Hey Merfolk!
I've found a whole bunch of selkie books I cant wait to share with you! :)
Check back this weekend for new book reviews!
-Sirenita The Selkie

Tempest Trilogy Is Finished!

Hi Merfolk!

I just finished the last book of the Tempest Series, making it the 7th book in the Mermaid Summer Reading Challenge!

Have you read the series?

What did you think? Post a reply at the bottom of this link:

Tempest Trilogy by Tracy Deebs

-Sirenita The Selkie 

(6) The Little mermaid by Robert Sabuda

Book Type: Children's Book
Author: Robert Sabuda
Pages: 12

Summary(goodreads.com):
A beloved under-the-sea tale is now a pop-up masterpiece, from expert craftsman Robert Sabuda.

Come along on a magical journey under the sea in this stunning pop-up adaptation of the beloved fairy tale The Little Mermaid, expertly crafted by renowned paper engineer Robert Sabuda. Amazing three-dimensional paper structures pop off each page, bringing this classic underwater adventure to life. This visually stunning tale of adventure, true love, and sacrifice is sure to become a favorite in any story-lovers library.


My Review:
Believe it or not, this book has been sitting on my shelf, waiting to be explored for two years! I was just so busy with other mermaid books that I forgot about this gem that I bought with Christmas money :) 
I love how the author simplified the original text; it's perfect! Its easy to understand without skipping over the original beauty of Hans Christian Anderson's writing. But what really made this story come to life was the amazing pop ups!
I have never seen a more beautiful pop up book!
That being said, this isn't exactly safe in a merchild's hands. These pop ups are very delicate!!!
Adults should accompany children and be careful when you open it! Some of the pop ups got a bit annoying when I was reading the book. They got stuck when I tried to open them, and I accidentally ripped one because it didn't open right :(
I loved this book and it really is a beautiful gem in anyone's mer-library, but be careful with the pop ups, especially around children! However, this would make a perfect bedtime story :)
I give this book (***) 3 stars.
-Sirenita The Selkie

(5) The Dolphins Of Coral Cove by K.S. Rodriguez

Book Type: Novel/Paperback
Author: K.S. Rodriguez
Pages: 80

*Sorry for the missing pic, Merfolk! I will upload a picture as soon as I can!*

Summary:
Ariel and her sisters find a pod of dolphins and decide to befriend them. When one of the dolphins is caught, how will Ariel help her new friend?

My Review:
I loved that this book didn't start off with slow events, and the reader is immediately captured into the undersea life of Ariel! The dolphins are so cute! They're friendly, playful and have characteristics that remind me of real dolphins.

But what I loved most about this book is that it dealt with the very real and contemporary issue of animals in captivity, and how it not only destroys important family bonds, but it destroys an animal emotionally. When one of the dolphins is caught in a net, my heart ached, and I almost had tears in my eyes.
This was one of my favorite The Little Mermaid paperbacks so far!
I give this book (****) 4 stars.

Hello Merfolk!

I'm sorry that I've been offline for a while.

However, I've read a few mermaid books that I'm eager to share with you!

Stay tuned tonight for some reviews!

-Sirenita The Selkie 

(4) The Little Mermaid Paperback Series: Arista's New Boyfriend by M.J. Carr

Book Type: Novel
Author: M.J. Carr
Pages: 70

Summary(goodreads.com):
The mermaid princesses can't wait to arrive at the new summer palace - all except for Arista, that is. This is to be a summer of dinners, dances, and lots of aristocratic boys! But boys or no boys, summer without her favorite sea horses to ride is not Arista's idea of fun until she discovers the brand-new stables at the summer palace - and the stablehand, Dylan. Suddenly summer takes an exciting turn for the better! Spending time with Dylan is great, but Arista worries how King Triton will react to her new boyfriend. Will she have to keep Dylan a secret from her father forever?


My Review:
I'm so excited to be reviewing another paperback in The Little Mermaid series :)
I really liked that I was instantly able to connect to Arista, especially when she misses her pets. When I have gone on vacation, I too, have a hard time parting from my Cat-fish and my little goldfish. I also really liked how genuine and cute Dylan and Arista's relationship was, and that a princess fell for a stablehand. 

I got really annoyed when Ariel and her sisters constantly talked about boys. It was a little too much and made them seem like airheads! I also found the title of this book confusing. Although Arista and Dylan seem to secretly like each other, it was never announced that they were boyfriend and girlfriend.
This book was okay, but a bit boring. It wasn't the best Little Mermaid book I've read. 
I give this book (**) 2 stars. 

(3) Waters Of Change by Amy Astorga

Book Type: YA (Young Adult novel)
Author: Amy Astorga
Pages: 172

Summary(goodreads.com):
“Life at the surface isn’t a decision that can be made. It’s something you have to be chosen to receive. What mermaids lack that humans possess, isn't legs. It’s a soul.” 
Gwendolyn Hart stands on the cusp of change. With high school’s graduation nearly approaching, and an unexpected proposal from her devoted boyfriend Ryan, she’s certain her life is about to take an exciting turn. But when her best friend Emma is suddenly reported missing, all plans for the future come to a screeching halt. Tensions quickly rise as her walls are taken down, and in the midst of grief and introspection, there appears a young man who offers an escape from it all. 
His name is Marcus, and his eyes are as comforting as they are unnerving. Gwendolyn is captivated by the mysterious stranger, who slips into her life and sweeps her off her feet. But there are things about Marcus that she can’t explain. And there are reasons he’s appeared that go beyond fate. The more she discovers the truth behind the man, the more she discovers he isn't a man at all. 
Gwendolyn’s relationship is shrouded by dark secrets that will test the very core of her morale. A decision between love and conviction can be difficult. And what decision she makes will determine the ultimate fate of her soul.

My Review:
***I would like to first announce that I was given this book by Amy Astorga herself in exchange for a fair and honest review. I plan on reviewing this honestly, fairly and most of all, respectfully.***

When I first read the summary for this book, I admit I was a bit nervous. What exactly is Marcus? Is he some sort of male siren? A Merman? As soon as I read the prologue, I was instantly intrigued. I wanted to know what the deal was with this jerk Marcus and why Gwen is so head over heels for him! The book instantly sucked me in like a strong current and I could not put this book down!

What I liked the most about this book was the characters. They are believable because they are flawed, even the supernatural ones! I really related to Gwen, especially when she had to deal with a jealous best friend, and also insecurities with herself and her relationship. I also felt that many of the characters were described and acted like high school teenagers, which shows good characterization skills.

I also loved that this book had very intense thriller/ mystery moments and themes.  There were moments where I would be talking out loud to Gwen and saying, 
"WHAT? Do you not see what is happening here, Gwen?" 
or "I'm going to kill that kid!"
 and "Oh God. Oh God no. This isn't happening!"
 I got soooo into this book that I gasped out loud, and even laughed nervously as if I was watching a horror movie!

What struck me most of all was the ending. It was totally unexpected and a bit sad. I didnt like how it ended so abruptly, but overall, this book was excellent!
I give this book (****) 4 stars.
-Sirenita The Selkie