Katee Robert returns to the perilous seas of Threshold with Blood on the Tide, the second installment in her Crimson Sails series following the success of Hunt on Dark Waters (2023). While the debut novel introduced readers to the morally gray world where vampires, witches, and sea monsters collide, this sequel ventures into murkier emotional territory with mixed results. Robert, known for her steamy contemporary retellings in series like Neon Gods, attempts to deepen her fantasy worldbuilding while maintaining the sultry romance that made the first book a TikTok sensation.
The story picks up in the aftermath of the previous book’s events, with bloodline vampire Lizzie Bianchi stranded in Threshold, desperately seeking her stolen family heirlooms and a way home. When she encounters Maeve, a selkie whose skin has been cruelly stolen, their partnership of necessity evolves into something far more complex and dangerous.
Characters Caught Between Duty and Desire
Lizzie: A Vampire Struggling with Humanity
Lizzie Bianchi proves to be Robert’s most compelling creation yet—a centuries-old vampire torn between the brutal conditioning of her vampiric family and the unexpected emotions Threshold has awakened in her. Robert skillfully portrays Lizzie’s internal conflict through her relationship with violence and control. Her terror of water, stemming from a traumatic encounter with a kelpie, adds vulnerability to an otherwise formidable character. The author’s decision to make this apex predator afraid of drowning creates genuine tension in underwater scenes and forces Lizzie to confront her limitations.
However, Lizzie’s character development sometimes feels inconsistent. Her sudden willingness to abandon centuries of family loyalty for a woman she’s known for weeks strains credibility, even within the fantasy framework. Robert attempts to justify this through the intensity of their bond, but the emotional transformation lacks the gradual build-up that would make it truly convincing.
Maeve: More Than a Tragic Selkie Stereotype
Maeve represents both Robert’s greatest success and most significant missed opportunity in this novel. Initially introduced as the classic “selkie whose skin was stolen” trope, she gradually reveals layers of strength and agency that elevate her beyond victim status. Her work with the rebellion and her fierce protectiveness of her family demonstrate a complexity that makes her partnership with Lizzie feel more balanced than it initially appears.
Yet Maeve’s character arc suffers from pacing issues. Her transition from broken victim to confident warrior happens too quickly, and some of her most crucial character moments occur off-page or are merely alluded to rather than fully explored. The relationship with her family, particularly her mother and grandmother, feels underdeveloped despite its importance to her motivation.
Romance That Burns Bright and Fast
The Chemistry Question
Robert excels at crafting sexual tension, and the dynamic between Lizzie and Maeve crackles from their first encounter. The power imbalance between vampire and selkie creates an interesting foundation for their relationship, with both characters holding different types of strength and vulnerability. Their physical relationship develops organically, with Robert’s signature explicit scenes serving the emotional arc rather than feeling gratuitous.
The bite mechanics add a unique supernatural element to their intimacy, though Robert perhaps relies too heavily on this device. When Lizzie nearly kills Maeve through blood loss during an emotional moment, it creates genuine conflict and forces both characters to confront the dangerous nature of their bond. However, the resolution feels somewhat rushed, with Maeve’s recovery handled more through vampire blood healing than emotional processing.
Love at Warp Speed
The central weakness of the romance lies in its accelerated timeline. While instalove can work in fantasy romance, Robert doesn’t quite earn the depth of emotion her characters claim to feel. Lizzie’s declaration that she’s willing to abandon her family and realm for Maeve feels more like plot necessity than organic character development. The rebellion subplot often overshadows the romantic development, leaving their relationship feeling somewhat underbaked despite the intense physical chemistry.
Worldbuilding That Expands and Contracts
Threshold’s Growing Complexity
Robert significantly expands the world of Threshold in this installment, introducing new islands, political complexities, and magical systems. The rebellion against the Cŵn Annwn provides a broader context for the personal stakes, and the introduction of characters like Siobhan adds layers to the political landscape. The author’s description of Drash, with its cliff-carved city and underground networks, demonstrates her growing confidence in fantasy worldbuilding.
The magic system continues to evolve, with Lizzie’s blood manipulation powers receiving more detailed exploration. The various supernatural creatures feel more integrated into the world rather than simply providing obstacles for the protagonists. Robert’s description of selkie culture, though limited, adds depth to Maeve’s background and motivations.
Pacing Problems at Sea
Despite these expansions, the worldbuilding suffers from uneven pacing. Some islands and cultures are richly detailed while others feel like mere waypoints. The rebellion, despite its importance to both plot and character motivation, lacks the depth needed to make its stakes feel truly urgent. Siobhan’s introduction as the rebellion leader feels somewhat arbitrary, and her relationship to the broader conflict remains murky.
Technical Craft and Narrative Flow
Robert’s Evolving Voice
Robert’s writing style has evolved considerably from her contemporary work, showing greater confidence with fantasy elements while maintaining her signature direct, engaging prose. Her action sequences, particularly the underwater battle with Lucky the half-mermaid, demonstrate improved technical skill in choreographing supernatural combat. The author’s ability to balance multiple plot threads—the romance, the quest for heirlooms, the rebellion subplot—shows growth in narrative complexity.
However, the novel suffers from structural issues that impact readability. Certain scenes feel rushed while others drag, creating an uneven reading experience. The climactic sequence aboard the Crimson Hag, while exciting, feels somewhat anticlimactic given the buildup. Robert’s tendency to resolve conflicts through violence, while fitting for Lizzie’s character, sometimes feels like a shortcut rather than genuine problem-solving.
Dialogue and Voice Consistency
Robert excels at character voice, with Lizzie’s sardonic wit and Maeve’s earnest determination coming through clearly in their dialogue. The banter between the leads feels natural and helps sell their growing connection. However, some supporting characters lack distinct voices, particularly members of various ship crews who blend together despite their supposed importance to the plot.
Comparison Within the Series and Genre
Evolution from Hunt on Dark Waters
Blood on the Tide builds effectively on the foundation laid in Hunt on Dark Waters, expanding the world while maintaining the tone and style that made the first book successful. However, it lacks some of the fresh energy of its predecessor. Where the first book felt like a bold new direction for Robert, this sequel sometimes feels like it’s treading water, unsure whether to dive deeper into fantasy worldbuilding or focus more intensively on the central romance.
The supporting cast from the previous book appears sparingly, which may disappoint readers hoping to see more of Evelyn and Bowen’s story. While Lizzie and Maeve’s tale stands alone reasonably well, the connections to the larger narrative feel tenuous at times.
Standing in the Fantasy Romance Landscape
In the broader fantasy romance genre, Robert’s work sits somewhere between the epic scope of authors like Jennifer L. Armentrout and the intimate character focus of Ruby Dixon. Her vampire lore draws clearly from established traditions while adding her own unique elements, particularly the pleasure-giving bite mechanics. The selkie mythology feels respectfully handled, though it doesn’t break significant new ground.
Compared to other maritime fantasy romances, Robert’s Threshold offers a grittier, more morally complex world than many contemporaries. The political elements add depth, though they don’t quite reach the sophistication of authors like C.L. Wilson or Grace Draven.
The Verdict: Promising Seas with Choppy Waters
Blood on the Tide succeeds as an engaging fantasy romance that expands Robert’s supernatural world while delivering the steamy content her readers expect. The central relationship between Lizzie and Maeve provides genuine emotional stakes, and Robert’s action sequences demonstrate technical improvement. The exploration of themes like family obligation, personal agency, and the price of loyalty adds depth to what could have been a simple adventure romance.
However, Blood on the Tide falls short of its full potential due to pacing issues, rushed character development, and an over-reliance on external conflicts to drive the plot. The romance, while passionate, lacks the emotional foundation needed to support the dramatic choices the characters make. The worldbuilding, though expanded, sometimes feels scattered rather than focused.
Final Recommendations
Blood on the Tide will satisfy existing fans of the series and Robert’s work generally, particularly those drawn to her blend of supernatural elements and explicit romance. Readers new to the series should start with Hunt on Dark Waters to fully appreciate the worldbuilding and character relationships. Those seeking epic fantasy with romance elements might find the scope too limited, while readers preferring character-driven narratives may be frustrated by the adventure plot’s prominence.
Blood on the Tide is a good read for its solid technical execution and engaging central characters, but it doesn’t quite achieve the breakthrough success that would elevate it to essential reading. As the middle book in what appears to be a longer series, it succeeds in advancing the overall narrative while providing a complete individual story, setting up what promises to be an interesting continuation in future installment, Rebel in the Deep.
For readers of fantasy romance seeking morally complex characters, supernatural worldbuilding, and steamy romantic content, Blood on the Tide delivers enough to justify the investment, even if it doesn’t quite reach the heights of the genre’s best offerings.
