Call of the Sea (Collector's Edition by Amanda Labont??

by Amanda Labonté

“A mysterious figure in the ocean, a suspicious loss in the waves, a riveting treasure hunt, and surprise after surprise, how could anyone not want to read this novel? The story unfolds at a rapid pace and you'll rip through the narrative with Alex as he tries to understand his past. And his future. Open the first page and dive in.” — Alice Kuipers, author of 40 Things I Want to Tell You and Life on the Refrigerator Door“Call of the Sea is a vividly imagined novel of folk lore and legends smoothly mixed with realistic, colorful characters of an East Coast village. Amanda Labonté's paranormal coming of age story effortlessly lifts you along with Alex's journey to the brink of suspended disbelief as her writing seamlessly combines the angst of growing up in a small community coupled with the shocking family mystery he must unravel in order to save the person he loves the most. With its crisp description and spot on dialogue, Call of the Sea will endear teen readers and keep them captivated until the very last word.” — BR Myers, author of Asp of Ascension and Girl on the RunBeware the Siren SongAfter returning to Newfoundland from a month away at art camp, Alex is just starting to settle in when things start to sound all too familiar. For as long as they can remember, Alex and his twin brother Ben have been hearing a sweet but disturbing song in the salty East Coast air — one that only reaches them. When Ben and Alex head out on a fishing expedition, ignoring an ominous warning from their grandfather, it’s not long before things get much worse. The brothers get into a fight on the boat, and Ben disappears suddenly without so much as a ripple. Determined to find him, Alex begins the biggest adventure of his life, armed with only his mysterious musical talent and the help of a mysterious girl named Meg.But Alex’s best hope just might come from the same source as the song he’s been hearing since childhood — a alluring and dangerous girl he meets amid the frothing ocean waves.T - Teen 13 and May contain violence, crude humour, suggestive themes and/or strong language.

Genres: Fiction

Mass Market Paperback

About the author

Amanda lives and writes in St. John's, Newfoundland, a setting that never disappoints. Her favourite stories are ones that combine elements of fantasy and romance with the everyday world.

Reviews

[Erika Fitzgerald · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a great read! Perfect for all ages.Pretty big fan of mythical creatures. I am excited to see book two!

[David Lynch · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really, really enjoyed this book! Amanda Labonte did a phenomenal job with the merrow mythology, and creates characters that become very real to the reader. Dialogue was well done, and the plot had a rhythm and flow that mirrored the sea upon which- and in which - the story takes place. Looking forward to diving into book two.

[Helen Escott]

Loved this book and can't wait for the next one.

[Alison House · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s been a while since I’ve read an entire book in one day, but “Call of the Sea” had a hold on me that I couldn’t shake. Whenever I tried to put it down, it would call out to me, luring me back like a siren’s song.

An intriguing story about family, secrets, and doing what needs to be done. I was drawn in by the familiar small-town setting and likeable characters, and held fast by the underlying mythology.

[J.R.H. · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a fellow Newfoundlander, this was the YA Fantasy I didn't know I was waiting for. I can't wait to share this series with my children!

[Dennise Pendergrass · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a neat story. Alex and Ben are twins, but that doesn't mean you always get along. You're left wondering what the crap is happening for the first quarter of the book, then things fall in to place. I would love to know more about the merrows life, and culture. I wish the book would have delved a little deeper. Knowing more about what Ben and Alex's gifts are would also have been really neat. Did anyone else in their family have gifts? What about there dad? How did Poppy meet his wife?

I feel the book ended nicely, but just learned there is a sequel coming out in 2018. I kind of feel it wrapped up just fine on it's own. I don't feel the need to pick up the sequel.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoy Amanda Labonté's work, but had been avoiding Call of the Sea because I don't usually enjoy longer works about mermaids. I enjoyed this one!
This is a fantastic YA novel set in rural Newfoundland and centered around a pretty large family and the connection the youngest twin brothers seem to have to the sea. I found the story to be fast-paced with great characterization; I hope Drawn To The Tides will expand on some of the side characters and the merrow lore.
I highly recommend this book, and have figured out what book I'll be giving one of my nieces this Christmas!

[Brittany Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a good book! Met the author at a convention called SciFi on the rock. It's where I was introduced to the book. It's a great summer read which is what I was going for, mermaids, villains, plot twists and lots of local lore and beaches mixed in! A perfect clean pallet cleanser when you want a little mystery! Not only will I be reading the rest of the series, I'm definitely going to be reading more from this author! Love their style!

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It took me a while to get into it, to be honest, but once I did I was hooked. I read the last ~2/3 of it today all in one go, and was left wanting to read more about what comes next. Once the story revs up and the narrative focuses on the main 4-5 characters (you'll know it when you get there) it keeps going and doesn't let up. Definitely recommended to anyone with any interest in the sea or sea related folklore.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this book up at an author signing recently, and found it to be a really great read! It was engaging and well-crafted. Can't wait to read the next in the series!

[Amanda Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book was okay.

The story had a good premise, but I think it fell short of its mark.

The build-up to the inciting incident was long and ambling. The McGuffin was very unclear as to what it actually did, as were Alex's powers.

The fact that he was part 'Merrow' was evident well before the reveal and Lia's interest in their life was vague.

In the end, making her a 'guard' seemed far fetched. She had just gotten her legs and didn't seem to have any training for the job.

On the other side of the coin.

The writing was good. The story is down to earth and easy to picture.

The characters are leaning towards likable.

I will get the next books in the series to see how things progress.