Speak the Ocean | By Rebecca Enzor

Name: Speak the Ocean
Author: Rebecca Enzor

by Rejitha · March 9, 2026

BBNYA 2025 Finalist | TheWriteReads Blog Tour | Book Review | Sci-Fi Fantasy

Categories: 2026, Book Reviews, Science-fiction, Urban fantasy

Tags: #BBNYA, blogtour, rebeccaenzor, scifi, speaktheocean, thewritreads, urbanfantasy

Author: Rebecca Enzor

Genres: Science fiction/Fanatsy, Urban Fantasy

Series: Speak the Ocean

Publisher: Rebecca Enzor

Published: 9th July, 2019

For Mer handler Finn Jarvis, the feral mermaid performers at Oceanica Marine Park are nothing more than ruthless aquatic predators, violent and unpredictable. That doesn’t stop the public from flocking to one of the world’s most popular tourist attractions. To them, the Mer are magical entertainment, too beautiful to be dangerous. They don’t see what happens to the ones who dare swim out of line. Newly caught Erie doesn’t know what the evil landfolk want from her. Alone and voiceless, she watches the other merfolk from the confines of her tank. Broken into submission, they’ve become shells of the once vibrant creatures she knew. But Erie refuses to be subjugated. She’ll get the crowds to see her as something more than simple entertainment—starting with her captor, Finn. While Finn trains Erie in her routine, she secretly teaches herself the air-words he and the other trainers speak. And when the language barrier falls, Finn starts to realize that the gap between human and Mer is smaller than he thought, and maybe it’s not the Mer who are monsters, after all. (Goodreads)

My thoughts

Narrative and Plot

Speak the Ocean pulls you into this world where merfolk are real, and humans, as always, hunt them and capture them for entertainment. Finn is one such merfolk trainer. We follow the story through Finn and Eerie, the latest mermaid they caught. The dual narrative gives us both sides of the story, and it makes for an interesting premise.

The story is evenly paced, and you are invested right away in the fate of the characters. The ending felt abrupt, but there is a sequel to the book. Hence, the open-ended conclusion.

Characters and Conflict

With a story like this, it is easy to root for the underdog. We get that in Eerie and Niku. But then you get to know Finn and where he comes from. As their bond increases, you can see them letting go of their prejudices and trying to understand each other’s world. I know this is an odd comparison, but if you add some fantasy elements to Remarkably Bright Creatures, you get Speak the Ocean. You know, for those who love the drama.

The conflict of the story is obviously quite strong, and so is the journey to get there. It is difficult and rough. Not your everything goes well journey, with a happily ever after. It demands collateral damage, making you emotionally invested in the tale.

Conclusion

Speak the Ocean is an immersive and entertaining read if you love the mysterious nature of the ocean. I will definitely continue the series. If only the ending wasn’t so abrupt, it would have been a five star book for me.

About the Author

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Disclaimer : I received this book from TheWriteReads  and the author in exchange for an honest review for BBNYA 2025.

If you aren’t aware of the BBNYA, it is an annual award for indie books. BBNYA is organised by TheWriteReads. The best part of BBNYA is that it is read and scored by book bloggers from all over the world.

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Speak the Ocean | By Rebecca Enzor