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Beyond the Sea #1
Beyond the Sea
**Revamped, restyled, and rereleased in May 2015. Beyond the Sea is a NA paranormal romance intended for mature readers.**
The rules are simple: Stay away from the surface, remain hidden at all times, and never fall in love with a human...but rules are meant to be broken.
After the brutal murder of her sister, Melia is forced to flee from the only place she’s ever called home, the Pacific Ocean, leaving her life as a merrow behind and pretending to be human.
Peter Anderson is just trying to get through college when Melia walks into his life. He knows there is something different about her, and it’s not just that she lives alone in a mansion overlooking the ocean, spending all her time with Jamie Forester, the only goth girl in the sunny town of San Morado.
Worlds collide when Melia must make a life or death decision, and risk being seen in order to save Peter from drowning. Knowing that falling in love with a human is forbidden, Melia resists her attraction to Peter, but soon she finds herself in love with him…and in danger. Melia knows love might not be enough to protect them from the dangers that lurk in the deep waters she once called home.
They say love knows no boundaries, but can it survive the darkest depths of the ocean?
The rules are simple: Stay away from the surface, remain hidden at all times, and never fall in love with a human...but rules are meant to be broken.
After the brutal murder of her sister, Melia is forced to flee from the only place she’s ever called home, the Pacific Ocean, leaving her life as a merrow behind and pretending to be human.
Peter Anderson is just trying to get through college when Melia walks into his life. He knows there is something different about her, and it’s not just that she lives alone in a mansion overlooking the ocean, spending all her time with Jamie Forester, the only goth girl in the sunny town of San Morado.
Worlds collide when Melia must make a life or death decision, and risk being seen in order to save Peter from drowning. Knowing that falling in love with a human is forbidden, Melia resists her attraction to Peter, but soon she finds herself in love with him…and in danger. Melia knows love might not be enough to protect them from the dangers that lurk in the deep waters she once called home.
They say love knows no boundaries, but can it survive the darkest depths of the ocean?
318 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 17, 2012
17 people are currently reading
1675 people want to read
About the author
Emily Goodwin
95 books3,978 followersEmily Goodwin is the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author of over a dozen of romantic titles. Emily writes the kind of books she likes to read, and is a sucker for a swoon-worthy bad boy and happily ever afters.
She lives in the midwest with her husband and two daughters. When she's not writing, you can find her riding her horses, hiking, reading, or drinking wine with friends.
Emily is represented by Julie Gwinn of the Seymour Agency.
www.emilygoodwinbooks.com
facebook.com/emilygoodwinbooks
emily@emilygoodwinbooks.com
She lives in the midwest with her husband and two daughters. When she's not writing, you can find her riding her horses, hiking, reading, or drinking wine with friends.
Emily is represented by Julie Gwinn of the Seymour Agency.
www.emilygoodwinbooks.com
facebook.com/emilygoodwinbooks
emily@emilygoodwinbooks.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
April 17, 2014
No doubt, it has become a maxim amongst those who follow my reviews of Mer-fiction that if I write a review, I am going to naturally say that it's a great book. In reality, I only write reviews for books that I believe are really good/great/fantastic. Therefore, in the lines below, is my review of a Young Adult bit of Mer-fiction that I found to be really good and enjoyed immensely. As an added bonus, there is the cover art up at the left. It is one of the very few depictions of a mermaid - or merman - perched on a rock that is reasonably close enough to the water's surface that the mer-person can climb on to it without much of a struggle. Think of it; the usual illustration of a mermaid - or merman - depicts them ensconced upon a rock that is at least five or six feet above the water. While this may be done to simply show off the artist's lovely depiction of a mer-tail, the whole scene beggars belief. Since the mer-person is "en-tailed", just how do they get up there? Levitate?
But enough talk about art; let's talk about the story itself. It is natural for the new girl in school to feel like a fish out of water but in Melia's case it is literally true. Melia is a Merrow - the Celtic equivalent of a mermaid. Actually, Melia is only a Merrow on her father's side; her mother is a Oceanid or water nymph. In the world that Ms Goodwin has created for us, Merrows are tied to the sea. In other words, they can't simply swap their fins for a pair of legs and go for a stroll on the beach. Oceanids, however, can live on land as well as in the sea and since she is the product of a mixed marriage, Melia can come and go as she pleases.
Right now, Melia is spending most of her time on dry land since the murder of her sister by parties unknown. Her step-father is human and is also extremely well off. Her mother spends most of her time at his side in New York City. Melia has tried living there but the water quality is wretched and who can blame her for wanting to stay on the left coast. There she sits; the sole occupant of a grand house overlooking the sea with only the cook cum body-guard for company. Her only friends are a nerdy girl named Jamie Foster - who is able to see into the spirit world - and Peter Anderson - football player and overall handsome dude - who, having recently ditched his girl due to a question of infidelity, is a free agent; or at least until he becomes involved with Melia.
Peter took Melia’s hands in his. The Friday morning sun sparkled in her eyes. She looked fantastic again today in another short dress. If she didn’t look so good in dresses (and if they weren’t as short as they were) Peter would think it odd that she always wore them. He liked that she rarely wore make up and her hair was almost always down.
Jamie was enlisted by Melia to divine the culprit in her sister's murder. While Melia reveals her true self to Jamie early in the story, it won't be until much, much later that Peter will find out and only after the two of them have become seriously involved. Jamie is quite accepting of what Melia is. Peter is a different story.
Melia is a child of the Pacific Ocean and not everything appears to be quite well there. Sightings of strange creatures become the norm. Melia tries to pay a visit to the mer-folk back home and discovers that not only has their undersea settlement has been abandoned but it appears that everyone has left in a hurry. Melia tries to keep a lid on all of this so as not to alarm Jamie and keep Peter thinking that she is a slightly odd but quite attractive person. This is her first real relationship and she so does not want it to end. That becomes harder and harder as strange creatures appear on the shore and on land. Melia does her best to protect those she cares about but her best may not be enough.
Emily Goodwin has done an outstanding job of weaving various aquatic mythologies together in order to build the world that Melia - and, increasingly, Jamie and Peter - inhabits. Melia lives at the interface between the world of humans and the world of her birth and the conflict she feels between wanting to go "home" and wanting to be with her human friends is quite palpable. Of the three main characters, Peter is the most normal. No paranormal powers or fins for him. Yet he becomes quite real because of the burden he bears; the unwanted child of religious parents who somehow see him as a reminder of and punishment for their pre-marital dalliance. Peter is marginalised as his parents focus their attention on his younger brother and sister and while Peter's parents may feel that they are doing what is best for their oldest son, they are, in reality, pushing him further and further away.
In that way, Peter and Melia share a common condition. Both are outcasts from the worlds of their birth. Peter wants to escape his world by going off to college but he increasingly feels the tug of his life with Melia slowing his steps. Melia would love to be able to re-enter the sea and leave the alien world of life on land behind but the pull of those she loves above the waves keeps her where she is. It is this unconscious sense of commonality, as well as their love for each other, that binds them together.
If there is one theme that stands out in this story, it is that of loving someone for whom they are and not what they are. Humans are not exactly the favourites of the denizens of the deep but Melia most certainly loves the ones she has come to know closely. Peter's acceptance of Melia for what she is turns out to be a bit rough at first but Peter comes to realise that she is the person he loves and - above all else - wants to protect and be with. This mutual love and acceptance can be contrasted with the relationship between Peter and his parents. They fail to love him for who he is - their first-born child - and only see him as what he is; the reason that they had to marry.
Jamie is accepted and cared for by two of the most attractive people at school, not simply because of her paranormal abilities but because she is a brave and loyal person rather than just some nerdy kid. It is because of the acceptance and encouragement coming from both Melia and Peter that Jamie starts to come out of her shell and claim her place in the world as a person of value and worthiness. It is through Ms Goodwin's careful crafting that Beyond the Sea goes well beyond the province of simply being a Young Adult paranormal tale and becomes a story with a deeper meaning.
“It’s a shame,” Peter whispered, sitting on the bed.
“What is?” Melia asked as she sat on his lap.
“That no one on land will know how truly brave and amazing you are.”
“You know. That’s enough for me.”
While this is not the first Young Adult novel that Emily Goodwin has authored, she can be justly proud of her accomplishments in conceiving the story, bringing the characters to life and gifting the reader an exciting plot with a deeper meaning below its surface. In its own way, Beyond the Sea is as memorable as its namesake song by Bobby Darin. This story stays with the reader long after the last sentence is read.
The second book in the Beyond the Sea series, Red Skies at Night, is due for release later in 2013. If the quality of the first book is any indication, the second book will be a "must read" for fans of this particular genre.
More reviews of Mer-fiction may be found at The Parsons' Rant
But enough talk about art; let's talk about the story itself. It is natural for the new girl in school to feel like a fish out of water but in Melia's case it is literally true. Melia is a Merrow - the Celtic equivalent of a mermaid. Actually, Melia is only a Merrow on her father's side; her mother is a Oceanid or water nymph. In the world that Ms Goodwin has created for us, Merrows are tied to the sea. In other words, they can't simply swap their fins for a pair of legs and go for a stroll on the beach. Oceanids, however, can live on land as well as in the sea and since she is the product of a mixed marriage, Melia can come and go as she pleases.
Right now, Melia is spending most of her time on dry land since the murder of her sister by parties unknown. Her step-father is human and is also extremely well off. Her mother spends most of her time at his side in New York City. Melia has tried living there but the water quality is wretched and who can blame her for wanting to stay on the left coast. There she sits; the sole occupant of a grand house overlooking the sea with only the cook cum body-guard for company. Her only friends are a nerdy girl named Jamie Foster - who is able to see into the spirit world - and Peter Anderson - football player and overall handsome dude - who, having recently ditched his girl due to a question of infidelity, is a free agent; or at least until he becomes involved with Melia.
Peter took Melia’s hands in his. The Friday morning sun sparkled in her eyes. She looked fantastic again today in another short dress. If she didn’t look so good in dresses (and if they weren’t as short as they were) Peter would think it odd that she always wore them. He liked that she rarely wore make up and her hair was almost always down.
Jamie was enlisted by Melia to divine the culprit in her sister's murder. While Melia reveals her true self to Jamie early in the story, it won't be until much, much later that Peter will find out and only after the two of them have become seriously involved. Jamie is quite accepting of what Melia is. Peter is a different story.
Melia is a child of the Pacific Ocean and not everything appears to be quite well there. Sightings of strange creatures become the norm. Melia tries to pay a visit to the mer-folk back home and discovers that not only has their undersea settlement has been abandoned but it appears that everyone has left in a hurry. Melia tries to keep a lid on all of this so as not to alarm Jamie and keep Peter thinking that she is a slightly odd but quite attractive person. This is her first real relationship and she so does not want it to end. That becomes harder and harder as strange creatures appear on the shore and on land. Melia does her best to protect those she cares about but her best may not be enough.
Emily Goodwin has done an outstanding job of weaving various aquatic mythologies together in order to build the world that Melia - and, increasingly, Jamie and Peter - inhabits. Melia lives at the interface between the world of humans and the world of her birth and the conflict she feels between wanting to go "home" and wanting to be with her human friends is quite palpable. Of the three main characters, Peter is the most normal. No paranormal powers or fins for him. Yet he becomes quite real because of the burden he bears; the unwanted child of religious parents who somehow see him as a reminder of and punishment for their pre-marital dalliance. Peter is marginalised as his parents focus their attention on his younger brother and sister and while Peter's parents may feel that they are doing what is best for their oldest son, they are, in reality, pushing him further and further away.
In that way, Peter and Melia share a common condition. Both are outcasts from the worlds of their birth. Peter wants to escape his world by going off to college but he increasingly feels the tug of his life with Melia slowing his steps. Melia would love to be able to re-enter the sea and leave the alien world of life on land behind but the pull of those she loves above the waves keeps her where she is. It is this unconscious sense of commonality, as well as their love for each other, that binds them together.
If there is one theme that stands out in this story, it is that of loving someone for whom they are and not what they are. Humans are not exactly the favourites of the denizens of the deep but Melia most certainly loves the ones she has come to know closely. Peter's acceptance of Melia for what she is turns out to be a bit rough at first but Peter comes to realise that she is the person he loves and - above all else - wants to protect and be with. This mutual love and acceptance can be contrasted with the relationship between Peter and his parents. They fail to love him for who he is - their first-born child - and only see him as what he is; the reason that they had to marry.
Jamie is accepted and cared for by two of the most attractive people at school, not simply because of her paranormal abilities but because she is a brave and loyal person rather than just some nerdy kid. It is because of the acceptance and encouragement coming from both Melia and Peter that Jamie starts to come out of her shell and claim her place in the world as a person of value and worthiness. It is through Ms Goodwin's careful crafting that Beyond the Sea goes well beyond the province of simply being a Young Adult paranormal tale and becomes a story with a deeper meaning.
“It’s a shame,” Peter whispered, sitting on the bed.
“What is?” Melia asked as she sat on his lap.
“That no one on land will know how truly brave and amazing you are.”
“You know. That’s enough for me.”
While this is not the first Young Adult novel that Emily Goodwin has authored, she can be justly proud of her accomplishments in conceiving the story, bringing the characters to life and gifting the reader an exciting plot with a deeper meaning below its surface. In its own way, Beyond the Sea is as memorable as its namesake song by Bobby Darin. This story stays with the reader long after the last sentence is read.
The second book in the Beyond the Sea series, Red Skies at Night, is due for release later in 2013. If the quality of the first book is any indication, the second book will be a "must read" for fans of this particular genre.
More reviews of Mer-fiction may be found at The Parsons' Rant
May 3, 2012
'Yeah, just as human as I am, minus the tail, ability to breathe underwater, and I’m sure a pet dolphin or two.'
Beyond the Sea was a great mermaid story, the world under the sea that Emily had created was magical, and the friendships she put on land were nothing short of beautiful!
Melia’s sister was murdered, she doesn’t know by who, or how, but she does know she was murdered. To keep Melia safe, Melia must stay on land with her mother for a while. Melia in the common term is a mermaid, she can live under the water, and would actually prefer to live there, but to keep her mother happy she will stay on land even if it takes her awhile to get used to all these human terms! At first Melia hates being on land, but after making a new best friend in Jamie a girl that can see into the otherworld, and possibly falling in love with the hottest guy in school Peter, things don’t seem so bad. But when darklings from the water came to take her back in, everyone she knows and loves on land and under the sea is in danger…..there is a war going on..and she is about to become a very big part of it weather she likes it or not.
This was a really great read, but I will go ahead and talk about the things that weren’t so great for me so I can just get them out of the way and talk about all the awesome! Okay so first let me say this book would totally get 4 stars if it weren’t for the first about 25% or so of the book, the beginning was a little bit all over the place. I found myself sort of lost, and also not really enjoying being inside of Jamie’s head..she came off very stuck up and rude, and didn’t like being judged, yet would judge other people harshly before even knowing them. I found myself disliking her almost instantly, thank goodness though that once Melia is introduced things switch over to following her, and eventually Jaime changes her attitude.
Moving onto the awesome! Once I got past the first 30% of the novel I loved this story and could not put it down! Emily created such unique creatures for under the sea, there was even a group of shark like people in the novel! Yes you heard me, SHARK like people, how cool is that? I have never heard of that in a novel and I must admit Emily did an amazing job at describing all the magical creatures that lived under the sea. I was able to easily picture all of the creatures she created, and a lot of times for me that is hard to picture things that don’t exist, but Emily made it insanely easy, which made picturing this story beautiful!
Now as far as the characters go, Jamie did change a lot! I am pretty sure in the beginning she was just mad at the world for being so cruel to her, but after making some new friends her real self really started to shine! My favorite characters though were Melia and Peter, I felt they were an amazing couple. I love that Peter was known for being the popular hot ‘it’ guy, but really he had his own home problems and was actually a sweet guy that really cared about Melia. Then there is Melia, don’t even get me started on her! I absolutely adored her, she was everything you want in a heroine, super tough, super sweet, and just flipping awesome! I found myself automatically loving her.
Apart from the beginning, I really loved Beyond the Sea. It was a very unique mermaid story with tons of great characters. If you love mermaid stories and are looking for one that is unique, has romance, and an epic under sea war then Beyond the Sea is a read you don’t want to miss!
Beyond the Sea was a great mermaid story, the world under the sea that Emily had created was magical, and the friendships she put on land were nothing short of beautiful!
Melia’s sister was murdered, she doesn’t know by who, or how, but she does know she was murdered. To keep Melia safe, Melia must stay on land with her mother for a while. Melia in the common term is a mermaid, she can live under the water, and would actually prefer to live there, but to keep her mother happy she will stay on land even if it takes her awhile to get used to all these human terms! At first Melia hates being on land, but after making a new best friend in Jamie a girl that can see into the otherworld, and possibly falling in love with the hottest guy in school Peter, things don’t seem so bad. But when darklings from the water came to take her back in, everyone she knows and loves on land and under the sea is in danger…..there is a war going on..and she is about to become a very big part of it weather she likes it or not.
This was a really great read, but I will go ahead and talk about the things that weren’t so great for me so I can just get them out of the way and talk about all the awesome! Okay so first let me say this book would totally get 4 stars if it weren’t for the first about 25% or so of the book, the beginning was a little bit all over the place. I found myself sort of lost, and also not really enjoying being inside of Jamie’s head..she came off very stuck up and rude, and didn’t like being judged, yet would judge other people harshly before even knowing them. I found myself disliking her almost instantly, thank goodness though that once Melia is introduced things switch over to following her, and eventually Jaime changes her attitude.
Moving onto the awesome! Once I got past the first 30% of the novel I loved this story and could not put it down! Emily created such unique creatures for under the sea, there was even a group of shark like people in the novel! Yes you heard me, SHARK like people, how cool is that? I have never heard of that in a novel and I must admit Emily did an amazing job at describing all the magical creatures that lived under the sea. I was able to easily picture all of the creatures she created, and a lot of times for me that is hard to picture things that don’t exist, but Emily made it insanely easy, which made picturing this story beautiful!
Now as far as the characters go, Jamie did change a lot! I am pretty sure in the beginning she was just mad at the world for being so cruel to her, but after making some new friends her real self really started to shine! My favorite characters though were Melia and Peter, I felt they were an amazing couple. I love that Peter was known for being the popular hot ‘it’ guy, but really he had his own home problems and was actually a sweet guy that really cared about Melia. Then there is Melia, don’t even get me started on her! I absolutely adored her, she was everything you want in a heroine, super tough, super sweet, and just flipping awesome! I found myself automatically loving her.
Apart from the beginning, I really loved Beyond the Sea. It was a very unique mermaid story with tons of great characters. If you love mermaid stories and are looking for one that is unique, has romance, and an epic under sea war then Beyond the Sea is a read you don’t want to miss!
February 25, 2012
In my opinion
I had the privilege of reading the ARC of this wonderful book. I have never read anything from Emily or even of anything about merrows. I was really happy with the direction that the book was going. Especially what it is like as a teenager growing up in today's world where people are all different. And that whether it is a new boy or even a new friend that you are accepted for all of your strengths and faults. Melia proves that she is not just a fish out of water she has strengths and the ability to care deeply or people whether they are her land friends or her sea friends. I would give this book 5 stars and recommend that everyone mark you calendars for April 1, 2012 this is definitely something you will want to read. I am looking forward to the next book in the series. Emily Goodwin is also the author of two other series that I am going to check out now. Contagious (The Contagium Trilogy #1) and Unbound (The Guardian Legacies).
I had the privilege of reading the ARC of this wonderful book. I have never read anything from Emily or even of anything about merrows. I was really happy with the direction that the book was going. Especially what it is like as a teenager growing up in today's world where people are all different. And that whether it is a new boy or even a new friend that you are accepted for all of your strengths and faults. Melia proves that she is not just a fish out of water she has strengths and the ability to care deeply or people whether they are her land friends or her sea friends. I would give this book 5 stars and recommend that everyone mark you calendars for April 1, 2012 this is definitely something you will want to read. I am looking forward to the next book in the series. Emily Goodwin is also the author of two other series that I am going to check out now. Contagious (The Contagium Trilogy #1) and Unbound (The Guardian Legacies).
June 27, 2015
Emily is one of the most versatile authors I have ever encountered. I was first introduced to her Guardian Legacies series, quickly followed by the Contagium books. This is the most light-hearted of the bunch, but it still has a very dark nature to it, filled with Darklings and death.
I first read Beyond the Sea in its original incarnation, as YA, where the sex faded to black, and the language was clean. I had recommended the book for a mature teen audience, but the newest version has taken steps toward an adult audience. The characters are now older, and they have some serious chemistry brewing! And as adults tend to do, they swear. This book will now appeal to a whole new audience.
Emily first published this book early on in her writing career, and the revamped version has shown a much stronger writing style. I'm so excited to see how she updates her Guardian books! Plus, have you seen the new cover? Gorgeous! Definitely worth a reread for anyone who has read the old version! :D
A copy of this book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
I first read Beyond the Sea in its original incarnation, as YA, where the sex faded to black, and the language was clean. I had recommended the book for a mature teen audience, but the newest version has taken steps toward an adult audience. The characters are now older, and they have some serious chemistry brewing! And as adults tend to do, they swear. This book will now appeal to a whole new audience.
Emily first published this book early on in her writing career, and the revamped version has shown a much stronger writing style. I'm so excited to see how she updates her Guardian books! Plus, have you seen the new cover? Gorgeous! Definitely worth a reread for anyone who has read the old version! :D
A copy of this book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
March 1, 2012
I was given an ARC of Beyond the Sea by Emily Goodwin and couldn't put it down! This is by far my favorite book written by this emerging author. It has the perfect balance of romance, suspense, and fantasy. The characters are developed in such a manner that I felt I actually knew them. The plot was created with care; I actually read the book a second time to discover how Emily Goodwin connects everything- something mentioned in the beginning of the book is referenced again at the end.
It was refreshing to read a book with a mermaid protagonist. I feel that Emily Goodwin created a new, fresh story. I really hope that there is a sequel. I would love to know what happens next to these characters.
It was refreshing to read a book with a mermaid protagonist. I feel that Emily Goodwin created a new, fresh story. I really hope that there is a sequel. I would love to know what happens next to these characters.
July 10, 2015
I received Beyond the Sea as an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I have read and LOVED her Contagium Series, as well as her Guardian Legacies series. Once again, Emily Goodwin does not disappoint! There is romance, action, suspense and humor at just the right moments. It is an interesting take on mermaids (merrows). I love the references to Greek mythology. The story draws you in from the beginning and leaves you wanting more at the end. The characters are so well developed and relatable. I had read the original version of Beyond the Sea when it was YA and loved it then. This new NA version has surpassed the original. It was hard to put down and there was a lot of reading in the middle of the night. I am looking forward to reading more about Melia, Peter and Jamie…much more please.
February 2, 2017
3/5
"Tears rolled down Melia's Face, catching on long lashes."
Ugh! In the first 50 pages, I was SO intrigued by this one. After that, not so much.
This is a light-hearted read, but I had a lot of trouble really getting into it. Mermaid books are tough.
"Tears rolled down Melia's Face, catching on long lashes."
Ugh! In the first 50 pages, I was SO intrigued by this one. After that, not so much.
This is a light-hearted read, but I had a lot of trouble really getting into it. Mermaid books are tough.
January 10, 2024
This was a re-read of a story I remember obsessively flipping the pages from start to finish a couple of years ago. Ten, in fact! It's been such a long time since I read it that the book cover changed and apparently it's no longer available to purchase online? If so, I can actually understand why. There are countless typos and grammatical errors throughout its entirety. Clunky writing and stilted dialogue are also a plague. It feels like a draft still, rather than a fully edited and complete story.
That being said...
It has mermaids and a fun teenage romance story AND supernatural best friends whose friendship reminds me of the friend group in the Aquamarine film lol. Basically, the vibes you'd want in a YA romance story about mermaids are in this book. It's campy and cheesy but oh so addictive! I do feel like you can tell this was written in 2013 because of some of the jokes/scenes regarding sex, but it's a genuine time capsule in that way—knowing this wouldn't be put out now, it captures the 2000s era of CW shows a la The OC we all stayed up to watch after finishing geometry homework.
The action aspect of the story was definitely undercooked. It involves a rebellion taking place that one of the FMC's, Melia, is not aware of until things are dire in the ocean and the fight starts spilling onto the mainland where she can't ignore it as she lives in a mansion right by the coast. The "war" comes straight to her. And I use quotation marks because this part of the story is shallow—you got the bad guy, his henchmen, and the laughably simple political reasonings as to why a coup is rising... but everything gets thrown at you out of nowhere and it all ends pretty abruptly and conveniently. We do get to read some of the lore about what kinds of merpeople exist, the languages they speak, and what they look like, but again, it's all quite surface-level and thrown in randomly, exposition-style.
But I know not to take this book seriously. It's a draft. But the groundwork is there and I have to applaud the author for her imagination because if ever given the proper time, TLC, and polish, this story has so much potential.
I'm giving it three subjective stars because now as an adult it's harder to get swept into the story to the point that it's easy to overlook all the technical faults and trivial plotlines — but the now sepia-toned, beach-town peak teen romance vibes remain glorious and my heart has a soft spot for Melia, Jamie, and Peter even after a decade of having met them.
That being said...
It has mermaids and a fun teenage romance story AND supernatural best friends whose friendship reminds me of the friend group in the Aquamarine film lol. Basically, the vibes you'd want in a YA romance story about mermaids are in this book. It's campy and cheesy but oh so addictive! I do feel like you can tell this was written in 2013 because of some of the jokes/scenes regarding sex, but it's a genuine time capsule in that way—knowing this wouldn't be put out now, it captures the 2000s era of CW shows a la The OC we all stayed up to watch after finishing geometry homework.
The action aspect of the story was definitely undercooked. It involves a rebellion taking place that one of the FMC's, Melia, is not aware of until things are dire in the ocean and the fight starts spilling onto the mainland where she can't ignore it as she lives in a mansion right by the coast. The "war" comes straight to her. And I use quotation marks because this part of the story is shallow—you got the bad guy, his henchmen, and the laughably simple political reasonings as to why a coup is rising... but everything gets thrown at you out of nowhere and it all ends pretty abruptly and conveniently. We do get to read some of the lore about what kinds of merpeople exist, the languages they speak, and what they look like, but again, it's all quite surface-level and thrown in randomly, exposition-style.
But I know not to take this book seriously. It's a draft. But the groundwork is there and I have to applaud the author for her imagination because if ever given the proper time, TLC, and polish, this story has so much potential.
I'm giving it three subjective stars because now as an adult it's harder to get swept into the story to the point that it's easy to overlook all the technical faults and trivial plotlines — but the now sepia-toned, beach-town peak teen romance vibes remain glorious and my heart has a soft spot for Melia, Jamie, and Peter even after a decade of having met them.
October 23, 2017
I expected something hotter in the story but then I remembered it's a YA #sob
February 27, 2019
A feel good, new age take on mermaid lore.
June 21, 2015
I love the way that Emily Goodwin makes it to where you can escape into this book and feel like you are a part of both the human world and the merrow world. I would start reading and just get lost in this book. I loved it and all the emotions it brought with it.
Along with romance, this book had it's fair share of suspense and made you wonder how things were going to end. This is a very well written story and I fell in love with Melia and Peter as a couple. Melia is a young lady that has been thrown into the human world because of her sister's murder. Her mom is worried about her safety and makes Melia become human all the time. Melia does not understand at first why her mom is reacting this way but she obliges her mom and stays at this huge house that they had built by the ocean. Melia wants to talk to her mom about things but her mom is always off with her new human husband in a different state and Melia does not get to spend much time with her. When Melia decides to go to college, it is to meet some friends and try and fit in with the human world. Melia is lost as to most of the saying that humans use because she is so used to speaking Mermish. Melia meets Jamie, a fellow class mate that no one really like and they make fun of her all the time. Jamie is known as Gothic and she has the ability to talk to the dead sometimes. Melia thinks that this is her ticket to connecting with her sister, Lana, and getting answers to who killed her. Jamie and Melia end up becoming best friends and enduring lots together in the search for answers.
Melia also meets Peter and she had no idea, but it was love at first sight for both of them. Peter had a hard life growing up because his parent's always felt like he was a mistake that they could not get over. They never let him forget what all they had to give up to raise him. Peter is still required to help take care of his little brother and sister and her really cares about them, just does not care to be around his parent's. When Peter and Melia start hanging around each other, the rumors start flying and they get back to Peter's mom in no time. Peter does not care what she thinks though because he does not live with them anymore and ends up staying with Melia a lot of the time because her parents are always gone.
The struggles that Melia has to encounter from being both merrow and oceanid takes her on a crazy chase to get answers about her sister. This book has a little of everything for readers and I loved that about it. Emily has found a way to intertwine romance, suspense and personal struggles all together with the perfect balance to make you turn page after page until you are suddenly done with the book and longing for more. I can't wait to read more from Emily and to see what she has in store for us as readers!
Along with romance, this book had it's fair share of suspense and made you wonder how things were going to end. This is a very well written story and I fell in love with Melia and Peter as a couple. Melia is a young lady that has been thrown into the human world because of her sister's murder. Her mom is worried about her safety and makes Melia become human all the time. Melia does not understand at first why her mom is reacting this way but she obliges her mom and stays at this huge house that they had built by the ocean. Melia wants to talk to her mom about things but her mom is always off with her new human husband in a different state and Melia does not get to spend much time with her. When Melia decides to go to college, it is to meet some friends and try and fit in with the human world. Melia is lost as to most of the saying that humans use because she is so used to speaking Mermish. Melia meets Jamie, a fellow class mate that no one really like and they make fun of her all the time. Jamie is known as Gothic and she has the ability to talk to the dead sometimes. Melia thinks that this is her ticket to connecting with her sister, Lana, and getting answers to who killed her. Jamie and Melia end up becoming best friends and enduring lots together in the search for answers.
Melia also meets Peter and she had no idea, but it was love at first sight for both of them. Peter had a hard life growing up because his parent's always felt like he was a mistake that they could not get over. They never let him forget what all they had to give up to raise him. Peter is still required to help take care of his little brother and sister and her really cares about them, just does not care to be around his parent's. When Peter and Melia start hanging around each other, the rumors start flying and they get back to Peter's mom in no time. Peter does not care what she thinks though because he does not live with them anymore and ends up staying with Melia a lot of the time because her parents are always gone.
The struggles that Melia has to encounter from being both merrow and oceanid takes her on a crazy chase to get answers about her sister. This book has a little of everything for readers and I loved that about it. Emily has found a way to intertwine romance, suspense and personal struggles all together with the perfect balance to make you turn page after page until you are suddenly done with the book and longing for more. I can't wait to read more from Emily and to see what she has in store for us as readers!
June 11, 2015
Beyond happy with this book!
**Received a copy for an honest review**
I love reading paranormal books, usually they are about Vampires, Werewolves, Shifters, Angels, Fairies, etc. But I had the unique pleasure of being introduced to the fabulous world of the Merrows by Miss Goodwin, my very first Mermaid book and I have to say, I am not disappointed.
I love the world that Emily has created for the Merrows, they are their own little society living under the sea with their own rules and regulations, language and customs, obligations and structure on how they live.
When Milia's sister ends up murdered, her mom sends for her and says she is to live on land with her and her husband until the murderer is caught. Milia's and her mother are unique, they can live and fuction on land just like humans if they so choose and Milia's mother has been living on land for quite some time.
Milia has to adjust, she is not familiar with how the humans live. She must learn to live in a society that knows nothing about her true identity, about the things that lurk in the waters.
She must learn to trust her mother and Charles, a human that knows all about the Merrows and has been with her mother for awhile and has become one of Milia's trusted friend. He teaches her all things human. It takes her awhile to understand things and at some points is quite funny the way she interrups things.
She then befriends Jamie and tells her about who she really is. Jamie is set to try to help solve the mystery of her sisters death. She encounters creatures that she never knew existed and is quickly learning that being a mermaid isn't at all what she thought it would be. She fears for her friend and wants to help her.
And then there is Peter...awwww, Peter. He really falls for Melia hard. He is so sweet and probably the most perfect boyfiend out there, at least perfect for Melia anyways. :)
I think this was a great book, you get mystery, danger, friendship, love and a whole other world to explore. When things heat up and Milia's gets closer to the truth of what happened to her sister, the more danger comes. And I can't wait for the next installment! I have some suspicions that I need to find out if are true or not!!
**Received a copy for an honest review**
I love reading paranormal books, usually they are about Vampires, Werewolves, Shifters, Angels, Fairies, etc. But I had the unique pleasure of being introduced to the fabulous world of the Merrows by Miss Goodwin, my very first Mermaid book and I have to say, I am not disappointed.
I love the world that Emily has created for the Merrows, they are their own little society living under the sea with their own rules and regulations, language and customs, obligations and structure on how they live.
When Milia's sister ends up murdered, her mom sends for her and says she is to live on land with her and her husband until the murderer is caught. Milia's and her mother are unique, they can live and fuction on land just like humans if they so choose and Milia's mother has been living on land for quite some time.
Milia has to adjust, she is not familiar with how the humans live. She must learn to live in a society that knows nothing about her true identity, about the things that lurk in the waters.
She must learn to trust her mother and Charles, a human that knows all about the Merrows and has been with her mother for awhile and has become one of Milia's trusted friend. He teaches her all things human. It takes her awhile to understand things and at some points is quite funny the way she interrups things.
She then befriends Jamie and tells her about who she really is. Jamie is set to try to help solve the mystery of her sisters death. She encounters creatures that she never knew existed and is quickly learning that being a mermaid isn't at all what she thought it would be. She fears for her friend and wants to help her.
And then there is Peter...awwww, Peter. He really falls for Melia hard. He is so sweet and probably the most perfect boyfiend out there, at least perfect for Melia anyways. :)
I think this was a great book, you get mystery, danger, friendship, love and a whole other world to explore. When things heat up and Milia's gets closer to the truth of what happened to her sister, the more danger comes. And I can't wait for the next installment! I have some suspicions that I need to find out if are true or not!!
July 14, 2015
This book was a little different than the style I am normally drawn too. I wasn't sure exactly how I was going to feel about it, but I tried to go into it with an open mind. I am so very glad that I did! Melia isn't human, she's a merrow from the ocean. Similar to a mermaid. This gave a whole new perspective to this new adult book. I've been getting tired of there being so much immature drama and angst in that genre, and there was none of it in here! Melia is such a refreshing character because she is just oblivious to the petty human drama that so many characters fall prey to. Not only that, but she's rather busy with her own, much more mature drama. Trying to solve her sister's murder, trying to adapt to the human world, falling in love. Her relationship with Peter was great to read about. Neither one acts out, they both admit their feelings, and they are just so sweet with their love, and so sexy with their passion. Whether or not they loved each other was never the conflict, only whether or not outside influences would pull them apart. The world built was captivating. The sea creatures, the darklings, the way that the entire plot point plays out. It was different and well done, and gave the story a place to turn instead of whiny young angst. I appreciated this. I think the biggest reason that I liked this is that as I neared the end, I wasn't tired of reading about the characters. I wasn't bored with any part of the less important day in the life style details. I was actually disappointed to see it end and lose my insight into their lives. One more note, the author tries to play Melia off as a foreigner to explain her lack of knowledge of the slang, the customs, etc. This was very well done. I grew up with foreign exchange students, and with many of them this was so similar to the conversations or difficulties they had. It's surprising how a slang word that has become so ingrained in our daily use can trip up someone who hasn't gown up with it.
March 26, 2012
Beyond the Sea starts out with us meeting Jamie and learning about her special gift of being able to see ghosts. Everyone at school calls her a freak but the new girl, Melia, sees something special in Jamie. She needs Jamie's ability to help find out who murdered her sister. And soon the 2 girls become fast friends now that Jamie knows Melia's secret, that Melia is actually a merrow. When secrets are revealed and lives threatened, choices will have to be made. But what if those choices put more lives at risk? Melia must decide if her life on land is worth it or if she should give in to the sea that calls her.
The first half of the book is spent giving the readers a solid background to each of the 3 main characters: Jamie, Melia and Peter. Pov's are switched throughout the book between the 3 giving us different views of the same story. I really loved Melia’s character. I loved when she would become confused to the everyday things we take for granted or to simple little sayings. Even though she may come off dumb to outsiders, she was actually very smart and one tough cookie.
Now with the second half of the book is where things really take off, where things really get interesting. We start learning about secret pacts made between families and reasons as to why things are happening. You like action and suspense? Well you get it in this half of the book. There is a war looming on the horizon and Melia and her friends must figure out how to stop it.
I knew when Emily asked if anyone wanted to review her new book (and knowing it’s about mermaids) I just had to review it. Beyond the Sea was a fun story that kept me entertained pretty much throughout the entire book. Fan of mermaids? Then this book is for you!
The first half of the book is spent giving the readers a solid background to each of the 3 main characters: Jamie, Melia and Peter. Pov's are switched throughout the book between the 3 giving us different views of the same story. I really loved Melia’s character. I loved when she would become confused to the everyday things we take for granted or to simple little sayings. Even though she may come off dumb to outsiders, she was actually very smart and one tough cookie.
Now with the second half of the book is where things really take off, where things really get interesting. We start learning about secret pacts made between families and reasons as to why things are happening. You like action and suspense? Well you get it in this half of the book. There is a war looming on the horizon and Melia and her friends must figure out how to stop it.
I knew when Emily asked if anyone wanted to review her new book (and knowing it’s about mermaids) I just had to review it. Beyond the Sea was a fun story that kept me entertained pretty much throughout the entire book. Fan of mermaids? Then this book is for you!
July 14, 2015
I was so excited cause this is my very first ARC and I loved it. Thanks Emily for choosing me for this and opening yourself up to my opinion. I hope this helps out others to get this books and "dive" <- get it ;) !!! ok, dive into it and let you imagination lead the way.
Emily, is your All around author. From a dark thriller read and twice banned book Stay and the accompanying book All I Need to your action filled zombie craze book to this thinking out of the box book.
I will NOT put any spoilers, but I will say that in the beginning you get answers. As to why she's out of the sea, her feelings and the people involved. The one thing that I was like "Whaaat..." Was they swim naked. Yeah, naked! Well besides their tails.
So Melia's sister was murdered and the murders are still at large (at sea), and she was taken out by her mother for her own safety. But of course she's strong and stubborn and wants to do this, but her mom wins.
So Melia is trying to do this Above the Sea living thing. So she starts college and as clueless as she is, she meets a guy. Peter. He's a cool guy with kind of crap parents but he makes the most of it and blazes through school. and Peter is a good boyfriend and you will love him.
But through out the story, you learn. you learn from them and you get to know new people and new under water creatures and Merrow and Oceanid "people".
Again, thanks Emily.
Emily, is your All around author. From a dark thriller read and twice banned book Stay and the accompanying book All I Need to your action filled zombie craze book to this thinking out of the box book.
I will NOT put any spoilers, but I will say that in the beginning you get answers. As to why she's out of the sea, her feelings and the people involved. The one thing that I was like "Whaaat..." Was they swim naked. Yeah, naked! Well besides their tails.
So Melia's sister was murdered and the murders are still at large (at sea), and she was taken out by her mother for her own safety. But of course she's strong and stubborn and wants to do this, but her mom wins.
So Melia is trying to do this Above the Sea living thing. So she starts college and as clueless as she is, she meets a guy. Peter. He's a cool guy with kind of crap parents but he makes the most of it and blazes through school. and Peter is a good boyfriend and you will love him.
But through out the story, you learn. you learn from them and you get to know new people and new under water creatures and Merrow and Oceanid "people".
Again, thanks Emily.
July 16, 2015
5 out of 5 beautiful Stars
I received an ARC for an honest review.
What can I say? I LOVED THIS BOOK! I have read Emily Goodwins other books and loved them. She is definably a go to author for me. She can write so many different roles and each time she out does her self.
Beyond the sea was such a beautiful story. It was extremely well written from beginning to end. One thing I love about Emily Goodwin is that she knows how to keep you invested in her books. Beyond the Sea was no different. I picked this book up not really knowing what to expect. I never read a book like this and I am happy I gave it a chance. The Characters were very well developed and they were so interesting to read about. You could easily put you self in their world as you read about them. I love when an author can develop a character that you can grab on to and not let go throughout the whole book. Emily does it a lot with all of her books.
I loved the plot and the details in Beyond the Sea, they were well laid out and amazing. I could easily visualize everything that was happening in the story. There is a good balance though out the story with romance and suspense. Beyond the Sea will definably be going in my re read pile. I could pick this book up and keep reading it. Emily Goodwin did not disappoint with this one and I can’t wait to read more of her books.
I received an ARC for an honest review.
What can I say? I LOVED THIS BOOK! I have read Emily Goodwins other books and loved them. She is definably a go to author for me. She can write so many different roles and each time she out does her self.
Beyond the sea was such a beautiful story. It was extremely well written from beginning to end. One thing I love about Emily Goodwin is that she knows how to keep you invested in her books. Beyond the Sea was no different. I picked this book up not really knowing what to expect. I never read a book like this and I am happy I gave it a chance. The Characters were very well developed and they were so interesting to read about. You could easily put you self in their world as you read about them. I love when an author can develop a character that you can grab on to and not let go throughout the whole book. Emily does it a lot with all of her books.
I loved the plot and the details in Beyond the Sea, they were well laid out and amazing. I could easily visualize everything that was happening in the story. There is a good balance though out the story with romance and suspense. Beyond the Sea will definably be going in my re read pile. I could pick this book up and keep reading it. Emily Goodwin did not disappoint with this one and I can’t wait to read more of her books.
April 11, 2015
I was gifted this book in exchange for a review.
This was my first mermaid book and I was very pleased!
Melia's sister was murdered and now her mother has mad her move onto land to be safe. Oh, and did I mention that Melia can transform into a human? Just like in The Little Mermaid but without Ursula and signing over her voice and all that creepy stuff! So now that Melia is living on land she wants to know who killed her sister, and why, because she wants to go back home. She doesn't like being on land. But her sister being murdered wasn't something random, she was killed on purpose to shut her up and now Melia wants answers.
The relationships she develops are great! Jamie and Peter were very well written. By the end I liked the friendship that Jamie and Peter were able to develop as well.
I thought there should be more interaction between Melia and her mother in this book. She's off with her husband all the time in another city, never there with Meila. She did what she thought she had to do to protect her but yet she never hung around, and there was very little conversation between the two. I hope this changes in the 2nd book.
Now... When does the next one come out? Anyone know? I'm wanting answers to how this ends!
This was my first mermaid book and I was very pleased!
Melia's sister was murdered and now her mother has mad her move onto land to be safe. Oh, and did I mention that Melia can transform into a human? Just like in The Little Mermaid but without Ursula and signing over her voice and all that creepy stuff! So now that Melia is living on land she wants to know who killed her sister, and why, because she wants to go back home. She doesn't like being on land. But her sister being murdered wasn't something random, she was killed on purpose to shut her up and now Melia wants answers.
The relationships she develops are great! Jamie and Peter were very well written. By the end I liked the friendship that Jamie and Peter were able to develop as well.
I thought there should be more interaction between Melia and her mother in this book. She's off with her husband all the time in another city, never there with Meila. She did what she thought she had to do to protect her but yet she never hung around, and there was very little conversation between the two. I hope this changes in the 2nd book.
Now... When does the next one come out? Anyone know? I'm wanting answers to how this ends!
June 11, 2015
What can I say other than Goodwin did it again? Beyond the Sea was an overall fantastic, fast-moving storyline that pulled on my heart just at the right moments. I picked up this book a total of 18 hours ago. Yes, you heard that right. This was completely different from her novels Stay and All I Need which just goes to show how multifaceted Goodwin is!
The characters are rounded—flaws, and "perfections" alike. Never have I found myself so intrigued reading about the different myths and folklore all coming together in one twisted story.
I cannot stress how wonderful it is to read a book and not feel overwhelmed with information. The creatures and species mentioned throughout the book were matter-of-fact. A merrow? That's normal. Actassi? Yeah, I know him. That's how well Goodwin drew you into this story.
You didn't need hundreds upon hundreds of pages explaining things because Melia made them real. Made them something that wasn't out of the ordinary.
Overall, I found no dragging spots. I couldn't get enough of the awkwardness from Melia. And the human characters were everything I hoped they would be. The ending hit on a very high note for me and I can't wait to see what's up next.
The characters are rounded—flaws, and "perfections" alike. Never have I found myself so intrigued reading about the different myths and folklore all coming together in one twisted story.
I cannot stress how wonderful it is to read a book and not feel overwhelmed with information. The creatures and species mentioned throughout the book were matter-of-fact. A merrow? That's normal. Actassi? Yeah, I know him. That's how well Goodwin drew you into this story.
You didn't need hundreds upon hundreds of pages explaining things because Melia made them real. Made them something that wasn't out of the ordinary.
Overall, I found no dragging spots. I couldn't get enough of the awkwardness from Melia. And the human characters were everything I hoped they would be. The ending hit on a very high note for me and I can't wait to see what's up next.
July 1, 2015
spoilers* I received Beyond the Sea by Emily Goodwin as an ARC, and I must say, I was not disappointed! I don't normally pick and read fantasy books like this, but I am glad I gave it a chance! We meet Melia, a "merrow", who is adapting to living on land after her sister's murder. She quickly falls in love with Peter, a human, which she is supposed to stay away from. I loved the love story here. It actually gave me butterflies, and made me nostalgic of what it feels like to first fall in love. What I most loved about their story, is there was no back and forth that's so prevalent in so many books these days, the whole "I love you", then "I hate you" thing really gets on my nerves sometimes. Melia and Peter have a very solid and believe-able love story, and I absolutely loved this book, and would recommend it to everyone I know that just wants a good book to read! The only reason I am giving this only 4 stars is some typos that I found while reading. Nothing to do with the story itself. Great book, I will definitely be finding more from Emily Goodwin to read!
February 9, 2018
Let me start by saying I love the fantasy world of mermaids, and this one definitely raised the bar for me! I loved Emily's world, I loved how she took two separate worlds and combined them. Generally speaking the past books I've read have keeped the worlds of the sea and land quite separate but not here and I loved it! I loved how strong the friendships were that were formed and the love that grew to full blossom through the book! I loved the twists and turns through it all and seriously can't wait to see what Emily has in store for us next! So far every book I've read by her I've loved, she has such a talent with being able to draw readers in and emotionally attaching them to her main characters! And if you don't like mermaids then I'd suggest trying one of her other books because you won't be disappointed I can promise you that!
April 5, 2012
I was fortunate to be able to read an ARC of this book. It was the first book that I have read by the author and I must say that I admire her writing style. I really fell in love with the characters in this book. It's been awhile since I read a good mermaid story and this was just the one to get me back in the genre! There were several "characters" that I hadn't had the experience of reading about before so I had to do a bit of side research, but that is just my curious nature, so I don't think it would detract from the reading otherwise. The story line was great, a bit rushed in parts, but fast and easy to read. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a great mermaid tale and wants to read about some more of the underwater creatures :)
October 17, 2012
I love how this book makes things so tangible and real. The way that Emily Goodwin makes you identify with the characters is awesome! She was able to give the generalized background story of each character without digressing from the story and setting things up with the characters. This books plot and subplots are very like its title. There are small ones that crescendo on their own like small waves that are building and building as it goes. Each subplot seems to make a bigger splash as you read until the climax at the end, which still leaves you wondering…will there be a sequel? Although I would have liked to have an epilogue, I will rate this at 4 stars. This was an interesting read that you could put down, but didn’t really want to.
June 30, 2015
If you have read an Emily Goodwin book you expect a certain level or writing and story development.
I felt like I was in the story - that I was a Merrow like Melia and new to land and learning how to even walk in heels.
Jamie is a great addition and Melia deff needed a friend after everything she went through.
Peter is the perfect guy next door with a less than stellar family but it doesn't change what an amazing guy he is.
I love the mysterious world that is built and the suspense and wondering what happened for Melia's to pull her out of the ocean where she belongs.
I highly recommend this read.
I felt like I was in the story - that I was a Merrow like Melia and new to land and learning how to even walk in heels.
Jamie is a great addition and Melia deff needed a friend after everything she went through.
Peter is the perfect guy next door with a less than stellar family but it doesn't change what an amazing guy he is.
I love the mysterious world that is built and the suspense and wondering what happened for Melia's to pull her out of the ocean where she belongs.
I highly recommend this read.
June 15, 2015
Emily Goodwin spins a delightful fairy tale by taking mermaids (or "merrows) to the next level. Not only is "Beyond the Sea" romantic, but this story is exciting, dangerous, sweet, and beautiful. I've never read a book about mermaids since "The Little Mermaid," which was a picture book with an abbreviated version of the Disney movie. "Beyond the Sea" is a classic fairy tale in the making for modern times. Can't wait for the next installment!
The characters were relatable and I felt a great connection to Melia and her friends. I felt her every frustration or sadness as if those emotions were my own. Sigh.
The cover is gorgeous. Enough said. Great font choices as well.
The characters were relatable and I felt a great connection to Melia and her friends. I felt her every frustration or sadness as if those emotions were my own. Sigh.
The cover is gorgeous. Enough said. Great font choices as well.
June 12, 2015
What a amazing story. I've never read a mermaid book before but this story will rock your socks. I received a ARC for a honest review.
Melia is forced to flee from her home after the murder of her sister. Rules were always clear to stay away from humans. Pretending to be normal she hangs out with a Goth Girl & goes on about her way. UNTIL she meets Peter. He knows she's different but doesnt know how. When Peters in trouble can she risk her secret in order to save him?
This is a must read. Emily Goodwin is one of my favorite authors
Melia is forced to flee from her home after the murder of her sister. Rules were always clear to stay away from humans. Pretending to be normal she hangs out with a Goth Girl & goes on about her way. UNTIL she meets Peter. He knows she's different but doesnt know how. When Peters in trouble can she risk her secret in order to save him?
This is a must read. Emily Goodwin is one of my favorite authors
June 24, 2015
Another great book by Emily Goodwin. It's less dark than her previous books probably because it's a new adult story. But still, I definitely recommend it if you want to read a good paranormal romance. EG has created a whole universe with strange creatures and great characters. The romance is nice and there isn't too much angst. The ending is not yet resolved but there is no real cliffhanger which I appreciate.
I will definitely continue this series and can't wait to see what EG has in store for us!!!
I will definitely continue this series and can't wait to see what EG has in store for us!!!
June 26, 2015
Emily has done it again! This book was amazing! You get mystery, drama, and romance. What more could you ask for?
I read the original version of this story - as young adult genre - I thought it was good then (and nail biting). The new revamped version has even more in it. I like that some things are the same, but love the differences. I never read stories like these until I read Emily's. She writes so you get sucked in from the beginning and keeps you there for the whole book. You will never be bored reading any of her books.
I read the original version of this story - as young adult genre - I thought it was good then (and nail biting). The new revamped version has even more in it. I like that some things are the same, but love the differences. I never read stories like these until I read Emily's. She writes so you get sucked in from the beginning and keeps you there for the whole book. You will never be bored reading any of her books.
February 23, 2012
I was lucky to have the opportunity to read an ARC copy of this book. I really enjoyed it.. Once again, Emily Goodwin has created well developed characters. The story is fast paced and engaging. I hope to read more about Jamie and Melia! Don't miss out on the opportunity to read this book!
May 28, 2013
I loved this book. At first I thought it was really creepy and scary, but as I got more into the story I started to love it. It's really addicting. It's an awesome book, it has romance, action, and adventure all in one. Emily Goodwin is such an awesome writer, she's one of those writers who make you feel like your actually in the story standing next to the charters and following them along throughout the book. I can't wait for the next book in the series to come out!!!
June 16, 2015
This is so different from anything that I've read by Emily and I was a little apprehensive going in but I shouldn't have been. The are so many depths to this story but for me the biggest thing I took was about accepting people despite how they look, or act, or the colour of their skin which is something that the modern world seems to find so hard to do. It's beautifully written as always and although they are sex scenes they are not hardcore . Looking forward to the next one in the series
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