"To find out what a story's really about,' the Librarian said,

'you don't ask the writer. You ask the reader."


- SNOW & ROSE by Emily Winfield Martin


Showing posts with label Mermaids. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mermaids. Show all posts

Wednesday, July 2, 2014

Review: THE VAST AND BRUTAL SEA (The Vicious Deep #3) by Zoraida Cordova (YA)


The Vicious Deep #3
by Zoraida Cordova
Release date: July 1st, 2014
Published by: Sourcebooks Fire
Format: Hardcover, eBook
Format read: eGalley from Netgalley/Publisher


SUMMARY

This epic clash of sand and sea will pit brother against brother-and there can only be one winner

In two days, the race for the Sea Court throne will be over-but all the rules have changed. 

The sea witch, Nieve, has kidnapped Layla and is raising an army of mutant sea creatures to overthrow the crown. Kurt, the one person Tristan could depend on in the battle for the Sea King's throne, has betrayed him. Now Kurt wants the throne for himself. 
Tristan has the Scepter of the Earth, but it's not enough. He'll have to travel to the mysterious, lost Isle of Tears and unleash the magic that first created the king's powerful scepter. 

It's a brutal race to the finish, and there can only be one winner.





BOOK TRAILER



MY REVIEW

The trilogy is complete, and in the most epic way!

Tristan is at a loss. Betrayed by those he thought were closest to him and having very little to go on to continue his quest as a champion, he finds himself questioning himself over everything. But regardless of his self-doubt, he knows that he must try his best and continue on. This isn't about him, never was. He knows that he has a battle to get to soon, but how will he get to it, no one truly knows yet. Well, maybe an oracle or two might, but they're looking to gain something before they'll help... and it just feels like nothing is ever going to go right for the half-merman who thinks too much like a human to know what is best for the sea and its inhabitants.

As much as we see Tristan grow and mature, he never loses himself nor does he lose sight of his goals. Whenever something gets in his way, he looks for another. And even though this may be a battle he might lose, he knows that he'll do it while trying his best. He never lets his heart over power his mind, and vice versa. He is true to his word, even if his words are sarcastic and may be of the kind that the seafolk may not understand at times. And no matter what situation Tristan may find himself in - danger, pain, loss and more -  his sense of humor, quick wit and thoughtfulness always shines through to guide him through to get him to the next level.

The action! So many battles to get through! Mystical creatures galore - the author does not hold back on the details and I was able to picture everything clearly in my mind. The mystical beauty of each and every character, even the ugly mean ones, were fabulous - I truly do wish to see this in film one day.

I have only one small gripe - I really wish that the author would have considered giving us a better glimpse into Tristan and his friends/families future. His parents were barely mentioned, and they had quite the surprise in book 2 that was barely mentioned in this part of the story. I am curious to know if the author may have something planned in the future for some of these characters - I can totally see a spin-off happening...

The perfect ending to an amazing and well-written trilogy!
I cannot wait to see what Zoraida Cordova will give us next!!!

(I received an eARC from the publisher/tour host for my honest review. My thoughts are all my own.)



THE VICIOUS DEEP TRILOGY



ABOUT THE AUTHOR - Zoraida Cordova

Zoraida Córdova was born in Guayaquil, Ecuador. She made her way up north and now works in the glittering New York City nightlife. She likes shiny things like Christmas, merdudes, and the skyline at night. She loves making new friends.



Tuesday, July 1, 2014

Review: THE VICIOUS DEEP and THE SAVAGE BLUE (#2) by Zoraida Cordova (YA)


by Zoraida Cordova
Release date: May 1st, 2012
Published by: Sourcebooks Fire
Genre: Young Adult (Mermaids)
Format: Hardcover, Paperback, eBook
Format read: Hardcover I purchased.


SUMMARY

For Tristan Hart, everything changes with one crashing wave. 

He was gone for three days. Sucked out to sea in a tidal wave and spit back ashore at Coney Island with no memory of what happened. Now his dreams are haunted by a terrifying silver mermaid with razor-sharp teeth. 

His best friend Layla is convinced something is wrong. But how can he explain he can sense emotion like never before? How can he explain he's heir to a kingdom he never knew existed? That he's suddenly a pawn in a battle as ancient as the gods. 

Something happened to him in those three days. 
He was claimed by the sea...
and now it wants him back.





BOOK TRAILER



MY REVIEW

This continues to be my all-time favorite mermaid story ever!
Actually, it's my favorite merman, underwater, oracles, kingdom book ever!
There is so much to the story, and the author's writing was/is amazing - giving enough details with a strong lead male and point-of-view and the underwater world building is amazing... 

Tristan is your typical teen boy who knows who he is and what he loves - he's captain of the swim team, popular in school and with the girls, haves a wonderful family, best friends and loves his home in Coney Island.
So what happens to the guy who has it all finds out that he's a mermaid? No, no - a merman???
He freaks out!... and then embraces it and just goes with the flow... literally and figuratively.
Oh, and then throw in that the grandfather he never knew nominates him as one of the champions to compete for the throne to be the Sea King - no problem, Tristan takes it all in and cracks a joke about it, because that is Tristan's defense mechanism to take the seriousness out of everything that is happening to him. His attitude his refreshing and realistic - where many people would panic, breakdown and cave into the fear of something so huge happening to them (he has a fishtail!), Tristan took it all in stride and accepted it, because he knew that no matter what he did, he couldn't change the pass and had to face his new future. Tristan, a bit egotistical, but downright loving and loyal, has such a fun attitude and an amusing but brilliant way about looking and dealing with things that he thought were impossible. I really, really enjoyed getting to know Tristan, his old and new friends and family.
Like I mentioned, Tristan is an average teen boy, there are some crude moments and thoughts, crass language and behavior, but the author did it well and did not go overboard - sorry to say, but boys will be boys, even when they're swimming around with a fishtail.

The love story is like no other, it's not the typical storyline where they're all lovey-dovey for each other, it's the love/hate kind where she, Layla, is just as strong-minded and opinionated as Tristan. She never backs down from him, or anyone else. Surprisingly she recovers from the shock of Tristan's news and handles everything pretty well. As well as any human can. I really liked Layla and look forward to seeing how their relationship will develop with everything that is going on, which will be very difficult to keep together.

The story is fast-paced, (which I love and always seem to fall upon), with realistic scenery and characters. All the details to the Sea Kings floating island, Toliss, to the color and texture to Tristan and his merfriends scales and tails, to other creatures living in the sea, and those that have been banished from the sea to live on land - all realistic, beautiful and imaginative. I would love to see this trilogy be turned into a movie in the future - a future that would have all of the technology to truly breathe life into all of this beauty that the author created. 

I thoroughly enjoyed the beginning of Tristan's journey as champion.
I hope to see more of this author's writing soon!!! 



The Vicious Deep #2
by Zoraida Cordova
Release date: May 7th, 2013
Published by: Sourcebooks Fire
Genre: Young Adult (Mermaids)
Format: Hardback, Paperback, eBook
Format read: Hardcover I purchased. 


SUMMARY

A storm is coming...

The ocean is a vicious place. Deeper and darker than Tristan could have imagined. Beneath its calm blue surface, an ancient battle is churning —and no one is safe.

In the quest for the Sea Throne, Tristan has already watched one good friend die. Now he must lead the rest on a dangerous voyage in search of the trident that will make him king. But while Tristan chases his destiny, the dark forces racing against him are getting stronger, and the sea witch of his nightmares is getting closer.

Battling sea dragons and savage creatures of the deep, Tristan needs his friends' support. But they each have their secrets, and a betrayal will force Tristan to choose between his crown and his best friend Layla — the only girl he's ever loved.






MY REVIEW

The author has done an amazing job with the continuation of the trilogy...
this time, she dives right into the plot of Tristan's journey without skipping any details and continuing with the fast-paced storyline with non-stop action... 

In the first book, Tristan has a lot to go through in this part of his journey - he learns all about his mermaid heritage, what being a champion is all about, history lessons galore and has made new friends, meets new family members, has made more allies and, of course, has made a handful of enemies too!
It was so interesting to see more unique characters and to get to know them and learn their histories - first we learn that everyone that lives in the sea has stories and hardly ever tells the whole truth, every answer is lyrical or vague, which makes it difficult for Tristan to trust and get the answers he needs to find the other two pieces to the trident. We meet four oracles, sisters who each have their own gifts and will only help if you help them first. We learn more about the crazy princesses and their magic, the landlocked (those that have been banished by the courts) and other mythical creatures - if mermaids exist, why can't vampires, werewolves and other unworldly creatures too? Tristan is hardly ever surprised anymore.
Tristan continues to entertain us with his sarcastic attitude, quick wit and determination. He did not ask for any of this to happen to him, or to anyone involved. But he knows that its something that he must do, and finish, whether he likes to or not. Even when those close to him betray him and he is left alone to his own devices. He steps up and does the best that he can, keeps true to himself and remains loyal to those who continue to support him. The relationships in this trilogy are strong and are major key points to the story. Without support, Tristan would have died many deaths a long time ago. And Tristan knows this, and will do whatever it takes to continue to do what is right for them and is never selfish nor does he ever back down to continue his, and their, fight.

Now, I have a confession - I am loving Nieve! Nieve, the silver mermaid, is beyond wicked and will go to great lengths to become the Queen of the Sea. She is ruthless and mean and knows exactly how to play with Tristan's mind and heart. However, in the beginning of the book, we get a glimpse to a much younger Nieve and my heart went out to her. The cruelty that was brought down on her did help in creating the crazed mermaid that we see now. There was no stopping what she would become and what she would do. However, I do hope that she doesn't succeed.

There's definitely a twist that I did not see coming! And a cliffhanger that left me on the edge of my seat... I need to get to book 3 asap!




THE VICIOUS DEEP TRILOGY



ABOUT THE AUTHOR - Zoraida Cordova

Zoraida Córdova was born in Guayaquil, Ecuador. She made her way up north and now works in the glittering New York City nightlife. She likes shiny things like Christmas, merdudes, and the skyline at night. She loves making new friends.

Goodreads / Website/Blog / Twitter / Facebook 




Saturday, May 31, 2014

A Pre-order Giveaway Alert from the Author of THE VICIOUS DEEP Trilogy (YA)


A pre-order giveaway from the author herself!!!

MERMAIDS!!!




About THE VICIOUS DEEP Trilogy... 

The Vicious Deep
by Zoraida Cordova
Release date: May 1st, 2012
Published by: Sourcebooks Fire
Genre: Young Adult - Mermaids

SUMMARY
For Tristan Hart, everything changes with one crashing wave. 
He was gone for three days. Sucked out to sea in a tidal wave and spit back ashore at Coney Island with no memory of what happened. Now his dreams are haunted by a terrifying silver mermaid with razor-sharp teeth. 
His best friend Layla is convinced something is wrong. But how can he explain he can sense emotion like never before? How can he explain he's heir to a kingdom he never knew existed? That he's suddenly a pawn in a battle as ancient as the gods. 
Something happened to him in those three days. He was claimed by the sea...and now it wants him back.



THE SAVAGE BLUE (The Vicious Deep #2)
by Zoraida Cordova
Release date: 

SUMMARY

A storm is coming...
The ocean is a vicious place. Deeper and darker than Tristan could have imagined. Beneath its calm blue surface, an ancient battle is churning —and no one is safe.
In the quest for the Sea Throne, Tristan has already watched one good friend die. Now he must lead the rest on a dangerous voyage in search of the trident that will make him king. But while Tristan chases his destiny, the dark forces racing against him are getting stronger, and the sea witch of his nightmares is getting closer.
Battling sea dragons and savage creatures of the deep, Tristan needs his friends' support. But they each have their secrets, and a betrayal will force Tristan to choose between his crown and his best friend Layla — the only girl he's ever loved.


THE VAST AND BRUTAL SEA (The Vicious Deep #3)
by Zoraida Cordova
Expected release date: July 1st, 2014

SUMMARY

This epic clash of sand and sea will pit brother against brother-and there can only be one winner.

In two days, the race for the Sea Court throne will be over-but all the rules have changed. The sea witch, Nieve, has kidnapped Layla and is raising an army of mutant sea creatures to overthrow the crown. Kurt, the one person Tristan could depend on in the battle for the Sea King's throne, has betrayed him. Now Kurt wants the throne for himself. Tristan has the Scepter of the Earth, but it's not enough. He'll have to travel to the mysterious, lost Isle of Tears and unleash the magic that first created the king's powerful scepter. It's a brutal race to the finish, and there can only be one winner.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR - Zoraida Cordova

Zoraida Córdova was born in Guayaquil, Ecuador, where she learned to speak English by watching Disney’s The Little Mermaid and Michael Jackson’s Moonwalker on repeat. Her favorite things are sparkly like merdudes, Christmas, and New York City at night.

Goodreads / Website / Facebook / Twitter / YouTube

Monday, February 24, 2014

Book Spotlight and Giveaway: REAL MERMAIDS DON'T SELL SEASHELLS (Real Mermaids #4) by Helene Boudreau (MG)


Teenage girls have to deal with a lot of tough firsts. 
First zit. First crush. First... mermaid’s tail?

In the fourth installment of Hélène Boudreau’s breezy, fun and “unputdownable” Real Mermaids series, our favorite mer-girl Jade can’t think of a better way to celebrate peace in the underwater mer-world than with a tropical vacation in the Bahamas with her family and BFF.


Real Mermaids Series #4
by Hélène Boudreau
Release date: February 4th, 2014
Published by: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Genre: Middle Grade 
Format: Paperback, eBook

SUMMARY

Sun, surf and tropical breezes are no ‘day at the beach’ because being a teenage mermaid never takes a vacation.

With all the mers in Jade’s life now safe, happy and legit (with passports to prove it) and the underwater mer-world off the coast of Port Toulouse on the road to democracy, it’s time to relax and plan for the future. Jade can’t think of a better way to celebrate than with a tropical wedding in the Bahamas with Mom and Dad to finally make their family ‘official’.

Soon, Jade is enjoying the tropical sunshine, all-you-can-eat buffet, and island day trips. But when Jade gets lost in the island’s famous waterfront Straw Market, something doesn’t feel quite right. A body splashes into the water as a cruise ship enters the harbor and a teen boy selling conches from his boat behind the market knows more than he’s willing to admit.

With no body, no leads, and no other witnesses, though, the local police don’t seem too concerned. Maybe Jade’s imagination has been acting up on her, just like Cori said, considering everything she’s been through in the past few months.

But with Mom and Dad off on a honeymoon excursion it wouldn’t hurt to check things out, would it? Little do Jade and Cori realize, they are about to uncover more secrets about the splashing body, dangerous cruise ship cargo, and more questions than answers lurking in the nearby Caribbean waters.


MY THOUGHTS

I adore this series to pieces!!! It has been so much fun reading all about Jade and her mermaid experiences - being a teen is not easy. And being a mermaid-teen is even harder!
Lots of humor and adventure!!!
I am really looking forward to reading the conclusion to the Real Mermaid saga!!!


To see my reviews of the first three books to the Real Mermaid series,
please click here!!!


GIVEAWAY



ABOUT THE AUTHOR - Hélène Boudreau


Hélène Boudreau never spotted a real mermaid while growing up on an island surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, but she believes mermaids are just as plausible as giant squids, flying fish, or electric eels. 
She now writes fiction and nonfiction for kids from her land-locked home in Ontario, Canada. 

Real Mermaids Don’t Wear Toe Rings was a 2011 SCBWI Crystal Kit Member Choice award finalist.



Wednesday, December 5, 2012

The REAL MERMAIDS Love the Holidays Blog Tour: A Festive Treat!


As the holidays get nearer, the majority of us are looking for quick holiday treats to help us relax and enjoy the festivities... I am so very happy to have the ever-famous mermaid, Jade from the Real Mermaids series, visit my blog today to share a special and super quick-fix holiday treat with us :) 


REAL MERMAIDS FESTIVE TREAT

Hi everyone! Jade here from Real Mermaids. 

One of my favorite things about the upcoming holidays is the great treats we get to make and share. I love food so much, in fact, that I included a recipe for some of my favourite snacks in each of the Real Mermaids books. 

My friend Cori and I thought we'd experiment a bit and 'holiday-size' each recipe for you!

In Real Mermaids Don't Wear Toe Rings, I was stuck at my Gran's cottage without any chocolate in sight. That's when I turned to Google and found a recipe for a 5-minute Chocolate Mug Cake. Yes! Cake in FIVE MINUTES. I added raspberries and whipped cream to this version. Holiday dessert, anyone?

Chocolate Mug Cake with Raspberries
and Whipped Cream

First, get yourself the biggest microwaveable mug in the cupboard. 
Add: 
- 4 tablespoons flour
- 4 tablespoons sugar 
- 2 tablespoons cocoa 

Mix it well. Then add:
- 1 egg

Mix. Then add: 
- 3 tablespoons milk
- 3 tablespoons oil 

Mix. Then add: 
- 3 tablespoons chocolate chips (NOT optional - at least as far as I'm concerned.)
- 1 capful of vanilla extract

And... MIX!

Cook in the microwave for 3 minutes at 1000 watts (high). The cake will look like it's going to overflow but don't freak out! Let it cool for a bit (unless you want to burn your lips off) and add raspberries and whipped cream to make it fancy, then ENJOY!

Happy treats and have a great holiday, everyone!
Love, 
Jade 

Thank you so very much, Jade, for stopping by and sharing one of your delicious holiday treats with us! I know for sure that my family and I will definitely be treating ourselves to this delight over the holidays :) 
And a big thank you for Sourcebooks for putting this together, too! 


More about Jade and the REAL MERMAIDS series... 

by Helene Boudreau
Release date: December 10th, 2011 by Sourcebooks Jabberwocky 
Genre: Middle Grade - Science Fiction, Fantasy

SUMMARY 

First zit. First crush. First... mermaid's tail? 

If she hadn't been so clueless, she might have seen it coming. But really, who expects to get into a relaxing bathtub after a stressful day of shopping for tankinis and come out with scales and a tail? 

Most. Embarassing. Moment. Ever. 

Jade soon discovers she inherited her mermaid tendencies from her mom. But this revelation raises a serious question: if Mom was a mermaid, how did she drown? 

Jade is determined to find out. But how does a plus-sized, aqua-phobic, mer-girl go about doing that, exactly? And how will Jade ever be able to explain her secret to her best friend Cori, and her crush, Luke?

This summer is about to get a lot more interesting... 


by Helene Boudreau
Release date: May 1st, 2012 by Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Genre: Middle Grade - Science Fiction, Fantasy


SUMMARY 

Jade begins her summer confused. Yes, there's that whole "will this be a leg-day or a tail-day" kind of confusion, but Jade's got even bigger problems: it's been three weeks since Mom returned to the ocean with no news of her whereabouts. Plus, it's been twenty-one days since Jade first kissed her mer-boy Luke and now - nothing. 

Will Mom find the enchanted tidal pool that will allow her to become human? 
And why is Luke acting so weird? 


by Helene Boudreau
Expected release date: May 1st, 2013
Published by: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Genre: Middle Grade - Science Fiction, Fantasy


SUMMARY 

Jade is finally ready for life to return to normal - 
even if starting ninth grade is like being a goldfish in a shark tank and being asked to the school dance means Jade must get over her fear of awkward dancing. 

But just as Jade settles into high school life, there is unrest in the ocean, and the whole mer-world is on the brink of civil war. Can Jade find a plus-size dress that doesn't look like a shower curtain, keep her mer-ness a secret, and finally figure out if she and Luke are officially dating?
Who knew being a high school freshman is even more awkward than being a plus-sized aqua-phobic mer-girl?


ABOUT THE AUTHOR - Helene Boudreau 

Hélène Boudreau never spotted a real mermaid while growing up on an island surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, but she believes mermaids are just as plausible as giant squids, flying fish, or electric eels. 
She now writes fiction and nonfiction for kids from her landlocked home in Ontario, Canada. 
Her first book of this series, Real Mermaids Don’t Wear Toe Rings, was a 2011 SCBWI Crystal Kite Award finalist.


Saturday, May 26, 2012

The Beehive Book News #5: The one with a few adult books, eek!

Happy Memorial Day Weekend to all of our local U.S. friends :) 
We're having a wonderful time relaxing and hanging out with our family! 
Managed to squeeze in a quick vlog today with my boys, we hope you enjoy it! 



Here's a quick summary... 

On the blog last week:
- Giveaway of Wander Dust by Michelle Warren, enter here!
- Waiting On Wednesday: Two and Twenty Dark Tales - Dark Retellings of Mother Goose Tales
- My review of Hound Dog True by Linda Urban
- My review of Blue Sky Days by Marie Landry

Books We got
The Vicious Deep by Zoraida Cordova (YA)
- Fated by Alyson Noel (YA)
- Whisper by Alyson Noel (YA)
- The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter (YA)
- Goddess Interrupted by Aimee Carter (YA)
Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood (YA)
Dark Shadows: The Salem Branch by Lara Parker (Adult)
The Taker by Alma Katsu (Adult)
- Big Nate: On a Roll by Lincoln Peirce (MG)
- Dinosaur Pet by Neil Sedaka (Children)

Thank you to....
- Amanda of Book Love 101 for the Goddess Interrupted Giveaway :)

Mentions:
- Barnes & Noble Summer Reading Program (for grades 1-6)

What to look forward to on the blog next week:
- Possible reviews: Obsidian, Can I Get An Amen?, What a Boy Wants... and maybe The Fairytale Keeper: Avenging the Queen (I'm still reading it, hee hee!)
- Waiting On Wenesday :)
- The Secret Garden Read-a-long with Book Journey... and more bumble-y stuffs!

As always, thank you so much for stopping by! 
Happy reading :) 
 
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