Mystic Tides

by C.J. Godwin

A DARK CLASSIC RESURFACES IN MODERN TIMES...
An Alaskan native moves to a quiet town in Florida, where he is immediately attracted to a natural beauty with magnetic charm. Soon afterward, he begins to realize that his new love interest might not be the perfect image that she portrays, as she begins to show signs of mystical powers that are linked to her equally surprising past.

'Mystic Tides' is a New, Young Adult Fiction Series inspired by Hans Christian Andersen's 'The Little Mermaid', with ties to the original tale. If you loved Harry Potter and/or Twilight, you can't miss this!

Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy, Fiction, Mermaids

166 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 17, 2016

About the author

C.J. Godwin was born as Crystal Jen'a Hall, on the Army base in Fort Sill, Oklahoma. She moved to Georgia when she was only 2 years old and has been a Georgia peach ever since. As a child, she loved Disney movies and Ariel, of course, was her favorite princess. She graduated from Temple High School in 2001 with a major in Art. While working at the world's busiest airport (Hartsfield Jackson International) she finally read the original version of Hans Christian Andersen's 'The Little Mermaid' It was then (2011) that she was inspired and came up with the concept of the 'Mystic Tides' series. In 2016 she released her debut novel, which was an instant hit among fans. While taking care of her baby daughter and writing 'Mystic Tides: The Siren's Curse' (Book #2) she is also working as a makeup artist for Clinique around the Metro Atlanta area. Her ultimate dream is to one day help out on set and see this new series come to life on the big screen.

Reviews

[C.J. Godwin]

I began writing this book back in 2011 for my two neices. As my debut novel, it took me a while to get the courage to finish, then release it, but I loved the story so much I felt the need to share it with others. I have been obsessed with mermaids since I was six, seeing Ariel on the big screen, I'd always heard the original story had a much different, darker ending. It wasn't until 2011 when I finally read it that I was inspired and came up with the idea for 'Mystic Tides'. I hope that you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it! My ultimate dream for this new series is to one day see it on the big screen as well:) Please let me know what you think!!!

[Suzanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Arden has lived his entire life in Alaska with his father, Brogan. All he knows about his mother is her name, Melissa, and that she left him on his father's doorstep when he was a baby. Now he is being uprooted and sent to live with his aunt in Florida, a continent away from his only parent. It's only temporary, at least that's what his father says. Brogan is taking a higher paying job and will be out at sea for weeks at a time, but his sister and niece will have Arden live with them so he won't be alone. Like most teenagers, Arden doesn't want to be moved across the country and go to a new school for his senior year without his best friend. He begins to think the move wasn't so bad when he meets Kailani, a quiet girl with a mesmerizing singing voice.

It would seem like this is the story of a transcontinental YA romance, but strange things keep happening. Arden saw something odd in the ocean during his last night in Alaska, and he thinks he has seen that same flash of color and movement here in Florida. What is it? Is it following him? And he has strange dreams where voices call to him to come home. Is it just homesickness, or something else? Why do Kailani and her sister Katiana seem to glow pearly white in the sun, but look golden and tanned when they are indoors? (No, they are not secretly Cullens.) Why does Kat's boyfriend Liam live with the twins in their grandmother's cottage? And why does Arden feel he is beginning to develop odd abilities? The end of the book leaves readers with answers to some of these questions, but also lays out possibilities for more books with these characters, including the hope for true love and the danger of vicious enemies. Will love conquer all?

As you can see from the blurb, this new YA series is inspired by the Hans Christian Andersen tale of "The Little Mermaid." If you enjoy the original, darker versions of fairy tales, or like the urban fantasy style that mixes paranormal beings in with modern life, then this series will appeal to you.

I received a copy of the book from the author for review purposes.

[SB · Rating 4 out of 5]

#GoodreadsGiveaway --

There is so much to like about this book. It's a quick read. I finished it in about 18 hours (and that's being a mom of 4 kids during the summer months). The plot is quick and intriguing. I certainly look forward to more of the story.

That said, however, I hope the next book(s) sees some maturity (from a characterization POV) for several of the key characters. There was a couple of times that I asked myself -- am I buying this?


All in all -- it's definitely worth a try! :)

[Marji Morris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good YA fantasy

I'm still mulling over the ending. I kept looking for the rest of the book. I guess the author wanted to leave room for a sequel. There are several surprises here as Alaskan teen Aden gets shipped off to Florida for his senior year of hs. I think I liked the beginning of the book better than the end. I should have read this with a friend because it was too much for one person to believe. I like fantasy and I've read worse books. But I've read better ones too.

[Finley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mystic Tides is an imaginative modern take on the original Little Mermaid story (the one where she dies and becomes sea foam, not the animated movie version). It centers on a young man names Aden who is forced to move from his home in Alaska to his aunt and cousin’s in Florida after his single father receives a job on a long-term fishing expedition. Despite his reluctance to begin his new school, however, he finds himself falling for a beautiful girl who is more than she seems. Kailani, her sister, and her sister’s boyfriend, it turns out, are all Mer who are living on land until their 18th birthdays, at which point they will return to the sea. He also learns that the girls are princesses, grandchildren of the original little mermaid’s older sister, and although he is able to form a close bond with Kailana over the course of the year, he also realizes that not all Mer are as friendly to humans as his new friends. Aden, however, may not be quite as normal as he appears, either…

I loved every moment of the book. As a lover of fairytales and mythology, this story was right up my alley, and I was fascinated by how well Godwin blended the existing lore of mermaids, as well as other sea-dwelling fantasy creatures, with her own world building around their lives and culture, and what became of the Little Mermaid and her sister after Anderson’s tale came to a close. And while it was very clear that Kat and Kaili were mermaids long before it was revealed to Aden, and so many other twists and surprises were laid out from the very beginning of the book, they were done so in a way where only enough to form predictions was revealed, and new and interesting details await for even the most perceptive of predictive readers. In fact, I could easily spoil every twist in the story, and I would still feel confident that Godwin’s writing and details could still carry the story on its own (I will not, though. Go read it for yourself!). I feel that this is a perfect story for the young and young at heart, for anyone who has ever dreamed that there was more to our fairy tales that what we are taught, and for whom those classic tales still hold a special place in their heart even after their peers have claimed to have “outgrown” them. It is vivid, imaginative, and beautifully written, and I am eager to learn what happens in the rest of the series.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

*Received this book in exchange for an honest review--thank you, C.J. Godwin. I really appreciate it.

I had such high hopes for this book as it's not only gorgeous on the outside BUT it is also a retelling of The Little Mermaid. Had I read it when I was 16, I might have loved it, but at this point in my reading life I'm looking for more detail and development. As it stands, I'm not completely sold on the love story nor the world the author has created...I've also realized that I have an issue with a character being described as "angelic"....ugh! I'm glad I read it, but I wish there were more to this story.

[Kendra Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Mystic Tides! It is a new twist on an old fairy tale. Set in the modern day Tampa Bay, FL area, you don't really see what's coming at first.

The story line and characters are absolutely captivating. I started it at bed time and kept waking up to read more and finished it in the morning. Just the kind of book I love to read!

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

A continuation/retelling of the original "The Little Mermaid". Creative and unique.

Read my official OnlineBookClub review here:
http://forums.onlinebookclub.org/view...

[Tracy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is mostly told from the point of view of a 17 year old boy, Aden. It is young adult and has very YA themes. I am a sucker for a mermaid story and it seems of all the different types of paranormal/preternatural books, it is the least written about. I really enjoyed "The Little Mermaid" parts of this book and how Hans Christian Andersen was mentioned. The world building for the mermaids themselves was unique. I am assuming, hoping there will be a book 2 because I would love to see where this story is going.

[Tracy]

Did not finish. I like the idea and some of the world building but the MC, Aden, sounds more female than male in his descriptions and how he speaks. Not realistic so I couldn't figure out his character. Also, overuse of exclamation points/question marks, kept taking me out of the story. No rating for this one, since it's a DNF.

[Amy Ingalls · Rating 2 out of 5]

I won this book in a Goodreads Giveaway.

This story had promise but it didn't quite deliver. I think it needed more character development and world-building. There were a lot of details about things that didn't seem to matter (such as friends from school that were suddenly never mentioned again in the second half of the story) but missing details about things I wanted to read. Like Aden and Kailie being in love. There was no development of this relationship. They felt tingles, he had a crush, boom it is the love of the century and they will break tradition and curses and magic to be together forever?

I love fairy tales (not Disney but the original, dark ones) and this was a little disappointing to me.

[Stephanie (Booked-up) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Goodreads Giveaway

I had read this book a while back and forgot to leave a review, until Goodreads reminded me. Oopps
The book is a modern twist on "The Little Mermaids"
Arden had lived in Alaska with this Dad, but then sent to live with his Aunt in Flordia . While there, he meets a mystical girl,, named Kalani. But she is more than that. Twists, turns, and adventure lie ahead.
The book is so well written, and just filled with mystery and romance.

[valerie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good

My daughter would like this and my grandkids. I will share this with them. Asnej djsie djdu dhej dheh rj

[Aniko Nagyne vig · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting easy to read fairy tale

It was a nice teen romance full with gods, mermaids and powers based on the Little Mermaid book. There is a lot of interesting detail about the original story cleverly waived into this one. There is a suspense at the epilogue that suggest it will be an other story to continue.

I got the book from a Goodreads giveaway, thank you!

[Joseph McGarry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for this review.

I've always been fascinated with mermaid stories. Most people now know the Hans Christian Andersen story The Little Mermaid, or, more precisely, the Disney version of that story. The premise of the book is that the Hans Christian Andersen story was true, and that mermaids exist. The story starts out with Aden in Alaska. He has just turned 17, and is given a necklace with a mysterious moonstone as a birthday present. He's moving to Florida, to be with his aunt and his cousin. There are quite a few people who are interested in him, and have been watching him for some time. While in Florida, he discovers some unusual powers. He also meets Kat and Kailani, twin sisters with something special. I don't want to say too much more, because of spoilers.

I thought it gave a good backstory on mermaids, and why they were the way they were. Full disclosure: I am the author of Operation Mermaid: The Project Kraken Incident, another novel about mermaids, so I know how important the backstory can be. She doesn't try to overwhelm everyone with the backstory all at once, but reveals it piece by piece as needed. I like how Aden's story (1st person) and the mermaid story (3rd person) are alternated, with Aden's story in regular type, and the mermaid story in italics. This made it easier to follow. I've read other books that don't do this, and it can be easy to get lost. I couldn't help think about Disney's version, though. In one scene, Aden picks up a crab, and part of me thought the crab would start singing "Under the Sea." In another, Aden plays his guitar and sings to Kailani. I thought for sure the song would have been "Part of Your World," which would be an ironic commentary on their situation. (Read the book to find out why.) I also felt a little bit of the Australian TV series H20: Just Add Water and Mako Mermaids. Both of these series deal with mermaids in high school. The end of the book suggests that this is the first of a series. It's like Marty McFly getting the Western Union letter that Doc Brown is alive and well in 1885. The series aspect also explains all of the exposition in this book, to avoid a lot of this later. All in all, a good book. I look forward to reading book 2.

[Jessica Bronder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Arden has lived in Alaska with his father for his whole life. His mother dropped him off on his father’s doorsteps then left so he knows nothing about her except what his father has told him. Then Arden’s father announces that Arden is going to live in Florida with his Aunt Tess and Cousin Alana. At first Arden is upset because he doesn’t want to go to a new school for his senior year but realized that his father is trying to do the best for him.

In Florida, he finds that his aunt spends more time with her boyfriend than with Alana and him. Then as school he meets exotic twins and falls for the one sister, Kailani. Although she tries to keep her distance, both are drawn together. Then Arden starts noticing strange abilities. At the same time someone is clearly hunting down Arden and has plans for him.

I love how this book is divided into two parts. You follow along with Arden as he falls for Kailani and you learn that he is starting to get weird abilities. Then there is the part of the siren and selkie that are intent on hurting Arden. That part is in italics and makes it easy to figure out where you are in this world.

I admit that I’m more of an Alice in Wonderland type of girl and the only thing I know of The Little Mermaid is from Disney. But now I want to read the original Little Mermaid to learn the real story and how it is linked with Mystic Tides.

This is a great young adult story that will draw you in and leave you wanting more. I have read that this is going to be a trilogy and I cannot wait to read the next book in the series. This book is for anyone that loves fantasies, especially those about mermaids.

I received Mystic Tides from the author for free. This has in no way influenced my opinion of this book.

[Rosie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I very much enjoyed reading a romance novel which incorporated the rituals of the Pagan sabbats and esbats. C. J. Godwin has captured the true essence of a Pagan’s love of Nature with crystal magick, runes, candles and altars, while showing the initial judgement and stigma from a Christian-raised boy when he first encounters it. The youthful feeling that embraced me while reading Mystic Tides was intoxicating. While good and evil play for the opposite teams, this incredible tale shows that sometimes love murkies up the water so much that fate takes a different course. I thoroughly enjoyed Mystic Tides and recommend this book to those who enjoy the metamorphosis of a toxic romance, tinged with humor, drama, sorrow and regrets. I also suggest that readers keep a box of tissues at hand until the very end.

- Rosie Malezer for Readers' Favorite

[E · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received this book as a giveaway which was super exciting; however, I'm having a really hard time getting through this. Personally, I feel like the tone of the writing/the character's thoughts keeps flipping between detailed and descriptive and then strangely slang-y and "relatable" and that was distracting to me. I feel like this would have been so much better if it was written in 3rd person. I also feel like the author put in so much detail for fairly insignificant bits but then neglected to really even describe the narrator. Every character so far has been very unrealistic and I keep finding plot holes. I wonder if this is more suited to a younger audience as I'm finding I relate less and less to YA fiction.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story was alright; I could imagine with some tweaks and editing that it could be quite an interesting series. But overall, perhaps a little too YA for me in the writing and dialogue.

[Catherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Take a teenage romance, smush together a bunch of mythologies and make it into retelling of the Little Mermaid.
Adan and Kailani meet their senior year and have such strong attraction that it must be true love. But there are roadblocks. Kailani has secrets and someone is stalking Aden. Not to mention they are both dating someone else but those people disappear after true love is acknowledged.
The mystery part is better than the romance part. It's a fast read and very simply told so a lot (plot/characters) isn't developed as much as it could have been. It ends on a cliffhanger.
There is the obligatory unsupervised drunken teen sex-fest party that somehow manages to remain PG.

[Amileigh Gordon]

#GoodreadsGiveaway