Fourteen-year-old Luce has had a tough life, but she reaches the depths of despair when she is assaulted and left on the cliffs outside a grim Alaskan fishing village. She expects to die when she tumbles into the icy waves below but instead undergoes an astonishing transformation: she becomes a mermaid. A tribe of mermaids finds Luce and welcomes her in. All of them, like her, are lost girls who surrendered their humanity in the darkest moments of their lives. Luce is thrilled with her new life—until she discovers the catch: mermaids feel an uncontrollable desire to drown seafarers, using their enchanted voices to lure ships into the rocks. Luce possesses an extraordinary singing talent, which makes her important to the tribe—she may even have a shot at becoming their queen—however, her struggle to retain her humanity puts her at odds with her new friends. Will Luce be pressured into committing mass murder?
The first book in a trilogy, Lost Voices is a captivating and wildly original tale about finding a voice, the healing power of friendship, and the strength it takes to forgive.
Download and start listening now!
"One of the most original takes on mermaids I have ever read. The subject of forgiving is taken in a mature way that is no way sappy. The ending is weird but since the sequel is out in the summer so that could remedy it. So in this world under 18 years old girls and young ladies can turn into mermaids when in complete despair. When turned they seek to take down ships for revenge against the cruelties they suffered through. The ones best adept have a song that entices humans to dive deep into the waters to their doom as the songs enrapture them so much. The description of the songs feel so fluid and diverse you'll wish they were real. The songs themselves will make people feel something. Lust is a typical feeling. Our hero Luce has a truly remarkable one. Her song promises reconciliation to any who listen so all who hear feel what ever wrong they committed feels pointless as they were loved. The plot kicks off with the lead Luce being shy not finding her voice to answer question and towards the end she has gone past her hatred to used her gift of killing to something more positive. Almsot all parts of the book are in Luce's point of view except for one part. The solitary part in a different perspective is in a foster home for orphaned girls that goes between the perspectives of the insane caretaker and the poor orphaned girls under her care. She may not be totally crazy as girls before turning have a black aura around them and the caretaker can see it but thinks its out to get her. She tries to kill by setting the home on fire which causes the girls to turn into the first of the mermaid process which means she started a bunch a ships being sunk due to her paranoia. One girl Jenna is pretty much impossible like as when Luce tries to introduce herself and explain what they now were Jenna attacks her for simply taking her twin away from her a bit. These new members tribe start unraveling it. Mermaids live in tribes to be safe and have 3 rules of no contact with humans, no hurting mermaids or be exiled, sink ships. The new girls have more personality than most of the tribe except a token few. Caterina the leader is harsh and wants to be best. Her reason for turning has to with being sold 12 boxes of marballo cigarettes and vodka and the forced time spent into prostitution. Miriam turned when her mother abandoned her. She has been a mermaid for 70 years and found no joy in taking down ships her fate made me cry. Then the newest girl is Anais. She looks like a ideal mermaid that was put into the prow of ship. Thats the idea of her being a caricture as she is an emtpty sociopath who does victim blaming. The teen speak did annoy but the world is so fascinating. The sequel is even better at it."
— Natasha (5 out of 5 stars)
“A beautifully written and heartbreaking story about a lost soul struggling to forgive the people she loved who wronged her and ultimately to forgive herself.”
— Jennifer Echols, author of Going Too Far“Porter’s narrative style suits her oceanic theme; the vivid colors and particularities of life are smoothed away to plain clarity.”
— Publishers Weekly“In this haunting debut, Porter reworks mermaid mythology to tell a story of abuse, revenge, and forgiveness.”
— Booklist“The plot is fast-paced but perfectly developed…As you read, you can’t help but notice the struggles of humanity that are felt in some of the modern classics of our times.”
— YA Books Central“After fourteen-year-old Luce is nearly raped on the cliffs of an isolated Alaskan village, she falls into the ocean—and is transformed into a mermaid. As Julia Whelan narrates these opening scenes, the listener hears the courage in Luce that is waiting to surface…and even the minor characters come through clearly…Whelan’s narration allows listeners to hear the mermaids’ music without any need for special effects. The first book of a projected trilogy balances the warmth of resolution with a new and beckoning horizon.”
— AudioFile" I loved this book. The details were so passionately wrote I got lost in their beauty. The world that was created was memorable. A little childish but buttt... she is only 14. The story evolves and grows to a bigger picture. "
— Brittany harper, 10/29/2015" It was ok. I thought it was a depressing read, though, because of the character's sad story.. I was waiting for the character's life to get better but...the end just kind of dropped off and was a real let-down. I think if there was a sequel, it could definately be saved, in my opinion. "
— Catera, 2/14/2014" I thought this book was good but morbid. The mermaids passion for killing was hard to read. The clif hanger at the end made me want to read the next book and luckily I got it in january as an arc. Overall a good but creepy book "
— Maddy, 2/14/2014" This was my first mermaid book. It was good but not great. There's drama but something childish that needs to be fixed the whole melodrama was irritating I was waiting for something to happen. Something good. Nothing really it would just go on and on and never finish. "
— Phynix, 2/2/2014" I love the premise behind this book. What happens to abused young girls? They become mermaids. This book answers questions that I've always had about how mermaids become mermaids in the first place. I love the explanation. Part of me could see how the Little Mermaid story would be so much better if this premise was used to explain it. I feel a sequel coming on, based on the way this ended. To the author - get to work, I can't wait to see what you write next. "
— Juanita, 1/23/2014" I couldnt finish this book, i was really bored with and would not suggest this to anyone. "
— Laurie, 1/13/2014" To begin with this wasn't a bad book, it was filled with beautiful descriptive imagery though the author seemed to get lost in her descriptions and I as a reader also got lost and had a hard time understanding. Better review to come. "
— Dida, 1/10/2014" Wow...just cant wait till the second comes out!This is a really good book!I found myself really wanting to throw something at Anais!!I HATE HER!!These are definitely mean mermaids.It really shows mer life from a different perspective. "
— Shelly, 7/15/2013" As much as I love mermaids, this book was a bit hard or me to follow the first time I read it. Then I read it a feiw months latter, and I found it AMAZING!! "
— Prentice, 12/13/2012" Storyline was like a confused little wave drifting here and there with no real purpose. "
— Krita, 10/29/2012" An ending so lame it negated any previous respect I had for the subject matter and creative premise. Do not waste your time "
— Karenzielinski, 9/27/2012" 2.3 stars. "
— Alice, 9/1/2012" This book was very interesting and sad. I really thought I would like it but once the plot started to pick up a bit the book ended. "
— Deanna, 9/22/2011" This is a extremely depressing story and never did become a story I would ever recommend to anyone! Mermaids, killing people with their songs. Larvae are mini mermaids that are under the age of 5 that are eaten by sea life. And the reasons they become mermaids extremely disturbing! "
— Ann, 5/21/2011Sarah Porter is a writer, artist, and public school teacher. The Lost Voices trilogy is her first foray into the world of novel writing. She and her husband live in Brooklyn, New York.
Heather O’Neill is a Canadian novelist, poet, short story writer, screenwriter, and essayist. Her prize-winning debut novel, Lullabies for Little Criminals, was published in 2006 to international critical acclaim. Her novel, The Girl Who Was Saturday Night, and the short story collection, Daydreams of Angels, were shortlisted for the Scotiabank Giller Prize in consecutive years. The collection was also shortlisted for the Paragraphe Hugh McLennan Prize for Fiction.