Thank you NetGalley and Brigids Gate Press for an ARC of this book!

Merciless Waters follows protagonist Jaq and the all-women crew of the ship Scylla. This crew isn’t quite what you’d expect, they remember nothing of their past and seem to have special talents. A stranger aboard changes their trajectory (or does he?).

As a horror novella this was a quick read that didn’t get too gruesome or gory. I look forward to reading other works by this author.

I really enjoyed this book. It has a dark fairy tale vibe that was so much fun to float through. It has a kind of lyrical prose that really helps with removing the elements of reality and join the crew, regardless of their horrendous acts. We are supporting women's wrongs here. Jaq can be petty and jealous and murderous if she wants. That does include Lily since I love a toxic sapphic even though she really is quite mean sometimes. I did get a little nervous in the beginning that we were leaning into bisexual stereotypes but I think it is made clear that this is how Lily would always behave as a way to get to Jaq. I wish we had spent more time with the rest of the crew and gotten their stories. It's a really short books so I think we could have spent more time here. I also think a missed opportunity is not interograting that they all died in groups of two. I wasn't super familar with the lore so it was very fun to dive into this mythology. I also loved the ending, even if the twist was a bit predictable. Overall I had a great time, and it is perfect for spooky season.

Set in a ghostly pocket of the sea, Merciless Waters is a beautifully crafted tale of violence and anguish.

The book begins with a love lost – Jaq, our narrator, is forced to watch as her fickle lover is lured away by a strange man who has been found stranded in the ocean. We follow her overwhelming anxiety and murderous thoughts as she lures us deeper and deeper into this foreign world that you can’t quite grasp at first. Knowles doesn’t outright explain the mythology of her story (and I don’t think she needs to), instead she uses poetic prose to create an otherworldly hue that leaves readers intrigued, and a flawed, relatable hero that secures their investment.

Then, before you know it, you’re in the middle of a horror story - years, decades, perhaps centuries in the making. The whole plot shifts on its axis. It’s not just a tale of scorned love. It’s drowned girls and brutality. It’s vengeance, clawed nails, and bloodthirsty teeth. Your heart breaks for these vibrant and violent women as horror begins to bloom in and around them.

My only wish would be that it was more fleshed out. It’s a short novella, which makes it perfect for devouring on a dark, chilly night. But the scenes slip by quickly and the pace can be jarring at points– rich emotions are summoned, then quickly put to the side to move the plot on. Unique ideas and characters are introduced, only to be absent from the rest of the story. Notably, the ending seems to rush at you within a handful of pages. Jaq and Lily’s feelings seem to change within several lines, and I was left confused (and a tiny bit disappointed) as to how they reached their closing decisions. I wish it had lingered a while longer to fully explore their thoughts and motivations.

Overall, Merciless Waters is a delightfully grim amalgamation of horror, sapphic romance, and folklore fantasy. I was captivated by its beautiful prose; by its occult tones; and how the worldbuilding occurs subtly, in the background of a fraught relationship. Knowles pairs human emotion and a supernatural mythos perfectly. It would have benefitted from being longer, with a slower pacing to ramp up the tension and maybe a slightly different ending. But I adore the book enough to forgive that. If Knowles looks to explore this world further in a future novel, sign me up immediately.

7/10 stars

This was such a wonderful and enjoyable read!!!! It’s beautifully written and extremely powerful and emotional. I loved this book and highly recommend it. Thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Before diving into the book, I just wanted to quickly mention the book cover, ‘cause it’s absolutely stunning and what drew me to it in the first place.

Now, the plot. Picture this: based on Slavic folklore, a queer all-female ship’s crew stuck in an “endless present”, not knowing their past or even their full names. This is the setting for the book, a certain type of afterlife. We follow this group of women as their lives change with the appearance of a man, whose presence causes them to remember their past, and want to seek revenge.

It’s dark and twisted. Quite short, to the point where I would’ve liked it if it was longer. I just couldn’t connect much to the characters, and some felt one-dimensional, they were just… there.

Nonetheless, it’s a quick read, so if you enjoy horror you may like this.
Thanks to NetGalley for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A group of woman abound the ship, Scylla, all live in the eternal present, until they rescue a man from the sea.
While the Before starts to deep back in to their lives we see the complexity of Jaq and Lily’s relationship is in a constant deteriorating and regrowing cycle.
Adding the folklore of the rusalka aspect to the story really adds depth to it. It even has a very heroic ending.
Highly recommend.

Merciless Waters is a horror novella steeped in Slavic folklore, stuck in a timeless setting with an all-female pirate crew as a backdrop to a jealous scorned lover seeking revenge. Oh, yeah, and men die horribly.

I’m a bit at a loss on how to review this novella, because it started so strongly only to dwindle down towards the middle, pick back up again in a flurry and end abruptly; the pacing felt off as well because of the use of the sea serpent as device to bring the plot forward by being the herald of the women’s untold past. (One thing i enjoyed a lot about the snake is the biblical reference, which I don’t know if it was on purpose, but him being the one that shares his knowledge of the truth even though he’s cursed to eternal enmity with women, where he’ll strike at the heel and be crushed for it made it a poetic tale.)
Despite there being different point of views thanks to this device, the narrative voice stays the same (not only is the narration always in first person, but the language and tonal inflection don’t change when they’re told either from the pov of the protagonist or that of the sea krait) - this carries on to the rest of the cast of characters as well, because, apart from a few exceptions, they lack dimension and clear motives; they move only because the narrative tells them to.
This becomes a problem towards the beginning of the third arc, where the women seek revenge for something that they just found out (and that the reader has also just found out) but the intensity of their emotions doesn’t translate to the page, to the point where the culminating scene at the bonfire doesn’t feel like the climax it’s supposed to represent.

There were some things that didn’t make much sense historically/geographically wise: for example how is a person that lives in the Republic of Venice so much of a fervent catholic when it’s a region that has always been anti-clerical? That’s literally where blasphemies were born. And! I won’t believe for a second that the waters of the Adriatic Sea could ever be icy given the temperatures of the Mediterranean in general and the fact that the Adriatic is almost landlocked in particular. The snake itself doesn't follow snake logic in its eating habits. These things are small but they were able to get me out of the narrative, and something that won’t let me suspend my disbelief is not doing great in terms of setting.

Now, let’s talk about the ending. It’s thematically congrous to the novella, and I appreciated the closed circle moment, but it made me realise that the protagonist’s loose morality was what drew me in at first, and see her become more meek and akin to a trusting lamb as the book went on made me lose interest pretty quickly.

Overall I felt it had so much potential that was poorly managed - maybe another couple looks by an editor would have helped bring the story forward.
I’m giving it 2.5 stars, but rounded up because I believe it could deserve a lot more; I’m a bit sad about this, as I saw all the other reviews have been raving about the book.

Access to the ARC acquired thanks to NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Merciless Waters by Rae Knowles ticked all the mermaid-ish/pirate-ish/female rage boxes for me. I wanted to keep reading about Jaq and Lily and the rest of the crew on board Scylla and was sad when it ended. Although I was a bit confused for the first third of the novella, the story moves quickly and gives you just enough information to make you want to learn more — and eventually resolves most of your questions. The vibes were really on point in this book and I will be thinking about the story and characters for a long time to come!

Thank you to NetGalley and Brigids Gate Press LLC for this e-ARC.

Jaq, her lover Lily and the rest of their all female crew are aboard the ship Scylla. Abroad this ship there is no past and no future just the present. Until one day they find a man adrift and bring him on board. After this the women of the ship begin to remember things about their pasts. As their memories of their time before being aboard Scylla start to surface, all they begin to think about is revenge.
This story was different, and interesting, but occasionally confusing. The writing style is almost poetic which is something I am not used to so I think that's where some of the confusion comes from. It's not always straight forward what exactly is going on. I still enjoyed the story and it definitely surprised me with how it played out.

While I enjoyed this tale of feminine rage using folk stories it didn't connect with me as much as I wanted it to. I felt confused for third of it, I felt like I didn't really like any of the characters, I also wanted more background on certain elements and overall I felt it jumped from moment to moment too quickly to feel any type of connection to the story. The horror vibes were there but besides that it just left me wanting more.

Thank you to Netgalley and Brigids Gate Press LLC for granting me access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Honestly, a ship full of queer women would normally be an excellent getaway, but the ship Scylla has its secrets. Jaq and Lily are lovers, but when the crew rescues a drowning man, Lily soon leaves Jaq’s bed for him. This seemingly simple act upends the peace of the ship as memories start to be stirred up. The deal when each woman joined the crew was to leave their past behind; only the present and the future matter.

As memories rise to the surface, so does rage and grief. Jaq and Lily are at the center of it all. Should they live in their comfortable new lives, or should they return to a home they forgot and lay vengeance upon the men who wronged them?

This book had some great horror aspects and wove Slavic folklore with good old-fashioned rage. Each character has to reckon with their past, and that reckoning can bring them peace or damnation. I loved the way this book explored that rage. I think I would have liked it more if there had been more backstory for some of the characters. I was hungry for more of this world and honestly could have easily read a hundred more pages. The dynamic between Jaq and Lily was so interesting.

Their story is like what happens once you get what you want. Sometimes love is not enough to make someone happy or keep them by your side. There could have been more in the beginning to establish their relationship. I felt like I was searching for why Jaq would feel like this person loved her. Overall, this was a good, solid story that is a quick sapphic read.

Thanks to NetGalley and Brigid’s Gate Press LLC.

First thing I want to say is that this cover is stunning!
Also I really enjoyed Merciless Waters and thought it was a great novella.
It was a quick and entertaining read that i thought was really well written.

None of the characters were actually the most likeable, but that was the point which I absolutely loved!
I definitely recommend this novella especially for people that enjoy both fantasy and horror as this was a blend of both and let's not forget the saphic romance!

Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a review.

I had high hopes for this one as it sounded really interesting from the description.
I was confused for over half the book and when I finally got into a rhythm with it the book came to an end.
It felt like this book missed out the beginning and the end.
It seems like this one has been really well received so it may just be that it wasn’t for me which is a shame.

A strange, beautiful, twisty novella. The parts don’t all fit perfectly together—I have a lot of questions about the larger world and how/why some of the magic works. The real strength here is the prose which is truly stunning in places, with vivid word choices and strange, monstrous descriptions of the Rusalka crew. The closest thing I can compare it to is some of Cathrynne Valente’s work. Merciless Waters has its own internal logic, and the more things were explained, the more all the moving parts started to make sense. Dreamy and surreal, with moments of violence that gave the story teeth.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this book as an Arc.

"Merciless Waters" by Rae Knowles is a dark and alluring tale that blends elements of horror, mythology, and sapphic desire into an atmospheric and captivating narrative.

The story is set aboard the ship Scylla, where time seems to stand still. Jaq, the protagonist, shares an intense and passionate love affair with Lily, her fellow crew member. Their all-female crew lives in a perpetual present, a deliberate choice to keep Lily by Jaq's side. However, their idyllic existence is disrupted when a mysterious man is found adrift at sea. His arrival threatens to tear apart Jaq and Lily's love, and Jaq is willing to go to great lengths, even murder, to protect what she holds dear.

"Merciless Waters" is a story of obsession, revenge, and the corrosive nature of memory. The writing is lush and evocative, creating a rich and eerie atmosphere that immerses the reader in the world of the Scylla. The author skillfully weaves in elements of Greek mythology, adding depth and complexity to the narrative.

The characters are flawed and morally ambiguous, making them intriguing and unpredictable. Jaq's descent into madness and her determination to keep Lily at any cost make for a compelling and disturbing character arc. The sapphic desire between Jaq and Lily is a central theme, adding layers of sensuality and tension to the story.

As the crew's memories start to resurface, the novel delves into themes of vengeance and the consequences of one's actions. The pacing is relentless, with a growing sense of dread and unease that keeps the reader engaged throughout.

"Merciless Waters" is a unique and genre-defying work of fiction that will appeal to fans of horror, dark fantasy, and LGBTQ+ literature. Rae Knowles has crafted a tale that is both chilling and alluring, and it lingers in the mind long after the final page. If you're looking for a story that challenges conventions and explores the depths of desire and revenge, this novel is well worth a read.

My Rating: 4.75

CW: gore, animal death, sexual content, murder, violence

My thoughts:
"A simple truth known long to men and only now discovered by womenfolk. We crave violence. So we swallow violent men."

First of all: The cover is so pretty! As is the prose!
It is fast-paced, engaging and a bit fucked up.
This book is based on the "Rusalka" in Slavic mythology (man hating woman by the water). So that is what we have: A bunch of violent, murderous women sailing the sea forever, searching for revenge and I absolutely adored it.
The main romance was not only sapphic but also really messed up and non of the characters were really likeable and that was all weirdly refreshing to read.
I truly love reading about unhinged women.

The writing was amazing, the setting and plot were top notch! Lesbian pirates who EAT MEN? It was way better than I expected. I loved the ending too. I very much enjoyed the twists as their memories came back and more of their past was revealed. I'd highly recommend this to fantasy and horror genre fans alike. I hope there is a sequel.

First of all: I respect women's right to be creatures of mystery and murder. :b

Thank you NetGalley and Brigids Gate Press for the advanced copy. The opinion is my own.

Life on board of the mysterious Scylla is disrupted from the usual when a man is found at sea and saved from death. Our protagonist Jaq (and our POV character) stares in jealously and disdain as the man gains the fickle affections of her love. But the man's presence is more than a temporary annoyance and it starts a chain event that will lead to discoveries about the ship's crew missing memories about themselves: who were they before Scylla?

Evocative imagery, magic and eroticism abounds in this short sapphic horror. And it's almost 5 stars but there's a small weakness in the plot that personally drops it down from a solid 5 to an almost 4.5 stars. The mystery and dripping of information is good, the relationship between our lead and the rest is interesting (though not very deep for most characters. The book is around one hundred pages after all) and several descriptions are wonderfully written.
All in all well worth the read!

Oh, how I love a story of feminine rage and revenge. Merciless Waters, by no means, let me down on that front.

Knowles twists a tale full of folklore, romance, and horror that left me only wanting more from this novella. With a complicated yet incredibly interesting cast of characters and a tale of dark folklore that unfurls at the heart of the story, I only wish I had more time with it. I loved the exploration into each character's history, and Knowles' writing makes you feel hard for the characters, and soon enough, you're rooting for them as well.

Our main character, Jaq and her crewmates are aboard the ship, Scylla, where there is only the present and an ever looming future. No need for the past. But when an intruder comes aboard and disrupts their peaceful present, Jaq jumps to action, not only to get back her lover, Lily, but to save her crewmates as well and help each other in new revelations and new feelings of rage and revenge.

I really had a lot of fun reading this. It's fast and easy, and Knowles' prose is beautiful and deeply descriptive, and I look forward to diving into more of her work.

Thank you to NetGalley and Brigids Gate Press. LLC for this book's ARC.

4 out of 5 stars.


The rusalka (plural: rusalki) is a feminine entity, often malicious toward mankind and frequently associated with water. Not unlike the Mermaids, said to be dark spirits wronged by men in life, often the reason for their deaths.

I've always been fascinated with sea creatures, whether they're myths or not.

Aboard the ship Scylla, there is no future or past. Jaq, her fickle lover Lily, and their all-female crew exist in an endless present. It's better this way. At least it keeps Lily by Jaq's side, where she belongs. But the meddling gods care little for Jaq's longing, and despite her protective rituals, their punishment arrives all the same.

I found myself confused when I first started reading as we were just thrown into the middle of it all, with no real oast or introduction to the world or characters. It took me to 50% or more of the book to actually catch on to what was going on, what our girls were and weren't and how everything got this way.

However, once questions started getting answered I caught on and I was able to enjoy this for what it was.

I only really liked one character and that was the snake, Ambrose.

Although, this was a fresh read, I wouldn't pick it up again as I didn't connect with it enough.