Voiceless
by Edith Montreux
Released: Dec 23, 2025
Genre: Fairytale Romance
Why this book and why now?
I loved Ursula from the first time I watched The Little Mermaid, so I have always wanted to write an Ariel/Ursula romance. I hated the way both Ariel and Eric were treated by their fathers, especially in the live action remake, and since they’re both kings, the timing seemed perfect with the No Kings movement.
Did any real-life events or personal experiences influence the story?
I wrote one of my abusers into this book so I could give him the ending he deserves. Almost thirty books into my LGBTQ+ romance career, and this is the first time I’ve written my own trauma into the story, including the exact words said. If he ever falls into the ocean and gets eaten by a shark, he had it coming.
How does it feel to finally share this book with readers?
This book has been several years in the making (it was originally going to be part of a shared world of queer fairytale retellings that didn’t happen). It’s so wonderful to have it out in the world! I hope you all love Aveta and Zyla as much as I do, not to mention Princess Rochelle, Nori, Torrent, Flo, and Jet. Oh, and Sesha the time witch. I hope we get to see more of her in Princess Rochelle’s book!
What TV show would your main character(s) most likely binge watch and why?
They would love Discovery’s Shark Week.
If you could spend a day with one character from the book, who would it be and why?
As much as I love Aveta and Zyla, I would want to spend the day with Princess Rochelle. First, that woman needs a hug for everything I put her through. Then, we would spend the day at a beautiful spa where she would be pampered and spoiled by folks who don’t know her past and wouldn’t look at her sideways for wearing makeup or putting on dresses.
Your characters are throwing a party—what’s the theme?
Under the Sea!
If your book had an official mascot, what (or who) would it be?
Voiceless’s official mascots are Jet and Flo. Jet’s unfortunate meeting with a fishing boat left him without shark fins, so Zyla turned him into an eel, and Flo is the latest shark to receive Zyla’s healing. They’re Zyla’s “save the cat,” but they’re also comic relief and the most loyal sidekicks any sea witch would want.
Do you outline your books in detail, or do you prefer to discover the story as you write?
I’m somewhere in the middle. My outlines are sparse, from what I’ve seen from other folks, but I tend to write plot-heavy, which means even if I start without an outline, I’m going to need one to tie up all the loose ends before the end. I like to have a couple sentences per chapter, and then I add to it or change it as I discover more about the characters/story.
Were there any books, movies, or personal experiences that influenced this story?
I listened to “The Little Mermaid” by Hans Christian Andersen and watched both Disney adaptations before I sat down to plot my retelling.
What are you currently reading?
I’m still working my way through Jae’s craft books! I’m also reading a book on writing small town romance. For fiction, I recently finished Christmas Toys by Lily Seabrooke. Victoria’s nan made me laugh so hard!
