Rating: Inconclusive
Books Like This: Daughter of The Pirate King, Of Poseidon
For People Who Like: Sirens/Mermaids, Trauma, Dark Fantasy, Transformation
*Spoilers Ahead*
Synopsis:
Fourteen-year-old Luce reaches the depths of despair when she is assaulted and left on the cliffs outside of her grim, gray Alaskan fishing village. She expects to die when she tumbles into the icy waves below, but instead undergoes an astonishing transformation and becomes a mermaid. A tribe of mermaids finds Luce and welcomes her in—all of them, like her, lost girls who surrendered their humanity in the darkest moments of their lives. Luce is thrilled with her new life until she discovers the catch: the mermaids feel an uncontrollable desire to drown seafarers, using their enchanted voices to lure ships into the rocks. Will Luce be pressured into committing mass murder?
Introduction:
Lost Voices is the first book in The Lost Voices Trilogy by Sarah Porter. When I found this book I was really excited because there aren't enough books about mermaids/sirens and when I see one I just have to read it. I was a little hesitant at first because I mostly read fantasy romance books and I tend to like that genre more but I wanted to expand a little more and try something different.
Rating Explanation/Review:
So, right off the bat you should know that I didn't completely finish the first book. I started it but then I started getting really annoyed with Luce and overall, the book was getting a little to dark and traumatic for me.
I wrote inconclusive for the rating because I honestly was sure how to rate it. The writing wasn't bad and the descriptions weren't bad (even though they left a couple a details to the imagination). For me, I think this book was just me trying to branch out - gone wrong.
From the very beginning of this book, I feel like I didn't really like it when I realized that Luce was actually 14 years old. You're probably thinking "But, it literally says that on the synopsis." and to that I say so what? Like authors have ever been completely forthcoming with every detail in the synopsis. I was hoping that there was a time jump or something but *spoiler* there wasn't one, at least not before I gave up the book. Maybe it's just my inner child not wanting to believe that this actually happens (even though I know it does). Maybe it's just the fact that I read books to put myself in a happier, fantasy reality and this book is anything but happy.
I mean, and the way Luce talks and thinks, she sounds older than she is and I wasn't really feelin that. Though, I do kind of get it, because after Luce's dad left and went missing she had to step in and take care of herself because he uncle was a drunk, but it's hard for me to believe all of her innocence was gone (at least until she met the other sirens).
Overall, I wrote inconclusive because this book wasn't really meant for me. What I mean by that is that I tend to dip my toe into dark fantasy but there's usually something in the book that will relate to what I'm used to. Like when I read the Bone Witch books. That series had romance in it to relate to my usually reading material and I hoped that the mermaid aspect of the book would be that tether for me, but it wasn't. At least, that's the vibe I got from the part of the book I actually read.
It's not a bad book or anything, it was just too different for me. I would completely recommend it if you're into darker fantasy. I might pick it up again later and see if my tastes have changed, but for now, I'll let it be. If any of you guys read it, contact me and tell me if I should pick it up again.
Congratulations Sarah Porter and I wish you luck on all of your future endeavors.