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Lochbound
- Author
- Rebecca Templeton
- Narrator
- Norman Bowman, Susie Riddell
- Publisher
- Little, Brown Book Group
- Publish Date
- 16 April 2026
- Run Time
- 11 hours 27 minutes
- Format
- Audiobook
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What to expect
Kilmara, Scotland. 1725. For fifty years, Iris has accepted the curse that blighted her life. By night, she is a heartbroken woman, destined to walk the misty shores of Kilmara without growing older. By day, she is Moireach, a terrifying monster imprisoned in the murky depths of Loch Moine.
When bodies begin appearing on the shore, the villagers are convinced Moireach is responsible. So a hunter - the rugged, ruthless Henry Carver - is summoned to slay the monster of the loch.
Iris must break her curse before she is killed for crimes she cannot believe she has committed. But as Kilmara's hunt for the monster becomes ever more fevered, she and Henry are drawn together in a dangerous game of impossible attraction.
And when a figure from Iris's past suddenly reappears, she must choose what - or who - she is willing to sacrifice to win her freedom.
Because there is no happily-ever-after when you are the monster.
A glitteringly dark reimagining of The Little Mermaid set in eighteenth-century Scotland, this enchanting and gothic historical fantasy is perfect for fans of Rosie Andrews's The Leviathan, Georgia Leighton's Spellbound and anyone who loved Outlander.
Real readers loved Lochbound
'Lochbound was crafted so well, weaving in folklore [alongside] the moving parts of the fates of each person...I really enjoyed!' NetGalley Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'As soon as I started reading, I knew Lochbound was going to be a five-star read. And when I cried at the 11% mark, that cemented it. It was a great mashup of its inspirations, The Little Mermaid and Scotland's loch monsters...really emotional and I liked all the twists' NetGalley Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'Whimsical and folkloric, this standalone felt so immersive and the storyline was gripping until the very end. So many mysteries, plot twists and romantic tension that will keep you awake at nonsense o'clock...This book is a delight, perfect for romantasy readers!' NetGalley Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'The worldbuilding was amazing!...I really liked the protagonist and the love interest' NetGalley Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐
'Lochbound is a standalone historical fantasy romance that felt like a dark fairytale... [it] kept me gripped throughout and had some surprising twists. I absolutely loved the setting, a small village in the Scottish highlands bordering a loch, and the creepy, unsettling atmosphere of the story' NetGalley Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Critics Review
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Packed full of Scottish folklore and myth, Lochbound is perfect for those who like their fairy tales darker.
Scottish Field
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An enthralling tale of magic, myth and mystery, where nothing can be taken at face value and in which the complexities of the human heart are laid bare, as true love battles to conquer all. I thoroughly enjoyed losing myself within the magical pages of this inspired debut.
Anita Frank, author of THE GOOD LIARS
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A beautiful story filled with lore and longing and a unique twist on the mermaid tale [and] wonderfully embedded in its Scottish setting
Sunyi Dean, author of THE BOOKEATERS
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Brilliantly atmospheric and richly imagined, this is a unique and refreshing take on The Little Mermaid that will whisk you away to eighteenth century Scotland and make you wonder what may be hiding beneath still waters...
Ellis Hunter, author of BLOOD BOUND
See more reviews See fewer reviews
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Lochbound is a compelling dark fairy tale for grown-ups. Templeton turns the Little Mermaid myth on its head, and uses it to examine the monstrous behaviour humans are capable of in the name of love.
Laura Shepperson, author of THE HEROINES
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Brilliantly atmospheric and richly imagined, this is a unique and refreshing take on The Little Mermaid that will whisk you away to eighteenth century Scotland and make you wonder what may be hiding beneath still waters...
Ellis Hunter, author of BLOOD BOUND
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Rebecca Templeton delivers a dark fairytale that beautifully evokes the wilds of the Scottish landscape and the nature of monstrosity in her twisty reimagining of The Little Mermaid
Jennifer Saint, author of ARIADNE
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Gorgeously dark with twists that kept me gripped until the end
Heather Darwent, author of THE THINGS WE DO TO OUR FRIENDS
User Reviews
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Details
- Author
- Rebecca Templeton
- Narrator
- Norman Bowman, Susie Riddell
- Duration
- 11 hours 27 minutes
- Release Date
- 16 April 2026
- ISBN
- 9781405566056
- Format
- Audiobook
- Publisher
- Little, Brown Book Group
- Genre
- Fantasy romance / Romantic fantasy, Traditional or cultural fiction and true stories, tales and retellings, Fairy and Folk tales / Fairy tale retellings, Narrative theme: love / relationships
Synopsis
Mermaids. Monsters. Magic. But this story is no fairy tale . . . Kilmara, Scotland. 1725. For fifty years, Iris has accepted the curse that blighted her life. By night, she is a heartbroken woman, destined to walk the misty shores of Kilmara without growing older. By day, she is Moireach, a terrifying monster imprisoned in the murky depths of Loch Moine.When bodies begin appearing on the shore, the villagers are convinced Moireach is responsible. So a hunter - the rugged, ruthless Henry Carver - is summoned to slay the monster of the loch. Iris must break her curse before she is killed for crimes she cannot believe she has committed. But as Kilmara's hunt for the monster becomes ever more fevered, she and Henry are drawn together in a dangerous game of impossible attraction. And when a figure from Iris's past suddenly reappears, she must choose what - or who - she is willing to sacrifice to win her freedom.Because there is no happily-ever-after when you are the monster.A glitteringly dark reimagining of The Little Mermaid set in eighteenth-century Scotland, this enchanting and gothic historical fantasy is perfect for fans of Rosie Andrews's The Leviathan, Georgia Leighton's Spellbound and anyone who loved Outlander.Real readers loved Lochbound'Lochbound was crafted so well, weaving in folklore [alongside] the moving parts of the fates of each person...I really enjoyed!' NetGalley Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'As soon as I started reading, I knew Lochbound was going to be a five-star read. And when I cried at the 11% mark, that cemented it. It was a great mashup of its inspirations, The Little Mermaid and Scotland's loch monsters...really emotional and I liked all the twists' NetGalley Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'Whimsical and folkloric, this standalone felt so immersive and the storyline was gripping until the very end. So many mysteries, plot twists and romantic tension that will keep you awake at nonsense o'clock...This book is a delight, perfect for romantasy readers!' NetGalley Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'The worldbuilding was amazing!...I really liked the protagonist and the love interest' NetGalley Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐'Lochbound is a standalone historical fantasy romance that felt like a dark fairytale... [it] kept me gripped throughout and had some surprising twists. I absolutely loved the setting, a small village in the Scottish highlands bordering a loch, and the creepy, unsettling atmosphere of the story' NetGalley Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐
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