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 Ballad of Sea and Sky

Ballad of Sea and Sky

by Madeleine Eliot

🌶️🌶️mild·The Whispering Sea Duet #1
4.0 on Goodreads (1,239)

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?

A lush undersea romantasy with enemies-to-lovers tension that simmers through every page. The selkie-siren mythology is fresh, the chemistry is electric, and the cliffhanger will leave you desperate for book two.

Synopsis

A princess with an adventurer’s spirit. A pirate with a king’s obligations. Marina has known for a long time that she doesn’t want the life her parents want for her, but when they announce her betrothal to the steady but dull captain of the guard, she reluctantly accepts her duty. That is until an enemy siren is captured and presented to her father, and Marina can’t think of anything but amber eyes and wings. In a twist of fate, Marina finds herself the prisoner of an enemy king in a plot to end a centuries-long war between their peoples that can only end in either death or heartbreak. ​​​​​​​Ballad of Sea and Sky is the first book in The Whispering Sea Duet, an enemies to lovers romantasy adventure featuring sirens, selkies, and spicy romance.

book details below may contain spoilers. some hidden

At a Glance

Indie romantasy debut that punches above its weight class. The selkie princess x enemy siren pairing is a fresh twist on the undersea romance, and the worldbuilding around warring sea folk kingdoms has real depth. Be warned: this is book one of a duet and ends on a cliffhanger that will have you immediately hunting down the sequel.

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.

4.04 ★ (1.2k)

Page CountHow long the commitment is.

415 pages

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

2023

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

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).

Dual POV

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

Slow 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

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
enemies to loversfated matesforced proximityonly one bedcaptive romanceforbidden loveadventure romancemermaid romance
RomanceMagicActionAngstWorld
Theme Constellation

Mood & Vibe

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

romanticadventurousdreamymagicalangstyswoony

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

lyricalwhimsicalemotionalimmersivelush

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

medium

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.'

comfort read vibes

Characters

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal

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

royaltyadventurerreluctant chosen one

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

morally gray MMCwarrior/fightersecretly softdark/tortured soul

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 loversstar-crossedhe falls firstslow burnmutual piningferal devotion

Spice Details 🌶️

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal
🌶️
🌶️
🌶️
🌶️
🌶️
🌶️
🌶️
Spice Level 2

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

passionate / intenseslow seductiontension / anticipationemotional / vulnerable intimacy

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

longing glancestensioneye contact intensityneck kisses / neck touchingtouch starvation

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. (4)▼
spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal
violencekidnappingcaptivitywar
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.

coastal / island / beachship / at searoyal court / palaceprison / captivity

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

selkiesmermaids/sirens

RepresentationIdentity representation in the book. LGBTQ+, race/ethnicity, disability, neurodivergence, body type, age and more.

chronic illness

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.

book hangoverthe angst deliveredferal brain activated

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.

beach tripvacationcozy eveninglazy Sunday

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.🌶️🌶️mild
PagesHow long the commitment is.415
PublishedWhen this hit shelves. Helpful for tracking vibes by era.2023
GoodreadsThe crowd's verdict. Take it with salt, though. Some masterpieces are polarizing.4.04 ★ (1.2k)
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 Whispering Sea Duet #1
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 Ballad of Sea and Sky

Similar Books

Cover of Skyshade

Skyshade

Lightlark, #3

Alex Aster

🌶️🌶️·first person
love triangleenemies to loversfated mates
Cover of The Book of AzraelKU

The Book of Azrael

Gods & Monsters, #1

Amber V. Nicole

🌶️🌶️·dual POV
enemies to loversforced proximityfated mates
Cover of Glow of the EverflameKU

Glow of the Everflame

Kindred's Curse, #2

Penn Cole

🌶️·first person
enemies to loversforbidden loveforced proximity
Cover of The Ever King

The Ever King

The Ever Seas, #1

L.J. Andrews

🌶️🌶️·dual POV
captive romanceenemies to loversrevenge romance
Cover of LightlarkKU

Lightlark

Lightlark, #1

Alex Aster

🌶️🌶️·first person
love triangleforced proximitygames/trials romance
Cover of Daughter of Smoke & Bone

Daughter of Smoke & Bone

Daughter of Smoke & Bone, #1

Laini Taylor

🌶️🌶️·third person
forbidden loveblood feud romancefated mates
Cover of Daughter of the Pirate King

Daughter of the Pirate King

Daughter of the Pirate King, #1

Tricia Levenseller

🌶️🌶️·first person·✓
captive romanceforced proximityenemies to lovers
Cover of Serpent & DoveKU

Serpent & Dove

Serpent & Dove, #1

Shelby Mahurin

🌶️🌶️·dual POV·✓
forced proximityforced to marryhidden identity