by Jaclyn DolamorePublisher: Bloomsbury
Release Date: Oct 25, 2011
Source: ARC sent by publisher
My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Summary from goodreads.com:
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.
My Review:
This book was excellent, it really was so much more than what I thought it would be. I assumed it was yet another YA paranormal set in today's world. But I was so wrong. The author has set up an entire world where mermaids, humans, and winged people all live (somewhat) together. The world is historical in nature, even though I couldn't pinpoint an era, it'd definitely not today's world of cell phones and mean girls.
I loved that the author really thought out the romance. It wasn't the watered down fairy tale where the girl drops everything to be with the boy. Both Esmerine and Alan really respect each other and don't want to tear the other from their home and way of life.
Aside from the Dosinia storyline, which I had figured out pretty quickly, there was nothing else predictable about the story. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough to see what would happen to Esmerine and Alan. I loved that the book was only 250 pages. Because there was no filler to make the book longer, every page was exciting.
The romance was fantastic, even tough I wanted more romance in the beginning. The couple was very guarded at the start, but once they let each other in, their relationship was wonderful. And what better hero could a reader want than a cutie who always has a book tucked into his vest pocket?
Main Characters: 5/5
Supporting Characters: 4/5
Setting: 5/5
Romance: 5/5
Uniqueness: 5/5
Cover: 5/5
Writing: 5/5
Bottom Line: This book is perfect for fans of fantasy and romance who are ready for something different from the norm. It's definitely on my keeper shelf.