Tempest Rising (Tempest, #1)

Oct 05, 2011 oliviasbooks rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to oliviasbooks by: Nic

Shelves: young-adult-fiction, mermaids-selkies, urban-fantasy-paranormal, unfinished-2011, witches-sorcerers-magic, shapeshifters, e-version, i-cannot-tell-you-my-secret, love-story-romance

**** Review contains some spoilers ****
"Why can't you just tell me?" It was my turn to reach out for him, to grab his hand. "Because you're not ready for the answers yet."

Does it sound familiar? It doesn't? Then this is certainly the right pararnormal teen romance for you. For me it is like a multi-echo-déjà-vu and therefore impossible to bear. I think it is probably not the author's fault or the book's. Perhaps I have just consumed too many stories of its "kind" in too quick succession and now...more **** Review contains some spoilers ****
"Why can't you just tell me?" It was my turn to reach out for him, to grab his hand. "Because you're not ready for the answers yet."

Does it sound familiar? It doesn't? Then this is certainly the right pararnormal teen romance for you. For me it is like a multi-echo-déjà-vu and therefore impossible to bear. I think it is probably not the author's fault or the book's. Perhaps I have just consumed too many stories of its "kind" in too quick succession and now this sort of brain-candy is not tasting juicy and exotic anymore, but sticky-sweet and artificial on the verge of causing nausea. The undeniable fact is: I am 65% in and I just cannot take it anmore. Some of you may rightfully tsk now and say "Could have told you so." My excuse for preordering the book with rather high expectations is that I have been adoring and unsuccessfully craving mermaid-themed stories since reading Evelyn Kolnberger's Der Sommer als Nixe kam for the first time as a kid - or even earlier, since delving into Ottfried Preussler's Der kleine Wassermann, and nowadays Urban Fantasy books featuring mermaids and other merfolk heroines flood the market and beckon my burried mermaid-obsessed inner child with supposedly unique settings, unforseen twists and unparalleled emotions. Plus, I have to stress that - although it might seem to be so, I am not yet fed up by the complete paranormal romance genre. Even now I occasionally encounter a story that boldly leaves the path of the mandatory plot-formula (yes, it is possible), or - though following it - plants a character set in front of us that is too life-like and too likable to be off the rack und thus saves the day. Alas, balancing matters of the mentioned sort or others are sadly missing in "Tempest Rising". What is mentionable are the accute descriptions of the weather - thunder storms, churning oceanic water and so on. The rest is "business as usual" clad in a sparkling - oh, pardon me, I meant fluorescent - skin of not-so-new mermaid lore:
- There is a girl - with hidden powers and open affinities. Her mom, a mermaid, left her family for the ocean, puzzling her daughter with a cryptic good-bye letter that promised changes and explanations in abundance to come.
- There is a boyfriend of the harmlessly cute and jealous variety. The reader is expected to like him but to let him drop with a sad, but short, sigh when the worthier - aka superhuman - angle of the paranormal love-triangle makes his glow-in-the-dark-tattooed-and-silver-eyed entrance and captivates heart and soul of the heroine with the forming of in instant connection/attraction/recognition/lust/tugging/whatever:
“I couldn’t help the way I responded to Kona, though – every inch of my body (and most of my concentration) was tuned toward him like he was a lightning rod. There didn’t seem to be anything I could do about it.“
- Said supernatural love-interest is not immortal, but very old with an even longer life expectancy and thus very mature - opposed to the heroine - and very experienced in the pleasure-giving department. Certainly the heroine is not really mortal, too.
- Said experienced, fluorescent instant-lover turns out to be filthily rich and - this comes as a shock (or not) - heir to a throne (how could he not, good looking as he is). By the way, there was one thing that bugged me: The heroine had to swim through a very, very tight dark tunnel to reach his not-on-human-maps castle and is told that it was the only way to get there, but then his room is full of old books, DVD and state-of-the-art entertainment-systems and everybody is clad in hip designer clothes.
- The heroine herself is the long awaited daughter of a very influential person, and - because of an ancient prophecy that mentions her very name - the only hope to restore the peace to the merfolk-world. Her probable royal future inlaws therefore fall around her pearly, tattooed neck and declare she was worth the wait. Oh, yeah.
- There is an evil, evil opponent with evil, evil minions who will be quieted or fought or converted by the heroine somehow. I don't care, but I can imagine perfectly well.
- And finally there is the not to be missed page-consuming dance of secrecy around the difficult and dangerous and uncomprehensive questions of what-kind-of-creature-the-supernatural-guy-is and of what-the-hell-is-the-problem-down-here. Both questions are answered - after a lot of screaming and trust-me-pleading and it's-too-early-too-tell-repetitions - right according the lines every half-experienced reader had already guessed chapters before.

This will not be the last mermaid story I have tried to enjoy. And I believe it might be perfect for a lot of those paranormal romance fans, who do not expect diversity, but long for slightly different versions of what they already know and like.

One of my straying thoughts, which amused me a bit, was: "Poor Stephenie Meyer. You said you wanted to hop on the mermaid-band-waggon. But your fluorescent mer-prince-story has already been told. Now what? Talking budgies or a Persephone retelling? It doesn't matter. But you have to be quick. Trends shift as quickly as the incoming tides these days."
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Aug 07, 2011 ~Tina~ rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: cover-crazz, ec-lib, read-2011, mermaids-selkies, young-adult, re-read-challenge

I have always loved loved loved the idea of mermaids, but yet to find a book that I could just sink into. I'm so happy to say that I finally found it in this book. It may not be an absolute favorite, but I have to admit, this book came pretty dame close.

Tempest Rising is a very compelling story about a girl named Tempest who fears the loom of her seventeenth birthday. Her mom left her for the ocean when she was just ten years old, but left a note saying that Tempest had a choice. But does she re...more I have always loved loved loved the idea of mermaids, but yet to find a book that I could just sink into. I'm so happy to say that I finally found it in this book. It may not be an absolute favorite, but I have to admit, this book came pretty dame close.

Tempest Rising is a very compelling story about a girl named Tempest who fears the loom of her seventeenth birthday. Her mom left her for the ocean when she was just ten years old, but left a note saying that Tempest had a choice. But does she really?

For the most part, I really just loved this book. It's intriguing with solid characters to get lost in the drama of it all, the writing really pulls the reader in and the pace is adventurous and mysterious, keeping me guessing all the way through.

Tempest is a very...erratic and conflicting character. Her pain, confusion and inner-turmoil is on one hand completely justified and realistic (or as realistic can be in paranorm) but on the other hand, she's very hard to keep up with. It seems like she wants everything and nothing at the exact same time and then dwells on the fact that she can't have this...but she wants that. Then blames her absent mother for everything she has to deal with. Don't get me wrong, I did enjoy her character and liked that she can be very strong-minded when she wants to be, but the pull and push of her thought process got me a bit dizzy and more then frustrated. But that's the only real thing that bothered me about this book.
As for the love interest(s), it was pretty tough to pick a side. I like Mark, a lot, but I think it was because he was already hers, loving Tempest, supporting her and I liked that he didn't take her crap and saw through her bullshit, plus I like a guy that would fight for you. But then there's Kona, with his long dark hair and killer words to melt a sappy gushing heart like mine in a pile of goo and like Tempest I'm all -- Mark who? Both guys are amazing and while I wouldn't normally like what Tempest did...I was hooked on every moment none the less. The chemistry was sizzling and intense for both of the guys in her life, but in the end I'm happy with who she picked.

As for the plot of this story, I loved it. It's part self-discovery (whether she liked it or not) parts adventure, magic and love set to the rumble of the ocean. Kona's world is simply gorgeous, I felt transported under the sea. Tracy Deebs writes with haunting passion, really pulling the reader in the thick of things.

All in all, this is the best mermaid book I've read so far and I only hope that it's not the end of this world. I like the way it ended, but still think there is a lot that can still be explored. So I'm crossing my fingers for more.

Dark, deep and emotionally breathtaking, this is one mermaid book that I'm definitively gonna have to add to my shelf.

Well done!
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Jun 02, 2011 Kristi (The Story Siren) rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Tempest Rising is FINtastic!! Sorry I couldn’t resist! But seriously it was awesome.

It’s no secret that I’m a fan of mermaids. I mean if my blog name didn’t tip you off, well it should have. Not that sirens are technically mermaids, but “the story mermaid” didn’t quite have the same ring to it as “the story siren” but anyway back to the review. I might be a little biased when it comes to this book because I do love mermaids, but it was actually a really spectacular story.

I loved the characters...more

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May 15, 2011 Garrett rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: mermaids-sirens-selkies

Tempest Rising is the story of a teenage girl who discovers she is destined to become a great and powerful mermaid. Being obsessed with all things Mer-related for all my life, I'm picky when it comes to books about the merfolk. But I can now strongly attest that Tempest Rising is my favorite mermaid book of all time!
I really loved the main character of Tempest. She felt very human, despite being half mermaid. She knows from the book's opening that she is a mermaid and destined to become one. Ho...more Tempest Rising is the story of a teenage girl who discovers she is destined to become a great and powerful mermaid. Being obsessed with all things Mer-related for all my life, I'm picky when it comes to books about the merfolk. But I can now strongly attest that Tempest Rising is my favorite mermaid book of all time!
I really loved the main character of Tempest. She felt very human, despite being half mermaid. She knows from the book's opening that she is a mermaid and destined to become one. However, Tempest doesn't want to be a mermaid. She's got her younger brothers to look after, aspirations to become an artist, and, well, she's also got surfing, a boyfriend, and good friends she doesn't want to leave behind. All this made Tempest complex and meaningful, not just another cardboard cut-out of a character. Her dreams and aspirations were known, and the reader can't help but feel sorry for her.

Something else I loved about the novel was Tempest's refusal to become like her mother. She doesn't want to make the same choices her parent did, and for most of the book Tempest resents her mother for those choices. Watching Tempest grow and develop made the reader develop along with her.

Another thing about this book that was a refreshing change: in a world where paranormal romances
usually feature half-naked heroines slaying evil creatures without blinking an eye, Tempest actually feels guilt when she has to kill someone in self-defense. And she doesn't just get over that guilt; it still plagues her even after the book comes to a close.

As for the writing, Deebs has a lyrical, almost poetic, style. Some passages were lyrical, like they were part of a song, which is only fitting, being that the novel is about mermaids, the "sirens" of song.

I also loved the villain - or should I say villains - in the novel. Tempest has one bad Big Bad to fight off, and from the evil sea witch to her sea monster minions, there was just so much Tempest has yet to conquer, and I have a feeling we haven't seen the last of those beasties.

Mermaids, selkies, sea witches, and various other fantastical sea life swim through the pages of the book, creating a rich mythology that I couldn't get enough of. In fact, most of the mythology is rooted in actual folklore, such as Tiamat and the Lusca, and so I actually looked up myths and legends surrounding these creatures and was surprised at some of the stuff I found. Thumbs up to Ms. Deebs for her myth-weaving!

All in all, I loved this book, as you can probably tell, and as much as I knew I needed to at times, I couldn't stop reading it no matter what. Deebs's writing was flawless, Tempest was refreshingly human, and the mermaid mythology was intriguing and mesmerizing. I've heard this is supposed to be a trilogy, presuming sales are good, and I really hope so! There is so much left to be explored, and I hope to immerse myself in the depths of Tempest's mermaid world again someday soon!(less)

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Dec 18, 2012 Claire rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Dearest Tempest,

I think you're... sigh, how do I begin?

Let's say you're quite a contradiction, considering how you say you are not going to symphatize with yourself yet end up wallowing in self-pity just about all the time.

Please, don't forget you've got a boyfriend. Regardless of how on-off he is, rules of a lady- you do not go around making out with other boys, no matter how hot they are and no matter how you attracted you are to them. Repeat, YOU-DO-NOT.

Oh, and I don't get how you say you car...more

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Apr 29, 2011 Crystal ♥ RBtWBC rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: request-blog-tour, best-of-2011

Tempest Rising was a really sweet Y.A. read that I blew through.

Tempest Maguire is a bit of a tomboy; she’d rather be surfing with the guys and her on-again, off-again boyfriend Mark, then hanging out at the malls with her girlfriends. As her seventeenth birthday approaches though her body craves more then just riding the waves, it wants to be under them, despite how her mind and heart feels. After her mother walked away six years ago leaving her, her brothers and father behind, she swore that s...more Tempest Rising was a really sweet Y.A. read that I blew through.

Tempest Maguire is a bit of a tomboy; she’d rather be surfing with the guys and her on-again, off-again boyfriend Mark, then hanging out at the malls with her girlfriends. As her seventeenth birthday approaches though her body craves more then just riding the waves, it wants to be under them, despite how her mind and heart feels. After her mother walked away six years ago leaving her, her brothers and father behind, she swore that she would never choose her mermaid side. But when the sexy and mysterious Kai is drug under the waves the choice may be taken from her. Will Tempest survive the war brewing under the surface of the ocean? And will she choose to remain a mermaid, human or can she find a balance between the two?

Tempest Rising was a fascinating story written from Tempest's point of view. I really enjoyed the unique underwater world that Tracy Deebs has created with different mythical creatures; mermaids, selkies, sea witches. I also liked the how in the plot, Tempest knows her mermaid heritage but despite her prejudices, because of her mother’s abandonment, and being set against becoming a mermaid, you can tell that she was born to the water. I also loved her surfer lifestyle; it was entertaining and makes me want to head out to the beach right now.
The author kept Tempest true to her character throughout the novel, never wavering from her initial feelings, instead having some mature and grow along the way while others remained the same. I was able to dive into the characters without a problem, each one was unique and I found the side characters just as entertaining as the main ones. Tempest is strong, sensitive and loyal with a deep love and commitment to her family. She had a love triangle to deal with and it wasn’t as suspenseful as you usually find in Y.A.'s, but there was a lot of back and forth, should I choose him or him. I thought Kai was sexy and charming and right for Tempest, though I did feel that Mark got the short end of the stick; he really cared for Tempest and thought she was the one.
The setting was imaginative and I could picture the cali surfer life and the world of mermaids and selkies around me while reading.
The descriptions of characters where a bit redundant towards the middle but I flew through this novel within a day, turning the pages as fast as I could to see where Tempest’s destiny would take her.

The ending was nice but it felt like it was missing something, I can’t really say what without revealing a major spoiler but I would of like more closure. The story could end here and that’d be it, but the author left a few points open to continue the story with. Nothing to cause those hated throw-the-book-across-the-room cliffhangers, a lot of the story is wrapped up neatly, but it does leave you interested for more.

Full of action, drama, mystery, and angst, with a beautiful cover Tempest Rising was a great and refreshing read.(less)

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Sep 14, 2011 Jennifer Jensen (Literally Jen) rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: purchased

I love mermaids: I think about them, dream about them, and write about them. And I am just elated to see how many mermaid books are getting published today. A little horrified as well, but so far no one has written *my* mermaid novel. Well, not exactly, anyway.

As you can see, I started this book about a month ago, and I think this review is going to suffer just a bit because of that. I must have had way too many things going on at the time to undertake this book, which I read for fun rather than...more I love mermaids: I think about them, dream about them, and write about them. And I am just elated to see how many mermaid books are getting published today. A little horrified as well, but so far no one has written *my* mermaid novel. Well, not exactly, anyway.

As you can see, I started this book about a month ago, and I think this review is going to suffer just a bit because of that. I must have had way too many things going on at the time to undertake this book, which I read for fun rather than for an official Luxury Reading or Simply Stacie review. This one I bought, and couldn't wait to read--even if it meant review books would just have to wait.

TEMPEST RISING is fun in a lot of ways; it combines mermaids AND selkies, and that equals awesome...only I didn't feel that they were really all that well defined. So a selkie and a mermaid can apparently have a relationship with each other? If they have children together, then what species/breed does that make the little kiddies? And wouldn't the mermen be a little upset over the selkies taking their mermaids away from them? If mermaids can breed with humans, can mermen do this also? Sooo many questions, but like I said, I think about mermaids, dream about them, yadda yadda yadda. I wanted to know more about the relationship between mermaids, selkies, and mermen, but with a first person narrative and us knowing only what Tempest knows, there's a little left over to be desired.

When Tempest turns 17, she has to make a choice between the land and the sea. There's this whole prophecy thing that doesn't come into play until more than halfway into the book (reminded me a bit of Harry Potter...raised away from her own kind because the parents think it would be best), and Tempest is going to be some sort of savior to her mother's people. And her mother, by the way, is a super important priestess of her clan. She has been battling the evil sea witch for centuries.

So the evil sea witch is supposed to be scary and murderous and lurking everywhere, but she doesn't make an appearance toward the end when there's this huge battle. She made a few plays to capture Tempest, but we never actually get to see her until near the end. I wanted more of her. I was never really scared of her--and I definitely wasn't scared for Tempest.

I also really wanted to see more of Tempest's mother. I am completely disappointed in how everything with her turned out. For the majority of TEMPEST RISING, Tempest complains about her mother and how much she hates her, and then she has this teeny little appearance and it's not as epic as I thought it would be, considering what this woman is to her people.

Tempest is a bit hard to figure out. She's completely in to herself. It's all about her, and her feelings toward her mother for deserting her--but Tempest also has two little brothers. She doesn't even give them a thought until the last 10% of the novel. They are going to have it much worse than she is, because they are mermen. But again--why?

There's a bit of a love triangle, too. Tempest has a human boyfriend, Mark. She's supposedly totally in love with him, but I never really sensed that. She too easily gave in to temptation when Kona, the selkie prince, comes around. As many faults as Mark has, I think he deserved better treatment than she gave him. Truly I can't blame her, because Kona is pretty attractive, and he's all the things that Mark is not.

I feel like I'm straddling a scale right now (not a mermaid scale--ha ha!) and I'm undecided on whether or not to read the next Tempest book. (less)

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May 15, 2011 The BookWhisperer rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: series

Tempest Rising by Tracy Deebs is the best mermaid novel that I have had the pleasure of reading. Mermaid novels are a uniquely new addition to the genre. It seems that novels surrounding this species have proved to be difficult in creating a extraordinary read. The common perception of a fairy tale glittery world appears to conflict with many authors ability to invent a strong storyline. Deebs made this challenge appear effortless with her creation of this novel that is packed full of suspense,...more

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Jul 18, 2012 Lizzy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

It's no secret to Tempest that she's half-mermaid. Her mother was open about it, her father thinks it's a gift, but Tempest sees it as the thing that broke apart her family. So, when she begins to develop mermaid characteristic (i.e gills), she has a bit of a meltdown. It's justified, since the first time she begins to change she goes from surfing to almost drowning. She's attempting to live a normal human life, including a romance with Mark, despite knowing that she'll soon have to choose betwe...more

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Jul 14, 2011 Princess Bookie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read2011

My Thoughts: So I don't normally read too many mermaid books. I don't know why I don't because the few I do I tend to enjoy them quite a bit. We are introduced to Tempest who is getting ready to turn 17 years old. For as long as she can remember her mother always told her on her 17th birthday she would be faced with a huge decision to make. Tempest is a half mermaid. She has the decision to stay a human and continue on what she knows or to go to the water and become a mermaid where she will stay...more My Thoughts: So I don't normally read too many mermaid books. I don't know why I don't because the few I do I tend to enjoy them quite a bit. We are introduced to Tempest who is getting ready to turn 17 years old. For as long as she can remember her mother always told her on her 17th birthday she would be faced with a huge decision to make. Tempest is a half mermaid. She has the decision to stay a human and continue on what she knows or to go to the water and become a mermaid where she will stay. The decision is ultimately hers.

Tempest's mother left years ago and she hasn't seen or heard from her since. She knows her mother had a higher calling; a job to do but Tempest still does not understand why she had to go and leave the family, including her two brothers and her father.

As her 17th birthday approaches Tempest life starts to change. Her relationship with Mark (her boyfriend) is starting to change. She doesn't feel as connected to him as she once did, partly because she can't tell him her secret. She is starting to feel cold all over and can't seem to get warm, she even grows gills!!! What in the world is she growing gills for? She's half scared she's going to wake up one day and have a tail. That would be hard to explain in school! Tempest even starts to feel weird while surfing (the girl lives to surf).

Enter a mysterious boy named Kona that Tempest meets on the beach. He's nothing like any boy she's ever met before. She feels drawn to him, he feels familiar.

Kona and Tempest get to know each other a bit better, and become friends. One day while on the beach, Kona gets into an accident (if we can call it that?) and gets thrown under water and Tempest goes after him without thinking. She ends up under the water into "their world". In other words, the mermaid (and other creatures) world. While she's there, she learns that time passes differently there, and she learns more about what her life could be like if she chooses this path. She learns that everyone in the water "knows" who she is and what she is capable of. She also learns about the evil sea witch who wants to kill her! She wants to use Tempest to her own advantage!

I'm going to stop there on the summary. I don't want to give away any major spoilers. I loved this book so much. I loved seeing Tempest in her life in the human world but I also liked seeing her life in the mermaid world. I liked learning the little facts she learned throughout the book about her family. The ending was kind of abrupt and I wish I knew what happened afterwards though. I'm still happy with the way things turned out. Tempest Rising was an awesome debut.

Overall: I loved the beauty of this book. The way it was told was pure beautiful. It was relaxing, yet exciting. It was very peaceful, yet I devoured it quickly. Tempest Rising was everything plus more that I was looking for in a mermaid book.

Cover: Isn't this one of the most beautiful covers you ever seen? I think so. I love everything about it. I love the way we can see the tattoo on her back. I love seeing the top of her tail. The colors are so pretty. I also like how we can see her hair and half of her face. They got this cover right.

What I'd Give It: 5/5 Cupcakes
_________________________________
Review Based On Hardcover Edition

Taken From Princess Bookie
www.princessbookie.com
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Sep 09, 2011 Holli rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: i-own

Tempest Rising was exhilarating, magical, strikingly beautiful, and an emotional roller-coaster! I instantly fell in love with the characters in this book. I identified with Tempests character. Her independence, her ability to be strong, and her ability to not allow herself to be vulnerable. That is, until Kona! *Swoon* The battle that wages deep within her is just as powerful as the waves of the ocean that call to her. Where does she truly belong? Does land or sea hold more of her heart? The sa...more

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Jan 18, 2012 Eileen rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: borrowed, romance, paranormal, young-adult

First of all, this cover is the thing that made me read this book. If it weren't for this awesome cover, I would've never got this book from the library. But it does have an awesome cover, and so I had to read it. And let me tell you one thing, I was not disappointed. Not in the slightest.

This book is about how Tempest decides to go back into the ocean, to save Kai—hello, Goodreads, the name is Kona for crying out loud!—when he gets pulled into the ocean by these shadows who are really his broth...more

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Feb 22, 2013 Leila Anani rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: mermaids-mermen-selkies, young-adult-paranormal-romance

First in a teen paranormal romance trilogy. Tempest has a tough choice to make on her 17th birthday she can become a mermaid and head to the sea like her mother who abandoned the family 6 years previously for the ocean's call or she can stay human. Bitter against her mother, with a loving father, 2 brothers and a hot boyfriend she's certain she'll choose to remain on land, until a hot selkie prince turns up and tells her she's the undersea messiah - thing's aren't rearly as cut and dried as they...more

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Oct 27, 2012 Tris The Stiff rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, books-i-own, covergasm, owns-multiple-copies

Mermaid book are typically my favorite books to read, and Tracy Deebs has not disappointed me. Tempest Rising may just be my favorite mermaid book and possibly YA book. Tracy has so much originality it's unbelievable. I'm used to reading similar things because well it's YA, what can you expect? But with Tempest, there are worlds no one could dream of (besides Tracy of course).

Tempest is such a likable character and I totally envy her life. All the protags are likable though which is always a ni...more

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Jul 01, 2012 →kelly♥[: rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011-book, cute-cover, mermaids

My Rating: 3.5

My feelings for Tempest Rising is really mixed. I was excited to read the book - I saw Tempest Unleashed's gorgeous cover in Barnes & Noble, found out it was the second book in the Tempest series, and had to read Tempest Rising, the first book in the series, right away. It took me a long week to finally get my hands on the book, and to my disappointment, the beginning of Tempest Rising was not to my taste. But then, it gets better.

Tempest Rising is about seventeen year old Te...more

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May 27, 2012 Lili rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

4.5 stars!

I adored this book. This is the first and only mermaid novel I have read. I was curious about it because I had never read a novel about mermaids and I'm happy to say that this book was not a disappointment.

The plot was fabulous. You follow Tempest's life, beginning with her mother walking out on them because the ocean called to her and she could not resist. Now, at age 17, Tempest finds herself to be in the same situation. With each passing day, the ocean's pull is stronger and strong...more 4.5 stars!

I adored this book. This is the first and only mermaid novel I have read. I was curious about it because I had never read a novel about mermaids and I'm happy to say that this book was not a disappointment.

The plot was fabulous. You follow Tempest's life, beginning with her mother walking out on them because the ocean called to her and she could not resist. Now, at age 17, Tempest finds herself to be in the same situation. With each passing day, the ocean's pull is stronger and stronger, but she is determined to stay on land with her family, friends, and boyfriend, Mark. When she allows herself to see what the ocean is truly like, her world will forever by turned upside down.

But, the turning of her world began much earlier than her first steps into the ocean--the day she met a handsome surfer named Kona. I'm not going to tell you what Kona is, but the love triangle that ensues between him, Tempest, and Mark is absolutely delicious. It is equivalent to the plot. Kona is sexy and mysterious, just like the ocean's depth, while Mark is stubborn and real, just as her home on land is. Her war with where she belongs coincides with the love triangle. However, as the book went on, it's clear that even the author favors one boy much more than the other and you almost forget about the other entirely. The love triangle helped the book, but did hurt it slightly because at times, it seemed to be a bit odd, like how she treated Mark once she began exhibiting some of her mermaid traits. Mark was oblivious to what was causing her inner turmoil and like any good boyfriend, he wanted to help her, but she did not allow him to do so.

Aside from the few weird moments of the love triangle, I don't have many complaints about the book. For instance, how could you be craving someones kiss after talking to them for a few seconds, not even a full conversation where names have yet to have been exchanged? However, I will say this: when you read a novel, you almost become one with the character when reading from their point of view. You want to think what they think and feel what they feel and cry for them when they are hurt. While you could easily do that with Tempest, it seems as if Deebs took it a little too far at times. The entire novel has the back-plot of Tempest's identity crisis. Will she choose to be human and stay with her family or follow in her mother's footsteps and embrace her inner mermaid? Yes, that's a large part of the story, but we do not need to be reminded almost every chapter that Tempest doesn't want to be a mermaid. To me, that aspect the novel was incredibly redundant. And to make it a bit more strange, at times, Deebs didn't take it far enough. We could feel her pain and connect with her on an emotional level, but she's a frustrating character to connect with at times. Again, look at the above example with her identity crisis and Mark. If she's feeling so alone and out of place because of the way her body is changing, why should she not seek solace in the arms of someone who is there for her? She may not be able to tell him what is truly bothering her, but she could benefit from his comfort. Instead, she has to detach herself from everything, and you almost feel a little detached from her because of this. A majority of the novel was written with great character development, but I so greatly wish it flowed perfectly throughout so that this novel could have gotten the five that I thought it would get easily.

Deebs is absolutely brilliant for weaving mythology into the plot. It not only added to the story, but gave it a deeper meaning as well. It's not easy to accomplish such a feat and keep the tale original, so I applaud Deebs for her well-doings. Up to the final page of the novel, there was some sort of mythology underlying the plot.

With all of that being said, I am choosing to give this book a 4.5. Even with my small qualms with Tempest's character development and the introduction of the love-triangle, it weaved together perfectly to create a novel that I loved so much I read late into the night and went to school on barely any sleep the next day. While I wish that it could be a 5, it does lack little details that could have pulled it together in a way that would make one breathless. However, the story is so unique and capturing that the flaws don't really stand out until you take a step back and think, and even then, they are not that obvious unless you're sitting here like I am and analyzing the books for others. Either way, this will forever and always be a favorite of mine.
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May 07, 2012 Spark740 rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I would rate this two stars but that star says "it was OK" and actually, I'm goin' more like, "this is so stereotypical it's boring". The concept is cool, but seriously, I HATE FEMALE CHARACTERS WITH MOODSWINGS AND TONS OF HOT GUYS VYING FOR HER HAND!!
Don't you?
Scenario: girl, who is inherently mermaid, falls off surfboard. Is about to drown. Goes through this emotional cycle in a matter of 3 minutes: shocked. Calm. Panicked. Afraid. Steamin'-hot-boilin'-mad. Panicked and then devastated in the...more

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May 04, 2012 OpenBookSociety.com rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Review brought to you by OBS staff member Heidi

Beware of Spoilers!

Tempest Maguire lives in a house by the beach in San Diego with her dad, who used to be a professional surfer, and her two younger brothers, Rio and Moku. Her mom left when she was ten years old shortly after an incident where Tempest snuck out into the ocean and was being dragged down by a strange sea woman, but everybody chucked it up to a child’s imagination. But was it?

Tempest is truly her father’s child using any opportunity...more Review brought to you by OBS staff member Heidi

Beware of Spoilers!

Tempest Maguire lives in a house by the beach in San Diego with her dad, who used to be a professional surfer, and her two younger brothers, Rio and Moku. Her mom left when she was ten years old shortly after an incident where Tempest snuck out into the ocean and was being dragged down by a strange sea woman, but everybody chucked it up to a child’s imagination. But was it?

Tempest is truly her father’s child using any opportunity she can to go surfing with her boyfriend, Mark, and their friends. But when she falls off her surfboard one day on and easy wave and nearly drowns not to mention grows gills, the letter her mom left for her haunts her.

Tempest’s mom is a mermaid and the letter she left tells her that when she turns seventeen that she will have to make a choice; to live on land as a human or in the sea as a mermaid. Tempest hates her mom for leaving and doesn’t want to be anything like her, but when her body starts changing she wonders if the choice has been taken away from her.

First off, I’m a very visual person and I love the cover of this book it’s just beautiful and I could easily picture the girl on the cover as Tempest as I read.

I’m not a big fan of young adult novels as anybody who has followed my reviews probably knows by now. But I was pleasantly surprised at the writing of this book. It was an easy read and not one that made me feel I was in junior high like most of the young adult books do these days. No eye rolling like I usually do at the immature characters and just plain cheesiness of YA books. I think the lead, Tempest, was actually a pretty mature seventeen year old and I wish others in this genre would follow suit. This novel is one that I think an adult can enjoy, but one that I think teens and even older tweens could easily read as well.

I liked Tempest and I found the mermaid aspect to be kind of fun as I’ve never really delved into any books on mermaids before. Then, you add in the other sea creatures including sexy selkie, Kona, and the underground or under the sea world in this case and you have the beginning of what promises to be a fresh and interesting series.

However, I didn’t like everyone conversing in their heads in the sea, I would much rather of them had a way to talk out loud instead of all the different channels they were talking on in each others minds.

Also, I found it a bit strange when Tempest went into the Pacific to save Kona and ends up staying there for a couple weeks and that she doesn’t really try to go back to her family to let them know she’s OK. She thinks about her dad and brothers and how much they are probably worrying about her, but never does anything to put their minds at ease and instead goes in search for the mom she hates. That just didn’t make a whole lot of sense to me.

Overall, I thought this was a decent start to a new series. It wasn’t great, but I think it’s definitely a good start; a world that can definitely be built upon in future installments. I hope that we get some more depth with the characters in the next book, Tempest Unleashed, as there are some that I think really need expanded upon, such as Kona. And even though Tempest chose to live in the sea, I hope we get to see more with her dad in the future as I did really like him. I look forward to seeing what Deebs has in store for us next.

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Dec 01, 2011 Alisa Carter rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book starts off great – I love the main character, Tempest. She’s this laid-back surfer girl, more comfortable with guy friends, which was a type of character I haven’t read much about. Her main focus is taking care of her two little brothers, who are not dealing well after being abandoned by their mother six years before. Her relationship with the littlest guy, who is dyslexic I think, is really sweet. Once Kona (Kai in the book description, for some reason – maybe they changed it later?)...more

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Nov 21, 2011 Gemma rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Tempest Rising was rather... silly.

Is it redundant for me to call a mermaid story silly? I don't think so. Mermaids are no more silly than vampires and werewolves and the like. If they're well handled. And the mermaids here are... not.

There's something about the realm of mermaids that has the potential to be gorgeous and beautifully written. The location alone is bound to be gorgeous; it's the ocean/beach. Beautiful. So if the author can find a way to capture that beauty in her writing, it's goi...more

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Oct 11, 2011 Sarah Darlington rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

My Thoughts...
I'm having a hard time trying to decide how to discribe this book. On one hand--this novel set up the perfect mermaid story. A girl trying to decide between land and sea, between two boys, between two seperate lives. It was sexy and dark and mysterious. And the mythology was fantastic, really the best part to it. I greedily wanted to know more about the underwater world. But on the other hand it was slightly lacking in something: substance, maybe.
Yes, there were parts that I really...more

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Aug 07, 2011 Lyndsey Rushby added it · review of another edition

Shelves: ya

A couple of YA books have focused on Mermaids in the past but none that I have read have been anywhere near amazing as this. The day after Tempest Rising arrived, I started reading it and finished it the same day because I couldn’t put it down.

Tempest had a really strong voice from the very beginning. She is sure of herself, loves her life and knows exactly what she wants. I loved that she didn’t have any of the typical teenage girl hang ups about herself and there wasn’t any constant whining a...more A couple of YA books have focused on Mermaids in the past but none that I have read have been anywhere near amazing as this. The day after Tempest Rising arrived, I started reading it and finished it the same day because I couldn’t put it down.

Tempest had a really strong voice from the very beginning. She is sure of herself, loves her life and knows exactly what she wants. I loved that she didn’t have any of the typical teenage girl hang ups about herself and there wasn’t any constant whining about her boyfriend being too good for her. Tempest has a great self confidence which sets a fantastic example for readers, letting them know its ok to be happy with exactly who you are. She’s extremely angry with her mother for leaving the whole family and she can’t understand the decision she made to live as a mermaid instead of as a human with her family but when Tempest begins to grow gills and the call of the water gets stronger, she realises that things may not be as easy as she once thought.

Both guys in this book are HOT. Mark, Tempest’s human boyfriend is lovely! As a surfer, he is obviously quite fit and I don’t think I would complain about seeing him in action in the water. He also is besotted with Tempest and would do anything for her, no matter how much she annoys him at times. I was really routing for Mark from the beginning but also for Tempest to treat him better. She was quite closed off around him and seemed to just run away whenever something would happen. Another thing I didn’t like about Tempest’s relationship with Mark was how quickly she dismissed him when Kona made an appearance. As soon as this sexy as hell, mysterious surfer came onto the scene, it was like Tempest forgot she even had a boyfriend. I understand that this book is all about fate concerning who/ what you are supposed to be but still, have some restraint girl!

As much as I liked Mark, when Kona appeared, my allegiance changed very quickly. There was something about Kona that drew me in so much more than Mark and maybe that was due to who he is and what he is. His presence in the book is hard to miss and I couldn’t get enough of him. He’s charming, a bit cheeky and sensitive all at the same time. Kona is also a surfer so this immediately gave him something in common with Tempest. There was definitely a spark between Tempest and Kona immediately which isn’t explained fully until later on in the book but I loved the reasoning for everything. The passion and tension between these three characters was intense and smoking hot at times. I couldn’t get enough of this love triangle.

Although so far, this book sounds like the main idea is for Tempest to choose between Mark and Kona but there was so much more to it than that. Tempest Rising has a great history and mythology of mermaids and other creatures from under the sea and this was all explained very well. Nothing is really touched upon until nearly half way through the book but I liked how Tempest was kept guessing, not knowing anything herself really, until Kona shows up and demands some answers from him. I loved learning about what went on under the water and about all different kinds of things down there and what they stood for. The history behind Tempest, her family and the problems she faces are all explained really well and because of this, I could feel what Tempest was feeling, how she was torn between two lives which she could see herself living.

Not only do we get a great love triangle with this book but an amazing baddie. Unfortunately, it isn’t all cute fish and dolphins under the sea and there is one person in particular who is determined to cause a hell of a lot of trouble. I don’t want to say too much about this part of the book as I feel it gives away quite a lot about what is really going on but I will say this, the baddie gives Ursula a serious run for her money when it comes to being evil and scary. A second book is in the works as well as a stand alone called Unplugged which I am excited about so much already!

I loved this book from beginning to end. It had me gripped from the very first page and I didn’t want to put it down at any point. Mermaids, romance, hot surfer boys and a seriously evil baddie. What more could you ask for?

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Jul 02, 2011 Jade Walker rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: rated-a

Original review at http://inkscratchers.blogspot.com/

I've been after this book since I first saw it on somebody's wishlist a while back, so when I opened up my Bloomsbury parcel and saw it on the top of the pile, I literally danced around the room.

I like mermaids, but I always find that books about them come on either side of the spectrum, they are really fun (like Forgive My Fins by Tera Lynn Childs) or really dark (like Siren by Tricia Rayburn) and I couldn't really decide which side Tempest...more Original review at http://inkscratchers.blogspot.com/

I've been after this book since I first saw it on somebody's wishlist a while back, so when I opened up my Bloomsbury parcel and saw it on the top of the pile, I literally danced around the room.

I like mermaids, but I always find that books about them come on either side of the spectrum, they are really fun (like Forgive My Fins by Tera Lynn Childs) or really dark (like Siren by Tricia Rayburn) and I couldn't really decide which side Tempest Rising was, I have concluded that it's sort of somewhere in the middle.

Despite the fact that I didn't find this very original (half mermaid has to choose between land and sea...) I really connected with the story. At first I found it hard to get into but I really got absorbed a few chapters in (maybe that was something to do with a certain sexy surfer) and while there were a few slow parts after that, something always happened just when you begin to notice it. I connected with the characters too, I could understand Tempest's struggle to choose between her family and friends on land and the sea, as well as her struggle to choose between Kona and Mark.

I liked Mark, I really did, he was a bit forceful, a bit harsh but pretty much the typical sixteen year old boy, no magical, mythical powers and I sort of felt sorry for him when Tempest got feelings for Kona... Ahhh Kona, he really is sexy and mysterious... I really liked Kona! I loved Kona! Though I did have a problem with the rate of their relationship... it seemed like they were professing their love for each other after two days.

I never had a moment where I felt like rolling my eyes at the corny or cheesiness and for a book about mermaids, I found it pretty realistic.

One issue I did have was the climax and the ending. I didn't really find the climax that climatic, there is a big fight and suddenly it's over... it didn't suck me in. Deebs left the ending open for a sequel but I don't know if there is one yet and I'm gonna be annoyed if there isn't.

All in all, not a perfect book, but pretty darn great!

Overall rating: A-(less)

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Jun 20, 2011 Jenny rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Review originally posted at: http://supernaturalsnark.blogspot.com...

MY THOUGHTS
Tempest Rising is a deceptively dark read, those of us going into it with memories of cute Disney characters sure to be both surprised and pleased by the grim quality of Tempest's tale. There is no singing or fun crustacean sidekicks, instead we are faced with rather profound and intense emotional issues surrounding Tempest's mother's choice of duty over family and the lasting effects that decision has on Tempest's o...more Review originally posted at: http://supernaturalsnark.blogspot.com...

MY THOUGHTS
Tempest Rising is a deceptively dark read, those of us going into it with memories of cute Disney characters sure to be both surprised and pleased by the grim quality of Tempest's tale. There is no singing or fun crustacean sidekicks, instead we are faced with rather profound and intense emotional issues surrounding Tempest's mother's choice of duty over family and the lasting effects that decision has on Tempest's own impending choice between human and mermaid. Ms. Deebs beautifully illustrates both sides of Tempest's nature–effectively cleaving our hearts in two as we find ourselves as split in our thinking as young Tempest. We are grounded on land with her, enveloped in the comfort of home and family, but we are also simultaneously intrigued as Tempest is by the fanciful and unknown world beneath the waves beckoning us to explore.

While the epic decision Tempest is faced with is heart-wrenching in its depiction, Tempest herself is a bit difficult to connect with. We absolutely feel her pain and sense of betrayal at her mom's absence during a time when she most needs her guidance, but she has the frustrating tendency to expect things of others she's not willing to give herself. Her human boyfriend Mark desperately tries to get her to confide in him when she's thrown off-kilter by the emergence of some of her mermaid traits, but she continually shoves his attention away and denies him the trust he so desires. However, when Kona enters the picture and has information and answers she wants, she gets angry at him for keeping her in the dark as she did Mark, at times recognizing the parallel between Kona's actions with her and hers with Mark but somehow expecting different results when she's on the receiving end of the silence.

Additionally, the final battle between Kona, Tempest, and the sea witch leaves just a little to be desired. We are told of a prophecy in which a girl matching Tempest's description defeats one of the sea witch's greatest monsters and presumably destroys her as well, but there are so many questions we want answered only to find few of them are by the time we finish, almost as though we are merely being asked to believe what we're told as opposed to being made to believe with a little more history and detail. Tempest has extraordinary power, but we have no idea where it came from or why she is the first to possess the abilities that have made her a target for the sea witch, leaving us a bit detached from the action as our complete involvement is blocked by a lack of information.

Overall, Tempest Rising is an entertaining read, its subject matter a nice diversion from the vampires, werewolves, and fae, and its world one we certainly wouldn't mind returning to visit again. Tempest is a bit bothersome at times with her attitude and behavior, but as an older reader of young adult fiction, it's easy to forget that all my reactions and decisions at her age were not always rational and completely mature. Ms. Deebs is an author I will be watching in the future though and will read again if given the chance.

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Jun 19, 2011 Dark Readers rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This may sound odd BUT this is the first mermaid related book I have read. And now having read this book I can say it wont be my last. Tracy Deebs amazing take on mermaids had my heart and imagination funny overtime. The beautiful way she describes the ocean had me sighing all they way through out. When I first picked up this novel I had no idea what I was getting myself into. From the first page it had me hooked. I love the characters in this novel. We have Mark, the understanding boyfriend of...more

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May 25, 2011 slayra rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011-reads, in-english, ya-uf-and-pnr

RATING: 3 stars.

I may or may not have mentioned before that I love mermaids. I love their mythology and I love "The Little Mermaid". So I must say I am pretty happy with this recent 'explosion' of mermaid 'heroines' in Urban Fantasy books. Too bad most of these books are targeted to younger crowds. That was actually my main problem with this particular book.

"Tempest Rising" is your typical Young Adult paranormal romance, complete with the whiny heroine, the inevitable love triangle and the in...more
RATING: 3 stars.

I may or may not have mentioned before that I love mermaids. I love their mythology and I love "The Little Mermaid". So I must say I am pretty happy with this recent 'explosion' of mermaid 'heroines' in Urban Fantasy books. Too bad most of these books are targeted to younger crowds. That was actually my main problem with this particular book.

"Tempest Rising" is your typical Young Adult paranormal romance, complete with the whiny heroine, the inevitable love triangle and the insta-romance. Plus the story was a crossover between Harry Potter and... well, I suppose it reminded me a bit of "Goddess of the Sea" by P.C. Cast. Not too much though.

I actually really liked the author's descriptions of Tempests' gradual metamorphosis into mermaid. It seemed like it could actually happen that way and she mentioned details I haven't read in other mermaid related books (the breathing system, etc)... after all it's not only about the tail. I also thought the writing was very accessible and it pulled you into the book.

What I didn't like so much were all the flagrant stereotypes in the plot which were, as I referred before the love triangle, the insta-romance and the whiny heroine or the fact that I kept thinking it all looked like Harry Potter with mermaids and a sea witch instead of Voldemort. Come on, there was even a prophecy! :P

The characters weren't much better, as they were mostly stereotypes. I think the author tried some character development by having the characters talk and talk but unfortunately it didn't work as most of the dialogue 'sounded' kind of long-winded, circular and pointless. I really disliked Tempest sometimes, although overall I could stand her just fine. She just didn't have that much of a personality and the same happened with her love interests (one was jealous and the other was jealous and tortured/protective).

Overall, I enjoyed this book as a light, unoriginal read that features my favorite mythological creature. While Deebs did have moments of great world building, she failed at making this book something special... it's just another YA paranormal romance. A great, light and fun beach read.

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May 03, 2011 Amy Jacobs rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: books-i-own

Tempest Rising is a new novel by author Tracy Deebs focusing on the world of mermaids and sea creatures. When a friend sent me this book to read, I couldn't wait to read it! Just the cover alone -- with all of its purple glory-- captured my attention! I am a sucker for purple, beautiful covers and something to break the cycle of vampires and werewolves.

At first, I was having a hard time enjoying this book. It seemed to drag on for Part One. I didn't like Tempest that much because of the way she...more Tempest Rising is a new novel by author Tracy Deebs focusing on the world of mermaids and sea creatures. When a friend sent me this book to read, I couldn't wait to read it! Just the cover alone -- with all of its purple glory-- captured my attention! I am a sucker for purple, beautiful covers and something to break the cycle of vampires and werewolves.

At first, I was having a hard time enjoying this book. It seemed to drag on for Part One. I didn't like Tempest that much because of the way she was treating her boyfriend Mark, acting like she didn't like a boy fawning over her. I thought Mark was at times a little protective, but I saw that he actually cared about Tempest. Then we are introduced to Kai. *swoon* Kai was sexy, secretive, funny and sweet. He isn't what he seems, but we find out what he is and go with the flow.

Tempest is dealing with a lot of things in this book. After her Mother left her family when Tempest was only eleven, she has practically help raise her brothers and taken care of her Father. Before her Mother left, she left a note for each one of her children explaining that when they turn 17, they will have to make a life decision. That decision involves staying as a human with her family on land, or becoming a mermaid in the sea. While Tempest was torn between staying with her family or leaving them behind, you could actually feel the struggle she was having in the decision. Her family always new about their heritage of being half human/ half mermaid, and her Father even holds out hope that Cecily, Tempests' Mother, will return to them some day. When Tempest tries to rescue Kai after an attack from the sea witch, she finds herself in the underwater kingdoms and trying to figure out her destiny.

I was thrilled when Tempest finally got to explore life under the sea and alongside Kai. I felt her to better suited with Kai than with Mark. After the slow dragging story in Part One, the book really picks up speed and takes you for a fantastical ride underwater! I loved learning about the supposed Prophecy, the different kingdoms under the sea, and I even enjoyed the sea witch as a villain. Yes, it was a little predictable in some parts, but the ending was a surprise. I couldn't believe Tempest made the decision she made after struggling so hard throughout the book with it.

I do hope there is more to this than just one book. I am anxious to see how Moku and Rio, Tempests' brothers, deals with their decision. I also want to see if the author will be able to tell a tale involving her Father and maybe some of the other creatures under the sea.

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Feb 15, 2012 Jessica rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

One of the first reviews posted here at A Midsummer Night’s Read was of Karen Hooper’s Tangled Tides, and if you’ve read that review you know how much I love mermaids and adored Hooper’s story. (If not, you can check out the review HERE.) So, when I saw some decent reviews on Deebs’ Tempest Rising I knew I had to check it out.

So, the whole idea behind Tempest Rising is somewhat similar to that of Tangled Tides. Main character is a girl who has ties to the Mer-world, but isn’t a huge fan of it…M...more One of the first reviews posted here at A Midsummer Night’s Read was of Karen Hooper’s Tangled Tides, and if you’ve read that review you know how much I love mermaids and adored Hooper’s story. (If not, you can check out the review HERE.) So, when I saw some decent reviews on Deebs’ Tempest Rising I knew I had to check it out.

So, the whole idea behind Tempest Rising is somewhat similar to that of Tangled Tides. Main character is a girl who has ties to the Mer-world, but isn’t a huge fan of it…Main character is important to the survival of the entire underwater race…there is a secret place in the ocean where the sea creatures live separate from the humans…There’s a love triangle that involves two ridiculously good looking men…different rankings amongst the mer-people…etc. You get it, there are a lot of the same things at play in both narratives.

Either way, since I did enjoy Tangled Tides so much, it was almost impossible for me not to enjoy Tempest Rising since they are so similar. However, there are a few things in Tempest Rising that were much weaker than in Hooper’s debut novel.

Number One: Since the point of view is strictly in first person (Tempest) the reader is left to wonder exactly what is going on in other character’s minds regarding Tempest’s future in the mer-world. Although, I have to say that Deebs did well with this because it helped the reader feel the frustration within Tempest.

Number Two: The men. Mark really just irritated me, mostly because he was very possessive, and what happened in the end really cemented my negative opinion of him. Kona, on the other hand, was delightful. I did not like how determined he was that he and Tempest were destined to be together, because insta-love can be so cringe worthy (and reminds me WAY too much of Twilight)

Number Three: The mythological aspects. Tangled Tides has a clear myth that the origin of the mermaids, selkies, and other sea creatures are based on. Tempest Rising, however, doesn’t really explain their existence or even where the prophecy that influences the entire story originates. I hope this is remedied in the sequels.

Overall, I enjoyed Tempest Rising, just not as much as I loved Tangled Tides. I recommend it for those who are looking for a quick read that has some great development to it and definite potential for the next books in the series. I’m going to go with 4 Stars (it’s a little generous, but I can’t help it. I enjoyed it.)
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Oct 07, 2012 Charise rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I finished this book in 2 freaking days, that's how good the book was. Now there a lot of pros to this book and just a few cons. Lets start with the cons
-I never ever like Mark from the very beginning he seemed like a guy who would beat his woman to get her to spill secrets, he was always touching her and I was like in my mind saying "if u put one hand on her I will TEAR U OUT THE BOOK MYSELF!!!!!!" He was just one of those characters u just don't like before reading the book!
- I also did not l...more

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Sep 28, 2012 YA Novelties rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: reviewed

Check out this review on our blog!

The reason why I decided to read Tempest Rising, was that I hadn't read a mermaid book in a while, and I wanted more, mermaids are one of the less written about YA subjects, so I jumped at the chance to read this. Not only is it about mermaids, but it seems like it has a good plot. Let's begin.

I, personally, like Tempest. You can't help but feel sorry for her when you learn about everything she has on land, like her family, surfing, and a boyfriend, which she ha...more Check out this review on our blog!

The reason why I decided to read Tempest Rising, was that I hadn't read a mermaid book in a while, and I wanted more, mermaids are one of the less written about YA subjects, so I jumped at the chance to read this. Not only is it about mermaids, but it seems like it has a good plot. Let's begin.

I, personally, like Tempest. You can't help but feel sorry for her when you learn about everything she has on land, like her family, surfing, and a boyfriend, which she has to continually fight for in the pull between being mermaid and human. Also, instead of the average monster slaying heroine, Tempest actually feels guilty when she has to kill in self defense, feeling regret and remorse.

With the love triangle it was hard to choose a side. I liked Mark, and how he loves and supports her, and truly thinks that she is the one. The best side of him though is how he see's through Tempest's lies and tries to talk to her, and really fights to keep her. On the other hand, there is Kona, who is totally right for Tempest in that he really understands and connects with her. He also has long, dark hair and mysterious eyes, and can make me totally forget about Mark. Sigh . . .

The end of the book is ok . . . I mean it isn't one of those terrible-leave-you-hanging endings, but with this ending Tempest Rising could almost be just a solo book, and it doesn't quite need a sequel, but there are still somethings that I want to find out about. I liked the setting, first on the California beach, where the author really dives into Tempest's surfing life. The underwater aspect was also excellent, and I enjoyed how it wasn't only about mermaids, but other creature too.

I am highly looking forward to reading the sequel, and would recommend this to anyone who loves mermaids or is looking for an introduction to mermaid fiction. With an amazing setting and lovable characters, Tempest Rising is a fast paced watery ride through the life of someone with the difficult choice between the land and the sea.

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Addiction To Books.: What Time Is It: It's Comment Time.	3	4	Jan 12, 2013 05:42pm
who do you think she's better with?	18	25	Oct 19, 2012 09:44am
}~>O MERBOOKS...: Tempest Rising	9	24	Jun 15, 2012 06:49pm
Paranormal Lovers: Tempest Rising	3	10	Sep 30, 2011 06:57am

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Tempest Rising (Tempest #1)

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