HUNT ON DARK WATERS

A chaotic, thieving witch finds herself stuck in a multiverse purgatory with a mysterious and stalwart pirate captain.

Evelyn has a penchant for courting disaster, especially when her latest friends-with-benefits situation has gone sour. Seeking to needle her vampire ex-girlfriend, Lizzie, Evelyn makes off with some of Lizzie's precious heirlooms. Escaping from her angry ex, Evelyn takes the only way out: a magic portal that literally dumps her directly into unfamiliar waters. Her saving grace comes from the crew of the Crimson Hag, led by its telekinetic captain, Bowen. Evelyn learns that she's in Threshold, a realm connected to every other realm in existence. Bowen and his crew patrol its waters, fighting off all manner of frightening creatures that seek to make their way into other worlds. Bowen offers Evelyn a deal: She can join his crew or be tossed back into the sea, because becoming a resident of Threshold is permanent, one way or another. Though Evelyn agrees to his terms, she has no intention of upholding them and plans to return to her own world at the first chance she gets. Evelyn and Bowen are delightful opposites. She is cheeky, flirtatious, and has no problem inviting in a bit of trouble. Her attitude often chafes against Bowen's; he adheres to rules and laws to a stubborn degree. Their banter is fun, but Evelyn adopts a "here for a good time, not a long time" mentality that doesn't promise the romance a lasting foundation; it seems more likely that Bowen will become another temporary, no-strings-attached escapade for Evelyn than that they’ll have a happily-ever-after. The action and adventure are where things really shine. Seeing Evelyn, Bowen, and the rest of the crew tackle insurmountable odds and dangerous monsters makes this magical, high-seas romp a quick read, even if the romance feels underutilized.

The adventure is more engaging than the romance, which is sexy but shallow.