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Undiscovered: The Curse of Power
In an underwater world of tyranny and despair, Vera emerges as the beacon of hope destined to transform her kingdom. Believing she was human until the curse on her magic was released, Vera discovers a reservoir of strength she never knew she possessed, along with a mer form. Now, having no training in political negotiations, battle strategies, and the dangers of war, she is expected to unite all six clans and kingdoms to take back her throne.
Vera's journey becomes one of self-discovery and courage as she must summon the power within her to confront the mysterious threats that jeopardize her life and the very future of her kingdom. Faced with uniting her people and delivering them from disparity while grappling with being stolen from her world, she embarks on a path that will force her to confront her past and define her true identity.
Undiscovered The Curse of Power is a compelling narrative full of magic, friendship, and the quest for discovery and understanding in a world of secrets. It invites readers to immerse themselves in a captivating adventure of an underwater world that explores the delicate balance between personal evolution and the fight against oppression in a world on the brink of change.
Vera's journey becomes one of self-discovery and courage as she must summon the power within her to confront the mysterious threats that jeopardize her life and the very future of her kingdom. Faced with uniting her people and delivering them from disparity while grappling with being stolen from her world, she embarks on a path that will force her to confront her past and define her true identity.
Undiscovered The Curse of Power is a compelling narrative full of magic, friendship, and the quest for discovery and understanding in a world of secrets. It invites readers to immerse themselves in a captivating adventure of an underwater world that explores the delicate balance between personal evolution and the fight against oppression in a world on the brink of change.
474 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 5, 2025
30 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
May 4, 2025
Craving a self discovery mer fantasy with found family, multiple povs and yummy male characters? The Curse of Power is the perfect book for you! I devoured this in just three days - which is saying something considering how hard I tend to slump on physical books these days!
I was lucky enough to be an arc reader for this book (my first ever arc - weee!) and I truly loved it from start to finish! The main character Vera is a sweet, lovable, fun FMC who you follow through her self discover journey as she learns there is more to her then just being a human girl who feels out of place.
The characters were lovable- I especially took a liking to Korah who was a sweetie pie, Alec who was my typical flirty fun man and Flynn who was a super flirty, comic relief character who I can’t wait to learn even more about! Cannot forget our MMC Nallac who I also fell for! Despite not always being into broody characters- he really grew on me (and was lowkey funny af- he had me laughing more than once!)
The plot was captivating and the ending left me wanting more! Super excited for book 2!
Super shout out to my girl Melina who wrote such an amazing book at just 19 years old. :’) Highly recommend this one!
I was lucky enough to be an arc reader for this book (my first ever arc - weee!) and I truly loved it from start to finish! The main character Vera is a sweet, lovable, fun FMC who you follow through her self discover journey as she learns there is more to her then just being a human girl who feels out of place.
The characters were lovable- I especially took a liking to Korah who was a sweetie pie, Alec who was my typical flirty fun man and Flynn who was a super flirty, comic relief character who I can’t wait to learn even more about! Cannot forget our MMC Nallac who I also fell for! Despite not always being into broody characters- he really grew on me (and was lowkey funny af- he had me laughing more than once!)
The plot was captivating and the ending left me wanting more! Super excited for book 2!
Super shout out to my girl Melina who wrote such an amazing book at just 19 years old. :’) Highly recommend this one!
May 4, 2025
Overall, if you enjoy
- the chosen one
- underwater fantasy
- forbidden love
- assassin for the king x banished princess
- found family
- queer and mental illness rep
- a strong but also soft FMC
- morally grey men
- grumpy x sunshine
- unique magic system
- sirens/mer folk
and want a YA fantasy with cozy elements that still has twists and turns? Then this book is DEFINITELY for you and you should check it out!!
I keep jumping back and forth between 4.5 and 4.75 but tbh the farther I got into it, the more it won me over. And the ending kind of just hit for me so I think 4.75 is where I am going to land! (Don't you dare let this .25 off convince you not to read this book until you read the rest below)
First for the reason it's not a 5. Literally it is just the first chapter or two felt slow for me. I didn't exactly connect with the main character so I just wasn't wanting to keep going, but once we got underwater? Oh my god it picked up and never stopped. Which like, in theory this makes actual complete sense since in the book [someone] literally is meant for the water and not for land so like technically it fits. It just was a me not connecting issue so for someone else, the beginning could be their favorite, just wasn't for me!
Now for the rest of the book. It was AMAZING!! The world building is insane and nothing like other underwater fantasies I have read before (which I haven't read A LOT but I have read a few) and the different species of mer and creatures are so unique and cool! Melina really does a good job with balancing the main point of the plot, which is Vera figuring out where she fits in her world, with also romance and ocean discovery and found family.
I was a SUCKER for the romance and let me just say, the men do NOT disappoint. I loved every man in this book and UGHHH I need the one. To avoid spoilers I am not saying his name, but for the people who know, YOU KNOW. I'd read this book just for him.
The found family was strong in this book, and even though it is not usually my favorite trope, I really actually enjoyed it in this fantasy. It was nice to get genuine female friendships for once because I feel like we rarely get this in fantasy books with strong FMCs! I think it was written well and anyone who's a fan of found family would love it in this book!
Also just want to say, all of the backstories and magic system and like just all of the details are so cool. I am really trying to be vague to not spoil anything but it just was so good, I am amazed with how Melina came up with it all because it truly isn't like much else I have seen! It was a breath of fresh air, which is hard to come by in the fantasy genre, so I definitely recommend trying it out! Especially if you are wanting to get into underwater fantasy!!
**Thank you to Melina Givens for the arc and I am so excited for book 2!**
- the chosen one
- underwater fantasy
- forbidden love
- assassin for the king x banished princess
- found family
- queer and mental illness rep
- a strong but also soft FMC
- morally grey men
- grumpy x sunshine
- unique magic system
- sirens/mer folk
and want a YA fantasy with cozy elements that still has twists and turns? Then this book is DEFINITELY for you and you should check it out!!
I keep jumping back and forth between 4.5 and 4.75 but tbh the farther I got into it, the more it won me over. And the ending kind of just hit for me so I think 4.75 is where I am going to land! (Don't you dare let this .25 off convince you not to read this book until you read the rest below)
First for the reason it's not a 5. Literally it is just the first chapter or two felt slow for me. I didn't exactly connect with the main character so I just wasn't wanting to keep going, but once we got underwater? Oh my god it picked up and never stopped. Which like, in theory this makes actual complete sense since in the book [someone] literally is meant for the water and not for land so like technically it fits. It just was a me not connecting issue so for someone else, the beginning could be their favorite, just wasn't for me!
Now for the rest of the book. It was AMAZING!! The world building is insane and nothing like other underwater fantasies I have read before (which I haven't read A LOT but I have read a few) and the different species of mer and creatures are so unique and cool! Melina really does a good job with balancing the main point of the plot, which is Vera figuring out where she fits in her world, with also romance and ocean discovery and found family.
I was a SUCKER for the romance and let me just say, the men do NOT disappoint. I loved every man in this book and UGHHH I need the one. To avoid spoilers I am not saying his name, but for the people who know, YOU KNOW. I'd read this book just for him.
The found family was strong in this book, and even though it is not usually my favorite trope, I really actually enjoyed it in this fantasy. It was nice to get genuine female friendships for once because I feel like we rarely get this in fantasy books with strong FMCs! I think it was written well and anyone who's a fan of found family would love it in this book!
Also just want to say, all of the backstories and magic system and like just all of the details are so cool. I am really trying to be vague to not spoil anything but it just was so good, I am amazed with how Melina came up with it all because it truly isn't like much else I have seen! It was a breath of fresh air, which is hard to come by in the fantasy genre, so I definitely recommend trying it out! Especially if you are wanting to get into underwater fantasy!!
**Thank you to Melina Givens for the arc and I am so excited for book 2!**
May 7, 2025
I was lucky to read this as an ARC reader.
This story is a rich fantasy that paints a vast world under the ocean and lets us experience alongside our MC Vera. I thoroughly enjoyed the world building in its expansiveness. I liked how we as the reader got to go in blind to this world like Vera and learn as she did, making the world grow as she grew in her story.
Not only was the world building a joy to experience, but the characters were entertaining and I loved getting to watch them help Vera in this new world to her. Some of my favs were the moody black cat energy that is Nallac and the beyond flirty Flynn. They must be protected at all costs (Melina do you hear me????)
But overall for a large world fantasy as her debut this was a fabulous read and I can’t wait to watch Melina Givens grow as a writer and more from this story.
Things it has:
🌊 found family
🌊 large world discovery
🌊 mermaids and sirens
🌊 unique magic systems
This story is a rich fantasy that paints a vast world under the ocean and lets us experience alongside our MC Vera. I thoroughly enjoyed the world building in its expansiveness. I liked how we as the reader got to go in blind to this world like Vera and learn as she did, making the world grow as she grew in her story.
Not only was the world building a joy to experience, but the characters were entertaining and I loved getting to watch them help Vera in this new world to her. Some of my favs were the moody black cat energy that is Nallac and the beyond flirty Flynn. They must be protected at all costs (Melina do you hear me????)
But overall for a large world fantasy as her debut this was a fabulous read and I can’t wait to watch Melina Givens grow as a writer and more from this story.
Things it has:
🌊 found family
🌊 large world discovery
🌊 mermaids and sirens
🌊 unique magic systems
May 26, 2025
ARC REVIEW
Forever living in the adleian kingdom 🌊
This debut YA fantasy series, brings you into such a world that has you transported into a sea of undiscovered secrets and worlds where myths become reality, with its own unique characters and its own language you will forget you’re at home on the couch.
While reading this book I found it fascinating, a take on breaking generational curses while watching a parent heal from past trauma.
this story highlights the importance of learning to be resilient even in the face of resistance and fear.
It taught me that through death, we must rise and fight to protect those who cannot.
I feel powerful and also want to swim until my legs are numb 🌊💙
Forever living in the adleian kingdom 🌊
This debut YA fantasy series, brings you into such a world that has you transported into a sea of undiscovered secrets and worlds where myths become reality, with its own unique characters and its own language you will forget you’re at home on the couch.
While reading this book I found it fascinating, a take on breaking generational curses while watching a parent heal from past trauma.
this story highlights the importance of learning to be resilient even in the face of resistance and fear.
It taught me that through death, we must rise and fight to protect those who cannot.
I feel powerful and also want to swim until my legs are numb 🌊💙
April 30, 2025
This book is beautiful inside and out. The world is unique and the characters are interesting. There is a nice balance between descriptions and actions which I appreciate. I’m very much looking forward to reading the next one!
If you love mermaids, fantasy creatures, magic, and new worlds then I highly recommend you check this out!
If you love mermaids, fantasy creatures, magic, and new worlds then I highly recommend you check this out!
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews