Devilfish

Octopian Shifters #1

by Anna Kensing

an alternate cover edition can be found here

Prosperous merchant Elliot Bishop has built a safe life in Port Townsend, Washington. The family business is thriving, he’s engaged to be married, and he’s not about to let his rogue stepbrother’s sudden return home disrupt his plans. But when his fiancée disappears under the same mysterious circumstances as his mother did years ago, and his childhood nightmares about octopuses reoccur, Elliot senses someone—or something—took both women, and now it’s after him.

Captain Declan Fitzgerald finally has his own ship and crew, but he’s still governed by his father’s obsession, hunting the thing that took his stepmother, and now Elliot’s fiancée. Declan will protect Elliot from whatever’s calling him from the ocean’s depths, even as doing so reignites his feelings for Elliot.

As Elliot surrenders to the call of the moon and tides, he gives in to Declan, who anchors him while Elliot changes in ways his childhood nightmares never prepared him. Sex with the new Elliot is better than Declan imagined, if a little different than he expected. Declan has always been willing to sacrifice everything for Elliot, but what must Elliot give up to choose Declan?

Genres: Historical, Fantasy, Romance, Paranormal, M M Romance, Shapeshifters, Queer

302 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 30, 2019

About the author

Anna Kensing writes steamy contemporary and paranormal historical romances that flirt with taboo. Her characters are often weird, mostly queer, and always get their happily-ever-after. Eventually. She’s obsessed with octopuses and the tv show Supernatural, listens to classical flute duets and heavy metal music while writing, and loves her scotch and Irish whiskies. When she’s not thinking about writing, she’s usually thinking about her next tattoo.

Sign up for her newsletter at https://annakensing.com and get previews of upcoming books, behind-the-scenes glimpses of what goes into her stories, and general news and gossip.

Reviews

[Elena · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve been trying to come up with a review to say that I liked this and then talk about all the reasons why I can’t give it more than 3 stars without making it sound like I only have complaints about the book. After almost 24 hours, I know when it’s time to admit defeat. You’ll just have to trust me when I tell you that I did like this story. I’m being more difficult than usual lately, so the simple fact that I’m giving it 3 stars is a good sign.

I liked the plot and the setting, all the naval terms went right over my head, but it’s clear that the author did her research and cared about that aspect a lot.
That’s not to say that the plot and the setting were perfect. Unfortunately, there were things that didn’t make much sense to me. Why is Celeste, Elliot’s fiancé, living in Elliot’s house before the wedding? At first I thought it was because her father had died recently and she had nowhere else to go, but later in the book we find out that her mother is alive and living in the same town. It’s 1888 (or around that year) and even if she’s chaperoned by her maid, it doesn’t make any sense that she would live in her fiancé’s house before the wedding when she could’ve been with her mother in the house she grew up in.
The plot was good, but I found the resolution a bit anticlimactic, especially the part about the prophecy being just a bait and I found awfully convenient that, after all the trouble they went through to get Elliot to their island, the devilfishes let Elliot and Declan go away so easily after Elliot refused to fulfill the role his mother wanted for him. Just because she thinks it’s only a matter of time before he changes his mind? No, sorry, not buying that.

I’ve ambivalent feelings about the romance, I didn’t feel it was as strong as it could’ve been and it relied a little too much on the assumption that the feelings between Elliot and Declan just existed, given all the history they had as stepbrothers and the few months they had 5 years earlier, when their relationship became physical before Declan went away.
On the other hand, the author got me be on board with a romance between stepbrothers who grew up together from the time one of them was six-months old without making my brain jump to hell, no, pass the brain bleach, please.
My biggest issue when it comes to the romance, though, is the fact that Elliot acted like a bit of a jerk most of the time, including completely dismissing Declan’s request for help when his father was missing, but being ready to jump on it when Celeste was the one to disappear. And he didn’t even bother to ask Declan about the scars on his back. I suspect that was a convenient device to have him clueless about the real reason Declan went away without telling Elliot first, but it made him seem even more self-adsorbed than usual.
While it was clear that Elliot’s relationship with Celeste was nothing more than friendship, I didn’t particularly like how he was so focused on her for so much of the book, when all he seemed to want Declan for was sex. Unless it was to be jealous of Thomas.
Fortunately, Declan was understanding and patient, but not a doormat, and Elliot did have some good moments, so that balanced things out. I could've done without Declan's random thought about how he would miss Thomas's 'mouth and sizeable cock' even as he was telling the guy that their arrangement was over, though.
At the time I’m writing, this book seems to be a standalone, aside from two very short stories set a few months apart from the end of this story and each other, so I’m not happy with a pretty important loose end that didn’t find a satisfactory resolution. (Spoiler about the short story Spring Tides included) Elliot’s mother told Declan that all the men that had sex with the devilfishes on a regular basis were weakened by it and had a shortened life in return, and she gave him her blood to mix with his own before the Supermoon to counteract the effects, warning him that she didn’t know how long that would work.
Not only Declan never told Elliot that, but in the short story he has no devilfish blood left to inject himself with and he has no intention to stop having sex with Elliot in his shifted form or to even tell him. So, what does that mean? I would assume Elliot’s blood should work as well as his mother’s, but if Declan never tells him, how is that going to work? Is Declan going to die young because of it? Without Elliot ever knowing the reason? Unless the author is planning a sequel or another short to address that, I’m not happy with how things were left, it’s a big aspect to leave unresolved.
And if she is planning a sequel, could we please find an alternative solution that didn’t include Declan and Elliot spending months separated while Declan is away? Couldn’t they find a reason to travel together, at least for part of the time?

And since apparently I can’t stop listing all the things that didn’t work, I think there was a continuity issue in the last sex scene. I know, I know, I’m being difficult, but being told that Elliot was penetrating Declan with one of his tentacles which became his dick in the next sentence and then again his tentacle and then his dick again took me out of the…cough…story. :P

All in all, I liked the book and the writing. There’s room for improvement, but I’ll gladly give a chance to another story by this author if she writes more.

[Megan [Slump City] · Rating 5 out of 5]

MM Romance
Historical Paranormal Stepbrothers
4.5 Stars ⭐️


So on September 21st, this site, https://www.romancebookworms.com/kindle had one of those “stuff your kindle” for free events and they do them a few times a year with tons of categories to choose from. Some of them are still free as of now but I dont know how or if it even works in any other country apart from the US. 🤷🏻‍♀️ I went to the LGBTQ+ section and took everything MM because why not. I’ve actually found a lot of wonderful authors through this and this time was no exception.

So, this was one of the free offerings and I was sold on the fact it mentioned Octopian Shifters because *tentacles*, my favorite. However, I got wayyyy more than I was expecting in the best of ways. First of all, I don’t usually read historical romance as it’s just never interested me much but this takes place in the 1880’s and I was so stupidly invested in it that I couldn’t put it down yet it’s one of those books with an actual plot line, mystery and intrigue so I couldn’t binge it all in one sitting and had to take breaks. But I could not wait to pick it back up! I can’t even remember the last time that’s happened like usually I start a book and if I put it down, it’s hard as fuck for me to want to pick it back up but not this time. This time I wanted to stop having shit to do so I could just indulge myself in this book. Im also pretty sure this was the author’s debut book so I’m surprised how polished it felt.

Everything about this book just surprised me because while this does have octopus shifters, it’s not just tentacle sex. The stepbrothers are trying to find out why women close to them have been disappearing for years every time there is a full super moon in the area and this mystery made this book so interesting because it kept me on the edge of my seat wondering what the hell was going on and what was going to happen. The connection between Elliot and Declan was just chef’s kiss 😘 but because of the time period, they had to be careful because being with a man and/or sodomy was considered unnatural so there is a fair bit of sneaking around and desire that cannot be acted upon. It just made their relationship that much hotter. I loved it. There’s also trans rep in this book which I was not expecting.

I feel like there is no way for me to explain this book though because the events are just so out there and me trying to summarize it like I do in my usual reviews wouldn’t even make sense. I’d just say this book took me on an adventure that I desperately needed. I absolutely loved Declan and Elliot and I was able to overlook a lot of things that I might have ranted about in other books especially the abrupt as fuck ending. I didn’t care that it had an abrupt ending because the next book is already out that completes this story and I didn’t hesitate in buying it. I don’t even care that I had to buy it because I have to know how everything unfolds for Declan and Elliot and I’m just excited I get more time with them. 💗

[Joyfully Jay · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Joyfully Jay review.

4 stars

Devilfish starts out as a seafaring tale with sinister overtones and then….it just gets weird. Now it’s not weird in a necessarily bad way, but consider yourself warned that tentacle sex lies ahead. And hybrid octopus/humans. And then more tentacle sex. You get the picture.

Elliot and Declan are sympathetic main characters and it’s clear their whole lives have been informed by the disappearance of their mother and their father’s subsequent obsession with finding her. Declan was the older stepbrother, who cared for Eli growing up and eventually their relationship turned romantic. When Declan is forced to follow their father to sea, Elliot is devastated and his isolation is palpable. His relationship with Celeste is far from romantic, but it seems the best that Elliot can hope for in Declan’s absence. It makes Elliot somewhat tragic and even when Declan returns, he is unsure of how to move forward. Declan is caring and decisive and charming enough to draw in readers. So together they’re a strong couple, despite the fact so much of their history takes place off page.

Read Sue’s review in its entirety here.

[DJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love and Tentacles
First off, if you go into this novel just wanting tentacle sex, you will have to wait. I think it's important to mention that, because this is a novel about love, a mystery, and then the tentacles happen during the last half of the novel.

Elliot is settling down with Celeste, a woman with a fascination with cephalopods. The disappearance of his mother when Elliot was a child, led to years of nightmares and the desire for a comfortable home. Celeste is considered a bit off by the locals, but she's a good woman, and Elliot may not feel comfortable around her work, but he doesn't try to keep her away from it. When Celeste disappears as well, Elliot is determined to find her, even if it means dealing with his step-brother.

Declan is a good man. When Elliot's mother disappeared, Declan's father never gave up on locating her. It's this mystery that has Declan coming to ask for Elliot's help, because now the Captain is also missing. Elliot and Declan have a romantic history, despite being step brothers, and Declan's father punished Declan for it. Declan has been away for years, but he needs Elliot's help, and Elliot needs his. Thrown in old chemistry, and of course these two are going to struggle with their feelings, even with Elliot focused on Celeste. Declan is a cinnamon roll, and at times you might want to box Elliot's ears, but he realizes his errors and tries to rectify them--which is refreshing.

It's nice to read an historical from the era that isn't in England or New York. This novel is set in the region of the west coast, stretching from Washington up to parts of Canada. There's some good, solid descriptions of the area, and the ships being used to travel its waters. The author mentions some of their research at the end of the novel, which is always a pleasant addition.

As for the tentacles, I like the author's take on the process. The writing is different, and the scenes flow well, even if you aren't normally a reader of this sort of erotic content. I might have eliminated one of these scenes, but that's true of regular erotic content in romance novels, and nothing against the novel itself.

[Rachel]

Here There Be Monsters Tentacles : 12/14/19 Currently on sale for 99c via Amazon: https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B07ZTXQMM...

[Leigh Kramer · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is one of the most bizarre romances I've ever read. This quote should give you a good idea: "'And finding out your mother is still alive and the leader of a group of…' 'Half-human, half-octopus hybrids descended from an octopus bigger than your ship who seem to mainly want me for stud services to breed more hybrids like me?' Elliot offered." There were pacing issues (I skimmed a lot) and all kinds of things that didn’t make sense, including the author’s decision to have her half-human, half-octopus shifters only have six tentacles, instead of eight. (Yes, yes, octopi have arms, not tentacles.) And the lone male Octopian had a dick tentacle that was shorter than his other tentacles. Does this mean the women had six regular tentacles or does their clit turn into a tentacle?? (There aren't any nonbinary Octopians in this world.) I still don’t understand how human women could have sex with an actual octopus and then become Octopians themselves or why there were only female Octopians until his mom had Elliot. So much gender essentialism and so many questions. I also didn’t like that Declan shared a trans character’s story without permission, ostensibly to make Elliot feel better about being an Octopian, and Joe was deadnamed and misgendered in the process. Comparing someone being trans to someone realizing they’re part octopus shifter did not feel a great idea to this cishet reviewer.

It did have hot tentacle sex so at least there’s that.

Character notes: Declan is a 27 year old white bisexual captain and smuggler. Elliot is a 23 year old white merchant. (Ages are based on the guess that this is set in 1888. Elliot was born in 1865.) This is set in Port Townsend, WA and on a boat traveling to various parts of the British Columbia coast.

CW: Elliot’s mother murders her husband using her tentacles, plan to force Elliot to breed (he doesn’t agree to this plan and is able to leave), possible infidelity gray area but Elliot believes his fiancée Celeste is still alive [not drowned as everyone thinks] when he and Declan become involved again; it seemed like an engagement of convenience but there’s no mention of them agreeing to have other lovers., missing loved ones (past and present), presumed drownings (Elliot’s mother when he was 8 and his fiancée now), nightmares, panic attack, kidnapped and drugged hero, past dubious consent Declan woke up to Elliot giving him a blowjob during their first sexual encounter, Elliot was 17 and Declan was 21 when they first became involved, past flogging by father he caught Declan and Elliot together and thought Declan was corrupting him—this seemed more due to Elliot being 17 than homophobia but it’s not entirely clear, societal homophobia, trans character’s story is shared without permission and is deadnamed and misgendered in the process, secondary character’s father died right after she became engaged, slut-shaming, alcohol, inebriation, pipe tobacco, hashish, opium smuggling, ableism (Crazy Charlie), manhood as euphemism, gender essentialism, gendered insult

[Chappy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Wow, this was amazing, intriguing and I'm hooked on Elliott and Declan. These non-blood stepbrothers have loved each other for years but it's hard to be gay in the late 1800's.
The steam between these 2 is scorching hot.

I loved the tentacle bit. It was well done but I still have some lingering questions. I'll read on and hope to get more clarity on the Octopians.

[Pam]

DNF @ 73%??

I didn't realize I was that far into it when I stopped reading! I mostly liked it honestly, but I just had no interest in picking it back up once I put it down. *shrugs*

[Patdbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

definitely a read of a difference. Elliot and Declan are two step brothers in an historical setting with a difference. both in love with each other but closed off to each other for circumstances they are both not aware of until towards the end of the book. the journey to this is weird and creative. might not be everyone cup of tea, but it it is well written I feel by the author even if you find sex between a man and a sea animal a bit hard to take in.

got it as a freebie in exchange for an honest review and I do recommend it to other to read.

[Vivian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tentacles!

This was a pretty good story and features consensual tentacle-sex, which for a niche romance has a leaning towards non-con more often than not. Throw in a mystery and some sailing, no complaints. Really more of a 3.5 star book than three.


NTS: Bingo Bongos

[Shweta · Rating 5 out of 5]

**A free copy of this book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review via the MM Romance Group ‘Don’t Buy My Love’ program.**
Loved it !
‘Devilfish’ is a gripping and fascinating tale that weaves together a lot of themes- Regency, forbidden romance as well as evil (maybe not so evil) Cephalopods (Yup! You read that right).
I do have to admit that the blurb intrigued the biologist in me and being a fan of both the paranormal and regency romance themes, ticked all the boxes.

The author has done a great job of easing the reader into the story, setting the pace for the suspense and bringing together a great plot. The initial chapters, highlighting the attraction between Declan and Elliot were very well-written as were the side characters- Celeste, Joey, Thomas and Nancy. I particularly loved Declan’s character development- From his introduction as a rogue captain (slight pirate vibes) to someone who wholeheartedly accepted Elliot and stood by him come hell or high water (Or should I say-low tide *LOL*).

There is not much I can say that about the evil (kinda cute) octopuses without spoiling the story, but I’ll say that though it was a little weird at the start, the smexy times involving tentacles were Hot, more so the words that showcased the love they share. I loved the way the author described the dynamics of the shift.

The author’s narrative style and diction complements the story and the descriptions were really well-written.

| “The late afternoon was still warm and the clouds were thinning in the western sky enough to let shafts of the setting sun shine on the river like ladders to the heavens.”|

Putting together such a diverse and multi-themed story must have clearly taken a lot of research and all that effort certainly pays off. Though the cephalopod concept takes a bit getting used to, but as the author says, creative license does trump scientific accuracy. The story does end on a HFN, so I really do hope to see a part #2 soon *bats puppy eyes at author*
Highly recommend if you are looking for something quirky, refreshing and adventurous.

[~ Lei ~ Reading Is An Adventure ~ · Rating 3 out of 5]

★★★☆☆½ ~ 3.5 Stars
When Elliot's fiancee disappears like his mother did 15 years earlier, he and his newly returned step-brother, ship captain Declan are plunged into a mystery to solve the disappearances and Elliot learns much more about himself than he thought.

[Dennis Crotts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have read and listen to many paranormal books and this one I have to say was among the top 10. The story was well balance on the sexual part, the family reunion and finally telling the story were it came alive. A story of steps brothers separated from each one Delcan raised at sea and Elliot raised by his mother after finding that the two was having a relation but both were kids Elliot 8 years old and Delcan 13 years old and separating them it would help them grow into men who wanted to be with a women. Over the years in some ways it worked till one day the mother disappeared and later Elliot future wife disappearing too after a strange ship came in every 5 years and women would disappear or become pregnant.
After Delcan returns the adventure starts and now both grown men the love they had for each other starts to grow again and this helps them overcome a future together, the reason for the 8 mast ship, the disappearing of women, the day they met up with both the mother and Elliott's ex future wife both consider dead and finally Elliot had to make a decision to stay with the women or leave to be with Delcan and return sometime in the future.
The author weaves a tale of love, death and heartache from so many storylines that when they all come together they lay out a beautiful picture of Delcan and Elliot. I highly recommend this would love to it as an audible.

[Qukatheg · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book for free through Voracious Readers Only.

Elliot Bishop is a successful merchant about to get married, until his wife-to-be Celeste disappears under similar circumstances as his mother did when he was a boy. His stepfather, who has been looking for his mother ever since, has disappeared too.
Together with his stepbrother and lover, captain Declan Fitzgerald, Elliot sets out to find his fiancee, and hopefully find out what happened to his mother and stepfather as well. Driven by nightmares and the call of the tides, he finds much more than he bargained for.

Devilfish goes from sweet romantic drama, to supernatural mystery, to tentacle sex. This book was quite a ride. I loved the romance, the mystery, the atmosphere. The world building was amazing. I love a good historical adventure, and this was just perfect. I loved Declan's crew of misfits and Celeste's interest in natural science. A great read.

[Trigger Warning Database]

Trigger & Content Warnings

Homomisia
Deadnaming
Misgendering
Slut shaming
Adult-minor relationship
Dubious consent scenario*
Nightmares
Panic attack
Alcohol consumption
Recreational drug use
Drugging
Death of a father recounted
Death of a fiancée, presumed
Murder
Drowning
Kidnapping
Whipping recounted

* Note : The seventeen-year-old protagonist's love interest is twenty-one-years-old and there is a scene somnophilia without prior consent.

[Melissa Polk · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really interesting take on a sort-of-siren story. I was extremely curious how octopus shifters would be handled and was not disappointed. The over all "Big Bad" motive was a little...meh? Not predictable, exactly, but...I don't know. I don't want to say anything specific because spoilers but I wished there was a better reasons for All The Things. At any rate, the story was a fun read and I'd definitely recommend it, just be ready to shrug off a few things.

[Julie Kersten · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not what was expected

I really kept trying to like the book but just couldn't get into it. It tried to have a good mystery but I just found it bland and poorly written. I really hated the hive mind squid women. That was stupid. The thing that really bothered me was that the author blended a squid and octopus. The shifters resembled octopi but only had six tentacles. I know it's fantasy but I thought the mash up detracted from the story. I'm not continuing on with the series.

[Beverly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Celeste was a selfish deceitful hag and I never liked her from the beginning. All the women on the island were self-serving and selfish. They wanted to use Elliot like a broodmare and stud situation. I Iiked that Declan and Elliot were hfn. I'm hoping they get their hea and Declan becomes a shifter. I received this one free, but loved the main characters so much I bought the other 3 books in the series. Can't wait to read them.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story is quite original! Loved the paranormal and historical blending. Loved the main characters although Elliot could use a little more depth, even though his character changes, there is no real growth and seems a bit 2 dimensional/shallow. But that’s just my opinion. I thoroughly recommend giving this book a read if you like paranormal and history.

[Missy~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tentacle romance for the win

This is paranormal mm fantasy historical shifter tentacle romance. I loved Declan!! Truth, Elliott was a little harder to like, but this was a very fun atmospheric romance with mystery, ships, fog and dark sea monsters. Plus some weird half woman and half octopi sea creature women.

[Audrey Pott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loveable kinky characters. I was given this book through prolific works and enjoyed this fantasy so much I bought it, Anna’s words flowed and an interesting take on shifters, the blurb says it all, I loved Declan and Elliott, slow burn and erotic.

I absolutely recommend this book.

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it!

I loved reading Devilfish. Declan and Elliot are great together and have wonderful chemistry. I enjoyed their journey as they uncover the mystery of the missing women and how it correlated with the super moon. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.

[MariF · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not sure how to rate this book. I was bored for a third of the book and I thought that pacing was off. It picked up pace later on and I was invested in Elliott and Declan's relationship.
Overall I liked it and probably will continue with the next book.

[Tayra Sanders · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a wonderful book. It didn't seem rushed. This was sweet and steamy, full of romance and passion with great characters that were interesting enough to draw you in.

[Sherry F · Rating 1 out of 5]

That's a big fat no for me......not the kind of storyline I enjoy. Nope nope nope.

[Jason Kivela · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is a lack of good fantasy pirate books out there, and this is a great one. Fun and interesting world. The M/M was sexy and very welcome.

[Coco.V]

🎁 FREE on Amazon today (9/21/2022)! 🎁

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of good mystery in this. I really was enjoying the whole, "who is my father" bit until the island. Then it kind of fell apart for me. I'm sure it'll work for other readers, I was just hoping for something different.

[A Greenaway · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book with some expectations of how it was going to go. My expectations were wrong. Anna has written a very interesting novel with paranormal and historical tones which makes it a very unusual story.

[J · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sea Change was just as enjoyable as Devilfish and I can't wait for the next book.

Declan and Elliot get a few more answers about Octopians and everything that's going on, which is quite literally life-saving (for now at least), but they still don't really know very much. I think I'm more frustrated with that than they are. I felt like everyone but Declan, or maybe especially Declan, trusted the Octopians a little too quickly and easily at the end but I'm sure the events of the third book will reveal more about that. I wish there were more details from Declan and Elliot about the differences in Elliot's shifted body and a better look into the Octopian society but maybe that will come in the future, as well.

I didn't get as clear of an idea about what the next book's plot will be so I'm not sure what to anticipate. Not sure if I just missed it or if it was intentionally more vague this time. It could use another round of editing but the errors weren't too serious.