A Change of Tide: The Legend of the Salt of the Earth: BOOK ONE

by D.C. Contor

Emma has fifteen days until she dies.Possibly.Psychic-medium, 18-years-old, and currently rocking the “weird girl” label at Otter Sands High School, Emma Hugos has been walking around for the last eleven years knowing she will very probably die. She saw a hazy, confusing vision as a kid that featured two other girls, streamers, and lots and lots of screaming.Now in her senior year, she’s finally figured out who the other two girls Nikki Rodrigues, the army brat who just moved to town and found out she’s a witch, and Nelly Hansen, the local almost-pro surfer who just found out she turns into a mermaid and is totally devastated.All Emma has to do now is seamlessly blend her own magick with a witch’s magick and an unwilling mermaid’s magick to stop her vision from coming true.What could possibly go wrong?

Paperback

Reviews

[Abbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I grew up loving stories like Harry Potter, H2O: Just Add Water, and Sabrina the Teenage Witch so reading a story that combines all of those vibes was a dream come true! It’s cozy, but also mysterious. And “magickal”! I couldn’t put it down!

Our heroines Emma, Nikki, and Nelly discover and grow their magickal powers to work together to prevent disaster in their coastal town, but something larger is lurking around the corner. The characters are so well-written and well-rounded, and I love how they interact with each other. The plot is engaging and left me on the edge of my seat. I can’t wait to see where the story goes next!

[Stephanie Gardner · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Change of Tide had me spellbound from the start...

I really enjoyed this book and the elemental based Magick story line. I fell in love with Nelly, Emma, and Nikki and their very different personalities. I laughed and stressed over our girls the whole time. I especially worried for Nelly and was so glad Emma and Nikki never gave up on her, and enjoyed the bond they formed with each other. I also fell in love with Nelly's and Nikki's siblings Jo and Kam. I honestly cannot wait to dive into the next book and see where it takes our girls next, as well as hopefully getting to see Jo and Kam come into their own Magick.

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Change of Tide is a delightful debut from a talented indie author. Set in Otter Sands, California—a perfectly believable coastal hamlet akin to Sarah Dessen’s cozy Colby—the story centers on three magickal girls who form an unexpected alliance to save their town from a disaster no one else knows is coming.

I like that each girl’s magick is distinct from the others and enjoyed seeing the interplay between the three styles. Likewise, each girl has a unique personality—Nelly is a bit spicy, Nikki is very straightforward and matter-of-fact, and Emma is quiet and gentle. Even the secondary characters are well-rounded. I liked the friendship between Nelly and Wyatt and look forward to seeing more scenes with the two of them. And Nikki’s sweet relationship with her brother Kam provides a nice contrast to her relationship with her sometimes overbearing mother.

Oh, and Henry. Henry is fun. 😉

For me, the most compelling plotline in A Change of Tide is the “reluctant mermaid.” So often, in books where characters develop unexpected powers, it’s treated as a fun and exciting thing that changes their lives for the better—aside from maybe having to battle a powerful villain. Having a character who is far from thrilled about her new abilities was a refreshing twist on the magical powers trope.

Overall, I found the plot interesting and engaging. I would recommend this to readers who like magical realism, coming-of-age stories, strong female characters who pass the Bechdel test, and YA without explicit content. I thoroughly enjoyed it and will definitely continue with this series.

One caveat: This book does contain a couple of séances. While they are used for good, I thought it was important to mention for readers who might be sensitive to such things.

[D.C. Contor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've spent the last 13+ years with this story rattling around in my head. I started working on it in college, in spare moments between classes, and then I graduated. I worked on it between shifts. Then, I became a mom, and I did a lot of back-burner writing (mentally sorting things without physically writing a word). Occasionally, I wrote. Eventually, I edited. Now, after years of work, here it is, ready for you. It feels like the ending. I will never again "work" on this book, though my journey with these characters is far from over. It was a beautiful book to work on, and I hope you enjoy this journey as much as I have so far.

[Baylee Dymock · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love a good fantasy book!
I stayed up past my bedtime reading every day and devoured this book! I loved that this book was a third person narrative about three different girls with magical powers. There aren't many other books where you are diving into the world of a mermaid, a witch, AND a seer. I was reminded of the wonder of being a young adult, discovering who you are, and yes wishing I would wake up one day with magic powers and an exciting adventure to go on. I will definitely read the next books in the series and you should too if you like YA fantasy with magic and strong female leads!

[Nikki Hansen · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like YA, you'll love this. If you like a setting that sucks you into it, you'll love this. If you like all things mythical, magical, and mysterious...you'll love this. If you like supporting new, self published authors...you'll love this. I can't think of a single reason someone wouldn't like the characters, plot, and narration of this book. 5/5

[Allison Bostian · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my favorite books. I can’t wait for more to come. The different perspectives within the same story line. Over how you could tell who was writing in their journal with the different fonts and colors. A must read for everyone