Thrilling fantasy ride- other world portals, pirates, vampires and great characters! Hunt on dark waters is one of the best books I've read this year!
I always open a Katee Roberts book with anticipatory glee as I know I will go on a journey. This first in a new series book did not disappoint. The main character, Evie is just so great. Her mannerisms, language, ferocity and her strong character made me root for her throughout the book.

Evie stumbles into a portal at her lovers house, Lizzie who happens to be a powerful vampire and is rescued by a crew of mythical sailors who give off strong pirate vibes. Evie manages to get under Captain Bowens skin from the get go, but they have bigger problems to overcome then the undeniable chemistry that the two have. The book is full of diverse characters, plenty of spicy love scenes and fast paced to keep a reader hooked. I can't wait until the next book in the series is released. Thanks to Netgalley for allowing me to read this ARC!

My first Katee Robert book, and I could not put this down. I read most of it in a single day as I couldn't stop reading it. So so good.
Will be picking up other Katee Robert books asap!

"Hunt On Dark Waters" by Katee Robert is one epic ride! This book kicks off a sick new series with a killer plot and world-building that totally sucked me in. Magic, danger, and a bunch of intriguing characters make this a must-read.

The story follows Evelyn, a badass witch with a knack for making bad decisions and living on the edge. She pulls off a daring heist from her vampire ex, but things go haywire, and she ends up getting thrown into another realm through a mysterious portal. That's when she meets Bowen and his crew of seafarers, led by a telekinetic captain. Talk about a wild encounter! Evelyn's now got to make a life-changing decision - join the crew or face some serious consequences.

The chemistry between Evelyn and Bowen is off the charts! Evelyn's all fiery and determined, while Bowen's all about duty and loyalty to his crew. Watching their bond grow and the complexity of their situation was mind-blowing.

The backdrop of the Threshold, an in-between realm with portals to different dimensions, is wicked cool. Bowen's crew is part of a naval force that keeps those portals safe, but when Evelyn shows up, she starts questioning the whole system. It adds some serious conflict to the mix.

Katee Robert totally nailed the balance between building this fantastical world and keeping us guessing. The pacing is spot-on, keeping the action and magic flowing. And let's not forget the romance - it's swoon-worthy and spicy!

In a nutshell, "Hunt On Dark Waters" is a killer debut for this fantasy saga. If you're into magic, action, and romance, this book is the bomb. I'm totally psyched for the next installment, can't wait to dive deeper.

4⭐️

This was such a fun fantasy read, I loved Evelyn as the main character she was badass and knew her own strength. The character development and her and Bowen throughout the book really showed and I can’t wait to see what happens next in the series! Exciting, steamy, great characters and action packed are just a few ways to describe the first book in Katee Roberts new fantasy series: Crimson Sails.

“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....“

Thank you to @netgalley @katee_robert and @penguinrandomhouse for the e-arc of this book, releasing 7th November!

I did not realise this would be a series and I am now eagerly hunting for the pre-order button for book two.

I really loved it. Katee Roberts knows how to write spicy romance, that was never in any doubt, she's written some of the hottest scenes I've read across all her books, and now it's clear she can write pirate action too.

I loved Evelyn and her chaos, it's quite rare to find an FMC so authentically out for themselves, at least at the start, and I found that honesty and openness really refreshing. I also loved that she was strong and fearless but not wildly overpowered. She was certainly decent in a fight but plenty of people outmatched her throughout the book. So often when creating a badass FMC in romantasy books the author just makes them so powerful that no-one can compete and it gets a bit boring. I loved that Evelyn was skilled in other ways, and that despite being not the strongest, she didn't back down from a fight.

Bowen was also a really fun character to get to know, it's enjoyable to watch a lawful good character realise that they're actually the villain, and contend with how that affects their world view.

I genuinely can't wait to spend more time with both of them and of course Lizzie, the violent vampire queen of my heart.

Katee Robert could publish her grocery list and I would read it. I’ve never been so enamored by an author who writes such a wide diverse of characters. You would think one day she would miss, but she certainly didn’t with this book! The characters and the world she created were absolutely beautiful. I will be recommending to all of my friends.

This book had me torn. I really wanted to love it and plot sounded like just my thing but there was something missing for me.

The characters were likeable but lacked real depth. I didn’t feel their chemistry and the romance felt rushed. The spice was well written and made up for the some of the missing chemistry but it just wasn’t enough.

I felt it was also lacking the detailed world building you usually get with fantasy stories.

If you love pirate fantasy, you may well love this but it didn’t quite hit the spot for me.

3 ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher (Random House UK and Cornerstone) for providing a copy of the book for review. All opinions are my own and provided willingly.

3.5 stars

* Hero(s) - 3/5 I just love a man who like to eat...
I did not like Bowen in the first few chapters, but in the end he was okay I guess. There was not much in the plot that made this character interesting, only his "origins" and repressed superpower(s) He has his own agenda and rules to go by but his annoyance and attraction toward Evelyn starts a domino effect that moves along the plot just fine.

* Heroine(s) - 3/5 Evelyn and I would be never ever be friends...
She is to impulsive and chaotic for my liking and I found her annoying and over the top. As a quiet person this is not my cup of tea. I never really could guess what she will do, she was a mess. But once again, her character went through some improvements by the end of this book.

* Secondary Characters - 4/5
I loved Lizzie and a bit disappointed not to meet Maeve yet, as I just adore selkies. I have never finished the Bloodline Vampires series by KR, but I quickly word searched Lizzie as I was curious about her and her connection to this series. She is a sister of one of the love interest of the main character.
The side characters are all interesting in a way. Some interact with the main characters more than others. I like that Katee includes all genders. I needed to google the different pronouns and meanings because english is not my first language and it was confusing for me, so that made it a bit challenging at times. Once again they move along the plot okay, some of the side characters also building the "big picture plot", some are only there to get us into the right direction and all.

* Plot/Storyline - 4/5
I love pirates and I was a big fan of Black Sails, so this was something I absolutely love to read about. There was not much pirating/hunting on dark waters, but that's okay. The fantasy vibes (slightly) are there, and since this is not a stand alone, I hope all the plot holes will be sorted out later. Portals and reappearing islands, conspiracy Wild Hunt and all...

* Romance/Steam - 4/5
Hot. Hot. Hot.
But Katee Robert does it sooo well. (for me nothing ever can top her A Touch of Taboo series)

* Drama/Conflict/Angst - 3/5
It was not long suffering pining and long build up to move the plot along, so that was okay. I think more than a half of this book was focused on Bowen and Evelyn, and Lizzie came along only after 60%, but the chemistry works well between the characters and plot. Felt a bit of a mess at times though.

* Worldbuilding/Atmosphere - 3/5
I hope the book will include a map. It was a bit confusing for me to imagine what is going on at times. Maybe because I am a visual person and could not place myself regarding where are we at that specific times. It was only: on the ship or on the island. I had no idea about the other elements. I like when things gets repeatedly explained until I am familiar with the world and all.

* Writing Style - 4/5
I can see how KR writing is evolving into something different. Compared to previous series like Wicked Villains & Sabine Valley (for me it was the best KR era), but this book is still enjoyable. Just not my favorite writing style anymore.

* Cover: Beautiful - 4/5 I will probably get one of the UK editions when available
* Character Arts - 5/5 Stunning and absolutely gorgeous!
You can see them in Katee Robert's twitter posts:
https://twitter.com/katee_robert/status/1666846119106863105
https://twitter.com/katee_robert/status/1668609146990780416

"I've always liked to play things too close to the edge. Hope-fully this time wont kick me in the ass.”

A Brilliant, Fun, Light hearted read I could not get enough off, If you are a lover of fast paced, Insta-love, grumpy sunshine then this one is perfect.

'Most people don't want to be the villain, that doesn't mean they don't stumble into it by mistake"

Katee Robert is an author I can't resist reading immediately, so when I had the chance to dive into an advance e-copy of Hunt on Dark Waters, I couldn't pass it up. This delightful tale had all the elements I love—wit, charm, and a captivating protagonist like Evie, who effortlessly became my favourite badass female character

"Fascinating, you're like a windup toy, Question the laws and that's your only response”

Evelyn possesses a dangerous combination of impulsive tendencies—a penchant for questionable partners, sticky fingers, and an insatiable craving for thrill and a thrill she is sure to get when she finds herself running from her vampire ex and stumbling into a portal that transports her to a different realm, where shes not given much of a choice but to join there crew or die and of course the tension starts between Evie and our main man himself Bowen who while trying to stay loyal to his oath to safeguard the portals that connect there realms he cant help be lured by the Evie and her thievish ways, as tension brews between the two Bowen finds he loses as much as he gains as they suffer the consequences of there lust and Evelyn's questioning ways.

"Putting in extra effort for no damn reason doesn't make you a saint...Efficiency isn't a bad thing as long as you don't forget your routes.”

While instant love typically doesn't capture my interest, I'm willing to make an exception for Hunt on Dark Waters. Unfolding over the course of approximately a week, the love between the characters goes from 0 - 100 pretty quickly giving us an intense, and deeply spicy connection. From the very moment Evelyn is dragged onto Bowen's boat, Katee gives us that attraction.

"Every noble cause loved a martyr, but your name living as a legend wont matter much when your warm food.”

The plot of the story is intertwined with an abundance of witty banter, which adds an extra layer of charm. It's through this banter that Evelyn's likability shines brightly making Hunt on Dark Waters a fast paced likable read add in the side characters and we have everything we need for wanting more because I definitely need more of Nox.. I can't wait to read more in this series.

Not really a fan of this. The romance was rushed, the worldbuilding was weak and it was hard to understand what was going on. I think the romance really needed a lot more development you couldn't really tell why these two liked each other at all. Lizzie was an interesting character and I'd like to see more of her.

[ARC provided by NetGalley and Random House UK, Cornerstone, Del Rey. Thank you for the opportunity to read and review Hunt On Dark Waters.]

Rating: 3/5

There’s a lot of fun to be had with Hunt On Dark Waters but ultimately, this was not the book for me. I can appreciate the fast paced plot and diverse characters but when I’m reading a fantasy, generally I prefer worldbuilding that is rich and characters with depth which I felt this book was lacking. That being said, if you know what you’re going into, I think a lot of people will really enjoy this. The plot is filled with adventure and romance and if you’re looking for a fantasy that you can easily get through, definitely check this one out.

Hunt On Dark Waters introduces us to Evelyn, a witch who has a penchant for pick-pocketing and bad bed partners. When she finds herself needing a quick getaway from her very angry vampire ex, she manages to escape to a whole new realm filled with danger, portals to other worlds and, most importantly, pirates that follow a ruthless code. When she is fished out of the waters in Threshold, the magical sea that exists between realms, she must make the vow to join the Cŵn Annwn, a collection of seafarers that hunt down the monsters that exist within this world.

The main theme in this story is romance and from the beginning of the book, the tension between Evelyn and Bowen, the Captain of the Crimson Hag, is palpable. It perhaps veered a little too into the regions of ‘insta-love’ for me but I can’t deny that their developing romance was fun to read. One thing that I would have loved to find out more about was the magical abilities mentioned in this world. I think I would have connected a lot more with the story if there was some further explanation regarding that but as there are more books to come, questions surrounding that topic may be answered later.

Overall, if you’re looking for a fast-paced, high-stakes adventure and a pirate love interest with a very intriguing magical ability, then you should definitely check this book out. Although I’m likely not the target audience for Hunt On Dark Waters, I’m certain that a lot of people will have fun with this one.

I do not think I was the right audience for this book and as such will try and give it a fair review.

The characterisation / character development of this felt a little lacking and I struggled to connect with any of the characters, I think if they were to be a little more established this might not have been the case. I will say, it was a very quick and easy Sunday read and was the palate cleanser I needed between more "literary" books.

Hunt on Dark Waters follows Evelyn as she tries to escape her lover and ends up jumping through a portal that lands her in unknown waters to be picked up by a band of pirates.

The romance was fast and at some points a little obvious but in the right hands this will be the perfect Autumnal (when it is released) read.

Hunt on Dark Waters - This book, has me so conflicted. Whilst the characters were not really gripping. I found the plot really engaging and exceptionally clever. I loved the pirate element - and the portal storyline.

I really didn't like Lizzie and I really didn't like the pace. It felt like things were thrown in and over within the blink of an eye. The romance went from 0-100 in about 2 seconds and it kept at that pace the entire way through the book.

I liked the introduction of the mystery, and that was possibly the only part of the book that didn't go by at 100mph because it's setting you up for the next one (which I still totally want to read to be part of the adventure into all their unanswered questions).

It's been a few days since I read this one and it's taken that long to sensibly write down why I did/didn't like it. Would I reread? probably not. Would I continue the series? Absolutely.

This is the first instalment in Katee Roberts new pirate fantasy series. I thought that the spice was really good but a bit insta-lovey for my liking… And not a lot happened throughout the book.

A fantastic start to an exciting new fantasy series from Katee[]p./ Robert. There's the perfect amount of world building for a first book in a series and I was hooked from start to finish. Evelyn is our feisty, fierce main character and Bowen is our MMC whose world is turned upside down by Evelyn's arrival. There's also a really strong, diverse list of secondary characters whom I'm sure we'll learn more about over the series. Hunt of Dark Waters starts in the real world, but Evelyn ends up in the Threshold, an inbetween-realm made of islands that each house portals to different dimensions. Bowen is part of a naval force that polices the seas and captures people traveling between portals, but with Evelyn’s influence he begins to see the cracks in the system he’s been a part of his whole life.

Can't wait to find out what else is in store for Evelyn and Bowen!

A fun NA read. Would recommend for those who love easygoing fantasy romance. Not my favourite tropes, and I didn’t really take to either of the main characters which is probably why I didn’t enjoy this as much as other readers. But a case of, “it’s not you, it’s me”! Think the right readers would LOVE this.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Katee Roberts has done it again, this novel is a fantastic read. Can’t wait to read the rest of the series!

Oh this got good real quick! Not at all what I was expecting...thrilling fantasy, pirates (or their cousins?), variety of sea monsters...Ugh this was so good. Just read it. Needless to the spice was good and dosed right. Counting down the days to the next book!

Special thanks to Random House UK and Netgalley for proving an advance copy in exchange for an honest review!

Katee Roberts has yet again hooked me into a whole new world, I absolutely love her ability to world build and still deliver a sizzling romance too.

I’ve previously read a couple of Katee Roberts series but this may become one of my favourites. The story was griping from start to finish and I can’t wait to find out what happens next!

Alas, this was not for me. Poor characterization meant I did not connect to the characters or find the romance particularly compelling. Steamy scenes were a letdown. I quickly found myself skimming. Disappointing, but perhaps others will love this.