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The Mermaid Chronicles #1
Secrets of the Deep
CORDELIA BLUE IS AFRAID OF WATER .
CORDELIA IS ALSO A MERMAID.
Determined to face her fear, Cordelia enters the ocean for the first time since her twin brother was killed and learns she is from the oldest bloodline of mermaids. Entrusted with a magical relic, it us up to her alone to break an ancient curse and free the mermaids from the water.
But the selachii - mysterious shark shapeshifters - also have their eyes on the relic. As tensions increase between the mermaids and selachii, Cordelia doesn’t know who to trust. Forced to choose between love and race, she doubts every decision and the intentions of those around her.
Trusting her head will lead to a path of betrayal, but she might just get her family back. If she chooses her heart, the mermaids may stay cursed to remain in the ocean forever.
If you loved Shatter Me or Twilight , click the BUY NOW button above to grab this book by award-wining author Marisa Noelle before the price changes!
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PRAISE FOR SECRETS OF THE DEEP
“Refreshing take on an emerging genre. Found this book so hard to put down. Lots of fun teen drama mixed with a dash of romance and just a touch of the supernatural.” - Melissa Welliver, best selling author of My Love Life and the Apocalypse.
“The very premise is laced with conflict and you’ll cheer for Cordelia all the way through, as she battles to overcome inherent differences and conflict, and she must choose between her people and the person she loves.” - Stuart White, CEO of WriteMentor
“Romeo and Juliet for today.” - Amazon reader
“Deliciously romantic.” - Goodreads reviewer
“Twilight for mermaid lovers.” - Book blogger
CORDELIA IS ALSO A MERMAID.
Determined to face her fear, Cordelia enters the ocean for the first time since her twin brother was killed and learns she is from the oldest bloodline of mermaids. Entrusted with a magical relic, it us up to her alone to break an ancient curse and free the mermaids from the water.
But the selachii - mysterious shark shapeshifters - also have their eyes on the relic. As tensions increase between the mermaids and selachii, Cordelia doesn’t know who to trust. Forced to choose between love and race, she doubts every decision and the intentions of those around her.
Trusting her head will lead to a path of betrayal, but she might just get her family back. If she chooses her heart, the mermaids may stay cursed to remain in the ocean forever.
If you loved Shatter Me or Twilight , click the BUY NOW button above to grab this book by award-wining author Marisa Noelle before the price changes!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PRAISE FOR SECRETS OF THE DEEP
“Refreshing take on an emerging genre. Found this book so hard to put down. Lots of fun teen drama mixed with a dash of romance and just a touch of the supernatural.” - Melissa Welliver, best selling author of My Love Life and the Apocalypse.
“The very premise is laced with conflict and you’ll cheer for Cordelia all the way through, as she battles to overcome inherent differences and conflict, and she must choose between her people and the person she loves.” - Stuart White, CEO of WriteMentor
“Romeo and Juliet for today.” - Amazon reader
“Deliciously romantic.” - Goodreads reviewer
“Twilight for mermaid lovers.” - Book blogger
358 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 20, 2023
383 people are currently reading
3789 people want to read
About the author
Marisa Noelle
29 books182 followersMarisa Noelle is the author behind a treasure trove of young adult and adult novels across multiple genres, but they all have running themes of mental health or the ocean. She tends to gravitate towards the speculative arena and loves to write science-fiction, fantasy, horror, dystopian, romance, romantasy, or a combination of them all.
Marisa's books include:
The Shadow Keepers—a spine-tingling tale to keep you up all night and semi-finalist of the BBNYA book awards.
The Unraveling of Luna Forester—a novel impossible to talk about because of its huge twist, but it snagged several awards, including: First Place Incipere Award, WriteBlend Finalist, BBYNA Semi-Finalist, Bookshelf Finalist shelf.
The Unadjusteds Trilogy delves into one of her favourite genres—dystopian. The Unadjusteds, the Rise of the Altereds, and The Reckoning make up the trilogy, but there are eleven further companion novellas that follow the secondary characters. The Unadjusteds also placed as a semi-finalist in the BBNYA awards. There are also eleven origin story novellas set in The Unadjusteds universe that are completely FREE when you subscribe to my website.
The Mermaid Chronicles is a seven book romantasy series that includes: Secrets of the Deep, Quest for Atlantis, Fight for Freedom, Ghost Pirates, Vendetta, Denizens of Darkness, Vorago Returns, as well as its own companion guide. The entire series is coming to audio with Tantor Media soon!
Marisa also writes steamy romance under the pen name Savannah Warner.
When Marisa's not weaving literary spells, she's helping mold the future of MG and YA authors as a mentor for the Write Mentor program.
When not writing, Marisa likes to imagine herself as a mermaid, and can often be found in the local pool…or lake…or ocean. Despite her undeniable bookworm credentials since she was knee-high to a grasshopper, the author gig took Marisa by surprise. You see, she had a secret past as a bit of a science geek during her school days. But hey, science and storytelling make a surprisingly magical concoction! Currently, Marisa calls Woking, UK, her home sweet home, where she resides with her trusty squad, including her husband, three amazing kids, and a furry four-legged friend named Copper.
Marisa's books include:
The Shadow Keepers—a spine-tingling tale to keep you up all night and semi-finalist of the BBNYA book awards.
The Unraveling of Luna Forester—a novel impossible to talk about because of its huge twist, but it snagged several awards, including: First Place Incipere Award, WriteBlend Finalist, BBYNA Semi-Finalist, Bookshelf Finalist shelf.
The Unadjusteds Trilogy delves into one of her favourite genres—dystopian. The Unadjusteds, the Rise of the Altereds, and The Reckoning make up the trilogy, but there are eleven further companion novellas that follow the secondary characters. The Unadjusteds also placed as a semi-finalist in the BBNYA awards. There are also eleven origin story novellas set in The Unadjusteds universe that are completely FREE when you subscribe to my website.
The Mermaid Chronicles is a seven book romantasy series that includes: Secrets of the Deep, Quest for Atlantis, Fight for Freedom, Ghost Pirates, Vendetta, Denizens of Darkness, Vorago Returns, as well as its own companion guide. The entire series is coming to audio with Tantor Media soon!
Marisa also writes steamy romance under the pen name Savannah Warner.
When Marisa's not weaving literary spells, she's helping mold the future of MG and YA authors as a mentor for the Write Mentor program.
When not writing, Marisa likes to imagine herself as a mermaid, and can often be found in the local pool…or lake…or ocean. Despite her undeniable bookworm credentials since she was knee-high to a grasshopper, the author gig took Marisa by surprise. You see, she had a secret past as a bit of a science geek during her school days. But hey, science and storytelling make a surprisingly magical concoction! Currently, Marisa calls Woking, UK, her home sweet home, where she resides with her trusty squad, including her husband, three amazing kids, and a furry four-legged friend named Copper.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews
June 12, 2024
Secrets of the Deep (The Mermaid Chronicles) by Marisa Noelle
3.5/4 out of 5 stars
I have always loved mermaid lore and when this book came up I just knew I had to read it.
Secrets of the Deep is the story of Cordelia Blue. She lost both her mother and brother in a vicious shark attack. She used to be an avid swimmer but ever since the accident, who's she witnessed, she is afraid of being submerged. She avoids swimming pools, the sea and isn't even able to take baths anymore. Nightmares haunt her and she is desperate to find out why the shark attacks increase and why so many die. Her dad is also studying shark behaviour in his lab. But even though she fears the sea. She also craves to get back in the water.
Cordy is very close to her friends Trent and Maya. And when it's the first day of her senior year in high school she sees a new student. It's Wade Waters. A boy whom she loved as a 13 year old. And they instantly connect and get very close very fast.
Her friend Maya claims she saw a mermaid when she was younger and is completely obsessed with mermaid lore. She even ordered a new book named The Mermaid Chronicles. It's hard to read but she read about another species called Selachii. They are shark shifters.
Wade is slowly trying to get Cordy overcome her fear of the water.
But everything changes when Cordy sees Trent fall in a surfing competition and he doesn't surface. He goes into the ocean to save him. But suddenly her legs get glued together and she sees a red tail appearing. She is a mermaid and Maya sees it! Together try to figure out how that is possible. They also tell Trent.
And things change quickly. When she goes out on a date with Wade she figures out who he truly is. And that sets a lot of things in motion.
I absolutely loved the lore Marisa Noelle created in this book. I was completely invested in the shark shifters and how it all connects with the mermaids.
I also liked the fast pace and there weren't any boring chapters. The flow was amazing.
Though I did miss a bit of depth in this book. I didn't feel Cordy and Wade's love story in my bones. Normally I am falling head over heels in love with the main couple. But they didn't make my heart skip a beat. I wish there was a bit more emotion in it.
The same goes for the loss of her mother and brother. It was in there. But I didn't feel an overwhelming sense of loss. The same goes for a reunion later in the book. The fast pace is nice. But it did cause that some major moments were written rather flatly. So that was a bit of shame.
But overall this was a really exciting book. And I am curious to read the rest of the series. Especially because I cannot wait for the whole Atlantis lore that is coming up next!
So it's between 3.5 and 4 stars overall from me for this enjoyable book.
3.5/4 out of 5 stars
I have always loved mermaid lore and when this book came up I just knew I had to read it.
Secrets of the Deep is the story of Cordelia Blue. She lost both her mother and brother in a vicious shark attack. She used to be an avid swimmer but ever since the accident, who's she witnessed, she is afraid of being submerged. She avoids swimming pools, the sea and isn't even able to take baths anymore. Nightmares haunt her and she is desperate to find out why the shark attacks increase and why so many die. Her dad is also studying shark behaviour in his lab. But even though she fears the sea. She also craves to get back in the water.
Cordy is very close to her friends Trent and Maya. And when it's the first day of her senior year in high school she sees a new student. It's Wade Waters. A boy whom she loved as a 13 year old. And they instantly connect and get very close very fast.
Her friend Maya claims she saw a mermaid when she was younger and is completely obsessed with mermaid lore. She even ordered a new book named The Mermaid Chronicles. It's hard to read but she read about another species called Selachii. They are shark shifters.
Wade is slowly trying to get Cordy overcome her fear of the water.
But everything changes when Cordy sees Trent fall in a surfing competition and he doesn't surface. He goes into the ocean to save him. But suddenly her legs get glued together and she sees a red tail appearing. She is a mermaid and Maya sees it! Together try to figure out how that is possible. They also tell Trent.
And things change quickly. When she goes out on a date with Wade she figures out who he truly is. And that sets a lot of things in motion.
I absolutely loved the lore Marisa Noelle created in this book. I was completely invested in the shark shifters and how it all connects with the mermaids.
I also liked the fast pace and there weren't any boring chapters. The flow was amazing.
Though I did miss a bit of depth in this book. I didn't feel Cordy and Wade's love story in my bones. Normally I am falling head over heels in love with the main couple. But they didn't make my heart skip a beat. I wish there was a bit more emotion in it.
The same goes for the loss of her mother and brother. It was in there. But I didn't feel an overwhelming sense of loss. The same goes for a reunion later in the book. The fast pace is nice. But it did cause that some major moments were written rather flatly. So that was a bit of shame.
But overall this was a really exciting book. And I am curious to read the rest of the series. Especially because I cannot wait for the whole Atlantis lore that is coming up next!
So it's between 3.5 and 4 stars overall from me for this enjoyable book.
February 5, 2025
I have to say I was pleasantly surprised with this book. Do you ever pick up a book because it has a mythical creature that you like (fairies, dwarves, elves, etc.)? Because that is basically what I did here. I have loved mermaids from the time I was a child and have always been fascinated by the various myths surrounding them. When I saw that this could be rented for free from Amazon Prime I figured why not? And I am so glad I did! I went into this thinking it would be just another run of the mill mermaid fantasy but boy was I wrong!
One of the reasons I love mermaid stories is that there are so many directions an author can take for worldbuilding/mythology. I can confidently say that Ms. Noelle did a fabulous job of this. This story is set in California, where Cordelia, a high school senior, discovers she is a mermaid. The mermaid mythology and history here were well constructed. Noelle mixed ancient mermaid lore with her own ideas and the result is truly something incredible. The world she created was fantastic, compelling and creative. Reading about the mermaids’ own unique world, laws, and history is much of what made this book unputdownable!
All of the characters, even the villains, were very interesting. Although Cordelia, the protagonist, was not my favorite character in the book, I still empathized with her and really enjoyed seeing her character arc. My favorite character was Maya, the brainy, bookish best friend, very similar to Hermione Granger in my view. Although Maya was not the protagonist, she was a very strong supporting character, and I appreciated how the author emphasized the need for a bookish best friend, with high value being placed on intelligence and research. Truthfully, I hope Maya gets her own books because she was a badass character!
The character dynamics and interactions were all well written. Each character had a unique voice, and I felt each scene was compelling in its own way. Also, each character served a purpose, and I felt there was no wasted dialogue or “screentime”.
I will not give any spoilers, but the ending was fantastic and provided an excellent setup for book 2.
Do I recommend this book? Heck yeah! Because, it’s original, funny, unique, clever and really shakes up the typical mermaid story.
One of the reasons I love mermaid stories is that there are so many directions an author can take for worldbuilding/mythology. I can confidently say that Ms. Noelle did a fabulous job of this. This story is set in California, where Cordelia, a high school senior, discovers she is a mermaid. The mermaid mythology and history here were well constructed. Noelle mixed ancient mermaid lore with her own ideas and the result is truly something incredible. The world she created was fantastic, compelling and creative. Reading about the mermaids’ own unique world, laws, and history is much of what made this book unputdownable!
All of the characters, even the villains, were very interesting. Although Cordelia, the protagonist, was not my favorite character in the book, I still empathized with her and really enjoyed seeing her character arc. My favorite character was Maya, the brainy, bookish best friend, very similar to Hermione Granger in my view. Although Maya was not the protagonist, she was a very strong supporting character, and I appreciated how the author emphasized the need for a bookish best friend, with high value being placed on intelligence and research. Truthfully, I hope Maya gets her own books because she was a badass character!
The character dynamics and interactions were all well written. Each character had a unique voice, and I felt each scene was compelling in its own way. Also, each character served a purpose, and I felt there was no wasted dialogue or “screentime”.
I will not give any spoilers, but the ending was fantastic and provided an excellent setup for book 2.
Do I recommend this book? Heck yeah! Because, it’s original, funny, unique, clever and really shakes up the typical mermaid story.
March 30, 2023
I thought that this book was amazing the author asked me to read it
June 12, 2024
What I loved
My favorite thing was the world building and the lore. The author made up her own mermaid mythology, with legends, history, and how they get their tails. But my favorite part is that she created a rival race called selachii (shark shifters). Both of these water species have their own distinct bloodlines, including individuals who later become mermaids or selachii.
Cordelia and Wade’s love story is a young adult contemporary fantasy romance with a Romeo and Juliet vibe, set amidst the age-old mermaid versus selachii feud. Cordelia’s life has been marked by tragedy as her mother and brother were killed in a shark attack.
In my opinion, the book effectively combined tension, tragedy, and triumph.
Tropes
Although the book is marketed as enemies-to-lovers, I feel this is a misunderstanding of the trope. Cordelia and Wade are from the original bloodline of two rival species, but they don’t hate each other—they’re childhood friends. In my opinion, the best way to characterize their relationship is as forbidden love, similar to the story of Romeo and Juliet (except this isn’t a tragedy, so we get a much better ending).
- forbidden love
- mythical creatures
- coming of age story
- betrayal
What didn’t resonate with me
I loved the storyline and the writing, but I felt like we got too many flashbacks and that pulled me out of the story. However, since it was reasonably fast paced, it didn’t bother me that much.
The plot twists in the story are somewhat predictable, which may disappoint some readers. Perhaps a little less foreshadowing would have worked better. But take everything I say with a grain of salt because I’m not in the target audience.
Read more at: https://www.summonfantasy.com/reviews...
My favorite thing was the world building and the lore. The author made up her own mermaid mythology, with legends, history, and how they get their tails. But my favorite part is that she created a rival race called selachii (shark shifters). Both of these water species have their own distinct bloodlines, including individuals who later become mermaids or selachii.
Cordelia and Wade’s love story is a young adult contemporary fantasy romance with a Romeo and Juliet vibe, set amidst the age-old mermaid versus selachii feud. Cordelia’s life has been marked by tragedy as her mother and brother were killed in a shark attack.
In my opinion, the book effectively combined tension, tragedy, and triumph.
Tropes
Although the book is marketed as enemies-to-lovers, I feel this is a misunderstanding of the trope. Cordelia and Wade are from the original bloodline of two rival species, but they don’t hate each other—they’re childhood friends. In my opinion, the best way to characterize their relationship is as forbidden love, similar to the story of Romeo and Juliet (except this isn’t a tragedy, so we get a much better ending).
- forbidden love
- mythical creatures
- coming of age story
- betrayal
What didn’t resonate with me
I loved the storyline and the writing, but I felt like we got too many flashbacks and that pulled me out of the story. However, since it was reasonably fast paced, it didn’t bother me that much.
The plot twists in the story are somewhat predictable, which may disappoint some readers. Perhaps a little less foreshadowing would have worked better. But take everything I say with a grain of salt because I’m not in the target audience.
Read more at: https://www.summonfantasy.com/reviews...
June 12, 2024
“Secrets of the Deep” by Marisa Noelle is the first book in her latest series “The Mermaid Chronicles“. The book blends together elements of fantasy, romance, and adventure. We follow Cordelia Blue, is a seemingly normal 18-year old who harbours a deep fear of water due to a tragedy that claimed the lives of her mother and her twin brother. Despite her fear, she must confront her destiny when she discovers her lineage as part of the oldest mermaid bloodline. Set in an immersive underwater kingdom, the story is complete with mythological creatures, ancient secrets, and a struggle against dark forces threatening the tranquility of the ocean depths.
Since the summer sun is fast approaching, I’ve been in the mood for anything summer, beach and ocean related. When The Write Reads sent out an email newsletter about an upcoming blog tour for this book, I immediately let them know that I was interested. Despite having a genuine fascination for mermaids and the myths and lore about half-man, half-fish beings, I don’t think I have ever read a mermaid book. Funnily enough, I’ve read vampires, wolves (thanks Twilight!), aliens, shape-shifters etc, but this is my first mermaid book. Ever.
And luckily, it did not disappoint.
From the very first chapter, we are thrust into Cordelia’s world. We learn that her mother and her twin bother died from a traumatising attack whilst out boating in the middle of the ocean. Ever since then, Cordelia has feared being near bodies of water, and has developed a fear of sharks. I love Cordelia as a character, aside from her stunning name, I think she’s a great protagonist. She’s brave, ready to face her fears, but allows herself to be vulnerable to those around her. Her growth and development are central to the story, as we witness her navigate challenges, forms alliances, and discover her own strength and face her fears.
Grief is a major theme in this book, so I love that we get to see a bit of Cordelia’s dad and her relationship after their shared loss. It delves into Cordelia’s internal and external battles, while keeping her grounded and relatable. I love that Cordelia has a great friendship behind her– Trey and Maya are such fun side characters and their banter adds a touch of humour and lightness into the story.
As for the romance, Cordelia’s romance with Wade wasn’t my favourite thing in this book. While I understand that they probably had to speed things up a bit because really the mermaid plot was the focal point of the book, I was a bit disappointed by the lack of chemistry between the two characters. It did feel a bit too insta-love and everything was just happening so fast, without much development. I wished we got to see the romance slowly progress throughout the entire series, instead of it being rushed in one book. However, I do understand why the author made the decision to do it this way.
One of my favourite aspects of this book was the world-building. I love the world that Marisa Noelle has created within the pages of this book. She created a rich, atmospheric underwater realm that made me want to drive to the nearest ocean and explore it. The descriptions of the undersea landscape, its flora, and fauna, as well as the societal structures of the oceanic inhabitants, are detailed and imaginative– bringing the myth of merpeople to life.
Marisa Noelle’s novel is a captivating start to “The Mermaid Chronicles,” appealing to young adult readers who enjoy fantasy with a touch of romance and high-stakes deep water adventure.
I cannot wait to see what happens next.
Thank you to TheWriteReads tour for inviting me along for this tour.
3.5 stars
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Star ratings and their meanings:
★★★★★: I loved everything about this book! I would re-read it and would highly recommend it to you, your family and your cat!
★★★★: I liked it. I didn’t love it but I still liked it enough to still rate it highly. I could see myself still recommending this book to a lot of people
★★★: It was an okay book. There maybe have been a few things that bothered me while reading this book but for the most parts the likes outweigh the dislikes.
★★: the cons outweigh the pros, unfortunately. There might be some things that were lacking in some areas—writing, characterisation, plot etc, but there may have been a few moments that I liked.
★: Nope. I should've just appreciated this book from afar.
Since the summer sun is fast approaching, I’ve been in the mood for anything summer, beach and ocean related. When The Write Reads sent out an email newsletter about an upcoming blog tour for this book, I immediately let them know that I was interested. Despite having a genuine fascination for mermaids and the myths and lore about half-man, half-fish beings, I don’t think I have ever read a mermaid book. Funnily enough, I’ve read vampires, wolves (thanks Twilight!), aliens, shape-shifters etc, but this is my first mermaid book. Ever.
And luckily, it did not disappoint.
From the very first chapter, we are thrust into Cordelia’s world. We learn that her mother and her twin bother died from a traumatising attack whilst out boating in the middle of the ocean. Ever since then, Cordelia has feared being near bodies of water, and has developed a fear of sharks. I love Cordelia as a character, aside from her stunning name, I think she’s a great protagonist. She’s brave, ready to face her fears, but allows herself to be vulnerable to those around her. Her growth and development are central to the story, as we witness her navigate challenges, forms alliances, and discover her own strength and face her fears.
Grief is a major theme in this book, so I love that we get to see a bit of Cordelia’s dad and her relationship after their shared loss. It delves into Cordelia’s internal and external battles, while keeping her grounded and relatable. I love that Cordelia has a great friendship behind her– Trey and Maya are such fun side characters and their banter adds a touch of humour and lightness into the story.
As for the romance, Cordelia’s romance with Wade wasn’t my favourite thing in this book. While I understand that they probably had to speed things up a bit because really the mermaid plot was the focal point of the book, I was a bit disappointed by the lack of chemistry between the two characters. It did feel a bit too insta-love and everything was just happening so fast, without much development. I wished we got to see the romance slowly progress throughout the entire series, instead of it being rushed in one book. However, I do understand why the author made the decision to do it this way.
One of my favourite aspects of this book was the world-building. I love the world that Marisa Noelle has created within the pages of this book. She created a rich, atmospheric underwater realm that made me want to drive to the nearest ocean and explore it. The descriptions of the undersea landscape, its flora, and fauna, as well as the societal structures of the oceanic inhabitants, are detailed and imaginative– bringing the myth of merpeople to life.
Marisa Noelle’s novel is a captivating start to “The Mermaid Chronicles,” appealing to young adult readers who enjoy fantasy with a touch of romance and high-stakes deep water adventure.
I cannot wait to see what happens next.
Thank you to TheWriteReads tour for inviting me along for this tour.
3.5 stars
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Star ratings and their meanings:
★★★★★: I loved everything about this book! I would re-read it and would highly recommend it to you, your family and your cat!
★★★★: I liked it. I didn’t love it but I still liked it enough to still rate it highly. I could see myself still recommending this book to a lot of people
★★★: It was an okay book. There maybe have been a few things that bothered me while reading this book but for the most parts the likes outweigh the dislikes.
★★: the cons outweigh the pros, unfortunately. There might be some things that were lacking in some areas—writing, characterisation, plot etc, but there may have been a few moments that I liked.
★: Nope. I should've just appreciated this book from afar.
June 3, 2024
This is the first book of The Mermaid Chronicles and is a promising start to a series that's already hinted at adventure, mythical sea creatures, ancient civilizations, and more! But I just wanted to note a few things to set the expectations of those who might want to check this out:
* The Amazon subtitle says A Forbidden Love, Enemies to Lovers Fantasy Romance Retelling. Forbidden love? Yes. Enemies to lovers... I wouldn't really call it that, unless you count being on opposite sides of a feud ala Romeo and Juliet. There are certainly no murder attempts on each other. And I don't know which story this book is supposed to be a retelling of, but that might just be me. Unlike Maya, mermaids aren't my specialty, haha!
* You know how YA books these days seem to be like, really for adults but tagged as YA, complete with all the violence and darkness and high heat love scenes? This one's actually YA. The protagonist is 17 turning 18 and with first person POV, her voice really shines as that of a teen. And while there's some very mild spice, it's teenage, lovey-dovey stuff.
* Whatever the genre's really called these days — romantasy, fantasy romance, romantic fantasy, fantasy with romance; I still don't really know — make no mistake, this book has romance.
Anyway, this is a quick, fast-paced read, with nothing horribly graphic, except perhaps for a shark attack. Cordelia's an interesting character to follow, and it was nice to see her have friends and a good relationship with her father despite their mutual grief and loss.
The book's plot twists seem a little obvious, and while that might be disappointing to some, I'd like to attribute that to the author deliberately laying out of the hints (I'm an adult and a longtime reader of YA, I mean I should know this by now, right? 😉) in such a way that the surprises don't also come out of nowhere and not make sense. I actually appreciated that.
Though it was kind of weird how everyone ended up actually being involved in everything, and nobody really seemed to be shocked by the existence of mermaids and shapeshifting sharks. The resolution also felt somewhat anticlimactic, but on the flip side, it was a good setup for the upcoming books. Oh no, it won't be enough to just read this installment. You'll want to read them all, especially if you miss the lighter side of YA!
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
* The Amazon subtitle says A Forbidden Love, Enemies to Lovers Fantasy Romance Retelling. Forbidden love? Yes. Enemies to lovers... I wouldn't really call it that, unless you count being on opposite sides of a feud ala Romeo and Juliet. There are certainly no murder attempts on each other. And I don't know which story this book is supposed to be a retelling of, but that might just be me. Unlike Maya, mermaids aren't my specialty, haha!
* You know how YA books these days seem to be like, really for adults but tagged as YA, complete with all the violence and darkness and high heat love scenes? This one's actually YA. The protagonist is 17 turning 18 and with first person POV, her voice really shines as that of a teen. And while there's some very mild spice, it's teenage, lovey-dovey stuff.
* Whatever the genre's really called these days — romantasy, fantasy romance, romantic fantasy, fantasy with romance; I still don't really know — make no mistake, this book has romance.
Anyway, this is a quick, fast-paced read, with nothing horribly graphic, except perhaps for a shark attack. Cordelia's an interesting character to follow, and it was nice to see her have friends and a good relationship with her father despite their mutual grief and loss.
The book's plot twists seem a little obvious, and while that might be disappointing to some, I'd like to attribute that to the author deliberately laying out of the hints (I'm an adult and a longtime reader of YA, I mean I should know this by now, right? 😉) in such a way that the surprises don't also come out of nowhere and not make sense. I actually appreciated that.
Though it was kind of weird how everyone ended up actually being involved in everything, and nobody really seemed to be shocked by the existence of mermaids and shapeshifting sharks. The resolution also felt somewhat anticlimactic, but on the flip side, it was a good setup for the upcoming books. Oh no, it won't be enough to just read this installment. You'll want to read them all, especially if you miss the lighter side of YA!
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
September 26, 2023
I will always and forever be fascinated by the myths and folklore of mermaids and atlantis. The story of how Cordy went from not believing to being one herself was hysterical! I knew it was coming. I just didn't know how it would happen. The best part for me was that Maya, her friend, was right there. And that Cordy didn't keep it a secret from Trent and Wade for long. Even though it slipped unintentionally to Wade. Wade and Cordelias relationship and growth was cute. I loved that they were childhood friends, and now they are reunited and together. The myths of the Selachii and Mermaids were done where it all made sense. And I loved the twists with Maya and other characters. My biggest plus with the story was that the plot ended. It wrapped up nicely. It didn't go on. While yes, some of the plot regarding atlantis gets going, the main storyline of book 1 ends! I can't love that more!!
December 25, 2023
“… misguided youths wearing heavy gold chains and jeans around their asses swaggered across roads…”
The book came out in 2021 and it doesn’t read like that at all; the dialogue was so cringe. The author has no understanding of how young people speak and it totally ruined the book. Does the quote above sound like the internal monologue of a freshly 18 year old? No.
I reckon the other reviews are lying.
Only 2 stars because of the potential that the story had. Maybe that’s too nice because if you ignore the potential it will be a struggling 1 star.
I will not be reading the rest of the series.
Sad because I really want a decent mermaid book to read.
The book came out in 2021 and it doesn’t read like that at all; the dialogue was so cringe. The author has no understanding of how young people speak and it totally ruined the book. Does the quote above sound like the internal monologue of a freshly 18 year old? No.
I reckon the other reviews are lying.
Only 2 stars because of the potential that the story had. Maybe that’s too nice because if you ignore the potential it will be a struggling 1 star.
I will not be reading the rest of the series.
Sad because I really want a decent mermaid book to read.
June 11, 2024
Read the complete non-spoiler review of the book in my book blog. Link : https://bookbugworld.com/review-secre...
June 11, 2024
Read if you like🎀
🦋Myths and folklores
🦋Fast-paced novels
🦋ya fantasy
🦋Adventure, Suspense and Action
🦋selachi (shape-shifting sharks )vs mermaids (they can also shapeshift into human form)
🦋Romance
🦋Paranormal/supernatural
This book deserves to get hyped!!!!!
It's a fast-paced adventure-suspense ya fantasy with romance as a cherry on top. I was hooked from the very first page and not once did I get pulled away from the story. The characters were amazing and adorable. I loved the writing style. I was gripped by the world the author built. The storyline and the plot were great. The twists were terrific. It kept me guessing and I did figure out a thing or two but that did not take away from my overall contentment of the book. It’s full of myths and lores about mermaids and sharks. I haven’t read any mermaid or shark-related books before so this was pleasantly refreshing and nicely wrapped up. It also has a new storyline for the next instalment. I’ll definitely be reading more of this author.
🦋Myths and folklores
🦋Fast-paced novels
🦋ya fantasy
🦋Adventure, Suspense and Action
🦋selachi (shape-shifting sharks )vs mermaids (they can also shapeshift into human form)
🦋Romance
🦋Paranormal/supernatural
This book deserves to get hyped!!!!!
It's a fast-paced adventure-suspense ya fantasy with romance as a cherry on top. I was hooked from the very first page and not once did I get pulled away from the story. The characters were amazing and adorable. I loved the writing style. I was gripped by the world the author built. The storyline and the plot were great. The twists were terrific. It kept me guessing and I did figure out a thing or two but that did not take away from my overall contentment of the book. It’s full of myths and lores about mermaids and sharks. I haven’t read any mermaid or shark-related books before so this was pleasantly refreshing and nicely wrapped up. It also has a new storyline for the next instalment. I’ll definitely be reading more of this author.
November 25, 2024
2.5 stars
This book is hard to rate for me.
I liked the idea of mermaids and shark-people. But the story was very predictable.
You know right from the start that main character Cordelia is a mermaid, that fact is literally the second sentence in the blurb on the backside of the book.
And when we get introduce to Wade, her childhood boyfriend now returned to her school, it's not that easy to guess he is a selachii.
Then we get prophecies about breaking a curse, and obviously it's Cordelia who is the chosen one.
Cordelia's friends are a bit lacking in background story.
Maya, the best friend, is suddenly wearing glasses and when Cordelia asks about it, Maya explains that her foster siblings have hidden her contact lenses. So halfway through the book we suddenly find out Maya is living with foster parents and doesn't know who her real parents were (spoiler: they were prophecy interpreters, as is Maya of course, because every single person in Cordelia's life has to be special, no one can just be normal)
And then Trent, Cordelia's late brother's best friend and now her best friend. We only know he likes to surf. And joke. That's it.
From the start we know Cordelia's mother and twin brother were killed by a shark and every time the word water enters a conversation, Cordelia is reminded of that through flashbacks.
A lot of flashback.
And all neatly is synchronic order.
In so many chapters.
Just give us one flashback chapter that tell the story and be done with it.
Also, Cordelia's mother was always very anxious when they were on the water and her dad still insisted going for a boat ride with his entire family.
I'm sorry, but I think Cordelia's dad is a bit of an asshole, for forcing his wife to come along on the boat even though he knows how scared she gets.
The writing style also bothered me. There were quite a few typos (even in the blurb on the back of the book) even though the writer thanks her mother for being an eagle-eyed proof-reader.
And the dialogue was sometimes confusing.
An example:
"I'm going to leave you two alone," Dad said. "It was nice to meet you, Mr. Blue."
I wondered why Cordelia's dad would be so official with his daughter's boyfriend. Then I remembered that Wade had a different surname. And came to the conclusion that the second part of that dialogue is actually a new dialogue, said by Wade, and therefor should be under the previous one. And this isn't the only example. I found more miss-dialogues like that.
There's three more books in this series and I will have to think it through really well if I want to read the others.
This book is hard to rate for me.
I liked the idea of mermaids and shark-people. But the story was very predictable.
You know right from the start that main character Cordelia is a mermaid, that fact is literally the second sentence in the blurb on the backside of the book.
And when we get introduce to Wade, her childhood boyfriend now returned to her school, it's not that easy to guess he is a selachii.
Then we get prophecies about breaking a curse, and obviously it's Cordelia who is the chosen one.
Cordelia's friends are a bit lacking in background story.
Maya, the best friend, is suddenly wearing glasses and when Cordelia asks about it, Maya explains that her foster siblings have hidden her contact lenses. So halfway through the book we suddenly find out Maya is living with foster parents and doesn't know who her real parents were (spoiler: they were prophecy interpreters, as is Maya of course, because every single person in Cordelia's life has to be special, no one can just be normal)
And then Trent, Cordelia's late brother's best friend and now her best friend. We only know he likes to surf. And joke. That's it.
From the start we know Cordelia's mother and twin brother were killed by a shark and every time the word water enters a conversation, Cordelia is reminded of that through flashbacks.
A lot of flashback.
And all neatly is synchronic order.
In so many chapters.
Just give us one flashback chapter that tell the story and be done with it.
Also, Cordelia's mother was always very anxious when they were on the water and her dad still insisted going for a boat ride with his entire family.
I'm sorry, but I think Cordelia's dad is a bit of an asshole, for forcing his wife to come along on the boat even though he knows how scared she gets.
The writing style also bothered me. There were quite a few typos (even in the blurb on the back of the book) even though the writer thanks her mother for being an eagle-eyed proof-reader.
And the dialogue was sometimes confusing.
An example:
"I'm going to leave you two alone," Dad said. "It was nice to meet you, Mr. Blue."
I wondered why Cordelia's dad would be so official with his daughter's boyfriend. Then I remembered that Wade had a different surname. And came to the conclusion that the second part of that dialogue is actually a new dialogue, said by Wade, and therefor should be under the previous one. And this isn't the only example. I found more miss-dialogues like that.
There's three more books in this series and I will have to think it through really well if I want to read the others.
September 4, 2020
I loved this story! Set in a contemporary world (on land, at least!), Cordelia suffers from the loss of her mother and twin brother, as she enters her last year of high school in California. Because of how her mom and brother died, Cordelia is scared of the water. She won't even take baths.
Around her 18th birthday, she decides to face her fears and, in an attempt to save a friend, jumps in the ocean. Can you guess what she finds out about herself? How about that she has a BEAUTIFUL RED, ORANGE, FIERY mermaid tail!?
Cordelia has to now deal with a world that she didn't know existed. Soon, her human world and her mermaid world start to tangle. She's falling in love, but he has a secret too. This new life means that Cordelia will have to step up and overcome her fears, and deal with legends, and bad guys who live under the sea. She may be the key to the underwater kingdom's survival.
THE MERMAID CHRONICLES: SECRETS OF THE DEEP is a delightful YA with just enough adventure, friendships, and romance to keep the reader turning the pages.
Looking forward to the next book in the series!
Around her 18th birthday, she decides to face her fears and, in an attempt to save a friend, jumps in the ocean. Can you guess what she finds out about herself? How about that she has a BEAUTIFUL RED, ORANGE, FIERY mermaid tail!?
Cordelia has to now deal with a world that she didn't know existed. Soon, her human world and her mermaid world start to tangle. She's falling in love, but he has a secret too. This new life means that Cordelia will have to step up and overcome her fears, and deal with legends, and bad guys who live under the sea. She may be the key to the underwater kingdom's survival.
THE MERMAID CHRONICLES: SECRETS OF THE DEEP is a delightful YA with just enough adventure, friendships, and romance to keep the reader turning the pages.
Looking forward to the next book in the series!
September 4, 2020
A super YA paranormal Romance, with real chemistry between the leads.
Cordelia Blue is terrified of the ocean after losing her mother and brother in a shark attack five years ago. But then she discovers that immersion in water transforms her into a mermaid. Not just any mermaid either, but the red-tailed fire mermaid of legend, prophesied to help mermaids regain the use of their land legs and rediscover the long-lost Atlantis.
But it seems that Cordelia can only do this with the co-operation of one of the Selachii, a group of shapeshifter that can turn into sharks. Hostility between mermaids and Selachii has been getting worse for many years, but when Cordelia falls in love with one of them, it seems this could be in reach.
This author has a particularly good grasp of pace, and any ocean-loving teenager will appreciate the first in this gripping fantasy series.
Cordelia Blue is terrified of the ocean after losing her mother and brother in a shark attack five years ago. But then she discovers that immersion in water transforms her into a mermaid. Not just any mermaid either, but the red-tailed fire mermaid of legend, prophesied to help mermaids regain the use of their land legs and rediscover the long-lost Atlantis.
But it seems that Cordelia can only do this with the co-operation of one of the Selachii, a group of shapeshifter that can turn into sharks. Hostility between mermaids and Selachii has been getting worse for many years, but when Cordelia falls in love with one of them, it seems this could be in reach.
This author has a particularly good grasp of pace, and any ocean-loving teenager will appreciate the first in this gripping fantasy series.
January 17, 2025
Dnf - It felt like Wattpad. The main character only talks about losing her family, over and over and over again, and all conversations with her friends feel like conversations between 10 year olds, not 18 year olds. Had to dnf when the fmc made multiple mentions of ‘rippling muscles straining beneath his t shirt’ as soon as the mmc is introduced. Overall cringey, clunky, and uncomfortable.
Also, why are a father and daughter talking about if their dead 13 year old son/brother was still alive, he’d be getting girls pregnant and having threesomes?? Icky gross. Don’t read this.
Also, why are a father and daughter talking about if their dead 13 year old son/brother was still alive, he’d be getting girls pregnant and having threesomes?? Icky gross. Don’t read this.
May 30, 2022
A light, fast paced read. I typically enjoy YA paranormal, this feels a bit different to my typical choices. It was very easy to get in to but i also found it wasn't a book that completely swallowed me in, i was able to put it down and forget about it until i picked it back up again.
I enjoyed the storyline, although I have been left with a few questions, the main one being how do the explain the reappearance of certain characters?! Hopefully it'll be explained in the next book.
I enjoyed the storyline, although I have been left with a few questions, the main one being how do the explain the reappearance of certain characters?! Hopefully it'll be explained in the next book.
March 30, 2021
*2.5*
FIRST OFF, I want to say I really recommend this book if you like a nice fast-paced book, that’s a light read! The plot was good I just couldn’t connect to the characters. But if you’re in the mood for a swim then read this book.
FIRST OFF, I want to say I really recommend this book if you like a nice fast-paced book, that’s a light read! The plot was good I just couldn’t connect to the characters. But if you’re in the mood for a swim then read this book.
June 9, 2024
Going into this book I knew I was going to be reading a story about a young woman finding out that she was mermaid. What I didn't know, was that it was going to be such a positively focused story. Now what do I mean by that? I mean that the characters in this story are faced with serious challenges of life changing revelations. But they have an amazingly supportive system that surrounds them from their friends to family members. From what I understand, this author (new to me) focuses on positive mental health in her books, and I would say that really stood out to me in this story.
Cordelia is about to turn 18 years old and she lost her mother and twin brother five years ago to a tragic shark attack. Her father and her have been working together to support each other in their new lives without them, and Cordy has always felt loved and supported by her father and her two best friends. But as her birthday approaches and she finally starts to face her fear of the water, another hiccup comes into her life in the form of a mermaid tale.
Facing the challenges of this news and balancing a new boyfriend, the swim team master himself Wade, she has a lot going on. But the shark attacks in the surrounding California waters continue to increase and Cordelia is concerned that something even more sinister is happening around them.
A fantasy world unfolds around the characters that scoops them right into a new world where mermaids exist, as well as many other creatures they never even heard of! This trio of friends are faced with the challenges of finding answers and saving the mermaids before it's too late for all of them.
Cordelia is about to turn 18 years old and she lost her mother and twin brother five years ago to a tragic shark attack. Her father and her have been working together to support each other in their new lives without them, and Cordy has always felt loved and supported by her father and her two best friends. But as her birthday approaches and she finally starts to face her fear of the water, another hiccup comes into her life in the form of a mermaid tale.
Facing the challenges of this news and balancing a new boyfriend, the swim team master himself Wade, she has a lot going on. But the shark attacks in the surrounding California waters continue to increase and Cordelia is concerned that something even more sinister is happening around them.
A fantasy world unfolds around the characters that scoops them right into a new world where mermaids exist, as well as many other creatures they never even heard of! This trio of friends are faced with the challenges of finding answers and saving the mermaids before it's too late for all of them.
May 1, 2025
Cordy (Cordelia) Blue is dealing with some serious PTSD after surviving a shark attack that took the lives of her mom and brother. Ever since, she hasn’t been able to go near the water let alone swim in it. But everything starts to shift during her senior year when she finally faces her fear and when her old crush, Wade shows up back at school.
Cordy has the best friends in Trent and Maya. I absolutely loved their dynamic. They really show up for each other, and their support felt genuine and heartwarming. I’m a sucker for anything mermaid-related, so I was hooked from the beginning. And the story just kept building in the best way. There are shark attacks, mermaids, hidden artifacts, and betrayal. It was so good! While this definitely reads like a YA book, there are a few steamy scenes. Also, that hook at the end? Loved it. And the narration by Jacci Prior was fantastic. Her voices for Cordy, Trent, Maya, and Wade were spot on. Great tone, and emotion. She kept me engaged all the way through.
A very special thanks to Tantor Media for the gifted audiobook.
Cordy has the best friends in Trent and Maya. I absolutely loved their dynamic. They really show up for each other, and their support felt genuine and heartwarming. I’m a sucker for anything mermaid-related, so I was hooked from the beginning. And the story just kept building in the best way. There are shark attacks, mermaids, hidden artifacts, and betrayal. It was so good! While this definitely reads like a YA book, there are a few steamy scenes. Also, that hook at the end? Loved it. And the narration by Jacci Prior was fantastic. Her voices for Cordy, Trent, Maya, and Wade were spot on. Great tone, and emotion. She kept me engaged all the way through.
A very special thanks to Tantor Media for the gifted audiobook.
July 22, 2024
I found the plot quite predictable, it was a shame because the book had a lot of potential.
July 25, 2024
Loved this because it was so different. And I low key love mermaids 😂
April 25, 2022
I am a huge fan of mermaids, so when I discovered this book - Mermaids versus Sharks - how could I resist?!
The author has created her own mythology of mermaids, including their legends and history, and how and when they get their tails. There are a few strokes of genius here: creating a rival and brother race of selachii (the sharks), and that both of these water species have original bloodlines (as well as those who become mermaids or selachii subsequently). The key ability for those of the original bloodlines (such as our heroine Cordelia Blue and hero Wade Waters) is to revert to their human legs at will, and so blend in with our society of land people.
This is a contemporary fantasy romance, with a strong element of Romeo and Juliet, as Cordelia and Wade fall in love across the ancient feud of mermaid versus shark. But Cordelia's life has been marred with tragedy, because a shark attack killed her mother and brother five years ago. Facing up to her fear of the water opens up her life-changing dilemmas of who to trust and love, and what her destiny might be.
I loved the setting of present day San Diego, as I could visualise some of the key beaches. I read this book at the same time as my sixteen-year-old daughter, so we had fun comparing our thoughts on the characters, relationships and plot throughout.
We're looking forward to enjoying the further adventures of Cordelia, Wade, Maya, Trent, Dylan and all the rest of them as soon as the sequel in the author's Mermaid Chronicle series, The Quest for Atlantis, is released later this year.
The author has created her own mythology of mermaids, including their legends and history, and how and when they get their tails. There are a few strokes of genius here: creating a rival and brother race of selachii (the sharks), and that both of these water species have original bloodlines (as well as those who become mermaids or selachii subsequently). The key ability for those of the original bloodlines (such as our heroine Cordelia Blue and hero Wade Waters) is to revert to their human legs at will, and so blend in with our society of land people.
This is a contemporary fantasy romance, with a strong element of Romeo and Juliet, as Cordelia and Wade fall in love across the ancient feud of mermaid versus shark. But Cordelia's life has been marred with tragedy, because a shark attack killed her mother and brother five years ago. Facing up to her fear of the water opens up her life-changing dilemmas of who to trust and love, and what her destiny might be.
I loved the setting of present day San Diego, as I could visualise some of the key beaches. I read this book at the same time as my sixteen-year-old daughter, so we had fun comparing our thoughts on the characters, relationships and plot throughout.
We're looking forward to enjoying the further adventures of Cordelia, Wade, Maya, Trent, Dylan and all the rest of them as soon as the sequel in the author's Mermaid Chronicle series, The Quest for Atlantis, is released later this year.
August 20, 2023
Secrets of the Deep (Mermaid Chronicles - Book 1) - Review:
My Rating: 4/5*
Method of Engagement: Kindle
Brief Overview:
The book introduces the reader to teenage protagonist Cordelia Blue, who has spent the past five years trying to overcome the grief of losing her mother and brother in a shark attack. Therefore, it is quickly established that Cordelia is traumatised and fearful of the water. She is often overwhelmed by anxiety related to the attack but, must persevere once confronted by a mysterious prophecy involving her own mermaid ancestry, a rival shapeshifting species (known as the Selachii), and an unusual relic.
My Thoughts:
I have always been fascinated by the myths of mermaids and theories of Atlantis. So when I came across ‘The Mermaid Chronicles’ series I was extremely excited to see how both concepts would be integrated together.
I’ll start by saying that this book is very much a coming-of-age story. Set in the modern day, it explores topics such as interpersonal drama, dealing with loss, experiencing first love, and managing mental health. Additionally, when investigating the ancient secrets of the past, the story includes puzzle-solving, imaginative locations or beings, and raises questions about morality. Therefore, the adventure is filled with highs and lows for Cordelia and her friends/family. As they must all work together to help Cordelia resolve the issues that arise once the secrets of the deep begin to be revealed.
The reader is provided with these secrets throughout the story, however, a key flashback sequence sets up the events that will lead the group on their journey. This sequence also causes Cordelia to come across as a sympathetic character, whose motivations are easy to predict and thus, her character arc is simple to guess (no twists).
Despite this, I really liked the paranormal (or fantasy) elements introduced in this book regarding the mythology of the different water species - mermaids and sharks. It was interesting to learn about with the characters... Although, I do think that Cordelia’s friend's personalities were not overly dynamic and the Shakespearean inspiration for the romance (i.e. Romeo and Juliet) was a noticeable inclusion. But, the book did balance tension, tragedy, and triumph well.
This was light and fun to read. Ultimately, the author did a good job combining the contemporary and fantasy genres and would suggest that this book is written with the teen/YA audience in mind. I look forward to continuing the series and hope to see more character development concerning Cordelia and her friends in the next instalment.
My Rating: 4/5*
Method of Engagement: Kindle
Brief Overview:
The book introduces the reader to teenage protagonist Cordelia Blue, who has spent the past five years trying to overcome the grief of losing her mother and brother in a shark attack. Therefore, it is quickly established that Cordelia is traumatised and fearful of the water. She is often overwhelmed by anxiety related to the attack but, must persevere once confronted by a mysterious prophecy involving her own mermaid ancestry, a rival shapeshifting species (known as the Selachii), and an unusual relic.
My Thoughts:
I have always been fascinated by the myths of mermaids and theories of Atlantis. So when I came across ‘The Mermaid Chronicles’ series I was extremely excited to see how both concepts would be integrated together.
I’ll start by saying that this book is very much a coming-of-age story. Set in the modern day, it explores topics such as interpersonal drama, dealing with loss, experiencing first love, and managing mental health. Additionally, when investigating the ancient secrets of the past, the story includes puzzle-solving, imaginative locations or beings, and raises questions about morality. Therefore, the adventure is filled with highs and lows for Cordelia and her friends/family. As they must all work together to help Cordelia resolve the issues that arise once the secrets of the deep begin to be revealed.
The reader is provided with these secrets throughout the story, however, a key flashback sequence sets up the events that will lead the group on their journey. This sequence also causes Cordelia to come across as a sympathetic character, whose motivations are easy to predict and thus, her character arc is simple to guess (no twists).
Despite this, I really liked the paranormal (or fantasy) elements introduced in this book regarding the mythology of the different water species - mermaids and sharks. It was interesting to learn about with the characters... Although, I do think that Cordelia’s friend's personalities were not overly dynamic and the Shakespearean inspiration for the romance (i.e. Romeo and Juliet) was a noticeable inclusion. But, the book did balance tension, tragedy, and triumph well.
This was light and fun to read. Ultimately, the author did a good job combining the contemporary and fantasy genres and would suggest that this book is written with the teen/YA audience in mind. I look forward to continuing the series and hope to see more character development concerning Cordelia and her friends in the next instalment.
August 18, 2023
As someone who is addicted to mermaids, maybe I'm a little biased ...
This is the first mermaid book I've read and I am in love with the world that Marisa has created, learning about the Selachii is so interesting as I've never heard of them or their legend before; not sure if they're based on folklore that I'm not aware of or if Noelle fabricated them for her story but I'm happy either way!
A beautiful love story and modern fantasy Romeo & Juliet style forbidden love.
100% recommend this book and I cannot WAIT to read the next two books in this series (I know 4 and 5 are being written too!)
This is the first mermaid book I've read and I am in love with the world that Marisa has created, learning about the Selachii is so interesting as I've never heard of them or their legend before; not sure if they're based on folklore that I'm not aware of or if Noelle fabricated them for her story but I'm happy either way!
A beautiful love story and modern fantasy Romeo & Juliet style forbidden love.
100% recommend this book and I cannot WAIT to read the next two books in this series (I know 4 and 5 are being written too!)
May 17, 2021
Based on the content and character maturity, this felt more teen than YA. Which is totally fine, I just feel it’s worth mentioning. It actually gave me some Aquamarine vibes circa 2006. It’s an interesting story. Contemporary on land with a fantasy world beneath the waves. Cordelia’s story is haunting. The imagery from the shark attack is about as dark as the book it gets, but of course that’s incredibly tragic to imagine experiencing.
The transformation concept was odd to me; how she’d go from clothing to fin and back again without issue. Clothing doesn’t get torn or anything like that, so it didn’t make a lot of sense to me. I also felt like she and her friends accepted she was a magical creature pretty nonchalantly. Like.. “Oh this is happening? Cool. Next.” So, that felt strange. A lot of the dialogue surprised me in that way. How immediately accepting everyone was of -what should be- super shocking information.
The storyline didn’t feel rushed or anything. It’s got a good plot-line to follow. In my opinion, it’s geared more towards younger readers. It’s otherwise a fun fantasy read.
A thank you to the author for sending me a copy of this book to read and review.
The transformation concept was odd to me; how she’d go from clothing to fin and back again without issue. Clothing doesn’t get torn or anything like that, so it didn’t make a lot of sense to me. I also felt like she and her friends accepted she was a magical creature pretty nonchalantly. Like.. “Oh this is happening? Cool. Next.” So, that felt strange. A lot of the dialogue surprised me in that way. How immediately accepting everyone was of -what should be- super shocking information.
The storyline didn’t feel rushed or anything. It’s got a good plot-line to follow. In my opinion, it’s geared more towards younger readers. It’s otherwise a fun fantasy read.
A thank you to the author for sending me a copy of this book to read and review.
September 29, 2022
I found this to be a really quick read for me. Some YA fantasy novels can be a little on the slower side, especially on the first book of a series, but with Secrets of the Deep I never felt that was the case at all.
Cordelia is still getting over the loss of her mother and brother in a shark attack which caused her to have a fear of water. But she is determined to get over her fear, and sets out to achieve this. Before long she discovers she is actually a mermaid and this sets a lot of things in motion. The story has well written characters and even a sweet teenage love story too.
I found this to be a really unique story and I love the mythology the author has built up. It was easy to read and I really enjoyed it.
Cordelia is still getting over the loss of her mother and brother in a shark attack which caused her to have a fear of water. But she is determined to get over her fear, and sets out to achieve this. Before long she discovers she is actually a mermaid and this sets a lot of things in motion. The story has well written characters and even a sweet teenage love story too.
I found this to be a really unique story and I love the mythology the author has built up. It was easy to read and I really enjoyed it.
June 29, 2024
This was a cute story. I like the history and the rivalry between the creatures that could walk on land and also live in the sea. The author did a great job creating the atmosphere and the story. Having said that, it felt a bit too juvenile for me. This is something I would maybe have really enjoyed as a teenager but not so much now in my 40's. It was very much like reading the script of a high school, oops I found out I was a mermaid movie like Scales. I think it was a good book but, perhaps I am a little aged out to appreciate it.
July 6, 2025
DNF
This book was tough to get through, if I was younger maybe I would have enjoyed it.
This book was tough to get through, if I was younger maybe I would have enjoyed it.
July 20, 2021
Beautiful story
I loved every minute, can’t wait to read more of Cordelia, Wade, Maya, Trent and Dylan’s story. Loved the twists and turns.
I loved every minute, can’t wait to read more of Cordelia, Wade, Maya, Trent and Dylan’s story. Loved the twists and turns.
October 9, 2022
This was a great mermaid story. Kept my attention. I’m excited to find out what happens next!
January 16, 2023
A thoroughly enjoyable read - with plenty of mermaid lore.
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