Review: ‘Rebel in the Deep’ by Katee Robert
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Rebel in the Deep
by Katee RobertSeries: Crimson Sails #3
Published by Berkley on May 20, 2025
SubGenres: Fantasy Romance
Format: AudioBook, eArc, Paperback
Pages: 317
Narrator: Nathaniel Priestley, Zura Johnson, Nicky Endres
Length: 10 Hours And 13 Minutes
Source: Library - Libby, the publisher
Audience: 18+/Adult
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The rebellion’s fight turns into a battle for their hearts aboard the next sexy fantasy romance from Katee Robert, the New York Times bestselling author of Hunt on Dark Waters.
Nox has been steadfastly working as a quartermaster for the rebellion for years. They don’t ask for much in return, except for one crucial condition—their ex, the noble Lord Bastian, stays as far away from them as possible. To say things ended poorly between them is a gross understatement . . . and it’s the only relationship Nox has never quite recovered from.
But now the rules have changed. Siobhan, the rebel leader, has emerged from hiding to tell Nox that Bastian’s involvement in the rebellion has been discovered, and he’s being taken to stand trial in the capital as a traitor. The fate of the entire rebellion now rests on Nox and Siobhan’s ability to rescue Bastian from the Cŵn Annwn ship.
Saving Bastian is only the start of their hardships, as the trio is tracked by ferocious pirates across Threshold. And Nox’s complicated relationships and entanglements with Bastian and Siobhan put not only their life at risk but their heart on the line.
Rebel in the Deep is the final installment of Katee Robert’s Crimson Sails trilogy. This trilogy is different from other Fantasy Romance books I’ve read because it incorporates a variety of elements, including pirates, vampires, selkies, magic, etc. It is a unique world filled with diverse characters and full of adventures, featuring action-packed scenes that will engage readers.
Unfortunately, this book won’t be a favorite of mine in the trilogy, and I’m sad I didn’t enjoy it because I loved the second book, and it will remain my favorite in the trilogy. Here’s the thing: I wasn’t fully invested in the characters in this book, and I loved Nox in previous books when they were mentioned, but I wasn’t fully convinced of the romantic relationship that formed in this one. It felt rushed, and the fact that Bastian broke Nox’s heart years ago and supposedly he was still in love with Nox just wasn’t convincing to me. When it came to Siobhan, I loved her character and how she was determined to rescue Bastian from the Cwn Annwn ship so he didn’t stand trial, and I loved learning about her background. I actually loved how she saw right through Nox and felt attracted to them, but when it came to Bastian, I just didn’t care for him. Look, I hold grudges, and Bastian needed to grovel more to win over Nox.
I loved how everything came together in this book, especially when it came to the rebellion winning. They had been through a lot in previous books and this one. I loved that previous characters were there, helping with the main characters in this book. I was actually more invested in this part of the book than in the romantic relationship between Nox, Siobhan, and Bastian. (Bastian particularly. Seriously, I didn’t care for him.)
Katee excels at writing polyamorous romance storylines, but I wasn’t as convinced by this one as I have been with the other poly romance stories in their Dark Olympus series. This particular story is a slow burn between the characters, so don’t expect steamy scenes until towards the end. Additionally, the intensity of their interactions is milder compared to other books I’ve read by Katee.
Overall, I give this book three stars and truly wish I had enjoyed it more. It had potential, but I wasn’t fully invested like I was with the second book in the series.
Would I recommend this book? Yes. Even though I didn’t enjoy this book, it doesn’t mean I wouldn’t recommend it. This is one trilogy I would recommend to Fantasy Romance readers who are seeking a fast-paced, action-packed adventure filled with diverse characters involved in a rebellion.
What to Expect:
✔️M/F/NB Romance
✔️Pirate Fantasy Romance
✔️Second Chance
✔️Forced Proximity
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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