Fathom (The Chronicles of Crescent Moon Bay, #1) by Merrie Destefano

Sep 19, 2012 Book Chatter-Cath rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: personal-review-request, review-to-come, to-read-review, reviewed

Original review here: http://mybookchatterchat.blogspot.co....

Fathom is a story steeped in mystery, legends, and the ghosts of a tragic past. And although it has been written with a YA audience in mind, I have fallen in love with with beautiful and charismatic tale.

I fell in love with Kira straight off the bat.
Kira is a great girl, her determination and love for those around her is an attribute both admirable and foolish, no more so when faced with a choice between her own happiness, or fulfilli...more Original review here: http://mybookchatterchat.blogspot.co....

Fathom is a story steeped in mystery, legends, and the ghosts of a tragic past. And although it has been written with a YA audience in mind, I have fallen in love with with beautiful and charismatic tale.

I fell in love with Kira straight off the bat.
Kira is a great girl, her determination and love for those around her is an attribute both admirable and foolish, no more so when faced with a choice between her own happiness, or fulfilling the happiness of others.
She has very deep-set ideals that are not often found in your average teenager; she's a fighter, and once her mind is set on something, no amount of persuasion will move her from it.

Haunted by the ghosts of her past, the unwanted rumors about her that never die down, combined with the new and strange feelings for her cute best friend, Kira's life just gets even more complicated by some strangely intriguing attention from the mysterious new kids in town.
Watched like a hawk by her overprotective family, whispering and waiting anxiously for something to happen to her, for her to turn out like her mother, Kira has to battle more than just her own demons.

Fathom is a story shrouded in secrets; and this new and improved version of Selkie's and their Celtic Legend is fantastic.
They are an adventurous, sexy, messed up group, on a quest of self discovery that has been predestined in the ongoing legends that this old and secret race live by. They are chaotic, erratic, and their emotions are almost always in turmoil, making them unpredictable and exciting. The author has morphed this legend into a unique and captivating version that is completely her own.

I just couldn't put Fathom down.
Its not just Kira's story, it's a story that encompasses a whole family, the legends of old that they live by and their small seaside town.
There are so many elements and threads to Fathom that there really isn't a moment to catch your breath. Its entirely absorbing, and I lost myself in it's pages; I especially loved the brief passages of undersea life and I hungered for more of this fascinating world.

Beautifully written and very evocative, Fathom is a fantastic story full of excitement, mystery, love and grief.

A fantastic 5 Star read ;](less)

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Oct 09, 2012 Sharon marked it as to-read

Fathom is Merrie’s first foray into the young adult genre. I have read both her adult books, Afterlife and Feast, and loved them. You can find my reviews here and here. Merrie has a certain style of writing that sets her apart from other writers. Her prose has a rich dream like feel with dark undertones. I was glad to see she continues this style in her Y.A.

There is mystery and suspense, like you would find in a ghost story, and a monster, but I really can’t talk about the plot without giving aw...more

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Sep 23, 2012 Jo rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-challenge, arcs-ebook, review-for-vbc

*review copy provided by author in exchange for an honest view

Originally reviewed for and posted at Vampire Book Club

Rating (out of 5): 4.5 Stars

Fathom is a beautifully crafted tale of ancient Celtic legends and the difficulties of growing up with emotional scars.

An awful family tragedy has both literally and figuratively haunted 16-year-old Kira Callihan for most of her life. Growing up in California with her father and grandmother, Kira finds it difficult to live with the memories of the night...more

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Feb 13, 2013 Mandy (I read Indie) Anderson rated it 4 of 5 stars

* Would actually rate this book 3.5 stars but rounded it up to 4*

I am extremely on the fence about this one. Several times I had put the book down, telling myself I wasn't into to it, only to find myself crawling back into bed starting it up again. The writing was excellent and it flowed easily throughout the book. But I think it was the storyline that got me. I liked the idea that the author had but at times I thought it was kind of bland. The description of the book is a little deceptive too....more

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Oct 20, 2012 Dark Faerie Tales rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed-by-kayla

Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales

Quick & Dirty: A small town girl falls in love with her best friend and finds out Celtic mythology is alive and well in Crescent Moon Bay.

Opening Sentence: I never believed in ghosts.

The Review:

At first I was a little leary — what with the first sentence being on ghosts. But as I read more, I realized it’s not about ghosts; it’s about Celtic myths, specifically Selkies. Kira Callahan is just a normal girl. With a mother who murdered her sister then commit...more

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Oct 07, 2012 Donna rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-books-read, 2012-ebooks-read, 2012-new-authors

This was a great story with interesting characters that lead very different lives that come together in the small town of Crescent Moon Bay.

There are 2 narrators for this story - Kira, who is growing up in this town trying to stay normal while surrounded by mystery and unexplained events. Then we have Caleb who is drawn to this town and Kira based on stories he has heard all his life.

I dont want to stay too much as there are plenty of surprises in this book and I feel everyone should experience...more

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Oct 02, 2012 Carien rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya

I love everything Destefano has written so far, so when I got the chance to read Fathom I jumped at it of course.

And Fathom didn't disappoint.

I liked Kira (who's one of the two narrators of this story) from the start. She's haunted by the memory of her mother and sister and still has to find a way to cope with the loss. This makes her vulnerable, but it also made her strong in other ways. I very much enjoyed getting to know her and I wanted her to find happiness.

The other narrator in this story...more

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Sep 19, 2012 LaQuita (Just Us Girls) rated it 4 of 5 stars

This story starts with two character's stories alternating between short chapters in what, seems like, completely different time periods. The writing style was a bit uncommon in the sense that the first few chapters leave you with questions and even a bit confused. I wasn't sure, in those first few chapters, if I was going to like this book. Then, the seemingly unrelated stories slowly start to converge on each other and you're pretty much hooked at that point. I really couldn't put it down.

It i...more

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Sep 28, 2012 Amie McCracken rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012

Fathom by Merrie Destefano is about Selkies and monsters and adolescence and confusion and love and courage. Kira lost her mother and sister when she was young. She believes that her mother killed her sister and then committed suicide. But her father and grandmother are keeping secrets. And something starts to change when a new group of kids shows up in town.

I have no words. It was beautifully written; it had a compelling cast of characters; it ended so smoothly with just a hint of a cliff hange...more

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Mar 26, 2013 Heidi rated it 3 of 5 stars

Three and a half stars: A book with a different paranormal creature and plenty of Celtic myth.

Kira awakens haunted by the specter of her dead mother. It has been almost ten years since that gruesome night when something unspeakable happened: Kira's mom murdered her baby sister and tossed her body into the sea. Horrified at what she had done, she threw herself off the cliff into the ocean. Kira and her father have done their best to put back the pieces and live a somewhat normal life, but it is h...more

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Oct 10, 2012 Lara M. Van Hulzen rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

Ten years ago, Kira Callahan’s mother supposedly killed Kira’s younger sister and then threw herself off a cliff into the ocean, never to be heard from again. Now at sixteen, Kira wants nothing more than to hang out with her best friend, Sean, and swim in the ocean, the one place she can drown out the voices from her past.

Kira lives with her father who still mourns his lost love and her grandmother, a strong-willed Gaelic woman who tells Kira tales of her heritage and myths of the sea. But are...more

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Sep 03, 2012 Cheryl rated it 4 of 5 stars

I received an early release copy of Fathom as an e-Arc this week. The synopsis on Goodreads really drew my attention. I will have to admit that when I began reading the book it had a bit of a dark feel to it and I wondered if I would like it. It was a book about two teens, but, it was also a story about a family struggling to overcome a tragedy and not just how it affected them emotionally, but, also how it affected their relationships with their peers. Kira turns 16 at the beginning of the book...more

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Oct 10, 2012 Brenda rated it 5 of 5 stars

It's no secret that I love Merrie Destefano's books and stories. Her writing has a beautiful flow to it, bringing the reader inside the story to experience it with the characters. Fathom is the first Young Adult story I've read by Merrie, and my summer was so chaotic I had fell behind in book news, and didn't know much at all about her new novel. I dived into the unknown and was captivated by the end of the first chapter, wanting to know what was going to happen to Kira. Was her family evil? Hmm...more

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Sep 10, 2012 Becca rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-i-own

Wow! Every book Merrie Destefano writes is even better than the last. I loved the books she wrote before, but Fathom is unquestionably my favorite of her stories. The characters, plot, and world are all well-developed and they sucked me right in. I spent almost an entire day immersed in Fathom, and I didn't want to leave when it ended.

Fathom's characters feel real and true-to-life. They're complicated and fascinating, and their interactions are full of life and depth. I like that Fathom avoids c...more

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Oct 10, 2012 Melissa rated it 4 of 5 stars

Fathom is a selkie tale steeped in lore and mystery. Kira is a typical teen girl who feels invisible but has a couple of great friends she can depend. She has never felt secure in herself ever since when she was 6 her mother went crazy and killed both herself and her sister. When she turns 16 she feels the whispers of a legacy she would rather forget especially when she looks in the mirror. Everyone notices she looks exactly like her mother.

I have to say that for most of the book, I was connecte...more Fathom is a selkie tale steeped in lore and mystery. Kira is a typical teen girl who feels invisible but has a couple of great friends she can depend. She has never felt secure in herself ever since when she was 6 her mother went crazy and killed both herself and her sister. When she turns 16 she feels the whispers of a legacy she would rather forget especially when she looks in the mirror. Everyone notices she looks exactly like her mother.

I have to say that for most of the book, I was connected to Kira on a level, but it wasn't very deep until much later in the book. I think this is because there was so much mystery surrounding Kira, I was more involved in learning what was going on. The mystery was the consuming factor and I didn't mind it at all.

As we move along in the story we start finding out little tidbits, crumbs for us to follow. As frustrating as learning only tiny bits of mystery could be, it was also captivating and I wanted to know more. I wanted to just read faster. While this is happening, I was becoming more connected to Kira and I wanted to solve the mystery for her. We also get hit with a couple of plot twists. One I really didn't see coming!

I did have a couple of small criticisms. One was the potential love triangle. It really never came off totally like that, but it did threaten to rear it's head. In the end there is no complete love but yet not one absent either. It was nice, to be truthful and although anything can change in the books to come, nothing felt too forced... at least with Sean. Now, Caleb was another matter. Although they became friends, I just didn't get that connection. We were told this happened, but did not witness it. I would have liked more information on how that organically grew. Other than that, I enjoyed Caleb as well. Mostly because he helped solve a big portion of the mystery.

I give this book 3 1/2 stars. I recommend it to those that love lore and mythology especially those of the fae. I'm curious as to where this series goes in the next book.(less)

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Dec 17, 2012 ShyleeJ rated it 3 of 5 stars

Dont let the little description fool you!

Turning sixteen can be hell, especially if everyone in town thinks your mother killed herself and your sister. All Kira Callahan wants to do is swim, hang out with her best friend, Sean, and ignore the kids who torment her at school. That is, until one day when she gets invited to a party. For three minutes her life is wonderful—she even kisses Sean in the driveway. Then somebody spikes her drink at the party and some girls from out of town lure her into...more Dont let the little description fool you!

Turning sixteen can be hell, especially if everyone in town thinks your mother killed herself and your sister. All Kira Callahan wants to do is swim, hang out with her best friend, Sean, and ignore the kids who torment her at school. That is, until one day when she gets invited to a party. For three minutes her life is wonderful—she even kisses Sean in the driveway. Then somebody spikes her drink at the party and some girls from out of town lure her into the ocean and hold her underwater.

Kira soon discovers that the group of wild teenagers who have come to visit Crescent Moon Bay are not as innocent as they seem. In fact, nothing is as it seems—not the mysterious deaths of her sister and mother, not her heritage, not even her best friend. And everything seems to hinge on the ancient Celtic legends that her mother used to tell her as a child.

When I first read the description. I thought the book would be a murder story and some romance while she finds out what happened with her mother and sister. Either I'm not very good at analyzing text or someone needs help writing descriptions. Because boy was I wrong. It wasn't even close to a murder book. This book includes sea beasts with dreadlocks (not even kidding that's who the author described it!) and some other kind of creatures that I could only imagine as mermaids because I still dont know what they are. All I know is that they are called Selkies.

The first couple of pages as Caleb writes I was so confused. I don't know what the Celtic legends are and since i didn't know about them it had me very confused with the Selkies culture. Which was a pretty big deal.

On the back of this book there is a quote by Kimberly Derting it says "Gripping and romantic, Fathom is a new twist on an ancient mythology." The quote is bolded and pretty big. Which doesn't make any sense to me because the book hardly had any romance in it. Sure Kara kisses Sean but it wasn't a big part of the book and there wasn't really any romance with Caleb either. It wasn't all that gripping either until maybe part two of the book.

After you get through part one of the book it gets interesting and you find yourself on the edge of your seat as what you come to realize what happened to her sister and mother. Also the book ends with a big cliff hanger, which I still can't get over. Poor Caleb... that sweet innocent little being. God he's so cute. Brianna is another thing that made me swoon over the book. Shes just so perfect and so nice.

The book is very nicely written and was kind of fun for something different. I do not think I will be reading the second book though.(less)

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Oct 13, 2012 Julia rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, fiction, young-adult, urban, arcs

FATHOM reads like swimming in the surf. One minute I was paddling in the shallows, interested but not committed, the next I was taken by the current, swept away and unable to surface for anything less than the end.

DeSefano starts her two main characters on opposite end of the spectrum. Despite the ghosts in Kira's life, a bi part of me thought she was firmly rooted in our own reality. I couldn't understand how Kira, immersed in mourning, outcast in high school, could appear in the legends of Ca...more

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Oct 01, 2012 Erica Marie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: teen-paranormal, 2012-reading-list, favorites, first-reads

What a fantastic story. I loved both Kira and Caleb's voices. There was so much emotion in this book. And celtic legends? YES! I loved it. I loved the moments when Kira found out what she was and what her mother had been. I felt so connected to the characters, I felt what they felt and that's definitely something I always look for in a novel. This book was so beautifully written and mysterious. The twists and turns, the heartbreaking climax and the heroines certainty at the end that there was on...more

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Nov 08, 2012 Mlpmom (Book Reviewer) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: author-request, kindle-books

This novel started off with a bang. Right from the beginning it sucked me into the darkness of the story. Right into Kira's world and after the first few pages, I was lost and didn't want to be found.

Kira's story slowly unfolds as the book progresses but hers isn't the only one being told.

There is also a young man named Caleb who is part of Kira's story, only she doesn't know it yet.

This book goes back and forth between the two POVs of Kira and Caleb and while I did like that about it, it was al...more This novel started off with a bang. Right from the beginning it sucked me into the darkness of the story. Right into Kira's world and after the first few pages, I was lost and didn't want to be found.

Kira's story slowly unfolds as the book progresses but hers isn't the only one being told.

There is also a young man named Caleb who is part of Kira's story, only she doesn't know it yet.

This book goes back and forth between the two POVs of Kira and Caleb and while I did like that about it, it was also a little different, namely because we know Caleb isn't, well I can't even really say because we don't really know what he is at first. Just that he is something other, something not quite human. Something supernatural.

And that had me a little frustrated at first, namely because I really wanted to know his secrets. Sometimes, I just really need to have some patience.

I don't want to say too much because I don't want to give anything away or say just enough that you pick up something that you really shouldn't have. But I do have to say, that I am so sad and angry for Kira that her dad and grandma kept so much from her. Not just about herself but about her mom and sister as well.
To go through life knowing and thinking things that weren't necessarily what they appeared to be...well, considering how much was revealed, that just wasn't right. I felt angry for her, that her memories of her mom were tarnished because of it and my heart went out to her.

Even as things started to unravel and they shouldn't and couldn't keep their secrets anymore, they still kept things from her. They still reused to tell her everything she needed to know. I know they had her best interests at heart but I wanted to bop them upside the head and demand that they spill it all.

There are so many great characters in this story, Sean and Caleb especially. Ms. Destefano did an excellent job with this and the ending let it wide open for a sequel and I truly hope there is one. I know I will be waiting to read it.

I give this one a very solid 4 Stars!!
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Nov 03, 2012 Sheila rated it 5 of 5 stars

Fathom is a beautifully expressed story about a girl discovering herself and her recently uncovered selkie heritage. Even that description lacks the overall experience of Kira's plight. Her life has been filled with tragedy and social stigma that shape her rather unique personality. The story itself is told from Kira's and Caleb's, a selkie, perspective that give a well rounded view of events. I was more than a little impressed with this book. Not only does it surpass ALL my expectations for YA...more

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Jun 10, 2013 Tori [Book Faery] marked it as to-read

Shelves: arc, e-book, read-in-2012

See this review in it's entirety at:
http://www.book-faery.blogspot.com

Review to come soon!

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Oct 17, 2012 Rachel Marks rated it 5 of 5 stars

*full review to come*

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Feb 21, 2013 Brittni rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads, supernatural, teen

I won this in a goodreads giveaway. We need to give indie books more attention. ;)

To Kira, they're just part of the Celtic folklore she grew up hearing from her Gram. But to them, the human girl Kira is the legend. Their arrival to her homeplace in Crescent Moon Bay, California, is the catalyst that makes her legend come alive.

I'm not revealing what "they" are since it doesn't say in the book's summary, so I won't give it away either for potential readers. Fitting, because the book starts out ju...more

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Mar 21, 2013 Kimba (Caffeinated Book Reviewer) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Fathom was my first read by author Merrie Destefano and the first book in the Chronicles of Crescent Moon Bay series. Here we find selkies, sea monsters and a Celtic legend regarding the character Kira. The tale was engaging, the writing descriptive and despite some issues for me it was a good start to a fascinating series.

We meet Kira as she is seeing her mother’s ghost dripping in blood and we are told the story of her mother and sister’s death. We learn that Kira is an outcast in school and b...more Fathom was my first read by author Merrie Destefano and the first book in the Chronicles of Crescent Moon Bay series. Here we find selkies, sea monsters and a Celtic legend regarding the character Kira. The tale was engaging, the writing descriptive and despite some issues for me it was a good start to a fascinating series.

We meet Kira as she is seeing her mother’s ghost dripping in blood and we are told the story of her mother and sister’s death. We learn that Kira is an outcast in school and bullied. As she turns sixteen she begins to change; seeing her mother’s reflection in the mirror, craving seafood and feeling the oceans pull. Told from two perspectives we also meet Caleb who is traveling with a group of young teens in search of a Celtic legend. The tale that unfolds is fascinating; offering an original look at selkies and is refreshingly sweet.

I found the tale engaging especially the paranormal elements and legends but I had difficulty connected with the characters. They were all likable but I never got swept up nor did I truly believe the connections of the characters. I felt empathy for Kira, felt her struggle with her change but saw no growth in her as a character. We have the makings of a love triangle but maybe not? Sean and Kira have been friends forever and he is her rock. She kisses him the night of the big party. Caleb and Kira seem to have a connection each time they meet. I really wish Caleb was developed more and that I truly felt his connection to Kira other then the legend. I liked the guy and it will be interesting to see if a true triangle develops. I think my disconnect stems from how young this book feels. While it’s YA and the characters are all around sixteen, this would be perfect for a middle school student as well.

While I could not connect with the characters I did find the story to be enthralling. I wanted to unravel the mystery of Kira’s mother. I loved all the Celtic myths, and the superstitions like not speaking or acknowledging a ghost. The tale was haunting with twists that kept me in suspense but I still have some major questions regarding the legend and need more detail about the monster, characters and other small details. We get most of our details from Caleb’s prospective which helps us understand what Kira is experiencing. The main focus of this tale though is really the romance and it didn’t work for me. The ending for some will feel like a major cliffhanger and for others most threads are complete with a glimpse of what is to come. Here the love triangle comes to an end (at least for now) but I did not feel it. I should note that the author’s writing style is atmospheric, and her descriptions of the sea and the character’s feelings relating to the sea are wonderful. The tale flows back and forth between perspectives and despite the disconnect I enjoyed the tale.
ARC provided in exchange for unbiased review
See more of my reviews @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer (less)

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Jan 05, 2013 Kayla rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: arcs, favorites, reviewed

See the original review on darkfaerietales.com/reviews

At first I was a little leary--what with the first sentence being on ghosts. But as I read more, I realized it's not about ghosts; it's about Celtic myths, specifically Selkies. Kira Callahan is just a normal girl. With a mother who murdered her sister then committed suicide. So life hadn't been easy, but with her best friend Sean next to her, it was bearable. Then a group of teenagers visits Crescent Moon Bay. There's nothing special about t...more See the original review on darkfaerietales.com/reviews

At first I was a little leary--what with the first sentence being on ghosts. But as I read more, I realized it's not about ghosts; it's about Celtic myths, specifically Selkies. Kira Callahan is just a normal girl. With a mother who murdered her sister then committed suicide. So life hadn't been easy, but with her best friend Sean next to her, it was bearable. Then a group of teenagers visits Crescent Moon Bay. There's nothing special about them. Besides the cute guy with sea blue eyes like her. And his friend Riley that seems to hate her guts without even knowing her. Kira's whole life has been a legend in the making--stories have been told around campfires about her life, but the ending has yet to come. Nothing is as it seems in this dramatic story of mythology, family and love.

Phew. Give me a few seconds to cool down after this steamy story. And not steamy as in romance. Steamy as in emotional roller coaster. From the very beginning Destefano grips the reader in a firm hold and doesn't let go. One minute you're happy saying "aw that's sweet!" In the next, you're in tears and can't stop yelling at the book. Not to say that's what I did...

There were several twists in Fathom that made me reread the chapter because I was so surprised. True, I was reading this at midnight, but still, it's worth the suspense that Destefano builds. Honestly, the tense atmosphere she creates is like a hundred pound boulder strung above your head. But Sean and Caleb will save you before it falls!

Romance is the central subject in this story (if you exclude the mythology). It's like a love triangle with one side invisible to the other two sides. If you can't follow that, then I'll go a little deeper. Sean and Kira like each other, but Kira is attracted to Caleb. While Caleb falls in love with Kira, Sean and Kira become closer, and its a huge mess but not really because Caleb hides his feelings. I wish Destefano would have gone into more detail with Caleb. His relationship with Kira is backgroundish and has no build up whatsoever. He just all of a sudden likes her. Although he is so sweet and protective of Kira without her knowing (which makes it even more romantic). Sean is the typical boy-next-door. Nothing's wrong with that, but he barely has any flaws. Sure he didn't trust Kira once, but they get over that in a cinch. I'm not sure who's team I'm on yet because they are both good matches for Kira, but I'm not overly thrilled about both.

Destefano's writing is a beautiful, fast-paced account of a Celtic myth in the making. Kira's story is still unfolding and I cannot wait until the next installment! The ending isn't a major cliffhanger. More like a satisfying ending with loose ends still to be tied up. Destefano could have given more detail while Caleb narrated the story (it flips between Kira and Caleb), but it was Kira's narration that brought the suspense and drama. I absolutely loved this novel and its twists and turns and heart wrenching moments.
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Oct 24, 2012 All Things Urban Fantasy rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed-by-julia, october-2012-hotp

FATHOM reads like swimming in the surf. One minute I was paddling in the shallows, interested but not committed, the next I was taken by the current, swept away and unable to surface for anything less than the end.

Destefano starts her two main characters on opposite end of the spectrum of reality. Despite the ghosts in Kira’s life, a big part of me thought she was firmly rooted in our own world. I couldn’t understand how Kira, immersed in mourning, outcast in high school, could appear in the leg...more FATHOM reads like swimming in the surf. One minute I was paddling in the shallows, interested but not committed, the next I was taken by the current, swept away and unable to surface for anything less than the end.

Destefano starts her two main characters on opposite end of the spectrum of reality. Despite the ghosts in Kira’s life, a big part of me thought she was firmly rooted in our own world. I couldn’t understand how Kira, immersed in mourning, outcast in high school, could appear in the legends of Caleb’s alien tribe of sea dwellers. I paddled along in my skepticism, then was blindsided as DeStefano brought these two narratives together. I assumed that detail was “the big reveal”, then was surprised as another twist took me under. The plot and main character are definitely FATHOM’s strengths.

Beyond these elements, however, I cannot say that the world building of FATHOM was without flaw. Though the sea creatures in FATHOM are called “Selkies”, they bear little to no resemblance to the selkies of mainstream mythology. I’m fine starting a new mythology whole cloth, but Destefano’s world building was too patchy to sweep me away. The relationship between the Selkies and their apex predator never quite comes alive (Only one? Only one in the entire ocean? What is their range? Why is one creature able to menace an entire race?). The mating journey that brings Caleb and his friends into Kira’s world isn’t particularly developed (and something you can do twice in one season doesn’t seem that tough, despite losing *one* party member on the way). Even worse, the details of Selkie mating that do sink in weakens the credibility of Kira and Caleb’s connection. By book’s end Kira is calling Caleb her “dearest friend”, but I saw nothing more than superficial interactions between them (and the mating fire of the Burning). Kira and Sean have the relationship that seems substantial and valid, but again mythology trips me up. A familiar has a compulsion to obey their Selkie, a dynamic that tainted all of Kira and Sean’s interactions and left a bad taste in my mouth.

Though flaws in the mythology brought me down a bat, Kira’s half of the story was more than enough to keep me engaged in the story. Kira’s journey is as much about grief and inner strength as it is about magic, and the complexities of a family’s dynamic means there is a lot more of her story to explore. Though FATHOM was good as a standalone, Kira’s voice and day to day struggles have me hoping that Destefano has more of of this series in store.

Sexual Content: Kissing.(less)

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Jan 03, 2013 The Y.A. Bookworm Blogger rated it 3 of 5 stars

Read FULL Review At: The Y.A. Bookworm Blogger

Fathom is the first novel in The Chronicles of Crescent Moon Bay series by Merrie Destefano. The novel revolves around a particular mythological creature that, although a topic I've been reading a lot about lately, it is presented in a very unique way. (I'll try not to be too specific because finding out what mythological creature I'm talking about is a huge part of the plot)!

Kira's life has not been easy since her mother killed both herself and her...more

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Oct 27, 2012 Melissa Hayden rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: ebook, ya, mermaids

Wow! An amazing Celtic legend that grows to pass in a story that will seize your attention, that's full of selkies and monsters.

***FULL REVIEW***
Caleb's people are of the sea, make homes of shipwrecked ships and have legends of humans. One of the legends is still forming, a girl still working and growing through her own legend his people talk about. Caleb is curious about this legend and when his friend and his sisters betrothed returns home he says he saw her, and a crew of them decide to go an...more Wow! An amazing Celtic legend that grows to pass in a story that will seize your attention, that's full of selkies and monsters.

***FULL REVIEW***
Caleb's people are of the sea, make homes of shipwrecked ships and have legends of humans. One of the legends is still forming, a girl still working and growing through her own legend his people talk about. Caleb is curious about this legend and when his friend and his sisters betrothed returns home he says he saw her, and a crew of them decide to go and see her for themselves, even though they have to swim through their predators territory, the Hinquememem.

Kira is a young girl turning sixteen and maturing, maturing in ways she never even knew and well beyond that of a normal teenage girl. Kira feels she looks more like her murdering mother than ever before, and misses her dead sister. She loves her swimming that helps calm her days and mind. But Kira's world is good as she shares her first kiss with Sean but is about to get turned upside down after a party where she has her drink spiked and a few girls play a cruel joke on her by trying to drown her... she thinks what happens is all a hallucination, from the drink...or was it?

We start with Kira remembering the first time she saw a ghost, her mothers ghost and what happened to her mother and sister, yet makes me curious to the whole story with them and the Celtic legends they believe and listen to. In school there are those who whisper the same rumors at start of each year, about Kira and her mother and wondering if she's like her mother, crazy. But we are coming to the close of the year and the thoughts are still there.

The descriptions of the oceans touch is poetic! The details of the scent, look, and feel are amazing and I can almost feel it on my skin. I almost feel as I'm there. Then when I realize I'm not, it makes me wish I was standing there at the ocean, on the beach. Makes me crave the ocean as much as Kira does.

The chapters rotate between Kira, learning of her, her mom, birthday, and friends, and Caleb, learning his world and adventures to see Kira. The chapters are shorter length in pages and consist of complete scenes. I really like this. It's easy to have a spot to stop on the run (and for young adults between classes) yet I am in want to keep reading and know, learn, more of Kira's and Caleb's lives and how they will connect.

My only thought is Kira considers Caleb a friend in the end after him helping her once and then in the end again, also keeping her secret. Kira feels a connection with Caleb with every eye locked gaze, but I didn't feel there was as much happening between them to consider him such a close friend. I do think Kira is a kind soul and should act the same way she does with him, but to say he's such a close friend...I don't know, I didn't really feel it. But the Legend created here, Wow!

Wow! The legend created here. An amazing Celtic legend that grows to come to pass as we read, in a story that will seize your attention. Full of selkies and monsters of the sea.

I'm very curious to see where the series goes from here. There has to be more to come, because I want it. lol.(less)

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Oct 31, 2012 Renee rated it 5 of 5 stars

I love Merrie Destefano's adult urban fantasy fiction and when I learned that she was writing a full-length young adult novel I just knew I had to read it. With her flair for writing unusual characters and plot lines with unexpected twists and turns she never disappoints and her new book Fathom is no exception - in fact it's my favorite book from Merrie! She combines the struggles of a girl struggling with fitting in in high school with a dash of mystery and a spooky Celtic legend that makes thi...more I love Merrie Destefano's adult urban fantasy fiction and when I learned that she was writing a full-length young adult novel I just knew I had to read it. With her flair for writing unusual characters and plot lines with unexpected twists and turns she never disappoints and her new book Fathom is no exception - in fact it's my favorite book from Merrie! She combines the struggles of a girl struggling with fitting in in high school with a dash of mystery and a spooky Celtic legend that makes this the absolutely perfect Halloween tale.

Kira Callahan's mom and little sister mysteriously vanished years ago. Kira can still picture the blood and hear the screams from that night. Even now at 16 she can't escape the nightmares and the haunting memories. Living with her dad and Irish grandmother she's grown up on Celtic legends and stories and something about them intrigues her. One day, after a group of beautiful strangers show up at Crescent Moon Bay she learns that there is much more to her past and her future that she never thought possible. She also learns why she is so drawn to the water and its cold, crashing waves.

In a world of YA dystopian fiction and vampires and angels it's refreshing to read a novel centered around ancient tales of Selkies and sea monsters. Destefano does an excellent job of making Kira likeable and relatable while still making her completely unique and interesting. I can see a possible love triangle taking shape between Kira, her friend Sean and "new guy", Caleb which could be very interesting especially since we learn some interesting tidbits about both Sean, Caleb and the Selkie legend. Fathom's ending is most definitely a cliff-hanger and I hope Ms. Destefano doesn't keep us waiting too long to see what happens next!

Note: Isn't the cover great? It fits the story so well. As of right now this is only available in e-book form but it's soon to be released in paperback!

~ My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars ~

*I received a complimentary copy of this book for review from the author. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255.*(less)

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Oct 12, 2012 Misty rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: library, read-in-2012, read-for-review

The first few lines of this book had me stuck.. I love reading paranormal books. I cant really say this is paranormal because it has nothing to do with fairies, vampires, werewolves, or witches.. its a whole new Species.. You ask what. Well you will have to read the book to find out.. This is a book i will suggest everyone to read.. Its a fun easy read that you will enjoy...

I hope this is the beginning of a series.. I can think of a few things i would love to see happen in the next book.. Please...more

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Fathom (The Chronicles of Crescent Moon Bay #1)

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