Into the Drowning Deep by Mira Grant

Series: Rolling in the Deep #1
439 p.
Published: 11/14/17
Publisher: Orbit
Source: NetGalley and publisher for review

Seven years ago, the Atargatis set off on a voyage to the Mariana Trench to film a “mockumentary” bringing to life ancient sea creatures of legend. It was lost at sea with all hands. Some have called it a hoax; others have called it a maritime tragedy. 

Now, a new crew has been assembled. But this time they’re not out to entertain. Some seek to validate their life’s work. Some seek the greatest hunt of all. Some seek the truth. But for the ambitious young scientist Victoria Stewart this is a voyage to uncover the fate of the sister she lost. 

Whatever the truth may be, it will only be found below the waves. 

But the secrets of the deep come with a price.

My thoughts:

I love mermaid tales. Not all admittedly have appealed to me but this one really peaked my interest. It is horror so no singing red haired girl longing for legs (although that original Grimm tale could also be horror).  It also spoke a lot to the horror of what humans have done to the ecosystem. Now this isn't a book on questioning who is the villain in this tale, as the mermaids were presented as nothing but killers... but there is an opening and this theme may come into play in later books. There is also a working knowledge of science and even the holes in biological science that has yet to be filled. This lent the book a realistic feel and you could believe that these monsters could exist.

While this is a horror tale, those who like romance will get a taste of it, but only a taste. We tend to be more engaged in why they came aboard and how they change as things start happening. The horror of what the sirens (mermaids) wrought take center stage and any more romance would have muddied the waters... so to speak. There is an opening for further romance and I think it may happen more as the series progresses.

We also journey in this tale through book excerpts from the experts on the voyage as well as diary quotes and other mediums so the tale gets broken up a bit but it enhances the peril these voyagers found themselves. This also made the tale feel unique as well.

I give this book 4 stars. If you are looking for a good horror tale, I do highly recommend this book. While the book falters a bit in the end for me, it still feels complete with open threads to be explored as we learn more about the sirens of the deep. I also really appreciated how the science was used successfully in this book.

🐟

The Mermaid's Secret by Katie Schickel

Standalone
288 p.
Publisher: Forge Books
Published: 6/14/16
Source: From publisher for review

Life on land is suffocating for Jess Creary, who wastes her summers flipping burgers for tourists on a fishing boat off her quaint resort island home off the coast of Maine. After all, her older sister Kay died in a boating accident two years ago, her mother has disappeared, and her father isn't exactly dealing with things so well. Surfing and the handsome Captain Matthew are about the only bright spots in her life. 

Then, on her twenty-third birthday, Jess catches the perfect wave--a wave that transforms her into a mermaid. Under the sea, a startlingly beautiful, dark place, Jess is reborn into a confident, powerful predator with superhuman strength --finally she is someone to be reckoned with. Meanwhile, back on land, Jess's relationship with Captain Matthew heats up, and so does her search for justice for Kay. 

Jess has thirty days to choose between land and sea; legs and fins; her humanity and her freedom. Who could ignore the freedom of the sea? Yet, the ocean is a dark, wild, lonely place. Is this a gift or a curse? Will Jess choose family and love, forgiveness and truth, or will she be seduced by the wild call of the sparkling sea forever?

My thoughts:

Okay, I'm a mermaid fan. I admit it. So, when this book found it's way into my hands, I knew I was going to read it. Not all mermaid books have been a success for me, but it is still a mythological creature we have stayed in the shallows and not gone much into the deep end (see what I did there? I crack myself up sometimes...). Yea, I still want more books with this mythos and this one had a paranormal, chick lit, magical realism vibe to it.

This was mostly about a family who endured a tragedy and how they all dealt with the death of Jess's sister. Her father became overprotective, her mother took off, and Jess refused to reach for her future and become less of herself. This is more of Jess's journey and for a relatively short novel, it does a pretty good job of it.

There were times when Jess annoyed me. She was a bit on the whiney side and was too easily overcome by anger. It made sense but at the same time you still wanted her to wake up and stop hurting herself more than the person she accuses of her sister's death. It might have been easier to deal with if we had spent more time with her and knew the girl she was before the tragedy but honestly it was a minor niggle that wasn't that hard to swallow. She does grow in the end and there is also a romance brewing in the background that helps with her transformation. I think it was the acceptance of those around her that led to her biggest growth.

I give this book 4 stars. While it isn't the best mermaid story out there, those that like chick lit and magical realism might like this twist in the storyline. I wanted to know more about some of the secondary characters but in the end was satisfied with what I got in this book.

Deep Blue (Waterfire Saga #1) by Jennifer Donnelly

Series: Waterfire Saga #1
320p.
Publisher: Disney Press
Published: May, 6, 14
Source: NetGalley and publisher for review

The first in a series of four epic tales set in the depths of the ocean, where six mermaids seek to protect and save their hidden world. 

Deep in the ocean, in a world not so different from our own, live the merpeople. Their communities are spread throughout the oceans, seas, and freshwaters all over the globe. 

When Serafina, a mermaid of the Mediterranean Sea, awakens on the morning of her betrothal, her biggest worry should be winning the love of handsome Prince Mahdi. And yet Sera finds herself haunted by strange dreams that foretell the return of an ancient evil. Her dark premonitions are confirmed when an assassin's arrow poisons Sera's mother. Now, Serafina must embark on a quest to find the assassin's master and prevent a war between the Mer nations. Led only by her shadowy dreams, Sera searches for five other mermaid heroines who are scattered across the six seas. Together, they will form an unbreakable bond of sisterhood and uncover a conspiracy that threatens their world's very existence.

My thoughts:
 This is a first book of four in the Waterfire Saga. In this book we are introduced to Serafina a mermaid destined to take over for her mother in ruling her area of the sea. Her betrothal is someone she did love, but isn't so sure of lately. The rumors of his actions of late leave the princess less than thrilled at the prospect as had been just a year ago. While you think at first this is what the book is about, there is a dark turn the book takes and now Seraphina must find out who she really is and what she cares about. She needs to find out what kind of ruler she is going to become. She meets others along the way set out with their own but entwining destiny with Seraphina and this book is mostly about uncovering those truths and what they reveal about who they will become.

I feel this is an easy read for a fantasy book. I actually think that MG readers would also be able to get into this book easily. I did have a few problems with the book and it had more to do with the actions of the mermaids forgetting they were under water. For example, how would one drink a specific drink? Without a straw or some apparatus like this, it would just mix with the water. One instance it was said that Seraphina had tears. I could see looking as if she was crying, but again tears, unless out of the water, would not be seen. I also remember one mermaid remarking that another had beads of sweat on her brow. These were minor but an example of when I think the world was confused with one on dry land.

I give this book 3 stars. Despite the flaws with consistency with the world building I think it was an easy and enjoyable read that young kids could easily slip into. I recommend it to those wanting to try a fantasy book with mermaids! :)

The Water Witch (Fairwick Chronicles #2) by Juliet Dark

After casting out a dark spirit, Callie McFay, a professor of gothic literature, has at last restored a semblance of calm to her rambling Victorian house. But in the nearby thicket of the Honeysuckle Forest, and in the currents of the rushing Undine River, more trouble is stirring... 

The enchanted town of Fairwick’s dazzling mix of mythical creatures has come under siege from the Grove: a sinister group of witches determined to banish the fey back to their ancestral land. With factions turning on one another, all are cruelly forced to take sides. Callie’s grandmother, a prominent Grove member, demands her granddaughter’s compliance, but half-witch/half-fey Callie can hardly betray her friends and colleagues at the college.

To stave off disaster, Callie enlists Duncan Laird, an alluring seductive academic who cultivates her vast magical potential, but to what end? Deeply conflicted, Callie struggles to save her beloved Fairwick, dangerously pushing her extraordinary powers to the limit—risking all, even the needs of her own passionate heart.

Those that have worried about me, wanting to start a series from the beginning... rejoice! Guess what? I haven't read the first book in this series. Yep, I jumped into the second book. :D Luckily for me, I didn't need to read the first book to understand what was going on. I did get a sense that I had missed some interesting things that had happened in the last book, but connecting to the characters in this story wasn't hard at all.

Now, even though I didn't have a hard time connecting to Callie, I did feel that if I had started the series from the beginning, I would have had a better feel for Liam. Even so, this was more about Callie so my lack of preparation for this book did not make me suffer. And as much as I did like Callie, I have to say she quite often frustrated me with her seemingly inability to think things through. She blundered through quite a bit of messed up magic and it still didn't seem to teach her to stop and think before plodding through. Still, she did care so much for her friends that it helped balance out all the frustrating parts.

This story, despite some of the plot holes, was fun. Not all my questions were answered and some of the twists were a bit predictable. However, it had some quite steamy smexy scenes and a few interesting secondary characters. I would like to know more about this world and I may have to pick up that first book to see if it fills in some of the holes. I also have to warn those, like me, who hate cliffies... yep there is one here but I admit (grudgingly) that it has made me want that next book to see what happens to these characters next.

I give this book 3 stars. It's a fun PNR book that you don't need to read the first book to get into the world. However, you might want to start with book 1 to get a solid feel of Callie and Liam.

I received this eARC from the publisher and NetGalley and no compensation for my review was given.

Fathomless by Jackson Pearce

Celia Reynolds is the youngest in a set of triplets and the one with the least valuable power. Anne can see the future, and Jane can see the present, but all Celia can see is the past. And the past seems so insignificant -- until Celia meets Lo. 

Lo doesn't know who she is. Or who she was. Once a human, she is now almost entirely a creature of the sea -- a nymph, an ocean girl, a mermaid -- all terms too pretty for the soulless monster she knows she's becoming. Lo clings to shreds of her former self, fighting to remember her past, even as she's tempted to embrace her dark immortality. 

When a handsome boy named Jude falls off a pier and into the ocean, Celia and Lo work together to rescue him from the waves. The two form a friendship, but soon they find themselves competing for Jude's affection. Lo wants more than that, though. According to the ocean girls, there's only one way for Lo to earn back her humanity. She must persuade a mortal to love her... and steal his soul.

Mermaid story? Oh yea, you know I wanted to read this one. In this book the mermaids were once human children. Something happened to them and they were suddenly able to exist under water. The sea as calming as it is fierce tends to strip away their memories. With those memories goes the last of humanity they try to cling. When at last they give up, they become something else. How, what and why are the questions that lead to the adventure in this book. It is a search for Lo and Nadia both who exist in the same body.

Yes, like her other stories, this one is also based on a faerie tale, this one is based on the original Little Mermaid story. Admittedly I haven't read that one, but I am familiar with the tale. There are distinct differences and she introduces other elements as well. We see hints of the 3 fates in the sisters that occupy the land half of this tale. We also get a bit of a bard in the love interest, Jude. Although I enjoyed these elements, I wanted more information. Why did the 3 sisters have powers? What was the mythology she was exploring? It's not all absent, but I wanted more. It wasn't enough for me to touch upon these tales but I admit it did preserve the mystery. Others would not have the same yearning I did after reading this story.

The ending has a twist I didn't see coming and the book does feel complete. I give this book 3 1/2 stars. I just wanted to know more of the world in which they inhabit. However, you are given no more information than the characters. I do have to say that in one way it is perfect that she does that. The darkness is preserved that way... but for those of us who like to shed light on that dark, it can be frustrating. :)

I received this book from Little, Brown Books and no compensation for my review was given.

Fathom by Merrie Destefano

Everything is changing... 

Turning sixteen can be hell, especially if everyone in town thinks your mother killed herself and your sister. All Kira Callahan wants to do is swim, hang out with her best friend, Sean, and ignore the kids who torment her at school. That is, until one day when she gets invited to a party. For three minutes her life is wonderful—she even kisses Sean in the driveway. Then somebody spikes her drink at the party and some girls from out of town lure her into the ocean and hold her underwater. 

Kira soon discovers that the group of wild teenagers who have come to visit Crescent Moon Bay are not as innocent as they seem. In fact, nothing is as it seems—not the mysterious deaths of her sister and mother, not her heritage, not even her best friend. And everything seems to hinge on the ancient Celtic legends that her mother used to tell her as a child.

Fathom is a selkie tale steeped in lore and mystery. Kira is a typical teen girl who feels invisible but has a couple of great friends she can depend. She has never felt secure in herself ever since when she was 6 her mother went crazy and killed both herself and her sister. When she turns 16 she feels the whispers of a legacy she would rather forget especially when she looks in the mirror. Everyone notices she looks exactly like her mother.

I have to say that for most of the book, I was connected to Kira on a level, but it wasn't very deep until much later in the book. I think this is because there was so much mystery surrounding Kira, I was more involved in learning what was going on. The mystery was the consuming factor and I didn't mind it at all.

As we move along in the story we start finding out little tidbits, crumbs for us to follow. As frustrating as learning only tiny bits of mystery could be, it was also captivating and I wanted to know more. I wanted to just read faster. While this is happening, I was becoming more connected to Kira and I wanted to solve the mystery for her. We also get hit with a couple of plot twists. One I really didn't see coming!

I did have a couple of small criticisms. One was the potential love triangle. It really never came off totally like that, but it did threaten to rear it's head. In the end there is no complete love but yet not one absent either. It was nice, to be truthful and although anything can change in the books to come, nothing felt too forced... at least with Sean. Now, Caleb was another matter. Although they became friends, I just didn't get that connection. We were told this happened, but did not witness it. I would have liked more information on how that organically grew. Other than that, I enjoyed Caleb as well. Mostly because he helped solve a big portion of the mystery.

I give this book 3 1/2 stars. I recommend it to those that love lore and mythology especially those of the fae. I'm curious as to where this series goes in the next book.

I received this eARC from the author an no compensation for my review was given.

Bloggy note:

Come back tomorrow for an author blog post by Merrie Destefano and giveaway!

Monstrous Beauty by Elizabeth Fama

Fierce, seductive mermaid Syrenka falls in love with Ezra, a young naturalist. When she abandons her life underwater for a chance at happiness on land, she is unaware that this decision comes with horrific and deadly consequences. 

Almost one hundred forty years later, seventeen-year-old Hester meets a mysterious stranger named Ezra and feels overwhelmingly, inexplicably drawn to him. For generations, love has resulted in death for the women in her family. Is it an undiagnosed genetic defect... or a curse? With Ezra’s help, Hester investigates her family’s strange, sad history. The answers she seeks are waiting in the graveyard, the crypt, and at the bottom of the ocean—but powerful forces will do anything to keep her from uncovering her connection to Syrenka and to the tragedy of so long ago.

I was pleasantly surprised by Monstrous Beauty. It was dark and it also harkens back to the mythology of mermaids while still inventing some of it's own. In this one there are alternating POV in terms of the past with Syrenka and the present with Hester. At first, this was a bit off-putting, but quickly resolves itself into sharing bits of the story as we need it.

The mystery that surrounds Hester is also not fully revealed at once, but slowly shown to us as we get to know both her and Syrenka of the past. I enjoyed this as it allowed the story to preserve some of the tension. Syrenka is also a character I really enjoyed. Even though I would have liked to know her much more intimately, I think the distance also made sense. She wasn't human and so had a different way of looking at things. It was her struggle to love and be loved that made her character stand out to me. Hester, I also enjoyed, but admit to liking a bit less when quick decisions make you question the quality of her character. However, these moments were few so it didn't end up bugging me that much.

I give this mer-tale (get it?) 4 stars. I really enjoyed a story that harkened back to the mythology of old. One where the main themes are of loneliness, love/death, sacrifice, and mystery.

I received this ARC from Farrar Straus Giroux and no compensation for my review was given.

Bloggy PS:

I would also like to say something about the cover. The cover I first saw was:

I loved it and it makes sense in the book. However they changed it and I don't know why! I think this one was perfect and the current one... quite frankly doesn't fit the story as well. *sigh*

This book is to be published tomorrow!

Lies Beneath (Lies Beneath #1) by Anne Greenwood Brown

Calder White lives in the cold, clear waters of Lake Superior, the only brother in a family of murderous mermaids. To survive, Calder and his sisters prey on humans, killing them to absorb their energy. But this summer the underwater clan targets Jason Hancock out of pure revenge. They blame Hancock for their mother's death and have been waiting a long time for him to return to his family's homestead on the lake. Hancock has a fear of water, so to lure him in, Calder sets out to seduce Hancock's daughter, Lily. Easy enough—especially as Calder has lots of practice using his irresistable good looks and charm on ususpecting girls. Only this time Calder screws everything up: he falls for Lily—just as Lily starts to suspect that there's more to the monsters-in-the-lake legends than she ever imagined. And just as his sisters are losing patience with him.

A dark mermaid story (and you thought I'd say tale-tail! ha!) is something I spring toward. I enjoyed the character of Calder, the merman. He was strong and struggled with questions about himself. I also enjoyed Lily's sense of being different. She embraced it. The darkness of these mermaids being more serial killers than the preening waifs also really got my attention. Also there was a twist in the story, which was easily discoverable but no less enjoyable. However, despite all these accolades, I can't say I fell in love with this story.

It was the distance I felt with all the characters. I just couldn't connect with any of them. I also couldn't connect to the romance with Calder and Lily. And I can't tell you exactly why I just didn't connect with those things. I'd have to say that was more a mystery to me than anything else in this book. Despite that disconnect I will say that I was still intrigued enough to finish the book and would read the next. I would be curious to see if the problem I encountered in this story would be remedied. As I said above, it does have all the other elements that I enjoy.

In conclusion, I give this book 3 stars. It wasn't a bad book by any means. In fact I can see elements of the story coming together as the series continues that will end up satisfying me. I do hope that is the case.

I received this eARC from NetGalley and the publisher and no compensation for my review was given.

Of Poseidon (Of Poseidon #1) by Anna Banks

Galen is the prince of the Syrena, sent to land to find a girl he’s heard can communicate with fish. Emma is on vacation at the beach. When she runs into Galen—literally, ouch!—both teens sense a connection. But it will take several encounters, including a deadly one with a shark, for Galen to be convinced of Emma’s gifts. Now, if he can only convince Emma that she holds the key to his kingdom . . .

Told from both Emma and Galen’s points of view, here is a fish-out-of-water story that sparkles with intrigue, humor, and waves of romance.

 Yep, this is a mermaid book. *yawns* Yea, had to force myself to read it. Did I fool anyone yet? Heh... if you know me at all you know I really couldn't wait to "dive" *snort* into this book. Oh yea... Ashley of the Bookish Brunette might be the queen of zombies but I am the queen of mermaids! Oh I like the sound of that.

Okay, now that I have established that I have a full on mermaid fan, I will try to be as impartial as I can while reviewing this book. I will say this book starts out as a fantasy I had as a kid. To find out that you really were a mermaid, you just didn't know it. Of course there is more to it than that and we follow Emma's introduction into a new world as well as following Galen's adventure in finding Emma and learning how to love.

I did feel connected to Emma, but I will admit that I didn't connect with Galen as a swoon-worthy guy at first. I mean he had all the qualifications. Hot... check. Has a great sense of who he is... check. Is able to see beyond himself to the greater good... check. Alpha male who becomes helpless in the face of an alpha female... check. Still, I wasn't convinced until the last part of the book. I think that is when he finally admits his feelings (I'm not giving anything away here, you knew this from the start) and starts being completely truthful with Emma. Oh yea... then I swooned. ;)

I give this PNR YA book 4 stars. It's a great introduction to this series. It doesn't end with a cliffie, but it does open up for the next book which you will want immediately!

My only question left is... didn't Galen miss a Syrena (mermaid)? *points to self* *Ahem!* ;)

I received this ARC from the publisher and no compensation for my review was given.

Anatra by Marilena Mexi

Description:

Peace and tranquility on the island of Aster, home to both humans and 'merfolk', has long been broken by a devastating phenomenon, recurring every five years. A storm including gusting winds and huge waves mysteriously appeared and eradicated much of the population. The misunderstandings, suspicion and hate born of this disaster have torn the two races apart, and the peace loving merfolk are now in a never-ending struggle to prove their innocence and restore peace to the island. 

On the human side, things are even worse; under the tyranny of cruel king Orestis, the people suffer and all their king cares for is vengeance against the “fish”, as he spitefully calls them, executing merfolk after merfolk for just being near his lands. Secrets, intense emotions and strange phenomena will upset their lives forever.

This is a hard book for me to review. I want to separate it into two reviews. One for the story and one for the artwork. Therefore I think that is what I will do...

The story is more of a young MG/YA type of read. It is sweet and the adventure is a good one to get kids involved into fantasy. You have mermaids and a handsome prince on which to swoon. The world is sweet with just enough of scary to bring together the couple. The lesson in the book is a good one about not condemning someone or something without evidence and that people are not static. One that might have been bad in the past can choose to be good. Although I thought this was a sweet book for the MG crowd, the pictures (for some parents) might have problems with the bare breasts of the mermaids (I live in America and they frown on that here). However, even having said that I did not see the pictures for the book as overtly sexual. It would be a matter of preference to the parent or person reading.

Now, I'd LOVE to turn to the pictures Marilena has made for the book. I love the paintings and are well done. I'm not easy to impress in depictions of fantasy because I have seen so many poorly done drawings or paintings. Ms. Mexi has won awards for her painting and you can tell why. The bones of the painting are strong and I enjoyed her colors. Many of the paintings are portraits of the characters, but my favorites tend to be the ones that were a part of a story. I also loved the landscapes that projected well the vastness and ethereal quality of the island.

Storm (do not copy!)

Although I did not love the story as much as the artwork, I still enjoyed the book. I'm really glad the author was inspired to do fantasy and I hope she continues. I would also be curious as to how the author might do a graphic novel. I'd really like to see more of her characters in action poses.

 I received this book from the author and no compensation was given.

Lost Voices by Sara Porter

Description:

Fourteen-year-old Luce has had a tough life, but she reaches the depths of despair when she is assaulted and left on the cliffs outside of a grim, gray Alaskan fishing village. She expects to die when she tumbles into the icy waves below, but instead undergoes an astonishing transformation and becomes a mermaid. A tribe of mermaids finds Luce and welcomes her in—all of them, like her, lost girls who surrendered their humanity in the darkest moments of their lives. Luce is thrilled with her new life until she discovers the catch: the mermaids feel an uncontrollable desire to drown seafarers, using their enchanted voices to lure ships into the rocks. Luce possesses an extraordinary singing talent, which makes her important to the tribe—she may even have a shot at becoming their queen. However her struggle to retain her humanity puts her at odds with her new friends. Will Luce be pressured into committing mass murder? 

The first book in a trilogy, Lost Voices is a captivating and wildly original tale about finding a voice, the healing power of friendship, and the strength it takes to forgive.

 This book is very original. Not because it deals with mermaids but how it also deals with the darker side of humans. This is the part that captured me. I saw the transformation into a mermaid as more of a metaphor for their abusive experience. For example, like some kids who go through a horrific abuse time stops for them. In the book, when the mermaid appears that is how they will always look. No hair growth, no growth at all. I felt this mirrored the emotional growth that was stunted for these girls. The deaths they caused by using their siren voices to crash ships; their pleasure at dominating the "bad humans", and the look of love and admiration from their victims all parallel their former lives as girls. They either recreated their situation for others or tried to latch on to some poor imitation of love. So, it is safe to say I found the parallels in the dark world fascinating and compelling.

I can also see their siren call, the singing parallel the voice they begin to find within themselves once they feel they have found the support they always craved. The song is often described as an animal taking over and yearns to call death. Considering all the girls have been through, perhaps it isn't taking over as it is lashing back at the pain and the death within. Luce is the only one who even considers her pain and that is perhaps the only reason she tries to conquer her voice as one would conquer the demons within.

Well, to go on, I fear I would reveal too much so I will place a starfish over my lips so I cannot say more. (ow!) Perhaps you will not quite see it the way I found fascinating, but you still may be fascinated in the way the author had with the darkness of this story. I give this dark mermaid book 4 stars. I'm also glad that this is a trilogy as it ends with... not a cliffhanger... but more a... "So? What's next? Huh? TELL ME!" Yes, I need the next one quickly. ;) This book is published today!


I received this eARC from Harcourt and NetGalley and no compensation was received.

Psst... Ashley... TEAM MERMAID! ;D
Other reviews:
Books With Bite
I Swim for Oceans

The Mermaid's Pendant by LeAnn Neal Reilly

From Pump Up Your Book:

Inspired by the beloved classic The Little Mermaid, THE MERMAID’S PENDANT is a modern fairy tale about growing up and discovering who you are—and what you believe in. At times lyrical, this novel is a fantastic journey filled with magic, myth, romance, and adventure.

Four years after John Wilkerson claims the mermaid Tamarind for his wife, they have an idyllic marriage that depends on a talisman that she crafted on their island paradise. But Tamarind learns a painful truth: it takes more than legs to live on land and more than magic to sustain a bond. When the talisman breaks, she and John are forced to rely on themselves instead of magic.

Three wise women play key roles in the young lovers’ journey to mature love. Ana, Tamarind’s aging mentor, casts spells and performs seductions to keep the lovers apart. Valerie, an expat jewelry maker cum fairy godmother, works her own magic to bring them together. Lucy, their widowed neighbor, grounds the couple in the realities of marriage, parenting, and family.

THE MERMAID’S PENDANT is a story for anyone who has ever believed in the transforming power of love.

The beginning of this book is a retold tale of The Little Mermaid. More the Disney version rather than the Grimm faerie tale. This telling is also set in the present time and John is no prince. In fact, he is flawed as much as any human being. Tamarind falls for John and is determined to be with him no matter the consequences of her decision. Ana, plays the sea witch well and she helps Tamarind transform herself into a human to be with John. Ana's motives are not altruistic  and her true price for Tamarind's transformation is not given voice until Tamarind herself figures it out. However, to get to what Ana truly wants, she must get John out of the way. Ana's manipulations are tireless throughout the book. Luckily for the couple Valerie, a friend to both, also has a bit of magic which brings the couple together. Her magic is felt and seen in the form of a pendant as well as sage advice.


In the second half of this book we learn more of what happens "after" people ride off into the sunset. The mystical part is not gone as Ana still weaves her magic to come between the couple and their child, Sarah, has an outlook to life far beyond her young years. She meets a kind neighbor, Lucy, who has the wisdom of years to draw from. She becomes another rock Tamarind can cling to and find strength. Luckily Ana is unaware of this rock. As time goes by and things in marriage get complicated and misunderstandings abound, the couple's silence of things left unsaid become more powerful than any spell Ana can weave. However, questions still remain. Does Ana take advantage of this problem and win? Can the couple find their way back to each other? Will they learn that even though their beginning was the stuff of fairy tales it still takes work to make a relationship last? Hmm... not telling. You'll have to read the book to find out.


I give this book 4 stars. The beginning was delightful. I enjoyed the retelling of The Little Mermaid. The second half, although very different, did fit with the first half of the book. It read more like a chick lit book as people learn about themselves and each other. My only complaint is John. I would like to see John to have given up more of his lifestyle for Tamarind. I would have liked to have seen him truly grasp the enormity of Tamarind's gift. In ways he certainly does, but some times I wanted to smack his head to make him see. Granted Tamarind didn't tell him, however she wasn't a human long and was used to reading another's mind. I did enjoy that John was flawed and not this mystical prince come to save the day (sometimes that really annoys me), but I still would have like to have seen some sort of thought process that involved his wife more.