WOW!!!!!
I was absolutely entranced, page one, you’ve got me hook, line and sinker (if you’ll pardon the fishing pun)
I grew up with knowledge of this mythology from my mother and watched The Secret of Roan Inish many times.
I mean have you noticed my username?
As soon as I saw this, I messaged the author Julia!
I had to read this!
So much of my life has subtly had the myth in the background.

Later in life, while attending university in Scotland, I actually got to visit most of the places (the real ones 😂) in this book!
For me that brought an almost familiarity with what was going on in the book as it was happening, I could not just picture it, but I could smell it. The tide leaving on the isles. I could feel the shells collected on the beaches, the seaweeds under my feet, the wind whipping your face in the morning before the Sun has had a chance to rise and mostly the quiet.
This book starts off like the ocean itself calm and rhythmic with a storm beneath.
Once the ground work is laid down, the action starts, pummeling what you thought you knew, building into a hurricane.

Be prepared to be surprised where this goes and all the mythology and folklore that is woven into the plot.
It is so masterfully done and I’m excited for the next book!
I’ve already signed up for book two!!!
I can not wait!

Not gonna lie, the beginning had me like 🫠 (looking at you, awkward virgin talk and surprise furry). But once the plot actually kicked in, it was quite interesting. The FMC really grew on me — she’s action-first, values-driven, and doesn’t crumble when things get intense. We love a main girl with a backbone.

And the merman? Honestly refreshing. Not broody just for drama, but a genuinely charming guy with trauma and a few bad decisions under his belt. He’s trying, okay? He’s doing his best.

The vibe is: folklore fantasy meets romantic chaos with just the right amount of weird. It’s a little messy, mysterious, and definitely has me ready for more merfolk fuckery.

I enjoyed this book quite a lot! Very different from your typical popular fantasy books these days and the underwater fantasy world building was exceptional! The characters, specifically Morgana did read quite young… Just a sense of immaturity coming from a 20 year old but still a strong start for her as a character and hopefully we will continue to see growth in future books! The romance between Morgana and Finn is lacking some emotional depth and connection but there were many redeeming moments between the two characters! Overall a strong start and such an interesting world and premise!

This is the first mermaid book that I've loved! Oh my god, I loved the underwater world and the chemistry between the main characters.
The plot was so intriguing and the suspense of it all had me hooked on this book from the beginning.
Cannot wait for the second book in this series!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Julia Strelou for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

There was a lot of potential in this book - the underwater world of the Drowned and the Mer was intriguing and I enjoyed the slow unravelling of the plot with elements of a prophecy and Gods.

Unfortunately, it fell short for me in terms of character depth and emotional maturity. The FMC acted quite young and inconsistent, closer to a teenager than someone in their twenties, and the dialogue between her and Finn was often stilted. It definitely felt more like a new adult romance rather than dark adult romantasy. And there was just too many unnecessary references to her virginity and nipples for my liking (and Finn's hand cut shirts at the beginning).

Overall, some really promising elements for a series here and many people would enjoy it, but the writing and the main characters were a bit too surface level and young for me.

3.4 ⭐️

I was big into aquatic fantasy when i was younger (Of Poseidon, Tempest Rising) and Sea of Evil & Desire gave me such intense nostalgia and reminded me of my love of mythological mermaid and selkie romances.

I was really interested in the premise of this book with its small town trope, slow burn romance and the dark shadow of a bigger evil blanketing it all. Finn & Morgana are a lovely pairing and I’m curious to see where their relationship goes.

There are some darker themes in this storyline so be mindful of that when you read!

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the arc!

I love a good book about Mer people and I really enjoyed the twist on this story. The tension between the main characters was pretty good throughout but the point when they actually finally make a move wasn’t my favorite as far as a climax goes. It’s definitely not a slow burn because they both know right off the bat they like each other and I feel like a slow burn would have been perfect. There are a lot of loose ends that make this perfect for a series or Duology. I over all enjoyed the story all together and I liked the characters even if they weren’t my favorite characters. I will say there were points in the book where the setting jumped abruptly and it would take a minute or so for my brain to fully grasp where we were now. With that being said I’m going to continue reading the series because I need to know about the dad!!!

I really liked the amount of world building that the author put into this book; but for me the characters were a little lacking in that. Because of this it felt slow at times and kind of dragged on too long. But overall I enjoyed this book; I feel like it maybe could have been a little shorter. Maybe with the next book some of the scenes that didn't feel in place or weren't necessary will feel more at place or will be explained.

Man some of the things Finn says to Morgana.....fire. But like much like Morgana, I don't quite believe Finn.

Sea of Evil and Desire is a hauntingly atmospheric novel that delves into the depths of human emotion and the supernatural. Set against the backdrop of a tempestuous sea and a secluded coastal town, J. Strelou weaves a tale of passion, mystery, and the eternal struggle between light and darkness.

The story follows Morgana Scott, a young woman drawn to the enigmatic Finn, whose past is shrouded in secrets. As their relationship intensifies, Morgana uncovers a world of ancient curses and forbidden desires that threaten to consume them both.

Strelou's prose is lyrical and evocative, painting vivid imagery that immerses readers in the moody setting. The characters are complex and well-developed, with Morgana's journey of self-discovery serving as the emotional core of the narrative.

While the pacing is deliberate, it allows for a slow build-up of tension and a deeper exploration of themes such as fate, redemption, and the duality of human nature. Some readers may find the ending ambiguous, but it leaves a lasting impression and invites contemplation.

Overall, Sea of Evil and Desire is a compelling read for fans of gothic romance and dark fantasy, offering a rich tapestry of emotion and intrigue.

This was such a unique and original story, with original elements and I enjoyed the lore behind it! Although I do not feel like the story was exactly what I thought it would be, I still feel like the bones of the narrative were good, Thank you so so much to Julia & netgalley for the opportunity to read this book!

I received a copy from Netgalley.
I was blown away by this book in a way I did not expect. This isn't my usual genre (mermaid-ish) but I'm so glad I took the chance on it. I've never read a book quite like it.
From the first page, the writing drew me in. The world-building was so captivating.
I loved the mystery and the myths woven through the storyline. The slow-burn romance was done so well too.
I read this book in one day, I just couldn't put it down.
At times, I did find it a little long and drawn out, but then again I wouldn't have wanted it too much shorter.
Morgana was well written and I liked her relationships with the other characters too; especially Edward.

3.5

This was an enjoyable read. It was nice being in a fantasy that focused on underwater fantasy creatures. I haven't read a mermaid fantasy in the longest time!

I didn't particularly feel very connected to any of the characters. Morgana read as a very young 20 year old. I found it hard to understand her reactions when information was revealed.

The romance wasn't my fave. It was quite insta-lusty. Though there were some swoon worthy lines from Finn.

I loved the development of the world. The drowned, mermaids, selkies etc were all really fascinating. And I enjoyed the underwater politics.

This book had some cool elements — eerie coastal setting, ancient curses, mysterious underwater magic — but I just couldn’t get past the whole selkie thing. Trying to take the main character seriously while imagining her as a seductive seal-woman was… a challenge.
Morgana is a strong lead on paper, and there are emotional moments that almost pulled me in, but every time she swam off dramatically or did anything “seal-like,” I just couldn’t stay in the moment. It’s hard to feel tension when you’re picturing flippers. That said, the writing is atmospheric and the world-building is pretty solid if you’re into coastal myth and mystical ocean lore. I think readers who vibe with selkie mythology or want something different in the fantasy-romance space might enjoy this way more than I did.

Thank you so much to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC opportunity!

Thanks to the publisher for the ARC!

5 stars — loved, loved this! The mythology and lore were seriously amazing. The story pulled me in right away and I couldn’t put it down. Flew through it in no time. Super unique and unlike anything I’ve read lately. Highly recommend if you’re into dark, myth-filled fantasy!

Y'all already know a mermaid romantasy HATES to see me coming. Except, this one just didn't hit the mark for me.

I thought all the mythology that was included was super cool (I love selkies) and the setting taking place in Scotland really added to the magical vibe. The drowned being introduced basically living in an underwater hell was one of my favorite parts. I honestly found the mythology/lore to be the best part!

However, the romance and the characters were lacking that it took away from the rest of the book. I really could NOT get behind Morgana. At times, she just felt so immature that it made the spicy scenes feel gross. And honestly, the "mysteriousness" at the beginning with Finn just made him feel creepy rather than intriguing. And after that, I had a hard time connecting to him.

Overall, the book had potential but needed major character improvement.

This was my first ever sea type fantasy book and what a book!! It moved at just the right pace and the story had gripped my curiosity from the get go. Very enjoyable read and the concept was very unique.

Sea of Evil & Desire swept me into a hauntingly beautiful underwater world where love, betrayal, and destiny collide. J. Strelou’s writing is immersive and lyrical, and the oceanic setting adds a rich, almost mythic quality to the narrative. The characters are layered and compelling, especially the protagonist, who grapples with forces both within and beyond her control. The story is paced well, with enough intrigue and emotional depth to keep me turning the pages. While a few moments felt slightly predictable, the overall execution and world-building more than made up for it. The romance is intense and complicated—just the way I like it—and the themes of love versus ruin are handled with care. Highly recommend for fans of fantasy with a darker, romantic edge. Looking forward to the next installment in The Deep Saga!

Sea of Evil and Desire | J. Strelou
⭐️⭐️⭐️/5.71

Sea of Evil and Desire is a moody fantasy filled with dark mer and ocean-themed, prophecies, forbidden love, and slow, slow burn. It follows Morgana as she explores Ruadán’s Port, a Scottish Isle, and learns about her families history while getting to know Finn, a tall, dark, mysterious, and secretive newcomer to the town.

I’m obsessed with the world created in a Sea of Evil and Desire. Ruadán’s Port has the perfect amount of dark, moody, mystery with a small, European village atmosphere, that I was sucked right into. The magic system and world building was at times a bit difficult to follow though, and at other times we got a lot of telling, which took away from the complexity of the atmosphere.

I’m excited to see more of the relationship in the next book. It is definitely a slow burn, but I’m hoping it will lead somewhere as their story progresses and that their chemistry will continue to grow as well. Morgana is sheltered from how she grew up, but at times her immaturity made the gap between her and Finn seem a little too large.

Overall, it took me a little to get into, but once I got going I was hooked, and I’ll definitely be looking out for the next one!

Here’s my CAWPILE review breakdown for Sea of Evil and Desire. Thank you so much to NetGalley and Julia Střelou for the eARC, in exchange for my honest review.

Characters: 5
Atmosphere: 7
Writing: 5
Plot: 6
Intrigue: 7
Logic/relationships: 5
Enjoyment: 5

Average: 5.71/⭐️⭐️⭐️

Three stars for me. The middle was really good and I liked the overall concept of this book but the end felt rushed and the beginning just didn't stack up. I wish there was a bit more world building and back and forth. I would've liked more POV from the MMC as well which I think would have given a lot more depth to the story. Overall it was okay--I wanted to finish it, but not sure I will continue with the series.

Sea of Evil and Desire by J. Strelou
(DNF at 25%)

I really wanted to love this one—the premise is so intriguing, with a dark, mysterious atmosphere that hints at both danger and longing. The world and concept had a lot of potential, and I could see glimpses of something really unique unfolding.

That said, I personally found the pacing a little slow for my taste, and it didn’t quite pull me in the way I’d hoped. I think this could absolutely work for readers who enjoy a slower burn, immersive build-up, and aren’t in a rush to dive into action right away. If you’re someone who loves to really settle into a world and take your time with the characters, this might be a great fit for you.

Even though it wasn’t the right match for me right now, I still appreciate the creativity behind it and hope to revisit it in the future when I’m in the mood for something slower and moodier.