Review: Whispers of the Starlit Sea

Whispers of the Starlit Sea is a Kickstarter campaign I helped to back for Robyn Sarty. It's an ambitious new take on "The Little Mermaid" with several unique twists. Instead of choosing to become human, the protagonist is forced to transform due to a magical bond her kind shares when they rescue humans. I found the story enjoyable and the characters pleasant overall, but there were parts of the lore that seemed confusing or underdeveloped. Since I received a very early copy of this book due to the campaign, these issues might be resolved when it is officially released in September. Regardless, it is a thrilling fantasy adventure with a sweet love story.

Sorcha has lived most of her undersea life with passivity toward humans. Some merfolk consider them dangerous, especially when many of the Watchers who travel to the surface to prevent humans from drowning during storms go missing. Sorcha never gave it much thought, unlike her aunt, Maeve, or her sister, Ciara, who actively dislike them. One day, Sorcha visits the surface and finds a human man about to drown in a violent storm. She heals him and thinks little of it until she learns that her selfless act caused a magical bond to form between them, forcing her beautiful tail to split into a pair of legs. Now, Prince Arick must help the lost maiden who appeared in the sea and is unfamiliar with his language. At the same time, he is struggling with a difficult decision on whether he should inherit the throne from his cousin, so he has a lot on his plate.

The plot threads about the mermaid not wanting to be human and the war between the two species have the most in common with A Little Mermaid by Aya Ling and Siren's Treasure by Suzanna Fowers. These twists provide additional drama and stakes to the story, making Sorcha's plight tragic in a different way from the original Hans Christian Andersen story. The bond forces her to get to know someone she never would have otherwise spent time with and learn about his world. The time he spends trying to understand her despite the language barrier is sweet and endearing. There are also some lovely descriptions of human clothing and other customs. From what we know about Sorcha's life under the sea, it's understandable that she would have little desire to leave. The overall theme of the book is about keeping an open mind and exploring new things.

That said, some important plot-related passages were missing from the story. I went back to see if I had simply overlooked them, but it seemed to gloss over some major parts near the end. Without spoiling too much, there was a character being rescued, and later, someone said the character had died, yet I couldn't find the part where this happened in the story. The reveal of the villain also seemed a bit rushed. The narrative had Sorcha jump react as though she were certain of the villain's identity because of a slight change in tone in response to a single question. The motivations of the villain were left to the reader's imagination. The lore behind forced transformation was questionable. Even though the Watchers regularly rescued humans, there was no mention of any of them turning human and forming a bond like Sorcha did.

Whispers of the Starlit Sea by Robyn Sarty is a pleasant retelling of "The Little Mermaid" with a unique twist. Sorcha's journey from mermaid to human is a thrilling fantasy adventure filled with romance and self-discovery. Although some plot points felt confusing or underdeveloped, the story's themes of keeping an open mind and exploring new ideas shine through. The chemistry between Sorcha and Prince Arick is undeniable, and their language barrier interactions are particularly sweet. With its blend of oceanic magic and high stakes, this book is sure to delight fans of fantasy romance. If you're looking for a fresh take on a classic tale with a dash of adventure and romance, Whispers of the Starlit Sea might be your next great read.