Of Triton (The Syrena Legacy, #2) in Addicted to YA

Aug 18, 2014 Danielle rated it liked it

Shelves: ya-books, 2014-read, ya-books-read-in-2014, 2014-august-read

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. When I saw this book at the library I was so excited because I thoroughly enjoyed the first book in this series and couldn't wait to read this one especially since the first book kind of ended in a cliffhanger so I wanted to see what was going to happen to Emma and Galan and throw in the whole Grom thing plus finding out that Nalia was actually Emma's mother who was betrothed to Grom all those years so I was really looking forward to get back to this world. Plus I loved the whole Galen and Emma When I saw this book at the library I was so excited because I thoroughly enjoyed the first book in this series and couldn't wait to read this one especially since the first book kind of ended in a cliffhanger so I wanted to see what was going to happen to Emma and Galan and throw in the whole Grom thing plus finding out that Nalia was actually Emma's mother who was betrothed to Grom all those years so I was really looking forward to get back to this world. Plus I loved the whole Galen and Emma relationship in the first one and I wanted see how their relationship played out in this one. So I was really looking forward to it, but I have to say that I was slightly disappointed partly because my expectations were so high so I just felt a little let down by this one and just felt it was okay. I liked the first one a whole lot better.

I will say that this was a quick read and I got through it faster than I anticipated. I never thought I would get this book done in one day, but I did. But the reason that I got through the book was partly because I was skimming through some of it because I was getting bored and just thought too much was going on with the tribunal and it went on chapter after chapter and I was kind of done after one so I skimmed through some of the descriptions of those scenes and just concentrated on what was being said and what it would mean for our young characters. And partly it went fast because some chapters would leave off it a slight surprise/cliffhanger so I wanted to know what was going to happen next and I needed to find out so I kept on reading until I was done with the book. So Anna Banks did keep interested enough to make me want to keep reading and not stop about half way through the book so that was a success on her part and the reason finished in one day.

Like I said above I was slightly disappointed in this book partly because I didn't find it having that special quality to it like the first one did. I wasn't wowed. This story wasn't as compelling in view instead at times it felt dull and tedious and just boring sometimes. Partly the reason I think I felt that way was because Galen and Emma weren't together as much in this book as they were in the first book after all that was their relationship building/falling in love book which got me so intrigued and rooted for them as a couple. I just wanted to see more of them together and more of their romance. Now that's not to say there wasn't romance in the book because there was, but just not as much as I would have liked to seen. I wanted more moments between the two of them. Their relationship was what drew me into this series and I just wanted more of that and when I didn't get it then I was disappointed.

I wished I felt more when I read the book as well and felt more angst and fear and other dark emotions come off the characters especially since they were facing dangerous time with Jagen questioning and disregarding and trying to get the people to turn against the royals Galen and Grom, to questioning whether Emma's mother really being Nalia or not and how distrustful the people were becoming to them finding out that Emma existed and she was a half breed plus the whole Grom being betrothed to Paca and now if Emma's mom was truly Nalia then it would have been expected for Galen to mate with her, which was not okay. With all those pieces together it sounds like it would be a great story filled with this edge of your seat suspense with lots of emotions going on. And while at times it was at the edge of my seat, I just didn't feel a lot from the characters emotional, or rather it was told to me then shown. I don't know how else to describe it except that it just felt a little flat to me and just not pulling on the heartstrings really. I just wanted more rawness to it then I got. I wanted to be punched in the gut. I wanted to catch my breath. I just wanted to feel something when I was reading and I just didn't. Something for me didn't connect or reach me like I think it should have. I just wanted more.

Also I think another reason I wasn't as thrilled about this book and what I kind of touched on above was for me there wasn't a lot of action and I just felt a majority of it was the tribunal and a bunch of speeches being made person after person and just awaiting for the decision to arrive of whether Nalia was who she said she was and who she wasn't. It just seemed forever to get there. There was a bit of action in the beginning with Emma's mom kidnapping her in order to get her away from Galen and the other Syrena people for fear that she would be punished for Grom's death (Emma's mom thought it was her fault that her love Grom was killed because he was chasing after her after they had a huge fight) and would therefore punish her as well as Emma so Nalia/Emma's mom thought she was protecting her daughter by kidnapping her and taking her away from Galen, which of coarse Emma wasn't happy about as well as the fact that her mom lied to her for all these years about the Syrena people and the fact that Emma's mom was a Poseidon princess. Then at the end there was a bit of action as well when Emma came to the tribunal to show her gifts of Poseidon to the council to prove that her mother was who she said she was then there was a big rescue mission at the end, but aside from that there wasn't much action. There was just a lot talking/explaining going on and finding out the truth about everything. So it just felt like one big speech with nothing really exciting going on or what should've been exciting wasn't. So wasn't happy about that.

And I have to say like Emma I was little skived out over the whole Grom and Nalia relationship especially since I knew now that Emma's mom was Nalia. I don't know it just didn't sit right for me. Usually I would be all heart a flutter with the knowledge that even years of being apart from one another their love never wavered and they always stayed true to one another. Never loving another. Usually I find that sweet but in this context not so much. And I was as upset as Emma when I found out that her mom never really loved her dad and that she was just an "accident" after they engaged in a moment of weakness. Now I know this happens in real life all the time, but I don't want that in my fiction and kind of felt uncomfortable with the knowledge that Emma's mother used Emma's dad and never had that loving relationship especially when he was interested in her and let her live in his life and he never demanded more of her, which was screwed up. I felt bad for Emma's dad, but glad he got Emma in the deal, who he basically adored with all his heart and was protective of Emma and was grateful at least that came out of the relationship. So I felt sorry him. And just how her mom blatantly told Emma that she never loved her dad and it was never about love for her and her heart always belonged to Grom and blah blah. It was just a bit jarring. Now if her mom said she grew to love her dad even if it was just as a friend I think that would have softened the blow and would have made me feel better, but the fact she didn't kind of tainted my feelings towards her and her relationship with Grom. Just it weirded me out. And that may be another reason I wasn't so thrilled with this book either. And their relationship was a bigger player in this book and I didn't want it to be. I'd rather see the relationship between Galen and Emma (big supporter of them as you can see).

Speaking of Galen and Emma. Can I tell you how much I love them together? They really were the heart of the story and what drew me to this series in the first place was them as a couple, and there was so little of them together in this one. They had more thing separate them then keep them together. In my opinion there were too little of scenes of them together, and I wanted them together, but I will say the scenes that they were together made my heart melt and made me swoon. If there was more of this in the book, I would have a totally different view of it then I do now. They were just so sweet and loving towards each other and just love that. I love seeing their love on the page. They had some sweet moments going on and I could tell their feelings ran deep for one another. The moment they were reunited made my heart jump and put a smile on my face. The ending made me swoon and just was so beautiful and beautifully written and I couldn't help going "aww." It was just so romantic. Loved that scene as well as all the scenes in where they were together. Just they work together and were totally meant for one another and I don't want to see anything pull them apart. Them being together in this book was the highlight for me and why I could stick with it until the end. They made it worth it to continue on this journey and just see where their journey was going. Love that romance and plus of this book.

For me something was missing and something wasn't connecting quite right and again that could have been because my expectations were too high when I went in so I really wasn't into it as much as I thought I would have been. Now with that being said it wasn't a bad book. It just wasn't a wow book. It was readable and thought there were some part I thought were dull and boring and had to skim through the rest of the book the way it was written had me engaged enough to stay to tuned and turn through those pages to see what would happening next. I think what was frustrating at times was how every other chapter were written in different perspectives with the one being in Galen's and the other being Emma's and now that's great to see the big picture of what was going on and how the storyline was going and where everything was heading, It was also frustrating because a chapter would end in a cliffhanger and I had to get through another chapter before getting to the next chapter to find the answer to that cliffhanger. It was a brilliant writing strategy and what kept me wanting to read and keep going so that was clever even though sometimes frustrating, but it was the reason that I read this book in one day. So at least I was into it that much. I definitely didn't hate the book. I just wanted more from it.

And speaking of more, I can't believe that there's another book in this series. In my opinion the way this one ended, I feel that the series could have ended because things got tied pretty good and my imagination could see where each of the couples were heading in the future and I don't necessarily need another book to fill me in on that because it seems predictable about what is going to happen or so I feel at the moment because it was laid in black and white already. I don't see where else this story can go or what could happen. I think it could have ended here and it would have been satisfactory and I would have been fine with it ending here, but knowing there is another book kind of scares me and scares me where the Galen and Emma relationship is heading. I rather have this view in my head that they live happily ever after and are able to live in peace and just have their days full of love for one another, but knowing there is another book means there are still obstacles in their way and problems are still going to occur and it won't be easy for them to get that happily ever after after all and again that scares me and why I would have preferred for this to be the ending to their story and it being open ended with me picturing what their future would be in my imagination. So that kind of makes me wary of whether I want to read the last book or not. I won't be rushing around to find it that's for sure. I am okay with the end being here.

Overall this book was just okay. It just wasn't exciting or connecting with me as I would have liked. I was just expecting so much more than I got. I wanted more romance. Maybe more twists or turns in the story. I didn't want to feel like I was being lectured throughout the book and with the tribunal scenes I felt exactly that. It just wanted more of a spark of excitement and it just wasn't there. Enjoyed the Galen and Emma scenes and there were some page turning moments here and there, but other than that nothing really jumped out and wowed me. I wish it did, but it just didn't work like that. Now with that being said, it wasn't a horrible book and unreadable with the proof of me getting through it in one day being proof enough and I did like parts of it, but again I just wasn't excited by it at the same time. But it was worth it to read just for the Galen and Emma stuff. ...more

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Jun 14, 2012 Tressa (Wishful Endings) rated it really liked it

Shelves: ya-fantasy-paranormal, 2013, series

Original review posted on my blog, here.

I really liked Of Poseidon. I have liked most of the mermaid books I've read, but I especially liked the author's take on mermaids in this series. There were some people who didn't like it because they felt Galen was too overbearing and controlling, but I didn't feel that way. I just took into consideration who Galen was, the way he was raised, and his culture. I also didn't feel it was the focal point of the story. If this was an issue for you with the fi Original review posted on my blog, here.

I really liked Of Poseidon. I have liked most of the mermaid books I've read, but I especially liked the author's take on mermaids in this series. There were some people who didn't like it because they felt Galen was too overbearing and controlling, but I didn't feel that way. I just took into consideration who Galen was, the way he was raised, and his culture. I also didn't feel it was the focal point of the story. If this was an issue for you with the first book though, I would say that it is a non-issue in this one. Sure, Galen wants Emma to stay on land so that she'll be safe, but that's about the extent of his lording over her in this one.

I liked Emma. She has a really tough time with her mom being who she is and that she was lied to her whole life. She has even a harder time with the fact that her dad has only been dead for a few years and it's really not a big deal to her mom and that there is no love-loss there. Emma doesn't handle it very well, but either does her mom. I also think that if I was in the same situation, and had loved my dad and had this belief in my family like Emma did that I would probably have a tough time too. I think it would take a few weeks or months to deal with it, especially with everything else that she had dealt with and was dealing with, and she was basically expected to be fine with everything in a day or two. Galen is really a huge support to her.

Ah, yes, Galen. I still loved him. He is quite stressed out in this one, but he is also brave, loving, and patient, well, sometimes. Toraf is under quite a bit of stress as well and we see a much more serious side of him. I also really liked Grom. He is steady, confident, and we see a lot more of him than in the first book. Galen also sees a very different side of his brother than he has before.

I do have to say that Rayna really bothered me sometimes. She's just so dramatic and hates others so easily. Not just dislike or not getting along, but really not-even-trying-to get along, and can be very loud and violent about it. She just rubbed me the wrong way most of the time. I also thought with her background that she'd be a little more poised, but she's not.

I thought the plot moved at a good pace. I really enjoyed the story and seeing how the characters got involved and changed as they were challenged. I also really liked that this is basically a clean read. The characters don't swear and there is some making out, but nothing too lengthy or descriptive.

I did feel at the end that this would be the final book in the series, but then it kind of kept going. Goodreads says there is a third book, so I guess there is. I'm not quite sure what is going to drive the story, but I will find out when I read it.

If you liked Of Poseidon or you like tales about mermaids, then I would definitely recommend picking this up.

Content: Some mild violence and innuendo, but I would consider this clean.
Source: Library ...more

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