Robin Alvarez

When Oceans Rise

Emily Perkovich

I almost gave this 4 stars because of the ending, which I hated. I hate the quick wrap up. I hated the epilogue. I hated that it read like the conclusion to a thesis statement. It didn’t even feel like the same writer. Which was wildly disappointing. The entire book was so good. It was culturally and magically rich and provided socio-political commentary without seeming preachy. The Filipino folklore/mythology was done well and facts and explanations were strewn through in a way that felt organic and non-forced (even the times when they were things I already knew). I did not like how Malaya could so easily communicate and everyone could read her lips at almost all times even sometimes when no one should have been able to see her. Lip reading is just not that simple, and it sometimes left me confused and hyper focused on figuring out how people knew what she was thinking. But that may be a me problem due to my natural inclination to fixate, so I did my best to suspend my disbelief.

Thank you to Tides Collide and NetGalley for the ARC

Brittany Levely-Connolly

I didn’t know what to expect when I started this book, but as a female who has survived an abusive relationship in my early twenties, I truly wish I had read this book years ago. This young adults mashup story of a western fairy tale, with Filipino culture, folklore, mythology. When Oceans Rise is a modern day retelling of the little mermaid from a Filipino-American point of view, with a feminist twist. And I loved how she used this narrative to help the reader understand what it is like to be a young woman in an abusive relationship and the importance of retaining one's own voice. I found that although Alvarez tackles a triggering topic, she does so in a thoughtful and empathetic manner and delivers powerful positive messages for young women about; toxic/abusive relationships, the importance of family, connection to culture.

I got this book as an arc copy, and I'm so grateful I was sent a copy and I will definitely be reading future works by Alvarez. I highly recommend this book to anyone who's struggled with domestic violence, toxic relationships or friendships, any kind of abusive relationships. The hardest struggles is finding yourself again in the aftermath. It's uplifting, and I definitely think that this a good read for anyone over the age of 14 who's a fan of science-fiction, mermaids and other monsters and one hell of a kick-ass strong female protagonist.

When Oceans Rise

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