Voice of the Ocean by Kelsey Impicciche delivers exactly what its shimmering cover and blurb promise: an immersive young adult fantasy romance laced with danger, desire, and daring decisions. Combining siren lore with a character-driven narrative and socio-political undercurrents, this debut novel marks an enchanting entry into the YA fantasy landscape. While not without its narrative hiccups, Impicciche proves herself a compelling new voice in speculative fiction with a clear love for story, voice, and mythic scope.
Into the Deep: The Premise and Worldbuilding
In the undersea kingdom of Staria, sirens reign not just through song but through rigid law and tradition. Celeste, the youngest daughter of the Siren Queen, seeks more than a life dictated by royal obligation. Her dream is to join the Chorus—an elite military faction of sirens tasked with defending their borders and safeguarding their existence from the human world above.
The premise strikes familiar chords—royal rebellion, forbidden romance, and the pull between duty and desire—but Impicciche enhances it with a richly imagined aquatic world. Her underwater realm feels vast and tactile, from bioluminescent flora to palace politics and intricate military hierarchies. Siren magic, powered by voice and emotion, is a standout feature, and its unstable potency in Celeste’s hands becomes a running metaphor for her own inner tumult.
The author’s strength lies in constructing a world that feels as dangerous as it is beautiful. The politics of sirens versus humans, their long-standing truce, and the fear of being discovered create a narrative tension that bubbles beneath even the quieter moments.
Plot Summary: Breaking the Surface
The plot unfolds with Celeste secretly breaching the ocean’s surface, where she encounters Raiden Sharp—a charismatic, music-loving human prince and the very embodiment of everything she’s been taught to fear. Her fateful decision to save him from shipwreck sets off a domino effect: a betrayal of her kind, a second chance that comes with a deadly ultimatum (kill him or lose everything), and a transformation that lands her aboard his ship in human form.
As she integrates into the human world, Celeste discovers that Raiden is not the cold-blooded heir to a violent empire she imagined. But her presence sparks complications: trust issues among the crew, siren assassins in the dark, and her own wavering allegiance. Celeste’s loyalties are constantly tested—between the kingdom that raised her and the humanity that awakens her compassion. The tension escalates into a thrilling final act filled with betrayal, battle, and sacrifice.
Despite the YA label, Voice of the Ocean treats its readers with maturity, navigating morally gray decisions and questions of identity and empathy. Celeste is neither a saint nor a rebel stereotype; she is conflicted, impulsive, brave, and deeply human—ironically so for a siren.
Character Deep Dive: Celeste and Raiden
Celeste:
A standout YA heroine, Celeste carries the novel with a delicate balance of strength and vulnerability. Her struggle with emotional regulation, the overwhelming power of her Song, and the pressure of legacy as the youngest royal daughter make her feel both mythical and relatable. Readers will resonate with her feelings of inadequacy, her need to carve her own identity, and the spark of rebellion that dances with duty.
Impicciche cleverly uses Celeste’s arc to explore deeper themes: Is power worth having if it costs you your empathy? Can love survive in a world where your very nature is a weapon? Celeste’s evolution from unsure initiate to courageous protector is well-earned and emotionally satisfying.
Raiden Sharp:
Raiden, while at times painted with broad strokes, is a refreshingly layered love interest. He’s more than the dashing prince trope; he’s a musician, a leader with a conscience, and someone questioning the legacy of violence he inherits. His chemistry with Celeste is sweet and gradually built, with banter, stolen moments, and quiet trust. Their romance avoids instalove tropes, instead unfolding with believable tension and curiosity.
The book wisely doesn’t romanticize Raiden as flawless. There are moments when Celeste questions him—and rightly so—pushing their relationship into a richer, more honest territory.
Style and Storytelling: Magic in the Melody
Kelsey Impicciche’s prose reads like a song itself—lyrical, vivid, and emotionally intuitive. There’s a natural cadence to her language, which mirrors the musicality central to the story. Scenes of underwater combat, sea magic, and human interaction are told with a softness that never dilutes their stakes.
The author shows real skill in pacing the story across alternating environments—Staria’s murky elegance and the briny, bustling chaos of Raiden’s ship. She knows when to pause for introspection and when to push into action, creating a satisfying rhythm.
However, there are moments—especially early on—where exposition becomes a bit heavy-handed. Some world-building details are repeated or told instead of shown, which slightly slows down the immersion. These hiccups, though, are outweighed by the emotional intelligence and vivid atmosphere she maintains throughout.
Themes and Emotional Depth
Voice of the Ocean swims in deeper waters than your average YA fantasy. Beneath the siren song and swoon-worthy romance lie themes of:
Autonomy and Self-Determination: Celeste fights not only to be a warrior but to define what kind of warrior—and person—she will become.
The Burden of Legacy: Both Celeste and Raiden are shaped by the expectations of lineage, and both question how much of their fate is truly theirs to command.
Humanity vs. Monstrosity: The book asks what makes someone truly monstrous—blood, history, or choice? It’s a question echoed in every confrontation between siren and human.
Forbidden Love and Trust: The romance is not merely a subplot but a vessel for exploring trust in the face of centuries of betrayal.
One of the most moving elements is Celeste’s inner reckoning: Can she love without losing herself? Can she fight for justice without mirroring the cruelty she resists?
Critique: Room to Grow
While Voice of the Ocean is emotionally rich and visually stunning, it isn’t without its flaws:
The middle act meanders slightly, especially during the human-world transition, with Celeste adapting to ship life. Some secondary characters feel underdeveloped.
The dialogue occasionally slips into modern idioms that can pull readers out of the immersive fantasy tone.
The final battle, while emotionally charged, could’ve benefited from tighter choreography or more surprise. The resolution, though satisfying, is somewhat predictable.
These criticisms don’t sink the story but do trim a half-star from a potential five-star read. For a debut novel, Impicciche shows remarkable confidence in her vision and voice.
Comparison and Context
If you’re a fan of To Kill a Kingdom by Alexandra Christo, These Hollow Vows by Lexi Ryan, or Daughter of the Pirate King by Tricia Levenseller, Voice of the Ocean will be a natural and joyful next pick. It blends romance and political intrigue with just enough magic to feel escapist while still grounded in emotion.
Kelsey Impicciche, known for her online content creation before this literary debut, channels her storytelling instincts into something authentic and textured. While Voice of the Ocean is her first novel, it’s a promising start to what could easily become a beloved series—or at least a cult favorite among YA fantasy fans.
Final Thoughts: A Song Worth Hearing
Voice of the Ocean is a compelling YA fantasy romance that manages to be both sweeping and intimate. Kelsey Impicciche has crafted a debut rich with heart, full of hard questions and lyrical storytelling. It’s a tale for anyone who has ever felt too much, wanted more, or wondered if they could bridge two worlds without losing themselves in the tide.
While it doesn’t entirely escape the familiar currents of the genre, it swims confidently in its own lane—with sincerity, style, and a heroine who refuses to be silenced.
Recommended for:
YA readers seeking lush fantasy worlds
Fans of forbidden love with real stakes
Readers who appreciate emotional depth in their heroines
Anyone ready to dive into a story where voice truly has power
Not recommended for:
Readers who dislike character-driven pacing
Those expecting gritty, high-stakes fantasy like Throne of Glass or Shadow and Bone