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The Naiads of Juile #1
A Sea of Song and Sirens
Raised in a trading port, I'd seen my share of attractive sailors.
But I'd never cared to get to know one, let alone allow one to follow me around, drawing my neighbors' suspicions that I was a seductress.
Until the day I pulled him from the water.
I found him drowned and alone, and I breathed life into him before I knew his name.
But the moment Kye opened his golden-brown eyes, I fell under a spell I couldn't escape—until I found myself trapped under his knife.
He betrayed me to my enemies, this man who owes me his life. And I hate him.
To him, it's a game of power. But to me, it's freedom or captivity.
With every dark gaze, every whispered threat, I find myself drawn to him against my will. But I refuse to fall for him a second time.
He'll have to kill me first.
But I'd never cared to get to know one, let alone allow one to follow me around, drawing my neighbors' suspicions that I was a seductress.
Until the day I pulled him from the water.
I found him drowned and alone, and I breathed life into him before I knew his name.
But the moment Kye opened his golden-brown eyes, I fell under a spell I couldn't escape—until I found myself trapped under his knife.
He betrayed me to my enemies, this man who owes me his life. And I hate him.
To him, it's a game of power. But to me, it's freedom or captivity.
With every dark gaze, every whispered threat, I find myself drawn to him against my will. But I refuse to fall for him a second time.
He'll have to kill me first.
516 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 4, 2024
370 people are currently reading
9240 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 548 reviews
October 22, 2025
"I burned for you as we stood under that altar. And I've been burning for you since."
This was quite an entertaining read but not a perfect one at that. I mostly had a fun time with it but there were some issues I can't overlook.
The world building and Naiad lore is impressive. It's explained quite well in a way that leaves you asking for more questions and keeps your interest in it besides the romance. But at the same time, there were too many places and names to remember. I struggled with remembering who's who. I thought by the end of the book it would be easier to grasp but it wasn't the case. Except for a handful of four characters, I don't remember anyone.
The pacing was also an issue cause it was inconsistent. It had a lot of ups and downs. It starts off slow, which is understandable. But then it picks up. Slows down into a training montage which sort of drags with how the MMC is not even in the picture.
The chemistry between Maren and Kye is so good but underexplored. There were a lot of missed opportunities. But whenever they were bantering, it was so much fun. I would have loved it had Kye been given more screen time. It's a slow burn and I can respect that but keep the weird cocky man in the loop. They're both quite likable characters in my eyes and with depth so that definitely helped.
With the way it ended, I look forward to reading its sequel. I see a lot of potential with the way it has been set. But fingers crossed.
Thanks to lovely Ari for reading it with me ❤
~•~•~
Sirens x Pirates? Enemies to lovers? I'm gonna eat this one up.
This was quite an entertaining read but not a perfect one at that. I mostly had a fun time with it but there were some issues I can't overlook.
The world building and Naiad lore is impressive. It's explained quite well in a way that leaves you asking for more questions and keeps your interest in it besides the romance. But at the same time, there were too many places and names to remember. I struggled with remembering who's who. I thought by the end of the book it would be easier to grasp but it wasn't the case. Except for a handful of four characters, I don't remember anyone.
The pacing was also an issue cause it was inconsistent. It had a lot of ups and downs. It starts off slow, which is understandable. But then it picks up. Slows down into a training montage which sort of drags with how the MMC is not even in the picture.
The chemistry between Maren and Kye is so good but underexplored. There were a lot of missed opportunities. But whenever they were bantering, it was so much fun. I would have loved it had Kye been given more screen time. It's a slow burn and I can respect that but keep the weird cocky man in the loop. They're both quite likable characters in my eyes and with depth so that definitely helped.
With the way it ended, I look forward to reading its sequel. I see a lot of potential with the way it has been set. But fingers crossed.
Thanks to lovely Ari for reading it with me ❤
~•~•~
Sirens x Pirates? Enemies to lovers? I'm gonna eat this one up.
July 7, 2024
I was not expecting this to be so good but omg I couldn’t put it down. I loved loved loved the FMC, she was just so angry and I couldn’t get enough of it. The MC was also *chefs kiss*. The tension, the plot, the twists and turns of this story was so good, I honestly can’t wait for the second book. Highly recommend💫
✔️Enemies to lovers
✔️Sirens
✔️Arranged marriage
✔️Strong FMC
✔️Slow-burn🔥
✔️Enemies to lovers
✔️Sirens
✔️Arranged marriage
✔️Strong FMC
✔️Slow-burn🔥
October 23, 2025
A Sea of Song and Sirens
by Whit Stanfield
⭐ 4.5 stars
Before I start, thank you SK for going on this journey with me! I sincerely enjoyed our chats and can't wait for the next one. You're a gem, I had a blast 💕
Let me just say this right out of the gate — this book is criminally underrated. Like, where is the hype? Where are the screaming readers? The fan art? The emotional support therapy seashells? Because I swear, Whit Stanfield just dragged me under and had the audacity to make me thank her for it.
I had a bit of beef with this book. I tried to read it twice before, couldn't get past the start but only heard good things about it. Yes ma'am, now I fully understand. I just needed a giant push?
This isn’t your pretty, sparkly “mermaid finds love” fairytale. This is a lyrical, salt-stained symphony about rage, love, grief, and power. It’s haunting, feminist, and so beautifully written it hurts. Stanfield writes like she’s channelling the ocean itself — gorgeous, dangerous, and just a bit unhinged.
Let's talk details here...
Maren isn’t your standard “look at me, I’m chaos and glitter” heroine. She’s quiet, careful, and guarded — the kind of woman who watches everything, says little, and somehow still commands every scene she’s in. Underneath all that calm is a storm waiting to break, and when it does? You feel it.
She’s not fragile — she’s deliberate. There’s this controlled strength to her, a quiet resilience that hits harder than any flashy show of power. She’s been broken and rebuilt more than once, and she carries every scar like proof of survival. She doesn’t yell, she calculates. She doesn’t beg, she decides.
And honestly, I love that. She’s stoic, sharp-tongued when needed, and emotionally messy in a way that feels real. She’s not here to be likeable. She’s here to live, to fight, and maybe, just maybe, to let herself feel something again.
Then we have Kye — walking red flag, professional heartache provider. Mystery to me for the most part of the book, but when it happens... fireworks!
You know that moment when you see a man in fiction and think, “he’s trouble,” but then you read one more page and go, “oh no, he’s MY trouble”? Yeah. That’s Kye.
He’s brooding, secretive, and carrying enough emotional baggage to sink a ship — and yet here I am, completely sold. At some point you'll hate him just to fall in love with him again! He’s infuriating in that delicious way, all hidden motives and unreadable expressions, but the chemistry between him and Maren? Off the charts. It doesn't happen instantly, but it's there.
Their relationship is a masterclass in slow-burn tension. It’s enemies-to-allies-to-I’d-die-for-you energy, wrapped in constant bickering that’s basically foreplay. Every conversation is loaded. Every silence screams. You just know one of them is going to break first, and you’re not sure if it’ll be from anger or desire — maybe both.
Whit Stanfield’s writing is nothing short of witchcraft. The prose is so lyrical you could frame half the book as poetry. You can feel the salt on your skin, hear the sirens humming below the surface, taste the sorrow.
The ocean here isn’t just scenery — it’s a living, breathing character. The mythology is lush and vivid, equal parts enchanting and horrifying. Every page feels like it’s soaked in secrets, and I could not look away.
And the sirens/Naiads? Absolute icons. Dangerous, divine, and done taking anyone’s nonsense. These women aren’t pretty monsters; they’re predators with purpose — and the world had better start respecting that.
This book builds like a wave — it starts gentle, lulls you in, and then crashes down so hard you forget how to breathe. The pacing dips a little in the middle, but even the quieter moments have weight. And once things start happening again? Chaos. Emotion. Betrayal. Tears.
By the final chapters, I was fully submerged — half devastated, half exhilarated, and 100% not ready for it to end. The emotional payoff is so worth it.
Boy, am I glad that I have part two at my greedy little hands... and part three...
And can we talk about how funny this book manages to be? Maren’s dry sarcasm could kill a man faster than a siren’s song, and Kye’s ability to make her snap is chef’s kiss entertainment. Their banter is sharp, smart, and soaked in tension. I cackled more than once, even while clutching my chest over the heartbreak.
Though, I have not decided how I feel about the Slovakian language being used in an otherwise made up universe? I have to be picky about something, so give me a break 😂 I love it when authors make up their own terms, own magical systems and such. But this ie also my one critique... I just couldn't remember all the names to save my miserable little Life! Va'a ... Aalto, miuhana and all that. Loved it, but caused me a severe headache 😂
A Sea of Song and Sirens is the literary version of being pulled into the deep — terrifying, beautiful, and impossible to resist. It’s dark and romantic and unapologetically feminine. The writing hums like a song you can’t get out of your head, and the story lingers long after the last page.
If you like:
- morally gray heroines with bite
- broody men with tragic backstories and questionable decision-making
- oceans that are both home and hell
- emotional chaos wrapped in lyrical prose
- banter that could slice a god in half
- Slovakian (-ish) pirates 😱
Then this is absolutely for you.
4.5 stars for the story, but if I could rate vibes alone? 10/10.
Whit Stanfield, ma’am — whatever you’re drinking while writing, I want a bottle, or two...
by Whit Stanfield
⭐ 4.5 stars
Before I start, thank you SK for going on this journey with me! I sincerely enjoyed our chats and can't wait for the next one. You're a gem, I had a blast 💕
Let me just say this right out of the gate — this book is criminally underrated. Like, where is the hype? Where are the screaming readers? The fan art? The emotional support therapy seashells? Because I swear, Whit Stanfield just dragged me under and had the audacity to make me thank her for it.
I had a bit of beef with this book. I tried to read it twice before, couldn't get past the start but only heard good things about it. Yes ma'am, now I fully understand. I just needed a giant push?
This isn’t your pretty, sparkly “mermaid finds love” fairytale. This is a lyrical, salt-stained symphony about rage, love, grief, and power. It’s haunting, feminist, and so beautifully written it hurts. Stanfield writes like she’s channelling the ocean itself — gorgeous, dangerous, and just a bit unhinged.
Let's talk details here...
Maren isn’t your standard “look at me, I’m chaos and glitter” heroine. She’s quiet, careful, and guarded — the kind of woman who watches everything, says little, and somehow still commands every scene she’s in. Underneath all that calm is a storm waiting to break, and when it does? You feel it.
She’s not fragile — she’s deliberate. There’s this controlled strength to her, a quiet resilience that hits harder than any flashy show of power. She’s been broken and rebuilt more than once, and she carries every scar like proof of survival. She doesn’t yell, she calculates. She doesn’t beg, she decides.
And honestly, I love that. She’s stoic, sharp-tongued when needed, and emotionally messy in a way that feels real. She’s not here to be likeable. She’s here to live, to fight, and maybe, just maybe, to let herself feel something again.
Then we have Kye — walking red flag, professional heartache provider. Mystery to me for the most part of the book, but when it happens... fireworks!
You know that moment when you see a man in fiction and think, “he’s trouble,” but then you read one more page and go, “oh no, he’s MY trouble”? Yeah. That’s Kye.
He’s brooding, secretive, and carrying enough emotional baggage to sink a ship — and yet here I am, completely sold. At some point you'll hate him just to fall in love with him again! He’s infuriating in that delicious way, all hidden motives and unreadable expressions, but the chemistry between him and Maren? Off the charts. It doesn't happen instantly, but it's there.
Their relationship is a masterclass in slow-burn tension. It’s enemies-to-allies-to-I’d-die-for-you energy, wrapped in constant bickering that’s basically foreplay. Every conversation is loaded. Every silence screams. You just know one of them is going to break first, and you’re not sure if it’ll be from anger or desire — maybe both.
Whit Stanfield’s writing is nothing short of witchcraft. The prose is so lyrical you could frame half the book as poetry. You can feel the salt on your skin, hear the sirens humming below the surface, taste the sorrow.
The ocean here isn’t just scenery — it’s a living, breathing character. The mythology is lush and vivid, equal parts enchanting and horrifying. Every page feels like it’s soaked in secrets, and I could not look away.
And the sirens/Naiads? Absolute icons. Dangerous, divine, and done taking anyone’s nonsense. These women aren’t pretty monsters; they’re predators with purpose — and the world had better start respecting that.
This book builds like a wave — it starts gentle, lulls you in, and then crashes down so hard you forget how to breathe. The pacing dips a little in the middle, but even the quieter moments have weight. And once things start happening again? Chaos. Emotion. Betrayal. Tears.
By the final chapters, I was fully submerged — half devastated, half exhilarated, and 100% not ready for it to end. The emotional payoff is so worth it.
Boy, am I glad that I have part two at my greedy little hands... and part three...
And can we talk about how funny this book manages to be? Maren’s dry sarcasm could kill a man faster than a siren’s song, and Kye’s ability to make her snap is chef’s kiss entertainment. Their banter is sharp, smart, and soaked in tension. I cackled more than once, even while clutching my chest over the heartbreak.
Though, I have not decided how I feel about the Slovakian language being used in an otherwise made up universe? I have to be picky about something, so give me a break 😂 I love it when authors make up their own terms, own magical systems and such. But this ie also my one critique... I just couldn't remember all the names to save my miserable little Life! Va'a ... Aalto, miuhana and all that. Loved it, but caused me a severe headache 😂
A Sea of Song and Sirens is the literary version of being pulled into the deep — terrifying, beautiful, and impossible to resist. It’s dark and romantic and unapologetically feminine. The writing hums like a song you can’t get out of your head, and the story lingers long after the last page.
If you like:
- morally gray heroines with bite
- broody men with tragic backstories and questionable decision-making
- oceans that are both home and hell
- emotional chaos wrapped in lyrical prose
- banter that could slice a god in half
- Slovakian (-ish) pirates 😱
Then this is absolutely for you.
4.5 stars for the story, but if I could rate vibes alone? 10/10.
Whit Stanfield, ma’am — whatever you’re drinking while writing, I want a bottle, or two...
June 17, 2024
A Captivating Debut Romantasy Rooted in Culture and Magic
A Sea of Song and Sirens is the first book in The Naiads of Juile series by Whit, immersing readers in a fantasy world brimming with political intrigue, sirens, and an innovative magic system.
The story begins on the small island of Leihani, where Maren, ostracized by her community as a suspected witch, faces numerous near-death experiences. While tending to the cursed island of Neris, she rescues Kye, a prince of Calderan, from drowning. Kye recuperates on Leihani and is warmly welcomed by the community, despite Maren's initial apprehensions. Just as a bond starts to form between them, a ship from Calderan arrives to take Kye home and Maren is taken from her home to become a pawn in a war she has nothing to do with.
Worldbuilding and Cultural Depth:
Whit’s worldbuilding is exceptional, rooted in true Polynesian culture. The attention to detail, from the glossary explaining the terminology to the creation of unique calendars for each land, enhances the immersive experience. This level of authenticity and dedication shines through and adds a rich cultural layer to the narrative.
Character Development:
The characters are intricately crafted, each with distinct personalities and charm. Maren’s relationship with her tutor, Selina, who exudes "oldest sibling" energy, is particularly endearing. The inclusion of a character with cystic fibrosis provides much-needed representation of real-life conditions in fantasy literature, adding depth and relatability. The inclusion of a character with an illness representing cystic fibrosis provides much-needed representation of real-life conditions in fantasy literature, something I think is lacking within fantasy as a whole.
Pacing and Plot:
The pacing of the book is well-balanced, with action sequences spread throughout the narrative, allowing readers to absorb the worldbuilding and understand the characters without feeling overwhelmed. There are multiple twists and reveals throughout which add a captivating layer to story. The book ends on a cliffhanger, leaving readers eagerly awaiting the next installment!
Romantic Elements:
The romance follows a unique strangers-acquaintances-enemies-to-lovers arc. The on-page romance was just enough to elevate the story without taking away from the main plot of the story. However, there are moments where the relationship dynamics flicker confusingly between phases, making it harder to follow the progression of the romance. A re-read might help clarify these transitions, particularly given the significant plot reveals.
Conclusion:
Overall, "A Sea of Song and Sirens" is a strong debut with intricate worldbuilding, complex characters, rooted in a rich culture. If you love romantasy stories filled with magic, mermaids, and pirates mixed with an enemies-to-lovers romance, political intrigue, and an MMC who says, “keep your hands off my wife,” then this is definitely for you! It’s worth noting that there are some darker themes in this book, and readers can find a list of content warnings.
A Sea of Song and Sirens is the first book in The Naiads of Juile series by Whit, immersing readers in a fantasy world brimming with political intrigue, sirens, and an innovative magic system.
The story begins on the small island of Leihani, where Maren, ostracized by her community as a suspected witch, faces numerous near-death experiences. While tending to the cursed island of Neris, she rescues Kye, a prince of Calderan, from drowning. Kye recuperates on Leihani and is warmly welcomed by the community, despite Maren's initial apprehensions. Just as a bond starts to form between them, a ship from Calderan arrives to take Kye home and Maren is taken from her home to become a pawn in a war she has nothing to do with.
Worldbuilding and Cultural Depth:
Whit’s worldbuilding is exceptional, rooted in true Polynesian culture. The attention to detail, from the glossary explaining the terminology to the creation of unique calendars for each land, enhances the immersive experience. This level of authenticity and dedication shines through and adds a rich cultural layer to the narrative.
Character Development:
The characters are intricately crafted, each with distinct personalities and charm. Maren’s relationship with her tutor, Selina, who exudes "oldest sibling" energy, is particularly endearing. The inclusion of a character with cystic fibrosis provides much-needed representation of real-life conditions in fantasy literature, adding depth and relatability. The inclusion of a character with an illness representing cystic fibrosis provides much-needed representation of real-life conditions in fantasy literature, something I think is lacking within fantasy as a whole.
Pacing and Plot:
The pacing of the book is well-balanced, with action sequences spread throughout the narrative, allowing readers to absorb the worldbuilding and understand the characters without feeling overwhelmed. There are multiple twists and reveals throughout which add a captivating layer to story. The book ends on a cliffhanger, leaving readers eagerly awaiting the next installment!
Romantic Elements:
The romance follows a unique strangers-acquaintances-enemies-to-lovers arc. The on-page romance was just enough to elevate the story without taking away from the main plot of the story. However, there are moments where the relationship dynamics flicker confusingly between phases, making it harder to follow the progression of the romance. A re-read might help clarify these transitions, particularly given the significant plot reveals.
Conclusion:
Overall, "A Sea of Song and Sirens" is a strong debut with intricate worldbuilding, complex characters, rooted in a rich culture. If you love romantasy stories filled with magic, mermaids, and pirates mixed with an enemies-to-lovers romance, political intrigue, and an MMC who says, “keep your hands off my wife,” then this is definitely for you! It’s worth noting that there are some darker themes in this book, and readers can find a list of content warnings.
July 4, 2024
What am I supposed to do now that I’ve finished this book?!! I feel so empty now 😭 oh man y’all. I absolutely devoured this book once I got sucked in. I couldn’t put it down and I needed to know what happened next. The enemies to lovers aspect of this book was soooo good, Whit did it so much justice. It was perfect and honestly I’m obsessed with Kye. I think it’s unhealthy at this point but that’s alright.
The development of the world building was not overwhelming and was absolutely fascinating tbh. It was easy to follow and kept me on the edge of my seat. I especially loved the way the twist and turns unfolded because even though I should’ve made some connections I didn’t. I also love how the beginning connects to everything else as it unfolds. I just… chef’s kiss Whit!!! Now I need the next book asap please and thank you. 🤭😂
I miss these two so much already and that’s not ok. I can’t wait for everyone else to be sucked into the storyline. Thank you again for the chance to read this beautiful story ahead of time in exchange for honest review. 🥹💙
The development of the world building was not overwhelming and was absolutely fascinating tbh. It was easy to follow and kept me on the edge of my seat. I especially loved the way the twist and turns unfolded because even though I should’ve made some connections I didn’t. I also love how the beginning connects to everything else as it unfolds. I just… chef’s kiss Whit!!! Now I need the next book asap please and thank you. 🤭😂
I miss these two so much already and that’s not ok. I can’t wait for everyone else to be sucked into the storyline. Thank you again for the chance to read this beautiful story ahead of time in exchange for honest review. 🥹💙
October 21, 2025
A Sea of Song and Sirens
by Whit Stanfield
⭐ 4.5 stars
Before I start, thank you SK for going on this journey with me! I sincerely enjoyed our chats and can't wait for the next one. You're a gem, I had a blast 💕
Let me just say this right out of the gate — this book is criminally underrated. Like, where is the hype? Where are the screaming readers? The fan art? The emotional support therapy seashells? Because I swear, Whit Stanfield just dragged me under and had the audacity to make me thank her for it.
I had a bit of beef with this book. I tried to read it twice before, couldn't get past the start but only heard good things about it. Yes ma'am, now I fully understand. I just needed a giant push?
This isn’t your pretty, sparkly “mermaid finds love” fairytale. This is a lyrical, salt-stained symphony about rage, love, grief, and power. It’s haunting, feminist, and so beautifully written it hurts. Stanfield writes like she’s channelling the ocean itself — gorgeous, dangerous, and just a bit unhinged.
Let's talk details here...
Maren isn’t your standard “look at me, I’m chaos and glitter” heroine. She’s quiet, careful, and guarded — the kind of woman who watches everything, says little, and somehow still commands every scene she’s in. Underneath all that calm is a storm waiting to break, and when it does? You feel it.
She’s not fragile — she’s deliberate. There’s this controlled strength to her, a quiet resilience that hits harder than any flashy show of power. She’s been broken and rebuilt more than once, and she carries every scar like proof of survival. She doesn’t yell, she calculates. She doesn’t beg, she decides.
And honestly, I love that. She’s stoic, sharp-tongued when needed, and emotionally messy in a way that feels real. She’s not here to be likeable. She’s here to live, to fight, and maybe, just maybe, to let herself feel something again.
Then we have Kye — walking red flag, professional heartache provider. Mystery to me for the most part of the book, but when it happens... fireworks!
You know that moment when you see a man in fiction and think, “he’s trouble,” but then you read one more page and go, “oh no, he’s MY trouble”? Yeah. That’s Kye.
He’s brooding, secretive, and carrying enough emotional baggage to sink a ship — and yet here I am, completely sold. At some point you'll hate him just to fall in love with him again! He’s infuriating in that delicious way, all hidden motives and unreadable expressions, but the chemistry between him and Maren? Off the charts. It doesn't happen instantly, but it's there.
Their relationship is a masterclass in slow-burn tension. It’s enemies-to-allies-to-I’d-die-for-you energy, wrapped in constant bickering that’s basically foreplay. Every conversation is loaded. Every silence screams. You just know one of them is going to break first, and you’re not sure if it’ll be from anger or desire — maybe both.
Whit Stanfield’s writing is nothing short of witchcraft. The prose is so lyrical you could frame half the book as poetry. You can feel the salt on your skin, hear the sirens humming below the surface, taste the sorrow.
The ocean here isn’t just scenery — it’s a living, breathing character. The mythology is lush and vivid, equal parts enchanting and horrifying. Every page feels like it’s soaked in secrets, and I could not look away.
And the sirens/Naiads? Absolute icons. Dangerous, divine, and done taking anyone’s nonsense. These women aren’t pretty monsters; they’re predators with purpose — and the world had better start respecting that.
This book builds like a wave — it starts gentle, lulls you in, and then crashes down so hard you forget how to breathe. The pacing dips a little in the middle, but even the quieter moments have weight. And once things start happening again? Chaos. Emotion. Betrayal. Tears.
By the final chapters, I was fully submerged — half devastated, half exhilarated, and 100% not ready for it to end. The emotional payoff is so worth it.
Boy, am I glad that I have part two at my greedy little hands... and part three...
And can we talk about how funny this book manages to be? Maren’s dry sarcasm could kill a man faster than a siren’s song, and Kye’s ability to make her snap is chef’s kiss entertainment. Their banter is sharp, smart, and soaked in tension. I cackled more than once, even while clutching my chest over the heartbreak.
Though, I have not decided how I feel about the Slovakian language being used in an otherwise made up universe? I have to be picky about something, so give me a break 😂 I love it when authors make up their own terms, own magical systems and such. But this ie also my one critique... I just couldn't remember all the names to save my miserable little Life! Va'a ... Aalto, miuhana and all that. Loved it, but caused me a severe headache 😂
A Sea of Song and Sirens is the literary version of being pulled into the deep — terrifying, beautiful, and impossible to resist. It’s dark and romantic and unapologetically feminine. The writing hums like a song you can’t get out of your head, and the story lingers long after the last page.
If you like:
- morally gray heroines with bite
- broody men with tragic backstories and questionable decision-making
- oceans that are both home and hell
- emotional chaos wrapped in lyrical prose
- banter that could slice a god in half
- Slovakian (-ish) pirates 😱
Then this is absolutely for you.
4.5 stars for the story, but if I could rate vibes alone? 10/10.
Whit Stanfield, ma’am — whatever you’re drinking while writing, I want a bottle, or two...
by Whit Stanfield
⭐ 4.5 stars
Before I start, thank you SK for going on this journey with me! I sincerely enjoyed our chats and can't wait for the next one. You're a gem, I had a blast 💕
Let me just say this right out of the gate — this book is criminally underrated. Like, where is the hype? Where are the screaming readers? The fan art? The emotional support therapy seashells? Because I swear, Whit Stanfield just dragged me under and had the audacity to make me thank her for it.
I had a bit of beef with this book. I tried to read it twice before, couldn't get past the start but only heard good things about it. Yes ma'am, now I fully understand. I just needed a giant push?
This isn’t your pretty, sparkly “mermaid finds love” fairytale. This is a lyrical, salt-stained symphony about rage, love, grief, and power. It’s haunting, feminist, and so beautifully written it hurts. Stanfield writes like she’s channelling the ocean itself — gorgeous, dangerous, and just a bit unhinged.
Let's talk details here...
Maren isn’t your standard “look at me, I’m chaos and glitter” heroine. She’s quiet, careful, and guarded — the kind of woman who watches everything, says little, and somehow still commands every scene she’s in. Underneath all that calm is a storm waiting to break, and when it does? You feel it.
She’s not fragile — she’s deliberate. There’s this controlled strength to her, a quiet resilience that hits harder than any flashy show of power. She’s been broken and rebuilt more than once, and she carries every scar like proof of survival. She doesn’t yell, she calculates. She doesn’t beg, she decides.
And honestly, I love that. She’s stoic, sharp-tongued when needed, and emotionally messy in a way that feels real. She’s not here to be likeable. She’s here to live, to fight, and maybe, just maybe, to let herself feel something again.
Then we have Kye — walking red flag, professional heartache provider. Mystery to me for the most part of the book, but when it happens... fireworks!
You know that moment when you see a man in fiction and think, “he’s trouble,” but then you read one more page and go, “oh no, he’s MY trouble”? Yeah. That’s Kye.
He’s brooding, secretive, and carrying enough emotional baggage to sink a ship — and yet here I am, completely sold. At some point you'll hate him just to fall in love with him again! He’s infuriating in that delicious way, all hidden motives and unreadable expressions, but the chemistry between him and Maren? Off the charts. It doesn't happen instantly, but it's there.
Their relationship is a masterclass in slow-burn tension. It’s enemies-to-allies-to-I’d-die-for-you energy, wrapped in constant bickering that’s basically foreplay. Every conversation is loaded. Every silence screams. You just know one of them is going to break first, and you’re not sure if it’ll be from anger or desire — maybe both.
Whit Stanfield’s writing is nothing short of witchcraft. The prose is so lyrical you could frame half the book as poetry. You can feel the salt on your skin, hear the sirens humming below the surface, taste the sorrow.
The ocean here isn’t just scenery — it’s a living, breathing character. The mythology is lush and vivid, equal parts enchanting and horrifying. Every page feels like it’s soaked in secrets, and I could not look away.
And the sirens/Naiads? Absolute icons. Dangerous, divine, and done taking anyone’s nonsense. These women aren’t pretty monsters; they’re predators with purpose — and the world had better start respecting that.
This book builds like a wave — it starts gentle, lulls you in, and then crashes down so hard you forget how to breathe. The pacing dips a little in the middle, but even the quieter moments have weight. And once things start happening again? Chaos. Emotion. Betrayal. Tears.
By the final chapters, I was fully submerged — half devastated, half exhilarated, and 100% not ready for it to end. The emotional payoff is so worth it.
Boy, am I glad that I have part two at my greedy little hands... and part three...
And can we talk about how funny this book manages to be? Maren’s dry sarcasm could kill a man faster than a siren’s song, and Kye’s ability to make her snap is chef’s kiss entertainment. Their banter is sharp, smart, and soaked in tension. I cackled more than once, even while clutching my chest over the heartbreak.
Though, I have not decided how I feel about the Slovakian language being used in an otherwise made up universe? I have to be picky about something, so give me a break 😂 I love it when authors make up their own terms, own magical systems and such. But this ie also my one critique... I just couldn't remember all the names to save my miserable little Life! Va'a ... Aalto, miuhana and all that. Loved it, but caused me a severe headache 😂
A Sea of Song and Sirens is the literary version of being pulled into the deep — terrifying, beautiful, and impossible to resist. It’s dark and romantic and unapologetically feminine. The writing hums like a song you can’t get out of your head, and the story lingers long after the last page.
If you like:
- morally gray heroines with bite
- broody men with tragic backstories and questionable decision-making
- oceans that are both home and hell
- emotional chaos wrapped in lyrical prose
- banter that could slice a god in half
- Slovakian (-ish) pirates 😱
Then this is absolutely for you.
4.5 stars for the story, but if I could rate vibes alone? 10/10.
Whit Stanfield, ma’am — whatever you’re drinking while writing, I want a bottle, or two...
July 21, 2025
I freaking LOVE this book. There are so many tropes that I love, and they don’t always play out the way I thought they were going to. Whit had me on the edge of my seat wondering what was going to happen next, and wondering if I’d figured things out.
Maren is a fantastic FMC. She, quite understandably, has trust issues from the way she’s been treated by the others on her island who think she’s a witch. She’s been shunned her whole life, and her only real friends are two Naiads. She saves Kye from drowning, and as he spends more time on the island, he seems to see her as a person and care about her. When a ship comes to take Kye home, things really start to spiral and there were so many times I had to text reactions to my bookish bestie who recommended this book.
I’m seriously obsessed and I cannot wait to jump into book two.
𝒮𝑜𝓂𝑒 𝑜𝒻 𝓂𝓎 𝒻𝒶𝓋𝑜𝓊𝓇𝒾𝓉𝑒 𝓉𝓇𝑜𝓅𝑒𝓈:
🌊 arranged marriage
🧜🏻♀️ secret plots
🌊 blood promises
🧜🏻♀️ found family / female friendships
🌊 female rage
Maren is a fantastic FMC. She, quite understandably, has trust issues from the way she’s been treated by the others on her island who think she’s a witch. She’s been shunned her whole life, and her only real friends are two Naiads. She saves Kye from drowning, and as he spends more time on the island, he seems to see her as a person and care about her. When a ship comes to take Kye home, things really start to spiral and there were so many times I had to text reactions to my bookish bestie who recommended this book.
I’m seriously obsessed and I cannot wait to jump into book two.
𝒮𝑜𝓂𝑒 𝑜𝒻 𝓂𝓎 𝒻𝒶𝓋𝑜𝓊𝓇𝒾𝓉𝑒 𝓉𝓇𝑜𝓅𝑒𝓈:
🌊 arranged marriage
🧜🏻♀️ secret plots
🌊 blood promises
🧜🏻♀️ found family / female friendships
🌊 female rage
July 4, 2024
“𝘐’𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘧 𝘓𝘦𝘪𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘪”
I think theres a delicate balance between promoting your book and accidentally revealing too much of the story. Obviously seeing your favourite tropes listed, definitely draws you in - but sometimes a blurb or book promotion reveals a plot twist too early, and you're left feeling unsatisfied when you actually get up to that moment in the book.
When I read the blurb of ASOSAS, I was worried I’d know exactly where this book was heading. I was already aware that at some point Kye would betray Maren, but it seemed to have the opposite effect to what I was expecting. I was reading chapter after chapter, waiting for the moment- it was always in the back of my mind. But I still found myself reluctantly trusting Kye?? And being so focussed on being suspicious of him, I ended up being completely blindsided by so many other plot twists. Maren also starts the book as human, and I was so caught off guard expecting her to be a mermaid. I headed into this book thinking I had such a clear picture on what to expect, and instead got dumped by a wave of surprises.
This book is all ✨FEMININE RAGE✨ and I loved every moment. Give me a Jude Duarte, a Celeana Sardothien, but make her a mermaid 😤🫶🏽
I love the thought and research that went into creating this world. In her acknowledgements, Whit lists the multitude of people she consulted regarding Polynesian and Hawaiian culture, realistic injuries and their healing processes, and the Facebook group who helped her create Kye’s “treasure trove of dick jokes” 😂
I want to thank Whit for sending me an ARC of this remarkable book 🩵 I’m so ready for book 2 👀
I recommend this book if you enjoy the following vibes:
🗡️ stabby FMC
❤️🩹 enemies to lovers
🧜🏽♀️ mermaids
🖤 touch her and💀
💞 found family
❤️🔥 slowburn romance
🔀 plot twists that leave you with whiplash
👊🏽 feminine rage
🔒 forced proximity
I think theres a delicate balance between promoting your book and accidentally revealing too much of the story. Obviously seeing your favourite tropes listed, definitely draws you in - but sometimes a blurb or book promotion reveals a plot twist too early, and you're left feeling unsatisfied when you actually get up to that moment in the book.
When I read the blurb of ASOSAS, I was worried I’d know exactly where this book was heading. I was already aware that at some point Kye would betray Maren, but it seemed to have the opposite effect to what I was expecting. I was reading chapter after chapter, waiting for the moment- it was always in the back of my mind. But I still found myself reluctantly trusting Kye?? And being so focussed on being suspicious of him, I ended up being completely blindsided by so many other plot twists. Maren also starts the book as human, and I was so caught off guard expecting her to be a mermaid. I headed into this book thinking I had such a clear picture on what to expect, and instead got dumped by a wave of surprises.
This book is all ✨FEMININE RAGE✨ and I loved every moment. Give me a Jude Duarte, a Celeana Sardothien, but make her a mermaid 😤🫶🏽
I love the thought and research that went into creating this world. In her acknowledgements, Whit lists the multitude of people she consulted regarding Polynesian and Hawaiian culture, realistic injuries and their healing processes, and the Facebook group who helped her create Kye’s “treasure trove of dick jokes” 😂
I want to thank Whit for sending me an ARC of this remarkable book 🩵 I’m so ready for book 2 👀
I recommend this book if you enjoy the following vibes:
🗡️ stabby FMC
❤️🩹 enemies to lovers
🧜🏽♀️ mermaids
🖤 touch her and💀
💞 found family
❤️🔥 slowburn romance
🔀 plot twists that leave you with whiplash
👊🏽 feminine rage
🔒 forced proximity
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 6, 2024
i am OBSESSED with this book. it was so good, i want to start reading it all over again. i loved the characters, the world-building, the myths and originality of Naiads. i could write a whole page on how i loved every single thing about this book, but mostly, i loved how it made me feel seen and understood.
The following will contain spoilers.
Maren is such a beautiful character to follow and to listen to her inner thoughts. i still don't know how someone who was constantly rejected and judged was able to be as kind a person as she was. i loved her so much.
KYE, my love i was rooting for you and could not believe you would betray us like you did. i kept hoping that something was up, and i was SO relieved when it turned out i was right. i know it was toxic of me to keep shipping Kye and Maren together even after he treated her like shit, but i couldn't help it.
i was in love with Maren when she was a simple human living in Leihani. i was in love with Maren when she was transformed into her true self, training and discovering her power and i was in love with Maren when she was questioning everything about Kye and when she tried to protect him as best she could.
theres so many questions left unanswered and i can't wait to find the truth in the next book. i mean, Selena, i love her, but she was acting shady at times. there's so much more to her story left to uncover, or what's up with Maren's Naiads "friends" who never told her the truth and why did they send her to collect the rock inside the volcano.
The following will contain spoilers.
Maren is such a beautiful character to follow and to listen to her inner thoughts. i still don't know how someone who was constantly rejected and judged was able to be as kind a person as she was. i loved her so much.
KYE, my love i was rooting for you and could not believe you would betray us like you did. i kept hoping that something was up, and i was SO relieved when it turned out i was right. i know it was toxic of me to keep shipping Kye and Maren together even after he treated her like shit, but i couldn't help it.
i was in love with Maren when she was a simple human living in Leihani. i was in love with Maren when she was transformed into her true self, training and discovering her power and i was in love with Maren when she was questioning everything about Kye and when she tried to protect him as best she could.
theres so many questions left unanswered and i can't wait to find the truth in the next book. i mean, Selena, i love her, but she was acting shady at times. there's so much more to her story left to uncover, or what's up with Maren's Naiads "friends" who never told her the truth and why did they send her to collect the rock inside the volcano.
March 9, 2025
I don’t even know where to start because this book completely wrecked me in the best way possible. Every time I thought I knew where things were headed, it threw me off a cliff (sometimes literally). The storytelling was insane, the world felt so alive, and the characters? They burrowed into my soul. I couldn’t put this down if I tried.
Let’s talk about Maren. I’ve never rooted for a character harder in my life. She’s thrown into impossible situations over and over, and somehow, she keeps going. She questions, she doubts, she feels—and that’s what made her so real. Every choice she made felt like it mattered, and I swear, I wanted to fight half the people around her for not appreciating her the way they should.
And Kye. This man had me ready to throw my book across the room. I wanted to be mad at him, I really did, but I couldn’t let go of that tiny voice in my head screaming that something wasn’t adding up. And when the truth finally came out? I was feral. The emotional whiplash was real.
Then there’s the unanswered questions. So many people in this book are hiding things, and I NEED answers. What’s really going on with Selena? What’s the full story behind Maren’s so-called allies? And don’t even get me started on that mission that never felt quite right. There’s so much more beneath the surface, and I need to know every single detail.
This book consumed me!
Let’s talk about Maren. I’ve never rooted for a character harder in my life. She’s thrown into impossible situations over and over, and somehow, she keeps going. She questions, she doubts, she feels—and that’s what made her so real. Every choice she made felt like it mattered, and I swear, I wanted to fight half the people around her for not appreciating her the way they should.
And Kye. This man had me ready to throw my book across the room. I wanted to be mad at him, I really did, but I couldn’t let go of that tiny voice in my head screaming that something wasn’t adding up. And when the truth finally came out? I was feral. The emotional whiplash was real.
Then there’s the unanswered questions. So many people in this book are hiding things, and I NEED answers. What’s really going on with Selena? What’s the full story behind Maren’s so-called allies? And don’t even get me started on that mission that never felt quite right. There’s so much more beneath the surface, and I need to know every single detail.
This book consumed me!
October 6, 2024
This book is for the all the girls who wanted to be a mermaid. And I'm that girl. This book was perfect in so many ways and I'm still shocked this is a debut novel. A Song of Sea and Sirens is the first of a series of 4 and I can't wait to buy the next book.
The world building is so well written with a fun twist to The Little Mermaid. Mermaids are not mermaids here, but Naiads and I'm not even mad. Fantasy and suspense with some adventure with a touch of romance.
Maren is full of sass and doesn't care what others think. She's full of rage at times and I love it! She will do whatever she can to prove herself worthy enough. Kye is the rebel to the kingdom and mysterious. You just don't know what your really going to get with him. I love how well they are written.
I loved how Whit kept you guessing and right when you think you have things figured out plot twist and then again and again. I am so glad this is the first book I read jumping back into my love of mermaids. 🧜🏻♀️
The world building is so well written with a fun twist to The Little Mermaid. Mermaids are not mermaids here, but Naiads and I'm not even mad. Fantasy and suspense with some adventure with a touch of romance.
Maren is full of sass and doesn't care what others think. She's full of rage at times and I love it! She will do whatever she can to prove herself worthy enough. Kye is the rebel to the kingdom and mysterious. You just don't know what your really going to get with him. I love how well they are written.
I loved how Whit kept you guessing and right when you think you have things figured out plot twist and then again and again. I am so glad this is the first book I read jumping back into my love of mermaids. 🧜🏻♀️
December 8, 2024
This book really picked up for me towards the back of the book, I devoured the second half in a day. With how invested I got by the end of it and the events happening, I'll definitely be looking forward to checking out book two!
It took me a while to get more clarity but once I had a better grasp of the world, I am all for it. Was honestly feeling iffy about the progression at the start between Maren and Kye but I'm glad it unfolded in such a way that I found myself rooting for them, and also some characters that we were later introduced to. I'm now all ready for book two!!
Thank you Whit and her team for providing this ARC, really appreciate it!
It took me a while to get more clarity but once I had a better grasp of the world, I am all for it. Was honestly feeling iffy about the progression at the start between Maren and Kye but I'm glad it unfolded in such a way that I found myself rooting for them, and also some characters that we were later introduced to. I'm now all ready for book two!!
Thank you Whit and her team for providing this ARC, really appreciate it!
September 16, 2025
enchanting
I loooovvvvveeeedddddd this book so much … I devoured it in less than 24 hrs !!!! Kye……. Hate him until you love him … extreme slow burn romance … ends on a massive cliffhanger!!! I love me a good siren and pirate story … check it out !!!
I loooovvvvveeeedddddd this book so much … I devoured it in less than 24 hrs !!!! Kye……. Hate him until you love him … extreme slow burn romance … ends on a massive cliffhanger!!! I love me a good siren and pirate story … check it out !!!
June 25, 2024
This did not disappoint but also ruined me! An excellent debut novel and I am reeling and need the sequel immediately.
This story was the perfect mix of fantasy, adventure and romance. But more than that the culture and rich world building had me so enticed and sucked into Maren’s world.
I was absolutely hooked from the beginning - handsome stranger is washed up on shore and girl who is friends with mermaids saves his life - barely captures the extent of this. It was so much more and one of my most enjoyable reads this year, with twists and turns leaving me with trust issues!
Maren was such an excellent character who was so easy to love. She is completely upheaved from the life she knows and seeing her navigate the unknown and watch her grow was such a joy!
Kye is a true enemies to lovers trope I adore him and I am offended by the ending of this book and the fate of my babies. I do feel we only just got a little sprinkle of him throughout the book but I am obsessed with him nonetheless and need more. All of the beach scenes that these two had were just so cruel (but particularly the last one omg).
This is an excellent debut novel, which I have been recommending to anyone who will listen. Congratulation Whitney (and please bring us more).
This story was the perfect mix of fantasy, adventure and romance. But more than that the culture and rich world building had me so enticed and sucked into Maren’s world.
I was absolutely hooked from the beginning - handsome stranger is washed up on shore and girl who is friends with mermaids saves his life - barely captures the extent of this. It was so much more and one of my most enjoyable reads this year, with twists and turns leaving me with trust issues!
Maren was such an excellent character who was so easy to love. She is completely upheaved from the life she knows and seeing her navigate the unknown and watch her grow was such a joy!
Kye is a true enemies to lovers trope I adore him and I am offended by the ending of this book and the fate of my babies. I do feel we only just got a little sprinkle of him throughout the book but I am obsessed with him nonetheless and need more. All of the beach scenes that these two had were just so cruel (but particularly the last one omg).
This is an excellent debut novel, which I have been recommending to anyone who will listen. Congratulation Whitney (and please bring us more).
October 16, 2025
I want to start the second book rn but I have work to do but my god what a journey wth. The plot twists so much has happened and it’s the first book. So flabbergasted rn.
June 26, 2024
What a phenomenal debut. Hailed as Moana meets The Little Mermaid, this is a fantasy is incredibly immersive with strong, complex characters.
Maren's mother, who was killed when she was a child, was called a witch by the small village where she makes her home. And Maren inherits the title and suspicion. Living is partial exile from the village, she grows up visiting a nearby isle and befriending two sirens. When a sailor from the far-away mainland comes to the island, she makes a deal with the sirens to save his life when he begins drowning. Initially mostly indifferent to the charms of the strange man, she soon finds herself ensnared in a complex relationship with Kye after his rescue.
His sudden betrayal sets the stage for a gripping story in which she is embroiled in kingdom politics and she finds herself blackmailed. The author excels in world-building and the nods to The Little Mermaid add a layer of familiarity, while the unique twists keep the plot fresh and engaging. The political dynamics and the dark undertones of the plot further enrich the story, creating a multi-dimensional world that feels both enchanting and extremely perilous.
Throughout the story, there is a constant sense of uncertainty. The reader is never quite sure who to trust, and nothing is as it seems. This pervasive sense of mystery adds a thrilling layer of tension, making each revelation and twist all the more impactful. As secrets are uncovered and motives are questioned, the plot thickens and I found myself deep into its pages in no time.
I also really enjoyed the character development of Maren; she comes a very long way throughout the story. Kye evolves into a complex character that I couldn't help but be intrigued by. Stanfield’s ability to transform Kye from a villainous figure into a nuanced love interest is particularly impressive because I had VERY strong feelings about him initially.
The pacing of A Sea of Song and Sirens is masterfully handled, with each twist and turn heightening the tension and driving the story forward. The darker themes are balanced with moments of introspection.
Stanfield sets up the next installment beautifully, ensuring that I will be anxiously awaiting the continuation of this amazing story. She has crafted a story that not only pays homage to classic fairytales but also carves out its own unique space in the fantasy genre. So freaking wonderful!
Thanks to R&R Booktours and the author for the copy. This review is based on a complimentary pre-released copy and it is voluntary.
Maren's mother, who was killed when she was a child, was called a witch by the small village where she makes her home. And Maren inherits the title and suspicion. Living is partial exile from the village, she grows up visiting a nearby isle and befriending two sirens. When a sailor from the far-away mainland comes to the island, she makes a deal with the sirens to save his life when he begins drowning. Initially mostly indifferent to the charms of the strange man, she soon finds herself ensnared in a complex relationship with Kye after his rescue.
His sudden betrayal sets the stage for a gripping story in which she is embroiled in kingdom politics and she finds herself blackmailed. The author excels in world-building and the nods to The Little Mermaid add a layer of familiarity, while the unique twists keep the plot fresh and engaging. The political dynamics and the dark undertones of the plot further enrich the story, creating a multi-dimensional world that feels both enchanting and extremely perilous.
Throughout the story, there is a constant sense of uncertainty. The reader is never quite sure who to trust, and nothing is as it seems. This pervasive sense of mystery adds a thrilling layer of tension, making each revelation and twist all the more impactful. As secrets are uncovered and motives are questioned, the plot thickens and I found myself deep into its pages in no time.
I also really enjoyed the character development of Maren; she comes a very long way throughout the story. Kye evolves into a complex character that I couldn't help but be intrigued by. Stanfield’s ability to transform Kye from a villainous figure into a nuanced love interest is particularly impressive because I had VERY strong feelings about him initially.
The pacing of A Sea of Song and Sirens is masterfully handled, with each twist and turn heightening the tension and driving the story forward. The darker themes are balanced with moments of introspection.
Stanfield sets up the next installment beautifully, ensuring that I will be anxiously awaiting the continuation of this amazing story. She has crafted a story that not only pays homage to classic fairytales but also carves out its own unique space in the fantasy genre. So freaking wonderful!
Thanks to R&R Booktours and the author for the copy. This review is based on a complimentary pre-released copy and it is voluntary.
December 21, 2024
What happens when Kahu from the Whale rider (IGCSE English Language students were u at) grows up to become a naiad. This book. Wowza, this was really a book and a half. After reading a long line of siren books I finally found one which I could stand to read to the end. I found the concept of the FMC coming from a fishing island super endearing, the author clearly put effort into creating a culture with plentiful lore and it was much appreciated. But once the story moves away from the island the political intrigue of castle politics really starts intriguing. The MMC was there ig but majority of the time I can only really recall him grinning, laughing and glaring a lot (I mean I am the first to say men are a lot more simple than women but Kye was giving us nothing once he got back to that damn castle)
My roses:
Loved how the MMC was regarded a witch and ostracised but I'm a little confused how the MMC heard all the village people say this and still decided he wanted to tap that
The inclusion of different made up (I think) languages
World building!!!
My thorns:
Those weird Ai like images that popped up that i presume were meant to be the FMC and MMC. Maren is described to be girl from a fishing island with what I believed was "golden brown skin" (don't quote me on that I'm to 100% sure) so my mind conjured up a Maori looking woman, COME TO FIND OUT. She's just another white girl (no hate to my Caucasian sisters) coming from a tropical island with lots of sun I would not expect any of the island people to be white (unless this is a coloniser situation like South Africa) and Kye is just another white man with brown hair???? Maybe its my kindle's fault but this bitch also looked brunette, the pair of them could really be sibling at this point.
At around 60% to 80% I was kinda bored, why tf did all the exciting shit only happen at the end
Read this book if you are interested in what Kahu did after she returned to her family from the back of a whale
My roses:
Loved how the MMC was regarded a witch and ostracised but I'm a little confused how the MMC heard all the village people say this and still decided he wanted to tap that
The inclusion of different made up (I think) languages
World building!!!
My thorns:
Those weird Ai like images that popped up that i presume were meant to be the FMC and MMC. Maren is described to be girl from a fishing island with what I believed was "golden brown skin" (don't quote me on that I'm to 100% sure) so my mind conjured up a Maori looking woman, COME TO FIND OUT. She's just another white girl (no hate to my Caucasian sisters) coming from a tropical island with lots of sun I would not expect any of the island people to be white (unless this is a coloniser situation like South Africa) and Kye is just another white man with brown hair???? Maybe its my kindle's fault but this bitch also looked brunette, the pair of them could really be sibling at this point.
At around 60% to 80% I was kinda bored, why tf did all the exciting shit only happen at the end
Read this book if you are interested in what Kahu did after she returned to her family from the back of a whale
September 8, 2024
Guys! What an outstanding debut novel by Whit. The detail in every aspect of this book is so well thought out and the story is absolutely captivating.
Whit does a beautiful job at blending cultures, languages, myths, traditions, fantasy, and the human world to just suck you right into Leihani and Calder.
Maren is a strong FMC, with the perfect balance of anger and wit, but also naivety and wonder. I love how we really get to spend time seeing Maren's life in Leilani prior to the big twists and plot ramping up. It connected me with her first person POV so much more and the emotions she went through throughout the rest of the book.
Kye is another amazing MMC, with so many sides to him it leaves you on your toes until all the pieces start falling together. Also a big fan of him having golden eyes and chocolate-y hair as a switch up from the standard black hair, blue eyes (definitely still love that though 🤪).
Maren and Kye together are the real definition of what I look for in enemies to lovers. The slow burn romance and the real twists and ups and downs of their relationship was perfect. I am so pumped that book 2 will have them together so much, I need all the passion 😍😍
If you loved the little mermaid growing up, or are just a fan of some good ol' Romantasy, you absolutely must read this!!
Whit does a beautiful job at blending cultures, languages, myths, traditions, fantasy, and the human world to just suck you right into Leihani and Calder.
Maren is a strong FMC, with the perfect balance of anger and wit, but also naivety and wonder. I love how we really get to spend time seeing Maren's life in Leilani prior to the big twists and plot ramping up. It connected me with her first person POV so much more and the emotions she went through throughout the rest of the book.
Kye is another amazing MMC, with so many sides to him it leaves you on your toes until all the pieces start falling together. Also a big fan of him having golden eyes and chocolate-y hair as a switch up from the standard black hair, blue eyes (definitely still love that though 🤪).
Maren and Kye together are the real definition of what I look for in enemies to lovers. The slow burn romance and the real twists and ups and downs of their relationship was perfect. I am so pumped that book 2 will have them together so much, I need all the passion 😍😍
If you loved the little mermaid growing up, or are just a fan of some good ol' Romantasy, you absolutely must read this!!
October 3, 2024
5 stars to the first 100 pages. Masterfully done. The FMC's life on the island was the best part of the book, the writing was utter perfection - beautiful, eerie, immersive. I fell in love. It felt like an actual place. I usually avoid books about sirens, pirates, that sort of stuff - it's just not my thing, I always find the execution of those tropes lacking - but here the pages kept flipping themselves and I couldn't get enough.
And then the rest of the book happened. Don't get me wrong, I anticipated the change, curious to see what was next, but it just couldn't compare to what we got in the beginning. Mix in a couple of my least favorite tropes like memory loss/amnesia + lots of dry infodumping and I started to feel disappointed. I hope there's more groveling in the next book to rectify the mess that was the middle of the book because the ending chapters were not it. The neverending descriptions of how angry the FMC was were so tiring. Yea, we get it, she's not quiet and demure, she rages inwardly but so what. Nothing special came out of it, just made her look like a raging toddler. The book ended on nothing, basically, no crescendo, no resolution. Things just suddenly took an unexpected turn, loosely tied to the rest of the story and that's where the author decided to end it.
And then the rest of the book happened. Don't get me wrong, I anticipated the change, curious to see what was next, but it just couldn't compare to what we got in the beginning. Mix in a couple of my least favorite tropes like memory loss/amnesia + lots of dry infodumping and I started to feel disappointed. I hope there's more groveling in the next book to rectify the mess that was the middle of the book because the ending chapters were not it. The neverending descriptions of how angry the FMC was were so tiring. Yea, we get it, she's not quiet and demure, she rages inwardly but so what. Nothing special came out of it, just made her look like a raging toddler. The book ended on nothing, basically, no crescendo, no resolution. Things just suddenly took an unexpected turn, loosely tied to the rest of the story and that's where the author decided to end it.
July 28, 2024
“𝑨𝒍𝒍 𝑰 𝒌𝒏𝒆𝒘 𝒊𝒔 𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒂𝒙𝒆𝒅 𝒂 𝒇𝒊𝒓𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏 𝒎𝒆, 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒍𝒆𝒇𝒕 𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒖𝒓𝒏”
This was the first book in years to keep me up late because I HAD to finish it. It gave me Little Mermaid except “𝙄 𝙙𝙤𝙣’𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙚𝙤𝙥𝙡𝙚 𝙖𝙧𝙚” and honestly, same. I was in awe with the world-building and how beautifully descriptive the setting was, despite the danger looming on every page.
This was the perfect balance of “KISS HIM”, wait no “END HIM” wait no “KISS HIM”, wait now “WHAT”. I honestly don’t know who I wanted more, Maren or Kye, because they’re both such dynamic characters that left me dying to know more about them.
Overall, this was an incredible read and I can’t wait to read more of this series! The best part is the second in the series is expected in December so it’s not too long of a wait.
Huge thank you to Whitney Stanfield for providing me with this ARC. You’re an incredible talent.
This was the first book in years to keep me up late because I HAD to finish it. It gave me Little Mermaid except “𝙄 𝙙𝙤𝙣’𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙚𝙤𝙥𝙡𝙚 𝙖𝙧𝙚” and honestly, same. I was in awe with the world-building and how beautifully descriptive the setting was, despite the danger looming on every page.
This was the perfect balance of “KISS HIM”, wait no “END HIM” wait no “KISS HIM”, wait now “WHAT”. I honestly don’t know who I wanted more, Maren or Kye, because they’re both such dynamic characters that left me dying to know more about them.
Overall, this was an incredible read and I can’t wait to read more of this series! The best part is the second in the series is expected in December so it’s not too long of a wait.
Huge thank you to Whitney Stanfield for providing me with this ARC. You’re an incredible talent.
October 25, 2024
This is the first fantasy book I’ve read consisting of sirens, and it did NOT disappoint!!
The world building is so well described and easy to keep up with. The characters are easy to love / hate, it really didn’t take me long to get obsessed. Maren learns more about sirens / Naiads and how them as creatures live, what they can do, but at the same time she wonders if what she’s learning is true, or if she’s getting the whole truth. Who can she really trust?
It’s such a rollercoaster to think about where the book starts, to where it took me, and where I’m at now. My emotions were all over the place - in the best way possible. Thinking back there were so many clues as to what would come, and I can’t wait to read the second book!!
I’m amazed over the fact that this is Whit Stanfield’s debut, I struggled to put it down and am so invested in Maren and Kye’s story!!
Favourite quotes and scenes:
🧜🏼♀️ “the biggest fear anyone will face is their own demons.”
🧜🏼♀️ “are you quiet? Caught up in the peaceful scenes of nature? Perhaps you have difficulty connecting with people, sometimes not knowing whether something you say might be rude until after you have said it?” - I thought she was calling me out here
🧜🏼♀️ “I was a cast made of ordinary clay, but he was the liquid gold that poured over me, filling my empty frame as we molded together,”
🧜🏼♀️ "I burned for you as we stood under that altar. And I've been burning for you since."
🧜🏼♀️ “He couldn't help but take their attention away from me—just as I couldn't help meeting their demands to protect him.”
The world building is so well described and easy to keep up with. The characters are easy to love / hate, it really didn’t take me long to get obsessed. Maren learns more about sirens / Naiads and how them as creatures live, what they can do, but at the same time she wonders if what she’s learning is true, or if she’s getting the whole truth. Who can she really trust?
It’s such a rollercoaster to think about where the book starts, to where it took me, and where I’m at now. My emotions were all over the place - in the best way possible. Thinking back there were so many clues as to what would come, and I can’t wait to read the second book!!
I’m amazed over the fact that this is Whit Stanfield’s debut, I struggled to put it down and am so invested in Maren and Kye’s story!!
Favourite quotes and scenes:
🧜🏼♀️ “the biggest fear anyone will face is their own demons.”
🧜🏼♀️ “are you quiet? Caught up in the peaceful scenes of nature? Perhaps you have difficulty connecting with people, sometimes not knowing whether something you say might be rude until after you have said it?” - I thought she was calling me out here
🧜🏼♀️ “I was a cast made of ordinary clay, but he was the liquid gold that poured over me, filling my empty frame as we molded together,”
🧜🏼♀️ "I burned for you as we stood under that altar. And I've been burning for you since."
🧜🏼♀️ “He couldn't help but take their attention away from me—just as I couldn't help meeting their demands to protect him.”
September 24, 2024
This book surprised me. I went into it blind, the only prompt being some gorgeous character art a friend of mine shared and WOW, this book surpassed every expectation I had. It is an ensnaring debut from Whit Stanfield, full of sea, mystery, naiads, betrayals and twists I never saw coming.
The world building sets the scene really well, it's detailed enough but doesn't take the focus away from Maren, the FMC. There is also a glossary in the book, which really helped me when I was stuck on understanding a few words.
This book had me gripping the edge of my seat in places, I fell for Kye pretty much as soon as he enters the book, only to get extreme whiplash before figuring out what was going on No spoilers here folks). I never expected to love this book as much as I did, it shows just how much research and time went into the background of ASOSAS; the myths, the naiads.
The mermaid vibes this book gives are immaculate and I can't wait to see where Maren's story goes.
PSA: I may have come out of this book with a *very* unhealthy obsession with Kye and a desperate need for book two, but I'm not complaining one bit. I can't wait to reread it soon in prep for book two!
If you are considering picking this book up, please take this as your sign to do so!
The world building sets the scene really well, it's detailed enough but doesn't take the focus away from Maren, the FMC. There is also a glossary in the book, which really helped me when I was stuck on understanding a few words.
This book had me gripping the edge of my seat in places, I fell for Kye pretty much as soon as he enters the book, only to get extreme whiplash before figuring out what was going on No spoilers here folks). I never expected to love this book as much as I did, it shows just how much research and time went into the background of ASOSAS; the myths, the naiads.
The mermaid vibes this book gives are immaculate and I can't wait to see where Maren's story goes.
PSA: I may have come out of this book with a *very* unhealthy obsession with Kye and a desperate need for book two, but I'm not complaining one bit. I can't wait to reread it soon in prep for book two!
If you are considering picking this book up, please take this as your sign to do so!
September 6, 2025
'I was a breathing storm. A corrupted sea, set ablaze. A volcano of magma and flame, trapped in the body of a woman scorned. I could not be doused.'
⭐⭐⭐⭐
If A Sea of Song and Sirens were a course, it would be Feminine Rage 101. I really enjoyed myself!
I love an angry FMC when they're angry for a completely justifiable reason, and, friends, Maren has a reason. She's been dealt such an unfair hand at the beginning of the book that you can't help but continue to read on and, frankly, towards the end of the book I was angry for her.
There were quite a few plot twists in this book that I didn't see coming, and my opinion of Kye backflipped so many times that I felt like I was training for the Olympics. So many of these characters had really intriguing backstories, and I can't wait to see how they're more fully explored in book 2.
I did think that the story sagged just a bit after the first 100 pages or so, and struggled to pick up again for a while. Not that it was bad or anything, just that it was difficult to adjust to the change of pace after such an action packed opening to the story.
This was a solid entry into the romantasy genre, and I'm so looking forward to continuing this series!
⭐⭐⭐⭐
If A Sea of Song and Sirens were a course, it would be Feminine Rage 101. I really enjoyed myself!
I love an angry FMC when they're angry for a completely justifiable reason, and, friends, Maren has a reason. She's been dealt such an unfair hand at the beginning of the book that you can't help but continue to read on and, frankly, towards the end of the book I was angry for her.
There were quite a few plot twists in this book that I didn't see coming, and my opinion of Kye backflipped so many times that I felt like I was training for the Olympics. So many of these characters had really intriguing backstories, and I can't wait to see how they're more fully explored in book 2.
I did think that the story sagged just a bit after the first 100 pages or so, and struggled to pick up again for a while. Not that it was bad or anything, just that it was difficult to adjust to the change of pace after such an action packed opening to the story.
This was a solid entry into the romantasy genre, and I'm so looking forward to continuing this series!
July 20, 2024
Moana meets the little mermaid with a twist in this rich, gripping story.
Maren has always felt like an outcast on her little island , Leihani. Believed to be a witch, everyone either avoid her or straight up hate her as suspicious disparitions of sailors that coincide with her and her late mother’s presence occurs in the island.
The tale grips your attention from page one, with its rich and unique world building and solid plot and there’s even a glossary for the Leihaniian words the characters use.
The author’s writing is really good, and the tension and the chemistry between the main love interests was truly palpable. She also skillfully portrayed people’s eagerness to fall into prejudices like with what the main character faced everyday and even from her own family.
Also, this book has many tropes that I love:
💖Enemies to lovers
💖Touch her and d*e
💖Forced proximity
💖Overprotective MMC
"I burned for you as we stood under that altar. And I've been burning for you since" 😩🤌🏻
I read it in one sitting, on the edge of my seat because it was THAT good.
That ending though!! I need the next book like RIGHT NOW!!!
Maren has always felt like an outcast on her little island , Leihani. Believed to be a witch, everyone either avoid her or straight up hate her as suspicious disparitions of sailors that coincide with her and her late mother’s presence occurs in the island.
The tale grips your attention from page one, with its rich and unique world building and solid plot and there’s even a glossary for the Leihaniian words the characters use.
The author’s writing is really good, and the tension and the chemistry between the main love interests was truly palpable. She also skillfully portrayed people’s eagerness to fall into prejudices like with what the main character faced everyday and even from her own family.
Also, this book has many tropes that I love:
💖Enemies to lovers
💖Touch her and d*e
💖Forced proximity
💖Overprotective MMC
"I burned for you as we stood under that altar. And I've been burning for you since" 😩🤌🏻
I read it in one sitting, on the edge of my seat because it was THAT good.
That ending though!! I need the next book like RIGHT NOW!!!
June 28, 2024
✨ ARC Review ✨
📖 A Sea of Song and Sirens - Whit Stanfield
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️
The chokehold this book has on me is INSANE.
Advertised as “‘Moana’ meets ‘A Little Mermaid’ meets ‘The Princess Bride’”, this book did not disappoint!
It is a perfect mix of fantasy, adventure and romance, but where I thought it really delivered was the world building. Whit expertly developed a rich culture within the world, complete with a glossary of terminology and unique calendars for each land - the attention to detail is wild!
The story starts with Maren - an outcast on her island home - saving a handsome stranger from drowning. This event throws her life into chaos as the plot unfurls into a gripping adventure that kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. I pride myself on being pretty good at catching twists before they happen, but I was floored by every. single. one.
The characters were amazing! Maren had a great deal of depth and her character developed beautifully throughout the story. Her relationship with Selena was perfectly complicated, and her budding friendship with Diara was a treat. And how could we forget about my latest book husband Kye? He’s not a snacc, he’s the whole damn meal.
Congrats Whit on the phenomenal debut, my only complaint is that I do not already have the sequel!
📖 A Sea of Song and Sirens - Whit Stanfield
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️
The chokehold this book has on me is INSANE.
Advertised as “‘Moana’ meets ‘A Little Mermaid’ meets ‘The Princess Bride’”, this book did not disappoint!
It is a perfect mix of fantasy, adventure and romance, but where I thought it really delivered was the world building. Whit expertly developed a rich culture within the world, complete with a glossary of terminology and unique calendars for each land - the attention to detail is wild!
The story starts with Maren - an outcast on her island home - saving a handsome stranger from drowning. This event throws her life into chaos as the plot unfurls into a gripping adventure that kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. I pride myself on being pretty good at catching twists before they happen, but I was floored by every. single. one.
The characters were amazing! Maren had a great deal of depth and her character developed beautifully throughout the story. Her relationship with Selena was perfectly complicated, and her budding friendship with Diara was a treat. And how could we forget about my latest book husband Kye? He’s not a snacc, he’s the whole damn meal.
Congrats Whit on the phenomenal debut, my only complaint is that I do not already have the sequel!
July 16, 2024
4.5🌟 rounded up!!
What a DEBUT! Oh my god. Whit crafted an incredibly immersive world, promised angry Moana, Little Mermaid vibes, emotional whiplash from plot twists and she entirely delivered. This book was a gorgeous, culturally rich package that felt well-researched and so lovingly pieced together. I’m no expert, but the inclusion of the glossary and the context clues made this such a delightful dip into this world.
This was such a refreshing step into a new type of fantasy for me — a world outside of fae, warriors, dragons. Sirens, naiads, mermaids, build in and around water and folklore. Maren is female rage bottled up and I am a sucker for an ostracized, angry, stabby FMC who’s not afraid to step up to a challenge. I loved her developing mentorship with Selena and I love me a good female friendship, like we saw with Diara.
Kye had me looking left and right and left again before I crossed the street, and then I still got hit by a piano falling from the sky. The entire time of not knowing what to trust or who to trust or which way was up was insane. The ending had some parts that made me sick to my stomach, but in a very authentic and not out of place way. I also never saw what happened coming from a mile away.
I did feel some lulls around the 30-40% mark, but that I think was due more so to me being in a full summer romance mood and less of a world building mood, but that’s where I lost the full 5. Otherwise, I thought this was stunning. I feel like re-readability is high due to how much backstory and lore and history is built into the framework. I HIGHLY recommend checking out this gorgeous piece and I’m so looking forward to the rest of the series.
What a DEBUT! Oh my god. Whit crafted an incredibly immersive world, promised angry Moana, Little Mermaid vibes, emotional whiplash from plot twists and she entirely delivered. This book was a gorgeous, culturally rich package that felt well-researched and so lovingly pieced together. I’m no expert, but the inclusion of the glossary and the context clues made this such a delightful dip into this world.
This was such a refreshing step into a new type of fantasy for me — a world outside of fae, warriors, dragons. Sirens, naiads, mermaids, build in and around water and folklore. Maren is female rage bottled up and I am a sucker for an ostracized, angry, stabby FMC who’s not afraid to step up to a challenge. I loved her developing mentorship with Selena and I love me a good female friendship, like we saw with Diara.
Kye had me looking left and right and left again before I crossed the street, and then I still got hit by a piano falling from the sky. The entire time of not knowing what to trust or who to trust or which way was up was insane. The ending had some parts that made me sick to my stomach, but in a very authentic and not out of place way. I also never saw what happened coming from a mile away.
I did feel some lulls around the 30-40% mark, but that I think was due more so to me being in a full summer romance mood and less of a world building mood, but that’s where I lost the full 5. Otherwise, I thought this was stunning. I feel like re-readability is high due to how much backstory and lore and history is built into the framework. I HIGHLY recommend checking out this gorgeous piece and I’m so looking forward to the rest of the series.
July 4, 2024
4.5⭐️
Este libro es muuuuuuuuy bueno. Tiene todo lo necesario para crear una historia increíble y la autora escribe demasiado bien. El ritmo de la historia es muy lento, pero la manera en la que describe todo lo que es el mundo y la construcción de la fantasía se hace muy ameno, no es nada pesado.
Maren es maravillosa, es un personaje muy fuerte y poderoso, pero con sus fallos. No es una Mary Sue perfecta que todo lo hace bien y todo le sale perfectamente, se equivoca constantemente y las batallas/luchas/peleas son realistas. La cosa está muy equilibrada y nunca sabes quien va a ganar.
De Kye no puedo decir mucho, porque me confunde. Supongo que en el siguiente libro se verá más su personalidad (aquí no narra, solo se ve lo que Maren ve). Aún así no me disgusta, es majete🤭
En fin, LEEDLO🫵
Este libro es muuuuuuuuy bueno. Tiene todo lo necesario para crear una historia increíble y la autora escribe demasiado bien. El ritmo de la historia es muy lento, pero la manera en la que describe todo lo que es el mundo y la construcción de la fantasía se hace muy ameno, no es nada pesado.
Maren es maravillosa, es un personaje muy fuerte y poderoso, pero con sus fallos. No es una Mary Sue perfecta que todo lo hace bien y todo le sale perfectamente, se equivoca constantemente y las batallas/luchas/peleas son realistas. La cosa está muy equilibrada y nunca sabes quien va a ganar.
De Kye no puedo decir mucho, porque me confunde. Supongo que en el siguiente libro se verá más su personalidad (aquí no narra, solo se ve lo que Maren ve). Aún así no me disgusta, es majete🤭
En fin, LEEDLO🫵
August 3, 2025
Yes it took me awhile, but that’s because I was also reading several other books at once😅
WOW!! What a book!! My first siren/mermaid romantasy and it did not disappoint!
Almost constantly on the edge of my seat, it was so hard to stop at the end of each chapter.
This was TRUE enemies to lovers, but also he fell first and harder, and the BANTER!! AGHHH!! Kye I love you, you da best.
Maren is such a badass!! So proud of her🥹
The plot twists were twisting, the secrets, the mystery, couldn’t get enough!
The only reason this isn’t 5 stars is because of the writing style and language, it just took awhile to get used to! But still, great book! Can’t wait to continue with this series🥰🩵
WOW!! What a book!! My first siren/mermaid romantasy and it did not disappoint!
Almost constantly on the edge of my seat, it was so hard to stop at the end of each chapter.
This was TRUE enemies to lovers, but also he fell first and harder, and the BANTER!! AGHHH!! Kye I love you, you da best.
Maren is such a badass!! So proud of her🥹
The plot twists were twisting, the secrets, the mystery, couldn’t get enough!
The only reason this isn’t 5 stars is because of the writing style and language, it just took awhile to get used to! But still, great book! Can’t wait to continue with this series🥰🩵
July 9, 2024
I’m not sure if it was because I read this during a hurricane or not, but I blew through this book! I see mermaids and I read it—I’m a simple girl.
But really this book was great! I adored Maren and Kye as characters and I feel like we haven’t even come close to seeing them at their best. I always am impressed when a book can keep me on my toes and this one certainly did—I had no idea where the story was going for like 70% of this book. I will anxiously be awaiting the conclusion of that cliffhanger we were left on!
But really this book was great! I adored Maren and Kye as characters and I feel like we haven’t even come close to seeing them at their best. I always am impressed when a book can keep me on my toes and this one certainly did—I had no idea where the story was going for like 70% of this book. I will anxiously be awaiting the conclusion of that cliffhanger we were left on!
December 4, 2024
Obsessed. I could not put this book down once I got to the second half. Love the enemies to lovers trope and a strong female character that’s full of rage and can battle. This was a great romance novel while also being full of action and drama. I truly had no idea where this was going and was along for every twist and turn. This is what 8 year old me meant when I said “let’s play mermaids”. Need this to be made into a movie someday
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