Cyanea

by Ann McNicol

Rising seas, coral bleaching, and her friendship with an intelligent octopus shaped Samantha's world. As a promising young marine biologist, she travels to Australia's Great Barrier Reef to study the blue octopus (Cyanea). Her interactions with these ntelligent creatures challenge humanity's established views of sentient beings and ecological rights. Disturbing events at home leave her isolated from her research team. She grapples with a pressing Can humanity repair the damage they've done? Is a viable future for life on land and sea still possible?

272 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 30, 2024

About the author

Ann grew up in South Florida, exploring local beaches and coral reefs, watching space launches, and devouring science fiction novels. She earned a Master’s degree in Zoology from the University of Queensland and worked as a laboratory assistant in fisheries science, pharmaceutical science and virology. She has taught high school and college classes in biology, chemistry, environmental science and biotechnology.

When not writing, Ann spends her time walking with her husband, bike riding, camping, visiting with her adult children, and playing with their attention-demanding cats.

Reviews

[Doris C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

There’s a sacred stillness to this story, an emotional depth that lingers long after the last page. Through Samantha’s eyes, we not only witness the damage we’ve done to the planet, but we also feel it in our bones. The blue octopus is a symbol, a companion, and a voice for the voiceless oceans we’ve ignored for too long.

What resonated most was how grief was handled, both personal grief and ecological grief. The loneliness Samantha experiences after events at home parallels the devastation she sees in the reef. And yet, through her connection with the octopus, she finds threads of meaning, fragments of healing.

This novel is part elegy, part wake-up call. It reminded me that empathy is a skill we must expand to every living being, and that the future, while uncertain, is still worth fighting for.

[Gloria Manns · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cyanea reads like a gentle revolution equal parts marine biology, quiet activism, and emotional resilience. Through Samantha’s eyes, we witness the aching beauty of the Great Barrier Reef and the unspoken intelligence of the blue octopus. The story’s real power lies in how it weaves personal isolation with planetary crisis, forcing us to reckon with the cost of disconnection. If you believe fiction can nudge humanity toward ecological empathy, this one will stay with you long after the final page.

[Cynthia Nicola · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cyanea left me breathless in the best way. As the final book in Charlie’s Story, it brings everything full circle in a deeply moving and urgent way. The relationship between Samantha and the octopus, Cyanea, is tender, mysterious, and surprisingly profound. Ann R. McNicol has this rare ability to weave hard science and raw emotion into something truly unforgettable. The way she writes about the reef made me feel both wonder and heartbreak. This story is more than fiction it’s a call to pay attention. I’ll be thinking about this one for a long time.

[Mark Dodd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book four is a relatable tale

I liked the original, book one enough to read the others. A powerful environmental message. Its a fun read, I enjoyed it so I gave it five stars.thank you.