MoodReads - Romance Book Discovery
The Stacks
DiscoverMy ShelvesReading Stats
Sign upLog in
MoodReads - Romantasy Book Discovery

because goodreads doesn't
have a spice filter

Discover

  • Discover Page
  • Reading Stacks
  • Tropes
  • Moods
  • Creatures
  • Spicy Books

Get MoodReads

  • so what is it.
  • iOS App
  • Browser Extension
  • MoodReads Premium
  • Gift a Subscription
  • For Creators
  • Share MoodReads

Go Deeper

  • FAQ
  • Roadmap
  • Request a Feature
  • vs Goodreads
  • vs StoryGraph
  • Who Built This?

The Serious Stuff

  • Values
  • Privacy
  • Terms
  • Support

get emails when something big happens. no spam, just news.

© 2026 MoodReads. Built by a romantasy reader for romantasy readers.

rattle the stars, bitches.

Cover of Denizens of Darkness: A Forbidden Love, Enemies to Lovers Fantasy Romance Retelling

Denizens of Darkness: A Forbidden Love, Enemies to Lovers Fantasy Romance Retelling

by Marisa Noelle

🌶️🌶️🌶️moderate·The Mermaid Chronicles #6
4.3 on Goodreads (12)

Rate this book

sign in to add to shelves, track reading status, and see your stats

find similar →
ReportSpoiler settings

Ending

reveal ending

Why Read This?The one-sentence sell. What do you get for showing up to this book, even when it's hard?

You'll get swept away in a gripping tale of love and destiny that delivers intense emotional stakes and romantic fulfillment.

Synopsis

The Denizens of the Deep crave the power of Vorago’s trident. The one true wielder must remain strong. Gal tried to destroy The Mermaid Chronicles , the book of prophecies that sealed his fate and that of his people. But destiny isn’t so easily erased. Now, with the ancient power of Atlantis’ trident surging through him and a new, darker prophecy echoing in his mind, Gal must prepare to face the greatest threat his island has ever known—and protect the woman he loves from the coming storm. When the four evil water gods breach Atlantis' shores, Gal expects monsters, not a deadly seductress who makes him question everything he thought he knew about love. Addicted to the trident’s power and a burgeoning new ability, convinced that only he is strong enough to defeat the Denizens, Gal pushes away the people he cares about most. But protection comes with a price. Power comes with risks. And love, once lost, might never be found again. As the battle looms and his enemies close in, Gal must ask can he save his people before the woman he’s trying to protect becomes the one who destroys him? If you're a fan of Sorcery of Thorns and To Kill a Kingdom, you won't want to miss Denizens of Darkness ( The penultimate chapter of The Mermaid Chronicles series) , where prophecies awaken and destiny calls beneath the waves, by the captivating best-selling author , Marisa Noelle. Order your copy today or click the "READ SAMPLE" button to start this fantasy romance adventure now! Praise for Denizens of Darkness ★★★★★ ★★★★★ “A dark YA fantasy romance of gods, fate, and forbidden love!” — SJ Willis, best-selling author of Bite Risk ★★★★★ “A refreshing take on an emerging genre. I found this book so hard to put down. Lots of drama mixed with a dollop of romance and just a touch of the supernatural.” — Melissa Welliver, author of My Love Life and the Apocalypse ★★★★★ “Marisa Noelle does it again with her charming and gripping story of Cordelia and Wade as they navigate the tricky waters of love in a time of change and challenge.” — Lynn Lipinski, author of God of the Internet & Bloodlines ★★★★★ “Packed with twists, could not stop reading!” — Louie Stowell, best-selling author of A Bad God’s Guide to Doing Good ★★★★★ "A spellbinding tale of love, power, and destiny that left me breathless!" ★★★★★ "Fans of A Court of Thorns and Roses will devour this epic blend of romance and oceanic magic." ★★★★★ "With heart-pounding action and deep emotional stakes, Denizens of Darkness is fantasy romance at its finest." ★★★★★ "An intoxicating mix of seductive villains and conflicted heroes.

book details below may contain spoilers. some hidden

At a Glance

A curator's note goes here with flavor that could spoil the plot.

trope onetrope twotrope threetrope four

Book Details

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal

Goodreads RatingThe crowd's verdict. Take it with salt, though. Some masterpieces are polarizing.

4.33 ★ (12)

Page CountHow long the commitment is.

374 pages

PublishedWhen this hit shelves. Helpful for tracking vibes by era.

2025

Primary GenreWhat type of book this is. Romance? Fantasy? A 400-page therapy session disguised as a thriller?

Ya Romantasy

PairingWho's falling in love? The gender makeup of your main romance. Helps you find your specific flavor of love story.

M/F

POVWhose head are you in? First person = deep in the feels. Third = watching from above. Dual = emotional whiplash (affectionate).

First Person

Romance PacingHow long until they kiss? Slow burn = 300 pages of tension. Insta-love = page 12 and it's already chaos.

Medium Burn

AudiobookCan you experience this book while driving? Washing dishes? Working out while emotionally destroyed? Check here.

AvailableCan you experience this book while driving? Washing dishes? Working out while emotionally destroyed? Check here.

No audiobook yet

FormatHow fancy is the audio? Standard = one narrator. Full cast = theater kids went off. GraphicAudio = a MoViE iN yOuR mInD.

Single Narrator (unspecified)

Narrator Count

Single

TropesPlot devices and story situations that drive the romance. These are the circumstances that throw characters together or create conflict, not how they personally relate.

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal
survival romanceadventure romanceblood feud romancefated matessecret relationshipstalker romance
RomanceMagicActionAngstWorld
Theme Constellation

Mood & Vibe

MoodWhat you felt reading this. Swoony? Gutted? Deliciously unhinged? The emotional fingerprint.

romanticadventurousdarkintenseemotionalsuspenseful

Writing StyleHow the author writes - prose style, dialogue approach, and narrative voice. This is about craft and delivery, not emotional effect.

cinematicimmersiveemotional

Story PacingDoes the story sprint or saunter? Fast = you'll miss sleep. Slow = you'll savor every word. Medium = balanced chaos.

fast

Emotional WeightHow much are you gonna cry? Light = fun feels. Moderate = real stakes. Heavy = bring tissues. Devastating = call your therapist.

moderate

Energy RequiredCan you read this on a Tuesday after work, or do you need a full Saturday and three cups of coffee? Low/Medium/High.

medium

VibesOne perfect sentence that captures the essence. Like: 'Fae politics meets forbidden romance with zero chill.'

war-torn kingdomsurvival against impossible odds

Characters

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal

FMC ArchetypeWho is she? The female main character's core identity/role. Assassin? Healer? General Badass?

royaltyprotectorsurvivor

MMC ArchetypeWho is he? The male main character's core identity/role. Your exact flavor of book boyfriend.

morally gray mmcdark/tortured soulprotective love interest

Relationship DynamicsThe interpersonal dynamic between the main characters. How do they relate to each other? This is about character energy and connection style, not plot situations.

enemies to loversfated matesforbidden love

Spice Details 🌶️

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal
🌶️
🌶️
🌶️
🌶️
🌶️
🌶️
🌶️
🌶️
Spice Level 3

Spice StyleNot just how much spice, but what kind. Emotional intimacy? Explicit but vanilla? Plot-driven heat? Know your flavor.

emotional / lovingintense / passionatefantasy / supernatural intimacy

Getting SteamyGentle kinks. Fun but nothing too crazy. The appetizer, so to speak.

None

Bringing the HeatFor those who know exactly what they came for. This is where you find your exact brand of chaos. The good stuff.

None
Browse more books by spice level →
This stuff might hit different. No shame in needing to know what's coming. (6)▼
spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal
deathkidnappingviolencecaptivitygriefwar
Browse books by content warning →

World & Setting

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal

World TypeWhat kind of world are you stepping into? High fantasy = full secondary world. Urban fantasy = magic in modern cities. Portal = starts here, goes there.

high fantasymythological

Primary SettingWhere does the story physically take place? Court intrigue = palace. Dark academia = campus. Cozy witch vibes = small town. This is about location, not world rules.

ship / at seacoastal / island / beachunderwater / underworld

Fantasy CreaturesWhat supernatural beings populate this world? Fae courts, vampire covens, dragon riders, or just regular humans doing their best.

mermaids/sirensshiftersgods/deitiesmonsters

Reading Context

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal

Emotional PayoffWhat you get for showing up. The catharsis, the growth, the 'I'm a different person now' moment. This is why the hard books are worth it.

addictive readthe angst deliveredromantic fulfillment

Best Time of YearSeasonal mood rings for books. Summer romance reads different than winter gothic.

summer

When & Where to ReadContext matters. Some books are Beach Trip energy, others are 3am Bedtime spiral-reads. Trust.

summer eveningvacationat nightbeach trip

The Mermaid Chronicles

Secrets of the Deep

#1 Secrets of the Deep

Quest for Atlantis

#2 Quest for Atlantis

Fight for Freedom

#3 Fight for Freedom

Ghost Pirates

#4 Ghost Pirates

Vendetta: A Forbidden Love, Enemies to Lovers Fantasy Romance Retelling

#5 Vendetta: A Forbidden Love, Enemies to Lovers Fantasy Romance Retelling

Denizens of Darkness: A Forbidden Love, Enemies to Lovers Fantasy Romance Retelling

#6 Denizens of Darkness: A Forbidden Love, Enemies to Lovers Fantasy Romance Retelling

Vorago Returns: A Forbidden Love, Enemies to Lovers Fantasy Romance Retelling

#7 Vorago Returns: A Forbidden Love, Enemies to Lovers Fantasy Romance Retelling

The Mermaid Chronicles: The Companion Guide

The Mermaid Chronicles: The Companion Guide

this page is just the start

  • import your Goodreads or StoryGraph TBR. we tag every book with spice, tropes, CWs, mood, all of it
  • tell us a vibe (“enemies to lovers fae, high spice”) and BookMatch finds the book
  • 4,000+ romantasy books searchable by 45 fields
  • book clubs, reading challenges, and a community of readers who get it
free account

Quick Facts

Spice LevelThe heat scale. 0=wholesome, 1=kisses, 2=fade-to-black, 3=tasteful spice, 4=explicit, 5=you need a cold shower. Know thyself.🌶️🌶️🌶️moderate
PagesHow long the commitment is.374
PublishedWhen this hit shelves. Helpful for tracking vibes by era.2025
GoodreadsThe crowd's verdict. Take it with salt, though. Some masterpieces are polarizing.4.33 ★ (12)
EndingEnding type: HEA = forever happy (you'll cry happy). HFN = happy for now (open to interpretation). Bittersweet = complicated feelings. Know what you're signing up for.reveal ending

SeriesThe series this book belongs to and where it falls in the reading order.

The Mermaid Chronicles #6
Similar picks →

My Notes

Loading...

Short Takes

quick 280-character reactions for this book. drop a thought, rate the vibe, keep scrolling.

Sign in to share your take.

Loading...

Book Chat

live reactions, hot takes, screaming into the void about Denizens of Darkness: A Forbidden Love, Enemies to Lovers Fantasy Romance Retelling

Similar Books

Cover of Rising Dawn

Rising Dawn

Guardians of the Maiden, #4

Beck Michaels

🌶️🌶️🌶️·third person
blood feud romancefated matesbodyguard/protection detail
Cover of Ivy Touched and Bronze BladeKU

Ivy Touched and Bronze Blade

Honey and Ice, #5

Shannon Mayer

🌶️🌶️🌶️·first person
fated mateshidden past revealedsecret relationship
Cover of Queen of the Blood Throne

Queen of the Blood Throne

Descendants of the Fates, #2

Rhiannon Hargadon

🌶️🌶️🌶️·first person
blood feud romancefated mateshidden past revealed
Cover of The Shadowbound and the False GodKU

The Shadowbound and the False God

The Red Woman and the White Bear, #2

Fern A. Ellis

🌶️🌶️🌶️·first person
survival romanceadventure romanceblood feud romance
Cover of The Queen of the DawnKU

The Queen of the Dawn

Shadows and Crowns, #5

S.M. Gaither

🌶️🌶️🌶️·first person·✓
enemies to loversfated matesforced proximity
Cover of Silver Shard

Silver Shard

Sun Serpent Saga, #3

Geneva Monroe

🌶️🌶️🌶️·multi-POV
survival romanceadventure romancefated mates
Cover of Of Ashes and Crowns

Of Ashes and Crowns

Darkness and Fire, #3

Amber Palmer

🌶️🌶️🌶️·third person
bet/wager romanceblood feud romancefated mates
Cover of Bindings of Fate

Bindings of Fate

Of Fate, #2

C.A. Blooming

🌶️🌶️🌶️·first person
captive romanceforced proximitysurvival romance