Elsie Winters

Slightly soft paranormal fantasy romance

I say “slightly soft” because these aren’t big stories with gruesome murders or armies or extreme stakes—which isn’t to say there aren’t stakes, they just feel…more touchable…but not quite cozy. Though, honestly, I would cuddle with book 2.

I called her books paranormal romance when I reviewed on Goodreads, and I’d say that’s accurate. Elsie Winters tends to write heroes who aren’t the gruff, growly, alpha male trope. I enjoy alpha males (hello, Curren, you fluffy werelion ideal), but I also really enjoy other male characters—cinnamon rolls and deltas and other, harder to classify, types—it’s good to see different kinds of male personalities. I found Winters’ characters three dimensional and interesting. Also extremely likable with a sly side of humor.

Here is the summary off her site and a link to Leviathan’s Song on Goodreads:

When Elara races to save a dying city, her best hope lies with a seductive siren… but brooding Levi has his own reasons for keeping her at arm’s length.

As an elven weapon smith, Elara is an expert in crafting beautiful, deadly things. When an underwater city known as the Deep sends for her help, she’s determined to answer the call… but between murderous gangsters and razor-sharp foreign politics, Elara is ill-equipped to handle the situation on her own.

Levi Navarre is half-merman and all brooding, sardonic wit. Landlocked, jaded, and rejected by his people, the last thing Levi wants to do is get involved in underwater affairs. But soft-hearted, strong-willed Elara is a temptation he just can’t resist... even if she is several miles out of his league. Levi has good reason to avoid the obvious magical bond forming between him and Elara—but if he isn’t careful, playing bodyguard could soon turn into something more…

Readers of Ilona Andrews and K.F. Breene will enjoy debut author Elsie Winters and her atmospheric paranormal romance, full of love and magic. Dive into Leviathan’s Song and succumb to a magical temptation…

LEVIATHAN’S SONG is a slow-burn paranormal romance about a girl caught between multiple magical factions and the mysterious merman she longs for.

I actually completely forgot—if I ever knew—this was an Indie work. As someone who enjoys both Ilona Andrews and K.F.Breene, I can say that apparently her “Readers of” hook was absolutely accurate, though Winters’ books are less graphic in every way (no entrails that I remember, and more a 3/4 on the spice-o-meter than a 555 like some of Breene’s books). I haven’t read Seduction of a Psychopomp yet, but its only a matter of time. I enjoyed Leviathan’s Song, I loved Magpies and Mayhem, and am totally here for Seduction of a Psychopomp.

I’ve read a few paranormal romance series now, and this one is one of the only ones that really acknowledged the terror of mind magic like siren song (Andrews is one of the others who does). She also has a creative take on vampirism (it doesn’t erase the person’s previous powers, but it means they must live on blood among other things), and isn’t afraid to explore other types of shapeshifters than the sexy ones (you know, wolves, bears, big cats).

The romances are sweet.

There are flashes of laugh out loud humor and really great friendship chemistry as well.

Book two centers on Elara’s best friend, the magpie shape shifter Sidney, and Levi’s housemate Jordan (who turned out to be an old friend of Sidney’s). Jordan is a fire elemental who has been turned into a vampire against his will. Sidney knew him before but now it’s after and…well, he is still making peace with being a vampire, and she’s still into him. And then she rescues a dragon egg and it hatches and now she has a dragon baby to keep alive.

It’s a very sweet story, lots of funny parts.¹

If you’re looking for almost cozy paranormal romanticomedy that isn’t murder mystery definitely try Elsie Winters.

1. I think book 1 is a 3 and book 2 is more of a 4. I think it was just one scene in book 1, and maybe a couple in book 2. It’s been a bit since I read them, though I have them on my radar to reread soon. It would make more sense to write reviews after a reread, of course, but writing these reviews is often what makes me want to reread.