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[katara]

A Kiss of Salt & Sea by Bliss Devlin

Series:
Darkstone Academy #1

Genre:
Reverse Harem, Romance, Fantasy, Romantasy, Supernatural, Dragons, the Fae, Mermaids, Paranormal, Adult, Academia, Dark, Fated Mates, Touch Her and Die, Multiple Points of View

Publication Date:
May 31, 2023

Pages Numbers:
384

Read Date:
November 20th, 2023

Date Finished:
November 21st, 2023

Rating:
2/5

Blurb:

In a world ruled by human mages, I'm an orphan without magic, living under the thumb of my heartless stepfather. When he sells me into indentured servitude at Darkstone Academy for the Magical Arts, I find myself far from home and surrounded by dangerous enemies.

The human students here are the rejects from other academies. And then there are the supernaturals, diplomatic hostages who hate humans and aren't shy about showing it.

But then I meet three powerful supernatural guys who don't want to be here either. They will do anything to keep Darkstone Academy from breaking me.

The gorgeous but cold merman Lord Tama is a monster who kills without a second thought to protect me.

The dragon Prince Boreas, is fiery and ruggedly handsome. When he tells me he treasures me, it's time to worry. Dragons never let go of treasures from their hoards.

And finally, the beautiful but enigmatic Fae Prince Gwydion is a fellow healer. His skilled kisses leave me wanting more. A lot more. But the Fae are dangerous... especially when you owe them a favor. Like me.

Then, as students and supernaturals begin dying all around us, I'm plunged into a vortex of murder and political intrigue. Are my new protectors the solution to the problem... or the cause?

Maybe I don't have any magic. But I have sharp wits, an unparalleled gift for herbs and potions, and a whole boatload of sheer stubborness. I'm determined to leave Darkstone Academy in one piece and free, no matter what it throws at me.

A Kiss of Salt and Sea is the first volume in a steamy dark academy fantasy romance series. If you love page-turning action, a richly imagined fantasy world, and slow-burn romance with sizzling payoffs, then step through the gates of Darkstone Academy!

Please This book contains explicit content and darker elements, including mature language, death, and domestic violence. It is not intended for anyone under 18 years of age. This is book one in a series.

Review:

Our female lead, Jacinthe, has learned that her blood has no magic. When her mother accompanies her siblings to a magical school, she is lost leaving Jacinthe at the mercy of her stepfather and his new wife. That is until her stepfather decides to sell her as an indentured servant to a school that caters to a group of wealthy children with a history of problems. On the voyage over to the school, Jacinthe meets Tama, a merman forced into a human form. Later, she will meet a Dragon and a Fae at the school, forging an unbreakable bond between them. But someone is doing away with occupants of the academy and all eyes are turning toward Jacinthe and her males as prime suspects.

While this was a book that I was excited to read, it did not live up to the expectations that I had for it. The premise was promising and it had been the main reason why I had been so excited about reading this book. Merman. Dragons. And Fae. Oh my! I mean, who does not love a fantasy reverse harem novel where the males are from different creatures and all in human form? Yum!

But the book's execution fell flat. The pacing seemed to be slow, in my opinion, and it was easy to get bored within its pages. I had hoped that there would be something that could keep me hanging on so I continued. Maybe even a bit of a mystery that continues my interest. Unfortunately, the strong beginning starts to die down and the character development slows painfully. With nothing to push the storyline and character growth, I found myself skimming half the book instead of reading.

Additionally, I didn't feel a strong connection to the characters. They lacked depth and development, making it hard for me to invest in their journeys. I wanted to root for them and feel empathetic towards their struggles, but they felt one-dimensional and unrelatable.

It is also important to note that these criticisms are purely subjective. What may have not worked for me to enjoy this novel may be different for other readers who might feel the opposite. It just did not hit the mark for me personally.

Final Thought:

In conclusion, while I had high hopes for this book, it ultimately didn't captivate me as I had anticipated. The pacing, character development, and writing style all contributed to my overall disappointment. That being said, everyone's reading preferences are different, so it's possible that others may find enjoyment in this book that I didn't.

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