Aria of the Sea teems with maritime imagery, as described in the setting. Names reflect the ocean, its inhabitants, and the weather: Gale and Nautilus, for example.

The imagery provides a solid base and an unusual flavor for what is basically a quest fantasy. The quest Cerinthe undergoes is both physical, as she works hard to win a place as a dancer, and spiritual, as she seeks the meaning of her life and how she can contribute to the larger circle of life sung into being by the Sea Maid. The title of the novel emphasizes the spiritual search and discovery. Calhoun's technique is smooth, flowing from scene to scene and gaining momentum like a wave racing for and breaking on the beach until Cerinthe finds her peace and the wave retreats.