Reviewed by Sadonna

TITLE:  A Naiad’s Song

SERIES:  A Pirates and Water Nymphs

AUTHOR:  Gigi Rivers

PUBLISHER:  Self-published

LENGTH:  260 pages

RELEASE DATE:  October 20, 2023

BLURB:

A flirty pirate nymph. A lonely virgin doctor. An MM Fantasy romance with mutual pining, opposites attract, playing doctor, and an HEA.

Everett serves as the doctor on the Naiad’s Revenge,but he is too shy and bookish to fit in with the boisterous pirates. So he spends his time alone in the ship’s infirmary. Except when he comes up on deck to watch the stunning water nymph Kythe sing. Everett doesn’t just admire Kythe’s voice; he yearns for the naiad. But Kythe shines so brightly. How could he ever care for a dull, inexperienced virgin like Everett? At least Everett can watch Kythe sing.

Easy-going and beautiful Kythe has a secret. Whilst he enjoys the company of many, he only has feelings for one person, the ship’s doctor. At first, Kythe barely noticed the doctor. Everett is so reserved and unassuming. Then one day, when being treated by Everett, Kythe saw his quiet passion and intensity. And when Everett touched him, it awoke something inside him. Kythe can’t stay away. He reports every scrape and bruise to the doctor. He flirts outrageously. Still, Everett seems oblivious. Or more likely, he just doesn’t want Kythe.

Is there any chance for two who pine so strongly for each other? Or will old wounds and their fear of rejection keep them from finding love?

REVIEW:

Everett is a doctor who is kicked out of his family/practice because of his “perverse” attraction to men.  He’s robbed and beaten on the docks as he’s trying to figure out what to do next, and is taken in by the crew of The Naiad’s Revenge.  Kythe, a beautiful fishernymph sees him when he is singing on the ship and the captain allows Everett to join them.  He knows nothing about Naiads really, but he’s smitten with Kythe.

Everett continues to watch Kythe from afar while Kythe seems to be having fun and living his best life.  Everett doesn’t feel as if he’s really part of the crew and mostly keeps to himself.   Kythe tries to flirt with him and tell him that if they do something together it doesn’t have to mean anything – although of course he wants it to mean something because he is obsessed with the doctor too 😉

Everett is a virgin and he’s very nervous around Kythe and his flirting.  He has no idea how to respond.  He has no experience.  Kythe finally gets his way and Everett is shocked.  And he perceives that he did everything wrong and why would Kythe want anything to do with him.  Kythe has to work to get Everett to understand that he really does want him.  There are jealousies and miscommunications.

Kythe also has a past that affects him.  He was held captive by humans as well.  Between them, these two have been through so much.  They stumble and take some missteps, but they are clearly mean for each other 🙂

I really enjoyed this tale in this pirate/naiad world.  Everett has zero confidence in himself – except as a doctor.  He sees himself as boring, dull and unattractive.  Kythe on the other hand is beautiful, talented in music, a fighter who is taking on The Order and very sexually experienced.  They couldn’t be more opposite of they tried!  Kythe sees the man behind the doctor.  He visits him on the pretext of every slight injury or wound because he just wants to be near him.  Everett can’t understand why Kythe would want to have anything to do with him.  The mutual pining is perfectly written 😉  When they do get together, Everett is surprised and he doesn’t know what to do.  When Kythe confesses that he really does care for Everett, it’s a bit of a shock.  These two have to negotiate their insecurities and their pasts in order to get to their happily ever after.   Both characters are well written and clearly motivated and influenced by events in their pasts.  They struggle a bit with moving forward, but all’s well that ends well.  This is such an interesting series.  Naiads continue to fascinate and the humans who love and protect them and fight the good fight are wonderful too 🙂  Recommended.

RATING: 

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