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3.8 AVERAGE
3.8 AVERAGE
*DNF*
I don’t really like to leave reviews for books I DNF, but I got 53% of the way through this book which is the most I’ve gone through one and DNFed.
I don’t hate this book, I can see why people would like it. I was actually really enjoying it for about 30% of it. Then the 30-50% really slowed down and felt repetitive and like the plot was going nowhere. At a certain point I was confused on what the plot was.
I was going to push through but it just felt like… why am I doing that? I think this author has potential, apparently this is a debut novel.
I really don’t like DNFing books. It just wasn’t holding my attention anymore, but I still think others could enjoy it!
I don’t really like to leave reviews for books I DNF, but I got 53% of the way through this book which is the most I’ve gone through one and DNFed.
I don’t hate this book, I can see why people would like it. I was actually really enjoying it for about 30% of it. Then the 30-50% really slowed down and felt repetitive and like the plot was going nowhere. At a certain point I was confused on what the plot was.
I was going to push through but it just felt like… why am I doing that? I think this author has potential, apparently this is a debut novel.
I really don’t like DNFing books. It just wasn’t holding my attention anymore, but I still think others could enjoy it!
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
DNF’d at page 40. Boring story, not a fan of the writing style.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Voice of the Ocean is a beautiful novel written for the people who grew up thinking they were too sensitive. This is a book that transcends the boundaries of the fantasy genre, where emotion and human understanding is just as vital to the story as the fantastical elements
At first we explore the world of sirens, only to dive deeper into the depths of “human” emotion. The princess of Staria, Celeste, allows her curiosity to lead her on adventures in both the siren and human world. Throughout her journey, Celeste realizes that the emotional and “sensitive” part of herself that she deemed her weakness, was the ultimate source of her strength. In summary I realize I am making this sound like the ringing bells of a cliché, but this book is far from that. In what Celeste believes to be naïvité, her ability to acknowledge her deep emotions, and eventually accept them, drives the story forward.
Writing style
Just upon reading the first page of Voice of the Ocean, I could feel myself floating in a vast ocean, gazing upon a starry sky, hearing the ocean waves and smelling the salt wind that comes with. This is what Impicciche does to you. Her prose describes a perspective that is so magical, it is hard not to fall into her world, with no desire to return.
Kelsey Impicciche truly makes the reader feel as if they too are sirens discovering the human world for the first time. The author brings to light the wonderful human experiences that may often be taken for granted, like the sound of trees bristling in the wind, or the explosive taste of citrus fruit. Raw innocence and curiosity is explored wonderfully through our main character Celeste. This gives Voice of the Ocean a true essence of its own, and essence of magic and beauty and raw emotion.
Worldbuilding
I adore the concept of the siren world as there are so many things to be considered. Details such as boiled fish being a rare delicacy, warm water being inhabitable due to its lack of oxygen, are all small details that makes this world an exciting place to explore.
The different elements and norms of the siren world is carefully explained throughout the story. Sirens are generally cool-mannered, meaning they do not show big displays of emotion. This is where Celeste’s sensitivity is seen as a liability, and at times it is weaponized against her.
I enjoyed the mythology of this world, and the stories of the Goddess and the four sisters. I got the impression that there was not a particularly long line of successors from the founder of Staria to our main character. We do know that the sirens typically live double the span of a human life, yet it still feels as if the siren civilization is fairly new. This failed the illusion that the power of the Song and Voice of the Ocean were ancient, mysterious powers. It does not have to be a bad thing, I quite liked seeing how Celeste rebelled against social norms and standards that were newly placed.
I would have loved for the author to explore the power of the voice of the ocean even further. I believe there is room for the concept of this power, because it is such a heavy part of the plot . However, it was a great decision to leave the reader in the dark about what the voice of the ocean actually was. This kept my interest peaked, as there is no pirate story without a mysterious treasure hunt. Hopefully, this concept will be further explored in book two? (please release the next book Kelsey I beg).
So there are some loose threads here, like what the voice of the ocean truly entails, the reincarnation of gods as a certain boy and siren
The romance
Personally, I am a huge fan of a good slow-burn. I would like to personally thank Kelsey for how she waited 200 pages before Raiden could hear Celeste’s voice.
“Now that I have heard your voice, I confess it’s my favorite sound.”
We were allowed these glimpses of romance before the plot swept us away, and I am all here for it. It is rare for chemistry between two characters to feel so real, nearly palpable, but Kelsey Impicciche does so with grace.
The connection between Celeste and Raiden felt so real, I was nearly torn to pieces as the story progressed.
The plot
I will not go into detail here, as I want to keep my review as spoiler-free as possible. But let me tell you. The drama. The betrayal. The longing. The betrayal. The fighting. Oh, and did I mention the betrayal? It all had me jumping for joy, then slumping to the ground, I have been lying here ever since.
I like to consider myself a reader who is hard to impress in the fantasy genre, but this novel has made me reconsider my self-perception. I was delighted upon reading every page, the author writes in a way where both the worldbuilding, plot and character-development could all blossom respectively and beautifully. The characters develop and reveal themselves in beautiful harmony with the plot.
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Original Rating: 3/5
New Rating: 1/5
Listen.... I'm a crybaby but not even I cry that much...
Also, Raiden is a bitch boy and Celeste is utterly useless.
This book was so bad I mistakenly thought it was good.
---------------------------------------------
Now while I did rate it a one star I will say that the beginning this book was pretty charming. I felt like it was a good little mermaid retelling and I liked how Celeste cried pretty often as I do myself.....
However... as others say... sometimes less is more... This author wrote in a way she just felt like her audience was stupid... she was so overly descriptive it was kind of ridiculous but I let it slide because while it was overly descriptive and kinda degrading by how she felt like I couldn't add 2 + 2 it was still engaging.... I found myself enjoying Celeste's curious and cautious nature...
Celeste was a shit assassin tho... she never tried to kill Raiden to my understandingUntil she found out her "best friend" was gagged and confined to the basement.... like brutha what??? Why does it take that action happening for you to do your job??? Celeste was also very naive... like stupidly so and that kinda made me dislike her character as time went on.. I get that she's a different, being a Siren and a princess but like.... damn girl did you not learn anything from your "so-called best friend" about how people can be deceitful? Idk I just felt like she was stupid.... why was she so trusting after the first human she came across after getting legs assaulted her? Like huh? Why wouldn't she be more cautious after that???
Moving onto Raiden.... Prince Eric who? This bitch isn't Prince Eric at all... He was so fucking moody it made my head spin and he was so fucking predictable... bitch as raging daddy issues and is a Grade-A BITCH BOY... I hate that Mfker.Especially when it came out that he killed one crew member, was using Celeste (which was pretty predictable), and sent ANOTHER CREW on this suicide mission all for a daddy that can't give him the time of day.... oh brother this man is such a bitch boy it's ridiculous.... he kidnaps her friend, lies to her, BASICALLY MAKES HER FALL FOR HIM AND THEN HAS THE GALL TO STAND THERE WHEN HIS FRIEND IS ABOUT TO KILL THE WOMAN HE "LOVES" I hate him.... get his fake ass love away from me ew... Prince Eric I know and love would be DISGUSTED.
Then we have the basically last 20% of the book... so much was happening, YET NOTHING WAS HAPPENING AT THE SAME FUCKING TIME. So much drama came to life, the climax was there, the action was coming and I was ready for it.... all I got was disappointment, crying, and Celeste standing there, looking stupid af... PEOPLE WERE LITERALLY DYINGWHILE THIS BITCH HAD THE POWER TO CALL AN ANCIENT OCEANIC BEING AND A TRIDENT AND YET HER ASS DID NOTHING BUT CRY AND WATCH HER PEOPLE GET SLAUGHTERED....
Ugh that last 20% pissed me off so much for me to rate it one star I don't even care to know what happens in the future... get this raggedy book and FMC out of my damn face.
New Rating: 1/5
Listen.... I'm a crybaby but not even I cry that much...
Also, Raiden is a bitch boy and Celeste is utterly useless.
This book was so bad I mistakenly thought it was good.
---------------------------------------------
Now while I did rate it a one star I will say that the beginning this book was pretty charming. I felt like it was a good little mermaid retelling and I liked how Celeste cried pretty often as I do myself.....
However... as others say... sometimes less is more... This author wrote in a way she just felt like her audience was stupid... she was so overly descriptive it was kind of ridiculous but I let it slide because while it was overly descriptive and kinda degrading by how she felt like I couldn't add 2 + 2 it was still engaging.... I found myself enjoying Celeste's curious and cautious nature...
Celeste was a shit assassin tho... she never tried to kill Raiden to my understanding
Moving onto Raiden.... Prince Eric who? This bitch isn't Prince Eric at all... He was so fucking moody it made my head spin and he was so fucking predictable... bitch as raging daddy issues and is a Grade-A BITCH BOY... I hate that Mfker.
Then we have the basically last 20% of the book... so much was happening, YET NOTHING WAS HAPPENING AT THE SAME FUCKING TIME. So much drama came to life, the climax was there, the action was coming and I was ready for it.... all I got was disappointment, crying, and Celeste standing there, looking stupid af... PEOPLE WERE LITERALLY DYING
Ugh that last 20% pissed me off so much for me to rate it one star I don't even care to know what happens in the future... get this raggedy book and FMC out of my damn face.
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No