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Shin of the Ravenfin
The North Pacific,
April 7, 2006
Despondent after his wife’s death, retired Navy-SEAL Shin Takeda jumps from his sailboat into frigid waters, miles from land. As he slips into unconsciousness, he hears a strange voice and feels his body lifted.
Discovered on a beach clinging to life, Shin is medevaced to a hospital where he recovers. As his memory returns, he faces a bizarre realization: an orca carried him to shore — and it spoke.
Desperate to solve the mystery, Shin returns to the ocean in scuba gear where he encounters his rescuer, Mothersong the matriarch — and is astonished to discover that he can freely communicate with the entire orca pod.
But Shin learns a disturbing tale. Hunters on the far side of the Pacific are capturing orcas. He promises to help, but his peaceful mission to stop the hunters takes a deep and dark turn as he becomes embroiled in espionage — and a warrior past long buried.
April 7, 2006
Despondent after his wife’s death, retired Navy-SEAL Shin Takeda jumps from his sailboat into frigid waters, miles from land. As he slips into unconsciousness, he hears a strange voice and feels his body lifted.
Discovered on a beach clinging to life, Shin is medevaced to a hospital where he recovers. As his memory returns, he faces a bizarre realization: an orca carried him to shore — and it spoke.
Desperate to solve the mystery, Shin returns to the ocean in scuba gear where he encounters his rescuer, Mothersong the matriarch — and is astonished to discover that he can freely communicate with the entire orca pod.
But Shin learns a disturbing tale. Hunters on the far side of the Pacific are capturing orcas. He promises to help, but his peaceful mission to stop the hunters takes a deep and dark turn as he becomes embroiled in espionage — and a warrior past long buried.
284 pages, Paperback
Published May 23, 2025
3 people are currently reading
2885 people want to read
About the author
Mark Jenkins
7 books54 followersMark Jenkins is a British-American author of speculative fiction. He is an outdoor enthusiast, swimmer, bass player, and philomath. His love of nature and adventure is woven into his sci-fi and fantasy tales.
He and his wife chase their dreams together in the Pacific Northwest.
He and his wife chase their dreams together in the Pacific Northwest.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
October 3, 2025
⭐⭐⭐.5
Pre-Read Notes:
This concept sounded so wild, that I asked NetGalley to send me a copy. It's an Indie and style-wise I don't always get along with those. When I request them, it's because the concept is a real win for me. I want to be squarely in the author's intended audience to help ensure I enjoy my read. I got lucky here, as this one has a nice readable style, so far, but it over-explains things to the audience.
Final Review
Despite quite a few quibbles, I really enjoyed this book, thanks in great deal to the absolutely awesome concept. A human who talks to orcas and leads them in military maneuvers to protect them from destructive humans? Uhm, yes please! Honestly, it's a hectic book and I wasn't always sure what the heck was going on. But I liked it!
Thank you to author/publisher Mark Jenkins and NetGalley for an advance digital copy of SHIN OF THE RAVENFIN. All views are mine.
Pre-Read Notes:
This concept sounded so wild, that I asked NetGalley to send me a copy. It's an Indie and style-wise I don't always get along with those. When I request them, it's because the concept is a real win for me. I want to be squarely in the author's intended audience to help ensure I enjoy my read. I got lucky here, as this one has a nice readable style, so far, but it over-explains things to the audience.
Final Review
Despite quite a few quibbles, I really enjoyed this book, thanks in great deal to the absolutely awesome concept. A human who talks to orcas and leads them in military maneuvers to protect them from destructive humans? Uhm, yes please! Honestly, it's a hectic book and I wasn't always sure what the heck was going on. But I liked it!
Thank you to author/publisher Mark Jenkins and NetGalley for an advance digital copy of SHIN OF THE RAVENFIN. All views are mine.
November 6, 2025
SHIN OF THE RAVENFIN
Truly a wonderfully enjoyable story. After the death of his wife Ayumi, retired Navy-SEAL Shin Takeda decides to become one with the ocean he loves. But Shin does not die. He is rescued by an Orca and placed upon the shore. During his recuperation he realizes that he had communicated with Mothersong, the whale who saved him.
Shin needs to understand. He goes back to the water and learns of the Orca pod called Ravenfin, their ways of survival and dangers they face. He studies whaling online and becomes familiar with Freedom Whale Friends, Orcas International and other groups concerned with cetacean safety. He researches regional geography with shipping channels, maritime maps, islands and waterways. He discovers a Chinese “ghost” ship, the Zheng Yi, that is involved with capturing Orcas for water zoos as well as other nefarious activities.
From Puget Sound to Hokkaido and the Sea of Okhotsk, Shin goes on a heroic mission to save the whales. His story is interspersed with the tales of the Ravenfin and their efforts to survive.
It’s not sappy or preachy. Parts fantasy, adventure, and educational, it’s just a wonderful story of good versus evil and respect for life. It’s written so beautifully that you feel you are actually swimming with Shin of the Ravenfin.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Mark Jenkins for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Truly a wonderfully enjoyable story. After the death of his wife Ayumi, retired Navy-SEAL Shin Takeda decides to become one with the ocean he loves. But Shin does not die. He is rescued by an Orca and placed upon the shore. During his recuperation he realizes that he had communicated with Mothersong, the whale who saved him.
Shin needs to understand. He goes back to the water and learns of the Orca pod called Ravenfin, their ways of survival and dangers they face. He studies whaling online and becomes familiar with Freedom Whale Friends, Orcas International and other groups concerned with cetacean safety. He researches regional geography with shipping channels, maritime maps, islands and waterways. He discovers a Chinese “ghost” ship, the Zheng Yi, that is involved with capturing Orcas for water zoos as well as other nefarious activities.
From Puget Sound to Hokkaido and the Sea of Okhotsk, Shin goes on a heroic mission to save the whales. His story is interspersed with the tales of the Ravenfin and their efforts to survive.
It’s not sappy or preachy. Parts fantasy, adventure, and educational, it’s just a wonderful story of good versus evil and respect for life. It’s written so beautifully that you feel you are actually swimming with Shin of the Ravenfin.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Mark Jenkins for the opportunity to read and review this book.
February 1, 2026
Shin, struggling with grief after his wife's death, decides to take his life by jumping into the frigid north-western Pacific waters. After waking up in a hospital, memories of a black-and-white torpedoed shape start surfacing, and Shin discovers that he can now communicate with a resident orca pod.
This book was right up my street: I'm a marine biologist specializing in marine mammals, I'm obsessed with the orca ecotypes of the NW Pacific, I'm a diver and I've spent a lot of time on ships. Needless to say, I loved it!
I wasn't expecting to get chapters from the pod's POV, and at first I wasn't sure it was a good idea, but it worked out really well. I also adored the friendship between Shin and Tyler; everyone needs a Tyler! The mystery was well executed and absolutely believable. The last few chapters were intense and kept me up past my bedtime (and it was totally worth it).
The subject matter of this book can be quite emotionnally draining for me. The impact of human activity on wildlife is unimaginable and often sends me into spirals of hopelessness. But I thought the author did a great job of showcasing it in his story, while not letting the reader fall into despair, but rather letting them leave the story with a sense of hope.
Some concepts were a bit too simplified to my taste and I would have loved to see a bit more details, but I understand it was meant for a wider audience that doesn't have my background. I still think that some additionnal info would have been nice; for example, it is mentionned that resident and transient orcas aren't visually different, but that isn't quite the case, you just need to know what to look for. I went into the book thinking that it would have the level of detail of Whalefall by Daniel Kraus, but it is definitely geared towards a more general public.
This book was right up my street: I'm a marine biologist specializing in marine mammals, I'm obsessed with the orca ecotypes of the NW Pacific, I'm a diver and I've spent a lot of time on ships. Needless to say, I loved it!
I wasn't expecting to get chapters from the pod's POV, and at first I wasn't sure it was a good idea, but it worked out really well. I also adored the friendship between Shin and Tyler; everyone needs a Tyler! The mystery was well executed and absolutely believable. The last few chapters were intense and kept me up past my bedtime (and it was totally worth it).
The subject matter of this book can be quite emotionnally draining for me. The impact of human activity on wildlife is unimaginable and often sends me into spirals of hopelessness. But I thought the author did a great job of showcasing it in his story, while not letting the reader fall into despair, but rather letting them leave the story with a sense of hope.
Some concepts were a bit too simplified to my taste and I would have loved to see a bit more details, but I understand it was meant for a wider audience that doesn't have my background. I still think that some additionnal info would have been nice; for example, it is mentionned that resident and transient orcas aren't visually different, but that isn't quite the case, you just need to know what to look for. I went into the book thinking that it would have the level of detail of Whalefall by Daniel Kraus, but it is definitely geared towards a more general public.
September 29, 2025
What a wonderful, moving, and action packed ride this story was - I loved it! Ex-SEAL Shin is rescued by an orca that, when his recovery is complete, he recalls that it spoke to him. He gets his scuba gear together and tries to reach out to the pod, and learns that in Russian waters off Japan a Chinese ship is capturing whales and dolphins for marine parks, and resolves to go and do something to stop them. Aided by his ex-Marine buddy Tyler, and his Japanese cousin Daichi, the rest of the book deals with how his efforts go. Chapters about Shin are interspersed with chapters about Mothersong, the matriarch whale of the Ravenfin pod. The book is beautifully written and is both emotionally charged, adrenaline fuelled and exhilarating. The action plays out in technicolour glory and you can 'see' it perfectly, it's so well done, it's like having Netflix in your head! There is an old Ainu legend that there will come one who can speak to the orcas, and this book is a wonderful embodiment of the fulfilment of that legend - highly recommended. I'll be looking out for more from this author.
December 28, 2025
I was provided this book through Netgalley in return for my review.
I found this book to be emotionally charged and interesting. Jenkins takes his main character on a rollercoaster ride of self rediscovery after the loss of his wife. Finding a new meaning and purpose for his life motivates him to work through his loss and pain.
The point of view shift to that of Mothersong and her tales enriches the story and lends a depth to I that a purely one sided view would have lacked.
I can't speak to the veracity of nautical or marine biological terms that some reviewers have had concerns about, but this was not billed as a non-fiction book on the lives of orcas or on sailing vessels etc and I think the things that I could corroborate were decent. The fact Jenkins tried to tackle marine biology, which is an ever changing field, being that we barely know anything about the oceans compared to how much of it there is, speaks well of him.
I found this book to be emotionally charged and interesting. Jenkins takes his main character on a rollercoaster ride of self rediscovery after the loss of his wife. Finding a new meaning and purpose for his life motivates him to work through his loss and pain.
The point of view shift to that of Mothersong and her tales enriches the story and lends a depth to I that a purely one sided view would have lacked.
I can't speak to the veracity of nautical or marine biological terms that some reviewers have had concerns about, but this was not billed as a non-fiction book on the lives of orcas or on sailing vessels etc and I think the things that I could corroborate were decent. The fact Jenkins tried to tackle marine biology, which is an ever changing field, being that we barely know anything about the oceans compared to how much of it there is, speaks well of him.
May 21, 2025
I am an ARC reader and this is my honest opinion. This is one of those books that I would give A* plus if I could. It is a wonderful story that pulled me in from the start. Shin Takeda, a Japanese American, is heartbroken after the lingering death from cancer of his beloved wife and tries to drown himself in the sea he had been so comfortable in as a navy seal and expert diver. But when he's saved by a compassionate Orca, he is determined to thank her in any way he can. I felt uplifted by this story. One might think of it as Dr Dolittle of the sea, but in fact it is a story of evil men being defeated by the very victims they'd been ruthlessly hunting and hurting cruelly. The author has made a wonderful job of telling the story of the plight of the Orcas and other sentient animals that live in the sea and a group of humans determined to protect them.
October 7, 2025
This is such a beautiful book. Shin is devastated by the death of his wife and means to die. That effort does not succeed for he’s rescued by a killer whale.
That interaction leads to the discovery Shin can communicate with orcas as they can with him. This is a new discovery but gives Shin’s life new meaning.
You see, Chinese and Russian ships are trapping cetaceans to man crappy marine wildlife parks. This is such a life of loss for them, essentially lost to their own families, a loss to the ocean and their very way of being.
Shin wants to help. Can he?
Well, read the book! I can say as my much as I enjoyed this read I would not welcome a sequel. Let everyone be free, let everyone live in peace while their life here exists. 🕊️
That interaction leads to the discovery Shin can communicate with orcas as they can with him. This is a new discovery but gives Shin’s life new meaning.
You see, Chinese and Russian ships are trapping cetaceans to man crappy marine wildlife parks. This is such a life of loss for them, essentially lost to their own families, a loss to the ocean and their very way of being.
Shin wants to help. Can he?
Well, read the book! I can say as my much as I enjoyed this read I would not welcome a sequel. Let everyone be free, let everyone live in peace while their life here exists. 🕊️
May 21, 2025
Thanks to BookSirens for the ARC. This was a good read in that both humans and orcas are involved in battling evil to man and mammals. The best spyware and technology are used to take on smugglers and truly evil predators. I enjoyed the human orca interaction and the insight into Japanese society was well done. I do hope that there will be a sequel perhaps?
January 28, 2026
3.5
What I liked:
The book was very easy to read, fast paced, kept me engaged throughout
I learned a few new things about whales and the deep ocean (ex: SOFAR)
I'm always a fan of non-human prespectives, so I enjoyed Mothersong's POV.
What I didn't like:
Something about the writing left me feeling a little detached from emotions and action
The side characters were fairly one-dimensional, though they played a smaller role so it didn't bother me too much.
What I liked:
The book was very easy to read, fast paced, kept me engaged throughout
I learned a few new things about whales and the deep ocean (ex: SOFAR)
I'm always a fan of non-human prespectives, so I enjoyed Mothersong's POV.
What I didn't like:
Something about the writing left me feeling a little detached from emotions and action
The side characters were fairly one-dimensional, though they played a smaller role so it didn't bother me too much.
November 15, 2025
Free Willy meets James Bond - sign me up!
I couldn’t resist requesting this on @netgalley when I seen the cover and read the description - a book about a guy who can communicate with orcas that descends into a full on espionage?? It sounded so unusual that I needed to read it!
I’ll be totally honest - this is far from the most spectacular thing I’ve ever read. I felt like there were a lot of filler passages, a couple of things just didn’t fit and there was a LOT of nautical language that I kept having to look up. Some of the vocabulary used also felt very forced.
However, the main character Shin is hard not to like - he just wanted to save orcas and make the world safer for them so he’s a bit of a legend. The chapters from the orca’s POV were also a highlight and it was clear that Jenkins had conducted research whilst writing the book that helped him build a culture for them. Finally, the pacing in the last few chapters really helped ramp up the action and I thought Shin’s ending was very fitting.
Overall, an easy read that reminded me how much I bloody love orcas!
I couldn’t resist requesting this on @netgalley when I seen the cover and read the description - a book about a guy who can communicate with orcas that descends into a full on espionage?? It sounded so unusual that I needed to read it!
I’ll be totally honest - this is far from the most spectacular thing I’ve ever read. I felt like there were a lot of filler passages, a couple of things just didn’t fit and there was a LOT of nautical language that I kept having to look up. Some of the vocabulary used also felt very forced.
However, the main character Shin is hard not to like - he just wanted to save orcas and make the world safer for them so he’s a bit of a legend. The chapters from the orca’s POV were also a highlight and it was clear that Jenkins had conducted research whilst writing the book that helped him build a culture for them. Finally, the pacing in the last few chapters really helped ramp up the action and I thought Shin’s ending was very fitting.
Overall, an easy read that reminded me how much I bloody love orcas!
May 18, 2025
A truly fantastical tale of what if…. As a lover of sea creatures, especially cetaceans, this book was a must read. What I would do to be able to swim with Shin and communicate with his friends. If you love the ocean, this book is a must read!
July 28, 2025
Mark Jenkins wrote an exciting action, adventure, thriller with many surprises along the way.
The strong bond between the main character, Shin, and the Ravenfins throughout the novel is exhilarating. The writing flows beautifully. A very, very good read.
The strong bond between the main character, Shin, and the Ravenfins throughout the novel is exhilarating. The writing flows beautifully. A very, very good read.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews