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The Merrow Trilogy #1
Waking the Merrow
This second edition features new, alternative cover art, as well as the first chapter of Book 2 in The Merrow Trilogy - HUNTING THE MERROW.
ISBNs of the original cover edition of WAKING THE MERROW:
ISBN-10: 1499114257
ISBN-13: 9781499114256
In 1772, angry Rhode Island colonists set fire to a British ship, sparking the American Revolution. Taxation without representation was a motivator. So was the vengeful, man-eating mermaid who had it out for the commanding officer. That was then. This is now. Mermaids, or merrow, still hunt in Narragansett Bay, but these days they keep a lower profile. At night, centuries-old Nomia seduces smutty frat boys, lures them into icy waters, and feeds them to her voracious kin. By day, she and her half-breed daughter attempt to blend in at the coastal Village Playground. But Nomia slips up. She makes a friend. Then she makes that friend disappear, and someone notices. Thirty-something Evie McFagan just wants to make it through working motherhood. But she’s a blistering stew of issues—snarky alcoholic and a friendless funeral director who just witnessed Nomia dismembering a guy at the nearby yacht club. When Evie believes a mermaid stole her baby, who will help? The merrow of Ireland? Or maybe anti-hero Evie will surprise everyone, including herself, and summon the strength to save her own family. Intertwining the stories of two primordial families with the colonial history of Narragansett Bay, Waking the Merrow is a dark historical fantasy.
ISBNs of the original cover edition of WAKING THE MERROW:
ISBN-10: 1499114257
ISBN-13: 9781499114256
In 1772, angry Rhode Island colonists set fire to a British ship, sparking the American Revolution. Taxation without representation was a motivator. So was the vengeful, man-eating mermaid who had it out for the commanding officer. That was then. This is now. Mermaids, or merrow, still hunt in Narragansett Bay, but these days they keep a lower profile. At night, centuries-old Nomia seduces smutty frat boys, lures them into icy waters, and feeds them to her voracious kin. By day, she and her half-breed daughter attempt to blend in at the coastal Village Playground. But Nomia slips up. She makes a friend. Then she makes that friend disappear, and someone notices. Thirty-something Evie McFagan just wants to make it through working motherhood. But she’s a blistering stew of issues—snarky alcoholic and a friendless funeral director who just witnessed Nomia dismembering a guy at the nearby yacht club. When Evie believes a mermaid stole her baby, who will help? The merrow of Ireland? Or maybe anti-hero Evie will surprise everyone, including herself, and summon the strength to save her own family. Intertwining the stories of two primordial families with the colonial history of Narragansett Bay, Waking the Merrow is a dark historical fantasy.
344 pages, Paperback
First published May 22, 2014
97 people are currently reading
1480 people want to read
About the author
Heather Rigney
5 books48 followersWriter, artist, and underwater fire-breather, Heather Rigney likes to make stuff. Stuff with words, stuff with paint, stuff that's pretty, and stuff that's not. Heather's stories reflect a dark, gothic childhood spent in the woods of northern Rhode Island. At the moment, she resides in Pawtuxet Village, RI with a family (both chosen and created) that she adores.
Waking the Merrow (release date: June 9, 2014) was adapted from the short story, Mermaids Are Not Nice, which can be found in the anthology DIVE: A Quartet of Merfolk Tales.
Hunting the Merrow released December 3, 2015
For more on Heather Rigney:
www.heatherrigney.com
FB: www.facebook.com/heatherrigneyAuthor
Twitter: @yourFAVmermaid
Waking the Merrow (release date: June 9, 2014) was adapted from the short story, Mermaids Are Not Nice, which can be found in the anthology DIVE: A Quartet of Merfolk Tales.
Hunting the Merrow released December 3, 2015
For more on Heather Rigney:
www.heatherrigney.com
FB: www.facebook.com/heatherrigneyAuthor
Twitter: @yourFAVmermaid
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 81 reviews
October 11, 2020
This one started out with a totally different tone than I expected. The protagonist, Evie (rhymes with heavy), is a short, overweight frumpy mortician and a functioning alcoholic. Her attempts at being a competent mother to her toddler daughter fall short and she's very aware of her own incompetence.
The story has a strong sinister side, but the author had me in tears laughing at some of her humorous phrases. Describing a woman's voice as "Like seagulls fighting over french fries" got her on my follow list.
Throughout some very serious situations, Evie is constantly good for a little comedy relief. Aside from that, I really liked the world building, apart from mer people being able to transform into having legs. It's a common trope that defies believability, however convenient it may be.
I never quite caught on to what the plan was towards the end when a situation needed addressing, but it seemed to work despite a few things that were never explained and I read the last few chapters in one sitting, too engrossed to care about reading any of my other books.
Will I continue the series? That's yet to be seen. I have a sample of the second book and will certainly give it a try.
The story has a strong sinister side, but the author had me in tears laughing at some of her humorous phrases. Describing a woman's voice as "Like seagulls fighting over french fries" got her on my follow list.
Throughout some very serious situations, Evie is constantly good for a little comedy relief. Aside from that, I really liked the world building, apart from mer people being able to transform into having legs. It's a common trope that defies believability, however convenient it may be.
I never quite caught on to what the plan was towards the end when a situation needed addressing, but it seemed to work despite a few things that were never explained and I read the last few chapters in one sitting, too engrossed to care about reading any of my other books.
Will I continue the series? That's yet to be seen. I have a sample of the second book and will certainly give it a try.
May 23, 2018
"They were the wide eyes of her aquatic cousins, unmistakable with the unnaturally large eye-sockets and light-colored irises. He was a merrow."
Different and did not disappoint! Welcome to world of Irish folklore, of Merfolk with teeth, long memories, clans, and varied diets. All told from the slightly meta point of view of a functioning alcoholic.
My TBR is a functioning Jenga Tower but this series has become a must read.
All tail Merfolk May!
February 9, 2016
Let me just get this right out there from the get-go.
This is without a doubt the coolest debut novel I've ever read.
Heather Rigney, who the hell are you? And where did you come from?
WAKING THE MERROW is a cross-genre, horrifying twist on the mermaid legend. Rigney has seamlessly woven a story that combines horror, comedy, colonial history, fantasy world-building, flawless writing, and the most unappealing yet strangely mesmerizing "heroine" I've ever read. Evie is a short, fat, self-loathing alcoholic who manages to get the reader, against her will, rooting for her in this fascinating tale.
This story jumps back in forth from current times to colonial times in Rhode Island, and mixes intriguing bits of maritime history with the familial history of the Irish Cantillon family. Not only is Rigney a fine writer, but she is also an excellent storyteller. The pacing and time-jumping are perfectly executed, and I raced along with the story to find out what would happen to Evie and her family.
Warning: This is not your mother's cutesy mermaid with the sparkling tiara and clam-shell bra.
Not even close.
I love a good horror tale, and this certainly delivers. Rigney calls this novel "dark fantasy" and I agree. It's fantasy. And it's dark. And the juxtaposition of mundane real-life details with horrifying merrow behavior works spectacularly well.
There was a wee lull in the story during the tribunal near the end, but other than that, it was close to perfect. And the ending promises more in this series.
Forgive the pun: this baby blew me right out of the freezing cold Rhode Island waters, and I can't freakin' wait to dive back in with the next book.
If you are looking for something unique, creative, well-written and satisfying, I highly recommend WAKING THE MERROW. In a sea of cookie cutter releases, this book stands out as one-of-a-kind, which is quite a feat for a debut author.
Highly recommend! Grade: A
Penny
SUMMARY:
WAKING THE MERROW is a horrifying, addictive, and intriguing twist on the mermaid legend, and takes the reader on a bone-chilling ride through colonial and current times in Rhode Island. This is a fabulous debut novel by Heather Rigney.
Read it if you dare.
(It's out early! Available at Amazon).
This is without a doubt the coolest debut novel I've ever read.
Heather Rigney, who the hell are you? And where did you come from?
WAKING THE MERROW is a cross-genre, horrifying twist on the mermaid legend. Rigney has seamlessly woven a story that combines horror, comedy, colonial history, fantasy world-building, flawless writing, and the most unappealing yet strangely mesmerizing "heroine" I've ever read. Evie is a short, fat, self-loathing alcoholic who manages to get the reader, against her will, rooting for her in this fascinating tale.
This story jumps back in forth from current times to colonial times in Rhode Island, and mixes intriguing bits of maritime history with the familial history of the Irish Cantillon family. Not only is Rigney a fine writer, but she is also an excellent storyteller. The pacing and time-jumping are perfectly executed, and I raced along with the story to find out what would happen to Evie and her family.
Warning: This is not your mother's cutesy mermaid with the sparkling tiara and clam-shell bra.
Not even close.
I love a good horror tale, and this certainly delivers. Rigney calls this novel "dark fantasy" and I agree. It's fantasy. And it's dark. And the juxtaposition of mundane real-life details with horrifying merrow behavior works spectacularly well.
There was a wee lull in the story during the tribunal near the end, but other than that, it was close to perfect. And the ending promises more in this series.
Forgive the pun: this baby blew me right out of the freezing cold Rhode Island waters, and I can't freakin' wait to dive back in with the next book.
If you are looking for something unique, creative, well-written and satisfying, I highly recommend WAKING THE MERROW. In a sea of cookie cutter releases, this book stands out as one-of-a-kind, which is quite a feat for a debut author.
Highly recommend! Grade: A
Penny
SUMMARY:
WAKING THE MERROW is a horrifying, addictive, and intriguing twist on the mermaid legend, and takes the reader on a bone-chilling ride through colonial and current times in Rhode Island. This is a fabulous debut novel by Heather Rigney.
Read it if you dare.
(It's out early! Available at Amazon).
December 5, 2025
Wow! What a surprise!
I purchased this book from the author at this year's Rhode Island Comic Con. I like to support local writers, but I go in with low expectations. I'm thinking PawSox, not BoSox. 'Waking the Merrow,' however, is major league. It should get picked up by a big publisher. One of the streamers should make a movie out of it. It's wonderfully, shockingly good.
The tag line? Killer mermaids in Narragansett Bay. The Gaspee Incident? Mermaids stirred it up. Shipwrecks? Mermaids. Missing fishermen and waterside hikers? Yep: mermaids. Mermaids with long, webbed claws. Sharp, pointy teeth. Gills. Bad attitudes. Seriously: author Heather Rigney had me at killer mermaids.
Then, she goes one better. She gives us Evie (pronounced like heavy), her protagonist. Evie is a self-described short, fat, ugly Rhode Island - Irish alcoholic with a bad attitude and a foul mouth. She's also a bad mother, which might explain why the other moms at the playground avoid her. Or maybe that's because she's an undertaker, which makes them uncomfortable. Whatever. Who needs friends when you have bourbon, right? At least, that's what she tells herself before a mysterious, arresting beauty arrives at the playground, daughter in tow. A beauty who befriends one of the more vulnerable moms. A beauty who makes Evie's skin crawl for reasons she can't identify. A beauty whom Evie is sure has something to do with the vulnerable mom's disappearance. A mom from Evie's daughter's playground. Evie's daughter. Nobody may bring danger to the world of Evie's daughter. This will not stand.
And we're off. You've got killer mermaids. A protagonist whom you'd avoid at the playground, but who's actually one of the funniest, most insightful, altogether delightful POV characters you're likely to read this year. You've got rich and bloody Rhode Island lore, from the colonial era to the gilded age and on into the present day; rooted not only in place names, but in a deep sense of Rhode Island working class Irishness (a subculture with which I've become familiar by living in the state for 12 years now).
The story moves briskly, hitting the marks of a well-told thriller without feeling mechanical. The protagonist grows and changes, bringing us on a journey in which we become remarkably invested. The mermaids kill a lot of people. This is a proper thriller. It's a proper character study. It's a proper horror novel. And it's a proper tribute to the many oddball characters who populate my little corner of America.
I loved 'Waking the Merrrow.' Loved loved loved it. Loved it so much that the day after I finished it, I gave my copy to my neighbor across the street. If you're at all intrigued by the idea of "the killer mermaids of Narragansett Bay," you will like it. If you're a Rhode Islander, you will love it. Heather Rigney has knocked one out of the park.
I purchased this book from the author at this year's Rhode Island Comic Con. I like to support local writers, but I go in with low expectations. I'm thinking PawSox, not BoSox. 'Waking the Merrow,' however, is major league. It should get picked up by a big publisher. One of the streamers should make a movie out of it. It's wonderfully, shockingly good.
The tag line? Killer mermaids in Narragansett Bay. The Gaspee Incident? Mermaids stirred it up. Shipwrecks? Mermaids. Missing fishermen and waterside hikers? Yep: mermaids. Mermaids with long, webbed claws. Sharp, pointy teeth. Gills. Bad attitudes. Seriously: author Heather Rigney had me at killer mermaids.
Then, she goes one better. She gives us Evie (pronounced like heavy), her protagonist. Evie is a self-described short, fat, ugly Rhode Island - Irish alcoholic with a bad attitude and a foul mouth. She's also a bad mother, which might explain why the other moms at the playground avoid her. Or maybe that's because she's an undertaker, which makes them uncomfortable. Whatever. Who needs friends when you have bourbon, right? At least, that's what she tells herself before a mysterious, arresting beauty arrives at the playground, daughter in tow. A beauty who befriends one of the more vulnerable moms. A beauty who makes Evie's skin crawl for reasons she can't identify. A beauty whom Evie is sure has something to do with the vulnerable mom's disappearance. A mom from Evie's daughter's playground. Evie's daughter. Nobody may bring danger to the world of Evie's daughter. This will not stand.
And we're off. You've got killer mermaids. A protagonist whom you'd avoid at the playground, but who's actually one of the funniest, most insightful, altogether delightful POV characters you're likely to read this year. You've got rich and bloody Rhode Island lore, from the colonial era to the gilded age and on into the present day; rooted not only in place names, but in a deep sense of Rhode Island working class Irishness (a subculture with which I've become familiar by living in the state for 12 years now).
The story moves briskly, hitting the marks of a well-told thriller without feeling mechanical. The protagonist grows and changes, bringing us on a journey in which we become remarkably invested. The mermaids kill a lot of people. This is a proper thriller. It's a proper character study. It's a proper horror novel. And it's a proper tribute to the many oddball characters who populate my little corner of America.
I loved 'Waking the Merrrow.' Loved loved loved it. Loved it so much that the day after I finished it, I gave my copy to my neighbor across the street. If you're at all intrigued by the idea of "the killer mermaids of Narragansett Bay," you will like it. If you're a Rhode Islander, you will love it. Heather Rigney has knocked one out of the park.
February 5, 2016
I loved this book and read it in two or three nights. In fact, I stayed up way too late last night to finish it and am thankful we have a snow day today to recover! The setting is right here in my back yard in the waters in which I swim where evil mermaids, aka merrow, are wreaking havoc on the protagonist and her family as, it turns out, they've been doing for centuries. Being part fish, myself, I've always loved tails of the sea and of selkies and the like so I loved the folklore and the premise and the story swam right along.
Coincidentally, I also happened to read a NYT essay called, "A Brisk Swim Across Martha's Vineyard" in which the author reminds, "If you are an open-water swimmer, the sport also demands a particular kind of mental discipline, one in which you must simultaneously indulge your imagination while also asserting control over it. The fear and exhaustion of swimming in the ocean is not struggling against the currents or tide, but the effort it takes to not notice how dark the water beneath you has become, and then, failing that, to assure yourself that it’s only the shadow of a cloud scudding above you. Nowhere but in the sea are you so ceaselessly reminded that something you love so much doesn’t care about you at all."
Well, I am, indeed, an open water swimmer and I fear I will be thinking of these merrow and their sharp fangs as I swim along in the future. Maybe, with any luck, I'll see the beautiful mermen instead. I love the idea of a Watcher like Ronan out there keeping us all safe from harm.
Coincidentally, I also happened to read a NYT essay called, "A Brisk Swim Across Martha's Vineyard" in which the author reminds, "If you are an open-water swimmer, the sport also demands a particular kind of mental discipline, one in which you must simultaneously indulge your imagination while also asserting control over it. The fear and exhaustion of swimming in the ocean is not struggling against the currents or tide, but the effort it takes to not notice how dark the water beneath you has become, and then, failing that, to assure yourself that it’s only the shadow of a cloud scudding above you. Nowhere but in the sea are you so ceaselessly reminded that something you love so much doesn’t care about you at all."
Well, I am, indeed, an open water swimmer and I fear I will be thinking of these merrow and their sharp fangs as I swim along in the future. Maybe, with any luck, I'll see the beautiful mermen instead. I love the idea of a Watcher like Ronan out there keeping us all safe from harm.
May 26, 2014
We have all heard tales of mermaids, the mythical creatures of great beauty that are half human, half fish that have entranced seafarers and children alike for centuries.
Forget all those tales of those beings that have such beauty and grace
What if by being half human the mer-folk also had some of the worst traits of humanity. Vicious evil creatures that prey upon humanity with impunity. Heather Rigney has woven just such a tale. In the essence of Stephen King and Clive Barker who are Ms. Rigney's inspiration she manages to thrill and scare with the best of them
I was hooked from the very first page and while I was scared at times I also couldn't wait to turn the page and find out what happened next. Written as a historical thriller the book does not disappoint at all.
Spanning from the 1700's to the current day a tale that chills to the bone unfolds, a family that becomes intertwined with the merrow and how their future generations pay the price.
The characters she weaves are believable and full of angst bearing the frailties of our modern day life yet they still manage to find that spark within to stand up for what they love and believe in.
Well written giving a full back ground of the merrow and who they are, the book goes back and forth between the beginning of how they became entwined with the land dwellers to the modern day terror they instill.
A must read for any lovers of this genre of writing and I look forward to the future installments of this story.
Forget all those tales of those beings that have such beauty and grace
What if by being half human the mer-folk also had some of the worst traits of humanity. Vicious evil creatures that prey upon humanity with impunity. Heather Rigney has woven just such a tale. In the essence of Stephen King and Clive Barker who are Ms. Rigney's inspiration she manages to thrill and scare with the best of them
I was hooked from the very first page and while I was scared at times I also couldn't wait to turn the page and find out what happened next. Written as a historical thriller the book does not disappoint at all.
Spanning from the 1700's to the current day a tale that chills to the bone unfolds, a family that becomes intertwined with the merrow and how their future generations pay the price.
The characters she weaves are believable and full of angst bearing the frailties of our modern day life yet they still manage to find that spark within to stand up for what they love and believe in.
Well written giving a full back ground of the merrow and who they are, the book goes back and forth between the beginning of how they became entwined with the land dwellers to the modern day terror they instill.
A must read for any lovers of this genre of writing and I look forward to the future installments of this story.
July 4, 2014
I loved this book! It was such a fun summer read.
At first, I absolutely loathed Evie, the main character. She has problems with alcohol and she's terribly sarcastic. But as the story went on, I found myself rooting for her more and more until I was literally in tears because I was positive that she was going to die.
This book takes place (mostly) in Pawtuxet Village, where I spend almost every day of my life. Since it's such a tiny little place, it's not really talked about in any Rhode Island history books, let alone a novel. I kept getting so excited whenever the playground or the cafe was brought up. I was like, I go there! I was there yesterday! I'm there right now! It was definitely a funny experience.
As amazing as I thought it was, I only rated it four stars because I'm such a wimp, so it was a little scary for me :)man-eating sea creatures kind of freak me out now.
At first, I absolutely loathed Evie, the main character. She has problems with alcohol and she's terribly sarcastic. But as the story went on, I found myself rooting for her more and more until I was literally in tears because I was positive that she was going to die.
This book takes place (mostly) in Pawtuxet Village, where I spend almost every day of my life. Since it's such a tiny little place, it's not really talked about in any Rhode Island history books, let alone a novel. I kept getting so excited whenever the playground or the cafe was brought up. I was like, I go there! I was there yesterday! I'm there right now! It was definitely a funny experience.
As amazing as I thought it was, I only rated it four stars because I'm such a wimp, so it was a little scary for me :)man-eating sea creatures kind of freak me out now.
October 9, 2016
Waking the Merrow is my IRL book club selection for this month. Prior to it being nominated, I had never heard of the book or the author. A little background research showed that the author is a Rhode Island native who lives just down the way from me -- which I love -- but what really got me was the teaser from B&N Book Blog:
“You know what’s great about Rigney’s horror-ific (that’s horror-filled and terrific), hysterical debut novel? Besides the bloodthirsty merfolk, our antihero protagonist is an overweight, drunk, subpar mother, who also happens to be a funeral director. I can’t even describe the premise of this book without getting giddy, because how many times does a plot involve both vicious mermaids and Rhode Island colonists?”
HOLY CRAP! YES!
So, two things immediately happened: 1) I invited the author to the book club -- she immediately and graciously agreed! and 2) I got myself to a book signing with the author at a local brewery -- book and brews, y'all! -- and purchased a copy directly from her.
Then, I procrastinated on actually reading the book until this weekend, giving myself only 5 days to read the whole thing before discussing it with friends and the author.
I shouldn't have worried, I flew through it. I absolutely adored the Irish merrow folklore woven into Rhode Island colonial history that caught up with modern day in a less-than-perfect alcoholic mother whom I rooted for from start to finish.
I am definitely not claiming this was award winning literature, and I really wanted a bit more of the merrow folklore origins, but it is the first of a trilogy and you can bet that I will be reading the second one and keeping an out out for the third, which the author is currently writing.
What is better than finding a debut book from a local author? Finding that you actually LOVE the book and get to talk to her about it in less than a week.
“You know what’s great about Rigney’s horror-ific (that’s horror-filled and terrific), hysterical debut novel? Besides the bloodthirsty merfolk, our antihero protagonist is an overweight, drunk, subpar mother, who also happens to be a funeral director. I can’t even describe the premise of this book without getting giddy, because how many times does a plot involve both vicious mermaids and Rhode Island colonists?”
HOLY CRAP! YES!
So, two things immediately happened: 1) I invited the author to the book club -- she immediately and graciously agreed! and 2) I got myself to a book signing with the author at a local brewery -- book and brews, y'all! -- and purchased a copy directly from her.
Then, I procrastinated on actually reading the book until this weekend, giving myself only 5 days to read the whole thing before discussing it with friends and the author.
I shouldn't have worried, I flew through it. I absolutely adored the Irish merrow folklore woven into Rhode Island colonial history that caught up with modern day in a less-than-perfect alcoholic mother whom I rooted for from start to finish.
I am definitely not claiming this was award winning literature, and I really wanted a bit more of the merrow folklore origins, but it is the first of a trilogy and you can bet that I will be reading the second one and keeping an out out for the third, which the author is currently writing.
What is better than finding a debut book from a local author? Finding that you actually LOVE the book and get to talk to her about it in less than a week.
February 16, 2015
Bloody Brilliant. Really VERY bloody and really very brilliant!
I can't imagine anyone not liking this novel. It's one of those things where I see a one star review and am truly shocked. I cannot think of a demographic this wouldn't appeal to or anyone who I wouldn't recommend this to. It's as though Ms Rigney has opened a window and let in a much-needed gust of salty sea air into a shipwrecked genre.
Whatever you're expecting from a book with a mermaid tail on the cover well, this isn't it and thank goodness. Waking The Merrow is ugly, hard, gruesome laugh out loud hilarious and full of action. And I don't throw around the word 'hilarious' lightly. You usually have to be a stand-up comedian in ranks with Russell Brand or Chris Rock to actually solicit a giggle out of me but I was actually highlighting jokes in this one rather jealously :)
This is a very unique story in which the heroine is an overweight drunken and resentful mother and the mermaid is a bitch from hell with absolutely no conscience. I loved the main character immediately and was cheering for her to triumph, and it's been awhile since I felt a character resonate so realistically with me and even longer since I've disliked a bad guy quite so much and so it was all very cathartic. As a mother of three it was nice to pop open the top button and hiss and boo at a villain while drinking a beer from me swinging egg chair while ignoring the kids and feeling totally okay with it because I COULD be worse and still likeable :) In fact, imagine if The Little Mermaid was from Ursuala's point of view BEFORE she went batshit crazy- versus the dark-haired version of herself she creates. You end up with two very vindictive alpha-females duking it out for the right to not be a stereotype :)
Heather Rigney is a wonderfully expressive writer who manages to address an incredibly cliche subject and leave said chiches in her wake. The world she paints with words would not be beautiful if not for her striking and highly original prose but she truly creates a setting that is both dark yet colourful and exciting. If you're a fan of Dean Koontz then steer your amazon trolley this way because you're in for a lot of evil snickering and plenty of dramatic tension backed up with creative articulation. Honestly it was just so good- it's revived my love of reading after a pretty serious book hangover.
Recommend to all!
I can't imagine anyone not liking this novel. It's one of those things where I see a one star review and am truly shocked. I cannot think of a demographic this wouldn't appeal to or anyone who I wouldn't recommend this to. It's as though Ms Rigney has opened a window and let in a much-needed gust of salty sea air into a shipwrecked genre.
Whatever you're expecting from a book with a mermaid tail on the cover well, this isn't it and thank goodness. Waking The Merrow is ugly, hard, gruesome laugh out loud hilarious and full of action. And I don't throw around the word 'hilarious' lightly. You usually have to be a stand-up comedian in ranks with Russell Brand or Chris Rock to actually solicit a giggle out of me but I was actually highlighting jokes in this one rather jealously :)
This is a very unique story in which the heroine is an overweight drunken and resentful mother and the mermaid is a bitch from hell with absolutely no conscience. I loved the main character immediately and was cheering for her to triumph, and it's been awhile since I felt a character resonate so realistically with me and even longer since I've disliked a bad guy quite so much and so it was all very cathartic. As a mother of three it was nice to pop open the top button and hiss and boo at a villain while drinking a beer from me swinging egg chair while ignoring the kids and feeling totally okay with it because I COULD be worse and still likeable :) In fact, imagine if The Little Mermaid was from Ursuala's point of view BEFORE she went batshit crazy- versus the dark-haired version of herself she creates. You end up with two very vindictive alpha-females duking it out for the right to not be a stereotype :)
Heather Rigney is a wonderfully expressive writer who manages to address an incredibly cliche subject and leave said chiches in her wake. The world she paints with words would not be beautiful if not for her striking and highly original prose but she truly creates a setting that is both dark yet colourful and exciting. If you're a fan of Dean Koontz then steer your amazon trolley this way because you're in for a lot of evil snickering and plenty of dramatic tension backed up with creative articulation. Honestly it was just so good- it's revived my love of reading after a pretty serious book hangover.
Recommend to all!
June 11, 2014
WOW... I mean, seriously WOW. I could not put this book down – even though at times it:
1. scared the living daylights out of me
2. has probably made me even more ocean-phobic (and swimming pool phobic, for that matter) than I already am
3. made me cry
4. made me laugh out loud
5. almost made me wet my pants (through both fear and laughter)
I just loved the fact that the lead character was so flawed - overweight with a bit of a drink problem and speaks the kind of language that makes the air turn blue. But she is just so likeable. In fact, she's just like you and me. An everyday thirty-something woman who just happens to witnesses something so terrifying that it leads her even further down her scary path. There were moments of sheer genius that literally made me spit out my tea / wine (depending on whether I was reading morning or night!) while I choked on my laughter.
I usually try and find something critical to say about the writing or the story itself, but I can honestly say there is not a single negative thing I can offer about Waking the Merrow. It's an absolutely brilliant novel and I can't wait for the next book by this truly amazing author.
1. scared the living daylights out of me
2. has probably made me even more ocean-phobic (and swimming pool phobic, for that matter) than I already am
3. made me cry
4. made me laugh out loud
5. almost made me wet my pants (through both fear and laughter)
I just loved the fact that the lead character was so flawed - overweight with a bit of a drink problem and speaks the kind of language that makes the air turn blue. But she is just so likeable. In fact, she's just like you and me. An everyday thirty-something woman who just happens to witnesses something so terrifying that it leads her even further down her scary path. There were moments of sheer genius that literally made me spit out my tea / wine (depending on whether I was reading morning or night!) while I choked on my laughter.
I usually try and find something critical to say about the writing or the story itself, but I can honestly say there is not a single negative thing I can offer about Waking the Merrow. It's an absolutely brilliant novel and I can't wait for the next book by this truly amazing author.
February 24, 2015
Mermaids are sexy in this book, but they aren't lovable. Wow! Fierce, vicious, dangerous and corrupted. This feels like a folklore novel. It is set partially in Ireland and also in Rhode Island. The story vacillates between multiple timelines but is not overly confusing or jarring in its shifts.
I reveled in the freshness of the perspective and language and our heroine, Evelyn/Evie. I enjoyed her take on motherhood, mommy friendships, extended family, drinking and marriage. She was unpredictable, funny, awkward, self-destructive, loving, fierce, drunk and boy was she candid. Heather Rigney wrote a unique heroine, something that is not done all that often. Evie's husband, Paddy, was a delight and lit up the page for me. Even Susanna, the baby, was a scene stealer. Fresh, irreverent and funny. I am intrigued by the central characters and cannot wait to read more.
I highly recommend for any Urban Fantasy reader who is growing fatigued of overused plot devices and carbon copied characters.
I reveled in the freshness of the perspective and language and our heroine, Evelyn/Evie. I enjoyed her take on motherhood, mommy friendships, extended family, drinking and marriage. She was unpredictable, funny, awkward, self-destructive, loving, fierce, drunk and boy was she candid. Heather Rigney wrote a unique heroine, something that is not done all that often. Evie's husband, Paddy, was a delight and lit up the page for me. Even Susanna, the baby, was a scene stealer. Fresh, irreverent and funny. I am intrigued by the central characters and cannot wait to read more.
I highly recommend for any Urban Fantasy reader who is growing fatigued of overused plot devices and carbon copied characters.
February 6, 2016
*4.5 Stars* I originally read this in 2015, but reread it before the release of Hunting the Merrow (Merrow Trilogy, #2).
What the actual f*#ck did I just read?
From the shores of Ireland and colonial New England, Waking the Merrow is a modern retelling of a legendary subject with a deliciously evil and mythical twist.
This ain’t no Disney mermaid tale.
Heather Rigney spins an intelligently written tale, about legendary merfolk tail, seamlessly woven with threads of many genres.
This book is historical fiction.
This book is a psychological thriller.
This book is bust-a-gut/hope I don't pee myself funny.
This book is effin’ scary. Seriously. The stuff of which nightmares are made.
I love it!
What the actual f*#ck did I just read?
From the shores of Ireland and colonial New England, Waking the Merrow is a modern retelling of a legendary subject with a deliciously evil and mythical twist.
This ain’t no Disney mermaid tale.
Heather Rigney spins an intelligently written tale, about legendary merfolk tail, seamlessly woven with threads of many genres.
This book is historical fiction.
This book is a psychological thriller.
This book is bust-a-gut/hope I don't pee myself funny.
This book is effin’ scary. Seriously. The stuff of which nightmares are made.
I love it!
August 9, 2016
This was really hard to put down. It was cool to see mermaids in a different light. It's kinda graphic so not for the faint of heart. You also find out the background behind the merrow and there is more than one group.
July 26, 2014
Dark & Different...
I really had no idea what I was getting into when I started this book. I did not read the synopsis, nor did I judge it by its cover (although I really like the cover). What I did know is that it came highly recommended. What I got was one hell of a shock when I started reading. There is Mermaids and lore woven into this read, but it is not primarily a mermaid book. The author took this unique and amusing idea and twisted into a story that I found myself with odds with at times, and yet I could not turn away. I chalk this up to the authors talent to spin an honest to goodness dark and mysterious read.
The author deserves a lot of credit for excellent pacing and a knack for keeping things interesting. The characters were different but they fit right in and it was nice not having a main character that was perfect with few faults, but one that had faults and within them the determination to get things done. I also should mention, there was not a single swoon worthy guy waiting at the edge of the pages getting ready to save the day. This in itself made it a huge difference from anything I have picked up before. It's the type of book that between it's pacing and Rigney's writing that you will find yourself at odds with putting it down, not because things are perfect but because you want to see how the main character makes out.
Evie, was really something else. When we first met her my jaw about fell off dropping. Her language, her self image, her parenting and her drinking floored me. She is not a typical character by any standards or means. The honest part of me wants to tell you that she was a horrible human being, but then she really wasn't. She did drink a fair amount but when it came down to it, she was not taking any crap laying down. A Mermaid trying to mess up her life... Well, HELL NO!! She did not care if the woman/mermaid was murderous, she was a force of her own and would not back down. Evie was flawed and filled with snark but when it came down to it her heart was absolutely in the right place.
There is no real romance in this book. Instead what you will find is a strained and real feeling marriage. This is a book that makes you think twice about what perfect is, and make you consider that everyone's type of happiness is different. Her husband was not a Greek god but she appreciated him and his flaws. However, it drove me crazy when her husband lied or withheld information from her and her bitch of a mother in-law treated her like less than garbage. Her husband keeping things from her and banding up with his mom to do so at times, made me want to scream. No Evie is not perfect but he should have been honest and not treated her as if she were crazy. But she still loved him and I found it easy to appreciate what they did have when things were going down.
The brave steps that this author took in making this book stand out worked for me. With the unique plot, good pacing and wonderful writing, Heather Rigney has me hooked. The hesitation that I felt towards the start of the book dissipated, once I accepted how wonderfully different the book is. The Mermaids in it are different and I appreciated the deviation from the norm. It isn't that there isn't man eating Mermaids out there, but more that these ones are even an abnormality from normal in their world. I have to say congratulations to Heather Rigney on a wonderful début novel and I look forward to the next book of her that I can get my hands on.
I really had no idea what I was getting into when I started this book. I did not read the synopsis, nor did I judge it by its cover (although I really like the cover). What I did know is that it came highly recommended. What I got was one hell of a shock when I started reading. There is Mermaids and lore woven into this read, but it is not primarily a mermaid book. The author took this unique and amusing idea and twisted into a story that I found myself with odds with at times, and yet I could not turn away. I chalk this up to the authors talent to spin an honest to goodness dark and mysterious read.
The author deserves a lot of credit for excellent pacing and a knack for keeping things interesting. The characters were different but they fit right in and it was nice not having a main character that was perfect with few faults, but one that had faults and within them the determination to get things done. I also should mention, there was not a single swoon worthy guy waiting at the edge of the pages getting ready to save the day. This in itself made it a huge difference from anything I have picked up before. It's the type of book that between it's pacing and Rigney's writing that you will find yourself at odds with putting it down, not because things are perfect but because you want to see how the main character makes out.
Evie, was really something else. When we first met her my jaw about fell off dropping. Her language, her self image, her parenting and her drinking floored me. She is not a typical character by any standards or means. The honest part of me wants to tell you that she was a horrible human being, but then she really wasn't. She did drink a fair amount but when it came down to it, she was not taking any crap laying down. A Mermaid trying to mess up her life... Well, HELL NO!! She did not care if the woman/mermaid was murderous, she was a force of her own and would not back down. Evie was flawed and filled with snark but when it came down to it her heart was absolutely in the right place.
There is no real romance in this book. Instead what you will find is a strained and real feeling marriage. This is a book that makes you think twice about what perfect is, and make you consider that everyone's type of happiness is different. Her husband was not a Greek god but she appreciated him and his flaws. However, it drove me crazy when her husband lied or withheld information from her and her bitch of a mother in-law treated her like less than garbage. Her husband keeping things from her and banding up with his mom to do so at times, made me want to scream. No Evie is not perfect but he should have been honest and not treated her as if she were crazy. But she still loved him and I found it easy to appreciate what they did have when things were going down.
The brave steps that this author took in making this book stand out worked for me. With the unique plot, good pacing and wonderful writing, Heather Rigney has me hooked. The hesitation that I felt towards the start of the book dissipated, once I accepted how wonderfully different the book is. The Mermaids in it are different and I appreciated the deviation from the norm. It isn't that there isn't man eating Mermaids out there, but more that these ones are even an abnormality from normal in their world. I have to say congratulations to Heather Rigney on a wonderful début novel and I look forward to the next book of her that I can get my hands on.
July 15, 2014
Let me preface this review by saying that I befriended the author, Heather Rigney,whilst I was reading Joe Hill's debut novel, Heart-Shaped Box. I probably (read: I know I did) complained how my I was not liking it. Heather was just starting to read it as well, and it resulted in an ad-hoc buddy read cum support system. We supported each other through Heart-Shaped Box as we bitched and moaned (I bitched, Rigney moaned)about Hill and his cliches, poor characterization, and razor thin plotting. So, when Waking the Merrow came out, Rigney sent me a copy of her book, and I was thrilled to receive it.
So, as debut novels go, even the aforementioned Mr. Hill gets the benefit of the doubt as the novelist is honing his/her craft, finding their voice, what have you. I mean even James Ellroy was barely readable early on and I love his later work. Having said that, Waking the Merrow was a far better debut novel than Heart-Shaped Box.
Oh, by the way, I started to read this book as I started to Stephen King's latest novel, Mr. Mercedes. Rigney and the King clan were just destined to be joined at the hip, I reckon.
The story of killer Merrow, aka Mermaids, and a drunken misanthropic heroine who wages a battle against them to save her family was an engaging one. The story is told in a first-person narrative from the perspective of Evie McFagan, a drunken, foul-mouthed poor excuse for a mother and wife. Right away we realize that this is an unreliable narrator. The book flashes back in alternating chapters, told in the third person, to provide a historical context to story of the merrow/human relationship (think food chain). To write a debut novel is quite a feat, but to do so using two voices, one of which is an unreliable narrator is something else. That the story flows easily given a complex structure is an accomplishment.
Did I mention this is no Disney's The Little Mermaid? The mermaids featured here are of the violent, man-eating sort.
The book is intended to the first of series, so any notion I had that parts of the story could have benefited from further development have to be suspended until the next installment is published.
I will give this book a solid 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4 stars.
What happened to my reading of Mr. Mercedes, you ask? Well, I had to set that aside as it didn't capture my attention as much as Waking the Merrow did. Sorry, Mr.King. I am sure you too have a promising future in writing horror/fantasy novels.
So, as debut novels go, even the aforementioned Mr. Hill gets the benefit of the doubt as the novelist is honing his/her craft, finding their voice, what have you. I mean even James Ellroy was barely readable early on and I love his later work. Having said that, Waking the Merrow was a far better debut novel than Heart-Shaped Box.
Oh, by the way, I started to read this book as I started to Stephen King's latest novel, Mr. Mercedes. Rigney and the King clan were just destined to be joined at the hip, I reckon.
The story of killer Merrow, aka Mermaids, and a drunken misanthropic heroine who wages a battle against them to save her family was an engaging one. The story is told in a first-person narrative from the perspective of Evie McFagan, a drunken, foul-mouthed poor excuse for a mother and wife. Right away we realize that this is an unreliable narrator. The book flashes back in alternating chapters, told in the third person, to provide a historical context to story of the merrow/human relationship (think food chain). To write a debut novel is quite a feat, but to do so using two voices, one of which is an unreliable narrator is something else. That the story flows easily given a complex structure is an accomplishment.
Did I mention this is no Disney's The Little Mermaid? The mermaids featured here are of the violent, man-eating sort.
The book is intended to the first of series, so any notion I had that parts of the story could have benefited from further development have to be suspended until the next installment is published.
I will give this book a solid 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4 stars.
What happened to my reading of Mr. Mercedes, you ask? Well, I had to set that aside as it didn't capture my attention as much as Waking the Merrow did. Sorry, Mr.King. I am sure you too have a promising future in writing horror/fantasy novels.
November 24, 2014
Heather Rigney’s debut novel, Waking the Merrow - adapted from her short story “Mermaids Are Not Nice” - impressed the hell out of me from the very first sentence to the last.
Evie McFagan is just the kind of heroine I love. She’s a pudgy, unattractive and friendless funeral director steeped in alcohol and the lies she tells her acquaintances at the local bar. Utterly unreliable, she has trouble finding allies who’ll believe that her daughter has been kidnapped...by an evil, man-eating mermaid.
From there, Rigney weaves a tale - or tail, if you will (sorry - couldn’t resist) - through the waters of Narragansett Bay. She earns major props from this child of Hog Island summers when she touches briefly, poetically, and violently on the nearby islands of Prudence, Hope and Despair. Werewolf and vampire battles have nothing on Ms. Rigney’s imaginings. Trust me. The combination of warring merpeople and artful writing makes this a page-turner.
Then there’s Rigney’s sense of humor:
“Naked, tattooed men meandered around, lit torches, congregated in groups, spoke in hushed voices. It was like pictures I had seen on the internet of ComicCon, except no one was wearing a cape. And there were no females. So, yes, it was just like ComicCon.”
Yeah. I know you just LOL’ed.
Last but not least, there’s, well, the end. Which I can’t discuss because I don’t do spoilers. Suffice it to say I am waiting for the sequel.
In the meantime, my only gripe with Heather Rigney is that I’ve now got one more creature to worry about when I swim in Narragansett Bay.
Evie McFagan is just the kind of heroine I love. She’s a pudgy, unattractive and friendless funeral director steeped in alcohol and the lies she tells her acquaintances at the local bar. Utterly unreliable, she has trouble finding allies who’ll believe that her daughter has been kidnapped...by an evil, man-eating mermaid.
From there, Rigney weaves a tale - or tail, if you will (sorry - couldn’t resist) - through the waters of Narragansett Bay. She earns major props from this child of Hog Island summers when she touches briefly, poetically, and violently on the nearby islands of Prudence, Hope and Despair. Werewolf and vampire battles have nothing on Ms. Rigney’s imaginings. Trust me. The combination of warring merpeople and artful writing makes this a page-turner.
Then there’s Rigney’s sense of humor:
“Naked, tattooed men meandered around, lit torches, congregated in groups, spoke in hushed voices. It was like pictures I had seen on the internet of ComicCon, except no one was wearing a cape. And there were no females. So, yes, it was just like ComicCon.”
Yeah. I know you just LOL’ed.
Last but not least, there’s, well, the end. Which I can’t discuss because I don’t do spoilers. Suffice it to say I am waiting for the sequel.
In the meantime, my only gripe with Heather Rigney is that I’ve now got one more creature to worry about when I swim in Narragansett Bay.
June 11, 2014
(This actually got a 4.5 on my site.)
This book contains several of my favorite things: monster lit, the ocean, a choice of monster that’s not like every other book or movie out there, mythology, Gaelic/Celtic stuff, and New England.
This book had a lot going for it for me.
Evie is quite the snarktastic narrator. Oftentimes in the beginning, she comes close to overdoing the snark (for my taste) but doesn’t actually cross the line. She’s a very flawed character, but still endearing in her way. She also has a way of “breaking the fourth wall” and talking directly to the reader that greatly amuses me.
I really liked Paddy, and their relationship/marriage. It was messy, and awkward, and genuine. So, it was realistic. They were both flawed and yet loved each other, and that carried it through. I liked that.
I also liked the intertwining of the past/present and families. A very New England feel to that, too.
It was a smooth, fairly easy read and good for it’s genre. I think it’s shy of a 5 rating because of Evie’s drinking problem. Yes, it’s a Thing of mine, but that always makes me struggle a bit with a character so I can’t quite rave about it. Still, it was a lot of fun, and I’m interested to see what happens in the next book, so I’m giving it 4.5 Fireballs.
This book contains several of my favorite things: monster lit, the ocean, a choice of monster that’s not like every other book or movie out there, mythology, Gaelic/Celtic stuff, and New England.
This book had a lot going for it for me.
Evie is quite the snarktastic narrator. Oftentimes in the beginning, she comes close to overdoing the snark (for my taste) but doesn’t actually cross the line. She’s a very flawed character, but still endearing in her way. She also has a way of “breaking the fourth wall” and talking directly to the reader that greatly amuses me.
I really liked Paddy, and their relationship/marriage. It was messy, and awkward, and genuine. So, it was realistic. They were both flawed and yet loved each other, and that carried it through. I liked that.
I also liked the intertwining of the past/present and families. A very New England feel to that, too.
It was a smooth, fairly easy read and good for it’s genre. I think it’s shy of a 5 rating because of Evie’s drinking problem. Yes, it’s a Thing of mine, but that always makes me struggle a bit with a character so I can’t quite rave about it. Still, it was a lot of fun, and I’m interested to see what happens in the next book, so I’m giving it 4.5 Fireballs.
May 7, 2016
Would anyone believe you if you had a well known drinking problem and claimed to be seeing mythical creatures? No one believed Evie.
Strange things start happening to Evie when a mysterious woman shows up in the village. Evie has no idea who this woman is and how much damage she will soon cause. What will Evie have to do to keep her family safe?
Waking the Merrow by Heather Rigney is full of Lies, death, mysteries, disappearances, secrets, love, family, and loyalty. Once you pick this book up, you won't be able to put it down. Don't bother picking out a bookmark for this one, because you will not be needing it.
Right away I noticed that Heather Rigney's writing style is so descriptive and beautiful. The images would just flow through my mind so vivid and so easy! It's like she thought about each word, one by one, before she wrote it down.
This story is very unique because it is told from the humans perspective. While reading, we get to know Evie's family and their problems with the merrow. This story is so different from your typical story! You have no idea what will happen next and everything you read starts to surprise you. Waking the Merrow really messed with my emotions. If you haven't read this book, I highly suggest that you do.
Strange things start happening to Evie when a mysterious woman shows up in the village. Evie has no idea who this woman is and how much damage she will soon cause. What will Evie have to do to keep her family safe?
Waking the Merrow by Heather Rigney is full of Lies, death, mysteries, disappearances, secrets, love, family, and loyalty. Once you pick this book up, you won't be able to put it down. Don't bother picking out a bookmark for this one, because you will not be needing it.
Right away I noticed that Heather Rigney's writing style is so descriptive and beautiful. The images would just flow through my mind so vivid and so easy! It's like she thought about each word, one by one, before she wrote it down.
This story is very unique because it is told from the humans perspective. While reading, we get to know Evie's family and their problems with the merrow. This story is so different from your typical story! You have no idea what will happen next and everything you read starts to surprise you. Waking the Merrow really messed with my emotions. If you haven't read this book, I highly suggest that you do.
June 4, 2014
Waking the Merrow is a fantastic historical thriller! The burning of the Gaspee is a little known historical nugget from the origins of the American Revolution - and this book gives all the history interlaced with a great evil mermaid tale. The characters in the novel each have a distinct and very palpable personality. Evie, the protagonist, becomes like a good friend while you read. She's the friend you can't wait to talk to because she always has a story - usually barely believable, often harrowing, and always filled with self deprecating trucker language. Her quips aimed at the reader are hysterical. Having lived in the area where this book is based (a little coastal town in RI), I could literally see the streets, buildings, and water she describe in the book. If you don't know the history of Gaspee, look it up, read about it, and come visit Pawtuxet Village - anyone there will be able to give you the Waking the Merrow walking tour!
October 6, 2014
This is one of those books that makes you thank God for the explosion of indie publishing. If you feel like you’ve read the same mass-market paperback forty times over the past eighteen months and are ready for something that will shake up your reader’s expectations, you might like:
--a protagonist who’s a lousy mom (and knows she’s a lousy mom, and doesn’t want to be a lousy mom)
--a mermaid who isn’t a hair-conditioner-model damsel in distress
--flashbacks to little-known events in American history.
And you might love the package that puts them all together, Waking the Merrow.
I can’t wait for the next book in this series.
--a protagonist who’s a lousy mom (and knows she’s a lousy mom, and doesn’t want to be a lousy mom)
--a mermaid who isn’t a hair-conditioner-model damsel in distress
--flashbacks to little-known events in American history.
And you might love the package that puts them all together, Waking the Merrow.
I can’t wait for the next book in this series.
May 26, 2015
2.5 stars. Some very strong, very interesting ideas here that ultimately founder under poor plotting. I liked Evie and Paddy but not enough to care whether they made it to the end, either together or separately. There's some good local color and the historical flashbacks are well timed, but that ending's a hot fat mess, no way around it. It felt actively disrespectful to the reader to have them put in all that time learning the lore and caring about the interesting-enough Evie, and then do a lot of incomprehensible fin-waving there at the end to get it all to come together. I wound up with way too many unanswered questions that I eventually stopped caring about the resolution.
July 17, 2014
With todays Disneized version of meremaids we often forget they were once scary and evil. Waking the Merrow reminds you of why you don't take a step first before knowing what you are dealing with. Evie isn't what you'd expect in a heroine, but she is real and you can feel her pain. Who hasn't been able to live up to someone else expectations. Evie is all heart if not lost in her own demons. In the end she is able to stand up to the evil that is preying on her family. Will she survive until the end? I can't wait to read book 2.
March 16, 2015
I was eager to read this book by fellow RI writer Heather Rigney and was not disappointed. Loved her imperfect, snarky main character, Evie. Loved the relationship between Evie and her lumbering Irish husband, Paddy. Loved that it got bloody enough to be a "dark" fantasy. Heather seamlessly weaves folklore and history into a fascinating, sometimes violent, sometimes laugh-out-loud funny tale featuring Merrow, their land-dwelling cousins, and a few seemingly regular humans. This book is the first in a trilogy, and I look forward to the next one!
June 7, 2015
This book was recommended by a friend I would like to tell my friend Lisa.....THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!! I loved this book, the characters are incredible. Loved Evie from the start...her total honesty of her thoughts and words . This book is not for the light hearted....it does have some gory parts to it. The book has so many loose ends I cannot wait until the second comes out!! If you like horror/fiction/mythological creatures....A MUST READ! Happy Reading :)
November 13, 2015
Let's just say that I was more than a bit skeptical when my sister gave me a book to read and told me (this is my own summation of the conversation) it's about a savage, bloodthirsty mermaid and that I would love it. However, I loved it, I could barely put it down, and I'm now anxiously awaiting the release of the second book in the trilogy. Waking the Merrow was a little dark and very suspenseful and I totally devoured it!!!
October 9, 2014
Loved all the references to Narragansett Bay, and I'm a real sucker for anything outside the everyday box. This was a quick read ,grabbed your attention fast. The character development for me needed some work, as I had a real hard time liking any of the characters. Found myself changing plots and dialogue. I believe this author will develop nicely.
March 10, 2015
I really enjoyed reading this, read in a day and couldn't put it down.
Evie the unlikely hero made me laugh throughout the book, not that I agreed or couldn't relate to her behaviors early in the book.
The story was unusual and held my interest throughout. I will be recommending this to anyone and everyone
Thanks for the read!
Evie the unlikely hero made me laugh throughout the book, not that I agreed or couldn't relate to her behaviors early in the book.
The story was unusual and held my interest throughout. I will be recommending this to anyone and everyone
Thanks for the read!
July 1, 2014
A haunting tale soaked with personality, history, and imagination. I'll think twice before dipping my toes into Narragansett Bay. Rigney has a unique voice and style meant to entertain on a whole new sea-salted level. I give this book 5 seashells and a bonus clam cake.
August 13, 2014
Holy crap this book was AWESOME! I wasn't really sure what to expect but I was never disappointed. Heart pounding moments. Creep out moments. Throw in some laugh out loud moments. I can't wait to read book two!
September 20, 2014
Well written story about a very nasty merrow (mermaid) living in Narragansett Bay. I must say this book gave me a nervous creepy feeling when I read it at night considering how close I live to the bay. I look forward to reading the next installment.
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