"Just because it's pretty, doesn't meant it's mine."

I read a review copy and I am sharing my honest opinion.

I couldn't put this debut novel down, and I wasn't ready when it was over!

This dark The Little Mermaid retelling starts off strong with compelling action paired with colorful world building. Even with our characters feeling familiar, the character development was delicious and relatable.

While the world building is limited by the length of this standalone novel, West did an amazing job ensuring the reader is immersed in this world even throughout scene changes. The world building is thorough and enjoyable, adding to the action.

Speaking of action, this novel packs it all in: fighting, magic, knives, and SPICE. If you're looking for any combination of these, you'll be pleasantly surprised! Warning that this is not for the faint of heart.

Lastly, the character development hits the spot with depth of emotion that brings each of these characters, good or bad, to life. West provides depth to even the most unlikable character, creating a dynamic of connection and strong feelings with and toward everyone we come across.

This novel could have easily been another 200 pages as the ending felt a tad rushed and I found myself craving more. Even so, the depth of character development in this novel leaves the reader with a sense of Happily Ever After making this page turner well worth the dive.