One of the most unique reads I have read in a long time. This novella is a fantasy that has a big focus on climate change and it is full of weirdly beautiful creatures that create a world that I didn't want to leave once I started reading.

I do feel like the the ending went a little off the rails compared to the rest of the story, but this is still a great read.

Weird Fishes, was a wild ride! The ending is INTENSE, please check trigger warnings before you read this one. I didn't expect it. I would love to see more of this world, I think a full-length novel would be great!

<B>The Publisher Says: AN UNDERWATER TALE OF FRIENDSHIP AGAINST MONSTROUS ODDS</b>

When Ceph, a squid-like scientist, discovers proof of the ocean’s slowing currents, she makes the dangerous ascent from her deep-sea civilization to the uncharted surface above. Out of her depths and helpless in her symbiotic mech suit, Ceph relies on Iliokai, a seal-folk storyteller, who sings the state of the sea and has seen evidence of clogged currents as she surfs the time gyres throughout the lonely blue. Navigating the perils of their damaged ocean environment, and seemingly insurmountable cultural differences, Ceph and Iliokai realize that the activities of terrestrial beings are slowing the spiralling currents of time. On a journey that connects future and past, the surface and the deep, the unlikely friends struggle to solve a problem so big it needs a leviathan solution.

<B>I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA NETGALLEY. THANK YOU.</b> ***CW: rape***

<B>My Review</b>: I know a lot of folks are, um, squeamish about couples that aren't one-man/one-woman. Y'all gonna bust somethin' when it comes to intimate interspecies relations....

But my gosh! The worldbuilding in this novella would support a billion-page nonillionology for each of these cultures. And still the read manages to be truly satisfying. That is a major achievement. The consequences of human action starts the plot on its course; the circle of life gets closed in the end, but in a way I warned you about above.

I am delighted to say that every step leading up to the ending's unpleasantness contains no such activity. I can't say you're likely to be prepared for it with foreshadowing or desensitization. I can say it's stark and shocking when it happens, unambiguous in its cost, and fully part of the narrative arc.

And my goddesses did I hate it.

There's nothing like consequences to offer a lesson about what the author wants to say. I'm glad Author Mariz said it. But I still hated it.

Creo que este libro esta bien hecho hasta que llegas al final, porque ahí se pone demasiado flashero (más de lo que originalmente es).
Trata sobre el calentamiento global visto desde la diversidad marina. Un relato corto, crítico y entretenido para pasar el rato. Se lee super rápido.
A pesar de ser corto, los personajes y la trama se desarrollan de manera perfecta. La autora no deja que nada se le escape.
Todo es muy llamativo, de la historia hasta la portada el libro.

Again, the title here is incredibly apt, as we get a combination of a mercreature from the depths (our not quite Avatar looking protagonist on the cover) and from the more temperate zones of the ocean (a furry minority coded character) teaming up to find out what the hell is going on with the ocean currents. I'm not entirely sure how I feel about this one, as it ends up resolving by way of a deux ex machina and with a fairly sudden traumatic plot point being dropped on us fairly shortly before, and we never really see it resolve. (Tw: as it turns out rape when motherhood means you are absolutely 100% going to die is even more horrific! Fuck!) Still a good first novel.

In this novella, we follow Ceph, a scientist from the depths of the ocean as she explores the surface. The currents are changing and she must discover the reason. During this trip, she makes new friends and discovers the true state the ocean is in.
When I saw this cover, I knew I had to read this book. I love the illustration and the colors go so well together. Sadly, I shouldn’t judge books by their covers and this one proved that to me.
There was something missing. The characters weren’t very interesting and I was always waiting for the plot to get more exciting… and I waited until the end of the book. The idea is good, the concept is interesting but I don’t think it was very well executed.
The ending was also a bit much. A big trigger warning for rape with extreme consequences.
Rating: 3 stars

A strange book with good prose and a unique world that, while well realized, left me feeling more like an outsider than an observer while reading. I never stopped enjoying at least some aspect of what was on display, but I also never really 'plugged in' to the book. The ending somewhat solidified this distance, as well as cemented an unfortunate streak for me of books with violent assault as a literary tool. Interesting world, all the same.

An intriguing read, worth checking by readers interested in imaginative worldbuilding, solid characterization, and clever plots. Recommended.

I went into Weird Fishes with no expectations at all - this is my first read by Mariz - but intrigued about the synopsis and enamored with the cover, and I'm so glad my love for a beautiful cover had me reaching for this! Weird Fishes is a beautiful exploration into the impact of humans on the world's ocean through the lens of intelligent, and fantastical sea creatures - a short book I would absolutely recommend to fantasy fiction or non-fiction lovers; Weird Fishes melds the two genres beautifully.

This is one of the most unique books I’ve ever read. Following these two mystical sea creatures through a journey through the ocean, I loved getting the perspective of their lives and all the ocean creatures they talked to along the way. The parallels between the deep sea creatures and humans and the harmful (and selfish) choices they made and how those choices impact other creatures was well done. I just really love the idea that someone was able to discuss the harm done to our oceans in such an engaging way. The idea that all creatures (or weird fish!) are connected to the ocean was beautiful, without giving spoilers I loved the cause of the wave, and Iliokais songs. But I do wish that we got a little more at the end to fully understand what happened, I was hoping after a few lines of transcript we would get more from Cephs or Iliokai point of view.

Weird fishes… weird is correct.

I feel like this piece was meant to be an exposition on women in the world, women in science, and climate change. In some ways it was dead on, on others, it missed.

The first major thing is that this book would have been near incomprehensible had I not been a marine biologist. Scientific terminology was used abundantly, but not always in a reader friendly way.

The way dialogue was physically denoted at times got weird. And using a “c” as a section divider threw me off at first.

My other major issue was that the writing contradicted themselves on many occasions. One of the larger times I noticed it was with the pronouns for Mone. Another one was describing Mooch as a lamprey and then calling him an eel. Sentence later. Another issue with Mooch is that’s neither lampreys or eels are parasitic.

There were some biology and environmental things that were wrong. For the average reader, this isn’t an issue. But, as I feel like this is geared towards ocean centered readers, it’s a bit deal.

With Iliokai she’s described as having a blowhole and a nose. That’s not how that works. A blowhole in cetaceans is a “nose”.

The ending was also a little odd to me.

I will be providing an official review of this book soon but wanted to say thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to review this book. The premise sounds absolutely incredible, its perspective that much more amazing, and cannot wait to dive in!

The title is apt. Lots of seafood, all weird. None edible, really, because none should be. Seriously. I don’t know how anyone can look at any of the strange, magnificent creatures that live in the sea and go, hey, that looks tasty.
They don’t look tasty, do they? They look weird. Interesting, exciting, otherworldly. Kind of like an alien world without leaving Earth.
This book takes that concept and goes really far with it, impressively far. The creatures that populate this novella are spectacular, sentient, stunning.
The main protagonists are a squid-like deep sea dweller scientist from a race of deep sea dweller and a seal-like whale rider who travels close to the surface and had the soul of a rebel and a power of a siren.
So, you now, your average, wildly untraditional odd couple, opposites attract and make for a great friendship sort of thing.
And then the two have to consider the terrestrial beings, who are a. very real, b. very destructive. Question is to put up or rise up? And consider, what sort of an uprising would that be if the ocean rises up?
This novella firmly belongs and perfectly exemplifies the branch of science fiction that’s all about climate. As such, yes, the message of it can get quite heavy for the plot, but kudos to the author, it never really overpowers it. There’s simply too much going on.
The world building alone is spectacular. Like the best of David Attenborough Blue Planet show that inspired it. So vivid, so well thought out, so intricate. Pure wow.
The titular weird fishes are as personable, charismatic and compelling as any non-finned protagonist and the emotional engagement here is good and proper.
I’ve tried to stay away from aquatic puns in this review (it’s tough, it really is), but suffice it to say these are the waters you want to swim in. A wildly original, clever, and exciting story. Recommended. Thanks Netgalley.