“Sails and Sirens – Love, Lies, and the Tide That Could Drown Them Both”

Posted on by Luzanne Warren

📖 Synopsis

The Seven Kingdoms are drowning in fear. Siren Princess Eliana Leilani of Cerulia has been tasked with a dangerous mission: infiltrate a human college with her little sister Elara to unmask the Sea Hunters responsible for slaughtering her people. But her mission takes a dangerous twist when she meets Will Sawyer — a relentless Sea Hunter with every reason to hate sirens.

Will’s family legacy is built on hunting sirens, the very creatures who took his grandfather’s life. His loyalty lies with the Hunter Association… until Eliana sweeps into his life like a riptide he never saw coming.

With war looming, allegiances will be tested, secrets will surface, and love could either bridge the divide or destroy them both.

💬 Detailed Review

If you’ve been craving a fantasy romance that blends the epic sweep of high-stakes politics with the intimate pull of forbidden love, Sails and Sirens will have you hooked from page one.

Cynthia Brubaker has built a richly textured world — think Pirates of the Caribbean meets To Kill a Kingdom, with a dash of Romeo and Juliet tension. The setting shifts seamlessly from the glittering underwater halls of Cerulia to the bustling, intrigue-filled corridors of a human college, creating a vivid contrast between the two worlds.

Eliana is an instant standout — fierce, loyal, and grappling with the enormous weight of leadership. Her relationship with her sister, Elara, brings a heartfelt anchor to the story. Will Sawyer, on the other hand, is exactly the kind of conflicted love interest readers adore — morally complex, a little broody, and driven by deep family loyalty that clashes beautifully with his growing feelings for Eliana.

The romance itself is slow-burn perfection. Each scene between Eliana and Will is charged with tension — stolen glances across crowded rooms, near-misses where their secrets threaten to spill, and an undeniable chemistry that crashes over them like a wave they can’t outrun.

Beyond the romance, the political and cultural conflict between sirens and hunters is deeply layered. Both sides have their reasons, their scars, and their wrongs — which makes the resolution all the more gripping. The eventual reveal of the larger threat raises the stakes to an exhilarating high, leaving you flipping pages like your life depends on it.

And yes — there are action scenes that will leave you breathless. Brubaker balances romance with battles at sea, tense spy missions, and nail-biting confrontations.

If I had to sum it up in one sentence? This is a sweeping enemies-to-lovers fantasy that will pull you under and keep you there, heart racing, until the final page.

🔥 Spice Rating

🌶️🌶️ 🌶️(3/5)

  • Slow burn with a few intense, swoony moments
  • Romantic tension heavy, intimacy light but impactful
  • Perfect for YA-to-New Adult crossover readers

👩‍💻 About the Author

Cynthia Brubaker crafts immersive fantasy worlds with deep emotional cores. Her work often blends lush, imaginative settings with characters whose relationships feel achingly real. She’s a storyteller who understands both the adrenaline of a high-seas chase and the quiet power of a whispered confession.

📚 Books Similar to Sails and Sirens

  • To Kill a Kingdom – Alexandra Christo
  • These Hollow Vows – Lexi Ryan
  • The Bridge Kingdom – Danielle L. Jensen
  • Fable – Adrienne Young
  • Of Poseidon – Anna Banks

💡 Why You Should Get a Copy

  • For romance lovers: If forbidden love and “I should hate you, but I can’t” chemistry is your weakness — this is your next obsession.
  • For fantasy fans: You’ll get a richly developed underwater world and compelling human intrigue.
  • For action seekers: Political tension, espionage, and battles keep the pace snappy and the stakes high.

📌 Buy it. Read it. Fall in love. Then come back here so we can scream about it together.

🌀 Interactive Section

Quiz: Are You a Siren or a Hunter?

1. Your ideal weekend getaway is:
A) Sailing into open waters with the wind in your hair
B) Exploring hidden coves beneath the sea

2. You’re faced with danger. You:
A) Charge in with a weapon and a plan
B) Use charm and cunning to outwit your enemy

3. Your playlist is full of:
A) Sea shanties and rock anthems
B) Ethereal, haunting melodies

  • Mostly A’s? You’re a Hunter – fierce, fearless, and ready to defend your people.
  • Mostly B’s? You’re a Siren – graceful, mysterious, and powerful in ways others don’t expect.

Book Club Discussion Questions

  1. Who do you think had the most difficult choice to make — Eliana or Will? Why?
  2. If you were in Eliana’s position, would you risk exposing your identity to save someone you love?
  3. How do you think the story’s events might have changed if Will discovered Eliana’s secret earlier?

Mini Game: The Alliance Challenge

Pick a side (Siren or Hunter) and try to convince the other side to join you using only three sentences. Share your pitch in the comments — the best one wins eternal bragging rights.

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