In Stranger to the Sea by Laurel Mojica, Ki’ani’s life has been surrounded by controversy since her birth. Her mother had died during childbirth, and, despite her not being the biological child of the Pātru, he still retained her as the heir. Some of the rumors say that Ki’ani’s mother had been one of the Okānos, a water-born humanoid. Currently, Ki’ani has been sent to study marine biology at the Archipelago, which is the only inhabited chain of islands on the entire planet of Vāni. She is accompanied by a guardian who is committed to ensuring her safety. At the school, several things happen that make Ki’ani continue questioning her identity. As she meets various people, including the governor's son, will she find out the truth and the agreements that have been in place between the various parties involved?

Stranger to the Sea by Laurel Mojica is one of a kind; it’s a must-read. Full of adventure, it takes the reader on a gripping journey with unexpected twists and turns in a flawlessly flowing plotline. I loved how vividly Laurel described events and places, which created a mental picture of what was happening. She also utilized suspense to great effect, which kept me looking forward to the events of subsequent chapters. The characters were also well-developed, and the well-crafted dialogue helped bring the story to life. The reader will also appreciate the excellent narration, which adds to the overall beauty of this amazing work. This was a great story, and I can't wait to read the second book in the series.

Ki’ani, heir to the leadership of Vāni, is in the dark about her identity and non-human ancestry in Stranger to the Sea by Laurel Mojica. Under the strict guardianship of Ti'gara, she is isolated for protection but longs for independence and understanding of her hybrid nature albeit hindered by the Pātru government’s secrecy. Ki’ani meets Tālos, a commander with knowledge of her possible Okāno heritage. A connection grows and Ki’ani’s abilities begin to unfold, potentially pitting her against the anti-Okāno Humans First group. She learns to curb her evolving powers, including shape-shifting in water, and remains focused on her duty. But when the larger context of who she is, what is expected of her, and a plot against her materializes, Ki’ani has to determine where her true place in the Archipelago lies, or if remaining is even non-humanly possible.

Stranger to the Sea, book one in The Chronicles of Vāni series by Laurel Mojica, is a wonderfully creative coming-of-age science fiction novel with, what I love more than anything, a female lead who is strong and ready to assert her agency after a lifetime of being under control. Surprisingly, it's when Ki'ani is under control that we see her finally understanding what she is. She wants to touch seawater but is never allowed. She studies marine biology and attends lectures at the tide pool, and fresh and saltwater settings are key to her developing control over her shape-shifting abilities. But she can be murdered in water. I love how Mojica pulls all this together and makes it work, and the promise of Ki'ani becoming a conservator of what she has come from and a liberator of herself. There are very few science fiction novels that make the grade for me to pass on to my daughter, but I'd give Mojica a whole bucket of stars if I could.