Book 1 in a new series
AUTHOR: Anna Banks
PUBLISHED: 2012
CATEGORY: YA
GENRE: Mermaids, romance
PREMISE: A girl finds out she's a mermaid basically.
MY REVIEW: I can literally sum this book up in three words to give you an idea of what it is about: Twilight with mermaids. I swear, that's literally all this book is and I had such high hopes for it but no, it's typical YA clicheness with little to no original thought going on. Which I could maybe forgive if it wasn't sexist on top of that.
For the record, I can understand why people like it. Like Twilight, it's very readable. There's no brain power involved, it's easy to understand, there are even a few lulzy scenes in it. I may not like the book but the author's sense of humor is good. It's entertaining. Unfortunately for the author I'm a feminist who notices stuff like how you have one token black character who is the typical black stereotype and is killed off in the first three chapters in order to give the main character angst and make her vulnerable. Or how the one slightly decent female character (Reyna) is demonized for speaking her mind and not wanting to live with her "soulmate" even though she's never given a choice in the matter so it's understandable but no...she's a horrible being because she won't return his advances. Also can we talk about how messed up the whole bond thing in this is? Basically it's like the wolf bond thing in Twilight where mates are chosen through "mystical magic" and the females naturally get no choice in the matter. But apparently being upset about this fact makes you dumb. Really? Honestly authors, do you seriously READ what you've written after you finish and check the messages you're sending to your younger readers? Considering some of the stuff I've read lately, obviously not. Don't get me started on Galen and his douchebag sexist ways. He was basically Edward Cullen with the ability to breathe underwater.
I'm sorry but I just can't deal with these mermaid books anymore. I'm done you all. Unless a mermaid book comes along that sounds REALLY good. I'm not touching this genre anymore. Clearly it's not for me.
WHO SHOULD READ: Twilight fans, mermaid book fans
MY RATING: Two and a half out of five douchebag boyfriends
Awesome review! Twilight with mermaids? Best description ever! I'm hesitant over this whole mermaid trend to begin with, so thank you for helping me make up my mind!
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