Seaspoken
By Sarah Delena White

All the romance lovers out there, along with paranormal readers, here is a great, new read with a release soon from Sarah Delena White called Seaspoken. Really a book of the genre that no one is going to want to miss. While I hate to admit anything isn’t what I like to read, romance is not my genre of choice. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good love story and I will always work one in on my reading list. But, they are never my first choice. However, as this is the first time I have read the work of White I will say that I will be waiting for her next book with anticipation (and probably, as I am, with impatience, lol) after reading her emotive romantic adventure.

Seaspoken has a great storyline all about the forbidden love between a sea dweller and a land one, both magical creatures. Evya is the daughter of the Seamother who controls the ocean and all who dwell there. The best thing about the character is that she is able to shape shift from sea form, to land, her fins retracting when out of water into her forearms and her lungs that breathe on land. The transition for the magical woman seems quite easy and would be a beautiful sight to behold as an observer (the writing giving me a visual which I would have loved to see in real life or, better yet where it might happen, on screen).

For years the sea dwellers, the tuath, have been at war with the elves that live on land, under the rule of King Falamar. Evya is a battle hardened soldier like her mother but, unlike the woman, she is tired of all the fighting. However, her mother knows that if her daughter is married, especially to a warrior, the combined magic could give them an edge over the elves and the tuath may finally have their defeat. So, the strongest battle chieftains from all the depths of the sea are coming to battle for the Seamothers daughter's hand in marriage.

Before the ten days of the spring festival, where battles will be fought, to be Evya’s husband, she is drawn to a sound she often hears but has never yet investigated before. She only knows that he comes down to the shore in the moonlight and sings of forbidden peace, hope and love, a voice that surges in her heart. The night of the first day of spring, she finally goes to the voice on the shore. There she meets Keliveth Dalzana who, because of his last name, is said to be a prophet of the elves, too powerful and dangerous to trust. However, as an eld, he should be her enemy.

When the Seamother finds that her daughter has gone to Keliveth she orders him dead by the water. And, while the sea obeys when Evya steps in and saves the elf, orders the waters and oddly, readily answers her command, something that has never happened before., all becomes calm. The sea has never wanted to be at peace before, when ordered.The Seamother is, after all, the ocean and her rage is the heart of all the waves. But, as Evya fears her mothers rage (and death, by the woman's hand) she is unable to disclose the encounter with her mother. Therefore, she goes forth with the marriage plans her mother has designed, trusting that the Rite of the Challenge will produce the husband she is destined for as all who had come before her have. The worth will arise.

Arcoclan is one of the chieftains who is there for the challenge thus the Seamothers daughters hand in marriage. A man Evya has never set eyes on but has heard many stories about. He is the favorite son of the Fethani chieftain and a brutal warrior who spills much blood. It has been said that he drowns whole islands and slaughters sailors just out of spite. And, if he wins Evyas hand in marriage the Fethani’s son becomes master of the seas.

Could a man like this, one of murder, war, and death, win the Seamothers daughters heart? Will Evya’s fantasies prevent the joining of the Seamothers daughter, herself, a powerful mistress of the sea in her own right, with a powerful force like the chieftains son? If she were to go against the Rite of the Challenge, turn away from the winner and choose love and peace with Keliveth, would that only create more problems, ruin those who dwell in the sea? But, isn’t that what Evya’s heart desires, a stop to all the killing and war? Could there be any way that the elf lures her out of the sea to hurt her, in the end, however he chooses to do it?

As the book continues, readers get to see parts of the story from Keliveth’s point of view and all the emotions, thoughts, experiences, all that he struggles with in meeting this wondrous sea creature who hopes for peace as he does. And, when the tuath’s are attacked during their festival, Keliveth learns too late to help aid Evya’s people. Keliveth is able to watch the woman of his dreams as she defends her people during the attack and when she is wounded he rides down to her. When she is unable to heal herself (as some powerful tuaths are able and she usually can, aided by the water) he heals her with the knowledge and magic of runes.

After Evya is healed and the two speak, clearing the air between them, Arcoclan and the Seamother catch him in the ruins of Atathari. The Seamother believes Keliveth to believe a prisoner of her daughter, at first, ready to make him pay for the attack by the elves during their peaceful festival something that, in the past, was not done as it was frowned upon. Despite being at war it was once thought that at certain times there should be no attack, since the tuath’s were not battle prepared, in dress clothing. However, these are not “better times”. The only way for Kelvieth to survive being at the wrong place, at the wrong time, is to join in the Rites of the Challenge, battling for Evya’s hand in marriage.

As Keliveth goes through the Rites of Challenge, the story turns into an adventure not just for him, but with the pair together as they delve into the ancient world of the sea and all its mysteries. And, during the whole ordeal the pair get to know one another better, know the true heart and what the other intends, wants for the world, their world.

Not wanting to ruin the rest of the book for readers I will say only that in the end, there is a twist, a long adventure for the pair, deep into the sea, back onto land, surprises from the author and some betrayal, as there is in everything, really. The end however, is great and the book is truly a creation of the imagination and heart. Seaspoken is a rare story that sticks out with all the other romances presenting a story where a couple, while falling in love, work toward a greater purpose than even that. While we think the greatest thing in the world is love, sometimes there are bigger purposes out there, where we need to put many, before self, which this writer does a very good job mastering.

This was a great read from beginning to end. The character and world build are great making an easy to follow movie in your mind while you travel along this story. Seeking peace in a world they only know and remember to be of war, this story sets up a magically love story between two people that should have never been together. Nothing is too drawn out or over done which makes this such an easy read. It paints a beautiful picture of peace, true love. And what happens when we listen to our inner voice.

Seaspoken s a captivating story that will make you fall in love with the characters and feel any and every emotion the feel. I will have to say this is one of my new favorite books . So if you are yearning for a great love story this one is not to be missed.