I received an ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for my opinions, which are all freely given!

I genuinely loved this book — it was such a cute read and I was initially attracted to it by the promise of mermaids. While there was not nearly as many mermaids as I wanted (there was exactly 1 scene with a mermaid!), I instead got a heartwarming story with simple but interesting worldbuilding.

I got very emotionally attached to the two main kids and was rooting for them the whole time. Their character arcs are amazing and heartwarming and beautifully done as they navigate social issues. It’s definitely a cutesy “there is a lesson in this story” kinda thing but I liked it — it made for a light read.

The only thing I did not like about this book was that Maddox’s POVs are in third person while Lynnette’s POVs are in first person. Maddox’s POVs work really well in third person, but Lynnette’s POVs were incredibly confusing.

I often forgot I was reading about a 10 year old because the prose and internal monologue did NOT match up at all — I love the author’s writing style, but it’s not giving 10 y/o.

If the whole book remained in 3rd person, this would be a 5 star book.

The last 20% was also very weirdly paced. I don’t entirely think the author has the dynamics of opposing armies/etc down because it was clunky.

This was truly lovely.

There are honestly so many good things to love about this book. First, it has a truly original take on The Little Mermaid that made my ocean and fairy-tale loving heart happy and piqued my curiosity from the first page. Second, the characters felt like real people from the first page to the last page. I particularly loved how the younger characters acted their age. The ten-year-old characters acted like ten-year-olds, with all the big feelings, impulsive behavior, fears, and compassion that come from being that particular age. As someone much older than ten myself, I was able to enter into those characters' worlds seamlessly, see life from their perspectives, and empathize with them. Third, the story handled themes of grief and loss with nuance, realism, clarity, and a lack of lecturing that made the story impactful and educational--all while keeping the topics age-appropriate for a younger audience. I would feel perfectly comfortable handing this book to a ten-year-old, knowing that the child will get a good story and also start learning valuable lessons about what grief is, how to deal with it, and how to help others through it.

I loved this book, and I highly recommend it to people wanting a heartwarming middle grade story--no matter their age.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Grief, loss, forgiveness, letting go… Such strong themes for a children’s book, but it’s what the world needs right now. A story full of values and realistic characters like these. Hope is hard to hold on when you aren’t feeling full of strength to confront old wounds just like Lynette. Yet faith it’s ultimately what moved the waves of the book. Before continuing, I must say how thankful I am for this arc! Thanks NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op.

World-Building
“Depths. Change. Balance. There were three words, three tenets, for the Convent of Saer”.

Truly one of the richest parts of the book. What actually hooked me was the fantasy system built around the ocean. The order of The Sisters of Saer with different colors, the Water Folk, the story behind the mystic island, the three tenets, and how two kingdoms are in dispute for resources/territory. It’s already a complex world in itself. Lynette being raised practically by the Sisters in terms of faith kind of reminded me of my childhood. Great common women can lead a wonderful example in this matter with their actions. Honestly? I even wanted to join the Feast of the Shore.

Characters
Lynette and Maddox: For having 10-11 years, they sure had a huge development. The boy went from terrified to valiant. The girl from avoidant to confrontational. Although I must admit that at times they sounded older than their age in the POVs, it’s comprehensible given their circumstances. I loved how natural their friendship was. Growing gradually and not instantly. Also, not related but I might have a crush on Samsom…

Siblings and Promises
Duty or love? Sister or throne? Which promise holds the weight the most? It’s hard to let someone close to you know how deeply they hurt you. This point literally had me crying for ONE HOUR (YES). The bond between Samsom and Lynette was so marvellous to read. It sets healthy standards for younger readers.

Grief, Forgiveness, and Letting Go
“The grief comes in waves,” she said. “Today, you might be fine. But tomorrow, it could hurt again. It will take time.”

This subject was very consistent. One must have courage to forgive, even more to let loved ones go for their own happiness. I learnt a lot through Lynette and I hope other readers do too. She was incredibly relatable. So glad she made the right choice despite the open wound. That’s what growth is about, is it not? Grief is tricky because it shows in different ways as the quote says. No one deals with it the same way. I would like to see a more healed Lynette in the next delivery, if there is one.

God of the Waves and Battles
The only weak point of What the Sea Brings in my perspective was how the main conflict was resolved. Maybe I’m too used to YA books and expected more resistance, but I liked a good use of diplomacy for a change. Apart from that, are we ready to receive the answers to our prayers? Perhaps not in the way we plan. I actually enjoyed this portrayal of God and faith.Ask and you shall receive.

Conclusion
The God of the Waves is present nowadays. He has always been. He brought me this book through the sea. I couldn’t be more grateful. I am wishing for another part, if there isn’t, it was a meaningful adventure. Don’t let this masterpiece out of your sight!

“The storm in my heart faded, her words reaching through like warm sunbeam. In its light, I was seen. I was strangely heard”.

Complete review posed on Goodreads on August 4th, 2025. Future post and mini review on my IG Huellas Lectoras.

First off, amazing! It was sweet and enjoyable, while also having some deeper topics like forgiveness and friendship. I loved the characters, they were adorable! I loved Samson and Lynette’s relationship, even though there was a lot about forgiveness and be honest with one another in it. There was a lot of faith content in this book, I’m not sure if it was Christian based, though. It was okay, made me a little uncomfortable in the beginning, but it was better by the end. All in all, it was sweet and I really enjoyed it!

It took me a while to really get into this story, but once I realised what it was trying to tell me, I was hooked.
This book is so emotional and full of love. It's about trying to understand family and friends when you are too scared to speak words out loud or the distance is too far.
Lynette holds a lot of her emotions inside, because she has discovered that it's easier to just say 'i'm fine' than to constantly get sad looks from those around her, and be asked questions she doesn't want to or know how to answer.
But when Maddox washes up on the shores of the convent where she lives, she finally has a friend her age. Someone she can share things with. But she's never had a friend and there are many teethings issues with having a friend for the first time.
There is so much to this book than the storyline, which is relatively simple, but the amount of emotion, the relationships and how much Maddox, Lynette and Samson learn about how to love and share us just wonderful. I finished this book just feeling so elated. It was a whirlwind of emotion, but worth the ride.

Sweet and cozy semi-fantasy fiction novel about a lonely 10 year old girl who lives at a convent dedicated to a sea god. Lynnette and her brother, Samson, spent their formative years at the convent together until Samson, the rightful heir and Great King, finally leaves to convent behind to rule his people. Left behind, Lynnette is slowly drowning in her loneliness until a boy, Maddox, is unexpectedly washed ashore. The two become friends eventually, but their friendship is put to the test when it is revealed that Maddox is the youngest son of the fearsome Emperor of the World and that his family, and more specifically his family's army, is still looking for him.

3.5 ⭐️'s !!

Hidden far away on an island lays the Covent of Saer, a safe refuge from the outside world for pilgrims, castaways and even princesses…

10 year old Lynnette lives her days inside the Covent’s walls, helping the nuns with their work, keeping the rooms tidy and learning about their protecter of the waters that surround the island, the God of the Waves and his water folk. As Lynnette spends her days combing the beach for shells and playing tricks on the nuns, she desperately wishes for a friend to join her in her games. With a brother that left her for their old life on the other side of the island, Lynnette is lonely and misses home. But after a terrible storm that rages the waters, she discovers a boy washed up on the shore and a strange outline of a water maid bobbing in the surf of the white flecked waves. Has the water folk finally answered her prays or have they an even bigger plan in store to help bring back the ones she loves?

Thank you to NetGalley and Snowy Wings Publishing for giving me a copy to read in return for my thoughts and feedback! I enjoyed reading this story by Beverly Twomey with it’s hints of magic and fairy tale feel, perfect for children or tweens who love adventures, far away islands and of course, mermaids! I did wish that there was a little bit more about the water folk/mermaids throughout the storyline though, as I did feel like there wasn’t as much about them as I thought there would be. I love the title and thought it worked perfectly for the story! 😊

Isabella Ann
thepaintedcaravan.substack.com

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