Okay hear me out. Keri lake vibes but with mermaids. The suspenseful mystery lured me in and I was shooookith at that plot twist!!! I mean…can I get the 2nd one now??? Please 🖤

🌊 Welcome to Ruadán’s Port, where ancient curses sleep beneath the waves, and love might just be the most dangerous magic of all...

Sea of Evil and Desire is a moody, seductive plunge into dark Mer folklore, tangled prophecies, and forbidden romance. Set against the haunting backdrop of a windswept Scottish isle, this fantasy romance blends Celtic myth with slow-burn tension, otherworldly secrets, and a heroine with a heart as open as the sea.

Morgana Scott arrives in Islay grieving the death of her grandmother, only to find herself caught in a tide of eerie legends, whispers of Selkies, and a deepening connection with Finn—a magnetic stranger with secrets inked into his soul. The chemistry between them simmers, but fate has other plans, and a centuries-old feud between Mer and Drowned threatens to drag them both under.

The atmosphere is where this book truly shines: wild cliffs, crashing waves, and festivals steeped in superstition. As Samhain approaches and the veil between worlds thins, Morgana is forced to confront the truth of her family, her powers, and the ancient feud that threatens to pull her beneath the waves—heart first. Think eerie, salt-drenched settings, and Celtic folklore woven into a modern-day mystery.

✨ Perfect for fans of:
- Dark coastal folklore
- Tragic love stories wrapped in seafoam and prophecy

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Gripping from the first page, this thriller delivers a fast-paced ride packed with suspense, twists, and tension that never lets up. With sharp writing and a plot full of dark secrets and unexpected turns, it’s the kind of book you’ll race through in one sitting.

This first book in what I’m sure will be a wonderful series is chock FULL of vibrant and magical world building. The whole ocean is well developed into different realms with different creatures and lore and characters.

I was entranced by the plot and each moment spent under the sea. I do wish Morgana was a bit older, the market is saturated with new adult romantasy stories, so having a more mature main character would be a bit different and more appealing to readers in outside of their 20s.

Would love to read the next book, it ends on a cliffhanger, so I hope there’s a second one in the works!

Thank you to NetGalley & the author for a copy to read and review!

Morgana travels to a tiny town in Scotland after her dear grandmother dies. She meets the locals and wants to help care for her grandfather during this challenging time, while also escaping her life in Kansas. She meets dark and mysterious Finn and feels an attraction that he quickly dismisses.
Fast forward, and Morgana is drawn to the sea and quickly learns she has a gift to shape-shift and spend time underwater where she meets the Drowned and learns about the various kingdoms and fiefdoms. Finn is essentially a mermaid and their underwater worlds collide.
This was out of my genre comfort zone and I enjoyed the fantastical environment and underwater descriptions.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance eARC.

This was a good book for sci fi romance. It is worth a read. I really couldn't get into it at first, but it got interesting.

I gave this book 2.5/5 stars! I enjoyed learning about the Irish / Scottish mythology and mer lore that encapsulates this novel. I just wish we had some more world building to flush out the storyline more and the character development. It felt like a lot was squished into one book and it left me confused a lot of the time.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Author for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review of my experience.

LORD HAVE MERCY ON MY SOUL. I am soooooooooooo mad at you author. How dareeeeeee... You left me on a cliffhanger. Now I have to wait for the next books.. because there will be next books *stare*.

Morganna, our FMC, starts the book out living in America. When her grandmother passes away and her grandfather is left on his own (because he doesn't do travel or even leaving the town), Morganna makes her way to the sleepy town of Ruadan's Port in Scotland. Little does she know, her family has a rich and mysterious history in this town.. and that rich and mysterious history comes out to play. Morganna finds out that nothing is as it seems.. not even our hunk of an MMC, "Finn". Morganna is about to embark on a journey that will literally have her questioning her sanity (and the confusing feelings in her pants).

This book is not a high spice book, but rather a very slow burn, tension filled story that will have you on the edge of your seat (I finished this in one sitting). The world building in this story is succinct and incredibly well thought out. I did not hate a single moment. The characters are all 3D and they grow together. Even the imagery is incredibly vivid.

I will, however admit that the ending was rushed and it could definitely have used some fleshing out. I would have liked to have seen a more cliffhangery cliffhanger, rather than just a story cutoff.

Genuinely.. if I have to wait years for the next book, I am going to be upset.

✨ARC Review✨

Sea of Evil and Desire by J. Strelou

If you love folklore, mythical creatures, war, and gods and goddesses, then this book is for you. I truly enjoyed this novel, and I read it in one day.

Morgana finds herself in Ruadan’s Port to take care of her grandfather after her grandmother died. There, she meets a mysterious man named Finn, who follows her around. What sets Finn apart is that Morgana cannot sense his feelings - unlike how she can read other people.

This book’s world building and use of mythical creatures are amazing. The FMC Morgana is strong, loyal, and smart. Sure, she is attracted to Finn, but she did not let her feelings distract her from her goal.

On the other hand, we have Finn who is also headstrong and loyal to his people and family. His methods of “wooing” Morgana may be out of the ordinary, but they are interesting. Even though there were times when Finn bordered on creepy his stalking, I think his development throughout the story was still well done.

The other characters in the book were also well written especially Edward. I thought he was just a minor character at first, but I appreciate how the author developed him into something more. Also, I can’t wait to read more about how Manannan will influence Morgana in the future.

Overall, I think that Sea of Evil and Desire was great. I love that it’s set in the modern times, so it’s relatable. I can’t wait for the sequel to the book! The cliffhanger is already driving me crazy. This book will be in my head for a while.

3.5 stars. This was a fun fantasy - I loved reading about selkies, I’ve not read a fantasy featuring those before! I did think the dialogue felt a bit awkward at times, the FMC needed fleshing out/ building up a bit more before the finale, and her relationship with her grandfather felt a bit stilted - but otherwise an enjoyable read!

A tough read to wade through, despite this I was still hooked enough to finish.

A misunderstood FMC meets a tortured soul MMC.

An interesting world and a new mythological creature for me. A slow slowww burn that left me with more questions.

Gentle YA spice 1/2 🌶️

I just finished A Sea of Evil and Desire, the first book in J. Strelou’s The Deep Saga, and I’m still wrapped up in its wild, stormy magic. This mermaid and merman romantasy, set on the rugged Scottish Isle of Islay, hooked me with its dark folklore and heart-pounding romance. It’s the kind of book that feels like a cold wave washing over you—thrilling, a little eerie, and hard to shake. As an ARC reader, I loved so much about it, but it had a few bumps that kept it from being a total knockout. Here’s my real, from-the-heart take on what swept me away and what left me wanting a bit more.
What I Loved:
• A World That Feels Like It’s Breathing: Ruadán’s Port is so vivid I could practically smell the seaweed and hear the gulls. The stormy cliffs, foggy streets, and whispers of Mer and Selkies make the town feel alive. And the underwater scenes—crumbling mer cities and shadowy depths—are straight-up haunting. Strelou paints it all so beautifully, I was lost in it, like I could dive right in.
• Morgana’s Got My Heart: Morgana Scott is the kind of heroine I want to grab a coffee with. She’s dealing with her grandma’s death, feeling a little lost, and then there’s this weird gift—she can sense people’s emotions. It makes her feel so real, like she’s stumbling through this mystery just like I would. Her connection with Finn, this mysterious guy who’s all charm and secrets, is chef’s kiss. Their slow-burn romance had me smiling like an idiot, especially lines like, “She’s in my bones, my blood, every breath I take.” Swoon.
• Romance That Hits All the Feels: If you’re into dark, Gothic-y romance with a fantastical twist, this is your jam. Think The Scorpio Races meets something sultry and magical. Morgana and Finn’s chemistry crackles—every look, every touch feels huge. The spicy moments are hot but never over-the-top, and they tie into the story’s big emotions about love and sacrifice. I was rooting for them hard.
• Twists That Kept Me Up Late: The story’s about an ancient feud between the Mer and Drowned, tied to a cursed love story, and it’s packed with surprises. Morgana’s fur coat triggering weird visions, the creepy Samhain festival, the prophecy about her—it all builds to these “whoa” moments that had me flipping pages way past bedtime. I didn’t see half of it coming.
What Didn’t Quite Work:
• The Middle Drags a Bit: The book starts with a bang and ends even stronger, but the middle gets a little sluggish. Morgana’s poking around the town, digging into old stories, and it felt like some scenes went on too long. I wanted the story to pick up the pace and get back to the big, juicy stuff.
• Side Characters Stay in the Background: Morgana and Finn are amazing, but the other folks—like her grandpa or the grumpy locals—don’t pop as much. I wanted to know more about them, what drives them, but they felt more like props to push the story along. A little more depth would’ve made the town feel even richer.
• A Few Things Felt Obvious: The romance is dreamy, but I could tell early on where Morgana and Finn were headed, thanks to her pull toward him. It didn’t ruin anything, but I wished for a couple more curveballs to keep me guessing, especially since the plot twists were so good.
My Final Thoughts:
A Sea of Evil and Desire is a gorgeous, haunting read that pulled me into a world of merfolk, curses, and a love story that’s got me all in my feelings. Morgana’s journey and her electric connection with Finn are the heart of it, and Strelou’s writing is so lush it’s like poetry. Yeah, it slows down in the middle, and I wanted more from the side characters, but those are small gripes for a book this enchanting. If you love dark romantasy with a sea-soaked vibe, you’ll eat this up. I’m already itching for the next book in The Deep Saga to dive back in!
Note: I got an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley, and this is my honest-to-goodness take, no filter.

I had so much fun reading Sea of Evil and Desire! I absolutely love fantasy worlds set under the ocean, and this one delivered everything I wanted—beautifully eerie settings, mysterious sea creatures, and rich world-building that really pulled me in.

Normally, I’m not a huge fan of mythology, but the way J. Strelou wove mythological elements and characters into the story totally worked for me. It felt fresh and exciting rather than overwhelming or confusing.

And that plot twist at the end?! I was literally going “wow wow wow what’s going on now?!” I thought everything was wrapping up nicely, and then—boom. Total chaos (in the best way).

Also, confession time: I kept pronouncing “Pisceon” as pissin’ in my head the whole time. I don’t know why my brain does this—maybe because English isn’t my first language—but I eventually thought, “Surely the author wouldn’t name a character like that,” and realized it’s probably supposed to sound way more elegant.

Thank you for the arc, this is my honest opinion!

I’m gonna get it out right at the beginning - having your merman character use ‘Finn’ as his land name is fucking lazy writing.

Having said that, once my eyes had returned from the back of my head where they rolled to upon reading ‘Finn’, this was actually a pretty good book.

I really liked the concept of the Drowned - the idea that people who drowned ‘lived’ on on the ocean floor in little colonies until their time was here. I’ve not seen anything like that before, so it felt like quite a fresh idea, which can be hard to find in fantasy books nowadays.

Dual POV is always a win for me. The romance was good - maybe a smidge awkward at times, but easy enough to gloss over.

I did think that the relationship with her grandad felt a bit off at times - like she literally moved continents to be with him and look after him and they barely had any real connection? This could be developed further in the next book though so I’ll let it slide.

Pacing at times was maybe a bit rushed, but on the whole a fun read with interesting lore. 3.75/5, rounded up.

Thanks Netgalley for the ARC

4.75 🌟 - Thank you NetGalley and J Strelou for a copy of this ARC. I will be giving my honest review. WOW! The premise and delivery of this book was phenomenal. This is the first fantasy book/series that I have read that is set underwater. I thought the world building of Ruadan Port, SS Jones' Lady & the Seven different kingdoms was so interesting and such an original idea. I enjoyed learning about the history of both the port and the underwater locations and the history behind the ongoing feud between the mer and the drowned. The imagery and descriptions of all of the places was written so well that you could just imagine everything so vividly.

I LOVED the slow burn romance between Finn and Morgana and I thought they were so cute together. I hope in the rest of the series we will see this develop.

However, I do wish that there was more of a conclusion to the first book because it ended so abruptly (or maybe I just wanted to continue reading about these characters). When this book publishes on the 6th May, I implore you all to go, buy and read this book because I had such a fun time reading it.

TW : This book featured a lot of SA and dark themes so read cautiously at your own will. Some of the scenes made me feel a bit uncomfortable, but the TW are stated at the beginning of the book and more information is available online.

An absolute dream of a book and a pleasure to read <3 The characters were fabulously written, and the world building was next-level. Morgana, innocent and naïve and Finn, mysterious, dangerous (and gorgeous), the tension between them was captivating and the interactions showed the chemistry was off-the-charts! I need to know what happens next because I have so many questions that need to be answered in the next book!

I absolutely loved this book.. absolute page turner and couldn't put it down. Can't wait to see more from the author!

I enjoy the book as it beautifully written and the emotional journey was kinda make me hook to the story, I felt a bit sad when finishing the book consider this as my first underwater setting book, the magic lore easy to understand which make it easy to read the book.

Very interesting read! I like the authors world that they created and how it is laid out for the reader. Interesting dynamic between the MMC and FMC, she is a inquisitive character while he is the dark and dangerous type. I’m interested to see how the plot lays out in the next book. The main characters back story and powers are what kept me intrigued to keep reading.

SEA OF EVIL & DESIRE 🫧🌊 4.5⭐️

Wow, this is such an emotional journey. I absolutely loved reading this book, watching Morganna (FMC) and Finn (MMC) develop as characters throughout the book, seeing their journey. Just incredible.

Firstly LOVE the map and the glossary!

We’re introduced to Morganna our FMC living with her mother. However her grandmother passed away and she’s forced to go to stay with her grandfather in England. Scotland to be specific, in a coastal town called Ruadán’s Port. Which i absolutely love. Her mother never wants to go back there, we’re left asking questions like why? And I became very intrigued into the story immediately.

There’s lots of weird paranormal instances occurring once she settles in the town. Hearing songs, seeing people with sunken faces and people who disappear.

We’re then introduced to Finn our MMC, he’s absolutely gorgeous. However alluring and suspicious. We get glimpses of what we think his personality is and then it changes. I felt myself desperately asking who is he? What is he about? It kept me on edge THE WHOLE TIME.

This was literally what I wrote whilst reading the book.

“Who is Finn? I NEED TO KNOW WHAT HES ABOUT, WHY DOESN’T HE HAVE NETFLIX? WHY DOES HE SEEM SO ARROGANT THEN CHARMING? He’s strange”

Morganna starts hearing the music of the sea and how this connects with her and her grandmother as she has dreams of the deep sea, what lies beneath is it real or true? She has the insignia mark of the kingdom of the deep, her dreams show her “the drowned” - everyone who’s ever drowned at sea.

Morganna had a dream but wasn’t a dream then disappeared for 2 days. This is where the journey begins, there’s so much plot to the story, and I never knew what direction it was going to go in. The world building is really well written and can visualise everything so clearly.

🫧 DUAL POV
🌊 DARK AND MYSTERIOUS MMC
🫧 SLOW BURN
🌊 UNDERWATER WORLD
🫧 MYTHS & LEGENDS
🌊 SCOTLAND SETTING
🫧 DARK ROMANTASY 🌶️
🌊 UNIQUE LORE & MAGIC SYSTEM
🫧 POLITICAL INTRIGUE

Thank you so much J Strelou for the ARC, I throughly enjoyed this and desperate to see Morganna & Finn’s story continue.