We've seen forest dwelling monsters and now we get to see a sea dwelling monster!!
From the blurb:
I didn’t die that day. My best friend says a beast saved me. A monster. A legend. A creature from stories told around campfires.
But he’s wrong. Monsters don’t exist. That’s what I keep telling myself.
And yet my dreams are filled with him—tall and strong, claws sharp like knives, vibrant green eyes that glow like beacons. He shouldn’t be real. He can’t be.
Since the accident, I’ve been scrambling to hold my life together, fighting to keep what's mine from being taken from me. Running my bakery, and caring for my farm, while drowning in grief and jumping at shadows. I’ve never felt so afraid or so alone.
Then a stranger arrives in Newbridge, carrying a sense of familiarity I can’t explain and warmth I want to lose myself in.
Sterling
I saved him that day. Dragged him from the waves and laid him on the beach in the shadow of his lighthouse.
Now I watch him. Protect him. Care for him. And show him the only version of me he believes is real. The man and not the monster. There is nothing I won't do for him.
Because he is mine.
Katriana Prey's review:
WE FINALLY GOT A SEA CRYPTID!!! I am SO excited that C.S. Autumn did something different than what others was doing and instead of going with the monster in the woods idea, they went with the monster in the sea! How cool is that?!
I thought this book was fantastic! I was immersed into this world full of adorable animals, magical sand, and yummy baked goods from the very first page. This book started off with a devastating loss, but that loss also marked the beginning of this story and is how Caspian and Sterling meet!
I honestly don't know how to write this review without giving away spoilers so I will just talk about what I loved the most about this book. Starting with the characters themselves! Sterling is such a unique character, he's not your average monster. His whole being is about protecting the land, or animals, or whatever calls for his protection/intervention. That calling is what led him to Caspian and continues to call for his protection as an unknown danger is lurking around his mate's properties. I liked that Sterling is a sea based creature, I'm so happy someone in this collab series went the sea monster route as it's not often written about and seeing as how most of this series has been about forest dwelling creatures, that made this book even more unique and enjoyable! Sterling wasn't an 'average' sea creature either, he's described as almost shark like, while being able to shape shift into a wolf/shadow form which was really interesting! I loved being able to read about something new!
As far as Caspian goes, the human of this story, he is such a sweetheart. He has lost so much and is now battling someone who is set on taking what is his, all while falling for a mysterious man who is studying the even more mysterious seals that have moved onto his beach. He's got a lot going on but he is still so kind even when he's skeptical! I loved that he's a baker, and the detail that went into describing the baked goodies he was making was amazing. As a baker myself, I appreciated that those moments weren't just glossed over. I also want to talk about how Caspian is neurodivergent, the mentions of him not liking certain textures in food, and how he doesn't like certain sensations/fabrics, was really nice to see. I always love neurodivergent rep being a part of books, especially when it's written in a realistic way, which this was! I loved that!
I do have to talk about a certain side character for a moment, Caspian's best friend Kiernan! He added so much to this story! Humor, witty remarks, sass, and he showed what it's like having a supportive and caring best friend who will be there for you through everything. I also loved how he was such a believer in the unknown whereas Caspian didn't believe in such things until after he was forced to face them. I adored his character and I really hope he gets his own story soon!
I'm also very curious about the seals and the mysterious blue sand! I still have so many questions, so I really hope this turns into its own series. If it does, I will absolutely be reading it right away!
Solais is currently available as an e-book and paperback and can be read as part of your Kindle+ Subscription
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