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Aegira Chronicles #2
Beached
How far will a gentle sea princess go to save the home she loves?
When the clerk at a burger joint is assaulted for trying to sell a fish burger to a hot blonde, it’s just the beginning of a clash between Land and Sea. The world is going mad, and Princess Lecanora is on a special mission to stop it. There are just a few complications…
First, life on the land is a bit harder to adjust to than expected, what with the wearing of clothing and the consuming of delicious (but pointless) calories. Second, the most evil magician the world has ever seen wants her as his bride — consensually or otherwise. Finally, a completely inappropriate gun-toting mercenary who goes against every one of her pacifist principles keeps rocking her world.
As the forces of darkness gather, Lecanora must come to terms with the lengths she will go to in order to save the sea home she has always known, and the land she has come to love.
Book 2 of the Aegira Chronicles (Book 1 is Fish Out of Water)
When the clerk at a burger joint is assaulted for trying to sell a fish burger to a hot blonde, it’s just the beginning of a clash between Land and Sea. The world is going mad, and Princess Lecanora is on a special mission to stop it. There are just a few complications…
First, life on the land is a bit harder to adjust to than expected, what with the wearing of clothing and the consuming of delicious (but pointless) calories. Second, the most evil magician the world has ever seen wants her as his bride — consensually or otherwise. Finally, a completely inappropriate gun-toting mercenary who goes against every one of her pacifist principles keeps rocking her world.
As the forces of darkness gather, Lecanora must come to terms with the lengths she will go to in order to save the sea home she has always known, and the land she has come to love.
Book 2 of the Aegira Chronicles (Book 1 is Fish Out of Water)
237 pages, ebook
First published April 1, 2014
104 people want to read
About the author
Ros Baxter
22 books37 followersRos writes fresh, funny, genre-busting fiction. She digs feisty heroines, good friends, quirky families, heroes to make you sigh and tingle, and a dash of fantasy from time to time.
She lives in Brisbane, Australia, with her husband Blair, four small but very opinionated children, a neurotic dog and nine billion germs.
You can email Ros at rosbaxterink@gmail.com or find her at www.facebook.com/RosBaxterInk, on twitter @RosBaxter, or www.rosbaxterink.com
She lives in Brisbane, Australia, with her husband Blair, four small but very opinionated children, a neurotic dog and nine billion germs.
You can email Ros at rosbaxterink@gmail.com or find her at www.facebook.com/RosBaxterInk, on twitter @RosBaxter, or www.rosbaxterink.com
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
March 6, 2014
[Full disclosure: I received a free ebook copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.]
When I requested this book through NetGalley I had no idea this was the second book in a trilogy. Even when I went to check on Goodreads there was no clear indication this was part of a series, so I went ahead and requested it unsuspectingly. Still, I’ll try my best to give Beached a fair review. (If you’re curious, Fish Out of Water is the first book.)
This one for me was a solid ‘meh’. Sure the characters were fascinating and I could definitely appreciate the world-building but this book lacked emotion. I was being told Lecanora was confused, sad and/or in love, but I never really felt it. Even when there was supposedly a heart-wrenching death scene, I never really felt the grief of all the characters that witnessed it. Ros Baxter’s writing just lacked emotion.
Otherwise, her characters were good. I like how Rania is a tough-talking cop (one of my favourite types of heroines). She’s an actual strong female and I liked seeing her compared to Lecanora, who is more gentle and naive about the world of humans. I liked Rania better than I liked Lecanora, but that’s more of a personal preference than anything. Despite the lack of emotion, Lecanora was well fleshed-out and I could relate to her struggle to find who she is and who she wants to be.
The plot was very fast-paced. There was twist after twist and although the ending was a little predictable, I appreciated the fact that the climax itself was not. Overall I really couldn’t tell where the story was going and Ros Baxter’s writing kept me on the edge of my seat. She has a talent for suspense and I suspect with a little work on the emotional side of her writing that she could make my top 10 list of favourite authors. As it is, I generally liked the characters, the world-building and the plot but the lack of emotion was a definite downside.
The world-building was fascinating. I liked how Ros Baxter borrowed from Norse mythology to create Aegira rather than going for your typical sort of mermaid story. The way the rulers of Aegira are chosen because of their curse is fascinating as well and I liked how that plot point was resolved by the end. Obviously I missed out on some things because I didn’t read the first book, but there was enough of a summary in the first few chapters that I could get the gist of what happened in the first book.
So overall? A decent novel, but it would have been better with some more emotion.
I give this book 3.5/5 stars, rounded up to 4 stars for Goodreads rating purposes.
When I requested this book through NetGalley I had no idea this was the second book in a trilogy. Even when I went to check on Goodreads there was no clear indication this was part of a series, so I went ahead and requested it unsuspectingly. Still, I’ll try my best to give Beached a fair review. (If you’re curious, Fish Out of Water is the first book.)
This one for me was a solid ‘meh’. Sure the characters were fascinating and I could definitely appreciate the world-building but this book lacked emotion. I was being told Lecanora was confused, sad and/or in love, but I never really felt it. Even when there was supposedly a heart-wrenching death scene, I never really felt the grief of all the characters that witnessed it. Ros Baxter’s writing just lacked emotion.
Otherwise, her characters were good. I like how Rania is a tough-talking cop (one of my favourite types of heroines). She’s an actual strong female and I liked seeing her compared to Lecanora, who is more gentle and naive about the world of humans. I liked Rania better than I liked Lecanora, but that’s more of a personal preference than anything. Despite the lack of emotion, Lecanora was well fleshed-out and I could relate to her struggle to find who she is and who she wants to be.
The plot was very fast-paced. There was twist after twist and although the ending was a little predictable, I appreciated the fact that the climax itself was not. Overall I really couldn’t tell where the story was going and Ros Baxter’s writing kept me on the edge of my seat. She has a talent for suspense and I suspect with a little work on the emotional side of her writing that she could make my top 10 list of favourite authors. As it is, I generally liked the characters, the world-building and the plot but the lack of emotion was a definite downside.
The world-building was fascinating. I liked how Ros Baxter borrowed from Norse mythology to create Aegira rather than going for your typical sort of mermaid story. The way the rulers of Aegira are chosen because of their curse is fascinating as well and I liked how that plot point was resolved by the end. Obviously I missed out on some things because I didn’t read the first book, but there was enough of a summary in the first few chapters that I could get the gist of what happened in the first book.
So overall? A decent novel, but it would have been better with some more emotion.
I give this book 3.5/5 stars, rounded up to 4 stars for Goodreads rating purposes.
March 12, 2014
Beached is the story is the second installment for Ros Baxter’s Aegira Chronicles and follows the journey of Princess Lecanora to save her kingdom of Aegira.
Aegira, for those of you who have read book one (Fish Out of Water), is based on a Norse myth and sets this story up in an mythical and whimsical type of aura that can’t help but automatically pique your interest!
But when you mix that with a little love, mystery, suspense, some magic, and a handsome mercenary from the Land…how will this all turn out? And when this ensues the clashing of two worlds, how far will Lecanora go to prevent all chaos from taking place?
So, my thoughts: I really liked this book, I did. But it did have a few snags as well.
While I do love me a mermaid read, there was something missing in it. For me, I just felt disconnected from the plot and the writing. It just didn’t pull me in as much as book one did with the character being a strong, snarky, and opinionated female. Maybe that’s just a preference of mine: strong protagonist leads instead of whiny, oblivious, and completely naïve characters.
I’m not saying that the temperament of Lecanora annoyed me. She didn’t. She was just too innocent for my taste is all. But, I guess that’s the diversity that Ms. Baxter brings as Rania and Lecanora are polar opposites and bring something new to each plot development. How refreshing of her!
So over all, a nice splash of salt water for me filled with intrigue, conspiracy, and a young girl gathering her strength and digging deep within herself to prove to herself and others that she has what it takes to save her beloved sea home.
*An ARC was provided to me by the author via their publisher for an honest review. Thank you hun!*
April 10, 2014
Beached is the second book in Ros Baxter's Aegira Chronicles, a fantasy trilogy with a creative twist on Norse legend. The first, Fish Out of Water, introduced Rania Aqualina, deputy sheriff of small town Dirtwater, and half mermaid. Her investigation into the discovery of a dead blonde with a fish tattoo on Main Street leads Rania to uncover a plot which could mean the end of her underwater home, Aegira, and her own life, at the hands of a crazed sorcerer, Manos.
In Beached, the focus of the story shifts to Rania's sister, Princess Lecanora whom the Queen has sent to Land to find support for the battle against the Sorcerer from none other than the Presidential candidate. Lecanora, while struggling to adjust to the ways of the Land, joins her sister, mother and their allies to gain the candidates favour while dodging over zealous bodyguards, Manos's army and saving two worlds.
The action is fast paced, as Manos launches his attack, determined to take Lecanora as his bride so he can rule over Aegira, and destroy any chance of the prophecy of 'the Three' thwarting him by killing Rania. The fight moves between land and sea, finally culminating in an epic battle in Aegira.
As in Fish Out of Water, there is a strong romantic element within the story and it's Rania's ex, Doug, who leaves Lecanora breathless. Peace loving Lecanora is baffled by her attraction to the gun toting, ex special forces, bad ass and the strange feelings he evokes. It's insta-love of a sort, but not too badly done.
I enjoyed the humour which came from Rania's snark, and Lecanora's naïveté. Baxter writes well, with snappy dialogue and descriptive prose. I'd recommend reading Fish Out of Water before Beached though it's not strictly necessary, Baxter provides enough back story to orient a reader new to the trilogy.
Beached, like Fish Out of Water, is a fun book, combining action, fantasy, humour and romance, which I really enjoyed. I'm looking forward to reading the final adventure in the Aegira Chronicles.
October 3, 2014
★★★★|Goodreads|Amazon
Meg's Review:
As with the first novel in this series I loved it. The characters and the world they live in. Its fantastical and exciting.
The storyline for this novel was very anticipatory. I was on my toes waiting for what was coming. It was a wonderful read.
The first book in the series "Fish Out of Water" left me wanting more. It was a fantastic read and I couldn't get enough of this. This was no different. Ros crafts a wonderful picture in your mind with this story. It does take a little to get into, but it was a great way to introduce you to the world and give you a clear picture of what was going on.
Once we dive into the novel it's very quick in its events. You are on your toes with what will be coming next in this journey. There were a few parts that had me bitty with the revelations and some that had me curling up just a little tighter. Ros takes you on not only an exciting journey, but a very emotional one. These girls are fighting for what they love.
I really enjoyed this novel and I give it my stamp of recommendation.
Synopsis:
How far will a gentle sea princess go to save the home she loves?
When the clerk at a burger joint is assaulted for trying to sell a fish burger to a hot blonde, it’s just the beginning of a clash between Land and Sea. The world is going mad, and Princess Lecanora is on a special mission to stop it. There are just a few complications…
First, life on the land is a bit harder to adjust to than expected, what with the wearing of clothing and the consuming of delicious (but pointless) calories. Second, the most evil magician the world has ever seen wants her as his bride — consensually or otherwise. Finally, a completely inappropriate gun-toting mercenary who goes against every one of her pacifist principles keeps rocking her world.
As the forces of darkness gather, Lecanora must come to terms with the lengths she will go to in order to save the sea home she has always known, and the land she has come to love.
Book 2 of the Aegira Chronicles (Book 1 is Fish Out of Water)
August 21, 2014
What happens when a mermaid who spent her entire life in the sea suddenly comes to land? Princess Lecanora is now on land and she has to learn all the weird land rules and nuances, like wearing uncomfortable clothes. She’s running from a dark evil sorcerer who wants her body and soul whether she likes it or not. With the help of a rag tag team of people including a mercenary who she can't stop thinking about even though he's more violent then fits into her world view she has to try to save the world. Can she defeat the evil and save the home she cherishes and protect the people she loves?
I have read multiple books by this author and am a big fan. I was slightly worried about this book since Rania wasn't the lead. She was one of the best parts of the first book. But I quickly got over that worry. I liked the first book, but this one was even better. Rania was still in it. Not as main as before but she was still her snarky funny self. It was a nice change to the seriousness of the book.
Lecanora was a great character. She was innocent and sweet. I loved the wide eyed clueless thing, since she wasn't from this world. It was cute and original. I was intrigued by all the less main characters as well. They were all pieces of the puzzle that made such a great story. The twists and turns were exciting and I was hooked quickly and couldn't wait to finish it.
There was a really sad point....I can't go into more detail without spoilers but it was sad and real and it made me tear up it was that good. I love the way Ros paints the pictures of the worlds in her stories. She is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors.
If you want to be reminded of your childhood when the little mermaid was the prettiest princess you knew of, then you should definitely go grab a copy.
I have read multiple books by this author and am a big fan. I was slightly worried about this book since Rania wasn't the lead. She was one of the best parts of the first book. But I quickly got over that worry. I liked the first book, but this one was even better. Rania was still in it. Not as main as before but she was still her snarky funny self. It was a nice change to the seriousness of the book.
Lecanora was a great character. She was innocent and sweet. I loved the wide eyed clueless thing, since she wasn't from this world. It was cute and original. I was intrigued by all the less main characters as well. They were all pieces of the puzzle that made such a great story. The twists and turns were exciting and I was hooked quickly and couldn't wait to finish it.
There was a really sad point....I can't go into more detail without spoilers but it was sad and real and it made me tear up it was that good. I love the way Ros paints the pictures of the worlds in her stories. She is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors.
If you want to be reminded of your childhood when the little mermaid was the prettiest princess you knew of, then you should definitely go grab a copy.
June 21, 2015
I didn’t think it was possible but this novel is even better than the first in the series. This novel is vividly real and extremely realistic. Baxter draws you all the way into this world, with no chance of escape. It’s also excitingly suspenseful. The story line grabs you and doesn’t let go, not even at the end. I found myself so drawn in that I didn’t want it to end. Baxter works action, suspense, and love in without ever sacrificing parts of the vivid and immaculately presented world that she has created for the audience.
I found myself falling further and further in love with this cast throughout this novel. Characters who seemed aloof and unapproachable in the first novel of the series took a more prominent role in this story. They didn’t all of a sudden become approachable, likeable characters but as a reader you really got to understand how they became who they were. I found myself feeling for them throughout, and becoming closer to them. And don’t even get me started on the main characters. They are absolutely phenomenal. As individuals they are far from flawless, yet they are ideal individuals. So real and captivating. And Baxter has nailed character growth without changing who those characters are on a fundamental level. Not only does it make it easy to identify with the characters, but you also get to know them without losing the fantastic storyline in the midst. Yup, that’s right. The cast of this fantastic novel becomes your friends and family, making it next to impossible to let them go at the end.
Please note that I received a complimentary copy of this work in exchange for an honest review.
I found myself falling further and further in love with this cast throughout this novel. Characters who seemed aloof and unapproachable in the first novel of the series took a more prominent role in this story. They didn’t all of a sudden become approachable, likeable characters but as a reader you really got to understand how they became who they were. I found myself feeling for them throughout, and becoming closer to them. And don’t even get me started on the main characters. They are absolutely phenomenal. As individuals they are far from flawless, yet they are ideal individuals. So real and captivating. And Baxter has nailed character growth without changing who those characters are on a fundamental level. Not only does it make it easy to identify with the characters, but you also get to know them without losing the fantastic storyline in the midst. Yup, that’s right. The cast of this fantastic novel becomes your friends and family, making it next to impossible to let them go at the end.
Please note that I received a complimentary copy of this work in exchange for an honest review.
March 17, 2014
After reading Fish Out of Water last year I was very much looking forward to the second book in the series, Beached. It turned out to be well worth the wait and I was definitely not disappointed!
Beached certainly does not lack suspense. It was undeniably a page turner and it kept me curious as to what was going to happen next. Ros Baxter has a vivid imagination and I often found myself wondering throughout the book how she came up with all this. Every scene is described with such detail that it makes it easy to picture the location, regardless of the fact that you most definitely have never seen anything like it before. Ros uses her impressive literary talents to present you with a fascinating ride leading directly into her unique imagination.
The story is fast paced, however since its so complicated, it does take a while to get into it at first, especially if you haven't read the preceding book. Previous events are explained throughout the first chapters but because there is a lot going on it may take a little while to get into the gist of things. Once you get there though you better hang on for the ride!
The ending was a little predictable but honestly I wouldn't have wanted it to end any other way.
Overall I really enjoyed this book. I absolutely love Ros Baxter's writing and I am looking forward to reading whatever she comes up with next.
I received a free e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Beached certainly does not lack suspense. It was undeniably a page turner and it kept me curious as to what was going to happen next. Ros Baxter has a vivid imagination and I often found myself wondering throughout the book how she came up with all this. Every scene is described with such detail that it makes it easy to picture the location, regardless of the fact that you most definitely have never seen anything like it before. Ros uses her impressive literary talents to present you with a fascinating ride leading directly into her unique imagination.
The story is fast paced, however since its so complicated, it does take a while to get into it at first, especially if you haven't read the preceding book. Previous events are explained throughout the first chapters but because there is a lot going on it may take a little while to get into the gist of things. Once you get there though you better hang on for the ride!
The ending was a little predictable but honestly I wouldn't have wanted it to end any other way.
Overall I really enjoyed this book. I absolutely love Ros Baxter's writing and I am looking forward to reading whatever she comes up with next.
I received a free e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
March 14, 2014
I have to admit that I would have never picked up a book about mermaids if I hadn’t been asked to read Beached. Fish Out of Water is a must read first even if both books are said to be able to stand alone. I read about 5% OF Beached and immediately went to Amazon to buy Fish Out of Water. I felt like I was missing something and hoped I would get caught up by reading from the beginning. I am so glad I did, it was amazing and I did get the missing pieces.
I was thrown off a little by the POV of the book. It is more of a narration in third person. While I missed the personal feel of Rania’s POV, I started to enjoy the broader view of Beached. There were so many important people to follow in Beached.
Beached is action packed and full of answers from left over from Fish Out of Water. Love, beauty, pain and sarcasm are a big part of Beached. Being attached to Rania and Caragheen, I loved getting to see their relationship continue. Lecanora grows on you, she starts out kinda clueless and becomes a beauty to reckon with. I would have liked a little more Doug. I loved this series and my love for Ros as an author has grown considerably.
Advanced copy was provided by Ros for an honest review.
I was thrown off a little by the POV of the book. It is more of a narration in third person. While I missed the personal feel of Rania’s POV, I started to enjoy the broader view of Beached. There were so many important people to follow in Beached.
Beached is action packed and full of answers from left over from Fish Out of Water. Love, beauty, pain and sarcasm are a big part of Beached. Being attached to Rania and Caragheen, I loved getting to see their relationship continue. Lecanora grows on you, she starts out kinda clueless and becomes a beauty to reckon with. I would have liked a little more Doug. I loved this series and my love for Ros as an author has grown considerably.
Advanced copy was provided by Ros for an honest review.
April 8, 2014
My rating: 4.5 out of 5
I was so freaking excited when I saw Beached up on NetGalley. Its predecessor in the Aegira Chronicles, Fish Out of Water was one of my absolute favourites from last year, with its colourful characters and wicked sense of humour, and I have been waiting on baited breath to find out where to next for my favourite mermaids.
Oh, Ros, I was totally sold! When the story starts with someone selling a fish burger to a mermaid, you just know you're in for a good read!
You can read the full review (and all my others) at My Written Romance .
I was so freaking excited when I saw Beached up on NetGalley. Its predecessor in the Aegira Chronicles, Fish Out of Water was one of my absolute favourites from last year, with its colourful characters and wicked sense of humour, and I have been waiting on baited breath to find out where to next for my favourite mermaids.
Oh, Ros, I was totally sold! When the story starts with someone selling a fish burger to a mermaid, you just know you're in for a good read!
You can read the full review (and all my others) at My Written Romance .
June 29, 2014
Beached is the second book in the Aegira Chronicles series and features Lecanora’s story. When I received this book for review I was advised that I could read it without having read the first book in the series, Fish Out of Water. But I had a sneaking suspicion that I should probably read the first book anyways. At the time, I was slightly scolded for breaking an overall book geek rule: Thou shall NOT read the books in a series out of order or skip books entirely. So on the road to becoming a better person, I read and reviewed the first book, loved it, and here I am today. I am so glad I read the first book because it allowed me to get fully immersed in the plot of this story and let me thoroughly enjoy the imaginative world and action scenes. Otherwise, I may have been slightly confused and lost (more than normal) and I would have missed some of the enjoyment of this book.
Damn, I hate when Christy* is right…..
Similar to Fish Out of Water, our story starts on land. A “confused” Lecanora is discovering her new found love of french fries. She has just arrived on land on a mission from the Queen: to act as an ambassador to meet with the humans. An evil Aegirian magician is continuing to threaten the lives of humans on land and all inhabitants under the sea. The Aegirians are looking to the humans for help and to warn them. Rania (the heroine of the first book) and her mother, Lunia, have been living on land and have established contacts so they are of course assisting with this mission.
Before we get to the purpose of Lecanora’s visit to land and to really get this plot rolling, Ms. Baxter does spend some time giving an overall summary of the world and recap of the events of the previous book. This is particularly handy if you don’t remember much from the first book but it does take up text. There’s also some loose ends from book one that need “mending” so we need to deal with that, too. It’s not all boring because mixed in with this are some pretty intense action sequences and some craziness related to the story.
What impresses me the most about this series is Ms. Baxter’s imagination. She is really quite talented at being able to imagine a crazy, original underwater world AND be able to put that picture she has in her head into words. I was able to fully picture her detailed underwater world. I was also able to follow along with her insane action scenes.
Lecanora has a love interest in this story but it isn’t as prevalent as Rania and Carragheen were in the last book. Eh, it’s an urban fantasy so… you know…
Despite the slowish start, it’s the plot and world building that make this story! The cherry on top is the epic ending that had me re-reading just to make sure I didn’t miss a moment. Definitely worth checking out if you’re looking for a completely different world made up mermaids, merman, dolphins, humans, and super bad guys with super scary weapons.
Review appears on
*Christy @ Christy's Love of Books
Damn, I hate when Christy* is right…..
Similar to Fish Out of Water, our story starts on land. A “confused” Lecanora is discovering her new found love of french fries. She has just arrived on land on a mission from the Queen: to act as an ambassador to meet with the humans. An evil Aegirian magician is continuing to threaten the lives of humans on land and all inhabitants under the sea. The Aegirians are looking to the humans for help and to warn them. Rania (the heroine of the first book) and her mother, Lunia, have been living on land and have established contacts so they are of course assisting with this mission.
Before we get to the purpose of Lecanora’s visit to land and to really get this plot rolling, Ms. Baxter does spend some time giving an overall summary of the world and recap of the events of the previous book. This is particularly handy if you don’t remember much from the first book but it does take up text. There’s also some loose ends from book one that need “mending” so we need to deal with that, too. It’s not all boring because mixed in with this are some pretty intense action sequences and some craziness related to the story.
What impresses me the most about this series is Ms. Baxter’s imagination. She is really quite talented at being able to imagine a crazy, original underwater world AND be able to put that picture she has in her head into words. I was able to fully picture her detailed underwater world. I was also able to follow along with her insane action scenes.
Lecanora has a love interest in this story but it isn’t as prevalent as Rania and Carragheen were in the last book. Eh, it’s an urban fantasy so… you know…
Despite the slowish start, it’s the plot and world building that make this story! The cherry on top is the epic ending that had me re-reading just to make sure I didn’t miss a moment. Definitely worth checking out if you’re looking for a completely different world made up mermaids, merman, dolphins, humans, and super bad guys with super scary weapons.
Review appears on
*Christy @ Christy's Love of Books
April 2, 2014
Beached introduces us to a new heroine. True, we met Lecanora in Fish Out Of Water, but it was interesting to get to know her better. She is much different from Rania, her half-sister and main character in the prior novel. Unlike Rania, Lecanora lived in Aegira her whole life, only learning about life on land from afar. She is also heir to the throne; while the two women share a biological mother, Lunia, Lecanora was actually raised by the ruler of Aegira, Queen Imd. She was much more reserved and soft-spoken than her sister, believing that there was always an alternative to violence. She seemed so weak at first, and I wasn’t sure how she was going to assist in bringing down the evil sorcerer, Manos. Being faced with many difficult situations helped her grow and figure out who she was. She wasn’t just a princess, and she wasn’t a gun-toting badass like her sister. She learned what skills she possessed and that she was more powerful than she realized. Usually I like a lot of butt-kicking, but I respected how Lecanora didn’t lose who she was in the process, even though she went through some truly awful things.
I liked the blossoming romance between Lecanora and Doug. It struck me as a little weird that she was lusting after someone her sister had dated, but it all gets sorted out later in the book. It was sweet, because Lecanora had no experience with love or relationships, so she wasn’t sure what to do with her feelings at first. Not only was she exploring the land for the first time, she was also dealing with emotions that were very foreign to her. Doug never pushed her; in fact, he seemed to be so smitten with her that he wasn’t sure what to do either.
I absolutely refuse to ruin or spoil anything major about this book, but I do have to say this: there is a death that hit me really hard. I should have probably seen it coming, yet it hit me out of left field. I even teared up, especially when the other characters were reminiscing about the dearly departed person. I was pretty bummed out about that, and even held out hope for a few moments after it happened that they could be brought back to life somehow. Sadly, it was not to be.
There was really only one thing that I disliked about this book, and it was a person: Rania. Not so much her as a person; she was still a tough, strong-willed woman and I liked that about her. It was the way she spoke to Lecanora that drove me crazy. Any time she addressed her sister it was either, “Babe…” or “Princess…”. By about halfway I was ready to strangle her. The only other person (fictional) I know that says “Babe” that much is Ranger from the Stephanie Plum series. It’s annoying in that series and it was annoying here. Every once in a while would have been fine, but it was virtually every time Rania opened her mouth. All in all, though, this is a pretty minor irritation.
Author Ros Baxter did a great job with Beached. It was just as entertaining as Fish Out Of Water, and I liked being able to see the world from Lecanora’s perspective. It was nice being reunited with all of the characters I enjoyed from book 1 and it also added a few new, interesting individuals to the mix.
I liked the blossoming romance between Lecanora and Doug. It struck me as a little weird that she was lusting after someone her sister had dated, but it all gets sorted out later in the book. It was sweet, because Lecanora had no experience with love or relationships, so she wasn’t sure what to do with her feelings at first. Not only was she exploring the land for the first time, she was also dealing with emotions that were very foreign to her. Doug never pushed her; in fact, he seemed to be so smitten with her that he wasn’t sure what to do either.
I absolutely refuse to ruin or spoil anything major about this book, but I do have to say this: there is a death that hit me really hard. I should have probably seen it coming, yet it hit me out of left field. I even teared up, especially when the other characters were reminiscing about the dearly departed person. I was pretty bummed out about that, and even held out hope for a few moments after it happened that they could be brought back to life somehow. Sadly, it was not to be.
There was really only one thing that I disliked about this book, and it was a person: Rania. Not so much her as a person; she was still a tough, strong-willed woman and I liked that about her. It was the way she spoke to Lecanora that drove me crazy. Any time she addressed her sister it was either, “Babe…” or “Princess…”. By about halfway I was ready to strangle her. The only other person (fictional) I know that says “Babe” that much is Ranger from the Stephanie Plum series. It’s annoying in that series and it was annoying here. Every once in a while would have been fine, but it was virtually every time Rania opened her mouth. All in all, though, this is a pretty minor irritation.
Author Ros Baxter did a great job with Beached. It was just as entertaining as Fish Out Of Water, and I liked being able to see the world from Lecanora’s perspective. It was nice being reunited with all of the characters I enjoyed from book 1 and it also added a few new, interesting individuals to the mix.
May 8, 2014
** NOTES - Review for NetGalley. Also I didn't read the first book, so this is based on this book alone.
Ratings:
Cover - ★★★
Simple cover. Not misleading. I like the bit of blood for the "bloodtide" reference. Fonts are simple enough. The panties, tan line, and expression sort of kill it for me though. I'm not sure if it's the expression or position of head, but either way, it just looks...unpleasant somehow.
Plot - ★★★
The plot is simple. Not overly cliche, but predictable enough. And the whole lust/sex scenes were always at the worst times which just made it pathetic. It was like "The worst possible thing just happened/is happening/is about to happen - yep, sounds like a good time to get horny." Really? I'm not bothered by those type scenes, but at least make it natural. Overall, it wasn't so bad. I didn't mind reading it, but it wasn't quite good enough that I'd read the first or any potential sequels.
Writing - ★★
The writing style was a bit boring and repetitive. I get it - music is a big deal. I get it - they're all "fish in a school". It was very repetitive and I (personally) have a low tolerance for repetition. It was simple. Honestly, everything about the book can best be described as "simple". The names were decent enough. Aegira (the mermaid 'town'), Lecanora, Lunia, Rania. I liked the names, so that was a plus. Oh, and there was one part in there where it was like, the villain can't touch the main character because of the love. (Now where have I heard that before?? *eyeroll*) I didn't much care for the dialogue. I'm not sure if that's how people really talk where ever the author is from, but man, it was annoying. Seemed forced and like it was meant to make "The Land" people sound far more bizarre than we actually are (which is saying something. haha) But again, if that's how people really talk in the author's area then I guess I understand. It just seemed...forced. Yeah.
Characters - ★★
There isn't much depth to the characters which is majorly important to me, and not any character growth either. Okay, there supposedly is, but it was more of a forced character growth than a believable one. A lot of characters fell completely flat. (Doug was the most non-crush-worthy lead male ever and the villain, just blah. Not scary at all.)
Overall - ★★★
There were a few aspects that I liked but they are spoilers. So it wasn't a terrible book. I think with more depth it would have been a better book. I am curious (not sure if it explains in the first book) but I almost got the feeling that these mermaids don't have tails. If I'm right, I'm still unsure how I feel about it. Definitely interesting. Yeah....It was just "alright". Not bad, not great, just okay.
Would I recommend it?
Either way. If you're looking for an amazing book to get lost in, then maybe not. But if you just want a quick read, then sure. (Although I would recommend reading the first...first - might be more helpful. haha)
Ratings:
Cover - ★★★
Simple cover. Not misleading. I like the bit of blood for the "bloodtide" reference. Fonts are simple enough. The panties, tan line, and expression sort of kill it for me though. I'm not sure if it's the expression or position of head, but either way, it just looks...unpleasant somehow.
Plot - ★★★
The plot is simple. Not overly cliche, but predictable enough. And the whole lust/sex scenes were always at the worst times which just made it pathetic. It was like "The worst possible thing just happened/is happening/is about to happen - yep, sounds like a good time to get horny." Really? I'm not bothered by those type scenes, but at least make it natural. Overall, it wasn't so bad. I didn't mind reading it, but it wasn't quite good enough that I'd read the first or any potential sequels.
Writing - ★★
The writing style was a bit boring and repetitive. I get it - music is a big deal. I get it - they're all "fish in a school". It was very repetitive and I (personally) have a low tolerance for repetition. It was simple. Honestly, everything about the book can best be described as "simple". The names were decent enough. Aegira (the mermaid 'town'), Lecanora, Lunia, Rania. I liked the names, so that was a plus. Oh, and there was one part in there where it was like, the villain can't touch the main character because of the love. (Now where have I heard that before?? *eyeroll*) I didn't much care for the dialogue. I'm not sure if that's how people really talk where ever the author is from, but man, it was annoying. Seemed forced and like it was meant to make "The Land" people sound far more bizarre than we actually are (which is saying something. haha) But again, if that's how people really talk in the author's area then I guess I understand. It just seemed...forced. Yeah.
Characters - ★★
There isn't much depth to the characters which is majorly important to me, and not any character growth either. Okay, there supposedly is, but it was more of a forced character growth than a believable one. A lot of characters fell completely flat. (Doug was the most non-crush-worthy lead male ever and the villain, just blah. Not scary at all.)
Overall - ★★★
There were a few aspects that I liked but they are spoilers. So it wasn't a terrible book. I think with more depth it would have been a better book. I am curious (not sure if it explains in the first book) but I almost got the feeling that these mermaids don't have tails. If I'm right, I'm still unsure how I feel about it. Definitely interesting. Yeah....It was just "alright". Not bad, not great, just okay.
Would I recommend it?
Either way. If you're looking for an amazing book to get lost in, then maybe not. But if you just want a quick read, then sure. (Although I would recommend reading the first...first - might be more helpful. haha)
August 5, 2016
Second in the Aegira Chronicles, Ros Baxter continues to amuse and enchant with her clever world building and engaging characters. Be aware that the first in the series, Fish Out of Water, establishes the world and presents the underlying concept of the story, presenting the necessary background that is required to completely understand and fully enjoy this instalment.
Again Rania is important to this story, and her snarky no-nonsense style and clever approach to the mysteries that appear, as she works to thwart her own destiny as foretold continue to move this story forward. But, she is not the only character to deal with: her sister Lecanora, left in Aegira when Rania went up to land with her mother as a child, has been sent to the dry land to gather support to protect Aegira against a threat from a crazed sorcerer, Manos.
Starting a bit slowly as the author gives background for those not familiar with the first book, the plot and information is complex and often feels as if the story is dragging until the current events take precedence. Unfortunately I found Rania a bit flat in this story: she’s still smart, snarky and clever but she lost some of the emotional impact that she held in the first book, and it was not always found in the other characters. While Lecanora was well developed, her peace-loving slightly accommodating personality was less enjoyable than Rania’s kick ass take names maybe later, and was quite a contrast.
There is, however, no lack of action and suspense in this volume: pages fly by after the earliest chapters as readers wonder what will happen next: deaths, threats and more intrigue as the political machinations in Aegira come to light are all mixed together and are constantly imbued with Baxter’s clever visual references and imagination as she presents the world with delicious prose and detail. While there was an overall lack of emotional connection to the characters and the events, as we are told more often than shown the character reactions, the story still manages to excel in description and unique plot lines. A nice mix of romance enters with Rania’s ex Doug and the effects he has on Lecanora, as she is struggling to acclimate to being on land and gathering support.
While it was only by millimetres, I think that I preferred Fish Out of Water to this story, but the uniqueness and clever dialog and description certainly have me hooked in and anxiously awaiting the next and, I believe, last in the series.
I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review for The Jeep Diva. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.
Again Rania is important to this story, and her snarky no-nonsense style and clever approach to the mysteries that appear, as she works to thwart her own destiny as foretold continue to move this story forward. But, she is not the only character to deal with: her sister Lecanora, left in Aegira when Rania went up to land with her mother as a child, has been sent to the dry land to gather support to protect Aegira against a threat from a crazed sorcerer, Manos.
Starting a bit slowly as the author gives background for those not familiar with the first book, the plot and information is complex and often feels as if the story is dragging until the current events take precedence. Unfortunately I found Rania a bit flat in this story: she’s still smart, snarky and clever but she lost some of the emotional impact that she held in the first book, and it was not always found in the other characters. While Lecanora was well developed, her peace-loving slightly accommodating personality was less enjoyable than Rania’s kick ass take names maybe later, and was quite a contrast.
There is, however, no lack of action and suspense in this volume: pages fly by after the earliest chapters as readers wonder what will happen next: deaths, threats and more intrigue as the political machinations in Aegira come to light are all mixed together and are constantly imbued with Baxter’s clever visual references and imagination as she presents the world with delicious prose and detail. While there was an overall lack of emotional connection to the characters and the events, as we are told more often than shown the character reactions, the story still manages to excel in description and unique plot lines. A nice mix of romance enters with Rania’s ex Doug and the effects he has on Lecanora, as she is struggling to acclimate to being on land and gathering support.
While it was only by millimetres, I think that I preferred Fish Out of Water to this story, but the uniqueness and clever dialog and description certainly have me hooked in and anxiously awaiting the next and, I believe, last in the series.
I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review for The Jeep Diva. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.
April 28, 2014
I read Fish out of Water almost 12 months ago and I have been keen to get a lot of answers. I was excited to read Beached and to dive right back into the Mermaid world and the prophecy that is unfolding.
This story follows Princess Lecaora, who is a major piece in the prophecy. She has been sent to the main land by her foster mother, the Queen, to unravel the prophecy and to hopefully save her people. She has a great support system there which includes Rania and her mother and a group of people Rania trusts. Together they form a close group that set out to unravel the pieces to stop the evil taking over the land and water.
Princess Lecaora was amusing to watch as she has not been on the land before. She doesn’t understand the need for clothes and is not happy about how we are willing to eat fish. She soon discovers some things that she likes and sets to the task of stopping Manos and his evil plan. She has an attraction to Rania’s friend Doug and it was sweet to see their relationship develop. He is very protective of her and it was nice to see him put himself on the line. He was a great character in the first book so I was excited to see him get some action!
It was good to see the characters from the first book return and play major roles in this book too. They are all committed to the prophecy and will sacrifice anything to make sure this terror is not unleashed on the world. I liked how the story is focused on how a mermaid would use her assets to save the world. Together with passion, strength and song they can accomplish anything.
I enjoyed how Ros told this story. We follow a few characters throughout so we could see what each character was up to. She has created a fantastic mermaid world that I love to read about. All my questions have been answered but there is definitely potential for more in this series, but for now it was a fitting end.
Complimentary copy provided by Harlequin Australia in exchange for an honest review.
This story follows Princess Lecaora, who is a major piece in the prophecy. She has been sent to the main land by her foster mother, the Queen, to unravel the prophecy and to hopefully save her people. She has a great support system there which includes Rania and her mother and a group of people Rania trusts. Together they form a close group that set out to unravel the pieces to stop the evil taking over the land and water.
Princess Lecaora was amusing to watch as she has not been on the land before. She doesn’t understand the need for clothes and is not happy about how we are willing to eat fish. She soon discovers some things that she likes and sets to the task of stopping Manos and his evil plan. She has an attraction to Rania’s friend Doug and it was sweet to see their relationship develop. He is very protective of her and it was nice to see him put himself on the line. He was a great character in the first book so I was excited to see him get some action!
It was good to see the characters from the first book return and play major roles in this book too. They are all committed to the prophecy and will sacrifice anything to make sure this terror is not unleashed on the world. I liked how the story is focused on how a mermaid would use her assets to save the world. Together with passion, strength and song they can accomplish anything.
I enjoyed how Ros told this story. We follow a few characters throughout so we could see what each character was up to. She has created a fantastic mermaid world that I love to read about. All my questions have been answered but there is definitely potential for more in this series, but for now it was a fitting end.
Complimentary copy provided by Harlequin Australia in exchange for an honest review.
April 26, 2014
irst off let me say how happy I was to have received Beached the next book in the Aegira Chronicles by Ros Baxter. I could hardly wait to start. I was excited to see is was Doug and Lecanora story.
Lecanora lived in Aegira her whole life, only learning about life on land from afar. She is also heir to the throne. Raina we met in Fish Out Of Water is her half sister sharing Lunia as their mother. These two are as different as land and sea. I have to respect Lecanora on every level even though times were tough she stayed true to what she was and believed in. Can she learn what is needed to survive?
Doug o.m.g, this hero is such a doll dealing with a lot of issues I am happy to see his character get new life into his role. I smile at the softness he uses on Lecanora, never one to push a perfect gentleman.
The sweetness between Lecanora and Doug had me smiling at times. I LOVE the Doug I see, understanding Lecanora and her world ready to kick ass to save her. This hero and heroine rocked!
The secondary characters added life to the plot. At times I felt laughter as Rania always made me smile with her banter, Lecanora is so innocent I did not think it possible for a mermaid to blush. *grins* I am still wondering about Rick dolphin guy. Do you have anything planned for him ? There was a point I had to put the book down, a death that took me by surprise, that cause a few tears. Thank you Ms. Baxter for letting {?} live through the others, but I have a feeling that maybe something is in the horizon. Will there be more in the series?
Want to read more, go to : http://www.romanceswithalittlekick.co...
Lecanora lived in Aegira her whole life, only learning about life on land from afar. She is also heir to the throne. Raina we met in Fish Out Of Water is her half sister sharing Lunia as their mother. These two are as different as land and sea. I have to respect Lecanora on every level even though times were tough she stayed true to what she was and believed in. Can she learn what is needed to survive?
Doug o.m.g, this hero is such a doll dealing with a lot of issues I am happy to see his character get new life into his role. I smile at the softness he uses on Lecanora, never one to push a perfect gentleman.
The sweetness between Lecanora and Doug had me smiling at times. I LOVE the Doug I see, understanding Lecanora and her world ready to kick ass to save her. This hero and heroine rocked!
The secondary characters added life to the plot. At times I felt laughter as Rania always made me smile with her banter, Lecanora is so innocent I did not think it possible for a mermaid to blush. *grins* I am still wondering about Rick dolphin guy. Do you have anything planned for him ? There was a point I had to put the book down, a death that took me by surprise, that cause a few tears. Thank you Ms. Baxter for letting {?} live through the others, but I have a feeling that maybe something is in the horizon. Will there be more in the series?
Want to read more, go to : http://www.romanceswithalittlekick.co...
June 16, 2014
This is the sequel to Fish Out of Water. This one follows Rania and Princess Lecanora as they explore the land and find the secret to the end of the world. The novel starts with Lecanora attacking the manager of a fast food restaurant for serving fish. They have just come back from their water kingdom of Aegira, and are trying to find connections to recent destructive events in their home kingdom. They're going to need help, so they recruit Rania's mom, as well as Doug and Larry, Rania's friends. I can't say too much more without spoiling the book, and without spoiling the first one for those who haven't read it. Suffice it to say, things don't always work out as planned. They also have to contact Susan Murray, presidential candidate, for her help in this. There are a lot of twists and turns in the plot, but it wasn't too hard to follow. It also ties up neatly at the end, which means that there probably won't be a 3rd novel. Fish Out of Water was written in 1st person, from Rania's point of view. This novel is written in 3rd person. It was a little jarring at first, but that may have been because I read both of them back to back. If I had read them when they were each first published, it may not have been an issue. It was also jarring when the novel switched to present tense during one very big scene (I don't want to give it away). Usually when that happens, the different scene is in italics, to distinguish it. This one wasn't, and I felt it should have been rewritten to reflect the rest of the book. These are relatively minor quibbles, though. All in all, a good book.
April 21, 2014
Ros Baxter's Beached is one of those novels readers love, with a story which surpasses that of its prequel and leaves us excited for the next installment.
Beached continues the story of the mermaid kingdom Aegira, which is danger from the sorcerer Manos, the merpeople requiring the intervention of humans. The plot is often dark with variations from the main story, but these only serve to keep the reader more intrigued in the lives of the characters.
In Fish Out of Water I loved the ballsy Rania and I am pleased to say that Ros Baxter has not toned down her personality in this sequel. However, her half-sister has never been on land before and Ros Baxter counters Rania's strong character with Leconora's childlike naivety. Leconara develops throughout her time on land though, discovering magical powers, maturing emotionally and sexually awakening.
I felt the plot of Beached demanded more from its reader in emotional response; tension, grief and joy. Although the fantasy element is Ros Baxter's main concern, she is also able to balance the story with romance, suspense and humor.
I loved this story, its characters and the contrasting settings of Dirtwater and Aegira. I cannot wait for the next book!
Beached continues the story of the mermaid kingdom Aegira, which is danger from the sorcerer Manos, the merpeople requiring the intervention of humans. The plot is often dark with variations from the main story, but these only serve to keep the reader more intrigued in the lives of the characters.
In Fish Out of Water I loved the ballsy Rania and I am pleased to say that Ros Baxter has not toned down her personality in this sequel. However, her half-sister has never been on land before and Ros Baxter counters Rania's strong character with Leconora's childlike naivety. Leconara develops throughout her time on land though, discovering magical powers, maturing emotionally and sexually awakening.
I felt the plot of Beached demanded more from its reader in emotional response; tension, grief and joy. Although the fantasy element is Ros Baxter's main concern, she is also able to balance the story with romance, suspense and humor.
I loved this story, its characters and the contrasting settings of Dirtwater and Aegira. I cannot wait for the next book!
October 7, 2014
ARC provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Beached is book two of the Aegira Chronicles and picks up where Fish Out Of Water left off. Princess Lecanora has learned that her best friend, Rania, is really her half sister. Lecanora is on a mission to save her world from Manos, an evil sorcerer. She has teamed up with Rania, but they will need the help of some unlikely allies. One of those allies is Doug, a hot, gun-toting mercenary, who Lecanora feels an undeniable connection. Will Lecanora and her allies be able to stop Manos?
It is an interesting take on mermaids that is a fun, action-packed romance. The characters are well developed and make the story come to life. Lecanora is a little naïve. She is also a pacifist which makes the conflict with Manos difficult for her. Lecanora uses her personality and her abilities in unique ways throughout the story. The chemistry between Doug and Lecanora was both playful and steamy. I have enjoyed this series and look forward to the next book.
Beached is book two of the Aegira Chronicles and picks up where Fish Out Of Water left off. Princess Lecanora has learned that her best friend, Rania, is really her half sister. Lecanora is on a mission to save her world from Manos, an evil sorcerer. She has teamed up with Rania, but they will need the help of some unlikely allies. One of those allies is Doug, a hot, gun-toting mercenary, who Lecanora feels an undeniable connection. Will Lecanora and her allies be able to stop Manos?
It is an interesting take on mermaids that is a fun, action-packed romance. The characters are well developed and make the story come to life. Lecanora is a little naïve. She is also a pacifist which makes the conflict with Manos difficult for her. Lecanora uses her personality and her abilities in unique ways throughout the story. The chemistry between Doug and Lecanora was both playful and steamy. I have enjoyed this series and look forward to the next book.
March 28, 2014
The sequel to Fish Out of Water starts directly from where the first book ended & hits, well not the ground running, but the water swimming! I always suggest to read the first book in a series before the sequel, and this series is no different. (Trust me, the first book is great too!) Having already been introduced to Princess Lecanora in the first book, I was thrilled to find her connection to the delicious mercenary Doug FANTASTIC. Full of fight scenes, witty conversations, sex, and of course, MERMAIDS, this book was a joy to read. The lost feeling everyone has at times, the true connections that make those lost feelings a blur, and the real power in believing in yourself...this book made me fist pump the air.
~Kitty~
~Kitty~
April 27, 2014
I was eagerly awaiting this one after reading Fish Out Of Water and I was not disappointed this is Princess Lecanora and Doug's story and what a story it is filled with action and situations that will make you smile. When The princess is on a mission to help save their underwater world Aegira and The Land with presdiential candidates and Rania and Carragheen from the first book this one will have you turning the pages and not wanting to put it down especially when the evil scourcerer Manos is set on taking over can they save both worlds with the knowledge of the prophesy and with a sensual romance growing between Doug and Lecanora this is a great story.
March 19, 2014
I enjoyed this story as well as the first. I love mermaids and loved seeing the princess in her own story. The beginning again was a little slow but picked up fast. The characters...there are a lot so sometimes I had to remember who was who.. lol Overall very good plot and story. I really enjoyed it.
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