All Myra Morningtide
wants to do is go home.
Unfortunately for the cursed mermaid, she’s been banished from the sea and landlocked in The Devil’s Playground—a rogue pocket of Seattle that the outcasts and miscreants of the supernatural world call home. Myra would do anything for the chance to return and enact revenge on the one who betrayed her; the one responsible for her punishment.
And Yael Kristoris plans to exploit that truth.
The charming yet cunning fae from Myra’s recent past can’t be trusted, but when deadly events force her into a magically binding deal with him, she has no choice but to use her secret power to help find what he seeks if she wants a shot at the vengeance she craves.
But as it goes in The Playground, exposure is dangerous and secrets can kill, and Myra fears Yael will risk both to meet his end—even if it causes hers.
THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP, the first gritty urban fantasy romance novel in the The Devil’s Playground series by USA Today bestselling author Amber Lynn Natusch.
A Stabby Mermaid, A Shifty Fae,
and Totally Squeezable Otters!
If you follow my blog, you may have caught my audiobook review for her book Queen Me, a standalone set in Kel Carpenter’s Immortal Vices and Virtues shared world. THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP is a spin-off of sorts, a gritty enemies-to-lovers urban fantasy romance starring two of the side characters from Queen Me.
There are a few important things to note off the top. THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP is not actually set in Carpenter’s world so some of the details have been changed to make the world in this new book its own unique thing. Instead of a standalone novel, THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP is the first in a new series (I believe the author’s plan is for a trilogy). The two starring characters are both witty in their own right so seeing them butt heads is a lot of fun.
Our “Badass FMC With Stabby Tendencies” is Myra Morningside, a mermaid who was betrayed by someone close to her and cursed to the land. When we meet up with her at the start of the book, she’s angry all the time and trusts almost no one. The event that landed her there left its mark. How best do I put this? She’s not a morning person. Or an afternoon person… Or an evening person. She’s a woman of singular focus (breaking the curse to get her tail back so she can sink her claws into the one who betrayed her) and doesn’t believe she has time for personal connections beyond what the connection can do for her. Throughout the run of the story, we see her realize that she’s got people she cares about, even if she wasn’t willing to admit it to herself.
The “Morally Gray Shadow Daddy MMC” is Yael Kristoris, a fae who has a whole lot more going on than meets the eye. He’s hot, he’s snarky, and he’s got the whole man of mystery vibe about him. It’s obvious he’s got an agenda, which you actually learn about as the story plays out, but there are so many twists that you never really find sure-footing where his motives are concerned. This one certainly keeps you on your toes.
The Devil’s Playground is a section of Seattle inhabited by supernaturals of all kinds, most of whom have less than . Right out of the gate, you get a crystal clear understanding that it’s a dangerous place. In one particularly shocking moment early in the story, Myra is backed into a corner and left with no choice but to ally herself with Yael. And that just about sums up the whole vibe of The Devil’s Playground. Everyone has an angle and you have to do you very best to not get mowed down when you cross paths. In the pursuit of their crossed goals, Myra and Yael see a lot of The Devil’s Playground and meet a whole cast of colorful characters, both sweet, well-meaning people and slightly terrifying people. There is never a dull moment.
As a first-in-series, THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP really sets the tone for what to expect. In the midst of this dark, dangerous world, there are moments where you will full-belly laugh, such as when they go glow bowling at an alley called Balls Deep. These moments are sprinkled throughout the book bringing levity to what is otherwise a really edgy, dark urban fantasy novel.
As this is the first in a trilogy, you need to be prepared going in for the major cliffhanger you will be left dangling from. The first book ends on a shocking moment that will make you scream and possibly chuck your Kindle across the room. Please know that the author is not responsible for your damaged ereader so throw it at a pillow, yeah?
Overall, I loved THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP. The main characters have chemistry and tension in spades. As the reader, you will be caught in this weird limbo between being angry on Myra’s behalf and cheering for them to KISS ALREADY! And the ending! The ending is going to leave you stunned but fret not! I happen to know that the author is already eyebrows deep into writing the second book so you wont be left hanging for long. 😘
Spice Level
🌶️🌶️🌶️
My Rating
★ ★ ★ ★
Badass FMC With Stabby Tendencies
Morally Gray Shadow Daddy MMC
Enemies-to-Lovers
Secret Past
Emotional Scars + Baggage
Betrayal
Estranged Family
Exiled From Home
Chosen Family
Forced Proximity
Forced Alliance
Fish Out of Water (Umm….Literally)
Revenge
Volatile Powers
Unique Magic
✦
Critters + Creatures
Mermaid
Fae
Shifters
Vampires
Witches
Druids
Ogres
Incubus
Adorable Cuddly Otters
CONTENT WARNING: This is a good opportunity to remind everyone to check out the Trigger Warning page here on my website. This message applies to my books and pretty much everything you’re going to see on my blog, whether it’s dark romance or urban fantasy romance (which tends to be violent). I don’t include this message with every review but some characters rise above the others and do some truly depraved shit. Ye be warned.
Should this email get cut off due to length,
you can visit the my blog to get all of these reads!
Happy reading and many dark fantasies!
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THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP
A The Devil’s Playground Novel
2026 © Amber Lynn Natusch
“That’s a terrible habit you have there,” I said, gesturing to the smoke billowing from her puckered lips.
“Takes the edge off being here…with people like you.”
Wiping my hands clean on my pants, I walked over to her and plucked the cigarette from her hand. “Well, in that case…” Annoyance flared in her eyes as she watched me take a drag before handing it back.
“The kitchen’s that way, in case you’ve forgotten,” she said, gesturing to the door behind me.
“I’ll keep that in mind.” When I didn’t move, she put the clove cigarette back to her lips and turned her head to look down the alley at the street beyond. The angle of her jaw had a red smear she’d missed, and I reached over to wipe it away.
The second she realized I was about to touch her, she sidestepped me in a panic. “Do you have a death wish?”
“You have a little something on your face.”
“And you will too if you ever try to touch me again,” she countered, taking a final drag before flicking the butt toward the dumpster. “I’m not stupid; I know what you’re trying to do. Believe me, I’ve had my fair share of experience with your type.”
“I bet you’ve had experience with many types working here.”
Her eyes went wide with fury. “Are you calling me a whore, trash boy? Because I know you have a death wish if you are—”
“I’m saying you have encounters with a variety of people in this business, and I’m sure you’ve learned a thing or two in order to survive.”
“Or maybe I’m just insane enough to keep them on edge and at bay.”
I quirked a brow in challenge. “And how’s that working out for you?”
Her arms folded under her chest, forcing her breasts to peek out the top of her shirt. “About as well as being loyal to the fae king worked out for you, I imagine.”
“And what landed you here, I wonder—horrible pun totally intended. Given how bitter you seem to be to every male in a five mile radius—Ravi excluded, of course—I’m guessing your heart must have been involved.”
Her scowl in response was a fearsome thing. “Looks like my break is over, fairy boy. Good talk.”
She turned to leave, but my words stopped her short. “I also wonder what it would take to get you over that.”
Lightning fast, she stormed over to me and thrust her face in mine. “Let’s make something abundantly clear right now, asshole: me not falling at your feet because you deigned to speak to me and tossed me a lazy smile doesn’t make me bitter, it makes me smart. Too smart for you.”
“Which makes me curious as to what happened to help you wise up.”
“It doesn’t take a lot of trauma or brain power to see through your bullshit, Yael. Maybe the fae aren’t as clever as their reputation claims, or maybe they’re just easy to bed, but I think you’ll find the women of the Playground much harder to charm out of their pants—unless you pay them, of course. If you’re looking for a sure thing, I recommend the girls down on my corner.”
“But where’s the fun in that, little mermaid?”
Murder flashed in those endlessly blue eyes as her whole body went tense. “Call me that again and I’ll dunk you in the fryer. It’ll make these games you like to play a lot harder without that pretty-boy face of yours.”
“You’d better toss the rest of me in too while you’re at it, then,” I said, leaning in closer to her. “The pretty doesn’t end at my face.”
She took a step back and eyed me up. “You’re too big to fit—but a freshly sharpened meat cleaver could make quick work of that.”
“Always with the blades,” I replied, biting my lip. “Makes me wonder if that’s a fetish of yours or a coping mechanism to compensate for having no real power—nothing to wield, other than your equally sharp tongue, of course.”
“Oh, I have power,” she said with a smile that promised pain, “and you’d better pray I never decide to use it on you.” She leaned in so close I could smell the faint scent of the salty sea, and I forced myself not to inhale it deeper. “I would ruin you with it.”
“Sounds intriguing…tell me more.”
“I don’t tell anyone anything, ever. Especially not you.” She turned to walk away, but I caught her by the arm to stop her, because something about the way we went back and forth was intoxicating, and I wasn’t ready for it to end. But instead of more lively banter or a “fuck you” in response, I found myself pinned to the brick wall with a knife at my throat. “Touch me again and you won’t live long enough for me to ruin you. Got it?”
I raised my hands in slow surrender as a rush of blood surged through my veins at the thought of her unleashing all that fury on me. “Got it.”
Glaring at me for a moment longer to drive her point home, she tucked the blade away, then retreated to the door.
Our boss appeared a moment later, eyes narrowed as he assessed the situation. “Your break’s over, Myra.”
“I was just coming in,” she replied as she walked away, looking over her shoulder with murder in those piercing blue eyes. “We’re all done here.”
CONTINUE READING…
AMBER LYNN NATUSCH is the USA Today bestselling author of the Caged series, the Hometown Antihero series, the Fireheart series, and many others. She was born and raised in Winnipeg, and speaks sarcasm fluently because of her Canadian roots. She loves to dance and sing in her kitchen—much to the detriment of those near her—but spends most of her time running a practice with her husband, raising two small children, and attempting to write when she can lock herself in the bathroom for ten minutes of peace and quiet. She has many hidden talents, most of which should not be mentioned but include putting her foot in her mouth, acting inappropriately when nervous, swearing like a sailor when provoked, and not listening when she should. She’s obsessed with home renovation shows, should never be caffeinated, and loves snow. Amber has a deep-seated fear of clowns and deep water…especially clowns swimming in deep water.
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