Author Liesel K. Hill's Musings on Fantasia...
Thursday, August 22, 2013
Close of Mermaid Challenge + Follow Friday
So the Summer Mermaid Reading Challenge is officially over! Below is the last of the mermaid reviews for me! In 14 weeks I read 15 mermaid books. They are listed below along with their reviews. I had the impression that lots of mermaid books were very badly written, but either I just got lucky or that's not true. Don't get me wrong: there were a few that didn't impress me, but overall I really loved all the mermaid books I read. I got to read lots of great books and was introduced to tons of new, amazing authors! Among my favorites were Jackson Pearce's Fathomless, Jenn Reese's Above World and Anna Bank's Of Poseidon. Some I wasn't as impressed with were Elizabeth Fama's Monstrous Beauty and Brenda Pandos's Everblue.
Above World by Jenn Reese -- My Review
Mirage by Jenn Reese -- My Review
Prize Bundles are as follows:
Anya of On Starships and Dragonwings wins: A copy of Alice Hoffman's Aquamarine, Fairies and Princesses Quickdraw book, Splash DVD, The Little Mermaid DVD, mermaid swag.
Jackie of No Bent Spines wins: Copy of Hans Christian Anderson's The Little Mermaid, Splash DVD, Copy of Persistence of Vision, mermaid swag.
Katelynn of Literary Chameleon wins: Copy of Hans Christian Anderson's The Little Mermaid, Faerie Tale Theater's The Little Mermaid DVD, copy of Persistence of Vision, mermaid swag.
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| Source |
Everblue by Brenda Pandos
Everblue by Brenda Pandos was the last mermaid read of my challenge. I really didn't have time to read it, but I decided to squeeze it in come hell or high water, because I found it free on Amazon and I thought it would be stupid not to include it.
Overall, this book was pretty good, but not great. I wasn't disappointed, per se, but I just wasn't wowed either.
There were two POVs in this book. They were that of the main male and female characters, who are one another's love interests. This book did the thing where both POVs are first person, but they're different people. This is a growing trend in YA, and I've especially seen it a lot in the mermaid reads. I gotta say, I'm not a fan. Even when it's done really well--and often it isn't--I just find it jarring to jump first person heads like that. It always takes me right out of the story. But, that's just me. Lots of people don't mind it.
I thought the book could have used more description, especially of the mer world. And I didn't see a lot of differentiation between the male and female voice. Not that the male was femmy or anything, but if not for doing different things in the plot, it would have been hard to tell character voices apart. It would have been stronger if they'd been more distinct.
That said, it certainly wasn't terrible. Anyone who likes mermaid reads, YA romances, etc. would probably enjoy it. And I'll admit that I kept turning pages because I genuinely wanted to know what would happen next in the plot. It wasn't an oh-my-gosh-I-just-have-to-see-what-happens-next thing, but it was good enough that I was curious.
So, nothing to rave about, but still decent. I'm glad I read it, for the challenge if nothing else. Overall, though, my review is just, meh.
Overall, this book was pretty good, but not great. I wasn't disappointed, per se, but I just wasn't wowed either.
There were two POVs in this book. They were that of the main male and female characters, who are one another's love interests. This book did the thing where both POVs are first person, but they're different people. This is a growing trend in YA, and I've especially seen it a lot in the mermaid reads. I gotta say, I'm not a fan. Even when it's done really well--and often it isn't--I just find it jarring to jump first person heads like that. It always takes me right out of the story. But, that's just me. Lots of people don't mind it.
I thought the book could have used more description, especially of the mer world. And I didn't see a lot of differentiation between the male and female voice. Not that the male was femmy or anything, but if not for doing different things in the plot, it would have been hard to tell character voices apart. It would have been stronger if they'd been more distinct.
That said, it certainly wasn't terrible. Anyone who likes mermaid reads, YA romances, etc. would probably enjoy it. And I'll admit that I kept turning pages because I genuinely wanted to know what would happen next in the plot. It wasn't an oh-my-gosh-I-just-have-to-see-what-happens-next thing, but it was good enough that I was curious.
So, nothing to rave about, but still decent. I'm glad I read it, for the challenge if nothing else. Overall, though, my review is just, meh.
Follow Friday
The Feature & Follow is hosted by TWO hosts, Parajunkee of Parajunkee's View and Alison of Alison Can Read. Each host will have their own Feature Blog and this way it'll allow us to show off more new blogs!
How does this work? First you leave your name here on this post, (using the linky tools -- keep scrolling!) then you create a post on your own blog that links back to this post (easiest way is to just grab the code under the #FF picture and put it in your post) and then you visit as many blogs as you can and tell them "hi" in their comments (on the post that has the #FF image). You follow them, they follow you. Win. Win. Just make sure to follow back if someone follows you!
Book selfie! Snap a picture of you and your current read!
Yup, you guys get to see me without makeup. I should care more but...yeah I really don't.
So I'm technically not reading this yet, but it's the one I'm about to start. My sister is getting married in two days, so I'm really not going to get any reading done this weekend. But, come Monday, I have a date with Cassandra Clare. Yea!
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| My finger is sort of covering it, but if you can't tell, that's City of Ashes. |
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I haven't read that yet, but it's been on my tbr forever. Hope you're enjoying it!
ReplyDeleteOld follower :-)
Here's my FF
Berls @ Fantasy is More Fun
Once again, very nice pic!
ReplyDeleteHere's my Follow Friday
Have a GREAT weekend!
Old Follower :)
OMG! So many people are reading Cassie Clare! I hope you like it cos I'm like one of those "whee" fans meaning I'm slightly hopped up on something when you mention Cassie.
ReplyDeleteFollowed!
Check out my feature in return? Don’t forget to follow via Bloglovin’!
- Nova @ Musings of a Blogder
You guys found a lot of mermaid books though.
ReplyDeleteAnd you look nice without makeup. Natural is pretty.
I love this book and I love this series! Good luck with reading :D New Follower! Here's my FF
ReplyDeleteCool choice. New follower! Check outMY F&F
ReplyDeleteNice choice! Are you going to see the movie? :D
ReplyDeleteJulianna Smith - My FFF
Awesome reading choice.
ReplyDeleteI just picked up a copy yesterday.
have a great weekend.
old follower
My FF
I've only read the first couple of books in this series, I'm looking forward to your thoughts.
ReplyDeleteNew follower!
Here's my FF
Already finished reading City of Ashes. I'm just waiting for the latest TMI installment to come out. I hope you have fun reading that. :D
ReplyDeleteFollowing you on Twitter and Bloglovin. :D
Thoughts and Pens Feature Follow
I have read City of Ashes already, but I can't remember if I liked it or not - it has been a while :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by earlier. I hope you're having a great weekend, Liesel, and your photo is beautiful - no need for makeup!
Lexxie @ (un)Conventional Bookviews
Liesel, terrific, I'm about to start City of Bones so I can read before I go watch the movie :D
ReplyDelete