Voice of the Ocean

Gr 9 Up–Siren Princess Celeste is desperate to prove her worth, but her final test to be part of the warrior Siren Chorus leads Celeste to defy her people by rescuing the handsome human Raiden. Branded a traitor, Celeste agrees to track down and assassinate Raiden. Curious about the human man, Celeste strikes a bargain with the Sea Witch for legs and joins Raiden’s ship crew as a human. But all is not as it seems; the human world intrigues Celeste, and Raiden even more so. Why is Raiden determined to traverse the ocean, and what is he looking for? Impicciche’s debut sweeps readers away into a fractured “Little Mermaid” retelling realm brimming with sirens, pirates, and adventure. The play on the classic fairy tale brings life to more complex characters, richer and easy to root for. Celeste defies the siren mold with her empathy and inquisitive mind. Raiden’s the burdensome child weighed down by his father’s expectations. Their connection over the isolation in the internal conflict of duty versus integrity drives the story. Banter within their ragtag, amusing crew brings levity to a tale of light mystery and forbidden romance. While some plot threads want for expansion, the cliff-hanger ending leaves readers expecting a sequel. Characters are painted as a diverse group of seafaring, lovable pirates.