Rating: 3.5 ⭐️

First and foremost I would like to thank NetGalley and Brigids Gate Press. LLC for allowing me the chance to read an ARC of Merciless Waters in exchange for an honest review!

When I read the synopsis of this book I was intrigued as I thought this seemed like a pretty unique plot and was very curious to see where it would lead me… and let me tell you - it was worth it!

I absolutely loved the plot, the whole concept of how they became part of this “family” is extremely original! I love the mix of folk and horror that went into it!

The writing is beautiful (kudos to Rae Knowles) and the reason for this rating is simply because I wish I had gotten more of it. I wish to have read more about the old gods and of the sisters as well as Lucindas backstory and the bottled ship, there were so many opportunities to develop this tale, I just wish they had been explored…

Even if there are more books to come, it felt like some of the information was given to us to no end.

Also… Ambrose, the whole wise talking snake idea was great but once again, I simply wish there had been more to it!

Special thanks to NetGalley and Brigids Gate Press for the ARC copy they provided.

This is the first book review I’ve started in awhile where I’ve sat down with nothing to say off the top of my head. No lines to quote, no scenes that intensely stand out in my mind that I need to shriek about.

And yet, all of that is a supreme compliment because generally when I’m reading an ARC, and I know I will be writing a review, I go in looking for those things I mentioned above. I go slow, picking out the pieces that deserve a call out in my review. Reading Merciless Waters made me forget to do any of that.

I started reading, and immediately fell in and didn’t come out again until the book was done. It was a slow day on the job, and I literally read this book all in one sitting, without a thought. It consumed me, heart, soul, and body, and, really, what more could you ask of a book? That is WHY we go to books, to be consumed.

And Merciless Waters delivers.

In spades.

Merciless Waters begins at exactly the right place, the middle of a long history, and effortlessly takes you back to the beginning, while still propelling you toward the unexpected, but completely logical ending. Every piece of the book is built to deliver you to that inevitable end, and yet, do you expect it? No. Not in the least.

And for me, a person who prides himself on his love for, and dedication to, story development, that is the highest praise.

This book was satisfying in all the right ways. Dark, unexpected, and delightfully sexy, with deep mythology strewn so subtly throughout that you won’t even notice it until near the penultimate moment.

Beautiful.

If you’re looking for a read that will pick you up like water, and carry you through to the satisfying shore of compilation, this book is for you. Highly looking forward to whatever Rae Knowles writes next.

Rae Knowles weaves a love story of redemption and belonging in her new horror meets fantasy sea tale. The main character Jaq, is our morally gray protagonist that’s forced to witness her lover, Lily lust after a man the crew has pulled from the ocean onto the decks of the Scylla. This man brings a mysterious energy to the ship where the all female crew seems to bare its weight. As we learn more about each crew member’s history, we learn more about the purpose of the Scylla and its captain, Lucinda.

Merciless Waters reads like a fevered dreamscape and it’s simply not your average pirate story. If you want some famine rage and some romance with a touch of gore, look no further. This novella is for you.

A sapphic ocean horror revolving around a crew of women seeking revenge, with no memory as to why. As time goes on and their stories are revealed, so is the lore around the ship they inhabit.

Floating somewhere between fantasy, fairy tale, and horror, "Merciless Waters" is a darkly delectable gem of a novella that brims with revenge and toxic sapphic love. Gorgeous prose, complex relationships, and a twist on rusalka folklore are all packed into the pages. I really enjoyed this, including the twist ending!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc! Opinions are my own.

Merciless water is a LGBTQ horror. This book is very unique. It’s violent and straight to the point.
I was very confused at the beginning, and I re-read pages to see if I had missed something, but after a good few pages it started to make some sense. We were kept in the dark about aspects of this book until about halfway in, which is when I think the book really picked up.
I enjoyed the style of writing, but I would have liked more world-building and a bit more character development. I didn’t feel immediately attached to any of the characters and felt like adding more to their characters may have helped.
I’m so glad we got to learn more about Jaq and Lily, but I don’t think it would have hurt to have had a tad more of their story.
This woman, however, knows how to paint a scene; I could picture everything vividly.

“I could’ve died out there,” the man boasts. “All natural things die,” Yinka mutters to the open space around her. “Only poison is forever.”

Dark, graphic, rage-filled revenge

What to expect:
Content Warnings
High seas
Lust triangle
LGBTQ
Violence & revenge

Speedy synopsis:
An all-female crew sail the high seas of unfinished business, when a rescued man brings upon them memories of their forgotten past. A story of rage, revenge, and violence.

What I liked:
🔺Merciless Waters is a mixture of horror, fantasy, and a bit of messed-up romance thrown in for good measure. It’s imaginative, original, fast paced, and easy to digest. The characters have a hilariously flippant attitude towards extreme violence, which made me smile on more than one occasion.

What I didn’t like as much:
🔻 While I appreciated the morally grey characters, I didn’t feel particularly invested in them. I interpreted this book as rather metaphorical, and since my brain often deals in absolutes, I was left with lots of unanswered questions i.e. Were they sirens? What happened to the others in crew at the end? How does one get in a bottle?

Nonetheless, it was an entertaining read.

Merciless Waters is certainly unique and sets itself up as such straight from its interesting start. I can't say that I've read anything like it before and so it was a very refreshing read. There was a prominent theme of feminine rage which I enjoyed. The book gets a little spooky and weird sometimes, not scary though, just sort of 'gross' descriptions of things. Though I did like Merciless Waters, I never really got into it. I was interested in the unravelling mystery and how the book would conclude, but otherwise wasn't particularly invested in any characters. I found Lily amusing though. The most I got into the book was probably around chapter 11 (out of 15), where I found the story to be really coming together.

Overall I can't particularly fault Merciless Waters for anything specific (me not completing 'getting into it' could very well just be a personal thing). It is unique and definitely interesting and with the short nature of the book I don't see a reason why anyone shouldn't give it a shot, so definitely check it out if you can.

This is a beautiful tale of female fury. Jaq and Lily are aboard the Scylla, sailing endlessly with an all-female crew. There is no past or future, only the present while on the ship. Lily rescues a man stranded at sea pushing Jaq aside. Jaq tries to cast a spell with the Old Gods to end the man, but more dire things come as the man infects the crew with their own past and memories. This book incorporates folklore, revenge, horror, and female rage all packaged away in a stunning cover.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for giving me an e-ARC of this book to review.

This was a very interesting read, perfect for the spooky season, and I read in one sitting because I couldn’t put it down. The atmosphere and setting are immaculate and the author’s writing manages to bring the characters to life. There were just so many things I enjoyed in this book: sapphic pirates, feminine rage, unhinged women, sea creatures (siren-like), and a dark atmosphere. There’s just one small thing that bothered me in this book and it was about a personality change in one of the characters that I felt came from nowhere and didn’t make much sense, but besides that, I really enjoyed this book.

The fascinating tale of the fate of women after their violent deaths in the water.

The Scylla roams the waves with its crew of women, paying tribute and praying to the old gods. A family finding their purpose in pleasures and sea. Until a man floats up to the bow, and is hauled on deck to save him.
But the arrival of the stranger begins stirring something within the women. Visions. Memories of BEFORE. When there should not have been a before. Because the Scylla was where they had always been, right?

I enjoyed every bit of this. Jaq's despair for her Lily, the crew, Yinka's longing for something long lost. The imagery, the horror, even though it didn't take up much of the book, showing mostly in the form of some gore and descriptions of death and rotting bodies.
The only complaint I might have is that it was a little short. I would have loved to learn about the other women on the Scylla, find out how they got there, and what they need, especially Lucinda. And the ending seemed a little unfinished, even though it fulfills exactly what Jaq was looking for.

In the end, undead lesbian pirates are always a win, and will always be.

Merciless Waters is a beautifully dark story about Rusalka. I was hooked from start to finish—this is a perfect book to sink your teeth into for spooky season. The atmosphere and setting were immaculate, picture: an all female crew endlessly sailing the ocean, moonlit rituals for old gods, a possessive and jealous relationship between lovers, an interloper who uncovers hidden memories, and a hell of a lot of feminine rage. 100% would recommend and plan to get a physical copy to read again in the future.