2 Books Like The Call of the Sea

I love Upon a Starlit Tide because it transports me to a different place and time. Kell Woods reworks “The Little Mermaid,” “Cinderella,” and “Bluebeard” into an innovative tale with more than a splash of family drama. Filled with gorgeous descriptions of the Fae and the ocean, this novel kept me turning pages late into the night! Woods deftly weaves sailors' superstitions with ocean and mermaid folklore as she moves the plot of her story forward, exploring the weight of family secrets and the importance of discovering personal identity. Far more than a simple fairy tale retelling, this book makes me think of the sea and its impact on humanity in a new way, and it will be a favorite of mine for a long time to come!

I love The Sirens because of its deftly woven structure that explores the dangers of the ocean, the mysteries of femininity, and the bond between women. Two sets of sisters, Jess and Lucy, who are living in contemporary Australia, and Mary and Eliza, born in late 1700’s Ireland and forced to endure a harrowing ocean journey, are the featured characters in this novel which blends true crime disappearances with ancient folklore. The result is a text that drips with watery images of a salt-laced sea and a mystery that kept me reading well into the night. Like the sirens of old, Hart’s prose sings, inviting readers to drown in its depths. I couldn’t put it down!