Oceansong

ARC Review – Thank you for the opportunity to read this story early. Plot The idea had potential: an Alaskan town at odds with mysterious merfolk, a girl caught between family loyalty and empathy for the other side. But the execution didn’t hold up. The pacing was uneven, the tension felt forced, and key conflicts lacked clarity. What could have been a gripping story about coexistence and trust ended up feeling shallow and disjointed. Characters Angie and Kaden had the makings of an interesting dynamic, but their connection developed far too quickly to be believable. The romance felt more like a plot requirement than an organic evolution. Side characters were thinly drawn, and their actions often made little sense, which made it hard to care about what happened to them. Worldbuilding & Setting The premise of coastal Alaska and an underwater civilization sounded exciting, but the worldbuilding never reached full depth. The cultural tension between humans and merfolk could have been fascinating, yet it stayed mostly at surface level. Even the environmental themes felt underexplored, mentioned but not woven naturally into the story. Writing Style The writing felt inconsistent—sometimes stiff and formal, sometimes too casual for the tone. Dialogue didn’t always sound natural, and there were several moments where emotion was told rather than shown. A stronger edit might have brought more cohesion and flow to both voice and structure. Recommendation A story with an original concept but lacking in depth, pacing, and character development. Readers drawn to ocean myths might still find pieces to enjoy, but I was left wanting more heart and balance. I received a digital ARC of 'Oceansong' by C. W. Rose via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.