Thanks to Netgalley for this digital copy. I love the cover, it immediately reminded me of the movie "Luca" and once I started reading it, it became quite clear that the book was heavily inspired by this aforementioned movie. Due to that, it was unfortunately not a story I found particularly riveting. It wasn definitely not bad, it just didn't add anything that I didn't alrey know from the movie and thus I found it pretty lackluster.
If I didn't know the movie, I probably would've enjoyed it a lot more.

"I told you before. You aren't alone anymore."

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

It follows Atreus, a Mer lives a life as a human. All these years, he lives cautiously, because he doesn't want the humans around him to find out that he's a Mer. But things change quickly when he meet another Mer—Nyel, and they're faced with a bigger problem: Baia Vita, the lovely town they live in, is dying. They have to do something to save Baia Vita, or the beautiful place will be gone forever.

Easy 5 star read. Beautifully written, easy to follow, easy to connect with each characters, engaging plot. This book got me sobbing, it's touching, heart warming, it makes me sad but also makes me happy. I care a lot about Atreus, he definitely deserves the world😭Thank you Nyel for always be by Atreus side😭💗

I appreciate the author for providing the playlist to listen while reading this book to get in the mood, and it works!

A queer book? Well, you know that is going to be a five star read for me. This was so well done. Congrats to the author for this masterpiece.

2.75⭐️

Lots of potential but a lot of issues through out the book

Felt that the author put a lot of thought into the world they created and gave readers a way to easily understand the world at the beginning which I really appreciate and made getting into the world really easy

Sometimes the author over explained things which made the book feel abit juvenile in places it was as if the author thought the reader couldn’t understand simple things without it being spelled out for them

It reads a bit more YA than adult in some parts especially when the focus is on Atreus and Nyel

It wasn’t very clear what era this was set or if the human part of the world was supposed to be a reflection of the actual world or supposed to be completely different with aspects of the past and present of the actual world

I think there was too many pov’s

The author clearly has some great ideas however they have tried to fit so many of them into one short book that none of them are able to fully be explored at the depth needed to make the story great, the same can be said about all the characters they are all interesting with their own unique personalities however there is so many of them that the readers are not able to fully get to know and build a connection with them all

The mood shift between Atreus and Nyel’s povs and Leo and Nephi’s was very jarring and didn’t really make sense being in the same book Atreus and nyel’s pov was light and kind of child like where as Leo and Nephi’s was dark and trauma based those being put together didn’t work and they should have been two separate books

This book has a lot of potential and I am excited to see how the authors writing grows as they write more however with this book you can tell that this is their debut, the pacing is off, the characters aren’t consistent, a lot of the world is confusing and not clear overall it just feels quite rudimentary but there is a lot of potential and I can see how the story could be good and I did enjoy reading some a lot of this book

This is the kind of book you need to be in the right headspace for, that's for sure. There's a ton of lore, and make sure you read the content warnings before starting. It's sad but hopeful, and full of magical mystical vibes. And can we take a moment for that cover art!! It's absolutely stunning. Definitely a book worth checking out.

DNF @ 40%

There's a lot this book had going for it. I love monster romances (both with other monsters and with humans) and the promise of merfolk/human queer love really sold me. It's also nice that this is a hefty book, with promise of sequels -- a real chance to dig in and develop things.

However, it really didn't work for me. The whole story was too clearly Luca fanfic with the serial numbers slightly smudged (not just having the exact same sea monster transformation mechanics and society, but down to the protagonist meeting the other merfolk love interest lead in an abandoned lighthouse). Don't get me wrong, I love fanfic, but it made me feel a bit like I had to be more invested in Luca to engage with it, which I'm just not. There were a dash of other influences I feel like I caught (maybe Valdemar, maybe No.6), but those just felt like influences and not the actual core universe being revisited.

There's more in there than just a retelling, though, with five different point-of-view characters all having their own drama and storylines going on -- though I found this itself a bit jarring, especially because a chapter switch between them sometimes involved jumping back ten years in time, sometimes involved retelling the exact previous chapter from a different point of view, and sometimes involved showing events that the characters had previously told each other about. With this many characters, it was hard to track what was moving the story forward and what was revisiting something we already knew about. It just ended up being too many characters (that said, I would probably have been all over this if it was pared down to just Nephi and Leo's storylines).

It wasn't very consistent in terms of storyline or character motivations; a character would in one moment insist on things being one way and then immediately go back on it with no explanation for the change, or a character immediately switching from fear of humans to immediately becoming obsessed with them. Nyal reads as if he's a good six years younger than he actually is, which is meant to be down to his naivete so I don't mind it entirely, but extended to things like impulsively sticking his hand in water or saying "humans" to humans while pretending to be, himself, human, which made me not really want to see him in a relationship. I DNF'd at the point where one of the characters thought to himself that he couldn't come out to his family as a sodomite because of the shame and humiliation it would cause said family, then coming home two pages later to find that they sold him to a pimp to work on their pleasure boats. There was no acknowledgement of the inconsistency of his own understanding of his family, so it felt like it was just the choices that needed to happen for the plot the author wanted.

The writing was solid and sparse, not overly stylistic but well crafted. It was mostly dialogue and narrative description of events and actions without much wordplay, but it flowed well and was quite readable; I got through the part I read (a couple hundred pages) very smoothly.

All in all, not a story for me, but it might be one for you if you either loved or have never seen/heard of Luca, enjoy a rougher linearity and multiple points of view, and want a slowburn merfolk summer romance that's an easy read and has a found family through-line. Genuinely, I want it to do well and to see more from this author in the future, so if you think these points match your interests, you should check it out.

Thank you to Whispered Words Press and NetGalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

'Storm and Sea' by Tereza Kane is a brilliant tale of love, fear, hate and so much more. It weaves a narrative that navigates the complexities of humanity as a collective, but also individually, so well that I challenge any reader not to find a character they can relate to.

Each chapter is from a particular character's point of view, much like 'Dracula' and 'A Song of Ice and Fire'. That's fine, but what I did not appreciate was when the next chapter starts, it sometimes replays a previous scene from that character's perspective. This made it feel as if I were taking two steps forward and one step back. It frustrated me because I want the story to flow, and when I am crying because a scene is so beautiful, I don't want my tears to stop because we hit rewind.

Kane has created something truly magical here, and I can't wait for the next book.

I received a free copy from the author and through Netgalley. I voluntarily reviewed it and all opinions are my own.

When I spotted this cover on Netgalley I knew I had to read it. Not only is it so pretty, but the vibes made me really excited for this book and the book definitely lives up to what the cover promises. Storm and Sea is a m/m romance featuring mer set in Italy shortly after the second world war. It's a story about found family with lots of cozy and sweet moments, but also can get dark and heavy at times with the threat to the island as well as some well done mental health rep. It has the fish-out-of-water trope (literally as it involves mer on land) and the main romance has grumpy-sunshine vibes. I really enjoyed this book and had a great time reading it.

I hadn't expected this book to grab me as much as it did, but from the first chapter I was hooked and wanted to keep reading. This book had such a great balance between the fun and cozy scenes, but then also could be hard hitting with the emotional scenes. The characters, plot, romance and world building are all so well done. My only complaint might be the few times there are scenes told from both point of views and the few times a new point of view gets introduced and it goes back in time a bit, as those could feel a bit jarring to me.

The characters are all so well written and feel so real and alive. I really liked reading about them. I probably related most to Atreus and some of his mental health struggles could hit a bit close to home, but I thought it was handled and written very well. I felt so bad for him and how he was abandoned by his family and thought there was something wrong with him. And the moments he realizes he has a family and people who care were so emotional and well done. I really liked the slow burn romance between Atreus and Nyel. They were so good together and I really liked how they lifted each other up and were there for the other. It is a very slow burn, but I liked that and thought it worked well here and fit the characters.

Besides the main romance between Atreus and Nyel there are some side characters as well with hints of their own romance. Most of the time I thought the multiple point of views worked well as the focus stays on Atreus and Nyel, but with enough of the others as well. There is Leo, his point of view was probably the darkest and hardest for me to read and I ended skimming some of them when he gets into trouble as I couldn't handle those bits. Nephi's point of view could be tough to read as well, he has been trough a lot and is still struggling, but I also kept feeling that sliver of hope that he would find his way eventually. Then there is Marina and I liked the insight her chapters gave in her personality, the parts she didn't show on the outside. She was always happy and sunny and it was interesting to see the struggles she had as well. There is a set up for possible romances for all of them.

I thought this would be a standalone, but by the end of the book it's clear this is only the first book in the series. I am really excited to see what happens next. The romances and plot lines don't get resolved yet, but I thought it did end in a good place with a feeling of hope. And I can't wait to see how the series continues.

I loved the world building in this book, it was so well done. I liked reading about the mer and their culture, I liked how we get to see a bit of Nyel at home in the sea before he goes on land. I liked how there are different types of mer. I also liked how they are not the typical mermaid with a tail instead of legs, instead these mer have legs like humans, but they have a tail. And they don't have hair. I also liked reading about the Italian city and this cozy island setting.

To summarize: I really liked this book. It grabbed me from the start and I wanted to keep reading. I liked the unique take on the mer as well as the cozy vibes, but the book could also get more dark and heavy in places. The balance between the uplifting cozy themes and the more emotional struggles was well done. There is some well done mental health rep as well as one of the character being dyslexic. The characters are all so well written and feel very alive, they were all very interesting to read about although Leo's point of view could be a bit tough to read and I sometimes skimmed the darker scenes. Atreus mental health struggles could be tough to read about as some of those themes hit close to home, but I did really like reading about him and the moments he realized he has people who care about him were so emotional and wonderful. I liked the way the mer people were described and we see a bit about their culture as well. All in all I had a great time reading this book and I can't wait for the next one.

The biggest problem I had with this book was that it inspired almost nothing in me. It had five POV characters, all of whom had identical voices. Luckily, it was easy to tell from context who the POV character was, but if I stopped reading mid-chapter I might have to take a moment to remember.
The pace was slow, which isn’t always a problem, but it also went nowhere. The mob/gang storyline was just sort of… there… and never felt like a real and present risk even as they actively harmed and terrorized one of the characters. It’s just that we barely saw that, only the aftermath, and only for seconds at a time.
The book is set in post-WWII Italy and that just… literally doesn’t matter. It could be set anywhere coastal except for the Italian phrases thrown in… when the characters are supposedly speaking Italian anyway…. It could be set in any time, as well, as the elements of homophobia (internalized or otherwise) that appear in the TW at the start of the book are just not that present. Also, one of the elders in the book was a soldier. In Italy. In WWII. And the implications of that are never discussed or implied at all. Which, sure, most of the POV characters wouldn’t know all the implications of the human war, but some of them sure would. There’s also a lot of modern references and manners of speech – the Spongebob meme appears twice in the book and had me cringing both times.
A lot of the reviews I’ve seen praise the romance and my main question is: where? One of the ‘romances’ is odd and strained at the best of times and the other doesn’t get there yet by the end of the book.
I didn’t hate this book, though. It just never actually went anywhere. The plot is kind of dead in the water (pardon the pun) and there’s no push back to their solution.
If you want a summertime mermaid book with some family drama and found-family, this is a cute and easy read.

Actual Rating: 3.5 stars

This is a weird book to review. For the most part, I thought it was very well written and had a lot of potential. Unfortunately, I also think this book had too much going on in it. I understand that this will be a series, but I still would've preferred if it focused mainly on at most only 3 character POVs (being Atreus, Nyel and Marina) rather than trying to cram in Nelpi and Leo's POVs. It felt more complete when it was focusing on the story between Atreus and Nyel, rather than trying to add another potential romantic subplot to the mix. I also think it was extremely irresponsible NOT to give warnings about implied SA. There are two scenes in the book that hint at it, and for one characters POV, it somewhat overshadows the rest of their story. The book also gets somewhat more violent than the 'mild violence' warning would hint at.

That's not to say that this book is entirely without merit. I think the writing is really nice, especially for a debut. I think a lot about this book makes sense, and I really like a lot of the characters. Marina in particular is a favourite, and I enjoy Atreus as a main character. This would really make for a great graphic novel, especially with how descriptive the mer are made out to be.

However...I don't have a lot of other positives. I think Nyel as a character was pushy and immature, even knowing that he was inexperienced with the world. The narrative does eventually reward him for it though, and its unfair in my eyes. I also didn't like Nephi much as a character; maybe a potential book 2 would make me like him more, but he was too aggressive for me and his POV chapters felt at odds with the others. Leo's POV chapters were also somewhat at odds, but I felt that they were much better written. That said, I don't appreciate him much as a character when it comes to interactions. Some of them made no sense in regards to certain characters and it just felt incredibly off with others.

Overall, I think this book is still a solid book! I don't think its quite perfect, however, but I don't think it needs to be either.

Atreus has been a mer carefully and stable life among humans ever since he was exiled and abandoned due to the color of his scales. Nyel is a coddled mer trying to escape his suffocating life when he stumbles upon Atreus' home in an abandoned light house and totally disrupting Atreus peace and potentially his safety.

Atreus initially doesn't want Nyel to stick around, with the added worry of Nyel's seemingly dangerous half brother and both trying not to let the humans they care about know what they really are.

I enjoyed the split narrative, you get many different characters POVs in this story and it really helps to flesh the story out and give even the side characters a lot of personally. You grow to care about this whole village and the people in it.

I will stay this book has a lot darker themes than I was anticipating. The ending also felt open, not sure if there is a second book planned?

While the story is queer, it is very slow burn and don't expect much to happen between our main characters. If you go in expecting romance you'll likely be disappointed.

This story feels like it was heavily inspired by the movie Luca, but better! I like the way mer are described here. I always love a good found family story and this one is lovely. I'm not sure if more are planed, but sign me up for the next book!

Thank you NetGalley and Victory Editing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a beautifully written book that feels much like the summer season it describes--sunny and bright with hints of storm clouds. I read it in a single sitting (always the sign of a good story, if I can't put it down), and Atreus and Nyel's story flowed like the ocean they hail from, at times slow like rippling waves on the sand, at other points fast like surf churned by stormy weather. I found myself disappointed when I reached the end; so many questions left unanswered, but I'm pleased to hear it is only the first in its series, and other readers will no doubt be delighted with the prospect of more Mer adventures to come.

I also appreciated both the glossary of terms at the front of the book as well as the trigger warnings, though unfortunately the warning I would have been most concerned about was not included, specifically that of implied SA in one part of the book. Prospective readers should take note of this if they prefer to avoid such content. Although the lack of warning did mar my enjoyment a bit, the situation was at least handled in a fade-to-black manner without going into detail. I would have preferred to see the character responsible punished for their crimes, but it seems that justice must wait for the next book.

In spite of that one dark cloud on the horizon, I did very much enjoy this magical story, and I recommend it (with the above warning in mind) to fellow readers who love tales about merfolk.

Storm and Sea is a slow burn MM mermaid fantasy romance set in historic Italy. You can tell the author put a great deal of effort and care into crafting all of the details. The setting felt vividly real, and I got very emotionally attached to the characters quickly. It was heartbreaking at time, but overall a very hopefully and uplifting story about overcoming prejudices and being your authentic self. It was a great debut, and I'm anxious for news about the sequel.

If you love the movie Luca, this book is perfect for you. The characters were great, the setting was great and I also loved how the ending was not really any ending but a beginning for us two main characters.

"He'd once heard Marina call Atreus' freckles 'angel kisses.' Nyel preferred to think of them as tiny constellations, like a map of stars scattered across his skin. He wondered where they led."

Well, I think it's safe to say that Baia Vita has absolutely captivated me with it's charm and cast of vibrant characters!! 

In Storm and Sea, we follow the story of Atreus and Nyel - two Mer from completely opposite backgrounds who meet by chance but change the tide of eachother's lives forever. Atreus is cold and quiet - he's been living under the radar in the fishing village of Baia Vita for years. An outsider whilst under the sea, the exiled Mer has fought to create a peaceful life for himself amongst the humans above. Nyel is bright and kind - all he's ever known is kelp farming and the pressures of forming a Lifebond. But after fighting with his family one night, he comes crashing into Atreus' perfectly crafted life like a tidal wave. Together, this unlikely pair will navigate love and friendship whilst confronting age-old prejudices and a common enemy in order to save their home. 

"He didn't consider his upbringing homely. But this place... This is where memories are made. This is a place for family."

I absolutely fell in LOVE with the world Tereza has created, from the beautiful descriptions of the island of Baia Vita to the heartwarming community cultivated by it's residents - it really does sound like a dream destination!! I feel like the multi-POV really drove the story forward and whilst I was reading, I really felt like I was part of the friend group! The side characters Marina, Leofel and Nephi really captured my heart and I cannot WAIT to follow their stories into the rest of the trilogy!! I have such a soft spot for Giovanni too... I am a sucker for a found family trope, what can I say!! Also, the playlists and song descriptions from the start of the book were an AMAZING addition and really gave a deeper insight into the characters! 

If you love found family, LGBTQIA+ rep and a character driven story all set against the sun-drenched backdrop of Italy, then you are going to absolutely fall in LOVE with this debut!! 

5 stars!

This was a very satisfying Mer (merfolk) tale. It was a nice break from my usual reads, and I’m looking forward to the future books in the series because since I’ve finished this book, I have questions!

Atreus and Nyel are fascinating characters, one exiled from the Mer community and the other taking some time away from family expectations. Both end up living on land in a small fishing village that is facing its own troubles.

Together, the seasoned outcast, Atreus, and the unexpected and wide-eyed Nyel learn to live together, to embrace their feelings that grow for each other, and to work together to try to save the town and people they have come to love.

Told from the point of view of each of the characters, it was truly a fascinating experience to read this book. You get so much depth for each of the characters, even some of the more minor characters, with the way the author wrote this story.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher/author for this copy of the book.

This was fine. Not bad, not great—just okay. The concept had a lot of promise: an exiled Mer hiding among humans, a runaway Mer shaking up his carefully built life, and a criminal family threatening their village? That’s a setup I can get behind. Unfortunately, the execution didn’t fully land for me.

The biggest struggle was the pacing. It took me a while to really get into the story because there was a lot of over-explaining and info-dumping, especially in the beginning. Every detail about Mer society, human life in the village, and character backstories felt like it was being spoon-fed instead of naturally woven in. It slowed things down when I wanted to feel the tension rather than be told about it.

That said, I did enjoy Atreus and Nyel’s dynamic once it found its footing. Atreus is the grumpy, reluctant mentor type, while Nyel is the naive but determined disruptor, and their interactions had some solid moments. The found family theme was nice, and I appreciated the exploration of identity and belonging. The stakes with the criminal family added an extra layer of conflict, though I wish it had been a bit more gripping.

Overall, Storm and Sea had a strong premise and some good emotional beats, but the heavy exposition made it a bit of a slog at times. If you don’t mind a slower, lore-heavy fantasy with a focus on character relationships, you might enjoy this one more than I did!

One of the standout features of Storm and Sea is its lush and evocative world-building. Kane paints a vivid tapestry of life both above and below the waves, from the sun-drenched shores of Baia Vita to the shimmering depths of the Mer’s underwater realm. The interplay between these two worlds creates a sense of wonder and contrast, immersing readers in a setting that feels both magical and deeply grounded in its emotional truths.

Atreus and Nyel are unforgettable protagonists, each carrying their own scars and dreams. Atreus’s quiet strength and his journey toward embracing his identity make him a deeply relatable and inspiring figure, while Nyel’s fiery determination and vulnerability bring a refreshing energy to the story. Their evolving bond—from wary strangers to kindred spirits—is a joy to witness, filled with tender moments and heartfelt growth that will leave readers rooting for them every step of the way.

The plot strikes a perfect balance between intimate character-driven moments and larger-than-life stakes. The threat posed by the criminal family adds a layer of urgency and tension, while the villagers’ struggle for survival underscores the themes of community and resilience. The pacing is masterful, seamlessly weaving together moments of quiet reflection with pulse-pounding action, ensuring that the story never loses its emotional core.

Storm and Sea is a must-read for fans of LGBTQ+ fantasy and stories that explore the complexities of love, identity, and belonging. Tereza Kane has created a novel that is as heart-warming as it is thrilling, offering readers a chance to lose themselves in a world of myth, magic, and the enduring power of connection.

Thematically, Storm and Sea is a celebration of love, acceptance, and the courage to forge one’s own path. It’s a story that reminds us of the power of found family and the beauty of embracing who we are, even in the face of prejudice. Kane handles these themes with grace and sensitivity, crafting a narrative that is as uplifting as it is thought-provoking.

If there is a minor critique, it’s that the early chapters take their time to set the stage, but this deliberate pacing only serves to deepen the emotional payoff as the story unfolds.

With its richly imagined world, compelling characters, and a tender LGBTQ+ romance, this book is perfect for fans of found family stories, mythical creatures, and tales of resilience in the face of adversity.

This book really has so much going for it. The world and the characters really dragged me in and although the beginning was a bit slow one it got its claws into me I couldn't put it down.

I really appreciate that it started with a glossary. Although I didn't need to reference it a lot since the book did give a good job of world building I have the memory of a goldfish and always appreciate having the ability to go back to reference it.

Nyel and Atreus both absolutely stole my heart, and I loved watching them go from hesitance and fighting each other to more. Though I will add I saw this marketed as a romance and if you're going into it for that you'll likely be disappointed. It is extremely slow burn to the point where sometimes I forgot it wasn't just a plain old fantasy book and was meant to have a romance plot.

First I want to thank @Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for allowing me to read this as an ARC through NetGalley. I have posted to Goodreads this review as well.

This book was, overall, breathtaking. I really enjoyed reading it, as it had an amount of lore and fantasy that I enjoy, while also tying it to our real world. While reading there is something that most people will notice. This book is Luca, but grown up. There are many similarities, but I don't want to spoil the book. If you liked Luca, you will like this book. Artreus and Nyel were amazing characters. I cried, and laughed, and overall fell in love with the area that Tereza wrote.

However, I cannot give it a perfect 5 stars. At the beginning of the book there is a 10 page glossary including trigger warnings, pronunciation guides, lore explanations, and details of gods. I had a few problems with that. First, the trigger warnings. Despite having 9 trigger warnings there were two HUGE triggers left off the list. There is a fade-to-black r*pe scene, and a character becomes s**dical. There is also mentions of child/baby d*ath.

Second, there was no need for the lore explanations or gods details. Despite having them at the beginning in the glossary, the story adequately tells you the details of the lore and gods as you read. The glossary itself then feels unnecessary and maybe was included as a lore dump by the author.

Lastly; this book takes place post WWII in Italy. One of the main characters grandfathers regales the group with stories of his time in the Navy... During WWII.... In Italy... So grandpa was an Axis power soldier. At no point is that actually explained to the reader, but it made me uncomfortable to know myself that grandpa was probably killing Allied soldiers, who were trying to stop the Holocaust.

Again, overall, I enjoyed the book, but make sure you're aware of these things before diving into it.