Stealing the Wind

I really enjoyed this book, it leaves you wanting more. I can't wait to dive into the next book in this series! (See what I did there?) Would recommend for anyone interested in M/M romance with a supernatural element. I WILL warn you however that this is NOT a stand-alone book, it leaves a lot to be concluded and questions unanswered (hence me getting the next in the series).

For years my friends have been recommending 'Stealing the Wind' by Shira Anthony to me. And, believe it or not, I've had the book on my e-reader for months, I just hadn't had the chance to read it yet. Well, I finally decided, especially after meeting this incredible woman at GRL 2015, I wasn't waiting any longer to read book one in her 'Mermen of Ea' series.
\"The crew said he’d been found on the surface of the waves. With nothing to keep him afloat. A normal man would have perished. Much as Ian wished there were another explanation, there wasn’t. Taren was no normal man. But why had he sensed the truth of Taren’s birthright only when he’d touched him?\"
It didn't take long to realize why so many rave about this author and the series. I completely fell for Taren, a slave whose parents sold him to a ship's rigger as a baby, and then the rigger traded him for his gambling debts to an innkeeper. It was there he met Rider and then Bastien, captain and quartermaster of the Sea Witch. Rider tried to buy Taren, but when he was denied, he and his men kidnapped him instead. Taren had a good life with Rider and Bastien. He was treated well, he was the third in their bed, and Rider promised after three years of service he would give Taren his freedom. Unfortunately, before that could happen, Taren disappeared into the sea while rescuing one of his shipmates.
Waking up, Taren discovers he's on the Phantom with Captain Ian and all is not what it has seemed for his entire life. Returning to Ea'nu, the island where the Council governs and keeps the Ea in line by spreading fear about the humans, Taren is thrown into jail until the Council can decide what to do with him. They fear that he's a spy for Varius, another Ea who fought against the Council's restrictions and war broke out dividing their people in half. The islanders versus the mainlanders. But, more is at stake here as Taren and Ian are drawn together through their soulbound ~ a legend told that died out with their temples, priests, and beliefs. And, yet, Taren dreams of a time when he and Ian were connected to the goddess, and she to them.
I am speechless. I am spellbound. I just ran to Dreamspinner's site and bought the next two books. Shira, this was gorgeous and I'm madly in love with your writing. I am truly in awe, my friend.