Daughter of tides

Ever since the war against the Betrayer, the empire has been in shambles. Three gods have been sent to Akeisa, a conquered island currently ruled by an ice queen, to establish diplomatic rapport. Naia is a new sea nymph, formed from the Dream and filled with the memories of seafarers who came before her. Einar has another name--the Kraken, whose fearsome mythology belies his true legacy. And Aleksi is the god a love--but a god that may be dying. And what is a world without love? As these three navigate the imperial court, secrets are revealed, and a love unfurls among the them. While they give into their carnal passions, will these three be able to truly open their hearts to one another? Or will both their mission and their relationship be thwarted? The first novel in a new romantasy series by established writing duo Rocha (Consort of Fire, 2023) is a sumptuous queer romance with blush-inducing, spicy scenes and a lore that, while a tad underdeveloped, is worth exploring. Romantasy fans will enjoy.

The blistering third entry in Rocha's Bound to Fire and Steel romantasy series picks up right where Queen of Dreams left off, with a major battle having shaken up the status quo. Naia, a newly awakened sea goddess, seems almost destined to fall in love with the Kraken, Einar, when she joins him on a diplomatic mission to the ice kingdom of Akeisa. Somewhat less expected are the feelings evoked in both Naia and Einar by the third member of their party: Aleksi, the god of love, who was weakened by the recent battle but outwardly remains as entrancing as ever. As this trio navigate political tensions and becoming a throuple, Rocha delivers possibly even more steamy, magic-infused god-on-god lovemaking than in the first two books. The broader plot, however, feels bumpier, with erratic moments of conflict that are easily resolved and many loose threads left dangling for future installments. It doesn't quite work as a standalone, but series fans will be gratified by the intrigue and spice. (May)