Speak the Ocean

Enzor vilifies the cruelty of performing animal attractions in this bloody debut novel set on an island where mermaids are treated like marine animals and forced to put on shows for humans. Finn has wanted to be a Mer trainer since his father disappeared while trying to prove they were real. The Mer are viewed as dangerous predators and often attack their trainers; in retribution, they’re put to death. When Mer Princess Erie and her dolphin guard, Niku, are captured and taken to Oceanica to replace a Mer who was killed for attacking a human, Finn becomes their trainer. After years of watching Mer get electrically shocked into submission, Finn and his assistant, Jen, decide to train Erie with rewards instead. They quickly find she is more intelligent than they could have guessed and are impressed by her ability to learn English and her special friendship with Niku. Once Finn knows the real Erie, he becomes willing to risk everything to free her. Readers’ hearts will break for the despairing captive Mer and the few humans who understand and love them. Agent: Eric Smith, P.S. Literary. (July)