Way Down We Go

Sons and Daughters of Lir #1

by Andrea Jenelle

Tropes: Fated Mates; Star-Crossed Lovers; Marriage of Convenience

Callum has been imprisoned for over a thousand years.

He's finally free and he has three objectives:
Claim Her.
Steal Her.
Sacrifice Her.

The Prince of the North Sea will claim his vengeance on the descendant of the witch that stole his brother's life.

Meghan is a research librarian in modern day Chicago. And he's the new maintenance guy in her apartment complex.

A paranormal romance based on Scottish each uisge folklore and mythology.

Genres: Ebooks, Enemies To Lovers, Audiobook, Fantasy, Fantasy Romance

422 pages, Paperback

Published August 8, 2023

About the author

I write steamy small town romance (Willow Creek series), paranormal romantasy (Sons & Daughters of Lir) and Victorian era historical romance (Wainwright Sisters) with heat and heart.
I'm a 2X HOLT Award Winning Author (2023, No Regrets- Best First Book; 2025, No Excuses - Best Short Contemporary) who's had characters begging me to tell their love story since I was thirteen years old. I'm finally letting them have a voice.
I wrote my first story, about a giant who befriended a lady bug when I was in the second grade.
I live on a peaceful farm with my spouse and love nothing more than sitting on my porch with a glass of wine and plotting.
You can subscribe to my newsletter via my author website, ANDREAJENELLEROMANCE at https://andreajenelleromance.com/ or see what I'm up to on Instagram and TikTok via my handle @authorandreajenelle

Reviews

[Meghan]

I'll start by saying that this is one of those rare times I don't use star ratings - not because it doesn't deserve it but because I have a major conflict of interest. You see, the book is dedicated to me. Yep. First inspired by a story I told on my bookstagram about a hot maintenance guy in my apartment building and a missed opportunity to be stuck in an elevator with him. Thank you to Andrea Jenelle for making my little fantasy come to life...and in such spectacular fashion!

Now, unlike my maintenance guy, the fella in this story is a water-spirit being called a each-uisge (similar to a kelpie but different) who is over one thousand years old. He's also under a curse that has kept him trapped until his mate was born and he could begin to follow the prophecy that would restore his kingdom's lands and bring safety to his people. So he poses as a maintenance guy in her apartment building and arranges for them to get stuck in the elevator so he can begin his seduction. Sucks for him, she may be easily tempted by his muscles and kissing ability, but she is not so easily convinced that he is the right man for him. He'll need to work a little harder...except he doesn't really have time for that. He makes a deal with her - be his temporary bride and then he will pay off her student loans, which would allow her to fulfill her dream of opening a romance bookstore. Of course, he left out two pesky details. One, she would need to bear him a child first, an heir. Two, she would never be able to return home, because upon bearing his heir, she would need to be sacrificed. Minor details, really.

It didn't take me long to get sucked into this romance, and I quickly found myself engaged in the romance and chemistry between Callum and Meghan. I could instantly see the appeal of Callum - the man knew how to kiss and make a woman forget her own name. And Meghan's feisty nature was right in line with how I would likely react to all of it! Although her decision to go off with this dude, without knowing all the details, threw me. Girl was a research librarian, a smart cookie, but her libido...and yes, her desire to pay off her student loans...drove her decision-making. Tsk, tsk. Now Callum, while having this grand plan of not allowing Meghan to affect him, quickly found himself unable to resist his mate. He knew he could never actually sacrifice her, and yet he wasn't sure if he could find a solution. It was so nice having a dual POV in this book so that we could really see and understand the dilemma he was experiencing. It made me feel for him as he navigated doing what was best for his people and what his heart wanted.

My one nit throughout the whole thing was probably the latter third of the book moving too quickly. Lots of time jumps, where I would have rather had it more drawn out. I actually was expecting there to be a cliffhanger with a second book to follow, so I was surprised at how much happened in such a short amount of pages. A little more time seeing them grow as a couple would have just enhanced my appreciation for their bond. That being said, it was still a satisfying ending, and I loved how attached they were to each other. Hopefully we get to see more of them in the next book!

I am eager to see how the story continues with a new couple! And hopefully by then I'll be used to seeing my name in a romance book, since this one really had me reeling. Meghan is not a popular romance book name!

**I received a free copy from the author and this is my honest review.**

[Lindsay pinkcowlandreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐️

Claim her, Steal her, Sacrifice her…
 
Three simple steps for the dethroned and exiled presumptive King of Lir to reclaim his kingdom of the North Sea and save his people!
 
Shapeshifter Callum has been impression for hundreds of years, until the time was right for him to enact the prophecy that would guarantee his freedom, make him a saviour to many… and a murderer of his mate.
 
This ancient Scottish prince is sent to find his fated mate, a librarian in modern-day Chicago and return her to his ancestral lands. Bookworm Meghan is a and totally willing to go along with the “fated-mates” vibe he is wooing her with to help him retrieve his kingdom. As Callum and Meghan work through the elements of the prophecy, she becomes far more than the pawn the prophecy intones her to be and becomes an integral part of the kingdom… even during the final step!
 
This is Andrea Jenelle’s first paranormal romance and the first book of her The Sons and Daughters of Lir trilogy. Way Down We Go is full great dialogue and sweeping description that sets up the mythology of the shapeshifting waterhorses and the scenery of this PNR world. While reading, I found myself getting swept up in this magical world along with our MFC and likening the reading experience to Kersley Cole’s A Hunger Like No Other. One big difference is the level of respect and consent given between the MC’s. Yes, Cullum is planning on sacrificing Meghan, but during the steamy scenes and their other interactions, there is a level of respect that feels very modern and appropriate.
 
This is one of those series that provides some closure at the end of the book, but you are still attached to the world and eagerly awaiting for your next visit to the North Sea!
 
Way Down We Go by Andrea Jenelle is available today!
 
Thanks to author Andrea Jenelle for my arc copy. Opinions are my own.

#WayDownWeGo #AndreaJenelle

[Destiny Garcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book ive read like this and it makes me want to read every book like this!!! I loved it so much that I think it deserves more than 5 stars!!!

[Karlie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Normally, I don't go for fantasy style books, but after reading this one, I may just be fan yet! Within a few pages, I was hooked on the story and couldn't put it down. I NEEDED to see what each page brought for me. Meghan's sarcasm and witt had me laughing as well, such a solid character.

If I really loved a book, it will be on my reread list and I can confidently say, this book will be something I read again.

If you're looking for a spicy romance with fated-mates and action, this is the perfect book for just that!

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just want to start out my review by thanking the author and Booksirens for this ARC. I sincerely appreciate it, and in exchange I will be giving my honest review.

Trigger warnings/content warnings?
Nope! Not in book.
Large age gap between the FMC and MMC, he is thousands of years old and she is mid-thirties. Past parent abandonment of FMC. FMC lost a younger sibling when she was twelve. MMC was imprisoned for 2000(?) years in a cave. There are mentions of how he survived in the books and the neglect he faced. FMC gets pregnant, gives birth, and then is sacrificed into the ocean by the MMC.

My thoughts?
I love paranormal romances, and this was definitely a unique one.

Now to get into my thoughts on the book in a more fleshed-out manner.
I found the MMC to be extremely morally grey, verging on the brink of an evil-MMC. He lead the FMC under false pretences, with what was suppose to be her death. He lied to get her on his home island, and he didn’t tell her about having to sacrifice her until just before their wedding. For me, that limited my enjoyment of their romance. In the back of my mind, I knew he would never let her leave. So there was a definite edge to her living situation once she got on his home island. The reason why I hovered between the morally-grey and evil-mmc is because what he was doing was for the survival of his species. He had spent two thousand years in a cave waiting for the moment that he could prove himself, and at first had no intentions of disappointing his kingdom.
Their meeting felt a bit clunky, considering he had been spying on her for at least a couple months. He had rigged the elevator to stop but the FMC did not know that (until much later in the book). It was a meeting that went from nothing-to-getting-her-off-in-the-elevator. I am not personally one to enjoy references in a book. Especially when it is one I don’t understand. Considering there were :a couple of romance titles mentioned, the avengers, pigpen from Charlie Brown, The Dark Crystal, Lady Danbury from Bridgerton, Darnerys, Sookie Stackhouse, and Ursula from the little mermaid. I also feel like I missed some more. While some of these references I understood, and they caused me to lose focus. Then there were the ones that I didn’t understand, and completely lost my focus in the story.

Overall, I did find that I couldn't stop reading because I wanted to know what happened next. It was a slow start but once I got into the story I finished it quickly. Although I wish there would have been more emphasize on romance between the FMC and MMC, because the prophecy seemed to be the main star of the book.

Safety?
MMC and FMC were not virgins. No OW/OM drama.

[Natalie ~ The Biblioholic · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love mythical retellings and Way Down We Go was very unique. I don't remember reading anything like it and that's part of why I enjoyed it so much.

Callum and his people were betrayed over a thousand years ago and he was stuck in a cave, living through punishment, vowing revenge — against his family and definitely against humans. What he didn't count on is that for his vengeful plan to come to fruition, he needs a human female to complete a prophecy. He must marry her, impregnate her, and kill her to save his people and bring peace to his realm.

What happens when he catches feelings?

Meghan was a tad naive, but it fed the plot. Can't have someone like me who would have responded with a HELL NO right out the gate. Her personality and her various charms kept chipping away at the distance that Callum tried to keep between them and pretty soon, I was rooting for them to find a way to have a happy ending.

If you enjoy romance full of magic, mystery and death, you'll enjoy this one!

[Celeste · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️ I just want to start this off by stating how thankful I am to have been able to be an ARC reader for this book! This is my first ARC read and I devoured it! Fated mates. Paranormal romance. Unique. It’s also a spicy read as well! No part of this book disappointed! I’m not the best at giving book reviews but I definitely think this is a must read!
Callum and Meghan are fated mates that have to learn how to deal with a prophecy that was made long before Callum met Meghan. A prophecy that could determine the fate of his people.

[Karen M · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love a good fantasy romance story. This one was a bit different from what I’ve read previously. It took a few chapters before I could adjust to the idea of a fantasy storyline taking place in my own time period. My previous reads have taken place in the past, some in the far distant past.

Megan is a librarian and not very self confident, especially, when it comes to the new handyman in her building who looks like a gift from the gods. He could never notice her, could he? While Callum is on a mission to save his people, he can’t deny his attraction to the little librarian who is to be his future mate, if he can convince her to return with him and fulfill the prophecy which should save his people but she must go willingly and once he tells her what is expected, well, she might not join him. And then there is the matter of what he actually is.

This was one sweet and very sexy storyline which consisted of a lot of physical sexual action between the two main characters. Regrettably we are left hanging at the end because this is a series.

I won this book in a First Reads giveaway. Thank you to the author Andrea Jenelle.

[— Lynn || chaossreads 🖤📚 · Rating 3 out of 5]

{I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily}

Okay this book has gave me mixed feelings….. What i mean is, i like it and also kinda not. The story was really interesting with the folklore, but for me it was way too rushed and the female main character made some weird choices in my opinion. But still you should give this a try! This book wasn’t really for me.

[Cheyenne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disclaimer - I did receive an ARC of this book. 🥰

This book is AMAZING. If you are into mythology, fantasy, and some spice this is the book for you.

This book really gives me similar vibes to the Fever series by Karen Moning which is on my favorite darker fantasy series of all time.

[Moonburst · Rating 2 out of 5]

Callum is an each uisge, a fearsome Scottish water horse. When he and his family are betrayed, he not only loses the crown, but he is also forced under a geas and kept in captivity for a thousand years. According to a prophecy, if Callum does not find, bind, mate, and kill his mate, all of the each uisge will be destroyed. He is finally released from his imprisonment when his fated mate, Meghan, is born and come into her power. Can he lure Meghan and save his people without losing his heart?

I really struggled with this book. Most of the book is from Callum's perspective, which is an interesting change from most monster romances, but unfortunately it leaves Meghan's character largely undeveloped. We first meet Meghan when Callum meets her. We know next to nothing of her background, and as Callum doesn't need to know her history for his objectives, we generally only get snippets here and there as she muses over things to herself. Unfortunately, these musings aren't enough to really make us care about Meghan as a character or explain her erratic choices. For example, when Callum tells Meghan he's a mystical Scottish horse when they've barely talked at all, instead of thinking he's crazy and avoiding the strange man, Meghan believes him immediately. As she's not been raised in a magical environment, why would she do that? When it becomes clear that despite Callum's promises, his goals are going to prevent her from opening her bookstore (the only goal she's expressed the entire book), Meghan yells at him a little, but then quickly forgives him and decides to support him, even though he's going to kill her. This makes no sense, especially since they don't really like each other or really know each other. All these two characters really have is sexual attraction and assumed perceptions of each other.

It would have been better if we started with Callum, then after Meghan's born, tell the story almost exclusively from her perspective. Seeing how her life changed after her sister died would have given her depth of character. We could have learned more about why owning a bookshop is so important to Meghan. Perhaps her parents largely ignored her from their grief over her sister's death and she found solace in books and thus her passion was born. Hints about this are throughout the book, but since we don't really experience it, it creates a lack of depth in the character and makes it difficult to really care if this woman lives or dies. Having a mysterious man then enter her life where we really don't get to see how his feelings for her change, would add much needed tension and drama to the tale. As it is, since most of the tension is angst from Callum wanting to love Meghan and knowing he's going to have to kill her, the tension just falls flat. Callum doesn't really do anything to avoid the geas, and he's setting out to kill her, so why should I care if he feels guilty about it?

I also found the main villains to be blazingly incompetent. If you're throwing a coup, you need to kill the entire royal family. There's no need to put a geas on Callun and keep him in a cave. At least they should kill all the males of the royal family, find his sister and force her to marry into the family to solidify their claim on the throne. Instead they just enjoy being in charge and make a few token moves to kill Meghan. Furthermore, there's a glaringly obvious way to get around the geas: as it only needs to be done after Meghan's gained her full power, just kill her at the end of her life when she's willing to die.

An exceedingly frustrating read.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Whitney Theresa June · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars!

When a coup leaves Callum imprisoned and the new Prince of the North Sea, his ability to break a geas placed on him and save his homeland will have him stopping at nothing to get the deed done once finally free. But to accomplish such a feat. he must claim (& sacrifice) the descendant of the witch who had a hand in the death of his brother & his own imprisonment. And two thousand years later, once freed, his fated mate, a research librarian named Meghan will change everything he thought himself capable of in order to achieve his sought after goal.

As a beta reader for Way Down We Go, I will admit to getting chills every time I read Callum's objectives: Claim Her. Steal Her. Sacrifice Her (even the sacrifice bit). I love the use of prophesies in novels and especially the weaving of Scottish folklore and mythology within this paranormal shifter romance! Anyone who knows me, knows I love everything Scottish!

I found it really refreshing that Meghan, as a romance reader, was able to suspend her disbelief (or more accurately) allow herself to go along with Callum's request because let's be completely honest, if a hot alpha offered me the same thing as Meghan, we all know I would 100% be accepting it. (Minus the whole sacrifice bit... maybe) If there are any hot maintenance men out there who are actually Scottish folklore princes that need me to be stuck in an elevator with them (one of my biggest fears) please do not hesitate to come forward.

As always I adore Andrea Jenelle's writing and never want it to end, which I will admit had me wishing for the last half of the book to have been a little more detailed. The few time jumps had me wishing we could just marinate in the story a bit more, yet they did not take away from the story itself, it is just a personal preference of mine as a reader. Honestly, Andrea could write a 500 page novel and I would probably ask her to make it longer.

If you enjoy paranormal shifter romance, fated mates & alpha males definitely check out Way Down We Go!

[Kylee · Rating 5 out of 5]

🩵Book Review🩵
📖 Way Down We Go By Andrea Jenelle 📖
Overall Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Spice🌶️🌶️🌶️


My Thoughts ~ We love a hot attention to detail king from the sea itself 🥵 I’ve noticed and I absolutely love how Andrea has a pattern in her writing where she will introduce a trope from the book within speaking. For example quote from book (“king to claim his mate.” “There you go with the whole fated mates thing. It’s a trope”) in every book of hers that I’ve read so far the trope gets brought up or mentioned in some way that is smoothly placed. I don’t normally read books of this genre and I was so pleasantly surprised with her writing it made it so easy to want to read more. The little things they do for each other throughout the book are just it for me love them and the little things he does for Meghan when they are on the plane are just so sweet. I love both of the main characters personalities and how well they mesh together she is a little spit fire and he is this dark horse personality of a man. (See what I did there Andrea? 😉)
Anyways highly recommend giving it a read it did not disappoint can’t wait for more to come for this world.

I literally had SUCH a hard time picking just a couple quotes but here are some of my favs

Quotes

“I’ve found my mate no other woman’s taste or scent will compare. I don’t even want to find out if they compare. She’s everything I want, forever.”

“that would be like an Only Fans reaction. Completely inappropriate and uncalled for.”

“There’s no way this s*x on a stick, droolworthy, five o’clock shadow I want to feel between my thighs intends for this to actually go anywhere.”

“Be very careful what you wish for, Sparkle. My beast might be more than you bargained for. You already have my beast rabid for a taste of you.

“You make my beast want to wrench apart the bars of its cage and carry you somewhere.”

“F*ck the skirt, Sparkle. You’re not an exception. You are the only exception.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 ⭐️ — soft spoilers mostly vague

It was an interesting story and I appreciated that the story was based around creatures that aren’t usually written about. It made it feel a little more unique. The characters themselves i felt were a little surface level and needed a little more depth. All we know about them is one is thousands of years old and is a shapeshifter and the other loves books and both love sex. There also is not a ton of world building being done even though there should be. I couldn’t tell you what their home looks like or even what anyone in the book looks like. There also seems to be a lack of explanation and detail into these mystical creatures and the “beast”. Theyre always mentioned but not very well explained.

Meghan seemed to be missing some common sense abilities. Like who hears someone say they’re a mystical creature and doesn’t even bat an eye. Also the lack of argument about getting pregnant. She recoiled at the idea and then after that moment it was like she no longer cared and was just cool doing it. She also doesn’t seem to care at all about her life and just like that she accepted it all. That she was tricked into going and he knew all along that she was to die. She was so briefly mad and then just like that she accepted it and didnt care. Another thought is it seems strange to me that their pregnancies are so short and yet they’re population is shrinking.

Last thought is that the last 50 pages felt very rushed and basic. We moved through each event so fast that we barely got to experience it or appreciate it. And the last couple pages was just confusing. I’m not entirely sure what even happened. I think it needed to be worked out a little more. I still appreciated the book and enjoyed the concept of the story.

[BooksThrillJessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Callum is a prince of the sea who has been in exile for the last 3,000 years. Following his brother and father’s brutal murder, Callum was banished to a cave until it was time to claim the woman that has been prophesied to be his wife and the ender of his people’s plight.
Megan is a research librarian who is not ready for marriage. However, when she meets Callum for the first time it is unlike any other encounter she has experienced. They have a magical magnetic pull between them that she can not break free from. Drowning in college debt and wanting to see her dream of owning a bookshop come true, Megan throws caution to the wind and takes Callum up on his offer to marry him in return for unlimited money. She thinks this will be a transactional relationship with some really great benefits. However, Callum is hiding the finale to their prophecy…..her death. Will Callum finally find love that he has sworn off for his whole life? Will Megan succumb to the prophecy or will she have a change of heart?
Overall rating 4/5
This book had me hooked from the beginning. You know it is going to be good when the spice hits in chapter 5 with a steamy elevator scene. This was a quick spicy novel with fantastic world building. There were just a couple things that I had a few questions I hope are answered in the second book. Like how are these magical sea people horses, and why were they never really described as such until later in the book when Callum references himself as such? I guess I just always correlated such stories with mermaids. And why did Callum never speak with a Scottish accent until later in the book as well? I cannot wait to read the next installment in the The Sons and Daughter of Lir series!

*Thank you to Andrea Jenelle, and BookSirens for the ARC copy. I am freely leaving my honest review.

[Satchel Paige (Southernbellbookworm) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I did not want to put this book down! This book was such a unique take on shifter romances with Celtic folklore and mythology, a blend of old world and new world, the perfect steam and spice, and storytelling that is some of the best when world building and not making it seem like an info dump! The story flows seamlessly from beginning to end and I was swept away! With Gaelic names and terms, there is a pronunciation guide at the beginning and is so helpful!

Now, to the story specifically. Callum is a water-horse shifter and Prince from a clan in an isolated island territory in the North Sea. Right off the bat we are thrown into action, betrayal, loss, and twists! He’s imprisoned for over a millennia and is finally released to find his mate to assist in taking back his crown, but with a prophecy he has no qualms to fulfill. He is steeped in loathing for the mortals for what has been done to him and his clan.

Meghan, his mortal fated mate, is the descendant of a siren/witch and a research librarian full of booknerdiness and granny panties 😂! She’s swooning over her new maintenance man and once trapped in a broken elevator together, it’s on! He’s a smooth, dirty talker and she’s witty with a BS alarm. Their banter is fun and their chemistry hot! Plus, I love all the pop-culture references that are found throughout because I can totally relate and can catch exactly what Meghan is throwing out while lmao at Callum having no idea about any of it!

What happens when Meghan agrees to marry Callum to help him win back the throne and the secrets of the Each Uisge are revealed? What happens as they begin to fall for each other instead of faking a marriage? How will this all play out? I’m telling you I laughed, swooned, thigh clenched, and bawled my eyes out! Their journey and love story is perfection! I did not want it to end and can’t wait for more after that ending!

I love being on her Beta/ARC team!

[Naj_ana_reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

“You make my beast want to wrench apart the bars of its cage and carry you somewhere.”

Way Down We Go Book 1 of The Sons and Daughters of Lir by Andrea Jenelle

I've been reading Andreas small town romance and this is her venture into paranormal romance and I absolutely enjoyed it so much! I love reading the reviews of my fellow readers and one review in particular was so to the point when she mentioned how Andrea will introduce the trope into the story. I noticed that in her small town romance and @thebrownsx_4 was so right on that observation!

Also I love how her spicy scenes not only are they spicy but the connection between the characters is to drool for.
So if you like:
💫 Paranormal Romance
💫 Fated Mates
💫 Star Crossed Lovers
💫 Grumpy vs Sunshine
💫 Mythology
💫 Spicy

Then you must read this book! It ends in a small cliffhanger but Callums and Megan's story does ends with a HEA

Andrea, you are creating amazing stories and I can't wait for book 2 ❤️

[Charlene (pageandplace) · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Forked paths and murky outcomes mean nothing is predetermined. They mean that the prophecy may not be what it seems.“

This is a Fated mates, paranormal romance, with bookworm, Meghan and maintenance man/Scottish prince Callum as the main characters.

Let’s incorporate Scottish mythology, heated spice, and great character banter to round out what kept me entertained for this book. I absolutely loved the Pop culture references scattered throughout: Outlander (Jaime and Claire), ACOTAR (Rhysand and Feyre), Mr. Grey and his twitchy palm, The Dark Crystsl, author Julie Garwood, Friends (Ross and Rachel), Cruella DeVille and of course the soundtracked chapters!

Another great quote- He’s morally gray, but he’s not a blackhearted villain 🖤

The end of the book felt hurried and rushed where it didn’t need to be. But seems like there could be more to come so maybe the rush was just to be able to include more later.

Thank you to the author Andrea Jenelle and GoodReads for the opportunity to read this book.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Story: 3.5 ⭐ (rounded up)
Spice: 3 🌶️
Narration: 4.5⭐

The narration was really good and was done as a duet Narration. Corvin King and Sarah Dawn did an amazing job at the different accents and embodied the emotional moments within the book. Plus, Corvin has a great gravelly voice.

I did not know much about Scottish folklore and actually had to look up what type of creature, Callum was because how its pronounced and what's on paper does not match. He is a mythical creature know as an each-uisge. Which is basically a warrior water horse. Hence the paranormal/monster romance.

I really enjoyed the story, romance, and spice but I felt like the pacing was too fast towards the end. I wanted so much more! For first part of the book, it was pretty present day with a slower progression, but then the last few chapters it kept progressing by months, which felt like I missed out on a lot of the story. boo.

If you are looking for a fast paced, Paranormal/Monster Romance, lots of spice, star-crossed lovers with a marriage of convenience then look no further.

[Cassie · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Copy Review of Way Down We Go
🔹Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
🔹Tropes: Forced Proximity, Star-Crossed Lovers, Fated Mates, Marriage of Convenience
🔷Type: Romantacy, Paranormal Romance, Celtic Folklore, Mythology
Let me start by saying that I gave an initial 4 spice rating, but heard there have been more spicy scenes added since I received this ARC copy and i cannot wait to go back and read them! I am fully confident my 4 spice will be increased to 5! I do not normally reach for paranormal romance novels, but hearing that it is also a bit Celtic Folklore and mythology really peeked my interest. I am SO glad i dove in, i absolutely loved Callum and Meghan’s story. I really loved how quickly they became infatuated and protective of each other, despite the circumstances. Not everyone believes in fate, but i do and it was very apparent in this story. I found it incredibly hot that Meghan is the lust of his affection as a curvy, fiery, strong woman! I love Andrea’s writing and am really looking forward to the rest of this series! Thank you for allowing me to read this ahead of time, this was my first ARC book and it will forever be special to me!

[JACQUELINE GIBSON · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed the link with Scottish mythology that was a twist that was somewhat different to the usual.

I particularly liked the development of the story from the main characters history to their meeting and how the story moved on to its conclusion. My only criticism, and it is a slight one, is that I expected more details around the how the conclusion came about, it appeared to come around quite abruptly and I would have enjoyed a little bit further detail. However, that said I am looking forward to reading the next one.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily

[Hayley · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️Star Crossed Lovers
⭐️Fated Mates
⭐️Paranormal Romance

Way Down We Go is not my typical genre to read, but I found myself deep into the world of Callum and Meghan.

Callum is a water-horse shifter and Meghan is his fated mortal mate. Callum has three objectives: Claim her, Steal her, and Sacrifice her.

I loved everything about their love story. Their banter, their infatuation with each other, and the spice was 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️, and I’m all for a hot alpha male. I fell in love with both characters. Andrea, you didn’t disappoint and I look forward to reading more!

“You make my beast want to wrench apart the bars of its cage and carry you somewhere.”

[Sketchy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spicy, interesting lore, more books to come

This isn't my usual genre, but I wanted to give it a try. The characters were fun and trope-y, but in a good way. Plenty of quality steamy scenes, as well. The only thing that threw me off was the tense of the book. Once I got used to it, it was better and an easy read. I liked getting to immerse myself in a book about the gods and old magics that wasn't Greek based, so it was nice to step outside of that more popular niche. I'll definitely read #2, as well!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[PenelopeDawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was very well written and full of action. I wasn’t a fan of Callum. I’m still not really. He got slightly better as the story went on but I just couldn’t get past his manipulation and self-centered attitude. Meghan comes across as strong and independent and should be a total bad ass but she makes the dumbest choices when it comes to Callum. I just wasn’t a fan of the relationship. It’s possible that my dislike for the storyline is all because of my past relationships. And I DID enjoy the writing.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Persephone Knight · Rating 4 out of 5]

Way Down We Go by Andrea Jenelle
Overall Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

Andrea Jenelle's "Way Down We Go" is a sizzling read that captivates with its attention to detail and clever incorporation of tropes. I appreciate how Jenelle seamlessly weaves the book's themes into the characters' dialogue, creating a pattern that adds depth to the narrative. I found her writing pleasantly surprising and engaging, making it easy to dive into the story.

The dynamic between the main characters, Meghan and her dark-horse counterpart, is a delightful blend of spice and sweetness. The gestures of care and affection they exchange throughout the book add a heartwarming touch to the narrative. Meghan's fiery personality and the enigmatic nature of her love interest create a compelling synergy that keeps the reader hooked.

Jenelle's clever play with tropes is evident, and the book's quotes showcase both the passionate and humorous aspects of the story. The carefully chosen lines not only highlight the steamy connection between the characters but also bring a playful charm to the narrative.

In conclusion, "Way Down We Go" is a recommendable read that exceeded expectations. Andrea Jenelle's skillful storytelling and the chemistry between the main characters make this a promising addition to the genre. I eagerly anticipate more from this captivating world.

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book by the Author. I really enjoyed the characters of Meghan & Callum. I really enjoyed the forklore & mythology of this book. It also had just enough spice & steam to keep the reader interested and intrigued. This was definitely a page Turner for me. I loved their banter & chemistry. I loved their story & it was a story that will definitely stay with me for awhile. it definitely had all the feels. Andrea Jenelle is an auto buy author for me. I really enjoyed this story. I’ve never read a book like this before and it will not be last.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book one of the Sons and Daughters of Lir series. It’s a paranormal fated mates, star-crossed lovers, marriage of convenience, shifter romance filled with folklore and mythology. Great book! It pulled me in from beginning to end and held my attention. The world building is detailed and imaginative. This book has strong, well-developed characters and an interesting story line that keeps you turning the pages. I am voluntarily posting an honest review after reading an Advance Reader Copy of this story.

[Sue Wallace · Rating 3 out of 5]

Way Down We Go by Andrea Jenelle.
A Paranormal Shifter Romance.
Book 1 of Sons & Daughters of Lir.
Callum has been imprisoned for over a thousand years.
He's finally free and he has three objectives:Claim Her. Steal Her. Sacrifice Her. The Prince of the North Sea will claim his vengeance on the descendant of the witch that stole his brother's life. Meghan is a research librarian in modern day Chicago. And he's the new maintenance guy in her apartment complex.
An ok read. I did like Meghan and Callum story. 3*.

[Xeno · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a lover of mythologies when I heard the theme of Way Down We Go I was immediately interested. I have been very fickle about reading physical books in the last few years and this book sucked me in and I had a hard time doing anything until I finished it. An awesome story with interesting views on mythology, a captivating storyline, and my favorite kind of relationship. This book had me smiling, laughing, and even crying. It will be added to my bookshelf of favorites to revisit again and again in the future.

[Katlyn Myers · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm convinced there's nothing Andrea Jenelle can't write.. I've read a few of her other books and was surprised this one was a fantasy book, but it was amazing. Her writing is beautiful, as always.. and on top of that, this story was captivating. It's a fated mates/shifter romance, but it's not a typical shifter story. I was on edge and couldn't wait to see how everything was going to play out. Callum is everything you'd want in a grumpy alpha male, and Meghan is sassy and sarcastic. She's definitely not a pushover, but she has a hard time resisting him 😉