“Songcoming” by Torran Anderson

Songcoming

Torran Anderson
West 44 Books (2026)
ISBN: 978-1978598324
Reviewed by Kassia Scotti for Reader Views (07/2026)

Torran Anderson’s Songcoming is a YA verse novel that follows two star-crossed lovers and their fight to find where they belong. Eve is a young woman betrothed to a man she thinks is repulsive. Oorin is a merman in search of his song. They both feel like they don’t fit into their respective worlds, and they take refuge in the bond they form. When Eve spends every day by the creek washing the villagers’ clothes, one moment alone with her own thoughts, she meets Oorin. He explains that he is in his Songcoming, a rite of passage that states he must live in exile until he can find his song. They are instantly drawn into each other’s lives, intrigued by what separates the land from the sea. As their connection grows, the stakes surrounding their forbidden love grow higher.

Immediately, the form choice stood out to me. I wondered how it would lend itself to the story, and if it would flow with the narrative. In the end, the poetic voice and original formatting were not only refreshing, but necessary. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed the irregular sentence structure that somehow gave every word its own importance. It made certain lines or important moments that much more impactful. The diction was lovely, as were the metaphors and recurring images, such as the descriptions of their hearts to represent their emotions. The verse form managed to tell the story so wholly, and it made for some great suspense during tense scenes. I am also fond of the snapshots of Oorin’s thoughts sprinkled between the narrative. His words are both romantic and heartbreaking, dripping with devotion and desperation to find his song and get back to his love.

Character motivation plays a huge role in this story. Right from the start, I knew why Eve was unhappy, what she felt, what she wanted. It helped me understand why she made the choices she did. Oorin’s role in the story is also very important, as he serves as her escape, a glimpse at what’s out there away from the life that suffocates her. More importantly, while he acts as her escape, he also maintains a character arc of his own.

Their love story is believable in unbelievable circumstances, and also strangely relatable. They are two people from two completely different realities who are experiencing the same struggles. As the reader, Songcoming by Torran Anderson lets us know that we are never alone, and that there is always a way to find our song.