Alteration

by S.E. Wheeler

The letter Ondine’s final assignment in her teaching program that will finally - finally - secure her future on the Isle of Mardona. The process has been difficult due mainly to her father’s Neridian bloodline, but also the legacy her mother left in the wake of her death. But this final step will put all of that in the past where it belongs, and Ondine will settle into her place on the Isle.

But there’s a problem. She has been assigned to teach at an underwater school in deep Neridia. Not only is Neridia dangerous - especially for Ondine - but her assignment to the depths throws her plans into chaos and pulls her into a rip tide of discoveries about herself, her Isle, and the spiritual power of the ocean herself.

Ondine must decide between a secure and planned future on the Isle she knows, or risk that future - and possibly her life - to pursue a world she’s only begun to understand.

414 pages, Hardcover

Published August 31, 2024

Reviews

[❤ Ashii ❤ · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I first picked up this book, I actually didn't expect to like it. But as I kept reading, I felt myself drawn in and I just couldn't stop reading. I loved the reading about the choices Ondine made and the questions she asked. I just cannot wait for book 2!!

[Dalia · Rating 5 out of 5]

An unbelievable book by a talented new author. I’m so glad I tried this! I enjoyed every single sentence of this magical world that so cleverly reveals so much about ours. One of this years favorites for sure!

[Aly Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a freaking masterpiece! I loved so much about this book, but the way S. E. Wheeler crafted such a unique, captivating, and relevant fantasy novel should be studied. I will for sure be in her DM’s begging for book two.

[Andrew Erickson · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderfully written and fleshed out debut novel from S.E Wheeler. You can this this story has been floating around in her head for years and it not only is entertaining, but thematically rich and captivating. Alteration takes your typical country vs country type story about the oppressor and the oppressed but does something I have never read before and takes us there through the pedagogical lens.

Ondine, our main character, is assigned a teaching position in a world she is not only not familiar with, but actively stays away from due to her past. It’s an interesting take on the fantasy novels that take us into these schools but instead of the students' perspective, we get to see it from the teachers. This could easily have been another YA novel about a student in a fantasy school falling in love and going through life but you can tell that isn’t the story Wheeler wants to tell. There is a passion and excitement for not only teaching but learning throughout the text.

From there to story really opens up into something much larger and we get to really dive into identity, generational trauma, propaganda, and acceptance. There are obvious building blocks and some dumps of exposition, being the first book in the series, but this really sets the tone for what could be a really great new series in the fantasy world.

Oh. Also I BETTER see Tempest in the next book or I riot and I swear if something bad ever happens to him…

[Brooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved every second. Absolutely amazing world building. These places all felt so real and Neridia is now on my bucket list. Cant wait for the next one

[Karen W. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am absolutely in love with this book and all of its characters. The storyline is fantastic and kept me turning each page in anticipation. S.E. Wheeler's writing style is like a big warm hug, and I cannot get enough. She was able to introduce me to a new world, completely foreign to me, but yet by the end I was able to picture each location and character as if I'd seen them all with my own eyes. I am so excited that this is a series and my journey with Ondine and Cannon is not over. I cannot wait for the release of the rest of them!

[Ash · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was drawn to Alteration by the cover, but the story definitely made me stay! I was looking for something different and it was an amazing debut for S.E.Wheeler. The book dives (pun intended) into Ondine's quest for identity, belonging, and self-discovery, woven within a richly imagined world under and above water. I believe this book would be a huge hit with anyone who enjoys a story of:

❤️ FMC self-exploration and discovery
👥 Dual POV
🌊 Underwater Society VS Land Society
🧑‍🏫 Professor MMC, albeit standoffish
❤️‍🔥 Slow Burn
🔨 Breaking societal constraints
🖤 Themes of Colonial Oppression
🐙 Mythical Ocean Goddess
📜 Suppressed Knowledge

Ondine, grew up in Mardona which is depicted as an insular, rigid society on land with a deeply ingrained sense of superiority, especially toward the underwater people of Neridia. Ondine, with her mixed Neridian heritage, feels the weight of this rigidity in her own life, as she struggles to prove herself in a system that views her as an outsider due to her father’s lineage and her mother’s tarnished legacy. Moreover, her entire life she was told due to her age that she could no longer "Alter" a process Nerdians went through as babies to develop their underwater features. Ondine was told that if she even touched the water the transformation would kill her. Yet Ondine’s final assignment, to finally have a place in Mardonian society, was to teach at Regiatus, Nerdians underwater school. She is obviously terrified, the stakes are high, but Ondine is trapped between two worlds, trying to forge her own path in a world that may not accept all of who she is. This is where we meet our MMC, Cannon, a Neridian professor who I wouldn't call broody, more suspicious of Ondine with his own trauma. Wheeler crafted deeply believable main characters and they each had to confront and unpack their emotional baggage before they could truly connect with each other.
Although a fantasy setting, with beautiful underwater imagery the themes were very relatable and my heart felt for the characters.
It's such a unique story and if these themes resonate with you I would recommend adding it to your TBR!

[Leighan Croxen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven’t read a book that transported me like Alteration did since Harry Potter. The imagery, character development, and creation of a new world for the reader was perfection. The author left me wanting so much more and I cannot wait until the next book is released.

[Hailey Rhum · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an impressive debut novel! When I wasn’t reading this book, I was thinking about this book. The underwater world that SE Wheeler creates is immersive and complex. The story between characters is layered with issues of race, class, segregation, and conquering of lands, mirroring those in our own history. I enjoyed the exploration of societal inequalities which made this fantasy not only entertaining, but also thought-provoking. The twists and turns along Ondine’s journey kept me coming back for more, and I can’t wait for book number 2 !!!

[Kyndall Womack · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow this book is so good. I bought it from the author herself at a market I was a vendor at. She had a fanart drawing of Ondine at the booth, but more people need to read it so we can get more art! Full disclosure, it does start off slow, but KEEP READING. I stayed up till 3:00 am last night to finish it bc it’s so good. (So sorry if this review doesn’t make much sense, I’m writing on no sleep lol.) Ondine is a complex character that is very likable and relatable. The budding relationship between her and Cannon is really really good. Completely believable and not rushed. The world is complicated and introduced without info dumping. We learn as Ondine learned. Many parts made me furious for the treatment of the Nerideans, and how Ondine was treated. It’s a commentary on real world issues that is handled in a respectful way. Anyway, I highly recommend this book. If only so I have more people to talk about it with! I can’t wait for book 2!

[Lilly Wisely · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨ My Review of Alteration by S.E. Wheeler ✨

I don’t even know how to explain what this book did for me, except to say that Alteration made me feel seen in a way I didn’t even realize I needed. S.E. Wheeler didn’t just write a story — she wrote a reminder that it’s okay to grow, to shift, to change in ways that other people might not understand.

There were moments in these pages where I had to stop and just breathe, because it felt like someone had finally put words to feelings I’ve carried alone for years. It made me feel understood… like I actually have a voice, and like the way I experience the world isn’t “too much” — it’s human. It’s real. And it deserves space.

This book wrapped around me at exactly the right time and whispered, “It’s okay to accept change. It’s okay to become who you were always meant to be.”

If you need a story that reaches into your chest, names the ache, and then shows you the beauty in it — Alteration is that story. I’ll be thinking about it for a long, long time. 💛📖

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Ondine receives an assignment at a school in Neridia, she is reluctant because she never altered. In Neridia, she will stick out as a half hatch and not a full blood Neridian. But when Ondine learns more about the Neridians and their history, she discovers that her homeland of Mardona is not everything she was told it was. She must figure out where she belongs and who she can trust.

Alteration is breathtaking. S.E. Wheeler excels at world-building and lyrical writing. This book has the ability to stand alone with its resolution, but the last few chapters have you longing for more. I can't wait to read book two in the series.

[Shawna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. The book follows Ondine, who has a teaching assignment to finish so that she can complete her training and ensure that she has a future in Mardona. The problem is, it is taking her to an undersea school in Neridia — a place that is viewed as dangerous. Her decision to make the leap and finish her assignment will have her diving into chaos, finding out secrets, and learning a lot about herself. This book had several good twists and left me craving more. I cannot wait to see where this story continues to lead.

[Patricia Wilkinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book.....I met the author at a Flat Creek Winery black Friday festival. She was selling the books and I decided to try one....I just finished it......and I am very much looking forward to knowing when the next one will be out. I belong to a bookclub in this area and I will be passing this along to other interested members who might want to read it......When I read "about the Author" I could relate with her "water has always been my element" I could also understand on how this book was a healing and empowering process for her" Can't wait to see the next installment.......

[Abbey Nilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The only complaint I have for this book is that the second book isn’t out yet. I haven’t read a non-fiction book for a while and this book made me fall in love with it again. The time taken to build the characters and their environments makes you feel you are there and connected to it. It is beautifully written and the journey the main character is going through is one that is very relatable as we all try to figure out who we are and what our beliefs are. Highly recommend others to read.

[Shaina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! This was so different than anything read before and I thoroughly enjoyed it. So many potent themes of family and home and true nature and who we are really are meant to be. I loved it and can’t wait for the next installment. The underwater world was so compelling and fascinating to me. Terrific world building and unique characters.

[Briana Harless · Rating 5 out of 5]

can’t wait for the next one!

I loved this so much! The world is built with enough detail to give my imagination structure but not stifle it. The side characters are just as interesting as the main ones. The main characters are flawed but still inspiring. I’m excited to see where it goes!

[See me · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the most unique book I have ever read. It kept me hooked throughout the entire thing. All the characters are relatable and addictive. I need more of this series ASAP.
I will highly recommend this to anyone who needs a good palette cleanser from the normal romantasy. AMAZING!

[Jamie Bear · Rating 5 out of 5]

really loved this

Our book club read this book together after a friend recommended it. I read dozens upon dozens of books last year- some good, some bad, some meh. This one had a great storyline with great world building. I really enjoyed it. Can’t wait for the next.

[Elora Ramirez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible debut from S.E. Wheeler—I cannot wait to see where this story goes.

[Jennifer Montgomery · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great read, very entertaining and suspenseful with a hint of romance. Such a unique and intriguing storyline. I’m looking forward to the second book.

[Celine L · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bought this book at an Art Fest because I liked the cover art. I'm not big on merpeople, books or movies and didn't expect to like reading this book. I actually enjoyed it and finished it in a few days. Looking forward to the sequel.