ARC Review: An Ocean of Sin and Starlight by Karina Halle

PRIEST. PIRATE. MONSTER.

From New York Times bestselling author Karina Halle comes Ocean of Sin and Starlight, a dark-fantasy romance with morally grey pirates and monstrous sirens, a standalone spinoff of A Ship of Bones and Teeth.
I wasn’t always a monster.

Once upon a time I had a family, a home, dreams.

Until it was taken away from me and I was turned into a creature only the Devil could love, cursed with bloodlust and immortality.

I spent a century in an isolated monastery for other heathens like me, learning to control my most monstrous impulses, becoming a man of faith so I could put my sins behind me.

I was doing so well.

I was almost…human.

Until I met her.

Larimar, the tempting siren who made me forget my vows, who promised herself to me before she escaped my clutches.

Now I’m obsessed with tracking Larimar down, joining an infamous pirate crew on their ship the Nightwind as we search the high seas for any sign of her.

I don’t know what I’ll do when I find her.

But I know she belongs to me.

And I’ll become a monster once more.

NOTE TO READER: This book can be read as a standalone. HOWEVER, if you were planning on reading A Ship of Bones and Teeth, then I would read that first before you read OOSAS. ALSO...please head the content warnings inside of the book.

**ARC provided in exchange for an honest review**

Karina Halle's An Ocean of Sin and Starlight is a dark-fantasy romance that plunges readers into a world of morally grey pirates and monstrous sirens. A standalone spinoff of A Ship of Bones and Teeth, the novel seamlessly blends romance, horror, and adventure.

The story follows the Priest, a vampire struggling with his cursed existence and his efforts to maintain his faith. Halle expertly portrays his inner turmoil, making him a deeply compelling character. His journey from a man of God to a creature battling his monstrous impulses is gripping from the start.

"She’s an angel. She’s a devil. She’ll be my downfall."

The introduction of Larimar, a captivating siren, adds intensity to the narrative. Their dynamic is electric, marked by mutual bloodlust and ruthless desires. The Priest's possessive attachment to Larimar and his struggle with his sinful nature adds significant depth to his character. Larimar’s blend of confidence and vulnerability makes her a well-rounded and relatable character.

The novel excels with its unpredictability, gruesome and spicy scenes, and surprising twists. The pacing is perfect, allowing the slow build of the relationship between the Priest and Larimar to develop naturally. The character development is believable and adds authenticity to their arcs.

Overall, An Ocean of Sin and Starlight is a compelling, dark-fantasy romance that will captivate readers from start to finish. Karina Halle has crafted a richly textured tale exploring faith, sin, and love in a world teeming with danger and desire.

Meet Karina:

Karina Halle is a former travel writer and music journalist and The New York Times, Wall Street Journal and USA Today Bestselling author of The Pact, Love, in English, The Artists Trilogy, Dirty Angels and over 20 other wild and romantic reads. She lives on an island off the coast of British Columbia with her husband and her rescue pup, where she drinks a lot of wine, hikes a lot of trails and devours a lot of books.

Halle is represented by the Root Literary and is both self-published and published by Simon & Schuster and Hachette in North America and in the UK.

Connect with Karina