Tempest Rising (Tempest, #1) in And So It Begins Reading Challenge

Apr 24, 2011 CrystalBookSnob rated it really liked it

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Whenever I read a mermaid book and then write a review for it, I always start it with “I think there are not enough mermaid books in YA.” And Tempest Rising is no different. There are so many different ways a mermaid book can be written and I love seeing the variety each time a new one comes out. Killer mermaids, fun mermaids, half-human half-mermaids, mermaid that sing men to their deaths and I love every single one of them!

I love with the setting of a book is in Southern California! Living in Whenever I read a mermaid book and then write a review for it, I always start it with “I think there are not enough mermaid books in YA.” And Tempest Rising is no different. There are so many different ways a mermaid book can be written and I love seeing the variety each time a new one comes out. Killer mermaids, fun mermaids, half-human half-mermaids, mermaid that sing men to their deaths and I love every single one of them!

I love with the setting of a book is in Southern California! Living in Southern California makes me feel like it’s all taking place in my backyard and I can just jump in my car and drive down to the beach to see Tempest coming out of the water! It’s a really comfortable setting.

Although Tempest is the main character of the book she is not my favorite character. She has this pre-concieved notion that mermaids are these really selfish and uncaring creatures because of the way her mother acted. She knows that she will have to decide to go to the sea or stay on land but she is determined not to give into the water. So when she starts to feel the pull of the ocean, she keeps it to herself and doesn’t even tell her father. Which is always a bad idea. Keeping serious things to yourself is a recipe for disaster.

Mark is Tempest’s human boyfriend and he is definitely one of my favorite characters! He’s this hot, rugged, surfer dude who is completely in love with her (there’s always someone in love with the main character). But then she meets Kona and there’s a little bit of insta-love (gag). Kona’s hot, don’t get me wrong but I just don’t like the whole “drawn to each other so we have to be together” scenario. I like the relationships build on friendship that take time to develop. Mark knows Tempest and he loves her completely, flaws and imperfections included.

In the end, I would rather have had Tempest choose the ocean because it felt right to her because it’s where she is meant to be instead of choosing it because of Kona. I am giving Tempest Rising 4 hearts because of the hot guys to drool over and because no mermaid story is complete without an evil sea witch. And this one is pretty awesome!
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