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Lies Beneath (Lies Beneath #1)

by Anne Greenwood Brown (Goodreads Author)

3.66 of 5 stars 3.66 · rating details · 2,106 ratings · 651 reviews

Fans of Amanda Hocking's novel, Wake willdiveinto this paranormalromance featuring mermaids--the killer kind--and won't come up for air! Calder White lives in the cold, clear waters of Lake Superior, the only brother in a family of murderous mermaids. To survive, Calder and his sisters prey on humans and absorb their positive energy. Usually, they select their victims at r...more

Hardcover, 303 pages

Published June 12th 2012 by Delacorte Books for Young Readers

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2012 Debut Authors (Young Adult & Middle Grade)

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Community Reviews

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Apr 19, 2012 Wendy Darling rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: pn-sea-creatures, 2012-publication, young-adult, male-pov, read-2012, ebook-egalley, icky-subjects, mythic-and-fairy-tale-ish, rh, june

3.5 stars

I hadn't killed anyone all winter, and I have to say I felt pretty good about that.

So begins the very first good YA mermaid novel I've ever read--and hooray, they're eeeevil, too! (view spoiler) After trudging through so many books with insipid mermaids or ones that barely qualified as mermaids, it's so great to read a story in which sea creatures have purpose. And deadly intent. And tails. These merpeople...more

104 likes · like · see review

Apr 05, 2012 Kat Kennedy rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: kat-s-book-reviews, to-ya-or-not-to-ya, ya-pnr-maddness

If you’re anything like me then you probably spent a great deal of your childhood pool and ocean experiences trying to look like this:

Ariel

It’s entirely more likely that you looked like a drowned rat because the ocean is a cruel, cruel mistress who only allows us to live so that she can prolong our misery. Just as an aside note, there is a hotel on the top of the Himalayan mountains for those who wish to give a metaphorical “screw you” to mistress ocean. After reading Lies Beneath, tha...more

106 likes · like · see review

Feb 06, 2012 Jo rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: for-review, own, 2012, ya, paranormal-hold-the-vamp, e

2.5 stars.

“Would you please get it into your head that this is not a movie. Forget everything you think you know about merpeople. Forget that freaking Ariel, think Silence of the Lambs, think Friday the Thirteenth.

Initial Final Page Thoughts.
Considering I thought I would absolutely hate this, I’m pleasantly surprised.

High Points.
Boy narrator! Evil mermaids. Lake Superior. Curses. Flirtatious fishes. The Bahamas. BBQs. Hammocks. A lady love interest who wasn’t completely ridiculous. A chance...more

58 likes · like · see review

Mar 22, 2012 Steph Sinclair rated it 2 of 5 stars Recommends it for: I probably wouldn't, but you may like it

Shelves: young-adult, ebook, netgalley, 2012-reads, could-have-been-better, disappointment, didn-t-care-for-it, fell-for-the-hype, glad-it-s-over, i-blame-twilight, i-totally-saw-that-coming, le-sigh, mermaids, male-pov, my-boyfriend-wants-me-dead, not-for-me, why-the-hype, creepy-lover, e-arc

Be sure to check out an exclusive interview and swag giveaway with Anne Greenwood Brown over at Cuddlebuggery Book Blog!

*I almost dropped this down to 1 star, but then I started reading Starcrossed and realized that wasn't fair.

What a disappointment.

I was looking for a new Paranormal creature to love and thought that could be found within the pages of Lies Beneath. But you know what I found? The same old story we've all read before over and over again. The truth is this isn't a badly written b...more

50 likes · like · see review

Feb 20, 2013 Trinity marked it as dnf

Shelves: readalong

You guys, I gave up :(
Trin and the mers don't mix.

-------------------------

Grabbin some ~~fish~~ chips with my favourite Brit.
Yes it's another TrinJo readalong.

First.

Things to be covered:
1. Can I touch your fishy half?
2. Do all Mermaids have charming crab friends?
3. Is it truly better down where it's wetter?
4. Why do all these things suddenly sound dirty?

Also.

15 likes · like · see review

Jun 11, 2012 Kay rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: (sorry, couldn't resist.)

Recommended to Kay by: is it really better down where it's wetter?

Shelves: arcs-and-giveaways, here-and-now, quite-the-romantic, teens-tweens-and-ya, mermaid-poop

***This book was an ARC provided by the publisher. Thank you!***

This is my first dive (heh, heh) into YA mermaid lit. Unfortunately, while I found this new paranormal genre quite refreshing, I wasn't convinced by Anne Greenwood Brown's rendition of the mermaid myth nor was I impressed with the story itself.

Plot Summary

Calder White and his three sisters are merfolk whose mother was killed many years ago. In order to avenge their mother, Calder and his sisters have vowed to kill their mother's m...more

16 likes · like · see review

Feb 24, 2012 Reynje rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: e-book-kindle, i-regret-nothing, read-2012, scoundrels-rakes-and-creeps, young-adult, under-the-sea

There comes a day in a reviewer’s life when s/he must write a review to the tune of an ELO song. My friends, that day has come.

(Or more accurately, for some reason, this song kept popping into my head every time I read this book. I can’t explain it).

Thus, I give you: “Evil ~~Woman~~ Merman” as a placeholder until closer to the book’s release and a "proper" review. Here, you can sing along with my..er.. slightly altered lyrics cough.

"You made a pawn of me, but this plotting revenge has got to end.

H...more

13 likes · like · see review

Jan 22, 2012 Eunice rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: out-2012, urban-fantasy, ya-romance, young-adult, male-pov, mythology

4 of 5 stars

Okay. This was the first time I read a merman/mermaid novel. When I started this I didn't have any idea on what to expect here. I even thought it would be a struggle read but no, it was actually an easy and fast-paced read. Lies Beneath was really an interesting and entertaining read. Not to mention that this is narrated in a male pov which I'm a sucker for! It wasn't perfect but the story and the characters were very appealing, there's just something in it that would make you want t...more

9 likes · like · see review

Mar 03, 2012 oliviasbooks rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery-crime-sleuthing, mermaids-selkies, urban-fantasy-paranormal, thriller, young-adult-fiction, male-point-of-view, e-version, read-2012, i-cannot-tell-you-my-secret, want-to-own, debut

“Forget everything you think you know about merpeople. Forget that freaking Ariel, think Silence of the Lambs, think Friday the Thirteenth."

How happy I am that I still have not given up on mermaid books. The strong imprint of my childhood’s obsesssion is still keeping my hope up to find a gleaming mother-of-pearl-treasure among the ocean floor rubble now and then. Rare finds like Anne Greenwood Brown’s soon to be published Lies Beneath justify my unbroken tenacity: Skilled writing, danger, myste...more

15 likes · like · see review

Feb 21, 2012 Erica (daydreamer) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: mermaid-siren-selkie, netgalley, 2012-reads, strong-heroines

(more a 3.5)

Lies Beneath was, overall, a nice read. It wasn’t as intense or fantastic as I was hoping, but in the, I found that I did like it.

Calder is a merman who, with his three sisters, set up a plan to exact revenge upon the man who was the cause of the death of their mother. Their plan is to have Calder cozy up to the family they’re hoping to destroy. But when Calder gets to know the older daughter, Lily, he begins to feel something, and finds that he can’t imagine himself causing her pain...more (more a 3.5)

Lies Beneath was, overall, a nice read. It wasn’t as intense or fantastic as I was hoping, but in the, I found that I did like it.

Calder is a merman who, with his three sisters, set up a plan to exact revenge upon the man who was the cause of the death of their mother. Their plan is to have Calder cozy up to the family they’re hoping to destroy. But when Calder gets to know the older daughter, Lily, he begins to feel something, and finds that he can’t imagine himself causing her pain by killing her father.

Reading the novel through the male’s point of view was a nice change, and I enjoyed it. I didn’t quite connect with Calder (at least not until the end), and so couldn’t completely emerge into the story. But that doesn’t mean that it wasn’t a good read, because it was. I think a lot of people will love this book. I just missed the wave a tad too late I think.

I did like Brown’s world and description of mermaids, and that she didn’t shy away from darker themes. These mermaids are murderous, especially the sisters. Their hearts are set upon revenge and they will stop at nothing to get it. One thing that I did not like, though, was the little twist with Calder’s sister, Tallulah. But I also know that it won’t bother other people as much as it did me.

I did like Lily. She was a strong, unique girl. I liked her firm opinions, and dressing however she very well pleased because she doesn’t care what other people think of her. The romance though, wasn’t quite believable. It felt a little too fast for me. But at the ending, I ended up liking it, and finally seeing the love the two had for each other.

Also, the twist at the end was fantastic! The end is what firmly caught my interest and made me like and appreciate the book more. I can honestly say that I’m excited for the sequel. I think Brown wrote a good, original novel that will quickly become a favorite to many readers.

Thank you to Random House Children's Books and Netgalley for providing me with an arc.
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Jun 06, 2012 ♥Rachel♥ rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, netgalley-e-book, 2012-debut-author-challenge

3.5 Stars

I was pleasantly surprised by this story because I'm not usually attracted to tales involving mermaids. Yet, I was drawn in and mesmerized by this dark and sinister world.

Calder White and his sisters are merpeople, creatures of the sea. These are not the harmless fantastical creatures we see in a Disney cartoon, and they are far from reproach. You begin this story knowing that they are all killers. They pull unsuspecting humans down to the bottom of the ocean while they feed off their...more
3.5 Stars

I was pleasantly surprised by this story because I'm not usually attracted to tales involving mermaids. Yet, I was drawn in and mesmerized by this dark and sinister world.

Calder White and his sisters are merpeople, creatures of the sea. These are not the harmless fantastical creatures we see in a Disney cartoon, and they are far from reproach. You begin this story knowing that they are all killers. They pull unsuspecting humans down to the bottom of the ocean while they feed off their emotions. Calder has been trying to practice self-control by staying away from his sisters and not taking any lives. He's been told that eventually he'll go crazy being starved emotionally. Yet, Calder still refrains. However, the winter has ended and the call to return is not something he can resist. He must migrate back to his sisters. There is a new reason to return though, revenge for his mother's death. They've found Jason Hancock, the man who needs to pay for their mother's death.

Little do the Hancock's know, by moving back to the old family home they've put themselves in great danger. Long ago, Calder's mother spared the life of Tom Hancock because he promised to give her his infant son's life instead. Instead of fulfilling that promise, he packed his family up and left the area. Now that Jason, Tom's son, has returned, the Whites are fully prepared to collect the debt and have no qualms using his family to get to him. This is where Tom's daughters, Lily and Sophie come in. They plan on using them to lure Jason so they can kill him. They want to take their time and make him suffer, just as they've had to suffer from their mother's absence all these years. Just one problem though, Calder ends up growing a conscience and developing feelings for Lily. When he can't immediately win Lily over with his supernatural charms, he's forced to get to know her, and then can't help his growing attraction. In addition, seeing the Hancock family happy and very dependent on each other, makes Calder re-think their plans.

Like I said in the outset, we are told straight from the beginning that Calder and his sisters are murderers. I was, to say the least, a little apprehensive about this story knowing that the main character was a murderer. I didn't know how I would end up liking him, much less rooting for him. I was very surprised that I did, even though I fought it all the way. I think this is because Calder tries to fight his cravings, even though he was raised thinking this was just how it had to be. He never thought it was possible to survive without killing. This story was told from Calder's POV which was a treat because I love it when we get a male POV. However, I felt a little distant from Lily because we don't know what's going on in her head. Her character did grow on me though. I liked that she didn't immediately fall at Calder's feet. You can tell something makes Lily very cautious of Calder but he starts to wear her down. It's a slow and believable build in attraction. I can't talk about this story without mentioning how creepy the sisters were, although Maris was by far the worst. They have no conscience and are as evil as they come. Their relationship with Calder is disturbing but I won't elaborate on that.

This story wraps up nicely but leaves room for the sequel coming next year. I definitely will be picking it up.

Thank you to Netgalley and Delacorte Books for Young Readers for allowing me to read this.

You can find this review and more at The Readers Den

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12 likes · like · see review

Feb 23, 2012 ☆Jessie☆ (Ageless Pages Reviews) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult-fiction, tales-of-fae-and-faery-tales, supernatural-fiction, netgalley-arc, 2012-reads, 2012-reviews, reviewed, drama-drama-drama, under-the-sea, you-call-it-love-i-call-it-hormones

Read This Review & More Like It On My Blog!

Finally! A mermaid ~~tail~~ (sorry, couldn't resist a bit of fin, I mean fun) tale that I can finally, actually say I enjoyed reading; one that I didn't hate the main characters (but kinda sorta totally loved them), or their romance, or even the mythology behind the sea creatures. Lies Beneath is a success in a genre that has so fat yet to offer many noteworthy titles; this is thanks in part to presence of, as the great Wendy Darling of GoodReads so apt...more

8 likes · like · see review

Feb 03, 2012 Sandra Howard rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: cover-love, fantasy, mermaids

I have tons of book boyfriends.
I have JEM from ID.
I have Jace from MI.
Both are nephilims.
I have Noah Shaw from Unbecoming of Mara Dyer.
He's human. At least in the mean time I think he is.
I have Prince Ash from Iron Fey series.
He's my fairy bf.
I have Jacob from Twilight Series.
He's a werewolf.
I have Peeta from HG.
I have another human BF.
I also have Lucas from Starcrossed.
He's descendant of Paris of Troy.

When I read Lies Beneath, I knew I found a new book bf. :D
A mermaid BF this time.

Its a super c...more

10 likes · like · see review

Jan 14, 2013 Suz rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: friends, family, and fellow bloggers

Shelves: books-read-2012

Lies Beneath is a dark thrilling world filled with, dangerous mystery, undulating romance, and creative deceptive inhuman creatures. Anne Greenwood Brown's world of mermaids is extremely dark, rich, and complex. She does not shy away from showing just how cruel, callous, murderous, and full of spiteful venom they are. They are fueled by revenge and will stop at virtually nothing to get it, come hell or vapid high water. It is simply a dark and delicious world full of tension and terror.

Anne Gre...more Lies Beneath is a dark thrilling world filled with, dangerous mystery, undulating romance, and creative deceptive inhuman creatures. Anne Greenwood Brown's world of mermaids is extremely dark, rich, and complex. She does not shy away from showing just how cruel, callous, murderous, and full of spiteful venom they are. They are fueled by revenge and will stop at virtually nothing to get it, come hell or vapid high water. It is simply a dark and delicious world full of tension and terror.

Anne Greenwood Brown's writing is exquisitely beautiful and marvelously vivid in the most terrifying sense. The imagery is remarkably breath-taking as readers delve deeper into her descriptions of the under-water-world these mermaids inhabit and are bound to, Lake Superior, and the town of Bayfield. What's even more refreshing is to see this story told from a male's view point. Lies Beneath is amazingly suspenseful, cleverly written, and emotionally engaging.

Her world is dark and mystifying, creating such a treacherous twist on mermaids. This isn't your normal story of mermaids; it doesn't pain the picture of happily-ever-after. These creatures are hollow and filled with envy; they crave human joy and happiness. They harbor a great amount of resentment towards their prey (humans) and have no qualms about sucking the life-force out of them. Once they've drained their aura, they discard them without so much as a flick of the eye, leaving them behind cold and devoid of any signs of life. They are bound in more ways than one, bound physically to the water and bound magically to their family and territory they claim.

It seems that for every choice made, there is a consequence that must be faced. So, which will it be for Calder? Will he end up choosing his heart or his vengeance? His love or his loyalty to his family?

Calder is this wonderful dark and deceptively mesmerizing merman, who exacts an interesting cleverly written plan of revenge on the man who caused his mother's death. One thing he didn't account for was that he would start to develop a connection to Lily, the daughter of the man culpable of his mother's demise. Once the connection is there, he simply cannot imagine causing her as much pain as he's endured, by killing her father. So, he spends a great deal of the story conflicted and growing closer to Lily.

Lily, on the other hand, is a wonderfully strong and unique character. She's got an incredible spark of sarcasm and just the right amount of grit. There so many wonderful admirable qualities that make her stand out, like the fact that she has strong opinions and tends to do what she wants to regardless of what other's might think. She's definitely not afraid to speak her mind or make her feelings known. She and Calder definitely make quite an interesting pair, as they slowly start building a relationship of trust. Their chemistry is indescribable, in a pretty amazing way. It has a different feel to it that is sure to keep readers intrigued and rooting for them.

The ending will not only keep readers on the edge of their seats, but will keep them craving more. They'll be guessing right up until the end - one they won't see coming. There's so many amazingly written wonderful tension filled twists and turns, that this novel will definitely not disappoint any fan of mystery and intrigue. Anne Greenwood Brown has created an intensely fascinating world filled with intriguing mythos and wonderfully developed character's that is sure to leave readers stunned and mystified.(less)

4 likes · like · see review

Nov 09, 2012 Eileen rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: owned, mythology, physical-book, romance, signed, young-adult

Check out moer of my reviews at ***Singing and Reading in the Rain***!

When you start reading a mermaid book and immediately think: "How do mermaids reproduce? They must reproduce the same way that fish do! How do fish reproduce?" And then launch into a conversation on Twitter about fish sperm and how any wet area inhabiting fish must be full of this fish sperm, you know you're in for a good ride!

Lies Beneath is not your average mermaid book. It's not where the main character happily jumps into t...more Check out moer of my reviews at ***Singing and Reading in the Rain***!

When you start reading a mermaid book and immediately think: "How do mermaids reproduce? They must reproduce the same way that fish do! How do fish reproduce?" And then launch into a conversation on Twitter about fish sperm and how any wet area inhabiting fish must be full of this fish sperm, you know you're in for a good ride!

Lies Beneath is not your average mermaid book. It's not where the main character happily jumps into the ocean with all of his or her mermaid friends and swim off into the ocean, flipping their tails and frolicking about. Lies Beneath is dark and filled with revenge. Calder White is a murderous monster, according to his standards, who will stop at nothing to kill the son of the man who supposedly murdered his mom. That idea alone got me intrigued, and then when I began reading, I was even more intrigued! I've never read a book before where the supposed villain is narrating, which created a much more refreshing read which was substantially entertaining and very gripping.

Speaking of, Calder's personality was definitely one to ponder over. From the very beginning, I was looking for a lethal drive to avenge his mother's death. If my mother was murdered by the hands of someone I knew, I probably would risk going to jail for the rest of my life to avenge her death, if she was unjustly murdered. Okay, maybe I wouldn't go that far, but I would certainly have a burning rage for that said person, and I didn't quite feel it from Calder. There was a flash of anger at first, and then it promptly was washed away, leaving me extremely perplexed over his attitude. Since Calder was more aloof than most main characters, that could attribute to some of the doubts I felt toward him, although I knew he wasn't truly a villain as soon as I got to know him.

Since Lies Beneath revolved around Calder's point of view, I was very interested in Lily, as a result. You didn't quite understand her feelings, and I was filled with an undeniable curiosity toward her and I'm really excited for the next book so I can discover more about Lily Hancock. Her relationship with Calder did seem very genuine, although with Calder's elusiveness, I have no idea what his true feelings were, and I could only take a guess at Lily's. I really hope the next book will develop their romance further and leave me more satisfied.

Although there may be many things wrong with Lies Beneath that I brought up, it still is a very worthwhile read. Extremely different and ruthless, Lies Beneath will show you that sometimes, all isn't what it really seems to be. People scavenging for a new twist on the mermaid tale will completely gobble this one up!(less)

2 likes · like · see review

Feb 21, 2012 Allison (Abibliophobic) rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: net-galley

So this was the first ever ARC that I got approval for and I have to say, I was pretty darn giddy. I started reading this book as soon as I got it on my Kindle. I was also pretty stoked because this book was about mermaids and since I saw The Little Mermaid as a kid, I’ve loved them. Lies Beneath comes out on June 12, 2012.

Lies Beneath is about Calder White who is a mermaid on strike. While he’s on hiatus from Lake Superior, down in the Bahamas, he’s trying to refrain from killing anyone for th...more So this was the first ever ARC that I got approval for and I have to say, I was pretty darn giddy. I started reading this book as soon as I got it on my Kindle. I was also pretty stoked because this book was about mermaids and since I saw The Little Mermaid as a kid, I’ve loved them. Lies Beneath comes out on June 12, 2012.

Lies Beneath is about Calder White who is a mermaid on strike. While he’s on hiatus from Lake Superior, down in the Bahamas, he’s trying to refrain from killing anyone for their emotions; which is how mermaids survive. They lure humans into the water and drown them for their positive energy. For the most part, Calder and his family of mermaid sisters choose their prey on a random basis, but they base their latest kill on revenge. Jason Hancock is the man that they blame for killing their mother, and they will do anything it takes to take him down. It will take the whole family to take him down due to his fear of the water. Calder must seduce Jason’s daughter, Lily, in order to get him to come near the water. While everything seems to be going according to plan, there is a huge problem… Calder starts to fall in love with Lily. Calder must then choose between his sisters and their plight or Lily. Either way, it’s not going to be pretty.

I really, really wanted to like this one. It seemed like a fresh idea and a new take on a mythical creature that wasn’t a vampire or werewolf. I was a little disappointed. While I thought Brown brought forth a very well written piece, I was again struck with the “it seems too much like Twilight” blues. It was the same story of a creature going against his murderous nature to fall in love with an innocent human girl. To me, I guess I just felt like I had seen it before, too many times.

Another issue I had with the book was that it was told from a male’s point of view. While I thought this was a little bit of a break from the norm, it also made it really hard for me to get involved and connect with the story. I liked to see Calder struggle with his decisions and his loyalties, but it was hard for me to pull for the romance. I do like other books that are told from the male’s perspective like Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson series, so I don’t think that this was the main reason I didn’t dig the book. I may have to read the sequel, called Water Lily that comes out in 2013. This second installment is told from Lily Hancock’s perspective so maybe I’ll like this one a little better.

Overall, I think this will be a very popular book for a lot of people, but for some reason, I just couldn’t get myself wrapped in the book. I think it’s worth a try to read because it is about mermaids and it’s a little bit of a break to the norm.

3 out of 10(less)

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Jul 18, 2012 Markella rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, mermaids

Find more reviews on It's A Hardcover Life

Lies Beneath is the first mermaid Young Adult novel I’ve ever read. Mermaids seem to be a popular creature feature lately, especially in the summer, and it’s not hard to understand why. Unfortunately, this rendition of a mermaid tale really wasn’t for me.

Into the story: Calder is a merman who is mentally dragged, every year, to Lake Superior where he and his three sisters are from. The merfamily, since their mother died, have been on a mission to kill th...more

1 like · like · see review

Aug 03, 2012 L.j. Duett rated it 4 of 5 stars

Look at it. Are you looking? That cover is awesome! F-I-N-A-L-L-Y! Yes, I know, you're looking at me thinking 'Am I off my rocker?'. Well to answer your question, No. I'm just super thrilled to see a little difference in a YA cover! I know, I know, it's still a girl in a dress. YET it isn't JUST a girl in a dress. It's not a cover model photo. That's a girl who just dove into the water, her dress looking like a dark mermaid tail. The water bottom is peddle filled with light breaking into the liq...more

1 like · like · see review

May 17, 2012 Kate rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, net-galley, galley, mermaids, drama, modern-day, part-of-a-series, romance, science-fiction, urban-fantasy, ya, male-pov, better-than-i-thought-it-would-be, reviewcopies

For this review and more visit my blog

*The publisher provided me with this book for review, via Netgalley*

This is the first Mermaid book I have read. I know there are a few of them around but I have always been a bit sceptical of them. Mostly, I have heard bad things about the genre so Lies Beneath was a real surprise to me because I really quite liked it.

I liked the idea of deadly and dangerous mermaids. Seductive, mesmerizing, beautiful but treacherous. They were really quite horrible and it t...more For this review and more visit my blog

*The publisher provided me with this book for review, via Netgalley*

This is the first Mermaid book I have read. I know there are a few of them around but I have always been a bit sceptical of them. Mostly, I have heard bad things about the genre so Lies Beneath was a real surprise to me because I really quite liked it.

I liked the idea of deadly and dangerous mermaids. Seductive, mesmerizing, beautiful but treacherous. They were really quite horrible and it took me a little while to get used to them, but in the end I liked this take on mermaid mythology.

I thought the main characters were good. Lily was quirky and different. It was really nice to have a main character that didn’t worry about what she looked like or what she should be doing. She was different and a true individual and I loved that. What I also loved is that for a majority of the book Lily is really smart where Calder is concerned, he gets a bit stalkerish and she seriously backs away from him because of it. (like normal people would do.)

Calder was a good enough male lead. He was intriguing, cute, charming, cheeky and in the end loving. But he could come across as a little childish sometimes which was bizarre considering how old he is. What I really liked was that this book was told from his point of view, it was nice to hear a male voice in a Young adult romance book which, let’s face it, is predominately marketed towards women.

The secondary characters were unfortunately not as developed. Most were bland and unimportant. Calder’s sisters are an exception to this but the others were quite pointless. Jack seemed to half fill so many roles; he was part love interest, part friend and part villain. The problem is he just doesn’t actually do much in any of those characters.

There are times where you have to suspend reality quite heavily for this book to work. (I recommend you go into this with a an open mind) The reactions and actions of some of the characters are just not realistic at all. But somehow Lies Beneath gets away with it. (Probably because if you were looking for a book about reality, mermaids are about the last place you would look.)

Where this book really wins is in the descriptions of everything that happens underwater. It is a stunning world and it really came alive for me. Towards the end where the action really got going I found these scenes to get a little confusing but through the rest of the book it was just glorious.

My main problem with this book is a personal thing. It is not just Lies Beneath but any book that deals with a character tricking, or conning another character into having feelings for them for personal gain. I do not care if the person changes, if they become better to me it is completely unforgivable and I kind of hate it when this character is forgiven so easily. It is a pet peeve of mine and something I see so often in YA.

Other than that I thought this was a great read and I would recommend it if you are a fan of the mermaid genre or if you are interested in trying it for the first time.

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Mar 03, 2012 Chelesbells rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

“Mother, may I go out to swim?
Yes, my darling daughter.
Fold your clothes up neat and trim,
But don’t go near the water.” - Anonymous

Lately, I’ve found myself holding back from reading the synopsis of a book. I don’t want any spoilers, so all I knew about Lies Beneath was that it involved merpeople, which I gathered from that gorgeous cover. I admit that my experience with mermaids didn’t reach beyond Ariel and Prince Eric, so I thought Lies Beneath would be a light, funny, albeit, slightly mor...more

10 likes · like · see review

Feb 21, 2012 Soumi(in love with Puck) Roy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, books-i-reviewed, arc-e-galley, sea-creatures

A deadly merman with an avenging heart and an innocent girl dreams to be a poet, when the two different worlds collides, love happens.

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Unlike every other spring when Calder was called back home, to the cold water of Lake Superior at earlier than usual, he had no idea Jason Hancock, son of the man who was responsible for his mother’s death had came back too. This could be the perfect opportunity of retaliation to Calder and his mermaid sisters for their mother’s death and end the bargain Tom Hanc...more

23 likes · like · see review

Dec 28, 2012 Ashley (Nose Graze) rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: won, signed, first-edition

Lies Beneath by Anne Greenwood Brown - Spoken like a true serial killer

BookNook — Young Adult book reviews

This book is what you get when you mix mermaids with vampires. The idea of deadly, killer mermaids is awesome! It's a cool twist that I enjoyed. But I wish the author went further into the mermaid lore. Where do they come from? How do they live? What about the other families of mermaids? I think the little details like that could have been better developed.

The plot also felt a little slow at times. On more than one occasion I felt my mind wandering and I got a...more

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Jun 07, 2012 AH rated it 4 of 5 stars

Recommended to AH by: Wendy Darling

Shelves: wendy-said, mermaids, arc-netgalley, read-may-2012, young-adult, babr-reviews

3.5 stars

Killer mermaids/mermen!!!

Now this was a very different take on mermaids. Step aside Ariel and let author Anne Greenwood Brown tell us all about her mermaids. Lies Beneath's mermaids are predators that feed upon humans’ positive emotions, leaving shriveled husks of their prey behind. These mermaids have special abilities: they are able to communicate telepathically with other animals, they have speed, they have beauty, they are able to compel and persuade, and they are able to transform...more

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Apr 05, 2012 Julia rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, young-adult, fiction, dropbox

My feelings for this book are a surprise and a delight. Despite a male protagonist, despite his murderous family and ill-intent, Caulder won me over as deeply and as surely he seduced his way into Lily's life. Brown's world building is utterly magical, I never expected that she could intertwine mermaids with the modern world. She does just that, without sacrificing one iota of their cold, inhuman mythology.

Though Caulder and his sisters start out bent on revenge, but book's end many assumptions...more

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Mar 10, 2013 Christina rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2012, 2012-debuts

Lies Beneath is the first mermaid book I have read. I didn't really know what to expect but I was looking for something new so I gave it a shot. I REALLY enjoyed it. In a time where vampires, werewolves, and angels fill the shelves, Lies Beneath was a breathe of fresh air. Have we come to the era of the mermaid/merman? I don't really know but if they are anything like Lies Beneath I am on board!

Calder isn't your typical merman. He wasn't born into the mermaid life and doesn't enjoy the killing l...more

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Jul 17, 2012 Danielle (Devourer of Books) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-favourites, when-i-die-bury-this-book-with-me, merpeople, romance, beach-reads, covers-that-make-you-jizz, mind-blowing, fudging-awesome, better-than-chocolate, guilty-pleasures

This review can be found on The Midnight Tea Party

'Forget everything you think you know about merpeople. Forget that freaking Ariel, think Silence of the Lambs, think Friday the Thirteenth.'

Yes, forget what you think you know about merpeople. Forget about The Little Mermaid and Ingo. This isn't your favourite fairy-tale story. These merpeople are dark; the only way they can survive is by feeding off of human energy. They're jealous of our emotions -- happiness, love, joy, etc., so they take them...more

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Apr 02, 2012 Kaitlyn Francis rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed, net-galley

What happens when you must put an end to a life that means so much more to others, even when that life is a debt that should have been paid all those years before. Calder White knows that for a wrong to be right he must do what his sisters say, the one thing he isn't supposed to do is fall in love. Seducing Lily Hancock was just by chance but him falling for her was just another thing his sisters hold over him because love is a very strong weakness. The target they have searched for is Lily's fa...more What happens when you must put an end to a life that means so much more to others, even when that life is a debt that should have been paid all those years before. Calder White knows that for a wrong to be right he must do what his sisters say, the one thing he isn't supposed to do is fall in love. Seducing Lily Hancock was just by chance but him falling for her was just another thing his sisters hold over him because love is a very strong weakness. The target they have searched for is Lily's father and his sisters want his life. Getting close to Lily was just to be temporary and just to be a means to and end. What he never realized was that his sisters were wrong in taking a life and because he is different he has to choose between the love of his family or the love from a girl who likes him for him.

Being made into what he is has never been a problem and even though he stays away from his sisters as much as he can, he really does love them. He knows that they have love for him and even though his mother changed him, he will always love his sisters. Because of what he feels though, that compassion towards humans is what makes sure he doesn't take lives as often as his sisters do. Who said being a mermaid was any easier than being human, to survive you have to steal the person's energy. But when you can stray yourself like Calder can, you must distance yourself from any and all human contact.

Yup love can complicate things and even though Calder cares he knows he really isn't right for Lily. What he never expected was how much she cared about him and how far she is willing to keep him safe. Something no one saw coming was that love is as powerful as it is strong. The thing is when his sisters find out Lily and her family needs protection and what it comes down to is, distancing himself is never going to good enough for his sisters. He has to stand his ground for what he believes in even when secrets of the past come to the surface Calder still feels he has love and that is all that matters. I fell for Calder as he came to grips with what was right and wrong and even though he was put to seduce Lily, his change is perspective for me changed as he was able to get to know her. With his sisters ready to basically start war Calder is ready and he really does care. Sometimes he seemed to full of himself, but with each page he made me swoon and instantly I was intent on reading the last page even though I wished there was more after that last page. Anne's Calder will have everyone chanting his name by the end and wanting to be his. Mermaids have been this sexy and enchanting, please I need more.(less)

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Mar 10, 2012 Gabby (Bookmarks & Bookshelves) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: give-that-author-a-medal, holy-crap-that-was-amazing, round-of-applause, favorites

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I actually finished this book some time ago but had no idea how to write up review that would explain the epic-ness of this book.

This was the first ever mermaid book I have ever read and I'm so happy it was "lies beneath" that I chose to read! The whole idea and concept of the story was just original and so entertaining to read.

The book for some reason was so very predictable-to me- But still was able to shock me and keep me reading, any st...more

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Mar 30, 2012 Debbie (at) I Heart YA Books rated it 5 of 5 stars

Lies Beneath is a wickedly dark novel that will have you reconsidering going for that swim. Just when you thought it was safe, Anne Greenwood Brown gives you Calder White and his sisters. These serial killers mermaids make Jaws look like a sweet little goldfish. Finally, Brown has gave me the sadistically dark merfolk tale I’d been waiting for. Disney can have their fun loving Ariel. Brown introduces me to the true nature of the mermaids of the deep, and they are Calder, Maris, Pavati and Tallul...more Lies Beneath is a wickedly dark novel that will have you reconsidering going for that swim. Just when you thought it was safe, Anne Greenwood Brown gives you Calder White and his sisters. These serial killers mermaids make Jaws look like a sweet little goldfish. Finally, Brown has gave me the sadistically dark merfolk tale I’d been waiting for. Disney can have their fun loving Ariel. Brown introduces me to the true nature of the mermaids of the deep, and they are Calder, Maris, Pavati and Tallulah. These four mermaids would love to take you for a dip in Lake Superior. They would also love to relieve you of your emotions and suck the life right out of you. Brown will definitely make your blood run cold with what lies beneath these waters. I really enjoyed that Lies Beneath is told from Calder's POV. Lately there have been a lot of guy main characters, and I am loving this. Anne Greenwood Brown has written a fantastic storyline with a beautiful, dark romance.

Calder is an eighteen year old merman, and he wants his freedom from his three sisters. Maris, who is Calder's oldest sister, tells Calder she will give him his freedom if he will help them finally get their revenge on Jason Hancock, who is the son of the man who murdered their mother. All Calder has to do is seduce Lily Hancock's, Jason Hancock's oldest daughter. Calder is fine with this. It’s not like this is anything new to his masochistic nature.

But Calder is headed for unknown waters with Lily. There's something different about this human girl, and Calder's merman power of seduction isn't working on Lily. For the first time in his life, Calder will discover the difference between lust and love, and what it means to feel joy. Calder and Lily’s romance starts on the dark side, but turns humorously sarcastic with a beautiful love. I can't wait to get more of Calder and Lily in the next book, and I have a feeling they’re headed for dangerous waters with Calder's sisters.

Lies Beneath is abso-freaking-lutely fantastic. Calder is a gorgeous merman that definitely makes me want to take a dip in the deep blue sea. I highly recommend Lies Beneath as a deliciously dark read.

(less)

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Apr 22, 2012 Devon Ashley rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: completed-arcs, reviewed-on-blog

Unpaid supernatural debt. Bitter, murderous children itching for a mother's revenge. Merman point of view. Gorgeous cover. Sounds like a winner right? Sadly, Lies Beneath doesn't win the desirable 'Homecoming Queen' and will probably only be remembered as 'Also Ran.' First off, I'm not quite sure why there's a mermaid on the cover since our main character is male. They have the perfect opportunity to stand out in the crowd. Give us a drool-worthy merman underwater that's totally unique in today'...more Unpaid supernatural debt. Bitter, murderous children itching for a mother's revenge. Merman point of view. Gorgeous cover. Sounds like a winner right? Sadly, Lies Beneath doesn't win the desirable 'Homecoming Queen' and will probably only be remembered as 'Also Ran.' First off, I'm not quite sure why there's a mermaid on the cover since our main character is male. They have the perfect opportunity to stand out in the crowd. Give us a drool-worthy merman underwater that's totally unique in today's market and will really grab the attention of gals as they walk past the shelves at B&N.

I promise I really wanted to like this one. The premise sounded so intriguing. I will say that I did like to see the way the sister mermaids had zero scruples over taking victims to the bottom of Lake Superior to drown them and we even get to see that through Calder's eyes. Calder himself was not born a merman, but made one by their mother. How? I'll let you read to learn that. So Calder's desire to kill and absorb happy emotions mermaids naturally lacked wasn't as strong as his true sisters. He begins to develop a conscience and often challenges himself to go long periods of time without taking a life. So when the time comes to woo Lily to develop a close relationship with her dad, it's not surprising that he begins to feel guilty about setting him up for murder. Unfortunately, most of this novel was Calder trying to get to know Lily and I found myself pretty bored with the conversations. I couldn't figure out why Lily liked him back. She had doubts from the beginning and sensed something wasn't right with him, her new friends didn't recognize him and questioned him constantly, she thinks he intentionally pushed her off a cliff and took his sweet time trying to save her, he stalks her by taking a job at the same cafe, and she catches him numerous times swimming in the water beside her lakeside home in the middle of the night. Would you fall for a guy like that? Not freakin' likely, so it makes this paranormal romance hard to swallow and I ended up choking on water.

Read it if you want, but it's doubtful you'll have a desire to read it twice.

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ARC provided by publisher via NetGalley.(less)

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About Anne Greenwood Brown

Thanks for stopping by!

I am a Minnesota author, writing about mermaid assassins on Lake Superior. My debut YA series begins with LIES BENEATH, coming June 12, 2012 from Random House/Delacorte.

The sequel (DEEP BETRAYAL) is anticipated for March 2013.

Besides writing and reading YA literature, I love all things Irish, romantic movies, beef stroganoff, and Nutella.

If I'm listening to music it's Violen...more

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Quotes from Lies Beneath

“I don't know why you're so hard to convince," I said, "But I'm really not that bad of a guy."
"Spoken like a true serial killer.” — 17 people liked it

“There was no point in lying. "Yes. I am following you."
Her carefully controlled exterior faltered. "Why?"
"Because I like you. I'm sorry if that makes you nervous."
All the color drained from her face. "I thought you thought I was crazy."
"I like crazy."
"You're unbelievable," she grumbled.
"So I've been told.” — 14 people liked it

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