What an impressive debut novel! The writing was excellent and I really grew to love the characters

I really appreciated all the nods, both subtle and not-so- subtle, to the little mermaid (and specifically to the movie version many of us know and love). I thought this retelling did a great job of paying tribute to the story while branching off into its own thing

I will admit I found the first half of the book a tad slow but once the direction of the story became clear, I was hooked and am really eager to see what happens next

I highly recommend this debut fantasy novel

I thought I knew where this story was going but I was pleasantly surprised! The world building was very well made and the MCs were as realistic as possible and very ya coded.

Voice of the Ocean follows a daring young siren who defies her people to save a human prince, unearthing ancient magic and igniting a dangerous romance amidst treacherous waters. It is the perfect twist on the classic Little Mermaid story and also meets Pirates of the Carribean...need I say more?

The story follows a young Siren princess named Celeste who is the youngest in her family and has always been too much. Too silly, too loud, too emotional, and everyone tries to fix her rather than validating her emotions. I really rooted for her and felt connected to her character! The only place she feels safe and at peace is at the surface, where she isn't allowed to be. Until the night she breaches the surface and spots a ship in her kingdom's waters. A human ship - with a human man. Our male main character, Raiden. Devastatingly handsome, and definitely forbidden. But she couldn’t help but be intrigued by him, and his furry friend, Admiral. So the story really gets interesting from here!

I absolutely flew through this book because I couldn't stop reading! There's so much action, adventure, amazing found family, a rag-tag crew of pirates, an adorable furry friend, a slow burn forbidden romance, and beautiful islands! There are many scenes in this book that are described so well that I felt like I was actually there, adventuring with the crew and unearthing dangerous secrets.

“She was tired of ruining things. She was tired of everyone treating her as if she were some problem to solve.”

The ending revealed so much and there was a huge twist in the story I didn't see coming! I needed a few days to collect my thoughts on that, because wow, what just happened there? Then there was that big cliffhanger, so now I really need book 2!!

If you loved The Little Mermaid, Pirates of the Carribean, or are just looking for the perfect swashbuckling and adventurous story, I suggest adding this book to your TBR because you're going to love it!

Thank you so much Kelsey Impicciche and Netgalley for allowing me to set sail and adventure with Celeste and Raiden ahead of release day! Congratulations Kelsey on your debut into the author space! I am so happy for you and cheers on every little victory of yours. I cannot wait to see what comes next in this series, after that dangerously intriguing cliffhanger!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Kelsey Impicciche for an ebook in exchange for an honest review!

Rating: 4.75/5 Stars

Wowwww was that a pleasant surprise or WHAT! I had so much fun with this one!! I love the ocean so when I realized it was about a siren I knew I’d loveeee it. I also love the found family in this!! Can’t wait for part 2!

Following the author and watching this book come to life has felt like a dream. Getting the chance to arc for her is an even bigger dream. All I can say about this read is be ready. It’s emotionally toll taking and a one sitting read. You want fantasy? Check. Mermaid and siren vibes? Check. The dreamiest princes? You got it. Def worth reading.

I’ve been a follower of Kelsey on social media, and it’s been so exciting watching her journey of publishing her debut novel! Getting the opportunity to review an ARC has been such an honor, and I couldn’t wait to dive into it.

If you love forbidden romance, sirens, and high-stakes adventure, this book is calling your name!

This is a fantasy where duty clashes with desire and betrayal lurks beneath the waves. Celeste, our emotional and determined heroine, is torn between loyalty to her people and the undeniable pull she feels toward Prince Raiden Sharp. This coming-of-age story spans from the sea to the human world and is filled with secrets, deception, forbidden love, and slow-burning tension that kept me hooked.

What I loved:
An emotionally complex heroine struggling with impossible choices
A prince with secrets

A unique take on sirens and lots of lore
The Little Mermaid x Pirates of the Caribbean
An action-packed plot full of romance, danger, and magic
But Daddy I Love Him vibes

This novel is perfect for fans of Adrienne Young. The story had me flipping pages late into the night (I literally read it in one sitting), and the ending set up the sequel wonderfully.

Thank you Kelsey Impicciche, Blackstone Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC!

First of all, thank you for the ARC!

But why did you give this to me to read?
Now I want the second part!!!

This book emotionally wrecked me.

A friend sent me the book and the art, after which I wanted to read it, but I didn’t expect to like it (high standards are a bad thing ☝🏻)

I wanted something ocean-themed, and I got it!

A siren who is too emotional, a prince who shows her what people are like, she saves him, and then there are consequences...

She needs to stay silent, or they’ll find out who she is
She needs to kill him
She needs to save everyone...

It reminded me so much of the book "To Kill a Kingdom," which I didn’t quite like.

But here, I was charmed, devoured the pages, melted, cried, and literally repeated every expression (it was almost instinctive)

The writing style is pleasant, easy, and colorful! 🙌🏻

The descriptions gave a sense of closeness to the plot; I felt like I was swimming in the water with them, felt the prince's whisper 🤭

There’s FOUND FAMILY

That’s all that’s needed

"And if any of you touch her, I’ll kill you.”

AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!

Breathe, girls, order it, and read!

I don’t know what else to say; I think it’s already time to grab it.

If you like "The Little Mermaid," then give this a try

• Siren and human
• Slow burn
• Found family
• Ocean legends
• Pirates
• Deals
• Treasure hunting
• Touch her and you’re die

⭐️4,5/5

This was so cute!!! I loved this. Little Mermaid retelling with sirens and enemies to lovers sounded perfect for me. I loved Celeste and her learning to accept her emotions as not a weakness but a strength. This would be a five star if not for a few things. The pacing was odd. The first 50% was slow, and then around 70% the plot rapidly picked up and info dumped on you. It was interesting, but some of the info we got near the end should have been sprinkled throughout the book, instead of rapidly dumped on the readers. I did love a few things; the found family, Kiyami and Celeste’s friendship. Extra points for the dog staying alive and uninjured. I’m excited for the next book in this series— which I assume there will be, due to the cliffhanger.

I love retellings. So I’m unsurprised that this was a five star read for me. I especially love TLM, so that was a huge bonus.

Mermaids and pirates and magic? Sure!

I’m not a huge fan of fantasy, but that’s simply because I’m not huge on in-depth world building when it’s just a stand-alone. But this book? I WANT MORE.

I loved the characters and the vibe and just can’t wait for the release.

I had to DNF this one - just not the book for me. Nonetheless I was glad to pick it up. It will be good for reader's advisory for teens looking for romantasy with no spice.

Kelsey Impicciche’s ‘Voice of the Ocean’ is a beautifully woven tale of forbidden love, fierce loyalty, and the dangers of defying fate. With its richly imagined underwater world, morally complex characters, and a slow-burn romance that will leave readers swooning, this book is a captivating addition to the fantasy genre.

Celeste, the youngest daughter of the siren queen, is a protagonist who shines with determination and vulnerability. Her desire to forge her own path and break free from the confines of her royal duties makes her both relatable and inspiring. Her daring choice to save Prince Raiden, a human and the son of her people’s sworn enemy, sets her on a thrilling journey that’s brimming with danger, deception, and heartache.

The chemistry between Celeste and Raiden is undeniable, with their growing bond adding depth and tension to the narrative. Impicciche does a fantastic job of exploring themes of trust and betrayal, as Celeste wrestles with her mission to uncover Raiden’s secrets—and the devastating order to assassinate him. It was a relationship filled with suspense, as equally being cute.

That said, while ‘Voice of the Ocean’ is a captivating read, it doesn’t escape the occasional stumble. The pacing, particularly in the middle of the book sometimes falters with certain scenes dragging on while others rush by too quickly. The worldbuilding, though imaginative, could have used more depth; the intricacies of siren society and magic are intriguing but left somewhat underexplored. I often struggled to imagine what the world was like. Additionally, some of the twists, while entertaining, felt a touch predictable, lessening their impact, however, this is YA so I don’t expect much actual depth.

Despite these minor shortcomings, ‘Voice of the Ocean’ is an engaging and emotionally resonant read that balances romance, action, and self-discovery with skill. Impicciche’s evocative prose and compelling characters ensure this story will stay with readers long after they’ve turned the final page. While not perfect, it’s a strong 4-star debut that promises great things to come from this author.

3.75 Rounded up.

Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone publishing for an advanced copy of the book.

I was super interested in reading this because little mermaid was one of my favorite childhood movies. I liked this book for the most part. I really enjoyed getting to know Celeste and her found family. The magic system and the world were really interesting. However, the pacing was a little off for me. It felt like not a lot was happening toward the middle and I found myself skimming over parts. I do think this was a solid debut and cannot wait to see where the series goes!

It was a strong, solid, loveable debut novel from Kelsey Impicciche.
I've been a long time fan of her story telling through her Sims play on youtube. & she has a knack for the written word as well.
It was a beautifully crafted story and well written. I am both sad and excited that the story is not finished. Sad because I want to see the story resolved for our characters but excited to get more books with our found family.

I can't wait to see what happens next.

I absolutely loved Song of the Ocean—it’s a book that truly captivated me from start to finish. The writing is incredibly beautiful, weaving lyrical prose with vivid imagery that transported me right into the world of the story. As a lifelong fan of *The Little Mermaid*, I’ve always had a soft spot for mermaids (or sirens, if you will), so when I picked up this novel, I knew I was in for something special. And I wasn’t disappointed.

The love story at the heart of the book is touching and rich, filled with emotional depth and complexity. It’s not just about romance, but about the characters’ personal journeys and growth. The connection between the protagonists feels genuine, and I found myself rooting for them every step of the way. The author does an amazing job of creating a world that feels both magical and grounded, drawing you into a sea of emotions and adventure.

If you enjoy beautifully crafted stories with strong romantic elements and a hint of the fantastical, I can’t recommend *Song of the Ocean* enough. It’s a truly enchanting read that I’ll be thinking about for a long time. Highly recommended!

This one was such a fun read. It had me hooked since the description of being a littler mermaid and pirate retelling. It was an entertaining and engaging read with a rich world that I could totally see being expanded. I nice YA debut novel. So glad I had the opportunity to read this one.

my rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
age rating: 13+
spice: no spice, kisses only
language: 1/5

as soon as i heard that this was a pirates of the caribbean x little mermaid mashup, immediately i was like, SIGN. ME. UP. 🤭

this was such a solid debut novel, and the world building was excellent!! i can totally see this becoming a successful series. it had everything i love in a fantasy book— romance, found family, adventure, betrayal…? 👀

i did have a few issues with the writing at times. parts felt too overly descriptive, and the pacing was a bit weird. the first half of the book seemed to drag on forever, only to be extremely rushed towards the end. so many twists and location changes were thrown in around the last 10% and i had trouble keeping up. 🫣

i cannot wait to see where celeste and raiden’s story goes!!

thank you netgalley for the e-arc copy 🤍

I've been a long time subscriber of Kelsey from Buzzfeed days and I was so thrilled when she announced her first debut YA novel being published! I was even more so excited to have been accepted for an ARC copy too, thank you Kelsey and Blackstone Publishing and NetGalley.

Voice of the Ocean by Kelsey Impicciche is a fun and fresh new take on the fairytale retelling of the little mermaid, we got adventure, pirates, betrayal and so much good stuff packed into this novel. I thought this would've been a standalone but I'm here for the all of it and the following adventures that will come.

The world building, it was done in such a depth that I loved the fantasy side to it and well, all of it really. The side characters became quite loveable. I devoured this book in a few days, I didn't want to put it down. I just had to know how it all played out. The character growth on Celeste though, was beautiful to read.

I absolutely loved this novel, I 100% recommend this book, it's like the Little Mermaid mixed with pirates! How can you not love that?

Give me sirens, give me princes, give me fantasy, give me all of it!

This book was so much fun to jump into purely based on the summary alone. The world and setting was written perfectly that you feel so immersed in it as a reader that you can't help but not want to put this book down. I ate up this book & Celeste as the narrator was the perfect choice for it. Seeing everything through her eyes and feeling her emotions made me love this book so very much.

This was a FANTASTIC first book & I cannot wait to see where the author takes the next book. Definitely a book series I would pick up in a heartbeat.

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC!

A siren princess whose life is controlled by others, she can’t help but question why all humans are enemies, defying her people when she saves a human prince and leading her to embark on an adventure of grand proportions in Voice of the Ocean by Kelsey Impicciche.
Celeste, the youngest daughter of the Siren Queen, has led a life that’s been strictly controlled while she struggles with control over her emotions and her Song unlike the other sirens; determined to prove her worth, Celeste has been training to join the elite group of warriors known as the Chorus. With the final test suddenly near, Celeste has been tasked with aiding the Chorus in killing the humans on the ship in their territory, but she sees the human she was entranced by on a previous secret trip to the surface; defying her orders she saves him, unleashing her unpredictable Song and knocking everyone else unconscious. Though her betrayal should mean death, Celeste is offered a chance to redeem herself by assassinating the prince. Undergoing this mission, Celeste becomes human and is determined to discover the truth behind the prince’s, Raiden’s, mission that has repeatedly drawn him into siren waters. As Celeste learns more about the human world as she navigates the new experiences of being on land, as well as the people who inhabit it, it’s a far cry from what she’s been taught, but the friendships she gains and the betrayals she encounters build as the truth of the ancient magic being sought is exposed.
In a story built from a familiar base narrative, which included a few recognizable scenes from The Little Mermaid, and embellished with additional bits and bobs of pirates, musical magic of sirens, and mythical lore that proves to be more than just stories, a sweeping adventure takes shape across the vast seas. Celeste’s heightened emotional state in comparison to other sirens puts her at odds with her family and community, but she comes to realize that her emotions provide her with a commonality with the humans and is perhaps why she feels compelled to risk herself to save them time and time again. The relationships and found family dynamics between the various characters were entertaining as they developed with the witty one-sided remarks of the human crew and internal comments and facial expressions of Celeste’s until she was confident enough, or provoked far enough, to finally give her voice to her opinionated nature. With an exploration of living up to familial expectations, despite personal convictions or beliefs, as a driver for behavior for both Celeste and Raiden, it leads to a slowly brewing conflict between them in the simmering romantic tension amid the ramping up of the larger plot afoot regarding the Pirate King’s search for a treasure that will motivate Celeste to pursue him and prevent him from completely fulfilling his destructive plans; as the truth of this treasure is revealed in the last portion of the novel, the pacing ramps up considerably, rushing to wrap up with major aspects being revealed but not explained, likely with the aim of a sequel to manage the particulars, whereas the world and other smaller details in earlier parts of the novel were expounded upon in far greater detail.
Overall, I’d give it a 4 out of 5 stars.
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I'm been a longtime viewer of Kelsey's YouTube channel and was thrilled when she announced that her debut YA novel had finally found a home (and doubly thrilled when I received an advanced reader copy!) It was well worth the wait. Voice of the Ocean is such a fun and fresh take on the current trend of fairy tale retellings, and I loved how organic Celeste's character growth felt from start to finish (I'm so unbelievably here for badass female characters having big feelings!)