Salted

The Salted #1-5

by Aaron Galvin

Life isn’t better under the sea - a harsh reality of which teenagers Kellen Winstel and Garrett Weaver are totally unaware. Raised in the Midwest, far from the nearest ocean, their world is forever different when a hazing incident goes awry and one witnesses the other change in ways no one can explain.

Or so they believe.

Lenny Dolan is all too familiar with such changes and harsh realities. A Selkie slave in the realm beneath the waves, he has no choice when charged with leading a crew ashore to capture an elusive runaway. If unsuccessful, the loved ones kept behind will pay for his failure with their lives. But when his target leads him to the naïve teens, Lenny faces a moral dilemma. Secure his freedom at the expense of others, or return empty-handed to face the grisly consequences?

How Lenny answers the question will teach them the harshest truth of all. Only through the loss of innocence does one become Salted.

Genres: Fantasy, Mermaids, Young Adult, Urban Fantasy, Paranormal, Fiction, Supernatural

364 pages, ebook

First published April 18, 2014

About the author

Aaron Galvin learned that he could get away with making up stories at age five and has continued telling them ever since. He is a conflicted Slytherin/Gryffindor, a known rascal, and sometime ne’er-do-well.

Also, he writes. Daily, sometimes, but mostly nightly.

He currently lives in Southern California with his two lovely daughters and an adoring wife, who continues to put up with his antics even though he doesn’t write the kissy-kissy, ‘everyone lived happily ever after’ books of which she much prefers.

Drop him a line ➜ aaron@aarongalvin.com
Visit his website ➜ aarongalvin.com
Send a tweet ➜ @aarongalvin5
Instagram➜ /galvinaaron/
Like the Aaron Galvin Facebook page ➜ facebook.com/aarongalvinauthor/

Reviews

[8stitches 9lives · Rating 3 out of 5]

Those who have been kind enough to provide me with ARC's have really opened up my eyes to other genres that I had not previously explored. That was definitely a mistake on my part. This would most likely fall intp the YA category but like most other books I have chosen from ARC suppliers, it has a range of different genres mixed up together including paranormal & fantasy.

For the most part, this novel was enoyable. The authors idea of what goes on beneath the waves was intriguing to say the least but I did find myself wishing for a more detailed background on the way this world works.

It was a very well written story but I found it very much tailored towards YA's and high schoolers and wonder if the author may generate more interest if he decided to open up the story to a wider target audience. Limiting oneself to one or two specific groups seems counter-intuitive for a writer, im my opinion.

The story begins with two teenagers - Kellen & Garrett - who grew up far from the nearest ocean, in the midwest region of the U.S., who are totally unaware that the world under the ocean is much worse than they could ever possibly imagine. Lenny Dolan, a selkie slave from that world, has been charged with leading a crew ashore to capture a runaway. His loved ones, who were left behind, will pay with their lives if he comes back emptyhanded. Lenny is then faced with a complicated moral dilemma. He can secure his freedom at the expense of others or return without the runaway and face the drastic consequences that will await him and his family. So, the ultimate question is... what will he decide?

I look forward to the rest of this series and hope that more background to this way of life will be given in the next book. Just a few tidbits here and there does not satisfy my curiosity. This can easily be remedied in the next book and would no doubt help a lot of readers to get more into the story.

I voluntarily accepted an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

[Megan (ReadingRover) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok so the idea of this book is great! I even loved the characters. What killed me was the way it was written. The plot is a good one but the writing is just all over the place. Conversations were hard to follow as were POVs. I often had no idea who was supposed to be speaking. Characters would be switching from talking to mind messaging which is fine but mid convo it would also switch person so I would have no idea who was involved in what was being said.
Also the editing on this book was horrendous. It’s just unfathomable to me how an author and editor can let a book be released into the world with so many obvious errors. Grammatical, spelling, whatever, you name it, this book had it. There were even times when the names of characters were switched up. Nowadays it’s not difficult to get someone to proofread a book. Sometimes I think it’s just pure laziness.
All that aside. I loved the story. The whole concept was totally enchanting. The wide array of marine shapeshifters each falling into a different rung of the social hierarchy was genius. The descriptions of each type were perfect and the actual way they shift is quite unique. However there are quite a lot of them and keeping them all straight can be tough. As is the same with the amount of specific characters all of whom had such depth to them and thorough back stories. The plot to capture an escaped slave by current slaves immediately piqued my interest as did the sense of morality among them.
Regardless of my long rant about issues with the writing itself I truly enjoyed reading this book. It was fast paced and full of intrigue and excitement. I’ve been itching to start the second in the series since I finished the first. It’s even one of the few books of which I’ve read the teaser for the next one.

[Galit Balli · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars :)

Note: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Review
Plot/Story:

I really loved the overall story and the author’s intriguing ideas of the life undersea, however I was craving for more (of the right) details. I wanted to know and understand better of how this world works other than just a few images here and there.

The first few chapters were hard to read as the author showed us from the start tons of characters and I got a bit lost in all of that. After a while I lost interest fast and some bits were a bit more confusing (I read the first few chapters three times), but soon after that, I dived (lol) deeper into the story and from there on it was a fast pace read.

This book deals with a lot of hard issues (slavery, bullying and more), but in a great way, that is not overpowering (truly is). I loved that even though the world is unique the characters stays real to what you find in a regular high school.
Characters:

The characters were nicely written, but were too stereotyped and somewhere in the middle of the book, it started to get a bit annoying (sorry). There are a few strong characters that are also very well written, but the others just weren’t.
Romance/Kills:

I loved the relationship between Garrett and Chidi. And I loved them as individual characters, but I also loved seeing their relationship grow…

(I really don’t want to give any more details on that, in order to keep this review spoiler free).
Writing:

The story is very creative and I did love the author’s writing style. I loved how Aaron (the author) took a very unique idea and turned It into a wonderful read, full of great characters, plot and world.
There were a few missing details and a few “plot holes” here and there, but not too noticeable.
Beginning:

As I said the start was a bit too much and a bit confusing, I just got lost, lol and lost my interest fast.
Ending:

The story ends well and pretty much with a cliffhanger, but I loved that here. It kept my interest and I really want to know what will happen next :D
Cover Art:

I didn’t like the cover much. I think with the unique idea the author made, it could use a more suitable cover.
Blurb:

The blurb was actually really nice, with a subtle hint of what the reader will see in the book.

You can also read this review at Goodreads and Amazon.

Other Stuff

Opening Line: “Lenny Dolan never asked for a Salted life. No one smart ever did.”

Highlights: I love the overall writing style of the author and the wonderful and unique Idea. I loved that the author tried to talk about some harsh subject and for my taste he done that pretty well.

Lowlights: Too ‘high school’ for my taste and a bit confusing (at the beginning).

Final Thoughts: Even though I gave this book 3.5 starts, I would still like to read the next one and see how things progress, but I do believe that this series is much more suitable for a much younger audience than me, lol. I think a young audience that is still in school or just finished school will love reading this book :)

Read the original review at: The Reading Bud

[Randi (The Artist Formerly known as Guitar Chick) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh man, you guys, I've got a treat for you.


We've been in a bit of a rut in the merbook business lately. Waiting for sequels, reading some filler in the time between, trying to earn money/find job to acquire said sequels (My Yogurt Mountain application does not need to make me question my purpose in life).

And then Salted waltzes in, and it blew my mind.

A largely romance free thriller and drama, Salted creates a fresh new mythology with a great ensemble cast of characters.

I don't want to give too much away of the story, but it starts off as a deceptively simple cat and mouse game. Lenny and co., selkies caught in a slave infrastructure are on a mission to find an elusive target. Garrett is a highschool student under fire from bullies, and after a near-drowning experience, his story and that of the selkies is irrevocably intertwined.

Salted leaves off on somewhat of a cliffhanger, leaving a lot of questions un-answered, but it also feels pretty complete by itself, something that a lot of novels these days don't accomplish. Some storylines are resolved but there is PLENTY of material for a sequel, and it's well warranted. It feels like there's a lot of life in this story and these characters, and a lot of places left to explore in the world Galvin has created.Salted gives the perfect taste of what I certainly hope is to come. The writing itself is fast paced, descriptive, and compliments the story perfectly.

My favorite two storylines were Garrett and Chidi, but I enjoyed everyone's contributions. Having so many perspectives can usually get a little tricky, but everyone's personalities are so distinct that it's pretty easy to keep up.

If I can nitpick, the book can be a little overwhelming what with all the info-dumping. While the approach works with the breakneck intensity of the book, learning a whole new mythology just by osmosis can be pretty tough.

As far as target audience, I'm gonna say older teens/adults, because Salted is a bit of a downer. It deals with a lot of pretty dark stuff like slavery, bullying, morality.and deals pretty deeply with choices we make and how they affect ourselves and others.

Anyway, it's a totally fresh take on selkies and merpeople, and definitely one of the best of the newer crop of mer-novels released. Go read it!

[Mike A. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Salted by Aaron Galvin is a book that takes an interesting idea and does nothing with it. Instead of showing us how the merfolk live in todays time, their habitat under the sea is merely glossed over. Instead, we get a strange high school setting that seems taken from third-rate movies and an over the top chase in today's US. What to write about this book has cost me a lot of time and thinking. I could simply make a list with all the things that don't work in this book and the very few that do. That list would be long. Let me instead start with what works and only show you some of the more pressing problems with the story afterward.

Let's get to the good points first!

The setting of merfolk like dolphins and sharks that can turn into humans and have always lived side by side with humanity is interesting. Especially the selkies featured in this book and their hoodies are interesting. To change into different kinds of seals, they have to wear the hood. To change back into human form, someone has to remove said hood. An interesting idea that is not always used consistently.

While the high school seems awfully stereotype (as do a very many things in this book) reading about Garrett, Garrett's virtual girlfriend, and that ass, who calls himself Garrett's friend but acts like a total douche, is the best part of this book. I ask you, would you call a guy your friend that at every possible moment does everything in his power to wriggle himself between you and your crush? Especially when it is obvious you two belong together? And not to forget that he runs at the first signs of danger and abandons you. Yeah, I have no idea why they are friends either.
Still, following Garrett through his short everyday life and watching him trying to score with his kinda-already girlfriend was enjoyable, especially with the questions about his strange appearance at the drowning incident coming up. The interactions between Garrett and the girl were the most enjoyable moments in this book, if one forgets the cringeworthy first dialog, where Garrett invents a deadly illness to see if she might like him. Well, I can understand that he'd want to know, especially since his friends don't even like him enough to visit him after he nearly drowned. His drowning is one of these happenings in the story that happen for only one reason, but all the other repercussions these happenings should logically speaking have are simply forgotten.

I'm afraid that that's already all the good things I have to say about this book. And as you noticed, I already got into listing some bad parts too. There are simply so many problems in this book that I can't even mention the good parts without having to tell you about bad part too. Now to some more problematic parts in the book:

There are plot holes in the book. A lot of things simply happen because the story demands it, not because they are the logical conclusion. For example, the way the Salted stumble through the US makes it certain that the existence of the merfolk could have been in no way a secret to the humans. They attack their target in broad daylight in an Aquarium full of visitors, pull out a gun, use a magic thing called 'forgetty' to get everyone to sleep, and actually change in their salted forms. Then they escape from a SWAT-Team by simply jumping in a near lake. I mean, it's not like the police would follow a young girl that jumped into a lake after an armed attack, wouldn't they? Nope! Bet she's not important and will definitely be alright, let's go guys, nothing more to see here. Oh, and what about all the cameras, which will definitely have captured that one guy who stood in the middle of the room and suddenly changes into some kind of seal. Yeah, that would definitely make national news.

Accents are done horribly in this book. The main character has one where the words end on 'a', like 'runna' or 'catcha'. It gets annoying really quick. But that's not all. There's a Frenchman with the group of 'catchas' and it feels like the accent is done by someone who's never heard someone speak english with a french accent. It would have been a lot better to simply mention they have an accent and how it sounds instead of making a lot of the dialog very hard to read.

The book tries to incorporate a lot a big issues like slavery, racism and rape. It does not do that very well. The reader is basically told that these bad things happen and that they are bad. Nothing more. The presentation is simply lackluster and you'll ask yourself: Why should I care?
Let me give you an example. The book deals with slavery, which seems to be all the rage in the Salt (the merfolk's underwater world). But there's no real way to enforce slavery as it is depicted in this book. Those slaves can turn into seals and simply swim away. What "shackles" them is that their families will be punished. So why not take them with you? I have no idea. It's not like slaves had nowhere to go either. In older times, slaves simply had nowhere to run, or at least had to run a very long way to reach land in which they could be free. The salted slaves however live so close to the shore, they could simply go to the US of our time, where slavery is forbidden. There is no way the slave owners could find them and bring them all back. Not with the sloppy methods depicted in this book.
The problems with this kind of slavery actually get somewhat tackled towards the end, but there is still no reason why these slaves wouldn't run away the moment they set foot on the shore.

I could easily write a couple thousand words more about the problems in this book. While it is proofread, a developmental edit would have done wonders. Instead of boring you with long explanations of what doesn't work, let me just tell you that I can't recommend this book. I finished it, but that's nearly the only good thing about this story.

[Sabetha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall the book was well written. I just didn't really get drawn into the story. It is very much a YA, and about High Schoolers. There isn't that much information about the Mer world.

[Orchestta · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was hurled at me by a friend, who knows my fear when It come to mermaid book, but who think may I enjoy this one

What does it mean to be 'Salted'?

When I started this one, I was not sure what expect. It's always nothing really original, nothing really 'catchy'.

But then, when I started reading, I couldn't put the book down, and really, I didn't. Finished it in a thing of hours.

The writing is amazing. Wondrously rich and full of imagination, transport you into a completely different world, as bright as it's dark; with dilemmas and struggles, self discovering in a world when slavery is your every day, where bullying exists, and tinted with soft hope, bravery and a wish for freedom and trying to break the boundaries ingrained into your very being since your childhood.

Who are they, to tell you who you are?

Salted give me questions, new terms , and answer them, but not instantly. Instead, let them sink, get into your brain, make you struggle to find them, and it delivers just as cleverly, slowly, as you advance with the book, it sorting and chaining things for you.

The characters, precisely as the story itself, are rich and varied; thoroughly dissimilar backgrounds, and each have to choose, between their own guard, and others.

Salted is written in third person, each chapter told from the perspective of a different character. And when I realized the number of character, it took me by surprise, and I admit, become a little wary.

Nevertheless, that has given me the opportunity to empathize with the characters, leaving me to understand their circumstances and journey from their point of view, developing different story lines throughout the main one, but ones that are nicely connected, contributing to the flow of the book.

Salted does not fear to touch topics our current society have but much prefer just ignore.

The salted. The slaves, just as Lenny, are the basic, the skeleton, the backbone of their society. But as that, are treated worse than scum. Does that sound familiar? When you are immersed in these persona lives, is no wonder they (silently) scream for freedom, but fear the consequences.

Deep human psyche mixes with the pragmatism of the basic events, the complicated life and everyday issues, and bound with fiction element so delightfully that makes this book feel alive. The story itself is special.

And I recommend it, to all of you who wants an intelligent, imaginative written fiction, deep mingled with realism, characters that haul me in, and a story that nicely forces you to continue reading and reach the end. And you follow, gleefully.

Salted was promised to me as being something good, something different and all in all, it really was. A wonderful book from first to last word

[Mati · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for my review.

It's always hard to find a unique novel on mermaids. I've seen a spin or two from time to time, but nothing really original, and certainly nothing I'd really describe as 'cool'. That was until I got the chance to read Salted. This is a creative take in somewhat unexplored territory that leaves the reader questioning and wondering as they go along. What does it mean to be 'Salted'? How do these character's stories fit together? Who are we rooting for? One of the benefits and flaws about being an ARC reader for a book like this, is no one is really around to throw out spoilers for you.

In this case, I think this is the best way to go into this book, so I will continue sitting in the darkness.

With Salted, I'll be honest: there are times when it's hard to wait for answers. I find it difficult when a bunch of new terms are handed to me and I don't know what they all stand for. Being set down in a new world with no direction does get annoying, but in the end, I feel it makes the journey more eventful as the book sorts things out for you. Salted delivers a page-turning story that doesn't shy from perhaps more difficult topics and situations. I would consider some of the elements to be 'raw' or 'real', but that is always something I enjoy in a word full of fluff and happy endings.

The story itself is special beyond just the plot, with a rather diverse set of main characters, varying from ethnic backgrounds to physical features. Among the fantasy elements, there are also some real problems that the characters face. Garrett is bullied, several of the characters are in slavery, and characters have to choose between their own safety, and that of others. For a YA novel, there is some heavy stuff in this book, which make sit lean towards the teen spectrum, in case anyone is wondering whether this would be a good book for someone they know.

I teetered between four and five stars on this one, because this book calls a bit in the downer category for me. I think future novels could help ease that element, but it is hard to feel a sense of resolution with the sort of ending this leaves on. I also wasn't quite sure enough of my questions were answered in the end. With books like these, you strap yourself in with the promise more will be revealed. I am unfortunately impatient, and always sulk a bit when I get to the end, and that just brings more waiting.

Overall, I think the creativity alone makes this a good read. The characters felt fleshed out to me, and the plot pulls you forward as it continues. Congrats to Aaron Galvin for taking on such an imaginative project.

[Cassandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Thoughts - 4 out of 5 Unicorns - I really liked it!!!

The cover is beautiful! I love that it is simply a seal in the water :)

I stumbled onto this book and thought it sounded cool, so I bought it. The author contacted me about a week later asking if I wanted a review copy. I explained that I already bought it, and I would definitely review it once I read it. :) Of course, the rest of you are lucky, it is FREE now :)

This story is really amazing and creative. Being able to write is amazing all by itself, but wow!! When I started reading, I will admit that I was a little lost. I’m not sure what caused my confusion exactly, but I think it was switching perspectives while I was still trying to figure out this new and unusual world. Everything did clear up, and this world is awesome.

This book has so much going on with slavery, bullying, camaraderie, friendships, murder, and even kindness mixed into the harshness. Lenny is a fair amount of good mixed into the bad like most real people. I really like his snarky attitude as well as his friends. I really don’t want to give anything away, but I like Garrett, Chidi, Lenny and his crew. Oscar is rotten and spoiled; he is pretentious and thinks he is entitled.

This is a fantastic first book in a series, and I really think it going to get better and better :) I have already bought book 2 because I want to know what happens next, so be watching for that review in the future :)

I recommend this book to the ocean dreamers who believe in underwater fantasies especially if you are into ocean shifters :) I can’t wait to read more of this world :) It is free, so what are you waiting for :)

[Marigold Dicer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had a really interesting idea to it: selkie urban fantasy! The 'salted' humans could be traditional leopard seal-selkies, massive elephant seals, dolphins, and even sharks! Each animal determined the person's social status in the 'salt' (ocean). Honestly, the whole concept had me intrigued right from the start, throw in a coming-of-age/self-discovery subplot about a teenager who discovers his own heritage, and I should have been sorted.

Despite the novel concept, the execution didn't hold my interest all the way through. It's hard for me to pin it down to something specific - I think the main plot of tracking down runaway slaves was dragged out too much. I did get a little lost with the large number of characters, and for some reason I just couldn't care for any of the characters apart from Garret. Lenny was a strangely dislikeable character, and I couldn't sympathise with Chidi's story. It sounds cold, but my feelings did not change throughout the book, and it's hard to get invested in a story when you don't care what happens to the characters.

Still, I am curious as to how the series plays out. This was the first book so maybe if I read the second the characters might be fleshed out in a way and I could connect to them.

Recommended for those wanting a twist on the selkies legend in a modern setting.

I received this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Chris Wells · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love reading, (although I'm not the fastest which can be frustrating at times with so many books crammed onto my Kindle!) and I am always on the look out for new authors to enjoy. With Salted author Aaron Galvin I've found one. He has created a world under the waves that has life to it that left me feeling I'd like to know more about it. As there are more books in the series that will be easily accomplished. Too many times I think I've found a series containing a world I want to know more about and am left frustrated by what I find. Aaron Galvin has clearly thought about how his underwater world is built and how the different types of people that inhabit it fit together. I just can't wait to see where it all leads.
If you haven't discovered the Salted series or Aaron Galvin yet jump in right now with this one, I highly recommend it.
Now on to book two!

[Jaffa Kintigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Folklores around the world tell of transmorphic sea creatures shifting into human shape and blending in with the unaware local human populous: mermaids [merrows, sirens], selkies [silkies], and kelpies
to name some more common forms. Often, a form of seduction transpires between the folk-creature and some humans. The deceptions often escalate to kidnapping, rape and slavery of either humans lured into the drowning sea or sea-folk trapped into a terrestrial existence until said time that they can escape back into the sea.

This imaginative urban fantasy creates a rich and elaborate world of sea-folk and humans in a modern setting. Selkies, seal people, are an enslaving society with a strict caste system. The form of seal one can transform into matters. With leopard seals ["lepers"] being the most dangerous. Though sea lions ["racers"] and elephant seals can be quite formidable, too. No less than 7 species of seal/selkie appear. But more importantly, most are enslaved. Others are slave owners, slavers, runaway slave catchers, and slave abolitionists. Humans are as oblivious to the horrors around them as most people are today of the ongoing existence of modern human trafficking present still in the modern US and Europe.

To be clear, through a well-developed veneer of urban fantasy and folklore this is a story about modern slavery from many nuanced vantage points. And that is brilliant. It can also be quite disturbing to see the abuse, violence and heavily suggested rape.

As the opening volume to a series, the world construct will only get richer as other transmorphic folk are seen minimally but with the suggestion that the interactions and history between the selkies and the dolphin-folk merrows, orca-folk ["orcs"], and shark-folk ["nomads"] is equally as complex once one descends beneath the ocean's surface.

Interestingly, some liberties are taken with the folk traditions. The young adult hero of the tale is an "orc", unbeknownst to him, living in landlocked Indiana. So, sea-folk can be oblivious to their own status--for generations. Also, it's suggested humans can be transformed into sea-folk, ie a non-selkie can become an enslaved selkie. Finally, though not elaborated, a form of glamour magic exists around the sea-folk such that humans cannot see a half-transformed merrow as anything other than a dolphin. Whereas, other sea-folk can see every stage of the transformation from dolphin form to mer to human.

This novel and series is recommended. I received my copy of this novel directly from the author.

[Sherlyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This review was originally posted on Mermaid With A Book.

I dove into this urban fantasy not quite knowing what to expect, save the fact that it didn't have any romance. The whole idea of selkie slaves sounded way beyond cool and I wanted to see how Galvin would translate and develop that into a complete story.

Salted has two main storylines: one storyline sees Lenny and his all-selkie crew on land tasked with capturing runaway selkie Marisa Bourgeois; the other has bullied high school student Garrett Weaver discovering there's something about himself that doesn't seem quite natural. Both storylines meet around the novel's halfway mark.

This novel's uniqueness lies in its usage of the sealskin as a symbol of imprisonment and slavery. Sealskin denotes rank, ranging from Elephant Seal suits to Sea Lion skins and many more, with the Leopard Seal coat being the most prized sealskin of all. Freedom can be bought, but this rarely happens unless one can pay for it. Escaped runners live on tenterhooks while Lenny is on their trail, and family members they leave behind will suffer—a great insight to slaves' inner conflict. To escape, or not to escape?

Salted's other seafolk comprise of Merrows, Orcs and Nomads. However, basic context on them was non-existent from the start. While more information would've been more helpful, I still got a pleasant surprise in my favourite chapter involving Garrett and Wilda, a Merrow. I loved the connection between them, particularly Wilda's patience and kindness. Being already bullied at school, it was nice to finally have some mer helping Garrett understand the unfathomable changes happening to him.

However, it's blurry who the central characters are really supposed to be despite the two concurring storylines. Salted seems to be mainly distributed between Lenny, Garrett and Chidi (the crew's translator) third-person POVs, but there are additional POVs from other characters thrown in occasionally. It didn't help that the story pacing was slow in the beginning. It was a little disorienting, not knowing who to focus properly on.

Lenny doesn't grow throughout the book, and is distrustful and slow to forgive when a crew member screws up. Although his boss has made him the crew leader, a power struggle ensues between him, the boss' son Oscar, and cruel Henry (Oscar's guardian) during the trip. These complications, combined with Lenny's personality, hinder him from being able to lead his crew successfully. The real villain is not August the boss, but Henry, who claims the title with cruel threats and brute strength. That spongehead seems to be unstoppable, and I have to admit it kind of destroys readers' hopes of other characters ever beating him.

Then there's Chidi, the crew's beautiful, ebony-skinned translator. Being Henry's 'property', she wants to break free from him but is close to losing her will. With that evil spongehead being portrayed as unbeatable, she wasn't able to stand up to Henry as much as I expected her to. Chidi's smart, though, and I like the way she ponders over things. I also loved how she confronted Lenny about being a jerk. BUT, instead of processing that, Lenny merely "shook his head and looked out the window".

"... People don't change."
"Yes, they do," said Chidi. "I used to be naïve."
Lenny gave her a long look. "Ya not anymore."
"No... I changed. You could too, right now."
"How's that?"
"You could stop being a jerk."
Lenny smirked. "Then I wouldn't be me, sista. See? Can't change who I am. Don't got a choice."

Qu'est-ce que vous avez dit, monsieur?!

Holy codfish, Mr-Tough-Selkie totally contradicts himself. Ugh. And then he undergoes a 360º change at the end and becomes Mr-Not-So-Tough-Selkie.



In retrospect, while Lenny may not be a likeable character, I do remember having a good laugh about Mrs G. and Jamie at the aquarium ;)

As Lenny's crew consists of selkies from different walks currents of life, I thought it'd make for potential story material. A background of each crew member's Salting would've been the best approach to character development, but unfortunately, the absence of this rendered me unable to connect with the characters on a deeper level (especially Racer, Paulo and Ellie) even though I wanted very much to.

And Garrett... I guess the only thing I didn't like about him was when he exploited his injury to gain sympathy from Sydney, the Asian girl whom he'd set his sights on.

I am still unclear about the purpose of certain characters and events. Allambee was a sweet character, but what was his role other than being an extra hostage who gives sage-like advice to Chidi? Also, Marisa divulges nothing on this "freedom" she speaks of. When Lenny's crew learns of this "freedom"; they just keep chasing after Marisa without probing further about it, causing chase scenes to become repetitive. Lenny fails to catch her after two action scenes, thereby wasting the build-up of action, and the crew just switches targets after discovering Garrett.

As for the ending, I don't know why that scene in the police station was needed. And the Silkstealer... why was he needed?! O_o



I really think the sequence of events leading to the ending could have been less draggy.

In Salted, Galvin shows the worst in mankind through most of his characters and discusses tough issues like slavery and bullying. While its relevancy to the real world is commendable, I felt that he could have utilised more of the fantasy elements he created to his advantage, and given more oomph to his characters. Salted might be something worthy of a fantasy action movie, but it needs more undersea action, plot-tightening and character development. My curiosity for Garrett's story still remains, but on the other fin, something must be done about the selkie characters (especially Lenny!) if they are to sustain interest.

"Daar is altyd 'n keuse." — Marisa Bourgeois

"There is always a choice." My choice? I'm most likely going to give Salted's sequel a chance because I honestly want to know more about the other seafolk and what will happen to Garrett. For a debut author, I must say that Galvin has done an admirable job of centring his first novel around the theme of choice through an urban tale of mythical creatures in the Salt.

[Kris Hydock · Rating 3 out of 5]

Note: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I loved the authors writing style. I love the unique idea to this story. I was not as interested in the "teen" feel to the atmosphere of the story. I feel like this book is written more towards the the teen perview than the young adult or adult mindset. The start of the book introduces a lot of characters in the start of the story and that did get a bit confusing. But once I was able to sift through them and get everyone straight I was fine and became interested in the plot line.

I love how the author was able to keep the characters true to their written selves throughout the heavy plot issues that were going on in the story. Some authors have an issue focusing on the characters themselves after they introduce heavy themes to a story, but he was able to keep the characters separate.

The story ends well with a cliffhanger, which i loved because it means the story line will continue. I love to see a story progress. I hope the sequels to come will give a more indepth look into the sea world.

[Ryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed the story but thought it ended in an odd place.

Also, if a characta can't seem to rememba the "er" at the enda anybody's name, wouldn't "Racer" be "Rassa" or something equally phonetically annoying? This uneven application of dialect made the voice more grating than distinct for its accent. Also, there were a few spots where a copy editor clearly missed a spot, which was distracting when it happened.

That said, I will probably read the next book in the series as the story looks promising.

[Lily · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was surprisingly good.

Well written and interesting, Salted is the kind of book that makes you miss your bus because you're too engrossed in it.

My only issue with it is the lack of explanation that's given for what 'salted' actually means, I don't really understand why some people have selkie suits and others don't, but maybe this will be cleared up in the next book.

Highly highly recommend.

Would actually consider paying full price for the next one.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

While the book started a bit slow before long it pulled me in and I found I couldn't put it down. Aaron has created a unique world with interesting characters, I really enjoyed the book and look forward to reading the next book in the series. I received an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review. That being said I recommend this book.

[Lady The Owls · Rating 5 out of 5]

Salted By Aaron Galvin Review

Was not what I expected when I first started reading. The book is pretty good with the characters well rounded and they do evolve within the story. You will find some characters you really root for and others you have complete disgust for them. Do read this wonderful book a new twist on Selkies and life under the sea.

[Robin · Rating 1 out of 5]

Sloppy writing, dialog that is truly terrible, and characters that are impossible to care about, whether protagonists or antagonists. I found the book unreadable. It's a shame, because the fantasy element is one that I've seen rarely explored. It would have been fun to read about a society made up of mythical sea creatures.

[Jessica Traver cashen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book, I couldn't put it down. Love that it is about Selkies/silkies and the imagination put into this book was amazing. I can't wait to read the next book. Gripping from beginning to end! I received an ARC copy for an honest review.

[Michelle De · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once I got a couple of chapters into the book, it started to make sense but at first, I was very confused. It needed more of an explanation or lead in to the world you were being drawn in to. Beyond that, once it starting making sense, a very good read. Can’t wait to start the next one.

[Rachel Leanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review Special: Review Request

Title: Salted
Author: Aaron Galvin
Website/Blog: www.aarongalvin.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/aarongalvin5
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/saltseries
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Author Image:
http://www.aarongalvin.com/uploads/2/...
Author Biography:
Salted is Aaron Galvin's debut novel. He first cut his chops writing original stand-up comedy routines at age thirteen. His early works paid off years later when he co-wrote and executive produced the 2013 award-winning indie feature film, Wedding Bells & Shotgun Shells.
He is also an accomplished actor. Aaron has worked in Hollywood blockbusters, (Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight, and Clint Eastwood’s Flags of Our Fathers), and starred in dozens of indie films.
Aaron is a proud member of SCBWI. He lives in Southern California with his wife and daughter.
Praise for the Book:
It's always hard to find a unique novel on mermaids. I've seen a spin or two from time to time, but nothing really original, and certainly nothing I'd really describe as 'cool'. That was until I got the chance to read Salted.
- Steampunk Sparrow Book Blog
I totally bought into the Salted world Galvin created. Not an easy read but a unique one, I would recommend Salted by Aaron Galvin for people who are looking for something beyond the typical mermaid and selkie tales.
- Cherie Reich, author of The Foxwick Chronicles
Salted was an intriguing read that kept me hooked. It is a different spin on the underwater world and creatures, which I found brought quite a bit of originality to the genre.
- Lost To Books
Salted is sure to grab your interest at the onset.
- Let There Be Movies
Publisher: Createspace
Genres: YA, Fantasy, Thriller.
Release Date: April 19th 2014

Pages: 358
Where Acquired: Ebook from the author via bookblogging.net

Buy at Amazon Here
- Best Book Price: $3.01 Kindle Price: $4.09 (as of when posted)

UK Cover:
http://d.gr-assets.com/books/13995275...

Goodreads Description:
Life isn't better under the sea. Lenny Dolan is all too familiar with this reality. A Selkie slave in the realm beneath the waves, he has no choice when charged with leading a crew ashore to capture an elusive runaway. If unsuccessful, the loved ones kept behind will pay for his failure with their lives. But when their target leads Lenny and his crew to deeper, darker secrets, the Selkies are faced with a moral dilemma. Secure their own freedom at the expense of others, or return empty-handed to face the grisly consequences? How Lenny and his crew answer the question will teach them the harshest truth of all. Only through the loss of innocence does one become Salted.

My Review:
At first I admit I did find this book a little confusing. I loved the parts with Gareth Weaver in but Lenny's chapters had me a little lost. It took me a little while in order to understand the world order of the Salt and how the society is built up, but having Gareth's chapters helped me to piece it all together. Once I had pushed through my confusion I began to enjoy the book for what it was; a fast paced, Mer-book with little in the way of romance to distract you from the complex and interesting plot. This book was so different from anything I have ever read before, very unique in the way it covered many hard issues without having some chapters that were lighter to distract you from the pain the characters went through. This in my opinion was what won me over, It gave the book a unique depth and danger. I felt every hard decision with the characters and found it very easy to understand their motives, Chidi and Gareth being my clear favorite characters, Chidi for her struggle and amazing instincts and Gareth for the innocence baught to the book. I enjoyed this book, especially the scenes held in the zoo such as the dolphin show and the shark tank incident. By the end I began to respect the complexity of the salted society more with the slave/master predicaments and the unique way of communicating through earrings. This book is defiantly worth reading if you want to read a Mer-book that isn't just centered on soppy love stories and more about one of the biggest moral struggles I have ever read. I would say to any future reader to make sure you stick with it through the confusing beginning and wait until the society becomes clear and the book becomes spectacular! It's a refreshing change to the norm of the YA genre!

Quotes:

"Alone for once, Lenny closed his eyes and tilted his head back, letting the rain drizzle on his face to wash away his guilt. He stayed that way for a long while, refusing to open them until he heard footsteps running back across the street."

"The old woman sat on the edge not twenty feet from him, her dolphin tail lazily swinging in the water."


Rating: 3

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-The Reading Rose

[Shannon Doyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Didn't grab my attention right away but once I got into the book I had a hard time putting it down. Not like any other YA book I've read. Has a sinister feel to it. Overall great book.

[Jordann Grant · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written, i fell in live with the characters and I am so excited to read the following books in the series xx 😍

[Angala Fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book. This was a great YA romance full of suspense and intrigue. I loved how the main character learns about life. Definitely a must read.

[Nat · Rating 3 out of 5]

It had interesting mythology but it was bogged by down by ya highschool drama

[Pat Raab · Rating 4 out of 5]

A most unusual story about the creatures of the deep, with "catchers" and "savers" fighting on opposite sides.

[Krystin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such an enjoyable book to read. The world is creative and engaging. The main character has depth, and I will definitely be reading the next one!

[Leslie Ronish · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. The characters were quite dynamic and the background seemed realistic enough for a fantasy story. There weren't large holes.

[Shirley Leng · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think if I was reading this as a teenager, it would be more captivating. The setting and characters were interesting but the writing style is more catered to a YA audience.