Of Song and Scepter by Liesl West

 

This early review copy was provided to me by author Liesl West. This in no way impacts the rating of the book. All of my reviews contain my honest opinions.

Title: Of Song and Scepter

Series: Sirens of Adria

Author: Liesl West

Release Date: July 2, 2024

Genre: Fairytale Retelling, Romantasy

Source: digital, Author Direct

TW: profanity, explicit sexual intimacy, violence, battle sequences, monsters, knife violence, blood, past death of a parent to murder, past death of a parent to suicide, physical abuse, and emotional abuse

Synopsis

As a deep sea death-dealer, Enna Valomir’s life is simple: kill the siren, deliver the body, collect the reward. There’s just one problem. Enna owes a mermaid her life, and in the cutthroat waters of the Abyss, that’s a lifelong blood-oath of service.

When the mermaid orders her to kill the Abyssal princess, Enna is pulled into an impersonation scheme with no choice but to infiltrate a gaudy surface court and help the mermaid win the heart – and throne – of its unwitting future king.

Focused on restoring the Kingdom of Coral to its former strength, Prince Soren isn’t interested in courting the so-called Abyssal princess, or any power-hungry princess, for that matter. He’s finally met his match in her fierce and mysterious handmaid, and he’ll be damned if he can’t have Enna for his queen instead.

Despite the risks of breaking her blood-oath, Enna finds herself falling for the powerful siren. Will Enna forsake her own life to warn Soren of the mermaid’s ruse – or will she watch everything he’s worked for fall into ruin?

Thoughts

As an avid reader, I must share my deep appreciation for this unique and darker adaptation of the classic, The Little Mermaid. Immediately, I was drawn in by the character of Enna, a figure shrouded in darkness and desperation. I found her initial selfishness to be a fascinating starting point for her character arc, which allowed me to fully appreciate her evolution as the story unfolded.

Enna's transformation from a self-centered character to someone who could understand and appreciate the profound depth of genuine love was incredibly moving. This character growth was particularly poignant as it led her towards the ultimate act of self-sacrifice, something I found to be a compellingly authentic outcome of her journey.

What I found to be particularly intriguing about this novel was the absence of humans. Instead, the world was populated by mermaids and sirens, beings with a unique ability to seamlessly transition between legs and fins. This creative decision added a refreshing twist to the traditional fairytale, and allowed for a more immersive and enchanting underwater experience.

The tale spun by the author was beautifully dark, captivating and enchanting in every sense. The narrative was so compelling that I found myself completely drawn into the world of mermaids and sirens, lost in the intricacies of their lives, their struggles, and their triumphs.

Having finished this book, I am left with a sense of anticipation and excitement for what this author might produce next. Given the rich world-building and complex character development seen in this novel, I am eager to see how the author continues to expand and explore this world in future works. This was truly a unique and engrossing read, one that will stay with me for a long time.