i love mermaids and selkies so i was having a ball what a fun fantasy world im excited to see where this world and its characters go in the rest of the series.. i see there is atleast another book and thank god cause the ending… finn and morgana were gonna have to start communicating please god

thank you netgalley & the author for the arc!!

A huuuuge thank you to Julia & NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early copy of this in exchange for my honest review! A Sea of Evil & Desire hooked me in right away; I immediately wanted to uncover the secrets of Morgana’s family, and there were so many aspects of this that I enjoyed! The plot kept me entertained, Finn was the perfect morally grey, mysterious MMC, and the world-building was amazing; I felt like I was right on the boat with the drowned and standing next to the mer inside their underwater kingdoms. I loved the interactions between Morgana & Finn and wished we saw more of their electric chemistry, but feel that will be further fleshed out in book 2! I did struggle at times with the overall pacing of the story, and emotionally connecting with characters. The FMC was 20, but came off to me as more of a teenager, and felt there were times where the story progression didn’t move and I was waiting for things to happen. That being said, the ending (epilogue) was a bit of a shocker in a great way, and I’ll definitely continue the series!

Tropes you’ll find:
- Dual POV
- Mysterious & morally grey MC
- Slowwwww burn w/ spice
- Underwater world
- Mermaids, selkie, gods, & humans
- Ancient prophecies
- Political intrigue

Thank you to NetGalley and Julia Strelou for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I am still at a loss for words over this book. The world building was phenomenal and the plot had so much potential. This was a suspenseful, quick read. I was 100% on my toes the entire time, and had no idea what was coming next. You follow the story of a young girl who discovers she has a family secret, only after she meets a dark, mysterious, handsome man (obviously).

I did not personally enjoy the book as much as I thought I would. I could not find myself connecting with any of the characters, and honestly I think I may just not be a fan of aquatic mythology. I love it as a subplot, but I heavily confused throughout the book, and I did NOT know what a Selkie was (oops). While this was not a favorite of mine, I have to say that the writing style was captivating and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys Selkies, mermen, and drowned fantasy.

Thank you for the ARC! A solid and enjoyable mix of ocean creatures and romance. I love the idea of a shape-shifter being able to go underwater, which is a refreshing change of pace from typical shifting stories. I think all of the little nods during descriptions that remind you that some of the book takes place underwater is great - having suckerfish cleaning algae off tables in a hospital is specific but also very unique. There were some points that the language didn't really line up with what characters would realistically be saying (or doing), but those didn't hinder the read. I will be looking forward to the story continuing in the next book, and thankfully there was only a little bit of a cliffhanger at the end to keep you wondering what will happen next.

I would say this is a 1.5 out of 5 in spice (not for young teenagers but also not a main focus of the book).

This book took me a long time to get in to. The first part of the book the mood was set and nothing much happend in my opinion. And then the story finally took off and I did really enjoy the worldbuilding and history woven into this book. The characters and story just never fully managed to suck me in to it while the story definetely had it's interesting elements.

📖ARC Review📚
Releasing: May 6th

With a prophecy, a mad king, a power hungry villain, a broody male main character and an awkward female main character the stage has been set for a rollercoaster ride of a story.
Finn is broody, tormented by his past, and held in a chokehold by his duty. Morgana is awkward and desperate to belong after a life of loneliness and sensory overload. They are drawn together by circumstance and a small town.
While the town is an interesting grounding point much of what happens there felt like filler leaving the immersive underwater world the author has created as the true gem of this story.
The end nudges you in the direction that the next book should follow, but leaves the reader with so many questions and really just wanting more.

Thanks to @netgalley & @j.strelou for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

First off, a big thank you to the author and publisher for the opportunity to read an early copy of Sea of Evil and Desire. I’m always excited to dive into a new fantasy world—especially one that blends mythology, romance, and the eerie allure of the sea—and this book had a concept that immediately pulled me in.

The worldbuilding was truly standout. The mer were fascinating, and the addition of the Drowned was a chilling, original touch that added depth and intrigue. I loved the atmosphere and the darker undertones that echoed throughout the story.

That said, I did find myself struggling with the pacing. While the prose was vivid and beautifully written, it often leaned too heavily into description. At times, it felt like the story paused to admire its own reflection, and I was left longing for more movement—more action, more plot progression, and especially more of those brief but electric interactions between Finn and Morgana. Their chemistry was a bright spot, and I only wish we had more of it.

Overall, a solid three stars. There’s so much potential here, and I’m curious to see where the series (if it continues) goes next.

I’m quite 50/50 about this book. On one hand, the world building was amazing, but on the other hand, I really couldn’t connect with the characters, and it led me to consider DNFing several times.

The world building was exceptionally written and described everything so well, while still leaving certain details to the imagination, which is a mix I find is hard to balance, but it was executed perfectly in this book.

However, I quite disliked the characters. I found the characters quite annoying and the chemistry between them felt quite forced, Morganas insistence that nothing can happen between her and Finn was extremely repetitive, and I felt like I was reading the same sentence every few chapters. I also felt that the characters were quite shallow. Though they had solid backgrounds, they weren’t too deeply described for me to be abl to fully connect and understand them.

Overall, this was a good read, and I feel it would be amazing, I just wasn’t the right person for it.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book, all opinions are my own.

4.25/5 ⭐ – Slow-burn, Eerie, Captivating

"𝙄 𝙣𝙚𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚'𝙨 𝙝𝙤𝙥𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙪𝙨. 𝙀𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙞𝙛 𝙞𝙩'𝙨 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙖 𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙡𝙚 𝙙𝙧𝙤𝙥, 𝙗𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙡𝙮 𝙚𝙣𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙚. 𝙒𝙞𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙙𝙧𝙤𝙥 𝙞 𝙘𝙖𝙣'𝙩 𝙨𝙪𝙧𝙫𝙞𝙫𝙚"

Aaaah I LOVED this book! I’ve had my eye on it for ages, so I was beyond thrilled to receive an ARC — and let me tell you, it absolutely did not disappoint. I devoured Sea of Evil and Desire in a single sitting. J. Strelou, I blame you for the state of my neglected to-do list because this story had me hooked!

Yes, I’m biased when it comes to mermaid tales — but this book delivered so much more. Think mermaids, selkies, gods, and ghosts wrapped in Scottish-inspired folklore, all set in a hauntingly atmospheric seaside town (and of course, under the sea!). The world is lush, eerie, and magnetic, with layers of mystery, ancient curses, tragic love, and fate-driven prophecy that pulled me in very quickly.

And the tension between Morgana and Finn? Magnetic. Visually, I keep picturing a darker Ariel and Eric haha, but with twist and turns that you'll just have to read yourself! The pacing is a little bit slow, but it works beautifully for the story’s haunting atmosphere. The story has a cast of intriguing side characters both on land and under the sea, and I would’ve loved to see them explored a little more deeply. And yes... I 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 the sequel asap (pleaseee) 🙈

If you’re into dark mer-fantasy romance with lore-rich storytelling, slow-burn tension, and a mysterious "who-did-this-to-you" MMC, Sea of Evil and Desire belongs on your TBR. It releases May 6 — and I highly recommend you pre-order it now!

Huge thanks to Julia Strelou and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚛𝚞𝚗𝚍𝚘𝚠𝚗:
After Morganna’s grandmother passes away, she moves to Scotland to be with her grandfather. Soon she starts to experience weird happenings & is drawn into an unknown world.

𝙼𝚢 𝚝𝚊𝚔𝚎:
I think this is a really good start to something. I could tell it was a debut, the writing felt a little YA for an adult book. I mean, why are we actually mentioning Netflix? Can’t we just say “watch tv?” Also, the conversations about the FMC's virginity felt very YA, so basically this book has adult topics & circumstances but I don't feel like the writing matches it. That being said, the world is unique, which helps pull you into the story. I think that as the writer grows, this series will only get better!

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗴𝗲𝘁:
🫧 slow burn

🌊 underwater world

🫧 myths & legends

🌊 Scotland setting

🫧 dark romantasy

🌊 unique lore & magic system

🫧 political intrigue

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to review this book.

Sea of evil and desire was a unique book for me. I enjoyed the book being set in Scotland as we learned about the drowned, Mer, and other mystical sea creatures. Learning about the main FMC and her back story was fun to learn. I was constantly on the edge wondering what was going to happen next. I also never was sure who to trust and even at the end I’m still questioning motives.

I will be reading the next book once it comes out to see where this goes next.

This was unfortunately a DNF for me at around the 45% mark. I really did try to keep reading but when I found myself putting off reading it, I decided to give up.

I will say that I was fascinated by the world building and lore within the story. From silkies, to the mer and most especially, the Drowned. I found their story most interesting of all and I loved the concept of underwater communities for the people who have died at sea.

I think my main issue I had is that I could not get on board with the characters. Morgana seemed very immature for a young woman in her 20s and Finn just seemed to talk about how hot she was. The chemistry just wasn't there for me and seemed forced and unbelievable.

The concept, world building and detail was excellent but this failed with the characters for me.

I loved this book! Finn and Morgana had sizzling chemistry that was woah and I loved the world-building involved. The world-building was vivid and interesting while the characters kept me engaged every page I turned. I also adored how strong Morgana was despite everything she was facing and the world she was thrust in out of nowhere. This book made me appreciate the romance of the dark deep blue ocean where no one knows what’s lurking…100% would recommend reading this!

For it to be a debut novel, I’m blown away. The world building and character development is outstanding. I can’t decide if Finn is going to end up being my new favorite dark knight or the newest villain! Highly recommend snagging book one of this series when it releases May 6th!

I was very quickly hooked by both the main storyline and the backstory/curse. I absolutely loved learning so much about Celtic folklore, such a nice change of pace from the fae stories I typically read. Having the perspectives of both Morgana and Finn really helps tie everything together, and I loved the character development of Morgana as she slowly began to gain confidence and discover who she truly is. Not a 5 star for me because I found some of the interactions between Finn and Morgana to be a touch over the top for my tastes (not the spice, just the excessive declarations). I really hope we continue to get more perspectives in the next book, I can’t wait to find out what happens next.

🪸ARC Review 🪸

The ocean’s waves call to you, the wind begins to howl as you step into the water, an eerie tune drifting to your ears…luring you in. This is a story filled with magical kingdoms deep below the sea, immortal pirates, Mer, selkies, and so much more. If you’re a fan of forbidden love, ancient prophesies, and coming of age storylines this may be for you.

What I loved:
🪸 The concept of the drowned, the unfortunate souls who are taken by the sea, stuck in a purgatory of sorts was fascinating. Their storyline gave me vibes similar to the tv show School Spirits.
🪸 The kingdoms under the sea are what drew me to this story and they were indeed magical. Libraries, castles, sunken ships to explore deep in the depths? Yes, please!
🪸 Myths and Legends abound in this novel. We don’t just have one or two we have five separate legends all living right under our very noses. I wanted more!

What I didn’t love:
🪸 Our main character is supposed to be 20 but how she talks and thinks is closer to a 16 yr old. She comes off as immature and naive for her age and it grated on me. To be fair, I do tend to judge my heroines with a harsher scale.
🪸 The love story was just okay for me. We had moments of beautiful prose and one line declarations that were great. However, they spent most of the time thinking about how hot they found each other. Not in the manner I love in a romantasy but in a cringe horny teenager style with no true substance. 🥴
🪸 No spoilers just know a character goes through a “transformation” and the description of it was unappealing. I adore all things shifters and found myself completely surprised I was so put off by this one. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Overall, I give it major points for creativity but the storyline lacked complexity or depth. This should have been a YA book. If you’re a vibe reader this might not bother you. I just found myself wanting so much more from the story and ultimately it was not my cup of tea. 2 STARS. Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Sea of Evil and Desire by J. Strelou is an addictive plunge into a dark, atmospheric fantasy romance that masterfully blends small-town mystery, ancient prophecies, and irresistible slow-burn tension. Morgana is a relatable and compelling heroine, and the windswept Isle of Islay setting adds a haunting, immersive backdrop to her journey of self-discovery and danger. Strelou weaves in layers of folklore, fate, and emotional depth, while the chemistry between Morgana and Finn crackles with just the right mix of mystery and spice. With morally grey characters, unexpected twists, and a lush, eerie atmosphere, this is a 4-star read that will leave fans of dark fantasy romance desperate for the next tide to roll in.

*4.5* Thank you to J. Strelou and NetGallery for giving me an earc. This book comes out May 6th and I have to say I've really enjoyed this. I love the mythlogies and the world. Being in the ocean. Mermaids, etc. So much fun. I liked Morgana and how she is smart. Finn, I like him but I'm not too keen on the romance. I mean I like it but not obsessed with it as I feel like they like each other a little fast. But I really love the character development we have with Finn and Morgana so I am excited to continue on the series.

I really wished I liked this since I have been a junkie for seafolk / mermaid lore for almost the entirety of my life. But it fell flat for me.

I know this takes place in an urban setting, but it felt really hard for me to visualize the worldbuilding, as well as the locations of places.

I also thought Morgana and Finn’s dynamic felt quite forced, and it was almost a dnf for me.

The plot has potential, but I don’t think I could move onto the sequel.

Thank you Netgalley

WOW! I absolutely loved reading this book, I loved the unique magic system and the plot and romance was perfect.

Will definitely read the next book and cant wait to see how the story continues.