The Pull of the Tide

by Evelyn Shine, S.D. Simper, Erin Branch

Mermaids, sea witches, selkies, ahoy! Dive into ten tales of sapphic romantasy.

Separated by land and sea, two lovers ache with yearning. Can a human and a mermaid really make a life together? Elsewhere, a selkie despairs, trapped in an arranged marriage, only for her fated heart mate to pull her in with a sweet song. Across the sea, two pirate lovers-turned-sworn-enemies must work together against a foe trying to steal a goddess's power. On a seductive island, a swordfish shifter and a human crash together and come apart. Can they piece together their shattered supernatural connection?

This gender and identity-inclusive sapphic collection features ten pearl-sized ocean-themed stories of love and adventure on the high seas.

Genres: Fantasy, Lesbian, Romance, Queer, LGBT, Mermaids, Anthologies

Unknown Binding

Published June 1, 2024

About the author

Evelyn Shine is a queer author of fantasy romance books for readers who enjoy steamy myths and swoony fairy tales infused with adventure. No matter what tale she’s spinning, they all share a common thread of love, heart, and action. When she isn’t writing, Evelyn enjoys traveling, playing with her crazy Australian cattle dog, riding her Vespa through the countryside, and spending time with her indulgent partner.

Reviews

[Olga · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Pull of the Tide tiene relatos entretenidos, pero olvidables. Estuve leyendo esta antología de forma pausada entre libros y la mayoría de los relatos me entretuvieron por el momento, pero sin más.

​Esta antología contiene diez relatos sáficos que tienen lugar en temáticas del océano. Cumple con el objetivo de ser una lectura entretenida para pasar el rato, pero no hay nada impactante o que vaya a releer. Solamente voy a desglosar mi calificación porque no hay nada memorable de lo que pueda hablar de cada relato, ya que decir una sinopsis u opinión seria decir la trama con todo y spoilers.

​Calificación por relato:

•​A Mermaid's Heart de S. D. Simper 4/5

•​Xiphiidae de Elliot Ason 1/5

•​Ever in the Waves de Erin Branch 3,5/5

•​Lure Me to the Deep de Ali Williams 2/5

•​For the Love of the Sea de Aoibh Wood 3/5

•​It Won't Cost Much de Theresa Tyree 3,5/5

•​A Study of Pupfish, Margaritas & Mermaid's de Rosemarie Dillon 2/5

•​Tangled Tides de Erin Casey 3/5

•​Out of Water de Julie Brydon 3/5

•​Selkie's Promise de Evelyn Shine 2/5

​En definitiva, pasé un buen rato leyendo la mayoría de los relatos, pero el único que para mí valió la pena fue el primero y tal vez mi opinión sobre este relato jugó un poco en contra de los siguientes.

[Hajar]

به نظرم برای امشب بسه
لیست فعلیم خودش کم سنگین نیست
دیگه TBRم رو نباید اینقدر زیاد کنم

[Courtney Vandergrient · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Damn the succession rules to the depth of the dark seas."

I had the privilege to receive this ARC read. The Pull of the Tide is a lovely short story! I didn't put it down the moment I started it. This romance is between a selkie and a siren. The sweet song between these two females is so beautiful and captivating.

[Camila Dalles · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have received an ARC copy of the short story Out of Water by Julie Brydon.

This was such a good read. The story flows very easily and I just love how clumsy and careful of humans Anemonelia is but she opens this one exception for the pretty girl at the beach, quite quickly I must say (Totally understand her).
The love bargain they both strike is on the same level as Romeo and Juliet except for the happy ending. I am not going to lie, I will never be on the side of the mermaid who wants to be human but I suppose love is a good reason for it.
Honestly, after reading this short version I can't wait to read the whole book.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC copy of Selkie’s Promise by Evelyn Shine. This is a short but quick-paced tale of the romance between a selkie and a siren 💙 It has fated mates, spice and action!

Enya is a selkie who is engaged to be married to a male friend and is dreading her future with him since she feels no attraction. Suddenly she hears a human singing up above the waters and is compelled to follow. From there she discovers the human Moira and the attraction is undeniable! But there are secrets, and turmoil up ahead and Enya will stop at nothing to keep Moira at her side.

I loved this short story and am always a sucker for any aquatic creatures! Can’t wait to read the rest of the short stories!

[Tina Bañera R. · Rating 4 out of 5]

ES COMO UN RETELLING DE LA SIRENITA PERO SAFICO!!!🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷✨✨✨

Todo empieza con que Lorelei se debe sacar pero está profundamente enamorada de Nessa, una sirena. Y por eso ambas no pueden estar juntas. Son como 28 páginas y casi lloro de lo lindo que fue como Nessa no quería perder a su amor y Lorelei tratando de sacrificarse para que Nessa viva.
Viva el amor safico, viva los retelling, el mar, las sirenas, monogamia, patria y familia.

(Se que hay más historias dentro de este libro, pero yo solo me leí la de ellas).☝🏻😭

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mermaids, pirates, selkies, sirens, sea goddesses, oh my!
This anthology has it all. If you like the legends of the sea, then this one is for you.

Out of the Water by Julie Brydon - A sapphic retelling of The Little Mermaid was a cute fairytale with a bittersweet ending. I like that it was a bit different, and I also like the twist with the prince. Despite the conflict, it didn't feel all that engaging to me. I give this one 3 stars.

Selkie's Promise by Evelyn Shine - Selkies in a prearranged marriage, a Siren banished to land, and a battle with vicious enemies, this tale has action, suspense, romance, and spice all wrapped up with a HEA. I give this one 4 stars.

Ever in the Waves by Erin Branch - Pirates face off against a human villain and face the wrath of a sea goddess. The captain and the mermaid must save the day. This story was very exciting with lots of action and a sweet romance. I give this one 4 stars.

All of these short stories felt complete and were very enjoyable. From this sampler, I would definitely recommend the whole book.

I was provided these three as ARCs by the authors. This is my honest opinion.

[Abbrosy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ever in the Waves was an excellent love story showing two strong-headed people fighting for eachother.
It was captivating and kept me on the edge of my seat! Loved both of the characters.

[Alyssa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC of Selkies Promise, which is one of the short stories in The Pull of the Tide anthology. It's a super easy read about a selkie that is being forced into an arranged marriage by her father but falls in love with a "human" woman instead.

If you're looking for a short read with action and romance and light spice, this novella would be a great choice for you!

[Kayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read Selkies Promise in 2 sittings (darn job). It was what I needed to get out of a slump.
The story is fast paced, has character development, a solid plot, the best epilogue, and a really cute queer couple with supportive friends ( Rauri, I can't spell well). I am so glad I was able to get an arc.
10/10 would recommend

[Selina Rossman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aoibh Wood breathes fresh life into an old concept in a tale of star-crossed lovers with a satisfying conclusion. The Lure of the Sea immediately draws the reader into a world of adventure and longing that can't be put down. 

[Sharlene M · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the privilege of being an arc reader for Out of Water written by Julie Brydon, a short story appearing in The Pull of the Tide sapphic anthology releasing on June 4, 2024.

Out of Water follows Anemonelia, a mermaid who ventures beyond her tiny cove when the vast ocean beckons her toward adventure. But her comfortable existence shifts into turmoil when she stumbles across a human girl. At first Amenonelia fears for her safety, but instead of finding cruelty in the human as she’d been taught, she encounters an unexpected softness and together human and mermaid develop a mutual crush.

I absolutely adored the voice of Anemonelia and her human counterpart, Camillia. Both felt fully flushed out and believeable, and I found the unique perspective on the relationship particularly refreshing.

Sprinkled with clever oceanic similes and metaphors throughout, the conflict in this story builds and builds, with unique twists and turns panning out as Amenonelia and Camillia endeavour to figure out a way to make their relationship work.

I devoured the story in one sitting and can highly recommend it as an extremely enjoyable read.

[Lianne Dubbs · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 out of five stars!

Thank you Sunset Wave Press and SD Simper for the eARC! I have chosen to make an honest review.

This read is perfect for the upcoming summer season! There are various stories taking place on the high seas. Sometimes there are pirates, sometimes mermaids are present, and sometimes there's spice. All of these stories contain sapphic women and tales of romance. I loved the diverse stories within this anthology. My standout favorites were A Mermaid's Heart by SD Simper, For the Love of the Sea by Aoibh Wood, A Study of Pupfish, Margaritas, and Mermaids by Rosemarie Dillon (love the women in STEM rep), Out of Water by Julie Brydon, and Selkie's Promise by Evelyn Shine! There were some stories that I wished were longer or more fleshed out, but overall, this was a great anthology from a new publishing company! Sapphic readers will find at least one story to their liking.

Rep: sapphic women, including a trans woman. Specific content warnings are listed inside the anthology. If you have thalassaphobia, it might be better to avoid this anthology.

[Miranda Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful idea! Selkies Promise was a fast paced, soul mate, sapphic jewel that I couldn't get enough of. Join Enya and Moira for wave after wave of desire while they battle the world pushing them in different directions. A quick read and I can't wait to read more in this inspired anthology!

[Kaity · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Pull of the Tide was an ok anthology but had no stand out stories for me and unfortunately a few…choices. I just didn’t anticipate a noogie (no) and a surprise fisting (give a girl some warning) in a sapphic oceanic anthology. I’m also unsure if I would consider my favorite story from the collection to even be sapphic.

A Mermaid’s Heart by SD Simper - human countess x mermaid, established couple, little mermaid inspired 2 stars
Xiphiidae by Elliot Ason - swordfish shifter, public sex followed by a noogie and then a screaming match breakup 1 star
Ever in the Waves by Erin Branch - pirates, second chance, 60ish pages 4 stars
Lure Me to the Deep by Ali Williams - erotic (bondage, fisting…), Irish fae, mental health rep 1 stars
For the Love of the Sea by Aoibh Wood - trans woman rep, water elementals, forbidden 2 stars
It Won’t Cost Much by Theresa Tyree - trans man rep, unique storytelling, mermaids, was this story sapphic (the king was referred to only as king, man, grandfather etc)? 4 stars
A Study of Pupfish, Margaritas & Mermaids by Rosemarie Dillon - hearing aid rep, research expedition, mermaids 3 stars
Tangled Tides by Erin Casey - pirates, childhood friends to lovers, sea battle 3 stars
Out of Water by Julie Brydon - mermaids, friends to lovers 3 stars
Selkie’s Promise by Evelyn Shine - selkie x siren, fated mates, 60ish pages 2 stars

Sapphic short story anthology with a handful of novelettes, ocean fantasy romance theme

[Sixella MK · Rating 5 out of 5]

Small Business BookTok ARC Reviews: “The Pull of the Tide: Selkie’s Promise” by Evelyn Shine

Note: This ARC was given to me for free by the author and I am reviewing this book voluntarily.

Forced into an arranged marriage she never asked for, Selkie Princess Enya longs to live her life on her own terms and for her betrothed to marry his real true love that is her sister, Princess Dana! When a hypnotic, musical voice leads her to Moira, the owner of a local tavern in the surface world, Enya finds herself longing to defy everything she's been told to seize her chance at what could be her one true love!

A short story featured in “The Pull of the Tide” from the author that brought you “Queen of Heaven”, Evelyn Shine delivers a Sapphic Fantasy Romance that feels reminiscent of the Hans Christian Andersen classic tale “The Little Mermaid”! This narrative is packed with immersive, oceanic world-building that combines Celtic and Icelandic Folklore, angst, romantic tension, and twists and turns so magical, that you can't resist continuing to turn the page! If you want to dive into a perfect read for Mermay and upcoming Pride Month, then don't miss out on this book when it hits online shelves on June 4th, 2024!

Rating: 5/5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice Meter: 3.9/5 🌶🌶🌶

-Tropes to Expect: Guard x Princess, Sapphic Romance, Arranged Marriage, Fated Mates, Selkie x Siren, Pining, Oceanic Action, and Forbidden Romance.

-Trigger Warnings: Family Conflict and Relationship Angst.

[Ellen]

I was given a sneak peak of Tangled Tides by Erin Casey, one of the stories in this collection. Tangled Tides centers around pirate captain Kalliope Silvertongue, who finds more trouble than she bargained for when she returns home to the village she left behind as a teenager to see what's become of her best friend, Jayda. Between the will they-won't they romance, the looming threats of an old acquaintance and a vicious pirate called the Fire Raven, and the swashbuckling action scenes, I absolutely whipped through it. If the rest of the collection is this engaging, it's sure to be one heck of a read.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Selkies Promise by Evelyn Shine was a short story it was a beautiful written. Enya the oldest daughter is engaged to a man a marriage she doesn't want that she would trade in a heartbeat to her sister if she could. Enya not human which always should stay near water hears someone singing. She must see who the beautiful voice is, Moira. Enya and Moira are drawn to each other that keeps making Enya go to land to see the beautiful Moira sing.
This has love and adventure and again makes a beautiful story.

[Danielle Watts · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read Selkie's Promise from this collection and enjoyed it a lot. It was nice to see a fantasy novella that dealt with creatures you don't normally see. I liked the main character Enya a lot. She was struggling with her own desires along side what was expected of her as the eldest daughter of a ruler. Her actions and defiance reminded me a little of Ariel from the little mermaid. She was constantly going where she shouldn't, including the human world. But in doing so she ended up actually helping her family. She was betrothed to a man that she didn't have romantic feelings for (aside from the fact that she didn't even like men romantically) and to top that off, he was in love with her younger sister. Talk about a love triangle. This was a fast paced, action filled, fun fantasy story. I really enjoyed the authors writing and felt they did a great job to ensure I was able to imagine the world they built. I'd love to read more from this collection.

[Marcia Gomes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lure me to the deep
This is a short story in The Pull of the Tide Anthology. It’s about a love story between a mermaid (Li Ban)and a human(Niamh).
Niamh suffers with anxiety, which makes her a very relatable caracter, but I really would love to learn more about her life on land before Li Ban, honestly the only reason Im not giving 5⭐️ is because I would like to know more about the two characters both before and after knowing each other.
If you like short stories with insta love and a little bit of spice this is perfect for you.

[Kata · Rating 3 out of 5]

This review is for Selkie’s Promise by Evelyn Shine. I received an ARC copy of the story and haven’t read the other stories in this book.

Selkie’s Promise was a fast-paced insta-lust FF romantasy. The story was really short, only about 70 pages, so there wasn’t much time for world or character building.

Fast and easy to read, but a bit confusing at times due to the lack of background information.

[Shakira C · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Study of Pupfish, Margaritas and Mermaids is an incredibly well written short story. In just a few short pages I fell in love with the main character (because who can’t relate to being a little shy and awkward). When our margarita loving scientist needs to take a dive in order to save her friends, she finds herself in a whole new world and meeting (mer)people that will change her life forever. After finishing you want to crawl into their world & never leave! I couldn’t get enough!! Thank you Rosemarie Dillon for such an amazing story!

[ari · Rating 4 out of 5]

Es muy hermoso, lo único malo es que termina. Me hubiera gustado al menos un breve resumen de cómo fue el inicio de su nueva vida, tiene mucho material para un segundo libro y más largo pero fuera de eso lo amé.

[Zachary Wayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rosemarie Dillon writes a fantastic story inspired by the tragic missing persons case of the Devils Hole in 1965. The story is about a Scientist (Kitty) researching the anomaly of the pupfish and their only natural home. When tragedy strikes, and her research assistants don't resurface, she dives down and discovers an unexplored underwater cavern that is home to mermaid kingdom.

[Anitra E. H. L. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a likable swashbuckling pirate! Erin Casey’s Tangled tides has great characters with a plot that twists and turns before the almost unexpected, yet satisfying ending. Compared to the protagonist, the antagonist was perhaps too much of a flat villain, but I don’t mind.

[E. Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are looking for something filed with sass, tension, and complex relationships, this is the book for you! It is a quick read with fun characters and a twisting path of events.

[Jacquie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given an ARC of one of the stories in this anthology: Lure Me to the Deep by Ali Williams. This story was as well written as all the other stories I have read by this author. Ali takes great pride and care in writing characters that honor their diverse gender identities, own their neurological quirks, and feel like real people who react the way that makes sense for who they are. Ali manages to do all this and still tell a lighthearted but meaningful romance story that feels complete even when it’s short. This story was no exception. Even with the fantasy elements of mermaids the story still felt realistic and allowed me to escape adulting for a little while. Loved the story!!!

[christy - pr0bablyreadingsmut · Rating 4 out of 5]

review for elliot ason’s story xiphiidae

this was short, steamy, sapphic, and straight to the point. a swordfish shifter and her little human get into a quarrel as vanora prepares for one last cruise ship job for six months. ends with a steamy HEA

super cute and sweet. cant wait to read the rest of the stories in the collection!!! sapphic yearning ftw

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Evelyn Shine’s Selkie’s Promise is rich with mythology and romance. It is a tale where duty wars with destiny and the past catches up with the present. The story moves quickly and has plenty of action, with a sweet conclusion.

[Star]

Anthologies are so hard to rate for me.
I always enjoy some stories more than others, but it doesn't stop the collection from being good on the whole.
My brain is mush, so this is it for the moment.