Ocean Eyes: A Cursed Mermaid Romantasy

by Taubin Dupavillon

Kindle Edition

Expected publication November 3, 2026

About the author

Taubin writes fantasy romance about dangerous women, impossible choices, and the kind of love that asks everything of you.
A lifelong fantasy reader, she's always been drawn to stories filled with myth, magic, and emotionally messy characters who survive impossible things. Ocean Eyes began with a single line in her notes app:
"A weapon shaped like a daughter."
When she's not writing, she's balancing life as a full-time copywriter and mother, usually with her two huskies nearby and her horses not far behind. Fantasy has always been her refuge—and writing this story felt like coming home.

Reviews

[Ashleigh Kleinsman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Advanced Copy Review: Ocean Eyes

Wow. Just wow. This book had everything!

Compelling Protagonist: Kaida is an absolute powerhouse—tormented yet completely badass, smart, fierce, and brilliantly dark.

Heartfelt Dynamic: I completely fell in love with the company she travels with, and I found myself genuinely laughing and crying right along with them. I absolutely adored Messer!

Unpredictable Plot: The twists and turns kept me hooked the entire time. While I predicted a few plot lines along the way, others (no spoilers!) left my mouth HANGING OPEN.

Romance: It hits the exact right note with enemies-to-lovers tension and spice ;)

Taubin has built a truly captivating world that pulls you in from the very first page. Combined with incredible depth of character and an inner turmoil that is so beautifully and rawly articulated, this story lingers long after you finish the final chapter.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ocean Eyes… I absolutely loved how this book begins. The writing is incredibly descriptive, atmospheric and immersive, and I loved how slowly we get to know Kaida. Rather than being given her entire history and motivations immediately, we’re almost as closed off from her as the people around her, which made her feel mysterious and intriguing. I found myself constantly forming opinions about her and then questioning them as more was revealed.

My only frustration was the passage of time. There are moments where quite a lot happens between chapters, and while I understand that the book is already a substantial read, I actually found myself wanting MORE. I wanted to sit in certain moments for longer and experience more of the journey rather than having time move forward so quickly. That said, the plot itself kept me guessing, and I genuinely struggled to predict some of the twists, which I absolutely loved. There’s something so satisfying about a fantasy book that doesn’t let you figure everything out immediately.

What I loved most, though, is that this felt genuinely different. I’ve been reading a ridiculous amount of fantasy lately, and I’ve started to notice how easily stories can begin to feel repetitive. This was nothing like anything I’ve recently read, which was incredibly refreshing. So grateful to be one of the first to read this locally South African, incredibly imaginative, beautifully descriptive noval and I can’t wait for the rest of the world to fall in love with the powerhouse that is Kaida! And if you’re a fantasy reader looking for something that feels different, I’d definitely recommend giving it a read.

[T || · Rating 5 out of 5]

To me Ocean Eyes is the kind of story that stays with you long after you’ve finished it. Taubin Dupavillon creates something deeply captivating, atmospheric, and emotionally resonant, drawing you into a world that feels both intimate and expansive. I ate this up in 2 sittings!

Dupavillon has written with a beautiful sense of depth throughout, making you feel every emotion that aided the imagery coming together in a way that gave me the most amazing experience as i felt immersed. The title itself feels perfectly fitting—the ocean becomes more than a setting or image it evoked serious mystery to me, alongside beauty, longing, and the vastness of human emotions 😭😭😭

What makes it stand out is the feeling behind it. There is a sincerity and sensitivity that makes it easy to connect with, while keeping me seriously engaged from beginning to end. It had a sort of soft quality that invites you to pause, reread, and reflect on what you've just read, then want to reread it to experience it again from a different perspective.

Taubin you deserves so much credit for creating something that is memorable & going to remain memorable to everyone who reads it.. This is not simply a five-star experience—it deserves an extra star for the atmosphere, emotion, and lasting impression it left behind for me. 👀😭

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ — 6/5 stars.
Beautiful, evocative, and unforgettable. Ocean Eyes is truly a standout story.

[Blaise Twigg · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely gobbled this book up. I grew up reading the likes of Maria V Snyders Poison Study, Trudi Canavan, Brandon Sanderson and more recently the worlds of Sarah J Maas and Fourth Wing.
If you enjoy action adventure fantasy, with a strong leading female character (Kaida) a backdrop of kingdoms, politics, arduous journeys on horse and of course romance (the least interesting thing about this complex main character) then don’t skip this book.
This also has one of the most interesting religious systems I have read in a long while, I love when writers manage to still make ideas feel new even when every possible plot line has been written before.
10/10 read!!!!

[Zahra · Rating 5 out of 5]

This read was absolute MAGIC💖


Kaida is the morally grey FMC I have been waiting for! I loved seeing the tables turned and experiencing the inner turmoil that comes with our favourite trope. Getting to meet all her animals and watching her learn to make friends along her journey brought such warmth to my heart. Then, watching all the twists and turns unfold tore me apart.

I'm not sure what to do with myself now that it's all over. Between the world-building, character dynamics, politics, and romantic intrigue, this tale had the perfect balance of it all.

I cannot wait to see what's in store for the next one!!!