The Waters of Ryujin

A Global Beasts Book

By: Beth A. Freely

Narrated by: Tuan Do

Beauty. Betrayal. A love that defies centuries.

Cursed by the Shogun and transformed into a water dragon by the sea god Ryujin, Hanzo Ikeda has guarded the hidden lake for over a century, forgotten, feared, and alone. Bound by magic and grief, his humanity fades with each passing year… until she arrives.

Asuka, the Shogun’s youngest daughter, is destined for a marriage of politics and power. But when she strays too close to the forbidden waters, she awakens the creature whispered about in palace legends. Instead of a monster, she finds a man with a sorrowful gaze and a soul as deep as the lake.

Drawn to one another through dreams, secrets, and stolen moments, Asuka and Hanzo must defy the forces that seek to keep them apart. But love alone may not be enough to break the ancient curse, or survive the storm it will unleash.

A lush retelling of Beauty and the Beast set in 1700s Japan, The Waters of Ryujin is a sweeping tale of fate, sacrifice, and the transformative power of love.

©2025 Beth A. Freely (P)2025 Beth A. Freely