Review: ‘Blood on the Tide’ by Katee Robert
Blood on the Tide
by Katee RobertSeries: Crimson Sails #2
Published by Berkley on May 14, 2024
SubGenres: Fantasy Romance, Paranormal Romance
Format: AudioBook
Pages: 336
Narrator: Alix Dale, K.C. Sheridan
Length: 9 Hours And 13 Minutes
Source: Library - Libby
Audience: 18+/Adult
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Set sail for adventure and love in the next spicy fantasy romance from Katee Robert, the New York Times bestselling author of the TikTok smash hit Neon Gods .
As a bloodline vampire, Lizzie has never had a problem taking what she wants, and right now what she wants are the family heirlooms that were stolen from her and a portal home. Too bad even that short list is impossible to accomplish on her own—and her allies have bigger things to worry about.
When they rescue a selkie from captivity, it’s the perfect solution to her problem. Lizzie needs a guide through Threshold and the selkie needs someone to help her get her skin back. Maeve didn’t choose to give up her skin—it was stolen from her. Now she’s in an uneasy partnership with a dangerous woman who seems more apt to kill than to share a kind word. It’s terrifying…and a bit alluring. Even though she knows it will end in heartbreak, Maeve can’t help being drawn to Lizzie and her all-too-pleasurable vampire bite.
Unfortunately, the danger to Maeve’s heart is the least of her worries. The ship Lizzie’s chasing belongs to the Cŵn Annwn, and they don’t take kindly to people who steal from them. Not even Lizzie’s viciousness or Maeve’s selkie strength will be enough to save them if the Cŵn Annwn seek retribution…
Blood on the Tide is the second installment in Katee Robert’s Crimson Sails series, and it’s one book that had me hooked. It pleasantly surprised me how much I enjoyed this book more than Hunt on Dark Waters. Blood on the Tide is not only the first Sapphic Fantasy Romance I’ve read but also a book that deepened my love for the subgenre. As a fan of Sapphic Contemporary Romances, I was eager to explore this unique blend of fantasy and romance, particularly from the talented Katee.
If you’re considering reading the Crimson Sails series, I highly recommend starting with the first book. The second installment, Blood on the Tide, picks up where the first one left off but with a fresh perspective from different characters. Lizzie is on a quest to retrieve her family heirlooms, and Maeve, a selkie in search of her pelt, embarks on a thrilling adventure that will keep you turning the pages.
I was a little hesitant to read this book at first because I didn’t care for Lizzie in the first book, but that’s mainly due to only having Evelyn’s POV when it came to Lizzie. I trusted Katee’s development of Lizzie’s character more in Blood on the Tide, and I can officially say Lizzie is one of my favorite characters in the series. If you read Laurell K. Hamilton’s Anita Blake series and met the vampire named Asher in them, then Lizzie is going to remind you of his character, especially with the orgasmic bite she gives. Every single one of Katee’s vampire characters has that ability, which is one reason I love when Katee writes a vampire into their stories because it brings me back to my favorite vampire, Asher. Lizzie is also the sister of Wolf, and readers who read Court of the Vampire Queen will recognize his name immediately. (I’m not sure how Katee keeps up with everything, but they definitely do an excellent job interconnecting characters in other books.)
I loved Maeve, even when she comes off as a character that is a damsel in distress at first, especially at the beginning of the storyline, but don’t let that fool you. She’s very protective of Lizzie when Lizzie places herself in danger a few times, and Lizzie feels the same way as Maeve, which is why I love their connection more than Lizzie and Evelyn. Plus, Lizzie does a 360 in this book when it comes to Maeve and how much she cares for her after they spent so much time on adventures together. It may feel like a short book, but it’s jammed pack full of adventures with the characters.
This book definitely reminded me of my favorite movie franchise, Pirates of the Caribbean. I need more of these types of books, and I’m glad to know Katee is writing another book that will focus even more on the rebellion and who is actually behind it. It was only touched on a bit in this book.
What about spice? It’s Katee Robert, so expect some spicy moments, but after the push and pull between the characters end. There was hesitation in feelings between the characters, and it was due to one being a vampire and the other being a selkie. Lizzie didn’t want to hurt Maeve, especially when it came to her bite, and she didn’t want to risk Maeve’s safety. I love how protective they were of each other.
I give this book 4.5 stars and recommend it to readers who have always wanted to read a Sapphic Romance version of the Pirates of the Caribbean.
Audiobook Recommendation: If you enjoy listening to your books, I highly recommend the audiobook for Blood on the Tide. I borrowed the audiobook from my library, and the narrators, Alix Dale and K.C. Sheridan, did a phenomenal job narrating this book, especially when I couldn’t always sit down to read it due to running errands.
Trope(s)/Element(s):
✓Vampire/Selkie Romance
✓Morality Chain
✓Forced Proximity
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About Katee Robert
New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Katee Robert learned to tell her stories at her grandpa’s knee. Her 2015 title, The Marriage Contract, was a RITA finalist, and RT Book Reviews named it 'a compulsively readable book with just the right amount of suspense and tension." When not writing sexy contemporary and romantic suspense, she spends her time playing imaginary games with her children, driving her husband batty with what-if questions, and planning for the inevitable zombie apocalypse.
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My obsession with reading started over 30+ years ago when I went to my first Scholastic Book Fair and found R.L. Stine's Fear Street series. Later, I came across Anne Rice's novels at my public library when I was fourteen when my obsession with vampires started. I was the girl who preferred to be a vampire over a princess any day. My husband says I would leave him a heartbeat for a vampire that looked like Spike or Angel (from Buffy the Vampire Slayer) or Damon Salvatore from The Vampire Diaries. (It's true, though, and he's accepted it.)
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