<I>I received a copy of this novel from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. </I>

<I>Speak the Ocean</I> is a dual-POV novel told from the perspectives of a mermaid captured and forced into performing at a marine park and her trainer, the son of the man who first discovered the existence of mermaids. It is a delightful and poignant take on animal captivity for human amusement, especially marine parks that showcase orcas/dolphins. Making the animals more humanoid was a genius way to make people feel more empathy for these animals that are caged, starved, and abused on a daily basis all for the sake of humans watching them jump through hoops or hive-five another human being. Really, it is a disgusting practice that most people do not even think twice about. They just smile and clap as they do their tricks. This book will make you think twice. Maybe even three times. Probably more.

Erie was such a darling character. I was half in love with her from the first page of her POV. She is so sweet and persevering and brave. I loved her POV especially because it looked at the horrors of aquatic parks from a first-hand account (not saying I enjoy the horrors of aquatics parks, it just made the problem seem so personal and realatable that it really made an impact on me). Actually, the fact that Erie is half-animal, half-human made me feel even more for her than if she were full human. I love animals, so that fact made me love her a little extra. I also loved how Rebecca Enzor used only ocean/aquatic metaphors and similes for Erie's POV. She did a really good job of looking at common human practices as if they were alien and had never encountered them before. Erie just felt very sincere and realistic as a character.

I hated Finn at first. He seemed like a giant douchebag (which I think was on purpose). Seeing the way Erie changed him warmed my heart and by the half-way point of the book, I was completely in love with him, as well. His POV was very frank and straight-forward and never flowery, unless he was talking about Erie or the ocean, which showed how much he cared about those two things. <spoiler>On the topic of writing style, I thought the sex scene between Finn and Jen was really well-written because it was not over-glorified, as it is in most novels, and he did not wax poetic about the way her hair glimmered in the candlelight or anything like that. It sounded like exactly what it was: just sex. Not some magical experience, but a very human one.</spoiler>

Rebecca Enzor's writing style was one that was highly accessible. It was not heavily reliant on metaphors or symbolism, so you didn't have to think too much about what you were reading and think about the hidden meanings behind every word. There is a beauty and brutality in that simplicity. This is a PERFECT beach read, not only because of the pertinent subject matter. However, it did make me sob like a baby, so maybe just read this in the comfort of your own home, unless you're one of those non-criers. Then read it anywhere and everywhere. I must admit that this did take me longer to read than it should have because I was so heavily invested in what happened to Erie, it was majorly stressing me out. I couldn't take it sometimes and had to give myself a couple of breathers (despite how this may sound, it is actually a wonderful sign that I care way too much about the characters).

The minus one star from this book stems from two things:

1. The plot twist with Jen-- I saw it coming from literally the first second that the two involved ideas were introduced. It was so thinly veiled, it was almost out in the open. However, this was not a huge part of the story for me, so I didn't care all that much.

2. The ending-- At first, I was ecstatic, but then I was a little confused. There was still so much to be done and so many matters left open. I wanted to know so much more than was given. It was like all these plot lines that could've been something great were severed before they ever met their conclusions. I know this book was already a little lengthy, but even 40 more pages would've been enough. Or maybe a sequel??? (please) <spoiler> I'm good with Finn being turned into a merman, even though it kind of came out of nowhere, I super supported it. He and Erie are everything. However, how did we not see Finn's reaction when he saw that his father was still alive and living in the Seadom all this time?? That is MAJOR. How are Clair and Huron going to get back into the ocean? How about Niku? What's going to happen to Oceanica now that its heir has disappeared? Is Jen going to go on with this mermaid activism (as we heard that more mermaid parks were being constructed in Asia) or is she done now? </spoiler> There's SO MUCH more to know, so many loose ends to be forever left blowing in the breeze (or maybe not?)

I highly recommend this book for mermaid lovers, animal activists, ocean dwellers, and everyone else.

Would you work with mermaids if you were given the chance? If they had a tenancy to be violent? I probably would.

This is such a story, as humans capture Mer to make money and study them for science. Our main han character is Finn, who although he feels bad for some of the treatment the mer relieve at his hands, would not change his job for the world. He has his own reasons for this which are understandable and relatable.

Unfortunately I did not receive the whole book but given the chance I would Definitely continue reading it!

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for a review.

This book is amazing. If you love mermaids, you will love this book. Guaranteed.

The plot started off with a bang and it doesn’t let up for the entire book. It is at a good pace and keeps you guessing. When I read the description of keeping mermaids at a theme park, it caught my attention but the author adds so much more to this story that it was just so wonderful from start to finish.

At first, I wasn’t a big Finn fan, but his love for the ocean and his slow realization of what Erie was sold me. Jen was a great character who asked questions that I would ask and it was a great way of introducing how the whole theme park worked. I didn’t trust Jen though since I knew she was holding back, but it all worked out in the end. And the ending is great too, it was something out a movie.

I loved the fact that Erie and Niku, the dolphin, were cursing. My favorite catch phrase is fuck that. I love it and it made me giggle like a high schooler every time. I loved Erie and her quiet determination. I loved Niku for protecting her so well. I loved how the author built up tension before and after Erie is caught and made to perform. It was great character building and world building. I enjoyed every minute it.

I enjoyed it so much I didn’t want it to end.

Overall, I highly recommend this book to all the people who watched The Little Mermaid when they were a kid. I recommend this book to people who want their fantasy with a heaping side of romance. I look forward to reading more of this author’s work.

Actual rating: 3.5 stars

This was a fun, summery read. I thought that it was entertaining for the most part, though it did start to feel a bit long. It was a pretty quick read overall though!

I liked the mer in this world since they somewhat reminded me of the creatures from Into the Drowning Deep. While these ones aren't quite as murderous as those in Into the Drowning Deep, they're not necessarily the nicest merpeople. I appreciated that when injured, they start turning into seafoam. This felt like a very reasonable explanation as to why it took so long to discover them, and this felt like a reference to the original version of The Little Mermaid.

In terms of the characters, I liked Erie for the most part. She's pretty resilient, and I liked her drive to free herself and others. Niku, Erie's dolphin guard, was great. I thought this was a fun touch to have these interactions between dolphins and the mer. Finn was a bit of a jerk, though he does eventually do what's right. I did feel like he was pretty narrow-minded and not particularly understanding of others. On a side note, it did start to bother me that he constantly called Erie "sweetheart." There is a bit of a love triangle here that I didn't really care for. I feel like it would have been better if Finn had just done things because it's the right thing to do.

There were some predictable plot points, but overall, I did enjoy it. I particularly liked Erie's method of learning to communicate.

I would recommend this to readers looking for a nice summer read!

Some content warnings for animal/mer cruelty

I obtained a copy of this for review from the publisher via NetGalley - thank you! All opinions are my own.

My video review can be seen on my channel (around minutes 5:20-9:20 of this video): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdJnJSA7hyQ

"If he ever jumps into my tank again, I will steal his air, because he stole my ocean."

Finn helped create Oceania with Aunt D, who worked with his dad, who sadly died trying to provide the evidence that the Mer people exist.

Finn is just waiting for his opportunity to become a trainer, and now is his chance.

A really interesting and engaging story of love, courage and bravery.

I really loved this story, and I really loved the ending of this story too. I did find the writing very cringe worthy at points (I think the author is a Star Wars fan?) And I did feel that some parts maybe shouldn't have been included, as is seemed to be conflicted between young adult and really adult. Despite these issues I had with the book, I enjoyed the story and the characters, I read it very quickly too. I would definitely read more from this author.

Thank you to Netgally for my readers copy

"Corporate tells the public the mermaids aren't dangerous, but that's a lie."

I loved this book a lot more than I thought I would, since the mermaid trope has been done so many times before. The book follows Finn, a college student who has worked at Oceanica since its opening, and Erie, a mermaid princess who is captured by humans and set to entertain crowds at the theme park. Initially, Finn believes the mer are just fish and have no language or intelligence, but working with Erie as her trainer shows him the truth. I felt having the two narrators was inspired, as it allowed the reader to see both sides of the argument throughout.

Finn was not a particularly likeable character. He was flawed, which I admired, as it made him human and relatable. He was cocky and entitled, with preconceptions about the mer that made him difficult to warm to. Erie was not my favourite character either. I expected a little more fight from her initially and she could be rather sulky. This being said, I did love the relationship which built between them and their interactions were always really sweet.

I also loved Jen as a character and her backstory was heartbreaking, albeit not particularly surprising. I felt she deserved better than Finn, and I would have rather she ended the relationship. I liked that it was casual and that she understood the love between Finn and Erie. There was no jealousy or vindictiveness, which was refreshing.

The ending was a bit Disney, but I actually loved it. I wanted to read more about Cale, Sergio and Jen, but maybe in a second book? Overall, I found it well written and fast paced, and I look forward to more books from this author.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Speak the Ocean came to me at just the right time. I couldn't seem to find anything I wanted to read, and a dark mermaid story sounded perfect. But I will say, the book is a lot more than that.

The first thing I loved (and I think what pulled me into the book) was the author's writing style and the voice. I found it evocative yet relatable, and I connected to Finn right away. The second thing I really loved was the concept of the "Mer," which I found to be an interesting take on the mermaid myth.

Highly recommended to anyone interesting in mermaid stories.

Thank you to the publisher and to Netgalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

*I received a copy of this ebook for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I've never been a huge fan of mermaids, but I think is book just changed my mind!

I was immediately invested and would have finished it in one sitting if I hadn't started it so late at night and needed to get up early. But I couldn't stop thinking about it all day and finished it as soon as I got the chance to read again. There was something so captivating about the writing style that just hooked me right away.

One of my favourite aspects was that things weren't all sunshine and rainbows. Far from it. Things kept going wrong for everyone, people kept getting angry and hurt by each other, characters made human (or mermaid) mistakes, and nothing worked out smoothly. I loved that Finn was an asshole, but also didn't get away with it all the time. The other characters told him off for it, and his actions had consequences. Nothing felt like it was happening just for the convenience of the plot, and all the mistakes and messes made me root for everyone even more. It was dark and messy in the best way possible.

Another thing I absolutely loved was the writing style. It was vivid without ever being too much. Both worlds (human and Mer) were super clear and vivid in my mind without ever having any info dumping. Everything felt very natural, and things were woven in so seamlessly that it never took attention away from the characters or the plot. I also loved the way the Mer were described, I could picture them so vividly. As I read, I could see the way they swam, their movements, their body language. When they got hurt, I could picture exactly how the injury looked and felt. The author just painted such a clear picture that jumped right off the page.

I would say my third favourite thing was that since we got the perspective of both Finn and Erie, we got to see both sides of the arguments between humans and Mer. They both messed up, it wasn't just black and white or one culture being innocent and perfect and the other being evil and  corrupt. Both had good and bad, and they had logical reasons for their choices based off what they knew. There was definitely one species I was rooting for stronger, and one that I think made more mistakes, but no one was evil for the sake of being evil and even with the "bad" characters, I could understand why they did what they did. That balance is really key to my enjoyment with stories like this, and this one lived up to my expectations.

If there was one thing that could have made the story better for me, though, is a tiny bit more to the ending. I was happy enough with it, but I just wanted a tiiiiny bit more. I think that this is one of those books that would have really benefited with an epilogue just to tie up a few loose ends. I could assume most things, and some big parts I could guess for myself, but I just wanted to actually see it. I was still satisfied by the ending, and really enjoyed it, it was just missing a tiny piece for me.

Overall, this book was a strong mix of beautiful and dark with amazing characters, incredible writing, and a story that I could barely step away from. I would highly recommend it, and I'd definitely read future books from this author.

As someone who lives close to Sea World, this book hit home with me. I struggle with wanting to go see the aquatic life and feeling like it is inhumane. This book does an awesome job toeing that line.

This book was well written and makes you think and feel for everyone involved. It's like Free Willy meets The Little Mermaid. Enjoyable and heartbreaking all at once.

I think my one complaint is the romance. While I enjoyed seeing things progress and the relationship between characters grow, I always hope for more than a HFN ending. Though I do understand why most stories like this end that way, it would be nice to see a way for authors to find a way to make it happen. It is fantasy afterall. 

I did enjoy this very much and look forward to other works by this author.

Thank you to Netgalley and Reuts Publishing for the title in exchange for an honest review.

This is an urban fantasy novel in which humans have discovered the existence of mermaids —they refer to them as mer or merfolk regardless of their gender— and have the brilliant idea of capturing them to create a show in an amusement park. We humans are always so altruistic and kind. People believe that mers have no language and behave like wild animals, because those who found them for the first time decided to include them in the category of fish; they are just another type of animal to take advantage of by turning them into entertainment. Currently, Oceanica is the only park that has a mer show and our protagonist has worked in it since he was young. Finn is strangely fascinated by mermaids, probably even obsessed, that’s why he knows so much about them. After the murder of a park trainer by his own mer, the boss promises Finn that the next mermaid that the park gets will be given to him. The problem is that the chosen mermaid is Erie, an innocent and curious mer princess who longs to return home at all costs. So much so, that she learns to speak air-words in order to communicate with her trainer. She proves that mermaids aren’t just fish and that keeping them locked up in an amusement park is a terrible mistake. Consumed by pain and hatred after experiencing in hr own flesh the cruel nature of human beings, Erie makes a decision: she will return to the ocean... but before that she’ll destroy Oceanica and her beloved trainer.

Speak the Ocean has two narrators, which allows the reader to compare both points of view: that of the oppressor and that of the oppressed. Logically, the author's approach is no accident. The culture clash between mer and humans is astronomical, not to mention that it’s impossible not to feel nauseous when we see the horrifying reality of Oceanica once its doors are closed to the public. The mer tanks are tiny and dirty, they give them dead fish to eat, but worst of all are the electric shocks with which they get them to be obedient. Finn tries to follow the example of his fellow trainers when Erie arrives at the park, he is a very ambitious young man after all, but he soon realises that she’s different. She’s scary, fragile, and looks like she cares a lot about the dolphin that was brought in with her. Erie has a unique gleam in her eyes and the idea that she’s a dangerous creature like the other mer becomes more and more absurd with each of her sweet gestures.

Both Finn and Erie are ambivalent characters that you’ll simultaneously love and hate throughout the novel, consider yourself warned. Some readers may not like this and I totally get it, but in my view unapologetically flawed characters are quite realistic. I’d be lying if I said that Finn is a knight in shining armour or that Erie is a harmless princess. Many times they manipulate others for selfish reasons, so they’re definitely not likeable characters all the time. In spite of everything, they possess the typical antihero’s charm that makes you want to know more about them. In addition, when Finn and Erie are together is magical. The way they look and touch is extremely especial, and it just seems natural to believe that they were meant to love each other from the very beginning no matter what. By this I don’t mean romantic love exclusively, but rather that their feelings are warm, beautiful, and intimate.

The ending is the only thing that didn’t truly convince me —there are several and relevant unanswered questions—, but I didn’t dislike it either. I simply expected something a little bit more dark and twisted. Of course, this emotional roller coaster I mentioned wouldn’t be possible without Rebecca Enzor's bewitching writing. As soon as I read the first chapter, I knew that a great story awaited me, because this is the type of story that absorbs you and shakes your heart so powerfully that it leaves you breathless. Light, darkness, pain, joy, hope, and death coexist and merge in Speak the Ocean, and I love it. What a wonderful read!

Solid 3.5, almost 4 stars.

Rather than a re-telling of 'The Little Mermaid', this is more a re-envisioning of the mermaid through a Seaworld-esque world. I liked how the author reimagined Seaworld into this corporate Oceanica which wanted to exploit the Mer for profit. Mermaids are made to jump, play, and entertain the visitors, much like the killer whales of Seaworld. There is even a tragic accident between trainer and Mer that mirrors real life events (Tilikum and Dawn. The book is dedicated to Tilikum which made me tear up slightly).

As a piece that is supposed to be a reflection of such controversies, it works really neatly. The trainers at Oceanica are not supposed to humanise the Mer and they control them through electric shocks through water. Finn break this rule with the first Mer he's allowed to train, Erie. Overall, the plot itself was fun and interesting enough to keep me reading, though I felt like the big reveals were pretty easy to spot a mile away and it took away the drama. Finn is a likeable enough protagonist despite his flaws, but I much preferred the scenes when Erie talks with her dolphin Niku (which, coincidentally, is the same word for 'meat' in Japanese... not sure if that's the vibe the author was going for but it definitely added to the creepiness and upped the morbidity). The romance line was passable, but I felt like there were so many missed opportunities to build this more throughout the book.

I originally gave it 4 stars, but then after sleeping on it decided to give it 3.5 as there were quite a few questions that were left unanswered by the end of the book, and some loose ends that weren't as resolved as I would have liked. Weirdly, by the end, I felt sorry for Serge the most rather than Finn or Erie (and all that they go through, though not gonna lie, I did shed a tear or two), and not knowing if that poor boy was going to be okay after what happened got to me more than the rest of the plot.

Full book review to come on blog nearer the publication date.

A very interesting premise- this is a book about what humans would do if there were real mermaids, and the answer is quite rightly we would put them in a tank and make them perform like Shamu. I enjoyed the grittiness of these mermaids compared to Disney, but didn't quite connect with the main human character Finn myself, so it wasn't quite a 5* read for me. There is quite a lot left unsaid by the end, so it makes me wonder if there will be a follow up book? Maybe not but I think there would probably be a market for it if this ended up a series, being an intriguing take on a well worn trope of mermaids.
Thank you to REUTS Publications and Net Galley for the free advance e-book copy of this title.

So, this book is weird. I liked it, but it was weird.
The concept is really interesting, and most of the characters are interesting. A world where humans know Merfolk exist, and they are captured and forced to perform at an amusement park, Oceania, reminiscent to Sea World.

The majority of this book follows the two POVs of Finn and Erie, Human and Mer respectively, and I was far more sympathetic towards Erie than I was for Finn. He was a very selfish self-centered person, who was hardly better than the other handlers around him he just had a bloated ego about himself and everything.

Most of the characters were one-dimensional, Jen was the stand-out human character I liked her backstory the most. Aunt D, nuts.

I didn't really care for the romance(s). One was pretty toxic, the other felt shoehorned in at the end, the other thing I didn't care for. There were too many loose ends at the end, that I think another chapter from a different character could have tied up.

I loved this book, which is heartbreakingly realistic in its portrayal of a Seaworld-esque theme park, driven by profit instead of science and, ultimately, compassion. The male protagonist is deeply unsympathetic for 90% of the book- when a talking dolphin is more relatable and a better male role model than your “hero”, you know the human world is really a mess! But the book does a great job of setting the scene for a sequel- I am desperate to learn more about the Mer homeland, history and traditions, as the underwater sections of the book were sadly few and far between! If you loved The Little Mermaid as a kid you will enjoy Ariel’s cameo; if you’ve grown up regretting your childhood trips to the dolphin park, this book will help to educate you on marine rehabilitation and exploitation. I will be purchasing this book for my library and recommending it to fans of urban fantasy and fairytale retellings.

This was not your typical mermaid fantasy. The merpeople had depth and feeling.

Most of the major characters were well drawn. A few, like Aunt D, were one dimensional foils.

I'm not sure the ending fit with the rest of the book. It was rather Disney-esque.

All in all, it was a n enjoyable read..

I received an ARC. Ibam leaving my honest review.

I flew through this book. From the first page I knew I was going to love it. It's beautifully written and the characters come to life. Finn and Erie were fully formed, flawed, and just felt like real people. I loved the chapters from Erie's point of view and the metaphors and comparisons she uses that relate to the sea. Jen was great too but the main characters were Finn and Erie and not forgetting Niku.

While this is a kind of retelling of The Little Mermaid, it is so different too and it had a feel of Free Willy to it. Without giving the plot away or any spoilers, I will say that older teens will love this and I expect to hear a lot of buzz about it when it hits the shelves.

I also can't wait to read more from this debut author.

This book blew me away from start to finish. It is the best book I've read in years on so many levels. First, characters, Erie and Finn are remarkably real, and powerful. They are surrounded by characters who are also real, and filled with their own motivations, just as in life. The setting is done in such a way that while you don't notice it, it is painted to perfection with the detail being artful in a way that shows such wordsmith skills. I loved that there was a darker element to this story as well. It fit.The plot is pretty straight forward, but super important. While you are inside a fantasy world a real world message is delivered without intrusion. A beautiful message about life and freedom and how we treat the creatures that share this planet with us. It's not done in a heavy-handed way, but one that is subtle and respectful to the story, making this as deep or shallow as a reader desires. The message is one that brings tears to my eyes as did this book in several places. While being so powerful it still manages to be the best fantasy romance I've read in a long while. It's a new bar that's going to be hard to reach. Perfect in every way. The end... my feels... I can't even. I was so edge of my seat.

I would like to thank NetGalley, the publisher, and author Rebecca Enzor for providing me with an ARC of Speak the Ocean!

What an awesome read! I am usually incredibly disappointed in stories involving mermaids, but not this time. And that makes me *so happy*. The idea of mermaids being captured to put on display/made to perform is genius. Usually it’s boy meets mermaid, they fall in love, the end. This was so much more complex and intriguing. The sex scenes were *great* and a wonderful addition, in my opinion. I wish the ending wouldn’t have wrapped up so quickly. Second book, maybe? If so, I’m okay with that! This mermaid tail *ba dum tis* has moved to the top of my mermaid books. Read it!

Thank you again to those named above for the chance to read and review this ARC!

This was 5 star read up until the last chapter. In my later night read haze, I finished this book, so it is safe to say that it certainly possesses the quality that keeps you up until 2 AM, however I also left confused whether I have read what I have read last night? Apparently, I did and somehow it didn't leave a good taste. It's like eating something rancid after eating an exquisite eight-course fine meal.

We live in a world where mermaid exists and mankind knows its existence. They are captured and trained to perform like in similar establishments like Sea World. It is a rough situation for Merfolks but coveted prospect to see a creature of myth and train them for humans. Erie has been captured and assigned to an upcoming trainer Finn. Rather than taking a traditional approach of instilling fear to perform tricks, Finn takes a different approach of positive enforcement to train Erie and ends up humanizing her. She learns to understand and speak English, starts performing but it is the short-lived arrangement and things go south for all of them quickly.

The trope of a mermaid and a human falling in love has been done so many times, it needs to be done correctly. This could have been a terror story or a love story but falls flat in both aspects.

Thank you Netgalley and publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

I'm finding myself at a loss on how to review this book without spoilers. I'll do my best but I may add some at the bottom.
For those who care, there were many more F-bombs in this book than I cared to read and some very detailed sex scenes.
I found this book to be a very interesting story from the beginning. The writing was so good that I was about to just slip right into the story.
There were a lot of parallels to the Seaworld business practices in this story. How small and dank the holding cages are. How the animals are treated etc and I think it was interesting to "see" the animal's perspective of captivity. I found it a little hard to believe if we found mermaids in real life we would treat them as horribly as the Oceanantic facility treated them. Even if they were dangerous. But who knows. With what's going on in the world today it wouldn't surprise me.
I liked Fynn and I didn't like Fynn. LOL Maybe because come from Florida and I've know douchbags like him. It was hard for me to like him behind in the beginning. But his character does change and develop and he really does learn to care for the mer.
I read a review that mentioned they thought Erie was immature and too childlike. I think she comes across that way because she 's from another world. Everything is new for her and she's going to see things with a sometimes childlike view.
OK time for a few spoilers. Don't scroll any farther.







There are a few points at the end of the story I want to put out there.
1. Fynn ending confused me a little. He tells Erie and the media that he loves her. But it seems more like the love of a friend. He mentions being grossed out when Erie kisses him. He's in a full-on relationship with Jen and talks about wanting to continue their relationship when he leaves for college. (Or he’s thinking about it) So the ending where Erie and he end up together seems very abrupt but I also totally understand it too. I’m so conflicted because if it weren’t for Jen I would totally want him and Erie to end up together. It just seemed impossible to 99% of the book.
2. Man! Did I want just one more chapter in this story. I really wanted to see him reunited with his father. Or at least get to say goodbye to his family.
What about the politics between the ocean and the air worlds. Do the killings stop? What happens to Oceanic now that the controlling shareholder is "Dead"? Are they able to release the other Mer? Did Claire die when she attached Fynn? How did none of the Mer (Or Erie) know that the land advisor was once a human?? AND who changed him? It couldn't be Erie's mom because he accidentally killed her when he first found the Mer existed.
SOOO MANY QUESTIONS! I needed one more chapter to wrap up these questions. Or maybe a second book? I think there are enough loose ends that a second book could be awesome!!