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The Sea Monster Memoirs #1
Tangled Tides
Yara Jones doesn't believe in sea monsters-until she becomes one. When a hurricane hits her island home and she wakes up with fins, Yara finds herself tangled up in an underwater world of mysterious merfolk and secretive selkies. Both sides believe Yara can save them by fulfilling a broken promise and opening the sealed gateway to their realm, but they are battling over how it should be done. The selkies want to take her life. The merfolk want something far more precious.
Treygan, the stormy-eyed merman who turned Yara mer, will stop at nothing and sacrifice everything to protect his people-until he falls for Yara. The tides turn as Yara fights to save herself, hundreds of sea creatures, and the merman who has her heart. She could lose her soul in the process-or she might open the gateway to a love that's deeper than the oceans.
Treygan, the stormy-eyed merman who turned Yara mer, will stop at nothing and sacrifice everything to protect his people-until he falls for Yara. The tides turn as Yara fights to save herself, hundreds of sea creatures, and the merman who has her heart. She could lose her soul in the process-or she might open the gateway to a love that's deeper than the oceans.
328 pages, Paperback
First published November 25, 2011
284 people are currently reading
8935 people want to read
About the author
Karen Amanda Hooper
22 books721 followersAuthor of YA supernatural and fantasy. (Love and magic are the heart and soul of all my stories.)
~TANGLED TIDES trilogy
~THE KINDRILY series
~VIRTUAL ARCANA
I was born and bred in Baltimore, frolicked and froze in Colorado for a couple of years, and I'm currently sunning and splashing around Florida with my spoiled rescue bulldog. I'm addicted to coffee, chocolate and complicated happily-ever-afters.
There aren't enough hours in the day to keep up with my Goodreads shelves and lists, but I do occasionally try to add a book if I remember. Feel free to friend me. I love meeting other book lovers and seeing what people are reading!
~TANGLED TIDES trilogy
~THE KINDRILY series
~VIRTUAL ARCANA
I was born and bred in Baltimore, frolicked and froze in Colorado for a couple of years, and I'm currently sunning and splashing around Florida with my spoiled rescue bulldog. I'm addicted to coffee, chocolate and complicated happily-ever-afters.
There aren't enough hours in the day to keep up with my Goodreads shelves and lists, but I do occasionally try to add a book if I remember. Feel free to friend me. I love meeting other book lovers and seeing what people are reading!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 377 reviews
October 16, 2013
I'm very biased. :)
UPDATE 10/14/13: Due to Rhemalda Publishing going out of business, TANGLED TIDES has been republished by Starry Sky Publishing. TT has received a facelift on the interior artwork, and I made some minor changes to the story. Yara's bratty comments have been toned down a bit (thanks to readers and reviewers for the constructive feedback!) and some of Rownan's slang has been cut because, well, I followed some bad advice but I never loved some of his language. I hope readers enjoy the updated version.
I will be forever grateful to Rhemalda for giving me my start as an author and believing in TANGLED TIDES. They will always hold a special place in my heart.
UPDATE 10/14/13: Due to Rhemalda Publishing going out of business, TANGLED TIDES has been republished by Starry Sky Publishing. TT has received a facelift on the interior artwork, and I made some minor changes to the story. Yara's bratty comments have been toned down a bit (thanks to readers and reviewers for the constructive feedback!) and some of Rownan's slang has been cut because, well, I followed some bad advice but I never loved some of his language. I hope readers enjoy the updated version.
I will be forever grateful to Rhemalda for giving me my start as an author and believing in TANGLED TIDES. They will always hold a special place in my heart.
June 20, 2012
Giraffe = me
Bird = book
Don't be lured by the pretty cover--trust me.
I'm frankly baffled by the high ratings for this book.
Yara, the main character, is whiny and insufferably immature. Treygan and Rownan are equally unlikeable, though Treygan has a little more depth. There is very little build up to when Yara becomes a mermaid (which happens around page 6), and from there, all she does is whine, moan, and worry about what her boyfriend would think of her being a "freak" (i.e. mermaid). There is no story development, and whatever revelations there are, Yara meets each of them with more whining. The story does get incrementally more interesting past the 100 page mark, but really, no book should take that long to become bearable.
Plus, does anyone else think that people should stop kidding themselves and call C-weed just "weed"?
I gave it a good shot, but I couldn't get through it. 1 star, and even that is being generous.
Bird = book
Don't be lured by the pretty cover--trust me.
I'm frankly baffled by the high ratings for this book.
Yara, the main character, is whiny and insufferably immature. Treygan and Rownan are equally unlikeable, though Treygan has a little more depth. There is very little build up to when Yara becomes a mermaid (which happens around page 6), and from there, all she does is whine, moan, and worry about what her boyfriend would think of her being a "freak" (i.e. mermaid). There is no story development, and whatever revelations there are, Yara meets each of them with more whining. The story does get incrementally more interesting past the 100 page mark, but really, no book should take that long to become bearable.
Plus, does anyone else think that people should stop kidding themselves and call C-weed just "weed"?
I gave it a good shot, but I couldn't get through it. 1 star, and even that is being generous.
May 26, 2015
2.5 stars
I've been trying not to be a cover snob lately.
Thank you, thank you. No applause necessary.
So even though at first glance the orgasmic rainbow mermaid on the cover looked a tad cheesy, I didn't let that discourage me.
I'm feel like I've grown as a person.
In retrospect, however, I should have seen it coming. Now, this wasn't an awful book, but it does go kind of overboard (no pun intended) with the fantastical elements of the story.
You know those books where the author keeps heaping more and more magical powers onto the main character? Like it wasn't enough that they were a werewolf/vampire hybrid, so they also find out that their great grandmother was a demon/witch, and now they have those powers too? And then they do a favor a Greek god, and that ends up garnering them with a few extra powers on top of everything else?
Yeah. That's this book, but with mystical sea creatures.
I waffled between 2.5 and 3 stars for a while, because it wasn't that bad, but it wasn't something I couldn't wait to get back to, either. Not having any trouble picking a book back up is kind of my pass/fail test for 3 stars. Sorry, but this one failed. I had to give myself that mental it's-not-SO-bad talk more than once. It did get better, but it was still too much of a struggle to pass my 3 star test.
Parts of this are really good, and you can tell the author has one hell of an imagination, so I'd definitely be wiling to give her stuff another try in the future.
Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book in return for an honest review.
This review and other cool stuff can also be found at
I've been trying not to be a cover snob lately.
Thank you, thank you. No applause necessary.
So even though at first glance the orgasmic rainbow mermaid on the cover looked a tad cheesy, I didn't let that discourage me.
I'm feel like I've grown as a person.
In retrospect, however, I should have seen it coming. Now, this wasn't an awful book, but it does go kind of overboard (no pun intended) with the fantastical elements of the story.
You know those books where the author keeps heaping more and more magical powers onto the main character? Like it wasn't enough that they were a werewolf/vampire hybrid, so they also find out that their great grandmother was a demon/witch, and now they have those powers too? And then they do a favor a Greek god, and that ends up garnering them with a few extra powers on top of everything else?
Yeah. That's this book, but with mystical sea creatures.
I waffled between 2.5 and 3 stars for a while, because it wasn't that bad, but it wasn't something I couldn't wait to get back to, either. Not having any trouble picking a book back up is kind of my pass/fail test for 3 stars. Sorry, but this one failed. I had to give myself that mental it's-not-SO-bad talk more than once. It did get better, but it was still too much of a struggle to pass my 3 star test.
Parts of this are really good, and you can tell the author has one hell of an imagination, so I'd definitely be wiling to give her stuff another try in the future.
Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book in return for an honest review.
This review and other cool stuff can also be found at
June 9, 2012
This book had no build up. You are just dropped in the middle of it and left to flounder. (pun intended)
It starts out promising with the main character preparing for a storm to hit when she is approached by a guy,and from then on its downhill.
I had the impression her transformation would happen later in the book but she just meets a strange guy and in the next paragraph she is a mermaid.
But she is still 100% snarky and not in a good way.
The main character is annoying and childish,constantly uttering such memorable things as "gross" or "ewww"
Her boyfriend has no qualms about ogling other girls(redheads are totally his type) but its totally ok,because hes loyal to Yara.But he doesnt want to be labeled as her boyfriend.Also hes got an awesome white coat...and a goatee. :/
But the main character assures the reader that Rownan is attractive in a million ways.
The goatee and the fur coat just scream attractive cool-ness. *rolls eyes*
Another character smokes "c-weed" Get it? Sound it out. Also a "seagarette" at first I thought it was a typo.But it wasnt
The characters are paperthin and sometimes the dialogue between is harder to decipher than the Rosetta stone.
If you have made it your goal to read every mermaid book there is then go ahead, but I cant recommend this book. I think the author needs alot more experience in world construction and plotting and credible characters.
And to end it on a positive note. It did have an interesting book cover.
It starts out promising with the main character preparing for a storm to hit when she is approached by a guy,and from then on its downhill.
I had the impression her transformation would happen later in the book but she just meets a strange guy and in the next paragraph she is a mermaid.
But she is still 100% snarky and not in a good way.
The main character is annoying and childish,constantly uttering such memorable things as "gross" or "ewww"
Her boyfriend has no qualms about ogling other girls(redheads are totally his type) but its totally ok,because hes loyal to Yara.But he doesnt want to be labeled as her boyfriend.Also hes got an awesome white coat...and a goatee. :/
But the main character assures the reader that Rownan is attractive in a million ways.
The goatee and the fur coat just scream attractive cool-ness. *rolls eyes*
Another character smokes "c-weed" Get it? Sound it out. Also a "seagarette" at first I thought it was a typo.But it wasnt
The characters are paperthin and sometimes the dialogue between is harder to decipher than the Rosetta stone.
If you have made it your goal to read every mermaid book there is then go ahead, but I cant recommend this book. I think the author needs alot more experience in world construction and plotting and credible characters.
And to end it on a positive note. It did have an interesting book cover.
November 25, 2011
Tangled Tides was one of my most anticipated books this year, and I am so glad it did not disappoint! From the opening chapter, the book jumps right into the action. Yara becomes a mermaid early on, and a whole new magical world beneath the sea is unveiled.
The mythology of this book was rich, refreshing, and a much-needed break from all the vampires, werewolves, and fallen angels. None of those here, but instead there are mermaids, selkies, sirens, and gorgons (even a water sprite or two), and learning the back stories and rules for each species, as well as watching how the different species interact with each other, was one of the things most interesting to me about the book. And another thing - it’s difficult to choose which creature I liked the most. I loved them all!
The characters were also unique and fully fleshed out. You’ll cheer for Yara, our heroine, the girls will swoon over Treygan, and Pango will make you laugh. I loved each one of these uniquely amazing characters.
And the surprises! Filled with secrets, these characters are part of a feud that has lasted for eighteen years, and the complex web of lies and secrets that each character is a part of unravels as the novel progresses. You’ll probably gasp a time or two…I know I did.
So definitely read Tangled Tides, especially if you’re a fan of warring supernatural creatures, but you’re tired of the vampires and the werewolves. But also, give it a try if you’re looking for a great story filled with romance, adventure, and shocking twists.
The mythology of this book was rich, refreshing, and a much-needed break from all the vampires, werewolves, and fallen angels. None of those here, but instead there are mermaids, selkies, sirens, and gorgons (even a water sprite or two), and learning the back stories and rules for each species, as well as watching how the different species interact with each other, was one of the things most interesting to me about the book. And another thing - it’s difficult to choose which creature I liked the most. I loved them all!
The characters were also unique and fully fleshed out. You’ll cheer for Yara, our heroine, the girls will swoon over Treygan, and Pango will make you laugh. I loved each one of these uniquely amazing characters.
And the surprises! Filled with secrets, these characters are part of a feud that has lasted for eighteen years, and the complex web of lies and secrets that each character is a part of unravels as the novel progresses. You’ll probably gasp a time or two…I know I did.
So definitely read Tangled Tides, especially if you’re a fan of warring supernatural creatures, but you’re tired of the vampires and the werewolves. But also, give it a try if you’re looking for a great story filled with romance, adventure, and shocking twists.
December 27, 2011
Holy rusted metal Batman what a wonderful story! Karen Amanda Hooper, you are well on your way to writing some fabulous books. Congratulations on an epic first novel.
*Short Summary*
The story begins with Yara, our main character, trying to batten down the hatches at her Uncle's home in order to survive a nasty hurricane. While trying to board a window, Yara bumps into a rather attractive stranger who offers his help. The strangers claims he can take Yara somewhere safe and she agrees to go with him. The next morning Yara finds herself not only with the ability to see and breathe underwater, but with her legs transformed into a golden fin...Throughout the rest of the novel Yara learns the following:
a) Creatures like mermaids, selkies, and sirens actually exist. They are from a mystical realm called Rathe and for the past 18 years they have been trapped in our world desperately wanting to get back home. Yara is the key to their return.
b) Her life has practically been all one big lie and everyone she thought she knew are not who they seem.
c) The mysterious stranger she met is named Treygan and all her life he has been her guardian, her protector. And he will continue to protect her until she is to complete the task that has been bestowed upon her since before her birth.
d) How can she fulfill her task when it would require her to be taken away from the one person she is learning to truly trust and love more than anyone else in her life?
Fantastic isn't it! Let's review. I will now share with you the many reasons why I will judge you so much if you choose not to read this book.
1. The story is unique and refreshing. When I first discovered this book a few months ago I was immediately hooked. Why you ask? Because it's about mermaids!! I love me a good mermaid story. Unfortunately, the concept of 'mermaids' is a subject that most tread water around...Most authors are addicted to werewolves, vampires, and fallen angels - OH MY! It was so nice to escape from all the cliched hullabalooza and read something new. Mermaids are such fun, beautiful creatures and it was a blast to spend a day in their world.
2. The story is soooo emotional. Good heavens this book had me near tears so many times it's ridiculous. You really feel for Yara and the hard decision she has to make. Does she choose to be selfless and never see her family or the man she loves again so others who haven't seen their loved ones in 18 years can return home? Or does she choose to be selfish and hang on to the new found love she has discovered? Tough decision! While reading you connect so well with Yara and Treygan and you just feel awful for them! Obviously, neither one of them chose to fall for one another and they tried so hard to prevent it. But sometimes these things just happen. What do you do when you've found the one person you're supposed to spend the rest of your life with and life throws a curve ball and says you can't be together? Insert knife into gut and twist!
3. Treygan. I bow down at Karen's feet for the creation of this fabulous 'mer' man. I love it when an author is brave enough to create a male lead who is passionate and not afraid to show emotion. Most authors, in my opinion, think that in order to make the male lead seem tough and strong he has to act like a brick - all the time! Ya, I don't know about you but I find it rather hard to emotionally connect to a piece of concrete...Through his actions we know that Treygan is a very tough and strong character but he's also very passionate, loving, and romantic ;) Towards the end of the story when the plot thickens and it gets really dramatic and emotional your heart just breaks with his :( Love. This. Man. Fish.
4. The world. I love the world that Karen has come up with. It's so refreshing to read a YA novel that doesn't take place in high school...the world was beautiful, mysterious, and magical. All the creatures in the book were fun and interesting to read about as well. This book isn't just about mermaids - it's so much more!
5. The writing style. I absolutely love Karen's writing style. She's not the type of writer that will write pointless scenes that are easy to skim over and then info dump all the important stuff right in your face later on in the book. While you read, Karen will leave little tidbits of information here and there that you have to store in your brain and remember because you know it will be important later on. She does a fabulous job of providing the information you need while still having the story progress smoothly. This was a great benefit for me because I have a horrible habit of skimming books. This forced me to just sit my tooch down and read every word and I'm so glad!
Now, as fabulous as this book was I'm afraid there were a few things that bothered me. At times, Yara's mind set or her way of thinking didn't make sense to me. Allow me to explain:
When Yara wakes up after the hurricane and she learns she has become a mermaid I feel there was no shock moment or freaking out period. Of course, initially she thinks it's all a dream but when she learns it's real she immediately just becomes angry at the people who changed her. For crying out loud girl friend you just learned that mermaids exist and that you are one of them! And all you can do is throw a tantrum like a little child? I myself would be on the verge of passing out if I learned I'd been changed into a fish! This is not like you've just walked out into a parking lot and found out someone just egged your car for heck sakes. You. Are. A. Mermaid! Freak out a little!
Another thing that bothered me was the fact that Yara never asked the question 'why?' When she's changed into a mermaid she demands to be returned to her home. Treygan informs her she can go back and visit for a while but then she has to come back. While visiting with her uncle, Treygan, who came with, is constantly telling Yara they have to return and that there is so much she needs to learn and do. Yara never once asks the question 'why?' Why do I have to go with you? Why have I been changed into a mermaid? Why do I have to learn so much stuff? Why don't you just leave me alone scary fish man!? It's like the moment she was changed she just accepted what happened to her. Sure she's kicking and screaming the entire time but she just accepts it. Doesn't make sense to me. Brace yourself readers, Yara is a bit of a brat at the beginning of the story but she eventually changes her attitude significantly.
Another thing that didn't sit right with me was the concept of smoking 'sea' weed. You're eyes just blew wide open didn't they? Come back down to earth and let me explain. Because all these creatures are trapped in the human world their bodies are malnourished and they have to take in a special kind of weed that gives their bodies energy and nourishment in order to survive. How do they take in this special weed grown at the bottom of the ocean?...they smoke it.
This was a very strange concept to me. While reading the book, I kept asking myself: out of all the possibilities the author could have come up with why did she decide to have the characters 'smoke' this weed? It didn't bother me horribly bad because of the way the author explained it. These creatures have to do this for their health. If they don't, they die. I understand that concept but it took a while to get used to. Ever since I was born my parents have taught me that smoking, drugs, and abusing alcohol is extremely dangerous for your health and it's best to just stay away from it all. So it was very strange for me to be reading along and then all of a sudden have the character whip out a 'seagarette' (clever. I know) and just be ok with it! In all honest though the whole smoking thing wasn't that profound in the story so it's nothing to get over dramatic about. Just be prepared.
Tangled Tides was just such a fabulous book. It sucked me right in and my heart sunk when I finished the book. I'm sooooo looking forward to the sequel. Hopefully there will be one :)
Enjoy and happy reading!
*Short Summary*
The story begins with Yara, our main character, trying to batten down the hatches at her Uncle's home in order to survive a nasty hurricane. While trying to board a window, Yara bumps into a rather attractive stranger who offers his help. The strangers claims he can take Yara somewhere safe and she agrees to go with him. The next morning Yara finds herself not only with the ability to see and breathe underwater, but with her legs transformed into a golden fin...Throughout the rest of the novel Yara learns the following:
a) Creatures like mermaids, selkies, and sirens actually exist. They are from a mystical realm called Rathe and for the past 18 years they have been trapped in our world desperately wanting to get back home. Yara is the key to their return.
b) Her life has practically been all one big lie and everyone she thought she knew are not who they seem.
c) The mysterious stranger she met is named Treygan and all her life he has been her guardian, her protector. And he will continue to protect her until she is to complete the task that has been bestowed upon her since before her birth.
d) How can she fulfill her task when it would require her to be taken away from the one person she is learning to truly trust and love more than anyone else in her life?
Fantastic isn't it! Let's review. I will now share with you the many reasons why I will judge you so much if you choose not to read this book.
1. The story is unique and refreshing. When I first discovered this book a few months ago I was immediately hooked. Why you ask? Because it's about mermaids!! I love me a good mermaid story. Unfortunately, the concept of 'mermaids' is a subject that most tread water around...Most authors are addicted to werewolves, vampires, and fallen angels - OH MY! It was so nice to escape from all the cliched hullabalooza and read something new. Mermaids are such fun, beautiful creatures and it was a blast to spend a day in their world.
2. The story is soooo emotional. Good heavens this book had me near tears so many times it's ridiculous. You really feel for Yara and the hard decision she has to make. Does she choose to be selfless and never see her family or the man she loves again so others who haven't seen their loved ones in 18 years can return home? Or does she choose to be selfish and hang on to the new found love she has discovered? Tough decision! While reading you connect so well with Yara and Treygan and you just feel awful for them! Obviously, neither one of them chose to fall for one another and they tried so hard to prevent it. But sometimes these things just happen. What do you do when you've found the one person you're supposed to spend the rest of your life with and life throws a curve ball and says you can't be together? Insert knife into gut and twist!
3. Treygan. I bow down at Karen's feet for the creation of this fabulous 'mer' man. I love it when an author is brave enough to create a male lead who is passionate and not afraid to show emotion. Most authors, in my opinion, think that in order to make the male lead seem tough and strong he has to act like a brick - all the time! Ya, I don't know about you but I find it rather hard to emotionally connect to a piece of concrete...Through his actions we know that Treygan is a very tough and strong character but he's also very passionate, loving, and romantic ;) Towards the end of the story when the plot thickens and it gets really dramatic and emotional your heart just breaks with his :( Love. This. Man. Fish.
4. The world. I love the world that Karen has come up with. It's so refreshing to read a YA novel that doesn't take place in high school...the world was beautiful, mysterious, and magical. All the creatures in the book were fun and interesting to read about as well. This book isn't just about mermaids - it's so much more!
5. The writing style. I absolutely love Karen's writing style. She's not the type of writer that will write pointless scenes that are easy to skim over and then info dump all the important stuff right in your face later on in the book. While you read, Karen will leave little tidbits of information here and there that you have to store in your brain and remember because you know it will be important later on. She does a fabulous job of providing the information you need while still having the story progress smoothly. This was a great benefit for me because I have a horrible habit of skimming books. This forced me to just sit my tooch down and read every word and I'm so glad!
Now, as fabulous as this book was I'm afraid there were a few things that bothered me. At times, Yara's mind set or her way of thinking didn't make sense to me. Allow me to explain:
When Yara wakes up after the hurricane and she learns she has become a mermaid I feel there was no shock moment or freaking out period. Of course, initially she thinks it's all a dream but when she learns it's real she immediately just becomes angry at the people who changed her. For crying out loud girl friend you just learned that mermaids exist and that you are one of them! And all you can do is throw a tantrum like a little child? I myself would be on the verge of passing out if I learned I'd been changed into a fish! This is not like you've just walked out into a parking lot and found out someone just egged your car for heck sakes. You. Are. A. Mermaid! Freak out a little!
Another thing that bothered me was the fact that Yara never asked the question 'why?' When she's changed into a mermaid she demands to be returned to her home. Treygan informs her she can go back and visit for a while but then she has to come back. While visiting with her uncle, Treygan, who came with, is constantly telling Yara they have to return and that there is so much she needs to learn and do. Yara never once asks the question 'why?' Why do I have to go with you? Why have I been changed into a mermaid? Why do I have to learn so much stuff? Why don't you just leave me alone scary fish man!? It's like the moment she was changed she just accepted what happened to her. Sure she's kicking and screaming the entire time but she just accepts it. Doesn't make sense to me. Brace yourself readers, Yara is a bit of a brat at the beginning of the story but she eventually changes her attitude significantly.
Another thing that didn't sit right with me was the concept of smoking 'sea' weed. You're eyes just blew wide open didn't they? Come back down to earth and let me explain. Because all these creatures are trapped in the human world their bodies are malnourished and they have to take in a special kind of weed that gives their bodies energy and nourishment in order to survive. How do they take in this special weed grown at the bottom of the ocean?...they smoke it.
This was a very strange concept to me. While reading the book, I kept asking myself: out of all the possibilities the author could have come up with why did she decide to have the characters 'smoke' this weed? It didn't bother me horribly bad because of the way the author explained it. These creatures have to do this for their health. If they don't, they die. I understand that concept but it took a while to get used to. Ever since I was born my parents have taught me that smoking, drugs, and abusing alcohol is extremely dangerous for your health and it's best to just stay away from it all. So it was very strange for me to be reading along and then all of a sudden have the character whip out a 'seagarette' (clever. I know) and just be ok with it! In all honest though the whole smoking thing wasn't that profound in the story so it's nothing to get over dramatic about. Just be prepared.
Tangled Tides was just such a fabulous book. It sucked me right in and my heart sunk when I finished the book. I'm sooooo looking forward to the sequel. Hopefully there will be one :)
Enjoy and happy reading!
January 12, 2014
Please note: I first read and reviewed this book in November of 2011 from a copy provided by Rhemalda Publishing in exchange for an honest review. Updating this review to add that disclaimer and formatting.
My Synopsis: The day before Yara’s 18th birthday, her guardian – who she calls Uncle Lloyd – has gone to the mainland from the Florida Keys to have kidney dialysis, and a hurricane is blowing up. While she struggles to cover the windows, a stranger appears, offering to help her. He says his name is Treygan and somehow he makes her feel safe and warm. He offers to take her someplace safe, if that is her wish, and she makes the wish. The next thing she knows, she’s waking up a mermaid. What has happened to her? How can she go back to the way things were? And most importantly – why has all this happened right now?
My Thoughts: Releasing 11/25/11 from Rhemalda, “Tangled Tides” is a wonderfully fun YA paranormal fantasy with strong elements of romance. While it makes use of the typical triad and oodles of problems getting along between the romantic leads, it all fits in the story and makes sense – unlike many where there is no particular reason. I found it quite refreshing and enjoyable for the plot to be so well-developed. Also, there are a lot of great suspense elements, and plot twists and turns – while I caught a few of the hints far enough ahead of guess what was coming, there were many I didn’t. This story will definitely keep you guessing! Merfolk aren’t the only paranormals to make an appearance, either – there are sirens, gorgons, selkies, sprites … it’s a wonderfully diverse cast. I can say that this is a book I would definitely recommend to people who enjoy romance, fantasy, paranormal and magical reality stories – don’t miss it – available 11/25/11.
My Synopsis: The day before Yara’s 18th birthday, her guardian – who she calls Uncle Lloyd – has gone to the mainland from the Florida Keys to have kidney dialysis, and a hurricane is blowing up. While she struggles to cover the windows, a stranger appears, offering to help her. He says his name is Treygan and somehow he makes her feel safe and warm. He offers to take her someplace safe, if that is her wish, and she makes the wish. The next thing she knows, she’s waking up a mermaid. What has happened to her? How can she go back to the way things were? And most importantly – why has all this happened right now?
My Thoughts: Releasing 11/25/11 from Rhemalda, “Tangled Tides” is a wonderfully fun YA paranormal fantasy with strong elements of romance. While it makes use of the typical triad and oodles of problems getting along between the romantic leads, it all fits in the story and makes sense – unlike many where there is no particular reason. I found it quite refreshing and enjoyable for the plot to be so well-developed. Also, there are a lot of great suspense elements, and plot twists and turns – while I caught a few of the hints far enough ahead of guess what was coming, there were many I didn’t. This story will definitely keep you guessing! Merfolk aren’t the only paranormals to make an appearance, either – there are sirens, gorgons, selkies, sprites … it’s a wonderfully diverse cast. I can say that this is a book I would definitely recommend to people who enjoy romance, fantasy, paranormal and magical reality stories – don’t miss it – available 11/25/11.
April 30, 2013
I had to drop this. My mom read it, but she reads pretty much anything and didn't suggest more than an "It was okay" when asked how the book was.
I, however, did not inherit her tolerance for literature and absolutely loathed this book. I like mermaids. And faeries. And all those cute paranormal species that don't get enough attention in favor of shape-shifters and vampires.
But I did not like Tangled Tides. Why?
1) The main character. She's annoying and whiny.
2) The main character's boyfriend. Not at all attractive from the description, which I could have ignored... but he smokes. Gross.
3) This book introduces drug culture of seagarettes and c-weed (which is smoked through a joint! a joint!) to mermen/maids and selkies.
4) Annoying characters. The seductive, whiny siren? The brooding merman who wants to save his people? The annoying boyfriend who sounds completely manipulative? The main character supposedly in love with said annoying boyfriend?
I just can't read this. I'd rather drink salt water.
I, however, did not inherit her tolerance for literature and absolutely loathed this book. I like mermaids. And faeries. And all those cute paranormal species that don't get enough attention in favor of shape-shifters and vampires.
But I did not like Tangled Tides. Why?
1) The main character. She's annoying and whiny.
2) The main character's boyfriend. Not at all attractive from the description, which I could have ignored... but he smokes. Gross.
3) This book introduces drug culture of seagarettes and c-weed (which is smoked through a joint! a joint!) to mermen/maids and selkies.
4) Annoying characters. The seductive, whiny siren? The brooding merman who wants to save his people? The annoying boyfriend who sounds completely manipulative? The main character supposedly in love with said annoying boyfriend?
I just can't read this. I'd rather drink salt water.
June 14, 2012
I will never say that I am an expert on all things mythical. Yes, I have been acquainted with many a being –centaurs, fairies, dragons, unicorns, griffins, etc. - but I cannot recall a time I ever read a story about a mermaid. Because of this, I was eager to pick up Hooper’s “Tangled Tides”- it would be something new and exciting plus I’m always a sucker for a pretty cover. I mean seriously, look at that cover!
The novel opens with the protagonist, Yara, yanking wooden panels covered in carvings of mythical sea-dwelling beings from her Uncle’s walls to place over windows to prepare for a hurricane. As she does this, a mysterious stranger appears, hypnotizes her, and lures her into the sea, where she wakes as a mermaid some indiscernible time later. Angry, afraid, and confused Yara finds herself in the middle of a make believe world made real- a world her boyfriend, Rownan, warned her to steer clear of. She soon learns that her kidnapper, a powerful merman named Treygan, and his people were not the only beings that wanted her and his actions could very well have saved her life and the lives of all of the merpeople.
The characters are people I would never want to meet in real life. Yara, Rownan, and Treygan all had egos that were out of this world and whiny, self-centered attitudes that made them very unattractive. The novel alternates between each of these character’s viewpoints and, though it saddens me to say it, the more I read from them, the less I liked them. I found Yara in particular irritated me to no end. I would imagine that if I were to wake a mermaid tomorrow, I would completely freak and lose my mind- most likely dry-drowning (that’s how you kill a mermaid, right?) the jerk that kidnapped and transformed me without my permission. Yara was more concerned about what her boyfriend would think, which cheapened her in my mind. What about what you think, Yara? Who cares about how he will feel, how do you feel? Why don’t you try to turn back human because you want to be human again? There was no sense of self-preservation within her- everything revolved around Rownan, a selkie that did not even love her and, later on in the book, Treygan, who even entertained thoughts of hurting her.
This brings me to another problem I had with this book: the entire mermaid/man physiology. Again, I’m no expert in this region at all, but I found large parts of the story severely lacking in explanations. Why walk on two legs all of the time if you’re supposed to live in water? How exactly did seagarettes and c-weed (drug references that I did not miss and did not appreciate) keep the selkies and merpeople alive? How are merpeople born? How can Yara see underwater, human eyes aren’t designed to see clearly underwater? How did the merpeople change colors? Where were all of the merpeople’s, you know…junk? What would be the point of building an entire mertown on dry land?
So many questions and not many, if any, were answered.
As many minuses as “Tangled Tides” had for me, I will not say that I did not enjoy some aspects of the book. The entire back story, with Medusa and the Gorgons, Poseidon, and Sirens, was enough to hold me through the 328 pages alone. Sure, I will admit some of it was a bit cheesy, flamboyant, and at times bizarre, but it made for a refreshing read in YA. The plot has incredible potential but the writing does not quite give it the boost it needs to reach it. If anything, it is the world building that really saved the book- I love how to mertown is described especially.
I’m not one to give away important plot points, so I’ll sum this up in the best way I know how:
Plot: Interesting and refreshing if a bit scattered in places and sometimes cheesy and over the top.
Characters: Selfish, absent-minded, nonsensical, whiny, flat, and overall unlikeable. Not characters you would want to come across again in a series unless they’ve been broken down and re-written entirely.
Writing: Amateurish and juvenile. Some places it was beautiful but not often enough to override the ugly places. I will go ahead and say the first 80 pages are a chore to get through. I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone older than 16 yet no one younger than 13 (there are naked merpeople mentioned a time or two, I’m not sure where that is on the scale of inappropriate but it definitely made me uncomfortable for the mere fact that I could imagine it…)
When the water settles, all that's left is a pretty, spun-sugar confection, airy as a bowl of cotton candy and similarly devoid of substance. While the plot of the story improves slightly throughout Tangled Tides (after a sucky, incoherent mess of a start), the 2 dimensional, and rather unlikeable, characters and wooden dialogue remain equally uninspired.
Overall I give Tangled Tides 2 stars. I would really love to have given it 3 but I feel with a bit of polishing Hooper can write a really fantastic book that will blow my socks off, I’ll be sure to keep my eye out for it.
Please excuse any grammatical and/or any punctuation errors you may have come across in this review.
The novel opens with the protagonist, Yara, yanking wooden panels covered in carvings of mythical sea-dwelling beings from her Uncle’s walls to place over windows to prepare for a hurricane. As she does this, a mysterious stranger appears, hypnotizes her, and lures her into the sea, where she wakes as a mermaid some indiscernible time later. Angry, afraid, and confused Yara finds herself in the middle of a make believe world made real- a world her boyfriend, Rownan, warned her to steer clear of. She soon learns that her kidnapper, a powerful merman named Treygan, and his people were not the only beings that wanted her and his actions could very well have saved her life and the lives of all of the merpeople.
The characters are people I would never want to meet in real life. Yara, Rownan, and Treygan all had egos that were out of this world and whiny, self-centered attitudes that made them very unattractive. The novel alternates between each of these character’s viewpoints and, though it saddens me to say it, the more I read from them, the less I liked them. I found Yara in particular irritated me to no end. I would imagine that if I were to wake a mermaid tomorrow, I would completely freak and lose my mind- most likely dry-drowning (that’s how you kill a mermaid, right?) the jerk that kidnapped and transformed me without my permission. Yara was more concerned about what her boyfriend would think, which cheapened her in my mind. What about what you think, Yara? Who cares about how he will feel, how do you feel? Why don’t you try to turn back human because you want to be human again? There was no sense of self-preservation within her- everything revolved around Rownan, a selkie that did not even love her and, later on in the book, Treygan, who even entertained thoughts of hurting her.
This brings me to another problem I had with this book: the entire mermaid/man physiology. Again, I’m no expert in this region at all, but I found large parts of the story severely lacking in explanations. Why walk on two legs all of the time if you’re supposed to live in water? How exactly did seagarettes and c-weed (drug references that I did not miss and did not appreciate) keep the selkies and merpeople alive? How are merpeople born? How can Yara see underwater, human eyes aren’t designed to see clearly underwater? How did the merpeople change colors? Where were all of the merpeople’s, you know…junk? What would be the point of building an entire mertown on dry land?
So many questions and not many, if any, were answered.
As many minuses as “Tangled Tides” had for me, I will not say that I did not enjoy some aspects of the book. The entire back story, with Medusa and the Gorgons, Poseidon, and Sirens, was enough to hold me through the 328 pages alone. Sure, I will admit some of it was a bit cheesy, flamboyant, and at times bizarre, but it made for a refreshing read in YA. The plot has incredible potential but the writing does not quite give it the boost it needs to reach it. If anything, it is the world building that really saved the book- I love how to mertown is described especially.
I’m not one to give away important plot points, so I’ll sum this up in the best way I know how:
Plot: Interesting and refreshing if a bit scattered in places and sometimes cheesy and over the top.
Characters: Selfish, absent-minded, nonsensical, whiny, flat, and overall unlikeable. Not characters you would want to come across again in a series unless they’ve been broken down and re-written entirely.
Writing: Amateurish and juvenile. Some places it was beautiful but not often enough to override the ugly places. I will go ahead and say the first 80 pages are a chore to get through. I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone older than 16 yet no one younger than 13 (there are naked merpeople mentioned a time or two, I’m not sure where that is on the scale of inappropriate but it definitely made me uncomfortable for the mere fact that I could imagine it…)
When the water settles, all that's left is a pretty, spun-sugar confection, airy as a bowl of cotton candy and similarly devoid of substance. While the plot of the story improves slightly throughout Tangled Tides (after a sucky, incoherent mess of a start), the 2 dimensional, and rather unlikeable, characters and wooden dialogue remain equally uninspired.
Overall I give Tangled Tides 2 stars. I would really love to have given it 3 but I feel with a bit of polishing Hooper can write a really fantastic book that will blow my socks off, I’ll be sure to keep my eye out for it.
Please excuse any grammatical and/or any punctuation errors you may have come across in this review.
December 7, 2011
Loved it! Incredibly unique.
November 21, 2011
One night an unforeseen hurricane takes aim on the island where Yara lives with her Uncle. While trying to board up her home, an unexpected visitor takes her away. Waking up underwater with fins, Yara is confused and scared; remembering the stories her boyfriend Rownan has told her about merfolk. Soon secrets surface about a past that dates back all the way to Poseiden and Medusa, and how Yara is the future for opening a gateway that has been closed off for many years. Yara learns that Rownan is actually a Selkie, and her kidnapper, the mysterious merman Treygan, is her guardian. She now must figure out who she can trust and who she must help to break a curse to open the gateway. But with a growing attaraction between her and Treygan, it may all prove too costly.
I don’t believe I have ever read a story about mermaids before but once I read the summary of Tangled Tides, I knew I had to read it. Thankful for the chance to review the book, I dove in and was hooked just pages into the story. Every bit of the storyline consumed me and I would read until I could no longer hold my eyes open. I immediately fell for Treygan, loving him from the start. Rownan...not so much. There was just something about him that seemed off from the start, not allowing me to root for him. And soon you find out what it is. But each character was brilliantly written and I enjoyed every moment with them hearing their story.
Tangled Tides is an amazing story of love and sacrifice, not just for Yara, but the other characters as well. Karen Amanda Hooper knows how to spin a tale that is not only entertaining but intriguing as well. She keeps you guessing throughout the book with the right amount of suspense and anticipation. Hooper's mermaids are fast becoming my favorite, even more than my love for faeries. This is most definitely a must read and I look forward to more stories from this author.
In fact, I am craving them
I don’t believe I have ever read a story about mermaids before but once I read the summary of Tangled Tides, I knew I had to read it. Thankful for the chance to review the book, I dove in and was hooked just pages into the story. Every bit of the storyline consumed me and I would read until I could no longer hold my eyes open. I immediately fell for Treygan, loving him from the start. Rownan...not so much. There was just something about him that seemed off from the start, not allowing me to root for him. And soon you find out what it is. But each character was brilliantly written and I enjoyed every moment with them hearing their story.
Tangled Tides is an amazing story of love and sacrifice, not just for Yara, but the other characters as well. Karen Amanda Hooper knows how to spin a tale that is not only entertaining but intriguing as well. She keeps you guessing throughout the book with the right amount of suspense and anticipation. Hooper's mermaids are fast becoming my favorite, even more than my love for faeries. This is most definitely a must read and I look forward to more stories from this author.
In fact, I am craving them
August 9, 2011
I had the very fortunate luck of reading this back in August, and for the two days I read it, I could not put it down. Seriously. All I wanted to do was read the book, so my nose was stuck in my Nook until I finished.
First off, I have to say, I don't think I have ever read another mermaid book. I'd seen SPLASH like a million years ago back in the 80s, and though it was cute, mermaids were just not something I thought I cared much about. That is until I read TANGLED TIDES. I have a whole new opinion of them now.
I'll admit it. I am a sucker for romance. But, with this in mind, I want romance to really sizzle and to really work. And I want those moments of frustration between the characters, but I don't want them to last too long. And in all these aspects, TANGLED TIDES comes through big time. But don't think this story is simply some fluffy romance. There are real world consequences to the tune of an entire race dying off and war between sea creatures. And, like so many good stories, the main characters have to solve their own problems or all will be lost.
Okay, enough rambling. In short, I loved this book. I was honored to be an early reader, and I will recommend this one to everyone I can. Full of deception, forbidden love, and intrigue, TANGLED TIDES is a story best savored but impossible to put down.
*And on a final note, the publisher has this book for a great price if you pre-order (which you should). So definitely check it out!
Source of book: From publisher
First off, I have to say, I don't think I have ever read another mermaid book. I'd seen SPLASH like a million years ago back in the 80s, and though it was cute, mermaids were just not something I thought I cared much about. That is until I read TANGLED TIDES. I have a whole new opinion of them now.
I'll admit it. I am a sucker for romance. But, with this in mind, I want romance to really sizzle and to really work. And I want those moments of frustration between the characters, but I don't want them to last too long. And in all these aspects, TANGLED TIDES comes through big time. But don't think this story is simply some fluffy romance. There are real world consequences to the tune of an entire race dying off and war between sea creatures. And, like so many good stories, the main characters have to solve their own problems or all will be lost.
Okay, enough rambling. In short, I loved this book. I was honored to be an early reader, and I will recommend this one to everyone I can. Full of deception, forbidden love, and intrigue, TANGLED TIDES is a story best savored but impossible to put down.
*And on a final note, the publisher has this book for a great price if you pre-order (which you should). So definitely check it out!
Source of book: From publisher
May 26, 2018
Actual rating: 3.5
Tangled Tides was interesting to say the least. However, I absolutely hated the main character.
Yara was sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo annoying. She whined all the god damn time and I just couldn't like her no matter how hard I didn't try because I honestly didn't. I also had no idea how these guys all liked her. At first, I thought they were deaf.. but sadly they weren't. I just wanted to slap her senseless until she realized to stop whining about everything.
I totally get that Yara woke up one day as a mermaid swimming under the sea. However, she's no ariel or little mermaid. Maybe the little annoying mermaid, if anything. Besides her, the selkies and sirens in this book were interesting enough. They did creep me out with how blood thirsty they were..
She also has a sort of triangle going on. Yara has two guys: Treygan and Rownan. Neither deserve her and I didn't want her to end up with them either. Rownan was basically the bad guy that she would stupidly trust. Treygan eventually developed feelings for Yara but I really didn't want to ship them. Plus he was the ONE person she should've trusted all along.
Again, one of the many reasons I didn't like Yara. She made the stupidest decisions and trusted the wrong person EVERY TIME. Maybe if she used common sense I would've liked her a lot more.
Overall, it was an okay book. The ending was kind of underwhelming for me. I'm still going to dive into the second book because I have questions and I also hope that Yara will be different.
Tangled Tides was interesting to say the least. However, I absolutely hated the main character.
Yara was sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo annoying. She whined all the god damn time and I just couldn't like her no matter how hard I didn't try because I honestly didn't. I also had no idea how these guys all liked her. At first, I thought they were deaf.. but sadly they weren't. I just wanted to slap her senseless until she realized to stop whining about everything.
I totally get that Yara woke up one day as a mermaid swimming under the sea. However, she's no ariel or little mermaid. Maybe the little annoying mermaid, if anything. Besides her, the selkies and sirens in this book were interesting enough. They did creep me out with how blood thirsty they were..
She also has a sort of triangle going on. Yara has two guys: Treygan and Rownan. Neither deserve her and I didn't want her to end up with them either. Rownan was basically the bad guy that she would stupidly trust. Treygan eventually developed feelings for Yara but I really didn't want to ship them. Plus he was the ONE person she should've trusted all along.
Again, one of the many reasons I didn't like Yara. She made the stupidest decisions and trusted the wrong person EVERY TIME. Maybe if she used common sense I would've liked her a lot more.
Overall, it was an okay book. The ending was kind of underwhelming for me. I'm still going to dive into the second book because I have questions and I also hope that Yara will be different.
August 11, 2012
3.5 stars
I was oddly fascinated by this book. I didn't expect to like it as much as I did, but at the same time, I'm aware that it did have some flaws. With all of that being said, if a story can keep me flipping the pages, I'm obviously willing to overlook those flaws.
The plot in this story is actually really interesting. Yara is turned into a mermaid during a storm because she has mermaid blood in her. She's supposed to be the one that can open the gate that closed and stranded both selkies and mermaids on the planet when a deal with the gorgons went awry. Thus, this novel is insanely rich with not only mermaid lore, but mythology and the lore of other creatures like selkies and bird-like sirens.
Yara is an extremely headstrong character. She doesn't trust easily, her attitude tends to go back and forth often, but she has a good heart and will always do what is best. Treygan is also an amazing character and strong love interest. He enjoys Yara's presence and all of her quirks, but he knows he can't be with her. He does his best to stay away, but in the end, true love is simply too strong. Rownan is conniving, but his heart is in the right place in the end. You will love him then hate him then love him again. The story is told from these three perspectives. All characters have a unique voice and it truly added to the story, hearing their different thoughts on the same situation or the hardships they endured to help someone else.
With all of these elements thrown together, you would think that you'd have a decent story! The problem is that they weren't fully executed or they were executed at the wrong time. A lot of the characters ended up having odd relations to each other, sometimes the familial type. When such a huge piece of information is revealed, it just happens. There's no hints, it's not super climactic, but it means so much to the character. After a while, I got sick of the everyone being related to everyone and indebted to this person or connected to this person etc etc. It was a bit tiring and constantly made all the characters think that they were being lied to. I also thought some parts of the story were rather childish. When you're spending the last few days that you potentially may ever spend with the love of your life, the first thing on your mind shouldn't be a pillow fight. Lastly, the ending was supposed to be such a huge deal. The entire book built up to it and I felt as if the hype was for nothing. I understand the gravity of the situation, but I expected it to be so much more than it was after hundreds of pages of build-up.
With all of that being said, I truly enjoyed the mix of all of the possible sea monsters imaginable and I'm a sucker for any story with strong lore in it. Sirens, gorgons, selkies, mermaids, gods and more, this story will certainly make anyone with a desire for mythology happy. It is a light, entertaining read, but it didn't blow me away. A lot of its plot points could have been executed different, making a book that could have been great, only good. Thus, this book is getting 3.5 stars.
I will be continuing the series, though I am not tripping over myself for the sequel. It is certainly one that I will be looking forward as its release date approaches, though.
I was oddly fascinated by this book. I didn't expect to like it as much as I did, but at the same time, I'm aware that it did have some flaws. With all of that being said, if a story can keep me flipping the pages, I'm obviously willing to overlook those flaws.
The plot in this story is actually really interesting. Yara is turned into a mermaid during a storm because she has mermaid blood in her. She's supposed to be the one that can open the gate that closed and stranded both selkies and mermaids on the planet when a deal with the gorgons went awry. Thus, this novel is insanely rich with not only mermaid lore, but mythology and the lore of other creatures like selkies and bird-like sirens.
Yara is an extremely headstrong character. She doesn't trust easily, her attitude tends to go back and forth often, but she has a good heart and will always do what is best. Treygan is also an amazing character and strong love interest. He enjoys Yara's presence and all of her quirks, but he knows he can't be with her. He does his best to stay away, but in the end, true love is simply too strong. Rownan is conniving, but his heart is in the right place in the end. You will love him then hate him then love him again. The story is told from these three perspectives. All characters have a unique voice and it truly added to the story, hearing their different thoughts on the same situation or the hardships they endured to help someone else.
With all of these elements thrown together, you would think that you'd have a decent story! The problem is that they weren't fully executed or they were executed at the wrong time. A lot of the characters ended up having odd relations to each other, sometimes the familial type. When such a huge piece of information is revealed, it just happens. There's no hints, it's not super climactic, but it means so much to the character. After a while, I got sick of the everyone being related to everyone and indebted to this person or connected to this person etc etc. It was a bit tiring and constantly made all the characters think that they were being lied to. I also thought some parts of the story were rather childish. When you're spending the last few days that you potentially may ever spend with the love of your life, the first thing on your mind shouldn't be a pillow fight. Lastly, the ending was supposed to be such a huge deal. The entire book built up to it and I felt as if the hype was for nothing. I understand the gravity of the situation, but I expected it to be so much more than it was after hundreds of pages of build-up.
With all of that being said, I truly enjoyed the mix of all of the possible sea monsters imaginable and I'm a sucker for any story with strong lore in it. Sirens, gorgons, selkies, mermaids, gods and more, this story will certainly make anyone with a desire for mythology happy. It is a light, entertaining read, but it didn't blow me away. A lot of its plot points could have been executed different, making a book that could have been great, only good. Thus, this book is getting 3.5 stars.
I will be continuing the series, though I am not tripping over myself for the sequel. It is certainly one that I will be looking forward as its release date approaches, though.
May 8, 2018
This started off really good. I loved how the mermaids are described with their hallmarks, changing colors and hair hierarchy. They have some nice traditions too. The selkies and sirens were quite different than I would have expected. Unique and refreshing. Even if they are blood obsessed! Yara is indeed a stubborn young woman (as often referred to) who is thrust into a strange unknown world that she has forgotten time and again. I felt really bad for all her stolen memories and the lies she is and has been fed. It made it easier to relate and sympathize with her. The ending seemed too perfect and what her future holds too vague which was frustrating. I hope book 2 will explain better.
November 10, 2016
I haven't had great luck with mermaid books. There's just something about them that doesn't resonate with me. For example, a story of a human girl (who is really a sea creature of some sort) taken away from her home to fulfill a destiny in an underwater kingdom is not my cup of tea, especially when she's told how grateful she should be for getting to be a part of a community so superior to that of humans.
In case you missed it, that is exactly what happens here.
This book had not only mermaids, but selkies, sirens, and gorgons as well. And all these creatures had their own characteristics and abilities, and they were all tied to the main story.
This was a little overwhelming for a relatively short book. The story moved very quickly in the beginning when Yara, the main character, was taken to the mermaid world. I enjoyed some aspects (such as the characters), but some of the details were just too much. The color-changing skin, the different colored mermaids and their levels, the memory sharing/stealing, the gate, the story about the gate, the creation legend, the hallmarks, the abilities, the family trees... I didn't even try to keep track of it all.
I thought I was going to enjoy the romance more. While it began as something of a slow burn, things quickly shifted tone and suddenly it was all epic and lovey-dovey. I did like both the main characters, and several of the side characters as well, but I wish there'd been a little more transition to the romance. And I didn't think it was really necessary for Treygan .
Another plus about this book: the female friendships. No snarkiness, no slut-shaming, no feelings of inadequacy. There were several female characters, all different, and they were each presented fairly. Though there was some animosity among the species, nobody hated the women for no particular reason. Yay!
There was a bit of special snowflake syndrome going on, but I found Yara rather likeable so it didn't bother me. The ending was kind of a clusterfuck, but at that point I was just rolling with whatever the novel threw at me.
I do recommend this book to my friends who are fans of mermaid stories, as it's quite interesting at times and I thought the characters were well-written. Plus it's free!!!
In case you missed it, that is exactly what happens here.
This book had not only mermaids, but selkies, sirens, and gorgons as well. And all these creatures had their own characteristics and abilities, and they were all tied to the main story.
This was a little overwhelming for a relatively short book. The story moved very quickly in the beginning when Yara, the main character, was taken to the mermaid world. I enjoyed some aspects (such as the characters), but some of the details were just too much. The color-changing skin, the different colored mermaids and their levels, the memory sharing/stealing, the gate, the story about the gate, the creation legend, the hallmarks, the abilities, the family trees... I didn't even try to keep track of it all.
I thought I was going to enjoy the romance more. While it began as something of a slow burn, things quickly shifted tone and suddenly it was all epic and lovey-dovey. I did like both the main characters, and several of the side characters as well, but I wish there'd been a little more transition to the romance. And I didn't think it was really necessary for Treygan .
Another plus about this book: the female friendships. No snarkiness, no slut-shaming, no feelings of inadequacy. There were several female characters, all different, and they were each presented fairly. Though there was some animosity among the species, nobody hated the women for no particular reason. Yay!
There was a bit of special snowflake syndrome going on, but I found Yara rather likeable so it didn't bother me. The ending was kind of a clusterfuck, but at that point I was just rolling with whatever the novel threw at me.
I do recommend this book to my friends who are fans of mermaid stories, as it's quite interesting at times and I thought the characters were well-written. Plus it's free!!!
December 10, 2011
I have read a few books containing mermaids before, but few have managed to capture the underwater imagery like Karen Amanda Hooper has in Tangled tides!!
This book is told in 3 differing voices: Yara - The feisty human turned mermaid. Rownan - Yara's 'boyfriend' and selkie and Treygan- Yara's guardian and soulmate..... Personally, I love to read stories from a male's point of view. So reading 2 males perspectives.... well, I was seriously happy!! The 3 voices flow smoothly throughout the book and its so cool to get inside the different characters heads and know what each of them are thinking!!
The plot was paced so that you were always kept involved and invested in the story. There are mermaids and selkies and gorgons and sirens and you get to learn the stories of each of them. And there were enough twists and turns to have you anticipating what would happen next!
The characters were all likeable and as much as I loved Yara and Treygan it was Pango who had me laughing out loud at his witty and amusing comments!! I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Yara and Treygan. Definitely not love at first sight. There were times throughout the book were I found myself questioning whether I really liked Rownan or not, but by the end of the book he had won me over.
So, if you love fantasy, romance and adventure then Tangled Tides is the book for you!!
This book is told in 3 differing voices: Yara - The feisty human turned mermaid. Rownan - Yara's 'boyfriend' and selkie and Treygan- Yara's guardian and soulmate..... Personally, I love to read stories from a male's point of view. So reading 2 males perspectives.... well, I was seriously happy!! The 3 voices flow smoothly throughout the book and its so cool to get inside the different characters heads and know what each of them are thinking!!
The plot was paced so that you were always kept involved and invested in the story. There are mermaids and selkies and gorgons and sirens and you get to learn the stories of each of them. And there were enough twists and turns to have you anticipating what would happen next!
The characters were all likeable and as much as I loved Yara and Treygan it was Pango who had me laughing out loud at his witty and amusing comments!! I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Yara and Treygan. Definitely not love at first sight. There were times throughout the book were I found myself questioning whether I really liked Rownan or not, but by the end of the book he had won me over.
So, if you love fantasy, romance and adventure then Tangled Tides is the book for you!!
January 4, 2012
TANGLED TIDES is addicting. I would try to put it down (close the laptop)saying, just one more page, then I’ll go. But on just about every page, a new twist or information kept me reading. There was no putting this book down. It’s told from different points of view, each one gripping in its own way, with their own distinct voice and personality.
The plot alone was enough to keep me guessing. So many twists and turns that I didn’t see coming, and well-constructed plot points that weaved together a perfectly executed thrill ride. But then we have the romance on top of that. Yara and Tregan’s sexual tension was felt in every scene. It began humorous, with laugh out loud witty banter, and then turned passionate as the story and their feelings deepened. I could not get enough of them. Truly an original story with amazingly crafted characters, TANGLED TIDES is a must read for mythology lovers.
The plot alone was enough to keep me guessing. So many twists and turns that I didn’t see coming, and well-constructed plot points that weaved together a perfectly executed thrill ride. But then we have the romance on top of that. Yara and Tregan’s sexual tension was felt in every scene. It began humorous, with laugh out loud witty banter, and then turned passionate as the story and their feelings deepened. I could not get enough of them. Truly an original story with amazingly crafted characters, TANGLED TIDES is a must read for mythology lovers.
Want to read
August 20, 2011I can't wait to read this! If Karen wrote it then it's bound to be amazing!
Want to read
May 13, 2012Awesome cover! Can't wait to read it!
January 8, 2012
Fact: The Little Mermaid is one of my favorite Disney movies. Therefore, I take mermaid stories and lore very seriously. That little girl you used to see at the pool or at the beach that tried to swim using both of her feet as one long fin? That was me. So it shouldn’t come as a surprise that I love reading books based on the idea of mermaids what not. I have to admit that a majority of the books flooding the Young Adult aisles that involve mermaids or merfolk have been very blasé and somewhat disappointing. That was NOT the case with Karen Hooper’s Tangled Tides.
How do I even start to describe how much I enjoyed this book? I guess I’ll start with the mythology. Not only does Hooper provide the reader with a new vision of the origin of mermaids, selkies, sirens, and gorgons. What is all that, you ask? Something new and wonderful to throw together in a novel. Not only was the mythology fascinating, but I feel like I learned more about Medusa and the legend beyond the woman with snakes for hair.
The plotline was completely well done, and I never quite knew what was going to happen to the characters next. I honestly could not predict the storyline, and I absolutely loved that. Now, the only drawback to such a complex narrative is the fact that sometimes I would get a little confused by the convoluted names and descriptions. I’m still not quite sure who exactly was Yara’s father and how they met, etc. But it is something that was not too imperative to the story, so I can get past that. There are a lot of secondary characters that I sometimes confused with one another, but it didn’t really bother me.
Yara was an extremely realistic character, especially with her misconception of love and caring, and the exploration of her past was unraveled very well. Treygan made me fall in love with the tragedy that one’s genetic inheritance can cause, and the true selflessness that love can incite. The two of them together was wonderful, and I must say that I haven’t been that invested in a fictional relationship since that of MacKayla Lane and Jericho Barrons in Karen Marie Moning’s Fever series. I just wanted so badly for them to have a happy ending, one befitting the love that existed between them. Rownan just made me angry most of the novel, because he definitely didn’t deserve the respect that Yara gave him after his lies. I did feel bad for him concerning Vienna, so that redeemed him a little in my opinion.
Typically, point of view shifts really bother me when it isn’t necessary to the story, and even more when the voices aren’t distinct enough. In Tangled Tides, though, it was definitely imperative to the story to give us the three separate points of view, because there were so many emotions and details that would have been left out had the story only been told from Yara’s or Treygan’s point of view. Each of the three narrators, Yara, Treygan, and Rownan, all had their unique voices and I truly enjoyed reading all of them.
Overall, I really ended up loving this novel. The writing was great, the plot was amazing, and the characters were very well developed and had multiple layers. Without my immense connection to the characters and the story, I would have given this novel four stars for originality, great plotting, and great use of point of view. But since I ended up loving it as much as I did, I believe a five star rating is in order.
How do I even start to describe how much I enjoyed this book? I guess I’ll start with the mythology. Not only does Hooper provide the reader with a new vision of the origin of mermaids, selkies, sirens, and gorgons. What is all that, you ask? Something new and wonderful to throw together in a novel. Not only was the mythology fascinating, but I feel like I learned more about Medusa and the legend beyond the woman with snakes for hair.
The plotline was completely well done, and I never quite knew what was going to happen to the characters next. I honestly could not predict the storyline, and I absolutely loved that. Now, the only drawback to such a complex narrative is the fact that sometimes I would get a little confused by the convoluted names and descriptions. I’m still not quite sure who exactly was Yara’s father and how they met, etc. But it is something that was not too imperative to the story, so I can get past that. There are a lot of secondary characters that I sometimes confused with one another, but it didn’t really bother me.
Yara was an extremely realistic character, especially with her misconception of love and caring, and the exploration of her past was unraveled very well. Treygan made me fall in love with the tragedy that one’s genetic inheritance can cause, and the true selflessness that love can incite. The two of them together was wonderful, and I must say that I haven’t been that invested in a fictional relationship since that of MacKayla Lane and Jericho Barrons in Karen Marie Moning’s Fever series. I just wanted so badly for them to have a happy ending, one befitting the love that existed between them. Rownan just made me angry most of the novel, because he definitely didn’t deserve the respect that Yara gave him after his lies. I did feel bad for him concerning Vienna, so that redeemed him a little in my opinion.
Typically, point of view shifts really bother me when it isn’t necessary to the story, and even more when the voices aren’t distinct enough. In Tangled Tides, though, it was definitely imperative to the story to give us the three separate points of view, because there were so many emotions and details that would have been left out had the story only been told from Yara’s or Treygan’s point of view. Each of the three narrators, Yara, Treygan, and Rownan, all had their unique voices and I truly enjoyed reading all of them.
Overall, I really ended up loving this novel. The writing was great, the plot was amazing, and the characters were very well developed and had multiple layers. Without my immense connection to the characters and the story, I would have given this novel four stars for originality, great plotting, and great use of point of view. But since I ended up loving it as much as I did, I believe a five star rating is in order.
January 12, 2014
** 1/10/14 Update- I just read more reviews on this book and most of the 5 stars are from people who sound like they didn't even read this book. I'm not a literary snob. I don't hold books to very high standards. I just don't understand how this book could be so highly rated without it actually being a scam, or rigged, or whatever! It's genuinely made me question the ratings on goodreads! **
I'm really really surprised with the reviews/rating on this book. I REALLY REALLY wanted to like this book. Wanted.. and actually liking though, are two different things all together. I found the characters really shallow. The dialog was incredibly immature and pretty much the whole story felt rushed. Like the author had all these great ideas but had to edit them all down into one book.
I realize this is a YA book- but with the dialog and the snarky/bratty character that Yara was, I think that the dialog would be better suited for the Jr.High readers. And I don't mean that in an insulting way. I think anyone over the age of 18 would find the main character annoying, rude, and hard to relate to.
I really think this book lost me at C-weed and seagarrets. I can't make this stuff up people. There are actual Mer- C-Weed dealers in this book. Oh, and that Rownan wore a fur coat all year long.. by the coast. No one thought this strange? Let me reiterate that. A fur coat. Every day. At the beach.
The fact that this book got such great reviews here on Goodreads kinda makes me question using this site as my go to site for book recs.!
I'm really really surprised with the reviews/rating on this book. I REALLY REALLY wanted to like this book. Wanted.. and actually liking though, are two different things all together. I found the characters really shallow. The dialog was incredibly immature and pretty much the whole story felt rushed. Like the author had all these great ideas but had to edit them all down into one book.
I realize this is a YA book- but with the dialog and the snarky/bratty character that Yara was, I think that the dialog would be better suited for the Jr.High readers. And I don't mean that in an insulting way. I think anyone over the age of 18 would find the main character annoying, rude, and hard to relate to.
I really think this book lost me at C-weed and seagarrets. I can't make this stuff up people. There are actual Mer- C-Weed dealers in this book. Oh, and that Rownan wore a fur coat all year long.. by the coast. No one thought this strange? Let me reiterate that. A fur coat. Every day. At the beach.
The fact that this book got such great reviews here on Goodreads kinda makes me question using this site as my go to site for book recs.!
August 26, 2016
For Full Review go to http://seeingdoubleinneverland.blogsp...
4 out of 5 stars
There were so many incredible Mythologies included in this book that you will never get bored!
4 out of 5 stars
There were so many incredible Mythologies included in this book that you will never get bored!
September 22, 2013
More reviews can be seen on my shared blog Boricuan Bookworms
Dear Karen Amanda Hooper:
Please.
Please please please please please stop creating stories that I love!
You don’t understand how much it pains me to wait for the next book in the series. Or how much it hurts to know that the love interests in this series will never compare to anyone I’ll ever meet. Ever.
-Sincerely, Marianne.
Okay okay, I should start my review:
I’m always very hesitant to read books about sea creatures, because many of them are never well developed. I’m happy to say that Karen has restored my faith in reading mermaid books!
Tangled Tides was an amazing mermaid story. Karen took everything I love about mermaids, and intensified it. She added new facts to the myth and pleasantly surprised me.
This book perfectly combines mermaid folklore, fiction, action, fantasy, and a whole lot of romance!
This story is about Yara, an ordinary girl who gets kidnapped days before her 18th birthday by a sexy merman. To Yara’s surprise, she’s told she’s a mermaid! Yara didn’t believe in any of those things, but now that she’s seeing it happen right before her eyes, how can she not? To make matters worse, she’s the one who holds the key to lift a curse off of her people; she can open the gateway between the worlds. There’s also a small problem: not all sea creatures are good, some want Yara dead. Add in falling for the stormy-eyed Treygan, and Yara’s life will be much more difficult. Why couldn’t she just be human?
This story is told in three POV’s: Yara’s, Treygan’s and Rownan’s. At first I couldn’t really connect with Yara. I mean, she’s a mermaid! How can she possibly see anything bad with that! I would’ve stated jumping in joy and whatnot! But Yara was a whole different story. Initially she was so stubborn! She didn’t want anything to do with mermaids and that just made me want to slap some sense into her!
Anyways, after my initial Yara annoyance, I could honestly say I really loved her character development. By the end of the book, I was totally on board the Yara train! I actually wanted to be Yara (this may or may not have to do with having a love interest like Treygan…).
Treygan was just… swoon central.
Other than being DROP DEAD GORGEOUS, he was sweet, protective, loyal, loving and overall amazing. Treygan’s POV was one of the most entertaining to read, because other than having an in-depth understanding of the mermaid-verse, we also understand his thoughts and motivations, things that Yara sometimes never understood. Although… his and Yara’s banter was very amusing.
The only POV I really couldn’t stand was Rownan’s. He was so insufferable for me at first. He was the “villain” of the story, and I’ve got to say, he played his part very well. He redeemed himself at the end, but I really can’t bring myself to love him yet.
Now, other than these main characters, it was nice to see many secondary characters that actually give something to the story! I loved seeing Delmar and Kimber’s stories, for example. I hope to see much more of it in the next book.
I never have an issue with Karen’s writing, because it always has a beautiful and captivating prose. This one was no different.
The ending for me was beautiful. I liked how everything was wrapped up nicely, but at the same time, there’s still space to introduce a second book. I can’t wait to see what else Karen can do!
Rating: 4.5 stars!
Ebook provided by Publisher via Netgalley
Dear Karen Amanda Hooper:
Please.
Please please please please please stop creating stories that I love!
You don’t understand how much it pains me to wait for the next book in the series. Or how much it hurts to know that the love interests in this series will never compare to anyone I’ll ever meet. Ever.
-Sincerely, Marianne.
Okay okay, I should start my review:
I’m always very hesitant to read books about sea creatures, because many of them are never well developed. I’m happy to say that Karen has restored my faith in reading mermaid books!
Tangled Tides was an amazing mermaid story. Karen took everything I love about mermaids, and intensified it. She added new facts to the myth and pleasantly surprised me.
This book perfectly combines mermaid folklore, fiction, action, fantasy, and a whole lot of romance!
This story is about Yara, an ordinary girl who gets kidnapped days before her 18th birthday by a sexy merman. To Yara’s surprise, she’s told she’s a mermaid! Yara didn’t believe in any of those things, but now that she’s seeing it happen right before her eyes, how can she not? To make matters worse, she’s the one who holds the key to lift a curse off of her people; she can open the gateway between the worlds. There’s also a small problem: not all sea creatures are good, some want Yara dead. Add in falling for the stormy-eyed Treygan, and Yara’s life will be much more difficult. Why couldn’t she just be human?
This story is told in three POV’s: Yara’s, Treygan’s and Rownan’s. At first I couldn’t really connect with Yara. I mean, she’s a mermaid! How can she possibly see anything bad with that! I would’ve stated jumping in joy and whatnot! But Yara was a whole different story. Initially she was so stubborn! She didn’t want anything to do with mermaids and that just made me want to slap some sense into her!
Anyways, after my initial Yara annoyance, I could honestly say I really loved her character development. By the end of the book, I was totally on board the Yara train! I actually wanted to be Yara (this may or may not have to do with having a love interest like Treygan…).
Treygan was just… swoon central.
Other than being DROP DEAD GORGEOUS, he was sweet, protective, loyal, loving and overall amazing. Treygan’s POV was one of the most entertaining to read, because other than having an in-depth understanding of the mermaid-verse, we also understand his thoughts and motivations, things that Yara sometimes never understood. Although… his and Yara’s banter was very amusing.
“You have a wide nose,” I mumbled.
“You have a narrow mind,” he shot back.
“Well, you could really use a haircut.”
Another eyes-closed nose pinch. “If you tame your attitude, I’ll cut my hair.”
“Why are you so concerned with my personality?”
“Why are you so concerned with my appearance?”
-Tangled Tides by Karen Amanda Hooper
The only POV I really couldn’t stand was Rownan’s. He was so insufferable for me at first. He was the “villain” of the story, and I’ve got to say, he played his part very well. He redeemed himself at the end, but I really can’t bring myself to love him yet.
Now, other than these main characters, it was nice to see many secondary characters that actually give something to the story! I loved seeing Delmar and Kimber’s stories, for example. I hope to see much more of it in the next book.
I never have an issue with Karen’s writing, because it always has a beautiful and captivating prose. This one was no different.
The ending for me was beautiful. I liked how everything was wrapped up nicely, but at the same time, there’s still space to introduce a second book. I can’t wait to see what else Karen can do!
Rating: 4.5 stars!
Ebook provided by Publisher via Netgalley
April 5, 2012
no words, I repeat, NO WORDS could best describe how fucking awesome this novel is ..
Karen Amanda Hooper, I BOW TO YOU!
Reading this one was like riding a roller coaster
sorry, wrong gif ;))
The best part about Tangled Tides is that it keep me guessing. Other books that I've read was really bland. My reaction was either, "I definitely saw that one coming" or "WTF! He/She (the author) just pick that one out on the effin spot!" They try to surprise the reader by picking random endings!
but with this, I was like
I HONESTLY didn't saw that one coming ...
Characters:
TREYGAN. one gif only
and YARA was like
PONGO and MERRICK are sweethearts. I LOVE THEM! They're so effin' cute.
---
BUT, bad news ... No matter how much I LOVE Tangled Tides, I WOULDN'T, COULDN'T, read the sequel. The ending for this one was sooo PERFECT that I just couldn't bare to read how they're perfect little world is shattered once again .. I just couldn't.
Karen Amanda Hooper, I BOW TO YOU!
Reading this one was like riding a roller coaster
sorry, wrong gif ;))
The best part about Tangled Tides is that it keep me guessing. Other books that I've read was really bland. My reaction was either, "I definitely saw that one coming" or "WTF! He/She (the author) just pick that one out on the effin spot!" They try to surprise the reader by picking random endings!
but with this, I was like
I HONESTLY didn't saw that one coming ...
Characters:
TREYGAN. one gif only
and YARA was like
PONGO and MERRICK are sweethearts. I LOVE THEM! They're so effin' cute.
---
BUT, bad news ... No matter how much I LOVE Tangled Tides, I WOULDN'T, COULDN'T, read the sequel. The ending for this one was sooo PERFECT that I just couldn't bare to read how they're perfect little world is shattered once again .. I just couldn't.
February 3, 2012
What an amazing debut by Karen Amanda Hooper! I was captivated by this story from the very beginning, and believe me when I say that Tangled Tides is definitely one of the best mermaid stories out there.
Hooper has certainly weaved quite a story. This book is so much more than a simple mermaid tale. Sirens, gorgons, and selkies all make an appearance, and the mythical world that Hooper creates for them is well-detailed and breathtaking. It was so easy to envision the underwater realm that Yara, Treygan, and their many companions live in. Another thing I loved was the elements of Greek mythology that were present. These elements give background to the merfolk and sea creatures, explaining how they came into being. I feel like with most mermaid stories, there is no mention of how or why mermaids exist, but instead, the reader just has to accept that they do. The fact that Hooper offers explanation to the history surrounding these sea creatures really sets her story apart from others and gives a fresh, new take to the classical mermaid tale.
The characters are also wonderful. Each one has their own, definitive voice, making it really easy to connect to them. Yara is faced with a tough decision that not only affects her, but hundreds of others, yet she is resolute and strong, and I really liked that about her. There are moments when she feels fear, but never once does she back down. All of her emotions come across really well, and I think she was an excellent main character. (I have to say I was a little surprised by her reaction to becoming a mermaid. She was angry, yes, but what about the freak out?? If you just got turned into a mermaid, you are entitled to freak out a little!) And then there is Treygan. Oh my, where do I even begin with him? He is strong, confident, smart, and the list goes on and on. He is just a great guy who really cares for Yara, and I love their relationship and chemistry. There were even a few instances where Treygan had to stop himself from having some inappropriate thoughts about Yara, which made him seem more ‘real’ and really fleshed out his character. There are also the minor characters, such as Pango, Rownan, and others, and I liked every one of them. It is very rare that side characters have their own voice (or personality, for that matter), and I applaud Hooper for creating such excellent characters.
Hooper’s awesome writing style coupled with great characters and an intriguing plot make Tangled Tides a must read for all. This is one of the best books published in 2011, and also one of the best mermaid stories available. I cannot for the sequel, which is still untitled. There is no release date set, but I hope it is soon! I cannot wait to see what Yara and Treygan’s next underwater adventure will be!
Hooper has certainly weaved quite a story. This book is so much more than a simple mermaid tale. Sirens, gorgons, and selkies all make an appearance, and the mythical world that Hooper creates for them is well-detailed and breathtaking. It was so easy to envision the underwater realm that Yara, Treygan, and their many companions live in. Another thing I loved was the elements of Greek mythology that were present. These elements give background to the merfolk and sea creatures, explaining how they came into being. I feel like with most mermaid stories, there is no mention of how or why mermaids exist, but instead, the reader just has to accept that they do. The fact that Hooper offers explanation to the history surrounding these sea creatures really sets her story apart from others and gives a fresh, new take to the classical mermaid tale.
The characters are also wonderful. Each one has their own, definitive voice, making it really easy to connect to them. Yara is faced with a tough decision that not only affects her, but hundreds of others, yet she is resolute and strong, and I really liked that about her. There are moments when she feels fear, but never once does she back down. All of her emotions come across really well, and I think she was an excellent main character. (I have to say I was a little surprised by her reaction to becoming a mermaid. She was angry, yes, but what about the freak out?? If you just got turned into a mermaid, you are entitled to freak out a little!) And then there is Treygan. Oh my, where do I even begin with him? He is strong, confident, smart, and the list goes on and on. He is just a great guy who really cares for Yara, and I love their relationship and chemistry. There were even a few instances where Treygan had to stop himself from having some inappropriate thoughts about Yara, which made him seem more ‘real’ and really fleshed out his character. There are also the minor characters, such as Pango, Rownan, and others, and I liked every one of them. It is very rare that side characters have their own voice (or personality, for that matter), and I applaud Hooper for creating such excellent characters.
Hooper’s awesome writing style coupled with great characters and an intriguing plot make Tangled Tides a must read for all. This is one of the best books published in 2011, and also one of the best mermaid stories available. I cannot for the sequel, which is still untitled. There is no release date set, but I hope it is soon! I cannot wait to see what Yara and Treygan’s next underwater adventure will be!
March 21, 2012
Tangled Tides is like when its summer and your hot and all you look forward to is jumping in the water to cool off and get refreshed, this book feels that way. This mermaid tale was so much fun to read. I was very excited to read this book because once again another author has used my name for their main character. So how could I not read it. This book and future series has several elements I really liked. Mermaids is the main element and thank goodness because I can count with less than one hand how many mermaid tales I love. Well now I have another I can add to my favorites.
Tangled Tides is the story of Yara Jones. The story begins with a great tempo. Yara is getting ready to weather a storm at the beach house she lives in. Then a mysterious stranger pops up out of no where and grants her a wish she agrees too. Well little does Yara know that the wish does come true and has just transported her to a whole new world. Yara is now a mermaid. She survived the storm by agreeing to go somewhere safe with Treygan. Treygan is the (Sexy) guy that just appeared out of the blue at her door steps. Well it turns out Treygan is a merman. Yara of course when she comes too and realizes what has happen is livid and appalled at the same time. She is a fish and doesn't want any part in that. Well its a little too late for changing her mind. All she has ever learned about merfolk is bad and now she misses her boyfriend Rowan and her Uncle too. She is worried if they are out looking for her or if they survived the storm. Well just like the hurricane and its force winds, Yara is about to discover many secrets that have been kept from her at the same speed as those winds. She will discover not everyone she thought she knew is who they really are. Can Yara learn to be one with her merfolk and embrace her new life. Yara also learns that merfolk are not the only fictional characters out there. See the short explanation is Yara is meant to unlock a gate that has been close for many years because of who she is and lets just say its not an easy task to make happen. Many lives are at risk including Yara's, will she survive or who will die in her place?
This book has it all, great energy, suspense, romantic tension and a beautiful underwater world. You'll be sinking your teeth into this one like a shark. I can't wait to see what next in the series.
review link: http://www.onceuponatwilight.com/2012...
Tangled Tides is the story of Yara Jones. The story begins with a great tempo. Yara is getting ready to weather a storm at the beach house she lives in. Then a mysterious stranger pops up out of no where and grants her a wish she agrees too. Well little does Yara know that the wish does come true and has just transported her to a whole new world. Yara is now a mermaid. She survived the storm by agreeing to go somewhere safe with Treygan. Treygan is the (Sexy) guy that just appeared out of the blue at her door steps. Well it turns out Treygan is a merman. Yara of course when she comes too and realizes what has happen is livid and appalled at the same time. She is a fish and doesn't want any part in that. Well its a little too late for changing her mind. All she has ever learned about merfolk is bad and now she misses her boyfriend Rowan and her Uncle too. She is worried if they are out looking for her or if they survived the storm. Well just like the hurricane and its force winds, Yara is about to discover many secrets that have been kept from her at the same speed as those winds. She will discover not everyone she thought she knew is who they really are. Can Yara learn to be one with her merfolk and embrace her new life. Yara also learns that merfolk are not the only fictional characters out there. See the short explanation is Yara is meant to unlock a gate that has been close for many years because of who she is and lets just say its not an easy task to make happen. Many lives are at risk including Yara's, will she survive or who will die in her place?
This book has it all, great energy, suspense, romantic tension and a beautiful underwater world. You'll be sinking your teeth into this one like a shark. I can't wait to see what next in the series.
review link: http://www.onceuponatwilight.com/2012...
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November 21, 2011Mini-Review: A hurricane of emotions and mythical creatures with star-crossed lovers who refuse to give up on each other, on love, and on hope for a better future. Mermaids and selkies and sirens, OH MY!
My Thoughts:
Note: As a blogger, I have come to know quite a few writers online, both published and aspiring authors; Karen Amanda Hooper is one of them. She is an awesome person and I'm happy to have stumbled upon her blog when I was first starting out, not only because she is such a cool person (she really is) but because it gave me the opportunity to learn about her work. So I was more than happy to add my list to the names of potential reviewers when Rhemalda took on Tangled Tides, and I was thrilled when they sent me a copy of the eARC. My feelings for the author aside, I really enjoyed this book.
Now then, when I started the book, I will admit that it took me a few pages to really settle into Yara's perspective. It wasn't the writing or that she isn't easy to relate to (because she is), I just needed to settle into the story and to accept the way Yara sees the world and people around her. Hooper throws you into the action immediately -- there's no waiting around -- and then things are happening non-stop.
The characters are easy to relate to and, personally, I found myself rooting for everyone. What can I say? I didn't want anyone to get hurt. Obviously there has to be some pain involved, but I won't spoil that for you lovely readers; though, I will admit that I was so invested in everyone by the end that there were tears.
The world building is fantastic, and I am so incredibly intrigued by the process of changing forms and also happy that Hooper actually explains it rather than just glossing over it all. And the writing! Dual POV is hard enough to pull off, but Hooper tackles three (THREE!), and it never gets confusing. I loved seeing things from multiple points of view, especially considering the opposition between them all. It was very well done and definitely added more to the story.
Tangled Tides is a fantastic tale of tormented sea creatures, hope, and love, and I can't wait to see what else Hooper dreams up.
My Thoughts:
Note: As a blogger, I have come to know quite a few writers online, both published and aspiring authors; Karen Amanda Hooper is one of them. She is an awesome person and I'm happy to have stumbled upon her blog when I was first starting out, not only because she is such a cool person (she really is) but because it gave me the opportunity to learn about her work. So I was more than happy to add my list to the names of potential reviewers when Rhemalda took on Tangled Tides, and I was thrilled when they sent me a copy of the eARC. My feelings for the author aside, I really enjoyed this book.
Now then, when I started the book, I will admit that it took me a few pages to really settle into Yara's perspective. It wasn't the writing or that she isn't easy to relate to (because she is), I just needed to settle into the story and to accept the way Yara sees the world and people around her. Hooper throws you into the action immediately -- there's no waiting around -- and then things are happening non-stop.
The characters are easy to relate to and, personally, I found myself rooting for everyone. What can I say? I didn't want anyone to get hurt. Obviously there has to be some pain involved, but I won't spoil that for you lovely readers; though, I will admit that I was so invested in everyone by the end that there were tears.
The world building is fantastic, and I am so incredibly intrigued by the process of changing forms and also happy that Hooper actually explains it rather than just glossing over it all. And the writing! Dual POV is hard enough to pull off, but Hooper tackles three (THREE!), and it never gets confusing. I loved seeing things from multiple points of view, especially considering the opposition between them all. It was very well done and definitely added more to the story.
Tangled Tides is a fantastic tale of tormented sea creatures, hope, and love, and I can't wait to see what else Hooper dreams up.
November 1, 2015
This book was just...WOW! Can't put it into words! But for the review I've got to try so here goes :D
Since I don't want to add any spoilers about the story, but don't know how to talk about the story itself without giving too much away, I'll simply write my reaction in this review.
Originally I told myself: "So I'm going to read a few pages, then I'm going to clean my room and after that continue reading."...I couldn't do it^^ I tried to put Tangled Tides down after realizing that I already read half the book (when the hell did I do that? O.O). So I got up, started cleaning and thought about the story the whole time. After about five minutes I couldn't take it anymore and had to continue reading until the end. Tangled Tides is just that good! Even now I have to fight myself not to read all of it again (though I just finished it).
Tangled Tides is one of the few books where I was laughing about what a character said one minute, being mad the next because THAT IDIOT WOULDN'T KISS HER!!! (damn..didn't want to talk about the story itself but had to get this one out) and crying another minute later because he explained why he wouldn't kiss her.
Up to now Tangled Tides is my favorite book of 2011. Karen couldn't have done any better for her debut and I'm hoping that her next books will be just as great as this one! :D
EDIT: I just found a video on Youtube I want to share here..because this song seems extremely fitting for Tangled Tides:
Spirit of the Sea
Since I don't want to add any spoilers about the story, but don't know how to talk about the story itself without giving too much away, I'll simply write my reaction in this review.
Originally I told myself: "So I'm going to read a few pages, then I'm going to clean my room and after that continue reading."...I couldn't do it^^ I tried to put Tangled Tides down after realizing that I already read half the book (when the hell did I do that? O.O). So I got up, started cleaning and thought about the story the whole time. After about five minutes I couldn't take it anymore and had to continue reading until the end. Tangled Tides is just that good! Even now I have to fight myself not to read all of it again (though I just finished it).
Tangled Tides is one of the few books where I was laughing about what a character said one minute, being mad the next because THAT IDIOT WOULDN'T KISS HER!!! (damn..didn't want to talk about the story itself but had to get this one out) and crying another minute later because he explained why he wouldn't kiss her.
Up to now Tangled Tides is my favorite book of 2011. Karen couldn't have done any better for her debut and I'm hoping that her next books will be just as great as this one! :D
EDIT: I just found a video on Youtube I want to share here..because this song seems extremely fitting for Tangled Tides:
Spirit of the Sea
March 31, 2012
During a hurricane, a mysterious stranger tells nearly 18 year old Yara to wish for him to take her somewhere safe. The next thing Yara knows she is waking up underwater, as a mermaid. In a world full of mythical creatures, Treygan, who is the stranger responsible for turning Yara into a mermaid, and his half-brother Rownan- a selkie, both believe that Yara is the key to saving each of their races. As Yara starts to fall for her merman protector Treygan, she slowly begins to realise that things may not be as simple as originally thought. She will learn that her whole life has been a lie, and she will discover her destiny.
I absolutely loved this book! It was impossible to put down from start to finish. When I read the description for this book I thought “mermaids? Hmmm…..” but I decided to give the book a chance and I am so glad I did. It is a truly original book; I have never read anything like it before. The plot twisted and turned and was interwoven with the most fantastic characters, I loved Yara’s spirit, and Treygan was just amazing. The mythology and background to the story was well planned out, as were all the mythological creatures; mermaids, selkies, sirens and gorgons all feature in this fantastic book. A one of a kind book, one of my favourites so far this year and definitely a must read.
Reviewed for readers favourite
I absolutely loved this book! It was impossible to put down from start to finish. When I read the description for this book I thought “mermaids? Hmmm…..” but I decided to give the book a chance and I am so glad I did. It is a truly original book; I have never read anything like it before. The plot twisted and turned and was interwoven with the most fantastic characters, I loved Yara’s spirit, and Treygan was just amazing. The mythology and background to the story was well planned out, as were all the mythological creatures; mermaids, selkies, sirens and gorgons all feature in this fantastic book. A one of a kind book, one of my favourites so far this year and definitely a must read.
Reviewed for readers favourite
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