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vannahreadsalot's review against another edition
3.0
NOTE: I gave this three stars only because it wasn’t really my cup of tea, so I didn’t finish it. That is no reflection of the author’s writing.
Her writing throws you into the immersive world of Adria without bogging you down with world-dumping. Enna and Soren give me major reverse grumpy/sunshine vibes. I really loved how enamored Soren was with Enna upon first meeting her “dancing” on the and.
Enna gives me big Nesta Archeron energy with a back story that fed into the life she lives now. Young Enna was forced into impossible situations and she handled it as best she could.
This is a dark retelling of the Little Mermaid. There’s explicit language and explicit sex scenes. I really appreciated that the author gives you a guide to which chapters contain the sex scenes, if you’re looking for them or you want to avoid them.
Her writing throws you into the immersive world of Adria without bogging you down with world-dumping. Enna and Soren give me major reverse grumpy/sunshine vibes. I really loved how enamored Soren was with Enna upon first meeting her “dancing” on the and.
Enna gives me big Nesta Archeron energy with a back story that fed into the life she lives now. Young Enna was forced into impossible situations and she handled it as best she could.
This is a dark retelling of the Little Mermaid. There’s explicit language and explicit sex scenes. I really appreciated that the author gives you a guide to which chapters contain the sex scenes, if you’re looking for them or you want to avoid them.
sloth94's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I liked the book overall and the flirting and banter between the fmc and mmc but the spicy scenes did just not do it for me.
allbythebook's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
jessgentry28's review against another edition
5.0
Not your traditional Little Mermaid tale and you will be so happy about that!
The storyline grabs you from the begining and you will be hooked (no pun intended). A unique retelling with some of your favorite tropes, including black cat FMC/golden retriever MMC and he falls first.
This debut novel reads like something put out by a well established author. I can’t stress enough that Liesl West does an absolutely fantastic job of putting you directly into the world of sirens and mermaids. A fantastic storyline in a unique world that has me desperate for a sequel.
Thank you to author, Liesl West, for the ARC!!
The storyline grabs you from the begining and you will be hooked (no pun intended). A unique retelling with some of your favorite tropes, including black cat FMC/golden retriever MMC and he falls first.
This debut novel reads like something put out by a well established author. I can’t stress enough that Liesl West does an absolutely fantastic job of putting you directly into the world of sirens and mermaids. A fantastic storyline in a unique world that has me desperate for a sequel.
Thank you to author, Liesl West, for the ARC!!
wvockrodt's review against another edition
5.0
One of the easiest 5-star ratings I've given! This is one of my favorite new reads of the year, and just might be one of my new favorites of all time. I loved this story from start to finish! The characters are dynamic, the plot is riveting, and the writing itself is exciting.
From the very first page, I was completely hooked. It has all of the elements of a perfect romantasy, and a great mix of spice and story. This is a unique take on a Little Mermaid retelling, and I loved every stabby second of it! Enna is feisty and witty, and her banter and relationship with Soren are swoon-worthy.
The magic system and the world that West created were especially powerful elements, and her writing style keeps story immersive and engaging. It's easy to get lost in this book's pages in the very best way. I can't wait to explore the world further in any future stories! I'll definitely be reading everything that Liesl West writes from here on out.
NOTE: I read a review copy of this book and am sharing an honest opinion.
From the very first page, I was completely hooked. It has all of the elements of a perfect romantasy, and a great mix of spice and story. This is a unique take on a Little Mermaid retelling, and I loved every stabby second of it! Enna is feisty and witty, and her banter and relationship with Soren are swoon-worthy.
The magic system and the world that West created were especially powerful elements, and her writing style keeps story immersive and engaging. It's easy to get lost in this book's pages in the very best way. I can't wait to explore the world further in any future stories! I'll definitely be reading everything that Liesl West writes from here on out.
NOTE: I read a review copy of this book and am sharing an honest opinion.
barroconmasagua's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
auntsissy_reads_'s review against another edition
5.0
•ARC•
If you’re like me and loved The Little Mermaid growing up, but also love the darker side of romance, this is the book for you!
I went into this book with high expectations and I was NOT disappointed!! I was hooked from start to finish! Not only was the story phenomenal but so is Liesl’s writing style! And we can’t forget the spice, which was HOT!!
•Dual POV
•Morally gray FMC
•He falls first
•Deadly sirens
•Vocal magic
•Merfolk only- no fae or humans
•Lots of spice
•Dark retelling of a childhood fairytale
This was an easy 5/5 stars for me! This book will be one that I probably re-read often!
If you’re like me and loved The Little Mermaid growing up, but also love the darker side of romance, this is the book for you!
I went into this book with high expectations and I was NOT disappointed!! I was hooked from start to finish! Not only was the story phenomenal but so is Liesl’s writing style! And we can’t forget the spice, which was HOT!!
•Dual POV
•Morally gray FMC
•He falls first
•Deadly sirens
•Vocal magic
•Merfolk only- no fae or humans
•Lots of spice
•Dark retelling of a childhood fairytale
This was an easy 5/5 stars for me! This book will be one that I probably re-read often!
eadavis24's review against another edition
4.75
Thank you to Liesl West for an early copy of the book! I absolutely loved this story and thought it was a fantastic take on a dark little mermaid! The story has great pacing and good writing. Be warned the characters are definitely mermaids/ sirens so that definitely gives the spicy scenes a different take!
fangs_sink_into_fiction's review against another edition
5.0
Of Song and Scepter, author Liesl West's debut novel, is a brutally stunning, murderous, little mermaid inspired, dark romance with a morally grey FMC. With beautiful storytelling, an intriguing plot, and delicious spice this novel weaves a tale of a fierce mermaid with a tragic past, the intense connections she forms, the secrets she holds as well as uncovers, and the bravery she needs to face it all. Each character was written with such depth, the dialogue was flawless, and the imagery was poetic! Also, the nods to the original little mermaid were wonderfully clever! I absolutely loved this story! Thank you, Liesl West, for the privilege to read this debut novel as an ARC!! I can't wait to read more books by you!
rosannaqp's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0