The Siren and the Deep Blue Sea by Kerrelyn Sparks

Raised on the magic-seeped Isle of Moon, Maeve is used to unusual powers--and the way they fuel the politics of her world. But when she discovers an ability to shape-shift at will, she knows who she wants to share it with first. Brody, the enigmatic, infuriating shifter-spy has always made time for Maeve. But it's been almost two months since she's seen him. And though no one else believes Brody is in danger, Maeve is more than ready to rescue him herself.

The rumors Brody's investigating are terrifying: a secret army of magic-users, in the service of the cruel Circle of Five. But when he uncovers the identity of one of the Five, the mission becomes personal. Cursed as a boy by the Sea Witch, Brody can spend only two hours a day in his human form, a restriction that limits his future and muzzles his heart. Plus Maeve teases him for being such a pretty doggy instead of appreciating his manly charms. To win his freedom, he must take on a terrible disguise. And when Maeve finds out, she'll unleash a tempest like no other . . .

Review

It's been quite a while since I've read a book by Kerrelyn Sparks and none of those were from this series. This is the fifth book in this series and it really shows - all Maeve's sisters are happily married (all to kings no less!) and Maeve is the baby sister left behind.

The author does a great job of sketching out the family relationships and pressures that drive both Maeve and Brody. As a fantasy romance this was a great light read with a good balance of plot and  romance. It does suffer a bit for being so far along in a series that I felt like I needed both a map and a character list to keep track of all the names, and having come in at this late stage, I was less invested in the character moments from previous books. I enjoyed this book, but I definitely think I would've enjoyed it more if I had read the previous books.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley; all opinions are my own.