Call of the Sea

by Emily B. Rose

Genderbent Little Mermaid retelling meets Brave in this debut NA Fantasy Romance about a fat human princess who dreams of a life of adventure on the ocean. Perfect for fans of Kerri Maniscalco and Lagends & Lattes.

Kenna has never wanted the life ahead of her; trapped in her castle and married to someone she does not love. She dreams of a life of adventure, exploring the ocean, searching for mermaids. Except mermaids don’t exist. At least, that’s what she has always been told. 

Unfortunately, her plans for exploration are thwarted. Every heir must wed, and with war on the horizon, her time is up. Five suitors are vying for her hand, but Kenna vowed never to marry someone only after her crown. Only, one of them doesn’t seem to care about her title, refusing to even use it. Just as she begins to consider opening up to him, he disappears.

Kenna chases after him and learns his secret, before a storm wrecks her boat. Finding herself stranded on an island with him, Kenna has no choice but to trust him to nurse her back to health. With the tension growing, and sparks she doesn’t trust flying between them, Kenna has to decide how to balance the desires of her heart and her duty to her people. And how far she’s willing to go to learn the whole truth.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Romantasy, Retellings, Mermaids, Young Adult, LGBT

346 pages, Hardcover

First published February 13, 2024

About the author

Emily B Rose grew up addicted to storytelling in all its forms, and always knew she would have a career in something creative. With a bachelor's degree in creative writing, she settled on books as her favorite form of storytelling, though you will still find her glued to the tv watching her favorite sitcom or nerdy movie series, or belting show tunes in her apartment (to the annoyance of her cats).

California born and raised she can be found wherever the closest beach or bookstore is, or curled up at home trying to convince her cats to cuddle with her 24/7.

Emily is a proudly fat, demibisexual, ADHD woman who wants her stories to reflect people often ignored, especially in love stories. She hopes her books will make people feel less alone, and affirm that everyone deserves the love story of their choosing.

Reviews

[Rose Morris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was sent this book for review but wasn’t given any specific details. I sailed through the first 5 chapters and loved it enough to finish the book. Now that I’m reading the synopsis, I don’t agree with the word “fat” ,nothing against it, but I feel that there are other words that could have been used to keep pulling you through. “She is a voluptuous, curvy princess with fiery red hair”

[kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading Call of the Sea was one of the most fun reading experiences I’ve had in a while. It was like this book was written specially for the kid part of me who desperately wants nothing more than to live her little mermaid, disney princess life. If Brave and The Little Mermaid (1 & 2) had a book baby, this would be it. It’s tropey (in the sense that, for the most part, I knew what was going to happen) but in the most wonderfully nostalgic and comforting way. And the representation? Oh how I loved it. It was so natural and affirming and lovely to read. I especially adored Kenna’s discussions surrounding her experience as a fat woman and larger than her peers. It was so beautifully explored and discussed.

All in all, this was such an enjoyable read and I look forward to seeing what Emily B. Rose brings out next.

what to expect:

• brave and little mermaid (1&2) vibes
• reluctant princess
• royal family drama
• merfolk
• demisexual, fat fmc with adhd
• depression rep (mmc)
• bi rep (fmc’s brother)
• queernormative world
• this kingdom says no more sexism
• the loveliest sibling relationship

[Coffee&Cliffhangers · Rating 3 out of 5]

Apparently I didn't fully read the book description because I didn't know what I was getting into when I requested this book. I saw the title, loved the cover, knew it was about mermaids and I was all in.
Kenna has felt a drawing towards the sea ever since she was a child and almost drowned. She claims to have been saved by a mermaid and has been fascinated by them ever since. Her duty is to marry and become the next Queen, so when her parents line up potentials at a marriage festival Kenna is forced to chose a husband to help her rule.
With all the suitors vying for the crown, she struggles to find someone who loves her for who she is and not just for the position. She finds herself drawn towards one man, but he is hiding something too and it will change her life forever.
I loved the story, with it's Little Mermaid vibe, and unlikely romance. All in all, I enjoyed the plot, it was a cute and fun Fantasy Romance. But to be honest I grew tired of the Kenna's inner dialogue. I understand she was trying to highlight the struggles of a confused, heavy person with a mental illness. But for me it was too much. Of course we all have our struggles, I could relate to how people judge based on her appearance and how painful that can be. But the whole issue about not being able to love someone without knowing them just seemed like you were trying to make a reasonable response into a condition. It was all just too much, and it took away from an otherwise enjoyable story. Sometimes less is more, show us don't keep telling us.

[Haley Kilgour]

I dnf’ed at 86 pages.

This was just Brave… with the promise of mermaids.

I was honestly so bored and I had such high hopes. Kenna while having a lot of possibility as a lovable character was just meh. I don’t feel like I got enough true backstory to empathize with her.

I was also frustrated by the use of first name and clan name to refer to the suitors. There was no way to figure out when they’d be referred to as what. So keeping track of who was who… was impossible.

Kenna also says she’s got a lot other body hate because of other people, yet aside from Reid who makes like one comment, no one seems to really care about her weight.

[Lu · Rating 4 out of 5]

The cover is totally amazing 😍

I liked this novel. I seldom read #Romantasy but this time my interest had been picked by the main theme of this book: Longing for the sea.
It was very clearly inspired by The Little Mermaid in that respect, and was curious about how the author would develop the plot.

One thing that I very much loved is the worldbuilding. It is so brilliantly and precisely described, I was instantly taken to that village by the sea, the castle and the other dreamlike locations. It's very beautiful, the setting in the sea reminded me of Disney movies, and ashore by the sand I could imagine the view I used to look at when I went at the seaside.
It is not something every author is capable of doing.

The author deals with many delicate themes: f4tphobia, feeling like you don't belong where you should, taking responsibilities, having to give up what you really want in exchange for what you must do. There are also two LGBTQ+ characters who disappointed me a little, as they are quite in the background.

The style is very polished, it is very well edited and cared for. It is direct, normal, without a complicated use of words.

I absolutely advise this book to anyone - adult or YA - who's taking their first steps into a Fantasy world - more specifically, a Fantasy Romance (Romantasy).

[Maha (onetruedaydreamer) · Rating 5 out of 5]

As Emily’s CP since the first draft of this book, I can’t express emphatically enough how much I love how far this book and its characters have come 🥹 If you’re in the market for a romantasy that feels like a Disney movie (but make it adult), then this one better be on your TBR!
It’s got ALL the good things; a wholesome ride-or-die sibling dynamic (the female main character and her too-charming-for-his-own-good twin brother), a flirty golden retriever love interest with a whole lot of sass, a main character who is both fierce and witty, the perfect amounts of tension and pining, a sizzling almost-kiss in the middle of a storm, and SO. MUCH. MORE. 😌👏
Basically, think Brave x The Little Mermaid but *add a little bit of spice* 🙊

[Jaimes_Mystical_Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an enjoyable romantic fantasy book and this one was just under five stars for me. I loved following Kenna in this story and what she represents. There was a lot packed into this book and overall I think it was very well written and I think many people will find the characters to be relatable. This was a great debut novel!

Read This If You Like:

📖 The Little Mermaid & Brave
📖 Romantic Fantasies
📖 Genderbent Retellings

*heads up that this book does have content warnings.

Thank you to the publisher for sending me an advanced copy.

[Natasha (The Bookbasket) · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I tell you, I squealed when Kenna's true identity was revealed! I knew there was a reason why she was drawn to the sea, but I never thought that was why. Wow, this book was just so fun to read. I did get a little confused between the five men vying for Kenna's hand (besides Camron, because who can't distinguish him from all the others?) but once things started picking up, I could not put the book down.
Although this book deals with a lot of heavy topics, I love how Kenna didn't allow the negativity to break her down. She flourished into such a beautiful woman that I feel like a proud friend.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an ARC for my honest review.

[Beauty and the Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

**Arc provided by NetGalley in return for an honest review**

I cannot tell you how much I loved this book. It was so fun to get a mash of the little mermaid and brave, with a plus sized bad a** heroine. I loved watching her find herself and also her love for Calder. There was just the right amount of spice as well.

The only reason this isn't a five star for me is because there was a section that was a complete information dump, all at once. I wish the information about Kenna's past and what happened would have been split out a bit more. Other than that this was extremely well written with lots of intrigue to keep the story moving. Would definitely recommend.

[Jess Palacios · Rating 5 out of 5]

''𝙆𝙚𝙣𝙣𝙖 𝙞𝙨 𝙖 𝙥𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙙𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙢𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙖 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙖𝙙𝙫𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚, 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙡𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙤𝙘𝙚𝙖𝙣, 𝙨𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙢𝙚𝙧𝙢𝙖𝙞𝙙𝙨. 𝙀𝙭𝙘𝙚𝙥𝙩 𝙢𝙚𝙧𝙢𝙖𝙞𝙙𝙨 𝙙𝙤𝙣’𝙩 𝙚𝙭𝙞𝙨𝙩. 𝘼𝙩 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙩, 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩’𝙨 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙨𝙝𝙚 𝙝𝙖𝙨 𝙖𝙡𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨 𝙗𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙩𝙤𝙡𝙙...''
⭐️:5 of 5 📚: 346 pages 🌶️: 3 of 5

Read it if you like:
✨ Romantasy
✔️ Brave and Little mermaid vibes
✨ FMC princess, demisexual, fat fmc with adhd
✔️ Forced proximity
✨ Merman MMC
✔️ This kingdom says no more sexism

My thoughts: This was such a wild adventure! Kenna is an absolute badass—I was suffering watching her struggle, but don’t worry, there is a HEA! 😮‍💨✨ The story is fast-paced, packed with action, drama, and just the right touch of spice. The romance? Chef’s kiss. That slow burn delivered, and the enemies-to-lovers moment hit perfectly. A fun, swoony mermaid read that kept me hooked from start to finish!

[lola · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a little weird. I felt like the pacing was off, and it took forever to get to the actual plot line. I don't really have any complaints, but also something about it was just odd. The whole mermaid thing was kinda funny at times and also, WHY DID I NOT KNOW THERE WAS SMUT?????? I just read the cover wrong I guess. I don't know. Overall, I wouldn't say that you absolutely have to read this, It's not bad, but it's also just a little weird...you know?

[Felicia Rosin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really strong start, love the characters and the festival, but second half seemed rushed, could’ve probably been a duology?

[Samawia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m so grateful to have met Emily at the Romance Book crawl event in Milwaukee, WI! She talked a bit about her book at her table where I met her.

I’ve been looking for more plus size heroine romances and this sounded right up my alley. I started it yesterday evening and read through most of the night and day to finish it! It was wonderful. The connection between the MMC and FMC was beautiful and I loved how Kenna talked about her journey with being plus size in a society that looked down on her for it.

I loved the fantasy merfolk aspects as well! It was so magical to read about.

Overall, I would highly recommend this and am so so happy I was introduced to this book. Fat girls in romance deserve more representation and this was perfect 🫶🏽

[Stella Jovinta · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received this book as an ARC from Netgalley and the publisher and my review is an honest representation or rather summary og how i felt reading this book.

This book promised so much and failed to deliver. As someone who loves merfolk tales and retellings of the little mermaid, I had hopped this story would do the story justice but I fear it didn't. The story felt rushed. The world building felt bland and incomplete. The author tried so much to make this book as diverse as they possibly could and instead clogged it with so many unnecessary details that ruined it. What would have been a plot twist at the end felt like something that was obviously coming. My other issue is definitely the cover. It's basic and needs to be improved upon. Otherwise, great potential but poor execution and I rate it 2 stars out of 5

[Ree · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5
this was a very hard read for me, the plot was good however it just looked like something i would watch in a barbie movie, didnt feel any conection with any character and the main couple just felt a bit forced.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review

[BookTabby · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had high hopes for the first 20ish percent of the book, but after that it fell apart for me. It felt very rushed, the characters had no depth, and the internal monologue became monotonous. The climax fighting scene of the book was poorly executed, and the love story was completely unbelievable and was very juvenile.

[Razzle Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

📚ARC REVIEW📚

Call of the Sea by Emily B Rose

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5
Spice level: 🌶️.5/3
Genres: Fantasy Romance
Tropes: forced proximity, plus-size FMC, deserted island, arranged marriage festival, hidden identities, close sibling friendship

Kenna has felt pulled toward the sea ever since she was a child and almost drowned. She remembers being saved by a mermaid (in this world, a mythical creature that supposedly doesn’t exist) and has grown up being made fun of for both believing in mermaid as well as being bigger.

She has always wanted to explore the world and search for mermaids, but her duty is to get married and become the next Queen. During her marriage festival, she meets a mysterious man who she is inexplicably pulled towards. She discovers he has a big secret, and her entire life changes.

Throughout the story, Kenna deals with the internal battle between duty and desire, as well as becoming confident in who she is.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This was a cute story. The characters and their interactions are very relatable and realistic. I feel like the dialogue between them is pretty funny at times too.

For the most part, I enjoyed Kenna as a character. I felt that she was pretty relatable, and anyone who has struggled with body-image can also probably relate to her. The dynamic of not knowing I if people were being nice to her because of who she is or because of her social position was also really heartbreaking and interesting.

There were a few things plot-wise that didn’t make sense but they were fairly minor and didn’t take away from the overall story.

My main issue was some of Kenna’s internal dialogue. I appreciated that this book brought awareness to topics like body positivity, mental illness, and sexuality. However, I think it could have been done better. It is brought up constantly, especially in the beginning (like first 40%) of the book. There are constantly remarks being made about either her not feeling romantically for people, her daydreaming too much, or her being fat. I understand that this is part of who she as a character, but it was brought up enough that it took away from the storyline. Especially since there were already events/plot things that related to these topics, so it wasn’t necessary to keep reminding the reader using internal dialogue (“show us, don’t tell us”).

Overall, this was a cute read. If you like fantasy romance with mermaids, definitely check this one out.

Thank you to the author and MTMC Tours for a copy of this.



‼️book specific notes, may contain spoilers ‼️

-I get that she was injured, but she really does not try to inquire about the fact that he’s a mermaid, or have concern about being stranded on an island. Because he’s a mermaid he can obviously get away, so she’s really the only one that’s stranded. She doesn’t seem that concerned about that, and it doesn’t feel believable that they would go to bed before discussing their game plan. And then the fact that when when she woke up, he wasn’t there , she just decided to go wander to try to find food instead of trying to figure out where he went.

-if him giving away his secret is an act of treason, why would he have turned into a mermaid while she was on the beach? Couldn’t he have waited?

-he calls her stupid because she didn’t realize he liked her, and idk this rubs me the wrong way

-so they were worried about the mer queen sending people after them in the water because they’d be able to sense they’re there ; but they’re super chill when they finally decide to go home? Not worried at all it seems

-is he not worried about leaving his mother behind? Isn’t that like the first thing the queen would do, to hurt her because he left?

-the way the curse broke doesn’t make sense. They seem to believe it is because of Calder and Kenna’s love that “she thought it would never be possible for a more person and a human to fall in love”. But they’re not human? Kenna is not human. She’s half human, which I guess they’re saying counts, but I really don’t feel like it does.

-calder having an Ariel-like trove of trinkets is very fun

[Addie's Bookshelf · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this as an e-arc through NetGalley.

I was really excited to read this. The description sounded so fun, and when I read the author's note where the main character is fat, has adhd, and is demisexual I really thought I'd love this. I didn't.

The beginning was good, I really enjoyed hearing Makenna's thoughts on body/mind insecurities and how close she is to her twin Tristan. I enjoyed her love of fairytales and how Tristan always believed her. Their sibling bond was strong and cute.

Now the problems I had:

1) I never liked her parents, I don't know if I was meant to, but they seemed shallow and selfish the entire book. There was no bond I could understand between the parents and kids. It was very surface level.

2) It's very insta-love/insta-lust, which I usually enjoy, but that was it for Calder. He had no depth of character. He was intrusive (sort of, Kenna was very insecure, so things that upset her I would've been fine with), didn't follow proper protocol/manners, and was sarcastic. His depression was a tiny blimp of a moment, only there to help bring Makenna and him closer. It is not something he struggles with the rest of the story. Them falling in love after a week, and then being engaged after two weeks, was odd, and I didn't enjoy it. Her quip of, "I know we've known each other only a short time, but that's how most royals do it anyway," did not help the situation.

3) Her Aunt Ailith didn't seem as awful as she was supposed to be. I related to her anger of never being good enough and hearing how people truly thought of you when they thought you weren’t in the vicinity. Her sister fell in love with her betrothed. It didn't matter that the book portrayed it as the king and merprincess couldn't help themselves, "It was unavoidable-fates design," 🙄 but there's always better ways you could handle situations. They admitted to sneaking around behind Ailith's back, and instead of being adults and speaking to her about it, they talked to the merking and queen instead. Their parents didn't think Ailith would be a good ruler because "she always had a temper-an edge that never softened," and "they did not trust Ailith to wield such power." Jesus, no wonder. Are all parents trash in this story? No, Clader's mom seemed sweet for the two seconds she's in it. Now, Ailith did have bad moments where she imprisoned someone who could tell the truth, she manipulated the fairies (but honestly that blame lies with the fairies and no one else), and she did become cocky and lazy as a ruler (according to Calder, we don't get to see that, though). But overall, she didn't seem like the big evil she was supposed to.

4) In an ironic twist, Tristan also ends up having sex with Murtagh the first night after meeting each other, when Murtagh's there to maybe marry Makenna. Like father like son. Of course, Makenna is okay with that because she doesn't know Murtagh enough to care, and she just wants Tristan happy. Was Tristan mature enough to come to Makenna and tell her as an adult? No. Mackenna knows they had sex because of Tristan's hair and because she saw them looking at each other that day. Yikes on bikes.

5) The sex scenes weren't bad, but they weren't good. Mainly, it was boring. If you don't like reading those types of scenes, it's really easy to skip. There's only one "big" one that's 26 epages, but it's mainly them talking or Makenna trying to be comfortable showing her body.

6) My final issue was that her dad should've died. It would've been poetic and a better ending than everything works out perfectly, and everyone is happy. Except, of course, the dead queen.

These two stars were for my enjoyment of the beginning of this story, I stayed up later than usual to read more, but it lost three stars because it went downhill fast.

[Sierra (shesgotstories) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun debut that certainly fits the genderbent The Little Mermaid meets Brave description!

Kenna must choose between duty and desire in more ways than one. While she longs for freedom and adventure at sea, she is being forced to find a suitor via a festival where she must pick someone from one of her kingdom's clans to marry. She finds herself enamored with a mysterious suitor who has secrets and leaves abruptly. Her following him means she must find herself along the way as secrets reveal themselves along the way.

I really enjoyed this story and felt that it was a very strong debut. We get fat positivity, queer representation (Kenna is demi and her brother is bi), neurodivergent rep (Kenna has ADHD), and depression rep (love interest). It also had a bit of caretaking, a deserted island, and family secrets. I loved Kenna's close relationship with her twin brother and her family as a whole. Lots of cute moments and I loved the love interest for the most part, especially the "it's always been you" aspect.

While I really enjoyed this story I did find a couple of little things were off for me.

*POSSIBLE SPOILERS AHEAD*

When Calder tells Kenna he likes her, he calls her stupid and it kind of struck me since it was supposed to be a sweet and exasperating moment and the word choice just threw me off a little and made it a bit off-putting. I also thought the curse was rather easy to break, especially since Kenna didn't technically meet the requirements and she was only half qualified (I'm trying not to fully spoil it but once you read it you'll know what I mean). Also Kenna was super chill with being stranded on a deserted island and didn't seem worried in the least. I know she was probably ready to get away from things for a while, but she was was so chill and not worried about having a conversation about the circumstances for a while which struck me as a little odd. She just went full survival mode ready to look for freshwater.

*END OF POSSIBLE SPOILERS*

Overall, this was a fun debut that I enjoyed. I love that we're getting more books with demi rep and extensive representation. The author does explicitly state in the notes that the story itself does not use official labels as we know them for the various types of representation but that the characters are very much queer and neurodiverse. I also liked the Gaelic incorporated and the notes at the end regarding the language and the phrases used throughout the book. You'll be swept up by the sea with the smell of salt in the air as you follow Kenna on her journey to uncover secrets and find her true self.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Pepper Falcon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall rating: 4.5/5

If you love the Little Mermaid, Brave, and a little bit of spice, then this is the story for you. This story is about Kenna, a vivacious, neurodiverse, princess that is anything and everything but weak. Ever since an incident that occurred as a child, Kenna has been drawn to the sea but more specifically, drawn towards the myth of mermaids. This belief had fueled her to wanting a life different from the one she was fated for. Caught between her duty of needing to marry to unite her people against a war from an opposing kingdom and choosing a life for her own, she happens upon a suitor that changes her fate entirely.

This book will truly hold you in a grip from beginning to end. We have this dynamic fireball of a princess who is fierce, strong and beautiful but has all too realistic vulnerabilities and insecurities that definitely hit home. Then we have this mystery, this twist that steered clear from my expectations and added a different type of depth to this fantasy. Oh and we cannot forget the spice and the “he falls first” trope (which in my opinion is top tier). Altogether, this was a solid and enjoyable debut novel by Emily B. Rose.

However, there were some kinks in this armor. What kept me from giving a full 5 star rating was the actual fantasy part. I felt the world building was a bit shallow, the characters felt decently fleshed out but once I thought I was being given more about the world, the author would fall short and I could not help but wanting to understand more. Every great princess has her kingdom, but I felt her kingdom was not all there in the end.

If you are okay with a not fully fleshed out world, then this should not deter you from delving into a romantasy with body positivity, queer, neurodiverse, and mental health representation all packed inside a sweet and sassy love. I cannot wait for future releases from the author.

[Mireille (readingwithmrleo) · Rating 4 out of 5]

THE STORY | Since she was a child, Kenna always felt trapped in her castle. Her fascination with mermaid stories didn't disappear as she grew up and some might find her weird for believing in such fairy tales, but somehow, Kenna can't help dreaming of adventure and searching for mermaids. Being the heir though, she must marry, and she has to choose between 5 men who all seem to be after one thing: her crown. But one of them is different.. doesn't care about titles or about pushing her buttons, apparently. When he disappears, Kenna decides to go after him, which is the start of the biggest adventure of her life.

READ IF YOU LIKE:
✨Fat rep, demisexual rep, ADHD rep, depression rep
✨Forced proximity
✨Hurt/comfort
✨Siblings who are best friends
✨Hidden identities
✨Banter
✨Open door 🌶️

MY REVIEW | I instantly loved the vibe of this one. It's no secret that my favourite place in the world is Scotland so anything that makes me think of it makes me immensely happy. The mix of this Scottish royalty setting with fantastic creatures such as mermaids was just perfect.

Our main character is a sweet overthinking one that makes you feel instantly attached to her. I love the interactions she had going on with the MMC and also with her amazing twin brother, their relationship is truly wonderful. The first part of the book felt a little more character driven which was a nice way to discover about everyone and learn more about Kenna's family dynamics. The second part was more action packed, with lots of things happening and being revealed. Overall it was a good way to keep me hooked, it was really addictive.

This book is full of great representation too, and I think it will resonate with lots of people. It's always nice to feel understood and relate to a character. Kenna had a great evolution throughout the book, which was really satisfying to read.

Thanks to MTMC Tours and the author for the book. All opinions are my own.

[amaareads · Rating 2 out of 5]

You ever start a book with high hopes, only to feel like it slowly slips through your fingers? That is this book for me. It had all the ingredients for a story I’d love—mermaids, royalty, forbidden romance; but somewhere along the way, it lost its spark.

The beginning had me hooked. Kenna’s longing for the ocean, her connection with her twin brother, and the whole fairytale-meets-royalty premise felt promising. I liked her voice, even if she did ramble sometimes, and I could relate to her insecurities. But then came the romance. For someone who claims to need a deep emotional bond, she sure fell for Cameron in record time. The instant attraction, followed by a whirlwind romance, made it hard to buy into their connection.

And the big reveal? The moment I was waiting for? It just…happened. No big emotional payoff, no jaw-dropping twist—just a quick reveal and a rush to the finish line. The final battle, which should’ve been the most intense part of the book, felt oddly small-scale. Where were the guards? The strategy? It was more like a family argument that got out of hand than a war for a kingdom’s fate.

That said, I won’t write off this author completely. There were glimpses of really strong writing, and I think with tighter pacing and deeper world-building, their next book could be something special. Unfortunately, this book just didn’t quite deliver on its promise.

#CalloftheSeaBook #NetGalley

[Cindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Story is about Kenna who is a princess who always loved the ocean. Since an accident she is sure that mermaids exist. But no one believes her. She is an adventurous soul and doesn‘t want the life ahead of herself. But at some point her parents decide that it is time for her to find a husband, so they organize a festival to meet the potential mens. Kenna doesn‘t like those men, except for that one mysterious one.

The english isn‘t to hard, so a non native speaker could read it easily.

I am a bit ambivalent about this book.
On one hand i love the representation on so many different things like ADHD, a fat person and homosexual persons. The fears and thoughts of Kenna also feel so much like problems a normal person has. So I really love that it gives the feeling that you don‘t have to be perfect to be a hero and happy.
But on the other hand the story is a bit boring. After reading the description you already know whats going to happen in the first half of the book. So it takes really long until the story gets a little bit more exciting. And also after this part, the book is quite predictable. I just prefer book where I don‘t know whats going to happen next. 🤷🏻‍♀️

If you don‘t have a problem with predictable stories and love a story with a fat heroine, then this book might be for you.

[Stephanie Doyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

*ARC Review*

World building ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Character development ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Plot⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Meridiel (Merida/Ariel) is that you? lol I didn’t realize when I first started this it was gonna be a retelling (I’ve been caught up with too many other books to remember things 😅), so when I started this, I was like ohhh this is Brave and Little Mermaid retelling! (Then I saw the synopsis and was like oh, well guess I was right🤣). Anyways, I could not put the book down! I really enjoyed reading about her struggle and her growth of self-confidence. It resonated with me so it was an easy read, no issues getting into it at all. And I really appreciated the big girl inclusion! Us big girls need more representation.
The small little plot twists here and there were shock worthy! I didn’t expect Hamilton to do what he did! And I incorrectly guessed at who the blonde mermaid was; pleasantly surprised though!
I will say the pacing of this story was very similar to The Little Mermaid’s story pacing. I actually thought there was gonna be a cliffhanger since I was running out of pages. Grateful this is a HEA. I definitely needed a finished story right now.
Great debut for Emily!
P.S. not sure if others will catch it, but being a retelling with Disney vibes, I also caught a few tidbits of Moana and Tangled. Almost like her own little easter eggs.

[Monica Urena · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5!

Thank you NetGalley for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review

This book was an amazing adventure, unforgettable romance, and incredible world building all in one! CHARACTERS- Kenna was such a well rounded character who was strong and sassy and brave yet still had some insecurities and doubts. She was such a good representation for fat characters and also demi characters who we don’t see very often! I related so much to her and felt all her emotions and feelings as she went through the storyline. Her relationship with her brother Tristan was also such a good way of representing familial soulmates! Calder was the perfect partner and soulmate for Kenna! He was witty, smart, but also kind and gentle and them discovering what love is for the first time was amazing. They are the blueprint for soulmates I loved all their connections to each other so so much!
PLOT- the story was so much fun! It had the perfect pacing in my opinion and all the Disney Easter eggs were so much fun to spot. It felt like a cozy fantasy while also being fast paced and very captivating. The ending was absolutely perfect and I appreciated how the epilogue gave us a glimpse into the future and ended off the story beautifully.

[Lizzie · Rating 2 out of 5]

The writing felt juvenile to me. The dialogue between Kenna and her twin, Tristan, felt so childish and cringy. I could tell they were close but ONLY because the author told us they were. She REALLY emphasized the point that the twins were extremely close. But I never felt it. It just felt forced.

It was clear the author was trying to make a point about being demisexual and what that means. And I have no problem with that because I am demisexual myself. It just felt a little preachy a few times and this is a fictional book. I don’t want preachy.

Then we have Cameron/Calder, who is beautiful, but the author really failed in writing his personality to match. It came across as more sarcastic cheesiness.

I just couldn’t get on board with the conversations in this book. No matter who they were between, most of the conversations came off as cheesy and juvenile.

Also, I do not understand what Calder saw in Kenna. He did say at one point that she was so kind and selfless and giving, blah blah blah. I never saw this. She seemed immature, she seemed mean at times, and she just wasn’t likable. She treated Calder poorly, so I don’t understand why he fell for her.

I think Smily Rose will only get better at writing/storytelling as she continues to write. But this boo just missed the mark for me. The MFC really was so unlikeable to me. When that happens, it’s hard for me to like the rest of the story.

[Jacqui · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great debut fantasy novel with strong side characters. I loved the two main characters. Princess Makenna McNamera of Cladach. A feisty twin, spirited curvy redheaded, heir to the throne. And Ried Mackenzie of Mackenzie Clan. Strong, caring, a confident presence.
Set in an old world feel with kilts and Scottish Gaelic language used. A war is brewing, with the neighboring Faerie kingdom..McKenna struggles to do her duty, honoring her parents wishes as she is forced to attend her Winchin festival. Where she is to find her future husband and strengthen the clan for a possible war on the horizon. With the calling of the sea always on her mind. Ried is the last person she want to see amongst the five suitor from her past. A anguished youth relationship between the too. A slow burn of romance, her love of the sea, and a forced marriage. It doesn’t get any better.
Prince Tristan. McKenna younger twin brother by two minutes is an incredible character. With Kenna self doubt over her body size. He’s always there to build her up. His the brother everyone wants… I really
hope the author continues with more stories in this world.

[Vanessa · Rating 3 out of 5]

As the description suggests this story is a cutesy but spicier retelling of Brave and the Little Mermaid. It's a light hearted romantasy but I also felt it was a coming of age story were the main character, Kenna, finds acceptance within herself and her place in the world.

The story includes representation of characters who are fat, LGBTQ, have ADHD, and go through depression. In a world were society continues to tell women how they need to look in order to be perceived as beautiful, it is refreshing to read a story about a fat main character and romantic lead who learns to accept and love themselves as they are. Although, there are a couple minor characters who do shame the character for her body type the rest of the major characters, protagonists and antagonists alike, never make her being fat an issue or diminishes her value which I really appreciated.

The plot moves a bit too quickly for me, same with the romance. All problems are faced and resolved within a few days and I would have loved to read move about Mharìogh and the magic it holds.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Ari · Rating 3 out of 5]

Call of the Sea was exactly what it promised to be, a gender bent Little Mermaid meets Brave retelling which made the Disney child within my heart insanely happy.

Here is what this book got right: the plot was intriguing. I found myself getting lost within the pages without realizing how long I was reading. The character descriptions were phenomenal, I really felt like I knew the characters by the end of the book. The scenery descriptions were also top notch. I loved the story and the banter while Kenna and Calder were on the island together made me feral for more.

Here is the reason this book is getting a 3.5 from me: The story itself felt a little juvenile. This was supposed to be a N.A. book and I felt like the writing was more geared toward YA (minus the sex scenes obviously). I think the writer is very talented. I enjoyed reading this book, but it did feel a little rushed to me in the end. I also think this book did some telling instead of showing.

Overall I’m glad I read this story and am thankful I received this ARC.

#netgalley

[Kelsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I frigging loved this book, and honestly felt so connected to this author from the beginning. Having a Scottish heritage, I have always had a soft spot for anything Gaelic. As someone who is plus sized, has anxiety and is neurodiverse, it was so nice seeing that representation in a novel.

This was such a fabulous reverse retelling of The Little Mermaid based in Scotland. I adored Kenna’s stubbornness and sassy attitude, and how the story developed from a competition for a princess’s hand in marriage to so much more adventure and plot development. The love story from the main characters was a bit too insta-love for my preference, but that truly is aligned with the original story. I’m also not usually a fan of virgin FMC’s, but I understand how it led to the character development we needed in Kenna.

Honestly, I never really liked The Little Mermaid much as a kid, and I used to think that it was because I found Ursula too scary, but I think it just needed a better love story, and Call of the Sea was exactly that. It took you on an enchanting and beautiful adventure that demonstrates a love developed from trust, communication and sacrifice.

Overall rating: 4.5/5 ⭐️ (rounded up)
Spice rating: 2/5 🌶️

Thanks so much to the author, NetGalley and Pug Press Publishing for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange of an honest review. Please note that all ratings and opinions stated above are entirely my own.