Submerge

Mer Chronicles #2

by Tobie Easton

Lia and Clay's love has broken the Little Mermaid's curse, but their ever after may not be as happy as they planned. Lia is adamant about staying on land with Clay for her senior year despite her family's opportunity to move to the new, sparkling capital city below the waves. Before any decision about the future can be made, her family must endure Melusine and her father's trial, where new revelations will have far-reaching consequences that threaten what Lia holds most dear.

The verdict will shake Lia's whole world, calling into question her future with Clay, her feelings for Caspian, and the fate of all Merkind. As she wonders whom to trust, Lia sets out on a treacherous path that will lead her away from her sheltered Malibu home to a remote and mysterious school for Mermaids—Mermaids who may hold the secret to ancient magic Lia can use to either get back all she's lost or embark on a thrilling and dangerous journey where only she can define her fate.

Genres: Fantasy, Mermaids, Young Adult, Romance, Paranormal, Magic, Retellings

300 pages, Hardcover

Published September 12, 2017

About the author

Award-winning author Tobie Easton was born and raised in Los Angeles, California, where she's grown from a little girl who dreamed about magic to a twenty-something who writes about it. Her debut novel, Emerge, is a Gold Medal Winner (Young Adult – Sci-Fi/Fantasy) of the Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards and is Book 1 in the acclaimed Mer Chronicles series. The trilogy follows the descendants of the Little Mermaid and offers fans a peek into a world where Mermaids aren't just real, but live secretly among us on land.

She and her very kissable husband enjoy traveling the globe and fostering packs of rescue puppies. Tobie loves chocolate chip cookies and Oxford commas. A summa cum laude graduate of the University of Southern California, Tobie splits her time between Los Angeles and Boston.

Learn more about Tobie and her upcoming books on www.TobieEaston.com.

Reviews

[Danielle's · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would recommend reading book one before even looking at this one. This is a continuous story following Lia and Clay.

The spell has been broken, and the Mer's immortality restored. Now the trials are about to begin everyone is hoping for the order to be restored. Lia wants the guilty to be punished, and to finish her senior year with Clay. Her family are hoping to make the waters safe again so the Mer can have peace.

This book is full of twists and turns. The story is long and juicy. Lia lives in a complicated world, and she has to work out who to trust before it's too late.

5 out of 5. Loved it. ARC received as part of the Chapter by Chapter blog tour.

[Cassie C · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review to come!

Update 6/12/17:

See more reviews on my blog Novels and Necklaces

I was given an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review

Although I had some mixed feelings about Tobie Easton's first novel, Emerge, I still greatly enjoyed the book and was very excited when I had the opportunity to read an ARC of its sequel. And let me tell you, this book blew me away! From the start, I was plunged right back into the Lia's world full of mermaids and romance. I always thought Ms. Easton was a gifted storyteller, but this book took her writing to another level. A lot of problems I had from the first book were remedied in Submerge, and this was something that I appreciated as it made me love the book so much more.

Submerge picks up right where the first book ended. The trial is about to start, Clay and Lia are still discovering and building upon their relationship, and the entire mermaid race is thrilled with the return of their immortality. However, just as things are looking up for all of our characters, things take a surprising turn that causes devastating effects for certain people. The book is fast-paced, and although it is longer than the first in the series, the story never lagged for me. I honestly didn't even realize that the book was close to 400 pages because I wanted to keep reading!! Ms. Easton expands a lot on the world-building in this novel and this was something that I appreciated. We are able to see and explore much more of the Mer world, and we learn more about Lia's culture. This was honestly one of my favorite aspects of the entire book.

Lia's character still felt a little young at times, but this was mostly in the beginning. She matured a great deal over the course of the story, and her characterization was excellently written. My heart truly broke for her at several points in the story because I honestly wanted her to just be happy. Lia is a very relatable and fun character, and I think a lot of readers will love seeing her growth throughout this book. Clay and Lia together were the epitome of young love. I definitely could see how much they cared for each other in this story, and again this was a nice change from the first book for me. They go to great lengths to find their way back to each other after something HUGE happens in the beginning and I loved their reunion. There are also several new characters that are introduced, and they are very well fleshed out during the novel. They served as a great transition from the human world to the Mer world, and it made the story a bit more fun!

There are definitely some huge twists in this book that I never saw coming! I did think the one character was up to something all along, but I definitely didn't expect that character to be cooking up something so major!! The entire climax and conclusion of this story were utterly fantastic and Ms. Easton's writing was at its finest. And then of course, she has to leave us with a bit of a cliffhanger. It's not really a cliffhanger in the traditional sense; it's more of a shocking statement that leaves me very very eager for the next book.

I would highly recommend checking Tobie Easton's sequel in the Mer Chronicles if you were a fan of the first book. With more world building and more mature characters, this book offered several improvements from the first book that made the story even more enjoyable. It's definitely still YA, but will appeal to a wide variety of readers. With so many exciting twists and turns throughout the story, I can't wait to see what Ms. Easton has in store for us in the next installment!

Happy reading :)

Thank you to Month9Books for the advanced copy!

[Kathy MacMillan · Rating 5 out of 5]

EMERGE was a thrilling start to Lia’s story, and SUBMERGE manages to completely sidestep the dangers of second-book slump and offer a story with higher stakes, more danger, and deeper relationships while remaining grounded in the characters and the world of the Mer. One of the things that made EMERGE such a delight was the layers of worldbuilding underpinning the story; here we get to delve deeper into Mer culture and language, from a courtroom trial to visiting a school below the waves. All of it is a natural part of Lia’s story as she explores what it means to be suddenly immortal and reconnect with the Mer side of her heritage. Everything follows naturally from the relationships and events of the first book; indeed, one of the things I love best about Easton’s writing is that, at the scene level and at the plot level, the story moves along inexorably and inevitably, like the tides. At the center of it all is Lia, proud and impulsive and warm and flawed – a character I would follow anywhere. (And don’t get me started on Caspian. Caspian, stop breaking my heart!) It’s a heck of a ride, and I feel like reading Easton’s work actually makes me a better writer.

[Jan farnworth · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you love the tale of the Little Mermaid then this series by Tobie Easton is for you.  The first book Emerge is a must read as this the sequel and boy are you in for some twists and turns in the Little Mermaid retelling that spans a lot more then you think you know about the tale.  I did think that it dragged a bit in the middle where Lia is coming to grips with the result from the trial it seemed that the resolution took a while to get their.  Once that resolution is put into place though things do start to pick up.  I was blown away with where the story went and ended and i am eager to pick up book three. 

[Cassie James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Submerge by Tobie Easton is an amazing sequel in this phenomenal series. It picks up a while after the events of the finale of Emerge, Lia and Clay are still going as strong as ever (Better even) and they really lean on each other for support in a great way. Their relationship has evolved in a great way and their connection deepens as they bare themselves to each other (Figuratively and quite literally). I loved watching Aurelia and Clay fall in love in Emerge but seeing their love transcend into another level in Submerge is just simply amazing. Though everything isn't all rainbows and kisses, There is still the trials of Melusine and her dad before the Mer Tribunal and the fact that the villainous duo knows about Lia's sireny. In surprising turns of events, the trials goes on with some unexpected and expected results. The worst being one that affected Lia and Clay fundamentally, This situation (Yes I am being vague on purpose, It's a HUGE spoiler and an amazing storyline) lead to Lia meeting a powerful female Mer Ondine who is also the aunt of Melusine. While all this is going on, the lives of other characters are also quite interesting with Clay reconnecting with his Dad, Amy and Stas coming out sort of, Lia's parents vying for the Throne, Lapis and Lazuli being their ever awesome selves, Caspian being the ever steadfast friend etc and so many interesting tidbits. While there is a lot of happiness (and makeout sessions) between the two secondary characters, their is also a fair share of heartbreak (which cause I won't reveal) but I admit it all makes an incredible storyline that while a little miserable is also quite entertaining because it showcases Lia's resilience. Lia meeting Ondine was a turning point in her life, it resulted in her knowing more about the Mer and also about Magic. Submerge is definitely more magic filled and I love that, it was really nice seeing this aspect of the species.
More background detail/history of the Mer was also revealed which was very nice as it vastly improved the worldbuilding (which was perfect to begin with). The Ancient magic Lia learns from Ondine is quite fascinating because it's very imbued with the lush history of the Mer. The addition of this is worthy of a commendation for Tobie Easton because she really simplifies the complicated issues in such an amazing way it was fun to read, it was very ambitious to broaden the scope that way and she really pulled it off.
To further learn this vital Ancient vital magic with Ondine, Lia had to move Below and go to the magic school Ondine teaches at (This was made easy as her parents also had to move Below to show their dedication as Monarchs of the Mer). This took Lia away from Clay but trust me, the endgame is all worth it. At the Academy, Lia meets other girls and becomes close with them and even forming a circle. But she begins to find out that everything isn't what it seems and all that glitters is not gold. This is not to say the book is without adversary or action, Nope! There is a villain. It's just not in a way you'd see it coming. BTW you're all gonna love the ending, the moments before the ending was so full of crazy twists and turns I didn't see coming. It has so much action it made my head swirl (In a good way), the exact ending really leaves me excited for the prospects of book 3.
Submerge is definitely on my list of best books that must be read, The writing of Tobie Easton is just phenomenal.
With a large cast of characters, cool mermaids, kickass women, heart pounding action, danger, intrigue, sizzling hot romance, splendid magic, exceptional worldbuilding, and an amazing ending, Submerge is a book that will appeal to ever body and It comes highly recommended by me.

[Ana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let’s start with the bottom line…I loved this book even more than the first one! Don’t you just love when that happens? I do. In this second novel in the Mer Chronicles, the author takes us back to Lia’s world – to where we left off at the end of the first book. And, as we watch the loose threads from that story get tied up, we breath a sigh of relief that Lia and Clay can find their happy. But, Ms. Easton is having none of it. No sooner did my heart start to embrace the calm, then the adventure began again. And it didn’t let up until the very end.

Lia is once again torn between the Mer world and the human world – the expectations of her parents and culture versus her own dreams and desires. I love her strength and I really enjoyed how much she grew during this story. Her confidence is tested over and over but she’s fierce and always reaches out to do what’s right. Clay…sigh…Clay. He’s just the perfect boyfriend. Sexy, swoony, smart, and devoted to Lia…can’t ask for more than that. The chemistry between these two is perfect and I could spend countless hours basking in their sweet romance. Now, I will admit to also swooning hard over Caspian. As Lia’s best friend, he’s willing to do whatever it takes to make sure she’s happy and safe. His unrequited love breaks my heart so, truth be told, I spent most of the book wanting to give him a hug. Long story short, I just can’t pick a book boyfriend here. Ms. Easton…can I have them both???

This story is built around the premise of trusting others – when you can, when you should, when you shouldn’t, and when it all backfires. Over and over my heart battled my head in this trusting game. I wasn’t always right about who to trust and neither was Lia but, even with the twists and turns she encountered, she stayed strong. The baddies are bad and the story is a roller coaster that had me hooked from the very beginning. And, after that last sentence, I’m desperate for book 3!! If you like fantasy, take a leap into the deep end and immerse yourself in the wonderful Mer world that Ms. Easton has created. Trust me, you’ll fall in love! I know I did!

[BookHookup · Rating 5 out of 5]

See Ana' full review at The Book Hookup!

I loved this book even more than the first one! In this second novel in the Mer Chronicles, the author takes us back to Lia’s world – to where we left off at the end of the first book. And, as we watch the loose threads from that story get tied up, the adventure began again. The baddies are bad and the story is a roller coaster that had me hooked from the very beginning. And, after that last sentence, I’m desperate for book 3!! If you like fantasy, take a leap into the deep end and immerse yourself in the wonderful Mer world that Ms. Easton has created. Trust me, you’ll fall in love! I know I did!

[Elsa Munoz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was gifted a review copy of this book, includes some spoilers:

Where do I begin!?? The sequel to Emerge completely blew the first book out of the water!! My favorite part about Submerge is that the author brings out more information about the Mer world she's created. We learn about their legal system, more words, regulations and we go to Sea Daughters Academy!! I love that Lia grew closer to her Mer roots at the academy, even if she ended up in a tangle later on. My favorite scene has to be when Lia is at the hidden lagoon at the academy. I gave me some Peter Pan mermaid lagoon vibes ;). The drama was intense in this one, what with the trial and new characters being introduced. And the plot twist at the end??!!! Can't wait for book 3!

[Janine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Submerge fixes just about all the issues I had with Emerge, and shows Tobie Easton’s growth as a writer from book one to book two, and brought me on a heart pounding and sometimes, heartbreaking ride with more of the Mer world and lore that I crave and had me gripped from start to finish. Just as a warning, Emerge spoilers are in this review.

Picking up two months after the end of Emerge, Lia is enjoying life with new boyfriend Clay, and her family is building Below back as the Mer have regained their immortality (of the “won’t die of old age” variety) thanks to Lia ending the curse. The first part is the trial regarding Mel and her father and the plot rolls in from there. The plot was fast paced and I had to know what was coming next, with the great use of the end of chapter cliffhangers in a lot of spots. Every detail became important and not a word is wasted. There were some parts that broke me, showing how cruel things can get, even if they were allowedstripping Mel of her voice in front of everyone and making Clay forget all about Lia was not cool.

The high school drama is essentially nonexistent, which was a relief on my end since I felt it was a bit much in Emerge. Yeah, there’s teenage drama, but it’s done well and really understandable when you realize what happened to Liashe lost Clay via memory erasure mandated by the tribunal, and I like the conflict between her and the other characters that it’s not a simple teen drama issue, but connected to more questionable motiveslike the power a government wields.

The prose is easy to read and gives off vivid settings, which we get to see some more of, since we’re exploring more of Below this time around. I loved the expansion of the magic and mer history that was here and it just felt like that kind of world could exist under the sea. The prose and transitions, which got a bit choppy in Emerge, were smoothed out here, which I was pleased with. Though one thing that bugged me was that they kept referring to Emerge’s events as happening “last year”, though Submerge takes place in summer-fall and Emerge was just two months before.

I loved Lia again; she goes through a range of emotions, from elation to despair to determination and everything in between, and once again, her actions are to help the people close to her. She also has a sense of justice that’s arising here, which is clear by the 1/3rd mark why it’s there and doing what’s in the best interest of her loved oneslike recovering Clay's memory. Her family was awesome again, nothing too new except the fact that they are getting busy with being royalty and all of that. Caspian gets a bit more time, and I like that Easton didn’t make a love triangle with Lia, Clay and Caspian, which could have been so easy to do, that Caspian stays platonic (though there’s brief pining sprinkled in for Casp). I was happy and sad for Clay at the same time due to the plot, but he got some great development when he showed uphappy he connected with his father, sad that the memory stripping placed him into depression, and that's why I was so angry at what the tribunal did. For the new characters, Ordine is very…interesting to say the leastvery manipulative. She kept me guessing until the very end. The other new characters were interesting too, even though they didn’t get a lot of page time. Maybe next time. But overall, the characters were well rounded with motivations and relatable.

While there is some sense of closureOrdine's plan is foiled, there’s quite a few cliffhangers at the endOrdine went missing and now Clay wants to become Mer, and I’m assuming all of it will be answered in Immerse.

[Jassicca · Rating 4 out of 5]

After breaking the two centuries curse and restoring immortality to all the Mer, one will think that Lia and Clay deserve to enjoy their relationship as a token of appreciation. But that isn't going to happen anytime soon. There's a trial they both have to attend, which will determine the course of their future.

There's so much sadness and desperation in this story. While Lia's future seems bleak, Caspian is finally brave enough to open up to Lia, but only to be thawed by the determination in Lia, clinging to the fragile thread of hope that one day she could find a way to be reunited with Clay.

So far, what I liked about the story, besides the storylines, was the way the author emphasised the situation by using unique phrases. I find them very fitting in Mer world because all the references were related to the underwater world. Hence, I would like to praise the author for being creative and thinking like merfolk.

[Macy Klingerman · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second installment in the Mer Chronicles feels much more mature than the first book, with many of the issues I had with tropes and cliches in the first book being resolved. Lia has grown so much since the first book, and it made the story even more entertaining and easy to read. On top of that, the pacing in this book felt more fast paced, with less dragging and slow spots. If you were on the fence about the first installment of this series, I would encourage you to give Submerge a shot, as it is a step up in almost every way.

I give Submerge a solid 4 out of 5 stars, and I hope to see this series get even better as it goes.

[Ciaran Mealer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was ok. It was fairly well-written, the story just didn't hold much interest for me although I was really excited to read it. I'm really polarized on the topic of mermaid novels, usually I either completely love them or completely hate them. Honestly, I think this book and the prequel are the first books that have just been middle of the road for me as far as mermaid tales.

I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Esther Haddie's Haven · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don't mind me. Just speeding through this series like my house is on fire!
Genuinely enjoying this so much. Lia and Clay! Totally shipping now. Need to keep going.

I received this book from Chapter by Chapter Book Tours to catch me up on the series. This is my honest, voluntary review.

[Gina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This world is simply amazing!!!!

[Jacqueline Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love this series! I'd love to see it made into movies! :)

[Pete Tarsi · Rating 5 out of 5]

After finishing Tobie Easton’s incredible debut Emerge, which I loved and placed at #5 in my favorite books read last year, I couldn’t wait for the sequel. The story was simply lots of fun, and the plot and conflict were wrapped up so nicely, that I wasn’t sure what a sequel could even look like. Would there be another story to tell with these characters? I was a little worried, because when I pick up a book about mermaids, I don’t want simple. I want magical.

And absolutely magical is what this book is.

Before I go deeper, please take heed: though I will be spoiler-free for this book, I cannot guarantee it for the previous book in the series.

It was so refreshing to dive right back into this series, and by Chapter Two, I was instantly hooked with where Lia and Clay are in their relationship. The descriptions of characters and places are so vibrant that it’s easy to immerse oneself into this world, and quite honestly, there’s a part of me that wishes I could for real.

With the resolution of Emerge being so nicely handled—Lia and Clay are together, siren Melusine and her nefarious father are taken away, and the curse on all mermaids is broken—I couldn’t imagine what would happen next. I had no idea that I’d read about Mel and her father on trial. Major kudos to Easton for creating an easily relatable but different enough judicial system down Below. In short, this tribunal was intense, and some of the verdicts and punishments made me audibly gasp.

Without going into details because, seriously, you’re best left to appreciate them on your own, Lia and Clay’s love story hits some rough waters. Now that Lia is an immortal (and royal) mermaid but Clay is a mortal human who knows about mermaids, things…get…complicated. No more said. Go read it. But that’s the motivating factor in everything Lia does; it’s the through-line that holds this complex (not simple), magical tale (and tail) together.

Lia’s narration is even stronger in this book than the first part. She’s worried about others finding out the not-so-legal thing she did in the first book, yet she clearly owns the action. She holds herself accountable, wants to be a better mer, and wants to do right by her family. It was a pleasure to see her mature not only since Emerge but through the course of Submerge.

Guiding her along the way is a new teacher—and a wonderful new addition to the characters in this world—the mysterious, magical Ondine. Beautifully crafted both in Easton’s physical description of her and her overall essence, sequences with her and Lia jumped off the page. It is in these private tutoring sessions that Lia—and the reader—is exposed to what I feel is the central theme of the book.

Through Ondine’s teaching, Lia learns that doing what’s right isn’t always simple—and sometimes the right thing to do is the less popular or even “wrong” thing to do. Lia had to make that choice in Emerge, but here, whether these actions are being done for love, politics, safety—something global or personal—sometimes wrong is the right choice. But then again, sometimes it isn’t. These are some deep issues for a YA fantasy book, and what I respect about this series so far is that Easton allows Lia to sometimes make the wrong wrong choice, sometimes make the wrong right choice, sometimes the right wrong choice, and sometimes the right right choice. Isn’t that how young adults learn to cope with their problems? Isn’t that how anyone does? We make mistakes, and we learn from them—and Lia is a wonderful role model for that.

Another detail I appreciate about this series so far is that each book has its own self-contained plot. Sure, Submerge references back to Emerge when needed, but there are new conflicts and resolutions. I’m not a fan of series that end a book in a place where you’re left hanging. Though Submerge ends with an awesome last line to show what the through-line of the next part will be, I was thoroughly satisfied that everything else in the book was wrapped up.

Reading this book was like watching the tides go in and out. High tide came in crashing at the start with an intense trial sequence, and then it went out as I experienced some of Lia’s lows, but it came back even higher with an awesome, gripping ending. There’s not much more I can say about how much I loved this magical and not simple book except that you should submerge yourself into Submerge, which deserves the FIVE STARS I’m giving it.

[Rachael · Rating 5 out of 5]

*i was given an eARC in exchange for an honest review. That does not in any way affect my opinion of this book*

WHAT WHAT. THATS THE ENDING??????!!!!? This book isn't even published yet, so that means I have to wait at least a year until the next one. A YEAR! There is a next one, right? Right???????! Oh tides, there better be one!!

Sweet Little Mermaid, this sequel was incredible! Seriously. I had no idea what to expect from this book, to be honest. I was super excited to read it and find out, and I was soooo pleasantly surprised!!! In Emerge, we're only introduced to the Mer world and how things work. Lia is integrated with the human world, and doesn't spend a large chunk of time with her tail. But in Submerge? It was an amazing plethora of all things Mer: magic, palaces, tails, sea sponge beds, the Mer language Mermese, and so much more. We get a generous glimpse of Below and I absolutely loved it.

In the opening of this book, we see what goes on in a Mer trial and what the repercussions occur from the event Mel and her father will be. Havelock's punishment wasn't severe enough for me, in my personal opinion. And Mel's? I'm still not sure how I feel about her sentence, to be frank. What happens to Clay was something I *probably* should have seen coming, but didn't—now that was a shocker!!! It "works out" in a way with her mother possibly ascending the throne(!!!) and all, which creates quite a large door for soooo many things to happen. The turns it took were wonderful!

We are also introduced to a new character, whom just so happens to be Mel's cousin. I was weary to trust her, and really, REALLY wanted to. I wanted to believe her so dang badly. It was suspicious how she just "brought up" a sirening case despite the fact she "didn't know" about what Lia did. And how she told Lia she can "tell her anything". When she helps Lia, I was pretty much convinced. Then I read another two pages and that all changed. And although a lot did happen in those last fifty pages or so, it didn't feel rushed or cramped, or anything. It was perfect. Lia did the right thing, the noble thing.

I really enjoyed this book! I couldn't stop reading it. It was better than I expected and I was super impressed with Lia's character development. She seemed so much younger (maturity wise) in Emerge after reading Submerge immediately after. In Emerge she was kind of a doe-eyed innocent little mermaid (hehehe, see what I did there?) whom was pining after a human and jealous of Mel (before she discovered about the sirening, of course). In this book, she's a little more grown up. I guess almost getting killed will do that to you! xD I am sad her and Cas didn't work (and even sadder about him and MEL!!!!!?), but I do really like Clay. It's going to be so hard waiting for the next book, I have to know now ;o; pretty sure what I want to know the most is what color will his tail be? Gold? Bronze? I can't wait to find out!!!!!

This one easily gets five stars. Thank you SO MUCH, Month 9 Books! I am so grateful you reached out to me and sent me this incredible book. I wanted to be a mermaid before, but now that desire is only stronger after reading Submerge!!!

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars

I was given an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review

Check out my review on my blog: https://www.auniversaltruth.com/?p=636


I really enjoyed Emerge and was excited when I was given an opportunity to read an ARC of its sequel. I was not disappointed and I enjoyed this book a lot more than the first. You dive right into Lia’s world of mermaids and romance and so much more in between.


Submerge starts where the first book ended. The trial is about to start and the entire mermaid race is thrilled with the return of their immortality. Lia and Clay are still discovering and building upon their relationship and finding out new things about Mer and Men.


However just as things are looking up for the pair, things take a surprising turn that leaves some devastating effects. This book definitely builds upon the Mer world and you get to see both Mermaids on land and in the sea. Lia’s way of life is very interesting and it was great learning more about her culture. she has a lot of adjusting to do when she finds herself having to live in the ocean. Lia’s character grows throughout the story and she really matures, especially after having to deal with everything that is going on.


Clay and Lia care very much for each other and go to great lengths to find their way back to each other after they a forced to separate. I really loved their reunion but there was so much happening in the story so the main focus wasn’t always on their relationship.

“But I can’t control the sun either. I may be immortal now, but I have no true power over time. All I can do is squeeze Clay’s hand and feel his fingers interlace with mine.”

There were many twists and turns in this story that I never saw coming and their was a very nice build up that lead to the conclusion of the book. I am very excited where the story goes next especially after the bomb that was dropped at the end.


I don’t often read YA and although the book sometimes felt a little young for me, it was a very enjoyable read and something different to what I usually read. I love the reference to ‘The Little Mermaid’ as it is one of my favourite Disney stories and have been interested in reading more mermaid stories lately (I think I would like to read an adult mermaid book next though).

[Mariella · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so much fun to read. I didn't want it to end! Tobie Easton creates such beautifully detailed worlds in her books. Her writing makes you feel completely "submerged" in a fantastical adventure. ;)

I truly can't wait for the next book!

[Kiana · Rating 3 out of 5]

There’s not much that I can say about Submerge that isn’t just a rehash of what I said in my review of the first book. It’s not exactly the same plot, but it contains basically all of the same ingredients and characteristics that made up Emerge, and there is absolutely no point to read Submerge if you haven’t read Emerge since Submerge picks up exactly where the first book left off.

Like its predecessor, Emerge is literary junk food, plain and simple. It’s a beach read, it’s a young adult story (though, were it not for a certain romantic scene, I’d probably throw it closer to the middle-grade genre), and it’s just a bunch of girly twenty-first century mermaid daydreams splashed onto the page. This time, there’s even more mermaidy stuff: we get to see the newly rebuilt underwater kingdom and even a magical mermaid academy. There’s more mermaid world-building and tidbits about the mermaid language and how the society functions, which again proves that this series has a genuine sense of imagination and doesn’t exist just to make a quick buck off of the word “mermaid.” A lot of the explanations for how the world works—especially the rules governing the magic—are way too simplistic to be taken seriously, but I don’t think the people who will be reading Submerge are going to care; it’s not really about believability or degrees of magic, but about the cool mermaid locations and “OMG, are Lia and Clay ever going to live happily ever after?”

To be fair, Submerge definitely increases the suspense factor on that last question—well, maybe not the suspense per se (anyone with half a brain could tell that these two aren’t going to be doomed lovers), but certainly the obstacles standing in the couple’s way. I still find Clay about as interesting as a block of wood and don’t think that he and Lia have all that many reasons to be in love, but at least the angst factor for these two intensified. I found the challenges their relationship faced way more heartbreaking and compelling here than the brainwashing siren wars of Emerge, to the point where I actually got really jazzed anticipating their “reunion” because of all the build-up and time devoted to making it occur.

On a smaller note, Submerge also disposes of (most of) the petty mean girl tropes that plagued the first book—and in fact even partially redeems one of its stock villains, the siren Melusine who Lia fought with for Clay’s affection. With its slightly wide-eyed, childish storytelling techniques, I never expected this series to give any shades of gray to the antagonists, let alone the romantic foil, so I found this a refreshing surprise. (Also, unlike Emerge, Lia doesn’t immediately judge everyone correctly—in the first book she has the bad guys pegged even though everyone insists she’s being melodramatic and judgmental, while here she actually is being both of those things, which feels a lot more realistic, given her character.)

Like Emerge, this book isn’t anything particularly deep or of fantastic quality—but it’s the perfect kind of fluffy romantic drama for a brain vacation, or a day at the beach, or just anyone who wants something that’s entertaining and simple but not so stupid that it insults the reader’s intelligence. Submerge and its prequel were exactly what I needed at the time that I read them, and the creative and mildly clever portions put it a step above your expected silly tween mermaid novel.

3 stars.

[Nia Dragin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully Submerged in Magic and Secrets | Review of ‘Submerge’ (Mer Chronicles #2) (Review originally posted on Cyn's Workshop)

Submerge was an excellent way to continue this new series that develops the story of The Little Mermaid and the effect her actions had on her people. This series has gone so far beyond that and has taken on a whole new life all on its own, expanding from the “retelling” genre. This is a series that has such a powerful vibe to it that connects to the reader. The magic in the world is captivating because it is something firmly based on the culture of these characters that Easton has created. Emerge never delved into the world of the Mer, of the world of Lia’s ancestors, but now Submerge has, submerging the reader in the culture and politics. Easton has made such a strong effort to make sure her characters have not only a magical life but also a realistic one. There’s no way someone would be able to read this novel and not believe that this is the way that mermaids would live. Moreover, through Lia’s eyes, readers get to experience the awe of this world. Readers cannot forget that Lia was born on land, the ocean world, while it has always called to her, it is not her home the way it would be to her older sisters or cousins. This world, her peoples home is so foreign to her making it such an inspirational journey for her to go on. She is connecting to her culture, to her people in a more profound way than she ever has before. Not only that, but she is connecting to a deeper side of herself than she ever has, and it is incredible. The dynamics of the culture are so different for Lia, but they give the culture and the world a fantastic amount of depth (pun intended). It is complicated, these politics, but also richly diverse and captivating. Much of it is very, old rules and bylaws that these people still follow, highlighting just how different it is from what Lia knows. Her world has always been very progressive, but the Mer culture is not. This is a culture steeped deeply in history, holding tight to history and safety, somewhat guided by prejudice and fear. For Lia this is a whole new world that she seeks to understand and reconcile with what she knows is wrong and what she knows is right, hoping to change. However, everything she sees also makes her marvel.

Easton creates such a magical world here for her readers and through Lia give immense depth and history to he Mer culture. Additionally, with this dive into the Mer Lia experiences amazing character development. Lia has gone through the ringer in this book, but she uses that pain that she has to endure to make herself stronger, to make her magic stronger and challenge the rules, albeit secretly. Her magic is her hope, it is what makes her thrive, what makes her grow into an even more dynamic character because it connects her to hope, to change, to value the price of magic, challenging the right versus the wrong. To see Lia grow so strong and come into herself so much is incredible. Her power also changes the dynamics around her. Those who know her secret value her power, respect it, and those that don’t, they see the change in Lia, this independence, and hope that has lifted her from her sorrow. Her power is her inner strength that works to define her character, her lightness, making her shine off the pages. Her growth is incredible.

Submerge is a magical sequel to Emerge. It takes Lia and readers to a whole new realm of magic and intrigue. (★★★★☆ | A)

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[A.J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW!!!! I LOVED the first book, and this story succeeded in being a step up from that!

World-building: We got to explore even more of the Mer culture, and it's such a treat. I don't want to give away spoilers, but let's just say the world's rules, descriptions, politics, etc. are all well-developed and SO cool. You could tell it was given a lot of thought. I especially appreciated all the words in the Mer language, and it added that extra element of "realness" to the Mer culture.

Characters: Lia and Clay are back! It was wonderful to see them continue to develop, both individually and in relation to each other. They have clear character arcs and character growth. And then of course, there's Caspian and Amy. Those two continue to be among my favorite characters, always so charming and lovable. But really, ALL the characters are awesome, and they have distinct personalities and voices. We also got to meet some new characters who are absolutely fascinating and really enhance the story.

Plot: Whoa...that was a wild roller-coaster of a ride, in such a great way. There were some things I definitely did not see coming, which I really enjoyed. Usually I can predict plot twists from a ways away, but this story kept me guessing. It was also fast-paced and basically contained every plot element I could hope for, and then some.

Also, what a neat cover. It fits this story perfectly, and it's so pretty!

And that ending! *DELIGHTED BUT STUNNED GASP* So good but aaaahhhhh I need the third book asap! How am I supposed to wait?!

This is a fantasy you definitely don't want to miss. It has magic and mermaids, fun and danger, romance and action...EVERYTHING. It's also one of those books you can read again and again without getting tired of it.

I enjoyed every page of this, from start to finish. I highly recommend picking this one up and submerging yourself (see what I did there?) in the magical world of Mer.

[Arys · Rating 5 out of 5]

Submerge by Tobie Easton (Mer Chronicles book 2) picks up where Emerge (Mer Chronicles Book 1) left off. The curse that was leveled on merkind by the actions of the Little Mermaid has been broken by Lia and Clay. Ms. Easton has already gifted us with well developed characters, both Mer and human in Emerge, ones to hate and ones to cheer for.

In Submerge we are introduced to the dynamics of the Mer culture, some of which is rather distasteful and some very impressive world building. As with Emerge there are twists, turns and surprises that keep you guessing and curious. As Lia deals with unforeseen issues after the trial of Melusine and Mr. Havelock she delves into the world of powerful undersea magic which may have hidden and unknown consequences in order to right a wrong and get back what she has lost.

I very much enjoyed, while at times being frustrated at, Lia's realism. She's not perfect, she gets it wrong, but she drives forward for the people and issues she cares about. Lia cares strongly, both in a positive sense for those she loves and in a negative for those she fights against, The more we see from her, the more hidden depths emerge: she is willing to do the wrong thing, for the right reasons, but also the hard thing, for the right reasons. 

Overall, I recommend Submerge by Tobie Easton as a magically intricate, romantic and strong story which will keep you guessing the whole way through.

(I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book I received for free from the author in exchange for my open and honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.)

[J. Ford · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to say, I’m more googly-eyed over this book than I was book 1.

Tobie Easton is a gifted storyteller. As with book one, EMERGE, I was drawn into the mermaid world from page one. I was afraid I might forget some important details about the first book, but my fears were for nothing. I fell right into the story as if I’d finished the first one yesterday.

I can say I wasn’t disappointed.

SUBMERGE picks up where EMERGE left off. The spells have been broken and immortality has been restored to the Mer. Now the trials are about to begin and everyone is hoping that order will be restored. Lia wants so much right now, especially for those responsible for the wrongs to be punished, but will they be? And how can she do what needs to be done when what she wants more than anything is to be with Clay.

There is so much unrest, and this story is filled with so many twists and turns. It’s a rollercoaster of a ride and in many ways, I think SUBMERGE is better than EMERGE. Yes. A sequel that is better than the first book. I love Lia’s growth in the novel and that last line of the book?… Holy cow, when can I get my hands on book 3?

This book gets 5 stars from me. I couldn’t love it more. This is one of the best mermaid series out there. I suggest starting off with book 1 before reading book 2. You’re going to love the world-building, and the characters will stay with you for a long time.

Well done, Ms. Easton!!

I received a copy of SUBMERGE from Chapter by Chapter in exchange for an honest review.

[Sue (BeautyBookCorner) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great sequel to the first book. I loved seeing the new characters. Lia frustrated me a little bit in this book. I appreciated that she was trying to change fir the better and stop trying to take control over situations and others, but I still felt like she was making bad decisions. I just wanted to yell at her, “Just tell your parents!!” Also, I wasn’t a fan of how the book ended. When Clay said he wanted to become Mer, Lia was relieved. Noo~ I want them to break up. I want them to come to a mutual agreement that their relationship isn’t going to work!

I feel like we were led to believe that Lia wants to stay away from ancient or dangerous magic. However with Clay saying he wants to be Mer, it sounds like they are going to be looking into some serious magic to accomplish that. I really hope that’s not the case, because then what was the point of her realizations and giving up her magic! I want her resolve to be stronger and for her not to compromise on her values.

Anyways, I enjoyed the sequel and can’t wait for the third book. I feel like it’s going to be a lot more about politics and the tensions between the Mer and the human world (Navy).

[Lucía Blackthorn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great second book, If you get through LIa’s constant whining. I get she’s a teenager okay, but seriously. She keeps letting everyone control her life. I’m glad she realizes this in the end, at lest we had character development.
WHAT I ABSOLUTELY LOVED are the mermaids. A circle? Count me in! It was everything I dig in mermaids 💖, the food, the landscapes. Well done! 👌🏼
If you’re looking for more romance, well this book hast it on the first chapters, then not so much. ☹️
The thing that keeps me from fangirling about it is that I KNOW, I JUST DO, that if this story was somehow “real” any sane girl would’ve preferred Caspian after an obstacle like that and you see Tobie that’s my problem, for me the romance isn’t relatable.
I get it, it’s a fairytale, but an unreal one at that. Maybe it wasn’t well exposed, I don’t know. All I know is after an obstacle like that staying with Clay wouldn’t have been possible. You should’ve started with the more obvious alternative: make Clay a merman.
I look forward to having the third cute book in my hands though! :)


Caspian. Oh my poor Caspian. 💔💔💔💔

[Yasmyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tobie Easton's sequel to Emerge does not disappoint! There are so many great things going on in Submerge, but my personal favorite was seeing more of how the Mer live under the sea. Easton paints a fascinating, vivid picture of her version of the mermaid world, expanding on the universe she created in Emerge and writing with such skill that the reader can visualize every shell mosaicked ceiling and gorgeous lagoon and truly believe they all exist in some deep part of the ocean no human would ever dare venture. Without giving anything away, I can also say I really loved that some of my conceptions about characters from the first book were challenged in interesting ways I didn’t see coming. Lia has to face even more heartbreaking decisions in this book and deal with some very adult emotions (that many characters in the book don't give her credit for), but her emotional journey always reads so true to life. I really wish I didn't have to wait so long for the next book in the series! Highly recommend!!

[Claire Porter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lia and Clay have broken the Little Mermaid’s curse because of their love to each other. Lia's family is trying to decide if they should stay in the Foundation house or move to the Castle in New Meris. (under water) Lia wants to stay on land and finish Senior Year with Clay but in Mesuine's trial she has doubts. Lia's parents hire a tutor for her, Odiane. Lia becomes best friends with Odiane and decides to go to her school for mermaids. Wondering if she should really trust Odiane, Lia sets out on a treacherous journey to save Clay and his Family.
Lia is a mermaid and Clay is a human. Clay is a jock who can do every sport perfectly and Lia is terrible at all human sports. However, Lia and Clay both love each other. They both love the beach and swimming in the ocean.
I loved this book i thought it was fantastic and very well written. I'm very excited to read the next book in this series and would recommend this book to everyone.

[Tammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story continues where it left off in Emerge. This one we don't see as much of Clay. It is more of Lia's path to embracing herself and her magic. Yes, she is trying to find a way to get to Clay but I think it was more of her growing into herself. For me part of the book lagged because Lia had so many internal thoughts. She didn't seem to have much interaction for this part of the book with others until her new tutor comes into play. I think she was too trusting and blind for what she just went through with her new friends and tutor. Once again I loved Caspian and my heart broke for him. The book does pick up after the middle and had a great finish even though it was left open for the next book. Loved the descriptions of the school. You really get to see the true spirit of The Little Mermaid in this one. I received a free ebook in exchange for an honest review.

[bookgeek607 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was excited to dive into this book! Must read book one Emerge to fully understand this one since this is a sequel. I loved the first one and had the moment of needed more now when I finished. Lets just say it wasn't a disappointment at all. It grabbed hold and keeps you on a path of emotional up and downs. You go on another ocean sized journey with Lia, Clay, Casp, and even Mel. When Lia and Clay think they are finally getting their happily ever after a giant wave comes and sweeps that notion away. I found myself gasping at parts and wanting to reach in the pages and hug the characters at others. Full of magic and determination simply wonderful! As I am typing this I'm really hoping there is a book three!

** I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own and given with my own free will***