Friday, September 2, 2016

MEDIA MERMAIDS AND MERMAID BOOKS HAS MOVED TO WIX!

Hi Merfolk!

To make it easier on everyone, I've transferred every single post, picture, and review to wix to create...


Please note, that any further posts will be created on wix!

You will now be able to explore new content, picture galleries, pages and sign up for a newsletter so you wont miss anything!

I hope you all enjoy the new changes :)

-Sirenita The Selkie

Tuesday, July 5, 2016

The Siren By Kiera Cass

The SirenBook Type: YA Novel
Author: Kiera Cass
Pages: 327

Summary(goodreads.com):
Years ago, Kahlen was rescued from drowning by the Ocean. To repay her debt, she has served as a Siren ever since, using her voice to lure countless strangers to their deaths. Though a single word from Kahlen can kill, she can’t resist spending her days on land, watching ordinary people and longing for the day when she will be able to speak and laugh and live freely among them again. 

Kahlen is resigned to finishing her sentence in solitude…until she meets Akinli. Handsome, caring, and kind, Akinli is everything Kahlen ever dreamed of. And though she can’t talk to him, they soon forge a connection neither of them can deny…and Kahlen doesn’t want to.

Falling in love with a human breaks all the Ocean’s rules, and if the Ocean discovers Kahlen’s feelings, she’ll be forced to leave Akinli for good. But for the first time in a lifetime of following the rules, Kahlen is determined to follow her heart.

My Review:
A lifelong curse, a cute blond boy, and a girl who only wants love... after a mer-friend told me about this book, I wanted to check it out! Sadly, this book did not meet my expectations.

What I Loved:
The beginning of this book is fantastic! The story starts right away and we see how Kahlen became a siren.  I also loved the siren sisterhood. These girls stick together no matter what and help each other overcome horrible past memories. I also loved how Cass was creative with the ocean. The actual Ocean is a character in this book. Part Goddess, part mother, and part keeper of souls, the character fluctuates in moods in behaviors just like the sea.

What I Didn't Like:
By halfway through the book nothing was  happening! I kept waiting for the story to progress but a majority of it was Kahlen complaining about her circumstances. While the other siren sisters did what they could to enjoy their lives, Kahlen chose to sleep all day and languish in her misery!

Kahlen doesn't have a life. The second half of the book was her complaining about her siren life or pining for Akinli.

The concept of love is shallow.
The first time Kahlen meets Akinli and then goes on ONE date, she believes she is in love with him all of a sudden. Perhaps she is infatuated, or maybe flattered with his looks, but love takes time to develop and blossom and does not happen appear after one date. 

This book was unfortunately very boring and depressing. I give this book (**) 2 stars.
-Sirenita The Selkie 

Siren Series By Tricia Rayburn

Siren (Siren, #1)Book Type: Novel/Series
Author: Tricia Rayburn
Pages: Book 1) 344

Summary of first book(goodreads.com):
Seventeen-year-old Vanessa Sands is afraid of everything--the dark, heights, the ocean--but her fearless older sister, Justine, has always been there to coach her through every challenge.  That is until Justine goes cliff diving one night near the family's vacation house in Winter Harbor, Maine, and her lifeless body washes up on shore the next day. 

Vanessa's parents want to work through the tragedy by returning to their everyday lives back in Boston, but Vanessa can't help feeling that her sister's death was more than an accident.  After discovering that Justine never applied to colleges, and that she was secretly in a relationship with longtime family friend Caleb Carmichael, Vanessa returns to Winter Harbor to seek some answers.

But when Vanessa learns that Caleb has been missing since Justine's death, she and Caleb's older brother, Simon, join forces to try to find him, and in the process, their childhood friendship blossoms into something more.  
Soon it's not just Vanessa who is afraid.  All of Winter Harbor is abuzz with anxiety when another body washes ashore, and panic sets in when the small town becomes home to a string of fatal, water-related accidents . . . in which all the victims are found grinning from ear to ear.  

As Vanessa and Simon probe further into the connections between Justine's death and the sudden rash of creepy drownings, Vanessa uncovers a secret that threatens her new romance, and that will change her life forever.


My Review:
This book had a lot of potential, but sadly, it missed the mark for me. The first problem I had with this book is the way events are written. At the beginning of the book, I had to keep re-reading sections because I didnt understand what was happening. For example, Justine's death was written strangely, and she isn't pronounced dead right away. It's too wordy.

There also isn't a clear description of Vanessa. Beside the fact that she has blonde hair and major anxiety issues, I'm not sure what else there is to say. Is she tall or short? What about her eyes? Is her smile pretty? Is she petite or curvy? 

Vanessa also has problems sorting out her feelings. While it's clear that she feels something for Simon, she also leads him on. I hope the next two books in the series are better and full of more siren details!

I give this book (**) 2 stars.

-Sirenita The Selkie

Tuesday, May 24, 2016

The Third Wish (Fairy Realm #3) by Emily Rodda

The Third Wish (Fairy Realm, #3)Book Type: Novel
Author: Emily Rodda
Pages: 128

Summary(goodreads.com):
Jessie's helped the magical people of the Realm to escape danger twice now -- she's a real hero to her friends there. But now her own world is in danger. Forest fires threaten her beloved home, Blue Moon. And only the magic of the realm can help her...


My Review:
A book immediately becomes interesting when a girl has the ability to travel to another world, especially when mermaids are involved!

I was happy that although this book is part of a series, you don't need to read the first two books to understand what's going on; everything is recapped. 

I was not a fan of Jessie. She can be bratty and whiny when she doesn't get her way, even in the fairy realm! However, the book has other good points. The pictures are amazingly gorgeous and Rodda's writing is beautifully descriptive, allowing the reader to travel along with Jessie. If I could change one thing, I would include more mermaid details. This was a cute and short book with a good plot.

I give this book (***) 3 stars. 

-Sirenita The Selkie 

Mer Tales Series Is Finished!




Hello Merfolk!

The last book of the Mer Tales Series by Brenda Pandos is finished and reviewed!

Check out my review of the entire series here!



The Neptune Project Series by Polly Holyoke

The Neptune Project (The Neptune Project, #1)Book Type: Novel
Author: Polly Holyoke
Pages: 340


Summary(goodreads.com):
With her weak eyes and useless lungs that often leave her gasping for air, Nere feels more at home swimming with the dolphins her mother studies than she does hanging out with her classmates. Nere has never understood why she is so much more comfortable and confident in the water than on land until the day she learns the shocking truth—she is one of a group of kids who have been genetically altered to survive in the ocean. These products of the "Neptune Project" are supposed to build a better future under the waves, safe from the terrible famines and wars and that rock the surface world.

But there are some big challenges ahead of her: no one ever asked Nere if she wanted to be part of a science experiment; the other Neptune kids aren't exactly the friendliest bunch, and in order to reach the safe haven of the new Neptune colony, Nere and her fellow mutates must swim across hundreds of miles of dangerous ocean, relying on their wits, their loyal dolphins and one another to evade terrifying undersea creatures and a government that will stop at nothing to capture the Neptune kids ... dead or alive.

Fierce battle and daring escapes abound as Nere and her friend race to safety in this action-packed marine adventure.
 


My Review:

What will the future be like? Are genetically engineered humans a real possibility? Polly Holyoke explores all possibilities for the future of mankind in her latest novel. I cant express how much I loved this book!!! Although this book technically doesn't have mermaids, I really believe mer-readers will love The Neptune Project just like other mermaid books. 

The Neptune Project immediately dives into action when Nere has to help her friend and some smugglers escape some government officials. And you know what the coolest part about Nere is? 

SHE CAN TELEPATHICALLY COMMUNICATE WITH DOLPHINS! So cool!!!

As the book progressed under the waves and away from society, I fell in love with Holyoke's rich descriptive words. I felt like I was underwater, exploring parts of the ocean I never thought possible. I also loved that although the ocean is portrayed as beautiful, the reader also sees how dangerous it is. Nere has to battle sharks, giant squid, and the Marine Guard, a sector of the government that patrols the water. 

Like all teenagers, Nere is also dealing with love. Dai is a bad boy that all girls will fall for. Although he hides a lot about himself from people, the way he flirts with Nere is so cute. 

The ending had such an amazing mystery twist that I can't wait to pick up the next book in the series. I give this first book (*****) 5 stars.

-Sirenita The Selkie

Tuesday, May 10, 2016

Mairi's Mermaid by Michael Morpurgo

Mairi's MermaidBook Type: Children's Book
Author: Michael Morpurgo
Pages: 48

Summary(goodreads.com):
Robbie says swimming is easy. You just have to pretend you’re a mermaid. But that doesn’t help Mairi. She isn’t even sure that mermaids are real!



My Review: 
Learning how to swim is a milestone in every little merchild's life that requires patience...and sometimes a little help from merpeople! I loved the main concept of the book; every creature needs help now matter how big or small. By helping each other, Mairi and the mermaid solved their problems. The book also teaches patience and perseverance.

I loved the small details in the book. On every page, a fish makes a comment about what's going on. I also loved the cute illustrations and how tiny the merpeople were! I give this book (****) 4 stars.
-Sirenita The Selkie