[Asis’ Review] A Duet With The Siren Duke by Elise Kova

A Duet with the Siren Duke
Series: Married to Magic #4
Pages: 554
Published by Silver Wing Press
Release Date: August 10, 2023
Genres: Adult, Fantasy, New Adult, Romance
Source: Author
Format Read: ARC, eBook
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She sold her soul to a siren and now he’s come to collect.

Victoria risks everything to leave a dangerous marriage and gain a second chance at life. But when her escape goes awry, she finds herself caught in the strong embrace of a mysterious siren, forced to choose: temporary salvation or immediate death.

And so, a cursed deal is struck.

Five years later, Victoria is alive—and the world’s finest ship captain. But her debt to the siren looms while her conniving ex has demanded a king’s ransom as the final price of her freedom. Victoria refuses to cause her family to suffer any more on her behalf, and is determined to make things right before her time is up. But that time is cut short.

The siren comes for her. Six months early.

Taken to the magical and deadly Eversea, home of the sirens, Victoria discovers she’s the sacrifice upon which all sirens pin their hopes. If they want to appease an angry god and save a world on the brink of destruction, then they need her. Which gives her the perfect leverage.

Victoria strikes a new bargain: the Siren Duke will help save her family, and she’ll fulfill his demands. It’s a good bargain until a flicker of passion ignites in the scarred remnants of Victoria's heart, threatening all she's worked for. As the sacrifice for the God of Death, she’s meant to give up everything that draws her to the world of the living. But that’s impossible when all she can think about is how this handsome siren’s song, and his hands, make her feel very much alive.

In a realm of ancient magic, submerged secrets, and forgotten gods, can love find a place among shattered hearts as they race against time and the blossoming of forbidden desires? Or will the delicate songs of their hearts be silenced once and for all?

A Duet with the Siren Duke is a complete, *stand alone novel*. It’s for readers looking for a fantasy romance with deep lore, second-chance love, sacrifice, forbidden and slow-burn romance that sizzles on the page, and a happily ever after where love triumphs over all.

While it is set in the Married to Magic universe, readers can start with this book as all Married to Magic novels are stand alones.

I received this book for free from Author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

The story was great. I loved all the nods to the Little Mermaid, they were definitely there and made my heart so happy. I also really liked the portrayal of the sirens.

The main character and her journey was the best thing about this book for sure. It’s similar yet so different to what Elise has done before. It was a journey to accept her worth, and how much she deserved to be loved after convincing herself she didn’t because of past abuse. I am so grateful to the author for that because it was a beautiful, emotional arc.

A lot of the secondary characters didn’t earn my devotion, tbh. I think our heroine was too compassionate and understanding to people who didn’t completely deserved it, even if I get the reason behind their personalities/behavior.

The love interest was everything. He was sweet and protective, vulnerable and romantic… I truly fell in love with him.

The one thing I was looking forward to the most was the angst. And it didn’t disappoint. If you like the angstiest of romances, you need to check this out.

Now, the thing is, when I’m reading angst like that, I expect the greatest ending/resolution to it. And that simply didn’t happen here.

I can’t say too much because I don’t want to spoil it for anyone, but Elise herself said this was a different type of happy ending unlike anything she’d written before. And that’s exactly right. I just didn’t like it. And sadly, to me, endings can break or make the story so this was a huge disappointment. Don’t be scared about them not ending up together: it is a romance and the HEA is there. But very different and, to me, very unsatisfying.

I wanted to love this even more than the previous books but I think it’s my least favorite and that breaks my heart. I don’t anticipate rereading this like I do all other Elise’s books, but I do not think it’s a bad book. It was a really well-built, timeless tale of a woman learning to love herself and a siren daring to fight for love.