Publication Date: May 22, 2012Publisher: Feiwel & FriendsSeries: Of Poseidon #1Young AdultPages: 324Genre: Fantasy, Mermaids, Romance
Galen, a Syrena prince, searches land for a girl he's heard can communicate with fish. It’s while Emma is on vacation at the beach that she meets Galen. Although their connection is immediate and powerful, Galen's not fully convinced that Emma's the one he's been looking for. That is, until a deadly encounter with a shark proves that Emma and her Gift may be the only thing that can save his kingdom. He needs her help--no matter what the risk.*Galley provided by publisher for honest review*
Mermaids seem to be the next big thing in Young Adult fiction. It's either that, assassins, or zombies. But I really think it's a three way tie for Top Trend with Vampires still being that of the Indie Authors. I'd heard about Of Poseidon months ago and it was the cover that truly drew me in and what a fabulous cover it is, so mysterious and captivating. Definitely gives away what it could be about before even reading the synopsis. But as covers go, they're just the outside skin to hook us, the readers, in. For me, Of Poseidon didn't entrall me that much for the whole duration especially since some of my pet peeves snapped and sparked and sirened when spotted within the novel.
The beginning had such promise, such voice from Emma. She had me laughing, smiling, and I could relate to her clutziness-wise but not so much physically seeing as I'm an Italian-American brunette seventeen-year-old senior and she is Pale-as-a-bleached-sheet-of-computer-paper with platinium blond hair that matches her paper bleached skin and she has violet eyes that sounds so cool. Mine are only fudgey colored. I would love some violet colored contacts though, how cool would that be? Yeah, I know. Pretty darn SWEET! But anyway, the likey of this book stops there for me really because after the shark attack on her friend Chloe. I honestly expected more than just crying after seeing bloody flesh and white bone right in her face as they lifted the cadavar out of the water. I expected some nightmares, vivid memory strips speeding across her vision, some more raw emotion from her experience rather than staying up through the nights crying. Not only that, but she goes to school and all thoughts of Chloe become almost nonexistent for the rest of the novel, only popping up scarcely. I also couldn't seem to pinpoint her voice or personality anymore after that. She is labed the sweetest girl and such, but the fact that she go from docile, klutzy, sincere and sweet Emma to gonna-throw-you-through-a-storm-window-and-beat-the-ever-living-shit-out-of-you-until-you-die-bitch mode towards Rayna. I was completely shocked, no, I was befuddled with such a quick moon change.
Rayna is another character that baffles me as to her characterization and personality. She hates humans but likes Rachel and cries over Chloe's death, someone she didn't know, didn't want to know. She plays hard to get with Toraf, and gets upset when she pulls the wool from under Emma's eyes about the truth, about what could happen with her and their brother Grom, the future King, she breaks into tears about how she only wanted to have a girls night and not ruin things, but let her digress.
I also don't like the mom. She'd hadn't been on my nice list since the beginning. She agitated me, irked me to no end when Emma would talk to her. She is too protective, to empowering to know things and tries to get her nose deep into the nooks and crannies of the relationship. She just seemed too overpowering and I could not stand it one bit.
I did enjoy the cliffhanger but I can honestly say that I could vaugely see it coming.
I'm hoping in the sequel Ms. Banks gives more to the society of the Syrena's because I would definitely like to hear more about them, especially more about the Half Breeds. The history behind the Great War, more depth to the surroundings, a deeper extraction of the areas where the Syrenan water areas.
First Line: I smack into him as if shoved from behind.Story: BCover: S
