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The Children of Lyr #1
Daughter of the Deep
A wedding to end a war.
It's been four years since the blood feud between the Branwens and Mathonwys started. Four years of sunken ships and loved ones lost, four years of wounds both seen and unseen. Keira Branwen is no stranger to duty. As the first mate of a legendary pirate ship, blessed by the sea-god Lyr, and heir apparent to her clan, she would sail to the Otherworld and back to keep her family safe.
But when the Council threatens banishment for her people, Keira is faced with a choice; she must either marry her father's alleged killer, the sea-snake Ronan Mathowny, or curse her family to the deep.
But in the Seven Isles of the Deyrnas, secrets sleep just beneath the surface of the water. Her father's death is still shrouded in mystery, and Ronan--her childhood friend, the man she once loved -- is hell-bent on proving his innocence. As enemies become friends and friends become suspects, Keira must wade through the waters of doubt to expose the truth, save her family, and restore her father's legacy.
But Keira soon learns that there are ties thicker than blood, and there is more than one way to sacrifice a life.
It's been four years since the blood feud between the Branwens and Mathonwys started. Four years of sunken ships and loved ones lost, four years of wounds both seen and unseen. Keira Branwen is no stranger to duty. As the first mate of a legendary pirate ship, blessed by the sea-god Lyr, and heir apparent to her clan, she would sail to the Otherworld and back to keep her family safe.
But when the Council threatens banishment for her people, Keira is faced with a choice; she must either marry her father's alleged killer, the sea-snake Ronan Mathowny, or curse her family to the deep.
But in the Seven Isles of the Deyrnas, secrets sleep just beneath the surface of the water. Her father's death is still shrouded in mystery, and Ronan--her childhood friend, the man she once loved -- is hell-bent on proving his innocence. As enemies become friends and friends become suspects, Keira must wade through the waters of doubt to expose the truth, save her family, and restore her father's legacy.
But Keira soon learns that there are ties thicker than blood, and there is more than one way to sacrifice a life.
364 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2020
About the author
Lina C. Amarego
6 books221 followersGrowing up on the east coast in small-town New Jersey, Lina spent her early days playing pretend and making up stories for her friends and family, a pastime that would soon turn into a lifelong passion for storytelling in all its forms. A recovering theatre kid at heart and a therapist by profession, Lina loves the study of human behavior and relationships, infusing both into her writing craft. When she's not scribbling ideas about fictional worlds into the margins of her notebooks, Lina spends her time reading anything she can get her hands on, driving her husband crazy with her wild daydreams, and snuggling her adorable pup.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 199 reviews
August 15, 2020
Where do I even begin?
I had the privilege of reading DAUGHTER OF THE DEEP early, and within two chapters it leaped into my top 5 favorite books of all time. It brought me out of a reading slump and remains one of the best reads in my life!
Everything about this book is flawless; from the tone, to the environment, to the themes and of course, the characters! THE. CHARACTERS. Keira is the tough yet vulnerable lady lead I have been waiting for; playing at her opposite, the swaggering, secretive and charming Ronan. The cast around them are an array of well developed, diverse, REAL PEOPLE who are not mere props to Keira and Ronan's tale, but each have their own purpose and tale to tell.
I adore the world of the Deyernas, the intrigue, the darkness and beauty, the love and life within it. The high seas adventures blends wonderfully with the memorable island settings, each one sparkling and unique - characters unto themselves. Visiting this story is a privilege and an adventure every time, and I am dying for the next installment in this series Dangerous, romantic, and magically cutthroat, full of loveable rogues and powerful ladies, DAUGHTER OF THE DEEP is the high-stakes swashbuckling adventure we've been waiting for!
I had the privilege of reading DAUGHTER OF THE DEEP early, and within two chapters it leaped into my top 5 favorite books of all time. It brought me out of a reading slump and remains one of the best reads in my life!
Everything about this book is flawless; from the tone, to the environment, to the themes and of course, the characters! THE. CHARACTERS. Keira is the tough yet vulnerable lady lead I have been waiting for; playing at her opposite, the swaggering, secretive and charming Ronan. The cast around them are an array of well developed, diverse, REAL PEOPLE who are not mere props to Keira and Ronan's tale, but each have their own purpose and tale to tell.
I adore the world of the Deyernas, the intrigue, the darkness and beauty, the love and life within it. The high seas adventures blends wonderfully with the memorable island settings, each one sparkling and unique - characters unto themselves. Visiting this story is a privilege and an adventure every time, and I am dying for the next installment in this series Dangerous, romantic, and magically cutthroat, full of loveable rogues and powerful ladies, DAUGHTER OF THE DEEP is the high-stakes swashbuckling adventure we've been waiting for!
September 1, 2020
Daughter of the Deep is a novel that came crashing through my heart from the very first line. Keira’s voice provides a strong heading that guides us through a raging sea of emotions from start to finish. We know her every crack and fault, boldly laid bare. I think it’s an extraordinarily brave decision for an author to write a main character who digs in her heels and fights even when she knows she’s wrong. It’s something that may come across as unlikable if it wasn’t so overwhelmingly, almost uncomfortably, human.
Amarego has a talent for characterization in general. I had a sense for even the most minor players immediately upon their introductions. When Reina glided down the staircase of Mathonwy manor, I understood her personality from her gait and her poise long before I digested the words she spoke. The author does an exceptional job of bringing characters to life with minimal space on the page. The side characters, particularly Reagan, Saeth, Reina, and Griffin, are so constantly entertaining they sometimes overshadowed the rest of the brilliant cast. I always wanted to spend more time with them. Each and every cousin seemed to constantly demand a spin-off novella, which I would eat up with or without a spoon, if they existed.
The family dynamics in this book also deserve praise for being so utterly believable and complex, as fun as they are dark, and full of both love and envy. It made me ache for something like it in real life, and that, I believe, is the power of a good fantasy book. It creates something so real you want to lose yourself inside it. Both the Branwen clan and the Mathonwys gave me that sensation.
A unique rendition of enemies to lovers, featuring pirates who are true sailors rather than stereotypes, soft magic, big families, and the dark underbelly of human emotion, Daughter of the Deep is a book that will charm lovers of YA and NA fantasy alike.
Amarego has a talent for characterization in general. I had a sense for even the most minor players immediately upon their introductions. When Reina glided down the staircase of Mathonwy manor, I understood her personality from her gait and her poise long before I digested the words she spoke. The author does an exceptional job of bringing characters to life with minimal space on the page. The side characters, particularly Reagan, Saeth, Reina, and Griffin, are so constantly entertaining they sometimes overshadowed the rest of the brilliant cast. I always wanted to spend more time with them. Each and every cousin seemed to constantly demand a spin-off novella, which I would eat up with or without a spoon, if they existed.
The family dynamics in this book also deserve praise for being so utterly believable and complex, as fun as they are dark, and full of both love and envy. It made me ache for something like it in real life, and that, I believe, is the power of a good fantasy book. It creates something so real you want to lose yourself inside it. Both the Branwen clan and the Mathonwys gave me that sensation.
A unique rendition of enemies to lovers, featuring pirates who are true sailors rather than stereotypes, soft magic, big families, and the dark underbelly of human emotion, Daughter of the Deep is a book that will charm lovers of YA and NA fantasy alike.
November 16, 2020
*sigh*
Well, I shouldn't say this isn't for ANYONE, but um... it wasn't for me.
*looks at pretty cover* *pouts*
First: let us just say that the enemies-to-lovers trope loses most of its tension if the enemies were already lovers. As does the arranged marriage thing. If she loved him once, she can love him again, so all the 'will they learn to like each other' drama never makes it in the door. They don't have to learn to like each other. They don't have to discover that they're attracted to each other. There is no learning phase... meh.
This might work for some, but there is just too much going on in the first few chapters of this book. There is so much backstory I almost wonder why the backstory wasn't its own book. Why not show us the betrayal first, so we understand the pain the MC is in better than being told about something that happened before we even get started?
There's a lot of contradiction going on, too. Both clans are too poor to be able to risk not having her get married to the 'ex-lover/enemy', but the MC's female cousins are all dolled up and have never had to work in their lives.
Then there's the weird reason the MCs wind up getting married. Both families are fighting and breaking things so bad the council of the port they're trading at steps in to force them to... get... married? Really? Yeah, that's what port authorities do, and that will solve ALL the problems. Somehow that carries a lot less weight than having the parental figures get together and make an agreement for the betterment of their clans, or political advancement, or survival, or whatever, and the MC and her forced fiancé are just pawns... I mean, if they're breaking stuff so bad... wouldn't the port authority just... make them stop breaking... the stuff...?
I dunno. Maybe I'm old. All of those reasons might seem great to a younger audience.
DNF
Well, I shouldn't say this isn't for ANYONE, but um... it wasn't for me.
*looks at pretty cover* *pouts*
First: let us just say that the enemies-to-lovers trope loses most of its tension if the enemies were already lovers. As does the arranged marriage thing. If she loved him once, she can love him again, so all the 'will they learn to like each other' drama never makes it in the door. They don't have to learn to like each other. They don't have to discover that they're attracted to each other. There is no learning phase... meh.
This might work for some, but there is just too much going on in the first few chapters of this book. There is so much backstory I almost wonder why the backstory wasn't its own book. Why not show us the betrayal first, so we understand the pain the MC is in better than being told about something that happened before we even get started?
There's a lot of contradiction going on, too. Both clans are too poor to be able to risk not having her get married to the 'ex-lover/enemy', but the MC's female cousins are all dolled up and have never had to work in their lives.
Then there's the weird reason the MCs wind up getting married. Both families are fighting and breaking things so bad the council of the port they're trading at steps in to force them to... get... married? Really? Yeah, that's what port authorities do, and that will solve ALL the problems. Somehow that carries a lot less weight than having the parental figures get together and make an agreement for the betterment of their clans, or political advancement, or survival, or whatever, and the MC and her forced fiancé are just pawns... I mean, if they're breaking stuff so bad... wouldn't the port authority just... make them stop breaking... the stuff...?
I dunno. Maybe I'm old. All of those reasons might seem great to a younger audience.
DNF
April 20, 2021
We are proud to announce that DAUGHTER OF THE DEEP (The Children of Lyr, #1) by Lina C. Amarego is a B.R.A.G.Medallion Honoree. This tells readers that this book is well worth their time and money!
October 19, 2022
3.5 stars. This was a perfect package of a fantasy book. I mean come on,
PIRATES. SEA MYTHS AND CREATURE. ACTION. BANTERS. FUNNY. P E R F E C T ENEMIES to LOVERS.
It is worth your time, people.
World building🗺💦🔱8.5/10
👉I liked the base. A fan of the Lyr and isles but they were missing the details and everything. Hope to get em in the next book❌
Setting🌪⚡♠9/10
👉Starts after a blood feud. Get married to your and your clan's biggest enemy. Check✅
Plot🐉🌀🌊9.5/10
👉Go as far as the lines meet the sea. Discover what it has to offer. Find out the truth that you believed in your whole life to be the biggest lie.
Need anything else? Check check, duh✅✅
Climax💥🔥❌4/10
👉A major weak point. Didn't like it. Was boring.
Characters😀😁😥7/10
👉Tolerable, funny, lovely, sweet soul. Though didn't like the "chosen one" trope. Sighs...
Pace🌑✨10/10
👉Didn't feel like it was a 300+ read. Though got stretched at the end, the pace was what kept me reading and finishing this book in one setting.
Romance♥♥7.5/10
👉Not too bad but the connections could've been better.
.
To sum up, it was a definitely a refreshing read. Also it does not have any complex fantasy genre material so if you want to start reading fantasies, this book is your cue.
.
~currently _reading_thoughts~
CALLING ALL THE BRIDGE KINGDOM LOVERS.
a MUST READ for y'all and I'm only seven chapters down people. *squees*
PIRATES. SEA MYTHS AND CREATURE. ACTION. BANTERS. FUNNY. P E R F E C T ENEMIES to LOVERS.
It is worth your time, people.
World building🗺💦🔱8.5/10
👉I liked the base. A fan of the Lyr and isles but they were missing the details and everything. Hope to get em in the next book❌
Setting🌪⚡♠9/10
👉Starts after a blood feud. Get married to your and your clan's biggest enemy. Check✅
Plot🐉🌀🌊9.5/10
👉Go as far as the lines meet the sea. Discover what it has to offer. Find out the truth that you believed in your whole life to be the biggest lie.
Need anything else? Check check, duh✅✅
Climax💥🔥❌4/10
👉A major weak point. Didn't like it. Was boring.
Characters😀😁😥7/10
👉Tolerable, funny, lovely, sweet soul. Though didn't like the "chosen one" trope. Sighs...
Pace🌑✨10/10
👉Didn't feel like it was a 300+ read. Though got stretched at the end, the pace was what kept me reading and finishing this book in one setting.
Romance♥♥7.5/10
👉Not too bad but the connections could've been better.
.
To sum up, it was a definitely a refreshing read. Also it does not have any complex fantasy genre material so if you want to start reading fantasies, this book is your cue.
.
~currently _reading_thoughts~
CALLING ALL THE BRIDGE KINGDOM LOVERS.
a MUST READ for y'all and I'm only seven chapters down people. *squees*
January 10, 2023
I have never really been a fan of pirates, but this book may have changed my mind. It was so good! I couldn’t put it down once I started it. The characters, the mythology and the romance were amazingly written.
While our protagonist, Keira, frustrated me at times, I enjoyed watching her grow and become more mature as the story develops. She was always quick to anger and jumped to conclusions instead of thinking things through, but I liked how she is self-aware. She knows when she make mistakes and owns up to them and tries to make things right. I’m excited to see more of her growth in the next books.
Now, I don’t even know where to begin with Ronan. I absolutely loved him! He was so sweet and charming and I adored his relationship with Keira. The rest of the family members were equally interesting and I especially loved Saeth, Griffin and Rhett. I hope we get to know more about each of them in the rest of the books.
While our protagonist, Keira, frustrated me at times, I enjoyed watching her grow and become more mature as the story develops. She was always quick to anger and jumped to conclusions instead of thinking things through, but I liked how she is self-aware. She knows when she make mistakes and owns up to them and tries to make things right. I’m excited to see more of her growth in the next books.
Now, I don’t even know where to begin with Ronan. I absolutely loved him! He was so sweet and charming and I adored his relationship with Keira. The rest of the family members were equally interesting and I especially loved Saeth, Griffin and Rhett. I hope we get to know more about each of them in the rest of the books.
May 14, 2020
I don’t even know where to begin, guys. This book was hands-down one of my favorite reads of 2020. Everyone should read it. The writing is spectacular, and the characters will steal your heart. I was constantly on the edge of my seat and couldn’t put the book down!
April 1, 2021
Loved it!
My very good friend Sydney (who is also an independent author) turned me onto this book after she met the author through her journey of self publishing. It took me a while to finally pick it up, and I wish I had done it sooner!
I am not a huge fan of first person narratives, so this story took me a few chapters to get into, but once I got into the groove I couldn't put it down.
The protagonist is frustrating and hot-tempered and infuriated me in all the best ways. I loved the shift of character perspectives that we get to follow through her eyes but also feel as the reader.
I didn't feel that the "whodunit" was obvious, and I loved the balance of action, mystery, and romance.
I can't wait to read the second book!
My very good friend Sydney (who is also an independent author) turned me onto this book after she met the author through her journey of self publishing. It took me a while to finally pick it up, and I wish I had done it sooner!
I am not a huge fan of first person narratives, so this story took me a few chapters to get into, but once I got into the groove I couldn't put it down.
The protagonist is frustrating and hot-tempered and infuriated me in all the best ways. I loved the shift of character perspectives that we get to follow through her eyes but also feel as the reader.
I didn't feel that the "whodunit" was obvious, and I loved the balance of action, mystery, and romance.
I can't wait to read the second book!
January 18, 2021
I brought this book on a whim, I wanted to read more sea based/ pirate adventure books. Daughter of the Deep had been recommended a few times and by the description of the book I knew I needed to buy it. I was hooked by the first chapter, it had everything I love; enemies to lovers, arranged marriage, magic and a badass female heroine.
Keira’s voice provides a strong lead that guides us through a wild sea of emotions from beginning to end. We know her every crack and fault, and what she was feeling laid out. I felt for Keira throughout this book, she essentially gave up her life for her family to the one person who she used to love. She's written so beautifully flawed and raw. You see her grow and change throughout the characters and adapt to the world around her. Ronan is the sort of love interest that'll have you swooning before you even know it, even when he annoys you. He's charming, sarcastic and fights for what and who he wants. He never once gave up his fight to prove his innocence and I found that really impowering. There were times I got frustrated with the two characters fighting and just wished they would grab each other and kiss.
There's a whole varied, well-developed cast of side characters that you to get to know and love and root for. Before long, you're invested in all of their lives. the though of something happening to them made me nervous towards the end of the book. I loved the story, there was lots of twists and turns and reveals, I did see some of them coming but otherwise I was gripped with each chapter, which I exactly why I read it one day. I'm so excited for the second book!
Keira’s voice provides a strong lead that guides us through a wild sea of emotions from beginning to end. We know her every crack and fault, and what she was feeling laid out. I felt for Keira throughout this book, she essentially gave up her life for her family to the one person who she used to love. She's written so beautifully flawed and raw. You see her grow and change throughout the characters and adapt to the world around her. Ronan is the sort of love interest that'll have you swooning before you even know it, even when he annoys you. He's charming, sarcastic and fights for what and who he wants. He never once gave up his fight to prove his innocence and I found that really impowering. There were times I got frustrated with the two characters fighting and just wished they would grab each other and kiss.
There's a whole varied, well-developed cast of side characters that you to get to know and love and root for. Before long, you're invested in all of their lives. the though of something happening to them made me nervous towards the end of the book. I loved the story, there was lots of twists and turns and reveals, I did see some of them coming but otherwise I was gripped with each chapter, which I exactly why I read it one day. I'm so excited for the second book!
January 10, 2021
This was just such a fun story! It kicked right off with a wedding between a fiery gal who hates her groom with a PASSION and they're forced to spend 2 weeks alone together. *Did I mention there is only one bed?!* HELLO, SEXUAL TENSION!!
I absolutely love books that are sea based or involve pirates! Keira is one fierce and angry gal looking to find answers about her father's death. Then we have sweet and dreamy Ronan who is looking to win Keira over and clear his name! I adored these two. They had such fantastic chemistry. Although at times I wanted to shake Keira.
The end was extra thrilling and had me super anxious to see how it all turned out. If you love exiting sea adventures, a fierce female lead and a SWOONY romance filled with lots of Enemies to lovers tension, you'll enjoy this! It gave me Daughter of a Pirate King vibes and Fable!! Prepare to set sail on magical and romantic adventure! 💕
I absolutely love books that are sea based or involve pirates! Keira is one fierce and angry gal looking to find answers about her father's death. Then we have sweet and dreamy Ronan who is looking to win Keira over and clear his name! I adored these two. They had such fantastic chemistry. Although at times I wanted to shake Keira.
The end was extra thrilling and had me super anxious to see how it all turned out. If you love exiting sea adventures, a fierce female lead and a SWOONY romance filled with lots of Enemies to lovers tension, you'll enjoy this! It gave me Daughter of a Pirate King vibes and Fable!! Prepare to set sail on magical and romantic adventure! 💕
May 3, 2021
3,5 stars
A fun and super fast paced read!
Was mostly predictable but that didn't really bother me perse but is a part of why I stuck with a 3,5 star rating. These characters have grown on me a lot, real fast so I'm definitely curious to see what's going to happen to them in the next installment!
A book you should definitely look into if you like a bit of fantasy/mythology mixed in with some pirate (jargon), sea battle settings, really fun characters whom develop wonderful relationships and a slowburn romance! Not a perfectly executed story-line writing wise/in depth wise at all times, but just super entertaining and leaving me wanting more!
A fun and super fast paced read!
Was mostly predictable but that didn't really bother me perse but is a part of why I stuck with a 3,5 star rating. These characters have grown on me a lot, real fast so I'm definitely curious to see what's going to happen to them in the next installment!
A book you should definitely look into if you like a bit of fantasy/mythology mixed in with some pirate (jargon), sea battle settings, really fun characters whom develop wonderful relationships and a slowburn romance! Not a perfectly executed story-line writing wise/in depth wise at all times, but just super entertaining and leaving me wanting more!
September 30, 2020
I was initially intrigued by the 'enemies to lovers' & 'arranged wedding' tropes in DotD. That's like chocolate cake to an avid romance reader. But knowing that there would be strong pirate elements had me wary. I'm not a pirate fan. At all. Not even in romance. But somehow Lina turned a popular story element on its head and magically serenaded me into loving pirates! The sheer sorcery of this author!
The MC Keira is a force to be reckoned with. She's raw and real, blazing with a stubborn fire. She's so beautifully flawed and nitty gritty. Her three dimensionality shone brightly on the page for me. She doesn't need rescuing. She IS her own savior. We often see male characters portrayed in a brash light. So it's a breath of fresh air to read a female lead with the same character attributes. What's great about her is that she changes, adapts, and grows each chapter. I resonated with her resiliency, and with her in general.
I just gotta say it once...#RonanOrNoMan. Seriously though, Keiranan will forever be one of my favorite couples to ship. Ever. They overcome mountains stacked against them, fighting through betrayal, severe misunderstandings, and rebuilding a relationship from the pits of hell and back.
There's also a whole varied, well-developed cast of side characters Lina invites you to get to know and love and root for. Before long, you're invested in all of their lives. To sum up all of my feels, and I have so many for DotD, this stunning pirate adventure is one I'll gladly reread over and over again. With all of the INSANE twists and turns that ending just took, I'm so excited to see what the second book holds!
The MC Keira is a force to be reckoned with. She's raw and real, blazing with a stubborn fire. She's so beautifully flawed and nitty gritty. Her three dimensionality shone brightly on the page for me. She doesn't need rescuing. She IS her own savior. We often see male characters portrayed in a brash light. So it's a breath of fresh air to read a female lead with the same character attributes. What's great about her is that she changes, adapts, and grows each chapter. I resonated with her resiliency, and with her in general.
I just gotta say it once...#RonanOrNoMan. Seriously though, Keiranan will forever be one of my favorite couples to ship. Ever. They overcome mountains stacked against them, fighting through betrayal, severe misunderstandings, and rebuilding a relationship from the pits of hell and back.
There's also a whole varied, well-developed cast of side characters Lina invites you to get to know and love and root for. Before long, you're invested in all of their lives. To sum up all of my feels, and I have so many for DotD, this stunning pirate adventure is one I'll gladly reread over and over again. With all of the INSANE twists and turns that ending just took, I'm so excited to see what the second book holds!
January 16, 2023
I’ve had this book on my tbr for a while and now that it’s over I’m kicking myself for not reading it sooner. I’m obsessed with the lovers to enemies to lovers and I’m even more obsessed with the fact that they get married in chapter one. Highly recommend!
December 6, 2020
No words. I have no words to express the sheer beauty that is this story.
Stunning, flawless, magical, intriguing. Lina has truly created magic here. Pure magic. This story is something that's so near and dear to my heart that I can't even put into words how proud I am of her for it. (And as an early reader of this story, I am just so proud. <3) Keira is one of the most relatable heroines I've read about in a long time, and her story and interactions with not only Ronan, but her family and the council just blow me away. We experience everything with her, her pain, her hatred, her confusion, and when everything crashes down around her you can't help but scream at the top of your lungs for her to get back on her feet and take the small victories as they come.
The love Lina has put into her characters and her world is so evident. Raegan and Griffin are absolute gems and I adore them to pieces. Keira teaches us that not only is it okay to make mistakes, but it's okay to admit them, and being flawed and uncertain of ourselves and the future are natural, they're HUMAN, and just because we don't have all the answers doesn't mean we're wrong or bad people. (Unless you're Connor. Connor is just a bad human. XP)
If I could give this book a million out of five stars I would, because that's how much love it deserves. So do yourself a favor and read this book. Buy this book and then tell all your friends about it, because this is on high-seas adventure you do NOT want to miss!!
Stunning, flawless, magical, intriguing. Lina has truly created magic here. Pure magic. This story is something that's so near and dear to my heart that I can't even put into words how proud I am of her for it. (And as an early reader of this story, I am just so proud. <3) Keira is one of the most relatable heroines I've read about in a long time, and her story and interactions with not only Ronan, but her family and the council just blow me away. We experience everything with her, her pain, her hatred, her confusion, and when everything crashes down around her you can't help but scream at the top of your lungs for her to get back on her feet and take the small victories as they come.
The love Lina has put into her characters and her world is so evident. Raegan and Griffin are absolute gems and I adore them to pieces. Keira teaches us that not only is it okay to make mistakes, but it's okay to admit them, and being flawed and uncertain of ourselves and the future are natural, they're HUMAN, and just because we don't have all the answers doesn't mean we're wrong or bad people. (Unless you're Connor. Connor is just a bad human. XP)
If I could give this book a million out of five stars I would, because that's how much love it deserves. So do yourself a favor and read this book. Buy this book and then tell all your friends about it, because this is on high-seas adventure you do NOT want to miss!!
January 10, 2021
Daughter of the Deep by Lina C. Amarego 🌊
Featured in No Shelf Control’s December box themed Sink or Swim!
I wasn’t hugely excited for this book, but I began reading it anyway and quickly became hooked! 🪝
This book is easy to read and follow along with. The author wrote the tension with Kiera and Ronan to perfection! I absolutely loved how their backstory created the perfect air for enemies to lovers trope.
Kiera is a strong lead, who yes can make some pretty dumb choices, but she feels things deeply and I appreciate it. One thing I really didn’t like is that I feel her connection to the gods and her powers aren’t explained very well - hopefully that’ll be explained in the next book.
Aye, four stars, will definitely read the next novel in the series! 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Featured in No Shelf Control’s December box themed Sink or Swim!
I wasn’t hugely excited for this book, but I began reading it anyway and quickly became hooked! 🪝
This book is easy to read and follow along with. The author wrote the tension with Kiera and Ronan to perfection! I absolutely loved how their backstory created the perfect air for enemies to lovers trope.
Kiera is a strong lead, who yes can make some pretty dumb choices, but she feels things deeply and I appreciate it. One thing I really didn’t like is that I feel her connection to the gods and her powers aren’t explained very well - hopefully that’ll be explained in the next book.
Aye, four stars, will definitely read the next novel in the series! 🌟🌟🌟🌟
August 28, 2020
HOIST THE SAILS AND PUT ON YOUR VEILS, WE'RE ATTENDING A WEDDING!
This was such a fun and adventurous book with a crew of absolutely amazing characters. Keira's a brash, stubborn captain and Ronan is a charming but deceptively sweet foil. And every side character is just as fleshed out and colorful, no matter how long or little they spend on the page.. An engaging romance and mystery, this is definitely one of my favorite books so far this year.
And on a minor note, I absolutely loved the theme of misinterpreting fate. Multiple characters had the realization of "I thought my fate was to do this, but now that I'm at this point, I realized I was looking at it all wrong". It was just a really interesting concept of how, when we try to force fate or guess what it has in store, we often send ourselves down the wrong path.
This was such a fun and adventurous book with a crew of absolutely amazing characters. Keira's a brash, stubborn captain and Ronan is a charming but deceptively sweet foil. And every side character is just as fleshed out and colorful, no matter how long or little they spend on the page.. An engaging romance and mystery, this is definitely one of my favorite books so far this year.
And on a minor note, I absolutely loved the theme of misinterpreting fate. Multiple characters had the realization of "I thought my fate was to do this, but now that I'm at this point, I realized I was looking at it all wrong". It was just a really interesting concept of how, when we try to force fate or guess what it has in store, we often send ourselves down the wrong path.
June 30, 2021
I mean, if you like the whole “strong female protagonist but with only one weakness of a bland boy” then maybe this is the book for you. To top it off you have the incredibly flat writing and the 17 characters the author dumps on you in the first 2 chapters (Yeah, really.)
Usually novels like these try to have feminist undertones but clearly not this one- at least it’d be pretty embarrassing if that’s what the author was going for. I have no idea if these other reviewers claiming the book has “strong female characters” and that Keira has “such a strong voice” are blind or if their standards low enough to actually consider this book as progressive. I’m always down for a fantasy romance, but this book was a disappointment.
Usually novels like these try to have feminist undertones but clearly not this one- at least it’d be pretty embarrassing if that’s what the author was going for. I have no idea if these other reviewers claiming the book has “strong female characters” and that Keira has “such a strong voice” are blind or if their standards low enough to actually consider this book as progressive. I’m always down for a fantasy romance, but this book was a disappointment.
February 19, 2023
3 🌟
Buddy read with Haneen
The author did a great job with the vibes and making the crew act like a real pirate crew. Or sailors but THAT ability of giving us the perfect attitudes and vibes and actions for Sailors/pirate crew is not easy. I read a lot of books that are related to the sea and pirates or any crews and believe me not one of them made the crew act like a real crew. So this is so amazing and not easy at all! Also, the main female character (Keira) was written very well.
Tarran, Griffin and Reagan made this book so much better!
When I tell you I lived with the characters I mean it! I was reading this book in many noisy places one of those places is literally a graduation party. loud music, screaming, dancing and I'm arab so you will definitely hear what we call زغاريد just copy the word and paste it, search it up and you will have your ears bleed. One of the other places is a children's salon. Imagine you are reading while 3 babies are screaming and crying. But guess what, that book made me unhear all the noise and teleport to the beautiful world-building.
Easy to read, so enjoyable and fast paced. And it was the perfect ballance between fantasy and romance. Yeah it is romance so I cringed but not as many as other romance books so I think it is a good thing?
Not a very good plot and no shocking plot twists but oh well.
Also I think that this book should be a stand-alone.
Buddy read with Haneen
The author did a great job with the vibes and making the crew act like a real pirate crew. Or sailors but THAT ability of giving us the perfect attitudes and vibes and actions for Sailors/pirate crew is not easy. I read a lot of books that are related to the sea and pirates or any crews and believe me not one of them made the crew act like a real crew. So this is so amazing and not easy at all! Also, the main female character (Keira) was written very well.
Tarran, Griffin and Reagan made this book so much better!
When I tell you I lived with the characters I mean it! I was reading this book in many noisy places one of those places is literally a graduation party. loud music, screaming, dancing and I'm arab so you will definitely hear what we call زغاريد just copy the word and paste it, search it up and you will have your ears bleed. One of the other places is a children's salon. Imagine you are reading while 3 babies are screaming and crying. But guess what, that book made me unhear all the noise and teleport to the beautiful world-building.
Easy to read, so enjoyable and fast paced. And it was the perfect ballance between fantasy and romance. Yeah it is romance so I cringed but not as many as other romance books so I think it is a good thing?
Not a very good plot and no shocking plot twists but oh well.
Also I think that this book should be a stand-alone.
October 16, 2023
I enjoyed this, my friend described it perfectly, it’s cozy. It was an easy relaxing read, we picked it off a list of authors going to the imaginarium book convention and I’m glad we did because I preordered the series from her. I’m hoping the next two books are just as cozy.
December 14, 2020
This book begins with an amazing premise, which will hook you right away. The main character is fierce and strong, which I absolutely loved, and oh my gosh the romance was absolutely amazing. I absolutely loved it.
January 16, 2021
This book is fantastic! It hooked me from page one and is filled with pirate goodness! I loved Keira so much and her crew was so loveable! I cannot wait until the next one!
May 5, 2021
Could some deity finally put me out of my misery and let me be a Pirate😭The angst was strong with this one, but at the end it paid off. The story either grabs you or.. I was instantly in their world amongst them. And there is so much potential and adventures to have🐲
January 4, 2023
STAR FOR POTENTIAL.
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I probably could have rated this somewhere in the 2 star zone, buuuut I think for those who really prefer ROMANCE over FANTASY there’s a lot of potential here. I love fantasy romances, but within a fantasy book I expect and hope for world building. I crave and need it to enjoy the story. There was very little of that here.
There doesn’t seem to be a rhyme or reason as to why the main character has some kind of magic ability involving the ocean but nobody else does? And there’s shifters too? But why? Where did they come from? Why does the ocean speak sometimes? PLEASE SOMEONE TELL ME. I spent so much of my time frustrated without these answers that I could barely see the aspects I did like.
One of the things I did like was the romance. Got off on a rough foot (because yet again, needed back ground world building), but once I kind of figured out what was happening, things moved at a sweet pace. I liked Ronan and Keira together. A bit of a second chance, enemies to lovers dynamic that played well for these two. I liked that they both fought for each other and found some common ground to build a new foundation between them.
I won’t be continuing this series (I think there’s one more book?). Didn’t mesh with enough of it to be worth figuring out what happens next.
Overall audience notes:
- NA Fantasy Romance
- Language: little
- Romance: closed door
- Violence: mild
- Trigger/Content Warnings: weapons violence, shipwrecks, death of a parent, near death experiences
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I probably could have rated this somewhere in the 2 star zone, buuuut I think for those who really prefer ROMANCE over FANTASY there’s a lot of potential here. I love fantasy romances, but within a fantasy book I expect and hope for world building. I crave and need it to enjoy the story. There was very little of that here.
There doesn’t seem to be a rhyme or reason as to why the main character has some kind of magic ability involving the ocean but nobody else does? And there’s shifters too? But why? Where did they come from? Why does the ocean speak sometimes? PLEASE SOMEONE TELL ME. I spent so much of my time frustrated without these answers that I could barely see the aspects I did like.
One of the things I did like was the romance. Got off on a rough foot (because yet again, needed back ground world building), but once I kind of figured out what was happening, things moved at a sweet pace. I liked Ronan and Keira together. A bit of a second chance, enemies to lovers dynamic that played well for these two. I liked that they both fought for each other and found some common ground to build a new foundation between them.
I won’t be continuing this series (I think there’s one more book?). Didn’t mesh with enough of it to be worth figuring out what happens next.
Overall audience notes:
- NA Fantasy Romance
- Language: little
- Romance: closed door
- Violence: mild
- Trigger/Content Warnings: weapons violence, shipwrecks, death of a parent, near death experiences
June 9, 2020
I was lucky enough to get to read this book early, and let me tell you: it's something special.
Keira Branwen is a firecracker of an MC. She's fierce and witty, brave and ferocious, and such a REAL character that it's easy to feel her triumphs and failures as if they are your own. She rages, she weeps, she loves, she grieves, she makes mistakes...she's a pirate through and through, and her story was the answer to a particular reading itch I've never been able to scratch. I've never read a story quite like this: a gorgeous mash-up of pirates, politics, arranged marriage, blood feuds, enemies-to-lovers, found family and blood family, mythological creatures, magic...this book has something for everyone!
The Branwens will make you laugh and make you feel their grief like your own. The Mathonwys will sneak their way into your heart before you even know what hit you.
Ronan Mathonwy is an absolutely swoon-worthy character in his own right, clever and kind and surprisingly gentle. Griffin Branwen is one of my new favorite characters EVER, and he had me laughing out loud in just about every scene he was in. Reagan Mathonwy is an absolutely delightful heathen child whom I would GLADLY give my life for, Ellian Llewelyn is adorable and fun, Rhett Mathonwy is a grumpy punk whom I love, and Saeth Branwen is a badass in high heels. Every last character on this cast is well-rounded and shines in their own way, and I CANNOT recommend this book enough. Preorder, preorder, preorder! You want this book on your shelf!
Keira Branwen is a firecracker of an MC. She's fierce and witty, brave and ferocious, and such a REAL character that it's easy to feel her triumphs and failures as if they are your own. She rages, she weeps, she loves, she grieves, she makes mistakes...she's a pirate through and through, and her story was the answer to a particular reading itch I've never been able to scratch. I've never read a story quite like this: a gorgeous mash-up of pirates, politics, arranged marriage, blood feuds, enemies-to-lovers, found family and blood family, mythological creatures, magic...this book has something for everyone!
The Branwens will make you laugh and make you feel their grief like your own. The Mathonwys will sneak their way into your heart before you even know what hit you.
Ronan Mathonwy is an absolutely swoon-worthy character in his own right, clever and kind and surprisingly gentle. Griffin Branwen is one of my new favorite characters EVER, and he had me laughing out loud in just about every scene he was in. Reagan Mathonwy is an absolutely delightful heathen child whom I would GLADLY give my life for, Ellian Llewelyn is adorable and fun, Rhett Mathonwy is a grumpy punk whom I love, and Saeth Branwen is a badass in high heels. Every last character on this cast is well-rounded and shines in their own way, and I CANNOT recommend this book enough. Preorder, preorder, preorder! You want this book on your shelf!
May 8, 2020
I cannot say enough good things about this book and feel like I'm doing it justice.
Right from the start, Lina transports you into the world of the Deyrnas, the home of feuding pirate families the Branwens and the Mathonwys, and refuses to let you go until the last sentence. Seriously, I read final third of the book in about two sittings.
And the characters. THE CHARACTERS. Keira is such a relatable yet powerful force all her own and you're rooting for her through her triumphs and her pitfalls. Ronan is the sort of male lead/romantic interest that'll have you swooning before you even know it, that insufferable cad. The entire Branwen clan is an absolute delight, and the "bad guys" have complex motivations, not just "evil for the sake of evil." No character is one-note, only vibrant.
The pirate adventure/murder mystery aspect is what draws you in, but you stay for the relationships--romantic, platonic, and familial. Even with the backdrop of magic and wonder and swashbuckling, at the end of the day, this story is, at its core, about the complicated and beautiful relationships people have with one another.
Easily my favorite read of 2020 and a top 5 read for me all-time. Absolutely gorgeous on every level. I cannot WAIT for the sequel.
Right from the start, Lina transports you into the world of the Deyrnas, the home of feuding pirate families the Branwens and the Mathonwys, and refuses to let you go until the last sentence. Seriously, I read final third of the book in about two sittings.
And the characters. THE CHARACTERS. Keira is such a relatable yet powerful force all her own and you're rooting for her through her triumphs and her pitfalls. Ronan is the sort of male lead/romantic interest that'll have you swooning before you even know it, that insufferable cad. The entire Branwen clan is an absolute delight, and the "bad guys" have complex motivations, not just "evil for the sake of evil." No character is one-note, only vibrant.
The pirate adventure/murder mystery aspect is what draws you in, but you stay for the relationships--romantic, platonic, and familial. Even with the backdrop of magic and wonder and swashbuckling, at the end of the day, this story is, at its core, about the complicated and beautiful relationships people have with one another.
Easily my favorite read of 2020 and a top 5 read for me all-time. Absolutely gorgeous on every level. I cannot WAIT for the sequel.
July 16, 2024
Bold, passionate, and deeply engrossing, Daughter of the Deep is an adventurous tale with a cutting wit that’ll have you grinning until your cheeks hurt and belly-laughing until your sides ache. But heartfelt tears will be close behind (for the best reasons).
After years of bloodshed from a complex family feud, Keira is determined to reconcile the two sides. In order to do this, she must marry a man from the other family. Unfortunately for Keira, she holds a deep-rooted vendetta against the groom: he killed her father – or so she believes...
Lina has created a world brimming with adventure, heart and mystery - one that I love returning to.
After years of bloodshed from a complex family feud, Keira is determined to reconcile the two sides. In order to do this, she must marry a man from the other family. Unfortunately for Keira, she holds a deep-rooted vendetta against the groom: he killed her father – or so she believes...
Lina has created a world brimming with adventure, heart and mystery - one that I love returning to.
September 10, 2020
4.5
I would have given the book 5 stars but keira was insufferable so
I would have given the book 5 stars but keira was insufferable so
September 16, 2020
I don’t get what the hype is all about. This was average and cringy at times. Not bad, but I wouldn’t recommend it to a friend.
December 9, 2022
Thank you to the author for the gifted ebook.
Former childhood friends turned enemies forced to marry to end a family feud? Set amongst pirates, sea gods, mythical creatures, magical locations, and a murder mystery? All inspired by Welsh mythology? I was instantly hooked.
Ronan absolutely made this book for me. He is snarky and swaggering, but a total cinnamon roll with deep devotion to the people he loves beneath his roguish exterior. This book also features a really solid cast of side characters, overcoming the animosity between Branwen and Mathowny and the council to become a found family of their own. I love that whole crew! Keira on the other hand…I admire her tenacity, but she could be frustratingly stubborn and hot/cold with her feelings. I could have done without the miscommunication and love triangle tropes, but at least those were resolved fairly early on.
This book was fast paced, full of action and adventure after adventure, but sometimes it felt rushed; I could’ve used a little more time to slow down and process events before the next. There were so many twists and turns I never saw coming! I never knew who to trust. I’m looking forward to seeing these characters mature and learning more about the magic system in book 2.
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Former childhood friends turned enemies forced to marry to end a family feud? Set amongst pirates, sea gods, mythical creatures, magical locations, and a murder mystery? All inspired by Welsh mythology? I was instantly hooked.
Ronan absolutely made this book for me. He is snarky and swaggering, but a total cinnamon roll with deep devotion to the people he loves beneath his roguish exterior. This book also features a really solid cast of side characters, overcoming the animosity between Branwen and Mathowny and the council to become a found family of their own. I love that whole crew! Keira on the other hand…I admire her tenacity, but she could be frustratingly stubborn and hot/cold with her feelings. I could have done without the miscommunication and love triangle tropes, but at least those were resolved fairly early on.
This book was fast paced, full of action and adventure after adventure, but sometimes it felt rushed; I could’ve used a little more time to slow down and process events before the next. There were so many twists and turns I never saw coming! I never knew who to trust. I’m looking forward to seeing these characters mature and learning more about the magic system in book 2.
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September 7, 2020
Absolutely adored every single word of it!! If you’re looking for a book with complex characters, family rivalries, secrets and simmering danger, I BEG you to pick this up!!!
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