(8) Water Shaper byLaura Williams McCaffrey

Book Type: Novel
Author:Laura Williams McCaffrey
Pages: 224

Summary(goodreads.com):
Margot is the daughter of a king, but she is beloved by neither his court nor his kingdom. She has “water in her blood,” a trait associated with magic and looked upon with distaste and suspicion. When she meets Orrin, a foreign king who is respectful, not scornful, of her affinity for water, she flees with him to his castle by the sea, though she soon realizes he is not as benevolent as she first thought. Intertwined with Margot’s story is that of Bird, a storyteller who must tell stories for Orrin, though he can barely stand him. When Orrin steals the Book of the Sea, a magical gift given to Margot by her mother, Margot knows she must run away once again, and the threads of the two stories begin to intertwine.


My Review:
When I first saw that this book involved selkies, I was so excited. It's sometimes hard to find good selkie books, especially in the YA genre. When I delved into the first chapter, I immediately fell in love with the medieval historical vibe.

...But that's pretty much all I enjoyed.

Half way through the book, and I was still waiting for something to happen. About three quarters of the book lacked energy, and I didn't feel any excitement while reading this. I also did not enjoy Margot, the main character. She lacks strength, and constantly feels the need to impress Orrin. Although this book says it involves selkies, it took forever to get to the selkie part!
The ending really made me say, "That's it?"
I unfortunately did not like this book at all, and I don't recommend reading it. It was confusing, boring and lacked the selkie elements that it promises. 
I give this book (**) 2 stars.
-Sirenita The Selkie

The Selkie Bride by Melanie Jackson

Book Type: Romance Novel
Author: Melanie Jackson
Pages: 290

Summary(goodreads.com):
Recently widowed, Megan Culbin has inherited more than just a quaint cottage on the Scottish coast; she has inherited the ire of an ancient monster - and the protection of a virile Selkie warrior.

My Review:
So, where do I start with this book? The awkward writing, the dullness of the plot... this book was really torturous to finish.

Pathetic Main Character:
The story starts off slow, with the reader being introduced to Megan Culbin and how she is on her way to Scotland. She's broke, just escaped an abusive relationship and tells the reader that she isn't skilled or talented. Yay? 
I mean really, this is not a person I wanted to root for. I also found the language difficult and antiquated, almost awkward to read at times as well.
I also hated the relationship between Megan and Lachlan. Megan is pathetic and willing to do anything for Lachlan, though she barely knows him. Lachlan is very rough with her, and doesn't show her much compassion until the last page in the book! 

Boring Plot:
This book did not have an engaging plot at all. After 100 pages into the book, I was still waiting for something exciting to happen, but it really flat lined with no action or events to captivate the reader. When Lachlan and Megan finally encounter the finman, an ancient and evil creature, I didn't feel nervous for them. The battle just seemed too easy to win.

Overall, I was really disappointed with this plot, and it was agonizingly boring at times. I give this book (*) 1 star.
-Sirenita The Selkie

The Little Mermaid And Other Fishy Tales by Jane Ray

Book Type: Story Collection
Author: Jane Ray
Pages: 176

Summary(goodreads.com):
The sea is full of mystery and enchantment—and this extraordinary collection captures every drop of its magic. Retold and illustrated by the renowned picture-book artist Jane Ray, The Little Mermaid and Other Fishy Tales features an international selection of captivating stories and poems: “The Fisherman and His Wife,” “Whalesong,” “Lobster Quadrille,” “The Ballad of John Silver,” and many more.

My Review:
I stumbled upon this book while looking for mermaid books on my public library's online catalog. As soon as I opened the book, I was amazed at the beautiful pictures! They really help breathe life into the story. I really liked this collection of stories. The font was large, so one can finish this within an hour and a half, and I found it perfectly suitable for kids as well. I also loved how diverse this collection was, and had stories from different parts of the world. Jane Ray, the author of this book, also wrote, Can You Catch A Mermaid? which is also reviewed on this blog. Her creativity really shines in her adaptation of The Little Mermaid. It was so fantastic, I actually wished that Hans Christian Anderson wrote her version over his own! This was a fantastic and short read  if you love water creatures of all kinds. I give this book (*****) 5 stars. 
-Sirenita The Selkie