Rebel in the Deep (Crimson Sails 3) by Katee Robert-review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date MAY 20, 2025

Nox has been steadfastly working for the rebellion for years. They don’t ask for much in return, except for one crucial condition: their ex, the noble Bastian, stays as far away from them as possible. To say things ended poorly between them is an understatement . . . and it’s the only relationship Nox has never quite recovered from.

But now the rules have changed. Siobhan, the rebel leader, has emerged from hiding to tell Nox that Bastian’s been taken captive and the secrets he holds tight are in danger of being revealed. The fate of the entire rebellion now rests on Nox and Siobhan’s ability to rescue Bastian from a Cŵn Annwn ship.

Saving Bastian is only the start of their hardships, as the trio is tracked by ferocious pirates across Threshold. And Nox’s complicated relationships and entanglements with Bastian and Siobhan put not only their life at risk but their heart on the line.

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REVIEW:REBEL IN THE DEEP is the third ( and final?) instalment in Katee Robert’s adult CRIMSON SAILS erotic, fantasy adventure series. This is Nox, Bastian and Siobhan’s story line. REBEL IN THE DEEP can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty but I recommend reading the series in order for backstory and cohesion as there is an ongoing premise throughout.

NOTE: Due to the nature of the story line premise including menage and same sex situations, there may be triggers for more sensitive readers.

Told from three first person perspectives (Nox, Bastian and Siobhan) REBEL IN THE DEEP focuses on the ongoing rebellion against the Cwn Annwn. Nox is the captain of the ship Audacity, and a visit from Siobhan finds Nox facing the woman who is now in love with Nox’s ex but all is not well. Bastian disappeared months earlier, and Siobhan needs Nox’s help to rescue the man whom they both love. Bastian is the prisoner of Morrigan and the Cwn Annwan, but Morrigan is about to find herself facing a familiar foe, the woman who is about to come into the powers with the blow of the horn. With the rescue of Bastian, Nox and her crew go in search of a mythical horn, in an effort to ensure a ‘call the wild hunt’.

The world building is complex and detailed as Siobhan must face the reality that is her heritage and history. Nox struggles in the face of their possible death, a sacrifice to save the people they love. Bastian is caught between the two people with whom he has fallen in love but the reality is less complicated when they offer Bastian a chance at a happily ever after.

The relationship between Bastian, Nox and Siobhan is fraught with heart break and love. Bastian broken Nox’s heart to return to his homeland and accept the mantle of second in line but Bastian found himself on the run with Siobhan, one year later, once again breaking the heart of the woman he left behind but reconnecting with Nox means the journey to war, as the crew of the Audacity is on a mission of which they may not survive. The $ex scenes contain scenarios of menage and same $ex situations.

There is a large ensemble cast of magical, colorful and energetic secondary and supporting supernatural characters including shifters, vampire, selkie, witch, and elemental pirate. Most of the characters have some sort of magic, magic that wanes with the use of power.

REBEL IN THE DEEP is a story of magic and mayhem, power and control, betrayal and vengeance, love and acceptance. The character driven premise is intriguing and entertaining; the romance is fated and seductive; the characters are desperate and determined.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews

HUNT ON DARK WATERS
Blood on the Tide

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Katee Robert learned to tell her stories at her grandpa’s knee. Her 2015 title, The Marriage Contract, was a RITA finalist, and RT Book Reviews named it ‘a compulsively readable book with just the right amount of suspense and tension.”  When not writing sexy contemporary and romantic suspense, she spends her time playing imaginary games with her children, driving her husband batty with what-if questions, and planning for the inevitable zombie apocalypse.

Connect with Katee at: Website | Facebook | GoodReads | Instagram