Book Review: The Teeth in the Tide by Rebecca F. Kenney

Genre(s): Fantasy

Content warning: There are some scenes of violence/gore and abuse, implied cannibalism, and implied rape.

In a world where mermaids are vicious, murderous creatures with a taste for human blood, Kestra lives on an island that has become increasingly inaccessible due to the violent sea creatures. Fewer boats make the dangerous journey to their cities each year, while the mermaids seem to increase in number. When she was young, Kestra’s father fell from the island’s wall into the sea, where he was killed by the mermaids. Now as an adult, she bears a strong hatred for them.

The mermaid society is brutal and unyielding, run by a trio of blood-thirsty queens. The few males amongst them are abused and enslaved, allowed to live only for the purpose of breeding. Rake is one such male, but he dreams of a better life, one away from the mermaid society that his mistreated him for years. When he is given responsibility of one of his male spawn, Rake begins to form a plan of escape from that life, one that may prove better for his son.

The two stories intertwine as the book progresses. I loved Rake’s character, and I wanted very strongly for him to succeed (and survive!) While Kestra’s story was good, there was a large span of the book where she started to show a dark side that I simply couldn’t relate to. As a main character, she was difficult… But in the end, she seemed to redeem herself. We’ll see if that lasts into book two. Yes, there is a book two in the works (The Demons in the Deep), and I plan to put it on my reading list once it’s released in July.

I found the details of the mermaid society to be fascinating. They’re not your typical mermaids, which was what originally piqued my interest in reading this book. After the events at the end, I’m very interested to see where the story goes in book two. I hope to see more of Rake, and I’d like to see him finally have some happiness after all he’s been through.

Overall, I enjoyed this book!

Note: I learned after I purchased my copy that there is a special edition version with more “spicy romance” scenes. Personally, I read for the adventures – the romance isn’t what draws me to a book. I’m glad I got the standard edition for myself, otherwise I’d probably have found myself skimming those extra bits. For those who enjoy the romance, I’m sure the special edition is just as wonderful.

Author website: rfkenney.wixsite.com/rebeccafkenneybooks

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