Perfect for fans of Christine Feehan’s Carpathian series and G.A. Aiken’s The Blacksmith Queen, New York Times bestselling author Kerrelyn Sparks combines humor, action, and love in the electrifying new book in her thrilling fantasy series. Four sisters have become queens, rulers of all that Aerthlan’s two moons embrace. The last sister will forge her own path . . . Signs and Seals Raised on the … the magic-seeped Isle of Moon, Maeve is used to unusual powers—and the way they fuel the politics of her world. But when she discovers an ability to shape-shift at will, she knows who she wants to share it with first. Brody, the enigmatic, infuriating shifter-spy has always made time for Maeve. But it’s been almost two months since she’s seen him. And though no one else believes Brody is in danger, Maeve is more than ready to rescue him herself. The rumors Brody’s investigating are terrifying: a secret army of magic-users, in the service of the cruel Circle of Five. But when he uncovers the identity of one of the Five, the mission becomes personal. Cursed as a boy by the Sea Witch, Brody can spend only two hours a day in his human form, a restriction that limits his future and muzzles his heart. Plus Maeve teases him for being such a pretty doggy instead of appreciating his manly charms. To win his freedom, he must take on a terrible disguise. And when Maeve finds out, she’ll unleash a tempest like no other . . .
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The Siren and the Deep Blue Sea is the final book in The Embraced series by Kerrelyn Sparks. This one features the youngest sister, Maeve and our spy, Brody. This is a bittersweet end for me, but what a sweet and mystical journey it has been.
I’ve loved almost all the books in The Embraced series. They have captured me with their magic and exploits. I have to point out the cover for The Siren and the Deep Blue Sea. I love it! It’s perfect for Maeve’s book. I’m also thrilled to finally be getting Brody’s story. Ever since book one I’ve wanted to know more about the spy who can only be human two hours a day.
Sparks weaves another magical tail completing the overall arc and bringing peace to the realms. We are treated too many surprises along the way; especially the one about who Brody is and who Maeve’s parents are. I loved learning about both these characters and what happened to them and who they truly are. I would tell, but that will ruin the revelations and adventure. All I can say is many things come to light and you won’t be disappointed.
Maeve and Brody’s romance is sweet and adorable. He’s been avoiding her except for one night a month when Maeve must turn into a seal. Now that things are coming to a head with the Chameleon and The Circle of Five these two find themselves together and putting all the cards on the table. No more hiding from the past or each other.
The overall arc runs throughout the series and is completed here. We learn who the last two in The Circle of Five are and we learn who the Chameleon is. We also learning about the evil Embraced army and it will blow your mind that they aren’t what we have been lead to believe.
All of our favorite characters throughout the series come together to finish the war that has been coming and end The Circle of Five. We see them work together and what happens at the end will have your emotions singing. We also meet a few new characters and a sweet side romance besides the main couple; Maeve and Brody.
The Siren and the Deep Blue Sea weaves a sirens song. It’s entertaining, funny, romantic, a little sad, but most of all it’s a beautiful end to a magical series.
**Note: You need to read the series in order.
Book 1: How to Tame a Beast in Seven Days
Book 2: So I Married a Sorcerer
Book 3: Eight Simple Rules for Dating a Dragon
Book 4: How to Love Your Elf
Book 5: The Siren and the Deep Blue Sea
Rated: 4.5 Stars
Maeve is feeling a but down, all her sisters are queens now and she is feeling a bit left out. You see each sister has met the love of their lives and have gone on to reign over their own kingdoms. There is also the fact that her friend Brody hasn’t been seen for two months, she misses him and is worried over what might have happened to him. She decides she must have an adventure and figure out where he is.
Brody is off on a mission to figure out who the rest of the Circle of Five are and where a secret army of magic users is located. When the identity of is of the Circle comes to his attention he knows he must confront who it is and why they are a part of such a thing. He soon learns he needs.to disguise himself so he can infiltrate an island that seems to be the heart of the problem.
Maeve and Brody end up meeting during their adventures and the two must band together to turn things from wrong to right. With so much.adversity will the two be able to set things right and win in the end? Will the love each feels for the other be triumphant or will it ruin them in the end?
I think for most of us this book is a long time coming. Most of us who have enjoyed this series couldn’t wait for Brody’s story. Oh, and Maeve’s story too. What can I say, Brody, stood out to me as a more interesting character. Not that I don’t like Maeve because I do, she just didn’t stand out like he did. And really that’s a good thing. Makes the story more interesting because you want to know more about Brody and you cheering him on and you also like Maeve and want her to be happy
I have to say I really enjoyed the twist in the story. I won’t tell you more because I really want you to learn it yourself but I will say that it has to do with Maeve and her mother. I bet you can’t wait to read it now.
This is a good action-packed story that has you cheering on both Brody and Maeve. I’m so glad these two found a way to stick together and fight together. We learn so much in this story and I’m happy that Maeve went looking for Brody.
I really enjoyed this story and was a little sad that the series has come to an end but I’m looking forward to what comes next from this author.
A good story about magic, shapeshifters and romance. In this one Maeve and Brody are the main characters . they are fun to read about plenty of action romance and mystery to take you along . I have enjoyed this series and look forward to more.
OMG! What an amazing story! A perfect ending to a great series. I could not put this book down. I loved everything about The Siren and the Deep Blue Sea. I have waited for Maeve and Brody’s story since Book 1. I knew they were going to be the last couple to find their happy ending and the wait was so worth it. The mystery, the secrets that are finally revealed, the action and adventure, the emotion, the love and romance. This story had it all. There was also a tear jerking moment too. Ahhh! Such a wonderful story! Now I’m a little sad that this series has come to an end but after reading this story I just want to go back and reread this whole series from the beginning again. I absolutely loved every single story in this Embraced Series. I seriously wish someone would option this series and turn it into a movie. I would love to see these stories come to life on the big screen. Until that happens I will happily relive all these stories in my mind as I read them again and again.
*I voluntarily read an advance copy of this book*
5 stars
Maeve, an Embraced who shifts into a seal, is the only sister not married. Her four other sisters are married and Queens. The man she’s in love with is Brody and he is a shifter too. Brody can be only himself two hours a day and doesn’t want to have Maeve live a life like that. He was cursed as a boy and has searched for the sea witch that cursed him. Maeve is hunting for the Embraced Army and gets caught now she’s in the castle with a Queen who is as evil as they get. Brody is impersonating a Seer and trying to get closer to the Queen and find the sea witch. Can they defeat the Queen and the last of the Circle of Five, a group intent on taking over the world, and live happily ever after as a human man?
Good story that has action and some suspense. Shifters and other enhanced people working to make the world a better place.
* Voluntarily read and reviewed this for NetGalley *
This series has been packed with wonderful adventures since the first book and Siren and the Deep Blue Sea is no exception. I absolutely loved seeing Maeve grow into this fierce young woman and get her happily ever after. Brody the enigmatic shifter is an excellent romantic match for her and the secrets of both their pasts make this book full of surprises. While I’m sad to see the series conclude it’s been a fantastic group of stories from five sheltered sisters to five queens these books are fairy tales for adults and definitely must reads!
The novel I’ve been waiting for – Maeve’s story! So many questions are finally answered. Will Brody ever stop being a dog? Will Maeve find her one true love? And, who IS the Chameleon?
Step by step, sister by sister, the kingdoms of Aerthlan have been rescued from bad royal mismanagement and are now led by noble, strong, kind-hearted and loving kings and queens, and all their peoples benefit. Thing is, there are no more kingdoms to rule so what does that leave the final sister, Maeve, with? Surprises, surprises are in store.
Throughout the series, readers have watched Maeve grow up. She was a young child when the series opened and she’s seen a lot of changes, most of which her sisters have had a hand in bringing about. The only magical thing the heroine seems to be able to do is turn into a seal. That’s not much but it’s all she has for abilities. One other thing she has is Brody’s friendship. It’s the one thing that keeps her upbeat and hopeful. She has a friend with whom she could share her seal-time with. But, now he’s gone too. Maeve is at a crossroads in her life and only she can make the choice that is best for her. Although her sisters love her very much, which is clear throughout the series, the heroine is feeling stifled under their tender overwhelming attention and ploys to marry her off to a nice young nobleman. It’s a bit much, even a reader can agree. So, with Brody missing, what can a young woman do without prospects? Seek her own. What she finds is extraordinary.
There are a couple of new secondary characters that play vital roles in the novel. Elinor is important in a couple of ways, but my favorite is her connection to Nevis. Okay, what she can do with printed drawings is pretty spectacular and provides moments of comedy – one at Nevis’s expense. I thought it hilarious.
Lobby and Tommy, though minor characters, contributed mightily and I liked meeting Lobby. He wasn’t quite like Popeye, but he reminded me of the character; gruff, salty and kind with a touch of heroism when it counted, although no spinach. I liked meeting the kids too.
I was sad at one of the fatalities in the story. Like most, I thought he could be redeemed, until he made that one final jump of logic. I accepted the author’s choice at that moment.
There is a lot of adventure, daring-do and close-calls sprinkled throughout the story. There are rescue plans that go awry, revelations that astound and realizations that love has been blooming all along and they only need to grab it. A few things need to happen first, like getting rid of the Sea Witch. She turns out to be real and surprisingly powerful. She also is a planner, a schemer and a bit off her rocker. Like all good villains, she gets her comeuppance but how it happened and by whom is a huge surprise. I think so at any rate.
I also enjoyed the funny moments when Brody dons his other human persona and he meets other people for the first time. Some were suspenseful but there were quite a few that garnered grins.
The romance and happy ever after were all wrapped up in a bow for fans. I’m very satisfied with how Ms. Sparks tied all the series’ threads of the many lives affected during The Siren and the Deep Blue Sea. From adults to children, human to animal and friends to lovers, all romantic elements came to fruition to deliver a happy ever after ending worthy of the story arc stemming from the mystery of the Circle of Five. Aerthlan is in good hands.
I would recommend readers not read The Siren and the Deep Blue Sea as a standalone since it’s a novel that completes a story arc and solves all the riddles and clues that have plagued Maeve and her sisters since the beginning. A new reader just wouldn’t understand why Maeve’s gift to Leofric of Eberon was so special, satisfying and full of emotional import. Why it would bring a watery sniffle to a reader’s sappily smiling face. Okay, my sappily smiling face. I was so happy for him! Seriously, I recommend reading them in any order if a reader wishes, but save The Siren and the Deep Blue Sea by Kerrelyn Sparks for last. It’s the perfect icing on top of this multi-tiered cake called the Embraced series.
I enjoyed this book quite a bit. I have enjoyed this series from the very beginning and I was really excited to finally read Brody’s story. This is the final book in the series and I would recommend reading the series in order if at all possible. It was really easy to slip back into this world and fun to check in with some much-loved characters. I am so glad that I was finally able to work this book into my schedule.
Each book in this series focuses on a different couple and Maeve and Brody take the stage in this installment. Maeve is the youngest of her adopted sisters and she is feeling a bit left out since her sisters are all married and queens of their own realm. Maeve is a selkie and feels a special connection to Brody, who has the ability to change into any animal but can only hold his true form for 2 hours per day. Since she hasn’t seen Brody for a while, she sets off to find him and ends up having quite the adventure.
I really liked Maeve and Brody as a couple. They have a lot of challenges to overcome in order to be together but they are both determined to make it work. It was obvious that they really did care for each other and I thought that the chemistry between them was very well done. I liked that they were both facing their own personal challenges. Maeve learns a lot about where she came from and there are a lot of revelations revealed about Brody’s past.
I thought that the climax of the story was very well done. It was nice to see how everything finally worked out for all of the characters in the series. There were quite a few surprises along the way and I had a lot of fun seeing all of the key players work together to fight for what they believed in. There were plenty of exciting scenes to keep things interesting throughout the story. I really appreciated the fact that we got to see a secondary romance in this book as well.
I would recommend this series to others. I had a lot of fun with this paranormal romance filled with great characters and plenty of excitement. I will definitely be read more of this talented author’s work in the future.
I received a digital review copy of this book from Kensington Books via NetGalley.
This series has been so much fun. I’ve loved Brody from the start and I am so glad that he and Maeve finally got their time to shine! This was low on the angst and I loved that and I also loved how sweet it was. This series has been a great escape and I deff recommend for fantasy fans.
Kept me captive from cover to cover. I dove into this novel, not having read the preceding books in the series. Though a little lost on some of the story line, the plot was well enough developed and descriptive that I didn’t feel as if I had fallen into a black hole. I love that the underdogs get their day to shine, characters that have been nudged aside in the past are allowed to come back and conquer the battle between good and evil. And we truly learn that what the eye sees is not necessarily the truth beneath.
I fully recommend this novel, and now am going back to read the previous 4!
The Siren and the Deep Blue Sea by Kerrelyn Sparks is book Two in the Enbraced by Magic Series and book 5 in the Embraced Series. This is the story of Maeve and Brody who if like me you have been reading the other books we are finally getting their story. Reading the other books did add to my enjoyment of this one but I do feel you can make it a standalone book if you wish to do so. Maeve is the younger ‘sister’ in the Embraced sisters who is now out to get her story since her sister have all now settle down and found their happiness. Brody has been cursed which makes him only able to stay in his human form for just a few hours. Brody is out to break the curse which leads to him and Maeve start to really explore their feelings. This has been such a magical series and I love this author’s writing.
Maeve and Brody get their story as the last of the sisters looks to find her HEA. Brody has always been a favorite of mine, he does so much behind the scene as he takes different animal forms. The two hours a day he can spend in his human form seem to focus on sharing the information he has gathered, leaving little time for anything else.
Maeve is the only sister not married to a king and feels left out as her sisters don’t share information with her. Maeve’s only gift is her ability to turn into a seal, her sisters have married the four kings, and the man she loves spends most of his time as a dog. It’s hard not to feel sorry for her.
I loved learning more about Brody; this is the book where we get his background. There is excitement in meeting more of the Embraced and a lot of surprises.
Fantastic end to the series!
Oh, I didn’t want to read Maeve’s story. I knew this would be the end of the series and I loved this fantasy world so much! But, I also couldn’t wait for Brody’s story to finally be told – it was a long time coming! – and he and Maeve were magic together…
Which worked out pretty good considering this fantasy world was full to the brim of all things out of this world. Sea witches, Seers, children – and armies – with magical powers. The came together for one final battle where all the kingdoms were at stake. Sound fun, wild and full of unexpectedness? Throw in shifters, romance and royalty and you have this series – and story – in a nutshell. It is, however, impossible to pigeon-hole really. These are anything but cookie-cutter reads and Maeve and Brody’s was no exception. Both determined to find truth, with a good need for revenge mixed in as well, their journey was full of ups and downs as they found more than they bargained for. Along with a romance that had been percolating from afar for way too long, their not so sudden courtship was fraught with intrigue, drama, humour and even sweetness. And lots and lots of magic…
Like I said, hard to pigeon-hole with so much going on but so much to savour as the plot revealed itself one delicious chapter at a time… Great way to end the series!
*Reviewed for 1-Click Addict Support Group
**Thank you to NetGalley
This was a fantastic way to wrap up what has been a wonderfully written series. In this finale, we even wrapped up ends that I didn’t even know were loose! I don’t want to give anything away because there were lots of surprises but let’s just say Maeve isn’t the only one that gets her happy ending! All in all, a great series with terrific world-building, interesting characters, and plenty of action and romance. What more can you really ask for in a paranormal romance?
The action pact, thrilling and so very long awaited ending to the Embraced series! Brody has been a favorite since the beginning and Maeve may just be my favorite sister! Her path in life seems to be the least exciting and with no suprises on the horizon, but that could not be further from the truth. Everything she thought she knew about herself will be turned upside-down. Brody, who she thought she knew has a few secrets of his own and her path may be the most perilous of all! The war with the Circle of Five reaches its zenith and the Kings and Queens with their arms will all be in for the biggest battle of all. This was such a good story and it certainly had me shedding a tear or two and enjoying the ride thoroughly! It’s bitter sweet to come to the end, but this one certainly did the series justice. Enjoy people!
I got this for an Instagram tour and LOVED it! I read this as a standalone but plan to rest the rest of the series STAT!
This is the 5th book in a series but as I said, you can read as a standalone. I LOVED Maeve. Her and Brody were Sweet and I was rooting for them from he start. I love a good romance with some adventure thrown in and this fantastical read delivered.
Now I need to hit up Goodreads and lock in the others books to my lists so I can see where it all began.
I have been waiting so patiently for this book and it was so worth the wait. I have absolutely loved this series and sad to see it is over… I want more of these two characters. They have hidden their feeling for eachother for 4 years . They each have loved each other from afar but no more.. maeve is stubborn and won’t give up.. she will will do anything to win Brody, even if it’s for the 2 hours..she knows she is ment for him. Brody won’t step into his roll until his curse if lifted, he won’t let himself love fully until he knows he can give his all….
These two character’s fight together to be together.. they battle their enemy’s together…
This was a great read, a page turner , and kept my attention through the whole book.. did not want it to end.
I have read several from this author but this one was different and I did enjoy that. I enter into this world following Maeve whom is used to the unusual. Danger is around with her seeing it is there. Then we have Brody whom has been investigating some with us being the curious ones that are given lots of fill ins about him. I missed the first one of this but so digging this one. So much in this to love that is the fantasy world and why we escape to it. Maeve really kept my attention that it flowed fast at times. I did like the name Evil Embraced Army with imagination different then what it is but fun none the less. Good to dive into from beginning to end.
Maeve is the fifth sister to find her destiny. All her sisters have married the kings of Aerthlan and she is feeling adrift only connecting with Brody a shifter cursed by a Sea Witch. Brody has gone missing looking for the Circle of 5. When Brody goes back to the Island of the Seer who brought him up he has to make a difficult decision to let Maeve go rather than living with his curse. Fate takes a hand and Maeve past will provide a emotional outcome to this finale. This was a lovely light fantasy which makes you invest in the characters especially the young ones.
I was given an arc of this book by Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.