I thought I'd like this book a lot more than I did. Don't get me wrong; I enjoyed it quite a bit. And I was starting to really get into it near the end, though it took a very scenic way to reach the main plotline and it sort of cuts before it ever really got started. I know, I know: it's a series, but so many of the scenes felt drawn out to make it so (wouldn't call it a cliff hanger ending, but definitely unfinished). There were lots of themes introduced that were a little misguiding towards real feel of the book and its setting. For example; Taren's past as a slave did not pose any relevance to the story beyond some small dialogue. (view spoiler)[It may have been a plot device to get him on the ship, however he could've just worked in the tavern ...so even that would be stretching it. (hide spoiler)] 
 I am thrilled that there are more fleshed out novels showing up with gay mermen, of course! That has to be one of my favourite combinations ever. I love it so much that I'm super greedy and wanted far more screen time with their merman forms. It was quite innovative to make them shifters ...but at times it felt more like a shifter story then a merman one. It even came with the shifter cliches like bonding to one mate and all the primal urges that come of it. These boys acted more like wolves then fish. And of course with the mate thing comes my biggest reading turn off: insta-love. Nothing makes me care less for a couple then a lack of sexual tension. The characters mention again and again how they knew nothing about one another... and I didn't either at that point, so I couldn't feel anything for them. I got bored when they fooled around and couldn't buy their words of affection (both very well written, for the record. Shira Anthony has a talent with words. It's just that their affection came far, far, far too early. Too easily). 
 Mind you this was starting to change near the end because finally I had an idea who these characters were and there was more proof of how they felt by that point. It even regained extra points for explaining the insta-love (view spoiler)[and how it was related to past lives (hide spoiler)]. That redeemed it enough for me not to be disappointed in their romance ...and that is always a good thing for a romance story! 
 Overall it just needed a little more... balance. There is a five star story in there - I have faith in Shira Anthony's imagination and direction. The pacing is really what rattled me, but something tells me it will be worth it. Guess I'm hooked enough for book two!