So after finishing Neon Gods i spotted this on Netgalley and have never been more grateful to be offered this early
Many Thanks to Netgalley and Random House UK for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

So firstly- pirate romance series? Sign me up immediately. The plot in this story was extremely well thought out and delivered and written well. The pacing was spectacular and i loved exploring this universe with some great worldbuilding.

The characters were well developed throughout, but some felt a little stilted or bland occasionally, like i may not have felt much for them as i couldn't quite get behind them but this may improve when more happens in the future.

The romance was fantastic and well done, but after Neon Gods i'd expect nothing less. I'm excited to see where this goes in the future and definitely recommend this if you enjoyed the authors other works.

I did not gel well with this book. I found it hard to get into the flow of the writing and to connect with the characters, especially the female lead who i found arrogant and insufferable. Very sorry for this. i wanted to love it!

Where to start with this? I couldn't even find a good quote to begin my review with as usual. The synopsis held such promise: witch, vampire, telekinetic pirate, mermaids, and dragons? Sounds awesome. Except it isn't.

Evelyn is a witch who steals family heirlooms from her ex-lover, a powerful vampire, Lizzie. Somehow, while fleeing, Evelyn randomly stumbles upon a portal that takes her to another world: one from Welsh mythology in which pirates patrol the ocean and fight monsters. She's fished out of the water by Bowen, the captain of such a ship and given a choice: join the group in their 'noble' quest or be killed.

Almost instantly, Evelyn loses her head over the handsome Bowen, who in turn, can't stop thinking about her. That's even though Evelyn plans on betraying him the first chance she gets. But the insta-love between them prevents her from doing that and instead, she very quickly convinces him that his cause is wrong and most monsters are just creatures who deserve to live. And then a furious Lizzie manages to track Evelyn to this realm. Uh-oh.

The plot of this book is full of holes. How does Lizzie find Evelyn among so many different realms when Evelyn destroys the portal she flees from behind her? There is no explanation for why Lizzie so badly wants these particular jewels. How does Evelyn know dragons are creatures deserving of living but mermaids are not? The story is just all over the place.

I'm not a fan of insta-love and this book reinforces my opinion of why. Bowen and Evelyn basically fall from lust into love in a matter of days. There is literally no sexual tension or romantic build-up because they grab each other as soon as they possibly can. They somehow know each other so intimately in a very short space of time that they declare their undying love for each other.

Then there is the writing: inane, repetitive (how many times can you use the word "paladin" in one book?), vacuous and devoid of anything remotely interesting. I won't bother to read the next book in the series.

This is such a exciting first installment to this deliciously dark and thrilling story! cant wait for the next books

This was my first book by Katee Robert and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I loved the storyline and the characters. I'll definitely be picking up more from this author very soon. Would definitely recommend!

I love Katee Robert and will read anything she puts out. I thought this foray into pirates would be really interesting but it fell a little flat for me.

I’m not a big fan of insta-love - I like a little more tension between my MCs and some build up to the romance. World building was good and lots of diverse inclusive characters.

The MCs and their relationship just didn’t do it for me and they make up about 70% of the plot. I would have liked to see a bit more about Bowen’s history and the darker side of the Cyn Annwyn. Guess that’s what the next book is for.

It's Katie! She can do no wrong.

This feels slightly less steamy than usual for a Katee Roberts book but maybe slightly heavier on the plot. This is still hugely readable so I'd say that's no bad thing.

This was fun!

I was captivated by this realm right from the start. The narrative becomes increasingly intriguing as Evelyn traverses a portal. I eagerly anticipated the burgeoning enemies-to-lovers dynamic aboard a ship, particularly between Evelyn and the captain. Their undeniable attraction had me cheering for them to succumb to their desires. The narrative was imbued with spice, tinged with a hint of danger, as secrets began to unravel.

Pirates - check - witches - check - chemistry - ohh yes! This book was everything I wanted it to be and more. Join the pirates or die - we all know which most of us would choose.....

Look, it's pretty easy to convince me to read anything with pirates. Was I a little obsessed with Pirates of the Caribbean in my younger years? Maybe😂 I was looking for something with similar vibes, and I had hoped this book would be it. ⁠
⁠
Alas, I was disappointed. While the worldbuilding is fantastic, and the premise is fantastic, the characters just fell flat for me. There were not enough pirate vibes, and honestly, I was a little bored by the main characters. ⁠
⁠
I like a morally grey character, and while our female mc made questionable choices, the male mc was just too straight-laced for me (I know that's a horrible complaint to make, but I want red flags when it comes to fictional men). ⁠
⁠
Did I want a darker story? Yes. Is it my fault for expecting it from this book? Maybe. ⁠
⁠
I will mention again that the worldbuilding is really good, and we met some other characters whose books I would read. So while it wasn't a win for me, I encourage you to pick it up.

1.5 Stars
Hunt on Dark Waters, Katee Roberts latest new release on first book in a new series, is a fantasy romance with a widely inclusive cast of characters.
Evelyn, the main character in the first book, is a witch. After stealing some of her ex’s jewels she steps through a portal into a different dimension full of pirates and a decision is placed on her shoulders: join their crew or die. As a way of buying more time she reluctantly joins them. Bowen is the male main character and captain of the ship.
I really struggled with this book. I didn’t like the main characters. Evelyn’s P.O.V was like pulling teeth. She was whiny and immature, and I just couldn’t enjoy her view at all. Bowen was in love straight away. It took away any tension, build up etc. Sometimes insta-love is awesome to read. The will they/won’t they scenario or the two characters toeing the line of friends/lovers. But this wasn’t like that. The pacing and flow felt very haphazard as well.
I’m disappointed I didn’t like this as much as I originally thought I would but seeing so many other readers/reviewers love this is great.
Thank you for the eARC

I just finished diving into "Hunt On Dark Waters" by Katee Robert, and let me tell you, it's a wild ride across the high seas of fantasy and romance. If you're into magic-infused escapades with a side of sizzle, this book should be on your radar.

Evelyn, our lead, is a witch who's as unpredictable as a storm at sea, with a knack for trouble that lands her straight into the arms of Bowen, the captain with telekinetic prowess. Their encounter? Nothing short of electric. As they navigate the treacherous waters of the Threshold, the sea that connects realms, you can't help but be drawn into their chaotic yet steamy dynamic.

What really struck me was the pace of the story—it's like being on a ship caught in a tailwind, fast and exhilarating. And the romance? It's there, threading through the narrative with a heat that simmers rather than overwhelms. This isn't your average damsel-in-distress meets brooding hero tale; it's a partnership of equals, with banter that's as sharp as a cutlass.

Katee Robert has a knack for creating these immersive worlds that are just a joy to explore. The magical elements are as vivid as they are intriguing, making the setting itself a character to revel in. And if you thought "Neon Gods" was a hit, wait till you set sail with this one.

In short, "Hunt On Dark Waters" is a fantasy frolic that's perfect for those late-night reading sessions. It's got just the right mix of adventure, magic, and romance to keep you glued to the pages. So, if you're in the mood for a story that's equal parts thrilling and enchanting, grab your copy.

Well, you had me at pirate. It's common knowledge among those who know me that I'm a sucker for pirates and that's 100% what drew me to this book in the first place. And I was not disappointed.
I must say there was very little pirate-y stuff as it's more about the main characters and their instalust than anything else, which, again, not a disappointment at all. So if you think you're gonna read the next Sandokan or something like that, just forget it. It's downright a high seas romance, and sometimes, that's really all you need hehe.
Not to say I didn't like the characters, because I freaking did. Evelyn is such a spitfire who to be honest I think suffers from personality disorder, since she's ready to flee one moment and then wants to become a paladin herself. Not of that the two can't coexist, at times it was just a whiplash. But I love how sassy yet caring she is, and yes, the fact that she's a plus size heroine plays a great part in it.
Bowen is honestly... Well, he's Liam Jones, and suffice to say, I will always love Liam (yes, it is an Once Upon A Time reference, of course it is). As with Evie, I really wanted more introspection, more of his thoughts, especially given his change of heart. Let's say I do love myself a self loathing male lead and one who struggles and suffers. Might be the (light) whumper in me.
In any case, I really, really liked this book, even if it was a bit too fast (and maybe even because of it, after all). The magical system tied to the tattoos and the blood was so good and would have liked more lore on it, I'm a sucker for good magical systems, eugh.
So, if you're looking for a good, instalust novel with a splash of pirates and a sprinkle of smut, this book ticks all the boxes. Have fun ;)

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an ARC!

I have mixed feelings about this. It was a good read but I found it be lacking in something . . . But I can’t say what.

It’s not one of my favourite books by Katee, and I just found it to be a little rushed. However, I will be picking up book two. I want more of the characters. They’re really likeable.

The synopsis sounded promising but I don’t think I’ll continue this series, especially since the romance fell quite flat

Hunt on Dark Waters was my first Katee Robert book and I already cannot wait for its sequel Blood on the Tide to come out next year. This book was a wild ride, full of adventure on the high seas, monsters, magic and sizzling chemistry. 4.5 ⭐️

Hunt on Dark Waters finds witch Evelyn falling through a portal into another realm, where she is fished out the waters by a fierce group of seafarers. She’s given the choice join - them or die. At the helm of the ship Evelyn now finds herself on is Bowen, a captain bound by honour and his vows to protect Threshold and fight any monsters who threaten it. The longer Evelyn and Bowen spend in each other’s presence the greater the tension sizzles between them, but so too do the dangers they face.

I really enjoyed this one, it was a fun and easy read. It’s short chapters, with duel POVs keep you hooked into the story, and with its high stakes action and adventure it makes it nearly impossible to put down. I loved the world building in this, with Threshold acting as the world between realms, where each island reflected the different realms. The monsters and magic was all very cool as well, with many reflecting different myths and legends. Also this book has pirates, which I’m loving at the moment!

Evelyn and Bowen’s relationship is very much insta-love which I know isn’t everyone’s vibe but I’m ok with it. They had great chemistry and I enjoyed how they played off against each other. They’re both forced to deal with some pretty big things throughout the book but come to make a formidable team. As seems to be a hallmark of Robert’s writing this book is very spicy throughout.

Overall this was a fun read and I’m looking forward to seeing what happens next and to finding out more about Lizzy, Evelyn’s vampire ex.

This book was an easy read. The magic and paranormal aspects were enjoyable to read. Who doesn’t love to read that stuff? The romance choices are questionable and felt forced/undeveloped.
If you enjoy insta-love, quick attraction then you’d enjoy this book but not for me

I really enjoyed Robert’s Wicked Villains series and while I have yet to read the Dark Olympus one I was excited to read Hunt on Dark Waters that has witches, vampires, mermaids and more. The premises was good and I loved the crew of seafarers and the idea that they patrol through the magical sea between realms to keep the worlds safe. I found Evelyn an interesting main female character and Bowen was a good male counter part to her.

There were a few things that just nudged this down to four stars for me. The first was the insta-love. I know lust is a thing and accept that but I found the love aspect just a bit too much for me. That said Wicked Villains was one of my first forays into romance genres so it may be trope that is common. The other thing I found a little off putting was the pacing. It seemed to go from fast to slow, to fast, to slow and it was just made it a tad hard to settle in.

That said I did enjoy the story in all, the world is interesting and I loved the cast of characters on the crew. I will definitely follow the series since I think sometimes the pacing can be a tad temperamental in a first novel in a series. I also want to know more about the characters as well, particularly Bowen. If you are a fan of fantasy romance this one will be on you will enjoy.

I was so excited to read this book. Sadly it didn't live up to my expectations. I didn't like the main character Evelyn and struggled to get into the story.

I really enjoyed this introduction to a new world from Katee Robert. Evelyn was such a fun character and I loved the manifestation of her magic and how she encouraged Bowen toquen question things a little bit more. Speaking of Bowen, I think I am back in my pirate era with him. I really liked his character arc and the way he and Evelyn complemented each other. I also liked the way myths and stories were woven into the story and I cannot wait to see what Lizzie’s story holds