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Dark and Twisted Tales #1
A Sea of Unfortunate Souls
A fairy tale retelling with a dark twist!
Monster hunter.
Pirate.
Orphan with a vendetta.
Aboard her vessel, Arie Lockwood sails the open seas in search of those responsible for the murder of her fathers. When one voyage takes an unfortunate turn, Arie finds herself at the mercy of King Roland who gives her an ultimatum:
Kill the Leviathan, or watch her sister die.
Determined to save her sister, Arie must partner with her rivals, Pascal and Captain Hook, to fulfill the king’s command. One is loyal to the malicious royal. The other gives her lingering glances that send shivers coursing through her. Together they seek out Ursa, the sea witch, for guidance on how to bring the legendary sea monster down.
What they find instead is a dark secret buried in the depths that causes Arie to question everything. Can she and her cohorts bring down the Leviathan and save her sister? Or will they become the next victims of the soul-eating monster?
A Sea of Unfortunate Souls is a Little Mermaid meets Peter Pan retelling containing elements of strong language and graphic violence. With 68k+ words of darkness and intrigue, it will have you coming back for more.
Monster hunter.
Pirate.
Orphan with a vendetta.
Aboard her vessel, Arie Lockwood sails the open seas in search of those responsible for the murder of her fathers. When one voyage takes an unfortunate turn, Arie finds herself at the mercy of King Roland who gives her an ultimatum:
Kill the Leviathan, or watch her sister die.
Determined to save her sister, Arie must partner with her rivals, Pascal and Captain Hook, to fulfill the king’s command. One is loyal to the malicious royal. The other gives her lingering glances that send shivers coursing through her. Together they seek out Ursa, the sea witch, for guidance on how to bring the legendary sea monster down.
What they find instead is a dark secret buried in the depths that causes Arie to question everything. Can she and her cohorts bring down the Leviathan and save her sister? Or will they become the next victims of the soul-eating monster?
A Sea of Unfortunate Souls is a Little Mermaid meets Peter Pan retelling containing elements of strong language and graphic violence. With 68k+ words of darkness and intrigue, it will have you coming back for more.
ebook
Published February 1, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
February 19, 2022
This book is a veryyyy slow read. It is also labeled as a dark Little Mermaid retelling, but I had trouble connecting where the inspiration to the story until, quite literally, 50% of the way into the book. Before that, much of the story actually sounds like it’s referencing Peter Pan. We have Hook, Smith, and even a wizard named Pascal (Tangled reference?).
I’m also calling it here. I’m 50% done with the book and I have too many questions and not enough answers to really make sense of what I’m reading. There is a mysterious bounty on Hooks head, but not much is known as to who placed the bounty and why. Arie is beginning to lust after Hook, but there is very little backstory there for me to root for them. Pascal refers to them as lovers, but they’ve done nothing but pretend to be inconvenienced by one another that I can’t agree with this. It’s also very much “I’m going to pretend to dislike you even though I won’t admit to why”, which adds to the confusion for the reader. Pascal also refers to Arie as “little dove” and while Arie never tells him to stop calling her that, it’s quite odd that someone is using a pet name who isn’t her lover. If he does become her lover it’ll be out of left field, even more of a surprise than the AriexHook pairing.
Arie has one goal: to kill the Leviathan. Virtually no one knows what the beast is because only Hook has lived to tell the tale. Prior to engaging with Hook, how was Arie planning on recognizing this beast?
It is also worth noting the ping-pong’ing between characters. What I mean is this: Arie has to go to track down the beast and she needs to bring Pascal with her. Arie and Pascal have never seen this beast, but Hook has. Hook doesn’t know where to find him, but says he knows a guy who might. Jameson is this guy. Jameson doesn’t know where to find the beast, but knows a guy who might have information. Said guy, a Brotherhood, knows that the answer to the question lies in Aries home. At Arie’s home, Hook mentions knows a guy who might know how to find the beast. Again, cue Jameson. Jameson knows a sea witch who can make you a deal to-. Do you see what I’m saying? No one has any answers, you’re just following the next person who’s been referred to you. This, combined with an ever growing ensemble cast, makes for a confusing storyline.
Furthermore, how much time is the king giving Arie again? Traveling via boat isn’t quick, but yet there isn’t much pressure from Arie to speed things up.
I would also question what is dark about the story? The bar fight? Because the darkest thing to happen was a decapitation, but I wouldn’t call it dark since it was relatively quick and there wasn’t much emphasis on the brutality of such an act.
I did receive an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
With all of that being said, what I did like was how the world was built. The description was done very well and I actually felt like I was there alongside Arie on her ship! I just wish such attention was put on the rest of the story.
I’m also calling it here. I’m 50% done with the book and I have too many questions and not enough answers to really make sense of what I’m reading. There is a mysterious bounty on Hooks head, but not much is known as to who placed the bounty and why. Arie is beginning to lust after Hook, but there is very little backstory there for me to root for them. Pascal refers to them as lovers, but they’ve done nothing but pretend to be inconvenienced by one another that I can’t agree with this. It’s also very much “I’m going to pretend to dislike you even though I won’t admit to why”, which adds to the confusion for the reader. Pascal also refers to Arie as “little dove” and while Arie never tells him to stop calling her that, it’s quite odd that someone is using a pet name who isn’t her lover. If he does become her lover it’ll be out of left field, even more of a surprise than the AriexHook pairing.
Arie has one goal: to kill the Leviathan. Virtually no one knows what the beast is because only Hook has lived to tell the tale. Prior to engaging with Hook, how was Arie planning on recognizing this beast?
It is also worth noting the ping-pong’ing between characters. What I mean is this: Arie has to go to track down the beast and she needs to bring Pascal with her. Arie and Pascal have never seen this beast, but Hook has. Hook doesn’t know where to find him, but says he knows a guy who might. Jameson is this guy. Jameson doesn’t know where to find the beast, but knows a guy who might have information. Said guy, a Brotherhood, knows that the answer to the question lies in Aries home. At Arie’s home, Hook mentions knows a guy who might know how to find the beast. Again, cue Jameson. Jameson knows a sea witch who can make you a deal to-. Do you see what I’m saying? No one has any answers, you’re just following the next person who’s been referred to you. This, combined with an ever growing ensemble cast, makes for a confusing storyline.
Furthermore, how much time is the king giving Arie again? Traveling via boat isn’t quick, but yet there isn’t much pressure from Arie to speed things up.
I would also question what is dark about the story? The bar fight? Because the darkest thing to happen was a decapitation, but I wouldn’t call it dark since it was relatively quick and there wasn’t much emphasis on the brutality of such an act.
I did receive an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
With all of that being said, what I did like was how the world was built. The description was done very well and I actually felt like I was there alongside Arie on her ship! I just wish such attention was put on the rest of the story.
April 14, 2022
4.5 ★
I was captivated from the first sentence and hooked by the end of chapter one, no pun intended 🤣 This was a fun fast paced read, full of adventure, pirates, mystery and magic. I loved it.
•☆• Minor Spoilers Below •☆•
Arie is one of my fav characters, a witty, sarcastic and morally grey character, I'll take it all! I laughed out loud alot at some of the remarks/come backs Arie made, it was so much fun reading about Arie. We also get to see Arie grow as a character, she has to re-live her past in a ways she didn't expect but this only makes her stronger. There are some emotional and serious moments in the book.
Arie's sister was feisty and well let's just say the author surprised me in a good way when we first meet her. I don't want to spoil it because it totally caught me off guard and was bad ass! In fact when I thought something was going to happen it was turned upside down and had me even more intrigued.
I loved that because this was a short book we didn't have to spend weeks or days travelling (on the page) when getting to the next place or destination. The book flowed really well and didn't feel like we missed out on too much not knowing what happened over that time as the important parts where weaved in without bogging down the story. Instead I was constantly enthralled with this read and couldn't turn the page quick enough. I do however wish we got some more character bonding time on the page, just a smidge. As I really enjoyed those moments throughout the book, I'd happily take some more 😍
There is also a will-they-won't-they love interest. I'll say no more on that 🤐
This story was a refreshing take on the classic fairy tales we've come to know and love, twisting and weaving the Little Mermaid and Hook aspects was brilliant! You can't have pirates without Hook that would be blasphemy 😉 I can't wait to read the next book.
Thanks to the author for my #gifted copy.
I was captivated from the first sentence and hooked by the end of chapter one, no pun intended 🤣 This was a fun fast paced read, full of adventure, pirates, mystery and magic. I loved it.
•☆• Minor Spoilers Below •☆•
Arie is one of my fav characters, a witty, sarcastic and morally grey character, I'll take it all! I laughed out loud alot at some of the remarks/come backs Arie made, it was so much fun reading about Arie. We also get to see Arie grow as a character, she has to re-live her past in a ways she didn't expect but this only makes her stronger. There are some emotional and serious moments in the book.
Arie's sister was feisty and well let's just say the author surprised me in a good way when we first meet her. I don't want to spoil it because it totally caught me off guard and was bad ass! In fact when I thought something was going to happen it was turned upside down and had me even more intrigued.
I loved that because this was a short book we didn't have to spend weeks or days travelling (on the page) when getting to the next place or destination. The book flowed really well and didn't feel like we missed out on too much not knowing what happened over that time as the important parts where weaved in without bogging down the story. Instead I was constantly enthralled with this read and couldn't turn the page quick enough. I do however wish we got some more character bonding time on the page, just a smidge. As I really enjoyed those moments throughout the book, I'd happily take some more 😍
There is also a will-they-won't-they love interest. I'll say no more on that 🤐
This story was a refreshing take on the classic fairy tales we've come to know and love, twisting and weaving the Little Mermaid and Hook aspects was brilliant! You can't have pirates without Hook that would be blasphemy 😉 I can't wait to read the next book.
Thanks to the author for my #gifted copy.
March 13, 2022
ARC Review ✨
I really enjoyed this book. It is a really cool twist on what we know and love. It had a good pace with a flawed but not annoying female lead. I also loved that there were LGBTQ+ friendly aspects. The story has such great twists and turns that kept the reader guessing but didn't confuse me either. I am already looking forward to the next one!
Highly recommend for lovers of retellings that give us a darker and different perspective on the classic fairytales.
I really enjoyed this book. It is a really cool twist on what we know and love. It had a good pace with a flawed but not annoying female lead. I also loved that there were LGBTQ+ friendly aspects. The story has such great twists and turns that kept the reader guessing but didn't confuse me either. I am already looking forward to the next one!
Highly recommend for lovers of retellings that give us a darker and different perspective on the classic fairytales.
February 27, 2022
3.5 Stars
A Sea of Unfortunate Souls is supposed to be a dark retelling of the Little Mermaid, and I suppose it was in a sense. Jay R Wolf took inspiration from the Little Mermaid, as well as several other folktales/FairyTales.
Arie was a decent character, maybe a bit naive but a good person to her core. She's loyal, smart, and has the loyalty of her crew. But she definitely has her faults; she doesn't always think things through and is a bit selfish without meaning to be, and again naive.
Hook seemed kind of like a fill in character. He has his uses, but wasn't wholly needed. Maybe if the book was in multiple POVs and you could get a read on him he would have made a bigger impression.
Pascal was probably my favorite character, I wish he had gotten more page time. His ending was crushing my heart though. I definitely look forward to his story. I really thought he would end up as the love interest.. maybe he still will. One can only hope.
Not sure why Frankie matters other than she was sort of needed for the plot of this book. Are we eventually going to find out she's a princess, as well? What about Clayton (Hook's brother)? I was thinking Clayton might be the villain from Tarzan. Lol
The story was a slow read, but was still captivating. I felt like the author could have gone into more detail with the action scenes and maybe even the worldbuilding.. it was more tell than show in my opinion. And the dealt with the Leviathan rather quickly as well.
It was a little difficult to get an age on the characters. I assumed maybe in their early to mid 20s.
There is some LGBTQ representation in the book, however the two main homosexual characters are dead before we even meet them. That being said, it is brought up several times about sharing a bed with the same sex, but not too much else other than that. There are no explicit sex scenes, it's mentioned briefly, but it's not a main focus for the story.
The cover called to me. The octopus is probably my all time favorite sea creature so I was ecstatic to see tentacles on the cover.
A Sea of Unfortunate Souls is supposed to be a dark retelling of the Little Mermaid, and I suppose it was in a sense. Jay R Wolf took inspiration from the Little Mermaid, as well as several other folktales/FairyTales.
Arie was a decent character, maybe a bit naive but a good person to her core. She's loyal, smart, and has the loyalty of her crew. But she definitely has her faults; she doesn't always think things through and is a bit selfish without meaning to be, and again naive.
Hook seemed kind of like a fill in character. He has his uses, but wasn't wholly needed. Maybe if the book was in multiple POVs and you could get a read on him he would have made a bigger impression.
Pascal was probably my favorite character, I wish he had gotten more page time. His ending was crushing my heart though. I definitely look forward to his story. I really thought he would end up as the love interest.. maybe he still will. One can only hope.
Not sure why Frankie matters other than she was sort of needed for the plot of this book. Are we eventually going to find out she's a princess, as well? What about Clayton (Hook's brother)? I was thinking Clayton might be the villain from Tarzan. Lol
The story was a slow read, but was still captivating. I felt like the author could have gone into more detail with the action scenes and maybe even the worldbuilding.. it was more tell than show in my opinion. And the dealt with the Leviathan rather quickly as well.
It was a little difficult to get an age on the characters. I assumed maybe in their early to mid 20s.
There is some LGBTQ representation in the book, however the two main homosexual characters are dead before we even meet them. That being said, it is brought up several times about sharing a bed with the same sex, but not too much else other than that. There are no explicit sex scenes, it's mentioned briefly, but it's not a main focus for the story.
The cover called to me. The octopus is probably my all time favorite sea creature so I was ecstatic to see tentacles on the cover.
February 19, 2022
This book had me hooked from page one! The tale of Arie, Hook, Pascal, and the crew kept me engaged through every page as the story and romance unfolds at all the right times and with the perfect balance of slow burn and mystery and excitement. Arie is an amazing example of a strong female character and sea witch who stops at no lengths to achieve what she wants and protect her family, both blood and chosen.
I could go on forever about the tropes in this book! Enemies-to-lovers, found family, and a flawed female protagonist who deals with all of that and so much more. Everytime I thought I knew where it was headed it went the other way, keeping me hooked and thoroughly engaged with every word. Arie has a gorgeous found family amongst her crew who are beyond loyal and yet her relationship with her own sister is strained.
Wolf did an amazing job of keeping Arie as a typical protagonist but also letting her be an imperfect, morally-gray monster hunter. Hook is just *chefs kiss* amazing. The variety in the villains in this book, from Roland to the beast, were amazing and put Arie against a variety of different situations and struggles that added to the reader's bond with her.
The only reason this book didn’t get five stars from me was because at times the plot advanced without much detail or description, the events were told and listed out but very little was shown or said about its effect on the character. Also some of the bonding moments between characters felt very forced and unnatural, like information was being shared solely for the story purpose and not because the characters were bonding with each other. Overall though this is probably my favorite disney retelling!
I could go on forever about the tropes in this book! Enemies-to-lovers, found family, and a flawed female protagonist who deals with all of that and so much more. Everytime I thought I knew where it was headed it went the other way, keeping me hooked and thoroughly engaged with every word. Arie has a gorgeous found family amongst her crew who are beyond loyal and yet her relationship with her own sister is strained.
Wolf did an amazing job of keeping Arie as a typical protagonist but also letting her be an imperfect, morally-gray monster hunter. Hook is just *chefs kiss* amazing. The variety in the villains in this book, from Roland to the beast, were amazing and put Arie against a variety of different situations and struggles that added to the reader's bond with her.
The only reason this book didn’t get five stars from me was because at times the plot advanced without much detail or description, the events were told and listed out but very little was shown or said about its effect on the character. Also some of the bonding moments between characters felt very forced and unnatural, like information was being shared solely for the story purpose and not because the characters were bonding with each other. Overall though this is probably my favorite disney retelling!
March 3, 2022
This was an entertaining and quick debut novel by Jay R. Wolf! The Little Mermaid meets Peter Pan with a touch of adult seriousness. I received an ARC of this novel and all opinions are my own.
Our main character, Arie Lockwood, starts the book in chains. She's a pirate and monster hunter, forced to go hunting for the biggest monster of all: the Leviathan, despite knowing that it's likely going to end in the death of her and her crew. I can't summarize much more after that, because the story takes several unexpected turns. Let's just say Arie finds a destiny she does not expect by the end.
My review is more of a 4.5 because I feel like I went into this expecting just The Little Mermaid and ran straight into Captain Hook. The book has strong ties to both the Brothers Grimm tale and Peter Pan by the end. If I'd known about this, I probably wouldn't have picked the book up. However, I'm glad I did and believe Jay R. Wolf is a developing talent who wove a fun story for us!
Our main character, Arie Lockwood, starts the book in chains. She's a pirate and monster hunter, forced to go hunting for the biggest monster of all: the Leviathan, despite knowing that it's likely going to end in the death of her and her crew. I can't summarize much more after that, because the story takes several unexpected turns. Let's just say Arie finds a destiny she does not expect by the end.
My review is more of a 4.5 because I feel like I went into this expecting just The Little Mermaid and ran straight into Captain Hook. The book has strong ties to both the Brothers Grimm tale and Peter Pan by the end. If I'd known about this, I probably wouldn't have picked the book up. However, I'm glad I did and believe Jay R. Wolf is a developing talent who wove a fun story for us!
March 14, 2022
Arie is a pirate, known to slay monsters, who's been taken in by the King with a mission: slay the Levianthan and return what he lost, or her sister dies. But the journey will be so much more treacherous than simply killing an unkillable monster. Twists and turns will arise and just when she thinks she's safe, there's more lurking in the waters.
A Sea of Unfortunate Souls has to be one of my favorite retellings to date. Action and adventure galore, and we get plot twists that just throw you for a loop. This was fast paced and focused on Arie's prespective, rather than being multiple POV. We were given a fascinating story that combined Peter Pan, the Little Mermaid and Atlantian myth in a stunning way. I picked this book up and couldn't put it back down until I was finished. Now I need the next part of the characters' stories and where they plan on going next!
A Sea of Unfortunate Souls has to be one of my favorite retellings to date. Action and adventure galore, and we get plot twists that just throw you for a loop. This was fast paced and focused on Arie's prespective, rather than being multiple POV. We were given a fascinating story that combined Peter Pan, the Little Mermaid and Atlantian myth in a stunning way. I picked this book up and couldn't put it back down until I was finished. Now I need the next part of the characters' stories and where they plan on going next!
March 23, 2022
A Sea of Unfortunate Souls is packed with action, adventure, magic, and an air of mystery. Once I really got into it I was swept away by Arie's quest and became invested in her story. She's a strong FMC with a tragic past. As she tries to track down and kill a fearsome sea monster, she also stumbles upon the truth about her family. Along the way she picks up some great side characters, including a pirate from another fairy tale and I was LOVING IT.
I did take off a star because I felt there were a few oversights, mostly in things Arie should have been trained to use/ do before going out to fight the most deadly monster in the sea, and I personally would have liked more sensory details. But overall I liked the premise and I thought it was pretty original for a retelling.
If you love pirate stories and dark retellings, I would definitely recommend!
I did take off a star because I felt there were a few oversights, mostly in things Arie should have been trained to use/ do before going out to fight the most deadly monster in the sea, and I personally would have liked more sensory details. But overall I liked the premise and I thought it was pretty original for a retelling.
If you love pirate stories and dark retellings, I would definitely recommend!
March 1, 2022
I enjoyed this book, which contains plenty of sword fighting, sailing and cursing – exactly what you want when the main characters are pirates!
The plot has a number of twists and turns, as what starts out as a straightforward quest becomes anything but. The main protagonist is well rounded, relatable and fun, and I enjoyed seeing a different interpretation of characters and legends who are familiar through other stories.
Our heroine faces up to several satisfyingly devious enemies, though some aren’t quite what they appear to be. There is also some interesting magic to spice things up, and a strong vein of humour to stop things from getting too heavy without taking away from the drama.
I received an ARC of this book. This is my honest review.
The plot has a number of twists and turns, as what starts out as a straightforward quest becomes anything but. The main protagonist is well rounded, relatable and fun, and I enjoyed seeing a different interpretation of characters and legends who are familiar through other stories.
Our heroine faces up to several satisfyingly devious enemies, though some aren’t quite what they appear to be. There is also some interesting magic to spice things up, and a strong vein of humour to stop things from getting too heavy without taking away from the drama.
I received an ARC of this book. This is my honest review.
March 7, 2022
This book starts off with a very pirates of the Caribbean feel. But You also get the feel of Little mermaid. Arie is a strong-willed female captain of her ship. She's strong and bold, and does not let anyone walk on her. She needs no one but her ship and crew, who are loyal to a fault. She is put in the middle of an impossible situation, but with the help of those around her she beats unthinkable odds. It was a great read and I intend on reading the second one!
Little mermaid, peter pan, slow burn romance, good fight scene, small pieces to a larger puzzle.
No triggers
Little mermaid, peter pan, slow burn romance, good fight scene, small pieces to a larger puzzle.
No triggers
February 28, 2022
I loved this book! At first reading through I was bored and found it dry but kept read and so glad I did. At about 30% through the story I was hooked on the story and wanted to know what was going to happen with arie and hook ad well as what Pascal was up to. Between the twists and turns and bonds formed between the characters it was a great story. I look forward to reading the next book in this series
March 14, 2022
So this is a dark and twisted fairytale retelling of the little mermaid and Peter Pan and it’s oh so good! Arie Lockwood Is our kick ass monster hunter and her adventure is gripping and thrilling. It’s full of action and tons of adventure and the twists and turns had me on the edge of my seat yelling at my kindle. Fast paced with incredible world building this held me from start to finish and I need the next book please.
March 28, 2022
I love how the author retold a story we already knew, but made it darker and twisted. I enjoyed the imagery of the sea and what being a pirate would have been like. I also enjoy that the author threw out the stereotypical man/woman relationship. I can’t wait to read the second book, Neverland here we come!
March 4, 2022
Was hooked from the first page, thanks to the main character and interesting plot. Look forward to Dark and Twisted Tales # 2.
April 5, 2022
This was such a fun read it a little mermaid/Peter Pan Retailing I liked it it’s new adult but no spice or steam but very enjoyable book but hope for it in book 2
March 5, 2022
Slow at first but then it picked up and I really enjoyed it. I was hoping there was gonna be alittle bit of arie and hook getting together. I hope the next one is about Peter pan and never land.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 13, 2022
If you enjoy retellings that combine different tales, then I highly recommend this one. It's dark and I can't wait to read the next book.
February 5, 2023
There is a chance I've found my favourite book of the year ALREADY!
Completely obsessed with the characters and love the way this story is written.
When I found out there was a prequel available I devoured that immediately.
Now I have to impatienly wait untill May, when a Land of Lost Souls is released.
I am a big fan!
Completely obsessed with the characters and love the way this story is written.
When I found out there was a prequel available I devoured that immediately.
Now I have to impatienly wait untill May, when a Land of Lost Souls is released.
I am a big fan!
October 4, 2024
The book was a page-turner for me. I found it quite dynamic with just the right amount of description for the reader to be able to visualise the scene but not get lost in the description. It is a retelling of the Little Mermaid, which is my least favorite Disney story. However, Jar R. Wolf's writing and world-building have made Arie(l)'s story interesting and darker than the Disney tale we are familiar with. I gave it a four-star rating as I was confused at some points in the book but that made me even more interested to found out more. Some of the plot twists were predictable as it is a retelling but others left me gasping as they were not part of the original tale of the Little Mermaid. I found the characters interesting and well-written (Hook is my favorite), and I can't wait to read the next book.
August 22, 2022
I bumped this down a tiny bit from my Instagram post to a 4.3/5 stars rating. If you like fast paced Little Mermaid retellings and witchy books this is a great one for you. Sometimes the plot felt unconnected and sporadic instead of outlined beforehand but I enjoyed the ride.
Here’s my live thoughts while reading: The first chapter is action packed, fast paced and sets the tone for this adventurous monster-killing novel led by a badass heroine protagonist who will do anything to save her little sister. A lot of things were introduced quickly but I think I got the needed details. King Roland equals bad. Captain Hook is crazy. The Wizard is either an enemies to lovers situation or the villain. And Arie needs to battle the beast of Scarlett’s lagoon. This is my perfect genre and will be right up my alley.
I love the names Jay R Wolf picks, like: The Devil’s Den & Black Betty & Slayer. I’m on chapter 3 and so far the trigger warnings haven’t come up for violence and dark content. I wish Indie publishing or all publishing had an exact rating scale for how to classify dark, severity of violence, sex, etc. This story has the potential for those but so far reads like a fast paced YA novel. If it’s going to be dark dark I don’t feel that yet.
The black and white line drawing artwork of the three main characters spread throughout the pages are gorgeous.
I’m not sure if it’s a love triangle situation but it’s enemies to lovers regardless. It’s awesome how both Arie and Hook need to complete the same task on their own to get what they want. So they’re after the same thing & might be forced to work together but only one will win the sibling freedom.
At page 100 I’m feeling sometimes the shift is very abrupt from thinking one character and then it suddenly jumps to processing about a different character. It’s a little jolty and shocks me at times instead of fluid and natural.
What’s the point of the red diamond? It was brought out then forgotten about. What? And then this random bird pops up.
The discussion at the bar was a bit boring and then the violence that did happen seemed a bit unnecessary.
At the halfway point, I’m not sure the part with Jamison moves the story forward. The progression feels a bit lost with the plot’s momentum. But then that secret lever to open the hidden compartment was awesome and a pivotal scene which I needed.
It doesn’t make sense that she was willing to let her crew fight the monster at the beginning but not risk letting them join her as backup to meet the sea witch.
Page 132- oh no! This author used the name Ursa which is the same name I’m using for my current work in progress called “The Wicked Blue.” My Ursa is the grandma of the hero, Axton, and she’s also a powerful sea witch.
Atlantis? What is happening. So there’s a trident and a magical mirror and … there’s almost too much going on and it feels rushed.
I gotta say this story is very unpredictable, which is great.
The repetitive reasoning that so-and-so character knows a lot about the villain, thus needs to help, isn’t holding up. There’s no proof of this.
I’m happy with the ending and want to read the sequel when it’s finished but I wish there was more romance in this one. Also, I’m not fully on board with this being categorized as “dark.”
Here’s my live thoughts while reading: The first chapter is action packed, fast paced and sets the tone for this adventurous monster-killing novel led by a badass heroine protagonist who will do anything to save her little sister. A lot of things were introduced quickly but I think I got the needed details. King Roland equals bad. Captain Hook is crazy. The Wizard is either an enemies to lovers situation or the villain. And Arie needs to battle the beast of Scarlett’s lagoon. This is my perfect genre and will be right up my alley.
I love the names Jay R Wolf picks, like: The Devil’s Den & Black Betty & Slayer. I’m on chapter 3 and so far the trigger warnings haven’t come up for violence and dark content. I wish Indie publishing or all publishing had an exact rating scale for how to classify dark, severity of violence, sex, etc. This story has the potential for those but so far reads like a fast paced YA novel. If it’s going to be dark dark I don’t feel that yet.
The black and white line drawing artwork of the three main characters spread throughout the pages are gorgeous.
I’m not sure if it’s a love triangle situation but it’s enemies to lovers regardless. It’s awesome how both Arie and Hook need to complete the same task on their own to get what they want. So they’re after the same thing & might be forced to work together but only one will win the sibling freedom.
At page 100 I’m feeling sometimes the shift is very abrupt from thinking one character and then it suddenly jumps to processing about a different character. It’s a little jolty and shocks me at times instead of fluid and natural.
What’s the point of the red diamond? It was brought out then forgotten about. What? And then this random bird pops up.
The discussion at the bar was a bit boring and then the violence that did happen seemed a bit unnecessary.
At the halfway point, I’m not sure the part with Jamison moves the story forward. The progression feels a bit lost with the plot’s momentum. But then that secret lever to open the hidden compartment was awesome and a pivotal scene which I needed.
It doesn’t make sense that she was willing to let her crew fight the monster at the beginning but not risk letting them join her as backup to meet the sea witch.
Page 132- oh no! This author used the name Ursa which is the same name I’m using for my current work in progress called “The Wicked Blue.” My Ursa is the grandma of the hero, Axton, and she’s also a powerful sea witch.
Atlantis? What is happening. So there’s a trident and a magical mirror and … there’s almost too much going on and it feels rushed.
I gotta say this story is very unpredictable, which is great.
The repetitive reasoning that so-and-so character knows a lot about the villain, thus needs to help, isn’t holding up. There’s no proof of this.
I’m happy with the ending and want to read the sequel when it’s finished but I wish there was more romance in this one. Also, I’m not fully on board with this being categorized as “dark.”
February 18, 2022
Things I didn't like
We didn't get to know more or less how old they are. It just helps me visualize. And so far I'm thinking that Pascal is an old wizard but my mind screams that it does not make sense since he is the love interest. I wrote that when I was reading and turns out I was wrong lol but then why he had a pet name for her if he wasn't the love interest? I mean if Hook was the one then Hook should have had a pet name for her. It's just off.
Where is the darkness? In the blurb it says it's dark. I mean if you just going to write about that someone brutally died, it's not a dark book you just mention it as a TW.
And if someone is going to use Captain Hook and make sure the ship's name is Jolly Roger. I know I know, it is from Peter Pan but then you should have change the name of the pirate as well, since there is no connection whatsoever to Neverland. I wrote this part before finishing the book, and wanted to add that if there was some connection to Peter Pan then it should have been mentioned. I started the book fully expecting a retelling of little mermaid.
Too much inner thoughts/monologue.
I have received the eArc of this book and I'm leaving the review voluntarily.
We didn't get to know more or less how old they are. It just helps me visualize. And so far I'm thinking that Pascal is an old wizard but my mind screams that it does not make sense since he is the love interest. I wrote that when I was reading and turns out I was wrong lol but then why he had a pet name for her if he wasn't the love interest? I mean if Hook was the one then Hook should have had a pet name for her. It's just off.
Where is the darkness? In the blurb it says it's dark. I mean if you just going to write about that someone brutally died, it's not a dark book you just mention it as a TW.
And if someone is going to use Captain Hook and make sure the ship's name is Jolly Roger. I know I know, it is from Peter Pan but then you should have change the name of the pirate as well, since there is no connection whatsoever to Neverland. I wrote this part before finishing the book, and wanted to add that if there was some connection to Peter Pan then it should have been mentioned. I started the book fully expecting a retelling of little mermaid.
Too much inner thoughts/monologue.
I have received the eArc of this book and I'm leaving the review voluntarily.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 10, 2023
A little mermaid/Peter Pan retelling?
Yes please!
So let me start by saying that this world was interesting. You've got mermaids and sea witches and evil kings and crazy wizards. I mean like, literally, you have it all. And what once starts as a simple mission (simple might not be the right word here) turns into a complete upheaval of everything Ari has come tk believe.
I loved the characters. I was seriously hoping for some Ari/Hook action, but I'm willing to wait. It's got all the vibes of a slow burn, enemies to lovers. Now I just need the romance.
Aside from the serious lack of Ari on Hook action, the only thing that bothered me was Ari herself. It's kind of explained when she mentions that her being a woman made her work harder and build this tough exterior, but a part of me wants to throttle her. Her emotions flip-flop a lot, and she's prone to outbursts, but she does realize she's in the wrong.
Otherwise, I totally enjoyed this book and I can't wait for the next book to be in my hands!!
Yes please!
So let me start by saying that this world was interesting. You've got mermaids and sea witches and evil kings and crazy wizards. I mean like, literally, you have it all. And what once starts as a simple mission (simple might not be the right word here) turns into a complete upheaval of everything Ari has come tk believe.
I loved the characters. I was seriously hoping for some Ari/Hook action, but I'm willing to wait. It's got all the vibes of a slow burn, enemies to lovers. Now I just need the romance.
Aside from the serious lack of Ari on Hook action, the only thing that bothered me was Ari herself. It's kind of explained when she mentions that her being a woman made her work harder and build this tough exterior, but a part of me wants to throttle her. Her emotions flip-flop a lot, and she's prone to outbursts, but she does realize she's in the wrong.
Otherwise, I totally enjoyed this book and I can't wait for the next book to be in my hands!!
March 15, 2022
This book will have you hooked so fast and turning the pages to see what’s going to happen next. Think the little mermaid meets Peter Pan. But there’s so much more!!!
Arie Lockwood is a pirate and monster hunter. But soon finds herself in the hunt of one of the most dangerous and unkillable monster the Leviathan. This book will take you in such a journey. And I was as surprised as Arie was as to what or who she came across during her journey.
Filled with actions, adventure, secrets, violence, twists and turns that will make you want to throw your kindle but it is oh so worth it. A true page turner and I’m a sucker for a good retelling. Can’t wait to read what’s going to happen next!
Arie Lockwood is a pirate and monster hunter. But soon finds herself in the hunt of one of the most dangerous and unkillable monster the Leviathan. This book will take you in such a journey. And I was as surprised as Arie was as to what or who she came across during her journey.
Filled with actions, adventure, secrets, violence, twists and turns that will make you want to throw your kindle but it is oh so worth it. A true page turner and I’m a sucker for a good retelling. Can’t wait to read what’s going to happen next!
April 4, 2023
I love retellings of fairytales and I’ve gotta say this series is my favorite so far! I quickly became attached to Arie and her whole crew. I love that they are all a family and would do anything for each other and the slow burn that is going on omg!! I picture Colin O’Donoghue as hook. If your not familiar with once upon a time look him up you are welcome ;)There are so many hints to the original story but the rest is so unique and will keep you on your toes. The ending has got to be one of the most intense cliffhangers I have come across and now I am sitting here wondering how I will cope until the next book comes out lol.
August 20, 2022
An interesting take on The Little Mermaid. I enjoyed the blending of Captain Hook and how the book ends preparing you for more of his story in the sequel. I did feel the plot was rushed and there are still so many questions I have that should have been answered as far as characters and the background of this story go in this first book. As a result, there are huge gaps in the plot for me that had me not really investing myself too much in this. I finished this mainly because it was so short, but I would have enjoyed it better had more time been spent to develop the story and world.
March 26, 2023
Dnf at 20%
Far too much exposition and explanations without actual actions.
Far too much exposition and explanations without actual actions.
April 17, 2022
A Sea of Unfortunate Souls is a clever mashup of both the Little Mermaid and Peter Pan fairytales, and Jay R. Wolf's debut novel. From page one, we're thrust into monster hunter Arie Lockwood's latest predicament, and her most severe one yet: to save her sister from the clutches of King Roland, she needs to track down the most fearsome beast in the sea - the Leviathan. And even Arie is fully aware she may not come out of it alive.
The twists and turns of this story were as delightful as they were unpredictable. Wolf kept me on the edge of my seat as an unforgettable cast (including Captain Hook and an unstable wizard, Pascal) navigates hostile islands, savage sirens, drunken bar fights, and more, before finally coming to realize that the foe they sought isn't all that it seems - and neither is Arie herself.
I absolutely can't wait to return to Neverland in book two, where I'm more than confident that Wolf will outdo herself, even with this outstanding debut!
5 twisted stars!
The twists and turns of this story were as delightful as they were unpredictable. Wolf kept me on the edge of my seat as an unforgettable cast (including Captain Hook and an unstable wizard, Pascal) navigates hostile islands, savage sirens, drunken bar fights, and more, before finally coming to realize that the foe they sought isn't all that it seems - and neither is Arie herself.
I absolutely can't wait to return to Neverland in book two, where I'm more than confident that Wolf will outdo herself, even with this outstanding debut!
5 twisted stars!
May 15, 2023
A Sea of Unfortunate Souls by Jay R. Wolf is a twisted and dark retelling of The Little Mermaid meets Peter Pan. If you adore fantasy books and intriguing fairytale retellings, you will love this book! It is the first in a series and has me super excited to see what comes next. I am obsessed and loved loved loved this book! It was one I definitely couldn't put down!!!!
In this story, we meet Arie, a pirate and monster hunter, who is trying to find those responsible for killing her fathers and get her revenge. She is captured by King Roland and given an ultimatum, find and kill the Leviathan or watch the king harm her estranged sister she has spent her life protecting. Along the way, she encounters her biggest adversary, Captain Hook, who reluctantly joins her because he has also been forced to hunt the Leviathan by the king. They are also joined by Pascal, a mysterious magical loyalist to the king. Their journey is quick and partially unravels secrets from all of their pasts. They find the Leviathan, but it is not at all what any of them are expecting and will shake them all to their core.
I absolutely loved this book and the twistedness of the way the author reintroduces us to these characters. It is such a departure from the original story in the BEST way! We are just beginning to discover who and what they all are in this installment of the series. We have so many mysteries that we still haven't unraveled. I would also definitely recommend reading the prequel novella, A Cage of Cursed Souls. This series has it all, and I am so excited to read the next one soon!
In this story, we meet Arie, a pirate and monster hunter, who is trying to find those responsible for killing her fathers and get her revenge. She is captured by King Roland and given an ultimatum, find and kill the Leviathan or watch the king harm her estranged sister she has spent her life protecting. Along the way, she encounters her biggest adversary, Captain Hook, who reluctantly joins her because he has also been forced to hunt the Leviathan by the king. They are also joined by Pascal, a mysterious magical loyalist to the king. Their journey is quick and partially unravels secrets from all of their pasts. They find the Leviathan, but it is not at all what any of them are expecting and will shake them all to their core.
I absolutely loved this book and the twistedness of the way the author reintroduces us to these characters. It is such a departure from the original story in the BEST way! We are just beginning to discover who and what they all are in this installment of the series. We have so many mysteries that we still haven't unraveled. I would also definitely recommend reading the prequel novella, A Cage of Cursed Souls. This series has it all, and I am so excited to read the next one soon!
July 7, 2023
"A Sea of Unfortunate Souls" by Jay R. Wolf is a pirate fantasy romance told in first-person, following the pirate captain Arie. Guarded by her fiery red temper and trusty dagger, she is fearsome, known for fulfilling bounties for monsters across the sea, and her crew is tough and true.
But even they fear facing the Leviathan. When Arie and her men are dragged into service of a ruthless king, they find far more than a monster. They find questions, the mysterious scent of monstrous magic, and far more mystery regarding Arie's true identity than she's comfortable with.
I enjoyed the mishmash of stories, with inspiration taken from the Little Mermaid, Peter Pan, and Atlantis. Arie is a consistent, feisty character with a far softer interior than she pretends, something that bolsters the faith of her crew rather than undermining it (as she would think). I enjoyed the tension with Hook, even though it was predictable. Who doesn't like Hook, after all? I'm not the biggest fan of first-person (which is my issue), so I notice a lot of internal musings. You definitely always knew what Arie was thinking. The settings were well thought-out, and the action was smooth and easy to follow. The ending switched to a very interesting direction for the next book.
If you like retellings inspired by the sea, pirates with messy pasts and entangled futures, and unpredictably powerful sea magic, this book might be for you!
But even they fear facing the Leviathan. When Arie and her men are dragged into service of a ruthless king, they find far more than a monster. They find questions, the mysterious scent of monstrous magic, and far more mystery regarding Arie's true identity than she's comfortable with.
I enjoyed the mishmash of stories, with inspiration taken from the Little Mermaid, Peter Pan, and Atlantis. Arie is a consistent, feisty character with a far softer interior than she pretends, something that bolsters the faith of her crew rather than undermining it (as she would think). I enjoyed the tension with Hook, even though it was predictable. Who doesn't like Hook, after all? I'm not the biggest fan of first-person (which is my issue), so I notice a lot of internal musings. You definitely always knew what Arie was thinking. The settings were well thought-out, and the action was smooth and easy to follow. The ending switched to a very interesting direction for the next book.
If you like retellings inspired by the sea, pirates with messy pasts and entangled futures, and unpredictably powerful sea magic, this book might be for you!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 30, 2023
I was given a copy of this book by the author (thank you!) but now that disclosure out let’s go on a sea voyage for this review.
A Sea of Unfortunate Souls is a Little Mermaid meets Peter Pan retelling, and holy smokes did this book deliver! I could not put it down, I finished this book in a day.
I loved everything about the way Jay R Wolf described her world, I felt like I was on the boat right along with the main characters. Speaking of the main characters, they were so flushed out… so realistic. Speaking of, my favorite character by far was Captain Aerie Lockwood, she was a swashbuckling good time!
This by far is my favorite mash up of Peter Pan and the Little Mermaid, I can NOT wait until book two, I feel like I’m going to be twiddling my fingers for a bit. Do yourself a favor and give this book a read, hopefully we’ll see each other in the tides while waiting for the next. 🌊🌊🌊
“A Place Where No Soul is Safe.”
Also check out the cover of this book! 10/10
A Sea of Unfortunate Souls is a Little Mermaid meets Peter Pan retelling, and holy smokes did this book deliver! I could not put it down, I finished this book in a day.
I loved everything about the way Jay R Wolf described her world, I felt like I was on the boat right along with the main characters. Speaking of the main characters, they were so flushed out… so realistic. Speaking of, my favorite character by far was Captain Aerie Lockwood, she was a swashbuckling good time!
This by far is my favorite mash up of Peter Pan and the Little Mermaid, I can NOT wait until book two, I feel like I’m going to be twiddling my fingers for a bit. Do yourself a favor and give this book a read, hopefully we’ll see each other in the tides while waiting for the next. 🌊🌊🌊
“A Place Where No Soul is Safe.”
Also check out the cover of this book! 10/10
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