Mini-Review: Wrecked by Anna Davies

Title: Wrecked
Author: Anna Davies
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers
Genre: Paranormal Young Adult
Release Date: 05/01/12
Reviewed by: Sara
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Summary:

Secrets of the sea have never been sexier than this.
Ever since the death of her parents, Miranda has lived on Whym Island, taking comfort in the local folklore, which claims a mysterious sea witch controls the fate of all on the island and in its surrounding waters. Sometimes it’s just easier to believe things are out of your control.

But then a terrible boating accident takes the lives of several of her friends, and Miranda is rescued by a mysterious boy who haunts her dreams. Consumed by guilt from the accident, she finds refuge in late-night swims -- and meets Christian, a boy who seems eerily familiar, but who is full of mystery: He won’t tell her where he is from, or why they can only meet at the beach. But Miranda falls for him anyway... and discovers that Christian’s secrets, though meant to protect her, may bring her nothing but harm.

Seductive and compelling, Wrecked brings a contemporary, paranormal twist to a classic enchanting tale.

Mini-Review: I really wanted to enjoy the plot of this novel, but it lacked details. I didn't feel like I learned much about Miranda's friends, both before the accident and through her memories afterwards. We also only learn the basics about mermaids and betwixtmen. Christian's point of view was so few and far between, in comparison to Miranda's point of view, that it was quite jarring when he took over a chapter which in turn led to the pacing being very rocky. Miranda wasn't a very likeable character, especially when speaking to other characters. She wouldn't let anyone finish a thought, and she would abruptly end conversations or switch topics, even if the current conversation wasn't bothering her or bringing up memories. It was infuriating when she would do this after asking a direct question to the other character. Because of this, conversations within the novel didn't feel natural. The cover had some good elements, but was a little dark over all. I really liked the bubbles and the blue title, and I wish the scale pattern on the male model stood out a tiny bit more.

Plot: 2 Stars
Pace: 2 Stars
Characters: 2 Stars
Cover: 3 Stars
Overall: 2 Stars

Disclosure: I bought a used copy of this novel for my own reading pleasure... And an ARC arrived instead. You can read all about My Little ARC Saga for the details.

Mini-Review: Forgive My Fins by Tera Lynn Childs

Title: Forgive My Fins
Author: Tera Lynn Childs
Series: Fins #1
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Genre: Paranormal Young Adult
Release Date: 06/01/10
Reviewed by: Sara
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Summary:

Unrequited love is hard enough when you’re a normal teenage girl, but for Lily Sanderson, there’s no such thing as a simple crush.

Lily has a secret, and it’s not her huge crush on gorgeous swimming god Brody Bennett, who makes her heart beat flipper-fast. 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 she discovered three years ago that her mother was actually a human, Lily finally realized why she didn’t feel quite at home in Thalassinia, and she’s been going to Seaview High ever since. Living on 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 finds out, quick as a tailfin flick, that happily ever after never sails quite as smoothly as you planned.

Mini-Review: It's summertime and I really wanted to read mix things up and read a book about mermaids. I don't have that many on my shelves, but I'm glad I grabbed this one. I really liked the mermaid lore within this novel, especially how the mermaids interact in and out of the water. This novel was a fast and fun read, perfect for summer. Although I enjoyed all of the characters, there were a few moments in which Lily came across a little shallow and immature for me. But as the story progressed and she was forced to deal with certain circumstances, she definitely grew up a little. The bright colors of this cover have a very fun feel that fits this novel. All in all, this was a fun summer read.

Plot: 3.5 Stars
Pace: 4 Stars
Characters: 3 Stars
Cover: 3.5 Stars
Overall: 3.5 Stars

Disclosure: I bought a copy of this novel for my own reading pleasure.

Review: Between the Sea and Sky by Jaclyn Dolamore

Title: Between the Sea and Sky
Author: Jaclyn Dolamore
Genre: Young Adult
Release Date: 10/25/11
Reviewed by: Sara
But the Book:

Summary:

For as long as Esmerine can remember, she has longed to join her older sister, Dosinia, as a siren -- the highest calling a mermaid can have. When Dosinia runs away to the mainland, Esmerine is sent to retrieve her. Using magic to transform her tail into legs, she makes her way unsteadily to the capital city. There she comes upon a friend she hasn't seen since childhood -- a dashing young man named Alandare, who belongs to a winged race of people. As Esmerine and Alandare band together to search for Dosinia, they rekindle a friendship... and ignite the emotions for a love so great, it cannot be bound by sea, land, or air.

Plot: 4.5 Stars
I absolutely loved the world that the author created in this novel. Between the underwater world of the mermaids, the high flying world of the Fandarsee, and the humans in between, there was always something new to learn while reading. While the different races interacted at times, they were all very inclusive. I loved how the author worked in all the little details about the different groups of people as Esmerine and Alan were on their journey.

Pace: 5 Stars
This novel was a very quick read. I got home from the book signing really excited to read it and jumped right in. I only put it down to eat and sleep (and possibly work), which I don't do very often anymore. Although Esmerine was on a journey to find her sister, none of the events of the novel came across as rushed. The story unfolded very naturally as Esmerine and Alan first reunited and then began the journay to find her sister, Dosinia.

Characters: 5 Stars
My favorite part of this novel was watching Esmerine reunited with her childhood friend, a Fandarsee names Alandare. I loved watching their relationship change and morph as they got to know each other once again. They were so different, and yet very similar. Between Esmerine's parents and younger sisters, Alan's family, and the humans they meet along the way, there was also a very strong cast of supporting characters. Although some of them had smaller parts than others, the author did a great job of introducing each character.

Cover: 5 Stars
This novel was blessed with a beautiful cover. The image of Esmerine bursting out of the water is very striking, and the wave around her frames her in a great way. You can't really tell where the water ends and the sky begins. The pose of the cover model works well considering that Esmerine becomes a siren. The blues and greens of the cover are very serene and definitely gives the feel of mermaid. The tail fin detail on the title is actually the only part of the cover that actually says mermaid, and does so in a way that doesn't take away from the rest of the cover.

Overall: 5 Stars

Disclosure: I bought this novel for my own reading pleasure.

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

Title: The Mermaid's Mirror
Author: L.K. Madigan
Genre: Young Adult
Release Date: 10/04/10
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Summary:

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...

Plot: 3.5 Stars
The first half of this novel came off very comtemporary, as compared to paranormal. Except for two paragraphs at the end of two chapters, there was no mention of mermaids until past the halfway mark. It wasn't necessarily a bad thing, it just wasn't what I expected. I'm a paranormal lover, so I want the creatures to be hiding in every corner. But this novel was very restrained. Even after the idea of the mermaid was brought up, it was another fifty pages or so until Lena actually sees and talks to one. But once we meet the merpeople, the lore behind them is very interesting. My favorite part of the story is how the author wove surfing into the story. It was every interesting to read about, and none of the descriptions were confusing to someone who does not surf.

Pace: 3 Stars
The pace of this novel was very strong in the beginning. The first two thirds of the novel flew by, even with the lack of paranormal. When the idea of mermaids finally came up, the pace slowed down a bit. It seemed like Lena dwelled on the topic quite a bit, with little action going on around her. Then she pace slowed even further once she entered the ocean to meet more merpeople. Many of the underwater scenes didn't seem to further the plot much. Lena also seemed like a totally different person while she was underwater, and it was a bit weird. A bit of the problems in these later scenes is explained near the end, but there were still some unnecessary scenes underwater.

Characters: 4 Stars
All of the characters in this novel were developed very thoroughly. Lena was a very complex teenager, but not in the normal adolescent ways. She came across very mature at times, while still acting like a kid. The love she felt for her parents and her brother really shined through. Her little brother was a very cute character, and I'm glad he played such a large role. Siblings, especially younger ones, are not that common in paranormal young adult novels. Her best friends were great characters. The author was able to bring them into Lena's life without them getting in the way of the story. They actually helped bring the story together through surfing.

Cover: 3 Stars
Although the cover really resonates with the main character Lena, and her love for the ocean, it's a bit washed out. The ocean in the background seems a bit too quiet and dull. A breaking wave or a brighter blue would really draw the eye to an important element to the story. Although it is cloudy and rainy during parts of the novel, I think this cover could've used a ray of sunshine peeking through the clouds. It would fit the mood of the story a bit more. But I loved that the cover model is facing away from the reader, and towards the ocean. Even without seeing the cover model's face, I can feel her longing for the sea.

Overall: 3.5 Stars

Disclosure: I bought this novel for my own reading pleasure.