#Hunt on Dark Waters

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Queer Fantasy Books Bracket: Round 1

Book summaries and submitted endorsements below:

The Trials of Apollo (The Hidden Oracle, The Dark Prophecy, The Burning Maze, The Tyrant's Tomb, The Tower of Nero) by Rick Riordan

How do you punish an immortal? By making him human. After angering his father Zeus, the god Apollo is cast down from Olympus. Weak and disorientated, he lands in New York City as a regular teenage boy. Now, without his godly powers, the four-thousand-year-old deity must learn to survive in the modern world until he can somehow find a way to regain Zeus's favour. But Apollo has many enemies—gods, monsters and mortals who would love to see the former Olympian permanently destroyed. Apollo needs help, and he can think of only one place to go… an enclave of modern demigods known as Camp Half-Blood. Fantasy, mythology, middle grade, adventure, urban fantasy, series

Crimson Sails series (Hunt on Dark Waters, Blood on the Tide) by Katee Robert

Endorsement from submitter: everyone is lgbtq+ and it gets very spicy

Evelyn is a witch with a perfect storm of impulses: terrible taste in bed partners, sticky fingers, and a lust for danger. After she steals from her vampire ex and falls through a portal to another realm, she’s fished out of the waters by a band of seafarers and their telekinetic captain. She’s immediately given a choice—join their group or die. Bowen has no memory of his life before he became one of the Cŵn Annwn. He and his pirate crew are bound by vow to patrol through Threshold, the magical sea in between realms, keeping the portals to other worlds safe. When he rescues Evelyn, he doesn’t expect to be attracted to the unflappably brassy pickpocket. The longer he spends in her presence, the more he begins to question if his heart is the next thing she’ll steal. But as tension heats up between Bowen and Evelyn, danger escalates as well. Because Evelyn has no intention of keeping her vows to the Cŵn Annwn, and if she betrays the crew, both she and Bowen will pay the ultimate price…. Fantasy, romance, romantasy, queernorm, pirates, vampires, selkies, adult

[lgbtqreads]

New Releases: November 2023

This month’s post is sponsored by Dougie K Powell in honor of the release of My Best Rival, a new trans YA romance published by Spectrum Books! Click the graphic for more information and buy links! ***** The Santa Pageant by Lillian Barry (1st) For fans of Rachel Bowdler and Ashley Herring Blake, a second-chance holiday romance between a sunshiney lesbian and a chilly non-binary bisexual. Ten…

[readinthedarkpod]

Happy 1st birthday to My Podcast Knows What You Read in the Dark! We are ready to smash cake into our little faces with grubby, sticky hands.

Just kidding. Instead, we are going to discuss the simple pleasures of good smut, toxic beauty culture, and play a fun birthday game where we try to guess the name of some... interesting series.

While we like to have fun and be silly here, be warned that this episode includes discussions of diet culture, beauty standards, & aging. Use your best judgement before listening!

Books Discussed: Hunt on Dark Waters by Katee Robert Rouge by Mona Awad

Books Mentioned: Court of the Vampire Queen by Katee Robert Babel by R. F. Kuang Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo The Cruel Prince by Holly Black The Fine Print by Lauren Asher Twisted Game by Eva Ashwood My Ex's Dad by K. C. Crowne

⁠Join our book club, WORNPAGELIBRARY!⁠

[viscountessevie]

KATEE (AND EVELYN) BEING A SUPERNATURAL FAN WAS NOT ON MY 2023 BINGO CARD

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Title: Hunt on Dark Waters | Author: Katee Robert | Publisher: Berkley (2023)

[ash-and-books]

Rating: 4/5

Book Blurb: A stern captain meets his witchy match in this captivating first fantasy romance novel in the Crimson Sails series from Katee Robert, the New York Times bestselling author of the TikTok smash-hit Neon Gods.

Evelyn is a witch with a perfect storm of impulses: terrible taste in bed partners, sticky fingers, and a lust for danger. After she steals from her vampire ex and falls through a portal to another realm, she’s fished out of the waters by a band of seafarers and their telekinetic captain. She’s immediately given a choice—join their ship’s crew or die.

Bowen has no memory of his life before he became one of the Cŵn Annwn. He and his band of pirates are bound by vow to patrol through Threshold, the magical sea in between realms, keeping the portals to other worlds safe. When he rescues Evelyn, he doesn’t expect to be attracted to the unflappably brassy pickpocket. The longer he spends in her presence, the more he begins to question if his heart is the next thing she’ll steal.

But as tension heats up between Bowen and Evelyn, the danger at sea escalates as well. Because Evelyn has no intention of keeping her vows to the Cŵn Annwn, and if she betrays the crew, both she and Bowen will pay the ultimate price....

Review:

She's a witch and a thief and he's the pirate captain who's heart she's stolen. Evelyn is a witch with terrible taste in bed partners, a penchant for stealing, and a love of danger. While leaving her latest ex, a vampire from a powerful family, she steals some jewels and falls through a portal to another realm... only to be rescued by a band of seafarers and their telekinetic captain who gives her two choices: join the crew or die... and it looks like she's joining the crew. Bowen is one of the Cŵn Annwn, he's the captain of a band of pirates who are bound by vow to patrol through Threshold, the magical sea in between realms. When he rescues Evelyn he never expects himself to get attached to this beautiful brassy pickpocket. Yet the longer they spend together the more the chemistry between them is undeniable. Bowen and Evelyn both want different things, she wants nothing more than to escape while he wants to uphold the rules.... yet fate seems to have other ideas for them. This is the first book in the series and I can't wait to see where the next book goes! Bowen and Evelyn make a cute couple and they have great chemistry. The pirate fantasy adventure aspect of this book was a lot of fun and I can't wait to see where the next book goes!!

*Spoiler: Bowen and Evelyn fall in love, Bowen's crew abandon him and Evelyn's vampire ex tracks them down and demands they help her get her treasure back. Bowen, Evelyn and Lizzie all decide to team up to get back Lizzie's treasure and find Bowen's ship again.*

*Thanks Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group, Berkley for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

[booksteacupandreviews]

Hunt on Dark Waters (Crimson Sails #1) by Katee Robert

Hunt on Dark Waters is an enjoyable, entertaining, and adventurous porta fantasy with pirates and spicy romance. SynopsisReviewYou might enjoy Hunt on Dark Waters if you like,Book Links Hunt on Dark Waters (Crimson Sails #1) by Katee Robert Publication Date : November 7, 2023  Publisher : Berkley Read Date : November 17, 2023 Genre : Fantasy Romance / Paranormal Pages : 336 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Rating:…

[sandythereadingcafe]

REVIEW

HUNT ON DARK WATERS (Crimson Sails 1) by Katee Robert at The Reading Cafe:

'entertaining and enchanting'

[thereadingcafe]

[funtasticworld]

HAPPY 66TH ANNIVERSARY TO HANNA BARBERA

Shows 1981-1993

The Smurfs // Yogi's Treasure Hunt // The 13 Ghosts of Scooby Doo // A Pup Named Scooby Doo // Tom and Jerry Kids // The Pirates of Dark Water // Droopy, Master Detective // 2 Stupid Dogs // SWAT Kats // The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest

[ulysses000]

[weepingfoxfury]

Who Goes There?

Standing out with the cats in the dark at night, listening carefully to every single sound. My head turning with theirs, their eyes seeing things I cannot. They lead the hunt, look over their shoulders motioning for me to follow. Their steps soft, rustling and calculated ... mine are clumsy in comparison. They disappear in amongst the undergrowth into places I cannot follow ... I wait and watch. A small shriek, the grasses part slightly, cats eyes briefly gleam up into mine and they are gone with their prize.

I return, solo to the yard behind the gate. Smallest Dog waits, her gaze quizzical. I smile at her and she returns to her own foraging. I remain still, cloaked in this precious and dimly lit world. All senses heightened ... so much movement the other side of the wall.

Then ... out of the darkness comes something unexpected. "Oy" says a Rook. I am momentarily startled. The birds all shuffle slightly, then settle again. Smallest Dog returns to stand by my feet. I listen and watch as leaves drift down from Cathweegia to land softly on the water. "Oy" says the Rook again and I begin to laugh. I have said this so often to the dogs to deter them from bothering the shrews and the Rooks have heard me.

I stand smiling to myself, nod at Smallest Dog and we go back into the warm kitchen ...

[good--merits-accumulated]

i fear i am endlessly predictable (writing new dps au which is once again fantasy with Arthurian elements)

[caffeinated-bibliophile]

😫 I've now had fourteen DNFs this year

[viscountessevie]

Hunt On Dark Waters [ARC Review]

Release Date: 7th November 2023

Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

My Review:

Hunt on Dark Waters by Katee Robert is a contemporary romance set in a fantasy world of various realms. Our witchy heroine, Evelyn has a bad habit of swiping valuables with her sticky fingers. After stealing from her ex Lizzie, a powerful vampire, she escapes through a portal. Evie finds herself floundering in the magical sea between realms called Threshold. She is then rescued onto the Crimson Hag, home to our telekentic hero.

With no tangible childhood he could remember, Captain Bowen's unflinching loyalty to his ship under the Cŵn Annwn has been his life's duty. The Cŵn Annwn is a network of ships like the Crimson Hag operate under. He has always enforced their rules and vows with no questions asked. Evelyn is no exception to the rule and he gives her the ultimatum to join their ranks or die.

As Evelyn tries to evade honouring her vow, their two personalities clash. Tensions turn into something more. Through their journey together, secrets begin to surface and they both start questioning everything they have stood for.

~~~

This was one of my most anticipated books of the year and really took my time with this as I did not want it to end. I adored the book and am really loving Katee in this point of her writing career -consisting of epic sagas with political themes and great messaging. Just like I have been enjoying the ride through Dark Olympus, she is now taking us to the sea across the magical Threshold.

The world building was done extremely well. It was an immersive experience. From the physical space of Evelyn's world to the Threshold sea and the various islands surrounding it. Then we were introduced how the Crimson Hag is run and what exactly the Cŵn Annwn are.

On to the characters, I loved how fleshed out Evelyn and Bowen are as individuals before they get together. They are both very different people and feel so distinct in their point of views. I usually find that multiple point of views can get muddled with an author's narrative voice if there isn't a unique tone for the different characters.

However, Katee did excellent in distinguishing between Evelyn and Bowen's chapters. The differences were stark and it was a good contrast between the two. Evie initially starts out as a witty, sarcastic fun loving witch with a sentimental streak and some familial grief for baggage. While Bowen is a straight-laced Eldest Child coded man who is always following the rules of the Cŵn Annwn and would never think twice about going against them. He is very much of the mindset not to bite the hand that fed him. Or in his case, the people who saved and took him in as their own.

These two really go through a brilliant development over the course of the book. Flighty Evie finally finds herself a cause and someone to anchor herself to. On the other hand, Bowen starts to question the cracks within the corrupt system that is the Cŵn Annwn.

The main allegory within the book I really enjoyed was The Cŵn Annwn. They were meant to parallel the militarised police in our world. Katee does a great job of showing something isn't quite right with their organisation from the very start. Then slowly peels back the layers of Cŵn Annwn with each act to reveal their true colours. It is mostly through Bowen's point of view, whose gratitude comes from being taken in years ago. When Evie starts to question their modus operandi, we realise it's terrible system. It hits harder when Bowen has to confront the fact that he and his crew weren't really 'one of the good ones' and were just upholding a corrupt system.

In line with this, the plot was detailed, very thought out and well-paced. While there are loose ends regarding Bowen's past and a big event that happened to close off Act 2, I'm confident it will all be tied up in due time. The Act 2 Event is going to come back full circle in the next book as hinted in it's summary. As for the overarching plot of the series, it's been well set up. The direction the bigger story is taking is very clear. I am very excited for my favourite non-binary characters, Kit and Nox to hopefully show up! The way those two were being written, I'm hoping for either recurring roles or respective books for them.

As for the romance, it was solid. I liked their chemistry and banter in their scenes together. However, I felt that the development from lust to love could have been drawn out. Maybe by a chapter or two. They needed a bit more time to bridge the gap between being rivals who had an attraction to falling in love. It just felt like sex was substituted in when we could have gotten one or two more scenes to give their connection more depth. This was slightly remedied during their love declarations which pinpointed the moments they started to fall for the other.

Overall, I loved this book! Katee definitely delivered on all fronts. She has done it once again with her intricate way she built this universe - with Threshold and its interesting characters. This was a great first book with a sweet romance while wondefully setting up the upcoming series. I'm certain we will be seeing some recurring characters as they all come together to work towards their common goal. I definitely would recommend this for anyone looking for a pirate fantasy romance, vibrant settings and for those wanting to invest in an epic saga!

Thank you to Random House UK, Cornerstone, Del Rey for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. 

[roughlytwentytwofrogs]

gave the tinies a flea bath because the spray didn't work well, and then as soon as i put them in the little nook under the heating lamp, one of them pooped her pants

smh