that look in her eyes. It soothed me, beckoning me near and tempting me to dive into those honey pools.”
This story was an epic tale with The Little Mermaid vibes but darker elements and a pirate set out to kill all the sea creatures he finds. It was a book loaded with adventure, a morally grey pirate captain mmc, a strong siren fmc, Greek mythology, and a race to save the sea from an evil force.
🌊Found family
🌊Greek Mythology & mythological sea beasts
🌊Enemies to lovers
🌊Closed door romance
🌊Pirates & Sirens
🌊Little Mermaid vibes
🌊Touch her and 💀
🌊Standalone fantasy romance
I loved Of Song and Darkness. It captivated my mind and heart and didn’t let go. Would recommend!
“The sheer pleasure that overtook her features when her hand dipped below the surface had me momentarily captivated. There was a rosiness to her cheeks that I had not noticed before and a twinkle in her honey-swirled eyes that was bewitching.”
“The allure of his strength and the chilling reality of his deeds collided, leaving me torn between the attraction that drew me to him and the horror of the blood on his hands.”
“For as long as I lived, no matter how short that may be, I would never forget that look in her eyes. It soothed me, beckoning me near and tempting me to dive into those honey pools.”
May 12, 2024
Of Song and Darkness
Rating: 🌟⭐️⭐️⭐️🌟
Clean read
ARC REVIEW
I fell in love with this book within the first few chapters. I really enjoyed the FMC and was deeply intrigued by the Blackheart Kai. Genuinely, I was torn between racing through the pages so I could see what happened and forcing myself to stop so the story wouldn’t be over just yet. This “The Little Mermaid” inspired story is so much better than the original and new movies. With a stubborn FMC, moral grey MMC, and a loveable crew (“Rat” is all I’ll say on that matter), this book hits all the high notes. My only genuine complaint was the FMC father. True to the king in “The Little Mermaid”, Manta is unreasonable and endlessly frustrating. He was the only negative I found in the entire story. But this I can overlook because everything else was done well and was exceedingly enjoyable. Recommend this read 100%!
Rating: 🌟⭐️⭐️⭐️🌟
Clean read
ARC REVIEW
I fell in love with this book within the first few chapters. I really enjoyed the FMC and was deeply intrigued by the Blackheart Kai. Genuinely, I was torn between racing through the pages so I could see what happened and forcing myself to stop so the story wouldn’t be over just yet. This “The Little Mermaid” inspired story is so much better than the original and new movies. With a stubborn FMC, moral grey MMC, and a loveable crew (“Rat” is all I’ll say on that matter), this book hits all the high notes. My only genuine complaint was the FMC father. True to the king in “The Little Mermaid”, Manta is unreasonable and endlessly frustrating. He was the only negative I found in the entire story. But this I can overlook because everything else was done well and was exceedingly enjoyable. Recommend this read 100%!
May 14, 2024
4.5 🌟
Thank you so much author for the eARC.
This book yaaall. These kinda of books are reason I fell in love with reading in the first place.
Enemies to lovers with amazing banter ✔️
Morally gray MMC ✔️
Strong yet sensitive FMC ✔️
A beautiful journey with twists ✔️
And all these amazing tropes that are perfectly woven to the story!
One bed- who did this to you- touch her and die- jealous MMC
𝘐𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘮𝘣 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘭𝘪𝘮𝘣, 𝘐 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘪𝘵 𝘥𝘰 𝘴𝘰 𝘪𝘧 𝘪𝘵 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘴𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦. 𝘐 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘐 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘥, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘮𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘺 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵, 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘶𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘭
This book had it all: perfectly described battle scenes, breathtaking romance, amazing chemistry between the characters, and a beautiful ending!
I highly, highly recommend reading this book for all my romansty girlies.
Thank you so much author for the eARC.
This book yaaall. These kinda of books are reason I fell in love with reading in the first place.
Enemies to lovers with amazing banter ✔️
Morally gray MMC ✔️
Strong yet sensitive FMC ✔️
A beautiful journey with twists ✔️
And all these amazing tropes that are perfectly woven to the story!
One bed- who did this to you- touch her and die- jealous MMC
𝘐𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘮𝘣 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘭𝘪𝘮𝘣, 𝘐 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘪𝘵 𝘥𝘰 𝘴𝘰 𝘪𝘧 𝘪𝘵 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘴𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦. 𝘐 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘐 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘥, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘮𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘺 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵, 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘶𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘭
This book had it all: perfectly described battle scenes, breathtaking romance, amazing chemistry between the characters, and a beautiful ending!
I highly, highly recommend reading this book for all my romansty girlies.
May 15, 2024
This book was filled with adventure! Spruill thrusts us into a nostalgic mermaid tale with a twist. It has wonderful pacing, the characters were well developed, and the world building was excellent. If you enjoy the following tropes, you will enjoy Of Song And Darkness.
🔹️Found Family
🔹️Fairytale retellings
🔹️Coming of age
🔹️Strong FMC
🔹️Banter
🔹️Slow burn
🔹️Closed Door romance
Fair warning this book will suck you in, and before you know it, it's 3AM, and you're considering pulling an all-nighter to finish it. (Ask me how I know. 🫣) I really enjoyed the plot, and it has a completed finale. I do wish there was more. I have questions, and they remain unanswered for now. Who knows, maybe there will be a novella I can get those answers from. Or ask in person during a future book signing? Regardless, this is a wonderful piratey tale to get swept in to. I highly recommend it.
🔹️Found Family
🔹️Fairytale retellings
🔹️Coming of age
🔹️Strong FMC
🔹️Banter
🔹️Slow burn
🔹️Closed Door romance
Fair warning this book will suck you in, and before you know it, it's 3AM, and you're considering pulling an all-nighter to finish it. (Ask me how I know. 🫣) I really enjoyed the plot, and it has a completed finale. I do wish there was more. I have questions, and they remain unanswered for now. Who knows, maybe there will be a novella I can get those answers from. Or ask in person during a future book signing? Regardless, this is a wonderful piratey tale to get swept in to. I highly recommend it.
May 19, 2024
I never knew I needed to read a siren tale, but this beautifully written story gripped me from the first page and didn’t let go until the end. This is a fast paced story with a loveabIy brave FMC. I absolutely love how magically the author developed the enemies to lovers dynamic and made me completely fall for the morally grey MMC (but not without twists and turns along the way). A must-read and brilliantly unique Little Mermaid retelling. The author’s attention to detail, ability to build suspense and tension, and how she can give you such a steamy match without being open door is impressive and I will absolutely be reading her other books next!
🧜♀️Morally grey mmc
🧜♀️Who did this to you?
🧜♀️Enemies to lovers
🧜♀️Betrayal
🧜♀️Battles
🧜♀️Mermaid and Pirate
🧜♀️Sea creatures
🧜♀️ Touch them and ☠️
🧜♀️Morally grey mmc
🧜♀️Who did this to you?
🧜♀️Enemies to lovers
🧜♀️Betrayal
🧜♀️Battles
🧜♀️Mermaid and Pirate
🧜♀️Sea creatures
🧜♀️ Touch them and ☠️
June 7, 2024
If you love fairytale retellings you will love this one! Think of The Little Mermaid but darker, with a morally grey pirate captain as the love interest!
I was hooked from chapter 1 and could not put it down! The pacing is perfect (you will be on the edge of your seat the whole time), and the writing is so descriptive!
🧜🏻♀️ Who did this to you
🏴☠️ Touch her and 💀
🧜🏻♀️ Enemies to lovers
🏴☠️ Sirens and pirates
🧜🏻♀️ Greek mythology
🏴☠️ Morally grey MMC
🧜🏻♀️ Fade to black romance
🏴☠️ Found family
Of Song and Darkness is a standalone fantasy romance with The Little Mermaid vibes and no-spice romance. Happily ever after guaranteed.
I was hooked from chapter 1 and could not put it down! The pacing is perfect (you will be on the edge of your seat the whole time), and the writing is so descriptive!
🧜🏻♀️ Who did this to you
🏴☠️ Touch her and 💀
🧜🏻♀️ Enemies to lovers
🏴☠️ Sirens and pirates
🧜🏻♀️ Greek mythology
🏴☠️ Morally grey MMC
🧜🏻♀️ Fade to black romance
🏴☠️ Found family
Of Song and Darkness is a standalone fantasy romance with The Little Mermaid vibes and no-spice romance. Happily ever after guaranteed.
May 8, 2024
I absolutely loved this book! This is a retelling of Ariel! Jessica did amazing!! I was hooked and the surprise plot twist 🤌🏻💋 I did not see that coming and when a book can surprise me the way this one did, it goes in my top faves for sure!
If you like:
🏴☠️ who did this to you
🏴☠️ touch her and 💀
🏴☠️ enemies to lovers
🏴☠️ sirens and pirates
🏴☠️ Greek mythology
🏴☠️ Fade to black romance
If you like:
🏴☠️ who did this to you
🏴☠️ touch her and 💀
🏴☠️ enemies to lovers
🏴☠️ sirens and pirates
🏴☠️ Greek mythology
🏴☠️ Fade to black romance
May 11, 2024
Just finished this book. WOW! So fun! Lots of adventure, danger, narrow escapes, and unexpected twists. I loved the idea of of using parts of the Little Mermaid tale to build this fantasy story. There was some language (not too extensive) and descriptions of muscled bodies and ogling curves, so I wouldn’t recommend for young readers. The intimacy was electrifying kisses, but closed door beyond that (and only at the end). I would rate this 4/5 ⭐️
June 3, 2024
This was my first fairytale retelling and I learned I’m not really into them, but that this one was good. 4⭐️ for retelling fans, 3.5 to others. The beginning stuck very closely to The Little Mermaid, but departed from it and became its own story once the two main characters met. Lots of action and enemies-to-lovers romance, no explicit scenes. Well paced with great visualization and world building! It could have used some more editing, but was great for an early novel.
I received this as an arc, but opinions are my own.
I received this as an arc, but opinions are my own.
May 7, 2024
This was such a good read!! This is a well written action packed story with plenty of twists and turns along the way. I loved the enemies to lovers romance vibes as well as evil villains as well as the redemption. There is minimal language and no to low spice (depending on your definition of spice) involved. Be forewarned, this book was hard to put down, it was that good!! Job well done!!
May 8, 2024
The dark Little Mermaid retelling I didn't know I needed! I really enjoyed the twists and turns this story took, plus there were quite a few surprises I didn't see coming.
For anyone looking for a dark retelling with a morally gray MMC but yet is spice free, look no further.
Thank you to the author for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
For anyone looking for a dark retelling with a morally gray MMC but yet is spice free, look no further.
Thank you to the author for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
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