Waking Storms by Sarah Porter

After parting ways with her troubled mermaid tribe, Luce just wants to live peacefully on her own. But her tranquility doesn't last long: she receives news that the tribe is on the verge of collapse and desperately needs her leadership. Anais, their cruel queen, wants Luce dead. Dorian, the boy Luce broke mermaid law to save, is determined to make her pay for her part in the murder of his family. And while the mermaids cling to the idea that humans never suspect their existence, there are suddenly ominous signs to the contrary.

But when Luce and Dorian meet, they start to wonder if love can overpower the hatred they know they should feel for each other. Luce's new friendship with an ancient renegade mermaid gives her hope that her kind might someday change their murderous ways. But how can Luce fulfill her rightful role as queen of the mermaids without sacrificing her forbidden romance with Dorian?

Full of miraculous reunions and heart-pounding rescues, this haunting second installment in the Lost Voices Trilogy finds Luce eager to attempt reconciliation with humans—as long as war doesn't break out first.

Goodread Summary

The second book in the Lost Voices series does not disappoint.  Luce remains apart from the tribe, she can’t agree with their newest leader, Anais.  Anais will be the antagonist of this book; she is hard to like-assuming the reader even tries.  Luce, on the other hand, has blossomed into an even better heroine.  She is understanding, compassionate, brave, and strong.  She pulls the whole novel together. 

The boy who Luce saved from the ship wreck in Lost Voices wants vengeance.  He is suitable angry and depressed from the loss of his family.  Luce, ever brave, meets with him….eventually those meetings grow longer and fonder.  Dorian, the potential love interest, sees the Luce is not like the other mermaids; her heart is not set on killing humans. 

Dorian as a love interest is interesting.  He might not be the typical love interest, he really isn’t a hero.  He represents a part of Luce’s lost life on land, a chance for her to meet a normal human boy and fall in love.  He can be angry to the point of cattiness, abrasive, and pushy; however, he also shows a loving, kind, and helpful side to Luce.  Their relationship will undoubtedly interest the reader.

The secondary characters made the transition, with the exception of Catarina, to this book.  Dana and Violet are the sole characters the reader has a chance at liking.  Anais and her group are not easy to enjoy.  The author does a great job of developing the secondary characters to continue to hold the readers’ interest in them.

Overall, this book was exciting to read and easily as good as the first in the series.  Any teen/young adult reader remotely interested in mermaids or fantasy tinged with romance will love this book.

5 Stars