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Siren's Last Song
The underwater kingdom of Merelani lives in peace—that is, until the newly crowned MerKing is murdered by a human poacher. And seconds after his death, the seafloor erupts into riotous sea quakes, an obvious portent of their Sea Goddess’s anger.
Avarie, the king's meek twin sister, is tasked with finding the killer and avenging his death. With a potion, she’s transformed into a human and her journey on land begins.
Even with knowledge of the human world from books, life ashore proves disorienting. Luckily for Avarie, she runs into—quite literally—a local who’s more than obliging to show her around.
As Avarie and Lahna grow closer, time ticks away. The Sea Goddess’s wrath reaches new peaks, and secrets between the duo could irreparably destroy their budding romance.
Siren’s Last Song is a YA sapphic tale of navigating grief, the weight of rising to responsibility, and falling for the one you should stay away from the most.
Avarie, the king's meek twin sister, is tasked with finding the killer and avenging his death. With a potion, she’s transformed into a human and her journey on land begins.
Even with knowledge of the human world from books, life ashore proves disorienting. Luckily for Avarie, she runs into—quite literally—a local who’s more than obliging to show her around.
As Avarie and Lahna grow closer, time ticks away. The Sea Goddess’s wrath reaches new peaks, and secrets between the duo could irreparably destroy their budding romance.
Siren’s Last Song is a YA sapphic tale of navigating grief, the weight of rising to responsibility, and falling for the one you should stay away from the most.
306 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 28, 2026
4 people are currently reading
75 people want to read
About the author
Ashleigh Martin
3 books8 followersAshleigh Martin (she/her) is an occasionally proud Texan and an always proud cat mom. When she’s not working as a librarian, you can find her reading, crafting, writing something sapphic (Adult Romance / YA Fantasy), or playing Sims. Her short fiction was recently published in two anthologies. Siren's Last Song is her debut novel. She’s also a Martha’s Vineyard Institute of Creative Writing Fellow and a WNDB Black Creatives Workshop participant. You can find her online @ashleighmwrites on various social media sites.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
April 28, 2026
3.75 ⭐
This is such an engaging YA fantasy romance about Avarie. After her twin brother dies during his coronation as king of Merelani, she’s suddenly thrust into the role of queen and tasked with avenging his death. With the help of a potion that temporarily turns her human, she ventures into the city of Deniz to find answers. There, she meets Lahna, a carefree young woman who helps her navigate this new world. But the more time they spend together, the harder it becomes to ignore the truth. Avarie’s time is limited, and their worlds were never meant to collide. She’s a mermaid and Lahna is human, so is their love something that can last, or just a fleeting moment?
I genuinely adored this book. The worldbuilding alone shows how much care Ashleigh put into it. It’s vivid, creative, and full of thoughtful details. From the way a mermaid’s scales shift with their emotions to the distinction between sirens and mermaids, everything felt intentional and fresh. I especially loved the playful twist on everyday expressions. It added such a fun layer of humor and made the world so easy to sink into.
This is 100% the kind of story my younger self would have obsessed over, mainly because I saw so much of myself in Avarie. She starts off very much in her comfort zone, preferring books over people, yet quietly longing for more. At the same time, she struggles with insecurity and the feeling that she doesn’t fully belong, all while carrying the pressure of her family’s and kingdom’s expectations and grieving her brother. Watching her grow into herself, make her own choices, and take control of her life was honestly beautiful. Her development felt natural and authentic, balancing maturity with moments of naivety that made her even more lovable. Her journey really stayed with me.
Lahna, meanwhile, is older (22) and much more secure in who she is. She’s more experienced, but what I appreciated most is how gentle and understanding she is with Avarie. She never dismisses her inexperience. Instead, she creates a space where Avarie feels accepted. She’s such an important part of Avarie’s growth.
The romance is so soft and sweet. It really captures that fluttery, all-consuming feeling of first love. While there’s instant attraction, their relationship builds beyond that. They take the time to truly know each other. Their shared love of books, their care for sea life, and their mutual understanding of grief made everything feel grounded and real. Even with a few bumps along the way, I enjoyed how their relationship unfolded, and I’m really curious to see where it goes next.
The pacing also deserves a mention. It felt consistent the whole way through. I never felt bored, but it also didn’t feel rushed, which is impressive considering the story takes place over about three weeks. It could have easily felt compressed, but thankfully it didn’t.
That being said, there are a few things I wish had been explored more. Avarie’s relationship with her father felt important but not fully developed, and it still seemed unresolved by the end. I’d love to see more of that in a sequel. The mystery around Lahna’s mother’s disappearance also feels like it could play a bigger role later on. And while I did enjoy the romance, I think a bit more development would have made it even more immersive.
Overall, Siren’s Last Song is a really solid debut. With its lush worldbuilding, it explores themes like identity, grief, social pressure, and parental expectations, all while giving us a relatable main character, a tender interspecies slow-burn romance, and a story about choosing what’s right, even when it’s hard.
Huge thank you to the author for trusting me with this early read!
This is such an engaging YA fantasy romance about Avarie. After her twin brother dies during his coronation as king of Merelani, she’s suddenly thrust into the role of queen and tasked with avenging his death. With the help of a potion that temporarily turns her human, she ventures into the city of Deniz to find answers. There, she meets Lahna, a carefree young woman who helps her navigate this new world. But the more time they spend together, the harder it becomes to ignore the truth. Avarie’s time is limited, and their worlds were never meant to collide. She’s a mermaid and Lahna is human, so is their love something that can last, or just a fleeting moment?
I genuinely adored this book. The worldbuilding alone shows how much care Ashleigh put into it. It’s vivid, creative, and full of thoughtful details. From the way a mermaid’s scales shift with their emotions to the distinction between sirens and mermaids, everything felt intentional and fresh. I especially loved the playful twist on everyday expressions. It added such a fun layer of humor and made the world so easy to sink into.
This is 100% the kind of story my younger self would have obsessed over, mainly because I saw so much of myself in Avarie. She starts off very much in her comfort zone, preferring books over people, yet quietly longing for more. At the same time, she struggles with insecurity and the feeling that she doesn’t fully belong, all while carrying the pressure of her family’s and kingdom’s expectations and grieving her brother. Watching her grow into herself, make her own choices, and take control of her life was honestly beautiful. Her development felt natural and authentic, balancing maturity with moments of naivety that made her even more lovable. Her journey really stayed with me.
Lahna, meanwhile, is older (22) and much more secure in who she is. She’s more experienced, but what I appreciated most is how gentle and understanding she is with Avarie. She never dismisses her inexperience. Instead, she creates a space where Avarie feels accepted. She’s such an important part of Avarie’s growth.
The romance is so soft and sweet. It really captures that fluttery, all-consuming feeling of first love. While there’s instant attraction, their relationship builds beyond that. They take the time to truly know each other. Their shared love of books, their care for sea life, and their mutual understanding of grief made everything feel grounded and real. Even with a few bumps along the way, I enjoyed how their relationship unfolded, and I’m really curious to see where it goes next.
The pacing also deserves a mention. It felt consistent the whole way through. I never felt bored, but it also didn’t feel rushed, which is impressive considering the story takes place over about three weeks. It could have easily felt compressed, but thankfully it didn’t.
That being said, there are a few things I wish had been explored more. Avarie’s relationship with her father felt important but not fully developed, and it still seemed unresolved by the end. I’d love to see more of that in a sequel. The mystery around Lahna’s mother’s disappearance also feels like it could play a bigger role later on. And while I did enjoy the romance, I think a bit more development would have made it even more immersive.
Overall, Siren’s Last Song is a really solid debut. With its lush worldbuilding, it explores themes like identity, grief, social pressure, and parental expectations, all while giving us a relatable main character, a tender interspecies slow-burn romance, and a story about choosing what’s right, even when it’s hard.
Huge thank you to the author for trusting me with this early read!
May 2, 2026
Siren's Last Song by Asheigh Martin has a fairytale vibe reminiscent of The Little Mermaid, with interesting nuances and a darker tone. Some of the plot was predictable, but I was happy to find a few surprises.
Avarie and her twin brother are 18, and Lahna is 22. Avarie seemed a bit naive and immature at first, but she showed some emotional growth over time.
Until around the 58% mark, it was a challenge to stay engaged, despite the action sequence at the beginning. Once I reached that point, the plot became more exciting and held my attention.
The relationship between Lahna and Avarie begins as a quick crush that evolves into a slow burn, culminating in a young adult, age-appropriate, closed-door scene. It is, expectedly, complicated by Avarie’s secret identity and ultimate mission.
Avarie struggles with warring emotions as she grieves her brother’s death, suffers from anxiety about her responsibilities, and is simultaneously thrilled to explore the human world and smitten with Lahna.
Despite his brief time on the page, Avarie’s brother, Aalto, was endearing, and I was sad about his fate.
I really like the way the title plays into the story.
Mairya’s role in the story surprised me. The ending was action-packed, exciting, and suspenseful. The epilogue was satisfying, and the addition of the “Ten-Year Maiden” short was fun.
The author’s writing style was strong, with lovely imagery and effective world-building.
Quoteworthy:
“The liquid is sweet, seafoam green, and garnished with glittery specks. It slides down smoothly, just like an octopus skirting across the seafloor.”
A couple of somewhat spoilery notes:
I liked that the cast was made up of people of color and led by women. The inclusion of a character with vitiligo is a bonus.
This novel was a bit dark at times, featuring heavy themes; however, it is YA and feels appropriate for the designated age group.
#Merpeople #mermaid #POC #Queernormative #royals #deathofalovedone #grief #Vitiligo #YA #NA #youngadult #newadult #firsttime #firsttimewithawoman #closeddoorromance #differentworlds #HEA #epilogue
I received a review copy from the author. This is my honest opinion.
Avarie and her twin brother are 18, and Lahna is 22. Avarie seemed a bit naive and immature at first, but she showed some emotional growth over time.
Until around the 58% mark, it was a challenge to stay engaged, despite the action sequence at the beginning. Once I reached that point, the plot became more exciting and held my attention.
The relationship between Lahna and Avarie begins as a quick crush that evolves into a slow burn, culminating in a young adult, age-appropriate, closed-door scene. It is, expectedly, complicated by Avarie’s secret identity and ultimate mission.
Avarie struggles with warring emotions as she grieves her brother’s death, suffers from anxiety about her responsibilities, and is simultaneously thrilled to explore the human world and smitten with Lahna.
Despite his brief time on the page, Avarie’s brother, Aalto, was endearing, and I was sad about his fate.
I really like the way the title plays into the story.
Mairya’s role in the story surprised me. The ending was action-packed, exciting, and suspenseful. The epilogue was satisfying, and the addition of the “Ten-Year Maiden” short was fun.
The author’s writing style was strong, with lovely imagery and effective world-building.
Quoteworthy:
“The liquid is sweet, seafoam green, and garnished with glittery specks. It slides down smoothly, just like an octopus skirting across the seafloor.”
A couple of somewhat spoilery notes:
I liked that the cast was made up of people of color and led by women. The inclusion of a character with vitiligo is a bonus.
This novel was a bit dark at times, featuring heavy themes; however, it is YA and feels appropriate for the designated age group.
#Merpeople #mermaid #POC #Queernormative #royals #deathofalovedone #grief #Vitiligo #YA #NA #youngadult #newadult #firsttime #firsttimewithawoman #closeddoorromance #differentworlds #HEA #epilogue
I received a review copy from the author. This is my honest opinion.
April 14, 2026
ADVANCED READER COPY REVIEW‼️❤️
This story follows Avarie, a mermaid princess, and Lahna, a human girl, as they navigate a connection that feels impossible given the worlds between them. Here is why this book is a must-read: Representation Matters and it was all throughout this book.
The author celebrated Black identity. Seeing a Black royal family under the sea felt so powerful and refreshing. The attention to detail regarding their natural hair was stunning—from the way Avarie’s locs flowed through the water to the vivid descriptions of Lahna’s curls and her unique hair color. Additionally, the inclusion of vitiligo through Lahna’s character was handled with such grace. It wasn’t just a detail; it was part of what made her presence on the page feel so real and beautiful.
I also love how Ashleigh was able to touch on grief and its aftermath through this book.
If you are into YA, Sapphic and/or Fantasy this is the book for you.
This story follows Avarie, a mermaid princess, and Lahna, a human girl, as they navigate a connection that feels impossible given the worlds between them. Here is why this book is a must-read: Representation Matters and it was all throughout this book.
The author celebrated Black identity. Seeing a Black royal family under the sea felt so powerful and refreshing. The attention to detail regarding their natural hair was stunning—from the way Avarie’s locs flowed through the water to the vivid descriptions of Lahna’s curls and her unique hair color. Additionally, the inclusion of vitiligo through Lahna’s character was handled with such grace. It wasn’t just a detail; it was part of what made her presence on the page feel so real and beautiful.
I also love how Ashleigh was able to touch on grief and its aftermath through this book.
If you are into YA, Sapphic and/or Fantasy this is the book for you.
April 30, 2026
✨ ARC Review ✨
This YA sapphic tale dives into grief, the weight of responsibility you never asked for, and the struggle of falling for someone you’re forbidden to love.
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC, and I really enjoyed this one! 💙
We follow Avarie—the king’s twin sister and a mermaid—who is tasked with avenging his death. Armed with a potion that turns her human, she sets out to bring justice to her brother and their kingdom.
But things get complicated when she meets Lahna, a human writer who deeply admires merpeople. What Avarie doesn’t expect is the romance that begins to bloom between them…
How can she choose love when their worlds were never meant to collide? And how can she allow herself happiness when her purpose is revenge?
⏳ With time running out, and her true identity at risk of being exposed, Avarie must navigate love, loss, and duty in ways she never imagined.
If you love:
🌊 Mermaid stories
💔 Forbidden romance
⚔️ Revenge-driven plots
🌈 Sapphic rep
This one is worth checking out!
This YA sapphic tale dives into grief, the weight of responsibility you never asked for, and the struggle of falling for someone you’re forbidden to love.
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC, and I really enjoyed this one! 💙
We follow Avarie—the king’s twin sister and a mermaid—who is tasked with avenging his death. Armed with a potion that turns her human, she sets out to bring justice to her brother and their kingdom.
But things get complicated when she meets Lahna, a human writer who deeply admires merpeople. What Avarie doesn’t expect is the romance that begins to bloom between them…
How can she choose love when their worlds were never meant to collide? And how can she allow herself happiness when her purpose is revenge?
⏳ With time running out, and her true identity at risk of being exposed, Avarie must navigate love, loss, and duty in ways she never imagined.
If you love:
🌊 Mermaid stories
💔 Forbidden romance
⚔️ Revenge-driven plots
🌈 Sapphic rep
This one is worth checking out!
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book has so much going for it! I was immediately drawn into the dynamic between Aalto and Avarie. There is an immediate connection that was well written/established that created a really solid emotional foundation for the rest of the story. After the devastating and sudden loss of her brother, Avarie is thrown into a situation rife with new burdens and expectations; all while trying to navigate her own grief. There are many themes throughout this story (grief, family struggles, community) that really spoke to me as a reader. Seeing these characters work through these more nuanced and complex issues and the oft-complicated feelings that accompany these situations was something I really appreciated seeing in the story.
As far as the lore goes, I was really intrigued by the complicated (and negative) relationship between humans and merpeople. While the merpeople had to deal with being victims to the cruelty of humans (poachers), I was really interested in seeing more about this built up siren lore that left the majority of humans scared of (and hateful towards) mermaids–espeically since we are shown the cruelty of humanity towards merpeople. There are a lot of ideas that are introduced and I think this is an area where there is room for additional exploration. I’m curious to see if there will be more books in this world where we continue to explore more of these different aspects of the story.
I do think that some of the urgency of the novel is a bit lost in the middle of the story. I think this could have been a time of discovery for Avarie. I thought we would uncover more/hidden history between the different species. Or maybe uncover more about the Sea Goddess. While Avarie is actively doing a task to try to get more information about the poachers, I did wish that there would have been more diversity in the story here to really aid in the overall worldbuilding. There is also a scene where we see more of how poorly mermaids are treated by humans and I really thought we would dive into that more and have some sort of larger consequence or follow-up (especially with Avarie as the queen and creating an opportunity for her to step into her own as a leader and out of the shadow of her brother to defend her people). This dynamic between humans and merpeople feels particularly relevant by the end of the story.
In regards to the romantic plot, I found their connection to be really wholesome. There is an understanding and appreciation that draws them towards each other and getting to see their relationship develop and grow was really special. Seeing both characters, independently, have a fascination and appreciation for the other species and seeing how they respect and come together made for a really cute romance that I was excited to see develop. And while they both had their own issues to work through, I thought these were balanced really well throughout the story and allowed for a healthy development and growth throughout the story.
Overall, I think this was a really interesting, fun, and sweet story with a lot of heart and depth. There are some surprises and reveals, and a good amount of tension is layered throughout the story to the end (and leaves things open for future stories to be told). This is a story about love, acceptance, and healing. There is a lot that is really working for this book--it's a solid YA novel.
3.5
As far as the lore goes, I was really intrigued by the complicated (and negative) relationship between humans and merpeople. While the merpeople had to deal with being victims to the cruelty of humans (poachers), I was really interested in seeing more about this built up siren lore that left the majority of humans scared of (and hateful towards) mermaids–espeically since we are shown the cruelty of humanity towards merpeople. There are a lot of ideas that are introduced and I think this is an area where there is room for additional exploration. I’m curious to see if there will be more books in this world where we continue to explore more of these different aspects of the story.
I do think that some of the urgency of the novel is a bit lost in the middle of the story. I think this could have been a time of discovery for Avarie. I thought we would uncover more/hidden history between the different species. Or maybe uncover more about the Sea Goddess. While Avarie is actively doing a task to try to get more information about the poachers, I did wish that there would have been more diversity in the story here to really aid in the overall worldbuilding. There is also a scene where we see more of how poorly mermaids are treated by humans and I really thought we would dive into that more and have some sort of larger consequence or follow-up (especially with Avarie as the queen and creating an opportunity for her to step into her own as a leader and out of the shadow of her brother to defend her people). This dynamic between humans and merpeople feels particularly relevant by the end of the story.
In regards to the romantic plot, I found their connection to be really wholesome. There is an understanding and appreciation that draws them towards each other and getting to see their relationship develop and grow was really special. Seeing both characters, independently, have a fascination and appreciation for the other species and seeing how they respect and come together made for a really cute romance that I was excited to see develop. And while they both had their own issues to work through, I thought these were balanced really well throughout the story and allowed for a healthy development and growth throughout the story.
Overall, I think this was a really interesting, fun, and sweet story with a lot of heart and depth. There are some surprises and reveals, and a good amount of tension is layered throughout the story to the end (and leaves things open for future stories to be told). This is a story about love, acceptance, and healing. There is a lot that is really working for this book--it's a solid YA novel.
3.5
Review of advance copy received from Author
I enjoyed this book, I enjoyed all the action and everything that was going on, it was more action fantasy type than romance fantasy type, the romance was still the most beautiful and cozy and beautiful part of the book though, it was such a coincidence they met and kind of a stereotypical meet cute (?) hallmark rom com situation, but it makes total sense for them as that’s literally THEM, like it’s literally Averies dream and… literally Lahna, like HER!!
Averie is the sort of in her head dreamy mermaid princess who wants nothing more than to explore the land above, and find new books, and a pretty girl. It sounds like the story of The Little Mermaid but it’s really not, it’s SO different I promise, its not cringey or a copy of anything, Averie is literally just a whimsy mermaid princess who wants more sapphic books for her collection and book nook.
The storyline itself, outside of the romance, is all go go go, it all happens, it’s one of those where it’s like right let’s do this today, then that’s the goal for tomorrow and so on, I love books like that though, and this one specifically has a timeline of two weeks, which is quite short for someone exploring a whole new world (ha ha ha… wait wrong movie… move on)
I love the representation in this book too, as a white girlie my opinion on it probably doesn’t matter much, but I love how it’s not a big thing? Besides the hair- the braids and locks are mentioned all the time and I LOVE IT, anyone that knows me knows it’s my random big dream to learn how to do black hair. Anyway carrying on, it’s also not a huge deal that Lahna has vitiligo (the skin thing not the dizzy thing) and actually it’s never even mentioned besides Averie calling her beautiful several times. Now I am NOT saying that the lack of mention of the diversity is what makes it good, I mean how it’s not made a big deal? Like I mean it’s just natural in this world the mermaid royal family is all black, it’s just natural that the only reaction to Lahnas vitiligo is beauty and awe. THAT is what I am saying is cool.
The romance is also so sweet, they both have a little crush on each other at first and are both too scared to say it, so they are both circling around it, then there’s the whole misunderstanding trope, then the miscommunication trope, it’s LITERALLY hallmark.
Its not even just the romance that’s hallmark either, especially the conclusion that takes place over the last few chapters, the resolution is SO COOL TOO, its the best written part in my opinion, its all just like WOAH. but not in an overwhelming way. I would say I would have liked to know what happened to the restaurant, the reason for the attack in the first place, and a bit more about the enchantress, otherwise A BEAUTIFUL BOOK.
Averie is the sort of in her head dreamy mermaid princess who wants nothing more than to explore the land above, and find new books, and a pretty girl. It sounds like the story of The Little Mermaid but it’s really not, it’s SO different I promise, its not cringey or a copy of anything, Averie is literally just a whimsy mermaid princess who wants more sapphic books for her collection and book nook.
The storyline itself, outside of the romance, is all go go go, it all happens, it’s one of those where it’s like right let’s do this today, then that’s the goal for tomorrow and so on, I love books like that though, and this one specifically has a timeline of two weeks, which is quite short for someone exploring a whole new world (ha ha ha… wait wrong movie… move on)
I love the representation in this book too, as a white girlie my opinion on it probably doesn’t matter much, but I love how it’s not a big thing? Besides the hair- the braids and locks are mentioned all the time and I LOVE IT, anyone that knows me knows it’s my random big dream to learn how to do black hair. Anyway carrying on, it’s also not a huge deal that Lahna has vitiligo (the skin thing not the dizzy thing) and actually it’s never even mentioned besides Averie calling her beautiful several times. Now I am NOT saying that the lack of mention of the diversity is what makes it good, I mean how it’s not made a big deal? Like I mean it’s just natural in this world the mermaid royal family is all black, it’s just natural that the only reaction to Lahnas vitiligo is beauty and awe. THAT is what I am saying is cool.
The romance is also so sweet, they both have a little crush on each other at first and are both too scared to say it, so they are both circling around it, then there’s the whole misunderstanding trope, then the miscommunication trope, it’s LITERALLY hallmark.
Its not even just the romance that’s hallmark either, especially the conclusion that takes place over the last few chapters, the resolution is SO COOL TOO, its the best written part in my opinion, its all just like WOAH. but not in an overwhelming way. I would say I would have liked to know what happened to the restaurant, the reason for the attack in the first place, and a bit more about the enchantress, otherwise A BEAUTIFUL BOOK.
April 13, 2026
I really enjoyed Siren’s Last Song it’s such a unique mix of fantasy, mystery, and romance. The story takes place in the underwater kingdom of Merelani, which is thrown into chaos after the newly crowned MerKing is murdered by a human. Right after his death, powerful seaquakes begin tearing through the ocean, showing that the Sea Goddess is furious. From there, the story follows Avarie, the king’s shy twin sister, who’s sent on a mission to find the killer and stop the destruction.What I liked most was Avarie as a main character. She isn’t your typical bold hero she’s unsure of herself and clearly overwhelmed, especially when she has to transform into a human and go onto land. Watching her struggle to adjust to the human world made her feel really real and relatable. It also made her growth throughout the story more meaningful.The romance between Avarie and Lahna was another highlight for me. Their relationship develops naturally. You can really feel the pressure building as time runs out and the Sea Goddess’s anger gets worse.Overall, I think this book does a great job balancing emotional themes like grief and responsibility with a compelling mystery and a slow burn sapphic romance. If you like fantasy stories with strong character development and a bit of drama, this is definitely worth reading.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you for the opportunity to review the ARC and provide an honest review.
Overall, this is a solid YA fantasy with a lot of tension, adventure and romance. Young mermaid, Avarie, is forced to avenge her twin brother's death and ascend to the throne as Queen of Merelani. Poor Avarie is granted every wish she ever had, but they all come with loopholes and pitfalls. She's very timid and naive for most of the story but finds her voice at the end. Her friendship turned romance with Lahna is sweet and endearing. Lahna's maturity and confidence was a nice contrast to Avarie. There are several villians in the story that Avarie must contend with to see her HEA. I would like to have more background or storyline on the Sea Goddess and the Enchantress, this was a little murky.
As far as pacing and structure of the story, it starts and ends with fast-paced action and adventure, but slows for the majority of the book so Avarie and Lahna can build their relationship. That felt long and frustrating at times because Avarie was working on a deadline and making little progress. There are a few plot holes and loose strings here and there, but they don't detract from the flow of the story.
Overall, this is a solid YA fantasy with a lot of tension, adventure and romance. Young mermaid, Avarie, is forced to avenge her twin brother's death and ascend to the throne as Queen of Merelani. Poor Avarie is granted every wish she ever had, but they all come with loopholes and pitfalls. She's very timid and naive for most of the story but finds her voice at the end. Her friendship turned romance with Lahna is sweet and endearing. Lahna's maturity and confidence was a nice contrast to Avarie. There are several villians in the story that Avarie must contend with to see her HEA. I would like to have more background or storyline on the Sea Goddess and the Enchantress, this was a little murky.
As far as pacing and structure of the story, it starts and ends with fast-paced action and adventure, but slows for the majority of the book so Avarie and Lahna can build their relationship. That felt long and frustrating at times because Avarie was working on a deadline and making little progress. There are a few plot holes and loose strings here and there, but they don't detract from the flow of the story.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Siren's Last Song is categorised as YA mermaid fantasy, featuring a beautiful sapphic romance. I personally don't agree with the YA marketing. Spice has no place in books marketed as YA. I'm hoping that it's just an error and not actually an author's choice to put it in the wrong category.
This felt like a grown ode to the Little Mermaid in the best possible way. It is full of nostalgia and heartfelt moments that warm your insides as you read. It's cosy with violent and dark scenes. I absolutely loved the kind of love triangle, where the FMC had to pick between her heart and her duty. The connection between the characters and the story within of the 10 year maiden was really clever. I enjoyed this read a lot!
One scene in particular left a bizarre feeling. Slight spoiler for the next paragraph!
They find the humans have a mermaid chained, bruised, and beaten in a fish tank. The Queen of Merkind just leaves her there, does nothing to help her. Never goes back, never even mentions or thinks of her again. The human wanted to save her, but the Queen said no. This makes little sense to me. In what world would you see one of your people enslaved and not do anything to help her. I kept waiting for it to happen or be mentioned in the epilogue, but nothing.
This felt like a grown ode to the Little Mermaid in the best possible way. It is full of nostalgia and heartfelt moments that warm your insides as you read. It's cosy with violent and dark scenes. I absolutely loved the kind of love triangle, where the FMC had to pick between her heart and her duty. The connection between the characters and the story within of the 10 year maiden was really clever. I enjoyed this read a lot!
One scene in particular left a bizarre feeling. Slight spoiler for the next paragraph!
They find the humans have a mermaid chained, bruised, and beaten in a fish tank. The Queen of Merkind just leaves her there, does nothing to help her. Never goes back, never even mentions or thinks of her again. The human wanted to save her, but the Queen said no. This makes little sense to me. In what world would you see one of your people enslaved and not do anything to help her. I kept waiting for it to happen or be mentioned in the epilogue, but nothing.
April 28, 2026
This is a standout debut from Ashleigh Martin about a mermaid named Avarie who goes ashore to avenge the death of her king only to fall for a human named Lahna.
I liked Avarie and Lahna's journey. There were parts were the writing was fairly repetitive, which made it hard to want to pick up again. The beginning and end are fast-paced and engaging. The middle is a bit slower, but the story is a unique twist on The Little Mermaid. The grief was well-represented to the point where I was emotional over Avarie's struggle with it.
Also, the cover is absolutely gorgeous! I love how Avarie loves Lahna's vitiligo. Have you seen the character art of them? It's amazing!
This would be a good romantic fantasy for 16+, though be aware there are some darker aspects like murder involved. Check Content Warnings!
Thank you to the author for the opportunity to read and review.
I liked Avarie and Lahna's journey. There were parts were the writing was fairly repetitive, which made it hard to want to pick up again. The beginning and end are fast-paced and engaging. The middle is a bit slower, but the story is a unique twist on The Little Mermaid. The grief was well-represented to the point where I was emotional over Avarie's struggle with it.
Also, the cover is absolutely gorgeous! I love how Avarie loves Lahna's vitiligo. Have you seen the character art of them? It's amazing!
This would be a good romantic fantasy for 16+, though be aware there are some darker aspects like murder involved. Check Content Warnings!
Thank you to the author for the opportunity to read and review.
April 28, 2026
Siren's last song is a YA sapphic romance in which Averie, anxious sweet Averia who never wanted to rule, becomes the new queen after her twin brother is brutally murdered by human poachers who have breached their kingdom.
To appease to Sea Goddess Averie is sent to the human world to avenge her brother. Averie will need to rise up to all the challenges she faces to show everyone she IS the ruler of her people.
It's a story about dealing with chronic anxiety, grief and finding your own voice.
It does feel most of the action took place on the final chapters and that left me reeling a little, but overal a really nice book and would definitely recommend to lovers of (YA) sapphic, mermaids, and fantasy books that are a little dark around the edges.
To appease to Sea Goddess Averie is sent to the human world to avenge her brother. Averie will need to rise up to all the challenges she faces to show everyone she IS the ruler of her people.
It's a story about dealing with chronic anxiety, grief and finding your own voice.
It does feel most of the action took place on the final chapters and that left me reeling a little, but overal a really nice book and would definitely recommend to lovers of (YA) sapphic, mermaids, and fantasy books that are a little dark around the edges.
April 16, 2026
I swooned over the storytelling of this book. It’s so masterful and while it does have Little Mermaid influences, it was such a unique tale to read. This book tugged at my heartstrings so much and it pulled me in with how complex it makes Avarie. I love love LOVED this book and listen…I was not expecting the twist closer towards the end 🥺🥺🥺. I cannot wait for this book to be read by so many others. It’s such a beautiful tale.
May 2, 2026
Wow! This was such an inspiring experience. This was a Black Lesbian Siren storyline that was captivating and plot twist gasping moment of time I can't get back but very well spent. I'm so proud of this moment in time and truly appreciate being sent this ARC. I wish I had this in a audiobook with Anastasia Watley being the narrator just listen to her narrations and then read this book and you will understand! I'm patiently waiting for more books. 10s across the board so good!
April 28, 2026
Obviously I'm a little biased 😉
Siren's Last Song is officially available today! And I'm so very proud & excited 🫧
If you enjoy:
🫧 Friends to Lovers
🫧 Anxious Characters
🫧 Revenge Plots
🫧 Romantic Fantasy
🫧 Angry Sea Goddesses
🫧 Sapphic YA
🫧 MERMAIDS
Then this book is for you ✨🧜🏾♀️
https://ashleighmartin.com/sirens-las...
Siren's Last Song is officially available today! And I'm so very proud & excited 🫧
If you enjoy:
🫧 Friends to Lovers
🫧 Anxious Characters
🫧 Revenge Plots
🫧 Romantic Fantasy
🫧 Angry Sea Goddesses
🫧 Sapphic YA
🫧 MERMAIDS
Then this book is for you ✨🧜🏾♀️
https://ashleighmartin.com/sirens-las...
April 30, 2026
This is my first sapphic fantasy romance and I loved it! The twists and turns were riveting. I never knew what was going to happen next!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.5 ⭐
This was a solid story, especially for its intended audience. The middle of the story lacked tension, which made it less engaging. It could have benefited from more worldbuilding, such as the town lore and how it became prejudiced.
It also would have been nice to have more context on the relationship between the Sea Goddess, her beliefs, motivations, and the dynamic with the merpeople.
I enjoyed the storybook theme—it was really cute! Avarie had admirable character development. If you have an affinity for mermaid and siren tales, this story is worth your time.
Thank you to Ashleigh Martin for providing this ARC 🧜🏾♀️
This was a solid story, especially for its intended audience. The middle of the story lacked tension, which made it less engaging. It could have benefited from more worldbuilding, such as the town lore and how it became prejudiced.
It also would have been nice to have more context on the relationship between the Sea Goddess, her beliefs, motivations, and the dynamic with the merpeople.
I enjoyed the storybook theme—it was really cute! Avarie had admirable character development. If you have an affinity for mermaid and siren tales, this story is worth your time.
Thank you to Ashleigh Martin for providing this ARC 🧜🏾♀️
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