Waking Storms

Lost Voices #2

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 she receives news that the tribe is on the verge of collapse and desperately needs her leadership. The tribe’s 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. Can Luce fulfill her rightful role as queen of the mermaids without sacrificing her forbidden romance with Dorian?

Genres: Mermaids, Fantasy, Young Adult, Romance, Paranormal, Mythology, Fiction

400 pages, Hardcover

First published July 3, 2012

About the author

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Reviews

[Nia Ariel · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ugh. I was so disappointed with this book. I was so in love with the first one but so let down by this one.

First of all, Luce and Dorian falling in love? Gag me. I could never fall in love with someone who murdered my family. Speaking of Dorian, I really hate him. How dare he call Luce a coward for becoming a mermaid after she was nearly raped? Just because his precious Zoe didn't become one when she had the chance. Not everyone can cope with trauma in the same way, so Dorian can suck off. I wish Luce had drowned him when Dana told her to. Dorian is officially one of the worst fictional boyfriends ever. Besides that, their relationship wouldn't have worked out anyways. Dorian is gonna grow old and die, and Luce is gonna stay fourteen forever. I'm glad Luce hates him now. Maybe she'll be smarter in the next book.

Now onto Nausicaa. Her arrival was random, but I was really interested by this god Proteus, since he's the reason mermaids exist. I also like that I now have a new word in my vocabulary. So, instead of using the 'b' word, I'm going to use the word sika or, cold one.

Now, I'm really happy Luce found her dad and was able to rescue him. That made me smile, and I was glad she got him home safely instead of running straight back home to Dorian. Ugh. He can go shove his head up Zoe's butt.

Now the ending of this book was horribly gruesome, but it didn't bother me much. Now I'm waiting excitedly to see what will happen between the mermaids and the humans. Sarah Porter, you'd better not disappoint me again!

[Rosa Rivera · Rating 2 out of 5]

I loved Luce's parts and her adventures but I HATE DORIAN AND HIS NAGGING WHINY HORNY NEEDY ASS. LITERALLY HE IS THE BIGGEST DOUCHE AND LUCE DESERVES SO MUCH BETTER. NOT TO MENTION A CREEP WHO SHAMES A 14 YEAR OLD GIRL ABOUT HER INABILITY AND LACK OF DESIRE TO HAVE SEX WITH HIM. THIS ASSHOLE TRIES TO PULL SOME "I'm a guy. I have needs." BS AND I JUST UGHHHH I WANT HIM TO DIE A SLOW PAINFUL DEATH. Every time it was his chapter I would just make noises of disgust. He was a big waste of time and I saw no need for his character to even be written. This book could have been really good. I loved the first one. I pray he dies early on in the next book -_-

[Katy · Rating 2 out of 5]

How can a book be so good yet so bad? To put it frankly, the story itself is great but the characters are all lacking so much common sense. First of Dorian (what kind of a name is that?) is a jerk from the beginning. He's the typical needy boyfriend who doesn't understand that his girlfriend is "the future of mermaids" and is in major danger from his species. Hello. Luce I can maybe give a little wiggle room because she's a fourteen (fifteen) year old girl who's just gotten her first boyfriend. Even so, you would think in the situation that they're both in making out isn't as important as, oh I don't know, saving everyone's lives? Other than that ship that's sunken from the beginning, I really love the story. The details of Luce's powers and the fights in the tribes ring true to a relatable conflict. I love Nausicaa even if her arrival was kinda random.
Like I said, great story, horrible characters. However you can really see the growth in Luce's character. As for the next book, I really hope the good plot outweighs the annoying characters enough that I don't have to set the book down for a break of their whining.

[Dr. Andy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm sitting here trying to remember what even happened in this book and I just get a vague blankness?? The only thing I remember clearly is Luce/Dorian's relationship. At first I really was digging it, but that changed pretty quickly when I saw how pointless their relationship was. Neither of them was going to change for the other and I didn't want them to. It's too bad Luce or one of the other mermaids didn't kill Dorian but whatever. I'm glad she's done wasting her time with him.

I don't think this book suffered middle book syndrome, but it was seriously overshadowed with romance. Dorian and Luce's relationship was one of the main plot points and I find that boring for fantasy. Especially when I stop particularly liking said romance. I'm ready to see what Luce can truly do without the distraction of Dorian.

[Rebecca · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked Lost Voices, although I felt conflicted about giving it four stars - the idea itself was haunting but the writing was not that great. I downgraded Lost Voices from a 5 star after a couple days because I felt like the book was great, but still flawed in some ways.

Now about Waking Storms...I only made it through this book because about halfway through, I started skimming in the vain hope that Dorian would die. Really, I've read hundreds of YA novels and I can only think of one or two other romantic pairings that made me angry enough to hope that the guy will just die in some gruesome way. You know the ending in the tribe's old cave? I wish Dorian had been in that pile.

There's nothing to say about him that other reviews haven't already pointed out, but I'll repeat some of those points here for the sake of clarification (SPOILERS AHEAD):

1. He tries to put a "I'm a 15 year old boy, I NEED to have sex! How dare you withhold sex from me because you're a mermaid and have a tail!" This kind of thing is bad enough in real life, but when she's a mermaid, it gets downright ridiculous. Oh, and then he turns this into an excuse to have sex with the first available girl who confirms that he has a girlfriend just so she can have sex with him.
2. Excuse me, but he blames Luce for turning into a mermaid after what she's experienced, and yet gets pissed off and shaken when Luce tries to gently tell him that she can see what HIS experiences of a filicidal mom?
3. I can give a small pass for the instant love considering that Luce is 14 and lonely. I can even give him a small pass since he's probably brain damaged from the mermaid song, his family just died, etc. HOWEVER, what about how he's needy, selfish, controlling, whiny, rude, emotionally manipulative, and so on? He would be a tiny bit more sympathetic if he actually thought about his dead family more than once or twice over the whole book, instead of constantly thinking about how Luce needs to be human so they can "be together" (translation: he can have sex with her).
4. I can't even finish this list without getting pissed off all over again, but suffice to say that the character of Dorian ruined an otherwise decent book.

Nausicca was a much needed addition to the book since the plot otherwise never really solidified between the FBI, a bitchy "who's queen bee?" continuation of Anais-the-horrible from the last book, and Luce swimming around somewhat aimlessly. I thought it would have been interesting to see more of Ben Ellison and/or the FBI, but the scenes that did have them felt very two-dimensional, almost like a caricature.

The writing and the dialogue had me cringing through the book. I don't know if Porter switched editors or gave the editor less time, but while Lost Voices had some awkward writing, there were some terrible lines in Waking Storms that would be more suitable for a Disney sitcom. A perfect quote for this: "Like, seriously?"

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

My Summary: After leaving the mermaid group - whose only pleasure was found in killing innocent people - Luce is on her own. After attempting to separate herself from their actions and live her own life, Luce finds herself being pulled back.

Life can only get worse for Luce as she struggles to keep her feelings for Dorian from making her do something drastic. But that's the worst of her problems: the queen wants her dead, and it seems as if the secret of the mermaids isn't quite as secret as everyone believed...

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed Lost Voices (the first installment of the series), but Waking Storms surpassed all of my expectations. Porter does an amazing job of re-introducing the reader to the story of Luce and the mermaids, as well as introducing the idea of a little romance.

Luce grows a lot over the course of the novel, turning into a very likable heroine. I can't say Dorian was my favourite character, but I liked the way he was written - he had his faults, but the reader understands where he's coming from. Nausicca was another great character - hope to see more of her in the next book!

Porter's descriptions of the mermaid songs were amazing as well - it made me wish such a thing actually existed! And the whole thing with the FBI... I can't wait to find out what they know (hopefully in the next book).

Final Thoughts: I'm definitely pre-ordering the next installment - can't wait to get my hands on it and find out what happens next! I recommend this to anyone who likes paranormal YA, romance, and of course mermaids.

[Jaylia3 · Rating 5 out of 5]

As the adventure continues in this second book of the Lost Voices trilogy the story becomes bigger and is more and more interesting. Luce transformed from a human girl into a mermaid after suffering terrible abuse at the hands of her uncle in the last book, and for the first time in her life she found herself part of a close-knit group when she became a member of a mermaid tribe. By the beginning of Waking Storms, however, she is on her own. Her former tribe is divided and increasingly violent, and Dorian, the boy Luce broke mermaid law to save, is angry about the deaths of his family and threatening to expose Luce and endanger mermaids worldwide by revealing their existence.

Everything changes though after Dorian and Luce meet and they are attracted to each other in spite of having every reason to be enemies. Conflicting emotions and loyalties augment the tension and enhance the complexity of the plot. Should Luce pursue her forbidden love of a human, or accept the responsibility of being a mermaid queen? Can there be peace, or will there be war?

Waking Storms is beautifully written, especially its descriptions of Luce’s life in the Bering Sea off the coast of Alaska. It has more information about mermaid origins and history, and a wonderful new character Nausicaa, a mermaid who has been around for thousands of years. When I received this book for review I decided to read its predecessor first and I’m glad I did. Waking Storms could be read as a stand-alone, but I think the power of the story will be greater if Lost Voices is read first.

[Erica · Rating 2 out of 5]

I couldn't get more than halfway through this story. While I enjoyed reading the first installment of this series, and the overall premise of the story is interesting, the plot of this book just doesn't move fast enough. I can't muster up much enthusiasm for what's happening & I find myself losing interest in the book as soon as I put it down. Plus, the characters do not appeal to me whatsoever. I know I'm meant to dislike the other mermaids, especially their self-appointed, sociopathic leader, but I should at least feel some sort of sympathy (or perhaps empathy?) for the main character, Luce. Yet, I don't. She seems so weak-willed and overly emotional to me. And her "boyfriend" makes me want to slap him. Perhaps I've been reading a few too many of those books with strong female protagonists who kick butt & take names, but I find those characters so much more appealing than an emo loner with little-to-no self esteem. This book would have been so much better if Luce would recognize her own talents, stand up for herself, and accept her role as the natural leader of the tribe. Maybe she ends up doing this in the second half of the book, I don't know; but I just couldn't subject myself to any more of the whining disfunctional relationships that dominate the first half of the book.

[Carol [Goodreads Addict] · Rating 4 out of 5]

Waking Storms is the second book in The Lost Voices Trilogy. I actually enjoyed it more than I did the first book. At the end of the first book, during the funeral for one of the mermaids, in their grief, the mermaid tribe Luce was in took down a huge cruise ship. Luce never liked killing humans and she saved a boy about her age on the ship, breaking the laws of the mermaids. Never is a human supposed to live that has heard the mermaids sing and never are mermaids allowed to have anything to do with humans. This book has something I really missed in the first book, romance. And nothing is more beautiful than first love. Luce can't forget the boy she saved, Dorian. And he can't forget her. He hangs out on the beaches where she left him and she eventually comes back looking for him. Slowly, they develop a relationship. They somehow make it lovely and beautiful. But, her love for Dorian is so strong, she abandons others that need her. The new horrible mermaid that has taken over her tribe and driven her out is tearing Luce's tribe apart. She has driven Luce out and has driven the other girls to do horrible things. Two of the girls (mermaids) come to Luce for help but she won't leave Dorian. Luce meets another mermaid, though, Nausicaa, who is thousands of years old, and teaches Luce the history she desperately craved. She tells Luce that she is the future of the mermaids.

In this book I really felt Sarah Porter's words, I was there with Luce as she battled to swim through a terrible storm. I could picture the huge waves. She really has a way of beautifully painting pictures with her words. Luce has so much to deal with in this book. Not only with first love, she is worried about her friends. She is battling a horrible winter. She dreams of becoming human again so she can be with Dorian but is there really a possibility that she could survive the transformation back to human?

And, all through this, the humans have become increasing aware of the activities of the mermaids and all the ships they have brought down and people they have killed. Can Luce be the one that can somehow bridge the gap between humans and mermaids or will there be war? I can't wait to find out in the final book.

[ILoveBooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Candy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lost Voices submerged us in a world of alluring mermaids with angelic voices; existing as a result of human cruelty. While the fear of being exposed to humans is always an issue, the greatest danger came from among the mermaids themselves. Waking Storms now brings the threat of human discovery to the fore and the boy rescued by Luce is the key.


We resurface to follow Dorian, alive and suffering. He struggles with feelings of hatred and thoughts of revenge for those who killed his family, blaming Luce most for her siren song stuck within him. Our dear Lucette also has a lot on her mind; practicing her newfound ability to move water, pressures to become queen, and her consuming curiosity of the boy with bronzeblond hair. What will happen to her now that she has broken the timahk? Will Dorian reveal what she has done? Who made the rules anyway and what are the true consequences of disobeying them?


In a tale of friendship and enmity, love and hate, trust and betryal, Porter takes us on a deep dive into emotions of every sort. Waking Storms leads us on a current of finding to a drift of losing. This sequel of the hauntingly beautiful series, The Lost Voices Trilogy, will have you on edge at the impending peril and the unknown of what is to come. The storms have arrived; now who will survive?


Maybe the most evil thing about you isn't even that you kill people. It's what you do to the ones who survive.

Porter, Sarah (2012-07-03). Waking Storms (The Lost Voices Trilogy) (p. 29). Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Kindle Edition.


It’s starting, Luce thought, but she barely understood the words. It’s starting, it’s starting...

Porter, Sarah (2012-07-03). Waking Storms (The Lost Voices Trilogy) (p. 389). Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Kindle Edition.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really was happy when I got my hands on this book early. Lost Voices was pretty good and I thought this book was even better. I enjoyed reading about how Luce was very independent yet caring about her fellow mermaids and humans. The story brings together her life, love, and even hurt that she must struggle through to survive. The only part that I believed lagged on a bit was later in the book when she got swept away in the winter and ended up at the island. I won't go into detail because I don't want to spoil the story, but overall I thought the book was very well written and satisfying. Can't wait to read the 3rd book to see the climactic conclusion. If you love mermaids and a good love/hate story then this book is for you.

[Furrawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

original... parts of it I absolutely loved... certainly I feel like the story is exceptional- very original which is commendable... The writer has created a world that is quite believable... I find myself still thinking about it. Also, her tackling the subject of abuse is brave and done with understanding and respect. The reason for three stars instead of four stars is because parts of the book feel forced. The conclusion with Dorian in particular felt colorless. Dorian seemed to have faded into a shadow of himself and wasn't likable. I wanted to give the book four stars but feel that it was too uneven. Having said that, it's still quite an entertaining read. I own the hardcover and don't regret the purchase.

[Randi (The Artist Formerly known as Guitar Chick) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh my gosh. Just wow. Wow. This was amazing.
My library was kind enough to give me an ARC copy, which I promptly fangirled over.
Lost Voices was one of my most favorite mermaid books published ever, so the sequel had huge expectations and lived up to them all.
It's a good bit slower than Lost Voices, but trust me, the payoff is amazing and there is action in small spurts. It's more about relationships and trust and the FBI.

The ending will hit you out of nowhere, and there were literally moments where I was leaping up and down in my room in excitement and joy.

Full review to come closer to pub date.

[Rose Liberty · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book, quite frankly, p***** me off.

The majority of it is just her and Dorian mooning after one another and convinced they're in love and all that. If they'd been older - even just 17/18/19 - Then I'd of been able to take them more seriously. But all I kept thinking throughout the first half was GET A GRIP!

Things finally picked up when she found her dad, and I was gripped by the story again. But everything leading up to that (apart from Nausica) was a huge frustrating disappointment.

Some people will enjoy it, but for me I am unable to enjoy a book or storyline where I am constantly screaming at the main character to get their arse in gear and stop faffing around.

[Maya · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was the sequel to one of my favourite books as a child and omg I forgot how dark the storyline actually is. It was a very quick and easy read, but also quite predictable with the forbidden romance. Loved it tho

[Jenna D. · Rating 4 out of 5]

See the full review here.

I know what you’re thinking. You’re thinking, “Oh joy, another mermaid book. Woo-hoo. Pass.” And I will not lie, even I have to suppress that opinion myself when it comes to mermaid stories. I don’t know what it is about them – it’s as though they have been perpetually cursed with the been there, done that effect. Causing those who read to say “eh” in the end, as one would to a B-rate movie. But are all mermaid stories B-rate?

Let’s talk about WAKING STORMS by Sarah Porter. Is there anything that sets it apart from the other mermaid stories out there? First, there’s the premise. How the girls become mermaids in the first place is quite an intriguing idea. They experience pain and suffering as humans, and at their worst moments in life they are given the opportunity to simply disappear, to reach the sea and change into a mermaid in order to carry out the task of drowning all humans who tread upon their waters. It’s kind of like payback for their previous suffering. These elements combine both mermaid and siren mythology, as the mermaids lure the humans into the sea with their beautiful songs. But in the case of our main character, Luce, she no longer wants to be responsible for the deaths of innocent humans. WAKING STORMS starts off with her having been banned from her mermaid tribe, mainly for this reason.

Then she meets a boy, Dorian. Dorian is a boy that she had saved in the first book, while carrying out a deed that should have made them sworn enemies. But, lo and behold, they fall in love instead. Insta-love (cringe)… Luckily, events in the book that typically make people feel pity for the star-crossed lovers instead made me shout for glee. I HATE (hate hate hate) Dorian as a character. He was immature, selfish, rude and petty. Luce can do sooo much better than him (or why does she even need anyone at all?) I was the reader rooting for something, anything, to tear them apart.

Another cringe-worthy element in the book is the occasional “valley-girl” teenage dialogue: “Like, and I was all, whatever.” But, luckily, this was toned down from the dialogue in the first book. Oddly enough, this is a mild complaint on my part, since most of the writing is quite beautiful, especially the descriptions of the ocean world and the mermaid’s mannerisms. Now that I think about it, it is alarming how much of a contrast there is between the dialogue and the descriptive writing. Like I said, the writing is, for the most part, some of the most beautiful I have read lately.

The story starts out rather slow, focusing on the romantic elements at the start. But 0nce winter sets in around mid-book, events take an abrupt and intense step forward. I was surprised and quite thrilled by some of the turn of events, which I don’t care to spoil here. I will simply reveal that the world within this book is a much more mysterious and magical place than I had ever imagined it could be. Then the ending left me hanging in such a way that, in spite of the issues I may have had with the book, I am impatiently awaiting the third and final volume.

In the end, WAKING STORMS falls somewhere between an extremely high B-rate at the very least, or an A- at most. It may very well be one mermaid series worth checking out. (Though my final judgement will be reserved until I read the final installment, THE TWICE LOST, when it arrives next summer.)

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: 2.5 out of 5

*A copy was provided by Harcourt for review purposes*

Warning: There are some minor spoilers ahead. Ye be warned

It's always hard to write a sequel and make it as good as the first book. Some authors have managed it, but, unfortunataly, Sarah Porter is not among those select few. The first book was thrilling, interesting, and I couldn't put it down. This one, unfortunately, wasn't like that at all.

I feel like I probably would have liked this book a bit more if not for the romance. It was just down-right annoying, and seriously, I hated it. First off, it was a total insta-romance, and I hate that. Literally, they met one night on a beach, and then the next day they were in love and kissing. Second, Dorian was so demanding and kind of a jerk, and seriously, I knew it was going to end the way it did. The romance was a hugely epic fail, and really ruined the book for me.

In the first book the writing was amazing, but in this one it wasn't that good. Porter used a lot "likes" and "I means" and didn't punctuate the sentences correctly. Here are a few quotes:

Maybe we could, I don't know, like freeze one of those heads while you were singing?

~Page 266, uncorrected ARC edition

I can't tell. I mean...maybe some guys would think she was.

~Page 267, uncorrected ARC edition

I mean...didn't you really like him, Luce? Like, seriously?

~Page 116, uncorrected ARC edition

It absolutely drove me nutss that the writing wasn't good. I've never read a book that sounded so (and I hate to say this) dumb. There was absolutely no build to the events at all, total insta-romance, and just annoying writing. It was a good idea and a great story line for a second book, and it set up a third book perfectly, but the writing just didn't cut it for me.

I don't think I've ever hated the main boy character as much as I hate Dorian. He was so demanding, annoying, and kind of mean. He's the kind of guy you don't want to be in a relationship with because he won't treat you right, will cheat on you, and dump you. I honestly don't know why Luce didn't dump him after the first time he asked her to change, but I knew it wasn't going to end well.
In the first book, I really liked Luce because she was strong, independent, and stood up for what she thought was right. I still think the same about the third thing, but the first two don't apply to her anymore. She was totally dependent on Dorian, and it drove me nuts because she was such a stong character in the first book.

There are only a few books out there that I've read that aren't romantic, and Lost Voices was one of those few. I almost wish Porter had stuck to that and not incorporated romance. Or, if she really wanted romance, at least build it up and make the guy likable.


~Emily @ Emily's Crammed Bookshelf

[Chapter by Chapter · Rating 5 out of 5]

After the events that took place in author Sarah Porter’s novel Lost Voices, I was pumped to begin seeing what happens next in Luce’s new life as a mermaid. For those of you who haven’t read Lost Voices but for some reason are reading this review, not only am I telling you to go and pick up the first novel because it blew my mind, but you should leave this review and check out the review of Lost Voices since this review will most likely have potential spoilers. Now, since I’m assuming that most people have read Lost Voices, you know that the story left off with Luce having just sunk the Dear Melissa and saved that boy from drowning.

Well guys, I don’t know if you expected him to have a major purpose in the plot, but that boy who she saved is named Dorian, and Dorian wanted revenge. Who wouldn’t? Mermaids murdered his parents. Luce’s song is haunting his mind. So…Dorian ends up finding ways to speak with Luce and once they begin to communicate a romance blooms between the two characters. You heard me right: Romance. Romance is the one thing that Lost Voice lacked and Waking Storms was just about dripping with it. The one thing that I feel I should mention is that I know most novels mention that a simple kiss is full of lightening and fireworks and stuff, I think that Waking Storms had some of the most accurate descriptions. So for girls who haven’t had their first kiss or something, Waking Storms will hopefully tell you what it’s actually like and for that I give Sarah Porter props.

Though despite the romance that took place in the novel, there was a medley of new concepts being added into the story. One of the most important being the fact that humans have begun to discover the existence of mermaids and are searching for evidence and a way to stop the mermaids from killing. Enter Dorian again who gives us insight into the way that the FBI have been searching for survivors from mermaid attacks to give them supporting evidence and maybe even help. That being said, chapters switched between the POV’s of Luce and Dorian and I have to say that I really enjoyed it.

Waking Storms is full of twists, turns, and forewarnings. It introduced new characters into the plot and new aspects to the existence of mermaids. Considering that the end of the novel was as gruesome as a Saw movie and had me dying for the next installment in the series, Waking Storms met my expectations. I would recommend this novel to fans of the previous Lost Voices novel, fantasy, and mermaid lore.

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I took it upon myself to read 'Lost Voices' a second time right before reading this so that plot details and characters' personalities were fresh in my head.

In this book, Porter's style changes a bit. She went from writing from the single POV of her main mer-girl, Luce, to writing in the POV of several other characters that involve different plot points.

The pacing was exactly like the first book, a little slow in places but it still gets your attention and leaves you on the edge of your seat. More characters and environments are introduced and the universe the books take place in definitely expands. It's well worth the read and I really enjoyed more so than the first books. There's a lot less social struggles dealing with Luce's acceptance amongst her peers and more independent thought processes and choices the main characters make.

And just as a warning, there are one or two parts in the book that are a bit graphic. OH and there's a HUGE bombshell literally within the last 2 or 3 pages of the book. It'll make you want to strangle Porter and hug her at the same time for writing and awesome story.

Now for the fun part...

***** SPOILERS *****

Holy Sh*t!

That's all I can say after reading this.

I REALLY like how Porter expanded the universe to include the POV of stuff going on, on land.

There were a couple parts where I didn't know where the book was headed like the island Luce and her Dad were on. I didn't know if it was a magical hidden island or if they were in some weird dimension that could only be escaped or entered through a storm. And what was up with the "spirits"? Were they just an interesting plot point? Or will they have significance later on?

BUT at the same time I really enjoyed the back story on the origin of mermaids going back to Proteus. I really liked Nausicca but it was difficult picturing her in the body of a 15 year old.

The only thing that really irked me was that Anais was killed by humans and not shown up by Luce. Since the first book I was really yearning for the confrontation to be resolved. I wanted Luce to basically show up, kill Anais by stranding her with a huge wave and then take the tribe back. Never thought, Luce would literally be swimming through her old tribe. That was honestly a bit of a shock when I came to it.

***** SPOILERS *****

I can't wait for the next book. Even though things didn't go the direction I thought they were going, I really want to see how it all plays out. And from what I have read about the third book, it sounds like it'll be an interesting finish.

[Rebecca Gordon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked the concept of how mermaids were created in Lost Voices and could not wait to see what happened to Luce in Waking Storms by Sarah Porter. Luce has left her troubled and vicious tribe to try to live on her own and resist the urge to kill. Peace never lasts longs in the seas. However, Luce soon learns that her old tribe is facing collapse and Anais is being a cruel and conniving queen. Luce does not want to be queen instead she meets Dorian the boy she saved. The mermaids have always lived in secret but with more humans and technology their very existence is threatened. When Luce and Dorian meet they instantly form a connection and begin to see each other constantly. As the spend more time together they begin to develop romantic feelings for each other but human and mermaid romance are forbidden. Luce meets an ancient and wise mermaid who gives her hope for the future but also warns her of troubles to come. Luce must decide whether her loyalty lies with the mermaids or Dorian. I really enjoyed learning more about the mermaid mythology in Waking Storms but the romance between Luce and Dorian slowed the book down. I never liked Dorian he was brash and cruel and controlling towards Luce. I understand that he would be upset that Luce killed his family but if he ever truly hated her he would not meet her every day. I also did not like how Luce deserted her fellow mermaids for him. The writing was not as captivating as it was in lost Voices either. I felt some of the dialogue felt forced. There were several surprises in Waking Storms and I hope the next book focus more on mermaid mythology and the war between the humans and mermaids. I would recommend Waking Storms to readers who enjoy mermaid novels and fantasy or science fiction novels.

[Trish · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maybe because more happens in this book, I was happier with it than the first. More answers are given, but it seems like Luce just waits for someone to come along to tell her stories instead of going out and finding the answers herself. So powerful and yet so weak at the same time. Maybe that's what the author intended.

I just couldn't care about any of the characters that were so-called friends. Why she spoke to them again or lived near them was just strange. I would have left and never looked back. The reason does come up as to why she hung around, but still, I would have figured out where to go and what to do and when to do it instead of waiting until lost in the throes of love for a boy and then feel unable to do anything but sit on a beach and kiss him. And the FBI seems woefully incompetent... I feel the romance would have been cut way short if they had done their jobs.

What's the deal with Dorian's potty mouth, too? It didn't make him a likable boyfriend. It didn't make him more real. And the guy on the island? I knew he would show up sometime.

I can almost tell how this is going to end, and I'm looking forward to the third book to see what she does with everybody. I think I would make Luce break all the rules and turn everybody into tails. Seems like her powers are without bounds, yet she still has no friends.

[Alice · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm still debating whether or not to knock this down to one star. It is amazing how you can tune into something just to see one horrible character bite the dust only to get a decent enough explaination as to why they're so deplorable, only to then become acquainted with an even worse character, whom you had to endure longer than you ever had to endure the other.

I was getting comfortable not feeling the amount of ire I feel right now towards this book and towards the son of a bitch who is, hands down, the worst love interest I have read all year. I should have known that wouldn't last much longer.

[Aliya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hot damn this book sent me on a run for my money. It makes you want things that do happen for bitter sweet character development but it's whole synopsis is so contradictory and practically spits in the face of a cliche in the description. ;) I also love how you go into the book thinking it'll be one way then it takes a sharp left and leaves you looking like what the fuck are you serious?! The dark and gritty aspects of the plot are still here and I'm living for it. The half truths in the synopsis left me laughing at the irony of them. I love this book and we got way more background information about the mermaids and the mythology and we even meet an ancient mermaid who's really intriguing. I know this isn't cohesive but thanks for bearing with me more organized thoughts will be in a discussion on my channel.

[Francesca Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredibly tense.

[OjoAusana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ngl was not into this at first bc i dont care much for romance lol but i liked this book more than the first i think. Had some huge shockers too so cant wait to read the next book!

[Nicole · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was so bitterly disappointed when I finished this book, I could cry. I was so looking forward to this after Lost Voices... I will never be the same again. There will be lots of disgusting, disappointing spoilers throughout this review, so beware.

First of all - the reasons this is two stars, not one.

1. Nausicaa
She was one of the rare characters who didn't piss me off. She was interesting, fun, smart, old (3,000! Dannnng, hope I look as good as that when I'm her age) but cool, and never failed to be blunt. Farther along the book when I seriously started hating Luce and Dorian, it felt awesome how bluntly she talked about Dorian's parents. Take that, you masochist (more on that later). Also, she tried to talk Luce out of her relationship with Dorian. First bit of common sense I've seen in the book.

2. Dana and Violet
They were awesome friends and stayed by Luce's side. They were likable, and I sometimes wished Dana or Violet were the MC's. They had much more character growth, and were waaaaay more likable than Luce. The smartest and best thing that happened in this book is when Dana chewed Luce out for being a self-absorbed lying son of a batch of cookies.


Now, onto the aggravating parts of the book. Which were quite plentiful, let me tell you.

1. Luce

Ohhh how I would love to murder that little @#*^$! First of all, she was the worst friend EVER. Dana stuck by her through it all, and Luce lied to her. I don't care WHAT she was afraid of - Dana was crying about her "killing" Dorian (she didn't, of course), and Luce lied to her face. Dang, Dana has a bad taste in friends. Also, Luce is incredibly selfish. She sees a guy, rescues him. As if that wasn't enough, she goes and sees him. If she just left him alone, maybe Dorian would have eventually written it off as a figment of his imagination. But no, despite the fact that she's endangering the whole mermaid population, she gets involved with him. She gets multiple warnings and wake up calls, but she keeps going. GOSH, YOU CHILD!!! YOU NEED TO DIE!!! If you weren't the rightful queen, I probably would have jumped into the story and choked her glittering neck.

2. Dorian
He was a selfish fag.
Selfish:
Luce was the rightful queen. Without her, the mermaid race would be screwed up and everyone would miss her sorely or whatever. Point is, he knew this. And despite the fact that she obviously loved her home and didn't want to become a human, he persisted. He told an official about her. True, the FBI agent already had an inkling about mermaids, but how much more easier did Dorian make it for him, just because he wanted Luce to become human? He was ready to accept the fact that she might DIE, as long as she had a chance of becoming human. Also, his mood swings pissed me off. One day he couldn't keep his hands off her, the other he was all moody and pouty because she didn't make it to see him. Hello, she has a LIFE. Like, saving mermaids, and battling evil Anais. Gosh.

Fag:
At the end, I wanted to suffocate him so bad. He ditched Luce for Zoe. Ok, I know I've been bitching about their relationship and how its chaotic and selfish, but this, this, was beyond chaotic and selfish. He made a promise, and like a fucking asshole he just broke it. Because apparently Luce was too perfect. Ok, Zoe is a hoe. Luce is a selfish and annoying but beautiful and genuine mermaid. WTF, bro?!?! Zoe knew Dorian was in a relationship, and she flirted, straddled and made out with him. And he not once complained. I. Hate. Dorian. Vehemently. I hate him so much, I'm seeing red.



Anyway, there's more, but I am so worked up right now. Righty. Time to go gorge on those Lime popsicles. Oh, and when she found her dad it was pretty cool.

I haven't given up yet. Hopefully the third book will be better. I hope. I hope.

[Ashlie · Rating 5 out of 5]

After falling in love with Lost Voices, I couldn't wait for Waking Storms. I was not disappointed. WS was just as poignant, but even more emotional and even more raw. By-the-book Luce makes many decisions in book two that help us to realize that she has maintained more of her humanity than any of the tribe and the temoc allow. Luce will have to make sacrifices and that means that one part fo her heart will break, no matter what she does.

There is so much more to this story than there was to LV. In book one, Luce is adjusting to being a mermaid and what that entails: their roles and responsibilities, their laws and the consequences of not following those laws. Plus, she is also learning about her new gift, her voice. In book two Luce seems to have this things understood, and her voice mastered. In an environment where a beautiful voice means power, she is the rightful, yet reluctant queen.

I adore the idea that Luce doesn't want to obey her charge to sink ships and kill humans. I love that in book 2 we learn where that responsibility comes from and why their roles are what they are. I loved all the new characters that were introduced, and we learn more about a character I'm not a fan of, Dorian. His story is interesting but does drag the story out a bit. I was really surprised how long it ended up being. When I was on the 2nd half of the audiobook I kept thinking to myself, "now it's going to be over...now, it'll be over...here's where it will end," but Julia Whelan kept reading! And I was glad she did because it kept getting better and better!

The more I read this series the more I think how difficult a book it must be to write. I never feel lost in the story but the premise and it's revelation of each new element seems daunting. Everything is so involved with everything else that I don't understand how Sarah Porter doesn't get lost in the dialogue and story telling herself. (I guess that's why there are editors :)

Dorian bothers me, even though his story is sad. It's not his fault he's an orphan, but he's kind of a jerk in some ways. But, he is unique...he's one of the only people ever to have heard a mermaid sing and live to tell about it. This aspect is also intriguing although Dorian's emotions are all over the place and that drives me crazy. This is my opinion, and even to me it makes no sense because the kid has every right to be all over the place: his family has been killed, he heard a mermaid's song, he was rescued by a mermaid, law enforcement wants to talk to him about it, and he thinks he's in love with a mermaid. The mermaid's song alone has confused him with emotion. Maybe the idea of him being so overcome with "lovey" emotions annoys me? Idk, but lets just say that when Luce goes away for the winter, I was relieved that she would be away from him for a while. I think he's rude, selfish and needy. I know this makes no sense because of what he's been through, but he just is!!!

I LOVE SARAH PORTER. Her storytelling ability is fabulous, her dialogue is realistic (as far as I think mermaids should speak, anyway, considering they were just human girls once), and her writing is genuinely beautiful. I've used this word to describe her writing before, but I think it really is the only word that fits her style and prose: mellifluous. It's light and beautiful, despite telling a dark and sometimes heavy tale about loss, forgiveness and the devastating realities of humanity, mermaids or not. Despite all the negative things Luce encounters, one thing glimmers brighter than anything else that could affect her: hope. When I think of the hope in this story I feel like I could be swimming in the ocean with goggles. I turn on my back, under the surface and look up towards the sun. The view is rippled, but the light is present and clear. The hope is there. Well done Ms. Porter. Waking Storms is a literary success if I've ever seen one.

Hands down, Waking Storms gets 5 STARS.

Thanks you for making a stop here today!

[Mae · Rating 3 out of 5]

I gave this book more of 3.5 stars. Just a tad shy of a 4.

I have to say, this book was much better than the first one, more adventure and stuff. It was much more interesting. And the end wasn't so cliffhangerish that I'm dying to know what happens next. The world was so believable and real, that I was so excited to know more about it that I couldn't stay away. I don't know what to expect in the next book, and I don't want to imagine. All this relies on Porter's shoulders. I can't wait! One thing though; I hope something horrible happens to Dorian.

Dorian was what messed this book up for me. Let's start with his name. Dorian. It reminds me of a fruit in the Philippines "Durian" which is really spiky and smells bad, and not many foreigners like it, but as it happens, I do. So everytime I read his name, I get a picture of the fruit, and it kinda bothers me. Second was the way he acted. It was frustrating and impossible. His main focus in life was Luce, and you never really got to explore his life away from her. That's why, I wasn't really surprised with what he did. "Die Dorian!" Another thing about him was that he seemed cruel and selfish, just me, me, me! I had no idea why Luce liked him, she didn't even know anything about him. All they ever do is kiss, blah blah blah.

I had a hard time staying away from the book, it was exciting and I loved it, but there were a few drawbacks, (namely Dorian) otherwise, It would have been so worth a 4, maybe even going on strong to a 5.

[Shelley · Rating 3 out of 5]

*Genre* YA Paranormal, Mermaids Trilogy
*Rating* 3.0

*First Thoughts*

Wow does Luce make some absolutely stupid mistakes in Waking Storms. From putting all her heart, soul, and energy into spending time with Dorian, to turning her back on her friends who looked towards Luce to save them from Anais only to discover humans have discovered their identity and war is right around the corner.

I liked the addition of Nausicaa and hope that she's not wrong in that Luce is the future of the mermaids. I liked her because she's been around for thousands of years and is a source of much needed information that Luce has failed to understand. I also liked Inuit Queen Sedna who may or may not be an ally and someone Luce can count on.

The one constant for me is the fact that I like the uniqueness of how mermaids are changed. Although it's kind of harsh when you think about how these girls were abandoned, and mistreated, it's still unique to any other mermaid story I've read. I guess my only question remains is it possible for them to revert back into being a human once again.

Of course, this is the middle novel in the trilogy so there are still a bunch of unanswered questions. So, obviously, once my library gets this book in, I shall endeavor to finish the series.

Published July 3rd 2012 by Harcourt Children's Books