This was a very good audiobook! I really like the narrator and the way the author writes! I plan to read more by this author!
The story was beautiful!

First of all, can we talk about this cover???? It’s BEAUTIFUL!!!

Okay, now that I have that out of my system, this debut was really good! A twist on The Little Mermaid, it was educational about Filipino culture and mythology in a fun way. We had battles with monsters, alternate timelines, and, of course, a sea witch.

I felt like some of the messages about gas-lighting, abuse, and recognizing Filipino culture were a little heavy-handed, but that can happen in YA since it’s for a younger audience. So, if you’re an adult reading it, just be aware.

Thank you for the audio-arc, this was such a fast paced listen. I enjoyed the world building and magical elements.

Robin Alvarez immediately grabbed my attention and held it beautifully at the beginning of the book. The story was rich with detail and evoked feelings that I heavily related to based on past experiences. The emotional decline of Malaya's character was heartbreaking to experience and would open the eyes of anyone who has never relationship abuse before, or never knew they had. The audiobook narrator helped submerge myself into the story and understand the characters better, as it should be! This refreshing and dark spin on a retelling of The Little Mermaid is something I didn't know I needed!!

However, the plot arc plateaued for quite some time after Malaya visits the sea witch. The various conflicts preventing the characters from reaching their goals did not seem to have any real consequences, nor did it feel like the conflict was resolved with proportionally the right amount of effort. I wished that more time was spent on conveying the difficulty of the actions the characters were undertaking. For example, Malaya basically "one-shots" the aswang (the monster she's been terrified of for a decent part of the book) and nothing of weight really happens? I realize that this is a YA read, so I know that is an unfortunate normal pitfall for this target age range. However, I have read a lot of YA books that do not fall into this trap.

Thank you Robin Alvarez, NetGalley, and Creative James Media for letting me listen to this. At first I wasn’t sure how I would like it due to the toxic relationship the MC had to deal with. Once the story started developing, I couldn’t stop listening and when I had to, I found myself thinking about it wondering what was going to happen next.
Alvarez has created a wonderful story involving mythology, but not what you’re used to. It’s marvelous getting to learn about Filipino culture and watch a strong female character develop.

I had the opportunity to read/listen to this ARC. The book is beautiful, and the way it is written actually feels magical (I remember feeling that way reading the Harry Potter series the first time)
This has "little mermaid" feels, with the inclusion of a sea witch, but do NOT mistake this for just a retelling. This is a Filipino folklore, and it what I love about folklore is that is DOES NOT shy away from the dark.
Mayala chooses to bargin with a sea witch to remove memories of abuse and manipulation, and in that moment the author helps us feel like we all would have made the same choice. The way she grows in the book and finds herself is where the magic sets in, and reminded me of the inner growth we all experience to some degree as we move from youth to adult mindsets.
BUT keep in mind this has very toxic relationships in it, and if that is a trigger, please steer clear.
If you decide to read anyway, keep in mind she is on a journey and will grow over the course of the book. It felt like a rollercoaster, but the end is satisfying and I look forward to more from this author.

I REALLY had a good time listening this book, it give Little Mermaid vibes. The trigger warning had me braced for something more graphic than I read.. I am glad about that, though it was still disturbing. I did feel that the audio production could have been more exciting because of all of the action happening in the book. However, I enjoy any story about mythology. I was plunged into a narrative that many young women navigate daily, young love, misguided love, the way a mentally abusive relationship can turn physical and cause you to accept things you normally wouldn't, how important it is to have someone in your corner to assist you in getting out of the relationship, and realizing that you deserve someone that treats you right. I have been there so this hit home for me.

The character, world building, and inclusion of Filipino mythology in this book was outstanding to me. The escalation of events kept me on the edge of my seat, holding my breath waiting to find out the fate of Malaya, her family, her crap-tastic boyfriend, and her unplanned love interest Salvador. Would she be able to save everyone? Would she survive the completion of her quest?

I almost gave this story 4 stars because I did not like how spineless Malaya was but after giving her some grace and like I stated prior, being someone who has been in this situation, I give this book 5 stars and would absolutely recommend this family and friends.

I plan on purchasing a copy for my niece to open lines of communication about unhealthy romantic relationships and let her know that I am a safe space if she needs.

Let’s start with… Trigger Warnings…
Gaslighting, mental, emotional, and physical abuse.

Despite all of that, I fell in love. The truth is I can’t say that I was extremely excited to be reviewing this book. I know I picked it, but it wasn’t until the content warnings that I had to put it back down and decide if this was something I was capable of reading. When I did decide to pick it up, I was pleasantly surprised by the way the story was told and the amazing imagery.

As a daughter of the Caribbean, the Filipino lore really resonated with me. I heard so much that sounded so similar to my own customs and my own folklore. That makes me 100x more excited to keep learning more about it. It’s so fascinating.

Was I uncomfortable at some points because of my own experiences? Yes. Did I cry? Yes. Did I recommend the book to my angel of a boyfriend so he could understand a little more about the way victims of gaslighting and/or abuse minds work? Yes.

I saw so much of my life, of myself in Malaya that I couldn’t help but want to give her the biggest hug that by the end of the book, the end of her story. I was disappointed to see her go but so excited that her story got an ending I feel she deserved.

This little mermaid retelling captured me with its realism, its fascinating lore, and the heart wrenching story of a girl, a terrible sea witch, and the ones who love her.

I know a few others have also mentioned the narrator and her sounding a little off but I was just really glad to hear a BIPOC narrating the story. It felt very authentic and really helped me lean into the story a little more.

Thank you to NetGalley, Robin Alvarez, and the publishers for allowing me the privilege to read and review this book.

This is the best book! It was everything. I loved learning about Filipino culture while our protagonist learned about family and love. I love the way it explains gas lighting and toxic relationships. It was phenomenal. I was both sad and happy. I cried a little when Mom explained that she loves her babies no matter which dimension they are in.

Filipino Folkore shines in this Little Mermaid inspired story, as Malaya trades her voice to a sea witch to escape an abusive relationship. Only the sea witch doesn’t just give her a new life, but swaps her with an alternate Malaya and uses the magic of her voice to unleash monsters in both realities. Alvarez delicately handles the abuse without glorifying the relationship or victimizing Malaya. Even the Content Warning puts you at ease.

3⭐️
This was an enjoyable read. The Filipino folklore and creatures made the story really interesting, and I loved the little tidbits of information about them. The story deals with some intense issues around abusive relationships, emotional abuse, physical abuse, and gaslighting, but it is done in a sensitive way.
Malaya is a relatable character who is easy to like even when she makes questionable decisions once in her new life. I feel like teenage me could definitely relate to her decisions and logic behind things, and that made the story relatable.
I do think the writing was a little too juvenile at times, but the interesting characters and storyline made up for it. I would have liked to know more about the sea witch and her motivations, though this didn't take away from my enjoyment of the story.

Thank you to NetGalley for sending me an eARC for this book!

This novel was a mixture between a coming-of-age, escape from toxic relationships and abuse, and a retelling of the little mermaid with seriously intense themes. If you have triggers related to physical, emotional, and sexual abuse this may be a really heavy read for you. Otherwise, this is the story of Mayala and a curse that has haunted her family for generations. Mayala never thought she would fall victim of the curse until she fell in love and found herself stuck in a pattern of abuse and isolation. In order to free herself, Malaya turns to the sea witch for an escape plan and ultimately loses her voice, but gains her freedom. I loved learning about the Filipino folk lore and I felt the characters were well written. I liked the narration and thought it was well-executed. Overall, I would give this story 🌟🌟🌟✨
Thank you to #netgalley for allowing me to read this title for a honest review. #WhenOceansRise

A very interesting premise, tying abuse and isolation into a little mermaid retelling, But with these more mature themes I was expecting this book to read more upper YA but unfortunately it read more middle grade to me. It also seemed to have some pacing issues. I would have liked to have seen more of the beginning relationship developed. I enjoyed the culture that was woven into this book and the overall story though.

When Oceans Rise by Robin Alvarez
I was given the opportunity to listen to the audiobook as part of an ARC review. It begins with a warning around the theme of domestic abuse, in particular emotional abuse and is extremely well explained. Do yourself a favour and read the trigger warnings before going into this book. If domestic abuse; emotional, physical or sexual is something that you struggle with then I would advise you to either skip this or read up more on the trigger warnings etc because as someone who has extended experience of being on the receiving end of such abuse, I found the validation that this story brought extremely necessary. I found myself nodding along to so many parts of it. Now, the FMC is a 17 year old girl but as we all know, abuse can happen to anyone, at any age. As a 37 year old woman, it was good for me to hear Malaya’s story. It is a pattern that unfortunately so many people get sucked into, and it’s validating to hear this explained in such an educated and well thought out way.

The story is so much more than that and is an embodiment of Phillipean culture, something that I don’t know enough about but it was so enchanting, the folklore and the community was so well crafted and described, it made me want to have experienced that for myself. It's an incredibly endearing story of family, of first love and all the stupid things you do and believe when faced with what isn’t genuine love but a trauma bond.

There was a reveal towards the end of the story that left me shocked and I shouldn’t have been, really when presented with the evidence it’s all there and yet, that’s what predators play on, you’re ability to overlook the obvious, to go against your gut instinct and to not believe or rely on yourself. This story is fantastical, hilarious at points but also deeply upsetting at others. I would highly recommend it.

When Oceans Rise
By Robin Alvarez
via Audiobook

Cute young adult book. It touches on a lot of important topics for young readers. I would recommend this book to a reader in highschool to early college.

My dislikes of this book were that the plot seemed a little disjointed and the audiobook reader was a little flat on occasion. Neither of these things would stop me from recommending it.

Key Words:
- Young Adult
- Filipino Folklore
- Little Mermaid Retelling (kinda)
- Teen Drama

Trigger Warnings:
- Emotional and Physical Abuse
- Racism
- Family Pressures

A great modern take on a classic. This book is the perfect mix of a story we all love, the little mermaid mixed with practical magic. The knods to filipino culture were beautifully woven in. This novel showcases the importance of family bonds in their heritage. This was honestly my favorite part of the book was experiencing their culture thru the storytelling. This story felt very close to my heart because it reminded me of abuses, and someone dear to me endured. Therefore, please check the trigger warnings. This book had action, suspense, paranormal mythical creatures, and unbreakable sister bonds.

When Oceans Rise by Robin Alvarez weaves together fate, love, abuse, and family within the backdrop of Filipino culture and mythology. It's a compelling YA novel that offers a window into diverse cultures while providing an engaging storyline.

Listening to When Oceans Rise as my first audiobook introduced me to the world of audio storytelling, and Jennifer Aquino's narration truly brought the characters to life. Her ability to convey Malaya's emotions through varied intonations is commendable, particularly in scenes where raw feelings are laid bare.

The coastal setting described in the book is evocative, offering a refreshing backdrop for the story. The detailed portrayal of Malaya's relationships with her family members and boyfriend allows the reader to truly connect with the characters. Malaya's growth throughout the narrative serves as a poignant reminder of life's continual lessons.

Despite initially expecting a focus on toxic relationships, the book proved to be much more, prompting discussions on cultural beliefs in mythology and superstitions. The parallel timelines skillfully illustrate the importance of familial connections, adding depth to the narrative.

Received as an arc through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book just wasn't for me for many reasons. However, it feels unfair to rate a book poorly just because it wasn't my cup of tea. I'm not going to read a romance, and then bash it because I hate romance books.

My enjoyment of the book was 2 stars.
The quality of the book itself {in my opinion] was 3 stars.

Who WOULD like this book: People who enjoy a more youthful, modern tone in their fantasy realism.

Why I wasn't feeling it:

1. I really did not like Malaya. To preface this, Malaya is a victim in a toxic relationship, so a lot of her actions are textbook signs of a victim in this scenario. Because of this, I tried to be patient and accepting. I understand her feeling melancholy, and distant from others; But the fact that she was actively horrible to the people in her life that love her, and tried to help her, all so that she protect her f***boy boyfriend *eyeroll* She was co-dependent, had low self esteem, and took all of her anger out on those who love her. Because of this, I had trouble empathizing with her. :/

2. Although I do enjoy fantasy realism occasionally, this was WAY too much realism for me. Lots of talk of social media, slang, and general Gen Z colloquial topics, etc. To me, that just feels icky alongside a magical mermaid story.

3. The tone of the story was also a bit too young for my taste. I am an avid YA reader, however these characters all just seemed way too immature for me. I feel like the target audience for this book is 13-17 year olds.



There are definitely people out there who would enjoy this book I think! One thing that was pretty cool was the taste of Filipino folklore and culture the author gave us. I knew literally nothing about Filipino culture, so it was cool to hear about their different types of monsters and magical beings.

I want to call this Filipino Little Mermaid but it is SO MUCH MORE THAN THAT. The only real similarity between this story and the Little Mermaid is that the FMC goes to see a sea witch and loses her voice in a contract. everything else about the story is different and incredible.

This story fully embodies the Filipino-American perspective and as a Filipino-American myself I really, really appreciate it. I haven't read many books that make me feel seen but this for sure struck a chord with me. Malaya's disconnect with her parents and siblings was something that I could understand, as was her longing for a new life.

This story felt like it would be a contemporary teen drama at first but then quickly flipped after Malaya met the sea witch. Once she was transplanted into her new life, this story turned into a thrilling supernatural story with so many familiar creatures from Filipino stories. Though I knew many of the creatures that were discussed in the novel, I also felt they were explained well enough that anybody would be able to get an idea of what Malaya, Salvador and her family were facing.

Without giving too much away, the revelations in this story, the betrayals, and Malaya's character growth were impeccable. I was damn near bawling by the end of the book as I tried to focus enough to finish it. I was so happy for Malaya that she was able to fight for what was best for her and her family instead of what she thought she wanted. The final chapters felt very bittersweet, considering everything Malaya lost, but she gained so much in the process.

I will eagerly look for more novels from this author.

First of all, I’d like to say thank you to NetGalley, Robin Alvarez and Tides Collide Publishing for access to the Audiobook ARC. WIth that being said, this review is nothing but my honest opinion. Let’s get to it:

When Ocieans Rise follows Malaya, a seventeen-year-old girl, whose family is cursed. In her family, every girl’s first love is someone evil and the relationship is doomed to end in death. Malaya doesn’t think the curse is real or that her first love is evil. What she doesn’t see is that she’s blinded by love and she isn’t noticing that he is hard at work gaslighting her and isolating her from her family. Malaya goes to her Tita Blessica for a reading and her Tita tells her that the boy she thinks if her first love isn’t her true first love at all and in order to meet her true love she must go to the Sea Witch. This leaves Malaya confused until she ends up in the hands of the Sea Witch after getting pulled into a riptide while surfing. The Sea Witch promises to undo Malaya’s poor choices and send her home to a life where she never dated the boy who ruined her, all she has to do is give up her voice…

Despite seeing the cover and reading the initial blurb for When Oceans Rise, I feel like I had no idea what I was truly getting into and although I wasn’t certain at first, I ended up absolutely loving this audiobook. This books is a Young Adult Fantasy, and in many ways it is a retelling of the little mermaid except without mermaids and with the addition of Filipino culture, folklore and mythology.

This books does contain Content Warnings* As someone who has experienced a really bad relationship in which, like Malaya, I was also cheated on and gaslit repeatedly, I appreciated the content warnings at the start of the audiobook. The way it is explained briefly but thoroughly that the main character goes through a relationship with mental and physical abuse that may seem nonsensical or infuriating to an outsider but isn’t something so obvious to the person going through it is spot on.

Overall, this book is well written it contains folklore and fantasy elements, parallel universe/realities, life lessons, and so much more. 5 stars from me! Highly recommend (with consideration to content warnings)