If you love Greek mythology, strong character arcs, and romance with a female monster, you’ll love Surrendering to Scylla by Wren K Morris.
Affiliate Disclaimer: I participate in the Amazon Affiliate program. As such, if you make a purchase through one of my links below, I’ll earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.
Surrendering to Scylla by Wren K Morris
🥭🥭🥭🥭
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
(you can find my rating and spice system here)
POV & Tense: Multi POV, first person, past tense
Genre: MF Monster Romance
Tropes/Themes: Greek Mythology, Grumpy/Sunshine, Vengeful Gods, Fem domme, light Domme/sub, Forced Proximity, Character Study, A Woman is the Monster, Self-worth
Synopsis:
When she isn’t busy eating sailors, Scylla, a beautiful nymph turned monster, spends her days in a secluded sea cave fashioning bones into trinkets. But when Ophelos and his ship encounter Scylla, she notices he’s different from the other blood-thirsty sailors. She spares him, intending to eat him later. Except he sees her like no one else ever has, and she has difficulty following through with her plans.
My Review:
Surrendering to Scylla is an amazing novel. It’s a character study, delving deeply into the psyches of Scylla and Ophelos and illustrating their journey and transformation. I love multi-POV novels, and while Scylla and Ophelos are the main characters, we are also treated to other POVs including gods and Scylla’s would-be lover.
Everyone loved to call me a heartless monster, evil incarnate, every horrible name they could think of, but I was really just a creation of balance. A vessel of justice, if you will.
Intriguing Characters
Scylla is a tender-hearted nymph who’s been pushed too far. At the start of the novel, she’s living her best life… when not being pursued by a plethora of amorous lovers who covet her for her beauty. One of these would-be lovers hires a witch to make Scylla fall in love with him. However, the jealous witch curses Scylla and transforms her into a sea monster. Scylla’s life is turned upside down through no fault of her own. She isolates herself in a sea cave and takes her revenge on anyone who sails too close.
Ophelos has a beautiful heart, but in a cut-throat world, his peers look down upon his kindness and view him as weak. After obliterating his ship and devouring the crew, Scylla saves Ophelos as a snack for later. But she quickly learns he’s not like the others. He’s kind, and his golden retriever energy soon wins her over (a terrifying prospect).
I love the dynamic between the two. Scylla, as a monster, is physically stronger than Ophelos and he submits to her, but he also stands his ground when important. The domme/sub relationship that develops between them is delicious. Self-worth is a theme, with Scylla discovering her strength can be valued and not feared, and Ophelos being admired for his kindness.
I had already noticed her eyes lingering on my form on occasion; if I didn’t know better, I would think they were the heated gaze of attraction, but there was no way Scylla could find me attractive. You weren’t attracted to the things you ate.
Greek Mythology
Wren K. Morris has done her research. I loved how immersive in Ancient Greek mythology Surrendering to Scylla is and am grateful for the detailed glossary/pronunciation guide at the back of the book (which I consulted often). While I’m familiar with the more popular Greek myths (the Minotaur, Medusa) I’ve never read about Scylla. I found her story both fascinating and heartbreaking. As a monster lover, I love her physical form with the tentacles and wild beasts at her waist.
Angst with a Happy Ending
I’m not going to get into details, because spoilers, but things take an unexpected turn, and I loved it! In the romance genre, there are certain things that are done and others that are typically not done, and I applaud Wren K. Morris for daring to take risks. We still get our HEA, but it’s one hell of a journey that illustrates how much Scylla and Ophelos have come to love and respect one another. It’s so good!
She had teased me, not cruelly, not like my tormentors, but like a lover. Her power slipped from something menacing to something heady, leading me under her seductive spell until I was clay for her to mold.
Final Thoughts:
Surrendering to Scylla is a strong debut novel that lovers of monsters and Greek Mythology will adore. I can’t wait to read more stories from Morris.
Surrendering to Scylla by Wren K. Morris
Author Stalking (but not in a creepy way):
Wren K Morris is the author of paranormal romance novels and novellas.
Carrd
Instagram
Facebook
Twitter
Goodreads
Bookbub
Banner Image Credit: Ocean Coastline
~~If you like spicy books with tentacles, check out my SPICY TENTACLE REC LIST~~
Leave a Reply