REVIEW: Hunt on Dark Waters by Katee Robert

In Hunt on Dark Waters by Katee Robert, Evelyn might be a witch but even she can’t fix every predicament she finds herself in. And with her penchant for (light) thievery, she’s definitely gotten in over her head a few times in her twenty-five years. But being pulled into a whole other realm? That’s a new one. Evelyn had always heard the myths about Threshold and the creatures that lived there–along with the pirates who supposedly kept the realm safe. But it’s still a shock when she comes face to face with a real-life pirate captain when she’s fished out of the sea. And is almost killed upon sight. With reluctance, Evelyn takes the option to stay onboard the ship to plan her escape back to her world while checking out Threshold a bit more. And checking out handsome Bowen, who shouldn’t entice her as much as he does.

“I see that you’ve embraced the pirate life.”
“Of course I have. Swashbuckling, thieving, and looking good while doing it? It’s like it was made for me.”

Bowen knew right from the start that Evelyn was going to cause problems aboard the Crimson Hag. But it’s his job as captain of a Cŵn Annwn ship to give her the choice of staying or being tossed back into the sea. And he always does what has been commanded by the Cŵn Annwn. But with every interaction Bowen has with Evelyn, he realizes two things: he’s madly attracted to the witch, and he probably should have already wondered why the Cŵn Annwn has their captains do the things they do. As danger finds them with every turn, Bowen begins putting Evelyn’s safety over his duty. And he’s not sure if it will rip away the only life he’s ever known or put him on the path to a better future.

‘With every decision since meeting her, I’ve stood at a crossroads of law and heart. Every time, I’ve chosen heart.’

HUNT ON DARK WATERS was delicious insta-lust and thrilling danger on the high seas complete with pirates, witches, and all sorts of fantastical creatures. Paired up with Katee Robert’s flair for the erotic, this was a very solid start to her Crimson Sails series.

“Here there be monsters.”

Fantasy romance is all the rage right now but after reading Katee Robert’s HUNT ON DARK WATERS, it seems we’ve been missing out on pirates being in the mix. Because wow was our hero Bowen a compelling character. And definitely worthy of our heroine Evelyn’s affection. The two of them might have made an unlikely pair–he was a telekinetic pirate who took his vows and job extremely seriously, while she was a witch looking for a good time and treasures to steal–but they worked. Evelyn and Bowen had a way of balancing each other out, both with their abilities and in their personalities, that made them a pretty formidable team to go up against. As their foes found out quickly…

Robert worked her magic as well when it came to her captivating world-building. Not only were there many types of fantastical beasties to learn about, but the entire group of beings in Threshold and the way they worked for or against each other was intriguing. I loved that Evelyn was a people person–er, witch, who could interact with anyone and wasn’t afraid to speak her mind. Yes, it got her in a heap of trouble more than once. But it opened up Bowen’s eyes to things he’d never noticed before. Things that the ruling council, the Cŵn Annwn, had set as law which he followed to the letter without questioning it at all. And that spark of insight from an outsider’s eyes is what prompted all the changes for Bowen (and Evelyn) in the latter half of the book.

There were also some dynamic side characters–some who were morally gray, some working for the greater good, and some who were outright mean and selfish. But it was a world of pirates hunting down monsters and people from other realms, so it fit the story. And I think with all of the fast-paced action scenes and the romance between Bowen and Evelyn that burned fast and intense, having these other cast members mixed in–whether they were causing havoc or not–made for a page-turning read.

QOTD: If you were thrown into a different realm, would you stick around to explore? Or would priority number one be getting home?

Book Info:

Publication: Published: November 7th, 2023 | Berkley | Crimson Sails #1

Evelyn is a witch with a perfect storm of impulses: terrible taste in bed partners, sticky fingers, and a lust for danger. After she steals from her vampire ex and falls through a portal to another realm, she’s fished out of the waters by a band of seafarers and their telekinetic captain. She’s immediately given a choice—join their ship’s crew or die.

Bowen has no memory of his life before he became one of the Cŵn Annwn. He and his band of pirates are bound by vow to patrol through Threshold, the magical sea in between realms, keeping the portals to other worlds safe. When he rescues Evelyn, he doesn’t expect to be attracted to the unflappably brassy pickpocket. The longer he spends in her presence, the more he begins to question if his heart is the next thing she’ll steal.

But as tension heats up between Bowen and Evelyn, the danger at sea escalates as well. Because Evelyn has no intention of keeping her vows to the Cŵn Annwn, and if she betrays the crew, both she and Bowen will pay the ultimate price….