The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner (The Queen's Thief #1)

Original Title: The Thief

Year Published: 2005

Published by:  Greenwillow Books

Number of Pages: 208

First Sentence: "I didn't know how long I had been in the king´s prison."

Goodreads Rating: 4/5

Plot:

The king's scholar, the magus, believes he knows the site of an ancient treasure. To attain it for his king, he needs a skillful thief, and he selects Gen from the king's prison. The magus is interested only in the thief's abilities.

What Gen is interested in is anyone's guess. Their journey toward the treasure is both dangerous and difficult, lightened only imperceptibly by the tales they tell of the old gods and goddesses.

My thoughts:

I have to be honest with you. When I first started this book I thought I would either finish it and hate it or not finish it at all. I turned out to be wrong. It's slow to begin with but as soon as it picks up the pace it turns out to be really interesting.

Gen, or Eugenides, is the main character of this book. When we first meet him he is in a pitiful state. He is looked in a prison and pretty much on the brink of death. He is saved by the king's magus, who approaches Gen with an offer (read order) to tag along on an adventure. Gen agrees (not like he has a choice) and off they go. As a character Gen is wonderful. He is sarcastic, good hearted and very honorable for a thief.

The other characters grow on you as well. Gen has four companions (perhaps jailers) with him on the adventure. The magus, who I hated at the start, turns out to be an ok guy. I won't tell you why, because spoilers. The three other characters, Sophos, Ambiades, and Pol, all play their part in the plot. Two of them you will get very attached to, and one you will come to dislike very much.

The plot then. The point of the adventure is to steal an artefact from a neighbouring kingdom. Since Gen is an excellent thief despite being captured he is of course chosen to do the actual stealing. But it is of course not that simple. The artefact is very well hidden and many covet it and its powers. A big part of the plot is the journey to where this artefact is being hidden. The first part of the journey is the boring part, but after a while, it gets really interesting as Turner begins to develop the characters. And of course it doesn't end with the stealing of said artefact, because of course Gen succeeds, but that is just the start of a new adventure.

Do I recommend it? 

Yes, I do.

ARC Review: Rend the Dark by Mark Gelineau and Joe King

Original Title: Rend the Dark

Year Published: 2015

Published by:  Gelineau and King (an arc was kindly provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review)

Number of Pages: 78

First Sentence: "The boy felt it before he saw it."

Goodreads Rating: 4/5

Plot:

The great Ruins are gone. The titans. The behemoths. All banished to the Dark and nearly forgotten. But the cunning ones, the patient ones remain. They hide not in the cracks of the earth or in the shadows of the world. But inside us. Wearing our skin. Waiting. Watching.

Once haunted by visions of the world beyond, Ferran now wields that power to hunt the very monsters that he once feared. He is not alone. Others bear the same terrible burden. But Hunter or hunted, it makes no difference. Eventually, everything returns to the Dark.

My thoughts:

Gelineau and King have quickly become favourites of mine. The stories are short (becuse they are novellas) but packed with entertainment.

In this installment, we meet Ferran, who has the ability to see the monsters that haunt his world. From being terrified by those monsters as a child, he is now a hunter who hunts them down. Despite being the sort of main character, Ferran doesn't actually star in it that much. Sure, he is very important but he isn't the actual narrator for the majority of the story. Instead, we are guided by Hileon, a young magistrate who meet Ferran when monsters threaten his peaceful life. Just as Hileon is being accompanied by his fellow magistrate Riffolk, Ferran also has a hunting partner, Mireia, a badass female huntress.

It is impressive just how well Gelineau and King develop their characters within the limited amount of pages a novella can hold. It really felt like you got to know the characters and by the end of it all, you care deeply for them at the end (which comes way to quickly).

The story is very engaging and well written. It's the perfect combination of adventure and suspense. There is violence and some graphic scenes, but they aren't horrible to read. In fact, they swish by so fast the slight gore in some scenes quickly fade from your mind. I won't spoil the story for you, but I will tell you that it is thoroughly entertainment and the pages will fly by, not because there are so few of them, but because you will be so entranced by the story.

Do I recommend it? 

Yes, I really do.

The Waterborne Blade by Susan Murray (Waterborne #1)

Original Title: The Waterborne Blade

Year Published: 2015

Published by: Angry Robot (an arc was kindly provided via NetGalley)

Number of Pages: N/A

First Sentence: "By the time Weaver reached the anteroom to the king's chamber, the clammy chill of rain-soaked linen had seeped through to his very bones."

Goodreads Rating: 3/5

Plot:

The citadel has long been the stronghold of Highkell. All that is about to change because the traitor, Vasic, is marching on the capital. Against her better judgement, Queen Alwenna allows herself to be spirited away by one of the Crown's most trusted servants, safe from the clutches of the throne's would-be usurper.

Fleeing across country, she quickly comes to learn that her pampered existence has ill-equipped her for survival away from the comforts of the court. Alwenna must toughen up, and fast, if she is even to make it to a place of safety. But she has an even loftier aim - for after dreaming of her husband's impending death, Alwenna knows she must turn around and head back to Highkell to save the land she loves, and the husband who adores her, or die in the attempt.

But Vasic the traitor is waiting. And this was all just as he planned.

My thoughts:

Well, it is not a bad book. In fact, it is actually quite good. However, it took a lot longer to read than I had anticipated. And it is not just because it is long, it was also due to the fact that parts of the book are slow. This did not help the overall reading experience and I sadly enough found myself bored from time to time. The book felt more as a build up to the following books, which is understandable, but this is not the way it has to be.

The characters are likable and easy to get to know. We switch between three different point of views. The female main character, Alwenna, who is married to the king of Highkell. She is plagued by visions of events that are happening and things that are yet to come. Then it is the male main character, Weaver, who has been entrusted by Alwenna's husband to protect her. Finally, it is the point of view of the male antagonist, Vasic, who is Alwenna's cousin and who wishes to gain control over Highkell. They are all easy to understand and quite easy to follow, but so much of the book feels like you are in transit. Something is happening, but it is not very exciting.

I do believe that this series has the potential of becoming something great and I will probably read the rest of the series once published as well. I would like to point out that I read an arc, and that the published verison might be different from the arc I have reviewed.

Do I recommend it? 

If you like fantasy set in a historical setting then sure, why not? Like I said, it is not bad, but for me it was a little hard to get into.

Fairy Keeper by Amy Bearce

Original Title: Fairy Keeper

Year Published: 2015

Published by: Curiosity Quills Press (an arc was kindly provided via NetGalley)

Number of Pages: 238

First Sentence: "The last drops of fairy nectar clung to the edge of the jar fourteen-year-old Sierra Quinn held, poised aboved the vial containing that day's harvest."

Goodreads Rating: 4/5

Plot:

Forget cute fairies in pretty dresses. In the world of Aluvia, most fairies are more like irritable, moody insects. Almost everyone in the world of Aluvia views the fairy keeper mark as a gift, but not fourteen-year-old Sierra. She hates being a fairy keeper, but the birthmark is right there on the back of her neck. It shows everyone she was born with the natural ability to communicate, attract, and even control the tiny fairies whose nectar is amazingly powerful. Fairy nectar can heal people, but it is also a key ingredient in synthesizing Flight, an illegal elixir that produces dreaminess, apathy and hallucinations. She’s forced to care for a whole hive of the bee-like beasties by her Flight-dealing, dark alchemist father.

Then one day, Sierra discovers the fairies of her hatch are mysteriously dead. The fairy queen is missing. Her father’s Flight operation is halted, and he plans to make up for the lost income by trading her little sister to be an elixir runner for another dark alchemist, a dangerous thug. Desperate to protect her sister, Sierra convinces her father she can retrieve the lost queen and get his operation up and running.

The problem? Sierra’s queen wasn’t the only queen to disappear. They’re all gone, every single one, and getting them back will be deadly dangerous. 

Sierra journeys with her best friend and her worst enemy -- assigned by her father to dog her every step -- to find the missing queens. Along the way, they learn that more than just her sister’s life is at stake if they fail. There are secrets in the Skyclad Mountains where the last wild fairies were seen. The magic Sierra finds there has the power to transform their world, but only if she can first embrace her calling as a fairy keeper.

My thoughts:

I did not expect to like this book as much as I did. Why? Because the first chapter had me feeling a bit meh about the rest of it. But from then on it picked up and I only put the book away to sleep. Fantastic little book, with a good twist on magic worlds.

You really do need to rid yourself of your preconceived ideas of fairies. Bearce has made them very much like wasps, they even have the stingers. But they are still creatures of magic and love, and in the end I actually wanted a fairy of my own. Wish is amazing since I'm deadly allergic to wasps and usually the idea of anything like them give me the creeps. Well played Bearce, well played.

Sierra is an interesting main character. She is flawed, but with a good heart. Her childhood has not been easy, growing up with a horrible father and with a gift that she sees as more of a curse. But when her fairy queen disappears she goes on a dangerous search for her. Although her initial reasons for doing so might not be as selfless and good, they become more and more so as the journey goes on. It was nice to get such a good character development in this book since book like this tend to have very static characters. In fact, several of the minor characters have some kind of development in character, which was really nice to see.

I thought this was just going to be a cute little book about fairies, but it turned into so much more. It is about finding yourself, fighting against those who wish to destroy what's good in the world and the importance of family and friends.

Do I recommend it? 

Yes, I do!

The Doom of Undal by Katrina Sisowath (Dragon Court #2)

Original Title: The Doom of Undal

Year Published: 2015

Published by: 5 Prince Publishing (an arc was kindly provided through NetGalley)

First Sentence: "'Shhh' said a childish voice in a faint whisper, 'It's time to wake up.'"

Goodreads Rating: 5/5

Plot:

The Dragon Court has ruled Tiamut uncontested for millennia, bringing knowledge and prosperity to all.

Yet all is not as it seems---far to the West in the land of Undal, mightiest of the nations, the Royal Queen and her children are struck with a mysterious illness and perish. Was the Dragon Court responsible? Or had the Queen had been experimenting with dark magic?

Her grieving son, trained in the dark arts by the goddess Eris herself, swears vengeance. When he defies the Dragon Court and they rescind their blessing on his royal house, he must turn to his mother's experiments and ancient blood rituals to achieve his aims. In his quest for truth, he will become the greatest threat Tiamut has ever known.

With details pulled directly from Plato (yes, THAT Plato), The Emerald Tablets of Thoth, Sumerian and Egyptian mythology, The Doom of Undal tells the story of the Fall of Atlantis.

My thoughts:

Wow. Just wow... This book is just so ... so... epic. I absolutely adored it and it has been safely and securely been added to my all time favourite books.

The Doom of Undal is the sequel to The Serpent Priestess of the Annunaki, and it picks up pretty much towards the end of the first book. Many characters from the first book are present in this one, which created a nice feeling of familiarity.

In this book, we get to follow three sisters on their journey from childhood to adulthood. The sisters, Sobekh, Hathor and Rhea, are all destined for different aspects of the society governed by the Dragon Court and, therefore, their journeys are vastly different. The plot is nicely divided between the three, with slightly more focus on Hathor and Rhea, which works wonderfully since they are two very interesting characters. So much happens to these characters and the character development deserves all the awards. You feel for the characters, smile in their time of joy and your heart will ache so bad during their hardships.

The antagonist is at first very unlikely, and then through fantastically written hints, it is easy to see how and why the antagonist becomes the antagonist. I will not say who it is because of spoilers! However, it is fascinating to see how the character slowly descends into madness. Amazing.

Egyptian and Sumerian mythology is seamlessly weaved into the plot and used perfectly through the book, just like Christianity was used in the first book. No, you don't need to know the mythology, but if you do you will easily find it in the book.

Sisowath have fixed the one thing that made The Serpent Priestess of the Annunaki hard to take in, which was the density of the book. In this one, there is much more dialogue which makes it flow so much better and is the one reason for why this one gets 5/5 when book number 1 did not.

The cliffhanger though is just pure evil. How can you do this to me Sisowath?! I need to know what happens next!

Do I recommend it? 

YES! Such an epic fantasy that will get its claws in you from page 1 and won't let go until the final page.

Sapphire Blue by Kerstin Gier (The Ruby Red Trilogy #2)

Original Title: Saphirblau

Year Published: 2012

Published by: Square Fish

Number of Pages: 354

First Sentence: "The streets of Southwark were dark and deserted."

Goodreads Rating: 5/5

Plot:

Gwen’s life has been a rollercoaster since she discovered she was the Ruby, the final member of the secret time-traveling Circle of Twelve. In between searching through history for the other time-travelers and asking for a bit of their blood (gross!), she’s been trying to figure out what all the mysteries and prophecies surrounding the Circle really mean.

 

At least Gwen has plenty of help. Her best friend Lesley follows every lead diligently on the Internet. James the ghost teaches Gwen how to fit in at an eighteenth-century party. And Xemerius, the gargoyle demon who has been following Gwen since he caught her kissing Gideon in a church, offers advice on everything. Oh, yes. And, of course, there is Gideon, the Diamond. One minute he’s very warm indeed; the next he’s freezing cold. Gwen’s not sure what’s going on there, but she’s pretty much destined to find out.

 

My thoughts:

Book number two is just as good as book number one. It picks up immediately after the first book.

 

Gwen is slowly getting used to her new powers as a time traveler, but it is not easy. There is so much she needs to know about how to behave, what to say and how to navigate society in the past, so she does not get caught and their secret revealed. It also becomes more and more obvious that the Guardians are keeping secrets from her, even information that she should probably know.

 

Gideon is not helping matter much either and confuses poor Gwen by being hot and cold (just like the Katy Perry song). It doesn't help that he is also very open about his distrust in her loyalties which only angers Gwen.

 

The rest of the book is just as good as the first one. It keeps you engaged and interested in what will happen next.

 

My thoughts:

I loved it and if you've read the first book then you should definitely read this one as well.

Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier (The Ruby Red Trilogy #1)

Original Title: Rubinrot

Year Published: 2012

Published by: Square Fish

Number of Pages: 322

First Sentence: "As she fell to her knees and burst into tears, he looked all around the park."

Goodreads Rating: 5/5

Plot:

Although I had never seen him before, I recognized him immediately. I'd have known his voice anywhere. This was the guy I'd seen on my last journey back in time.

Or more precisely, the one who'd kissed my doppelganger while I was hiding behind the curtain in disbelief.

Sixteen-year-old Gwen lives with her extended - and rather eccentric - family in an exclusive London neighborhood. In spite of her ancestors' peculiar history, she's had a relatively normal life so far. The time-traveling gene that runs like a secret thread through the female half of the family is supposed to have skipped over Gwen, so she hasn't been introduced to "the mysteries," and can spend her time hanging out with her best friend, Lesly. It comes as an unwelcome surprise when she starts taking sudden, uncontrolled leaps into the past.

She's totally unprepared for time travel, not to mention all that comes with it: fancy clothes, archaic manners, a mysterious secret society, and Gideon, her time-traveling counterpart. He's obnoxious, a know-it-all, and possibly the best-looking guy she's seen in any century . . .

My thoughts:

I loved this book! It was so good. I really loved the idea of time travel and the way it was used in this book. The fact that there is a whole secret society dedicated to the time-travelers and the accuracy of the times they could travel to. It's just brilliant. I loved the writing as well, it was fast paced, funny and overall entertaining. 

Gwen is a great main character. She is put in a situation she is totally unprepared for but braves it anyway. She is funny and compassionate and I just really loved her. 

The rest of the characters are just as intriguing as the book itself, and help create the amazingness that is this book. There are so many secrets and so much mystery, but not too much, that it will have you itching to read the next two books (as I am writing this I am reading the third and final book). 

Do I recommend it?

YES! If you want to get away from vampires and werewolves and the rest of mythology that young adult fiction has honestly bled dry (although there are many good books with these themes) then this book is definitely for you. Actually, you should read it anyway. Just go... read... now!

Tidal by Amanda Hocking (#3 in the Watersong Quartet)

Original Title: Tidal

Year Published: 2013

Published by: St Martin's Press

Number of Pages: 342

First Sentence: "Gemma loved the way it felt when he kissed her, and his mouth was hungry and eager on hers."

Goodreads Rating: 4/5

Plot:

he magical world of Watersong is about to change forever. The answers Gemma and her friends have been searching for are finally revealed - but evil is closing in and time is running out....

Gemma and Harper Fisher are facing the fight of their lives. Gemma has been cursed with extraordinary powers that have a terrifying dark side, but she's finally found what she needs - a way to break the curse and become human again. However, finding the means to do it will be her greatest challenge yet. And now Penn, Lexi, and Thea - the gorgeous but deadly creatures who cursed her - are determined to kill her before she has a chance. Making matters worse, Penn has her sights set on Daniel - the guy Harper loves - and Penn always gets what she wants.

As Gemma and Harper race to break the curse before it's too late, they're thrust deeper into a mythical world of immortal secrets. They must look into their enemies' past to find the answers they need, even if it means being drawn deeper into their savagely beautiful world. But one of the girls is not what she seems...and Gemma finds an unlikely ally as she struggles to save herself. Will it be enough to break an ancient curse that no one has ever escaped from alive?

My thoughts:

I really liked it. It is a little slow at times, but it is still an entertaining read.

Gemma finally discovers a way to win over the sirens, now all she has do to is find the object needed, which turns out to be easier said than done. She is also still struggling with her siren side and the hunger that is slowly growing inside her. She is also trying to get over Alex, which is proving to be extremely difficult. Especially since he is acting so very different after their break-up.

Harper is struggling with her need to protect Gemma and her desire to go to college. She is also still on the fence when it comes her feelings for Daniel. Daniel is just so lovable, and we also finally find out the reason to why he is immune to the siren song.

We get to know a lot more about the sirens and their background which was really interesting and explained some of their behaviour.

The tension between the sirens and Gemma does reach a breaking point in this book which leads to a surprising conclusion.

I have to be honest and say that I probably liked this book as much as I did because I was already so invested in the characters. I can easily see why people who say they dislike it do so. However, for me it was still a good read.

Do I recommend it?

Well, yes but it is the third in a series, so if anything I do recommend the first book. If you've already read the first two then sure, go ahead and read this one as well.

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

Original Title: The Hobbit

Year Published: 2001 (my edition. Originally Published in 1937)

Published by: Pan Reprint (my edition)

Number of Pages: 305

First Sentence: "In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit."

Goodreads Rating: 4/5

Plot:

Bilbo Baggins is a reasonably typical hobbit: fond of sleeping, eating, drinking, parties and presents. However, it is his destiny to travel to the dwarflands in the east, to help slay the dragon Smaug. His quest takes him through enchanted forests, spiders' lairs, and under the Misty Mountains, where he comes across the vile Gollum, and tricks him out of his 'Precious' - a ring that makes its bearer invisible, and wields a terrible power of its own.

My thoughts:

I made the mistake of watching the movies before reading the book. That meant that I found the book quite boring since I kept comparing it to the movies. Don't do that. It will only make you sad.

I originally gave this book 3 out of 5 stars on Goodreads, but after sitting down and properly thinking about it I realised that it was worth one more star. It is a good book and a great story. 

Sure the characters are quite shallow in their depiction, and the only one who actually has any kind of character development is Bilbo. However, it is worth remembering that this book was written as a children's book originally. Within those frames, it is a book with great depth and detail. Tolkien is a fantastic author which he showcases even in this book. 

Do I recommend it?

Yes, I do, although if you've seen the movies you might find it quite dreary and slow. It is still a great story well worth reading.

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan (Book #1 of Percy Jackson and The Olympians)

Original Title: The Lightning Thief

Year Published: 2006

Published by: Disney Hyperion Books

Number of Pages: 377

First Sentence: "Look, I didn't want to be a half-blood."

Goodreads Rating: 5/5

Plot: 

Percy Jackson is a good kid, but he can't seem to focus on his schoolwork or control his temper. And lately, being away at boarding school is only getting worse-Percy could have sworn his pre-algebra teacher turned into a monster and tried to kill him. When Percy's mom finds out, she knows it's time that he knew the truth about where he came from, and that he go to the one place he'll be safe. She sends Percy to Camp Half-Blood, a summer camp for demigods (on Long Island), where he learns that the father he never knew is Poseidon, God of the Sea. Soon a mystery unfolds and together with his friends -- one a satyr and the other the demigod daughter of Athena -- Percy sets out on a quest across the United States to reach the gates of the Underworld (located in a recording studio in Hollywood) and prevent a catastrophic war between the gods.

My thoughts:

I loved this book! It felt fresh and new (yes, I do know it was published quite a while ago but sometimes I'm slow), and I quickly got sucked into the story. The idea of writing a YA series about demi-gods and the Greek Gods is a brilliant one and I really loved how the Greek Gods were portrayed. 

Percy is a good main character that you really care for. It was really nice reading a book with a male lead for once since a lot of YA books have females as the main character (not that there is anything wrong with that). I love the fact that he isn't overly cocky and self-confident, but instead have insecurities and knows that he isn't invincible. What makes him a hero is that he does the things he is scared of. That is the mark of a true hero. 

Annabeth is a mystery for a long time, and it's hard to see if she is one of the good guys or just indifferent to the whole thing. She is driven and proud, but then shows great sides of herself. Without her, Percy would not make it far. 

Grover, on the other hand, is a bit of a clown and mostly serves as a comic relief (at least that is how I perceived him). He has moments of greatness as well, and the trio slowly melds together during this book to make up a well-functioning team of three. 

I was also positively surprised about this book. I had seen the film first (what a mistake) and had never really fallen in love with the story. I didn't have high hopes when I started the book, but oh boy was I surprised. It is just great and I suggest that you just don't watch the films. They have botched the books terribly and are not good representatives of the books. 

Do I recommend it?

Yes, I do. It is a really entertaining story and I'm really glad that I bought the whole set at the same time. Looking forward to reading the rest.

The Elder Gods and The Treasured One by David & Leigh Eddings (The Dreamers Books 1 and 2)

Original Titles: The Elder Gods (Book 1) and The Treasured One (Book 2)

Year Published: 2003 and 2005

Published by: Vision

Number of Pages: Both are 480 pages long.

First Sentence: 

Goodreads ratings:  I rated both as 3/5

Plot:

Somewhere beyond the farthest pole of the world, the land of Dhrall lies anchored by the will of four powerful Gods. Able to bend reality to their whims and influence the lives of mortal men, these deities are still bound by the laws of nature and cannot take lives. Yet the Gods are not the only power. For in the center of Dhrall lives a voracious horror known as the Vlagh. A nightmare made flesh, the Vlagh has bred a massive army of hideous monsters to overrun the world. In the coming battles the people of Dhrall will be aided by a ragtag force of foreign mercenaries and pirates, but the true champions of the war will be four enigmatic children known as the Dreamers. Raised by the Gods themselves, these children can alter the fabric of reality. But, unlike the Elder Gods, the Dreamers do not hesitate to kill...

My thoughts:

I wanted to love these books, I really did. Sadly enough, they were only ok. They were entertaining enough that I did not die with boredom reading them, but I was hit with a feeling of "Is that all?" when I finished. There are four books in the series and I have to be honest and say that I will not read the last two, at least not in the near future. I have no interest and no urge to know what happens to all the characters.

However, there are elements in the book that are more than good. There are characters that you get invested in and start to care for such as Longbow and Rabbit. The plot is not much to brag about, to be honest. There is a war with creatures that resemble insects and a kingdom that faces destruction. In theory, the book could be great with this plot, but in practice it falls like a house of cards in a light breeze. 

On the whole, the book feels uninspired. I loved Eddings books about Polgara, Belgarath and Belgarion, and these books just seem like a washed out version of those books. 

Do I recommend it?

No. 

Wake by Amanda Hocking (#1 of the Watersong series)

Original Title: Wake

Year Published: 2012

Published by: St Martin's Press

Number of Pages: 309

First Sentences: "Even over the sea, Thea could smell the blood on her."

Goodreads Rating: 4/5

Plot (taken from goodreads): 

Gorgeous. Fearless. Dangerous. They're the kind of girls you envy; the kind of girls you want to hate. Strangers in town for the summer, Penn, Lexi and Thea have caught everyone's attention—but it’s Gemma who’s attracted theirs. She’s the one they’ve chosen to be part of their group.

Gemma seems to have it all—she’s carefree, pretty, and falling in love with Alex, the boy next door. He’s always been just a friend, but this summer they’ve taken their relationship to the next level, and now there’s no going back. Then one night, Gemma’s ordinary life changes forever. She’s taking a late night swim under the stars when she finds Penn, Lexi and Thea partying on the cove. They invite her to join them, and the next morning she wakes up on the beach feeling groggy and sick, knowing something is different.

Suddenly Gemma is stronger, faster, and more beautiful than ever. But her new powers come with a terrifying price. And as she uncovers the truth, she’s is forced to choose between staying with those she loves—or entering a new world brimming with dark hungers and unimaginable secrets.

My thoughts:

I loved this book. I'd started reading it once before, but couldn't get into it then. This time, I devoured it in just a few hours. The writing was great, the story as well and the characters were well thought through. It is one mighty build-up for the rest of the series, but it is still a great story. 

So the sleeve is a little misleading when it comes to the narrator. It seems like its only Gemma, but it actually switches between her and her older sister, Harper. However, Gemma is the one who gets turned into this mermaid like creature. Gemma is an avid swimmer and loves the ocean. It is the reason why the three mysterious girls are attracted to her in the first place. I liked Gemma, because athough she can seem slightly selfish, she is very aware of her flaws and how her behaviour affect others. She also cares very much for the people around her and will go out of her way to protect them. 

Harper is the quieter older sister who loves reading books and is working at the towns library. After their mother was in a car accident, Harper has taken over the responsibilities of the home as well as looking out for her sister. She is much more responsible and logical then her sister, and a lot less adventurous. Harper is also very easy to like, although her overprotectiveness can be a little too much sometimes. At the same time tht makes her endearing.

Alex is the boy next door and a very likable guy. He and Gemma develops feeling for each other during the course of the novel although they both know that Alex is moving away to college soon, and then Gemma's secret puts  a strain on the relationship. 

Speaking of love interests, we have Daniel. He is slighly older than Harper, lives on a boat, seemingly very unresponsible and Harper can't stand him. He however turns out to not be as bad as she first thinks and she has to readjust to this nicer side of him. He is also he only one who isn't impressed or affected by the three mysterious girls who have moved to the island. Daniel is amazing and a proper good guy. You will love him. 

And let's not forget the fact that young men are disappearing from the town. Nobody knows where they go or why they have disappeared. Could they be connected to the three mysterious girls?

Do I recommend it?

Yes I do. It's a really good book, and I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series.