⭐⭐⭐⭐ Was I hooked by that book? Yes. A forbidden romance blossoms in the depths of the ocean amidst conspiracies and danger.

Desire runs deeper than the ocean… I was never meant to descend into the world beneath the waves—never meant to fall into the orbit of a Sea Elf whose power could shatter oceans. He is danger wrapped in control. Cold. Commanding. Untouchable. His city is beauty honed into a weapon. His restraint is legendary. And yet the way his gaze lingers tells me he wants me as much as he fears what I awaken in him. I don’t belong in his realm of tides and shadows, where ancient magic stirs and secrets are buried deep. But every step closer pulls me under—desire tightening, temptation burning hotter than the sea itself. The truth I uncover could ignite a war. Loving him could destroy us both. Leaving may already be impossible. Because when the ocean begins to rise and everything he’s sworn to protect is threatened, I understand one dangerous truth—The sea isn’t the only thing capable of burning. And I’m done resisting the fire between us.

MY THOUGHTS

Thank you to all the book gods for Varum’s ignorance surrounding the Masters and that Kalyani had to fill him in on everything that had happened so far.

Varum’s distrust and paranoia battled with his growing admiration for Kalyani. He had a healthy dose of skepticism, but he also kept an open mind while Kalyani shared all the stories. She certainly showed a whole lot of patience and restraint while waiting for Varum to figure out an escape route so she could go home. They were both fairly moderate people, not ruled by emotions, not super passionate either.

The romance between them was warm, sweet, and solid. It was also the main focus of this book, and less about the bigger fight against the Masters. Though, there were glimpses of the other heroes fighting the good fight, with unexpected twists thrown in to keep us on our toes.

I enjoyed the underwater world of the sea elves and seeing Varum find purpose in life again.

This is the series for you if you like steamy romance, elves, dragons, and magic happening on a different realm. It is definitely best to read the books in order. Each book introduces a new couple finding their happy-ever-after, but there is a central plot that carries on from book to book. The Elven Kingdoms series forms part of the wider world of Donna Grant’s Dark Universe and can be a good starting point if you’re new to all of this.

Thank you to the author for providing me with a copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Were you hooked by that book? Let me know in the comments below.

Genre: Fantasy Romance
Published: May 11, 2026
Sensuality Rating: Warm
Series: Book 5 of Elven Kingdoms