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Songs of the Sea
Sartin’s amber eyes told his mother and the rest of the Sea People he was destined to become a great protector. Finding his mate at his twenty-third Winter Meeting, Sartin is overjoyed at finally being able to assume his destined role with Sommar by his side. However, a freak storm soon takes Sartin far away from Winter Cove, and an injury to his tail prevents him from returning. Even worse, he can no longer hear the songs of his pod and his mate in his head. Sartin finds love and acceptance from Maru, a member of the Land People, who nurses him back to health. When Maru’s people turn against him, Sartin faces a series of battles for his survival. Can the songs of Sommar and his fellow Sea People save him?
- GenresM M Fantasy
314 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 5, 2018
45 people want to read
About the author
Dean Frech
8 books62 followersWith inspiration from historical tourism sites, the love of reading, and a desire to write a novel, Dean started crafting his debut novel, A Place to Call Their Own, in 2008. After four years of writing and polishing the manuscript, it was accepted and originally published 2013. His second novel, Disappear With Me, set in Edwardian England was published later that same year. Both novels were re-released in May 2015.
Dean lives in Kansas City, Missouri with his two cats. He’s involved in his church and enjoys watching movies, outdoor activities in the warmer weather, and spending time with friends and family. In addition to writing, Dean’s hobbies include reading and patio gardening.
Dean is currently working a standalone title, Sartin, a merman romance, and The Higher Law, a continuation of the story of Frank and Gregory’s family set in the 1930s.
Dean lives in Kansas City, Missouri with his two cats. He’s involved in his church and enjoys watching movies, outdoor activities in the warmer weather, and spending time with friends and family. In addition to writing, Dean’s hobbies include reading and patio gardening.
Dean is currently working a standalone title, Sartin, a merman romance, and The Higher Law, a continuation of the story of Frank and Gregory’s family set in the 1930s.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
May 14, 2018
Those sea-songs will thrum in my mind and heart for years to come. The latest novel by author Dean Frech is a mesmerizing journey into the very soul of the sea, and into a unique being who lives there. Sartin is a Sea Creature who is humanoid in almost every respect, except for three features: his thrashing tail, the place he carries his very private parts, and his holistic/spiritual attitude toward life.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story on two levels. First, the erotic. Sartin is every bit a male, with an urge to couple that’s strong and credible. The love scenes are natural and exciting, really because Frech has created characters I care about. Their emotions matter—love, anger, jealousy, lust—and thus their satisfaction becomes precious. The central character is sexually drawn to two different males. One is a Sea Person; the other is a human. Their love songs create both erotic tension and deep-felt conflict. Brilliant!
The second key to this book’s success is the handling of the unfamiliar. The author has a fine ability to enter the mind and emotions of what is essentially an alien. The reader soon forgets that the Sea People and their pods are not human, that the song-traditions and circadian rhythms are woven from unfamiliar threads, and that even the thoughts are almost other-worldly when compared to often cruel or apathetic human attitudes.
With this book, Frech takes a quantum leap into the deep sea of imagination. With many books I read, I find myself skimming through whole paragraphs, even sometimes chapters, with a “yeah, been there, done that” attitude. Not in SONGS OF THE SEA. Every word is a gem, to be held up to the light and savored for its rarity.
Bravo, Dean Frech! Erotic, exotic, imaginative!
I thoroughly enjoyed this story on two levels. First, the erotic. Sartin is every bit a male, with an urge to couple that’s strong and credible. The love scenes are natural and exciting, really because Frech has created characters I care about. Their emotions matter—love, anger, jealousy, lust—and thus their satisfaction becomes precious. The central character is sexually drawn to two different males. One is a Sea Person; the other is a human. Their love songs create both erotic tension and deep-felt conflict. Brilliant!
The second key to this book’s success is the handling of the unfamiliar. The author has a fine ability to enter the mind and emotions of what is essentially an alien. The reader soon forgets that the Sea People and their pods are not human, that the song-traditions and circadian rhythms are woven from unfamiliar threads, and that even the thoughts are almost other-worldly when compared to often cruel or apathetic human attitudes.
With this book, Frech takes a quantum leap into the deep sea of imagination. With many books I read, I find myself skimming through whole paragraphs, even sometimes chapters, with a “yeah, been there, done that” attitude. Not in SONGS OF THE SEA. Every word is a gem, to be held up to the light and savored for its rarity.
Bravo, Dean Frech! Erotic, exotic, imaginative!
June 6, 2018
A common case, when the blurb and the reviews are better than the actual book.
I wanted to love this so much. I was excited to start, and explore something new.
The first few chapters were great, I was enamored mostly by the writing (despite one teeny tiny detail), it was like it was written for children, and I don’t mean this in a bad way, it wasn’t childish, but this story was full with tales of how the Sea People came to be, of their history. And I loved that part.
What I didn’t like was that I didn’t understand how these creatures moved. Were they in the water all the time? I guess not, because they needed to breathe. The author described how this little community interacted with each other, they „sat” down to eat, but where, on the beach? Did they drag themselves in the sand? The whole picture was a bit fuzzy to me. When writing about fantastical creatures, I think one of the most important thing is to explain how they look like, how they move and interact with each other, and how they co-exist. And mostly I could picture it, but not all of it.
**This paragraph might contain spoilers, but I needed to write it down to explain my problems.**
I won’t say any more. But just know that in the end for me it wasn’t even about the love or the romance. For me this book was like Happy Feet (the animated movie with the penguins), there was romance, but it wasn’t the message. Sartin was bullied by his mates in the pod, and he wished he could live somewhere else, so his deity, called Princess, showed him with these adventures what it would be like to live in other places, like with the Land People. In the end Sartin realized he would rather live at Home Cove and be bullied, and he should be happy with what the Princess blessed him with. For me that was the message.
Overall, not what I expected, and not perfect, but I could enjoy some of it.
I wanted to love this so much. I was excited to start, and explore something new.
The first few chapters were great, I was enamored mostly by the writing (despite one teeny tiny detail), it was like it was written for children, and I don’t mean this in a bad way, it wasn’t childish, but this story was full with tales of how the Sea People came to be, of their history. And I loved that part.
What I didn’t like was that I didn’t understand how these creatures moved. Were they in the water all the time? I guess not, because they needed to breathe. The author described how this little community interacted with each other, they „sat” down to eat, but where, on the beach? Did they drag themselves in the sand? The whole picture was a bit fuzzy to me. When writing about fantastical creatures, I think one of the most important thing is to explain how they look like, how they move and interact with each other, and how they co-exist. And mostly I could picture it, but not all of it.
**This paragraph might contain spoilers, but I needed to write it down to explain my problems.**
I won’t say any more. But just know that in the end for me it wasn’t even about the love or the romance. For me this book was like Happy Feet (the animated movie with the penguins), there was romance, but it wasn’t the message. Sartin was bullied by his mates in the pod, and he wished he could live somewhere else, so his deity, called Princess, showed him with these adventures what it would be like to live in other places, like with the Land People. In the end Sartin realized he would rather live at Home Cove and be bullied, and he should be happy with what the Princess blessed him with. For me that was the message.
Overall, not what I expected, and not perfect, but I could enjoy some of it.
October 29, 2018
The rumor is that Sartin is destined for great things, only he doesn't seem to think that's the case. Within his pod he's bullied by other merpeople. He's seen as cowardly and weak for some of his actions in saving the pod, keeping them safe. Plus, he's gone to several Winter Meetings without finding his mate.
This is the year though. Sommar has been patiently waiting to brought forth to claim what he's known, who he's known, to be rightfully his. And it's so freaking beautiful. It just seems like the fates need Sartin to be challenged in all aspects of his life to completely grasp who he's supposed to be; and wow......just wow......
You can see my full review here: Christinas-Bookshelf
This is the year though. Sommar has been patiently waiting to brought forth to claim what he's known, who he's known, to be rightfully his. And it's so freaking beautiful. It just seems like the fates need Sartin to be challenged in all aspects of his life to completely grasp who he's supposed to be; and wow......just wow......
You can see my full review here: Christinas-Bookshelf
June 5, 2018
I saw this book promoted in a LGBT book group and bought it straight away. I mean, who doesn't like mermen and mermaids right? Besides, I've read this author before and he's good.
My first thought as I started reading this book was that this author was completely immersed in his character. I felt like he had captured what the thought process and life of a sea dwelling being perfectly.
Living simply, Sartin enjoys life. I don't know when I've read a character that was more absolute in his living than Sartin and his pod. He and his people were very much in tune with nature. That includes the dangers that living along side predators brings as well as basic activities of their daily lives. Sartin is a warrior, a protector and was taught to be this from his birth. Being one of the merpeople who was born with amber eyes, he and the other pod members like him have very specific duties and Sartin takes his duties seriously.
I loved hearing the stories that he and the other adults would tell the children and I could appreciate the pod dynamics.
A big part of Sartin's life and that of his pod, revolves around the first of the merpeople. They have turned these two into a religion of sorts and by the re-telling of their lives, have a map of the way to live and prosper. Hearing Sartin thank the "Princess" or pray to her is a common occurrence throughout the book.
One of the things that Sartin wanted was to have an adventure. He gets his wish that's for sure! Finding his mate during the winter migration was a sweet moment. I love the songs that he and his people hear and having them hear different songs that belong to different people in the pod as well as the collective is just brilliant.
I don't want to spoil the story by telling too much about what happens to Sartin when he gets injured and separated from his new mate and the pod. I will say that I enjoyed the time he spends with Maru and later with Maru's people was full of sweet, funny moments, some that were sad and others that were full of suspense.
His journey back to his family is fraught with danger and I was on the edge of my seat wondering if he would be able to make it to them.
Dean Frech has written an amazing world and I hope to see more of it.
My first thought as I started reading this book was that this author was completely immersed in his character. I felt like he had captured what the thought process and life of a sea dwelling being perfectly.
Living simply, Sartin enjoys life. I don't know when I've read a character that was more absolute in his living than Sartin and his pod. He and his people were very much in tune with nature. That includes the dangers that living along side predators brings as well as basic activities of their daily lives. Sartin is a warrior, a protector and was taught to be this from his birth. Being one of the merpeople who was born with amber eyes, he and the other pod members like him have very specific duties and Sartin takes his duties seriously.
I loved hearing the stories that he and the other adults would tell the children and I could appreciate the pod dynamics.
A big part of Sartin's life and that of his pod, revolves around the first of the merpeople. They have turned these two into a religion of sorts and by the re-telling of their lives, have a map of the way to live and prosper. Hearing Sartin thank the "Princess" or pray to her is a common occurrence throughout the book.
One of the things that Sartin wanted was to have an adventure. He gets his wish that's for sure! Finding his mate during the winter migration was a sweet moment. I love the songs that he and his people hear and having them hear different songs that belong to different people in the pod as well as the collective is just brilliant.
I don't want to spoil the story by telling too much about what happens to Sartin when he gets injured and separated from his new mate and the pod. I will say that I enjoyed the time he spends with Maru and later with Maru's people was full of sweet, funny moments, some that were sad and others that were full of suspense.
His journey back to his family is fraught with danger and I was on the edge of my seat wondering if he would be able to make it to them.
Dean Frech has written an amazing world and I hope to see more of it.
May 18, 2018
A paranormal M/M mer-people story with some deliciously HOT scenes…
This is the first book that I have read by Dean Frech but the blurb sounded so intriguing I requested an ARC to review. I took copious notes b/c so much seemed important. Basically, Sartin is a merman in a pod which does not appreciate his abilities. He has not been paired with anyone by the Princess (their God) so he has lived a fairly lonely life thus far. On their trek to the annual gathering of all the pods, Sartin wishes for a mate with whom he can share their song. What I loved most about this book is the way they knew their mate by the songs in their heads, which they shared with their one-and-only. Such a beautiful thought. Sartin does indeed meet someone (and share their song), Sommar, but before they can complete the Coupling Ceremony Sartin is swept up in many harrowing and dangerous adventures, injured and treated badly.
There are several myths of the Sea People interspersed within this story. So interesting.
Sartin through all his adversity finds one truth, his people didn’t war with others, they didn’t compare their abilities with others and they lived a happy peaceful life. The story ends with an HEA but poor Sartin must go through many awful events to get there.
This book made me cringe with fear for the characters, laugh at their exploits and cry at the most poignant moments. I truly enjoyed this book. If length and complete characterization is a must for you, get this book. You will love it. I volunteered to review an ARC of this book.
This is the first book that I have read by Dean Frech but the blurb sounded so intriguing I requested an ARC to review. I took copious notes b/c so much seemed important. Basically, Sartin is a merman in a pod which does not appreciate his abilities. He has not been paired with anyone by the Princess (their God) so he has lived a fairly lonely life thus far. On their trek to the annual gathering of all the pods, Sartin wishes for a mate with whom he can share their song. What I loved most about this book is the way they knew their mate by the songs in their heads, which they shared with their one-and-only. Such a beautiful thought. Sartin does indeed meet someone (and share their song), Sommar, but before they can complete the Coupling Ceremony Sartin is swept up in many harrowing and dangerous adventures, injured and treated badly.
There are several myths of the Sea People interspersed within this story. So interesting.
Sartin through all his adversity finds one truth, his people didn’t war with others, they didn’t compare their abilities with others and they lived a happy peaceful life. The story ends with an HEA but poor Sartin must go through many awful events to get there.
This book made me cringe with fear for the characters, laugh at their exploits and cry at the most poignant moments. I truly enjoyed this book. If length and complete characterization is a must for you, get this book. You will love it. I volunteered to review an ARC of this book.
May 2, 2018
Pace yourself…I tend to read this author all in one sitting. Honestly, I saw the cover and thought a merman? Really? Why not, give it a go. So, I started on the tale of Sartin, the Sea Person. The beginning was a little confusing and started a little slow to me, but as he laid out the lore of the history of Sartin’s people, it got much more interesting and especially seeing the dynamics between himself and the others in his pod. He is looking for that special someone who will match the special song that every Sea Person has.
Sartin definitely goes through some quick changes after they get to their Winter Cove for festival…and meets Sommar. That’s when things picked up in a big hurry and then the plot changes and curves come fast n’ furious…and everything changes and he meets Maru. Then they change again…
I’m being intentionally ambiguous here; just know it is a HEA (You will find yourself rooting at the end) great job! This is also my first of this author with explicit sexual content (which I loved)!
Sartin definitely goes through some quick changes after they get to their Winter Cove for festival…and meets Sommar. That’s when things picked up in a big hurry and then the plot changes and curves come fast n’ furious…and everything changes and he meets Maru. Then they change again…
I’m being intentionally ambiguous here; just know it is a HEA (You will find yourself rooting at the end) great job! This is also my first of this author with explicit sexual content (which I loved)!
May 13, 2018
A very interesting take on merepeople and their culture. The sexual interactions are creative and steamy.
June 30, 2018
Songs of the Sea was my first merman story and what a way to start.. thanks Dean for the great story...
May 22, 2018
I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed this story. Sartin it seems has never really been accepted by the leader of his pod though he loves his family. Sommar doesn’t understand how Sartin doesn’t know how important he is to the other pods and being able to protect them without having to make the Sacrifice.
These two don’t get much time together before the storm hits and Sartin is also attacked by a shark. Sartin seems to have the worst luck. I am unsure how long Maru took care of him but it must have been a lot longer than it seemed for him to learn how to speak their language. And then he get caught by another group after his rescue. I felt that Sartin seemed to be able to give his affections easily at times especially when someone is kind to him. It was nice to see that Sommar was able to find and bring Sartin home but with the prejudice his current pod leader has I’m not sure how happy they will be moving forward.
I really enjoyed this story. Sartin it seems has never really been accepted by the leader of his pod though he loves his family. Sommar doesn’t understand how Sartin doesn’t know how important he is to the other pods and being able to protect them without having to make the Sacrifice.
These two don’t get much time together before the storm hits and Sartin is also attacked by a shark. Sartin seems to have the worst luck. I am unsure how long Maru took care of him but it must have been a lot longer than it seemed for him to learn how to speak their language. And then he get caught by another group after his rescue. I felt that Sartin seemed to be able to give his affections easily at times especially when someone is kind to him. It was nice to see that Sommar was able to find and bring Sartin home but with the prejudice his current pod leader has I’m not sure how happy they will be moving forward.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews