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A Voice of Wrath
He has twenty-nine days to live. Just enough time to save a kingdom-or burn one down.
Rafa, prince by blood and smuggler by trade, has always known the clock on his life is ticking. A prophecy sealed his fate twenty years ago, and now, with only twenty-nine days left, he's ready to meet the end on his own terms.
But first…he has a promise to keep.
His twin sister should be queen, if not for the tyrant wearing their father's crown. To secure her rebellion, she sends Rafa on an impossible mission: smuggle a masked stranger across enemy lines and recover the stolen magic that could turn the tide of war.
Simple, right? Except the country they're infiltrating is barricaded by stone walls, guarded by the world's only magic users, and filled with the kinds of monsters Rafa thought only existed in bedtime warnings.
As corpses pile up and secrets unravel-including some from his sister-Rafa finds himself torn between duty and desire. Especially when the silent, mysterious man he's meant to escort proves far more captivating than he expected.
With death looming and fate sharpening its blade, Rafa must decide if helping his sister steal a throne is worth dooming the world he'll never live to see.
A Voice of Wrath, a queer reimagining of The Little Mermaid, is a slow-burn fantasy romance filled with treacherous journeys, impossible choices, and a doomed prince discovering that sometimes the most dangerous thing you can do is want more time.
Rafa, prince by blood and smuggler by trade, has always known the clock on his life is ticking. A prophecy sealed his fate twenty years ago, and now, with only twenty-nine days left, he's ready to meet the end on his own terms.
But first…he has a promise to keep.
His twin sister should be queen, if not for the tyrant wearing their father's crown. To secure her rebellion, she sends Rafa on an impossible mission: smuggle a masked stranger across enemy lines and recover the stolen magic that could turn the tide of war.
Simple, right? Except the country they're infiltrating is barricaded by stone walls, guarded by the world's only magic users, and filled with the kinds of monsters Rafa thought only existed in bedtime warnings.
As corpses pile up and secrets unravel-including some from his sister-Rafa finds himself torn between duty and desire. Especially when the silent, mysterious man he's meant to escort proves far more captivating than he expected.
With death looming and fate sharpening its blade, Rafa must decide if helping his sister steal a throne is worth dooming the world he'll never live to see.
A Voice of Wrath, a queer reimagining of The Little Mermaid, is a slow-burn fantasy romance filled with treacherous journeys, impossible choices, and a doomed prince discovering that sometimes the most dangerous thing you can do is want more time.
369 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 14, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
4.5 ⭐️ rounded up, buckle up
20 year old rafa, twin and prince, has spent majority of his life being neglected and hurt by those around him since he was prophesized to die on his 21st birthday. while to me, this seems like throwing salt in a wound, the thought is more so that building a relationship with Rafa is asking for heart-break, so instead abuse makes much more sense. rafa’s only close relationship is a co-dependency with Van, an adorable feral cat of a person that I believe rafa adopted as a refugee from his smuggling hobby. unclear actually. as the only decent person in the palace apparently, they are understandably terrified of losing rafa, but all attempts at breaking the curse/fate have been moot. Rafa’s twin sister, intended queen raza, asks one last favor of her basically estranged brother to spend his last month alive smuggling an unidentified human draped in an alarming amount of cloth into the locked-down neighboring country in an unclear-to-rafa-and-van plan to save both kingdoms and secure raza’s reign from their monster father.
voice of wrath has been the hardest time I’ve had deciding between 4 and 5 stars in a while. there is such beautiful and rich world building it had me so intrigued with the details in a way that many fantasy novels fall short of. what shied me from a confident 5 stars is that the level of complexity is difficult to be captured in one book under 400 pages. In addition to the depth of the background stories that are hinted at but really not explained enough. It captured me to where I craved more but was left unsatisfied without it.
ash, the human wraith, is such an intriguing character and there is significant yearning from rafa, that is requited technically, but also more so just hinted at. while voice of Wrath is kind of a slow-burn, the burn is more so a constant glow rather than any flame. there is a level of sessy internal monologue that is “adult” but it is more of a yearn and the pull of “what if”. ash’s personality is really based on actions and assumptions as there isn’t much communication with him and rafa which is explained in a really interesting way. the platonic found family love with van is so heartwarming, I think its more central than the romantic love.
I think what makes me so conflicted is there is so much feeling and beauty that is more so implied throughout every aspect of the book. I really felt personally pulled into the story and did not want it to end at all. but with the ambiguity in mind, I think it might be difficult to enjoy for readers that are not looking to analyze with close reading.
I really wish this was a series instead of a standalone, I would read 47 books of this world and characters. I am screaming from roof tops that if you enjoy peeling the onion layers this is your book! sometimes I do just feel that the best kind of book is one that leaves you stunned at the end, the story is bigger than an open close satiated feeling and I think that is the only way to encompass it.
finally thank you to Owl City Press for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review on this fine pub-date-eve, happy reading!!
20 year old rafa, twin and prince, has spent majority of his life being neglected and hurt by those around him since he was prophesized to die on his 21st birthday. while to me, this seems like throwing salt in a wound, the thought is more so that building a relationship with Rafa is asking for heart-break, so instead abuse makes much more sense. rafa’s only close relationship is a co-dependency with Van, an adorable feral cat of a person that I believe rafa adopted as a refugee from his smuggling hobby. unclear actually. as the only decent person in the palace apparently, they are understandably terrified of losing rafa, but all attempts at breaking the curse/fate have been moot. Rafa’s twin sister, intended queen raza, asks one last favor of her basically estranged brother to spend his last month alive smuggling an unidentified human draped in an alarming amount of cloth into the locked-down neighboring country in an unclear-to-rafa-and-van plan to save both kingdoms and secure raza’s reign from their monster father.
voice of wrath has been the hardest time I’ve had deciding between 4 and 5 stars in a while. there is such beautiful and rich world building it had me so intrigued with the details in a way that many fantasy novels fall short of. what shied me from a confident 5 stars is that the level of complexity is difficult to be captured in one book under 400 pages. In addition to the depth of the background stories that are hinted at but really not explained enough. It captured me to where I craved more but was left unsatisfied without it.
ash, the human wraith, is such an intriguing character and there is significant yearning from rafa, that is requited technically, but also more so just hinted at. while voice of Wrath is kind of a slow-burn, the burn is more so a constant glow rather than any flame. there is a level of sessy internal monologue that is “adult” but it is more of a yearn and the pull of “what if”. ash’s personality is really based on actions and assumptions as there isn’t much communication with him and rafa which is explained in a really interesting way. the platonic found family love with van is so heartwarming, I think its more central than the romantic love.
I think what makes me so conflicted is there is so much feeling and beauty that is more so implied throughout every aspect of the book. I really felt personally pulled into the story and did not want it to end at all. but with the ambiguity in mind, I think it might be difficult to enjoy for readers that are not looking to analyze with close reading.
I really wish this was a series instead of a standalone, I would read 47 books of this world and characters. I am screaming from roof tops that if you enjoy peeling the onion layers this is your book! sometimes I do just feel that the best kind of book is one that leaves you stunned at the end, the story is bigger than an open close satiated feeling and I think that is the only way to encompass it.
finally thank you to Owl City Press for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review on this fine pub-date-eve, happy reading!!
July 31, 2026
DNFed under my straight-up-stupid rule. The task the sister asks of him, when he’s about to die? NOPE. She wants him to smuggle a person into an unbreachable city, because this will help her claim the throne. But she won’t tell him who this person is? AND HE DOESN’T ASK? (Well, he does, but lets her brush him off, and when she gives him the opportunity to ask questions, that’s not one he asks.) And…she asks this of him when it’ll mean his death-day will come during the mission??? No. Appallingly dumb. Absolutely not.
This is aside from…weird lines like these. All quotes taken from my advanced reader copy, so bear in mind they could all be edited or even removed from the final published edition of the book.
This is very awkward phrasing.
Since when is ‘brother’ an honorific?
Possibly I’m just very stupid, but no, it is not at all obvious to me why a nation with the only magic users in the world would lock down its borders. This is not self-evident. What am I supposed to infer here?
What does this mean? How can you be signing (as in, sign-language) fast but also be languid? And ‘resembling anything but the natural movements of a human’ is very clunky phrasing.
…Quite a lot, actually??? Not to everyone soon to die, but to quite a lot of people it matters very much? This is a very weird sentiment to me, the idea that no one near death cares about their legacy.
Etc.
This is aside from…weird lines like these. All quotes taken from my advanced reader copy, so bear in mind they could all be edited or even removed from the final published edition of the book.
inexplicably feels like he’s intruding, despite the room not remotely belonging to the stranger.
This is very awkward phrasing.
Brother. It’s been years since she last used an honorific to address him.
Since when is ‘brother’ an honorific?
Housing the only magic users in the world, it’s no surprise they would want to keep everyone else out, to keep their own people in.
Possibly I’m just very stupid, but no, it is not at all obvious to me why a nation with the only magic users in the world would lock down its borders. This is not self-evident. What am I supposed to infer here?
the sheer graceful fluidity of his signing, as if he does so underwater. It’s simultaneously as fast as Raza’s yet also painstakingly languid, resembling anything but the natural movements of a human.
What does this mean? How can you be signing (as in, sign-language) fast but also be languid? And ‘resembling anything but the natural movements of a human’ is very clunky phrasing.
What does a legacy matter to a man soon to die?
…Quite a lot, actually??? Not to everyone soon to die, but to quite a lot of people it matters very much? This is a very weird sentiment to me, the idea that no one near death cares about their legacy.
Etc.
July 21, 2026
A prince marked for death, a kingdom full of secrets, and a mission that forces Rafa to confront magic, danger, and the complicated bonds that shape his life. This story blends political tension, myth, and quiet emotional intensity into a world that feels vivid and alive.
Rafa is one of the most compelling fantasy protagonists I have read in a long time. His life has been shaped by a prophecy that promises his death at twenty one, and the emotional fallout of that fate is written with real nuance. The neglect, the fear, the way people push him away to avoid heartbreak, all of it creates a character who feels layered and deeply human. His bond with Van adds even more heart to the story. Their connection is messy, loyal, protective, and full of found family warmth.
Ash is just as fascinating, even though he barely speaks for most of the book. His silence becomes part of the atmosphere, and the way Rafa responds to him creates a constant pull that feels both tender and tense. Their relationship builds through action, trust, and quiet moments. The emotional weight between them is one of the strongest parts of the story.
The world building is beautiful. It is rich, imaginative, and full of details that make the kingdoms feel alive. There is political danger, magic, history, and a sense of myth woven through every chapter. It is the kind of world that feels bigger than the page, and I loved how much depth was implied even when not fully explored. It made me want more in the best way.
This book has an energy that pulls you in. It is emotional, atmospheric, and full of characters you start to love. I did not want it to end, and I would happily read many more stories set in this world.
Thank you to City Owl Press for the advanced reader copy, received through LibraryThing’s Early Reviewers program.
Rafa is one of the most compelling fantasy protagonists I have read in a long time. His life has been shaped by a prophecy that promises his death at twenty one, and the emotional fallout of that fate is written with real nuance. The neglect, the fear, the way people push him away to avoid heartbreak, all of it creates a character who feels layered and deeply human. His bond with Van adds even more heart to the story. Their connection is messy, loyal, protective, and full of found family warmth.
Ash is just as fascinating, even though he barely speaks for most of the book. His silence becomes part of the atmosphere, and the way Rafa responds to him creates a constant pull that feels both tender and tense. Their relationship builds through action, trust, and quiet moments. The emotional weight between them is one of the strongest parts of the story.
The world building is beautiful. It is rich, imaginative, and full of details that make the kingdoms feel alive. There is political danger, magic, history, and a sense of myth woven through every chapter. It is the kind of world that feels bigger than the page, and I loved how much depth was implied even when not fully explored. It made me want more in the best way.
This book has an energy that pulls you in. It is emotional, atmospheric, and full of characters you start to love. I did not want it to end, and I would happily read many more stories set in this world.
Thank you to City Owl Press for the advanced reader copy, received through LibraryThing’s Early Reviewers program.
Review of advance copy
A prince fated to die on his twenty-first birthday. A best friend who refuses to believe there's no way to save him. A queen tired of sharing her power, with a plan to wrestle it away from those in her way. And a masked stranger who is central to that plan, if they can sneak him back into his country and help him recover his magic.
I appreciated that this reimagining of The Little Mermaid didn't feel like a copy of the original. It is its own story, different and engaging enough not to be predictable. The characters were well written, and I enjoyed the relationship between Rafa and Van, as well as that between Rafa and Raza.
This is definitely a slow-burn romance, but it felt realistic. It wasn't a spontaneous, instant love connection. Their connection builds in a way that feels natural to the story.
I was a little disappointed at the ending. Even with the hope of a second book, it felt a little abrupt. But if there is another coming, I do look forward to seeing what happens next: whether Raza succeeds in gaining full control of her rule, how the relationship between Rafa and Ash progresses, especially now that Ash has his voice back, etc.
I received a copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a fair and honest review.
I appreciated that this reimagining of The Little Mermaid didn't feel like a copy of the original. It is its own story, different and engaging enough not to be predictable. The characters were well written, and I enjoyed the relationship between Rafa and Van, as well as that between Rafa and Raza.
This is definitely a slow-burn romance, but it felt realistic. It wasn't a spontaneous, instant love connection. Their connection builds in a way that feels natural to the story.
I was a little disappointed at the ending. Even with the hope of a second book, it felt a little abrupt. But if there is another coming, I do look forward to seeing what happens next: whether Raza succeeds in gaining full control of her rule, how the relationship between Rafa and Ash progresses, especially now that Ash has his voice back, etc.
I received a copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a fair and honest review.
July 27, 2026
This was beautifully agonizing! The world building is absolutely stunning and the story is above my wildest thoughts and dreams. I can’t imagine knowing how I’d personally treat someone in my life knowing they were destined to die at a certain age. I’d likely push them away to save my own heart ache… that’s sadly human nature, at least for some; but for the mmc to be treated the way he was because of this prophesy was heart wrenching. I have many more thoughts, all positive in the realm of the book; but I really don’t want to ruin the book for others by adding in spoilers. If you read it and wish to chat about it, that would be okay.
I highly recommend this read! I will stand behind that 1,000%.
Again, I want to thank Goodreads for allowing so many giveaways! I am so very lucky to have gotten this book.
I highly recommend this read! I will stand behind that 1,000%.
Again, I want to thank Goodreads for allowing so many giveaways! I am so very lucky to have gotten this book.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you to the author for the ARC of this book!
When I wasn't actively reading this book, I was subtly planning how I could stop whatever I was doing to read more. There was a constant momentum throughout it that made it so hard for me to put it down. I loved Rafa and Van's friendship, I loved seeing someone grapple with what their life even means, I loved the slow progression of getting to know Ash. Even though it's a reimagining of The Little Mermaid, it stood on its own extremely well! My only hang up is that the ending felt a little sudden, but even then, everything still made sense.
I'm secretly crossing my fingers that we'll somehow get more of Rafa and Ash, but until then I'll definitely be picking up a physical copy to keep them on my bookshelf 🙂↕️
When I wasn't actively reading this book, I was subtly planning how I could stop whatever I was doing to read more. There was a constant momentum throughout it that made it so hard for me to put it down. I loved Rafa and Van's friendship, I loved seeing someone grapple with what their life even means, I loved the slow progression of getting to know Ash. Even though it's a reimagining of The Little Mermaid, it stood on its own extremely well! My only hang up is that the ending felt a little sudden, but even then, everything still made sense.
I'm secretly crossing my fingers that we'll somehow get more of Rafa and Ash, but until then I'll definitely be picking up a physical copy to keep them on my bookshelf 🙂↕️
September 2, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for sending me this ARC!
4 stars
A Voice of Wrath was great, but I hope there is a second book because that ending was abrupt. There was great storytelling, and I really enjoyed the characters. The romance was very background to the main plot and veryyyyyy slow burn. This book does claim to be a reimagined Little Mermaid, but it is extremely subtle, and this book stands alone from its inspiration. My only gripe with this novel is that the ending felt a bit like a cliffhanger, and the book was suddenly over when I thought there was going to be more. I also wanted a bit more romance between Rafa and Ash before the end. All of this leaves me with the hope that there is a second book that develops the romance more.
4 stars
A Voice of Wrath was great, but I hope there is a second book because that ending was abrupt. There was great storytelling, and I really enjoyed the characters. The romance was very background to the main plot and veryyyyyy slow burn. This book does claim to be a reimagined Little Mermaid, but it is extremely subtle, and this book stands alone from its inspiration. My only gripe with this novel is that the ending felt a bit like a cliffhanger, and the book was suddenly over when I thought there was going to be more. I also wanted a bit more romance between Rafa and Ash before the end. All of this leaves me with the hope that there is a second book that develops the romance more.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5⭐️ A great setup for a reimagining of The Little Mermaid, but a bit too much of a slow burn for me! I loved the initial concept of the ticking clock on Rafa’s life, but was kept indefinitely waiting for any sparks to fly between him and Ash. I’m rounding up and remaining hopeful that there will be a book 2 where we move things along!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews