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The Painted Maidens Trilogy #1
The Rising
Fifteen-year-old Serena is the youngest member of a dying race. The increasing acidity of the ocean is destroying her home, slowly eating away at the once thriving underwater landscape. But since the night of Serena’s birth, it is an outside force that most threatens their dwindling population. Werewolves, who once served as protectors for mermaids in the Kingdom of the Undine, now seek to eliminate all who dwell in the ocean — and Serena is about to find herself right in the middle of the deadly conflict.
Given the title of Werewolf Liaison, Serena is determined to make things right for her people. When she ventures to The Dry, she meets Liam, the werewolf with hazel eyes, and her whole world gets turned upside down. As Serena discovers the real history between werewolves and mermaids, she is left wondering who her true enemies are.
Given the title of Werewolf Liaison, Serena is determined to make things right for her people. When she ventures to The Dry, she meets Liam, the werewolf with hazel eyes, and her whole world gets turned upside down. As Serena discovers the real history between werewolves and mermaids, she is left wondering who her true enemies are.
336 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 1, 2013
141 people are currently reading
2111 people want to read
About the author
Terra Harmony
18 books238 followersTerra is author of The Painted Maidens Trilogy ('The Rising', 'The Betrayed', and 'The Taking', the Akasha Series ('Water', 'Air', 'Fire', and 'Earth'), and 'The Kindred Curse Anthology'.
Terra was born and raised in Colorado but has since lived in California, Texas, Utah, North Carolina and Virginia. Terra has served a 5½ year enlistment in the Marine Corp, has earned her bachelor's and master's degree and presently runs the language services division of a small business.
Terra currently lives in a suburb of Washington, DC with her husband of sixteen years and three children.
Terra was born and raised in Colorado but has since lived in California, Texas, Utah, North Carolina and Virginia. Terra has served a 5½ year enlistment in the Marine Corp, has earned her bachelor's and master's degree and presently runs the language services division of a small business.
Terra currently lives in a suburb of Washington, DC with her husband of sixteen years and three children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 100 reviews
January 9, 2014
Review also posted at Ja čitam, a ti?
It's no secret that I'm a huge fan on Akasha series by this author, and once she announced that she was writing a book about mermaids I was thrilled. Honestly for some unknown reason I have read maybe a couple of books with mermaids in them. Why? I have no idea. At the end I only wish this book was more enjoyable for me so I'd gladly pick another mermaid book, but sadly that's not what happened.
We shall start from beginning here. This is a story about Serena, the youngest member of a dying race. Fifteen years ago a massacre happened where many of her race were killed and the hate between her race and their enemies werewolves went deeper and deeper. The history between these two races goes way in the past and once they were protectors of one another, but then everything changed that night. Now mermaids are close to their elimination and without being able to go on the surface they're not able to create more of their race. When Serena is given a task to go on the surface she is determined to make things right. Things are getting harder to cope with and soon enough the conflict reached its peak.
When I started reading this story I though I would give up. The beginning is really slow and with so many descriptions it was hard to read more than a page or two a day. But I pushed myself to go on and honestly I'm happy for that. Because later this series gets more interesting.
Not only slow pace at the start was an issue to me, also the Serena's character was hard to connect to. But that's my fault as the is too young for my liking. At some points here actions were a bit frustrating to me, but honestly I'd probably support her all the way if I had read this few years ago.
All in all, it was a really interesting story, but slow pace and main character weren't something I enjoyed that much.
It's no secret that I'm a huge fan on Akasha series by this author, and once she announced that she was writing a book about mermaids I was thrilled. Honestly for some unknown reason I have read maybe a couple of books with mermaids in them. Why? I have no idea. At the end I only wish this book was more enjoyable for me so I'd gladly pick another mermaid book, but sadly that's not what happened.
We shall start from beginning here. This is a story about Serena, the youngest member of a dying race. Fifteen years ago a massacre happened where many of her race were killed and the hate between her race and their enemies werewolves went deeper and deeper. The history between these two races goes way in the past and once they were protectors of one another, but then everything changed that night. Now mermaids are close to their elimination and without being able to go on the surface they're not able to create more of their race. When Serena is given a task to go on the surface she is determined to make things right. Things are getting harder to cope with and soon enough the conflict reached its peak.
When I started reading this story I though I would give up. The beginning is really slow and with so many descriptions it was hard to read more than a page or two a day. But I pushed myself to go on and honestly I'm happy for that. Because later this series gets more interesting.
Not only slow pace at the start was an issue to me, also the Serena's character was hard to connect to. But that's my fault as the is too young for my liking. At some points here actions were a bit frustrating to me, but honestly I'd probably support her all the way if I had read this few years ago.
All in all, it was a really interesting story, but slow pace and main character weren't something I enjoyed that much.
November 23, 2014
Disclosure: I received this ARC through Netgalley in return for an honest review.
Who doesn't love mermaid stories? My first exposure to mermaids came when I was just a child - I went to a friend's birthday party, and we watched The Little Mermaid. It's classic Disney, but since then I've always carried a bit of a fascination for mermaids and sea-lore in general.
That's probably why I sent a request as soon as I saw the cover of The Rising on Netgalley - the cover is beautiful and almost hypnotic, in my opinion - the mermaid with her head thrown back, hair flowing in the water, the moon hanging overhead... Then there's the fact that it said right in the summary that werewolves were involved, and I was hooked.
The first thing that I will say about this book is that if you struggle with the present tense, you might have some issues with this book. It's not quite Hunger Games-eque, because we're not in Serena's head - we're still removed from her, and that means that you might find yourself a bit out of your comfort zone with this. It took me awhile to adapt to it and I'm still not sure that it was quite right for the book, coming across with a slightly amateurish touch as I was reading.
Terra Harmony immediately takes us into an interesting world, though. Serena is an orphan, and her world is under threat - from the werewolves, from the dying seas around them. I especially liked the second inclusion because it's all too true - the environment is important to me, and I liked the inclusion of the fact that the creatures in the oceans are facing real danger. I especially liked the descriptions of how Serena changes back and forth - it makes sense and throughout the book some interesting questions about how mermaids procreate are answered, too - though not with too much detail.
The trouble I mostly found with this book was that the plot meandered a bit. Characters are opposed to Serena but she doesn't have a clue and neither do we, as readers - this drags on for quite a bit of the book, and when the reason was revealed I honestly wasn't expecting it. I suppose I should have been, thinking back on it, but I didn't really find it all that satisfying, either - in the overall theme of the story, the big plot reveal is something that just makes sense when you look at general tropes of fiction and fantasy.
The book also has a very 'young' feeling to it, I guess. It's YA but it feels like young-YA with the names and some of the writing, which is very choppy at times. I felt that it could have done with some better editing, for example:
"Just as she finishes with the last strap, Murphy and Kai dive into the receding tide. Their legs transforming into fins before they even hit water."
This happens more than once throughout the book and it threw me out of the flow every time, because it's just very disjointed and doesn't make any sense.
Some of the concepts also forced me to really stretch my willingness to set aside my disbelief, which was unfortunate, because some of the ideas really worked for me! The idea of the powers that mermaids have, and how they live, the society they've built - all great, and I enjoyed reading about them. Then you bring in their connection to the werewolves and it just really tried my patience. I'm still not even sure what I think of the end of the book and how it fits with the tone of the rest of the story - not so much what's happening, but how it was conveyed. It's a bit dark in comparison to the writing that fills the rest of the book.
Overall I would say that the book was... okay, I guess. I neither loved it or hated it. I do wish that Serena's story had gone in a different direction - the direction I thought it WAS going at first would have been fascinating, but it definitely did not go that way. Still, a worthwhile try for those who love mermaids and want more mermaid fiction. (And who doesn't want more mermaid fiction?)
Who doesn't love mermaid stories? My first exposure to mermaids came when I was just a child - I went to a friend's birthday party, and we watched The Little Mermaid. It's classic Disney, but since then I've always carried a bit of a fascination for mermaids and sea-lore in general.
That's probably why I sent a request as soon as I saw the cover of The Rising on Netgalley - the cover is beautiful and almost hypnotic, in my opinion - the mermaid with her head thrown back, hair flowing in the water, the moon hanging overhead... Then there's the fact that it said right in the summary that werewolves were involved, and I was hooked.
The first thing that I will say about this book is that if you struggle with the present tense, you might have some issues with this book. It's not quite Hunger Games-eque, because we're not in Serena's head - we're still removed from her, and that means that you might find yourself a bit out of your comfort zone with this. It took me awhile to adapt to it and I'm still not sure that it was quite right for the book, coming across with a slightly amateurish touch as I was reading.
Terra Harmony immediately takes us into an interesting world, though. Serena is an orphan, and her world is under threat - from the werewolves, from the dying seas around them. I especially liked the second inclusion because it's all too true - the environment is important to me, and I liked the inclusion of the fact that the creatures in the oceans are facing real danger. I especially liked the descriptions of how Serena changes back and forth - it makes sense and throughout the book some interesting questions about how mermaids procreate are answered, too - though not with too much detail.
The trouble I mostly found with this book was that the plot meandered a bit. Characters are opposed to Serena but she doesn't have a clue and neither do we, as readers - this drags on for quite a bit of the book, and when the reason was revealed I honestly wasn't expecting it. I suppose I should have been, thinking back on it, but I didn't really find it all that satisfying, either - in the overall theme of the story, the big plot reveal is something that just makes sense when you look at general tropes of fiction and fantasy.
The book also has a very 'young' feeling to it, I guess. It's YA but it feels like young-YA with the names and some of the writing, which is very choppy at times. I felt that it could have done with some better editing, for example:
"Just as she finishes with the last strap, Murphy and Kai dive into the receding tide. Their legs transforming into fins before they even hit water."
This happens more than once throughout the book and it threw me out of the flow every time, because it's just very disjointed and doesn't make any sense.
Some of the concepts also forced me to really stretch my willingness to set aside my disbelief, which was unfortunate, because some of the ideas really worked for me! The idea of the powers that mermaids have, and how they live, the society they've built - all great, and I enjoyed reading about them. Then you bring in their connection to the werewolves and it just really tried my patience. I'm still not even sure what I think of the end of the book and how it fits with the tone of the rest of the story - not so much what's happening, but how it was conveyed. It's a bit dark in comparison to the writing that fills the rest of the book.
Overall I would say that the book was... okay, I guess. I neither loved it or hated it. I do wish that Serena's story had gone in a different direction - the direction I thought it WAS going at first would have been fascinating, but it definitely did not go that way. Still, a worthwhile try for those who love mermaids and want more mermaid fiction. (And who doesn't want more mermaid fiction?)
November 13, 2013
This has been a banner year for my mermaid obsession!
Are mermaids perhaps the new vampire? Eh. Whatever the reason, I've run across more books dealing with fish-chicks in 2013, than in previous years combined. Yay!
Alrighty, review time.
The Rising had some problems, mainly the awkward third person narration. I usually don't mind third person, but there were definitely some clunky moments in this story because of it. I also can't say that the writing in general was perfection. Nothing horrible, and nothing that kept me from understanding what was going on, just a tad...off.
However.
I thought that the overall story was so original and different from anything else I've read, that it more than made up for the other stuff.
It's not that I've never seen mermaids and werewolves in the same book, but I've honestly never seen it done like this. The two groups just don't make much sense together, you know? Werewolves are usually in books with demons, witches, or vampires, and mermaids are usually with selkies, sirens, or faeries. Not always, but often enough that I think you'll agree with me. Even when they are in the same book they seem to be blended into a large magical community, and not necessarily connected to each other.
At first, I thought their connection didn't make a whole lot of sense, but (again) it's such an original concept that it kept me interested.
The world the author creates for this story is pretty cool. The Undine (mermaids) live in the ocean, but make their homes in caves that aren't underwater. Now that I think about it, I'm not sure where these underwater-but-not-underwater caves would be... Ok. Never mind. Pretend I missed something when the author was explaining it.
'Cause let's face it, I probably did.
Anyway, about half of the time these guys are on two legs. They control the growth of the scales on their bodies, which serves as not only clothing, but armor. Also, they can't talk unless they are on dry land. And apparently, they are just as bad as we are when it comes to facing up to environmental problems. This is one of the things Serena is working to change, and part of the reason she gets herself into trouble at the beginning of the book.
The romance seemed to take a backseat to the plot, and I found myself not caring if she ended up getting the guy or not. Which was fine! Just don't go into this expecting an angsty love story, ok? The secrets Serena uncovers along the way make up for any lack of chemistry between the characters.
If you're looking for something unusual, then you just might want to check this out.
Thanks to NetGalley for a digital copy of this book in return for an honest review.
Are mermaids perhaps the new vampire? Eh. Whatever the reason, I've run across more books dealing with fish-chicks in 2013, than in previous years combined. Yay!
Alrighty, review time.
The Rising had some problems, mainly the awkward third person narration. I usually don't mind third person, but there were definitely some clunky moments in this story because of it. I also can't say that the writing in general was perfection. Nothing horrible, and nothing that kept me from understanding what was going on, just a tad...off.
However.
I thought that the overall story was so original and different from anything else I've read, that it more than made up for the other stuff.
It's not that I've never seen mermaids and werewolves in the same book, but I've honestly never seen it done like this. The two groups just don't make much sense together, you know? Werewolves are usually in books with demons, witches, or vampires, and mermaids are usually with selkies, sirens, or faeries. Not always, but often enough that I think you'll agree with me. Even when they are in the same book they seem to be blended into a large magical community, and not necessarily connected to each other.
At first, I thought their connection didn't make a whole lot of sense, but (again) it's such an original concept that it kept me interested.
The world the author creates for this story is pretty cool. The Undine (mermaids) live in the ocean, but make their homes in caves that aren't underwater. Now that I think about it, I'm not sure where these underwater-but-not-underwater caves would be... Ok. Never mind. Pretend I missed something when the author was explaining it.
'Cause let's face it, I probably did.
Anyway, about half of the time these guys are on two legs. They control the growth of the scales on their bodies, which serves as not only clothing, but armor. Also, they can't talk unless they are on dry land. And apparently, they are just as bad as we are when it comes to facing up to environmental problems. This is one of the things Serena is working to change, and part of the reason she gets herself into trouble at the beginning of the book.
The romance seemed to take a backseat to the plot, and I found myself not caring if she ended up getting the guy or not. Which was fine! Just don't go into this expecting an angsty love story, ok? The secrets Serena uncovers along the way make up for any lack of chemistry between the characters.
If you're looking for something unusual, then you just might want to check this out.
Thanks to NetGalley for a digital copy of this book in return for an honest review.
November 2, 2013
I laughed at Serena's interactions with Liam and Kai. Kai in the water beyond was just so funny. I cried at the end with Liam and Serena and what they figured out. Those two I hope they get a good ending. Kai and Serena are amazing together and their interactions range from sweet to funny. Those two totally like each other and just are afraid. Well Kai is nervous and more so now. Serena is just trying to grow into her own and with all that is happening in her life adjusting to everything.
Serena is a snarky, intelligent young woman who is trying to figure out where she belongs. Her dislike for werewolves is put to the test and she is confused by the results of this test. She trusts the wonderful and amazing Liam and the revealing twist at the end was a OMG at the end wowza I did not see it coming. Neither did I see the twist with the King whoa doggy! Anywhoo Serena is a orphan who is trying to find her place while working through everything that is changing in her life. A trial, first love, her friendships, all of this weighs on her and does take its toll. She is growing ever frustrated with her king and people but she is reigning that in more than her other emotions. Her alliance and trust in Liam rocks her a little of whack but she learns to trust him and in the end even has a brotherly love for him.
Liam the cutey patooty werewolf is just so kind and sweet. He wants so much to be a friend and ally to Serena. His secret is a wowza and will have your mouth drop to the floor. He feels, like Serena, that there is a way to have the mermaids and werewolves end their feud. He even risks his neck to help the mermaids. The guy is amazing.
Kai a sweet and beautiful guy who has a love for Serena that is so beautiful. He is second in command of the Kings Guard and helps teach Serena to fight. Kai would defend Serena and wait for her to his dying breath. He does however do a doofy move but makes up for it when he makes the right decision and corrects his wrong before it is too late.
The book is a can't put down read. A story that twists in a battle between werewolves and mermaids that makes no sense but as revenge. One that has led both to near extinction. A story of revenge that is so distorted it makes the person not think straight. A king who has such love and honor and respect for his people he is willing to do what he must to protect and save them. One of trust and love that has you see the beginnings of beautiful relationships that will help propel them into happiness and even peace. One of finding yourself and coming into your own. You will laugh and cry but enjoy the ride this book will put you on.
Serena is a snarky, intelligent young woman who is trying to figure out where she belongs. Her dislike for werewolves is put to the test and she is confused by the results of this test. She trusts the wonderful and amazing Liam and the revealing twist at the end was a OMG at the end wowza I did not see it coming. Neither did I see the twist with the King whoa doggy! Anywhoo Serena is a orphan who is trying to find her place while working through everything that is changing in her life. A trial, first love, her friendships, all of this weighs on her and does take its toll. She is growing ever frustrated with her king and people but she is reigning that in more than her other emotions. Her alliance and trust in Liam rocks her a little of whack but she learns to trust him and in the end even has a brotherly love for him.
Liam the cutey patooty werewolf is just so kind and sweet. He wants so much to be a friend and ally to Serena. His secret is a wowza and will have your mouth drop to the floor. He feels, like Serena, that there is a way to have the mermaids and werewolves end their feud. He even risks his neck to help the mermaids. The guy is amazing.
Kai a sweet and beautiful guy who has a love for Serena that is so beautiful. He is second in command of the Kings Guard and helps teach Serena to fight. Kai would defend Serena and wait for her to his dying breath. He does however do a doofy move but makes up for it when he makes the right decision and corrects his wrong before it is too late.
The book is a can't put down read. A story that twists in a battle between werewolves and mermaids that makes no sense but as revenge. One that has led both to near extinction. A story of revenge that is so distorted it makes the person not think straight. A king who has such love and honor and respect for his people he is willing to do what he must to protect and save them. One of trust and love that has you see the beginnings of beautiful relationships that will help propel them into happiness and even peace. One of finding yourself and coming into your own. You will laugh and cry but enjoy the ride this book will put you on.
dnf
July 30, 2017DNF on page 38. This book has been on my TBR for so many years and I wanted to give it a chance before I let it go. I just wasn't into the world building.
December 19, 2017
3.5 stars
One of the things I HATE about mermaid novels is that the mermaid always chooses land *rolls eyes*. It's such a human thing to believe that they would OBVIOUSLY love land better because you know, we're on land.
Which is why I was so happy that this was not one of those books. Serena actually likes being a mermaid and though she does go on land, it's more out of necessity than desire. Her real passion is her ocean.
Oddly enough, most of the story takes place out of the water. The mermaids(Undine) live in caves that have their entrances underwater but mostly are above water. Occasionally the water comes in, but for most of the book the caves are dry. The Undine can't communicate underwater which I think plays a major role in the "why" of that. I think they should've had some way to communicate, it seems a bit weird not to.
Anyway, Serena's the youngest of the Undine at 17 because of a rift between her people and the werewolves. Yep, a werewolf/mermaid combo. That was not something I've seen much of. The werewolves prowl the beaches and kill any Undine who come ashore.
The Undine apparently are a highly emotional race which effects a lot. They can't get to shore to safely conceive or have their babies, and are too scared to have them on rocks or rafts, or whatever. I honestly don't see why they couldn't have them in the caves and for me that was the biggest "plot hole". The caves are mostly dry, it's basically dry land, and there's zero dangers(nothing to be afraid of). I didn't see a single good reason why they couldn't have kids down there.
Anyway, since a lot of this book is based on "how do we survive as a species" and the biggest threat was the inability to procreate, I felt that was rather a big thing to overlook.
I liked the way the society was set up. There was plenty of descriptions and showing Serena's world. I had a few quibbles along the way(Serena talks about having no friends but it seemed like every few chapters a new friend would appear), but overall this was really interesting.
Serena is punished by being chosen as the werewolf liaison. A huge deal considering they haven't interacted with the werewolves since the time of Serena's birth. The werewolves descended upon the beach that day and slaughtered all of the newly born babies and their mothers. Quite horrible and gruesome the more you think about it.
Honestly, at that point for me, there was no redemption for the werewolves. You can't just "oh we had a reason" for murdering mothers and babies like that. It definitely gave me motive to want to see the Undine find a way and for all those dirty dogs to get their comeuppance.
I liked watching how Serena figured out what she'd do and how she handled each new roadblock thrown in her way. In terms of character development, we really see it here. Harmony does a great job of showing Serena's journey from the shy recluse to the confident take-charge person she becomes.
The fight at the end was ... wow it was a lot more graphic that I expected, but very therapeutic seeing as how I really wanted to see some violence at that point.
By the end I was actually prepared for a wrap-up. Like, I enjoyed the journey and for some reason just really wanted the story to end with a few more things tied up. And an impression that they faced whatever challenges were in their way together! Turns out there's three more books and to be honest I foresee two books of "how we cleaned up after this mess and continued on." and I'm just not sure I'm interested in that.
I might just end with this one and pretend it was the end and be happy with that.
One of the things I HATE about mermaid novels is that the mermaid always chooses land *rolls eyes*. It's such a human thing to believe that they would OBVIOUSLY love land better because you know, we're on land.
Which is why I was so happy that this was not one of those books. Serena actually likes being a mermaid and though she does go on land, it's more out of necessity than desire. Her real passion is her ocean.
Oddly enough, most of the story takes place out of the water. The mermaids(Undine) live in caves that have their entrances underwater but mostly are above water. Occasionally the water comes in, but for most of the book the caves are dry. The Undine can't communicate underwater which I think plays a major role in the "why" of that. I think they should've had some way to communicate, it seems a bit weird not to.
Anyway, Serena's the youngest of the Undine at 17 because of a rift between her people and the werewolves. Yep, a werewolf/mermaid combo. That was not something I've seen much of. The werewolves prowl the beaches and kill any Undine who come ashore.
The Undine apparently are a highly emotional race which effects a lot. They can't get to shore to safely conceive or have their babies, and are too scared to have them on rocks or rafts, or whatever. I honestly don't see why they couldn't have them in the caves and for me that was the biggest "plot hole". The caves are mostly dry, it's basically dry land, and there's zero dangers(nothing to be afraid of). I didn't see a single good reason why they couldn't have kids down there.
Anyway, since a lot of this book is based on "how do we survive as a species" and the biggest threat was the inability to procreate, I felt that was rather a big thing to overlook.
I liked the way the society was set up. There was plenty of descriptions and showing Serena's world. I had a few quibbles along the way(Serena talks about having no friends but it seemed like every few chapters a new friend would appear), but overall this was really interesting.
Serena is punished by being chosen as the werewolf liaison. A huge deal considering they haven't interacted with the werewolves since the time of Serena's birth. The werewolves descended upon the beach that day and slaughtered all of the newly born babies and their mothers. Quite horrible and gruesome the more you think about it.
Honestly, at that point for me, there was no redemption for the werewolves. You can't just "oh we had a reason" for murdering mothers and babies like that. It definitely gave me motive to want to see the Undine find a way and for all those dirty dogs to get their comeuppance.
I liked watching how Serena figured out what she'd do and how she handled each new roadblock thrown in her way. In terms of character development, we really see it here. Harmony does a great job of showing Serena's journey from the shy recluse to the confident take-charge person she becomes.
The fight at the end was ... wow it was a lot more graphic that I expected, but very therapeutic seeing as how I really wanted to see some violence at that point.
By the end I was actually prepared for a wrap-up. Like, I enjoyed the journey and for some reason just really wanted the story to end with a few more things tied up. And an impression that they faced whatever challenges were in their way together! Turns out there's three more books and to be honest I foresee two books of "how we cleaned up after this mess and continued on." and I'm just not sure I'm interested in that.
I might just end with this one and pretend it was the end and be happy with that.
December 30, 2020
Full review to follow!
November 14, 2013
Serena is an Undine, the youngest one of her kind to be exact. Known as mermaid's to most, they prefer to be called by their true species name. These are not like other mermaid's who are only bound to the ocean. The Undine's can transform themselves to full human form to walk on dry ground, covering parts of their body with scales for either cover or protection as needed. This is an important characteristic of their race as it is in their human form that they are able to procreate, but only under a full moon and only under the careful watch of their protectors. For the last 15 years though they have been unable to mate and birth young. The werewolves, who once served as their protectors, have prevented them from creating more Undine's due to an old grudge.
On the day of The Choosing, a time at the age of 16 when positions are given by the King to the Undine for them to serve among their people, Serena is given the position of Werewolf Liason. No one has held this position in the last 15 years and it's given in an effort to once again unite the Undine with the Werewolves so that they can safely birth young again. If she fails in this duty, the Undine race will die out.
I gotta admit. At first, this was all I could picture:
You know the scene. Ariel in her special cave where she keeps all her "treasurers" and she sings Part of Your World.
In The Rising Serena doesn't feel like she fits in, her parents were killed in the Maiden Massacre 15 years ago, where she alone was the sole survivor, and was raised in an orphanage. What little belongings she has she keeps them stored in a box. Her home, a small space away from most of society. Visions of The Little Mermaid were all I could see for awhile, and this song made me chuckle. I'm not complaining. I loved The Little Mermaid....still do if I'm being honest. But in books, mermaids haven't ever really intrigued me. Pair mermaids with werewolves and it seemed a rather strange combination to me. Which is exactly why I requested the book. I had never heard of another story that paired the two creatures together. Pleasantly surprised sums up my reaction to the book. The beginning seemed a bit slow for my taste but I enjoyed the second half much better.
Serena is a strong character. She is determined to make a difference for her people, even though she doesn't feel she belongs with them. Kai, a member of the King's Gaurd, and the most sought after unattached Undine male - love him! Liam, the werewolf Serena meets in The Dry is a mystery all on his own.
The home of the Undine, the ocean depths, is descriptive in such a way that I could easily picture each room, the Great Hall, the Archives, the paths they take to and from The Dry. I ended up really enjoying the book and am definitely left with wanting to know what happens next.
Favorite Quotes:
"...you are worth waiting for, and I will wait for you until my last breath."
Final Rating - 4 stars
This review is also posted HERE.
On the day of The Choosing, a time at the age of 16 when positions are given by the King to the Undine for them to serve among their people, Serena is given the position of Werewolf Liason. No one has held this position in the last 15 years and it's given in an effort to once again unite the Undine with the Werewolves so that they can safely birth young again. If she fails in this duty, the Undine race will die out.
I gotta admit. At first, this was all I could picture:
You know the scene. Ariel in her special cave where she keeps all her "treasurers" and she sings Part of Your World.
In The Rising Serena doesn't feel like she fits in, her parents were killed in the Maiden Massacre 15 years ago, where she alone was the sole survivor, and was raised in an orphanage. What little belongings she has she keeps them stored in a box. Her home, a small space away from most of society. Visions of The Little Mermaid were all I could see for awhile, and this song made me chuckle. I'm not complaining. I loved The Little Mermaid....still do if I'm being honest. But in books, mermaids haven't ever really intrigued me. Pair mermaids with werewolves and it seemed a rather strange combination to me. Which is exactly why I requested the book. I had never heard of another story that paired the two creatures together. Pleasantly surprised sums up my reaction to the book. The beginning seemed a bit slow for my taste but I enjoyed the second half much better.
Serena is a strong character. She is determined to make a difference for her people, even though she doesn't feel she belongs with them. Kai, a member of the King's Gaurd, and the most sought after unattached Undine male - love him! Liam, the werewolf Serena meets in The Dry is a mystery all on his own.
The home of the Undine, the ocean depths, is descriptive in such a way that I could easily picture each room, the Great Hall, the Archives, the paths they take to and from The Dry. I ended up really enjoying the book and am definitely left with wanting to know what happens next.
Favorite Quotes:
"...you are worth waiting for, and I will wait for you until my last breath."
Final Rating - 4 stars
This review is also posted HERE.
February 26, 2015
Werewolves and Mermaids once lived in harmony, the werewolves protecting the Undine when they had to come ashore to the Dry. One night, all of that ended when the werewolves rebelled, leaving the blood of many Undine on the sand. Sixteen years have past since the Maiden Massacre and now the sole survivor of that night, Serena, is of age to get the job she will perform for her people. Given the title of Werewolf Liaison, it is her duty to seek out the werewolves and try to make peace. But as she learns more about the Were and the past of her people, she begins to question who her true enemies are, and who she can even trust.
First of all, can we talk about this cover please? It is seldom that a cover attracts my attention enough to even mention it, but this book ensnared my attention right from the start. This book cover in insanely beautiful and every other author in the world should be jealous. I can't wait to see the others in the series as they come out, because they are certain to be equally as beautiful.
At first glance, the plot wouldn't seem too unique, a dying mermaid race suffering from the harsh effects humans bring to the seas, but then you catch the word "werewolf" and everything goes off kilter. I found the beginning to be really slow for me. I had a hard time liking Serena until after she goes to the Dry and meets Lucas. The story is really nicely written. The trial seems random, and even at the end you don't fully see the purpose of it. It was meant to make the people love the reclusive Serena, but I don't feel like it accomplished that at all. It almost felt like a pointless plot point to me, serving only to bring about the punishment and nothing more, which is annoying really considering the amount of story time that it takes up.
The characters take a while to really latch on to. You want to like them, but it doesn't come easily. The synopsis makes you believe that the love interest will be Lucas, and once you meet Kai, you think there will be a love triangle, but things certainly aren't what they seem with this story. I like how things panned out, but the characters left me with more questions than answers for certain.
While this story left me more confused than anything, it was a great ride. I devoured every page and loved the whole things through. I wasn't floored by any means, but I was fully entertained and I look forward to the next in the series.
Read this and other reviews at my blog.
First of all, can we talk about this cover please? It is seldom that a cover attracts my attention enough to even mention it, but this book ensnared my attention right from the start. This book cover in insanely beautiful and every other author in the world should be jealous. I can't wait to see the others in the series as they come out, because they are certain to be equally as beautiful.
At first glance, the plot wouldn't seem too unique, a dying mermaid race suffering from the harsh effects humans bring to the seas, but then you catch the word "werewolf" and everything goes off kilter. I found the beginning to be really slow for me. I had a hard time liking Serena until after she goes to the Dry and meets Lucas. The story is really nicely written. The trial seems random, and even at the end you don't fully see the purpose of it. It was meant to make the people love the reclusive Serena, but I don't feel like it accomplished that at all. It almost felt like a pointless plot point to me, serving only to bring about the punishment and nothing more, which is annoying really considering the amount of story time that it takes up.
The characters take a while to really latch on to. You want to like them, but it doesn't come easily. The synopsis makes you believe that the love interest will be Lucas, and once you meet Kai, you think there will be a love triangle, but things certainly aren't what they seem with this story. I like how things panned out, but the characters left me with more questions than answers for certain.
While this story left me more confused than anything, it was a great ride. I devoured every page and loved the whole things through. I wasn't floored by any means, but I was fully entertained and I look forward to the next in the series.
Read this and other reviews at my blog.
October 22, 2013
I’ve read about mermaids and werewolves, but this is a wonderfully unique story. I don’t really read a lot of young adult books and was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed The Rising. I’m now waiting for the next book to come out. This doesn’t end with a cliffhanger, but you know the story will continue and I’m looking forward to the next book. The underwater world of the Undine (mermaids) is truly brought to life. Look at the cover for just a touch of the beauty in Serena’s world. I loved the way the Undine could manipulate their scales according to their needs or protocol. The connection between the Undine and Werewolves really made the story interesting and gave that added bit of mystery that I like.
Serena is an orphan that would much rather be alone than in the thick political and social world of her people. She isn’t scared to go to dry land and does so even though it gets her into some serious trouble. Serena is basically an outcast, not liked much by anyone. I’m not really sure why that is and wish it had been addressed more fully. She has one person she considers her best friend, but since he left the orphanage before her and took his place in society they don’t see much of each other. Having no one to truly count on but herself her whole life Serena is an independent and strong young woman who will do what needs to be done. Her growth from being in the classroom to accepting and thriving in her role as Werewolf Liaison isn’t without pain, feelings of isolation and rejection; especially when she is betrayed by one who is supposed to be looking out and caring for her. Serena also finds love and feelings of desire for the first time as she faces the difficulties that have been forced upon her.
The secondary characters are pleasantly detailed and come to life. I really ended up liking Kia, although I wasn’t sure about him at first. Liam is still a bit of a mystery, but has promise of being a strong and possibly likable character as we see how he deals with recent events and learns of his place ( or not?) in Serena’s life. I thought I had it figured out and then the direction changed just a bit; I like to be surprised and was glad I liked the new direction.
There’s really not much else I can tell you without spoiling something and I feel one little spoiler may reveal too much as you read. I recommend this if you enjoy mermaids or werewolves with some great action, mystery and a bit of romance.
(I received a copy from publisher in exchange for an honest review.)
Darker Passions
Serena is an orphan that would much rather be alone than in the thick political and social world of her people. She isn’t scared to go to dry land and does so even though it gets her into some serious trouble. Serena is basically an outcast, not liked much by anyone. I’m not really sure why that is and wish it had been addressed more fully. She has one person she considers her best friend, but since he left the orphanage before her and took his place in society they don’t see much of each other. Having no one to truly count on but herself her whole life Serena is an independent and strong young woman who will do what needs to be done. Her growth from being in the classroom to accepting and thriving in her role as Werewolf Liaison isn’t without pain, feelings of isolation and rejection; especially when she is betrayed by one who is supposed to be looking out and caring for her. Serena also finds love and feelings of desire for the first time as she faces the difficulties that have been forced upon her.
The secondary characters are pleasantly detailed and come to life. I really ended up liking Kia, although I wasn’t sure about him at first. Liam is still a bit of a mystery, but has promise of being a strong and possibly likable character as we see how he deals with recent events and learns of his place ( or not?) in Serena’s life. I thought I had it figured out and then the direction changed just a bit; I like to be surprised and was glad I liked the new direction.
There’s really not much else I can tell you without spoiling something and I feel one little spoiler may reveal too much as you read. I recommend this if you enjoy mermaids or werewolves with some great action, mystery and a bit of romance.
(I received a copy from publisher in exchange for an honest review.)
Darker Passions
November 3, 2013
I received The Rising in return for an honest review via the publisher Patchwork Press Via NetGalley. Serena is the youngest maiden in her caste which is also the last caste they have had due to the massacre that happened on the beach sixteen years prior. Upon reaching maturity they will graduate and hopefully be paired but the threat is still looking on the dry beach. It was the massacre that made Serena has grown up as an orphan always being different her home is dying she’s been looking for answer or solutions.
As the pairing grows closer she is caught meddling which is a serious crime for the Undine forcing her to go on trial and be given the job of werewolf liaison. Serena is determine to figure out why the wolves hate them so much because they were created to protect the Undine. While on land she befriends a young werewolf the son of the leader who is dead set on revenge against the Undine king. As Serena dives deeper into the mysteries revolving around her people and the wolves she learns secrets that will change her life forever.
I like Serena she’s stubborn but has a good head on her shoulders. I found her character interesting she’s one of my favorite mermaids because she doesn't just have a tail. I actually like Liam’s character I found him interesting and would love to see more of him. I’m still on the fence with Kai but we will see in the next book. I honestly was spellbound by the story the characters are easy to connect with you can’t help cheering them on and feeling Serena’s emotional roller-coaster.
The Rising is a captivating story about unique mermaids and the wolves that once protected them. I found the concept for how the Undine use their scales really cool. I like the idea of being able to shift into human and then shift your scales from colored to skin color. I was engrossed in the book, it was hard to put down even when the hubby wanted to watch a movie I was sneaking peaks at my kindle. The book is fast paced filled with action that keeps you on the edge of your seat till the very end, add in a little romance and mystery for the perfect balance. The author has written a beautiful story that sparks the imagination. I loved everything about the story and can’t wait for the next one to see what happens to both Serena and Liam as their stories unfold. This is my first book by the author but I know I’ll be checking out her other books.
November 15, 2013
I requested The Rising on NetGalley because it sounded like quite a different take on the paranormal. I haven't read any books about mermaids before cause they usually don't sound appealing enough to me, but werewolves are quite common paranormal creatures, but I don't think I've encountered a book that mixes both the way The Rising does.
The Rising was quite a pleasant surprise, it was a very engaging book that not only had a different and unique premise, but also managed to tell a good story in the first book of a trilogy. This is a world were Undines (that don't like to be called mermaids) and werewolves were once allies and after a bloody massacre in which many Undines perished, they became enemies. This has had very dire consequences for the Undine society, so much that it's threatening the very existence of their race.
Selena is our main character, an Undine of the last generation born and a loner. She doesn't seem to fit in with normal society with her experiments and her excursions to The Dry. She finds herself in a very difficult position and is assigned the task of being the new liason with the werewolves. She knows it'd be very dangerous but she didn't know she find out more than she could have ever imagined!
The book has a few twists, some that are easier to anticipate than others. It is quite a good first book, with enough world building to prepare the stage for what's to come, with a few surprises there to make things a lil more interesting. With its own action and climax in the end and without a cliffhanger! It leaves tension and questions unanswered to look forward to in the next book, and I will be eagerly awaiting to read it!
A little undecided between 3.5 and 4 starts.
The Rising was quite a pleasant surprise, it was a very engaging book that not only had a different and unique premise, but also managed to tell a good story in the first book of a trilogy. This is a world were Undines (that don't like to be called mermaids) and werewolves were once allies and after a bloody massacre in which many Undines perished, they became enemies. This has had very dire consequences for the Undine society, so much that it's threatening the very existence of their race.
Selena is our main character, an Undine of the last generation born and a loner. She doesn't seem to fit in with normal society with her experiments and her excursions to The Dry. She finds herself in a very difficult position and is assigned the task of being the new liason with the werewolves. She knows it'd be very dangerous but she didn't know she find out more than she could have ever imagined!
The book has a few twists, some that are easier to anticipate than others. It is quite a good first book, with enough world building to prepare the stage for what's to come, with a few surprises there to make things a lil more interesting. With its own action and climax in the end and without a cliffhanger! It leaves tension and questions unanswered to look forward to in the next book, and I will be eagerly awaiting to read it!
A little undecided between 3.5 and 4 starts.
May 23, 2014
This was quite the interesting and unique mermaid story. I have found the last few stories I read involving mermaids interesting. Each author has spin their tale in an original way that has left me wanting more.
The story was writing, voice wise, in a very odd sort of way. It is hard to explain because I believe I had an ARC copy that was unedited because there were a quite a few wrong word uses and 'he' instead of 'her' sort of thing. As the story flowed out we are entered into an ocean world. We have no direct contact with humans at all. The story is based on the struggle of the race under the ocean as pollution and global warming is killing all their natural resources. To add fuel to the fire they are at war with their former guardians, the werewolves.
Now, I liked this story for so many reasons. The author didn't toss us into that insta-love situation. We nearly had a love triangle and I didn't like it because both men were nice, strong, and respectful of Serena and trained her to be more powerful rather than be powerful for her. I respected the author so much for writing a powerful female lead in the young adult genre. She could fight on her own, was strong, and showed vulnerability all at the right time.
From the moment I stepped into Serena's world I was lost to it. I will be looking into the ocean in a very different way.
As a whole I found the plot solid, the writing strange but I was able to follow, the love story believable, and the fight scenes were kind of epic. I mean holy crap this author can write a damned battle scene. It was bloody, raw, and I was shouting at my kindle during it!
*I received a FREE copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
The story was writing, voice wise, in a very odd sort of way. It is hard to explain because I believe I had an ARC copy that was unedited because there were a quite a few wrong word uses and 'he' instead of 'her' sort of thing. As the story flowed out we are entered into an ocean world. We have no direct contact with humans at all. The story is based on the struggle of the race under the ocean as pollution and global warming is killing all their natural resources. To add fuel to the fire they are at war with their former guardians, the werewolves.
Now, I liked this story for so many reasons. The author didn't toss us into that insta-love situation. We nearly had a love triangle and I didn't like it because both men were nice, strong, and respectful of Serena and trained her to be more powerful rather than be powerful for her. I respected the author so much for writing a powerful female lead in the young adult genre. She could fight on her own, was strong, and showed vulnerability all at the right time.
From the moment I stepped into Serena's world I was lost to it. I will be looking into the ocean in a very different way.
As a whole I found the plot solid, the writing strange but I was able to follow, the love story believable, and the fight scenes were kind of epic. I mean holy crap this author can write a damned battle scene. It was bloody, raw, and I was shouting at my kindle during it!
*I received a FREE copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
November 12, 2013
Have you ever picked up a book that sounded pretty good and you were looking forward to reading it, and then been blown away? This is exactly what happened with The Rising. Terra Harmony has put together a story worthy of an opera. A beautiful symphony that has me laughing, crying, cheering, raging, and finally left me wanting more. I am totally hooked on The Painted Maidens Trilogy.
The storyline was very good. Terra created an underwater universe and a way of life for the mermaids, with traditions and daily routines. Each of the main characters had very distinct personalities, and intricately woven back stories that connected beautifully. The plot itself was full of mystery, twists, and romance.
I loved Serena, the main character. She was a strong, independent, caring individual, who really cared about the Undine and their home, even if she always felt like an outcast. Kia is a perfect match for her, if she could only be brave enough to accept his love and admiration.
Ronin, quiet and reserved, and Rayne, mother of all orphan Undine calflings and therefore, amazing in her own right, are my favorite couple in this book. They are so supportive of Serena and have each dedicated their lives to important tasks in their society.
Terra Harmony is a very talented writer who has brought together mermaids and my personal favorite of paranormal species, werewolves. Not in a million years would I have imagined these two creatures could possible work well together in a story. I mean, come on—two totally different worlds, right? Well, Terra did it! I am hooked and can’t wait for the next book…….
But until then, I definitely recommend The Rising and invite you to join us on Tuesday, October 29, 2013 for Terra’s visit to My Bookish Fairytale, which I am so excited for.
The storyline was very good. Terra created an underwater universe and a way of life for the mermaids, with traditions and daily routines. Each of the main characters had very distinct personalities, and intricately woven back stories that connected beautifully. The plot itself was full of mystery, twists, and romance.
I loved Serena, the main character. She was a strong, independent, caring individual, who really cared about the Undine and their home, even if she always felt like an outcast. Kia is a perfect match for her, if she could only be brave enough to accept his love and admiration.
Ronin, quiet and reserved, and Rayne, mother of all orphan Undine calflings and therefore, amazing in her own right, are my favorite couple in this book. They are so supportive of Serena and have each dedicated their lives to important tasks in their society.
Terra Harmony is a very talented writer who has brought together mermaids and my personal favorite of paranormal species, werewolves. Not in a million years would I have imagined these two creatures could possible work well together in a story. I mean, come on—two totally different worlds, right? Well, Terra did it! I am hooked and can’t wait for the next book…….
But until then, I definitely recommend The Rising and invite you to join us on Tuesday, October 29, 2013 for Terra’s visit to My Bookish Fairytale, which I am so excited for.
November 1, 2013
When Patchwork Press first approached me about reviewing The Rising and I read the synopsis I was immediately curious; I have separately read werewolf and mermaid books, but the idea of combining the two in a story both bemused and fascinated me as a fantasy fan.
Terra Harmony's third person narrative enables the reader an overview of all the characters who have differing viewpoints and emotions. I think Serena's point of view would have been too limiting, despite the fact the reader spends the majority of their time with her, there is also the community of Undine and the Werewolf Clan to consider, and though clearly some characters are more important than others I feel that Terra Harmony's style of writing allows everyone a voice.
The world of the Undine is a beautiful and vivid one, brought to life through Terra Harmony's imagery, each Undine envisioned with their own individual colour scales - my choice would be the burgundy of Cordelia's - and their transformation process into 'Ungainlies' in The Dry described in its painful process.
Serena is the main female character of The Rising; the outcast of the Undine society, perhaps because she is an orphan or because she can see the deterioration of their world or because she likes The Dry. Serena is spirited, intelligent and brave. When she meets Liam, the werewolf, they attempt to reach an understanding for the sake of their two groups.
Terra Harmony does not connect the Werewolves and Undines in any predictable way, and I found myself shocked by elements of this story. The Rising is an original novel which has been well conceived, and I look forward to the next in the series!
Terra Harmony's third person narrative enables the reader an overview of all the characters who have differing viewpoints and emotions. I think Serena's point of view would have been too limiting, despite the fact the reader spends the majority of their time with her, there is also the community of Undine and the Werewolf Clan to consider, and though clearly some characters are more important than others I feel that Terra Harmony's style of writing allows everyone a voice.
The world of the Undine is a beautiful and vivid one, brought to life through Terra Harmony's imagery, each Undine envisioned with their own individual colour scales - my choice would be the burgundy of Cordelia's - and their transformation process into 'Ungainlies' in The Dry described in its painful process.
Serena is the main female character of The Rising; the outcast of the Undine society, perhaps because she is an orphan or because she can see the deterioration of their world or because she likes The Dry. Serena is spirited, intelligent and brave. When she meets Liam, the werewolf, they attempt to reach an understanding for the sake of their two groups.
Terra Harmony does not connect the Werewolves and Undines in any predictable way, and I found myself shocked by elements of this story. The Rising is an original novel which has been well conceived, and I look forward to the next in the series!
November 17, 2013
BLOG: http://www.owlalwaysbereading.com/201...
I have read many books about mermaids, but Terra brings us a whole different story behind the reason for their existence. But first, I want to talk about how beautiful this book cover is and it matches the story perfectly. If I could rate the cover alone I would definitely give it a 5. I love it that much!
Although I really enjoyed reading The Rising, I struggled with it in the beginning. I am not sure if it was all the information thrown at me all at once in the beginning, but I struggled to put all the pieces together. But don’t let that discourage you because it really turned out to be an amazing read.
I found myself wanting to hear more about the scenes when Serena and Liam (one of the wolves) met out in The Dry. I really enjoyed reading about them and seeing them interact with one another. They actually made me laugh, especially all the funny awkward things that Serena would do. It was perfect because you could tell that she wasn’t part of that world and didn’t know how things worked. Towards the middle of the book, the story really picks up and it’s full of twists and turns which I was really surprised. Serena finds out more than she bargained for. Sometimes when you seek the truth, the truth isn’t always what you wanted it to be.
So if you really like mermaid books, especially a unique mermaid book like The Rising, I strongly recommend you getting it.
I have read many books about mermaids, but Terra brings us a whole different story behind the reason for their existence. But first, I want to talk about how beautiful this book cover is and it matches the story perfectly. If I could rate the cover alone I would definitely give it a 5. I love it that much!
Although I really enjoyed reading The Rising, I struggled with it in the beginning. I am not sure if it was all the information thrown at me all at once in the beginning, but I struggled to put all the pieces together. But don’t let that discourage you because it really turned out to be an amazing read.
I found myself wanting to hear more about the scenes when Serena and Liam (one of the wolves) met out in The Dry. I really enjoyed reading about them and seeing them interact with one another. They actually made me laugh, especially all the funny awkward things that Serena would do. It was perfect because you could tell that she wasn’t part of that world and didn’t know how things worked. Towards the middle of the book, the story really picks up and it’s full of twists and turns which I was really surprised. Serena finds out more than she bargained for. Sometimes when you seek the truth, the truth isn’t always what you wanted it to be.
So if you really like mermaid books, especially a unique mermaid book like The Rising, I strongly recommend you getting it.
January 13, 2014
I received a ARC copy from NetGalley.
I have had a fascination with mermaids since I was a young girl. Therefore, I tend to gravitate to these types of books. The Rising was no exception. The premise is what sealed the deal. What could be better than mermaids? Mermaids and Werewolves. Now that is a winning combination.
Serena is a fifteen year old mermaid who was raised in an orphanage after the tragic death of her parents. Serena has always felt that she didn't belong so she is content to live on the fringe of Society. Despite her isolation, Serena is concerned about her dying race. When she is appointed Werewolf Liaison, Serena hopes she can make a difference. Liam is the first werewolf Serena encounters in her new position as Liaison. The werewolves were once the protectors of the mermaids, but mistrust, resentment and hatred led to the bloody massacre that decimated the mermaids. Will Serena and Liam be able to restore the broken relations between their races? Will another bloody conflict occur?
The author did a great job creating and developing characters that came to life through her vivid descriptions. Serena is a strong and determined character despite being socially awkward. This story is an action packed adventure that is full of twists and turns. Guaranteed to keep you guessing until the end. This was a different take on mermaids, and I really enjoyed it.
I have had a fascination with mermaids since I was a young girl. Therefore, I tend to gravitate to these types of books. The Rising was no exception. The premise is what sealed the deal. What could be better than mermaids? Mermaids and Werewolves. Now that is a winning combination.
Serena is a fifteen year old mermaid who was raised in an orphanage after the tragic death of her parents. Serena has always felt that she didn't belong so she is content to live on the fringe of Society. Despite her isolation, Serena is concerned about her dying race. When she is appointed Werewolf Liaison, Serena hopes she can make a difference. Liam is the first werewolf Serena encounters in her new position as Liaison. The werewolves were once the protectors of the mermaids, but mistrust, resentment and hatred led to the bloody massacre that decimated the mermaids. Will Serena and Liam be able to restore the broken relations between their races? Will another bloody conflict occur?
The author did a great job creating and developing characters that came to life through her vivid descriptions. Serena is a strong and determined character despite being socially awkward. This story is an action packed adventure that is full of twists and turns. Guaranteed to keep you guessing until the end. This was a different take on mermaids, and I really enjoyed it.
October 28, 2013
Serena is the last mermaid born in the Kingdom of the Undine. The increased acidity of the ocean is destroying her landscape and the werewolves who used to protect mermaids are now attempting to destroy them. After she is given the position of Werewolf Liaison, Serena decides to try and make things right for all mermaids. As part of her training, she spends time on The Dry and meets Liam, a werewolf who begins to turn what she knows of her world on its ear. During her research into her people’s past, she discovers what really happened on the night of her birth and the troubling history between werewolves and mermaids.
The Rising is the first book in The Painted Maidens Trilogy and with that said the reader needs to be prepared for some world building. The book is not terribly long so it is quickly developed and the story will gently pull the reader along. Harmony takes a character type (werewolves) and puts a different spin on it. What is the relationship between mermaids and werewolves? Why was Serena the last mermaid born? Is there anything that can be done to save her people? I enjoyed this book and look forward to the next book in the series, but The Rising can stand on its own and does not require the reader to long for the next volume in the series.
The Rising is the first book in The Painted Maidens Trilogy and with that said the reader needs to be prepared for some world building. The book is not terribly long so it is quickly developed and the story will gently pull the reader along. Harmony takes a character type (werewolves) and puts a different spin on it. What is the relationship between mermaids and werewolves? Why was Serena the last mermaid born? Is there anything that can be done to save her people? I enjoyed this book and look forward to the next book in the series, but The Rising can stand on its own and does not require the reader to long for the next volume in the series.
December 9, 2013
(3.5 Stars) So this was a really different story, with the werewolves and mermaids together! (At least, I hadn't seen anything else like it before) I enjoyed the story line overall; there were only a few things I was a bit confused about (I won't mention them so as not to spoil anything) which sort of took me out of the story on a few occasions, and a few parts were a little slow for me, but otherwise "The Rising" is an interesting, unique spin on the world of mermaids! (or "Undines" as they're called) For the most part, I connected with the main character and became sympathetic to her plight as werewolf liaison. (I don't think I could do it!!) I also thought it was cool that the Undines' scales could cover their whole bodies, like armor, or simply cover their "parts".
Enjoyable read overall, I would recommend if you're into mermaids or other mythological creatures!
Enjoyable read overall, I would recommend if you're into mermaids or other mythological creatures!
October 27, 2013
I loved this one. I was intrigued by the idea of mermaids and werewolves, but I was impressed by the details of the mermaid world. It was interesting to read about their society, the specifics of how they transform to walk on land, and their history. There are battles with werewolves and a trial and a bit of romance. I was immediately pulled into the story and now I can't wait to read the next. I am excited to see where the story goes from here. The cover is just stunning and really fits in with my vision from the story.
May 1, 2015
Well thought out and beautifully written. This is the sort of book I was hoping for when I picekd up Jennifer Donnelly's Mermaid series. The mermaids (sorry, undine) are portrayed in a far more scientific manner and their trials and future carries a strong ecological message.
I was not expecting quite how brutal this tale got towards the end. Talk about edge-of-the-seat, couldn't-put-down stuff!
I was not expecting quite how brutal this tale got towards the end. Talk about edge-of-the-seat, couldn't-put-down stuff!
November 9, 2013
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and look forward to the next in the series. Terra pulled my interest from the start, and I couldn't wait to continue reading to see where she would take me. Keep writing Terra!
I won't give away characters, plots, story lines, as I don't want to ruin this story for others. It's a great read, and I would recommend it!
I won't give away characters, plots, story lines, as I don't want to ruin this story for others. It's a great read, and I would recommend it!
November 23, 2015
Pretty awesome high fantasy take on the merpeeps.
June 5, 2017
Loved it!!! This is my kind of heroine!
Even if she´s young, she´s not stupid or naive. Very brave and smart, a fierce fighter, and different from the common girls.
I didn´t quite dig the Warewolves-Mermiads thing at first, but Terra Harmony did a fantastic job intertwining such different species.
A MUST READ.
Even if she´s young, she´s not stupid or naive. Very brave and smart, a fierce fighter, and different from the common girls.
I didn´t quite dig the Warewolves-Mermiads thing at first, but Terra Harmony did a fantastic job intertwining such different species.
A MUST READ.
May 20, 2018
I really liked this book. It grabbed my attention as soon as I started to read it. I couldn't put it down until I finished it. I really like how the story was written cause it brought in a lot of different things to the story of how it began to where it will lead onto. I'm hoping the second book is just as good as this one. Cause I'm really looking forward to reading it when I get it.
August 28, 2020
This book has a slower pace and is predictable but i loved the magical world and the characters and it was a super good book that you can really get sucked into the world its been a long time since i have read a good mermaid book and now i finally have the romance could have been developed more but i can still say this is the best mermaid book i have ever read it was so fun and well thought out
March 17, 2019
Really evocative and enjoyable with lots of twists and turns. Beautiful. The only downside are a few editorial mistakes and the book itself is quite heavy so it can be a little painful to read for long stretches of time. Overall really good.
November 15, 2020
Good book overall. I love the interactions between werewolf and mermaids. The world building was unique and fascinating to say the least. There were some twists and turns I didn’t see coming. Overall, I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more from this author.
February 2, 2017
Captivating adventure with a hint of romance
I couldn't put this book down. It draws you in and demands to be finished. Great for a weekend, or a rainy day.
I couldn't put this book down. It draws you in and demands to be finished. Great for a weekend, or a rainy day.
June 6, 2017
n,n.m /,m /,m /,m /,m ,m /,m /, /,m ,m /,m ,m /,m /,m /,m ,m
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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