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Speak The Ocean
Corporate tells the public the mermaids aren't dangerous, but that's a lie.
When the superpredator Mer kill another trainer, Finnegan Jarvis finally sees his opportunity to become a superstar trainer. No more scrubbing tanks and cleaning blood: he's gonna be in front of the audience showing off his brand-new, fully-trained mermaid. If only he can get her to do the tricks she's supposed to.
That mermaid is Erie, an ocean-princess ripped from her home when she pushes another Mer out of the way of the net. She doesn't understand why she's there, but she's determined to learn air-words to find out.
While Finn trains Erie, she teaches herself air-words. And when she finally speaks, Finn breaks the number one rule at Oceanica: Never Humanize The Mer.
Now he'll do whatever it takes to save her.
When the superpredator Mer kill another trainer, Finnegan Jarvis finally sees his opportunity to become a superstar trainer. No more scrubbing tanks and cleaning blood: he's gonna be in front of the audience showing off his brand-new, fully-trained mermaid. If only he can get her to do the tricks she's supposed to.
That mermaid is Erie, an ocean-princess ripped from her home when she pushes another Mer out of the way of the net. She doesn't understand why she's there, but she's determined to learn air-words to find out.
While Finn trains Erie, she teaches herself air-words. And when she finally speaks, Finn breaks the number one rule at Oceanica: Never Humanize The Mer.
Now he'll do whatever it takes to save her.
354 pages, Paperback
First published July 9, 2019
40 people are currently reading
1179 people want to read
About the author
Rebecca Enzor
6 books64 followersRebecca Enzor is an environmental chemist in Oak Harbor, WA, where she lives with her husband, a cat, three dogs, and sometimes chickens. Obsessed with everything ocean, she studied fisheries biology in college and electrocuted herself collecting fish in a river, which inspired several key scenes in her debut novel, Speak The Ocean.
Her articles on writing science in science fiction can be found in Writer's Digest "Putting the Science in Fiction".
For more about Rebecca's work, please visit rebeccaenzor.com
Her articles on writing science in science fiction can be found in Writer's Digest "Putting the Science in Fiction".
For more about Rebecca's work, please visit rebeccaenzor.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 117 reviews
March 21, 2024
I wrote the book, so obviously I'm giving it five stars ;)
Go weird little book, go! I hope you all love it!
Go weird little book, go! I hope you all love it!
June 3, 2019
The voice in this book jumps off the page. Even before you know what's going on, it hooks you and draws you into the story. Just exceptionally well written.
And the story is great, too. The book is told from two points of view in alternating chapters. Finn is a trainer at a marine park that resembles something like Sea World. Erie is a mermaid who is captured in the open ocean and taken against her will to be an attraction in that park. Finn becomes her trainer, and he quickly realizes that she's not just a fish, but is part human, and she's NOT happy to be there. That's not good for the humans, since the mer are absolute predators.
Bottom line, this is the summer beach read you didn't know you needed. Though it may make you not want to go in the water.
And the story is great, too. The book is told from two points of view in alternating chapters. Finn is a trainer at a marine park that resembles something like Sea World. Erie is a mermaid who is captured in the open ocean and taken against her will to be an attraction in that park. Finn becomes her trainer, and he quickly realizes that she's not just a fish, but is part human, and she's NOT happy to be there. That's not good for the humans, since the mer are absolute predators.
Bottom line, this is the summer beach read you didn't know you needed. Though it may make you not want to go in the water.
June 9, 2020
Rating:
3 stars
Cover:
Amazing
Trigger:
Some aspect of animal cruelty
Short review:
This was 5 star read up until the last chapter. In my later night read haze, I finished this book, so it is safe to say that it certainly possesses the quality that keeps you up until 2 AM, however I also left confused whether I have read what I have read last night? Apparently, I did and somehow it didn't leave a good taste. It's like eating something rancid after eating an exquisite eight-course fine meal.
We live in a world where mermaid exists and mankind knows its existence. They are captured and trained to perform like in similar establishments like Sea World. It is a rough situation for Merfolks but coveted prospect to see a creature of myth and train them for humans. Erie has been captured and assigned to an upcoming trainer Finn. Rather than taking a traditional approach of instilling fear to perform tricks, Finn takes a different approach of positive enforcement to train Erie and ends up humanizing her. She learns to understand and speak English, starts performing but it is the short-lived arrangement and things go south for all of them quickly.
The trope of a mermaid and a human falling in love has been done so many times, it needs to be done correctly. This could have been a terror story or a love story but falls flat in both aspects.
Review in image/gif:
Recommended:
Yes
Aftermath: (possible spoilers)
Whatever I feel about the romance or the ending, I still recommend because it still is a good mermaid book.
3 stars
Cover:
Amazing
Trigger:
Some aspect of animal cruelty
Short review:
This was 5 star read up until the last chapter. In my later night read haze, I finished this book, so it is safe to say that it certainly possesses the quality that keeps you up until 2 AM, however I also left confused whether I have read what I have read last night? Apparently, I did and somehow it didn't leave a good taste. It's like eating something rancid after eating an exquisite eight-course fine meal.
We live in a world where mermaid exists and mankind knows its existence. They are captured and trained to perform like in similar establishments like Sea World. It is a rough situation for Merfolks but coveted prospect to see a creature of myth and train them for humans. Erie has been captured and assigned to an upcoming trainer Finn. Rather than taking a traditional approach of instilling fear to perform tricks, Finn takes a different approach of positive enforcement to train Erie and ends up humanizing her. She learns to understand and speak English, starts performing but it is the short-lived arrangement and things go south for all of them quickly.
The trope of a mermaid and a human falling in love has been done so many times, it needs to be done correctly. This could have been a terror story or a love story but falls flat in both aspects.
Review in image/gif:
Recommended:
Yes
Aftermath: (possible spoilers)
Whatever I feel about the romance or the ending, I still recommend because it still is a good mermaid book.
July 25, 2019
SPEAK THE OCEAN is an incredible debut, filled with vibrant character, breathtaking stakes and a highly realistic take on what it would inevitably be like if mermaids were captured and used in a theme park. The morality of marine life in captivity for human amusement is key to the heart of this story, and it pulls sharply on the heartstrings of any reader, especially those who have a soft spot for marine life and ocean conservation. In addition to believable depictions of marine science and the amusement park industry, the book has some delightful nods to real-life Key West that any local Floridian will smile at. Rebecca Enzor has a deeply natural sense of character and dialogue that flows with feeling and wit. Both narrators - human trainer Finn and Mer captive Erie - are vivacious, strong-minded and flawed with beautiful hearts at their core. Reading along with their change and growth is a beautifully written journey of ebb and flow that I almost didn’t want to end... but the ending is so exquisite you won’t want to put the book down! I have been aggressively informing people about this book since I was fortunate enough to read its early draft several years ago, and now having read its final form I am so incredibly thrilled to continue brandishing it at anyone who will stand still long enough to listen.
July 11, 2019
This started out so good but then never went anywhere. I'm not sure what this book wants to be.
It is pitched as Blackfish meets The Little Mermaid and has the potential to explore corporate greed and human entitlement with the backdrop of a mermaid amusement park. But all of that is kind of brushed over and never really explored. Instead we get repetitive scenes of trainer Finn and mermaid Erie having shallow conversations and interactions. I wish we would have seen more of the other trainers and mermaids and more of the park in general. The world-building felt lacking. The mermaids don't feel that different in their language, culture and behavior from the humans, which makes the fact that they're regarded as dumb fish kind of weird.
And then there is the romance? Until the last part I would have said that this isn't a romance, although the close interactions between the two main characters and expectations might lead one to belive so. Erie, the mermaid, is held captive and emotionally attaches herself to the first person who shows her basic human kindness. It is even mentioned by Finn that she suffers from Stockholm Syndrom.
Then there's Finn, her trainer, who is a basic bitch and we're supposed to think of him as a great selfless guy when all he does is treat Erie like a person. Wow, dude, you don't electrocute the mermaid in your care constantly when she doesn't do as you say. Revolutionary.
Their power balance is so screwed and still it ends the way you'd expect a typical romance to go, despite the hints that it might turn these expectations around. What a disappointing read.
It is pitched as Blackfish meets The Little Mermaid and has the potential to explore corporate greed and human entitlement with the backdrop of a mermaid amusement park. But all of that is kind of brushed over and never really explored. Instead we get repetitive scenes of trainer Finn and mermaid Erie having shallow conversations and interactions. I wish we would have seen more of the other trainers and mermaids and more of the park in general. The world-building felt lacking. The mermaids don't feel that different in their language, culture and behavior from the humans, which makes the fact that they're regarded as dumb fish kind of weird.
And then there is the romance? Until the last part I would have said that this isn't a romance, although the close interactions between the two main characters and expectations might lead one to belive so. Erie, the mermaid, is held captive and emotionally attaches herself to the first person who shows her basic human kindness. It is even mentioned by Finn that she suffers from Stockholm Syndrom.
Then there's Finn, her trainer, who is a basic bitch and we're supposed to think of him as a great selfless guy when all he does is treat Erie like a person. Wow, dude, you don't electrocute the mermaid in your care constantly when she doesn't do as you say. Revolutionary.
Their power balance is so screwed and still it ends the way you'd expect a typical romance to go, despite the hints that it might turn these expectations around. What a disappointing read.
August 11, 2019
This book was nearly 400 pages long. I finished last night. Unlike most novels, I took my time reading it. I savored the story because I didn't want to leave this world once immersed. Terrible pun, but I couldn't resist. It's also true.
You can read the book blurb and other reviews to get the plot. I want to convey the heart without giving away too much.
We have a protagonist, a guy, who's full of himself. He's cocky and confident and complex. That's the important part, his complexity. Without it, there would have been no struggle. The author beautifully leads us through that struggle, leads us into where the heart of the story lives and what we as individuals are willing to do when we face up to lies and learn the truth. Will we stand for the right thing to do, the right action to take, no matter the cost? Or will we trick ourselves into holding onto the lie because it's what we've always believed, and to let go of that belief is to let go of part of ourselves. And grow.
Growth comes at a cost. That's what I loved so much about this book: all the people who stood on one side or the other, the costs to each of them no matter their choices, and what was gained (or lost) in the end.
Can we talk about that ending for a hot second? It grabbed my heart and squeezed so hard in the best way possible.
As a last note, I, too, fell in love with Erie. I didn't have to see her perform or smile. The juxtaposition of her beautiful innocence set against her willingness to kill to survive had me from the start.
I'm going to let this story sink in for a bit. Then I'm diving right back in (sorry, I just can't help myself) to read it again.
You can read the book blurb and other reviews to get the plot. I want to convey the heart without giving away too much.
We have a protagonist, a guy, who's full of himself. He's cocky and confident and complex. That's the important part, his complexity. Without it, there would have been no struggle. The author beautifully leads us through that struggle, leads us into where the heart of the story lives and what we as individuals are willing to do when we face up to lies and learn the truth. Will we stand for the right thing to do, the right action to take, no matter the cost? Or will we trick ourselves into holding onto the lie because it's what we've always believed, and to let go of that belief is to let go of part of ourselves. And grow.
Growth comes at a cost. That's what I loved so much about this book: all the people who stood on one side or the other, the costs to each of them no matter their choices, and what was gained (or lost) in the end.
Can we talk about that ending for a hot second? It grabbed my heart and squeezed so hard in the best way possible.
As a last note, I, too, fell in love with Erie. I didn't have to see her perform or smile. The juxtaposition of her beautiful innocence set against her willingness to kill to survive had me from the start.
I'm going to let this story sink in for a bit. Then I'm diving right back in (sorry, I just can't help myself) to read it again.
July 5, 2020
"If he ever jumps into my tank again, I will steal his air, because he stole my ocean."
Finn helped create Oceania with Aunt D, who worked with his dad, who sadly died trying to provide the evidence that the Mer people exist.
Finn is just waiting for his opportunity to become a trainer, and now is his chance.
A really interesting and engaging story of love, courage and bravery.
I really loved this story, and I really loved the ending of this story too. I did find the writing very cringe worthy at points (I think the author is a Star Wars fan?) And I did feel that some parts maybe shouldn't have been included, as is seemed to be conflicted between young adult and really adult. Despite these issues I had with the book, I enjoyed the story and the characters, I read it very quickly too. I would definitely read more from this author.
Thank you to Netgally for my readers copy
Finn helped create Oceania with Aunt D, who worked with his dad, who sadly died trying to provide the evidence that the Mer people exist.
Finn is just waiting for his opportunity to become a trainer, and now is his chance.
A really interesting and engaging story of love, courage and bravery.
I really loved this story, and I really loved the ending of this story too. I did find the writing very cringe worthy at points (I think the author is a Star Wars fan?) And I did feel that some parts maybe shouldn't have been included, as is seemed to be conflicted between young adult and really adult. Despite these issues I had with the book, I enjoyed the story and the characters, I read it very quickly too. I would definitely read more from this author.
Thank you to Netgally for my readers copy
August 25, 2019
First, humans discovered the Mer were real. Second, humans learned that Mer performances drew thousands of paying tourists to marine parks every day. Third, humans discovered that the Mer are not like Ariel. They’re lethal predators who can—and do—kill their human trainers. Only rigid rules, constant vigilance, and an electroshocker keep them in line.
Finn, a human handler, wants only to prove his value and make a name for himself in this business. Erie, the first Mer put in Finn’s hands for training, knows this new life will break her. Finn knows his future rides on Erie’s shoulders. Erie decides that if Finn won’t help her go home, she’ll at least take him down with her.
No Mer has ever survived captivity for long. No captured Mer has ever been released. But everything changes when Finn realizes that Erie can speak. That she’s more than just a fish. That she’ll die unless he can free her. All he’s ever worked for stands between her and her beloved ocean. Except now that his world has collided with Erie’s, Finn is no longer sure what he wants. All he knows is that somehow, he must make the world see Erie, see the Mer, as he does—a treasure worth saving.
I was enthralled by this book from the very first page. Author Rebecca Enzor’s gift for storytelling enlivens each word and colors every phrase. The narrative winds back and forth between Finn’s point of view and Erie’s, each driven by their own motivations and goals. Both won me over. Finn’s need to prove himself to his peers at Oceanica Marine Park and to Aunt D, especially given the loss of his father at an early age, rings true to life. He’s always a relatable character, if not necessarily a likable guy. More than once I wanted to give him a piece of my mind. Erie, too, had her petty moments. Yet given that she is imprisoned in an alien place with no way to know what’s going on or what these landfolk expect of her, I could understand her reactions. Her anguish, fear, and depression pierced me to my core. As these two characters grew together, trusting and suspecting one another by turns, Speak the Ocean wrapped its tale around me, squeezed my heart, and pulled me into its depths. I fell for Finn and Erie hook, line, and sinker.
But this story is more than just good fiction. Enzor’s depiction of marine science and the inhumane treatment of marine mammals in the ocean park industry strummed a chord of compassion in me. Any animal training program, whether real or imagined involves a system of rewards and, inevitably, punishments. Whales, dolphins, and sea lions are given fresh fish as treats when they perform a trick at Sea World. Behind the scenes, the animals are often food-deprived to make them cooperative.
The Mer in StO are treated even worse by the landfolk at Oceanica. Staff are told again and again that they should never humanize the Mer. All their needs are met—food, clean water, a clean tank, veterinary care. What more could they need? After all, they’re only fish, dangerous beasts who kill without thought or feeling.
However, in fiction as in life, sometimes the monsters are humans. StO slams that message home with brute force hidden in deft turns of phrase and, for me, this was the deeper message in Finn and Erie’s story. Humans already demean each other in order to excuse poor treatment or even enslavement, so of course we do it to other animals, too. Here. Every day. In real life. And maybe it’s time we took a long, hard look at our performances in that particular arena.
This is Enzor’s debut novel, and she well and truly knocked it out of the park. Rest assured, Speak the Ocean is not your typical fairytale mermaid story. It’s a dark and lovely read that ripped my heart out, rebuilt it, and put it back more complete than before. If you love a story that sucks you in and holds you in its clutches long after the last page is turned, this is the book for you.
Finn, a human handler, wants only to prove his value and make a name for himself in this business. Erie, the first Mer put in Finn’s hands for training, knows this new life will break her. Finn knows his future rides on Erie’s shoulders. Erie decides that if Finn won’t help her go home, she’ll at least take him down with her.
No Mer has ever survived captivity for long. No captured Mer has ever been released. But everything changes when Finn realizes that Erie can speak. That she’s more than just a fish. That she’ll die unless he can free her. All he’s ever worked for stands between her and her beloved ocean. Except now that his world has collided with Erie’s, Finn is no longer sure what he wants. All he knows is that somehow, he must make the world see Erie, see the Mer, as he does—a treasure worth saving.
I was enthralled by this book from the very first page. Author Rebecca Enzor’s gift for storytelling enlivens each word and colors every phrase. The narrative winds back and forth between Finn’s point of view and Erie’s, each driven by their own motivations and goals. Both won me over. Finn’s need to prove himself to his peers at Oceanica Marine Park and to Aunt D, especially given the loss of his father at an early age, rings true to life. He’s always a relatable character, if not necessarily a likable guy. More than once I wanted to give him a piece of my mind. Erie, too, had her petty moments. Yet given that she is imprisoned in an alien place with no way to know what’s going on or what these landfolk expect of her, I could understand her reactions. Her anguish, fear, and depression pierced me to my core. As these two characters grew together, trusting and suspecting one another by turns, Speak the Ocean wrapped its tale around me, squeezed my heart, and pulled me into its depths. I fell for Finn and Erie hook, line, and sinker.
But this story is more than just good fiction. Enzor’s depiction of marine science and the inhumane treatment of marine mammals in the ocean park industry strummed a chord of compassion in me. Any animal training program, whether real or imagined involves a system of rewards and, inevitably, punishments. Whales, dolphins, and sea lions are given fresh fish as treats when they perform a trick at Sea World. Behind the scenes, the animals are often food-deprived to make them cooperative.
The Mer in StO are treated even worse by the landfolk at Oceanica. Staff are told again and again that they should never humanize the Mer. All their needs are met—food, clean water, a clean tank, veterinary care. What more could they need? After all, they’re only fish, dangerous beasts who kill without thought or feeling.
However, in fiction as in life, sometimes the monsters are humans. StO slams that message home with brute force hidden in deft turns of phrase and, for me, this was the deeper message in Finn and Erie’s story. Humans already demean each other in order to excuse poor treatment or even enslavement, so of course we do it to other animals, too. Here. Every day. In real life. And maybe it’s time we took a long, hard look at our performances in that particular arena.
This is Enzor’s debut novel, and she well and truly knocked it out of the park. Rest assured, Speak the Ocean is not your typical fairytale mermaid story. It’s a dark and lovely read that ripped my heart out, rebuilt it, and put it back more complete than before. If you love a story that sucks you in and holds you in its clutches long after the last page is turned, this is the book for you.
Want to read
May 31, 2019Author's guest post at my blog:
https://bookfare.blogspot.com/2019/05...
https://bookfare.blogspot.com/2019/05...
March 9, 2018
Full disclosure: I was read Speak the Ocean in draft-form and have also read it in this final-form.
Speak the Ocean is one of the most original, creative concepts I've recently read and one that very nearly destroyed my heart. Rebecca Enzor's passion for science, for the ocean and it's inhabitants, and for storytelling shine through in this book. The inventiveness with which Enzor built this world--one where humans have hunted and trapped mermaids to train them for entertainment purposes--is phenomenal and precise. It feels *real* and terrifying.
Erie--the mermaid's--story is built on deep empathy. Her path from entrapment to freedom is full of heart. It gutted me while reading, most especially as it's combined with Finn--the trainer's--transformation from misunderstanding to passion in regards to Erie's *life*.
I will say that this is *not* The Little Mermaid. The mermaids are *not* ones that look human. Rather, they are FANTASTIC ocean-creatures, with scales and fins, and are gloriously, accurately created with Enzor's well-researched science shining through. This is very likely my favorite part of this story, because I can so clearly see these beings existing in real life!
This is a book I have read before, and one I am eager to re-read and have on my bookshelf! I cannot wait to find out what Enzor's working on next.
Speak the Ocean is one of the most original, creative concepts I've recently read and one that very nearly destroyed my heart. Rebecca Enzor's passion for science, for the ocean and it's inhabitants, and for storytelling shine through in this book. The inventiveness with which Enzor built this world--one where humans have hunted and trapped mermaids to train them for entertainment purposes--is phenomenal and precise. It feels *real* and terrifying.
Erie--the mermaid's--story is built on deep empathy. Her path from entrapment to freedom is full of heart. It gutted me while reading, most especially as it's combined with Finn--the trainer's--transformation from misunderstanding to passion in regards to Erie's *life*.
I will say that this is *not* The Little Mermaid. The mermaids are *not* ones that look human. Rather, they are FANTASTIC ocean-creatures, with scales and fins, and are gloriously, accurately created with Enzor's well-researched science shining through. This is very likely my favorite part of this story, because I can so clearly see these beings existing in real life!
This is a book I have read before, and one I am eager to re-read and have on my bookshelf! I cannot wait to find out what Enzor's working on next.
July 9, 2019
Speak the Ocean is a compelling novel that deals with the question of who we see as worthy of humanity, compassion, and empathy, and why.
I've seen it described as Blackfish meets The Little Mermaid and that's not far off the mark. Erie's story is heartfelt, at moments tragic, while still managing to have great moments of pathos, and remain constantly entertaining. I've never seen a mermaid story done quite this way before, based largely in science, and I loved that aspect of the book. I had my nitpicks, but overall, I was drawn quickly through the story, wanting to find out what would happen to Erie, who is a wonderfully empathetic main character.
If you enjoy mermaid tales, you absolutely owe it to yourself to check this one out. I look forward to what the author writes next!
I've seen it described as Blackfish meets The Little Mermaid and that's not far off the mark. Erie's story is heartfelt, at moments tragic, while still managing to have great moments of pathos, and remain constantly entertaining. I've never seen a mermaid story done quite this way before, based largely in science, and I loved that aspect of the book. I had my nitpicks, but overall, I was drawn quickly through the story, wanting to find out what would happen to Erie, who is a wonderfully empathetic main character.
If you enjoy mermaid tales, you absolutely owe it to yourself to check this one out. I look forward to what the author writes next!
June 1, 2024
Highly recommend! I read this for a bookclub and wasn’t looking that forward to it because not a typical plot I’d grab. I ended up loving it. It’s been a long time since I couldn’t put a book down. I was immediately invested in the characters. Rebecca is such a talented writer with a vivid imagination that draws you in. I’m looking forward to the next book she does. 10/10
June 27, 2020
This is an urban fantasy novel in which humans have discovered the existence of mermaids —they refer to them as mer or merfolk regardless of their gender— and have the brilliant idea of capturing them to create a show in an amusement park. We humans are always so altruistic and kind. People believe that mers have no language and behave like wild animals, because those who found them for the first time decided to include them in the category of fish; they are just another type of animal to take advantage of by turning them into entertainment. Currently, Oceanica is the only park that has a mer show and our protagonist has worked in it since he was young. Finn is strangely fascinated by mermaids, probably even obsessed, that’s why he knows so much about them. After the murder of a park trainer by his own mer, the boss promises Finn that the next mermaid that the park gets will be given to him. The problem is that the chosen mermaid is Erie, an innocent and curious mer princess who longs to return home at all costs. So much so, that she learns to speak air-words in order to communicate with her trainer. She proves that mermaids aren’t just fish and that keeping them locked up in an amusement park is a terrible mistake. Consumed by pain and hatred after experiencing in hr own flesh the cruel nature of human beings, Erie makes a decision: she will return to the ocean... but before that she’ll destroy Oceanica and her beloved trainer.
Speak the Ocean has two narrators, which allows the reader to compare both points of view: that of the oppressor and that of the oppressed. Logically, the author's approach is no accident. The culture clash between mer and humans is astronomical, not to mention that it’s impossible not to feel nauseous when we see the horrifying reality of Oceanica once its doors are closed to the public. The mer tanks are tiny and dirty, they give them dead fish to eat, but worst of all are the electric shocks with which they get them to be obedient. Finn tries to follow the example of his fellow trainers when Erie arrives at the park, he is a very ambitious young man after all, but he soon realises that she’s different. She’s scary, fragile, and looks like she cares a lot about the dolphin that was brought in with her. Erie has a unique gleam in her eyes and the idea that she’s a dangerous creature like the other mer becomes more and more absurd with each of her sweet gestures.
Both Finn and Erie are ambivalent characters that you’ll simultaneously love and hate throughout the novel, consider yourself warned. Some readers may not like this and I totally get it, but in my view unapologetically flawed characters are quite realistic. I’d be lying if I said that Finn is a knight in shining armour or that Erie is a harmless princess. Many times they manipulate others for selfish reasons, so they’re definitely not likeable characters all the time. In spite of everything, they possess the typical antihero’s charm that makes you want to know more about them. In addition, when Finn and Erie are together is magical. The way they look and touch is extremely especial, and it just seems natural to believe that they were meant to love each other from the very beginning no matter what. By this I don’t mean romantic love exclusively, but rather that their feelings are warm, beautiful, and intimate.
The ending is the only thing that didn’t truly convince me —there are several and relevant unanswered questions—, but I didn’t dislike it either. I simply expected something a little bit more dark and twisted. Of course, this emotional roller coaster I mentioned wouldn’t be possible without Rebecca Enzor's bewitching writing. As soon as I read the first chapter, I knew that a great story awaited me, because this is the type of story that absorbs you and shakes your heart so powerfully that it leaves you breathless. Light, darkness, pain, joy, hope, and death coexist and merge in Speak the Ocean, and I love it. What a wonderful read!
Speak the Ocean has two narrators, which allows the reader to compare both points of view: that of the oppressor and that of the oppressed. Logically, the author's approach is no accident. The culture clash between mer and humans is astronomical, not to mention that it’s impossible not to feel nauseous when we see the horrifying reality of Oceanica once its doors are closed to the public. The mer tanks are tiny and dirty, they give them dead fish to eat, but worst of all are the electric shocks with which they get them to be obedient. Finn tries to follow the example of his fellow trainers when Erie arrives at the park, he is a very ambitious young man after all, but he soon realises that she’s different. She’s scary, fragile, and looks like she cares a lot about the dolphin that was brought in with her. Erie has a unique gleam in her eyes and the idea that she’s a dangerous creature like the other mer becomes more and more absurd with each of her sweet gestures.
Both Finn and Erie are ambivalent characters that you’ll simultaneously love and hate throughout the novel, consider yourself warned. Some readers may not like this and I totally get it, but in my view unapologetically flawed characters are quite realistic. I’d be lying if I said that Finn is a knight in shining armour or that Erie is a harmless princess. Many times they manipulate others for selfish reasons, so they’re definitely not likeable characters all the time. In spite of everything, they possess the typical antihero’s charm that makes you want to know more about them. In addition, when Finn and Erie are together is magical. The way they look and touch is extremely especial, and it just seems natural to believe that they were meant to love each other from the very beginning no matter what. By this I don’t mean romantic love exclusively, but rather that their feelings are warm, beautiful, and intimate.
The ending is the only thing that didn’t truly convince me —there are several and relevant unanswered questions—, but I didn’t dislike it either. I simply expected something a little bit more dark and twisted. Of course, this emotional roller coaster I mentioned wouldn’t be possible without Rebecca Enzor's bewitching writing. As soon as I read the first chapter, I knew that a great story awaited me, because this is the type of story that absorbs you and shakes your heart so powerfully that it leaves you breathless. Light, darkness, pain, joy, hope, and death coexist and merge in Speak the Ocean, and I love it. What a wonderful read!
August 25, 2020
Many thanks to REUTS Publications and NetGalley for the ARC! This book was published on July 9 and is now available for purchase.
Speak the Ocean is a new adult contemporary fantasy that uses aspects of “The Little Mermaid” while still distinctly being it’s own story. After discovery mermaids, or the Mer, humans immediately built Oceanica, a Sea World-like park that captures and trains Mer to perform. Finn Jarvis, a Mer handler at the park, has always believed that the Mer are mindless predators who are more fish than human. His perspective begins to change when he starts training newly caught Erie. I absolutely love what Enzor has done with her mermaids! They aren’t just humans with fish tails; she’s put a great amount of thought into their physiology and creates a whole culture for them, including a symbiotic relationship with dolphins. She does keep some aspects from legends and fairy tales, such as them turning to sea foam when they die. Learning more and more about them was one of my favorite parts of the book.
I also adored Erie as a character. She is the epitome of a cinnamon roll. She’s sweet and wants to believe the best in people, but she is also incredibly strong and willing to fight for her freedom. Watching her learn to speak English and develop relationships with Finn and Jen is a joy. And my heart broke for her whenever she suffered cruelty from her captors at Oceanica. She’s probably one of my favorite characters I’ve encountered this year. Finn is also an excellently built character, though he is much harder to like than Erie. Honestly, he starts off as a real jerk. However, he goes through a huge amount of development as the story progresses, and I think Enzor handles it in an excellent and realistic way.
As you may gather from the description, this book brings up some big moral and political issues. Is it ethical to use another species as a form of entertainment? Is it moral to subject them to pain even if we believe they don’t have the same capacity for feeling and emotion as humans? Enzor handles these questions with grace, bringing us to some disturbing moments but never crossing the line into what could be considered “torture porn.” The comparison to Sea World and the controversy there is quite obvious and even mentioned in the text. This is a book that will make the reader really think about the way we as humans treat animals and how that needs to change.
My only complaint with the book is that I found the two antagonists poorly developed. Slight spoiler here, but the motivations for both can be boiled down to them being rejected by men in favor of other women. Honestly, I’m kind of sick of that as a motivation for female antagonists, and I didn’t feel that it matched the level of horrific these women went to. There are so many other options that could have worked for this book and would have resulted in more complex and interesting villains.
Overall, this is an excellent fantasy with wonderful concepts and a message that will leave you thinking about it well after you finish it.
Speak the Ocean is a new adult contemporary fantasy that uses aspects of “The Little Mermaid” while still distinctly being it’s own story. After discovery mermaids, or the Mer, humans immediately built Oceanica, a Sea World-like park that captures and trains Mer to perform. Finn Jarvis, a Mer handler at the park, has always believed that the Mer are mindless predators who are more fish than human. His perspective begins to change when he starts training newly caught Erie. I absolutely love what Enzor has done with her mermaids! They aren’t just humans with fish tails; she’s put a great amount of thought into their physiology and creates a whole culture for them, including a symbiotic relationship with dolphins. She does keep some aspects from legends and fairy tales, such as them turning to sea foam when they die. Learning more and more about them was one of my favorite parts of the book.
I also adored Erie as a character. She is the epitome of a cinnamon roll. She’s sweet and wants to believe the best in people, but she is also incredibly strong and willing to fight for her freedom. Watching her learn to speak English and develop relationships with Finn and Jen is a joy. And my heart broke for her whenever she suffered cruelty from her captors at Oceanica. She’s probably one of my favorite characters I’ve encountered this year. Finn is also an excellently built character, though he is much harder to like than Erie. Honestly, he starts off as a real jerk. However, he goes through a huge amount of development as the story progresses, and I think Enzor handles it in an excellent and realistic way.
As you may gather from the description, this book brings up some big moral and political issues. Is it ethical to use another species as a form of entertainment? Is it moral to subject them to pain even if we believe they don’t have the same capacity for feeling and emotion as humans? Enzor handles these questions with grace, bringing us to some disturbing moments but never crossing the line into what could be considered “torture porn.” The comparison to Sea World and the controversy there is quite obvious and even mentioned in the text. This is a book that will make the reader really think about the way we as humans treat animals and how that needs to change.
My only complaint with the book is that I found the two antagonists poorly developed. Slight spoiler here, but the motivations for both can be boiled down to them being rejected by men in favor of other women. Honestly, I’m kind of sick of that as a motivation for female antagonists, and I didn’t feel that it matched the level of horrific these women went to. There are so many other options that could have worked for this book and would have resulted in more complex and interesting villains.
Overall, this is an excellent fantasy with wonderful concepts and a message that will leave you thinking about it well after you finish it.
July 12, 2019
I enjoyed this book quite a bit, it takes an old favorite of mine, jumbles it up and tosses the dice out to retell it in a whole new way.
One of my favorite characters, Niku, is a dolphin, but he’s not anything like Flipper. He’s more like Cujo, and he’s definitely no Flounder. I’d dare anyone to read this just to see what they thought about Niku, simply because I know it’s a more accurate representation of dolphins than Flipper ever was.
Erie, one of the two main characters, is a mermaid more like the mermaids you read of in mythology. She has pointy teeth, claws and is definitely a hunter. She’s also soft, and curious, far more forgiving than I could ever be and wonderful. She’ll probably make you cry.
Finn, oh Finn, you are such an asshole. Sorry, he really is. But! And here was one of the most interesting parts of this book for me, it shows the growth of a university-aged jerk who has always been overindulged into a caring, kind person who *redacted ’cause I’m not about to spoil this for you!*
I loved that Enzor captured that coming-of-age moment for both Finn and Erie. I don’t see a lot of stories (thanks publishing) dealing with that fraught time period between high-school and university. SO MUCH happens to so many of us during that age, between 18 or so and your early to mid 20s, even if university isn’t in the picture. This story did that so very well that I’m kinda left in awe.
Go on, at $4.99 this is a steal of a book. It entertained me for several hours, it’s well-written and at the end, while there were a couple unresolved plot points that leave me hoping rather a lot for a sequel, I was quite happy I’d read it. The climax grabbed me by the throat and wouldn’t let me stop reading until I’d finished it. (oops, dinner’s gonna be late!!) There’s a decent bit of romantic side action in this, but it’s definitely not a romance, (and being demi, I had to skip the sex scenes because the emotions didn’t support it enough *for me*). I’ll certainly be watching Ms. Enzor in the future and buying her books!
I think fans of Jim Butcher’s DRESDEN FILES might enjoy this book, it has a flavor to it that makes me think of his work.
One of my favorite characters, Niku, is a dolphin, but he’s not anything like Flipper. He’s more like Cujo, and he’s definitely no Flounder. I’d dare anyone to read this just to see what they thought about Niku, simply because I know it’s a more accurate representation of dolphins than Flipper ever was.
Erie, one of the two main characters, is a mermaid more like the mermaids you read of in mythology. She has pointy teeth, claws and is definitely a hunter. She’s also soft, and curious, far more forgiving than I could ever be and wonderful. She’ll probably make you cry.
Finn, oh Finn, you are such an asshole. Sorry, he really is. But! And here was one of the most interesting parts of this book for me, it shows the growth of a university-aged jerk who has always been overindulged into a caring, kind person who *redacted ’cause I’m not about to spoil this for you!*
I loved that Enzor captured that coming-of-age moment for both Finn and Erie. I don’t see a lot of stories (thanks publishing) dealing with that fraught time period between high-school and university. SO MUCH happens to so many of us during that age, between 18 or so and your early to mid 20s, even if university isn’t in the picture. This story did that so very well that I’m kinda left in awe.
Go on, at $4.99 this is a steal of a book. It entertained me for several hours, it’s well-written and at the end, while there were a couple unresolved plot points that leave me hoping rather a lot for a sequel, I was quite happy I’d read it. The climax grabbed me by the throat and wouldn’t let me stop reading until I’d finished it. (oops, dinner’s gonna be late!!) There’s a decent bit of romantic side action in this, but it’s definitely not a romance, (and being demi, I had to skip the sex scenes because the emotions didn’t support it enough *for me*). I’ll certainly be watching Ms. Enzor in the future and buying her books!
I think fans of Jim Butcher’s DRESDEN FILES might enjoy this book, it has a flavor to it that makes me think of his work.
Want to read
November 13, 2025This is not a full review. I read through the beginning of all 300 SPFBOX contest entries. This was a book I wanted to read more of.
When a mermaid dies, they turn into sea foam. Finn has euthanized 6 in 4 years. You have to when they kill their trainers. Now he’s got to kill 1 more.
The conceit of this beginning immediately draws me in. It’s 1st person present tense POV begins with action. A dead trainer. A large merman that has to be put down. The team at Oceanica that will perform the euthanasia.
The opening subtly establishes the corporate, profit driven mistreatment of this intelligent, newly discovered species. The narrative shows us everything without having to tell us.
This, and the practical, focused prose on display, is the great strength of this opening, I think. It’s precise. It’s impactful. It gradually introduces us to the world through the eyes of a character who has an immediate, weighty goal.
It’s the character, tho, who keeps me turning the pages. I want to know more about how this job of his twists inside him. How does he feel about all this? What is he going to do?
His feelings aren’t clear - in the best way. He’s struggling with the intelligence in the eyes of the merfolk. That’s clear. Subtle, but painfully clear. I keep turning the pages to see how this pain will manifest in his behavior.
I have been the least interested in the dialogue of this opening, but I think that’s because it’s all pass-by dialogue. The characters aren’t really saying anything to each other in the same way people often don’t say anything to each other.
They’re saying directly what they need to do, or they’re talking about beers and girls. They’re not saying what they really think. They’re not expressing what they really feel. They don’t talk about the merfolk, the dead trainers, or what happens on ch1.
And so the story has me. It keeps wrapping me up tighter and tighter and has me turning the pages. Everything feels intentional and interesting. This already feels totally unique and is off to a great start. I’m in!
When a mermaid dies, they turn into sea foam. Finn has euthanized 6 in 4 years. You have to when they kill their trainers. Now he’s got to kill 1 more.
The conceit of this beginning immediately draws me in. It’s 1st person present tense POV begins with action. A dead trainer. A large merman that has to be put down. The team at Oceanica that will perform the euthanasia.
The opening subtly establishes the corporate, profit driven mistreatment of this intelligent, newly discovered species. The narrative shows us everything without having to tell us.
This, and the practical, focused prose on display, is the great strength of this opening, I think. It’s precise. It’s impactful. It gradually introduces us to the world through the eyes of a character who has an immediate, weighty goal.
It’s the character, tho, who keeps me turning the pages. I want to know more about how this job of his twists inside him. How does he feel about all this? What is he going to do?
His feelings aren’t clear - in the best way. He’s struggling with the intelligence in the eyes of the merfolk. That’s clear. Subtle, but painfully clear. I keep turning the pages to see how this pain will manifest in his behavior.
I have been the least interested in the dialogue of this opening, but I think that’s because it’s all pass-by dialogue. The characters aren’t really saying anything to each other in the same way people often don’t say anything to each other.
They’re saying directly what they need to do, or they’re talking about beers and girls. They’re not saying what they really think. They’re not expressing what they really feel. They don’t talk about the merfolk, the dead trainers, or what happens on ch1.
And so the story has me. It keeps wrapping me up tighter and tighter and has me turning the pages. Everything feels intentional and interesting. This already feels totally unique and is off to a great start. I’m in!
July 18, 2019
SPEAK THE OCEAN had me immediately at a disadvantage because it takes place in Key West, revolves around the ocean, and has boats in it. Oh, and also mermaids. These are a few of my favorite things (yes, to be sung to the tune of the song from "The Sound of Music").
Between that and the synopsis (keeping mermaids in an aquarium?!) I knew I was going to enjoy the novel. I did not expect to like it as much as I did.
While mermaids can be cheesy and hard to pull off in adult fiction (I've read a few novels that I had to DNF because they were so silly), Enzor manages to make the mermaids feel a little more serious and a little less Ariel. These mermaids are predators. They are dangerous.
That is, until you get to know them a bit more.
The novel moves back and forth between the POV of Finn, a human, and Erie, a mermaid. The evolution of Finn's understanding of mermaids and that they may be more than "just a fish" is authentic and plausible. Erie's understanding of humans and her growth (or should I say decline?) as a character while she is kept in the aquarium is equally plausible. It is also quite sad.
The book is billed as BLACKFISH (SeaWorld documentary about Orcas in captivity) meets THE LITTLE MERMAID, which is a perfect description. Enzor manages to draw parallels between animals in captivity and Erie in the aquarium subtly but effectively. You certainly don't feel like anything is being beat over your head, but it will definitely change the way you look at the animals the next time you're at an aquarium.
TL;DR: A surprisingly fun read! If the synopsis appeals to you, I would recommend giving it a good. Are there some cheesy parts? Yeah, sure, small ones. But overall, it's an incredibly well-done mermaid book, when those are few and far between.
Between that and the synopsis (keeping mermaids in an aquarium?!) I knew I was going to enjoy the novel. I did not expect to like it as much as I did.
While mermaids can be cheesy and hard to pull off in adult fiction (I've read a few novels that I had to DNF because they were so silly), Enzor manages to make the mermaids feel a little more serious and a little less Ariel. These mermaids are predators. They are dangerous.
That is, until you get to know them a bit more.
The novel moves back and forth between the POV of Finn, a human, and Erie, a mermaid. The evolution of Finn's understanding of mermaids and that they may be more than "just a fish" is authentic and plausible. Erie's understanding of humans and her growth (or should I say decline?) as a character while she is kept in the aquarium is equally plausible. It is also quite sad.
The book is billed as BLACKFISH (SeaWorld documentary about Orcas in captivity) meets THE LITTLE MERMAID, which is a perfect description. Enzor manages to draw parallels between animals in captivity and Erie in the aquarium subtly but effectively. You certainly don't feel like anything is being beat over your head, but it will definitely change the way you look at the animals the next time you're at an aquarium.
TL;DR: A surprisingly fun read! If the synopsis appeals to you, I would recommend giving it a good. Are there some cheesy parts? Yeah, sure, small ones. But overall, it's an incredibly well-done mermaid book, when those are few and far between.
July 10, 2019
I love the twists in this novel. Like Niku, one of my favorite characters. He's nothing like what we view consider dolphins to be. He also has so much character. Erie was great, too. I love how the Mer weren't bad but they weren't good either. They just were. And it was the individual Mer who could act up or not, and that they could be dangerous just like a human or animal or plant can be dangerous even though it's beautiful.
The message of the book definitely speaks to that of Black Fin and seeing interviews before I definitely knew what I was walking into and Ms. Enzor pulls it off perfectly. Even some of the subtleness like when someone in the crowd was more concerned about the dolphin being shocked more than the Mer was spot on (how we, humans, focus on the organisms that we deem are important to us to save but ignore those that aren't).
Woven in are some great laughs (the movies) and some romance (this was the only part I felt wasn't strong. I didn't fully buy into the final romance). This is definitely a book that I would recommend to others and I can't wait to read more from Rebecca Enzor, and I hope there is a sequel because I have soo many questions and want to learn about more about this world.
The message of the book definitely speaks to that of Black Fin and seeing interviews before I definitely knew what I was walking into and Ms. Enzor pulls it off perfectly. Even some of the subtleness like when someone in the crowd was more concerned about the dolphin being shocked more than the Mer was spot on (how we, humans, focus on the organisms that we deem are important to us to save but ignore those that aren't).
Woven in are some great laughs (the movies) and some romance (this was the only part I felt wasn't strong. I didn't fully buy into the final romance). This is definitely a book that I would recommend to others and I can't wait to read more from Rebecca Enzor, and I hope there is a sequel because I have soo many questions and want to learn about more about this world.
June 28, 2020
As someone who lives close to Sea World, this book hit home with me. I struggle with wanting to go see the aquatic life and feeling like it is inhumane. This book does an awesome job toeing that line.
This book was well written and makes you think and feel for everyone involved. It's like Free Willy meets The Little Mermaid. Enjoyable and heartbreaking all at once.
I think my one complaint is the romance. While I enjoyed seeing things progress and the relationship between characters grow, I always hope for more than a HFN ending. Though I do understand why most stories like this end that way, it would be nice to see a way for authors to find a way to make it happen. It is fantasy afterall.
I did enjoy this very much and look forward to other works by this author.
Thank you to Netgalley and Reuts Publishing for the title in exchange for an honest review.
This book was well written and makes you think and feel for everyone involved. It's like Free Willy meets The Little Mermaid. Enjoyable and heartbreaking all at once.
I think my one complaint is the romance. While I enjoyed seeing things progress and the relationship between characters grow, I always hope for more than a HFN ending. Though I do understand why most stories like this end that way, it would be nice to see a way for authors to find a way to make it happen. It is fantasy afterall.
I did enjoy this very much and look forward to other works by this author.
Thank you to Netgalley and Reuts Publishing for the title in exchange for an honest review.
June 28, 2019
I won an ARC of this book from the author.
As a kid, I dreamed of working at Sea World, and I was obsessed with mermaids! So, as soon as I read the description for this book, I knew I had to read it! What an original concept. I really enjoyed getting to know Finn and Erie. Rebecca Enzor does a great job of making the reader feel such sympathy for Erie, while at the same time, allowing them to understand where Finn is coming from and the difficult position he’s in once he starts realizing Erie is more than just a fish. This book really makes you think about animals being held in captivity for no other purpose than peoples’ amusement.
A great book! Definitely check it out!
As a kid, I dreamed of working at Sea World, and I was obsessed with mermaids! So, as soon as I read the description for this book, I knew I had to read it! What an original concept. I really enjoyed getting to know Finn and Erie. Rebecca Enzor does a great job of making the reader feel such sympathy for Erie, while at the same time, allowing them to understand where Finn is coming from and the difficult position he’s in once he starts realizing Erie is more than just a fish. This book really makes you think about animals being held in captivity for no other purpose than peoples’ amusement.
A great book! Definitely check it out!
July 11, 2019
Speak the Ocean is an excellent read. The characters are vibrant and well-developed; Finn wasn't my cup of tea but he was mostly admirable and Erie is a sweetheart I was cheering for the whole way through.
The plot was well-paced and even though I knew what was coming I still didn't want to put it down (read through the whole thing in one sitting! :). The glimpses of Mer society are tantalizing and I am hoping for a sequel because I have so many Questions, which is a good thing for me!
The plot was well-paced and even though I knew what was coming I still didn't want to put it down (read through the whole thing in one sitting! :). The glimpses of Mer society are tantalizing and I am hoping for a sequel because I have so many Questions, which is a good thing for me!
March 26, 2025
In a world where man and merfolk can coexist, it is a disaster waiting to happen. This is not your typical mermaid story. It's heartbreaking and brutal. Humans can be absolutely horrible. This story is a dual point of view. We have Finn the human that falls for the mermaid. And Erie, the mermaid that learns to speak. But things are not as easy as that. Wonderful story.
July 11, 2019
This was a lot of fun. It is grim grim grim! Things are grim and then they get really grim before they get better. But they do get better.
There's enough world-building here to support a sequel and I'd definitely read one if it ever popped up on my radar, and I'll be sure to check out anything else from Enzor in the future.
There's enough world-building here to support a sequel and I'd definitely read one if it ever popped up on my radar, and I'll be sure to check out anything else from Enzor in the future.
July 8, 2025
This was definitely a YA book, I was expecting murderous mermaids but instead this is a Free Willy/Ariel love story. Finn is such a man-whore I just started skimming through his chapters. I'm sure it has it's audience, it just wasn't me. I like my mermaids angry and vengeful.
June 14, 2019
I learned about this incredible author over a year ago when I got hooked on her short story and her voice in "Putting the Science in Fiction." I can't wait to read Speak the Ocean because it will open the gateway to making Mer the next big thing in the sci-fi world.
July 9, 2019
Loved it!
Erie and Finn just want to live their best lives in their own worlds. I was lucky enough to read the very first draft, and it’s even better now. Such a great story!
Erie and Finn just want to live their best lives in their own worlds. I was lucky enough to read the very first draft, and it’s even better now. Such a great story!
March 14, 2025
This was really great. Not as spicy as my usual picks, but it was so well done. It felt polished and was easy to read. The imagery was vivid, as well as the characters. Niku was obviously my favorite.
January 3, 2019
There's blood in the water. Enzor's terrific debut doesn't play nice with your concept of friendly Mer people who want to be part of this world. An emotional and sometimes vicious story that will leave you guessing until the end, I heartily recommend.
April 29, 2020
The mood struck for me to read a mermaid book, and seeing as I had a free 30-day subscription for scribed I decided to go with this book as it sounded very interesting.
We follow two perspectives- Finn, a human who works at his ‘aunts’ company. Finn’s father discovered the Mer, no one believed him and he went missing looking for them. Finn’s ‘aunt’ discovered the Mer and with Finn’s idea created a marine park to teach the mermaids tricks to perform for a human audience. The Mer is very dangerous, having killed many Mer trainers. They are also kept in inhumane conditions, sterile tanks, and shocked with an electrical current at the sign of any misbehavior.
Erie is a mermaid princess who is tracking the disappearances of her mother, one of the first to go missing, and most recently her sister, and her lover Huron. She can’t seem to figure out a pattern or a reason for the humans taking the Mer. Joining in on a hunt for food, Erie gets trapped in a net and taken to the marine park along with her royal dolphin guard. Once she is in the park Finn becomes her trainer, except Finn breaches most of the protocol and decides to take a softer approach to train Erie. Soon Erie is observing the humans and begins to learn their language, and due to Finn's lack of shocking her, she begins to speak the same language as Finn, redefining everything he thought he knew about the Mer.
We follow the story as Finn begins to realize that the Mer are incredibly intelligent and more human than fish than he ever could’ve imagined. And soon, he is fighting to bring Erie back to the ocean.
This book did not live up to my expectations. The concept is quite interesting but the execution was poor. In reality, if mermaids did exist and they were this aggressive (although in this book that is attributed to the conditions in which they are kept in the park) they would be impossible to train and would be a huge workplace safety nightmare. Not to mention that the use of shockers would never be allowed, especially for dolphins as depicted in one scene.
The captivity of the mermaids in this book brings a lot of parallels to how whales and dolphins have been treated for the entertainment of humans. From the capturing, keeping, training, and ultimately in some cases the death of these animals due to the cruel conditions in which they are kept and the behavioral changes this can create, being that they are all highly social animals.
However, despite there being characters that are marine biologists and whale/dolphin trainers they neglect the similarities the Mer share especially after it is discovered they are intelligent. If mermaids were real and they did have the ability to communicate with humans the way that humans communicate with each other, then it raises a whole host of ethical questions in regards to the keeping of these mermaids in captivity and forcibly keeping them there. (Although humans can’t even treat other humans with respect when race, sexuality, gender, and religion are concerned, so it's safe to assume that mermaids would not be afforded any kind of respect and would likely be subjected to this kind of treatment)
— this was a completely missed conversation that could have been had in this book.
What really made me not like this book was the one-dimensional characters. They had no depth. Finn was all about following orders and doing as he’s told until he meets Erie and thinks he can train her differently- even after witnessing multiple trainer deaths at the hands of the Mer. And having been around the Mer from day one, it seems a little cliche that Erie changed everything for him.
Not to mention he’s also an annoying slimy fuck-boy who needs to get over himself. One of the most annoying characters I've read of in a while.
Erie is ok, she just comes off as incredibly juvenile and naive, thinking Finn is going to save her and having way to much hope in him. Even believing that Finn is her boyfriend even though, in the end, Finn technically “owns” her.
Jen seems to be the only decent character despite being quite forgettable by the time the story is over.
The overall construction of the story and execution made for a book that was difficult to get through with not a lot plot points that made you enjoy the story in any way. It's incredibly forgettable, which is unfortunate as this could've been a great book.
A disappointing 2.5 stars
We follow two perspectives- Finn, a human who works at his ‘aunts’ company. Finn’s father discovered the Mer, no one believed him and he went missing looking for them. Finn’s ‘aunt’ discovered the Mer and with Finn’s idea created a marine park to teach the mermaids tricks to perform for a human audience. The Mer is very dangerous, having killed many Mer trainers. They are also kept in inhumane conditions, sterile tanks, and shocked with an electrical current at the sign of any misbehavior.
Erie is a mermaid princess who is tracking the disappearances of her mother, one of the first to go missing, and most recently her sister, and her lover Huron. She can’t seem to figure out a pattern or a reason for the humans taking the Mer. Joining in on a hunt for food, Erie gets trapped in a net and taken to the marine park along with her royal dolphin guard. Once she is in the park Finn becomes her trainer, except Finn breaches most of the protocol and decides to take a softer approach to train Erie. Soon Erie is observing the humans and begins to learn their language, and due to Finn's lack of shocking her, she begins to speak the same language as Finn, redefining everything he thought he knew about the Mer.
We follow the story as Finn begins to realize that the Mer are incredibly intelligent and more human than fish than he ever could’ve imagined. And soon, he is fighting to bring Erie back to the ocean.
This book did not live up to my expectations. The concept is quite interesting but the execution was poor. In reality, if mermaids did exist and they were this aggressive (although in this book that is attributed to the conditions in which they are kept in the park) they would be impossible to train and would be a huge workplace safety nightmare. Not to mention that the use of shockers would never be allowed, especially for dolphins as depicted in one scene.
The captivity of the mermaids in this book brings a lot of parallels to how whales and dolphins have been treated for the entertainment of humans. From the capturing, keeping, training, and ultimately in some cases the death of these animals due to the cruel conditions in which they are kept and the behavioral changes this can create, being that they are all highly social animals.
However, despite there being characters that are marine biologists and whale/dolphin trainers they neglect the similarities the Mer share especially after it is discovered they are intelligent. If mermaids were real and they did have the ability to communicate with humans the way that humans communicate with each other, then it raises a whole host of ethical questions in regards to the keeping of these mermaids in captivity and forcibly keeping them there. (Although humans can’t even treat other humans with respect when race, sexuality, gender, and religion are concerned, so it's safe to assume that mermaids would not be afforded any kind of respect and would likely be subjected to this kind of treatment)
— this was a completely missed conversation that could have been had in this book.
What really made me not like this book was the one-dimensional characters. They had no depth. Finn was all about following orders and doing as he’s told until he meets Erie and thinks he can train her differently- even after witnessing multiple trainer deaths at the hands of the Mer. And having been around the Mer from day one, it seems a little cliche that Erie changed everything for him.
Not to mention he’s also an annoying slimy fuck-boy who needs to get over himself. One of the most annoying characters I've read of in a while.
Erie is ok, she just comes off as incredibly juvenile and naive, thinking Finn is going to save her and having way to much hope in him. Even believing that Finn is her boyfriend even though, in the end, Finn technically “owns” her.
Jen seems to be the only decent character despite being quite forgettable by the time the story is over.
The overall construction of the story and execution made for a book that was difficult to get through with not a lot plot points that made you enjoy the story in any way. It's incredibly forgettable, which is unfortunate as this could've been a great book.
A disappointing 2.5 stars
June 7, 2024
I really enjoyed the concept of this book and the writer's writing style. It was really easy to get into and wanted to keep reading to find out where it would lead!
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