I received a copy from Netgalley.
I was blown away by this book in a way I did not expect. This isn't my usual genre (mermaid-ish) but I'm so glad I took the chance on it. I've never read a book quite like it.
From the first page, the writing drew me in. The world-building was so captivating.
I loved the mystery and the myths woven through the storyline. The slow-burn romance was done so well too.
I read this book in one day, I just couldn't put it down.
At times, I did find it a little long and drawn out, but then again I wouldn't have wanted it too much shorter.
Morgana was well written and I liked her relationships with the other characters too; especially Edward.

3.5

This was an enjoyable read. It was nice being in a fantasy that focused on underwater fantasy creatures. I haven't read a mermaid fantasy in the longest time!

I didn't particularly feel very connected to any of the characters. Morgana read as a very young 20 year old. I found it hard to understand her reactions when information was revealed.

The romance wasn't my fave. It was quite insta-lusty. Though there were some swoon worthy lines from Finn.

I loved the development of the world. The drowned, mermaids, selkies etc were all really fascinating. And I enjoyed the underwater politics.

This book had some cool elements — eerie coastal setting, ancient curses, mysterious underwater magic — but I just couldn’t get past the whole selkie thing. Trying to take the main character seriously while imagining her as a seductive seal-woman was… a challenge.
Morgana is a strong lead on paper, and there are emotional moments that almost pulled me in, but every time she swam off dramatically or did anything “seal-like,” I just couldn’t stay in the moment. It’s hard to feel tension when you’re picturing flippers. That said, the writing is atmospheric and the world-building is pretty solid if you’re into coastal myth and mystical ocean lore. I think readers who vibe with selkie mythology or want something different in the fantasy-romance space might enjoy this way more than I did.

Thank you so much to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC opportunity!

Thanks to the publisher for the ARC!

5 stars — loved, loved this! The mythology and lore were seriously amazing. The story pulled me in right away and I couldn’t put it down. Flew through it in no time. Super unique and unlike anything I’ve read lately. Highly recommend if you’re into dark, myth-filled fantasy!

Y'all already know a mermaid romantasy HATES to see me coming. Except, this one just didn't hit the mark for me.

I thought all the mythology that was included was super cool (I love selkies) and the setting taking place in Scotland really added to the magical vibe. The drowned being introduced basically living in an underwater hell was one of my favorite parts. I honestly found the mythology/lore to be the best part!

However, the romance and the characters were lacking that it took away from the rest of the book. I really could NOT get behind Morgana. At times, she just felt so immature that it made the spicy scenes feel gross. And honestly, the "mysteriousness" at the beginning with Finn just made him feel creepy rather than intriguing. And after that, I had a hard time connecting to him.

Overall, the book had potential but needed major character improvement.

This was my first ever sea type fantasy book and what a book!! It moved at just the right pace and the story had gripped my curiosity from the get go. Very enjoyable read and the concept was very unique.

Sea of Evil & Desire swept me into a hauntingly beautiful underwater world where love, betrayal, and destiny collide. J. Strelou’s writing is immersive and lyrical, and the oceanic setting adds a rich, almost mythic quality to the narrative. The characters are layered and compelling, especially the protagonist, who grapples with forces both within and beyond her control. The story is paced well, with enough intrigue and emotional depth to keep me turning the pages. While a few moments felt slightly predictable, the overall execution and world-building more than made up for it. The romance is intense and complicated—just the way I like it—and the themes of love versus ruin are handled with care. Highly recommend for fans of fantasy with a darker, romantic edge. Looking forward to the next installment in The Deep Saga!

Sea of Evil and Desire | J. Strelou
⭐️⭐️⭐️/5.71

Sea of Evil and Desire is a moody fantasy filled with dark mer and ocean-themed, prophecies, forbidden love, and slow, slow burn. It follows Morgana as she explores Ruadán’s Port, a Scottish Isle, and learns about her families history while getting to know Finn, a tall, dark, mysterious, and secretive newcomer to the town.

I’m obsessed with the world created in a Sea of Evil and Desire. Ruadán’s Port has the perfect amount of dark, moody, mystery with a small, European village atmosphere, that I was sucked right into. The magic system and world building was at times a bit difficult to follow though, and at other times we got a lot of telling, which took away from the complexity of the atmosphere.

I’m excited to see more of the relationship in the next book. It is definitely a slow burn, but I’m hoping it will lead somewhere as their story progresses and that their chemistry will continue to grow as well. Morgana is sheltered from how she grew up, but at times her immaturity made the gap between her and Finn seem a little too large.

Overall, it took me a little to get into, but once I got going I was hooked, and I’ll definitely be looking out for the next one!

Here’s my CAWPILE review breakdown for Sea of Evil and Desire. Thank you so much to NetGalley and Julia Střelou for the eARC, in exchange for my honest review.

Characters: 5
Atmosphere: 7
Writing: 5
Plot: 6
Intrigue: 7
Logic/relationships: 5
Enjoyment: 5

Average: 5.71/⭐️⭐️⭐️

Three stars for me. The middle was really good and I liked the overall concept of this book but the end felt rushed and the beginning just didn't stack up. I wish there was a bit more world building and back and forth. I would've liked more POV from the MMC as well which I think would have given a lot more depth to the story. Overall it was okay--I wanted to finish it, but not sure I will continue with the series.

Sea of Evil and Desire by J. Strelou
(DNF at 25%)

I really wanted to love this one—the premise is so intriguing, with a dark, mysterious atmosphere that hints at both danger and longing. The world and concept had a lot of potential, and I could see glimpses of something really unique unfolding.

That said, I personally found the pacing a little slow for my taste, and it didn’t quite pull me in the way I’d hoped. I think this could absolutely work for readers who enjoy a slower burn, immersive build-up, and aren’t in a rush to dive into action right away. If you’re someone who loves to really settle into a world and take your time with the characters, this might be a great fit for you.

Even though it wasn’t the right match for me right now, I still appreciate the creativity behind it and hope to revisit it in the future when I’m in the mood for something slower and moodier.

I really enjoyed this book. I love fantasy that crosses over with a contemporary setting and also have a love of Scotland so this was a perfect setting. It explores Celtic mythology and ocean creatures from folklore including Mer, Selkies and Sirens. This type of ocean fantasy was a new sub-genre to me but a refreshing change from Fae and dragons.
The main characters are interesting and complex both with history to unpack and the dual POV helps explore their lives. By the end I did question whether their relationship was going to span the books or how it will develop as Finn is hard to read.

The writing is beautiful and all of the different sea creatures we encounter are described well. The prose also beautifully depicts the ocean setting and you really can imagine being underwater with the characters. Sometimes I got a bit lost in the fight scenes and had to reread to understand them better but that could just be me adjusting to the unique magic and ways of fighting too.

The book ended with less of a cliffhanger than other typical fantasy series but instead wove in threads that will build into an epic ocean quest in the second book Sea of Pleasure and Pain with a possible release late 2025.

Thank you to J Petrilou and Netgalley for allowing me to read this epic ocean fantasy which is now available. I look forward to diving in to Morgana and Finns next adventure soon.

ARC provided via NetGalley


Sea of Evil and Desire had all the right ingredients for a standout romantasy—an immersive underwater world, mysterious characters, and a moody tone—but unfortunately, the final product just didn’t land for me.

Let’s start with what worked:
The setting was by far the strongest part of the book. The underwater world felt fresh and visually vivid, and it’s clear the author put thought into building something unique. It had the potential to be a lush, atmospheric story perfect for a moody autumn read.

I also enjoyed a few of the side characters, and there were scattered moments of beautiful prose that hinted at what this book could have been.

But beyond that, I struggled.
The pacing was inconsistent—slow in the wrong places, rushed in others—and it made it hard for me to stay engaged. There were long stretches where nothing meaningful happened, and when key moments did arrive, they lacked emotional weight.

The main character was difficult to connect with. Though she's written as an adult, her thoughts and actions often came across as overly naive and immature. I found myself getting frustrated with her decisions, especially given the dangerous world she was navigating. I love flawed heroines, but I need to understand them—and here, I just couldn’t.

As for the romance: it never quite clicked for me. There were hints of tension and a few nice lines, but most of the connection relied on physical attraction without enough substance or slow burn to back it up. I wanted depth, emotional development, chemistry. What I got felt surface-level and rushed.

In the end, this book had a great concept and atmosphere, but I personally needed more depth, consistency, and emotional connection to truly enjoy it.

This book started off with a very intriguing preface, and I will admit that despite its unpolished writing style, I was engaged for about half of the book.
The things I liked? The main character was interesting, and had an interesting ‘skill’ that caused her some grief as it was not kindly explained away in the rationale world. The idea of a Mer-kingdom and Selkirk shifters was new to me and sounded very interesting. It has a lot of potential to really be unique and exciting.
However…
The writing wasn’t quite mature enough. It seemed to be more fumbled running thoughts than a coherent plot. There were elements that were introduced as important (like her skill of reading emotion) that then seemed to fall off the radar like they no longer mattered. The characters were not consistent at all and had no solid foundation. It seemed their mannerisms, morals, etc changed on a whim with very shallow if any explanations. The entire plot scattered after half way through the book and it felt like the author was trying to drag the story across glass shards kicking and screaming. The narrative felt too forced and not natural which made it difficult to get through the last half.

What can I say… this book completely and utterly devoured me. The setting was truly magical with all of the under-sea creatures one could ask for. I loved the romance but also that it didn’t overtake the story, it only added to it.

The 1st book hasn’t even been released and I’m already hanging out for the next

The underwater world in this book was so intriguing and beautiful! I felt like the underwater kingdom politics were so unique and I lived for the layers of betrayal throughout the underwater kingdom. I enjoyed the back and forth between the different territories as well as between land and sea in general because I constantly was wanting to see more of the world in the book. I am always a fiend for underwater books and this one did not disappoint!!

Goodness me, this was such a good book. Highly entertaining. Would definitely recommend to others, that's for sure!

This is an absolutely a must read; I was hooked from the very beginning!

If you like:

Dual POV
Slow-burn romance
Prophecy
Sea Folklore
Cliff-Hanger Ending
This book is for you!!

More on the book:
Morgana finds herself in Ruadán’s Port, Scotland after the passing of her grandmother. Strange things begin to happen, drawing her to the sea where she discovers there is something dark and mysterious at play. Morgana meets a mysterious man named Finn, who draws her in, Follow Morgana as she discovers the truth behind the family secrets and why she drawn to this mysterious man.

The lore is amazing, and the cliff hanger is chef’s kiss! I cannot wait to read the next book!

* I received a free e-copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review. *

Thank you to NetGalley and J. Strelou for the ARC copy,
When I saw Selkies, and Scotland and the coast I knew I wanted to read this!

This novel will appeal to readers of Dark romantic fantasy, lovers of the sea and those who like a very slow burn romance.
The novel follows Morgana, a midwestern teen who moves to Scotland to be near her Grandfather after her Grandmother has passed. Almost immediately after she arrives she meets the mysterious stranger Finn who seems like he might be a bit of a "bad boy" SO of course the combo of bad boy and good girl is immediately familiar and hard to resist.
As Morgana explores her new home, she becomes more and more aware that she "isn't like the other girls" and her true nature is eventually revealed to her, as she tries to figure out her place in the world and her relationship with Finn, many other pieces fall into place.
I especially enjoyed the descriptions of the underwater world that the author built.
It did end on a bit of a cliffhanger, but there;s another book coming.

Firstly I just want to say a MASSIVE thank you to the NetGalley for giving me an ARC copy of this book. I am so incredibly grateful for the opportunity to read and review this!

✨ About Sea of Evil and Desire ✨

Morgana Scott, a young woman who can sense emotions, is sent to the mysterious coastal town of Ruádán’s Port in Scotland after her grandmother’s death. There, she discovers a world haunted by ancient tales of Mer, Selkies, and ghosts. She becomes entangled with Finn, a dark and enigmatic stranger, while an ancient prophecy tied to a long-standing underwater feud between the Mer and the Drowned threatens to upend everything she knows. As the Samhain festival nears, Morgana must confront secrets, passion, and destiny beneath the waves.

✨ My Review ✨

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

As a big fan of all things mythical creatures I absolutely devoured this book. Mer people, gods, ghosts, drowned? You had me at yes please.

The main storyline was fantastic and kept me glued to the pages. There was so much action and adventure right from the beginning, so much intense world building that really set the tone for the story, and kept me intrigued and needing more the entire way through.

I’m going to be honest, I didn’t enjoy the romance between Morgana and Finn, purely because i didn’t connect with Finn and his characteristics left me confused about the romance and his intentions. Is he trustworthy? Is he not? I was left with more questions than answers by the end which I honestly believe to be the intent of their story and im excited to see where this takes us!

Julia’s writing is absolutely stunning and you can tell she is a poet. The world building and descriptive language used made this a book of poetry in its own right and Julia you should be SO proud of this piece of work.

I am sat sitting waiting in anticipation for the next one (please hurry 😭😭).

A fabulous blend of mythology and contemporary. I'm definitely a big fan of this author and how she writes! Hope to see more soon

Thank you Netgalley and J Strelou for the opportunity to read this book