Remember the last time I posted a review? Well, that makes two of us! I am really behind on reviewing, I blame my Shadowhunters addiction. And my kdrama addiction. Or you know, we could blame my procrastination XD
The Summer of Chasing Mermaids
Goodreads | Author
Publication Date: 2nd June 2015
The youngest of six talented sisters, Elyse d’Abreau was destined for stardom—until a boating accident took everything from her. Now, the most beautiful singer in Tobago can’t sing. She can’t even speak.Seeking quiet solitude, Elyse accepts a friend’s invitation to Atargatis Cove. Named for the mythical first mermaid, the Oregon seaside town is everything Elyse’s home in the Caribbean isn’t: An ocean too cold for swimming, parties too tame for singing, and people too polite to pry—except for one.
Christian Kane is a notorious playboy—insolent, arrogant, and completely charming. He’s also the only person in Atargatis Cove who doesn’t treat Elyse like a glass statue. He challenges her to express herself, and he admires the way she treats his younger brother Sebastian, who believes Elyse is the legendary mermaid come to life.
When Christian needs a first mate for the Cove’s high-stakes Pirate Regatta, Elyse reluctantly stows her fear of the sea and climbs aboard. The ocean isn’t the only thing making waves, though—swept up in Christian’s seductive tide and entranced by the Cove’s charms, Elyse begins to wonder if a life of solitude isn’t what she needs. But changing course again means facing her past. It means finding her inner voice. And scariest of all, it means opening her heart to a boy who’s best known for breaking them . . .
So I started reading this thinking it was alright and then somewhere around the middle of the plot I was so into the story I couldn’t stop.
It’s amazing how loud Elyse’s voice could be even though she couldn’t even speak. The book doesn’t show us her past but rather her present and how she deals with her muteness and how her family and friends deal with her muteness, it just makes for such a compelling story. Elyse has all my respect because she just powers on like a badass. While she might not be the assasin queen or the top of her class, she’s great in her own way.
While Elyse is obviously the star, the other characters are just as memorable. All the characters are really, really well developed from the resident playboy Christian to his mermaid obsessed brother Sebastian to Elyse’s cousin Kirby.
The mermaid mythology was woven through the plot line and it made the whole story magical. I guess it’s a retelling of The Little Mermaid but I never liked the story much until now. Just go read it, it’s great trust me.
Demon Princess
Goodreads | Author
Publication Date: 21st December 2015
Goodreads blurb:
With her father gone and her brother missing, Demon Princess Adriana has to assume the throne, temporarily becoming the Demon King. The procession is underway, and the princess is nervous yet determined … until the unthinkable happens and she is summoned! Somehow, Aldric, a mage-in-training, has summoned the princess into the human kingdom. Now trapped, Adriana must hide her identity and escape before she loses her life in the hands of her mortal enemies.
I was so not expecting to like this as much as I did. The blurb makes it sounds so cliched but when I got around to reading it, I was hooked. Demon Princess had a really strong cast of characters. Adriana was a really great character who goes from having all the power to essentially none and I admire how she handles this loss. The world was interesting with mages and demons against each other and I wish we got more development of the setting. I mean, we got the rough picture and it looks great but when you get closer it’s pixelated. Maybe in the next book?
The beginning didn’t hook me in straight away. Actually I’m not quite sure when I really got into the book. The combination of the characters and the plot just clicked at one point and then it was over so quickly. That’s probably the only complaint I have about Demon Princess, it’s just too short. I felt like the characters and plot could have just been developed so much better if there was just more of it.
So if you’re looking for a quick fantasy/ paranormal that’s not so normal, give Demon Princess a try!
Thanks to the author for providing me a review copy via Netgalley.
PERCY JACKSON!!! It was so funny to read and I enjoyed it so much.
Panda Hearts Books 