Tempest Rising by Tracy Deebs

TEMPEST RISING BY TRACY DEEBS 
Reading level: Young Adult 
Hardcover: 352 pages 
Publisher: Walker Books for Young Readers (May 10, 2011)
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Tempest Maguire wants nothing more than to surf the killer waves near her California home; continue her steady relationship with her boyfriend, Mark; and take care of her brothers and surfer dad. But Tempest is half mermaid, and as her seventeenth birthday approaches, she will have to decide whether to remain on land or give herself to the ocean like her mother. The pull of the water becomes as insistent as her attraction to Kai, a gorgeous surfer whose uncanny abilities hint at an otherworldly identity as well. And when Tempest does finally give in to the water's temptation and enters a fantastical underwater world, she finds that a larger destiny awaits her-and that the entire ocean's future hangs in the balance.

 Tempest Rising was an entertaining novel with memorable characters and a ferocious mythology under the sea. Much like the hypnotic pull of the ocean, this book also pulled me under into an exciting new world I enjoyed being a part of.

Main protagonist Tempest Macguire was aware of her mermaid heritage right from page one. This was such an important factor for me. Why? It was so refreshing to read a paranormally-themed book where the main character does not take half of the story to understand the changes happening to her. I usually find that frustrating to no end—when you are aware before you even turn to page one that the story is going to be about mermaids, but then you have to wait 150 pages for the characters to figure it out too.  I absolutely loved the fact that Tempest knew her mother was a mermaid and that at age seventeen she would be faced with much of the same decisions (both physical and emotion) that her mother struggled with.  Her pain at having to choose between her  little brothers ( vibrant young boys who really tug at your heartstrings) or the life calling to her from the deep blue sea was so appealing to me as a reader.

Like many YA books, there was love triangle in this book. However, to my surprise, it was not overblown or swoony. Gasp! What a relief! I thought it was done beautifully—so much so, that I was torn throughout almost the entire book as to who Tempest should pick: Mark or Kai. Even now, I'm still a bit unsure. Mark was Tempest's quiet strength- he loved her but he didn't really know her or understand her. Not like Kai, the boy with supernatural secrets and a dark appeal. Kai was mysterious, dangerous and a little unpredictable. He stirred up powerful feelings in Tempest she hadn't felt before and I looked forward to seeing him every time he came into the picture.

The book is set in a seaside community and was well-written with great attention to detail.  I felt like I was there with Tempest and her gang of guys, riding the waves with the wind against my face and the electric pull of the tides and that one perfect wave. There are also underwater scenes with battles, romantic interludes and an introduction into a world were mermaids, mermen and other creatures all intermingle. If I had to choose, I'd say the parts 'on land' were actually more special to me than those "under the sea". Tempest's interactions with the people who cared about her were what kept my heart pounding the most.  Sometimes the underwater fantastical elements (the sea witch, the vampiric octopus monster, etc) skewed the book a little younger than I would generally prefer.  I was also a little disappointed in how things tied up with Tempest's mother at the end. Most of the book built up to the big "showdown" between the absentee mermaid mom and Tempest. But when it actually happened, it wasn't what I had anticipated or really wanted. However none of these things really hindered my enjoyment of the book—they are just my own personal reading preferences. I would still highly recommend Tempest Rising for its fresh take on mermaid mythology and it's unique approach to storytelling. The romance was never over-the-top or annoyingly saccharine. It all worked for me.  Both guys were incredibly alluring and I'd love to dive back into Tempest's world anytime!

TRACY DEEBS collects books, English degrees, and lipsticks. She has been known to forget where-and sometimes who-she is when immersed in a great novel. She is a writing and literature professor at Austin Community College.
www.tracydeebs.com

Book Review: The Mermaid's Mirror by L.K. Madigan

THE MERMAID'S MIRROR BY L.K. MADIGAN
Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 320 pages
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children (October 4, 2010)
Language: English
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Indiebound

Lena has lived her whole life near the beach—walking for miles up and down the shore and breathing the salty air, swimming in the cold water, and watching the surfers rule the waves—the problem is, she’s spent her whole life just watching.

As her sixteenth birthday approaches, Lena vows she will no longer watch from the sand: she will learn to surf.

But her father – a former surfer himself – refuses to allow her to take lessons. After a near drowning in his past, he can’t bear to let Lena take up the risky sport.

Yet something lures Lena to the water … an ancient, powerful magic. One morning Lena catches sight of this magic: a beautiful woman—with a silvery tail.

Nothing will keep Lena from seeking the mermaid, not even the dangerous waves at Magic Crescent Cove.

And soon … what she sees in the mermaid’s mirror will change her life …

Book Opening (Prologue):

"Lena woke up on the beach.

She knew she should feel afraid-sleepwalking to the beach in the middle of the night could not a be a sane thing to do- but the salt scent and roar of the ocean calmed her. The moon shone down on the waves, making them glitter like thousands of tiny lights flickering just beneath the surface, rolling over and over. "

Notable Scene:

Just my luck, she thought with a sigh. The one day I manage to snag a board and get away for some stealth surfing, the waves are almost un-surf-able.

No one was in the lineup, but there were four guys in wet-suits hanging around onshore. The size of the waves must have discouraged them.

Not me, thought Lena. She stood up. "Okay, mermaid", she whispered. "Here I come." - Page 126

Fifteen-year old Lena is surrounded by people who genuinely love her. Together Lena, her brother Cole, father Brian and step-mother Allie are all a tight knit clan. Surfer boyfriend Kai is crazy for her and she's been best friends with him and Pem forever. But though her life may seem sun-kissed and perfect, Lena is not happy. Her dad won't allow her to surf, something which she yearns for more than anything in the world. As her birthday approaches, Lena must make a decision- should she continue to respect her father's wishes or learn to surf? It's a dangerous decision; one that will propel her into a different life with consequences that affect her whole future. For while love can exist in both worlds, sadly, Lena can not. So she must must search her heart and decide once and for all-where does she truly belong?

THE MERMAID'S MIRROR  is a story about self-discovery, love, loss and healing. Much like the sea, the plot unfolds in a way that swells and ebbs when you least expect it. The California backdrop and surfing lessons added a great deal of enhancement to the story as well.  When I was reading the book, I wanted to learn to surf alongside Lena so badly. L.K. Madigan did a great job capturing the freedom and thrill of surfing. The vivid imagery made the scenes within the ocean spring to life for me.  I was right there with Lena, feeling the cool breeze on my face as if it were me riding the wave that first, thrilling time.  

Lena was an engaging character, struggling with the good and bad sides that we all have. Her relationship with Kai was a bit one-sided though and tended to frustrate me. While I didn't always agree with Lena's choices, I could still understand and relate to her. It was also refreshing in a YA novel to have the parents on the scene and not used as props in the background (or completely out of the picture altogether). The family dynamics were actually the strongest aspect of the book for me.  The way they supported one another, grieved and healed was beautifully written.

THE MERMAID'S MIRROR can essentially be divided into two parts: land and sea. The strongest section of the book for me was surprisingly that portion set solid on land. Once Lena became involved with the part of her life existing underwater, I felt like some of the suspense and mystery seeped out of the plot. Things also seemed to wrap up way too fast toward the end and I walked away without enough closure. I'd also love for Lena to meet up with Nix again - he was ripped away from me way too quickly. With that being said, it's important to note that the world L.K. Madigan crafted under sea was well written, simple and elegant. I enjoyed the merfolk culture; hearing their songs, learning their politics and survival rules. While completely different than humans, they were like us in many ways. I felt for Lena, the choices she was forced to make would've been difficult for anyone.
 
I hope that there is a sequel to THE MERMAID'S MIRROR.  Such a large part of Lena's heart and soul belongs to the sea, I would think love would eventually lead her back again.

 

L.K. Madigan lives in Portland, Oregon, with her husband, son, two big black dogs, hundreds of books ... and quite a few items of mermaid memorabilia.

To learn more about L.K. Madigan and her books,
visit her Official Website.

Book Review: Siren by Tricia Rayburn

SIREN BY TRICIA RAYBURN

Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 352 pages
Publisher: EgmontUSA (July 13, 2010)
Language: English
Interest: Mermaids
Buy This Book: Amazon|Indiebound|Barnes & Noble

Seventeen-year-old Vanessa Sands is afraid of everything—the dark, heights, the ocean—but her fearless older sister, Justine, has always been there to coach her through every challenge. That is, until Justine goes cliff-diving one night near the family’s vacation house in Maine, and her lifeless body washes up on shore the next day.

Though her parents hope that they’ll be able to find closure back in Boston, Vanessa can’t help feeling that her sister’s death wasn’t an accident. After discovering that Justine was keeping a lot of secrets, Vanessa returns to Winter Harbor, hoping that Justine’s boyfriend might know more. But Caleb has been missing since Justine’s death.

Soon, it’s not just Vanessa who’s afraid. All of Winter Harbor is abuzz with anxiety when another body washes ashore, and panic sets in when the small town becomes host to a string of fatal, water-related accidents in which all the victims are found, horrifically, grinning from ear to ear.

Vanessa turns to Caleb’s brother, Simon, for help, and begins to find herself drawn to him. As the pair try to understand the sudden rash of creepy drownings, Vanessa uncovers a secret that threatens her new romance—and will change her life forever.

A seductive paranormal romance full of unexpected twists, Siren is certain to make a big summer splash.

Vanessa’s sister Justine died in a tragic cliff diving accident and Caleb, the only witness at the time of her death, has been missing every since. While normally a sleepy small town, Winter Harbor has recently fallen prey to many more disturbing incidents involving the water. Though Vanessa is normally afraid of anything and everything, she travels back to Winter Harbor desperate for answers. With Caleb’s concerned brother Simon in tote, the pair soon find themselves navigating through a town filled with strange locals and unexplained drownings. Will they find out what really lies beneath the surface of Winter Harbor? Can it be stopped before even more lives are lost?

As a protagonist, I found Vanessa extremely likable and could empathize with her character. Who wouldn’t go through the myriad of emotions after losing a sibling? The fear, the self doubt and the need for answers all made sense to me. I appreciated how Vanessa was a girl struggling to overcome her self-acknowledged fears and lack of confidence. So often in Young Adult books, the protagonist is passive about everything, but Vanessa was a character determined to stop being afraid and take a more pro-active role in her life. It was also refreshing to have the romantic element not pushed to the front lines of the plot. I appreciated how Tricia Rayburn chose to keep it in the background- just enough to keep me intrigued, but never overshadowing the more important elements of the story.

The history behind the supernatural elements of Siren was very well thought out and tensions ran throughout the narrative. Yet in the end, I felt like things tied up too neatly and without enough closure. Despite some loose ends and somewhat unsatisfactory ending, Siren was a haunting and compelling novel I enjoyed. I look forward to the sequel.
View an in depth look into my star rating.

Book Review: Forgive My Fins by Tera Lynn Childs

FORGIVE MY FINS BY TERA LYNN CHILDS

SYNOPSIS: Lily Sanderson has a secret, and it’s not that she has a huge crush on gorgeous swimming god Brody Bennett, who makes her heart beat flipper-fast. Unrequited love is hard enough when you’re a normal teenage girl, but when you’re half human, half mermaid like Lily, there’s no such thing as a simple crush.

Lily’s mermaid identity is a secret that can’t get out, since she’s not just any mermaid – she’s a Thalassinian princess. When Lily found out three years ago that her mother was actually a human, she finally realized why she didn’t feel quite at home in Thalassinia, and she’s been living on land and going to Seaview high school ever since, hoping to find where she truly belongs. Sure, land has its problems – like her obnoxious, biker boy neighbor Quince Fletcher – but it has that one major perk – Brody. The problem is, mermaids aren’t really the casual dating type – when they “bond,” it’s for life.

When Lily’s attempt to win Brody’s love leads to a tsunami-sized case of mistaken identity, she is in for a tidal wave of relationship drama, and she finds out, quick as a tailfin flick, that happily-ever-after never sails quite as smoothly as you planned.

REVIEW: FORGIVE MY FINS involves a half-human mermaid who kicks up loads of trouble when she mistakenly kisses the wrong boy. (Word to the wise: It's best to keep the lights on when waiting for that special someone to secretly meet up with you. You never know who might stumble along by accident.)

Not quite sure whether she belongs underwater or on land, Lily has been bumbling her way through high school for some time before she mistakenly kisses the wrong boy. Damselfish! It may not sounds like a big deal, but for a mermaid it's huge. You see, a mermaid can’t go around kissing just anyone - there are some "until death do us part" consequences that must be dealt with right away. Lily's father is the only one who can help her out of the jam she's in, and if he refuses, then she’ll be connected to the wrong boy for life. (And when I say "wrong boy", it's pretty obvious he is really the "right" boy. But that's alright. Part of the fun of FORGIVE MY FINS is to read on in the hopes that Lily will realize he's right for her too).

FORGIVE MY FINS was a hilarious summer beach read. It was the kind of feel-good book that allows you to slip into main character's world with minimal effort and just enjoy the ride. While the plot wasn't one I had the hardest time figuring out, it didn't bother me at all. Lily's voice was so likable and the story so entertaining, I couldn't help but want to read more. Initially I worried that it would be too young for me- I was glad it wasn't. Tera Lynn Childs did a fantastic job in constructing Lily’s voice as well as the underwater sea kingdom where most of the action takes place. Fins or no fins, Lily was the type of girl I would've wanted to be best friends with in high school.

When Lily set out for the underwater kingdom of Thalassinia- a magical land with well crafted, watery delights, that was when the book really captured my imagination. The sights, sounds and culinary fare within Thalassinia had me smiling to the end. Lily's fish-isms were the perfect quirky touch to this gem of a book and the cherry on top.

I would recommend this book to readers of all ages who love a good mermaid story.

PS-how about that cover? I thought the image was well suited for this book and a great representation of Lily. Enjoy!

PURCHASE HERE

Tera Lynn Childs is a wannabe goddess and the author of OH. MY. GODS., GODDESS BOOT CAMP, and the upcoming mermaid tale, FORGIVE MY FINS. Tera lives nowhere in particular and has spent time fleeing hurricanes, making character profiles on MySpace, blogging with the Buzz Girls at booksboysbuzz.com and the Fivers at livingyourfive.com, and writing wherever she can find a comfy chair and a steady stream of caffeinated beverages.
Visit the author's website HERE.