4.5 🌟
💖 [no spice]

Voice of the Ocean, as we can all guess, is a Little Mermaid retelling. It centres on Celeste, a siren princess who is “too unstable” and “too human” for her kind. She then finds herself saving Prince Raiden Sharp, the son of the king who is their mortal enemy, from an army of sirens trying to take down his ship and end the lives of those aboard. The art cover, the sirens and the ocean were what drew me in, and I was fully prepared to be taken for an adventure on sea.

Celeste's emotional depth is a defining characteristic which helps highlight her difference from the other sirens who frequently hide and control their emotions. She's headstrong and is a trained fighter. I commend her for learning how to walk, run and even fight with her new pair of legs as quickly as she did. She's also very friendly to her crew members and goes out of her way to better understand humans. I do find some parts of her exasperating, like how uncertain she is or how every time she seemed to want to get to know humans on a deeper level and understand Raiden as the person he is, she pulls herself away from that thought under the simple reason of “humans can’t be trusted”.

Raiden was a complex character. The things he did were not entirely right, but not entirely wrong either. His actions are driven by self-interest, but shows remorse for the few choices he has made in the past and how the consequences of his actions end up harming those he cares about. We don't get to know much about him other than what he presents himself as to Celeste, but his interactions hint at a complex personality and a strained relationship with his father that heavily influences his every action.

The romance between Celeste and Raiden was on the fence throughout the book. While flirtation and attraction were present between them, the skepticism and secrets they kept from each other hindered their relationship's development. The romance did not go far as I anticipated, but it provides a foundation for future instalments to explore more deeply.

I think the greatest part of this book is the found family dynamic between Celeste and the crew. Their unwavering loyalty and support for each other, even amidst danger and sacrifices, create a heartwarming scene. Their bond after a significant amount of time on sea together transcends the challenges they face and solidifies their bond together as a family.

I realized that this reads at a rather slow pace, as things didn't start to happen until it neared the end of the book. This pacing does allow us to spend our time with the crew and see their trust form amongst one another. Ideally, future instalments could better balance character development with plot progression.

Despite some shortcomings, I had a really fun time reading this book. The characters were amazing, well-developed and distinct. Celeste learning about humanity through her interactions with the crew was nice to see. The plot itself is also very interesting as we get to see more about the origins of the Voice and the story of how Humans and Sirens came to be. Though somewhat predictable, I liked how it was laid out and how the author gave the narrative a unique touch. I'd definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes retellings with a different take. It's a solid read and the lore is captivating enough to hook you in, leaving you in suspense at what will happen next.

𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺, 𝘓𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘉𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘉𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘎𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘱 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘒𝘦𝘭𝘴𝘦𝘺 𝘐𝘮𝘱𝘪𝘤𝘤𝘪𝘤𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘈𝘙𝘊 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸. 𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯.

Voice of the ocean is the perfect YA story for lovers of the little mermaid and pirates.
I loved the found family trope and the friendships that were built throughout the story.
Celeste and Raiden the MFC and MMC are strong lovable characters who are not afraid to show their emotions and who are drawn to each other from the day they first meet. The world building is beautifully descriptive making you feel like you’re on the adventure alongside our main cast of characters.
This book does read on the younger side of YA but overall is a great debut.
Thank you NetGalley and Little brown book group for the copy of this Arc.
3.5 ⭐️

Thank you to Atom Books for giving me the opportunity to read the eARC.

I had such a good time with the Voice of the Ocean, what a brilliant debut! It was everything I want from a YA fantasy book: interesting worldbuilding, gripping action, unexpected plot (don't think you know it just because it's described as a "retelling of the Little Mermaid"), heartwarming characters and just the right amount of yearning. I couldn't stop turning the pages and stretched my bedtime on far too many nights because I had to find out what happens next... This is going to be THE book to get fantasy lovers out of a reading slump.

Celeste was a very refreshing MC, and I think a lot of women and girls can relate to her. Celeste shows that it's possible to be both sensitive and strong, and there's power in knowing yourself.

I also loved the way that friendships were depicted in the story, both in her siren and human lives. The book may be classified as a romantasy but I think the friendships were at least equally important to the story, if not more so.

The romance, on the other hand... It was okay. I found Raiden to be a bit of a cliché to begin with, but he grew on me and became far more interesting in the second half of the book. But compared to how interesting Celeste was, Raiden just fell a bit short for me.

Without saying too much, the ending felt a little unfinished and unsatisfying, almost like it was missing half a page. But I'm already looking forward to the second book!

I really enjoyed this, I’m a huge fan of reimagining and Voice of the Ocean is a brilliant one for me. The friendships between Celeste and the crew are wonderful and I thought the tension with Raiden was extremely well done. The twists were surprising and the ending had me hooked. Five stars.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read this.

Towards the beginning of this book I honestly thought I wasn't going to like it that much. I was thinking it was going to be a 3 star or under, but I'm so glad that wasn't the case.
The further in I got the more I started enjoying it.
I love our main character, the found family was so nice and a Trope I always enjoy.
As far as the romance went, I enjoyed it. While I would have loved to see even more interaction between the Two of them, I was still invested and I liked that it wasn't a simple relationships and there are issues. It's messy and emotional and I enjoyed reading it.

A solid debut and I'm definitely interested in seeing what comes next from this author.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed this story and I had a great time reading it. I had a feeling I would, because I really like watching the author's storytelling throughout her videos and her streams. Also, The Little Mermaid was my favorite movie growing up, so it was obvious I was going to like it.

This book had some of my favorite tropes: found family, enemies to lovers and morally gray love interest.

The beginning was great; I was really immersed in the story. But around the middle part of the book, it felt a little too slow for my liking. Also, I loved the writing style; it felt very whimsical.

I really liked Celeste; she was a very different FMC to what I usually read. She was an emotional and sensitive woman with lots of confidence and courage. I also adored all the side characters; they all had really amazing personalities and little quirks and flaws that make them really unique.

Overall, this was a really good debut and I am really excited to see where this story goes and how the author evolves her writing.

Quotes:
“Celeste hadn't realized it, but they'd been drawing closer to each other. As if he was the moon and she was the helpless tide.”

“Their eyes met, and it was as if she could finally read him as easily as he did her. They weren't so different. Not really. He may be human and she a siren, but they both just wanted to belong.”

There were many things I enjoyed about "Voice of the Ocean", but overall, it fell a bit short of my expectations. The pacing felt off—while the beginning dragged with extensive world-building, the climax was rushed, leaving little time to fully immerse in the most exciting moments. At times, the book focused too much on minor details, while major plot points were glossed over. The fact that the title’s significance was only introduced in the last third of the story was also somewhat confusing.

That being said, the world-building was well done, especially for a debut fantasy novel. Celeste was a compelling protagonist, and I enjoyed following her journey. The side characters added charm, and the writing had a light, immersive quality that made the story easy to fall into. The humor sprinkled throughout added warmth, and the found family dynamic was a nice touch.

However, despite these strengths, the inconsistencies in pacing made it difficult to stay fully engaged. The first third of the book felt slow, with too much time spent on setup before the actual plot kicked in. Once Celeste finally reached the ship, the story got more interesting, but then it lingered too long on pirate adventures that didn’t contribute much to the overall narrative. Meanwhile, the most exciting moments in the final stretch felt rushed and underdeveloped. I also wish the concept of the "Voice of the Ocean" had been introduced and foreshadowed earlier rather than appearing so late in the story.

Another issue was the emotional conflicts, which often felt repetitive rather than progressing in a meaningful way. Celeste’s struggles with her identity and emotions were interesting at first, but they were brought up so frequently in similar ways that they started to lose impact. The romance, too, was a bit hit-or-miss—while I liked the idea of it, it didn't deliver what I was hoping for. I also found the chemistry between Celeste and Raiden somewhat lacking, and their relationship didn’t fully convince me.

Overall, I really wanted to love "Voice of the Ocean"—the premise of sirens, assassins, and forbidden romance at sea was intriguing—but the execution didn’t quite work for me. That said, I do think fans of The Little Mermaid and Pirates of the Caribbean might enjoy this book, especially those who appreciate immersive world-building and a slower-paced fantasy adventure. I'm giving this book decent 3 ⭐.

I do love a Siren adventure, and this one had promise. There were some really good bits, and the plot was solid, but I just couldn't settle into the writing style and found it didn't work for me. Overall that made the book a struggle, but it could be better with a bit of work.

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Voice of the Ocean puts a unique spin on The Little Mermaid, with an intriguing premise and a relatable main character, Celeste. While I loved the adventure and her balance between innocence and experience, I struggled to connect with the book emotionally, possibly due to the pacing or writing style. Still, it was a fun one-time read, perfect for anyone craving a sea adventure!

Such a vivid retelling of the little mermaid! Every scene was so easy to picture, such an amazing debut. I warmed to the characters immediately and enjoyed the twist that the FMC was a siren.
The detail in how she experienced things for the first time was so well done (reacting to human legs, teeth etc) it made the story so much more believable.
I was totally thrilled and surprised by the ending! I can’t wait to read Kelsey’s future work.

I was so hopeful for this book, I've followed Kelsey Impicciche for a long time and have always loved her Sims content and the stories she told throughout.

However, this book just didn't hit right for me. While I'm technically out of the age range for YA, I've always enjoyed reading YA books, particularly in the fantasy space. This however felt pitched at the wrong audience in my opinion and felt like it was written for a much younger audience, perhaps the younger side of YA.

The plus point was that there were glimmers of Kelsey's wonderful storytelling. However for me, the writing fell flat too often for me to recommend this book. I found the dialogue in particular quite awkward and jarring and at times anachronistic to the story.

I really enjoyed this, I’m a huge fan of reimagining and Voice of the Ocean is a brilliant one for me. The friendships between Celeste and the crew are wonderful and I thought the tension with Raiden was extremely well done. The twists were surprising and the ending had me hooked. Five stars.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read this.

I’ve been part of the DangerFam for a while, so I am so so glad to say that I am so impressed with Kelsey’s debut novel! You can definitely tell she’s a reader from the way she writes. Though it’s inspired by the Little Mermaid, the story is fresh and fun. It also hit a few of the same beats as we see in other YA books, but none of the “tropes” felt forced into the storyline for the sake of it or out of character. The main character is complex and enjoyable to read the POV of, and the other characters are also fascinating and full of depth. I just finished and I honestly can’t wait for the next book. I read the whole thing in a couple hours because I couldn’t put it down. It’s one of the best fantasy YA books I’ve read in a while!


*spoilers*

- Great first line! I’m hooked ;) (haha fish joke, anyone?)
- Pg 34: I’m really impressed with the writing and the quality of world building so far; it doesn’t feel like I’m being told about the world at the expense of moving the story forward.
- Pg 131: I love Raiden and Celeste’s dynamic. It’s a perfect balance of attraction and chemistry without being insta-love.
- Pg 132: there’s no breaks in the believability of a siren turning human so far; of course she wouldn’t know what drinking is, of course she wouldn’t know what a compass is, but I never thought of either! I appreciate Kelsey’s commitment to thinking through the actual logistics of the story.
- Pg 161: this book is definitely hard to put down, the story has been flowing so smoothly and I’m invested!
- Pg 270: the romance is well paced.
- Pg 368: there have been two twists so far, and I didn’t see either coming! I love being surprised. The latest one I had to go back and reread, I was in shock!
- I was too enthralled in the story to update regularly with thoughts but wow! I really loved it!

*I received an ARC via Netgalley*

I've been a big fan of Kelsey for years so I had very high hopes for this book. The story still exceeded my expectations.
I adore retellings, so I knew Voice of the Ocean would be the perfect book for me. The beginning of the story is easy to follow due to elements of The Little Mermaid intertwined in the plot, but as the story progresses the twists and turns make this a very unique retelling.

I truly loved the characters, especially Celeste. Her character development is wonderful, and I love how we see both her strength and her softness. If you like FMC's like Evangeline from Once Upon A Broken Heart, you'll like Celeste and her story.

The dedication of this book really stood out to me; 'to the girls who are told they cry too much...' Without giving too much away and not wanting to include any spoilers, I love how Kelsey wrote about crying in this book. Having battled with the negative feelings of being someone who cries a lot, I did not realise how much I needed this story.

This may be one of my favourite reads of 2025. If you're a fan of Sing Me To Sleep, Daughter of the Pirate King, and Once upon a Time (especially if you're a fan of Killian) you should definitely pick up Voice of the Ocean.

Thank you NetGalley for a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I have been waiting for this book since Kelsey first announced that her dreams were coming true and it would be published! I will admit I was a little worried to begin with because it is a retelling of The Little Mermaid but I was pleasantly surprised. I loved this book! I love how refreshingly honest the characters felt, the confidence of the writing and the narrative, and the direction the plot went in.

The writing style is so comfortable, the world immersive and the characters so full of heart and emotional depth. Celeste is a wonderful main character. To me, she felt neurodivergent coded too; experiencing being treated as ‘too emotional’ and ‘too sensitive’ as a child but these traits, her impulsiveness and her open mindedness are what propels her through the story and later empowers her. I loved her arc, the friends she meets along the way and her journey to self-acceptance.

Kelsey Impicciche’s sirens have worked their magic on me and I can’t wait for the sequel. Fantastic debut.

First of all, I am really grateful and pleasantly surprised for being accepted to read the book. Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author.
I am surprised how much I ended liking this one as well.
The writing was very good (which to be honest I find often lacking in my favourite genres), Celeste was different in a nice way to most of the FMCs I encounter and I loved that she was actually emotional and insecure but loving and brave at the same time. The found family was executed amazingly and the last 100 pages were extremely good and suspenseful.
I believe the pacing could be improved as I found the middle part to be slow (i.e. the time she spent bonding and going around with the crew) and lacking in gravitas while the first part (before she made her deal) and the climax could have been given a little more time to breath instead. The romance could have been developed somewhat more organically (the shifts in their dynamic were too fast) but thankfully it wasn't insta-love like I feared from the Little Mermaid beginning. There are many loose ends which I believe would be resolved in a sequel.
Overall, this is a great debut and as I found the ending very promising, I would read the sequel when it comes out.

An interesting take on the classic story of a siren/mermaid falling for a human prince.

This time, our female lead, Celeste is a siren. The third princess, not much is expected of her, so when she saves a human prince, it isn’t entirely surprising. Threats of treason result in Celeste having to leave her kingdom for land. She must seek out the prince, Raiden to kill him.

This all results in Celeste joint Raiden and his crew aboard their ship as they journey to search for a mysterious treasure.

Perfect for fans of enemies to lovers, stories of the sea, and a fluffy dog.

Immersive and whimsical setting. The author did a great job of conveying the surroundings and world but I felt this took priority in places where I wished the time was spent on the plot and development.

Really gripping and fun book overall

Voice of the Ocean by Kelsey Impicciche is a captivating and enchanting tale of forbidden love, ancient magic, and the courage to defy destiny. With its lush underwater world, high-stakes adventure, and a romance that simmers with tension, this novel is a must-read for fans of fantasy and mythology.

The story follows Celeste, the youngest daughter of the Siren queen, who dreams of proving her worth by joining the Chorus, an elite group of siren warriors. However, her path takes an unexpected turn when she encounters Prince Raiden Sharp, a human sailor whose life she saves in defiance of siren law. This act of rebellion sets off a chain of events that forces Celeste to navigate treacherous waters—both literal and metaphorical—as she uncovers ancient magic, confronts her own identity, and grapples with her growing feelings for the prince.

One of the standout features of Voice of the Ocean is its richly imagined world-building. Impicciche brings the underwater realm of the sirens to life with vivid descriptions of coral palaces, shimmering seas, and the haunting beauty of the siren’s Song. The contrast between the siren world and the human world is stark and compelling, adding depth to Celeste’s journey as she transitions between the two.

Celeste is a strong and relatable protagonist, whose determination and vulnerability make her a character readers will root for. Her struggle to balance her loyalty to her people with her growing affection for Raiden is both poignant and compelling. Prince Raiden, on the other hand, is a complex and intriguing character, whose charm and secrets keep readers guessing about his true intentions. The chemistry between Celeste and Raiden is electric, and their romance is woven seamlessly into the larger narrative, adding emotional weight to the story.

The plot is fast-paced and full of twists and turns, keeping readers on the edge of their seats from start to finish. The stakes are high, with Celeste facing impossible choices that could have devastating consequences for both sirens and humans. The themes of loyalty, sacrifice, and the search for truth are explored with nuance and depth, making this more than just a romance or adventure story.

Thematically, Voice of the Ocean delves into the complexities of identity and the courage it takes to defy expectations. Celeste’s journey is one of self-discovery, as she learns to trust her own instincts and forge her own path. The novel also explores the consequences of prejudice and the power of empathy, as Celeste and Raiden navigate the tensions between their two worlds.

If there is a minor critique, it is that some of the secondary characters could have been further developed to add more depth to the story. However, this is a small quibble in an otherwise well-crafted and engaging novel.

Voice of the Ocean is a spellbinding debut that will appeal to fans of The Little Mermaid, To Kill a Kingdom, and A Song Below Water. Kelsey Impicciche has created a story that is as thought-provoking as it is entertaining, offering readers a chance to lose themselves in a world of magic, romance, and adventure.

A lush and thrilling fantasy, Voice of the Ocean is a story that will captivate readers with its rich world-building, compelling characters and can provide a great talking point in descriptive writing aspects of Eng Lit lessons for younger adult readers.

i really wanted to love voice of the ocean, but i just couldn’t fully get into it. the premise was intriguing - sirens, assassins, and a forbidden romance at sea - but unfortunately, the execution didn’t quite work for me

celeste, the youngest daughter of the siren queen, has spent her life preparing to join the chorus, an elite group of siren warriors. but before she can earn her place, she must learn to control her unpredictable song. when she encounters a ship captained by prince raiden sharp, a sworn enemy of her kind, she makes a dangerous choice - saving his life instead of ending it. her defiance should mean death, but the queen offers her one final chance to prove her loyalty: she must become human and assassinate the prince. however, as celeste adapts to life on board raiden’s ship, she starts to question everything she’s been taught. the human world is more complicated than she imagined, and raiden isn’t the heartless killer she believed him to be. but with time running out and the weight of two worlds on her shoulders, celeste must decide - will she complete her mission or risk everything for love?

while this story had a lot of potential, i struggled with the writing and pacing. the first 30% felt very slow, and i kept waiting for something significant to happen. while world-building and character introductions are important, the lack of early momentum made it hard to stay engaged

i also had trouble connecting with the characters - celeste’s internal conflict was interesting, and i liked the concept of her struggling between her siren identity and the human world, but i never felt fully invested in her journey. raiden had his moments, but i wanted more depth from him to make their romance feel more compelling

that being said, i still think this could be an enjoyable read for the right audience. the world of sirens, the forbidden romance, and the high-seas adventure had some fun elements, and once the story picked up, there were moments i really enjoyed. if you love the little mermaid and pirates of the caribbean and are looking for a fantasy novel with those vibes, this might be worth checking out. while it didn’t fully hook me, i can see others enjoying its magical setting and slow-burn romance