It spoke to my broken teen heart in a way that made me feel heard in a way nobody ever did when I was a kid. My only wish is that it were longer so IIt spoke to my broken teen heart in a way that made me feel heard in a way nobody ever did when I was a kid. My only wish is that it were longer so I could continue being inspired by Kiko Himura...more
First off, this book wasn't necessary. In a series, there's generally one major overarching plot from one conflict1.5 stars. Alright, where to begin?
First off, this book wasn't necessary. In a series, there's generally one major overarching plot from one conflict or antagonist--think Harry Potter and Voldemort, Hunger Games and the Capitol, and Twilight and Bella's desire to become a vampire. The Syrena Legacy seemed to lack one main conflict. I couldn't tell if it was Half-Breeds' legacy for the ocean, or the relationship between the Royals and Half-Breeds/Humans, or th conflict with Jagen--or it could have been Emma and Galen's relationship. I just couldn't really understand the point of having a series, that's all. It didn't need to be three books long.
This book brought up answers to questions that I didn't have or need, such as details about Jagen and backstory with Poseidon and Triton. I don't know if that was an individual thing, but now I have even more questions thanks to the story in OF NEPTUNE.
On to the more detailed problems...
1. The stigma-enforcing language regarding mental health. Every time Banks wrote something related to OCD, personality disorders, anxiety, trauma, or any other mental illness, it was in an inaccurate or stigmatising way. For instance, Reed at one point is impatient to get going and Emma wonders if he has OCD because of that... What even?? Another point had Reed telling Galen about Tyrden, saying he was a cruel dictator, and then labels him as someone with a personality disorder. I had to put down the book each time I came across one of these. I have mental illness and it is not fun and barely tolerable to feel a jab from an author who doesn't understand mental illness and then uses it unnecessarily in their writing. I was incredibly uncomfortable.
2. Reed and Emma was a prime example of normalising female silence and tolerance of uncomfortable sexual and romantic pressures from men. Half the time I forgot that Reed was 20 because he comes off as so much more immature. And at the end, when Emma wants him and Galen to be friends, I just wanted to copy-paste all of her previous phases of discomfort and show them like "You and Reed shouldn't be friends." I don't care if they ended up becoming friends: I don't trust any man who repeatedly makes a woman uncomfortable. Emma herself also normalised this behaviour by, in her narration, wondered if she was leading him on and a whole bunch of other "Is this my fault? I'm so guilty" crap.
3. All of the editors and copy editors need to up their game, because this book had so many technical errors!! How can you spell "whirlpool" wrong twice and then correct the third time? This series overall had so many problems with just the technicalities of grammar and punctuation. "Formerly" means "previously" while "formally" means "officially"--like, I couldn't believe how often these errors appeared. It makes me think there wasn't enough care put into the book. (In the acknowledgements, Banks says that "you" the author are ready to put your book into the world by copy edits time... I disagree in the case of this series. It was not ready.) I also didn't have an uncorrected proof: this edition needs to be reprinted and those technical errors addressed. I Tweeted some pictures, but those weren't even all of the ones I saw.
I was so disappointed. I enjoyed the first book a lot, and was looking forward to a series, but the story worsened and the characters became even more boring as OF TRITON's ending neared. I wanted to see more of Rayna and Toraf, but instead I got a cliche setting with impossible water systems (seriously, Galen sensing salt water in a river in land-locked Tennessee?) and a """romantic interest""" or """second option""" that reminded me why I have to convince my female friends that men's uncomfortable actions are not caused by the women. The epilogue was eye-roll-worthy, but that's because of my own personal issues and lack of interest in... like, weddings and life-long "mating."
I enjoyed Galen's chapters in this book. The plot with Tyrden was alright--it was by no means original; but my intrigue was maintained by how/when the stakes were raised and the plot thickened. I really wanted to enjoy this series more than I did. A friend of mine loved them and I trust her taste in books. Unfortunately, it just wasn't meant to be. I hate doing reviews like this, because I know how it feels to have someone hate a book you love... but I just hated this so much. I wouldn't say the book was entirely terrible, but when your chapters average 6 pages long and you put in a 13-page epilogue, just... just make it another chapter. Also, the resolution was seemingly non-existent before the "epilogue" so that's even more reason to just call it chapter 40-whatever.
If you want a book you can just sit and read in a few hours, then go for it, but I'd recommend having something incredible to read afterward so you're not feeling gummy about the publishing industry....more
This was a fast read! 2.5 stars. I don't know why, but I couldn't enjoy this one as much as the first. The plotting was... kind of weak, in terms ofThis was a fast read! 2.5 stars. I don't know why, but I couldn't enjoy this one as much as the first. The plotting was... kind of weak, in terms of the minor characters and the central conflict of Nalia's identity. The ending was also really iffy for me--I feel like the entire scene happened in order for one character's arc, and the Syrena behaviour in the final scene kind of... negated the conspiracy and plotting that dominated the whole book.
The writing wasn't markedly improved compared to the first in the series. But I will say this: Square Fish/Macmillan books? You need a better or additional copy editors. OF POSEIDON had numerous "its/it's" mishaps, and this one had a "who's expression" and "I have a foot I injury." These are minor things, and didn't really influence my rating. I'm not very fond of Soul Mate, True Love, "your fish tail is sexy and makes me hot" romance, and I'm not invested in the series' characters. I'm a little hesitant to read OF NEPTUNE, but I shall do it anyway....more
This was a nicely fluffy romance, but I have a few problems with it that have definitely stopped it from being a 5-star.
At one point, Emma uses theThis was a nicely fluffy romance, but I have a few problems with it that have definitely stopped it from being a 5-star.
At one point, Emma uses the term "schizo" (an offensive slur, first and foremost) to describe her acceptance of the shifting reality. Saying something is real when it's fantastical directly goes against what schizophrenia is--delusions and an extremely difficult mental illness to cope with. This is kind of on-par with characters saying they're "so OCD" about something that is unrelated to actual OCD. In a way, it spreads misinformation and validates the slur. (The phrase is "As schizo as it sounds, I know this is real" on page 111 when Emma communicates with fish.)
Also, and this isn't much of a spoiler because it happens in the first, like, 10 pages: I'm so tired of Black characters dying to further white protagonist's character arcs. I'll admit, Chloe did get some characterisation as a popular, protective best friend on the track team. But I was still very uncomfortable with her death being used as a catalyst for events that Emma has to face.
There were also at least two instances where the copyeditor missed "it's" needing to be corrected to "its."
Anyway.
Aside from those troubles, this book reminded me of some of my favourite trope-filled shoujo romance manga--and that's a good thing to me. It's predictable and the plots are always more intriguing than the characters. In terms of writing craft, I loved the dual-perspective AND duel-POV. Using first and third person together in the same book is tricky, and even more so when it's from two different characters, but Anna Banks did it beautifully, thanks to the structure of the story. The writing itself--style, voice, tone--was good, and Galen and Emma had distinct POVs. I laughed in lots of places: some that were intended to be humorous, and some that probably weren't.
I was pleased to see older characters, too. I get a little tired of 16-year-olds in my fantastical stories, so these 18+ folks were a refreshing change!
I'm glad this is a series and not a standalone. That has definitely influenced my rating; first books in series are usually there to set up character, which this book did okay, as well as the plots. The characters are a little flat to me and fit nicely into archetypes, but the plot interests me much more than them. I'm excited for OF TRITON and where the story goes, now that Emma knows the truth!...more
I see myself in Vhalla so much and I love it. It has the right tropes for me, including the commoner/royal bond, and twisty trickery in the justiceI see myself in Vhalla so much and I love it. It has the right tropes for me, including the commoner/royal bond, and twisty trickery in the justice system. I love me a corrupted Senate (in fictional worlds, because they often get taken down, unlike the real world...). On to the next one!...more
I was tempted to put down the book and call it an unfortunate match that wasn't meant to be. But I kept reading, and I was not disappointed.
The firstI was tempted to put down the book and call it an unfortunate match that wasn't meant to be. But I kept reading, and I was not disappointed.
The first 25% of the book, which is hands-down the most crucial part of a book for me (if I don't continue reading past the 1/4-mark, the book will be set aside for years), fell a little flat for me. There was a disconnect between myself and the story, with Alex and the setting, that I feared would follow through the rest of the book.
Not to mention, my edition has a bunch of proofreading errors that managed to take me out of the story. I know they're small things, but coming across, "My voice is a horse scream" is just... so jarring.
However!!
Once we got into Los Lagos, I truly felt the story happening. Also, I finally connected with Alex and was nodding along with her, her struggles, her fears. Once Alex and I accepted the magic, the story improved significantly.
If the book drags for you in the beginning, just keep reading. I promise it'll pay off. I'm not a fast reader and I managed this book in two days, so that's a testament to how quickly I got sucked in....more
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